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Chapter Six: Sixth Year

Dom invited me to stay at her house the last few weeks of summer. I was quick to jump on the invitation, more than willing to leave Amelia's usually empty London apartment and still desperate to make up for my behavior last year.

When Amelia apparated me to the little seaside cottage that first day, Dom practically tackled me from excitement. Amelia left me a pocketful of money and told me to be good before leaving.

"You've gotten taller!" Dom exclaimed as she dragged me into her house. "And your hair is longer! Dammit, girl. You've gotten pretty."

I glared at my best friend. "And I wasn't before?"

Dom waved me off. "It was hard to see through all the moping. You've always been pretty, but now people can actually see it."

I couldn't help but grin at my awkward friend.

"Come on," she said, pulling me through the house. "You have to meet Victoire and Teddy."

We entered the kitchen to see her parents and another couple sitting at the kitchen table. Fleur jumped up when she saw me and beamed.

"Newt! 'Ow wonderful to see you," she cried, pulling me into a hug. "We are so excited for you to stay with us this summer!"

Mr. Weasley waved at me from the table, grinning at his exuberant wife. The other couple sitting at the table stood and moved towards me.

"This is my sister, Victoire," Dom introduced, "and her fiancé Teddy Lupin."

Victoire was a few inches taller than Dom and much more blonde. She had the same sort of airy, endearing beauty that both her sister and mother possessed. She smiled brightly at me and took my hand, pulling me close to plant kisses on each of my cheeks.

"It is wonderful to meet you, Newt. It seems you've made quite the impression on our family," she said.

"I'll say," Teddy interrupted. "Albus and James have been in a tiff all summer over you."

I sent the blue-haired man a questioning look. He was very handsome, with rugged features that clashed comically with his vibrant hair. He smiled widely at me, pulling me in for a one armed hug.

"I see why now," he added with a coy smirk.

Victoire slapped him on the arm and told him to stop flirting with her sister's friend. He grinned back at her and pulled her in for a quick kiss, but not before sending me a quick wink.

Dom rolled her eyes beside me, grabbing my hand again and pulling me behind her. We ran up a flight of stairs and entered a very pristine looking bedroom.

"This is my room," she explained. "You'll be staying in here with me."

It was much larger than my compact room back at Amelia's place, but still cozy in it's own way. I liked it. I sent Dom a grin and pulled my shrunken trunk from out of my pocket and sat it down against a wall, pulling out my wand and waving it to it's original size.

Dom gasped. "You're underage!" she cried.

"I've got connections," I said, winking at her.

Dom mock glared, huffing somewhat jealously.

I looked out her window at the shore before turning to her. "Fancy a trip to the beach?"

Dom smiled widely. "Oh lets!"

We quickly changed into our bathing suits and ran out of her room, bumping into her younger brother Louis who sputtered and blushed at the sight of me before running to his own room.

"He likes you," Dom explained, shaking her head. "Seems every male in our family does."

I rolled my eyes. "It's because I'm the only girl tolerant of you all."

Dom shrugged with a grin. "True. Probably why all the girls like you too."

"Oh Dom," I said, fluttering my eyes, "you should have told me earlier you fancied me!"

Dom shrieked and lunged for me. I dodged her and darted through her house and out the door, laughing as she chased me, shouting insults and threats all the way to the beach. I heard the laughs of her parents following us.


"We're going to the Potter's for dinner tonight," Dom told me one morning. "Harry's invited the whole family."

"Sounds like a riot," I replied, rolling over in my bed to watch Dom as she piddled around her room. Her parents had summoned a second bed for Dom's room so that we wouldn't have to share.

Dom sent me a deadpan look. "You have no idea."

I grinned at her and flopped onto my back, stretching like a cat and rolling around in my sheets.

"I swear you must be part animal," Dom commented.

I jumped to my feet on the bed and crouched into a fighting pose. "Haven't you heard? I'm Catwoman!"

"I've heard you're mad," Dom replied, shouting with glee when she found what she was looking for in her drawers. "Aha! Found it."

I jumped off of the bed and strolled over to her. "What did you find?"

I noticed a black jersey with a yellow wasp on the front in her hands. I looked up at Dom with a confused look.

"I didn't know you were a fan of the Wasps," I said.

She shrugged, tossing off her sleep shirt and throwing the jersey on. "I'm not. I just like to get a rise out of Aunt Ginny and Uncle Ron. They hate the Wasps."

I smiled widely at my friend. "You're incorrigible."

She shot me a wry grin. "I take that as a compliment."

"Good. Got another?"

Dom grinned wickedly.


"Not you too," Mr. Weasley groaned when I got to the Potter house with Dom later that night.

Dom had managed to discover a Wimbourne Wasps tank top in the far back corner of her underwear jar. It was a bit too small for my taste, but she had thrown a khaki cardigan at me when I complained.

"Shut up," she had told me. "You wanted to join me and this is the only way. Plus, your tits look fantastic. Al will piss himself. It'll be the funniest thing I've seen all summer. Except your face."

I sent Mr. Weasley a friendly grin. "I take it you're not a Wasps fan?"

He narrowed his eyes at me, clearly catching the mischief behind my smile. He was just about to speak when Fred came barreling into the foyer, crying my name.

"NEWTIE! MY NEWT!" he cried, launching himself onto me. I nearly fell over, but managed to catch the exuberant boy. I noticed he too was wearing a Wimbourne shirt. I couldn't contain my grin.

"Hello, Freddie," I greeted as he pulled away from me, holding me at arms distance. He looked me over quickly, eyes lingering purposely on my chest, before darting his eyes back up to me and sending me wry smirk. I glared back at him threateningly.

"You look nice, Newtie. Black and gold suits you," he said loudly, causing Mr. Weasley to groan and stomp away from the small foyer. Fred winked quickly at me before shrugging his arm over my shoulder and pulling me alongside him. I caught Dom cross her arms and send him a glare.

"Hope you don't mind if I steal our dear Newt, do you Dominique?" Fred teased.

Dom huffed and stomped away. I grinned at her antics and let Fred drag me away from the foyer and into the living room.

There were quite a few people strewn about the huge room, some sitting and others standing about chatting. Mr. Potter was speaking with Mr. Weasley and Fred's dad when we entered. He was the first to notice me and grinned in greeting.

"Hey there Newt," he called, waving me over. I tried to pull away from Fred, but he latched onto me with both arms and even a leg, wailing about me leaving him. I attempted to peel him off of me, much to the amusement of the adults in the room.

"Get off of me, you insane toad," I demanded, trying not to trip over my own feet as Fred clung to me.

"I've only just got you and now you're trying to leave me for a man old enough to be your father!" he cried dramatically.

I continued to struggle with Fred for several more moments before he abruptly let me go, causing me to trip over my feet and fall backwards. I was just about to hit the ground when two arms caught me under my shoulder, just inches from hitting the very nice tiled floors. I opened my eyes and looked into a pair of very amused auburn eyes. I felt a blush crawl across my face.

James lifted me up to my feet, still smirking. "Don't be embarrassed, Newt. I'm used to girls falling at my feet."

I glared heatedly at the boy, before turning my glare onto a guffawing Fred.

"You could only be so lucky, Potter," I replied, swiftly moving away from him and Fred. I moved towards Mr. Potter, who was trying very hard not to laugh. Ron and George Weasley weren't holding back though.

My blush deepened as I nodded my hellos to the three men.

"How have you been, Newt?" Mr. Potter asked me.

"Very well, Mr. Potter. And yourself?" I replied.

"Harry. And I can't complain. You've got your hands full with them," he commented, nodding towards the two boys across the room, who were still laughing at me.

I looked over my shoulder and caught James's eye. I glared at him, turning back to the adults. Ron and George were still chuckling. A very beautiful woman with short curly brown hair walked over and slapped Ron on the back of his head.

"Control yourself, Ronald. Honestly," she complained before turning to me with a smile. "You must be Newt." She held out her hand and I took it.

