destruction ➙ h. potter

32

The crackling fire cast light onto the faces of Isabel, Harry, Hermione, and Ron.

Isabel sat in front of the fire warming herself up.

Hermione and Ron were sitting on the couch, Ron's legs on Hermione's lap lazily.

Harry sat in the chair that Isabel usually sat in.

Everyone gathered in blankets after an intense round of "Snowflake Quidditch". Ron's invention of a one on one game of Quidditch in the snow.

Hermione was the "cheerleader" while Isabel was the referee.

It was cold, to say the least.

"Anyone have any good New Years Resolutions?" Ron asked filling the awkward gap.

"I want to get better grades," Hermione said, making everyone roll their eyes.

"Hermione, you're already top of every class! You can not get any better!" Ron cried, very exasperated.

"There is always room for improvement, Ronald," Hermione laughed.

"I want to have a calmer year," Isabel said, quietly.

Everyone nodded. They were just glad she was still talking and being social.

But, everyone was still cautious around her.

"Don't we all," Ron said.

"New Year Resolutions are lame," Harry yawned.

"Okay, so the Boy Who Lived is too cool for my game apparently," Ron joked.

"What's your resolution, Ron?" Hermione asked, her eyes twinkling by the fire.

"I'm going to get a haircut," Ron said.

Everyone burst out laughing at his lame resolution. Everyone except Isabel.

She wishes she could have laughed. Something in her shut down and her emotions didn't work anymore. No happy or sad. Just numb.

Ginny and Bailey walked into the common room laughing.

"Hey! No Slytherins in Gryffindor territory!" Ron exclaimed, pointing at Bailey.

Ginny sighed dramatically, "It's just Bailey! It's fine."

Ron mutters something to himself making Ginny laugh.

As they walked closer to the group Ginny pet Ron on the head as if his hair was a dog.

"Ewww, your hair is all wet," Ginny whined wiping her wet hand on Ron's face.

"We were playing 'Snowflake Quidditch'," Ron informed her while shoving his sister away.

"'Snowflake Quidditch'?" Bailey asked.

Ron told Bailey what the game was, in great detail. Hermione dozed off a couple times while he lectured.

"So you and Harry played obviously," Ginny said earning a nod from Ron, "What did they do?" She motioned to the shivering girls.

"Hermione was our personal cheerleader," Harry answered.

"A lousy one," Ron added making Hermione scoff and slap his knee.

"Isabel was referee slash score-keeper." Ron finished.

Bailey gave Isabel a sharp interrogating look.

"Dunno if you can trust her score-keeping," Bailey laughed.

"What do you mean?" Harry said, sitting up straighter.