Rebecca Warren and The Third Wizarding War

Chapter 28: The Forest Again

Rebecca tried her best to keep to her promise. She figured it would be difficult to do now that Vanessa was back in classes, but Rebecca noticed that Vanessa was avoiding her. Her scars had hardly healed and she had tried to cover them up with makeup.  She looked in a completely different state. Her posture no longer was straight. She looked tired and weak, but she never came close as to making a joke when Rebecca was nearby. Vanessa avoided eye contact. Sheila and Cassandra both seemed lost on how to cope with their friend's new attitude.

For the rest of the term, Rebecca avoided any trouble. She had no issues from anybody. She managed to get back on track of her classwork thanks to Andrew. Even Morgan joined in on study sessions. Rebecca also found more time to spend with her sister to try to make up for everything she had done. Although there was little time to hang out with Albus. He had decided to take up study time with Scorpius and Rose since Rose was like a female version of Andrew in terms of intellect. Rebecca made Albus promise that they would hang out after their final exam. They decided this time they would venture to a small clearing just on the edge of the forest. It was only covered by a few bushes and the castle was in plain view. Rebecca discovered it while flying in quodpot practice before she got suspended from the team.

Rebecca's first exam of the day was in Transfiguration. Professor Farnsworth made a very difficult examination that involved transfiguring hedgehogs into pincushions and switching spells. Andrew sailed through this. He had a very well made pincushion where his hedgehog once laid and his ability to switch his glasses for Professor Farnsworth's was remarkable. Morgan, however, could only make her hedgehog transform into a shabby beanbag and she switched a table leg for a bird cage. Rebecca made a pincushion, but without the pins. She was successful in switching her quill for someone else's. Professor Farnsworth gave her a passing grade but didn't seem impressed.

Rebecca's Charms class was summoning charms. A simple accio incantation to pull a chair towards her was all the class needed to do to pass. However, Professor Codmen wanted to see Rebecca cast it nonverbally. She had done it well and passed with flying colors.

Herbology was about some plants that which Rebecca only paid as much attention as she needed to in order to pass. She and Morgan squeaked by. Andrew, of course, passed with ease, however he gave credit to his traditions back home of growing foods to eat rather than the intelligence he had picked up at school.

There was no exam for Culinary Arts In Magic. Instead, Professor Aires had made cakes for everyone. This was a lot of fun because Rebecca and Albus tried to stuff each other's face with chocolate cake.

In Magizoology, Professor Scammander had them write one roll of parchment about how to care for any beast they covered in the year. Rebecca thought hard about this one and decided on the bowtruckle which she thought were cute.

Potions was simple. Brew any potion of choice from the list on the board. Rebecca chose what she thought was the easiest one, however, Professor Wetherfell noted it was the toughest of the three afterwards and applauded Rebecca for trying it despite failing to make the potion. He passed her.

The two boring exams were No-Maj Studies and US History of Magic, which were typical multiple choice tests. As for Defense Against The Dark Arts, Professor Stetson had them all practice intensively on the shield charm, Protego, as well as a variety of defensive spells. She threatened to take points off the final for every verbal spell cast. Rebecca did not say a single one and Professor Stetson seemed a little impressed. She passed with an Exceeds Expectations mark.

Finally, the exams were over. Rebecca headed onto the grass to wait for Albus. They agreed to meet at the Snakewood tree first. She arrived to wait on him only to be scared by a loud thud as he had dropped down from a branch above. He wrapped Rebecca into a hug from behind. "Finally, I have you all to myself." He said.

Rebecca turned around to kiss him. "Come on. Let's go to that spot." And she pulled him along by the hand. He followed without any hesitation.

Once they found themselves in the small clearing, Rebecca was amazed at how well hidden it was. Her mind was spinning with ideas of things they could do here that wasn't allowed in the castle.

"So." Albus said. "You got me out here. Now what?"

Rebecca turned to face Albus. She had no idea what to do, or rather, what to act on. This would be the last time they would see each other for at least til start of their fifth year, assuming they would still be in America by then.

"Well, you must have some ideas." Rebecca said hopefully.

"Other than kissing you?" Albus asked. "Right now that's about it."

"That's good enough." Rebecca accepted. Without another word, Rebecca went over to him and they locked lips. It lasted for a good five minutes before they heard the bushes nearby rustling. The broke apart and looked at it with their hands on their wand inside their pockets.

Out of the bushes, Isabelle appeared. Rebecca was relieved it wasn't another hidebehind, but was embarrassed that Isabelle was here.

"Issy? What are you doing here?" Rebecca asked quickly. Albus was scratching his head. It seemed he too was feeling a little hot under the collar.

"I saw you walk over here." Isabelle said curiously. "And I wanted to know what you two were doing."

"Eh, nothing at all." Rebecca said.

"Are you just exploring?" Isabelle asked. "I thought we weren't allowed over here?"

"We can still see the school." Rebecca said. "Issy, are you finished with your exams?"

"Oh yes." Isabelle said, thinking this was a perfect time for a conversation. "I passed everything. It was difficult to get through Defense Against The Dark Arts. I really don't like Professor Stetson."

"You're not by yourself." Albus said.

"So if you're not doing anything, let's do something then." Isabelle said.

"Um..." Rebecca started. But Isabelle ran over and slapped her arm and said, "TAG! You're it!" And took off into the woods. The problem was, was that she went the wrong way.

"Oh no." Rebecca said. "Issy, come back!" She took off after her. Albus followed.

She wasn't sure how far they went, but Rebecca knew the deeper they went, the worse it would be.

"ISSY!" Rebecca shouted out in a commanding voice. "Come back here!" She could see her sister laughing as they kept going, but she tripped over on something. Rebecca wasn't sure what. Next thing she knew, she had tripped as well. And so did Albus.

Rebecca stood up and looked behind her. There was hardly a thing in sight that could had tripped all three of them.

"AH!"

Rebecca jerked her head back towards Isabelle, but she wasn't alone. Clutching her and staring down Rebecca was Delphi.