He Hates Me *King*

Rowan sat by the Black Lake, tears streaming down her face, and the letter in hand, slightly crumpled. She had nearly forgotten about her antics over the summer...but this letter from her father reminded her rather quickly. She had been sneaking out to go to Club 87 throughout the summer months. They let students in, but her dad was rather strict. When she asked if she could go, he said he didn’t care about club rules, his rules were for her to stay home for family time. So to her, that meant throwing a tantrum and being sent to her room. That turned out to be just fine at the time, as she had figured out a way to sneak out and get to the club. It wasn’t easy either, him being head auror and all.

She thought he didn’t know about it, but this letter clearly showed he was fully aware. And he was not happy about it. She was grounded until further notice. But he was not going to ban her from Hogsmeade. He was basically going to force her to go and meet him there, so he could keep an eye on her. That meant no dates with her boyfriend, Kingston. And they had just barely started seeing one another...this would not be fun.

She laid back against the grass and wiped her eyes, looking at the sky, wondering if she would ever see eye to eye with her daddy. She loved him very much, she really did. But he gave all of his attention to her beautiful little sister, the one that was a genius and practically perfect. Rowan got all the negative attention, and over the years, she had grown to like it. If that was all she was getting, she would take it and run with it.

She sighed, lost in her thoughts. She didn’t even hear the approaching footsteps.

318

King had been sitting in the Hufflepuff Common room and just felt that he needed to go to the Black Lake. He didn't know why, but it had become almost impossible for him to concentrate on the recipe that he'd been copying from the book his mother had sent him. She had instructed him to never take it into the Hogwarts kitchen, something might happen to it, no matter how careful he was.

Yardley, I want you to promise me that you won't get a spot of anything on that book! It's much too valuble!

He'd rolled his eyes at the letter that had arrived with the book, but had replied that he would take extra special care of it. However, he'd only started writing one recipe and had to stop, the compulsion to go to the Black Lake overpowering him.

He reached the edge of the water and looked over it. He knew that the reason was here, but it wasn't at the spot where he was standing. He had to find it and soon, or he was going to go nuts.

He started walking along the banks of the Lake, feeling the source of his urge for being here growing closer all the time. Then he saw someone sitting along the bank, and at closer inspection, he grinned widely. It was Rowan!

He hurried over to her, slowing down when he saw that she was upset about something.

"Rowan? What's wrong?" he asked when he reached her.

King