Mistletoe

The secret lessons in the Room of Requirement were getting more and more entertaining within every meeting, yet harder. They were resisting Umbridge under her very nose, doing the very thing that she and the Ministry most feared, and whenever he was supposed to be reading Wilbert Slinkhard's book during her lessons the trio dwelled instead on satisfying memories of their most recent meetings, remembering how Olivia had successfully stunned Albert, how Isabell had mastered the Impediment Jinx after three meetings' hard effort, how Amelia had produced such a good Reductor Curse that she had reduced the table carrying all the Sneakoscopes to dust

‘Right everyone. I’ve been thinking, since it’s Christmas, like I promised, I’m going to teach you the patronus charm,’ said Harry, after they had finished practising the stunning spell.

There was excited muttering and buzzing from the girls and Albert’s fellow members.

‘Uh, Harry?’ Amelia said.

‘Yeah?’

‘We need to find a name. Umbridge already asked me what I meant by meetings.’

‘What did you tell her?’

‘I meet up with myself. But she didn’t believe me and gave me detention.’

Everyone burst into laughter.

‘The Umbridge Protest team?’ suggested Isabell, laughing.

‘We need something that doesn’t show everyone what we’re talking about, Isabell,’ said Olivia through gritted teeth.

‘The Ministry Haters?’

‘No…’ Hermione replied. 

‘The Fudge Cake Eaters? You know, Fudge, fudge cake,’ Isabell said thoughtfully.

‘Isabell, no,’ Olivia said annoyedly. 

‘Dumbledore’s Army?’ a dreamy voice spoke.

Everyone turned around to see the same girl that was wearing the eagle head in the previous Quidditch match between Ravenclaw and Slytherin. 

‘Dumbledore’s Army… it does show significance and what this team is about…’ Hermione said, agreeing with the dirty-blonde haired girl, who smiled at them. ‘Good suggestion, Loony- sorry-’

‘It’s fine,’ the girl said, though her voice slightly reduced in dreaminess. 

‘So, Harry, do you think Dumbledore’s Army is a suitable name?’

‘But…’ Olivia said, before Harry could speak. ‘Dumbledore’s Army would really blow our cover up. What if when anyone else who isn’t here is near and we say the initials of Dumbledore’s Army instead? The D.A.’

‘Yeah, I think that would be good,’ Harry said, nodding lightly. ‘And, Luna, that was a great recommendation, really. Now, we begin with patronuses.’

The room was filled once again with excitement amongst the students. 

‘To do a Patronus, you have to think of the happiest memory that you own,’ Harry explained, and the excited noises instantly went down. 

For the next five minutes, everyone’s current goal was to think of a happy memory and make it stick in their head. Isabell thought of her family and friends and smiled at the thought. Olivia had thought of her friends, and maybe thought of Albert more. Amelia, on the other hand, imagined her, her father and her mother reunited and a perfect family. Amelia’s eyes started flooding, but she wiped them before anyone could spot her. Albert thought of his mother and Olivia (and Amelia and Isabell). 

‘Everyone has a happy memory?’ 

All students nodded in unison. 

‘All right, perfect. The incantation for the Patronus charm is: Expecto Patronum. Can everyone please say that out loud? And a great teacher told me that you have to mean it when you say the incantation,’ Harry said, smiling at the last sentence.

The Room of Requirement was once again filled with the buzzing, people yelling the incantation till their throats hurt. 

‘Expecto Patronus- E-expecto patronum!’ 

‘Expect Patronum…?’

‘Alright, enough.’

The room went quiet. 

‘Like before, some of you need to adjust the pronunciation. Now, take out your wands, everybody, and create your patronus using your happy memory.’ 

People excitedly started taking their wands from their pockets and saying the incantation out loud. For the last minute, several people had performed the spell, so that silver translucent animals came out from the tip of their wands. A playful otter came out of Hermione’s wand, while a Jack Russel terrier started barking from Ron’s wand. A majestic silver phoenix started soaring around the room and between students, who looked at it in awe and astonishment. It was Amelia’s patronus, followed by echoing musical cries, just like a real phoenix. A fearsome silver dragon started roaring. The translucent dragon started poising in mid air, its wings going forward and backward in a rhythm. The dragon even breathed fire, which wasn’t real. Olivia pointed her wand at the sky, so that her dragon patronus started flying above all the students, forming a bare shadow on them. Everyone heard a neighing noise, but it wasn’t as close to a horse's. A unicorn, with a long horn and a flowing mane and tail of silver locks started galloping around Isabell. The unicorn’s horn beamed silver sparks, igniting Isabell’s face. A howl was heard amongst some students. They turned around to see a wolf, its teeth bared and its claws sharp. The wolf howled once again, its howl mysteriously echoing around the crowded room. The wolf stood next to Albert, who had cast that patronus. Other students, such as Cho and Ginny, had succeeded in performing their spell. Out of Ginny’s wand came out a horse, which started galloping in mid air, a trail of silver dust following it. An elegant swan came out of Cho’s wand, and the swan pecked on its feathers. Harry gazed at the swan, the end of his lips forming a small grin. Other animals, such as a turtle, cat, aardvark and even an abrax winged horse, started coming out of student’s wands, joining the animal parade in mid air. 

‘Alright everybody, enough!’ 

The patronuses started fading, fading, fading, until not a single silver animal was in sight. 

‘Thank you. I hope you enjoyed this meeting, and… Merry Christmas! I’ll try to create a meeting after the holiday. Everyone, please stay safe,’ Harry said, looking at proud and beaming students, who started departing the Room of Requirement. 

Isabell had gone to the restroom without anyone noticing. 

‘Where is she?’ Olivia asked. 

