A few days before Halloween there was the first Hogsmeade weekend of the year and it found the group of fourth years walking towards the town; Marnie had to meet with her grandparents at one of the lesser known tea shops from Hogsmeade, 'Rosa Lee Teabag'. As they came into sight she ran towards them happily.

"Hey sweetie." her grandmother greeted warmly.

Rosemary 'Rose' Jacobs was in her late sixties with hazel eyes, dark black skin and grey hair that once had been dark brown. Her husband, Walter Jacobs, was in his late sixties as well with green eyes, a naturally bronzed skin tone and salt and pepper hair.

"I'll catch up with you later guys." Marnie told her friends.

"Okay."

They nodded and continued on their way, leaving Marnie to talk with her grandparents. Together they entered the tea shop and her grandfather ordered the tea while Marnie and her grandmother sat down

"So, how's your fourth year going?"

"Pretty good, there hasn't happened any drama yet."

Rose nodded, remembering what her granddaughter had told her about last year's events

"Are you enjoying your classes?"

"Yes, though we have a foppish idiot as the new Defense Against The Darks Arts Professor."

"I swear that position is cursed." Walter exclaimed as he joined his wife and granddaughter.

"And that's not the worse part! Half of the girls in school are falling over themselves to get his attention; it would be actually funny to watch If Madison wouldn't be one of them."

"It's probably her first crush, passerotta." Walter said using his nickname for her.

Marnie blushed at her grandfather's term of endearment; he had been calling her that ever since she was a toddler. The tea was delivered and they poured into three cups.

Rose smirked at her granddaughter.

"Don't be so hard on her, I remember your first crush too."

So did Marnie. Derek Nixon. He was a muggle boy and she had met him last summer when she had spent a few weeks with her grandparents. Though, when she had returned this summer he wasn't there and it had devastated her.

"But other than the new Defense teacher, is your fourth year going well?" asked Walter bringing her out of her musings.

"Yes, everything is going fine."

They finished the last sips of their tea and they got up to leave the tea shop, letting the money on the table.

"Goodbye dear. We'll see you at Christmas," Rose said hugging her granddaughter.

"Definitely, gran." replied Marnie returning the hug.

Rose nodded and handed her a stuffed kestrel. It was funny how her motif was birds but her name was water themed. She hugged her grandfather as well and went to catch up with her friends. She found them at the 'Three Broomsticks'.

Much later the four friends could be seen walking back towards the castle.

"I swear, you can't be fourteen, not with all these stuffed animals," teased Jaq noticing the stuffed bird in her friend's hand.

Marnie stuck her tongue out at her.

"At least these birds won't attack you." Atticus teased as well.

Before she could respond they reached the courtyard of Hogwarts. And she saw Neville and Ginny walking together without Madison. They still were at odds with each other thanks to their different opinion on Lockhart, but Maddie was still her little sister and Marnie was wondering where her little sister was.

"I'll meet you two back in the common room."

Jaq and Atticus nodded and left as she walked toward the second year blond boy and the first year redheaded girl.

"Hey Marnie." Neville greeted.

She smiled.

"Hey Neville."

"You're wondering where Madison is?" he asked.

Marnie nodded.

"She has detention with Lockhart. I don't understand why she likes him so much. He let out some Cornish Pixies on Harry, Hermione, Ron and I. They put me up on the chandelier!"

Marnie frowned.

"I don't like him either. He's an idiot."

"Though, I think she has finally bonded with Hermione, since they both have a crush on him."

That surprised her since Hermione didn't seem the type to have a crush on someone like Lockhart. She said goodbye to Neville and Ginny. Marnie didn't know what to expect from the red haired girl, maybe she was just shy around older students, though if she was anything like her twin brothers the shyness wouldn't last long.

She walked back into the castle and headed towards the Ravenclaw Tower. Sometimes she wished there was a shorter way to the Tower but there wasn't or if there was she didn't know. When entered her dorm Jaq was waiting her on her bed.

"Hey Marnie, how was your talk with Neville?"she asked.

"Good, I asked where Madison was. It turns out she had gotten herself in detention with Lockhart on purpose."

Jaq shrugged. "Well, we all do crazy things when we like someone."

"I suppose, but it's not right! He's in his thirties!" Marnie exclaimed as she sat down cuddling Nixie in her arms.

The group of Ravenclaws was on the way to the Halloween feast when someone shouted.

"Marnie!"

Said girl turned to see her angry little sister.

"Why do you care that I was in detention?"

"You're my sister, of course I care." came Marnie's reply.

"It's none of your business, it's my life."

Before the argument could escalate into a fight between the sisters they were distracted by Filch's shouting at Harry and the crowd that surrounded them, teachers and students alike, all looking at at the wall, including the Headmaster.

"What's going on?" Madison asked loudly.

Professor McGonagall turned to her.

"It doesn't concern you Miss Jacobs."

"I don't feel sorry for Filch at all."said Madison noticing Miss Norris frozen in place.

Marnie having the obvious fondness for cats she couldn't help but feel sorry even if they were talking about Miss Norris, the most insufferable cat.

"Imagine if it was Nixie who got petrified."

Madison just fluttered her eyelashes at Lockhart flirtatiously. Marnie almost gagged.

"I suggest you continue to the Great Hall, Misses Jacobs," McGonagall instructed them.

"Okay professor," said Marnie and she grabbed her little sister's arm and dragged her away while the younger girl kicked and screamed, not wanting to leave.

Once they arrived in the Great Hall, a sulky Madison wiggled out of her sister's grip and went off towards the Gryffindor table.

"She's a piece of work," noted Clara.

Marnie sighed and took her place at the table.

"It's so hard being the oldest in the family."

"I know the feeling, Marnie. Although, my sister, Amanda, isn't as difficult as Madison is." said Max.

"Thanks, Max," Marnie smiled at the blond boy.

The food appeared on the plates and they started eating. After dinner, they went back to the Ravenclaw Tower.

"I think our quiet year is about to be over," said Clara.

"What makes you say that?" asked Marnie.

"I saw what the wall said." answered Clara.

"What did it say?"

"Enemies of the heir beware."

Marnie fell asleep.

passerotta - little sparrow.