"Ray, darling, time for dinner!" my mother called up to me. I set down the book I was reading and headed downstairs, where I found the rest of my family already gathered around the table.

"Yeah, well, we were knocked out at semifinals this year, but we'll have it in the bag next year, I'm telling you," Jamie was speaking enthusiastically to my father about the Quidditch season. Sola was watching Jamie with an amused, but somewhat careful expression on her face.

When Jamie saw me, he stopped talking about his team and said grandly, "And here's the third great Quidditch star in our family! Congratulations on taking the Quidditch Cup!"

"Fourth," my father amended. "Where did you think you got these Quidditch genes from?"

"What are you suggesting about Mom?" Sola laughed. "I always thought I got the Quidditch talent from her."

My father pretended to be offended.

"Stop it, Dad," Sola said, laughing again. "You can still be so childish."

"Well," my mother said, sitting down with us, "I don't want to start off this meal with a serious talk or anything, but I was wondering- Sola's in the Wizengamot and Jamie's playing Quidditch- any ideas what you want to do, Raylynx, dear?"

"Oh, um, I was thinking something in translation?" I suggested, realizing how lame that sounded as soon as the words were out of my mouth. It sounded a lot cooler in my head.

"What do you mean, dear?" Father asked me.

"Well… like Runes translating," I said, "From ancient Archives."

"Oh," my mother said carefully. "I didn't know they had jobs like that."

"Well, not many," Jamie replied. "Ray, that's a difficult job to get. And even if you do get it, it starts with very low pay."

"I know," I said, shrugging. "It was just a thought."

"It's a good idea to know what you want to do," Sola advised me sternly. "Otherwise it's very easy to lose motivation in your fifth year."

"It's a tough year, especially if you're playing Quidditch", Jamie warned me.

"Well, Ray's been doing better every year," my father winked at me. "I'm sure she'll pull through just fine. In the worst case, you can become an accountant, just like your exciting old Dad! Now, let's eat!"


I had written letters to the girls over summer and had just received one from Marlene and Dorcas, who were both at Dorcas' house. All of us girls had been invited, but I had wished to spend time with my family. Lily had wrote about spending time with family as well, but to me that seemed a bit off. She'd never much liked spending time with her sister, particularly now that she had a boyfriend who was, as Lily so delicately put it, "a pompous ugly walrus". I hadn't questioned it though, as my feelings warned me not to push Lily. Lily never kept secrets to gather attention like Marlene or Dorcas sometimes Lily kept a secret, she genuinely didn't want anybody to know. So I left her alone. Alice was going to join them in a few days when she was back from her holiday in France with her family.

I ripped open the envelope and unfolded the letter.

Rayly-

The inevitable has happened. Lily's a prefect. She's thrilled, of course, but can you just imagine how much more bloody difficult it's going to be to drag her along on our little 'adventures'? Though, as Dorcas pointed out, it'll be fun to tease her about it and make her squirm every time we break the rules and maybe we can get into the prefect's bathroom- heard it's really something. Anyhow, summer's going by quickly, isn't it? I still haven't unpacked my school things, though Dorcas has been pressuring me to start my homework. But as they say, never follow peer pressure. Follow your own heart.

You're lucky you have Muggle parents, by the way, mine won't stop badgering me about getting good marks on my O.W.L.s. Fifth year's the year when we've got to decide what we want to be and all… And I don't even know whether I like the taste of salted popcorn or not. Seriously, they sit us down for all these years and tell us to shut up, raise our hands, memorize useless things, and then all of a sudden we're expected to know what to do with our lives? Anyways, I'm ranting again.

Dorcas' house is really nice, I wish you could come over. But how's your family? Are they well? Dorcas and I went out and found a fellytone? Strike that, I meant tellyfone, no, tellefone, that's the one- booth to try and call you- we talked to some um… opera-tour for some time? I don't know. It didn't work. Dorcas says it's because I called the opera-tour a Scottish twat but that was only because I couldn't understand a word she was saying and besides, Dorcas is supposed to be the clever one here. Oh, and before you ask again, no, I am not still talking to that Hufflepuff boy. He was a good kisser but that's all. Have you grown? I've grown a couple inches and so has Dorcas. Anyhow, can we meet you at Diagon Alley next week to get our supplies? Alice will be with us and maybe we can meet Lily too. Send your reply with Toofy.

