Chapter 4

(F.Y.I.: Yeah. Okay, I don't really know how long it's going to take me to write this chapter considering that I'm about to die of school work and how long it took me to write the last one. Besides that my internet is down in my room and my little brother won't let me use the other one, because he doesn't know how to transfer stuff from one computer to another and won't let me show him how. Then again, I have a lot of time to myself so I might get it done faster. The reason for that is that all the phones in the house are down, so I can't call my friends. And right now you're probably like "blah blah blah. Get on w/it." So I'll stop now. Lol.)

Crystle sat at a table outside an ice-cream shop. Next to her sat Tom, along with his younger brothers and a couple of Crystle's friends. Tom's brother, Brett (who was 16), was sitting next to one of Crystle's friends, Dana. Brett and Dana had been going out for about 3 months now. Tom's other brother, Hal (who was four, and was going to be a big brother soon), was sitting on Crystle's lap. Next to them was Erin, Crystle's best friend. At the table next to them sat the others.

It was the first time all summer she had been able to spend with her friends. Together they enjoyed their last few homework free hours, and Crystle wished that the moment would last forever. But at the same time she was looking forward to going back to school. Not only because she would get to see all her friends, but she just loved being at Hogwarts. She watched her friends as she thought about all this, and she couldn't help but smile. Right now it seemed her life was perfect. And at the end of the day, when she was laying in bed, she knew that this was the best end of summer she'd ever had.

It was early in the morning when Crystle was shaken awake by her sister.

"Come on! We have to leave soon. You slept in!" Amber smiled at she spoke

"I did?"

"Yeah. Now come on, don't just lay there like an idiot!" Amber was still smiling as she said this.

"Sorry. I'm up, ok? And since when are you so happy? I haven't seen you like this since…I can't even remember when." Said Crystle as she got up, and began to get dressed.

Amber looked at her for a second then shrugged and said simply, "We're going back to school."

Less than a minute later Crystle heard Mrs.Weasley yelling up the stairs that they would miss the train. People were sprinting up and down the stairs looking for lost or forgotten items. When they finally got out the door hey had twenty minuets to get to the platform, and when they had finally all loaded into another one of Mundungus's cars they only had fifteen minuets left.

They arrived at Platform 9 ¾ with five minuets to spare. They got their entire luggage on the train just as it was about to leave. As the other's waved good-bye to their parents and the other adults, Crystle waved good-bye to her father until she couldn't see him anymore, then followed the others in search of an empty compartment. As they looked they greeted friends that they hadn't seen since last year.

When they came to a compartment that Dean Thomas was in Ginny left them, next Jess left when they came to a compartment with his friends in it. Then they finally found a compartment with no one in it, but were soon joined by Luna Lovegood, and Neville Longbottom. Crystle began to feel a little cramped after an hour, and left the compartment in search of another.

At last she came across a compartment that had a few of her friends in it. They talked together for a while, until a couple of the girls, who had boyfriends, brought up the subject of their boyfriends meeting their parents. Crystle thought it was kind of a stupid subject, but let them go on anyways. Dana talked about how her dad had interrogated Brett. For a while the girls talked about how their fathers reacted to meeting their boyfriends. Crystle was grateful for this and joined in the conversation. It wasn't until another girl, named Joanna, who Crystle didn't know very well, brought up how her mother reacted that Crystle became quiet and started to try to distract herself. She let the conversation go on for about 15 minuets before she caught Erin's eye. Immediately Erin started trying to change the conversation. Soon they were on a totally different subject, and Crystle gave her best friend a grateful smile.

Crystle knew she could always rely on Erin. They'd met each other since they were very young, and had been best friends ever since.

Lately though, Crystle had been missing her mom more than ever. There were times when, truthfully, she just wanted a mother to talk to. She thought that maybe her mother would understand her better than her father. She loved her father very much, but he wasn't a mother. She had confided this in Erin over the summer and it had been a great relief to get it off her chest.

