A/N: Wow, it's been 3 weeks, I think? That's the longest time ever between updates for me... but I have good reasons! I was so busy with schoolwork, and I also had a writer's block (which I think is still here right now). Now it's the holidays, so hopefully I'll be able to update shortly, but no guarantees.

Thank you all for reviewing! Sorry about the delayed update... I just realized that this story was still in September, so I kind of rushed this chapter to get through all of October. I need to get to December soon! Anyway, enjoy the chapter.

During the second week of October, the first Quidditch match of the year was about to occur: Hufflepuff vs. Ravenclaw. Although Gryffindor and Slytherin had a mutual hatred, and Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff usually sided with the Gryffindors, the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws were generally friends with each other. So, most people from the other two houses were ambivalent about whom they would support.

The day of the match was a clear and breezy day, perfect for Quidditch. After breakfast, most of the entire school headed down to the Quidditch pitch to watch the game. Lucy, who had been let out of the Hospital Wing about ten days ago, headed down to the pitch with her Gryffindor friends. Nicholas, a Ravenclaw, was going to be playing today, and Lucy had always liked the Ravenclaws in her year, so she decided to support Ravenclaw.

Louis, Lysander, and Lorcan (as the twins' mother was a Ravenclaw) supported Ravenclaw as well, but the rest of the family disagreed. The Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff match was one in which the whole Weasley family had fun making bets as to whom would win.

"It's definitely Hufflepuff," Dominique said during breakfast. The Weasley/Potter clan usually sat together on the long table on Saturday mornings, sometimes with a few friends. "I'll bet any of you ten sickles that Hufflepuff will win."

"Ten sickles? You've got to be more daring than that," Fred replied. "I'll bet you ten galleons that Ravenclaw will win."

"That's a deal," Dominique said. "Anybody else want to bet?"

The rest of the sixth or seventh-years began making random bets. Lucy didn't understand what the fuss was with Quidditch. "Quidditch," she said, rolling her eyes. "It brings about all this annoying inter-house drama and loss of money."

"I know, right?" Rose said from across the table. "You have to admit it's fun to watch, but the fighting that comes with it is annoying."

The match finally began at ten in the morning, on the Quidditch field. The stands were a really odd mixture of colors. The Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs obviously wore blue and yellow, their Hogwarts colors, respectively, but when it came to the Slytherins and Gryffindors, there was a random mix of colors. It must have been a sight for the actual Quidditch players to see.

Charles Miller, a sixth-year Gryffindor, was commentating. "And now the Quidditch players are coming onto the field!" he announced. "Hufflepuff: Tullet, Fox, Jones, Robinson, Davis, Macmillan, and Jeffers!"

The seven Hufflepuffs walked onto the pitch, punching the fists with their air while the crowd wearing yellow roared their approval. "The Ravenclaws!" Miller shouted over all the noise. "Meyers, Price, Cooper, Thompson, Murphy, Schawb, and Clark!"

"Go Nicholas!" Lucy cheered while, next to her, Lysander glowered, though Lucy didn't see. The Ravenclaws walked toward the middle of the pitch toward the Hufflepuffs.

"Captains, shake hands," Madame Hooch commanded. Hufflepuff captain Tullet shook hands with Ravenclaw captain Meyers. They were both seventh-year chasers.

"Mount your brooms," Madame Hooch said. The two teams both mounted their brooms. Madame Hooch released the quaffle, then the bludgers, and then the snitch, and the players lifted off.

"And it's Tullet with the Quaffle, and he heads toward the Ravenclaw goal posts," commentated Miller. "He passes to Jones, who passes to Robinson. Robinson aims for the middle post… can Ravenclaw keeper Schwab save it? He dives and… he misses. Hufflepuff scores!"

The Hufflepuffs screamed in delight, while Nicholas flew around the hoops with his head down. However, the Quaffle flew toward Ravenclaw Captain Meyers. "He passes to Price," shouted Miller. "Who passes to Cooper who passes back to Meyers. He shoots, the keeper misses, and Ravenclaw scores!"

