Authors' note: Something that you've all been waiting for happens in this chapter…that's all we can say.
Saffron bit her lower lip. "Hi..." she said quietly.
"How are you?" Andrew asked, trying not to notice that every eye at the Gryffindor table seemed to be trained on the two of them.
"Fine," Saffron said. "Just... prepping for the game."
"She's not working you lot too hard like I did, is she?" RJ asked Imelda.
"Worse," Imelda said with a good natured grin. "But she's a great captain."
"Oh. My. God," Brittany said nudging Ashley. "Andrew Kirke is absolutely gorgeous! You see pictures of him but they don't exactly do him justice."
"I know," Ashley blushed. "He's really nice, too." she didn't mention her crush on the older boy, but she probably didn't need to. Her face was red as a tomato.
Zander rolled his eyes. "I really need to get more blokes as friends..."
"You'd be bored without us," Brittany replied loftily.
Zander handed his cousin a napkin. "Here...you need to wipe the drool from your chin."
Brittany balled it up and threw it at him. "You're just jealous."
Zander looked over at Ashley who seemed to be as enthralled with Andrew as Brittany. Little did he know that Ashley was more worried about her aunt. She knew this couldn't be easy for her.
Saffron looked up at Andrew. He'd changed since she last saw him. His hair was shorter and he looked as if he hadn't shaved in a couple of days. "How---how long are you going to be here?" she asked him.
"Just for the game," he answered. "How do you like being captain?"
"I like it fine," Saffron said. "Look, I really should---"
Andrew nodded before she could finish. He hated how awkward things were between them, but at least she was speaking to him. "It was good to see you, Saffy."
"Yeah," Saffron said wanting to get out of the Great Hall as fast as she could. Alexa got up to follow her, but Saffron shook her head. She wanted to be alone.
"That went about as well as expected," Andrew said taking a seat.
"I'm sorry," Alexa apologised. "She just wasn't expecting to see you guys here."
"Not your fault," RJ reassured her. He smiled at his ex-girlfriend. "How are you, Lexie?"
"Good," Alexa smiled back. "Things have been going really well for me. You?"
"Really well," RJ replied. "Um, how are things with you and Boyd."
"Gabe's great," Alexa replied. "He was over here for all of Christmas hols."
RJ didn't think he would ever get used to seeing his first love with another bloke, but he didn't feel any jealousy. Besides, he had Audrey now and he was happy.
"That's great," RJ said grabbing a plate and stacking it with waffles and sausage.
"I see some things haven't changed," Alexa teased.
"You can't improve upon perfection you know," he grinned back at her. "You look good, Lexie. I'm glad Boyd is making you happy."
"He is," Alexa said. "And I'm happy for you and Audrey. I'm glad that she gave you a second chance."
"Thanks," RJ said. "It's funny- a year ago we could hardly speak to each other. Now we're... I guess you could say we're sort of friends again."
"It's nice," Alexa said. "I mean, we did go through quite a bit together."
"We sure did," RJ agreed, reaching for more waffles.
Andrew watched the easy way that Alexa and RJ were interacting with each other and he wondered if he and Saffron would ever be like that again.
Ashley excused herself from her friends and headed out for the pitch to check on her aunt. She found Saffron in the changing rooms, looking lost in thought as she sat on one of the benches. "Aunt Saffy?"
Saffron jumped. "Hey, Ash."
"I didn't mean to startle you," Ashley said. "I saw you hurry out and I just wanted to make sure you were okay."
"I'm fine," Saffron replied. "It's just a bit weird seeing Andrew again."
Ashley remembered the last time her aunt had seen Andrew at the ice cream parlour during the summer. Things hadn't gone too well that day, to say the least.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Ashley asked, not really sure what to say.
Saffron shrugged. "It's all right. I appreciate you coming down here, but there's really not much to say about things."
Ashley smiled. "It's not like I'd be the voice of experience anyway. I've never even dated anyone. In fact, my dad says that I'm not allowed to date until he's 100 years old."
Saffron grinned. "My dad used to say that too."
"Mum said that Grandpa once followed her on a date," Ashley said giggling. "He never did that to you, did he?"
"He almost followed her," Saffron said with a laugh. "And no, he never followed me. If he did, I hope I never find out about it."