After lunch Crystle went back to the other compartment only to find Malfoy there along with Crabb and Goyal. She looked around and noticed Harry and Hermione restraining Ron; who looked angrier than Crystal had ever seen him.

"Oh look," said Malfoy when he saw Crystle, "its Mrs. Potter. Did you have a good summer in hiding too? Cowards."

"Shove-off Malfoy." Snarled Crystle. Malfoy ignored her and went on.

"We were just talking about how Weasel's brother's death was just for fun. How he wasn't hard to dispose of." Malfoy laughed while Ron tried harder to get loose, and turning purple form the pressure his shirt was putting on his neck.

Crystle was in a fury. Her mother was still on her mind, and so was her murder. She knew what it felt like to lose someone you cared about. Especially when another human took their life. Malfoy's laughter was ringing in her ears. She whipped out her wand, and pointed it straight at his head. She heard Hermione moan behind her.

"Oh, Crystle don't!" she said, "You'd get in loads of trouble."

Crystle heeded her friend, and lowered her wand. Malfoy smiled.

"Taking orders form Mudbloods now?" he said, "I'm sure some of you're relative would love to hear that, wouldn't they?"

That did it. Crystle turned around and dropped her wand. She balled up her fists, and launched herself at Malfoy. As she punched him Crabb and Goyal stood stupidly at his side, not knowing what to do. Then she felt three pairs of hands pull her back. As they pulled her up she screamed, "Never talk to me about my friends or family like that! Ever!"

Malfoy was up in a second, and glared at her, while his cheek and nose swelled. Then he left the compartment. As soon as the compartment door closed Ron started to crack up, followed by Harry.

"That was not funny! You could get into load of trouble for that Crystle!" said Hermione, who seemed very perturbed by the whole thing.

"Who cares? It was worth it." Said Crystle

"Yeah, who cares?" echoed Ron and Harry, who where both smiling like Crystle hadn't seen them do in a long time. Hermione seemed to be enjoying their smiles to, stopped lecturing, and smiled too.

Later they ate the remaining candy from the trolley-lady, and spent the rest of the time playing chess, exploding snaps, and talking about who the new defense against the dark arts teacher might be. The rest of the afternoon seemed to go by too fast for Crystle. All too soon they were changing into their robes and pulling up to the station. All four of them got off the train, and the others started looking around for Hagrid. Suddenly they were almost crushed from behind in a hug. "Hello, you three!" said Hagrid, who was hugging them.

"Hi, Hargid." Said Crystle along with the others. Then he let them go. "I'll see yer all up at the castle." He said, and continued to father up the 1st years.

"I'm so glad he is here this year. Last was horrible without him." Said Harry

"Yeah, I know." said Crystle

Together they all headed towards the nearest carriage, and Crystle saw Harry grimace as he looked towards what she guessed was where the thestral was rigged up to carry the carriage to the castle. This was where Crystle left them. She liked Harry, Ron, and Hermione, but she was longing to see some other people. Pushing her way through the crowd she found a carriage with Erin, and some of her friends. She got into the carriage and pulled the door shut. Some of the girls looked over at her with distaste, but Crystle didn't mind. She and Erin, although best friends, hung out with very different crowds during the school year. She stayed quiet, and listened to their conversations. It seemed to take a very long time to reach the castle. Finally, after what seemed hours the carriage came to a halt.

Slowly the students filed up the stairs, and into the Great Hall. Crystle looked up at the starry sky, and felt a tingle run down her spine. She was back where she belonged.

(Author's note- Wow! That only took FOREVER! You all probably think I'm a horrible writer...And yes, it's all my fault I haven't been up-dating. I know, and I'm not going to make any excuses. I don't have any idea when the next chapter will be up. I've been rereading the HP sieries, and have a good idea of what I want to do, but I really gotta outline it first. So yeah, be faithful readers, and please have patience. Love always, luthrengreenleaf )