Here's the next chapter:)

Chapter 10

September 10, 2030

At first, things with the group were a little tense. After a little though, they decided that Kimmy was really trying to be better.

We spend more time together, and everyone in the group grows closer. Owen and Hailey are still a little distant, but none of us minds too much. We still talk to them after and during classes, and that's enough.

After Tuesday's lessons are finished, I try to get my homework done before heading off to my lesson with Lupin. I'd had a headache all day, so I wasn't in the best of spirits, but I tried to push it aside. Lupin had acted like nothing had happened this morning in Transfiguration, so I take that as a good sign. Lucky for me, he didn't seem mad about how I had fought with him.

As I walk up to the door, I haven't even stopped to knock before I hear Lupin call out, letting me come in. I push the door open, and see Lupin drop his hands from his temples.

"Miss Dinnick," he smiles, standing up.

His smile doesn't quite reach his eyes, which look like they're trying to conceal pain.

"Are you alright?" I ask cautiously.

He sighs, nodding.

"I'm fine, I've just a little bit of a headache is all. Nothing I can't handle."

I nod, trying not to disturb my head too much.

"Must be going around," I joke halfheartedly, wincing as I move my head too much.

Lupin looks at me with an understanding smile. His hair is a shade of grey today, which was an indicator in itself what he was feeling like. I had discovered that he is a lot more emotional with his abilities, and he doesn't bother changing his looks, he just lets them do their own thing. Normally, his hair is blue and his eyes green, which he described as his happy look, but other days his hair would be green or yellow or purple. I had let myself go a little bit today as well, not bothering trying to keep my normally ombre red waves under control. I had it up in a bun today, so I don't know what colour it is.

On top of my headache, Xinia, Anica and Ciena had been helping with the plan to talk to the Sorting Hat. That had been distracting me all day, pulling me into thoughts about my family and what the Hat had meant. I haven't said anything to Bailey or Wyrene, and I'm not sure if I will. My head pounds as my mind swirls with thoughts. Lupin's voice pulls me out of my reverie.

"I was thinking," he talks quietly, but still loud enough for me to hear. "We might focus on your hearing and other senses."

Seeing my look of confusion, he elaborates.

"Part of your headache could be due to sensory overload. When you hear, smell, see too much, your head works overtime to comprehend everything, which can cause your pain. You can shut it out though. To a certain extent. I thought we should focus on that today," Lupin finishes.

I run his words through my head. I glance down at my wrist and notice the mark is almost as bright as it gets, meaning my senses would we as best as they get. Lupin's probably right about sensory overload. I look back up at him and nod.

"Ok. So how do I do that?"

He proceeds to teach me how to focus only on what I want to hear and how to shut everything else out.

By the end of the lesson, my headache is considerably better, although still there, unfortunately. I bid him goodnight, then find everyone else.

The rest of the week goes by quickly. We continue to make our preparations for the plan, putting objects in place and going through our roles. When Saturday comes around, we're ready to set our plan into action.

"Alright, everybody ready?" I ask, standing in the corridor next to the entrance to McGonagall's office.

I receive affirmative nods from the three girls.

"Ciena, make sure you get someone to inform McGonagall," I start. "Xin, Anica, make sure you don't get caught by Mortan. He'll know all the passageways so don't use them. You've got everything you need?"

"Yup," they chorus.

"Okay," I take a deep breath. "Let's do this. Remember to wait until I get in."

They nod, and I walk to the front of the stone gargoyles. We had been watching McGonagall over the week and figured now would be around the time she would come to her office.

Sure enough, less than five minutes later, she appears. When she sees me, she looks extremely surprised.

"What are you doing here, Miss," she pauses for a second. "Dinnick?"

I nod.

"I'm terribly sorry to disturb you, Professor, I know you're probably very busy but I had an incredibly important matter to ask about."

"Well, what is it then," she asks, not impatiently.

"I'm not entirely comfortable discussing it here," I say, pretending to be nervous. "It's just - well, I don't want others to overhear, that is."

"Miss Dinnick I cannot fathom why you would need to discuss something in the privacy of my office, which I gather you are suggesting," McGonagall says sternly.

I gulp, my eyes widening slightly.

"Of course," I amend. "I'm sorry, I just - Well, you see, the thing is, and I understand completely if you reject what I ask, I know it's not exactly customary...at all. But -"

McGonagall sighs audibly and cuts me off.

"Just come with me, I have things to do," she snaps.

I nod quickly, moving to stand behind her as she says the password.

"Fawkes," she says.

The gargoyle springs open, revealing a set of steps which McGonagall ascends. I follow behind her, praying the others were setting the plan into action. I hid a smile behind McGonagall's back, knowing we would almost certainly be fine now. I just had to keep her talking and not get sent out.

When we enter her office, she stands behind her chair and indicates for me to sit opposite her. I do, tilting my head to look up at her. I try and keep my nervous rambling mask in place. I wait for her to speak, knowing every second I delay counts. Eventually, she realises I'm not going to speak, so she sighs.

"What is it then, Miss Dinnick?" she asks tiredly.

"Well, I heard that Harry Potter was the youngest Seeker in over a century when he was in his first year. I also heard that you were the one who allowed that to happen."

I pause to glance at McGonagall. She looks surprised at the topic, but still tired and annoyed. I rush my next words.

"Well, I know that first years are allowed to try out for a position on their Quidditch teams and I wanted to. I've always loved Quidditch and I've been told I'm very good on a broom -"

"That is all well and good," McGonagall interrupts. "However, there are sign up sheets both in your Common Room and your Community Hall where you could put your name down."

"Yes, I have done that," I say. "But I wanted to make a request."

McGonagall doesn't move or even change her facial expression.

"I was wondering if, perhaps, I could bring my own broomstick in from home to try out on."

"Absolutely not!" McGonagall says immediately. "First years are not permitted to have brooms at this school unless they are already on the Quidditch team. You will not get special treatment for making a request Miss Dinnick. I am sorry."

"But Professor -"

"I have said no, and that is final."

"Professor, please listen to me," I say desperately, hoping she doesn't just send me out of her office. "I understand if you say no after I've said my piece, but I at least want a chance. Please, Headmistress."

McGonagall levels a look at me, and I raise my chin in an attempt to make myself look determined. She doesn't say anything for about half a minute, although I see a flicker of something in her eyes.

Then, finally, she sits down at her desk, folds her hands in front of her, and gestures to me.

"Go ahead then," she sighs.

I'm surprised for a moment. I didn't expect her to actually allow me to. I had just prayed someone would get here soon. I hadn't prepared for this. Crap. Okay. I'm good at improvising. Just make something up, Gena. It doesn't even have to be good.

I sit up in my chair straighter, trying to look more confident than I am.

"Well," I start. "I believe that the school broomsticks will not be able to show my best skills and abilities. However, I have been riding my own broom for as long as I can remember and it knows me and I can show my skills to their full ability."

McGonagall looks at me in annoyance.

"Miss Dinnick, if you are a talented rider you will be able to control the school brooms quite well. So if you don't mind I have work to do."

She gestures towards the door, obviously telling me to leave. Panic fills me as I scramble for another argument.

"Professor, I'm not finished yet," I say, trying to keep my voice kind but strong. "As I was saying, yes, I believe I am a talented rider, but I do not think that trying out on the school brooms will do me any good if I want to get in the team. All the older students will most likely have their own brooms and have years more experience than me on school ones if they don't. For that rea - "

"Headmistress!" I suddenly hear from the entrance.

I let out a sigh of relief as the student enters the room.

McGonagall stands.

"What is it now?" she snaps at the Prefect I recognise as Natalie Prin; Ravenclaw.

"Peeves," she gasps; out of breath, "He somehow has got his hands onto hundreds of weapons. It's mayhem!"

"Not this again," McGonagall groans. "How, who? Nevermind. Miss Prin, lead the way."

The Prefect leads McGonagall out of the room, leaving me to sit here. I sit there shocked for a minute before jumping into action. I had spotted the Hat sitting on a shelf when I came in, and I race over to it.

"Ah, Miss Dinnick, Slytherin, very interesting girl," the Sorting Hat recalls when I come close.

"Yes, er, hello," I reply nervously.

"What is your question?"

"When you were Sorting me," I start, "you said something that confused me. You said I had a mind like my ancestors. But no one in my family has been in Slytherin for generations."

The Hat doesn't respond for a minute. Eventually, though, it lets out a sigh before responding.

"Yes, I guess I did. But the truth, I believe, should be left untouched."

"I know, you said that!" I say a little angrily. "But I want to know. I wouldn't be here if I didn't."

I get the feeling the Hat is looking down at me, although it doesn't have proper eyes.

"I suppose you do," it murmurs. "Persistent bunch you are."

Then louder, it speaks to me properly.

"Very well, I will tell you. However, I have warned you."

It pauses as I stare at it.

"Your mind is nothing like the people you believe to be your family. It is like that of a different family."

