Hey... So yeah. I'm a little late.

I had this crazy idea. What if, instead of Peyton's point of view... you get to see life from her family? See how they're coping?

In certain parts of this chapter, I put as much as detail as I could. In others... weren't as detailed. It's really random.. though.

You see what she was like at home.. and how quiet she seems to be in the Harry Potter world... only because she knows how much information can effect a character. It's more of her life than Harry Potter in this chapter.

She gets a little under sixty or so words.

Any character you don't recognize is my own.

(Note:When I say what Darren's hair looks like, see my profile to the link of the picture)

Chapter 5

"How long has she been gone?" Patrick's best friend, Jayden asked. He was holding over two hundred pages of missing posters, with his step-sister smiling and looking at the camera.

Patrick thought about it for a moment. "A month and a half, I think" He stated, putting the tape up on the post.

Peyton had been missing for about over a month, now. She went to visit her step-grandparents, and he did just the same, with his. They both went for a week. Though, when she was supposed to show up at the train station, she didn't. They waited and waited, and waited. For over twenty-four hours. His step-mom checked her phone every three minutes. His dad went to every brown haired girl similar to her.

She just didn't show.

At the end of the night, his step-mom was trembling with fear. They got posters all over town, and told her best friend, Darren. He didn't take it too well. On their first day of school, he dropped by their house. Patrick opened the door to a concerned Darren, asking if there was anything wrong. Patrick nodded roughly. "She's missing. She hadn't shown up after going to my grandparent's house, and she still hasn't shown. She just… disappeared. We called the house, but they said that she had been fine in the morning, excited even. But she never showed." Darren replied with, "Answered my every text until about ten minutes until eleven. After that, it was like she just proofed away. Well, thanks for telling me, bud. I'll walk alone."

His step mom was afraid to look in her room, and life now was sort of empty.

Peyton was the joker of her family. Going against British stereotypes, Patrick wasn't all that snotty, but wasn't much of a joker. When he and his father joined the family, they were blown away by how much life she had put into theirs. She made it seem colorful, and fun. Peyton could make anyone feel that they have been taking life too seriously. Now, his dear step-sister was missing.

Patrick never realized how close they had grown since their parents both discovered they had a single child and introduced them at once. At first, Peyton was just annoying as hell to him. She joked about every two seconds, and she could never keep a straight face if her life depended on it. Soon, he had learned to love her, and was ecstatic when he learned that she was officially becoming his sister. Well… step-sister, anyways.

Even if, in the summer she occasionally told him to go away. (7 or 8 times a week) Or if she pulled the silliest and wildest pranks on him. They shared a loving sister-brother relationship between them.

Jayden looked at Patrick sympathetically. In his eyes, Patrick had a look of sorrow. He really missed his sister.

For the rest of the afternoon, they had put up more missing posters, but returned to the Miller-Heck residence with still a little over ninety posters. His dad was on the phone, talking about possible cases how she had gone missing.

"Can we just stop, for at least an hour? We aren't living. Ever since she disappeared our house was one black and white shadow. Please, let's invite Darren over and we can just simply forget about it for a movie. Just a movie. Then we can go back. But I'm tired of this. We're all afraid to make a joke out of this, because it's something we know she'd do! We need to move on at some point. We'll still work on her case, but just not as often. We're all acting as if she were dead. I feel dead." His mom abruptly explained about half an hour after he and Jayden had returned. Patrick had to admit, he couldn't remember one conversation that hadn't involved his missing sister. Every day, he would come home to his father heavily bent over her case.

The funny thing is if Peyton knew that they were acting like this, she'd flip. She'd tell them to get their act together.

Each week she was missing, his mother would gently tip toe when passing her room. As if trying not to wake her up. All three boys around her agreed. They decided to watch Alice in Wonderland… one of her favorite movies.

While waiting for Darren to arrive, he and Jayden hung in his room. "Found your helicopter, yet?" Jayden joked.

Before leaving for England, Patrick decided to have some fun with his remote control helicopter and annoy the hell out of his sister. Witty and smart as she was, Peyton grabbed the thing out of mid air and tossed it into her closet. Her very full of Harry Potter merchandise, closet. To him, it was scary in there. To any Harry Potter crazed fan, it was heaven. But to a kid who has spent the past three years with a dedicated fan, it was scary.

Patrick gave a chuckle. "No, I haven't gone in the room yet."

Jayden's hazel eyes went wide. "You're kidding!"

Patrick nodded. "No, actually." He smiled.

"Dude! I know you're British and all, so I'm going to cut you some slack. But, come on! As her little brother, you need to sneak in her room. That is what any typical Canadian boy would do." Jayden lectured, pacing like there was no tomorrow.

Patrick sighed, looking at his door. Across the hall was her bedroom. "I realize that, but whenever my hand lands on that door knob, Addison just happen to be around."

