Athena woke early that morning, groaning and cuddling Delilah, glaring at her blasted phone. She had forgotten that she never turned off her alarm, and here it was, blasting "Carry on my Wayward Son" at her, at half five in the morn. She groaned and grabbed her phone, hitting the "Off" button, and tossing it across the room, trusting the rubberized case to protect it. She had the entire girl's side to herself, so she allowed herself to moan in agony.
She did not want to get up, but she knew that once she was awake, she wouldn't fall asleep anytime soon. She lay in bed for another half hour, petting Delilah, before she sat up, sliding on her slippers and venturing out into the common-room, rabbit in-hand.
The fire in the hearth was going strong, so she rubbed her eyes tiredly and sat in front of it, rubbing her eyes like a child, and twirling one of her braids around her finger. Delilah suddenly jumped out of her lap, and towrds the boys dormitories, before being scooped up by a black haired boy.
"Mornin', Jethro-oooh." His name ended on a yawn, and he chuckled, yawning also.
"Breakfast isn't for another six houurrrsss." She complained, laying back upon the snake-detailed rug on the ground, scratching her lower belly contemplatively. Jethro tried not to laugh at the decidedly masculine action she was doing.
"We could always raid the kitchens. The house elves are nice like that." He offered, and she looked at him.
"What're house elves? My parents his everything magic from me, even when I was showing signs." Jethro nodded.
"House elves are like servants, with very little self-respect, and they seem to always talk in third person. House-elves are so intensely loyal to their masters that they will not allow themselves to be set free unless their master presents them with clothes. They're funny little creatures." Jethro stated, and Athena nodded her head.
"Well, your idea is as good as any. Let us go, Sir Morgan." She got up, bowing to him, before snatching Delilah up and putting her in her dorm room, shutting the door tightly.
XOXOXOXOX
Just as they rounded a corner, they heard footsteps fast approaching. Athena dragged Jethro into a dark corner, hidden behind two sets of armour side-by-side, and they watched skulk by, looking around suspiciously. Once they were sure he was gone, they tip-toed out again, their feet silent upon the marble floors. When they finally made it to the kitchen, it seemed deserted. They opened a cabinet and found boxes upon boxes of cereal. Looking at each other, they mouthed "Jackpot!" Before raiding it.
He chose the inherently sugary Chocolate Cinnamon Toast Crunch, while she went for the less-popular Froot Loops.
They found bowls and milk, and they sat on the floor, on either sides of the hearth in the kitchen. They were both pretty much out of sight, hidden by carts and shelves, so if someone were to come in, they'd have to look quite hard to find them. The only sounds were the companionable munching of their mouths.
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The first week and a half of Winter Break was spent equally indoors and outdoors. They'd stay in the common room, or the Great Hall, or if they went outside, Athena would bundle herself, and Delilah up to go outside. Jethro laughed about how Delilah had tubes over her ears, until Athena explained that if a rabbits ears got too cold, they could die of frostbite. At that, Jethro insisted on putting three tubes on each of Delilah's ears. The rabbit even had a tiny winter coat, that was green, and had a hood with slits in it for her floppy ears.
They'd have snowball fights, and sometimes the kids from the other houses would join in, too. There was Logan Martyn and Alexis Milton, fifth-and third years from Gryffindor, Leon Chance, Hamlet Delgado, and Ben Garnett, all fourth year Hufflepuffs, and Joscelyn Hobs, Katie Grath, and Gwen Jude, second, fifth, and third years from Ravenclaw. Athena learned a lot about the school, about her schoolmates, and maybe some stuff about herself, as well. She learned that the school had many hidden passages, and towers, and places in general. She learned one late night that Jethro really, really, wants to be a Keeper on the Quidditch team, and Athena learned that she's actually quite good at snowball fights.
It was the morning of Christmas Eve, and Athena was up and packing all of her friend's presents into her bag.
Well, almost all.
She had a quite a bit of money, from her grandparents, who had been secretly sending her muggle money in the mail, and when she was taken by a prudish woman from the
ministry to get her robes, she had the muggle money traded in for Wizarding money. She had 207 Galleons when she started, and she now had about 200. Most of the money went into buying the supplies for the gifts.
She had, however bough a few gifts.
