The afternoon was passing by slowly, the dreary weather not helping one bit. Their lunch spot outside was not an option for them, not only from the weather, but also given the circumstances between the five.

Oliver was eating lunch with Violet when he spotted Andrew sulking at the Gryffindor table. Eliza sat beside him, eating her food, ignoring Andrew. Oliver was sure that Eliza was already fed up with him after what happened in Potions and with the duel.

"It's his fault, you know," Violet told Oliver, drinking some water.

"Yeah, I know," he responded. "I wish he would stop pouting about it, though."

Violet rolled her eyes. "He'll get over it."

The two continued to eat their lunch in silence. Once they were done, they headed out of the Great Hall, waiting for their other friends to see what they wanted to do next.

Jacob was the first one out. "So, what shall we do today?" he asked his Ravenclaw friends.

"Well, we're not going swimming in the Black Lake, like you keep suggesting," Oliver answered.

"Oh, you guys are such wimps," Jacob retorted.

"You just want to impress someone," Violet spoke up, raising her eyebrows.

Jacob rolled his eyes. "Whatever, Vi."

"That's totally the reason why," Violet whispered to Oliver.

He chuckled. "Sure it is."

Andrew was next to exit the Great Hall, but he immediately walked past his friends, which confused the other three. "Where the hell is he going?" Violet questioned.

"To the Quidditch pitch," Eliza stated as she strolled towards her friends. "The Gryffindors are having their tryouts today, despite the cloudy weather."

"And he's going to watch them so that he can be even more depressed that he can't try out for the team this year?" Jacob implied.

"That's exactly what he's going to do," Eliza answered. "Come on. We might as well go join him."

Eliza led the others out to the Quidditch pitch where the Gryffindors were all messing around in their uniforms with their brooms in hand, chattering. Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley were standing in front of them, trying to get their attention.

"Okay, everyone! Quiet, please!" Harry attempted, trying to get everyone to be quiet.

"SHUT IT!" Ginny yelled, making everyone stop talking and look at her, even Oliver and his friends.

Harry looked at Ginny and awkwardly nodded his head. "Thanks." He looked back at the ones trying out for the team. "Now, just because you made the team last year, does not mean you will make it this year for sure. Is that clear?"

"Why does it not surprise me that Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley are co-captains for the Gryffindor Quidditch Team this year?" Jacob questioned as they walked to the bleachers.

"Well, they are the best players," Eliza pointed out. "We all know that."

Jacob rolled his eyes. "Sure, you Gryffindors can think that all you want."

"I don't think Hufflepuff House really has many victory parties after a Quidditch match, do they?" Oliver intervened, smirking and raising his eyebrows.

Violet and Eliza snorted, grinning. "He's got a point," Eliza stated.

"Okay, make fun of Hufflepuff House all you want, but I'm pretty sure Hufflepuff is better at Quidditch than Ravenclaw House." Jacob nudged at Oliver and Violet.

"Oh, that's a load of rubbish," Violet replied.

"At least we can agree that Slytherin House is the worst out of all of the Houses, due to the fact that they practically cheat in all of their matches," Oliver added.

"Which pretty much means that Gryffindor House is the best at Quidditch," Eliza boasted, smiling, then turning towards Andrew's way. "Isn't that right, Andy?"

Andrew turned around, nodding his head. "Yeah, for sure."

Eliza's face fell, huffing a sigh. "I wish he'd get out of his moody ways. It's annoying and also no fun seeing him like that."

"Just give him time, like we always do," Oliver told her. "That seems to work best."

Once they all got to the bleachers, Oliver spotted some Gryffindors sitting down, looking down at the wizards and witches trying out for the team. While Luna Lovegood was the only other Ravenclaw in the group, beside her was Lavender Brown, then not too far from them was the one and only Hermione Granger.

"She asked about you," Eliza muttered in Oliver's ear.

"Really?" Oliver felt his heart skip a small beat. "What did she say?"

Eliza casually shrugged her shoulders, sitting down. "She just wanted to know if--"

"Ugh, Cormac McLaggen is trying out for the team," Andrew cut her off in a disgusted tone, giving him a dirty look from afar.

"What?" Eliza focused her attention on Cormac flying to the three hooped goals on one side of the pitch. "Are you serious? Who's going up against him for Keeper?"

The five looked to see who was at the other three goals. "Ron Weasley?!" Andrew questioned in shock, widening his eyes. "He's never touched a Quaffle, as far as I can remember."

"Hey, at least he's getting out there and trying new things," Lavender Brown snapped at Andrew.

Andrew scoffed. "Well, let's hope he can beat McLaggen for the spot."

"He might if Ginny goes easy on him," Eliza commented. "But knowing her, she won't do that to her brother."

So Ginny, who was a Chaser, began the tryouts by testing the ones trying out to be a Chaser. She dodged every single one of them, using a few plays to throw the Quaffle at Cormac. He managed to block each of her throws by kicking it, swooping from side to side, and smacking it away from his hand. He smirked whenever he got the Quaffle away from the three goals.

Violet rolled her eyes. "Show off."

Ron was next. Looking nervous, he tightened his grip on the broom, concentrating on Ginny and no one else. Of course, she didn't go easy on him, maybe a bit harder than Cormac, but Ron didn't let that stop him. Just like McLaggen, he didn't let the Quaffle get past him. He even almost fell off his broom, but despite his struggle, he got right back on it.

