Chapter 6 - Rose

A dull gray light blossomed over her face, filtering through the blinds on her window and spreading across pale skin and a mess of dark, fiery curls. Soft cocoa eyes blinked open to the wintry sunlight of December.

Rose shivered under her covers: a tank top, sweats and quilt were not enough to keep the chill out of her bones. Little by little, she wriggled out from bed, and her voluminous red hair fell over her eyes. She didn't bother brushing it behind her ears – it would spring back anyway.

Rose grabbed her wand and stuffed it behind her ear, then tiptoed to the makeshift bed where Lily lay snoring.

Asleep, she thought, was probably the only time she's manageable.

As silently as she could, she entered her walk-in closet and slowly pulled the door shut. Rose flicked on a switch and was greeted with shelves upon shelves of clothing outlining a large mirror. She'd been so happy when this was installed. It was very generous of Uncle Harry to have an entire closet and enchanted mirror built into Lily's room, just for her.

She searched for something dear to her among her collection and finally found a navy and cream striped hoodie. She tapped it twice with her wand and returned to the mirror.

Rose's reflection turned in a circle with the hoodie on, looking slightly uncomfortable. Too small, it said in her mother's voice. Quietly, thank goodness. She'd forgotten to mute the thing.

She waved her wand towards the ground, and a little meter appeared on the screen, its bars dropping to one. What would she wear? Of course she was only in the house, but she wanted something nice after wearing the Hogwarts uniform for four months.

A curly sapphire script wrote itself across the mirror, and her reflection mouthed the words in unison. May I suggest something?

Rose nodded and watched it twirl into a duo-color red and white V-neck sweater with a green pine stitched on the back.

Would you like to wear this?

"Sure. Where is it?" Rose asked.

A section of one of the shelves to the right flashed blue. She headed towards it and peeled off several other sweaters before revealing what she wanted. Rose quickly pulled it over her head and flicked off the light switch. In the darkness, the mirror spelled out a final message: Enjoy your Christmas break.

She pushed the door open and slunk through the room to the door leading to the outer hall.

Oh no.

Lily's door was incredibly creaky. If she opened it, Lily would wake up. And as much as she loved her cousin, she loved the cold peace too. Well, there was nothing that could be done about it…

At a snail's pace, Rose turned the knob and with bated breath, nudged the painted wood and let out sigh of relief when she quietly slipped out, leaving Lily snoring peacefully.

"Hey, Mum," Rose said, swinging around the table to get to the kitchen, where her mother was drying cups. Most probably from last night. Rose lowered her voice. "Tell me please Aunt Ginny isn't going to cook lunch and dinner today."

Mum gave her a stern look, as she handed Rose cups to put back in the cupboard. "Don't say rude things about your Aunt's cooking, Rose. It's not polite."

"Yet Dad always does," pointed out Rose. Score 1 for me.

"HEY!"

Rose winced at the volume. Hannah.

"Is that Hannah?" Mum cocked her head. "Is she always that loud? I would think Caroline would be the loudest."

"Yes, I'm pretty sure it's Hannah," Rose rolled her eyes. "Only her voice is that high when she screams."

"Oh, Mer – dear," Mum said hastily. "Let's hope Lily isn't awake."

"CAROLINE! MINION RUSH WORKS!"

"Hannah… please stop screaming," pleaded Rose, knowing they couldn't hear her. After trying to get out of the room… Hannah wakes her up.

"OH MY GOD, CANDY CRUSH AND THE FROZEN EDITION ONE WORKS AS WELL!" shouted Caroline.

"I'll go up there and…" Rose trailed off, casting her Mum a weary look. Caroline and Hannah. Joy.

"I CAN WATCH THE BOOK THIEF NOW! OH MY GOD, IT'S BEEN SO LONG SINCE I'VE WATCHED IT!"

"Hannah!" hissed Rose. "Caroline! Hush up, will you! Lily, Al', James, Hugo, Sophie, Uncle Harry, Dad, and Aunt Ginny are still… oh…"

"What's with all the ruckus?" Albus rubbed his eyes, appearing from his room, followed by James. They both had an extreme case of bedhead – most likely inherited from Uncle Harry.

"Oh, it's snowing!" cried Lily, bounding down the stairs two at a time.

"Lily, stop!" Rose rushed to her younger cousin, trying to stop her. "You'll hurt yourself!"

"DAD!" Lily shrieked in happiness. "MUM! I need to go play! Let me play with some of my Muggle friends! Mum, come on, please let me! His name was… was…"

"Xander, was it?" offered Albus, getting some milk. "Nine year old Muggle."

"How do you know more about him then I do?" huffed Lily. "He's my friend."

"Pay attention when he's speaking then, Lils," Albus said. "Then maybe you'll know."

"Have breakfast first, Lily," ordered Uncle Harry, walking in from the front door with a newspaper. "Then we'll see."

"Where's breakfast?" Lily asked, seating herself at the table.

"Catch, Lils," James tossed a cereal box at Lily, ready to catch it –

The box froze in midair, Aunt Ginny's wand firmly pointed at it. "James. You do not toss things in the house."