She had "Quidditch, How to Play the Game Up, Down, Deaf or Dumb", "Quidditch Through The Ages" and a set of good arm and leg guards for Jethro. If he actually got on the team, a broom was another matter.
She went downstairs and saw Jethro sitting by the fire, staring into it forlornly.
"Jeth, yoo-hoo?"
He startled and looked at her, a question apparent in his eyes.
She picked up a blue-wrapped box, the paper matching his eyes almost perfectly. He smiled hesitantly, taking the box while his brows furrowed.
"Well? Open it, you nincompoop!" She giggled, urging him on. He sat on the ground and opened it carefully, when he grinned, standing up and hugging her tightly.
"Thank you so, so much." He whispered, his voice sounding thick. She grinned and brought her other hand around her back, holding up the guards.
"You might want these too, Jeth."
His eyes went wide, and he squeezed her even tighter, before she wriggled away, gasping for breath.
"Good talk." She breathed, laughing as he held the guards almost reverently.
"Th-They're brand new?"
"Aye, that they are. And don't ask me how much they cost, because I refuse to answer." She winked at him, and turned to leave so she could give McGonagall and Sharp their presents, when Jeth called to her.
"Hey! Did you think I, the heart-throb of Slytherin house, wouldn't get my biggest fan a gift for Christmas?" She guffawed at his statements, holding her sides as she laughed. He just rolled his eyes and went to his room, grabbing a box wrapped in a simple tan paper, and tied off with a silver bow.
"Sorry it's not as fancy..." He mumbled, but she pressed her hand to his mouth.
"Hush, child. Now if this is anything naughty, I'm going to give it to Headmistress McGonagall with love from you." She said sternly, but the effect was ruined by her snort of laughter.
"Just open it, you twit."
She did, and she gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.
"1001 Ways to Stop Self Harm." Was one of the books inside, and the other,
"How to end domestic violence."
She looked up at him, her eyes wide, and he just nodded down at the letter laying at the bottom of the box.
Athena,
These books helped me through some really, and I mean really bad times in my life. I know the signs when I see them. Long sleeves even when it's too warm in the common-room. Flinching whenever someone moves too suddenly, even when it's obvious they mean no harm. Screaming in the middle of the night. Athena I just want you to know that I'm here for you. So is McGonagall, and so are Sierra, Jennifer, and Yolandi. Probably your Gryffindor friends, too. Just remember that you're not alone. We adore you.
Your Favorite Hunk,
Jethro Morgan.
She hadn't even noticed the tears falling from her eyes until they slipped off her cheeks, and onto the paper. She looked up at him, and he seemed very bashful and embarassed. She lunged at him, hugging him tightly and pressing kisses all over his face. He was laughing, and she was crying. She hugged him for a moment, staying silent while he hugged her back.|
"Thank you, so, so, sosososososososo much, Jethro. You don't understand how much this means to me. But, I'm not ready to talk about it yet. I don't know when I will be. But thank you so much."
She whispered these things, before letting him go and grabbing her presents, taking them to her room and hiding them under her mattress. When she left the girls dorm, Jeth was gone, so she left to give the Professors their presents.
Professor Sharp got a brand-new quill and ink set, because she was always seeming to lose her old one. The woman gave her a hug, then sent her on her merry way.
Headmistress McGonagall got a long necklace, made of silver cats that Athena managed to make wind their tails together, and walk across her shoulders with a wink. Athena saw the woman's eyes light up with the gift, and that was all the thanks she needed.
Soon, it was time to go to Rose and Albuses house. They were staying at their Grandmothers, and she got to use the Floo network for the first time.
"Now you say, 'To The Burrow!' In a strong, sure voice. Are you ready?" Professor McGonagall asked, and Athena nodded. She threw the powder down in the fireplace, and said the words she was told, keeping a tight hold on Delilah.
She was suddenly thrown into what seemed to be happy, utter chaos. There were smiling faces, drinks all around, red hair simply everywhere, and was that Professor Longbottom? Thank god everyone's gifts were in the bag.
She suddenly heard a squeak, and arms were thrown around her.
"Rabbit, rabbit!" She said, and she was released, looking at Rose exasperatedly, before grinning and giving her a side hug.
