Potterbook | *Started*

Allen Selwyn | Duelling Club, Third-Floor Classroom

Allen wasn’t sure exactly what he was doing here. Well, junior Rockharrow had demanded that he be nice to her all day, and apparently, that included turning down an invitation to the Duelling Club. What he didn’t count on was Pepperidge grabbing him by the arm and dragging him right out of the Common Room, ignoring her stomps and complaints. He glanced up at the fourth year; the boy was easily twice his size.

“Um...thanks...for getting me out of there,” Allen mumbled, feeling exhausted. He had a right to be exhausted. The full moon was day after tomorrow, and here Rockharrow was, demanding that he do her homework, carry her scrolls and be nice to her. Sure, he had no problems being nice to her. He was nice to everyone that was nice to him. But that was the problem. She wasn’t nice to him. He wasn’t nice to people that weren’t nice to him--and wait, why were his thoughts drifting off again?

“No problem!” Pepperidge said, almost cheerfully, and took a closer look at him. “You okay? You look like you’re ready to drop and go to sleep on the ground.”

Allen nodded shyly, and in a few minutes Pepperidge had him seated on one of the chairs in what looked to be an abandoned third-floor classroom. The Gryffindor senior cleared his throat, sounding a little pompous as he did so. How do you sound pompous just by coughing? I don’t get it. Then, he shook his head to himself, wondering why his thoughts were drifting off like this. Pepperidge nodded at the first person that came through the door; several others followed in her wake. Soon, the room was filled with students; most older ones, Allen realized with some alarm. Two faces were sort of familiar, considering they hung around with Pepperidge a lot. Carrow and...Edmunds, I think?

“Hello, everyone, and welcome to the first Duelling Club meeting of the year!” Pepperidge announced. “I’d like everyone to find a partner so we can begin by learning the etiquette.”

Immediately people started moving; in a distant corner of the room, there was a scuffle and yells, and something went bang. Pepperidge immediately interfered. “C’mon guys. This is a duelling club, not a playground. If you can’t keep a peaceful environment in here then you know where the door is.” Peaceful environment in a Duelling Club. Right. Allen’s mind was working overtime, and he could feel his nerves wavering. “Thank you!” Pepperidge went back to the front and started pairing up people...

...and Allen found himself face to face with one of the Rockharrow twins.

“Um...hi,” he squeaked. Well, he knew he was squeaking, and that knowledge was embarrassing enough without one of the Rockharrows witnessing him doing it. She glared down at him intimidatingly; once again, she could easily dwarf him. Why on earth was he so bloody short?!

Wait. He did not just admit that. Not. Definitely not. “Hello, Selwyn.” She twiddled her wand in her fingers, and there was a malicious glint in her eye. “Wanna be partners?”

Allen was sure if he said no, he’d be hexed into a beansprout on the spot. If he said yes, he might be hexed into a broccoli instead; now it was the issue of deciding whether he wanted to be a beansprout or a broccoli. “I...um...uhhhh...”

“And...begin!”

Allen barely heard the shout when a murky brown spell missed him by inches; he had reacted instinctively, one of the better parts of being what he was. He just wasn’t sure how long he’d be able to keep this up.

“So, who knows about the Disarming Spell?” Pepperidge called out cheerfully; but Allen could barely hear him. Rockharrow had him pinned to dodging the spells she was sending at him. Even though Allen didn’t believe in a god, he started praying to whatever powers there be to save him before he got turned into a vegetable.

“EEK!”

Samara Devereux | Third Floor-just before the Duelling Club/Duelling Club:

Samara sat on the windowsill, her back against the stone side and she stared down at the book lying innocently against her knees. What was she meant to do with it? She couldn't exactly just hand it over to one of the Professors--that would get her into trouble without question. And most likely expelled. Well, it was possible, at least. Samara looked up, making sure there was no one around. The hall in this area of the third floor was empty--no one would disturb her right now.

Cautiously, she flipped open the book, letting her eyes slide past the name scribbled across the top of the first page before turning it and find the next page. Slowly, she began to go through the book, read each page carefully and then muttering something under her breath. For several minutes, she continued like that and then frowned as she came to a halt at one page near the middle of the book.

The spell was a nasty one, but it would be effective if she could keep up her defences for a while and keep moving. The downside, though, was that it could be reflected by a decent shield charm. Samra frowned at that. Well, if she caught her intended target unaware, she could use it. Although the spell was rather nasty, burning its intended target from the inside out. And it never touched the heart until the skin started--- Samara abruptly snapped the book shut and refused to read on. She already had an idea of what it’d do. And it was also time-delayed, taking up to fifteen minutes to kick in. She scowled. Why was she even considering using this later on?

Oh, right. Her father was a Death Eater, as well as her cousin and most of her family, extended or not. She’d need to know how to defend herself and be ruthless if she joined their ranks--not on her own terms or of her own free will, either. But hopefully, she was going to avoid that. She didn’t want that disgusting mark on her arm anymore than she wanted to kill people for a cause she didn’t believe in.

Samara quickly glanced around the hall before tucking the book back into her bag. She cast a quick Tempus charm to check the time and stared at the clock shimmered back into nothingness. The Duelling Club started in a few minutes and she’d promised she’d meet Alice before they entered the room. Well, now. She had better get moving. Samara hopped off the windowsill and raced off down the hall, heading for the classroom where it was being held. Hopefully, Alice would be waiting outside. And indeed she was.

Several minutes later, though, and they were right in the middle of dueling. Samara was currently duelling one of those annoying Hufflepuff twins--the green-eyed one. She figured he was the nicer one of the two. “Succendetur Interius,” she muttered, and flung the murky red-brown spell in the general direction of the grinning boy. He didn’t hear what she said, but she did see him cast a shield charm right before the spell she’d cast at him would have hit. It bounced off his shield and hit the wall, thankfully it didn’t hit anyone on its way there. She glanced towards it and was startled to find the wall melting. “So that’s what it does to a wall....”

“Expelliarmus!” he shouted and pointed his wand in her direction. Samara (and a couple of others nearby) was still distracted by the wall melting and hadn’t quite noticed what the older boy had said until she felt her wand fly out of her hand. She rounded on the Hufflepuff boy with a narrow-eyed look. He grinned at her and waved around her wand. “Never become distracted in a duel!” He sing-songed the last few words, grinning still.

Samara took a step forward but hesitated when he pointed his wand at her. “You don’t attack an unarmed witch,” she told him, smiling sweetly. His gaze narrowed. A yelp from somewhere to her left had Samara’s gaze flickering in that direction. It seemed that Alle--Selwyn was in a bit of trouble. Her gaze flickered back to the grinning boy. “I’d like my wand back now.”

