"Blimey, that must be a record," said Ron excitedly. He had just beaten Harry handedly in a game of Wizard's Chess and was celebrating accordingly. "You shouldn't have moved your knight there, it left you exposed."
It was Christmas Eve and the Great Hall was decorated all over with wreaths, lights, and trees, creating a light show the like of which had to be seen to be believed. The ceiling showed a night sky, peppered with stars and snowfall.
"Come off it, it's late and I'm tired," Harry wearily responded. They had spent the majority of their day searching for Nicolas Flamel, to no avail. The game of chess was supposed to unwind them, but it hadn't gone on for very long at all. "All the pieces keep trying to change the moves."
Harry's statement was true, in fact almost every move he commanded them to make was questioned, and some even disobeyed. The pieces simply didn't trust him yet.
"C'mon, it's getting late, we should head back to the common room," Said Harry, and the two rose from the benches and made their way to the common room. Lying in wait outside was Neville, who had once again forgotten the password and now resembled a slumbering troll.
"Oy, Neville!" Ron shouted at the boy, who had dozed off.
"Wussat? Oh, hey guys." Neville responded, jolted awake by the shout. "can you, uh." Neville gestured towards the Fat Lady.
"The password's figgy pudding," said Ron, annoyed. "C'mon Neville, you've got to start remembering these. One of these days someone its gonna get you in trouble."
"I can't help it," Neville somberly replied. "My Gran bought me the Remembrall to help me remember things, but it doesn't help! I know I've forgotten it, but it won't tell me."
"Maybe you should just write it down?" Harry suggested. Neville's eyes lit up at the suggestion.
"That's a good idea, Harry. Thanks!" Neville replied, before heading through the gateway quickly, as if afraid he would be locked out again.
Harry and Ron clambered in after him and were met with the sight of Fred and George trying to convince another student to eat some kind of red candy.
"Come on Chris, it's peppermint!"
"Yeah, but we've made a slight modification. It should go down as easy as Butterbeer."
Harry and Ron sat down by the fire and took out their wands, levitating various items around their heads for fun.
"Oy harry, who am I?" asked Ron jokingly, releasing his spell on a small wooden spoon he had been holding over his head. Hitting him as it fell, the spoon ricocheted into parts unknown. Ron made a very stupid face.
"The troll?" Harry guessed, laughing
"Ding ding ding!" Ron exclaimed, and the two had a good laugh together. For a good few minutes, they stared forward at the fire, wondering just who Nicolas Flamel could possibly be, when Neville walked over to them.
"Hey Harry, Ron, thanks for letting me in earlier. I uh, I got this chocolate frog earlier, and I thought that maybe one of you wants it?. Ron, you collect the cards, right?" Neville asked, holding out a wrapped box.
"Thanks Neville," Ron responded, opening the box as quickly as he had received it. "Ah, Dumbledore again. I reckon I've about 10 of him by now, eh?" Ron quipped as he tossed the card behind him, not bothering to read the card.
At the other edge of the room, Fred and George were cackling. Chris had finally eaten the "peppermint" candy and had begun breathing fire out of his nostrils and yelling. He pushed Fred away from him and ran up the stairs to the boys' dormitories.
"Knock it off, you two," called Percy, entering in from the direction Chris had left. If you want to test those candies of yours, do it on yourselves. Leave the other students out of it."
"Yes sir, Mr. Prefect sir," Called George, leading Harry and Ron to begin laughing again. Percy stormed back upstairs, his face matching his bright red hair.
It was getting very late into the evening when Harry and Ron finally went up to bed, falling asleep rather quickly. It was Harry's first Christmas away from home this year, and for once he wouldn't have to deal with the inevitable tantrum from Dudley. Even if he didn't receive any gifts, that was reward in itself.