Arriving back at Hogwarts, a lot of things changed. Umbridge was no longer Headmistress and Dumbledore was Headmaster again. That morning after coming out of the hospital wing, she ran into De'lexi, Joey, and Milan.

" I heard about your cousin," Milan said.

" And you met your parents," Joey said.

" How are you feeling? " De'lexi asked.

" Sad and a little relieved," Cortney answered. " I am sad about my cousins' death and relieved that I finally met my parents". The three engulfed her into a hug, she didn't resist.

*************

Now she was in her dorm with her girls.

" You gave me a heart attack! " Pansy screamed. " What if you didn't end up coming back !? "

" I'm here now," Pansy said grabbing her best friend's hand.

" What if you didn't? " She questioned.

" I don't know, but that didn't happen," Cortney said.

" You two sound like an old married couple," Millicent said.

" Well they basically are one," Kierra pointed out.

" Cort, have you seen my cloak? " Tracey mimicked.

"You're wearing it Pans! " Daphne mimicked. All the girls burst out laughing. They soon all left the dorm room, with Pansy and Cortney the only ones left.

" I thought I lost you," Pansy cried pulling her in a hug.

" You are not losing me," Cortney assured hugging her back.

**************

Cortney was now in a hallway when she ran into someone. They both fell.

" Really ? " a voice asked. Cortney looked over and saw Seamus, he still seemed mad at her. The two both stood up. " Can't you watch where you are going? "

" Seamus," Cortney said softly.

" What Lestrange? " Seamus asked folding his arms.

" Are you still mad at me for threatening Lavender? " Cortney asked.

" Yes," Seamus answered.

" Look the only thing I did threaten her. And some small things. Like put a wrong ingredient in her cauldron to make her potion explode," Cortney explained.

" That's kind of mean," Seamus said letting his arms fall to his side. " I'm sorry to hear about your cousin".

" I'm doing alright, if that's what you are wondering," Cortney breathed.

" Neville told me that something else happened. Besides the You-Know-Who and everything. He told me to ask you about a certain part," Seamus said not looking at her.

" Oh-" Cortney began.

" I don't want to know. I really don't want to talk to you anymore or associate," Seamus blurted out with that he walked away.

" Oh," Cortney said sadly.

*********

Now she was walking towards Snape's office, she stop at the door when she heard talking. She pulled out an extendable ear and put it by the door, she made sure it wasn't noticeable. Then she walked a good distance away so she wouldn't be seen if the door opened. The conversation was between Snape and Dumbledore.

" She's powerful like her mother," Snape said. " Ms. Lestrange could use her power for evil".

" No Severus. That choice lies with Ms. Lestrange, to use it for good or evil. I believe she is striving to stay in the light, " Dumbledore said. " I do agree that she is powerful. Maybe a little more. Unlike Bellatrix, she can produce a Patronus".

" Do you want to use her as a spy as well? " Snape questioned.

" The choice is up to her," Dumbledore replied.

" Sir, she is just a girl," Snape said.

" This is why it is up to her. But when the time comes, she will need to decide," Dumbledore said. Cortney did not want to listen anymore. She pulled back the ear, stuffed it in her pocket, and left the classroom. She ran into Neville in the hallway.

" Hey Cort," Neville greeted smiling at her. " Did Seamus talk to you? " Cortney looked at him and walked away, she didn't have the urge to speak at the moment.

***********

Neville entered the Gryffindor common room, he found Seamus on the couch. He looked like he was in deep thought.

" Seamus," Neville said loudly. Seamus jerked out of his train of thoughts and looked at his buddy.

" Hey, Neville! " Seamus exclaimed smiling. " What's up? "

" You did speak to Cortney, right? " Neville asked.

" No, I don't really want to talk to her," Seamus grumbled.

" Seamus, her cousin died and she met her biological parents," Neville informed.

" What? " Seamus gasped. " I mean I feel bad...and I'm happy she met her parents".

" Cut the act, Seamus! " Neville snapped.

" I'm not acting,"Seamus stated.