The Hufflepuff boy gave her a little bow and tossed her wand back to her. Samara caught and smiled. “There you go,” he said and straightened up. “Shall we continue?” He had the decency not to comment on the spell she had thrown at him earlier--the one that was even now still melting the wall to her right.

Samara grinned. “I think I’ll decline,” she said and suddenly dashed to the left, leaving the boy standing there in momentary confusion. Selwyn was having a little Rockharrow trouble; his hair was looking a little green around the edges. “Petrificus Totalus!” she shouted, flinging the spell at the Gryffindor girl stalking towards her friend. The girl froze mid-step, a look of surprise on her face as her legs and arms then snapped together and tight against her side. And then she toppled over backwards. Samara grinned in triumph. “Oh, man. What did she use on you?” Samara asked, gazing at Allen’s slightly-green hair.

He looked almost in pain. “I think...she’s transfigured me.” Even as he said this, his skin was turning green on him, and the rest of his hair turned a darker green. Samara stared at the spreading green in slight shock as Selwyn rubbed at his forehead. “Ugh...it feels all weird...and disgusting...” It took several minutes, but soon she found herself staring at an Allen-sized broccoli.

Alice appeared out of nowhere. “Hey Sammy, did you see--oh my god, is that a broccoli?” She peered at it, obviously surprised. “It’s...pretty...big.” She glanced at Sammy. “Almost as tall as us!”

Samara stared at the redhead for a moment. “Actually, that’s Allen.”

“Oh....” Alice looked at the broccoli for a moment and then yelped. “Wait, what? ALLEN?!”

The broccoli twitched and Samara frowned at the poor boy. “I think I could undo it, but I’d rather get a hold of McGonagall.” She looked towards Alice and shook her head. “I may be near the top of our Transfiguration class, but she’s way better at it. I could do more damage than good.”

“But...that’s...Allen...” Alice blinked for two more seconds, before snapping out of it. “Okay. Who did this to him?”

“One of the Rockharrow twins,” Samara said, gesturing to the girl lying prone and body-bound on the ground nearby. “I already got her back. See?” She gave Alice a smug grin, which the redhead didn't notice. She bit her lip and glanced at Allen, and then nodded to herself.

“Alright. You go get McGonagall, then. I’ll just stay here...and make sure no one tries to take a bite out of him.” A feeble joke. Alice wasn’t up to her usual form today. Or maybe it was just the shock of seeing Allen like this. The broccoli twitched more violently this time, as if in protest.

Samara chuckled and prodded the broccoli Allen on the head. “Yeah, don’t let those nasty Rockharrow girls get their filthy hands on Broccoli boy here, okay?” And then she raced out of the room, presumingly to go get McGonagall. Behind her, a first-year sized broccoli twitched more violently than any broccoli had any right to and fell over. She left a twitching broccoli and a frowning redhead in her wake.

Bonnie | Duelling Club

"OMG-this-is-so-much-STUPEFY-fun-I-can't-believe-I've-never-PROTEGO-duelled-before-can-you?-I-bet-you-can't-because-I'm-so-EXPELLIARMUS-good-at-this.-I-mean-I'm-wizard-at-it,-LITERALLY!"

"Would you shut-"

"Haha!-I-nearly-DIFFINDO-got-you-there!-ALOHOMORA-You're-on-your-last-legs-now,-I-just-LUMOS-know-it!-I'll-ACCIO-THINGY-get-you-next-time!"

"Tarentallegra!"

"WoooOOOaaaHHH!"

Bonnie looked down to find her legs moving of their own accord. And they weren't just moving, oh no, they were tap-dancing.

"Wow-this-is-so-awesome!-I-didn't-know-I-could-tap-dance!-Wa-hey!-Ooh,-is-that-a-giant-broccoli?!"

Intrigued, Bonnie tapped her way across the crowded room, spun to a halt and did a plie for good measure.

Meanwhile, a bench ripped itself in two, several books, somebody's cloak and a wand flew after Bonnie (evidently "thingy" had been taken to mean anything in a two metre radius) and a bright light was shining out of her pocket. A nearby cupboard had been unlocked, the door had swung open, and the contents were piling up on some unfortunate student.

The broccoli seemed to twitch nervously as she approached, and as she reached it, Bonnie could have sworn that it shrank away from her in fear. Oh, well, she must have imagined it, right?

Bonnie didn't know what it was. Perhaps it was that she hadn't had anything to eat since breakfast. Perhaps it was just her own insatiable appetite, or maybe it was just the novelty of being able to say that she's had some Giant Magic Broccoli, but that broccoli has started to look very appealing to the young first year.

Leaning up her toes, Bonnie jigged over to the broccoli and nibbled a little off the top. It tasted absoluely magical, managing to be both smooth and crunchy at the same time. How that was possible, Bonnie didn't know, but she did know that it was amazingly delicious.

"YUM!-I-am-taking-more-of-this-to-save-for-later!"

Licking her lips, the Ravenclaw tapped aound the broccoli, picking off chunks and stuffing them in her pockets.

She then hopped away, paying no heed to the furious redhead behind her.

She didn’t really understand why she was there. She stood off to a corner, arms crossed, eyebrow raised. She had to hand it to Pepperidge. This wasn’t a complete gong-show, but it wasn’t like she was about to drop Quidditch for this. It wasn’t that she was too good for this quaint, student run club, but really now.

Fiona watched as students dueled, and that annoying Ravenclaw first year began to tap dace. She smirked. At least it was entertaining.

Fiona considered leaving. She had a report to write for the History of Magic and potions to make and had to find something for her older sister’s Christmas present. But she stayed, anchored at the wall, hoping no one would challenge her. If Maggie were with her, they’d be judging everyone, loudly. Maggie had, though, opted to stay in the common room and work, not stand around and watch spells fly everywhere. Fiona was left to silently judge and watch.

She eyed the door again. It wasn’t late, and she could do her homework. But no. She stayed glued to the wall, waiting, watching.

Owen | Duelling Club

Owen slumped backward into a chair. The room was a mess and it looked like he'd have to repair some spellbooks. Not his favourite job, that, but one he didn't have to concentrate on too much. Overall the first meeting had been a success. Owen allowed himself a lopsided grin.

"Well that was exciting," said Sae. Her voice sounded distant.

"Yeah," said Matt as he tried to refill a cupboard. "I still can't believe no-one got injured."

