The following morning, Hailey met the Diggory's. They didn't blame her for what had happened, they thanked her for returning Cedric's body to them. Mr Diggory sobbed through it and Mrs Diggory's grief seemed to be beyond tears.

Hailey told them how Cedric died, Mrs Diggory said, "He suffered very little then. And after all, Amos…he died just when he'd won the tournament. He must have been happy."

The two got their feet, and Mrs Diggory looked down at Hailey. "You look after yourself, now."

Hailey looked at the sack of gold that was on the bedside table, grabbed it, and held it out to Mrs Diggory. "You take this. It should've been Cedric's. He got there first, you take it—"

Mrs Diggory backed away from Hailey. "Oh no, it's yours, dear, I couldn't…you keep it."

The following evening, Hailey returned to Ravenclaw Tower the following evening. It seemed like the Ravenclaws didn't seem to acknowledge her appearance. They probably believed what Rita Skeeter had written about her in that stupid article about how disturbed and possibly dangerous she was. Colton Taylor and Stephen Cornfoot didn't seem to care because they waved and smiled at her.

From what Mandy and Michael had told her, that morning at breakfast, Dumbledore requested that everyone should leave Hailey alone by not asking her questions or badger her to tell the story of what happened in the maze.

From the days on, most people skirted past her in the corridors or avoided her eyes. Some even whispered behind their hands, probably coming up with theories on how Cedric died.

Hailey didn't care because she liked talking to Ron, Hermione, Mandy, or Michael about other things or when she and Ron played chess in silence in Gryffindor Tower.

They seemed to reached a silent understand that they were waiting for some sign, some word of what was going on outside Hogwarts. It seemed pointless to speculate what might happen until they knew for certain.

Ron brought up a meeting that Mrs Weasley had with Dumbledore before going home. He said, "She went to ask him if you could straight to us this summer, but he wants you to go back to the Dursleys, at least, at first."

"Why?" asked Hailey.

"She said Dumbledore's got his reasons," Ron said shaking his head darkly. "I suppose we've got to trust him, haven't we?"

The only person, apart from her friends, Hailey felt able to talk to was Hagrid. Well, Stephen Cornfoot and Colton Taylor had speculated on who might be their next Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher for next term. They had the Dark Arts lessons free, since they didn't have a teacher.

On a bright, sunny Thursday afternoon, they went down to visit Hagrid in his cabin. Fang bounded out of the open door as they approached, barking and wagging his tail madly.

"Who's that?" called Hagrid, coming to the door. "Hailey!" He strode out to meet them, pulled Hailey into a one-armed hug, ruffled her hair, and said, "Good ter see yeh. Good ter see yeh."

When they entered Hagrid's cabin they saw two bucket-sized cups and saucers on the wooden table in front of the fireplace.

"Um…what?" Mandy asked, pointing at the cups and saucers.

"Bin havin' a cuppa with Olympe," Hagrid said. "She's jus' leg."

"Who?" asked Ron curiously.

"Madame Maxime, o' course!" replied Hagrid.

"Oh, so you two finally worked things out?" Mandy asked.

"Dunno what yeh're talkin' about," said Hagrid in a airy manner. He fetched more cups from the dresser. After making tea and offered a plate of doughy cookies, he leaned back in his chair and looked at Hailey. "You all righ'?"

"Yeah," Hailey replied.

"No, yeh're not," said Hagrid, "Course yeh're not. But yeh will be." Hailey didn't reply. "Knew he was goin' ter come back." The Hogwarts students looked at him, shocked. "Known it fer years, Hailey. Knew he was out there, bidin' his time. It had ter happen. Well, now it has, an' we'll jus' have ter get on with it. We'll fight. Migh' be able ter stop him before gets a good hold. That's Dumbledore's plan, anyway. Great man, Dumbledore. 'S long as we've got him, I'm not too worried." He raised his eyebrows at the disbelieving expressions on their face. "No good sittin' worryin' abou' it. What's comin' will come, an we'll meet it when it does. Dumbledore told me wha' you did, Hailey." His chest swelled as he looked at Hailey. "Yeh did as much as yer father would've done, an' I can' give yeh no higher praise than that."

