A Ravenclaw Christmas
Saturday the 24th of December 1977
“James found it?” Lily asked, shock painting her face as she looked between the two siblings over breakfast, her eyes wide as James frowned at her while Hermione nodded with a smirk over her cereal. “How?”
“I have no idea.”
“Nice vote of confidence there ladies.” He grumbled before biting angrily into a piece of toast. “You know I am smart enough to figure things out.” He added with a small pout before he turned to frown at Hermione who was laughing slightly.
“That’s not – I’m just surprised!” Lily exclaimed, gripping James’ arm and grinning widely. “You figured it out – I could just…” Without another word, Lily was kissing James, her arms thrown around his neck as his own eyes went wide as she pulled away. “You’re amazing.” She added kind of awe-struck.
“Thank you.” James muttered back, leaning to steal one last kiss.
“So did you get the diadem?” She asked after a second, arms still around James as his own slipped to her waist, the pair of them looking at each other in a way that was sickening.
“Not yet, I’m trying to remember exactly where it was last time and how to get there.” Hermione muttered back before eating once more as she rolled her eyes as James lifted one hand to stroke down Lily’s cheek, the pair of them disgusting. “It’s bigger than I remember and I haven’t exactly had a chance to go back.”
“Oh…” Lily’s smile dropped slightly before she turned back to James and pulled him closer, her voice dropping lower than before as her eyes drifted downwards. “But you found it! This is amazing – I’m so proud.” Then her lips were on his again and this time James was happy to give back.
Hermione cringed as she looked around the fairly empty Great Hall while the two snogged before her, clearly it didn’t take much for Lily to get into that mood, just James using his brain and then she was good to go and forget all about the disgust she usually held for PDA.
James moaned and shifted slightly as Lily giggled between kisses making Hermione want nothing more than to throw up her breakfast. “Alright...guys come on…” Neither of them listened, gripping each other closer.
“Now that is something I didn’t want to walk in on – why does Evans have her tongue in James’ mouth while people eat breakfast?” Sirius’ voice all but whispered by her ear as he sat beside her, tugging a curl and offering a smirk. “And can I do it to you?”
“I’m not having some couple snog off with my brother.” Hermione snapped back, rolling her eyes and looking back to her breakfast.
“Ew!” Sirius exclaimed as Hermione glared at him. “I meant me and you not...you’re disgusting.” He shivered and moved away from her but there was a smirk on his face as she reached forward to slap his arm.
“Shut up.” She muttered as he rubbed the spot she had hit him, a chuckle leaving his mouth as he reached out to tug another curl before turning back tot he couple still snogging.
“Alright there Evans, you’ve got some James on your face.” He called loudly as he banged a fist against the table and grinned as they turned to glare at him before he pointed to James. “And you have got Lily’s lipstick on yours, not your colour though.” Her brothers hand moved to wipe his mouth before frowning down at the unmarked skin there.
“Piss off.” James snapped back.
“Now there’s no need to be rude, Prongs – after all payback is a dish best served cold.” Sirius spoke through a mouth of food that had the girls rolling their eyes and James sneering in disgust.
“It’s revenge.” Lily sighed out, looking up to the ceiling as though she was praying. Perhaps she was, it could be trying to deal with the boys at times.
“Revenge for what?”
“Revenge is a dish best served cold.” Lily muttered as Sirius frowned, his mouth opening to answer back only for Lily to speak again, this time less annoyed and more curious. “It doesn’t matter, where is everyone else?”
“Remus is resting, that potion you make for him may work wonders during howling hour but it doesn’t make the pain go away, and Marly is… probably with Reg.” He whispered the last name as they glanced quickly to the Slytherin table to find it empty except for Snape who was glaring back at the four of them, and a few others. “Doesn’t he look happy?” Sirius remarked dryly as Lily frowned slightly.
“Not really, no.” James answered back, shifting slightly as Lily sighed down at her food. A touchy subject it seemed even with their relationship.
