Finally it's Christmas day. I awake to find pepper on my chest. I had decided on a simple name for the little black cat. I scratch his ears and his eyes look at me grumpy. "Hey Grumpy." I whisper. He leans into my fingers as he gets up and jumps down and away. I throw my quilt off me and peak my head around the divider at Ginny's bed. I smile at her empty bed. I quickly get dressed and slowly sneak down stairs. I reach the kitchen and see pepper eating off a plate on the floor. "Alice!" Ginny smiles and pulls me around the corner to the beautifully decorated living room. "Morning, Everyone." I wave to the sea of red heads. I look around and smile. After a chorus of morning and hellos I sit in an armchair, after a while pepper jumps up into my lap. I sit and watch everyone opening presents. I pet pepper in appreciation for what I got. His little collar hands around his neck. A little silver tag hangs from it 'Pepper'. Suddenly a paper wrapped package is placed next to me on the arm chair. I look up at molly confused. "You didn't think we'd let you sit here a watch us now did you?" I shake my head. "Honestly molly. You've done so much, you're spoiling Me." she laughs. "Open it." I rip the paper open and find a beautiful knitted jumped in a deep purple with a letter 'A' across the front. "Molly, I love it." I lean up for a hug. I look around at the weasley family and realise they all have a similar jumper on. "Mom makes us one every year." Fred laughs. I pull the jumper over my head. "Welcome to the family."
A flash of green make my head turn towards the fireplace. Minnie stands in the fire place a large gift bag in hand. "Minnie!" I jump up disturbing pepper who springs to the floor. I jump over to her and fly my arms around her. "Well I didn't expect that kind of welcome." I smile up at her. "Honestly was worried you wouldn't come." I pull away and she shakes her head. "What? And miss out on Molly Weasley's cooking? Never." She hands me the bag. "These are for you." I look up at her and lean over the arm chair and pass her the badly warped gift. "I'm sorry it's nothing amazing but I thought you'd like it." she takes a seat at the table with me and opens her gift. "Oh Alice it's wonderful." I smile. I'd picked out her gift in Diagon Ally. The small purple gemstone that hung from a black rope was simple and beautiful. "I'm glad you like it." I look inside the bag of gifts she had handed me. "Minnie you didn't have to buy me all this!" I exclaim. "Less of that now, open them." Molly hands her a cup of tea and I open her presents. Minnie had picked me out some amazing gifts, some quidditch gloves, a box of sugar quills, a cosy blanket and one other gift. "Now this last one is something very important." She nods taking care to make sure no one was listening. It was a silver journal the binding on the book was very much worn down. I look at Minnie for an explanation "this is a step by step guide on becoming an Animagus." She says in a hushed tone. "You possess a very wonderful gift for transfiguration and if you'd like, with my help, we could get you to become an animagi." I stare at her unknowing what to say. "Alice, you can say no." She laughs. I shake my head at her. "I don't know what to say... I would love too." I run around the table and hug her tightly. "Now I'm not saying it's an easy task especially for someone so young. I mean you're going into you're second year but I think we can get there." I nod. "Thanks Minnie." She smiles as I retake my seat and the other begin to join us at the table for dinner. "I have some more good news for you actually. After Christmas you'll be sat under the hat once more, for the final time. We all agree it been long enough but Dumbledore agrees we can't have you isolated so after that if you still have no house... you'll become Gryffindor by default and then a fair quidditch try out." I look at the twins and high five George. "Yes! Finally our chaser will get to play!"
After desert Minnie had left. "If you wanted me too.. I was thinking I could come get you from the train and we can discuss your extra lessons?" she winked. I laughed and nodded. "That'd be awesome. Merry Christmas Minnie." She stepped into the fireplace with a smile. "Merry Christmas, Alice." She dropped the handful of powder and green flames engulfed her. George had appeared by my side. He glanced over my shoulder and handed me a small parcel. I look at him with a weird look and open it slowly. "If this is a prank.." a small, simple, sliver bracelet. "George." I breathed slipping it onto my wrist. "It's charmed... for good luck." I smile at his kind gesture. "I hope next year is better for you than this one was." He says quickly. I hug him "I couldn't have asked for more." I pull away and as we smile at each other something above us catches my eye. "What's that?" mistletoe. Our faces turn red and we burst into laugher. "us? kiss? No!" he laughs. "Wanna go join the other playing quidditch outside?" he nod quickly and we both run out. I look over to him as I hop onto my broom and think 'just friends.'