"And by 'no-one' you actually mean 'yourself', right?" Owen winked at Matt. The Ravenclaw shot him a glare but there was no animosity. If anything, they were all too worn out for that. "Plus that Selwyn kid managed to get himself transfigured. Some sort of plant."

"Oh I hardly think he transfigured himself," said Sae. "Vegetables are a third year topic."

"I wonder who it could have been then..." Owen scratched his head. There had been so many people and that Bonnie-girl, the Ravenclaw, caused more chaos than the rest of them put together. He turned to Sae. "Y'know, I can't remember a single third-year who came along."

Matt's face was the epitome of concentration. After a moment, he spoke. "Me neither."

"Well I can think of a least two. They're incredibly alike..." said Sae, but she trailed off.

Owen started putting the least-damaged books back on the shelves. A few flicks his wand and the room was beginning to look less like a bombsite and more like a classroom. The gashes in the benches where Bonnie had cast "Diffindo" would take a bit more work. Perhaps a concealment charm.

"Oh Sae," said Owen. "Your flowers!"

The stalks and petals that were woven into her hair at the beginning of the class were now scattered across the floor. The remains looked grubby, just lying there on the floor, and Owen felt an odd compulsion to pick them up. He collected them carefully in his hands and placed them on a desk.

Sae sighed. "They were pretty ones too."

"Of all the cheap shots..." Owen muttered, but Sae's reaction was not what he expected. She laughed, and so did Matt.

"Sounds like you need to pay more attention to your duels, mate," said Matt. He finally shut the cupboard door with a resounding clunk and the sound of breaking glass.

"What do you mean?" Owen asked.

"It was you, Owen, during the demonstration," said Sae with a small smile. "You don't have to go easy on me now though. I'll be prepared."

Owen looked at the ruined flowers on the desk. He didn't know his own strength.

Rose Marie Lovelace | Great Hall - Morning After The Duelling Club

The past few months had flown by. No one had noticed my presence, but I was just fine with that. I had to get used to the system - and find ways to cheat it. I looked around the Great Hall, wondering how best to introduce myself to the rest of the school. I fingered the Zonko fireworks in my robe pockets and grinned. No one would see this coming.

Quickly, I bunched up the fireworks and fumbled for my wand. I laid them out on the floor by the huge doors, and began whispering the charm. Instantly, red and gold fireworks flew into the air and burst over the Gryffindor table. They left a shimmering message hanging in the air: ROSE MARIE LOVELACE. The entire Hall stopped and stared at the words, and somehow, for some reason, the Headmaster started clapping. Soon the entire Hall was applauding my handiwork.

I grinned and stepped away from the door, so they could see me. I glanced at the professor’s table and almost doubled over laughing. The Headmaster was grinning at me. Beside him, Professor McGonagall glared, and Snapescum’s face was as pink as his hair. I flashed Snape a particularly innocent smile. He stared down at me, looking dangerous.

“Lovelace,” he sneered. "Fifty points from Gryffindor and three weeks of detention with me." He turned to stalk away and then paused. “And do not be late.” As he turned, his robes actually billowed. I grinned despite my sentence and resisted the urge to comment loudly on his hair. It was then that someone tapped me on the shoulder, and I turned around to see a red-headed girl...wait...The Girl-Who-Lived! I had to remind myself to keep my face free of emotion. No one takes a Lovelace by surprise. Still, I was speechless for the first time in my life.

The redheaded Slytherin tilted her head curiously at me, then grinned. “That was brilliant, you know. I’ve never seen anyone pull a stunt like that.” I grinned.

“Well, it’s a good thing I’m around,” I said, feeling cocky. “It looks like you guys needed someone to keep things interesting.”

“Then you’re my type of girl.” Potter winked and suddenly put an arm on my shoulder. “Hey, you’re from Gryffindor, right?”

“That’s right.” I tried not to shrink away from her touch. People weren’t exactly my forte. Potter seemed to have noticed and dropped her arm, still grinning.

“Sorry, about that, I’m used to doing that with my friends. Speaking of which. Can I introduce you to someone?” I sighed, more comfortable, and nodded. I was still getting used to the The Girl-Who-Lived. She suddenly grabbed my arm and led me into the Hall, towards the Gryffindor table; towards a brown-haired Slytherin and a boy with a bald patch on his head.

Wait, a bald patch? “Um, hi everybody,” I said, trying to look less nervous than I felt. The Girl Who Lived - Alice, right? - turned to her friends.

“Guys, this is Rosie Lovelace,” she said. The boy seemed a little dazed and the girl was eyeing me suspiciously. I grinned and tried to feel at home. “Rosie, this is Sammy and Allen.”

The boy - Allen - nodded at me, and I noticed he had dark circles around his eyes. The girl - Sammy, really? - must have decided to like me, because she said, “Nice to meet you, Rosie. Welcome to the group.” I felt my grin widen and suddenly felt a little self-conscious. But, surprisingly, the only person that looked more self-conscious was Potter herself; apparently triggered by the sight of the bald patch on the boy’s head. I decided to put the boy at ease. I sat down beside him.

“I like your hair,” I said, pointing to the bald patch. Inwardly, I smacked my forehead. I like your hair? Really? The boy seemed to wake up after my comment however--while that might have been a good thing, the expression on his face told me he wasn’t happy about what I said. At all. And who could blame him?

As I said, people are not my forte.

Spoiler

Warning; This post is HUGE. Enjoy!

Samara Devereux | The Great Hall - Breakfast, day after the Duelling Club / DADA Class / Detention with Snape:

Samara watched Alice and the dark-haired Gryffindor from her place beside Allen. She frowned, head tilted to one side, wondering what on earth the other girl was doing. “What is she doing?” Samara muttered, glancing towards Selwyn. “Why’s she talking to that weird girl from your house? You know, the quiet one...?”

Allen merely stared at Samara for a moment. Maybe it was her, but Allen looked a little dull today; and flushed, as well. And who wouldn’t be when they had a huge bald patch on their skull? To be honest, she was worried about him, after his little transfigured-into-a-broccoli-problem, and then the visit to the hospital wing. She wouldn’t be surprised if--or when--Wray started coughing up hair... One had to wonder how she didn’t find that she’d eaten someone else’s hair odd.

“Allen?” When he didn’t look up, she nudged him and snapped, “Selwyn! You’ve got something on your face!” The boy jerked upright, blinking. He looked so tired that Samara couldn’t find it in her to laugh at him.

“Huh? Wha?” He looked around tiredly, frowning when he saw Samara staring at him. She promptly looked away, coughing and muttering something about having a bad day. They were interrupted by Alice coming back, the Gryffindor girl in tow.