‘Probably already gone out. Let’s go,’ Amelia responded as she, Olivia and Albert got out of the room after wishing Harry, Ron and Hermione Merry Christmas. 

Isabell got out of the restroom, thinking that everyone was still here. But the room was deserted… or was it? There were two people standing near a mirror. Isabell hid behind a small sofa in the corner and squinted ahead to see that the two people were Harry and Cho. Cho was looking at a particular black and white moving photo stuck on the mirror. The picture of…

‘Cedric…’ Isabell whispered to herself. 

‘You okay?’ Harry asked quietly, starting a conversation between him and Cho.

Cho looked at his reflection in the mirror. 

‘Sometimes… I wonder whether he was good enough,’ Cho said softly, looking at the moving picture of Cedric, who started smiling. ‘If he was good enough… why is he g-g-gone…?’

‘Cedric was the best Hufflepuff I ever met. He was good, probably even better than me. But… Voldemort was just better than him.’ 

Cho didn’t flinch at the mention of Voldemort’s name, like she normally did. Something started forming in the ceiling above them. Cho and Harry raised their heads to see green stems and leaves tumbling down towards them, until they were an inch from their heads. White small berries (which almost represented shining pearls) started blooming out of buds. 

‘Mistletoe…’ Cho said, looking at the white flowers above her. 

‘Better be careful from nargles.’ 

‘From what?’ Cho asked, a confused expression on her face. 

‘Nevermind…’ 

Isabell silently watched them draw closer to each other. Cho’s eyes suddenly started watering. She was an inch away from Harry. She drew closer to him, until their lips slowly met. Harry was surprised as he looked at Cho, and she was so close that he could see teardrops on her eyelashes. Harry quickly returned Cho’s kiss. They were sharing a kiss under the mistletoe, which started sprouting more white berries and leaves. Isabell stared at the couple, her eyebrows arched. She hadn’t the slightest clue why Cho was crying while she was kissing Harry, who didn’t seem to care about that. The two kept kissing, their legs unable to balance them properly. But that didn’t stop them. Harry and Cho kept kissing and kissing and kissing for what seemed to be for all eternity. It was as though they were both in another world, not in the Room of Requirement. Isabell decided not to rudely interrupt their moment and started tip-toeing towards the door of the room. She quietly opened the door and closed it behind her, leaving Harry and Cho kissing lovingly. She made sure that nobody was in sight and started running to the Room of Requirement, though she met Filch’s red-eyed cat, Ms. Norris. The cat mewled at her. 

‘I swear if you tell Filch-’ Isabell began, but Ms. Norris was seemingly sashaying away from her, her tail twisting and turning. 

Isabell looked at the cat and went up the Ravenclaw Tower circular staircase, until she came upon the Common Room door. She answered the eagle-headed knocker and entered to find Amelia and Olivia behind it, their faces white.

‘Where were you? We thought you were caught by Umbridge!’ Olivia said worriedly. 

Isabell gestured to them to sit near the cosy fire, which was deserted. They each sat on a chair and Amelia and Olivia glared at Isabell, who began telling them about what she had seen in the Room of Requirement.

‘Wait, Cho was crying when she was kissing Harry?’ Amelia questioned, and Isabell nodded in return. 

‘But I dunno why,’ Isabell said. 

‘Isn’t it obvious? Cho was lost in emotion. She didn’t know if it was right that she was kissing Harry, who she likes, instead of Cedric, whom she also likes but is dead!’ Olivia replied.

‘Yeah, right. How would you know? Oh, right, you literally know everything,’ Isabell said, rolling her eyes. 

‘Isabell, that’s not funny. You make a big deal when I answer questions that everyone in the school knows!’ 

‘Everyone in your imagination, you mean.’

Olivia huffed and stormed off, up to the Girls’ Dormitory.

‘Isabell, please apologise. Christmas is only in a few days…’ Amelia said, though she didn’t look eager.

Isabell grunted as she stood up and headed to the squeaking stairs, which led to the Girls’ Dormitory. Minutes later, she descended the stairs, followed by Olivia, who was laughing. Amelia looked at them and rolled her eyes. They all decided to sleep after their tiring day. 

‘Alright, today my parents will take me home for the holidays. Would you like to come?’ Isabell asked on a fine December morning. 

‘Of course I’ll come if it means I won’t have to see that toad for a few weeks,’ Olivia said, while reading a book about Potions.

Amelia didn’t reply. 

‘I mean, with Emily around-’ 

‘Why do you care so much about her? She only brings you worry and rudeness!’ Isabell said, looking sharply at Amelia.

They were in the Ravenclaw Common Room, which had been decorated by hard working elves during their peaceful sleep. There were red, green and white ribbons with golden stars hanging from the blue ceiling. There were candles on the tables everywhere, giving the place a pleasant and welcoming sight. There was a wreath on each door that led to the girls and boys’ dormitories. Garlands with red and white ornaments graced the walls of the common room. There was a swag with glittering red and white ornaments on the door leading into the Common Room as well. There were bells near the personal library and there were ropings on the stair rail leading to the dormitories of the boys and girls. The statue of Rowena Ravenclaw had been pushed aside and replacing her was a magnificent christmas tree, packed with red, gold, white and blue ornaments everywhere. A shining star was placed on top of the tree, reflecting the sun’s light whenever the sun touched it. Poinsettias, red flowers, were put in golden vases on the tables (which was where the candles were positioned) and gave the airy room a vibrant enchanting scent. A Christmas swag was also placed on either side of the fireplace. The common room was filled with the Christmas vibration. 

‘I can’t believe the elves did all of this,’ Olivia said, admiring the decorations all around the common room. 

