The Beginning of a Lazy Summer ((Zara))

[cdc]

Jamison peered around for Meyghan as he entered Hogsmeade station, but she wasn't anywhere in sight. Jamison watched a flash of blond hair disappear onto the train as he looked around. Wendi. He thought smiling. Jamison shook his head lightly, again looking for Meyghan. It wasn’t as if they had planned to ride together on the train, but Jamison hoped that they would. He sighed. Oh well. He would defiantly see her for the summer, right? Jamison sighed again. Why didn’t he ask questions? Finally, Jamison decided that he would send her an owl to find out her plans for the summer. He knew that she had been planning on a trip to Italy, but he hadn’t heard anything else about it sense she had first mentioned it. Jamison finally gave up the search as the train was about to leave and he was supposed to arrive early for Prefect Duties. Oh well. He looked around the station one more time before loading the train and walking down the hall to find a place to leave his stuff and then go do his duties as fast as possible. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to do them, he just felt the need for a quiet or non-drama ride home. After all, it was weird to think that when he came back to school again, he would be a 7th year. Wow, had things changed over the years. It didn’t seem that long ago that Jamison had his first real conversation with Meyghan in Hogsmeade during fifth year and now they were nearly seventh years. He sighed finding an empty compartment and setting his stuff down, time did fly.

“Could you not run? Thank you.” Jamison called to some Slytherin third year boys that were obviously up to something. Jamison knew that he would only find out what it was in time. For some reason doing his prefect duties only made him long for school not to be over. It wasn’t as if Jamison didn’t like going home, it was just that it would be a long, quiet summer. Wendi was staying at the McDuff mansion which did scare Jamison a bit to tell the truth. It wasn’t that Jami didn’t trust Wendi. It was just weird to think of her dating Carr which Wendi did insist that she wasn’t. Still, what kind of big brother would Jamison be if he bought that? Jamison smiled a tad moving down the hall just ready to sit down and do nothing for the time being. Jamison thought of his London home as he walked down the hall to his compartment. It would be basically empty as his grandparents had plans to spend the summer in Paris. Jamison smiled hoping that they would have a pleasant. That left him in an empty home with a sister in Birmingham and Meyghan was still going to Italy as far as Jamison knew. He sighed. What would he do with the time? It wasn’t like Jamison to throw a party and he wasn’t going to. Jamison sighed. This was the beginning of a long, boring summer that was for sure.

Jamison walked lazily back to his compartment after finding out that the Slytherin boys had dropped stink pellets into compartment full of Hufflepuff girls. After sorting everything out he had managed to slip away for the time being, to sit in non-craziness. Jamison opened his compartment to find a girl sitting in there already. He smiled slightly knowing who it was and not having a problem with her being there. “Zara Phoenix, come here often?” He joked taking a seat across from her where he had already laid his stuff down. Jamison stared out of the window watching the countryside slip away as the train had already began moving about twenty minutes before. “So, are you reading for the summer or just ready to come back and start seventh year?” He asked curiously still eying the window before looking back to Zara.

[Zara Phoenix]

Zara pushed back a strand of ginger-brown hair that flashed red in the summer sun, making her way carefully through several younger students shovelling past excitedly to get onto the Hogwarts Express, rather unaware of her as they hit the trunk she was attempting to carry. A little fearful she’d end up half dead before she had even reached home, Zara nipped quickly into the nearest carriage, glad to be away from the high-pitched shrieks and running feet of the young ones. She was glad that she wasn’t a prefect, having to deal with such atrocities. Sighing to herself with a wry grin that twitched on her lips, Zara couldn’t find herself to be annoyed much though. It was the end of another year, and even if she wanted to deny it, the truth was she was just as excited as those first years. If she had been younger, she would’ve been prancing about just as happily and wildly, if not more so. But, Zara smiled to herself as she admonished herself internally and dragged her trunk into a free compartment, she wasn’t a first year anymore; in fact, she was going into her seventh and final year at Hogwarts, and she needed to act like the adult she was… or was becoming, anyway. Patting her sturdy trunk that had accompanied her for the last six years nostalgically, Zara proceeded to levitate it with ease away so that it wouldn’t get in the way during the long journey home.

