Author's Note- Here again. Guess what's in this chap! Halloween and Erika's
B-day! Yay!!! Well, enough of that. I hope everyone enjoyed the last chaps.
I liked writing them. I should have more time to write now, but not a lot.
I'll update ASAP. I think that's it. Everyone go read the stories on my
favs, they're all really good. And, read and review MY stories!
Disclaimer- I own nothing. It all belongs to the great Harry Potter people. I am CERTAINLY not getting paid!
Erika - The Legacy of Lily and James
Things soon got back to normal, well, as normal as they could be when you just found out your only brother was the only one who could put an end to Voldemort, when your best friend was Voldemort's rebel grand-daughter, when another one of Voldemort's grand-daughters was on the run and in Hogwarts, and when you recently recovered from a murder attempt.
Sarah, having received word, via Harry, about my incident with the Slauter Potion, sent a package full of chocolate chip cookies, which Meg and I took great pleasure in devouring. Harry and I exchanged weekly (if not more often) owls, and I was begging for an owl of my own for Christmas.
Halloween started to arrive at Hogwarts. After the last Halloween, everyone was cautious, and kept glancing at Adrienne and Meg as if they might suddenly turn a wand on them and kill them. Which was nonsense. Meg and Adrienne had no intentions of doing so, Adrienne was always too busy studying. She was at the top of her class.
Of course, with Halloween coming, that meant my 12th birthday. It also meant a very sad time for Anya and us, since it was the anniversary of Mum and Dad's death.
But Halloween continued to approach. Everyone was quite worried about the traitor in Hogwarts, whoever had tried to poison Adrienne, Meg, and I.
A few days before my birthday, I was discussing it with Meg at breakfast.
"I overheard a few Ravenclaws yesterday. They figure it's a Slytherin or one of you two. They're all for Avery's efforts to try and get you expelled. They also think that all the Slytherins should be removed," I said.
Meg shrugged, "That's not completely true. Remember Peter Pettigrew?"
"How could I forget?" I countered.
Meg nodded, "Oh, yeah. Well, anyways, he was a Gryffindor. So it could still be anyone."
"I suppose your right. I just wish we knew who it was," I said, and then performed the charm on my food and drink.
Meg sighed, and did the same.
"Nothing. You?" I asked.
"Nothing," Meg answered.
I sighed, "This is getting really annoying. Well, it looks like the spy is quieting their efforts down. That's good, I just wish Dumbledore and Anya thought so, too."
Meg shrugged, "They want to keep us safe. We should be thankful, but all it does is annoy you."
"Doesn't it annoy you too?" I asked, grinning at my best friend, knowing full well what her answer what be.
"Sometimes," Meg answered.
Two days before my birthday, I woke up to find Meg already awake, sitting on her bed, looking out the window, and slightly shaking.
Rubbing my eyes, I asked, "Meg, are you okay?"
Meg glanced over at the others, still asleep, and nodded, "I had a strange dream, that's all."
"Tell me," I ordered.
Meg sighed, "It was strange, a mixture of past, present, and future. It's never happened to me before. It started with Ruth as I remember her, when I was little. She was giving me an extra bit of food, and calling me her 'pet'. Then she was standing beside our grandfather, but she looked older, I think that was the present. Then I was back in Ruth's room, and she was hitting me. That was the day I escaped. Then I was back, tied to the tree when she tried to take over Hogwarts, and you were there, untying me. Then I saw Ruth, only older and more worn, even though she was still young, and she was screaming 'No! No!' over and over again. And then I heard strange shouts, 'Run! Run!' over and over again. I recognized the voice, but I can't place it. Then the voice changed, but the saying was still the same. It was so strange. I think that bit was the future. And, just before the end, I saw Adrienne, standing in front of me, and she was saying, 'I'm sorry, Megan. I'm sorry!' over and over again. Then the dream ended. I don't know if I was Seeing, or what."
I stared at my best friend, and then smiled, "Everything will be okay. If you saw Ruth screaming, that must mean one day she'll be defeated."
Meg smiled, and nodded, but I could tell she was lingering on the past, what had happened to her.