“Bet he’s plotting how to murder you for defiling Evans’ mouth with your tongue.” Sirius spoke though it didn’t seem like a joke as he narrowed his eyes at the boy across the room and James frowned, looking back over his shoulder.
“Sirius!” Lily cried, a hand to her chest, shaking her head. “It’s not...we shouldn’t...that’s his problem then, not mine.” She snapped much to the surprise of the table, her cheeks flushing as her hand slapped against the wood before she fury dropped and sympathy replaced it. “Though he does look rather lonely.”
“Probably because no one wants to sit next a greasy slimeball who would make a vampire look friendly.”
“You shouldn’t be so mean.” Lily hissed, looking back at Snape and then Sirius to glare at him.
“He’s not exactly known to be the nicest kid in school, Lil’, in fact I think he won the title of Mr Cun-”
“Hey.” The rest of Sirius’ sentence was cut off but Lily’s glare didn’t waver as Edith sat herself down beside them like it was normal for her to avoid the very empty Ravenclaw table to join them at the Gryffindor one with a nervous smile. “What are you talking about?” She asked after a second, looking at the four of them.
Hermione smiled slightly, going back to her food as the other three stared at her like they couldn’t quite figure out what was happening. “Snape’s vendetta against James.” Sirius answered lowly before frowning. “Er...why are you here...no offence or anything.” He added with a nervous chuckle as Edith blew out a breath and looked towards the Slytherin table and then back to them.
“Oh...yeah I’m familiar...and I needed to speak to Hermione.”
“About what?” James asked with a frown before his eyes widened and he leaned onto the table. “And what do you mean familiar?” He pointed behind him to Snape who was still watching them with narrowed black eyes.
“I’ve been paired up with for rounds a few times and let’s just say he has a lot to say about you.” Edith answered quickly, rolling her eyes before she turned to Hermione, fingers tapping against the wood and eyes wary. “And also...does the offer for Christmas still stand?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“I wasn’t sure with Remus not feeling too great.” Her mouth turned into a frown, eyebrows pulling together like she wanted to say more but kept it to herself. It was a look Hermione had seen cross many faces over the years. Remus came with mystery and many girls had wanted to figure him out, and they all ended up disappointed in the end.
It seemed different with Edith, not so much disappointed but more like she had something on the tip of her tongue but wasn’t quite sure what it was or meant. Hermione had seen that expression on herself more times than she could count.
A small smile took over her face as she reached out to pat Edith’s hand, trying not to wince as the girl pulled away slightly with wide eyes. Not a toucher it seemed. “He has a cold, and has been told to rest but he’ll be down for presents and then back up afterwards, though I’m sure having you there will make him feel better.”
“If you’re sure, Barney was ecstatic at being able to open presents and spend the whole day together and I don’t want to disappoint so…” Edith trailed off as she looked up the table where her brother was talking with his friends, hands flying everywhere and just so very different from the girl before them.
“Just come by in the morning around seven and I’ll let you in.” Hermione spoke, pulling her hand back to rest on her lap as Edith smiled slightly.
“Thanks.”
“No prob-”
“Hold on a minute – what’s happening?” Sirius asked, cutting them off and holding up his hands before Edith could move from the table, her stormy eyes looking at Sirius with worry.
“Edith, and her little brother, are joining us for presents in the morning.” Hermione’s voice was sharper than it should have been, making her turn to the girl and offer her a warmer smile as she prayed her boyfriend wasn’t about to open his stupid mouth and make this more complicated than it needed to be.
“Not that that is a problem or anything, the more the merrier, but did you speak to Remus about this?” He whispered the words more to her, while trying to maintain a smile that had Hermione frowning. “I mean...he’s a bit sick and I doubt he would want to get Edith sick.” Edith’s eyebrows rose, her mouth opening and closing and Hermione could see what she was about to say.
“It’s not like she’s going to stick her tongue down his throat and inhale his germs...are you?” Hermione asked jokingly as Edith shook her head with a frown before she turned back to Sirius. “See, and also she’s our friend and her brother will be there so regardless of what Remus thinks, she’s joining us.” There was no room for argument as the rest of her friends closed theirs mouths.