Cheers, Marly and Dorky

P.S. Dorky- oh fine, Dorcas begs on her behalf that she had no part of writing this letter and asks you to refrain from attributing any of the magnificent genius stupidity to her. She only wishes to express her love to you.

I smiled and looked up at the owl on my windowsill. It was quite a huge owl, which explains the name. Toofy was a shortened version of his actual name given to him by Marlene, which was "Too fat to fly".

I wrote a response saying that I would meet them at Diagon Alley and no, I had not really grown, unless you counted sideways, and that I sent my love to Dorcas too.


I was given permission to go to Diagon Alley the next week. I went a few minutes early to stop by Ollivander's and pick up some varnish. I hadn't cleaned my wand since I'd left school for the summer and it had become rather grimy.

I entered the shop and the small bell rang once. It was as dusty and aged and magical as I remembered it, with stacks and stacks of wands piled everywhere. I walked in just in time to see a young girl grasp a beautiful wand. Golden sparks came pouring out of the end, fizzling onto the floor like night stars falling out of the sky.

Her face broke into a beautiful smile and her parents clapped excitedly.

I waited patiently until they bought it and left.

"And how may I help you?" Ollivander addressed me, without looking up from the counter.

"I'm here for some varnish, please. Afraid my wand's a bit tired," I responded.

He went to the cabinets stacked along the wall to get some from me.

While waiting, I commented absent-mindedly, "You must feel blessed, Sir, to always be around those who discover the power of magic for the first time."

Ollivander handed me the varnish and his silver eyes rested upon me momentarily.

"Yes", he replied, "a blessing… and a curse."

The words lay ominously in the air for a moment before settling down in the floor with the dust.

I handed him payment and turned to leave when he suddenly spoke, "The miscreated wand. Pine mixed with pink ivory, phoenix feather, twelve and a half inches. Poignant and illuminating. Subtle yet rich."

I turned back, astonished. "Yes, that was my wand, sir. You remember?"

"I remember every wand I sold", he told me, raising a slender finger in the air. "Including the second wand you bought from me- Dogwood mixed with aspen, phoenix feather, eleven and a quarter inches long."

"How do you remember that?" I asked, amazed.

"Because, Ms. Kingsley, I made every wand with great care and thought."

I nodded.

A very random question popped into my mind, but before I knew it, the words were out of my mouth. "How do you make a wand, anyways?"

A long pause filled the air and I winced internally, wondering if I had asked a stupidly obvious question, as all Muggle-born children are bound to sometimes.

"Those are very deep secrets," Ollivander finally answered. "Wandlore is a mysterious branch of magic, as imprecise as Divination."

"Is it something one can learn?" I wondered aloud.

Ollivander gazed down at me, turning his full, penetrating gaze on me.

"It requires a great sensitivity…" He suddenly changed topics quick as lightning. "I suspect you go to Hogwarts?"

Rather taken aback by the sudden change of discussion, I just nodded.

Ollivander then pointed towards the window. I turned to see Lily, Marlene, Alice, and Dorcas in the window, waving cheerfully at me.

"Your friends, I presume?" Ollivander asked me.

"Yes, sir."

"Well, off you go," Ollivander said, and his quiet tone allowed no question about it: I was to leave. "And a good day to you, miss."

Stepping out of the store felt like pulling your head out of water- you were somewhat jolted out of the quiet, dusty atmosphere into the clattering carriages and shouting children in the streets. Everything seemed slightly louder and brighter. I turned to my friends, who were reaching out to embrace me.

Instead of waiting for hugs one by one, they all just piled on top of me. I could barely breathe for a minute or so, but when they all stepped back and I could see them, I had to shake my head in a sort-of bemused exasperation.

They had all grown again. Not just in height, as Marlene had suggested, but into themselves, which is what truly makes someone attractive.

Dorcas looked very pretty, for not only was she taller and consequently, more slender, but her curly brown hair had been cut to her chin in a more sophisticated way. Her brown eyes sparkled with the merry mix of and quick wit and sarcastic humor that she'd always had and her smile was mischievous and bright.

Alice still looked a little younger than the others, like me, but in her case, it only added to her shy beauty. Her short light brown hair framed her heart-shaped face and her bangs came down to her beautiful fawn eyes. Her smile was kind and everything about her shone with a soft innocence.

