Last hope (a marauders era story)

11.

I open my eyes and sigh, as the bright light from my curtain less windows, almost blinds me, well, what with my necklace on, I push away my duvet and stand up stretching my legs, before walking into my en suite, 

i brush my teeth, and turn the taps on, on the bath tub, and swishing cinnamon bubble bath around, considering that its Christmas, before walking out of the bathroom and into my wardrobe

and pull out some muggle skinny turquoise jeans and a bright red jumper that reaches mid thigh, and some underwear and walk back into the bathroom and turn the taps off and strip off my pj's and stepping into the tub, submerging my head under the water, before pulling up and washing my hair, I lay for ten minutes until the water goes lukewarm before pulling the plug and climbing out, and wrapping a fluffy towel around my self, and getting dry, I pull my clothes on, and run back into my wardrobe and to the secret adopt behind one of the mirrors, and pushing it open, and walking into the enchanted room, that is a bit like the room of requirement, 

I smile as I do my stretches, before going to the bar and doing pilés, and then a quick routine, letting the dancing take control, before I hear someone yelling, I gasp, and quickly run to the door, and stepping out, and slamming it shut behind me, "oh there you are dear, come now, your friends are all up, and waiting" mum says briskly, I sigh, and look back at the door, before turning to the heavily pregnant woman, and shaking my head, "mam you really should take it easy" I say, she glances at me, "ah, darling, don't be absurd, I am perfectly healthy" she says, i roll my eyes, "whatever, you say" before following her down the stairs reluctantly, and into the dining room, smiling at my friends before sitting at the table, grabbing a bowl of yoghurt, and a spoon, glaring at my bowl, and spooning some into my mouth then pushing the bowl, away, standing abruptly, "you alright?" Andy asks grabbing my arm, as i turn to walk away, i smile at him, "yeah, I'm just going to the toilet" i say he nods and let's go of me, i walk out of the room, and to the nearest toilet, and lock the door, and puke up what little I've ate, i sit back on my haunches, and run my hands through my hair, and sob, as i fall back onto my backside with my head against the sink, and cry, for about five minutes, i hear a knock at the door, "charm, you all right?" Lexi's voice choked up, i sob again, and she hammers the door lightly, "charm...let me in" she demands, i stand up, and unlock the door, she takes in my appearance, "oh charm" she says, holding her arms out, i fall into them, sobbing, and she smooths my hair, closing the door, she flushes the toilet and closes the lid and sits on it, pulling me onto her lap, "its okay" she says, i shake my head, "no its not, how can it be" i say, "i don't know, but we have to try, for mums sake, she's heavily pregnant, and she can't have any stress, worrying about us, can she?" Lexi asks, i shake my head sniffing, "alrighty, so you brush your teeth wash your face, and paint a smile on those lips" she says tapping my nose, i smile a little and she grins, "that's better, now chop chop" she says opening the door and stepping out, closing it behind her, i walk to the sink and pull down a spare tooth brush and quickly brush my teeth, and take handfulls of cold water and splash my face, before dabbing it dry and looking at my self in the mirror, and and sighing, before i walk out and back through to the dining room, and taking a small sip of orange juice, mum stands up and ushers us all into the living room, where a huge tree stands, presents tumbling from under it, we all sit in a semicircle around it, mum pulls the first present from under it, "this one is for, ah Severus" she says sec looks sho ked, and he takes it and opens it, smiling slightly when he sees a beginners potion making kit, he looks at lily, but she frowns, and shakes her head, he narrows his eyes and quickly opens it, surprised when nothing jumps out at him, he looks at everyone apart from me, and i shake my head sneering, mum pulls out another, and hands it to me, i smile, and carefully unwrap it, to find a pair of sky blue pointé shoes a dark blue leotard with a flimsy light blue skirt, and a beautiful necklace of ballerina shoes, blue of course, i let out a genuine smile, and look around, Lexi catches my eye and smiles, i gesture to the gift and she nods, i grin thanking her, mum hands out a present to lexi, she opens the box and quickly closes it again looking away, and wiping her eyes, lily's present was a green hair ribbon and a very familiar picture, i frown as she hugs Severus, and look to Sirius, as he opens his present and high fives James, i feel a hand on my shoulder, i turn and see that remus has moved next to me, i let out a small smile, "hey" i say, glaring at lily as she shows Alice and Marlene the picture, i shake my head, "what's up?" remus asks, i frown, "the fact that I'm the one that gave sec the kit, and he gave the picture i gave to him to, her" i spit, remus shakes his head, and puts his arm around my shoulder, "cheer up, its Christmas" he says and takes the large package politely, and rips the silver paper, to reveal a book on paper hexes, binding wards, and other stuff like that, and a different series of werewolf books, he looks at me and raises an eyebrow, and i smirk, and point to the first, "for your journal" i say he nods, and i point at the others, "and because i wanted to annoy you" i say, he smiles, and shoves me, i shove him back, and i turn my attention to the others as they open their present, bella gets, curtains and bedsheets with the slytherin emblem, Meda gets, a huge box of books, Marlene, gets a new set of robes, Alice gets a box of droobles best blowing gum, James a new broom, Thalia, one of them old fashioned music things, reg, gets a tub of acid pops, Amara, gets books, and pranking supplies, frank gets a book on famous aurors, Rebekah, lots of make up, and Aisling, gets, a dress, yellow, with black glitter around the waist, and on the shoulders, mum smiles, "well that's it for one each, everybody, find your presents" she says, walking through to the kitchen, i follow her, and see her sitting at the table with her head in her hands, i walk up to her, and put my hand on her back, "mum", she lets out a deep breath and stands up, and hugs me tightly, "charm, oh charm darling I'm supposed to be strong" she says, as she starts to cry, i feel my eyes water, "its ok to cry mum, you wouldn't be human if you didn't" i say, as a few tears trickle down my own face, she pulls away and holds me at arms length, "my baby girls all grown up" she says wiping my tears away, "chin up, chickie" she says, hugging me again, remus walks in with an armful of presents, and places them on the floor, and rushes back out, and brings through another armful, and places them down, and looks up, "i thought you two might want some privacy" he says, i smile at him, and mum, pats him on the shoulder, "thank you, remus, that was very thoughtful, " she says, he nods, "it was my pleasure mam" he says, she laughs slightly, "no need for formalities, remus, call me avaline" she says he nods, and steps back out of the room closing the door behind him, i smile at mum, and together we lift the presents onto the table, she picks one out, and hands it to me, "this ones from me" she says, i smile and open it,  gasping when i see the simple necklace, but crying when i read the inscription.