1 Chapter 19-The Missing Backpack, The Trip and Family

It was nearing the end of July, and the Quiddich Cup. There was no reply from James if she could go with him or not. Tara and her mum were managing well without Draco around the house.

Tara got a letter from Amber in the last week of July.

Hey Tara!

How are you? I'm doing well. I was wondering if you wanted to come over for a few days? Ask you mum and send me a letter back right away. Did you hear that James' dad's is in the Quiddich Cup? I really want to go! Well, send me a reply, okay? See you later.

From Amber

"MUM!" yelled Tara.

"Den!" Padma called back.

Tara ran to the den. "Can I go to Amber's for a couple of days? She just asked if I could."

"Yes dear."

"Thanks."

And with that, Tara ran to her room and found a black piece of parchment and wrote:

Hey Amber,

I can go! When do you want me to come over? Yea, that's all! Buh-bye.

From, Tara

Tara was the happiest she had been in a long time. She was going to one of her best friend's houses without anything to worry about.

That same afternoon she got a short reply back from Amber.

Tara,

Yay! All right come to my house by Floo at 2 o'clock tomorrow. See you tomorrow!

From Amber

"MUM!"

"Kitchen dear."

Tara ran to the kitchen and told her mom that she would be leaving the next day.

"Alright dear, pack your things and by the time you finish, dinner should be ready."

Tara went up two her room, going up the steps two at a time and searched for her backpack.

"I know its somewhere up here…hello? Mr. Backpack? Where are you? Please come out so I can stuff you with girly things."

Calling the backpack did not help. She looked in her closet, under her desk. She finally got frustrated and went downstairs.

"Mum? Have you seen my back pack?"

"Did you check under your bed?"

"Umm…no…"

"You think it might be an idea?" said Padma sarcastically

"Maybe…"

Tara went back to her room and looked under her bed. There was her backpack was under her bed.

" 'Did you look under the bad?' Pfft, how I wish I have the motherly gift."

Tara picked our some nicer clothing to take to Amber's house.

**

It was nearing noon the day that Tara would be leaving for Amber's. She kept checking her backpack to make sure it was in front of the fireplace before 2.

It felt like the time was going at snails pace. A minute felt like half an hour. Half an hour felt like an eternity.

It was FINALLY two o'clock. Tara hugged her mum good-bye and threw the floo powder in the fireplace and said 'McMullen's'. Tara had once last glimpse of her mother and she was suddenly in a very large living room. Tara stood there for a few minutes, finally stepping out of the fire as it wasn't being used with floo anymore and she didn't feel like being on fire. She heard footsteps coming from her right like someone were coming down the stairs quickly. Amber came bounding in the room.

"Hiya Tara!"

"Err, hello."

"Come on, I'll show you to your room."

Tara picked up her backpack and followed Amber up the stairs. There was a hall full of doors. There had to be something magical about them cause they were *right* beside each other. Amber took her to 8th door on her left. It was a big green room. The bed was by a window that had a seat in front of it. There was a tall bookcase holding what looked to be the oldest books in the world.

"This…is nice."

"I'm glad you like it." Said Amber. "Did you bring your swim suit?"

"Of course."

"Let's go swimming then, we got an outdoor pool."

"Sweet."

"Meet me in the living room in 5 minutes."

"Ok."

Amber left and Tara opened her backpack and took out her bathing suit. It was a white tankini. She also put on a black wrap-around skirt.

Tara headed down the stairs. Amber was already in the living room. She was wearing a pink suit with a red wrap-around skirt.

"Okay, c'mon, follow me." Said Amber

Tara followed Amber outside. There was a pool the size of the Gryffindor common room times two.

"That's the biggest pool I have ever seen. I have a pool too….but its tiny compared to this!" said Tara in awe.

Amber took off her skirt and jumped in the water. Tara followed suite. They splashed around for awhile. Until . . .

"AMBER!" called someone from the house behind theirs. (If you don't know what I mean, Amber's house's back yard faces another person's back yard. Like this. Umm []=|=[] . . .like that)

James had his head poked of the fence.

