CHAPTER TEN

SECRET BOYFRIENDS AND THISTLES

At the end of the day I head back to my dorm, but I don't stay long. All day I had been thinking about Caleb. His eyes and his perfect face, but also his suggestion. The idea of me calling a family meeting. I've never called a meeting before - attended every single one but never arranged it. I'm the only member of our family who hasn't, even little Lucy (she's still called "The little one" even though she's in 2nd year) called one last year. I debate it in my head and then decide I should. They should know that Hailey has got information about one (or maybe more) of us. Besides, it's not like I have anything better to do, Rikki and Mel are nowhere to be seen - again! So I get out the family parchment and write down: Room Of Requirement, 7 o'clock, Lily.

After starting my mountain of homework, that never gets any smaller, I go down for dinner. As I get to the entrance of the Great Hall, I see Rikki standing there. I run up and link arms with her and we walk in and take our usual seats.

"Where's Melody?" I ask, not really expecting an honest answer. But Rikki is off in a day-dream and, by accident, let's a somewhat honest answer slip.

"I don't know, probably in a broom closet somewhere." She mutters sarcastically. I choke on my pumpkin juice and it goes all over my dinner. Rikki's eyes widen as she realises what she just said.

"I-I EM" She stutters.

"Rikki? Does Mel have a boyfriend? Like a secret boyfriend?" I ask, shocked. And wondering why he would be a secret.

"No. Well, yes. Well, they were just sort of seeing each other but she didn't call him her boyfriend." She mumbled, looking at her hands.

"Who?"

"I-I-I can't tell you that part. That's the secret."

"Why. Oh, is he ugly? Young? Ohhh, It's one of the Scamander's isn't it? Is it Lorcan?" Rikki laughs as I try and guess.

"No" She gets out between chuckles. I want to keep asking questions but I have to go to the Room of Requirement.

I get there and sit in the throne. It looks uncomfortable but it's actually ok, but I miss my armchair. I sit there for a whole 10 minutes before Rose and Dom arrive. They don't ask me why I called the meeting, or even say hi, they just sit in their seats and start chattering away. Then Fred and James walk in. They look at me and shoot me a questioning look and I wave my hand in a I'll-tell-you-later way. I give them a questioning look too.

"No Roxie?" I ask. Her and Freddie are inseparable.

"Don't know. Haven't seen her since Ancient Ruins." He shrugs. Strange. Him and James grab a copy of "Quidditch through the ages" off the bookshelf and start flicking through it for the billionth time. I swear, it's the only book I've ever seen them read.

Next to come in is a flustered Roxie who sits down next to James and Fred as usual, but doesn't say anything. Then Molly comes in, looking even more worn out than last time. Her eyes are red and puffy as if she has been crying and her usually neat clothes are crumpled. She looks awful. Then Al comes in closely followed, to my secret delight, by Caleb.

He looks straight at me, doesn't ignore me or ask why we're here - he already knows. He looks me in the eyes and winks, smirks slightly then goes and sits down with Al. James looks up and shoots Caleb a curious glance but doesn't object to him being there, which I am grateful for. Then Lucy quietly enters again. She spots her sister and looks worried but doesn't try to talk to her. She just sits in her seat and stares into space. Hugo is next, grinning widely as he walks in then rushes over to Al and the two of them start gossiping like little girls. While we wait for Louis I sneak a glance at Caleb. He is already looking my way. I grin and he grins. Just looking at his smile is like staring at the sun too long. So beautiful and dazzling that it's almost painful. He makes my heart beat faster and it scares me. I don't know how long we stare at each other - seconds? minutes? - then Louis comes in.

If Hugo was grinning then you should've seen Louis. His smile stretched from ear to ear and everyone in the room turned to look at him.

"Hey guys." He said. He was practically glowing. Then Al went and ruined the moment.

"Oh, you so just had sex." The room was filled with cheers and "ewwws" and laughs. Louis turned scarlet and shook his head.

"No I didn't. Can't a guy just be happy around here."

"Yes" Shouted James, "But you just got laid." After the laughs die down I stand.

"So -um- I bet you're wondering why I asked you all to come here. Well, there is something you all need to know. I tried to tell you last time but well, you didn't hear me. Em - well the thing is..."

"What is it Lily?" Asks Rose.

"Hailey fucking Frockler ... she knows something. I don't know what but she told me that someone in this family - someone in this room - has a secret. A real secret. And if we get her fired or tell - or I'm pretty sure that if we keep pranking her - it'll be all over the school. So I don't mind you having secrets but we should probably stop pranking her or it won't be a secret anymore."

I look around the circle at my family, searching for guilty faces. I see, to my surprise, that nearly everyone is looking at the ground, ashamed.

"Unbelievable. You all have a secret? All of you?" They all look at me ashamed of themselves and shocked at my sudden anger.

"Everyone has secrets, Lil. Every single person in the world." Says Roxie.

"I don't." I say, "And I thought we didn't keep secrets in this family. At least not big ones. But from the looks on your faces I can see that I've been stupid. Well, I guess we're done - you can all leave now."

Slowly they all shoot me apologetic looks and leave. I sit in my throne, staring at the ground and willing myself not to cry. Last to leave are Al and Caleb.

"Hey, head back to the dorms why don't ya. I'm just gonna go to the toilet." Caleb says to Al, who shrugs and leaves. He looks at me for a second then comes and sits next to me. We sit in a comfortable silence as I calm myself down.

"My middle name is Thistle. After like the flower-plant-thing." He tells me, randomly. I laugh.

"And you're telling me that because..?"

"That's one of my secrets. The point is that they were right - everyone has secrets. I don't tell anyone my middle name because I don't want to be bugged because of it. But my family know it and my friends know it. My point is: I think your family are wrong. You can have secrets but not big ones and not from people you care about. You're right, Lily, and they just don't see that." My eyes well up again.

"Oh crap. Don't cry. I didn't mean to upset you I just ..." I take his hand and give it a squeeze.

"Thank you." He doesn't say anything he just looks at me and gives my hand a gentle squeeze back. And we sit like that - me staring into his violet eyes and him staring into my boring brown ones - until he stands up.

"See ya later, Brown-eyes." He winks and leaves.

"See ya later Caleb." I whisper as the door shuts behind him.