"Yes, Mum," James sat down and poured his cereal into a bowl he'd snatched from Albus.

"Hey, give that back, James!" scowled Albus. "Get your own bowl!"

"Sorry, Al', but first come first serve."

"At what?" said Albus outraged. "My things?"

"It's not yours, technically."

"Yes, but – argh!"

Albus seemed to give it up as a lost cause and reluctantly reached for another bowl from the cupboard.

Rose sighed. "James, just give it back to him."

James poured milk on to his cereal. "Why should I? See, he's already getting another one and everything. Plus I have cereal and milk in this one."

"Well, don't steal it from Albus next time!"

"Rose, let go of it," coaxed her Aunt.

"Why are you making such a big deal about this?! Albus isn't!" James pointed out, ignoring his Mum.

Rose barely noticed him looking at the floor and mumbling. "It's fine."

"Because Albus is too much of a pansy to stick up for himself!" she shouted, trembling with rage.

"Hey!" Albus said indignantly. "I am not a pansy!"

"Don't you dare talk about your cousin that way!" scolded Mum furiously.

Rose ignored this and she stormed out the front door, not bothering to put on a jacket.

Rose sat heavily on a swing in the yard, snow gently falling on her head. She didn't notice the cold. James was so insolent. It was ridiculous how he thought he could do whatever he liked! Thinking he was so great, boasting half the time, mindlessly snogging the other.

"... Rosie…?"

"What is it?" she demanded brusquely. Rose looked over to see Lily, with the barest hints of tears forming in her eyes.

"Oh, Lily… I'm sorry. I'm just… a little upset right now," she slipped off the swing and hugged her cousin. "How do you deal with such a brother?"

Lily laughed through the few stray tears running down her cheeks. "I don't know. He's a big prick, isn't he?"

Rose rolled her eyes. "That he is. That he is.."

"Albus is jealous of him," Lily said suddenly.

"What?" scoffed Rose. "What is he jealous of?"

"Yeah, it's true," Lily confirmed. "I think he wants to be as liked as big brother James."

"Well… maybe," Rose decided. "Come on, let's go inside. You must be very cold!"

"No, not really," shrugged Lily. "I like snow."

"Be that as it may, you're going to get sick! And I don't like the cold very much," Rose scowled.

"You're sometimes worse than Mum, Rosie," Lily grumbled. "I mean, at least Mum can do a good Bat Bogey hex."

"I'm sorry, I'm just trying to look out for you!"

"That's alright, Rosie," Lily leaned her head against Rose's shoulder. "I can't wait 'til I go to Hogwarts. Are there cute boys there?"

"Sure, Lily," Rose said, deciding to humor the younger girl. "But you're ten. Get a grip, Lils. Aunt Ginny and Uncle Harry will make sure you will not date anyone 'til fifth year."

"Mum dated a lot of boys," defended Lily. "And all of them were really cute back then!"

"Lily…" Rose didn't know what to say. "How would you know?"

"Because!" Lily said, a grin on her face. "I'm younger than you, that's how!"

"How does that make any sense?" Rose questioned.

"Nothing does in the lovely Wizarding World, Rosie," Lily said, spouting 'Words of Wisdom'. "Insanity runs the world by now."

"True," nodded Rose. "True…"

"Do you still want to go inside? Aunt Hermy's cooked up some waffles," offered her cousin.

She laughed. "Of course."

"You won't yell at anyone else?" Lily looked anxious.

"I'll try not to. Promise."

Lily grinned ear to ear and grabbed Rose by the hand. "Let's go then!"

She was dragged back into the house, where Rose could see James down the hall.

They stared at each other silently.

"R-Rosie?" asked Lily tentatively. "James?"

"I'm sorry," said Rose finally.

"I'm sorry too," said James.

"Can I get an apology from both of you?" questioned Albus crossly.

"Sorry," they said in unison, then laughed. The tension broken, Rose headed down the hall after a skipping Lily.

"Are the waffles ready yet, Mum?"

"Yes," she said warily. "But I want to have a talk with you."

She firmly steered her daughter out into the hall, where the Potters couldn't hear them.

Her Mum exhaled. "Rose, what have I told you about controlling your temper?" she asked sternly.

"Close your eyes, count to ten and think of something peaceful," Rose chuntered under her breath. "But Mum, it's not that easy! I can't just stop being mad. I forget to calm down. I just want to prove my point."

Her mother ran her fingers through wavy chestnut locks. "I think you inherited this temper from me and your father, you know. I used to be very bossy when I was younger. And I especially hated rulebreakers."

"Even though you frequently broke rules yourself."

Rose's father, a tall freckled man with the trademark red hair of the Weasley family, kissed Mum on the cheek and ruffled Rose's hair. "What are my two darlings doing at this hour?"

"Rose was… shouting at James again."

"James is a tad big headed, isn't he? I see why you and him don't get along."

"Ron!"

"What? It's true."

"Well then keep your voice down! He's only down the hall, you know."

"Everyone's already up? Great! Good morning, all!" he shouted into the kitchen.

Her Mum shook her head. "That's your father for you. Anyway, I'll let you off the hook this time, but try not to lose control next time, alright?"

