Chapter 19

New Years, the holiday of change and vowing to make yourself a better person. Of course it follows a night of drinking yourself into one hell of a hangover, eating tons of food that will be off limits for the next few (if you make it that far) weeks, and making poor choices. Maybe that's why people say that they're going to give everything up and make themselves a 'better' person. At least that's how I've always envisioned New Years Eve. Normally I spend it sitting in my room staying up way to late reading a mystery novel and drinking tea. Such an exciting life I lead. It seemed that this year was going to be different. Staying with the James was going to turn my New Years Eve upside down. Last I had heard we were going to one of his teammates house for as he called it ' the party of the year' which he then followed with " Brace yourself Rye Bread. It's about to get wicked fun." To which I rolled my eyes and gently reminded him that he said that before every party I had ever attended that he was at. I spent the afternoon stowed away reading a novel and relaxing. Vacation was ending in a few days and we were set to leave and head back the day after tomorrow, giving us just enough time to get back to London and to make the train back to school the next day. I was in no way ready to go back to school. School meant classes, homework, tests, and seeing Al with Claire. I wasn't ready to handle that.

"What are you doing?" Rose asked thankfully startling me out of my thoughts.

I glanced at her and nearly dropped my book. Rose looked stunning. Her curly hair was pin straight, her make up was flawless (her blue eyes looked like huge sapphires they were so blue), and she was wearing a gold sparkling dress that hugged her body in all the right places.

"Forget about me what happened to you?" I asked waving my hand at her.

Rose looked down and smirked.

"Didn't James tell you we were going to a party?" she asked.

"Well yeah, but I just assumed it was your usual James shindig. I mean you haven't looked like this since the Christmas party you went to that the minister invited your family to."

Rose raised her eyebrows.

"We're going to a super fancy party aren't we?" I asked marking my page and closing my book.

"Yeah. I thought James told you. His friend is pretty much American Wizarding royalty. Loads of famous people will be there."

"I thought you would be used to famous people Rosie, after all it seems like half your family is on a chocolate frog card.

Rose smiled.

"I'm not doing this because I feel the need to impress them, but I need to look good because I need to represent my family. Just incase their names are famous over here. You never know, we see loads of American witches and wizards in our tabloids I wonder how often they see us in theirs."

"You don't sound like you have a big head at all." I said

"None what so ever. Now come on let me work my magic. I can't let my friend show up underdressed."

With a sigh I got up and followed Rose into our room where she quickly shut the door.

I had never been in a room with so many famous people in my life. And that's saying something considering I was best friends with a Weasley. Everyone who was anyone in the American Wizarding world seemed to be there. Politicians (at least the young ones) were slipping in and out of private rooms that I had yet been able to get close enough to look in. A young and very popular actress, whom I had no idea was a which, was currently dancing on a table and buying round after round for the entourage of other famous people that seemed to follow her where ever she went. And then there were the Quidditch players. Loads and loads of Quidditch players. It was like an athletic overload. And with loads of fit, rich, young, athletic boys around there was a ton of skimpily dressed girls hoping to land one of them. I swear at one point when I was talking to James when we first arrived at least ten girls stood in a corner whispering and glaring at me. Apparently girls never grow out of it. Even when their pushing thirty and you can tell she's using some sort magical youth cream and said boy is only nineteen. What they didn't know, and no one needed to know, was that I wasn't interested in said boy or any other famous Quidditch player there. Instead I was interested in his younger brother. His very much in a relationship younger brother.

Rose had disappeared almost the moment we arrived. Drug off to do some photos or something, apparently she was still famous even across the ocean. I spent my time wandering aimlessly around watching people, chatting with James for a brief minute, admiring the decorations, and mostly just waiting for Rose to come back. Parties are only fun when you know people, even if it's just one. They offered me comfort and some sort of stability and with this many people I didn't know having Rose was what I needed. At least at school there was always someone to talk to, even if it was only for a few minutes. I decided to wait for her before I began truly exploring ( I really wanted to see what was behind those velvet curtains) and sat down in a plush chair with a drink in hand.