All the Ravenclaw supporters cheered. For the next hour, the Quaffle kept alternating from Hufflepuff to Ravenclaw. It was a close match, but eventually Ravenclaw Seeker Hannah Clark—a small fifth year—managed to catch the Quaffle, making the game 310-170.

Lucy could hear Fred walking off toward Dominique to demand his ten galleons. Lucy didn't really care about the whole winning aspect, but she was happy for all her Ravenclaw friends. She made her way down to the bottom of the pitch and found who she was looking for. "Congratulations!" she said to Nicholas, who was heading toward the changing rooms.

"Thanks," he replied. "This game wasn't that good. I let in a lot of points—it's only thanks to Hannah that we won the game."

"Well, you won, so it's all that matters," Lucy said.

Nicholas shrugged. "Well, I've got to take a shower, so see you later."

"See you," Lucy said, turning back toward the Quidditch pitch where her whole family was talking about the game.

"Hey, we made a deal!" Fred was saying to Dominique. "Give me the money!"

"Yeah, well, the problem is I don't have ten galleons with me now," Dominique replied. "I'll give it to you tomorrow, okay?"

"But if you don't give it now, you're never going to give it!" Fred said loudly.

Lucy just shook her head as she walked past. She spotted Louis, and she was about to walk over, but she stopped when she saw him talking to Hannah Clark, the Ravenclaw seeker. Hannah was one of Lucy's best girl friends; she didn't talk to her that often, but they sometimes studied together or talked about stuff only girls talked about together. Hannah had confessed to Lucy that she fancied Louis, and, from what Lucy guessed, she could tell that Louis enjoyed talking to her too.

Lucy decided to give Louis some privacy, so she walked over to Lysander instead. He was sitting on the steps by himself. "Hey," Lucy said, sitting down next to him. "What's the matter?"

"I'm just tired," he replied. "Nothing else."

"Oh."

The two of them sat there in silence for a while. The Quidditch pitch slowly emptied, but the two of the still sat there. Then Lucy spoke up. "Lysander, remember what happened at the Shrieking Shack?"

He nodded.

"Yeah, well, did you hear any news on whether the teachers had found anything mysterious over there?"

Lysander shook his head.

Lucy sighed. Lysander didn't seem very talkative today. "Well, I'm going inside."

Lysander stood up too. The two of them walked back to the castle.

Fred didn't understand what was happening, but James seemed to be acting stranger and stranger every morning. A week ago, for example, Fred woke up at 3 am to go to the bathroom. When he walked over to the bathroom, the door was locked, though. He knocked and heard a rustling and James' voice calling out "one minute." James quickly walked out of the bathroom, but he looked as if he was hiding something.

Other people had been telling him the same things. "He didn't even do anything on our Potions project," Oliver had told him. They had all been assigned partners to make a Potion. James, unlike his normal assiduous attitude, barely did any work. The same thing happened in Quidditch; they hadn't had a practice for a week. James didn't even show up for the last two Order of the 108 meetings.

"What's going on?" Fred asked as he walked into the dormitories and James, who was sitting on his bed, jumped and hid something under his blankets. It was a Saturday afternoon, one week after the Hufflepuff-Ravenclaw Quidditch match. Fred and Oliver had been playing Wizard's Chess in the common room but Oliver had to leave for head duties. Fred, who was curious where James was, decided to search the dormitories; sure enough, James was there.

"Nothing," James said defensively.

"Why are you acting so weird?" Fred asked. "You haven't had a Quidditch practice for a week, you've been getting poor grades on all your assignments, you don't even talk to Oliver and I anymore. What's up?"

"I told you—nothing," James said again. "It's none of your business."

"Come on, James," Fred said. "Oliver and I are your best friends. He'd be here too but he has Head Boy duties. You're acting so weird! What happened? Is it a girl? Because we both have experience with that. Or what else?"

"It's not a girl," James replied. "It's none of your business."

Fred sighed. "Fine then." He turned as if to leave, but under his breath, he whispered "Accio." An object flew out from behind him and Fred turned to catch it.

"What's this?" he asked, looking at what was in his hand—a wand.

