Authors Note: So my updating skills have been a little lax, I keep trying to get into a pattern but then life gets in the way! I am trying, very sorry to anyone who has been waiting to read and grateful to anyone who is currently reading! Just pretty please, with cherries, peppermint and an extra special cream topped banana split to please, please review!

CHAPTER SEVEN: Christmas

It had been several weeks now since the staircases had stopped working and the ghosts had disappeared. These problems still hadn't been fixed and it was causing several problems. All History of Magic classes had been cancelled because they couldn't find a teacher to replace Professor Binns. This wasn't much of an issue for us but a lot of the older students were worried about all the work they would be missing for their exams later in the year. Despite the absence of History of Magic from our timetables things travelled pretty smoothly for the rest of the term. It was strange without the ghosts. I never thought I would say this but I missed having the transparent people floating around the castle popping up everywhere and joining us for feasts and meals in the Grand Hall and glaring at the other houses ghosts across hallways when points were given or taken. I couldn't say I missed Peeves that much but in a way it felt like the castle was empty without him. The day after Halloween I had found Filch wandering around the third floor with the aging Mrs Norris following behind him simply mumbling:

"He's gone, what am I going to do now? He's gone, gone." Then he had simply turned on his heels now mumbling: "Oh it's just a trick, one big trick, he'll be back he always is , he can't be gone!"

This had been quite enough for me and I had very quickly decided that I didn't want to listen to the rest of that particular rant. I had quickly left down the same corridor I had came and quickly taking one of the many paths I had learned to memorize the many routes would take me back to Gryffindor Tower. That was one of the best advantages from the little situation they were having at Hogwarts. This year's first years managed to learn their way around the castle faster than any year before them.

Now though it was time for us to go home for Christmas. Everyone was going home pretty much. Lizzy and Michael were going back to South Africa for the holidays and Lizzy had been so excited all week. Rose and Albus were spending the holidays together they were having a massive family Christmas, I had slowly been meeting all of their very large extended family who managed to spread themselves out through every year from first to seventh. Jessa couldn't wait to tell her parents everything about the school and all Sam could talk about was being able to fly on her broom again. Everybody was looking forward to Christmas.

We had all left the common room early on the day we were catching the train back to platform nine and three quarters, because Bryony was in Paris I'd had to write home so someone knew to pick me up. I had a sinking feeling it would be Cherise or mum because dad usually had to stay back at his school for a couple of days before he could come home. I was looking forward to seeing dad. Trying not to think about the inevitable awkwardness I turned to Scorpious who was sitting next to me.

"So Scorp, any big plans for the holidays?"

Scorpious grimaced. "I'm not sure if I'll make it to Christmas. I haven't really had a proper conversation with my parents since ugh, my surprising, sorting. They still think I should be in Slytherin." He sighed running his hands through his platinum hair.

"Well I think you got put in the right house." Scorpious raised an eyebrow at me. "Remember when I ran into you at the apothecary? When I fell over the first thing you did was help me up, that wasn't very Slytheriny of you, it was almost kind of Hufflepuffy."

Scorpious glared at me. "Hufflepuffy? Really Mills, I'm not sure if I should be offended or not."

I grinned. "Definitely not offended, have you met Eloise Finnegan and Michael Thomas? I swear they are some of the nicest people I have ever met."

At this very second the said pair, Eloise and Michael happened to walk past the Gryffindor table. They grinned and took a seat either side of us.

"Thanks Mills, you're not too bad yourself." Michael grinned and Eloise just laughed. They were kind of a funny pair, Eloise with her strange french-english accent and Michael with the South African accent I could never recognize for the first half of the term.

"Scorpious." Said Michael "If you're worried about not being in the right house I'd buy them a big present and just complain about it a whole lot. According to mum dad went into shock for about a week when he heard me and Lizzy were in different houses. He couldn't even go to work." Eloise nodded.

"My dad was in Gryffindor, he had similar problems when he heard I wasn't."

I was listening but Scorpious had stopped after Michael had finished. He was now staring across to the other side of the room looking mortified.

"Scorp?" I asked. "You okay?"

Suddenly he stood up and ran from the Great Hall. "Scorpious! What are you doing?" I yelled after him. "We're meant to be going to Hogsmeade." I paused and looked at the clock above the fireplace. "NOW!" Leaving my trunk abandoned next to his I ran after him taking thirty second to tell Michael and Eloise not to let the train go without us.

Scorpious was a faster runner then I was and I didn't catch him until we were about a corridor away from the Fat Lady's Portrait.

