A/N: I had come across a serious state of writer's block when a new reviewer happened across my ficcy. He (or she) reviewed this story 3 times and was the first to review a filk poem that I also have posted on ff.net. So, let's all give a big thanks to Fireblade who inspired me to keep on writing because there were still people out there who thought this worth reading. I would also like to remind anyone who reviews anonymously to leave their email address (unless you know I have it). I like to write an email thanking you and I can't do that without your addy.

And one final note: this chapter is dedicated to my good friend Lizzie who has been through a lot this year and still has the strength to go on. This goes out to her, that, wherever she is, she eventually finds the happiness she so richly deserves.

Chapter 20

As soon as Jason disappeared, Jake cursed under his breath as he turned around and started back towards the Hospital Wing. Inside, the students had been replaced by Hope. Apparently, she had come down whilst he was off following Jason and had told everybody else to leave since there was nothing else they could do. She was sitting on a chair, looking at her daughter. Jake walked up behind her and cleared his throat to get her attention. She whirled around, a question in her eyes.

"I just thought you might like to know that Jason has disappeared," he told her quietly.

"What do you mean disappeared?" she asked suspiciously. "As in vanished without a trace been kidnapped, disappeared, or something else?"

"The latter. He told me to tell everyone that he would be back soon and not to worry. Then, he teleported out. I was too startled to read his thoughts, and I don't know how to do it now."

"Don't worry, lad, I will handle it. You go and spend time with the others." Without another word, she walked out and headed up to the entrance hall. The teenagers hadn't learned, yet, that it was possible to read teleportation traces of a specific person and to follow them. Everyone had a different trace, but it was possible to mask it. However, Jason didn't even know they existed yet, so he wouldn't be able to hide them. It just depended on recognizing which one you wanted and sorting it out from past teleportations. Hope was pretty sure that Jason hadn't been doing too much teleportation this year so she might be able to track him down.

It didn't take long for her to track down his first stop, but from there it became difficult. He had first transported to their hometown, but since he had teleported a lot there, previously, it took a while for Hope to determine which was the most recent one. Once she did, she groaned, she would have to make a transcontinental jump again. If only I got frequent flyer miles for teleportation, she thought. Hope finally tracked him down and hid in a tree to avoid notice. She listened to his conversation with Kyle and totally approved of this Kyle person. When they walked off, she dropped down and followed at a discreet distance. She realized when Jason knew she was there. He stiffened and pulled Kyle into an alley. She kept back and let him leave. No use in startling him into something rash. When Hope finally made it over to where he disappeared from, she realized her mistake. Somehow, he had figured out how to blur his trace so that she couldn't tell where he was going. "Damn," she muttered. Deciding that there was nothing else she could do now, she decided to do some shopping for her class in Diagon Alley. She walked away, figuring Jason would be fine.

* * * * * * Jason and Kyle were laughing and having a good time as they walked around Piccadilly Circus, London. Suddenly, Jason sensed something on the fringes of his awareness. He stiffened and stood upright. Kyle looked askance at his friend. "What is it, man?" he asked worriedly as he placed his hand on Jason's arm.

Jason looked his friend in the eye as he laughed mirthlessly, "She found me. Damn." He reached out and grabbed Kyle's shirtsleeve and tugged him into an empty alley. As soon as he was sure no one was listening, he muttered to Kyle, "I am taking you with me to go see Kayla. Try not to think of anything or we'll be found. Otherwise, no one will know we are there." Without another word, Jason teleported himself and Kyle to the Hogwarts entrance hall. Before they had even reappeared, Jason had a sight- shield over them.

Jason grabbed Kyle's arm, again, and led him down to the Hospital Wing, hoping that it was late enough for everybody to be out, doing other things. He prayed that Kayla was alone. Jason used his powers to doubled check that no one was in the ward. Luck was with him: no one was. After telling Kyle to close his eyes, so he wouldn't panic, Jason focused on the door and made it temporarily act like the vanishing stair and the entrance to platform 9 3/4.

