Although I'm always thankful when people read my story and favourite it or alert it or whatever, it's also a bit disappointing when they in turn don't review it. I put a lot of effort into my fic and I am very curious about your thoughts and feelings regarding it.

one person did review though so thanks dude(tte)! :D

So just please review this chapter, alright?

CHAPTER 24

'I think I'm going to join some other first years, Cecilia.' Stacy murmured to me as we walked down the train corridor. 'Are you sure?' I asked her, a bit surprised, knowing how daunted she was by starting school. She nodded though, a determined look on her otherwise pale face. 'Yes, I'm quite positive.' She told me. 'It's well known that those first moments are the most important when it comes to forming friendships.' She told me and I laughed. 'Well, if that's true, you better find the first years.' I told her. She took a deep breath, gave me one last smile but then started down the train by herself. Maybe she would be in Ravenclaw.

I looked after her for a moment but then walked to the compartment in which I had left my trunk and I knew Mathilda would have left hers as well. Mathilda was already there when I arrived. 'Aurora's in a Prefects' Meeting.' She told me as she looked away from her magazine. I nodded, already expecting it. 'Hey, you want to do a quiz?' She asked me, unfolding the quiz section of Teen Witch Weekly. 'Maybe later.' I replied.

She had worn me down quickly though and we had started the stupid quiz in her magazine right before Aurora came by the compartment, together with fellow prefect Jeremy Stretton. 'Hiya girls.' Jeremy said, the blue prefect's badge gleaming on his school robes. Aurora was already dressed in her uniform as well. Mathilda and I were still in our own comfortable robes. 'Hello Jeremy.' Mathilda said, her eyes not leaving the magazine. 'Cecilia, if you had to choose between strict observance or immediate action, which would it be?' She asked me. I took a moment to think, but before I could answer Mathilda had already scratched an answer on the quiz, her quill tickling her cheek. 'I didn't even answer yet!' I called out. 'Your hesitance was answer enough.' Mathilda argued.

'Guys! Jeremy and I are going to patrol the train. I just came by to ask if you'd buy me some Cauldron Cakes when the trolley comes.' Aurora interrupted. 'We will.' Mathilda promised. 'See you later!' I called after them as Aurora shut the door again.

By lunchtime we had learned that I was a "Nervous Nellie" whereas Mathilda's quiz resulted in being labelled a "Pollyanna" which we both thought was misrepresenting her completely. When Aurora came back from patrols Mathilda tossed her Cauldron Cakes her way. 'Yes!' She exclaimed, catching them. 'It's been a complete Code Red since yesterday so I've been craving these all day.' She said, tearing the wrapper off and digging in.

'My monthly visitor isn't due till next week. I have already stocked up on Honeydukes' finest though.' Mathilda commented as she was trying to bite through a liquorice wand that was proving particularly chewy. I looked outside the compartment door and saw students walking by, already in uniform. 'Maybe we should change.' I opted to Mathilda. 'Yeah maybe.' She replied disinterestedly.

'I'm going to go to the bathroom but when I come back I'm going to go change.' I warned Mathilda, standing up, so she could find her school robes which knowing her would surely be located at the bottom of her trunk. 'Yeah yeah, I'll be awaiting you eagerly.' She told me sarcastically as I closed the compartment door behind me.

I had already almost reached the bathroom when I ran into Felix and his friends. I opened the door and walked in. 'Hello everyone!' I greeted them enthusiastically. Felix was sitting together with Karl Limpley on one side and Thora Marple on the other, Anthony Rickett, Raashid Hussain and Heidi Macavoy across from him. They all said hi back, equally enthusiastic. 'Where is Peter?' I asked, knowing that Felix was close with Peter Hollywood and I was suddenly made witness to a simultaneous eye roll and the whole compartment collectively let out a sigh. 'Pete got together with Katie Bell from Gryffindor somewhere over the summer and they've been attached at the lips ever since.' Heidi explained and I laughed. 'I'm sure he'll have to come up for breath sometime soon.' I reassured them with a chuckle. 'I was just on my way to the bathroom so I'll see you guys around, alright?' I said and we all said bye again and I went on my way.

