Chapter 2

                                                 Coming Back to Reality

     I am trying to remember what happened before I blacked out but I can’t quite remember. All I remember is waking up in a hospital bed, and Sebastian waiting beside my bed. He really needs to stop worrying about me so much. That isn’t good, and it definitely isn’t going to turn out to swell.

“What are you doing here? If Alex finds you here—“ and I was cut off right when he came into the door.

  Great this is not going to end up good. I am already in enough pain, now my best friend and my boyfriend are standing in the same place. I have never wanted this to happen.

“Why is he here, Hayley?” Alex walks in with great confusion. He has known that we are best friend, I don’t see what is so puzziling to him.

“Uh, I collapsed on the field, I think. I don’t quite remember, and he was the only one there..?”

“Right.” He said giving me a wink. Was I not at the field when I blacked out? I don’t know what was going. I started thrashing, and everything started to get really hot.

Alex came to my side insteantly and started asking me questions, which I didn’t hear. I did catch Sebastian saying one last thing, before everything faded.

“Hayley, it will all be ok.”

 But, when I came back, it wasn’t okay at all. Alex and Sebastian were fighting, and I heard snippets of their conversation.

“How….her..why would you?”

“She…sick…leave…don’t know her.”

“What?….I…Move out of…. Hayley!Hayley!”

“Stop yelling at her!”

“What are you going to do? Honestly, you don’t know what is going on!”

“You barely know her, I have realized this. She is having a panic attack.”

I finally came back to full conscious, long enough to tell them to stop. What is the point of any of this? Alex doesn’t know me, and I guess I don’t know him. I had to make this all end, and make everything much clearer.

“ Guys! Stop. I have been awake, don’t yell at me. Alex, please, Sebastian and I are friends. He knows me better than anyone. He knows what is going on, when I am not sure. You are a great person, but to tell you the truth this all needs to stop.”

Alex then came and sat right down beside me, and grabbed my hand before I could push away. “Hayley, what are you trying to say?” Now both of them were looking at me with confusion. I have never been good with words, and I just blacked out so this isn’t fair.

“Uh, I am saying put in simplicity that I can not be with you…”  Don’t think about it too much, it isn’t going to do you any good.

“But… what did I do?”

“Just. I can’t, Alex. I can’t have a relationship right now.”

“Why not?”

“ I just can’t.”

He then turned to Sebasian, “It is all your fault.” And then he stormed out of the wing.

Why did this have to happen? Was I the bad person in this senerio, because I am not sure that I actually did anything bad. I glanced over and I saw Sebastian trying to hold back his laughter.

“Well that went well, I think.”

 I rolled my eyes and got out of bed, holding my throbbing head and walked out of the wing.

“Excuse me, Excuse me, miss-“

  I was already gone before she could continue her sentence.  I was shaking, and scared what was going on around me. I had to do my constant self check to make sure I knew what was going on. I have been doing these self checks, and making lists about what I knew was right, since I found out that my best friend died. They normally are helpful for a reminder that everything is going to be okay.

   I am Hayley Foster, and I am a 5^th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am in the Hufflepuff house.  I was dating Alex Paul, 5^th year Ravenclaw, but I guess that relationship is over. My best friend is Sebastian Loningale. My parents are Illiana and Joseph Foster. I am trying out for the quidditch team soon. I just found out that Hogwarts is in trouble. I woke up in the Hospital wing confused, with Alex and Sebastian fighting. I stormed out and now I am in the middle of the hallway.

I guess I should just go back to the Common room and lie down on the sofa and read a book, or something to get my mind off of the situation. I get to the Common room and see Sebastian sitting on the couch reading my book, that I mindlessly left there. Great, in the time that I want quite, I can’t because Sebastian or other people are always in my way.

“ You know that stealing people’s books, can cause a compotion and a fight.” I walked over to him tried to pull his attention away from the book. I started to wave my hand before his face, but my head hurt to much to even pull my hand away for even a few seconds. “Ehm, Ehm!”

“Oh! I didn’t see you there, sweetheart!” He pulled one of those cheesy smiles onme, but I don’t think he believed it would work on me this time, because he quickly stoped smiling.

“Don’t  you dare call me sweetheart. I am not in the best mood right now, to have you play with my mind after all of what you did today. Now can I please have my book back?”