"Give it back!" James said, standing up with an angry look in his face. He must have cast a silent summoning charm, because the wand flew back toward him.

"What is that?" Fred asked again.
James sank back on his bed. "Well, now you know," he said. He didn't sound angry; he seemed a bit sad.

Fred nervously walked toward James's bed and sat down; he didn't want his best friend to start shouting. He waited for James to say something on his own.

"Remember about a month ago I told you and Oliver to go back first after the Order of the 108 metting?" James said. "Well, I went towards the Whomping Willow. You know there's an entrance to the Shrieking Shack there. I was curious about why Lucy got hurt. So I went to search. And I found this wand—there were actually many more wands than this, but I took this one. And I've basically been examining the whole time."

"And have you found anything special?" Fred asked.

James nodded. "I used Priori Incantatum. This wand is old. It's been around for about 50 years. It has a huge history."

"Well, it's been in the Whomping Willow, so obviously it's old," Fred said.

"Yeah, but some of the more recent spells are really bad," James said. "Somebody used Crucio with this. I bet—I bet—that if we go back, I'll find a wand with the spell that they used on Lucy."

Fred remained silent. So this was what James was doing all day long? Finding the history of wands? "Well, you'll have to find the person who used the spell first," Fred said. "The wand itself won't work."

James nodded. "I'm working on it."

"So this is what you wouldn't tell us about all along?" Fred asked. "This is why you've been acting so weird?"

"Well, not only this," James said. "I mean, I'm going to Norway this winter and I didn't tell my dad so obviously I have to—what?"

Fred was gaping in surprise. "You're going WHERE?"

"Norway." James repeated slowly. "To visit Anton. He says that he thinks there's a way that he could save his sister, but he needs me to help."

"But what about your parents?" Fred asked. "They're planning this huge party! They'll get so angry when they hear you're not coming!"

"Well, now you know why I'm often distracted," James said, twiddling his thumbs.

"Are you ever going to tell them?"

James shrugged. "I don't know."

"I wonder what they'll say when you don't show up," Fred said. "Oh, they'll be mad." He stood up. "Well, have fun examining that wand."

"Don't tell anyone," James said with a nervous expression on his face.

"Not even Oliver?" Fred questioned.

"I'd rather tell him personally," James replied.

Fred nodded. "I understand… I won't tell."

He walked back downstairs toward the common room and slouched down on a couch. James was still strange, but now that he knew the reason why his best friend was acting this way, he felt better about it.

It was Halloween. The Great Hall was beautifully decorated, with lights that gleamed an orange color. The feast that night was even better. There was so much food that everybody ate at least 3 servings.

"I hope you've all had a wonderful evening," Professor McGonagall said as soon as everybody finished eating and the plates cleared. Hugo, who had been talking to Connor, stopped talking and turned toward the Headmistress. All the other students quieted down too.

"I know normally I don't make any announcements during Halloween," McGonagall continued. "But this involves all of you." She paused and stared around the room. "We will be suspending Hogsmeade visits for the rest of the year."

Throughout the hall, there were sighs of annoyance or complaints. "What's the big deal about Hogsmeade?" Connor asked Hugo. Second-years weren't allowed to go to Hogsmeade.

Lily, sitting across the table, answered for him. "Apparently it's really fun," she said. "There are all these places you can go to buy stuff, and they have Butterbeer, the best drink ever."

"Oh."

McGonagall was talking again. "We have a reason for discontinuing Hogsmeade visits," she said. "A month ago, one of our students was severely hurt while she was in Hogmseade." Hugo turned around and stared at Lucy, who he knew was the student McGonagall was referring to. Lucy didn't say anything, but continued staring at the headmistress. "The reason it took us a month to make this decision," she said. "Is partly because today was a special occasion where you would all be present. But also, because we had to investigate the cause of why she was hurt."

"Anyway," she said. "To make a long story short, we have decided that it's simply too dangerous for students to be allowed to go to Hogsmeade right now. The situation, however, should be resolved in a few months, and then you all will be free to go out again."

