A/N Whoops. I haven't updated in a bit. Sorry guys. I'm trying but I just finished school and thus finals. Finals suck, but they happen. And now I get to sleep until 10 and do nothing all day. Yay! Just a suggestion, though. If you want more frequent updates, review! They really do help me and I only have four reviews on this story. I don't want to sound needy, but I really do enjoy reading what you all say. Thanks! Now enjoy the chapter and happy summer to those of you on break!

Chapter 4- Friends, enemies, and a little bit of mystery

The article ended there at the same time that Callie came back through the door, her black hair damp.

"What's that?" Callie asked. I was half tempted to close the computer and lie, but Callie came over before I could make a decision and read the article over my shoulder. Slowly, she made her way towards my bed and sat down in stunned silence.

"Callie… I'm sorry," I said, unsure of what to say. Callie just sat there, not moving and not speaking. "Are you alright?" I tried again, but Callie didn't reply. She just sat there, in silence. "Do you- do you want to go to diagon alley?" I tried one more time. Callie didn't respond. She sat there, and I moved next to her, putting my arm on her. We sat there together until Callie fell asleep, whether from emotional or physical fatigue. I picked up her small form, light in my arms, and tuck her into my bed.

"Where were you?" Harry asked when I joined him at Diagon Alley twenty minutes later. I thought back to what had happened with her family and her death. There were so many questions I wanted to ask her. She told me that she got hit by a car. That she didn't know what had happened. But from what it seems, she was attacked by a monster.

"Just talking with Cal," I said, not willing to tell my brother the story that wasn't mine to tell.

"Where is she?" Harry asked, pulling out yet another essay.

"Sleeping," I replied. "She's exhausted. But seriously, why have you not finished your summer work?"

"When was I supposed to do it?" Harry complained. "At the Dursley's?"

"Fair enough," I said, pulling out my runes book. It was probably the most advanced books I had read on the subject, so I pulled out a runes dictionary also. Harry rolled his eyes.

"You really could have been a Ravenclaw," Harry smiled.

"You don't see my day to day life," I muttered.

"What? Fighting monsters?" Harry teased. I chucked a cherry from my ice cream at him.

"EMMA! HARRY!" I heard a familiar voice call. I turned and was met face to face with the bright blond hair of Astoria Greengrass.

"'Toria!" I cried happily, standing and hugging her. The blond had grown over the summer, making her officially taller than me. What else was new.

"'Toria?" Astoria asked with a smirk.

"Just trying things out," I defended.

"I kind of like it," Astoria replied, laughing. I motioned for her to sit. "So how was your summer?"

"Interesting," I said. "I met a new girl."

"What's her name?" Astoria asked. She hadn't known I was a demigod until after the battle in the chamber. I had told her what I was then, and after questions, she accepted it rather well.

"Callie," I replied. "She's a wizard. First year. She also… goes to camp with me."

"Interesting," Astoria said. "Do I get to meet her?"

"Later," I replied. "Right now she's sleeping at the Leaky. How was your summer?" I asked, trying to change the topic.

Astoria rolled her eyes and gave me a hard look. "One word. Delphine."

"Oh," I replied. Astoria's older sister was… one of a kind. She pretty much hated Astoria because she befriended Ginny and I as a Slytherin. She literally was the stereotypical Slytherin, only thinking her house was the best. "Is she still giving you a hard time?"

"She invited all of her Slytherin friends over and they all ignored me. The entire summer. Only thing they did to acknowledge my presence was the ugly glares and snide comments," Astoria said.

"Sorry, 'Toria," I said.

"It wasn't all bad," Astoria replied. "My parents felt so bad that they bought me pretty much whatever I wanted all summer."

"You are rich," I pointed out. "They probably would have done that anyway."

"But that's the thing," Astoria said. "They refused to buy anything for Delphine until she was nicer. Suffice to say, Delphine didn't get anything this summer." There was a small smirk playing on her mouth.

"You're evil," I responded, shaking my head. "But she so deserved it."