“If that’s alright with everyone.” Edith muttered uncertainly, her thumb raised to her mouth as she bite at the nail there.
Lily was the first to break, giving one last look to Hermione, before clapping her hands together and turning to give Edith a bright smile that no one else could have matched. “It’s not a problem at all, I think it will be great to have you there.”
“Thanks, it will only be for the morning, so don’t worry I won’t be intruding too long, I have plans with my brother.” Edith spoke, looking more at Sirius with a tight smile as she gripped the bag she had rested beside her and stood up from the table.
“I didn’t mean -”
“Don’t worry, I have to get going anyway, but I’ll see you all tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow.” Hermione spoke softly as Edith nodded her head, all but running to her brother sat near the door and stopping to say something to him.
She seemed lighter around the twelve year old, the same one that had wanted to come down to the party not long ago and thought she was James’ girlfriend, a grin on her face as her younger brother who was probably her height, grinned in a way that only children could. Pure and happy, his arms wrapping around his sister despite his friends looking on, and laughter taking over his face as she rubbed his head fondly and left with another comment.
Hermione turned to glare at her boyfriend, feeling content that Lily was already shaking her head at him and James didn’t seem too impressed either, but Sirius just blinked back innocently. “What?”
“You’re an idiot.”
...
EDITH POV.
The glass of the window was cold against her face, slightly frosted on the outside as she watched the snowflakes fall to the ground, peaceful and nothing like her own internal turmoil. The fireplace crackled loudly, adding a warmth to the blue walls around her but doing nothing to ease the coldness that had settled itself into her heart.
Sighing, she turned to look at the Common Room, mainly empty of students but full of books, as one would have expected from Ravenclaw. It was objectively beautiful, and comforting, until the people came and she was reminded of the backstabbing and the constant need they seemed to have to live up to some name. For when one had intelligence and wit, what did they need with actual friendships?
It made no difference now, a lack of turning pages and debates about whatever replaced by an eery silence that came with most of the students having left for the holidays. Edith had chosen to stay, much like she had done for the last few years, something that seemed more of a necessity these days than a choice.
What good would home be when it had stopped feeling like home a long time ago?
Another sigh left her mouth as she tucked her hair behind her ear and glanced down once again at the letter in her lap. She had read the words so many times that she could recite them if she needed to, but instead her hand traced over the words Jason had written, and closed her eyes against the gnawing emptiness that filled her these days.
Her final year at Hogwarts, her final year before life and reality took over and she was forced to deal with outside and the weight that came with it.
Sniffling, Edith opened her eyes once more and looked down at the words.
Edy,
I don’t know what you want me to say. Or maybe I don’t know what to tell you that you don’t already know. Yes, dad is still drinking, and it’s not getting better. I know you’ve tried to write to him, done what you can to help, and I have too, but I’m not sure what I can do to help any more. Everyday is a war with him, and nothing like the war outside.
It feels like he’s given up, and sometimes I can’t blame him. When he speaks about mum...about what she did, I get why he wants to drown everything in a bottle of firewhisky, because I kind of want to too. But he forgets she didn’t just leave him, that she did this to all of us. To you and Barn.
Truth is, Edy, I’m scared. Scared of the war, of doing this alone, of you and Barn being there. Things seem to be falling apart out here, in ways I can’t talk about, but people aren’t happy with him right now, a certain powerful family with two kids that you know, most of all.
I miss you, and I know you’re scared of what’s going to come when you finish in six months, but you’re strong Edy, and we’ll figure it out together, we’ll keep each other safe. For now though, try to enjoy it, and take care of yourself and know I’m always here, no matter what.
Jason.
There was no need for her brother to write love, it wasn’t something they did. Their love was in their actions, but it was never spoken because of reason that made her to sad and angry to think about. A family divided and slightly cruel.