"Yes ma'am," I replied politely.

"Call me Hermione," she said. "I'm Rose and Hugo's mother. Rose speaks highly of you."

I blushed. "That's kind of her. She's a very nice girl."

Hermione and Ron beamed.

"Newt!" a voice called behind me. I turned around and noticed Dom moving quickly over to me, Lily tailing behind her with a smug grin. "I heard that Fred threw you to the floor and James assaulted you! Are you alright? Shall I kill them? I should have known better than to bring you into this madness! Please, please don't judge me because of them!"

My eyes widened at Dom's hysterics. I put my hands on her shoulders and started shaking her violently. Dom stopped speaking and looked at me with wide eyes.

"Has everything returned to normal in that bizarre head of yours then?" I asked. Dom glared at me. "Dom, I've known how barmy your family is since first year and I'm still your friend. Honestly, you're just as mad as the rest of them and I still like you for it."

The adults beside us started laughing again, causing Dom to glare at them. She then turned her glare onto the two boys making their way quickly from the room.

"I'm still going to kill you!" she shouted after the two of them, causing them to run from the room laughing. "Come on, Dom. Aunt Ginny was asking after you."

I let Dom drag me to the kitchen, where two red-headed women were fast at work preparing food.

"Aunt Ginny," Dom called, causing the younger red-headed woman to turn around. "This is my best friend, Newt."

Mrs. Potter turned her eyes onto me and smiled widely. I noticed offhandedly that James had her exact eyes, as well as many other features of hers. She wiped her hands off on a towel and moved over to me. She took my hand.

"I've heard so much about you," she greeted.

"I keep hearing that and it keeps worrying me," I commented. She laughed at me, shaking her head.

"It's nice to finally place a name and face."

I smiled at her. "I'm glad to meet you as well."

"Dinner should be ready any moment, girls. You might want to snag a chair at the table outside while there are still choices."

"Thanks Aunt Ginny," Dom said, pulling me from the room.

"And you girls should really reconsider your choice in fashion. Black and gold looks good on no one!" Mrs. Ginny called after us.

Dom laughed maniacally, causing me to snort in amusement. We ran into Al just as we were running out the door, nearly knocking him over. He steadied himself by grabbing onto my shoulders. When he noticed who I was, his face burned in embarrassment. His ears turned red a second later when his eyes darted across my outfit.

"You look nice, Newt," he choked out.

I sent Dom an exasperated look as she start laughing loudly beside us, before running off.

"Thanks, Al," I replied. "You got taller."

He nodded, still trying to catch his bearings from having been thrown off guard. "I guess."

I cleared my throat. "I'm going to catch back up with Dom. See you later."

I took off after my best friend before Al could say anything else. I nearly tackled her when I found her standing near a fire pit with James, Rose, and Fred. She saw me coming and darted behind James.

"I'm going to kill you Dom," I said through gritted teeth.

"Lovers quarrel?" she asked teasingly from behind James.

"And you didn't invite me?" Fred asked in a scandalized voice.

"I was not in a lovers quarrel," I said. "But I was left all on my own in one of the more awkward instances of my life."

I looked over at James and he raised an eyebrow at me in question.

"Oh, God. Did she push you into Al?" Rose asked in a strained voice.

I looked over at her, noticing for a moment how pretty she had become over the summer. She was a very good mixture of her parents.

I sent her a pained look. "Yes," I whined. "And it was so awkward!"

Fred and Dom laughed at my expense.

"Because you broke up?" James asked.

I sent him a vicious glare. "We never dated."

"Because they kissed," Rose explained.

James's face darkened slightly and Fred gasped dramatically.

I glared at Rose. "Only because he told me he wouldn't forgive me unless I gave him a kiss. He tricked me into it!"

Rose smiled teasingly at me. "He would have forgiven you even if you hadn't kissed him."

"I cannot believe," Fred started, pausing slightly, "that you would kiss my grimy, Slytherin cousin before you would kiss me."

"Fred, I would kiss a toad before I would kiss you."

"That hurts, Newt. Right here," Fred continued, placing his hand over his heart. "I'll only forgive you for a kiss."

I glared at the dark haired boy and huffed. I turned to Dom, who was no longer hiding behind James, but still standing behind him a bit. "This is all your fault Dom."

Dom held her hands up, a smirk plastered to her face. "It's definitely not my fault that your first kiss was with a Slytherin."

Both James and Fred's face fell into complete shock at her announcement. I even noticed Rose's eyes widen a bit. I blushed deeply. "Now, you're really dead," I growled out, lunging past James and chasing after my crazy best friend.

It took the threat of her forever having purple hair for her to apologize.

"Change it back, Newt!" she cried. "Purple doesn't go well with my complexion."

"I disagree," I replied, twirling my wand around in my fingers. "I think it fits you quite well."

Dom huffed. "I'm sorry, okay? I was only trying to get a rise out of James."

"What does James have to do with you humiliating me in front of our friends?" I demanded.

Dom sent me an apologetic look. "He fancies you. I figured if he thought Al was actual competition, he might do something about it."

I flushed deeply. "And what makes you think I want anything to do with James Potter?"

Dom smirked at me. "I don't know. Your red cheeks?"

My glare deepened. "I do not like pratty Potter."

Dom laughed at me. "Sure. Whatever you say, Newtie. Just please change my hair and I swear I won't ever tease you again so long as we both live."

I stared at her for a few moments before stomping away.

"Newt!" Dom shrieked after me.

I waved my wand behind me.

"I AM NOT A REDHEAD!"


"Ow OW!" I heard a voice call from up the beach. I lifted my head up and saw Fred, James, Noah, and Tate approaching us. I glared over Heather's bare back at Dom, who was cursing.

"Who invited your idiot cousins and their band of monkeys?" I demanded.

"Oh God," Jenny muttered on the other side of me. I looked over at her. "Tate is here."

I grinned wickedly. "On the other hand, how perfect!" I said, jumping to my feet and dragging a protesting Jenny up with me.

"What the hell are you twats doing here?" Dom demanded as she stomped over to the approaching boys.

"Enjoying the view, of course," Tate said, leering over at Jenny, who glared heatedly at the boy.

I looked her over quickly. She looked great in her little yellow bikini. I laughed loudly when she flipped Tate the bird and bent down to grab her cover up. I dove in front of her and snatched it up, dancing away before she could grab it.

"Newt!" she cried. "What are you doing?"

I sent her a coy grin. "What ever do you mean?"

Jenny narrowed her eyes at me, causing Heather to laugh. She stood up from her blanket and stretched, winking at Fred, who eyed her wickedly before turning to me.

"Oi! Newt!" he called.

I looked over at him.

"Pink is definitely your color," he continued with a wink.

I narrowed my eyes at him and was about to retort when Jenny lunged for the cover up in my hands. I dodged her quickly, squealing with glee. Jenny shouted in protest.

"Give it back!" she demanded.

"Don't!" Tate called. "Don't give it back!"

I grinned widely at Jenny. "You'll never catch me, darling. I'm a seeker," I said as I dodged her again and continued to dance away from her.

"Were a seeker," James corrected with a smirk.

I felt myself blush, but ignored it and sent him a coy look from under my lashes. He was the captain this year, so I knew for a fact I would get on the team, especially considering how much he begged me at the end of last year to re-tryout.

"It's a skill one doesn't easily forget," I replied flirtatiously, catching him and his friend's off guard. I wasn't a flirty girl.

Dom squealed with glee and ran towards me.

"FINALLY!" she cried, throwing herself onto me. "YOU'RE A WOMAN!"

I threw her off of me and dodged Jenny yet again. I brushed my hair, which had grown out long over the summer, over my shoulder. "I'm more woman than you," I said nonchalantly.

Dom's mouth fell open in mock indignation. "I take offence to that!" she shouted, pointing at me. "Just because your tits are bigger does not make you more woman!"

My eyes widened and my mouth fell open in shock. The boys started laughing loudly. I felt a blush creep across my face and chest.

