Heretic - A Mila Vance Story

12 - The Bleak Mid-Winter (Year 1)

During the middle of  December, the weather turned very cold. Christmas was just round the corner and no one could wait for the holidays to start. Every morning the ground was covered in frost and Mila was glad she had a solid pair of shoes, Sophie kept being send to the Hospital Wing because her shoes always soaked through, causing her to get blue lips. 

The Weasley twinswere punished for bewitching several snowballs so that they followed Quirrellaround, bouncing off the back of his turban. The few owls that had managed tobattle their way through the stormy skies to deliver post had to be nursed backto health by Hagrid before they could fly off again. 

No one could wait for theholidays to start. Whilst all the other houses complained about the bitter windsthat rattled the windows in the classrooms and the draughty corridors that hadbecome icy and bitter, the Slytherins had to all adjust their body climatesince it had been even colder in the common room than the potions classes. Theolder years had all taught them a simple fire spell in exchange for Mila'sslight solution. 

 She ordered seventy hot water bottles from  the Daily Prophet.Mila used this fire charm to boil water in a cauldron so the hot water bottleswould work and Sophie had helped out with the invention by researching a charmthat would stop the hot water eventually turning cold so they wouldn't have toreheat seventy litres of water every hour or so, which had gotten quitefrustrating after a few days. Everyoneslept downstairs too, someone had figured out that the room temperature wouldrise if everyone was in the same room. So they all acted like penguins in Antarctica(except for the fact they were actually witches and wizards in Scotland). 

TheSlytherins also got annoyed with each other snoring so they just held games andcompetitions every night which people would either observe or play until theyfell asleep. It started to be a bit of a problem since the majority of themthen started to fall asleep in classes, so Professor Snape had to brew them allrefilling viles of a Conscious Concoction. Oncethat had happened their plan to not freeze to death or die of sleepdeprivation, was basically without flaw. t

Because the lake like chilled steel, the Slytherins all brought their duvets downstairs and wear their scarves and hats in the common room, Mila didn't mind though, it was cosy and despite the cold, made the common room feel warmer than ever. Plus as it was only the Slytherins that got acclimatised to the weather, they got to enjoy watching the gryffindors shiver in potions classes keeping close to their warm cauldrons.

'I do feel so sorry,' said Draco one Potions lesson, 'for all those people who have to stay at Hogwarts because they aren't wanted at home.'

Mila could clearly see it was aimed at Harry but she couldn't help but feel offended. She leaned in towards Draco.

'I hope you know I'm one of those people,' she said raising an eyebrow.

'Oh I er- sorry,' Malfoy replied tinging pink.

It was true Mila wasn't going home for Christmas. Cherub, her tiny owl, had flown into the great hall one morning and tiredly, after making several stops, handed her a not-so-warm letter from her dad before sleepily flying off to the Owlery.

To Mila,

We are working over the holidays. Stay at Hogwarts.

Dad

Although Mila didn't mind staying at Hogwarts she couldn't help but be a little hurt at his coldness especially since he had been much nicer to Coray. She was never really close with her father - they got on but that was about the extent of their relationship. To Mila it felt more as if he was putting up with her. 

Professor Snape came down to the common room one evening and had taken the names of those who were staying. From Slytherin the only person in first year who was staying was Theo. She was glad to have a friend in her own house, she knew Coray and the Weasleys were staying at Hogwarts too, oh, and Harry; but it wasn't the same. She loved her family dearly but she never felt as if she fit in - especially since the sorting.