Hailey smiled back at him, in what seemed like the first time in days. "What's Dumbledore asked to do, Hagrid. He sent Professor Flitwick to ask you and Madame Maxime to meet him – that night."

"Got a little job fer me over the summer," replied Hagrid, "Secret though. I'm not s'pposed ter talk abou' it." Mandy and Michael looked like they were going to say something, but Hagrid continued, "no, not ever ter you lot. Olmype—Madame Maxime ter yer—might be comin' with me. I think she will. Think I got her persuaded."

"Does it have something to do with You-Know-Who?" Mandy asked.

Hagrid looked evasive, "Migh' be. Now…who'd ter come an' visit the las' skrewt with me?" Hailey was horrified, along with her friends. Hagrid added hastily, "I was jokin'—jokin'!"

Hailey packed up her trunk with a heavy heart, the night before her return to Privet Drive.

Su Li had came up to her and said, "I never thought you were a madwoman like Rita Skeeter claims that you were. I don't know what's going on but I know something really bad is happening, but whatever is going on, I'm one hundred percent right behind you."

It was probably the nicest thing that someone said to her.

Hailey dreaded the Leaving Feast, which was usually for celebrating. She had avoided being in the Great Hall when it was full ever since she had left the hospital wing when it was full. She preferred to eat when it was nearly empty to avoid being stared at.

When they entered the Hall, it was decorated with black drapes on the wall behind the teachers' table. Hailey knew that it was a mark of respect to Cedric.

The real Mad-Eye Moody was at the staff table, his wooden leg and his magical eye back in place. He was extremely twitchy, jumping every time someone spoke to him. Hailey didn't blame because Moody's fear of being attacked was bound to have increased after being imprisoned in his own trunk for ten months. Professor Karkaroff's chair was empty and as Hailey sat with the other Ravenclaws, she wondered where Karkaroff was now and whether Voldemort got him.

Madame Maxime was still there, sitting next to Hagrid, and talking quietly together. Next to Professor McGonagall was Snape. His eyes lingered on Hailey for a moment as she looked at him. His expression was difficult to read, even though he was looking sour and unpleasant as ever. Even after he looked away, Hailey continued to watch him.

What was it that Snape had done on Dumbledore's orders that night Voldemort returned? And why was Dumbledore so convinced that Snape was truly on their side. Snape had been their spy, Dumbledore had said so in the Pensieve. Snape had turned against Voldemort at "great personal risk." Was that the job he had taken up again? Did he make contact with the Death Eaters? Pretended that he had never really gone over to Dumbledore, and that he had been, like Voldemort himself, biding his time?

Her musings were ended when Professor Dumbledore stood up at the staff table. The Great Hall became very quiet, even though it had been less noisy than the previous years.

"The end of another year," said Dumbledore, looking around at them. He paused and looked at the Hufflepuff table, which had been mostly subdued. They looked sad and pale.

"There is much that I would like to say to you all tonight," said Dumbledore, "but I must first acknowledge the loss of a very fine person, who should be sitting here," he gestured to the Hufflepuff, "enjoying our feast with us. I would like you all, please, to stand, and raise your glasses, to Cedric Diggory."

All of them stood, the benches scraping as everyone in the Hall stood and raised their goblets. In one loud, low rumbling voice, they said, "Cedric Diggory."

Hailey looked at Cho through the crowd, who had tears pouring down her face. She looked down at the table as they sat down again.

Dumbledore continued, "Cedric was a person who exemplified many of the qualities that distinguish Hufflepuff House. He was a good and loyal friend, a hard worker, he valued fair play. His death affected you all, whether you knew him well or not. I think that you have the right, therefore, to know exactly how it came about."

Hailey looked up at Dumbledore.

Dumbledore continued, "Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort."

A panicked whisper swept the Great Hall. People were staring at Dumbledore in disbelief, in horror. Dumbledore looked perfectly calm as he watched them mutter themselves into silence.

