November, was a month of changes. That went by faster than the leaves could fall. Gone was the tumble of autumn colours rustling along the ground. Left in their wake were strong north winds. That howled through the emptying school yard. Few students wanted to spend their time, and hanging outside at lunch. Doing nothing but shivering, with winter nipping at their heels.
Thomas, and his friends also kept their free time inside. They went to visit Pipa regularly, but the group was much quieter. Without her contagious cheer. Both her and Squeakers were doing well according to the Head Nurse. Everything was steady, and her body was fine.
Pipa looked like she was simply sleeping. It didn't offer them much comfort, but at least she wasn't in any pain, and Thomas did take comfort in that. Professor Nocturne had somewhere to go at night. Putting Thomas's night classes on hold. Not that Thomas had much hope for them. No matter what the Professor called himself — he was still the same.
Knowing all the answers, and not giving an inch on supplying the answers. It frustrated his potions students to no end, but Thomas was used to it. Learning from his past, Thomas spent his nights reading up and tinkering with potions. Among other things, after all the nights were long. Their weekends spent in the Room of Requirement.
Thomas was having a hard time holding on to a strong enough memory to make a Patronus. His only relief came in the form of Bernard, who was struggling with it as much as he was. Lars hadn't tried his hand at it yet. Mysteriously clamming up, claiming he a had an idea what it would be, and he wanted to help us out before he tried. His confidence was blinding, but it didn't help either him or Bernard out any.
December came rushing at them. The first brought a blanket of snow. Looking out the window, Thomas saw the grounds, and the school in a dusting of white. It was beautiful cold. Roaring fires were lit all around the school. It did little to battle the frigid temperatures. That seeped into the school large stone walls. Thomas had left the dorm, to spend the night curled up in front of the common room's fireplace.
There he worked away on the finishing touches to Lars's birthday gift. Thomas, not once in his eleven years — had celebrated his birthday. December first was like any other day. It didn't enter his mind that this year would be any different, but when he heard it was also Lars's birthday. Well, Thomas had to do something for him.
He had spent the better part of a week making a deck box for Lars's tarot cards. Thomas had a good supply of wood, sent by Berry — the O'Sullivan's house-elf. She never sent any letters, but Thomas would randomly get small packages full of hunks of wood. All different colours.
Thomas knew it was her, only because Lars had received a letter from his mother. Telling him how cute it was that Berry was going out for walks to gather wood for Thomas. Thomas had plans to make her soothing nice for Christmas as thanks, but he had to finish of Lars's present first.
With no spells, or enchantments. Thomas managed a simple raven design on the box he was craving. Smoothing it out until it was so smooth it shined. It could have been easier to make with magic, but working with his hands. Brought Thomas a slice of peace.
When he worked the wood, transforming it from one thing to another. That was all he could think of, nothing else in the world existed. It was only Thomas and the wood. With dawn creeping its way up. Thomas finished off the box, placing it on the table beside him. Thomas stood with a stretch.
Bernard came down the stairs rather early for him. Thomas managed to get Lars's present tuck into his ring. Yet before, Bernard dragged him out of the dorm with not so much a good morning. Thomas ran down the hall with Bernard. Down stairs, and halls until the pictures on the walls become blur. Breathing ragged, his school robes trailed behind him like wings. Only when they reached the great hall did Bernard slowed. Letting Thomas catch his breath.
"Happy Birthday Thomas!" Lars said his hands out wide from behind their regular table. The table itself was stack with small cakes and treats. A scattering of presents made the middle, pop in colourful array. That moved and twirled on their bags and wrapped papered boxes. That made a better centre piece then the pumpkins and candles, did at Halloween.
"Happy Birthday Lars." Thomas said back with a big smile.
"You didn't have to decorate for your own birthday." Thomas sat down at the table, flaring his robes around him.
"It's your birthday too." Bernard sat down beside him.
"Told you he would be like this." Lars said, smiling he sat down too. "Here. This will get you into the spirit of things." Bernard said, pushing black box at him with star shooting across it. In a sparkling white trail around the corners.
"This is... for me?" Thomas asked, looking at Bernard with restraint, but hopeful glee.
"I have something for you too, my parents, and Berry too. " Lars started piling presents in front of Thomas with each name he mentioned. Thomas fingers dance across the table, right in front of the presents. He wanted to unwrap the presents right away.
"Ah!" Thomas put his hand over his ring to summon the box he finished up this morning. "It's not wrapped, but..." Thomas gave Lars the box for his cards.