"Meg, don't worry about Ruth. She can't touch you any more. We'll make sure of that," I told her.
"Thanks, Erika," Meg whispered.
The day of my birthday, Saturday, October 28th, was chilly because of the breeze, but it was sunny. When I woke up the room was silent. I opened my curtains I found the room still. Meg's curtains were still drawn, as were Avery's, Jewel's, and Lucy's. Glad to be up before everyone else, I quietly eased out of bed and went into the bathroom. When I came out everyone was still asleep.
Wondering about how early it was, I got dressed and combed my hair before putting it up. I glanced at the clock on the wall, and waited a few more minutes before running across the room roughly opening the bed curtains.
"Wake up! You're going to be late for breakfast!" I called, grinning as my roommates woke up with a shock.
Meg was the first to come to her senses, "Good morning, Erika. Happy Birthday, too."
"Thanks," I said.
Avery wasn't too happy, and, in response, neither were Jewel or Lucy.
"Just because it's your birthday doesn't mean you feel allowed to wake us up EARLY on a SATURDAY," Avery shouted.
I grinned, "Yes, well, you would've argued with me if you missed breakfast, so I had to balance it out. You yell at me for waking you up, or you yelling at me for letting you miss breakfast. I figured you'd feel better after you had some food in your stomach, so I chose to wake you up."
Avery glared.
"Fine, but I get the bathroom first," Avery said.
And she stamped into the bathroom. Meg grinned at me.
"You know, we really should be nicer to her. She IS our roommate," Meg said.
"I'll be nice," I answered, "When she starts being nicer to me and not looking at me like I'm crazy because I 'think' my name's Erika Potter and my parents are Lily and James Potter. And when she starts being nice to you instead of treating you like a Death Eater under Voldemort's power who can't be trusted. She should be a bit nicer to US."
Jewel and Lucy turned to glare at us, since I had said the word "Voldemort".
"Don't say the name!" Lucy hissed.
I rolled my eyes, "Oh, get over yourselves. It's stupid to not say it."
Fifteen minutes later Meg and I arrived at the Great Hall. It was mostly full, but there were several seats empty. It was clear Avery, Jewel, and Lucy weren't the only ones who had wanted to sleep in.
Meg and I took our normal seats, and started to fill our plates with the breakfast food.
Once the plates were full, Meg and I exchanged looks and grinned.
"Ready?" I asked, "One, two, three!"
On three we both cast our spells and stared intently at our plates and goblet, aware that we had the attention of a few people throughout the hall.
"Done," Meg said, waving her wand so the glow disappeared.
I waved my wand, and frowned playfully, "Fine. You win this time. I'll win next time."
Before Meg could say anything, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up to see Anya frowning down at us.
"Erika, Meg, you know you aren't supposed to race through your checking," Anya said.
I sighed, and answered, "We know. But we have to make it fun, Anya. That's the only way we remember to do it."
"You should remember anyways, because it could very well save your lives," Anya said, and then smiled, "By the way, Erika, Happy Birthday."
"Thanks," I replied.
She took out a package from behind her back, and handed it to me.
"Here's your present. I hope you like it. Now, I must go join the others at the Head Table. Erika, Meg, after practice today, why don't you two come to my office for some tea?" Anya asked.
We agreed.
Anya grinned, and then walked up to the Head Table, stopping to say something to Adrienne (who was sitting alone, as usual, reading), before going to her own seat.
I picked up the package Anya had given me, and tore off the wrapping paper. It was an unbelievably huge box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.
I grinned, and looked up to Anya, who grinned back.
"Well, we'll have to be careful with these," I said, turning to Meg.
There was a heavy beat of wings, announcing the arrival of the mail. I wasn't surprised when Hedwig and two other owls swooped down in front of me. I untied the packages quickly, and gave each of the owls a bit of my sausage before they flew out.
"These must be from Harry, Ron, and Hermione," I said, grinning down at the packages.
"Look," Meg said, pointing to Harry's package, "Sarah's included something, too. Isn't that nice?"
I nodded, and started opening the packages.
