4. Suspicions

The summer ended really quickly. Scorpius and I basically were joined at the hip this summer. Having my best friend live at my house was awesome.

Something that is actually starting to bug me is Rose. She hasn't called or sent me an owl. It's like I don't even exist anymore. I called her house once, and Uncle Ron told me she was at the library.

"That's all she does now lately," Uncle Ron said.

I ask Scorpius what he thinks about it, but he doesn't help. He thinks she is just researching.

We meet up with Artemis at King's Cross. She tells us that she went to Ireland over the summer and met Irish wizards. We chat about our summers for a little bit longer. Then we board the train. We get a cabin to ourselves the whole trip.

When we get to the castle, the whole Sorting Ceremony begins. I couldn't believe I was standing there one year ago.

After the Ceremony, students are led out of the Great Hall. On the way to the common room, I see Rose. She is acting all sneaky, so I told Scorpius and Artemis that I will meet them in the common room. I follow Rose. She starts heading up the staircase, towards the library. She enters and turns her head. I think she might have heard me.

I run away. I didn't want her to know I was spying on her, so I sprint to the common room.

I told Scorpius and Artemis what I just saw.

"Maybe she's hiding something," Scorpius adds.

"I dunno. She seems innocent," Artemis said.

"You call innocent sneaking into the library?" I say.

"Okay, well I just don't know." Artemis sighs.

Second year went by very fast, faster than first year. I couldn't help but notice that Rose is acting strange. On the first day of third year, she made fun of a girl with pigtails. Rose has never ridiculed someone like that before. Something is happening to her, and it's not good.

Artemis and I were walking into the great hall when we saw Scorpius flirting with Selena Curtis, a third-year Hufflepuff. Artemis takes my arm.

"Aw. Look at Scorpius making moves. That's so cute," Artemis says.

"Yeah, sure."

"I hope they become a couple that would be so cute."

"Yeah." Artemis looked at me and I couldn't help but stare at her eyes. Her emerald green eyes. I was connected like a magnet.

"Hey guys!" Scorpius' announcement took me out of the trance.

"Scorpius. We saw you with Selena. So?" Artemis asks.

"We're going to Hogsmeade together!"

We congratulate him, and tell him to have fun. I think I'm actually glad he's going out tonight. I can maybe get closer to Artemis.

Later that night, I was reading a book in the common room, when Artemis comes and surprises me.

"Is this seat taken?" She smiles at me.

"Not at all. I was saving it for you." We share a short laugh. We talk about what I was reading. The we sort of cuddled. She put her head on my shoulder and I felt all tingly. I needed to know if she felt the same way I did.

"Artemis, I have to ask you something. Do you like me?"

"Why do you think I'm trying so hard?"

"Oh." I blush. We share another short laugh and gaze back at the fire. I finally decide to make the ultimate move. I turn her face towards mine and lean in slowly. Then we kiss. It was so gentle and sparkling. My own personal firework show. We stopped at the sound of the portrait opening. We both blushed a little. Scorpius walks in and sees us sitting on the couch together.

"Don't mind me, lovebirds."

Artemis and I both give him a dirty look. We decided to go up to bed, but not without a goodnight kiss. Another firework show in my head. This was one of my favorite nights at Hogwarts. Ever.

The next couple weeks were great. Artemis and I went public with our relationship. Scorpius and Selena also went public. I was just happy no one was a third wheel in our group. I didn't want to leave anyone out.

Defense Against the Dark Arts has gotten a lot more interesting. We just learned about three Unforgivable Curses. Why would anyone use such Dark magic? Professor Hamilton told us that Voldemort mastered these curses when he was just a student at Hogwarts. He rose to power so quickly because so many people were afraid of him.

After class, Artemis and I sat in the courtyard. We talked about our day. The whole time I was with Artemis, I was thinking about Rose. Her sneaky attitude, her personality change...

"Al, are you okay?" Artemis asks, worried.

"Mhmm." I lie.

"Please, I'm your girlfriend. i can tell when there is something wrong. Is it Rose?" She knew me too well.

"After today's Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson, it got me wondering. What if Rose is messing around with the Dark Arts?" I shook my head. There's no way she would ever do that.

"How could even think that? She's so nice. There's no way."

I tell her she's right and kiss her. She always knows how to make me feel better.

We make our way back to the common room. It had been an exhausting day. On our way back to the common room, Professor McGonagall made an announcement on the loud speaker.

"All students, return to your common rooms. Immediately!"

This got us worried. We sprinted to the common room. We didn't know what was happening but it couldn't be good. When we got to the common room. Scorpius greeted us.

"Do you guys know what's going on?" He asked.

Before I could reply, Professor Hamilton came through the portrait.

"Students, please go to bed now. The teacher's will be meeting with Professor McGonagall to discuss this event."

What event? I needed to know.

"Are you guys up for some spying?" I give them a smirk

"What are you talking about Al?" Artemis asks.

I rush up to my trunk. I dig to the bottom. There it was. An old cloak by the look of it, but I knew it was much more than a cloak.

"Come on!" I say. "Come under the cloak with me."

When the realized that I took my dad's Invisibility Cloak, they actually were excited to go on the mission.

We sneaked out of the common room and made our way to Professor McGonagall's office.

Artemis was worried. "What if something bad happened? What if a student was hurt?"

"Well, we're about to find out. Hush, we're here." I tell her.

Professor McGonagall, Professor Hamilton, Uncle Percy, and Professor Longbottom were all standing around McGonagall's desk.

"Minerva," Hamilton said. "What exactly has happened?"

"Something terrible, Clare," McGonagall said. Artemis, Scorpius, and I held our breath. "A student was found dead in the Forbidden Forest."

Artemis looks on the verge of tears. Scorpius and I are listening intently.

"Who?" Uncle Percy asks.

"You're nephew. James Potter."

A/N: Gasp! A death...and it was James? Please review. I would love to hear your thoughts about James's death.