"I don't understand how your Mum expected you to do all this?" Anthony asked tiredly, as He, Lisa, and I worked on the last of her Muggle work this semester. She just shrugged helplessly.
"She's expects a lot." Lisa replied tiredly.
That couldn't be closer to the truth. I thought with a a frown as I looked at all the papers we had already done.
The three of us had been working on her Muggle worksheets, along with all the homework for our classes, the past week. Christmas was quickly approaching and we needed to get the packet done before Lisa went home for the Holiday's in a couple weeks.
I had no idea how the girl would have managed on her own.
So now we sat around the Common Room on a late weekday evening. Working tirelessly to finish the dreaded thing, most of the other first years had already gone to dorms. Still, most older students were still up.
"I have to admit, the Muggle formulas for math are quite interesting. Not to mention the writing curriculum expected." Anthony said, as he flipped to the back of his final page.
"Interesting, but when done over and over again, quite tiring." Lisa replied bitterly, before herself turning the page over.
"At least where almost done." I replied, looking down at the last sets of History questions I was faced with. I grimaced at the page, not a single multiple choice. Something her mum hardly used.
"I don't know how we'll manage OWL's in a few years. Heck I don't know how we'll manage electives in two. If your mother sends packets like this every year." Anthony added thoughtfully.
"What our OWL's?" Lisa asked curiously.
"They stand for Ordinary Wizarding Level." Anthony replied without looking up from the question he was reading. "We take them our fifth year, there required to advance to the final two years of study." He finished, and Lisa and me glanced at one another.
"What do the final two years fall under?" I asked.
"The Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test, or NEWTs for short, yes they're hard, yes that will be and even bigger challenge than the OWL's." Anthony replied. Me and Lisa shared another nervous glance, how on earth where we going to manage there packets then...
The nervous feeling in my stomach was interrupted as we heard the Common Room door open, it was late and everyone had returned. We looked, and saw that Professor Flitwick was standing near the door as it closed behind him. The student nearest him was Penelope Clearwater, who seemed to be expecting him.
"Evening Miss Clearwater." Our Head of House told the Prefect.
"Sir, everyone is accounted for." She replied, and the Professor nodded in approval.
"Good, get everyone out of there Dorm's. I would like to ask everyone at once."
"Right away sir." Penelope replied as she strode to the Girl's dorms, another Prefect did the same with the boys dorms. For a moment I was nervous, was something wrong? But Professor Flitwick seemed relaxed, and I let our a sigh relief.
Student's began pouring out of the Dorms, including a tired looking Michael and Terry. Everyone seemed to know what was going on, other than us first years. Finally, when the last housemates were out of the dorms, he spoke.
"Sorry to interrupt such a fine evening, but I need to know who will be staying at the castle of the Holiday weekend? Please raise your hand if you intend to stay."
My hand shot up almost instantly, but few others did. Professor Flitwick made our way over to me, and I put my name down.
"There you are sir." I told him, handing back the Quill. Our Head of House gave me a look of...pity for a moment, then made his way to the few others staying, who happened to be some Seventh year's who vowed to stay there last Christmas at Hogwarts, and some of the Prefect's including Penelope. I was the only first year staying. It wasn't a good feeling.
After collecting everyone's signatures, Professor Flitwick made his way to the entrance way, then turned back to everyone.
"No one else?" He asked looking around the room. "Very well. Have a good evening." And with that he opened to door and exited the Common Room.
I noticed that Anthony, Lisa, and some other Housemates were looking at me much like Flitwick did, I did my best to ignore them as I turned back to the problem I had left off on. Though Lisa didn't want to leave it that easily.
"Are you...Okay?" Lisa asked me nervously, and I nodded.
"I'm fine. Heck I'm better than fine, being alone here, will be far better than being with the Dursley's. Besides, Harry's staying as well, It will be good to catch up with him." I replied, and though she didn't look totally convinced, Lisa accepted me answer.
"Well, lets get back to it." Anthony said, changing the subject, as we all turned our attention to back to our respective worksheets.
Thankfully, the last few problems turned out easier, and I was able to think. Was I really fine? I mean Harry was staying, and this would be better than any Christmas I could remember. Still...It did hurt that everyone else here was either heading back to a lovely family for Christmas, was a Prefect, or was sharing one Christmas with there friends at Hogwarts. Me on the other hand, I was unwanted at home...if you could even call it that.
