Unfortunately, none of the three slept that well. Rebecca jumped at every
little sound thinking that Ben had came through the fire while Bill and
Charlie walked in and out of their room every time they thought someone was
coming up the stairs. More than one they scared each other.
Finally about 7 am, after tossing and turning all night, Rebecca crawled out of her bed and walked down the step. She was unaware that the little noise that she had made alerted Charlie and Bill. Of course they both thought it was the other on the steps again. Bill looked at his clock and decided not to scare his brother again.
Charlie decided it was time to get out of bed even if it was just Bill again. He headed down the steps and found Rebecca walking towards the portrait.
"Becca?" Charlie said to get her attention. Instantly she turned around to see him and ran right towards him.
"Hey it's okay," Charlie tried to comfort her as he wrapped his arms around her.
"No it's not. He cursed Stacy." Rebecca looked like she was going to cry.
"I know. ... I would love to punch him for doing it, but let's just be thankful that we were able to get you back through the fire without incident."
Rebecca just nodded her head. She was thankful for the guys catching her, but until she knew that Stacy was okay she wouldn't be able to stop worrying.
The two headed down to breakfast to find that they were the only ones up. They took advantage of the privacy to have little date. Charlie and Rebecca laughed, ate, and talked as other students filtered in. After a certain point the two looked at each other and decided that they wanted some more alone time.
"You up for a walk?" Charlie asked Rebecca as James, Jacquelyn, Colin, Cathrine, and Sara came to join them.
"Yeah, that would be nice."
Charlie and Rebecca got up and walked out the door just as Greg was coming in with Lauren.
"You guys, leaving already?" he yawned.
"Yeah, we have been up for a while," Rebecca responded as Greg continued to yawn. "What's the matter? Didn't you sleep well last night?"
"No, someone decided to keep opening up the door." Greg looked pointedly at Charlie.
"Sorry mate, but I was making sure that someone wasn't creeping around."
Rebecca looked at Charlie curiously and whispered, "Ben?" Charlie just nodded his head.
"Wish I would have known that. I might have slept better," Rebecca joked causing her and Charlie to start to chuckle.
Greg looked at the two intrigued while Lauren looked a little confused.
"Lauren, why don't you go ahead to the table?" Greg said pushing the first year towards the side of the table that was the farthest from the Slytherin table.
Lauren would have protested except she saw that A.J. and Anna were looking at her and both waved her over. As soon as she was out of ear shot, Rebecca and Charlie quickly explained the happening of the prior night.
"Oh, no wonder you both look so tired," Greg said when they finished.
"Well I better, let you to go so that you can go back to bed."
"Actually, I want to go to the owlery and write Kerry and Kalie," Rebecca stated looking at Charlie as if she was asking permission from him as Greg walked away.
"I think that would be a good idea. Mind if I go with you?" Rebecca sweetly smiled at Charlie silently letting him know that she was grateful he asked. Charlie grabbed her hand and started towards the stair with a "Let's go then."
"REBECCA CARTER!"
Immediately Rebecca and Charlie turned around to see Ryan and his gang heading at them.
After rolling her eyes, Rebecca replied, "What is Malfoy?"
She had been annoyed with him since Cathrine's party and couldn't get past what he had said about Wadsworth.
"My uncle wants you to send him an owl."
"Why?"
"He wants to know where get a hold of you this summer."
Rebecca scrunched up her face. "NO!"
"What?" Ryan took a few steps closer to her to try and intimidate her.
"I am not going to tell him where I am this summer. He never knew before and he doesn't need to know now." "That's what you think."
"And what is that suppose to mean?"
"It means that he always was able to tell me where you were before I got a letter from you."
Rebecca took a step back as Charlie looked between her and Ryan, who were glaring at each other.
'If looks could kill, I think both of them would be on the floor dead,' Charlie thought.
After a few tense moments, Rebecca finally hissed, "If that's the truth, then there is no reason that I have to tell him or you anything.
Without even waiting for Ryan to try to respond to that she dashed up the steps to the owlery Charlie close behind.
After having written Stacy a supper long letter and making Charlie draft letters to Kalie and Kerry, Rebecca walked out clinging tightly to Charlie. She was just in a mood where she didn't want him to leave her side. Maybe it was because of her little spat with Ryan or because of Ben trying to drag her through the fire, perhaps a combination of both made her feel uneasy and Charlie made her feel secure again.
