Important A/N: Hello there reader. I hope you enjoy this lovely piece of fanfiction because the second chapter won't be up in... a few months. If you noticed, I'm going to do only seven chapters, one chapter per school year. It won't be easy, but I hope you stay though (please stay with me). Review and stuff. And if you have questions, I have a tumblr (musicalbookworm) or you could message me, because I'm quite pleasant and I will answer your questions. Also, if you follow me on tumblr, you would see updates on whether or not I'm writing the chapters. You could check my progress because I ramble about it being 75% done and such.

The Glee characters are from Fox and the Dalton characters (the majority of them) are from CP Coulter. The Wizarding world is property of our Queen Rowling. (Oh dear God, I hope I didn't butcher them). You'll see them again in a couple of months (I've started writing year 2 and I'm currently stuck, I'm losing my mind). Also, it's crossover because it's Hogwarts and Glee. It's (I think) a technicality.

Love lots!

Derek was far too short for walking through the dense crowd of Diagon Alley with his parents arguing about how they should've came early. "I told you so." Rachel Breaker said. "I told you that there would be a lot of people here. I didn't understand why you didn't let us go without you."

"Love, I wanted to go, remember? I wanted to be here with Derek." Noah Breaker retorted, looking up brightly at the stores. He looked especially happy when a woman conjured up three scoops of ice cream for a girl in a nearby shop.

"Oh, please. You just wanted to come so you could watch my people walk around and do whatever it is they do that makes you so amused." Derek rolled his eyes. This is what I get for being a half-blood. "I have half a mind to make you small enough to keep in a pocket!"

"You wouldn't dare." His dad glared.

She whipped her wand out and Derek immediately jumped in between them. "Guys, please, we're in public." His parents glared at each other for one more second before both of them sighed and relaxed.

"You're right. We're sorry, honey." His mom said and kissed his cheek. He wrinkled his face and laughed a bit. Unlike children his age, he didn't shy away from motherly love. "Now, let's get you to Hilde's shop for robes, shall we? And just think! You might see Reed there!"

"He said he'll be there." Derek grinned. "We promised each other we'll go for our requirements together." His parents led him to a new shop in Diagon Alley called "Van Kamp Robes". It was a shop owned by one of his mother's dearest friends, Hilde Van Kamp. As they entered, Hilde was busy measuring a boy taller than her and Reed was sitting behind her on a stool.

"Honestly, Finn, it seems like only yesterday I gave you your second set of robes!"

"I'm sorry, Madam Van Kamp, I – I guess I had another growth spurt." Finn Hudson grimaced a little bit and shot an apologetic look at his mother. They weren't really the richest wizarding family around and Van Kamp Robes were cheaper than Madam Malkin's (the Second Hand Robe shop didn't have any robes that would fit Finn either), but that didn't help Finn to feel less guilty for his mother.

"It's okay, Finn. Really." Carole smiled tiredly. She wondered silently if she could sell his old robes.

"Accio, needle." Hilde pointed her wand and easily caught the needle flying her direction. "What have you been feeding him, Carole?" She joked.

"Hilde!" Rachel greeted.

"Rachel?" Hilde looked up. "Oh Rachel, darling! So lovely to see you! I've been expecting you; Reed's been waiting since morning."

"We would've gotten here sooner if Noah had let us."

"I had a client waiting. An important client!"

"Yes, well. We wouldn't want to disturb your muggle gatherings, Noah." Hilde smirked as she flicked her wand at Finn's direction. The needles and measuring tape snapped to work. "Excuse me while I attend to Finn over there and I'll get to Derek, alright?"

"Of course. Derek, go to Reed. Behave okay?" The request wasn't necessary but it felt safe to tell her son that. Derek nodded and walked towards his best friend for so many years. Reed smiled and jumped off the stool.

"Hi," Reed smiled, "nervous? It's in a week."

"Yeah, a little bit… What if we don't get sorted into the same houses?" Derek answered worriedly.

Reed shrugged. "We'll see each other. I don't think anything would really separate us."

"I can't wait to get to the library. I heard they had the best."

"You and your books."

"Well, you and your clothes." Derek smirked, looking up and down at Reed's stylish get up. The things his mum made him wear were ridiculous in Derek's opinion, but Reed likes it, Hilde likes it, why make a scene about it? "What are you going to do now that we have to wear school robes every day?"

"Make it work." Reed chuckled. "I just hope that I won't trip all the time."

"I'll try to be there for you." Derek knew a couple of spells that would stop Reed from falling. He'd practice with his mother's wand. Since Reed came over from time to time, Rachel couldn't help but use those spells every other minute. Now that they were going to Hogwarts soon, she thought it was best if she taught Derek in advance. Hilde shared the same sentiment.

Soon as she finished with the Hudsons, Hilde turned to Derek excitedly and did her work quickly. A few minutes after that, Reed had his first accident since Derek arrived. He tripped on some fabric on the floor and he shot out his hand, grabbing a sewing kit and it flew in the air with him.

"Immobulus!" Hilde cried and everything stopped. Reed blinked, his eyes showing some fear. "Derek, if you please." After Reed had been pulled out from danger, they got out to buy their books with Derek's parents. Luckily they didn't have to buy much, most of the books they already had. They were hand-me-downs from their mothers and Reed's father.

They were given some money and Noah told them that they would buy the boys' Potion sets while the boys could buy their new pets. They would meet at Ollivander's in ten minutes so they wouldn't get lost. Rachel was very particular on watching Derek get his wand.

"These books are heavy." They heard as a grumbling boy carried a huge stack of books. "Why did I agree to carry these again?"

"Because, Puckerman, you lost the duel." Santana smiled a sickeningly sweet smile over her shoulder as one of her friends toiled over the combined weight of both of their second year books.

"Give me my wand, Lopez. I want a rematch!" Puck demanded.

"You wish." She sang and she bumped into someone. "Watch it." She snarled at a girl wearing an outfit with a huge teddy bear in front. Her eyes bulged and she muttered a quick apology before scurrying away and bumping into Derek. She squeaked.

"Hey, didn't see you there." Derek smiled. "Are you lost?"

"No. I'm perfectly fine; I'm just going to buy a cat all by myself. My dads let me." She smiled wide. Both Reed and Derek looked surprised at the sound of "Dads" but she said it like it was the most natural thing in the world so they didn't really mind. "Hi, I'm Rachel Berry."

"I'm Reed Van Kamp. That's Derek Breaker." He pointed at his friend and he waved his hand.

"Are you two buying owls?" She asked and they made their way towards the store. "I'm buying a cat. They're less messy and quieter."

"I'm buying a cat too." Derek said. "But Reed's buying an owl."

"Family tradition." He shrugged.

"Are you going to Hogwarts too?" Rachel asked, positively bouncing with excitement. Derek and Reed nodded. "Wonderful! I wonder if they have a choir. I'm a pretty good singer, you see, and I would like to share my talents everywhere."

"I bet they do." Derek said. "Hogwarts has everything!" He'd been dreaming of Hogwarts since he knew how to say the word.

"Which house do you think you'll be in?" Rachel asked again as they entered the store. She continued talking for the rest of the time they were in the pet store. The two boys appreciated her filling the silence they almost always had. They were quiet and just listened to her ramble on about herself. Most people would find it annoying but they found it comforting. They weren't known for talking a lot, especially since they've known each other since they were babies. Rachel was a good addition.

Reed got an owl, a small one, and he called him Erik. He fluttered around in his cage a lot, and he went crazy when cats were nearby. It didn't help when Rachel carried a Persian cat named Ellyse and Derek carried a tabby named Alec. Reed took it upon himself to walk ahead of them so that Erik wouldn't die of a heart attack. It wasn't the most advisable thing for him since no one would be there to catch him when he tripped. Derek without a wand, and a cat cage in one hand, would have to be extra vigilant.

But of course that wouldn't work. Reed tripped and Derek was slow to react. Luckily someone else caught him. "Woah there!" It was boy with big curly hair. He smiled widely and had Reed back to a normal standing position. "Be careful where you step next time."

Derek chuckled. "He would still trip on a flat surface. Walking around here unprotected is pushing it." Reed rolled his eyes.

"Thanks." He said to the boy. "I'm Reed. That's Derek and that's Rachel."

"Hi there!" Rachel grinned.

"I'm Shane. Is it your first year too?" The three nodded. "Brilliant. Can't wait to see you there. My brother is in second year and I'm really excited to get to go with him this time!"

"Shane! Come on! Stop dilly-dallying!" A woman called.

"I'll see you guys around!" He patted Reed's shoulder before running off. Rachel went off with her dads and promised to see each other at King's Cross. Reed and Derek arrived at Ollivanders with Derek's parents waiting outside. They smiled down at the two and took the cages from them so they could enter the wand shop.

"Hello?" Derek called nervously. An old man popped up from behind the counter and grinned at the two boys. "Mr. Ollivander?"

"Yes." He said. "I assume you're here for wands." He chuckled. They nodded. "Alright, who's first?" Reed and Derek glanced at each other, both urging the other to go first. Finally, Derek decided to go first. "Wand hand please." He stretched out his left hand and was promptly measured and the wandmaker went around the store for a wand. "First years, eh? Well, there is nothing to worry. The wands won't hurt you… Ah." He pulled out a box from one of the shelves and produced a wand. "Here, sycamore with phoenix feather core, eleven and three quarter inches." As soon as Derek touched the wand in his hand, there was a sudden shower of red sparks and his mother clapped excitedly. "First wand and it chose you quickly, lucky, lucky day." Mr. Ollivander smiled and turned to Reed. "Your turn, m' boy."

It took him about five tries before he got his wand. The fourth wand didn't go so well. It slipped from his hand when he tried to wave it and it somehow turned Reed's hair a funny shade of purple. Derek barely controlled his laughter. "That was embarrassing." Reed grumbled as they walked out with their wands wrapped and ready to go.

"I don't know, I thought purple was a good colour on you."

"I can't wait to learn a proper Silencing Charm. It will work greatly to my advantage." Reed glared at his friend. "Then again, I could just throw a book at you."

"My only weakness." Derek chuckled.

"Alright boys, it's been a very productive day." Noah said. "But I think it's best if we go home. It's getting rather late."

"You're just hungry." Rachel rolled her eyes.

"Mum, Dad, stop the madness." Derek groaned.

Reed nodded. "I'll get back to my mum then, see you soon." Derek hugged Reed quickly before he went over to his parents and held tight to his mom and they disapparated to their house.

"Do you mind if I sit with you guys? Everywhere else is full." A blonde girl smiled apologetically, poking her head in.

"Sure!" Rachel said. "It's nice to meet you, I'm Rachel Berry."

"I'm Derek Breaker."

"Reed Van Kamp."

She smiled wider at their enthusiasm. "I'm Brittany Pierce." She pulled the trunk above her head and pushed it into the space. The three marvelled at her strength. "I did cheerleading before I got accepted…" She looked down at her shoes feeling a bit horrible that she had to say it out loud after seeing all the other magical parents. "I'm a muggle-born."

Derek smiled. "I think muggle-borns have a lot potential. No need to feel bad." She sat down beside Rachel. "If it makes you feel better, I'm a half-blood." He whispered like it was the secret of life. She immediately felt better.

"Okay, now that that's done, I've been telling the boys about this song I've been practicing all my life since I saw Wicked on broadway. It isn't an accurate portrayal of witches by muggles but it's better than others. And the songs are to die for!"

"She was about to sing one of the songs." Reed said. "You came just in time."

"Oh wow." Brittany said. "Lovely." Derek looked at her mystified face and chuckled to himself.

"Just to warn you." Rachel began as she stepped on the seat (stage). "My voice is in fact, magical. I have reason to believe that my biological mother was part siren." And she was about to start the song before someone else disturbed. "Oh, come on." It was a boy this time. "Hi." She said tightly.

"Hiya, um… mind if I sit? I'd sit with my stepbrother but he and his friends were getting extra rowdy so…"

"Go ahead." Reed said. They introduced themselves again.

"I'm Kurt. Kurt Hummel." He smiled. "What are you doing up there?" He asked Rachel.

"I was about to make them cry with a beautiful rendition of Defying Gravity." She smirked.

"Oh. Isn't that from Wicked? It's one of my favourite Broadway shows! Mind if I sing with you?"

Even though Rachel thought that it was wonderful to find a potential friend who liked theatre, but she was wary about sharing the stage. "It's a solo…"

"We could sing For Good." Kurt smiled. He knew Rachel was being possessive over the stage but he liked to sing too and there was an audience, he'll share if he had to.

"Let him, Rach!" Derek laughed. "It'll be fun!"

She nodded reluctantly. Friends are important too. She thought to herself. "Okay. But I get Elphaba's part."

"Deal." Kurt smiled and jumped up beside her. Brittany went across the room to sit beside Reed. Together they sang the song and Rachel had to admit, Kurt was good.

It was the same with Kurt, Rachel had undeniable talent.

They liked each other instantly. After the song, they were asked to sing more by the other three. They stopped before they both lose their voices and it was late anyway. Hogwarts was near and they have yet to change into their robes.

Singing aside, they shared stories of their lives during the last few minutes of their train ride before they were escorted to the boats. By then they were already very good friends and it would be just sad if they were separated after the sorting.

"I'm a pureblood." Rachel said proudly as they followed Hagrid down the path. "My dads made sure that my surrogate was a witch. Daddy V is a muggle-born and Daddy L is a pureblood, if you want to get technical with it." The group chuckled.

"Didn't your Daddy L's family go crazy about your Daddy V being a muggle-born?" Kurt asked.

Rachel just shrugged. "Nope. It was more of a shock that he was gay though. I guess when they found out he was going out with a muggle-born they probably expected that." She giggled.

"I'm a pureblood too." Reed said. "Both my parents are. Loads of my relatives or pretty nice to muggles though." He almost tripped on a root but Kurt had him by the arm before he could reach the ground. "Thanks."

"No problem. As for my parents," Kurt said, "my dad's a half-blood and my mum was a muggle-born."

"Was?" Derek inquired.

"Yeah, she's dead." Kurt expected the wary looks and the apologies. "Oh loosen up… But thank you though." None of them asked how she died, but if you did, Kurt would be proud to say that she defended their house against Death Eaters until the bitter end. Kurt discreetly wiped away a tear when he thought about her and quickly changed the subject. "Dad's remarried to this other muggle-born. She's a really nice stepmom. How about you, Brit?"

"Muggle-born." She smiled faintly. She thought of Kurt's mom and Rachel's dad. Both were muggle-borns and they seemed like exceptional people, what's to stop her to being like them when she grew up? "My mum and dad were pretty surprised that they've got a witch in the family. I was really surprised too. I didn't even understand anything the witch from Hogwarts said, but my parents tried their best to explain it to me. They gave up after two hours. It's really nice to be here."

"Derek?" Rachel prodded.

"I'm a half-blood. My mum's the witch, dad's a muggle." He answered. "He found out right after he proposed. They said they'll tell me the whole story when I'm older, whatever that meant. I reckon it was pretty gruesome."

"All righ' first years, here are yer boats. Careful now an' watch yer step." Hagrid said as he stepped into one of the boats, ending the parentage conversation between the five.

Brittany and Rachel went first. Reed followed and he almost fell into the lake, after slipping on the slippery shore.

"Aresto momentum!" Derek whipped out his wand immediately and Reed stopped in mid fall. "Someone grab him!" Kurt pulled the small boy from his position and Derek sighed in relief. Some students were staring at them, it was the first time they've seen one of their own use a spell before they've even had classes. "He does that a lot." Derek smiled and went in the boat.

The five of them stayed on the same boat and they were all practically fidgety with excitement. Rachel was trying to relax herself by repeating the pep talk one of her dads gave her. The other four listened intently, hoping that it will calm them as well. Kurt thought it was a little bit weird though, repeating it out loud. They looked up at the dark castle above and watched with awe as they neared. This was it; this was the place they'll be spending the next seven years of their lives in.

Before they knew it, the sorting has started. Rachel was distracted by the beauty of the Great Hall, so distracted in fact that Professor Button had to call her name twice and Reed had to push her forward. She mumbled an apology, feeling embarrassed, before sitting down on the stool. The Sorting Hat was placed on her head and she waited. Her new friends watched intently as she squirmed a little bit under the ratty hat. They jumped back in surprise when the hat announced her house. "SLYTHERIN!" The table cheered as their new arrival jumped off the stool and walked towards her new house with a smile on her face.

"Hi, I'm Rachel Berry." She said as she sat down.

"Hi, I don't care." The girl beside her scowled and scooted away. Rachel was taken aback by the hostility and moved away as well.

"Don't mind her." A boy with curly hair smiled at her after shooting the girl a look. "Santana is just having a bad day."

"Shut it, St. James."

"I'm Jesse." He said, ignoring Santana. "Welcome to Slytherin."

"Oh hello there…" Derek jumped when he hear the hat first speak."Fair mind. Likes a lot of books I see. But not so bright…" He scowled at the hat. The hat chuckled. "Strong bonds with friends… New friends even… A lot of potential… A lot of potential this one." The hat paused, as if to consider everything."Better be HUFFLEPUFF!"

The Hufflepuff table cheered for their new addition and Derek hopped off the stool, glancing at Reed, Kurt and Brittany who have yet to be sorted. Then he glanced at Rachel who was clapping from the Slytherin table. And the separation begins. Derek thought sullenly but shook it away. After all, they could still be friends. When he sat down on the bench, he had his back clapped on by everyone in the near vicinity. Even Finn Hudson, who was just beside him, and he said. "You're going to like it here." He leaned in for a whisper. "We're near the kitchens. Food is easy to come by whenever you're hungry late in the evening. And the elves are always nice."

"I'll keep that in mind, thanks." Derek smiled.

"Hi, I'm Finn." He said. "I'm Kurt's stepbrother… Noticed that you two were kind of friends…"

"Derek. And yeah, we are. He's nice and really talented."

"Hi Derek." Another boy said. "I'm Blaine; you're in the same year as my brother, Shane. He got sorted into Gryffindor."

"Oh yeah! I saw him in Diagon Alley a week ago. He seems nice."

"That's because you haven't lived with him." Blaine chuckled. "Quite a handful."

Kurt squirmed beside Brittany and Reed as his name neared. Reed nudged him, noticing the nervous air. "What are you so nervous about? At least you'd be done with it; I'll be one of the last, if I'm not already."

He sighed. "I don't know, I keep having a recurring nightmare that the hat will announce that I'm a squib."

"I think you mean squid." Brittany whispered.

"No. I mean squib." Kurt hissed. "As in, non-magical child born to magical parents."

"Oooooh." She said. "I think the name's cute."

"Hummel, Kurt!"

He squeaked and he started to move towards the seat. Reed and Brittany watched in anticipation as the hat mumbled sweet comments into Kurt's ear and before long he was sorted into Gryffindor. He smiled, relief washed over him and waved to the two before walking to the table. After a series of congratulations and a smile to Finn, he sat down. "Hello!" The twins from earlier grinned down on him. Wow, they have got to be the tallest eleven year olds I've ever met. They're almost Finn's height! "I'm Ethan." Said one.

"I'm Evan." Said the other.

"I'm Kurt."

"Hi, I'm Brittany." She said to the hat.

"…Hello, Brittany." It said. "This is… interesting. What an innocent mind…"

"Do you have a name?"

"No."

"Why don't you?" The teachers eyed this girl warily; no child has ever spoken to the Sorting Hat like that before. She smiled, crossing her eyes to look up at it. It continued mumbling, ignoring the girl. "Hello? Mr. Hat? Are you still there?"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

The hat was lifted from her head and she jumped off the stool. "Goodbye, Mr. Hat. It was nice knowing you." She patted it goodbye before skipping towards the Hufflepuff table where Derek was stretching his arms for a hug. She excitedly pulled him into her arms in a warm hug and she sat down beside him. "Yay!"

