Disclaimer- As always, Rowling is the one and only author who owns the rights to Harry Potter and all mentioned in the books.
Changing Moods
As Christmas rapidly approached, Jessica's mood began to lift.
Luke continued to inhabit the seat beside her in the Great Hall, and soon she wasn't seen without him by her side.
That night in the common room they had been sitting on the navy sofa, facing the roaring fire with flames of bright oranges and reds.
"Excuse me!" Demanded the hushed voice of Professor Flitwick, his tiny figure standing on top a chair so he was clearly visible.
Everyone turned their head towards their Head of House, as he only ever appeared under important circumstances.
He waved his hand, which held a clipboard, around, causing himself to tip over, his midnight blue robes toppling over him as he almost landed head first. Scrambling up to the top and straining his voice, he continued, "Whoever is staying at Hogwarts this Christmas is to sign this clipboard." He looked as if he was going to wave the clipboard around again, but thinking better of it, sat it on the chair and exited the common room, leaving the Ravenclaws able to rid of their contained laughter.
Jessica's content mood instantly fell, and Luke noticed as the body beside him under the black cotton blanket became rigid.
"Don't worry about it, Jess. We'll have a good time here."
"You don't have to stay. I'm sure your family wants you home."
"Nah.." He began, looking uncomfortable at telling a lie to her. He straightened the collar of his school robes, identical to Jessica's, but a few sizes larger.
She smiled, the corners of her mouth lifting, causing her whole face to break into a tickled grin. She poked him in the stomach, "You're not very good at lying."
His brown eyes crinkled with a look of amusement, "I couldn't go home even if I wanted to. Don't even try for a minute to say you wouldn't make me stay here."
She shook her head playfully, "I've got to at least try to act like a decent person." She sighed and stood, letting the entirety of the blanket fall onto Luke. "Come on, we're signing up to stay at Hogwarts over Christmas."
He followed her, tossing the blanket on the floor.
Below two names she didn't recognize, Isabelle Lanchez and Geoffrey Louis, Jessica signed her name with the eagle feather sitting beside it, then handing it to Luke who signed his directly under hers.
"There, it's in print. Now, I'm staying."
"And now I have to buy you a present," She said in an exasperated sigh.
"Well, I'm not buying you a present." He said in a huff turning towards his dormitory.
"I wouldn't expect a insolent snot like you to buy me a present, anyway." She said, making her way to her own dormitory.
They both grinned, knowing that their words were dripping in kind sarcasm.
No longer visible, Luke shouted out a "Goodnight" and Jessica returned it before opening the door to her dorm and collapsing on the white sheets, fully clothed.
Meanwhile, he collapsed on his own bed of a satin blue, with a poster of an attractive witch with long red hair winking at him seductively beside him, beginning to get exasperated as he ignored her.
As they both began to fall into a sleep their thoughts were filled with what to buy each other for the nearing Christmas.
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"It's your last chance, Luke."
Christmas was a week away, and it was the students' last visit to Hogsmeade before the holidays. Jessica hadn't yet bought Luke a present, and was leaving him in the common room while she went off to buy him one.
"I told you, Jess, I don't know what I want for Christmas," He grinned, taking on a slightly more feminine voice, "I am in need of a new look," He said, pointing to the dark hair that lay flatly against his head, "But unless you can warp that up in a present than you're out of luck," He looked positively proud of his joke.
Jessica only flung her hand out to hit him, but he ducked and headed back to his dormitory to change from his blue pajamas.
She left, in her black winter robes, her face flushed with fury. He could be so stubborn at times.
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Dumbledore's twinkling blue eyes and merry expression was highly contrasted next to the sullen face of the young girl he sat talking to that morning before breakfast.
"Ms. Nicole, I was hoping your spirits would be slightly more uppity on the Eve of such a splendid holiday."
Jessica smiled up at the headmaster, "It's my first Christmas away from home, it's not as joyful as I'd expect." The last statement was received as sarcastically as it was meant and Dumbledore chuckled.
"At least you haven't lost your sense of humor." He patted her on the shoulder and stood, making his way towards the front table.
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Luke sat down at the breakfast table, setting a sparkling purple bag in front of him, beside the oddly wrapped box in front of Jessica.
He picked up the box and stared at the wrapping, featuring various comic strips, all bewitched so they moved across the present.
Jessica picked up the bag as it changed to a deep red, later changing to blue.
"I can't wait to see what's in here." Luke commented, setting down the interestingly wrapped box. "If it's anything like the outside, I'm sure to enjoy it."
"It seems my present isn't all that dull either," She said, setting it back on the table as it changed to an orange color.
"You'll like it. Just make sure you don't open it until tomorrow morning."