Chapter Sixteen
Christmas was fast approaching. Snow descended on Hogwarts one night as they all lay in their beds sleeping. It covered the grounds and nestled into the trees of the Forbidden Forest. The lake froze over sealing off the other world which lay in its depths. The sky was a brilliant white which reflected Hogwarts surroundings. It was only when Harry left the castle for his early morning run that he even noticed the snow. He stood on the steps leading to the Entrance Hall, completely dumbfounded by the sight which lay before him. He had never really witnessed snow. When it had snowed in Privet Drive, he was usually kept indoors. As it approached Christmas Day he was usually locked in his cupboard so that he had never really felt Christmas. He was determined to enjoy Christmas this year.
His footsteps crunched in the snow and he found himself running around the lake in pure joy, every now and again he let out a scream of happiness. He didn't mind as there was nobody around except himself. He had never felt so free, except when he flew his broomstick but this was different, something which he wouldn't always have. He stopped at the other side of the lake and took in its beauty. A breeze blew over the grounds and made its way toward the castle. Harry couldn't believe he had already been at Hogwarts nearly four months.
He remembered the other night when he had revealed a lot about his past life to Hermione. She had been so helpful and understanding. Harry was so grateful to her and knew she had meant it when she told him she wasn't going anywhere in the future. He vowed there and then that he wouldn't leave her and that he would protect her as long as he had a breath left in his body.
He was beginning to feel the cold breeze now that he had stopped running. His baggy grey sweatshirt wasn't enough to keep his body warm. He checked his watch and after realizing it was only half six he decided he would run until he was warm again and then head back to the castle. He pushed the sleeves of his sweatshirt up past his elbows; it was too big for him as it used to belong to Dudley. He had forgotten to throw it out of his suitcase as he had done with the rest of Dudley's old clothes. After another few laps around the lake he ran up to the castle. He felt refreshed and he jumped up the steps to the Entrance Hall.
After having a quick shower, he changed into his school robes and made his way to the Great Hall, still admiring the snow which he could see through the great wooden doors of the Entrance Hall. Many students had woken up already. They were now bustling around each others tables talking about the weather or what they had planned for the holidays. Harry didn't have to wait long until Ron, Seamus, Dean and Neville arrived in the Great Hall. "Hey, Harry. What are you doing this Christmas? You staying at Hogwarts?" asked Dean. "Yeah," Harry replied, not wanting to reveal he would rather spend Christmas at the bottom of the lake than go back to the Dursleys.
"Well, my parents are going to visit my brother Charlie in Romania. So, Fred, George, Percy and myself are going home to take care of my sister, Ginny," explained Ron.
"Yeah, I'm going back home too. Gran always invites half the Longbottom family over. It's dead boring. Most of them have seen too many winters," moaned Neville.
"I'm heading home too. Me ma always cooks a great feast through Christmas," said Seamus, licking his lips at the thought.
"Yep, me too. Should be wicked, this Christmas. Hope it's snowing in Southampton," said Dean.
They spent the rest of the time talking about the match between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Ravenclaw had won by one hundred points which put them third in the race for the House Cup. Slytherin were leading the race with Gryffindor second. Hufflepuff were last, probably the reason their table was usually the most solemn and quiet. Hermione, when she came down took her seat beside Harry, and opened a large book and continued reading, making sure she didn't spill anything onto it.
"What do you think about the Gringotts break in? The goblins have said that it was definitely a dark wizard who did it," said Seamus excitedly. Hermione stopped reading and looked up. "How can they be so sure?" she asked. "The traces of magic found at the vault. They all point to Dark Magic," said Seamus. "My gran said it could be You-Know-Who. Or at least one of his followers," piped Neville. They spent the next few minutes discussing the break in. But Harry nor Ron and Hermione mentioned anything of the package. It was only when the Weasley twins entered and told them they were a sad lot of first years talking about such things at Christmas that the conversation changed. Harry couldn't help but notice that Hermione continued talking to the others; usually she would stop and continue reading.
When they were getting up to leave for class Fred whispered "Keep an eye out for Quirrell. We sent him an early Christmas present." George then gave them a wicked grin and they both waved them good bye.
It was only when they had Defense Against the Dark Arts did they know what the twins were talking about. Professor Quirrell wasn't there when they entered the classroom so they took their seats and waited patiently. Suddenly he burst through the door and slammed it behind him, as if he was trying to keep something that was following him out. He looked tired as if he had been running and also a bit red in the face. His turban was askew and his robes a bit tangled. He made his way to the front of the class straightening his turban. He stuttered about how inconvenient the weather was and was beginning to teach the class when a snowball came flying through the window and smacked the side of his head. Then more snowballs streamed through the window and made in the direction of Professor Quirrell.
\The class roared in laughter and even Hermione who didn't usually like to insult or degrade a teacher couldn't help but smile as she watched Professor Quirrell run screaming down the corridor.
"Oh, that was classic Weasley, Ron. Thank your brothers for me," said Seamus through fits of laughter.
