Chapter Four- Andrew's secret

Gryffindor Common Room, Saturday Night

"Was that boring or what?" Marcela snapped.

They had just arrived from Hogsmade, where most stores were closed. "Does your father know anything about this?" Chris asked.

"I don't know," Anne admitted. "But I'll ask him. It was so weird, almost everything was closed."

"Except the Post Office and Madam Puddifoot's," Andrew growled. "I hated all the couples around me."

Anne said nothing. She had seen Wayne Garr and Wanda McMahon holding hands at Madam Puddifoot's and she had felt her stomach lurch unpleasantly. And to top it all, Marcela and Chris didn't help with their constant bickering.

"Anne, they have posted the Quidditch tryout dates," Chris said, pointing at message board. "Want to go and see?"

Anne nodded, feeling grumpy. Chris walked next to her and Anne saw that the tryouts were going to be held the next Saturday.

"I don't know if I'll go," Anne said. "It's OWL year, and I want to get good grades, or Dad will consider making me go to a muggle school."

"Your dad is cool," Chris said. "He won't do that."

"I know," Anne said. "I guess that I'm making up excuses."

"I understand," Chris said. "Do you want to go outside and talk? Marcela and Andrew look pretty busy to me."

Anne turned around and saw Marcela and Andrew deep in conversation. Marcela had tears running down her cheeks and Anne realized what they were talking about. Chris.

"Let's go," Anne said. Chris put out his hand as he pushed the portrait and Anne hesitated. Then she looked at Chris and sighed. Anne took his hand and they got out of the common room.

Ten minutes later they were sitting near the lake, staring at the calm surface of the water. "I can't believe Hagrid still lives in there," Anne said, pointing at the cabin. "I mean, he's Headmaster."

"He likes it, I guess," Chris said.

They remained silent and Chris lay down in the grass. Anne followed and they stared at the starry sky, and Chris decided to break the silence.

"So, tell me the real reason why you don't want to enter the Quidditch team," Chris said.

"Wayne Garr," Anne said. "He's the reason."

"I still don't know why girls fancy him so much," Chris said.

"He's a brilliant student, his hair is perfect and his smile…" Anne sighed.

"Okay, I get it," Chris chuckled. "But why don't you fancy someone more closer to Earth? I mean, a normal guy that is clumsy with a broom or that sort of thing."

"Like you?" Anne snorted.

"Now, that's a good option," Chris mocked and Anne laughed. "No, seriously… There must be someone out there that fancies you so bad that he can't get near you without losing his breath."

"It would be nice," Anne said. "But I don't think so. And talking about that… What about you and Marcela?"

"The same as usual," Chris said. "She's on complete denial. If she came and said: 'Chris, I think I'm in love with you and I have my room full of your photographs' I think that things would be okay between us."

"Do you like her?" Anne asked. "Like, really, really like her?"

"I really like her," Chris admitted. Anne felt a strange sensation in her chest and chose to ignore it.

"Then… why don't you do something?" Anne asked. "You know she likes you."

"I don't know," Chris said. "I guess I'm just being stupid… or maybe I'm waiting to see if she's the love of my life."

"I knew that deep inside you were a romantic at heart," Anne mocked.

"Don't tell anyone," Chris chuckled. "Or I may lose a rather interesting snogging session with Meredith."

Anne punched Chris in the arm and Chris laughed. "I was kidding, Potter."

"Let's go inside," Anne said. "Before Marcela has a jealous fit. I would hate losing my best friend for you."

The next Friday "Anne, this is the last day you can go and tell Wayne about the tryouts," Marcela said as owls began delivering mail.

"I've tried to tell him, but Wanda is glued to him," Anne said, feeling angry.

"Well, throw them water or a paint remover," Chris said. "But you have to go and tell him today or Andrew, Marcela and I will never talk to you again."

"Dad answered my letter!" Anne exclaimed happily.

"Nice try to change the subject," Chris snapped. "But Anne, you must go and-"

"Wait, Anne's right," Andrew said as he looked at the envelope Anne had in her hands. "Mr. Potter wrote back."

"Let me read it," Anne said.