On my way back I once again ran into familiar people. 'Marietta!' I yelled. 'And Cho!' I added, seeing the pretty girl behind her. They both looked behind them and when they saw it was me they smiled. They both hugged me and asked me about my holiday. 'Busy! I had my internship.' I told them and they "ah"-ed. I took a good look at the two. Marietta was nicely tan from her family holiday in Spain, her darker reddish-blonde curls appearing lighter against her browned skin. Cho on the other hand was pale, much more than usual and she had dark circles under her eyes. She looked tired and although she was smiling, it looked like it took an effort. And then it hit me.

'It is good to see you again, Cecilia, we will see you at dinner.' Cho said and Marietta nodded. 'Yeah, I can't wait for the feast tonight!' She said. They walked past me and I managed an uncomfortable 'see you' before they disappeared down the corridor. I was an idiot.

I arrived back at the compartment I shared with Mathilda and Aurora to see that Mathilda was now making Aurora take the quiz from her magazine. I sat down in a daze. Mathilda glanced up from the answer sheet. 'Merlin, you look like you just witnessed Dumbledore getting it on with McGonagall.' She said and Aurora laughed. 'She's right you know.' Aurora agreed. 'I came across Cho and Marietta on the way back from the bathroom.' I said however.

They both made a face. 'How is she doing?' Asked Aurora and I shrugged. 'She seemed alright although she looked a bit worn out.' I answered. 'Did you guys write her over the summer?' Asked Aurora and I shook my head, looking at my feet. 'She doesn't even like me, why should she want me to write her?' Mathilda defended herself although I could tell that she was feeling as horrid as I did. 'I only wrote her twice after I got back from Germany.' Aurora said. We were all silent.

Cho must have had a terrible summer. Her boyfriend had died at the end of the school year. How must she have felt? I could hardly imagine. It had been such hectic months for me that I could hardly remember to get dressed in the morning, I simply forgot amid all my own worries. But at the same time I knew that was making excuses. I was not too busy to put a quill to paper and let my dormitory mate know that I supported her in these strenuous times. She had been so in love with Cedric.

'I feel so selfish.' I murmured. No one said anything. In fact, it wasn't until the Ravenclaw boys in our year joined us in our compartment that conversation sparked up again, although I (as well as the other girls I could tell) stayed a bit out of it, contemplating our own behaviour.

It was already almost dark out when I realized that I still hadn't gotten changed. 'Mathilda! School robes!' I called out and we both sprung up and grabbed our uniforms, hurrying to the bathroom once again. 'You know what I just thought up?' Mathilda called across the bathroom stalls to me. 'What?' I asked, slipping on the white shirt, buttoning it up quickly. 'Well, I just thought that you and Eddie would make a good couple.' She said and I was suddenly very glad that the third stall in the narrow bathroom was empty.

'Eddie?' I exclaimed. 'As in Edward Carmichael?' I clarified. I could hear Mathilda snort in laughter. 'I wasn't aware you knew so many Eddies.' She commented and I exited my stall, adjusting the hem of my black school robes. 'What possessed you to have such a thought?' I asked her, honestly quite flabbergasted. 'I don't know.' Mathilda pondered. 'I just saw him sitting next to you and I thought you looked good together.' She said, also exiting the stall, her robes folded over her arm. I looked at her with my eyebrows raised. 'We do not.' I said. 'I respectfully disagree.' She answered me snootily, sticking her arms into the sleeves of her robes.

'We do not.' I repeated. 'Besides, that's no basis for a relationship.' I argued seriously. 'Sure it is!' Mathilda said however. 'Adrian and I got together because we look great together.' She joked. Or I think it was a joke. 'Well, it doesn't matter, you know I don't like him and I'm positive that he doesn't like me.' I tried to finish the conversation, not at all at ease with the subject matter.

'And why can't you like him? He got nine Outstanding O.W.L.'s, you know.' She told me. 'That's more than you and even more than Aurora. Don't you usually like smart boys?' She asked. I shrugged. 'I've only ever really liked Fred.' I said, a blush on my cheeks. 'That's not true!' Mathilda said. 'In second year you were besotted with the Head Boy, what was his name, Sebastian Cinderford? He was a total swot.' She said. I couldn't help but smile. I hadn't thought of him in ages.

