Author's Note: This chapter was written for Samantha (HP Slash Luv) as a prize for winning the Game of Life Competition! :)
The title of this collection comes from the song by Creed of the same title. Each chapter title will be a lyric from that song.
At Times
Parvati skipped along the seventh floor corridor happily. There hadn't been much reason for celebration in the past few months, but she wasn't about to let a few self-righteous death eaters spoil her eighteenth birthday.
She skidded to a halt in front of the portrait of Vindictus Viridian and her hands tightened on a small box wrapped in pumpkin orange paper, rocking it a little to test out the silencing charm she'd placed on it a few minutes before.
"Has my sister come by yet?" she whispered to the old Headmaster.
He nodded lazily, sighing. "She's waiting for you inside."
The portrait swung open slowly, revealing the Room of Rewards. Padma sat on the floor against the far wall; a Charms textbook in her hands and a hot pink box on her lap. She looked up and smiled.
"Do try to hurry," they heard Vindictus call as the entrance closed. "The Carrow woman will be making her rounds in an hour or so."
Parvati squeezed herself into the small space between her sister and a glass cabinet, drawing her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them and the box.
"Happy birthday," she said quietly, too used to having to keep her voice low to relax fully.
Padma put the book down and pulled her sister into a hug. "Have you been alright?"
"I haven't dealt with them much." The Gryffindor pulled back, dabbing at her eyes with a sleeve. "I'm sorry about Michael."
Padma shrugged, fiddling with the silver 'P' hanging around her neck, identical to Parvati's. "Madam Pomfrey says he'll be fine in a few weeks. And anyway, we're not supposed to be talking about that."
She pushed the pink box into Parvati's hands and gladly accepted the orange one. They opened their gifts on the count of three, and Padma sat in awe at the small silver bell she found in hers.
"It's been collecting dust in Trelawney's office for ages, so I bought it off her for a few sickles," Parvati explained, watching her sister trail a finger over the ornately decorated handle. "I thought it might suit your collection"
"It's beautiful, thank you." She held the bell tightly to her chest, as if someone might try to snatch if from her. "How do you like yours?"
Parvati grinned, pulling the two long knitting needles from her box and running her hands along them. "They're perfect. Where did you find them?"
"I transfigured them from some sticks. Professor McGonagall taught me how. I know how knitting always relaxed you. She showed me this too-" Padma gently placed her bell down to pull closer her school bag. She opened the flap and showed her sister the brightly colored balls of yarn inside. "They used to be old sweaters."
Parvati selected a cerulean ball and started knitting right away. Padma watched, mesmerized by the movement that reminded both girls of their muggle grandmother who had knit them more sweaters than they knew what to do with, and whose collection of bells had been recently passed down.
Padma rummaged deeper into her bag, retrieving a battered old children's book that they knew inside and out. With her sister peacefully preoccupied to her side Padma read aloud, allowing herself to forget about whatever may be happening outside.