"So? A lot of my friends are different from their family!" I point out.

"Every child is different, yes. However, there is always something the child has that links them to their family. You do not. Not to the Dinnick family anyway."

"What are you saying?" I cry.

"I am saying that I have very good reason to believe your parents - Kendra and Isaac Dinnick - are not your real parents," the Hat finally says.

"I - what?" I gasp. "Who are my real parents then?"

"That is not for me to say," the Hat says with finality.

I notice the Hat begin to relax as if it's not alive anymore. I know I will get nothing more out of it.

Tears threaten to fall, but I hold them in as I sprint out of the room. I don't know where I'm going, but I know I have to get out of there.

I find my feet taking me to a part of the courtyard separated from the rest of the grounds. Before I reach it though, I accidentally run into someone. I hear a small grunt from the older boy, and I stumble back a little. I'm about to push past him and his friend when he suddenly calls my name.

"Gena?" I recognise the voice. "What's wrong sis?"

I turn back to see Bailey and Xander looking at me with concern. I notice a few other people looking on in interest. I ignore them as I fall into Bailey's arms.

I let a few tears fall as I cry into his chest. He holds me gently, waiting for me to calm down.

When I do, I pull back to look at him. I don't know how to tell him, so the words just tumble out.

"When I was Sorted the Sorting Hat said something weird so I looked into it and I got into McGonagall's office to talk to the Hat and it said that Mum and Dad aren't my parents and - "

I break off as new tears threaten to fall. Bailey's eyes widen, looking worried. The expression is gone quickly, but I still notice it. Realisation dawns on me as I push back from him.

"You knew!" I shout. "You knew, and you never told me!"

Sorrow fills his eyes as anger fill me.

"How could you not tell me?"

"Gena, it wasn't my place to say."

My nostrils flare with rage.

"How long were you just going to let me think that I was your sister? That I was part of the family?"

I notice Xander slowly moving away from us and into the steadily growing crowd. Apart of me wants to run away from everything, but I need to know the truth.

"That wasn't a lie Gena! You are my sister. You are part of the family!"

"How can you say that? They're not my parents. Your Mum and Dad are not mine."

Bailey looks genuinely pained, but I don't buy it.

"Gena! Please! Calm down."

"Calm down? Calm down!? How can I - "

Suddenly, Peeves busts through a window from above - carrying swords and axes and all types of sharp objects.

Anica and Xinia rush out the front door at the same time; spotting me instantly.

"Ok. So maybe giving him all of that wasn't a good idea," Anica admits.

"Maybe?" Xinia yells furiously. "He's destroyed half the castle in less than ten minutes!"

At this point, they've reached me. They stop immediately when they see the tears on my face and the crowd around us.

"Gena?" Xinia asks tentatively. "What's wrong?"

I fiercely wipe the tears away, turning away from Bailey.

"Nothing," I mutter. "What the hell happened?"

"Never mind that," Anica says dismissively. "Something's obviously wrong."

Before I can respond, I hear shouting from the front doors.

"PEEVES!" McGonagall roars.

Lupin, Longbottom, Patil and Malfoy are all behind her, trying to control the poltergeist.

"Merlin's beard!" Xander exclaims from somewhere behind me.

The matter at hand forces the argument from my mind as I turn to face Xinia and Anica.

"What did you do?" I hiss. "Where's Ciena?"

"We had to separate," Xinia answers quietly. "Mortan almost caught us, but we got away just in time. I don't even think he saw us. Just knew we were there."

"That doesn't answer my first question," I say.

"Well, I might have gone a little overboard with the original plan," Anica admits.

"A little?" Xinia snaps. "Instead of giving him one or two, you gave him access to over a hundred!"

"You idiots!" I yell. "You were meant to cause chaos, not destroy the whole castle!"

"I didn't mean for this to happen," Anica defends, biting her lip.

I sigh, shaking my head as I turn back to the scene before us.

Peeves is currently wielding an axe, brandishing it at students and teachers alike. McGonagall is still yelling at him, trying to reason with him, but he ignores her, beginning to smash at windows and the walls.

"Is there a way to get rid of the weapons?" I ask Xinia.

"No, only to try and reason with him," she answers; frustrated with herself.

"Okay students, please move to the Quidditch pitch. Heads of House and Head students please lead them," McGonagall instructs.

Anica and I fall in behind Malfoy as Xinia follows Patil. They tell us to move into year levels for an easier headcount. They make quick work of making sure everyone is here. Once they're sure everyone is here they let us find our friends as long as we stay in the area. Xinia and Ciena quickly find us.

