The First Look

Chapter 9

-Christmas Morning
*Layla's POV*

I was in my room waiting for the rest of my family to wake up. I could hear my brother running around his room

"Kids!" My mother called

I ran downstairs with my little brother. We both stopped in our tracks to see all the gifts. Cedric ran down after us. Did I forget to say that? But him and his Dad stayed with us on Christmas Eve.

"I want to open first!" I called out

"No! I do" My brother said

The adults laughed as we sat on floor around the tree. My brother opened some of his gifts first. When he got to the one I have him, he opened it and started at the gift. I gave him a toy he had been wanting for months

"Thank you Layla!" Jake said as he hugged me

"Your welcome" I smiled

I opened some of my gifts. I saw one that said "From Cedric". I looked at him and smiled. I opened the gift and saw a blue Polaroid Camera

"No way! Thank you Ced!" I said as I hugged him

"I knew you had been wanting one" Cedric said as he pulled out of the hug

Then Cedric opened a few of his before we could just start opening our gifts in no order, a tradition my family has. He grabbed the one I gave him. Cedric opened it and his jaw dropped

"You did not!" Cedric said

He stared at the tie-dye hoodie he pointed out when we went to the mall earlier this month

"Thank you Layla!" He said smiling and hugging me

"You're welcome Ced" I smiled

"Ok you kids can open them all now!" My father said

~

After almost all the gifts were gone Cedric picked up a small box

"This is yours Layla" Cedric said handing me the box

"Who is it from?" My mom asked

"Harry.." I said

"Ooooo, Harry" Cedric teased

I hit him on his head and opened the box. There was a small ruby necklace that said "Layla" on the jewel.

"Let me see!" My mom said

I handed her the necklace. She passed it to my father, Mr. Diggory, Cedric then back to me. My brother didn't get to hold because, well, he's 5. He would've dropped it and lost it. I could feel my cheeks getting red. Hermione and Ron also got me jewelry but it wasn't as "fancy" as the one Harry gave me

~later~

Me and Cedric were outside on the tree again

"Hey you wanna take a picture?" I asked

"Sure!" He smiled

I grabbed the Polaroid camera and took a picture of us. Cedric smiled and put his head on my shoulder with me smiling with my head on top of his in the photo. We laughed and started talking

"Kids! Come inside before you get snow all over yourselves again!" Cedric's dad called from the kitchen window

"Race you!" I said jumping down

I ran inside not too far ahead of Cedric

"I beat you!" I laughed

"Shut it!" Cedric said nudging me

"I'm going to go change I'll be back!" I called out while I was going into my room

I changed into a hoodie and sweatpants. I put my hair in a bun and went back downstairs. I couldn't even sit on the couch before my mom told me something

"Why don't you write a letter to your friends to say thank you Layla" My mother said

"But I just- Fine!" I said going back to my room

I sat at my desk and wrote a letter to the three of them. Harry's letter said

"Dear Harry,
     Thank you for the necklace. I really love it. I'm sorry I didn't get anything big for you. I didn't really know what you would want for Christmas. I'll see you soon!
                              Your friend,
                                  Layla"

Hermione's said..

"Dear Hermione,
     Thank you for the bracelet. I LOVE the moon rocks on it. I know I didn't get something very big for you. I wasn't with you for very long so I don't know exactly what you like. See you soon!
                                                  - Your Friend,
                                                        Layla"

Ron's said..

"Dear Ron,
       Thank you for the bracelet. I could tell Hermione helped you pick it out, but that's besides the point. I hope you liked what I gave you. Just like Harry and Hermione I didn't know exactly what to get so I hope you like it. See you soon!
                                                                       -Your Friend,
                                                                          Layla"

I put them all in envelopes and sealed them. I let the owl that I named "Bailey" take them to being to the trio. I walked downstairs yawning. I sat on the couch next to Cedric

"Tried Layla?" Cedric laughed

"Yep" I replied

~1 hour later~

*Harry's POV*

I saw a letter land next to me, Ron, and Hermione after opening everything

"They're from Layla!" Hermione said excited

"Really?" I asked

"Yes look at it!"

I grabbed the letter and opened it. As I read it I could feel my cheeks heat up. Ron laughed as he read his letter, Hermione smiled, and what did I do? I turned red, all the things I could've done, I turn red

"I can't wait to see her again" I said

"Yeah you fancy her Harry" Hermione laughed

"So I can't miss my," I said "Best Friend.."

"Is she more than that" Ron teased

"Shut it!" I said hitting them both on the top of their heads

"Hey! What did I do?" Hermione said

"I just wanted to hit your head" I laughed

Hermione and Ron laughed. Ron changed the subject but I kept thinking about Layla. Did she like the necklace? How did she react to it? Was it just another gift or was it something meaningful? I'm too worried about things. I focused on what Ron and Hermione we saying and not so much of Layla. But if I'm honest, she was still in the back of my mind

<To Be Continued>