Did I apparently forget to post Friday... yes. I had the document uploaded and everything. I honestly don't know what happened there. Anyway, that just means you get a double post now.

Not Potter and the Stupid Stone

Chapter 15

Noel

I sat on my bed reading Magic: A Journey into Our Cores for the third time. I had returned the other two books to the library long ago, but this one just... comforted me. It made me think back to my first flying lesson and how I had been so worried that my magic had depleted because certain people now consider me a blood traitor. It was ridiculous! And physically impossible, not that I had known that at the time. Magic is less like IQ and more like a muscle. As long as your magical core isn't broken, everyone had the same amount of potential to train and stretch their core into achieving amazing feats of magic. It was twisted and backwards that my family taught me to believe anything else. We have two libraries in our house. Two! There was no way they didn't know this information, they just refused to believe it. I could feel my grip on the book tightening as my frustration grew.

Just then, Kidget pooped into my room. I quickly snapped the book shut in surprise and, honestly, just out of reflex from Hermione always flinging the curtains around my bed open without so much as a, "Noel," every time she was in need of my attention.

"Noel, your parents have arrived home and are requesting you come to the dining room," Kidget told me.

I sighed, "Any chance of me getting out of it?"

"I'm afraid not," Kidget replied before apperating away.

I walked to the mirror in my room, once again smoothing all the wrinkles out of my skirt, blouse, and cardigan. I considered changing, but then I ran the risk of being late. I decided to settle on giving my hair a once over with Speakeasy's Slick Fix, Potion Mix before beginning the journey down to the first floor.

I ran into Javier in the main hallway. He seemed to have gelled his hair down, I had noticed that at school he aborted, what I considered, his signature hair styling and just left it natural. He had also switched the jumper he had been wearing earlier over his button up to a blazer. I cursed silently to myself, I now looked under dressed in comparison.

"Kidget," I called softly, hoping I couldn't be herd from the dining room.

"Yes, miss," Kidget responded, appearing silently in response to the quietness of my call.

I removed my cardigan, before handing it to Kidget and saying, "Please return this to my room and bring me my pearls." Kidget nodded before disappearing silently. Once she was gone, I turned to Javier. "We are going to have to figure out a way of communicating formality now that our rooms are no longer next to each other's," I scolded him.

He rolled his eyes, "Fine, next time I'll get Bayrow to tell Kidget what I'm wearing."

"Good," I responded just as Kidget appeared back in front of me, pearls in hand. She had brought my matching double set of pearls, a collection of two necklaces meant to be worn together. The first one was shorted and simply a hop of silver pearls. The second one was longer and, along with the silver pearls, had a large pendent of the Avery family crest set right in the center. I thanked Kidget, prompting her to disappear, before putting the necklaces on.

Javier tapped his foot, impatiently, "Are you good now? I'm pretty sure they will be more mad if we're late than if you're wearing the wrong accessory."

"Yes, I'm finished," I quipped back.

"Then lead the way," he said, gesturing to the archway for the dining room, which was not too far down the hall, "ladies first."

I straightened my back and clasped my hands in front of me as I entered the dining room. My parents were already standing behind their chairs at either end of the table. I moved to stand behind my chair, the third one on the left side. Once Javier was in place, standing behind the chair across from mine, my father moved to sit down, and we all followed his lead. Almost instantaneously, the first course appeared on the table, the soup and salad course.

"How was your day my dear," my mother questioned my father, "I hope the Wizengamot meeting today wasn't too frustrating."

"My day was fine darling and the Wizengamot was just as frustrating as usual. It always will be until we get that old fool Albus Dumbledore out of the Supreme Mugwump position and replace him with a true wizard. If we're not careful he'll soon fill the Wizengamot with Mudbloods."

I cringed at my father's harsh language and but my tong to keep from speaking. Children mustn't speak unless spoken too, and from experience I knew that wouldn't come till the end of the meal. So, I sat on quietly listening as the first course was finished and the second and, eventually, third courses took its place. Yes, it wasn't until the end of the third and final course, the desert course, that my mother saw it fitting to include me and Javier in the conversation.

"Children," she began, "how was the train ride."

I waited as Javier spoke first, seeing as he is the oldest, "It was quite enjoyable mother."

"Yes, quite," I added.

"Well, isn't that very fascinating," my father responded, sarcasm dripping off of his lips.

"Ludvik!" My mother chastised, before continuing, "That is very nice children. Now, your father and I have something important to tell you. We have decided to attend all three days of the Noble blood Christmas Gala. This year, the Bulstrodes are hosting and have offered us a room so that we might not have to go back and forth every day. This means that you will be alone from the twenty fourth to the twenty sixth, however we believe you are both old enough now to be left alone for such an extended period of time." My father simply nodded in agreement.

"Of course, mother, we understand," Javier replied, formally.

"Yes," I put in, "I hope you and father have a splendid time."

Mother smiled thinly at us before father began to speak, "Very well, children, you are excused."