"I think my dad's going to have more trouble with Katie than me anyway," Ashley said. "I'm not really thinking about boys or anything like that right now. I'm worried about my art."
"Smart girl," Saffron hugged her niece. "I love having you here Ash."
"I love being here," Ashley said smiling at Saffron. "I know I wouldn't have made it without you here."
"You would too," Saffron said. "You made friends without my help."
"But I didn't know anyone when I first got here," Ashley pointed out. "Just you and Alexa. And I've always looked up to you, Aunt Saffy. When you wanted to hang out with me, I just couldn't believe it."
"You're a great girl, Ash." Saffron told her niece as she put her Quidditch robes on. "It was only a matter of time before everyone else realised it too."
Ashley beamed at her aunt. "It runs in our family."
Saffron laughed. "That it does."
"I guess I should head back," Ashley said. "I was going to watch the match with Brit and Zander. You sure you're okay?"
"Better now," Saffron smiled at her. "Thanks for coming down."
"Good luck today," Ashley told her.
"Thanks," Saffron replied. "You have fun watching with your friends."
Once she was alone, Saffron started to think about Andrew again. Why did he have to come here today? Surely Wimbourne could have sent someone else!
Although, it seemed after last year, Andrew was one of their better players, and he HAD gone to school here.
She resolved to not think about him today. This was a big match and despite what she felt toward him and RJ, she wanted to impress them. They could get word back to the scouts and she had to play her best.
"It's like another game," Saffron coached herself as her team mates began to arrive. "Like any other practise."
"It's still snowing," Mimi complained.
"You'll do fine in the snow," Imelda replied. "It's not that bad, Meems."
"Right," Mimi said. "I'm trying to keep telling myself that. That and that I want to fly well and impress those four players. I know I've just started, but it might be nice to play professionally."
Saffron smiled at her friend. "I bet your future stepfather could put in a good word," she teased.
Mimi blushed. "Saffy!"
"What?" Saffron asked innocently.
"You are too much," Mimi said shaking her head.
Outside, the stands were starting to fill with students and spectators. RJ and Andrew decided to watch the match from the Gryffindor stands and were currently settled in with the seventh year students.
"Mimi is my best friend and I love Saffy like a sister, but it's too cold out here!" Beth complained. "I'm only going to stay for about 30 minutes."
"Oh come on," Jake said. "Peter's gone to get a blanket, and you can sit under that with him and then you won't complain."
"She'd probably find something else to complain about," Alexa said sharing a grin with Jake.
Beth glared at Alexa. "Very funny."
"You still crushing on the Headmaster, Beth?" RJ teased.
Beth shook her head. "No and I'd appreciate it if you didn't say anything about that in front of Peter."
"Old Petey?" RJ asked. "The same one that used to go out with Saffron?"
"Yes," Beth said. "And he's changed."
"Good for him," RJ replied.
"So you're over Ollie then?" Andrew joked.
"Yes," Beth said firmly. "But, he is gorgeous. I mean, he's my parents' age, but he's still dreamy. I can't imagine what he was like when he was younger---oh, wait. I can. Saffy's boyfriend looks just like him when he was younger. It's uncanny."
Andrew's smile dropped. "Her boyfriend?"
Beth nodded. "You didn't know?"
Alexa shot her friend a look but Beth didn't catch it.
"They've been going out since Christmas," Beth continued. "She has this really cute picture of the two of them by her bed. They really make a cute couple."
"Oh," Andrew looked back out at the pitch. "Well... I'm glad she's happy."
"What about you, mate?" Jake asked. "Every time I open the papers, you seem to be out with another hot girl."
Andrew shrugged. "They make more of it than it is."
"McDreamy," Jake said rolling his eyes.
"I hate that name," Andrew turned red.
"Don't let him fool you," RJ said grinning at Alexa. "He loves it."
"Just as you would," Alexa returned jokingly.
"I was thinking of McSteamy for myself," RJ said winking at her.
"You wish," Alexa retorted with a grin.
"Ravenclaw is taking the field," Jake told them. "Look."
"Boo!" RJ hollered. "GO GRYFFINDOR!"
"Way to be objective," Alexa told him. "You do realise that you're scouting players on their team, too?"