Sarah had sent me some cookies (still magically warm), and a picture frame with a picture of Harry and I (taken over the summer) in it. Hermione had sent me some black gloves for Quidditch practice, so my hands didn't get cold. Ron had sent me a rather cool looking watch that told the date and time. Harry had sent me a broomstick care kit.
I resolved to write thank you notes to all of them as soon as we got back up to our room.
"Want a cookie?" I asked, holding out the box Sarah had sent them in.
By the afternoon, the wind had died down, so Meg and I went out and hour before practice. Meg was going to work on homework in the stands while I practiced.
"It's a bit cold out," I said as we walked away from the castle.
Meg nodded, "Yeah, but it's worth it. Anything to get away from Avery, Jewel, and Lucy. Especially Avery. Did you know she owled her uncle again last night, to ask him to get me expelled from Hogwarts."
"Did she really?" I asked, and then laughed, "You won't be expelled, not while Dumbledore's here."
We reached the Quidditch Pitch. Adrienne went up into the stands, to start her homework, while I mounted my broomstick and flew up into the pitch. I did a few of the exercises Harry had taught me, and tested my speed.
It was exhilarating, and I loved it.
The hour passed before I was aware of it. Fifteen minutes before practice was scheduled to start, players started appearing at the pitch.
Practice passed quickly. Meg and I hurried up to our room so I could change. While I changed Meg fetched something from her room.
"This is your birthday present," Meg said, smiling, "But you'll get it later. Right now, we're late for our meeting with Anya."
I rolled my eyes, but hurried with Meg down the halls to Anya's office.
We knocked on her door, and she let us in, smiling.
"Hi, girls," she said, "Come in. The tea should be ready in a few minutes. Sit down."
We sat down in the chairs in front of her fireplace. She smiled, and sat down in the third chair.
"So, how was your birthday so far, Erika?" Anya asked.
"It was great. Thanks for the gift, Anya," I said.
Anya smiled.
"I didn't know they made boxes that big," Meg said.
"Well, you have to know where to look," Anya replied, "Hogsmeade doesn't sell them, and you have to look very hard at Diagon Alley. I know just where to look, though."
We all laughed, and Anya stood up.
"Tea's ready. I'll be back in a moment," she said, and left to make the tea.
I looked around Anya's office. It hadn't changed much since our first year. She had tons of pictures spread throughout the office. There was one of me, one of Harry, one of Meg, a few of her family, one of a woman I figured must be her sister and niece, and several of people I recognized from the pictures Anya had given me over the summer. Mum, Dad, Anya, Sirius, Remus, Peter (the traitor!), Andrea, and Netta.
Anya came back with three teacups. As I sipped my tea, Meg took out my gift.
"Here, Erika. Anya helped me pick it out. I hope you like it," Meg said.
I unwrapped the gift to find a red shirt with black letters on the front and back.
"Erika Potter, Gryffindor Chaser," was written on it.
I grinned, and said, "Meg, this is the cutest! I love it. Thanks so much. I'll wear it tomorrow."
Meg smiled, relieved that I'd liked it.
"So," Anya said, "I think it's safe to say you had a good birthday."
I nodded, "Definitely."
Halloween morning dawned with a heavy wind and overcast skies. But no one really cared. It was Halloween. As Meg and I walked down to the Great Hall for breakfast, I was grinning.
"This will be the a proper Halloween, won't it Meg? Nothing to get in our way, right?" I asked.
Meg nodded, "Ruth won't attack again, not this Halloween at least. She needed the element of surprise, and everyone's on their guard because of last year. It wouldn't be a good idea. Dumbledore agrees."
"You talked to Dumbledore?" I asked, "When?"
"Yesterday, when you were talking to Anya. I went to his office. I told him about the dreams I've been having," Meg said.
I looked over at her, and asked, "Did he tell you what they mean?"
"No," Meg answered, "But he was puzzled about them. He suggested I talk to Professor Trelawney."
"Oh," I said.
Meg nodded, "I'm going to talk to Professor Trewlaney tomorrow. She might be able to help me."
"Do you think so?" I asked.
"I hope so," Meg answered.
That Halloween turned out to be a great day. Our classes were great. By the time we reached the Great Hall for the feast, we were all grinning and excited.
