Chapter Twenty-Four

Hermione and Sara gaped at me.

"That's why you dumped him?" Sara said, shocked. I nodded lamely. "Skylar, you're an idiot. I'm sorry. I simply don't understand this. Why would you do that? You're so stupid!"

"Thanks for your support." I said irritably.

"I told you not to do anything stupid." Hermione said shaking her head at me. "Why didn't you listen?"

"I did! I did what I thought was the smart thing to do. I was worried about…him."

"How so? I don't get." Sara said again, seemingly not noticing the pause in my sentence. "You brake up with someone because you don't like them anymore. That's the only good reason. Your so called reason is just stupid."

"You really should have talked to someone first you know. It wasn't like it was too serious or anything."

"I know. It was just…I was just…I felt like…too much is too much. I couldn't…what I mean to say is, well…I just like him so much."

"But it's not like those feelings are going to go away just because you're not with him anymore. It'll be exactly the same, only you won't have a boyfriend or anyone to make out with." Sara said, exasperated.

XXXX

"Budge up Harry." Hermione said, making to sit down in between him and Ron in the common room later that night. She curled up close to Ron and laid her head on his chest.

"Where have you three been the last hour?" Ron asked, wrapping his arms around Hermione.

"We have been discussing a very important matter." Sara said.

"What?"

"An important matter." I said.

"Oh well thanks for clearing that up for us." Harry said. My face reddened slightly at the thought that he had been the "very important matter" we had been discussing.

"What about you guys? What have you been doing?"

"We played chess and exploding snap mostly." Ron said.

"You didn't get any homework done?" Hermione said, sounding scandalized.

"Did you?" Ron retorted.

"I've got all mine done already, in case you're forgetting." Hermione said coolly. Ron kissed the top of her head.

"Right." He said. "Speaking of that—"

"I'll check it when you've finished it." Hermione said sternly.

"Hermone…" Ron started to whine. Then, "Thanks. I really appreciate it, you know." Hermione smiled and snuggled closer to him. I looked at the two wishing desperately that I could just go and give Harry long hard "snog".

XXXX

Christmas Eve had arrived, with all it's glory. The Great Hall looked simply beautiful. Decorated with twelve Christmas trees, holly and mistletoe, ever lasting icicles…

"Gorgeous." I praised for the thousandth time.

"Yes, Skylar, we know. We've known for a week now." Sara said.

"But it's so pretty. I mean twelve Christmas trees?"

"—And all the holly and mistletoe—" Sara teased.

"—And who ever heard of everlasting icicles—?" Pete continued.

"Oh, shut up." I snapped playfully, before they could continue. "Fine, I won't admire and appreciate all the work the house elves put into the decorations." I glanced at Hermione to see the effect of these words. She pursed her lips, but didn't say anything.

"I'm only teasing Hermione." I said cheerfully.

"Hey Sky," Tommy said. "Have you interacted much with that Porter guy? I remember you mentioning him the first night here."

"On several occasions." I said. "I think I told you about the time he kissed me, and the time he tried to force me to go on a date with him—"

"And that Neal—"

"Neville."

"Neville guy punched him."

"Right. Good times." I smiled at the memory. Neville. What a goon. "Speaking of Henry. Harry, when am I going to get—" I broke off suddenly, realizing what I was about to say. Could I be more idiotic? I can't believe I almost mentioned the "romantic dinner" Harry had claimed would be the only one who would take me to.

"Are you ever going to get what?" Harry asked.

"Nothing, never mind." I said quickly.

"Come on, you have to tell us now." Sara said.

"No I don't. It's nothing."

"Sure."

"Come on, drop it. I doesn't matter."

"Okay, okay. Consider it dropped." Pete said, glaring at Sara.

"Yes, dropped." She said, letting out a short laugh. "Now what are we doing today?"

XXXX

"How did you find out about that passage way?" Tommy asked, as he slid through the statue of the One Eyes Witch's hump.

"My older twin brothers." Ron answered as we started to walk down the narrow passage.

