My Last Laugh (A Hogwarts Story)

Chapter Twelve: Christmas

"Come on ced, we're gonna be late." I laugh as I skip through Hogwarts towards the exit.

Cedric just laughed. "Someone's in a good mood today."

"Of course im in a good mood. It christmas. And I get to see Liam in a few days." I say as we approx the front door. We had arranged for Liam to meet us in London on Christmas Eve.

"What's pulling the carriages?" I ask as we walk over to a beautiful carriage pulled by... Well, nothing.

"Well, they'd have to be pulled by something." Cedric said pulling himself into the carriage. "What that something is, im not sure. Perhaps ask Hagrid."

The carriage started moving once I had jumped in it and we were off to Cedrics house for Christmas.

After a long train ride back to London, Cedric and I collected our bags and jumped onto the platform.

"There are mum and dad." Cedric says, pointing to a couple who were waving at us.

I head over to the couple with a smile on my face.

"Mum, dad, this is Elizabeth. Liz, this is my mum and dad." Cedric says proudly.

"Nice to meet you." I say shaking each of their hands.

As we go through the divider that leads to kings cross, my eyes immediately fall on a familiar figure with dark hair and shinning blue eyes.

"Liam!" I practically screech as I run towards him, engulfing him in a hug, which he returns. "What are you doing here? I'm not meant to see you till Christmas."

"Well, Cedric arranged for me to stay at his place until Christmas. I told mum I was staying at a friends." Liam says enthusiastically.

"Thank you." I turn around and his Cedric. Then go back to hugging Liam. "I missed you so much."

"I... missed you to Liz... But... I can't breathe." Liam stutters. I let go of him and mr and mrs Diggory lead the way out of kings cross and to a black car.

"So, what's been up with you?" I ask Liam once we are all seated.

"You know, the usual. Although miss L is giving us a bit of strife." Liam replies as if we had seen each other the day before.

"And it's not because you have been mucking around?" I reply, already knowing the answer.

"Well... Umm... How Hogwarts?" Liam says, avoiding he question.

"Magical, as usual." I reply, laughing. "That reminds me, I have something for you. I was going to give it to you on Christmas but I can't wait." I say handing Liam a medium sized bag.

Liam eagerly opens it and pulls out a large selection of wizard candy. "Is there meant to be a difference is the lollies cuz this looks to me like a normal chocolate." Liam says as Cedric and I share a knowing look.

"Just open it." Cedric says. Liam opens the packet and a frog jumps out.

"Catch it!" I say to Liam. After about 30 seconds Liam grabs the chocolate frog and bites it's head off.

"This thing is delicious." Liam says, moaning in satisfaction. "I want to be a wizard just so I can eat these."

Once the chocolate frog is gone, Liam picks up the package and pulls out a card. On the card is Albus Dumbledoor.

"That's the headmaster of Hogwarts." I say as the picture moves.

"They move? Why can't I be a wizard?" Liam says in a mock whiney voice.

"Cuz your not awesome enough." I say sticking out my tongue. Liam mocks me while Cedric is just laughing at the scene.

***

"Come on kids, it's time for presents." Mrs Diggory calls out while we play cricket in the backyard. It was a tradition for Liam and i that no matter what the weather, we would always play cricket on Christmas. Cedric had decided to join in our game and, much to my amusement, ended up falling onto the snow covered ground twice.

It had only been a few short days that Liam had known Cedric but they both got along like they had known each other for years.s

We drop our bats and run inside. In the living room there is a big Christmas tree decorated in snow and ordainments that moved.

Liam was a quick adapter but he was still amazed when a ordainment flew over his head.

Underneath the Christmas tree were presents, big and little, that we had bought at Diagon Alley and some muggle shops.

Liam, Cedric and I all race to the Christmas tree and pull out some presents with our name on them. Cedric gets a broom care kit from his parents, a new hufflepuff scarf from me and an assortment of muggle lollies from Liam.

"I don't know how you use this but your gonna have to teach me." Cedric said when he gave Liam a new afl football. He also got some more chocolate frogs (his favourite) from Cedrics parents.

Liam and I got mrs Diggory a bunch of roses and mr Diggory a new bow tie. Liam and I both got on really well with Cedrics parents.

From Cedrics parents I got some money. From Liam I got some muggle lollies, which I had been missing and from Cedric I got a necklace with the hufflepuff crest on a locket. Inside the locket was a photo of Liam, Cedric and I that was taken at a fountain in a nearby park. In the photo Cedric and Liam dumped a near freezing bucket of water on my head so, in return, I pushed them both into the fountain.

That night Liam left with a promise to see me in six months.

A few days later we were back on the Hogwarts train, heading back to the place i now called home.