I stared out at the dance floor watching young witches and wizards dancing to the pulsing beat. It seemed that a party was pretty much the same on every continent and at every age. Music, laughter, drinks, food, the sense that something great was about to happen and that you just had to stick around to find out what it was going to be. A tap on my shoulder startled me out of my thoughts.

"All done with your photos Ro" My voice died in my throat when I turned around. It wasn't Rose standing there. Instead it was a boy. A very fit boy.

He smiled at me.

"I don't know who you were expecting but I'm not Ro." He said in a deep voice. American. Defiantly American. That shouldn't have surprised me I was in America. Here I was the one who had a foreign accent, not him. "I'm Jack." He extended his hand to me with a breath-taking smile.

I don't know why but there was something about him. It could have been his smile, or how his dark hair fell into his eyes but I smiled back at him and shook his hand.

"I'm Riley."

"It's very nice to meet you Riley. I see that you're not from around here." He said after he shook my hand.

I looked at him confused. How did he know?

"Your accent." He added.

I blushed. Of course. I knew he was American by his. I stood out immediately to him as soon as I said my name. Merlin, way to make a first impression.

"Where are you from?" he continued as he sat in the next to me our legs just a hairs breath apart. If either of us moved any closer we would be entwined with one another.

"Ireland. And where are you from? I know you're not from North Carolina because your accent sounds different then my cousins."

He smiled again. Damn he had a lovely smile.

"Right you are. I'm from New York. Not the city, but the state. I would tell you the name but it's so small that even people who live in New York don't even know it exists."

"Is it a magical city?" I asked. I knew that there was Hogsmeade in Brittan but I hadn't really learned about magical America.

"There were some other magical family's who lived near by yes, but it was just mostly my brothers and I. I didn't meet many witches and wizards until I went away to school. It was hard to leave my friends from Elementary school behind but we were going down different paths. When I came back home that first summer my bags were loaded down with spell books and magical candies and jokes. They had gone to the local middle school and had experienced a whole different life then I had. We didn't have anything in common. I spent the rest of the summer studying at home and visiting friends from school. How about you? Is your city a magical city?"

"Well for starters I don't live in the city. I live in a village. Only my family is magical there. My dad is a muggle and my mum is a witch. I had a few friends in the village but it's pretty small. It's really normal for us to go to boarding school so when we come home in the summer we all have changed. I spend most of my summers reading and hanging out on the roof of our house. When I'm not home I'm usually at my friend Roses house, who I thought you were."

"I thought Ro was an odd name. Rose makes so much more sense. Is she how you got invited to the party? I don't recognize you. And trust me I would remember if I had seen you before." He added.

I smiled. It's always nice to be complimented by a fit boy.

"In a way yes. We're here on holiday visiting her cousin James, he's a Quidditch player."

"James…" he paused his brown mud colored eyes taking on a distant look. "James Potter?" He asked sounding somewhat surprised.

"Yeah. Do you know him?"

He smirked.

"I guess you could say I do yeah. We've played against one another a few times. I know who he is but we've never been friends. Being on rival teams and all." His voice faded off. "Do you think he would mind us talking? I mean our teams aren't on the best of terms."

"What James doesn't know won't hurt him." I smiled at him and he smiled back.

The two of us sat and talked for what seemed like hours. The conversation flowed easily between us. I slowly forgot about Rose and wondering where she had gotten off to. It was nice talking to a boy and not having to worry about weather or not his girlfriend would find out. It felt light and free and fun. I found out he played for a Quidditch team in Connecticut, but had a house down in Florida because he didn't like the cold. He was the middle child of three boys. Was twenty years old and was scouted right out of school to play. The year previously he had played on the reserve team the year before and this was his first year on the main team.