Reed shifted his weight from side to side; he was one of the last students to be sorted along one girl. He turned his head around to meet Derek's eyes. It would be very sad if he wasn't sorted into the same house as Derek. But they could still be friends right? They've been friends since they were babies; would seven years separated change that? Derek smiled reassuringly as if saying "it's okay. We'll still be best friends after this." And even though Reed wasn't sure if that was what the smile meant, it was a nice thought to keep. "Van Kamp, Reed." He shakily went up to the stool and the hat was placed on his curly hair. Mom shuddered when she mentioned this hat.

"Ah, Hilde Van Kamp's son, eh?" Reed sat ramrod straight, the hat chuckled. "I remember her very well. Sorted her into Slytherin. But do you fit in the same place…? Hmmm…" He bit into his lip as the hat continued on. He felt the sting of biting into his lip too much and he was pretty sure he started to bleed. His eyes swivelled to the girl, the last student. She glared at the hat, willing it to finish. "RAVENCLAW!"

Reed pursed his lips and glanced at his friends in different tables before going to the Ravenclaw table. Calm down, Van Kamp, they'll still be your friends.

The night was a happy one for everyone in the hall. The first years felt incredibly loved as the people in their house welcomed them with very open arms. Derek was feeling a bit down that Reed was sorted into Ravenclaw but his friend smiled from across the hall. "We'll make it work." Reed seemed to say.

Brittany squealed happily beside Derek when the dessert part of the feast appeared in front of them. "Best. Feast. Ever!" She said as she took a huge scoop of ice cream that didn't seem to show any signs of melting. Derek followed her example.

After their dinner, their bellies were full and they were tired. Derek was very happy that they were going off to their dormitories soon. They walked down the halls with the Slytherins right behind them. But soon, they were alone, all Hufflepuffs. The prefect, Jenkin Harris, went on and on about Hogwarts and how excited he was for them. He told them about the tour tomorrow, and that their schedules would be arriving soon.

"And that's the kitchen; little known to the rest of the school, but if you tickle the pear right over there." He pointed. "It'll grant you entrance. The house elves would be happy to oblige." He smiled. "Now if you would follow me, I'm going to show you the way to Hufflepuff house. Remember this because we wouldn't want you to get lost."

"Oh no." Brittany whispered. "I'm really bad with directions. I get lost in my own house."

Derek looked at her strangely, wondering how one person could get lost in their own house. But he smiled nonetheless, "I'll stick with you, you won't get lost." Brittany smiled and hugged him quickly.

"Thanks so much!"

"No problem." Derek shrugged and they stopped in front of a stack of barrels. The first years looked over heads just to see what was with the lack of movement.

"First years, this is the entrance to our house. To get in you should tap the barrel two from the bottom, middle of the second row, in the rhythm of 'Helga Hufflepuff', and the lid will swing open." Jenkin smiled over his shoulder, "Like so." He proceeded to do so and the lid opened. "Remember this everyone, if the wrong lid is tapped, you will be doused with vinegar." Brittany groaned. Derek patted her shoulder, trying to comfort her "Follow me please." Jenkin said simply and he started crawling through a passageway. "Come on!" He shouted back enthusiastically from the passageway. The first years followed.

"You have to teach me that." Brittany pleaded as she bent down beside the passageway.

"I will! I barely remember it now, I'm sure Jenkin will teach us." Derek smiled. "Go crawl!" Brittany offered a grateful smile to her friend and she crawled. Derek followed immediately.

They arrived to the cosiest looking common room they've ever laid eyes on. Everything looks so round… And neat. I love it already. Derek smiled as he looked around his surroundings. Some plants hung from the window sills (that showed some grass and dandelions outside) and the ceiling. Then he glanced over at the mantle where the silver House Cup stood proudly over the room. Jenkin was already at the end of his house rules and explanations. "Now, I know it doesn't have a beautiful view like Ravenclaw or Gryffindor, but hey, it beats being in the dungeons like the Slytherins." They chuckled. "The boys' dormitories are on your left and the girls' are on your right. The tour will start after breakfast tomorrow." Jenkin smiled wider, as if that was possible, and extended his arms. "Welcome to Hufflepuff house! Have a good night's rest."

Derek said goodbye to Brittany before moving towards the circular doors of the boys' dormitory. He was feeling a little bit apprehensive at first but he found the boys a calm and friendly bunch. He kept imagining rowdy ones and he wouldn't be able to fit in. He's always been different from the other boys. That's why Reed was only friend all those years. When he finally reached his assigned dorm room, he found a few boys unpacking their own items. "Oh hey!" One with blond hair waved. "Spell kid!"

Derek smiled faintly. "It's Derek."

"Alright, Derek. I'm Cody Miller, that's Terry and that's Justin." They others smiled and Derek silently noted that the three of them had blond hair. He was the only oddity in the room and he hardly thought it was fair. Derek nodded and walked over to the only unoccupied bed on the side of the room. A brown tabby appeared out of nowhere and jumped on Derek's lap. He started petting it. "Hi, Alec…"

The others left him alone. "Silent type, I reckon." Terry whispered to Justin. They glanced over and watched as Derek pulled out a bunch of muggle books and placed them on a book cabinet that seemed to come from the trunk itself. Afterwards he pulled out some wizard books from the trunk and began the same process.

"Well… Doesn't that just confirm it?" Justin smirked.

"Do you think he got mis-sorted and he's supposed to be in Ravenclaw?" Cody side commented as he passed by and walked towards the bathroom.

"Book lover then?" Terry asked.

Derek nodded. "Yeah, my mum runs a bookstore up in Birmingham. It's lovely. It's got a café in it." They seem nice. Live a little, Breaker. He concluded. Terry walked over to his book cabinet and looked at the sides.

"I haven't been introduced to these muggle authors; care to talk about them sometime?" He asked.

"Sure, after tour tomorrow." Derek smiled.

"Excellent."

"Hiya! I'm Brittany!" She bounced in the room.

"Hi Brittany! I'm Ella!" The other girl in the room, also blonde, jumped up and hugged her. "Let's be friends."

"Yes! Let us!" They squealed. Brittany was very ecstatic at the moment, having met a new friend. She thought that being a muggle-born would kill her chances of finding real friends in Hogwarts. But she actually made a lot of friends, adding Ella to the list was making her feel elated. She missed the others though, Kurt, Rachel and Reed. She liked them the best and she felt very fond of them. I wonder if we could spend time together tomorrow. Oh that would be so lovely. I miss them so much! Her childlike attitude proved refreshing to the others, of course. While everyone was trying to grow up now that they started to school in Hogwarts, Brittany stayed herself.

The other bed in the room was still empty and Ella didn't know whose it was. They talked about their expectations for the succeeding lessons that year before the door opened to reveal a pretty red head. "Hi!" The two said excitedly and introduced themselves.

"Erin Delany." The new girl said. "I guess I'll be stuck with you the next seven years."

"Seven lovely years!" Brittany said and hugged Erin.

Erin laughed. "Well, aren't you just a little ball of sunshine."

"Silly, I'm a girl."

Ella and Erin shared a look and Ella shrugged. "Of course you are."

"What pet did you bring?" Brittany asked. "I got a cat! He's around here somewhere… I'm sure the nice people here brought Lord Tubbington into the common room."

"I can't believe it, it's not even the end of the week and someone's already injured." Madam Pomfrey griped as she mended the cut on Reed's cheek he got from a knife. He was surprised by the Grey Lady and he somehow managed to cut himself twice. "Be careful next time, Mr. Van Kamp. We wouldn't want you to come here every week." Trust me, Madam Pomfrey, I would love to but my luck won't have any of it. He sighed. "You may go." He murmured a quiet thanks before walking up to his prefect, Trisha Epperson.

"All better?" She asked.

"Yes."

"Let's go, the others would be waiting." She offered Reed a friendly smile before they walked up to Ravenclaw tower. When they arrived, all the other first years were already inside, making Trisha sigh. "This is how you enter Ravenclaw house, Reed." She knocked on the eagle knocker and it spoke.

"Why does a corporal Patronus take a specific form for each caster of a Patronus?" It asked.

Reed looked taken aback by the knocker and the question. It sent his mind reeling. Trisha turned around with a small smile on her face. "Unlike the other houses, we have to answer a logical riddle instead of giving it a password."

"What if we don't get it right?"

"We'll have to wait for another Ravenclaw to answer it right, that way, we would learn."

"But aren't all the Ravenclaws inside?" Reed gulped.

"Ah, yes… Well, we'll go to professor Flitwick then if we can't answer." She paused and looked at the knocker. "What do you think, Reed? Why does a Patronus take a specific form for each caster?" She glanced at Reed again. "You know what a Patronus is, right?"

Reed nodded. "Yeah, my mum used it before. She told me about it when I asked."

"She used it? What for?"

"Lethifolds."

"Oh." They stood there for a few seconds before Reed tugged on Trisha's robe. "Yes?"

"Do you mind if I answer?"

"By all means." She smiled, hoping that Reed got it right. It would be a great start for him. Reed walked up to the knocker and knocked again, earning the same question. He glanced nervously at Trisha over his shoulder. "Don't be nervous." Reed nodded and looked up at the door.

"Happiness takes a different form for everyone." He said meekly.

"Logically said." The knocker took the answer and allowed them to enter the Ravenclaw house.

"Good job!" Trish said, patting Reed on the back. Reed just beamed with pride and thought that the night would get better. While thinking that, he knocked a painting down.

Gwen Blackcove was orienting the first years about the house rules. "Don't cause damage to school property outside of your dorm room, and if you can't help it, not outside this common room. Don't cause trouble that would most likely get you expelled without having a spectacularly good excuse or a strong alibi. No fighting in the corridors. Don't discriminate against the other houses, most especially the Hufflepuffs." She glared at a boy she overheard laughing about how Hufflepuffs are better off muggles earlier. "Finally, if any of you get in trouble or think you're going to get into trouble, don't hesitate to tell me or Friedrich."

The other prefect snorted. "Merlin, Gwen! Call me Rick, mates."

"We'll try our best to fix it." She scowled at the interruption. "The boys' dorms are on your left, the girls' on the right. Any questions?" A few hands rose. "Yes?" She pointed at a little boy in the back.

"Hi, I'm Shane… I was wondering if it's true that you were at the battle of Hogwarts. Is it true?"

Gwen shook her head. "No. It was before my first year." But the terror of it was enough to last her a lifetime. "Anything else?" The hands dwindled aside from two. "Yes?"

"Are we allowed to share a bed?" Ethan asked apprehensively.

Gwen found the question a bit different from what she was prepared for – she was expecting "could we bring explosives?" She answered nonetheless. "Yes, if you can manage it."

"Awesome!" The twins high fived each other and settled down almost immediately.

"If there are no more questions, you may go to your rooms and welcome once again to Gryffindor." The crowd of first years cheered and some even hugged Gwen before retreating to their rooms. Kurt stood at the back, getting a bit frightened with the thought of causing trouble. He wanted to ask if he could be contained in a quieter environment. Nonetheless he sucked in a breath and braved to his dorm room. The same dorm room the twins entered. There was a loud thud in the room and Kurt almost ran away. You're a Gryffindor now Hummel, prove yourself worthy. He entered. One of the beds was pushed a few inches from the wall and two blond heads were walking around it, like it was a puzzle they needed to solve.

"You reckon we could move this without magic?"

"There's always that spell that Audrey used…"

"Why can't we remember it?"

They simultaneously turned their heads to the door. "Oh hello, Kurt!"

"Do you know any good levitation spells?"

He shook his head. "We just got here, remember?"

"Yes, vividly." They smirked and turned back to the bed. Kurt bristled the slightest bit. "We should check the book." Kurt trudged across the room, noticing the lack of other students. He honestly hoped that he didn't have to be stuck with these two. He'll surely go mad. Calm yourself. There are two other trunks. And just as he thought so, the door swung open.

"Hi there!" One with curly hair said. "Are you trying to move the bed? That'd be hard without magic, I reckon they weigh lots."

"We'll think of something." The twins said, not looking up from the Standard Book of Spells 1 they had on their laps. "I'm Ethan."

"I'm Evan."

The two looked at the boy at the back, who was looking positively relieved. "I'm Kurt."

"Shane." The curly top said, waving excitedly. Yay, new friends!

"Julian." The other boy said and grinned at them with a grin that resembled the twins'.

Rachel entered the common room with the rest of the first years and found it very elegant in the green sort of way. She found the eerie green glow both comforting and strange. Is it going to be like this for the whole time? She thought back to all the clothes she brought for her weekends and thought about how she would look very out of place in the gloomy but sophisticated Slytherin house. "Alright kiddies," said Luxor Bellmore, the prefect. "The boys' dormitories are on the left, girls' on the right. Play nice with all the other houses because when we crush them for the house cup, there wouldn't be another battle." He smirked playfully. The first years chuckled. Most of them already had the feel of the house, they belonged and they knew it. Rachel smiled faintly, hoping she'll get some friends. The earlier moment with Santana had her apprehensive for friends but Jesse was there, so just in case she didn't get friends among her peers, she'll have Jesse. "Go on, get!" The students scattered and so did the conversations.

Rachel glanced quickly at the common room, its expensive looking couches, the fire place that looked like it was colder than most, the lack of windows, and the beautiful chandelier before she walked towards her assigned dorm room. She opened the door and found that there were already girls there putting their own feel to their side of the room. "Hello!" She said cheerily.

Lauren looked up and then down. "I'm Lauren. Stay out of my face and you don't get hurt." Rachel raised her hands and backed away slowly. She was happy to find out that her bed is far from Lauren. Another girl shook her head and sat beside Rachel.

"I'm Mercedes, don't worry, I don't bite."

Rachel shook her head. "I'm Rachel Berry. Pleased to meet your acquaintance." She looked up at the other girl. "And you?"

"Stella Rosen." The girl said with a smile. Aside from Lauren, Rachel thought they were lovely roommates.

The next day during breakfast, the five friends met at the entrance. They finished eating early to get to each other. Reed was last to arrive, he stumbled towards them. "I need you at Ravenclaw house!" He said to Derek. "I kept falling over and knocking things down!"

Derek chuckled. "I'm sure they'll get used to you in no time. They'll be sure not to give you any sharp objects and all that."

"Can I convince you to switch houses if I tell you that there is a nook in the common room with books in large book shelves?" Reed asked hopefully.

Derek nearly dropped the book he was holding. "… I think I've been sorted in the wrong house." He whispered almost to himself.

"It's unfair." Kurt said. "You've got Brittany."

"Well, Reed and I are alone in our houses as well!" Rachel said indignantly.

"Hey." Reed said coolly. "It's time to make other friends. Don't tell me you haven't made any during the night!"

"I did, sort of." Kurt muttered.

"Do tell." Derek chuckled.

"The twins from last night," Kurt shook his head and he laughed a little bit from the memory of them moving the other's bed, "they're incredibly bouncy and friendly. I don't think they slept." He turned to Rachel. "What about you, Rach?"

"Well, I talked to some of them last night… But no, not really friend friends." She said.

Brittany hugged Reed tightly and placed her head on top of his curls. "I missed you."

"I missed you too, Brit." Reed chuckled.

"Let's compare schedules!" Rachel announced. "It'll be absolutely excellent if we have at least two classes together." They pulled out their schedules and gleefully compared.

Gryffindors and Slytherins had Transfiguration and Defense Against the Dark Arts together. Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws had Po tions together.

"Might as well," Derek laughed, "someone needs to protect everyone from Reed burning the room down." Reed punched him on the arm. "It's true and you know it."

The Ravenclaws had Charms class, Flying lessons and Herbology classes with the Slytherins, while the Hufflepuffs had it with the Gryffindors. Reed and Kurt complained about their hair getting messed up when they're in the air then smiled at each other, it was comforting that someone shared their anxieties.

The Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws had Astronomy together, to which Brittany cheered. "Yay, Astronomy time is Reed time!"

Finally, they Gryffindors had History with the Hufflepuffs.

"I heard that the class being taught by a ghost!" Kurt said. "How exciting is that? An actual History teacher who was actually there!" He didn't know how wrong he was going to be.

Soon enough, the tours began and they were separated again. The five agreed to meet again after lunch and they found this meet ups fun. After the lunch one, they'd decide to do that after every meal time.

A few students watched the group with keen interest, especially those in the higher years. Usually when first years meet on the train and get separated, they stay separated but still friends. But these five didn't seem to want to be separated. And they didn't. Most would think that their group would fade just like anyone else's after the next month but everything stayed as strong as it could.

They made other friends, of course. Kurt had some Gryffindors he would joke with, a girl named Merril, his roomates Shane, Julian, and the twins, Evan and Ethan. Rachel made quick friend with a few Slytherins like Jesse, Mercedes, and Stella. Lauren was contented with other friends that didn't include her roommates. In addition to Cody, Justin, and Terry, Derek made friends with Sam from the room across the hall. Brittany made a friend with both of her roommates, as well as a Hufflepuff named Katherine. Reed made friends with his roommates, namely, Todd, Danny, and Joshua. But those friends would just be for a while; the five would always meet during tea and during their Friday afternoons off. The five of them quickly became the best of friends. All through their classes, they stuck together, and it would always be a bittersweet farewell when they go back to their houses after dinner.

The classes were challenging. Rachel and Reed were getting the best grades, the most points to their houses, and they thrived in every subject (though Reed kept on knocking the ingredients over and setting fire to his cauldron in Potions) except the gruellingly boring classes of Professor Binns.

"Exciting, I said. Taught by a ghost, I said!" Kurt rambled incredulously after the first lesson. "I hate history."

The other three, Brittany, Derek, and Kurt had their own specialties, not wanting to be shown up by the two (friendly competition among them was healthy, they'd decided, if they wanted to be the best, they'd have to best each other). Derek was the best at practical Transfiguration and sometimes surpassed Rachel and Reed's level. Kurt was the best at potions. And surprisingly, Brittany was the top in their Charms class.

Her reason: "It's just because I'm naturally charming, for a muggle-born." The four laughed at that and Derek hugged Brittany affectionately. "What? It's true! You're all just jealous."

Days passed in the term and the five were inseparable. Days passed and Reed's accidents numbered higher and everyone who knew that curly strawberry blond head of his would know that they would have to keep an eye on him. Derek's book count grew and his mother started sending him new books every week. Brittany's tutor sessions with her best friends escalated as the workload increased. Rachel made more people annoyed with her insufferable singing in the common rooms, though they couldn't deny that she had a voice on her. Kurt was increasingly getting confused, though, when he started admiring a certain Hufflepuff boy. He didn't, however, make it known to his friends. He didn't know how they would react. He didn't want to know how they would react, so he tried to swallow it down for the mean time.

Many things are about to happen to the five friends soon. And right before the October ended, they added a new member. A Ravenclaw named Sofia Salvadair.

They'd met in the library after their little visit to the hospital wing. Reed had a particularly disastrous Potions session where he accidentally knocked over some of his materials on Derek. He grew extra eyes, it freaked him out thoroughly.

"I am not sitting beside you ever again." Derek whispered as they entered the library for their collective homework. Kurt and Rachel lead while the other three hung back. Derek touched his face tentatively. "I could still feel them."

Reed chuckled and bumped his hip at Derek. "Too bad for you, mate, you signed a lifelong contract to suffer with me and my clumsiness when you first said, 'hi, let's be friends'."

"You remember that?" Derek snorted.

"Yes."

Brittany pulled the two to the left since she was the only one who noticed Rachel and Kurt's change in direction towards the Potions section.

"I can't believe they don't accept first years into the school choir. I have an exceptional voice!" Rachel whispered to them as they walked around the potions section, looking for books on their homework. Kurt shot her a look. "Well, you do too, but you're not complaining so…"

"Rachel." Kurt sighed, trying to stay patient with his friend. "We did get accepted."

"But we're not allowed to go to competitions. We're not given the solos…" She muttered.

"It's bad, I get it. We get it. We're not allowed because we're not supposed to have extra-curricular activities until third year." Derek answered and looked at the spines along the stacks.

"It'll be a short two years and we'll be getting the solos before you know it." Kurt whispered.

"Yeah, Rach, Kurt's right, you should just – woah!" Reed tripped on his laces again and tumbled towards a girl who was levitating a big stack of school books towards a table. She squeaked at the sudden appearance of the boy and they started to topple over.