For a second she wondered if the Potter’s could say it, if Hermione could get past all the horrible things that had happened in her life to say it with a smile for her brother, or parents, or friends or even Sirius, or if she too was damaged and scared of how it might be used against her. For the Potter’s would do anything for each other regardless, even if it meant being openly angry with Dumbledore in spite of the war outside.
Though it wasn’t open. Edith knew because Jason had a big mouth and loved to gossip even when he thought he was being secret.
A smile was brought to her face as she thought of him, tall and dark haired with a goofy grin, clumsy and always trying to find a way to make her laugh. He was the oldest, the strongest and full of courage, taking all the Gryffindor traits of their father and using them for himself, and for the Order. The smile fell from her face quickly as worry took over, a fear that came from knowing her brother’s safety was risked everyday for war.
It wasn’t her job to worry though, but to care for Barney, as Gryffindor as their brother but full of innocence and mischief that she hoped would never leave him. She admired it, had never saw it in herself, and would protect him from what the world sought to destroy...what their family had sought to destroy.
A divided family for as long as she could remember. A father full of honour, and who was just as Gryffindor as his sons, and a mother who was a stark contrast in her cold cunning Slytherin ways. Forever she had wondered what brought them together, how her father could love a woman who was colder than ice and so honest in her opinions, but sometimes love was love.
Until it wasn’t and your mother was running away and joining the wrong side, leaving a scar on her family that would never heal. The woman who had tucked her in with a small smile, was now as twisted and dark as the man she had joined.
Edith’s father now was too. Their letters short and strained, only serving to make her worry more, and add to the reminder that her father was now a man broken in two. It was why she wasn’t rushing home, why when Barney said he wanted to stay she jumped at the chance. Why her brother was owling her.
“Fucking stupid.” She muttered to herself as she threw the letter into the fire, words etched into her brain, as she stormed past the two people sat reading and out of the tower.
Her shoes echoed softly against the stone floors as she wandered the corridors and stairs, towards the Great Hall which looked as magical as it did every year, and once might have made her smile but instead had her tensing her jaw and shift under the heaviness that seemed to have settled on her shoulders and in her heart.
Stormy eyes looked at the four tables, twenty people sat around them, and their little group one of them. They didn’t seem to notice her as she slipped onto the Ravenclaw table, resting her elbow on the table and staring at the food before her, only for her eyes to flicker to them as they laughed.
She settled on Remus. Tired looking and pale, paler than usual as he chuckled tiredly at something Sirius said, wincing as he moved in his seat and turned to smile at Hermione as she rubbed his back and offered him a tea. He looked so soft when he stared at Hermione, like he couldn’t see anything but her sat before him.
It hurt more than Edith would ever care to admit, because they were friends, her and Remus. They had grown close through the summer and she had looked forward to every letter, and when they had come back she had all but grinned as they spent time together in the library or outside, speaking about everything and anything. He knew more than some people did about her, and he had taken it with a gentleness that she had never seen another man possess.
Remus was calm, kind and held a quiet wisdom, and he made her want to daydream in what it would be like to get what she wanted, only for reality to crash over her head and remind her that there were no such places for fantasies in their world.
Not that she would ever let herself got carried away. Remus held his own secrets close to his chest, shadows settling around him that sometimes seemed to mirror her own, and excuses and other things that seemed to come every month without fail. Little about him made sense but she wanted to figure him out.
“Edith...you in there?” Light green eyes met her own, an amused smile on his face as he gingerly settled himself into the seat opposite her, wincing slightly.
“Sorry, I didn’t see you there.” Edith mumbled, blushing as she looked down at the table and her empty plate. She knew he was frowning, Remus always seemed to frown even if it was soft and concerned. “You ok?”
“Feeling a bit shit honestly, I was just heading back to bed when I saw you here.” He all but whispered to her as she looked up, he did look shit and normally she would say that but her voice caught in her throat as he smiled softly at her. “Why didn’t you come and sit with us?” He asked after a second, bemused and unsure himself.
