The news of the scrimmage spread around the school like wild fire. By
Friday night, instead of being nervous, Rebecca was actually glad to have
to go to London to visit the lawyers.
She was tired of being asked what it was like to be Cathrine's replacement and having to answer a million questions about her Comet broom.
'You'd think that they had never been on a broom. I bet Ryan put them up to it,' Rebecca thought once when she was leaving a group of first year Slytherin that had just bombarded her with flying questions. She also was tired of snide remarks from the Slytherin team usually lead by Calloway.
And above everything else, she was tired of worrying that the Slytherins (especially two in particular) might come back into the Gryffindor tower and try to pull something, which since she got out of the infirmary had been her worst fear. Colin had set up some pranks to stop intruders, but without Cathrine, his confidence in them diminished leaving Rebecca not feeling overly protected by them at all even though some were quite brillant.
After quidditch practice on Friday, Rebecca headed back to the locker room with the rest of her team and then went up to her room to change for the trip to London. With being picked up by a representative of the lawyer, Rebecca decided it would be best to dress up for the lawyer before she left so that if she fell asleep on the train that would be one less thing for her to worry about when she woke up in London. After changing into a charcoal black straight skirt with a slit off centered to the left in the front and a sage green blouse with a white tank top under it, Rebecca checked her bag to make sure that she had everything packed that she needed. She then went downstairs said good bye to her friends and then walked down to the find Hagrid, who was going to take her to Hogsmeade's station.
Downstairs, Rebecca set her stuff down on the stairs and settled down to wait for Hagrid. As she waited, Dumbledore walked into the hall with a man with long slicked back white blonde hair. Rebecca recognized the man as Lucius Malfoy, Ryan's uncle.
She held her breathe hoping that he wouldn't see her. He always freaked her out and having nightmares after talking with him was a common occurrence for Rebecca when she was younger.
Unfortunately, she wasn't that lucky as the two men passed her, Mr. Malfoy looked over and immediately seized her hand pulling her up from her sit saying, "Why, my dear, Miss Carter, I have not seen you in ages. How are you doing?"
Rebecca twisted out her hand out of his grip as she answered, "I am fine."
She tried to leave it at that, but Lucius said, "Wonderful to hear that. I am here to see my nephew, Ryan. You two were always unseparateable. You wouldn't know where he is, would you?"
"Nope."
"Really? . I thought you would be the one person that could say without blinking an eye. It was the way it was when they were younger," he commented to Dumbledore.
"Well that may have been the way it was, but now it isn't," Rebecca replied as pleasantly as she could manage.
"Oh," Mr. Malfoy said. He appeared to be thinking very hard about what Rebecca just said until he caught sight of her luggage. "Where are you headed tonight?"
"Miss Carter," Dumbledore started, "is going to London to discuss what will happen next year."
"Really?" Lucius said as he turned towards Rebecca.
Rebecca weakly smiled and said, "Yep, and I am going to get another piece to the puzzle of my past as usual."
Hagird came walking up and said, "Alright there, Rebecca? You ready to go?"
Hagrid grabbed her back and lead her out of the castle but not before Rebecca noted the worried look on Lucius' face after the last thing she said.
'Wonder what is up with him?' she thought as she got in the carriage outside the castle which would take her to the train. When the carriage stopped, Rebecca climbed out still pondering why the words 'piece to the puzzle of my past' would get such a reaction from anyone.
As she stepped on to the train, Hagrid pulled her out of her daze when he said, "Now the carriage will be here when you return on Sunday. Have a safe trip."
"Thanks, Hagrid. Bye!" Rebecca said as she turned to go find a compartment that she could settle into and possible get some sleep hoping for no nightmares; because she was tired from practice and she knew when she hit London she wouldn't get a chance to catch up on sleep.
Rebecca walked into the castle upon her return from her trip to the lawyers exhausted physically, mentally, and emotionally. She looked as though she was really ready to go to bed rather than dinner having changed on the train into a pair of blue pajama pants and a grey t-shirt, but she had ever every intention to just go up to the Gryffindor tower throw her stuff into her room and then go into the Great Hall and let everyone know she was back. But as she crossed the open door way of the Great Hall she heard something that caught her attention.
"Well, he was just seventeen,
You know what I mean,
And the way he looked was way beyond compare,
So how could I dance with another,
Oh when I saw him standing there"
Rebecca looked in and saw Lennon singing to Bill. 'Oh, so that is the song she finally decided on,' Rebecca thought to herself as she leaned up against the door. She still was going to go upstairs before she ate, but she wasn't about to miss this.
Well he looked at me,
And I, I could see,
That before too long I'd fall in love with him,
He wouldn't dance with another,
Oh when I saw him standing there.
Rebecca smiled as Lennon continued to sing to Bill with all the students looking at them. Russel walked up behind Rebecca and asked, "What's going on?"
Rebecca was so tired that she didn't register that it was Russel and sweetly said, "Lennon and Bill had a bet that Lennon lossed, and so she has to sing in front of everyone so that the school knows they are a couple now. It took her forever to decide which song she wanted to do."
Rebecca chuckled a little as Russel said, "Oh ... Didn't they go to the ball together?"
Rebecca paused for a moment and then responded, "Yeah, they did, didn't they? I forgot about that."
Rebecca started to smile even wider.
Well my heart went boom as I crossed that room,
And I held his hand in mine.
Oh we danced through the night,
And we held each other tight,
And before to long I fell in love with him,
Now I'll never dance with another,
Oh when I saw him standing there.
Lennon took Bill's hand and got him to his feet and they started to dance. Russel looked at Rebecca who was still staring at the couple through her tired eyes.
"So," he started wondering whether Rebecca had mellowed out about him over her trip. "How was the visit to the lawyers?"
"Long and exhausting. I am glad to be back," Rebecca said with a big yawn.
Russel took a step closer to her and dared to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. Rebecca, being as exhausted as she was, didn't flinch or anything as he did this, so he decided it would be a good time to talk to her about everything so he asked, "Rebecca, can I talk to you about the bet and everything else that happened?"
Rebecca still didn't realize it was Russel talking to her so she shook her head yes and said, "I have to go get rid of my bag and then I'll come down for dinner."
"Okay, we can talk then."
Well my heart went boom as I crossed that room,
And I held his hand in mine.
Oh we danced through the night,
And we held each other tight,
And before too long I fell in love with him,
Now I'll never dance with another,
Oh since I saw him standing there.
Oh since I saw him standing there.
(Altered version of the Beatles' I Saw Her Standing There)
As Lennon finished the song, and the students applauded, Rebecca readjusted her duffle bag on her shoulder and headed up the stairs unaware that she had just made Russel's day and that he had turned to walk into the Great Hall with the biggest smile on his face.
Rebecca approached the portrait of the Fat Lady and gave the old password only to find out that they had finally changed it. She had no clue what the new password could be, so she put her bag down on the ground and contemplated going back down stairs to get the password from either Charlie or one of her friends, but the thought of going down the stairs and back up with her heavy bag did not appeal to her. Rebecca sat down with on the floor next to her bag to wait for someone to return or come out of the common room. She had barely got down on the floor when she felt her eyelids get really heavy and that her neck couldn't support her head. Rebecca fell asleep almost immediately when her head hit her bag.
Aaron, A.J., and Bill found her when they came up from dinner. A.J. and Aaron were ragging on Bill for Lennon's serenade.
"Yeah, well, you guys can say what you want, but we had fun and there is nothing you can say to." Bill stopped talking when he looked over to see Rebecca sleeping with her bag as her pillow. The two quidditch players looked to see what stopped Bill from finishing his sentence.
"I wonder how long she has been back," pondered Aaron walking towards his new chaser.
A.J. walked over behind him asking, "Do you think that Charlie knows she is back?"
"I don't think so," Bill said as he bent squatted down beside her, "he would have been up here if he did."
"I am going to go find him and let him know Becca made it back." A.J. walked back down the stairs to find Charlie.