The smell of pumpkin was everywhere, and there were 14 large jack-o- lanterns spread throughout the Great Hall. Live bats circled the ceiling. It seemed better than the year before.
We took our seats and waited as the food appeared in front of us.
Meg and I raced through our poison-checking, and then started eating. Lucy started talking to us about why Halloween is called Halloween, while Avery and Jewel looked on, glaring.
"I love Halloween," Lucy said, "I always used to stay up all night with my sister to see if we could see the witch fly over the moon. I was Muggle-born."
I nodded, "We used to do that too. Well, if we weren't caught. We weren't allowed to stay up past ten, no matter what."
"Really?" Lucy asked.
Meg was silent about her past Halloween experiences, but she talked when we changed the subject.
"Erika, what's it like to play Quidditch for the House team?" Lucy asked.
"It's fun," I answered.
Lucy grinned, "I wish I could play Quidditch. I'm afraid I'm not too good at it, though. What about you, Megan? Can you play?"
"Not well," Meg said, "Besides, I'd rather keep up in my studies more."
Lucy nodded, "My parents would like you, so studious. I'm a bit of a disappointment for them. My older brother goes to Eton. He's really smart. I'm no where near as smart as he is, not in Muggle school, not even in Hogwarts! Though, I suppose, I can do stuff he can't, so that must count for something."
Once the feast was over, Lucy walked up with Meg and I to the tower, Avery and Jewel following.
I should've known about the battle that awaited us once we reached the tower. As we turned the corridor to the Fat Lady' Portrait, Lucy smiled.
"You know, you two aren't nearly as bad as Avery says you are. You're both quite friendly," she said.
Meg and I exchanged looks, and then grinned.
"Thanks," I told her.
When we reached our dorm, I sprawled out on my bed.
"Well, I'm full," I declared.
Avery and Jewel ignored my comment. Avery turned on Lucy.
"Lucy, I can't believe you were talking to them," Avery hissed, "They are evil, Lucy! Both in the pay of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, I'd bet."
I rolled my eyes, and sat up, "Honestly, Avery, like we couldn't hear you. Lucy had every right to talk to us. We aren't evil. And we certainly aren't in the pay of Voldemort. Do you think I'd work for him if he was trying to kill me? And, he doesn't pay his Death Eaters."
Avery glared, and hissed, "Well, if you are going to listen in on our conversations, I bet you already know that the Board of Governors has listened to my letters, and tomorrow, they're holding a vote to have Megan and Adrienne Riddle removed."
Meg went white.
"I'm not leaving," Meg said, "Who are you to deny me the one place I am safe? I'll be killed if I leave Hogwarts! How would you feel if you knew that because of you, I got kicked out of Hogwarts and the next day, Ruth came after me and killed me? How would you feel?"
"You're only mad about the idea because then You-Know-Who would lose two spies in Hogwarts. But he'd still have Erika to do it for him," Avery said.
I stood up, "You didn't just say that! Take it back, Avery!"
Avery looked pleased.
"Never," Avery said.
Lucy jumped in before we could hurt one another.
"Avery, Erika, stop. Avery, Erika and Megan are not spies. Erika, Avery's sorry for what she said. Both of you, apologize," Lucy said, standing between us.
I glared at Avery, who glared at me.
"Whatever," Avery said, and walked over to her bed.
I didn't respond. I just sat back down on my bed. Lucy sighed, and Meg sat down next to me.
"I wish she would stop," I whispered to Meg, bitterly, "She makes this so hard. How come she can't just believe Dumbledore?"
Meg shrugged, "She doesn't want to. She has an idea of evil in her head. You're either evil or your good. She lives on a one-level mind. If she doesn't know you, you're evil. That's why she doesn't like you. She knew for eleven years that Harry Potter was an only child. And then you appeared, and her distrust told her you were evil. She hates me because when she hears my last name, her mind tells her I'm evil because of who my family is. Not who I am. Who they are."
Which made sense.
A/N- Hope you enjoyed that. Lucy's being friendly. Avery's heating up. And Quidditch season is soon! In our next chap we have Erika's first Quidditch game! Yay! Also, I wrote a fanfic for Nicole Luiken's "Violet Eyes" and "Silver Eyes". Read it if you like the books. Well, you know the drill. Read and review!
