A/N: This chapter has been rewritten.

Chapter Ten - Christmas Miracles

Light up your face with gladness

Hide every trace of sadness

Although a tear may be ever so near

That's the time you must keep on trying

Smile, what's the use of crying?*

"Straight O's," Rowan says, opening her report card. "Which the excepting of Flying, but it doesn't matter. I don't intent on pursuing a career in Quidditch anyway."

I run my thumb over the big O next to "Potions". It's strange that though he seems to despise me, he still manages to indirectly praise me by giving my an Outstanding in every assignment.

"Girls!" Ben shouts, running to us. "I did it! I got an A in Flying! I'm not a Troll!"

Ever since we helped him overcome his fear of Flying, he got increasingly better at it. He even risked a few different moves during the lessons, making all our colleagues feel bad for having doubted him. He sits next to us by the fountain, bearing a big bright smile.

I look at the blank space next to Care of Magical Creatures. "I can't believe Professor Kettleburn quit on us."

"I know," Rowan says. "I was getting used to those Kneazles."

"Well, he didn't exactly quit on us," Ben says. "We'll only be seeing him again in our third year. Thanks to those slimy Slytherins."

"I find impressive that Dumbledore managed to convince him to change this class to an elective," Rowan says. "I was pretty sure he was going away."

I sigh. "I wonder what those Slytherins did to him."

"I heard some rumours," Ben says. "That they put a bunch of Filibuster Fireworks in his office and it made all his creatures pretty stressed out. You know how sensitive Kettleburn is about his magical creatures."

Now that the exams are nothing but a memory, the following weeks seem to flow very smoothly. Even Professor Snape seems to be a little more relaxed and Rowan says it's a result of all the T's that he probably graded while correcting his students' tests. And now that we don't have Professor Kettleburn's lessons anymore, we also have a lot of extra free time, that I use to study, practice my singing and visit Twilight at the Owlery.

On December 21st, the Frog Choir is to perform a Christmas song during breakfast, before everyone heads back to their houses for the holidays. Professor Flitwick is being very perfectionist, reason why I find myself singing the song everywhere I go.

"Join the owl's joyous flocking on this merry Christmas day," I hum, distractedly, in a particularly calm day at the Owlery, while I run my fingertips over Twilight's feathers.

"So," the most annoying voice in the entire world says, filling the place with coldness. "Have you told anymore about what Snape and Filch said in that corridor?"

"I don't know what they said," I tell her. "I didn't go snooping on them like you did."

"You're such an idiot, Lockhart," she hisses. "Thankfully, your little friends are useless and won't ruin my chances of getting inside that room."

I turn around, looking at her. "What room?"

"You really don't know?"

"I really don't know," I lie.

She snickers, mischievously. "I thought you would like to know that they're real. The Cursed Vaults."

"Are you after them?" I ask, turning around to give Twilight a little treat.

"None of your business," she says, sharply, and I roll my eyes.

"My brother was looking for them," I say.

"And he failed because you come from a family of failures," she replies, laughing evilly.

"Funny for you to say," I say, giggling sarcastically. "Coming from a girl whose parents are stuck in Azkaban. I read about their trial. And that they're doomed to spend the rest of their lives in a cold cell."

I don't have to look at her to know she's staring at me with fire in her violet eyes, probably wondering if it's wise to push me through the window. I hear her harrumph and leave, her steps heavy. I'm not sure if mentioning her parents was a wise choice, but it made me weirdly satisfied.

Merula doesn't address me the word for another blissful week, until the cold morning of December 17th. Winter is hovering the horizon, making the sky grey and the air chilly, and I have to wear a scarf while walking with Rowan to the dungeons. We watch Merula walk past us, hasty and annoyed, and enter the classroom before we have time to climb down the stone staircase.

As Rowan chops her doxy livers, I mix my potion with care. From the corner of my eye, I can see Merula's potion release a light peachy fume instead of the bright orange that it's supposed to be.

I look at Rowan. "Should I help her? I should, shouldn't I?"

She shrugs, adding ten drops of Flobberworm Mucus to her cauldron. "I guess it would be the right thing to do. But then again, getting her head stuck in a cage with a baby manticore also seems like the right thing to do."

"I'm not so sure," I say. "I think she'd scare the poor baby with her ugliness."

We giggle as I turn to look at a particularly worried Merula. She's scratching her head while staring nervously at her book, trying to figure out what she did wrong.

"Hey," I call. "You stirred your potion only five times, instead of seven. That's why it's wrong colour."

She looks at me with venomous eyes. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"Shockingly," Professor Snape says, approaching her cauldron. "In this sole instance, Miss Lockhart is correct."

Merula gapes as she looks at him in complete stupor.

"I guess even a reckless, incompetent fool like yourself can become a middling witch by following instructions, Miss Lockhart," he says, looking at me with jet-black eyes. "Ten points for Ravenclaw."