“You can have your book back, after you tell me what happened back there.” Godric, he really wasn’t’ going to let me off.

“What do you mean, ‘What happened back there?’ You saw what happened. Don’t play dumb. I fainted while playing quidditch and I ended up in the hospital wing with two arguing boys.”

“Haha, you don’t understand. Let me break this down for you. You must of hit your head pretty badly, Hayles. You really don’t remember anything?”

“I just told you. What else do you want from me?” I am not going to get any rest today, I guess not. I cleared off all the books and magazines on the couch and plopped myself down by Sebastian.

“You and Alex, what happened?”

Great, he has to bring up this topic, why does he have to be so nosey? Well, I have to give him some slack, he is the only person I truly trust here. I guess I just have to get this all out of my system.

“ You mind having to sit here for a while, while I explain?”

“Whatever floats your boat.” He gestured me to start my rant.

“Stop being such a smartalic. I don’t want a relationship with a guy who can’t even except me having a best friend that is a guy, that I am close to.”

He had a puzzled look on his face, which is never a good sign. “But, Hayles, you dated him for a while, and this never came up?”

“Not really, he was always fine with me and you, as friends of course….” I looked down at my hands which I realized were shaking. At that moment Sebastian took my hands, and I just sat there needing the comfort but not by him.

“Hayley, what? What is going on?” his voice was getting sterner then concerned at this point in time, that it has before.

“I am not going to tell you anything, unless you wipe that scary look off your face.” He looked at me in puzzlement until he realized as to what I was talking about. “Good, fine, I guess I have to tell you now. Okay, he has always thought that I would go and leave him for you.”

“Bu—“
“Let me finish, please. Yes, he knew we are good friends, but supposedly he has always had trust issues and failed to tell me anything. Well not anything, but he fails to tell me much. The other day we were in the library working on Herbology, when he brought you up. He has done this many of times, but this time he sounded even more serious than before.”

   I have to go back to that moment in my head to replay what happened to make sure that I got all the details precise. I was sitting there working on my Herbology homework, for heavens knows didn’t make any sense.  

“Bloody Hell!” I mumbled under my breath trying to contain myself, at the fact that I just spilled my ink all over my paper and text book.  Melanie was sitting at the table as well. Melanie is a 5^th year who shares my Herbology class. I guess she failed her OWL’s, because normally people don’t repeat their Herbology classes.  She decided that she was going to study with me today,or just do homework with me.

“Nice one, clutz.” She laughed aloud.

  I looked up and saw Alex, slamming the door shut. I guess he was in a pissed off mood today. I guess it wasn’t a good day to try to get a little homework done in peace and quiet.  Alex walks over to the table and oddly enough asks if he can sit down.
“ Hey, love, what’s up?” He asks in a cheerful voice.

Melanie made a gagging noise, “You guys are sick.” She then got up and left the table and out the door.

 A snicker left my mouth. “Uh…homework..I…thought you were angry..”

“Well, I wanted to see if you were in a good mood first.”
That baffled me and drove me into a deep hole of confusion. “I am..what’s wrong?”

“Well, can we go somewhere private?” I could tell this was serious because he looked one, eager to leave and two he wouldn’t stop playing with this one strand of hair that he constantly won’t stop messing with when he isn’t in the greatest of moods.

“Yeah, sure.” I packed all my things together, and Alex took them my hand and my book bag. He led me down the hallway, into this corridor where the only thing there was steps. And he sat down on one and pulled me down to sit on the one next to him.

“What’s going on, Alex? Are you okay?” His response was just a kiss on my head, and a hug. “Alex, I love you, but you have to give me more response than a hug and a kiss.”

He sighed deeply and made sure that I was going to not hate him or stop loving him because of what he was going to say next, and I promised.

“So, the other day I saw you and Sebastian walking down the hallway and his was carrying your books and you guys were laughing and having a great old time.”

“Yes, Alex, we were. I don’t see your point to this though; Sebastian and I have been friends for ages. Honestly, it has been as long as I remember. I don’t see the problem here…”

“You don’t see the problem? Hayley, it makes me jealous.”

“What is the point of being jealous, you are friends with Samantha. You two have been friends for forever and I haven’t said a thing about it. I don’t even care, honestly.”