He continued, "The Ministry of Magic does not wish me to tell you this. It is possible that some of your parents will be horrified that I have done so—either because they will not believe that Lord Voldemort has returned, or because they think I should not tell so young as you are. It is my belief, however, that the truth is generally preferable to lies, and that any attempt to pretend that Cedric died as the result of an accident, or some sort of blunder of is own, is in an insult to his memory."

It like everyone was stunned and frightened as they looked at Dumbledore now. Well, almost everyone. Hailey saw Malfoy mutter something to Crabbe and Goyle. She felt angry at that display of disrespect and looked at Dumbledore.

Dumbledore continued his speech, "There is somebody else who must be mentioned in connection with Cedric's death. I am talking, of course, about Hailey Potter." A few people turned their heads to look at Hailey. "Hailey Potter managed to escape Lord Voldemort. She risked her own life to return Cedric's body to Hogwarts. She showed, in every respect, the sort of bravery that few wizards have ever shown in facing Lord Voldemort, and for this, I honour her." He turned to Hailey and raised his goblet once more. He was looking a little grave. Nearly everyone in the Great Hall followed suit. They murmured her name as they had murmured Cedric's and drank to her. Hailey saw Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and many of the other Slytherins had remained in their seats. Flora and Hestia Carrow did drink to her, along with a few other Slytherins.

Dumbledore didn't seem to notice the defiant Slytherins.

When everyone sat down, Dumbledore said, "The Triwizard Tournament's aim was to further and promote magical understanding. In the light of what has happened—of Lord Voldemort's return—such ties are more important than ever before." He looked from Madame Maxime and Hagrid, to Fleur Delacour and her fellow Beauxbatons students, to Viktor Krum and the Durmstrangs at the Slytherin table. Krum looked wary, almost frightened, as if expecting Dumbledore to say something harsh.

"Every guest in Hall," Dumbledore continued, looking at the Durmstrang students, "Will be welcomed back here at any time, should they wish to come. I say to you all, once again—in the light of Lord Voldemort's return, we are only as strong as we are united, as we as we are divided. Lord Voldemort's gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust. Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.

"It is my belief—and never have I so hoped that I am mistaken—that we are all facing dark and difficult times. Some of you in this Hall have already suffered directly at the hands of Lord Voldemort. Many of your families have been torn asunder. A week ago, a student was taken from our midst.

"Remember Cedric. Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory."

Hailey's trunk was packed. Hedwig was back in her cage on top of it. She, Ron, Hermione, Mandy, and Michael were waiting in the crowded entrance hall with the rest of the fourth years. They were waiting for the carriages that would take them back to Hogsmeade station.

"'Ailey!"

Hailey turned around to see Fleur Delacour hurrying up the stone steps into the castle. Beyond her, far across the grounds, Hailey could see Hagrid helping Madame Maxime backing two of the Abraxans into their harness. The Beauxbatons carriage was about to take off.

When Fleur reached Hailey, she held out her hand. "We will see each user again, I 'ope. I am 'oping to get a job 'ere, to improve my Eenglish."

"It's very good already," replied Ron in a strangled sort of voice. Fleur smiled at him and Hermione scowled.

"Good-bye, 'Ailey. It 'az been a pleasure meeting you1" She left.

"Wonder how the Durmstrang students are getting back. D'you reckon they can steer that ship without Karkaroff?"

"What if they were the ones steering it?" Mandy asked, horrified.

"We were," replied a gruff voice, "He stayed in his cabin and let us do the vork." Krum had come to say good-bye to Hermione. "Could I have a vord?"

Hermione looked slightly flustered, "Oh…yes..all right." She followed Krum through the crowd and out of sight.

"You'd better hurry up! The carriages'll be here in a minute!" Ron called loudly after her. He let the three Ravenclaws keep a watch for the carriages, because he was spending the next few minutes looking over the crowd.

"Calm down," Michael muttered to Ron.

"Once you and Michael get together, do not leave like that when the carriages will arrive in a minute," Ron muttered to Hailey.

Hailey's face heated up and she said, "What?"

Ron acted like he hadn't said anything to Hailey, because he went back to looking at Hermione and Krum.

Michael was looking at the two, as if wondering what was said between the two.