Lily was, and had always been, exquisite with her shining emerald green eyes and a sheen of vivid red hair that fell to her waist. But when she was younger, such striking features had looked almost cartoon-ish and exaggerated for such a small girl. But now, they were very distinctive and pretty features of hers, and they were paired with a slender, almost-boyish, figure that was nonetheless lovely to look at, and high cheekbones that gave her an elegant look.

Marlene had also changed quite a bit. I wondered if she truly changed all in one summer, as I believed, or if I just hadn't noticed her growing, bit by bit, since last year. She had an extremely curvy and feminine figure, thick luxurious eyelashes framing blue eyes, and untamed brown waves that framed her pretty face. Her physique, like her personality, mixed what was unruly with what was rich, and like her attitude to all things, she was fascinating to look at not necessarily because she was classically proper, but because she was bold and bright and seemed to own herself and her growth into womanhood like a proud lioness would.

When all of us girls met again on Platform 9¾, I noticed a couple boys staring at Marlene as we greeted each other. I held back a sigh. Sola only graduated a couple years ago. I know it's not as important as I'm making it out to be, but do I really need to go through all over again? But, as with Sola, I couldn't help but feel happy for Marlene. She did seem more confident in herself and seemed to enjoy herself a bit more with her dramatic physical change.

"Have you seen the oth-?"she started to ask me but right on cue, Marlene and I were ambushed by Dorcas and Alice.

"Ouch, that's my foot you stepped on!" Marlene shouted to Dorcas.

"Oh, sue me," Dorcas replied back snarkily, but she was smiling happily. Dorcas and Marlene had become quite close after spending the summer together.

"What'd I miss?" Lily said by way of greeting, walking up to us. Upon seeing Lily, for a brief moment, the same mixed feelings washed over me again, but as we embraced each other, my joy at seeing her again wiped out all of insecure feelings I felt.

We got onto the Hogwarts Express together and waved good-bye to our parents until the train took off.

We found a compartment for ourselves, and then Lily left immediately to attend the prefect's meeting.

A short while later, the beloved food trolley lady made her appearance.

"Anything from the food trolley, dears?" the lady asked us.

All of us eyed each other for one short second before it burst into pandemonium.

"Yes, I'll take all the Pumpkin Pasties you've got!" I shouted. But Dorcas jostled me back with her elbow and said, "No, you don't! They're mine!"

"You took them all last time!" Marlene shouted indignantly.

Laughing, Alice ducked under us and out into the corridor.

"I'll take them all", she said, smiling. As soon as she'd paid and they were in her hand, she tore down the corridor by herself, laughing victoriously. A few moments later, Marlene, Dorcas, and I sprinted after her, with Marlene yelling, "Alice Josephine Baker, you get back here right now!"

By the time we'd managed to catch Alice, tickle her until she was crying with laughter, and then dragged her back to our compartment, Lily had made her rounds and returned to us.

"Guess who the male Gryffindor prefect is?" she announced. "Remus Lupin!"

"Isn't he always with James and Sirius and Peter?" Marlene asked in mild surprise. "Why would Dumbledore pick him?"

"I think he's perfect for it," I said and Alice's smile indicated she agreed with me.

"Besides," Dorcas said smartly, sinking her teeth into a Pumpkin Pasty, "if Lily can hang out with the likes of us and get prefect than Remus can be a prefect despite fraternizing with buffoons like Peter, James, and Sirius."

"Speaking of Sirius Black, have you spotted him yet?" Marlene asked, smirking.

"Oh, Marlene, please. Snap out of it," Dorcas shook her head.

Alice and I looked at Dorcas curiously as Lily asked, "Why? Has he already started off the year with some foolish prank?"

Marlene grinned and said slyly, "If it's a prank, it's a very good one."

"What is it?" Alice asked curiously.

"Well, have you seen the man?" Marlene said. "If his prank is to look the way he does now, then I'm all for more pranks!"

"Someone asked for more pranks?"

Marlene's mouth fell open as our compartment door opened and Sirius Black stood there in all his newfound glory. He grinned devilishly at us and leaned against the door frame. To anyone with even a bit of adult sensibility, the whole thing would be a hilarious spectacle. But as it were, we were fifteen year old girls, and Sirius Black looked very charismatic to us.

As for Marlene, well, she certainly had a nice view of those "pranks" from where she was right now.