He got up suddenly, and went and looked out the window, which was giving off a very cool breeze.

“Hayley, do you wanna know why I get jealous?” I thought that was a rhetorical question until he gave me this look erging me to answer.

“Sure.”

“When I was younger, I found out that my parents were getting a divorce. It was the worst thing that ever happened to me. When I found out why that was, I was even more heartbroken. I found out that my dad had cheated on my mom with some skinny lady who thought she was little miss perfect.”

“Alex, I am so sorry.” I didn’t know that is what was going on…

“Just keep listening, please. After that, I didn’t know what to do. I was scared to ever be in a relationship when I was older. I dated girls, but I always drifted away from them because I was scared that they would go and do the same that my dad did. When I came here last year, I found a girl that I could trust and know that wouldn’t do anything wrong. It was just by the way she acted around me, even though we weren’t dating or anything. That girl is you, Hayley Foster. It is just him, I can’t trust him.”

Oh goodness, he is pulling this on me. I am not sure how many books I have read where this line is pulled on the girl. “Alex, can you stop right there? I understand, let me explain. Sebastian and I will always be friends, he is one of my only friends here. You mean a lot to me, but there is no need to be jealous and not trust him. He fancies Samantha, Haha, he always has! There is no need to worry.”

He was starting to get mad, which is never a good sign, “Hayley, why don’t you understand? I love you more than anything. That is all, you don’t understand where I am getting at.”

“Well, I love you as well, Alex. I have to go back to the Common room. Would you mind walking me there?”

That half grin that always gets me appeared across his face, “Everyday, my lady.”

That was all that happened, and that is what I told Sebastian, in tears.

“Hayles, I am really sorry. If I knew I wouldn’t have acted that rude to him…” I held my hand up for him to stop, because I knew that he was going to feel guilty now, and I didn’t want that to happen.

“Sebastian, it wasn’t you. I was going to tell you when we went to the field, but your brother came and got me, and we meet Professor Lupin and uh… Longbottom. I need to go to bed, I am insanely exhausted, Okay?”

“Hayley, it is 4 o’clock in the afternoon…Why would you do that? We need to go eat.”

“Just go without me, I am not that hungry anyway.” I was actually really hungry, but I didn’t want to be around people at this time.

“Okay, Hayles. Good night!” He came up to me and wiped a tear rolling down my cheek, and left.

I really didn’t want to be alone in the dormitory, but I also didn’t want to see Alex, or anyone for that matter. I just went up the stairs and just went to my bed and laid there. In transition, I got to thinking. Why was Sebastian acting like that? Was he not telling me something, because I can’t have him hiding things from me. Not another guy, and not my best friend. I just have to sleep on it, just go to sleep. Nothing will get to you in your sleep, because everything will just be a dream.

   I walked into the dorm and saw that everyone is crowded around. I didn’t quite understand what the devil was going on.   The one thing that I could make out was some silver object in Sebastian’s hand. That mysterious object of whatever sort was floating around the area. Shoving and pushing my way through yelling Sebastian’s name, still didn’t stop the commotion.  When I got my way through I was standing right next to him, with an awe expression painted across my face.

 “Sebastian, what in god’s name do you think you are doing?” He had somehow gotten in his possession one of Professor Longbottom’s Rememberall. No one knew where he got it except me, who had found it out from one of his lectures during Herbology class.

“Oh hey Hayles, what’s up?”

“ You ask me what’s up? Really? Maybe I should be asking you the same question. Where did you get that?”

“Oh this,” Sebastian pointed to the Remeberall and did his little smirk laugh that gets me every time.” This is just some funny ball object that I found outside the corridor near Professor Longbottom’s classroom.  We were just playing around with, Hayles calm down.”

“No, you don’t understand. You don’t mess with other people’s possessions, especially Longbottom’s. Give it to me now!” I quickly whipped out my wand because I knew this would be a hard game to play.

 I have had this situation once before, when people didn’t obey what I have told them to do. I probably seem like I cause a lot of ruckus, but I really don’t. I just don’t like it when people get in my way.  Two years ago, back in Defense against Dark Arts classes, I was sitting there not eagerly reading my text book when someone came up to me and decided that they wanted to have a duel right then and there. I didn’t even know this kid, and I certainly didn’t want to have to duel him. I asked him politely why we were going to do this, and he didn’t give me a proper response. Next thing that happened was that he was on the ground and needing to go to the Hospital Wing. I got two weeks detention, but I guess that was worth the price.