Inside the room, Kayla was lying in a bed, as peaceful and serene as snow white. He locked the door and walked over to her bed. Placing to fingers on her right temple, Jason opened a link between them, showing her with emotions what he wouldn't be able to with words. His feelings of apology, remorse, and love pulsed through the open channel until Kayla opened her eyes. She slowly reached her hand up to place on his and showed him her love for him. When they finally broke apart, they were smiling broadly. He kissed her softly. All of a sudden, Kyle coughed, and they jumped apart, Kayla sitting upright in her bed.

"Sorry to disturb and all that," he began as a slight blush crept into his face. "But, it was just a little...um...yeah...to watch you guys. You were glowing."

Kayla turned to Jason and he mouthed that he had told Kyle everything and that she didn't have to worry about him being there. He sat on the corner of her bed and took her two hands in his. "Well, love, how do you feel?" he asked her.

"I feel completely and utterly fine!" she vented. "These damn Brits don't understand that I know some Healing and sped along the process. I feel normal and I want to return to the rest of the castle. I don't like it in here. It is boring."

Jason got a wicked glint in his eyes. "What do you say to springing a jailbreak, then?" he suggested slyly. She looked up at him, smiled, and nodded. He stood up and pulled her with him. They stood so one of his arms was across her back and around her waist, and her arms were around his middle. He rested her head against his chest and closed her eyes. "So, where do you two want to go then?"

"Um...maybe you should change first, Kayla." Kyle suggested. At their blank looks he continued, "In case you hadn't noticed, you look like a vampire. This isn't normal."

She looked down at her costume from the night before and blushed. Jason consented, "Okay, so we will stop in my dorm before we leave. I also think we should leave Hope a note so that they don't think I was kidnapped or something."

Kayla quickly wrote a note and left it on her bed with a shield over it so that it wouldn't blow away. After a moment of consideration, she held her hand about a foot above the note and concentrated. Shortly, a small sphere of light appeared. "That is a thought bubble that only Mother will be able to tap into. It is like telepathy, but in an enclosed area. When the designated person touches it, they will mentally hear the message left for them by the creator. This one basically says that I made up with you, Jason, and that we will be back soon. I didn't mention Kyle so that no one will ask questions. I read how to do it in a book," she explained. "Here is the game plan: we will teleport into my dorm room, covering ourselves in a sight-shield. If anyone is in there, one of us will have to leave to create a distraction. When they leave, we lock the door. I will then change as quickly as possible, but I want to take a fast shower so I can wash all of this make-up off. Then we leave. While I change we can decide where to go."

That being decided, Kayla and Jason each grabbed one of Kyle's arms and teleported into the 5th year, Gryffindor girls' dormitory. As they dropped down, Jason draped a sight-shield over the trio so that any dorm inhabitants wouldn't notice them. Thankfully, no one was there since they were all down in the common room working on homework. Jason walked over to the door and locked it both physically and "magically." However, it was more like he created a force behind it that would prevent it from being opened. No one would get through. He turned back around and sat against the door as an extra precaution.

Kayla quickly grabbed a change of clothes and walked into the adjoining bathroom. She grabbed a clean towel off the top of the stack left each morning by the house-elves and her shampoo and soap items off of the shelf marked "Kayla" in magical ink. It was permanent unless you recited the spell to take it off. Jason wondered briefly why that kind of organization wasn't in the boys' bathroom, but then he remembered that Hermione probably did it and the others just found it easier to go along with her than argue.

After less than a minute of waiting, both the boys began to get impatient. Jason thought that the longer she took the better the chance of someone trying to get in and not be able to. But, he knew it was hopeless to try and hurry her, she wouldn't listen. So, Jason did the next best thing. He called a deck of cards and held them up to Kyle. Kyle nodded and sat down to play. Jason was ecstatic to be able to play with someone. The British students only liked chess or a game where cards exploded in your face. Jason cared for neither. But, he didn't get to play as often as he liked because James and Jake were in another house and the girls were never very interested.

