by my side¹ - d. malfoy

Nine

THE FIRST task was coming up quickly. However, the only thing on Laura's mind was seeing her parents and Nick soon. She couldn't ignore it, especially since Nick sent her so many letters.

Laura,

I managed to get a subscription to the Daily Prophet, and I saw your article. My little Laura is growing up, getting misquoted all over the world. I remember the first time someone had written fake news about you... you've come a long way.

Anyways, you looked good in the photos. I don't know what that Skeeter woman was going on about, but everyone at Ilvermorny can tell she skewed everything. It even brought back my favorite title... "Laura Potter's cousin."

Poor Andie isn't used to the attention though. I can't remember if I told you, but she got sorted into Wampus, so it's a bit far for me to always be there for her, but she's been handling it like a champ. She's very proud to keep the respect on your name.

How's your boyfriend? I know you two aren't dating- well, I hope you aren't dating. It's been what? Two months? He must at least be less stuck up? Right? Well, tell him and your other friends I say hi.

"My cousin, Nick, says hi," Laura said, not looking up from the letter. Blaise and Pansy said hi back, Pansy laughing a bit. Meanwhile, Draco didn't hear Laura as he was too involved in his letter from Nick.

I can't wait to put names and faces together this weekend. Your parents told you I was tagging along, but I guess I also can't wait to see you again. If you've somehow gained an English accent, you're done for Potter.

This letter is getting long, but you know I have to give my noteworthy Nick tip:

Tips with the Oliver Nicholas Pickering: Now, Laura, I know you haven't found out anything about your task, and you haven't gotten to know Hogwarts yet. Please go snoop around for me, please, please, please. I want to know what secrets that school has.

I've gotta go play Quidditch (because you can't). I'll see you on Saturday. Just remember, I'm rooting for you, Pip!

Nick

Laura laughed, putting the letter down. It was Friday, and Hogsmeade was the next day. Her little reunion with Nick would be soon, and she couldn't wair. However, before that could happen, she had a full day of classes to attend.

"Hey, Pickering, do you need a hanky so you can cry?"

Laura and Pansy stood outside the Potions classroom as Blaise and Draco had forgotten their assignments. Lavender Brown and her crew decided to talk to Laura while they waited.

"Heard you feel homesick without your parents," Lavender said with an evil smile.

In the article, Rita insisted that Laura was awfully homesick. She wrote that Laura had said, "I just miss my family a whole lot. I would be lying if I didn't say I cry in my dorm most nights."

Yes, Laura missed home, but not enough to cry about it.

"Thank you for your kindness, but I'm seeing them tomorrow," Laura said graciously. "You're even welcome to say hi to them- you'd have to meet my cousin Nick though."

"Nick's coming over here?" Katie asked, her eyes lighting up. "Merlin, I have a lot of hexes I need to shoot at him."

Lavender and Padma sent her a weird look, but Katie ignored them.

"He's gotten over people calling him by his first name, right?" Katie asked. "For about a week before I left, he kept asking people to refer to him as 'Oliver Pickering.'"