The Life of Portia Boyd

Chapter eight.

The run up to Christmas

November had come and gone for Portia. Work was taking up less time for her and she was finding herself going to the library every night.

The school library was very old fashioned. The book shelves stopped an inch before the ceiling, making the top books impossible to reach; Portia always suspected these were the hiding places of dangerous magic, placed in books. But she found it unlikely to be because of the restricted section. Nobody was allowed in the restricted section unless they had a teacher note and was above third year. This didn't stop Portia from being curious about the magic placed in there. She always tried to get a sneak peek in there without the Liberian noticing. Portia also saw many of her first year class mates visiting the library, looking for information for their homework. Sofia often accompanied Portia to the library so she could catch up with her homework, she had some how managed to sort out her lazy lifestyle. When Sofia wanted to leave Portia always wanted to stay, but thought it would be a lot safer to travel with Sofia back to the common room. It was scary how Hogwarts wasn't deemed safe anymore.

In December Portia had come across some Wizard literature in one of the back sections of the library. From reading the first book; 'For lust or for love' by Francis Dickinson, Portia was addicted. She couldn't put a book down when she started and found herself starting to take a book out to read for the night. She only put down the book for eating, lessons, homework and sleeping. Portia was amazed by the adventures and the constraints the characters had to face. But when Portia only had one book left to read she started to panic; what was she going to read next?

One night as she pondered over this thought, she felt someone sit opposite her. "Hello," said a female voice.

Portia looked up to see Lily Evans smiling at her. "Hi, how are you?"

"I'm fine, thanks for asking," replied Lily placing a book on the table. "And yourself?"

"I'm okay."

"You looked a little lonely, so I thought I would come see if you were okay," Lily cleared the slight hoarseness in her throat. "You don't mind do you?"

"Of course not, I was just trying to figure out a problem."

"A problem?" Lily began to look interested. "What sort of problem? I love problem solving; I was very good at it in my primary school."

"Primary school?"

"It's a place were muggles go until the age of eleven," answered Lily, like she was answering a question for a teacher.

"Oh I understand, like Hogwarts?"

"Oh no, nothing like this place." Lily shuffled around on her sit. "This place is so much bigger and magical, but in some ways it's just the same as everywhere else."

"How do you mean?" asked Portia. "I think this is perfect."

"I know, it is perfect," agreed Lily. "You get your own room to share with other people, banquets like the Royal family must have, and everything is so wonderful. Well except for..."

"Boys?" interrupted Portia.

"Yes, how did you know I was going to say that?" questioned Lily smiling at her.

"My mother said the same thing to me, she said everything was brilliant except for the boys," Portia combed her hair back out of her eyes. "Then again I don't understand why she married a boy."

"Yes I must admit it is very strange for girls to complain about boys and then marry them." Lily sighed. "I feel so sorry for them, but I know I'm never going to get married."

"How do you know?" Portia crossed her right leg over her left one to remain steady on her chair. "Can you see into the future?"

"Of course not," said Lily, giggling. "But I don't need to get married, to have some boy order me around like I'm his property? I'm going to be working all my life."

"I suppose when you put it like that, it does seem very troublesome." Portia nodded slightly. "Do you want babies?"

Lily shook her head. "I don't want to do the bit to make babies; it seems so disgusting and dirty."

"What do you mean? You mean reproducing?"

"Yes, but it's not called that, it's called..." she brought her voice down into a quiet whisper. "Sex."

"What a strange name," replied Portia, in the same whispering voice. "Why is it called that?"

"Well this is my theory; you always have sex with people who you never stay in touch with. Then when you get married you have sex once and have a baby," Lily shrugged a little. "I heard my sister say, 'Sex is only for ex's' I don't know what she was talking about, but that's my theory anyway."

"Sounds like a good one, even though you stole it off your sister." Portia felt like she needed to change the subject quickly. "So what do you want to do if you don't get married?"

"I don't know," replied Lily. "I don't want to think about the future, I want to think about how I'm supposed to get through this year." Lily sighed and rubbed her eyes a little. "I mean how I can get on with my studies if people like James Potter and Sirius Black are always teasing me and making my life so much harder?"

"I didn't realise they were making you feel that way," confessed Portia. "I know what they do is very mean and honestly enough unnecessary, But I didn't think it got to you."

Lily curved the ends of her lips slightly. "It shouldn't get to me should it? I knew I was being weak."

"No that's not what I meant Lily." Portia rested her chin on her hands. "What I meant was I thought you weren't taking much notice of them."