'And your favourite member of Magical Madness is Jonathan Flux and he's a total boffin, for a rock musician that is.' Mathilda continued, leaning forward over the sinks to look into the mirror, picking a pumpkin seed from between her teeth. She had pumpkin pasties earlier. 'I don't know, I've been liking the drummer more lately.' I said drily. Mathilda rolled her eyes.

'Can we be serious for a moment?' Asked Mathilda, turning my way completely. 'Can you?' I replied. I was in a bit of a defiant mood. Mathilda was not to be deterred though. 'It's just that I'm not happy about the way Fred Weasley has treated you.' She said. I sobered up immediately. 'Mathilda..-' I started but she interrupted me. 'No, please, it's true.' She told me. 'Snogging is all nice and well but I know that it's not you to want just that.' She took a couple of steps forward so she could put her hands on my shoulders.

'Don't tell me what to want.' I said annoyed. Mathilda narrowed her eyes sternly. 'Tell me honestly that you're content not being in a proper relationship with him.' She said. 'I am.' I lied. She sighed dramatically. 'Alright, keep on living in broom closets then. In the meantime I'll see whether Eddie's interested.' She said. 'You won't!' I shrieked after her as she pushed past me, back into the train corridor. I ran after her, forcibly stopping her from walking on.

'Mathilda, promise me you will not.' I hissed. 'I already have enough going on as it is, I don't need some boy I don't even like to be egged on by you.' I told her. 'And he doesn't like me either.' I added. 'He's a sixteen year old boy, he'll like whoever I tell him to like.' Mathilda contended but I gave her a look and she let out a big puff of air out of her nose and then chimed in with me. 'Alright, alright, I won't attempt anything. I promise.'

Even when we sat back down in our compartment, I didn't see what Mathilda saw. Eddie looked cute enough I suppose, with his light brown hair and that doe eyed look he had going on, but it was nothing that attracted me in any way and although he was truthfully very smart, he was always spending his time on silly stuff together with his best friend Marcus Belby. They were never serious about anything. Although neither was Fred I suppose. No, that wasn't true; he was very serious about being unserious. He wanted to have a joke shop with his brother after all.

When we arrived in Hogsmeade and stepped out of the train and onto the platform, I took a big gulp of the crisp Scottish mountain air. This was a step up from the smoggy London streets. 'It's good to be back.' Aurora muttered behind me and I looked back at her with a smile. 'It sure is.' I replied to her.

In the distance I was surprised to see that it wasn't Professor Hagrid who was waiting for the first years like he usually did, but it was Professor Grubbly-Plank instead, the witch who had taken over his lessons for a bit the previous year as well. I saw Stacy gather around Professor Grubbly-Plank together with the other first years to take the boats across the lake and I wanted to wave at her but she wasn't looking my way so after a few moments I followed my friends towards the carriages. It wasn't too lengthy a ride and it was in no time that suddenly we were back underneath the night sky and thousand floating candles of the Great Hall, sitting ourselves down at the Ravenclaw table.

'I hope they'll hurry the sorting along a bit, I'm starving.' I heard Roger Davies say down the table from us. 'How can you be? You ate half the trolley.' Marietta commented. I leaned forward and saw that she and Cho were sitting together with Roger and Grant Page, the Keeper for the Ravenclaw team in the same year as Roger. Jason Samuels, one of the Beaters sat with them too as well as Marcus Belby, who was on the team too, best friend Eddie sitting next to him. I had made sure that I didn't sit close to him, although he didn't sit with us either way, to not give Mathilda any more strange ideas.

My eyes went down a familiar path and wandered down to the Gryffindor table. However normally I could study my crush in peace, knowing he wouldn't be looking my way. But today was different. Two ocean blue eyes looked back at me and I looked down at my empty plate hurriedly in shock. Was he still looking? I glanced up and saw that he was. Before I could look away again he winked at me. I was red in the face. "hello there, beautiful" he mouthed to me. I once again looked at my empty plate. I could never tell whether he was being genuine or just making fun of me and it was befuddling and confusing and I never knew what to do with it. When I looked up again I saw that he was now talking to his twin and Lee Jordan. I swallowed my embarrassment.

