The One That Loved {Book Three in 'The One' Series}

Chapter Four ~ A Curse Disguised as a Blessing

Chapter Four

A Curse Disguised as a Blessing

       Life was hard without your best friend. Syrie had never gone long without talking to Victoire-actually…Syrie and Victoire had never fought before. Somehow they had avoided ever disagreeing on things, and at the moment Syrie found herself lost.

What did people do without their best friends?

Sitting in the owlry for hours on end seemed to be the answer. Snow was falling now, only a few days after Halloween, and Syrie watched Hogwarts slowly disappearing beneath a thin layer of fresh white snow. The owls hooted around her, consoling and nibbling her ear fondly; Syrie found people hard these days, something that had never happened to her before. All the sixth years knew about Victoire and Teddy by now, and their pitiful whispers about how Syrie was ‘betrayed’ and ‘wronged’ made her blood boil.

Wronged, yes. Betrayed, yes. Alone, shattered and miserable, yes, yes and yes.

Syrie recognised one of George’s shop owls flying through the sky, an orange charm tied around its leg. It flew through the open windows, landing near Syrie and hooted at her; giving the owl a treat, Syrie untied the letter and sat on a stool to read, her un-gloved hands shaking with cold.

            Dear Syrie, it read, and Syrie’s heart made a nervous jump-it was from her mother. Adalyn and Syrie had not been getting along recently, especially that summer.

            I’m worried about you babe. I know we’ve been having a touch time understanding each other lately, but I hate not hearing from you often. Jacquie and Fred say you’ve had a bit of friend trouble? They won’t say who (such loyal kids, taking after their big sister!) but don’t worry love, you’ve always got Teddy and Victoire!

            Christmas is coming up in a little while and I can hardly wait to see your face again-even if it’s scowling at me. We’ll sort out our issues at home, okay?

            Love,

            Mamma

Taking out her quill, Syrie wrote a quick ‘I’m fine, stop worrying’ to her mother and sent the owl flying back to her family. Syrie knew family was important, and until recently, she’d thought it was the strongest bond of all.

            Snow swirled outside the compartments window, covering the world in white. Syrie watched the fields and hills fly by as she sat in a compartment with Greg Holloway, Jami Loudon, Darryl Henrich, Margery Comiskey and Kelly Westbury, five members of the Gryffindor quiditch team. Jami and Margery were sixth years like Syrie, and Kelly was a seventh year, while Greg and Darryl were also sixth years.

“Ninety-eight…ninety-nine…ONE HUNDRED!” Darryl and Kelly were watching Greg pop jelly beans into his mouth by throwing them up in the air, then catching them in his mouth. “I AM THE CHAMPON!” cried Greg, bouncing up and pumping his fists in the air.

“We’re all very proud of you, Greg. This is an outstanding day in history.” Said Syrie sarcastically.

Greg grinned at her and offered her a berti botts every flavoured beans “What’s wrong captain, would you care for a jelly bean?”

“No.”

“C’mon captain! Its Christmas break, which means sugar for everyone!” Greg grinned at his friend and shook the package of beans at her “Just one captain, c’mon…you know you want one!”

“Obviously you have had a bit too many of those jelly beans, Gregory.”

Greg made a face as the rest of the compartment fell quiet “That’s low, Syrius.”