The rest of the term passed as normal until the last day of term before the Christmas holidays. All of Hazel's friends were going home for the holidays but her parents were in Jamaica, so Hazel and Marcus were staying at friend's houses over the break. Hazel was going to the Potter's house. However before then the famous Gryffindor Christmas party was planned for that night. In fact it was in two hours and Hazel had been dragged up to her dormitory by Annie to get ready. Annie took a dress out of her wardrobe and held it up in front of Hazel "yep this is the one, put it on" she commanded. Reluctantly Hazel pulled of James' jumper, which she had yet to return and put on the dress. Previously, after much argument she had let Annie do her hair and make-up, now she looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was loose, slightly curled and hung round her face in a very flattering way. The dress was strapless and it hung just above her knees. It was made out of the finest cream lace you have ever seen the designs were so intricate that she could have looked at it for hours. In her feet her matching cream shoes added a small amount of height to her petit frame. Hazel admitted to herself that she did look quite good as Annie and her other roommates beamed at her: their masterpiece.

After carefully walking down the stairs into the common room Annie and Hazel climbed up to the boys' dorm and knocked. "come in" shouted a voice from behind the door. Annie walked straight in, confidently followed by her slightly shyer friend. "wow guys you look awesome" complimented Louis who was relaxing on the edge of his bed while the others rushed around him. James had been in the bathroom and as he walked back into the room he glanced at the two girls and his jaw dropped. "James, helloooo are you even awake" teased Hazel as he blushed furiously and tried to cover up his surprise. "Uh, oh you look really good"

"I look alright"

"Really amazing" he enforced, Hazel felt her cheeks go red as she stared at her shoes.

"Hum, hum" coughed Annie "shall we go then" pulling Louis off his bed by the arm and starting down the stairs "c'mon Hazel." Hazel grabbed James and followed her downstairs and into the bustling common room.

The party was already in full swing when they arrived. Hazel grabbed a butterbeer and danced for several hours with her friends. Eventually a large group of party goers were piled into a corner drinking something slightly stronger than butterbeer. "You know Hazel," whispered Louis "you're looking rather hot tonight"

"Thank you Louis but I really don't think so,"

"You've been getting a lot of stares from people tonight and not just James either"

"What are you talking about Louis?"

"Come on its extremely obvious he fancies you"

"No he doesn't"

"You just wait and see Hazel" he finished before getting up and dancing by himself to a song by the Weird Sisters.

Just at that moment James sauntered over to the corner in which Hazel huddled; deep in thought. He was wearing his usual cheeky grin. "Come on then" he said gesturing with his head towards the dance floor "we shouldn't let Louis look stupid by himself" winking and holding out his hand for her to take. In mock grace she took his hand and curtsied before giggling and was dragged onto the makeshift dance floor.

The next morning Hazel woke up on the largest sofa in the common room, with a splitting headache. She looked around the room taking in the destruction the party had left behind. Many of her friends were sprawled across the sofa sleeping off their own hangovers. Quietly she climbed out from underneath Annie's slumbering mass, casting a quick tidying charm and set off to the dungeons to brew a quick hangover potion. A few hours later she climbed back through the portrait hole carrying a large flask of dark red liquid. People were beginning to stir and as she passed round the potion she heard murmurs of gratitude. After locating her shoes under an upturned chair she climbed up to her dormitory and changed into a pair of shorts and the abandoned Chudley Canons jumper and waited on her bed for her friends to arrive.

Packed and fed James, Louis, Annie and Hazel strolled down to the entrance hall and out into the weak sunlight. They climbed into a carriage and headed towards the smoking train once again. During the train ride home Annie and Hazel exchanged gifts. Hazel gave Annie delicate silver bracelet and Annie gave Hazel a set of unicorn earrings that changed colour according to her mood. After reaching the station, saying goodbye to two of her best friends. James led her towards his parents and his two younger siblings who had already arrived. "Hi sweetie" greeted Ginny Potter dragging James into a warm hug, "you too Hazel how are you?" she asked guiding all the teenagers towards the car park.