"Astoria, hunny, we have to go," a tall blond woman said, coming over.

"Hold on, mum!" Astoria said.

"Are you going to introduce me to your friends?" The woman, probably her mother, asked.

"Mum, this is Emma and Harry Potter. Potters, this is my mum," Astoria said, rolling her eyes.

"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Greengrass," I said, taking the woman's hand that she had held out to me.

"You also, Emma," Mrs. Greengrass said, giving me a warm smile. "Astoria has told me so much about you." Harry shook her hand next, and they had practically the same exchange.

"Will you guys be at the Leaky long?" Astoria asked.

"Until the start of term," I replied. "So another week."

"Maybe I'll meet up with you again," Astoria said, giving me a hug and Harry a wave. "Also, I still want to meet that mysterious new girl."

I rolled my eyes at the blond, but said goodbye, leaving Harry and I once again alone.

The days flew by in one hazy image of lounging in the sun and eating ice cream. It was nice, being back with Harry and the wizarding world. Callie seemed to just pretend that the article had never happened. As much as I wanted more answers, I didn't want to push the younger girl yet. Instead, she hung out with Harry and I, still marveling at the wizarding world.

Before I was ready, the last day of summer came around and found me packing scattered books from around my room into my trunk. There was a soft knock at the door and I straightened up to see Harry.

"What's up?" I asked, placing the books I was currently holding into my endless trunk.

"I'm going to the alley. Do you want to come?" Harry asked, looking around at my now pretty much bare room.

"Sure," I said. "Did you ask Callie already?"

"I'm here," came Callie's voice from behind Harry. "You coming?"

"Yeah just give me a sec," I said, grabbing my sword off of my night table and transforming it down into a watch (Thanks Max!) and putting my wand in my back pocket. "Ready."

The three of us made our way through the Leakey and out onto the streets of Diagon Alley.

"Emma! Harry!" I turned, accidently hitting Harry in the face with my hair, and came face to face with another ginger.

"Ginny!" I cried happily, hugging my best friend. The redhead hugged me back just as tightly, both of us smiling like lunatics.

"Hullo Emma, good to see you too" came Ron's voice. I broke apart from Ginny as Hermione shot Ron a glare.

"Ronald!" Hermione replied.

"What?" Ron said, as oblivious as ever.

"Hi Ron," I said, smiling at him while hugging Hermione. "How was your summer?"

"Alright," Ron replied. "Though Ginny refused to shut up about how she wanted to see her friends. Quite annoying, really."

"Oh like you weren't complaining about being separated from Harry and Hermione while we were in Egypt," Ginny replied, rolling her eyes.

"I heard about that," I said, remembering the article from the prophet I had read. "How was it?"

"Amazing!" Ginny replied, her eyes sparkling.

"Why don't we find a place to sit?" Harry offered as yet another witch pushed past us.

"We have to get our books still," Hermione said, looking worried.

"We'll get them, 'Mione," Ron said, rolling his eyes.

"Who's that?" Ginny whispered to me, motioning towards Callie who's pale cheeks flushed slightly.

"Oh right," I said apologetically. "Hermione, Ron, Ginny, meet Calle Gareth. Callie, meet Hermione Granger, Ron, and Ginny Weasley." I said, motioning to each person in turn.

"Nice to meet you," Callie said, smiling slightly.

"You also," Ginny said, looking slightly taken by the British accent instead of American. "How did you two meet?"

"Oh, she goes to my camp," I explained. All three students knew what that meant, all of them knowing that I was a demigod.

"I'm new. And a first year," Callie said.

"Well, welcome," Hermione said. "Do you all have your books?"

"Yes, Hermione," Harry intoned. "We've had them for a couple of weeks."

"We really need to move," I noticed as more people pushed past us. "To the book shop?"

Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Callie groaned, but Hermione's eyes lit up. The six of us began the trek to Flourish and Blotts.

"Did you really blow up your aunt, Harry?" Hermione asked, worried.

"Yeah," Harry admitted.