"We were being sarcastic. We didn't mean it. We want you to stop the pranks, actually- especially the mean ones" Lily said hesitantly, while shooting a sharp look at Marlene that obviously told her to snap out of it.

Dorcas shoved her knee into Marlene's leg.

"Ow!" Marlene said.

But Sirius had turned his attention on Lily.

"Still on Snivellus' side, huh?" Sirius asked bitingly. "You know, the rest of the school enjoys our pranks on the slimy git."

Lily immediately bristled and retorted, "His name is Severus! And you have no right to play such mean pranks on him when he didn't even do anything to you-"

"Hasn't done anything?" Sirius barked out a short, hard laugh. "Evans, I don't know what he told you, but he's definitely not this little innocent Slytherin that you paint him out to be. He's evil."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Marlene's eyes light up in joy and understanding. Finally, Marlene had someone who viewed Snape the way she did.

"All right, all right" Dorcas cried, standing up. "Enough is enough. We haven't even gotten to Hogwarts yet and we've already started bickering. We've got the rest of the year so let's hold off, yeah?"

Lily bit her lower lip to hold her peace and turned towards the window, away from Sirius. Sirius shook his head and opened his mouth to say something else about Snape, but then he recognized Dorcas. "Wait, aren't you that girl that played that 'fattening' prank on me?"

"I've been in your House for the past three years, you prat," Dorcas scoffed, "Go. Away."

"Mate! There you are!" A still scrawny, but taller James Potter appeared besides Sirius. Remus followed close behind, still looking a bit weary, but pleased with the hefty pile of chocolate he was holding in his arms.

"What are you doing?" James asked before sticking his messy-haired head into our compartment himself.

"Entertaining the ladies?" Remus suggested quietly, but his eyes twinkled with silent amusement.

"Including your fellow prefect," Sirius nodded towards Lily and turned to her. "Bet you were surprised Remus was made prefect? But of course he did, he's our REMUS TIBERIUS LUPIN!" Sirius slung an arm around Remus' neck and half-hugged, half-choked the poor boy.

Marlene almost choked on her Pumpkin Pasty as she said in disbelief, "Your middle name is Tiberius?"

"Er-" Remus began, but was cut off by James, who, when his eyes landed on Marlene, wolf-whistled. "Grew a few inches, did you, McKinnon?"

"Yeah, I'm two inches taller," Marlene replied casually.

"He wasn't talking about your height," Dorcas retorted snarkily.

"You say that like it's a bad thing" James replied cheekily.

Lily looked revolted as Marlene smirked and said, "Shove off, Potter. Don't be such a pig."

"A pig? Never. Can't you identify a gentleman when you see one?" James said, putting out his hand in a mock invitation.

Dorcas slapped it hard enough to make his palm sting.

"Ouch! Merlin, Meadowes, you've got the beak of a snapping turtle attached to your right wrist," James said.

Remus chortled, and Sirius grinned and said, "Find that funny do you, Tiberius?" and Sirius got Remus in a half-embrace, half-headlock again and roughed his hair up. Alice watched them with a bemused expression, as though she didn't know whether to laughing or concerned.

I also almost laughed at James' comment, but Dorcas had already fired back, "I've had enough of all of you messing around! Out!"

"We should go, Peter is probably losing his mind trying to save all our seats," Remus suggested, mildly patting his hair back down, as though Sirius grabbing him and roughly messing up his hand was a frequent occurrence. Probably was, come to think of it.

"Yeah, I don't think he could hold his ground against four Slytherins, somehow," James said, laughing.

"Or first years, at that," Sirius said and they tromped down the corridor, devouring chocolate, talking all over each other, and creating a trail of general ruckus as they went.


It was already the fifth time I was watching the Sorting Ceremony. It felt quite strange to realize how many years had now gone by. Professor Dumbledore stood up, immediately drawing everyone's attention.

"Welcome to new faces and welcome back to the old ones! I would like to begin by saying that I am pleased to welcome a new addition to our teaching staff. In light of the retirement of Professor Seymour, Professor Elgar has decided to step up to the Defense Against the Dark Arts position. Please welcome him, and good luck, Professor!"

We all clapped as he rose from his seat. Professor Elgar appeared very old, tall, stern and unflinching. Altogether, his demeanor was one that was elegant, but quite unforgiving.

