[A little review of the characters presented thus far, in order of introduction...

-Allison Wood: main character. Long wavy brown hair, hazel eyes. Seventh year Ravenclaw.

-James Potter: male lead. Tall and broad-shouldered, with messy black hair and amber eyes. Refuses to wear his glasses properly. Chaser One & captain on the Quidditch team. Sixth year Gryffindor .

-Fred Weasley: a cousin of James'. Tall and gangly, and a spread of freckles and light brown hair despite his dark skin. Sixth year Gryffindor.

-Elizabeth Clay: a dorm-mate and best friend of Allison's. Tall and willowy blonde, grey eyes. Seventh year Ravenclaw.

-Amber Ross: a dorm-mate and friend of Allison's. Small, pixie-like blonde, bright blue eyes. Seventh year Ravenclaw.

-Elisabeth Scharkey: a dorm-mate and friend of Allison's. Expressive, bad-tempered girl of Asian descent. Seventh year Ravenclaw.

-Holly Williams: a dorm-mate of Allison's. Thin, sharp-featured blonde, green eyes. Seventh year Ravenclaw.

-Scarlett O'Riley: a dorm-mate of Allison's. Prefect. Ruddy-faced dirty blonde. Seventh year Ravenclaw.

-Antony Marwick: a house-mate of Allison's. Head Boy. Seventh year Ravenclaw.

-Molly Weasley: a cousin of James and Fred's. Head Girl. Seventh year Gryffindor.

-Roxanne Weasley: a cousin of James and Molly's, sister to Fred. First year Gryffindor.

-Rose Weasley: a cousin of James, Fred, Molly, and Roxanne's. Fifth year Ravenclaw.

-Luke/Lewis/Louis Weasley: a cousin of James, Fred, Molly, Roxanne, and Rose's. Fifth year Ravenclaw.

-Hugh/Harvey/Tarquin/Hugo Weasley: a cousin of James, Fred, Molly, and Roxanne's, brother to Rose. Third year Gryffindor.

-Minerva McGonagall: Headmistress.

-Mr. Ruppenthal: Caretaker.

-Matt Edwards: an attractive house-mate of Allison's. Seventh year Ravenclaw.

-Stephen Stroupe: a house-mate of Allison's. Chaser on the Quidditch team. Seventh year Ravenclaw.

-Nick Riggins: a friend and year-mate of Allison's. Keeper on the Quidditch team. Seventh year Gryffindor.

-Lena Banks: a year-mate of Allison's. Overconfident, arrogant Seeker on the Quidditch team. Seventh year Gryffindor.

-Ernie Rousch: Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Ravenclaw Head of House.

-Darios Calvios: the Slytherin Quidditch Captain and Chaser. Blonde, arrogant and snake-tongued. Seventh year Slytherin.

-Ramon Naguchi: Astronomy professor. Slytherin Head of House.

-Neville Longbottom: Herbology professor. Gryffindor Head of House.

-Chandra Hauge: Muggle Studies professor that had a constant cold. Hufflepuff Head of House.

-Mark van Hulle: Hufflepuff Quidditch Captain and Seeker. Short, brown-haired and muscular. Fifth year Hufflepuff.

-Kayla Milam: the final dorm-mate of Allison's. Tall, athletic and blond. Chaser on the Quidditch team. Seventh year Ravenclaw.

-Maggie Anderson: a house-mate of Allison's. Small and mousy-haired. Chaser on the Quidditch team. Fifth year Ravenclaw.

-Carl Mauldin: a house-mate of Allison's. Built and gorilla-like. Beater on the Quidditch team. Sixth year Ravenclaw.

-Timothy McCullin: a house-mate of Allison's. Thin and gangly. Beater on the Quidditch team. Fourth year Ravenclaw.

-David Lankford: a house-mate of Allison's and her "secret weapon." Average-looking and nondescript. Seeker on the Quidditch team. Third year Ravenclaw.

So long...!]


)

Scoundrel.