“Um, hi everybody.”

“Guys, this is Rosie Lovelace,” Alice said, grinning at her. Samara raised an eyebrow at the pair while she noticed Allen was falling asleep again. “Rosie, this is Sammy and Allen.” Allen nodded absently, making Samara frown at her.

“Nice to meet you, Rosie. Welcome to the group,” Samara muttered, turning back to Selwyn. She really was worried about him; he looked sick, but not sick--Samara didn’t know what to make of that, though. She heard the other girl sit down and turned back towards the newcomer.

“I like your hair,” the girl said--Rosie or something, wasn’t it? Samara felt Allen tense. Uh oh, she thought, swinging back towards him. Selwyn was now wide-awake, apparently. And glaring at the new girl. Samara felt the awkward tension skyrocket, but stayed where she was. If Allen wanted to have a go at the other girl, he’d have to go through her to do it.

Alice was the first one to break the now-awkward silence. “That’s um. My fault, actually.” She looked nervous and even angry with herself. Samara frowned at her. “If that idiot twin hadn’t decided to get in my way...but it’s not his fault either. I should have just said no.”

“Alice...” Samara began, then fell silent. She didn’t quite know what to say to the redhead right now. “I... I blame that Rockharrow twin... Wasn’t she the one who hit him with the spell?” She looked between Allen and Alice, casting a last-minute glance towards ‘Rosie’, as Alice had called her. “I never did quite see. I had the other idiot twin in my way...”

Allen, who was silent all the while cleared his throat, as if to remind them that he was still here. For once, he didn’t seem so tired, angry or out-of-it. What really was weird, though, was that he didn’t seem angry at Alice either. Maybe they had learned something from their last argument, after all. “Alice, stop blaming yourself, okay?” His voice was quiet. “I’m just lucky you were around to save me. I’ll have to learn to take care of myself from now on, too.”

“...but...”

Allen shook his head and looked away. Another awkward silence descended, during which ‘Rosie’ cleared her throat. Samara looked towards the girl, as did Alice. Selwyn, meanwhile, was glaring down at his plate of...sausages. Samara didn’t question his choice of meal.

“Hey, I’d love to hang around and chat with you guys, but maybe we should, you know. Get to class? I think Defense Against the Dark Arts is next on our schedules.” ‘Rosie’ looked a little humbled, as if she had no right to say it.

“Oh, right,” Samara muttered and stood. “Class is important.” She promptly started off towards the doors, leaving the others to catch up. Her hand absently drifted towards her bag as she walked. The book was in there, and she wasn’t sure if she should keep it or not... She really didn’t know what to do with it. On one hand, it could get her into a lot of trouble. On the other hand, it might be very helpful later on...like when her father forced her into serving the Dark Lord. Not that she wanted that, mind you.

Several minutes later, she found herself outside the DADA classroom, Alice on one side and Allen on the other, with ‘Rosie’ standing off to the side. Alice glanced at the others and back at Sammy and Rosie. “I’m wondering. Any of you guys have anything for garlic?”

Samara stared at her. “Garlic? Whatever for?” When she glanced towards ‘Rosie’, the other girl had a mischievous look in her eye. Samara suddenly had a bad feeling...

“...I don’t like the Rousseau twins, but they agree on this with me, too. Quirrell reeks. Is he really that scared of vampires?” Alice shot Sammy a grin. Just beyond her, ‘Rosie’ shook her head, seeming to think.

“You know, Alice,” Samara said, smiling, “I never really noticed that until now. Strange, isn’t it?” She glanced towards Selwyn; he looked half-asleep at the moment. She decided not to bother him right now.

“Well, when you think about it, it’s not very strange at all,” said ‘Rosie’. “We live in a magical school. I’m surprised I haven’t seen any vampires yet.” She laughed a little too loudly.

Samara gave ‘Rosie’ a weird look. “Yeah, because they’re really welcome on school grounds,” she muttered and moved forwards, towards the door. She turned back just before she reached it. “Well, are you lot coming or not?”

“Ayup!” Alice saluted, following after her, and dragged Allen along. He seemed way too tired, Samara realized, but she filed the thought away for later; she walked into the garlic-choked air of the classroom, leading the little group in with her. Immediately, Selwyn sneezed, loudly.

Quirrell was already waiting in the classroom when they finally got past the choking-garlic smell and took their seats. He looked up when he heard their seats and desks move. “W-w-welcome to D-Defense Against T-t-the Dark A-a-arts,” he said, stuttering and smiling at them. Samara suppressed a groan and dug out her DADA book, trying to ignore the way Quirrell eyed them.

Later that night, in Detention...

Samara glared at her potion. It was the wrong bloody colour! It wasn’t meant to be such a sickly green. She cast a glance towards the Hufflepuff twins where they were crushing...she didn’t know what, but Kaius was grinning in her direction. She really didn’t like him. Or his brother, but at least the green-eyed twin was bearable...sometimes.

“Lovelace. You missed a spot.”

With a groan, Samara gave up on her potion and looked towards where Rosie stood with Snape leaning over her. She watched as Rose looked at her cauldron then back up at Snape. Samara winced, expecting some kind of nasty reply....but the other girl said nothing--at least, nothing Samra could hear, of course. But she did flick a grin back at Samara.

Selwyn, on the other hand, looked like he was falling asleep on his cauldron. She wondered why Snape hadn’t scolded him for that yet, and frowned. “Devereux.” Samara jumped; she hadn’t expected Snape to suddenly be right there, next to her. “I think there is something wrong with that potion.”

“Yes, sir,” she muttered, looking down at it with a grimace. “I know, sir. I...just don’t know what.” She heard him (and half-saw him out of the corner of her eyes) shift his stance a little. And then he proceeded to ask her what she’d done, point out her mistakes and tell her to redo everything. With a sigh, she Vanished the potion, cleaned her cauldron and started again. Snape paced away from her, robes billowing out behind him. He left her to remember where she’d screwed up and what she was meant to do so the potion didn’t turn that disgusting green colour again.

Samara saw a flash of Gryffindor robes and looked up to see Rose standing on the other side of her cauldron. “What are you doing?” she hissed at the other girl, flicking a glance towards Snape. “You’ll get us into even more trouble!” Samara watched the other girl carefully as Rose just shrugged. Was this girl insane? Snape was right there! Admittedly, he was scolding the Hufflepuff twins, but still....