Any additional comments can be given to me at StarlightEve111@aol.com
Disclaimer- I own nothing. It all belongs to the great Harry Potter people. I am CERTAINLY not getting paid!
Erika - The Legacy of Lily and James
Things soon got back to normal, well, as normal as they could be when you just found out your only brother was the only one who could put an end to Voldemort, when your best friend was Voldemort's rebel grand-daughter, when another one of Voldemort's grand-daughters was on the run and in Hogwarts, and when you recently recovered from a murder attempt.
Sarah, having received word, via Harry, about my incident with the Slauter Potion, sent a package full of chocolate chip cookies, which Meg and I took great pleasure in devouring. Harry and I exchanged weekly (if not more often) owls, and I was begging for an owl of my own for Christmas.
Halloween started to arrive at Hogwarts. After the last Halloween, everyone was cautious, and kept glancing at Adrienne and Meg as if they might suddenly turn a wand on them and kill them. Which was nonsense. Meg and Adrienne had no intentions of doing so, Adrienne was always too busy studying. She was at the top of her class.
Of course, with Halloween coming, that meant my 12th birthday. It also meant a very sad time for Anya and us, since it was the anniversary of Mum and Dad's death.
But Halloween continued to approach. Everyone was quite worried about the traitor in Hogwarts, whoever had tried to poison Adrienne, Meg, and I.
A few days before my birthday, I was discussing it with Meg at breakfast.
"I overheard a few Ravenclaws yesterday. They figure it's a Slytherin or one of you two. They're all for Avery's efforts to try and get you expelled. They also think that all the Slytherins should be removed," I said.
Meg shrugged, "That's not completely true. Remember Peter Pettigrew?"
"How could I forget?" I countered.
Meg nodded, "Oh, yeah. Well, anyways, he was a Gryffindor. So it could still be anyone."
"I suppose your right. I just wish we knew who it was," I said, and then performed the charm on my food and drink.
Meg sighed, and did the same.
"Nothing. You?" I asked.
"Nothing," Meg answered.
I sighed, "This is getting really annoying. Well, it looks like the spy is quieting their efforts down. That's good, I just wish Dumbledore and Anya thought so, too."
Meg shrugged, "They want to keep us safe. We should be thankful, but all it does is annoy you."
"Doesn't it annoy you too?" I asked, grinning at my best friend, knowing full well what her answer what be.
"Sometimes," Meg answered.
Two days before my birthday, I woke up to find Meg already awake, sitting on her bed, looking out the window, and slightly shaking.
Rubbing my eyes, I asked, "Meg, are you okay?"
Meg glanced over at the others, still asleep, and nodded, "I had a strange dream, that's all."
"Tell me," I ordered.
Meg sighed, "It was strange, a mixture of past, present, and future. It's never happened to me before. It started with Ruth as I remember her, when I was little. She was giving me an extra bit of food, and calling me her 'pet'. Then she was standing beside our grandfather, but she looked older, I think that was the present. Then I was back in Ruth's room, and she was hitting me. That was the day I escaped. Then I was back, tied to the tree when she tried to take over Hogwarts, and you were there, untying me. Then I saw Ruth, only older and more worn, even though she was still young, and she was screaming 'No! No!' over and over again. And then I heard strange shouts, 'Run! Run!' over and over again. I recognized the voice, but I can't place it. Then the voice changed, but the saying was still the same. It was so strange. I think that bit was the future. And, just before the end, I saw Adrienne, standing in front of me, and she was saying, 'I'm sorry, Megan. I'm sorry!' over and over again. Then the dream ended. I don't know if I was Seeing, or what."
I stared at my best friend, and then smiled, "Everything will be okay. If you saw Ruth screaming, that must mean one day she'll be defeated."
Meg smiled, and nodded, but I could tell she was lingering on the past, what had happened to her.
"Meg, don't worry about Ruth. She can't touch you any more. We'll make sure of that," I told her.
"Thanks, Erika," Meg whispered.
