Chapter 1: Reunions…of sorts

I sat in the car, as we pulled up the long driveway and into the garage. My dad, and Oliver got out of the car first to unload our trunks and owls. I continued to sit in the car. The girl I saw, came around the corner of the garage, and knocked on my window. I slowly lifted up my head and turned towards the girl. I looked at her face and immediately recognized her…Rachael Allen, my former best friend. I slowly opened the door and grabbed Maya's cage, so I wouldn't be able to hug her.

"Ellllllliiiiiiiannnnnnaaaaaaa, how are you?" Rachael always dragged my name out whenever she bothered to call me by it.

"Hey Rach, I've been good just busy with school and friends, how have you been?" I really didn't care how she had been, the more important question I had for her was, why were she and her parents here.

"I'm doing really well, my studies are going along well. We just got back from Paris, we spent a month there at our house, over there. I finished up with my studies, awhile ago, so we came back to London, but decided to return for a quick visit. You really must go to see Paris, its quite a beautiful place to live." Oh that's great, too bad she couldn't have just stayed there.

I guess I should probably explain why I dislike Rachael so much. Her dad and my dad grew up together when they were younger, Rachael's dad was home schooled, his family had a lot more money than my dad's family did. So while Mr. Allen was being privately tutored at home, my dad went off to Hogwarts. After that, when my Dad became the number one chaser in his league, and Mr. Allen opened up his own business, a very successful line of international Quidditch supplies, they met up again. Rachael was an only child, and very used to being spoiled and getting everything she wanted. We grew up together, and we were always remarked as the coolest girls in this section of England. One of the popular girls, in our local community. I told Rachael everything. When we were both eleven I started at Hogwarts, like my father, and she went off to France to be tutored privately. During the summers, I was always at the Potters or one of the Weasley houses, and she summered in exotic places. My family is rich and famous, but we don't flaunt it like she does. Anyways, the only time we would see each other, was at the Minister's Christmas party. The Christmas party of my second year, Rachael was being interviewed by one of the many journalists that were always there, I remember reading the article…

Here we have Rachael Allen, daughter of Jonathon and Kimberly-Ann Allen, currently being privately tutored by Monsieur Beaufont. She looks elegant with her dark forest green formal Christmas party dress. "So you are currently living in France, for the remainder of the school year, and this is your second year there. Was it hard to move away from your family and your best friend, Ellianna Gavin?" "It was very hard to move away from the comfort of my home, my neighborhood and my friends, but learning in France was an opportunity that I just couldn't and wouldn't pass up. Learning in France, is such a gorgeous and amazing chance, and I'm just loving every minute of it. On the subject of Ellianna Gavin, we are no longer friends, for reasons that I will not discuss here. Thank you and Happy Christmas." That was the last time we talked, I avoided her at the party, and any other social gathering that we might have met up at. I had washed my hands of her, and now she was back.

I snapped back into the present and looked at her and then at my mother. "What is she doing her, Mum."

"Well sweetheart, her family is back from France, and Rachael has decided that she doesn't want to be privately tutored anymore…so your father and I agreed that she could stay here for the summer and attend Hogwarts with you next fall, joining you and your friends in your last year. Honeybee, we didn't think you would mind, you two were such good friends before the Allen's left for France. What could have changed since then."

Hmm I wonder; she basically told all of my friends before Hogwarts, that I was a freak, and spread nasty rumors about me; like me not showering. One time she spread that word that I had a crush on Micah Harrison, a boy that lived down the street from us. All of the kids would laugh at me, and Rachael would just laugh along with them.

"No, of course she can stay with us…I'm just going to go upstairs and get my stuff all settled, and owl Rose." I quickly ran inside, and up the stairs; I slowly opened the door to my room and was happy to see that it had not changed at all. My large queen size bed, sat in the middle, surrounded by magically moving posters and muggle ones. I had a picture of the Irish National Quidditch Team, and on the other wall there was a picture of David Beckham, a muggle football player. I had a bookcase in the middle, next to my favorite chair. Pictures of my friends graced my shelves all around my room. Rose and I at the ball. Rose, Albus and I at a Hogsmeade weekend. The Potters, the Weasley; as in Rose and her family, and my family at the Christmas Party last year. My light green walls, were the same. My room, was my room. It held all my secrets, my wishes and my hopes.