"You okay?" Charlie asked when Rebecca almost made them fall down the steps.
"Um, I think I am, but..." Rebecca started but didn't know how to finish.
"A little unnerved about what happened last night?"
"Yeah, I just don't like the idea that he was able to get me. I mean, if he can get me to be there does that mean that he can come here?"
"Wish we could establish that. ... Come on let's study."
Rebecca nodded in agreement and then suddenly got wide eyed. Charlie had one guess what got her.
"How about we stay way from the fire?"
Rebecca smiled and then stopped. Charlie looked at her for a moment wonder why she stopped when from her smile it was obvious that he had assumed right. Before he could ask anything, Rebecca wrapped her arms around his neck to give him a huge hug and started to passionately kiss him.
Charlie was thrown slightly off balance by the nice surprise and he took two steps back into the door of an empty classroom. As he put one arm around Rebecca, he slipped his other hand to the door knob. The two continued to kiss as they stepped into the room.
'Wonder what exactly brought this on?' Charlie thought as he ran his hand through Rebecca's hair. He decided to wait until Rebecca pulled back to ask her. After all, he hadn't gotten to really kiss her like this in a long while and with school wrapping up in a weeks time he wasn't sure when the next time he would get the chance to after the ride home. Finally, Rebecca pulled away.
Charlie resisted his desire to pull her back to him as Rebecca sweetly smiled and softly said, "Thank you."
"For what?" Charlie asked as he thought, 'Shouldn't I be thanking her for the snogging session?'
"For everything you did for me this year. ... For letting me be me. For understanding when I went nuts. And especially for not making me say everything. Sometimes I swear you know me better than I do."
"I don't think I know everything that you know about your self." Charlie started to kiss her again. "But I am glad that you feel like I know enough to be thanked."
Charlie put his hand under Rebecca's chin and pulled her in for a kiss that ignited another session of kissing.
It took until lunch but the two finally left the classroom. Before they went to lunch, they made a stop in the restroom for Charlie to wipe off the lip gloss that transferred from Rebecca lips to his and also to let Rebecca reapply the gloss. The two knew that they were going to be teased for their disappearance, but they were not about to give the others proof about what they were doing.
After being questioned mercilessly through lunch, Charlie and Rebecca made their way up to the common room to study at a back table.
"I think I am cracking," Rebecca stated after about an hour of studying.
"Why do you say that?" Charlie as he flipped a page of his potions book looking a little exasperated himself.
"Because all I want to do is go back to the classroom and..."
"You want to?" Charlie eyed the door as Rebecca shook her head. "Grab your books."
"What?"
"Just grab your books and follow me."
Quickly the two piled their books up and walked out the door. Once in the room they set down the books on the front desk and before Rebecca could say or do anything Charlie swept her up and softly started to kiss her.
The two continued to make out until they heard a creak of the door to the room.
'I wish we had done something to make it look like we were studying,' Rebecca thought as she and Charlie instantly separated.
They looked behind them to see Professor Snape walking in the door.
"What are you two doing in here?" He demanded, but before either could answer he looked around and said, "You two have been really busy in here. Your ambition is something to be admired. If you need them help, I will be in my office."
Rebecca and Charlie looked at each other very confused as Snape left them alone.
"What in the world?" Rebecca said as she turned towards Charlie. Suddenly she saw what Snape had seen. There was writing all over the chalkboard.
As she continued to gaze at the board, Charlie joked, "It obviously pays to be his favorite student..."
"Wasn't that clean when we came in?"
Rebecca took steps towards the board while Charlie turned to look at the board.
"Um, yeah, I think. I don't remember there being anything on it, but now..."
"It has potions on it. ... It looks like it is the rainbow potion over here. ... Over there are the ingredients for wolfsbane."
"Hey look our books! They are open and our notes are out!"
"How did that happen?"
"Don't know. ... You got any guesses?"
"Nope, but Snape's comments make sense now. He thought we were studying hard core." Rebecca started laughing.
"Oh! ... At first I thought he was condoning, um, acts of indiscretion."
Still giggling Rebecca looked at Charlie and sputtered out, "Yeah, I thought he was offering to help us find places for us to snog when he said 'If you need any help, I will be in my office.'"
