I never break promises (Zara)

[JordanCortes]

Christmas time was almost here! Carols were filling her head and present ideas were stopping short. Jordan hummed Deck the Halls as she made her way to the Great Hall. She slammed her books down on the Hufflepuff table, causing everyone to look at her, with a small apologizing smile she left the table to look at the tree. The ornaments hung loosely, as if they were about to fall, but professor Flitwick had done a marvelous job with them...Jordan admired them before turning tand walking back to the table, grabbing her books, and heading to the Library.

[Zara Phoenix]

Zara Phoenix was sitting in the library, finishing her potions homework. It was not a very usual sight. The library was one place she avoided as much as she could. Being more of an outdoor freak, the quiet, tense (or at least that was how she perceived it) environment of the library was really not her thing. Finishing the last bits of her homework, she rolled up her parchment, grabbed her study material and headed out of the library, heaving a huge sigh of relief as she walked out into the busy corridor.

There were students in every direction, chattering noisily. It was almost Christmas and naturally everyone was in quite a good mood. She was walking ahead, staring at a beautifully decorated Christmas tree on her left when she bumped into someone. "Ouch.....oh, I'm sorry," she said hastily as she bent down to pick up her books, which had fallen. Standing up straight and looking at the girl, she realised she'd seen her before. "Hey, I know you. I've seen you around." She paused for a bit, before continuing, "Are you in quidditch? That must've been it." Then noticing something she hadn't quite realised until now, she gaped in horror. There was ink splattered all over the other girl's robes. Zara had barely realised her ink bottle had fallen off and smashed. She was too busy trying to recollect where she had seen the other girl before that she hadn't realised what a mess she had made. Now looking down, her face turned red as she saw glass pieces scattered across the floor. "Oh dear me!"she exclaimed, apologetic in her tone. "I am so sorry. It's all my fault. I didn't see you coming. I was so busy admiring the tree....that one, over there," she said and turned around to point. Then turning back, she flushed as she saw the expression on the girl's face.

[JordanCortes]

Jordan looked down at her robes, then up at the girl. She smiled, took out her wand and with a wave of her wand the ink was gone and her robes looked brand new.

"Nah, it happens to me all the time. Yes, I play Quidditch. Hufflepuff Beater. I'm Jordan. Pleased to meet your aqutaince." Jordan said, sticking her wand in her book bag and putting some books in the huge flap. She smiled up at the girl, who Jordan noted was a Ravenclaw and looked back up at the tree.

"Of course you were admiring it! It's gorgeos isn't it? It makes me feel at home." Jordan added with a knowing smile. She shifted the weight of her messenger bag to her other shoulder and hopped from one foot to the other, she was ancy tonight...

[Zara Phoenix]

Grinning, Zara introduced herself, "Nice meetin' you. I'm Zara. Zara Phoenix." She turned around to look at the tree again for a brief second before turning back to face the girl. "So what are you doing this Christmas? I haven't made any plans yet. My sister, Sapphire, and I usually go to our mom's for Christmas but I'm not sure about this year. I was thinking of doing something different. I don't know what Sapphire has in mind though. Have you met her? We're twins!" she finished.

Suddenly her stomach started to growl. It was rather loud and Zara was quite sure Jordan had heard it as well. "I'm a little hungry. Haven't had my lunch....can you believe it? And it's almost dinnertime." She reached into her bag and pulled out a container. Opening it, she extended her arm, offering its contents to Jordan. "Home-made mince pies. They're excellent. Have one," she said and took one herself.

[JordanCortes]

"You're Sapphire's twin? Of course! That's why you two look so much a like! Well, it's nice to meet you!" Jordan responded, the little lightbulb going off in her brain when something clicked together and made the puzzle whole again.

"Oh, uh, Christmas. I don't know. My brother's think I should go home, but home life isn't really great. And I don't have any other plans, so I guess I will stay here..unless something comes up.Mince pies, eh? Never had one..." Jordan answered, as she took a pie and bit into it. It was quite tastey, and she enjoyed it very much. It soothed her rumbling stomach that was threatening to awaken.

[Zara Phoenix]

"Well, what do you think? They're good, aren't they?" asked Zara eagerly as Jordan bit into a mince pie. "I got them off McGonagoll yesterday. She seemed to be in a rather good mood.....said one of the school elves had made them for her. She gave me a couple of them, must've seen me eyeing them greedily!" she went on, with a laugh.

Noticing the books in Jordan's hand, she asked her,"Were you on your way to the library?" Then taking a closer look at the top of the pile, she realised in was a potions textbook. "I was just doing my potions homework. It took me two long hours to complete it. Don't you just hate Snape? He's always giving us loads to do.....Potions alone can take up half your morning." Shaking her head, she looked out the window and pointed at the sky outside, a bright blue with streaks of white. "Such a lovely winter's morning. Wouldn't you rather be playing outside?" And then, impulsively, she said," In fact, let's go outside. You can do your homework later. It's too good a day to waste in the library!" No sooner had the words left her mouth when she realised she might have said the wrong thing. She bit her lip. Who was she to tell Jordan what to do? They barely knew each other. She could only hope Jordan was as outgoing a person as she was, and would therefore jump at every opportunity not to study.