𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑢𝑝𝑜𝑛 𝑎 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 \\ 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗷. 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿

𝑋𝑋𝑋𝐼𝐼.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙮-𝙩𝙬𝙤

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

THERE WAS A celebration in the Gryffindor common room as Harry held the golden egg proudly. Even the portraits were excited, clapping and cheering alongside the students. Caroline stood with Dean, barely finding the energy to celebrate, but she did for Harry.

      "Yes, Harry!" said George as he and Fred lifted Harry onto their shoulders.

      "Knew you wouldn't die, Harry. Lose a leg..." Fred laughed.

      "... Or an arm."

      "Pack it in altogether? Never!"

      "Never!"

      The egg made its way to Seamus, who pressed his lips to it. Caroline heavily judged him from where she stood with Dean's arm around her shoulders. "Shush! Go on, Harry. What's the clue?" Seamus passed the egg to Harry, who was still on Fred and George's shoulders.

      "Who wants me to open it?" Harry asked the Gryffindors, who all cheered for him to do so. "Do you want me to open it?" he got the same response. Harry opened the egg, and it started screeching loudly, causing everyone to cover their ears.

      Dean and Caroline huddled together, and Dean used one of his hands to cover Caroline's ear that was exposed. The screeching finally stopped when Harry, who had been dropped by the twins, got the egg to close. "What the bloody hell was that?" Ron asked suddenly, standing away from the group in the middle of the common room.

      Harry and Ron stared at each other awkwardly. "All right, everyone! Go back to your knitting. This is going to be uncomfortable enough without all you nosy sods listening in," Fred instructed, as the students in the common room began to disperse. He turned to Caroline, who was unwinding herself from Dean. "I'm looking at you, Care-Bear." he teased, pointing at Caroline.

      Caroline had a bit of a nasty habit of listening when she wasn't supposed to. It's the reason she found out that she was adopted when she was a toddler, what happened to her parents, and what her eighth birthday present was. "I'll break the habit just for you, Fredrick." Caroline teased back. She went to her dorm and laid in her bed, stroking her cat quietly. Eventually, she went to bed, without even reading something. It was uncharacteristic, and Hermione noticed.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

CAROLINE SAT NEXT to Hermione at breakfast, across from the boys. Hermione had her face stuffed in a copy of The Daily Prophet, while Caroline laid her head down on the table, propped up on her arms. She was tired. Worrying for Harry kept her up late. She was so distracted that she didn't notice Parvati and Padma Patil greet Harry, or Harry staring at Cho. She didn't even notice Cedric Diggory's eyes on her from the Hufflepuff table.

      "Look at this!" Hermione said suddenly, making Caroline jump. She sat up straight, looking at the newspaper Hermione had set before her. "Read it, Car. I can't believe it. She's done it again." Hermione gently picked apart one of Caroline's knotted curls, half of her bouncy coils tied to the top of her head.

      Caroline pulled the newspaper closer to her face, seeing the picture of herself jumping apart from Harry plastered on the paper in a heart shape. She began to read. "'Miss Taylor-Jones, an ordinary but studious young girl, seems to be developing a taste for famous wizards. This infatuation seems out of character for the girl adopted and raised by muggles, but spending her time with numerous magic folk, such as her werewolf godfather Remus Lupin, has taught her well. Her latest prey, sources report, is none other than the handsome, headstrong Hufflepuff, Cedric Diggory. No word yet on how Harry Potter's taking this latest emotional blow. We know how much he fancies young Caroline, and we wish Harry Potter well in his journey to move on from the orphan girl.' This is vile." Caroline scoffed. Nothing in the article was true, and Caroline was angry.

      "You're not even an orphan." Harry chuckled, eyes wide in amusement. He smiled at Caroline's fluster.

      "I have a very nice life with my muggle parents, thank you very much." Caroline sighed. She threw the paper down and began eating her breakfast.

      A young Gryffindor walked over to Ron. "Parcel for you, Mr. Weasley." he said, handing Ron the package.

      "Thank you, Nigel," Ron said, but Nigel didn't leave. He was thrilled to be in Harry's presence. Hermione cleared her throat and Ron looked up at the young boy. "Not now, Nigel. Later. Go on."

      Caroline and Hermione narrowed their eyes at Ron. "Do you have no shame, Ronald?" Caroline asked. Cedric was looking at her again.

      "I told him I'd get him Harry's autograph," Ron reasoned, opening his package. "Oh, look, mum's sent me something," he opened the box and pulled out dress robes that had seen better days. He stood, holding it up to his chest. "Mum's sent me a dress."

      "Well, it does match your eyes. Is there a bonnet?" Harry teased. He pulled out the bonnet, holding it up to Ron, while Caroline chuckled.

      "Nose down, Harry. Ginny, these must be for you." Ron walked over to his sister, who seemed appalled at the idea that she would be wearing that.

      "I'm not wearing that. It's ghastly." Ginny said.

      Caroline and Hermione put the clues together and began laughing. "What are you two on about?" Ron questioned.

      "They're not for Ginny. They're for you." Hermione said, smiling. The twins and their friends immediately started laughing.

      "Dress robes." Caroline giggled, unable to contain it.

      "Dress robes? For what?" no one could answer Ron's question, so he put the robes back in the box and sat back down. Caroline eyed Harry. Christmas was coming up soon, and Caroline still hadn't asked Harry to come home with her for Christmas. She had to do it now.

      "Harry, come talk to me, please." she said suddenly, standing up.

      Harry stood, confused, and followed Caroline, who was walking out of the Great Hall. She didn't seem to notice Cedric about to get up, but then stop when he saw Harry. Caroline led Harry out into a quiet corridor, where she turned to him. "Is everything okay?" Harry asked, concerned.

      Caroline nodded. "First of all, your arm is slipping," she reached over to him, adjusting his arm that rested in a sling. "Second of all, I wanted to know what you're doing for Christmas."

      Harry's eyes widened. Was Caroline asking what Harry hoped she was? "Uh, the usual. Back to the Dursley's. Why do you ask?" he questioned, hoping she wouldn't notice his racing heart.

      Caroline took a deep breath. Now or never. "My parents and I were wondering if you wanted to spend Christmas with us. They always gets us presents, and Mum makes Christmas dinner, and Dad lights a fire–" she explained quickly. Harry's face lit up, and he cut Caroline off.

      "I'd love to, Carol." Caroline's heart seemed to flutter at Harry's words.

      "Great." Great. It was better than great. It was brilliant! Caroline smiled, and Harry did too.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —