Chapter 9: At School for the Holidays

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"Are you staying here for Christmas?" Cedric asked.

We were standing just inside the front doors, marking off students names as they passed, heading for the Hogwarts Express. I shook my head.

"No, I'm going home. I promised Elena I'd wait for her, though. She's helping Madam Pomfrey in the hospital wing today."

"I've wondered, why does she do that?" he asked, checking the name of a Slytherin first year off of his list.

"Madam Pomfrey's niece is Elena's sister-in-law," I explained, grinning at his surprised expression. "Elena just tries to help out where she can."

"Ah. Well, you should visit while you're home. Floo over. Mum and Dad would love to see you."

"Maybe," I smiled. "I'd like that."

At that moment, two third year Ravenclaw girls passed by. They took one look at me, squeaked, and scurried down the steps. Cedric and I rolled our eyes in unison.

"Honestly," I sighed. "If I wanted to help Sirius Black kill them all, I would've done it by now."

He chuckled. "Don't let the others hear you say that."

We continued checking names off of our lists. I glanced around for Elena, but I couldn't see her anywhere. Eventually, the hall was empty except for Cedric and I, and night had fallen.

"You didn't see 'Lena, did you?" I asked, frowning at my list. He copied me.

"No, sorry. Are you sure she was going home?"

"She said she was..." I shrugged. "I'm going to see if I can find her. You'd better go, the train leaves soon."

"Alyssa, you know they've got protective enchantments and everything, right?" I nodded. "That's why the train's leaving tonight instead of tomorrow morning. Like you said, it leaves soon. Way to throw Black off, I suppose, in case he tries anything. If you don't catch the train..."

"It'll be fine," I assured him. "Really. Professor Flitwick will let me use the Floo to get home if I need to. Go on, I'll see you soon."

"If you're sure..." he said hesitantly.

I rolled my eyes and waved him on. He grinned and we turned in opposite directions. The front doors closed. Now, then. Where would Elena be? Not still in the hospital wing, surely. Still, it was my best bet, so that was where I headed. I caught the first staircase before it moved, but as I walked along the corridor, I saw a tapestry move out of the corner of my eye. I whipped around, reaching for my wand, but it was only Fred Weasley. He froze when he saw me. Then he made his way over to me.

"Fancy seeing you here!" he beamed.

"What're you doing here?" I hissed.

"I'm George," he tried.

I huffed and crossed my arms, looking him over once.

"I'm not falling for that. I saw you leave half an hour ago."

"All right, Princess," he said, his tone horribly condescending. "Do you know what an identical twin is?"

"Fine...George," I relented, still not convinced. "What're you doing here?"

"Whatever do you mean?" he asked innocently.

"You just decided to take a stroll after curfew...?"

"I'm visiting someone in the hospital wing."

"Oh really?" I frowned skeptically. "I wasn't aware they'd extended visiting hours."

"You're hilarious," he said sarcastically. "Now, if you'll excuse me..."

He set off down the corridor. I gritted my teeth and followed after him.

"You just can't stay away, can you?" he sighed. "I hate to disappoint, Princess-"

"Would you please stop calling me that?" I cried in exasperation.

"Calling you what, Princess?"

Even thought it was dark and he wasn't facing me, I could tell he was smirking. I opened my mouth, but the door to the hospital wing opened at that moment.

"Would you two shut up?" Elena hissed. "Come in here, but use your inside voices...sorry, 'Lyssa, but that means you."

"Yeah," Fred nodded sanctimoniously. "Use your inside voice...Princess."

Elena dragged me away before I could retort, which was probably for the best. She shoved Fred through the open doorway, whispering, "Don't wake him."

I glared after him. Elena looked like a longsuffering parent as she motioned me into the room. Fred walked over to his brother's bedside. George didn't stir. Fred sighed, greeting his twin.

"Ah, George. Guess we put a bit too much powdered bicorn in that one, huh? We'll remember to cut it back next time."

"Do you talk to yourself often, George?" I asked, unable to keep from smirking. Then again, I wasn't really trying to stop. Elena rolled her eyes, climbing onto the bed next to George's and wrapping a blanket around herself.

