I growled as I finished the last of my Transfiguration homework. Why did Mum have to be so...so...Mumish?

It was just me in the common room a few evenings later in front of the fireplace. I had sent a letter to Mum asking her if me and Damien could spend the holidays with Hayden's family. I sat in the comfy plush chair.

"NO, no!" I mocked bitterly, slamming my book. "I haven't even met his parents! You and Damien will stay at Hogwarts, and that's final!"

Sometimes I think Mum's a little bit overprotective. Just a pinch. I love her to death, but she really needs to stop trying to protect me.

Of course Aly got to stay for a few days. Hayden and Aly are both gone, Amanda's in France, and I'm stuck with Damien until Aly gets back. And Damien's pigging out in the Great Hall! What a surprise.

I sighed and reached over the side of the chair to reach for my book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Great book by C.S. Lewis. I just got it out of the library after Madam Pince recommended me. By the way, guess who got expelled last week for bloodying a first year's nose?

If you guessed Bristow, you're right on the button. That little meathead deserved it. Bloodied the kid so bad, it was terrible. He's in Mungo's right now. Ouch, right?

I sighed, wishing for a hot plate of crepes as I opened to my spot. I had just reached the part where Peter, Susan and Lucy met the Beavers. Nice people in the book. I've already read it, by the way. But I have this weird habit of rereading books. Sometimes I miss a few parts and I have to read it over and over until I completely understand it.

I closed my eyes, sighing. My favorite part in the book is the battle. It's so cool, with phoenixes and ogres, and swords and whatnot.

I yawned loudly. Man, fires can really make a person sleepy...

"You can't just go like that!" Damien said angrily. "Do you know what this battle's about? It practically determines the rest of
history!"

Aly finished drinking from the stream and stood up, her green eyes flashing. "Damien, I'll go to this battle because I want to. You aren't allowed to tell me what I can and can't do." Aly turned to me. "Right Char?"

We were all standing in the thicket of a forest one morning. One morning, that could apparently determine the rest of history.

I already had my sword and shield and my armor out, ready to put them on. Hayden was with me, as well as Aly. We were all going to the battle that was taking place today. I didn't care that Aslan was dead. Well, I did. But quite frankly, I just wanted to slash a few heads off.

Me, Hayden and Aly packed up our stuff early that morning and set off for the battle. Amanda and Damien were both too young (and frankly, too stupid). But they're both smarter than I thought, and they just caught up with us, and Damien is being an idiot, as always.

"Char?"

I blinked as Aly waited for an answer, tapping her foot, her eyes flashing again. I looked at Hayden and Amanda, then Aly.

"Well?"

I cleared my throat and glowered at Damien. "She's right, Damien. Don't think that I'm going to just turn around. This battle's important, and I plan to be a part of it."

Damien groaned and rolled his eyes. "Always sticking with her side. When will you realize that you're making a big mistake?"

I rolled my eyes, picking up my things. "When I'm dead, I can tell you that."

"Aly," Amanda pleaded, "Don't go. You're risking your life for something stupid."

"Amanda, relax," Hayden chuckled, shouldering his bag. "We'll be fine!"

I smiled, walking off.

"Char!" Damien yelled. "Get back here! Char! Char! CHAR!"

"CHARMONT BOYLE, GET UP!"

I yelled as I sat up and promptly rolled off the side of my chair. I landed on the soft carpet. I blinked my eyes and stared at the carpet design as I shook my head.

Then Damien burst into laughter behind me.

I growled and pushed myself up, whirling around. Damien was clutching his stomach, laughing harder.

"There's nothing funny about that!" I growled, whacking his head. Damien wiped his eyes and stared at my face to face, covering his mouth.

"Sorry," he snickered. "What were you dreaming about? Aly?"

"No," I hissed, my face flushing. "None of your business. What do you want, pig?" I smirked, looking at his stomach, which poked out a bit.

"I wanted to tell you that Aly's in the Great Hall."

Hello! Aly's back?

"Why?" I asked, trying to control my excitement. "I thought she was with Hayden?"

"Was," Damien replied promptly. "His parents said that they had to go visit Hayden's grandmother. Sick or something. They had to send her back."

"Oh." I sighed. "I suppose we should go see her."

"You can," Damien yawned. "I'm going to go to sleep." He walked past me.

"Maybe you should exercise?" I suggested lightly, smirking. He stuck his tongue out at me, and then disappeared up the staircase.

I smiled crookedly, and then walked out of the common room. I stepped onto the moving staircase, and busied myself conversating with Jane Austen.

I got off the stairs and walked down the corridor leading to the Great Hall. I entered it and looked around, aware that there were only ten people in there. The Great Hall was still decorated, and the tables were lined with little snacks and dishes.

I spotted Aly sitting at the end of the table, reading. Again.

I grinned while rolling my eyes, shoved my hands into my pockets, and strode down the length of the hallway towards Aly.

I slid onto the bench across from her and relaxed on the table, grinning. She put the book down and I watched her face light up. "Hey, Char!"

"Hey," I said, grinning wider. I'd never been so happy to see her. I eyed her jacket and suitcase behind her. "Heard about your last minute plans."

"Yeah," she sighed, reaching for a muffin. "Shame. I was looking forward to it, too." She took a bite out of the muffin. "But at least I have you, Damien and Joy to be with."

"Yeah," I agreed, grabbing a chocolate chip muffin. I took a bite. Yum, warm, melted chocolate. Delicious.

"Did you just get here?" I asked casually, even though I knew the answer.

"Yeah," she replied, nodding. "About a few minutes before you got here. Damien was already pigging out in the Great Hall when I got here." She smirked.

I bit my muffin again, grinning. "How bout we head upstairs? We can drop your stuff off at the porter's office?"

She stood up grinning. "That sounds peachy."

Hmm. Christmas seems a whole lot more cheerful now.