The first few weeks of school flew by. Ciara and Nico went out of their way to make life terrible, but that was fine because it gave James and me an excuse to constantly plot pranks to pull on them. James turned her hair purple with a spell once, and I hexed Nico so he would only be able to sing every time he spoke for the remainder of the day, which made Potions, normally my least favorite class, pretty fun.

By the end of October, I couldn't believe it had been two months. This was more like home than the Lewis's house had ever been. To be honest, I somewhat resented the fact that I was stuck with their last name. At least until I was shipped off to a new foster family. Mr. Lewis had made it pretty clear they didn't want me back. I was a "problem child."

Victoire Weasley seemed incredibly intrigued by the British foster care system. I didn't know how she hadn't heard of it, but I told her as much as I knew about it.

Hogwarts was a strange place for me. I wasn't used to attention at home. Here, I was constantly surrounded by friends and teachers, and the excitement was fun. Especially right before our first Quidditch match, against Slytherin.

The team gathered in the locker room, waiting to go out to the field, and I felt like my insides were being violently shaken by an annoying five year old who seemed to think my stomach was a lava lamp. In fact, most of the players look nervous.

Ryan clapped his hands to get our attention. "All right, listen up! Today is an important day! First game of the year! It'll be an easy win, I believe. We've practiced hard, and our team is amazing. The best team Gryffindor's had in years! If we perform like we did in practice, the Quidditch Cup is guaranteed to Gryffindor. So let's get out there and win!" Everyone cheered, then grabbed their brooms to head out to the pitch. I picked up the school broom I was borrowing and followed at the back of the procession.

Ryan pulled me aside as I walked out the door. "You all right?"

I nodded, but I think my pale face and shallow breathing told a different story.

"Listen, Astra, you'll be fine. You've been perfect during practice." He smiled encouragingly. "Ready?"

I didn't have much choice, so nodded and followed him to the pitch. The referee gave us the signal to mount our brooms, then blew her whistle. Our brooms soared into the air. Patrick Shaw, a Gryffindor fourth year, was commentating.

"The Quaffle is taken immediately by Ryan Ham from Gryffindor, excellent Chaser-he passes it to Jaycee Bell, who dives, narrowly dodging a Bludger-"

I listened to the game, not daring to stop my scanning of the pitch to watch what was happening. Luckily, Shaw seemed like an able commentator.

"-AND SHE SCORES! Caroline Long has scored the first points in the game, ten for Gryffindor! Woodrow Webb, Slytherin, take the Quaffle-he passes it to Miranda Wolfe-she's soaring down the pitch-dodges a Bludger sent by new Gryffindor Beater James Potter, a very competent young player, son of Harry Potter, youngest person to get on a House team in a century, though now the new Seeker-"

"SHAW!" one of the teachers yelled.

"Right, sorry Professor, anyway, Wolfe passes the Quaffle to Benjamin Flem-OH! Jaycee Bell swoops in to steal it-off she goes-she's going to sco-no, stopped by Slytherin Keeper Christine Nunez-Slytherins take the Quaffle-Webb dives around a Bludger sent by Fred Weasley-OUCH-hit in the back by another Bludger, compliments of Potter-Quaffle taken by Gryffindor-"

I zoomed out of the way of an incoming Bludger, and I heard the Slytherin Beater who sent it my way cursing. The opposing Seeker, Caleb Goyle, glared at me from across the field. I quickly set my attention back on finding the Snitch.

"He's coming in-really flying well-Ham dodges a Bludger-Come on Ryan! Goalposts just ahead-Keeper Nunez misses-GRYFFINDORS SCORE!"

Most of the stands erupt in cheering, and the Gryffindor students take up a loud chant of "RYAN HAM! RYAN HAM!"

I squinted around the field. Where was the Snitch? My nervousness had ebbed away as soon as I mounted my broom, but that didn't mean I wanted the game to go on longer than it had to.

But the game went on and on. A few times, Caleb Goyle dived, and I thought for a moment he'd caught sight of the Snitch, but it turned out to be a trick each time. Shaw continued to narrate each play, but I was only listening with half an ear.

"Webb has the Quaffle-he dodges Chaser Long-OH! He takes a Bludger to the face! Hope it broke his nose-only joking, Professor-Slytherins score-"

I tuned out after a while.

"So the score is now Gryffindor 130, Slytherin 80. If either of the Seekers were to catch the Snitch, the game would be done," Shaw was saying when I finally caught sight of something gold glittering almost directly below me. I immediately dove, a rush of excitement flowing through me. I whipped around, twisting through the other players in pursuit of the golden orb.

Caleb Goyle caught up with me after a few moments, and we were neck and neck, barreling straight toward the ground. The other players hovered in midair, watching.

"The Snitch is mine!" Caleb called. I shook my head, not bothering to say anything. I stretched out my hand...the Snitch was only a few feet away...but so was the ground...

Caleb chickened out and pulled up, but I kept on, hurtling toward the ground. I felt my fingertips brush the Snitch, and pulled up at the last second as I closed my hand around the small orb. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to pull up quite enough, and only lessened my impact with the ground.