"Stupid," I muttered. Ginny and Ron were trying to hide their snickers behind their hands, but were very unsuccessful.

"It's not funny!" Hermione insisted, pulling back her bushy hair.

"It's kind of funny," Callie admitted, fitting right in with all of my friends.

"I like her," Ron immediately said.

"You like anyone who will argue with Hermione," Ginny stated.

"True," Ron conceded, "but for a good reason."

"Ronald!" Hermione protested, but before further argument could ensue between the two teens, we reached the bookstore and Hermione and I ran towards the books like a fish towards the sea.

"All packed?" Harry asked, coming into my room. We had spent the day hanging out with Hermione, Ginny, and Ron who told us that they were staying at the Leaky also. Currently, Ron was in a room across from me fighting with Percy, and Hermione and Ginny were next door, Ginny constantly coming into my room complaining about packing and then Hermione coming and dragging Ginny back to pack.

"Yeah," I replied, laying out my clothing for tomorrow, consisting of comfort clothing; an old camp t-shirt and soffee shorts.

"Guys, dinner time," Callie said. "Or at least, I think it is. A redhead woman came up to me and told me to get you guys for dinner."

"Well either that was a ironic mistake," I said, "or you just met Mrs. Weasley."

"Ginny and Ron's mum?" Callie asked, pulling Phire up onto her lap while Winter ran laps around her legs.

"Yeah," I said, pulling Winter into my arms. The small dog wriggled and started to lick my face so I held her at arm length. Winter had been a gift from harry for Christmas last year.

"Well, she seemed slightly impatient, so we might want to go," Callie said.

The three of us made our way down the stair and into the parlor, where Mr. Weasley was already sitting and reading a paper.

"Emma! Harry!" the redheaded man said, smiling. "How are you?"

"Alright," I said while Harry said, "Fine, thanks."

"And who's this?" Mr. Weasley asked, as Callie stood awkwardly behind us.

"This is Callie," I said. "She's a first year. And she goes to my camp."

"Well it's really nice to meet you, Callie," Mr. Weasley said, smiling.

"They still haven't caught him, then?" Harry asked, motioning towards a picture of a man I recognized as Sirius Black, mass murderer, on the front cover.

"No. They've pulled us all off of our regular jobs at the Ministry to try and find him, but no luck so far." Mr. Weasley looked extremely tired, and rightly so.

"What's the Ministry?" Callie whispered to me.

"Government," I said. Mr. Weasley looked at us, confused. "Callie is a muggle born," I explained, coming up with the best explanation for Callie's situation.

"Oh!" Mr. Weasley said, probably wanting to ask Callie questions about Muggles, but we were saved by Mrs. Weasley entering, followed by Percy, Fred and George.

Percy came straight over to where Harry and I were standing and proclaimed, "Emma! Harry! How nice to see you."

"Hullo Percy," I said, saving Harry, who was holding back laughter, from answering.

"I hope you're well?" Percy asked me, shaking my hand, then Harry's.

"Yes, very," I said. Percy looked as if he wanted to ask another question, but was interrupted by being elbowed out of the way by Fred.

"Emma, fair maiden!" Fred cried, taking my hand and kissing it. I whacked him in the head. "Always such a pleasure, Madame-"

"Marvelous!" George said, elbowing Fred and taking my hand. He tried to kiss it, but instead, I kicked him in the leg. Fred had moved on to proclaiming about Harry. "Absolutely spiffing!"
"Alright, that's enough," Mrs. Weasley said while Percy scowled. Ginny, Callie, and Ron were laughing behind their hands yet again.

"Mum!" Fred cried, acting as if he just spot his mom. Now it was my turn to hide my laughing behind my hand. "How really corking to see you-"

"I said, that's enough," Mrs. Weasley said, putting her shopping bags down and coming over to hug Harry and me. "Hello, dears. I suppose you guys heard our exciting news?" She pointed towards the head-boy badge perched on Percy's shirt. "Second Head Boy in the family!"