"Guess we better get her up off the cold floor," Bill said looking at Wood.
Aaron shook his head in agreement and the guys went into action. Bill picked up his brother's girlfriend as Aaron grabbed her bag. Rebecca woke up for a moment as Bill gave the new password (Snickerdoodles) to the Fat Lady.
"Hey," she softly said. "Saw Lennon decided on a song finally."
Bill smiled down at her as the portrait and said, "Yeah, she actually knew for a while, but with Cathrine getting hurt and everything it just wasn't the right time after the match. She decided to surprise me tonight. Glad you were able to see it."
"Me, too," Rebecca weakly said as she drifted back to sleep in Bill's arms.
Bill and Aaron looked at each other for a moment wondering what to do with the sleeping fifth year.
"She looks as though she is ready for bed," Aaron finally commented.
Bill shook his head and said, "Let's put her in bed then."
Up in the fifth year girls' dorm, the guys set Rebecca down in her bed just as Charlie ran into the room followed by the rest of his group of friends.
"Is she okay?" he asked anxiously.
"Yeah, she was just asleep in the hall when we found her, bro."
Charlie bent over and gave Rebecca a kiss. Her eyes fluttered open.
"Hey, handsome," she meekly said.
"Hey, beautiful. How are you?"
"I'm," Rebecca started as her eyes closed and she them muttered, "fine."
"Night, Becca," Charlie whispered then gave her another kiss. He then turned to his friends and said, "I am sure she'll be better in the morning. Let's just let her sleep in piece."
With that, the four boys and two girls left to study in the common room.
Rebecca awoke the next day feel a little better, but still really exhausted. She had had nightmares all weekend long so her sleep at the lawyers was sporadic and even though she had slept well Sunday night it wasn't enough to get her caught up.
At breakfast, she could tell that her friends were dying to ask her what happened at the lawyer's and more importantly whether she was going to be staying or not, but they restrained themselves since between Rebecca yawning and shoveling food into her mouth, there wasn't a good moment to ask her. They couldn't blame her since she hadn't been able to eat anything the night before so she was famished.
Jacquelyn was about to burst when they started to get up from the table and Rebecca hadn't said word one about the subject and had grabbed another piece of toast. They were about out the door when Rebecca realized she had forgotten something very important up in her room.
"I'll meet you in class," she managed to get out before she took off up the steps.
"What do you think is up with her?" Colin pondered out loud.
"Don't know, we'll ask her when she gets to class," Sara calmly said as she started ushering everyone towards the potion's room.
"You would think she would have told us by now what happened," Jacquelyn said as she went down the steps.
Sara was about to say something, but James said, "Well you saw how tired she was last night. She practically fell asleep mid-sentence."
"But still that was last night and it is the morning," chimed in Colin as he took his usual seat. He would have said more but the sight of Cathrine's usual spot silenced him.
"She'll be up in no time at all," Charlie said as he took his seat next to the glum jester.
Colin nodded and whispered, "I hope soon."
Rebecca came dashing down the stairs with a piece of sealed parchment in her hands and was almost to the potions door when she saw Russel heading into the room. He was talking with Hans about something and stopped just outside of the door. Unfortunately, even though she tried to stop herself, Rebecca was too close so that when he stopped she ran right into him.
"Ouch," she muttered when she hit the floor with a thud.
Russel turned around about to tell her to watch where she was going, but when he saw that it was her his anger melted away and he softly said, "Hey, you okay?"
"Yeah, I think so. I guess I won't have to go to Madame Pompfrey this time," Rebecca replied. She had to restrain herself from laughing at her last comment. It had to be the first time that she had been on the fallen because of Russel that she didn't have to make a trip to the infirmary.
"Well, that is good to hear."
Russel smiled as he helped her gather up her things.
'She is accepting my help! Maybe I was wrong she didn't snub me last night she just didn't come back at all to the Great Hall. She was acting every tired after all. Today she seems fine though, maybe it means that she isn't mad at me anymore. I have to find out,' Russel thought as he picked up the piece of parchment that Rebecca had dropped.
"So, what happened to you last night?" he asked about to hand the paper back her.
Rebecca screwed up her face and asked, "What do you mean?"
"You said last night that you would be coming back down for dinner and we could talk. I was wondering what happened?"
"I fell asleep," Rebecca said through gritted teeth as she sna tched the parchment out of his hand and started into the room.
"Oh, well you did seem really tried. Glad to hear that you rested. ... Um, can we talk later today then?"
Rebecca whipped around so fast that if she hadn't been determined to keep her balance she probably would have been on the ground again.
"Now, listen here," she started. "I have been more than generous with talking to you. And all it has done is landed me in the infirmary. I told you that I was done listening to you and don't think that just because when I was tired and didn't know exactly what I was doing, I said I would talk with you means that I will be held to it, you-you piece of scum."
Rebecca walked into the room and plopped down on her sit next to Charlie. Russel followed her in and strategically stood where if Charlie, Greg, Colin, or James tried to take a swing at him they would get Rebecca too.
"You may think I am a piece of scum now," Russel started getting his nose about an inch from Rebecca's, "but you don't know the whole story. Trust me, I am going to get that snitch from under Weasley's nose at the match and then you will have to stop this little denial game you are playing and you are going to have to listen to my side and then you will regret ever calling me that."
Russel started walk away when Rebecca definitely said, "Charlie beat you before. He'll beat you again."
It was Russel's turn to spin around. He glared at Rebecca and hissed, "He barely got it last time. I will get it this time. I guarantee it."
Charlie was about to get up and say something to contradict the Slytherin Seeker, but Snape entered the room and started the lesson.
Rebecca turned towards Charlie and mouthed, "Sorry."
"About what?" Charlie mouthed back.
"The bet."
Charlie shook his head to tell her not to think about it. Rebecca nodded and turned back to the front of the room. Suddenly she turned back to her friends with wide eyes.
They all looked at her wondering what the matter was. She put her finger up to her mouth to tell them to stay quiet and then she whispered, "I haven't told anyone yet. I did have choices this weekend and each had strings attached to them. So I have a couple things to do, but once I get them done I will be returning here next school year."
Rebecca turned back to what Snape was saying about the potions they were attempting that day unaware that Charlie wanted nothing more than to kiss her right then and there and the rest of the group just wanted to hug her.
At the end of class, Rebecca started to put her stuff away, when Charlie grabbed her arm and pulled her in towards him. Before she could say anything to find out what was going on, he kissed her in front of everyone. Ryan had turned around just as they stopped kissing.
"Wow," Rebecca whispered as the rest of the group rushed around her and gave her a big group hug. They all tumbled to the ground and started laughing.
"What is up with you guys?" Rebecca laughed as Charlie pulled her up out from everyone.
"We are just so happy that you said you were coming back next year," Greg said as he got up and helped Sara off of the floor.
"So you surround me and try to make me faint, I'll remember that," Rebecca laughed.
Colin who was the most sober of the group quietly said, "Sorry, we forgot that you were claustrophobic. ... We all just realized that we would truly miss having you around this weekend and in our joy to hear that you choice to come back we got a little over exuberant. It's really quite amazing how attached we all have become of you in such a short time. Truth be told, we all hadn't noticed until you were gone for the weekend how much of an integral part of the group you had become. The idea of you choosing to return to Hogwarts and finish up with us was just like an early Christmas present."
Everyone was taken back not only by the seriousness of Colin, but the truth of his words.
Rebecca rushed towards the sweet jester and gave him a huge bear hug as she whispered in her ear, "Thank you."
Rebecca let go as Charlie said with a huge smile on his face, "Well, I think we better get going to Herbology."
Rebecca turned to finish packing her bag and caught a glance of a livid Ryan walk out with Cassie and a glaring Russel.
'Okay obvious that little scene didn't go over to well with everyone,' she thought as she picked up the parchment that she had forgotten earlier in the day.