“I know,” she said with a grin. “But you are in need of some serious rescue.” Samara narrowed her eyes, pausing for a moment to decide whether to trust this new addition or not. Just before she could say anything, Rose dumped all the ingredients into the cauldron.

“What are you doing---?!” Samara exclaimed. Right before it blew up in her face. When the smoke cleared, Rose was back at her cauldron, smirking and Snape was glaring at Samara. She suddenly felt very, very small.

“Devereux, what in the name of Merlin did you do?” The Potions Master demanded, striding back to the cauldron and peering into it. Samara cringed, and didn’t say anything as Snape inspected the cauldron, snorted and shook his head.

“I didn’t do anything, Professor,” she mumbled, glaring towards the Gryffindor girl. Snape didn’t follow her gaze, and she sighed, hanging her head. It looked like she was going to take all the blame for this one.

“Regardless of the fact of what you did or did not do, Miss Devereux,” Snape sneered, fixing his gaze on the Slytherin girl. “You will be serving more detention with me right up until the Christmas break.” He narrowed his gaze at her and went to turn away before pausing again. “Now, start again. And this time, do try not to make any more mistakes.” He stalked away, leaving Samara feeling rather dejected and lonely. She stared down into her mostly empty cauldron and sighed. It was going to be a long night.


Professor Snape | Detention/Whomping Willow/The Shack:

Snape scowled at his best potions students and stalked back to where Selwyn stood, mostly asleep and leaning on his cauldron. He hadn’t forgotten that it was a full moon that night. Not at all. He’d just been...distracted. By exploding potions, no less. With a heavy sigh, he tapped Selwyn on the shoulder and bent down to put his lips near the boy’s ear before he could jump. “Time to go, Selwyn,” he hissed and pulled away, stalking towards the door.

He paused at the door, turning back to the class. The Hufflepuff twins were busy entertaining themselves--by throwing his potions ingredients at each other. Snape felt an eyebrow twitch at the sight. He knew, he knew, that they were the ones who had snuck into his office the other night and, ahem, “lifted” some of his ingredients.

“You are all dismissed,” he announced, watching as they all paused in whatever they had been doing and glanced towards him. He scowled. “Did you not hear me? You. Are. Dismissed. Leave my classroom immediately--except you, Selwyn. You are coming with me.” The dozen or so students in his detention session cleaned up their respective desks and filed out the door, leaving Snape alone with the werewolf. And on a full moon night, too. Selwyn snored--he had fallen asleep. On his feet, no less. “SELWYN!”

The boy jumped, startled, and peered towards him blearily. “Uh...Sir?”

“Have you forgotten what tonight is, Selwyn?” Snape asked, and watched in satisfaction as the boy went pale. The Potion Master’s gaze narrowed. “Ah, I can see that you have not. Well, shall we be going, then?”

Selwyn yawned and gave him a little half-nod. “Y-yes sir,” he murmured, still half-asleep. He stumbled towards the door and Snape felt like rolling his eyes. What was with the boy? He hadn’t been this tired the last few times they’d done this.

With a snarled ‘Move it, Selwyn!’, Snape grabbed the boy by the arm and practically dragged him from the room. And he didn’t stop until they were outside and approaching the Whomping Willow. The sun was almost setting and Snape really did not want to be stuck out in the open with a werewolf who had not taken Wolfsbane. The boy bumped into Snape’s back a few times, and finally, he was snoring. Again.

Snape jerked away from the boy as if he’d thought that Selwyn was some kind of dangerous bug--or perhaps a Boggart. Or even worse--a Dementor. The ex-Death Eater had almost been given a Kiss, but had escaped that fate thanks to Dumbledore. If I didn’t owe that bumbling old fool so much.... Snape thought with a scowl as he froze the tree and dragged Selwyn into the tunnel with him. He got them through the tunnel and into the Shack. And then he shoved Selwyn into the nearest table, startling the boy awake.

“Here,” he snapped, “the Wolfsbane. Take it before I change my mind.” He tossed it at Selwyn and swept back into the tunnel, leaving the boy to it and not caring if he failed to catch the potion or not. Just his luck that he had to deal with a bloody werewolf during the full moon.

Allen Selwyn | The Shrieking Shack

Allen took the vial and stared at it, staring at the faint blue concoction with only the slightest hint of suspicion in his eyes. Sure, he remembered the last time Snape had handed him one of these. It tasted disgusting and made him wait around for Rockharrow to find out his secret. But it wasn’t like it could get any worse, right? She had pretty much promised not to tell anyone else, and so far she’d kept the promise.

Snape had long disappeared by now, and it wasn’t quite dark out yet. However, the Gryffindor boy settled against the desk from earlier and uncorked the potion vial. “Well then, bottoms up, I guess.” He put the vial to his lips, and barely wrinkling his nose at the smell, downed it in one shot; only to realize that that had been a very bad move. The vial slipped from his fingers and smashed on the floor as he collapsed in a snoring heap, not noticing Junior Rockharrow creeping in through the doorway.


Alice Potter | Week Before Christmas, The Great Hall - Breakfast

Professor Dumbledore was having a pre-Christmas party on the staff table, for some reason. Snape, whose hair had turned non-pink and as greasy as it usually was, was wearing a party hat and glaring at the few stragglers that sat amongst the house tables, as if asking why in Merlin’s name he was going to have to spend Christmas babysitting more students when he could be off busy doing something else. Meanwhile, Alice threw her hands up and slammed them down on the very empty Slytherin table as Allen chucked another full house at her.

“Allen Selwyn, are you planning to cheat me out of all my spending money?”

He grinned back at her. Over the few weeks, his hair had grown back to cover the bald patch rather quickly, courtesy of Madam Pomfrey’s Hair Growth Elixir; or perhaps it was Snape’s. Wasn’t he the one who prepared all those potions for the Hospital Ward? She glanced back at her Head of House, who sincerely looked like he wanted to sink into the ground beside a tipsy McGonagall, who had two bright red spots on her cheeks. She thumped Snape on the back and shouted something about relaxing to him, but it only made him sink lower in his chair, an eyebrow twitching. She looked back at Allen, who looked expectantly at her. “Another round?”

“No thank you. I have absolutely no intention of losing all my Galleons.” She wrapped up all her--well, technically, Allen’s--cards and put them to a side of the table. Dress codes apparently got more lax during Christmas; something Alice fully intended to appreciate. “Where did you learn to play like that, anyway?”

Allen glanced away, not quite meeting her eyes. “Oh, you know. Somewhere. Like everyone does.”

“Where’s somewhere?” Alice raised an eyebrow. But before she could bug him about it any further, someone tapped her on the shoulder, making her look around. “Sammy!”

