Author's note/warnings: this is an OC centric fiction. Also I don't have a Beta. You have been warned.

Disclaimer: Don't own etc

Enjoy

Sunlight streamed through the doorway, illuminating the students strolling down the hallway. Two girls stood upon a bench clearly trying to spot someone.

"There she is!" pointed one of the girls, as a student veered sharply towards them. "Where have you been, Caitlin?"

"I had to clear up few things before The Hogwarts Hogwash got its dirty hands on my breakup," Caitlin informed them.

"What breakup? Since when? Why?"

"Cause Pierre and I are just friends now."

"What? It's almost your one year... What happened?"

"Lauren, nothing happened, we just aren't feeling the love anymore. It is a mutual feeling, so now I'm single again, like you guys!"

Lauren raised her eyebrows. "Okay, if that's what you say…"

"It is." interrupted Caitlin. She turned to the silent redhead beside Lauren "So Kirsten, are we meeting Alex here or at Hogsmeade?"

"Oh subtle" cut in Lauren before Kirsten could answer.

"Juvenile" Caitlin tossed back at Lauren walking down the hallway behind Kirsten who had decided that actions were better than words. It took sometime before the argument died, only to have it revived when the last of the group, Alex, joined them.

However, soon the topic changed to the latest and greatest items to hit Hogsmeade. The Hogwarts Hogwash had published several articles on the latest robe fashions at Gladrags Wizardwear and all the other newest items available around the town. They'd also run a companion issue on which was the best way to clear a room 'Dung bombs or Stink pellets pros and cons.' However, this was promptly confiscated.

Hogsmeade was bustling as was to be expected on these trips. Every student that was old enough was there and that was a fair few. Caitlin didn't wait for the other three girls as she ran for Dervish and Banges. She barely remembered to slow down as she entered the shop. The door banged on its hinges. Carefully Caitlin scrutinized the objects adorning the shelves; she slowly made her way around the shop before stopping in front of the object of her desire. The sneakoscope spun, humming, amid a range of assorted odds and ends. The shelf it happened to be on was right next to the store's counter where a bored a middle aged witch sat, idly picking her nails.

"That's it! That's the one!" proclaimed Caitlin pointing to the sneakoscope, just as the others walked in.

"You know Caitlin, I really don't see the point of that thing," Kirsten commented as she leisurely browsed the shelves.

"Me neither," Lauren agreed, picking up a stately leather bound book.

"Think that's a little out of your price range, Loz," observed Alex peering at the book.

Lauren softly stroked the books binding "Yeah but I can dream"

"And I can dream safely knowing that there isn't some scumma trying to murder me. That's why I'm buying this," Caitlin explained, handing over her money.

"Sure, you paranoid android," joked Alex.

The others turned to look at Alex "Um… what's an android?" asked Lauren.

"Oh, it's a robot that looks like a human-" Alex halted her explanation as the others began to look even more confused "Never mind, it's a muggle thing,"

"Right, moving on," Lauren headed to the door grabbing both Alex and Kirsten by the elbows and forcing them out before her. Caitlin hurriedly picked up her gift wrapped sneakoscope, the humming ceasing as she left the shop.

As she entered the street, her hair whipped around. Desperately trying to pry the long burgundy tendrils off her face, she spied the other three. They were huddled together in the middle of the cobbled street, oblivious to the obstruction they were causing. Kirsten and Lauren were having an argument on the best way to budget their money, while Alex stared off in the direction of the post office. Caitlin was struck by the thought that, with Kirsten's red hair and Lauren's blonde, combined they were the colours of fire.

"What an odd thought," mused Caitlin. When catching up to Alex she flung an arm around her "Alex, you know there isn't going to be any mail? If there was trouble Dumbledore would have notified you"

"Hmm… I know," turning her gaze to Caitlin, Alex leant into her grateful for the reprieve from the wind. Tugging at Caitlin's arm she guided them over to the other two who were still bickering. Interrupting them Alex asked "So who wants to get some butter beer?" Alex's question was greeted enthusiastically. The girls hurried down the street, longing to get out of the bitter wind and into the warmth of the Three Broomsticks.

The soft buzz of conversation greeted them as they entered the Three Broomsticks. From there they split up, Caitlin and Lauren heading to the bar and Kirsten and Alex going to a booth.

"It's always so nice here," sighed Kirsten as she sunk into the booth's well worn leather seats.

"Yeah good food, good beer and good people," Alex said, indicating to the rest of the students. It took a few minutes but Lauren and Caitlin finally made it to the booth; hands full with mugs of butterbeer.

"Guess who we had to try desperately hard to avoid at the bar?" Lauren scowled. Kirsten and Alex shrugged both more interested in their beers. "That nosey sod Rosaline, she never gives up trying to get goss' on the boys. Even though I've told her just because we share class does not mean that they share their bloody sob stories,"

There was a collective sigh around the table as everyone glanced subtly towards the bar. A gangly fifth year sat on a bar stool scribbling furiously as she stared out at the crowd, a frown etched into her face. Every now and then she would stop to push up her glasses before starting to scribble again. For all the girl was a brilliant editor for the Hogwarts Hogwash, she was thoroughly obsessed with gossip. At tribute to her abilities to gather information there was already a significant stack of paper next to her and it wasn't even midday yet.