They managed to play a few hands of gin (about 15 minutes) before Kayla came out of the steamy bathroom, dressed in "normal" clothes, with her hair pulled back into a high pony tail, and, most importantly, totally un- vamprie-ish. She came over and bent to give Jason a quick kiss. She sat down next to him and laid her head down on his shoulder to wait for him to finish the game. "So," she asked while she waited, "where do you want to go?"

"Well, assuming I have this time difference thing right, the mall back home should be opening just about now. Why don't we head there? That okay, mate?" Jason asked Kyle. He just nodded in response. "Great. The mall it is." Shortly, the finished the card game and Jason put them away and sent vanished them. He stood up and put his arm around Kayla's waist. He grabbed hold of Kyle and gave them some last-minute advice, "Remember, don't think of anything at all as we teleport, and certainly not where we are going. For some reason, if we think about it, people can follow us. I know because while I was gone, Hope was following me, but when I tried clearing my thoughts, she couldn't. So, in case anyone notices that we are gone anytime soon, clear those heads of yours. On the count of three, Kayla. To the parking lot. One...two...three!"

Kyle watched in fascination as the 5th-year girls' dormitory became fuzzy and swirled around him. When it refocused, they were in the parking lot of their hometown mall. Thankfully, no one was watching them. Laughing, they walked into the mall. For the next few hours, they were able to forget everything. Their powers, their schools, their parents, and their responsibilities.

* * * * * *

After wandering around Diagon Alley for a couple hours, Hope returned to Hogwarts, laden down with practice weapons. It was time for her classes to actually begin using them. It also occurred to her that it was about time to start Kayla on her second sword. Normally Hope wouldn't even consider it, but the girl was such a natural, it was hard to resist. She decided to teach her daughter how to fight with two swords. It could be very powerful when used correctly. So, she stopped in Rouge Hill's Armoury to buy her an extra sword. She wouldn't be ready for it until Christmas, but it was a good thing to buy in advance. She also bought the back sheathes meant for use with two blades. Although it was a top-notch blade and excellent sheathes, they were rather inexpensive. Actual sword fighting had fallen out of practice, even with wizards. Most who did it only did so to stay in shape so they only used practice blades. Kayla would need a fighting blade, and Hope remembered her eyeing this particular sword when they had stopped by the store back in August.

Hope took all of the weapons to the DADA room, and she hung them in the weapons' cabinet in the back of the room, hiding the one for Kayla in the secret compartment at the bottom. By then, it was time for dinner, so she walked down to the Great Hall to join the rest of the staff at her customary place between professors McGonagall and Snape. She watched as the students filed in and noticed immediately that Jason wasn't there. She would have thought he had returned by now. She wondered where he was.

Suddenly, Madame Pomphrey opened the staff doors and whispered something in Professor Dumbledore's ear. Hope narrowed her eyes. Poppy normally took her meals in the Hospital Wing, and it was abnormal to see her out of her ward. In fact, she so rarely left there were rumors that she wasn't a real human being and was charmed into existence to remain forever in the infirmary. Now, while Hope knew that wasn't true (or, at least, she thought it wasn't) she knew that the nurse only left the Hospital Wing if there was an issue with one of her patients. And, as Hope knew Poppy's only patient at the moment was her daughter.

Hope stared at Dumbledore's hat above McGonagall's head, hoping he would tell her what was going on. Fortunately (or unfortunately) her prayers were answered and he looked her way. His powers were either greater than she thought or her emotions were written on in her eyes since he nodded once, signaling that she should follow him. Once he was certain she understood, Dumbledore stood up to address the students as Madame Pomphrey exited the hall. "I hope you have all sufficiently recovered from the ball from last night," he said, with a twinkle in his eyes. "Tomorrow, classes will resume as usual and I expect your usual amount of decorum in class." He looked around the room once, seeming to pore into everyone's mind before ending, "Well, that being said: Bottoms Up!" He clapped and the serving plates magically filled with food from the kitchens, prepared by the not-so- small army of house-elves. He then turned and motioned for Hope to follow him.

