Lumos

Chapter 26

"Ali? Are you ok?"

"Fine Mione, just reading a stupid letter from my mum." I lied quickly, pulling the draperies back.

"Are you ok? Why are the drapes down?" she asked.

"I'm fine Mione. I didn't want to be interrupted in case any of our roommates came in. My mum was just going on about the ugly dress that she sent me and how she expects pictures. As if me wearing that horrible thing is actually going to happen." I lied easily.

"Speaking about dresses, your box is here with the new one." she said.

"Oh! Give it here."

Mione loved my dress and we spent the rest of the afternoon talking about girly things: hair, makeup, accessories and shoes for the Ball.

Christmas day came with chilly weather and hot fires. Ginny woke us up at about 7:30 that morning, making Faye, Lavender, and Parvati a little upset.

"Get up lazy girls, we've presents to open!" she cried.

"Will you be quiet?" Lavender hissed.

"Will you get a life?" Ginny replied, making Mione and I snicker.

"Ginny, in all truth we could sleep a little more." I told her, yawning.

"Get up, would you! You've presents to open and the Ball is today!" she insisted.

"The Ball is later, much later Gin. I want to . . . oh ok, I want to open my presents now that you've woken me up. Get up, Hermione!" I said.

As soon as Ginny mentioned the Ball the girls were up and chattering about it. At that point, I just gave up and moved to the end of my bed where a pile of gifts lay with a smile on my face. Ginny had already opened her gifts and was wearing the traditional Weasley Christmas jumper. I pulled out my gift for her which was a silver ring with the words "forever sister" etched on the inside of the ring and her name on the outside. I got Mione one of the same but with her name obviously on the outside.

"It's beautiful!" they cried.

"I think I owe most of my jewelry to you Ali." Ginny said with a smile.

She still had the necklace I bought her from Paris on. Mione and Ginny together got me a charm bracelet. Mione got me a book charm and Ginny got me a small heart that coincidentally said "sisters" on it.

"Aww, it's so pretty! Thank you, guys!"

Harry and Ron jumped on the charm bracelet bandwagon and each got me a charm. Harry got me a golden snitch and Ron got a miniature broomstick. One track mind my boys have. I got a care package from Mrs. Weasley (making me feel guilty slightly since we still haven't said anything to her), which included a midnight blue jumper with little stars and my initial on it.

Uncle Sirius sent me a silver bracelet as did my godmother. My mother sent me the ugliest, gaudiest jewelry ever. Very expensive I'm sure but completely not my style at all. My dad gave me the cutest dress and jacket ever, that was totally my style.

"I'll be back girls, I have to give . . ."

"George his present!" my friends chorused.

"You know me so well." I told them with a smile.

"Wait!" Mione shouted when I jumped out of bed.

"What?"

"You can't go dressed like that!" she shrieked.

Looking down I realized that I was still in my pajamas which consisted of a small t-shirt and a pair of shorts. Ah, who cares?

"It's Christmas Mione, I've got to give him something special!" I told her, winking.