‘It’s amazing that little creatures can produce big things,’ Amelia agreed.

‘So… are you coming or not? I have to tell my mum if you’re coming or not so she could prepare one room or two if you’re coming.’

Amelia still didn’t reply. 

What will Emily do if I- 

‘Well?’ Isabell snapped. 

‘I-I-’

‘Why do you care what Emily thinks? First of all, you literally call her by her first name. Secondly, she doesn’t care about you and won’t give a damn about what you do!’

‘Isabell!’ Olivia clamoured, slapping her book shut. ‘Let her decide, honestly!’ 

Amelia looked at both of them, then jerked her head down, so that they could only see her golden-blonde hair in front of them. 

‘I don’t know,’ Amelia sighed.

‘The more the merrier…’ Isabell muttered. 

Amelia looked at her friends again. First, she would feel lonely. Second, she won’t enjoy her Christmas. Third, what Isabell said was true.

She doesn’t care about what I do…

Amelia bit her lip.

‘F-fine. I’ll come.’

She was attacked by a hug from… Isabell. 

‘Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you-’ 

‘You’re…. Killing… me…’ Amelia gasped. 

Isabell let go of her and burst into laughter. She then glanced at Olivia’s black watch. They were two minutes late. 

‘Oh, no. We’re late. We have to go, now!’ 

Isabell rushed out of the Common Room and sprinted down the stairs. Amelia and Olivia had just started getting up from their seats when Isabell flew past them like wind. They went out of the common room, down the circular staircase of the Ravenclaw tower, and ran in halls and corridors. Amelia and Olivia caught up with Isabell, who was waiting for them near a railway. 

‘The train’s not gone… is it?’ Amelia asked worriedly. 

‘No, Olivia’s watch is five minutes early,’ Isabell replied, clicking her tongue impatiently as they waited for the Hogwarts Express to arrive. 

They heard a choo-choo! in the distance and leaned over slightly to see that the Hogwarts Express had indeed arrived. 

‘Wait, isn’t Albert going to come?’ Olivia asked. 

‘I totally forgot about him-’ began Isabell.

‘I’m right here…’ a quiet voice interrupted. 

It was Albert standing there, his hands in his pocket. The three girls looked at him nervously. 

‘W-well- I could invite you now… i-if you want…’ 

Albert didn’t reply. The Hogwarts Express came to a halt, followed by the same choo-choo! that informed them of its arrival.   

‘So… you coming?’ Olivia asked. 

‘Why do you think I’m here, then?’ Albert replied, though he didn’t look at any of them. 

The girls nervously got into the train and found a cosy compartment, which they sat in. Amelia stared at them, wide-eyed. Olivia and Isabell looked at her, bewildered expressions on their faces. 

‘I forgot Bianca-’

But a hooting sound interrupted Amelia. They looked out through the window in the compartment to see a snow white owl with light blue eyes soar above the train. The owl then flew into the compartment, making the students entering the train duck in surprise. Bianca entered the three girls’ compartment and made a perfect landing in front of Amelia. Bianca glared at her owner. 

‘I’m sorry I- Hey!’ 

Bianca had bit her index finger, so that blood slowly started to get out of the small cut. 

‘Never forget your pet, especially that one,’ Isabell said, looking at Bianca in an amused way. 

They saw a boy with dark ginger hair walk past them, looking into their compartment with a grimm look. Olivia got out of the compartment and rushed to Albert, who wasn’t intending on looking at her. Albert stopped walking and Olivia stopped running. 

‘Come… sit with us…’ Olivia said, panting. 

Albert didn’t reply, rooted on the spot and not moving a limb at all.

‘Please… I don’t want you to sit alone…’ 

‘You do know that I have friends that are boys, don’t you? My whole life isn’t about hanging out with girls only. Goodbye, see you after the holiday… maybe.’ 

Albert walked away, nobody following him. He looked back to see Olivia walking back to her compartment and slamming the door shut. He walked past compartments until he was almost at the back of the train. He opened a compartment door to find two boys inside, with a black owl and a grey cat placed in a corner. 

‘Hey…’ Albert said, placing his orange cat, Charm, with the other pets and sitting on an empty seat in front of the two boys. 

The boy sitting on the right side had stylish blonde hair and blue eyes. A mischievous grin was on his handsome face. The other boy next to him was gifted with black hair and blue eyes. He had the same grin as the boy next to him. 

‘Ah, Albert came,’ the boy on the right said. 

‘Thought he would stay with those girls, eh?’ the other boy said, chuckling to himself. 

‘No, Levi, I just thought that he wouldn’t even come.’

‘Well, Leo, of course he would come because of that Umbridge woman,’ the boy with black hair said. 

Both of the boys were in Slytherin, but they were the kind of Slytherins that weren’t like Draco, cruel and pathetic. Albert felt fine being with them, even if they constantly had a duologue, or what you can call an argument.  

‘So, what made you guys get sorted into Slytherin?’ Albert asked casually as Charm sat on his lap, wanting his master to stroke him. 

‘The sorting hat,’ the boy with black hair, named Levi, said sarcastically.

‘Zip it for a moment, Levi. I’ll answer you Albert-’

‘Ravenclaw is for losers,’ Levi said, rolling his eyes.

‘Levi, shut up! My mate here asked a question and I want to answer his damn question!’ Leo said darkly. 

Levi stayed quiet, though he had the urge to interrupt them. 

‘Right, you wanna know why I was sorted into Slytherin, Albert? It’s because I have what it takes to be a Slytherin. Do you think Slytherin means being a show-off like Malfoy and using their power that they possess?’

Leo glared at Albert, who shook his head as a response. 