"Ready to go?" Charlie said as he picked up his bag and walked to her side.
"Um, yeah, I have to do something first, I'll meet you out in the hall."
Charlie looked at her stangely but shook his head and headed out the door as Rebecca headed up to speak with Professor Snape.
"Professor?" asked Rebecca asked as she approached Snape at the front of the room.
"Yes, Miss Carter?" Snape asked turning towards his best pupil with this look that Rebecca had never seen before. It was hard for her to pinpoint what it meant. It definitely wasn't a look of loathing, but it was clear that he wasn't happy she had came up after class. "Did you break something when your group of friends went down?"
"Oh," Rebecca blushed profusely and looked down at her feet relieved that she hadn't really upset the teacher, but embarrassed at the same time. "No, nothing got broken. ..." Keeping her head down, Rebecca looked up at Snape with her eyes and sincerely said, "Sorry about that. Um, well, to make a long story short, I didn't know whether I would be allowed to come back to Hogwarts next year until this weekend. When I went to London, I told them that I wanted to come back to finish up. Unfortunately I was really tired last night when I got back and I am not sure exactly what happened this morning, but I only got to tell my friends this at the beginning of class. And even though they stifled their joy for the whole class, they couldn't wait any longer when we were getting ready to leave to let me know how happy they were. ... It won't happen again."
Snape's face changed the hard look that he had given the fifth year before melted away and it appeared that he was stifling some emotions of his own as he stated, "Well I guess for this one time there is no need to give punishment when someone new says that they want to say with us and the celebration doesn't disturb class. ... Yes, I dare say that next year my N.E.W.T. class might have seemed lacking talent if you weren't in it."
"Oh, yeah, I forgot that it went more selective after we take our O.W.L.s."
The tone in Rebecca's voice revealed to Snape that she was feeling as nervous as the rest of the fifth years, so to relieve her fears, he quietly stated, "Of all the students I have taught. You are the one that I know without a doubt in my mind that will be in potions after O.W.L. scores come out."
Rebecca slightly smiled as her anxiety of the potion test subsided slightly and said, "Thanks. ... Um, Professor, speaking of tests, the lawyer sent me this letter to give to you. I am assuming that I am going to get tested on something to do with potions, before it is official that I am coming back to Hogwarts."
Snape turned towards her with a puzzled looked and took the sealed parchment from her hand. He looked at the letter seeing that it was addressed "Potions Master of Hogwarts" and then opened it.
After a moment, he finished reading it and said, "You are correct on the potions part and from what I get from this letter it does have something to do with you coming back or not. However, it appears that you get as many chances as you need to get the potion right, but will have to produce it correctly as many times in a row as I deem fit."
Snape reread the letter with this giddy expression on his face. Rebecca didn't know how to take all of this. She was use to strange stipulations coming out of her parents will, but without any more information than Snape gave her she felt more confused about his one than any other.
After a moment of just staring at her potions teacher, Rebecca finally composed herself enough to open her mouth to ask a question, but before she could get a single sound out, Snape said, "Well, we will have to set up times to do this. You need to get to your next class so I will talk to you later about this and let you read this letter since it says that I should."
"Yes, Pofessor," Rebecca quietly said as she looked down at her watch to see that there was no room for asking to see the letter now.
As she rushed out of the classroom, someone grabbed her arm.
Rebecca was really startled by this and would have screamed a little if it hadn't been that it was Charlie and he had kissed her which would have muffled any sound that came out of her mouth.
When Charlie let go of Rebecca she took a step back and said, "If this is the welcome I get for being gone a weekend, I can't wait to see what happens when Cathrine wakes up."
Everyone smiled thinking of Cathrine being awake.
"Well won't that call for a bash," stated James as he started down the hall towards Herbology holding Jacquelyn's hand.
"A bash like the Queen's Jubilee they are planning," said Sara excited as she and Greg started down the hall.
"Yeah, I can see it now it will be like the Fourth of July in the States," Rebecca commented as she took Charlie's outstretched hand. Every single one in the group just looked at her. "What? I was over in the states last summer right after Wadsworth's death until it was about a week before I came here. It was a huge bash over there. There were parades and huge groups of people picnicking. At night, they had fireworks and everyone wore ..."
"Uh, Rebecca," Sara interrupted, "Why were you over there for so long?"
"I don't know. The will said how long. To tell the truth I was glad to be out of the house for that long it would have been hard to be there and not have Wadsworth there."
"What are you going to do this summer then when you have to be there and he isn't?" asked Colin looking at her concerned.
"Oh, I didn't think of that. I think I have grown up enough since then to be able to handle it. Of course, I might not get to find out."
"What do you mean?" Greg asked.
"Well, um, oh, I guess I'll start with the choices" Rebecca slowly started as they continued down the hall towards the door that would take them outside. "I had three of them. Each one had to do with what school I ended up going to and each had its own set of stipulations. Well, Durmstang really didn't have anything to it. In fact what I got from the lawyers that choice might have let me out of any more stipulations that were written in it. ... Anyways, then there was the Beauxbaton choice. It was that I got to do what I wanted this summer, but when I went back to Beauxbaton I had to be resorted and there were still more stipulations to come with my final two years. ... The third choice was obviously coming back to Hogwarts. It had a massive amount of strings attached to it. I am going to be told what I am doing for the next two summer holidays and stipulations are going to keep coming, which are going to test me on my magical abilities. So I am going to have to get through O.W.L.s, N.E.W.T.s, and from what I can get something close to being like B.A.T.s (Bad Auror Trest) now."
"The entrance exam for auror training?" asked Charlie impressed.
"Yep"
"Those are suppose to be the tougher than anything we could imagine," James said.
"Hmm-hmmm."
"You choose the Hogwarts Choice even though you go back to your old friends and not have to worry about that?" questioned Colin as they walked out the door.
"Yeah, but other than Stacy, I really don't have a lot of friends that I talk to there. I have better friends here that would miss me than would be happy to see me back."
"What about Ben?" asked Sara.
"I haven't heard from him in months," Rebecca relied a little miffed. "He might be happy to see me, but will I really feel like we are friends? Ryan use to write me all the time before I came here, so when I came here I knew someone liked me. I don't even get a hi from Ben or any of my other friends for that matter other than through Stacy's letters. In fact the last letter I got from her mentioned two people I barely talked to said something that I might like to know and nothing from anyone else."
"Yeah but how do you know that we won't be the same way?" Jacquelyn questioned unsure of the confidence in them that Rebecca was exhibiting.
"Oh, well I got the chance to sort of spy on you guys," Rebecca slyly said.
"Go on," Colin ordered as he held the door to the greenhouse open for everyone in the group to go in.
"Well," Rebecca continued, "before I was allowed to make my final decision, I got to look in to one of the schools to help me make the decision. At Hogwarts and Beauxbaton I would get to see my friends, but at Durmstang, I would just be checking out the atmosphere. Well, I missed you guys, so I choose to see Hogwarts. I looked into the fire of the common room and saw you all sitting around and talking."
"You heard our conversation then?" Sara asked. Rebecca discerned a startled tone in her friend's voice.
"Um, sort of. You were talking so low that I couldn't make out everything, but from what I got you all were expressing that you missed the absent members of this group. . The way you guys were acting I couldn't imagine ever get the cold shoulder from any of you as long as I didn't give you a cold shoulder. And you guys have already proven that I was right. Trust me you guys are the best friends I have had. You have gotten to the same level as Stacy and Ryan in the short time that I have know you all," Rebecca said as she took her seat in Herbology with a huge smile.
Charlie took his seat smiling and slighlty blushing at what Rebecca had just said. He looked around and saw the rest of the group was doing the same.
'We made her happy without knowing it. I don't think that she realizes that is she just did it for us when she came into our lives, especially mine,' he thought as the lesson began.
The rest of the day and on through the week, Rebecca couldn't help but smile every time she saw her friends. It keep her in a good mood that no one was able to damper. Ryan managed to have a fairly civil conversation with her before lunch on Friday.
