Ordinary.

Growing up

     How I wished for something back then, and yet, now I want the opposite. Human beings can be so selfish and witty sometimes. I wish I was back in simpler times. Growing up isn't as fun as you would think.

+

     —5 YEARS LATER—
     Yes I know my story isn't like the ones you are used to. My story isn't action filled to the brim every year like Harry Potter's. My story doesn't have a new threat lurking around the corner every week, but as I have said before, it is ordinary.

- Olivia Taylor

As I watched the new first years pile in, huddling close behind, scared of what is about to happen next, it fills me with the memories of when I was in my first year. The determining of their next years at Hogwarts are all based off of this moment. The sorting ceremony. Whether you were a Hufflepuff or Gryffindor, maybe a Slytherin or even Ravenclaw, you were taught at this age, that competition is everything.
Me, as a 5th year in Gryffindor, we are taught to be enemies with the Slytherin House. Remember that whole wand thing? Yeah that blew over after a couple of weeks. I found out who Salazar was; founder of Slytherin. Apparently were are much alike, yet I was sorted into the bravery house.  We are taught to hate each other's guts at such a young age, it defines us as who we are. It's sickening. Yet, I still play by the rules, living in this void of misunderstanding , lacking the knowledge of the real world.
My brothers have surprisingly put up with it too, as they were both separated from each other. Charles, a Ravenclaw; Henry, a Gryffindor like myself.
I sat there, staring at nothing in particular, until my gaze was dropped on the feast that had appeared out of no where. Fred and George Weasley on either side of me, Neville, Seamus, and some first year were sitting across from me. Fred and George began piling food onto their plate, faster than they could even chew. It disgusted me, but I had to put up with their malicious ways since I first got here.

They are like my older brothers. I met them in the train as a first year, and they pranked me with an exploding candy that popped for a good 5 minutes.
I have now learned to spot out the difference between the real and the prank. Last year, they tried to replace my wand with a trick one, but failed miserably when I then replaced George's wand with it, when he turned away. Fred and I got a good laugh from it. I have began to help them with their pranks, since I have a good eye on spotting details on anything. Plus, they're like my second family.

I started picking at my chicken when I felt a pair of eyes burning in the back of my head. I turned around and I didn't see anyone staring. Everyone was already busy enough starting conversations with each other. I turned back around and continued picking at the chicken. I wasn't really hungry since I ate quite a lot of snacks on the train.
"Oi, you felt the stare too?" Neville chimed in, nodding his head in the direction behind me.
"Yeah, it's probably nothing." I didn't look up from my plate of destroyed chicken.
"What do you mean nothing? Malfoy had been eyeing our lot since Dumbledore's speech." Seamus exclaimed. Ugh Malfoy. I listened to my father from when we had a talk after our trip to Diagon Alley. I loved my father, so I respected his decision. Plus, he had his reason, too.
     Oh, where to start on the boy. He absolutely made my blood boil. Maybe it was because I felt betrayal? Backstabbed? I know it sounds petty, but it hurt for some reason, deep down. Ever since our sorting ceremony. He was particularly nice to me on the train when we were going into our 1st year, since he knew me from Diagon Alley. That was until I was sorted into the lions.  He, a snake, felt the same disgust to us Gryffindors, as we did to the Slytherins. He made my life living hell. As much as I loved Hogwarts with my whole heart, I did not enjoy walking to class with Malfoy's remarks ringing in my ears. Or when I am being made fun of because of my bloodline on my mum's side. She was a muggle-born who attended Hogwarts with my father. Oh how I wish to find the love that they once did on these very grounds.
     I never understood the feeling of love. The way people describe it. Or how they say "it's an indescribable feeling." I don't get what the big deal is to be honest. Maybe I'm just so incapable of being loved.

