"Home!" I squealed as I landed softly on my bed. I stretched out and sighed.

Jane laughed at me as she unpacked. "Home? I thought when we got back you'd be full of tales about how you miss California and how you're going to try to run away from here just so you never have to be parted from the Pacific Ocean again."

I ignored the teasing tone of her voice and contemplated my life. "California was my home. It still is, in a way. I was raised there, raised in the water and sun. God, England can be so gray." I smiled as I rolled onto my stomach to look at her. Georgie and Carly were already downstairs, saving us seats for the Feast.

Jane looked ready to defend her home land. I raised my hand to stop her. "But I love England in a way I didn't love the States. California is laid back and mellow and pretty much stays that way all the time. But here," I sighed again, "here is where I feel alive. I feel like my small family has grown. It used to be just my parents, Beth and me. And yes, I miss my friends back there very much, and they miss me but we keep in touch, and we'll continue to. You guys, though. You guys and Albus and Lily and Rose and Hugo make me feel like I belong here. Like, I was supposed to be born here but fate messed up and sent me to America. I still love my friends back there, but I know here is where I belong."

My eyes, over the course of my confession had drifted towards the window, where I could just barely see the quidditch pitch. I forced them back to Jane, who was watching me with a tearful smile. "I'm staying," I said.

She rushed at me and pulled me into a fierce hug. "I believe you. I love you so much, Linny."

I laughed as I brought us both up to a standing position. "I love you, too, Janie."

Jane wiped the water from her eyes. "Come on, then. We can't go down to dinner in tears. People will think we've secretly been dating and have just broken up."

I giggled and wrapped my arm around her tiny shoulders as we made our way to the Great Hall. "Nah, they'll think we've just realized our love for each other, but can't be together because my parents will disown me if they find out."

"It's a good thing all of our bruises and cuts from the brawl the other day have healed, then," she said with a smile.

"Well, at least the visible ones have. I still have tooth marks around my elbow!"

Jane's laughter followed us into the Great Hall, where Georgie and Carly were talking animatedly to Rose.

"What's with you two, then?" Carly asked, annoyed that we had taken so long. "And where's everyone else? We have news, Rose. We're heroes!"

Jane and I snorted. Jane sat down as she said, "More like we are, Carly, and you're the idiot we had to defend."

Carly opened her mouth to argue, but I punched her in the side, a spot I knew was still bruised for her. She winced, and Rose threw us a curious look.

I shrugged. "It's a long story, Rose. We'll tell it after the feast. But, anyways, did you have a nice break?"

She nodded. "It was nice. We spent a lot of time at the Burrow. Hugo was trying to get me trained up enough to be a Keeper, you know, since Ary's gone, but I told him I didn't have time. I've got loads of reading to do if I'm going to be a Healer!"

I groaned. "Rose, it's the first day. Please don't talk about school now."

She laughed at my expression, but soon sobered. She looked like she had just remembered something. "Oh, yeah, Lin –"

"DON'T TELL THEM, ROSE WEASLEY. IF YOU DARE TELL THEM BEFORE I DO I'LL TELL UNCLE RON ABOUT THAT BOY –" Lily's yells were soon muffled by Rose's hand.

"Lily!" she wailed. "You promised you wouldn't tell anyone."

Lily, still panting from her run into the Great Hall, removed her cousin's hand from her face with a smile. "And I won't," Lily said breathlessly. "Just wanted to make sure you listened."

Rose huffed at her. I looked between them both, confused. "Tell us what?"

Lily brightened as she turned to me. "Teddy proposed to Victoire on the platform before we left!"

Jane gasped as I giggled. "So that's what that shrieking was!"

Jane sounded indignant. "She didn't tell me! How could she not tell me? She told me I like a sister to her!"

Lily laughed at Jane. "Teddy did it as the train was pulling away. We all jumped off the train just in time."

I frowned at her. "Jumped off the train?"

She nodded. "Aunt Hermione was so scandalized!"

Rose laughed. "Mum almost fainted!"

"So, wait," Georgie looked at the two in confusion, "how did you get here?"

"Well, it's supposed to be a secret," Lily smiled, "but –"

Rose clapped her hand to Lily's mouth again. "We flew," she said seriously.

Lily shoved her hand away. "In a car!" she whispered.

"LILY!" Rose wailed.

Georgie, Carly, Jane and I exchanged looks. "How?"

Rose glowered at us. "My grandfather likes to tinker with muggle objects."

"You should have seen all their faces. Apparently Granddad had done it ages ago, but Uncle Ron and Dad did something to it, and Grandmum made him swear he wouldn't do it again, but he did, and here we are!" Lily gestured to Rose and herself.

I tilted my head to the side as I regarded them. "So, where are your brothers again?"

Lily opened her mouth, but was cut off by a much deeper voice. "Hello, Yank."