Chapter 13

It ain't always pretty
But it's real
That's the way we were made
Wouldn't have it any other way
These are my people

These Are My People- Rodney Atkins.

Seconds later my feet slammed into the hard ground. I felt my knees begin to buckle but I quickly shifted my weight and remained standing. After taking portkeys for years I quickly learned that I disliked slamming arse first into the ground (which often resulted in a bruised tail bone that made sitting painful for a few days.) and figured out the tricks to stay standing.

I inhaled the sea air and smiled to myself. I would never get sick of the salty smell.

"Everyone alright?" Mum asked as she picked up her luggage from the sandy ground.

I nodded my head and began making my way to Nana's house.

Every year since I can remember us taking portkeys, when we were very small we would take muggle planes and fly. But once we were big enough we started using magical transpiration. We would arrive and depart from a little wooded area that was off to the side of my Nanas house. It was hidden from view and no one lived close to it. I guess the magical officials decided it was the best place for a family of five to arrive inconspicuously.

I swiftly walked though the trees making sure to carry my suitcase so sand and excess dirt wouldn't get trapped in the wheals and drug though the house. The woods quickly opened up and I let out a sigh as my grandmothers house came into view. It was white with green shutters and had a large wrap around porch made of wood. In the summer she had the coziest chairs set out and I often would fall asleep in them just watching the ocean. She also had a number of flowerbeds artfully placed around the house and the property. In summer when everything was in bloom and the leaves were green the whole yard was filled with honeybees moving lazily from flower to flower. It also smelled heavenly, especially when the lily's bloomed.

I walked up the steps, my suitcase hitting the stairs with a thump as it knocked against the step. Thank Merlin Mum was still in the woods or I'm sure I would hear a lecture about proper suitcase etiquette and how my wheels make nicks in the wood. Blah blah blah I've heard it enough to know better, but right now I just wanted to get inside.

A soft light glowed though the windows signaling that Nana was up and expecting us, normally she never stayed up past 9 pm. Unless she knew we were coming. I knocked on the door and waited for Nana to open it. Almost instantly it was jerked open.

"Hi Na" but my voice died in my throat when I saw that it wasn't Nana. I was immediately grabbed and pulled into a tight hug.

"Ryan. I didn't know you would be here." I said with a smile after my favorite cousin released me.

" When Nana said that you guys would be arriving tonight I convinced Mom and Dad to let me come see you. How have you been? I feel like I haven't seen you in ages." She said moving out of the way allowing me to slip past her.

"That's because you haven't. Are your brothers here?" I asked her.

"No it's just me. But I'm sure you will see them tomorrow."

I nodded my head. I heard the rest of my family as they began making their way up to the door.

"Chat in a few?" I asked before she could be sucked into my mothers embrace. She shook her head yes and turned back to the door a large smile on her face as she greeted the rest of my family.

I walked to the back room that doubled as 'my' room while we stayed here, it had the best view of the ocean, set my things down and then started making my way though the house to see if anyone else was there. I walked into the den and smiled to myself. Nana had fallen asleep in her chair, watching Some Like It Hot from the looks of it. I quietly walked over to her.

"Nana." I said as I gently shook her shoulder.

When she didn't respond I spoke louder.

"Nana. Wake up we're here."

Still nothing. Looks like I know where Bridget got her sleeping pattenrs from. But unlike waking Bridget I didn't feel comfortable pinching my grandmother until she woke. I decided one good shake was in order and if that didn't work I would let Mum take care of it.

"Nana" I said in a loud voice as I shook her shoulders. Instantly her eyes snapped open. Searching for the person who disturbed her slumber. I saw her face soften instantly when she saw me.

"Riley dear you're here!" She held out her arms and I leaned down into them. I held her for a few seconds inhaling her scent of baby powder and perfume as she stroked my hair.

"Where's the rest of your family?" she asked when I pulled away.

"I'm sure Mum is talking with Ryan and the others are putting their things in their rooms. We know you don't like clutter."