"Scorpious! What are you running for?" He didn't stop running but did take a second to yell over his shoulder.

"I did get my parents a massive present, mail ordered it from London and everything, and I forgot to pack it, it's in my room, that's why I need to go back to the tower!"

We turned the last corner and came to a skidding halt in front of the entrance to Gryffindor Tower and somehow I didn't think we'd be getting in. The Fat Lady was gone, missing, disappeared, vanished.

"No, No, NO!" Scorpious was freaking out. I couldn't help but wonder what it was he had bought that could be so important. He ran down the corridor yelling at the other portraits where she was but they either didn't answer or simply weren't there. Every portrait in the corridor was empty or not moving. There were figures frozen halfway through leaving a portrait.

"What's going on? Mildred, where is the Fat Lady?"

I couldn't answer the question and we were already running very late. Pulling Scorpious away by his sleeve we hurried down the corridor and arrived breathless at Hogsmeade station. Hagrid grinned when he saw us.

"Eloise and Michael turned up a while ago, managed to levitate your trunks all the way down from the castle, shocked a few Ravenclaws but Professor Cholderton was stoked, Personally I never thought of Hufflepuffs as being dumb, they just have a bit of a bad reputation you know?"

"Not that this isn't great Hagrid but the train is leaving and I was planning on spending Christmas at home."I waved goodbye and pushed Scorpious onto the train. He still hadn't said anything; I could only wonder what it was that could be so important.

The ride back to platform nine and three quarters passed much quicker then that first trip to Hogsmeade had. When Scorpious and I had finally managed to find two empty seats we were exhausted, the run from the castle was tiring enough but finding two empty seats when practically the entire school was on the train was near impossible. We eventually managed to find two seats in a compartment with Eloise, Michael and Lizzy. The three were talking nonstop about their Christmas plans and the enthusiasm was infectious. Albus was floating around everywhere from compartment to compartment always reporting back on what was going on in the other ones. Sometimes he even brought people back with him. Holly and Tiffany came to say hi and he even properly introduced us to the rest of the Hufflepuff guys, Lucas, Corey, Charlie and Benjamin. They didn't stay long and really just wanted to talk to Michael but it was pretty cool to meet them.

Eventually we pulled up at the station and we all attempted to pull our own trunks off the train. As we were getting off the train I was almost knocked to the ground as Adrianna and Belinda rushed past me with their luggage levitating behind them. Rose who had been walking with me glared at them and helped me up.

"Trust those Goyle twins to use their house elves as soon as they get off the train. You should have heard them on the train Mills, it was horrible." Rose pulled her hair back and made a face. "I cannot believe that father is making us spend Christmas at the house in Barcelona, The Madrid house has just been re-done and mother promised that we could spend Christmas there."

I couldn't help but laugh. "They have two houses in Spain! I'd love just to get into the country, they're crazy to complain."

Rose sighed in agreement."They do however have good ideas about the trunk carrying problem, our last shot at magic for the hols, what do you think?"

Without waiting for an answer she charmed her things to levitate and pulling my wand from my sleeve I did the same. We were on the platform now and now waving goodbye to me I watched Rose walk away towards a very large congregation of people with more than a few having her own fiery hair colour. I had already said goodbye to Albus as he was tackled off the train by his brother. Lizzy, Michael and Eloise had all left together mumbling something along the lines of France, South Africa and time zones, not quite sure what that conversation was about. So it was just me and Scorpious left on the platform. I saw Scorpious parents and I didn't want to say goodbye.

Funnily enough Scorpious seemed to have similar ideas.

"Mildred, they're judging me already, I can see it. This entire holiday is going to be one big lecture on how I disappointed them! Why was I put in Gryffindor again? We're supposed to be brave right? Well I don't feel very brave at the moment." He smiled and waved at his parents. As they came over he nervously hugged his mother and I could swear I heard him mumble something along the lines of Why did I forget the Christmas present?

Waving goodbye to Scorpious as he was lead away by his parents I turned around to see my mother and Cherise standing behind me.

"Hi mum." I said. "I missed you." There was this horrible, awkward silence, I could feel my mother's eyes on me but I just couldn't make eye contact. Instead I concentrated on Tabbys cat carrier by my feet. "Did Bryony tell you how to get onto the platform?"

