Stronger for You

Chp. 28 Christmas surprises

Author's Note: I won't apologize for such a long space between this and the last chapter, but I hope you dearies aren't too mad at me. 

College is amazing, for any who wanted to know. Hard and overwhelming, but full of good times as well. My roommate is pretty awesome, though a little irritating at times.

Hope you all are doing wondrously well! 

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Chapter Twenty-Eight

“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” – Norman Vincent Peale

I woke up what must have only been a few hours later, around midnight. Footsteps were echoing in the hall and I slip out of the loving covers of my bed to press my ear to the cold wood of the door.

“Too much firewhiskey again, Fred.” I hear a hiccup follow the slurred words and roll my eyes at George. Their door closes and I tiptoe out of mine and head down to the kitchen. This would be an early Christmas present for them; hangover potion before their mother discovered them.

I set to brewing; stirring the ingredients in and crinkling my nose at the smell as I put it on simmer for two hours. I walk into the living room to find the book I had left on the couch earlier, intending on reading it to stay awake. I found the gnomes asleep on the couch, their limbs still twitching slightly. I coo, feeling guilty. I had forgotten them! I levitate them up with wandless magic, having left my wand in my room. A chill rolls up my spine as I take them outside. The snow crunches under my thick, woolen socks, resistant to the cold and wet. I take down any charms remaining on the gnomes and leave their favorite treats with them among the bushes. I shiver and wrap my arms around myself. Hidden from the others was how weak I really was from that cold. Quidditch was fine because it was mostly balance and eye-coordination; but I had lost ten pounds while I was sick. Not the best thing, I believe…

SNAP! I whirl around, feeling my fur leaping at my skin as my instinctually. Because of aforementioned lack of strength, I was unable to transform until I was truly better. And my wand was inside. Crap, fists it was then. I narrow my eyes as a figure approaches, stumbling here and there. They were tall and stocky, but it was pitch black out and I couldn’t discern their face.

“Who’s there?” I whisper, trying to make my voice as menacing as possible. The figure stumbles closer and I relax my fists, preparing to launch it into their throat.

“J-Jacky?” The person slurs, clasping onto my wrist. I jump out of my skin but relax. It was only Fred, the drunken ginger.

“What are you doing outside?” I ask him gently, noticing how far gone he was. He was practically cross-eyed. He gestures to the bushes.

“Had to piss.” I grimace and shake my head.

“Thank you for that lovely piece of information. Let’s get you inside.” I say to him, tugging him towards the house.

Instead, he tightens his grip on my wrist, throwing me up against the wall, his hands trapping me. “Fred?” I gasp out. That had hurt! Wow, when did I become such a wuss? I flex my arms, ready to break his grip when I find that my muscles aren’t responding. Wh— oh yeah. Weak.

“You’re so hot, Jacky.” Fred says, the fumes of alcohol coming off of his breath almost making me puke. What did Lee serve at his party?

“Not really. No, uh…Angelina is much prettier than me.” I attempt. He thinks about it, his cloudy and bloodshot eyes drifting off before shaking his head, bringing his body another step closer to mine. I keep my breathing under control, forcing my thoughts not to panic.