Edith let out a small smile as she looked to his friends, the five of them watching with varying degrees of worry, amused and frowns. “Didn’t think I was welcome.”
“You’re joining us tomorrow morning, aren’t you?” Remus questioned with a small amused smile as he raised a singular eyebrow that had her rolling her eyes.
“Yeah, Hermione invited me.”
“Then you’ve got the seal of approval that you can join us whenever you want.” He spoke before wincing again and looking back to his friends that were still watching them, Sirius was mouthing something that had Remus frowning as he turned back to Hermione. “Though I will say I might not be the best company tomorrow.” He added, a small smile taking over his face.
“I don’t have to -”
“No, I want you there, plus it beats sitting in the Ravenclaw Common Room alone.” There was something else there, something she didn’t want to read too much into because she had seen it with other girls and Remus.
He had his friends, a constant in his laugh that he never let go of, and there were people on the edges but none that he got too close to. She had heard rumours of him and girls, ones that got him for the night and blushed over what they had done, but by the next day there was nothing more than a polite smile and a goodbye.
Remus Lupin never got too close to anyone as more than a fuck or a friend, and Edith was honoured that he was her friend so she wasn’t going to push, even if she wanted to. So instead she smiled and rolled her eyes. “I don’t know what you do on Christmas but I do have over plans, you know.”
His eyes flashed for a second, almost seeming golden instead of the light green she had grown used to, a frown taking over his face as he tilted his head to the side so he could question her. “Like what?”
“I promised Barney a whole day after breakfast, just him and I – might try and sneak him out to Hogsmeade.” The frown eased and his eyes drifted to look at where her younger brother sat with his friends, much like he had that morning.
“Behind the mirror on the fourth floor, leads you right there.”
“I won’t ask how you know that.”
“Good.” Remus muttered as he winced again, his friend looking ready to drag him off to bed. Edith sighed as she pushed away from the table, standing up as he looked at her with wide innocent eyes, his mouth opening as she smiled down at him.
“Come on, I’ll walk you back to your tower.” The words were whispered, though she wasn’t sure why, but she had seen the eyes other than his friends watching them, and she knew how rumours ran rampant throughout the school, especially when one of the most popular people were involved.
They might not know her name, she kept to herself for the most part, except for Quidditch but people would be talking about how they walked off together, and honestly she didn’t want to deal with it.
“You don’t have to -”
“I know but I could do with the reminder of how to get there for the morning, plus I’m exhausted myself.” A lie, her mind wouldn’t let her sleep tonight, she was sure of it. There was too much to think about and a letter to write back to her brother.
Remus seemed to sense something as he stood up and looked around, leaning on the table to almost steady himself. “Everything ok?”
“Just walk.” She answered, nodding towards the door and smiling as brightly as she could.
…
The smile fell as she walked back to the Ravenclaw Tower, the same sense of loneliness filling her like it usually did when no one else was around, or even sometimes when people were around.
It was her own fault, really. It wasn’t like Edith had spent her time trying to make too many connections, a few friends sure, like the people in her year and the ones that weren’t stuck up their own arses, but the truth was...people hurt you. And the people she knew were young, selfish and unable to comprehend anything outside of themselves.
That was what her mother used to say. For why would someone need friends when they had themselves and their ambitions? A lot of good those ambitions did when you were alone at the end of it, with a mind broken by fears and doubts, and a grim determination to try and fix the mess her mother had left behind.
A hope that one day her family could be whole again once the war ended.
Perhaps that was how Hermione felt.
“People say we have a lot in common.” Edith hadn’t seen it at the time, when Hermione had said it in an attempt to get her to talk, but perhaps they did have more in common than sleeping with the same bloke.
A broken family, a parent on the wrong side of things, and seemingly inability to trust and yet the need to want to reach out because their mutual friend had. Edith had never thought that Hermione would, but something had changed, more than the darkness that seemed to flood Hermione, but something that seemed an awful lot like trying to understand the other person.