They looked at eachother and laughed. This was the first time Athena had seen Rose in normal clothes, and it was nice. The girl wore a simple yellow button-down blouse, tucked into black slacks with shiny black mary-janes.
Athena wore dark jeans, and a long-sleeved black v-neck shirt, one of her nicer outfits, she was sad to admit.
Rose took her hand and dragged her over to where her parents were sitting. The adults faces lit up when they saw Athena, and they all hugged her. She grinned, and pulled her large bag from behind her back. Delilah was handed to Rose, and the rabbit was passed around, no one commenting on the Slytherin badge on her harness.
"I come bearing gifts! I request nothing in return!" She immediately sat down in the middle of the floor with her bag. Rose and Albus sat by her, grinning. She smiled back shyly, and brought her hand in the bag, pulling out a long necklace made with hand-carved wood. Athena handed the necklace to Rose, and the girl gasped as she saw that each bead was an individually carved rose.
Athena bit her lip.
"Do you like it, Rose?"
Her response was arms being thrown around her, and chuckles from everyone in the room.
Albuses present was a Gryffindor scarf, and he looked a bit dissapointed, but when she winked at him, the lions head would stick out and roar, as loud as a real one. He was ecstatic.
Athena even had small gifts for some other people.
"I, um... Know you're the seeker for Gryffindor, and I didn't know which team was your favorite... So I got them all?" She looked sheepish as she dumped a lot of pins onto James' lap, causing his eyes to widen, then for him to grin happily. He pulled her down, hugging her and doing something she'd never expected.
"I'm sorry for being a prick. Forgive me?" He whispered in her ear. It took him a few months, but she would take what she could get at this point. She nodded and patted him on the head.
She gave Ginny, Harry, Ron and Hermione each a token of how grateful she was to be here. She drew each of them by memory, and there were shocked gasps all around. She looked around anxiously, knowing she shouldn't have done that. It was a terrible idea, the drawings were utter shite, she knew it she knew it she knew it sh-
"Athena, these are bloody fantastic!" Cried a man who looked nearly identical to Fred Weasley, ghost of Hogwarts, save for a few lines around the eyes. He was George, of course.
"R-Really?" She stuttered. She drew them how she remembered them, Ginny looking at Harry with adoration and exasperation, Ron looking at Hermione like she held the very stars and moon. The couples were looking at eachother like that now, and it almost brought a tear to Athena's eye.
"Oh, Professor Longbottom!" She cried, diving back into her bag. She pulled out a clear sphere. A remembrall. Athena remembered the story Albus had told her about how when Professor was a first year, like her, his remembrall had been stolen by someone, and Harry had gotten it back for him. Also she got it because he was always forgetting their lesson. She added a note that simply said, "Maybe now you can remember where your lesson plans are."
There was uproarious laughter as she handed it to him, and she squeaked as he hugged her, her face flushing bright red.
"And now, for the grand finale, would Grandfather Weasley, please step onto the stage?" She said in a mock-voice-over. Arthur Weasley walked up, looking a bit nervous.
"Mr. Weasley, is it true you have a fascination with muggles and their things?" She asked, giving him a cool stare.
"W-Well, I wouldn't call it a-a fascinatio-"
"Yes, yes he does." Said a man with scars running down a cheek. His name was Bill, she thought. And his wife, Fleur. Beautiful couple, in all honesty. Athena thinks she might just have found her new drawing subjects.
"Mr. Weasley, are you interested in owning a bunch of invaluable muggle things, just for your amusement?"
His eyes lit up, and she couldn't keep her smile back anymore.
She brought her bag over to him, and he dumped it out onto the floor. There were tabloid magazines, basket-balls that needed inflation still, tennis balls that Delilah immediately went after, there was a flashlight, a rubber chicken, googly eyes that she saw Hugo, Roses younger brother snatch. He saw her looking, and he immediately had a deer-in-the-headlights look, but all she did was wink at him. He grinned and shoved them in his pocket. Their favorite thing of all, besides the rubber duck he had found in there, had to have been the bubblewrap. They sat there for a few moments, just popping it, when called for dinner.
Because there was such a large crowd of them, they all ate outside. Athena was just sitting in the grass, nibbling on a piece of pie, when she was ambushed by little Lily Potter and Hugo Weasley.