“Are you going home for the holidays, Alice?”

Samara Devereux | Great Hall - Breakfast / Detention with Snape (The Week Before Christmas Break):

Zacchaeus Malfoy. The last person she wanted to see right now, and he was sitting right next to where she normally sat. Samara wished Alice were there, so she could drag her off to the Gryffindor table, but Alice wasn’t there. Neither was Al--Selwyn. Okay, apparently she was going to have to suck it up and go deal with the second year.

Reluctantly, Samara gave up and joined her cousin at the Slytherin table, scowling as she sat and pulled a plate towards her. When she glanced towards the Staff Table, everyone seemed to be wearing....party hats? She shook her head. “Odd,” she muttered, not-quite-accidentally alerting her cousin to her presence.

“Ah, hello Cousin!” Zach said, throwing an arm around her shoulder. Samara wanted to shrug it off so-very-much, yet she didn’t and proceeded to endure her cousin’s attention for a while longer. “Looking forward to visiting Malfoy Manor for Christmas? I’m sure it’ll be delightful!” He dragged her into his side and then let go. “Isn’t that Manor of yours so dreadfully cold in Winter?”

Samara didn’t have an answer for him, and she was rather glad when he eventually forgot about her, and left the Hall. And that was about when Alice and Selwyn entered it, and joined her at the mostly-empty Slytherin table. Her friends began a game of what looked like poker to her, making her stare at them. What in the name of Merlin? Several minutes later and Alice seemed to give up.

“Allen Selwyn, are you planning to cheat me out of all my spending money?”

Samara sighed and shook her head, turning back to her plate of food. They could do whatever they liked for the moment, and she wouldn’t care. Suddenly, she glanced towards the Staff Table to see a tipsy McGonagall trying to talk to a rather sullen-looking Snape. She snickered and promptly looked away.

“Another round?” Allen’s voice made Sammy actually pay attention to her friends for a moment.

“No thank you. I have absolutely no intention of losing all my Galleons.” There was a long pause before the redhead spoke again. “Where did you learn to play like that, anyway?”

“Oh, you know. Somewhere. Like everyone does.” Samara noticed how he looked away, avoiding their gazes. She sighed and put her head in her hand, gaze trained towards the Staff Table again--where Snape was now leaning away from a now-slightly-more-than-tipsy-McGonagall.

“Where’s somewhere?” Alice asked, eyeing the Gryffindor boy. He didn’t reply. With a groan, Samara tapped Alice on the should to get her attention, since the pair seemed to be ignoring her at the moment. “Sammy!”

“Are you going home for the holidays, Alice?” she asked, trying to ignore the scene in her peripheral vision--the one where Snape was giving McGonagall the most disgusted look he could manage. She felt like laughing. But that laughter was soon quelled by the expression on Alice’s face. It wasn’t angry, per say; however, it wasn’t an expression she could admit Alice was capable of. It was a hollow, somewhat-empty look on her face. She looked away, down at the palm of her hands.

“Go back to them?” Alice murmured. “No, I don’t think so. I’d stay here for the summer if I could.” Then, suddenly, she smiled. “Sorry, don’t mind me. But I’m not going back for Christmas, no.”

“Oh, I see,” Samara murmured and sighed--yet again--right before she glared at Rose. “I’m going home for Christmas--and I’m visiting my cousin. You remember him, Alice? The Malfoy prat, as someone called him. I don’t remember who.” She frowned at the table, biting her lip. Now what? Awkward silence had descended upon the group, and it was making Sammy nervous. “I, uh, have to go. I just remembered something!” With that, Samara promptly stood and took off at a run, heading for the doors out of the Hall.

That night, in detention (again)...

Samara glared at her potion. It was the wrong colour, again. What had she done this time to screw it up? She was sure she’d done everything right. She really was. So what had happened this time? It wasn’t that Rose girl--she wasn’t in detention this time. And the twins weren’t here, either. Nor was Alice or Selwyn. It was...just Samara. She sighed. At least, now it was--the twins had left an hour ago and they’d left a mess, too. That Snape had actually cleaned up--with a wave of his wand, of course. It made Samara envious. She wished she could just wave her wand and have everything done so she could just relax for a few hours.

Apparently not.

“Devereux,” Snape said--she’d heard him coming this time. His robes had swished against the stone floor, footsteps echoing in the pretty much empty room. She looked up to find him scowling at her--again. She promptly gave up and let her shoulders drop. “What happened this time?”

Samara blinked--he hadn’t sounded so....stern just now. He’d actually seemed somewhat, remotely kind. She stared at him in slight shock for a moment. “Um...uh... I don’t know, Professor?” she said, gaze dropping back to the cauldron as she promptly forgot all about his apparent kindness.

Snape appeared to give up--briefly--before he met her worried-confused gaze with a stern one. “I think, perhaps, it is time to leave this potion for another day?” he said and Vanished the potion. Samara looked down at her cauldron as he stalked away, towards the front of the room. His robes billowed as he walked and Samara couldn’t help but to stare at him. She blinked when he turned back to her. “Well? Clean up and leave, Devereux. You’re dismissed.”

Samara blinked again as he turned to the board behind him. Snape....being nice? To her? That was a first. She stared for a bit longer before turning to her now-empty cauldron, frowning at it. It was already clean. Must be a habit of his, she though, shaking her head. [i[Cleaning his cauldron before putting them away--with magic. Snape’s a strange man....[/i] She put away the cauldron and began cleaning up her bench, tossing unused ingredients back into the storage cupboard. And then picked up her bag and went to pull something out of it.

And that was when the DA book fell out, hitting the bench with a loud thud. The noise made Snape turn, and Samara didn’t even have time to shove it back into her bag before he was there, standing over her and picking up the book. She swallowed as he stared at the book, and then he met her startled gaze. “Where did you get this?”

Samara opened her mouth and then promptly closed it. She didn’t, exactly, have an answer, and neither did she know how to answer that. She swallowed again and tried to reply; “I...I found it?” she hedged, cringing when his gaze narrowed. “In...in the hall in the dungeons, outside the Slytherin common room?”

Snape sneered at her. “You are in trouble, Devereux. You know how dangerous the Dark Arts can be!” he hissed, and stalked back towards the front of the room-and the door. “I will be telling your parents about this. Now, you are dismissed.” He pointed at the door, clearly telling her to get out of his classroom. She had no doubt that he was furious. Samara scrambled for the door, shooting Snape a startled, slightly scared look on her way past him. “Do not let me catch you with something like this again!” And then he practically slammed the door behind her.

