…Weird News…

The trip back to Hogwarts was quiet. Everyone was worn out from the trip and too tired to stay awake. We trudged up the castle steps like zombies. We grumbled things that vaguely sounded like good nights and went up to the dorm to sleep.

I awoke early the next morning. The ski trip was finally catching up with me and felt stiff all over. I went down to the common room with Carrie. I'd left her with my parents while we were in Romania, so I thought I'd play with her about today since I didn't have any classes. Carrie bounced around the common room meowing at inanimate objects. Sirius came downstairs mumbling about something. "Aww, what's wrong?", I asked. He shook his head, "Forgot where I was and fell out of bed." I shook as I tried to contain my laughter. "Ha ha ha. Laugh it up.", he scoffed as Carrie sniffed at him. He picked her up and sat by me on the sofa. "Still tired?", I asked as he played with Carrie. "Partially, but I had a lot of fun.", he responded as Carrie sat watching him carefully as he swayed a piece of string in front of her. I watched them playing around for a bit. Carrie jumped up and ran to Amber when she came down the stairs. "I've been abandoned!", he whined collapsing on the sofa. I nudged him off the sofa with my foot. Amber scoffed petting Carrie. I took Carrie back to the dorm before going to breakfast.

I was halfway through breakfast when Xyla came over with a letter from our parents. I read it while nibbling on some toast eyes growing wide. I turned to Xyla. "That was my reaction as well. I've already shown Maddie and Zahara.", she said grabbing a donut. "This is either really trustworthy of them or they're trying to test us.", I muttered reading the letter again. "What test?", Lily asked as she and Amber sat across from us. Xyla finished her donut. "Our dear parents are taking an assignment right around the start of summer break and are leaving the house in our care until we start our seventh-year.", Xyla reported. Amber dropped the cinnamon roll she'd just picked up. "Now I seriously want to know what it is that your parents do!", she gasped. "Who knows. They did say that they'd leave enough money to get us through the summer holiday.", I said handing them the letter. They read over the letter and their mouths dropped open. "Dear children, out of all the people attending Hogwarts, I do believe your parents trust you the most.", Amber stated returning to her forgotten food.

We had a mini break in the middle of tutorials. "What are you going to do in that house for an entire summer? I mean honestly what amazing parents! My parents don't even let me in the kitchen without at least five people watching me at all times!", Amber rambled as she graded test papers. I gave her a look. "How bad could your cooking possibly be that your parents would go that far?", Zahara whispered in amazement. "I burned a pot that'd had been passed down for a while trying to boil some water to make some pasta.", she admitted. I snickered quietly. She hit me lightly on the shoulder. "Sorry, but that is just bad.", I said shaking with quiet laughter. "Why don't you visit every now and then and we can teach you.", Maddie offered waving the quill she was using to check over some homework essays. "We've got tons of cookbooks and such that you can try out.", Zahara encouraged. Amber agreed. We couldn't chat anymore because the second wave of tutoring began.

The letter was still on my mind for the next few weeks. It was really confusing. Especially, since we didn't even know what our parents did for a living. Anytime we asked them recently they'd just say, 'we do research' or 'we earn money to survive'. I thought that we might be able to do some research ourselves over the summer, but then thought if they were trusting us with the house, we should trust them to tell us when they were ready.

It was pure chaos trying to get through tutorials this term. the tutors and managers were being put through their paces. I was organizing and filing reports to hand in to Professor McGonagall when Zahara rushed over. "Lily… Severus…Fight…Name-calling…help!", she gasped trying to catch her breath. I put the files in my bag and rushed out of the library with her. We arrived at the room of requirement. We found Xyla, Amber, and Maddie comforting a sobbing Lily on the sofa. "He called me a filthy Mudblood. I thought we were friends why would he do that? I don't even know him anymore! Ever since we got here, he's been up to his ears in dark arts and hanging around with Bellatrix and calling me names! I can't take it anymore. Sometimes I wonder why I'm even friends with him!", Lily cried as a fresh wave of sobs racked through her body. I went to sofa pulling a soft and comfy blanket out of my bag and placing it around Lily's shoulders. I could tell Amber wanted to ask me why I had a blanket in my bag and what else was in there, but Maddie gave her a look saying it was neither the time nor the place. I took out a blanket for everyone and we just sat there comforting Lily and listening to her. When she finally calmed down, she passed out from a lack of energy. "I'll take her up to the dorm.", I whispered to the others. Maddie and Xyla helped me put her on my back. Amber handed me my bag once she was done putting the blankets back in. "Could you please bring her some simple food up from lunch? I'll think she'll be extremely hungry when she wakes up.", I asked Amber before leaving the room. She nodded and opened the door for me.

I got a few looks as I carried Lily to Gryffindor Tower. Halfway there I ran into James and Sirius. They helped me through the portrait hole with Lily. Thankfully, the common room was empty. I hurried upstairs and put Lily in her bed. I went back downstairs stretching lightly from carrying Lily through the crowds of people and trying not to jostle her awake. "What was that all about?", James asked with extreme concern. I sat by Sirius on the sofa.