Merlin, if someone told Edith two years ago that she was possibly on her way to being friends with Hermione Potter and her little gang then Edith would have laughed. Merlin, she would have laughed nearly a year ago when they ran into each other in the library, would have thrown it back in the persons face and never thought about it again.
Now, it almost made her want to smile, and it hurt her more than she thought it would. Being close to people was a dangerous thing, and she wasn’t stupid to know that Hermione, Sirius and possibly James were all pretty much in the war, because families and names didn’t mean you got to hide in the dark.
They walked the corridors and whispered like they thought someone was ready to attack or use things against them, and no good would come from being seen with them. But no good would come from having a brother in the Order and a mother on the wrong side so it didn’t make any difference in the long run, sooner or later she would have a target on her head. From other people or her own choices.
Her eyes closed as she leaned back in her bed, wishing for the warmth of her dormitory to help the cold but nothing could. Nights were hard when one couldn’t rid themselves of the deepest and darkest thoughts.
A drunk father lost in grief, an older brother trying to do what he could, a younger brother who would see the cruelty of the world, Remus and his secrets, everyone else. Yet, mainly behind her eyes an image of a woman in a dark cloak, a familiar face that seemed cruel now...a sob nearly left her mouth as she tried to fight it.
The thought of facing her mother one day, wands drawn, sent a shiver down her spine, and made the tears finally fall, silent and bitter, down the sides of her face.
...
Sunday the 25th of December 1977
The problem with crying yourself to sleep was that when morning came, dawn breaking through the windows and her alarm going off, the signs were still there. Puffy eyes and reddened cheeks, a shitty nights sleep in the form of bags under her eyes. A stark contrast to the joy she should have been feeling, or would have felt when she was younger.
She would smile though, and that’s what she tried to do as she made her way through the quiet halls to the Gryffindor Tower, stepping foot to foot outside the Fat Lady who glared down at her.
“Who are you?”
“Erm...Edith, I was invited by – Hermione!” Edith almost cried in joy as the portrait swung open to reveal the girl, still dressed in her pyjamas which consisted of old clothes that Edith was sure once belonged to one of the boys.
Hermione smirked slightly as she remained at the end of the tunnel, raising a single eyebrow and peeking around to look at the Fat Lady who rolled her eyes. “You ok?” She asked as Edith nodded her head, moving forward as Hermione gave her one last smile and crawled back through, Edith following behind her.
Their Common Room was just as festive as her own, with a couple of trees and twinkling lights, the fire cracking and making the already red room redder as the sky turned purple outside. Comfy, and filled with a few people sat on the tables, including her brother, Remus and the rest of Hermione’s friends sat on the sofas.
Barney was the first to spot her, hazel eyes going wide and crinkling as he ran forward shouting her name, his arms wrapping around her waist. A smile took a hold of her as she smoothed down his hair, something she wouldn’t be able to do for much longer if he kept growing as he was.
"Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas, Barney." She replied, hugging him even tighter, before pulling away and looking to the rest. They were smiling warmly, even Remus, even if surprised tinged the edges.
“Finally you’re here.” James sighed out as he stood up, grabbing a cup from the table and walking towards them. “Wasn’t sure what you’d want, but Barney mentioned hot chocolate.” An amused smile over took her face as he passed her the cup and nodded his head as she took a sip. “Happy you could join us.”
"Thank you." Edith mumbled, allowing Barney to lead her to the group and make her sit beside Remus as he dived into the presents under the tree. “How are you feeling?”
Remus was pale, paler than last night and was all but shivering as he tried to force a smile on his face as he turned to look at her. “Shit.”
“Maybe your potion will help.” Marlene muttered, a stern look on her face as she grabbed a cup from under the table and shoved it into Remus’ hands before looking to Edith with a quick smile. “Make sure he drinks all that.” She added as she sat back on the floor, smirking as Barney placed a present nervously in front of her.
“Ok.” Edith frowned, it didn’t seem like she needed to do much as Remus downed the drink, everyone seeming to watch him as he gagged.
“Tastes like shit.”