 Here I am back in this situation and I do not want to end up in detention or have my best friend go and get injured by me.

“Sebastian, you know what capability I can get to.”

“I know, but this is funny. Everyone is watching you, I hope you know.”

Now, I was starting to get angry, “I am not a nitwit, Sherlock. Now give it to me now.”

“Nope, you are going to have to pay a price.”
“ A price? Are you kidding me Sebass, you are really going to tempt me? We are in our house common room.. what is even the point? Just keep it. It isn’t like you aren’t going to get caught with it.”

Sebastian quickly realized why I gave up the fight. He knew what I actually could do to him, he realized my potential. I have known Sebastian even before we got sorted into the same house, 5 years ago. His family and mine somehow knew Professor Longbottom, back when everything went back to normal. Well it wasn’t all normal but Voldemort was long gone. Nobody was really scared anymore; there was not really anymore power to be proven.  When my parents, Illiana and Joseph Foster, were fully aware that everything was getting better they started to read the newspaper again.  They stopped for the reason that after the battle at Hogwarts was over and Voldemort was no more, chaos arose.  They already had lost two of their close friends, Nymphadora Tonks and Remus Lupin and they didn’t want to lose anymore. They went to find someone who could help them recuperate and come back to reality. They came across Professor Longbottom, and he suggested going to find Hermingwell Lolingale. Mrs. Loningale is Sebastian’s mother, and our parents met back in the time of regaining and trying to put everything back together.

   Sebastian finally hands over the Rememberall, when we are finally alone for once in the common room. Everyone decided that there was nothing more interesting to see and went to breakfast.

“You know Hayles; I only stole that because ever since the new 1^st years showed up every one has been treating me differently. I used to be the popular one in our little badger house. Now, since Ron Weasly’s little child has been sorted into our house everyone has been paying attention to him…”

  I actually saw that frown come across his face, and I knew that he really didn’t like being at the bottom. I understand where he was coming from, of course.  No one has really paid any attention to me, it has always been Sebastian who has gotten all the attention. My only connection to popularity is Sebastian, and no one really understood it.  It was hard to fully contain myself in this situation because I didn’t want Sebastian to feel this bad, but at the same time I knew he would be popular again.

   I got up, and had a brilliant idea. We were going to go and play some quidditch to make him in a better mood.

“Uh… wha… where are you going?” Sebastian said whipping away the tears running down his face.

“WE are going to go play some quidditch!”

“But- You do not play… You didn’t make the team.”

“Thanks for rubbing it in my face, Mr.Keeper. Let’s go try to play.” I took his hand eagerly so that we could go play, and he still had that look on his face of mass confusion.

Once we got out to the field, which took a while to get to, because it was hard to get passed all the little 1^st years.  Which might I add is a pain, because all they do is stand around and act like they have nothing better to do.  Right as I hopped onto my broom, some kid came running down onto the field. I am assuming that he was coming from the castle, but there are so many kids lost now a day, I am not really sure.  Once he came into my sight clearer I could tell it was Sebastian’s kid brother.

“Hayley! Hayley! Hayley!”
“Uh, yes? Henry”

“You are needed right away down in Professor Longbottom’s classroom.”

That is a surprise; I have never once been called down to his classroom before when I am not in class. I hope something bad wasn’t happening. If it was anything about my parents, I couldn’t bear to hear any bad news. I decided to let Sebastian just practice because he had a quidditch match coming up soon. 

“Hayley… what is going on? Where are you going?”

“I have to go do something quickly, Sebass. I will be back soon, keep practicing.”
“Oh…Ok.”

  When we got out of earshot of Sebastian, I turned to Henry. Henry was freezing and shivering and that was to no surprise, because one it was becoming to get cold outside. Henry was always the messenger of our house. It was a real surprise when we all got sorted into the same house. Sebastian always wanted to be in Ravenclaw, because that was his dad’s house; but he was plenty happy with being a Hufflepuff, because his mom was one and I am one as well.