Charlie couldn't contain himself anymore he started to laugh with Rebecca. The two continued to laugh and compare what they thought of the professor's statements causing them to laugh harder and harder.
They were both sitting on the floor dying from laughter when Ryan and Cassie walked into the room. They had been passing when they heard the noise and decided to investigate.
"What is going on here? Why are you in the charms room alone?" Ryan screamed when he saw the two. Rebecca and Charlie looked at him a moment but continued to laugh. Cassie started to giggle not know what was so funny, but she never liked to look like she wasn't in the know.
"I ASKED WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!"
"Whoa! Calm thyself," Rebecca responded when she stopped laughing. "Not that it is any of your business. We were studying for OWLs and we took a break because we were cracking up."
Ryan looked around the room and left in a huff dragging Cassie along with him.
"Looks like the mysterious board saves us again," Charlie commented wrapping his arms back around Rebecca.
"Yep," she said wiping her lip gloss off of Charlie's lips. "I would love to know how it happened. As dumb as it sounds, it was like something magical."
"I know. At first I thought it might have been a ghost, but they wouldn't have left us in the room by ourselves. And if it was Peeves he would have thrown stuff at us. We couldn't have ignored him."
"Well, I guess it doesn't really matter, does it?"
"So should we go back to studying."
"Yeah, tomorrow will be here before we know it."
The two went back to studying. One would go and write down what the ingredients of a potion were while the other checked it against what the book said. They had a few more visitors through out the afternoon including Peeves the school poltergeist, who did throw thing at them until the Bill came in.
"Wow, you are really studying in here. Impressive! ... And here I was going to see if you guys wanted some help. ... Rebecca, congratulations on having such a positive influence on my brother," Bill commented before he left. Charlie and Rebecca looked at each other and just smile.
"You know Bill's right," Charlie said later that night when he and Rebecca finally left the room.
"What?" Rebecca asked.
"You are a good influence on me." Charlie pulled her close to him and kissed her again.
"Oh, I think it should be the other way around."
"Huh?"
"Charlie, I just don't feel like I am the same person I was when I was when I first came here, which is a good thing. I think it has a lot to do with you."
Rebecca got up on her toes and gave Charlie a kiss. The two smiled and continued to walk up to the common room to go to bed and get rested their tests. The next day started OWLs and NEWTs and it seemed everyone in the fifth and seventh years were cracking up from anxiety.
Rebecca tried to remain as calm as possible but her nerves did get the best of her. In between lunch and the practical part of charms Rebecca got really dizzy. She was sitting next to Charlie and slumped over onto his shoulder.
"Becca?" Charlie lifted her head up and tried to get her to focus on him.
"I'm okay. ... I just need a glass of water." Rebecca started to dig through her for her medicine as Charlie walked away to get her water. Ryan took this opportunity to walk up to Rebecca.
"Hey we need to talk."
"Not now Ryan," Rebecca replied grabbing for the water Charlie was handing her.
"Why not?" Rebecca ignored him and after putting her medicine in her mouth she took a swig of water.
"Are you going to be okay?" Charlie asked as he took the water from her.
"Yeah, I think I need to get up and walk a little," Rebecca responded grabbing Charlie's hand as she got up. The two walked away leaving Ryan sitting there fuming. Russel came over and sat with his friend.
"My uncle better be right," Ryan hissed as he stared at the back of Rebecca.
"What?" Russel asked quite confused.
"Nothing."
"You know these crypt things you have been saying that have to do with Rebecca and your uncle are getting old. I thought we were best mates?"
"We are, but I can't tell you right now. I'll tell you over the holidays."
"Fine, but can you refrain for saying anything. Cassie is getting edgy about those comments too and I have been getting the brunt of it. I am two seconds from helping her into the lake."
"She's just nervous about OWLs," Ryan tried to brush Russel off.
"Then why isn't she bugging you?"
"No clue."
"Fifth years, come in now," announced Professor Marchbanks, the head of the Wizarding Examinations Authority. Immediately, all the fifth years filed into the Great Hall.
"That wasn't that bad," Charlie sarcastically stated as he walked out of the hall.
