Adventures At Hogwarts

Winter Break

Hermione hugged Ophelia tightly in the common room as the students prepared to go home for the holidays, "Are you sure you're going to be ok here by yourself?"

Ophelia squeezed her back, "It's only for two weeks. I'll manage!"

Hermione pulled away with tears in her eyes, "Promise you'll write to us if you get lonely?"

"Oh no please don't cry," Ophelia said, "You'll make me cry!"

"Bloody hell," Ron said rolling her eyes, "Why are girls always so mushy!"

"Oh hush," Ophelia said throwing her arms around Ron and Harry, "You know I'm going to miss you both too don't you?"

Harry wrapped his arm around her affectionately, "We'll miss you too Ophelia! But like Hermione said you can always write."

Ron hugged her back awkwardly trying not to blush. She pulled away and smiled at the three of them. In such a short amount of time the four of them had become very close and she was going to miss them very much. Even if they were only going to be gone for two weeks. Although she didn't want to show it. She was afraid she would ruin their holiday.

"Promise you'll stay out of trouble!"

Harry laughed, "We'll try our best."

Fred and George sauntered into the room.

"What about us El," George said tugging on one of her curls, "Are you going to miss us too?"

Fred tapped his cheek, "Hows about a little goodbye kiss."

Ophelia made a face and shoved them playfully, "Oh stop it! You two are like my big brothers. Of course I'll miss you!"

Fred rustled her hair affectionately, "You won't forget about us now will you?"

She fixed her hair and laughed, "In two weeks? Not likely."

They all laughed.

"We have to be going now," Harry said, "We don't want to miss the train."

Hermione gave Ophelia one last hug, "We'll see you soon! Since I won't see you for the holidays, Happy Christmas Ophelia!"

She smiled and hugged her best friend back, "Happy Christmas Hermione!"

She waved to them as she watched them walk out the door and then sat down on a couch in the common room, staring into the fire. It was quiet. Too quiet. She sighed. She tried to read a book that Hermione had let her borrow but she couldn't concentrate. She wandered over to the window. It had started to snow lightly and it was forming a soft blanket on the ground. She decided to pay a visit to the owlery to visit Lotus. She put on her warmest sweater and a pair of old boots Hermione had lent to her before tying her hair up.

She slipped silently down the stairs to the owlery after retrieving Lotus with a death grip on the railing. One slip and she would go tumbling down. She carefully stepped down the last few steps and carried Lotus out to the yard petting her feathers lovingly.

"Want to stretch your wings for a bit?"

Lotus chirped excitedly and Ophelia tossed her into the sky. She sat down on a bench and watched her pet soar around the yard happily. She smiled softly to herself.

"You stayed behind too then?"

She screamed and nearly fell off of the bench in surprise. She heard laughing and whirled around to see Draco standing behind her. He was dressed in a long black coat with a matching set of gloves and a black hat.

"Draco!!! You started me!"

He chuckled and sat down next to her, "How come you're not spending the holidays with your family?"