In seconds, James and Jaycee were both at my side, concerned. "Are you all right?"

I grinned weakly and held up my tightly closed fist. "I got it!"

Their faces lit up with delight, then James jumped up and started yelling, "SHE CAUGHT IT! ASTRA CAUGHT THE SNITCH!" Soon, the whole team landed around us, and Ryan lifted me up into the air. The crowd (at least the Gryffindor side) was going wild. The Slytherin team landed a few yards away, looks of mixed disbelief and resentment on their faces.

The celebration in the common room was amazing. Somehow, a few of the older students produced enough butter beers for everyone, and the Quidditch team members were the stars of the show. It was amazing. Everyone stayed up until well past midnight before Ryan Ham finally insisted we all go to bed.

To top it all off, two days later was Halloween. Through all our classes that day, no one could pay much attention. Even the teachers seemed to be in a festive mood, assigning no homework at all.

During lunch, I found myself sitting next to Rose. "Hi!" I said brightly. No matter what Albus and James said about their cousin, Wren had insisted I at least try to be nice to her.

Rose dropped her fork, startled. "Hi..."

"What's up?"

"What?"

I sighed. "Muggle saying. How are you?"

"Oh." She shrugged, picking up her fork. Her hand shook a little as she did. "Good?"

I frowned. "Are you sure? You seem a bit...jittery..."

Her eyes widened. "I-I do?"

I nodded slowly. "Are you sure you're ok?"

Rose nodded quickly. I decided to drop it. She was still shaking a little, and I didn't really want to upset her any more. I turned to Wren, Iris, and Lacy Macmillian, sitting on the other side of me, who were excitedly discussing the Halloween feast that would take place that night.

About halfway through the meal, I saw Rose stand up out of the corner of my eye. I quickly turned my head, and saw her quickly walking towards the large wooden doors. Only one other person was walking towards the doors. Scorpius Malfoy.

I tugged on Wren's sleeve and pointed towards the door. She turned just as they slipped out together. "What're they doing?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. Rose just got up and left."

Wren shrugged as well. "None of our business. Do not tell James or Albus, though."

Later that evening, Rose didn't show up to the Halloween Feast. She had been in our afternoon classes, but I was still a bit worried. Who would miss the Halloween Feast? I pointed her absence out, but the only person who seemed concerned was Wren. Albus told me she was probably studying. James said he didn't really care.

"Wren, will you come help me find her?" I asked as we left the Great Hall later.

Wren looked around uneasily. "It's almost curfew..."

I sighed. There was no way I'd get her out after curfew again, not after what happened last time. The only thing to do would be to pretend to go up to the dorm, sneak back down, and enlist James's help. The only problem would be convincing him to help find Rose, but then again, I don't think James needed much of an excuse to roam the castle at night.

Once we'd reached the common room, I feigned sleepiness and ran up to the common room. I hastily shoved some pillows into my bed and covered them with a blanket, then snuck back downstairs. Luckily, Wren seemed occupied with Roxanne and didn't notice me. I scanned the room for James.

He was laughing with Fred and Louis next to the fire, but I quickly dragged him away from that. "Want to go exploring?"

He raised his eyebrows. "Exploring? I assume this has some purpose. Care to tell me? Or is it top secret?"

"Well..." I took a breath, then said, very quickly, "Rose isn't back and I'm kind of worried and if you won't come at least let me take the Map so I'll know where to go but will you please?"

James put up his hands. "Slow down! Sure, I'll come. But we can't bring the Map...I lent it to Albus."

"Why? He's not sneaking out, is he?"

James snorted. "Of course not! He just wanted to study it. Said he'd give it back tomorrow. But we can go without it, if you want."

I shrugged. "All right. Ready?"

"Sure." We slipped out of the portrait hole and strolled through the corridors, stopping at each closed door to see if Rose was in there. Technically, curfew wasn't for another fifteen minutes, but we were sneaking along just in case.

After about an hour, I was ready to give up. We'd seen no sign of her anywhere, and I knew at some point we were bound to run into someone. I just hoped it would be Rose.

We were about to round a corner into another corridor when I heard voices. James evidently heard them as well, since he pulled me back against the wall. The voices didn't seem to be coming any closer to us, so we stayed still as statues and listened.

"I didn't know it was so late..." a familiar boy's voice said. "Sorry I kept you. I just had trouble learning that spell."

"It's ok." At that voice, I gasped, and James clapped his hand over my mouth. The girl speaking was, without a doubt, Rose Weasley.

"I won't get caught," she continued. "Gryffindor's don't care how late you get back, as long as you don't get caught. Lumos!"

A light appeared in the next hallway, and it cast a shadow of two first years on the wall across from us. The boy gave Rose a seemingly awkward hug then scuttled off in the opposite direction. Rose seemed to watch for a minute, then started walking in our direction.

James was about to pull me into an empty classroom when another small form appeared in the shadow. I couldn't tell if it was a boy or a girl, because it looked like it was cloaked. What I could tell was that at the oldest, this figure was a third year, most likely younger. Rose seemed to notice the new shadow as well, because she turned.