The day of my birthday, Saturday, October 28th, was chilly because of the breeze, but it was sunny. When I woke up the room was silent. I opened my curtains I found the room still. Meg's curtains were still drawn, as were Avery's, Jewel's, and Lucy's. Glad to be up before everyone else, I quietly eased out of bed and went into the bathroom. When I came out everyone was still asleep.
Wondering about how early it was, I got dressed and combed my hair before putting it up. I glanced at the clock on the wall, and waited a few more minutes before running across the room roughly opening the bed curtains.
"Wake up! You're going to be late for breakfast!" I called, grinning as my roommates woke up with a shock.
Meg was the first to come to her senses, "Good morning, Erika. Happy Birthday, too."
"Thanks," I said.
Avery wasn't too happy, and, in response, neither were Jewel or Lucy.
"Just because it's your birthday doesn't mean you feel allowed to wake us up EARLY on a SATURDAY," Avery shouted.
I grinned, "Yes, well, you would've argued with me if you missed breakfast, so I had to balance it out. You yell at me for waking you up, or you yelling at me for letting you miss breakfast. I figured you'd feel better after you had some food in your stomach, so I chose to wake you up."
Avery glared.
"Fine, but I get the bathroom first," Avery said.
And she stamped into the bathroom. Meg grinned at me.
"You know, we really should be nicer to her. She IS our roommate," Meg said.
"I'll be nice," I answered, "When she starts being nicer to me and not looking at me like I'm crazy because I 'think' my name's Erika Potter and my parents are Lily and James Potter. And when she starts being nice to you instead of treating you like a Death Eater under Voldemort's power who can't be trusted. She should be a bit nicer to US."
Jewel and Lucy turned to glare at us, since I had said the word "Voldemort".
"Don't say the name!" Lucy hissed.
I rolled my eyes, "Oh, get over yourselves. It's stupid to not say it."
Fifteen minutes later Meg and I arrived at the Great Hall. It was mostly full, but there were several seats empty. It was clear Avery, Jewel, and Lucy weren't the only ones who had wanted to sleep in.
Meg and I took our normal seats, and started to fill our plates with the breakfast food.
Once the plates were full, Meg and I exchanged looks and grinned.
"Ready?" I asked, "One, two, three!"
On three we both cast our spells and stared intently at our plates and goblet, aware that we had the attention of a few people throughout the hall.
"Done," Meg said, waving her wand so the glow disappeared.
I waved my wand, and frowned playfully, "Fine. You win this time. I'll win next time."
Before Meg could say anything, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up to see Anya frowning down at us.
"Erika, Meg, you know you aren't supposed to race through your checking," Anya said.
I sighed, and answered, "We know. But we have to make it fun, Anya. That's the only way we remember to do it."
"You should remember anyways, because it could very well save your lives," Anya said, and then smiled, "By the way, Erika, Happy Birthday."
"Thanks," I replied.
She took out a package from behind her back, and handed it to me.
"Here's your present. I hope you like it. Now, I must go join the others at the Head Table. Erika, Meg, after practice today, why don't you two come to my office for some tea?" Anya asked.
We agreed.
Anya grinned, and then walked up to the Head Table, stopping to say something to Adrienne (who was sitting alone, as usual, reading), before going to her own seat.
I picked up the package Anya had given me, and tore off the wrapping paper. It was an unbelievably huge box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.
I grinned, and looked up to Anya, who grinned back.
"Well, we'll have to be careful with these," I said, turning to Meg.
There was a heavy beat of wings, announcing the arrival of the mail. I wasn't surprised when Hedwig and two other owls swooped down in front of me. I untied the packages quickly, and gave each of the owls a bit of my sausage before they flew out.
"These must be from Harry, Ron, and Hermione," I said, grinning down at the packages.
"Look," Meg said, pointing to Harry's package, "Sarah's included something, too. Isn't that nice?"
I nodded, and started opening the packages.
Sarah had sent me some cookies (still magically warm), and a picture frame with a picture of Harry and I (taken over the summer) in it. Hermione had sent me some black gloves for Quidditch practice, so my hands didn't get cold. Ron had sent me a rather cool looking watch that told the date and time. Harry had sent me a broomstick care kit.
