Chrismukkah at Hogwarts

So Much for the Forecast

"And it looks like we're gonna be in for a sunny Christmas, folks! This fine weather is going to continue all week long, and most likely into the New Year. Don't you just love winter in California?"

"Sure do, Greg, and isn't it just the perfect weather to hit the beach? The water might be a little cold, but that sure hasn't stopped all those –"

The radio went off as Ryan turned the key in the ignition.

"I say we play Death Cab on the drive back, I don't think I can stand another minute of hearing those annoying voices!"

"Don't you think you're being a little hypocritical, Cohen?" snapped Summer, smirking at her boyfriend as they got out of the back seat of the Range Rover.

Ryan and Marissa rolled their eyes at each other while Seth and Summer continued bickering. They started walking towards the sand, each carrying a towel and a folding beach chair, when Marissa turned around and half-yelled "Are you two actually going to help carry anything, or are you just going to stand there arguing all day?"

"Sorry, Coop," Summer said, taking a beach chair out of the back of the car and following her best friend in a huff. Seth stood there for a moment, then followed suit, slamming the rear door shut as he went.

Once they had set up on the beach, Ryan and Seth decided to go swimming, while Summer and Marissa stayed behind to catch up on some sunbaking. Lying back in their beach chairs, Summer and Marissa gazed out at the ocean, where their boyfriends were diving in and out of the waves.

"Is it just me, or is life almost perfect?" Marissa asked, closing her eyes.

"You know what, Coop? I think you might be right. I mean, for once you and Ryan haven't had any problems in ages, and me and Cohen… well, if we're not bickering then that usually means we are having problems, so I guess you could say the same thing. This Chrismukkah's gonna rock."

"Maybe it will. I mean, we've gotta have a drama-free Chrismukkah sometime, right?"

As if on cue, Summer suddenly asked "Where are Ryan and Seth?"

Marissa, confused by the sudden comment, answered sleepily, "They went swimming, remember?" When she received no reply, she opened her eyes to find her best friend gone. Sitting up, she peered around the beach and out at the ocean, when she suddenly felt as though something had knocked into her at the side. Everything went black for a moment, and it felt as though she was flying through the air. She then landed on her stomach, on top of what she though was probably a person.

"Coop, why are you on top of me?" Summer asked, trying to shove Marissa off.

Sitting up, Marissa looked around the room. She was sitting on a cold stone floor, surrounded by Summer, Seth, Ryan, and a lot of wooden desks. "Where are we?" she asked no-one in particular.

"Well, wherever we are, it sure is cold" answered Seth, staring out of the nearest window. The other three got up and went to stand next to him. Summer let out a small gasp.

Out of the window, they could see miles of snow-covered ground. Here and there, they could see small groups of people, all of whom looked to be about knee-deep in the snow. Out in the distance, they could see what looked like a large sports stadium, and a small hut, with smoke curling out of the chimney.

Noticing movement from the far corner of the room, the group turned to see a girl edging towards the door. She looked about eighteen, and she had long, brown, bushy hair.

Acting on impulse, Seth called out to her. She stood still for a moment, with a look of sheer panic on her face, then turned towards the group, and gave them a weak smile.

Seth took this as a sign that he could talk. "Hi, my name's Seth, we were just wondering, could you please tell us where we are?"

The girl, who had seemingly managed to calm herself down a little, answered simply, "Hogwarts".

"Uh-huh…" Seth gave his companions a weirded-out look, before continuing, "Um, okay, could you perhaps elaborate on that a little?"

"Sorry," the girl answered briskly in an English accent, "I'd love to stay and chat, but I really must go." Some of the panic had crept back into her voice. "I'll be back soon."

"Wait," Seth began, but the girl had already hurried out of the door.

Summer started to rub her bare arms. "So much for the forecast, huh?"