“Henry, what is going on?”

“I am really not sure, Hayles. All I know is that he wants me to come and get you. Lupin is there as well.”

“Why the bloody heck is Lupin there?” I was starting to get very worried at this point. I almost started hyperventilating, which is really not good because I have issues with panicking.

“I don’t have all the answers Hayley; I am only in my 4^th year here. I am not nearly as smart as you and my brother.” Well I had to give him that.

   We didn’t really talk on the rest of the way up which was probably a good decision because I am not sure if I could talk any longer. When we turned the corner right by the courtyard, there was Luna Lovegood. I have always had this fascination with her, I am not quite sure why. It might have been because Longbottom always talked about her. He always talked about how she was great with Herbology and with creatures. I have always looked up to her, and right then and there I ran into her.

“Oh, I am so sorry… please excuse my… I…” I was lost for words, and I started blushing.

“Oh, are you okay? It is fine, no need to apologize.” Luna said in the sweet manner that she always gave off.

“Uh yes, I am just….you are amazing.”

“Aw, that is sweet of you. I need a little help, I haven’t been back here for a while, and would you mind showing me where Neville Longbottom’s classroom is?”

That is odd she is going to his classroom at this time as well. I should have brought Sebastian with me, instead of leaving him back at the field to practice. He is probably worrying now about why I haven’t arrived back yet.

“Yeah… I do, I was just going there myself.” I then looked down at Henry because I needed him to go get Sebastian for me.

“Henry can you please go get your brother for me? I shouldn’t have left him down there. Please go get him and get him to Professor Longbottom’s classroom as soon as you can.”

“Ok!” There he went down the courtyard down to the field.

I then turned to Ms.Lovegood, and I still was shocked that she was standing there. I felt honored that I got to be in her presence. I think I might have zoned out for a little bit, because she had to bring me back to reality, with a shake.

“You there? Haha, shall we?”

   We proceeded to keep walking down the hallways till we reached his classroom. My heart was still beating pretty fast because I wasn’t sure what was going to happen. We got into the classroom, and Professor Lupin and Longbottom were in there. There were a couple other people that I wasn’t quite sure as to whom they were. I looked over at Professor Longbottom, and he looked back at me with sadness.

“Professor, what is going on? Why did you call me in here?”

“We will tell you once Sebastian gets in here.”
“How… why.. does Sebastian have to be here? He is coming anyway, but ok…?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

 You don’t tell me not to worry about it and then have all these people here. Sebastian came running in the door, and stood beside me. Professor Lupin arose from the chair that he was sitting in, and stood and walked over to Longbottom’s desk.

“We have called all of you today to tell you this important announcement—“

Sebastian blurted out without letting Lupin finish, “Well if it is this important why don’t you tell it in front of everyone?”

“We aren’t telling it in front of everyone because we don’t want to scare anyone.” Lupin paused so that he could contain himself.

“Hogwarts is in trouble again.” Those words stuck to me, how is Hogwarts in trouble again? How could that happen? All the evil is gone, Voldemort, all of it. I don’t understand, what is going on? What was happening? I don’t want to die, not like this, I can’t.  I started breathing really hard, and then everything went black.

    I am trying to remember what happened before I blacked out but I can’t quite remember. All I remember is waking up in a hospital bed, and Sebastian waiting beside my bed. He really needs to stop worrying about me so much. That isn’t good, and it definitely isn’t going to turn out to swell.

“What are you doing here? If Alex finds you here—“ and I was cut off right when he came into the door.

  Great this is not going to end up good. I am already in enough pain, now my best friend and my boyfriend are standing in the same place. I have never wanted this to happen.

“Why is he here, Hayley?” Alex walks in with great confusion. He has known that we are best friend, I don’t see what is so puzziling to him.

“Uh, I collapsed on the field, I think. I don’t quite remember, and he was the only one there..?”

“Right.” He said giving me a wink. Was I not at the field when I blacked out? I don’t know what was going. I started thrashing, and everything started to get really hot.

Alex came to my side insteantly and started asking me questions, which I didn’t hear. I did catch Sebastian saying one last thing, before everything faded.

“Hayley, it will all be ok.”

 But, when I came back, it wasn’t okay at all. Alex and Sebastian were fighting, and I heard snippets of their conversation.