)

"Enlighten me," I said, approaching the boy from behind. I crossed my arms in expectance.

James turned around so I could see him smirk. "What do you want to know?" He gestured for me to walk.

I fell into step beside him easily, as if I'd done it a thousand times before. The leaves crunched beneath my boots. "Where are these mysterious kitchens? I've never been."

"Never been?" said James, only half-surprised. "Not in all the seven years you've been here?"

I beckoned for him to come closer and made to whisper in his ear. "Never," I told him confidentially, sneaking a glance. I was rewarded with an appreciative smile.

"It's not that hard to get in, anyway," he said. We had reached the castle walls. "There's a portrait of a bowl of fruit under the Grand Staircase, you see, and all you have to do is tickle the pear..." He mimed doing so, his hands held out in front of him as we walked.

I hid a grin as I watched his antics. There was something so refreshing about being with James that I instantly felt comfortable around him.

We crossed the lawn, which was still green despite the sting of autumn that hung in the cool air, and ducked into the clock tower. A chubby first year brushed past me in his haste, knocking me to the side.

"Oof!" I exhaled. I looked up to see James' bright red face above mine; he had caught me, again. I righted myself. "Thanks, Potter; you seem to have a talent for catching damsels in distress such as myself."

"Er, well, uh," he sputtered. He fussed with his hair with one hand and turned suddenly away. "I—oi, watch it kid!" he called after the first year. I could see the tips of his ears poking out like bits of fire through the tufts of his hair.

A small smile spread across my lips. Cute, I thought, before I could stop myself.

We took the grand staircase down to the lowest levels of the castle. There were no windows, but the walls took on an earthy tint and boasted sunny tapestries and copper hangings. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted a stack of round barrels in a corner as we passed; I grinned but didn't point them out to James. Doubtless enough, he already knew the location of the Hufflepuff common room. So instead we came to a halt in front of a large still life painting of a bowl of fruit.

"Here we are," said James, reaching confidently toward the painted pear. He glanced toward me. "Ready?"

I gave him a cocky smile. "Boy, if you don't tickle that pear to death right now my stomach will start eating itself, consuming me in the process, and then eat you, pointy bones and all."

He tickled the pear.

To my amazement, the pear began to squirm, first left and then right. It giggled; the sound was high-pitched like a child's. The pear then transformed into a large green doorknob. James grabbed it and pulled.

"Oh, wow," I whispered.

The kitchens were enormous, with high ceilings and a huge brick fireplace at one end. "Are we under the Great Hall, then?" I asked quietly, for there were five long wooden tables that mimicked that familiar sight.

James nodded in confirmation. His hair shone in the flickering torchlight.

"Master Potter!" cried a bug-eyed, sail-like eared creature. He wore a shockingly pink and lacy bonnet upon his head and had what looked like a shower curtain, maroon in color, wrapped around his waist and shoulders like a toga. Thick, giant glasses perched from the end of his nose.

"Hey, wotcher, Wesley!" said James cheerfully.

"Wotcher?" I muttered to James. It didn't seem to fit him.

He ran his hand through his hair. "Picked it up from a family friend. Wesley, any chance we could get some food? Wood here and I missed lunch."

"Well, of course," Wesley obliged. "What would Master Wood and Mistress Wood like?"

"How about… a turkey sandwich and pumpkin juice for me, and… what about you, Wood?"

I started. "Oh, um…" The house-elf's large eyes quivered slightly. "A ham sandwich would be lovely," I said weakly. "And some fruit, I suppose."

"Right away, Master Potter, Mistress Wood."

"Uncomfortable?" James asked me. He gestured to a corner with a few tables and chairs where we could sit.

"A little," I answered, sitting. "My family doesn't have house-elves."

"Mine used to. Kreacher, one that my dad inherited," said James. His eyes were glassy as he stared at a spot in the wall. "He died when I was a kid."

"Oh," I murmured. "I'm so sorry."

"Thank you."

We sat in silence for a few minutes, until Wesley bustled over holding a tray brimming with food.