“Doesn’t matter if it helps.” Sirius spoke, suddenly serious, as he took the cup from Remus and placed it away from the others. “And by tomorrow you’ll be feeling a bit better.”
“It might take a bit longer than that.” Edith spoke with a frown as she looked him over and raised a hand to his forehead, Remus cringed and tried to move away before wincing and gripping his side. “You should really go back to bed, rest up before dinner.”
“Merlin knows I’ll feel even more like shit later, before I can’t later on.” Remus muttered more into his hand than to her as she frowned at him, watching the expressions of his friends as they watched with wide eyes, their mouths opening and closing like fish.
“What?”
“Edith, this is for you from Remus.” Barney appeared before her, making it hard to ask anything else as he shoved a gift into her hands, a book by the feel of it. “Are you her boyfriend or something?” He asked turning to Remus who looked up, coughing over his drink.
“Er...no?” Edith’s eyes widened, the answer spilling from his lips as though it was a question and not an answer before he seemed to realise and sat up a little straighter with a shake of his head. “Just friends...good friends.”
“You did a great job at handing everything out, Barney, but how about we open everything up before we’re late for breakfast.” Hermione spoke then, smiling down at Barney as she directed him to his own presents, sitting him down and sending Edith and Remus a look.
There was something there, an almost smirk and narrowed eyes, like she knew more than she should, if she did then it wouldn’t surprise Edith in the slightest.
...
The day with Barney had been great, full of snowball fights and making a lopsided snowman, they had attended dinner together, and there had been a slight bit of disappointment when only James, Hermione and Lily came down, Marlene and Sirius eating with Remus in his room, apparently but something felt off or wrong.
They had rushed off once they finished dinner with a wave, and Edith and Barney had followed after when night had begun to fall and Barney was eager for his friends.
“Did you have a good Christmas?” She asked as they walked slower, one more turn and they would be near the Fat Lady and Barney would be gone for the night, and Edith would be alone unless a group of Gryffindors felt like taking pity on her.
“Yeah...yeah...would have been nice if Jason, dad and mu - if they were here.” His slip up was obvious as his face twisted and he looked down at the ground.
“Maybe next year we’ll have a big family Christmas, all four of us back home and celebrating.”
“It’s a nice dream.” He scoffed out, sounding much older than earlier and Edith couldn’t help but frown at it, she still had a couple of years before he was a cynical teenager. “Hard to imagine with the war.” Her gut knotted and a sigh left her mouth as she wrapped around his shoulders.
“Wars don’t last forever, Barn.” She whispered as she moved to stand in front of him, placing her other hand on his shoulder and bending down slightly to look in his eyes.
They were honest with him about the outside world but never so much that it brought him down but it seemed it didn’t matter because his face was pure sadness as he spoke. “But if it doesn’t end in the next few months then you’ll be fighting in it too, and then it will be both you and Jason in trouble.” Tears sprang to his eyes. He had always been the most emotional.“You have to promise you’ll be ok.”
“Barney, I can’t pro-”
“Mum’s gone, dad’s sick, Jason’s fighting and I can’t loose you too – so promise me.” His hands moved to grab hers from his shoulders, his bottom lip wobbling and it broke her heart more than anything ever had.
She knew what she was signing up for once she left school, a career and a life were uncertainty, but fighting in a war was one thing she knew for sure and it seemed Barney did too, even as she leaned down even further and whispered to him. “I can’t promise that but I can promise that I’ll try, and that whatever comes we’ll face it together, ok?”
“Ok.”
“Now cheer up, it’s Christmas, and your friends are waiting to share gifts and play with toys or whatever you lads do.” She pulled back, trying to smile as he gave her a watery chuckle and reached out to wrap his arms around her waist.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Of course.”
She watched him run to the portrait, stopping just outside as it open and the seventh year Gryffindors, sans Remus, walked out, smiling down at him and ruffling his hair and waiting until he went inside before they pulled out a piece of parchment.