I hurriedly told them about the fight. James was shaking with anger. "How could he say that?", James growled through gritted teeth. "I don't know. The only thing I know is that Lily is Severus' first friend that he's ever had. Something had to have happened. I wonder what could've happened that made Severus snap at her like that?", I wondered aloud. "I brought the food for Lily. I brought you some food too.", Amber said as she entered the common room, handing me some food. She went upstairs with Lily's food. James left to go eat lunch when Amber came back down.

I sighed tiredly leaning back on the couch. Sirius tsked as he watched me. I looked over at him. "You should eat.", he said. I sat up. "I forgot to give the files to Professor McGonagall!", I gasped. "Nope. Give me the files. I'll take them to the professor while you eat.", he said pushing the food towards me. I reluctantly handed over the files. He got up and kissed my forehead before leaving the common room, "Eat something."

I ate the sandwiches that Amber brought me and went up to the dorm to check on Lily. Carrie had curled up bedside Lily on her bed. They were both sleeping peacefully so I went back down to the common room to relax.

…Cooking Class…

Over the next few months anytime Severus and Lily ran into each other it would get really awkward and then tension was heavy. Like all things at Hogwarts, their fight had spread through the school gossip like wildfire. I wished that they could have made up, but I think with all the things that were said that it was best not to rush a reconciliation. When Lily wasn't spending time with us, she was studying or sending letters home. Every now and then I'd wake in the middle of the night and find Carrie sleeping on Lily's bed almost protectively.

When we weren't tutoring, we were quizzing each other for the upcoming exams. Remus had joined our study group adding a different view to the way we studied. He was one of the smartest in our year so being able to study with him was eye opening. The other boys were studying in a different section of the library. "Aren't you proud of them Remus? They're studying all on their lonesome.", Maddie praised. Remus snickered. "Sirius nicked some of Fae's notes when she was helping other students.", he whispered. Maddie looked taken aback. "Oh please. He tried that tactic in elementary. I saw him lurking around trying to be sneaky, so I left out a charmed set of notes. As soon as he tries to use it the information will disappear. I told them last year they would have to study on their own with no help from the rest of us.", I explained. Right on cue they started gasping and pointing at the papers in front of them in astonishment. "Respect.", Remus said appraisingly high fiving me.

"What are your summer plans?", Zahara asked Lily. "My family is going on a vacation to celebrate Petunia getting engaged.", she responded as we brought our luggage down to the Entrance Hall. "Do send lots of letters about Amber's cooking progress though.", she said smiling brightly. "Oh, we will. We'll even send photos.", Maddie sang gleefully. We hurried down the stairs to the carriages.

Maddie, Xyla, and Zahara went off to visit friends before summer break. We made our way to an empty compartment. We'd just sat down when Severus and his new friends walked by. He looked at Lily wanting to say something, but his friends dragged him off further down the corridor. Lily scoffed, "If he wants to apologize, he should come by and apologize!" The train began to pull away from the station.

Lily and Amber went to say bye to friends, and I was alone in the compartment but not for long. Sirius came by not soon after the other two had left. "Will you write to me when you and the guys go on your summer trip?", I asked as he sat beside me. "I think one letter will suffice for the entire summer.", he responded giving me roughly the same answer I had given him before the backpacking trip. He played with my hands. "Well played sir.", I said. He winked and I kissed him lightly.

We chatted and joked around until the train reached the station. We stood to exit the train. "Meet you back here at the end of summer holiday." He said kissing me quickly before hurrying off to find the others.

I got off the train and headed off to find my sisters. We walked through the barrier together to find our parents. Traffic was terrible but we made it home. We lugged our luggage up to our rooms and went right back down the stairs. We headed to the airport to drop off our parents. "One last reminder! Maddie and Xyla have to take their driving test this summer.", mum reminded us before leaving to board the plane with dad. Me and Zahara already got our licenses over Easter break.

We went back outside. "Flip a coin?", Zahara asked holding up a coin. I nodded and she flipped it. "Land on tails not head. Tails.", I whispered. She held out her hand. It was tails. Zahara climbed into the driver seat. The rest of us climbed in. we had to stop at the store to get some simple groceries for the week.

Back home we unloaded the groceries and went up stairs to unpack. We began to relax, and Maddie cut on the radio, so music was playing.

We had a mini spa day at home. Carrie was chasing Tinsley and Rory around playfully while Olivia hooted disapprovingly from her perch on the television.

I went to the library to gather some of the cookbooks. We postmarked the pages with simple starter recipes for Amber.

By the end of the week it was time for Maddie and Xyla's driving test. I snuck down to the kitchen with Zahara and we made them a nice breakfast. They emerged once breakfast was done. We piled our plates and went into the garden to eat.

Zahara drove them to the testing center while I opted to stayed at home. I finished all of my summer homework and even answered some letters. I made a mental note to make a trip to Diagon Alley.

Maddie and Xyla passed with no problem. We celebrated by going out to eat at a local restaurant. When we got home, we enjoyed some everything but the kitchen sink ice cream sundaes.