"It took him ages to fall asleep," she said, stifling a yawn. "How about you let him stay that way?"

"What happened?" I asked, glancing over at the sleeping boy.

"Removed all his bones from the waist down."

Whatever I had been expecting, it wasn't that. If I'd had a drink of water, I would've spit it everywhere. As it was, I squeaked.

"I'm sorry?"

"It's not like it's the first time," Fred shrugged. I raised my eyebrows, then decided I didn't want to know. "Have you been with him all this time?" he asked Elena.

She nodded. "I fell asleep after he did."

"That's why you never met up with me," I realized.

Her eyes widened.

"I'm really sorry, 'Lyssa! I completely forgot..."

"It's really all right," I grinned. "Now we get to spend the holidays together."

She smiled and opened up her blanket to me. I slipped out of my shoes and hopped up on the bed next to her. We moved the pillow out of the way and leaned back against the wall. I looked up and saw Fred watching us, his expression unreadable. But then he seemed to snap out of it.

"What about me?" he demanded.

I shot him death glare number ten and pointed at the visitor's chair next to George's bed. It was a bit sad, watching him try to find a comfortable position. After a few moments of him tossing and turning, Elena sighed and reached for our neglected pillow. I snatched it from her.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Giving it to him."

"Why?"

"It's late," she reasoned. "I want to sleep, and he'll be quieter with that."

She reached for the pillow in my hand, but I held it out of her reach.

"Allow me," I said, smiling at her.

"Alyssa-"

I sat up and threw it at Fred, satisfied at the whap! sound it made when it hit him.

"Ow!" he protested.

I beamed at Elena, ignoring her disapproving look and settling back against the wall. I closed my eyes.

"Why, thank you, Princess."

I jerked up again. Elena groaned and pulled the blanket over her head.

"How're you feeling?" I asked, sitting at the foot of George's bed. He grinned.

"Well, I can feel everything above my knees, so that's an improvement."

I didn't like the smirk he was giving me, so I reached over and clamped a hand over his mouth before he could say anything else. He laughed under my hand, and then,

"You licked me!" I shrieked, wiping my hand vigorously on my jeans.

"Shh!" George scolded, motioning to his brother, who was napping in the visitor's chair. I rolled my eyes, but quietened nevertheless.

"When did Elena say she'd be back?" I asked, moving so that I was sitting cross-legged.

"Dunno," he shrugged. "Why? Am I not good enough for you on my own?"

I stuck my tongue out at him. "I was just wondering. I hope she's not too disappointed that she has to stay here for the holidays."

At that, George's eyes dropped guiltily.

"I wish I hadn't landed myself in here. She'd be able to go home if I hadn't."

"She still could've gone home," I said. "But she told me that she felt like she needed to stay with you. Personally, I think you should consider yourself lucky."

I watched closely, and sure enough, George's cheeks flushed pink.

"She said that?" he asked.

I nodded. "The thing is, girls like Elena don't come around every day."

"You can say that again," he muttered, then promptly went red. I smiled at him.

"After all she's been through, with her parents and everything, it's a miracle she can still function like a normal human being. And a pretty amazing human being at that."

"What do you mean?" George frowned. "'With her parents and everything?'"

I bit my lip. "You don't know."

"Know what?" he pressed.

I sighed. "I don't really think I'm the person to do all the explaining. You'll have to ask Elena yourself."

"Ask Elena what?" the girl in question grinned, entering the room with an armful of books.

"Nothing," George and I said in unison. She raised her eyebrows skeptically, but dumped her books on the bed beside George's and flopped down next to them.

"Did you send a letter to Will?" I asked.

She nodded. "I thought you might want to write to your parents, so..." She grabbed a sheet of parchment from her bag and handed me her quill and ink bottle.

"Thanks," I sighed. "I nearly forgot."

"Will's your brother, right?" George asked. Elena looked surprised, but nodded.

"He was Quidditch captain when he was here," she said. "Charlie and Bill knew him."

"Ah. You live with him?"

"For five years now," she confirmed, giving me a strange look. I shrugged innocently, grabbing a book so I'd have something solid to write on and starting my letter.

