Moonlight

Chapter Seven

December 24th 1975

"What about that one, it looks nice," Barty suggested pointing to a board game on the shelf.

"How can you say that? It's literally this much afar." Evan stretched out his arms for a demonstration. Barty shrugged.

"So how do we get it?" Regulus asked. The boys turned to question us Ravenclaws about it.

"We usually fly up there to get it," Pandora said in a sarcastic tone.

"Ha-ha, very helpful."

Barty, Evan, and Regulus tried to think of an idea until "Come on, do me a leg up."

Barty stepped on Evan's knee while Regulus stabilized them. The girls took in the scene. Barty was almost there. He stretched his hand a little further. He got it. But the added weight destroyed their balance. Barty fell over and the other two fell down with him. The girls laughed at them.

Messed-up hair and crumpled clothes they lay there. Barty's hand was in the air holding the board game. "At least, we got it," he said triumphantly. That caused more laughter.

"This is probably the wrong moment, but there's a ladder over there," Lilith mentioned with a smirk.

"Pandora!" Barty, Evan, and Regulus choired. She only laughed with a shrug.

They played all evening. The common room was almost empty. Only two other students played wizard chess at the table. At some point, it began snowing again.

"It's snowing!" Lilith exclaimed. She loved snow. "Let's go all outside!"

"What, now?" Regulus asked. "Yes, now," replied Lilith. The group complied. Dressed in their winter coats and gloves, they snuck outside. They went until they were sure not to be spotted by a teacher or student.

The snow was soft and there was much of it. She lay down and made a snow angel. The girls joined her. When they stood up, three beautiful angels were imprinted into the snow.

While Lilith was admiring their art, Evan threw a snowball at her back. She turned. Her hands formed a ball and she threw it at him. Pandora joined and threw balls at Barty. Barty threw back at her and at Lilith and Evan. Dorcas formed a ball and threw it at Regulus. It developed into a snowball fight.

First, they threw at each other. Everyone was against everyone. Then, they formed teams. Boys against girls. Until Regulus betrayed Barty by lathering him all over with snow.

Evan tackled Lilith and they fell into more snow. Pandora and Dorcas turned on each other as well. They played and laughed until they were all soaking wet and frozen all over.

December 25th 1975

Pandora and Lilith fell asleep in front of the fireplace the night before. The sun was shining through the floor-to-ceiling windows. They were designed to break the light into little rainbows. It was mesmerizing.

Lilith started her day with a cold shower. She changed into her Christmas sweater, blue fabric with little snowflakes and snowmen on it, and went to wake Dora with the smell of cinnamon.

"Merry Christmas, Dora," Lilith wished her. Pandora sniffed the air before she opened her eyes.

"Merry Christmas, Lil! Is that cinnamon I smell?" Lilith laughed. "Want to get some cinnamon rolls in the kitchen?" she asked with a smirk. Her friend got up faster than light, and still in her pyjamas, Dora led Lilith to the door.

They stumbled down the stairs, hand in hand until they stood in front of the portrait with the pear. Dora tickled it and it swung open, revealing Hogwarts' kitchens. The house elves were cooking and cleaning, not even remarking on their presence.