Professor McGonagall sat down, but the crowd started buzzing again. "What do you think she means?" Hugo asked his friends.

Lily shrugged. "Nobody ever told us how Lucy got hurt."

"I heard that the ghost of the Shrieking Shack attacked her," Elena said. "You know, the Shack is haunted."

A few seats away, Hugo's older sister was talking with a few of her friends. Hugo made eye contact with Rose. She mouthed a few words, "I'll tell you later."

After the feast, Hugo and Connor were almost out of the hall when Hugo pretended that he had left something behind. He went back into the hall and found his sister. "What?" he asked Rose.

"I couldn't help but overhear your conversation," Rose said. "About how apparently a ghost in the shrieking shack attacked Lucy?"

"Nobody really believes that," Hugo replied. "But what really happened? Do you know?"

Rose nodded. "I actually do. Do you want to know?"

"Of course!" Hugo said eagerly. "Please tell!"

"Alright," Rose replied. "I'm only telling you because you're my brother and I don't want you to start spreading false rumors about what happened."

"Okay," Hugo said. "So what happened?"
Rose told him about the night when she had gone to the Whomping Willow. Hugo's eyes grew wide as he listened. "No way!"

Rose shrugged. "Yes way. So I guess the reason they decided to stop Hogsmeade visits is because the teachers found something in the Shrieking Shack. They probably used Priori Incantatum on the wands and found out that one of them cast the spell that harmed Lucy. But they'll find the person who cast the spell soon, and then Hogsmeade visits will be reopened."

"Where do you find all this information from?" Hugo asked in shock. "Nobody told me!"

Rose smiled. "Seniority, Hugo. Besides, you get more connections as you grow older."

Hugo turned to go find his friends, but his sister called after him, "Don't forget, there's a meeting in ten minutes!"

"I know!" Hugo said. Rose was referring to the Order of the 108 meeting; they had them every Sunday, and as today was a Sunday, there was obviously one. Hugo walked up toward the seventh floor and entered the room of requirement, where Connor was.

"Did you get it?" Connor asked.

"Yep," Hugo replied. He didn't know why, but he didn't feel like telling his best friend about what Rose had told him. He felt it should just stay a family secret.

Ten minutes later, everybody who was part of the club had arrived. "So what are we starting today?" Fred asked.

"Well, the younger group just finished Stunning," Rose said. "And the rest of us finished the Conjunctivitus curse. I was thinking that we should take a break from defense spells and do something new."

"That's a good idea," said James. "So what do you all want to do? Potions? Patronuses?"

"Let's vote on it," Rose suggested. "Is there anything else you want to learn?"

"How about random jinxes and hexes?" Lily spoke up.

"Alright," Rose said. "Anything else?"

A few more people suggested some ideas, and then they voted. Hugo voted for random jinxes and hexes; he'd been given a book for his eleventh birthday and some of them had seemed really cool. Unfortunately, he didn't have the skill to perform them yet.

Random jinxes and hexes didn't win, though. Most people voted for Patronuses. "We can do the other stuff in a few weeks," James said, when a few people looked upset. "But we'll learn Patronuses now. Does anyone actually know how to cast a Patronus?"

"I think you're the only one, James," Fred said, leaning back in his chair.

"You know how to cast one?" asked Nicholas in awe.

James shrugged. "My dad taught me a few years ago. It's not that bad. It's really cool when you actually do it. The incantation is quite simple: Expecto Patronum."

"Expecto Patronum," everyone repeated.

"Right," James said. "But you need to focus on something happy. Something that makes you really happy; the stronger, the better. You're fighting off a dementor, something that makes you scared, so obviously happy things are good. Does anybody have any ideas?"

"Getting together with somebody you like?" Fred suggested. Everybody laughed.

"That would work," James said. "I'll tell you what mine usually are. It's usually just winning the Quidditch cup, or, at least for last year, winning the Triwizard Tournament. It doesn't need to be something you want, though. Actually, it's better to focus on a time when you were happy, as then your happiness will be more real. For example, focus on a good time in the past. I'll show you all if you want."

