Gorgeous

Christmas break

Groggily waking up is not the best, but I find it quite alright because mamma is waking me up, not one of my brothers. I look up and see her smile.

"I know it's early beautiful girl but we've got to wake up early to spend as much time with Char. Plus I promise you'll find breakfast when you go down." Those are my magic yes ironically magic words to get me up. No better way with a promise of food. I ran to the bathroom to start getting ready for the morning. I packed earlier that week so all we all had to do hopefully was get to the Portkey. After I hastily brush my teeth to get food, then I go back to our room where I now realize her bed is empty, and put on the clothes that got laid out last night and go to run down the stairs.

When I fall from the last steps I see dad talking to Gin while she's trying to seem interested. I honestly feel bad for both of them. I am one of the only ones who was actually interested in dad's work. It's become kind of a running joke of who would end up in one of dad's rants.

"Hey!" They both turn around at my voice and they both smile. Dad gets up and brings me in his arms twirling me around.

"Good morning sweetheart." He says kissing my forehead after putting me down. Once he does so I go over to the table and eat as fast as I can. I haven't seen Charlie in forever and sometimes I don't even see him at Christmas! So whenever we can, I try to take advantage of it. I hear Ginny's chuckle as I mow down the food in front of me and in turn I stick out my tongue. After I eat all my food I tell mum and she says she needs to grab a couple more things then we'll be off.

I think I sat there for 50 minutes. And no it was no exaggeration. I honestly should've taken a nap. I didn't but after I was getting up to start complaining mum and dad came down the stairs saying.

"Come on now it's time to catch that Portkey!"

"Yes!" Both me and Ginny exclaimed.

***

"Alright you two are you ready for this?" I nod my head and look over to Ginny and she does the same.

"Now on a count of three!"

1

2

3

I go to hold onto the leather bag and feel the wind and twisting that a Portkey always feels like. It feels like everyone else has gotten used to landing on their feet, but I never did. I still to this day fall on my butt. But it's fine, I'll survive.

"Well look at you still can't land on your feet." I look up and see Charlie, my leather jacket dragon training cool arse brother.

"Char!" I bring myself back up and run into Charlie's arms. I dig my head into his chest and I feel his arms tightening around me. And after a second longer he lets go and says hello to everyone else. I am so excited to see dragons and hang out with Charlie, he always makes everything fun. This is going to be the best Christmas ever.

***

"Hey Ella?" I look over at Charlie.

"Ya?" He has rudely interrupted my gazing of Romania.

"Wanna go on a walk with your oldest brother, I promise it won't take long." I want to say yes right away but I don't tell him that, I pretend to think about it for a moment, then I agree. After I put on my jacket he leads me outside and for a while we're just walking in comfortable silence with the only noise is the crunching of snow under our feet. I intentionally breathe out and see the fog of my breath around me while walking patiently.

"How's summer been?"He says, breaking the silence.

"Fine, I guess?" I feel Char look over at me, I'm sure with concern.

"Just fine, you sure about that?" I bow my head.

"It's just-" I look up at Char again and all I see is him looking at me intently. "Well mum has been talking about Hogwarts that Hogwarts this but it's just, I feel like she's only talking to Gin. And it's just the four of us so I'm not sure who to talk to and all that. And Ron's gone and I used to talk to him a lot, so I've basically just been waiting for his letters. And Ron has been having such a good time there that he takes so long to respond. I feel like I'm just here, like waiting for someone to notice me." I let out a long breath from my rant, as well as kicking the snow under my feet. After looking at the snow I looked up at Charlie.

"That sounds like quite the dilemma. Do you want my advice?" I nod my head eagerly. "Well, this will sound quite cliché but my best advice for you is to talk to mum about it. She always...tries, you just have to tell her and I'm sure that she'll try and fix it all up." Charlie tells me with a sad half smile on his face. I smile up at him because that sounds like the best advice ever.

"I actually had a purpose for bringing you up here, you know. I actually wanted to show you something." I didn't really process that we were still walking so then I looked away from Charlie and looked forward and what I saw was beautiful. Snow was slowly falling down and on the ground you can see a plethora of dragons. All different types everywhere, some were playing with one another and some simply napping.

"Romania is a beautiful place to be isn't it." I look over at him and he seems mesmerized with the beauty and I agree with him. Who wouldn't be mesmerized by it.

"I need you to know Ella that I'll always try to be here. For you especially, Merlin I see so much of myself in you. Life is so cruel Ella, don't let it hold you back. Hogwarts is supposed to be the best years of your life, let it be or else none of it will be worth it. I honestly just want you to know that you can always write to me at Hogwarts right?" He looks up at me and I can honestly tell that this means a lot to him.

"Of course I will Char, I wouldn't dream of any other way." It seems like it gives Charlie a lot of relief because he takes me for a hug and we just sit there holding each other for a moment.

"Let's get out of here shall we." Char says after quite a long hug session and I nod my head in agreement. I wait a second before following after him and wonder what the bloody hell happened.