"Done." I said simply, tossing the last worksheet I had to do, into the pile on the table. Anthony and Lisa both finished soon after, and we all gave a collective sigh of relief.
"I'm so happy to get that done." Lisa said as she put all the worksheets in her binder.
"Well at least until next semester." Anthony replied truthfully, and Lisa glared at him.
"Don't remind me." She said sternly, and Anthony just shrugged.
"What? It's the truth." He replied, and Lisa just rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"Let me have this win, just for a little while."
"Sarah! Sarah!" I woke up a around a week later to the sound of Lisa's excited voice. I sleepily looked at her in total confusion.
"What time is it?" I asked, looking out the window of our dorm to see the sun was barely up.
"Just look." She replied and forced me out of bed, I was rubbing my eyes tiredly when I saw the Snow Storm had covered the entire grounds. The lake had frozen, and the wind was blowing heavily, in essence, it looked like a winter wonderland.
"Amazing." I replied, of course I had seen Snow before, but in this amount with no pollution, no busy Surrey traffic smashing it down, it was truly amazing to see.
"I can't wait to go out in it." Lisa continued excitedly. "This time of year has always been my favorite, and it's only better when Christmas is white!"
I smiled at her enthusiasm, and nodded in agreement. The two of us quickly put our uniforms and robes on and made our way down to the Common Room, which was already a mass of excited ,yet cold, housemates.
"The one downside to being a Ravenclaw." Penelope told us First Years as we gathered around. "Ours is the only Common Room with no Fireplace."
Everyone looked around and for the first time I noticed, there was indeed no Fireplace, and there excitement of snow slightly faded as we all noticed the chill of the room.
"How are we supposed to stay warm then?" Terry asked nervously, giving a slight shudder.
"You're Ravenclaw's, the entire point of our House is the learn. Surely you could find a Charm, or Spell that would fit your needs." Penelope replied smirking, and before anyone could say anything the Prefect strode towards the door, and out of the chamber.
"I remember my parent's telling me about this." Anthony commented, stroking his Chin thoughtfully. We all turned to him in confusion.
"What are you talking about?" Padma asked, rubbing her hands together to try and keep warm.
"It's a test." Anthony began firmly. "This is our first test. To keep warm, we have to seek out knowledge. In other words, a spell to keep us warm." Anthony finished.
"It makes sense why we don't have a fire place then, it's just like the Riddles to get into the Common Room, you have to learn." Mandy added.
"Well, we better learn fast, it's getting colder." Michael replied, as he strode out of the room, clearly desperate to find some source of warmth.
The corridors of the castle were not that.
"It's freezing in here." Lisa said, rubbing both her arms together. I nodded, in agreement, while Anthony kept going through ideas out loud.
"I don't think they'd allow Incendio to be used in the Common Room." He said and Lisa just chuckled.
"You think they'd let us shoot fire in the Common Room?" She asked Sarcastically, and Anthony shrugged.
"I'm just going through options."
We entered the Great Hall for Breakfast, and luckily the room had it's own fire, and for the time being, the need for warmth had vanished.
"I wish they'd just let us have a fire like that in the Common Room." Lisa said grumpily, as we began to eat breakfast.
"I want to know how were supposed to do Herbology today?" I asked, and Lisa looked at me in horror.
"How are we supposed to work outside today?" She asked, and I laughed.
"Weren't you the one who dragged me out of bed to look at the snow?" I asked, and she frowned.
"I love the snow, hate the cold." She replied and I gave another chuckle.
"Hyacintho Flammas." Anthony muttered next to us, and he just shook his head. "To small of a flame."
"Attention!" We all turned to see Professor Sprout standing in the middle of the room. "Herbology is canceled today due to the weather." She continued, and Lisa gave a happy smirk. "Stay warm!" The Professor finished, and returned to her seat at the head table.
"Yay, no freezing to death when I'm Eleven!" Lisa said happily, and there were murmured agreements throughout the table.
"Heck, now we have time to work on finding our warming spell." Padma pointed out.
"What? You mean Anthony listing out Fire Spells isn't good enough for you?" I asked Padma in feigned shock, and Padma just shook her head.
"No." She replied. As all of us turned back to Anthony, who looked deep in thought.
"Fiendfyre." Anthony eventually said, and Lisa just smacked him with her bookbag.
"Where not using a highly dangerous, illegal spell to heat the Common Room." She said, and Anthony laughed.