"Did you get caught?" Anica asks Ciena.

"No, I hid in the Trio passage for a little, but he didn't see me."

"Good," I sigh. "At least we won't get the blame."

"Good? GOOD!?" Xinia screams. "I think he's destroyed all the books in the library!"

"They'll fix all that," Anica waves her hand. "Anyway, Gena, what did you find out?"

My mood instantly plummets from bad to terrible.

"That reminds me," I mutter.

Without an explanation, I walk off, looking for Bailey. I spot him with Xander and one of their other friends, although they both leave when they see me storming up to him.

"We're not finished!" I yell, startling a few of the students around us.

"Gena, please. Can we not do this now?"

"Oh no," I growl. "We are doing this right now. You are going to tell me everything you know and you better have a damn good reason for not telling me."

Bailey sighs, pleading with me with his eyes. I'm having none of it though. I cross my arms, tapping my foot, waiting for him to start talking.

Through all of this, I hadn't noticed my hair had changed to a dark red. I know I should change it back, but I don't bother.

"Gena, I couldn't tell you," Bailey says softly. "I physically couldn't."

My foot stops tapping as I look at him in surprise.

"What do you mean?"

"Mum and Dad put a spell on me and everyone else who knew so that we couldn't talk about it unless you knew."

"What do you mean everyone else who knew? Who else knows?"

"Ruth and Warren, James and Hannah and Julie and Ryan."

Of course. The twin's parents and Dylan and Nick's knew mine since Hogwarts. There's no way they could've kept that from them.

"None of us could say anything Gena," Bailey continues softly.

"Were they ever going to tell me?" I cry.

"When you were older."

I snort.

"When I would've been old enough to hate them without any consequences? Typical."

"You can't mean that!"

I look at him in disbelief.

"How can I not?" My voice rises again. "They lied to me, Bailey! For eleven years. They made me think I belonged. That I was their daughter."

"They love you," Bailey answers loudly. "They love you just like Wyrene, or Quinn or Jamie. They raised you. We did. If you didn't belong, if you weren't their daughter, they wouldn't have taken you in."

Once again, a crowd has formed around us. I see a flash of blue hair heading for us, but I ignore him.

"That doesn't change anything!" I yell, my voice rising over the students. "That doesn't change the fact that Kendra and Isaac Dinnick are not my parents!"

Everyone around us freezes, finally understanding our argument. Bailey stares at me in shock and sorrow as I force tears back. A minute of silence follows before murmurs and whispers break out.

It dawns on me that I had just told the whole school. Fear runs through me as I think about all the rumours and looks I would get for who knows how long.

I suddenly need to get out of here. I turn away from Bailey, pushing through the crowd. I hear Malfoy calling my name, telling me to come back. I ignore him, dashing past Lupin - who had appeared to try and stop me - running away from the Quidditch pitch. I'm vaguely aware that Anica, Xinia and Ciena are on my heels as I find the place I had originally been heading.

I finally reach it, collapsing into tears as I fall to the ground. Trees surround us, blocking the area from view, and the castle wall is about a hundred feet away.

I feel Xinia hugging me, Anica and Ciena on either side of her.

I don't know how long we stay like that; the four of us huddled together.

Finally, the sun starts to fall, casting a red glow over the grounds.

My tears had stopped some time ago, but I had stayed on the ground, not wanting to accept what I knew was true.

It had finally hit me. The people I had thought were my parents all my life had lied to me. I wasn't sure how I felt. Upset and angry, for sure. But did I want to know my real parents? Did I hate my 'parents'?

Thoughts swirled around my head until I suddenly sighed in anger and frustration. Xinia pulled away from me, still staying close though.

"Do you want to talk?" she asks softly.

"I don't know," I whisper. "I just don't know."

She nods, laying her hand on my shoulder.

"We're gonna help you figure it all out. Unless you ask us to butt out, we're gonna be here for you."

"Yeah, we could get a little annoying," Anica jokes.

I manage to crack a smile, a few more tears falling down my cheeks.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, brushing my tears away. "You don't have to - "

"Nonsense," Ciena says firmly. "You've just learnt something that has literally changed your life. We're going to stick with you."

All three of them lean in to hug me, and I wrap my arms around them.

"Thank you," I whisper.

"What are friends for?" Anica replies.

So that was a whirlwind, wasn't it? So well some of you might already have some ideas about who Gena's real parents are, I'm afraid it won't be revealed for quite a while! Sorry!