"Wonder what scandal she's dug up. On second thought, I don't really care." Caitlin said taking a long gulp from her butterbeer.

"Probs' something useless on someone buying something that is completely useless," Kirsten stated blandly, pointedly directing her gaze at Caitlin's sneakoscope.

"Sneakoscopes are not useless!" Caitlin defended, crossing her arms and pouting. Kirsten looked like she was preparing for a lengthy debate; she even rolled up her sleeves. She never got a chance to start because Lauren quickly interrupted "Actually I heard that they're writing an article on the shrieking shack."

"Yeah I overheard one of the 'meader's saying that the Shack's been quiet the last few months," Caitlin added before giving Kirsten one last glare.

"Really?" Ignoring Caitlin, Kirsten focussed all her attention on the answer to her question.

"Yeah apparently there have only been one or two shrieks from it over the last three months. People are saying that that it's almost safe. People are even heading into the mountains for the first time in years," Caitlin continued.

"This may sound dumb but why haven't people been going up there before?" Alex asked. All the wizarding students knew about the Shrieking Shack and the land that was unofficially forbidden around it. However, Alex was a muggle so she didn't know the land around Hogsmeade very well.

"The only access point is next to the Shack. The path goes right up to the fence and through the garden out the back," While Caitlin continued the explanation, a dreamy expression came over Kirsten's face.

"I've always thought that those mountains looked so beautiful," she sighed wistfully, the others just stared at her. As they stared she suddenly slammed her beer on the table "Lets' go camping up there!"

It took so long for the girls to recover, that when Alex did Kirsten was blushing so hard she looked like a tomato. "What? As in right now?" asked Alex

Kirsten's face fell for the briefest of moments before her enthusiasm reappeared "Err… maybe not. What about over Christmas. I mean it isn't that far away now. It's in what two weeks or so?"

There was a pause as the others mulled this over. Alex and Caitlin didn't have a problem with this as they spent Christmas at Hogwarts. Lauren had a bit more to consider as she went home for the holidays.

"So any takers?" Kirsten prodded. It wasn't often that there was a chance for any hiking during the year and it wasn't as if she was expected home for Christmas either. She really hoped that the others would agree, normally she would be the last to suggest anything like this but she really loved being surrounded by wilderness. Again a pause and then the barrage of questions began. They came so fast that Kirsten wasn't even sure who asked them.

"It'll be cold and wet and snowy,"

"Oh come on that's why they invented tents and self warming scarves and stuff,"

"Travel?"

"Walking. It's good for you,"

"Maps?"

"The school should have some in the library,"

"Supplies?"

"I'm sure the house elves won't mind if we ask nicely,"

"Presents?"

"Post,"

"The boys?" That question by Alex froze the onslaught. Caitlin stared at her. It wasn't that the question was shocking but that Alex had asked it. 'The boys' as Alex put it were several of the Gryffindor seventh year boys that Caitlin or Lauren shared most of their classes with. As such, Caitlin or Lauren were normally the ones to include the boys in things than Alex.

"Err…I suppose but um… which of the boys exactly?" asked Kirsten. She didn't mind in the least if the Remus, Chase or even Ty came but she had a funny feeling that they were the only ones that Alex wanted to invite.

"Ty, James, Remus, Sirius and Damien," replied Alex.

"Oh don't forget Chase. Remus would be pissed if he didn't come,"

"You realise that Billy will have to come as well?"

"You have a problem with that?"

"Kind of… means there's more people to organise,"

"Really it means you're gonna have to invite Billy on the trip because it's your trip. And it would be rude for me to do it. I know you don't like him Kirsten but suck it up," Alex punched Kirsten lightly to emphasise her point.

"You owe me big! So big, so big that you're gonna check all my essays for the next four months," Kirsten was quite put out by the fact that she had to invite Billy. He was always an arse. Just because his family had discovered the potion that could regrow a person's muscle and skin, did not mean he was the best at potions. That was in fact Severus or maybe Lily.

"Worth it," Alex stated firmly. Silence again. So many questions sat on the tip of the girls tongues. Why now? Why was having Damien there so important to Alex? Was there something going on between them? And why if there was hadn't she told them?

Caitlin was the first to get any of these questions out "Is there something going on between you?"

Alex remained calm for seconded before a small smile crept onto her lips. That small smile was all the answer the girls needed.

"It so is!" cried Caitlin hugging Alex. Kirsten added her congrats as did Lauren. However, something was decidedly off with Lauren thanks.

"How come you didn't say anything?" Lauren asked peering over her mug at Alex.

"It's complicated... We both want to be more than friends but don't know how to get there. So really there isn't anything going on but maybe if I invite him to this he'll definitely know I want more," As Alex explained her smile becoming wider and wider till Lauren thought it might split her face. Lauren smiled in return; it was always complicated with Alex but it was heart warming to see her so happy, especially in these troubling times.

"Complicated," The others agreed.

"Well, I suppose that's settled then. We're going camping for Christmas" Kirsten grinned, her joy obvious as she started to plan their trip. It wasn't long before the girls headed back out into the bone chilling wind to continue their Hogsmeade trip they now had extra things to buy.