"Professor," Hope began hesitantly as soon as the staff door to the Great Hall closed. Before she could continue, however, Dumbledore had raised his hand in a request for silence.

"My dear Hope, please do not waste your breath asking questions that you already know the answers to. If I am correct, you were about to ask why I asked you to join me in joining Poppy in the Hospital Wing. But, naturally, you have already assumed that it has something to do with Kayla. Since we both know this is a correct assumption, let us move on. This evening, Poppy was making her customary rounds of the ward to check up on Ms. Osborne. She was horrified to discover that her patient was missing. At first, she panicked, thinking that whomever poisoned her had returned to finish what he started. Namely, taking her to his master. But, then she noticed a piece of paper on the neatly folded bed. She tried to pick it up, but was thrown across the room, thankfully landing in a pile of extra pillows. That was when she thought it best to come find me." He turned his amused eyes to Hope and stayed nay further questions from her by adding, "I do believe that the rest of our questions will be answered as soon as we reach the infirmary."

They continued their walk through the stone corridors in silence. When they reached their destination, Dumbledore opened the door and motioned Hope in before him. Poppy was nowhere in sight. Hope assumed she was in the connecting room, preparing more Pepper-Up potions since it was close to cold season. Dumbledore and Hope walked straight over to Kayla's unoccupied bed and stood on either side of it. Hope stared down at the paper that had caused so much difficulty. She bit back a wry smile. The reason why the nurse was blown away was because Kayla placed a shield over it to prevent people from tampering with it. But, after using her Sight to examine it for more traps, she realized that it wasn't and ordinary shield. It had something over it that only a few people would be able to recognize: a thought bubble.

Hope brought her right hand and held it over the "sphere" hovering above the piece of parchment that only she could see. Or, rather, sense. She mentally amplified its contents so that Dumbledore could hear it, too. "Hey, Mother," Kayla's voice filled the air. Dumbledore's only visible clue to his surprise was the slight lift of his eyebrows. Even in this situation, Hope couldn't help but chuckle silently that even "All-Knowing Professor Dumbledore" didn't know everything. "I know you are probably worried sick about me. And, knowing you, you probably assume that I have been kidnapped and taken to Charles. But, to allay any of your fears, if this weren't me, how would I know that you were my mother. Remember? Charles doesn't know that. Well, to get on with why I am leaving this. After you all left this morning I don't remember much before falling asleep and dreaming of Jason. When I awoke, Jason was standing there, projecting his emotions that I couldn't help but forgive him even though I felt that he should be forgiving me. We talked for a few minutes, but then we couldn't stand this room any longer. I had to leave before I went insane. It was his idea, but don't blame him, please. If he hadn't suggested it, I would have. Well, we snuck up to my dorm so I could shower and change considering I was still in my costume form last night. Was it really only last night? I don't know yet where we are going to go, but I promise we will be careful. Please don't look for us. It would just be a waste of time since you won't find us. We will be back in time for class tomorrow morning. The note says pretty much the same thing, but I figured this would be easier to believe. See you soon."

After the voice stopped echoing in the ward, Hope stood there in stunned silence as Dumbledore picked up the note and read over its contents. He held it out to Hope, but she didn't even need to read it to know what it said: an abridged version of what she had just heard. Kayla wouldn't risk writing much of that since too many things could go wrong and the note would fall into the wrong hands. But, Hope knew the thought bubble was keyed to her. No one else would be able to hear it.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled merrily as Hope grumbled, "I guess there is nothing we can do, then, except wait for them to come back and give them a severe dressing down. I am going to go prepare my lessons for tomorrow. I am going to begin to actually let the students use blades. Could be scary." She shuddered melodramatic as she left the wing and headed towards her rooms.

