Till Forever Falls Apart

Third Year: Two Birds, One Stone

Hi there:)

December 21, 1993

The Christmas holiday had arrived as students hurriedly packed their things, urging their friends to hasten so that they could receive the best seats on the train ride home. The last of classes had taken place the previous day, and with no assignments or upcoming exams to fret about, Val's mood became increasingly joyful as her and Padma made their last-minute rounds around the dorms.

"Have you heard of Blink-182?" Padma's voice rose from the shared bathroom. "They're a new American band. Mum and Dad are thinking of taking Parvati and I to a show this summer."

"Are they any good?" Val asked as she folded the last of her sweaters, tucking them neatly into the sides of her already-filled luggage.

"Marvelous!" Padma exclaimed, emerging with both of their bath products and handing the correct items to her friend. Val sighed. She would have to sit on her suitcase in order for everything to fit correctly now. Unless...

"Have you seen my wand?" Val rummaged through her prim piles of clothing. "Never mind. I've got it."

Taking her wand, she performed a shrinking spell with just the right aptitude so that all of her belongings would fit inside her bags with space leftover for any books she might desire to take home for the break.

"You're going to have to get someone to reverse the spell once you're home," Padma noted with her hands on her hips as she watched her friend.

"I know," Val huffed. "It's a shame I can't perform magic outside of school yet. Do they honestly think I can't be trusted?"

"Scourging through your Potions professors draws?" Padma raised an eyebrow. "Must I say more?"

Val considered this. "You have a point I suppose."

A polite knock sounded at the wooden door before Anne opened it, revealing her blonde hair in two sets of braids on either side of her head. "Anthony seems quite frustrated in the common room. I thought I should come get you."

Exchanging concerned looks, Padma and Val threw the rest of their clothes and personal items into their suitcase without care, zipping their things shut. Grabbing everything they needed, they tore down the staircase to find the Goldstein boy sitting on the velvet blue loveseat, alone with a crumpled letter in hand.

"Anthony?" Val approached him, using a gentle tone so she wouldn't startle him. "Is everything alright?"

Looking up with bleary eyes, Anthony folded the parchment and slid it in his pocket, away from view. "It's my mother. She just now informed me that she's going to Scarborough to be with my aunt who's having a child."

Padma took the seat on his right, whereas Val sat on the floor in front, examining his worn face. All he had spoken of the past few weeks was being able to go home and enjoy dinner with his mum, who promised him his favorite traditional Jewish meals when he returned.

"Isn't that exciting?" Padma tried, hoping her voice wasn't too fake with enthusiasm. "You're getting a new cousin!"

"Yeah," Anthony said scornfully. "Of course it is. I was really hoping-"

"-That you would be with her for the holiday," Val understood. "You were looking forward to it."

He nodded. "I'm not going to my dad's, Val. I don't want to."

Padma licked her lips nervously, adjusting the blue headband in her hair she had made in autumn. "What then?"

Anthony threw his head back, sinking further into the material of the wearing couch. It had to have been in the common room for decades. "I suppose I'll have to stay here till January."