I sat down at my desk, and pulled out a sheet of paper,

Rose,

Finally made it home, and I'm already missing you, Albus, and Scorpius. I can't believe we survived the year, and now its finally summertime. I hope to see you soon, but an old "friend" Rachael Allen, I think I have told you guys about her, what a horrible person, anyways, she decided to pop in for a visit, a very long visit. And now she is staying at my house, for the summer…she is going to ruin my summer. I can't believe that she has to stay at my house…and did I mention that she is attending Hogwarts with us next year. My seventh year is officially ruined and it hasn't even started yet. Anyways I hate complaining and letting her get to me, owl me back soon. I need to survive this summer somehow.

Talk soon and see you lot soon enough…

Elli

I folded the letter and put it in a marked envelope, let Maya out of her cage, the owl was smart enough that she knew it was for Rose, I opened the window and watched her soar out. I had received Maya, as an eleven birthday gift from my parents, it was one of my most favorite gifts.

I took a quick scan of my room one last time, noticing my trunk at the door of my closet. I flipped it open, noticing the fairly new photo placed on top. It was of James's graduation from Hogwarts. Albus, and I were standing to his left, Lily, Rose and Hugo were to his right. It was my favorite picture. I felt like I was included in their family, their tight knit family. And in a way I was…even though Albus and I weren't going out. I had spent that past two summers with their families, doing what they did; enjoying what it would be like to actually be a Weasley-Potter.

I was snapped out of my daydreams, once again when I heard Rachael's high pitch, snotty upper crust English accent, coming up the stairs with my mum. I quickly put the picture on the shelf, next to another one. Slowly there was a soft knock on my door…

"Yea, it should be open…" My mum popped her head in.

"Sweetheart, you've been up here for awhile, its rude to leave our guest like that. Why don't you show her up to her room?" Great, so now Rachael would be living in our guest room, I really hope this summer goes by fast. Actually I pray that this summer goes by fast, but then Rachael would be following me off to my school. Hanging out with my friends. Having my friends become her friends…dear god, what did I do to deserve this?

"Sure, just have her come in here, I just have to finish unpacking." Rachael poked her head in after my mother's disappeared. She took a quick glance around the room and opened the door more. She sat down on my fluffy green comforter, and glanced at my pictures.

"So who are all of these people, are they your friends?" She said in it such a manner that would make one think that I had never had friends before, which wasn't true at all. God how I hated her, she always made me feel less about myself.

"Yep those are my friends, the red head is Rose Weasley, she is in my year in Hogwarts, next to her is her cousin Albus Potter, another friend and the one of the left is Scorpius Malfoy. My three best friends, we are all in the same year. Aside from the fact that Scorpius is in Slytherin, the rest of us are in Gryffindor. I'm the Gryffindor co-captain, along with my friend Albus. We do everything together, and we've been that way for awhile. Nothing is going to change that. Anyways let me show you your room, its just down the hall and to the right. Do you have all your bags."

"Yes, I think I have all of them, your mother said later on, we were going to go to Diagon Alley, to get some things." I smiled at her, it would definitely be interesting to have her here this summer.

I walked out the door and down the hall, and opened the door to the quest room we had.

"So how big is your house actually…?" Rachael asked, before I had a chance to show her the guest room. I had a feeling she was going to ask this question, it was just her manner of being. Her house in England, was large; it was larger than my house, but my house was actually a home, not just a place we claimed to live in.

"Our house is large; it has five bedrooms, my parents room is the first when you reached the hall, Will's is next, then Olli's, and mine is the last one on the left, with the guest room being a few feet down. The stairs to the third floor are across the hall from the guest, it lead to the library, the study and the television room. My mum really wanted to have some of the things she had as a child, and with that, we have a television room, with a bunch of DVDs and big comfy chairs. The first floor, has the dinning room, mud hall, kitchen, and living room. The garden is large; we have the deck, with the grill and chairs. The sunroom is off the dinning room. The pool is out back, along with the vegetable garden, the football area and of course the Quidditch pitch. The tennis courts are down the way, past the football and next to the Quidditch pitch. We live in the development, so we have neighbors relatively nearby." I smiled at her, hoping that would shut her up, about the size of the house. She just looked at me, like it wasn't good enough.

"Well here is your room, I hope its to your liking." I said this as I opened the door more. I had to admit the guest room was really nice. It had lavender walls, with a big fluffy comforter on the queen size bed, with tons of pillows. The desk was by the closet and it had a sitting window, where you can curl up and read a book in, just like my room. It even had its own bathroom, I guess that's a good thing. There were four bathrooms on this floor, one was my parents, one of mine, one of course was now Rachael's, and the other, thank god, was the boys.