"They could come visit before unpacking. Its not like I'm going to be able to say up all night like y'all are able to."

I laughed.

"Were not going to be up all night." I said. Maybe Mum and Dad would seeing as they did get some sleep before we left.

Almost immediately after Mum came walking in. She had a large smile on her face and her brown eyes were bright. As much as Mum loved home I think a part of her always missed it here. I mean if I moved away from England I would miss it no matter where I lived. Even after spending a few weeks here at Nanas I found myself longing for home. I wonder if Mum ever felt like that?

"Christine, come give your Mama a kiss." Nana said as she sifted around in her chair. Mum walked up to her and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. The two began chatting and I took it as my cue to leave. The two needed some time to catch up. I had said hello and was now free to do whatever I pleased.

I made my way back down the hall and into my room. Ryan was already there waiting for me. She was lying on her back looking up at the ceiling, her strawberry bond hair fanning out behind her across the pillow.

"You do know I've claimed that bed as mine right." I said pointing to my suitcase that was resting next to it.

"I noticed. But I chose to ignore it until you said something."

I made a face at her trying to make myself look as cross as possible.

"If you're trying to make me feel bad its not working." She said not moving from my bed.

"There's no chance in hell were sharing a bed like we used to." I said referencing a time when we were both much smaller and instead on sharing a bed when I came to visit.

She smiled at the memory but still didn't move.

I sighed

"Budge over."

She quickly shifted her position making room for me to lie down beside her.

I lied down my arm resting against hers due to the close proximity. Nana really needed to invest in bigger beds. It was just as I got comfortable that I realized I left the light on. Out of habit I reached over and took my wand out of my rucksack and whispered "Nox."

As the light left the room I felt Ryan move next to me.

Shit. Good thing Mum wasn't around.

" I wish I was eighteen," she said grumpily.

"Well when you turn eighteen you will be able to do all the magic you like." I said with a smirk.

She scowled at me.

"I don't understand why in the UK you're allowed to do magic at seventeen but here you have to wait until eighteen."

"I don't know love. But I plan to rub it in your face as much as possible."

"You would. I'm older then you"

"By a month" I interjected.

"But I still can't do magic outside of school. Its totally unfair."

I just shrugged my shoulders, laid back down on the bed, and stared up at the ceiling watching the shadows of the tree branches sway in the breeze.

Ryan lived an interesting life. Starting even before she was born. She has three older brothers: Will, Jack, and Luke. When my Aunt Kathy was pregnant with her she went to the muggle doctor and they told her that she was pregnant with a boy. So she and my Uncle Mac prepped for a boy. They painted the nursery blue, took all of the old clothes out of storage, and even picked out a boys name. Imagine their surprise when Ryan was born. You've been expecting a boy and suddenly you have a little girl. They decided to name her Ryan anyway and changed her middle name from John to Marie to add a feminine touch. She spent the first couple weeks being mistaken for a boy since the only clothes my aunt and uncle had were for boys. Until Aunt Kathy couldn't take it anymore and she began dressing Ryan in the girliest clothes she could find. She didn't wear blue again until she could decide for herself. As Ryan grew she began tagging along with her older brothers, well at least when they would let her, and thus she became a tomboy, much to my Aunts displeasure. She played every sport she could sign up for: lacrosse, basketball, softball, swimming, and football, pardon me I mean soccer. As much as Aunt Kathy tried to get her to sign up for dance classes Ryan resisted and insisted upon sports.

