Year Ago Today

"Magic is weird. I'm not too sure I like it very much."

"I think it's wonderful."

"Look at all the trouble it's caused though."

"Only when people abuse it."

"You can't have magic without people wanting to abuse it though."

Nic shrugged. "The people who don't keep things in order pretty well, considering."

Sev sighed. "Should we head back?" he asked her.

"Probably. Laur's probably worried by now."

"Probably," he said standing up. He held out his hand to her to help her up.

Smiling slightly, Nic took Sev's hand and got to her feet.

The two headed back into the school. "Should we go find the others?" he asked.

"Most likely."

He wondered where his sister, and mother and Lyssa were, but they found them soon enough.

"Where have you two been?" Lyssa asked once Nic and Sev reappeared.

"Outside," he said and then frowned at Cassie and Lyssa. "What were you two doing?" he asked. "Sitting on other sides of the room and all?"

"Oh, nothing..."

Sev raised an eyebrow at her. "Sure, nothing. Explain."

"Your mum can explain."

Sev turned to Cassie and raised an eyebrow. Cassie glanced at Lyssa. "Sure," she muttered under my breath. "Make me do it. Uh well... we thought it would be a good idea for Lyssa to pretend to be more Malfoy-ish, and for us to seem as to have argued. And then when they were least expecting it BAM fireworks go off in dark arts?"

"Actual fireworks? Or metaphorical fireworks?"

"Actual ones of course."

"Sounds fun."

Sev blinked. Cassie shrugged. "It seemed like a good idea at the time." "I'd imagine most of your ideas do mother," Laurie said with a shake of her head. "Well I think you should let fireworks off in class anyway, because that'd be amusing," Sev muttered.