Rose Lovelace | Great Hall - Dinner

I looked around the Great Hall, trying to find my newfound friends. Samara was sitting with a light-haired boy, but I knew she wouldn’t want to talk to me after the cauldron incident. I grinned, remembering it. Just as the boy left Samara, I spotted Allen and Alice enter the hall and join Samara at the Slytherin Table. I started making me way to them. I noticed the Professors at the long table- what was Professor McGonagall doing!? I shook my head and kept walking. I noticed my, uh, friends were striking up a poker game of some kind, so I decided to plunk down beside Alice and play.

“Are you going home for the holidays, Alice?” asked Sammy, a somewhat-gleeful expression on her face. I glanced over at Alice, whose face was empty - how I expected my face looked most of the time. Alice said something I couldn’t hear and grinned.

“Sorry, don’t mind me,” she said. “But I’m not going back for Christmas, no.” I felt the edge in her voice. I wondered to where she would be going, but her face told me not to ask. Samara mumbled something, then mentioned visiting her cousin- a Malfoy? Dread rose in my chest, and an awkward silence descended. Before the pause got too long, Samara got up.

“I, uh, have to go. I just remembered something!” she nearly shouted, and ran from the Hall. I slumped a little on the bench, feeling dejected. I knew the cauldron explosion caused the rift, but I didn’t know how to make up for it. It was so, so funny! Alice looked at Sammy’s back with a slightly raised eyebrow and turned back to Allen.

“Do you know what happened to her?” Alice asked. I raised my hands in surrender.

“I may or may not have cause a slight...uh...disruption in Samara’s cauldron in detention,” I confessed sheepishly. And it was totally brilliant, I thought to myself. Except, Alice didn’t seem to share my sentiments. Her mouth started twitching downwards, even as she turned to me with a smile. I wiped my face of emotion again.

“Alice, I’m sorry,” I said. “I didn’t think it would be as big of an explosion as - ”

“Explosion?” Allen inquired, with a raised eyebrow. Alice still had a smile on her face as she glanced back at him.

“I suppose it’s the one that happened during detention. Although, I thought it might just be an accident...” She glanced back at me, looking amiable. “...why did you do it, Rosie?”

“I thought it’d be a little tiny explosion, just a few puffs of smoke and nothing more,” I said quickly. “I thought it’d be a lot less...explode-y. I thought it’d be a joke, like the Hufflepuff-”

“And perhaps it would be wise for you to remember exactly what happened to the Hufflepuff twins.” She sounded dangerous for a moment there, before suddenly someone thwacked her on the head. She turned to Allen, rubbing the spot where he hit her. “What was that for?!”

“For being one of the stupidest redheads I’ve ever had the chance to come across.” He stuck his tongue out at her, and before she could open her mouth to protest, he pushed on. “It was just a joke, like she said. She didn’t mean anything by it.”

Alice glanced back at me, and then turned back to him, a sullen look on her face. “I s’pose...”
I gave her one of my best I’m-just-an-innocent-little-girl grins.

“Can we be friends again?” I decided to stick my neck out. Maybe she wouldn’t mind this. “I won’t do it again. Promise.”

She looked at me again, and then, after a few blinks, she sighed. “Okay, but only if you apologize to Sammy. I don’t like any of my friends getting hurt.”

“And so proclaims the hypocritical prankster herself.” Allen jabbed at her, making him pick up her pack of cards and throw it at his head. “OW! That hurt! I thought you said you didn’t like us getting hurt!”

“By others!”

“Unfair! Potter, you are unfair!” He mock-whined, making Alice grin at him. I only pumped my fist inside my head. Maybe I wouldn’t make them hate me after all.

Alice Potter/Allen Selwyn | Gryffindor Tower

“...remind me why you’re in here, of all places?”

“Because I’m awesome that way. And I chose to be. That a good enough reason for you?”

“No, no, it’s not. Besides, that’s a boy’s bed. You’re a girl. In a boy’s dorm room. In Gryffindor. You’re a Slytherin girl in the Gryffindor’s boys’ dormitory.”

“Slytherin, Shmytherin.” Alice stuck her tongue out at him. “And I’m a girl, and we’re allowed to be in here. Besides, everyone’s gone home for Christmas, you idiot.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about...”

Allen sighed and gave up, flopping back onto his pillow. Alice had insisted on taking the bed beside his earlier in the morning, and when he refused, she simply showed up with a bag filled with her clothes in one hand and a caged Hedwig in her other arm. Apparently, ever since Samara had left for Malfoy Manor, Alice felt alone being the only person in her dorm room. And therefore, she decided to move in. But she better get one thing clear. He was not going to be her teddy bear. He wasn’t that short anymore.

Was he?

“Say.” Alice spoke up after a few moments. “About the Stone. Do you wanna go bother Hagrid tomorrow about it?”

Allen glanced at her. She was a complete mess. If it wasn’t for the long braid of red hair, he’d have mistaken her for a boy. Well, a very girly boy. With a sweater and a pair of trousers on. To be honest, he’d only ever seen her wear skirts while she was wearing school robes. “You still haven’t forgotten about that?”

“Obviously not!” She shot back, and looked back at the ceiling. “You didn’t think I’d forget about that, did you? All the teachers are in on it. I just know it. There’s something going on, and I’m not going to forget it.” She rolled on her side, and grinned at the state of his hair; it was sticking out all over the place. “You look like a porcupine!”

“...you.” He picked up his pillow and threw it at her. “Don’t call me a porcupine!”

“PILLOW FIGHT!” She screamed and aimed hers at his face, hitting it directly. It hurt. And therefore started the Great Pillow Fight of Christmas 1991, of which poor Hogwarts house-elves would complain for decades before passing it on as a legend.

Leopoldina Rockharrow | Gryffindor Girls' Dorm

Make up bag?

Check.

Hair product?

Check.

Full winter wardrobe?

Check.

Dress robes for Auntie Pearl's awful annual winter ball?

... Regrettably, check.

Leopoldina was ready to go home.

Well. Almost. She had a few goodbyes to say first. And breakfast. Breakfast would be nice, before meeting her sisters and going to Hogsmeade to get the train.

Pulling her robes over her head, she left the tower and wandered down the halls, avoiding Peeves as he jovially threw snowballs through a window, and wound her way into the Great Hall.

"Good morning everybody!" she said, sitting down jovially amidst the First Year Gryffindors and slinging an arm over Valentina's shoulders. Val looked distinctly uncomfortable but didn't forcibly push Leopoldina away. "Isn't it a wonderful day?"