"Okay, Mum."

"Good. Now, run along. I don't want to keep you hungry."

"Thank you, Mum!"

She smiled and pushed Rose towards the kitchen. "I'll join you in a while…I just need to fix up my hair."

Rose dashed to the kitchen and plucked a plate and cutlery out of an open cupboard, humming. She really couldn't help herself with her anger, it just…came out of her and she couldn't stop it.

Still humming, she scooped three pancakes onto her plate and poured herself a generous measure of maple syrup. Rose plonked down next to her Dad and cut out a mouthful.

"Mmm… when are we leaving, Dad?"

"We're actually staying for the entire break, Rose. Me and your mother will be going back to our place after lunch to pick up some things, do you want to come?"

"No, it's fine, Dad," Rose assured. "I've got everything I need in my trunk."

"We'll get your brother too."

"Now I don't want to go even more!" protested Rose. "I want to spend some time with Hannah, Sophie, Albus!"

"Oh, you don't hate Hugo that much!" cried her mother.

"Well, no. But you know how hyper he is in the morning," stated Rose matter-of-factly. "I mean, he and Lily are like twins then!"

"Have it your way!"

Rose scraped the last vestiges of syrup off her plate. "Hey, James?"

Her cousin swept his raven hair out of his eyes, probably something that made the sillier girls swoon. "Yep?"

"How many broomsticks do you have?"

"What, you aren't thinking of Quidditch, are you? I wouldn't want you to hurt yourself."

"Ha, ha, very funny. No, I'm pretty sure Lily is, because she looks like she's going to explode."

Uncle Harry chuckled. "Yes, Lils, you may go play outside if you like. Be sure to wear your jacket, hat, scarf, mittens and boots, and don't let the Muggles see you on your broomstick!"

But Lily wasn't listening. She was staring off into space with a vacant expression.

"Er, Lily? You alright?" asked Rose nervously.

"Can I dye my hair?"

"What?" said Aunt Ginny, completely thrown by the question.

"Mum, Mum!" she said excitedly. "I want to dye my hair pink, like Vickie's! But all of it! Can I dye all my hair pink?"

"Of course not, Lily!" Aunt Ginny said, still a bit confused in why Lily wanted to dye her hair that colour.

"What? W-why not?"

"Goodness, whatever made you think you could in the first place?" Aunt Ginny said to Lily. "You either have to get it permanent or temporary, and I don't much like either."

"B-but I –" Lily sputtered.

"Lily! If it's temporary, it will look awful after a couple of days, and if it's permanent, well, I don't think you're ready to make a decision for the rest of your life!" Lily looked like she was going to interrupt, but Aunt Ginny quickly forged on. "Heaven knows, you'll be wanting white in the next minute."

Lily frowned. "No, white will make me look like Grandma Molly."

"Young lady, you are not getting highlights no matter what," Aunt Ginny said firmly.

And then Lily surprised everyone by balling up her fists, squeezing her eyes shut, and turning all her hair coral pink.

"It has to be underage magic…" whispered Rose to James. "There is no way she is a Metamorphmagus. I mean, Teddy isn't even part of the family!... by blood, at least."

"Really? Although I think she looks rather sweet with that color; perhaps she'll follow in my footsteps." James said fondly.

Rose looked revolted. "Heavens forbid."

"You sound like Grandma Molly," James told her, which earned him a punch to the gut. "Ow! Sorry… sorry! I didn't mean it!"

"Go Lily!" cheered Caroline. "Love your… hair? I guess. It's… erm, nice!"

"Rebels are awesome," Hannah informed her.

"Your hair is nice like that," Sophie told Lily. "I wish we could add glitter to it."

"Can you?"

"No, we're not allowed," Sophie said. "Sorry."

This barely dampened Lily's mood, as she pranced around the kitchen. "Look, Mum, Dad, Rosie! My hair's pink! It's pink! Al', Jamie – do you see this? I look beautiful! Just like a pretty princess!"

"Hermione, please tell me you know a spell that will get her hair back to her original colour. Forever, is preferable," Aunt Ginny said desperately. "I do not want my only daughter with pink hair."

"Oh, yes… we learned this in Charms," Mum told Aunt Ginny. "Colovaria."

Slowly (Lily tried to make her hair pink, resisting Mum's magic) Lily's hair turned back to its original shade of red.

"No!" wailed Lily. "Why'd you do that, Aunt Hermy? My hair was beautiful! It took all my anger and sadness to do that! It'll take forever to do that again! Please tell me the spell you cast isn't permanent!"

James leaned over and tapped her on the head. "Don't worry. They won't be there to change it at Hogwarts."

"Oh, yay!" squealed Lily. "Two more years, two more years, two more years!"

"James! Do not encourage your sister!" ordered Uncle Harry, who had up to this point been watching with mild amusement.

Mum knelt to Rose's height and whispered to her, "It's not permanent. Just don't tell Lily that."

"Okay, Mum," Rose grinned. She knew she was going to tell her cousin as soon as the adults got out of earshot.

