Chapter 4
Words: 1,234
Total Words: 6,454

Rebecca Stone couldn't believe that it was October all ready. Where had the last month gone? Between classes and homework and hanging out with her new friend, Scorpius, the time had simply flown by. She had never been happier, though. Hogwarts was full of wonderful things - even the ghosts made her smile.

"Why are you inside on such a beautiful day?" Scorpius asked her, sitting down at the table Rebecca had sat in front of.

"Just finishing my Charms homework... I only have one question left: 'What is the incantation to unlock objects?' It's the easiest work I've gotten yet."

Sorpius laughed as she scribbled down her answer. "Done!" she said triumphantly, throwing down her quill. She now had all of Sunday free to do whatever she pleased. It was a good feeling. "Let's go down to the lake. I could use some fresh air."

The two Slytherins walked out of the castle together and meandered towards the giant pool of water, talking about what could possibly live in it.

"Well, we all know there's the giant squid," Rebecca was saying, "but there has to be more than just that in there. It's too big to not have more life!"

"There are merpeople too." Scorpius chuckled. "I've never been for a swim in there though. It looks quite cold and uninviting."

Rebecca nodded in agreement and sat down underneath one of her favorite shady trees. Now that it was October, the temperature was beginning to drop, but autumn was still her favorite time of year. The leaves were just beginning to change and the grounds were beginning to turn bright, beautiful colors, just begging her to spend more time outside. She smiled, not noticing that Scorpius was watching her carefully.

"You really enjoy fall, don't you?"

"Yeah, it's my favorite season. Why?" Rebecca was slightly taken aback by this random question.

"No reason. You just seem a lot... happier now." Scorpius looked back towards the lake and threw a rock into it. They both watched the ripples move out, each now lost in their own thoughts. Although it was quiet, there was no awkward tension, for which Rebecca was very grateful. She liked spending time with Scorpius. He was the only friend she had made this year.

"What's on your mind?" Rebecca asked him. He had a half-frown on his face that had not been there a minute ago.

"We had a class with Ravenclaw today... Charms," Scorpius began, speaking rather slowly, as if he was choosing his words carefully. "There were two boys that were just irritating beyond belief. I don't know how they made it into Ravenclaw."

"Oh, really? I thought Ravenclaw had all the 'smart' ones?" Rebecca put air-quotations around the word "smart" as she spoke.

"I thought so too. But these two were more like..." Scorpius paused, trying to think of a good comparison. "Fred and George Weasley, when they went to school here. None of the Weasleys here now are nearly as irritating or full of trouble, in fact."

At this, Rebecca's eyebrows raised. Of all the stories she had heard of Fred and George Weasley, she couldn't imagine any two managing to live up to the legacy they had left at Hogwarts. The two that Scorpius was referring to must really be something.

"But enough about them. It's got to be about dinnertime." Scorpius offered Rebecca a hand up and they both headed back towards the castle to eat.

...

It didn't take long for Rebecca to see who Scorpius was talking about. The two boys set fire to some sort of liquid in one of their goblets at breakfast the next day, causing Professor McGonagall to cry out in shock and irritation and give them both detention.

"Kevin McKinlet and Tyler Hensley," Rebecca repeated under her breath. She would have to remember those names - to avoid them both. She wanted to get through Hogwarts with her nose down and perfect marks. Those two sounded like all they would bring her is trouble. She shook her head and returned to her breakfast.

"Those are the two I was talking about."

"Hello, Scorpius. I thought they might be," Rebecca's green eyes watched him as he sat down across from her. "It shouldn't be too hard for me to avoid them, seeing as they're a year ahead of me."

"Good plan," Scorpius said, fixing himself a plate. "You're lucky you don't have classes with them. It's unbearable."

Rebecca caught herself looking at McKinlet but was interrupted when her snowy owl came fluttering down with a letter for her.

Dear Rebecca,

I'm not quite sure how to put this in a letter, but your father was brought to St. Mungo's last night for a high fever and an odd rash that was causing him great discomfort. He's stable now, and Healers are taking shifts watching over him. Don't worry yourself too much or you'll never get perfect marks. I will owl you if there is any change in him.

Mum

All thoughts of breakfast forgotten, Rebecca just stared at the letter. She had just seen her father a month ago, how could he be sick? Her mother had said it was just a fever and rash, but that wasn't going to stop her from worrying about him. She had always been closer to her father than her mother - as was evident in the short, blunt letter. As glad as she was that her mother had promised to owl her, she still wished with all her being to be there and make sure he was going to be okay.

"Rebecca? Is everything all right?" Scorpius looked rather alarmed at the sudden change in Rebecca's demeanor. She couldn't speak through the lump in her throat so she just pushed the letter towards him and motioned for him to read it.

"At least he's in St. Mungo's," Scorpius said bracingly, gently putting the letter back down in front of Rebecca. "They're the best around and will take good care of him."

All Rebecca could do was look at Scorpius with a mix of fear and defiance glittering in her eyes. She still couldn't believe that her father had fallen ill so quickly.

"That's the place you take people who aren't just sick..." she didn't know how to explain what she was thinking. "That's where people go who either need constant help or... or... where they go to die." Her voice cracked on the word "die."

"Come on, now, Rebecca," came Scorpius's reply; he was using the most soothing voice that he could. "Don't have a fit. Your mother said he was doing fine, and, like I said, those are some of the best Healers around. He's bound to end up just fine. I wouldn't worry unless you get another owl with no good news."

As much as it killed her to admit it, Scorpius was right. She should put her focus into her studies and just hope that her father was going to be okay and that Scorpius was right about them being the best healers around.

"I guess..." she conceded. "I should probably write mum back though and let her know I got her letter and that I'm sending hope their way."

With that, she left her uneaten breakfast and ran to the owlery, Maximus perched on her arm and the letter from her mum still clutched in her hand.