School's out for Summer (August entry for @hp-12monthsofmagic)
Guess this will be the first in a new one shot series with stories behind photos and polaroids.
Warnings: Some spoilers about the cursed vaults
Hogwarts has recently finished the year, and students have returned home for the Summer. Jacob was frustrated that he had only managed to open one of the cursed vaults when, ideally, he would instead do more, though a thing called OWLs was in the way. He already got an earful from his father about his recent increase in detention and a lecture on what happens when he doesn't focus on his studies.
However, the sleepwalking curse had caused many issues: students in the hospital wing, including one who never woke up. He wasn't sure how he felt about it or if he felt anything at all.
Jacob had welcomed his friends Olivia and Duncan to use his house as their meeting point during the holidays. He had a practical attic bedroom and an excellent storage place for their research during the holidays.
Olivia and Duncan came; the younger Slytherin took the knight bus while Olivia used the train to reach his house. Luckily, his father was away hiding at work, and his mother would be fine with his friend over as she had to look after Juniper anyway.
"Did you add all our research to the box? "Olivia inquired, flopping onto Jacob's soft white duvet.
"Aye, Ma and Pa cannae open it, "Jacob assured.
Duncan crouched down to peer at the locked brown box and lifted it to shake. He tried opening it himself but to no avail. The dark wood was chipped and damaged by dropping onto the ground and by age. His family possessed the box for generations passed on by his grandfather. The attic was perfect for hiding research in plain sight. His mother was too busy with his little sister to notice, and his father couldn't care less to rummage through his room.
"Wow, this is sealed tight. "Duncan tried to flick the lock open. He winced as he accidentally scratched his finger on the metal lock. "So no one can access it? "
"Unless they have legilimency. "Jacob stated.
They heard the creeks of the wooden stairs as Duncan hurriedly shoved the box behind him.
"Jacob dear, sorry to disturb you," his mother reluctantly pulled the privacy curtain. It separated the attic by his bed and the rest of the stuff they stored on the other side. "I just wanted to ken if you and your friends want any snacks? Apple juice? Pumpkin pastry?"
"Yeah, do you guys want anything to eat? Ma makes the best pumpkin pie."Jacob asked Duncan and Olivia.
"The pumpkin is freshly grown in our garden." His mum added eagerly.
"Yes please, Ms Moss. "Duncan cheerily answered. Olivia simply nodded. They waited for her to leave.
"Do you think she heard anything? "Olivia lowered her voice.
"No, besides, Juniper is usually very noisy when she plays especially today, "Jacob assured. Downstairs was the muffled babbling of his six-year-old year sister. She was in a huff when Jacob told her to leave him alone when his friends came over, so she was determined to make herself heard as she read anything she could, though most of the stories were made up.
"You can hear her now," Olivia chuckled.
"Aye, she might be mad at me for not letting her hang out with us," Jacob rubbed his hands together.
"She's going to be a handful when she starts Hogwarts." Duncan mischievously grinned. Jacob feared that Duncan would likely teach her and give her prank ideas.
His mum came back with the promised pumpkin pastry and apple juice. She also came along with a camera. His mum has been obsessed with photographing and making photo album scrapbooks for years. She insisted on taking a photo since there were so few of Jacob with his friends. They politely smiled at the picture before leaving the teenagers alone.
"Nice that she gave us copies." Duncan mused at the Polaroid. The smooth picture fiddled between his fingers. He got up, no longer needing to guard the box and looked around Jacob's shelves.
"And mine will end up in some scrapbook." Jacob dryly commented. He placed it on the desk next to the bed.
"But it's still sweet of her to do it. We hardly have any photos of the three of us as it is." Olivia pointed out. The Polaroid was more carefully held in her hands, truly treasuring it.
Duncan pulled something out of his shelves. Rattles followed Duncan's moves as he held a slightly torn cardboard box. "I didn't know you had snakes and ladders?"
"What if I told you I enchanted it to move," Jacob added. Olivia and Duncan gawked at him.
Snakes and ladders was a muggle board game that he found in a flea market nearby. Jacob loved collecting muggle nick-nacks. His grandpa had shown him how to move paintings and objects, bringing them to life.
"Now we have to play it. Budge up!" Duncan squeezed himself between the older Ravenclaws. He sets out the board and counters on the bouncy bed.
"I fully agree." Olivia chimed in.
"Okay then." Jacob half-heartedly chuckled. The cursed vaults can wait another day. However, none of them didn't know that this Summer would be one of the last peaceful days they would have.