James took out his wand and firmly stated, "Expecto Patronum." A silver wisp shot out of James's wand and quickly fade. "Sorry," he said. "That was bad." He closed his eyes and said the incantation again. This time, a stag flew out and pranced around the room.

"Whoa," Hugo whispered, staring at the stag. James put his wand down and the stag faded.

"It's a really hard spell," James told everyone. "I can't even master it completely—you saw it took me two tries. But when you can, it's really cool. The animal that comes out represents you. Well, go off and try it, then."

Hugo eagerly took out his wand. "Expecto Patronum," he announced, thinking of the time in which he, Rose, and his parents had gone on a vacation to France and had a great time together. Nothing happened.

On his right, Connor wasn't getting anything either. "Expecto Patronum," he kept on repeating over and over. On the fifth time, something silvery shot out of his wand. "Did you see that?" he said eagerly. "That was something!"

Hugo wasn't paying attention. Nearby, Lily was closing her eyes and slowly saying the incantation. As she opened her eyes, a silvery streak came out and drifted around her. Slowly, it settled into a shape. It looked like… a rabbit?

"Wow," James said, turning in his walk around the room to watch Lily's patronus. "Producing a corporeal patronus on your first time is really good."

"It's so pretty," Lily said, waving her wand as her rabbit followed her.

"A rabbit," James repeated, staring at the rabbit bouncing around. "That's a nice patronus."

"Isn't that the same one that Luna has?" Lily asked.

James nodded. "I think so."

"Do similar patronuses mean anything?"

James shrugged. "I don't know."

"Grr, how can you do that so easily?" Hugo asked, frustrated. "I still can't produce anything."

"It takes a lot of time," James said. "Don't expect to do it right away, especially because you're still young. I don't know how Lily managed to get one so fast…"

Lily shrugged. "I'm going to see how everyone else is doing."

Hugo knew he should practice, but he couldn't help but watch everyone else's patronuses. Fred had produced his Patronus, a lion, which was sitting down next to him. "Nice Patronus," James said, walking toward Fred.

"I think it suits me perfectly," Fred said, staring at his lion, which was now yawning. Hugo grinned, and walked around more. Rose and Albus were still trying to get Patronuses. "Expecto Patronum," Rose said firmly. "Expecto Patronum." Finally, an eagle flew out of her wand and soared around her. "Wow," Rose said quietly. "That's beautiful."

A second later, Albus managed to produce a Patronus too. His, a horse, pranced around the room. "Just like Mum's," James said, who was observing.

Scorpius, who was standing next to the two of them, was still struggling. "I can't get it," he said.

"Don't worry," Rose told him. "It's a difficult spell."

"But you two got it," Scorpius said. "I'll get it soon…"

Hugo walked back toward his originally spot, where Lily was trying to help Connor get a patronus, but to no avail. "Any luck?" he asked Layla, who was nearby.

She shook her head. "Nope."

"Aw. Well, I couldn't get it either. All these Patronuses are so nice, though…"

Layla nodded in agreement. "Well, we'll have more time to practice next week."

For the rest of the time, Hugo didn't even bother practicing, but continued observing other people. Lucy had managed to produce an owl, while Louis had produced something that nobody could distinguish. "I think it's a baboon," Hugo said, looking at the silvery wisp that was bouncing around.

"Nah, it's a monkey," Louis said. "I think."

Five minutes later, the meeting disbanded. "See you all next week!" Rose said, as everyone left the room.

"That was a great meeting," Hugo said. "I only wish I could have gotten a Patronus."

"Well, you barely practiced at all," Lily replied. "You were looking at everyone else's the whole time."

"You got yours right away!"

"That's because I practiced!"

They argued all the way back. Behind them, Hugo could hear Connor say, with a sigh, "Cousin rivalry."

I feel like this chapter was a bit boring... what do you all think? The last part was fun to write, though! So this chapter was basically a filler, as I said before, to get to December soon, but I had to include McGonagall's speech somewhere so you all know what's happening.

Anyway, please review? I WILL update quite soon, as it's the holidays, and I'll have a lot of free time! Happy holidays to all of you!