"Dorcas, I think he could be your grandfather," Alice whispered to Dorcas. We all looked Dorcas up and down and then observed the Professor. The resemblance was truly on point and just too funny. Marlene and I almost burst out laughing and it was only due to Lily's stern glare that we managed to hold it together, with Marlene clapping a hand over her mouth.

After the feast, we all rose from the table as one huge congregation, which meant accidents were bound to happen. And they did.

"Remus, I told you over and over again, we want to do this. We've worked on this for three years, now all we have to do is do it. And we are- tonight. And no, it's not a sacrifice, so don't start on your little speech about how you're not worth it and- Oh blimey, sorry, Evans!" James had been arguing with Remus and tripped right into Lily, dumping his remaining pumpkin juice on her head.

Lily spluttered in shock.

"Scourgify," I said quietly, and the pumpkin juice disappeared.

"Sorry about that. Anyways, Remus-" James walked right past her, completely involved in his conversation with Remus.

"James, you can't just walk away like that," Remus sighed and put a hand on James' shoulder.

"I said sorry, didn't I? And she's already all cleaned up…"

Remus shook his head and turned to Lily. "We really are sorry. We were distracted."

"Yes, I noticed," Lily said icily. She glared up at James. James momentarily glanced at her- and then, he did a double take, and suddenly James was mesmerized.

"Let's start over again, shall we? I-er-James Potter, nice to meet you," his voice suddenly carried a more mature and pleasant tone that hadn't been there before. He ran one hand through his bedhead hair and held out the other hand out earnestly.

Lily looked like she had half a mind to ignore him or throw her own goblet of pumpkin juice at him, but with a deep breath, she swallowed it down and took his hand. "I'm Lily Evans."

"You're… very attractive, you know," James remarked.

"I'm also very busy," Lily said sharply, and turned away smartly.

"Come on, Remus, we're prefects. We have to show them to the common room, remember?" Lily said, taking Remus' arm and dragging him away from James.

James blinked.

"Oy, James! There you are." Sirius appeared beside us, as he shouldered his way through the crowd. Peter follow along in his wake.

Marlene turned to look at Sirius. Dorcas scowled.

"We lost you in the crowd 'cause Pete went back for some more food." Sirius rolled his eyes. But noticing James' blank expression, Sirius asked, "What's wrong, mate? You look like you'd seen a ghost. I mean, it isn't a shock Peter wanted more food, right? He always wants more food."

"Hey!" Peter shouted indignantly. "That's not true! I always take the food and you steal it from me when you think no one's looking. You eat like a bear, Sirius!"

James' voice was strangely distant. "I… I think I just got blatantly rejected…"

"How is it," Dorcas commented, rolling her eyes as we walked past them, "that we ended up with the four most stupid boys in the entire Wizarding community?"

"Probably Non-Wizarding too," I replied, laughing. "But come on, I don't think Remus is so bad-"

My sentence was cut-off when someone yelled my name. I turned to look and saw seventh-year Gryffindor Harper Bell trying to make his way towards me. I stopped in the crowd, letting others pass by me.

"Hey," he said breathlessly. "I've… been made Quidditch Captain."

I smiled. "Brilliant!"

"Right, so I'll let you know when try-outs are as soon as I figure out my schedule. You're still interested in playing, yeah?"

"Of course, but there might be someone better than me this year," I said seriously.

Harper scoffed. "I seriously doubt that."

We talked Quidditch all the way up to the common room. Apparently, Benjamin Spinnet was taking the year off since it was his N.E.W.T year, which meant we were losing a hell of a good Beater.

"I can't really blame him though. N.E.W.T. year was terrible, even worse than O.W.L. year." Harper said grimly.

"Fifth year, that's me," I said glumly.

"You'll be all right. Everyone gets through it. But Ben wants to be a Healer, which is the most intensive career path and all. But he was a great Beater, I dunno how we're going to find someone…"

"We'll find someone, don't worry," I said comfortingly. Then, we parted ways where the staircase in Gryffindor Tower split between the boys' and girls' dormitories.

As soon as I got into my dorm room, I was smacked in the face by a big fluffy pillow. I fell backwards and landed unceremoniously on my arse.

"Hey! I haven't even made it to the door!" I protested, but it was no use. Dorcas engaged Lily in a bout of pillow-swinging and both Marlene and Alice continued to wham me over the head delightedly with their pillows as I ran for my own bed to grab my own pillow, which was waiting on my bed, looking docile, but I knew it was eager for battle in its yearly bout of heroism.