"I wonder if we'll finally get a female Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," Mandy said, oblivious to Hailey's reaction. "I wonder what she'll be like if we do."

Krum and Hermione returned soon. Ron stared at Hermione, who was looking impassive.

"I liked Diggory," said Krum to Hailey. "He vos alvays polite to me. Alvays. Even though I vos from Durmstrang—with Karkaroff." He was scowling.

"Did you get a new headmaster yet?" Mandy asked.

Krum shrugged, held out his hand to Hailey, and shook her hand. He did the same to Mandy, Michael, and Ron. Ron was looking like he was struggling with some internal struggle that was very painful. Krum started walking when Ron burst out, "Can I have your autograph?"

Hermione turned away smiling as the horseless carriages were now trundling toward them up the drive. Krum was looking surprised but oddly gratified, signed a fragment of parchment for Ron.

Hailey, Ron, Hermione, Mandy, and Michael managed to get a train compartment to themselves. Pigwidgeon was hidden under Ron's dress robes to stop him from hooting continually. Hedwig was sleeping with her head under wing, and Crookshanks was on a spare seat, looking like a large, furry ginger cushion.

They talked more fully and freely than they had all week.

Hailey felt that it was less painful to discuss what happened, as if the Leaving Feast had somehow unblocked her. Mandy seemed to gasp at the right moments.

The conversation about what action Dumbledore might take to stop Voldemort was interrupted when the lunch trolley arrived.

Hermione and Michael had gotten up to the lunch trolley and returned. Hermione was putting her money in the schoolbag and removed a copy of the Daily Prophet.

Hailey was unsure whether she wanted to know what it might say, but Hermione and Michael looked calm.

"It's safe to look at," Michael replied, in an oddly calm voice.

"You can look for yourself, but there's nothing at all," Hermione said. She motioned to Michael, "We've been checking every day."

"All there is is a small article saying that you won the tournament. There's no mention of Cedric," Michael said."

"Nothing about it," Hermione added, "If you ask me, Fudge is forcing them to keep quiet."

"He'll never kept Skeeter quiet," replied Hailey flatly. "Not one a story like this."

"Skeeter hasn't written anything since the third task," Michael said. He sounded at a cross of being smug and constrained.

"As a matter of fact," Hermione started, her voice was trembling slightly. "Rita Skeeter isn't going to be writing anything at all for a while."

"What did you two do?" Mandy asked her eyes wide. "Did you two, like murder her, or something?"

"No," Michael replied.

"She won't write anything unless she wants us to spill the beans on her," Hermione said.

"What are you talking about?" asked Ron.

"We found out how she was listening in on private conversation, when she wasn't supposed to be coming onto the grounds," Hermione rushed out.

"How was she doing it?" asked Hailey.

"How did you find out?" asked Ron, looking at Hermione.

"Well, it was you, really, who gave me the idea, Hailey," Hermione said.

"Did I? How?" asked Hailey, confused.

"Bugging," said Hailey replied, happily.

Mandy accused, "You keep going on about how they don't work—"

"Not electronic bugs," said Hermione.

"Rita Skeeter's an unregistered Animagus." Michael said, looking frustrated at how Hermione seemed to be dragging the explanation out.

Hermione pulled a small sealed glass jar out of her bag, "She can turn into a beetle."

"You're kidding," said Ron. "You haven't…she's not…"

"She is," said Michael. Hermione brandished the jar at Ron, Hailey, and Mandy.

Inside the jar was a few twigs, leaves, and one large, fat beetle.

"That's never—you're kidding—" Ron whispered, looking at the jar.

"We're not," said Michael. "We caught her on the windowsill in the hospital wing. If you look closely—"

"You'll notice the marking around her antennae are exactly like those foul glasses she wears," Hermione finished, beaming.

Hailey looked at the beetle and saw that Hermione was right. "There was a beetle on the statue the night we heard Hagrid telling Madame Maxime about his mum!"

"Exactly," replied Michael.

"And Viktor pulled a beetle out of my hair after we'd had our conversation by the lake. And unless I've very much mistaken, Rita was perched on the windowsill of the Divination class the day your scar hurt. She's been buzzing around for stories all year," Hermione said.