"Immobulus!" Brittany had her wand out before the others. Being with Reed had them learning the spells left and right just so they could keep their friend from getting hurt. Derek was an efficient teacher when it came to that.

They pulled the books away and they pulled Reed and the girl from their compromising positions before Brittany undid the spell.

Reed was apologizing profusely and the girl tried to regain her composure.

"Hi, I'm Derek. Forgive my friend, he's deathly clumsy."

The girl looked up. "Sofie… And it's okay… Oh, hi Reed."

"Hi, Sofie." He said. "I'm sorry about the books."

"It's okay." She smiled faintly. They stood there for a second before Reed introduced them formally.

"So you're going to be fine?" Derek asked.

She nodded. "Yeah."

They turned around and she stood up. Before she could levitate the books again she looked at the group and felt like she needed to help them. "Derek, you've been in the library hours at a time, do you know where it is?" Kurt asked.

"I've been spending more time at the Charms section." Derek said. "I don't know where that book you're talking about is. Why don't you ask the librarian?"

"Madam Monique is wonderful and all but you know we can barely understand her accent." Kurt retorted.

"I can help." Sofie spoke up. "I know this place like the back of my hand."

Kurt smiled appreciatively and walked towards her, telling her about the book he was looking for. They found it in a matter of seconds and the six did their homework together. They stayed six.

That weekend, they got to know each other. They walked around the cold school grounds near the lake. A handful of students were on the beach, some were older students who have been to Hogsmeade for too many times and decided to have a change of scenery. Some students took time to go swimming in the lake. Laughter filled the beach. Derek, Kurt, Rachel, Brittany, Reed, and Sofie walked along the shore with their shoes in their hands, the water lapping a little bit against their feet.

"You five be quiet! They're right there!" Sofie hissed, immediately regretting the fact that she told them she was a little (very) boy crazy and she's got a bit of a crush on two second year Ravenclaws (Logan and Derek) and one first year Gryffindor friend (Julian)… As well as a few boys she did not know from higher up. She was regretting it a little bit because the five of them were giggling like mad as Julian, Logan and Derek passed by. But of course she had to tell them about her boy crazy tendencies. It was something all her friends should know about. "What are you, eight?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Kurt said. "We're calm. Caaaaaaaaaaaalm." They sucked in a collective breath before giggling anew. "Merlin, Julian's my roommate!"

"Shh!" But Sofie couldn't help but smile as well. She was beginning to really get attached to the five friends. "You all suck."

"Sorry!" Brittany said, trying to calm herself down.

Rachel looked up, still giggling. "It's being uncharacteristically sunny today."

"Why question it?" Sofie sighed, spreading her arms open. It was the perfect opportunity to change subject. "It's been so cold lately."

"Duh, it's October." Derek earned a smack on the back of his head from Sofie. "Hey! It's true!"

"Favourite food?" Reed asked, taking the hint of subject change. They had a sort of game of favourites, just so they could pass the time when they can't think of anything else to talk about. Weekends were hardly ever boring for them. "Mine's pasta."

"Oh, my gosh, mine too!" Rachel nudged Reed playfully, causing him to stumble a little bit.

"Potatoes!" Sofie said. "Anything that potates!"

"Chicken." Derek followed.

"Red velvet." Kurt grinned.

"Why would you eat fabric?" Brittany asked.

"It's a cake."

"Well, you should've put cake at the end so no one would get confused." She said reproachfully.

Kurt's eyebrows rose. "You're serious?"

"Of course I am." She said, looking confused. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Never mind." Kurt smiled at her. "Favourite class?"

They found themselves a nice place to sit, a rock formation flat enough for them to sit on without fear of slipping into the cold water. Naturally, they took turns trying to push each other down into the water. Reed tried to push Derek down but he somehow managed to push himself down. He would've fallen too if it wasn't for Sofie holding onto his shirt.

Then it happened.

A scream pierced the calm air and they all looked up to find a tentacle out of the water. Students were quickly packing up their things while the others were swimming back to shore. Some weren't as lucky, they got stuck in the tentacles flying out of the water.

"I thought the squid was supposed to be friendly!" Rachel cried.

"Guys, a little help here!" Sofie said, gesturing to Reed with her head. Before they could grab hold of their friend, another tentacle shot out and took the two. Rachel, Kurt, Brittany and Derek jumped back to the rock wall.

"Someone call McGonagall!" Reed shouted.

"This sucker is disgusting! Get me out!"

Just then another tentacle shot out of the water and came hurtling towards them. They fell flat on the rocky surface and they felt the slimy appendage graze across their backs before it flew across the beach. Brittany stood up first and the others followed.

All of the tentacles were out of the water when they reached the beach. It was starting to fight against the students, slamming against them and throwing them against the rocks. A few students were up in the air with Reed and Sofie, trying their best to break free. The older students started taking out their wands, trying to help those stuck in the squid's sticky grasp but nothing they do could stun the squid.

"Duck!" Kurt shouted as another tentacle came towards them.

"Where?" Brittany gazed upward.

"Incendio!" Derek pointed his wand just before it could hit Brittany and it recoiled. Rachel pulled Brittany away. There was a weird rumbling noise that came from the water and the squid started to attack with more gusto.

"I knew we should've stayed in the castle!" Kurt said. "Incendio!"

"Well," Rachel ducked before getting hit, "you have to admit this is kind of fun."

"Yes, the possibility of getting seriously injured is fun." Kurt sneered. "Brittany!" She ducked just in time but the tentacle hit Kurt square on the chest and was thrown away.

"Kurt!" Derek shouted and turned around to run to his fallen friend. Before he could even get there, he was blindsided with a blow from the left and promptly blacked out. Derek fell against a rock, leaving Brittany and Rachel fending for themselves.

"He just had to run to Kurt, didn't he?" Rachel rolled her eyes. "Incendio!"

Brittany covered her eyes for a moment when the fire hit the tentacle. "I don't know, I thought it was kinda cute." The two of them could barely hold it back before the headmistress arrived.

"Everyone calm down! Filius, assist me. Pamona, the children!" She said and raised her wand. Professor Flitwick followed suit and they both said an incantation that started to wrap the squid in a clear bubble. Professor Sprout set fire to the tentacles holding the students, causing the squid's hold to slacken.

Reed looked over his shoulder and saw the large fires starting on the other tentacles. "Sofie! We're going to be saved."

"Finally." She looked up (she was upside down). "It's a long way down though…"

"Oh, bugger." Reed sneered. A blast of warm air enveloped them and Reed shied his eyes away from the brightness. They slipped from the tentacle and felt the wind whoosh through them. They braced themselves for impact, knowing that it was going to hurt. But Professor Sprout cushioned the fall right before they slammed into the water.

Reed pushed his hair away when he surfaced. The water rumbled with another underwater roar from the squid as they encased it in a transparent bubble. "I wonder what's got its knickers in a twist."

"They'll probably tell us by dinner." Sofie shrugged. "Race you to the shore!"

The students started swimming to the shore and the others were helping the injured back to Hogwarts. "Filius, would you please call Hagrid?" Professor McGonagall said after the spell was finished.

"Certainly."

"Is everyone alright? Accounted for?" Scattered answers sounded from the beach as more and more students started to walk from the water.

"Reed, Sofie!" Rachel ran towards them and hurriedly conjured some warm air. "Are you two okay? Nothing broken or anything?"

Sofie pulled out her wand and then smiled at her. "It survived!" She caused some warm air to come out of her wand as well. "And I won."

"Only because you had a head start." Reed shook his hair, spraying water around. "Where's Derek and Kurt?"

"Unconscious." Brittany answered.

"What? Where?" Reed's eyes bulged.

"Right here." They turned around to find the twins carrying Derek. Evan was holding him up by the armpits while Ethan had him by the knees. Kurt was carried by the Anderson brothers in the same manner. "We're bringing them to the hospital wing."

"You're allowed to come along of course."

"We reckon you'd want to be there when your friends gain consciousness."

The hospital wing was full of unconscious students, but nothing life threatening befell them. All around, friends were sitting around the injured, as if they were going to die at any moment. Madam Pomfrey found it overdramatic; nonetheless, she continued her duties, mending cuts, bruises and concussions. Right before dinner, she started shooing the students away, especially the ones loitering in the wing.

Kurt woke up with a dull ache on his chest and he slowly opened his eyes. Brittany was looking down at him, smiling as usual. "How are you?"

"Kind of sore, but I'll live." He sat up slowly and swooping his hand through his bangs, placing them back in their proper position.

Derek pulled the bookmark from behind his ear, put it on the page and set the book aside. "Finally, he's up. I was beginning to think we'd have to miss dinner." He grinned from the bed across Kurt's.

"Someone hit him for me." Reed complied immediately. Derek laughed. "Thanks."

"Alright, you lot. It's time for dinner, get up." Madam Pomfrey said and stood, hands on her hips, waiting for them to move from the beds. They jumped up immediately, waiting for Kurt to put on his shoes before hastily walking away from the hospital wing.

"Ever wonder why the squid attacked?" Rachel asked.

"No, I was too busy not thinking about its suckers." Sofie shuddered, for her, that was one of the most unpleasant experiences in her life and she will be forever traumatized by the lake.

"I reckon Professor McGonagall would tell us after dinner." Kurt shrugged said.

"Now, you all may be wondering why the squid in the lake attacked today." Professor McGonagall announced after dessert. "I assure you that this is not a usual occurrence and the squid is perfectly harmless. We've managed to figure out the cause of the sudden outburst. It is because someone urinated in the lake." There was a collective tone of disgust in most of the tables, though there were some snickers from the younger years.

Derek nudged Brittany, who was shaking with laughter. She turned to him. "She said 'urinated'."

The Hall was drowned by conversations and speculations about who it could've been. "Silence." Professor McGonagall said. "This is not a laughing matter. The squid is very particular about the cleanliness of the lake and was very displeased when someone reckless dared to pollute it. We're very lucky it didn't drown any of you." She sneered a little bit. "I will be frank, who did it?" Students looked around for anyone looking suspicious. Some even jokingly accused a friend. It took a moment before someone raised their hand nervously.

The Hufflepuff table groaned.

"Mr. Hudson?" The headmistress's eyebrows rose.

"I – I did it, professor…" He was looking positively red. His friends tried to look as invisible as they could while the Hall burst in laughter. Kurt was just as red, everyone knew their relationship as stepbrothers. He felt like he was going to die in second-hand embarrassment. He covered his face. This is not happening. This is not happening. You're still in the hospital wing having a nightmare. At that moment, he hated Finn for being his stepbrother.

At the end of the night, Finn ended up losing Hufflepuff eighty points and two weeks detention cleaning the lavatories. The Hufflepuffs didn't take it so badly. It was just points, they wouldn't die. They just learned not to let Finn near the water any time soon. Kurt was fuming, of course. It took the five of them to calm him down as they walked back to their houses.

"I want to kill him. That was so embarrassing!" He said. His arms were so tightly pressed against his chest that he looked like he was trying to constrict himself. And maybe he was.

"Well, it isn't really a walk in the park for him, either." Derek sighed. "You're lucky he didn't do anything more embarrassing."

"Like what?" Kurt rolled his eyes. "Poop in the lake?" There was a moment of silence before they started to laugh. "It's not that funny." Kurt tried to keep a straight face but with his friends laughing, it was hard to keep it up.

"It's really not that funny." Reed said, chuckling. "But, bloody hell, that would be scandalous."

"I bet the mermaids would attack us, not just the squid." Sofie said, still laughing about the mere thought. "Don't be so hard on your brother."

Kurt sighed in exasperation. "You're right… It wasn't me. It was him."

"Hello, Kurt." Evan and Ethan walked by. "Will you pee-lease tell your brother to keep out of the water next time?" They snickered and walked away. Kurt was looking red again, gripping his wand so hard it could break.

"Let it go, Kurt. They're just being immature." Rachel said soothingly.

Brittany giggled. "They said 'pee-lease'."

Kurt glared at Brittany and Derek grabbed his right arm. "Just breathe. Loosen your grip on your wand… Loosen…"

"Kurt!" Loud foot falls echoed the hall they were walking in.

"Bloody – Hey, Finn." He smiled faintly.

"Look, mate, I'm really sorry for putting you through that." Finn said, running his fingers through his hair. "But it was just so wet and I really, really wanted to go and –"

Kurt raised his hand. "I get it, Finn…" He sighed for what seemed like the twentieth try to calm himself down. "It's fine."

"Alright… Awesome." He said. "Mind if I walk with you guys? Derek and Brittany are going to Hufflepuff anyway."

"I guess so." Kurt said. "But can we talk of something else?"

"Would it be possible for you to poop in the lake? Like if you really wanted to go but you were too far from the shore, would it?" Derek asked, sounding genuinely curious. Kurt groaned and Derek laughed. "I'm joking… But no, seriously."

"Someone hit him for me." Kurt said. Sofie did it this time.

"Gah! Sorry." He muttered and pulled out the book he was reading earlier and read while they walked. It was a wonder how he could do that without causing accidents. It was awkwardly quiet as they walked down the halls. Finn was surprised by their silence. The six were usually found laughing or having fun of some sort. Then again, it was only the six of them. And he did pee in the lake, causing embarrassment to his stepbrother causing him to fume (Finn wasn't that dense). They allowed themselves to fall into little activities to make the invading silence seem bearable. Reed was fiddling quietly with his fingers as they walked, not wanting to look Finn in the eye. Brittany was looking over Derek's shoulder, trying to get a glimpse of what he was reading. Kurt was scowling at the floor and wished that the stairs leading to Gryffindor tower would just appear. Sofie was silently humming to herself, thinking of things that would distract her from the current predicament. I wonder what the knocker will ask us when we get there.

"So… Finn. How is second year?" Rachel supplied, breaking the silence. Derek was forever grateful for bringing a book with him. He wasn't suffering like the others were.

"It's okay. I mean it's not that different from first year. Just new books, new topics." Finn shrugged.

"Oh…" Rachel nodded. The conversation ended there and Kurt cursed his brother for being there. The silence was unbearable. All six of them were thinking of something to say but none of them were able to bring it up.

"How are you guys adjusting to Hogwarts?" Finn asked awkwardly, knowing he should just stay back or go ahead. His body seemed to be unable to follow the commands from his head. You just had to pee in the lake, didn't you?

"Okay, I guess." Sofie answered. "Oh look stairs, let's go. Bye guys, see you tomorrow." Reed and Kurt looked up and waved to the others. They hurried up the steps until they couldn't see them anymore. "Well, that was sufficiently awkward."

"I know." Reed groaned.

"Why did Dad have to fall in love with his mum? Just why?" Kurt stomped up the steps.

"It kinda makes me feel bad for leaving the three of them with him." Sofie sighed then she shrugged. "Oh well."

"Hey, Sof, do you have answers to that Herbology homework?" Reed asked, hoping to draw the conversation somewhere else.

"Yes, it's right on my bed when I left it today. Do you want to have a look?"

"Definitely."

"Can I borrow them tomorrow?" Kurt asked, his mood lifting slightly. "I'm rubbish at Herbology."

"I'd be insulted if you didn't ask!" Sofie laughed, ruffling Kurt's hair. She was the only one who got away with it without getting thrown off the stairs.

"My parents sent your parents some love." Someone let out an annoyed sigh before the three friends reached the top of the stairs.

"Don't you mean your parents to my mum? I don't think my dad likes love." Another person joked.

"Hey Hummel, how's your brother?" Derek – the Seigerson one – smirked. Kurt's face turned red and he clutched his wand once again. Sofie stiffened between her two friends for she was in the presence of three most gorgeous wizards she has ever seen. She squeaked a little bit and tried to relax.

"Leave him alone, D." Julian punched Derek's arm.

"Ow! I was only joking!"

"Obviously." Julian rolled his eyes. "C'mon Kurt, I'll see you two idiots some time."

"You can't call us that! We're one year above you!" The tall blond protested jokingly. He then turned to his fellow Ravenclaws and gave them a quick wave. Reed and Sofie waved back.

"You're only older by ten months, Lo." Julian grinned over his shoulder. "There's not much of a difference… And you can't tell me what to do." He turned towards the corridor leading to the Fat Lady. Logan and Derek chuckled before they turned around and headed to Ravenclaw tower.

Kurt turned to Sofie and Reed. He raised one eyebrow and glanced at the two seconds years retreating to their house. Sofie scowled a little bit and punched Kurt's arm. "Not a word."

Kurt rolled his eyes. "Fine. Till tomorrow." The two waved and followed the other two Ravenclaws. It was Reed's turn to slightly tease his new friend.

"Not hyperventilating, are we?" He said, nudging her side.

"Shut up!" She said, slapping him on the back of his head.

"No make me!"

"So, Sofie, you're joining Reed's lot now?" Logan asked making the two of them really shut up. "Didn't know they were taking in new recruits."

"Yeah, we met up in the library, pretty fun stuff." She said casually. Her cheeks burned, wanting to expose her for fancying Logan (and the other Derek who wasn't her friend) but luckily it was a dark corridor. Reed wanted to die of laughter.

"Yeah, I fell into her." He supplied just barely hiding a guffaw. "We were looking for a potions book and – oof." And he walked into Ravenclaw's door.

"Kinda like that?" Derek chuckled as Reed tried to shake some of the pain away. Sofie was feeling like a little justice was served.

"Yeah, kind of. Only with more books." He rubbed his temple before knocking the knocker.

"You two aren't mad at me for losing Hufflepuff points, right?" Finn asked.

"No, not at all. Honest mistake right?" Derek was happy that the awkwardness was lifted up. After all, it was a long walk to the basements. Rachel left for the dungeons as soon as the chance appeared and that's when the conversation started to get better.

"Yeah, I guess. Thanks." Finn said. "It's just I want Hufflepuff to win the house cup again so badly, you know? Last year we won! Jenkin said it was the first time in a decade since our house won. Eighty points is a lot."

"Don't get so down on yourself. Winning isn't everything. Hufflepuff house is the best house and we all know it." Brittany said brightly, whirling her fist in the air as they turned to the last corridor. "It's just a stupid cup."

"I don't know." Derek sighed. "I heard some Gryffindors talking about Hufflepuff the other day and it wasn't pretty." The memory resurfaced vividly. Strange how these random memories come up.

"What did they say?" Finn's face scrunched in disbelief. That's still happening?

"I didn't want to listen in much but there was something about 'better off being muggles' and we 'suck'." It wasn't the most pleasant thing Derek wanted to hear in his first year. He always thought everyone was a big family at Hogwarts; he was surprised that some discrimination was happening. It also made him doubt his own capability as a wizard. Brittany frowned, having her optimism shot down.

"Derek, Brit," Finn bit his lip, thinking very hard to make what he was going to say to make sense. "Some wizards here aren't as nice. But don't let what they're saying get you down okay? They… Uh…" His eyes shot upward, hoping that the ceiling had the right words written for him. He didn't have such luck. He looked back down at Derek. "Prove them wrong."

Derek smiled at the older boy's attempt to make him feel better. It's better than nothing.

They stopped in front of the barrels. "Brittany? Did you practice this time?" Derek glanced at his friend.

"Oh yes, um… I know this… I know this." She knocked on her head twice and crossed her arms, deep in thought.

"Maybe I should –"

"No, Finn. Let her remember it."

She stared at the wall in concentration. A minute passed by before Brittany stepped forward one more time and stared at the lids. She lifted her hands and Derek smiled expectantly. She turned to Derek for assistance and he prodded her with a smile.

"You can remember it; it's been a few months!"

She tapped the lids in perfect order and she didn't get doused by vinegar like the last time she attempted the entrance. The lid swung open and she jumped and clapped with happiness.

"I'm so proud of you!" Derek hugged Brittany tightly before crawling through the passageway. Finn said goodnight when they were in the common room again.

Brittany hugged Derek again unexpectedly and whispered. "Hufflepuff is still awesome; don't let them get you down." They pulled away and Brittany did a little pat on Derek's head before prancing to the girls' dormitory. She waved again before she went through the door and he waved back. He turned towards the boys' dormitory.