" I know you are still about the Lavender thing. But she only did little petty things. Nothing to seriously hurt Lavender," Neville ranted. " You and Cortney are really good friends. Just go talk to her for Merlin's sake! "

" Do you know where she went? " Seamus grumbled standing up.

" ....no not really. I ran into her the hallway. I said hello, she did not respond she just walked off. She seemed to have a lot on her mind".

" I'll go find her," Seamus groaned as he left the common room.

***********

Seamus looked all over the place and still could not find her. He would not admit it, but he was a bit worried. He now just walked through the Quidditch stands.

" Cortney! " Seamus called as he walked onto the field. Under the stands, below the structure. In a corner was a little fox all curled up. The fox's head popped up when Seamus called out her name. The fox got up, making a bit of noise. Seamus was right above her, so he heard the noise. He looked down curiously. " How ? " he asked himself. He lowered himself down and climbed down the structure carefully. As he did this the fox scurried a little away. And hid in another corner. Seamus wondered for a bit till he saw the fox. He pulled out his wand and pointed it at the creature. The fox came out from her hiding. Without thinking twice, the fix transformed back into her natural form.

" Seamus," Cortney breathed. His mouth dropped into a perfect 'O' shape.

" How? You're the fox? " Seamus asked, he was speechless. Cortney's eyes widen at her mistake.

" You can't tell anyone, please," Cortney pleaded. Seamus put his wand away. He stepped forward and she stepped back. She climbed back onto the structure and went into the stands. She sat down at the very top. Seamus followed her, and slowly sat down next to her,

" Why did you do that? " Seamus asked.

" You said you didn't want to talk to me or associate with me anymore," Cortney said sadly not wanting to look at him.

" Oh yeah," Seamus said looking forward. " So that was you that did that to Lavender's things".

" Yeah," Cortney said smiling a little.

" It was kind of funny," Seamus admitted smiling. 

" I thought it was pretty funny," Cortney admitted. " It was my version of being cruel".

" If that was your version of cruel, I think I can live with that," Seamus said looking at her.

" You can? " Cortney asked smiling at her.

" Yeah," Seamus laughed. " Neville told me about your parents". Cortney explained everything to him.

" As long as you use power for good, I'm chill with it," Seamus said rubbing her hand. Cortney's smile disappeared and she looked out at the field.

" We should probably get going," Cortney said standing up.

" Yeah," Seamus said standing up too. The two looked at each other. Cortney tackled him into a hug, Seamus wrapped his arms around her. He held the back of her head, as she nuzzled her face into his shoulder. She was happy to have her friend back. They then parted and walked towards the castle. They stopped at a point to part.

"Let's be friends again," Seamus said.

" I knew you'd come around," Cortney sassed. Seamus gave her a really look. Then she did something she's never done to him. She laughed, kissed his cheek, and walked away. 

*********

Now they were at the train, leaving for the summer. Cortney was walking with the people part of the Ministry incident.

" Well this had been a productive year," Harry said.

" How? " They asked. 

" We're not dead. We're not dying, and no one thinks Dumbledore and I are liars," Harry said. Everyone laughed. " I've been thinking about something that Dumbledore told me".

" What's that? " Hermione asked.

" Even though we've got a fight a head off us. We've got one thing that Voldemort doesn't have," Harry began.

" Noses? " Cortney suggested. 

" Cortney! " Ginny hissed as she smacked her across the head.

" Yeah? " Ron asked.

" Something worth fighting for," Harry said confidentiality. They all got on the train for a long ride. She sat in a compartment with the Golden Trio.

" Going home to America this year? " Ron asked.

"No," Cortney answered.

" Why not? " Hermione asked.

" With my biological parents out and roaming the world. I don't want to put them in any more danger. I wrote to them telling them the situation."

" You will see them again," Harry assured her. Cortney smiled at all of them. After they got off, Cortney was stopped by Harry.

" Are you going to be alright? " Cortney asked.

" Yeah, are you? " Harry asked.

" Yeah," Cortney said. " Hey if you want we consider me and you as cousins. My biological family doesn't have to be in it. Well besides Tonks and her parents".

" I'd love that," Harry said. The two hugged and parted.