Happy Holidays

I let my gaze wander over Jo’s outfit. Of my usually slender and graceful cousin only a silver-clad clump, with a tuft of black hair jutting out at the top, was left.

“Where’s your face? Am I looking at your back?”

An appendage split from the silver clump, seemingly out of nowhere, and a grey shawl was pulled down an inch. Blue eyes glared at me through the slim opening.

“You said it was going to be cold,” a muffled voice came from somewhere underneath the multiple layers of protective clothing.

“I said cold, not a thousand degrees below zero,” I countered.

She scoffed. “You’re one to talk.”

Akela woofed agreement, sitting between the two of us, his long tongue lolling.

I couldn’t really argue with that. While she was a silver clump, I was once again dressed as a pink marshmallow - this time with stylish purple gloves and a long white scarf dangling all the way to my knees.

“When did Colin say he would be here?” I asked Jo instead. Yesterday she received a text message from Colin, telling her to meet him in front of the portal to the pocket after school. My surprise about the fact that she even had his number, let alone the fact that the two of them were actually texting, was simply ignored.

“He should already be here,” the silver clump grumbled. I bet she was sweating as badly as I was. Maybe we should have started dressing like demented Michelin Men only shortly before actually entering the pocket, not as soon as the last bell rang.

“What about Aiden?” Jo asked. “When will he be here?”

“I don’t know.” While Jo had been texting with Colin yesterday, I had fired off a short text toward Aiden as well. If he’d read it, he should know that we would be going any minute now, and still there was no sign of him.

Maybe Jo would have to color her hair pink after all.

Footsteps echoed through the wide hallway leading up to our little hiding place - behind one of the broad greek columns carrying the domed and painted ceiling above us. Hope flared in my chest, but after glancing around the column I only spotted Colin, wildly looking around, searching for us.

“Josephine?” he call-whispered. “Mary?”

It’s Maggie. I almost rolled my eyes and stepped out into the wide hallway. “We’re over here.”

A broad grin spread across his face, and he jogged toward us, the soles of his thick boots clapping against the marble floor. Apart from the boots and a simple, navy jacket, he didn’t look very prepared for our expedition. Both Jo and I carried huge backpacks, filled with potions, and in Jo’s case even a dagger she borrowed (slash stole) from her mother’s collection.

“You may thank me now,” Colin said, oozing self-satisfaction. “Maybe a curtsey would be appropriate.”

“Did you get it?” Jo asked, the silver clump not making any genuflecting motions.

With a flourish Colin pulled his hand from his pocket, a white key with a snowflake-keychain dangling from his fingers. “Of course. The student body president of the third years was quite willing to lend it to me. Great rack, by the way.”

As this was clearly the wrong audience his comment didn’t get the enthusiastic response he’d hoped for, and he slowly lowered the hand he’d lifted for a high-five. “Aaanyway, I got the key for the portal. Now, I’m gonna stand watch, to make sure no-one closes it up before you guys are back.”

“Wait - you’re not coming with us?” I asked, in the same second Jo mumbled: “Feigling.”

Colin must really be in a good mood, because he simply ignored Jo and instead stepped closer, putting an arm around my shoulder. “Aw, did you want me to come along? My noble heart might still be persuaded.”

Before I could tell him that Mary had no interest in persuading his heart - noble or otherwise -, his arm was lifted from my shoulder. Half-turning my heart gave a little flutter at seeing Aiden standing just beside me, twisting Colin’s arm around.

“Ow, Dude, chill, chill,” Colin cried, hopping a bit to make up for their height difference and to lessen the strain on his arm. “It was only a joke!”

The small key fell from his spasming fingers, and Aiden let go of his arm, expertly catching it mid-air. “Good job acquiring this.”

Jo turned to me and I almost imagined her smirking behind that scarf of hers. “Ich gewinne.”

“We didn’t bet,” I tell her, hoping to sound serious, but happiness was bubbling through my veins. Aiden’s here.

Akela came from behind the column, his claws clicking against the polished floor.

“Whoa.” Colin gaped, rubbing his shoulder. “You got your own wolf?”

“Husky,” Jo corrected, resting a hand against the scruff on Akela’s neck. “My Dad’s Familiar.”

“Nice,” Colin breathed, taking a step closer but apparently not daring to touch the dog.

“Are you really not coming along?” I asked him again.

“Someone has to stand guard,” he declared. “Imagine what would happen if a teacher locked up while we are still in there.”

“We got the key,” Aiden pointed out, twirling said object around his finger.

“Still, it’s quite risky …”

“Just let him be,” Jo cut in, waddling toward the small circular door, hidden behind one of the columns. “We’ll manage.”

“See you guys later,” Colin said, waving awkwardly.

I nodded toward Colin, feeling somehow sorry for him, before following Jo. Akela was just behind her, while Aiden walked next to me. He was wearing a thick camouflage patterned winter coat with a fur-trimmed hood and sturdy winter boots, but no scarf or hat.

“Aren’t you going to be cold?” I asked him.

He smiled down at me. “I’ll manage.”

We reached the door and Aiden handed the key to Jo, who put it in the white-painted door behind which the entrance to the pocket lay.

“Let’s get us some ice bees,” she declared, twisting the key.

“Snow bees,” I corrected, but she was already stepping through the door.

Taking a deep breath, I followed her.