Chapter 10

Rachael was the quickest to open her mail, anxious to see how her family's dog was doing. The day before she had left for Hogwarts her mum had rang her to tell her that their Chihuahua Giant had been hit by a car, but she hadn't heard anything since.

To our dearest Rachael,

We hope you're enjoying your new school and that our days are filled with happiness and excitement. It's been quiet at home with your brother away on a cricket camp, he's very excited because he'll meet some of the English teams top players. As you know poor Giant was hit by a car, she's still in the animal hospital recovering from her first of three surgeries. She was pretty messed up, so the vets decided three smaller operations would be better for her then one big one. They're hoping for a near full recover, but she may walk with a slight limp.

Love you always mum and dad

Rachael was relieved to hear that Giant was most likely going to be okay, she didn't want to tell her friends about the accidents. She didn't want them to make a fuss; they all had their own problems to worry about.

Nichole opened her mail, not knowing what it was going to say.

Hey Nic,

How's ya new skool? Mum's been in my face since you left; she wants to know everything I do! And mum wants me to ask you if you're coming home for Christmas, even though I told her she has over three months till then. Although there is some good news, dad got a promotion and he's taking mum to Toronto! So I get to stay with Anita! I can't wait, late nights and gossip!

Anyway, mums yelling at me to do my homework, cya when ya get back!

Love ya favourite (and only) sister Bailey 

Samantha hated getting mail because it generally required a reply, which meant time and effort was needed!

Hey,

Fabulous news, your father and I have finally sold our house and we'll be moved out by Christmas. That's not the only good news though! We decided that because our little sugarkins isn't so little anymore, we want to have another baby. So your going to be a big sister, I'm pregnant! Isn't it wonderful? You'll be able to teach him or her to read, write and play cricket!

Can't wait to see you at Christmas,

Love mum (who's eating for two now)

Sammi mentally whacked herself, great! That's just what she needed, a little brat running around home. She wondered if anyone had any important news, Sammi wasn't a real fan of kids.

Raven was glad to see her letter was from her little brother Miles, who turned fifteen yesterday (they only had sixteen months between them).

Hey Raven Rocker,

Thanks for the CD; I found it after you left. Yeah and it was a pretty good birthday, I got an ipod nano, the first season of the family guy, some Simpson's DVDs and clothes. Yeah I'm not really one to write letters as you know, but I'll leave you with a fact, I BEAT YOUR HIGH SCORE on Mario last night!

Miles

Miles had been in a bit of a rush; he had other things to do! Jane was surprised when she realised she got a letter; her parents were always really busy.

Hey Janey,

I miss you so much, why can't you come back? It's no fun here without you, I can't even tease Raven because she left me too! This is a conspiracy isn't it? Only joking, you're too nice to do that to me. Oh and before I forget thanks for the present, it arrived yesterday in the mail. But are you sure it was wise to buy me a book on practical jokes? Lucky Raven doesn't know about us, she would then kill both of us when I pull pranks on her. My sister's weird, she likes pulling pranks but it's only funny till someone pulls one on her. I found a good one in the book; it's an absolute classic. You've got to love good old shaving cream.

Love Miles Troy Rocker

Jane quickly folded the letter and put in swiftly in her pocket when she noticed Nichole trying to read it over the table. Candi almost threw out her letter before she read it, thinking it was from her mother. She didn't luckily, she recognised the swirly handwriting that belonged to her grandmother.

Hey sweetie, I hope you're liking your new school. I missed your usual visit yesterday; things here aren't the same without you. My neighbour's foal is getting bigger by the day, it is so cute now and I don't even like horses. Speaking of babies your cousin Kaitlin just had a boy, whom she named Kade. Kimberly loves being a big sister, but she keeps asking me 'where's CC.' Apparently it stands for cousin Candi. Kaitlin's been busy with Kade, so I've been looking after Kimberly for her. You know how she is. So for three days now Kimmy has been driving me up the wall, all she talks about is her favourite second cousin. As you know she isn't very well disciplined so I'm having a great deal of trouble getting her to do what I want, she only responds well to you. She's asking me know if you would write her a letter, she's getting good at reading and writing now and turns six in a few days. If you could write one it would be greatly appreciated, love nanny.