Lily sighed and began to stand up. "What am I supposed to do? When everyone in this school has something against me." Lily placed her book against her chest and started to walk away. Portia wanted to call her back, but it was a library. She shook her head in and began to get up herself; she wasn't going to let Lily think everyone disliked her.

Portia started to walk away from the table, but then noticed she was being watched by everyone. Some Slytherin students were watching her closely; what had she done now? Portia's cheeks began to flush and she quickened her step, crossing her arms over her chest to not to do anything clumsy with her hands. But she could still feel eyes on her movement, this was beginning to get a little strange and Portia started to become self conscious. What was wrong with her? She made her movements even quicker and rushed towards the door. Then she suddenly felt a hand on her arm. "Where are you off to?" drawled a voice.

"I'm going back to my common room," answered Portia as she turned around to see Lucius Malfoy. His eyes were narrowing in suspicion for some reason and Portia started to cringe; he looked rather ugly when he did that.

"Are you sure that's what you're doing?" he asked.

"Yes, very sure," replied Portia nervously.

Lucius still didn't let go of her arm. "You better not be going after that mudblood, Boyd!" Lucius's eye started to flash a sign of danger.

"No, I'm not... Like I said I'm going to my common room." Portia started to feel even more nervous as some of the other Slytherin students started to get up.

"Join us Boyd, You did look very troubled when you were sat on your own before, then that mudblood came to sit with you," he flashed a smirk. "I could help you figure it out."

"No, thank you, I'm not troubled by anything," Portia tried to move back from his grip. What did he want?

"Well join us anyway; I'm sure you have nothing better to do..."

"Portia!" said a very hyper active voice. Portia turned her head to the side to see Sirius Black. What did he want?! All she needed was some troublemaker making her situation worse.

"Hello..."

"You still coming to help me with my Transfiguration work?" asked Sirius, smiling.

"You need help with your Transfiguration work, Black?" asked Lucius Malfoy.

"Yes, just a little something I didn't quite understand in the last lesson," Sirius gripped onto Portia's hand. "So Portia insisted she would help me."

Portia looked at Sirius. Was she supposed to be going along with his story?

"So you're coming to help me Portia?" asked Sirius, with a nervous tone in his voice.

Portia nodded and glanced back at Lucius Malfoy. He still hadn't let go of her arm. "I'm sorry Lucius, but I did promise him I would help."

"Yeah, so you might want to let go of her Lucius...unless you plan to come with us." Sirius smirked, tightening his grip on Portia's hand.

Lucius scowled at Sirius, letting go of Portia arm. "No I don't plan on going anywhere with you Black; I was only inviting Portia to sit with us."

"Oh I'm sure Portia would have loved to talk about murdering muggles, Come on Portia." Sirius pulled Portia to him a little and started to walk with her. They walked out of the library and far down a corridor. "I'm sorry," said Sirius as they passed a picture of some singing woman.

"What for?" asked Portia.

"For not coming sooner to save you, I should have come to save you a long time ago, before Evans came to see you." Sirius was smiling a little. "He was watching you since you entered the library."

Portia shuddered slightly; the thought of the boy watching her gave her the creeps. "Why was he watching me?"

"Most probably because you're a pureblood Portia, he takes much interest in pureblood girls." Sirius's expression was now very dark. "I've known him since I was six and some of the things that I've nearly witnessed have been so... horrid."

"I'm glad you got me out of there Sirius," said Portia quietly. "He was beginning to frighten me."

"I couldn't let you become one of them Portia, you're too nice for them," Sirius said, turning his eyes away from Portia.

Portia suddenly felt something hit her stomach when Sirius had complimented her; it was probably dinner settling in. "I wanted to find Lily Evans, but he wouldn't let me."

"She will be in her own common room by now; she's in my house you know?"

"Yeah, Gryffindor?" enquired Portia.

"That's right..."

There was a moments silence before Portia realised Sirius was still holding onto her hand. "You're still holding my hand, Sirius."

"Oh! Sorry," replied Sirius, removing his grip from Portia's hand. Portia wriggled her fingers, hearing the bones clicking from cramp. Sirius widened his eyes with sudden excitement, "Wow, you must be double jointed."

"Double jointed? What's that mean?" asked Portia, who wasn't really interested.

"Where your fingers do really funny and cool things, look I'll show you..." Sirius picked up Portia's hand and started to bend back on of the fingers. Portia just watched Sirius bending back her little finger. What was he trying to do? "Doesn't that hurt?" asked Sirius, looking at Portia's confused face.

"Not really...I better be getting back."

Sirius nodded and let go of her hand again. "Now remember if you ever need saving again...shout for me, okay? Or whistle."