RJ shrugged. "I guess so."
The Gryffindor team took to the sky next and Andrew watched Saffron fly past the stands.
"Saffy's done so well this year," Alexa told him. "She's tough, but a great captain."
Andrew nodded. "I've never seen anyone who loved the game as much as she does."
"She's still bound and determined to play for Puddlemere," Alexa said, waving at Ashley and her friends as they huddled together nearby.
"Our coach has heard great things about her," RJ said. "She's definitely in their top five list of recruits."
"Really?" Alexa asked excitedly. "She'll be over the moon when she hears that!"
"If she plays for us, she will have to talk to me at some point," RJ said. "I just wonder if she can do that."
"She's cooled down about you," Alexa said, wrapping her blanket tighter around her.
"So instead of hating me, we've improved to dislike immensely?" RJ asked dryly.
Alexa laughed. "She doesn't really talk about you at all, honestly. But I don't know, when she does, her words aren't quite dripping with malice anymore."
RJ didn't think he and Saffron could ever be friends like they were before, but maybe there was a chance for them to be civil.
"It's starting," Jake told them. "GO GRYFFINDOR! GO MIMI!"
"GO MEEMS!" Beth hollered as Peter finally rejoined them.
Seeing the Snitch in the snow was going to be hard, but there was no way Saffron was going to let the Ravenclaw seeker get to it before she did.
She pulled her goggles down over her face and concentrated on finding the tiny golden ball.
Gryffindor took an early lead scoring two easy goals thanks to Jack Logan and Aaron Reynolds.
"WAY TO GO GUYS!" RJ screamed.
Mimi's teeth were chattering, but she forgot about how cold she was when she deflected two attempts by the Ravenclaw team to score. She pumped her fist in triumph.
"That's my girl," Jake said in pride. "She got some pointers from Oliver Wood this summer," he told RJ.
"I still can't believe Mimi is actually playing," RJ told him. "But she's really quite good."
"She definitely is," Jake nodded. "But no one beats Saffy up there."
RJ couldn't have agreed more. He hadn't seen Saffron play in quite some time, but he could tell just by watching her that she was focused and determined and seemed to know what each member of her team was doing. It took a gifted player to be able to do that.
He wished her attitude towards him had changed, but he swore he wouldn't say anything to his coach to ruin her chances for the team. She would be a definite asset.
Saffron flew a little higher so she could get a better vantage point. There was still no sign of the Snitch.
"Come on," she muttered to herself. The snow was starting to fly faster and she knew it was going to be even more difficult to find the snitch if it kept up.
A half an hour later, there was still no sign of the snitch, but Gryffindor was still leading the match, 70-40.
Ashley shivered underneath her blanket. It really was freezing and she couldn't wait to get back inside in front of the fire. Zander took out his wand and tapped her half of the blanket muttering a quick spell. Instantly, she felt warmer.
"Thanks," she said gratefully. "I didn't think it would be this cold."
"It's no problem," Zander said grinning at her.
"I really hope my aunt finds the snitch soon," Ashley scooted a little closer to him.
Zander couldn't help but smile at her movement. From behind them, Brittany watched this and could only shake her head.
"I'm sure she will," Zander said. "She's really good. Just like your grandfather."
"She is," Ashley said.
Saffron flew a little lower and when she did, something gold whizzed past her. There it was!
She took off towards it like a rocket. The Ravenclaw seeker tried to get on her tail, but it was near impossible.
"COME ON, SAFFY!" Andrew yelled.
"Just a little closer," Saffron muttered, stretching her arm as far as it would go.
The Ravenclaw seeker bumped into the back of Saffron's broom just as she got her hands around the snitch.
Her body slipped to the side and she clutched onto the broomstick as the wind pushed her off.
Alexa gasped as her friend tried to steady herself and keep hold of the snitch all at the same time.
Andrew clutched onto the railing. "COME ON SAFFY!" he shouted. "GET BACK UP ON THERE!" his knuckles were white from gripping the railing so hard.
"Please don't fall," Alexa whispered.
Ashley was covering her eyes. "Is she okay?" she asked Zander.