Javier and I turned from the table and exited the room at the same time. Upon reaching the hallway, we both turned and went our separate ways without a word. I couldn't decide if I were elated or sad. On one hand, my parents would be gone almost the whole break, seeing they were rarely home except on holidays, usually, so I wouldn't be subjugated to the long chastisement I had been so fearing. But, on the other hand, they were my parents, and they would be gone for not only Christmas eve and Christmas, but my birthday, too. My birthday is the twenty-sixth, the day after Christmas. Sure, Javier would be there, but it was simply not the same thing.

I pushed the door to my new room open and flopped down into my bed. The flush marron of my new room which had, only hours ago, seemed so beautiful and comforting, now taunted me. "Maybe if you had been sorted into Slytherin, your parents would be able to be around you for longer than one meal. Maybe if you had been sorted into Slytherin, they would still love you," they seemed to hiss at me.

I rolled over so that I couldn't see them anymore. I sighed as I flicked my shoes off and burrowed under my comforter. Why did it seem that every time I thought I was doing the right thing, something just had to happen to make me go and doubt myself again?

I rolled over in bed and felt warm sunlight slat across my face. Huh? I sat up, suddenly alert. I had fallen asleep in my dinner clothes; I hadn't even bothered to take the pearls off. I rolled out of bed and began looking for something to wear. I riffled through all my skirts, dresses, cardigans, blouses, and jumpers before flopping down in bed. I just wanted something comfortable to wear, like those leggings Laura always wears on the weekend. Why did my whole like always have to be so bloody proper? I jumped back up in frustration and ruffled through my wardrobe once more before settling on a white blouse, a gray woolen skirt, a black jumper, and a pair of thick white tights.

"Kidget," I called, after I was done getting changed.

"Yes, Noel?" Kidget replied, appearing in front of me.

"Is Mother or Father home?" I questioned.

"No," said Kidget, promptly, "They are both out. Would you like some breakfast? Keaser has prepared crepes."

Keaser was another one of our house elves, his job was to do the cooking. He was a very talented cook, even among House elves, who are renowned for being naturally good chefs.

"Yes, I would like some crepes, Kidget. Could you bring them up here? Oh, and make sure to give Keaser my thanks."

"Certainly, Noel," Kidget bowed before vanishing.

Not a minute later, food appeared on the round table at the far table of my room. Kidget had sent up a pitcher of orange juice, fresh strawberries, fresh lemons and sugar, to top my crepes with, and, of course, the crepes.

After I finished eating, I decided to stack my plates and bring them down to the kitchen myself. When I arrived, I dropped the plates on the counter, nodded to Keaser, and promptly left. As I was exiting the kitchen, I bumped into Javier, who also appeared to be dropping off used dishes.

"Hey," he said, "So I've been thinking, since mother and father aren't going to be here for Christmas, why don't we do what we used to do when were little in the summer. Have Keaser make us a tone of snacks, carry them up to the fourth-floor library, pull out Uncle Llyod's old muggle record player and spend the day just listening to music and eating snacks. And opening presents of course."

"Yeah," I smiled, "That sounds nice, maybe we can even convince Kidget or Bayrow to bring a Christmas tree up there."

Javier smiled back, "Yeah, that would be nice," before continuing into the kitchen.

Ughhh. Family is so confusing, especially brothers. One second they were pinning you against a wall or telling you off for being annoying, and the next they're asking you if you want to listen to music or go flying. I shrugged the thought away as I trudged back up to my room, his mention of opening presents had made me think of something. Javier always got one or two presents from his closest friends at Christmas, so I should do the same for mine. As soon as I reached my room, I called for Kidget. She appeared with her normal soft pop.

"Yes, Noel," she said, promptly.

"Could you get me a set of the latest shopping magazines from Diagon Alley." They appeared with a snap of her fingers; I suppose my mother had already bought them to do her own shopping with.

"Will that be all?"

"Yes, Kidget. Thank you," I replied, shooing her away.

There was no way I would be able to get to Diagon Alley, but, if I ordered an express owl, I could get presents for my friend via owl order just in time for Christmas. It took me almost two hours, but I finally settled on what to get everyone. I moved to my desk and began to write up the order. For Harry, I got an owl perch, so that Hedwig could sleep in his dorm instead of the owleries. For Ron, I got a pair of special addition Chudley Cannons sneakers. They were bright orange and hideous, but I know Ron loves the Cannons, so I bought them anyways. For Hermione, I got a planner that flashes notifications depending on what you write in it. For example, if you write essay due 11 pm on January seventeenth, it will begin flashing at 10:30 to remind you that you have something due and it won't stop flashing until you open it. And, finally, for Laura, I got a title changing book, it's one book that had six different books listed on the back. To read one of the six, all you had to do was write the title on the first page of the book and then the story that you wrote the title of will appear in the book. Once you are done with that particular title, all you have to do is write a check mark on the last page of the book and then all the writing in it will disappear, ready for you to choose the next book.

Satisfied with my purchases, I mailed the order. With nothing to do, I decided to write to my friends about my plans for Christmas and ask them how their Holiday was faring thus far. All things considered, mine didn't seem too bleak right about now.