Everything Changes

Sam walked over to the side of the room and picked up a bottle of water, eagerly gulping it down as she and Finn took a break. They had about an hour left in their afternoon rehearsal and both had been pushing themselves hard. The audition was a little less than a month away and Madam would expect to see clear results over the weekend.

Her assistant Leslie had just stepped out to use the loo so they had a rare few minutes to themselves without her watchful eye. While she wasn't nearly as strict as Madam Bernard, she did report everything to the teacher – especially if they were slacking off. They had learned that the hard way in third year when they spent an entire class teasing Leslie and paid dearly for it the next time Madam Bernard had come in.

"How are you feeling about the audition?" he asked, stepping over to her with his own bottle of water.

"Nervous," Sam said, looking over at him. "But excited at the same time. Granted I wish we could do something else – even the black swan pas de deux would have been better." Finn chuckled.

"This is the most difficult routine that we've ever done," he said. "Madam Bernard is convinced it'll be our ticket in."

"But it's so dead the way she has us doing it," Sam said, rolling her eyes. "Why couldn't we do something with a bit more… fire. Better yet – why couldn't we be doing our own original choreography? That would be something to catch the judge's eye. And we've long proven that we could do it. Just Madam doesn't want to give us a chance."

"More like she doesn't want to risk it," Finn said with a sigh. "Besides, you could breathe life into any dusty old routine."

"I just want to… try something more," Sam said, on the verge of whining. "Something with more emotion and passion."

"Is this the 'I'm in love with Adrian Pucey' Sam Abbott speaking?" Finn asked, grinning. Sam glared playfully at him.

"Would have wanted to do something like that regardless," she replied. "I'm a Gryffindor for a reason."

"Very true," Finn said. "You think something like what we did for Halloween would have worked?"

"Possibly, if we increased the level of the technique. Though Madam would have had a coronary," Sam said, chuckling. "Adrian found it entertaining, though."

"Speaking of which, how are things going with Mr. Pucey?" Finn asked. Sam smiled.

"Very well," she said. "He told me he loved me this weekend." Finn's eyes widened.

"You two are getting serious," he said.

"We've been together since summer," Sam said. "It's been long enough."

"Keep forgetting since I only found out shortly after school started," he said.

"And even shorter since we went public," Sam replied. "But thankfully everyone's moved on."

"Suppose you were happy when that whole fiasco with Liam and Fiona broke out," Finn replied.

"Can always count on a womanizer to cheat," Sam replied. "By the way, how come is it that there are no scandals from Hufflepuff? Surely you lot must get up to something in that common room of yours."

"Other than everyone and their dog mooning over Cedric Diggory?" Finn asked.

"Boring," Sam complained.

"Not everyone has to have a scandal, Sam," Finn replied. "By the way, your cousin says hi."

"How is Hannah?" Sam asked. "I hardly see her as it is. Except for holidays."

"Good," he replied. "I don't see her much as well, her being a third year and all."

"Alright, you two. You've chatted long enough. Time to get back to work," Leslie said, striding in. "I've promised Madam Bernard that you would be ready for this audition, so let's make her proud. From the beginning."

Sam collapsed at the Gryffindor table for supper that night, dropping her bag on the floor at her feet. She had showered and changed, knowing that she'd have to head down to the dungeons right after.

"From the look on your face, I take it you still have to tutor Flint tonight?" Alicia asked, sitting across from her. Adrian quickly joined them, as did Oliver and Percy.

"No amount of complaining about Flint or telling her I have an audition and exams coming up could get me out of it," she replied, frowning.

"I'll be there keeping an eye from the hallway," Adrian said. "He won't try anything."

"Other than being his normal, annoying self," Sam said.

"Why would McGonagall make you keep it up?" Percy asked. "It doesn't seem rational. Couldn't they assign someone else?"

"Snape said it's more important now with exams next month," Sam said, starting to eat. "And no one else will do it. Apparently, his family has made sizable donations to Hogwarts so they have to keep them happy." She rolled her eyes.

"But what about your exams?! You're putting in more time in the studio, plus you've got more homework and such," Oliver exclaimed.

"I'll figure it out," Sam said. "You know me. I'm always good."

"Just remember to take care of yourself," Oliver replied, frowning.

"I'll be fine," Sam insisted, stabbing at a potato. "Just need to survive my tutoring session first. I'm sure it'll be lovely."

"You're not scared, are you?" Alicia asked.

"Course not," Sam replied immediately. "Other than being a git, what more could he possibly do?"

"Maybe hex or jinx you," Oliver said.

"Again, I'll be just outside," Adrian said. "He won't try anything. I'll even sit at the back of the classroom if I have to." Oliver looked at him a moment before nodding.

"You could always sit there with him," Sam said lightly.

"Really?" Oliver asked. Sam chuckled.

"I was joking, Woodsie. I'll be fine," she replied. "He hasn't done anything yet, so I doubt he will."