When Hope reached the painting doorway to her suite, she whispered the password: "Pumpernickel." The painting, a vampiress, welcomed her, as she swung open to admit her resident. Hope sat down in front of the fire with a sigh. A large, black dog padded into the room as Hope placed her head in her hands and groaned. The dog transformed into a man and began to massage Hopes shoulders.

"Is there something wrong?" Sirius Black asked his "roommate."

"Nothing that I can fix," she replied. "Kayla took off with Jason this afternoon. The last I saw them they were fighting and miserable. And, now, they are back together and off somewhere. This is more convoluted that most normal teenage love issues! I am confused beyond belief, Sirius!"

"Well, I am not an expert on love, and I haven't been a teenager in years. But, I will tell you what I think, if you want."

"Please!" she said desperately.

"Okay. I don't know about you, but I believe in True Love. Yes, with the capital letters. I believe in it, because I have seen it. James and Lily," he clarified before she could ask. "It is when a person finds their soul mate. A person so suited to them that it goes to the point where their souls are entwined. If you believe in reincarnation, there souls live on and are always connected, whether or not their bodies are. If someone is lucky enough for find this person, they would do anything to keep this person happy. They are miserable if they are angry at each other and go to great extents to make up quickly. It doesn't matter when they meet, they will love each other for the rest of their lives."

"So, you believe Kayla and Jason have this True Love?" Hope asked as he continued to massage her shoulder blades.

"Yes. I believe I am enough of an expert to tell, even in the short time I've known them."

"How does this affect me, then?"

"It means the rules for them are different than for the rest of the world. What I would suggest for them would be to encourage them as much as you can to be with each other. They will never be happy with anyone else. Don't yell at them when they show up tomorrow. They are a rule unto themselves and will only rebel more if you place more restrictions upon them. Plus, they may expect to be punished, and will be totally confused that they aren't."

"What do I tell the rest of their friends if they ask about them?" Hope whined.

"Umm...hope they don't?" When she glared at him, he continued, "No, I didn't think that plausible. Well, just tell them that they are in here with us but don't want visitors. Only a white lie. Won't hurt anyone."

Hope barely had the energy left to glare at Sirius. "I will take that under advisement," she murmured before closing her eyes sleepily. It was the last thing she remembered doing before dozing off on the couch. When she awoke in the morning, she suspected her masseuse of carefully using a spell of sleep on her while she wasn't paying attention.

She stood up and went about tidying up her room before heading to the DADA room. She had a lot of work to do before the classroom would be ready for students. Sirius, in is dog form, was lying down in front of her desk, asleep. His tail wagged once when she walked in displaying his pleasure in himself. She looked up and saw what was making him so pleased with himself. A tray of food was waiting for her on her desk. He must have ordered it for her from the house-elves. "Thanks, Snuffles."

Since she had a class right after breakfast, Hope needed to move all the desks into an adjoining room in order to make a practice ring. She had only just finished when students began trickling into the room.

Her first class just so happened to be fifth-year Gryffindors and Slytherin. The way her DADA classes worked was that the house your class was with changed every week. It was just chance that the houses most antagonistic towards each other just happened to be in the same class in the week that she began her classes with actual weapons. Especially this year of students. The animosity between the young Malfoy and her daughter's cousin was legendary.

The bell rang, signaling the beginning of class. She glanced around, taking roll, immediately noticing that Jason and Kayla weren't there. Hope had a sudden feeling of panic. She said she would be back by the time classes began this morning. So, where are they? she thought. Hope began to worry that something had actually happened to them.

Hope opened her mouth to answer the class' questions about where the desks were. Suddenly, the door creaked open and two partially shrouded figures snuck into the rooms. Whoever it was, their reserves were low and they needed to rest before they would be able to do any more magic. Unnoticed by the rest of the class, the crept to the back of the room and sat down. The sight-shield covering the figures dissipated and Hope's assumptions proved true. Hope was relieved to see Kayla and Jason in one piece.