"What're we going to do over the break?" Hannah asked Rose. "I mean, I've heard Lily's got her Customary friend...Xavier? No, Xander. James is goofing off with Albus on broomsticks (Albus is failing, mind you) and the adults have going shopping. I mean, I don't mind that, but I'd rather go clothes shopping and – and –"

"Hannah, I've got it," Rose said firmly, shooting a glance at Albus. "Maybe we could go sledding. Or have a snowball fight."

"Does it involve –?"

"Please, shut up, Caroline," Sophie said, firmly. "I don't want to deal with this now. And sure. Sledding and slash or a snowball fight sounds good."

"Whatever," shrugged Hannah. "Just don't throw a snowball at me anywhere or I will burn off your eyebrows."

"Why eyebrows, Hannah?" Caroline asked. "I mean, there's your hair, your, your, your…"

"So would you prefer your hair or your eyebrows?"

"Hair!" shouted Caroline, leading her and Sophie to erupt in uncontrollable giggles while Hannah rolled her eyes and grumbled, "Messed up."

Sophie finished giggling and hiccoughed. "So, where are the sleighs?"

"Er…" hesitated Rose. "Al', where are the sleighs?"

Her cousin swooped over her head on a broomstick and jerked to an unsteady halt, nearly throwing himself off. "Dunno. Have you tried looking in the – ow!"

Albus really did fall off the broomstick as a large snowball hit him square in the back of the head

"I – er – I – ooff! Hey!" Rose spun around, looking wildly for the person who hit her with a snowball.

Hannah started whistling, leading Rose to pick up some snow and about to toss it at her –

"Excuse me?!" protested Hannah. "I didn't do it! I'm trying to practice my whistling. Duh. It was Caroline!"

"No, it wasn't!" Caroline argued. "It was Dopey!"

Sophie looked up from her feet. "What? I didn't throw anything – argh!"

Caroline had thrown a succession of snowballs at her. "Dopey!" she shrieked. "IT WAS YOU! What the – POTTER BOY! I'M GOING TO KILL – mff!"

James cackled madly as his snowball went down Caroline's throat. "Gotcha!".

"Why, you –"

"What?" smirked James. "Potter Boy? Haven't heard that before." He flew low over the ground and scooped up two handfuls of fresh snow.

"Please, please, please, tell me we're allowed to use magic on this jerkhead."

"Jerkhead?" James cocked his head and threw another at her, Caroline narrowly dodging the projectile. "Is that what you call jerks in America?"

"Nope," Caroline said popping the 'P'. "We use it to give you extremely bad luck!"

"Who made that one up?"

"A friend – er – acquaintance of mine," Caroline corrected. "It's totally fool-proof, but she – Autumn – says 'Jerkface', and it works loads better. Never fails."*

"Sure, sure – ARGH!"

His broom flipped over as he almost hit the ground, only managing to grip the handle by one hand.

"What did I tell you, Potter?" taunted Caroline. She muttered to Sophie, "Man, I wish Autumn was here."

"Is that your 'lucky' friend?" James said still trying to get on the broom properly. "Al! Help me!"

"Sorry, James," Albus shrugged. "I am never going on a broom. Again."

"Jump!" Caroline encouraged. "It's only like ten… fifteen… twenty feet!"

"Has death no meaning to you?"

"Nope!" cackled Caroline. "I'm immortal."

"Do you have the Philosopher's Stone or something?" asked Rose, trying to find ways to help her cousin.

"No, I just am."

"Americans are weird," concluded Albus.

"I'm a Canadian," piped Sophie.

"And I'm a Mexican," said Hannah.

"So?" James said, still trying to get a proper grasp on the broom.

"Just FYI," Sophie shrugged. "When you're referring to us as group, don't call us Americans."

"Capish?" Hannah asked.

"But I can't just say bloody American, Canadian, Mexican, can I?" whined James. "I mean, that's a waste of precious time!"

"There is a DIFFERENCE between American and Mexican!" exclaimed Hannah. "A big difference!"

"And Canadian," added Sophie. "Please, do not mix us up! I find it slightly offensive to be called an American."

"Yeah, slightly? That's just Le Dope." Hannah remarked. "I feel really offended!"

"Can you just get me down?"

"Can we just leave you hanging?"

"No! Of course not! I'm losing my grip and we're having this silly conversation?"

"Then there's your answer," said Caroline. She turned to Rose."Rose do we have to get him down?"

"As much of a prick he is, he is my cousin, and it would be a bit of a shame if he died from a broom accident," sighed Rose. "Damn, the adults are gone, we all suck at flying, what the heck do we do?"

"TELL YOUR BROOM TO LOWER YOU," screamed Hannah. "OH MY GOD, IT'S SO OBVIOUS! ESTUPIDO**, MUCH?!"

"Why didn't you suggest that earlier, then?"

"Why would I need to?! It's common sense! I'm starting to think you're as dumb as Dopey!"

"That may be true, sadly …" murmured Sophie.
"Wait, you agree to this?" Rose said astounded.

Sophie cracked a smile. "As long as I don't sink to sparkly Edward Cullen level, I am good."

"Edward Cullen?" Albus looked confused.

