Chapter 4

ALBUS' POINT OF VIEW:

"Are those tattoos, Albus?"

Mom came down the stairs and her voice had a patronizing tone to it.

I cowered back.

"Yes?"

"What do they say?" Her voice demanded an answer.

"This one, on my left forearm, it says, "Death doesn't discriminate between the sinners and the saints it takes and it takes and it takes". The other one, on this arm, it says "Talk Less. Smile More." I also have an appointment set up to get another one, and it's going to be another quote I think. Maybe that one you have on your wall in your dorm, Alex," I said.

"The one that says "I am the one thing in life I can control. I am inimitable, I am an original"?" Alex told me.

"That one. Anyway," I began, seeing the look plastered upon my mother's face. "Mom, I want you to meet my girlfriend."

Alex smiled at my mom.

"Hi, Mrs. Potter. I'm Alexandra Hamilton, but I go by Alex," she said, her voice nervous.

"Hello, Alex. Tell me, when did you and Al meet?"

"A month and a half after our first semester started," Alex said, holding my hand tightly.

"Well, we kind of met before that. We were in the same European History class. And I accidentally ran into her because Trevor and I had no clue where we were going," I sheepishly said.

Alex grinned at me. "Is Trevor going home for the holiday?"

"Yeah. He's going back to Chicago," I told her.

"Whose Trevor?" Mom asked.

I rolled my eyes. "He's my room mate. His family is from Chicago, so he has a bit of an accent."

"Oh, because you didn't when you first came? I recall that in my US History class people called you a Loyalist during the Revolution Unit," Alex laughed.

I put my arm around her. "I also remember you writing a fifteen page report on Alexander Hamilton when Professor Washington asked for a one and a half page report."

Alex went red in the cheeks. "There's a lot about him that everybody forgets, like the Reynolds Pamphlets-"

"I know, love," I cut her off, kissing her mouth quickly.

"So where are you from, Alex?" Dad asked my girlfriend.

"I was born in Philadelphia, but I moved to Washington DC since my dad was a correspondent for the White House," Alex said, her smile nervous and awkward.

I held her hand tightly as she put her head on my shoulder.

"James! Don't do magic in the house! Alex is a muggle!" Mom patronized.

"Al, what's a muggle?" Alex asked me.

My parents faces paled. I grinned.

"A muggle is the British version of a No-Maj," I told Alex.

"Oh! That makes more sense," Alex grinned.

"You're a witch?" Dad arched an eyebrow.

Alex nodded. "I went to Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

"Where's that?" James asked, curious.

"It's in Massachusetts. They have four houses, and they have four houses just like Hogwarts. I was in Thunderbird, which is basically the equivalent of Slytherin," Alex told my brother.

"A Slytherin and a Slytherin! Who would've guessed?" James stated, his eye rolling.

I rolled my eyes at him. I was in for a long break.

"You've never seen Frosty the Snowman?" Alex asked me at 7:00 pm that night.

"Nope. Is that bad?" I asked her, confused.

Alex got something out of her duffle bag at the end of my bed.

"I brought a bunch of Christmas movies with me. I didn't know if you had any... And I kinda wanted to watch some. I always watch A Christmas Story on Christmas Eve," Alex blushed.

"Well let's go downstairs and watch some," I told her, kissing her nose.

I took her hand and led her down the stairs. I put "Frosty the Snowman" in the DVD player and then sat down on the couch. Alex snuggled into my side, facing the tv.

I wrapped my arms around her waist and kissed the top of her head as the movie started to play.

"Oh my God. This is so sad," I whimpered as tears rolled down my face.

Frosty the Snowman was in a puddle of water.

"He just... He just..." I stuttered.

Alex turned around to face me. She used her finger to wipe away my tears.

I kept my eyes focused on the screen.

Frosty the Snowman came back alive.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Frosty yelled out.

The credits rolled.

"That was very emotional," I told Alex, a laugh coming out of my mouth.

"When I was younger," Alex began, shifting her position so she had her face right next to mine. "My brother and I, we used to watch this whenever we made a snowman. And of course, it's been hard to do that these past few years."

"Why?" I frowned, stroking her cheek.

"He got married to a girl named Anne, had two kids, and has another one on the way. And he moved to Santa Fe with his family. So it's not like they have snow there. I've resorted to accepting that he will no longer come home to do that with me," Alex told me, her eyes looking down.

"I promise you, when it snows here, we can go outside and not make just one snow man. We can make a snow family. Even if it starts snowing when it's dark outside, together we will go and make that snow family," I told her, my voice husky.

And at that moment, Alexandra Hamilton kissed my lips. I kissed her back, and it was probably the best kiss I've ever had.

Her lips tasted like strawberry lip gloss, which was my favorite flavor of lip gloss that she wore.

Our lips fit together like a puzzle.

I brought my hand up to her face and stroked her flaming waves as my lips trailed down her jaw bone and to her neck.

Alex's arms were around my neck as she played with my black hair. She let out a small moan.

My lips made their way back up to her face and kissed her lips. Our tongues battled for dominance and I felt her smirk against my lips as she won.

We broke apart only for air. We continued to kiss for what seemed like an eternity- and eternity that I was fine with- but it ended way too soon for my liking.

"Rosie- you know Al probably will be sleeping, right? Jet leg-" the familiar voice of my Aunt Hermione ran through the kitchen.

"But this is Al we're talking about: he's probably up there reading," Rose's familiar voice stated.

"Rosie?" I asked, confused. "Why are you here?"

"Because, Al, I happen to be your cousin- wait! Al!" Rose yelled out in excitement as she came hurdling towards me, giving me a bone squishing hug.

"I've missed you, Rose," I stated.

"I've missed you too," she replied.

Seeing the confused look on Alex's face, I introduced them to each other.

"Alex, this is my cousin Rose. Rose, this is my girlfriend, Alex," I introduced them both.

"Nice to meet you, Rose," Alex said, a lopsided grin on her face. She stuck her hand out.

"Likewise," Rose said, uncertain. She reluctantly shook Alex's hand, causing a frown to etch on my face.