Coming back to the common room, some kids were playing games, but most of them were elsewhere in the castle. Bran and Edna sat at a table, scribbling on parchment.

"I can't believe you guys do homework on Saturday mornings," I eye-rolled but smirked.

"We just think it's best to finish up as soon as possible," Edna said.

"Maybe it's a twin thing, and that's why we like to both do it early. But don't you hate that dreadful reminder that you have to get homework done all night Friday, all day Saturday, all morning Sunday?" Bran said.

I shrugged. "Nah, I don't really think about it."

"Suit yourself. Oh, Rollie, is everything alright? What happened with Professor Sprout earlier?" Bran asked.

"Oh, uh, I got detention with headmaster Zita for wearing my denim jacket in the halls."

"I was afraid that would happen," Edna shook her head. "At least she didn't keep you too long. Are you ready for Quidditch practice today?"

"Yeah, of course."

"Daphne is planning on giving us a real workout. You've been warned."

"But, we just won the other week?"

"I don't think she wants us to get comfortable and slack off."

After thinking about it for a few more seconds, I nodded. "I get what she's going for."

After Quidditch practice, I was exhausted. My arms were two cooked noodles from bludgers pelting me. Nearly everyone was out of breath in the locker room.

"I sure am glad I didn't have anything planned later," Clark groaned.

"Good. We have to be in better shape for the next match. I think Gryffindor is better than Ravenclaw," Daphne said.

"I was being sarcastic. I've gotta go to Hogsmeade later," Clark grumbled.

"What's going on?" I asked.

He held his hand to his hips and grinned. "I got a date later with a Gryffindor gal."

"Hopefully, you'll be too tired to talk her ear off," Daphne quipped.

"I take offense to that. Just know if it's a bad date, it's your fault," Clark pointed, but the two of them chuckled.

Daphne was the last to leave when the locker room cleared out, but Edna and I waited for her. I was hoping to have a chance to talk to Daphne alone.

"Hey, sorry, Edna, I know we talked about doing some homework after practice, but I'm actually planning on going to the prefect bathroom to relax in the tub. I'm worn out after that practice," Daphne exhaled.

"I understand. I'd do the same if I were you. Guess we'll see you later for dinner."

"I'm going to join Daphne too, actually. I've yet to go inside the prefect bathroom, and I was given access as well," I said.

"Hm, maybe I should try and be a prefect next year. Enjoy your exclusive club room," Edna strolled along back to the common room while Daphne and I went upstairs.

As we stepped inside the prefect bathroom, a giant pool stood in front of us. A candle-filled chandelier hung from the ceiling, and everything was made with white marble. There was a shower off to the side with towels. Layla Moors was coming our way with damp hair but fully dressed in her robes.

Daphne glared at while Layla approached me directly.

"I didn't have a chance to congratulate you on the victory," Layla shook my hand.

"Thanks."

"Good day to the both of you," she scurried away like a nervous mouse.

"Gosh, she's the worst, isn't she?" Daphne said.

"What do you mean?" I chuckled.

"Just the way she came up and patronized you about the Quidditch match."

"I don't know, she seemed pretty sincere, after all, I did pass out just as the game ended."

"Yeah," Daphne grumbled something but I couldn't hear.

The two of us got changed into bathing suits in separate rooms, then met back in the tub area.

"Cannonball!" I shouted as I leaped towards the pool and curled into a sphere. I smacked through the water, splashing up a powerful wave. Daphne used the steps to get in and eye-rolled when I came back up from the water.

"Don't make Professor Sprout regret allowing you in here," she said.

"Oh, come on, just having a little fun," but the more I thought about it, the more embarrassed I felt. Then the anxiety melted away. The water was like an all-encompassing heated blanket. My shoulders relaxed with every other muscle in my body. "Sorry about jumping in, just got excited there."

Daphne floated a few feet away from me and smiled. "It's okay. Just don't want you to get in trouble. Speaking of, how was your detention with Zita earlier?"

"I'm glad you brought it up because it was actually pretty bizarre."

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"Really? How so?" Daphne floated a couple of inches closer and arched her brow. The way her eyes stared into mine, made my heart flutter, and go speechless for a moment.

"Uh. She didn't really give me detention, she just talked to me for a while, and she even showed me this band I never heard of called The Muggles. A wizard group from the '60s. They had a Beatles sound to them."

"Huh, I don't think I've heard of them either," Daphne tilted her head. "That is weird though, you didn't get in any trouble at all?"

"No. Zita just gave me a reminder not to wear my denim jacket, but she was really on my side about the whole thing, which was pretty cool. And then she gave me two tickets to see the Weird Sisters play in Hogsmeade."

Daphne's jaw dropped. "What?"

"Yeah, I know, it was so random. But she gave me the tickets for the whole trouble of... Me getting in trouble."

"I can't believe that."

"Me either. Do you like The Weird Sisters?"

"Yeah, of course."

"She told me to take a friend, do you wanna come with me?"

Daphne's lips curved up. "Absolutely, when's the show?"

"Next week!" I said, and we spent the rest of the time talking about our favorite Weird Sisters songs and albums. Naturally, the conversations turned to classes, as many of them did with Daphne.

On Thursday night, just as everyone was sound asleep, Daphne and I tiptoed out of the common room. I showed her my path to leave the castle whenever I took my late walks around the grounds. When we made it outside, Daphne finally said, "I can't believe you talked me into doing this. We could get into a lot of trouble, y' know?"

"I know, but sometimes you have to live a little. Are you going to remember that evening you went to bed on time in the Hogwarts dorm? Or are you going to remember the night where we snuck out to see an awesome concert?" I said.

Daphne smiled. "You have a point. But one scenario gets us in more trouble than the other."

