Chapter 6: In the Bag
I do not own Harry Potter and I am not making any money from writing this whatsoever. The Harry Potter franchise is the property of Warner Brother's and J.K Rowling.
"Mate..."
- Ron Weasley to Johnny Blaze as the latter throws the Quaffle back a little too hard, sending it flying into the horizon. Sometime in the Summer of 1996.
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The last week of August before they had to leave for Hogwarts was a relaxing one. Johnny found that he had to keep internally reminding himself that he wasn't actually going there to learn, he had already finished his education.
He split his time between showing Arthur how to take apart his bike and put it back together, packing, and watching the others play pickup Quidditch games in the yard. It was an interesting sport, he supposed. Hermione was usually begged into playing by Harry, Ron and Ginny despite her unwillingness. He held onto whatever book she was reading at the time as she tentatively clambered onto a broom.
She sucked, to say the least. There was no other way to put it really. Harry grimaced every time the ball flew past her with ease (they had found the old Quaffle after Ron had asked Molly to summon it, the ball took almost a full minute to return though).
Crookshanks often found Johnny wherever he was, all but demanding head scratches every time.
It was the most at peace he had felt in his entire life, much less since becoming the Ghost Rider. Even the looming threat of war could not ruin his mood.
He spent more time just relaxing with Hermione as well. In actuality, she was usually poring over her new school books while he laid back on his bed, her legs stretched out on top of his or vice versa. They weren't always together though, he noticed how Harry often dragged her and Ron off to a corner to heatedly discuss something. He didn't want to pry, so he never asked about it.
Johnny made a trip into the closest town as well, checking shops for a suitable gift for Hermione's fast-approaching birthday.
Truthfully though, he spent a good amount of his time sleeping. He would joke to himself that it was to catch up with all the sleepless nights he spent out in New York for almost a year and the many months abroad.
Sirius came by again, this time without Tonks and Remus. The former was busy with work and the latter was out in the forests of Scotland.
"I still can't believe you're going with them," Sirius bemoaned after dinner as Johnny was trying to fix a leaking pipe on his bike without breaking any of Arthur's tools. "Who am I going to hang out with?"
"I'm sure Kreacher would if you asked him nicely," Johnny said sarcastically. Though it wasn't without some truth in it, Hermione had spoken to anyone that would listen at length about how if he was just treated better, Kreacher likely would never have lied to Harry when he asked where Sirius was through the Floo at the end of school last year.
Sirius scoffed. "Like hell."
Johnny frowned as he worked so that Sirius would not see. He didn't really like the elf either, but he never took the insults Kreacher dished out that seriously. And he could see how being alone for twelve years in a large house with nothing but a racist and insane painting of his former master for company would mold Kreacher into what he was today.
"I'm kidding," he said, "but would it kill you to treat him a little better?"
However, whenever the subject was brought up, Sirius was usually dismissive or switched topics. There was something in his expression though that led Johnny to believe that he was at least conflicted. There was no usual anger, but something more akin to confusion.
"Just saying," Johnny continued idly. "Anyway, you're a free man now, you can go out and do whatever you want! Chat up anyone that catches your eye, buy the dumbest things with your endless vault of money. And when I see you at Christmas, I'll make fun of you for it."
"I guess I should really start cleaning out all the old heirlooms that my mum and dad had. Got no use for them now."
They grinned at each other, but when the time came to leave, Johnny felt no small amount of guilt for leaving Sirius behind.
The platform was the same as Johnny remembered, which is to say, remarkably busy. When they walked through the pillar to get to the secret platform, nothing was really different except now almost every teen had an owl in a cage added onto their luggage.
"You don't have a lot of time," Molly fretted. "Hurry onto the train now, you lot."
He hugged her, and then Sirius fiercely. before Hermione led him over to where he could store his luggage, and then they went to the entrance of the Hogwarts Express.
"I'll have to leave and head over with Ron for our prefect duties," she said, already working herself up to a rant. "But if you wait up for Harry and Ginny, I'm sure you could all find a compartment together. And then I'll come to find you."
Johnny smiled at her. "I'm not five you know, I think I'll manage."
She jabbed him in his side, and he feigned pain. "I'll just go on ahead then," she told him, rolling her eyes.
He nodded and waited for Harry, whom he saw talking to Arthur off by the side. Harry's back was to him, and Arthur was frowning at the teen.
The train's whistle sounded off, and Harry turned to board, his head hanging. He looked put out.
Johnny waited for him, and Ginny joined them. They gave one final wave to Molly and Arthur before getting on the train.
The first thing that Johnny noticed, was that everyone was staring at Harry. Not even subtly either. People were pointing and whispering to their friends or just openly gawking. He raised an eyebrow at one girl who looked to be younger than them that was looking at Harry with an almost sultry expression.
"Fancy trying to find a compartment?" Harry asked the two of them.
Ginny shook her head. "Sorry, I said I'd meet Dean."
