FOURTEEN

By the time the Christmas holiday sign-up sheet was going around, Harry had decided to put his anger with Dumbledore on the backburner. It took almost a week, but eventually Harry realised that he was gaining nothing out of being constantly angry, and there wasn't anything he could really do without revealing some of his wildcards. It was definitely a black mark against Dumbledore's name, but Harry didn't want some petty revenge made in haste to ruin bigger plans that would have more devastating effects. Dumbledore would not be getting away scott free, it would have to wait. Besides which Harry acknowledged that if he reacted immediately, then Dumbledore would realise that Harry couldn't be obliviated, and that would cause all sorts of problems. No, it would have to wait, no matter how much Harry's magic burned for revenge.

The castle was building up to a festive season. The sets of armor had been charmed to sing carols, and Harry let slip to Peeves where some mistletoe was growing, so students were being attacked left right and center. Flich had threatened to burn down the entire forbidden forest to get rid of all the mistletoe after Peeves spent an entire day floating around after him showering him in mistletoe petals, and insisting he and Mrs Norris needed to kiss (It probably didn't help matters that Harry spent an hour talking the Bloody-Baron into letting Peeves have his fun for the day, meaning Filch had no backup).

The Weasley twins had somehow decided that Ron was the heir to Slytherin, and Harry had caught them quite a few times frog-marching around an irate Ron. Harry had heard rumors that they had got Percy too. They tried to get Harry once, however their hands were cursed blue after touching Harry for only a second, and Harry promised it would be permanent if they tried it again. He was pretty sure they seriously considered it.

Harry had expected to have a quiet Christmas, the double attack on Justin and Nearly Headless Nick turned what had hitherto been nervousness into real panic. Curiously, it was Nearly Headless Nick's fate that seemed to worry people most. What could possibly do that to a ghost? people asked each other; what terrible power could harm someone who was already dead? There was almost a stampede to book seats on the Hogwarts Express so that students could go home for Christmas, and it was only by pure chance that he found out there would be something going on in advance.

He was walking along the corridor outside Myrtle's bathroom, when he heard Myrtle crying louder than usual. He wouldn't normally investigate, however just in case she'd had a diary thrown through her, Harry went in.

'Hello Myrtle.'

'You're a boy! Boy's aren't allowed in my toilet.'

'I know Myrtle, but we met at Nick's party, and I couldn't help but notice you were more upset than usual, are you okay?' Harry had the horrible feeling he was going to come out of this life with Myrtle having a crush on him again.

Myrtle sniffed, but didn't seem to trust his word. 'You've come to laugh at me haven't you! All you boys come to laugh at stupid, moping, moaning, Myrtle!'

And with a final long wail Myrtle went flying around the room before crashing into one of the toilets with a large splash. Harry was just to give up the whole thing as a lost cause when he noticed that the end door was firmly closed. He snorted loudly, checking the lock with an alohamora, and snorting again when his suspicions were confirmed.

Neville had been going great all year in potions, hardly blowing up anything at all, which had made Harry suspicious when he suddenly went back to the giant explosion that had given them a four-day-detention. Harry felt a bit stupid for not recognizing the signs. Neville had been the distraction for Hermione to sneak into Snape's personal store. They, and Harry could only assume Dean too, were brewing Polyjuice potion. Harry checked the potion, and confirmed that it would be ready just before Christmas.

Harry carefully set everything back the way he found it, then made his way down to the common room with a giant smirk on his face. He would make sure Hermione knew Millicent's was a cat fur, and get her one of Daphne's or Pansy's hairs, but otherwise he considered them fair game. He was sure Daphne could pull it off with ease, so he'd have to let her in on the plot, and he supposed he would have to let Draco know not to mention the secret compartment under his dinning room floor. But other than that, Harry intended to have some fun. He sought out Daphne as soon as he returned to the common room.

'Hey Daphne, could I have a word?'

Daphne raised one eyebrow, but put her books away, and went to take them up to her dorm. Harry followed her away from the group, and asked in a low voice so that only she could hear 'Can you bring Pansy's hairbrush? I promise I'll explain on the way.'

'You had better have a good explanation Potter.' Was all she said, before turning up the stairs.

While Daphne was putting her stuff away, and hopefully getting Pansy's brush, Harry ran up to his room and checked the map. His grin only increased when he saw Hermione, Dean and Neville studying in the library.

'Perfect.'

'What's perfect?' Daphne suddenly popped up looking over Harry's shoulder. 'Wow! What's that?'

Harry smirked. 'Family heirloom. I stole it off the Weasley twins.'

'Sometimes I don't know whether to believe you or not Harry. You stole a Weasley family heirloom?'

'Nope.'

'But you just said-'

'I stole a Potter family heirloom off the Weasley twins. They stole it of Filch, who confiscated of my dad and his friends in their seventh year. They made it. Keep it to yourself will you?'