"When we saw Malfoy under that tree…" started Ron slowly.

"He was talking to her in his hand," said Hermione.

"Of course he knew," said Mandy. "How else was he getting included in those damn articles? I'm sure he wasn't writing to her. They obviously didn't care that she was doing something illegal, as long as they were giving out horrible rumours about us and Hagrid."

Hermione pulled the jar back and smiled at the beetle, which buzzed angrily.

"We've told her we'll let her out when we get back to London," said Hermione. "I've put an Unbreakable Charm, you see, so she can't transform."

"We told her that she has to keep her quill to herself for a whole year. We just have to see if she can break her habit of writing horrible articles about people," Michael said.

"I don't think she would. Myrtle told me that she spread rumours when she went to Hogwarts," Hailey said, remembering that.

Hermione placed the jar back in her bag when the compartment door slid open.

"Very clever, Granger and Corner," said Draco Malfoy.

Crabbe and Goyle were behind him, as usual. They looked pleased with themselves and looking more arrogant and menacing that Hailey had ever seen them.

Malfoy advanced slightly in the compartment. "So…" He looked slowly around them, smirking. "You caught some pathetic reporter, and Potter's Dumbledore's favourite girl again. Big deal." Crabbe and Goyle leered. "Trying not to think about it, are we? Trying to pretend it hasn't happened?"

"Why?" Mandy asked, "jealous that you couldn't be in Voldemort's presence, like your father? We all know that you can't live up to you vile and cruel dad. You can pretend all you want, but everyone knows that you're just pathetic."

Hailey grabbed her wand under her robes.

"Pathetic? I told you not to hang around with riffraff like this! They'll be the first to go, now the Dark Lord's back! Mudbloods and Muggle-lovers first! Well—second—Diggory was the f—" Malfoy sneered and then it was like a box of fireworks exploded, because spells seemed to fly from every direction.

Hailey was momentarily deafened by the series of bangs. Hailey blinked and down at the floor.

The three Slytherins were lying unconscious in the doorway. The two Gryffindors and the three Ravenclaws were on their feet. They apparently used a different hex. Fred and George had shown up and apparently used a different hex too.

"Thought we'd what those three were up to," said Fred in a matter-of-fact to. He stepped on Goyle and into the compartment. He had his wand, like George, who was careful to tread on Malfoy, as he followed Fred.

"Interesting effect," said George, looking down at Crabbe. "Who used the Furnunculus Curse?"

"Me," replied Hailey.

"Odd," said George in a light tone. "I used Jelly-Legs. Looks as though those two shouldn't be mixed. He seems to have sprouted little tentacle all over his face. Well, let's not leave them here. They don't add much to the décor."

"I think they match," Mandy said. "Ugly boy and ugly décor. Perfect match, if you ask me."

Ron, Michael, and George kicked, rolled, and pushed the unconscious Slytherins out of the compartment. Mandy wasn't much help because she was actually kicking and stomping on them instead. After they were out of the compartment, they rolled the door shut.

"Exploding Snap, anyone?" asked Fred, pulling out a pack of cards from his robes.

Halfway through the fifth game, Hailey decided to ask George, "You going to tell us, then? Who you were blackmailing?"

"Oh," replied George darkly, "That."

"It doesn't matter," said Fred, shaking his head in an impatient manner. "It wasn't anything important. Not now, anyway."

"We've given up," said George, shrugging.

The fourth-years kept asking until Fred gave in and said, "It was Ludo Bagman."

"Bagman?" asked Hailey sharply. "Are you saying he was involved in—?"

"Nah," replied George in a gloomy manner, "Nothing like that. Stupid git. He wouldn't have the brains."

"Well, what, then?" said Ron.

He was involved with Malachi's mum, that's for sure, Hailey thought.

Fred said, "You remember the bet we had with him at the Quidditch World Cup? About how Ireland would win, but Krum would get the Snitch?"

"Yeah," they replied slowly.

"Well, the git paid us in leprechaun gold he'd caught from the Irish mascots," Fred replied.

"So you're saying…" Michael started.