I calmed myself down before responding. "I suppose you're right," I said, letting a smirk cover my features. "It's my better looking ass that makes me more woman."

Dom shrieked again, chasing after me. I took off running, tossing Jenny's cover up at Tate's face as I ran past him.

"You're welcome!" I cried as I tore down the beach and up the hill towards the cliffs.

"I've got to see this!" I heard James yell as Dom ran past him.

I didn't look back to see who all was following me, but I had a feeling it was nearly everyone. They knew just where I was going and they weren't going to let me jump alone.

"You better pray I don't catch you, Newt!" Dom laughed from somewhere behind me. I wondered briefly why we were always threatening to kill one another. I supposed it was just our dynamic.

I didn't slow down a bit as I crested the hill and turned towards the cliffs overlooking the sea, thanking my constant morning runs for my impressive endurance. The cliff edge was getting closer and I didn't slow down. I grinned wickedly, remembering the first time Dom had taken me cliff diving off of this very cliff. I had nearly peed my pants. But I didn't feel anything but wonder as I reached the edge and threw myself off of it. I flipped forward once before bringing my feet down to a point and breaking the surface of the water.

My arms waved upwards like wings as I fell beneath the surface and I let myself sink for several long moments. I reveled in the silence of the water and cold silk wrapped around my body. The salt stung my eyes when I opened them. All I could see was a blurry dark blue. A moment later, a loud, but distance splash, followed by another and another sounded around me. I grinned and pulled myself towards the surface.

I broke free and gasped for air, still smiling widely. I looked to my left just as another person surfaced, laughing loudly. I exchanged wide smiles with James, before looking over to Dom, Fred, and Tate, who had all jumped as well. I looked up to the cliff's edge as I treaded the water and saw Noah, Heather, and Jenny all staring down at us with smiles.

"Come on!" I called to them. "Jump!"

Noah was the first to leap off, followed by Heather, and, after several minutes of torment, Jenny. We all swam around, splashing one another and laughing. It was one of the greatest moments of my life.

James didn't stop staring at me all day.


"I cannot believe its already sixth year," Dom said to me one morning just after the term started. "I feel like we just met on the train yesterday."

"I guess technically we did just meet on the train yesterday," I pointed out.

Dom shoved me playfully. "What I mean is, time has gone by so quickly. What if it doesn't slow down? What if it keeps spiraling like this until suddenly we're a hundred years old and on our deathbed?"

"I'm pretty sure that's exactly how life works, Dom," I told her. "I doubt there are any hundred year olds on their deathbed thinking, 'damn, that took a long time.' That's kind of what makes life special, you know?"

Dom chuckled, linking her arm through mine. "I suppose you're right, Newt."

"I'm always right."

"Can you believe it's only a day into the term and Fred has already got himself a girlfriend?"

"Let's be serious here, Dom," I said. "Freddie's got himself a snog buddy. They were attached at the lips all night in the common room."

Dom shuddered. "I don't see how you put up with him, Newt."

I shrugged. "He's funny. And besides, you put up with him as well."

"I have no choice, though. We're related. Unfortunately," Dom replied.

I chuckled at her before waving Heather and Avery over to us.

"Hello Newt, Dom," Avery greeted with a grin. "How was your summer?"

"Brilliant!" Dom replied. "Newtie came and stayed with me for the last few weeks."

Avery smiled kindly at me. "So I heard. Heather tells me you all had an interesting day at the beach."

Heather, Dom, and I exchanged elated grins.

"It was fun," I replied. "How was Australia?"

Avery beamed. "Wonderful."

"Avery met a boy," Heather explained. Avery chatted away about the handsome native boy she met in Australia as we waited outside the classroom for History of Magic. We all oohed and ahhed at the right moments and giggled at the more scandalous parts of the story. I thought back briefly to the start of my fifth year and how withdrawn I had been from everyone. It was so much better to be surrounded by friends than by silence.

"I was surprised to see you at the Prefect's meeting yesterday, Styles," a voice taunted. "I would have thought that the Headmistress would at least revoke your Prefect status, if not expel you entirely, for assaulting a teacher."

I looked over and recognized Harper Lynn glaring at me as she clutched her books tightly to her chest. Her best friend, Jessica Blanche, stood next to her, looking at the ground with bright red cheeks.

"Harper," she said quietly.

"It was an accident, Harper," I replied nonchalantly. "I didn't purposefully assault her."

"Regardless, it's unfair for the school to bend its rules to accommodate a single student. It shows favoritism."

"You're just pissed that there's still someone here to prevent you from being the top of the class, Lynn," James announced as he came to a stop beside me and tossed his arm over my shoulders. "Newt is the resident genius and you want her crown."

Harper huffed at James and stormed through the classroom door just as it opened, Jessica right behind her. I shifted my eyes up to James in thanks, who smirked down at me. A deep humming sound came from his throat as he leaned in close to me. "I think I prefer you in pink, Styles," he whispered before sending me a wink and swaggering into the classroom.

I could feel a blush painting my cheeks and sent a laughing Dom a quick glare before marching into the classroom and taking a seat in the front, where I knew my friends wouldn't dare sit next to me. Surprisingly enough, Roxanne Weasley sat down next to me, shooting me a smile before pulling out her books.

"Hello Roxy," I greeted her with a grin.

"Newt," she greeted back. "Can you believe my idiot brother is skipping class today to snog his new fling?"

"Actually, yes. Hence the term 'idiot'," I replied. Roxanne chuckled at my insult just as Professor Binns floated into the classroom and started the lecture.


"If you don't try out for the team this year, I'll disown you," Fred declared as he plopped down in front of me for breakfast one morning. I looked up at him just as I was biting into my banana, causing him to groan loudly.

"Don't do that Newt," he demanded. "You're killing me."

I scowled darkly and threw the remainder of the banana at his face. "Stop being vile, Fred."

He grinned at me and caught the banana before proceeding to finish the rest of it in the most vulgar of ways. I shook my head as I watched his antics with a disbelieving face.

"Something you need to tell me, cousin?" James asked with a raised eyebrow as he plopped down next to me.

Fred spluttered over the banana, blushing as dark as he possibly could before throwing the rest of the banana down on the table. I grinned wickedly. "Awe, have trouble at the end there, Freddie?"

James burst out laughing beside me while Fred watched me with awed, wide eyes. "Who are you and what have you done with my sweet innocent Newtie?"

"Who decided 'innocent' and 'Newt' belonged in the same sentence?" Dom interrupted as she fell into the seat beside me.

"A breach of language rules, that is," I said, exchanging a grin with Dom.

"Newt's been making lewd jokes," Fred accused. "I don't know who she is anymore."

"You've been learning well, young one," Dom said in a deep voice, looking at me with a mock approving expression.

"You have taught me well, master," I replied, bowing my head.

"Word of advice, cousin," Fred said, looking at James. "Birds are crazy. Don't get involved with them."

"Speaking of getting involved with birds," I started. "What happened to your lovely girl? The one who was helping you breathe last night?" I plopped a piece of bacon in my mouth and tilted my head to the side, sending Fred a teasing look.

A dramatic look overcame his face. "What Annette and I had was pure and passionate, but tragically, we have decided to go our separate ways."

"Her name was Ashley, Fred," an exasperated Rose declared as she and her friend Marie sat down near the four of us. "Not Annette."

"Ah yes, Ashley. I remember now," Fred said thoughtfully. "What Ashley and I had was…"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. We get it. You're a pig. Moving on. Why is there a half-eaten banana in the middle of the table?" Dom asked.

James and I couldn't hold back our laughter as Fred's face burned again.


"Try it again," Amelia said to me one night several weeks into term.

I looked down at the lifeless bird laid out on the table in front of me. It had both shocked and saddened me when Amelia pulled it from it's cage in her office and set it on the table before sending a killing curse its way. I had asked her if that was necessary. She had said yes.

"I don't know what I'm supposed to be doing, exactly," I responded.