"WHAT! James what are you doing here?" yelled Amber.

"I live here."

"What, no you don't."

"Yes, I do."

"Since when?"

"Since today."

"I didn't even know that house was for sale." Amber whispered to Tara.

"Nice pool you got there." Said James

"Yea, that's what Tara said."

James still was on his side of the fence, staring at the pool.

"James, would you like to come swim with us?" asked Amber

"Yes!"

And with that, James went and got into his shorts. He was back in a matter of seconds. He hopped the fence and jumped in the pool splashing Tara and Amber.

"Why did he have to buy THAT house?" Amber asked no one.

Tara was having a water fight with James while Amber kept asking no one.

It was getting late. Amber and Tara kicked James out of the pool and made him go home. The two girls went in for dinner.

"Have a nice swim ladies?" asked Amber's mum.

"Yes mum. Oh yea, mum this is Tara. Tara this is my mum."

"Oh, hello." Said Tara shyly.

"Nice to meet you dear. You two go get changed. The Obi should be done fixing dinner when you two get back."

Tara went to her room and found her pajamas. They were Slytherin colours. She got it from her Grandma and Grandpa (on her father's side) for her 11th birthday. Tara headed down to the kitchen and saw a duplicate of her sitting at the table.

"Amber? Where did you get your pajamas??" asked Tara.

"I got them from my Grandma and Grandpa for my 11th birthday."

"But, that's when I got mine…"

"This is funny, actually."

"What are your Grandma and Grandpa's names?" asked Tara.

"Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy." Shuddered Amber.

Tara looked as if she was going to faint. "That's my dad's mum and dad."

"That makes you my…ummm…"

"Cousin..." Finished Tara "What side are they on?"

"My mum's."

"I never knew my dad had a sister! That's weird."

"She went to Durmstrang, that's why."

"Two of my friends are related to me…amazing."

"Who else is related to you?"

"Chester…he's my cousin on my mum's side."

Amber's mum walked into the kitchen with a look of shock. "Why are you wearing the same pajamas?!"

"I think I'll re-introduce you." Said Amber. "Mum, meet Tara Malfoy, your niece. Tara meet your Auntie Criança."

"Hello again." Said Tara fighting laughter.

"Hello." Said Criança.

A house elf that was wearing a mini knitted apron came out of the kitchen.

"That you Obi." Said Criança. "Meet my neice Tara."

"Obi is very happy to meet Miss Tara. Obi is happy to meet new family."

"Nice to meet you too Obi." Said Tara.

Obi had made a garlic-stuffed roast with mashed potatoes and a big caesar salad. It was delicous.

After dinner was finished, the three of them went into the living room and talked.

"You two should go and meet the new neighbours, well the people behind us."

"Yea, we should." Said Amber trying to hide her laughter.

"You should invite them for dinner."

"Yes mum." Amber was biting her tongue trying not to laugh. Tara was smiling like an idiot and shaking from silent giggles.

"Why don't the three of us go over there tomorrow and introduce ourselves."

"Y-y-yes mum!" said Amber finally exploding with laughter.

"What's so funny?!"

"Oh, just something, I…er…remembered from…ummm…school."

"Oh."

"Tara and I are going to bed now, good-night."

"Good-night you two."

Tara and Amber headed to Amber's room and got out a piece of parchment.

[I]JAMES!

THIS IS REALLY FUNNY. TOMORROW MY MOM SAID THAT WE ARE GOING TO 'INTRODUCE' OURSLEVES. WE DIDN'T TELL HER THAT WE ALREADY KNOW YOU CAUSE WE THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY REALLY REALLY (this could go on forever) REALLY FUNNY! SO WE ARE COMING OVER TOMORROW AND TELL YOUR PARENTS TO ACT SURPRISED TO SEE US (since they already know Tara) AND YOU ACT SURPRISED TOO.

FROM AMBER AND TARA!![/I]

Amber sent it off with her owl and the two of them laughed…and laughed…and laughed some more. Its was almost 11:00 by the time they went to bed.