Saffron struggled to keep a hold of the snitch with one hand and pull herself back up onto her broom with her other. With a loud, aching groan, she managed to climb back onto her broomstick.
"She's fine!" Zander told her. "Ash, she caught it! WE WON!"
Ashley pulled her hands away from her eyes, but they were still shaking.
"SHE IS AWESOME!" Jake exclaimed, pumping his fist.
Andrew sank back into his seat with relief.
"She's definitely good," RJ was watching Saffron as she flew down to the field.
"I'm going to go down," Alexa said looking at the two boys. "Are you coming?"
"I am," RJ said. "Whether or not she hates my guts, I want to tell her Puddlemere is after her."
Andrew hesitated for just a few moments. He didn't know if seeing him would be what Saffron wanted, but he did want to congratulate her on a great match.
Ashley followed the three of them out onto the field. She also wanted to make sure her aunt was okay.
"Please, please..." Brittany was at her side. "Introduce me to Andrew Kirke. I just want to shake his hand."
Zander rolled his eyes. "Brit..."
"Shut up Zander," Brittany hissed. "Please Ash?"
"I'll see," Ashley said right now more concerned with how Saffron was.
"I'm sure she's okay," Zander reassured her.
"I just want to talk to her really quick," Ashley hurried ahead of her friends.
Brittany looked at her cousin. "Before you lecture me for crushing on Andrew Kirke, you should have seen yourself cuddling with Ashley under the blanket."
Zander turned red. "I was not cuddling."
"Oh, please!" Brittany laughed. "You were soooooo cuddling."
"She was cold," Zander glared at her. "And Ash is my friend okay?"
"Whatever you say," Brittany said grinning at her cousin.
Zander wished Brittany would just shut up about it. He and Ashley were friends. She was cold during the match, so he'd shared his blanket with her. That was all.
Ashley had reached her aunt, who was surrounded by the team. "Aunt Saffy are you okay?" she asked anxiously.
"I'm a little shaken up, but other than that I'm okay," Saffron reassured her. She gave her niece a hug. "You were worried about me, weren't you?"
"I could hardly watch," Ashley confessed.
"You sound like my mum," Saffron said mussing her hair. "The important thing is that we won!"
"Great match, Saffron," RJ said coming up with Alexa and Andrew.
"Thanks," Saffron replied cordially.
"Puddlemere is definitely going to hear about your performance today," RJ said.
"They are?" Saffron turned to face him. "You.... you're going to tell them about me?"
"Are you kidding me?" RJ asked her. "Saf---you were amazing out here today."
For the first time in a long time, Saffron didn't feel any animosity towards RJ. "Thanks," she said, her tone softened. "I um... I played my hardest."
"I'll say," RJ said. "The blokes in the front office are going to be salivating."
"Wimbourne will hear about it too, but I know you have your heart set on playing for Puddlemere," Andrew said stepping forward.
"Always have," Saffron rubbed her shoulder. "Thanks you guys."
"Um, Andrew?" Ashley said shyly.
Andrew turned and smiled at Ashley. "Hey you," he said. "I've missed seeing you around." he gave her a hug.
"I've missed you too," Ashley said smiling up at him. "I-I wanted to introduce you to my friends. If you don't mind---"
"Not at all," Andrew replied. "Where are they at?"
Ashley turned and motioned for her friends to come over. Brittany practically pushed Zander out of the way in her rush to get to Andrew.
"This is my friend, Brittany Murray," Ashley said.
Brittany lost all coherent thought as she looked at the handsome older boy. "I'm---I'm----"
"Very nice to meet you, Brittany," Andrew grinned at her as he took her hand.
"It's meet to nice you too," Brittany said dreamily.
"And this is my other friend, Zander Murray." Ashley introduced. "You sent him an autograph a few months ago."
"Nice to meet you mate," Andrew said extending his hand. "You're the one who had all the wizarding cards, right?"
"Yeah," Zander nodded. "Ash saved them for me."
"That's because Ash is a great girl," Andrew said. "Just like her aunt."
Ashley blushed deeply at Andrew's compliment.
"How's Sophie?" Andrew asked. "Last time I saw her she was just a puppy."
"She's really big now," Ashley told him. "Well... she's full grown. I miss her a lot while I'm here."
