The Untold Story of RAB

The Letter

Days past and Regulus and Diana didn't talk. They never mentioned their time in the corridor or Regulus' confession. They kept their heads down during potions and avoided each other in the hallways. They only exchanged required words, "can you pass the crushed beetle?" and "it's on page 6."

Quidditch tryouts came and went, Diana became a keeper again, and Ginerva became their seeker. James made them practice every morning for two hours, except Sunday because he said "even I am not that evil, anyways rest days make your performance better." James was a good, no, a great captain. He rallied the team every time, was a natural leader, and at the end of even those most gruelling practices, they all left with smiles.

Weeks continued like this. The air turned colder, the leaves became gold and orange. Soon pumpkins, leaves, and gourds decorated the halls and tables of Hogwarts. Autumn was here and Halloween was just around the corner.

It was a brisk Saturday morning, a week before Halloween. Diana had finished practice and had raced to get into a steaming hot shower. The Quidditch team rooms were co-ed and there were only four showers so it was a real race and fight to get there first. Diana had managed to race, and win, Sirius to a shower.

Back in the common room, Diana was curled up on the couch, her black cat, Salem, at her feet snoring away. She wore her burgundy knit quidditch sweater that had embroidered on the back "Diana Montgomery #4" and a pair of high-waisted flare jeans and white sneakers. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and her large lens glasses hung onto the edge of her nose as she wrote.

Dear Mum and Papa,

Thank you for the jellybeans, they were delicious. I missed muggle jellybeans that didn't squeal if you didn't eat them fast enough. Quidditch practices are going well, James is equal parts inspiring and bossy. I received a 100 on my essay on the History of the Troll Wars in the later Medieval Period. Margeret and Saoirse both send their love. I know you might have heard some things around the Dark Lord. Don't worry, I'm not scared, I'm safe at Hogwarts and the Ministry will quickly deal with him and his so-called gang of followers. On a lighter note, Halloween is soon and the castle looks so beautiful, I wish you could see it. We won our first Quidditch match last week against Hufflepuff. We won 4-1! The Hufflepuff team is good, but since Gallagher graduated they lost good leadership. Hope to hear from you soon!

Love you lots,

Diana

Diana told two lies in that letter, the Hufflepuff team weren't good, and the Dark Lord did scare her. She picked up Salem and took him up to her dorm and plopped him on her bed, grabbing her leather jacket, she threw that on and headed to the owlery.

Diana jogged down the staircases taking them two at a time.

"Hey, Di!" A warm voice called out behind her.

Diana stalled her walking to turn and see Lily bustling towards, wrapped up in a brown jacket and a Gryffindor scarf.

"Are you busy tonight?"

Diana shook her head.

"Great," Lily said as she linked her arms and they started walking. "I need a favour."

Diana chuckled, "depends what it is."

"I need a date," seeing Diana's confused face Lily went on, "not a romantic one, although you're great. I have to go to Slughorn's club party thing, and he said to bring dates. Will you please come with me? Keep me sane?"

"Sure, what time?"

"8:00pm, after dinner. It's a dress robes occasion."

Now they had reached the first floor foyer, Diana said, "I'll be there. Meet you in the common room."

They said their goodbyes, Lily hurried along into the Great Hall and Diana turned out the door to leave into the chill autumn air.

It was chilly as she crossed the bridge to the lone tower a kilometre from Hogwarts. She tucked her letter into an envelope and scribbled her parent's name and address onto the front.

Lucille and Richard Montgomery

Sham Castle Lane, Bath

England, UK

Hogwarts had owls the students could use to send letters and since Diana elected to adopt a cat she had to use one of the school owls. They were always a little frazzled and it took time to corral one into letting her tie a letter to his leg.

As she reached the top of the tower she found it was not empty.