Brittany sighed sadly as she entered her room. Realizing that Hogwarts wasn't the friendliest place on Earth as she originally thought really put a downer on things. But she did look at the bright side of things. If it didn't get out of hand, she shouldn't really bother herself with it.

During the holidays, Reed, Derek, Kurt and Sofie stayed behind. Hilde went to a clothing seminar at Paris while Sofie's parents went to Egypt to visit some old friends; she decided to stay when they mentioned "old friends". She didn't want to endure hours of listening to her parents and their friends drone on and on about their lives (neither of her brothers wanted to go as well). Derek's parents were busy during the holidays and it would just be depressing when their only time away from work would consist of two days. He didn't mind though, Hogwarts was home to him already. Kurt felt the same way when his father wrote to him and Finn. They were told that he and Carole would be having a second honeymoon and they didn't have to be told twice. Rachel and Brittany went home for the holidays. It was an easy goodbye for most of them.

"We promise to write every day and we'll send you gifts on Christmas and I really wish you could come with me!" Brittany was tearing up just a little bit as the carriages started to arrive.

"Brit, we'll still be here when you get back." Kurt said soothingly as he held her hands. He found her childishness rather adorable. "Don't cry, okay?"

"And you don't have to write us every day." Sofie grinned. "Owls need their rest too."

"Oh, I have to look for one so I can send you letters!" Brittany's eyes bulged and she started to look a little bit distressed. She had just realized that she didn't have an owl. What about when summer comes? Sofie groaned. She was hoping to comfort Brittany by changing the subject; unfortunately the desired effect came in a little short.

Rachel reached over to grab Brittany's hand in hers. "Brit, come on, our carriage is here" She leaned into Kurt as she pulled her friend away. "I'll talk to her, don't worry." She smiled widely at the four afterwards. "We'll send you gifts! Have fun without us! Happy Christmas!"

"Happy Christmas." Brittany seconded, smiling a little bit before leaving with Rachel. "Derek, don't forget to stop reading and have fun!" Derek chuckled and bookmarked his page to wave his two friends away.

The Hogwarts students that were left watched as the last of the carriages trotted away in the snow. There were only a few of them this year, just a handful of each house. The four stayed put as the rest walked back to their common rooms or to the different places in the grounds.

"…Now what?" Reed asked.

"I can get you into the kitchens." Derek suggested.

"Excellent." Sofie clapped her hands and draped her arms around Kurt and Derek's shoulders. "Let's go."

The holiday was good to them. It didn't come as a surprise; they were in Hogwarts after all. As first years, there was a lot to explore. They'd walk everywhere in every corridor. They got lost twice during the first two days. Finn went with them once; the awkwardness restrained, and toured them to some places in Hogwarts. He even brought them to the Room of Requirement once.

"Oh. My. Granger." Sofie said, wide-eyed and shocked at the racks upon racks of clothing that Kurt requested (Finn insisted that Kurt tried it out first). The door closed behind them. Kurt and Reed felt like they died and went to heaven. Derek hasn't seen so many clothes since Reed's closet.

"Brilliant, huh?" Finn grinned. "I found it one time during Easter break."

"We won't get locked in, right?" Kurt asked, touching one of the coats.

"Nope."

"It's not stealing if the room gave it to us." Kurt whispered again and pulled the coat from the rack. "This is lovely." Kurt smiled at Reed. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"

"With this much clothes? Dress up."

"That actually sounds like fun." Derek smiled widely and set his book down. Sofie laughed and ran to one of the many rows of racks. She took every piece of clothing she could and put them on. If she could put on enough, she could actually camouflage herself from them.

"Try and find me, boys!"

Derek grabbed a hat from one of the mannequins and followed her. "Challenge accepted, Salvadair!"

"Oh drat! A Hufflepuff!" She laughed. Reed and Kurt marvelled at the clothes for a few more seconds before putting a couple of coats on and went after Derek and Sofie. "First one to find me will have exclusive share of the chocolates my mum promised to send over Christmas!"

"Can I join in?" Finn asked. "I really like chocolate."

"Oh no! Another Hufflepuff!" Sofie laughed.

"Finn Hudson, that chocolate is mine!" Kurt laughed from one side of the room. His stepbrother just laughed it off and followed them into the rows of clothes. The day passed quickly. It passed with Reed accidentally catching Sofie first by knocking down a rack of clothes. It passed quickly with all five of them trying out clothes until they were lying on a heap of discarded clothes.

"Too bad we can't change the room while we're inside." Derek commented as he idly played with Reed's hair. "I'm in the mood for a starry sky."

"Maybe next time, when you pick." Reed said. "A library under a night sky?"

"You know me so well, Van Kamp." Derek chuckled. "But you can't read in the dark. It's bad for the eyes."

"Ask for some lamps then."

"I wonder what Brittany will think up when we bring them here." Kurt said offhandedly. "Cat playground maybe?"

"Is that even possible in here?" Sofie asked through the hat on her face.

"Never underestimate magic." Finn smiled.

Before they knew it, they were late for dinner and they still had a lot of clothes to take back to their dormitories (Kurt had the most). They decided to come back though, and they thanked Finn for showing them the room.

"The least I could do for embarrassing you." He smiled down at his brother.

Kurt rolled his eyes and hit Finn on the arm playfully. "C'mon, let's just get these things to Gryffindor and then we'll run back to get them after dinner." He sauntered ahead of the group with bundles of clothes in his arms.

"You promised me chocolates." Reed bumped Sofie's hip. "Don't forget."

"Never will I ever."

The next couple of days preceding Christmas morn included daily trips to the Room of Requirement. They would spend the whole day there, just having fun with the theme they were stuck with. When Derek picked, there were stacks upon stacks of books that stood in the room and windows appeared on the walls. All around the place were plush chairs that Derek deemed perfect for reading and he wished he could take one with him.

"Have you ever seen anything so beautiful in all your life?" Derek said dreamily as he walked across the stacks and ran his fingers along the spines. Then he squealed the highest squeal his friends ever heard. "I've been looking everywhere for this book!" He held up an original copy of Alice in Wonderland. "And it's been signed."

"Should we be worried?" Kurt asked Reed.

"Let him have his fun." Reed smiled fondly at his best friend who was plopping down on one of the chairs and easily got comfortable.

"What are you three just standing around for? We're in the happiest place on earth!" He shouted enthusiastically. Sofie, Kurt and Reed shrugged at each other before exploring themselves.

After spending the whole day looking through books and reading some of them, Derek ended up taking twelve books from the place. The other three had fun as well, watching their friend flail and give them book recommendations. They'd even played a game where they would hold up a book and if Derek read it already, he'd give a quick review afterwards that quick review turned into a full on conversation about the story. If he didn't read it yet, he'd grab it and check it out for himself.

Sofie picked the activity the next day. "Unicorns. Unicorns, everywhere." She said with awe in her voice as they entered a room full of unicorn themed objects like lamps, porcelain figures, wooden statues, marble statues, and even some toys.

"I've never seen so many unicorn based objects ever." Kurt looked up at the pile at the middle.

"…Brittany?" Reed snorted at Derek's remark towards Sofie, who promptly threw a unicorn plush doll at her friend.

"Shut up. You know I love unicorns." She motioned them to follow her. "If I'm going to have fun, you're going to have fun."

"Yes. Unicorns are fun." Kurt told her gently in the tone he used ever-so often for Brittany.

"Mock all you want!" Sofie scoffed. "You will see the light! The unicorn enriched light!" Reed chuckled at that one.

The day was spent in the company of various unicorn related items. They had even lied down on a unicorn duvet and stared at the ceiling, talking about whatever they could think of. When it was quiet, it was comfortable. Kurt figured that they had run out of things to talk about since they talk all the time. Reed and Derek were familiar with these silences since they have a lot of those. Derek would read, while Reed would sketch on his little notepad. Sometimes they would play music in the background. Sofie sighed into the duvet that smelled like strawberries though she didn't know where it's been. She hugged the plush unicorn on top of her closer. They stayed that way for a long time.

At the end of the day, Sofie took one very colorful porcelain figurine with the unicorn standing on its hind legs and its hair windswept. She didn't feel an ounce of shame.

"How are you going to explain that to your roommates?" Kurt asked.

"I'm all alone right now. I guess I'll tell them I got it for Christmas." She said without taking her eyes off the figurine in her hands.

Finally, Christmas Eve came. It was also Reed's turn to pick the theme. When they opened the doors, they were greeted by a bright room with tall windows on one side. A large gramophone sat in the center of the room. Various LP's surrounded it. The room was long and wide, perfect for moving around. There were various couches and chaises (one of which was unicorn themed) that littered the room and they looked soft. Some books lined floor as well as some instruments.

"A music room?" Sofie asked.

"More than that." Reed smiled. "It's a place where we can all relax and just hang out."

"What's with the instruments?" Kurt asked as they walked across the room, their footsteps echoing slightly.

Reed shrugged. "I just thought about having music. Derek plays some piano."

"I don't see a piano anywhere, but I do see some books." He said. He bent down to one of the Vinyl CD's. He lifted it up to read the cover.

Reed glanced over his friend's shoulder and grinned. On the cover was Reed's favourite band's first album. They were posing around with their instruments and time to time they would shove at each other playfully. On the top was their band name in cursive writing that was writing and rewriting itself. The writing was also a huge contrast to the band's alternative rock tone. "It's Camisado! I love these guys!" Reed took it from Derek's hands. "It's their first album and… Oh hoggy warty Hogwarts, it's signed! Signed! By all of them! Signed!" This has been the most active Sofie and Kurt has seen Reed. He jumped and slipped, almost knocking the gramophone to the floor. Derek caught him before he fell face first on the floor.

"Finn plays these guys all the time at home." Kurt lifted an eyebrow. "They're okay."

Reed gasped and clutched the record on his chest. The band members on the cover were looking over to see what the fuss is all about. "Okay? Okay? They're amazing!" He practically shrieked. Kurt and Sofie took a step backwards with Kurt raising his hands in defense.

"Woah, easy. We all have our own opinions. That's fine. Calm." Sofie said.

"Sorry about that. He just loves them so much." Derek patted Reed's hair down. "I'm going to put this on and Kurt can pick the next album."

They spent the day doing what the room was made for that moment, hanging out. They played music, Derek read on one of the couches, Sofie napped a little bit, Reed was busy taking Kurt into the Camisado side to begin sketching in the slightly tattered but blank notebook. Kurt remained adamant on thinking they're a fine band but he didn't think they were at all ground breaking. Reed calmed down and began drawing the room. He got over it pretty quickly. They filled in silences from time to time, talking about Christmas the next day and when they were taking Rachel and Brittany to the room.

Sofie looked over Reed's head at some point while he was drawing. "That's pretty good, Reed."

"Thanks." Reed blushed a little bit. "I'm still working on it though."

"There's nothing to work on!" Derek said from one chaise. "You're amazing, I tell you all the time."

"My mum thinks I should work on it." Reed mumbled.

"Well, I think they're amazing and you should draw or paint us six some time." Derek didn't help Reed's blushing. He always gets the slightest bit flustered whenever someone compliments him.

Then Kurt spoke up. "Did you notice that the light coming from the windows hasn't changed since we got here?" They all looked at the window and realized the same thing. Sofie walked towards the gramophone to turn the volume down.

"Did you hear the bell?" She asked. The boy shook her head. "Bloody hell." They quickly stood up and Reed took the pad and the Camisado record. When they exited the room, the sun just set and they were relieved that they hadn't missed dinner. They didn't come back in again; instead they went with Reed to Ravenclaw to leave the things he brought. The riddle was easily answered by Sofie and they entered quickly. Derek and Kurt looked up in awe.

"Your common room is brilliant." Derek said.

"On behalf of the house, thank you." Sofie grinned.

"Let's get to the Great Hall!" Reed said as he jogged down the stairs (stumbling in the process). They discussed plans for Christmas the next day, whether or not they should seclude themselves to the Room of Requirement again.

"Do you want to go back to the Room tomorrow for Christmas?" Kurt asked as they walked the corridors toward the Great Hall.

"It would be lovely. I could grab some hot chocolate or tea from the kitchens." Derek suggested, the thought was very enticing.

"I don't think we should." Sofie said. "Think about it, people might start to wonder where we go to all the time and the Room won't be special anymore once everyone finds it out. We shouldn't make a habit of it. The Room is nice and all but…" She left the thought hanging because she felt like she the boys would be smart enough to understand the situation (also because she couldn't think of anything to say).

"She's right." Derek concluded. "It would be nice to just go there from time to time. I'm not saying we will but we could get tired of it… And I don't want to share." The four friends grinned at each other, sharing the same thought. None of them wanted anyone else in the Room. Or at least, none of them wanted to invade their little friend bubble.

The next day, Sofie opened her eyes and greeted Christmas morning happily in her head. She pushed the covers away and slipped her feet into her slippers. She combed down her bed hair before venturing out of her room. Only a handful of Ravenclaws stayed during Christmas break and she was glad her cousin decided to stay with her (her older brothers were in different houses and she won't be seeing them until breakfast. Maybe not even then.)

"Merry Christmas, Sofie!" Quinn Fabray jumped on her cousin's back and wrapped her arms around the smaller girl's neck. Sofie stumbled a little bit.

"Merry Christmas, Quinn." She laughed. "Expecting any particular gift?"

"Aside from the broom polishing kit? No." They passed the threshold of the girls' dormitory and Quinn spread her arms wide. "Merry Christmas, Ravenclaw!" The resulting crash from the sudden outburst came from Reed's direction. He knocked down the Christmas tree in the middle of the common room with a wrapped up box.

"Bloody –! I'm sorry!" Reed said.

"Darn it, Fabray. Have you not realized that we shouldn't be surprising Reed?" Marcy, a fifth year, huffed.

"Don't get your knickers in a twist, Marce." Quinn retorted as she walked down the stairs. "Sorry about that, Reed."

"It's okay. Happens all the time." Reed smiled. "Merry Christmas." The Ravenclaws assembled around the now fallen tree to get their presents (some had to levitate the tree just to salvage theirs, fortunately nothing was broken). Slowly, there were sounds of glee coming from different students as they opened their gifts. Some expressed how much they missed their family and friends over the break. Others started playing with their presents and laughter filled the common room. Sofie, Reed, and Quinn sat on one of the couches, the latter two opening gifts and letters while the former was stacking them into neat piles.

"Aren't you going to open yours?" Reed asked as he pulled out a scarf with the initials RVK on the edge that came from his parents.

Sofie shrugged. "Maybe later. I'm really excited for the gifts but at the same time I don't want to be disappointed." Then she leaned in to whisper. "Also, if they bought me a camera, I wouldn't want to have the first pictures in it to be me in my sleep clothes." Reed rolled his eyes playfully and chuckled. "By the way, this is one of the two boxes of chocolates Mum sent." She gave him one of the red ribboned boxes.

"Aww, thanks! Do you want to have some chocolate frogs from Rachel?"

"I would love some." Sofie said and took from the pile of sweets.

"Quinn?" Reed offered. She hesitated for a bit but gave in after a few seconds of consideration. Reed smiled and went back digging through his gifts while Quinn got back to checking out her Quidditch kit. Sofie watched the two and glanced at her stack of gifts. She almost wanted to open them with great ferocity but she told herself to be patient.

"I'll go get ready for breakfast then." She grinned. "Then I'll open my gifts after."

Reed stood up and scooped all the presents into his arms, a dangerous thing to do since this would obstruct his line of sight to his feet. "I'll do the same, I'm feeling pretty hungry."

"You ate five boxes of chocolate frogs."

"That doesn't mean I wouldn't want breakfast anymore."

Sofie chuckled. "I'll see you later." Reed navigated through the common room towards the boys' dormitory carefully. Everyone was moving out of his way. Some were perceptive enough to move some of their discarded boxes away, as well as moving some of the furniture. Reed was uninjured until the first step where he got a paper cut from one of the gift wrappers when he hoisted the gifts in his arms higher. "Oh, bugger." He hissed and went up the stairs slowly.

"Reed, let me help you." Artie stopped mid step and took some of the gifts.

"Hey, thanks. Just woke up?" Reed quickly put in his finger in his mouth, tasting a little blood as they started to walk to the rooms.

"Yeah." He chuckled. "So, your room then?" Reed nodded. "I missed most of Christmas morning by now. What's up with everyone?"

"Nothing much, just gift opening and letter reading. I knocked over the Christmas tree."

Artie grinned and ruffled Reed's hair. "Somewhere out there, there's a coordination potion with your name on it."

"If there was one, my mum would've made it ages ago." Reed rolled his eyes.

"Or maybe the older students." Artie supplied.

"Or even Kurt." Reed chuckled. "That'll be the day."

Artie nodded empathically and stopped in front of the room. "And here we are." He opened the door. "Where do you want me to put these?"

"On my bed."

"Which one?"

"The one that looks slept in." Reed deadpanned.

"Your roommates are home for the holidays." Artie deduced and quickly put the gifts on Reed's bed. "Alright, I'll just go down and check on my things then, before David or Wes start opening them." Reed stepped into the room the same time Artie started to step out and he knocked Reed over. "Bloody hell, I'm really sorry Reed!"

"I'm okay, I've had worse." Reed rubbed his back as he sat up.

"Do you need any ice?"

"I'm good, I'm good." Artie nodded, stepped over the small boy and walked down the hall. Then he stopped in his tracks and ran back to help Reed up to his feet.

"I'm sorry, again, mate."

"Not really your fault, I'm accident prone." Reed shrugged. Artie patted Reed's shoulder before he left for his gifts, the same gifts that Wes was starting to unwrap because Artie was taking a long time to get them.

"Wake up!"

"It's Christmas!" The twins shouted and caused the floating piles of sweets to fall on Julian and Kurt. The two flailed in their bed, feeling as though they were either drowning or being attacked by little insects.

Julian groped for his wand and pointed it at the twins' direction. "Flipendo!" The spell missed the twins by a few inches and they just laughed.

"No need to get hostile, Julian."

"It's Christmas after all!"

"The day of peace!"

"Now get up before we open your presents for you!"

"Flipendo!" Julian sat up this time and the twins had to duck from the spell. The spell left another mark on the abused walls of their dorm room, marks that were caused by practicing spells and attacking the twins (or practicing spells on the twins). They've tried to mend the walls but it just caused more damaged since none of them have mastered that spell just yet.

The twins left the room snickering. Kurt groaned from his bed and sat up sleepily. "I can't go back to sleep."

"Bloody twins." Julian grumbled as the stood up and started walking to the bathroom.

"Don't give me any ideas." Kurt mumbled and smiled at Julian. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas."

"Kurt! You have quite a hefty parcel from your dad and mum!" Evan shouted from the common room.

"Mind if we look?" Ethan added.

Kurt ran to the door and shouted. "Touch any more of my things and I swear I will put you in a full body-bind curse for the rest of the holiday!" Ethan and Evan immediately dropped the box and lopped over to their own opened gifts.

"He's no fun, huh, Ev?"

"Definitely."

Kurt regained his composure and walked calmly to the common room.

Sofie gasped as she held up her present. It was a camera, the camera she's been bugging her parents about since they passed by it in Diagon Alley. She couldn't believe she actually got it. She looked back into the box and found a few rolls of film with a note attached.

We figured you'd use up your first roll quickly, so we bought you a few more.

"Mum and Dad are awesome!" She practically whispered. She quickly pulled out a roll and stuffed it into the camera. She pointed it at Reed and with a flash she took her first picture with her new camera. "Lovely."

Reed was practically blinded by the flash and he began rubbing his eyes. But before he could see again Sofie was already tugging at his sleeve. "C'mon! I have got to show Kurt and Derek!"

"Are you seriously going to hang out with that Puff again?" Amos, one of the third years, said. The room quickly turned icy. Everyone froze and watched silently from the sides. Reed and Sofie looked at him in surprise.

"What's it to you?" Sofie glared.

