October dragged along for all four friends.

Isabel hardly talked to the others, for one, she was scared of what they would say since her outburst, and second, her time was completely occupied by Shane.

Isabel slowly trudged upstairs to her dormitory not in the mood to go to lunch. On her bed was a letter from Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

Isabel,
We miss talking to you, we hope all is well. Would you join us in Hogsmeade this Saturday?
Love,
Us.

Isabel's lips twitched into a small smile.

-

"It's only this Saturday," Isabel said, trying to convince Shane to let her go to Hogsmeade with her friends.

"But I wanted to be with you this Saturday," Shane's voice boomed through the empty common room.

"You were going to be with your buddies anyway, I don't see the problem," Isabel said.

"I said no, Isabel!" Shane breathed hard.

"Please!" Isabel pleaded.

Shane turned his body quickly and punched a hole in the wall near Isabel.

Isabel breath hitched. She wished she didn't exist in this moment.

"Shane," Isabel said her voice only a whisper.

"Just go, I don't even care," Shane said, his teeth clenched as he walked away to leave Isabel alone with the hole in the wall.

-

"You ready to go Isabel?" Hermione asked as Isabel walked into the common room, dressed in normal clothes.

"Yeah," She sighed.

"Isabel, wait," Shane stopped her before they left the common room.

"Yes?"

"I just wanted to say goodbye," Shane said, kissing her softly on the forehead.

"Goodbye Shane," Isabel said, obviously tensed up.

The bunch made their way into Hogsmeade and decided to go to The Three Broomsticks.

"--and I was talking to Lavender and she kept on going on to the topic of the bloody hole is the wall like she was some broken record," Ron rambled.

Isabel bit her tongue when she heard the bit about the hole in the wall. Shane never bothered to fix it.

"Wait, you've been talking to Lavender? As in Lavender Brown?" Hermione asked, jealousy ringing in her voice.

"Yeah, is that a problem?" Ron asked innocently.

"No, not at all," Hermione said as Harry held the door open for the group as the entered the pub.

Isabel loved the Three Broomsticks. It was always packed with happy, excited people bustling everywhere. The smell reminded her of a little restaurant her dad would always take her to when she was little, without Hayden and before Ollie was born.

As they sat down Isabel couldn't help but get lost in thought. It happened a lot to her. She wondered when it gets easier. When you lose a loved one or your whole family, when does it get better? She didn't want to forget them or move on, she just wanted them back.

"Something to drink?" A waiter offered the bunch.

"Four butterbeers and some ginger in mine, please," Hermione ordered.

The waiter nodded and left as Harry and Isabel gave Hermione knowing smiles. They both glanced at the oblivious Ron.

"Oh bloody hell," Ron exclaimed.

The others turned their heads to see what he was groaning about.

A couple tables away Ginny and her boyfriend were being romantic. Isabel gave a small smile.

"Ron see they're only holding hands," Harry said but trailing off, "and snogging,"

"I'd like to leave," Ron announced to the three.

"What? You can't be serious," Hermione said.

"That happens to be my sister," Ron pointed out.

"So? What if she looked over here and saw you snogging me? Would you just expect her to leave?" Hermione said, immediately regretting the example she used as the table was filled with awkwardness.

"Harry, my boy!" Slughorn exclaimed coming over to meet him, "So wonderful to see you. And you, and you, and you."

"So what brings you here?" Harry asked.

"Oh, Three Broomsticks and I go way back further than I care to admit. I could remember when it was One Broomstick," Slughorn babbled on, like his usual, boisterous self, when he spilled some of his drink onto an annoyed Hermione, " All hands on deck, Granger."

Ron laughed at Hermione's angry expression as Slughorn continued, "Listen, my boy, in the old days, I used to throw together the occasional supper party. Select a student or two. Would you be game?"

"I consider it an honor, sir," Harry said, smiling.

"You'd be welcome too, Granger and Ms. Lyston,"

"We'd be delighted, sir," Hermione answered for the both of them.

"Splendid! Look for my owl. Good to see you, Wallenby," Slughorn waved goodbye and Ron huffed.

"What are you playing at?" Ron groaned.

"Dumbledore's asked me to get to know him," Harry answered honestly.

"Get to know him?" Ron asked.

"I dunno. It must be important. If it wasn't, Dumbledore wouldn't ask," Harry defended.

"You got a little bit..." Ron said to Hermione gesturing to her lip. Mortified, Hermione quickly attempted to scrub the whipped cream from her upper lip. Harry laughed at the two and watched as Isabel was clearly not paying attention. He wondered what she was thinking about.

-

The four friends walked through the snow to head back to the castle.

Ron and Hermione joked about something as Harry cluelessly watched Isabel as she kicked around snow at her feet. He was about to strike up a conversation with her when a scream broke his thoughts.

In front of them was Katie Bell, screaming, midair. Everyone was frozen, unsure of what to do when she fell to the ground. The four friends ran towards Katie and her friend Leanne.

Harry reached out to grab whatever Katie was holding when Hagrid came towards them.

"Don't get any closer! Get back, all of you," Hagrid exclaimed, storming towards them, "Oh no, no, no. Do not touch that, except for the wrappings. Do you understand?"

They all nodded and followed Hagrid back to the castle.

-

"You're sure Katie did not have this in her possession when she entered the Three Broomsticks?" McGonagall asked Leanne.

"It's like I said. She left to go to the loo. And when she came back, she had the package. She said it was important that she deliver it," Leanne answered, obviously shaken from the experience.

"Did she say to whom?"

"To Professor Dumbledore."

"Very well. Thank you, Leanne. You may go," McGonagall said, dismissing Leanne.

She then walked behind her desk and sat, letting out an exhausted sigh, "Why is it when something happens, it is always you three?"

"Believe me, Professor, I've been asking myself the same question for six years," Ron said truthfully.

"And Ms. Lyston, I would expect you to keep yourself out of trouble," McGonagall said.

"With these three as friends, Professor, that's nearly impossible," Isabel said. The other three smiled. But as soon as Snape walked in, their smiles vanished.

"Oh, Severus. What do you think?" McGonagall asked.

"I think Ms. Bell is lucky to be alive." Snape answered, inspecting the necklace.

"She was cursed, wasn't she?" McGonagall asked to confirm her suspisons.

"I know Katie. Off the Quidditch pitch, she wouldn't hurt a fly. If she was delivering that to Professor Dumbledore, she wasn't doing it knowingly." Harry added.

"Yes, she was cursed," Snape agreed.

Harry stood confidently and said, "It was Malfoy."

Everyone looked at him, shocked, "That is a very serious accusation, Potter." McGonagall said.

"Indeed. Your evidence?" Snape asked.

Harry stuttered a bit trying to come up with a decent excuse, "I just know."

"You just know," Snape mocked, "Once again, you're astonished with your gifts, Potter. Gifts mere mortals can only dream of possessing. How grand it must be to be the Chosen One,"

"I suggest you go back to your dormitories. All of you,"

•••