"So, where are we going to go for holidays?" Amanda asked absently as she knitted a scarf.
"Somewhere," Hayden said miserably. "It can't be here, or the Boyles' place."
"Why not?" Damien demanded. Our little group of friends was sitting in the common room in front of the roaring fire a few weeks later, debating on where to go for holidays.
"Well, for all we know, John could be making refuge there," Hayden responded. "It's not safe. No offense, mate."
"He's got a point," admitted Char. "And we can't stay here."
"Why?" Aly asked, crossing her legs. "It's perfectly fine here."
"Aly," Amanda said, turning to her. "Think of it. Slughorn's having his little 'Slug Club Party.' You have no idea where Adam is. And besides," she added. "I truly am getting tired of this place."
"She's got a point," Hayden added. "It'd be easier for you to visit Adam if you're not at Hogwarts. If you stay here, then you're bound to the grounds. Going somewhere else is not a big deal because technically, you're not restricted."
Aly knew that the argument was won, and she leaned back in the chairs, her green eyes thoughtful.
"What about out of the country?" she suggested.
"You must be joking!" Damien exclaimed, startling a few second years. "Mum barely let us go out of the house this summer, and you want to go out of the country?!"
"It's a possibility."
"Yeah, one that won't happen," Hayden snapped.
"But think of how nice it would be!" Aly argued.
"Yeah. And think of how much it would cost," Amanda added.
"Whose side are you on?" Aly snapped. Amanda became quiet, her needles clicking.
"Aly, that's nonsense," Damien said, agreeing with Amanda.
"Well, then, think of something that does make sense." Her green eyes flashed. "We can't go to the Boyles' because John could be there. You guys don't want to stay here. I can't go visit my mum because she's being protected by the Ministry. She doesn't even know about what's been going on here. If you don't want to stay here, and you don't want to go to the Boyles, then I'm waiting for a better suggestion." She crossed her arms, looking around.
"What about the Leaky Cauldron?"
"What?" Char scoffed, looking over Amanda. "The Leaky Cauldron?"
"It's possible," she said, setting down her needles.
"Amanda, the last time I went there, I was nearly murdered," Aly said. "And this summer, they treated us like bombs that were ready to go off. I don't exactly think we're welcomed there."
"But don't you know Tom?" Amanda countered. "Affiliate or not, he should still care."
Damien rolled his eyes and looked down at Amanda, who was sitting next to him. "But if anyone sees us there, Tom will lose his business. Remember Amanda, we were all discovered. Which means that it's not just Aly; it's you, too. Quite frankly, we really can't show our faces anywhere."
"Well, that's a depressing thought," Amanda snapped, picking up her needles again. "Stuck at Hogwarts. Again."