(F.Y.I.: I'm writing this at 9:00 o'clock at night, and hoping to finish it before camp, but that's only five days away, and I still need to pack, my grandparents are coming to visit (my mom's side of the family), and I have fly fishing lessons. So you're probably reading this after my two weeks at camp. Oh well, no one can say I didn't try. Please review! Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Yes I know the name Crystle isn't spelled the same, but I wanted a difference between the mineral, and the person. Lol. Oh yeah, for those of you that don't ever use God's name in vain; I'm really sorry, but I say it all the time, and so do my characters. If it really bothers you then you can tell me in a review; and I'll try my very best to remember that for all my future chapters. )

Warning: This story tells who dies at the end of O.o.t.P. so if you haven't read the 5th book then don't read this!!!!

Chapter 3: Being Stupid

"So what have you all been doing this summer anyways?" asked Crystle as they put their breakfast dishes in the sink. Immediately she wished she hadn't asked, as she remembered Percy. "Sorry, You don't have to answer that." She mumbled to Ron.

"It's all right." He shrugged, "Didn't do much. Harry came over two weeks into break. Not much else to say."

"Yeah, I was dead bored at the Dursleys, but it was a little better than last summer, not much though." Said Harry

Crystle smiled in spite of herself, "So Moody's threat worked huh?"

"Yep. It wasn't much better at Ron's really, pretty quite." He said it quietly so only Crystle could hear.

"So Fred and George moved out?" She asked, trying to move the subjects away from how their summers were; realizing that it mush have been a pretty hard summer for Harry to after losing Sirius.

At this Hermione laughed.

"Moved out! Yeah, they've made a ton of money from their joke shop. We visited them, and their house is huge!"

"They wanted to buy us a new house, but mum said no. So instead of getting a new house they're paying someone to fix it up." Said Ron

"I wish I could have visited them, but my mum's birthday is at the begging of the summer, and we always go and put flowers on her grave, then my parent's anniversary is a couple weeks after that. So that's why I couldn't come and visit you earlier." Said Crystle

"Nothing much happened at my house over the summer." Said Hermione, "We want to visit my mum's cousin, but that's about it"

They started up the stairs talking about whom the new Defense Agents the Dark Arts teacher might be, until Crystle remembered something.

"Sorry guys. I forgot to ask Amber a question. I'll be back up in a minuet." She said and hurried downstairs.

When she found Amber in the kitchen she was deep in conversation with Tonks about what it was like to be an Auror.

"Sorry to interrupt, but can I barrow Amber for a second?"

"Sure." Said Tonks

Amber scowled, but got up and left the kitchen with her sister all the same. When they were out of the kitchen Crystle got straight to the point, not wanting to annoy her sister.

"Amber can I please barrow Pepper? Please!" asked Crystle

"Depends."

"On what?"

"Whom you're sending it to."

"Tom." Said Crystle and she felt heat rising in her face.

"Again? Why don't you use Churn or the family owl, Asiel?"

"I just want to ask him a quick question. Please!" Crystle said, ignoring her sister's last question. The truth was that she knew her father and Jess would make a big deal of her having a boyfriend, and she would rather avoid it by asking to barrow her sister's owl.

"Fine, but you owe me one." She said with a small smile.

"Fine by me!" smiled Crystle.

She ran up to the room she was sharing with Hermione, Ginny, and Amber, and coxed Pepper down form the top of the wardrobe and onto her arm. She set Pepper down on the desk in the back of the room, and took out a quill and a piece of parchment; and began writhing a letter to her boyfriend.

Hey Tom!

I'm going to Diagon Alley with Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Amber, and Jess around noon. Can you meet us there? Send your answer a.s.a.p! Missing you tons!

Love,

Crystle

Crystle folded up the letter and attached it to Pepper's leg, and opened the window. "You know where to find Tom, just get it to him fast okay?" she asked Pepper. Pepper replied by sweeseing her arm slightly and flying through the window. Crystle watched her until she was swallowed up by fog.

Crystle hung out with the others for the rest of the morning talking about who was winning the Quiddage League, but as noon drew nearer and nearer Crystle began to feel anxious and nervous. Anxious because she still hadn't heard back form Tom, and nervous because if she did get to see Tom it would be the first time since the last day of school.

Ten thirty came and went followed by eleven, then eleven thirty. Then at eleven fifty, when everyone was getting ready to leave, a sharp tap on the window startled Crystle. Looking over she saw Pepper outside the window waiting to be let in. Quickly Crystle crossed the room and opened the window, and let the owl inside.

As soon as Pepper landed on her shoulder she quickly untied the parchment, and as she red her boyfriend's untidy scrawl she smiled. She felt as if she could yell out 'yes!' and dance around the room, but instead she ran downstairs found her sister; and gave her a hug.

"He said yes! He said yes!"

"And?" said Amber in a bored voice.

"And he said he couldn't wait to see me!" replied Crystle.

"You've been going out with him for...what? Two years? And you still get excited when you hear from him. God, Crystle."

