Another chapter here! Yes it's winter already! I know I jumped quite a bit, from Halloween to Christmas break but chapters when Jade's at home are more fun for me to write so… I hope you'll like it.
Thanks for your reviews! It's wonderful to know that people are still reading, even after that long break I made and didn't update for months…
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Enjoy!
First snowflakes were followed by others and soon a giant snow storm started, effectively covering the castle and its grounds in thick white layer.
Winter boots and cloaks were pulled out from trunks and students engaged in many snowball fights in between the classes.
Filch had a fit every time group of kids brought heaps of melting snow inside but that couldn't stop them from going out.
Days were getting shorter and wind draft in the corridors was biting its way through uniform sweaters of students and heavy robes of professors who tried to bring as much action and movement to their lessons as they could – to help everyone warm up.
The snow cover didn't melt, like it sometimes happens to the first snow. It stayed solid and it seemed to be growing overnight.
Hagrid had to dig tunnels and corridors in the snow to keep first years from getting lost or stuck. Few feet long icicles were regularly thrown down from the rain pipes and melted in a big roaring fire Hagrid kept close to the school entrance (after Fred and George dared Jade to lick one of the broken ones lying on the ground and she got her tongue stuck to it and madam Pomfrey had to defrost it.
It was Wednesday afternoon, first year's Herbiology class got cancelled because Professor Sprout had to attend to an emergency rescue of tree spirits from Forbidden forest.
Jade was lying on her bed, thinking about Christmas, which seemed to be an ever-present topic these days.
Hogward's express will leave Friday at 11 from the station. A train which will take her home.
"Aren't you gonna pack?" asked Joyce standing at the foot of Jade's bed with a pile of neatly folded sweaters.
"I guess." Jade shrugged her shoulders and continued staring at the ceiling.
"What's wrong?" insisted Joyce and after dropping her clothes to the trunk which was laying close to her bed she came back to Jade's side of the room and sat down, looking expectantly at her friend.
"It's nothing. I'm just not sure if I want to go away from Hogwards….for Christmas, you know."
When Joyce didn't say anything just waited for Jade to continue she added:
"We have a lot of essays to write…"
"most of which you've already finished, except for that long one from Charms." Interrupted Joyce.
"…plus, we have great library here, and decorations are pretty and it will be quiet and I could use some extra hours of practice for transfiguration."
"come on Jade, even you are not this responsible student. Aren't you looking forward to seeing your family again?" smiled Joyce and hugged pillow close to her cheek.
"I do…it's just…weird. I mean, I felt like I did fit in..in summer I mean. But now it will be like I'm the stranger all over again. And I don't like Christmas that much. All the fuss with presents, and then everyone's watching for your reaction and you have to persuade them you really like the present and then the Christmas meal with so many different kinds of food, and four different forks, each for different course. And pretty dress and polished shoes and bows in hair." Jade shuddered.
"That's not the Christmas we have. It's warm and beautiful at home. We make popcorn chains for the tree, and mom bakes gingerbread. And we have Christmas pyjamas and hot chocolate." Said Joyce dreamily, before getting up to grab a handful of warm socks from her dresser.
"Every Christmas in every home is different. I'm sure you will love it this year, because you'll be with your family this year, right?"
"Yeah, but it's complicated. It still feels like coming to a stranger's home and imposing. I know they try to make me feel welcome, really, it's just me. I don't know." Jade sighed and pulled her trunk from under the bed.
She opened the secret compartment and pulled out the remaining chocolate frog.
She ate one few weeks ago in a fit of terrible homesickness.
Now she opened the package and stuffed the frog into her mouth. Then she emptied her drawer into the trunk.
Heaps of dirty uniforms and underwear mixed into a huge chaos but she didn't mind.
She added two books from charm (she'll need for the essay) on top and closed the lid.
"Ta-da! I'm packed." She announced proudly while Joyce looked at her in disbelief.
"You sure you didn't forget anything? That was terribly quick and unprepared." She said, putting another neat pile of shirts next to her sweaters.
"I'll have to sort it before washing anyway, there's no need to fold and iron them now." Jade laughed at Joyce's shocked expression.