"I just wanted to see how you would react."
After breakfast, now with no class, we decided to head to the library to look for a warming spell. Me, Lisa, and Anthony found our usual table, and began to research. Because us, and the first year Slytherins, were the only ones not in class, the library was less crowded, something I greatly enjoyed.
"It's so much quieter without all the small chatter." Lisa said, as she looked through the book on Heat spells.
"I know, it reminds me of the Common Room at night, except there even more books, and even less people." I replied happily flipping through my own book.
"Still, I do miss all the worried glances you've been giving Harry and his friends." Anthony said, and I frowned.
"They're still after Nicolas Flamel." I replied shaking my head, and they had been.
At first I thought Harry would give up after a few days. But it was now two weeks later, and I was beginning to have doubts. He, Ron, and Hermione came to the library almost everyday looking around for anything on the mysterious man. Luckily, from my point of view, they hadn't found anything.
"I hope they stop looking personally." I replied, and Anthony shrugged.
"It's not my business, just an observation." He said, and continued reading.
The three of us continued looking for any heating spells, but seeing as most would catch you on fire, it was proving rather difficult. After a while I put down the book I had been reading is annoyance.
"Every spell I've read has been about creating fires, or making fires bigger, nothing that we can use." I said annoyed.
"I know, the only thing close I've found is a spell that makes you sweat." Lisa said sounding defeated, and I looked at her in confusion and disgust.
"Why is that a spell?" I asked.
"It was invented by archaeologist Emeric Fabian in 1888 to slip through small crevices." Anthony answered without looking up, we both turned to him and he shrugged. "The Incantation is Aestuosi Lapsus." He finished.
"With that note..." I said standing up. "I'm off to find another book."
I returned the book I had been using then went over to the "H" section of the library. I began to look through every book, trying to find anything on Heating spells.
"Not that...No...Not even close..."
"Hey Potter." I jumped and turned to see Draco standing there, looking at me with a curious expression.
"Oh. Hey Draco." I said, turning back to the shelf I had just been looking through.
"What are you up to?" He asked curiously, as he began going through the shelf as well.
"Nothing much, just some research. You?" I asked.
"Herbology, even if it is a pointless class, have to keep my grades up." He said with a scowl.
I picked a book off the shelf. Then turned to him. "Herbology's not pointless." I replied, he just smirked and shrugged.
"For you maybe, but I don't intend to ever be dirty my hands when I don't have to."
"Suit yourself." I replied, then began going through the book I'd just picked up. After skimming a few pages I groaned.
"I'll never find a good charm." I said annoyed, and Draco looked up from a book he'd been skimming with interest.
"What spell are you looking for?" He asked.
"A heating spell, any sort of heating spell. "I replied bitterly.
"Why do you need a spell like that?"
"Our Common Room doesn't have a fire place." I replied.
"What? Are you crazy? Why don't you have a fire place?" He asked, clearly appalled at the idea of living with no fire place.
I shrugged. "We have to learn to heat ourselves. That's why I'm looking for said spell."
"...Why not use that Hot Air charm?" Draco asked.
"The what?"
"The hot air charm. Watch." Draco pulled out his wand then said. "Calidum Aerem." He said, and warm air began to spew out the tip of the wand.
"That's...exactly what we need." I said. Then pulled out my wand. "What the Incantation again?"
"Calidum Aerem" He repeated, and I nodded.
"Calidum Aerem." I said, and just like with Draco warm air began to flow out of the end of my wand.
"That should keep your common room worm." Draco said confidently, and I nodded.
"It should. Thank you." I said, and he nodded.
"No problem." He replied, I began to walk off, before stopping and turning back to him curiously.
"How do you know that spell?" I asked, and he grinned.
"I use it to keep my hair in pristine condition." He replied, running his hands through his air. "A Malfoy has to look the part." He finished.
"Oh, so it can be used like a hair dryer. Brilliant." I replied, while looking down at my wand and smiling.
"A what now?"
"Never mind...Thanks again." I replied. Draco nodded as I raced back to the table where Anthony and Lisa were still going through books.
"I've got it." I told the pair as I sat back down.
"Really?" Lisa asked turning to me desperately.
"The Hot Air charm." I said, then pulled our my wand. "Calidum Aerem." I said, and once again warm air rushed out of the tip of my wand. Lisa looked at me like I'd just won the jackpot.