I noticed there was a new face at the head table, a short woman (even sitting down it was easy to tell) with a wide face, her mouth stretching from cheek to cheek as she surveyed the hundreds of students in front of her with puffy eyes. She had a pink fluffy cardigan on over her robes and a matching Alice band in her dull brown hair. 'Is that the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor?' Asked Aurora, following my gaze. 'I suppose she is.' I answered. 'Where is Professor Hagrid?' Asked Mathilda. 'He wasn't there to pick the first years up either.' She continued and we both nodded. 'I don't know.' Aurora answered for both of us.

When I saw Professor Grubbly-Plank come in through the smaller door behind the staff table, I knew the sorting ceremony was about to start and I sat up a bit straighter, eager to see my cousin sorted. I didn't know whether it was justified or not but I felt that I needed to show her even more, on account of her being adopted, than I did my little cousin Roderick that her family was there for her.

Finally the double doors leading to the Entrance Hall opened up and Professor McGonagall, followed by a string of tiny looking first years, briskly walked in between the Ravenclaw and the Hufflepuff tables. I didn't remember ever being so young myself. I caught Stacy's eye but her eyes were so nervous that I don't think she even saw me smiling at her.

McGonagall put the Sorting Hat and the wooden stool down and stepped aside and after a few moments the hat opened up the rip at the front and started singing.

In times of old when I was new

And Hogwarts barely started

The founders of our noble school

Thought never to be parted:

United by a common goal,

They had the selfsame yearning,

To make the world's best magic school

And pass along their learning.

"Together we will build and teach!"

The four good friends decided

And never did they dream that they

Might someday be divided,

For were there such friends anywhere

As Slytherin and Gryffindor?

Unless it was the second pair

Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?

So how could it have gone so wrong?

How could such friendships fail?

Why, I was there and so can tell

The whole sad, sorry tale.

Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those

Whose ancestry is purest."

Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose

Intelligence is surest."

Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those

With brave deeds to their name,"

Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot,

And treat them just the same."

These differences caused little strife

When first they came to light,

For each of the four founders had

A House in which they might

Take only those they wanted, so,

For instance, Slytherin

Took only pure-blood wizards

Of great cunning, just like him,

And only those of sharpest mind

Were taught by Ravenclaw

While the bravest and the boldest

Went to daring Gryffindor.

Good Hufflepuff she took the rest,

And taught them all she knew,

Thus the Houses and their founders

Retained friendships firm and true.

So Hogwarts worked in harmony

For several happy years,

But then discord crept among us

Feeding on our faults and fears.

The Houses that, like pillars four,

Had once held up our school,

Now turned upon each other and,

Divided, sought to rule.

And for a while it seemed the school

Must meet an early end,

What with duelling and with fighting

And the clash of friend on friend

And at last there came a morning

When old Slytherin departed

And though the fighting then died out

He left us quite downhearted.

And never since the founders four

Were whittled down to three

Have the Houses been united

As they once were meant to be.

And now the Sorting Hat is here

And you all know the score:

I sort you into Houses

Because that is what I'm for,

But this year I'll go further,

Listen closely to my song:

Though condemned I am to split you

Still I worry that it's wrong,

Though I must fulfil my duty

And must quarter every year

Still I wonder whether sorting

May not bring the end I fear.

Oh, know the perils, read the signs,

The warning history shows,

For our Hogwarts is in danger

From external, deadly foes

And we must unite inside her

Or we'll crumble from within.

I have told you, I have warned you…

Let the Sorting now begin

The hall erupted in applause like it did every year but unlike every year the cheers were subdued and confused. 'I have never heard of the Sorting Hat getting so political.' Aurora murmured to us. 'What brought this about, you think?' Mathilda wondered and I thought back to the summer. Minister Fudge and his government interfering in the Daily Prophet as they did as well as the mysterious Wizengamot trial for Harry Potter's sprout of underage magic. 'I don't know.' I said however.

The hushed talks across the Great Hall were silenced immediately by a glare of McGonagall, who stood waiting with a long list of names in her hands. She took one more second but then planted her eyes onto the parchment and read out the first name. 'Abercrombie, Euan.'

