Fire Diamonds

♦

Chapter Three

"Slightly Ingenious, But Kinda Creepy"

That Saturday, December 21^st, Hogsmeade (Tessa's POV)

I wish I had someone to share Hogsmeade with. Ravin's too young to leave and Harry's...well...I don't really know where Harry is...

"Can I get you something to drink?" Madame Rosemerta came over to my table with an empty tray, which immediately filled with glasses filled with multicolored liquids, some with smoke emitting from the top. "Oh," she said, "underage, huh? Well then..." Half the glasses disappeared leaving warm tea, hot chocolate, and the smoking mug.

"I'll have hot chocolate, thanks." She set the mug in front of me, and walked away before I could thank her.

See. Adults don't even like me. Why do I have to be an outcast? I might actually have friends if I weren't in Slytherin. The stupid Sorting Hat had to go and find something in me. I can't imagine what. Do I have a purpose?

"Hey! You can't be sleeping! Wake up!" I opened my eyes, coming out of deep concentration, and saw Ravin, pushing her way through the crowd.

"Rai? How'd you get in here?"

Taking a seat, she replied, "I was sitting outside, alone," I felt a little guilty, "and this guy come up behind me, and tells me about a secret passage here."

"Who was it?" I asked warily. Who goes around telling people about secret passages?

"I don't know, but he had to hurry off really quick. He said something about a duel."

"Oh, it must've been Harry. I can't believe I forgot. I haven't introduced you yet, have I?"

"No, you haven't. But I'm sure it can wait. Let's shop!"

Narrator's POV

That was easier than I thought. Darren stepped out of the dimly lit shop and into the glaring sunlight and 25-degree weather. The wind pushed his long, brown hair into his eyes, and, shifting the brown bag from on arm to the other, he fixed it again. He looked around, and ducked into the Hog's Head. It'll be quiet in there.

Christmas Eve

Tessa and Ravin met outside the Great Hall for Christmas Eve dinner, like it was every night before. Both had decided to stay at the school over break. Tessa's mother was in Ireland with all of her extended family, which included few children Tessa's age. Her father was, without a doubt, working. He traveled the world doing what Tessa herself didn't even know. And Ravin's parents didn't really celebrate holidays, so she stayed to find out how Christmas should be done.

"You'll love the present I got you!" taunted Tessa.

"I don't want to hear it! La la la la la!" She covered her ears, and jumped up and down with every 'la'.

Tessa put her hand on the younger girls' shoulder, and she stopped jumping. "I wasn't really gonna tell you anyway. But, it was kinda funny watching you jump like that." They laughed, and Tessa opened the door.

"Oh my God," Ravin whispered breathlessly. The Great Hall could've stolen anyone's breath that night. Apart from the usual spectacle of the ceiling that mirrored the sky, (it was lightly snowing outside by the looks of It.) red, green, and gold candles hovered overhead, and the giant Christmas trees had been decorated in matching colors. The golden stars atop each shone brighter than any of the candles.

Instead of the usual four house tables and the staff table, one large, round table sat in the middle of the room for all to sit at. A ghostly quartet sat nearby playing string instruments softly. If you asked one, they'd tell you all about the Titanic.

The two girls took their seats, with Ravin still looking around at all there was to see. More people came flooding in, and talking quietly, so that they could still hear the music. One voice, however, stood out.

"Get outta my seat, Morgan!"

"I don't see your name on it, Darren," Tessa replied kindly.

"Come on, Tess. Think of it as a Christmas present for me."

"If I were going to get you something, Gold, it would be a new attitude. I don't like yours much." He turned, without another word, and went to find a seat with a friendlier crowd.

Christmas Day, Tessa's Dormitory (Narrator's POV)

Brrrring Brrrring Brrrring! Without taking her head from the pillow, Tessa picked up the clock and threw it against the wall. It's 6 o'clock. She thought. That's too early to wake up, even on Christmas. Wait. It's Christmas. That changes everything!

She jumped out of bed, and being the only one left in the dormitory, she didn't bother getting changed immediately. Four presents sat on her trunk. Right. Mom saves most of them for when I get home, I almost forgot again.

She looked down at them, assessing who sent each. A small jewelry box with a green ribbon tied around it was from her mother, obviously. (She always wrapped everything in green.) A larger oddly shaped package, wrapped in maroon, was most likely from her father. Always something strange from him. Strange, but expensive. The third was a box wrapped in black. It looked like a book. Who could that be from? I mean, the one with a giant pink bow is definitely from Ravin. I was there when she picked the wrapping.

Deciding that the black package was worth the most interest, she pulled off the deep purple (nearly black) bow, and the paper almost fell away. Neat trick.

She was right in thinking that it was a book. The cover was black, like the paper. Decorating the cover was a star the same color as the bow. She opened it, and read

~*From: David

~*To: Tessa

.:: For Tessa ::.

Ashamed sometimes that your beauty,

lady, is still silent in my verses,

I recall the time when I first saw it,

such that nothing else could ever please me.

But I find the weight too great for my shoulder,

a work not to be polished by my skill:

the more my wit exercises its force,

the more its whole action grows cold

Many times my lips have opened to speak,

but my voice is stilled in my chest:

Who is he could climb so high?

Many times I've begun to scribble verses:

but the pen, my hand, and the intellect

fell back defeated at their first attempt.

*The author may not have been writing about you, but he might as well have been.

~David

"Oh my God." Tessa sat don on the foot of her bed and almost collapsed. That's slightly ingenious! But kinda creepy...