"Much appreciated, Wesley!" said James, lighting up at the sight of food, which disappeared as soon as Wesley set down the tray.

"Merlin. I love Hogwarts," I sighed, patting a now full stomach. I took my glass of juice and washed the sandwich down with a swig of the sweet liquid inside.

"Me too," agreed James, looking over at me and smiling. He had a unique smile, I thought absentmindedly. It was crooked to the right ever so slightly. He had one dimple in his right cheek.

To get my mind off such things, I asked him to tell me about his family.

"Well, you've heard of my dad, right?" he said. I nodded. "He married my mum right when she got out of school. I have a younger brother, Albus—he's a fifth year. Got our dad's eyes but not his hair." James laughed at this, reaching up to tousle his own unkempt hair. "He's pretty quiet, likes to think things through before saying them aloud. He's the only Slytherin in our family, which I think makes him distance himself a little. But he's got the best sense of humor.

"Lily—my little sister—is a third year."

"Gryffindor, right?" I said.

He smiled again, this time a little proudly. "Yup. She's a fiery one, just like Mum. But she wouldn't hurt a fly, not really. She has loads of animals she's rescued back home.

"My dad's godson lived with us before he graduated Hogwarts five years ago—Teddy. Just about the nicest guy you'll ever meet; he's never said a bad word about anyone ever, I bet. He's actually engaged to my cousin Victoire.

"Fred's my cousin and my best friend. His mum's black, if you were wondering," added James. "Fred's really the one who likes to do all the pranks and whatnot. He was practically raised in a joke shop, after all—his dad founded Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes."

"Wow," I said.

"I know right? His little sister just got Sorted into Gryffindor as well this year. Roxanne.

"Then there's Rose and Hugo. They're my cousins as well; Rosie's a fifth year Ravenclaw and Hugo's a third year in Gryffindor. Louis and Victoire are both Ravenclaws, Victoire before she graduated three years ago (Louis' a fifth year)… Oh, and Molly and Lucy, of course. Molly's Head Girl and in Gryffindor, Lucy's in my year but in Hufflepuff."

"Wow," I said again at last. "You certainly do have a lot of cousins!"

James chuckled. "Well, mum has six—five brothers." He swallowed painfully at the slip.

I chose to ignore it. Ginny Potter's sixth brother had probably died during the war. My mother's two sisters had been killed as well. "Well," I started in an effort to change the subject. "Hufflepuff's tryouts must have already begun. We'd better hurry."

Standing up, James stretched his arms toward the ceiling. His shirt rose up just enough so I could see a sliver of exposed, tanned skin. I looked away quickly. "Are you going to insist that we sit on opposite ends of the stadium?" he said jokingly.

"Actually, that's exactly what I'm going to do," I told him, brought back to the reality that this was an opposing Quidditch team's Captain!

He frowned. "Aw, really?"

"Leave and never enter my sight again!" I commanded mockingly. He grinned and motioned for me to exit first. I beamed at him—gentleman, check!—and walked cheerfully out.

(


(

"Ba ba ba bum, bum ba bum… Bun da doo dit ba!" I sang to myself as I bounced up the stairs to the dormitories.

"Someone's in a good mood," remarked Scharkey. She lay with her feet up on her headboard.

"Why not? It's good to be alive!" I declared, smiling widely.

"Was there a good turnout?" she asked.

"For what?"

"Quidditch try-outs, dummy!"

I sat down on my bed and pulled off my trainers. "Oh, right. We'll survive, I suppose."

She spun over onto her stomach. "Oh, come on! Give me more than that. The Hufflepuff try-outs were today as well, correct?"

"Yeah." I didn't offer any more than that as I solemnly stowed away my shoes and reclined back onto my pillow.