"Well, class," she began as though she hadn't noticed their late entrance. "Today you will actually start using everything I have taught you so far. In a minute I will be passing out the practice weapons. Please use them with caution because they could still hurt people. If I see anyone misusing a weapon, I will personally escort you to Professor Dumbledore's office, and we will have a little chat with your head-of-house." She glanced around for emphasis. "Well, that being said. Please form a line in front of the cabinet and I will give you your sword. You are the first class to use them, so please don't ruin them yet."

Hope walked to the back of the room. "Well, what are y'all waiting for? Get in line!" The Gryffindors hurried to get their weapons, but the Slytherins lazily walked up to her to get their swords. Hope found it disturbing that the Slytherins in her other classes were eager to learn. They were good kids, even though they suffered under the stigmatism of being in their house. It was only in the fifth year class that she received scornful stares and disinterest. Although she knew it was improper, Hope almost wanted them to fool around with steel out so that she would have an excuse to kick them out of her class. However, they finally took their blades and took their places on the practice mats. Tori and Keri walked to the front of the room. Since their preferred weapons were daggers, they weren't required to do this. Therefore, since they knew the basics, though, once the class began, they would walk around and help those who needed it. Jason and Kayla would do that also because they were more advanced with swords. So the happy couple walked to the door and leaned on it, talking.

Hope quickly paired off the class. Today, they would begin by learning some of the most basic attacks and blocks. She started them off by one person attacking and the other blocking. When she whistled, they were to change. Hope, the twins, and the couple walked around, adjusting people's stances and grips. Shortly after the class switched positions, the headmaster knocked on the door and beckoned Hope outside.

"Okay, y'all," she told them before closing the door. "I am trusting you enough to continue by yourselves until I get back in. Please don't prove me wrong."

As soon as Hope stepped out of the room, a snide laughter filled the room. "Can you believe that woman? 'Please don't prove me wrong' my arse. Does she seriously believe that we won't hurt ourselves?" Kayla knew that whoever it was was only trying to get her goat so she didn't show any reaction. Once she finished showing Dean how to correctly grip his blade, she turned around as if looking for someone else to assist. However, she was really searching out the laughter that was still sounding in her mind. She stopped in front of Malfoy. When he noticed her, he looked down his perfect nose at her. "Can I help you with something, Osborne?"

"Funny, I was going to ask you the same thing. I mean, I am the more experienced of the two of us in this class." Malfoy glared at Kayla as she continued, "And considering our discussion on the train here, I am surprised you would be willing to pick a fight with me. I assure you I would beat you." He paled. If that was possible. But, he continued to glare at her, continuing the façade of collectedness. Only his eyes hinted at the fear he felt. "I ask again: is there anything I can help you with?"

Malfoy began to sweat, as if debating whether or not to actually ask her something. "For some reason I seem unsteady as I block. Do you think you could tell me what I am doing wrong?" he finally choked out.

Kayla smiled, "Sure. "I want you to pretend my hand is a sword and reach out and block it, stopping exactly when I tell you to." Surprisingly he did exactly what she told him to. "Okay, here is your problem. You are moving your feet in too close together. Here, hand me your blade." She took his sword and made too notches on the floor, where he should place his feet. "I want you to keep your feet on these notches. If you think it would help, I will make it so that your feet won't move from those spots. That way, your feet would become accustomed to that position. But, I don't think that it is necessary. Call me over if you need my help, again." She smiled and walked away.

The rest of the class went by smoothly. No fights broke out, and no one hurt themselves. When the time came to change classes, Hope called Jason and Kayla to stay back so that she could speak with them about a few things. They followed the rest of the class to the front of the room, but stopped at her desk and didn't leave the room.

"So, care to tell me why you two disappeared yesterday? Why you are in classes and not in the Hospital Wing, Kayla?" Hope wanted to know.

"I thought everything was explained sufficiently in our notes," Jason commented.

