On The Topic Of The Paranormal

Trisha and her parents were preparing for the weekend's investigations when she remembered that her long-time best friend Raina had plans to visit that afternoon. She and Raina had met when the Labelle family moved to Kinghorn, Scotland just a few streets away. Their family had been very confused about Raina's powers as a witch, since her parents were Muggles, and the Bates family was asked to do an investigation. During that time, Tris and Raina became friends, and when everything started making sense - they were witches after all - they ended up being best friends through their school years as well.

Now, the summer before their fifth year at Hogwarts, they were determined to get in most of their adventures before going back to school. This year was their OWLs after all, and there would be no point in goofing around when they could spend the time preparing. Tris had a very good idea of what she wanted to do with her future and wasn't going to sit around and wait for it to happen for her.

Trisha spent a good ten minutes cleaning up the house - her parents didn't like having company over when the house was a mess, so it was part of their deal. Clean the house, then you can have someone over. Usually, it was only Raina who visited her house, though. Once that was finished, she sat herself on the couch next to Connor and Michael, watching them play a racing video game.

Vonnegut landed with a thud right on Raina’s back, waking her up from a pleasant dream. But this is what happened every time she overslept. Glancing at the clock she jumped up from the bed. It was already after noon and she was supposed to meet Tris at her house. As she hopped around her room getting dressed she tripped over what was probably nothing, but Raina was exactly what you’d call graceful. She flopped on her back in defeat and groaned. It was going to be one of those days.

Her furry alarm clock and longtime feline companion bounded over to her. She could never tell if he was genuinely concerned or just wanted to be fed. Deciding on the latter she got up and filled his bowl with food.

“Raina! Are you still asleep?” She heard her mother yell from downstairs.

Raina hated when her mother yelled up the stairs and most of the time she wouldn’t answer. Instead of yelling back she just went downstairs to show her mum that she was in fact awake and dressed.

“Oh honey there you are,” Her mum said with a smile. “Would you like some lunch?”
“No thanks. I’m supposed to be meeting Tris oh like right now.” Raina gave her the best “I’m sorry” face she could muster and rain out the door.
She glanced up at the sky and saw dark clouds. Its times like these she really wanted a car since she was too young to apparate and too scared to fly on a broom. She would just have to run.

After a few minutes into her trip to Tris’ house she noticed something else running next to her. Vonnegut had followed her…. again. He just couldn’t stay home and sleep like a normal cat. Raina tried to ignore him and keep running but he paced her pretty well. Soon she was at her best friends house and she had to accept he was coming. After all she couldn’t leave him out in the rain. And with that she knocked on the door.

Trisha glanced up at the knock on her door, moving around Connor - much to his annoyance, for she passed in front of the screen - to greet Raina. Reaching the door, Tris pulled it open and grinned at her best friend of many years.

"Hey." She said, gesturing for Raina to come in. The girl hardly needed an invitation into the house anymore. Looking down, however, she saw Raina's cat and her brow furrowed. Vonnegut was always following Raina around, practically threatening Tris with his presence. It was like he knew Trisha was allergic and felt like annoying her.

"Oh, fine," She grumbled finally, to the cat, "You can come in. Just... stay with the boys." She requested, knowing the cat probably didn't care what she asked of him.

Taking a last look outside, she frowned at the clouds - though, honestly, they were expected in the United Kingdom - before closing the door.

“Hey Tris. So I’m really sorry but he just followed me,” Raina muttered in apology. “I even tried to leave him in the house, but mum just lets him out when he starts yowling at the door. I don’t blame her though it’s pretty deafening.”

Raina was as comfortable in the Bate’s home as she was in her own. Plus all of Trisha’s siblings made her feel like less of a lonely only child. Yes, her parents were both well off and she got mostly everything she wanted, but Raina often got lonely especially when she was younger. Everything changed when she met Tris. It was like she had found the sister she had always wanted.

“Hey didn’t you guys get some new ghosty stuff? I would love to take a peak.” Raina said as she nudged her friend.

"It's fine," Trisha assured her with a shrug. "Hopefully he can listen and stay with Connor and Michael." Hearing their names, the boys looked up and grinned, knowing full well the cat would probably do the opposite of what Trisha wanted. She wasn't exactly very good with animals. Besides her own, of course. Her cat was the lay around all day and do nothing type.