“How….her..why would you?”

“She…sick…leave…don’t know her.”

“What?….I…Move out of…. Hayley!Hayley!”

“Stop yelling at her!”

“What are you going to do? Honestly, you don’t know what is going on!”

“You barely know her, I have realized this. She is having a panic attack.”

I finally came back to full conscious, long enough to tell them to stop. What is the point of any of this? Alex doesn’t know me, and I guess I don’t know him. I had to make this all end, and make everything much clearer.

“ Guys! Stop. I have been awake, don’t yell at me. Alex, please, Sebastian and I are friends. He knows me better than anyone. He knows what is going on, when I am not sure. You are a great person, but to tell you the truth this all needs to stop.”

Alex then came and sat right down beside me, and grabbed my hand before I could push away. “Hayley, what are you trying to say?” Now both of them were looking at me with confusion. I have never been good with words, and I just blacked out so this isn’t fair.

“Uh, I am saying put in simplicity that I can not be with you…”  Don’t think about it too much, it isn’t going to do you any good.

“But… what did I do?”

“Just. I can’t, Alex. I can’t have a relationship right now.”

“Why not?”

“ I just can’t.”

He then turned to Sebasian, “It is all your fault.” And then he stormed out of the wing.

Why did this have to happen? Was I the bad person in this senerio, because I am not sure that I actually did anything bad. I glanced over and I saw Sebastian trying to hold back his laughter.

“Well that went well, I think.”

 I rolled my eyes and got out of bed, holding my throbbing head and walked out of the wing.

“Excuse me, Excuse me, miss-“

  I was already gone before she could continue her sentence.  I was shaking, and scared what was going on around me. I had to do my constant self check to make sure I knew what was going on. I have been doing these self checks, and making lists about what I knew was right, since I found out that my best friend died. They normally are helpful for a reminder that everything is going to be okay.

   I am Hayley Foster, and I am a 5^th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am in the Hufflepuff house.  I was dating Alex Paul, 5^th year Ravenclaw, but I guess that relationship is over. My best friend is Sebastian Loningale. My parents are Illiana and Joseph Foster. I am trying out for the quidditch team soon. I just found out that Hogwarts is in trouble. I woke up in the Hospital wing confused, with Alex and Sebastian fighting. I stormed out and now I am in the middle of the hallway.

I guess I should just go back to the Common room and lie down on the sofa and read a book, or something to get my mind off of the situation. I get to the Common room and see Sebastian sitting on the couch reading my book, that I mindlessly left there. Great, in the time that I want quite, I can’t because Sebastian or other people are always in my way.

“ You know that stealing people’s books, can cause a compotion and a fight.” I walked over to him tried to pull his attention away from the book. I started to wave my hand before his face, but my head hurt to much to even pull my hand away for even a few seconds. “Ehm, Ehm!”

“Oh! I didn’t see you there, sweetheart!” He pulled one of those cheesy smiles onme, but I don’t think he believed it would work on me this time, because he quickly stoped smiling.

“Don’t  you dare call me sweetheart. I am not in the best mood right now, to have you play with my mind after all of what you did today. Now can I please have my book back?”

“You can have your book back, after you tell me what happened back there.” Godric, he really wasn’t’ going to let me off.

“What do you mean, ‘What happened back there?’ You saw what happened. Don’t play dumb. I fainted while playing quidditch and I ended up in the hospital wing with two arguing boys.”

“Haha, you don’t understand. Let me break this down for you. You must of hit your head pretty badly, Hayles. You really don’t remember anything?”

“I just told you. What else do you want from me?” I am not going to get any rest today, I guess not. I cleared off all the books and magazines on the couch and plopped myself down by Sebastian.

“You and Alex, what happened?”

Great, he has to bring up this topic, why does he have to be so nosey? Well, I have to give him some slack, he is the only person I truly trust here. I guess I just have to get this all out of my system.

“ You mind having to sit here for a while, while I explain?”

“Whatever floats your boat.” He gestured me to start my rant.

“Stop being such a smartalic. I don’t want a relationship with a guy who can’t even except me having a best friend that is a guy, that I am close to.”

He had a puzzled look on his face, which is never a good sign. “But, Hayles, you dated him for a while, and this never came up?”