Little Euan, looking incredibly anxious to be where he was, was sorted into Gryffindor and slowly but surely the long line of first years got shorter and shorter until we eventually got to the T's. 'Toots, Stacy.' McGonagall read out.

Stacy hadn't been part of the family for long yet and I felt like she didn't feel like she was really part of it. I was desperate for her to know that we wanted her with us. She was my cousin just as well as if she was related to me by blood. Maybe I was overcompensating though and it was just giving her special treatment that she didn't want from me at all. Whatever the case, I was excited to see her walk up to the small elevated stage, perch down on the wooden stool and get the Sorting Hat put on her blonde head by McGonagall, the edge sliding over her eyes like it did with most first years.

'SLYTHERIN!' The hat yelled out and I clapped along with the Slytherin table as Stacy shuffled over, her face nervous but also relieved that the wondering was finally over. I saw her look over to me and I shot her a smile. She smiled a watery smile back.

With 'Zeller, Rose' lastly being sorted into Hufflepuff and a couple of words from Dumbledore, food finally appeared on the table. We stuffed our faces with everything the feast had to offer. Mathilda groaned loudly in pleasure. 'My dad just doesn't cook like this.' She said, spraying potatoes. She let out another moan and a second later a piece of bread hit the back of her head. We looked back and saw Adrian sitting across the Slytherin table, smirking her way. 'You cheating on me?' He called out. Mathilda didn't answer but just let out another moan as she shoved a second buttery potato in her mouth.

When the last crumbs had disappeared we sat back in satisfaction. I couldn't wait to let myself fall into my bed, draw the blue curtains around me and sink into a deep, dreamless sleep. The house elves would've heated up the furnace so the room would be toasty warm when we arrived.

The headmaster stood up from his high-backed chair and the students stilled.

'Well, now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, I beg a few moments of your attention for the usual start-of-term notices,' said Dumbledore. 'First years ought to know that the forest in the grounds is out of bounds to students — and a few of our older students ought to know by now too.' I heard a couple of chuckles across the Great Hall.

'Filch, the caretaker, has asked me, for what he tells me is the four hundred and sixty-second time, to remind you all that magic is not permitted in corridors between classes, nor are a number of other things, all of which can be checked on the extensive list now fastened to Mr. Filch's office door.' The headmaster said, a twinkle in his eyes.

'We have had two changes in staffing this year. We are very pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures lessons; we are also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.' People clapped obligingly but apprehensively. A new year, a new Defence teacher. Who knew what this one was like? Dumbledore went on.

'Try-outs for the House Quidditch teams will take place on the..—' He started saying but he stopped when Professor Umbridge, the new teacher, had suddenly stood up. It didn't make much difference as she was about as short as she was while sitting down. Not everyone had realized what had happened, but then Professor Umbridge coughed a weird sounding cough. 'Hem, hem.' Was she intending to make a speech? And had she interrupted Professor Dumbledore to do so? Dumbledore for that matter looked quite surprised for at least a moment, but he sat down and looked at her with an engaged expression. Other members of staff were not as low-key about it as the headmaster. Professor McGonagall's lips were pressed together in displeasure and Professor Sprout's eyebrows had gone up far enough to be hidden by her wild hair. I don't think any new teacher had ever interrupted Dumbledore before. Nor any other teacher, really, if I thought about it. I looked around and saw students snickering. 'Well, she has no idea how things are done here. She was obviously home schooled.' I heard Eddie whisper. Marcus was chuckling beside him.

'Thank you, Headmaster..-' Professor Umbridge tittered coyly '-for those kind words of welcome.' Her voice was girly and high in pitch and she talked as if she took a large breath of air, the air wheezing soundly through her teeth with every word. 'Hem, hem.' Another throat clearing cough escaped her lips. 'Well, it is lovely to be back at Hogwarts, I must say!' She smiled. 'Not home schooled afterwards, Eddie.' Marietta hissed. Some hushed laughter went around our end of the Ravenclaw table. 'What house was she in, you reckon?' Roger asked.