A few days later we went to Diagon Alley. Maddie needed more supplies to finish her summer homework, Zahara just wanted to drive with her license, and Xyla wanted to check out the books at Flourish and Blotts.

We arrived early in the morning. Zahara and Maddie went to exchange some money at Gringotts. Me and Xyla waited for them Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. We ordered cones while we waited. Once they found us and ate their ice creams, we headed to Madam Malkin's Robes for all occasions.

Our robes weren't that bad, but they needed a bit of fixing up here and there from certain Herbology, Potions, and Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons.

We spent hours in Flourish and Blotts perusing through the books in silent fascination. Finally, we went to Eyelop's Owl Emporium and the Magical Menagerie. We'd all felt bad that we use Xyla's owl so much, so we got our own. I got a snowy owl I named Sadie, Maddie got a brown owl she named Barmy, and Zahara got a screech owl she named Caeb. At the Magical Menagerie, Xyla got a Siamese cat named Celeste.

We heaved our purchases into the car and headed home. We slowly introduced the new pets to others. The owls decided to fly to the television to survey the scene as the cats walked around each other curiously, and the lizard and ferret just napped on the couch.

We spent the next couple days cleaning the house. It was time for Amber's first of many visits for cooking lessons. We aired out the house just because. Xyla and Maddie went to the grocery store for the ingredients necessary for Amber's first lesson. I went to take photos outside in the garden, and Zahara played with the pets inside to wear them out before bathing them.

I was just taking a photo of some butterflies, dragonflies, and birds playing in between the flowers when an owl swopped down with a letter for me. I took the owl in to rest with the other owls. I sat on my bed opening the letter. Photos of motorcycles poured from the envelope. A mini letter fell out last. I read it scooping up the photos.

Zahara poked her head inside. "What in the blazes happened?", she asked staring at the piles of photos. "Sirius wants me to keep these for him.", I replied waving the letter. She let out a laugh picking up a photo of Sirius leaning on a bike with Fuji and Liam beside him. They were trying to pose coolly. She flipped it over and showed me. We shook with laughter. At least they were having fun.

Early in the morning we heard a strange noise as we were straightening the kitchen before Amber arrived. We went to the front door and saw Amber stumbling dizzily from the Knight Bus. The bus took off again. Maddie went to go help Amber because we were laughing to hard.

I handed her a cup of tea while we took out the ingredients for the recipes we were making today. It was immediately recognizable to us why Amber was not really allowed in the kitchen. It was like a hurricane was unleashed on the kitchen. We had to stop her repeatedly from getting flustered and once she was calm, we walked her through the next step. By lunch she'd made eight successful dishes. We ate and chatted while Amber and Maddie washed up the dishes. When we were done, we decided it would be fun to flip through the scrapbook I'd been making. I'd added the ski trip photos to it and even some sleeping pictures of everyone we knew.

In the early evening hours Amber went down the steps and called the Knight Bus. She waved bye as the bus appeared. Once she was on board the bus took off. I heard Maddie laugh behind me. We turned to look at her. "Next time we should tell her that we could pick her up in the car.", she said still laughing. As we fell into fits of laughter Zahara closed the door. We tired form the lessons so we called it a night.

Amber's lessons went extremely well, and she improved so quickly that her family sent us thank you notes and gifts. We also started picking her up in the car from the train station.

We received a letter from Lily when she got back from her vacation. She'd loved reading about Amber's progress. We sent her a letter inviting her to Amber's last lesson. Not only was it Amber's final lesson but we'd made it into a three-day sleepover that went up to when we had to board the train for school. Lily responded automatically and we made plans to pick her and Amber from the train station.

Xyla took a big enough vehicle for everyone out of the garage. We eft early in the morning to pick them up. It was a joyous reunion. We hadn't seen Lily all summer and her hair had grown a lot. "Are you trying to grow your hair like Fae?", Xyla gasped. Lily shrugged, "I was too busy to get a haircut."

We gathered their bags and luggage and went to the van. We also stopped in Diagon Alley for the last time to buy supplies as students. Maddie and Xyla got teary eyed and we had to calm them down when passerby stared. We put the supplies in the van and did a little clothes shopping.

We got home in the afternoon. We got Lily and Amber settled. We ate pizza while chatting in the living room. "Well I suggest we rest. As your new Head Girl of course.", Lily said proudly showing off the badge, "Oh, and Amber is the new Prefect!" Amber stood up and bowed.

The next day Amber had her final lesson and she moved through all the tasks with ease. Lily was amazed. "You should have seen her when she started. She was like a hurricane.", Zahara complained jokingly. Amber threw a blueberry at her and Zahara caught it in her mouth. We had a blast and stayed up just relaxing and enjoying each other's company.

The next morning, we loaded all the luggage into the van. We checked one last time to make sure the house was tidy and got in the van. Xyla drove to the airport where we picked up our parents. They drove us to the station, and we said bye and went through the barrier. I teared up looking at the train. This was the last time I'd be boarding the train as a student. I looked at the lovely train and fully burst into to tears.