"Cassie!" The kitten ran towards her owner with her stubby little legs.

Ria grinned when she saw her and lifted her in her arms, kissing her nose. "See? She's starting to understand that her name's Cassie. Aren't you, cutie?" She cooed at her.

Isabella smiled at them from the couch. She then looked at Jude, who was perched on her shoulder. He seemed to be glaring at the cat.

"Oi!" She quietly called out to him. "We aren't replacing you, you know?"

Cassie ran towards Isabella now, and she settled her on her lap. Jude moved closer to Isabella, cuddling himself close to her jaw while glaring at the cat.

"Mum, I promise, I'll take care of her!" Ria pitched in again. "Please, please, please let me take her with me?"

"And what about Jude?"

"He can stay with you, yeah?"

The tiny owl screeched at her question. Even he didn't know if he was offended at the suggestion or happy that he would get to stay with Isabella.

"We'll think about it, Ria." Said her mother, making her pout.

"Alright.." she said. "Well, you know what I was thinking?"

"Uh-huh?"

"I really wanna meet Harry. Can I go see him?"

Isabella's eyes widened at this suggestion. "No!"

Asteria flinched at her snappy response.

"I— I mean, you can." She explained, a bit more calmly. "But you're not going alone. I'm coming with you."

"Oh.. okay."

The telephone started ringing, and Isabella handed the kitten to her daughter to get up and answer it. "Hello?.. Yes, it is. Oh.. Vernon!" She said, a bit surprised. Ria raised her eyebrows. 

Speak of the devil..

She watched as her mother's face changed from confusion to amusement.

"He.." she had to refrain herself from laughing. "He did what?" She asked again. "Oh, no, no! Of course, I don't find it funny.." she pursed her lips.

Ria shook her head in disbelief as unintelligible noise kept coming from the other end of the telephone. She couldn't hear what he was babbling about, but her mother's face told her it was, indeed, something funny.

"Vernon! Vernon— I understand! But he's a child. Children make mistakes. Accidents happen. Calm down—" she stopped again as he said something. "Don't worry about your Marge— the Ministry of Magic will take care of her—"

Isabella pulled away from the phone just for a moment. "Harry blew up his aunt." She told her daughter. "She inflated like— like a balloon."

Ria slapped her hand to her mouth. Her mother looked like she was about to die from wheezing. And her face made Ria snort in laughter too, but Isabella shushed her down.

This was a serious situation. They should not be laughing.

"Yeah— like I was saying, the Ministry—"

Isabella's smile dropped. "Wait, what did you say?" Ria stopped laughing as she saw her mother's jaw drop.

"What do you mean he left— where did he go?" Isabella looked like she could explode any minute.

Ria was about to question what was happening, but her attention was taken away by an owl swooping in through the window.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW?!" If there was a way to crawl to Vernon Dursley through the telephone, Isabella would have had him by the throat by then.

Ria took the letter from the owl's beak and fed him some nuts from Jude's bowl. It flew away while she opened the letter.

"A LITERAL MASS MURDERER IS ON THE LOOSE! HOW COULD YOU— Hello? Hello?! Oh.." She looked at the telephone in realisation. She forcefully dialled the number again. "Dursley!" She laughed. "You fuckward— you did not just hang up on me—"

"Uh— Mum?"

"Honey, just give me a second—" her tone softened just for a second before it diverted back. "Alright, listen, I don't threaten people that don't deserve it—"

"Mum!"

"Just a moment, Vermin. Don't hang up." Isabella's expression changed as she looked at her daughter, like she was an angel reincarnated on Earth. "Yes, sweetie."

She held up the letter to show her. "It's from the Ministry of Magic.."

Bella hung the phone and rushed to her daughter. "Did you read it?" She asked as she took it from her.

"No.. only read the words 'Cornelius Fudge'." At the statement, there was a small sigh that left her mother's mouth.

Her eyes skimmed through the letter, and even the last glimmer of worry left her face. She sat on the couch, head in her hands as she breathed out in relief.

"Is everything alright, Mum?" asked Asteria softly, holding onto her forearm. "What was it about Harry leaving? And a mass murderer? What's going on?"

She nodded. "Thanks to good Godric, Harry's safe for now." She said as she left the couch to grab her coat.

"For now?"

"I mean—" she corrected herself. "Harry's safe. And we know where he is.." she swished her wand, and the newspaper flew into her hand. She tossed it to her daughter.