Amber rolled her eyes at her sister wondering how she found guys more interesting than books, or school. Then she walked into the kitchen, as they were leaving by flow powder. Leaving Crystle feeling insulted and giddy at the same time. Crystle was about to question her sister for her rudeness, but was startled instead my Mrs.Weasley's voice at the end of the hallway.

"Crystle, dear, everyone is in the kitchen ready to go."

Crystle hurried into the kitchen, joining the others at the base of the fireplace; which was emerald green. Ron stepped into the flames and said in a clear voice "Diagon Alley" followed by Ginny, Harry, Hermione, and then finally it was Crystle's turn. She gave her father a quick hug, because he wasn't coming, and stepped into the warm flames and watched them lick her legs.

"Diagon Alley." She said, and felt herself being sucked through tubes and spinning, until she came to a complete stop.

Crystle stood in the fireplace for a few seconds, getting her footing right. Then she stepped out of the fireplace, and looked around. The first thing she saw was shelves of books, and knew she must be in Flourish and Blott's. And sure enough when she looked out the window she saw a large sign that said 'Flourish and Blott's Great books since 1885'.

She stared looking around for Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny. She found them looking at book for advanced magic. Hermione's nose was already hidden behind a book, and the others were standing around her gathering books that were on their lists. Crystle was her chance to talk to Ron, something she'd been hoping for. Walking over to them she asked Ron to follow her. In the next empty row, which held history books, she began to apologize for how she had acted that morning.

"Ron, I'm really sorry about this morning."

"It wasn't your fault, you didn't know. It's not like he was a great brother anyways."

"Yeah, but he was still your brother."

Ron shrugged.

"I really do feel bad about this morning. I didn't mean to upset you."

"I wasn't upset." Said Ron a little defensively.

"Yes you were. Everyone could tell. All I wanted to do was say sorry, I was being stupid."

"Just drop it ok?"

They stood in silent for a few minuets, until Crystle worked up the nerve to ask a question she'd wanted to ask all day.

"So, what's up between you and Hermione?"

Ron's ears went a flaming red and he avoided her eyes. He was saved from having to answer, though, by a shout at the end of the row of books.

"Hey, Crystle! There you are! I've been looking all over for you; sorry were you guys talking?"

"Er, no. We were just getting our history books for school." Said Crystle grabbing a history book from her list, "The Ministry of Magic through History" by Kris Ash, off the shelf. Not wanting to explain why she was apologizing to Ron. Then she turned to Tom and ran up and hugged him.

"Hey! I was so happy when you said you could come!"

"I was happy when you asked. I've been here for about ten minuets. What about you?"

"I just got here. I missed you over the summer. I kept trying to convince my dad to let you come over for a weekend, but he wasn't to thrilled with the idea." Said Crystle smiling

Tom laughed. "I don't think my parents would have been to thrilled with the idea either."

Then they kissed each other. But only for a few seconds before Crystle pulled back, remembering that Ron was still standing right next to them. Tom looked confused when she pulled back, usually they lip locked for about a minuet or two. Then he saw Ron and he face turned a bright pink.

Ron stared at them for a few seconds before muttering something about schoolbooks and leaving.

"Well...that was a bit awkward." Said Crystle

"I can't believe he was staring at us like that. Like he's never seen a couple before." Said Tom.

"Oh, I think he'll have to get used to it." Said Crystle with a sly smile.

"What do you mean? Are you planning on getting him used to making out?" said Tom with a laugh

"No! Shut-up!" said Crystle with a laugh, "Never! But this morning I saw him and Hermione holding hands."

"Weird. Never thought they would get together."

"I know, but I think they are."

"That's not how we started out." Said Tom with a laugh

"Don't remind me!" grumbled Crystle, "That was the most embarrassing moment of my life. You walking in on me and my sister when I was begging her to introduce you to me, and telling her how much I liked you."

"It ended alright though. With me asking you to come with me to the Yule ball as friends. Then getting together at the begging of my sixth year. I also remember the first time I kissed you. You were a good kisser, and still are."

"Shut-up! Someone might be listening!" said Crystle, pretending to be mad, but smiling in spite of herself.

She was glad Tom was her boyfriend. He was smart, nice, good looking, and treated her well. The only down side was that she wasn't the only girl in the school who liked him. In fact a lot did, which meant a lot of girls either hated her, or were only friends to get close to him. But in spite of it all she loved being his girlfriend. The only thing she worried about was that this was his last year at Hogwarts. When she told him this though he said that they would be fine, and would deal with it at the end of the year. Crystle smiled as she thought about all this, then snapped back to realty where a hand was waving in front of her face.

"Hello? Anyone in there? Come on Crystle, do you want to go out for ice-cream after we finish school shopping, or not?" Said Ginny, who was the person waving her hand in Crystle's face.

"What? Oh...yeah, sure. That sounds great." Crystle said, and Ginny just rolled her eyes.

(Author's note: Done! Done! But that's the only plus side. In fact, I've already started the 4th chapter. God, I know I took FOREVER! That's is defiantly the down side. I'm SO mad at myself for that. BUT...I'm doing better in school though now, and having more and more time to type this stuff up. So, yeah. I'm hoping to have the next chapter up soon. Sorry if I don't. I'm trying. ; ). )