"It vanished, didn't it?" said Fred impatiently. "By next morning, it had gone!"

"But—it must've been an accident, mustn't it?" asked Hermione.

Mandy and George laughed. George, however, sounded bitter.

"No, it couldn't have been an accident. That was a lot of leprechaun gold to be considered an accident," Mandy said.

"That's what we thought, at first," George said. "We thought it we just wrote to him, and told him he'd made a mistake, he'd cough up, but nothing doing. Ignored our letter. We kept trying to talk to him about it at Hogwarts, but he was always making some excuse to get away from us."

"In the end, he turned pretty nasty," said Fred. "Told us we were too young to gamble, and he wasn't giving us anything."

"So we asked for our money back," said George, glowering.

"He didn't refused!" gasped Hermione.

"Right in one," said Fred.

"But that was all your savings!" pointed out Ron.

"Tell me about it," said George. "'Course, we found out what was going on in the end. Lee Jordan's dad had a bit of trouble getting money off Bagman as well. Turns out he's in big trouble with the goblins. Borrowed loads of gold off them. A gang of them cornered him in the woods after the World Cup and took all the gold he ad, and it still wasn't enough to cover all his debts. They followed him all the way to Hogwarts to keep an eye on him. He's lost everything gambling. Hasn't got two Galleons to rub together." He looked at Hailey, "And you know how the idiot tried to pay the goblins back."

Hailey asked, "How?"

"He put a bet on you," said Fred. "Put a big bet on you to win the tournament. Bet against the goblins."

"That is why he was being oddly friendly with you," Michael said. "That's why he was trying to help her cheat."

"Well—I did win, didn't I? So he can pay you your gold!" Hailey replied.

"Nope," said George, shaking his head. "The goblins plays as dirty as him. They say you drew with Diggory and Bagman was betting you'd win outright. So Bagman had to run for it. He did run for it right after the third task." He sighed deeply and started dealing out cards.

Even though Hailey did like her friends' presence, but sometimes there was the need to be alone as well. She said something about finding the food trolley witch but in reality she was going to find an empty compartment to think.

She did find one near the end of the train. Everything was…different now. Everything seemed to have lost the shiny new look and seemed dull. She was different now. It seemed like long ago when she was entering the hedge maze. The wizarding world is different because Voldemort was back and Fudge refused to believe that he returned.

"Are you okay?" Michael asked, as he entered the compartment.

Hailey turned to look at him. "No, Voldemort is back and Fudge is refusing to believe it. Snape showed him his Dark Mark and Fudge still refuses to believe it."

"To be honest, I always thought that Fudge was a bit of an idiot," Michael said, as he sat down next to her.

Hailey shrugged, "I don't know why he's refusing to believe that Voldemort is back. I'm sure that it would be hard to ignore a Dark Mark like that."

"Especially believing whatever crap that Skeeter writes," Michael said.

"I know," Hailey said. "Well, I am a Parselmouth, so that part is true."

"Yeah, there's that," Michael said.

"I can't believe all that crap Skeeter wrote about us," Hailey said.

"Hopefully she learns her lesson," Michael said.

"Hopefully," Hailey replied.

"So, four times now," Michael said.

Hailey was confused, "What?"

"This is the fourth time that You-Know-Who tried to kill you," Michael responded. "The first time when you were a baby, the second was our first year, the third was in the Chamber of Secrets, and now at the cemetery."

After a few minutes of silence, Hailey said, "I don't know what to do if he shows up during the summer."

"You survived four encounters with him, you can survive a fifth," Michael said. "You're that strong."

Hailey couldn't help but smile at that. "I just…I just don't know what to do. Everything has changed. I can't tell if it's for the good or for the bad."

"We're going to get through it," Michael said.

"Fudge doesn't believe us," Hailey pointed out.

"Fudge doesn't, but Dumbledore does. And they say that Dumbledore is the one that You-Know-Who ever feared," Michael said, grabbing Hailey's hand. "Besides, what is Fudge going to do?"

"Deny it to the newspapers? Have Skeeter write a slanderous article about me?" Hailey pointed out.

"That is, if her being trapped in a jar for a month taught her a lesson," Michael said.