"Well, to me," he retorted with far too much superiority in his voice, "I don't think we should associate ourselves with wizards who are barely even wizards." The two bristled at the words Amos uttered and they couldn't believe what they heard. "And you're Ravenclaws, you should know better."

Reed was the first to snap out of it and started tugging on Sofie. "Seeing as you are not our parent, I suggest you keep your opinions about our friends to yourself." He spat, Sofie was still glaring.

Amos shrugged as if what he said didn't leave a heinous impression on the Christmas day. "I'm just trying to help. Hufflepuffs are just here because they have a pinch of magic in them." He then smirked, followed by a bit of a snicker from one of his friends who found the verbal jab unreasonably funny. Sofie scoffed and the two friends stalked away.

"I can't believe that prick! Why is he even in this school?" Reed fumed as they walked out of the tower.

"I know!" Sofie groaned in frustration. "He practically ruined Christmas now!"

"I bet he'll want that." Reed muttered. Even though he was angry at Amos for saying those words (more so that he came from the same House), he could let that affect him the whole day. After all, they should be happy on this day.

"Reckon we tell McGonagall?" Sofie asked.

"After the holiday, she needs a break too." Reed sighed.

"Alright, but after holiday we'll rat on Amos."

"Deal." They shared a satisfied smile and continued down the stairs to the Great Hall.

Derek sat in the Hall with Terry beside him. There was only one table for the students since there weren't many of them left over during the holiday. He was eating very slowly as he waited for the rest of his friends to arrive. He was also reading a new book he got from his parents that day. The Hall was warm even though the ceiling was emitting snow over their heads. Derek found it very beautiful with the gigantic trees that lined the walls.

The Hall was filled with various conversations about what they got from their families as well as how delicious the food tasted. The noise was the kind of noise Derek welcomed.

"I wonder what they're serving us tonight." Terry mused after another bite of his crème brûlée. "My sister said that the Christmas feast would be the best feast."

"I'm guessing towering cakes." Derek smiled and there was a huge flash of light.

"A book for Christmas," Sofie shook her head. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Because you're my friiieeend." Derek laughed as the two sat down in front of him. "I like your camera."

"Thanks, my parents got it for me." She placed the camera delicately in front of her and started putting food on her plate.

"I figured."

"Where's Kurt?" Reed asked mid-food-putting.

Derek shrugged. "I assumed he was with you."

"And I am now here." Kurt announced. "Merry Christmas everyone. And I have some news. The Gryffindors are having a party." Kurt said as he sat down beside Derek. "It's this New Year's eve, everyone's invited."

"Why are you whispering?" Sofie asked.

"The teachers aren't supposed to know." He replied.

"How are we supposed to hide that party from them? The portraits would rat us out." Derek hissed. "It'll just get us in trouble."

"A couple of sixth years told me that they're holding it in here." Kurt grinned.

"What?" Sofie, Reed, Derek, and Terry gasped.

"Shh!" He leaned in closer. "They assure us that we won't get caught. Just show up at Gryffindor tower a little after curfew and we'll let you in."

"If you say so." Sofie mumbled and ate a piece of beef.

Derek was a bit apprehensive of it, but since Kurt would be going and he trusted these people, he didn't see any reason to say no. There was another flash and there was a gasp from Kurt's direction. "I wasn't ready!"

"You don't have to be. Stolen shots are bloody brilliant. And I'll make the pictures move anyway, so it won't matter." Sofie reached over to pat Kurt's cheek. "Can't wait for Brit and Rachel to get back. We need a group shot."

"That would be cute, like every year we'll have at least one together." Kurt said. "Speaking of together, what did you get from Brit and Rachel? I got mittens from Brittany and Rachel sent me sweets."

"I think they sent us the same things." Derek grinned and raised his mittens from under the table.

"Huh… Go figure." Reed said.

"Well that was very cheap of them." Sofie said. The boys looked at her in surprise and she laughed. "What? I was only joking!"

New Years' Eve arrived faster than expected. It passed by with a blur of snowball fights, hot chocolate with marshmallows and a quick trip to the Room of Requirement (with hot chocolate and Brittany and Rachel's letters). Derek and Terry were the last Hufflepuffs to arrive. Derek was stalling just a little bit when he was picking out and putting on his clothes. Terry was nice enough to stay with him.

"Okay I'm ready." Derek breathed.

"Don't be nervous, it's not like they're going to expel us if we get caught." Terry chuckled.

"So you agree? You think we're going to get caught?"

Terry rolled his eyes. "C'mon, move it! I actually want to go to this party."

"So do I!" Derek said indignantly. "I'm just being careful is all… Do you think they'll owl my parents about it?"

"Derek, I'm saying this as a friend and roommate. Calm. Down!" Terry stuck his head out of the passageway and dragged Derek outside. Derek's eyes shifted side to side, portrait to portrait. All of them seem to be sleeping soundly in their frames as the two boys tiptoed towards the stairs. They were careful not to make any sound since it was well pass curfew and Filch would just love to find an excuse to punish them. They arrived at the Fat Lady portrait and she was looking rather irritated. Kurt was waiting outside.

"Took your time." He said, sounding the slightest bit annoyed.

"Sorry." Derek said.

"Are you the last ones?" The Fat Lady asked crossly.

"I think so."

"Good. I have half the mind to tell Professor McGonagall but I need to rest, so consider yourselves lucky." She scowled and let them in. The three boys wondered how paintings need their rest as they walked in. They were paintings after all.

"I didn't think you could make it." Sofie said as Kurt let Derek and Terry into the common room. "The basements are a far place."

"I can be sneaky if I want to." Derek told her and she laughed.

"You were stalling, weren't you?" She smirked.

Before Derek could defend himself, Terry spoke up. "Yes he was." Sofie laughed again and shook her head.

It was dimly lit in the room, a couple dozen students stood around the room. Derek could see the twins Kurt talked about before standing beside each other, grinning madly at everyone. Mercedes waved at him and he waved back. He and Sofie stood beside Reed and Kurt before the prefect in the middle – Rick – spoke up.

"Alright, is that everyone?" They nodded. "Okay. Follow me." He led them towards a blank canvas behind a plush red chair and he pointed at it, muttering a spell and it swung open, revealing a dark passageway. "Right, no one turn their wands on until the portrait swings close, we wouldn't want the portraits waking up on us. Casey, Spencer." Two Gryffindors carrying bags walked ahead of the group, the rest followed and Rick stayed behind until the last student went in and he closed the portrait behind him. "Lumos." The others followed and they went down the dark passageway, barely making any noise.

"Isn't this exciting? An actual party in actual Hogwarts!" Sofie whispered after a couple of minutes of walking.

"Yeah, it is." Derek said. "Until we get caught and have negative points."

"I know I should be worried about that, but you just made it more exciting. Bring on the teachers." She was looking too excited at the prospect of getting caught to keep him comfortable.

Kurt smacked Derek's arm, sensing the tension. "Are you always like this?"

"He's a worrier, if you haven't noticed." Reed smirked. "Don't get so paranoid, Derek."

"Excuse me for thinking about it." He raised his arms in defense.

The group ahead of them stopped. Casey muttered another spell against the wall and it started to open for them.

They were in the empty Great Hall and Derek could hear his heart pounding in his ears with excitement. They really were doing this.

"Quickly, lock the doors, get the silencing charms up, and have a patronus look out." Rick commanded and the students went into action. Rick went over to Casey and Spencer and they took out the decorations and food. Some of the third and fourth years helped them with the decorations. A sixth year Ravenclaw and Slytherin called out two patronuses, one a fox and the other an ostrich, the two students smiled and the animals vanished outside the doors. The few first years did their part by magically locking the doors and the seventh years went around keeping the noise in the hall.

"The charms are up, Rick." A fourth year Hufflepuff called.

The prefect smiled. "Excellent." Spencer pulled out a sound system and started playing some music. The twins went around lighting the fires in the hall with the other students. They must've been really good with fires because they'd made them glow the different house colors. Their laughter rang above the music and some were having fun just watching them.

"They're really good." Sofie commented. "I couldn't make my flames change color aside from green."

"Keep in mind, the twins are good at pranking, and they don't even make us lose points! They've pranked Filch twice!" Kurt said.

"That was them?" Reed gasped. Kurt nodded.

The students welcomed the New Year with much gusto. The older students even taught them how to make fireworks just so they could have a great display when midnight struck. Derek couldn't help but getting trigger happy with the fireworks until he accidentally almost fired one into Reed's hair. After that, he tried to keep his wand pointing upward. Most of the students were eating more, some Hufflepuffs snuck some food out of the kitchens and they had their own little feast.

"Those are some pretty good fireworks." The twins commented after he fired another firework up in the air.

"Thanks." Derek grinned. "They're fun to make."

"I'm Evan." One said.

"I'm Ethan." The other followed. "You hang out a lot with Kurt."

"Yeah, he's one of my best friends." He looked up at them. "I'm Derek."

They grinned very wide grins that Derek thought was unnatural. "Look up." Both of them said and Derek looked up. A cake was suspended in the air just a few inches over him and it started to fall. He was late to react and it collided into his face. Laughter erupted from the twins and they ran away before Derek could hex them. Sofie, Reed, and Kurt came over laughing a little bit as Derek fumed.

"I liked these clothes."

"You're starting to sound like Kurt." Sofie said and started to take the cake off his face.

"You say that like it's a bad thing." Kurt raised his eyebrow.

"Sof, we're lucky he didn't bring a book or the hall would explode." Reed said. "C'mon, let's get you cleaned."

"I forgot to mention that they would prank anybody, didn't I?" Kurt said.

"Oh I don't know, maybe." Derek glared as they made their way to the open wall.

"Sweet Merlin, Finn's dancing!" Kurt was horrified when the scene passed their line of vision. They paused to watch. "Say nothing!" He said tightly as his friends started to shake with laughter as his stepbrother continued dancing with his other friends. It wasn't exactly dancing; it was more like flailing and awkward wiggling.

"Oh this delicious." Derek laughed while Kurt tried to push them away. "This is your punishment for not warning me about the twins."

Kurt scoffed. "Please, I deserve less than that."

"Hey, hey, hey, hey." Luxor blocked their path. He took a swig from the bottle that was in his hand. "Where do you think you're going?"

The four eyed the Slytherin prefect warily. He was clearly drunk and they didn't know what to do. They were torn between ignoring him and talking to him. "Um," Sofie started, "we were going to take Derek out to get him cleaned." As if to add emphasis, a piece of cake dripped down from Derek's head onto his shirt.

"Nonesense!" The prefect slurred and took out his wand. They flinched when he flicked it towards Derek. Nothing happened except Derek getting cleaned. He breathed out the breath he didn't know he was holding in.

"Thanks." Derek said.

"No problem! It's a pretty bitchin' party, yeah? It's just started, mates! Can't have you leaving!" Luxor took another swig and stretched his arm to give it to them. "Have a drink! Go on! It's perfectly good Firewhisky." When none of them made a move for it, he forcibly put it in Reed's hand.

"Uh…"

"Lux!" Spencer ran towards the group. "Lux, you can't go around giving first years Firewhisky."

"I'm prefect! I can do whatever I want!" Luxor poked Spencer's chest as emphasis to every word. "Wow your chest is so hard. You Gryffindor keepers must work out a lot huh…"

"Alright, Lux, let's go get you to Casey… Or someone from your house." Spencer said soothingly. "I'll take that." Reed readily gave up the bottle of alcohol. "Enjoy the party. Sorry about him. He promised not to get drunk again."

"You know you're pretty fit for a Gryffindor. Are you sure you're straight?" Luxor said as Spencer took him away.

"Hogwarts." Derek chuckled. "Keeps surprising you when you think you've seen it all."

"What do you guys feel like doing now?" Reed asked. Suddenly, the music picked up the pace and someone was whooping in the middle of it. The students gathered closer together and they started dancing. The older students (some drunk, some sober) started climbing up the tables to dance. They fired fireworks that looped around the hall in beat with the music. They conjured up some orbs of light that changed color above the dancing heads.

"Party!" Sofie shouted and grabbed Derek's hand to drag him to the dancing bodies. He didn't hesitate to follow; it looked like it was fun. Reed gestured to the crowd. Kurt warily watched the gyrating bodies.

"Kurt, it'll be fun!" Reed said, tugging on Kurt's sleeve.

Taller boy sighed, followed by an eye roll. "If you say so." Reed grinned and led Kurt towards what he thought was Sofie and Derek. The song warped into a muggle song that only some students knew and they cheered about it. Something about "Oops" and doing it again. None of the four really knew who sang it (they were sure Brittany did) but they liked the song. The interesting part about the little dance floor was that no one was being separated per year level; everyone was just having a good time together. It was clear that everyone was having a really good time (especially the ones that were getting drunk on Firewhiskey).

After several minutes of dancing, Sofie, Derek, Reed, and Kurt moved away to the table to get some refreshments. They watched the students dancing around and making absolute fools of themselves. Derek shot some fireworks over them, earning some cheers. "Isn't it wonderful how you learn something from a party?" He grinned. Then some of the older (drunk) students pulled away from the crowd and moved towards the closed doors of the Great Hall. Two of them cast a spell causing the door to swing open. There were eleven of them, mostly sixth years and seventh years, though there were a few fourth years and fifth years (and one third year – Amos).

"Woo! Hogwarts rocks!" One seventh year Hufflepuff said as she produced streamers from her wand and ran out of the Hall. The other seven followed with fireworks, flowers, confetti, and other things coming out of their wands. They were being really loud and being very drunk. The music stopped in the hall and everyone watched as they escaped.

"Shit." Rick said. Another "woo" echoed back to them, making Rick snap out of it. "Someone get them back. Everyone move! Go back to your dorms if you want but please someone get those students back to Gryffindor house!" Most of the students ran for the secret passage to Gryffindor house, leaving a handful of them (the ones who weren't afraid to get caught and Derek who tried to leave but Sofie held him in place) in the Hall.

"Why can't we just go?" Derek whispered.

"It'll be fun!" She hissed back. "We'll just be in and out before you know it." She pulled on Derek and Reed towards the doors, Kurt and Finn followed.

Terry wanted to follow as well but his sister grabbed him by his shirt collar. "Triiiish!"

"No, absolutely not, Terrance! Mum and Dad will have my head if you get into trouble!" His sister glared at him with such authority that he sighed and walked to the secret passage unhappily.

"All the other years have all the fun." He grumbled.

The same went down on the Brightman front. "Finally, some fun!" Ethan grinned wildly at his twin. "Shall we Evan?"

"We shall." They crept along the walls, hoping to evade their prefect sister, Audrey, who was busy getting the other students into the passageway and out of trouble. They almost got to the doors before two quick body-bind spells got them from behind.

"I'm sorry, so, so sorry." Audrey said as she started to levitate her brothers to the passageway. "I know I promised not to use magic on you two but I had no choice. I need to keep you two out of trouble." If the twins could roll their eyes, they would. Audrey didn't have to apologize after all. She was just doing her job, both as prefect and their older sister. That didn't stop them from feeling a bit of regret that they couldn't get out of the Great Hall faster.

Ed wasn't really the one to get drunk, especially since he's just fourteen. But in the height of the moment, he couldn't resist the Firewhisky that was presented to him. After trying it for the first time, he just had to have another sip, and another, and another. Running around Hogwarts was probably the most exhilarating thing in the world. It was better since he was laughing with a few of his new friends. Funny thing though, he barely remembered any of their names.

"These suits of armor look a little drab don't you think?" Holly asked before causing the dark armor to turn pink and she added a Ravenclaw scarf. "There much better." Then she proceeded to turn every suit in the corridor a different kind of neon colour. Lux was shooting fireworks from his wand, waking up the paintings. What pretty sparks… He thought as he fired another one.

"Hey! Stop that!" Spencer pointed at them.

"You're going to have to catch us first!" Edward laughed and shot a firework towards the older student before running (and stumbling) after the others who ran. Holly laughed and conjured some birds to distract Spencer.

"We don't have time for this! We're gonna get caught if you don't come back willingly!" Spencer called amidst bird attacks.

"Stop being such a party pooper, Spence!" Lux called over his shoulder. "We're having fun!"

On the other side of the castle, Reed and Derek were catching up to Amos. He was dangerously running down on the stairs as he tried to knock down every painting he came across. Sofie, Kurt and Finn were following a Slytherin named Vanessa who was outside the castle trying to set fire to the snow.

"Amos! Amos, stop! You're going to hurt yourself!" Derek called. Even though he was drunk, Amos was a meter farther than the other two.

"You and what army? You're just a Hufflepuff loser!" Amos cackled as he tried to knock down a painting of a girl in a tutu.

Reed scowled and turned to Derek. "Sorry about him." He proceeded to miss one step on the stairs and fell on the landing.

"It's fine." Derek said as he helped his friend up. "Let's just get him and go."

"He's the one who's drunk but I'm the one who's falling down the stairs." They laughed.

"What're you two laughing at?" Amos had stopped running. He leaned on one of the banisters, feeling like he was about to throw up on the marble floors. "Are you laughing at me?"

"No." Reed said calmly. "No, we're not laughing at you…"

"Shut up you Puff lover! I know you were!" New rage rolled over Amos as he looked at the useless Hufflepuff standing beside Reed. He couldn't comprehend how the two were still friends. Hufflepuffs were the lowest house. Surely Reed would've noticed that after months of spending time with a couple of them.

"That was some mood swing." Derek mumbled and took out his wand.

"What d'you say?" Amos pointed his wand at Derek. He knew fully well that they were mocking him. He knew it. He made a jab against the Puff and they were compensating by ridiculing him. There was a brief flashback of his older brothers teasing him and he started to fume some more.

"Nothing I –"

"Bullocks! Bombar –"

"Petrificus totalus!" Reed cried and Amos fell down on the floor with a loud thud.

"Thanks." Derek sighed.

"No problem." They walked towards him and surveyed the bound body. "I'm really sorry about him."

"It's okay. He's drunk." Derek sighed. "Wingardium Leviosa." The body levitated slowly.

"Yeah but just because you're in Hufflepuff it doesn't mean that we're any better."

Derek smiled fondly at Reed and gave him a half-hug. "I know Reed, thanks… C'mon let's get this arse back to Gryffindor."

Confetti shot from their wands as they laughed down the corridor. "Wake up, wake up! It's the New Year!" Marie sang as she rocked the portraits. The people in the frames woke up crossly.

"Have you no manners, girl?" One woman in the pictures asked. She was denied an answer; instead she got confetti shot at her. The two girls laughed and continued their way through the deserted hall. Marie rocked all the portraits she came across, finding it absolutely amusing when they woke up. Shannon was content on shooting confetti from her wand.

"Marie, don't you think we'll get in trouble for that?" Shannon asked in slurred speech when Marie flipped a portrait upside down and laughed at the man who fell. She couldn't believe it, a man falling in a picture.

"What? No. I can't get in trouble! I'm in my seventh year! They can't expel me! I have yet to get to my N.E.W.T's!" Marie answered, forgetting the fact that they can expel seventh years. Unfortunately, she wasn't in her right state of mind.

"Weeeeeeeeeeee!" Ellery breezed through the corridors, just running aimlessly and waving her wand, causing it to rain over her.

"Hey! You're ruining my confetti!" Shannon, wanting to prove her point shot more confetti out of her wand. Marie turned her attention to a group portrait of sleeping wizards. She grabbed both sides of the frame and started rocking it back and forth, jolting the picture awake.

Casey and Marcy followed a trail of confetti down a long and winding corridor in the third floor. It was getting really quiet and it's either Ellery passed out on the floor or they should be on their guard against rogue spells.

"Some party, eh?" Casey whispered as Marcy walked the bend and raised her wand, greeted by another dark corridor.

"Yeah, it was. Fun while it lasted. I hope we don't get expelled for this." Marcy said. "Ell, come on out before we get ex – oof!"

"Hi Marcy!" The seventh year Ravenclaw giggled after tackling her friend down. "I missed you! I got lost here and I just couldn't find my way out after throwing up on the carpet." Casey blanched at the mention of this.