"What about you?" George asked, throwing a wad of parchment at me. "Any siblings?"

"My little brother," I said with a sigh. "Jeffery. He'll be here next year. I think he fancies 'Lena a bit."

George quirked an eyebrow at Elena, who snorted. "He's just a bit too young for me. Anyway, it's normal to have a crush on your sibling's friends...and your friend's siblings. Isn't that right, 'Lyssa?"

"Shut up," I muttered; George looked way too intrigued. I decided to steer the topic away from dangerous waters as fast as possible. "George, you've got six siblings, right?"

"...Right," he nodded. "Bill, Charlie, Percy, me, Fred, Ron, and Ginny."

"I always wished I had more siblings," I sighed.

"We're never bored," George grinned.

Elena and I laughed. Having finished my letter, I blew on the ink to dry it and folded it up, slipping it into the envelope Elena offered me. I got to my feet and stretched, casting a glance at Fred, who was still asleep. His head was propped up on his arm, and his mouth was hanging open. He was drooling. Not exactly an attractive sight.

"What a dummy," I said, rolling my eyes.

George chuckled, looking at me incredulously. "Seriously? Out of all the names at your disposal, you call him a dummy? What are you, five?"

"I've got a younger brother," I reminded him. "My parents are insistent on my setting a good example for him. It's ingrained in my brain now."

"Well, aren't you a good girl?" he teased.

I cuffed him lightly around the head and picked up my book, gesturing to Fred. "Do you mind if I-?"

"Please, go ahead," he said eagerly, sitting up straighter. Elena shook her head at us and buried her nose in a book.

"If he asks, I had no knowledge of this."

I walked up behind Fred and let the large tome drop to the floor with a loud thud. What happened next was much more entertaining than I'd imagined it would be.

"YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE!" Fred shouted, and promptly fell out of his chair. George, Elena, and I burst out laughing as he leapt up, wand raised for some imaginary attacker. His whole face went bright red as he realized what had happened. He stowed his wand in his robes, brushing himself off and muttering darkly.

George smiled gleefully, shooing me off before the moment could be ruined.

"Who'd you send that letter to?"

I jumped about a foot in the air, turning to see Fred standing behind me.

"My parents," I frowned. "What's it to you?" I brushed past him and headed for the stairs. To my dismay, he fell into step beside me.

"Just making sure you're not writing to Sirius Black." He said it like it was a joke, but I remembered the harsh glare he'd sent my way the day that Harry had first accused me.

I sighed. "If I was, why would I write to him while everyone's away?"

"Well, Harry's still here, isn't he? Everyone knows it's Harry he's after."

"Does everyone know that?" I asked.

"All right, not everyone. But those who are good at eavesdropping do." I rolled my eyes at him. "By the way, did you know that someone dropped a book and woke me up today, when I hadn't slept at all last night?"

"Well, maybe if you hadn't kept the other person up by making ridiculous arguments, you would've both gotten a full night's sleep."

"Oh, so it's all my fault," he nodded. "That's fair. It's not like you were arguing, too."

I stopped in my tracks, glaring at him.

"You know," I said. "I was having a pretty good day until you showed up."

"I'm so sorry!" he said sarcastically. "What've I done to ruin your day?"

"You're existing on this continent," I snapped.

"Well, then! Excuse me, Princess!"

"Stop calling me that!"

"Or what?"

"Is there a problem?"

Fred and I turned to see Professor Lupin standing outside his office door. He looked worried. I didn't have to wonder why; it couldn't be often that he found two students shouting at each other outside his office.

"It's nothing," I muttered. "Just...it's nothing."

"All right, then," he said hesitantly. Then he smiled. It was a knowing sort of smile, but before I could say anything about it, he had ducked back inside his office.

I turned to look at Fred. "I'm going to walk away now. If you follow me or call me back, I'll dock ten points from Gryffindor for being a nuisance."

He nodded solemnly, exaggerating the movement. I turned on my heel and walked back up the corridor. I wasn't sure where I was going, exactly, but anywhere Fred wasn't sounded pretty good.