Then came their second surprise. When Ryan was seven she began showing signs of magic. Things would move or break when she was mad. There were also unexplainable occurrences around her when she was feeling very emotional that my Aunt recognized as instances that occurred when my Mum was a child. She immediately called my mother, the only other person in the family who's a witch, and told her what was happening. Mum got a portkey and came to spend a week here. She observed Ryan and told her sister that her daughter was indeed a witch. When she was eleven she began attending Salem Witches' Institute, much to her dismay since she didn't want to go to an all girl's school, but my Aunt wanted to beat the tomboy out of her and figured the best environment to do so was an all girl's boarding school. Turns out Aunt Kathy was right. Ryan let her short strawberry bond hair grow out until it reached past her shoulders, she stopped biting her nails, and discovered makeup as time went on. However Ryan is still the most competitive person I know. She loves sports and is obsessed with Quidditch, the American teams specifically, and every summer works as a camp counselor for some sports center in the area. As much as her Mum tried to get her to behave like a lady she was still a tomboy she just now looked like a girl. A very pretty girl at that. Part of me wonders if it's a good thing she's at an all girls school considering how much male attention she receives.

I felt Ryan shift in her sleep beside me. I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep vowing to unpack in the morning.

"Wake up" someone shouted into my ear only moments before they hit me with a pillow.

"What time is it?" I groaned.

"Nearly noon. Now get your ass out of bed. Mom wants you to come to our house."

I sat up and blinked the sleep out of my eyes. Ryan was standing there pillow in hand, clearly preparing to strike again if need be.

"Your Mum wants me to come to your house?" I asked sleepily.

"Well she wants me to come home but you're coming with me."

That sounded more like it. Aunt Kathy would never demand for me to come to her house.

"Hurry up. She's going to be so pissed if I'm not home in twenty minutes."

"And you just woke me up now?" I asked as I got out of bed and begin rummaging though my suitcase for clothes.

"She just called. Now hurry up. I don't want to be late. There's a party I want to go to for New Years Eve and if I'm late now she may not let me go." Ryan said before walking out of the room.

I quickly threw on a pair of jeans and a sweater. After running a brush though it I left my hair down. The two of us made our way into the kitchen where Bridget was sitting munching on a piece of toast while she read the paper.

"Where are Mum and Dad?" I asked as I poured myself a glass of orange juice. Something we rarely had back home because neither Mum nor Dad cares for it but Nana always had it. I loved the tangy sweet taste, although it didn't taste so good after brushing my teeth.

"Shopping with Nana." Bridget said spraying bits of toast everywhere as she spoke with her mouth full.

"And Patrick."

She swallowed.

"He's in the shower."

I grabbed a bagel off the counter and began searching for my coat.

"Tell Mum I've gone to Ryan's and that I'll be back for dinner."

She nodded her head but never took her eyes off the article she was reading.

I met Ryan out in the hall just as she was immerging from the bathroom.

"Ready?" she asked as she zipped up her jacket.

"As all ever be."

The two of us made our way outside calling goodbye over our shoulder as we walked out the door. We hopped into her car; she was driving while I fiddled with the radio attempting to find a good station. The drive to my Aunt and Uncles house was a quick one. They don't live to far away from Nana's. That is something that I do dislike about living across the ocean, no family is close by. All Ryan has to do, when she's home that is, is hop in a car and drive for a few minutes and be at one of our relative's homes. We have quite a few cousins, my Mum is the youngest of nine and her Mum is the oldest. Besides my Mum none of her siblings have spread out very far and remained in the area. This allowed for random drop-in's and cousins that were more like siblings. Something that I missed out on growing up in England. The only family that I knew that was as close as my Mums was the Potter/ Weasley clan.

Before I knew it we were pulling into the driveway. My Aunt and Uncles home was the exact opposite of ours. Clean and orderly everything had a proper place and Merlin help you if you didn't put something away. Or if you didn't put a coaster under your drink, I've gotten in trouble for that on more then one occasion. Our house wasn't messy it was just cozy. Things had places but if you put a cup on the second shelf of the first cabinet instead of the first shelf no one cared. I always felt as though I was walking on eggshells when I was in my Aunts home. I didn't want to break anything or mess anything up.