‘Exactly, Slytherins are Slytherins because they have ambition! They are cunning! Why do you think You-Know-Who was successful? Because he was a Slytherin!’ 

‘Why’re you a Ravenclaw then, Albert? Huh?’ Levi asked. 

‘Oh, uh-’ Albert began. 

Leo and Levi looked at him, then each other. 

‘Well, what makes a Ravenclaw is that if they have intelligence…’

‘And are stuck-up,’ Levi said.

‘Shut up!’ Leo snapped. 

‘Hello, Levi, sweetie,’ a voice said. 

They looked around to see a girl with alluring soft, straight brown hair and glimmering dark greyish-blue eyes. Levi looked at her then grinned. The girl’s focus went to Levi, Leo, then went to Albert. 

‘You never told me you had a Ravenclaw friend,’ the girl said, still looking at Albert.

‘He’s not as important as our relationship, Bea,’ Levi said as he winked.

The girl giggled as she sat next to him and laid her head on his shoulder. Albert felt uncomfortable as he watched them and decided to get out, Leo following him. 

‘Levi’s life all about that stupid girl and she’s not even beautiful or kind or anything that could make me understand why he likes her. Her brain is as big as an ant’s, even smaller,’ Leo said, sighing. 

‘What’s her name?’

Leo looked at him for a while. 

‘Her name’s Beatrix. Beatrix Elora. She’s Slytherin, too.’

Olivia was surprised at Albert’s sudden actions. But it wasn’t that he said what he said, but it was because of the way he said it. She re-entered the compartment, slamming the door shut. 

‘So-’

Olivia shook her head as she silently held Twilight, who purred. Isabell nodded then looked out of the window. Olivia got out a book to read and Amelia began playing with a small snitch she found in her trunk inside one of her Quidditch robes. She was throwing it and catching it as quick as a flash. Harry had just passed their compartment and looked at her darkly, making her look back in surprise. She was almost going to a pitch black hole and spotted a glimpse of black Hogwarts robes with the Gryffindor Emblem as well as dark brown eyes behind glasses-

‘Where’d you get that?’ Olivia asked, not looking away from her book.

‘I don’t know myself, really,’ Amelia shrugged.

‘Well, isn’t that breaking the rules? I thought you were supposed to give it back.’

‘It feels nice, doesn’t it?’

Isabell and Olivia stared at her, jaws dropping.

‘What?’

‘An hour ago you didn’t want to come with us because that would be breaking Emily’s rules!’

Amelia laughed as they began talking about when Hagrid would be coming back.

‘...what mission d’you think Dumbledore gave him?’

‘Something to do with stopping Voldemort (Isabell gasped dramatically at the mention of the name) gaining more followers than he already has,’ Amelia responded. ‘And, honestly, Isabell- You don’t have to be dramatic when I say Voldemort’s name, he is a person, just like all of us,’ she added when she saw Isabell’s expression. 

The day was slowly closing as dark blue and red filled the sky like spilt paint. The blue and red collided with each other, creating shades in between the colours in the sky. The red sun was now halfway down the horizon. The Hogwarts Express came to a stop at Kings Cross Station, where parents were awaiting their children to pick them up. Isabell, Amelia and Olivia decided to wait until everyone in the train got escorted out. They saw a dark ginger haired boy pass by, following two boys who were having a conversation. Albert looked at them from the corner of his eye and got out of the train. The trio got out of their compartment and out of the train. They walked to a wall and passed through it, along with their trunks and pets. 

They saw a woman with straight brown hair and blue eyes, standing next to a man wearing a blue suit. Isabell rushed to them and hugged them. 

‘Hello, Izzy,’ Mrs. Bluesky said, returning Isabell’s hug. 

‘Where’s Ivan?’ Isabell questioned, but her question was already answered. 

A five year old boy came tumbling towards her and grabbed her leg to steady himself when standing. 

‘There’s the little chick,’ Mr. Bluesky chuckled. 

Ivan slapped Mr. Bluesky’s hand.

‘I’m not a chick! I’m five!’

Amelia and Olivia tried to hold their laughter when they saw Ivan’s actions. They kindly greeted Mr. and Mrs. Bluesky, though Mr. Bluesky glared suspiciously at Amelia, and followed them to a blue car. But it wasn’t an ordinary car, in fact, it was the cars that wizards and witches used in the Wizarding World. 

‘For your information, Mr. Bluesky, I’ve got nothing to do with Death Eaters, even if my father attended the rising of Voldemort,’ Amelia said casually. 

Mrs. Bluesky glared at Mr. Bluesky, who didn’t say anything. Isabell and Olivia looked confusedly at them as they hurriedly entered the car. Inside the car, the black leather seats magically expanded, so that there was more space at the back of the car. Amelia, Isabell, Ivan and Olivia comforted themselves at the back of the blue car. 

‘We’re going to celebrate the New Year, too!’ Mrs. Bluesky said. 

Amelia, Isabell and Olivia looked at each other excitedly. 

The car started hovering and Mr. Bluesky pressed a silver button, so that it started sprinting forward across the star-filled black sky. The car was like a blue comet running on a black sheet with twinkling dots and a bright crescent. 

They arrived at a blue mansion, which had been decorated with Christmas decorations. They got out of the car and went to the door of the mansion, which was outlined with baby lights. There were two swags with blue ornaments hung on the doors of the mansion. Mr. Bluesky opened the door for them and gestured to them to enter the mansion. They were welcomed by the smell of freshly-made cookies. Inside the mansion was every shade of blue recogniseable. The sofas were blue, the rug was blue, the tile was blue. The ceiling was a galactic sky with twinkling stars and a full moon. Amelia and Olivia remembered that Mr. Bluesky had used the same complicated spell as Dumbledore to make the ceiling have the effect of changing according to how the weather was outside. Ivan immediately ran up the stairs, which were blue, of course. 