"Yes, she seemed heartbroken she couldn't pick you up. Cherise was having placement interviews in London though, so I was here." I bit my lip and tried to think of something to say. Suddenly my mum smiled. "Your father will be so pleased to see you again, he missed you." She leant forward and hugged me. Everything was going to be okay, I looked at her face and I just had a feeling that things were going to all right.

Mum and Cherise had driven to London, so I carried my trunk and Tabby's Carrier down to the same Ford Falcon we had always driven. Cherise ignored me for the most of the trip but a couple of times I caught her looking at me through the rear view mirror. It took several hours to get home but I couldn't help but sigh when we drove up to my house. Terracotta colored bricks, white balconies, the same familiar chimneys. There was no snow yet but as I got out the car I could see the mist coming off my breath and I knew there would be soon. It felt good to be home.

It was already dark and the lights were on, I could hear Tayla and William yelling. They were twins, went to different schools and only saw each other during holidays, which opening the door I decided was a good thing. They were yelling and as annoying as it was I couldn't help but smile.

"Hey guys!" I say, dropping my bags by the door, bending over to let Tabby out of his carrier.

"Mils!"

"You're back!"

"You're still alive!"

"You were meant to come home right?"

"Yeah, they didn't send you away did they?"

I took a step backwards from the onslaught. They seemed genuinely happy to see me. "They did send us home, but only for Christmas, so relax, I won't be going back to Cackles and I won't stop being a witch."

Tayla smiled. "Great, I like you and all, but I really didn't want you at my school." I ignored the backhand comment and walked into the kitchen. Dad was sitting at the table, grading papers in front of him. I smiled and hugged him from behind.

"Mildred! You're back! You're alive!" He stood up, turning around and returning the hug. His remark made me smile, the twins were very much more dad then mum. "Did you learn things?"

I smiled. "Yes!"

"You look happy Mills."

"I am happy dad, that place was incredible, the people were amazing, I can fly a broomstick now!"

This started a topic I was more than happy to talk about for the rest f the holidays. In between the conversation I watched the first snow fall, decorated the house from top to tail with tinsel and baubles, I had even wrapped a circle of tinsel around Tabby's neck. Red and Gold looked sweet against his fluffy grey fur, and my roommates would have been proud too! Being back near the ocean again made me feel complete in a way, it was freezing, and no seaside holiday but the sand and the waves were there. It was beautiful. I was fairly sure that I was driving my family crazy with my constant chatter but to be fair they were driving me crazy as well. Tayla and William were fighting as usual, over everything as usual. Cherise was complaining about having to spend Christmas here, she unimaginably hates snow. Dad was trying to grade pre Christmas exams before Christmas so his students could actually enjoy it. Mum though was in a good mood for once. The re-write for her latest book had been accepted so she was very happy. She was also very eager to hear about Hogwarts, I think this was partially just so she could know it was a 'good school', with 'good methods' but it was great at the same time. Christmas sped up on us quickly, there were presents stacked under the tree and packets of chocolate ripple biscuits stacked away just waiting to be turned into my specialty chocolate ripple cake.

On Christmas Eve mum gathered us all into the good dining room. The Table was stacked with food, and even Cherise seemed eager to start. It was at the end of the meal, when we were sitting around the table staring at the licked clean plates waiting for anyone but us to start the dishes that I heard it.

Tap Tap Tap.

The tapping got consistently louder until I just couldn't ignore it. I stood up and opened the curtains in the dining room.

Cerise glared at me."Mills, what are you doing? It's freezing outside…. Oh my god! What is that thing! Why are you letting it inside? Mildred!"

"Cherise be quiet!" I pushed the window open and held my arm out for the owl to hop on.

"Mildred? What are you doing sweetie." Mum was nervously moving to the otherside of the room.

The owl stuck it's leg out and I quickly untied the small package attached to its leg.

"They use owls to send mail, remember my first letter?"

"That is so cool!" Tayla leaned forward to stroke the owl. "Who's your package from?"

I read the curvy handwriting on the front of it and knew instantly. "Scorpious, so that means this is Eos." Eos chirruped hearing her name and flew out the window". I shut the window and pulled the curtains closed again. Cherise seemed to have regained control of her breathing but she was still clutching the side of the table. Mumbling something incoherent she quickly left the room.

"That is so cool!" Said Will, "Why don't we use owls?"

"Our mails never late is it? Go on Mills, open it."

