"I have some freshly baked gossip for you" my mum said that night as we sat down for dinner at the Three Broomsticks. Madam Rosmerta was just leaving our table but turned around at the word gossip. She grabbed a chair from another table and sat down. "I saw the cutest thing today at work." Mum continued.

"Mum you spend too much time with teenagers, you talk like one." I said rolling my eyes.

Mum ignored me. "So on the big notice board just outside the great hall, I sometimes stop for a second just to see what's going on inside the castle, some students are really full of ideas you know… Well anyway, today it was a note on a piece of parchment." She took a sip from her butterbeer, looking at us with a smug face.

"Oh don't leave us hanging" Rosmerta said and nudged mums shoulder. "I never get too old for this."

"Well, it was a note. It read something like this:" she cleared her throat. "Rose! Are you avoiding me or am I going blind? Been forever since I saw you and it's driving me nuts. Can we meet at the same place as last time? You know the date. N."

"You memorised it?" Rosmerta laughed.

I put down my butterbeer trying to figure out what emotion I should show. I let out a laugh that was just a couple of seconds late. No one noticed. "What do you think it means? Kind of cryptic".

"Oh I know. Some sort of code language the kids are up to. 'You know the date'". Mum laughed. "So cute though. Young love, desperate."

Someone wanted to see me. Someone wanted to spend time with me. Someone who was not related to me. Someone my own age. It had been years. I had to save my thoughts for later, to be deep in thought would be suspicious. "Very" I agreed. "He sounds a bit insane".

"I wish I could see it, the meeting and…"

"Mum that's just scary! Imagine having a secret meeting, and then looking over your shoulder just to see your Charms teacher staring at you, through a pair of binoculars! Munching on some fizzing wizbees!"

"You're the crazy one" mum said messing up my har as she pulled me in for a hug.

Rosmerta went to get our food while mumbling to herself.

"So what have you been up to today?" Asked my mum.

I told her about my day at Zonko's and that I would be working there for a couple of days.

"You know what? I am so proud of you. Getting yourself a job like that!" she stood up to put a kiss on my forehead. "You're a real business woman!"

"Thanks" i said, blushing. Truth be told, I was proud of myself as well.

We returned to our house after dinner. Mum cuddled up in the sofa with a book. I headed for my room and sat down by my desk. It was just below the window, with a clear view of the castle. A dream view which had turned into a nightmare, a reminder of what I would never have. Tonight though, my mind was conflicted. I looked up with a warm feeling in my stomach. Someone wanted to be with me. Rebecca Collins. Well, actually, Rose Walker. But there was hardly any difference. I had been distracted for a while, almost forgetting about it, but now… I had to make a decision. It wasn't that hard really. I knew the next Hogwarts trip would be in 9 days from now. I would be there. Not too early, but right when he got there. Hide for a while maybe? I knew this was the start of something big and complicated. But I was not scared. A little nervous, yes. I never did stupid things. This could be very stupid, but also an open window into something new. I stood up and started making a plan, walking back and forth in my bedroom. First of all, I would need a fake wand.