I- Sydney

"Sydney, you're late." My manager, Travis, scolded me as I hurried into the Three Broomsticks.

I quickly took off my robes revealing my work unifrom, and put on the half apron around my waist.

"I know, I'm sorry." I apologized. "I was finishing up my Transfiguration homework and I lost track of time."

The place was dead, but it was only the calm before the storm. Today is the first Saturday since Term had started again, meaning all the students from third to seventh year will be flooding Hogsmeade at exactly three o'clock.

"Just clean the tables, and get ready for the massacre." Travis instructed.

This time of the year was our biggest turn out. All the students coming back from the Christmas Holidays with their Christmas money eager for our most famous menu item: Butterbeer.

Whilst I was cleaning my final table, one of my coworkers Bethany came up and started putting silverware on the now cleaned tables.

"How was break for you?" She asked me. Bethany just got back from vacation with her family in Paris.

"Not much of one." I joked.

"What you, your mum and brother just stayed in the entire time?"

"No, I kinda just stayed here. Caught up on my homework, studied for classes, and worked."

"How'd your mum feel about that?" She asked.

"She obviously wanted me home, but we kind of needed the money." I shrugged. "I honestly didn't mind staying, I really did need to catch up on my work."

Just as Bethany finished placing the final set of silverware on the table I heard the familiar hour chime from the Grandfather clock in the back corner of the restaurant. One by one students flooded into the sections, until we had a waiting line.

"Hi, welcome to Three Broomsticks." I greeted for the twelfth time, and handed the couple their menus. "My name is Sydney, I'll be your server today. Can I get you something to start off for a drink?"

"Yes, could I get a Butterbeer and a water please." The girl with blue-black hair said.

"And I will take a Butterbeer, as well." I jotted down his drink.

"Frozen." He added.

After I got the couple their drinks and took their orders. I noticed a new party took residency in my section. When I walked over to their booth, I couldn't help but smile.

"Hey Syd!" The most familiar voice on the planet greeted me.

There at the table sat my two best friends Fred and George Weasley. With them sat their fellow Quidditch team member Angelina Johnson and their friend Lee Jordan.

"Hey guys!" I greeted them back. "What can I get you all to drink."

"Butterbeer for the table!" Lee shouted.

When I came back with four Butterbeers, I walked into them in deep conversation with each other.

"Seriously George you'd be stupid not-Oh hey, thanks Sydney!" Lee said.

After I handed Angelina her drink, I took out my notepad and pen. "Are you guys ready to order?"

The four of them nodded.

"Could I get the Cornish Pasties with a garden salad, please." Angelina started.

"And what dressing would you like with that?"

"Italian, please."

I jotted the order down.

"And you." I nodded towards Fred.

"Rotisserie Smoked Chicken Platter with a side of chips."

"I'll take," Lee began, "The Chicken and Ribs Platter."

"And I'll have the Squareribs platter." George smiled.

"All right, this will be out soon." I smiled at the four-some. "Enjoy your Butterbeers."

I grabbed the menus, and made my way to the kitchen to drop off the order, and deliver the food that awaits from one of my previous tables. As soon as I left the main common space I felt a hand on my shoulder. When I turned around I saw a familiar red head with a blazing smile.

"Hey, we missed you this Christmas." George said as if to explain he noticed my absence at the Burrow for the holidays.

"I'm sorry. I ended up staying here for the holidays, we were really understaffed for those two weeks." I explained to him.

"Working yourself to the bone?" He joked.

I shurgged. "Eh, it hasn't been too bad."

He rolled his eyes at me. "What time do you get out tonight?"

"Seven." I answered him.

"Well how 'bout we hang out the last two hours we have at Hogsmeade after you get out, and the three of us can catch up."

I sighed. "George I'm with you and Fred for most of the day, everyday." I saw his face drop as I spoke those words. "But, we most definitely can catch up about the break after Im out."

He smiled. "All right, we'll meet you here then after your shift."

After he left, I dropped off his table's orders, and grabbed the food that was up for another table.

-*-

I watched the clock slowly chime down the final seconds until seven. My apron was off as soon as the hand hit twelve.

"Im off!" I yelled to Travis.