"Yes, yes, finally." She said and took out her own wand, Anthony did the same as they repeated the spell.
"This is exactly what we need." Lisa said, as she felt the warm air pour out of the wand with her hand.
"I was looking in the wrong place." Anthony added. "To focused on fire spells."
"How'd you find this any way?" Lisa asked curiously.
"Draco showed me." I replied, and Anthony looked at me nervously.
"Really? Why'd he do that?" He asked suspiciously. I just shrugged.
"He says he uses it for his hair." I replied, and Anthony smirked. While Lisa looked amazement.
"Sounds like him." Anthony replied.
"And brilliant, it's like a hairdryer." Lisa squealed.
"A what?" Anthony asked.
"A muggle hair drying device." I answered, and Anthony nodded.
"Ah, still, I wonder why he helped you? Given him and your brothers...rivalry." Anthony replied, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
"That puts it lightly." Lisa added.
"I'm not my brother." I replied, and Anthony nodded.
"No you're not. Still, odd that Malfoy would just willingly help someone." Anthony said, and I just shrugged.
"I don't really care about his motivations. I'm just glad where not going to freeze during the winter. By the way, it would be...helpful if you could not mention Draco. I don't want word getting around he helped me...Harry would not be happy."
"No Problem." Lisa said understandingly.
"Of course." Anthony added.
We made our way back to the Common Room, which was much colder than before. The rest of the first years where all looking cold and disappointed as we approached.
"Please tell us you three have found anything." Michael begged.
"Yeah, Penelope won't let anyone heat the common room unless one of us figures it out." Terry added, out of the corner of my eye I saw Penelope sitting in the corner, smiling to herself as she read a book.
"Have no fear." Lisa said pulling out her wand. "All you have to do is use the Air Warming Charm."
"Air warming charm?" Padma asked with intrigue, and Lisa smirked.
"Calidum Aerem!" Lisa shouted, and the other first years flocked around the warm air her wand was creating.
"Amazing." Mandy said happily.
"It feels so good." Morag added.
"Well it seems some of you have figured it out." We all turned and saw Penelope standing there smiling at us. "Which one of you figured it out?" She asked, looking at me, Anthony, and Lisa.
"Sarah." Anthony answered instantly, and I was glad Anthony had not said anything about Draco.
"Well done." Penelope said. "I'm glad one of you was able to figure it out, three years ago it took the first years past Christmas to figure it out." She added shaking her head. "Anyways, all of you should be able to perform the Charm easily, It should take that long to warm this place up if you all work together." With that Penelope began to walk away, but she stopped and turned around. "By the way, five points for figuring it out." She added, then strode off. As everyone turned back to us.
"Well, what's the incantation again?" Padma asked.
The Common Room was warm again in under five minutes.
It was the day before the Christmas Holiday arrived, and I was equally excited, and nervous.
The Excitement was easy to explain, Christmas was just around the corner. For the first time in my life was going to get presents, instead of just watching Dudley open present after present, it would be a welcome change of pace.
However I was sad that all my housemates would be leaving for two weeks, and I could deny I was disappointed that none had chosen to stay, still, they had homes that wanted them.
Harry and Ron would both be staying, along with all the Weasley's. So I was determined to use the holidays to make up for all the time we had been separated. Luckily for both me and Harry, Draco and Smith were leaving as well. So neither of us would have to deal with unwelcome intrusions.
Still, Smith took his opportunity when he saw it.
"So? I heard you're staying for the Holidays, I wonder why you're family wouldn't want you home?" He asked me as I was making my way to the great hall. Lisa and Anthony were both packing, leaving me an easier target.
"Yeah, I wonder why I can't go home to my parents?" I replied, and Smith looked taken aback.
"You're parent's were hero's, I have nothing against them. Just the fact that you're a arrogant, stuck up..."
"I h...hope there n...not any t...trouble?" Smith's rant was interrupted as Professor Quirrell appeared in the corridor and Smith froze.
"None." He said quickly and stormed off, and Professor Quirrell turned to me.
"A...are you o...okay?" He asked, his voice and face laced with concern.
"I'm fine sir." I replied, and the Professor nodded.
"If h...he give y...you any m...more t...trouble just let me k...know." He said, and I nodded.
"I will. Thank you sir." I replied, giving one of my favorite Professor in the school a smile before heading off.
