Next morning, Jade stretched her arms over her head and yawned, her typical reaction to the buttery sunlight that poured in through the curtains every morning. There was no sunlight pouring in today, however. The light behind the window was thin and gray, watery and dark and utterly dismal. Rain drummed on the castle roof, and the visible windows glowed gold with the light of candles and oil lamps and fires.

Alana was sitting on the end of her bed, bouncing lightly and wearing huge pajamas, at least three sizes too big for her. They were Jade's pajamas, filched from the bottom of her trunk and waving around as the small redhead hopped and danced, sleeves flapping.

"Morning," Jade said thickly, sitting up and reaching for her wand on the nightstand.

"You're finally up, sleepyhead," Alana said, smiling and helping Jade out of bed and onto the carpeted floor. "Come on and get dressed- we're going to Hogsmeade!"

Jade loved Hogsmeade- the candy store and bookshops and all of the gorgeous buildings and friendly people. She hopped up and ran to choose clothes, selecting something warm and that would keep dry. She ended up with a sweater and some jeans, plus Alana's brown boots- the girls were the same shoe size, despite their age gap.

As she began to try brushing her hair (the results varied every day, but she at least had to try),West opened the door of the dormitory and came barging in, eyes a little wild. She was dressed, but messily, as though she had done it in a rush.

"Jade," she called, pushing past Mallory, who was making her bed. "Jade, Alana, it's important."

"When is it not?" Alana muttered, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. West smacked her and then laughed, but her smile didn't reach her eyes.

"Jade, I woke up early. I got this weird feeling- like the thing with the vines and the forest the other day- and it felt like everything inside of me was stretching out and taking root in other places and sprouting. It wasn't as scary as last time, though. It was less out of control, more like I was the one in charge this time."

"I don't know, but I just thought I should let you know." West shrugged and began to comb her hair with a thin tortoiseshell comb that she produced from the pocket of her oatmeal-colored sweater.

"You coming to Hogsmeade today?" Jade continued to adjust her curls in the mirror, making sure that the way she had piled them on her head would keep them out of her eyes.

"Nah, I can't. First years technically aren't allowed." West lowered her voice and moved closer. "But say Alana and I were to distract Filch and slip outside, or climb out a window- well, that would just be a shame, wouldn't it?"

Alana laughed and popped a Bertie Bott's into her mouth. She promptly spat it out onto the rug. "GAH! Booger flavored. I have got to buy some better candy."

The girls all fell over laughing, and Alana glared but then chuckled as well. She tugged on the hem of Jade's pajama shirt and then headed to the closet to get changed.

***************

"This is amazing," West cheered, as a drift of saffron-yellow pollen landed on her face, turning her into a light green and yellow dust sculpture. Alana sneezed, and the girls all laughed as more pollen swirled around their heads.