Candi rolled her eyes; her grand mother wasn't very consistent when it came to disciplining her great grand daughter. Kimmy could be a hand fully at the best of times; with a mother like hers you can't really blame her. Kaitlin was your typical high school drop out; all she did was work at a fast food outlet and hook up with loser boyfriends. Even though Candi was easily frustrated she liked kids, but only the ones who were old enough to understand what she was saying. Babies were annoying, they are cute when they're happy but oh so annoying when they weren't, the crying annoyed Candi. But Candi was one of those people who could ignore them when they're crying in their cribs, she knew it would only teach them to cry more if she went and got it. Well that's what she did with Kimmy when she stayed at her grandmother's house, who seemed to spend her life babysitting for Kaitlin.

Candi, like Jane, put her letter away quickly so others couldn't read it. Candi wished she were back in America, where she went nine months ago (January). She loved it there, nobody knew who she was or what she was like.

"I'm bored," Candi whinged.

"We've been here for like ten minutes, you haven't even eaten anything yet," Nichole told her off.

Candi picked up her fork and stabbed a small piece of bacon, putting it in her mouth and swallowed.

"Happy? I ate something," Candi asked, not opening her mouth very wide.

"Open your mouth," Nichole requested.

Candi opened her mouth slowly, before Nichole requested, "wider."

Candi did as she was asked, opening her mouth wider. But it seemed Nichole still wasn't convinced.

"Lift up your tongue."

Candi didn't move, 'shit!'

"Lift up your tongue."

Candi slowly lifted up her tongue and removed the meat from her mouth, "gross I hate bacon."

"I knew it," Nichole cheered to herself.

All the others seemed a little out of it, not quite understanding what was going on, especially the Hogwarts students.

"Knew what exactly? That I don't eat bacon?" Candi asked, wanting and know that a fight was right around the corner.

"Nothing," Nichole said in a way so that everybody knew she meant something.

"No, feel free to share," Candi egged her on standing up now, facing Nichole across the table.

"I'm not going to say, your secret should be kept a secret," Nichole told Candi, knowing it would provoke her. Candi had a way of digging her own grave.

"No I'm giving you permission, feel free to share. After all it is my secret apparently," Candi requested getting angrier by the second.

"Fine I will then," Nichole said childishly, now with more then half the Great Hall watching.

Nichole lent across the table and whispered in Candi's ear just loud enough for the closest few to hear, "I think you're an anorexic whore."

Nichole was never the nasty one in the group, (that was Candi's job) maybe even Sammi or Raven's but not Nichole's.

Raven and Sam both grabbed an arm of Candi's when they saw the look on her face; it was a look of pure hatred. Harry was an expert on hatred, and that look in Candi's eye was hatred. Harry of course didn't know what an 'anorexic whore' was, so he just assumed it was like mudblood for muggles.

Candi shook them off, "please I have standards, and anyway I wouldn't want to get my fist dirty. You never know where her face has been."

Nichole laughed, "you, standards? You've got to be kidding me! I'll rephrase my first statement, you bitchy, blonde, hollow headed, anorexic whore, bastard!"

Candi hadn't even cared about all the other words except the last one, walk away Candi, just walk away. Oh the temptation to hit her was so strong, Nichole wouldn't have a chance. Candi was at least six niches taller then Nichole, not to mention Candi ate better and exercised more with horse riding, netball, umpiring, training, gym and walking home from school everyday! On the other hand she would probably get expelled and she couldn't risk that. Candi did as Sammi and Raven were whispering; she walked away but not with out casting dark looks at Nichole first.

Albus Dumbledore had been watching the whole thing; muggles fighting was quite different from wizard duels. Albus looked down the staff table and nodded at Krum, who discretely followed Candi out of the hall.

"Why Victor?" Minerva McGonagall asked the headmaster.

"She's met him before, and he's the youngest one here, young girls don't open up to oldies like ourselves," Dumbledore smiled.

Krum left the Hall and headed up the nearest staircase; to go to the place he knew the girls were staying.

"That was so uncalled Nic," Rachael told her quietly.

"Are you guys all blind? She's doing it again," Nichole asked them loudly.

"What?"

"Sammi," Nichole referred the question on.

"Well you all remember that time, when we all went to the city for that excursion?" Sammi asked the group very broadly.

They all nodded, so Sammi continued.

"Well I guess you all remember what a bitch Candi was being to us and coming onto every decent looking guy she saw?"

"Doesn't she always?" Raven interrupted, "sorry continue."

"Anyway," Sammi continued, "it turns out that her great grand mother had died the night before."

"How do you know that?" Raven interrupted again.

"I just do, anyway so I was talking to Nic about it and we came up with a theory about Candi."

Everybody stared at Sammi blankly, what kind of theory?

---

This could be interesting.

Boy Candi seems to have a little PMS!

What a bitch was Nichole, but can you blame?