IVY THOUGHT THIS YEAR WAS GOING TO BE A NIGHTMARE. If anyone had told her at the beginning of last year that she would have to drag her two best friends into the same carriage on the train ride, she wouldn't have believed them. Yet, there she was gripping her nails into the sleeves of Luke and Leo's shirts and pulling them onto the train and into a carriage.

In short, Ivy Parry was incredibly pissed off.

She didn't understand how their situation had escalated to such an extent that they were barely speaking to not only each other but Ivy too, their only other connection to each other. It was actually becoming unbearably painful.

"I wouldn't have minded a letter or two." Ivy said scoldingly as she closed the carriage door. "Seeing as both of you are supposed to be my best friends. I got more letters from Darian than either of you. We reconnected by the way. You would have known that if you actually read any of the ones I sent you guys."

Leo sat down by the window. He averted his eyes guiltily. "Some of the other Ravenclaws invited me to do things, I didn't have that much time. Ender, the Quidditch Captain, and I really hit it off I think."

"Isn't Ender gay?" Luke asked absentmindedly, arms crossed and as far away from Leo as possible.

"And? Do you have a problem with that? I never expected you to be so close minded seeing as you kissed me!" Even Ivy had to admit, this escalated far too quickly but some interaction was better than no interaction at all.

If it helped them heal and go back to somewhat normal, then Ivy was okay with them yelling.

"You're seriously bringing up the kiss now?" Luke yelled incredulously. "I thought we were over this. Friends? What the hell happened to friends? We just started ignoring each other instead."

Leo stood up, to gather what he brought on with him. "Didn't you want that 'mister vanishing act'? I sure as hell didn't! You just disappeared and kept disappearing so I gave up!"

"You never even tried!" He snarled, blocking the door. "Run! Go on, do what you always do and run! I'll even make things easier for you." Luke stepped away from the door.

Ivy did not like the yelling but she certainly didn't want to deal with Luke on his own. Her hand darted to the carriage door.

"Don't you dare Leo!" An intervention was necessary. "Leo, just stay. How are any of us going to solve any problems by running? Please stay; talk things through." Ivy, sighing in relief as he turned around, put her hand on his shoulder and guided him back down.

"Ivy, you should have let him leave." Luke commented, without looking her in the eyes and staring at the scenery.

"Luke, I know things can be rough for you at times but this isn't easily solvable and I know you will both just be miserable without talking to each other. You've been my best friends for years and I don't want that to be ruined but if you two really don't want to be around each other I won't force you." Ivy glanced at the two boys. "If there is any way that you two can be okay again, please do it."

"Did it really not mean anything to you?" Leo murmured, looking down to the floor. After no response he let out a sigh. "Look I'm sorry, I know that I can't go around kissing my friends like that especially my straight friends. I was glad that Ivy was accepting of me and her family have been there for me for a long time." He finally looked up and saw them both staring at him. "Ivy I'm sorry for avoiding you, this summer was really important for you but I needed someone who would really understand me. Luke, I'm sorry for kissing you, it won't happen again I swear-"

Luke's stare softened as he interrupted. "Leo, what are you on about? I kissed you. I was taking advantage of you and I can't forgive myself for it. You're Leo and I'm just me. I take advantage of every situation."

Ivy remembered the time and got up from her seat. She made sure her bag was still in the carriage and threw Leo a galleon. "Make sure I have some crystallised pineapple for when I come back. I have to patrol with Percy, it's our turn to take over."

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Ivy didn't think it was a good idea for the head boy and head girl to put two people in a relationship on patrol together but she certainly wasn't going to complain. Besides, both of them had younger relatives on the train who could easily spot them.

They didn't really manage to do much, rather than just talk about family as they walked along the corridor making sure there was as little disruption and chaos on the train as possible.

"Are you sure you don't want to come back to our carriage, Perc? It would be fun." Ivy asked him, as their time was being taken over.

"I promised Ginny I would sit with her for the train ride. Ron's friend Hermione is sat with us too, she couldn't find them." Percy sighed. "You're welcome to join us."

Ivy smiled and gently traced a spiral on his chest. "It's okay, I don't want to put Luke and Leo in a carriage with two small children when I have no idea what they're getting up to right now. They have separate patrols too."

"Find me before you get off the train okay?"

"Of course."

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"Iago don't worry, no matter where the hat puts you, I'll be proud of you. Now come on, you have to get to the boats. Have you seen Cadi?" Ivy pushed him forward.

"I was on the carriage with her to begin with but a girl came in and asked if she'd like to sit with her."

"Try and ride the boats with her, it will be worth it."

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Ivy clapped loudly as her cousin walked down to his designated table. She knew it was where he belonged.

"Prowell, Cadi."

Cadi made her way up to the hat, and surveyed her surroundings. Slowly, she looked at Ivy and gave her a small smile, still hoping for the best.

"Slytherin!"

Ivy scanned the Slytherin table and found Marcus staring back at her. She mouthed 'take care of her' and he nodded.

Somehow she thought everything was going to be okay this year.