Exams had really taken their toll of the castle. Students were either carefree and running about, or they were frantic and nervous, remembering what they had forgotten and which questions they had gotten wrong. Rose was perfectly cheerful. She knew she had gotten some questions wrong, but she also knew that she hadn't done so bad to fail any class, except maybe Astronomy.

"Hey, Albus!" Rose called, propping herself atop a stone bench in the courtyard as a Ravenclaw was letting Al practice on their electric guitar. "Professor Kemp wanted me to give this to you." She handed him a slip of paper and a quill. Al handed the guitar back to the student and examined the parchment. "You don't have to do exams yet, but they will need this turned in before the end of term."

It was the extra-curricular classes that third years and above were required to choose. They had to at least pick three of the options. Al scratched his chin and thought.

"Which did you guys sign up for?" he asked.

"It doesn't-" Rose was about to start.

"Divination, Care of Magical Creatures, and Muggle Studies," said Max.

Rose shook her head. "I was about to say it doesn't matter because this is your future."

"You're one to talk," Max grinned. "You signed up for every class I did."

Rose blew herself up. "I happen to choose those classes because they were the most logical options for me. And all the others sounded boring."

"So, you willingly signed up for Divination because that'll help you in future?"

"If I want to pass Astronomy, then I should have a better understanding and study it through different perspectives. I didn't sign up just for you, don't flatter yourself."

Al checked Care of Magical Creatures first. "Obviously, because Hagrid teaches that class and it'll be fun. Umm, I guess divination; it's better than Arithmancy. And… why did you sign up for Muggle Studies, Max? You know nearly all there is about muggles."

"Because you pretty much meet up, play with muggle toys and watch muggle cinema all day," Max replied, opening a chocolate frog.

"Really? Well, that's check number three then!" He jotted down his answers and handed the slip back to Rose.

"You turn it in," she said, handing it back to him. "Where's Scor and Olivia?"

Al shrugged. "Don't know. They usually meet up with us whenever we need them, though. Right now, I'm learning to play guitar." He stood up and joined the Ravenclaws who had a series of instruments and were about to have a jam session.

"Hey, Max?" Rose started, as they left the courtyard through a sea of bubbles that a few seventh years were playing with. "Tonight, all of the Quidditch teams are sneaking out for a midnight game of Quidditch. It'll be huge! All the teams are merging together; we're gonna have, like, eight bludgers. I had forgotten about it last year because we were a bit, uh, preoccupied. Are you game?"

"You know I don't fly well," he said.

"But, I was just thinking. I know you enjoy it when we're not keeping score and nobody is. I think you would really enjoy it. Scor and Al are playing too!"

Max didn't respond for a moment. "Well, I suppose if it's not quite a competition…"

"YES!" Rose punched him in the arm excitedly.

"Ow."

"Watson bet me I couldn't get you to play!"

They spent the rest of the day walking around the castle, saying goodbye to their favorite portraits and taking in the sights and sounds and smells. Max and Rose met Scor, Al, and Olivia in the gardens to say goodbye to Stella. They weren't looking forward to having to explain that they will be gone for a whole summer. Stella was displeased and sad but took it better than expected. She had grown since they first met her. Scorpius suggested that she accepted the prospect because of Yoman; she knew she wouldn't be alone.

"We'll write to you over summer," said Rose to Yoman before they left.

"A student, write to Yoman?" he asked shrilly, and tears filled his eyes. "Never has a student wanted to write to an elf!"

Rose bent low. "You are more than that, Yoman. You're our friend." At this, the elf broke into hysterics.

"I can't tell if I'm looking forward to tonight, or dreading it," said Rose as they rested under an oak in the grass.

"What do you mean?" asked Olivia.

"Well, it's the big game, but it's also the last. The closer I get to it, the sooner I have to leave."

"Don't think about what is to come," said Max. "Don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow has enough worries of its own. Live right now, where you are, and take in everything the moment has to offer. That's what I do."

There a celebration in the Gryffindor common room that night, led by the flock. Fireworks were alight, songs were sung, dances were invented, and food was devoured. But unlike last year, Rose and Max joined in and enjoyed every festivity. Rose was reminded how well Max could sing and how badly he danced but he and she laughed, and they spun around the coffee table during an Americanized hoe-down.

"Grab your brooms!" Rose stopped to see Paxton Rockward swing open the common room window and bellow a cheer before taking Kennedy Stoon on the back of his broom and leaving the room.

