Chapter 21: Figuring Out the Right Questions to Ask

"Isabella Evans, as I live and breathe! I haven't seen ya in a while now, whatcha been up ter? I've seen a few of your Quidditch matches. You've got a knack for flying."

His smile was warm and kind, just what Isabella needed right then. "It's great to see you too Hagrid. I'm sorry we haven't come down to see you yet this year, it's been pretty hectic."

"No problem, little one." said Hagrid. "C'mon in, and I'll make us some tea or somethin'."

Isabella walked into Hagrid's little hut. It was warm and cozy but a smidge dirty but Isabella didn't care. A little dirt didn't hurt anyone. She sat down on one of the stools that were placed around Hagrid's giant table.

"So where be the other little trouble makers, aye? Little Rosie and Al?" asked Hagrid as he placed the kettle on his stove.

"Well, they had a bit of a row you see." said Isabella. "I was trying to escape them when I remembered I haven't had a nice conversation with you since sometime last year."

"Why thank ya, Isabella, I'm flatter'd." said Hagrid, sarcastically. "What was this fight about?"

"They were freaking out at each other for no apparent reason." explained Isabella. "I think that their patience was running low and they had a lot of tension bottle up inside them."

"Or it could just have been 'bout the fact that those too spend too much time with each other." said Hagrid. "Don't ya get mad at them too?"

"Yes, but I wouldn't tell them I hate them because they told me I misspelled a word."

Hagrid poured the tea into two giant mugs for him and Isabella, handed hers to her, and then placed his infamous Treacle Fudge down on the table.

"I can tell that there be somethin' else on yer mind, what is it?" he asked.

"Well, they aren't the only ones who are stressed out." said Isabella. "I've been freaking out about school, and Quidditch, and then I told myself that I would find more out more about my parents this year, ha, like that will ever happen without Rose and Albus' help. God, I'm so mad at them that I just called them by their full names! That almost never happens!" She buried her face in her hands. "I'm so stressed; I think my hair will go gray! And I'm only twelve!"

Hagrid placed on of his big, meaty hands on her shoulder. "You know, I think I could help ya with some of that."

"Like what?" she asked, looking up at the large man.

"I could tell ya some stuff about yer parents if ya want." said Hagrid.

"Really?"

He nodded.

"So you knew them pretty well then?" asked Isabella. "Like when they were in school and stuff?"

Hagrid nodded again. "So what do you want to know?"

"I-I never really thought about it…" said Isabella. "I guess I didn't expect to find someone who could help me so quickly."

"A word of advice, Isabella, when yer tryin' ter find stuff out, you best be wantin' to know whatcha want ter ask. It's all 'bout figuring out the right questions ter ask, ya know what I'm sayin'?" asked Hagrid.

"Yeah, yeah I do, so what can you tell me about them when they were at Hogwarts?" asked Isabella.

"Well, I had both yer parents as students at one point or another. Yer father ya see, he was a brilliant one, he wasn't a Ravenclaw for nothin'. Don't get me wrong, yer mum was brilliant too, but yer father was the top of the class." explained Hagrid. "Bet ya already knew that."

"No, no I didn't." said Isabella. "Can you tell me more?"

"Well, I don't know what else ter say… hmm… well, your father was a bit of a prankster ya see. He was brilliant but then he was an evil little master mind." said Hagrid. "I remember this one time in class when I had both yer parents, Jacob set off a dungbomb in the middle of me lesson. It was all in good fun till Alice stepped in. She was a feisty one, I think it has ter do with the red hair and somethin' I hear she has passed on ter ya."

Isabella smiled and Hagrid went back to his story.

"Well, it was their fourth year and Miss Alice had up ter 'bout 'ere with yer father." He put his hand to about his temples. "And she just snapped at him. Funniest thing I ever saw. Both of them could hold their own in a verbal and physical battle, if ya know what I mean."

"But Madame Hannah said that my parents first met during the Battle of Hogwarts." said Isabella. "She said that they fell in love as soon as their eyes met or something like that." Isabella blushed at the thought of such a sappy tale.

"Well, being in the same year, they knew each other all right." said Hagrid. "But, being in the middle of the war does flatten yer head a bit."

"So my dad had a big ego or something?"

"That puttin' it lightly." said Hagrid. "The boy and his friends could get Peeves to listen to them, now that's quite a feat in itself."

"Peeves?" repeated Isabella. "Isn't he the ghost that drives Professor McGonagall crazy?"

"The one and only." smiled Hagrid.

"So, what does that mean? That he could get Peeves to listen to him?" asked Isabella.

"Peeves ain't the best behaved ghost, so if you can get Peeves to listen to ya that means that yer some of the best of the best." explained Hagrid. "Only a few 'ave been able ter do it, but that ain't always somethin' to be braggin' about."