"Katie probably wouldn't let you bring her, right?" Andrew asked.
Ashley shook her head. "You have to be in either sixth or seventh year to bring a dog, too."
"That would be the Puddles Potter law, right?" Andrew asked.
Ashley giggled. "Right."
Saffron returned her attention to the group after she'd finished talking to her team. Truth be told, she didn't know quite what to say around Andrew.
Alexa saved her from saying anything, at least for the next few minutes. "You scared the hell out of me up there." she said. "Imagine if your mother was here."
"They'd still be trying to revive her," Saffron said giving her best friend a hug.
"But I can't believe you held onto the snitch," Alexa said. "The guys were really, really impressed."
Saffron smiled. "RJ said he would put in a good word for me with Puddlemere."
"See?" Alexa asked. "He's not all bad."
"I guess not," Saffron shook her head. "I have too many other things to concentrate on than being angry at him."
Alexa grinned at her friend. "Awww, you're growing up!"
"Shut it," Saffron replied, laughing.
"I say we take this party inside," Jake said, his arm around Mimi. "I want to get my girl warm."
"We could stick around for a bit," Andrew looked at RJ. "Don't you think?"
RJ nodded. "We should celebrate with our house." He wasn't scheduled to meet up with Audrey until later.
"You mean you're actually going to stick around for awhile?" Beth asked. "This will be so cool- just like old times!"
"Not quite," Saffron muttered.
Alexa smiled at her friend. "We'll meet you inside. Come on, RJ. You can help me nick some food from the kitchens."
"Which is what I do best," RJ rubbed his hands together.
Andrew looked over at his ex girlfriend. "I'll walk you back?"
Saffron hesitated for a few moments. "Okay."
"You really did play great up there," Andrew told her. "Better than when we were in school."
"I practised quite a bit this summer," Saffron told him. She shivered from the cold. The snow had thankfully stopped, but it was still bitterly cold.
"Here," Andrew took his cloak off.
"I'm fine," Saffron lied. "Really."
"No you aren't," Andrew draped it over her shoulders.
"Thanks," Saffron relented.
"I still care about you," Andrew told her. "I know we aren't together anymore, but it's not like those feelings just go away."
"Is that why you've gone out on all those dates?" Saffron asked before she could stop herself.
"I've gone out on a few," Andrew replied. "Just... casual things."
Saffron looked over at him. Over the last few months, the papers had been having a field day about Wizard McDreamy and his active love life. Saffron knew better than anyone not to believe everything she read, but it still hurt to see him photographed with other girls.
"Beth told us all about you and Sean," Andrew said quietly. "That you two are dating now."
"He's a great guy," Saffron said.
"I just hope you're happy." Andrew looked at her.
"I am," Saffron said. "But--"
"What?" Andrew asked.
Saffron stopped walking and looked at him. "I miss what we had."
"You do?" Andrew asked.
"I've never felt that way before in my life," Saffron said looking up at him.
"I hadn't either," Andrew replied.
"I thought we were going to be together forever," Saffron said softly.
"We even talked about getting married someday," Andrew nodded.
"But when I needed you to believe in me, you didn't," Saffron said. "And I know that I didn't help matters with how I put you in the middle with RJ and me, but I finally made an effort. But when something bad happened, you automatically assumed I was to blame."
"We all make mistakes," Andrew looked away. "And I did apologise for that."
"After you found out that I didn't do what you thought I had," Saffron pointed out.
"Saffy do we have to go over this again?" Andrew asked.
Saffron shook her head. "We've already said what we needed to about all of this. We've both moved on."
"Sure," Andrew said. "It's over..."
"We should get inside," Saffron said. "The party..."
"Of course," Andrew held the door open for her.
Saffron forced a smile as she walked past him into the castle.
"You think Andrew and Saf are okay back there?" RJ asked Alexa as they made their way towards the kitchens.
"I hope so," Alexa said. "She wouldn't have agreed to walk back with him if it wasn't okay."
"He misses her," RJ told Alexa. "But he's trying to get over it."
"It's taken her a long time to get over him," Alexa said. "But you know I don't think you ever do get over your first love."
"Part of you doesn't," RJ looked over at her. "I still care about you, Lexie."