"It's amazing Thomas." Lars ran his fingers over the edges of the box. Running his nails along each detailed line, Thomas had craved for the Ravens wing. "I like the raven." Lars said soft gentle voice, that ended with a smile.
"I thought you might." Thomas said, "His family home had them everywhere." Thomas said for Bernard's benefit. "It's for your tarot cards." Thomas said to Lars, his eyes darting to his own gift. Gifts! Thomas never once got one. Well, Thomas did get a knife from Professor Nocturne — then the Old Man.
"Our home." Lars corrected. Taking out his tarot cards to place in the box.
"Well — go ahead. Open them." Bernard laughed, and Thomas latched onto his present first. Tearing it open to reveal several crystal of gold and clear colours, in a black wood stand. From Lars father, Uncle Liam, he received a thick volume of sixteenth century poetry. Lars got a book on stars from his father, and a journal to write in from Bernard. Aunt Merry gave him a robe in sapphire, and gave Lars one to match his.
Berry sent him some leafs, and vines. Off hand, he recognized some as potion ingredients, but he would have to sort them later. Lars got a stick that he couldn't explain. From Lars, Thomas got enchanted sharping stone for his wood working tools. They laughed, ate cake for breakfast. When people arrived for breakfast, they stared and whispered. For once, Thomas didn't care.
Ethan and Victoria even joined them for breakfast. Wishing both Lars and Thomas a happy birthday. Fun and games didn't last long, and classes had to start, but this little party was what they needed. A pick me up from all that happen, and even History of Magic class couldn't bring him down. Two more weekends passed like that. Without much change. In either classes or their self-imposed Patronus lessons.
During that time another person fell victim to the soul sealer. John Lewis, a second year Hufflepuff. Headmaster Longbottom, did a great job to keep that quieter than the first two. Thomas, and his friends only found out due to them visiting the hospital wing so much.
Christmas's holidays were coming, and everyone was getting ready to leave, even Thomas. Pipa was at the back of Thomas's mind. She was staying at Hogwarts, to be under the care of Nurse, and protected by the school. Not that it did much to stop what had happened, from happening. Bernard seemed unwilling to go back home, as well.
"Why not come home with us?" Thomas asked, he sat on his dorm bed. Watching Bernard pack for home. His face as unreadable as when they first met. "I'm sure Aunt Merry wouldn't mind, and Uncle Liam is really nice too." Thomas said all this, with a solid feeling if Lars could be there — he would back him. Or figure out a way to actually make Bernard come with them.
"I have to go Thomas." Bernard said folded his last robe into his trunk for home. "There is a library at home, an old library, there may be an answered there. For both for you and Pipa." Bernard turned towards Thomas. His honey brown eyes shining with a furious glow. "If that means facing my family." Bernard swallowed, "I'll do it." Bernard's voice sounded shaky, and firm at the same time.
"Do you think they'll be mad about the whole Gryffindor house?" Thomas asked, passing along his Christmas gift for Bernard. Thinking he would hide it among his belongings. He made him a vial of Calming Draught. The closer they got to Christmas, the more Bernard closed himself off. The potion was tricky, a few years above his current grade, but he managed it after a few tries. Thankfully, Lars parents were giving when it came to potion ingredients.
"Thanks." Bernard said with a half smile. Placing, this time wrapped gift, thanks to Lars; into his trunk. Setting the trunk close with two heavy clicks.
"Yes, I can already feel my skin peeling at his burning stare." Bernard wipe his hand over his lower face, a very adult gesture. To Thomas's point of view.
"Do you have an attic?" Thomas thought back to his little space in the attic. It was dusty, bug ridden, and smelled bad, but all those things made it perfect. After all, who wanted to go up there? To torment or pester after a person, when they too would have to suffer the same space.
"I don't know." Bernard pulled his trunk off the bed and held onto it by the handle. "Why?"
"It might be a good place to get away from it all." Thomas said speaking from his experiences. You could face a lot of hardships, if you have one. A place to get away from it all. Thomas had hopes that everyone could have a Room of Requirement one day, or even better. Not need one at all. Until then...
"Do you have one?" Thomas's brows crunched together with worry about, and for Bernard.
"I have one." Bernard patting Thomas in the shoulder. "Here, with you." Bernard pushed past him and headed down stairs to the dorm common room.
"Is that enough?" Thomas whispered to his back. Following after him, wishing things could be different. Lars waiting for them outside the painting. They walked to the train station together. Talking about their goals, to return with results or at the very least some clues.
They sent each other off with hugs, and headed home for the holidays.