Harry nodded, and Ginny went down the corridor of the train.
Once she was gone, Johnny spoke. "Seeing as I don't have any boyfriends to meet up with, let's go find us a compartment."
Harry laughed, which he counted as a win. Something was bothering the dude, and while he didn't want to pry, he could at least try to cheer him up.
They were stared at the entire time they searched for an empty compartment, but mercifully, it didn't take long.
Harry stared out the window anxiously as he waited for Hermione and Ron to be done their patrols. He wanted to speak to them more, though he rather doubted he'd tell them about how Mr. Weasley did not believe him about Malfoy.
He glanced at Johnny and noticed he was leaning back in his seat, he seemed relaxed.
An idea struck him then, to confide in Johnny. He was in the Order, after all. Maybe he could even bring it up to Dumbledore? Either way, Harry was bursting to talk about what Malfoy could be up to.
"Hey, Johnny..." he started, and the other teen turned to look at him.
With his full attention, Harry told Johnny everything he'd seen and overheard Malfoy do at Borgin & Burkes. When he was done, Johnny's initial blank expression made him worry. He probably didn't believe him after all...
"What do you think he meant by 'real power'?" Johnny asked suddenly.
Harry was stunned that he wasn't outright denying anything was up that it took him a moment to answer.
"I-I dunno," he answered honestly, "more threats about Greyback?" It wasn't that far-fetched to believe that in his werewolf form, the Death Eater really could tear someone limb from limb...
"But he already did that, didn't he?" Johnny said, now looking deep in thought.
Harry shrugged. "He's a novice at threatening an actual adult, I suppose. It's not out of the question that he'd go a bit overboard with the threats, is it?"
"I guess so..." Johnny agreed.
There was a few moments of silence before Harry could no longer contain himself.
"So you believe me then?" He burst out. "About Malfoy being up to something?"
Johnny nodded seriously. "I mean yeah, he clearly is. Thought they'd be recruiting a little young, wouldn't they? Is that normal?"
"No," Harry admitted, "but is that really so hard to believe from a dark lord?"
"Guess not," Johnny shrugged. "Can't do much about it though until something happens."
"You could tell Dumbledore," Harry said. "I already tried talking to Mr. Weasley, but, he didn't believe me. Even Ron and Hermione don't think he could be acting on Voldemort's orders."
It bothered him more than he wanted to let on that his friends didn't seem to have his back.
"If Arthur didn't believe you, I'm not sure how receptive the old man'll be," Johnny said, and Harry's heart sank. "But I'll bring it up anyway, might as well try, right?"
Harry smiled broadly at him. "Thanks, mate."
Johnny returned it. "Yeah, no prob-"
His gaze shifted to the compartment door, and Harry looked over to see several girls standing just outside.
There was a group of fourth-year girls was whispering and giggling together on the other side of the glass.
"You ask him!"
"No, you!"
"I'll do it!"
And one of them, a bold-looking girl with large dark eyes, a prominent chin, and long black hair that complimented her brown skin pushed her way through the door.
"Hi, Harry, I'm Romilda, Romilda Vane," she said confidently, "why don't you join us in our compartment?" She then looked over at Johnny and gave him an appreciative once over. "Your friend can come too if he wants."
Harry felt himself flush, but it was more out of embarrassment than anything else. "Er, I'm actually waiting on some friends, sorry. Thanks though."
Romilda nodded but took it in stride. "No problem, see you at school."
A few moments after, Johnny spoke.
"Does that happen a lot to you?" He asked, smirking a little.
"Not really," Harry answered. "Last year everyone thought I was crazy for saying Voldemort was back, and after my first year, people mostly got used to me being just another student."
Johnny nodded. "I remember Hermione mentioning something about that. So what's changed?"
Harry looked at him confusedly. "But - you mean Dumbledore hasn't said anything to you?"
"No," Johnny said, shaking his head, "tell me what?"
He stopped himself before he just up and told Johnny that he was the chosen one. Dumbledore said he could tell Ron and Hermione, but that's because they were his best friends. And anyway, if Johnny didn't know, did that mean Dumbledore hasn't been totally honest with the rest of the Order too?
"Just, er, in the Daily Prophet, our newspaper, they've been ranting and raving about how there's a prophecy about me being the chosen one to stop Voldemort. I guess some people find that an attractive title..."
There was a pause.
"I won't bother you about it," Johnny said finally. "It's your business. I'd hope that if it were true, Dumbledore would have already brought it up in a meeting, but, well, you know how he is."
Harry nodded. Indeed he did.
Another half-hour passed by in which the sun had finally shown itself and dispelled some of the mist and depressing gray clouds. Ron and Hermione found them after their prefect meeting and subsequent patrols, Ron taking the seat next to Harry, and Hermione the one beside Johnny.
"Wish the lunch trolley would hurry up, I'm starving," Ron said as he slumped into his seat. "Oh, Harry, guess what? Malfoy's not doing prefect duty. He's just sitting in his compartment with the other Slytherins, we saw him when we passed."