The rest of the day passed by uneventfully. The sky turned a deep blue and tinges of pink appeared on the outlines of the clouds. Harry and Hermione were sitting beside the jumping playful fire in the Gryffindor common room finishing their homework. Harry was just about to end his Transfiguration essay when he realized Hermione was looking at him apprehensively. "Harry… is it alright if I borrow Hedwig. It's just, I want to send my parents a letter," she asked. "Of course it's okay," Harry said immediately. Hedwig rarely got to go on a message for him. And when she did it was usually only down to Hagrid. She often dropped by to steal some of his food while he was eating breakfast, but other than that she stayed in the Owlery.
Hermione thanked him and told him she would give the letter to Hedwig later.
"Are you going home for Christmas?' asked Harry, secretly wishing that she wasn't.
"No," she replied, grinning at the smile which Harry quickly tried to hide. "I'm going to stay here. It is my first year and the castle should be different, especially as most of the students will be returning home."
"Yeah, most of the Gryffindors are going home," agreed Harry. Inwardly he was jumping for joy. He had resolved to have a good Christmas and that he would celebrate it like it was his first, which technically, it was. But after listening to the others talk of going home he believed that he would spend it alone. But now Hermione, his best friend, was staying. "But we'll have a better time than they will,' finished Harry, a lopsided smile on his face.
Harry finished his Transfiguration homework and then asked whether Hermione wanted to give him her letter, so he could give it to Hedwig. She accepted as she had a lot of homework to finish so Harry brought the letter to the dark Owlery. He lit the tip of his wand in order to break the darkness. It shone in front of him illuminating the leaf-strewn, broken floor. The walls were a dark white as the lost paint fell in defeat to the floor. The room was circular and winded high into the air. The windows were empty so the breeze outside made its way in and ruffled the feathers of the owls. He called Hedwig to him and she flew down onto his outstretched arm. Harry began to tie the letter to Hedwig's leg. The light from his wand shone through the thin envelope so that Harry could see Hermione's neat hand writing through it. He paused for a moment wondering. Why did Hermione want to stay at Hogwarts through Christmas? Surely she would prefer to spend time with her parents. Would wanting to see what Hogwarts was like at Christmas be enough to keep her from her parents, her family?
He needlessly checked the door, he already knew nobody was outside as he would have heard them approaching. He then carefully opened the envelope, making sure not to rip the parchment or the envelope. He would only scan the letter for any mention of a reason to stay at Hogwarts; he wouldn't read anything else that was private. Dear Mum and Dad…blah blah blah…Harry read not wanting to see anything he wasn't supposed to…
The main reason I was writing this letter was to tell you that I won't be returning to you for Christmas. I'm having a better time now than I was when I sent you that letter just before Halloween. I know you don't mind me staying as you usually have a large crowd over at Christmas but don't worry because I won't be alone. I met this boy. His names Harry and he's really nice. He cares about his studies just as much as I do which is unusual as I've never met anybody like that before. He's different than everybody else here and he also helps me to fit in around other people. Anyway……
Harry sighed, placing the letter warily back into the envelope. She hadn't given a plain reason why she was staying to her parents either but he was beginning to think that he himself was a major factor in her decision to stay. He felt guilty but then again she didn't seem too troubled or sad about staying with him. If Harry was truthful with himself, he was sort of happy knowing that she wanted to stay with him over Christmas.
He watched Hedwig fly off, a silhouette against the rising pale moon. He then made his way back to the common room.
Over the next few days the snow outside the castle had doubled. Hagrid was to be found dragging a sleigh, which held tall evergreen trees, through the snow leaving behind a deep track. Students going to Herbology ran down to the greenhouses where they were met by a tropical climate. Others dreaded the cold dungeons with a miserable Snape who had caught a cold, and spent most of his time breathing over students or sneezing, which was truly terrifying as his nose was longer than normal.
But nothing could dampen the students' spirits as Christmas was approaching. The mood was a cheerful one every morning in the Great Hall. The number of owls carrying post to the students each day tripled as they were now carrying presents and orders. The castle also felt more cheerful and was willing to allow any student pass through a wall or a tapestry. The suits of armor were also very chatty and spoke to each other of Christmas' gone by.
Decorations started appearing in the hallways and classrooms. Professor Flitwick enchanted the cupboards in his classroom to sing Christmas carols every time they were opened. Holly and mistletoe hung from the corridors which the Weasley twins had taken advantage of. The mistletoe sprayed ink over preoccupied couples.
Harry found that most of the students started to hang out in bigger groups. He often found that he usually ended up with Ron, Seamus, Dean, Neville and Hermione. It was generally during eating times or when they had nothing else to do and had chess tournaments. Ron was a very good tactician and was a superb chess player. Hermione became irritated every time she lost to him; this was mainly due to Ron's boasting after every game. The Weasley twins often threatened to put Ron down a toilet if he wouldn't stop parading around the common room arrogantly.