Now it's my turn to get awe struck. He doesn't see my expression, because he's checking on the other students' potions, but it makes me feel wonderstruck during the entire lesson. I finish my potion, placing a bit of it inside a crystal flask and leave it over his desk. It could be the candle lights playing tricks on my mind or maybe there was something inside my morning tea, but I can swear that a glimpse of a smile runs through his lips when he looks at me before I leave the dungeons.

For a moment, everything seems right.

Another week ends and before I can realize, it's time to perform next to the Frog Choir. The frog I'm holding is heavy and lumpy, and seems to be more excited than I am, for I can feel his heartbeat against my palms.

The Great Hall is full of students wearing their regular clothes, having their last magical breakfast before returning home for the holidays. There are a lot of pine trees beautiful decorated, hollies, ribbons and bells everywhere, and I even spot some mistletoes strategically placed under some arched around the castle.

I join the choir in front of the teachers' table, which is now empty. All the professors are sitting with their students in the respective houses they belonged in, waiting for our performance. Professor Dumbledore seems particularly proud to be sitting next to Professor McGonagall at Gryffindor's table.

Professor Flitwick stands in front of us and raises his baton to start conducting us. From Ravenclaw's table, Rowan eyes me excitedly, raising to happy thumbs up at me.

"Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, ring the Hogwarts bell," I sing along with my companions. "Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, cast a Christmas spell."

I risk a glance at Slytherin's table, but Merula is nowhere to be seen. Instead, my eyes meet Professor Snape's and this time he isn't looking as severe as he usually is. There's a hint of a smile on his lips. A hint… but it's a smile, nevertheless.

Once we finish the song, our performance receives a standing ovation, which fills me with joy when I see Professor Dumbledore applauding us.

"That. Was. Fantastic!" Rowan says when I rush to sit next to her.

I smile, grabbing a steamy ladle of porridge. "Thanks."

"Hey, Athena," Penny says, walking to me. "Great performance. Here, this is my address. Please, keep in touch."

"She is so sweet," Rowan says. "Speaking of address, promise me you'll write. I know we'll be away for just two weeks, but I'll want to know everything."

"Well, you can expect Twilight's visit at Khanna's Tree Farm in Bach."

"And you can expect some very nice letters at Lockhart Gardens," she says, opening a broad smile. "By the way, why are you spending the holidays at your grandparents'?"

"Because the Christmas party is usually there," I say, stuffing my mouth with porridge.

I've been in school for just three months and people already seem to know a whole lot about me; that Jake went mad while looking for the Vaults, that my cousin is a cocky spoiled twist that craves attention… Though I'm thankful for having Rowan in my life and being able to show her who I truly am, I'm sure if I want to share the reasons why I'm spending the holidays with Grandpa and Grandma. Not now, at least.

My darling daughter,

We've spent the last months looking for your brother, but, unfortunately, we haven't been able to find him. Your mother is extremely unwell, and I think it's best for your mental health if you spend the holidays with your grandparents in Devon. We feel like we've abused their kindness by making them stay at our house to take care of you, so they went back to the Gardens, and I think you'll be better there with them. They've already taken most of your stuff and if you need anything else, I'll be sure to send to you.

I'll be staying with your mother at a muggle spa, away from everyone who knows us, so she can have a good rest. Hopefully, with the proper treatment and some peace and quiet, she'll be better in no time and we'll all be able to go home together.

I want you to know what we're very proud of you and we've already left your well-deserved Christmas present at your grandparents'. We love you more than words can say, and I don't want you to doubt it not even for the slightest second.

Merry Christmas, honey. We miss you very, very much.

All my loving,

Dad.

I've read the words over and over again, as soon as my parents' owl arrived. They still echo in my head, like a sad song that seems to throb inside my heart. Though I know I'll be happy at my grandparents' house, I can't help but feel out of place. All I want is for things to be normal again.

"Miss Lockhart," Madam Hooch's voice startles me.

"Madam Hooch," I say, opening a smile.

"I just want you to know what I've informed the Headmaster about your and Miss Khanna's kindness to Mr. Copper. He decided to reward twenty points for each of you for your sensibility and initiative."

"Wow!" Rowan gasps. "Thank you so much, Professor!"

I take a look at the hourglasses. At last, Ravenclaw is leading the House Cup. Slytherin is just behind us, but it doesn't matter. I feel like I'm finally being helpful to my house, instead of the harmful reckless freak everyone though I was. I try to erase any negativity about my mother and the fact that I know that she isn't really at a spa. I try to fill my mind with happy thoughts as I finish my breakfast and follow Rowan to the train station.

The beautiful scarlet train is waiting for us, ready to lead us through snowy landscapes and meandering sceneries, directly to foggy London, where my parents won't be waiting for me. I try to ignore the gloominess, relying on sweet conversations with Rowan and Ben, and the joy of cauldron cakes and chocolate frogs. The cherry on top are our cheerful conversations about Merula and her world domination plans.

Despite everything, I'm happy.

* Smile, by Charlie Chaplin.