I smiled at my dad. The package had a letter from Scorpious in it and a small package wrapped in Christmas paper. He didn't have much to say in the letter, it sounds like my Christmas was better than his. He ended it on a sad note of "At least I remembered your Christmas present, I don't know what would be more offensive to my parents, giving them nothing or buying something cheap to make up for it" His present was a Honeydukes hamper that was full of chocolate, peppermint imps, flavor changing candy canes and much more. He must have had someone charm it to enlarge to its proper size when I opened it. All day Christmas I had owls arriving at the windows, even Cherise got used to it after a while. Albus sent me a box full of Canary Creams and Extendable Ears from his Uncles Joke Shop. I got postcards from Eloise, Lizzy and Michael. The Moving photos kept switching from scenes in London, to Paris and then to a long house with a wide veranda I guessed was Lizzy and Michaels home in South Africa. It turned out that their families were really close, despite living on different sides of the world.

The photos of Paris made me start thinking of Bryony again. She had been sending me letters and I'd called her on her mobile once but it was on her Boxing Day show so she was in no state to talk. I'd ordered her one of the self measuring, measuring tapes like the one that Mr. Ollivander had used. I didn't know when I'd get a chance to give it to her but hopefully I could use one of the school's owls and send it to her. The holidays breezed past and before I knew it mum was dropping me off at the station. Dad had decided to come as well this time to see where the platform was. Dad seemed ecstatic the entire morning.

"This is incredible! Incredible! How did you and Bryony figure this out?"

"We had a little help."

"Did I hear someone say my name?"

"Bryony!" It was Bryony, she was standing just inside the barrier, classy black French hair do, purple stocking, red stilettos, green dress and homemade blue coat and all!

"How are you here? I thought I wasn't going to see you until Easter!"

"I caught the train from Paris, just for the day, I had to see you!" I couldn't help but scream and hug her. Once I was done she pulled out and smiled at mum and dad. "Hi guys, I'm just here to give Mills her Very French Christmas Present.

"I thought you didn't get me anything!"

Bryony smiled secretly and pulled out a small box wrapped with a very impressive rainbow colored ribbon. "I promised didn't I? So go on! Open it!"

I pulled the ribbon off, stuffing it into the pocket of my jeans and took the lid of the box. Inside was the most beautiful piece of jewelry I have ever seen. It was a silver chain but it was the pendant that made me gasp. It was a simple but beautiful, iridescent and continually colour changing swirl. The colours seemed to move along the swirl.

"I chipped a little bit of the end of your icicle, you left it at my apartment and when Francois was over, you know, he's the jeweler who got me a place in Christmas Show, well he said he could turn it into something amazing, he wanted all of it but I thought you might like the rest of it." She pulled the rest of the icicle out of her pocket. There was another length of the rainbow ribbon tied around it.

"Bryony this is amazing! Thank you, thank you so much!" I pulled it out of the box. There was a little silver square hanging on the chain as well. It was engraved with a message.

"Happy Christmas Mildred, this is so you can always remember how much of a witch you really are. You're amazing. Love Bryony"

I couldn't help it, the tears started coming. Through my teary eyes I could see dad grinning and mum sniffle like she does when she tries not to cry,. "I got you a present to." I sniffled a bit and pulled Bryony's box out of my pocket, I guess I had held on to a shred of hope that I might see her.

Bryony opened it and gave a squeak of excitement.

"Mills this is amazing! I couldn't help but stare when the man in the wand shop was using his, this is perfect! Thank you!" She hugged me again and the tears came once more. This time though they were happier, I was smiling from ear to ear and I was sure my face had gone red. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Thank you so much Bryony!" I heard the train whistle blow. "I have to go now, thank you so much!" I hugged her one last time and then moved on to mum and dad. "Thankyou so much for letting me come here guys, I love you!" I hugged them both and my mum smiled.

"I only wanted you to be happy, and now I think I can see how much happier this place has made you." She hugged me tight, squeezing the air out of me.

"Knock them dead kiddo, show them what real witch can do!" Dad kissed my forehead, wiped the tears from my face and pushed my things into my hand. I waved goodbye as I got onto the train with my other hand clutching my beautiful present. When they were gone from view I sniffed the last of my tears away, precariously picked up my trunk and Tabby's cat carrier and shuffled down the train to look for Albus and Scorpious.

AUTHORS NOTE: I really like the ending of this chapter, I know it's been forever but hopefully this chapter makes up for it. Things are going to get interesting in the next couple of chapters. This will not just be a "Happy year at school fic" something is going to happen! I'm slowly chipping away at that, quickly chipping away if life doesn't get in the way but for now you can make my day and please review! It will honestly make all my Christmas's come at once!

=D Kellsabelle.