Authors Note: Guten tag meine leiben. Sie ist der erste von dezember yahren 2010. Lol 1 December 2010. Cheers and enjoy thf

Story: Of flowers and emerald eyes...

Author: Theherbflower at

Chapter Four: As Christmas sparks the Yule tide air.

Disclaimer: I hereby state that I own no creation of J. K She is the mastermind behind this fiction based story. I do attest to my own plot line and my charming characters lives.

Of Flowers and Emerald Eyes

November arrived with its sullen, sad affair of snow and cold. The castle had to have warming charms precariously placed about the main corridors and halls, so that the students wouldn't die from too much cold. I began to wear loads of under clothing, I'd never liked the cold too much and tried to avoid it at all possible costs. I didn't have many clothing for the winter, so I was at a slight disadvantage. I had only my three thin long sleeved green shirts, and not much else. So I wore them under my robes, to keep from the bitter cold that sat in as the days in November seemed to slip by. My birthday was in four days, and most successfully I'd manage to avoid this topic with my friends, as I for one did not like the speak of my birthday, I simply liked to avoid all topic of it. James was his normal outrageous self who pranked innocent people and had seamlessly continued to quest for my voice to, as he would put it, "Soothe his raging soul." The guy was a menace to not only me but to those who happened to be around me. Rose was hopelessly into boys, and at such an early age too. She spoke of her rendezvous with these guys which included not much more than holding hands and goofy smiling, which to not only my own relief, but both her cousins and to my surprise, Scorpius's as well.

I knew that soon the halls would be decorated with the seamless ribbons and all that would be Christmas, though at current I was steeped in pretending to be happy, as I couldn't let anyone notice the crack in my bravado. I was lazily settled into the squashy crimson sofa near the roaring fire. I had my favorite Jane Austen book in my clutches, seeping my self deep into the world that was Sense and Sensibility. I had a package of Chocolate that James had somehow procured and handed to me, in simple, I was in heaven. Now if I only had some nice hot coco, It and everything would be perfect. Though I guess it would be at this point that fate had deemed that my perfectness be broken by the arrival of Scorpius who with a grin, plopped down next to me and grabbed my chocolates away. He smirked and rolled his eyes before pulling me into a brotherly embrace, which I really was only to happy to fall into.

"So love, What are you reading?" Scorpius asked taking a bite out of his chocolate bar.

"Sense and Sensibility. It's a novel by Jane Austen."

"Who's that?"

"She was a writer from the nineteenth century. She wrote novels, this one is my favorite." I placed the book marker inside the book and handed it over to Scorpius.

"Cool. Very cool. So where'd you get the chocolate?"

"James." I replied. "He somehow got it and handed me a box, which I really don't mind. I like chocolate."

"I know you do." He agreed.

I was in a comfort I hadn't ever really expected. Here I was with friends who most obviously cared about me, Scorpius was the smarmy one, he made you laugh. James was the one to stand out, do random things that only aided the laughter. Rose was the hopeless romantic, boy crazy and loopy. Al was well... Al. He was by far my best friend, the closest of all my friends, and I'll never know why.

Albus took this moment to come in on our lovely happy go lucky scene.

"What?" he asked angrily. "I don't get to be a part of this happiness?"

"Oh Al, of course you do." I opened my arm that wasn't already around Scorpius to him.

"I thought so." He huffed settling down into the embrace.

"Guys! Guys!" An excited James hollered coming through the portrait hole.

"What?" Al replied grouchily.

"Ahh now this is so cute! I need to get a picture." James pulled a camera from behind his back.

"James, where did you find a camera?" Scorpius asked confusedly.

"Oh, mum sent it for me to take pictures of Al."

"What?" Al asked outraged. "WHAT THE BLOODY HELL! I can't believe she's spying on me." He huffed and tucked himself tight into my embrace.

"No, just checking up on you." James grinned. "Oh and she said that she can't wait for you to come home for Christmas." He moved in front of us to take a snap.

"Oh yeah, Christmas." Scorpius grinned. "We could all meet up at the Ministry Ball. My father works in the misuse of Magic office."

"That'd be wicked." James agreed.

"Totally."

"Are you taking the picture or not James?" Al barked.

"Alright, hold your bloody Hippogriffs." James pressed the button and a large flash went off.

"Hey! couldn't wait or me?" Rose came down from the girls dorms.

"Get it then." James rolled his eyes at his cousin.

"Ok." she flopped herself on top of us all. Legs on Al's lap, head and elbow on Scorpius's. She posed all haughtily.

"OK." James took another snapshot and smiled.

"So what are you..." However Scorpius was cut off as the head of Gryffindor came in through the Portrait hole holding a rather large package.

"Miss Winchester, this is for you. Your parents must have sent it in the muggle fashion, the post man left it on the steps of the abandon castle he must of seen. Anyways, I assume a Happy Birthday is in order." Professor Vector smiled and turned and left, her cloaks billowing behind her.