"Let's go to dinner then go to bed," Rebecca said as she put her head on Charlie's shoulder as they walked up to the Gryffindor tower.
"Still not feeling well?"
"I still have a headache. Poor Greg had to catch me when I walked out from taking the exam."
"Really?! Do you need to go to the infirmary?"
Rebecca reluctantly shook her head as she whispered, "I don't think it will do any good. ... I mean I think there is more to it then me just stressing out for OWLs."
"Do you have any ideas?"
"Well, there is the idea of Ben coming into the common room. Ryan and I are completely at odds with one and other. Russel is going to be trying to get me to nail down something with that stupid bet. ..."
"Is there something else, Becca? ... I mean all that has been going on for a while and you didn't start fainting until today."
Rebecca stopped and thought for a moment.
"You know I think you are right. ... This morning it hit me that after this week it is summer holidays."
Rebecca took seat on the steps.
"You don't know where you're going to be next year, yet," Charlie said as he took a seat next to her. "Do you think you will know before we leave?"
"I hope so. I don't want to get my hopes up or miss a chance to tell everyone good bye in person."
"You think that you are going to be leaving?" Charlie panicked for a moment. He really didn't want Rebecca to leave.
"I don't think so since I did the puzzle and the potion, but you never really know with the laywer's."
"Well just have to wait and see then won't we?"
Rebecca nodded and Charlie gave her a comforting kiss.
"Come on let's go for a walk and then we can go to dinner."
Charlie and Rebecca had no idea that they would not have to wonder any longer on where Rebecca would land the next year for too long. On Wednesday, everyone was eating breakfast trying to get some studying in before defense OWL started when the mail came in. Rebecca found herself looking at the barn owl owned by the lawyer. Immediately she grabbed for the letter the owl had and after throwing the bird some toast and letting it fly off she ripped into it.
A second later, Charlie and the other Gryffindors heard, "YES!"
Rebecca instantly turned and wrapped her arms around Charlie who was completely caught off guard once again. They toppled back over back of the bench.
"Ouch. ... Okay Becca what is up? Did you get out of OWLs somehow? Because if you did you have to share how you did it," teased Charlie.
Rebecca started to laugh, "No, it's says I get to stay!" She showed him the letter very quickly, to fast for him to read any of it, and then went back to hugging him. Charlie laughed and gave her a huge hug relieved that he wouldn't have to give up seeing her every day.
"Hey, love birds!" Greg called over the table. "What's going on?"
Rebecca rolled over to see Greg, Sara, Cathrine and Colin standing up on the other side of the table looking at her and Charlie. James and Jacquelyn were sitting on the same side, but had the same confused look on their face as they watched the two on the floor.
"There's no more for me to do! I get to stay! I passed everything that I need to!"
"YES!" cried all the friends.
James and Jacquelyn dropped down to give Rebecca a hug as Greg and Colin jumped over the table with Sara and Cathrine. The fifth years dog piled Rebecca who for once in her life didn't feel the effects of her claustrophobia. Of course if they had stayed like that for two much longer, she probably would have.
"What is going on here!" came a voice over the group's giggles. As soon as the groups saw that it was Professor Snape, everyone scrambled to get up.
Rebecca's legs were tangled up and she was having problems getting up. Suddenly she felt two hands lift her up. She looked up to see Adam had helped her up. Once she had her legs back under her, Rebecca turned to see Snape somewhat glaring at the group.
"Sorry sir. It just ... with the pressure of OWLs and everything ... we sort of got carried away ... with celebrating the fact that I was informed that I will be back next year."
Rebecca let out a sigh. 'Why did I use that many words?' she thought feeling as though she was sort of making up an excuse, even though everything after the test part was clearly the truth. Snape appeared not to care whether or not part of the statement was slightly fictitious.
"Well that is news worth celebrating," he said with a smile on his face. "It looks like I will have an excellent NEWT class next year. ... Tomorrow is the potion OWLs, correct?"
"Yes, sir." Rebecca was slightly taken aback.
"Well good luck, then. Not that you really need it Miss Carter."
As Snape walked a way, Charlie took his seat and joked, "It's nice to be dating a teacher's pet."
"I would disagree with you, but whether I wanted to or not, I do get away with a lot it seems."
