MEET THE THORNBURGS!

DECEMBER 1992

2nd Year

• • • •

The house that the Thornburgs lived in was incredible.

It was exactly what you would think of when you think about a fairy-tale cottage. It was in the middle of the countryside, with a winding stone foot path and a large oak door. The cottage was two stories and made out of stone, with a tall chimney that had smoke coming out of it.

"I must say, it's so lovely to finally meet the girl that our Cora won't stop talking about." Marissa Thornburg exclaimed, as she opened the door to the warm and cosy Thornburg residence.

"Mum." Cora warned her mother.

"What?" The woman asked, "It's just nice to finally meet Annabelle."

"It's really nice to meet you, too, Mrs Thornburg." Annabelle said, as she set her trunk down in the front room to the home.

"Oh, please, call me Marissa." She told the girl.

"Cora!" A warm voice called, as a man entered the room.

"Dad!" Cora grinned, running forward and encasing her father in a hug.

"How are you, Kiddo?" Patrick Thornburg asked, after they let go of each other, ruffling the brunette's hair, "How's school?"

"I'm great, thanks, Dad. School's been good." The girl replied.

Annabelle smiled at the sight of the family together. She could really see Cora in each of her parents. She had her fathers eyes, her mother's kind smile and both of their warm and bubbly personalities.

"And this must be the famous Annabelle," Patrick said, noticing the redhead standing by the door, "I'm Patrick." He introduced himself, shaking the girl's hand.

"Lovely to meet you." Annabelle grinned, shaking his hand.

"You know, our Cora doesn't stop talking about you," He told her, making his daughter turn red, "I feel as though we know you already."

"Okay, we're going to my room now." Cora said, desperately trying to end the conversation, taking her friend's hand, as they both grabbed their trunks and made their way up to the older girl's bedroom.

Annabelle smiled softly, looking around Cora's room, which proudly had her house colours sprinkled around it.

"Um, we can share my bed, or one of us can sleep on a mattress on the floor, and we can swap every night," Cora told the redhead, "Whatever you want to do."

"I don't mind sharing your bed if you're okay with it," Annabelle shrugged, "That's what Harry and I do."

"Okay." Cora nodded with a smile, gaining one back from her friend.

The two stood in comfortable silence for a few moments, before the brunette spoke up.

"By the way," She said, gaining Annabelle's attention, "What everyone's saying at school. About you being the heir of Slytherin and opening the Chamber," Cora started, making the redhead look down slightly, "I don't believe it."

Annabelle's head snapped up, "Really?"

Cora nodded, "Really."

Annabelle smiled slightly, "Thanks." She said, playing with her hands.

The Hufflepuff looked at her friend, tilting her head at the slightly younger girl, "There's something on your mind," She noted, "Want to let it out?" The girl asked, sitting on her bed and patting the empty space next to her.

Annabelle licked her lips, sitting next to her friend, "It's just," She started, letting out a small sigh, "This whole 'Heir of Slytherin' debacle has made me think, and I've realised that I'm sick and tired of everyone calling me 'The Girl Who Lived'. It was Harry that the 'Dark Lord' was trying to kill, and I only have this bloody scar because the curse bounced off of him and towards me, too. Voldemort may have had the intention to kill us both that night, but it was Harry who really destroyed him that night.

Cora looked at the Gryffindor with a soft look on her face, "Well, if it's any consolation, I've never thought of you that way," She told her, "To me, you're Annabelle Lily Potter. One of my closest friends and the bravest person I've ever met. Everyone else is just stupid because thy don't know the real, amazing you."

Annabelle grinned at Cora, before resting her head on the older girl's shoulder.

"Thanks, Cora.

"Anytime, Anna."

***

Annabelle's time at the Thornburg house had been amazing.

She spent the whole time surrounded by the warm, most loving family she had ever met. She had also gotten to know Madam Malkin well, even getting herself and her brother a discount for the next time that she went to the woman's shop, as well as meeting all of Cora's cousins - who also attended Hogwarts - and there were a lot of them.

Looking out of Cora's window on the evening of Christmas Day, Annabelle smiled, sitting in the windowsill, as she watched the snow dance from the clouds to the ground below.

"Is it my go?" Cora asked the redhead, from where she was sitting on her bed, an old teddy bear clutched to her chest.

Annabelle turned her head to the girl, nodding, "Yeah."

"Okay, truth or dare?"

"Truth." Annabelle answered.

"Have you ever kissed anyone?" Cora questioned.

Annabelle let out a small laugh, smiling and shaking her head."

"What?"

"All of your truths are so boring and predictable." The younger girl laughed.

"Oh, come on, we've been playing this for two hours now," Cora defended herself with a giggle, "It's hard to think off something."

Annabelle chuckled at her friend, before licking her lips and answering, "No, I have not," She shook her head, "And I probably won't for a while to come."

"Why not?" The Hufflepuff asked.

"Because I'm not actively looking for a significant other," Annabelle shrugged, "And besides, most boys are age are kind of gross."

Cora laughed, "But haven't you ever dreamed of the perfect first kiss?"

Annabelle shook her head, "Not really."

The brunette chuckled, shaking her head slightly, "You're one of a kind, Anna."

Annabelle laughed, "Sure I am."

"Anyway, your go."

"Okay, truth or dare?" The Potter girl asked.

"Dare."

Annabelle licked her lips, thinking, before smiling with a shrug, "I dare you to kiss me."

Cora looked at her, a blush sprinkling across her cheeks, "What?"

"Why not?" Annabelle shrugged, laughing, "Why spend your life waiting for the 'perfect first kiss' when there's a high chance that it won't be as 'perfect' as you expected it to be and end up being disappointed, when you can have a nice one with your friend."

Cora bit her lips, contemplating the situation, before nodding, "Okay."

Annabelle stood up from the windowsill, and moved so that she was sitting in front of her friend on the bed.

"Ready?" The Gryffindor asked, gaining a nod, before the girls both closed their eyes and leaned in for a small kiss, then pulling away, slowly opening their eyes.

The pair looked at each other, before laughing and lying down on the bed.

Hermione was right. Annabelle did need a break. 

Especially considering what was to come once she returned to Hogwarts.