Betrayals Happiness

Chapter 9: Christmas

Harry, Hermione, Ron, and I were walking on a path to Hagrid. We just told him that Snape put a curse on Harry's broom. "Nonsense! Why would Snape put a curse on Harry's Broom?" Harry in an argumentized tone said, "who knows? Why was he trying to get past that three-headed dog on Halloween?" My eyes widened, Crap! Harry we were supposed to keep that a secret! Hagrid turned to us with a suspicious look, "who told you 'bout Fluffy?" Ron asked, "Fluffy?" Hermione in disbelief asked, "that thing has a name?"

I looked at the two and asked, "why wouldn't it have a name?" The two gave me a weird look, like they couldn't believe I just said that. Hagrid said, "well of course he's got a name. He's mine. I bought him off an Irish feller I met down at the pub last year. Then I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the..." Us four leaned in closer and Harry said, "yes?" Hagrid's eyes widened in realization, and he said, "shouldn't have said that. No more questions! Don't ask any more questions. That's top secret, that is..."

Harry let out what sounded like a whine, "but Hagrid! Whatever Fluffy's guarding, Snape's trying to steal it." Hagrid looked at Harry like he just said the most unbelievable thing he's ever heard. "Codswallop. Professor Snape is a Hogwarts teacher." Hermione said, "Hogwarts teacher or not. I know a spell when I see one. I've read about them. You've got to keep eye contact and Snape wasn't blinking." Harry tried standing up to her point by saying, "exactly?" I looked at Harry confused and muttered, "didn't you not know anything about magic until you got the letter?" Hagrid let out a sigh, "now you listen to me, all four of you. You're meddling in things that shouldn't be meddled with. It's dangerous. What that dog is guarding is strictly between Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel."

We perked up at the extra named mentioned and Hagrid said, "i should not have told you that." He started walking away mumbling that same sentence over and over again. Harry turned to Hermione and asked, "who's Nicholas Flamel?" Hermione shook her head, "I don't know." I put a finger to my chin, "that name seems familiar." We go back into the castle and went to our next classes, mine being Herbology. I enter the class to see Neville, who hasn't noticed me yet. "Hi Neville." He looked up and saw me, giving a big smile. "Hi Ash." I sat next to him and asked, "do you like plants?" He nodded, "they do such amazing things."

I nodded, my mind thinking to the garden I had at home. "I have a water lily pond at my home." He looked at me with amazement and asked, "you do?" I nodded "it has lily pads, koi fish, frogs, the water lilies of course, and it has an orchid that sits on its own little island in the middle." He gave me a smile and said, "it must be really nice." I nodded and looked down at my lap, "it is. It's so amazing and beautiful, it's my special place. A place where no one can mess with me, somewhere to be me." I looked back up to him to see his dorky smile, "I would like to see it sometime,"

I giggled and said, "I can take some pictures for you if you want." He nodded, "please!" I nodded in agreement and more students started to fill the green house. Every once and a while I would look at Neville to see his big stupid grin, it made me smile.

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A couple of days have pasted and now it is two days before Christmas, Hermione and I walked to the great hall with our luggage. We looked in front of us to see a huge, beautiful tree, I smiled. Hermione and I saw the boys and walked over to them; they were playing wizards chest. Hermione and I talked about our plans as we walked over to them. As we got there Harry said, "knight to E5." I looked at the chess board to see the mistake Harry made, I sit down and start watching their game.

Ron said, "queen to E5." I watched as the queen moved up and whacks the knight with her chair, breaking the knight to pieces. Hermione looked at the game in horror, "that's totally barbaric!" Ron grabbed the broken pieces and replied, "that's wizards' chess." He looked at us two, then our luggage. "I see you two packed." I scoffed, "I see you haven't." Ron said, "change of plans, my parents decided to go to Romania to visit my brother Charlie He's studying dragons there." My eyes widened and I asked, "dragons?" He nodded and I give a small smile, dragons are cool when they aren't trying to eat you.

Hermione said, "good. You can help Harry then; he's going to look in the library for information on Nicholas Flamel." Ron let out a groan, "we've looked a hundred times." I leaned in closer to the boys and said, "not the restricted section. Happy winter solstice!" Hermione and I grab our bags and leave, heading to the train.

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Hermione and I got on the train and entered a compartment, setting our stuff down. we sit down and I set my violin case on my lap, the black case catching the Hermione's eyes. "Do you play?" I nodded and she asked, "can you play for me?" I gave her a smile, "sure." I open my case and pull out my Violin, getting into position. I started playing a slowed version of Fairytale by Alexander Rybak. I played with my whole soul, letting the music take over me. I felt as if I was getting cleaned from every bad thing that has ever happened to me, the clean feeling felt as if I was in the rain. I started to sing to it and Hermione clapped to the violin.

I got to one of the solos and stood up, along with Hermione. We danced around in the little compartment, laughing. I started to sing the second verse, gradually playing the song a little faster. Another solo started and Hermione and I started dancing again. I felt happy, this is what I loved to do. Dance, and play. Laughing with a friend while truly feeling me, something I don't think I've felt ever since I met my brother. Living in the shadow of a legend, not being able to make myself known for my own talents.

I reached the end of the song and played the last part. Hermione and I sat down and let out an exhausted sigh. Hermione started to clap for me, "that was so fun! Your playing is amazing! I was truly wonderful." I put my violin back in its case and gave Hermione a smile. "Thanks, Mione."

"When did you learn how to play?"

"I think six. Because at five I just learned how to play the ukelele."

"It must be nice having a musical talent."

I Shrugged my shoulders, "I guess."

For the rest of the train ride, we talked and talked and talked, all the way until we reached the train station."

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I exited the train and said my byes to Hermione, I turned to see my family. I ran to them and hugged them, dropping my luggage in the process. "I missed you guys so much!" Dad laughed, "you've only been gone for almost four months." I pulled away from the hug and crossed my arms in front of my chest. "that's too long." Mom let out a laugh along with Jay. I picked up jay and she let out a squeal, "were you good for mom and dad?!" She nodded and gave me a smile, I said, "good." I looked to my left to see Malfoy, standing there with his dad.

"What 'cha looking at?" I turned to my mom, "nothing. I have to use the bathroom, meet you at the car?" She nodded and dad grabbed my bags, I looked back at Malfoy. He made eye contact with me, I signaled for him to come to me. I walk to the bathrooms and wait for a good minute before I see Malfoy. I gave him a smirk and he asked, "what do you want?" My smirk turned into a smile, "I guess I wanted to say bye." He gave me a glare, "why would you do that? We're not friends." I shrugged, "I just wanted to. Happy winter solstice Malfoy." I started to walk away when I heard a quite "merry Christmas."

I walk out of the train station and see my family at the car, I get in the backseat. I leaned against the door and looked outside, closing my eyes to get sleep.

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only chapter for today.