Everyone looked at me, I blushed and stood to retrieve the package the professor had left on the table. I picked up the letter attached it read...

'Heather.

This was left in your inheritance from your father, it stated that it should be given to you upon your Eleventh birthday. So to honor the wishes of his will, I am sending this to you. Please be reminded that you are not to come home this holiday and this summer you will work on kitchen staff.

Hoping that you keep to our wishes.

Your Mother.'

I sighed audibly and pulled open the package. Upon doing so I gasped, the sight before me was astounding, I can only assume the reluctance my mother had sending this to me and not my stupid sister. It was an ornate emerald jewelry box, lined with crystals on the inside. It had a tinkling dancing ballerina who spun around in simple elegance as a soft tinkling played. It was simply the most beautiful thing that I had ever seen..

"So when were you going to tell us that It was your birthday?" Al asked acidly, that boy was being a right grouch today.

"Well Mr. Grouchy, I really wasn't planning on telling you. Now if you'd be so kind as to let me leave, I'll be out of your hair." I snapped storming up the steps to my dorm.

oOoO0OoOo

It had been two days since I'd spoken to Albus, and already the silence was killing me. I missed my grouchy friend, he was always so sweet behind the grouchy behavior. I hadn't talked to Scorpius or James either, they had sided along with Al. Rose was my Switzerland though, I think although she didn't understand fully, she understood enough to know that my birthday was not something I liked to think or talk about, much less celebrate. At current you could find me int he library, large and dusty Transfiguration tome in hand doing research. I sighed and laid my head down on its pages, I really wished I could talk to Albus right now, it was raining and I desired to dance and sing with him like before... I guess I could go down there by myself, though I can only imagine how boring that'd be.

On a hasty decision. I hopped up and left my dorms and Gryffindor Tower behind me. I was going a dancing.

I reached the grounds of Hogwarts in ten minutes flat. I walked over to the lake, a mere ten yard distance from Hagrid's hut which was located on the East slope of the school whilst the lake lay beyond that and the Castle to the North. I sat down underneath a drenched beech tree and gazed over at the lake, it was full and swollen. The moon above was crystal clear in the sky, although rain was pelting the grounds like crazy. The drops were like gems in the half Grey half moonlit sky. I was slowly getting drenched to the core, feeling the water caress my scalp, my cheeks, my soul. I stood up and began to spin in the muddy sand. I kicked off my shoes, ripped my socks from my feet, and then I was off spinning and twirling in the rain and mud.

"What would you do If I sang out of tune?" a familiar voice came from behind me. I turned to see James standing there with a camera in one hand and an umbrella in the other.

"Would you stand up and walk out on me?" I continued. "Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song and I'll try not to sing out of key."

"Your singing for me flower? This is the best night of my life." He puffed his chest all macho like.

"Oh can it. You've been wanting me to sing for you for weeks, just admit it darling." I grinned.

"I do admit that I have. Now how about a happy song eh?"

"Alrightie then...

James (an:The red head prankster.)

Heather (an: The lovely flower.)

Both (an: of the cute couple o' friends. Btw its not a James and Heather paring. Its a good old Albus and Oc paring.)

"I don't know where I'm going.

But I sure know where I've been.

Hanging on the promises and songs of yesterday.

But I've made up my mind.

I'm not wasting no more time.

Here I go again... Here I go again.

Though I keep searching for an answer.

I never seem to find what I'm looking for.

Oh Merlin I pray you give me strength to carry on.

'Cause I know what it means.

To walk alone yet always feel the dream.

Here I go again on my own.

Going down the only road that I have ever known.

Like a drifter I was born to walk alone.

But I've made up my mind.

I'm not wasting no more time.

Here I go again."

"I love singing with you my Flower." James plopped down underneath the beech tree. I complied and followed suit.

Little white flowers peered up at us from they're perch in the little patch of grass in the Hogwarts sand. They were drenched in the rain that had at some point turned into a soft haze of mist. I smiled at the simply beautiful creatures, they always seemed to be happy, regardless the circumstance. I leaned forward and plucked one gently; I would take it back up to my dorm and press it, to keep its unwavering beauty. James smiled at me softly.

"What are you doing for Christmas?" he slipped, trying to create a conversation.

"Oh I'm staying here this year. I figure the castle will be wonderful at Christmas time." I smiled.

He looked astonished at me. "You cannot really consider that? It's cold and lonely."

I shook my head. "My dear James, everything is fine. I'm sure the castle will be wonderful even when all the students leave."

"Come on Flower. Please, you can't just waif about lonely."

"James I'm never lonely. Loneliness is a sad thing, so therefore if you're happy; you cannot be sad or lonely."

"What if it's all cold and you get no presents?"

