Disclaimer: I do not own any characters. I just borrow them. Like I did with my sister's pen. Only, I won't be throwing any characters at my cat... Hopefully.

(A/N): I don't like putting loads of disclaimers, so I'll just put some in about a third of the chapters. I am soooooo sorry for putting this chapter up late... Plus it sucks... Have a nice chapter 8! I hope you like the *hem, hem* interaction in it! ;)

Chapter VIII: Surprise!

Axelle's P.O.V.

I was flying, circling clouds, racing birds and playing hide and seek with planes. Somehow, a flying car nearly bumped into me and started honking. Its honking was strange. It sounded like... my alarm clock?

I groaned and slammed my hand down around my bedside table, trying to hit that wretched button. I heaved a sigh of relief as the beeping finally stopped

My relief didn't last long. As soon as my dream came creeping back inside my head, my bedroom door was slammed open and my sister barged into the room, yelling: "It's Christmas! Wake up you lazy hippo, it's Christmas!" I groaned and placed my pillow on my head to muffle her screams.

"Leave me alone. I want to know who the wretched driver of this flying car was." I mumbled incoherently.

She took the pillow off my head and looked at me like she would look at the director of a fool asylum. "It's Christmas!" As if I hadn't understood.

"I know!" I said, sitting up. I glared at her as she left my room, but as soon as she was out, I started giggling uncontrollably. It was Christmas, after all.

As I came down, my parents were filming my sister laughing at a present she had received. I took all my presents and climbed back up to my room. I don't like opening presents in front of people. I never know what emotion to show.

Also, I like making lists, so I made a list of all my presents:

-A packet of Chocolate Frogs, King sized, from Arachno, Scorpius and Rose. (Note sent: It was my idea. Don't eat everything yet; the boys said they paid for it only to see you gain weight. I don't believe them. Do you? *Rose)

-A notebook and a list of lists to do from Dom. (Note sent: Write all your lists in that notebook! –Dom)

-A stack of parchment, new quills and ink bottles from Marianne. (Note sent: Do your essays on your own!~Marianne)

-A necklace from Albus and (surprisingly) James. (Note sent: I chose it and James paid for it. I was broke; it was either that or nothing. I can hear you laugh from here, and I'm in London! Al)

-A strange piece of... something that looked horribly like chewed toilet paper from my sister. (Note sent: Do'nt forggett two comm dawn too dinnere. Orane)

-A broomstick from my parents (Note sent: Merry Christmas! Mum and Dad PS: Please clean your room)

I smiled. My room was a mess. I should clean it. I layed down on my bed, thinking I can't be bothered.


I took left, then right, then left again. My lungs were burning, but, quite sincerely, I couldn't care less. I was a very bad loser, and I certainly wasn't going to lose a stupid game of tag.

All of this was Albus' fault. It was him that suggested playing this game in the beginning. Really, a girl couldn't have suggested playing tag in a castle that dated of the middle ages. I snorted. He had been punished, in his own way. Scorpius was made "it" and promised to kick his bullocks so hard they would fall off. Al ran away, screaming like a little girl.

I turned left and ran straight into no other than James Potter. Crap. He looked down and smiled. Double crap. "Going somewhere?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Triple crap. "Please tell me you're not it." I begged.

He rolled his eyes. "If I was, you would be too by now. However, you might get caught." He added jokingly.

I realised he was right. Quadruple crap. "Please help me." I begged.

He seemed to consider, but before he could answer, we heard Scorp's (or Arachno's) voice call out: "Is someone there?" We both paled significantly. He grabbed my hand and we sprinted out the back door, not looking back.

We ran, hand in hand, through the corridors, until finally we barged into an empty living room, where we stopped, panting. We let go of each other, doubling over, and started laughing.

"Oh my god!" he said. "That was so close."

"Yeah." I agreed. He straightened up and starting humming a tune. "What's that?" I asked. "I like that tune."

He smirked. "Oh, that. It's Carnival of Rust, by Poets of the Fall, my dad's favourite band. Mine too, by the way. I think it's awesome. I like love songs and sad songs."