"You've done this before, Newt, and with something far more precious."

"All life is precious," I murmured quietly. My grip tightened around my wand, but something told me that it wasn't necessary for this kind of magic. I stowed it way slowly, before gently picking up the small body.

It was very light. The body hadn't set into rigor mortis yet, so it conformed to the shape of my hands cupped together. It was a small bird, no larger than my hands. The feathers were soft, brown, and yellow. There was a small blue speck on its forehead. Its tiny claws were curled up into its body. It could have been sleeping.

For some reason, the tiny bird made me think of Chewy and the thought of my owl dying made my heart hurt. I couldn't stand seeing the little guy dead in my hands. I thought to myself that if I could bring him back to life, I'd keep him and give Chewy a friend.

I focused my thoughts on bringing him back to life. I closed my eyes tightly, thinking only of seeing the life return to the little bird in my hands. It took a few moments, but I finally felt the tingling under my skin; the intricate spider like sensations that crawled out from my heart and spread up my chest, across my shoulders, and down my arms until they met where my hands touched. There was a brief pulse between my hands and a small movement in them made me open my eyes.

The little bird was waking up. He moved as though groggy, twitching and falling over in his attempts to sit up. I smiled widely as he continued in his struggles. I looked up and made eye with Amelia, who was smiling just as brightly.

"I told you that you could do it," she said softly.

I looked back down at the small bird, which was finally standing up in my hands and was looking straight at me. He didn't seem frightened of me at all. I brought my hands up closer to my face to inspect the bird closer. He tweeted at me, his wings floating out by his side to catch his balance.

"It's a sparrow," Amelia explained.

I grinned happily.


"That thing is so annoying," Dom complained at breakfast a few days later. "Please tell me why you've decided to adopt yet another annoying bird?"

I looked up from my breakfast to see Han the sparrow fluttering happily around the breakfast table, swooping in occasionally and stealing a piece of toast from random students' plates. I chuckled and held out my hand. Han fluttered over to me and landed on my finger, tweeting happily.

"I like him," I stated, moving him to my shoulder, where I fed him another piece of toast. "He's adorable."

"I don't even understand why you've given him that silly name. I would have thought you'd name him Jack," she continued.

"Because he and Chewy are buddies," I explained nonchalantly, careful not to shrug lest I bother Han.

Dom tried to hide her grin, but I caught it and winked at her. The mail came a moment later and Chewy nearly dove head first into a bowl of porridge in front of me, a newspaper attached to his foot.

"Hey there Chewy," I greeted, detaching the paper at his claw. He hooted at me in greeting before swooping up and landing on my head.

"I cannot believe that you still let him do that," James commented as he sat down at the table across from me. I shrugged, disturbing Han, who tweeted unhappily at me.

"Honestly, I'm sort of a nesting post for birds right now anyway," I said. "I don't think it gets any lower than this."

James grinned at me, staring a little longer than necessary.

"There's a bird on your head. Did you know?" Rose asked with a smile as she passed by.

I acted shocked and quickly reached for my head, fluffing up Chewy's feathers. He nipped at my fingers playfully. "I had no idea!" I shrieked.

Rose shook her head at me. "Do you mind if I borrow your paper?" she asked.

I exaggeratedly nodded my head, causing Chewy to shrill unhappily. Rose tried to hide her smile as she snatched up the paper, shaking her head as she walked away.

"You really do look ridiculous," Dom pointed out.

"At least I fit in with the rest of you now," I said back.

"I take offence to that," James replied. "All the ladies say I'm rather fit."

"That's because they're all blind," I retorted with a smirk.

James returned my smirk and leaned across the table. "Are you blind then, Styles?"

"I'm very blind," I flirted back, winking at James, before returning to my breakfast.

"Honestly, Newt, the effect is ruined so long as there's a bird on your head," Dom cut in. "It's like you've learned nothing from me at all."

"Says the mad woman who told me I was learning well not three weeks ago," I pointed out.

"I was clearly not in my mind."

"You're never in your mind, Dommy."

"True."

"Hey Newt, did you know you've got an owl on your head?" Fred asked as he fell into a seat beside James.

"What?!" I shrieked dramatically, causing Dom and James to laugh loudly.

Rose moved back over to us a few minutes later, a frown clear on her face.

"What's wrong Rosie Posie?" James asked her.

She shook her head, handing me back the paper. "There's been a series of murders, specifically magical killings of muggles. It's a bit disturbing."

I exchanged uncertain glances with James. It seems James, Rose, and I were the only ones who were truly disturbed by the news. Honestly, I don't think Fred or Dom was actually listening to her. Rose caught my eye, shrugging her shoulders somewhat dejectedly before moving back down the table.

I looked back over at James. "That is a bit disturbing," I commented.

"I'm not sure if there is anything in the world more disturbing than a bird sitting on your head," Tate cut in as he and Noah sat down on opposite sides of the table.

"That's it," I declared, sitting up quickly and slamming my hands down on the table. "I am tired of all of you making fun of my owl. Chewy is fabulous and you're all jealous!"

All of my friends stared up at me with raised brows and amused looks.

I straightened up. "Chewy, Han," I started, pointing my finger at the boys across from me, "attack."

The birds flew from their perches and circled relentlessly around the boys' heads, tweeting and hooting, demanding snacks. I grinned gleefully at the groans of protest from my friends.


James's quidditch try-outs didn't end up being as crazy as McLaggen's, at least on the seekers end. I think it was mostly because he already knew he was going to be putting me on the team. My replacement the previous year had been a seventh year. Not that it would have mattered if he were in a younger year. James had everyone on the team re-tryout. He even replaced Leslie Cummings, who had been on the team the year before with a younger player, Hugo Weasley, who out shot her 3-1. Avery Wood even out shot Leslie, securing her place as our third chaser. Dom was still keeper, and Fred and Noah were still our beaters, leaving me to snatch up the position as seeker. I was thrilled to be back on the team. Everyone else was glad to have me back as well, especially after I caught the snitch three times in a row blind folded, just for their amusement.

"Today, we are going to be learning the Patronus Charm," Amelia announced, much to the excitement of my fellow classmates. Excited whispers broke out around the classroom, causing Amelia to smile endearingly at us all.

Even Dom perked up beside me, and she was never interested in anything remotely academic.

"Can anyone tell me what exactly a Patronus is?" Amelia asked. "Yes, Mr. Potter?"

"It's a defensive spell that produces an energy wave that can take the shape of an animal," James said, surprising a lot of the class with his textbook accuracy.

Amelia smiled widely. "That is exactly right, Mr. Potter. 10 points to Gryffindor. Now, this is a very advanced spell. Many witches and wizards are incapable of even producing any form of the Patronus, let alone producing a corporeal one. So I don't want anyone to feel disappointed if they find they can't produce a Patronus today. This isn't typical N.E.W.T material, but the Headmistress as well as the Ministry has agreed to allow me to teach sixth and seventh year students the basics of the charm this year. For any of you interested in moving onto auror training after graduation, knowing how to produce a Patronus is a necessity for graduation."

I felt my interest perked at the thought of auror training. I hadn't thought much about what I wanted to do after graduation, but if there were anything even remotely interesting to me, it would have to be going into the auror training program. After all, Amelia was an auror, and she had been training me for years. Granted, she was training me because my magic was dangerous, but she had been training me nonetheless. Also, the auror department would possibly be the best well prepared for my circumstances.

"Now, conjuring a Patronus requires an incantation alongside an extremely happy memory. It can't just be any memory. It has to be one that fills you entirely with happiness. This is what makes producing a Patronus under times of stress so difficult. The concentration required is extensive. You can't be nervous. You can't be afraid. You must be confident in your abilities and your happy memories. That is the only way to conjure your Patronus. Does anyone in here know what uses there are for a Patronus? Yes, Ms. Weasley?"

I looked over at Molly, who was sitting at the front of the classroom. "There are only two uses, right? Um, one is to chase away dark creatures, like Dementors, and the other is for, I believe, communication."

