-Chapter 10-
Christmas was approaching fast .One morning in mid- December, Hogwarts woke to find itself covered in several feet of snow. The lake was froze solid and the Weasley twins were punished for bewitching several snowballs so that they followed Quirrell around, bounching off the back of his turban. The few Owls that managed to battle their way through the stormy sky to deliver post had to be nursed back to health by Hagrid before they could fly off again.
No one could wait for the holidays to start. While the Gryffindor common room and the Great Hall had roaring fires, the draughty corridors had become icy cold and a bitter wind rattled through the windows in the classroom. Worst of all were Professor Snape's classes in the dunegons- worse than usual.
' I do feel so sorry,' said Malfoy, one Potions class, 'for all those people who have to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas because they're not wanted at home.' looking over at Harry.
'And I feel so sorry for those. who go home for Christmas and are still not wanted by their parents.' Phoebe retorted, causing most of the Gryffindors to snigger.
'That is enough Miss Black,' Snape said. '10 points from Gryffindor.'
'W-' Phoebe began but Hermione stamped on her foot.
'There is no point, he'll only go and give you detintion.' Hermione pointed out.
When they left the dungeons at the end of Potions, they found a large fig tree blocking the corridor ahead. Two enormous feet sticking out at the bottom and a loud puffing sound told them that Hagrid was behind it.
'Hi, Hagrid, want any help?' Ron asked sticking his head through the branches.
'Nah, I'm all right, thanks, Ron.'
'Would you mind moving out of the way?' came Malfoy's cold drawl. ' Are you planning to earn some extra money, Wealsey? Hoping to be gamekeeper yourself when you leave Hogwarts. I suppose- that hut of Hagrid's must seem like a palace compared to what your family's used to.'
Ron divided at Malfoy just as Snape came up the stairs.
'WEASLEY!'
Ron let go of the front of Malfoy's robes.
'He was provoked, Professor Snape.' said Hagrid. 'Malfoy was insulting his family.'
'Be that as it may Hagrid, fighting is aganist Hogwarts rules.' said Snape, silkly. 'Five points from Gryffindor , Weasley, and be grateful it isn't more. Move along, all of you.'
Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle pushed roughly past the tree, scattering needles everywhere and smirking.
'I'll get him,' Said Ron, grinding his teeth at Malfoy's back. 'one of these days, I'll get him-'
'I hate them both,' said Harry. 'Malfoy and Snape.'
'Especially Snape.' said Phoebe.
'Come on Cheer up, it's nearly Christmas,' said Hagrid. 'Tell yeh what, come with me an' see the Great Hall, looks a treat.'
Harry, Ron ,Hermione and Phoebe followed Hagrid and his tree off into the Great Hall, where Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick were busy with the Christmas decotations.
'Ah, Hagrid, the last tree- put it in the far corner, would you?'
The Hall looked and mistletoe hung all around the walls and no fewer than twelve towering Christmas trees stood around the room, some sparkling with tiny icicles, some glittering with hundreds of Candles.
'How many days you got left until yer holidays?' Hagrid asked.
'Just one,' said Hermione. 'And that reminds me- Harry, Ron, Phoebe, we've got half an hour before lunch, we should be in the library.'
'Oh, I completely forgot.' Said Phoebe, her hand jumping to her mouth.
'The library?' said Hagrid, following them out of the hall. 'Just before the holidays? Bit keen, aren't yeh?'
'Oh, we're not working,' Harry told him brightly. 'Ever since you mentioned Nicolas Flamel we've been trying to find out who he is.'
'You what?' Hagrid looked shocked. 'Listen here- I've told yeh- drop it. It's nothin' to you what that dog's guardin'.'
'We just want to know who Nicolas Flamel is, that's all,' said Hermione.
'Unless you would like to tell us and save us the trouble?' Harry added. 'We must've been through hundreds of books already and can't find him anywhere.'
'Or you could give us a hint?' Phoebe suggested.
'I'm sayin' nothin',' said Hagrid flatly.
'Just have to find out for ourselves, then.' said Ron, and they left Hagrid looking disgruntled and hurried off to the library.
They had been searching books for Flammel's name ever since Hagrid had let it slip, because how else were they going to find out what Snape was trying to steal? The trouble was, it was very hard to know where to begin. He wasn't in Great Wizards of the Twentieth Century, or Noble Magical Names of Our Time, he was missing too, from Important Modern Magical Discoveries, and A Study of Recent Developments in Wizardry. And then of course, there was the Sheer size of the Library, tens of thousands of books; thousands of shelves; hundreds of narrow rows.
Hermione took out a list of subjects and titles and she had decided to search while Ron strode off down a row of books and started pulling them off the shelves at random. While Phoebe, chose to walk into the History of Magic section to see if his name was any of the books. Harry wandered over to the restricted section, but it would be no use, he would need a signed slip from a teacher and Phoebe, very much doubted he would get one from a teacher to go searching for Flamel.
