A/N: My sister wants me to type this next chapter. Pardon me for just one second. *clears throat* ARE YOU HAPPY, LAURA? I'M UPDATING IT NOW!! *clears throat yet again* I feel better now. On with the show.

Chapter Five: Ravenclaw Rumble and Dumbledore's Reasoning

We made it to Hogwarts rather slowly in my opinion. Though it was no later than normal, Flint and his cronies weren't exactly the best travelling companions. I climbed off of the train in pure ecstasy of being away from him. Of course, it didn't last long.

"Bensington, wait up!" Marcus raced up to me as I was getting into a carriage.

I rolled my eyes at him and continued climbing in. "Don't you have some Slytherin witch to annoy?" I frowned, suddenly realizing that wasn't as much of an insult as it would be in the Muggle world.

"Not at the precise moment. Can Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle and myself join you?" He grinned slimily.

"Nothing would irritate me more." I scooted over and let them in.

"Thank you, Bensington." Marcus was practically on my lap, which obviously wasn't making Draco very happy.

"Marcus, if it wouldn't be too much trouble for your annoying self," I said through clenched teeth, "would you mind calling me Ginger, please? I'm not an adversary anymore. And," I shoved him into Draco, "please stay off of my lap. Thank you very much."

"Sorry," he said, somewhat sarcastically. "It is a tight fit, though."

"I really don't care." I folded my arms across my chest, mainly for protection from Flint getting closer.

We rode in silence up to the beautiful castle. It still took my breath away. A small smile played at the corners of my lips.

"Good to be home, then?" Marcus looked at me in a knowing way. Probably all those detention discussions where we spilled our guts to each other.

"Yea, mate." I glanced at him, then back out the window. I felt him slide an arm around my shoulders. I glared at him. "Oy, get off!"

"Or you'll what?" He grinned at me playfully.

"Or I'll tell the entire school that you used to sleep with a blanky in fourth year," I whispered back.

"You wouldn't dare!" His eyes turned to slits.

"Draco, mate, you want to hear a story about Marcus here?" I raised my eyebrows at him mockingly.

His arm left my shoulders.

"Yea, tell!" Draco's eyes lit up.

"Well.." So I commenced to tell them the story about how Marcus had helped bring Gypsy into the world and how her mum had cut him up pretty badly, but still helped me pull it off.

"Wow!" Draco looked at him, the fury from a minute before replaced with admiration once more. "You helped give birth to a wild half-tiger cub?"

Marcus nodded and looked at me in amusement. We both knew they weren't as vicious as everyone made them out to be.

While the seventh year Slytherin was busy with his adoring fans, the coach came to a stop. I slid out and escaped to the castle steps and the throng of second to seventh year students.

That's when I saw him. Wood was stepping out of a coach not too far ahead of where mine had been. He was laughing and talking to Katie Bell and Angelina Johnson and two tall, red-haired boys I didn't recognize. (A/N: I'm assuming that Katie and Angelina are two years behind Wood and the twins are three.)

He turned and looked in my direction. I saw his smile fade. I waved weakly. His eyes got wide as he waved back. He started to walk to me. I became a little scared and started to turn away. Wood shook his head slightly and wouldn't take his eyes off of me. It was as if he really needed to verify that I was there.

I stood there, hypnotized by his never leaving gaze. He was about two yards from me when Flint came back (stupid prat!).

"Better get moving, Bensington- I mean, Ginger. Don't want to miss the Feast, do you?"

"No, I don't." I let Marcus take my arm and pull me away as I never let my gaze leave Wood.

*****

The Feast was just as brilliant as I remember it being. I was so full when I walked to the Ravenclaw Common Room. I had to hurry because I didn't want to be stopped by Wood, who had been trying to make eye contact with me during the duration of the meal.

I had made one friend, a girl by the name of Cho. She was really nice, was a fourth year and was the Seeker for Ravenclaw's team. We had spent the entire supper talking about Quidditch and Gryffindor's new Seeker, Harry Potter (Cho fancies him, I can tell!).

