Finding Father

Chapter 19- Friends?

I end up having quite an interesting Christmas morning. I wake up alone in my dorm, as I have done all of break. I have three presents on the trunk at the end of my bed; according to the tags, there's one from Macy, one from Lupin, and one from Snape. I sit up in bed and reach to rip open Macy's first. She's gotten me a bag of sweets and a book called Frequent Fliers: Famous Quidditch Players of the 19th and 20th Centuries. I smile as I flip through it a little.

After a minute I set the book down, and pick up the gift from Professor Lupin. It's a picture frame containing four different pictures, all of them of my mum at school around fifteen years ago. All the photos are moving, just like normal wizard pictures, and show her laughing and hanging out with various people. I recognize a few of her friends; Lupin and James Potter are among them. I quickly set the pictures on my night table and turn away as my eyes start to get watery.

Snape's gift is last. I unconsciously hold my breath at I tear into the paper. I don't expect much. However, what I do find is not what I expected. There are two items. One is another book, 101 Handy Spells They Don't Teach You In School. The other is another picture frame, but instead of containing a picture, it has a note in it. It's small and slightly crinkled under the glass, and fades from age. It only has a few words on it.

Avery Anne Carter, born June 13, 1982.

I realize exactly what it is. An old note with my name and birthday on it can only be one thing, especially coming from Snape. My mother wrote this to him when I was born. I clutch the picture frame so hard that my knuckles are white, and I read the words over and over again. My name. My birth date. That's the only thing it can be. Snape even mentioned it to me once, a long time ago. He told me he never replied. . . I trace the words with my eyes, following the gentle curve of my mother's handwriting. Slowly I release my grip on it and set it down on the bed and get up. Carefully I arrange the two picture frames on my night table together, and set the books in the top of my trunk.

When I've changed into everyday clothes from my pajamas, I head down to breakfast. I find a miniature feast waiting in the Great Hall, with places only set for the thirteen of us staying at Hogwarts. I am the only one here. Everyone else must have slept in, or already come through. However, none of the place settings are touched.

I sit almost right in the middle of the table and begin to serve up my breakfast. I've just begun eating when voices ring out in the Great Hall. I'm being joined by the three Gryffindors, Harry, Ron, and Hermione. I smile and chew quietly as they take seats right around me. They've been arguing again; as they came in, I heard something about a broomstick in their raised voices. Now they've quieted down and talk normally.

"Hello!" Ron says brightly ask he heaps food onto his plate. "Happy Christmas!"

"Thanks," I grin. "Happy Christmas to you all too."

"This food looks amazing," Harry says wonderingly.

"It does," Hermione agrees. "How are you doing today, Avery?" she asks.

"Doing well," I reply. "You?"

"We're all splendid," Ron speaks up, already shoveling food into his mouth.

"Ron apparently forgets his manners when it's a holiday," sighs Hermione, but she quickly contradicts her disapproval by taking a huge bite of an exquisite coffee cake. I smile a little, but nobody else notices.

"So, we haven't gotten to know each other very well," says Harry. "You and the three of us, that is." I shrug.

"Never really had the opportunity," I reply. Ron swallows and shakes his head.

"Not true. We've been practically the only people here for a while. My fault we're not friends," he grins. "So here's to some missed days, but the ones coming up will make up for them." He holds up his orange juice in a mock toast. I laugh and click my own glass against his.

"Here, here!" I reply, and Harry and Hermione concur.

"All we know about you is that you're a first-year Ravenclaw," Hermione remarks. "What else? There's got to be more to you than that..."

"Like what?" I ask, grinning. "I'm boring! I like books and I'm good at potions but I suck at even basic charms and my favorite thing right now is our Quidditch lessons. That's everything." Harry's chuckling.

"Sound pretty interesting to me," he says.

"I can help you practice your charms, if you want!" says Hermione, ignoring Harry's comment. "I'm really good at them!"

"Hermione, you're good at everything," Ron groans, acting as if it's a problem. I hold back a laugh.

"No, seriously," Harry agrees. "Really, though, Avery, if you do want help, she's not a bad person to ask."

"I don't recall asking for homework help," I joke, "but I might take you up on that. How long before I'm as good as a seventh-year?"

"Give her a week, she'll have you there," Ron snorts. Hermione shoots him a dirty look.

"Why should hang out with you more," Ron continues. "You're, like, pretty cool for a first year."

"Well, if Hermione is tutoring her, then she has to be our friend," Harry says seriously.

"I never agreed to the tutoring, got it?" I laugh. "But, let's hang out, yeah. Friends?"

"Friends," all three agree.

"This is an awfully good Christmas," Ron says, after unceremoniously shoving more food into his mouth. "A new friend and great food!"

"Hogwarts never runs out of either, Mr. Weasley," says a kind, amused voice. All of us look over to see that Dumbledore has quietly joined us, and now he sits down next to me for breakfast.

"Good, cause I love both!" Ron replies happily. Everyone laughs, and I smile to myself as I finish my food. It is certainly a happier Christmas than I had expected.