‘All right, girls. You two will have a spare room each. There’s clothing and already prepared food in those rooms if you need to eat now. Please, enjoy your stay,’ Mrs. Bluesky said kindly. ‘And tomorrow is Christmas Eve, I’ve prepared some Christmas themed clothing that will be hung in your room shortly.’ 

Amelia and Olivia nodded their heads in understanding. Mrs. Bluesky walked over to the kitchen and the girls went up the stairs to see their rooms. They had expected the rooms to be like all other rooms in the mansion. 

But they weren’t. 

Amelia’s room had been furnished with white blankets, along with white silks hung on the pure white ceiling (which seemed to have glitter etched on it). A silver frame was on the wall next to the bed. The frame had Amelia on it, along with- 

Victoria and William Clearwater.  

Amelia stared at the frame, thoughts slowly swirling in her mind. She saw her dead mother’s bright face. She saw her evil father’s kind smile. They were the perfect family, until evil broke them apart. Evil killed Amelia’s mother. Evil swallowed Amelia’s father away from her. Amelia’s hands slowly turned into fists, anger rising up. Angry tears formed in her eyes as they started to fall down her rosy cheeks. Amelia dabbed her eyes and breathed in, then breathed out, trying to calm herself. She looked at the frame again, this time, smiling sadly at it. Amelia wore her pyjamas, sat on her bed, placed her head on the soft pillow and fell asleep, the image of the frame stuck in her head like a magnet. 

Olivia’s room, however, was graced by the colour of crimson red. The sheets were red, the ceiling was red. It suited her. What’s more, there was a bookshelf in a corner, which had piles of books about every subject she was learning at Hogwarts. Olivia wore her pyjamas and gingerly sat on the edge of the bed, looking out the arched window of the room. She wasn’t feeling sleepy and walked to the lonely corner where the bookshelf was. She got out a random book and sat back on the bed, the red blanket only covering her legs. Olivia noticed that on the wall opposite the bed was a bronze frame, the moonlight hitting it. She squinted at it to see her, Isabell, Amelia and… Albert. It was when they were all thirteen. Olivia guiltily looked down. 

We shouldn’t have just ignored him…  

She then remembered what he had said in the Hogwarts Express. 

‘You do know that I have friends that are boys, don’t you? My whole life isn’t about hanging out with girls only.’ 

Had the girls made Albert more… soft? Had they made their presence with Albert uncomfortable? Albert couldn’t only hang out with girls, that was true… and he couldn’t spend his whole life with them… 

Olivia felt her eyelids feeling heavy. She gave a loud yawn and placed the book she was reading on the nightstand next to the bed. And, soon, Olivia went to sleep, the moonlight beaming on her brightened face. 

It was the next day that the trio woke up to find their Christmas clothes hung up on their doors. Isabell was given a cropped blue blouse (which reached just above her waist) and white flare pants. Her blouse had off-shoulder ruffled sleeves. Isabell decided to tie her hair up as a high ponytail and placed a blue bow on her smooth brown hair. She wore baby blue boots that matched the colour of her blouse. She was handed a silver ring, which was originally for Mrs. Bluesky, and silver butterfly-shaped earrings. 

Amelia found some Christmas clothing on the doorknob of the room she was in. She went towards the clothing and feverishly wore it. There was a mirror that showed all of her in the room. She was wearing a green dress that reached above her knees, the bodice high neck and the skirt pleated. The dress had white stripes all over and it had translucent sleeves. She was wearing white fashionable boots that reached just under her knee and the boots had a big sole, making Amelia seem taller than she already was. She was given silver hoop earrings and a silver necklace that had a heart on it. Amelia brushed her hair in the Muggle way with a brown brush and put two clips - one white and one green - on the right side of her head. 

And as for Olivia, she took her clothing. Her clothes were: a tucked in red tank top with kimono sleeves. She wore a white a-line skirt, which was red at the bottom. She wore a red moccasin and her hair was made into a bun, with her fringe covering her ears (which had red candy cane-shaped earrings). 

The girls met at the end of the staircase. They admired each others’ clothes and decided to go to the living room to find Ivan. Isabell burst into howling laughter. 

‘I-Ivan, why are you dressed like that?’ Isabell said, still laughing loudly. 

Ivan was wearing a blue tuxedo, along with white shiny loafers. Ivan’s hair was styled, so that it was brushed back and not messy as usual. Ivan crossed his arms angrily, unhappy that his sister was making fun of his clothes.  

‘He looks like a young gentleman,’ Amelia said, looking at Ivan with raised eyebrows. 

‘And you three look like fancy young women!’ a voice said. 

It was Mrs. Bluesky, beaming at them. She was wearing a simple baby blue dress with a jewel bodice and an accordion skirt. She had applied pinkish-red lipstick on her lips. 

‘I’ve prepared breakfast for you, go to the dining room,’ Mrs. Blueksy said, pointing towards the dining room with her vanilla-frosting filled blue bowl. ‘And take Ivan with you, make sure he doesn’t ruin his tuxedo.’ 

Isabell nodded and everyone followed her into the dining room. The large dining table was enhanced with a blue sheet that had several white patterns on it. They found four plates, each one placed in front of a chair. They eagerly sat on the chairs. Their breakfast was gingerbread cookies and milk. The gingerbread cookies had red buttons and white eyes and a white mouth. Ivan smacked and gobbled the gingerbread. 

‘Aha! I took off its head!’ Ivan said, trying to laugh maniacally in the end. 

