Christmas couldn't come around fast enough for Nigel and though he was half tempted to remain within the school for the holiday he knew that this time he couldn't. For Nigel had something Harry never did, a Father, a family that loved him and actually wanted him to return home.

It was a nice feeling really, something he fount himself quite enjoying. Though that didn't mean he wasn't a bit concerned, at least until he learned that Red and Rockgut would also be going home. He really didn't want to leave those two alone at the school with only each other for company. The castle would be completely annihilated by time the holidays were over if he did. Everything was going perfectly for a change, something that had rarely happened considering his line of work.

Too bad things were never quite that simple for him.

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Deputy Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardly, was not having a good day. It had started out with the begging of the last Heir of Slytherin to stay at the castle over the holiday, so as not to return to his orphanage. Something Albus had quickly shot down with a small white lie about how no one else would be staying-not even the Professors- and he couldn't stay here alone.

Then it had moved on to another complex problem: Getting the Russian Ravenclaw, Red von Sova, to stay.

Unlike Tom Riddle the Russian with a look in his eye that reminded him of a young and angry Gellert Grindelwald, wasn't such an easy case to deal with. The child actually had a family and not an orphanage who's Matron didn't care waiting for him. And he couldn't force the child to stay, let alone tell anyone the reason he wanted the Ravenclaw to stay. They would all believe him paranoid or over reacting.

He had made sight suggestions about staying over the months after his almost heart attack at the fact he would be teaching not one but two Grindelwald like students, but none swayed the child. The Russian was still determined to return to 'Mother Russia' and his family. So he had waited a month before telling another white lie.

He had informed the child he had received an eye staying that his father was called away on a sudden and unexpected business trip while requesting permission for his child to be allowed to stay at Hogwarts over the holidays. The Ravenclaw seemed to accept it and the rouge hair child never sent out an owl. Everything was going perfectly for a change.

Until Victor von Sova arrived at Hogwarts with two other men, Dylan Tux and Jethro Rockgut.

If Red von Sova was a Mini Grindelwald in the making, Victor von Sova was the Devil himself.

Pale skin and eyes that glowed with a predatory gleam and promised suffering unlike any before though possible. His words flowed like a gently river and as soft as velvet when speaking to his child yet were as icy as a glacier and harsh as a unstoppable blizzard as he metaphorically chewed Dumbledore to pieces before spatting him out just to stomp the wizard into the dirt.

Few could understand what exactly the man was saying causing many to look to the only Russian they knew. Unfortunately Red seemed far to amused watching his father tear into the Deputy Headmaster to bother translating.

Those that did understand were blushing like school girls over their crush and refused to translate saying 'Maybe when you're older'.

Red had to be honestly, he was utterly amused watching The Count tear into Dumbles with a vengeance usually reserved for the Penguins and their Agencies. The Mad Owl could make a sailor blush like a schoolgirl with his choice of words but Red had been expecting and counting on it when he had contacted the elder using his laptop since he had a feeling owls would be watched.

Who did Dumbledore think he was fooling when he had told Red the Count had Owled him a letter? If anything The Count would have sent an Email instead of forcing another avian to fly that far just for a scrap of paper. What did he take Red for, an idiot?

He wasn't very surprised when the Count looked his way and ordered him to go pack. That since he was there already he might as well take Red home so he didn't 'disappear' from the train. His not so subtle acquisition ringing loud and clear for those who understood. Grinning like a mad man Red had rushed towards his dorm not all that surprised when he soon heard two sets of footsteps following from a safe distance.

He was finally going home. Even if it was only for the holiday.