"I guess, so what about my mum? Hannah said she played Quidditch." said Isabella.

"Hmm… I don't really remember ter be 'onest." said Hagrid. "But if ya go down ter the trophy room, there are lists of all of the house Quidditch teams."

"I think I may just have to do that, thanks, Hagrid." she smiled at him

For the next hour, Hagrid told Isabella all about his magical pets. It's actually quite interesting for Isabella to hear all about them. She told him about Athena and how she hadn't grown anymore since Hagrid got her Athena last summer.

"It's getting dark out, I better go find Al and Rosie and tell them I'm not died." said Isabella.

"You best be doin' that now, and make sure ya bring them back with ya next time." said Hagrid as he opened the door for her.

"Thanks, Hagrid, I will." said Isabella. "Bye!" and she took off towards the castle.

She made it to the front entrance before having to stop. She took a few seconds to catch her breath, and then she started to run towards the Great Hall. She ran into the Hall and there was no sign of either Al or Rosie but she did spot another Weasley.

"James!" she called.

James looked up from his conversation with Annie and Jason. He smiled at her, then it turned into a frown as he noticed her upset face and heavy breathing. He jumped up and rushed over to her.

"What's wrong? Is it something to do with Al or Rosie? Are they okay? Are you okay? You're really flushed." said James.

"I'm fine I just ran here from Hagrid's." she explained. "Have you seen Al or Rosie, I need to talk to them." It wasn't exactly the time to tell James about her complications with her lungs…

"Last time I check, Al was in the common room moping about something and Rosie was in the Library, but that was a while ago." said James. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yeah, just need to work on my cardio." joked Isabella.

"Okay, well, I'll see you later." said James, he walked back over to Annie and James while Isabella ran up to the common room.

She quickly said the password to Fat Lady and she found Al staring solemnly into the fireplace. Isabella watched for a moment as the light from the fire flickered in his green eyes. The common room was empty since pretty much everyone was at dinner.

"Hi." she breathed. Al's head snapped up. He smiled at her.

"Are you still mad at me?" he asked.

"No."

"Good."

"Where's Rosie? Don't tell me that you two are still fighting…"

"I haven't said sorry yet if that is what you're asking."

"It's wasn't… but has she?"

"No, I haven't seen her since she stormed off after you did earlier."

"I'm sorry you two fought and I shouldn't have tried to step in."

"It's alright; I shouldn't have been such a git."

"We all snap."

"I shouldn't have been a git to you. Or Rosie, I feel really bad; but I just don't know what to say." Al looked away from her and down at the ground.

"Maybe you should just say sorry and let her talk, you see, we girls are very good at talking without knowing what we're saying." said Isabella. "You know, you should always say what you mean and mean what you say. Life is all about figuring out the right questions to ask."

"Such deep words, Evans." said Al; she let out a little giggle.

"Just go find Rosie and say you're sorry." said Isabella pointing to the portrait hole.

"Right!" Al jumped up and ran out the hole.

Isabella laughed and sat down in Al's empty seat, picking up his transfiguration book and reading the opened page. A minute later the portrait sung open and Al ran back in.

"Where is she?" he asked.

Isabella smiled at her friend. "James said he saw her in the library."

"Thanks." and he ran back out.

"Boys." she mumbled. The section she was reading in Al's transfiguration book was all about transfiguring animals into common household items. It seemed pretty complicated, looking at the diagrams, and it looked pretty painful for the animals. Isabella felt a little bad about having to transfigure Athena into a goblet in a few days in class.

After a while, people came back from dinner, James, Annie, and Jason joined Isabella in front of the fireplace. It was getting late and Al still hadn't returned. It was almost 9 before the portrait hole swung open and in came a very pale Albus Potter.

"Al, what happened?" asked Isabella as he sat down in between her and James. His skin was very pale and his expression was blank. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

The three fourth years stared at her like she had two heads.

"Muggle expression." she explained.

"Ohhhhh…" they sighed.

"Al, hey dude, are you alright?" asked James. "I saw her an-and h-him…" mumbled Al.

"Her? You mean Rosie?" asked Isabella.

"Ye-yeah, s-she a-and h-him… goo-goo e-eyes…" stuttered Al.

"Who, Al?" asked James. "Who was she with?"

Al looked up. "Scorpius Malfoy."

AHH! I'm just so evil, first i dont update for a while, then I leave you with that ending! Yeah, soo chapter 22 is about James' and Al's reaction to that, I'm about halfway done with it so far and I've enjoyed writing the two of them flip out... whooopss I think I've said too much... oh well... so as always thanks for reading and review please, make my four day weekend and review!

~Rachel~