"Really Ron? You seriously mean I can't come over for Christmas break?" Harry asked Ron with a pleading expression on his face.
"Sorry Harry, but we're going to visit my great-aunt's house for Christmas so you can't come." Ron replied sweeping his ginger hair from his forehead.
"It's fine, I'll just stay here at Hogwarts over the holiday," Harry said back glumly. Hogwarts was fun over the holidays but the Weasley house had a special joy that couldn't be reproduced.
"Sorry, Harry." repeated Ron.
Ron walked toward his bunk in the boys dormitory and started packing his clothes into a small, tan trunk, displaying his name across it in large, black letters. Harry went towards the common area to see what Hermione was up to.
In the large, open Gryffindor common room miscellaneous maroon chairs placed everywhere and other students were talking about their plans for the holiday. Hermione, of course, was in a corner reading a VERY large book about jinxes and how to undo them.
Harry went over to her and asked, "Hey Hermione, we don't have any work over break, so why are you reading that book?"
Hermione looked up with eyes that were basically asking Why wouldn't I be reading this book. "Well, in four months we're reading this book in Professor Flitwick's class and I want to be ahead," Hermione replied. She didn't say duh, but her tone implied it.
"Well nevermind that," Harry begged, "at least tell me that you're staying at Hogwarts over Christmas."
"Sorry Harry, my family and I are going to Paris. You can come along if you like, I'm sure my mum and dad won't mind," explained Hermione.
Harry thought for a moment. It would be fun to see Paris with Hermione, he wasn't sure that her parents would like a random wizard going along on their family trip. Also, Harry was pretty sure Ron would be jealous. "No it's fine, I'm sure there is going to be someone to hang out with. I could always talk to Hagrid," replied Harry turning his head so Hermione couldn't see how lonely he felt.
Hermione turned back to her book with a sorry expression on her face. Harry went to the window and looked out and the grounds. Delicate snowflakes fell on the already white ground. The trees were frozen icicles glinting against the diamond ground. A few students, Hufflepuffs based off the colors of their scarves, were outside having what seemed like a snowball fight. Harry could almost hear their laughter as they ran across the glittering ground. He sighed, what was he going to do this Christmas? All of his friends were going home for the holiday and going to his aunt and uncle's house was one hundred percent off the list. Harry wouldn't go back there until he had to. The only hope he had left was going to see what Hagrid was doing.