Dear Anne,

I can't believe I received a letter from you! You had not sent since you entered third year! Anyway, answering your question…

It seems that shops are closed in Hogsmade because an old ghost called Bethus is haunting them. According to your mother, she read that Bethus was a myth created a 120 years ago by a clever dark wizard that made believe that there was a ghost trying to kill shop owners. False, of course, but funny murders started to happen and people got afraid.

In the end, they found the wizard guilty of the murders and the Bethus myth ended. But Hogsmade shops have received threats similar to the ones that Bethus made.

The Ministry thinks that this new "ghost" is a copy of Bethus and has told shop owners not to worry. But of course, they are afraid murders will happen.

We are investigating this thoroughly, and in no time, this mystery shall be solved and the shops will reopen.

Your mom wishes that you have a great year and reminds you to study hard for OWLS

Love,

Your dad

"There's the answer to the great mystery of the stores," Anne said. "Now, before you start bothering again, I'll go and look for Wayne."

Anne stood up and accidentally bumped into June Lambert. June's eyeglasses fell down and Anne kneeled down to get them.

"Sorry about that," Anne said as she handed June her glasses.

"It's okay, Anne," June said nervously and walked away quickly.

"Repeat after me, mentaaal!" Chris mocked.

"Stop it, Chris," Andrew said. "If you excuse me, I've got to go to the library." Andrew stood up and left and Anne shrugged.

"I guess I'll go look for Wayne," Anne said dramatically. She walked out of the Great Hall and looked around. She looked in every empty classroom, waited a while by the dungeons and nothing. She sighed and thought that maybe she should wait until their next class together.

"Anne!" Wayne was running toward her, waving his hand frenetically. He stopped in front of her and smiled.

"I just met Marcela and she told me you were looking for me… so…" Dwayne seemed out of breath, and Anne waited.

"Sorry about my condition," Wayne chuckled. "I'm much better in a broom."

"I sure hope so," Anne said. "Listen, Wayne, I'm going to the tryouts."

"Cool," Wayne said happily. "I mean… It's great, right?"

"I guess," Anne sighed. "I sure hope I don't make a fool of myself. So, tomorrow morning, right?"

"Yeah," Wayne said. They looked at each other and Anne felt rather stupid that she had nothing more to say.

"Tough year this one, huh?" Wayne said unenthusiastically.

"Mom has been lecturing me about OWL year since I can remember," Anne said. "I guess I'm a little prepared."

"You're a good student," Wayne grinned. "You just need to pay more attention."

"Yeah, I daydream a lot," Anne confessed.

"In first year I used to do that a lot," Wayne said. "Until I discovered that the best way to stop it was actually realizing my dreams."

"So do you think I should realize my dream of pouring the hot contents of a cauldron in Snape's head?" Anne mocked.

"That would make several people happy," Wayne chuckled.

Both smiled and silence fell between them again. "So…" Wayne muttered.

"So…" Anne echoed.

"I have to go," Wayne said, looking a bit disappointed. "I have Muggle Studies."

"Sure," Anne said. "See you in Charms."

"See you," Wayne said. He stood there for a while, and then he leaned toward Anne and kissed her on the cheek.

"Bye," Wayne said, a little red in the face and walked away.

Anne stared after him and smiled widely. She walked down the hall, humming to herself. She suddenly realized she was in a hall she had never been before and she frowned.

"Great. Almost five years in Hogwarts and I get lost," Anne muttered and started walking. She heard some talking and decided to ask for indications.

She walked around a corner and froze. She could not believe what she was seeing… No wonder Andrew had been a bit weird lately.

He was kissing someone. And that someone had her arms tightly around him. The girl drew away and smiled lovingly at Andrew. Anne gasped and the couple turned around.

"Anne…" Andrew started.

Anne didn't answer. She turned around and ran down the hallway, her cheeks blushing with embarrassment. She suddenly collided into someone.

"Anne, we're late for Transfiguration," Chris said. "And I don't want to risk it with Professor Weasley…"

"Are you alone?" Anne asked in a nervous tone.

"Yes," Chris frowned. "Marcela went for a book she forgot."

"Chris, I saw Andrew kissing someone," Anne gasped, her mind swirling.

"Eww," Chris mocked. "I won't eat anything today. Well, it was about time. Who was the lucky lady?"

"You won't believe it." Anne drew breath and closed her eyes. "June Lambert."

A/N: I know! Long chapter. But it would be foolish to make it shorter or divide into two. Until next one.