"This can't be happening," Olivia said dramatically, crossing her arms as she stared out the window. The rain poured down heavily, hitting the glass as if trying to get in, and the sky was covered with gray clouds that barely let a sliver of light through. Thunder rumbled in the distance, followed by flashes of lightning that briefly illuminated the room.
Lindsay, ever the optimist, approached the window with a calm smile.
"No problem. We can spend the day indoors. How about a movie marathon?"
Ellie, sitting on one of the armchairs with a cup of hot tea cradled in her hands, nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes! We could watch The Conjuring . It's perfect for a day like this."
Olivia spun around so fast she nearly tripped over her own feet.
"The Conjuring? No way! I'm not spending the day watching things that will give me nightmares for weeks. Remember what happened the last time we watched a horror movie? I had to sleep with the lights on for three days."
I couldn't resist chiming in, looking at Ellie with a half-smile.
"I think that was more because Olivia is scared of her own shadow when it comes to stuff like that. Once I showed her a GIF of a clown, and she almost jumped out the window."
Olivia glared at me, though it was clear she was pretending to be offended.
"Very funny, Sack. But no, no horror movies. Let's watch something… cozier. Something we can all enjoy without me screaming every time someone walks into the room."
Lindsay, always the peacemaker, suggested:
"How about the Harry Potter series? It's perfect for a day like this."
Ellie smiled, clearly pleased.
"I love that idea. Plus, we can make popcorn and prepare hot chocolate. It'll be like a magical day at home."
Olivia clapped excitedly, momentarily forgetting her rejection of horror movies.
"Exactly! And we can use blankets and pillows to create our own private cinema. This will be epic."
We quickly got to work. Lindsay and Ellie took charge of preparing the drinks and popcorn, while Olivia and I focused on setting up the space. Olivia insisted on piling all the pillows into a giant mountain in the center of the room, claiming it would be "the perfect setup to maximize comfort."
When everything was ready, we settled under the blankets. Olivia, predictably, claimed the central spot, surrounded by pillows as if she were a queen on her throne. Lindsay sat next to her, holding a cup of tea, while Ellie and I positioned ourselves at opposite ends of the couch.
The first movie started, and we quickly became immersed in the magical world of Hogwarts. However, Olivia couldn't stay quiet even during the most important scenes.
"Wait!" she exclaimed just as Harry discovered he could speak Parseltongue. "Why didn't anyone tell me this was genetic? If I could talk to snakes, I'd already have trained one to do my homework for me."
Ellie giggled.
"I don't think it works like that, Olivia. Besides, what would you do if the snake decided to betray you?"
Olivia waved a dismissive hand.
"That wouldn't happen. I'm too charming even for snakes."
Lindsay interjected with a smile.
"Though it would be interesting to see you negotiate with a snake about who does the Transfiguration homework."
We all laughed, but Olivia wasn't done yet.
"Besides, if I were Hermione, I'd have invented a spell to make books study for me. Why waste time reading when you can delegate?"
I shook my head, trying to suppress a smile.
"Because then you wouldn't actually learn anything, Olivia. The point is for you to gain the knowledge, not the book."
Olivia raised an eyebrow, pretending to be deeply offended.
"And who says I can't learn while sleeping? I just need a spell that transfers all the information directly into my brain. Like a magical USB drive."
Ellie, timidly, added:
"But if something like that existed, probably only you and Hermione could handle it. The rest of us would end up with wrong information in our heads."
We all laughed at the comment, and Olivia pretended to be profoundly insulted.
"Are you saying I'm hard to understand? Because, honestly, I think I'm pretty clear."
Lindsay intervened before Olivia could continue her monologue.
"Of course you are, Olivia. But you're also unique. No one could compete with you in creativity."
Olivia smiled, satisfied with the compliment.
"Thank you, Lindsay. Finally, someone gets me."
We spent several hours watching the movies, interspersing them with funny comments and impromptu debates about which Hogwarts house each of us belonged to.
"I'm definitely Gryffindor," Olivia declared with total confidence. "Brave, bold, and completely irresistible."
Ellie shyly raised her hand.
"I think I'd be Hufflepuff. I like the idea of being loyal and working well in a team."
Lindsay nodded thoughtfully.
"Hufflepuff suits you, Ellie. You're incredibly kind and always there for others."
Olivia looked at me expectantly.
"And you, Sack? What house do you choose?"
I knew my answer would be carefully analyzed, so I chose cautiously.
"Probably Ravenclaw. I prefer to think before acting, and I like the idea of valuing knowledge."
Olivia snorted.
"Of course, because you're basically a human textbook. Though, well, you do have your moments of bravery, so maybe you could pass for Gryffindor on a bad day."
Lindsay smiled.
"And me?"
Ellie answered quickly.
"You're 100% Gryffindor, Lindsay. You're always willing to help others, even when it's hard."
Olivia nodded enthusiastically.
"Exactly. Plus, you have that natural leader vibe that inspires trust. Even I'd follow you if you promised there wouldn't be any giant spiders involved."
The conversations continued as we progressed through the series. At one point, Olivia decided we should recreate a Quidditch scene using pillows as bludgers and a tennis ball as the snitch. The result was controlled chaos, with pillows flying across the room and uncontrollable laughter.
When we finally finished the third movie, we were exhausted but happy. The rain was still pouring outside, but inside the house, a warm and cozy atmosphere reigned.
"This is exactly the kind of day I needed," Lindsay said, wrapping herself in a blanket. "With friends, movies, and lots of fun."
Ellie nodded, leaning back against the pillows.
"I know, right? Though I still think we could've tried watching The Conjuring . Just saying, it would've been memorable."
Olivia shrank slightly in her seat.
"I'll stick with Harry Potter, thank you very much."
We all laughed, and for a moment, I felt like it didn't matter what the future held for us. As long as we had days like this, we'd be okay.