"Is it true you're in Slytherin?" Asked Lily, her eyes wide.
"But you seem so nice!" Hugo added, his eyebrows furrowing.
She sighed, putting her plate down and whistling, making Delilah immediately come over and sit in her lap.
She looked at the two kids in front of her, so wide eyed and innocent. Something she never was. She wanted these kids to cherish it
"Do you see this patch on Delilah's harness?" She asked softly, and they both nodded solemnly.
"Because she's wearing it, does that make her a bad pet? Is she immediately mean and cruel?" She was being very serious, and like always, she didn't notice when more people started paying attention.
The again shook their heads,, reaching out and petting the impossibly sweet animal.
"So, because I wear a green tie, and your siblings wear red, does that mean that we have to hate each other? That makes no sense!" She was smiling gently at them, and they were silent, wide-eyed and staring.
"I know that a lot of bad people have come from Slytherin, but maybe we should start treating people from my house like, well... People? Instead of monsters. Merlin himself was a Slytherin, you know. And he was the greatest wizard of all time. So what do you say? When you two start, we'll be the crusaders. We'll be making sure that everyone is treated fairly and equally, no matter what. You in?" They both nodded quickly, and they all high-fived. Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione were looking at the Slytherin girl. They felt hope lifting their chests. This girl was special. They knew it.
When dinner and such was finished, Molly gripped Athena's hand, pulling her into the livingroom and smiling softly. She pulled a box out from under the tree, and handed it to Athena, who tried to pretend she didn't see it by turning around and inspecting her nails. They all chuckled, but Athena really didn't want it. But they all insisted.
"It's from all of us, dear." Molly whispered, and Athena's will broke. She took the box, and lifted the top, her hand moving to cover her mouth. It was a beautiful sweater, knit with love and by hand. It was a deep, dark emerald green, making the brightness of her eyes obvious. The front was adorned with a silver "A", and she felt her tears fall down her cheeks. her knees gave out, and she slid to the ground, holding the box against her chest while everyone looked around. Why was she crying? Wasn't this good?
"Oh, honey if you don't like it I can-" Molly started, but Athena lifted her head, shaking it vehemently. It finally occurred to Molly that they had another Harry. This one was just a bit more broken.
Athena felt something poking her in the chest, and she unfolded the sweater, and a small lump of fabric fell out.
"Oh, you didn't" she choked, looking at Molly.
"Oh, but I did." She said smugly, crossing her arms and grinning.
Athena picked up the smaller knit fabric, and more tears fell. It was a smaller sweater, this one with a silver "D" on it. Athena stood up and wrapped her arms around the older woman, who immediately returned the hug, causing a gasp to escape Athena when she patted her still-aching back. pulled away, her brows furrowed. Athena ignored the look and instead grabbed Delilah. She found out that the harness could stay under the sweater, for there was a slit in the "D" for the leash.
Athena gave Albus Delilah, and she was instructed to go into Ginnys old room to change.
Athena stripped the tight black shirt off, and tied the sleeves around of her waist. Just as she was pulling the sweater over her arms, she caught sight of herself in the mirror across the room.
Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were bright. Her hair was falling out of its previously tight braid, but she didn't care one bit. She pulled the sweater on completely, and it
fit just how she liked it, a bit baggy. She walked out, and walked right into James.
"I seem to have a problem with getting in people's way, don't I? Especially with your family." She chuckled, stepping back to let him pass. He nodded before walking past her.
"Hey, Athena?" He had turned around.
"Yessum?" She said, tilting her head, her hand waiting on the railing of the steps.
"Uh-Uhm... The sweater looks nice on you." And then he was gone, disappearing into a different room.
"...Thanks?" She said, before descending the stairs.
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Christmas Eve ended with lots of kisses and tears on her part, and she promised to visit again. She got back to the common-room, her bag full of sweets she was going to share with everyone tomorrow. She saw Jethro, and she grinned, remembering the things he had given her. She looked up, and she grinned.
She walked over to the chair he was sitting in, reading, and she kissed him gently on the cheek. The action caused his face to turn bright red, and for him to freak out until she pointed above him, towards the mistletoe hanging above his head. He was grasping for words when she left to her room, cackling.
207 Galleons is equivalent to about $1000, or £623.78