Chapter 5: Girl Meets Gravity

"This isn't a present. This is one of your life lessons wrapped up in. A class lesson wrapped in a box of nothing." - Riley Matthews, Girl Meets Smackle

After third year, summer came as I spent my time in my room mostly coating my room in Slytherin colours as I heard my dad's footsteps walk into my room. "Hey," he says. "I know we haven't spoken much since Christmas." I sighed. Ever since Christmas dinner last year - which we had with Maya's family - Maya decided to humiliate me by saying horrible stuff about Scorpius and Albus. At first I ignored her lies, but then my dad decided to agree with Maya. My mother on the other hand decided to agree with me.

"You shouldn't have agreed with Maya," I said. "You know we aren't exactly friends anymore."

"I understand," he says.

"You don't understand," I loudly. "I had enough. You always agree with Maya because she's the daughter that you want. She's the daughter that you want to be in Gryffindor."

"You know what, Riley," he says, raising his voice. "Maybe I don't want you as my daughter."

"Maybe I don't want you as a father," I said.

My dad realised what he had said to me and quickly apologise. "I'm sorry, Riley," he says, quickly.

I found myself feeling like I'm about to cry. "Leave me alone, dad."

First of September arrived as I made my way to Platform nine and three quarters. My mum hugged me tightly as I walked onto the train as I made my way to Scorpius's compartment. "Riles," I heard Maya call out. "Riles, I need to talk."

"There's nothing that I want to say to you, Maya," I said, angrily as I turned to face Maya.

Maya looked at me with a smile on her face. "I know I was harsh towards you," she says. "And well basically Albus and Scorpius."

"Harsh, you say," I said. "Don't you mean bullying?"

"Look, I asked Lucas to ask you out last year," she says. "And I knew he treated with no respect on your date, saying rude stuff about Albus and Scorpius which I did not expect that and I'm sorry. But can be friends again?"

"Maya," I began. "I don't think we should be friends - maybe acquaintances."

She nods as I notice how sad she looks. "I know," she says. "But as a friend - I mean acquaintance I know you like Albus."

I looked at Maya as I pretended to not hear what she was saying. "I beg your pardon," I said, sounding shocked. I didn't like Albus - I only liked him as a friend.

"I just know," she assures me. "I know you since we were little. When you had a crush on Lucas, I sense that you liked him. It is the same with Albus." I'm utterly shocked at this accusation, but perhaps maybe I do like Albus more than a friend.

"I have to go," I said. "I'll see you later, Maya."

I walked away as I entered our usual carriage. "Hey," I said to Scorpius as I sat down.

"Hey," he says.

"I've been looking for you guys everywhere," Albus says as he enters the compartment.

"Well, I never left," I said. "We've always sat in this compartment."

"And now you've found us," Scorpius announces. "Tada! I was hardly hiding. You both know how I like to... Get on early. Stops people staring. Shouting. Writing 'son of Voldemort' on my trunk. That one never gets old."

"Oh, I know," I added. "Maya writes that a lot."

"Maya must secretly like me," Scorpius adds.

I laughed. Maya would never like Scorpius.

Albus hugs Scorpius and then hugs me. It felt awkward and slightly warm. "We never hugged before," I said. "Why did you hug us?"

"Just a slightly weird twenty-four hours," he says.

"Slightly weird," Scorpius says. "You and Riley hugging was slightly weird. In fact awkward." I punched Scorpius lightly in the arm, but then I notice how red Albus's face was getting. "Aw, he is blushing."

"Shut up," Albus says, rolling his eyes.

"Anyway, what happened then?" Scorpius asks.

"I'll explain later," Albus says. "We have to get off this train."

I hear the whistles blow as the train start moving. "Well, too late," I said.

"The train is moving," Scorpius says. "Hogwarts ahoy."

"Stop sounding like Maya, Scorpius," I found myself saying. "Next minute you are gonna call Albus - Ranger Rick." Scorpius laughed

"Very funny, Riley," Albus says, sarcastically.

"And that will never happen," Scorpius says. We both notice Albus opening the window and makes it out to climb out.

"Albus," I sighed. "Are you seriously trying to commit suicide? It ain't gonna work."

"No," he replies. "We are getting off this train."

"It's a magical train," I said. "There's no way off. Trust me. My dad tried once, nearly got himself killed. The trolley lady dragged him back in. Speaking of the trolley lady, I want a few chocolate frogs."

"Anything from the trolley, dears?" I heard the trolley lady call out. "Pumpkin Pasty? Cauldron Cake?"

"Albus Severus Potter, get that strange look out of your eye," Scorpius announces Albus's full name.

"Riley Matthews," Albus says. "You are smart and talented." I blushed. "Please tell an answer to this question: What do you know about the Triwizard Tournament?"

"Easy peasy," I replied. "Three schools pick three champions to complete in three dangerous tasks. Anyway, what's that got to do with anything?"

"Living proof that Miss Riley Matthews is in fact a super geek," Scorpius laughs. I punched him lightly in the arm.

"Second question, why has the Triwizard Tournament not been run in twenty years?" Albus asks me.

"The last competition - the third task - the maze," I said.

"Get on with it!" Scorpius says.

"I am," I said. "The task included your dad - Harry Potter and another competitor Cedric Diggory - for all I know they decided to win the task together but the Cup was a portkey - and they were transported to a graveyard and well met Voldemort. Cedric was killed. They cancelled the competition indefinitely after that."

"Good," Albus says. "Third question. Did Cedric need to be killed? Easy question, easy answer: No. The words Voldemort said were 'kill the spare'. The spare. He died only because he was with my father and my father couldn't save him - we can. A mistake has been made and we're going to make it right. We're going to use a Time-Turner. We're going to bring him back."

"Look," I said. "It wouldn't work. Neither of us know how to use a Time-Turner."

"And I'm not a massive Time-Turner fan," Scorpius adds.

"When Amos Diggory asked for the Time-Turner my father denied they even existed," Albus continues. "He lied to an old man who just wants his son back - who just loved his son. And he did it because he didn't car... Because he doesn't care. Everyone talks about all the brave things Dad did. But he made some mistakes too. Some big mistakes, in fact. I want to set one of those mistakes right. I want us to save Cedric."

"Fine, whatever," I added. I looked at a piece of paper in one of my carry on bags as I yanked the paper out of my bag.

Professor McGonagall,

Jumped off the train to find someone to help us to fix a 'mistake'. I tried to stop them but you know, being the only girl, you have to follow them in order to stop them making another mistake.

From Riley Matthews

"Coming Riley," Albus calls out from the roof of the train.

"Coming," I sighed, as I hide the note between my bags hoping as soon as the train arrives the letter will be shown to Professor McGonagall.

Hey guys, another chapter. I wanted Riley to leave a note for Professor McGonagall as she didn't want anything to happen to both Scorpius and Albus. Riley is a bit like Hermione - keeping her friends safe. Thanks to everyone reviewing and reading this fanfic so far. Please continue reviewing and favouriting this fanfic.