"Hey," he timidly started when he saw her coming down the steps by herself.
"Hey, stranger! How are you?" Rebecca responded perkily.
"I'm fine. You're obviously doing well so I guess I will ask how your weekend at the lawyers was."
"Um, really tiring, but it had a good result to it," Rebecca responded a little less bubbly but still with a smile on her face.
"That is good. So, are you going to be returning or not?"
"I'll be finishing up here."
"Oh Rebecca, that is wonderful!"
Ryan picked her up and swung her around. Rebecca couldn't help but laugh as he sat her down from the hug.
"Sorry, I couldn't help it," Ryan said with the biggest smile he had given Rebecca in the longest time. "It is just so great that you are coming back!"
"Thanks!" Rebecca laughed. "Um, you aren't going to accuse me of staying because of Charlie, are you?"
"Oh," Ryan quietly muttered and then in a more audible remorseful tone he said, "No. I was really was sore about you not agreeing with me about Charlie neglecting you and then getting another black eye from you, when I implied that would be the only reason that you would come up with to stay is him. I am so sorry. I broke our truce."
Rebecca looked at her friend and wrapped her arms around his neck as she whispered in his ear, "It's okay. . I have to ask, why did you really go after Charlie with the bludger?"
Rebecca backed up wither her arms still around his neck.
Ryan gave out a sigh and slowly started, "I didn't think Weasley had acted soon enough when you were sick and was too righteous about everything so I decided it was time to teach him a lesson. Unfortunately I found that spell and I was mad enough Weasley that I actually listened to Dan and used it."
"You listened to Dan!" Rebecca said in complete disbelief.
"Yeah, isn't that dumb? I still can't believe that I did it. . I swear no matter how crazy I was I really didn't mean for Cathrine to get hurt, even if I didn't show it afterwards."
"I know. You probably would have earlier if I hadn't have beaten you up."
"Yeah probably."
"What is going on?" Cassie asked. Rebecca dropped her arms from around Ryan's neck and Ryan let go of Rebecca and took a step back as they both turned towards a livid Cassie accompanied by Kirsta and Russel. By the expression Cassie's face not only could Ryan tell that there was no easy way out of the situation, but Rebecca could tell, too. Rebecca gave Ryan a look to let him know that she was going to try something and to go along with her.
"Well, everyone is probably looking for me so I have better get in for lunch," Rebecca started. "Would you tell Cassie my good news for me, cous?"
"Yeah, um no problem," Ryan replied as Rebecca started to walk away. "Hey you want to practice quidditch some time?"
"Um, yeah, that would be fun, but let's wait until after the match, okay?"
"Yeah."
Ryan and Rebecca exchanged smiles as Rebecca walked away.
"What is Rebecca's news?" Cassie asked a little less cross than before.
"She's allowed to come back here for school next year."
"SHE IS!!" Russel exclaimed.
His inability to contain his enthusiasm sent Kirsta into a rage. She stormed off muttering stuff under her breathe.
"What is up with her?" Russel said as he walked the black haired girl walked into the Great Hall.
"Well, I never," Cassie scoffed as she dramatically walked in past the boys and went to find her friend.
"If you didn't know, you weren't suppose to be that happy that Rebecca is coming back," Ryan mockingly said with a little of a smirk on his face.
"Yeah, well laugh it up, Cassie wasn't to happy with how closed you two were until Rebecca used the ever famous cousin save. . I have to admit that you too were really close. ..."
"Yeah, well she was really happy that I was thrilled she was coming back even after everything and we hugged you just walked in at the wrong time," Ryan lied hoping that Russel wouldn't press the subject any more. "Anyways, I don't care what drama Cassie throws at me about this I can get back on her good side any time I want. Rebecca, however, is a different matter, as you know. Anyways, I got back on Rebecca's good side which was my goal for when she returned. . My uncle will be pleased." Ryan absentmindley added.
"Why would your uncle care who your friends with or not?"
"Well, it is sort of complicated, let's just say that my uncle reminded me that Rebecca was as important to my future as Cassie is."
"Okay, let's go get some lunch," Russel responded confused about what his best friend meant. As they started to walk into Great Hall, Russel caught sight of Rebecca with Charlie and the rest of the gang laughing and carrying on like they didn't care in the world. Russel gave out a sigh as he took his seat next to Kirsta, who was still fuming, and an idea hit him.
"Hey mate? When you practice with Carter can I come too?" he whispered over the table.
Ryan shook his head yes, as Kirsta turned towards Russsel and furiously whispered, "I know that wench's last name."
"Don't call her that! . So what? You known her full name. I can call her what ever I want" Russel asked giving her a look like she was crazy.
"So, I don't want to hear that you are going any where near her. She's done something to you."
"She hasn't done anything to me."
"YES, she has and I am going to get her for it."
"Don't you dare," Russel hissed back. "You're making this up in your head. . You're getting as bad as Cassie."
"URGH!" Kirsta got up and stormed out of the room practically running Aaron Wood over as she did so.
"Wonder what was up with her?" Wood said as he took a seat in the middle of his team and the various friends intermixed.
"Who cares?" A.J. harshly stated. Everyone stared at him wondering what made the normally sweet and polite boy use such a tone.
"Okay," Anna slowly started, "we don't care about her, but we would like to know what is up with you."
The red headed sixth year looked around the group and finally settled on Rebecca and seriously said, "Do you remember what you joked with me about that Saturday when you were surrounded by Kirsta and her gang?"
Rebecca thought for a moment and then with a gasp said, "Oh, you mean when I said that I thought Kirsta fancied you?"
"Yeah, well it turns out she really does. Today, she started to tell me this whale of a story that Anna was cheating on me with Calloway."
"WHAT!" Anna slammed her hands on to the table startling everyone at the table.
"Hey no hurting yourself before the match," ordered Aaron half trying to protect her for the match and half trying to make her laugh at his one- track-mind.
"She didn't?" Anna hissed ignoring Aaron.
"Yeah, she did, but I knew it was a lie from the get go," responded A.J. and he took a hold of his girlfriend's hand.
"How did you know?" Rebecca pondered out loud. She couldn't imagine being told that and being able to think clear enough to figure out it was a lie.
"Oh, well seeing how it was coming from a Slytherin was my first clue not to take it seriously, but I wanted proof to shut the brat up so she wouldn't spread it around. She ended up saying that Anna and Calloway have been secretly meeting since Anna and I started going out. All I had to do was say 'since third year?' and when she said yeah, I informed her that if she was going to tell me something like that she needed to know when we started going out."
"You didn't tell her what year?" Sara quickly asked.
"No, I made sure not to. Anyways, she was mad at me and went running to Calloway. I swear she is about as much a drama queen as that Burk girl in Slytherin."
"They're best friends you know," Rebecca mockingly informed them all causing the group to laugh at her Cassie impression.
"Well I don't care whose bloody friend any one is in Slytherin," Aaron started. "Watch your backs team. Slytherin will play at any game to through us off ours. I am sure that this was a plan cooked up by Calloway to devastate you two and make it hard for you to play together. Anyways, I think we are going to have to change up our practice schedule to through them off, okay?" The team shook there heads in agreement. "I switched our practice time from tonight to tomorrow at six a.m."
Anna and Rebecca were both taking a sip of their pumpkin juice when their captain said this causing Anna to do a spit take and Rebecca to strangle for a moment.
"Is there a problem, ladies?" Wood asked annoyed that he got a face full of juice.
"Um, no was just surprised to hear the time. Sorry," Anna quickly said.
"Yeah, I usually don't get up that early on a Saturday unless I am camping," Rebecca added.
"You camp?" James excitedly asked.
"Hmm-hmm," Rebecca answered ready to talk with James more about camping.
Wood could sense the change in conversation so before letting it change he said, "Well, as much as we would like to hear all about camping. I want you all to know we are going to practice tomorrow at 6 so get a good night sleep."