Jayden shrugged. "So?"

"So, she gives me this look. Like, 'Don't you dare enter your sister's room!' It's like she is afraid that Peyton will pop out, exclaiming, 'Just kidding!'" Patrick explained, brushing dirt off of his blue t-shirt. "I want to look in there, though. To think about her. I want to live her laughter. Instead, we're doing nothing. Though, can we just stop talking about her? It's actually relieving to talk about anything else."

Jayden nodded. "Sure. Hey! I finally made a new score for COD last night. It was mind blowing. I was dancing. I was DANCING." Patrick laughed. He knew that if his best friend were dancing, the occasion would have to be pretty special. Jayden never danced, ever. "My mind was set. You know I've been working on that since June!"

"How could I forget? It's all you talked about. 'Dude, I'm going to set a new score tonight, I swear on it.'" He imitated, even capturing a Canadian accent. "I'm just glad you don't spend every minute on that thing. They kill brain cells."

"Pfft." Jayden huffed. "That's what they say to scare children out of playing it."

"Well, it works in England." Patrick smiled. He barely even remembers the last time he was around a good joke. All of his friends looked at him like he's about to break any minute. What he needed at the moment, was laughter. After talking some more, the door bell rang. Darren was here.

By the time he finished racing Jayden down the stairs, Darren was in, already making conversation with his dad. "So, how is school?" Not just conversation, but really typical conversation.

"Pretty dull, actually. Drama is even a lot more boring. Her punch lines made it more fun. But classes are good; all homework is regularly handed in."

Addison smiled. "That's funny. I can remember last year how she kept complaining that you never finished your homework."

Darren let out a streak of laughter. "That's because she kept distracting me. So, movie night, eh? I brought my kettle corn!"

The house was filled with a chorus of laughter. Addison walked Darren to the kitchen, him stopping by the mirror to fix his brown hair on the way. His blonde roots were coming in. There was a patch of blonde hair on his head, where the roots are. He needed to fix this ASAP. Though, Peyton was the one who dyed it last year.

Using his knowledge from the many times him and his missing friend had spent in the living room on movie nights, he grabbed a pot and started making the popcorn.

The night had been a relief to the family and the best friends of the siblings. After a month and a half of worry, hope, and the urge to give up, they had finally lived once again. Jayden couldn't remember the last time Patrick had smiled so much.

Addison and Nathan couldn't remember the last time when Darren stopped by without a look of grief on his face.

When the familiar notes of "Alice" by Avril Lavigne had come on, Nathan stood up, and walked over to the light switch. In his trail, were tiny salt covered popcorn crumbs. Addison had already started picking up the scattered bowls that were full of seeds and salt. Arms open, Darren had stood up, stretching. It was at least nine o'clock at night. He needed to get home. Fingers latched around the belt loops his favorite pair of skin-tight jeans; Darren pulled them up, and did another quick look in the mirror before starting conversation. Patrick, on the other hand, was quite frankly, passed out.

This, for Patrick, was normal. He barely made it through movies, which is why he's never been to a cinema. Jayden laughed, poking Patrick's blonde hair. He got the pair of legs off his lap as gently as he could, and walked to the kitchen to help clean up. He knew that the parents figured that he would need a ride home. But he might as well help, since his best friend was asleep anyways.

"-definitely do this again sometimes." He could hear, as he was walking through the doors of the kitchen. Good, Jayden thought. Maybe I'll get the guys to stop acting so weird around the guy. But I'll definitely bring over Black Ops.

"Awesome," replied Darren, taking his class of water. "I'm quite stoked already. Although I have other friends than the Peyster, she was the class clown. So, tonight, reminded me that if one person is gone, you just need to carry on; no matter what. And hey, for a fifteen year old, that's a pretty damned good realization." He laughed.

"Mr. Heck, you guys are going to turn off the movie, right? Other wise we may never know what will be going through Patrick's head. It'll be too frightening." Patrick's dad laughed, and returned to the living room, shutting off the DVD player, followed by the television.

Addison Miller smirked at the two boys who were standing in her kitchen. "Jayden, and Darren? I'm guessing both of you need a ride home?"

"Yeah that would be awesome." Darren nodded.

Jayden said nothing. He simply nodded.

The second mother to both boys smiled. "Yeah, thought so. Before, I'm going to need you two to clean these bowls for me. And that pot over there." She pointed toward the stove. "This kitchen was clean when you both arrived, and I plan on keeping it that way." Before either of them could decline her request, she went into the living room, starting to tidy things up.

The boys looked at each other, shrugging. "I wash, you dry?" Darren proposed, handing a towel to Jayden.

Jayden nodded. "Sounds like a deal to me. I don't think we have any choice."

