"So, that's how witches and wizards work," Charlotte sighed. We'd
decided not to erase her memories, and managed to convince the Ministry
that we would.
I nodded.
"Except the turning into a wolf thing.
That only happens to a few witches and wizards," I explained, "It isn't
super uncommon, but we pretend not be this way."
Charlie nodded.
"So this boarding school you go to..."
"Howgarts
School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And I have to go back soon. But I'll
be back for the summer, and I'll bring the Slytherin boy with me," I
winked at her. She blushed. The two had been talking for a while after
we got everyone back together. The boy's name was Matthew Bell. Charlie
obviously liked him...a lot.

A few days later, I had to say
goodbye to Charlie and Emily. Emily was still a bit shaken up, but she
promised we'd be okay. We kept Matthew with us. Turns out the Death
Eaters were trying to recruit his parents, and died when they refused.
Matthew ran from the house and came to ours. We'd sort of adopted him
already.
The three of us sat in a compartment on the Hogwarts Express. We were soon joined by Cissy, Sev, and Reg.
"Hullo, Matthew," Cissy said. He smiled at her.
"He's our brother now," I said proudly.
I explained to them the story of Christmas Break.
"I'm
so sorry, Matthew, about your parents," Cissy said in the end. He
shrugged. He hadn't said a word except to Charlie since he came to our
house, except to accept our proposal of keeping him.
I looked out the window.
"There it is guys," I said, "Hogwarts."
"We've
only got three months until OWLs, then we're on to year 6," Sev said. I
sighed. I wasn't super excited for OWLs, I guess I was just nervous
like everyone else.
When we got back to Howgarts, I immediately went
into the Gryffindor Common Room. The Marauders were planning something. I
snuck up behind Sirius.
"Boo!" I whispered in his ear. He screamed,
very loudly and very high pitched. James, in turn screamed as well.
Peter screamed too, but remus didn't, he just started laughing.
"River!
You're back!" Sirius jumped over the couch and jumped onto me. He
licked my face like the stupid dog he is. I swatted the sie of his head,
laughing.
"I'm glad to see you guys too," I said. I sat next to him on the couch and started telling the boys about my adventures.
Just as I finished Frank walked in.
"Night, Riv," he called.
"Night, Frannie," I called back. He shook his head.
"I see you two are friends again," James said. I nodded.
"If
we weren't friends, I wouldn't be able to have friends over," I said.
The others laughed. I pushed James off the side of the couch. The five
of us started chasing each other around the room until we were all warn
out. We gave each other presents and headed off to bed. Sirius grabbed
my arm and pulled me aside.
"Happy Christmas, River," he whispered in
my ear before kissing my cheek. He headed off to bed, whistling, and
leaving me standing there, grinning like an idiot.