Everyone sort of started to laugh and talk of the next year. It was a nice break from the stress of OWLs and several seventh years, including Anna and Bill joined to the conversation allowing them to briefly forget about NEWTs.
Finally about 7 am, after tossing and turning all night, Rebecca crawled out of her bed and walked down the step. She was unaware that the little noise that she had made alerted Charlie and Bill. Of course they both thought it was the other on the steps again. Bill looked at his clock and decided not to scare his brother again.
Charlie decided it was time to get out of bed even if it was just Bill again. He headed down the steps and found Rebecca walking towards the portrait.
"Becca?" Charlie said to get her attention. Instantly she turned around to see him and ran right towards him.
"Hey it's okay," Charlie tried to comfort her as he wrapped his arms around her.
"No it's not. He cursed Stacy." Rebecca looked like she was going to cry.
"I know. ... I would love to punch him for doing it, but let's just be thankful that we were able to get you back through the fire without incident."
Rebecca just nodded her head. She was thankful for the guys catching her, but until she knew that Stacy was okay she wouldn't be able to stop worrying.
The two headed down to breakfast to find that they were the only ones up. They took advantage of the privacy to have little date. Charlie and Rebecca laughed, ate, and talked as other students filtered in. After a certain point the two looked at each other and decided that they wanted some more alone time.
"You up for a walk?" Charlie asked Rebecca as James, Jacquelyn, Colin, Cathrine, and Sara came to join them.
"Yeah, that would be nice."
Charlie and Rebecca got up and walked out the door just as Greg was coming in with Lauren.
"You guys, leaving already?" he yawned.
"Yeah, we have been up for a while," Rebecca responded as Greg continued to yawn. "What's the matter? Didn't you sleep well last night?"
"No, someone decided to keep opening up the door." Greg looked pointedly at Charlie.
"Sorry mate, but I was making sure that someone wasn't creeping around."
Rebecca looked at Charlie curiously and whispered, "Ben?" Charlie just nodded his head.
"Wish I would have known that. I might have slept better," Rebecca joked causing her and Charlie to start to chuckle.
Greg looked at the two intrigued while Lauren looked a little confused.
"Lauren, why don't you go ahead to the table?" Greg said pushing the first year towards the side of the table that was the farthest from the Slytherin table.
Lauren would have protested except she saw that A.J. and Anna were looking at her and both waved her over. As soon as she was out of ear shot, Rebecca and Charlie quickly explained the happening of the prior night.
"Oh, no wonder you both look so tired," Greg said when they finished.
"Well I better, let you to go so that you can go back to bed."
"Actually, I want to go to the owlery and write Kerry and Kalie," Rebecca stated looking at Charlie as if she was asking permission from him as Greg walked away.
"I think that would be a good idea. Mind if I go with you?" Rebecca sweetly smiled at Charlie silently letting him know that she was grateful he asked. Charlie grabbed her hand and started towards the stair with a "Let's go then."
"REBECCA CARTER!"
Immediately Rebecca and Charlie turned around to see Ryan and his gang heading at them.
After rolling her eyes, Rebecca replied, "What is Malfoy?"
She had been annoyed with him since Cathrine's party and couldn't get past what he had said about Wadsworth.
"My uncle wants you to send him an owl."
"Why?"
"He wants to know where get a hold of you this summer."
Rebecca scrunched up her face. "NO!"
"What?" Ryan took a few steps closer to her to try and intimidate her.
"I am not going to tell him where I am this summer. He never knew before and he doesn't need to know now." "That's what you think."
"And what is that suppose to mean?"
"It means that he always was able to tell me where you were before I got a letter from you."
Rebecca took a step back as Charlie looked between her and Ryan, who were glaring at each other.
'If looks could kill, I think both of them would be on the floor dead,' Charlie thought.
After a few tense moments, Rebecca finally hissed, "If that's the truth, then there is no reason that I have to tell him or you anything.
Without even waiting for Ryan to try to respond to that she dashed up the steps to the owlery Charlie close behind.
After having written Stacy a supper long letter and making Charlie draft letters to Kalie and Kerry, Rebecca walked out clinging tightly to Charlie. She was just in a mood where she didn't want him to leave her side. Maybe it was because of her little spat with Ryan or because of Ben trying to drag her through the fire, perhaps a combination of both made her feel uneasy and Charlie made her feel secure again.