"Why were you put in Ravenclaw if you were originally in Gryffindor?" Cho asked me as we entered the Common Room.

"You know, that's a very good question. I have no earthly idea!" I smiled and plopped onto a couch.

"I've got a pretty good idea," said a sneering voice behind me. "You were a complete prat in Gryffindor and now have to poison Ravenclaw as well."

"Yeah," came a second voice.

Cho and I turned to see two girls, (one was tall and lean with black hair and the other was shorter, chunkier and with red-hair.) who didn't look all that glad to see me in their area.

"Come on, Persephone, Casey, let's talk about this later, alright?" Cho was trying to keep the peace.

"No, Cho." The one Cho had called Persephone glared at her then looked venomously at me. "I heard you were too much of a…What's the word?…Slut in Gryffindor."

"You know, for a Ravenclaw, you're not very smart." Then I jumped on her.

We had been rolling around for a while, Cho and Casey had joined in as well, and the entire Common Room was egging us on, when Professor Sinistra came in.

"Girls! Cease at this moment!" She pulled us apart and looked us over. "Well, I never in my life! You!" She pointed at me. "Go to Professor Dumbledore's office. He needs to have a word with you."

Persephone and Casey grinned, thinking I was to be punished. Their smiles soon faded when Professor Sinistra turned on them.

"I believe you two started this nonsense. Yes, it seems like you. You both will have detention for two weeks. No discussions. Now get to bed."

I walked out of the Common Room grinning and started for Dumbledore's office, Professor Sinistra right on my heels.

"Fizzing Whizzbee," the professor said. She indicated for me to go up the stairs.

I slowly went up the twirling staircase. I knocked on the small door at the top.

"Enter," came the ancient yet youthful reply from beyond the oak.

"Professor Dumbledore? You wanted to see me, sir?" I entered cautiously and approached the desk.

"Yes. Please sit down, Miss Bensington." The Headmaster indicated for me to have a seat.

"How've you been, sir?" I asked nervously.

"Just fine. I take it you've been better, seeing as to how you have a nice bruise on your cheek?" His eyes twinkled in amusement. "You were always a troublemaker, Miss Bensington."

I giggled anxiously. "But I was a great Seeker, sir!"

"That you were, that you were." He nodded in agreement. Then he cleared his throat. "I suppose you where wondering why you had to be placed into a new House?" He looked over the rims of his crescent-moon shaped spectacles at me.

"Uh, yes, sir. I was curious about that." I moved to the edge of the chair I was perching on.

"Well," he began, standing up. "It seems you and Mr. Wood were very close. Consequently," he stated, turning back to me, "there was a worry that the two of you might become…closer. That," he paused, holding up a hand to keep me silent a moment longer, "and the fact that you have changed quite a bit since your Hogwarts days. You are more studious and silent, though you still retain your Gryffindor strength and courage. I hope that explains the reasoning." He looked at me expectantly.

"Uh, yes, sir, quite well." I couldn't believe he thought Wood and I would end up snogging!! As if! We were just friends. I stood up, still in disbelief. "Thank you, sir."

"You're welcome, Miss Bensington." He watched me walk to the door. "Oh, and Ginger, try not to fight with your new Housemates, all right? Be careful."

I turned and grinned at him. "I will, Headmaster. Don't worry!" Then I left and went back to the Common Room.

Cho had waited to walk me up to my dormitory, which Sinistra had let her share with me. (How grateful I was for that!) As I drifted off to sleep, I realized I couldn't avoid Wood forever. I'd have to talk to him sometime. And no doubt Dumbledore's reasoning would turn up in the conversation.

A/N: Bwahahaha!!! Hope y'all enjoyed this chappie! It turned out okay, I guess. Next up: Wood's reaction to her being back!! Hasta, amigos. ~Nellie~