The Wizards Winning Chance (Hermione Granger x Male Reader)

Chapter Eight: Desire

Y/N POV

Christmas is coming. One morning in mid-December, Hogwarts awakens to find itself covered in several feet of snow. The lake froze solid and the Weasley twins are punished for bewitching several snowballs so that they follow Quirrell around, bouncing off the back of his turban.

The few owls that manage to battle their way through the stormy sky to deliver mail have to be nursed back to health by Hagrid before they can fly off again. November went by in a blink of an eye, snow was falling and some people were either staying back or going home for the holidays.

Aria and I were staying back, I told Grandpa I wanted to see what's it like to spend time here at Hogwarts during the holidays, and surprisingly Grandpa was alright with it, but he did give me a two-page letter about me cooking for him when I get back.

It made me smile at the fact, he really did miss my cooking when I left. Aria also wanted to stay and see how Hogwarts is like, her family were alright with it but it did make them a bit sad hearing she wanted to stay at Hogwarts for the holidays.

"I do feel so sorry," said Draco Malfoy, one Potions class, "for all those people who have to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas because they're not wanted at home."

He was looking over at Harry as he spoke. Crabbe and Goyle chuckled. Harry, who was measuring out powdered spine of lion-fish, ignored them. Malfoy had been even more unpleasant than that usual since the Quidditch match. Disgusted that the Slytherins had lost, he had tried to get everyone laughing at how a wide-mouthed tree frog would be replacing Harry as Seeker next.

Then he'd realized that nobody found this funny, because they were all so impressed at the way Harry had managed to stay on his bucking broomstick. So Malfoy, jealous and angry, had gone back to taunt in Harry about having no proper family.

It was true that Harry wasn't going back to Privet Drive for Christmas. Professor McGonagall had come around the week before, making a list of students who would be staying for the holidays, and Harry had signed up at once. He didn't feel sorry for himself at all; this would probably be the best Christmas he'd ever had. Ron and his brothers were staying, too, because Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were going to Romania to visit Charlie.

When we left the dungeons at the end of Potions, they found a large fir tree blocking the corridor ahead. Two enormous feet sticking out at the bottom and a loud puffing sound told them that Hagrid was behind it.

"Hi, Hagrid, want any help?" Ron asked, sticking his head through the branches.

"Nah, I'm all right, thanks, Ron."

"Would you mind moving out of the way?" came Malfoy's cold drawl from behind them. "Are you trying to earn some extra money, Weasley? Hoping to be gamekeeper yourself when you leave Hogwarts, I suppose - that hut of Hagrid's must seem like a palace compared to what your family's used to."

Ron dived at Malfoy but Y/N quickly wraps his arm around Weasley's waist and pulls him back, just as Snape came up the stairs. "WEASLEY!"

"He was provoked, Professor Snape," said Hagrid, sticking his huge hairy face out from behind the tree. "Malfoy was insultin' his family."

"Be that as it may, fighting is against Hogwarts rules, Hagrid," said Snape silkily. "Five points from Gryffindor, Weasley, and be grateful it isn't more. Move along, all of you."

I looked at Snape with a look of surprise and plea for him to do something with the greasy blond git, but he didn't look at me at all. I tried using my legilimency to talk to him but instead I was met with a mental note from him.