It's Nice To Have A Friend

38 - Heard The Risk Is Drowning

Mallory hugged Sirius and James as they said goodbye in Potter Manor. "I'll see you both soon, yeah?" Mallory clarified as she looked between the two boys.

"I'll be there as soon as I can," Sirius assured her as Mallory waved goodbye to Effie and Monty.

"Me too," James agreed. "Oh! Mal, we're having a sleepover here the day before we go back to Hogwarts. You're coming."

Mallory laughed at him. "Alright, James," she told him. She took a step back into the fireplace, but Sirius suddenly swept her into another hug.

"When do you want me to come over?" Sirius whispered.

"Whenever you can, Sirius," Mallory replied softly.

"What about tomorrow?" Sirius asked her as he pulled away and watched her.

"You can't tomorrow," James interrupted, "It's your first year as a Potter. You need to be here for the egg hunt on Sunday."

"I'm sure Mallory's family does something similar."

Mallory looked from Sirius to James. She could tell it was very important to James that Sirius was at Potter Manor for the egg hunt as James stared at Sirius with his brows furrowed.

"Go to the Potter's egg hunt, Siri. I'll see you soon," she told Sirius as she sent him a small smile.

"I'll write to you when I make a decision," Sirius assured her.

Mallory nodded at him with a smile before she stepped back into the fireplace and flooed back to Utah.

Mallory's mom was the first to pull Mallory into a hug. "You're home!" she exclaimed, holding Mallory tight.

Once they pulled away, Mallory was swept into another hug by her dad. "Mally Bally!" he yelled, making Mallory laugh as she closed her eyes and hugged him.

Mallory then kneeled down as Max ran over and excitedly licked her face. Mallory continued to laugh as she wrapped her arms around her dog. "I missed you too, Maxi," she said to him, pressing a kiss on the top of his head. "Where's everyone else?"

"Tony is picking up Diane, Margaret is sleeping, and Marilyn is coming over with Kenny later today," Mallory's mom explained. The three of them (and Max) all sat down on the couches and started talking about what had happened since they last saw each other.

The front door opened eventually and Diane ran in with Anthony walking behind her. Mallory got up from the couch and walked over. She was immediately pulled into a hug by Diane. "Mally! You're home!" she shouted.

"Dee-Dee!" Mallory replied as she wrapped her arms around Diane. She then pulled away and turned to Anthony.  "Do you have any games while I'm in town?" she asked him.

"Yeah," he replied with a small smile. "Against the leopards."

Mallory scoffed before faking a gag.

"Push Donny down," Diane whispered loudly to Anthony.

"If the opportunity arises," Mallory added with a small laugh.

Anthony laughed softly. "Maybe," he stated.

"I'll pay you," Diane told Anthony.

"Oo! If money is involved, I'll make him cry like he made Mallory," Anthony told them all.

"You cried?" Diane asked, turning to Mallory with a shocked expression.

Mallory stared at Diane confused. She was positive she would've told Diane what had happened with Donny and how she pathetically cried over the situation.