"Who are-"

"That is not important," a gruff voice muttered. "Tell me where it is."

"W-where what is?" Rose's voice quavered.

"Tell me where he hid it!"

"Where who hid what?!"

The figure paused, then pointed it's wand at Rose, and the gruff voice cried, "Crucio!"

Suddenly, Rose fell to the floor, screaming and writhing around. I gasped and tried to dart around the corner to face the mysterious figure. James grabbed me and forced me back, stopping me from running to Rose's rescue. He shook his head quickly. He was right, of course. Anyone who could cause that kind of pain would certainly be more than a match for me and James.

After several unbearable minutes, the figure seemed to hear something (James accidentally stepped backward and the floor creaked), then turned and darted away. After a few more seconds, James released me, and we both raced to Rose's side.

She wasn't conscious, though occasionally she let out a pitiful whimper. We both dropped to our knees on either side of her.

"G-go get Professor McGonagall! And my dad!" James urged me. I had never seen him so serious, and that was what made me even more scared. "Hurry!"

I leaped to my feet and took off, not bothering with being quiet. I wanted people to hear me. I needed help. I didn't know what had happened, but it wasn't good.

Luckily, Professor Potter was in Professor McGonagall's office when I burst in. They both looked at me, startled. "What is the mean-"

"Professor!" I cried, out of breath and incredibly worried. "It's Rose! Rose Weasley!"

Professor Potter was on his feet in an instant. "What happened?"

"James...James and I were looking for h-her...because she...she didn't show up to the Halloween Feast, a-and we were worried, and we found her f-finally, but b-before she realized we were there, s-someone else found her, and they asked her w-where something w-was, and she didn't know, and then they said 'Crucio' an-"

"What?" Professor McGonagall stood up as well. "The Cruciatus Curse?" I didn't know what that was, but I nodded.

"You have to hurry! James is with her...but she was unconscious..."

The two adults made me lead them back to Rose and James as quickly as possible. Along the way, we ran into Filch, and Professor McGonagall sent him to fetch the other teachers. Finally, we crowded into the hall next to Rose, who was just starting to stir.

The other teachers began arriving, and James and I had to explain exactly what the intruder looked like, though we couldn't do very well, since we had only seen his shadow. While Professor Potter picked Rose up, McGonagall dispatched the rest of the teachers and Filch to search the grounds and to not let this attacker escape. Then, she led us back to her office.

Professor McGonagsll waved her wand, and a comfortable armchair appeared on the floor in her office. Professor Potter gently laid Rose on it, who was fully awake now but didn't seem up to standing.

"Now tell me," McGonagall said, addressing all three of us, "exactly what happened."

James and I looked at Rose. After all, she was the one we were looking for.

"W-well..." she said shakily. "I was teaching..." She glanced at us, "someone...to do the disarming spell, and we lost track of time, and ended up out past curfew. H-he left first, then I was turning to leave as well when someone came up behind me. I th-thought it was Mr. Filch or something...but it was someone in a cloak that covered their face and I don't know who it was! And...and they asked me where "it" was, and I didn't know what they were talking about...then they yelled something...and...well..."

McGonagall nodded. "That's enough, dear, you don't need to go into details about that." Rose smiled gratefully. "Now tell me, who were you teaching the disarming spell to?"

Rose glanced at James and me again, then took a deep breath. "Scorpius Malfoy." Professor Potter looked mildly surprised. James looked shocked.

"I see." McGonagall nodded. "Well, are you all right now, dear?" Rose nodded. "Astra and James, could you please help your classmate back to Gryffindor Tower? Thank you." We jumped up to help her.

Slowly, the three of us made our way through the halls. We didn't talk until we reached the now-empty common room.

"Rose, is this why you've been acting so weird? You didn't want us to find out about Scorpius?" I asked.

"Well...yes..."

"So that time you dropped your books, it was because we were talking about Scorpius? And you've been so jittery because you were worried we'd find out?"

Rose frowned at me. "Are you reading my thoughts?"

"A Malfoy. All this, for a Malfoy." James shook his head. "Really?"

Rose glared at him. Glared. "He's not like Ciara. You can just shut up about it. He's the only person who's actually been nice to me here, except Wren, and she's too close to you two to be friends with me."

I felt guilt coursing through me like fire. "Rose, I'm so sorry..."

James looked a bit shocked at her outburst. "Wow, Rose, I had no idea...I'm sorry too..."

She looked down. "Yeah...well...ok. Can I go to bed now?"

I carefully helped her up the stairs and met an incredibly worried Wren at the door. "Where have you been? What happened?" She helped me lead Rose over to her bed, and I explained everything. Wren's eyes widened in horror as the story progressed.

"Oh my...that's awful...poor Rose..." Rose had already fallen asleep. Wren brushed a stray lock of hair out of the sleeping girl's face.

"Can we just go to bed?" I asked. Wren quickly nodded. I smiled and fell back on my bed, only to find it all lumpy. I threw the pillows across the room at random and think I heard something break, but I was too tired to care.