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▎ COUNTING STARS  ▎
»»————-　act one. young, wild & free
SIX ━━ end of term, finally!

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♯ ❝HOME SWEET HOME! ❞
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ANNABELLE ROSE WAS UTTERLY EXHAUSTED AT THE END OF THEIR END OF TERM EXAMS THAT FRIDAY AS SHE DRAGGED HERSELF out of the Great Hall after her last exam—or better said torture test called Potions. She felt even less than dreadful after stewing in steam from her cauldron as she tried to recreate the Shrinking Solution from memory. She had a few meltdowns along the way as Slughorn eyed her Potion curiously, a hint of fear on his face as he watched the bubbling orange liquid swirl.

Now, it did not explode in her face, or melt her cauldron so she at least took that as a victory when she turned her vial in with just a few minutes to spare.

"I think I flunked." Julia spoke up as she joined Annabelle and Lily outside in the courtyard.

"Did you blow something up?" Annabelle questioned a faint smile on her face as she surveyed Julia's flustered face.

"No..." Julia replied, eyes avoiding her friend's gaze, "I might have melted my cauldron though."

"What did you do?" Lily shook with laughter and Julia just huffed and crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head upward defiantly.

"Who cares, Potions is useless."

"You know I hate it as much as you do Jules,  but we all know it can be a useful if you actually manage to brew something right." Annabelle pointed out as Julia sat down in between the two girls.

Julia just groaned and leaned her head on Lily's shoulder in defeat. "Let me guess you nailed it?"

Lily just blushed, shyly tucking a piece of hair behind her ears. "Well I think I did well."

Julia and Annabelle exchanged knowing looks before stating in sync. "You got an O."

"Can someone please explain to me why there are so many goblins with such confusing names we have to learn by memory?" Marlene came walking up to the group, exhaustion written on her face as she sunk down on the ground in front of the bench the other girls were sitting on.

"How are we supposed to know Marls?" Annabelle laughed, "Julia and I can't even remember a list of potion ingredients by heart."

"You guys messed up your Potions exam?" Marlene peered up.

"I might have scrapped an A, Julia melted her cauldron." Annabelle elaborated, eyes lifted up to look at the beautiful clear blue sky.

"Sweet Merlin, how did you do that?" Marlene turned slightly to look up at Julia, "That stuff is hard to melt, what in Godric's name did you put in there."

Julia shrunk in her seat, a defeated sigh leaving her parted lips, "Hell if I knew."

"Just you wait, next year we'll have O.W.L's, that is going to be bloody torture." Annabelle spoke up, propping her arms on her knees and leaning her head on her open palms.

"Belle." Julia whined, face contorting in a grimace. "Why would you bring that up?"

"Well it is the truth." Annabelle expressed with a humourless laugh.

"Doesn't make it any less ghastly."

"No it doesn't" She complied as more students filtered inside the courtyard after finishing their own exams, nervously chattering about the answers they had given with their friends and she pushed herself up from the bench. "Now we need to go pack our trunks. Summer holiday can't get here soon enough."

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ANNABELLE WALKED DOWN THE STAIRS AND INTO THE COMMON ROOM LATER THAT SAME EVENING FOR THEIR DEPARTURE HOME WITH HER FULYY PACKED trunk for the Summer holiday, after checking it twice, like her mother told her many times. (--well triple check is what Lillith had firmly pressed, but... that had been one too many for the brunette ) Room with her trunk packed for the

The other girls were still packing their stuff away, well Julia was, Lily had already done most of it earlier that morning, but she remained in their dorm for moral support as the redhead had called it when Julia had a little meltdown because she lost her wand. (--it had been in her back pocket the whole time).

Annabelle dropped her trunk beside the portrait hole before turning on her heel to sit down in one of the empty armchairs beside the roaring fire, illuminating the dark maroon and cold coloured room in a warm glow.

Humming a happy tune, it didn't, luckily, take long before Julia and Lily came down the stairs, Marlene chatting their ears of while she kept pushing a rebellious blonde strand of hair away from her eyes—to no avail sadly as it kept falling back.

Julia dropped her trunk next to the stairs and dashed to her friend tackling her in a hug making the brunette fall back in the chair with Julia on top of her.

"I'm not going of the war or something." Annabelle chuckled as her friend clung to her like her life depended on it. "I'll see you in the summer and next school year. And beside we still have the whole train ride back to King Cross" Annabelle pushed her friend away from her, making Julia almost fall down on the ground.

"Come on you idiots," Lily laughed, eyes twinkling in delight at the sight of her friend while Marlene tried to hide her chuckles behind her hand. "The carriages while be leaving soon."

"Alright, alright, dear Merlin, can't a girl express her overwhelming sadness without you yapping like my mother for me to hurry up." Julia jokes as she pushed herself up, hurrying to grab her trunk as Annabelle did the same.

"I am not acting like your mother." Lily crossed her arms defiantly, eyes narrowing slightly.

"looking like that you do!" Julia quipped, childishly sticking her tongue out.

