Obliviate [ON HIATUS]

Fascinate

'Guess what?' Scorpius bit into an apple. It was their last day at Hogwarts before the Christmas holidays took them home. They were sitting outside in the cold, a light layer of snow covering the castle's exterior, making its sharp slanting roofs and turrets look soft.  

'Pigs have finally learned how to fly?' Albus replied.

'No... Don't give up hope though,' Scorpius joked, 'I think I'll get my ear pierced before Christmas... A little early Christmas present for my dear father.'

'If he kicks you out, don't say I didn't warn you.' Albus looked over at his best friend in concern. Lily couldn't help but feel a little bit concerned too. What would his father do to him once he did pierce his ear? Would he hurt him again? Lily couldn't think about that.

'Well then I can come live with you. If I show up at your doorstep, don't say I didn't warn you.' Scorpius mimicked Albus' tone at the end. It made Albus frown and whisper a 'I don't sound like that.' Lily couldn't help but giggle. Scorpius lightly punched Albus' shoulder. 

'Oi Scorpius!' A Ravenclaw second year trotted over to the trio. His sandy hair covered most of his face. 'This is for you.' The boy handed over a neatly folded piece of paper to Scorpius, one corner was inked with a hand drawn red butterfly. 

'What is it?' Albus asked when the boy had walked off. Scorpius quickly stuffed the folded note with the red butterfly on its corner into his pocket. 

'Nothing... Anyway, what piercing do you think I should get?' Scorpius asked watching the Black Lake.

'How about none?' Albus replied. Lily noticed he was forcing himself to pretend like Scorpius wasn't keeping secret from them. Lily was just about to pound him with more questions about the note but then she noticed Albus slowly shaking his head, pleading with his eyes at her, not to do anything. She hated it when her brother did this, as if it was expected of Lily that she would blow up. She huffed in anger. 

'It's freezing out here. I'm going inside, see you two later.' Lily stormed off inside. Why was her brother protecting Scorpius from her questions? It's not like Scorpius was a baby. He knew how to look after himself. So why was Albus treating him like one? Lily was confused, angry and cold. She needed some tea. 

'Hey Kara, are you going home for the holidays?' Lily asked Kara when she sat beside her in the Great Hall. She poured herself a cup of warm tea and let its warmth spread across her hands before she took a sip to warm her insides. 

'No I won't, mum and dad have gone to visit my grandparents in Italy. It's okay though, I love Hogwarts.' Kara replied. 

'But Christmas is a time for family.'

'It's okay, I don't celebrate Christmas.' Lily bit into a slice of toast and almost choked. 

'What?' She asked incredulously, 'Why not?' Lily couldn't imagine someone not celebrating Christmas. A day filled with joy, love and presents. 

'I'm a Muslim, we don't really celebrate stuff like that.' Kara replied shyly, looking down at her clean plate. Lily was intrigued. She never knew that Kara was a Muslim. 

'How come you aren't wearing a scarf?' Lily said without thinking. She regretted it as soon as she saw a flash of anger come across Kara's face, but it quickly subsided. 

'It's called a hijab, and not all Muslim's have to wear it, in my family it's more of a choice. It all depends on what someones beliefs are towards it. I am not a strict Muslim.' Kara replied slowly, Lily felt the need to understand more. But before Lily could ask more questions the bell chimed, ordering the students to go the their last lesson of the day. Lily and Kara had flying lessons with Professor Fleet, a young man with a puff of brown curly hair and an attitude to yell at everyone and everything.