I was right to have been wary of Hufflepuff. Mark van Hulle, the military-esque fifth year Captain had pulled an unexpectedly good crop this year: returning were Sterling Whisby, Chaser, Robbie Mabb as Beater, and van Hulle himself as Seeker. Then there were Kirsten Milbury, Keeper, long and lanky and possessing the troublesome knack for catching feints; Mickey Derickson, Chaser, tiny but fast; Aurora Camillo, Chaser, beautiful and startlingly accurate; and Kendall Brown, Beater, forceful and built for a third year.

"What about us? How was the turnout?"

I smirked. "Pretty bloody good, if I do say so myself. And—" I flipped onto my side to face Scharkey. "—I've got a secret weapon."

She laughed loudly. "Secret weapon? You sound like your dad!"

I raised an eyebrow. "I'm not sure how to take that…"

"Allison, your dad is a famous Quidditch player. I'd take it as a compliment."

"If you say so." My dad did Keep for Puddlemere United for ten years. Now he coached Junior Quidditch. He'd been Quidditch Captain at Hogwarts too back in his day, but for Gryffindor.

That made me think of James Potter. I smiled widely, then checked myself in the face for such impudent thoughts.

"Where is everyone?" I said instead.

"Down in the common room. Amber and Holly are having a chess match, and Elli and Scarlett are betting. I came up here for some peace and quiet," Scharkey answered. She gestured to a stack of magazines next to her: I saw two Witch Weeklys and one Magical Make-up International.

I sat up. "Well, have fun. I'm going down to show them who's the real chess master."

I took the spiraling steps two at a time into the spacious, bookcase-laden loft that lay above the common room. What was nice about Ravenclaw Tower was that it was practically a library unto itself; a lot of Ravenclaws took the time to study here rather than the school library. I leaned briefly over the railing, scoping the place out: there were Matt Edwards and Antony Marwick, laughing with a couple of sixth year girls by the fireplace; Rose Weasley lay, nose buried in a book, on a couch a little away, her feet in the lap of her cousin Louis, who was deep in conversation with fellow fifth year Danny Devries; a group of giggling third years by the bookcases blushed over Louis' silky locks; finally I spotted my dorm-mates seated around a table by the window, Amber and Holly looking like every chess move cost them a year of their lives.

"You'll regret that move, Holly Williams," Amber was saying smugly. Her blue eyes glittered. "Watch me take your knight! Bishop to C-5."

"You bitch," Holly said bitterly. A pile of beaten up, battle-worn pieces lay at her elbow.

"Yeah, Amber," I said, joining them. "That knight had a wife and children."

"Casualty of war," she said dismissively. "Where've you been? I haven't seen you all day."

"She had Quidditch try-outs, silly. Do try and remember what your friends live and breathe for," Elli commented. She smiled at me, and inwardly I breathed a sigh of relief. Lately she'd seemed a little… not herself and I was glad she was feeling better.

"I'm a busy woman! I can't remember every single thing you people do! Damn you!" Amber told Holly crossly. Holly had just taken her queen.

"If you move your rook to E-9, you're in prime position for checkmate," I whispered to her.

Holly slapped my arm. "Don't you dare help her!"

Scarlett slapped my other arm. "Unfair advantage! I've got five Galleons on Holly!"

"No, keep helping her," Elli told me quietly. "I haven't got five Galleons."

"I'm surrounded by incompetent blondes," I said loudly. They all hit me in turns for that. "Honestly! Me 'n' Scharkey are the only ones non blondes in our dormitory!"

"Maybe you should just dye your hair," Scarlett suggested.

I laughed. "Can you imagine me with blonde hair? Please!"

Holly had Amber in check. "You know who's hair I bet is dyed? That Weasley kid's."

Elli snorted. "Which one?"

"Are you talking about Fred? Isn't he gorgeous?" Scarlett sighed.

"I won't say he's not a pretty boy, but he's not really my type," I commented.

"You like boring boys," Scarlett informed me.

"I like normal boys," I corrected her.

"But seriously!" Holly pursued. "His hair is way too bright for a black kid's!"

"He's only half though," said Elli suddenly. "His father is a redhead. Maybe that's it?"

"But his sister's not—"

"Hah! Checkmate!" Amber cried.