"That is correct, Ms. Weasley. 10 points to Hufflepuff. Anything to add, Ms. Longbottom?"

"Can't they also chase off Lethifolds?" Alice asked quietly.

Amelia smiled. "Yes they can. 5 points to Hufflepuff. Does anyone know who invented the methods with which to communicate between Patronus'?"

I smiled widely at the question, causing Amelia to call on me. "Ms. Styles?"

"Albus Dumbledore," I replied.

"5 points to Gryffindor. Now, the incantation for this spell is 'Expecto Patronum.' Repeat it with me."

The class repeated the incantation with her, myself excluded. I was still always nervous about accidentally using magic by just uttering spells, even though Amelia and I had pretty much worked out how to control it by now.

"Alright now, I'm going to break you into partners to recite the incantation and perhaps attempt to conjure a Patronus. Ms. Molly Weasley with Mr. Tate Thorin, Mr. Noah Harding with Ms. Dominique Weasley, Mr. Fred Weasley with Ms. Newt Styles, Mr. James Potter with Ms. Alice Longbottom…" Amelia went on to name the remaining pairs, leaving us to move towards our partners.

I sent James a smile as I passed him to sit by Fred, who sent me an overly amused look. "I haven't a clue why Ms. Earnhardt would pair us together. She must be seeking disaster," Fred announced as I reached him.

I made a funny face at him before setting my things down at his table and pulling out my wand. "Alrighty then, Freddie. Would you like to go first?"

Fred stood up and shrugged. "Sure. Let me forewarn you, I'm kind of amazing."

I chuckled and watched as he held out his wand and said the incantation. A bright white light burst emitted from his wand, lighting up the room. I smiled broadly and clapped.

"Great job, Mr. Weasley! 5 points to Gryffindor," Amelia called from across the classroom. Fred beamed and let the light fade.

"That's awesome, Freddie!" I cried. "I didn't know you could produce a Patronus."

Fred shrugged, leaning against the desk behind him. "It's nothing. Uncle Harry attempts to teach everyone in the family at some point. I still haven't managed to get a shape yet though. Not like James, Rose, and Al. Bloody geniuses they are."

I grinned and looked across the room at James, who was talking to Alice, helping her with her spell work. Alice was blushing. I grinned at the sight and looked around the rest of the room. Every now and then, a light would shine from someone's wand, but it wasn't often that the spell would hold.

"Well, go on. You give it a try," Fred said.

I felt my nerves explode within my stomach. I always hated performing magic in front of people. Nerves did nothing for my control and I really didn't want anyone to pay closer attention to me than necessary. I was just about to get over my nerves and lift my wand with a cry of 'Expecto Patronum' caught my ear and a full blown lion took form and danced around the room. Everyone clapped and shouted congratulations to James, who was standing with a proud smirk on his face, holding out his wand as the lion stomped around the room.

Suddenly, the lion turned and looked at me, stopping just for a moment before jogging quickly over to me and dancing around me, just as Mr. Potter's stag had done when he had shone me his Patronus a year ago. The classroom watched in awe as I reached out to touch the light form, causing it to nudge its head towards my hand like a cat. The Patronus felt cool to the touch and my hand slipped through it, causing the light to wisp around my hand, before returning to its original shape when I removed my hand. The lion then bent down into a playful crouch, opening its mouth as though to roar, but no sound emitted from it.

I looked up and caught Amelia watching me with a curious expression before I turned and caught eyes with James, who was watching my exchange with his Patronus with a confused look. Everyone in the classroom was watching me with curiosity or confusion. I blushed and looked back to the lion, who jumped up on his hind legs to look me directly in the eyes, before falling back down and running around the room playfully. He disappeared a moment later as James dissipated his Patronus.

"Well, that was something," Amelia said in a bubbly voice. "Occasionally, a Patronus made be attracted to someone's essence, which is what we saw just occur. It seems as though Mr. Potter's Patronus liked Ms. Styles."

I blushed deeply as the class laughed at both mine and James's expense.

"Now, everyone continue on with your practices," Amelia continued.

I turned away from the rest of the classroom and caught eyes with Fred, whose brow was furrowed.

"What?" I asked.

"I've never heard of that," he said. I shot him a questioning look. "Well, I've never seen a Patronus act that way. They're an energy force, you know? They aren't supposed to have personalities. And I think Uncle Harry would have told us about that when he taught us about them."

I shrugged. "Maybe he doesn't know everything about Patronuses then."

"And Professor Earnhardt does?"

"She's a professor," I pointed out.

Fred shook his head. "It just doesn't sound right."

"Well, you just saw it happen with your own eyes. I don't see how it can get more 'right' than that."

Fred shot me a look. "Strange things always happen around you."

I clenched my jaw and refused to make eye contact with him, looking around the room at my peers, who were still attempting to conjure their Patronuses. I caught James still watching me with furrowed brows and turned away quickly.

"Well, you still haven't attempted the spell yet," Fred pointed out, crossing his arms. "Go on then."

I pulled out my wand and held it out in front of me, trying my best to control my nerves. I noticed Amelia watching me out of the corner of my eye. I knew Fred was staring at me and I had a feeling James was still watching me.

I calmed myself down and tried to think of my happiest memory. Sorting through the bad memories was difficult, having so many. But I finally settled on that day at the beach with all of my friends back in summer. I focused on the feelings from that day, letting them wash over me. I smiled at the memory, holding out my wand and saying, "Expecto Patronum."

Nothing happened. I was completely taken aback, staring at my wand in shock. I had never not been able to do a spell on the first try. I looked up and caught Amelia's eye. She was watching me with yet another curious expression. She nodded her head at me, telling me to try again. I did, and once again, nothing happened.

Fred chuckled next to me. "It's alright. Most people don't get it."

I was too shocked to even send Fred a glare for his jibe. This was this first spell that I had not been able to do on the first try.

Class ended a few minutes later and everyone started to shuffle out. I stayed behind, desperate to ask Amelia about what was going on. After the last students filed out, I walked up to her quickly. She shook her head as I approached.

"I have no idea why it didn't work, Newt," she said before I could ask.

"I don't understand. This has never happened before," I replied, slightly frantic. Was I losing my magic? Though it had caused me many problems and much strife over the years, my magic was a very large part of who I was. The thought that I could lose something so ingrained within me was devastating.

I looked down at my open palm and closed it along with my eyes. I focused all of my energy into my hand, recalling the magic I used to entertain my little sister with. I opened my eyes and slowly opened my hand, feeling relief wash over me at the sight of the tiny chocolate kiss resting on my palm.

"You aren't losing your magic, Newt," Amelia said soothingly. "This is really advanced magic that requires absolute certainty and happiness. You've had a very hard life. It's understandable that you would find this difficult."

"But I was certain of my memory," I explained to her. "I let it consume me."

"What memory did you choose?" Amelia asked.

"Of a moment over the summer with my friends. It was the happiest I've been in a long time."

Amelia sent me a motherly smile. "I don't think your memory is strong enough. You're going to need something a bit more powerful."

I furrowed my brow, thinking hard about what memory could possibly be happy enough to work. My mind flashed back to moments with Rance and Asha. I found myself overwhelmingly sad at the thought of my lost siblings. But I also felt completely overwhelmed with just how much I had loved them. The emotion stormed through me. I didn't even have to utter the incantation for the blindingly bright light to burst forth from my wand and dance across the room.

Amelia and I both watched in awe as the light danced before starting to take a form. It looked like a bird of some sort.

Amelia's eye brightened. "It's beautiful, Newt."

The bird flew over to me, fluttering around my head and swooping upwards before diving back downwards. He was dancing for me.

"What is it?" I asked. It was larger than an owl, but didn't quite look like a hawk or eagle.

"It looks like a Phoenix," Amelia said in awe.

I felt something fill me from within. I realized belatedly that it was elation. I smiled at my Patronus as it continued to dance around me.