"Case, get the vomit, I'll get this one to Gryffindor… Why are you wet?"

"Oh we're going to Gryffindor again? Will there be more Firewhiskey?" Ellery bounced on Marcy, making her too breathless to answer. All she could think about were ways to bring Ellery back to Gryffindor tower peacefully and painless stun spells.

"Marie! We are so getting in trouble!" A voice pierced the quiet corridor.

"Oh hush! It's not like it ripped or anything. It just fell from the wall." Marcy and Casey looked at each other while Ellery rolled off of her friend and started giggling at the ceiling. Seeing that one drunken girl was done, they had at least two to deal with. Marcy nodded at her friend and both of them crept to the bend.

They found Marie trying to swing a portrait back to the wall. "Will you put me down? I demand it!" The painting screeched.

"Belt up, you stupid old hag." Marie rolled her eyes. "Can't you see I'm trying to get you back on your place?"

"All I can see is a drunken little girl just waiting to be expelled." The painting huffed. Marie scowled and dropped the painting.

Shannon gasped. "Marie!"

"She was asking for it."

Before Shannon could form a reply, both were stunned and they slumped down on the floor. Marcy and Casey looked down at the two girls at their feet and pondered how they were going to lug three bodies up to Gryffindor tower.

"Shh, be quiet. I hear something." Kurt said, making Sofie and Finn pause. Aside from Vanessa groaning in Finn's arms there was a loud knocking sound coming from Ravenclaw's direction. Kurt and Sofie shared a look while Finn hoisted Vanessa higher so she won't fall down the staircase. "We should go check it."

"I'll go bring Vanessa to Gryffindor." Finn said breathlessly. Kurt nodded to his stepbrother and Finn trudged down the opposite direction. Kurt and Sofie walked the corridor silently and as they neared Ravenclaw tower, the knocking grew louder and louder. When they were near enough they could hear voices.

"Why do Dementors exist?" The knocker asked.

"For the last time, you daft knocker, I really don't know! Just let me in Ravenclaw tower and let me see what the bloody hell is inside!" The knocker didn't reply and the boy kept on knocking. He just really wanted to see what the Ravenclaw house looked like, as well as Hufflepuff and Slytherin. It's all he wanted. "Just. Let. Me. In!"

"Wait, I think I've seen him before." Sofie commented as they closed in.

"That's Voltaire." Kurt supplied. "Gryffindor beater."

"Oh right, the one who got knocked out by the bludger that first match."

"How do you propose on making him settle down?" The two warily eyed the tall fourth year who was knocking furiously at the door, trying desperately to be let in. Kurt turned to Sofie. "You could answer it for him."

"I don't know why Dementors exist." Sofie whispered, and then she aimed her wand. "Petrificus totalus." Voltaire turned rigid and fell over. They walked over to the bound body and stared down at him. Luckily, he landed with his face to the floor so he wouldn't know who cursed him. "Wingardium leviosar… wingardiu –"

"Stop." Kurt said, holding Sofie's wand down. "You're going to kill him. It's leviOsa, not leviosar."

"You do it then if you're so clever."

"Wingardium leviosa." Voltaire floated a few inches from the floor.

"I need to practice on that." Sofie huffed and they brought the body back to Gryffindor.

"Alright, alright! Is everyone accounted for?" Rick hysterically asked as he paced the floor of his common room. A bunch of students nodded but Reed stood up.

"Sofie and Kurt aren't here yet." He said. Just then, the aforementioned two appeared in the common room bringing an extra body with them. "Never mind." Reed sat back down.

"Who's that?" Rick asked.

"Voltaire." Kurt answered and started lowering the beater down gently to the floor.

"No stop!" Rick said suddenly. Kurt lost focus and there was a loud thud when Voltaire landed.

"Sorry…" Kurt tried to wave his wand again before Rick made a motion for him to stop.

"Just – just leave him." Kurt and Sofie shifted uncomfortably for two seconds before rushing towards Derek, Reed, Terry, and Finn at the back of the common room.

Rick dragged a hand down his face and turned to the only remaining prefects. "Is that everyone yet?"

"Luxor's not here." Audrey answered making a couple of Slytherins groan, as well as Rick.

"Neither are Ed and Spencer." Trish added. Spencer ran into the room breathless. "That settles it, Lux and Ed aren't here." Trish smiled brightly, hoping to lighten the mood but Rick just shot her a tired look and she shrugged.

"Where are Lux and Ed?" Rick turned to Spencer.

He sucked in a gulp of breath before answering. "I tried looking for them. I lost track when I reached the seventh floor." Derek, Reed, Sofie, Kurt, and Finn looked at each other at the mention of the floor. They had an idea where the two were but none of them spoke up.

"At least it's over now." Rick sighed. The students in front of him visibly stiffened, he was confused at the action but then someone cleared their throat. Fear washed over him like a barrel of cold water and he turned around. Professor McGonagall as well as the house heads was standing at the entrance.

"Students, report to your respective houses," all the Slytherins, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws shot up from their seats as soon as they heard the command. Trish and Audrey started to leave too but the next command made them freeze on the spots. "I would like to have a word with the present prefects, in my office."

"I'll see you three tomorrow… Hopefully." Kurt whispered and went up to his dormitory.

Sofie leaned into his friends. "You have to admit, that was a rather exciting New Year."

Derek laughed ruefully. "Yes, getting caught just puts the icing on the cake." Sofie raised her eyebrow, making Derek roll his eyes. "Fine. I had fun, I won't deny it." Sofie grinned and patted her friend on the back.

"See, told you."

"Let's just hope we'll be back next year." Reed shuddered at the thought. "Well, we'll see you tomorrow." Then they separated into Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff.

While Sofie and Reed walked towards the tower's entrance, she realized something. "Now we'll find out why Dementors exist!" Apparently, there was something of a bright side to having their head of house lead them back to Ravenclaw.

"Where is Mr. Bellmore?" The headmistress asked when they arrived in her office. The three prefects didn't want to meet her eye. She put her hands on her hips and said. "Well?"

"We – we don't know, professor." Audrey answered.

"Why is that?" The room was practically icy and the silence was choking their insides.

"He's one of the… casualties, professor." Rick answered this time.

"Casualties, Mr. Tossum?" Professor McGonagall arched an eyebrow.

Rick bit his lip, he didn't want to say it but he did. "He's one of the intoxicated students, professor. And we seem to have misplaced him… And Edward Freidmont."

After a minute of unnerving silence, she finally spoke again. "I am disappointed in all of you." She glared at them over her spectacles "You're prefects and you let this happen." Rick, Trish, and Audrey looked down at their shoes for a second, feeling shamed.

"But professor," Trish said, "it's the New Year. Surely we're allowed to –"

"My dear, you are quite allowed to… to party all you want, I understand that. I'm just disappointed that you that you let this get out of hand." The headmistress waved her hand as emphasis before sighing. "About a dozen students are drunk, including one prefect, some vandalized the castle and woke up the paintings in an unpleasant manner! I'm surprised to hear that none of you were seriously injured! I have half the mind to expel all of you." The three winced. "However, since it is the New Year and you are new at this post, I will let it go for the mean time. A hundred points from each house, no detention." The three prefects let out the collective breath they were holding and relaxed.

"Thank you, thank you, professor!" Trish breathed. "And we won't ever let this happen again."

"I'm sure you won't." Professor McGonagall deadpanned, they nodded. "You may go." The three shuffled together towards the door.

"That wasn't as bad as I thought it would be." Trish said a little too brightly while they walked down the spiral staircase that led to the headmistress's office.

"Yeah, I suppose it could've gone worse." Audrey mused. "I wonder where Lux and Ed are."

Rick snorted. "Wherever they are, I just hope Lux is smart enough to use protection."

"Wait," Audrey stopped in the middle of the dark deserted corridor, "is Ed gay?"

"I would like to say 'it's none of my business to say anything' and 'it's something you should ask Ed yourself' but yes, he is so gay." Rick laughed lightly. Audrey tossed it around her head for a moment before shrugging and walking along with the other two.

"That's too bad, Ed was kind of fit don't you think?" Trish said.

Audrey laughed. "Whatever happened to 'I'm setting my sights for one Chase Dalton'?"

"Okay, first of all, you're making me sound a lot flirtier than I actually am. Second of all, can't a girl have multiple crushes? Is that such a crime?"

"Argh, my manhood! Being. Drained." Rick groaned dramatically.

Trish rolled her eyes. "Piss off, Tossum!" Then she grinned. "You're the one to talk. You go about flirting with innocent fourth years when all you want is Gwen."

Rick colored red and muttered, "That's different."

"Of course it is." She laughed. "It's really pathetic, really, all this pining for her. Get some balls and ask her out already!"

"I'm working on it." He mumbled again, running his fingers through his hair. The girls laughed at Rick's expense. At first he was squirming with embarrassment but now he just grinned at the two. "Really! I am!"

"We better see progress then by the next Hogsmeade visit." Audrey smirked.

"But that's on Valentine's." He said stubbornly.

"Exactly." Trish said.

"Work your magic, lover boy." Audrey weaved her fingers through his hair and he tried swatting her off. They stopped at the staircases and the three of them heaved another sigh. "Here's my stop. I actually had fun tonight, except for the McGonagall thing. Keep an eye on my brothers, Rick?"

"No." She smacked his arm and he just laughed. "I'm only joking! I will!"

"You better." She glowered.

"Speaking of brothers, check on Terry for me, Aud." Trish said.

"I really hate it when you call me that." Audrey sighed.

"But you can never make me stop." The two girls laughed and Audrey made her way down to Hufflepuff house while the other two made their ways to Ravenclaw and Gryffindor.

"Don't be so nervous, Brittany." Rachel said as she straightened her headband.

"But what if they don't remember us?" Brittany asked worriedly.

Rachel rolled her eyes then smiled at her loveably ditzy friend. Jude and Mercedes looked at Brittany with stunned expressions. Rachel waved it off. "We've just been gone a couple of weeks, I'm sure they remember us."

"You're right… You're right. There's nothing to be worried about." She breathed in a deep breath, admiring Hogwarts as they neared it via carriage. Then she turned to Rachel with a new concern. "What if they didn't like the mittens I got them?"

"Brittany, you said so yourself that there's nothing to be worried about. Calm down." Rachel said patiently. Brittany nodded this time. "We're almost there."

"Yeah, we are." Brittany stuck her head out of the window and watched as her second home came closer after so many days away from it. It didn't look like it changed. She always thought it would since it's magic but the only thing that changed is the snow on top of the castle. "Have you ever seen something so beautiful?"

Rachel smiled fondly, both at her friend and Hogwarts. "Yes, it's very stunning." It felt really nice to be back there.

"The snow adds a nice touch don't you think?" Jude commented at the snow reflecting the winter sunlight, making the castle look like it's covered in gems. The girls voiced their agreement.

"Gosh, it's good to be back!" Mercedes exclaimed as the carriage passed the gates. They saw the magnitude of students greeting their friends at the main entrance. The sight warmed the first years' hearts. "Everyone's out to greet us!"

"There they are!" Brittany pointed to a random spot in the sea of people but Rachel could see Reed's curly strawberry blond hair, Derek's latest book, Sofie's pale skin, and Kurt's lovely outfit. Rachel couldn't help but feel very happy to be near them once again.

"Derek, Reed, Sofie, Kurt!" Brittany squealed as soon as the carriage stopped and she ran towards her friends. Rachel was closely behind her. Sofie took out her camera and she took their picture. Brittany gave them a huge group hug while Rachel laughed. "I missed you so much! I've told my parents everything about you! They would like to see you soon! How was Christmas? Did get my gifts?"

"Yeah, we did." Kurt chuckled and the four of them raised their mittens. Brittany clapped excitedly.

"I hoped you enjoyed my sweet baskets." Rachel beamed.

"Oh yeah we did!" Sofie said. "But there was a problem with the Bertie Botts Beans; they were all in the same flavour…"

"Yes! They're all berry flavoured so you would be reminded of me." Sofie laughed and gave Rachel a long hug.

"I should've guessed." Kurt laughed too.

"I missed talking to you! I have a lot of things to say!" Rachel said.

"I bet you do." Reed joked then glanced at Derek.

"And we have a lot to tell you two." Derek said. "But we have something to show you."

"Is it a mermaid?" Brittany asked.

"No."

"That's too bad."

"But what we're going to show you is so much better." Sofie said while bringing them in the castle.

"What's better than mermaids?" Brittany asked incredulously.

Sofie just said, "You'll see. But hold on! We need to have a picture together; my parents got me a camera." She searched around for someone to take their picture but everyone else seemed busy. But Rachel found them a photographer just as he passed by.

"Jude! Jude, can I ask you a favour?" Rachel said.

Jude shrugged and smiled slightly. "Yeah."

"Jude, can you take our picture?"

"Sure." Sofie excitedly gave up her camera and went to her place between Reed and Brittany, then she moved her jet black hair from her face and smiled. Rachel stood beside Derek, and then she flipped her hair back. Kurt draped his arm around Brittany's neck and smiled proudly at his friends and then to the camera. "Ready? One, two, three…" There was a bright flash. "Nice camera, Sofie."

"Thanks!" She smiled broadly and she took the camera.

"I'm blind. Rachel, I'm blind!" Brittany joked.

"Me too, Brit." Rachel laughed.

Kurt took both of the girls' hands and pulled them towards the staircase. "C'mon, we have that something special to show you!" The two girls were brought to their special place of course, the Room of Requirement. It was theirs, Brittany and Rachel got that from the start. It was a special room for special friends. It was a sanctuary, a place where all the rest can just disappear and it would be just the six of them, relaying stories, laughing, singing, and just talking about different things. It was a place that would conform to their imagination if the laws of magic allow it. It was like their own Hogwarts in a smaller package, or probably their own Hogwarts house that only they knew the password to. They would try naming it but it would take too long to do. Maybe one day. But then, they could just lie down on the carpet that smelled like springtime and stare at the faux clouds all day long.

"So, Berry, it's come to this." Sofie said evenly as they met at the entrance of the Quidditch pitch.

"I believe so, Salvadair." Rachel replied in the same tone. Both of the girls are decked in Slytherin and Ravenclaw colours. They were holding pompons that were passed around the night before for the Slytherin versus Ravenclaw championship that day. They looked each other from head to toe and grinned a little bit. "May the best house – Slytherin – win, then?"

Sofie laughed. "You'll be eating your words, Berry, when my cousin catches the Snitch before your friend does."

"I'll have you know that Jesse is an exceptional seeker." Rachel said airily then both of them laughed.

"I see you've brought Kurt and Brittany to your side." Sofie playfully glared at her two other friends who were wearing green and silver. They picked sides earlier on but it was just fun playing like they've been betrayed by each other.

"I'm really sorry, Sof." Brittany giggled. "But she bribed me with some chocolate."

"Change now, Brit, and I will give you all the chocolate you want."

Brittany just giggled some more and shook her head. "I don't have anything Ravenclaw on me."

"Fine!" Sofie said with mock anger. "Be that way. I hope you enjoy being part of the loser cheerers… Kurt." She knew that Kurt didn't like losing.

He smirked at her. "We'll see about that, Salvadair."

"Let's go, Reed, Derek." Sofie said. "At least they're loyal."

"Please," Rachel rolled her eyes, "Derek would never say no to Reed. If you bring one somewhere, the other will definitely follow."

"I don't know if I should be offended or not." Derek smiled, fiddling with the Ravenclaw scarf he borrowed from Reed. Three games later and he still couldn't get used to not bringing a book with him. "We'll see you later."

"Yeah, after Ravenclaw wins." Reed said then he gets hit by a rolled up Ravenclaw banner and he fell to the ground.

"I am so, so sorry!" Shane shouted as he ran towards them. Derek hefted Reed up and he dusted himself of dirt. "I'm really sorry, Reed!" He said again as he picked up the banner. "Julian was supposed to catch it and I guess I miss aimed and – are you okay? Bloody hell, did it hurt? I'm really sorry. Are you mad? Because –"

"Shane!" Reed laughed, amused by the rambling boy. "I'm fine."

Kurt gasped. "You support Ravenclaw."

Shane grinned. "Yeah, so do the twins, and Julian. You're the only one from our room who supports Slytherin, good luck with losing."

"High five!" Sofie practically jumped with excitement. Shane accepted it.

"Well, I better go; Blaine and Julian would be waiting." The group returned the wave Shane sent out before he turned around and lopped to his brother and roommate.

"In your face, Berry!" Sofie laughed.

Rachel looked at Kurt and Brittany then she nodded. The three of them crossed their arms with strange synchronization, stomped forward with their right food then raised their arms in a V formation. "Go Slytherin!" There were some cheers from the other Slytherins and Slytherin supporters as they snapped their fingers on the right hand sassily, turned on their heels and sauntered away.

Derek laughed incredulously at the scene he just witnessed. He proceeded to snap his fingers in a Z formation. "Yeah well, if we had practice, we would've had a better routine than you three did!" He shouted. They heard Brittany laugh. Some students were surprised to hear that outburst from the usually quiet Hufflepuff.

"Let's go." Sofie said brightly, hooking her arms with Reed and Derek. "We need to get good seats!" As they walked towards the stands, someone bumped into Derek's shoulder fiercely that Derek stumbled a little bit.

"Watch where you're going, Puff." Amos scowled over his shoulder and continued walking.

"What'd I ever do to him?" Derek asked.

Sofie shrugged. "I don't know, exist maybe."

"I wonder why he's doing it; he got detention after we told McGonagall." Reed commented. "Apparently that didn't work."

"We might've made it worse." Sofie added, making Reed and Derek groan. "Oh, chin up, boys! It's a happy day remember?"

Quinn Fabray wasn't nervous. She wasn't nervous at all. This game would just cement her status as a seeker. It would just decide whether Ravenclaw would win the house cup or not. It would just mean that practically half of the student body was counting on her to beat Slytherin's behind. No pressure. She wasn't nervous. I'm fine. She thought as she gripped her Nimbus 2002 tightly in her hands. I don't want to get sick all over the grass. I don't want to run back to Ravenclaw tower and pretend that I'm not seeker. I don't hear those voices chanting 'Ravenclaw, Ravenclaw' in the stands. She sucked in a shaky breath and calmed herself down. She was Lucy Quinn Fabray, nothing could make her nervous.

"Nervous?" Julia asked.

"No." Quinn answered immediately.

Julia smiled patiently at Quinn. Six years of being keeper and two years of being captain left her with a pretty good radar for nervousness. She knew that Quinn was just trying not to psych herself out but it will end with her freaking out when they go out of the locker room (she would know, she lost her lunch on the ground during her first year as keeper). Julia knew what to do at times like this; she produced a chocolate bar from her Quidditch robes. "Here." She said to Quinn.

"What's this?" Quinn asked.

"It's chocolate, Fabray." Julia chuckled. "Eat, you'll feel better."

"I'm fine."

"Eat it then, for good luck." Julia smiled warmly and Quinn started to unwrap it. She turned around to address the rest of her team. "Alright! This is it! Last game of the year, and we're against Slytherin. Remember the strategies we went by –"

"Again and again and again and again." Ellery interrupted. The team laughed.

Julia rolled her eyes. "I get it, you get it. I'm glad I don't have to repeat myself."

"Like you were going to?" Justin snickered.

They were very lucky that she had the patience of a Hufflepuff. "As I was saying, I believe in you. If we stuck to what we trained, we'd beat those Slytherin arseholes to the ground!" They cheered. "Seigerson, Freidmont, don't forget to tail Fabray from time to time, especially when she's seen the Snitch. I'm sure Bancroft, Doherty, and I would make do with ourselves. You saw how Lopez and Kingston took down Holmes."

"That Gryffindor never saw it coming." Gibson said. "Poor Mitch."

"It's a miracle that Santana got away with that." Derek said as he tossed his bat back and forth.

"Yes, well, you two will take care of that." Julia said. "I'm going to get smushy on you lot, but you were the absolutely best team I've ever had the pleasure to captain."

"Aww, Holmstead, don't do this to me! I'm going to get snotty." Ed joked and walked towards her for a hug.