Madam Prince threw Harry out of the Library for snooping around. A few moments later Phoebe and the others joined him, shaking their heads and they went down to the Great Hall for Lunch.
'You will keep looking while Phoebe and I are away, won't you?' said Hermione. 'And send us an owl if you find anything.'
'You could ask your parents if they know who Flamel is.' said Ron. 'It would be safe to ask them.'
'Very safe, as they are both dentists.' said Hermione.
'What about you, Phoebe?' said Harry. 'Would your Aunt or Uncle know?'
'I don't know.' said Phoebe. 'They would probably be suspicious. I could ask my cousin Tonks. She is training to be an Auror, she may know something,'
The next day, Phoebe and Hermione packed up their belongings, said goodbye to the boys and made their way onto the Hogwarts Express.
'Do you think they will find anything on Flamel?' Hermione asked.
'Knowing Harry and Ron, they'll be too busy having fun to care.'
The whole journey back they talked about where they could find Flamel, about school, classes and their lives in general.
'I don't mean to pry,' said Hermione, slowly. ' But what happened to your parents?'
'My mum was killed when I was only six months old. I'm not sure exactly how, I mean my aunt and Uncle don't really know what happened and i went to live with my aunt and uncle when I was a year old and my dad, he went to Azkaban and I haven't seen or heard from him since.'
'Oh, Phoebe. I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have-'
'It's ok, it was a long time ago and I have my aunt and uncle, and Tonks. I had the best upbringing a child could have. I mean, look at Harry. He had a horrible upbringing.'
The train pulled up at Platform 9 3/4. Phoebe and Hermione, got off the train and onto the Platform.
'There is my mum and dad.' Hermione said, waving over to her parents. ' have a good Christmas and I will see you when term starts again.'
'Have a good Christmas.' Phoebe said, waving goodbye to her.
Phoebe scanned the crowd until she spotted her aunt and uncle, who were waving francitally at her.
'Oh Merlin, Phoebe.' Andromeda sighed, hugging her. 'You have grown so much, from September.'
'It's great to see you again, Phoebe.' Ted said, taking her trunk. 'Come on, let's go.'
Phoebe followed her aunt and uncle off the platform and Phoebe side apparated with her aunt.
They came to a sudden holt outside the Tonks house. How Phoebe had missed this place so much. A little house, in the middle of nowhere. Surrounded by fields for miles- perfect for playing Qudditch.
'Mum, Dad!' They heard someone call. Phoebe turned around to see Tonks coming walking up the lane, with a rucksack on her back. Her hair was short and bubblegum pink.
'Nymphadora! I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow.' Andromeda said, hugging her daughter. 'Oh, this is the best present anyone could have. My two girls home for Christmas.'
'Alright Mum, we only went to School and training. Not to War.' said Tonks, rolling her eyes. 'Phoeb's, it's great to see you. I can't wait to hear all about Hogwarts.'
That night, Phoebe and Tonks spent their evening beside the roaring fire with two cups of warm cocoa, filling each other in about their told Tonks about her friends and Tonks, was keen to hear about Harry Potter - and even more surprised by how his muggle relatives treated him.
'Tonks, have you ever heard of Nicolas Flamel?'
'No, can't say I have. Why do you ask?'
'Nothing, just a project Hermione, is wanting to do.' Phoebe lied quickly. 'Anyways, how is Auror training going?'
'It's hard.' said Tonks, taking a sipping of her drink. 'I nearly wish I was back at Hogwarts. I also moved into a flat in Diagon Alley. Think Mum cried for a solid week after I left.'
On Christmas eve, they were forced to scrub the house from top to bottom. While, Andromeda was prepared all the Christmas food. Then, that evening, they sat in the living area playing Wizards Chess and Exploding Snap while eating their bodyweight in chocolate.
That morning, Phoebe was awakened by Tonks diving on top of her.
'Get up, Sleepy Head! It's Christmas!'
Phoebe followed Tonks into her aunt and uncle's room- both of course, were still fast asleep.
'On three.' Tonks whispered. 'One, two, three.'
They took a big run and dived onto the bed, which cause Andromeda to shout and Ted to laugh.
They followed Ted's muggle tradition of leaving the presents under the tree and opening them in the living room together.
Phoebe had a pile of presents. Her aunt and uncle had gotten her books on Tranfiguration -which was in favourite subject. Tonks, had gotten her books called the survival guide for teenage witches and a packet of cauldron cakes. Hermione had gotten her a fancy journal and quill set. Harry had gotten her large box of chocolate frogs and Ron , large box of every- flavoured beans.
That Christmas had been one of the best Phoebe had. She was sad to leave her family behind but was looking forward to seeing her friends again.