'Do try to remember you're in Slytherin Harry.'

'What's your price then? How would you like to help pull a massive prank on Granger, Thomas and Longbottom?'

'… I'm listening…'

'Well…'

Daphne was dragged by Harry into the library, complaining in a hushed whisper.

'Potter I don't see why studying right now was so important?!'

'Because I just remembered something, and I'll forget it again. I need to look it up now.'

Daphne sighed loudly, then dropped to a desk not far from where the three Gryffindors were staying.

'I was trying to brush my hair before Pansy got back.'

Harry noticed Hermione perk up, and eye the hairbrush Daphne had sat on the desk beside her.

'I don't understand what the issue is? You can brush your hair later, the library closes in twenty minutes.'

'Yes well you wouldn't, Mr. I-don't-ever-brush-my-hair.' Harry glared at her for a moment, before returning to his book. 'Besides,' Daphne continued, 'Millicent accidentally used mine to brush that damn cat of hers. The thing drops hair absolutely everywhere.'

'I prefer owls.' Harry said, hardly looking up.

Daphne sniffed, turning her back on the desk with the brush and her bag and following Harry just out of sight of the table to look at the book he was reading.

'I think I will soon too. She already has cat hair all over her robes, how long do you think until I have the same disaster?'

Harry personally thought the world would turn supernova first, as Daphne was always the image of perfect. 'I think you should tell Milly this, not me. I found the reference, we can go.'

'Why did I even have to come?'

'This is meant to be a group assignment.' Harry complained, as Daphne sniffed again, collecting her things and making her way out of the library. They continued bickering good-naturedly until they hit the next floor.

'Did she take it?'

'The brush had definitely moved.'

'Excellent.'

'Do you seriously think Granger will be stupid enough to play the part of a Slytherin who isn't even in the school?'

'Yes. The trick will be to stop Malfoy from saying anything.'

'Leave that to me. I still can't believe that they have been brewing polyjuice!'

'So are you staying here for Christmas then?'

'I am now.'

Harry laughed. 'What about Astoria? I thought you always spent Christmas with her?'

Daphne was momentarily surprised, but regained her mask before it slipped properly. 'She'll be here next year, and she'll understand the need to prank Gryffindors.'

'She could end up in Gryffindor you know.' Harry pointed out. Daphne stopped walking and looked at Harry alarmed. Harry just rolled his eyes and kept walking.

'Come on, we need to go and see the Professor and let him know you're staying.'

'How did you even find out about this?'

'That's a long story Daphne.'

'I have a while.'

'Luck.'

'That isn't long at all.' Daphne whined.

'Did you seriously just whine?'

'Not a word Potter.'

Harry snorted. 'Who knows, maybe one day I'll tell you it.'

'I can't bargain for it now?'

'You don't even have ten percent of the value.'

'I'll work on it then.'

'Perhaps. You've got Malfoy covered?'

'Yeah. Are you going to use that map of yours to find them for the password?'

'Yep.' Harry popped the 'p'. 'This is going to be fun!'

'You're an odd child Harry Potter.'

'And you are channeling Luna.'

They reached the common room and Harry went in while Daphne turned to the left towards Snape's office.

'Whatever Harry.'

Blaise and Theo had quickly caught on that Harry and Daphne were planning something and didn't want to miss out on the fun, so along with Draco, Crabbe and Goyle, there was quite a group of them staying for Christmas day. In the end, Harry headed back up to the Room of Requirement to look for interesting things for presents, rather than sneak out to Hogsmead. He was already planning to give Luna the psychedelic umbrella he had found, and fixed, from first year, but also had sent away for a blank Diary earlier in the term when an owl-order wouldn't be noticed. He thought he was probably being paranoid about the owl ordering, but suspected he would be lucky to last one more summer without someone realising he wasn't staying at the Dursleys, especially if Sirius escaped, and didn't want Dumbledore alerted that he knew how to owl order if he was likely to be cut off. Harry had every intention of having an invite to the Malfoy's (and Narcissa nee Black) by then anyway, but better safe than sorry.

To the diary for Luna, Harry had attached a note that said 'Luna, this is just in case… you really don't have a diary that writes back, right?! Please tell me if you see one! - Harry'.

Harry actually managed to find a bludger that was still working for Theo, and a copy of Machiavelli's The Prince for Blaise. He sent out a school owl to order chocolate frogs for Vince and Greg, and just a slightly more expensive box of chocolates for Draco. Daphne was proving difficult, as everything he saw which he thought she might like, he realised that future Daphne would like it, and this Daphne had a way to go. In the end he sought out the box of crystals from the previous year and transfigured a chain to hold a smaller one as a necklace. It turned out much better than he expected.