"Whistle?"

"Yeah, whistle. You can whistle right?"

"Yes of course I can!" snapped Portia. Seriously, she wasn't a simpleton.

"Okay then, I'll see you in transfiguration tomorrow?" asked Sirius.

"Yes, see you tomorrow Sirius." Portia turned on her heel and started to walk the other way from Sirius.

Even though Portia saw Sirius in transfiguration after that night, she never spoke to him. She mainly just did her work and sometimes had a conversation with Lily Evans, who sat next to her. Sometimes Portia saw Sirius with James Potter and the other two boys they hanged around with. Usually causing trouble or making fun of some other first year. Portia always kept away from them and so did Katie and Sofia. Katie didn't really like boys anyway; it seemed she had based all boys on her brother Jude. Sofia also never paid any attention to boys, she was too busy catching up with her homework or going to the library with Portia and Katie.

Ever since the night when Katie had lost her temper with Sofia, the three girls had become closer than before. Portia was content with the way things were with her friends and she didn't want anything to change. Sofia had never said the word mudblood ever again, but even so it still didn't stop the Slytherin's from using it. But Sofia just seemed to not take any notice of them. Their lives were getting easier now they had each other.

December came and Portia, Katie and Sofia prepared for Christmas. They were all staying at Hogwarts for the holiday with their parent's permission. Katie's mother seemed to always let her children stay at Hogwarts for the holidays because Jude was staying as well, which wasn't a joy to Katie. Sofia's parents had replied to Sofia's owl saying she could stay. But Portia's parents were a little hard to persuade...

Portia had sent an owl to her parents a month before the holiday asking if she could stay. She wasn't expecting the answer she got back. A letter had arrived two weeks before Christmas; it was from Portia's Mother.

Dear Portia,

We received your letter and we are glad to hear you are enjoying your first term at Hogwarts. Your father and I are very proud that you got into Ravenclaw and we hope you are enjoying it too. I myself was in Ravenclaw and I always liked going to the Ravenclaw Quidditch practices to watch my friends practice for their games. But you're too young to do that.

Now regards to your request to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas. Your father wants you home Portia, just to see how you are. I myself would let you stay but your father is being stubborn and wants you to stay with us for the two weeks of Christmas. He also says he cannot be bothered to send your Christmas presents to you if you're at Hogwarts.

I hope you have a good time before you come home.

Love Mother.

"She's not letting you stay?" asked Katie.

"My father isn't letting me stay; he doesn't want to send my presents to me."

"Well we've got to change his mind," said Sofia, grinning. "Did you tell him about Lucius Malfoy?"

"No, do you think I should?"

"Yes, if you tell him you did what he asked, then he has to be grateful and he may let you stay."

Portia nodded. She hadn't told Katie and Sofia about the night in the library with Lucius Malfoy. But what was there to tell? All he did was grab her arm and ask her to join him. Then she remembered what Sirius had said, 'he takes much interest in pureblood girls.' What did he mean?

"So you're going to write back to your mother?" asked Sofia.

"Yes, of course I am, but what shall I put?" replied Portia.

Katie smiled and got out some parchment. "Here, let me write it..."

Whatever Katie had put, she certainly had done the trick. Because the next day her mother had written back saying...

Dear Portia,

That's great news! Your father will be so proud. I'll let you stay in Hogwarts then if that's what necessary for you. I hope everything works out for you.

Love Mother.

"What did you write to her?" asked Portia.

"I told her you needed to attend a transfiguration club so you could advanced in your studies," replied Katie, but she wasn't meeting Portia's eyes.

"What else did you write Katie?" asked Portia again.

"Well... I kind of put that you were helping out Sirius Black with his transfiguration homework..."

"What!?" Portia widened her eyes.

"Look calm down, it worked didn't it?" Katie smiled. "And anyway how will your mum know you're lying?"

So Portia was allowed to stay for Christmas with her friends. Homework wasn't given out in the last week which made Portia even happier. That meant she got to spend more time in bed sleeping than working with books and parchment. Of course, she loved to work and research topics in her spare time, but holidays were an excuse to do nothing and Portia was going to take up that offer. Katie and Sofia were also looking forward to the forth coming holidays. Sofia had always loved Christmas and this year was not going to be an exception. Mainly because every year it snowed at Christmas, there wasn't ever a year it didn't snow. Sofia loved making snowmen.

"Do you think it will snow again this year?" asked Sofia, as she was wrapping some Christmas presents.

"Most probably," replied Katie. "When doesn't it snow?"