They woke up early the next morning. Obi was at work making the a feast for breakfast, Tara woke up to that. She went down to the living room to see Criança sitting on the couch reading the [I]Daily Prophet[/I].

"Oh, good morning Tara. Are you ready to meet our new neighbours."

"Y-yes." Snorted Tara.

There was a rumbling coming from the stairs. Amber popped her head throught the door.

"Good morning sunshine." Said Criança.

"Yea, I'll be back down in a bit." Said Amber

"Bye."

"I'm going to get changed." And with that Tara ran to her room.

"Fine, see if I care that everyone deserted me!" Criança said to herself.

After breakfast and when everyone was ready they headed over to the Potter's house. Criança knocked on the door and Harry Potter came to the door. Criança looked scared, since she [I]was[/I] a Malfoy, but other then that she looked almost normal.

"Hello, we came over to introduce ourselved." She began. Tara and Amber were shaking with silent giggles. "I'm Criança McMullen and this is Amber, my daughter, and Tara Malfoy, my niece."

"Hello, all three of you. Would you like to come in, I'll introduce the rest of my family."

Harry looked as if he were going to crack up right there. He already knew Tara and James told him they were coming over and that is was a joke on Amber's mum. Harry led them into the into the living room where James was sitting in a big chair. His mum was on the couch adjasent to James' chair.

"Hermione, this is Criança, Amber McMullen and Tara Malfoy." Said Harry, looking like he was about to bite off his tongue so he wouldn't laugh.

"Nice to meet you." Said Hermioine. "I'm Hermione Potter and this is James, our son."

At about that time, the Potters, Amber and Tara burst out in hysarical laughter.

"What's so funny?" asked Criança.

"Nothing…nothing…" said Amber.

"Just that…" added James.

"We already all know each other…James is in our year and house. I spent Christmas with them…yes, a Malfoy and Potter Christmas." Finished Tara.

Criança looked shocked. "Why on earth didn't you tell me!"

"Cause it was…er…funny?" said Amber still trying rid of her giggles.

"While you guys sort this out, Tara can I talk to you for a second…alone?"

"Yea, alright…"

Tara followed James down a hall and into a library.

"I feel really sorry for your dad, even though he is a family enemy, I still feel sad for you, cause, yea."

"It's alright." Said Tara finally not laughing and more serious.

"And I wanted to know if everything is alright?"

"Yes, all is good. My mom is still with Voldemort but she's a spy for…the good side, the side I am on."

"That's great!"

"Yea, I'm proud of my mother, the way she's handling all of this you know."

"Right. Oh, by the way, remember how I said that the Quiddich Cup is coming and my dad's gonna be in it. We have an extra ticket and so you wanna come with us. We'll be in top box, with the ministry people. Its alright with my parents too."

"I'll get back to you, I have to check with my mum still."

"Ok. Let's go back out to the living room and save Amber from the parents."

They were all sitting now, and were served with drinks and biscuts. Tara and James joined them. Tara sat next to Amber on a big couch while James went back to the chair. They talked about lots of stuff, Quiddich was one, and sadly for the kids, school.

Criança, Tara and Amber finally left the Potter's house. Tara and Amber went upstairs while Criança told Obi to start supper.

"So, what did James talk to you about?" asked Amber when they got into her room.

"He asked me to go to the Quiddich Cup with him…"

"SWEET! Are you going to go?"

"I have to ask my mum st-"

"Write her right now!"

"Okay, okay! Its like you want to go or something." Tara said sarcastically

"Maybe cause I do."

Amber shoved a piece of parchment and a quill into Tara's face. Under pressure Tara wrote…

[I]Mother dearest…

James asked me to go to the Quiddich cup, it is the middle of August. I was wondering if I could go with him, they get to be in top box! Amber shoved this parchment into my face so that's why its all crumpled up. Owl me back.

Love, your dearest daughter Tara.

P.S. I'm not crazy. [/I]

Amber snatched the letter away from Tara and sent it to Padma.

The rest of the time Tara was at Amber's was fun. They went outside and swam nearly everyday, James always had to come and join them. It was finally time for Tara to go home until the Quiddich Cup, if she's going…