Year 3 Chapter 1 - Another Year at Hogwarts

I was getting off the train and going inside Hogwarts. Summer was over and I was excited to be back in the Ravenclaw common room. Leo was on my right, holding my hand. It's been a while since we've seen each other.

"Leah!" Someone called me. I turned to see Harry with his friends, racing towards us.

Before they could run into us, I took out my wand and said "Wingardium Leviosa!"

The three started floating into the air making them laugh. The trio looked slightly older, but they didn't act any more mature then they were last time we were together.

I giggled and lowered them to the ground. Hermione took Ron's hand and pulled him along, leaving Harry behind.

"Hey Leah, Leo!" Harry tried to catch his breath.

"Nice to see you again Harry!" I replied with a smile.

"Hi, Harry." Leo waved.

"Hey, how was summer?" Harry asked.

"Amazing!" I sang. Harry and Leo laughed. We were now at the door to go inside.

"Well, I'm gonna catch up with Hermione and Ron. See ya!" He then ran off to find his friends.

"What you planning to do this year?" Leo asked when he was gone.

"Oh, I don't know." I shrugged. "I want to meet your sister!"

"Okay, sure!" Leo smiled. "She might be somewhere...."

"She's with Hagrid, silly!" I laugh.

"Oh, yeah. I knew that" he says, smiling with embarrassment.

"Leah!" Someone puts their hands on my shoulders.

I yelp, but when I turn, I laugh.

"Heather! Good to see you!"

We all talk and walk to the Ravenclaw table together. Heather separates from us and goes to Mary and Sheryl who still seem mad at me. They lecture Heather, then sit down together in silence. They must not want her around me anymore.

Leo and I talk as we wait for Dumbledore to say his speech. While we do, I see Aby and Berri come in the hall. They wave to the Respecters and sit with them.

I roll my eyes as everyone becomes quiet.

I turn to see Dumbledore at the stand about so say his speech. All of the professors are sitting in chairs next to him.

"Good afternoon! Welcome to another year of Hogwarts!" He started his speech.

Ten minutes later, Dumbledore ended the speech, and the first years started getting sorted into their houses. Just like any other year. I yawned.

"Grace Promantos!" Professor McGonagall called. A girl with really dark brown hair came on and sat down, as Professor McGonagall placed the sorting hat on her head. She had a smile on her face. Her eyes were electric blue and bright.

"Energetic, kind, smart...." I heard the sorting hat say. It spoke some more, then said, "How about.... Hufflepuff!" All the Hufflepuff cheered and welcomed Grace to their house. Leo and I clapped for her. Leo looked a little upset but happy at the same time. I guessed she was a little annoying. When everyone was done getting sorted into their houses, we ate and went upstairs. Aby tried to come near me to talk but Sherryl pulled her hood and forced her to stay with the rest of the Respecters. At least Berri found a company, speaking of which,

"Hey Leah." Olivia said as she came up to me.

"Oh, hi! How was summer?" I asked.

"Um, exciting, energetic," She said. I looked over at Berri again. The two look so alike, even I was having a hard time believing they weren't sisters.

"I still don't get this girl," Olivia noticed me looking.

"She's pretty nice, you should be glad you have a sister," I say.

"I do not have a sister. I am a single child." Olivia cut me off before I could say anything else.

"Ok, as you say. Do you have any goals for this year?" I ask.

"Beat a person at dueling," Olivia answered.

"That's a pretty good goal," I say.

"How about you?"

"Oh, probably make another friend, I just lost four." I look over at the Respecters.

"Oh, well, it doesn't hurt to have too many friends. And I'm sure the ones that left you will come back," Olivia said.

"I hope so...., I say.

"Not hope- know." Olivia grinned at me.

"Alright. I know we'll become friends again!"

"That's the spirit!" she cheered. I laughed.

Year 3 Chapter 2 - The Eagle Knocker's Riddle

We all went inside the dormitory to see our stuff at our beds. Olivia was in the 2nd year dormitory, while Leo and I went to the 3rd years'. We both went to my bed and sat down together.

"Classes start tomorrow," Leo told me as he opened a scroll with his schedule. "What do you have?"

I did the same and looked through my classes.

"Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, Defence Against the Dark Arts, History of Magic, Herbology, Care of Magical Creatures, and.....Astronomy."

"I feel so bad. You have Potions for your first class!" Leo laughed a little.

"Whatever! What do you have?"

"Transfiguration, Charms, Astronomy, Herbology, History of Magic, Study of Ancient Runes, Potions, Defence Against the Dark Arts, and Care of Magical Creatures."
"At least we have Charms and History together!" I smiled.

"You mean 'History of Magic'." Leo corrected me and gave me a smart look. I rolled my eyes at him. There were footsteps coming from the door at the time.

