Mara

"Please," They asked for the third time. I shook my head. "Oh come on, Mar. Just stay with us for the holidays. You'll be all alone here." I shook my head once again.

"Come on, Mar." Lysander pleaded, "You know Mum loves you. Dad too. They wrote to us saying that you've got to join us this Christmas. Please," Then he did the most cruel thing in the world.

The puppy Dog eyes and the quivering lip.

The most and utter of low. And Lysander went there.

"Uh…Yeah, I can't do that." Lorcan said awkwardly as he watched his brother in action. Lorcan wasn't really the type of person who could make cute faces. He'd only end up looking like someone rearranged his face.

It was a week and a half before Christmas, and like 95% of the student body, the twins were going home this Christmas. The other 5%, which included me, were staying at the school. But this holiday, the twins had other plans for me. We were standing on the side in the entrance hall, and it was the day everyone was getting ready to leave. I was only there to bid them a brief goodbye but it was then when they had offered me something I did not expect at all.

They wanted me to come home with them for Christmas. Of course, I immediately refused, shaking my head hastily. I couldn't intrude. I'd only be a burden. But reading my mind they said I wasn't at all.

After my repeated dramatic exit from the quidditch pitch, I had found comfort in an abandoned corridor in the castle. Well I thought it was until the Gray Lady appeared before me. And after everything, all the memories, and my entirely vulnerable state…I had spoken for the first time in a very long while. Too long to even remember the exact moment I had spoken last. After Helana Ravenclaw saw me in my emotional state, she informed me of the twins' search of me in the castle. And soon enough, I found the twins crouched by me. Both trying to sooth the pain that was consuming my chest.

But considering the twins' offer, I was torn between saying yes and no. I wasn't sure. If they had insisted, I had no other reason reason to say no. But something was holding me I just scared? Scared to be staying within a family again, even if it wasn't mine? But I was curious to see how it felt. Felt to be cared for by a family again. I knew Luna, and she was always nice to be, despite my one brief times meeting her. Her husband, Rolf, too was also nice. They were odd people, just like the twins, but nice and caring. Luna always took the time to write me, asking how I've been. Almost acting like a mother at times. So I suppose with that and the twins begging, I suppose I haven't anything to lose…

And so, I looked at the twins hopeful faces and once again shook my head. Their faces dropping, "What, why?!" They exclaimed. I motioned the action of having a suitcase. "Oh, that. Well, lucky for you. We've already packed for you." Surprised, yet suspicious on how they had done it, I raised an eyebrow. "And if you're wondering how we did it, you'll have to thank your roommates for that. They're the ones who packed your bag for you. And no worries, we didn't look inside or anything. No panty raids-" I smacked Lorcan's arm. "Ow! Oi, I do something nice for you and this is the thanks I get." I smiled.

"I guess that's her own way of saying 'You're both idiots..But thanks." Precisely, Lysander. Precisely.

St. Otter Catchpole.

To say I've been here before would be a lie. In all honesty, I haven't been around Scotland all that much. I lived in town back in Ireland. Then my parents moved my siblings and I down to the London. And before I knew it, I became a townie. Bit of a city girl, if you would. It was nice a change though, from all the buildings. To see the open land and to feel the light airy breeze gave me some sort of comfort in me. I felt comfortable, so it was nice for a change.

It was also a change to leave the castle for Christmas. It's been over a couple years since I have. It was oddly familiar, but at the same time...the opposite. I was going to a home for Christmas, but I wasn't going home to my family. But to another person's family instead.

Then again, in a sense, the twins were almost like my family. Whether I had liked it or not, the twins became two figures in my life that sought out to comfort, protect, and care for me. Of course, I had been adamant in the beginning when their presence had been awkward, uncomfortable and unfamiliar. But now, to think of them losing hope in me or not being at my side was an unwanted fate. The idea didn't sit well with me at all.

In actuality, they made me want to be better. To just stop stringing myself along the past…

To get better.

To move on.

To want to talk.

I-I was thankful of them…And even more surprisingly to James. James…

James was as well a big help. He voluntarily wanted to talk to me. To interact. I was thankful as well…I was-

"Oi- Mara, come on!" Lorcan snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked towards him and Lysander, who were already on the steps leading up to the block that was their home.

On our way here, the twins and their mother were explaining the layout of their home to me. Apparently Luna and Rolf had decided to build a home near the home Luna grew up in before the twins were born. It looked almost similar to her previous home, but Luna had said that it was much more bigger and spacious in the inside. In all honesty, knowing the wizarding world, I wouldn't be surprised if their home had been a tent.

But I was proved wrong. Their home was rather large in person, and it was no tent either. It was similar to their grandad's home, but in comparison to the pictures their home seemed much bigger to me. It was oddly shaped though, I must admit. Then again, aren't most wizarding homes?

But it was home to them, no matter. Home is home.

"Yeah! Come on, slowpoke. I'm getting tired of carrying your luggage." Lysander whined. Rolling my eyes, I quickly caught up to them and followed them in their home.

James

It was good to be back home in Godric's Hollow. Good to be around family during the holidays. I had missed my room, and my parents and every other person who was in our family.

But now...Being home didn't quite feel the same as to compared to how it was before going to Hogwarts. Now, it felt both familiar and unfamiliar. As if it was a friends house I would often stay at. I knew this place was mine, but somehow, it didn't really feel like it. And Hogwarts ended up being that home instead.

