Walking back to the Great Hall, Daphne and I were silent the entire time. As we got closer, we could hear the hum of the chatter on the other side of the wall. Daphne pulled me aside. "Hey, I just wanted to let you know, you can talk to me about whatever you want, whenever you want. Right?"

"Of course," I nodded and gave a slight smile. "And same goes for you. I showed you a lot today."

"I know," her lips curved up. "I'll tell you more soon, it's just been a long day. Let's eat dinner, yeah?" Daphne turned around and strolled ahead. Opening the door, and I followed right behind.

Everyone turned their heads around like we were kids coming in late to class, but they were quick to return to their meals. A swarm of yellow and black robes came up to me like an army of bees.

"Rollie!"

"Congrats!"

"You were sensational!"

"Can I get your autograph?"

They all crowded me as I tried to sit next to Bran and Edna, who were both beaming.

"Aw'right aw'right! Let the American bloke have some dinner!" Clark hushed the pack of younger students and waved them off.

All the other houses at the tables glared in my direction. The bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Hufflepuffs shuffled back to their seats as Clark stared at them like a strict professor.

"Thanks, man," I put my hand on his shoulder, about to sit down, but he stopped me.

"No, thank you. What you did earlier was unbelievable. I haven't stopped shaking since I fell off the broom. I owe you one, mate."

"Madame Hooch would have saved you at some point. It's no big thing."

"No, Rollie, seriously, I'll never forget what you did," he patted my shoulder. "It's an honor to have you on the team," Clark sauntered back to his seat towards the front of the table, and I joined my friends.

"I feel like we're gonna kick some serious ass this year in Quidditch," Bran smirked.

"Language, Mr. Lyptus," The Friar sang out as he floated up from the table.

"Edna will be a chaser, no doubt, Rollie will be out there seekin', and then Daphne will be pullin' out all the stops! It's gonna be amazing to watch," Bran had an innocent, child-like excitement in his smile.

"We'll see. Our first match is third week of November against Ravenclaw, who was the second-best last year," Daphne poked at her plate of meatloaf and potatoes then dropped her silverware, clanging on the plate. "Gosh, I really hope we can take down that smug Layla Moors."

I exchanged glances with Bran and Edna as Daphne refused to look up from her plate.

On our way back to the Hufflepuff common room, Daphne walked ahead, chatting with Edna on her Quidditch picks while I was next to Bran.

"Can you tell me anything about Layla Moors?" I said.

"Like, why does Daphne hate her so much?" Bran guessed.

"Yeah."

"Well, she's the top student for Ravenclaw and Hogwarts. Number 1 is Layla Moors, 2-Magdalene from Gryffindor, but Daphne was number 3 last year after being number 2 from first through third year. Then actually, at number 4 is Leon, I believe. But Layla's family has a running rivalry with Daphne's, so that certainly doesn't help."

"What's with the family rivalry?"

Bran slowed his pace to further us from Daphne and Edna. "So Layla's family owns the Remembrall brand Moorbrall. Which probably explains why she's so dang smart, she can't afford to forget anything, or her family will disown her. And then there's Daphne's family, her parents own Practical Potions, not sure if it's sold outside England, but they make basic elixirs for wizards and witches that don't want to spend time making potions themselves."

"Whoa, how come this is the first time I'm hearing this?"

"Believe me, Edna and I didn't know about Daphne's family's background until our second year. She doesn't like to talk about it," Bran held his finger up to his mouth. "So mum's the word."

"Of course."

In the Hufflepuff common room, everyone sat around studying or playing games at the tables and on the floor. Up in the fifth year's boy's dormitory, I sat at a desk in our room and wrote a letter to my grandpa. Asking him for any and all information about his acquaintance Zane Thumblebatch, along with notifying him that I had made Seeker for the Hufflepuff Quidditch team.

A few hours passed by, and everyone tucked themselves in bed, myself included, even though I wasn't even tired. I tossed and turned, trying to think about what the Quidditch season would be like, but they kept being interrupted by thoughts of Farrah. The memory of her breaking up with me and dating someone else shortly after repeated like a broken record.

I need some air.

Checking my bedside pocket watch, I saw it was already 12:30 AM. I'd been lying down much longer than I thought. All the boys around me were sleeping like rocks.

I slipped out of bed, threw on my robes, and grabbed my denim jacket, for there was a slight chill to the air. I tiptoed out of the dormitory and left the common room, navigating the flagstone corridors that were becoming familiar to me.

Ducking out through the door that led to Hagrid's cottage where we had Care of Magical Creatures, there was a decent amount of field space.

I took in a deep breath of the crisp night air, followed by a quieted exhale. It felt like a perfect autumn evening, even though it was still technically the summer. I strolled around the edge of the field, stretching my legs.

I can't believe I'm at Hogwarts this year. A fresh start couldn't have come at a more perfect time. I'm so fortunate to be here, with friends who already care about me at this beautiful castle.

I gazed up at the wondrous place that would be my home for the next few years.

"Rollliieeeeee…"

A whisper echoed in my mind, my head uncontrollably turned to the Forbidden Forest.

"Rollliiieeeeeeee…"

I took a few hypnotic steps towards the forest. Trying to scream or make some sort of sound to get me to snap out of the—

"Rollie?" a familiar voice whispered from my periphery.