Ary and Colt came running in with joy.

"Hey, Leah!" Ary waved.

"Hi, Leo!" Colt said right after.

"Hey, guys! How did you get in?" Leo asked as the brother and sister came up to us.

"Olivia let us inside after we tried to answer the Eagle's riddle." Ary started.

"Yeah. We completely failed!" Colt laughed.

"What was the riddle? Maybe I know it." I replied.

"You measure my life in hours..."

"And I serve you by expiring..."

"I'm quick when I'm thin..."

"And slow when I'm fat!"

"The wind is my enemy." Ary and Colt went back and forth saying parts of the riddle.

"What am I?" They both said at the same time.

I thought for a second, then looked at Leo. He nodded saying he knows the answer.

"A candle!" Leo and I answered.

"That was right!" Colt said in surprise. Leo and I did a little fist bump.

"You are gonna die! We are all gonna die! OOH, a butterfly!" someone screamed. We all looked at the witch who was now going out of the common room.

"Okay then?" she yells. "Sorry, I am new. Transfer student, can you show me around?" She had on something that looked like a black wig and had green cat eyes. She had on a black dress with a black leather jacket I've seen before.

"Kitten, you aren't a transfer student...." I slap my forehead.

"HA! April Fools!" Kitten throws off her wig and tosses it across the room to reveal her naturally white hair with silver highlights. She runs out of the common room.

Everyone stares at her. "But...It's not even April." Leo says. "Who is she anyway?"

"Ooh, she's Kitten. She's a friend of Aby's...I think."

"Well whoever she is, she sure doesn't know what months are." Colt shrugged.

All of us laugh at the comment. At that time I realized everyone else was going back to what they were doing.

"Welp. I think we have to go." Ary said with a smile.

"Yeah! I promised Harry I'd help him unpack. Even though he doesn't have much, I guess it's good to help friends." Colt said as he took his sister's hand. "We also need to go see Keen so we can help him with summer school homework."

"Wasn't it due already?" Leo asked.

"Yeah, but you know him, never getting anything done." Ary and Colt left without another word.

"So...you wanna go see your sister?" I asked Leo when they were out of sight.

"She's a Hufflepuff, so you know you could've asked Ary to let us in the common room." Leo crossed his arms.

"Well, of course, I knew that!" I said acting all fancy. "I just wanted to make sure you knew that too." I eyed Leo as he laughed.

Year 3 Chapter 3 - A Hufflepuff on a Walk

Leo and I finished unpacking, then changed and left the now quiet common room. I wanted to see if Grace was looking around or if she was in her common room. I was guessing that she was looking around, but I didn't know.

We went past the grand hall and into the courtyard. Olivia was there with a girl that looked familiar.

"Welp. you were right. Grace is right there." Leo announced.

I smiled and we walked over to them. A small bird was in Olivia's hands. She turned and grinned when she saw me.

"Hey Leah," Olivia said in almost a whisper.

"Hi, big brother!" Grace said as she got up and ran to Leo. The two hugged and Grace tugged Leo closer to Olivia.

"Look, Leo! Olivia has a bird!" Grace's voice was a little squeaky, which made it sound pretty cute. Her hair was tied into two ponytails. Olivia giggled and carefully handed the bird Grace, who stared in aw.

"It's so cute!" Grace whispered. She lifted the little chick to show me. It was grey with tiny white feathers scattered around its body. The bird had dark blue eyes and its cheap was quiet but high pitched.

"I'm gonna call you Sprinkles!" Grace pat its little head.

"Grace!" Leo made her look at him.

"Be polite and say hi. This is my friend Leah."

"S-sorry..." Grace mumbled. "Hi, Leah."

"Hi, Grace."

"You know my name?" Grace tilted her head.

"Yeah! Leo told me all about you!"

"You did! Thanks, big brother!" Grace leaned against him. Now that I looked at them side by side, Grace was about half Leo's size.

"Your-" Leo started to speak, but Grace interrupted.

"Big brother, big brother! Can I keep Sprinkles? Please!?" she gave her best puppy dog eyes.

I could tell Leo wanted to say no, but instead, he said "Fine. but if it dies or gets lost or something, then it's NOT my job. Got it?"

"Yes!" Grace nodded and grinned.

"How did you find Olivia?" I asked wanting to join the conversation.

"I was just looking around and I bumped into her!" Grace said as she put Sprinkles in the hood of her robe. She then sat down next to Olivia.

"Yep! I was actually right here the whole time. Grace caught me talking to the animals." Olivia laughed in embarrassment.

"That's okay!" I say.

"Hey, Leah!" I hear a familiar yell. I turned around to see Aby, accompanied by Berri running downhill to us. Heather was chasing them like a cat.

