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Challenges listed at the bottom.

Word Count: 619

Secret Admirer

"I feel like my brain is about to slip out of my ear," Harry muttered, carefully burning the edge of his parchment with his wand, watching it glow brightly, the embers dropping to the marble tabletop. "Exam season is shit."

"Language!" Hermione chastised. "Besides, it's not even exam season yet. It's the Christmas holidays."

"I wish someone had told the planner you gave me that," Harry retorted, rolling his eyes. "You have me studying for eight hours today, Hermione. It's Sunday!"

Ron slipped into the Great Hall just as breakfast was served, dropping down into the seat beside Harry. "What's up, mate?"

"Hermione is making me work and I really don't want to."

Ron chuckled. And then stopped. "Wait. If she's making you work, she's making me work!" He turned to Hermione. "It's Sunday, you sadist!"

Harry pointed at Ron and then looked back to Hermione. "See. I told you."

She shook her head and opened her book, ignoring the two of them as they all tucked into their breakfast. Neville and Ginny joined them at the table, and Luna wandered over once she'd finished eating.

"So, we're all going to the library," Hermione said, when the tables were cleared. "If we get there soon, we'll get the big table at the back and—"

"Why is there an owl?"

"What?" Hermione asked, frowning at Harry for interrupting her.

"An owl. On Sunday. There's no post on Sunday's, Hermione."

She sniggered, while the others—all pureblood and looking at the two of them like they'd lost their minds—watched, completely baffled.

"How long have you been in the magical world now?" she asked, when she'd gotten herself under control.

"I just didn't want to hear about the library," Harry admitted, accepting the fist bump from Ron, and then the sugar quill he offered immediately after.

"You two are so greedy," Ginny said, shaking her head. "You've literally just eaten breakfast."

"Are you saying you don't want one?" Ron asked, holding a third quill up. She snatched it out of her hand.

The owl chose that moment to perch on the table, it's leg stuck out to Harry with a teal coloured paper wrapped package.

"Huh. Well then." Harry relieved the owl of her package, smiling when she nipped at his finger cheerfully before taking off, her black and white feathers fluttering behind her.

"I feel like it's a bad omen to get post on Sundays," Hermione said, biting her lip to stop herself from laughing. "Maybe you should wait to open it until tomorrow, Harry?"

"Is that the reason?" he asked, chuckling as he tore into the wrapping. "Or do you just not want me to be distracted from the library."

"You caught me."

"You two are insane," Ron said, shaking his head. "What's in the box?"

Harry looked down at the ornate wooden box the wrapping had revealed and opened it to find a snow globe sitting on pretty light blue satin.

Carefully, Harry removed it from the box and shook it, smiling automatically when a flurry of snow rose to twirl and swirl in the encased glass.

"That's a traditional courting gift," Ron said, eyes wide. "Ooh, Harry, you're being courted!"

Harry frowned. "Is this another one of those things that I should know and don't know?"

Ginny nodded. "Pretty much. It'll be a bit like having a secret admirer for a while. And then, when they're ready, they'll declare their identity."

Harry looked at the snow globe, and then Ron, and finally Hermione.

And she was a fair and benevolent leader.

"Half an hour making a list of suspects, and then we get on with studying," she offered, a glint of curiosity in her eyes.

"You're the best, Hermione."

Written for:

Record Collection: 13. Light Blue

Amber's Attic: 24. Shake a snowglobe

Film Festival: 19. Omen

Marvel Appreciation: Black Widow - Teal / Black

Lyric Alley: 6. Is that the reason?

Forecast: 2. Fair

Nativity Play: Baby Jesus: Harry Potter

Naughty Or Nice: Nice. 16. Ron Weasley

Hot Chocolate Station: 8. No one older than 17

Fill A Christmas Stocking: Harry / 28. Pen: Sugar Quills

Write Letter's To Santa: Prompt 6. 3. Greedy

Big Dinner Bash: Peas: "I feel like my brain is about to slip out of my ear."

Toy Making: Teddy: Great Hall

Pop Figures: Pop Rocks: 12. Ozzy Osbourne: "Language!"

Hogwarts Talent Show: Crocheting: Parchment / Embers