It was a couple of days before Christmas Eve, around six o'clock in the afternoon, and London streets were cowered in thin layer of new show which wasn't cleaned yet and swapped to the side, adding to already high mountains of greyish ice.
Arthur tugged at Ron's hand a little, when boy slowed down, looking at the black sky with his tongue out, catching snowflakes which were slowly falling down. It was unusually cold winter with generous snowstorms which a couple of days ago made the traffic stop in most parts of the city.
"Hurry up Ron, it's almost time." He encouraged his son and held tightly to mitten-clad hand as they mixed into the mass of people waiting at the Kings Cross station.
Their breath was condensing in chilly air, forming small clouds of white smoke.
Ron looked at two girls who were pretending it's a cigarette smoke, and their mom telling them to stop it because smoking isn't fun and it kills people.
Ron was so focused on the two girls who were now pouting that he didn't even realize how his daddy pulled him through the barrier between platforms nine and ten.
The place was full of parents and a couple of younger siblings, impatiently waiting for the arrival of Hogwart's express.
When the big hand on clock clearly displayed over the table which red "9 and ¾" finally reached twelve and small but loud bell chimed six times, big locomotive rushed into the station with squeaking breaks and a lot of white smoke.
"Daddy! They are here! Look, look!" Ron pointed excitedly to the doors which were opening all along the train with prefects helping younger students down the stairs.
Arthur grabbed the hood of Ron's winter jacket. Losing him in the crowd was the last thing he needed.
Parents rushed closer, effectively blocking most of the train out of view.
"We'll wait here, next to the lamppost just like last year, remember? Fred and George will show Jade where we're waiting and that way we won't get lost." Explained Arthur, fixing the scarf which slipped down from Ron's red nose.
The boy was standing on his toes, trying to spot his siblings first.
"Over there!" he finally yelled, looking in a direction from where the twins and Jade were coming.
He could see George pointing at him and telling something to Jade who looked at Ron and waved with her empty hand ( pulling her trunk with the other).
Arthur let go of Ron who sprinted as fast as his winter boots would let him, crashing in full speed to Fred and George who hugged him and spun him in the air. Then Ron hugged Jade, taking her trunk and pulling it in the direction of their waiting father.
"Hey guys, I missed you so much!" exclaimed Arthur hugging and kissing all of his children on the cheek.
"How was your trip? And where's Percy?" Asked Arthur, still hugging Jade with one arm, because she looked a little bit lost.
"He's talking to his girlfriend." Giggled Fred, but suddenly someone hit him to the back of his head.
"I was not… just wishing nice holiday to my friends." Argued Percy who frowned at his brothers and hugged his dad.
"Didn't Ginny come too?" asked Jade, trying to change the topic.
"Well, she got in trouble for smacking Ron with bottle from Ginger ale just before we left and then threw a tantrum before we left so she's staying at home. She's been grumpy all day, but she can't stop talking about you guys coming home from school. Everyone's been excited." Smiled Arthur and pulled Ron up, because the boy slipped on the icy platform.
"Let's go, we're walking back to the Leaky Cauldron to floo from there. If we hurry, we can beat the rest of the families." Arthur looked around them and most of the parents were still pushing their way through the mass of people, searching for their kids. That's why Weasleys always waited for each other at that spot. It would be impossible to find all of the kids in that chaos.
They pulled their trunks through the streets of London, mostly in silence, as heaps of snow on the sides of the road made it impossible for them to walk next to each other without bumping into strangers.
Soft yellow light coming from windows of Leaky Cauldron looked inviting and warm.
They all walked inside, Arthur holding the door open and counting his children to make sure they didn't forget anyone. Jade walked in as last, handing Ron his knitted hat he lost few streets away from the station, which Jade picked up from the snowy ground and carried for him.
"Alright, now, gather around." Arthur lead them to the corner of the pub, shaking Tom's hand on the way, saying they're just passing by tonight.
"Percy, can you take Ron with you?" their dad asked and handed him a leather pouch filled with floo powder.