Julia laughed and pushed the beater away. "I'm serious. Thanks."

"We know that Ravenclaws aren't stupid." Avery said to his team. "They'll be defending their seeker like hell. But Kingston, Lopez, try to get her down when she sees the Snitch." Santana and Nathan looked at each other and grinned mischievously.

"Alright, captain, our captain." Nathan laughed.

"St. James, make sure you find that snitch before she does, alright. That Nimbus 2002 of hers may be a few years old but she can move when she pushes." Jesse nodded. "I want Slytherin to win this year."

"Obviously," Kristianne said, "it's your first year being captain after Coulter left; it would be a great reputation booster."

"As much as that sounded selfless, you want to win because it's your first year as keeper." Santana smirked over her shoulder.

"It's your first year as beater." Kristianne retorted.

"I know and we've been awesome so far." The two laughed.

Avery smiled at his team. He was nervous when Coulter told him that he was the new Slytherin captain. But now that they were an unstoppable force, he was fairly certain that they would win this thing.

"Will there be any more words of wisdom, Captain Prynce?" Jasper asked with a mocking smirk.

Avery rolled his eyes. "Nope, that's all I've got to say, unless you're dumb enough to forget the strategy." Jasper showed Avery his middle finger before laughing. Even though they were arses, Avery knew that they were the best team a captain could hope to have.

Gwen arrived at her podium as the commentator. She breathed in the cool spring air and looked down at the students finding their seats in the lower stands. She held the microphone up to her mouth and said, "Good afternoon, teachers and students! Welcome to the championship game between Ravenclaw," she paused to let the cheers fill the pitch, "and Slytherin!" She did the same for the others. "Wonderful weather today, I'm so glad that spring's here. It's perfect for Quidditch, just so you know. Are you ready for the game to start?"

"Yes!" The crowd screamed back at her and she laughed.

"I know, I know. I am too. Let's call on the Ravenclaw team!" One side cheered, the other booed. They tried to drown each other. Down below, the team was leaving the locker rooms. They looked up at the stands and they were assaulted by cheers. They smiled a little bit and mounted their brooms. "We have our chasers! Justin Bancroft, Gibson Doherty, and finally, the captain, Julia Holmstead!" They flew up into the sky and the crowd cheered. Julia was going to miss this. "It's also Ms. Holmstead's last year at Hogwarts, so she's very determined to snag a win before leaving, though she's snagged a couple already."

Julia laughed and flew by Gwen. "You're making me sound like a Slytherin!"

Gwen returned the laugh. "What? It's not like Slytherins are the only ones with ambition. And now! Their beaters, Edward Freidmont and Derek Seigerson!"

Lux cheered in the stands even though he got looks from the other Slytherins. "Woo! Go Eddie!"

"Uh… Lux…" Holly muttered as she nudged him.

"Shut up, I'm prefect, I can do whatever the fuck I want and support whoever the fuck I want." Lux turned his attention to Ed again. "Go get them!" Ed was flying by when he said this, making him blush the slightest bit.

"Now for their keeper, Ellery Coulter!" She flew up towards the Slytherin side and raspberried over all of them. "Ms. Coulter is also on her last year as keeper and her brother, the previous Slytherin captain; Vander Coulter is actually here to see her play!" Ellery almost fell off her broom at the mention of her brother. She flew up to Gwen.

"Don't shit me, Gwen!" She said.

"Watch your mouth, sis." Vander smirked behind Gwen.

"Vander! Why didn't you tell me?" Ellery asked, feeling slightly betrayed.

"I don't have to tell you everything about my life." Vander rolled his eyes. Then they started to bicker.

Gwen shook her head in disbelief. They're actually doing that here and now? "And finally, the seeker, Quinn Fabray!" Quinn kicked off the ground and shot into the sky with amazing speed and she let go of her broom to do a backflip in the air, making the crowd gasp. She landed safely on her broom and the Ravenclaws cheered. The Slytherins shouted, "Show off!"

"That's your Ravenclaw team! Round of applause!" After the applause, the Slytherin team opened their doors and stepped out into the sun. "Ah, here are our Slytherins!" The team waved mockingly at the Ravenclaws that were boo-ing them. "And the chasers take to the sky! Captain Avery Prynce leads them in the air, it's his first year as captain and they've beaten Hufflepuff and Gryffindor with such ease that it's kind of scary. Behind him are Penelope Tate and Jasper Lee!" The crowd cheered. "Then there are the beaters, Santana Lopez and Nathan Kingston." There was loud cheering for Santana and Nathan, probably because of their ruthless hits during the last two games. The two sat straighter on their brooms and accepted the recognition. "Keeper, Kristianne Dale!"

She flew around the three goals and raised her arms over her head. "Go Slytherin!" She earned some cheers for that.

"And now, seeker Jesse St. James! There are three new members this year for the Slytherin team, Jesse, Kristianne and Santana. They've been wicked the whole year!" Jesse grinned broadly as he flew around the stands and giving high fives to the Slytherins.

"Good luck, Jesse!" He heard Rachel say.

"Thanks!" He winked. Rachel blushed in her seat, causing Brittany and Kurt to nudge her playfully.

"Alright, enough of these pleasantries, time for the game to start, yeah?" Gwen said. "Players, to your positions!"

Madam Hooch flew in with the chest of balls in her arms. "I want a nice clean game…" She glared at them. "From all of you." Santana rolled her eyes and grinned wickedly. "On my whistle." Justin and Gibson nodded at each other and Madam Hooch kicked the chest. The Bludgers and the Snitch flew out of the chest. The Snitch flew near Jesse's reach and he clutched his broom, wanting to grab the golden ball so badly. Then it flew away into the sky's abyss. "Three, two, one…"

"The Quaffle is released," Gwen announced as the ball flew into the air and the whistle blew. Justin accelerated, so did Avery. Justin punched it towards the left, Gibson caught it. "And the game begins!"

Gibson swerved from a Bludger that almost took out his broom from the side. Penelope rocketed towards him and tried to knock the ball out of his hands and to Jasper's waiting arms below. But Gibson rolled in the air, earning a gasp from the crowd. Penelope swore and whirled around. He was nearing the post. Kristianne glared at him with focus. He faked a left throw, making her move to the left and he threw it to the right post. It was a sure shot but Kristianne got there in time and caught the Quaffle nimbly. She smiled at Gibson, who just glared. She passed the Quaffle to Jasper and he flew towards Ravenclaw's posts. He evaded the Bludgers Edward and Derek aimed at him. He dived towards the ground just in time before Justin and Julia squashed him in the middle. He made a signal to Penelope and Avery. "Lee passes to Tate, Tate passes to Lee, Lee passes to Prynce, Prynce attempts to sh – no wait, passes to Tate. Tate scores! That's ten points to Slytherin!"

Ellery huffed and dove for the Quaffle. She caught it and passed it to Justin. "I'm really sorry."

"Hey, it's still early in the game. Nothing to be sad about." Justin smiled and flew away. He ducked a Bludger and tossed the ball towards Julia. She shot up before anyone from Slytherin caught up with her and she threw the ball down, with clear precision, to Gibson flying towards his mark. Just like they planned.

None of the Slytherins were anticipating such a wide catch but they were too late to notice, they were too busy catching up the Ravenclaw captain. By the time the Quaffle flew pass them; they were too late to turn around. Gibson caught it easily, passed it to Justin. Justin flew directly at Kristianne and full speed with no intension of stopping. She called his bluff and didn't move. She gripped her broom tightly, trying not to blink. Justin wasn't slowing down or hesitating. Damn. She thought and dove down. Justin flew over her and threw the Quaffle over his head. Gibson caught it easily and sent the shot to the middle post. "Wow, that was… Wow, ten points to Ravenclaw! Looks like we have two well strategized teams on our hands." Gwen fanned herself.

The game continued intensely. The keepers were doing an excellent job at blocking the goals and the chasers did a great jog stealing the Quaffle from each other. The Snitch was nowhere in sight and everyone watched intently at the game as time passed. When one team scores, one side cheered enthusiastically while the other groaned loudly. Everyone was at the edge of their seats for this championship game.

Avery had the Quaffle, he was making excellent progress across the field but Justin appeared beside him and knocked him with a shoulder. Before he could fight back, Avery was assaulted by another attack on his right, coming from Julia. "Having fun, Prynce?"

"Absolutely, Holmstead." Avery lost focus for a quick second and Justin punched the Quaffle to Julia's waiting hands. "Hey!"

"Sucks for you, captain!" Julia laughed and was already flying towards Slytherin's goals. She sent the Quaffle flying in a long arc towards the pitches. Jasper flew for it and just as his fingers brushed the surface, Gibson took the ball. Kristianne was anticipating everything from these Ravenclaws, since their strategies varied greatly from each other except for the wide passes and long air time. Gibson threw the Quaffle upwards and Kristianne kept her eyes on it. Justin flew over it and sent a kick on top of it. It hurtled towards the ground fast but Julia intercepted it with a punch. It went into the left goal post before Kristianne could even comprehend where the Quaffle actually was. She groaned and went down to get it.

She threw it to Avery. "It's okay, we can still make do. It's hundred and forty to a hundred." She nodded and Avery flew away.

"Lopez, Kingston!" Avery bellowed and nodded to them. The beaters smirked and went their separate ways. Avery lithely maneuvered through the Bludgers and Ravenclaw's attempts to steal the Quaffle. As he neared the goals, Ellery glared at him. But her staying there, focused, wasn't part of the plan. Two Bludgers went at her from left and right, she had to fly up to keep herself alive. The Bludgers hit each other with a loud clunk and Avery threw the Quaffle into an easy goal.

"That's cheating!" Ellery shouted.

"No it isn't, babe." Avery laughed and she took the ball from the air.

"I could've died, you little arse." She glared as she passed the Quaffle to Julia.

"All's fair in love and Quidditch." He said and turned around. "Oh and I knew you weren't stupid enough to stay in the same place." Then he flew away. Ellery groaned in frustration and kicked a post.

"Sorry about almost killing you, love." Nathan said with a mock smile and flew pass. Santana just laughed and followed Nathan.

"You know the spell." Ellery muttered to herself. "No, there are too many witnesses."

Gibson smiled at her. "Calm down, Ell." She just dismissed it with a wave of her hand. He shrugged and flew towards his next point of the strategy. Julia threw the Quaffle to Justin but Penelope caught it in the air, earning cheers from the Slytherins and groans from the Ravenclaws. The strategy was gone and Gibson flew towards Penelope. But before he got to her, she threw the Quaffle at one of the tower stands and it rebounded downward. Julia made a dive for it but Jasper took it and threw it lower still to Avery. He swung up and threw the ball towards one of the goal posts as Santana shot another Bludger to Ellery.

Ellery evaded this one and caught the Quaffle easily. Justin nodded at her and Ellery threw the ball far into the air. Before Jasper or Penelope could catch it, Gibson kicked the ball towards Slytherin's side. Julia caught it and threw it to one of the posts. Kristianne hit back with a swing of her broom and the Quaffle flew down to Avery's hands. "Nice save from Dale! Prynce is in possession, passes it Tate." Penelope flew upwards, dodging a Bludger Derek swung at her. Gibson bumped her broom suddenly and he grabbed the Quaffle from her arms.

"Hey!" She shouted.

"See ya!" Gibson laughed and turned back to Slytherin's posts and shot the ball into the left post, Kristianne missed the save by mere seconds. "Goal for Raven –"

"GET THAT SNITCH, QUINN!" A crowd of voices interrupted Gwen's voice and she swivelled around to Quinn, who was flying into the air, following something glinting into the sunlight.

Sofie breathed in deeply, so did Reed and Derek. They've never screamed that loud in all their lives. "Go Quinn! Go Quinn!" They chanted. But Quinn was focused on the fluttering ball in the sky.

"Fabray has spotted the Snitch! St. James is in pursuit!" Gwen announced. The students craned their necks to get a better view. Ed and Derek dropped their spots and followed after Quinn. Santana and Nathan did the same.

"I guess it's just us six for this part of the game then." Penelope smirked at Justin and she threw the Quaffle over his head and to Avery.

Gwen was torn between the Snitch and the Quaffle. She could hardly do anything at the same time "Fabray dives and narrowly misses the Snitch! Seigerson deflected a Bludger that threatened Fabray. Oh – and he's giving Lopez a rude gesture. That's lovely. Argh! Coulter blocked another shot from Slytherin. The Quaffle is passed to Fab – I mean Bancroft." She was getting the slightest bit confused but she was powering through. "Oh, never mind the Snitch," She groaned into the microphone and turned to Vander. "Coulter, watch them for me, please. Tap me if there is some development with the Snitch." Vander complied readily and leaned on his elbows to look at the seekers and the beaters battling it out. Gwen focused on the commentary for the chasers.

Quinn dove down near the grass and steadily flew closer and closer to the Snitch. Jesse was right behind her and was gaining fast. Ed deflected a Bludger from Nathan and the Slytherin swore loudly. "Go get it, Quinn!" Ed shouted. She smiled and threw her arm forward, reaching for it. Then Jesse bumped her to the left and reached for it himself. She bumped back, the two glared at each other but then they turned their attention to the Snitch. A second longer and they would've lost it. They flew upwards. They passed Julia and Avery fighting for the Quaffle. They flew pass a Bludger that would've thrown them off their brooms if they came a moment later. The Snitch flew higher and higher, Quinn and Jesse followed it with determination. The beaters hung back, the Bludgers didn't go that high anymore. It was just the three of them, the Snitch, Jesse, and Quinn.

"Getting tired, Fabray?" Jesse chuckled, they were flying vertically.

"You wish, St. James." She snarled.

Suddenly the Snitch twisted in the air and started diving. "Damn Snitch!" Jesse said. That short delay was enough for Quinn to take the lead. Jesse shot down and followed her.

"Oh, my God." Gwen said when she saw the seekers diving down to the ground, the Snitch leading them. Quinn and Jesse reached for it. Everything seemed to move slowly. The spectators were holding their breath. A Bludger brushed the two seekers' Quidditch robes. The beaters were heading towards their seekers. Penelope shot the Quaffle towards a goal post.

Derek hit a Bludger, hoping it would hit Jesse. Santana swooped in to intercept. The Quaffle was saved by Ellery. Someone screamed. Santana hit the Bludger away from Jesse but she ended up crashing into the two seekers. Both were knocked away but that was the push Jesse needed and he closed his fingers around the Snitch.

"Jesse St. James has caught the Snitch! Slytherin wins!" Gwen shouted in to the microphone. She closed her hand over it and said. "Damn, I was rooting for Ravenclaw." The Ravenclaws deflated and slumped into their chairs. The Slytherins roared with applause. Jesse opened his hands and held the Snitch over his head with pride. His teammates crowded him. The two teams exchanged pleasantries.

"Sorry for making you lose." Quinn muttered as she flew beside Julia.

"Oh Quinn." Julia sighed. "I'm a bit disappointed we lost but we didn't give up without a fight." This earned a smile from the seeker. "Get them back next year, okay?" Quinn nodded.

"Nice match, Holmstead." Avery said and shook Julia's hand. "I'm sorry we had to take away your thunder on your last year."

"Whatever, they're going to kick your arse next year, I promise you." She smirked.

"Looking forward to it." He returned the smirk and nodded at Quinn. She managed to smile tightly before flying down to the ground. On the other side of the pitch, Jesse was being carried by crazed Slytherins and their supporters. When she looked up, she found that there were a group of Ravenclaws and their supporters.

"Quinn! You were awesome!" Sofie elbowed her way through the crowd and hugged her cousin. "If only that stupid Santana didn't crash into you two."

She smiled. "Thanks, Sofie."

The rest of the team landed beside Quinn and they were greeted by some warm advice and consolation hugs. They shared the highlights of Ravenclaw from the match. Julia was feeling rather proud of the strategies she came up with. Derek and Ed were being praised by some of the boys and girls were fauning over them (too bad for the ones who liked Ed, he had his sights for someone else, a Slytherin who was smirking at him at the edge of the crowd). Justin and Gibson had their fair share of admirers and they were told about how awesome their aim was. Ellery hugged her friends tightly; they told her that she did a great job defending the goals. They might've lost but at least they had their friends for comfort.

After the match and the crowding with the teams, students far and wide came together. Whether it was to pay the bets or to rub it in their face, the Great Hall had a very noisy dinner that night, especially at the Slytherin table.

Slytherin was celebrating, they were leading in the running for the House Cup and they won the Quidditch final. Everyone was in a good mood; even Santana was being nice to Rachel. It was quite an experience.

"Party at the dungeons!" Someone shouted when dinner was done and the whole house cheered as they practically danced out the Hall. Rachel hung back to talk to her friends.

"I'm not going to rub it in your face anymore." She said pointedly as she neared the other five. They stood beside the entrance, out of the other students' way. "It was a pretty intense match, yeah?"

"Oh yes!" Brittany said. "I was holding my breath for so long, I couldn't breathe!" Derek and Kurt bit down their laughter. Sofie, however, laughed and hugged Brittany tightly. Rachel let a giggle escape. "What?"

"Nothing, you're just funny." Rachel said, poking Brittany's nose.

She smiled. "Thanks."

"I wish we could've recorded the match! I'd like to watch it again." Sofie sighed. "That would be too lovely."

"One day, mates. One day that'll happen for us." Reed grinned. "Slytherin was rather loud tonight."

"I guess they have every right to be, anyway." Sofie smiled tiredly. "It's a bit of a bummer, especially since you're leading for the House Cup and the exams start next week." Rachel squeezed Sofie's shoulder in a comforting manner.

"At least Ravenclaw put up a good fight." Rachel said.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Berry! Are you going to the dungeons or what?" Santana called from down the corridor.

"Coming!" She turned to her friends. "You don't mind, do you?"

They shook their heads. "Go ahead, have fun with your house." Kurt smiled warmly. "We'll see you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow." She affirmed.

"Berry!" Santana called again with a laugh.

"She's being really nice to me right now, I don't know why. I wish we won every time, she's never this pleasant to me." Rachel laughed and waved goodbye to her friends. "I'm coming, I'm coming!"

"Don't party too hard!" Brittany called.

"Don't drink the Firewhiskey!" Sofie added, making Rachel laugh over her shoulder. Then it was just the five of them lingering beside the Great Hall.

"I reckon I better go too," Kurt sighed. "There's a few Herbology notes that I would like to see before the exam on Tuesday."

Brittany gasped and slapped a hand on her forehead. "Oh bugger! That Transfiguration exam! Derek, c'mon, you promised to teach me." She started tugging on Derek's shirt and he just smiled and went along with her. "See you tomorrow! You've got to help me with History and Potions as well!" Derek was pulled away by Brittany and they ran to the kitchens.

"Shall we?" Kurt offered his arm.

Sofie grinned and ruffled his hair. "We shall." She hooked her arms around Kurt and Reed's and they walked to their towers, merrily discussing the end of the year exams.

The fifth years had their O.W.L.'s, the seventh years had their N.E.W.T.'s, and the first years had their first wizarding exams ever. Though it was more gruelling for the fifth and seventh years (especially the seventh years, because they aren't called Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests for nothing), the first years feeling very anxious about the exams. They wondered from time to time while they were studying for Potions or Transfiguration, if they failed, would Hogwarts kick them out? What a dilemma. What if they weren't magical enough to perform the spells? What if they had somehow turned into a squib at the end of the year? They would be reassured, of course, by the older years, but one can't help but feel anxious about their first time taking a wizarding exam. Herbology and History were harmless enough, they were mostly written but the other subjects required practical tests.

Sunday and Monday had students looking left and right for any spells that were being practiced. The library was full to its capacity with students studying wildly. The common rooms were never safe since more students practiced there.

Gryffindor was all over the place, couches were turned over, paintings hung haphazardly and their occupants ran away from their portraits to safer ones. Almost every available surface in the room was scorched, harmed, or charmed. Kurt had locked himself in his room to focus, all of his roommates were outside getting tutored for their Defense Against the Dark Arts, he, on the other hand, was practicing the Locking Charm as well as a simple trip jinx, hence the locked door. If someone were to try to come in, both of his spells would intercept that person (hopefully one of the twins, in Kurt's opinion). And while he waited for that time, he cracked open his Potions book and airily practiced with imaginary ingredients and an imaginary cauldron.