That is everywhere except Ryan's room. It was much more like my own, organized chaos. Items were strewn about in a carless manner. Books were stacked on her desk, papers were in piles, along the far wall she had a large dresser that hair products, make up and other miscellaneous things were scattered about on. Her walls were decorated in a similar manner to my own. However, unlike in the rest of the house there were moving photos and posters. A clear sign of Ryan's Magical ability. I breathed a sigh of relief as we entered. It was just as I remembered. Except for now hanging above her bed was a large poster of James Potter. He was sitting lazily on a boom throwing the Quaffle from hand to hand effortlessly. A smirk was plastered on his handsome face and occasionally he would smile and wink. I froze in the doorway when I saw this.

She smiled at me as she kicked off her shoes.

"Isn't he hot?"

I couldn't speak. I never thought my cousin would know who James Potter was. Al had told me that James had developed quite a fan base over here, particularly girls but what else was new. But I never thought my cousin would be one of them.

"I'm going to take your silence as a yes."

I tore my eyes away from the poster and looked at her.

"You should see his brother."

Her brown eyes widened with surprise.

"He has a brother?"

"Yep." I answered as I walked over to her bed and sat down.

"How do you know this? Did you read it in some magazine? Because I swear I've read every article on him and every interview he's given but he has never said anything about a brother."

I snorted.

"I know because I go to school with him. Their sister as well."

If possible her eyes widened even further.

"You bitch. All those letters we sent to one another and you never mentioned this once." She said as she sat down on the bed crossing her legs facing me.

I shrugged my shoulders.

"It never seemed important. I didn't even know you knew who James was until now."

"Would you have told me if you did know?"

"Of course I would."

She smiled at me.

"So what's he like?"

I took a deep breath. How to describe James…

"Well" I began carefully "He can be a bit of a tosser."

"American dear cousin speak American. You're lucky I can understand your accent let alone some of those words you use."

"Your accent's just as bad as mine its just different. And as for tosser. He's kind of a" I paused as I searched for the word she would understand. " He can be kind of a jerk."

She stared at me blankly for a few moments.

"No way. He can't be. He seems so nice in all his interviews and he's an amazing player. Did you know he's helped improve the Hawks record in just the few months that he's been here. They're in the playoffs for the first time in twenty-five years."

"Who you are during a five minute interview does not mean you're like that in day to day life." I pointed out.

She pouted at this.

"What am I going to tell all of my friends back at school? Their all kind of obsessed with him. Especially Lara"

"And you aren't?" I asked.

She blushed at this.

"So what's this brother of his like?" she asked. Suddenly it was my turn to blush.

"He's all right."

"Bull shit. Your as red as a beat now spill."

I had no idea why her simple question sent my heart racing. Al and I were just friends nothing more. He was dating Claire and didn't fancy me. But Rose did say that he might think of me as more then a friend. A little voice inside my head pointed out.

But it didn't matter anyways because I didn't fancy him. I shook my head to rid myself of those thoughts.

"Al's really kind, funny, smart, and he's a wicked keeper even if he thinks he's rubbish at it. He's also a really amazing teacher. He's touring me in transfiguration right now. He looks out for Lily, their sister, but still lets her have her space. Something James never did he was always asking her about boys and hexing anyone who showed interest in her, the poor girl. He's really selfless as well, which is amazing considering how he grew up in the spotlight and all. I mean he's the son of Harry Potter, which has to be an interesting childhood if you ask me. He looks quite a bit like James, they have the same build and hair but Al has these amazing green eyes. But over all he's a really nice guy and we're friends."

"Are you sure the two of you are just friends?" Ryan asked me after I had finished, her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Yes!" I said exasperatedly. "He has a girlfriend."

"And are you ok with him having this girlfriend?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

"It sounds like you like him." She said. Rolling her eyes like it was the simplest answer in the world.

" I do not fancy Al Potter." I said. My voice coming out harsher then I meant it to.

Ryan cracked a smile

"You like him! Riley and Al sitting in a tree k-i-s-s"

She didn't get to finish before I smacked her in the face with a pillow.

"First of all like I said he has a girl friend. Second I don't fancy him we're just friends" I told her getting a little defensive.

Ryan held her hands up in front of her.

"Fine you don't like him, but that's not what it sounds like."

I opened my mouth to speak again.