"And last," Fred muttered, causing our little group of four to snicker again.

"I don't doubt that," Mrs. Weasley stated, frowning at her twin sons. "I notice they haven't made you two prefects."

George looked as if he wanted to throw up. Fred even went as far as putting his hand on George and leaning on top of him. "What do we want to be prefects for? It'd take all the fun out of life."

Ginny stopped being able to hide her snickers behind her hand and full out laughed. Mrs. Weasley took this as inspiration and said, "You want to set a better example for you sister!"

"Don't worry, mrs. Weasley," I said, smiling, "she's still got me."

Ginny snorted. "Sure, Emma. Because you're such a good example."

"I'll have you know, I am a head counselor at camp," I said, putting on an affronted look. Now this made Callie snort.

"Yeah, and so am I," Callie replied.

"I thought you're new?" Ron said, confused.

"Exactly," Callie said. I pushed her lightly while Mrs. Weasley sighed.

"Why don't we go get some dinner," Harry reasoned.

"I'm going to change, first," Percy said, loftily. "I've been helping mum all day." He flounced out of the room and up the stairs.

"We tried to shut him in a pyramid," Fred whispered to Harry and Me. "But mum spotted us."

"Guys!" Hermione called, poking her head out of the other room. "Are you coming?"

Dinner was pretty much chaos. Food was passed up and down the tables, magically refilling once they were empty. Fred and George had fun making impressions of Percy behind his back, who sat there loftily fixing his badge. Ginny attempted to lasso Percy's badge with a piece of spaghetti when he wasn't paying attention. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were half talking, half laughing. Callie looked slightly overwhelmed, but happy all the same. I, personally, was engaging Percy in conversation so he wouldn't notice the other kids.

"Are you excited to return to school, Emma?" Percy asked, looking ever so pompous.

"Yeah," I replied, trying not to laugh as I see Fred pompously flipping his hair. "Are you?"

"Oh yes," Percy said. He looked as if he was about to jump into a long explanation, but I was saved the trouble of hearing it by Fred turning to talk to his dad.

"How're we getting to King's Cross tomorrow, Dad?" Fred asked, taking a large spoonful of pudding and accidently hitting George with some. George look affronted and went to go pick up more pudding, but a hard glare from Mrs. Weasley stopped him.

"The ministry's providing a couple of cars," Mr. Weasley said. Everyone stared up at him, surprised.

"Why?" Percy said, curiously. Ginny tried to lasso his badge again but Mrs. Weasley said, "Ginny. Stop." And the redhead, laughing, put the spaghetti down.

"It's because of you, Perce," George said, his face straight. "And there'll be little flags on the hoods, with HB on them-"

"-for Humongous Bighead," Fred said, the same serious expression. Everyone but Percy and Mrs. Weasley turned their heads and snickered into their pudding. Percy turned red up to his ears and Mrs. Weasley glared at all of us in turn.

"Why are the ministry providing cars, father," Percy said, in a dignified voice that didn't match his flaming red face.

"Well, as we haven't got one anymore," Mr. Weasley said, with a glance towards Harry and Ron, "and as I work there, they're doing me a favor."

Mr. Weasley spoke in a casual tone, but his ears went red just like every other Weasley's did when they were under pressure. I glanced towards Ginny who looked just as confused as I did. Harry, has always, looked to be plotting something.

"Good thing too," Mrs. Weasley said, looking to change to subject. "Do you realize how much luggage you've all got between you? A nice sight you'd be on the Muggle Underground… You are all packed, aren't you?"

"Ron hasn't put all his new things in his trunk, yet," said Percy, in the most dramatic yet serious voice I've ever heard anyone use. For what seems like the hundredth time, I tried to hide my laughter. "He's dumped them on my bed."

"You'd better go pack properly, Ron, because we won't have much time in the morning," Mrs. Weasley called. "What about the rest of you?" all of us muttered various forms of yes. "What about you, Callie dear? Do you need any help?"

