The following morning, neither Jack nor Cameron looked at each other. They ate their breakfast in silence. At 10:30 their mother walked in and handed each of them an envelope with the Hogwarts School seal. "These are your letters, and O.W.L. scores," she said. Simultaneously Jack and Cam opened their envelopes and read their scores. Overall, Cam had done a lot better than she had expected. She got E's everything except Potions in which she received an O. Jack had received all E's expect for Potions in which he had gotten a P. "We will be going to Diagon Alley next Wednesday to get your school supplies," their mother informed them. "Now I advise the two of you take this time to finish up the schoolwork that I know is still laying on your desks," she added.
The two teenagers got up, put their dishes in the sink and went upstairs to finish their schoolwork. As the two were about to split at the first floor landing and go their separate ways, Jack spoke for the first time since he had gotten Cam in trouble. "How'd you do?" he asked. "Better than I thought," Cam responded. The siblings exchanged score sheets and inspected the scores. "How'd you manage an O in Potions when you barely pay attention?" Jack asked in astonishment. "I don't know. How'd you get a P?" Cam shot back. "I don't know," he said back mockingly. Cam grabbed her scores and thrust Jack's back into his hand. She stormed off to her room. 'She's so moody lately,' Jack thought to himself. 'He's so nosy," Cam thought as she closed her door and sat down.
She surveyed her desk, covered with books, papers and quills. She quickly organized what she had left to do and found it was only an essay for McGonagall. 'This can wait,' she thought to herself and turned on her radio. Down the hall, Jack also had only his Transfiguration essay to do. He, unlike his sister, set to work on finishing it. In an hour's time he sat back with a stiff hand but a finished essay. 'Now I don't have to worry about it,' he thought to himself with a feeling of accomplishment. At 12:00, their mother knocked on Cam's door. "Cameron, turn the music off and do your work. You're grounded remember," she said through the door. "Fine," Cam said as she shut off her radio and sat down at her desk. She gathered what books she would need and set to work. In half an hour's time, she was done. For the rest of the day, both Jack and Cameron hung out in their rooms.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The following Wednesday, The Williams' went to Diagon Alley to get Jack and Cameron's school supplies. "Mom, we can do this by ourselves," Jack said as the three of them headed into Flourish and Blots. "I know but since you two are still grounded, we are doing together so that once we have everything we can go home," their mother said calmly. As they entered the bookstore, Jack and Cam saw many of their fellow students on their own. "Hey Cameron, you still have to shop with your mommy," called Draco Malfoy. "Shut up Malfoy!" Cam shot back at the boy. "Make me," Draco sneered. Cam narrowed her deep, brooding amethyst eyes at him. "Alright. I will," she said in a hiss. She raised her right hand and a fireball appeared. "You still want to go at it?" She asked menacingly. "I'm not afraid of you," Draco said, taking a step back. "Cam, don't" Jack said. "Stay out of this Jack," Cam said. She threw the fireball at Malfoy. It hit the front of his robes, causing them to ignite. Cam, formed another one and was preparing to launch it when her mother interrupted her. "Cameron Elizabeth Williams! Extinguish that fireball now!" their mother said authoritatively. Cameron reluctantly extinguished her burning ball of flesh scaring fire. "I won't forget this Malfoy," Cam muttered. The three of them quickly got their schoolbooks and left the store.
"Cameron, what were you thinking!" their mother exclaimed as they headed for Gringotts Bank. "I was thinking of teaching that little prat a lesson," she remarked. "One more outburst like that and you'll be grounded every time you come home," her mother said. Jack, Cam and their mother finished up their shopping and headed home. At dinner that night, Cam received a lecture from her father about keeping certain aspects of the family lineage to herself. Cam said she understood and was sent to her room. "Jack, why didn't you stop her?" their mother asked. "And risk being turned into a barbeque. No thanks," Jack responded. He got up and went to his room. 'Only four more days' thought Jack. Little did he know, his sister was thinking the very same thought at that moment.