Aly sighed with nervousness as she snapped the lid of her trunk shut and looked around the room.
Tomorrow, they'd be leaving for the Leaky Cauldron. Char and Damien managed to convince Mrs. Boyle into letting them go.
Aly scowled slightly. Char decided to let the others get involved.
"The more people, the better," he had said, winking.
Of course, Aly had protested.
And of course Char utilized that same darned maneuver: staring at her long enough to confuse her, those pools of melted chocolate...long, dark eyelashes...And when he asked her again, she was stupid enough to nod, helpless under his power. Stupid, devilish, hypnotic, beautiful, sexy, chocolate colored eyes.
Then again, she did feel slightly better knowing that if they screwed up, they'd all screw up together.
Even Amanda sounded like she was ready to defy the adults. And wherever Amanda goes, Damien goes. Hayden came along because he had nothing better to do.
How typical.
"Who the bloody heck is Horace Slughorn?" Damien asked disgusting. "What kind of last name is Slughorn?"
"Professor Slughorn is very well known," Mr. Boyle said, frowning at his son across the table. "I remember that he came to Hogwarts during my last year there." Mr. and Mrs. Boyle, Amanda, Damien and Hayden were all sitting in the kitchen.
"A bit wide in the middle," Mrs. Boyle winked, "But a fine man, nonetheless."
"Wait just one minute," Amanda exclaimed, looking at the Hogwarts letters again. "He's teaching potions!"
"Then who's teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts?" asked Damien.
"Snape," Mrs. Boyle responded.
"What? No!" Hayden exclaimed angrily.
"What's so bad about that?" Amanda asked quizzically.
"I don't want him to have the satisfaction that he wanted," Hayden said through clenched teeth. Damien smiled.
"Oh, don't be so grumpy, mate," he said jovially. "Besides, you're pretty good at that, aren't you?"
"The only class I'm good at is History of Magic," Hayden said miserably. "All we do is sleep."
Mr. Boyle laughed.
"Well, I'm sure that Snape will lighten up now that he's finally gotten that job of his."
"Better than Umbridge," Amanda spat. "That lady's gone mental, have you heard?"
"I sure did," Mrs. Boyle grinned. "Those centaurs got a mouthful of her."
"Ah, yes," Mr. Boyle said in rapture, "It's been so much...quieter now that she's at St. Mungo's."
Mrs. Boyle smiled and sipped her tea.
Char walked into the kitchen, scratching his hair. "Hello, all."
"Hey, mate. Where's Aly?" Damien nodded.
"Upstairs writing a letter to her Mum," Char said, flashing a quick glance at his friends.
"Why?" Mr. Boyle asked, scrutinizing Char carefully.
"Oh..." Char said, looking up at the ceiling, thinking of an excuse, "She just said, 'It's a girl thing.""
"Did you have to go that far?" Damien winced.
"Don't shoot the messenger," Amanda smiled.
Char sat down. "Why? Did you need to speak with her?"
"Actually, we needed to speak with all of you," Mr. Boyle said, eyeing his son. Char got that sinking feeling in his stomach.
A few seconds passed and Char gulped when he heard Aly's footsteps coming down the stairs and into the living room.
"Hey, Mrs. Boyle, do you have any more of that tea?" Aly asked cheerfully.
"Sure, dear. Let me make you some."
Mrs. Boyle stood up and busied herself with the kettle.
"Now," Mr. Boyle said, eyeing Damien. "I need to speak with you all."
Char pulled Aly down into his lap and waited for the worst.
"Me and Marybeth are being extremely nice about letting you all stay at the Leaky Cauldron tomorrow. You are all sixteen, and we are respecting the utmost responsibility from you all."
He eyed Amanda. "This world isn't safe anymore, so you need to be careful. No more walking into abandoned pubs," he said, eyeing Aly, "And do not go anywhere alone. If you're going anywhere, go as a group."
"And finally, this regards to Aly, Damien and Char." Damien gulped. "I know that people are reading the Daily Prophet and I know that people will start asking you questions about John. You will not say a word, you understand?"
Mrs. Boyle set the cup of tea down in front of Aly and Aly blew on it so it can cool.
"Aly's already partially involved because of her stupid friend Adam opening his mouth about her and Joy."
Aly's heart throbbed and Char's arm instantly tightened around her waist.
"We do not want any publicity, so I will need you three, no all of you, to guard your tongues. Speak only when necessary and don't give anything away. I wouldn't be surprised, if I were you, if some of your friendships were strained because people are afraid of you."
Mrs. Boyle nodded gently.
"That's all I have to say. Other than that, stay safe, and have a fun sixth year. Dear, I have to run down to the Ministry and finish some paperwork." Mr. Boyle stood up and walked over to kiss Mrs. Boyle on the cheek. He grabbed his briefcase, walked over to the door and stepped outside. He disapparated with a pop!
Mrs. Boyle stood up slowly and walked out of the kitchen. Aly looked down silently at her tea cup and watched the steam float from the tea.
"They know," Damien said softly. Aly looked up. "They have to. That talk was so random, unless they had a valid reason."
"They couldn't," Aly replied softly, smiling. "Bella used Muffliato."
"So? I could hear you shouting from downstairs," Amanda protested.
Aly frowned and sipped her tea.
"Does anyone want to clue me in on what we're doing tomorrow?" Hayden asked suddenly. Aly frowned in her teacup. "All I know is that we're not really going to be at the Leaky Cauldron."
Char smiled as Aly set down the cup. "How much time do you have?"
"Enough to hear the whole story," Hayden said, leaning forward, intent on listening.