I walked further into my bedroom, looking around. It looked the same, needless to say. Posters of several quidditch teams were plastered on my grey walls, and an unkempt desk was on the side. Those weren't the only things in there, of course. But I wasn't too keen on admiring every angle of my room.

I stared at my neatly kept bed -the work of my mother, no doubt- and walked over and fell right into it. Closing my eyes, I let the familiar atmosphere soak in and tried to adjust to the place I would only be spending a few weeks in. But I-

Knock, knock.

"James?" My eyebrows furrowed, when I realized that it was Dom's voice. I briefly wondered what she was doing here.

I sat up, replying, "Yeah, come in," Upon entering, I realized that it wasn't only Dominique that stood behind the door. It was also Dom, Fred, and Roxy, "What are you lot here? Shouldn't you be at home?" Although our entire family's close, we weren't all together 24/7 in one giant reunion party. Our whole clan might be close, but not to the point where all our houses lined up to each other. Well, except for Rosie and Hugo. They were only next door. They would've been down the street from us, but Dad and Uncle Ron wanted to conjoin our backyards together so we'd have a big place to play quidditch.

But we all knew that they just wanted to be next-door neighbors. Mum said they planned it out one night when they both started auror training.

However, the rest of fam-bam were scattered around the UK. In actuality, we were pretty far apart from each other. But considering that we're wizards, it felt like we were all next door to each other. We were all one floo transport away from them all. Or apparation. Whichever, really.

"Our mums brought us here. Said something about planning the New Years party with your Mum and nana." Dom replied. Our new years party was something we always had every year at gran's house. It was the one event that everyone went to. Even Neville, Hannah and Alice came around, despite them not even being related to us.

"Is Louis and Victoire here as well?"

She shook her head, "Not Vic. She's in Paris until tomorrow, something about one of her shops. But Louis is. He's with Al in his room. "

"And the others?"

"I saw Aunt Hermione, but that's it. Everyone else is busy. Mum said Auntie Audrey was suppose to be here, but she's at work." Roxanne mentioned.

"How 'bout Molly and Lucy?"

Dominique scoffed, "You know them. They won't come around unless there's a dinner, lunch or some sort of family event. They're always busy."

"Blame uncle Percy for that."

"I'll be sure to mention it to him." Rox chuckled.

"So where's the party going to at this year, anyway?" Fred wondered aloud.

"Don't you remember? We always go in order. Last year it was here, so this year it's at Nana's."

Fred groaned, "But it's going to be sooo crowded. Don't get me wrong, I love gran and her home and all. But only if it's just us. There's barely enough room there. Do you have any idea how much people is going to be at the party?"

"Well that's why they put up an extension, you numpty." Rox shot, "And of course we bloody well know. We've been going to those parties ever since we were born.

"But, It's not just us lot," I interjected, "We've got to invite the minister and his family, Teddy's gran, the Longbottoms, and Malfoys."

"And don't forget the Scamanders!" Rox reminded.

"Plus Mara, don't forget that as well." Dom interjected.

Surprised, I said, "Mara?" My eyes furrowing in confusion, "Why would she be coming here? Isn't she back at Hogwarts?"

She shook her head, "She's staying with the Scamander's this Christmas."

My eyebrows raised up in surprise. Questions and curiosity raced through me, "Really?" I replied.

"Yeah, good thing too actually. That girl hasn't been home for the holiday's in ages. We thought she did, but when we all got back it was pretty obvious that she's been staying at the castle."

"Maybe her parents were busy?" Roxy offered.

Dom could only shrug, "Possibly. You know her, she doesn't talk so we wouldn't really know," She turned to look at me, "You seem surprised."

"I just didn't expect her to be with the twins. I mean, It's pretty obvious she's close to them and they must've done a lot of convincing to get her to come home with them."

"You make that sound so wrong…James." Fred pointed out to which I rolled my eyes.

"You get what I mean, mate. She doesn't trust easily."

"Well all I know was that they tried to put in her a situation where she couldn't refuse."

"How?"

"I packed all her stuff when she went down for breakfast this morning. The twins said that it was for her own good and that she simply just had to go. I dunno. All I know is that they asked me last night if I could pack her stuff up when she wasn't looking and then right when they were about to leave, they were going to tell her to join them for the holidays. I guess it was hard for her to say no."

Fred then then said, "What makes you say that? How did you find out what she said? She could've said no."

"Well for one, I did see her on the train earlier."

"Why didn't any of us invite her over for the holidays?" I asked.

"You bloomin' joking," Dom said incredulously, "And give her a heart attack just by being around us? Do you not know how many people come in and out of here? Everyone one of our homes is like the station! Haven't you seen her reaction just by sitting with us at the table? She'd panic herself to death."

"That and we barely know her. Dom barely knows the girl and they've shared a dorm for years." Roxy pointed out, "Don't get me wrong. I like Murray. But she wouldn't be comfortable here. Plus, it's really awkward in all honesty. Sorry James."

That was right. She wouldn't.

"Are the Scamanders coming over for the yearly new years party at Grans?"

Fred inclined his head, "Probably. They do every year, so they must be. Why?"

"Well if they're attending, wouldn't Mara also be as well?" I wondered.

Everyone was quiet for a minute, all depicting the possible situation within their minds.

"Well, It's a good thing Aunt Audrey's a healer." Piped Fred.

"Why?" Dom asked, her eyebrows furrowed together.

"Because in case Mara comes 'round and suddenly dies at the amount of people speaking to her, then at least Aunty Audrey's there."

Roxanne smacked her brother's arm, "Idiot. That's not funny."