"In the summer," answered Portia giggling.

The girls all followed in throwing pillows at each other and lying on their beds having giggling fits. This usually happened every night until Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve was very quiet, mainly because most people had gone home. However the Ravenclaw common room was very busy. In Ravenclaw, most fifth years were revising for their OWLS exams which would take place in June. The OWLS were the some of the most important exams any wizard or witch would take. But Portia didn't have to worry about that yet; she was only in first year. All that interested Portia at the moment was playing Tag with Katie. They only started playing because Katie had stolen one of Portia's books. But even though the game had its fun ups and downs, they kept bumping into older Ravenclaw's including Jude, Katie's older brother. Jude didn't look very healthy when Portia saw him entering the common room. His cheeks weren't flushed, but were pale. He sometimes looked like he was dead. When Katie bumped into Jude, he set off in a horrible mood.

"Grow up Katie!" he snapped.

"Make me!" Katie stuck out her tongue and ran after Portia out of the common room. They ran through the corridors, now not really playing their game. Katie started making funny noises with her tongue. The humorous event wasn't going to last very long. When Portia was nearly falling over with laughter she suddenly bumped into Sofia. It was the first time Portia and Katie had seen Sofia since they awoke that morning. Portia blinked in shock as she saw Sofia fall to the ground.

"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry!" said Portia, pulling Sofia up to her feet. "I didn't see you."

"No its okay Portia, I wasn't looking where I was going." Sofia smiled slightly and waved at Katie. "What're you doing?"

"Playing Tag," replied Katie. "You want to play?"

"No thank you, but I wouldn't mind going down the kitchen," said Sofia with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I just heard about it and I thought we could have a midnight feast."

Katie looked at Portia smiling. "I think that's a good idea actually."

"Well, we could get caught and I've already been in enough trouble, haven't I?"

"Portia, you got away with it," corrected Sofia.

"But I might not this time," warned Portia. "Anyway, how did you hear about the kitchens?"

"I overheard Sirius Black telling one of his friends...his fat friend."

"Sofia!" exclaimed Portia, smiling. "That's not very nice."

"Well it was the only word I could think of, besides he didn't seem to mind when Sirius called him a fat, useless idiot."

Portia raised her eyebrows at Sofia. "Sirius Black said that to one of his friends?" Why would Sirius Black be nice to her, a girl who got him into trouble in the Forbidden forest and be horrible to one of his friends? Then again that night, during the event of the Forbidden forest, Sirius was being nasty to all his friends. But Portia still found it strange. Maybe what Katie said about the Black was beginning to come true. It didn't seem like Portia was thinking of the same Sirius Black who got her out of the way of Lucius Malfoy a month ago.

"Wait a minute, I'm not going if Sirius Black said it," said Katie suddenly. "He has it in for me! Ever since I spoke back to James Potter, he's been plotting my downfall."

"Oh come on Katie," said Sofia. "Sirius Black didn't even know I was there..."

"I'm not going," said Katie, as if she had finished the discussion.

Sofia nodded and smiled. "Okay then, we won't go." Portia wondered if Sofia was disappointed. "What shall we do instead?"

"Well," started Portia. "I've come to the point where I have no books left to read, so I want to go find some more." She saw the expression on Sofia's face that just made Portia think how her idea wasn't as adventurous as hers. But then Sofia looked at Katie for a second and then back at Portia.

"Well, I have some books you could borrow."

"I do as well," added Katie.

"So I suppose I could lend you some of mine until we find another way of getting you some books."

Portia smiled gratefully. "Thank you, both of you."

"You're quite welcome Portia," replied Sofia smiling back nervously. "Can I also ask a favour?" at Portia's nod Sofia continued. "I've just come back from Professor McGonagall's office. She said that I'm getting behind on my Transfiguration homework."

"But you told me you finished it," interrupted Portia. That was indeed true; Sofia had often gone with Portia to the library to finish off her work. She used to leave before Portia, saying that her work was finished.

"I did, but she said it wasn't good enough...you couldn't help me with it, could you?"

Portia sighed and looked at Katie. "You knew she was going to ask me?"

"I had an idea Portia," replied Katie quietly.

"Its only one piece of work, I'll be your slave forever if you help me..."

"I can't," said Portia, but she regretted saying it straight away. Sofia's face was immediately covered with hurt and disappointment. She shook her head and started to walk past Portia. "I'm really sorry Sofia."

"I thought you were supposed to be my best friend," retorted Sofia angrily. "Obviously you aren't." And she walked off towards the common room, leaving Portia and Katie standing there in silence.

