I was seriously sick of all this OWL stuff so the Christmas holidays were a welcome break from all the homework. They were, however, not welcome. I don't know how I got into Gryffindor because I didn't think I was going to be able to confront James.

I decided to sit with Rose and Emma on the train because of my cowardice.

"Hayley, are you sure you're okay? You seem a little... jittery" Emma asked. She could pick up on even the tiniest emotion in someone's face or actions.

"Jittery. What. No. Of course not. Why would you even say that" I replied gritting my teeth.

Obviously I'm not the best actress but I went to Hogwarts, not drama school. I never claimed to be a good lier either.

Emma accepted my response quietly but I could tell she didn't believe me. Oh well, as long as she didn't ask any more questions I was okay.

The conversation quickly turned to the holidays though.

"Christmas is my favourite!" I cried happily, soon forgetting my problems.

"Me too. I love being all warm and cosy. Reading a book by the fire or tucked up all snug in my bed." Rose sighed happily as her eyes glazed over and she disappeared into a daydream.

"I love spending time with my family" Emma said "We're not as big as the Weasleys but we are just as close. My cousin Susie is coming back from Egypt for Christmas too."

We chatted for hours. Swapping tales and dreams about what we would do, what we would get, what we would eat (my favourite). But finally we pulled into the station.

I hauled the heavy trunk outside and dropped it down. I searched around, trying to spot the familiar curly brown hair of my mother. I stood up on my trunk to get a better view.

"MUM!" I yelled, spotting her bobbing through the crowd.

The trunk wobbled but I kept my balance. I can be elegant every once in awhile you know. I turned to jump off but my foot got caught in the handle and I went plummeting towards the hard grey pavement below. Okay so maybe I can't be elegant but I think I might have a disease that makes me clumsy.

"Hey you alright?" I heard a worried voice behind me.

"Just dandy" I grumbled, brushing away the helping hands.

"Looked like a pretty nasty fall" I heard the voice smiling now.

"Glad to know someone finds my pain funny" I grumbled again.

I looked up to see that the voice belonged to Louis' boyfriend Harry.

"Oh Harry it's you" I muttered, feeling slightly better than if a complete stranger had laughed at me.

"Yes it is I, Harry" he grinned.

Harry became a pretty popular name after the war for obvious reasons.

"Well Harry it is a pleasure talking to you as always but I must find my mother." I said standing and brushing myself off.

"Of course, as should I" he smiled "I might see you over the Christmas? I'm staying with Louis for a few days in the New Year. They throw a party don't they?"

"Courtesy of Mrs Fleur Weasley" I replied "She always seemed to miss the oh so elegant ways of Beauxbatons and I suppose this is her way of recreating it. Wait till you hear all her stories. She goes on for hours to anyone polite enough to listen"

"Good to know. I'll try not to be too polite then" he laughed "I'll see you soon"

"Bye" I smiled back.

"Hayley!" I saw my Mum hurrying towards me, her hands flailing in the air to try and catch my attention.

"Mum!" I cried and threw myself into her arms.

"Aarrgh Hayley!" my Mum yelped as I flattened her into the pavement.

"Oops, sorry Mum" I smiled and jumped off her. I held out my hand to help her up.

"Goodness Hayley, your far to big to be jumping on me. We're practically the same size now" she moaned as she steadied herself "Come on we have to go and find the Potters. I have a new cake recipe that I have been dying to show Ginny"

We wandered around for a little while until we spotted the familiar heads of black and red hair. Ginny and Lily were quite dwarfed by the three dark haired boys. Or men I should say when they're around.

"Ella, Hayley!" Ginny cried, spotting us, and engulfed first my Mum and then me in a huge hug "It's so good to see you again. How's the OWL year going Hayley? Al is sick of all the work but he is the family brainbox so he should be okay. Of course he still finds it hard though. Oh, and how's the quidditch? James was telling me all about the seasons matches, oh how I wish I was still playing, but, you know, I'm not as young as I used to be."

Ginny continued to fire questions at everyone in the car on the way back. Their car had been charmed with an undetectable extension charm to make much more room for everyone. The disproportionate sizes were a little confusing though and I began to feel a little carsick. But we arrived eventually at the Potter's house in Godrics Hollow.

The house was the same one that Harry had lived in as a baby and they had done it up so it was perfect for living. Harry had decided that his parents didn't need a shrine to them for everyone to know of their bravery and knew that they would have wanted him to live there. It was quite a big house too. It was quite modern but with an old feel to it. I loved it.

"Come on Hayley, me and you will be sharing. If that's alright with you?" Lily asked me.

"No that'll be loads of fun" I smiled back. Lily and I really did get along well.

An hour later we were all sitting around a large dining table scoffing down the hoards of food that Ginny and Mum had made with a little help from Albus who was actually pretty good at cooking. Lucky woman that marries him. Finally we finished, two whole hours later, having eaten the lot. No one was able to move so we waddled upstairs to our rooms.

Lily and I stayed up late watching movies on my laptop. She was fascinated by The Hunger Games especially and squealed throughout the whole film. It just so happens that The Hunger Games is my favourite trilogy ever. Around one in the morning we were joined by Al who's bedroom was right beside Lily's and had come to give out about the noise but ended up joining us and watched the whole Avengers movie. Lily and Al shouted at the screen the whole time, asking where their wands were and to just get on a broom. We fell soundly asleep at about four o'clock and I was feeling very optimistic about this Christmas.

Author's Note:

Hey guys! Thanks so much for reading. Please review and tell me what you think. Also, I'm sorry that my chapters are always quite short but I find it hard to write long chapters with school and everything going on. I play a lot of sports as well so that sort of interferes. But anyway, thanks so much!

Love

Jessica.