"Zita gave us these tickets! They're like a 'get out of jail free card,' ya know?"

"Get out of jail free card?"

I proceeded to explain to Daphne how the muggle game Monopoly was commonplace in the U.S.

"Ah, I guess I'd have to play the game to understand," Daphne shrugged.

"Basically, Zita said it was okay for us to leave Hogwarts for the night," I said.

"Yeah, you're right. I know I'm overthinking. I just don't ever break the rules."

"Except when you tossed the potion across the room and got detention?"

Daphne sighed. "Please don't bring that up again."

"Sorry," I said, and we remained quiet for a decent portion of the walk before Daphne asked me which songs I hoped the Weird Sisters would play. "Honestly, no matter what they'll play, I'll know the song and love it. Went through a bit of a phase last year, but my favorite song by them is Witch's Brew."

"Ah, that's such a good one! I'm hoping they play that one too. They probably will since it was a hit from their last album."

We kept walking until we got to The Witch's Hat, which had a line of shivering people. As we walked past them, I heard:

"Love the hair!"

"Whoa, what a mohawk!"

"Do you use a spell to keep that up?"

"Do you actually use a spell to keep your mohawk up?" Daphne asked.

"I do, it's just a simple flick of the wrist every morning. I'll show it to you some time."

"Didn't you bring your wand?"

"I did but, I'd rather just show you in a place that's not here," I smiled, nervous that I couldn't do it in front of her.

She laughed. "Whatever you say."

We only waited for another few minutes before the line of people moved inside. Daphne and I were the youngest ones there, but not by much. Wizards and witches in their twenties through forties showed up. There was a long wooden bar to the left stretching the place's length and a stage to the right—plenty of empty space for dancing. I went up to the bar and ordered two butterbeers for Daphne and me. We went towards the front of the stage, we clinked our glasses together, and took a swig.

"You know, I like almost all of their material," I said. "But I'm really not a fan of their song 'Green Embers.'"

"I like that one, but I'll admit it's not my favorite. It's just a slow jam session," Daphne said.

"Yeah, not high paced enough for me."

The audience clapped as the candlelights dimmed from the dark green glass lanterns up above. The Weird Sisters had taken the stage and came out singing their newest song from their album. People bobbed their heads along with the music, while many of them drank butterbeers. Daphne and I were a few rows from the front, packed in like sardines, but we nodded our heads and smiled the entire time, sometimes singing along to the lyrics. From up above, the candlelights changed colors to fit the mood of the song, shading the band with reds, blues, violets, and greens… Greens?

The drawn-out guitar riff from "Green Embers" started. Daphne gave me a side-eye and a grin, stifling laughter.

"Let me take up your glass, I'll get us some refills," I took Daphne's cup and went to the bar. When I set the mugs down on the wood, I looked to my left, and my heart sank. Glancing back and forth multiple times, my blood ran cold.

It was him.

The arm was gone. His thick eyebrows and cold blue eyes turned in my direction. "Rollie," his crooked lips curled up.

"Houston."

He patted me with his burly right arm. "How are you? Been a while, wouldn't you say?" his American accent shocked my ears.

"Yeah."

"I'd say it's been about a year, but what a long year it's been. Lots happened. So how are you doing?"

"Good."

His smile tightened." Not much for conversation, huh?"

"Sorry. Uh, how are you?"

"Considering my situation," he scowled for a moment then grinned. "I'm doing pretty good. Got a job at Azkaban. They've been treating me pretty well there."

"I'm glad to hear that," I said with a wavering voice. I looked back at the front of the crowd, wishing to get back to the audience. Where was my order of butterbeers? Couldn't the bartender hurry up?

"Sometimes, I have to wrangle the dementors, you ever seen one of those before?"

I shook my head.

He grinned again. "They're nasty things. But they're no problem for me. They follow my every command. It's fun to have that kind of power, y' know?"

The bartender placed the butterbeers in front of me, and I gave him the two galleons.

"I gotta go see my friend. Glad to see you're well," I grabbed the butterbeers and spun around.

"You got some nerve, Rollie. Can't even apologize to my face after what you did to me," Houston said.

I stopped, my stomach plummeted. Turning back around, I said, "Houston, I can't tell you enough how sorry I am that happened. I think about it all the time, and if there's ever a way to make it up to you, I'm gonna do it," I set the butterbeers down and held out my hand.

Houston chugged the rest of his butterbeer and stormed outside. My arms trembled, I wanted to scream, but I couldn't. Daphne was waiting, and the drone of "Green Embers" was coming to a close. Squeezing my way back to the front of the crowd, I gave Daphne her drink, and she leaned her head close to my ear.

"Thank you. Are you alright, Rollie? You look a little ill."

"Yeah, I'll tell you about it after the show."

Daphne gave me a stare that said, 'I'm worried about you.'

"Seriously, I'm fine, let's just enjoy," I clinked her glass with mine and took a drink.

At the end of the concert, everyone clapped and cheered, begging for an encore, which the Weird Sisters obliged. I wanted to dance or at least nod my head, but I couldn't move. I was in a state of shock.

I had looked forward to walking back with Daphne that evening, hoping to chat with her and get to know her better, but that wasn't going to happen. On our stroll to Hogwarts, I told her that I bumped into Houston and filled her in on the conversation's details.

"He came all the way here from America? That's so bizarre. I wonder how come he couldn't just find a job in the States?" Daphne said.

"I don't know. But I just feel awful about it. Do you think I said the wrong thing?"

"Don't worry about it. I think you said the best possible response. You can't control how he's going to feel or react."

"Yeah, you're right," I sighed, watching the frost plume from my breath. "Thanks, Daphne, for everything."

She looked over at me, her face just visible enough from the glowing full moon, and smiled. "Of course, tonight was a wonderful evening."