"Read it. You'll know about the mass murderer I was talking about.." she said as she walked towards the door. "And don't leave the house, at any cost."

"What— no— I'm coming with you!" Said Ria, tossing the newspaper aside.

"Asteria Marlene." Her mother snapped, stopping right outside the door. "You are staying. End of discussion. And I've put enchantments around it so I'll know if you even take one step out of here." That was all she said before she shut the door behind her.

Ria pouted to herself. She worries too much, sometimes.. she thought.

After reading the news about 'the notorious mass murderer; Sirius Black' and his escape from Azkaban, Ria settled back on the couch.

"I know this is serious, but I would've been fine with her.." she muttered. "My Mum's more dangerous than a mass murderer, I mean." She looked at Jude. "What do you think? Wait— You'd know, right?"

She rested her chin on her hand. "You were Dad's owl, while at Hogwarts. You'd know how Mum was.. She wouldn't be that worrisome in school, right?"

Jude stared back at her, as if thinking 'are you really expecting me to answer your questions?'

But then, her mind suddenly changed. She rushed to her room to fetch her guitar. She hadn't played it for a long time.

Jude flew towards her and perched on her shoulder, staring at the familiar instrument. "You miss him too, huh?" She asked the owl. "No worries, we'll meet him soon enough."

"What d'you think I should play— oh, wait! You'd know this one.." she attempted to play 'Blackbird', but stopped immediately at the horribly out of tune sound.

"Merlin, this needs fixing.." mumbled Ria as she adjusted the keys. But soon enough, a string snapped, and she flinched. The face that had been alight with excitement and nostalgia began to dim with a frown.

"Right or not, that was very irresponsible, Harry." Her mother's voice boomed outside the door. But Ria's eyes were transfixed on the guitar in her hands.

"I'm sorry, Isabella." A familiar voice mumbled.

The door opened, and the first thing Isabella saw was Ria frowning down at Daniel's guitar. "Honey?"

The girl looked up at her. "The string snapped.." she answered, voice low and bottom lip almost threatening to quiver.

Isabella's eyes softened. "It's alright, love." She assured her. "We'll get it fixed, yeah? It's just because it hasn't been used in a while.."

"I know.." Ria answered. "But I just.. I just really wanted to play it, right now, for some reason.."

Isabella felt a small ache in her heart. Ria hadn't played her father's guitar since the day he had left them. She hadn't had the heart to. But she had told her mother she was fine with everything.

Though Isabella wasn't blind, obviously. She could see how much Ria missed Daniel.

And now that she wished to pick his guitar up and play it again.. she was gonna have to wait for another while.

She smiled, walking to her daughter and cupping her face gently. "I'll get it fixed as soon as I can, I promise.." she said. "You can even take it with you, if you want."

Ria's lips curled up in a small smile too. "Really?" She asked, and Isabella nodded. "Thanks, Mum."

When she gently placed the guitar back in the bag and looked up again, that was when she noticed the boy standing by the door. Oh Merlin.. that was Harry?

"Harry!" She jumped up from the couch and into his arms. He chuckled, lifting her slightly as they hugged.

Did he always give such good hugs, or am I just noticing it now? She thought.

"Oh God, how are you?" She asked, looking up at his grinning face.

"Why're you talking like we've met after a long time, Edwards?" He asked.

"Well, have you looked at yourself, Potter?" She bellowed. "Why are you taller than me? How did you grow that much?" She asked, comparing their heights. She was surely the taller one when they had last met. "What sorcery is this?"

"Ah.. yes." He said, brushing his fingers through her long hair just before ruffling them. "Now it'll be easier to annoy you."

Ria squinted her eyes at him. Generally, she didn't like anyone ruffling her hair, but Harry was fine. 

Heavens, she had missed him.

"That's a pretty owl you've got here, Harry." Isabella complimented as she offered Hedwig some food. Hedwig nudged her head to her finger.

"Yeah.. she is.." Harry nodded, looking at her. Hedwig reminded her of that little hawk friend of his.

Isabella smiled. "Ria.. would you mind showing Harry his room?" Her mother's voice snapped her out of her trance.

"Yeah." She answered back. "Come on!" She said, taking Harry's hand and dragging him to the guest room. Though his attention was taken by a little cat meowing its way towards Ria.

"Now.. who's this little guy?" He asked, just as Ria bent down to pick the cat up.

