"Honey, why didn't you tell us?"
"I didn't want to bother you."
Annie, Amanda and Lily were sat in the Head's common room. Lily had just been released from the hospital wing the day before.
"Oh Lily, you tell us everything from now on ok!"
"Ok."
"So, change of subject, I saw that creepy boy who hangs around with the guys today. I guess he's finally back from wherever he was," Annie said.
"Oh, he scares me, he looks like a rat. Really strange," Amanda said.
"Where exactly was he?" Annie asked.
"Oh, James told me he had to go look after some Aunt somewhere; his parents wouldn't go and sent him there instead. Sounds a bit too weird to me," Lily explained.
They sat for a whole, motionless. Staring deep into the burning fire. Each thinking of different encounters they had with the boy. They had rarely had a full conversation with him and he seemed to just follow the guys. Even though you could tell that they sometimes got annoyed with him, they would never argue or try to get rid of him. He was defiantly lucky to have such loyal friends as them.
"So have you heard any more about your mother?" Annie asked after the long awkward silence.
"There has been no change so far, I am going to go visit during Christmas break, she may be slightly better by then," Lily explained.
"Oh, well I hope, we both do, hope she gets better soon," Amanda said.
Annie looked at her watch.
"Amanda, it's 2pm, we've got that thing," she said jumping to her feet.
"What thing?" asked Lily.
"Oh just a small study group we have."
"Bye Lily!"
They ran from the portrait down to the common room. Once inside they noticed Sirius and Remus sat in the very far corner. Annie walked over and greeted Remus with a kiss while Amanda sat down in a chair opposite them. They both realised that there was a third person there, hidden in the corner.
"Oh, we invited Peter, I hope you don't mind."
-
"So Plan One was a failure. We'll have to move onto Plan Two," Annie said briefing the group.
"And what exactly is Plan Two?" Sirius asked curiously.
"I have absolutely no idea," she answered.
"Err- maybe we could do a."
"Let's lock them up in a room together until they give in – or die," Sirius said quickly interrupting Amanda.
"That's the worst idea!" Annie shouted.
"Amanda what were you saying before Sirius interrupted?" Remus asked turning to her.
They all looked straight at her.
"It's stupid. I won't say," she muttered.
"Go on, whatever it is it's got to be better than dogface over here's kidnapping plan," Annie said poking Sirius in the face.
"Ok. Maybe we could do a sort of special game. Where you put all our names into a hat including James and Lily and whoever's name you pull out you have to buy them a special Christmas present."
"Ok that's good. But we set it up so James and Lily get each other. It's perfect!" Annie exclaimed, "All for Amanda's plan raise you hand."
Both boys raised their hands and another hand appeared from the corner.
"Let's get the plan ready – prepare for action!" Annie said loudly but the common room was now empty.
"You get way too over dramatic sometimes Annie!"
-
"The next day they all sat anxiously through their lessons. The time was drawing close to when Plan Two would happen. The day seemed to pass by very slowly until finally they reached the end of their lessons.
Annie and Amanda waited for Lily to finish her meeting with the prefects. While Remus and Peter waited for Sirius to come back with James from Quidditch practice.
"So James, we came up with a great idea for Christmas. We each buy someone a gift but we select that person by …" Sirius said stopping for a dramatic pause.
"What?"
"Pull their name out of a hat!"
"Sounds exciting," James said.
"Oh it is. Remus and I have already selected ours."
"Really, who'd you get?" James asked.
"Me? Oh I got Amanda," he answered. A small grin appeared across his face.