I arrived in the great hall and was astounded by what I saw. Nearly a dozen Christmas trees dotted the entire corridor, hundreds of mistletoes and holly were hanging around the room, while Professor's Flitwick, and McGonagall where busy lining the trees with decorations.
It was truly a amazing sight.
"Ah, Hagrid, the last tree — put it in the far corner, would you?" I turned and saw Hagrid arrive with another Christmas tree, closely followed by Harry, Ron, and Hermione. I made my way over to the group.
"Hey guys." I said, still looking around in amazement at the sights.
"Hey Sarah." Harry replied as Hagrid placed the last tree in the corner.
"You three look Merry?" I asked, noticing they all looked quite the opposite.
"Potions." Harry answered instantly scowling, "And Malfoy was a massive git again."
I nodded in understanding as Hagrid began to walk back over to us after placing down the tree he'd been carrying. "I must say Hagrid, you really know how to pick Christmas trees."
"Thank yeh, they really grow good in the fall." Hagrid replied, looking at the trees in pride before turning back to us. "Anyways, how many days you got left until yer holidays?" He asked.
"Just one," Replied Hermione. "And that reminds me — Harry, Ron, we've got half an hour before lunch, we should be in the library."
"Oh yeah, you're right," added Ron, who had been watching Professor Flitwick decorate the branches of the trees with golden bubbles.
Me and Hagrid shared a look, his of curiosity and mine of annoyance, as we began to follow the trio out of the hall.
"The library? Just before the holidays? Bit keen, aren't yeh?" Hagrid asked the trio.
"Oh, we're not working, Ever since you mentioned Nicolas Flamel we've been trying to find out who he is." Harry replied, and Hagrid face went from curiosity to shock.
"You what? Listen here — I've told yeh — drop it. It's nothin' to you what that dog's guardin." Hagrid told them worriedly.
"I've tried Hagrid. They're persistent." I replied, and he looked at me shaking his head.
"You could have told me about them. maybe I could have talked some sense inter 'em" He told me, and I shrugged.
"There not breaking any rules. Not really much I could do." I replied, and Hagrid sighed.
"We just want to know who Nicolas Flamel is, that's all," Hermione interjected. Looking at him innocently.
"Unless you'd like to tell us and save us the trouble? We must've been through hundreds of books already and we can't find him anywhere — just give us a hint — I know I've read his name somewhere." Harry added eagerly.
"I'm sayin' nothin." Hagrid replied firmly.
"Just have to find out for ourselves, then," Replied Ron, and with that the trio turned and headed in the direction of the library.
"Those three." Hagrid said, clearly disgruntled.
"It's fine Hagrid, knowing who this person is isn't the end of the world. Heck they can't even find out who it is." I replied, trying to comfort him.
"There messing with stuff tha' should be messed with, 's dangerous wha' there doin'." Hagrid said, and I looked at him nervously.
"Dangerous?" I asked, and Hagrid froze.
"Never yeh mind, like I said no place safer but Hogwarts. I jus hope they don' take this ter far." He said, then started to head back out to the grounds. Leaving me standing there worried what could possibly be dangerous about this Nicolas Flamel.
I sighed then decided to follow Harry and the others. When I arrived at the Library's doors I saw him getting reprimanded by Madam Prince, and then walk out of the Library, looking at the ground in disappointment.
"Harry." I said, and he looked up at me with hope.
"Please tell me you've decided to help us look." He said, practically begging and I shook my head.
"No, I'm here to try and get you to stop." I replied, and he frowned.
"I understand Hagrid, but why do you care if we look for Nicolas Flamel?" He asked.
"Because I don't want you to have another troll incident." I replied, and he flinched at the memory.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"Because when you're even remotely interested in what a giant three headed dog is guarding, I start to get nervous." I replied worriedly.
"We just want to know what it's guarding..." He said, and I just shook my head and sighed.
"You've made that abundantly clear."
The door's to the library opened as Ron and Hermione both came out, shaking there heads in disappointment.
"Madam Prince kick you guys out to?" Harry asked them, and they nodded solemnly.
"Yeah." Ron replied.
"I know I've heard it somewhere." Hermione added, disappointment and annoyance etched onto her face.
Harry just gave a sigh then turned back to me. "You know nothing?" He asked, and I nodded.
"No, and I'm not actively looking either." I replied.
"I wish you would." Ron said, and I shook my head.
"If Hagrid say's not to, I'm not going to." I replied.
"Aren't you at all curious?" Hermione asked me, and I shrugged.