"I still care about you too," Alexa admitted, leading the way down the corridor.
"It's funny," RJ said thoughtfully. "After that whole Serena thing, I was torn between wanting you back and wanting to stay single."
Alexa looked at him. "I was torn between wanting to castrate you and wanting you back."
"I think I'm glad you didn't choose the first option," RJ said with a grimace.
They arrived at the painting of the bowl of fruit. Alexa let him do the honours of tickling the pear and then the two of them walked into the kitchen.
"Did you see that friend of Ash's?" RJ asked. "I think Andrew's got another fan."
Alexa giggled. "Brittany's very sweet, if not a bit starstruck."
"Kind of like how you used to be around me," RJ teased.
"I was never quite that bad," Alexa nudged him.
"You were adorable," RJ said helping her grab some food.
"Adorable," Alexa rolled her eyes playfully.
"Would you prefer cute?" RJ asked.
"It sounds a little less child like," Alexa grinned at him.
RJ couldn't help grinning back at her. She was different---much more confident.
"Come on," Alexa said. "We should get all this back before they think we stopped to eat it all."
"Okay," RJ said moving to take some of the food from her. As he did so, his eyes lingered on her a little longer than he'd intended.
"What?" Alexa asked self consciously.
"Nothing," RJ said hastily. "I was just--I should get juice. We're not going to just want food, right?"
"Right," Alexa said, looking away. "Um.... and grab some butterbeer too."
RJ walked over to one of the iceboxes and grabbed some bottles. Something had just happened.
It felt strange but nice to be around RJ again, Alexa thought. She figured she'd always have some sort of feeling for him, but it wasn't quite what it used to be. Gabriel was now the one that made her heart beat faster- he was the guy she loved.
"Okay," RJ said. "I think we're good to go."
"Right," Alexa smiled at him again.
They made their way back to Gryffindor Tower where the victory party was already in full swing.
"Took you guys long enough," Jake teased.
"RJ wanted to take everything and run, but I convinced him to come back," Alexa told them.
"That sounds about right," Andrew came back over. "Let me take that before it disappears."
Beth came downstairs with a wireless. "How about some music?"
"All right!" Alexa cheered. "Let's celebrate our big win!"
"And our captain who saved the day!" Mimi chimed in.
Saffron blushed. "I just caught the snitch," she said modestly.
"You were just bloody brilliant was what you were," Imelda said. "Don't forget us when you're famous."
"Which will be pretty soon, when Puddlemere signs her on," RJ cut in.
"Or if we could tempt her over to Wimbourne," Andrew joked.
"Aunt Saffy's always wanted to play for Puddlemere," Ashley told her friends.
"She's brilliant," Zander said. "I know what happened today was scary, but she was amazing up there."
"She was," Ashley said proudly. She looked over at Brittany who was staring at Andrew. "Brit--"
"I can't help it," Brittany confessed. "He's soooooo dreamy, Ash. How can you be around him and not just die?"
"I did have a little crush on him a few years ago," Ashley admitted.
Zander nearly spit out his pumpkin juice. "You did?"
"Well yeah," Ashley said. "He's just... he's a really nice guy. He didn't talk to me like I was a kid, you know?"
Brittany nodded. "I knew he'd be like that."
"And he's still nice, even though he and Aunt Saffy are broken up," Ashley continued.
Zander excused himself from the Andrew Kirke fan club to get another bottle of juice.
"Is he okay?" Ashley asked, her eyes following Zander as he wandered over to the table where all the food was set out.
Brittany shrugged and kept her eyes on Andrew who was currently talking with Mimi and Jake.
Ashley sighed and got up to follow her other best friend. "Are you all right?" she asked Zander.
"Yeah," Zander replied. "I was just getting a little tired of listening to Brit."
Ashley smiled. "She is sort of one track minded isn't she?"
"Yeah," Zander said shaking his head. He grabbed a biscuit. "You should try one of these."
"Okay," Ashley took one too. "These are good!"
"You know when I first came here I was worried that the food would be terrible and I'd miss my mum's cooking," Zander told her.
"I already knew the food was good," Ashley said. "I'd heard about it so many times from everyone else."
"The benefits of having a large family, right?" Zander asked handing her another biscuit.