Darren let out some chuckles. "No one ever has a choice when it comes to Addison Miller." He turned on the tap, with the sudden coke that he had that night coming back to him in a rush. "I'll be right back."

Running up the stairs by two, he had suddenly remembered when Peyton had fell down the steps when they were both eight. He couldn't stop giggling, though she had broken an arm that day. He missed her.

After washing his hands with the Gryffindor towel, Darren opened the door, and walked further down the hall to a room that he had seen so many times before. Before he had even a clue what he was doing, Darren opened the door to Peyton Miller's room. It looked as if not much had changed. The only thing new was the dust. There were clothes on the floor, pictures on the dresser, and quotes on the red wall. When Peyton had decided that her blue room was getting old, she wanted to paint it the Gryffindor colors. She had her heart set on the perfect room. Now, she had it, and she barely had a month in it. The quotes were very Peyton like; written in her most graceful calligraphy possible.

One was "Every Minute You Spend Sad, is Sixty Seconds of Happiness You Can Never Get Back." Just below, was the quote, "Laughter is the Music of the Heart." Right below this quote, was her favourite. "A Day Without Laughter Is a Day Wasted." If this had been really true, then he had wasted several weeks of life.

Darren smiled, and walked over to the pictures. There were pictures of them being crazy together. In one, they were both in an action shot, in the middle of a tube being flipped in midst of August. Both of them in a sitting position, only slightly upside down, with hair all over the place. He had to admit, the fact that her mom was immensely talented at taking pictures was a bit of a help. By then, her hair was getting frizzy, because she had straightened it that day, and water tends to turn it back to their regular curls. The blue and red life jackets were covering up their entire upper half. There was water gulping up the tube. He remembered Peyton asking for more waves.

One beside it, was them lying on the grass. It's funny; she was taking photos at random times. And the one time when he was looking and she wasn't; the moment was magnificent. The grass was a warm green. She was looking at the sun, a small ball of yellow in her eyes. He, on the other hand, was still blonde then. His blue eyes were just filled with laughter. Though he wasn't smiling, his eyes had said it all. Her arms were straight out in front of her, taking the picture. His were behind his back. Darren could recall looking away after the shot, seeing a cloud shaped like a snitch.

Another action shot, to the left of the tube, was them, in mid air, jumping. The shot was taken from behind. They were only silhouettes. She had her arms around above her head, has if reaching for the sunset-filled sky. Her legs were in a crazy position. Then again, this was Peyton. She let her curls alone that day; her hair was just in a mad scientist position. He was on her left. His legs were simply bent behind him. Around his upper half, was a puffy figure. It was his shirt. That day, he was wearing a light green shirt that went down to just below his but. (It had the print, "That's What She Said") While jumping, Darren remembered a sudden breeze on his stomach. His arms where put into a position if he were about to flex, with his fists put into balls. His hair wasn't too crazy, because his was short, it sort of looked like Zac Efrons... but not too much that it was unnecessary. Darren could recall the day when it was taken. "Let's try and do a jump shot!" She exclaimed, jumping off her new family trampoline and running inside to get her camera. They had tried about three times before finally getting the shot. Four was always her lucky number.

A fourth photo was them when they were about eight years old. On her Facebook page, it had about over 60 likes. On the day she posted it, he had gotten notification raped. He remembered over eighty different comments on the same photo. He could tell why. It was one of the simplest of photos, yet so beautiful. When she was younger, he remembers her mother always having the camera out to capture the moment that may never return. He remembers seeing Addison, laying with her stomach down, exposing a big goofy grin.

In the way of the lens that had taken the picture, was grass. The grass, with visual effects, was the only thing with color in the photo. They were lying on the grass, crayons out, coloring in the coloring books they owned at the time. He remembers, hers was a Disney Movie book, and his was a Waldo coloring book. The moment was when she asked him for the yellow laying right next to his elbow. She asked politely, her usual smile on her face. He was holding the yellow crayon out to him, the sharp end facing towards Darren. The legs of the little eight year old him was kicking his but, but hers were straight out behind her.

He couldn't help but notice they were extremely adorable.

He stopped scanning the photos, and took in some of her posters. There were several character ones from Harry Potter. There was Bellatrix, Hermione, Harry, Ron, even a Voldemort poster. Her favourite one, the Weasley twins, was above her head board. Darren always told her that she sometimes reminded him of the twins. She was almost the female version of them. Darren brushed the thought off.

He took one good look around again. His foot was on a shirt that she worn regularly. Half her stuff was gone, because it was still in the suitcase, (or trunk, as they liked to call it), that she had taken. Turning, Darren decided that he should go and help Jayden do the dishes and return home to look at some photos of his.

Jayden's hands were resting on the pearl counters of the kitchen. The towel was by the sink… let go when Darren had rushed to the bathroom. That boy was gone for almost twenty minutes now. He was a teenager, but he couldn't be taking that long… could he?