"Not really..."
"I wish you where, your Common Room has it's own library. I bet you could find something on Nicolas Famel without Madam Prince, or anyone for that matter, figuring out." She added.
"How do you know about our Library?" I asked.
"Hogwarts a History." She replied. The way the trio were looking, they'd been wanting me to join there quest for a while.
"And how long have you been wanting my help?" I asked.
"I've hoped everyday." Harry added. "You would be a great help."
They all looked at me with begging eyes, and I sighed.
"I'll not actively search, but If I read anything about him by chance, I'll let you know where to look." I replied.
"Well...better than nothing." Ron said. "Any way's let's get to lunch."
"You will keep looking while I'm away, won't you? And send me an owl if you find anything." Hermione asked Harry and Ron as we approached the great hall.
"And you could ask your parents if they know who Flamel is, It'd be safe to ask them." Ron added hopefully.
Very safe, as they're both dentists," she replied.
Once we arrived in the great hall, I split from the Gryffindor's and made my way to our table, arriving just in time to listen to Terry and Michael's Quidditch debate.
The Holiday's started today. Everyone who was heading home, everyone but me and some seventh years, was getting reading to leave.
"I'm sorry..." Lisa told me as she put her scarf on, and I nodded.
"It's fine, like I said, this will be better than any Christmas I've had." I replied, trying to assure the guilty conscience of the girl.
"I wish I could stay, my families Christmas are so boring, but my mum want's to see my progress on my muggle work." She explained.
"I'm fine." I once again assured her, and she shook her head.
"It's just two weeks. We'll be back before you know it." She said, the two of us then made our way to the Common room where everyone else was almost packed.
"You ready?" Lisa asked Anthony, and he nodded.
"Yeah." He replied, before turning to me. "I hope you enjoy the books I picked out for you." He told me and I nodded.
"I'm sure I will." I replied, and he nodded.
"Good. Well, we best be off." He said, and I nodded.
"See you two after the new year. "I replied. The two left, and the common room felt rather empty. The seventh years had gone to the Great Hall to eat, and the only other person in the common room was Penelope, who was sitting at a table reading.
I made my way over to the couch and laid down, taking my wand out and warming the air around me, before taking out my Transfiguration homework and starting to slog through it.
"Potter?" I looked up to see Penelope looking at me, she motioned for me. I put my work away and walked over to her curiously.
"Yes?" I asked.
"Ever play chess?" She asked, and I shook my head.
"I've always wanted to, but no." I replied.
"Well then you've going to love wizards chess." She replied before standing up. "Wait here." She said, then made her way to the dorms. When she returned she had a large chess set, she placed it down as I looked at it intrigued.
"It just looks like a regular chess set." I said, and the girl gave me a small smile.
"That's what I said to." She replied, taking out the chess pieces. And they started to move.
"Whoa." I said stunned, the girl began to place the pieces, and they began to talk back.
"A new challenger approaches." One of the white knights said.
"A fair maiden." Another of the white knights replied.
"I do hope your a better strategist than our usual commander." The black king said, as Penelope finished putting the pieces into place.
"Sit down." She said motioning to the chair across from her. "Now the rules are just like regular chess." She explained, and I looked at her curiously.
"What's the wizard part then?" I asked. "Other than them talking?"
"You'll see, Challenger makes the first move. You know the basics right?" She asked, and I nodded.
"Somewhat." I replied, and she smiled.
"Good enough."
I made my first move, and the knight argued that he was to "valuable" to the cause to risk. Penelope then moved her knight and we played until when my original knight was captured.
"For our fair queen." Penelope's knight said, and slashed at mine, destroying it. I stared at the board in wonder.
"...do you need new pieces every time?" I asked in wonder.
"No, you just fix them with a wave of your wand when the game's over." She replied, and I nodded.
"Well...let's play."
For the next several hours, Penelope preceded to wipe the floor with me. But every time I got a little better, until I finally took down one of her pieces. At the end of each game, Penelope would take out her wand and shout "reparo" and all broken pieces would be restored. And I loved it.
"You really like this huh?" Penelope asked and I nodded.
"The strategizing is wonderful, and the moving pieces...everything about this rules." I replied, and the prefect gave a small laugh.
"I'm glad." She said, looking at me thoughtfully. Before repairing the pieces once again. "You go first this time."
We played for another couple hours, and for the first time in my life, Christmas break was something I was looking forward to.