"You okay?" Charlie asked when Rebecca almost made them fall down the steps.
"Um, I think I am, but..." Rebecca started but didn't know how to finish.
"A little unnerved about what happened last night?"
"Yeah, I just don't like the idea that he was able to get me. I mean, if he can get me to be there does that mean that he can come here?"
"Wish we could establish that. ... Come on let's study."
Rebecca nodded in agreement and then suddenly got wide eyed. Charlie had one guess what got her.
"How about we stay way from the fire?"
Rebecca smiled and then stopped. Charlie looked at her for a moment wonder why she stopped when from her smile it was obvious that he had assumed right. Before he could ask anything, Rebecca wrapped her arms around his neck to give him a huge hug and started to passionately kiss him.
Charlie was thrown slightly off balance by the nice surprise and he took two steps back into the door of an empty classroom. As he put one arm around Rebecca, he slipped his other hand to the door knob. The two continued to kiss as they stepped into the room.
'Wonder what exactly brought this on?' Charlie thought as he ran his hand through Rebecca's hair. He decided to wait until Rebecca pulled back to ask her. After all, he hadn't gotten to really kiss her like this in a long while and with school wrapping up in a weeks time he wasn't sure when the next time he would get the chance to after the ride home. Finally, Rebecca pulled away.
Charlie resisted his desire to pull her back to him as Rebecca sweetly smiled and softly said, "Thank you."
"For what?" Charlie asked as he thought, 'Shouldn't I be thanking her for the snogging session?'
"For everything you did for me this year. ... For letting me be me. For understanding when I went nuts. And especially for not making me say everything. Sometimes I swear you know me better than I do."
"I don't think I know everything that you know about your self." Charlie started to kiss her again. "But I am glad that you feel like I know enough to be thanked."
Charlie put his hand under Rebecca's chin and pulled her in for a kiss that ignited another session of kissing.
It took until lunch but the two finally left the classroom. Before they went to lunch, they made a stop in the restroom for Charlie to wipe off the lip gloss that transferred from Rebecca lips to his and also to let Rebecca reapply the gloss. The two knew that they were going to be teased for their disappearance, but they were not about to give the others proof about what they were doing.
After being questioned mercilessly through lunch, Charlie and Rebecca made their way up to the common room to study at a back table.
"I think I am cracking," Rebecca stated after about an hour of studying.
"Why do you say that?" Charlie as he flipped a page of his potions book looking a little exasperated himself.
"Because all I want to do is go back to the classroom and..."
"You want to?" Charlie eyed the door as Rebecca shook her head. "Grab your books."
"What?"
"Just grab your books and follow me."
Quickly the two piled their books up and walked out the door. Once in the room they set down the books on the front desk and before Rebecca could say or do anything Charlie swept her up and softly started to kiss her.
The two continued to make out until they heard a creak of the door to the room.
'I wish we had done something to make it look like we were studying,' Rebecca thought as she and Charlie instantly separated.
They looked behind them to see Professor Snape walking in the door.
"What are you two doing in here?" He demanded, but before either could answer he looked around and said, "You two have been really busy in here. Your ambition is something to be admired. If you need them help, I will be in my office."
Rebecca and Charlie looked at each other very confused as Snape left them alone.
"What in the world?" Rebecca said as she turned towards Charlie. Suddenly she saw what Snape had seen. There was writing all over the chalkboard.
As she continued to gaze at the board, Charlie joked, "It obviously pays to be his favorite student..."
"Wasn't that clean when we came in?"
Rebecca took steps towards the board while Charlie turned to look at the board.
"Um, yeah, I think. I don't remember there being anything on it, but now..."
"It has potions on it. ... It looks like it is the rainbow potion over here. ... Over there are the ingredients for wolfsbane."
"Hey look our books! They are open and our notes are out!"
"How did that happen?"
"Don't know. ... You got any guesses?"
"Nope, but Snape's comments make sense now. He thought we were studying hard core." Rebecca started laughing.
"Oh! ... At first I thought he was condoning, um, acts of indiscretion."
Still giggling Rebecca looked at Charlie and sputtered out, "Yeah, I thought he was offering to help us find places for us to snog when he said 'If you need any help, I will be in my office.'"