She was tired of being asked what it was like to be Cathrine's replacement and having to answer a million questions about her Comet broom.
'You'd think that they had never been on a broom. I bet Ryan put them up to it,' Rebecca thought once when she was leaving a group of first year Slytherin that had just bombarded her with flying questions. She also was tired of snide remarks from the Slytherin team usually lead by Calloway.
And above everything else, she was tired of worrying that the Slytherins (especially two in particular) might come back into the Gryffindor tower and try to pull something, which since she got out of the infirmary had been her worst fear. Colin had set up some pranks to stop intruders, but without Cathrine, his confidence in them diminished leaving Rebecca not feeling overly protected by them at all even though some were quite brillant.
After quidditch practice on Friday, Rebecca headed back to the locker room with the rest of her team and then went up to her room to change for the trip to London. With being picked up by a representative of the lawyer, Rebecca decided it would be best to dress up for the lawyer before she left so that if she fell asleep on the train that would be one less thing for her to worry about when she woke up in London. After changing into a charcoal black straight skirt with a slit off centered to the left in the front and a sage green blouse with a white tank top under it, Rebecca checked her bag to make sure that she had everything packed that she needed. She then went downstairs said good bye to her friends and then walked down to the find Hagrid, who was going to take her to Hogsmeade's station.
Downstairs, Rebecca set her stuff down on the stairs and settled down to wait for Hagrid. As she waited, Dumbledore walked into the hall with a man with long slicked back white blonde hair. Rebecca recognized the man as Lucius Malfoy, Ryan's uncle.
She held her breathe hoping that he wouldn't see her. He always freaked her out and having nightmares after talking with him was a common occurrence for Rebecca when she was younger.
Unfortunately, she wasn't that lucky as the two men passed her, Mr. Malfoy looked over and immediately seized her hand pulling her up from her sit saying, "Why, my dear, Miss Carter, I have not seen you in ages. How are you doing?"
Rebecca twisted out her hand out of his grip as she answered, "I am fine."
She tried to leave it at that, but Lucius said, "Wonderful to hear that. I am here to see my nephew, Ryan. You two were always unseparateable. You wouldn't know where he is, would you?"
"Nope."
"Really? . I thought you would be the one person that could say without blinking an eye. It was the way it was when they were younger," he commented to Dumbledore.
"Well that may have been the way it was, but now it isn't," Rebecca replied as pleasantly as she could manage.
"Oh," Mr. Malfoy said. He appeared to be thinking very hard about what Rebecca just said until he caught sight of her luggage. "Where are you headed tonight?"
"Miss Carter," Dumbledore started, "is going to London to discuss what will happen next year."
"Really?" Lucius said as he turned towards Rebecca.
Rebecca weakly smiled and said, "Yep, and I am going to get another piece to the puzzle of my past as usual."
Hagird came walking up and said, "Alright there, Rebecca? You ready to go?"
Hagrid grabbed her back and lead her out of the castle but not before Rebecca noted the worried look on Lucius' face after the last thing she said.
'Wonder what is up with him?' she thought as she got in the carriage outside the castle which would take her to the train. When the carriage stopped, Rebecca climbed out still pondering why the words 'piece to the puzzle of my past' would get such a reaction from anyone.
As she stepped on to the train, Hagrid pulled her out of her daze when he said, "Now the carriage will be here when you return on Sunday. Have a safe trip."
"Thanks, Hagrid. Bye!" Rebecca said as she turned to go find a compartment that she could settle into and possible get some sleep hoping for no nightmares; because she was tired from practice and she knew when she hit London she wouldn't get a chance to catch up on sleep.
Rebecca walked into the castle upon her return from her trip to the lawyers exhausted physically, mentally, and emotionally. She looked as though she was really ready to go to bed rather than dinner having changed on the train into a pair of blue pajama pants and a grey t-shirt, but she had ever every intention to just go up to the Gryffindor tower throw her stuff into her room and then go into the Great Hall and let everyone know she was back. But as she crossed the open door way of the Great Hall she heard something that caught her attention.
"Well, he was just seventeen,
You know what I mean,
And the way he looked was way beyond compare,
So how could I dance with another,
Oh when I saw him standing there"
Rebecca looked in and saw Lennon singing to Bill. 'Oh, so that is the song she finally decided on,' Rebecca thought to herself as she leaned up against the door. She still was going to go upstairs before she ate, but she wasn't about to miss this.
Well he looked at me,
And I, I could see,
That before too long I'd fall in love with him,
He wouldn't dance with another,
Oh when I saw him standing there.
Rebecca smiled as Lennon continued to sing to Bill with all the students looking at them. Russel walked up behind Rebecca and asked, "What's going on?"
Rebecca was so tired that she didn't register that it was Russel and sweetly said, "Lennon and Bill had a bet that Lennon lossed, and so she has to sing in front of everyone so that the school knows they are a couple now. It took her forever to decide which song she wanted to do."
Rebecca chuckled a little as Russel said, "Oh ... Didn't they go to the ball together?"
Rebecca paused for a moment and then responded, "Yeah, they did, didn't they? I forgot about that."
Rebecca started to smile even wider.
Well my heart went boom as I crossed that room,
And I held his hand in mine.
Oh we danced through the night,
And we held each other tight,
And before to long I fell in love with him,
Now I'll never dance with another,
Oh when I saw him standing there.
Lennon took Bill's hand and got him to his feet and they started to dance. Russel looked at Rebecca who was still staring at the couple through her tired eyes.
"So," he started wondering whether Rebecca had mellowed out about him over her trip. "How was the visit to the lawyers?"
"Long and exhausting. I am glad to be back," Rebecca said with a big yawn.
Russel took a step closer to her and dared to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. Rebecca, being as exhausted as she was, didn't flinch or anything as he did this, so he decided it would be a good time to talk to her about everything so he asked, "Rebecca, can I talk to you about the bet and everything else that happened?"
Rebecca still didn't realize it was Russel talking to her so she shook her head yes and said, "I have to go get rid of my bag and then I'll come down for dinner."
"Okay, we can talk then."
Well my heart went boom as I crossed that room,
And I held his hand in mine.
Oh we danced through the night,
And we held each other tight,
And before too long I fell in love with him,
Now I'll never dance with another,
Oh since I saw him standing there.
Oh since I saw him standing there.
(Altered version of the Beatles' I Saw Her Standing There)
As Lennon finished the song, and the students applauded, Rebecca readjusted her duffle bag on her shoulder and headed up the stairs unaware that she had just made Russel's day and that he had turned to walk into the Great Hall with the biggest smile on his face.
Rebecca approached the portrait of the Fat Lady and gave the old password only to find out that they had finally changed it. She had no clue what the new password could be, so she put her bag down on the ground and contemplated going back down stairs to get the password from either Charlie or one of her friends, but the thought of going down the stairs and back up with her heavy bag did not appeal to her. Rebecca sat down with on the floor next to her bag to wait for someone to return or come out of the common room. She had barely got down on the floor when she felt her eyelids get really heavy and that her neck couldn't support her head. Rebecca fell asleep almost immediately when her head hit her bag.
Aaron, A.J., and Bill found her when they came up from dinner. A.J. and Aaron were ragging on Bill for Lennon's serenade.
"Yeah, well, you guys can say what you want, but we had fun and there is nothing you can say to." Bill stopped talking when he looked over to see Rebecca sleeping with her bag as her pillow. The two quidditch players looked to see what stopped Bill from finishing his sentence.
"I wonder how long she has been back," pondered Aaron walking towards his new chaser.
A.J. walked over behind him asking, "Do you think that Charlie knows she is back?"
"I don't think so," Bill said as he bent squatted down beside her, "he would have been up here if he did."
"I am going to go find him and let him know Becca made it back." A.J. walked back down the stairs to find Charlie.