There was a knock on the door and he looked up. "Who is it?"

"Open the bloody door, Hummel!" Julian shouted from the other side.

"Practice your spells." Kurt sang, earning a disgruntled groan from Julian.

"Alohamora!" The door unlocked quickly and it swung open. "What are you –" He tripped.

Kurt laughed. "Wonderful, my trip jinx worked."

"I hate you."

Reed watched as the older years conjured up beautiful spells from their wands in the common room. So far, Ravenclaw remained the cleanest common room. Everything was clean cut and almost perfect. The older years seemed content with their spells but that didn't stop them from practicing some more. The younger ones were sitting in the reading nook in the common room; thankfully the place was virtually quiet save incantations and discussions about spells and potions. Reed buried his face into a Herbology book trying to focus on it. He was fretting over the Potions exam because he might do something to catastrophically ruin his potion (and it will explode, everyone knew that would happen), so he distracted himself with another subject. Sofie had made her History book a pillow for the time being, having actually bored herself to sleep. Reed looked over to her and poked her side.

"Sofie, wake up, I don't want you to fail." He said.

She groggily lifted her head and rubbed her eyes. "I didn't know I fell asleep…" Reed laughed.

Sunlight seeped through the high window sills of Hufflepuff house, Derek sat in one of the pools. It was such a perfect day to read and he read The Mist by Stephen King, because if he read it in the safety of his room, he will be obviously attacked by the malevolent creatures in the book. He did study earlier, of course, but now all he could think about was finishing the book. Hufflepuff house was rowdy with students doing spells. Some of the first years have taken to breaking a lot of objects just so they can practice the Mending Spell, unfortunately, only a few of them have actually managed to mend something. A group of fourth years were trying to tutor them. There would be spells fired from left to right, everyone was running around, or at least moving, Derek was the only inactive being in the common room. There were a lot of students being knocked down among the sixth years, since they were practicing non-verbal spells. Brittany was with her roommates, as well as some other first years, she was teaching them the coverage of Charms. She usually asked for help for the other subjects but Charms was where she wasn't stupid. At some point, she showed them how to mend something properly. Though the room was at siege, everyone was doing well with their spells, it's just the execution could use a little polishing. A fine example of that was the Severing Charm Blaine was practicing missed the piece of paper he was holding up and ended up severing Derek's book.

Derek's eyes bulged; his book was torn in half. "Wha – Bloody hell!" The outburst caused half the house to look at Derek with surprise.

"I'm really, really sorry, Derek. It was an accident." Blaine said as Derek looked at both halves of his book.

He sucked in a breath and put the book down. "It's… It's fine, Blaine. Reparo." He said calmly and the book immediately put itself together. "Just be careful next time, please." Blaine nodded and Derek picked up the book again to continue where he left off.

Slytherin wasn't calm like Ravenclaw, far from it. Everyone was on edge. Everyone was screaming at each other. They were screaming because of the screaming, they needed quiet to study. They were screaming because they got the spell wrong. They were screaming because someone else got the spell wrong. Santana started shouting Spanish at her classmates because they couldn't disarm her. It wasn't healthy looking but they got through it. If someone needed help, someone would help and they'd try to make it perfect. Anything short of it, they get frustrated. Aside from the black sheep of the house, everyone was determined to pass those exams with flying colors. Rachel cupped her hands over her ears as she tried to study for her Transfiguration exam. It was very hard to focus with the loud voices and loud crashes from the common room. Her door swung open with Stella, Lauren, and Mercedes arguing.

"I'm telling you, you're saying it wrong. It's reparo not repairo." Stella said angrily.

"Says the girl who can't differentiate Flobberworm Mucus and Horklump Juice." Lauren sneered. "Seriously, how stupid are you?"

"Well at least I know how to speak." Stella shot back.

"I speak perfectly fine!"

"Shut it! I'm getting a headache with you two!" Mercedes rubbed her temples. "Just take each other's advice and be done with it. Lauren, you pronounce it differently. Stella, crack open a Potions book. I need to nap."

"Good luck with that with the screaming outside." Stella sighed. As if to make emphasis, something made a loud thud from outside.

"I'll try." Mercedes murmured and jumped into her bed.

"Please shut the door." Rachel groaned. "It's quieter that way.

Sleep was welcomed that Monday before the exams start the next day. Apart from those seventh years that were too nervous to even sleep – seriously, it was their future they were testing for – everyone fell into a quick slumber as soon as their weary bodies hit their bed. Hogwarts went quiet that night. No one was sneaking out (except to the library). There were no late night excursions. No quick meet-ups between friends (and lovers). It was like they were getting ready for the torture the next day was bringing to them.

"I wish you all the best of luck for the coming exams today." Professor McGonagall said at the end of breakfast. "All of you have done such great work this year and I have full confidence that you will have good grades at the end of the day. Do not doubt yourself, trust your instincts, it will help you along the way." She offered them a smile and started to wave them away. "I will see you again later. Good luck."

Students started filing out of the Great Hall. But Derek and Brittany hung back so they could talk to their friends for a bit before their first exams. There were only a handful of students left in the Hall and they would be forced out in a few minutes so that the teachers could prepare the Hall for the tests.

"Hi!" Brittany said brightly when they reached the Slytherin table. "Is everyone ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." Kurt sighed. The others just nodded.

"Well, I'm well rested." Sofie stretched a little bit. "Bring on History." Even if she told that to herself the whole morning, she still couldn't shake the feeling that she didn't study enough.

Reed was fidgeting a little bit with his hands. "I feel like I'm going to kill someone in Potions." He looked up to his friends with scared brown eyes. "I don't want to kill anyone! There's just… There's just so much that can go wrong!" Then he looked pointedly at Brittany, Sofie, and Derek. "Do not sit beside me when we're taking the exam, I'm begging you!" The three stood there in shock, none of them knew what exactly they should do.

"Reed!" Kurt grabbed the curly headed boy by the shoulders and spun him around to face him. "Breathe!" Reed complied. "There. You are not going to kill anyone, yeah?"

Reed nodded. "Yeah – I mean – you're right… You're right! I'm just being hysterical."

"We can't have a jittery Reed around." Kurt smiled and straightened Reed's tie. "You're clumsy enough as it is."

"Plus, you're one of the best in the whole year; I don't think you have anything to worry about." Sofie added with a nudge to Reed's side.

"Students, please leave the hall so that we may prepare." Professor Flitwick announced and the handful of students started leaving the Hall.

"Okay, how about we talk about the positive sides of things, hm?" Rachel suggested. "I'm really excited for my Astronomy exam tonight. It's a piece of pie!"

"Easy for you to say." Brittany griped. "I'm having a lot of trouble memorizing all of those constellations and planets… But at least I'm sure that I'm going to get amazing grades for my Charms test!"

Sofie sighed and thought of a test she was actually excited for. Derek turned to her and chuckled. "Don't strain yourself."

She scoffed and hit the back of his head. "Sod off, Breaker."

Brittany gasped. "Sod is a bad word."

"Whatever, anyway I may not be the smartest Ravenclaw but… I guess I'm excited for Potions." She said finally. "Yes, that's right, Potions."

"Good for you, then." Reed mumbled as they passed the Hall's threshold. "Transfiguration is okay, I guess. Pretty harmless unless my wand slips."

They stopped in the deserted corridor and just realized that they talked to each other too much. "I guess we better go our separate ways then." Rachel sighed then moved towards Sofie and Reed. "C'mon, let's get to the greenhouses."

"We'll see you later!" Sofie waved. Brittany, Derek, and Kurt waved back.

Derek sighed. "The History test beckons." Brittany groaned.

Time comes and goes as it always does, painfully slow while taking it and then ludicrously fast while on a break. That's something all of them noticed right after their first tests. Brittany tried very hard not to fall asleep during History, and that was a seriously hard thing to do on its own. Derek and Kurt did pretty well on the exam and keeping Brittany awake when they noticed her nodding off at questions ten, twelve, thirty one, and fifty, as well as the first essay question. Those on the Herbology front had no trouble answering the questions, since it was one the easiest subjects either of the three had ever encountered. Then again, it was just all about plants, not dealing with them. As the morning passed, drowsiness caught on, especially to Derek and Sofie who wanted nothing more than to curl into a ball and sleep but they had to push through. At least it was easier when they reached Transfiguration and Charms. All they had to do was charm a pineapple to dance off the table. Brittany, Sofie, and Reed did an excellent job with their pineapples. It was like they choreographed something special just for Professor Flitwick. Rachel's accidentally started singing the first few seconds before it started to dance. Then for Transfiguration they had to turn mice into snuffboxes. Since Brittany didn't have any idea what a snuffbox is, she turned her mouse into a little pencil case. Derek unfortunately had a hyperactive mouse. It was half turned into a snuffbox before it scurried away. He tried desperately to finish what he had created, and he did, after scorching his desk with a misplaced spell. At the end, Kurt's was by far the prettiest little snuffbox anyone's ever seen, even though there were still whiskers on it. Some of the boys' eyebrows rose when they saw the end product but none of them said anything about it.

Finally it was time for Potions. It was the last exam that day except for Astronomy, which was starting at midnight. Reed's been shaking the slightest bit as they stood in front of the Potions room. There was the regular chatter, mostly about the tests they had to endure that day. Sofie and Brittany joined in conversations like that while Derek just stood there wringing his fingers, trying to remember every potion they've made.

"Nervous?" Derek asked.

Reed turned to his friend. "Yes."

"Me too."

"Derek, if I kill you –"

"Enough of that, you won't kill me, yeah?"

Reed barely nodded before Professor Slughorn opened the door. "Students, you may enter."

"You'll do excellently, I know you would." Derek offered a friendly smile and went in. They reached their seats quietly and Professor Slughorn cleared his throat when they've all settled down.

"Now, you will be making a simple Forgetfulness Potion today," half of the room sighed, "but here's the catch." The Potions teacher grinned. "You will be under time pressure. You will have to finish the potion in twenty five minutes." The students voiced their shock to the others near them, while Reed just blanched.

Time pressure meant rushing. Rushing meant moving fast. Moving fast meant disaster, in Reed's case. Where's a calming potion or spell when you need one? He groaned internally.

"Yes well, I know that may seem difficult, but the best wizards and witches can brew a potion in the hardest of times. Better to start young, eh?" Professor Slughorn chuckled and flicked his wand towards the board and the instructions appeared. "No talking until the end of the test. You may begin in three…" Derek, Sofie, and Brittany glanced at Reed. "two…" He gulped and mouthed that he will be fine. "one…" The ingredients appeared in front of them. It took half the students a second before they started while the other half began as soon as the ingredients appeared.

"Slower is faster." Reed muttered to himself, not fully believing in it. He started at the clock, thirty seconds gone. Snap out of it, Van Kamp. He grabbed the Lethe River Water and he started shaking. His friends pursed their lips, wanting to help, but they couldn't since that would be considered cheating. The only other person who wasn't from their little group, Jude, moved subtly away from the clumsy boy with the cauldron.

Reed sighed and gripped the flask. He gingerly put in two drops of the Lethe River Water into the cauldron and took out his wand to light the flame. "Incendio." He whispered and he half expected it to burst into flames but there was a very modest glob of fire under his cauldron. The table sighed, Reed looked up to see his friends looking away. He faced the clock to check the seconds.

After heating, Reed grabbed two Valerian Sprigs and tossed it carefully into the cauldron. He tried to grab the ladle for the stirring part but it clattered noisily to the floor. "Bugger." He muttered and jumped off his stool to get it from the floor, banging his head on the table in the process. While rubbing his head, he put the ladle into the cauldron and stirred three times before casting another fire spell.

The accident happened when Reed carelessly pointed the wand and said the incantation. The flame erupted too violently and cauldron was momentarily engulfed by flames. It threw him over his stool and he fell on the floor. It took the joint effort of Derek and Sofie to calm the flames down; Jude picked Reed up from the floor.

"You okay, mate?" He asked.

"I just hope that doesn't jeopardize my potion." Reed sighed. "Thanks."

"No problem." The students went back to work and so did Reed. He looked into the cauldron and watched as the concoction bubbled like it's supposed to after ten minutes of medium heating. Well, on the bright side, I don't have to wait ten minutes for it to brew.

Reed took two pinches of the Standard Ingredient and four Mistletoe Berries into the mortar and crushed it into medium fine powder. He looked into the cauldron again and the potion was still bubbling, so he waited for that to subside a little bit before taking a pinch from the mortar and letting it fall into the cauldron. It went in with a puff of smoke at its wake. I hope that's normal. He took other pinch and into the cauldron it went. He held the ladle, it was warm to the touch, and then he stirred it five times, anti-clockwise.

Luckily, green fumes weren't spewing from the cauldron, though the color wasn't as dark blue as the board said so, but it was better than nothing. At least it was over and he funnelled some of the potion into a vial. Professor Slughorn smiled at him when he approached the desk. He was the first one to get there. "Are you alright, m'boy? You gave us quite a scare there a few minutes ago."

"I'm fine." Reed smiled slightly and placed the vial on the professor's desk. "May I go?"

"Yes, you may. And might I suggest that you see Madam Pomfrey about that nasty bump you have on your forehead." Reed's hand unconsciously touched the bump, he winced and walked towards the table he was at and took his things. He waved goodbye to the others and reached over to ease Brittany's hand upward, preventing an extra Mistletoe Berry to fall into her mortar.

Reed walked out of the dungeons and into the fresh air. He found Rachel and Kurt sitting under a tree while he was going to the Hospital Wing. He walked towards them and they smiled.

"You're alive!" Rachel joked.

"Yeah, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be." Reed said. "But I did almost set fire to the Potions room and I got a bump the size of Hagrid."

"See, bright side!" Kurt smiled.

"Let's get you to the Hospital Wing then." Rachel put her arm around Reed's. "Madam Pomfrey will have a fit when she sees you again."

"Oh, it's you." Kurt said in a mocking voice. The two laughed. "Honestly, Mr. Van Kamp, what can we do to you?"

Reed chuckled. "A coordination potion would be nice."

"One day, Reed, I will seriously make you one." Kurt promised.

"Yeah, when pigs fly."

"I thought they did." Rachel looked confused.

"Well there you go!" Kurt laughed and they walked to the Hospital Wing.

It's funny how a school year could pass in the blink of an eye even though it started like there wasn't an end to the (ridiculously enjoyable) tunnel. But after the long day of exams and an end of term feast, they were faced with the task of packing their trunks and getting ready to go home. It's like so many things happened and it felt like it all happened in one day. But at least they would be coming back after summer (except for some sixth years and most of the seventh years).

Sofie took a photo with her roommates, Alice and Regine before leaving her trunk in the common room for pick up. She walked out of Ravenclaw and to the stairs where Kurt and Reed were waiting with their owls in their cages. She took a picture of them just as the twins jumped into frame. "Get off of me!" Kurt yelled. Sofie took another picture.

"Oh, come now, Kurt –"

"Don't act like you won't miss us."

"No acting is involved." Kurt said, rolling his eyes. The twins grinned at him and gave him a quick hug (they gave Reed one too, even though they hardly knew each other) before turning to Sofie.

"Nice camera." Evan said before he and Ethan went down the stairs. "Have a nice summer!" They called.

"They're nice." Sofie concluded after Kurt fixed an imaginary flaw in his hair.

He laughed at her statement. "You try rooming with them then."

Rachel, and a good number of Slytherins, looked up at the big silver House Cup on the Slytherin's mantle. They had won that year, most probably because of their sensational Quidditch win against Ravenclaw. They were very ecstatic at the prospect of winning the Cup and they rubbed it into the other houses' faces just a tad. Sydney and Lux, the prefects, had a funny speech ready for the occasion (since it was their first year as prefects). It was short because Sydney knew that they would get bored easily. They had another party afterwards.

Now that it was the last several at Hogwarts before summer break, Rachel just wanted to touch it one more time, knowing that she had done something to contribute to its win. Then she remembered that Brittany and Derek would be waiting for her at the dungeon stairs at the moment, so she left quickly after hugging Stella and Mercedes, as well as picking up her cat, Ellyse. The cat purred in her arms.

"Rachel, wait!" Jesse ran to catch up with her just before she left the house.

"Hi, Jesse." She smiled as they exited Slytherin. "Any plans this summer?"

"My parents and I are going to Scotland to visit some family." He said. "Aside from that, I have no idea what I'm doing over the summer. And you?"

"I think my dads said something about going to Rome, but I'm not entirely sure about that." She shrugged and they turned to the stairs.

"That's nice; I hope you get to go. Rome is a beautiful place." He grinned and handed her a piece of parchment. "That's my address, write to me this summer."

She blushed a little bit. "All right." They went away in opposite directions. Derek and Brittany smiled at her as she walked up.

"Hello, Rach! And hello Ellyse, Lord Tubbington missed you!" Brittany said. Lord Tubbington and Alec pawed at Ellyse who just meowed at them. Then Brittany grabbed Rachel's hand. "I think Kurt, Sofie, and Reed are already at the entrance! We better hurry if we want a carriage to ourselves." Brittany led the three in a brisk walk.

"Brit, I don't think we'll lose any carriages, I'm sure they have plenty." Rachel said.

"Well, if we're one of the last to get to the train, we'd have loads of trouble finding a compartment! We have to get to the carriages early for that!"

"…That's very smart of you." Rachel was genuinely the slightest bit surprised, even Derek's eyebrows rose at Brittany's sudden logic.

"Thanks!" Brittany smiled over her shoulder as they reached the entrance. "There they are! Reed! Sofie! Kurt!" The three turned around and Sofie snapped a picture. "Are the carriages here yet?"

"Not yet, but I can see them coming up from the distance." Reed said. "Do you reckon we can snag the first one?"

"Not if I can't help it." Brittany said proudly, moving forward. Kurt and Sofie laughed. "Don't laugh, I'm serious." She said but then she couldn't help a giggle. Rachel repeated Brittany's statement earlier about the whole carriage-train situation. They were still shocked with their friend's sudden burst of insight. Just when they couldn't be more surprised, Brittany had jumped the first carriage before anyone else could. "C'mon!" She called and Lord Tubbington's head popped up right beside her and he meowed.

"Let's go then." Sofie said happily and took Brittany's picture on the carriage. The five of them jumped into the carriage with Brittany and it started moving once they were settled down. They looked back at Hogwarts. Their cats and owls were coexisting quite well in the carriage, except for that one moment that Lord Tubbington attacked small Erik. He's been hooting in fear in his cage ever since. Reed's tried everything to calm him down until he gave up. Erik was still hooting time to time but they figured that he was just tired.

"What a year, huh?" Derek commented.

"Quite." Rachel said. "Don't forget to write me, okay?"

"I will! My parents did say they were getting us an owl." Sofie grinned. "I'll be sending the pictures in a week, probably."

"I'll miss you all dearly!" Brittany bounced.

"We'll miss you too, Brit." Kurt said, giving her a quick side hug. "Did you think it went too fast? The term, I mean."

"From this point of view," Sofie sighed, "yes. But it was a rather wonderful few months, don't you think?"

"Absobloodylutely!" Brittany exclaimed, making them laugh a little bit.

"And I couldn't think of anyone else to spend it with." Reed grinned.

"Aww! Isn't he sweet?" Derek laughed and tackled his friend into a tight hug. Rachel joined in after a second with a laugh.

The six friends promised each other, as they passed the forested area right before the train appeared that they would write as much as they could.

Sofie took out a flower from a nearby tree and made it fly around the carriage for a few seconds, the others tried to catch it. The cats joined in as well. She took pictures as they did, until she finished another roll. Incidentally, she brought her last one. "For the train ride," she said. Their laughter echoed in the forest and none of them could ask for better friends. It was almost sad that they couldn't spend their summers together but they figured that one day they would. But for now, they were just a letter away.