Halloween was fun, the decorations were amazing. During Halloween, pumpkins started hopping where they were, scaring a couple of students and entertaining everyone else. The staff, however, was not liking the interruption. They immediately figured out who it was, due to their suspicious smirks and fake innocence, James, Peter, and Sirius Lander themselves in detention for two weeks. As Christmas approached, Lily and Dashia said they were also going back home. About one week before Christmas holidays, an owl flew in and it was actually for me. It surprised me, considering I didn't know any witches or wizards outside of the school.
"Since when do you get owls? Did your parents figure out how to do it?" Dashia said. I shrugged. The owl dropped a letter and a package and then perched on my shoulder. I looked at it strangely until I saw it eyeing the food in front of me. That makes more sense.
"Seems like it, it is from my mom." I said. I grabbed the letter and opened it first.
Dear Quinn,I hope this gets to you, I'm still confused on how owls work. Do I need to put on a stamp? Or did I waste a stamp for no reason? I also got an owl from your grandparents so I could tell you this and she also got the presents. Jinger, Calvin, and I are leaving the country for Christmas, but we have to leave before you get back or it will take too long to get to the US. So, you need to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas this year, I'm sorry sweetie. I miss you, please write back to me. The package is your Christmas present along with a couple of other things you might want to give your friends for Christmas. Sorry I didn't write you back sooner. I put in chocolate, a book on potions, a book on defense against the dark arts(Is that what it is called or did I fail???)and a book on defensive and offensive spells for what you told me about your friends there, and she bought an extra defense against the dark arts for you to study, I guess. I also got these things called dungbombs and another book on charms that come in handy while pranking. I don't know what they are, but they have something to do with pranks so you could give it to those pranksters to thank them for being nice to you. I checked with my friend that all the stuff I got was good for you and your friend ages, so the books are fine. I'm so sorry you can't come home for the holidays. I will try to write to you, please write me back. Love, Mom.
I sighed a bit as I folded the letter back up and put it in the envelope.
"What's wrong and what is in the huge package?" Remus asked. I shook my head slightly.
"Nothing is wrong, I'm just staying here for Christmas instead of going home like I thought. And I'm not telling you what is in the package yet, you'll have to wait till Christmas." I told him. He sighed a bit and continued eating. "I'm going to go quickly put these in the dorm, I'll meet you guys in Transfiguration." I said. I quickly went to our dorm and hid the package under my bed, knowing Dashia will try and find out what it is. I put the letter there as well and went to Transfiguration. I got there and sat down next to Remus.
"Why aren't you going home?" Remus asked.
"My mom-" I started. I then got interrupted.
"Her parents probably don't want her home, being the stupid idiotic brat she is. Don't you know this Loopy?" Capella said from behind me. I rolled my eyes a bit and ignored her comment.
"My family is leaving the country for Christmas and have to leave before I would get home, so my mom decided I would just stay here for Christmas. The package was my Christmas present." I told him. He nodded. McGonagall started class and I paid attention.
"Hello class. Today you will be continuing your lesson from last class. Please come up and grab a bird. Be calm and don't hurt the bird like a few if you chose to do last time." Everyone went to get a bird. I was in the back of the line with Remus. Lily and Dashia wanted to get the same bird they had last time, so they were closer to the front of the line.
"Hey Remus, what are you doing in the back of the line?" Said Sirius, who Remus had started talking to quite often after he started talking to him. Remus had joined their group and is probably the smarts of the group and the one who holds them back. It makes sense.
"Because I'm talking to Quinn and she always get in the back of the line." Remus said. I shrugged.
"Guilty." I said simply as the line moved. Sirius then continued talking to James and Peter. Once we got to the front, I let Remus pick before me.
"I think there is only one more, Quinn." He said, pointing to a bird that was standing there. I looked around the cage and saw a small bird in the corner. I shook my head and pointed at that bird. I picked that one. I slowly grabbed her and carefully carried her back to my seat. She was scared, and I didn't blame her. She was being held by a huge creature and couldn't escape. I would be freaking out even worse than she is. I got to my seat and set the bird down on my desk, petting her head softly. I didn't want to perform any magic on the bird, she was really scared. I saw Remus was also agreeing with me about not performing magic. His bird was scared of him and he was a bit sad about that, but my bird seemed to like Remus, once she got more comfortable around us. Most of the birds were scared of Remus, which made me upset, but I knew why. Remus only performed the spell once on the bird and it turned into a wonderful cup. He then quickly undid it, feeling extremely guilty. "Quinn, you have to perform it at least once. You did it on the other bird last time and did it well, McGonagall just wants to see if you can do it again, I'm guessing."
"I know I have to, but the bird is so scared! What if I hurt her on accident. I wouldn't want to hurt Tweety." I said. Remus sighed a but and laughed.
"Tweety?" He said. I nodded. "You get attached to animals to easily." He said, shaking his head slightly. I shrugged. McGonagall then came over.
"Ms. Marley, why haven't you performed the spell yet?" She asked. I didn't know what to say, until I heard someone speak for me.
"She doesn't want to hurt the bird, professor. The bird is the smallest bird in the room and Quinn thinks she will hurt the bird if she does anything and accidentally messes up." I heard Dashia say for me. I mentally face palmed as Professor McGonagall sighed.
"Can you perform the spell on Tweety at least once, Ms. Marley?" She asked. My face was red with embarrassment as I grabbed my wand. I performed the spell once and Tweety turned into a cup. I then quickly turned her back. "Wonderful, Ms. Marley." She said, then walked off. I put my face in my hands.
"What's wrong, Quinn?" Dashia asked. I could hear her holding back laughs. I glared at her. "Sorry, but I knew you weren't going to say anything or weren't going to tell the truth." I rolled my eyes and turned back to Remus.
"Do you think Fluffers is scared of birds?" I asked. Remus shook his head.
"You can not keep Tweety, Quinn." Remus said quietly.
"But what about all the other kids who come in after us. They could accidentally hurt her or be mean since she is the smallest." I told him. He looked at me with a look that said 'seriously?' I nodded. He sighed.
"I can't stop you anyway. To be honest, I probably would've probably tried to keep as well Tweety if I had her for my bird." Remus told me. I smiled as I pet Tweety's head lightly. "What about Mr. Wrinkles?" Remus asked. I looked at him with the same look he'd given me moments before. "True. Mr. Wrinkles will probably try to befriend her immediately." I nodded. "How are you going to sneak her out?" He asked.
"I've got an idea in my mind." I said. He sighed.
"Don't break anything." He said simply as McGonagall dismissed the class. I walked out with Remus. We went to our next class and then lunch. Once we got to the Great Hall, I sat down where I normally sat.
I swear by the time I finish this Quinn will have at least five pets that the school knows about but just goes with it, knowing the pets would just find their way back to her.