"Exactly," Ashley said. "Thanks."
"Are you doing anything tomorrow?" he asked her.
Ashley shrugged. "If it didn't start snowing again I was going to go work on my drawings of the castle some more."
"Did you want to work on that Herbology assignment?"
"Sure," Ashley said. "If we get it done, then we won't have to worry about it at the end of the week."
The last thing he wanted to do was spend Sunday doing homework, but he did want to spend time with Ashley. "Great."
Ashley smiled at him. "Are you really okay?" she asked.
Zander nodded. "I'm fine. Really."
"Come on," Ashley took his hand. "I'll introduce you to RJ. He's really nice."
Zander and Ashley didn't notice the snickers of some of their fellow first years as they walked by holding hands.
"Hey RJ," Ashley said as they approached.
"Ashley Malfoy," RJ said grinning at her. "Look at you all grown up."
Ashley laughed. "I'm only eleven!"
"Now, I feel old," RJ said laughing with her. He looked at Zander. "Alright, mate?"
"Hi," Zander said in awe.
"This is Zander Murray," Ashley told RJ. "He's one of my best friends."
"Well it's nice to meet you, Zander," RJ put out his hand.
Zander shook it. "It's an honour to meet you. I listened to the championship match on the wireless. You were fantastic!"
"Thanks mate," RJ replied. "You'll have to come to one of our practise matches during summer hols and check things out."
"Really?" Zander asked excitedly.
"Ash comes once in awhile," RJ smiled at the young blonde girl.
"If you don't have anything to do this summer, you could come with us," Ashley offered. "I'm sure my parents wouldn't mind."
Zander nodded eagerly. "I'm there!"
"Don't you have to ask your parents?" Ashley asked him.
"I'm sure it'll be fine," Zander replied.
"Do you play, Zander?" RJ asked the younger boy.
"A little," Zander replied sheepishly. "I'm not very good."
"If you love the game, you'll improve with time," RJ replied. "Usually when we all meet up during the summer hols, we'll have a pickup game. If you're around, we'll give you some tips."
Zander beamed at him. "Really? That would be great. Thanks!"
RJ smiled at the two first years. "You both have fun- and grab some of that butterbeer over there before it disappears."
Zander and Ashley headed back over to the refreshment table and RJ walked over to where Saffron was sitting by herself.
"Mind if I sit down?" he asked hesitantly.
"If you want to," Saffron replied.
RJ sat down. "It's nice being back here."
"I'm going to miss it next year," Saffron nodded.
"Your sister will still be here," RJ reminded her. "And your niece. I imagine you'll be back every now and then."
"Maybe coming back like you and Andrew," Saffron answered.
"Yeah, maybe like that," RJ said. He looked around the room and smiled as a memory came to him. "Do you remember when we were kids and we had that imaginary game in your sitting room? The brooms couldn't move and so we had to pretend. And you threw that pillow we were using as the Quaffle at me, but I ducked and you knocked over your mum's lamp?"
Saffron laughed. "And we thought she'd be so mad, so we tried to fix it ourselves?"
RJ chuckled. "And then you blamed me when she caught us!"
"It was better that way," Saffron grinned. "She couldn't punish you."
"No, but my mum could and did," RJ said.
Saffron smiled ruefully at him. "I suppose saying sorry now wouldn't matter?"
"Water under the bridge," RJ replied.
Saffron nodded. "But saying sorry for other things..."
"Yeah," RJ agreed. "I know."
"I've sort of missed you," Saffron replied.
"Little old me?" RJ teased.
"Just a bit," Saffron joked.
"We both have said and done some bad things," RJ said thoughtfully. "If I could change any of it, I would. I never wanted to hurt Lexie. I never wanted to hurt you. You're like my little sister."
"Aside from those few days back when you were in school when we thought we might fancy each other, you were always like another brother," Saffron said.
"That seems like a lifetime ago," RJ said.
"I know," Saffron agreed.
"We've been through a lot," RJ said quietly.
"That we have," Saffron nodded. "I don't even know why I was mad at you anymore."
"Because I cheated on your best mate," RJ said counting it off with his fingers. "You thought I was trying to get Andrew to do the dirty on you. I thought you were the one who told Audrey---"
"Now I remember," Saffron shook her head. "You're an arse."