"Yeah, those guys sound wicked. They're a legend here. Remind me to tell you sometime about their great escape. Let me tell you, it's not something anyone would soon forget. Bloody brilliant is what it is." Sara snorted.

"What?" I asked.

"'Wicked'? 'Bloody brilliant'? Sky, you are picking up British slang." She noted.

"Whoa, I am aren't I?" I said, smiling amusedly. "I haven't even noticed."

"Well I think it's 'wicked'." Sara teased.

"Come on, Hemione, are you ever going to cheer up?" Tommy asked, flashing her a flirtatious smile. Ron immediately took her hand, though Hermione didn't seem to notice. We had practically forced her to come with us. She didn't approve of such unnecessary rule braking. "I'm a prefect! I can't! There are plenty of things to do here. If we get caught…" But in the end she had reluctantly agreed to come to Hogsmede with us.

"Yes, come on Hermione. Gimme a smile." Sara said, walking backwards to face her, smiling broadly. "Come on." She winked.

"Oh, alright. I'm cheerful. Will you please stop grinning like that?" Hermione said.

"Absolutely." Sara said triumphantly, turning to face forward again. Hermione did seem a lot friendlier after that.

I never really figured out how all seven of us out of the Honeydukes cellar without getting caught. It was a close shave, but we managed. And while we were there, we stocked up on sweets. Sara and I went straight to the chocolate, which we could never get enough of. But we got our share sugar quills, levitating sherbet balls, Ice Mice, and Pepper Imps as well. Along with a number of other sweets they didn't have many of in the States.

"I don't know how I could have gone sixteen years without these." I said, sucking on a fat, pink chunk of coconut ice.

"Neither do I." Said Ron.

"Ron, you've grown up with this stuff." I replied.

"I know. I was saying how I didn't know you could have gone sixteen years without this stuff."

"Of course." I said, rolling my eyes. We were on the verge of turning in to Zonko's Joke Shop when I suddenly gasped loudly and grabbed Tommy's arm.

"What's wrong?" He asked unconcernedly, continuing to walk.

"Harry, Ron, Hermione!" I said, my eyes wide, in hushed excitement.

"What?" Harry said, mimicking my tone mockingly. I chose to ignore this fact.

"I never got to go to the Shrieking Shack!" I squealed. Harry, Ron and Hermione exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable.

"What?" I said curiously.

"We just have some…memories there." Ron said.

"Good or bad?" Pete asked.

"Both." Harry replied, an odd smile playing at his lips. "Let's go."

"So is anyone going to tell me what the Shrinking Shack is?" Sara asked.

"The Shrieking Shack, Sar. And it's the most haunted house in Britain." I said matter-of-factly. Harry, Ron and Hermione laughed quietly.

"Are you guys going to tell us what went down at the Shack or not?"

"We're not." Hermione said.

"Then stop sniggering." I said sweetly. We reached the Shack at that moment.

"It's even creepy from here." Sara shivered.

"I thought you said this place was haunted?" Tommy said. "I see no sign of ghosts."

"It's been silent for years." I said. "But I heard stories. You used to be able to hear screams and crashes from the house on the full moon."

"Sounds kinda creepy I guess." Pete said gruffly.

"Oh don't act all tough, Pete. In case you're forgetting the Halloween party two years ago, it was you who—"

"Don't you dare." Pete threatened.

"Oh yeah, I remember that!" Sara giggled. She, Tommy and I burst out laughing.

"Are you going to tell us?" Ron asked.

"Hey, you have your secrets, we have ours." I said.

"Fair enough." Hermione said. We stayed up there for several more minutes, just talking. We spent the rest of the day walking around. We got a butter beer at some point in the day. We loaded up on Zonko's products and had a lovely time exploring Dervish and Bangs. We went on a hike, too. Up to some shallow cave in the mountain. It was odd. We just sat there, silent. Harry had picked up a large gray feather and put in his bag. But other than that it was perfectly normal.

XXXX

We returned to the common room after a spectacular escape from Filch, who, we were sure, was going to catch us.

"I hate Mrs. Norris." Tommy commented.

"We know that feeling." Ron said bitterly.