Adrian kissed Sam's cheek before she stepped into the classroom, leaving the door open.

"Good evening, Abbott," Flint said, not looking up from where he was checking the potions set. She stopped for a moment, noting the friendly tone in his voice.

"What's wrong with you?" she asked, starting at him confused.

"Nothing," he said, looking up. "Are we going to get this over with or not?" Sam nodded and walked over to desk and sat her bag down. "We doing the memory potion?"

"Yes," she replied, pulling out her book and opening it to the right chapter. "You can start getting the ingredients."

Marcus left the room, going into the supply closet and returning a few minutes later with everything he needed to brew the potion. As Sam watched silently, he started preparing the first ingredient.

"Smaller," she said. He glanced up at her and then back at the cutting board, where he started to cut smaller pieces. "Not too quickly. You'll take your finger off."

"Thanks," Marcus said. Sam sat up, looking at him, dumbfounded. Since when did Marcus Flint say thank you?

"You're welcome," she said slowly. Marcus chuckled softly.

"I'm not going to bite, Abbott," he said, glancing at her. "At least not this time."

"Put those aside while we start on the others," Sam directed. Marcus pushed it aside and reached for another ingredient, staring at it a moment. "You're supposed to crush them." He nodded and got started, glancing at Sam, silently asking if he was doing it right. "That's good."

Marcus continued working in silence as Sam watched on, before glancing up at her.

"So, things are good with you and Pucey?" he asked. Sam glanced at him.

"I'm not talking about that with you," she said coldly.

"Fine, you listen. I'll talk. It won't last," he said, focusing on the ingredients. Sam chuckled.

"You're just up to more mind games, aren't you? It won't work," she replied.

"I'm serious, Abbott," he said.

"I'm sure you are, Flint," she retorted. He pushed the ingredients aside for a moment and looked at her.

"Let me guess. Your plan is that he's going to tell his parents over the break. Leave. Then you join your little dance company. He gets in the League and you two live happily ever after?" he asked. Sam just stared at him. "You honestly think that it'll work out?"

"We love each other. Of course, it will," Sam replied.

"You're 17. What makes you think that he's always going to stick around?" he asked. Sam frowned at him.

"What makes you think he won't?" she asked.

"Pucey's used to a certain lifestyle. Sure, for the first few months, it'll be grand. But once the shine wears off, what then? He won't be making much in the League – not while he's on reserves. I'm guessing it's the same with you at the company, until you work your way up. So, you'll both be making little for the first few years. You start arguing about money. And then other things. Soon it'll get to be too much. He'll leave and go back to his family – who will likely welcome him back, being the only son. And then where are you?" Marcus said.

Sam started at him a moment, unsure of how to respond.

"You didn't actually think it through, did you?" Marcus said, starting to laugh.

"We did," she said. "It'll work out. All we want is the freedom to live our lives how we want."

"Seriously, Abbott. All you Gryffindors are the same, jumping into something without thinking," he replied, turning back to the potion and getting started on it.

"You're wrong," she said, frowning. "You'll see that it works out."

"Don't come crying to me when it doesn't," he said, not taking his eyes off the potion. Sam snorted.

"Like I would," she said. Marcus glanced at her.

"We all know you'll end up with Wood anyway," he said.

"Unlikely," Sam said, watching what he was doing.

"Come on, Abbott. We both know you're not stupid. You haven't seen the way he looks at you?" Flint said.

"He's always looked at me the same," Sam said boredly. "Doesn't mean anything."

"Yea, it does," Flint said.

"Can we please focus on the potion and get through this?" Sam asked, groaning slightly "I really don't care to further discuss my love life with you."

Marcus continued on, with Sam making comments and suggestions here and there. She didn't want to think about what he had said, but she couldn't help but mull it over. She wouldn't admit it out loud, but it was getting to her.

Could he be right? Would there be too much different between them for this to work out? Sam shook her head, pushing it away. He was wrong. She knew it. She and Adrian loved each other, and things would work.

Finally, at the end of the hour, Marcus had just bottled up the potion and set it on a shelf with the rest of the seventh years' potions. Professor Snape would check it over the next day. Sam sighed as she packed up her bag while Marcus had started cleaning up the station.

"I'm off," she said, pulling her bag onto her shoulder. She didn't wait for a response as she started for the door.

"Remember what I said, Abbott," he called out.

"Whatever, Flint," she said, not bothering to look back. She stepped out into the corridor. Adrian pushed off from the wall, closing the book he had been reading and slipping it into his pocket. She smiled and kissed his cheek before they started walking.

"You survived," he said. "I didn't hear any yelling or crashing either."

"No, none of that… though," Sam stopped speaking, frowning slightly.

"Sam, what is it? What did he say?"

"Just that this… us… would never work out," she said, looking up at him. "That you're too used to a certain way of life and eventually, you'll get tired of this. We'll argue and then you'll go back."

Adrian sighed and stopped walking, turning to face her. He put his hands on her shoulders.