One would think that, by now, Tris would have gotten over her allergies. But no. That would just make life far too easy for her, wouldn't it?

Rolling her eyes at Raina's name for her family's job, Tris laughed. "Yeah, we have an investigation tomorrow night at an old Manor house. Squeaky doors and the like." She joked, pretending the idea was terrifying.

Leading the Raina down the hall to her room, Tris pushed open the door and made her way to the chest she designated for all of her paranormal books, items, and such. Pulling out the bottom drawer, she picked up the item on top. "This is an EVP Recorder. Picks up sounds from both humans and spirits." She explained, handing the remote-sized box to Raina.

How odd she must seem to everyone else, Trisha mused. At least with Raina she didn't have to pretend she was normal.

Tris’ family business always made Raina laugh a little. Seriously though, how many people do you know that practice ghost hunting and actually get paid for it? Tris handed Raina the EVP recorder and of course Raina immediately started clicking buttons. When she found the record button she started making a weird growly noise.

“There that can be your guys’ next ghost.” Raina exclaimed with a smirk.

Although the paranormal stuff was a little interesting, Raina preferred to stay out of it. You never know when a ghost could attack and eat you or something crazy like that.

“So what do you want to do now, Tris?” She asked, praying her best friend wouldn’t say what she thought Tris was going to say.

Trisha nearly laughed at Raina's reaction. It, of course, was what she expected. But the girl had asked, and Tris wasn't about to pretend she wasn't happy about it. There were few people who took any interest in her family job.

"Gee, thanks." Tris laughed, putting it away.

Raina practically offered Trisha the chance to bother her friend about flying again. "You know perfectly well what I'm going to suggest." She pointed out, standing. Behind her door, Tris always kept her broomstick. Pulling it out, she gestured to it with a large grin. "It's fun, but you have no idea because you won't even try."

Knowing that Raina was unlikely to cave she added, "Michael, Connor, and Hayley would have a fit if you didn't. They all wish they could fly." Without magic, her siblings weren't able to get the broom to work. To say Trisha felt bad for them was an understatement.

It was as if all the blood drained down Raina’s face when Tris finally mentioned flying. She was honestly terrified of flying. There was nothing to secure you and if you fell it could mean your death. That however did not stop Trisha Bates from to trying to get Raina on a broom every chance she could get.
“Are you kidding me?” Raina almost shrieked. “Those things are deathtraps! Why in the world would I get on one?”
But when Tris mentioned her muggle siblings, well that was just a cheap shot. Everybody knew that Raina was a bleeding heart and a notorious people pleaser. If you acted pitiful enough and asked her then she would just about hop over the moon for you.
“I hate you Tris and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but maybe we can try. If I die though I’m coming back and haunting you for the rest of your life” Raina said with a scowl.

Trisha just grinned and started heading out to the back door, assuming Raina would follow, even if it were just to continue arguing. "Look, your best friend is going out for the Quidditch team this year. And you won't even learn?" She gasped in fake astonishment and upset.

Grinning at the boys as they looked up again from their game, she held up the broom. Connor paused their game and headed outside with them. He was the family sports fanatic, even more than Trisha loved Quidditch. Michael groaned - he, of course, being the quiet type who didn't overly socialize with Raina. Or anyone else for that matter.

Opening the door to the backyard, she laughed openly at Raina's threat. "Well, I would know, wouldn't I?" Tris teased, handing the broom to Raina. "I assume you remember flying class from first year?"

Raina just couldn’t believe what she was about to do. Flying broomsticks. The idea just seemed completely absurd and terrifying. But of course, Tris could talk her into anything. It just came with the best friends title she supposed. With a deep sigh she walked outside with Tris and that dreaded evil house cleaning tool.

“Please Tris we don’t have to do this. We can do something else. Anything else actually.” Raina pleaded.

Raina had no problem riding horses, hippogriffs, and thestrals. Brooms were another matter completely though. She didn’t know why but they just scared the living daylights out of her. There was literally nothing to hold on to.

She realized that there was no getting out of this and prepared for her fated death.