I was hit by a bludger an hour into the first game of the season. It knocked me off my broom. Luckily, Hugo was right there to catch me and slow my fall. Unluckily, Albus managed to catch the snitch while I was falling. We lost the first match, much to James's dismay. I only suffered a few broken ribs, which were healed over night.

I told James when he came to visit me later that day in the Hospital Wing to warn his brother that I was out for revenge. James had laughed and told me to get in line.


A sixth year Ravenclaw, Hayden Davies, ended up asking me to Hogsmeade. I agreed. It was my first date ever. He was very handsome, with dirty blonde curls and dark brown eyes. He was also captain of the Ravenclaw quidditch team, and a prefect like me. He bought me lunch and took me to this lovely odds and ends store where he bought me a little muggle music box. He kissed me at the end of the date; just a little peck. It was very nice. We had a few patrols together after. I liked him.


"There's been another muggle-born family murdered," I said to Dom one morning at lunch just before the Christmas holidays.

She looked up at me with furrowed brows. These killings kept popping up in the news. People were starting to worry that there was another mad pure-blood crazy witch or wizard out there orchestrating these attacks. After the last dark wizard, people would never take these situations lightly. Everyone was on edge.

Fred suddenly plopped down next to me in a huff, slamming his head onto the table. I exchanged glances with Dom before turning back to the sullen dark-haired boy.

"What's wrong Fred?" I asked. He grumbled an unintelligible response. I smiled slightly. "I'm sorry. I don't speak Troll. English, however, I'm quite proficient in."

Fred lifted his head and gave me a desperate look. "I just had my career meeting with Professor McGonagall," he explained.

My mouth fell into an understanding 'o' shape before I sent Fred a sympathetic look. "I'm taking it didn't go so well?"

"She told me my grades wouldn't get me into any professional profession."

I chuckled. "Fred, do you even want to go into any professional profession?"

"No. But, it's not fun having it rubbed in your face how bloody unintelligent you are," he whined.

"You're very intelligent," I pointed out. "Just not when it comes to school work."

"I'm a failure!" Fred wailed dramatically, throwing himself back on the table.

"Oh shut it," Dom demanded from across the table. "Uncle George and Fred had piss grades when they were at Hogwarts and they still managed to open one of the most profitable businesses in the wizarding world. You've got their genes. Stop your whining."

Fred sat up and a contemplative look spread across his face. I turned to Dom in confusion. "Uncle Fred?"

"My dad's twin brother. He died in the war," Fred explained.

My eyes widened. "That's terrible."

Fred nodded. "Dad said he was torn up for years over it. He finally moved on. Guess it helps that he's got a portrait of his brother at home that he can talk to."

"What did you end up telling McGonagall you were interested in doing?" Dom asked me several moments later.

"Auror Training," I said.

Dom's eyes widened. "That's a dangerous field, especially nowadays."

I shrugged. "I think it's fascinating."

"You'd be brilliant at it, of course," Fred cut in.

I smiled at him. "Thank you, Freddie."

"James wants to do that as well," Dom pointed out. "He's wanted to be an auror since he was little."

I tensed slightly at the mention of James. Things between him and me had been tense since my date with Hayden. Apparently, they were rivals and James didn't like the fact that I had gone out with him. I had broken it off not a week after the date, but James still hadn't quite forgiven me for dating the enemy.


The Christmas holidays were very lonely for me. I ended up staying at the castle because Amelia was sent on a special mission. I would have gone home with Dom again, except Amelia requested that I stay at the castle. She wouldn't tell me why. So I spent Christmas Day with the house elves down in the kitchens. They took a very fast liking to me. They recognized my magic. They called me an 'ancient one.' They wouldn't explain what they meant, though. So I waited for Amelia to return. I ended up waiting a long time, well into the new term. They brought in a substitute professor for DADA.


The rain fell so hard that I could barely see through it. James had taught us all a spell to keep the water from our eyes, but it didn't do so much to help us see through the torrential downpour. It also didn't prevent the water from clinging to our robes, weighing them down and making movement clumsy. And the rain was freezing on top of it all. It was times like these when I wished we were allowed to have our wands on the field. I certainly could have used a warming spell.

I couldn't see how well my team was fairing beneath me. Only Amy Grimm's commentary throughout the game alerted me to the score. So far, we were beating Ravenclaw by two goals, making the score 70-50. James had told me not to catch the snitch unless we were up by 100 points. I had grumpily pointed out that he better not take his time earning those points. Hayden Davies was the seeker for Ravenclaw, and he was good. James was desperate to beat Davies, especially after our loss to Slytherin in the first game. I harbored no ill feelings towards Hayden, but I still wanted to beat Ravenclaw. It would mean winning the Cup. We had beat Hufflepuff 370-90, putting us right behind Slytherin in line for the Quidditch Cup. Ravenclaws slim victory over Slytherin had pretty much guaranteed our place for the Cup should we beat Ravenclaw in the game by at least 180 points. We needed to win.

The Scamander twins weren't making it easy on me either. They were the beaters for Ravenclaw and with their twin intuition, or whatever, they were damn good. They were also out to get me, sending bludgers in my direction constantly. So far, I had managed to dodge them all, which was rather impressive, especially considering I couldn't see them coming until they were nearly upon me. I had to relax and open my connection to magic in order to survive the game.

It wasn't until the score was at 120-70 that I finally noticed the flutter of the snitch somewhere near me. I closed my eyes and focused and realized that the snitch was somewhere beneath where I was floating on my broom. I quickly shot downwards, seeking it out. I didn't catch sight of it for several long seconds and, when I did, it darted towards the ground. I followed it obediently, reaching out for it.

"NEWT STYLES HAS CAUGHT THE SNITCH!" I heard announced just as my hands closed on the small golden ball. It wasn't a second later that I realized there was someone directly between me and my path towards the ground. It was too late to pull up, and I collided with the person, knocking him or her off of their broom and causing them to plummet towards the ground. Gasps washed through the crowd.

"NEWT STYLES COLLIDES WITH HER CAPTAIN. POTTER HAS FALLEN OFF HIS BROOM!"

I had to shake myself back into awareness before darting after James, the collision having knocked me silly. It seemed like a lifetime passed before I finally managed to catch him by the back of his robes. I yanked up on my broom, causing it to slow down rapidly, though it took more time with the added weight of James, who I was desperately holding onto. I wasn't strong enough to hold him up, however, and the sudden presence of his weight ripped at my shoulder, causing me to cry out in pain. But I refused to let go, for fear of causing James to fall to his death.

I pulled my broom into a steady position and reached down with my other arm to help lift him onto the broom. I could barely see him through the rain, my rain repellant charm having worn off. My hand, still clutching the snitch, connected with his. I felt him pause for a moment, before he readjusted his grip and grabbed onto my forearm, heaving himself up onto my broom.

I was gasping for breath, the pain from my shoulder nearly blinding me. The rain was still pouring down and I desperately wished the freezing temperature of it would numb my shoulder.

I realized a moment later that James was grinning at me like an idiot as he sat backwards on my broom, facing me. His dark hair was plastered to his forehead, catching in his eyes and sticking out rather oddly around his ears. There was a large gash across his cheek that was trickling a trail of blood down and across his face. He didn't seem to mind though. His robes, just like mine, were soaked through, appearing darker in color and clinging to his body. Water mixed with a little bit of blood dripped off his nose and lips, causing me to focus my attention on them.

"WE WON!" he shouted happily, pulling me into a hug.

I gasped at the pain, trying to pull away. He realized a moment later that I was in pain and pulled away. He shuffled around on my broom until he was facing the right direction and took control of it, guiding us towards the ground. We landed a moment later and James had to steady me as we climbed off of the broom.

"I've got you," he said. I could still hear the grin in his voice. "We bloody won! Fantastic. I knew you could do it, Newt. Never doubted you for a minute."