Now, the Chasers were going back and forth between Ron and Cormac. From the corner of his eye, he saw Hermione bring her hand up towards her mouth, looking like she was mumbling something. He watched as the Quaffle was thrown at Cormac, who immediately moved away, letting it go through the hoop. Oliver looked at Hermione again, who smirked to herself.

Then, Ron got one final throw his way and he flipped upside down and dodged the last throw, making everyone in the bleachers cheer for him.

"What the hell happened there?" Jacob questioned in confusion. "McLaggen was on a roll."

"He's still better than you," Violet retorted, causing the other three to chuckle. "I can't believe Professor Sprout is letting you tryout for the team, even after getting in trouble for breaking curfew."

Jacob shrugged his shoulders. "Probably because I'm the best Keeper there is for Hufflepuff House."

Violet rolled her eyes. "Whatever, Jake."

Oliver went back to focusing his attention on Hermione. Wondering what she was muttering, he stood up and went over to her, his friends surprised by his bold move. "Hey," he said, making her jump.

Hermione looked up at Oliver and sighed. "Hi," she said.

"Mind if I join you?" he asked.

She nodded her head, which was his signal to sit down beside her. "Is Andrew not trying out this year?" Hermione asked him.

Oliver shook his head in response. "He, uh...he kind of got into some trouble."

"Already?" Oliver nodded his head. "Well, that's unfortunate. Harry was hoping he'd try out as a Beater again."

"Well, I'm sure Gryffindor House can find some decent Beaters this year," Oliver responded. "So what spell did you use?"

"Sorry?" Hermione furrowed her eyebrows at him, acting confused.

"The spell that you mumbled under your breath, the one you used to make Cormac McLaggen mess up on that last play."

Hermione laughed nervously. "I don't know what you're talking about, Oliver."

"Oh, come on. I saw you, Hermione," he said.

She huffed another sigh. "A Confundus Charm."

"So why did you use it?"

She looked at him, fidgeting with her hands. "Because I can't stand Cormac, that's why," she confessed.

Oliver nodded his head. "Fair enough."

Hermione let out a soft chuckle. "I would appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone about it."

"Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me." He grinned at her.

She grinned back. "Thank you."

He cleared his throat, beginning to say something else. "I also heard that you asked about me."

Hermione blushed a little. "Yeah, Eliza and I were talking about you in class."

"Well, I hope they were good things," he said.

She beamed his way. "They certainly were."

"Hey, Ollie!" Jacob called for him as he and the other four stood up, waving him to come back, looking like they were about to leave.

Oliver looked back at Jacob and motioned his way that he was coming. Then, he turned to face Hermione again. "I better go before Jacob has a fit."

"Okay," she said, giggling. "I'll see you later, then."

"Yeah, see you later." With that, he stood up and went back to his friends, heading for the stairs.

"What was that all about?" Jacob questioned. "Finally got the courage to ask her out?"

Eliza snorted. "Like that's ever going to happen."

"Hey, you never know," he said, looking back at Hermione.

Eliza rolled her eyes and grabbed his hand. "Come on. I think Andy is getting frustrated that he's not out on the pitch for tryouts."

So the five ran down the stairs and off the Quidditch pitch. Oliver turned his head and looked back up at Hermione one last time before she was no longer in sight.

*******

"Are you sure no one will follow us, Draco?" Mary asked, treading beside Draco down the corridor.

"Yes, I'm sure. Everyone is out and about today. Stop worrying about it so much," Draco retorted, shaking his head. "Honestly, are all Americans paranoid over the stupidest things?"

Mary rolled her eyes. "I just don't want anyone to know what we're up to."

"Well, trust me, no one will find out."

So the two kept walking until they reached a stone wall. Closing their eyes, they heard a rumbling sound, taking deep breaths and concentrating hard on what they desired. Once they opened their eyes, they were no longer in the corridor.

"Welcome to the Room of Requirement," Draco told her, tightening his grip on the green apple that was in his hand. "Come on."

Mary followed behind Draco as they walked deeper into the Room of Requirement. There were piles of nooks and crannies that took so much space. She coughed at the dust flying around her, moving it out of her face. There was also hardly any source of light, making the entire room look gloomy and depressing, which reminded Mary of Malfoy Manor.

"Look, uh...I just want to tell you to be careful around Blaise," Draco informed Mary.

"Why?" she asked. "Isn't he your friend?"

"Well, yes, but it's just that...he can sometimes be a bit of an arse."

Confused at Draco's advice, Mary nodded her head, anyway. "I'll keep that in mind."

Draco began to throw the apple in the air, then caught it with one hand. "Where is it?" he mumbled to himself, then he stopped. He turned his head towards a tall object, pulling the cover off of it. There stood a black cabinet, all dusty and old-looking.

"Is that it?" Mary asked.

Draco nodded his head. "Yes," he replied. "It's the Vanishing Cabinet."

She sighed. "Okay, so now what?"

He looked at Mary. "We start fixing it."

~~~~~~~

A/N: After over 5 months, I finally have a new chapter out! I know it's been forever, but I was so focused on my Atmosphere Trilogy (Maze Runner, go check it out) that I was stuck on this story. But I'm back on it now!

Song above is Feel It Still by Portugal. The Man. I think it has like a cool vibe to it, which is why I picked this song for the chapter.

Comment, vote, more soon (for real, I promise!)

-A