"Oh, um… I'm good," Callie said, sending me a help look.

"Truth or dare, Callie?" Ginny asked, pulling her legs into a crossed position. The three of us girls (Hermione still needed to finish packing) decided to have a 'girls night' and play truth or dare, then have a sleep over.

"Truth," Callie said, shutting the door once she came in.

"Who's your parent?" Ginny asked. "Your godly one."

"Hades," Callie replied, after a moment of hesitation. Ginny nodded, satisfied. "Emma, truth or dare?"

"Dare," I said immediately. "Who do you think I am?"

Callie rolled her eyes while Ginny replied, "Definitely not a sane person."

Callie thought for a minute, before saying, "I dare you to fly."

"Alright," I said. "Not that big of a dare, is it?"

"Fine. Fly… outside of Harry's room and knock on his window, wait for him to see you, then come back."

"Ok," I said. Not that big of a deal. I got up and threw the window open before checking if any muggles were below me, and climbing out.

I free fell through the air for a couple of blissful seconds before willing the winds to propel me up. I came face to face with Ginny and Callie, both who looked stunned. Ginny had seen me fly before, but only when she was exhausted and literally half dead.

"Hey guys," I said casually. "How are you?"

"You look like a flying Winnie the Pooh," Callie said, changing her surprise into a smirk.

"You look like Batman," I replied.

"Who's that?" Ginny asked.

Callie and I shared looks. "We need to educate her," Callie said.

"Oh yes. On all Marvel and DC things and Disney things," I replied.

"What's… Marvel and DC?" Callie asked.

I stared at her. "You don't know DC and Marvel?"
"It was… after my time," Callie said, with a glance at Ginny.

"What do you mean?" Ginny asked, clearly annoyed at being out of the loop of so many things.

"Can I tell you once I'm not flying in the middle of London?" I asked, looking below my and cursing as someone goes to look up. I quickly flew into the window and wait for them to pass before going out again.

"Ok, enough chit chat," Callie said. "Go find Harry and say hi."

"Alright," I said, still rather unimpressed with the dare. "I'm going." I flew a couple of window's down into the room that was Harry's and knocked on the curtained window. There was no answer so I knocked again. Again, Harry didn't come. So I pulled open the window and stepped through, landing back on my feet. The room was empty.

"Harry?" I called. His trunk was open on his beds, things still spilling out. It was obvious that my brother wasn't in here, so I ventured outside into the hallway, only to find the Weasley twins snickering on the stairs.

"Emma," Fred whispered/laughed. "C'mere."

"What are you two up to?" I asked and the two of them shushed me.

"We've got it!" George whispered excitedly.

"Got what?" I asked, this time in a whisper.

"Percy's head boy badge," George explained.

"We've been improving it," Fred added. We all turned as we heard footsteps up the stairs. Harry came around the bend, took one look at us, and sighed.

"What are you doing?" Harry asked, looking stressed.

"Are you alright?" I asked worriedly.

Harry nodded as Fred said, "We've got it. We've been improving it." We all stopped to listen for a second as Percy started to yell at Ron while he dismantled their room.

George held up Percy's head boy badge, but it now read, Bighead Boy.

Harry and I both laughed, but his seemed forced. We both stood up, and Harry turned to go to Ron's room while I bid the twins goodnight and followed him.

Harry gave Ron a tonic for his rat then went to his room. "Hey!' I said, following him through the door. "Harry!"

The boy in question sat down on his bed and looked deep in thought. "Harry?" I sat down next to my brother. "What's wrong?"

"I-I," Harry began, seeming at a loss for words. He took a breath. "It's Sirius Black. He's-he's trying to kill us."

"Kill us?" I asked, slightly alarmed. "Why us?"

"I have no idea," Harry said truthfully.

"Well he can get in line," I said with a sigh. "First Riddle, then Kyle and Ouranos, now Sirius Black. Oh, and not to mention a whole load of monsters."

"We really do have a lot of enemies, don't we," Harry said, rolling his neck.

"I guess we do."

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