'And to see such happy little faces looking back at me!' Umbridge continued. It felt a bit like she thought we were toddlers and she needed to dote on us as such. I felt myself frown. 'I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all, and I'm sure we'll be very good friends!' Another snicker, as well as giggles. 'Hem, hem.' She coughed again.

When she talked again, her tone of voice had suddenly become much more business-like. The breathiness had vanished from her voice and the quality of her delivery had gotten a much more studied feel to it, as if she had memorized it.

'The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. The rare gifts with which you were born may come to nothing if not nurtured and honed by careful instruction. The ancient skills unique to the Wizarding community must be passed down through the generations lest we lose them forever. The treasure trove of magical knowledge amassed by our ancestors must be guarded, replenished, and polished by those who have been called to the noble profession of teaching.' Professor Umbridge took a moment to bow curtly to her colleagues, none of whom bowed back. I saw Professor Sprout and Professor McGonagall exchanged a look I couldn't quite decipher while Umbridge once again let out a little 'Hem, hem.'

'Every headmaster and headmistress of Hogwarts has brought something new to the weighty task of governing this historic school, and that is as it should be, for without progress there will be stagnation and decay. There again, progress for progress's sake must be discouraged, for our tried and tested traditions often require no tinkering. A balance, then, between old and new, between permanence and change, between tradition and innovation..'

I don't think anyone was still listening. Around the Ravenclaw table people were chatting animatedly and as I looked at the other house tables I saw they were no different. Cho and Marietta were giggling behind their hands as Eddie and Marcus were making jokes and a few seats away from them, the weird girl with the blonde hair and the necklace made out of butterbeer caps was reading a magazine. At the Hufflepuff table I saw that Felix was laughing at his friend Karl who was balancing his cup on his head.

Professor Umbridge did not seem bothered by how little attention her audience payed to her. The teachers, on the other hand seemed very interested in every word she uttered. '..-because some changes will be for the better, while others will come, in the fullness of time, to be recognized as errors of judgment. Meanwhile, some old habits will be retained, and rightly so, whereas others, outmoded and outworn, must be abandoned. Let us move forward, then, into a new era of openness, effectiveness, and accountability, intent on preserving what ought to be preserved, perfecting what needs to be perfected, and pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited.' And with that she sat down.

It took Dumbledore clapping for most of the student body to notice that it was over and before anyone could really start clapping along, it had already finished as Professor Dumbledore had stood up himself again, resuming his own speech. 'Thank you very much, Professor Umbridge, that was most illuminating.' he said, bowing to her. 'Now — as I was saying, Quidditch tryouts will be held within the coming two weeks at the discretion of the house captains.'

'What was that Professor Umbridge all about?' Mathilda asked as we walked up to the Ravenclaw common room. 'Stupid stuff.' I answered childishly. 'Wow, useful reply.' Mathilda said. 'Ask Aurora then, when she comes back from prefect duties.' I answered her. 'It sounds like she has an agenda though.' I said a minute later. Mathilda nodded. 'Yeah, but what agenda could a Defence Against the Dark Arts professor possibly have?' She asked me in return.

The next morning the schedules took a little longer than usual because Professor Flitwick had to check with all the new sixth years whether they had the O.W.L.'s to support their subject choices. When he came to me and looked at my list he raised his eyebrows. 'I've been doing this job for a fair amount of time and I would say that nine classes are probably a bit too much, Ms Wiggleswade.' He said with a chuckle. I shrugged. 'I couldn't decide, Sir.' I confessed. He looked at my O.W.L. results. 'You came back with an impressive list. I must say, I'm very proud of my Ravenclaws. The overall results have been exceptionally well.' He said. He put down my results as well as my list and put his wand to my schedule, making text appear in the small squares. 'With those results I can't very well stop you from doing whatever you want.' He said, handing me my schedule. I took it from him gratefully. 'Let's meet in a month's time to see how you're holding up, alright?' He suggested and I agreed.