Our teammates collided with us a moment later, causing my shoulder to scream in pain yet again. I groaned and tried to get away from them. James grabbed me around the waist and forced me to stay next to him. His smile was a mile long. Madame Hawkins approached us a few moments later, clutching the silver Quidditch Cup in her hands. She handed it to James and roars filled the stadium as Gryffindor celebrated their victory.

"PARTY IN THE COMMON ROOM!" Fred shouted from somewhere near me.

I couldn't help but smile at the jubilation of my team. I gritted my teeth through the pain. It had started radiating into my chest.

James nudged me forward and guided us into the locker rooms, where everyone proceeded to sing the Hogwarts anthem and roar to our victory.

"Newtie!" Fred called over the ruckus. His hair was just as wet and silly looking as James's was, and I assumed mine as well. "Nice catch!" he continued, winking at me.

I rolled my eyes, catching his hidden meaning. James chuckled next to me and tightened his arm around my waist, causing my injured shoulder to bump into his chest. I hung my head in pain and squeezed my eyes tight.

"I think we all owe a round of applause to our fantastic seeker, who not only brought us the Cup, but saved your amazing captain's life!" James cried from beside me. All of our teammates cheered loudly. "Unfortunately, she's been injured. So, I'm going to take her to the Hospital Wing while you all get ready for the party!" There was another round of cheering as everyone moved to change and make their way to the common room.

James quickly guided me out of the locker room and back through the rain. We made it to the castle quickly and made our way through the corridors, leaving a trail of water behind us.

"I was pissed at first," James admitted. "I thought one of Ravenclaw's players had purposely knocked me off. Thought I was a goner. Then you caught me and I felt the snitch when you tried to pull me up. Thought you were Davies at first. I thought you wouldn't be strong enough to catch me. I was devastated. Then I saw it was you and…" James stopped talking for a moment, his joy overcoming him. I couldn't help but smile at his elation. "Talk about a hurricane," he continued, referring to his emotions.

We reached the Hospital Wing a moment later and had to endure Madame Yancy's rants about the violence of quidditch. James sat with me the whole time, his smile never leaving his face. I tried my hardest not to stare at him, but I couldn't help thinking about just how beautiful he was. I'd always been fascinated by his eyes and hair, and how they were the exact same color. His lips were full and stretched across his teeth as he smiled. I remembered how water dripped off of them.

"You've dislocated your shoulder and collarbone, torn the muscle to shreds, and fractured your chest bone," Madame Yancy griped as she worked me over. "Honestly, what did you do?"

"She saved my life," James said. "Caught me when I was falling." He sent me a wink. I blushed.

Madame Yancy calmed down after that and muttered several spells to fix me up. She fixed James's injuries several long minutes after my own. James hadn't even realized he was hurt.

"The blood didn't give it away," I snarked.

His smile didn't falter. "I can only feel joy right now," he responded, before a wickedly look overcame his features. "And lust," he added, sending me another wink.

I rolled my eyes and tried to will away my blush.

He walked me back to the common room, both of us still in our robes, which were now dry thanks to Madame Yancy. James was practically bouncing off the walls. He kept recounting moments in the game to me.

"I'll bet Al is pissed," James said. "We had a bet on who would win the Cup this year."

"Serves him right. Letting me fall to get the snitch. Bloody prick."

James turned to me with a wild grin. I wasn't sure what he was doing until he was suddenly in my face, his hands on either side of my head, and his lips on mine. I froze at first, caught entirely off guard. He pulled away a second later, his eyes still closed and mouth slightly open, his breath mixing with mine. He'd never been more beautiful to me than in that moment. So, I closed my eyes and stood on my toes, pressing my mouth back to his. A happy sound tore through his throat and I was suddenly pressed up against the wall behind us and James was kissing me with everything he had.

My heart fluttered wildly in my chest as his lips moved against mine. He moved closer until there was no space between us, trapping me between the wall and his body, leaving me no space to move. Not that I wanted to. I was startled when his tongue ran across my bottom lip, not having ever experienced something like that. I let my lips fall open willingly, letting James take the lead. He did so happily.

One of my hands caught in his hair and the other wrapped around his back as I tried to pull him even closer, much to his delight. He kissed me with more fervor, refusing to even breathe. It wasn't until we heard footsteps approaching us in the empty, dark hallway that we separated. James was still pressed against me, his hands still trapped in my hair, as he pulled away and looked down the hallway. He turned back to me with a content grin, resting his forehead on my own.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that," he whispered, before disentangling us and pulling me along quickly behind him as he made his way to the Gryffindor common room.

The party was in full swing by the time we arrived hand in hand. I pulled away from James when we walked in the room, sending him a teasing wink before running off to find Dom. Shockingly enough, she was wrapped around Noah Harding when I found her, snogging the daylights out of him.

"It's a bit unsettling," Fred said as he ambled up next to me. "They've been going at it for quite a while now."

I looked over at my best friend and sent him an amused look. He looked at me out of the corner of his eye with a slight smirk. "Of course, you look like you've been worked over a good one," he pointed out. I flushed dark. "Has our dear ole captain been treating you right, Newtie?"

I mock glared at Fred, causing him to laugh loudly and pull me into a hug, ruffling my hair. "It's about time. He's been pining after you since first year."

I felt my heart beat faster at the statement. "Seriously?"

"Oh yeah."

"I thought James hated me, to be honest."

"Well, he thought you were with his baby brother for a little bit and then you were with his arch nemesis, so I'd say he thought he hated you too. Mostly because he liked you and you didn't give him any attention."

I shook my head. "Boys are so fickle."

"Only when it comes to girls who drive them silly," James interrupted as he walked up to Fred and me. He smiled adoringly down at me, causing me to blush.

Fred sent me a smirk before clapping his best friend on the back and leaving us alone. James grabbed my hand and dragged me over to a corner of the common room. He towered over me, smiling so wide I was convinced his face might split in half.

I smiled back at him, letting his joy fill my own.

"Hi," he whispered down to me.

"Hi," I replied.

"Come here often?" he asked, tilting his head teasingly and leaning his side against the wall next to us.

I gave him a contemplative look. "No. But I think I may start."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Why's that?"

"The view is rather pleasant."

James hummed in response, still staring down at me. His auburn eyes were bright and happy. My stomach ached at how beautiful he was. I bit my lip to try and contain my smile. James's eyes zoned in on my mouth just before he leaned in and kissed me. I couldn't hold back my smile, even with his own pressed against my lips.


I woke up the next morning with a smile on my face. I was happier than I had been in a very long time. The smile remained on my face as I took care to get ready for the day and as I walked down to breakfast. I tried not to look eager to see James that day, but I could tell that Fred noticed. He was trying to hide his smirk as he sat across from me, but I could easily see it.

"Go ahead," I told him with a sigh. He didn't try to hide it after that.

I didn't see James at breakfast. Nor did I see him in any of our classes that day. In fact, I didn't see Albus or Lily around at all either. At lunch, Dom asked me if I had seen James. I told her no. Rose asked me if I had heard from Al when she passed me in the hall right before the end of classes. I shook my head. I wasn't the only one who noticed their absence, and I clearly wasn't the only one worried.

It was later that afternoon when I found out why they were missing. I was told by Professor Gordon that I was needed in the Headmistresses office. My heart fell immediately to my stomach. Nothing ever good came out of me going to her office.

When I got there, Rose and Hugo's father was waiting for me with an apprehensive look.

"Mr. Weasley," I greeted the nervous looking man. "What's going on?"

"Call me Ron, and I think it's best we have this conversation somewhere else," he said kindly.

My face fell and my heart beat faster. I clenched my jaw, attempting to reel in my nerves. I was extremely nervous that this had something to do with the Potter's. All of them were missing and, instead of Mr. Potter being there to greet me when I was call to this office, it was his best friend and right hand man. "That bad?"

Ron didn't reply, but gestured for me to enter the fireplace. He joined me a moment later and we were covered in green flames. A series of fireplaces and homes flashed across my vision as we traveled before settling on a very familiar hallway. We were at the Ministry of Magic.

