Silent Night, Holy night...all is calm, all is bright...Round yon virgin mother and child...Holy infant so tender a mild...Sleep in heavenly peace...sleep in heavenly peace...
"Haylie?" Hermione's voice interrupted, halting Haylie's faint whisper.
"What?" Haylie turned to face her sister, not even noticing how heavy the snow was falling or how numb the tip of her cheery red nose was turning. Now, on Christmas Eve, most of the students were gone. They had left Hogwarts to venture back to their homes, filled with love, carols, and presents. But here Haylie and Hermione Granger stood, standing beside the frozen lake, feeling the airy snowflakes melt within their identical brown locks.
"It's time for dinner now," Hermione said, rubbing her glove-covered hands together, trying to feel the tingle of heat arise from her palms. Haylie smiled, happy she could finally rid herself of the rumbling inside her empty stomach. She knew, though, that the rumbling would not fully leave her body, for hunger was not the only cause of the funny feeling within her. Deep inside her heart, Haylie longed for her mother's light kiss on her cheeks at night, leaving a tiny bit of light pink lipstick upon her skin. She wanted so much for her father's loving embrace, and his arms wrapping totally around her back. Mainly she just missed her parents.
"Okay, I'll be in in a second," Haylie replied, gazing one more time out across the huge lake, no longer consumed with ripples. Haylie realized that the lake, though cold and solid, was not any less beautiful than it had once been.
"Alright," Hermione answered, turning to walk back up the hill towards the doors, and return into the heated hallways of Hogwarts. As she peered back at her sister, Haylie wanted so much to stand where she had been for the last fifteen minutes, catching the flavorless snowflakes with her tongue. Finally, Hermione was out of sight. Before turning away to travel back up to the castle, Haylie reached out her hand to catch one last snowflake.
"Let's enjoy our Christmas Eve students! Especially the wonderful feast we have prepared, " Dumbledore said, winking at the ten students seated around the table. These ten students were the only ones left at Hogwarts for the holiday break. Haylie had just entered the Great Hall, after changing into dry clothes. She took a seat beside Hermione, who was listening intently to Dumbledore's long speech. Beside her sat Ron, who looked impatient. Haylie giggled, thinking about how much he probably wanted the food.
"Okay everyone! Lets eat!" With Dumbledore's loud yell, a rush of warm and cold foods alike appeared in front of the hungry students. Warm biscuits, yams, and goeey-mashed potatoes came in huge bowls surrounding the main courses of ham, turkey, and pork. Many other small side dishes added to the delicious meal, making Haylie's stomach rumble even harder. Of course, no one could help themselves until Ron got his share. His hand shot out to the turkey, plucking five large pieces out of the center. Hermione forced him to settle down, making him wait until others got a chance to help themselves. His glare, filled with hunger and longing was hilarious, and even the corners of Hermione's lips began to lift into a half-smile.
"Okay Ronald. Go ahead and take some," Hermione approved, handing Ron the mashed potato spoon. He almost took her arm off as he yanked the spoon from her fingers and dipped it deep into the gooey potatoes. Hermione shook her head as she gazed at Ron's rude table manners.
"We need to clean you up," Hermione told him, reaching for the napkin beside his plate and handing it to him.
"What?" Ron asked between spoonfuls.
"Put this on your lap," Hermione ordered, still reaching out to give him the napkin.
"Why?"
"Just do it! Either that or I'll have to put it on you as a bib!"
"Fine Hermione," Ron muttered, spreading the napkin on his lap. Hermione nodded her chin, seeming very proud, and continued to consume her dinner. With one final smile at her fellow students, Haylie cut her sharp knife through the tender pork, savoring every moment of her holiday dinner.
Jingle Bells... Batman smells... robin laid an egg... the bat-mobile lost its wheel and joker does ballet...HEY!
"Would you shut it Corinne?!" Haylie screamed, having just been woken up by the sound of Corinne's horrible singing. She yanked the pillow out from below her head and pressed it against her ear, trying to lessen the amount of noise. To her dismay, Corinne ran over and pulled the pillow from her hands, a huge smile upon her face.
"Get up Hay, it's Christmas!" Corinne called, laughing and jumping around the room. Not wanting to leave the comfort of her soft, warm bed, Haylie squeezed her eyelids shut. The sound of Corinne's constant singing and laughing went on for five minutes before an interruption occurred.
"Oh!" a yell cut through Haylie's sleepy daze. She pulled her self onto her elbows, trying to see what had happened. Of course, it involved Corinne and her sprightly, hyper behavior. Haylie giggled as she peered down at Corinne and Hermione sprawled out across the bedroom floor. It seemed that Hermione had just entered the doorway to be plundered by a dancing Corinne. The end result was two soar and annoyed witches groaning on the shiny hardwood floor.
"Corinne!" Hermione grumbled, hoisting herself onto her knees, "Why can't you just...sit down and relax!"
"Sorry," Corinne muttered, twirling a loose hair that curled beautifully around her full, rosy cheeks. Haylie watched her big sister lift to her feet, pinch her fingers slightly so she could remove a gold thread from her purple, cotton pajama pants, and shoot a small glare at Corinne. The top she was wearing matched her pants perfectly, though the dark pink slippers on her feet did not. Hermione's puffy brown hair was put into a loose, messy bun and as usual Hermione didn't have a drop of make-up upon her face.
"Come on you two. The boys are waiting in the Common Room," Hermione said, sighing one last time at the messy room before leaving. Immediately after Hermione had wandered far down the hallway Corinne turned to the door and stuck out her tongue, annoyed at Haylie's sister.
"She is wound so tight," Corinne hissed, shaking her head. Haylie grunted, leaning over on her stomach, searching for her slippers from the dark depths of under her bed.