There was an eruption of shouts as everyone scrambled for their brooms. Most Hogwarts students had one and those who didn't caught a ride with someone who did. Rose fetched her broom and managed to hoist both herself, Max, and Hugo before jumping from the window over the cliff and catching air before zooming toward the Quidditch pitch. The night was full of students flying from every direction, united for one night.

The wind swept her hair into her face as she flew. Rose touched down on the pitch and ran toward the center of the field where the school was meeting. All four Quidditch captains conjured a ledge to stand on and bellowed to the crowd.

"This is how the night will go!" called Ravenclaw captain, Delgado.

"Those who want to participate must have a broom and stay in the circle! Those who do not, take to the stands now!" called Rocky.

"We will have two teams! It doesn't matter which houses join together! There will be eight bludgers, three quaffles, but only one snitch!" Keith shouted.

"It doesn't matter which player participates in which position. Remember, this is the last game of the season, so the only thing that matters is you have fun!" said Hufflepuff captain, Lime.

"And shove those who get too competitive off their brooms!" interjected Delgado.

"I have taken the liberty of bringing the school brooms onto the pitch," said Lime. "You have three minutes to get ready and line up.

Most of the students took to the stands. Eighty were left standing in a line, some with Firebolt broomsticks, some with school brooms. Some first years, and some second. Over half the school that had shown up were wearing their pajamas and had brought snacks. Rose stood beside Hugo and Max who both had a school broom. A whistle blew, and everyone took to the air. The quaffles were released, and twenty students zoomed to retrieve it. This was the most peculiar game of Quidditch she had ever played. The crowds cheered louder than ever as sides were not taken due to the diversity. Rose laughed to see James try to catch a bludger with his bare hands as she had but fail spectacularly. Rose and Albus were able to use their psychic connection against opponents, though, she had no idea who was on her team and who wasn't. She just aimed to get the quaffle into the right hoop, hit bludgers away from her friends, and keep an eye out for the snitch; positions were irrelevant now too. Everything was going smoothly until Ishmael shouted for people's attention. Every Professor in the castle, except for Binns, was making their way onto the pitch at two forty-six in the morning.

Some students made a break back to the castle, but the captains all followed Lime as he sped to meet their fate.

Rocky tried to argue to Professor Kemp himself, but Lime stopped him and waited for Kemp to have the first word as Hufflepuffs do.

"Why, young men," Kemp started. "Do we not have commentators?"

Everyone who had landed to watch was stunned.

"Crack on, then!" Kemp called. "I didn't come all the way out here in my night dress to watch everyone stare at me. I want to see some Quidditch! I was the one to start this illegal night game in the first place!"

"Seeing as we can't punish all of you," said Donima sourly. "It seems no reason to deprive Professor Kemp of watching his legacy!"

There was a roar of approval that shook the stadium as everyone took back to the sky, now with illuminated wand tips from the entire crowd and the commendation of Roxy, Fred, and Louis.

Rose crawled up the stone steps miserably. She was sore and exhausted and wanted sleep more than anything else. That game had lasted longer and had been more intense than any she had every played or watched. A few students were passed out on the steps. Rose curled up in her bedspread on her four-poster and pulled Cromwell close. She was about to have the best sleep of her life.

The following day, the last day of term, passed faster than anyone wanted. Albus had checked with Rose before meeting Stella with a gift.

"I want you to have this," he said, handing her his enchanted hand mirror. "So we can talk to you during summer. When it becomes warm, do this, see? When you want to call Rose, tap the screen twice."

"Actually," Rose said painfully. "When you want to talk to Albus. Um, you can have mine, Al."

"But, you love that mirror!" called Al in shock.

"Yeah, but you two need each other more than I need that mirror," she smiled.

Stella smiled broadly and hugged them all. She had gotten better at this, and it wasn't so awkward anymore.

"We won't forget you, Stella," said Al, signing this last part. "We'll be working hard."

"And so will we," Stella called, tapping Yoman on the shoulder.

"What now?" asked Scorpius as they shed their cloaked due to the heat on the grounds.

"We can visit Hagrid," Al suggested.

"Uh, no," said Max. "He already suspects us for being involved, or better, in charge of the whole missing mermaid stuff and now we're soaking wet."

"He said he'd visit over the summer," said Rose. "We can see him then, Al."

"I heard Pepper Link if getting her brothers to grow a tree in the lake for swings and diving and stuff; most of the school will be swimming today, should be fun," Olivia encouraged.

