𝐈𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐬 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 || 𝐇𝐏/𝐏𝐉𝐎

𝐗𝐈 • 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬

❝ Holidays And Vacations ❞

            Christmas was coming. One morning in mid-December, Hogwarts woke to find itself covered in several feet of snow. The lake froze solid and the Weasley twins were punished for bewitching several snowballs so that they followed Quirrell around, bouncing off the back of his turban. The few owls that managed to battle their way through the stormy sky to deliver mail had to be nursed back to health by Hagrid before they could fly off again.

No one could wait for the holidays to start. While the Ravenclaw common room and the Great Hall had roaring fires, the drafty corridors had become icy and a bitter wind rattled the windows in the classrooms.

Worst of all were Professor Snape's classes down in the dungeons, where our breath rose in a mist before us and we kept as close as possible to the hot cauldrons.

"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 the powdered spine of lionfish, ignored them but, didn't do the same.

"And I feel for the ones who have to deal with a slimey-headed-brat every holiday," I snapped. I had nothing against Malfoy, but his attitude towards muggle-borns irritated me to the bone.

The Gryffindors laughed, Malfoy looked tomato red from embarrassment.

Malfoy had been even more unpleasant than 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 taunting 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 said that he was treated poorly by his uncle and aunt; 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.

I would've stayed at Hogwarts to give company to Harry and Ron. Especially since Dad didn't celebrate Christmas and visiting camp wouldn't be a good idea. If I managed to get into some mess, then who'll attend Hogwarts?

But Alan Blackwood insisted otherwise. He wanted me to meet his father. He wanted to show how much of Alice I am. I wasn't sure about the idea, since meeting new people was not my cup of tea. But then again it's not like I had a choice.

"Please!" He whined. "Just once,"

"Alan, I don't know if this is a good idea," He made the best puppy eyes he could.

"I'll give you tons of chocolates and I promise to reduce bothering you to a certain level," he said, pouting.

"Fine," I agreed. "But don't expect me to mingle along well, I was never good at this."

When we left the dungeons at the end of Potions, we found a large fir tree blocking the corridor ahead. Two enormous feet sticking out at the bottom and a loud puffing sound told us 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."