Zara sat down and made herself comfortable as she turned her wand over and over again in her hands, eyes staring down at it fondly. It had been by her side for the last six years, since the first day she’d stepped into Diagon Alley, an excited and thrilled eleven-year-old with a prominent American/Russian accent. Perhaps back then, although it did not show, Zara had not felt secure in her own skin, especially having been passed from mother to father like a ball in a game, but settling down at Hogwarts had gradually smoothed the sharp edges out, bringing out the very best in her. Even though nowadays family life was complicated, jumping from staying with her mother’s new family at Christmas, and jetting back to America to join her father, Zara had grown accustomed to it, and over time, had accepted it as something beautiful in life, rather than a negative aspect. The prospect of spending her upcoming summer holidays with her father brought a loving, eager smile to Zara’s face as she finally pocketed her trusty wand with a pat back into her robes. It had been a whole year since she had last seen her father, and despite constant owls to one another, seeing him in the flesh was different than reading his familiar handwriting.

Zara was sure Sapphire was looking forward to the holiday in America too. As much as the two loved England, returning to one of their homes brought back many fond memories. A small smile etching onto her face, Zara wondered where her twin was, and if she’d see her during the train ride. The two hadn’t agreed on anything, but Zara doubted that she’d come across Sapphire until they reached their destination. Generally they didn’t spend too much time together at Hogwarts, because they had a different set of friends, and they’d get enough of one another during the holidays anyway. Zara was sure her twin could look after herself well enough anyway; like she kept reminding herself, she, and Sapp, were not firsties anymore. Zara was wondering curiously if she would be spending her train ride alone after the ride had begun, and where her friends had gone, when lo and behold, the compartment door slid open to reveal a familiar figure. Smiling upwards, Zara greeted the incoming boy with a welcome grin, recognising Jamison Parson, one of her year’s prefects, at once. “Not really.” Zara smirked jokingly in reply to his words. “Nah, I’ll be relaxing this summer.” She admitted with a comfortable smile, leaning back into the seat and glancing out of the window at the view momentarily. “I don’t want to stress too much before the NEWTs. I want to come back fresh and revitalised, that’s what I believe holidays are for. You? Got anything planned?”

[cdc]

Jamison smiled and nodded as Zara said that she would just have a relaxing summer. Relaxing could be the word to describe Jamison's upcoming summer, but it wasn't the word that he chose to represent the upcoming days. Even though boring seemed to be a childish word, Jamison couldn't seem to find a better one to define the rest of his summer. Was there even such a word out there? Jamison sighed. He knew his summer would be nothing but boredom and still he felt like a little kid for thinking that. But, Jamison knew it was the truth. Wendi wanted to explore the world. She always had. So of course she had took the chance to stay with Carr in Birmingham. True, that wasn't the world, but that was the closest to the world that Wendi had ever gotten. Jamison secretly wished that she would have an adventurous summer, but still he knew that she would be missed in their London home. Jamison then thought of his grand-parents and their summer in Paris. Jamison himself had been to Paris several times and wondered what the appeal was, but his grand-parents loved the city with all their hearts. Jamison sighed. Everyone else seemed to have grand plans for their summers but him. Of well. Jamison could handle boring. Right?

"Relaxing is good." He said nodding wishing that plain relaxing would be the forecast for his summer. But, relaxing alone for two or so months in a house wasn't relaxing to Jamison at all. Maybe to some people, but not him. Jamison had always been a layed back guy, but relaxing wasn't an idea too familiar with him and if it was, he wouldn't call it that at all. Jamison sighed letting his glance go to the sun lit window that looked out on the beautiful countryside. Silently, Jamison wondered how much magic was used to conceal the train from muggles, but he would never discuss his odd thoughts out loud. Nope, he had learned to deal away with that at a young age. Jamison nodded. "Yea, next year will be fun and extremely hard, won't it? Everyone will be scurrying around studying and trying to get last minute plans for jobs." He nodded thinking that he still hadn't really chosen what he wished to do yet. Jamison shook his head as she asked if he had anything planned. "If nothing is anything, then yes." He laughed a tad. "I'll be in an empty London house for the entire summer. Fun to some. Boredom to me." He smirked thinking of the empty house. Jamison sighed. "Oh well. I guess I can get ready for classes in the fall. Sounds like a ton of fun, eh?" He joked thinking of the extra work that he could do at home and how pathetic that really was.

