Whimsical {James Potter}

Chapter 8

Chapter 8: The Door

"I think I might spend Christmas at Hogwarts this year."

"What's your family doing?"

Cressida shrugs. "What they always do," she responds quietly. The day is warmer than most have been for the past week and a long sleeve shirt is all she needs as they stand on the astronomy tower. "I think staying at Hogwarts will be fun. Hagrid always makes a mean hot chocolate."

Sirius faces the opposite way to her, leaning backwards against the railing, elbows resting over the highest bar. The soft breeze ruffles through both their hair, though she imagines the image looks more fitting on him than it does her. "I could stay too, you know. Might actually give James some family time this year."

Cressida laughs softly, smiling fondly at the memory of James' parents. Doting people who have spoilt their son. But they have the best intentions. "I'm sure they enjoy your company. And besides, James will insist you come."

"And if you tell him you're staying, he'll invite you too."

Cressida hums absent-mindedly. Sirius is right in saying that James would invite her to the Potters for Christmas, but it isn't her place to be there at such a time. Besides, she does actually want to have a Christmas at Hogwarts at least once. "I just won't tell him then."

Her eyes peel from the soft sky at the sound of her friend's scoff. "You tell James everything," he drawls, head lopping close to his shoulder. "Besides, I'm going to have to explain to him why I'm staying."

Cressida straightens, folding her arms across her chest. "I don't need you to stay with me." She does. Remus goes home every Christmas as well, which would leave her with only a few acquaintances for company for at least two weeks.

Sirius turns back around slowly, hunching forward over the railing. "Right," he murmurs, clearly not believing her. "You crushed try-outs by the way. There's no way Andrews can get the spot."

Cressida can't help but grin. "I know. James and Heffler gave him a hard time. Hell, I would have struggled with the shots they took at his posts." The team is officially released Monday afternoon but most Gryffindors, even those who didn't watch the try-outs, already have a steady idea of who's names are going to be plastered on the notice board. "How's my D.A.D.A homework coming along?"

His lips purse together as he thinks intently about his answer. "It's coming," he eventually declares. "How's Transfiguration study coming along with James?"

"He's a horrid teacher," chuckles Cressida, resting her cheek in her palm. "But it's still fun. How'd I end up doing on that Care of Magical Creatures essay, anyway?"

"You got a 74," Sirius beams. "Well, I did, but you can have the satisfaction that that would have been your grade."

Cressida rolls her eyes, pinching her cheeks between her teeth to keep her smile at bay. It satisfies her more to see no worries in her friends' eyes. The panic of a last-minute assignment due or a low grade. A small sacrifice in her world might make all the difference in theirs.

"Why did we come up here again?"

"Because you needed a break from the sound of first years crying about their potions class."

Cressida laughs pitifully, rubbing a rough hand over her face. "They're so whiny. How long do you reckon we'd get away with using a silencing charm on them?"

A soft smirk plays on his lips, eyes pointing to the horizon for a few quiet moments until they meet hers once more. "I doubt they're smart enough to figure out the counter-curse, so I'd say about two hours before they go to a teacher. But then you would probably have to deal with detention which you've already established you're trying to avoid this year."