"DO NOT READ TWILIGHT,"*** shouted Caroline. "It scarred my eleven year old… ness for life."

"He's the dude who looked like Callum? No, Cedric Diggory!"**** Sophie slapped her forehead. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's his name. He played Seeker, I think, for Hufflepuff."

"Cedric Diggory," mused James. "I think Mum or Dad mentioned him once."

"Or maybe it was Aunt Angelina…" Albus added. "Or Uncle George… I don't think Uncle George liked him much."

"Didn't he also mention that he died?"

"Al, that's horrible!" Rose said shocked. "Don't say that so matter-of-factly!"

"If Uncle George doesn't like him, I don't either," shrugged James. "He was probably a goody-two shoes following rules… Prefect… Head-Boy…"

"Somebody's jealous," noted Rose.

"As if!" James rolled his eyes. "I'm either going to be a professional Quidditch player or do a joke shop like Uncle George did."

"What wonderful careers," Rose said sarcastically. She backtracked. "Actually a Quidditch player isn't that bad."

"See?"

"No, we do not!" Caroline said, as she chucked another snowball at James, hitting him dead on the centre of his face.

"Ow!" James said wiping the snow from his face. "Stop it!"

"Really? That all you got?" said Caroline mischieviously. "Don't you enjoy the cold… soft… snow?"

"As a matter of fact, I don't," James said firmly. "I prefer – what the heck are you saying?"

"Jerkhead!" she shrieked. "Jerkhead, jerkhead, jerkhead!"

"Stop it!" James put his hands over his ears. "That is the most annoying word ever!"

"Now you know how we feel every time we hear your voice," Caroline shot back. "Actually you'll never know how annoying you are."

"If I didn't know better – ah! – I would think you – argh! – liked – eh! – me!" James said blocking the snowballs thrown by Albus, Hannah, Rose and occasionally Sophie.

Caroline stopped immediately. "What did you say, Potter Boy? What did you say?!"

"I said if I didn't know better, I would think that – ARGHHH!"

Rose looked at Caroline and James, amused, as Caroline pelted James with snowballs. Poor James even got one down his shirt, making him jump. Rose laughed, as she, Hannah, Albus, and Sophie started to join in – hitting James with massive amount of snowballs, that is.

"Two more hours!" sang Rose. "One more hour 'til it is officially Christmas Day!"

"Midnight," Hannah said. "Midnight, Rose."

"Yes. Then it is Chri-i-i-istmas Da-a-ay!" she sang to the darkness, before realizing that she might wake her parents.

"Do you stay up on New Year's Eve too?" Sophie questioned.

"No, I just like to stay up on Christmas Eve," Rose said simply. "I don't really like to stay up on New Years."

"Why?"

"Should get a proper rest before a new year," shrugged Rose. "But Mum and Dad and my little brother Hugo make me stay up on New Years."

"I've got a younger brother," Sophie smiled. "I know the feeling."

"Me too," added Caroline.

"Two younger sisters," said Hannah. "Really annoying. They always want me to play games with them… so messed up. Also, the middle one hates me."

"Hannah!" Sophie said, looking scandalized. "You shouldn't insult your siblings behind their backs!"

"I'm not technically behind them," retorted Hannah. "I could be sideways to them or in front of them, or even diagonal to them."

Sophie rolled her eyes, her expression reading, Typical. "So I can say anything mean, but I can't be behind the said person's back?"

"Yes!" Hannah said. "You're finally getting somewhere! I knew you weren't that stupid!... actually, I take that back. You can be."

"Thanks," Sophie said, sarcastically. "I feel so loved."

"Yay!" Caroline slung her arm around Sophie's neck and squeezed, much like a headlock. "Sophie feels loved!"

"... and that's a good thing?" Hannah asked confused. "I mean, Sophie… feels loved? Other than her family?"

Caroline considered it for a moment then shrugged. "Want to play Truth or Dare?"

"What have I got to lose?" shrugged Sophie. "I mean the worse you could do is… ah-h-h. I shouldn't go there."

"No!" Hannah said forcefully. "I am not insane enough –"

"We're representatives, Hannah!" Caroline said mock cheerfully. "We're all insane! More insane than Brits!"

"I feel highly –"

Caroline interrupted James. "Offended, la, la, la, I don't give a damn."

"I don't like Caroline much," James muttered to Sophie.

"No boys do," Sophie responded. "If they were, they would be even crazier than Caroline herself."

"Joy," Albus said dryly. "So who's starting Truth or Dare?"

"Oh! Oh! Pick me!" Caroline said, waving her hand, madly. "You know what? Screw you. Albus, Truth or Dare? Also, no chicken outs."

"Er…"

"Don't pick Dare!" Sophie warned.

"Don't pick Truth!" Hannah said at the same time.

Albus shook his head hopelessly. "Erm… Truth?"

"Most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to you?" Caroline smirked. "And something your family doesn't know."

"I – uh – I…" Albus started blushing beetroot red, obviously visible even in the dim light of Rose's wand.

Rose started to lean in, curious, as she watched her cousin trying to avoid the stares of everyone surrounding him. What did he do?