Charlie couldn't contain himself anymore he started to laugh with Rebecca. The two continued to laugh and compare what they thought of the professor's statements causing them to laugh harder and harder.
They were both sitting on the floor dying from laughter when Ryan and Cassie walked into the room. They had been passing when they heard the noise and decided to investigate.
"What is going on here? Why are you in the charms room alone?" Ryan screamed when he saw the two. Rebecca and Charlie looked at him a moment but continued to laugh. Cassie started to giggle not know what was so funny, but she never liked to look like she wasn't in the know.
"I ASKED WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!"
"Whoa! Calm thyself," Rebecca responded when she stopped laughing. "Not that it is any of your business. We were studying for OWLs and we took a break because we were cracking up."
Ryan looked around the room and left in a huff dragging Cassie along with him.
"Looks like the mysterious board saves us again," Charlie commented wrapping his arms back around Rebecca.
"Yep," she said wiping her lip gloss off of Charlie's lips. "I would love to know how it happened. As dumb as it sounds, it was like something magical."
"I know. At first I thought it might have been a ghost, but they wouldn't have left us in the room by ourselves. And if it was Peeves he would have thrown stuff at us. We couldn't have ignored him."
"Well, I guess it doesn't really matter, does it?"
"So should we go back to studying."
"Yeah, tomorrow will be here before we know it."
The two went back to studying. One would go and write down what the ingredients of a potion were while the other checked it against what the book said. They had a few more visitors through out the afternoon including Peeves the school poltergeist, who did throw thing at them until the Bill came in.
"Wow, you are really studying in here. Impressive! ... And here I was going to see if you guys wanted some help. ... Rebecca, congratulations on having such a positive influence on my brother," Bill commented before he left. Charlie and Rebecca looked at each other and just smile.
"You know Bill's right," Charlie said later that night when he and Rebecca finally left the room.
"What?" Rebecca asked.
"You are a good influence on me." Charlie pulled her close to him and kissed her again.
"Oh, I think it should be the other way around."
"Huh?"
"Charlie, I just don't feel like I am the same person I was when I was when I first came here, which is a good thing. I think it has a lot to do with you."
Rebecca got up on her toes and gave Charlie a kiss. The two smiled and continued to walk up to the common room to go to bed and get rested their tests. The next day started OWLs and NEWTs and it seemed everyone in the fifth and seventh years were cracking up from anxiety.
Rebecca tried to remain as calm as possible but her nerves did get the best of her. In between lunch and the practical part of charms Rebecca got really dizzy. She was sitting next to Charlie and slumped over onto his shoulder.
"Becca?" Charlie lifted her head up and tried to get her to focus on him.
"I'm okay. ... I just need a glass of water." Rebecca started to dig through her for her medicine as Charlie walked away to get her water. Ryan took this opportunity to walk up to Rebecca.
"Hey we need to talk."
"Not now Ryan," Rebecca replied grabbing for the water Charlie was handing her.
"Why not?" Rebecca ignored him and after putting her medicine in her mouth she took a swig of water.
"Are you going to be okay?" Charlie asked as he took the water from her.
"Yeah, I think I need to get up and walk a little," Rebecca responded grabbing Charlie's hand as she got up. The two walked away leaving Ryan sitting there fuming. Russel came over and sat with his friend.
"My uncle better be right," Ryan hissed as he stared at the back of Rebecca.
"What?" Russel asked quite confused.
"Nothing."
"You know these crypt things you have been saying that have to do with Rebecca and your uncle are getting old. I thought we were best mates?"
"We are, but I can't tell you right now. I'll tell you over the holidays."
"Fine, but can you refrain for saying anything. Cassie is getting edgy about those comments too and I have been getting the brunt of it. I am two seconds from helping her into the lake."
"She's just nervous about OWLs," Ryan tried to brush Russel off.
"Then why isn't she bugging you?"
"No clue."
"Fifth years, come in now," announced Professor Marchbanks, the head of the Wizarding Examinations Authority. Immediately, all the fifth years filed into the Great Hall.
"That wasn't that bad," Charlie sarcastically stated as he walked out of the hall.
"Let's go to dinner then go to bed," Rebecca said as she put her head on Charlie's shoulder as they walked up to the Gryffindor tower.
"Still not feeling well?"