"I'd rather stay clear of the lake for a little bit," said Al, pushing his glasses up his nose.

They spent the remainder of the day playing with paint balloons which Olivia had thrown at Scorpius and starting a battle which soon became a war as every student at the lake saw what they were doing and joined in. The five friends hiked back into the castle in high spirits to take their showers, then allowed their spirits to fall as Al suggested they pack. Rose felt sore as the neatly placed her books and broomstick into her trunk. She backed away and smiled. That did describe her well. Books and Broomsticks.

The feast was splendid, and they had a better appreciation for it as Yoman let slip that the elves were far behind in the preparations and causing Sugar to insist on helping. They were surprised to find half of Hufflepuff house cooking in the kitchens as well. Rose always wondered why Hufflepuff table seemed to empty until the start of the banquet. Hufflepuff, Abram Addams handed them an apron and shouted.

"Looks like we've got a few Gryffindors today! Who wants to give 'em a job?"

Illya Vizzini stepped forward with flour on his face.

"Rose!" he called happily. "Everard, Potter, Merik, Malfoy." He nodded to the rest. "What brings you down here?"

"Helping out an elf friend," said Scorpius.

"Do you help cook often?" Rose asked.

"During the feasts," Illya shrugged. "The elves really appreciate it and always leave milk and biscuits on our table in the morning. But, hey, we could really use some help breading chicken if you want!"

"Yeah, just tell us how!" called Rose.

Scorpius ended up rolling dough as he was unskilled in any of the tasks that actually required kitchen skill. Albus was trusted to make the sauce, Olivia chopped onions (she was apparently immune), Max strung peas, and Rose breaded chicken.

Her arms were getting tired rolling out the meat and soaking the breast. This was harder than Quidditch training. Illya carried the loads back and forth from the ovens and helped Rose as she was constantly tipping the egg bowl. He would laugh and start refilling it. Every now and then, she caught his eyes staring. He would blush and look away.

"Why do you keep doing that?" she asked finally as he whisked the eggs once more.

"Do what?" he asked.

"Stare at me?" She was quite blunt when she wanted to be.

Illya smiled to himself and stopped whisking to pull a clump of wet flour from her hair that had fallen from her bun.

"You remind me of someone," he said simply.

She didn't press the matter. Rose was sure she knew who she reminded him of.

The entire kitchen, half-elves half students, had to race to set everything neatly across the four mock house tables. Rose placed the serving spoons where they needed to go and straightened a few plates. Illya took her by the arms and pulled her back.

"It's time," he said.

"Are you not going to run up?" Rose asked.

"No," said Illya. "Because then everyone knew that we had helped and that's not what we want."

"But don't you want to know who won the house cup?"

"It was Ravenclaw," he said, then ticked on his fingers until they heard an eruption of noise from directly above the mock Ravenclaw table. "Then Gryffindor, then Slytherin, then Hufflepuff."

"But, if people knew what you guys do down here, surely you would receive more points."

"We don't do it for the glory," said Illya. "We do it for the elves, and do so the students can eat on time. But the elves work so much harder and get hardly any recondition, and they're fine, so why not us?"

This whole 'not wanting glory' thing was hard to grasp for the Gryffindor.

"Shhhhh!" a few of the elves hushed the whispering students in the kitchen, and everyone listened to Professor Kemp's distant voice above them.

"And now!" Kemp said muffled. "Enjoy the feast!"

One of the elves with a gold string around its gown clapped, and the food vanished from the four mock tables. Shouts and stamping and approval came from above as everyone dug in. The Hufflepuffs shouted as well and congratulated each other and slapped their friends on the back and ruffled hair; everyone had a fair amount of flour and ingredients on their face and down their front. Rose looked around at everyone celebrating. This was more fulfilling than a grand feast, but luckily, she got both. The elves set tables around the Hufflepuff mock table, and everyone gathered the leftovers that wouldn't fit in their serving bowls. They all passed the food around and served each other. This wasn't Rose's house, but she felt like she was a part of a grand family with Hufflepuff who all served with an open heart and open arms.

Rose thought about the night as she laid in bed to leave the following morning. She remembered the preparing food and serving each other, the helping clean up afterward, and the dancing on tables like lunatics after one too many butterbeers. She had danced with Illya on the table as everyone clapped to the beat of the fiddle that Sonic Dubeye had played; there also seemed to be a bagpipe somewhere, but Rose hadn't stopped to investigate; she had fun. She rolled over and stroked Cromwell's feathers and smiled to herself.