"Guess we better get her up off the cold floor," Bill said looking at Wood.
Aaron shook his head in agreement and the guys went into action. Bill picked up his brother's girlfriend as Aaron grabbed her bag. Rebecca woke up for a moment as Bill gave the new password (Snickerdoodles) to the Fat Lady.
"Hey," she softly said. "Saw Lennon decided on a song finally."
Bill smiled down at her as the portrait and said, "Yeah, she actually knew for a while, but with Cathrine getting hurt and everything it just wasn't the right time after the match. She decided to surprise me tonight. Glad you were able to see it."
"Me, too," Rebecca weakly said as she drifted back to sleep in Bill's arms.
Bill and Aaron looked at each other for a moment wondering what to do with the sleeping fifth year.
"She looks as though she is ready for bed," Aaron finally commented.
Bill shook his head and said, "Let's put her in bed then."
Up in the fifth year girls' dorm, the guys set Rebecca down in her bed just as Charlie ran into the room followed by the rest of his group of friends.
"Is she okay?" he asked anxiously.
"Yeah, she was just asleep in the hall when we found her, bro."
Charlie bent over and gave Rebecca a kiss. Her eyes fluttered open.
"Hey, handsome," she meekly said.
"Hey, beautiful. How are you?"
"I'm," Rebecca started as her eyes closed and she them muttered, "fine."
"Night, Becca," Charlie whispered then gave her another kiss. He then turned to his friends and said, "I am sure she'll be better in the morning. Let's just let her sleep in piece."
With that, the four boys and two girls left to study in the common room.
Rebecca awoke the next day feel a little better, but still really exhausted. She had had nightmares all weekend long so her sleep at the lawyers was sporadic and even though she had slept well Sunday night it wasn't enough to get her caught up.
At breakfast, she could tell that her friends were dying to ask her what happened at the lawyer's and more importantly whether she was going to be staying or not, but they restrained themselves since between Rebecca yawning and shoveling food into her mouth, there wasn't a good moment to ask her. They couldn't blame her since she hadn't been able to eat anything the night before so she was famished.
Jacquelyn was about to burst when they started to get up from the table and Rebecca hadn't said word one about the subject and had grabbed another piece of toast. They were about out the door when Rebecca realized she had forgotten something very important up in her room.
"I'll meet you in class," she managed to get out before she took off up the steps.
"What do you think is up with her?" Colin pondered out loud.
"Don't know, we'll ask her when she gets to class," Sara calmly said as she started ushering everyone towards the potion's room.
"You would think she would have told us by now what happened," Jacquelyn said as she went down the steps.
Sara was about to say something, but James said, "Well you saw how tired she was last night. She practically fell asleep mid-sentence."
"But still that was last night and it is the morning," chimed in Colin as he took his usual seat. He would have said more but the sight of Cathrine's usual spot silenced him.
"She'll be up in no time at all," Charlie said as he took his seat next to the glum jester.
Colin nodded and whispered, "I hope soon."
Rebecca came dashing down the stairs with a piece of sealed parchment in her hands and was almost to the potions door when she saw Russel heading into the room. He was talking with Hans about something and stopped just outside of the door. Unfortunately, even though she tried to stop herself, Rebecca was too close so that when he stopped she ran right into him.
"Ouch," she muttered when she hit the floor with a thud.
Russel turned around about to tell her to watch where she was going, but when he saw that it was her his anger melted away and he softly said, "Hey, you okay?"
"Yeah, I think so. I guess I won't have to go to Madame Pompfrey this time," Rebecca replied. She had to restrain herself from laughing at her last comment. It had to be the first time that she had been on the fallen because of Russel that she didn't have to make a trip to the infirmary.
"Well, that is good to hear."
Russel smiled as he helped her gather up her things.
'She is accepting my help! Maybe I was wrong she didn't snub me last night she just didn't come back at all to the Great Hall. She was acting every tired after all. Today she seems fine though, maybe it means that she isn't mad at me anymore. I have to find out,' Russel thought as he picked up the piece of parchment that Rebecca had dropped.
"So, what happened to you last night?" he asked about to hand the paper back her.
Rebecca screwed up her face and asked, "What do you mean?"
"You said last night that you would be coming back down for dinner and we could talk. I was wondering what happened?"
"I fell asleep," Rebecca said through gritted teeth as she sna tched the parchment out of his hand and started into the room.
"Oh, well you did seem really tried. Glad to hear that you rested. ... Um, can we talk later today then?"
Rebecca whipped around so fast that if she hadn't been determined to keep her balance she probably would have been on the ground again.
"Now, listen here," she started. "I have been more than generous with talking to you. And all it has done is landed me in the infirmary. I told you that I was done listening to you and don't think that just because when I was tired and didn't know exactly what I was doing, I said I would talk with you means that I will be held to it, you-you piece of scum."
Rebecca walked into the room and plopped down on her sit next to Charlie. Russel followed her in and strategically stood where if Charlie, Greg, Colin, or James tried to take a swing at him they would get Rebecca too.
"You may think I am a piece of scum now," Russel started getting his nose about an inch from Rebecca's, "but you don't know the whole story. Trust me, I am going to get that snitch from under Weasley's nose at the match and then you will have to stop this little denial game you are playing and you are going to have to listen to my side and then you will regret ever calling me that."
Russel started walk away when Rebecca definitely said, "Charlie beat you before. He'll beat you again."
It was Russel's turn to spin around. He glared at Rebecca and hissed, "He barely got it last time. I will get it this time. I guarantee it."
Charlie was about to get up and say something to contradict the Slytherin Seeker, but Snape entered the room and started the lesson.
Rebecca turned towards Charlie and mouthed, "Sorry."
"About what?" Charlie mouthed back.
"The bet."
Charlie shook his head to tell her not to think about it. Rebecca nodded and turned back to the front of the room. Suddenly she turned back to her friends with wide eyes.
They all looked at her wondering what the matter was. She put her finger up to her mouth to tell them to stay quiet and then she whispered, "I haven't told anyone yet. I did have choices this weekend and each had strings attached to them. So I have a couple things to do, but once I get them done I will be returning here next school year."
Rebecca turned back to what Snape was saying about the potions they were attempting that day unaware that Charlie wanted nothing more than to kiss her right then and there and the rest of the group just wanted to hug her.
At the end of class, Rebecca started to put her stuff away, when Charlie grabbed her arm and pulled her in towards him. Before she could say anything to find out what was going on, he kissed her in front of everyone. Ryan had turned around just as they stopped kissing.
"Wow," Rebecca whispered as the rest of the group rushed around her and gave her a big group hug. They all tumbled to the ground and started laughing.
"What is up with you guys?" Rebecca laughed as Charlie pulled her up out from everyone.
"We are just so happy that you said you were coming back next year," Greg said as he got up and helped Sara off of the floor.
"So you surround me and try to make me faint, I'll remember that," Rebecca laughed.
Colin who was the most sober of the group quietly said, "Sorry, we forgot that you were claustrophobic. ... We all just realized that we would truly miss having you around this weekend and in our joy to hear that you choice to come back we got a little over exuberant. It's really quite amazing how attached we all have become of you in such a short time. Truth be told, we all hadn't noticed until you were gone for the weekend how much of an integral part of the group you had become. The idea of you choosing to return to Hogwarts and finish up with us was just like an early Christmas present."
Everyone was taken back not only by the seriousness of Colin, but the truth of his words.
Rebecca rushed towards the sweet jester and gave him a huge bear hug as she whispered in her ear, "Thank you."
Rebecca let go as Charlie said with a huge smile on his face, "Well, I think we better get going to Herbology."
Rebecca turned to finish packing her bag and caught a glance of a livid Ryan walk out with Cassie and a glaring Russel.
'Okay obvious that little scene didn't go over to well with everyone,' she thought as she picked up the parchment that she had forgotten earlier in the day.
"Ready to go?" Charlie said as he picked up his bag and walked to her side.