"And from experience when someone argues with you about who they like, they usually like that person."

I closed my mouth and crossed my arms over my chest.

"Now would you like to watch a movie?" Ryan asked as she gestured towards the shelf where all her DVD's were lined up.

I let out a breath.

"That sounds lovely."

I was ready to put that conversation behind us. And what better way to do so then watching romantic comedies for the next five hours.

I ended up spending the whole afternoon at Ryan's house curled up in her room-watching movie after movie. I missed movies while I was at Hogwarts. Since muggle technology didn't work inside the castle I was unable to even smuggle a portable DVD player into the castle. It was a shame really, some days I just want to watch one. My favorite being Casablanca. I know its old but it's just so romantic and wonderful. Ryan didn't care for movies that weren't in color but I loved them.

Ryan's brother Luke ended up driving me back to Nana's when he got home from work. The evening was uneventful and no one had come to visit. So after dinner dishes were done I slipped outside and was currently sitting on the beach listing to the waves crash.

The beach at night was often better then the beach during the day. There was no one else around you. Just the sound of the waves and your thoughts. It was the perfect place to think, and to be honest I needed some time to think. It seemed that almost anyone I knew very well was convinced I fancied Al Potter. First Rose and now Ryan. I didn't know how to explain to both of them that we were just friends with out them thinking I was being overly defensive. All I knew was that I hadn't seen him since potions the last day of term. And this occurred before my chat with Rose. Maybe it was just because of what Rose said but now I was thinking over every little moment the two of us had ever spent together and was driving myself insane. Rose couldn't be right. Al didn't fancy me. He was dating Claire and there was no way Claire was going to let him go. But Claire did seem to be unhappy with me. Maybe Rose was right. Maybe Claire was jealous of me. Part of me was contemplating and writing Rose telling her that I couldn't come and would just spend the rest of the holidays here with my family. But if I did that Rose would call me a coward and that would just prove to her that I had feelings for Al even though I didn't. I mean there was no reason for me not to go. The only thing possibly holding me back was my own self and for reasons that I didn't even know.

I took a deep breath and rubbed my face. I just needed to get some sleep and I would think about this in the morning. I was just about to get up when a sound off to my left startled me. Instantly I regretted not grabbing my wand, rules be damned, when I saw a mysterious shape approaching out of the darkness. The noise grew louder and I remained rooted to the spot. I was unable to see and thus didn't want to run, but at the same time I had nothing to defend myself with. Well, I did have my fists but those would only be used in dire situations. Just as I was about to make a run for it I was able to finally see what was approaching me. An owl. And not just any owl Al's owl, Ghost .In his beak was clutched a role of parchment. I felt my stomach drop to my feet as Ghost landed next to me and dropped the letter in my lap. I leaned down and softly stroked his snow white feathers.

Inhaling deeply I unrolled the letter

Dear Riley,

I regret to inform you that James never got you a ticket and you are not longer invited to come spend time with us over break. Have fun at your Nanas…

Just kidding. I couldn't resist that. I bet I had you going for a moment there. James got you a ticket, I would murder him if he didn't, but he not only got you a ticket he got another ticket for Al's friend that he thought was coming as well. Long story short he thought that both Al and I were bringing a friend not that Al and I would both be friends with the same person. So we have an extra and haven't got a clue who to give it to. So I suggested that you bring someone, Lily wants you to bring Bridget but I think you should bring Patrick. Yes, I know that Lily and Patrick fight like its their job but I think its because they secretly fancy one another. Anyway bring whomever you want as long as they know how to have a good time and love Quidditch.

Lots of Love,

Rose.

I finished reading the letter my mind already made up. I knew exactly whom I was going to invite.

Hello Readers,

Sorry it took me so long to get this chapter out, I've been crazy busy. I know this is another filler but she will be going to stay with the Potters in the next chapter :) As always your reviews have been wonderful. Thank you so much for reviewing, favoring, and following this story, it means a great deal to me. Hopefully I will have the next chapter out much sooner then this one.