"Hey, Aby!" I smile.

"Hello," Berri says. Her tiny legs not being able to run fast. "Hey, short people just high!" She said.

"Oh, hi," Olivia says. She turns around and caws like a hawk. A couple of seconds later there was a hawk flew onto her extended hand.

"Ooh, hello!" Aby runs up to the hawk and pets its feathers. I could see the footsteps behind her.

"Hey, there is something coming up behind you!" Grace called.

"Grace, close your eyes," Leo says, remembering the intelligent piece of metal.

"Oh, Springy, wanna pet the bird?" Aby asks.

"It's a hawk!" Olivia says, offended.

Year 3 Chapter 4 - The Engagement with a Ghost

"Same thing, isn't it?" Heather says, jumping into human form.

"Woah! That was so cool! Can you do that again?" Grace got distracted easily.

"I'm an animagus. Most of us here are," She smiles.

"I'm not!" Olivia, Springtrap, deciding to come into view, Leo, Berri, and Grace raise their hand.

"Actually," Heather puts her hand down, "Nevermind," she says. "I'm a jungle cat,"

"So cool! Leo, can I be an animagus?" Grace asks.

"It's an animagus, and you have to be born this way," Leo says.

"I'm the only one of them because my parents are both animagi," Aby says after a moment of silence. She was watching Springtrap pet the Hawk.

"Hey, where have I seen you before?" Olivia turns to him.

"Uh," Springtrap stretches out, then disappears. "You never saw anything!"

We all laugh.

"No, he helped you once, a while ago," I say.

"Who are you?" Grace points to Aby and Springtrap.

"Oh, Grace, it's best to forget about them," Leo said and pushed Grace toward the direction of the castle.

"Sorry was that too sudden?" Aby said after Grace left.

"Yes, very," Leo said.

"I'm sorry, I wanted to see Leah and I had to escape Heather to do so," Aby says, looking over at Heather.

"Foxina, calm down," Springtrap puts his hands on her shoulders. Aby grabs onto them, to reveal a shiny ring.

"Wait," I say, suddenly shocked. "You took it that far?" I exclaim.

"What? This?" Aby points to her ring.

"Aby, you are engaged to a GHOST! Kick your common sense in!" I say, almost mad at her. I don't know why I was though.

"You're right Heather, maybe we should go," Aby says and walks over to her, showing a glint of Kitten's eyes at me. The three leave.

"Great, now I definitely lost the four friends," I mutter.

"Sorry, what?" Olivia asks me.

"Oh, I'm sad that I upset my friend, but there's still hope in bringing her back," I correct myself.

"Good!" Olivia smiles as the hawk flies away. I sigh.

"Leah...do we need to talk?" Leo asked us.

"Yes and no!" I say quickly.

"Okay...you guys do your thing." Olivia gets up to leave. "I'll make sure your sister is secure."

"Thanks, Olivia." Leo smiled at her.

"Call me Olive! My friends call me that." Olivia winked and walked out of the courtyard.

I sighed once more. "Leo..."

"Yes?" We both sat down on the bench.

"What am I going to do?"

"What is this about Leah?" Leo rested his hand on top of mine.

"It's about everything! I mean...I know I have a little bit of an anger issue, but I didn't think this would happen!"

"Calm down. You remember when Ary and Colt started making fun of you?"

"Well of course I do!"

"And look where we are now! Every once and awhile, we all meet up to talk and just...have fun! Would you ever do that if they weren't your friends?"

"No! You know very well I wouldn't! What's your point?"

"My point is, the same thing will most likely happen with you and the....Respecters right?"

"Yes....and your right."

"Yes, I am!" Leo spook in a funny accent which made me laugh. There was silence for a second, then there was a loud noise from nearby.

"Hey y' all!" Fred and George came into the courtyard with a smile on their faces.

Leo and I quickly separated our hands as the twins walked up to us.

"Nice to see you again!" Fred started.

"Yeah! Olivia told us you'd be here." George finished.

"Did you not go find your crush?" Leo asked, motioning Aby.

"What!? No!" Fred said to my surprise.

"Apparently she's engaged with a ghost!" George said right after.

"Yeah...I know. We just saw her. It's crazy right!?" I replied.

"I mean, I would expect she would like someone more handsome, don't you think?" Fred joked, crossing his arms in a 'manly' way. We all laughed.

Year 3 Chapter 5 - First Dinner of Year 3

We all talked for a while, then went back inside to go to dinner. Dumbledore apparently had another speech that none of us were supposed to miss. Well, guess what? I had promised Myrtle that I would visit her, so what's a more perfect time than the speech?

I know it's supposedly important, but I really don't care right now. I just wanted to see Myrtle.