He kind of grunted from the back. I walked into the staff lockerroom, and made way to my locker. I grabbed my robe and put it on while I draped my bag over my shoulder.

When I walked back into the dining area it was almost empty. Most students had headed back to the castle, since curfews at nine.

I looked towards the entrance, and no one was there. I didn't quite expect him to be there on time, so I quietly slid into the empty booth beside me.

"Meeting someone?" Bethany asked. "You never linger after your shift."

I smiled at her comment. "Yeah."

"Is it that guy you like-the guy on the Quidditch team?"

"Shh." I hushed her. "And no, it's just George."

"Oh the guy that likes you."

I rolled my eyes at her. "Can't a girl and a guy just be friends, without anyone accusing one of having," I air quoted the next word, "'feelings'."

Bethany chuckled as she walked away. My eyes lingered to the door, and then to the clock. Five past seven and he still wasn't here. I shrugged it off, and grabbed my Transfiguration textbook out of my bag. I opened the book on Chapter 14, and began to read the passage.

After ten minutes of reading, and deciding I couldn't study with voices distracting, I closed the book and placed it in my bag. George was fifteen minutes late, so I deemed that he must've forgotten. When I stood up, I came face to face with a familiar red head.

"Oh, you're here." I said surprisedly.

"Well don't act so surprised." He laughed. "I did tell you I'd meet you here after you got out."

"Yeah, it's quater past seven." I pointed out. "Thought you might've forgot, and headed back to the castle."

He rolled his eyes at my last comment. "No, I just got busy and lost track of time. C'mon let's get outta here we gotta go meet Fred."

"Oh." I said. "He's not with you?"

"Let's go." He urged as he ushered me out of the restaurant.

The twins have been my best friends ever since I could remember. My mum and Mrs. Weasley were friends back when they went to Hogwarts(even though they were a couple years apart). My mum even works at the Ministry of Magic with Mr. Weasley.

Mrs. Weasley would watch my younger brother, Cade, and I while my mum and dad were at work. Thats when I met Fred and George, we were the same age so we easily got along, and were inseparable since the day we met.

Well, we were inseperable until we got to Hogwarts. The dreaded day of the sorting finally did as I thought it would. We were seperated, the boys in Gryffindor and I in Ravenclaw.

"Mum was super dissapointed you weren't there for Christmas." He reminded me. "She thought since they'd actually be home for Christmas this year you'd show."

"Busy." I reminded hin.

He rolled his eyes. "You always are."

"Hey, in between work and Quidditch I barely have time to study." I defended myself. "And with the O.W.L exams approaching I need to make sure I have time to study. Even if that means staying at school during break."

I kept following George every twist and turn, actually being confused whereever he was taking me. Typically I know all of their secret passageways.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"You'll see." He smiled at me.

After what seemed like forever. We finally came to a hault. I took in my surroundings. The trees were all evergreens drenched in snow. The rocks and bushes could barely even be seen between the darkness and snow.

"Where are we?" I asked.

"Red-tail." George responded.

"Uh, what?"

He stood there quiet for a moment.

"Red-tail." He repeated once more this time a little more irritated.

This time the trees were lit up in Christmas lights. The lights were multi-colored and snaked through the trees and around the bushes making it a circle of light. In the middle of the light circle was a kind of makeshift table of a large round tree stump. On the stump was a couple of gifts. The bottom rectangular gift was wrapped in silver foil wrapping paper. And the top gift was a Jonko's Jokestore bag.

"You guys." I said whilst tearing up.

"George said you stayed here for Christmas." Fred said while he walked out from behind the trees. "So we decided to bring a little Christmas to you-a couple of weeks later."

"The top bag is from Fred and I." George told me. "It's not just Jonko's, we made a visit to Honeydukes as well."

"And the other one is from Mum."

I went up and wrapped Fred into a big bear hug, and mumbled my thanks into his chest. Then I went to give George the same forceful hug. His arms wrapped around me, holding me back.

"Thank you guys so, so much." I said into his chest.

"Well we all know how much you love Christmas lights." He laughed. He rested his chin on my head, "And Im sorry you couldn't go see them this year."