"James," I said. "Could you show me that song please?"

He smirked. "Only if you promise to stop calling me James. I'm JP." Then he pulled out a red I-Pod.

"Red?" I asked, raising one eyebrow?

He smirked. "Griffindor through and through." He pushed a button and put the I-Pod down on a window still. The music started playing:

"D' you breathe the name

Of your saviour

In your hour of need,"

The singer's voice was deep and rich, and went very well with this song.

"And taste the blame

If the flavour

Should remind you of greed?"

JP smirked at my reaction and went to stand up in front of me.

"Of implication, insinuation and ill will,

'Til you cannot lie still,"

He took my hands in his, intertwining his fingers with mine. I looked down so he would not see me blush.

"In all this turmoil, before red cape and foil

Come closing in for a kill."

He marked a pause, twirling me on the spot.

"Come feed the rain
'cause I'm thirsty for your love dancing underneath the skies of lust."

He twirled me again.

"Yeah, feed the rain
'cause without your love my life ain't nothing but this carnival of rust."

He gently placed my hands on his shoulders, before placing his on my waist. When I didn't complain, he stepped a little away and we started revolving slowly. He placed his head in the crook of my neck and inhaled deeply, before pulling away and continuing:

"It's all a game,

Avoiding failure,

When true colours will bleed."

I sighed, happy. Contented.

"All in the name

Of misbehaviour

And the things we don't need."

We twirled a little faster and I felt strangely calm.

"I lust for after no disaster can touch, touch us anymore
And more than ever, I hope to never fall,

Where enough is not the same it was before!"

He grabbed my waist tighter and lifted me up into the air as the chorus began.

"Come feed the rain...
'cause I'm thirsty for your love dancing underneath the skies of lust"

I was smiling as he lifted me up into the air once more.

"Yeah, feed the rain
'cause without your love my life ain't nothing but this carnival of rust"

He lifted me up once more and twirled me around him. I cried out, surprised but delighted.

"Yeah, feed the rain
'cause I'm thirsty for your love dancing underneath the skies of lust"

He lifted me, twirled me around him and I laughed in earnest.

"Yeah, feed the rain
'cause without your love my life ain't nothing but this carnival of rust"

He twirled me in the air for very long, actually completing two turns around himself before putting me down. We went back to our close position. He placed his mouth at my ear and whispered the next line.

"Don't walk away, don't walk away, oh, when the world is burning!"

His breath tickled my ear and neck, and I was suddenly very aware of how close we were.

"Don't walk away, don't walk away, oh, when the heart is yearning!"

He pulled away and took hold of my right hand, making me twirl on the spot while he sang, louder:

"Don't walk away, don't walk away, oh, when the world is burning!
Don't walk away, don't walk away, oh, when the heart is yearning!"

As the song finished, he pulled me back against him and we slammed against each other. It was so awkward we burst out laughing. He stopped laughing and looked pointedly at the ceiling. I looked up too and saw something that made my heart skip a beat. Mistletoe. Quintuple crap.

He looked down expectantly and I blushed again. Nevertheless, he took my chin between his thumb and forefinger and I was forced to look into his deep, chocolate brown eyes. Our lips met.

OK, fine, it was only for an instant, but that instant felt perfect. The world felt separate from us, and for that instant I was sure I was in love.

But that was only for an instant. When we parted, the feeling was gone and the only thing I was thinking about was Rose barging in. We didn't escape this time. But, honestly, I didn't care. I didn't either care that I had a candy indigestion and didn't get to try out my new broom. I didn't care either that school started in less than a week. I didn't care either that I was stung by a bee (In winter? I was really unlucky) two days before the train ride back.

I didn't care because I had made a new real friend. And friendship is priceless.

(A/N): Sorry, people, that was more of a short filler. Oh, well. Reviews are still appreciated. And sorry again for not updating fast enough. I was just lazy. And behind in my work. You get the picture. I am making efforts though! See ya people!