The possession lifted, like a criminal fleeing the scene of a crime. My eyes widened as I turned towards the voice that saved me. I couldn't see much except a hovering amber glow of a tiny circle. Somebody was approaching.

Burning tobacco smoke drifted in my direction.

"Rollie? What are you doing out here?"

"Leon?" I guessed, judging by the voice. "Are you smoking?"

The red circle glowed brighter for a second. "Evanesco," Leon whispered as he whipped out his wand. The cigarette disappeared. "I don't think I need to remind you to forget what you've seen?"

"No, your secret is safe with me," I said. "Just a little surprised."

Leon shrugged. "Gotta be on good behavior this year, but I need some vice to get me by that won't kick me out if I'm caught."

"I get it," I chuckled.

"What are you doing out here?"

"Couldn't sleep. Wanted to walk around, used to do it all the time at Huntshrow."

"Why were you marching towards the forest?"

"Uh, I dunno really. I thought I heard my name."

"I didn't hear anything, but even if you did hear your name, you should stay away. Coming from a former 'troublemaker' myself, I wouldn't even go in there."

"Thanks," I looked down at the grass. "Well, I think I'll go back to the castle then."

"I was on my way inside, too," Leon turned around and paced ahead.

I jogged up to him. "Leon, I gotta ask you something."

"Lower your voice," he didn't slow down.

"Why do you hang out with Sable and Johnny? You seem much nicer than either of them," I said.

"Ha," he laughed. "You don't know me very well then. Look, you're new here, but I wasn't always this…" he clenched his jaw. "…Restrained. Regardless, I rather enjoy their company. They make me laugh, even if I can't join their hijinks like I used to."

"They're pretty rude, though."

Leon halted and elbowed my arm. "Watch it. Don't think I won't tell them your remarks if you keep it up."

"Calling them 'rude' for making fun of me on the train and harassing my teammates during Quidditch try-outs is a little generous."

"It's all in good fun," Leon devilishly grinned.

"Is that right? Well, you better rein them in around the other Hufflepuffs," I said.

"Or else what? Are you threatening to blackmail me?" Leon cocked an eyebrow.

"Blackmail you? No, but I won't hold back on them."

Leon's lips curved upward. "Rollie, I like you a lot more than those other Featherpuffs. You might actually react if Sable or Johnny mess with you."

"Notice how I'm not reacting to 'Featherpuffs,' but a year ago, I would have taken a swing at you. Take that how you will."

"You wouldn't dare," Leon grinned.

"It would be a perfect time. You couldn't say anything after I throttled you," I shrugged.

"Blech," Leon rolled his eyes. "I'm finding your machismo rather annoying now."

"Forget I said anything," I thought about the escalation of the conversation and what he did for me earlier. "Sorry, don't take anything I said the wrong way. I'm not trying to make waves as the new guy around."

"You're alright, Rollie," he picked his pace up back towards the castle. "Let's go to this entrance. I've been doing this for two years now."

We walked into a different entry than the one I had exited from earlier. Leon propped the door for me first, and I stepped inside. As soon as I did, a small flagstone room to my right was aglow from a lantern with a long-haired, dopey-eyed guy sitting at a desk.

"Whoa," he lazily spun to face me. "Uh, you really can't be uh going out this late at night."

"Oh. Sorry, I'm just coming back from being outside," I glanced back at Leon, who was stifling laughter.

"You were already outside? Oh man…" he rubbed his forehead. "Look, uh, kid, uh, you really can't be going out late, and I'll let you off with a… wow look at all those patches!" he whispered, gaping at the jacket. "I had a coat just like that back in the '80s! You have some great taste!"

"Thanks, sounds like you have some great taste too," I said.

His face broadened with a smile. "Gosh. It's been forever since I've listened to any of those groups. Reminds me of better days…" he gazed up at the ceiling with eyes full of nostalgic memories. "Sorry, where are my manners, the name's Mr. Lancaster, pleasure to meet you," he waved me in his little office and gave me a handshake. "I'm the caretaker of the castle."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Rollie."

"Ah, that's right, the American. Good to see you appreciate English music so much. You'll fit right in… at least with the older folks like me," he snickered.

Leon followed in behind me, arching his brow.

"Leon, you were outside too? Bollocks! How many more of you are out there?" Mr. Lancaster stood up from his stool.

"Just Rollie and I."

Mr. Lancaster sighed. "Leon, I thought you were gonna keep your night walks a secret? This isn't good!"

"Rollie was out on his own. I just so happened to bump into him. Us Slytherins and Hufflepuffs don't really intermingle."

"You have a point," Mr. Lancaster stared back at me. "Now, I shouldn't do this, I know, but I let Leon walk out at night. We have a little agreement, but I can't keep doing this for a bunch of other kids," he frowned. "But I suppose one more wouldn't be so bad. Just keep it between yourselves! Don't tell anyone I'm letting you do this."

"I rarely even go out anyways, so it wouldn't be a problem," I whispered.

"Well, you can if you really really want, but just be careful. Although with a music taste like yours, I can tell you're a good chap," he smiled. "Come by anytime during the day, and we'll talk about those bands a little more. For now, though, you two should head off to bed. I'm serious."

"Thanks, goodnight Mr. Lancaster," Leon and I said.

"Goodnight boys, if more kids start popping up out there late at night, I'll have to enforce disciplinary measures," he pointed at us as we walked down the corridor.