"Leaving carriages? Remember?" Marlene cut in.

"Right!" Annabelle grinned, holding her trunk with both hands as the Portrait hole swung open for the four Gryffindor girls. "Let's get moving."

Descending the stairs of the Gryffindor Tower, passing numerous talking portraits wising them a happy holiday, Annabelle turned to her redheaded friend. "Ready for Romania?" Annabelle winked.

Lily nodded, an eager grin displayed on her face. "Can't wait."

The four girls stepped out the portrait door making their way to the Great Hall. Students rushed around the Great Hall talking with friends. Everyone seemed ready for summer to come.

As they arrived in the Entrance Hall, where numerous students were already gathered, waiting for one of the professors to point them to a carriage, Lily turned to address the three girls

"I am going to talk to Severus before we board the train. I see you on the train." Lily announced as they all nodded

Annabelle watched her friend walk over to the Slytherin boy, oblivious to the rather distasteful looks some of the other, more prejudiced Slytherins gave her. Turning back, Annabelle was expecting her friends to still stand behind her only to see both Marlene and Julia had disappeared. She searched the growing crowd but with no success.

She did, however spot Remus with his friends, and decided that she would brave James and Sirius to at least have a nice talk with the boy before the Summer holiday would begin.

"Hey Remus." Annabelle greeted him brightly, curly hair bouncing as she bounced on the ball of her heel. "Peter." she smiled, catching the smaller boy's gaze, consciously ignoring James and Sirius.

"Hey Belle." Remus waved, a tired smile spread on his face, and Annabelle noted his scars seemed more prominent than normal.

"Hey." Peter gave her a friendly wave in return, a light coat of blush decorating his chubby cheeks.

"Ready for the summer?" She asked the two boys, actually quite curious about their plans.

"Yes. I can't wait." Remus grinned, sticking his hand in his coat pocket.

"And you, Peter?"

"Going to France with my me mum." He replied happily, a dreamy look on his face.

"Sounds great! Julia is also going to France." Annabelle told the boy.

She opened her mouth to say something else, but before she could get the words out, the sound of her name being called reached her ears. She turned to the sound and spotted Lily waving her over from beside Professor McGonagall—probably having been directed to get on the next carriage.

Annabelle nodded when she heard her name being called. She saw Lily wave her over as students left to go to the Hogwarts Express.

"That's my sign to leave you all be." She quickly glanced back the boys, "Have a nice summer Remus, Peter." She waved before quickly walking away to join her friends

"You do the same." Remus said, even though the girl had already made it halfway across the room and he instead turned to James and Sirius, grinning smugly at his other two friends.

"You would think we were invisible by the way she treats us." Sirius turned to James, an incredulous look on his face.

Remus laughed following the crowd to the train taking themhome.

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      ANNABELLE SAT COMFORTABLY IN ONE OF THE COMPARTMENTS WITH OF THE HOGWARTS EXPRESS WITH Lily, Marlene and Julia, the girls chatting happily about the school year as Annabelle dragged her hand through Dot's soft fur, the Kneazle happily purring in her lap.

"I swear if Potter is going to call my Lily flower one more time I am going to strangle him." Lily's face was contorted into one of anger as she stared out of the window and at the passing scenery outside

"One day we are going to kill those boys Lily, if they keep annoying us." Annabelle promised half-heartedly.

Lily nodded in agreement.

"Come on guys. I know you don't hate them." Julia said pointing at the girls across from her a knowing look on her face.

"I do." They said at the same time as the compartment door opened, an unwelcoming presence following.

James and Sirius heads peeked through the door.

Lily and Annabelle groaned slumping down in their seats. "Who is getting married?" Sirius grinned cheekily.

Annabelle grumbled standing up and Sirius and James watched her walk over to them unsurely.

She stood in front of them arms crossed the same look on her face that labelled her as a stuck-up Gryffindor girl by some of her peers.

Sirius looked down at her. "Hello love." He greeted.

She glanced at them "goodbye" she said before pushing them away roughly making them tumble backwards and closing the door, even going as far as rolling the blinds down.

"Now that is taking care off. Let's continue our chat." She clapped her hands together proudly before sitting down in her seat again, picking up a disgruntled Dot who had been forced to leave his owner's lap when the brunette had stood up.

Before they knew it Annabelle and Lily were already jumping off the Hogwarts Express after saying goodbye to Julia and Marlene. Spotting her father in the crowd she pulled Lily with her, both girl already half asleep.

"Ladies." Cardell greeted the girls before pulling his daughter in a bone crushing hug. "I've missed you. Look how big you are." He held his daughter at arm's length to observe her like he hadn't seen in years.

"I missed you too dad." Annabelle laughed.

Cardell released his daughter before looking at Lily. "Come here." Cardell offered, opening his arms to the redheaded witch.

"I would run while you still can." Annabelle whispered her warning but Lily just waved her off.

Lily chuckled before hugging Annabelle's father.