"Harry, meet the new girl." She showed her off to him. Harry caressed her head with his finger. "Cassie, my beloved." She kissed her cheek.

Harry looked a bit taken aback. "I thought I was your beloved." He said playfully, tilting his head as he looked at Ria with his doe eyes.

Asteria held back a smile. "You've got competition, then." She said, turning on her heels and walking towards the room. And Harry just shook his head fondly, following her.

Harry sighed, looking up at Ria. He had asked her to help him with his Potions essay. But she had just handed him her own. That's not how he had thought it would go.

He thought she would teach him since she was so good at the subject. That way he'd at least learn something and show off in front of Snape.

The night had gone by quickly. Ria had asked her mother if she and Harry could have a sleepover, and she had approved. They had spent all night telling each other about their summers.

Well, Harry didn't have much to tell, apart from the part where he blew up Aunt Marge. And the big black wolf, or whatever he had confronted when he had left the Dursleys house. Ria had assured him that it was probably just a street dog barking at random people, and Harry half agreed.

But he listened wholeheartedly as Ria told him about hers; about how Sophie, her good friend, had given her a tour of her grandfather's basement. He was surprised to hear that Newt Scamander had a literal sanctuary for magical creatures in his basement.

But that was all she had told him. He could tell she wanted to tell him many more things, but in the midst of speaking, she had said that she felt too sleepy.

He hadn't questioned further, though he could tell something bugged her.

And now they sat in the living room, on the floor, while Isabella was off to work. Ria sat with her back leaned against the couch, while Harry was hunched over his homework.

"Ria.." he sang. "I don't understand any of this."

She sighed, not even looking at him. "Just look at my essay and write it down. It's not that hard." She replied in the same tone.

"No. Yours is too neat. Snape will know I didn't write this."

She didn't reply. Harry left his homework aside and leaned against the couch too, right beside her. "What're you reading?"

Ria flipped the page. "Fiction."

"What's it about?"

She tilted the book to look at the back cover. "The case is closed.." She began reading, and Harry listened patiently, leaning his head back on the seat as he looked at her.

"Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh.." Her voice was delicate and soothing when she read it, not at all resembling the usual bubbly, playful tone. It hooked him in, made him want to listen to it more often.

"Hey, are you listening?" She asked, and Harry's nod arrived after a good second. "Okay.." she continued. "And if the real killer is still out there, how far will they go to keep Pip from the truth?"

He wondered if she read every book like that; with the voice of a songbird that even calmed the mourners.

"Well.. that's the summary.. A good girl's guide to murder." She said, returning to the page she was previously on.

There was a moment of silence before Harry spoke up again. "Can you keep reading it out loud, please?"

"No, Harry. Go back to your homework."

His shoulders slumped at her response. "Okay— what's up with you? What happened to you so suddenly?"

"Hmm? What happened?" She asked back. "Nothing happened."

Harry gave her a blank stare. "You're a terrible liar."

"I'm not lying! Nothing happened." She answered.

And that was when he snatched the book out of her hand. Ria gasped, reaching out for it but Harry kept it out of her reach.

"Harry— don't! If you damage it even slightly, I swear to—"

"Tell me what happened, and I'll give it back to you. And gift you even more."

She leaned across him, trying to take the book but failed. "Nothing happened— Merlin— give it back!"

"Liar." He said, leaning closer to her face in a challenging way.

Ria huffed, not moving even an inch as he continued staring back at her.

Did he think he'd just bare his pretty green eyes into hers and win?

Ria wasn't the one to slip up any easily. She was petty; Petty enough to not give in to the adorable way he was pouting at her.

.

.

.

Okay, he won.

She couldn't say no to that face.

"Cinnamon rolls." Her tongue slipped.

Harry stared at her for a moment, admiring the way her face contorted into focus just moments before it broke to answer. Then he came back to his senses.

"Wait— Cinnamon rolls?"

She nodded, not moving even a bit. "I sent you cinnamon rolls on your birthday. And let me tell you, I spent weeks trying to perfect the recipe, just so I could send them to you. And guess what I got?" She chuckled in disbelief, backing away. "Not one word about how they tasted! Nothing!"

Slowly, realisation dawned on Harry's face. "That was you?"

"What do you mean by that?" She asked. "You ate a pack of cinnamon rolls without knowing who sent them to you?"

"What? No!" He quickly replied. "I didn't get to eat them!" He said with regret. "My cousin, Dudley did."

