Katy sat at the table in her house. It was Christmas Eve and she had spent all day cooking for Christmas. The door opened and then slammed shut. Katy thought to herself, 'Father's home.'
"Katy!" her father's drunken voice carried out into the room.
"Yes, father," She answered.
"Did you cook for Christmas?" he yelled.
"Yes," She answered.
"You cooked pasta am I correct?" he asked.
"No, I made chicken ptarmigan, soup, and mussels," Katy said, her face paled for she knew he wouldn't be pleased.
"No Pasta?" he said not pleased.
"I'm sorry," Katy said, keeping strong for she knew what would happen next.
"Sorry isn't good enough!" her father yelled, "I work all day long and you can't get a simple meal right!" he raised a fist and it connected with a sickening crunch against her cheek.
Katy didn't even flinch. She was use to it. Her father was almost as bad as Voldemort himself. He was Voldemort's distant relative and of course a death eater. He raised his fist again and proceeded to beat her. "You good for nothing child!" he yelled angrily.
He picked up a candlestick. The candle that was in the holder was currently lit. He blew it out just after Katy glanced at the clock; 12:00. He threw the candlestick, candle and all at her head. The candlestick made contact. The hot wax burnt her skin. Just before Katy blacked out her thoughts were, 'Merry Christmas, father, I'm glad you care.'
Lily Evans was stirring in her bed. It was Christmas Eve and she was terribly excited. She glanced at the clock and winced. She knew miles and miles away Katy's father had just arrived home. She wanted to help her friend but knew there was nothing she could do. The very thought of her friend's father made her blood boil. She thought of Katy. Since her father beat her you would think she would be shy and distant but Katy chose to act normal. She was still a great –mind you arrogant- Quidditch player- and at the top of Potions class. Her bitter sarcastic comments were normal. Lily envied her straight black hair and midnight blue eyes. Katy was the prettiest girl in the school.
Lily thought of her other friend Emma Prewitt. Emma was also one of her close friends. Emma played beater on the Quidditch team partnered to Sirius. Emma was always the happy one. She had light brown hair and blue-green eyes. She was the one in the group to be the earliest to rise and latest to sleep. When the group needed revenge Emma was the master-mind.
Lily, Emma, and Katy completed each other. Lily the brains, Katy the witty one, and Emma the mischievous one. The three were inseparable. While Katy's weakness was her father the other two also had their weaknesses. Emma's was her mother. Emma had two older brothers; twins. Fabian and Gideon Prewitt. She had an older sister, Molly. Molly, Fabian, and Gideon had graduated already, Molly last year and the twins two years before. The Prewitts mother had died when she declined Voldemort's offer as a death eater. Lily's weakness was Potter. James was her weakness because he constantly asked her out and irritated her. Although she turned him down Katy and Emma thought she really liked him but her pride was too big.
The girls also formed somewhat of a band. Katy was the singer. If she sang a song about crying, her audience would find themselves in tears by the end of the song. When she sang her words came to life. Emma could play any instrument and make you feel like you were in the location of the song, say, a rain forest or jungle. Lily wrote the songs about life and anything she wanted. She played the drums as Emma preferred the guitar. To many people Katy didn't seem like the type to sing but it seemed a crime that she wouldn't.
Lily spent the night thinking of her friends and was soon fast asleep.
Emma sat up. Her clocked read 1:00. She could tell her friend, Katy was in need of help. She grabbed her broom and opened her bedroom window. She mounted her broom and kicked off into the air. Wind blew past her ears as she flew into the night. She kept her eyes and ears alert. Her eyes scanned the villages below for her friend's village. Her ears were open for any screams in the night. When she spotted her friend's village she lowered her broom slightly. She flew above the small village until she spotted Katy's house. She quickly performed a difficult dive and landed.