Edith watched them with a frown, her mouth opening to call to them when they turned in her direction, looking her up and down before whispering to each other and then Hermione was walking forward, Lily following behind her until they stood before her with nervous grins.
“Dropping Barney off?” Hermione asked as she looked over her shoulder as the boys and Marlene passed by with tight smiles.
“Er...yeah...what are you guys doing?” Edith asked with an easy smile as she watched them walk past, taking a couple of steps back to watch where they were going.
“Just going to the kitchens.” Lily answered with an overly false grin.
“We literally had dinner not two hours ago.”
“Christmas tradition.” Hermione spoke as Edith raised an eyebrow, curiosity getting the better of her as her head seemed to swivel between both girls, trying to see what it was they were so eager to hide from her.
“Without Remus?” She asked, crossing her arms over her chest. “Is he still in the Gryffindor Tower because I can go keep him company if you want?” For some reason she doubted he was, even more so when Hermione stuck her hand out and smiled.
“He’s resting, we’ll bring something back for him.” The curly haired girl answered before looking over her shoulder. “Listen, we better go catch up with them but merry Christmas and we’ll see you tomorrow.” And with that the two girls started walking, frowning as Edith walked beside them.
“Actually, I’m feeling a bit hungry too – think I can join you?” Edith asked but it wasn’t a question as the two girls turned to her with open mouths. “Good, then let’s catch up with the rest.”
“Let’s go then.”
…
They whispered between them like it was nothing, barely looking at Edith as they led the way towards the kitchens, frowns on their face and hands thrown in the air.
“Something wrong?” Edith asked innocently as they stopped not far from the Great Hall and the stairs that would lead them to the kitchen, catching sight of two boy with black hair heading in a different direction than where they were.
“No, nothing at all.” Hermione answered, shaking her head and then looking to Lily. Once it might have hurt that they didn’t want her around, made her think everything didn’t matter, but Edith wasn’t stupid and she knew they were hiding something. Something that involved Remus, so she wasn’t about to let it go.
“Hm...you know I actually fancy getting some fresh air, do you want to come?” Relief spread across their faces as Edith took a couple of steps back.
“Erm, no, I think we’ll stick to the kitchens.”
“Suit yourself.” Edith spoke, shrugging her shoulders as she deviated from the two girls who looked more relived and towards where she had seen James and Sirius head, moving fast on her feet before the two girls realised what she had done.
Clearly, she wasn’t supposed to be following the two boys outside and onto the grounds, the full moon hanging above them like a circular balloon, casting light on everything. Her heart pounded as she tried to keep her distance, brain ringing like a warning, but she had never been the type to back down nor push away her curiosity.
The two boys stopped at the Whomping Willow, James’ wand in his hand as he took cautious step forward towards the violent branches, ducking before one could hit him and waving his wand at a large knot at the bade of the tree. Edith’s mouth fell open as the tree stilled in an instant and the two boys moved forward into the base.
She should have moved, gone back and let them have whatever fun they were having but instead she moved forward, staring at the frozen tree, freezing herself as a howl seemed to echo out of it.
There was only one animal that howled like that, and for some reason she didn’t think it was a regular canine, even less so as she looked up to see the moon above her and heard the growl even closer than the howl, her head snapping down to meet the two wide golden eyes at the base of the tree, staring at her in a way that reminded her of someone else.
Strangely kind and worried as they remained unblinking at her. Her blood ran cold, freezing like the tree before her as they pieces seemed to fall into place. She had been so stupid to ignore it all, to turn off the part of her brain that actually held intelligence.
Another growl had her breath catching in her throat, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still as the creature took a step forward. Adrenaline flooded her, washing over her like a wave as she stumbled backward, wondering for the life of her why the wolf wasn’t casing, eager for the easy meal she had just provided.
It didn’t matter, the castle grew closer and her breath heavier as she came across Hermione and Lily near the entrance, their eyes wide and Marlene coming up behind them, breathing hard and glaring at Edith as though it was her fault.
They looked to one another, seeming to answer silent questions before reaching for her and pulling her into the castle.