Ria's face softened, along with her anger. At the very next moment, she began frantically apologising for her overreaction, and Harry couldn't help but softly smile as he assured her that it was alright.

Though he felt content at heart, seeing how much she cared.

"Oh.. that's what happened to him?" asked Isabella, and Harry nodded in answer. He had just told her about Lockhart's memory loss. It's not like she cared about him that much, but she had to know why she hadn't received a letter that month after receiving countless in the past months.

"Hmm.. I wonder who this year's teacher would be.." she muttered to herself. She wondered if it was Severus, since he wanted to have that position for quite a while. But he would've told her if he did.

Now that she thought about it.. she wouldn't mind teaching at Hogwarts, some day. It would be a good way to stay close to Ria and Harry.

Isabella Diggory was like an angel to Harry. He didn't have to wake up early and make breakfast, do the work, or get verbally abused by the people in the house. Isabella gave him the complete liberty to sleep through the day if he wanted to (even though he didn't). It was summer vacation, after all— she'd say.

She'd take Harry for outings, buy him things, care for him; basically do all the things she did for her daughter. She even told him he could stay there for however long he wanted to.

He had lived there for only two weeks, but still.. they became used to each other.

It was now automatic; Ria making three cups of tea every morning.. Ria and Harry splitting the work of washing and drying the dishes.. The two ultimately helping Isabella to prepare meals since she preferred using magic to cook only when she was in a hurry.. Isabella coming home to see both of them either playing Quidditch, or watching a movie together..

The others' presence felt like a part of each of their lives.

"Hey— Mum, look." said Ria, pointing to a wanted poster they walked by. They had come to Diagon Alley, on the last day of their vacation, to collect their books and everything else.

Harry already had all of his books provided to him by Fudge, but he accompanied them anyway.

"Hm.. this one has a better look at his face." replied her mother, glancing at him. "Remember it, and stay alert."

"It's not like he's going to—" Ria was about to say 'break into Hogwarts', but chose to stay quiet as she remembered the security in Hogwarts the past two years. Also, Sirius Black was only the second prisoner to break out of Azkaban, so he was a big deal.

She looked at the poster carefully; dishevelled long black hair, a worn out face with a small flicker of madness in his eyes.

If he was a bit tidier, he would appear really handsome. Ria thought of telling her mother, but ultimately decided against it, since Isabella had been on the edge since the news had come out.

The three visited Madam Malkin's, first of all, to take measurements for the new uniforms, and then proceeded to the other stuff. After getting everything they needed, Isabella separated from the two in order to pick their Hogwarts uniforms up.

They had thirty minutes before they reunited at the Leaky Cauldron, so during that time, Ria and Harry decided to visit their favourite spot; the Quidditch Supplies shop. They stood outside the shop, staring in through the window from behind a crowd of other fanatics.

"Imagine owning that piece of art.." Ria muttered to Harry as both of them thirsted over the newest model — the Firebolt.

"They say it's the fastest one yet.. so not really of use to me. I only play in a limited area." She added. "But for a Seeker? That might just be the best deal."

"Yeah.." he nodded, then looked at her. "But giving advice to your blood-sworn enemy, Edwards? Pretty sure Montgomery wouldn't like that.." he taunted, making her roll her eyes.

Dahlia had graduated already, and Ria sure was going to miss her since she was one of her only allies in Slytherin.

"But anyway.. I don't want to replace the Nimbus. McGonagall gave it to me." he sighed, pulling her away by the sleeve of her hoodie. "Come on, now. Let's have some ice cream."

Ria happily obliged, replacing the pinch of cloth in his hand with her own, intertwining fingers without a thought as they walked away.

Though on their way to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, familiar voices fell on their ears. And they stopped: right outside the Magical Menagerie.

"Scabbers!" A very frantic redhead came running out of the shop, and lunged for something on the ground. It was a rat.

"Are you alright? Don't worry, that beast won't hurt you anymore— Harry! Ria!" He greeted the two with a surprised smile.

He had grown taller too, his face looked more freckly and his hair more gingery if that was even possible. He didn't seem that surprised, since Harry had written to him about staying at Ria's place.

"Ron! What are you doing here?" asked Harry. He got up and brushed the dust off his clothes, still holding on to his rat.

"Hermione wanted to take an owl! But something jumped on me, it was attacking poor Scabbers! He's scared!" He whined, showing Scabbers to them. "It was either a big cat or a small tiger."