"I, er, do I have to answer this question?" stammered Albus. He started to pale, now, as he probably thought of the prospect of telling everyone.

"Yes, Albus," Caroline said impatiently. "It's Truth or Dare. Don't be like Hannah."

"I, um… well…"

"Hurry up!" Caroline said, her voice a bit harsh. "It can't be as bad as Dope's!"

"I, er… well, one morning – somewhere in the middle of November!" added Albus, hastily, as he saw Caroline's mouth open to interrupt him. She nodded, satisfied. "I, er, was fairly tired, and I just walked down to the Common Room – several girls were there – and I realized I… I wasn't properly dressed."

Hannah burst into giggles, trying to stifle them with her mouth. "You've got to be kidding me – right?"

"Unfortunately, no."

Caroline snorted, laughing. Sophie looked like she was choking on her snickers and James full out laughed, until Rose shushed him.

"Quiet! Someone might hear you and come looking," Rose scowled. "We don't want that, do we? Anyways, Al, your turn."

"Hannah, Truth or Dare?"

"Do I have –"

"Yes," hissed Caroline. "Don't be a chicken!"

"What if I am!" Hannah whispered angrily. "Fine. Truth."

"Wimp," murmured Caroline to Sophie.

Hannah grit her teeth, as she looked at Albus, her gaze hard. "Truth, Second Potter Boy."

"So we've got –"

"Caroline, shut up."

"I know this is lame, but who's Autumn?" Albus asked. "I'm wondering, that's all. And how did she come up with 'Jerkface'?"

"Autumn's an acquaintance –"

"Friend –" Sophie interrupted.

"Person –" Caroline filled in.

"– who I met… through Sophie. She's cool," shrugged Hannah, "I guess, Caroline and her get along, ish… ly, mainly because they have a backbone… she's nice… ish, I guess. I mean, a few guys like her… but she's as insane as us, yet teachers dote on her."

"Especially Mr. Mildenstein," Sophie said, her face scrunched up, thinking hard. "He loved her. But she always… ish denied it. Also, Mr. Morron."

"There's a teacher called Mr. Morron?"

"Yup," Sophie said. " But that's old news. I've known Autumn for more than half my life, and we're still writing letters to each other."

"Also, 'Jerkface'and 'Jerkhead' ," explained Caroline, "Is something she made up, and it winds up her best friend, Eulalie, like crazy. It's a 'charm' – somehow not involving magic – that works better than magic itself, which drives Eulalie insane. She just can't understand how it happens, and finally concludes Autumn is 'luckier' than the second-luckiest person alive, 'cause she's the first."

"And," Sophie said hastily, "Before you ask, 'Jerkhead' is an extremely powerful 'charm' that works whenever Autumn says it and grants a person/team extremely good luck or very, very bad luck. 'Jerkface' is a bit more powerful and unpredictable. I mean, she uses it in Phys. Ed. – the 'Jerkhead'/'Jerkface' I mean – and whenever she's on a team, that team's is most likely bound to win."

"Why most likely?" Rose asked, greatly confused by this. "Shouldn't the luckiest person be able to win every match?"

"That's thanks to Eulalie," Hannah rolled her eyes. "She's always on the same team as Autumn, and she brings forth the worst luck in history. Whenever we play – when we had time to hang out with them, I mean – 'Go Fish' or 'Crazy Eights' or 'President' or any other card game, Autumn would nearly always win and Eulalie would nearly always lose."

"That sucks," James deadpanned.

"Ah," Albus said, trying not to look confused. "Moving on. Hannah, your turn."

"Hah!" cheered Hannah. "Er, sorry," she excused herself when Rose and Albus shushed her. She grinned devilishly.

"James! Truth or Dare?"

"Dare!" James answered confidently. "I'm a true Gryffindor!" Albus and Rose promptly shushed him too.

Hannah grinned as leaned towards him and whispered into his ear.

"Uh oh…" Sophie said.

James looked horrified as his gaze switched between Caroline and Hannah. "You want me to… you want me to… no. No. No. No."

"Where's the 'Gryffindor' now?" taunted Hannah. She glanced at Sophie and smirked. "I am truly evil."

"What'd you dare him to do?" Sophie asked warily.

"Oh, you'll see."

James looked uncomfortable as he stood up and sat next to Caroline. "Hey, erm, you look really nice – I mean nicer than usual –"

Caroline's expression grew from confused, to understanding, to horrified, to anger. She slammed her fist right into James' nose.

"What the bloody HE –!" James yelled, rubbing his nose as he winced.

"Try and flirt with me again," Caroline warned, her glare deadly, "Dare or not, I will string you up and flay you alive"

Hannah giggled. She obviously wanted James in pain.

"Will you keep it down?!" hissed Rose, her eyes sparking menacingly. "Amusing as this may be, it's not gonna be funny for long if Dad pops up."

Everyone reluctantly grumbled assent. "Well, good. James, go.'

"Alright! Sophia, truth or dare?"

"Dare, dare, dare, dare!" chanted Caroline and Hannah. "Don't be a wimp like Albus!"

"Truth."

Hannah pushed her. "No! You're supposed to say dare, Dopey!"