RJ laughed. "And you are still a brat."
"Who'd have us any other way, right?" Saffron grinned.
Alexa tapped Andrew on the shoulder. "Turn around. You're not going to believe what's going on over there by the fireplace."
Andrew blinked. "Do my eyes deceive me?"
"They're talking without yelling," Alexa said. "And I'm not sure, but I think Saffron's...smiling."
Andrew clutched her arm. "Someone grab a camera, quick."
Alexa laughed. "I knew they'd come around."
"Finally," Andrew answered a bit sadly.
Alexa caught the tone in his voice. "At least maybe now we can all be friends. Like we were before."
Andrew shrugged. "Maybe..."
"Guys, hell has frozen over," RJ called out to them. "Pigs can now fly. Saffron Potter admitted that she actually missed me."
"Shut it!" Saffron shoved at his shoulder.
"It's about time," Alexa said. "You both are as stubborn as mules."
"Whatever," Saffron said. "I have better things to focus on than being mad at RJ."
"Like world domination," Alexa teased.
"Exactly," Saffron agreed.
Beth came over with her camera. "I thought that I should capture this for posterity. Just in case, you forget that this happened tomorrow, Saffy."
"Right," RJ deadpanned. "I could wake up and find that this all was a dream.... or a nightmare."
"Come on, you guys," Beth urged. "Saffy, you sit beside Andrew. Lexie, you sit beside RJ."
Alexa and Saffron did as they were told. "A little closer," Beth said. "I can't fit you all in otherwise."
RJ put his arm around Alexa and Andrew did the same with Saffron. Beth felt a little teary-eyed as she looked into the viewfinder. "Okay...one...two....three...smile!"
All four teens smiled as the camera flashed.
"Perfect," Beth said smiling at them. "This really was like old times!"
"You just aren't obsessing over Oliver Wood," RJ teased her. "How about a little of that for old times sake?"
"I only have eyes for Peter now," Beth said blushing. "And you have no room to talk since you used to run around dressed like a faerie."
RJ looked at Saffron and raised an eyebrow.
"I might have told a couple of people about that," she admitted sheepishly.
"That's just great," RJ shook his head. "Thanks Saf."
"Come on," Alexa said. "That's in the past. Tonight it's about moving on and starting over."
"Well I have to hold this over her head for awhile," RJ replied. "Maybe a year or so?"
"Seems about right," Andrew said grinning at his best friend. "A year at the very least."
"Now you're both just taking the Mickey," Saffron crossed her arms.
"You told everyone here that I used to run around the house dressed in a faerie costume when I was four," RJ pointed out. "Come on. You have to give me this."
"Maddie told everyone first," Saffron said innocently.
"I'll have words for her, too," RJ said.
Mimi and Jake joined them. "Did you tell RJ about what his ex-girlfriend has been up to?" She did a quick dance.
"What?" RJ was confused.
Saffron laughed. "Oh boy, do I have some gossip for you!"
"Alexa, do you have something to tell us?" Andrew asked.
"Not me!" Alexa exclaimed.
"Christina Grant," Saffron began gleefully. "Is an exotic dancer and window whore in Amsterdam!"
"Really?" RJ asked in amazement.
"Sean told me," Saffron replied, avoiding Andrew's eyes at the mention of her new boyfriend.
"She nearly killed me," RJ said. "I think she ended up where she needed to be."
"In jail would have been better," Saffron snorted. "But she's probably meeting the same type of people she would have there."
RJ nodded. "Probably."
"We shouldn't waste our time talking about her anyway," Saffron rolled her eyes.
"Right," Andrew agreed.
"Let's get some butterbeer," Alexa suggested. "And we'll toast to getting things back to normal."
"Coming right up," RJ said going over to the table and grabbing four bottles.
"This hits the spot," Saffron said. "Thanks RJ."
RJ grinned and held up his bottle. "To starting over!"
"Hear, hear." Saffron agreed.
Andrew was glad that his best friend and Saffron were going to put their animosity behind them. But, part of him, couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if they'd done this sooner. He and Saffron might still be together. Beth had been right when she said it seemed like old times, but Andrew doubted it could ever be like it had been before.