"Um, yeah, I have to do something first, I'll meet you out in the hall."
Charlie looked at her stangely but shook his head and headed out the door as Rebecca headed up to speak with Professor Snape.
"Professor?" asked Rebecca asked as she approached Snape at the front of the room.
"Yes, Miss Carter?" Snape asked turning towards his best pupil with this look that Rebecca had never seen before. It was hard for her to pinpoint what it meant. It definitely wasn't a look of loathing, but it was clear that he wasn't happy she had came up after class. "Did you break something when your group of friends went down?"
"Oh," Rebecca blushed profusely and looked down at her feet relieved that she hadn't really upset the teacher, but embarrassed at the same time. "No, nothing got broken. ..." Keeping her head down, Rebecca looked up at Snape with her eyes and sincerely said, "Sorry about that. Um, well, to make a long story short, I didn't know whether I would be allowed to come back to Hogwarts next year until this weekend. When I went to London, I told them that I wanted to come back to finish up. Unfortunately I was really tired last night when I got back and I am not sure exactly what happened this morning, but I only got to tell my friends this at the beginning of class. And even though they stifled their joy for the whole class, they couldn't wait any longer when we were getting ready to leave to let me know how happy they were. ... It won't happen again."
Snape's face changed the hard look that he had given the fifth year before melted away and it appeared that he was stifling some emotions of his own as he stated, "Well I guess for this one time there is no need to give punishment when someone new says that they want to say with us and the celebration doesn't disturb class. ... Yes, I dare say that next year my N.E.W.T. class might have seemed lacking talent if you weren't in it."
"Oh, yeah, I forgot that it went more selective after we take our O.W.L.s."
The tone in Rebecca's voice revealed to Snape that she was feeling as nervous as the rest of the fifth years, so to relieve her fears, he quietly stated, "Of all the students I have taught. You are the one that I know without a doubt in my mind that will be in potions after O.W.L. scores come out."
Rebecca slightly smiled as her anxiety of the potion test subsided slightly and said, "Thanks. ... Um, Professor, speaking of tests, the lawyer sent me this letter to give to you. I am assuming that I am going to get tested on something to do with potions, before it is official that I am coming back to Hogwarts."
Snape turned towards her with a puzzled looked and took the sealed parchment from her hand. He looked at the letter seeing that it was addressed "Potions Master of Hogwarts" and then opened it.
After a moment, he finished reading it and said, "You are correct on the potions part and from what I get from this letter it does have something to do with you coming back or not. However, it appears that you get as many chances as you need to get the potion right, but will have to produce it correctly as many times in a row as I deem fit."
Snape reread the letter with this giddy expression on his face. Rebecca didn't know how to take all of this. She was use to strange stipulations coming out of her parents will, but without any more information than Snape gave her she felt more confused about his one than any other.
After a moment of just staring at her potions teacher, Rebecca finally composed herself enough to open her mouth to ask a question, but before she could get a single sound out, Snape said, "Well, we will have to set up times to do this. You need to get to your next class so I will talk to you later about this and let you read this letter since it says that I should."
"Yes, Pofessor," Rebecca quietly said as she looked down at her watch to see that there was no room for asking to see the letter now.
As she rushed out of the classroom, someone grabbed her arm.
Rebecca was really startled by this and would have screamed a little if it hadn't been that it was Charlie and he had kissed her which would have muffled any sound that came out of her mouth.
When Charlie let go of Rebecca she took a step back and said, "If this is the welcome I get for being gone a weekend, I can't wait to see what happens when Cathrine wakes up."
Everyone smiled thinking of Cathrine being awake.
"Well won't that call for a bash," stated James as he started down the hall towards Herbology holding Jacquelyn's hand.
"A bash like the Queen's Jubilee they are planning," said Sara excited as she and Greg started down the hall.
"Yeah, I can see it now it will be like the Fourth of July in the States," Rebecca commented as she took Charlie's outstretched hand. Every single one in the group just looked at her. "What? I was over in the states last summer right after Wadsworth's death until it was about a week before I came here. It was a huge bash over there. There were parades and huge groups of people picnicking. At night, they had fireworks and everyone wore ..."
"Uh, Rebecca," Sara interrupted, "Why were you over there for so long?"
"I don't know. The will said how long. To tell the truth I was glad to be out of the house for that long it would have been hard to be there and not have Wadsworth there."
"What are you going to do this summer then when you have to be there and he isn't?" asked Colin looking at her concerned.
"Oh, I didn't think of that. I think I have grown up enough since then to be able to handle it. Of course, I might not get to find out."
"What do you mean?" Greg asked.
"Well, um, oh, I guess I'll start with the choices" Rebecca slowly started as they continued down the hall towards the door that would take them outside. "I had three of them. Each one had to do with what school I ended up going to and each had its own set of stipulations. Well, Durmstang really didn't have anything to it. In fact what I got from the lawyers that choice might have let me out of any more stipulations that were written in it. ... Anyways, then there was the Beauxbaton choice. It was that I got to do what I wanted this summer, but when I went back to Beauxbaton I had to be resorted and there were still more stipulations to come with my final two years. ... The third choice was obviously coming back to Hogwarts. It had a massive amount of strings attached to it. I am going to be told what I am doing for the next two summer holidays and stipulations are going to keep coming, which are going to test me on my magical abilities. So I am going to have to get through O.W.L.s, N.E.W.T.s, and from what I can get something close to being like B.A.T.s (Bad Auror Trest) now."
"The entrance exam for auror training?" asked Charlie impressed.
"Yep"
"Those are suppose to be the tougher than anything we could imagine," James said.
"Hmm-hmmm."
"You choose the Hogwarts Choice even though you go back to your old friends and not have to worry about that?" questioned Colin as they walked out the door.
"Yeah, but other than Stacy, I really don't have a lot of friends that I talk to there. I have better friends here that would miss me than would be happy to see me back."
"What about Ben?" asked Sara.
"I haven't heard from him in months," Rebecca relied a little miffed. "He might be happy to see me, but will I really feel like we are friends? Ryan use to write me all the time before I came here, so when I came here I knew someone liked me. I don't even get a hi from Ben or any of my other friends for that matter other than through Stacy's letters. In fact the last letter I got from her mentioned two people I barely talked to said something that I might like to know and nothing from anyone else."
"Yeah but how do you know that we won't be the same way?" Jacquelyn questioned unsure of the confidence in them that Rebecca was exhibiting.
"Oh, well I got the chance to sort of spy on you guys," Rebecca slyly said.
"Go on," Colin ordered as he held the door to the greenhouse open for everyone in the group to go in.
"Well," Rebecca continued, "before I was allowed to make my final decision, I got to look in to one of the schools to help me make the decision. At Hogwarts and Beauxbaton I would get to see my friends, but at Durmstang, I would just be checking out the atmosphere. Well, I missed you guys, so I choose to see Hogwarts. I looked into the fire of the common room and saw you all sitting around and talking."
"You heard our conversation then?" Sara asked. Rebecca discerned a startled tone in her friend's voice.
"Um, sort of. You were talking so low that I couldn't make out everything, but from what I got you all were expressing that you missed the absent members of this group. . The way you guys were acting I couldn't imagine ever get the cold shoulder from any of you as long as I didn't give you a cold shoulder. And you guys have already proven that I was right. Trust me you guys are the best friends I have had. You have gotten to the same level as Stacy and Ryan in the short time that I have know you all," Rebecca said as she took her seat in Herbology with a huge smile.
Charlie took his seat smiling and slighlty blushing at what Rebecca had just said. He looked around and saw the rest of the group was doing the same.
'We made her happy without knowing it. I don't think that she realizes that is she just did it for us when she came into our lives, especially mine,' he thought as the lesson began.
The rest of the day and on through the week, Rebecca couldn't help but smile every time she saw her friends. It keep her in a good mood that no one was able to damper. Ryan managed to have a fairly civil conversation with her before lunch on Friday.