"I value my life," Sophie answered simply.

"Okay, then! Dare it is!" chirped James.

"I said truth!"

A smile unfurled on his lips. "I dare you to kiss the most handsome person in this room."

Hannah and Caroline cheered.

"I'm eleven!" Sophie protested. "Also, I want my first kiss to be special."

Rose ripped off a large piece of duct tape from a roll and glared at them all.

James leaned in and smiled. "You agreed to play this."

"I. SAID. TRUTH!"

Rose smacked the tape onto Sophie's mouth. "Next person to shout gets tied to a bed." she snarled.

"Aw, Rose! How is she supposed to kiss me or Albus with tape over her lips? Screw Albus. I'm obviously the better looking one."

"She could be a lesbian. Or bisexual. How would you know?"

James rolled his eyes as he leaned forward even more. "Fine then. Are you lesbian, bisexual or straight?"

Sophie snatched up a notebook from the nightstand she was leaning against as well as a pen. Rose focused her wand's light on her spindly writing, which read:

Good night! I am not discussing this with people I barely know. Next time, I'm not playing any stupid Truth-Or-Dare things with you.

"Wait, Sophie!" Rose protested. "Thirty minutes to midnight. I wanna open my presents with you. Plus, yours are bound to be good."

Sophie slowly tore off the tape from her lips, wincing. "Wha… mine?" she said, slightly rawly. "I'm getting presents?"

"Of course you are! Did you expect not to?"

"Well - I - no, I mean, you didn't have to get us gifts! It - it's enough of a present to have us stay over…"

"Where were you going to stay otherwise? Really, it's nothing."

"I'll take your present if you want," offered Albus. He dodged a swipe from Rose.

"I want it!" cried Hannah.

"If it's Dopey's, it's probably not worth it," sniffed Caroline.

"Hey!" Sophie said indignantly. "As if yours –"

"Are probably going to be so much better," Caroline finished for her. "We might share."

Hannah and Caroline put their heads together and leaned back to Sophie and chorused, "NEVER."

Rose got another piece of duct tape and tried to slap it on Caroline's mouth. "Mwahaha, never! I am immortal! Try and get Hannah!"

"Don't. You. Dare."

"I won't."

"Good," Hannah said satisfied. She leaned back, her back against the wall. "When's midnight?"

Rose shrugged and raised her wand to her watch. "Twenty-five minutes."

"Why is time being so sl-l-l-l-o-o-o-o-w-w?" Caroline scowled on. "I want my pre-e-e-e-esents-s-s."

"Patience is virtue," Sophie quoted. She tapped her forehead. "That's a quote from somewhere."

Hannah scrunched up her nose. "What does 'virtue' even mean?"

"Virtue," Rose said promptly, as if she swallowed a dictionary. "Behavior showing high moral standards."

"Ten bucks that's from Google," snickered Caroline.

"Probably," Sophie said. "Google knows everything."

"What's Google?" James asked, fascinated.

"First Minion Rush, now Google?" Caroline said, her face incredulous. "Gods, you. Are. Sad."

James frowned. "No, I'm pretty sure I'm not."

"Not that sad," dismissed Hannah, reapplying alternating shades of Tyrian and Russian purple to her nails. "The pathetic sad."

"And, yes, there's a difference," Sophie said, before James interrupted.

"Then why not just say pathetic?"

Hannah, Caroline and Sophie stared at him.

"He doesn't get it," Caroline shaked her head. "Brits…"

"How many times are you going to –" said Albus.

"Don't offend the whole country, Caroline," reasoned Hannah. "It's Wizard Brits."

"And Witches," added Sophie. "No need to be sexist."

"We're right here, you know," Rose said, raising an eyebrow.

"And those accents," rambled Caroline, ignoring her. "Terrible."

"Okay, I think that's enough." said Sophie. "Caroline?"

"And why do they dress in robes?"

"Caroline."

"What?" asked Caroline, annoyed.

"Stop."

Caroline humphed, and grumbled, but did as she was told.

"You're growing soft," noted Hannah coldly, slipping her bottles of polish into the pockets of her sweater.

"I am not!" was Caroline's indignant reply. "I am fully capable of pummeling James to a pulp if–"

"Okay, no need to do that!" James said hurriedly, not wanting to repeat the 'Snowball Incident'.

Caroline sniggered. "Let's see. Anyone have a coin?"

Albus dug out a bronze coin from underneath Rose's desk. "Will this do?"

She examined the Knut. "Completely mental, is what you are. Anyhow, Gandalf –"

"'Gandalf'?"

Caroline motioned to Hannah. "See? See? They don't know who Gandalf is! That's crazy! Even you know who Gandalf is!"

Sophie conjured a wisp of blue energy and twirled it into a beard. "You...shall not pass!" she intoned, then laughed.

"You're not allowed to do underage –" said a scandalized Rose.

Sophie shrugged. "What the Ministry doesn't know won't hurt them. Also, look at your wand."

That shut Rose up.

"How are you doing that?" asked Albus. "Not getting caught by doing this?"

"Something Dad told me," grinned Rose.