"Whoa, when did this happen?" I'd looked away for a second and she had maneuvered her way out of check and into a checkmate of her own. Maybe I should give her more credit. But she still couldn't beat me. I don't brag about much, but I'm pretty confident about my chess abilities. It was an art, my mother always said.

"Say hi to Satan for me," Holly told Amber irritably.

"Sure thing!"

"Pay up," Elli ordered Scarlett with a smile.

Scarlett obliged unwillingly. "This is your fault," she accused me.

"Incompetence," I repeated.

Across the room Naomi Endsworth was throwing herself at fourth-year Roy Gresham, twirling her hair and giggling like a maniac. Poor girl. The kid was definitely gay, if my brother's testimony was anything to go by.

My brother. I hadn't seen Sam around much so far this year. I made a mental note to chat with him at breakfast tomorrow.

Amber checked her watch. "It's getting late," she said. "Winners take sleep seriously. I'm off to bed."

"Me too. I'm knackered," said Scarlett. They went up together.

Elli stayed where she was.

"What about you?" I said. "Aren't you tired?"

"You're the one who should be tired," she said. She crossed her arms and leaned up against the window. In the light of the moon her hair looked like it was woven with tiny beams of starlight. For a moment she looked very… I don't know how to describe it. Weary, like she'd been walking for miles, but restless, like she couldn't stop for anything.

"Elli," I said seriously. I pulled out a chair and sat down across from her. "I wanted to ask you…" I bit my lip and took a deep breath. "Lately, is there anything… you're worried about? That you might like to talk about?"

"The stars look nice tonight," she said absentmindedly. "Don't you think so? Like little bits of glass. I bet the sky used to be a giant plate of glass. Someone broke it. Broke it into pieces."

"You were always the poetic one," I whispered. Her eyes were dark.

Elli turned away suddenly. "I'm fine," she said, smiling. "But thanks for asking." She tugged at the cuff of her purple sweater.

"Okay," I said. I didn't believe her for a second.

"Well. I'm off to bed," she said, getting up.

My hand shot out and grabbed her elbow. "Elli," I said. My eyes searched hers, but all I saw was a reflection of myself. "You know I'll always be here for you, right? You know I'm always on your side."

Her eyes softened, and she squeezed my hand reassuringly. "I know."

(


(

Damn James Potter. Damn him and all his good luck with Quidditch.

Potter had scraped up an excellent team this year. Figures, since he only had one new addition this year: his sister, Lily Potter, had become the new Gryffindor Beater. Returning were Nick Riggins as Keeper, seventh year Dominique Weasley and fifth-year Danny Malcom as Chasers, sixth year Joe Kaufman as the other beater, and that vapid Lena Banks as Seeker.

I chewed the tip of my quill as I reviewed my notes. I'd been squatting in the stands for about six hours now, spying on the Gryffindor try-outs. Kaufman was ganfly, but he had good aim; Banks was egoistic, but damn good; Weasley lost her temper too easily and Nick was too quiet, which was why James had been made Captain—and Lily packed a punch, little redheaded thing that she was.

Damn it!

Oh, well. Potter and Mark van Hulle may have gotten together good teams this year, but at least I was confident enough that Ravenclaw could crush Slytherin.

Darius had three new additions this year: third year Quinton Alberta as chaser, seventh year Delia Difiore as beater, and sixth year Raphael Posados as Keeper. Returning were sixth year Lorcan Scamander as Chaser, seventh year Theodore Wisz as Beater, and fifth year Albus Potter as Seeker.

So what if Potter was crazy good and slightly scary with his ability to spot the Snitch from halfway across the stadium?

…Double damn. Like, Merlin's cheetah print feather boa damn.


[A/N: Like it? Hate it? Hey, this only took me like a week! Give me some credit! Maybe? No? Well, if that's how you want it... I live to please, as always! Drop me a review! ;)

And James finally made an appearance longer than five paragraphs, yay! Eh, no one really cares about him anyway. Crazy kid.]