Chapter 5

Over the next few weeks things were the same as always, except for Mea had taken to stay away from Sirius as Lily tried to do to James. Every one was so excited for the coming up holidays, especially Mea. She wanted to go home and see her family again. She wanted to get away from school for a little while and stop thinking about him.

The week before the holidays Mea, Lily, Stephanie, Sandra, and a few other girls were eating breakfast as the owls came in. A little white owl stopped next to her, "Zack!" She called.

"Zack?" Stephanie asked.

"Yes, it's my parent's owl." Mea replied as she took the two letters from it and it flew away. One was from Aaron, and the other from her parents. She opened the one from Aaron first. After reading it she looked confused.

"What?" Lily asked as Mea handed the letter to her and opened the one from her parents.

"What is it Mea?" Sandra asked.

"Aaron wants me to stay with him over the holidays, and my parents are letting me." Mea looked shocked and as though she was going to throw up.

"Not even that, they're making you." Lily added with shock as well after reading the letters.

"Mea? Are you okay?" Stephanie asked as she got up and started to run out of the great hall, followed by Lily.

Mea and Lily stopped in an empty hallway, "How did your parents know anyway?" Lily asked out of breath.

"He must have asked them first. Yes, they would like that." Mea glared at the ground.

"Well if you want to see Aaron, what's the problem?"

"I don't know. I just can't."

"It looks like you are." After a pause Lily finally asked, "Are you ever going to talk to him?"

Mea looked up confused and saw on the stair case above them Peter, Remus, James, and Sirius, "Not if I don't have to." She said causally.

Lily rolled her eyes, "But you know you like him."

"I do not! How many times do I have to tell you! I do not like him, even if he is handsome, and that kiss... I... I do not!" She screamed at Lily who was not convinced and turned around leaving Mea there to think.

The next day Lily, Sandra, Stephanie and Mea were sitting in the common room with a few other people. One 4th year girl named Rachael asked where everyone was going. "I'm going home to spend the holidays with my family." Lily said happily.

"Stephanie and I are going to Paris this time." Sandra said.

"What about you Mea?" Rachael asked.

Just at the moment James and Sirius walked in to hear, "Oh, I'm staying with Aaron's family for the holidays."

"What about you two?" Rachael turned to James and Sirius who Mea didn't know were in the room. Sirius shrugged, "Staying here I guess." He was staring at Mea who couldn't bring herself to look him in the eye.

"Yeah." James chimed in, "We're going to have a great time here!"

Finally the day everyone was leaving for the holidays, "Have a good time Mea and..." Stephanie stopped as Aaron walked up behind Mea with a smile. "Hi Aaron." Stephanie said dreamily.

"Hi." Lily and Sandra added.

"Hi, uh... Lily, Sandra, and you must be Stephanie." Each one nodded at their names, and Stephanie smiled stupidly and nodded. Lily and Mea couldn't help but grin at Stephanie, and Sandra merely shook her head. "Ready to go Mea?" Aaron asked.

"Yeah, just a minute."

"Okay, I'll put your stuff away." He took her things and walked away.

"Bye Stephanie and Sandra have a great time in Paris!" Mea yelled as they waved and ran over to Sandra's mother. "And Lily, have a great time at home."

"Oh I will. And try not to think of you know too much, okay?" Lily teased.

"I'll try." As Aaron walked up putting his arm around Mea waist. "Bye Lily!" Mea called as she walked away with Aaron.

Over the next few days Mea was introduced to Aaron's family once more. He had a great big house that his parents lived in. He had moved out, but they were staying with his parents for the holidays. She stayed in one of the three guest rooms, the walls were power blue and silver.

On Christmas Mea woke early, as she had everyday she was staying there. Dressed in black pants and a white sweater she ran down the hall and into Aaron. She laughed and smiled, "Merry Christmas!" she said hugging him.

"Well you're awake and happy. I was just coming to get you." He smiled. "M'lady." He joked linking arms with her as they walked down the stairs to where his parents were.

"Good morning." Mrs. Daylure smiled as Aaron and Mea sat down with them at the table. Soon they were served breakfast and ran over to the tree to open the gifts. "There were some delivered this morning, I believe from your friends at Hogwarts." She added with another smile.

Mea's eyes widened as she saw how many there were, and just thinking this time I have friends at Christmas. She smiled as she opened Mr. and Mrs. Daylure's gift, "You didn't have to get me anything, just letting me stay is enough." Mea smiled.

"Ah, so polite. But we like you Mea, you're always welcome here." Mr. Daylure said.

Mea opened it to see a pair of glass ice sicle shaped earrings, "Oh wow. Thank you." She said giving them a hug. Then she opened the ones from her friends, Stephanie and Sandra had gotten her a very fancy pair of white gloves that were of the softest material Mea had ever felt and a picture of them in Paris. Stephanie and Sandra were standing in a garden waving and smiling. Stephanie also left a note to tell Aaron she says hi. Lily had gotten her a picture frame that played music whenever you touched the top of it. Mea quickly put her picture of Stephanie and Sandra inside, she would have put one of Lily in, but she didn't have one. Her parents had gotten her a lovely silver and gold dress and told her there would be more when she came home. Then she noticed one more, "Huh? Who else is there?" Mea said to herself. Opening it she found a note and brooch with a little bird engraved on it. Opening the note it only said, 'For the Song Bird.' She thanked everyone as she spent the day wondering around the property. Aaron and Mr. Daylure had to leave, but promised to be back for dinner; in fact Aaron was taking her out that night.

Finally Mea ran up to the room she was staying in and changed into a gold and silver dress her parents gave her and put on the earrings and brooch she had received. She had also put the picture up on the nightstand next to the bed. When she looked at herself in the mirror she looked different; much like she did at her parent's party. She finally came downstairs and found Aaron waiting for her. She smiled as they hooked arms and he took her out.

"You look beautiful Mea." Aaron said staring at her in the middle of dinner.

"Thank you." She smiled.

"Are you enjoying staying with my family?"

"Of course. They're all very lovely."

"I was wondering..."

"Yes Aaron?"

"Well here's your Christmas gift." He held out a red box and inside was a gold star charm on a necklace.

"Oh wow. It's beautiful." Mea said putting it on. She kissed Aaron on the cheek as they were leaving dinner. Suddenly Mea felt uneasy, "Aaron... I don't feel well..."

"Maybe we should go back then." He said disappointed.

"Sorry for cutting your night short." Mea felt even worse.

"Don't worry about it; let's just make sure you're alright." They headed back to the house and Mea quickly fell asleep.

The next few days went by quickly and Mea found herself back at Hogwarts.