Taming The Serpent [Tom Riddle/Tomione]

17. Holy Hogwarts & Christmas Duel

On Christmas Eve, a cold December night, the remaining students at Hogwarts were coming to the Great Hall to hear the Sorting Hat's new Christmas' Carrol, sharing with their friends all kinds of gifts and presents. A cruel and hard-hearted Tom Riddle was amazed by the decorations surrounding him, no doubt the Professors had outstand themselves this year. A man dressed in red, golden and green robes, - Armando Dippet - walks slowly to the podium holding in his frail hands, the sorting hat. The hat is battered and old; it's patched, frayed, and extremely dirty. A tear along the brim opens like a mouth and it began to sing:

Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas

Ring the Hogwarts bell

Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas

Cast a Christmas spell

How wondrous the ways of Christmas

Have a merry Christmas Day

Move around the sparkling fire

Have a merry Christmas Day

Find a broomstick in your stocking

Singing you the magic of this place

Join the owls joyous flocking

On this merry Christmas Day

Ding dong, ding dong

Ring the Hogwarts bell

(Ring the Hogwarts bell)

Ding dong, ding dong

Cast a Christmas spell

Ding dong, ding dong

Make the Christmas morning bright

Fly high across the sky

Light the Christmas night

Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas

Ring the Hogwarts bell

Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas... 

When the song finished, Hermione found herself smiling widely as she clapped enthusiastically along with the other students – except the Slytherins. Armando Dippet handed the hat to Professor Dumbledore, who kindly placed it on a bench by the high teacher's table, and with a gentle wave of his hands, the feast began.

It consisted of a hundred fat, roast turkeys, mountains of roast and boiled potatoes, platters of fat chipolatas, tureens of buttered peas, silver boats of thick, rich gravy and cranberry sauce. For dessert, flaming Christmas puddings were served, with silver Sickles hidden within the pudding. Also on the tables are Wizard Crackers. Unlike their Muggle counterparts that contain plastic toys and paper hats, Wizard Crackers explode with a blast, like a cannon going off, and engulf the pullers in blue smoke. Inside can be found such delights as live mice, Wizard's Chess sets, and grow your own warts kits, as well as real-sized hats and jokes. 

"Enjoying Christmas, Hermione? Dessert is amazing..." Asked Ursulla Lovegood. She had on a yellow dress that contrasted nicely against her pale skin and long white-blonde hair. "Oh dear, I can't seem to understand what says in here..." Mumbled Ursulla, holding a magazine. Hermione laughed and turned the upside down magazine. Ursulla smiled gratefully. "Oh, silly of me. " Hermione noticed a necklace lazily hanging by her neck, and upon checking it closer she realized it was the 'Deathly Hallows' necklace that Luna's father (Xenophilius Lovegood) always wore and told her, Ron and Harry the story about it .