"Okay then, I'm going to go and let you get all of your things settled, I'll be in my room or outside if you need anything." With that I closed the door and walked back into my room and turned to face my trunk once more. I opened it again and began to unpack my Hogwarts things. I put my papers, quills and any other school supplies in my desk and put my clothes in my closet. I reached down and pulled out my most prized possession. My diary. I walked over and stashed it between my mattresses. Hopefully it would be safe there. I closed my trunk and pushed it into my closet. I turned around and walked over to my bed, and laid down. I was exhausted, not only had I just returned home, my former best friend was living down the hall. I needed to relax.

Just as I was closing my eyes, there was a peck at the window, Maya, had returned with a reply from Rose. I got up and opened the window. Maya flew right in and dropped the letter on my bed, and returned to her cage, but not before nipping me for a treat. I tore open the letter, anticipating what she had replied…

Ells,

First off its terrible that your parents just decided that this girl could just stay at your house, without first discussing it with you. I do not think on the other hand that it is a matter of life and death. You will survive the summer, most likely unscathed, unlike me. I swear either my father is going to kill me from mortal embarrassment or he is going to kill Scorpius. Who has just arrived not even ten minutes before I wrote this to you. My dad said he would be fine, with Scorpius staying for a bit this summer, while his parents go off to America. I might add that my father had lied he knew that he wasn't going to be okay with us. What I don't understand is why he has to constantly embarrass me in front of him? Anyways, if I'm going to survive this summer, we must get together soon. We should head into Diagon Alley, soon and grab a coffee, maybe I could meet your friend Rachael and see what she is really like for myself. Don't want to judge a book by its cover, that's what my mum always says.

Oh god, I just heard yelling downstairs, its most likely the man I call my father. I really don't understand why I got stuck with him as a father. Owl me back as soon as you find the time, trying to avoid Rachael.

Oh, and don't forget our annul summer bash this year. And bring Rachael, it will be good for the whole gang to meet her.

I hear that Teddy and Victoire have some exciting news, maybe they are finally having a baby. You know, for Victoire being a Weasley and all, they haven't had any kids and they have been married for four years, and haven't had any children yet. By Weasley standards, that's an awfully long time to go without having children. But my family is just weird.

Anyways I should most likely go see what Scorpius is up to, and check to see if he is still alive, and maybe I should check on my dad, that yell did seem kind of painful.

Owl back and read that book I gave you, it is one of my favorites.

Rose

I had completely forgotten the Weasley summer bash. The whole Weasley/Potter/Lupin gets together to celebrate the beginning of summer and the end of a school year. It seems like the group gets bigger every year. It was always a fun party. It was usually held at Rose's grandmother's house, or the Potters. Ever since Rose and I became friends, my family has been going to the summer bash. Grandma Weasley, as she liked to have everyone call her; even Will, Oliver and I called her, she cooked most of the food, but people brought things to help out. There was the annual Quidditch game, that took place, which was always loads of fun. There was so many of us of that played the game, that we actually had life size teams. It was always a fun time, and after that I would stay at Rose's for a couple of weeks.

I suddenly thought of Rachael, of course we would have to bring her, like Rose stated in her letter. I thought of all my friends meeting Rachael…I wasn't going to lie and say that I wasn't nervous, because I was. Rachael hadn't been a part of my life since, well awhile. I wasn't about to let her ruin the friendships I had worked so hard to make, and worked so hard to keep. These were my truest friends, and Rachael had ruined my friendships before Hogwarts, and I wasn't going to let her try and take over my life once again. I wasn't too sure of letting her into my life. I guess I was just worried about her taking over my life, and my role in my life.

I shook my head, I was being absurd, my friends were my friends, and they were friends with me for a reason, and they weren't going to let some girl just waltz right in and destroy all that. I was being a little mean too. Rose did say, "don't judge a book by its cover"; and that was exactly what I was doing. I had to give Rachael a chance to prove herself to me that she had changed. I mean I had matured and grown up since the last time we had actually been friends, maybe Rachael had matured too.

Suddenly I heard my mother's voice float up the stairs, it was soft and kind but also demanding at the same time. "Ellianna we are ready to leave for Diagon Alley, are you going to join us…?"

Great, hopefully none of my friends would be in Diagon Alley; I wasn't quite ready to have Rachael meet my friends yet. I needed time to think about all of this. To be honest, I had only been home for a few hours at that, and I hadn't really had time to process all of this recent news.

I quickly grabbed my pink sweater and threw on my flip flops, and quickly descended down the stairs.