It didn't take long before we had settled into our new routines. As expected was Professor Umbridge out of her mind. She didn't let us do any magic at all and we were all sentenced to reading the book in class, although it did take a lot of stress out of my workload. I had more homework than I had space to write it down on in my homework planner. Sixth year was as tough as they had all promised me, N.E.W.T. classes taking a lot more work than even O.W.L. classes did. However it had been two weeks since the start of the year and up till now I had still managed to keep up with the course load. Professor Umbridge's agenda was pretty clear though. The Ministry of Magic had been interfering in everything all summer and I wasn't surprised that they now wanted to keep a look out at the country's major educational institute. Her speech at the feast did make more sense now.

We had a free period and although I had four essays to finish Mathilda and Aurora, who were both taking less classes, had convinced me to come out onto the grounds with them. 'The weather won't be this good again till spring probably.' Aurora said as we walked onto the grass, moving in the direction of the lake.

It was indeed a particularly sunny day. Many girls, including Mathilda, were even sporting bare legs, although I thought that was a bit excessive. It was not that warm. 'It's Adrian!' Mathilda called out and I looked at her to see her sprint ahead to give her boyfriend a surprise peck on the cheek. He stood with his year mates from Slytherin. He slipped his arm around her waist, kissing her back. It gave me a squeamish feeling in my stomach to look at them. He was not at all hesitant to be seen with her in front of his friends.

Aurora and I went ahead and found an empty patch of grass and soon Mathilda joined us, as well as Adrian and Cassius Warrington. They were there to study, as evidenced by the Charms textbooks they were carrying. They sat down with us, stretching their legs out in front of them.

I watched Adrian and his friend Cassius Warrington open up their Charms books, pulling parchment and quill and ink out of their bags. Warrington caught my eye, making me blush at being caught staring. 'Be glad you're not in your final N.E.W.T.'s year yet.' He muttered grumpily as he turned the pages of the book to the right chapter.

I turned to Aurora as she grabbed a pack of Exploding Snap cards. 'You want to join, Mathilda?' She asked but Mathilda merely shook her head as she stood in the grass, having kicked off her shoes. She did a cartwheel, brushing the dirt off her hands when she stood upright again. After a second of deliberation she did another two.

'You're flashing your underwear to the entire school.' Adrian said drily and Mathilda frowned, lifting up her skirt slightly for a split second and looking down herself. 'No harm, I'm wearing cute ones today.' She replied and Adrian laughed, growling at her when she did another cartwheel and winked at him cheekily.

He got up from the ground and tackled her and they rolled through the grass as their laughter echoed across the black waters of the lake. I glanced at Warrington but he had his nose buried in his homework and when I looked back at Aurora I saw her still concentrated at setting up the game.

I turned my eyes to the couple again and saw that they had stopped rolling and that Adrian was now laying on top of my friend and they were kissing deeply. I looked away again embarrassed. However much Mathilda sometimes made a joke of it, she was very much in love with the Slytherin chaser and by the way I would sometimes see him looking at her, I think the feelings were returned whole-heartedly.

I hadn't had any kind of real contact with Fred since he had winked at me a little less than two weeks ago. I mean I had seen him but at no point had we hung out in private or even really talked. I had waved back at him when he waved at me in the corridors but that was all. Why couldn't he look at me the way that Adrian looked at Mathilda? Why wouldn't he invite me to sit with his friends or ask to sit with mine? Why would he always make fun of my feelings for him, like they were something to laugh about? Another one of Mathilda's laughs woke me up from my thoughts.

At dinner that night I was still pensive. No matter how torn up I was about the case, I missed Fred. His kisses, his touch, his mischievous smiles and his unconcerned laughs. And it hurt to see that he didn't miss me like I did him. But then, at moments, when he waved at me or just looked at me, only a couple of seconds but long enough to call lingering, all those butterflies would fly amok again and it would just be worth it.

He probably didn't mean to not look me up like he did last school year. He had N.E.W.T.'s this year, it must be busy for him. Honestly, I could barely handle my own homework. Mum and Professor Flitwick might've been right when they said that nine classes were too much.

I was busy, he was busy, we'd hang out again eventually, no need to worry, no need to feel anxious. But I couldn't help feeling a strong bout of anxiety when two days later he came walking down the Study of Ancient Runes corridor, a determined smirk on his face, looking me straight in the eyes.

Fred Weasley in abundance in the next chapter (but make sure you review this chapter alright? It means a lot to me)