"Maybe she's just sick of being tripped by you," Haylie chuckled, reaching for her second slipper, "After all, you did just run into her yesterday in the courtyard."
"Well..." Corinne mumbled, not able to deny that she had been acting like a klutz for the last few days.
"Haylie! Hurry up!" Hermione's angry voice boomed from beneath the first year's feet. Repeating Corinne's gesture, Haylie stuck her tongue out towards the floor, now becoming annoyed with Hermione as well.
"Maybe you're right Cor," Haylie stated, slipping her left slipper on her foot, "She is a bit...woven tight."
"Didn't I tell you?" Corinne prodded, obviously feeling proud of her correct assessment. Now both girls were traveling down toward the Common Room where Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were all sitting around the giant Christmas tree, each dressed in their colorful pajamas. Ron in maroon, Harry in blue, Ginny in red, and Hermione in purple. Haylie gazed down at her own green, silk pajamas, feeling like a part of the large group. Poor Corinne had purple pajamas as well, making Hermione seem even more superior than before. Ginny was the first to spot Haylie and Corinne as they entered the Common Room.
"Hey you two! Thought you'd never join us," Ginny said, looking at Hermione and nodding. Haylie saw Hermione smiled and grab a very long present from under the tree, wrapped in the most glorious paper Haylie had ever laid her eyes upon. The gold and silver paper glistened in the light from the sidewall window and never seemed to darken, even with Haylie's shadow hovering over it.
"Come on Hay," Hermione urged, waving her little sister over to an empty spot right beside her, "You can be the first to open a present." With a smile so big it almost stretched off her face, Haylie ran over and plopped her bottom on the floor. She then snatched the gift from her sister's lap and began to examine it thoroughly. She could tell that whatever it was, it was inside a box. Smart on Hermione's part, since Haylie could not even guess what it was now.
"It's from me," Hermione told Haylie happily. Finally the suspense of it all forced Haylie to just tear into the paper, ruining the perfect presentation Hermione had made. The gold flashed even more violently as Haylie continued her tirade. She loved hearing the loud crinkling of the crisp paper as she neared closer to discovering the identity of her very first Christmas present. At last she was opening the simple brown box and so close to seeing...
"It's a broom! My very own broom! Omigosh!" Haylie screamed, squeezing the shiny, brand new broom to her chest.
"So…you like it?" Hermione asked nervously, tapping her fingers on her thigh. No answer was needed as Haylie jumped from the floor and practically feel on her sister. Both girls were tangled in a huge bear hug, deeply caring for each other.
"So did you like everything Hay?" Corinne asked, falling backward onto her feather bed.
"Yeah," Haylie told her excitedly, also leaning backward, and releasing her tired muscles allowing them to take her wherever they wished. She landed on the bed with a plump.
"Ow!" Haylie cried, turning on her side and glaring at her pillow, "I forgot about that stupid book!"
"Oh yeah," Corinne muttered, still angry with herself for not solving the looming mystery yet. Neither Haylie, Corinne, nor Eileen could come to a conclusion about the object they had found under Elvin's mattress. Knowing the identity of the object worsened their mood, as they could not understand any possible reason the cloaked figure would need it. Turning completely around till she was lying on her stomach, Haylie slipped her hands beneath her clean, lemon-smelling pillow and wrapped her fingers around the binding of the large book. Gently, since the book was rather old, Haylie pulled the book out from under the pillow, resting it, finally, on her lap.
"Children's Songs and Lullabies," Haylie grumbled, already knowing the title of the book by heart without even a slightly glancing at the cover.
"I think we should just put that thing away," Corinne suggested, ripping a bright pink brush through her knotty locks, "I say it's bad luck. Those are probably spells, not lullabies at all!" Haylie scrunched her nose, still not believing the book of songs had any kind of spells within it. Even though she did not agree with Corinne on that point, she did want to hide the book away, so no one could steal it. Haylie shoved herself to the side of the bed and tiptoed on the floor, not wanting anyone who may be listening to know exactly where she put it. She peered around the brightly lit room, biting her lip, not knowing where she could hide the book. Eventually she decided to just hide it away in her suitcases, which were completely empty.
"Haylie come here!" Haylie heard Corinne call from behind her, "Look! There's another present for you." Immediately, Haylie spun around, feeling the child within her scream. Clutched in Corinne's palm was a tiny red and green box, sealed shut by a sparkly, gold ribbon.
"Does it say who it's from?" Haylie asked Corinne, walking toward her. Corinne examined the exterior of the gift once more before shaking her head, no. Haylie held out her hand and Corinne gently handed it over. Though the suspense of it all was boiling inside Haylie, she just couldn't open it without giving it a quick glance-over. In fact, Haylie gave it several examinations before finally continuing with the task. The box itself could possibly be used at an ornament, since it was so glittery and the epitome of gorgeous.
"Come on already!" Corinne urged her to open the gift, her eyes wide and eager. Haylie listened to Corinne and tore into the box, feeling a tiny bit guilty about ruining a creation of such beauty. Inside the box was a blanket of thick cotton, also glittering brightly. As Haylie dug deeper, she discovered two small pieces of jewelry she had long forgotten of.
"It's those earrings!" Haylie screamed, her jaw dropping suddenly.
"What earrings?"
"The earrings! Don't be so thick Corinne!" Haylie snapped, immediately grabbing them from the box and sprinting to the nearby bureau mirror. There she slipped the skinny, hooked end of the silver plated majesties through her pierced earlobe, observing her appearance in the mirror. Only then did it occur to her that someone had sent them to her. Someone, who hadn't bothered to leave her with a name. Haylie whipped around to face Corinne, who appeared just as puzzled as herself.
"Who on Earth…" Haylie stuttered, shaking her head, utterly confused.
"I don't know Hay, I don't know."