I resolved to write thank you notes to all of them as soon as we got back up to our room.
"Want a cookie?" I asked, holding out the box Sarah had sent them in.
By the afternoon, the wind had died down, so Meg and I went out and hour before practice. Meg was going to work on homework in the stands while I practiced.
"It's a bit cold out," I said as we walked away from the castle.
Meg nodded, "Yeah, but it's worth it. Anything to get away from Avery, Jewel, and Lucy. Especially Avery. Did you know she owled her uncle again last night, to ask him to get me expelled from Hogwarts."
"Did she really?" I asked, and then laughed, "You won't be expelled, not while Dumbledore's here."
We reached the Quidditch Pitch. Adrienne went up into the stands, to start her homework, while I mounted my broomstick and flew up into the pitch. I did a few of the exercises Harry had taught me, and tested my speed.
It was exhilarating, and I loved it.
The hour passed before I was aware of it. Fifteen minutes before practice was scheduled to start, players started appearing at the pitch.
Practice passed quickly. Meg and I hurried up to our room so I could change. While I changed Meg fetched something from her room.
"This is your birthday present," Meg said, smiling, "But you'll get it later. Right now, we're late for our meeting with Anya."
I rolled my eyes, but hurried with Meg down the halls to Anya's office.
We knocked on her door, and she let us in, smiling.
"Hi, girls," she said, "Come in. The tea should be ready in a few minutes. Sit down."
We sat down in the chairs in front of her fireplace. She smiled, and sat down in the third chair.
"So, how was your birthday so far, Erika?" Anya asked.
"It was great. Thanks for the gift, Anya," I said.
Anya smiled.
"I didn't know they made boxes that big," Meg said.
"Well, you have to know where to look," Anya replied, "Hogsmeade doesn't sell them, and you have to look very hard at Diagon Alley. I know just where to look, though."
We all laughed, and Anya stood up.
"Tea's ready. I'll be back in a moment," she said, and left to make the tea.
I looked around Anya's office. It hadn't changed much since our first year. She had tons of pictures spread throughout the office. There was one of me, one of Harry, one of Meg, a few of her family, one of a woman I figured must be her sister and niece, and several of people I recognized from the pictures Anya had given me over the summer. Mum, Dad, Anya, Sirius, Remus, Peter (the traitor!), Andrea, and Netta.
Anya came back with three teacups. As I sipped my tea, Meg took out my gift.
"Here, Erika. Anya helped me pick it out. I hope you like it," Meg said.
I unwrapped the gift to find a red shirt with black letters on the front and back.
"Erika Potter, Gryffindor Chaser," was written on it.
I grinned, and said, "Meg, this is the cutest! I love it. Thanks so much. I'll wear it tomorrow."
Meg smiled, relieved that I'd liked it.
"So," Anya said, "I think it's safe to say you had a good birthday."
I nodded, "Definitely."
Halloween morning dawned with a heavy wind and overcast skies. But no one really cared. It was Halloween. As Meg and I walked down to the Great Hall for breakfast, I was grinning.
"This will be the a proper Halloween, won't it Meg? Nothing to get in our way, right?" I asked.
Meg nodded, "Ruth won't attack again, not this Halloween at least. She needed the element of surprise, and everyone's on their guard because of last year. It wouldn't be a good idea. Dumbledore agrees."
"You talked to Dumbledore?" I asked, "When?"
"Yesterday, when you were talking to Anya. I went to his office. I told him about the dreams I've been having," Meg said.
I looked over at her, and asked, "Did he tell you what they mean?"
"No," Meg answered, "But he was puzzled about them. He suggested I talk to Professor Trelawney."
"Oh," I said.
Meg nodded, "I'm going to talk to Professor Trewlaney tomorrow. She might be able to help me."
"Do you think so?" I asked.
"I hope so," Meg answered.
That Halloween turned out to be a great day. Our classes were great. By the time we reached the Great Hall for the feast, we were all grinning and excited.
The smell of pumpkin was everywhere, and there were 14 large jack-o- lanterns spread throughout the Great Hall. Live bats circled the ceiling. It seemed better than the year before.
We took our seats and waited as the food appeared in front of us.