"Now girls. Lillith is waiting at home for you so let's move." He announced, motioning for both teens to follow after him to a little less crowded area.

Making sure they had all their belongings, both girls grabbed one of his hands and he apparated them to the Rose household.

Lillith was working in the kitchen for a decent dinner for her husband and the girls, knowing her own daughter and husband would most likely be eager for a warm meal when she heard her the familiar cracking sound echoing through their home, signalling her husband returned with the two girls.

Walking out of the kitchen to greet them she smiled at her daughter.

"Look how big you are." Lilith noted happily in the same manner her father had earlier.

Annabelle chuckled giving her mother a quick hug.  "Everyone is saying that."

"That is because you are. I thought you promised not to grow up?" Cardell spoke up as he placed both trunk in the cupboard under the stairs for the time being.

"Dad..." Annabelle sighed an amused expression stitching itself on her face before she pulled Lily with her in the living room to escape her father's spiel about never growing up.

"We're leaving for Romania in two days. So what do you want to do tomorrow?" Annabelle asked sitting down in one of the armchairs beside the lit fireplace, the soft hum of the Muggle radio filling the room.

Lily shrugged as she fiddled with the radio, trying to find a song she liked before settling on the familiar sound of Piano Man, "We could go get ice cream in the village?" She suggested as she turned around to face Annabelle.

Annabelle nodded, already forming a plan for the day in her head. "And then we could go to the beach nearby. It isn't very busy there." She added.

"Girls?" Lillith peeked around the corner of the doorframe, messy dark hair pulled in a low ponytail. "Dinner is ready."

Standing up, the two teenagers made their way to the dinning room where the table had been set up already, Cardell already sitting while a delicious smell invaded their senses.

"It smells delicious Mrs. Rose." Lily complimented as she sat down with Annabelle next to her.

"Lily, you know you can call me Lillith." Annabelle's mother stated in a warm voice as she took a seat next to her husband.

"I know." The redhead blushed, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

      "Well Lily was right, it smells really good." Annabelle echoed her friend's earlier statement and Lillith motioned for everyone to fill their plates.

"Well let's eat then, before it goes cold."

Neither Cardell or Annabelle had to be told twice as they filled their plate eagerly, already chatting about Hogwarts.

Lillith turned to Lily, a kind smile on her face, "How are your parents Lily? They manage to keep up with all the magical  wish-wash?"

Cardell frown, feigning offence at his wife's statement. "Wish-wash?!"

"They try." Lily laughed, "My dad has been reading Hogwarts a History actually, I have to explain most of the terms to him though."

"I was just the same when I found out." Lilith acknowledged with a chuckle. "I mean I knew Cardell wasn't really normal so to say when I met him when we were younger, but imagine the surprise when he told me he was a wizard after we were married? I knew I married a nut-case, but not that kind of nut-case."

"She almost fled when I pulled my wand out of my jacket."

"Well you were waving it around like a madman, what would you do if the man you thought you knew turned out to be from a whole other world?" Lilith countered and Cardell just picked up his glass to take a big gulp instead of arguing.

"She turned around though," Cardell focused on the two girls across the table. "Couldn't resist my roughish charm and dashing looks."

"I just married you, I could hardly just divorce you the very next day."

"That must be really shocking though, finding out about the Wizarding World like that?" Lily questioned, "I was just eleven, I still believed in magic, finding out it was real wasn't really that much of shocker."

"It truly was, but I learned to love it, even though I still can't understand or comprehend even half of the things I've been told." Lilith explained before taking a bite of her meal.

"My mom still regularly asks what my house is called, she keeps messing it up. It's actually quite funny, the names she can come up with."

"Do you remember in Diagon Alley, the Summer before second year when we came across Professor McGonagall and your mother asked if she was the head of Gryffinclaw?" Annabelle laughed as she recalled the memory of McGonagall confused faced.

"I was so embarrassed." Lily's blush returned.

"I always forget which house Cardell was in, I only remember it had something to do with a bird." Lilith laughed.

"Well you do know now, right honey?" Cardell questioned, eagerly awaiting his wife's answer.

Lillith cleared her throat, picking up her glass of water instead.

"Really?" Cardell groaned.

"I was just joking dear, It's Ravenclaw." Lillith stated and, Cardell pleased with the answer returned to focus on his place while Lilith face the girls.

    That was a guess she mouthed and the girls tried their best to contain their giggles.

After that the conversation returned to their year at Hogwarts, and their plans for tomorrow as they enjoyed Lilith's homecooked meal.

"I'll bring up a cup of tea later." Lillith promised the girls as they all cleared the table, Cardell already waving his wand around to make the dishes do themselves.

Annabelle nodded, before taking Lily's hand and pulling her with her towards the stairs to go to her bedroom.

It appeared her mother had been inside her room, as her previous messy desk from before she'd set for Hogwarts had now been cleared out.

"Home sweet home." Annabelle laughed as they both fell back on her bed, red and brown hair mixing on the duvet as it sprawled around them like halo's.

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