Oliver
November and December pass quickly between Quidditch practice and my studies. It doesn't help that on top of the normal studies, I have O.W.L.s to prepare for. Rose is outstanding in that aspect in helping me study for them. Without her, I wouldn't be able to stay focused on everything I have to do. She's exceptionally organized.
The more time I spend with her, the more of a plan I form about when to tell her how I feel about her. I send an owl to my parents asking them for a special gift for her for Christmas, and my parents are more than willing to help. They've been pushing me to focus on… anything more than I do Quidditch and I can only imagine that they were starting to think something was wrong with me.
It's the first week of December, and Rose and I are in the library studying when talk inevitably turns to what our plans were for the holiday.
"I usually just spend the time with my parents," I start off. "We go skiing, visit our family, and enjoy a massive feast."
Rose chuckles. "Skiing? I thought that was a muggle thing."
I nod. "Normally, yes. But there's a few ski courses that are for witches and wizards only and it's amazing. You literally fly."
Rose smiles sadly. "That sounds amazing. I hope you enjoy."
I quirk an eyebrow. "What are you doing for the holiday?"
She sighs. "Well, I have an option of staying at Hogwarts by myself… or going to my dad's parents, who pretty much hate me because I'm magical. It makes sense, though. I'm adopted and they never signed on for it. My parents got me from a muggle orphanage. So I'd rather stay here."
My heart sinks. I hadn't realized that she was staying here by herself. "Well, that settles it. I'm staying, too."
Rose gasps, staring at me. "But… your skiing trip? Your family? The feast?"
I smile. "I go skiing every year. I can see my family any time. And Hogwarts has a massive feast- sometimes better than my mum's! But don't tell her I said that."
Rose laughs. It's at this point that I realize she dropped a huge bomb about her heritage. "Wait. You're adopted?"
She nods. "It was a closed adoption. I sometimes wish I knew who my birth parents were and why they gave me up. But I'll never truly know since the records were sealed. And my parents really are awesome. I just wish I had grandparents that wanted to be with me, too."
I grimace. "I'm sorry, Rose," I say, unsure what to say next.
"It's okay. I don't really want to talk about it anymore," she says, and I nod. We sit in somewhat awkward silence for the next few minutes, until falling into an easier conversation about our family traditions until it's time for us to head back to our common rooms.