"I still have a headache. Poor Greg had to catch me when I walked out from taking the exam."
"Really?! Do you need to go to the infirmary?"
Rebecca reluctantly shook her head as she whispered, "I don't think it will do any good. ... I mean I think there is more to it then me just stressing out for OWLs."
"Do you have any ideas?"
"Well, there is the idea of Ben coming into the common room. Ryan and I are completely at odds with one and other. Russel is going to be trying to get me to nail down something with that stupid bet. ..."
"Is there something else, Becca? ... I mean all that has been going on for a while and you didn't start fainting until today."
Rebecca stopped and thought for a moment.
"You know I think you are right. ... This morning it hit me that after this week it is summer holidays."
Rebecca took seat on the steps.
"You don't know where you're going to be next year, yet," Charlie said as he took a seat next to her. "Do you think you will know before we leave?"
"I hope so. I don't want to get my hopes up or miss a chance to tell everyone good bye in person."
"You think that you are going to be leaving?" Charlie panicked for a moment. He really didn't want Rebecca to leave.
"I don't think so since I did the puzzle and the potion, but you never really know with the laywer's."
"Well just have to wait and see then won't we?"
Rebecca nodded and Charlie gave her a comforting kiss.
"Come on let's go for a walk and then we can go to dinner."
Charlie and Rebecca had no idea that they would not have to wonder any longer on where Rebecca would land the next year for too long. On Wednesday, everyone was eating breakfast trying to get some studying in before defense OWL started when the mail came in. Rebecca found herself looking at the barn owl owned by the lawyer. Immediately she grabbed for the letter the owl had and after throwing the bird some toast and letting it fly off she ripped into it.
A second later, Charlie and the other Gryffindors heard, "YES!"
Rebecca instantly turned and wrapped her arms around Charlie who was completely caught off guard once again. They toppled back over back of the bench.
"Ouch. ... Okay Becca what is up? Did you get out of OWLs somehow? Because if you did you have to share how you did it," teased Charlie.
Rebecca started to laugh, "No, it's says I get to stay!" She showed him the letter very quickly, to fast for him to read any of it, and then went back to hugging him. Charlie laughed and gave her a huge hug relieved that he wouldn't have to give up seeing her every day.
"Hey, love birds!" Greg called over the table. "What's going on?"
Rebecca rolled over to see Greg, Sara, Cathrine and Colin standing up on the other side of the table looking at her and Charlie. James and Jacquelyn were sitting on the same side, but had the same confused look on their face as they watched the two on the floor.
"There's no more for me to do! I get to stay! I passed everything that I need to!"
"YES!" cried all the friends.
James and Jacquelyn dropped down to give Rebecca a hug as Greg and Colin jumped over the table with Sara and Cathrine. The fifth years dog piled Rebecca who for once in her life didn't feel the effects of her claustrophobia. Of course if they had stayed like that for two much longer, she probably would have.
"What is going on here!" came a voice over the group's giggles. As soon as the groups saw that it was Professor Snape, everyone scrambled to get up.
Rebecca's legs were tangled up and she was having problems getting up. Suddenly she felt two hands lift her up. She looked up to see Adam had helped her up. Once she had her legs back under her, Rebecca turned to see Snape somewhat glaring at the group.
"Sorry sir. It just ... with the pressure of OWLs and everything ... we sort of got carried away ... with celebrating the fact that I was informed that I will be back next year."
Rebecca let out a sigh. 'Why did I use that many words?' she thought feeling as though she was sort of making up an excuse, even though everything after the test part was clearly the truth. Snape appeared not to care whether or not part of the statement was slightly fictitious.
"Well that is news worth celebrating," he said with a smile on his face. "It looks like I will have an excellent NEWT class next year. ... Tomorrow is the potion OWLs, correct?"
"Yes, sir." Rebecca was slightly taken aback.
"Well good luck, then. Not that you really need it Miss Carter."
As Snape walked a way, Charlie took his seat and joked, "It's nice to be dating a teacher's pet."
"I would disagree with you, but whether I wanted to or not, I do get away with a lot it seems."
Everyone sort of started to laugh and talk of the next year. It was a nice break from the stress of OWLs and several seventh years, including Anna and Bill joined to the conversation allowing them to briefly forget about NEWTs.