Kayla placed her hand on his arm to stop his tirade before he started. She picked up the explanation, "I couldn't stand being stuck in there anymore. As to why I am here at the moment? Well, same reason really. I feel fine, Mother!"

"You really are my daughter," Hope grumbled almost inaudibly. Then, she continued, louder, "Fine. I think it is time to begin teaching you more. I expect to see you both here after dinner. Now, hurry on to potions." Ron and Harry had complained profusely that they had two classes in a row with the Slytherins before Hermione pointed out that it was only for this week.

They left the DADA room and practically ran to the dungeons. They had been told the stories of students (especially Gryffindors) who were late to Snape's class. They skidded to a halt in front of the door to the potions room. Warily, they pulled open the door.

"Well, well, well," began a snide voice from the front of the room. "Why were you two late?"

"Sorry, Professor Snape, sir," Kayla apologized. "Professor Forest wanted to speak with us after class. We won't be late again, sir." Kayla then smiled as charmingly as she could while waiting for his reply.

"Very well, Miss Osborn. Will you and Mr. Clayborn please take your seats so I may begin class?"

"Yes, sir," they both intoned before making their way to their seats at the table next to the twins amidst looks of disbelief from the rest of the class. No one knew why, but, for some reason, Snape liked Kayla and was even more lenient with her than he was with Malfoy. Whenever she was asked, Kayla replied that she just smiled and said she had her secrets. Snape, for his part, was convinced that this girl was somehow connected to his old friend Charles, and he was going to find out why.

That evening, as promised, Jason and Kayla reported to Hope's office after dinner. She explained that she thought it was time to teach Kayla how to use two blades at once. She wasn't going to teach it to Jason, he was going to learn some more advanced single bladed techniques and would practice against Kayla. It was difficult work, for both of them, and, by the time they finished for the evening, they were both sweating and ready to collapse. They promised to meet with Hope every other evening after dinner to work on these techniques.

As far as Quidditch went, tryouts were held on the first Monday of November for all second years and older. A second year named Monica O'Leary was chosen as reserve keeper; fourth years Megan Laurence, Juni Sanders, and Abigail Jacobs were the chosen chasers; and Erica Landers and Michael Smith (third years) were chosen as beaters. Surprisingly, no one tried out for the position of seeker. In one of the flying classes, a first year (Kenneth Williams) was showing off by doing steep dives when McGonagall saw him. She knew what Harry and the team was doing and brought him out during one practice to introduce him around. Harry was supposed to teach him out to be a great seeker so that, by the time Harry left, Ken would be very skilled.

The last Thursday in November, the American exchange students all gathered in Hope's room to have a Thanksgiving Dinner. They watched the Macy's Day Parade and football (of the American version). In other words, they had a lot of fun. That following Sunday was the first Quidditch match of the season (Ravenclaw versus Hufflepuff). The Gryffindor teams used it as the perfect opportunity to observe their competition. Kayla and Harry were only concerned about the seekers while the rest of the team watched the rest, they would discuss it at their next practice. It turned out that Rachel was playing seeker for Ravenclaw's team. Kayla thought it ironic that they were playing each other's positions, but she wasn't worried. She knew how Rachel played, seeing as they trained together. The Hufflepuff seeker was a little slow on his broom, almost as if he were afraid of falling. The Gryffindor delegation wasn't worried about him. At their team meeting, they decided that Ravenclaw's strength was in keeping the quaffle away from the other team. But, they couldn't always get it back so if Gryffindor could take it, they would most likely keep it. Hufflepuff relied on their keeper's ability to stop the quaffle. They decided that these two teams weren't going to be a problem. Their first game was the week after the student's return in January.

Sooner than they thought, the students going home for the break said their goodbyes to those remaining, boarded the train, and went home for the holidays. The exchange students were all staying since they had no way home, Harry was staying because he always was, the Weasley's were staying because their parents were going to Romania to visit Charlie, and Hermione was staying to keep them all company.