Parvati sighed, staring at her new crimson drapes in dismay. Her sister was somewhere in another tower, probably staring at the navy drapes around her own bed, or perhaps she had fallen asleep almost immediately – Parvati knew how tired Padma usually got after being surrounded by people.

It was the first time her twin wasn't in the room next door; a mere arm's reach away during sleep. Parvati wouldn't be able to sneak into Padma's bed during thunderstorms, nor would they be able to whisper each other to sleep.

"Hey," came a whisper from between the slit between her curtains on the right. "Your sister was Sorted into Ravenclaw, wasn't she?"

Pulling the curtains further apart, Parvati motioned for the blonde girl to join her on the bed. The curtains around her other neighbour, the bushy-haired Hermione Granger, were tightly shut already.

"Yeah. First night at Hogwarts, and I'm already missing how things were at home. I'm supposed to be a Gryffindor, but all I can think about is how far away Padma is in the Ravenclaw dorms." Her eyes were beginning to burn at the finality of saying it aloud. She furiously scrubbed her face, even thought she was sure the other girl knew exactly what was going on.

"I heard the Ravenclaw common room doesn't really have a password. It's just a riddle. The night's still young, and we have several hours to get lost within the halls of Hogwarts," the girl exclaimed in a loud whisper. "I'm Lavender, by the way. I was going to introduce myself to everyone in the dorm, but it looks like some of my introductions are going to have to wait for tomorrow."

"Wait, are we going to go now? Do you really want to get in trouble on the first night?" Parvati almost forgot to whisper in her shock.

"Well, it's our first night, so I don't know if we'll get into too much trouble, and anyway, we're Gryffindors: the most reckless of the bunch. If you want to go see your sister, let's go see your sister!"

They didn't make it past the common room before they we spotted.

"What would two firsties be doing sneaking out on their first night?"

"Perhaps they're trying to break our record. We only started on the third night, after all."

"Why, Gred, we're being displaced already!"

Lavender and Parvati looked between the red-haired twins, slowly realising that the two weren't prefects.

"We're trying to get to Ravenclaw tower," Lavender said firmly, while Parvati felt as if she had been rendered mute.

"Ravenclaw tower, huh?"

"Well, then, Forge, I believe it is our duty to escort these ladies to their destination."

"Indeed, Gred, and if Filch happens to have a surprise along the way, that isn't our fault."

Parvati got the distinct impression that they were getting involved in something they shouldn't, but her need to see her sister overpowered any misgivings she would have had.

"Alright, then. As long as you get us to the right place, and don't get us in trouble." Lavender narrowed her gaze at the two. "I've heard about the two of you."

"Ooh, I'm spooked, Gred."

"I'm trembling in my slippers, Forge."

They followed the twins, who stopped every few steps and consulted a piece of parchment between them, out of the brightly lit common room with it's roaring fire and into the dimmer stone-walled passages of the castle. With all the twists and turns, Parvati was glad not to have to wander the corridors with Lavender and hope that they were going in the right direction.

"Your destination, miladies," the first twin bowed, and the second followed suit. Parvati and Lavender giggled at their antics. "We'll be back for the two of you at around midnight, so you don't get lost on your way back."

Parvati reached out to bang the knocker, and a voice rang out.

"When does yesterday come after today?"

"The riddle," Lavender whispered. "I'm afraid I'm not too good at riddles. I mean, there's a reason I'm not a Ravenclaw."

Instead, the door swung open before they could answer. A tall female stood at the entrance, frown softening as she spotted the two of them huddled together.

"Did you get lost?"

"Umm, I, uh, I wanted to-" Parvati stuttered, still certain that this was going to get the two of them in trouble.

"She wanted to see her sister – her twin sister," Lavender interjected quickly, receiving a look that was part gratitude, part terror from Parvati.

"I'm guessing it's the same first year that's been moping around the common room for the last half an hour? I suppose we can let you in without the password this one time," the girl said, stepping aside.

Parvati grabbed Lavender's hand and entered the common room eagerly.

The Golden Snitch [Uagadou, Biloko]: 12 Days of Christmas – 2 pink galahs: Write about Lavender and Parvati's friendship