"Are you going home? Then yes, it is. Three weeks without your presence is very welcome."

"Oh. Potter. Didn't see you there." But of course, Potter and Devereux, the Wannabefindors were sitting with Selwyn. And, strangely enough, Rose. Since when were they friends? It was a pity too, because Leo liked Rose well enough. True, she rolled her eyes a lot at Leo's morning routines, but that hair was cool. And Leo was actually able to talk to Rose. Which made a change from conversation with Val, which far too often resembled getting blood from a stone without a wand, or Allen, who was much cuter as a puppy.

But it was Christmas. Leopoldina liked Christmas. She didn't want to start any new arguments. "Christmas in my house is the best," she said wistfully. "Dancing gingerbread men on the tree, piles of presents as tall as me, the smell of turkey and spices, an ever-flaming pudding, a sip of Firewhiskey before bed, snowmen in the orchard, icicles on the broomshed roof..." She was so far gone in her reverie that she didn't notice the amount of glares she was getting off her fellow First Years. She shrugged them away.

It wasn't her fault she had a loving family.

Before she left, she tapped Allen on the shoulder and made him move away from the group. "Be more suspicious, could you?" Allen muttered.

"Here." She handed him a folded up piece of parchment. "For you."

~*ALLEN SELWYN'S CHRISTMAS LIST*~

-Finish Leopoldina's Potions Essay
-Finish his own Potions Essay
-Write Leopoldina's Defence Against the Dark Arts Essay
-Write his own Defence Against the Dark Arts Essay
-Mail-order the new Enchanted Fragrance, to be sent by Owl Express to Eduaphora Rockharrow
-Learn all the lyrics to the latest Weird Sisters album, to serenade Leopoldina whenever she chooses
-Have a happy Christmas!

"Well, bye everyone," she said with her biggest smile. "And merry Christmas!"

Sae Carrow | Ravenclaw Common Room

Sae sat cross-legged on a wide stone windowsill, staring out at the grounds. Ravenclaw Tower was well known for it's stunning views of the castle ground, and of the Forbidden Forest. Snowflakes fell lightly over the grounds, which was soothing in a fluffy sort of way.

Her hands were wrapped tightly around a letter that she had rolled up over and over again. It was beginning to fall apart from the amounts of times she had unrolled it, read it, and rolled it up again. Her knuckles were white for how tight her grip was on the paper.

She relaxed slightly and unrolled the paper again. The letterhead was of the Carrow Estate, and signed by Miss Daxon, the tight-laced old woman who had been Sae's caretaker for as long as she could remember. The letter detailed that her parents had been moved, again, and were at last in an asylum together. They even had a flat of sorts they could share at the facility.

However, it was The High Security Wizard Asylum for the Critically Insane. With such a charming name, it was no surprise that no visitors would ever be let through those doors.

Sae sighed and rolled the letter up again. "I suppose this changes things," she whispered. Tears welled, and she pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes as if pushing the tears back in. "No need to work yourself up about it."

She spun and pushed herself off of the windowsill. Matt was sitting on a couch in front of the fireplace having a staring match with Felix, Sae's cat. She smiled and sat between them, taking Felix onto her lap. "He'll never blink," she said, winking at Matt. "Felix is a world champion stare-er."

Rose Lovelace | Christmas Break - Gryffindor Girls’ Dorms

Spoiler

Just message me again if this post doesn't work either.

I sat on my bed, absent-mindedly tapping a quill with my wand. I was testing some new spells I’d learned in Transfiguration. Suddenly, the quill turned a deep violet and then burst into a hundred tiny bubbles. I sighed and put my wand back into my high-top shoe. It would be a lonely Christmas. Mother didn’t want me to come home...Something about clearing her head. I don’t know. All I knew was my little sister, Hera, was going to be spending a holiday without me there to watch her face light up. I sighed again and stood up. I didn’t know where I was going to go or why, but I just grabbed my scarf and robe and started walking.

As I walked, I thought about breakfast in the Hall earlier this morning. That Rockharrow girl seemed to like me... I was glad to know that if something happened between Alice, Allen, Sammy and I again, I’d at least have a friend somewhere. Rockharrow was a little shallow, mean, pranky, and her morning routines were nothing less than ridiculous. But she was easy to talk to, and funny when you caught her in the right mood. Still, something about her told me to keep a little distance.

A few minutes later, I found myself in the common room. I decided I didn’t want to face the blizzard outside, so I threw my scarf and robe in a corner and plunked down on the couch in front of the fire. Within a few minutes, I was restless and bored. I wonder where Allen and Alice are I thought to myself. I glanced around, but no one was in the room with me. Silently, I crept to the boy's dormitory. I figured Allen would still be in his room, reading or something. Alice...who knew where Alice was. I came to Allen's door and heard two voices inside - a girl and a boy! Allen and...Alice? I opened the door without knocking.

Feathers were all over the floor. Alice stood by the door with a pillow raised above her head. Allen was on the opposite side of the room, arms raised to defend himself. Alice turned and grinned at me.

"Hey, Rosie!" she said and gave me one of her one-armed hugs that never cease to cross the borders my comfort zone. "We were just having the most epic pillow fight ever. Wanna join?" I grinned and grabbed the pillow from her.

"Sure," I said. I looked at Allen and raised the pillow. "This is for standing up for me, Allen!" I shouted and began thwacking Alice over and over. Soon, she grabbed her own pillow and Allen joined in and we were all throwing pillows and scattering feathers all over the place.

For the first time in my life, I felt completely at home.

Fiona watched as the girls in the Slytherin dorms packed up. She sat crossed-legged on her bed, pretending not to care about the girls who were talking happily of home. She had begged Isibéal to let her stay, because she wouldn’t be able to handle the petrifying silence of home.

Jealously wasn’t a feeling she felt often.

“Bye, Fee.” Maggie reached over to hug her and hand her a little box with wrapped in paper with a black damask print, “that is charmed, and if you open it early, it’ll burn your eyebrows off. Christmas.” Fiona laughed, not sure if her friend was joking or not. She gave Maggie a present in return and watched as she exited the dormitory. One by one, or in pairs, the girls left, seeming to take their Christmas spirit with them. Fiona picked up her cat, Syria, and hugged her to her chest. The cat mewed her protests.

“Oh, hush.” Fiona said. Her brothers gift sat on her night stand, and now was as good as time as any to mail it.

She kept Syria clutched to her chest as she walked through the corridors, headed up to the owlery. She hummed softly as she walked, smiling at the way the sound bounced off the empty walls.