"You will write this summer, won't you?" Rose asked as the train puffed away from one of her favorite places in the world.

"We all will," said Scorpius. "Oh, here's my address Olly." He scribbled it down on a piece of parchment for her. "So your owl can find me."

"My owl can find anyone with only instinct," said Olly, slipping the parchment into her pocket. "And she will arrive earlier than any other."

"Max, please write longer letters than last year," Rose pleaded. "I thought you didn't want to talk last summer."

"I'll write," said Max.

"And talk about yourself more," Rose demanded. "I want to hear how you're doing."

"Hey, Max?" Al started. "How come you weren't able to heal me? You did touch my wound, didn't you?"

"Yeah, I did," said Max suddenly becoming thoughtful. "Before Olly had fetched Madam Pomfrey, but it didn't work, I knew it as soon as I tried. Maybe I don't really have to power to convey."

"Or maybe you can't anymore because you are aware of your ability," suggested Olivia. "Like, you're thinking about it too hard."

Everyone in the back compartment enjoyed the sweets when the trolley rolled by. They did as much magic as they could (not being allowed to do magic outside of school), and they all talked as much Sugamina together as possible.

"It's going to be a busy summer," said Al, gripping the Marauder's book closer to his chest.

All too soon, the train screeched to a halt, and everyone looked at each other sadly as the corridor outside filled with loud students.

"Why are you all so sad?" Max asked. "We're going to see each other next semester and keep in touch until then, right?"

"Of course, but still," said Olly. "We're splitting the pact."

"We, have never been closer," said Rose gripping their hands. "Ready?"

Everyone nodded, and they burst from the compartment and bulldozed through the crowd until they fell onto platform 9 ¾. Rose hugged all of her friends tightly and tried not to cry. She spotted her parents through the gap in Scorpius' arms. Rose pulled away and started forward. She looked around the platform for anyone else she knew first. She had already said bye to her Quidditch team which was lucky, she feared trying now would take all afternoon. There were the Meriks in the distance, Teddy and Victoire, Draco and Astoria, and Illya. She couldn't make her way to him, he was too far, and any conversation would be awkward. They were in between good acquaintances and friends which was a rather odd place to be. He looked up and caught her eye this time. Even through the steam from the engine, she could still see his sparklingly blue eyes. Illya nodded at the person he was talking to and told him to hold on. Rose was surprised to find him making his way through the crowd toward her. She was at first tempted to run. But he pushed through. His blonde hair was curled atop his head and short on the sides. She smiled at her when approaching.

"Heading home, are you?" he asked.

"Just about," she replied.

"I do hope you have a good summer."

"Me too, but, I mean- for you," she stammered and shook her head as she always did when she stuttered.

He smiled for a moment before remembering something. "Right!" he said, pulling a muggle pen from his back pocket and taking a sticky note from the other. "Here, is, my… address," he muttered with the pen cap between his teeth. She tore the yellow note from the pad and handed it to her. "You can write it you want. If you ever need anything, I'm just an owl away."

"Thanks," she said, studying the address.

"Maybe we can meet up during the summer. I could show you how to do that dance from last night, uh, not that I think you need to learn. Your dancing was… well… it-"

"It was terrible," she laughed.

Illya smiled. "I was going to say it looked like you were having fun. Anyway, see you soon Rosie." He tapped her on the head with his pen and walked off.

Rose stood with the address in her hands and watching where he had gone. What had just happened?

"Rose!" She turned to see her parents waving her forward.

Rose started toward them and hugged her parents when meeting, though she had seen them multiple times this semester due to Al.

"Who was that boy?" asked Hermione with a skeptical smile.

"Just a friend," she replied. Rose started toward the brick divider back into the muggle platform when catching sight of Max. He was walking away with Bailey and Clent and was looking at Rose as he walked. Rose waved at him and clutched Illya's address in her fist, wondering if he had seen that; he didn't seem to like Illya very much, and Rose couldn't understand why. The steam consumed Max, and she turned away.

Rose stood before the brick divider and took a deep breath; she didn't want to go. She waited until Jennifer Hopps ran through the brick before starting herself. Rose ran at a haste and felt a 'whoosh' sensation sweep through her as she hit the divider, and she was back in the muggle world, ready to count the days until she was back at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The End.