"James, I can live without presents. As for the whole getting cold thing. I am a witch James, I can produce a heating charm, Professor Flitwick taught us late Friday."

"WHAT? How could anyone live without presents?"

"Oh James, material things are just that, material."

"What?"

"James, I don't normally get presents. I've lived a whole life without them, I think I'll survive."

"No presents?"

"Are you obsessed or something? Who cares about superficial things people only send you for a courtesy."

"How can you say that? I am not obsessed. I just like them, they make me all fuzzy inside."

"Alright James."

We fell into a soft silence; I didn't want to tell him what I did, as I didn't want anyone to know. All my friends had loving families that would of course spend the multitude of money they had on they're children. I didn't want they're sympathy.

"Want to come in now? It's getting late and there is a curfew."

"I guess." I sighed.

He grinned down at me. "Our song is the slam of screen doors. Staying out late; tapping on your window. When where on the phone and you talk real slow, because it's late and your mama don't know. Our song is the way you laugh, the first date when I didn't kiss her when I should have. And when I got home, when I said amen asking god if he, could play it again." he sung dancing about like a fool.

"Taylor Swift?" I raised my eyebrow.

"Yep! Isn't she the greatest?"

OoOOoO oOooOo OoOOoO

"Wait what?" I asked the boy in confusion. "You want me to come and spend Christmas with your family?"

Albus nodded. "Come on, James thought it'd be a good Idea."

"I don't know. I couldn't impose like that."

"Yes you can, mum already said so. She's already expecting you so there is no point in trying to get out of it."

"Al Christmas is a time for family."

"Yeah I know. And I want you to be part of that experience."

"Al..."

"Dammit Heather. Your my best friend and I'll be damned if I let you be alone on Christmas of all things."

"I really dunno Al..."

"I've already talked to Professor Crane. He already marked you on the list of people going home."

"You talked to our head of house without even confronting me?"

"Yeah. I did. And I knew you'd be throwing a fit too. So quit already. You don't have a choice in this matter my dear. You will come home with me and James this Christmas. You're going to meet my little Sister Lily and my mum and dad."

I glared at him. "Al. You are so insufferable at times. Did you know that?"

"Yeah, you might have mentioned it. But yeah."

He looked me dead in the eye then. His eyes had some sort of power over me. I'll never know why or how. But they did.

"Alright." I growled

He then swept me into a friendly yet fierce hug. "This is so wicked. Lily is going to be ecstatic!"

"Is she nice?" I mentally kicked myself. Is she nice? Merlin I was a dumb ass.

"Oh yeah. She's gonna ask you five billion questions too."

"Ok."

He pulled back from our hug and smiled, running a hand through his hair. "So want to go to the kitchens and get some hot coco?"

"The Kitchens?"

"Yeah, James found them."

"I guess. Wanna get Scorp and Rose?"

"Sure, you go and get Rose, I'll handle the Malfoy." we broke off in search of our friends.

OooOooO oOOoOOo OooOooO

I stood on the kings cross platform all weird like. Al was being looked over by his mum who turned out to be a red headed woman with a loving nature. Rose ran off to her parents, James was still with his friends and Scorp just disappeared. Mr. Potter seemed to be absent, as I couldn't see anyone of James or Albus's descriptions. I just stood there, trunk in hand, looking like a complete goof.

"So you must be Heather." I heard a voice from behind. I was a little bit scared to turn around and see who this person was. I was however, not a person of rudeness and I turned around.

The man looked exactly to the tee like Scorpius, so guessing that he was his father I spoke. "Hello. You must be Mr. Malfoy." I smiled my bright smile I knew could brighten up a whole room.

"Good guess my dear." He smiled at me holding out his hand. I shook it. "Scorpius has told me so much about his friends."

I didn't know what to say.

"And I do believe he is right. You have an infectious smile."

I blushed. Of course Scorp would tell his family this, the muggle born girl with the big smile. "Thank you."

"And and even admirable blush."

"Umm thanks."

"Oh dear your quite welcome. I did not expect my Scorpius to make friends, alas I was wrong, and he found you and the others." He gestured to the others who were still being questioned by they're parents.

"Well Miss Winchester. Have a good holiday." He bowed his head at me, Scorp gave me a hug and they were gone.

Mrs. Potter swept over to me in a split second and then engulfed me in a heartwarming hug with of course I was only too happy to comply.

"You look underfed. Boys lets hit it." She pointed towards the road. "Now Heather dear, how would you like some homemade Turkey, mashed potatoes, some nice broccoli and some gravy?"

I smiled at her. "That would be wonderful Mrs. Potter."

"Good, let's blow this pop sickle stand and get the cooking."

"Can I help?"

"Of course my dear, helping is always good." she nodded her head, hugged me a little tighter and we were off.

AN: Oh my gosh, I just saved this cute starved Kittie and i named it Linus! How wicked a cool name is that? Anywho, r&r

Herb3