"So Riley, it seems that you know quite a bit about me, but I know relatively nothing about you other then the fact that you're here visiting from Ireland and that you're very pretty."

"What would you like to know?" I asked. Damn that blush.

"Anything you're wiling to share."

I thought for a moment.

"Well," I began, " I have two younger siblings, twins actually, a brother and a sister. I love potions but I hate transfiguration. Flying is the best feeling in the world but I'm complete rubbish at it. I love to read mystery novels." I paused trying to think of something else I could share with a boy I just met that didn't feel weird or out of place.

"She has crazy neat handwriting. If you need to borrow notes borrow them from her." A voice interrupted from behind me. I turned around and almost did a double take when I saw Al standing there. Merlin did he look good. He was wearing a tux and it looked marvelous on him. It made the angles in his face stand out making him look older then seventeen. His dark hair was gelled into place and his green eyes looked like emeralds. I instantly forgot about Jack. Sweet Jack who had been chatting me up for the better part of an hour. Al walked over and sat on the armrest of my seat resting his left arm across the back of my chair.

"And you are?" Jack asked glancing quickly from Al to me as if he was afraid he crossed some sort of line. I almost burst out laughing waving my hands saying, "No, no we're not together."

"Al Potter." Al responded as he reached out his hand. I noticed that he didn't ask Jack for his name.

"Ahhh Potter. I'm going to assume you're James's brother. You two look quite a bit a like. I think it's the hair."

"He's my older brother. We're out here staying with him for holiday. We're heading back to England the day after tomorrow to get back to school on time." I could feel Al tensing next to me. Almost as if he was not looking forward to heading back to school. And then we plunged into silence. An uncomfortable, I would do anything to escape silence.

"Well I better be going then." Jack said with a sigh after a few minutes more. I have to admit. I was somewhat relived. I didn't know how much longer I could sit there.

"Goodbye Riley. It was lovely to meet you." Jack said with a tip of his head. And just as quickly as he came he disappeared back into the crowd.

"Rose and I leave you alone for an hour and already you have a boy chatting you up?" Al asked looking down at me. "Honestly I shouldn't be surprised. You look lovely. Is that dress yours?" He asked. I looked down at the dress I had borrowed from Rose. It was cap sleeved, knee length, satin red dress with a dangerously low cut back. When I first tried it on I wasn't sure about it. It wasn't until I walked out of the bathroom and Rose told me if I didn't wear it she would beat me with a stick that I knew it looked good.

"No. It's Roses."

"Really. I didn't know Rose owned a red dress. I thought red would clash with her hair." He said this as he shifted and filled in the seat that Jack had been sitting in only moments before. Al however didn't seem to mind if our legs were touching. It was all I could do not to concentrate on the warmth flooding though me as his knees pressed against mine.

I cleared my throat.

"It's not red. It's normally black but we charmed it. Shhhh don't tell." I could feel the effects of the drink I had catching up to me. Suddenly giggly.

Al smirked and I felt my pulse race.

"So do you want to spend the night sitting in a chair observing or would you like to experience the party." Al asked.

"What did you have in mind?" I asked. Warmth was spreading though me and I knew it didn't have to do anything with the alcohol.

Al stood up and offered me his hand.

"Only one way to find out."

I glanced up at him, his green eyes were light with excitement and I knew it was now or never. I really didn't have a choice; in an instant he was pulling me up and leading me into the crowd.

The next few hours past in a loud blur of people, drinks, music, laughter, smoke, (we checked out what was in the curtained rooms. Lots and lots of smoke and people seemed to be slowly moving in and out of it as if in a dream. Al and I got out of there quickly. It didn't seem too interesting, and Al. Always Al. The rest of the faces were a blur but he was a constant. Where ever we went he was guiding me. I'm not sure when it started but his fingers seemed to be permanently laced though mine.

"Do you want to get some air?" Al shouted in an attempt to be heard over the music.

"What?" I asked.