The girls laughed along with him as they started to eat their gingerbread. The girls heard a loud gasp and saw that Ivan had spilled his milk on his tuxedo. He looked at them, eyes wide with shock and guilt. 

‘Uhm… the gingerbread did it?’ Ivan said, laughing sheepishly. 

‘Ivan… you’re… so… clumsy!’ Isabell yelled. 

‘Did anything happen?’ Mrs. Bluesky yelled from the kitchen. 

‘No, we’re still eating!’ Amelia yelled back nervously. 

‘Says the one who tripped on the stairs!’ Ivan whisper-shouted.

‘Ivan, shut up. I’m the one who’s going to get in trouble. We don’t want mum to see you like you wet yourself and your urine is white.’ 

Ivan stared at her, his eyebrows going down with anger. 

‘CLEAN ME UP ALREADY!’ Ivan yelled. 

‘Quiet! We don’t want her to know-’ 

‘What happened?’ Mrs. Bluesky said angrily, with her arms akimbo and a frown on her face.

She looked at Ivan, then at Isabell. 

‘What did I say?’ Mrs. Blueksy said sharply. 

‘Mommy! The gingerbread spilt the milk, not me!’

‘Enough with your lies, Ivan. Go upstairs and I’ll ask Riley to fix you up with magic.’ 

‘Who’s Riley? Your friend?’ Ivan asked, frowning.

Olivia and Amelia looked at each other. 

‘Ive, Riley is your father,’ Mrs. Bluesky said tartly. 

Ivan went upstairs, purposely stomping on the ground. 

‘Walk properly!’ 

The stomping stopped. 

Olivia’s bracelet suddenly buzzed. Amelia and Isabell looked at it. 

‘Why is it-’ 

But she had already run out of the dining room and locked the door of the spare room. She pressed on the red bracelet and a screen opened up in front of her, revealing a boy with dark ginger hair and hazel eyes. 

‘Why did she just run away?’ Isabell asked suspiciously.

Amelia shrugged. 

‘But that bracelet isn’t the one you gave us in our first year. It’s different.’

‘Who could’ve given her another friendship bracelet? We’re her only fr-’

But a loud bang interrupted Isabell. They both gave each other worried glances and went up the stairs. 

‘Alohomora!’ Isabell yelled, pointing at Olivia’s room’s door, which instantly unlocked. 

They rushed in to find Olivia and a cropped part of Albert in front of her. Olivia had banged into the bed when she was talking to Albert. 

‘Why in the world are you chatting with him?’ Isabell snapped.

Olivia looked at them. 

‘Who’s there?’ Albert spoke. 

‘Amelia and Isabell…’

‘You know, sometimes I think Albert hates us,’ Amelia suddenly said, loud enough for Albert to hear. 

Albert heard her, loud and clear. Olivia gawked at her, as though her eyes would pop out. 

‘You want me to lie?’ Amelia asked. ‘Fine. Albert thinks we’re amazing friends and wants to always hang out with us.’

‘I-’ Albert began. ‘I just don’t want to-’

‘Zip it!’ Amelia yelled. 

Albert remained quiet. Isabell and Olivia continued looking at her. Olivia made Albert face Amelia, his expression changing from sad to shocked. 

‘I wanted to say that I wanted to come to Isabell’s house. But if that’s what you want, girls, then I’m totally fine with that! And besides, you don’t get to decide who I hang out with!’ 

‘You don’t want to hang out with us because you don’t want to be seen with unpopular girls! I saw you with that Beatrix Elora or whatever and… I’m pretty sure that she’s a girl, a popular one. Yes, Olivia, he was hanging out with two boys and a popular Slytherin girl!’ 

‘I-’ Albert began.

Olivia looked at Albert, then at Amelia, unsure whose side she should be on. 

‘Come on, Olivia! See it for yourself, Albert Foxglove doesn’t want you, he doesn’t want any of us to even be of any importance in his perfect life!’

Olivia stared at Albert then bit her lip.

‘Oh, and by the way, Albert,’ Amelia said. ‘I know Levi and Leo. They’re popular and all, but not good friends. You don’t want to be our friend because of how unpopular we are, and our tragic backstories. You want to hang out with people whose lives are perfect and have nothing inside their big heads.’  

‘It’s not like that-’

‘Albert, who you talking with?’ a voice said on Albert’s side. 

A boy with straight, yet messy, black hair and cold blue eyes stood next to Albert. He saw Amelia and then looked at Albert. 

‘Why you talking with them when you can talk to Ora?’ 

Another boy appeared on Albert’s left side. He had blonde hair and serious blue eyes. 

‘Albert, I thought we had a deal…’ the boy said coldly, glaring with his brown eyes at Amelia, Olivia and Isabell.

A girl with straight brown hair and grey eyes stood next to Levi. She glared at Amelia as Levi grabbed hold of her waist. Amelia looked at Leo, Levi and Beatrix, hatred on her face. 

‘Al, let’s just go, they’re not worth it,’ Beatrix said, adding a small giggle at the end. 

Did she just nickname him? 

Olivia glared at Beatrix, then looked angrily at Albert. 

‘No, wait-’

But Olivia had already removed her bracelet and threw it on the floor, causing it to smash into small red pieces. 

‘We needn’t have been a squad.’

Isabell sighed and went back downstairs to check on her family, leaving Amelia and Olivia alone, along with thick silence. 

‘Why were you so angry at him at the start?’ Olivia asked with a surprised look on her face, though she didn’t look at Amelia. 

‘You don’t know Levi, Leo and Beatrix. They’re horrible, but not only as friends, but as bullies too. They still bully someone that was my best friend since I was a toddler…’

Amelia smiled quickly to herself then her face went serious again. 