[Zara Phoenix]

Zara nodded with a dry smile at the thought of their next year being “fun”. She was sure it would be, but at the same time, like Jamison had said, it would be extremely hard. The NEWTs were no easy thing; even geniuses had to revise to gain good grades, and since Zara was no genius, she’d have to work twice as much. She sighed more to herself than anything at that thought, but didn’t complain. That was what the NEWTs were about… that’s what exams were about. Zara didn’t enjoy them (who did?), but she accepted it and did her fair share of work when the time came around. Life wasn’t all fun. However, this summer she did not intend to open a single textbook. Not until the last week or so of the holidays, anyway, when Zara planned to brush up on her first year of NEWTs’ learnt information. She didn’t want to forget it all after having so much fun, which was bound to happen. However, despite the obvious hardships that lay in trap for Zara and her fellow seventh years with their upcoming exams, she knew she should enjoy it as well, which would be difficult whilst slaving away at the NEWTs, but Zara believed you couldn’t dedicate your one life to just work. Fun was meant to be part of life, if not all of it. “It will.” Zara finally answered good-humouredly with the same dry smile on her lips. “I plan to enjoy it though, if at all possible. I’m quite apprehensive about the careers applications though. I’m not sure what I want to be, so…” Zara tilted her head to one side with a quiet sigh. She hadn’t given much thought to her future, not yet, anyway. She supposed she had an outline of what she wanted to be though... Zara believed that one had to go for something you were passionate about, and there was no doubt about it; her one greatest passion in life was Quidditch. On the other hand, being an Auror really appealed to Zara, and although she didn't doubt her abilities, she wondered how her choices would clash with Sapphire's.

Zara smiled back at Jamison though, restraining herself from worrying too much. She’d never been one to obsess and analyse too deeply, and took each new day as it came. “What about you? What exactly are you planning on doing, Jami?” She had planned to talk to Sapphire about the matter once they were home, when she had her twin sister all to herself. Zara needed some reassurance from Sapphire, because Sapphire was always going to be in her future, whatever the both of them decided to do. Sapphire was always with Zara through the thick and the thin, and that wasn’t about to change. Zara knew that whatever her twin decided to do, she would support her unquestioningly. She smiled sympathetically at Jamison when he stated he’d have an empty summer alone, glad her own holidays weren’t going to waste. “That’s a shame. You can’t spend all your summer working. It puts a real downer on things. You could pick up some friends and go to Paris or something.” Zara shrugged with a chuckle. “We are old enough now. We can even apparate.” Zara smiled encouragingly, proud of her own abilities to be able to apparate without a single flaw. It had been something she had gotten used to almost immediately. “I would count myself in, but I’m afraid I’m in America most of the summer, visiting my Dad. What about Meyghan? Isn’t she free over the holidays? I’m envious of you both. I don’t have another half to spend my time with, just Sapp. Who is technically my other half, but you know what I mean.” Zara laughed good-naturedly. Despite her words, she wasn’t searching for a boyfriend though. Zara felt that when she met the right person, then she’d be ready. She just hadn’t met anyone of interest yet, and it wasn’t of high importance to her. “Hey, don’t you have a younger sister in Hufflepuff?” Zara asked as she remembered Jamison had siblings too. “Won’t she be with you?”

[cdc]

Thinking about seventh year worried Jamison a bit. He would have to worry about finding a job plus who would take care of Wendi? After all, he was supposed to get custody of her the year before, but it just wasn’t the right time back then with her not talking to him. Jamison sighed. Stressful would be a good word to define the upcoming year. It wasn’t exactly an unknown fact that Jamison had always had a lot on his plate. His fault, he knew. He just liked to be involved in different sorts of things from Quidditch to being a Prefect. Jamison did like being involved at Hogwarts, sometimes thought he tended to get over-worked with everything he did. Why did he have to do so much? He supposed that he liked to remain busy. Like his mother, gram always said. She apparently often over worked herself with her studies and other things. Apparently, she too had been a Ravenclaw Prefect and she had played Seeker back in her day. Jamison supposed he got this from her as gram said, but he didn’t talk about that much. Jamison sighed trying to shake the thought of his seventh year out of his mind, but there was no stopping that. After all, it wasn’t that far away. He couldn’t just pretend that it wasn’t going to happen because it was.

