1Lily's day had been long. She wasn't even sure that she wanted to head home, knowing that tiring tasks awaited her.

She was just about to pack up and head off when an unexpected knock made her heart leap. She waited a moment, recovering, and was about to answer when a small girl burst into the room.

"Karen!" Lily smiled brightly.

The girl ran into the room and gushed excitedly, "I'm so glad I caught you in time! I thought you'd have gone already, and I promised Mom that I would pass a message on to you and Jamie before today, and I saw him up here earlier, but I just forgot! Actually, I saw you a couple of times today, too, but I forgot again! I know she'd just kill me if I missed you, and my chances of having a friend on vacation with me would be ruined! I don't know if I could stand another Christmas with just Mom, Dad and Shelby. Since Jamie moved out it's just been terrible! I'm left all to myself with Mom and Shelby constantly when Dad is away. Jamie used to make it fun! I'm not saying that Mom is a bad person, just a little on the dull side. No offense, but you really did me wrong in taking my brother. It's always great to be at school and get away!

She took a breath, and Lily shook her head, trying to sort out the random bursts of energy from the emotional thirteen-year-old.

"Wow," Lily finally grinned, pulling her small sister-in-law into a hug. "How long have you been waiting to dump all of that?"

"Oh," Karen grinned sheepishly. "Well..."

"Don't worry," Lily assured her, "That's what sisters are for."

And with that, Lily flipped Karen's long black hair into the girl's face. Karen had beautiful hair, unlike her brother. But things in the gene pool had evened out. James was a Quidditch star, and Karen could barely walk without tripping, although her clumsiness was delightfully charming on the exuberant girl.

"Well, in that case," Karen took a seat on Lily's desk, "I have something I need to talk about."

'Oh, no,' Lily thought.

"Do you remember when Jamie was in second year and Dad bought him his own owl?" Lily nodded, though she didn't remember the instance. Lily had spent second year successfully ignoring James. "Well, Mom and Dad decided that I'm not old enough for one, and I'm in third year! I'd been expecting one for Christmas and apparently I don't get one!" she ended exasperatedly.

With this she folded her arms across her chest and made a pouting face that reminded Lily intensely of James when he didn't get his way. Lily suppressed a giggle, and leaned in conspiratorially, "What if I talk to mom about letting James and me get you one for Christmas?"

"That would be awesome!" Karen hugged Lily tightly, then hopped off the desk, waved goodbye and disappeared out the door.

"Karen!" Lily called after her.

Karen's head popped back into the classroom.

"Darling," Lily teased, "Aren't we forgetting something?"

"Oh!" Karen slapped her hand across her face. "They need a babysitter for Shelby for a few days. Bye, Lily!"

"Are they staying for dinner?" Lily asked quickly, before Karen was out of earshot.

"Prob'ly," the girl yelled from down the hall.

And with that, Karen was gone, leaving Lily with her mouth hanging open. She was glad Karen had remembered to tell her.

Why hadn't Theresa just owled her?