‘He’s still my friend, though I barely ever see him again.’

‘I see…’ 

Silence was welcomed inside once again. 

‘Leo used to be my friend until he met Levi. Actually no, until Levi met Beatrix.’

Olivia looked angry, as though she was looking at Beatrix herself. 

‘Don’t worry though, about Albert liking Beatrix. There’s nothing that could break Levi and Beatrix’s relationship. I think Beatrix only likes Levi because of his popularity, though.’

‘They’re all Slytherin, aren’t they.’

Olivia looked at Amelia, who slowly nodded. 

‘By the way, about the popularity thing… you’re actually popular amongst Ravenclaw and a little bit amongst the other houses because of Quidditch and your father and well, because of who you are as a person. Everyone who knows me just sees me as a book-lover nerd…’ Olivia said quietly. 

Amelia was about to say something- 

‘OLIVIA! AMELIA!’ Isabell’s voice yelled from downstairs.

The two girls quickly rushed down the stairs. 

‘What?’

‘Time for lunch.’

‘You gave us a fright, Isabell!’ Olivia said, relieved.

‘Sorry, but lunch is ready,’ Isabell laughed as they headed to the dining room.

The dining room, like all of the other rooms, was blue, and large so that an elegant dining table with ten chairs fitted in. The room was sumptuous, and brightly frescoed with a floral pattern. In the middle of the wall was a frame, and inside it was a moving picture of Isabell and Ivan. The room had a delicate smell of vanilla, which Amelia and Olivia assumed came from the candle on the dining table that illuminated the room. There was a midnight blue rug that seemed to be made out of fabric stitched together with silk. They sat down at the table, which was covered with a translucent ice blue tablecloth. There were all different kinds of food, such as plates of meat, chicken, and all kinds of protein. 

‘Thanks, mum, food tastes amazing,’ Isabell said, her mouth full and her spoon in her hand.

Mrs. Bluesky smiled. Mr. Bluesky entered the dining room a minute later, followed by Ivan, whose blue tuxedo wasn’t covered with milk anymore. Mr. Bluesky kissed Mrs. Bluesky on the cheek.

‘Thank you, Riley. Now, after you have dinner you will take off those clothes and I will be handing you other Christmas clothes. The presents will be here tomorrow, as well as all the decorations inside the house.’

‘PRESENTS?’ Ivan screamed. ‘WHERE?’

Ivan frantically looked around, pushing shoving away anybody who blocked his path. He looked under the sofas, under the table, he even looked in the vast garden. Ivan came back after two minutes, panting and grabbing hold of his mother’s dress to steady himself. 

‘They will be here tomorrow,’ Isabell said, rolling her eyes at her brother. 

Ivan huffed and crossed his arms angrily. 

‘I want my present now!’ he moaned. 

‘We all do, Ivan. But we have to wait,’ Olivia replied. 

‘Hem hem.’ 

Olivia and Isabell gulped. They knew that silly throat-clearing cough only too well. They slowly turned around to find Amelia, standing behind them and pretending to be Dolores Umbridge. 

‘You actually fell for it,’ she said, surprised, yet laughing. ‘How could Umbridge the toad be here?’

‘Don’t you dare ever do that to me again. I’m here to enjoy my Christmas!’ Isabell snapped. 

Before anyone could say anything, there was a knock on the door. Amelia told them that she would open the door. She opened it to reveal a woman with pale skin, short brown hair and cold grey eyes. Amelia gulped as her eyes widened. 

‘You are coming with me, young lady,’ Emily breathed. 

Olivia and Isabell went to Amelia, looking at Emily. 

Mrs. Bluesky and Mr. Bluesky hurried to them, until they saw who was at the door. They both seemed horrified. The trio looked at each other confusedly. 

‘Emily…’ Mr. Bluesky said. 

‘Ah, Riley, raised some beautiful children, have you.’ 

‘Emily, you’re a Death Eater now! Shouldn’t you be going to your Lord?’

Amelia stared at Emily. She thought it was possible that Emily would be a Death Eater, but never in a million years did she expect it to be real. Emily looked at Amelia with her fiery grey eyes. 

‘This is the first and last time I say this, Emily. Don’t come here. I will raise Amelia if I need to. You don’t deserve a child’s love,’ Mrs. Bluesky barked, looking at the woman in front of her. 

Emily gave Amelia one last deadly look.

‘Fine, but I will see you very soon…’

Emily smiled terribly at her and strode off, her dark green cloak trailing behind her. Everyone looked at Amelia, who had already gone up the stairs and into her room. They heard the loud bang of the door slamming shut upstairs. 

Olivia and Isabell followed her, and knocked on the door. No response had reached their ears. 

‘A-Amelia…?’

They then heard angry muttering and the door flew open, almost hitting Isabell’s nose. 

‘What do you want?’ Amelia asked hotly.

Isabell and Olivia glanced at each other. 

‘We wanted to check if you were fine,’ Olivia replied. 

Amelia didn’t reply and just marched back into the room and sat on the bed, so that the mattress went down because of Amelia on it. Isabell took the risk and walked in, slowly followed by Olivia. They sat on either side of Amelia, who seemed to be lost in thought, her eyes not blinking or moving. 

‘Will you please leave me alone?’ Amelia asked quietly as she stood up and looked at herself in the mirror. 

She saw her calm blue eyes. The same as her father’s. 

She looked at her golden-blonde hair. The same as her mother’s. 

She was a replica of the two combined. The replica of Victoria Francis and William Clearwater combined…

Amelia continued to look at her reflection in the mirror glumly. She looked behind her, but nobody was there. She saw her friends slowly closing the door, trying not to make a sound. 

