Sage LeClair

A Cold Christmas (Part 2)

It's Christmas. So why does everything feel so... empty?

Because I have nobody to celebrate it with. All my friends are home with their families, probably having a great time. Meanwhile, here I am, laying curled up in a tight bundle of the bronze and navy blue duvet, and staring at the tapestries that decorate the girls dormitories. 

I stare at the weave of the fabric, one of Rowena Ravenclaw, perched on a stool with quill and parchment in hand. Another is of an eagle, its majestic wings spread wide, but its eyes calm and gentle. The third and final tapestry is of Hogwarts. The material glitters in the sunlight coming in from the windows. Its just there, in all of its glory, and even in the threads it seems to radiate magic. 

I climb out of bed as I looked around the completely empty dormitory. Who was even here anyways? Who had stayed? I brushed my hand along Hecate, and then I watched as she darted out of the dormitory. She had usually stayed in the dormitory. She never wanted to leave. I followed her out into the common room to see another large gray cat wandering the common room. Hecate meows and runs to greet the other cat. I figure it must be another students. A few older students are lounging in the common room, but they don't pay me any attention. I leave Hecate and her new friend, and head out of the common room. I walk to the Great Hall, the bright and cheerful decorations lightening my bad mood a little bit. I smile and continue walking, entering the Great Hall.

A minuscule amount of students sit at the tables, eating breakfast. Christmas trees, decorated with ornaments of all shapes, sizes, and colours hang onto the dark green branches. I sat down, and a plate of eggs, bacon, and hash browns appeared on my plate. I slowly ate, savouring every bite, trying to make a good Christmas memory that would last. 

I finally finished eating and then headed back towards the Ravenclaw common room. I had spotted a Christmas tree with a few presents underneath it. I answered the riddle, and entered the common room. The Christmas tree sat in the corner of the room, next to the withered piano. I sat down on the floor, and picked up a few presents that had my name written on the tags. I firstly pulled open the one from Topaz. I opened up the bag, and pulled out a small card.

Dear Sage,

Merry Christmas! I hope that your having a lovely time at Hogwarts. I bet the food will be better than any of the food at my home. Make sure you can describe to me in full detail the beauty of any chocolate dessert there.

-Best Wishes,

Topaz

I pulled out a small glittering bracelet with a small snitch attached to it. I pulled it onto my wrist and shut the annoyingly small clasp. I closed up the bag, and set it to the side. I pulled out a bag from Quinn next. There was no card, but there was a small bag of assorted candies, and what seemed to be a hand sewn pillow case that had little swirls that spelled out my name. I smiled, and placed it back into the bag. 

The next present was from John. A card was taped to the wrapping paper decorated with small Santa Clauses. I opened it up and read the message inside.

Dear Sage,

I hope your enjoying the holidays at Hogwarts! I've told Mum all about you, and she thinks your very nice! My two sisters decided to invade my candy supply whilst I was at Hogwarts, so now I'm suffering and candy deprived. Hopefully I'll get some more for Christmas though. I feel awful that your all alone on Christmas, and I do hope that your not to lonely! Have an amazing Christmas Sage!   

- Cheerful and Candy-deprived good wishes,

John

I smiled and pulled open the wrapping paper. A large bag of cookies, candies, and other odd baked goods flew out of the box. I pulled out a small book-like thing, and opened it. It was a photo album, with a few slots filled with pictures from the past few months, but it was mostly empty. Another small note fell out.

"I hope one day we can fill all of these slots with good memories and fun times."

I stared at the few pictures and watched John and I's smiling faces on the first day, and Quinn's look of shock as she was hit in the face with a snowball. I grinned at the good memories that we had already made. I gently put the album onto the pillow, and gathered up all of my presents as I took them up, and put them in my drawers, placing the pillow gently onto my bed. I headed back downstairs to relax in the empty common room, and then spotted another present with my name on it. I sat down, and opened it.

Dear Sage,

Merry Christmas dear. We hope that your first year at Hogwarts is going well, and that your marks are good. Your choice of Ravenclaw is a bit upsetting for the family, but we know it was a mistake, and we forgive you. We love you dear.

-Love

Mum and Dad

A tear dripped from my eyes as I read the part about my "choice". Weren't they the ones that were telling me how the Sorting Hat was never wrong and that I would surely be sorted into Slytherin? I pushed the card away and pulled out the hefty book that was laying in the box. I read the title, 

" A Guide for a Future Ministry Worker. Obtaining and Loving your Ministry Job!"

I grabbed the book, tears falling from my face as I ran across the Common Room and threw the book into the fire. I screamed as I tore the pages, grabbing handfuls of ripped paper and throwing them into the fire. I scratched at my arms, tears dripping down, wetting the scratches as I ran towards the dormitories, eager to get back to my happy memories and not this awful one. I tripped over something or other, as my tears were blurring my vision, and my weak and beaten down body collapsed onto the floor. I felt my head hit the ground, and everything went black.

~ I hope one day we can fill these slots with good memories and fun times ~