Jamison thought about career applications for a moment. “Yea, it’s a weird thought to think that soon we’ll be done with Hogwarts and all be getting jobs.” He sighed as he thought of working in the ministry. Jamison nodded as Zara said she wasn’t sure what she wanted to be. “Me either. Well, not really. I wan to work for the ministry, I’m just not sure exactly what I want department I want to work for there..” He said thinking back to the list of department and jobs. Nope. None of them made him feel at all interested. Well, none yet had. “So, I guess I need to start thinking about the future, well when it comes to jobs at least.” Jamison thought about Meyghan wondering if they had a future together. Jamison had liked Meyghan when they became friends in fifth year. It was just weird to think of future plans because before her, they had all just been about Jamison. Now, Jamison wasn’t so sure. Jamison smiled. “I can get a part-time job. Talk about loads of fun.” He joked. Jamison smiled as Zara suggested apparating to Paris. “I hate Paris, but I get your point about doing something. I thought about to the McDuff mansion to see Wendi, but I’m sure I’ll get embarrass her and her boyfriend if I do.” Jami didn’t really care about embarrass Wendi too much. He was a big brother after all. “She insisted that they aren’t dating. I don’t buy it.” He chuckled a bit knowing his sister too well to believe that line.

Jamison nodded. “Apparating makes life so much easier. No more Floo. No more portkeys.” He smiled. Jamison had become used to the feeling of Apparation, but he had never gotten used to using a portkey. Jamison smiled. “I should mention a trip of some seventh years though. Give me something fun to do this summer besides reading NEWTS Potions books.” Jamison loathed the thought. He nodded as Zara talked about going to America with her dad. “That sounds cool. I’ve never been to America, really. All I’ve really heard from some friends is that they have great music and great pizza.” He laughed not really knowing if those things were true. “I think Meyghan had plans to go to Italy this summer, but I’m really not sure. We’ve both been so busy with end of the year stuff..” He sighed. Jamison loved spending time with her, but it had just been hard lately was all with everything he had going on. Still, Jamison knew that he would have to make this up to her. He smiled. Another half? He had never put it in those terms before. Jamison did care for Meyghan a lot and he was glad that she finally knew this. Jamison shook his head. “That’s Wendi.” He said in response to what Zara said about his younger sister. “I mentioned her a minute ago. I’ve heard that I do that a lot.” He chuckled. “She’s staying at her ‘friend’s’ mansion in Birmingham. I’m telling you, having a little sister is not easy.” He sighed. Of course Jamison cared about Wendi. Too much, she had said before, but Jami didn’t care if she liked it or not. He would always look after her.

[Zara Phoenix]

“It’s a bit too much, being thrown into adulthood so suddenly, huh?” Zara commented softly as she watched Jamison’s contrasting expressions. It seemed he was rather doubtful about it all, and Zara felt discomfort radiating from him. Not wanting to put the Ravenclaw in an unwanted position, Zara continued nevertheless, thinking that this topic wasn’t one she particularly wanted to discuss anyway, but she’d give a final input into it. The only person she wished to talk to concerning her future was Sapphire. Otherwise, it was one of those things Zara preferred to keep to herself. Sapphire was the only person she didn’t hide anything from, although there were times Zara simply chose not to mention anything to her twin. “If you feel you want to work at the Ministry, go for it. Don’t worry too much about it now.” Zara’s calm advice was. She had never been one for too much anxiety; take life as it comes, right? “Perhaps do some research into the different departments there to get a feel for what you’re suited to.” She then suggested. If Zara were in Jamison’s position, she wouldn’t sit around loitering and worrying. It was a waste of her time and efforts. Rather, she’d get going and throw herself into finding out more about prospective jobs in the Ministry. If Zara wanted something to be done, she had to do it herself, without any delay. It was one of her strong traits, something people admired about her. Zara decided to round off their conversation by giving vague details about her own decisions, drawing the flow away from Jamison to her. It wasn’t fair, directing it all at him, and Zara had always liked to be equal to one another. You give her something, she’ll give you something back. “I was thinking about becoming an Auror.” Zara admitted quietly, a musing expression on her face. “But I love Quidditch a lot. You might have noticed that… So I don’t plan on giving that up. But I’m not too worried. I’ll just life as it comes.” Zara sent Jamison a brilliant, reassured smile.