Leo said he could cover for me, but I had to be back by the time the speech was over.

"Ok, gotta go, cover for me," I told Leo.

"Yeah, everything is good. I'll tell you what you will miss when you come back, go," He said and ran to the great hall. I quickly dashed to Myrtle's bathroom.

"Myrtle?" I call when I get to the bathroom.

"Leah? Oh, you're here," She hiccuped. She was sitting on the windowsill, playing with her hair.

"Yeah, I promised I would come!" I smile.

"Is something wrong?" She jumps down and flies over to me.

"Yeah, I guess. A really good friend of mine turned away from me," I say, looking down.

"Oh, do I know her?" Myrtle asked.

"I don't know," I say.

"What's her name?" Myrtle asked me, sitting down on one of the sinks.

"Aby. Abyssinian Black."

"Oh...I've seen her before. I've heard rumors that she's engaged to a ghost." Myrtle laughs at the thought.

"Welp, the rumors are indeed true." I sigh and sit next to her.

"Well...does that bother you?" Myrtle tilts her head and twists her hair around her transparent finger.

"A little." I nod.

"How so?" She asks.

"I kind of think it's weird you know?"

"I know exactly what you mean!" Myrtle crosses her arms.

"Yeah? Well, I kind of told Aby and she got kind of mad at me..."

"Have you talked to her old crush, Fred?"

"Yes. He thinks it's weird too."

"Anything else?"

"Well..." I looked at a visual memory of Aby, and that's when I noticed something.

"Aby doesn't have her eyepatch!" I yelled.

"What? Can you be more specific?" Myrtle asks.

"So, this summer, I met up with Aby somewhere in the forbidden forest. She apparently has a brother who cut her eye, causing her pain when she tries to open it. She had to wear this eyepatch over her left eye so it would heal. Now that I think about it, she doesn't have it anymore!"

"Ok, well maybe it healed." Myrtle shrugged.

"You might be right..." I sighed and get up to walk around.

"Something else is bothering you, Leah. Tell me."

"Well...you know the ghost that Aby is engaged with?"

"Yeah?" Myrtle floats near me.

"I know him. He was originally in a metal suit. It was SUPER creepy." I shivered.

Myrtle looked surprised. She hiccuped but didn't say a word.

All of a sudden, I heard clapping and cheering from nearby.

The speech must be over... I thought as I sighed once more.

"Thanks for talking with me Myrtle, but I have to go. Your a great friend."

"Anytime!" Myrtle giggled and hiccuped as I turned and left her bathroom.

I made sure to stay hidden as I crept into the great hall. I went to the Ravenclaw table and sat next to Leo, who had saved a seat for me.

"So?" I urged him to tell me about the speech.

"It was about something called the Triwizard Tournament. He said it's going to be held next year. There's going to be 3 other schools competing against us. Apparently, I think we need to be 6 years or higher to join. I definitely don't want to."

"Count me out!" I said shivering.

"Me three," Berri walked up to us, chewing on her hair. "By the way Leah, I didn't see you during the speech." She says and stops chewing her hair.

"What? I was here!" I rejected and gave her a death stare.

"No, you were not," Redwood said with a laugh.

"Come on!? Right now?" I smack my forehead. Leo just looks at me in confusion.

"Leah. It's fine! Don't worry I won't tell!" She laughs and walks away to where the Respecters are. Aby looks at me, with a green glint in her eyes and continues talking. I don't know what got over me, but I walked up to them.

"Hey, Aby, about what I said, a couple of hours ago, I really didn't mean it. I had other things on my mind. Do you forgive me?" I look at her. She's battling between gray and green eyes, so I wait for a little.

"Of course I do," she ends up saying and shakes my hand, sealing the forgiveness. "Wanna do something? All seven of us?"

"Eight," Kitten adds.

"Yeah...same thing." She says. I laugh. I'm glad to have my friend back.

"Hey um Aby?" Mary interrupts us. "Can we like...I don't know, talk? You know alone?"

"Sure?" Aby answers. She seems a little confused.

I just end up walking away, feeling like she means 'without me'.

"Hey, how'd the convo go?" Leo asks.

I just shrug.

"So...nothing?"

I shrugged again and sit down. "Mary and Sherryl still don't like me...I don't think."

"Welp, you got Aby again...right?"

"Yeah!" I smile and try to think positive.

"Well, think about it. You still have me!" Leo smiled, "And I'm a special snowflake," he says.

"Sure whatever," I smile and sit back down next to him.

"What do you wanna do now?" I ask. Right as I do, dishes of turkey, chicken, mashed potatoes, and more appear on the tables.

"Eat?" Leo asks with a laugh. I smile and roll my eyes.

"Sure." We both dig into the food until we can't eat anymore.

Word count - 3319