"I suppose you did the right thing," whispered Katie finally.

"You put me in a really horrible situation there, you knew I was going to say no," whispered Portia back.

"I had an idea why McGonagall wanted to see her, and so did she," replied Katie. "That piece of homework she did was pretty poor."

"It's not my fault though is it, I didn't tell her what to write."

"You still could have helped her out..."

"Its called cheating if I do that, she wouldn't learn anything." Portia folded her arms and looked at Katie.

"Well... let's hope Christmas is going to be okay," replied Katie, sighing slightly.

But whenever Portia tried to talk to Sofia that day, Sofia would just ignore her; block her off like she didn't exist. Of course Portia was Sofia's best friend, but did she have to prove it by doing her homework for her? Portia knew Sofia wouldn't do the same, but that was because Sofia couldn't bring her standard up to Portia's. If Portia asked Sofia to do her homework that would make Portia lazy and anyway... Portia enjoyed doing her work.

"Sofia I said I was sorry," Portia tried, when she and Katie entered the dormitory. Sofia was lying down on her bed holding a piece of parchment. She was obviously trying to do her homework again. "See, you're doing your homework yourself, you don't need me."

Sofia just didn't say a word to Portia and looked up, meeting Katie's eyes. "Hi Katie."

'That's just great, give me the silent treatment and give Katie the best friend treatment.' "I said I was sorry Sofia."

"You don't mean it though, do you Portia?" snapped Sofia angrily. "You don't mean anything you do!"

"You know that's not true!" retorted Portia. "I've helped you before on your homework."

"That is true," added Katie, sitting down on her bed. "Come on Sofia, you've got to see it from Portia's point of view."

"That's right you stand up for her Katie! Why's it always her point of view?" Sofia turned her back to Portia and Katie and laid her head on her pillow. "Merry Christmas!" she mumbled quietly.

Portia couldn't sleep that Christmas Eve; she felt so guilty about not helping Sofia with her homework. She tossed and turned onto her back, her sides and her front all through the night. Was this going to be the end of her and Sofia's friendship? It seemed like it, Sofia was fast asleep and had obviously no guilt in being nasty to her. Portia now wished she had gone home for Christmas and she knew how ironic it was to wish that. She, Sofia and Katie had all thought of many ways to keep her there and now she had spoiled everything. Portia sighed and looked up at the window; she could see the snow starting to fall again. It didn't seem that exciting at the moment, not with all her guilt and sadness. But then Portia knew she had done the right thing! Sofia couldn't ask for Portia's help every time she was in trouble, could she? It wasn't like this was a life or death situation either. Sofia should have done her homework when it was set and should not have been so lazy! Portia smiled slightly to herself; if Sofia wanted nastiness then Portia was going to be just as nasty. Hopefully Sofia would see sense and be her friend by the end of Christmas...Hopefully.

"Get up!" screamed Katie's voice. "It's Christmas day!"

Portia glanced at Katie. Her eyes ached from tiredness; she hadn't slept all night because she was trying to workout how to get Sofia to be her friend. "I know."

"Have you been up all night?" asked Katie. "You look tired."

"Yeah, is it that easy to tell?" Portia yawned and smiled. "I couldn't stop thinking."

Katie nodded and looked to Sofia's bed. She was gone. "Where's Sofia?"

"I don't know, I've been awake for ages and I didn't see or hear her go out," replied Portia, sitting up to look at the bed. She scratched her head; did she fall asleep in the middle of the night?

Katie walked over to Sofia's bed and poked the bottom of it, where Sofia's feet would have been. But when she pressed down her hand didn't touch the bed. "There's something there."

"I can...see," said Portia squinting her eyes. "Is it..." Portia tilted her head, still not being able to see the thing on Sofia's bed.

"We'll soon see," said Katie, opening her palm and smacking on the open air. When her hand stopped, Portia heard a loud screech.

"OW!"

"Sofia?" yelled Portia in shock.

"Yes?" Portia heard a shuffle on Sofia's bed. Obviously Sofia was beginning to sit up. "Why are you looking at me like that Katie?" Katie's eyes were widened; it looked like her eyes were about to pop out of their sockets. "Katie your eyes are going to explode soon," exclaimed Sofia. "What's wrong?"

"Why are you invisible?" asked Katie suddenly. Portia quickly brought her hands to her ears to cover them from loud sounds.

"I'm what!?" screamed Sofia.

Portia closed her eyes and cringed. When she realised the screaming was over she opened her eyes and looked at Katie and began rubbing her forehead; this was going to be a VERY interesting Christmas.