Hi, it's James. James Potter.

it's getting christmassy and so on - year 1

"C'mon, let's go up here, we should be able to see sunrise!", Dominique called out happily, running ahead up the stairs.

And indeed, when James arrived at the top of the Astronomy Tower, a beautiful view extended in front of him.

Then his gaze fell onto a forgotten candle in a corner.

"Ew, I think Teddy set up his date here yesterday."

"How'd you know?", Dominique asked.

"Winky told him yesterday he'd packed candles into his food package, and there is a candle."

Dominique laughed: "But don't you think it's super romantic up here? I want my boyfriend to once take me up here for a date."

"Super romantic.", James answered, not fully convinced.

"I'm sure you'll learn soon enough, you just don't understand yet."

"And you do?"

"No, but I can imagine."

They sat down and leaned their backs against the wall, facing the sunset.

"Did you talk to Alice yesterday?", James asked curiously.

"Well, I tried to, but she completely ignored me. You know, sometimes she gets so bolted, and then nobody can get to her."

"Yeah, I've come to notice, too."

"It's worse sometimes at night. She-", Dominique hesitated, unsure if she should tell him, "She has those really bad dreams sometimes, and then she wakes up screaming and crying and Liz and I try to comfort her, and I think she really appreciates it, but she doesn't tell us anything."

James stayed in silence for a few seconds, overwhelmed by what Dominique had just told him.

"Why do you think ... what makes her be like this?"

"Dunno, James.", Dominique sighed, "I wish I knew. I think it's got something to do with her family, I don't know a thing about hers. And she wont tell either."

"Now that I come to think of it, I don't, either.", James agreed.

"For sure she's had a hard life, or she's got some trauma. Maybe we just need to be careful with her sometimes, and if she trusts us enough some time, maybe she'll tell us. But don't you go and try to fix matters your way!", Dominique added sharply.

"Don't worry, I didn't plan anything this way. I get what you mean."

"Good."

They sat in silence for several moments, watching the sun rise, even though it wasn't that spectacular because they could only see half of it and it was winter.

"You know, you really do look horrible.", Dominique giggled after a while.

"Yeah, I think my eye's gone even more black through the night. And it feels more swollen since I can actually see nothing through this eye. But at least it doesn't hurt that much, thanks to Madam Shelley's ointment.", James shrugged, "And I think it looks cool."

Dominique snorted: "Boys. You're even proud of it, aren't you?"

"Maybe.", James grinned, "But it probably should be gone until we go home, Mum and Dad would freak out. It's bad enough they get a letter from Professor Swanson."

James made a face.

"They do? Crap, do they send one to my parents, too?", Dominique said worried.

"Nah, don't worry. It's only me and Jayden."

"Good. Well not good for you, but, you know. My Mum gets so overworried."

"Yeah, she does.", James laughed, "Remember when we played with fingerpaint, but only red one, and I smeared it all over your face? Aunt Fleur almost got a heart attack while Mum just looked at me accusingly and cleaned us up. Like I was the one who initiated it."