While I still had many moments over the next few weeks where I was pretty stressed, having people to help me go through it did help. Prepping for OWLS and being off the Qudditch pitch was making me a bit anxious. I had worked out something with Wood where instead of missing a week straight of practice I would just miss every other one. Our final match of the season was this Saturday against Slytherin. Yes Slytherin. Not to mention that I could hardly go to meals or do homework without an escort. My friends had taken it upon themselves to make sure I would go to meals. Fred and George had been sitting down with me while I did my homework to keep the atmosphere light and while it was a bit distracting at times they did just that. I mean don't get me wrong, I was a big girl and could look after myself but it was comforting to know they cared so much. As of now though, they were all of practicing while I was studying during my missed practice and Lee was probably no doubt off romancing some poor damsel who thanks to him was probably in distress. It was the day before OWLS and I felt pretty tired from my studies. I decided to take a break and finally write to my parents. Since it was not a big deal, Hogwarts was not required to report my little incident to my parents and I had no intention of telling my parents about it either and gave them usual study report. I had made my way to the owlery as I heard rain beat against the castle. That was the easy part however, making my way up the uncovered steps was not a pleasant journey. I finally reached it, out of breath. My OWL cooed at the sight of me.

"Sorry Artemis about the weather" I told him apologetically. Just then someone else ran to the tower.

It was Cedric.

"Oh, Eliza...hi" he grinned.

"Hiya Cedric" I said back to him while giving my owl the letter.

"Hey look I'm sorry I didn't visit you. Gryffindors haven't been to keen with me since... I still should have come. How are you?"

He was referring to the match that we had played against Hufflepuff where Harry was injured by the dementors and he had caught the snitch. While I was not personally angry with him because we were friends many of my fellow Gryffindors hadn't to been too keen towards any of the Hufflepuffs since the match and I could see them giving him a hard time had he come to visit me in the hospital wing.

"Oh I'm fine, thanks for asking and I'm sure everyone will come around, I'm certainly not mad at you." I said causing him to grin.

"Oh good, Are you nervous for your OWLS?" he asked

"Um, yeah...I can't wait for them to be over" I groaned.

"Well next year we'll both have N.E.W.T. levels and maybe even classes together" he said

"That's assuming I do a well as you did and at this rate it is not a fair assumption to make." I said only half jokingly to him.

"Oh I'm sure you'll do fine and then next year we can study together" he exclaimed

"I might just have to take you up on the offer. Lord knows I'll need the help." I told him.

We said our goodbyes and I hurried back to the common room as the rain began to fall harder.

"Those Slytherins won't know what hit them" said an over enthusiastic Lee while a very tired group of people followed.

"Well there are the troops" I said smiling up from my textbook to look at their tired faces.

"You're so lucky you got time off" said Angelina sitting down by the fire.

"Really though" said George plopping down on the couch next to me.

"Hey watch it!" I yelled at him "Don't you dare get mud on me or my books!" I said closing them quickly and setting them on the table foreseeing a disaster.

"Oh what do you mean?" he said leaning closer to me , this time the threat of the mud covering his clothes was imminent.

"Don't you da-" but it was too late, he had pulled me into a hug covering me in mud.

"GEORGE WEASLEY! I happened to be perfectly content being clean and try on this cold evening!" I yelled only half way because my scream became masked by my laughter.

I didn't see an look exchanged by Angelina and Fred.

"Oh I'm sorry did I do something wrong? Just trying to express my friendship." he said as he pulled away from the hug after I finally pushed him off.

"I heard the best way to express friendship is with a kiss. That's how the French do it" said Lee winking at me.

I rolled my eyes. "Well maybe then you need to find new friends although Fred might take you up on that offer" I said trying to collect my books.

"Hey Eliza can I borrow some of those?" He said pointing to my books and notes.

" Lee don't you have your own, I mean books at least?" I asked.

"Well I mean yeah but yours are probably right and well...uh... existing" he said earning laughs from everyone except Alicia because she was normally on the receiving end of those types of questions.

"It's only 9 o'clock, I still have 2 hours of studying I'm planning on doing." I sighed.

"You aren't over studying yourself now are you?" asked George looking at me telling me he was only half joking.

"I'm fine, really but we all have O.W.L.S tomorrow in case you forgot." I said crossing my arms.

"Oh believe me, I wish I could forget." said an deflated Angelina.

hey I have a quick author's note on the next page. check it out, thanks!