He gestured to another set of blue velvet curtains over his shoulder. I shrugged my shoulders. I honestly would go wherever he wanted to go. I was enjoying the time we were having together. He was making me feel alive and young as if the whole world was at my feet. Something every seventeen-year-old girl should feel from time to time. We walked hand and hand though the crowed (I kept telling myself it was so he didn't loose me and that there was no other reason for him to keep holding my hand.) He quickly pushed aside the curtains and I braced myself for the smoke, but it didn't come. I slowly opened my eyes and found that we were on a balcony. Heating charms had obviously been cast because it was snowing and I only felt a slight breeze. I shivered out of habit and Al quickly took off his jacket and placed it around my shoulders.

"Cold?" he murmured.

I smiled.

"Not anymore."

"Good. I wouldn't want you to be cold."

The two of us feel into silence. I could hear laughter coming from another balcony that I couldn't see but other then that Al and I were alone. I rested my arms on the ledge of the balcony and inhaled deeply. Suddenly I was transported back to the potions room. The boyish smell. It was Al. His dying cologne mixed with a smell all his own. How could I not have realized this. I first smelled it when I was under his cloak when we snuck though the castle to go flying. Merlin I was in deep.

"Is something wrong?" Al asked. He must have noticed the change in my mood.

I shook my head no. How could I tell him that everything was wrong. I fancied him and that I couldn't tell him because he was dating the queen bee of the school that would pretty much murder me if she ever found out.

"You know you can tell me right. I mean I've told you things I haven't told anyone else." He whispered knocking his shoulder into mine as he leaned against the ledge next to me. I noticed he didn't pull it away. I looked into his eyes. They were still bright with excitement but there was something else there. They seemed darker. Like he wanted something. I shook my head trying to get rid of those thoughts. It was probably just the alcohol.

"Can I tell you something?" He whispered his warm breath fanning out against my exposed neck.

I shivered again. This time had nothing to do with the slight chill in the air.

"MMM" I said wanting him to continue. The alcohol was making me sleepy and his closeness was getting to me. I could smell him all around me and feel the warmth of from his arm pressing into mine. Another heat was pooling in my stomach. If it wasn't his jacket I would have taken it off I was so warm.

"You look hot in that dress. And I love your hair up."

Instantly I was awake. His words flowed though me like a shot of adrenalin. I looked at him and found him starring back. His green eyes hard but the darkness was still there. And it was in that moment I knew what he wanted. I wasn't drunk anymore. I felt more alert then I had all night. This was bad. Really bad. I couldn't let this happen. Not now. Not when he was still with Claire. Stupid Claire. If it wasn't for her I could be snogging him right now.

"I have to go." I whispered.

"Go where?" He asked sounding confused.

I shook my head. I felt tears starting to form and cursed myself for being stupid. Nothing had happened. Nothing was going to happen so why was I crying?

"Thanks for spending the evening with me Al. I had a lovely time." And then I was walking away. I had to get out of there. I quickly pushed aside the curtain. People around me were counting down. Ten. I stumbled into someone. Nine. I heard Al calling my name but I didn't look back. Eight. Where the fuck was the door? Seven. Where the fuck was Rose? Six. I heard Al calling again. Funny how now when I wanted to I couldn't lose him. Five. There was the door. Four. Sorry lady I didn't mean to knock over you drink but no need to call me a bitch. Three. I felt myself give a sob. I had to get out of there. Two. I pushed open the door. One. Fuck it. I apparated to the first place I thought of. Screw it if I wasn't eighteen. I had to get away.

The beach was overwhelmingly quiet compared to the party.

"Happy New Year." I whispered to myself as I looked out into the ocean. I wiped away my tears and sat down in the sand.

Hello Lovely Readers,

I know it took a bit for this one. I hope it was worth the wait. Thank you for bearing with me as I have worked up to this. You all have been lovely. Let me know your thoughts. Every review helps. :)