Emma peeked in a tiny window of Katy's house. It looked into the Kitchen. Katy lay on the floor unconscious. Emma's temper rose to a dangerous level as she knew what Katy's father had done. Furiously she whipped out her wand, not caring about underage wizardry, and unlocked the door. She crept into the house and rushed to her friend's aid. "Katy?" she whispered.
Katy didn't move. She whispered, "Enervate."
Katy's eyes flickered open, "Emma," she whispered.
"It's me," Emma said.
She lifted up her weak friend and smuggled her out of the house. "Get on my broom," she ordered, "Accio Katy's trunk."
A trunk came whizzing out and Emma caught it. She shrunk it so it was pocket sized and pocketed it. When Katy and her were both on the broom she kicked off into the air once again. She flew above the clouds. The moon shined brightly. Katy smiled and said, "It's just like a muggle story with the witches on the broom only ones just had the crap beaten out of her."
Emma chuckled slightly, "Yeah, and minus the black clothes."
The two laughed, and made a silent pact to be friends forever. Emma and Katy took time to enjoy the beautiful view. The houses looked beautiful decorated for Christmas. "Katy you're the best friend a girl could have," Em said looking down on the village.
"I know, I know," Katy said smiling arrogantly.
The girls laughed slightly. Although the Christmas started out terrible it was beginning to look up. Houses away a young Sirius Black, had also run away. Like the girls he was on his way to his best friend's house.
James Potter was dreaming. A very nice dream indeed he thought to himself. He and Lily were sitting in the common room making out. She was saying, "O, James, I am sorry for being so uptight. I love you."
Dream James grinned and said, "Don't worry about a thing, babe."
Dream Lily swooned. Dream James said, "Well let's not ruin our fun!"
There was a knock on James' door and he groaned getting up, annoyed someone would disrupt his dream. He pulled open the door and the sight of his best friend met his eyes. Sirius stood before him and said, "Sorry, Prongs, but I ran away from my parents."
James' angry expression disappeared, "Padfoot, you know your always welcome to stay here!"
Sirius nodded and embraced James in a brotherly hug. "Your mum knows I am here and my stuffs in the guest room I always use," Sirius said.
"Right, well what time is it?" James asked.
"'Round two thirty or so," Sirius said shrugging.
"We'll get to bed or Santa will never come," James said shaking his finger at Sirius who laughed.
"Alright," Sirius said leaving James to go back to sleep.
James sighed to himself it wouldn't be Christmas without Sirius.
Remus Lupin was tossing and turning in his bed. It was three in the morning and he couldn't sleep at all. He thought of his friends and Hogwarts but he could still here his mom and dad yelling at each other. "Why don't you ever do anything, you worthless woman!" his dad yelled.
"You think you are all that because YOU work but when you come home all YOU do is SIT and watch TV!" Remus' mom yelled back.
"That's it! I am done with this family!" Remus' dad hollered.
There was a sound of the door slamming and Remus' mom weeping. Remus rushed out of bed to comfort his mother. "Shh, it's okay mum," Remus said hugging his mom.
Remus stayed holding his mom until early hours of the morning. "Oh, honey, I forgot to put out your presents!" Remus' mom said quiltly.
"It's okay," Remus said, but in truth he wished just once to have a good Christmas.
"Here honey let us sit down and have some cocoa and open presents," Remus' mom said.
With a flick of her wand cocoa appeared along with several presents. Remus brought out his mom's present and placed it in front of her. Remus opened his own present eagerly liking every one of them. Despite, the fact his father just walked out on the family, the Lupins enjoyed their Christmas very much.
Emma and Katy were had just arrived at Emma's house. Silently, they crept into the house. "WHERE WERE YOU?" Emma's mom said concerned, rushing over to the girls. "Katy dear what are you doing and what happened to you?"
"I was getting Katy, her father is what happened," Emma said.
Emma's mom's Expression grew serious, "Katy dear, since I am a healer I'll help you get cleaned up but you are to come her next summer instead of your fathers."