"Sam, I love you. I'm not walking away from this. Don't listen to him," he said.

"But… what if he's right? We are incredibly young… there's no way to know if this is going to work for the long-term. We haven't thought about anything farther than graduation," she said, her brow knit with worry. Adrian put his hand to her cheek.

"Don't worry so much. We have a plan for now, the rest… we'll worry about it once we get there," he said softly. "We don't have to have it all figured out just yet."

"Are you sure?" Sam asked. "About me? About telling your parents?" Adrian smiled and kissed her.

"Of that I am sure," he said. Sam smiled and took a deep breath, slowly letting it out.

"Alright," she said. She took his hand and they started walking again.

"Spending more time in the studio tonight?" he asked, glancing down at her.

"Yea, probably should," she said with a sigh. "That or homework. Probably both." Adrian sighed and let go of her hand, putting his arm around her shoulder.

"You should get more sleep," he said.

"Now you're sounding like Woodsie," she said, chuckling.

"He has a point," Adrian said.

"I won't stay up too late," she said. She heard a shuffling from behind them. "What was that?"

The two stopped and turned around, seeing Flint standing a few feet away, staring at them.

"Flint?" Adrian said. Marcus didn't say anything. Time seemed to slow. Sam saw Flint reach into his robes, pulling out his wand. Her eyes widened as Flint's mouth moved, his arm extended towards her. For some reason, she couldn't bring herself to move as she stared at the wand.

From seemingly nowhere, Warrington charged, pulling Flint back and causing his arm to raise, leading the curse to fly off course slightly. Her eyes were still glued on the streak of light when something hard hit her from the side and she fell to the ground.

She groaned when she hit the stone floor, rolling to her back to stare up at the ceiling for a moment. She then heard shouting. Quickly she pushed herself up, looking over at Adrian, who was convulsing on the ground as time sped up.

"Adrian!" she shouted as she quickly crawled over to him. Her hands were shaking as she took in his left shoulder. His shirt was ripped and blood was already seeping through. He was crying out in pain as he gripped his arm below the wound.

"Someone… call for Snape!"

She didn't realize that she had been the one to shout it as she covered her mouth and then gingerly reached down to the wound. She wasn't sure what to do, but it looked painful. Too painful. Everything she knew about healing charms seemed to fly out of her head as she stared.

Someone pushed her aside and she looked up as Snape took out his wand and began muttering something. Adrian went limp as his eyes closed.

"He needs to get to the hospital wing," Snape said calmly. Sam looked up at him, temporarily losing the ability to speak. "Ms. Abbott, can you stand?" She nodded as she pushed herself up, her eyes still trained on Adrian. Snape waved his wand again and Adrian floated up into the air.

"Mr. Warrington, please escort Mr. Flint to my offices," Snape said, his eyes still trained on Adrian. Even with his cool mask, Sam could see the worry there.

"Will he be alright?" Sam asked, quickly following at his side.

"Madam Pomfrey will be able to tell us more," Snape replied. Sam nodded.

"He was aiming for me," she said suddenly. Snape looked down at her. "He was… he was trying to hit me…"

"Thank you for sharing, Ms. Abbott," he replied.

"God, he was aiming for me…"

"Really, Roger. I think you're going to have to accept this," Celeste said, handing him a cup of tea. The two were in the living room of their home. Roger accepted the tea, though he was still hunched over looking as though he had aged 10 years in the past few weeks. "And I think you should tell her…"

"I don't want her know. I've done everything I could to make sure she's had a happy life. And I don't want anything to threaten that," he replied. "Which is why she needs to break up with him."

"But he does seem to make her very happy, Roger," Celeste said. "Perhaps Sam is right and he's nothing like his father."

"Celeste… I just can't chance that. And she's spent her whole life thinking her mother and brother died in a car accident. I can't tell her the truth. It would break her," he said.

"She's going to find out eventually. And she'll be upset that you weren't honest with her," Celeste urged. "She's old enough to handle the truth."

"I'm just not sure I want to," Roger replied. Celeste sighed.

"You can't protect her from everything," she said reasonably. "And wouldn't it be better coming from you? What if she hears it from someone else?"

"I just don't know…"

"Roger," Celeste started, though she was interrupted by an owl pecking frantically at the window. "What on earth could that be?" Roger stood and walked over, letting the bird in.

"Probably an update on Black," he said wearily, taking the envelope in the owl's mouth. He was run ragged trying to track him down. He opened the letter and froze.

"What is it?" Celeste asked, starting to get worried.

"We're needed at Hogwarts. There's been an incident," he said, quickly, dropping the letter and walking over to grab his cloak.

"Is she alright?" Celeste asked, hopping up from the sofa. "What happened?"

"Someone's attacked Sam and Adrian."

And things pick up... It's a rough ride for the next few chapters.

ItsJustABook - Thanks! Happy to hear you're looking forward to what comes next! There's a lot...

.2018 - I promise, things start picking up from here out.

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