What If? Year 1

Chapter 28

After lunch we start to open presents.  I got Luna a book on odd creatures, Rachel and Ginny different cadies, Heather a book on quidditch.  Ara loved her jacket and immediately put it on.  Ginny got me a book on advanced Potions.  Rachel got me a muggle book.  Heather got me a Gryffindor jumper.  Ara got me a little notebook and a couple muggle pens. 

We go outside to play on our brooms.  Fred, George, and I hit a ball around while all of the others, besides Luna, Hermione, Heather, and Rachel, race in between the flying ball.  Fred and George loose the ball occasionally, while I hit it as hard as I can.  
"You've gotta try out for the quidditch team once we graduate!" George says, "Gryffindor'll need another amazing two beaters after we graduate!" Ginny and Ara laugh.  
"Goldie and I will be just as good as you." Ara says, making Fred laugh.  She sends him a glare and he stops. 
"I bet Harry's going to be quidditch captain at some point," Ron says, "Maybe after Oliver leaves." Harry's face turns pink and Ara giggles.  Ginny stares at the two of them. 
"I'll be right back," I tell everyone, landing, "I'm going to warm up a little."  Ara and Ginny land next to me and walk with me. 
"What time are we going to meet at the train?" Ginny asks, "Or are we going to just meet in a compartment?" 
"We could shoot from noon," Ara says, "We leave at 12:30." 
"Alright, sound good," Ginny says, "I wonder if Mum has made hot coco." We walk into the Burrow and the smell of eggnog hits my nose. 
"Oh it smells heavenly in here," Ara says, as we walk into the kitchen.  Mrs. Weasley and Mum smile at us. 
"We were going to bring you all some," Mrs. Weasley says, "James and Arthur are starting the fire." Mrs. Weasley hands me a cup of eggnog and the foam on the top looks amazing.  Ara and Ginny get theirs and we all start to walk back to everyone else.   When we get to where everyone else is, Ara takes a drink and gets foam on her nose.
"Do you all want eggnog?" Mrs. Weasley asks, "come to the house.. the fire is almost done." Harry lands in between Ara and I. 
"You've got something on your nose," Harry tells Ara, and Ara wipes the foam from her nose. I roll my eyes and Ara giggles at me.  Fred and George link their arms with mine and pull me to the house.  
"We've got something to show you," Fred says.
"We think you'll find it really interesting," George continues.  They take me to their room and pull out a piece of folded parchment. They hand it to me and it look at them. 
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," Fred says, pointing his wand at the parchment.  A map of Hogwarts appears with names moving around the map.  Snape and Dumbledore were walking together. 
"What is this?" I ask them, as they sit down in front of me. 
"It's the secret to our success," George says, "we nicked it from Filch in our first year." I look at is some more and notice Lockhart walking around the corridors. 
"It is called the Marauders Map," Fred says, "some guys named Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs made it."  I smirk. 
Those are uncles and dad's nicknames.. Of course they would. 
"That's how you sneak around with out getting caught," I say, "wait.. have you guys seen the person attacking muggleborns?" Fred and George shake their heads. 
"We don't look at it twenty-four seven," George snarks, "But we thought about that.. That's why we are showing it to you." I look at the map some more.
"Alright," I ask, "I can't look at it all day either!" 
"But in between all of us, we can." I nod and look at the map again. 
"How do we get the map to go away again?" I ask and George points his wand at it again. 
"Mischief Managed," he says and the ink seeps off the page. They shut it back into their trunk and we go and join the rest of the group. 

After a couple cups of eggnog and staring at the fire, we decide that is was time to go home. 
"Bye, Ginny," I tell her giving her a quick hug. 
"See you on the platform!" she says and Ara and I floo off to the house.  Harry and Everlyn had already gone to their rooms, so Ara and I go to ours. 
"I think Harry has a crush on you," I tell her, as lays her stuff on her mattress.  She rocks back and forth on and smiles. 
"I noticed," she mumbles, and I giggle. 
"You have a crush on him!" I exclaim, "Oh dear Merlin!" 
"I do not!" she shouts, face bright red, "he's a year older anyways!" I smile as her hair turns from pink to red over and over. 
"So?" I ask, "I think you two would be cute!" Ara glares at me, but it just sends me into a fit of giggles. She smirks. 
"Are you gonna be okay?" she asks, "or are you going to die from giggling so hard?"  Midnight jumps onto my lap.  After petting her for a couple minutes, I stop laughing. 
"I'm fine now," I giggle and Ara laughs at me.  She sits next to me and sets her head on my shoulder.  Midnight moves over to her to her lap. 
"In a sick sort of way," Ara starts, "I miss my family... like you know.." I rake my fingers through her hair.  
"I can't imagine going through what you are," I tell her, "you've gotta be one of the bravest girls I've ever met." Ara smiles a little bit. 
"I shouldn't miss them," she whispers, "but-"
"They're still your family," I tell her, "even if they're a crappy family."  Ara laughs and Midnight stretches. 
"Thanks, Golds," she says, "I can't wait to go back to school.  I miss it, funny enough."  I agree with her and we start to get ready for bed.