Meg and I raced through our poison-checking, and then started eating. Lucy started talking to us about why Halloween is called Halloween, while Avery and Jewel looked on, glaring.
"I love Halloween," Lucy said, "I always used to stay up all night with my sister to see if we could see the witch fly over the moon. I was Muggle-born."
I nodded, "We used to do that too. Well, if we weren't caught. We weren't allowed to stay up past ten, no matter what."
"Really?" Lucy asked.
Meg was silent about her past Halloween experiences, but she talked when we changed the subject.
"Erika, what's it like to play Quidditch for the House team?" Lucy asked.
"It's fun," I answered.
Lucy grinned, "I wish I could play Quidditch. I'm afraid I'm not too good at it, though. What about you, Megan? Can you play?"
"Not well," Meg said, "Besides, I'd rather keep up in my studies more."
Lucy nodded, "My parents would like you, so studious. I'm a bit of a disappointment for them. My older brother goes to Eton. He's really smart. I'm no where near as smart as he is, not in Muggle school, not even in Hogwarts! Though, I suppose, I can do stuff he can't, so that must count for something."
Once the feast was over, Lucy walked up with Meg and I to the tower, Avery and Jewel following.
I should've known about the battle that awaited us once we reached the tower. As we turned the corridor to the Fat Lady' Portrait, Lucy smiled.
"You know, you two aren't nearly as bad as Avery says you are. You're both quite friendly," she said.
Meg and I exchanged looks, and then grinned.
"Thanks," I told her.
When we reached our dorm, I sprawled out on my bed.
"Well, I'm full," I declared.
Avery and Jewel ignored my comment. Avery turned on Lucy.
"Lucy, I can't believe you were talking to them," Avery hissed, "They are evil, Lucy! Both in the pay of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, I'd bet."
I rolled my eyes, and sat up, "Honestly, Avery, like we couldn't hear you. Lucy had every right to talk to us. We aren't evil. And we certainly aren't in the pay of Voldemort. Do you think I'd work for him if he was trying to kill me? And, he doesn't pay his Death Eaters."
Avery glared, and hissed, "Well, if you are going to listen in on our conversations, I bet you already know that the Board of Governors has listened to my letters, and tomorrow, they're holding a vote to have Megan and Adrienne Riddle removed."
Meg went white.
"I'm not leaving," Meg said, "Who are you to deny me the one place I am safe? I'll be killed if I leave Hogwarts! How would you feel if you knew that because of you, I got kicked out of Hogwarts and the next day, Ruth came after me and killed me? How would you feel?"
"You're only mad about the idea because then You-Know-Who would lose two spies in Hogwarts. But he'd still have Erika to do it for him," Avery said.
I stood up, "You didn't just say that! Take it back, Avery!"
Avery looked pleased.
"Never," Avery said.
Lucy jumped in before we could hurt one another.
"Avery, Erika, stop. Avery, Erika and Megan are not spies. Erika, Avery's sorry for what she said. Both of you, apologize," Lucy said, standing between us.
I glared at Avery, who glared at me.
"Whatever," Avery said, and walked over to her bed.
I didn't respond. I just sat back down on my bed. Lucy sighed, and Meg sat down next to me.
"I wish she would stop," I whispered to Meg, bitterly, "She makes this so hard. How come she can't just believe Dumbledore?"
Meg shrugged, "She doesn't want to. She has an idea of evil in her head. You're either evil or your good. She lives on a one-level mind. If she doesn't know you, you're evil. That's why she doesn't like you. She knew for eleven years that Harry Potter was an only child. And then you appeared, and her distrust told her you were evil. She hates me because when she hears my last name, her mind tells her I'm evil because of who my family is. Not who I am. Who they are."
Which made sense.
A/N- Hope you enjoyed that. Lucy's being friendly. Avery's heating up. And Quidditch season is soon! In our next chap we have Erika's first Quidditch game! Yay! Also, I wrote a fanfic for Nicole Luiken's "Violet Eyes" and "Silver Eyes". Read it if you like the books. Well, you know the drill. Read and review!
Any additional comments can be given to me at StarlightEve111@aol.com