Zara nodded when Jamison suggested a part-time job; that would certainly pass the time, gain more skills and experience, and earn a bit of pocket money. It may not be fun, Zara smiled wryly, but it would certainly be advantageous. She tilted her head to one side with a slight frown when Jamison said he didn’t like Paris, and wondered how that was possible. Zara had chosen to mention Paris because it was the closest and most famous city to Britain, and everyone wanted to go to Paris, right? She had only been once, but she had thought it was a wonderful city, filled with exquisite food, funny people and amazing sights to see. If only she could go there again at some point, but there just wasn’t any time right now, what with visiting her father in America for most of the summer. “Why don’t you like Paris” Zara questioned with a little disbelief. “I went there a few years ago, and I thought it was beautiful. I’d love to go again.” Perhaps Sapphire would accompany her after their seventh year, just the two of them to Paris… and then fly to Russia. It had been a while since the twins had visited their childhood home, and for some reason Zara longed to see the city again, feel the slip of Russian language on her tongue. Zara listened as Jamison mentioned a girl called Wendi, and racked her brains to remember why this name was so familiar. The surname McDuff was also memorable… Zara was sure it belonged to a boy in the year below them. Despite her confusion, Zara chuckled with Jamison anyway at his words.

Zara nodded along to Jamison’s words, appreciative of apparition herself. She had never enjoyed Flooing, and it depended too much on connected fireplaces and Floo powder. Port keys had to be issued and whatever, and was just as uncomfortable as Flooing. Apparition was much more convenient and easy, though probably more dangerous, that had to be said. Zara hadn’t encountered any problems as of yet, but the thought of splinching was painful and off-putting. Zara gave an amused chuckle at Jamison’s next words about Potions, knowing how he felt as he looked disgusted at the thought of reading up what Professor Snape had taught them over the last year. Zara had never particularly enjoyed Potions herself, though she put this down to mainly her dislike of the teacher. It didn’t help she was a Gryffindor and didn’t care to back down from being treated unfairly. It had often gotten her in detention over the last few years, forcing Zara to abhor Snape even more, but if she wanted to become an Auror, Potions was a necessity, and she had worked hard at it to make sure she didn’t let Snape pull her down. Zara was not about to let some slimy teacher ruin her plans. “America’s great. The music’s all right, but yeah, the pizza is nice.” Zara laughed cheerfully as she recalled the memories she harboured in her mind. “I lived there for a while, it’s a cool place. We go every summer. Sapphire probably never mentioned it to you. She tends to stick to herself, hm?” Zara chuckled at this, knowing her twin’s more reserved personality. Whilst Zara had a large group of friends that spanned the three houses, though they were mainly in Gryffindor, Sapphire always had a select few she confided in. But despite their differences, the twins remained as close as ever. Zara nodded in understanding as Jamison sighed over his girlfriend. She wondered if the two were going through rough times, but was considerate enough not to ask. It was none of her business anyway; if Jamison wanted to talk about it, he could, but Zara was in no position to force him too. She had never been one to delve into others’ affairs. “Oh yes. Your sister, I see.” Zara smiled as she finally recalled why the name Wendi was so familiar. Wendi Parson, that was it. Zara saw her around school; looked nothing like her brother. A Hufflepuff, if Zara wasn’t mistaken, and perhaps her boyfriend was one too, the McDuff guy in the year below them. “I kind of get that. Sapp is younger than me by four minutes.” Zara laughed. “Though she often acts like the older one. We get on well, even though we’re pretty different, you may have noticed. I’m glad we’re not identical or anything. We’ve never looked at each other as who is the older or younger one… We see each other as more of equals, you know? So I don’t completely get it, but I guess you must be protective of Wendi, huh?” Zara asked with a kind smile.