Samantha opened her eyes, a groggy groan escaping her lips. It was Christmas morning. "Oh man," she muttered, hiding her face in her pillow. She had stayed up way too late the night before, reading.
She normally didn't enjoy reading, unless it was a fiction story, but she just wanted to get out of her head. She didn't want to think about anything and reading about types of potions somewhat helped.
She sat up slowly, taking in the pile of wrapped parcels at the end of her bed. She narrowed her eyes, counting the presents. Five presents. That couldn't be right. She only had Neville and Betty to send her something.
Carefully, she climbed to the edge of her bed and grabbed the biggest gift. Unwrapping it, she found a purple sweater with a gold S. Inside was a letter.
Dear Samantha, Happy Christmas from the Weasleys! I hope you have a good rest of your school year and I just wanted you to know that we send you our condolences. Molly Weasley.
A tear leaked out of Samantha's eye. The twins had told their mother and she cared enough to knit her a sweater and send her a not. Carefully pulling on the sweater, Samantha ran her hands down the soft yarn.
She grabbed the second biggest parcel and tore it open. Enough pranking products to make Filch sob came falling out. She knew it was from the twins.
Neville had gotten her a Remembrall and she smiled at the memory of him getting one from his Gran. Betty got her a cute Muggle outfit, a flowy blouse, comfortable jeans, and a denim jacket. They looked used but Samantha didn't care.
The last present was so small and covered in black paper. She carefully unwrapped it, mind going to curses or dark magic. But inside was a plain silver chain and locket. On the locket, there was a very fancy R with swirls surrounding it. She opened it up and a small piece of paper came falling out.
A family heirloom for you. See you next year. E.M.R.
Samantha narrowed her eyes. What did it mean by a family heirloom? And who the hell was E.M.R?
"Samantha!" she heard a twin call.
Quickly putting the locket on and her mother's necklace, she ran down to the common room, smiling happily at the twins. "Thank you so much," she said, hugging them both.
"You're welcome," they chorused, grinning.
She didn't know what happened between them, but she knew they understood her and she understood them. She wasn't sure if they were friends quite yet but she wouldn't push them away anymore.
"I see Mum made you a sweater as well," George said, poking her sleeve.
Samantha hugged herself, a smile playing at her lips. "Yes, it's so comfortable." Her mind was still reeling from the locket and note, but she decided it was Christmas. She would ponder it another day.
The whole day she spent with the Weasleys and Harry. She had more fun than she had in months. Of course, she wished Neville was there, but it was a lot of fun. She wrote Mrs. Weasley, Betty, and Neville her thanks, questioning her two friends on the gifts she had given them.
She found herself sitting in between Fred and George in the Great Hall. The remaining students were all sitting together at a large table, even the professors were there.
Samantha giggled at something Fred said. She felt George staring at her. "Yes, George?" she asked, taking a bite of her food while watching Harry and Ron pull a wizard cracker.
"You don't seem so angry or sad anymore," he said softly, his breath hitting her cheek.
She turned toward him, sighing. "What do you mean?"
"Well, when I first met you, I could tell something was wrong. I thought it had been because your trunk got stolen. But then when I saw you on the train, it was still there. Then you kept getting into fights and I knew something was wrong, but I didn't push because I knew you wouldn't tell me. When Malfoy spread the rumor of you being an orphan, I knew it was true." A crooked smile graced his face. "Then you were crying and you let me and Fred comfort you. Now you seem better."
Tears filled her eyes. Was she that easy to read? Had everyone noticed what George did? She wasn't sure if she was better. She just knew something was different. But she was conflicted about whether it was a good difference or a bad one. Because, while she missed her family with all her heart, she could talk about them without becoming sad, she could laugh at the memory of her baby brother calling her Sam and giggling.
The wall she had made around her heart had been breached by Betty first, then Neville came second. Now it was Fred and George whom she was carefully allowing to come into her castle.
She felt like it was a good thing, but at the same time, if she lost any of those people, she wasn't sure what she would do.
"Maybe I am," she muttered, smiling at George.
A/N: Here is chapter fourteen people! I hope you guys like it!