Chapter Eleven
Tragic Christmas
By
the time Christmas Vacation had rolled around, Fred and my relationship had
diminished to close friendship, more of a brother-sister kind of deal. Which
was good, because I had begun to worry more about my homework instead of a boyfriend.
But
the major event wasn't the fact that Mom wrote telling us we had to stay at the
school for Christmas instead of celebrating it with my parents, or the fact
that Fred and Katie were going home. It wasn't even the charmed mistletoe that
some fifth years put in the great hall that made all passersby's kiss, even
though it was extremely humorous to see Danielle kissing a stray owl that had
swooped under it. I pitied the poor owl, it wasn't its fault.
No, it was
the news that was received two days before Christmas, for Morgana.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
I
climbed the staircase to my room carrying a large box of Holiday gifts for
everyone staying behind, Fred's and Katie's I had already sent. I was hoping to
find an empty room so I could rap the presents, but what I found surprised me.
I dropped my box, letting the rapping paper I had borrowed unroll.
Morgana
was lying on her bed weeping, her white-yellow blanket rapped tightly around
her shoulders.
"Morgana!
What's wrong?" I asked, rushing to my friend's side.
No
response except for the continuous sobs from her pillow.
I
stood up and headed for the door, going to look for her sister. As I opened it;
in walked Miranda, Morgana's older sister.
"Miranda, do
you know what's wrong?" I asked her, noticing the tear stains on her face. She
shook her head, not telling me either. Miranda went and began rocking her
younger sister, tears streaming down her own face.
I couldn't do
anything. So confused, I got up and walked back down stairs to the common room
where Tom and Andy were sitting near the fire. Their looks were very grave.
"Hey Alex,"
Tom mumbled as I sat next to him on the large couch.
"Have you
heard yet?" Andy asked, looking at the fire.
"What? It's
something to do with Morgana and Miranda, but neither would say."
The boys were
silent for a few minutes. Then Tom spoke up. "Their parents were killed by the
DER," He said. "They're orphans now."
I was silent
for the next few minutes, stunned mostly.
"They've got
an older brother, but he's working for the British Ministry of Magic as an
Auror, Morgana told me before." Andy said. "I think they'll be staying here for
the rest of the school year at least."
Ah man…What
was happening? People were beginning to die because of the DER and now they had
killed Morgana's parents. What a great Christmas present.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
I woke up
around eight Christmas morning. "Merry Christmas Morgana," I said hopefully,
looking across the room. You could say that Morgana was pretty much out of it. Morgana
was still lying there like a statue. She wouldn't even get up to open her
presents. I couldn't blame her, her parents just died. I was cheerful that
morning. True I felt sorry, but I didn't know them so I couldn't feel any loss.
I began
opening my presents. A moving photo of the six of us, Fred, Morgana and Andy in
their Quidditch robes and Katie and I in our robes we had bought. Tom was
wearing worn orange robes; it clashed badly with his hair. It was from Morgana
of course, except Miranda had taken it. I added it to my collection on my
table, which was almost completely covered by them.
Fred had sent
a card with five sickles in it. He never gave out actual Presents. Katie had
sent a book on more advanced hair charms and some sparkly hair bands. Tom had
pooled his money with Andy and gotten me a mirror, which gave me hints on how
to make myself look better. I was slightly annoyed at it. I wasn't the type who
really worried about that kind of thing, but oh well. They were boys and they
didn't understand that not all girls are the same.
The last
present was from Mom and Dad, an emerald-green sweater, matching corduroy
jumper and green strap-on shoes. Mom made the sweater herself, she always did.
And they always gave me a sweater, sort of a tradition I guess. I didn't expect
much since we weren't spending Christmas together.
After I had
taken care of the rapping paper I stole a glance at Morgana. She was now unwrapping
her presents, slowly. I dressed myself and charmed my hair into two looped
braids, a style not from the new book. Those looked too hard.
"Merry
Christmas!" I greeted my brother and three cousins, who were all wearing sweaters
I noticed, when I bounded into the common room. "How is everyone?"
"Mmp," Andy
grunted and stared into blank space before falling over onto the couch asleep.
"Up at five,"
Tom commented, leaning against the back of his chair. "Woke me up. I was ready
to strangle him."
"I see you're
all wearing sweaters." I said sitting down on the couch.
"Yeah, the
famous Weasley Sweaters. Grandmother gives it to us every year for Christmas.
And mine's always Maroon…" He looked disgusted at his sweater.
"That's
because you look too much like dad," Devin answered. "He gets Maroon too. Maybe
she'll figure it out soon."
"If she
hasn't figured it out in the thirty-six years dad's been around, she's never
going to." Mathew said.
"So…are we
going to head down to breakfast?" Tom asked, lifting Andrew up and pushing him
toward the statue hole.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
There were
about twenty people in Superior who stayed at the school. And I knew that some
of them were not Christian, hence the lack of Christmas decorations. Stupid
country. It was the same at my elementary school. I didn't know this school
followed the same rules.
But Mathew
had brought some wizard crackers for us to use. I split one with Morgana, and
when the green smoke cleared, a fancy black coat and hat appeared. I offered to
let Morgana have it but she told me she already had one and walked back
upstairs, tears already falling down her cheek. And all I could do was watch her
go.
It was then
that I hated the DER, I hadn't before because I had no need. Now I did, and
someday I would stop them.
Well, how was it? Short I know. But I
hope you liked it.
Questions? Comments? All are welcome!
R&R PLEASE!