+

     Before I knew it, we were already up in our common rooms, suffocated by fuzzy socks and blankets around the fireplace. The Weasley twins and I have this tradition where on the first night back, we all sleep in the common room lounge. I know it doesn't sound that fun, but we joke around and I enjoy the company.
     As the fire slowly died out, I quietly snuck up to my dorm, where I found my pint of ice cream sitting in my small ice chest.  My mother recently introduced me to it, and I've grown to like it. I tip toed back down to the twins, who were half awake, and snuggling with the blankets. I sat on the couch, eating the ice cream, as memories from my summer passed through my head like an art gallery. Where when I was young, father and I would play in the backyard. I sat above his shoulders, feeling like I have conquered the world;without a doubt in my head. Where mother showed me how to do muggle things, like bake muffins without magic, or do laundry. I found it quite fun.
     I sat there, staring at the fire place, while the last embers, fighting for oxygen to spark them up again, slowly died out, one by one. As the heat slowly started to escape the common room and the ice cream had gotten too cold for me, I heard someone shift on the floor. Fred then sat up, scaring the living wits out of me.
     "Blimey, Fred! You scared me! Don't do that" I whispered aggressively at him, trying to be as quiet as I can.
     "Oh sorry. What are you doing?" He yawned and rubbed his groggy eyes and sat next to me.
     "I'm eating ice cream. My mother told me about it not too long ago. This one is... mint chocolate chip. I think this one is my favorite." I read the label aloud to him while taking another spoonful.
     "Is it good? Can I try some?" He asked while looking curiously at the paper container.
I handed him  a spoonful and without second thought, he shoved it in his mouth. His eyes widened. His face then scrunched up. He gulped and finished it, looking confused on whether it was good or not. I sat there, waiting for him to say something.
     "Why is it...cold?" He spat while smacking his lips. I rolled my eyes and told him that it literally explains in the name " ice cream". Sometimes I question how he passes his O.W.L.s.

     Fred was sleeping again, on the floor next to George. I could hear faint snores coming from the both of them. I laid there, wide awake. I couldn't tell the time, whether minutes or hours passed by. It felt as if my brain was moving 100 miles every second, and every second slowly counted down to dawn. But then this thought clouded my brain. It popped up out of no where. It startled me almost. Malfoy. About dinner. He was staring. Couldn't be at me though, could it? I kept rethinking the moment over and over in my head, but why? I hate Malfoy. Why was he staring? Why am I so invested in this? I rubbed my temples as I started to get a headache. Ugh. What a great start for the first day of school.

+

     As it started to get chilly when November came around, students were getting into the holiday spirit. I for one, didn't care too much about Christmas. It was the one time of year where my parents would try and make everything perfect. As much as I love them, it's not a Taylor family Christmas with out a huge yearly fight between my relatives. Every year, Aunt Beatrice, Uncle Doug, Sam, Aunt Esther, Aunt Coral, and Reya have come over to the house. I mostly hangout with Reya during the holidays, since she is around my age, and we have similar style. She is my favorite cousin, since she isnt like the rest. She isn't as dim witted and oblivious from the rest of the family. But this year, Holidays were way different. When my brothers and I arrived home, we were shocked to hear the news father told us.
     "As you all know, I got a promotion in the ministry. But because of this, I now work along side Lucius. We've had our fare share in fights, but we are civil adults, and he has invited us to their manor for Christmas. Also, Cousin Reya and Aunt Coral aren't coming since they took a holiday trip to Australia." Father pauses while furrowing his brows. He too, was confused on why they would go to Australia, but we have bigger problems here. I have to spend my whole Christmas with that little git, Malfoy.

I packed lazily and slumped onto my bed. Everything is starting to go downwards. Wait until the twins hear who I have to spend Christmas with; they'll be teasing me for the rest of the school year. That reminded me, I still have to fly out their gifts. I got them matching beanies to go with their holiday sweaters that Mrs. Weasley knits. They always send one over to me too, and it feels so cozy and special. Mine usually has a "T" on it instead since she claims that an "O" would be too easy. I don't mind since I really do appreciate everything she does for me.
     I started writing the letter to them, and at the bottom, I added where I'll be staying at for Christmas. God, so help me, if I actually make it pass Christmas, I'll be able to do just about anything in the world.