PART ELEVEN
**
Evie
**
"Come on, Evie. Get your things," George came into my room, Fred at his heels. It was nine o'clock at night on Christmas Eve.
"What? Where are we going?"
"The Burrow," the twins said.
"But Mom said—" I tried to protest.
"Mum said nothing," The twins chorused.
"Get your bags," Fred said.
"We leave in half an hour," George said, kissing me on the forehead before leaving with Fred.
My stomach churned. I had a bad feeling about this.
I left a note for Tasha, but I had to give it to Malfoy to give to Tasha.
I found him just coming out of the Slytherin common room, and I pressed it into his hand, silently, before leaving swiftly.
Tasha,
Going to the Burrow with George for Christmas. Try not to have too much fun. Say hi to Viktor for me. If my mom writes, tell her I'm studying for a better grade on my Potions midterm. You're a lifesaver! See you soon.
Evie
When George, Fred, and I arrived at the Burrow, I found it a small house, but warm and cozy. George squeezed my hand to reassure me everything would be fine. He started to let go after a moment, but I squeezed it tighter.
"Mum, we're home!" Fred yelled. "Happy Christmas!"
"Happy Christmas, boys! Oh, I'm so happy you're finally home!" A jolly, plump, red-headed lady I assumed to be Mrs. Weasley came scurrying into the living room.
"Mum, this is Evie," George said when she looked strangely at me. A look of acknowledgment came over her features.
"Oh, dear," she said, smiling, "I've heard loads about you. It's so nice to meet you." She hugged me warmly. George turned pink and Fred snickered.
"Well, well, come on. Let's get you settled in," she said, whisking me away.
I couldn't sleep. It was 11:50 and I was staring at the ceiling. So I snuck into George's room. I found him sitting up in his bed, apparently not able to sleep either.
"Hey," I whispered.
"Hi," he replied wearily, sounding troubled.
"What's up?" I asked, feeling very...American saying that.
"I've just been thinking; Fred and I think we might drop out of school."
"George, why?" Hogwarts was my life now; I couldn't believe he would want to leave. I couldn't imagine what life would be like without it.
"Evie, you haven't lived like I have. It's hard wanting to do something that no one else wants you to do."
"Is this about the shop?" I asked, sitting next to him.
"Well, yes," he admitted, blushing. "It feels silly when you say it like that."
I smiled. "George, I told you I'd help. It honestly sounds like a good idea," I said. George looked over at me.
"You're probably right. Maybe we should open the shop after school ends."
"Yeah," I agreed softly.
"Happy Christmas," George said, smiling. I heard the clock strike midnight,
"Yes. Happy Christmas," I agreed, and brought his lips to mine.
***********
Tasha
**
I was walking along one of the corridors, on my way to breakfast on Christmas morning, when Malfoy slipped something into my hand. I saw a note from Evie sitting in my palm. Coincidentally, it was when I heard a very precise voice call to me,
"Natasha, darling!" It was Cady Locke. Evie's mom was at Hogwarts. A million things started rushing through my head. Why was she here? How did she get here? What am I going to tell Evie?!
"Mama Locke! What are you doing here?" I asked. Oh Merlin, Evie's gonna murder me!
"I came to see you and Evie! Merry Christmas."
She pulled a package out of her purse. I opened up a poster of Viktor Krum, of all things.
"Wow, thanks!" I tried to fake enthusiasm. Oh, the irony....
"Oh, sure," Cady said, flicking her wrist like she was swatting away a fly. "It was no problem. Where's Evie?"
Well, that's the million-dollar question, isn't it?
I scrambled to remember what Evie had told me to say. "She's...studying!" I said, remembering. "She's studying to she can get a better grade on her Potions midterm. She told me it was dreadful. Why don't we head to Hogsmeade? You can fill me in on what's happened since we've been at school." I quickly ushered her out of the school.
"What about Evie?" Cady asked.
"Oh, I'll get her from her room. I'll just be a minute." I walked away from her quickly, starting toward Slytherin and wondering how in the world I was going to conjure Evie up from nowhere.
"Tasha!" I heard a voice that was not Cady, to my relief, call my name.
"Viktor," I breathed, seeing him and running toward him. He enveloped me in a hug. "Merry Christmas, Viktor."
He pulled away and handed me a small box. "Happy Christmas, Tasha," he replied, smiling.
When I opened it, I found a gold necklace with a tiny Golden Snitch.
"Viktor, it's wonderful!" I gushed, a smile breaking onto my face. Viktor, in return, said,
"Tasha, I've been thinking and I need to ask you something. I know this is a little hasty, but I need to ask you, vill you be my girlfriend?"
I was speechless. My first thought was, Viktor Krum. Viktor Krum just asked me to be his girlfriend. Oh, Merlin!
He fastened the necklace around my neck when I said, "Yes."
He leaned down swiftly and kissed my cheek. I stared at Viktor, starry-eyed, I was sure and absolutely euphoric, until I realized Evie's mom was still there—and also in plain view.
"Sorry, Viktor." I looked down.
"Vat?"
"Evie's mom is right there..." I trailed off.
"Vat a buzz kill," he said dryly. I laughed.
"Tell me about it. I'll talk to you later," I said, fingering my new necklace. Viktor nodded and I headed back to Evie's mom.
"He looks familiar," she said.
"He's Viktor Krum," I said, trying to be nonchalant.
"Oh. Yeah."
I told her I'd show her Hogsmeade first before getting Evie. I was hoping I could usher her there and then send a quick owl to Evie to tell her to Get Your Butt Back Here! Love, Tasha.
We walked along for a while, until Cady realized, in her stupid "mom way" that Evie shouldn't be studying on Christmas.
"Wait!" I cried as she ran back to the Castle, in heels no less, but with her motherly intuition, she didn't listen to me. I ran to catch up with her.
"She's at that boy's house, I know it," Cady said, teeth lightly clenched.
"She's been studying all break, Mama Locke, really," I said, trying to convince her.
Evie is going to kill me! I thought. We're going to be very, very dead!
********