Diverse - HARRY POTTER

Jessica - 1

Year one

Tuesday - 25th December – 9:00 am

Christmas, my favourite time of the year. You can't beat it really, the smell of gingerbread and cinnamon. The huge Christmas tree that sits in your living room by the window, all decorated and bedazzled. Mother and I always make sure to buy the biggest one they have. The pearly white snow that builds up at your doorstep and the clear icy roads that cause you to slip if you're not careful.

I look down to my cut knee, the wound still fresh my trip last night. It didn't hurt, though, just have to laugh it off. My mother braided my hair, as always, and put two red ribbons entwined in the bobbin. A plaid red hair band also pushed back my icy blonde hair. The mirror reflected back on what I am wearing, a white t-shirt underneath a plaid red dress paired with clear white tights and black shiny shoes.

Downstairs the fire was lit and my mother was packing the final presents into a sack. The tree toward over me, the angel resting at the very top. It's mesmerising, but I'm pulled out of my trance by a small spark of the fire. I walk over to the mantel where all the photos are framed and sit beautifully on top. My finger runs over the glass, at my mother's younger face. So many pictures of us, just the two of us.

I pull across the biggest wooden frame, the one with the picture of me and my mother on my first birthday. I know I shouldn't look but I do, behind the frame is the photo my mother could never throw away. My heart breaks at the sight, there he is. My mother and my father smiling brightly, a smile I've never seen my mother have since. Then there's me wrapped safely in my Father's arms, looking at him laughing. I hate him. But I hate it even more that I want him to be here today.

Under that photo, is an even bigger one. Another one my Mother simply could just not throw away. It is a picture of my Dad and his best friend, playing on the floor is myself and a baby boy. I know who he is, the whole world knows who he is. This picture is the one that reminds me of the hatred I have for my Dad and what he did to that poor family. I toss them back down and cover them with the frame.

Until I was 5, all my dad's stuff was still here. His clothes, his pictures and some of his books. My mother just couldn't bear to part with them. That was until one day, Win dropped me home, and I opened the door to my mother burning everything he owned in the fire, the only thing left of him are those two photos. She didn't come out of her room for two days after that, but ever since then she hasn't mentioned my Father.

Mother and I left the house for dinner at the Dempsy's. This is tradition, every year at Christmas we go to one of our houses for Christmas dinner, this year it is Sting hosting. Their house is my favourite; his father is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. The thick snow caused my feet to get wet, but I don't mind much.

Stings house is a small and old-fashioned, with an extraordinary garden. My mother makes sure to always compliment Mr. Dempsy's garden-work. The inside was the same as the outside but it always has that homely feeling to it. We were greeted at the door and stings dad has that same cheery smile that makes you instantly feel welcome.

We are the last to arrive. Everyone looks well, dressed nicely for the occasion. Each of us exchange gifts:

"A book of hairstyles" from Josh

Stationary and a diary from Eddie

And finally beautiful pearl earrings from Win, which I instantly put in to show my mother.

A round of thank yous follow and we sit for dinner. The table was long to try and facilitate us all, each with a white plate on a festive place mat. A red napkin to the left, on top the cutlery rested. Tall red candles were lit at both ends of the table surrounded in an array of holly. In the middle of the table sat the huge ham and turkey, potatoes, sprouts, stuffing and two bottles of wine. The adults sat to left side of the table and we all sat on the right, joined by Win's older brothers who sat awkwardly in the middle.

The evening went on and buckets of wine were drunk, by the parents. They were laughing loudly as they pulled the crackers and read the silly jokes that fell from them. We laughed at the different coloured crowns they all wore on their heads. I won 3 of the crackers but I gave the paper crowns to the losers, I only needed one.

The annual photo was taken, the 4 sets of parents and the four of us. This year all wearing paper crowns, the parents raising their wine glasses, us hugging each other tight under the mistle-toe as instructed.

At night fall we ran into the frozen snow on the field. Making snow angels and getting terribly wet. There is snowflakes in my eyelashes! I think my snow angel turned out best but the boys don't think so. What do they know anyway?

Our parents joined us outside. Watching us have a snow ball fight until Josh's father hit Ed's father square in the back with one. Eddie's father was taken aback at first, I didn't know how he was going to react, he's not exactly the fun type, until he picked up a snowball and threw it back. That was how it became kids vs parents. Of course we won, they got tired after 15 minutes. Also Josh's father fell drunkenly in the snow and struggled to get back up.

Inside we played a long game of charades, once again adults vs kids. We lost terribly, Win's brothers didn't help at all. "You guys are useless!" I shouted at them, half messing half serious.

"We are too old to play." Charlie replied dismissively

"Too lazy you mean." I say

"if I were 4 years younger I'd push you over right about now." Charlie replies, I just roll my eyes, he always says that, come up with something new.

Our parents were talking about adult things that we had no interest in, so we went up to Stings room. Cheese was sitting in a cage on a small wooden desk. Josh's dad knocked on the door and left homemade cookies on the table beside the bed, but we were too stuffed to even think about eating them.

"I couldn't imagine staying in Hogwarts for Christmas." Stings says.

"Me neither, it's rather sad really to think about." I sigh.

The moon is shining brightly in the dark, starry sky. Today has been long, but probably the best Christmas I've had so far. My eyes feel heavy with tiredness as I lie down in stings bed. Before I know it I'm fast asleep.

I don't know what time it is when my mother wakes me up, but by the light horizon I would say very early morning. The sun has barely rose and my mother informs me that she is going home. I look down at the figures that lay beside me asleep. Sting was beside the window, his back to me and on the other side was Win, facing me. At the foot of the bed Eddie was asleep, I yawn and stretch and decide to leave with my mother.

It was colder than it had been, and my feet were now soaked. My house is cool, since no one has been in it since this morning. I race upstairs and change into my night clothes quickly. I hop into my warm bed and very quickly fall asleep.