Appearing on the stairs was a pair of jean-blue skin tight jeaned legs that were traveling down the steps, one by one. When Darren's face appeared in sight, Jayden could see a smile on his face. He didn't exactly know how, but Jayden could tell that Darren had gone into Peyton's room.

"You're finally ready?"

Darren nodded, taking the first salt-infested bowl. "Yep. I just had to do something, first."

The boys fell into a silence, with the clanking of the dishes the only sound being made, and Patrick's small snores in the next room.

When the dishes were done, Jayden found Addison and told her that the kitchen was finished, and they both would like to go home.

Addison gave them her warming smile. Peyton got her curls from her mother, as well as the caring smile/smirk that always appeared on her face.

When they had pulled at Jayden's house, he got out, thanking her. That left both Darren and Addison in the midst of a silence. "You know…." Darren started, after leaving the unfamiliar roads of Jayden's neighbourhood… "I really appreciate you Millers; slash Hecks' for inviting me over tonight. It's actually what I really needed."

"You're welcome, Darren. Feel free to stop by." She replied, taking the familiar turns from one stop light and towards Darren's house. "Peyton was a big part of all of our lives. If you suddenly weren't coming to our house, that would be devastating. Not only would she be furious at us for leaving you out, but how long you have been friends with her, and how frequent you are around would make it weird with out you around to steal our goldfish crackers." Darren smiled. He could always remember, original flavoured Gold Fish crackers in their cabinet, third shelf up, right next to the bagels which Peyton always had after walking home with him to wait for their Drama rehearsal.

"You know, she's not dead. I can tell. I know Peyton, and who ever took her, she won't go down without a fight. She's fine. I just wish we wouldn't talk about her- like she's dead."

The two in the small red car had kept on talking. Until Addison dropped him off, yelling to call anytime he needed it. Even if it were just to revisit her bedroom. Addison watched the tall boy walk over to the door of his wide and beautiful home. She watched as he took his right hand on the silver knob, and raised his left hand, waving good bye to her.

When returning home, she went into the arms of her second husband. She was grateful that she had two boys/men around her to keep her company. If Peyton went missing and she was living alone, she didn't know what she would do.

Addison brushed her brown hair behind her ears, while walking upstairs. She went to the third door on the right. Her room. When the white door was thrust open, a breath was let out. A breath that she didn't even know she was holding in. She smiled, taking in the scent that was her lovable, joking daughter. She was afraid to get used to the fact of Peyton disappearing, because she didn't want Peyton to show up again… just as she got used to things. Though she looked around the room, pausing when thinking of the memory that came with the item she was staring at. She was healing…. little by little.

"Why did we choose magical creatures again?" asked Alicia, looking over her homework like it was a poison infested snake.

"It was the only last choice... Besides divination. And besides, Trelawney is quite scary." George pointed out, his twin jokingly having his uniform hood up… traveling the stone steps like a zombie while following the steps he was taking.

Fred was still walking like that when he had entered the Great Hall. Harry looked up, only to raise his voice, frustrated. "Oh, come on! Not you, too!"

"Relax, Harry. What's this about?" George asked, sharing a smirk across the table with his brother.

"Allow me to explain. Lately Harry has been getting teased about fainting on the way here. Even if it was just over a month ago… Dr- Malfoy and his friends still harass him by crying Dementor, then bringing up the hoods to try and spook him." I know these books too well.

The twins immediately started laughing. "We should of thought of that." George cried.

"But, we didn't. George was claiming that Trelawney was scary… and I walked like that from that point on. Don't take it personally Potter…" Fred explained, messing up Harry's hair.

On my right, Alicia was still clutching her books. "I am already excited for Christmas break. Stupid school work…"

Ron already had his mouth full across the table. "Amen to that!" Hermione shook her head, incredulous look in her eyes.

"Hey, Peyster…" Peyster. That was what Darren called me. Fred's voice was across the table. I grabbed some lunch… getting my hands on the closest delicious food this castle had to offer. It so happened to be sausages, my favourite.

I smirked at him, grabbing the fork with the indented words, "Gryffindor." "Yes, oh mighty Fredster?"

"Speaking of Christmas break… do you have any plans?" He asked, I could almost hear a tad bit of shyness in his voice. From Fred.

"I'd thought I might as well stay here." Seeing as I can't send a letter to home, I don't even know if the owl will get it in the year 2010. Probably not…

When grabbing the sausage in the fork and inserting the warm taste into my mouth, Fred asks, "You want to spend it with the Weasleys?"

My chewing stopped, and my eyes drifted to the twins looking at me. I had no idea what to say to that. Dude. I was spending Christmas with the Weasleys. I nodded vigorously. I could almost see relief in Fred's eyes.

IF you're confused about anything... ask me. Please review. Thank you so much to whoever reviews.