"I can't believe all those articles she wrote about us," Hailey said.

"I know," replied Michael.

"I wonder what she would've written if you and Hermione didn't see her," Hailey said.

"Probably about how you're barking mad," Michael replied, "But I hear all the best people are."

Hailey scoffed at that and Michael looked at her. Hailey looked at him back and leaned forward, kissing him. She pulled away quickly and looked away. Her face was surely red for doing that, "Sorry."

"You caught me off guard," Michael said. "How about we try that again?"

Hailey took a deep breath and looked at Michael again, who was now kissing her, her kissing him back.

Probably ten minutes later, they returned to the compartment that their friends were in, bringing a few snacks with them back, to at least make it believable that they went to find the food trolley witch. Ron looked at them, narrowing his eyes in an almost suspicious manner. Fred and George were looking at them, almost smirking at them.

"There was a line," Hailey said as she sat down with her cauldron cakes.

"Right…" Ron said, dragging the word out.

The rest of the journey seemed to pass in a pleasant manner. Hailey wished that it could've gone on all summer and that she would never arrive at King's Cross…but time will not slow down when something unpleasant lies ahead.

The Hogwarts Express was pulling in at platform nine and three-quarters. The usual confusion and noise filled the corridors as the students began to disembark. Hailey stayed put as Mandy, Michael, Ron, and Hermione, carrying their trunks, struggled past the three Slytherins.

Hailey said, "Fred—George—wait a moment," as the twins started to leave. They turned and Hailey pulled open her trunk, picking up the Triwizard winnings. She pushed the sack into George's hands. "Take it."

"What?" asked Fred, looking stunned.

"Take it," Hailey repeated firmly. "I don't want it."

"You're mental," replied George, trying to give it back to Hailey.

"No, I'm not," said Hailey. "You take it, and get inventing. It's for the joke shop."

"She is mental," said Fred, in an almost awed voice.

"Listen," said Hailey firmly. "If you don't take it, I'm throwing it down the drain. I don't want it and I don't need it. But I could do with a few laughs. We could all do with a few laughs. I've got a feeling we're going to need them more than usual before long."

"Hailey," said George sounding weak. He was weighing the money bag in his hands, "There's got to be a thousand Galleons in here."

"Yeah," said Hailey, grinning, "think how many Canary Creams that is." The twins stared at her. "Just don't tell your mum where you go it…although she might not be so keen for you to join the Ministry anymore, come to think of it."

"Hailey," Fred began, but Hailey pulled out her wand.

In a flat voice, Hailey said, "Look, take it, or I'll hex you. I know some good ones now. Just do me one favour, okay? Buy Ron some different dress robes and say that they're from you." She left the compartment before they could say another word. She stepped over the three Slytherins that were lying on the floor, covered in hex marks.

Uncle Vernon was waiting beyond the barrier, Mrs Weasley was close by him. She hugged Hailey very tightly when she saw her. She whispered in Hailey's ear, "I think Dumbledore will let you come to us later in the summer. Keep in touch, Hailey."

"See you, Hailey," said Ron, clapping her on the back.

"Bye, Hailey!" Hermione said, giving Hailey a hug, which she never done before.

Mandy and Michael hugged Hailey too.

"Good luck with your nasty relatives," Mandy muttered. "Just send an owl and I'll be on the Knight Bus in an instant to come and get you."

"Me too," Michael said, giving Hailey a kiss before leaving.

The Weasley twins walked up and George muttered, "Hailey—thanks." Fred nodded fervently at his side.

Hailey winked at them, turned to Uncle Vernon, and followed him silent from the station. Hailey had to tell herself that there was no point worrying yet, as she got in the back of the Dursleys' car.

Hagrid had said, what would come, would come…and she would have to meet it when it did. And like Michael said, she was strong, she could survive a fifth encounter with Voldemort and whatever the wizarding world would throw at her.

A/N: Woo! Finally finished this year. Thanks to everyone who stuck around and kept reading it. And Michael and Hailey did get together a little early than I had planned. Many thanks to Slytherclaw for giving me the idea on Chapter 33.