"Sure, come on Ron." Agreed Percy and both boys took a handful of grey powder, Ron spilling a little over the tiled floor in front of the fireplace.
After a flash of green light they were gone.
"Fred, George, you're next." Arthur rushed them before they tried to sneak away and get a bottle of butterbeer.
"Alright Jade, you know how it works, right? Leave your trunk here, I'll take them all with me, just get in the there." Smiled Arthur offering her the powder he was still holding.
Jade stepped into the flames, turning around to look at Arthur.
"I'm glad I'm home." She said quietly.
"Me too honey." Smiled Arthur. "Now, hurry up, mom's waiting for you." He winked at her and Jade threw the powder down to her feet and yelled "Burrow!"
Last blurry bit of the pub was all she saw before falling out of the fireplace back in Molly's kitchen.
She got up, bringing a lot of ashes on the rag rug which was lying there to softer the landing of Weasley kids who didn't know to travel through floo without falling yet.
Jade didn't have time to worry about getting the floor dirty, because before she could even blink, she was pulled into Molly's warm hug.
"Oh I'm so happy you're finally back home darling! Look at you! I swear to Merlin you've grown at least an inch since September." Said Molly looking brightly at her.
Jade just smiled, not knowing what to say and gave Molly one more hug.
"Oh, Jade." Whispered Molly, hugging her back with watery eyes.
Arthur's loud arrival with four Hogwart trunks interrupted the silent moment.
"Now, now, hurry upstairs and change from your uniform. Dinner will be ready in a while." She rushed Jade up.
"Arthur, love…" she stopped to quickly kiss him on the lips, "…can you bring their trunks upstairs? "
"Of course, but it will cost one more kiss." He laughed and closed his eyes leaning forward to get one more kiss to his wife but she hit him lightly on the nose with the big wooden spoon she used to steer mashed potatoes.
"up you go." She rushed him, wanting to have more space in their tiny kitchen and having to clean the floor after six people coming through the floo.
Jade climbed the stairs, (after kicking off her winter shoes in the hall) hearing Ginny and Ron laughing on the landing in front of twins' room.
She slowly opened her door and stepped into her small room. And she was wrong. This didn't feel like coming to strange, new place over again. This was her home.
The room was dimly lit by the lamp on her night table. She had light yellow covers on bed and her crocheted blanket on one side. There was an Christmas card waiting for her at the pillow.
She quickly grabbed it and turned it around to see who wrote her.
It was from Bruno, his neat even handwriting. He was wishing her Merry Christmas and saying he started taking skiing lessons, because they were going to France with his parents over the holidays.
Jade smiled and put the card next to the lamp.
She was about to pull off her socks and go take some dry ones from her drawer when someone knocked on her half-closed door.
"Yes?" she asked and Arthur opened the door fully to bring her school trunk inside but Ginny came running from upstairs, pushing by the trunk which was now blocking the door and running in Jade's room.
The youngest Weasley squealed with delight of seeing her sister again and jumped on her bed, taking Jade down with her. They fell backwards to the soft pillows which were charmed to be pleasantly warm.
"Hey Gin!" laughed Jade as Ginny kissed her cheek enthusiastically.
"I missed you so much Jade! Welcome home!" she beamed, looking down on Jade who wad wide grin spread on her face.
"Thanks." She smiled, kissing Ginny's cheek too, but then she frowned. "you seem a little bit hot Ginny, are you ok?" Jade asked worriedly.
Arthur came inside and pulled his youngest daughter off of Jade and sat her on his hip. He put his lips to her forehead, testing her temperature. "Well, Ginny, it looks like you have some fever now. Let's go down to mommy ok?" he said and turned to Jade.
"If you feel like unpacking, you still have at least half an hour before we eat, you can leave dirty clothes on the floor by your door. If not, don't worry, you can always unpack tomorrow."
Jade looked around her room. She didn't particularly feel like unpacking, remembering how she just threw her things in the trunk, knowing it will be hard to sort them all, but if she did it now, tomorrow would be completely free, so she pulled the trunk closer to her bed and kneeled down on the soft rug, opening the top.