‘Izzy!’ Mrs. Bluesky’s voice called from downstairs.

Isabell and Olivia gave Amelia one last look and exited the room, shutting the door kindly behind them. 

‘Yes?’ Isabell called back. 

‘Help me with decorating the living room!’ 

Isabell sighed and went downstairs, leaving Olivia to wander on the first floor alone. 

Amelia was in her room, under depression. She laid down on the bed and just stared at the ceiling, the old thoughts forming in her mind and her inner eye seeing corrupted images of her father and mother. 

Isabell was helping her mother set up Christmas decorations, with Ivan running around the house like a madman. Ivan had almost taken his pants off when Mr. Bluesky stopped him with an unforgettable death stare.

Olivia was in her room, silently reading a book. She thought of Albert, who hadn’t contacted them ever since the incident. 

I’m just a book-loving nerd. Of course he wouldn’t want to be seen with a freak like me. 

She sighed and continued to read her book. She heard a knock on the door.

‘Enter,’ she said in a sigh.

Isabell came in, looking furious- probably at Ivan. Olivia looked at her then dug her nose into the book once again. 

‘Where’s Albert, the supposed famous guy?’ Isabell asked, trying not to sound furious, but her expression made it too plain for Olivia. 

‘With his “friends”.’

Isabell didn’t say anything and collapsed on Olivia’s bed, groaning. Olivia tucked her legs in before Isabell lay on them. 

‘Do you need coffee,’ Olivia asked politely, her expression remaining as it was. 

Isabell shook her head. 

‘I just want to stay here, not go to the Toad…’ 

‘Our only way to success and “education” is to go to the Toad.’ 

‘I liked the D.A.’

‘We all did. Harry decided to continue it, but we have to take more precautions in the upcoming meetings. There’s rumours that Umbridge will replace Dumbledore…’

‘WHAT?’

‘Rumours-’

Isabell literally stood on the bed, her head about to explode from disbelief. She jumped up and down on the bed, shock and madness controlling her body. 

Isabell, steady yourself!’ Olivia yelled. 

Isabell stopped and started breathing heavily. 

‘ISABELL! WEREN’T WE DECORATING THE ROOM? GET YOUR FRIENDS AS WELL!’ they heard Mrs. Bluesky yell from downstairs.

‘Coming…’ 

Isabell and Olivia got out of the room, bumping into Amelia. Amelia too had heard Mrs. Bluesky’s deafening scolding. They walked down the stairs and found Mrs. Bluesky, hands on her hips and glaring at them with a vexed look. She pointed her hand on the living room, which had been only decorated with red poinsettias in a glittering blue vase. 

‘Isabell, didn’t I tell you to clean up that mess Ivan made?’ Mrs. Bluesky said, still irked.

Isabell nodded, though she rolled her greenish-brown eyes when Mrs. Bluesky didn’t gaze at her. 

‘Amelia, dear. Might you go decorate the tree with Olivia?’ Mrs. Bluesky said kindly, which made Isabell glare at her sceptically. ‘I’ve been looking for someone to do that an hour ago,’ she added, eyeing Isabell, who continued to gawk at her.

‘Yes, Mrs. Bluesky,’ Amelia said, already walking towards the blue ornaments in a cardboard box, which lay on a small, wooden table. 

‘You see, Isabell? Your friends are actually helpful, unlike you,’ Mrs. Bluesky said, looking at Amelia and Olivia placing some ornaments on the vast green tree. 

Isabell had the urge to yell at her mother, but decided to keep her mouth shut. 

‘Right,’ Isabell said through gritted teeth.

Mrs. Bluesky looked at her in an exasperated manner, then stood up to help her clean the mess Ivan made.

‘Mum, you don’t have to look all creepy. Ease up a bit.’

Mrs. Bluesky glared at Isabell, making her shrink slightly. Olivia and Amelia picked only the best blue ornaments, as they didn’t want to be introduced to Mrs. Bluesky’s wrath. All the ornaments had gone out of the box and onto the X-mas tree. Olivia started hanging up some baby lights all around the tree, forming a swirl of lights on it. Amelia got a shining star held in her hand. Its light was going through the gaps of Amelia’s closed hand. Amelia let go of the star, which started to fly by itself and was followed by a trail of gold glitter. The star landed on the top of the tree and didn’t move anymore, giving them all a bright twinkle then fading slightly. They all looked at the living room in pride. The living room was brightened up, suitable for a Christmas celebration. There were colours of red, green, white and, of course, blue hung up in the room. Mrs. Bluesky peered at a blue clock on the wall. It was eleven thirty five. 

‘Goodness. You all have to sleep for tomorrow,’ she said, shoving the girls to the stairs. ‘And, Isabell, make Ivan sleep on his bed.’ 

‘Why me…’ Isabell whispered to herself, rolling her eyes. 

Isabell grabbed Ivan from the collar of his tuxedo and made him go to his room and change to his indoor clothing. He opened the door a few minutes later, wearing matching midnight blue pyjamas that had white stars on them. 

‘Good night,’ Isabell told Amelia and Olivia. 

Isabell entered Ivan’s bedroom and turned off the lights of the room. There was blue light illuminated in Ivan’s room. Amelia and Olivia bade Isabell and each other and they went to their rooms. 

Amelia wore some spare pyjamas she found lying on the white sheets of her bed. She collapsed on the bed, and her eyelids slowly closed, making her fall fast asleep. 

Olivia had also found some spare pyjamas placed on the red sheets of her bed. She wanted to grab a book, but her body was aching and telling her to go to the bed. She covered herself with the blanket and soon fell asleep, dreaming of a red dragon soaring across the red skies of sunset.