"Hey," he timidly started when he saw her coming down the steps by herself.
"Hey, stranger! How are you?" Rebecca responded perkily.
"I'm fine. You're obviously doing well so I guess I will ask how your weekend at the lawyers was."
"Um, really tiring, but it had a good result to it," Rebecca responded a little less bubbly but still with a smile on her face.
"That is good. So, are you going to be returning or not?"
"I'll be finishing up here."
"Oh Rebecca, that is wonderful!"
Ryan picked her up and swung her around. Rebecca couldn't help but laugh as he sat her down from the hug.
"Sorry, I couldn't help it," Ryan said with the biggest smile he had given Rebecca in the longest time. "It is just so great that you are coming back!"
"Thanks!" Rebecca laughed. "Um, you aren't going to accuse me of staying because of Charlie, are you?"
"Oh," Ryan quietly muttered and then in a more audible remorseful tone he said, "No. I was really was sore about you not agreeing with me about Charlie neglecting you and then getting another black eye from you, when I implied that would be the only reason that you would come up with to stay is him. I am so sorry. I broke our truce."
Rebecca looked at her friend and wrapped her arms around his neck as she whispered in his ear, "It's okay. . I have to ask, why did you really go after Charlie with the bludger?"
Rebecca backed up wither her arms still around his neck.
Ryan gave out a sigh and slowly started, "I didn't think Weasley had acted soon enough when you were sick and was too righteous about everything so I decided it was time to teach him a lesson. Unfortunately I found that spell and I was mad enough Weasley that I actually listened to Dan and used it."
"You listened to Dan!" Rebecca said in complete disbelief.
"Yeah, isn't that dumb? I still can't believe that I did it. . I swear no matter how crazy I was I really didn't mean for Cathrine to get hurt, even if I didn't show it afterwards."
"I know. You probably would have earlier if I hadn't have beaten you up."
"Yeah probably."
"What is going on?" Cassie asked. Rebecca dropped her arms from around Ryan's neck and Ryan let go of Rebecca and took a step back as they both turned towards a livid Cassie accompanied by Kirsta and Russel. By the expression Cassie's face not only could Ryan tell that there was no easy way out of the situation, but Rebecca could tell, too. Rebecca gave Ryan a look to let him know that she was going to try something and to go along with her.
"Well, everyone is probably looking for me so I have better get in for lunch," Rebecca started. "Would you tell Cassie my good news for me, cous?"
"Yeah, um no problem," Ryan replied as Rebecca started to walk away. "Hey you want to practice quidditch some time?"
"Um, yeah, that would be fun, but let's wait until after the match, okay?"
"Yeah."
Ryan and Rebecca exchanged smiles as Rebecca walked away.
"What is Rebecca's news?" Cassie asked a little less cross than before.
"She's allowed to come back here for school next year."
"SHE IS!!" Russel exclaimed.
His inability to contain his enthusiasm sent Kirsta into a rage. She stormed off muttering stuff under her breathe.
"What is up with her?" Russel said as he walked the black haired girl walked into the Great Hall.
"Well, I never," Cassie scoffed as she dramatically walked in past the boys and went to find her friend.
"If you didn't know, you weren't suppose to be that happy that Rebecca is coming back," Ryan mockingly said with a little of a smirk on his face.
"Yeah, well laugh it up, Cassie wasn't to happy with how closed you two were until Rebecca used the ever famous cousin save. . I have to admit that you too were really close. ..."
"Yeah, well she was really happy that I was thrilled she was coming back even after everything and we hugged you just walked in at the wrong time," Ryan lied hoping that Russel wouldn't press the subject any more. "Anyways, I don't care what drama Cassie throws at me about this I can get back on her good side any time I want. Rebecca, however, is a different matter, as you know. Anyways, I got back on Rebecca's good side which was my goal for when she returned. . My uncle will be pleased." Ryan absentmindley added.
"Why would your uncle care who your friends with or not?"
"Well, it is sort of complicated, let's just say that my uncle reminded me that Rebecca was as important to my future as Cassie is."
"Okay, let's go get some lunch," Russel responded confused about what his best friend meant. As they started to walk into Great Hall, Russel caught sight of Rebecca with Charlie and the rest of the gang laughing and carrying on like they didn't care in the world. Russel gave out a sigh as he took his seat next to Kirsta, who was still fuming, and an idea hit him.
"Hey mate? When you practice with Carter can I come too?" he whispered over the table.
Ryan shook his head yes, as Kirsta turned towards Russsel and furiously whispered, "I know that wench's last name."
"Don't call her that! . So what? You known her full name. I can call her what ever I want" Russel asked giving her a look like she was crazy.
"So, I don't want to hear that you are going any where near her. She's done something to you."
"She hasn't done anything to me."
"YES, she has and I am going to get her for it."
"Don't you dare," Russel hissed back. "You're making this up in your head. . You're getting as bad as Cassie."
"URGH!" Kirsta got up and stormed out of the room practically running Aaron Wood over as she did so.
"Wonder what was up with her?" Wood said as he took a seat in the middle of his team and the various friends intermixed.
"Who cares?" A.J. harshly stated. Everyone stared at him wondering what made the normally sweet and polite boy use such a tone.
"Okay," Anna slowly started, "we don't care about her, but we would like to know what is up with you."
The red headed sixth year looked around the group and finally settled on Rebecca and seriously said, "Do you remember what you joked with me about that Saturday when you were surrounded by Kirsta and her gang?"
Rebecca thought for a moment and then with a gasp said, "Oh, you mean when I said that I thought Kirsta fancied you?"
"Yeah, well it turns out she really does. Today, she started to tell me this whale of a story that Anna was cheating on me with Calloway."
"WHAT!" Anna slammed her hands on to the table startling everyone at the table.
"Hey no hurting yourself before the match," ordered Aaron half trying to protect her for the match and half trying to make her laugh at his one- track-mind.
"She didn't?" Anna hissed ignoring Aaron.
"Yeah, she did, but I knew it was a lie from the get go," responded A.J. and he took a hold of his girlfriend's hand.
"How did you know?" Rebecca pondered out loud. She couldn't imagine being told that and being able to think clear enough to figure out it was a lie.
"Oh, well seeing how it was coming from a Slytherin was my first clue not to take it seriously, but I wanted proof to shut the brat up so she wouldn't spread it around. She ended up saying that Anna and Calloway have been secretly meeting since Anna and I started going out. All I had to do was say 'since third year?' and when she said yeah, I informed her that if she was going to tell me something like that she needed to know when we started going out."
"You didn't tell her what year?" Sara quickly asked.
"No, I made sure not to. Anyways, she was mad at me and went running to Calloway. I swear she is about as much a drama queen as that Burk girl in Slytherin."
"They're best friends you know," Rebecca mockingly informed them all causing the group to laugh at her Cassie impression.
"Well I don't care whose bloody friend any one is in Slytherin," Aaron started. "Watch your backs team. Slytherin will play at any game to through us off ours. I am sure that this was a plan cooked up by Calloway to devastate you two and make it hard for you to play together. Anyways, I think we are going to have to change up our practice schedule to through them off, okay?" The team shook there heads in agreement. "I switched our practice time from tonight to tomorrow at six a.m."
Anna and Rebecca were both taking a sip of their pumpkin juice when their captain said this causing Anna to do a spit take and Rebecca to strangle for a moment.
"Is there a problem, ladies?" Wood asked annoyed that he got a face full of juice.
"Um, no was just surprised to hear the time. Sorry," Anna quickly said.
"Yeah, I usually don't get up that early on a Saturday unless I am camping," Rebecca added.
"You camp?" James excitedly asked.
"Hmm-hmm," Rebecca answered ready to talk with James more about camping.
Wood could sense the change in conversation so before letting it change he said, "Well, as much as we would like to hear all about camping. I want you all to know we are going to practice tomorrow at 6 so get a good night sleep."