Ron put a comforting hand on my shoulder and guided me down a path I knew all too well. What he had to tell me was going to be bad. Why else would he be taking me to the Indestructible Room? My heart beat hard in my chest, matching each step I took perfectly.

We reached the giant door a few minutes later and Ron opened it with a wave of his hand. I entered without asking any questions, not bothering to look around the room that I knew so well. I stared at my shoes for a while. Dom had picked them out for me over the summer. She called them Oxfords and said they looked like something I should wear.

"Harry told me to bring you here," Ron admitted a few minutes later. I turned and looked at him. He looked like he wanted to be here just as much as me. He was looking around the look, avoiding having to look at me.

"Is he alright?" I asked a moment later.

Ron looked over at me and nodded. "He'll be fine."

I nodded, releasing a breath I didn't know I was holding. We were quiet for several long more minutes before Ron released a heavy sigh.

"I don't know how to do this," he admitted. "Harry has always been better at this."

I sent the man a sympathetic look. "Sometimes it's just best to say it."

He sent me a heavy look. His eyes were very sad. "There was an accident on the mission," he started. "The, uh, team was ambushed."

I felt myself holding my breath. I could practically feel myself moving out of my body. I had a terrible feeling I knew exactly what Ron was about to tell me. I was separating from my emotions. It was the only way I would be able to control myself from what I was about to hear.

"A lot of people were hurt," Ron said slowly. "A lot of people didn't make it."

I closed my eyes and breathed out.

"Amelia didn't make it," he finally said, choking on the words.

The world was suddenly so quiet and dark. My eyes were still closed. I wasn't breathing. Ron wasn't breathing. The room seemed to revert to an empty stillness even while occupied.

There was a ripple under my skin. I quelled it immediately. I wouldn't react. I couldn't. She taught me not to. I opened my eyes and saw Ron watching me cautiously, sadly. The silence was overwhelming. I wished just for a moment that I could hear the cracking of my heart as it broke within my chest. I wished I could feel it breaking. I wished the agony were physical. It would be easier then. It would heal faster. I could survive it then.

Focus. Transfer the negative energy into something positive, something physical.

I closed my eyes again and breathed in deep, pulling in more than breath. I could practically taste the magic in the room surrounding me. I could feel the magic of the room itself. I could sense Ron's magic as it pulsed through his veins. I could even sense my own magic as it trembled, barely controlled, on the verge of implosion, in the air around us. I focused every ounce of my concentration and energy onto the presence of the magic.

I opened my eyes and heard the very audible sharp intake of breath from across the room. Vibrant waves of moving colors drifted through the air, changing swiftly as they danced and flowed like water through the room. The walls were vibrating colors, a display of ombre blues and purples. There were strong red, green, and pinks waves flashing off of myself and Ron, manifesting into wispy splashes of light blues, magentas, and flashing yellows and oranges. The room was filled with a magical aurora.

"What is this?" Ron asked softly as he stared around the room in utter awe.

"It's magic," I explained quietly as I too looked around the room. "Isn't it terribly beautiful?"

I felt rather than saw Ron look at me. "Are you doing this?" he asked.

"I've always been able to feel it in the air, surrounding individuals, inhabiting objects," I said. "A flutter in the air, a tingle under my skin, a whisper like breath in my ear. This is our life force. This is what makes our world possible. And it's so great and terrible."

Ron was silent, taking in my words and the colors floating around us.

"She told me that I would only survive if I learned to turn the negative into a positive force," I continued, staring at the colors, memorizing them, relying on them to keep me standing in that moment. "This is my mourning."

Ron didn't speak. Not while we stood in that room watching the colors for close to half an hour. Not when the colors faded and we finally left. Not when he led me through the Ministry and back to the Floo Network. Not even when he dropped me back off at Hogwarts, giving me one last parting sympathetic gaze before disappearing in green flames.

I stared at the fireplace for a few moments, not wanting to move back into reality. I wanted to flee. I wanted to hide.

"Ms. Styles?" Professor McGonagall asked quietly.

I shook myself out of my reverie and turned to the Headmistress. I noticed how completely exhausted she looked. It made her seem older, weaker. How long had she been giving her everything to this school?

"Yes, Professor?"

"Are you alright, child?" she asked.

"Are you, Professor?"

She looked taken aback. It took her a few moments to respond. "I am, Ms. Styles."

I nodded, looking down to my shoes. Oxfords. "I'll be fine, Professor." I looked back up at her. Her eyes seemed ancient. How much had she endured? "I will."

She nodded. "Very well. Dinner starts soon, if you would like to join your classmates."

"I think I'll just go to my dorm. I'm rather tired."

She nodded once and I left the office, but not the memories that constantly haunted me because of it.


Hogwarts held a ceremony for the death of Professor Amelia Earnhardt. Everyone was shocked and saddened by the loss. For many of the students, it was the first time they had lost someone near them. The Potters and Weasleys attended the ceremony. Harry even spoke for her. They were colleagues. He was with on the mission with her when she died.

I disappeared immediately after the ceremony, losing myself on the grounds of Hogwarts. I didn't want to speak with anyone. No one but my close friends had known that Amelia was my legal guardian. Now, everyone knew and they were all watching me with sad, curious looks. I couldn't stand it.

I returned to the castle well after dark. When I finally made my way to the Gryffindor common room, there was a very familiar figure passed out on the couch in front of the fire. It had two be a little after midnight. I walked over to the couch and shook James's shoulder.

"James," I whispered. "Wake up."

His eyes slowly peeked open, blinking rapidly a few times before recognizing me. He shot up quickly, worry overtaking his features.

"I waited for you," he said, his voice still sleepy. "Where were you?"

I shrugged, collapsing on the couch next to him. I stared at the fire. "Wandering."

"That's not safe," he said quietly.

I didn't bother pointing out that he and his friends were constantly sneaking out at night to wander around the grounds, getting into who knows what types of mischief.

We were quiet for several long minutes.

"Are you alright?" James finally asked.

"I will be."

He was quiet again.

"I told you," I said calmly a few minutes later.

I noticed him look at me out of the corner of my eye. I could practically feel him tense up beside me.

"I told you that the people I love always get hurt," I continued.

"Newt," he started, panic evident in his voice.

"The people I love die. I can't bear to watch it happen again I won't let it happen again."

"Newt, please…"

"That's why I can't do this, James. There is a war coming and I fully intend on being part of it. Whoever has done this to my family, to all those other families; they're going to pay. I can't afford any distractions."

"I can help. I'm not a distraction," he pleaded.

I turned and looked at him. There was a helpless look on his face. He knew his pleas were hopeless, and yet he was still pleading with me.

"I'm sorry, James," I whispered.

A pained sound tore through his throat and he turned away from me, closing his eyes and dropping his face into his hands. I gently placed my hand on his shoulder, squeezing before letting go and standing up.

"You deserve to be happy," I said. "And I can't give that to you."

I left him sitting there a few moments later; a broken statue of a once happy boy.


Our N.E.W.T exams happened two weeks after Amelia's death. I passed with the highest marks they had ever recorded.

I had barely spoken to any of my friends in those final weeks. I didn't hide from them, though, and they didn't force me to talk. Dom stayed by my side, even through my silence. We spent most of our time studying. Sometimes she would chat about a few things and I would respond. But the distance between us was obvious.

The distance between Fred and I was even more obvious. He stopped talking to me once he realized that I had essentially told James it was never going to work out between us. James hadn't so much as looked at me since then. Fred had though, and his looks were always full of disappointment. It didn't seem as though James was suffering all that much anyway. He and Alice Longbottom started dating sometime between our conversation and the end of the N.E.W.T exams.

I turned seventeen in June and was allowed to live on my own for the summer. Amelia had left me everything.

I accepted an internship over the summer with curse breakers in the Americas and spent the summer before my seventh year traversing through the jungles of Brazil. I tried to lose myself in the rainforest; desperate to leave behind everything that haunted me from across the sea. I wasn't successful in forgetting.