Katy nodded gratefully, "And the Potters New Years Eve ball is cancelled due to death eater attacks!" Emma's mom said.
The Prewitt's were a well-respected family. They were a family of a lot of wealth and pride. They attended a lot of balls and Emma often found herself talking to Sirius who was forced to go to balls due to his family. The Potters, however respected they were, didn't like to attend very many balls for they were both busy Aurors.
After Mrs. Prewitt healed Katy she ushered them to rest a few minutes. Mrs. Prewitt led Katy to a guest room. Once Mrs. Prewitt left the room Katy and Emma began to discuss Hogwarts. "I am so excited to get back to Hogwarts!" Emma said enthusiastically.
"Only cuz you want to dump your boyfriend and get a new one!" Katy accused.
"Shut up," Emma said, "You only want to go back to see Remus."
"No, actually I have my eye on Felix Mardo," Katy said.
"Ohh Katy Mardo," Emma said teasingly.
"Shut up, you," Katy snapped.
"Hey, hey, no need to get all snippy," Emma said raising her hands in the air defensively.
Katy laughed slightly. A house-elf appeared at the door. "I is here to take your dinner orders," the house-elf said.
"Ok, Angie, we'll have chicken noodle soup, biscuits, and, er tea," Emma said.
"Yes master Emma," Angie said.
She soon returned with dinner and the girls discussed what their sixth year at Hogwarts would be like.
"Hurry boys, theres no excuse for tardiness," Mrs. Potter said to Sirius and James.
Mrs. Potter was a woman in her thirties, or fourties, (no one could tell) and had long red hair. She had brown eyes and pale skin. "We're coming mum!" James said.
Sirius, James, and Mrs. Potter hurriedly rushed towards the car. They got in and drove off to Kings Cross station. (A/n: is that right? I forgot I really need to re-read hp! Well for the like tenth time) Once they arrived their both boys gave Mrs. Potter a hug and ran through the wall. In their rush Sirius knocked over a girl with light brown hair. "Hurry up Em!" her companion hollered.
Sirius hurriedly helped the girl up, "Sorry," he said to his fellow beater.
"No problem," Emma said although she winced for his trolley had trampled over her after she was knocked to the ground.
James recognizing a fellow Quidditch Player said, "Here Em we'll help you on the train and you and your friends can sit with us."
"Thanks," Emma said as James lifted Emma up and carried her onto the train.
Sirius and James sat down in the usual compartment followed by Emma and Katy. After examining Emma for injuries they came to the conclusion her ankle was the source of her discomfort. It was very red and looked as if it was sprained. "The medi-witch isn't on the train today!" Sirius said.
"S' okay I know some healing spells I want to be a healer after all," Emma said.
"Really?" Sirius said.
"Yeah, and Katy wants to be an Auror," Emma said after she put a cast around her ankle along with a spell to ease the pain.
James opened his mouth to comment on her healing skills when the compartment door was thrown open. Lily stood before the four with an angry expression on her face. "YOU!" she said pointing to James, "You planned this! You planned to sit with my friends so I would have to sit with you too!"
"Actually, Lily, that's where you're wrong," Emma said.
"Yeah quit being so bitchy, your acting like a bitch," Katy said jokingly but with a hint of seriousness.
"I hurt my ankle and Sirius and James were helping me to the train. We got into a conversation and just ended up sitting next to each other," Emma explained.
Lily hid her embarrassment with a simple, "Oh," and sat down.
The compartment door opened once more to reveal Remus and Peter. "Hey mates, Emma, Katy, Lily," Remus said smiling.
"Why are you so happy?" Sirius asked seeing the irreplaceable grin on his friends face as his friend sat down.
"Erica and I are together!" Remus declared happily.
"Good for you!" James, Sirius, Emma and Katy said.
Katy wasn't really paying attention she was looking out the window staring into space. She couldn't wait to get back to Hogwarts. Away from her father. Away from the real world. Away from Voldemort. Away from Everything.