1st December – 24 days till Christmas!
It was clearly the 1st of December, because when Clementine ran down the stairs and into the Great Hall for breakfast, she almost ran into Hagrid, who was carrying a humongous Christmas tree.
"Hello Clementine," Hagrid said, looking down at her. "I'm bringin' in the Christmas trees for Professor Dumbledore," he added unnecessarily.
"The trees! Christmas is nearly here, I'm so excited!" Clementine said enthusiastically, just as the twins appeared on either side of her.
"You two staying out of mischief?" Hagrid asked, a twinkle in his eye.
"Of course- wait, Hagrid, is that a Hogwarts Christmas tree?" George asked, looking very interested all of a sudden. Clementine glanced at her boyfriend, recognising the look on his face. She wondered what plan was forming in his mind.
"Yup, grew 'em meself." Hagrid beamed, looking very pleased with himself.
"You know you said in Second Year that-"
"No!" Hagrid growled suddenly, trying to hide his face behind the Christmas tree.
"Hagrid promised us in Second Year that we could help decorate the school Christmas trees," Fred told Clementine sulkily. "So far he's never said yes."
Clementine looked at Hagrid with a wild, happy glint in her eyes. "Decorate the school trees? Can I help? Pleeeease?"
Hagrid sighed, looking defeated. Fred and George exchanged identical grins.
~~~(O.O)~~~
Hours later, after lessons had finished, Clementine was stood on the bench, hanging beautiful silver baubles on the trees with Professor Flitwick. He was cheating slightly by using magic, but Clementine didn't care, hanging each bauble enthusiastically.
Behind them, the twins carried a tree into the hall. They were both red in the face; the trees were incredibly heavy and it was taking the combined efforts of both of them, along with Hagrid monitoring them carefully.
"Put tha' one at the front," Hagrid told them, and the twins looked very grateful, setting it down with a thump near the door.
"The trees look fantastic," Dumbledore said behind them. "Our students are doing a marvellous job of helping. Perhaps it should be a new Hogwarts tradition."
Clementine beamed with pride, as Flitwick levitated the star all the way to the top of the tree. Behind, the giant tree was falling. Hagrid ran forwards but it landed with a huge crash onto the floor, startling everyone.
"Perhaps not," McGonagall said drily.