"Eh hem. Continuing on, Gandalf – the wizard – means you get a free pass, and the dragon is death."

James shuddered and Sophie's beard vanished in an abrupt poof.

"Caroline!" Rose chastised. "Don't actually kill him."

"Thanks," said her brother, grateful.

"Mum'll kill me." she continued.

"Hey!" objected James.

"You'll just knock him up a little bit, won't you?" said Sophie anxiously, to which James and Albus snorted. "What?"

"Well, um.." said Rose uncomfortably. She cleared her throat. "I don't know what it means in America – or Canada, whatever – or Mexico, but here it's slang for, well, eh … maybe you don't want to know."

"Could it be you actually still have feelings for the brat?" asked Caroline, a malevolent glint in her eye. "Guess I'll have to knock that out of you, too…well, time to decide. Will you, Hannah?"

"Sure." She flipped her raven hair over her shoulder and placed the coin on her fist. "Three, two...one!" It soared high into the air, watched by all, illuminated by the pure white light of Rose's wand, and then fell as suddenly as it had flew.

"What is it? What is it?" hissed Caroline.

"And now you are Gollum," noted Hannah.

"My precious!" wheezed Sophie, squinting.

Caroline ignored her and peered at the Knut. "Gandalf," she remarked sadly. "Oh well. Looks like you're lucky."

Sophie and James both breathed a sigh of relief.

"What time is it?" asked Hannah.

"15 more to midnight." checked Rose.

The impatient noirette growled. "Dammit! Is there anything else we can do?"

"How about cards?" suggested Hannah. She grinned. "We could play Cheat."

"Cheat! Cheat! Cheat! Yes!"

"We're all screwed." said Sophie.

"Why?"

"Because Caroline's strategy to win is to say 'cheat' every single damn time, so she has quads, efficiently–" Sophie tried to explain.

"Shush, Dopey!" Caroline said. "Don't give away all my secrets!"

So the six children played, Caroline gathering 38 cards (James was one away from winning, but dear Caroline made sure he didn't) as Caroline kept on laying quads.

"Quad eights!" announced Caroline. "Also, cheat, Sophie, cheat, Albus, cheat, Rose, cheat Hannah, cheat James, and quad aces!"

"Damn, how does she do that?" grumbled James.

"Pick up the cards!" sang Caroline, waving around 10 cards in his face.

"Alright, alright, I've got it!"

"Good. Sophie, go."

"One two."

"Hmmm."

"Albus, go."

"Two threes."

"Gods, this game is boring as heck," Hannah leaned her head back. "Can we just open our presents?"

Rose checked her clock. "Yup. Midnight's tw… one minute away."

"Let's go," urged Sophie. "We have to open presents now!... and I wanna sleep."

"Won't your parents be disappointed?"

"Nope," Rose replied. "We always open our presents in our rooms – Hugo and I, I mean – so Mum and Dad should be okay with it."

"Should be," breathed Hannah. Rose shot her a dirty look.

"C'mon, how we're going to sneak down, is the problem," Albus said.

"With super ninja skills," said Caroline, in a duh voice. "You don't know that? Sadness."

Albus just looked lost as Sophie gave him a sympthic look.

"Don't worry," assured Sophie. "I didn't get it either."

"It's neither!" Caroline exclaimed.

"Whatever," Sophie rolled her eyes. She leaned to Rose. "Is it either or neither?"

"Does it matter?" Rose slowly walked down the hallway. "Now, shh."

"Have you ever noticed that the person shushingyou makes more –"

Rose swiftly interrupted Hannah by shushing her once more. "C'mon, aren't you guys excited for presents?"

"Not particularly, no," shrugged Hannah.

"Party –"

"Shut up."

"Shutting up!" Sophie whimpered. "Also, Brits have Christmas trees?"

"Yes, we do."

As they made their way down the steps Rose whispered, "One at a time, get your presents. I'll go first."

Rose snuck down the steps, making sure not to step on any creaky steps. She heard a sharp noise behind her. "What the –?"

"AAH!" Caroline screamed as Sophie accidentally knocked into her. "LE DOP –"

"Caroli –!"

Suddenly the lights flickered on, making all the children freeze.

A very tired, grumpy Dad rubbed his eyes. "Bloody hell is going on?"

*Inside joke. If you get confused, sorry. It's hard to explain, but let's just say Caroline is… odd, and has her own 'Torture Chambers'. She uses it to taunt and torment Sophie. (Of course she never does it in real life… I hope).

**Stupid. In Spanish.

***Sorry, Twilight fans… our friend Caroline read it when she was eleven… yeah, she's not the same.

**** Anybody get it? XD. Cedric Diggory… Edward Cullen… click yet?

Disclaimer

We do not own anything you recognize.

Author's Note

Longest chapter yet! Oh my god, we just finished that today. Yay. Hoped you guys liked it.

Alright, thanks to Lupe (can we call you that?) for reviewing again. It makes us so happy. Thanks so much! (::) (::) (::) (::) Cookies for you!

And for all the other readers, thank you!

Remember, reviews, follows, and favourites are loved,

BlueDaylighter & QuietlyImagining