Then one day Professor McGonagall visited every Gryffindor to take the names of those who were staying at Hogwarts over the Christmas holidays. Harry and Hermione signed up immediately and Harry after glimpsing the list realized that they were two of only six people staying at Hogwarts. It was reported that snow covered the greater part of Britain so that most people were going to have a perfect Christmas. Harry wondered whether Hermione was secretly regretting her decision but there was no sign of it. In fact she looked happier than usual. Classes finished a week before Christmas and students were scheduled to return home the next day. Harry found the rest of the boys in his dormitory packing their trunks with presents. Then they started carrying them down the stairs. Dean and Seamus went out first and Neville followed his face red from the struggle of carrying such a heavy trunk. Ron was about to lift his of the ground when he realized he had forgotten something and started looking for it. He opened his trunk and started rooting in it.
Harry quickly made his way over and pulled something out from under his bed. It was a book he had bought for Ron. The Weasley twins had suggested it to him and he had ordered it from Flourish and Blotts Flying with the Cannons.
He had wrapped it the night before and he felt that he had done a good job. He walked over to Ron who was trying to shut his trunk. "Er…here Ron, Happy Christmas," he said quietly. "Oh, thanks Harry," said Ron surprised. He took the present, looked at it trying to guess what it was and then put it in his trunk, all the while smiling. They talked for a while about what Ron had bought his family for Christmas and then Harry helped Ron carry his trunk down to the common room where it was left there over night with the others trunks.
The next day Harry helped Neville with his trunk down to the Entrance Hall. Harry stared in wonder at the hundreds of trunks that were piled in the Hall, covering the bottom of the marble staircase. They were all different colors and sizes. Some were bulging with the contents that it held. Harry and Hermione bade goodbye to Ron and the other Gryffindors and then made their way to the Great Hall. There were two Slytherins, one Ravenclaw and one Hufflepuff. They all seemed to be much older than Harry or Hermione. Hermione gave Harry her theory as they took a seat at the table. "They must be doing exams this year. I know I would stay if I were doing them," she explained. Harry agreed and started on his breakfast. There was no immediate rush to pile everything he wanted on his plate as Ron wasn't there.
For the next few days, Harry and Hermione had a wonderful time. They had snowball fights until neither of them could move freely from either being frozen into one position or because they were soaked through. Harry had never had a snowball fight and was quite surprised when Hermione had thrown a snowball right at his head. "What are you doing?" Harry had exclaimed. "Having a snowball fight, Harry," Hermione explained while making up a fresh snowball. She had then told him that having a snowball fight was one of those things people did when it snowed and that if he didn't respond it was he who would be missing out. So Harry had countered by throwing a snowball at her as she explained. She looked outraged at being interrupted but then she threw a flurry of snowballs at him. Harry dodged some of them and reacted by using his wand to help gather a pile of snow which made it easier and quicker to throw snowballs. Hermione screamed and jumped out of the way. They were both laughing out loud and their shouts echoed across the grounds. Hagrid heard them and stepped out of his cabin to see the two figures running around in the distance. He chuckled at the sight, glad to see Harry was thoroughly enjoying himself.
Hermione had jumped on Harry sending them both to the ground. Harry groaned as Hermione rolled off him. She gathered a handful of snow and stuffed it down his jumper earning a quick shout from him. "Hermione!" he roared, stunned. Hermione stood up, a wide grin on her face and Harry chased her into the castle.
That had been two days before Christmas Day. Now it was Christmas Eve and they were to be found in the new temporary common room that Dumbledore had founded considering most people had gone home for Christmas. It was actually the girl's toilet where the troll had nearly killed Harry. As the whole place had been completely destroyed Dumbledore gave it a better use and redecorated it into a common room quite like the Gryffindor one. The six remaining students spent the evenings here rather than the house common rooms.
It had a large fireplace where a roaring bright blue and red fire burned. Tapestries with the Hogwarts crest hung from the walls and there was one large table where the students could do some of the homework they received over the holidays. A comfortable couch stood opposite the fire. Two armchairs also stood beside the fire, each with a blanket thrown over it for decoration. The common room was now dark with shadows roaming the walls. Harry and Hermione were the only ones there at the moment; the others had gone to bed. Harry sat on an armchair reading a book that contained more defensive spells; he had learned a lot of them now. Hermione sat on the couch reading Hogwarts: A History.
It was only when Harry looked up from reading that he noticed Hermione was fast asleep. She was in a sitting position with her head rested on her hand which was on the armrest. The book lay in her lap, one of her hands covering it. Harry would have woken her up but he didn't have the heart to. She looked very peaceful even though she seemed to be in an uncomfortable position. Harry placed his book silently on the ground and made his way over to her. He removed the book from her lap, picked up her legs and placed them on the couch so that she was in a lying position. She then moved in her sleep and turned over facing the back of the couch, sliding her legs up, her head now on the armrest. Harry took one of the blankets and threw it over her, tucking it in so she wouldn't get cold. He stood back and after looking at her for a moment he turned to read the clock that was situated over the fireplace. It read one minute past twelve. "Happy Christmas, Hermione," he whispered as he sat on the other end of the couch. He took the other blanket from the other armchair and wrapped it around himself. He soon fell into a deep sleep beside Hermione.
I'm soooooooo sorry. I've been so busy. Anyway, I hope you like the chapter.
Hopefully I'll be able to make quicker updates from now on. Again sorry for extremely slow update.
Hope you enjoy it. Thank you for reading and review…………..please!
Take care,
Radagast.
-->