"Ria! Harry! So good to see you!" Hermione's voice boomed. Ria's face lit up as she saw her, and the enormous ginger cat in her hands.

"Hey! Never met this Weasley before." she said, petting the fluffball. Ron scowled at her comment, making her snigger.

"You bought that monster?!" He asked, his mouth hanging open. She nodded happily.

"Great! Even I have a pet cat now! Her name's Cassie.. I hope they get along." said Asteria hopefully.

"He's gorgeous, isn't he?" asked Hermione, facing Harry and Ria. They nodded, looking at the cat who was purring contently in his new owner's arms.

"Hermione! That thing nearly scalped me!"

"He didn't mean to, did you, Crookshanks?"

After grabbing their ice creams, the four made their way back to the Leaky Cauldron, where apparently the Weasleys and Grangers had been waiting too.

Hermione had asked Ria almost a dozen questions about owning a cat, and she excitedly ranted to her about everything.

Finally, after a year, they had a topic in common to talk about. Ria hoped they would get along better than the previous year.

"Stay away from me and Scabbers!" Ron warned as Crookshanks, reached his paw out towards him. The two took seats across from each other. Ria sighed, looking at Harry. He had a similar, amused smile on his face.

"I'll be back." She whispered to him. "Gotta meet Gin." With those words, she left the heated debate table.

Her eyes caught Ginny pretty quickly. Sure, she didn't seem to be the happiest among the crowd, but she did look better than some months ago.

"Hey, Ginny!" She chirped, taking a seat in front of her. She smiled at her. "How're you doing?"

"Good. How about you?" She asked, and Ria nodded in response.

"Great." Ria answered.

She had written to her several times over the vacation. The first two letters had no response, but the third one did. After that they talked on the telephone.

The talks were nothing too serious, just some 'hey's and 'hello's, what they had been doing and all the other stuff happening in their houses. Ria didn't ask her about her feelings. Ginny had promised she'd talk to her if things got too hard, and she believed her.

"How was the trip to Egypt?" She asked, grinning.

Ginny grinned too. "It was really fun. We were—" A loud bang against the table interrupted her talk. "Nevermind.. what's happening over there?" She asked.

Ria looked back at the table, over to Ron and Hermione, and Harry (her gaze lingered over him for a bit longer), before she looked back at Ginny. The redhead caught the way his eyes stayed on her before he returned to his two best friends arguing. Something bubbled in the pit of her stomach.

"Pointless arguments.. according to me." Ria chuckled, shaking her head. "Anyway, tell me about your trip!"

"Scabbers is a rat. It's in a cat's nature, Ronald!" Hermione rolled her eyes, petting Crookshanks.

"Cat's nature.." Ron mocked, earning a glare from Hermione. "What? Have you ever seen other cats run around after Scabbers? They know that he's not prey.. Unlike your dumb cat."

Hermione gasped, looking at Harry for support, but he was barely paying attention. Harry was looking straight behind Ron, where Ria and Ginny were laughing about something.

The bushy-haired girl blinked. Wait, who's he looking at?

"Harry.. How was your summer?" At his mention, his attention quickly dived back.

"What?"

Hermione squinted her eyes. Okay, maybe he was just zoning off..

"I asked you about your summer."

"Oh.." he nodded. "It was great. Isabella and Ria are great. Lovely, really." He smiled.

"And what about Aunt Marge?" Ron quipped. "Let me guess.. she must be on cloud nine."

Harry chuckled, and across the room, Ria let out a loud laugh at the comment. She couldn't help but pay attention to both sides.

"Oi!" He called out to her. "Why don't you two come here?" The girls accepted the offer, making their way towards the table.

Ginny took a seat beside Hermione, while Ria sat beside Ron, right in front of Harry. She couldn't help; they were kind of used to it.

"I really don't think it's that funny." muttered Hermione, but Ria was quick to assure her.

"Don't worry yourself, Hermione. That issue was solved ages ago. It won't come back, I'm sure."

Oh.. it was Ria he was looking at.. Ginny confirmed, after catching Harry's gaze drift and stay at his front, on her.

Again, the redhead saw the way Harry paid attention to Asteria, as if listening to every word, taking in every expression, and installing it into his memories.

Wow.. she thought again. They really had grown close, hadn't they?

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

[word count: 4158]

a/n: mehh not my best chapter ig, but I'm trying :)