Harry sat up straight, interested. It was not like Malfoy to pass up the chance to demonstrate his power as prefect, which he had happily abused all the previous year.
"What did he do when he saw you?"
"The usual," Ron said indifferently, flipping Harry his middle finger. "Not like him though, is it? Well - that is" - he flipped his middle finger again - "but why isn't he out there bullying first years?"
"Dunno," Harry said, but his mind was racing. Didn't this look as though Malfoy had more important things on his mind than bullying younger students?
"Maybe he preferred the Inquisitorial Squad," Hermione suggested. "Maybe being a prefect seems a bit tame after that."
"He could have better things to do now," Johnny said, looking at Harry intently. They had thought the same thing.
"Exactly," Harry agreed.
Hermione looked between them in confusion.
"Oh, Harry, did you tell him?" She sighed, and it irked him.
Harry frowned. "For your information, he believes me."
Now Hermione regarded Johnny with a look of disbelief.
"You do?" Ron said, his tone suggesting he shared Hermione's sentiment.
Johnny matched Harry's frown. "Why are you two acting like recruiting a teenager is out of the realm of possibility for a homicidal racist maniac?"
Hermione sputtered indignantly, but whatever she was going to retort with was interrupted by the arrival of someone else.
A breathless third-year girl was at the door with a slip of parchment in her hand. "I'm supposed to deliver this to H-Harry Potter," she faltered, as her eyes met Harry's and she turned scarlet. She was holding out a scroll of parchment tied with violet ribbon. Perplexed, Harry took the scroll and the girl stumbled back out of the compartment.
"What is it?" Ron demanded as Harry unrolled it.
"An invitation," Harry said. "From Professor Slughorn."
"But what could he want with you?" Hermione asked, brows furrowed.
Oh, he had a pretty good idea already.
Several hours had passed, and still, Harry had not come back.
Hermione had already changed into her uniform, and the two of them stepped outside the compartment to let Ron change in private.
"I'm getting worried," Hermione murmured to him.
She had already brought up the concern to Ron as well, but the other boy brushed it off, saying Harry was likely just held up with Slughorn.
Hermione did tend to get anxious pretty easily, but Johnny had to admit that seeing a teacher for this long was suspicious.
Johnny looked in the direction he remembered Harry walking in when he left hours ago.
"I'll go find him," he decided suddenly. Hermione's hands gripped his arm tightly.
"Be careful." She said, and he nodded.
"It's probably nothing," Johnny called back to her as he walked down the corridors of the train cars.
It was a silly thing to say because they both knew that if Harry was involved, something had to have gone down. And it usually wasn't good.
His eyes scanned each compartment though, hoping that he'd find him sitting with the teacher that invited him. Just a conversation that had gone on too long. But the train had stopped, and people were getting up and leaving, pushing by Johnny to get out. Not once did he see Harry, or even a teacher. His heart was sinking further and further the more he went without finding him.
The Malfoy boy walked past, other students dressed in similar green-tinged robes following him. Johnny had the strangest urge to reach out to the teen, but he shook his head and kept going.
It was at the last train car, that he noticed the blinds drawn on the entrance to it. Johnny walked towards the door and opened it. He looked around, but there was nobody in any of the compartments. But then why make it so nobody could look inside?
He walked inside further and nearly fell when his foot connected with something on the floor.
Johnny glanced down but saw nothing.
What the fuck? He was sure he'd just hit something.
Tentatively, he crouched down and put his hand on the floor.
Or, he tried to. Because in actuality, his hand was met with a silky feeling fabric.
Johnny grabbed what he could, and pulled.
The stiff body of Harry Potter was underneath the strange invisible cloth with a very badly messed up nose, and then he remembered Harry talking about how his father had owned an invisibility cloak that was passed down to him.
"Harry?" He said. "Who did this to you?"
He was still breathing, but Harry just stared up at Johnny blankly in response.
"Jesus," he muttered. The train would leave soon, no doubt, he had to think fast.
Johnny bunched the cloak up so that it was small, and then reached down with one arm to lift Harry up. He still kept his position, frozen in place and sprawled out as if he were still on the floor. It was awkward at first, and he had to hook one of Harry's arms around Johnny's neck to be able to carry him properly, but eventually, he was making his way back up the train to get off. When he did make it there, he tried very hard to avoid being seen, but a dude in a leather jacket carrying the most famous person in wizarding Britain around like he was a sack of potatoes was kinda hard to be
Johnny looked back at where they kept the luggage, and he hoped desperately that Hermione had the foresight to take their stuff with her.
Thankfully, he didn't have to wait long to know. He saw Hermione and Ron waiting up the path a bit from the station. There was a carriage being attached to two Thestrals near them.
As he approached them, he noticed Hermione worried expression, and it didn't get much better at the sight of them.
"What's happened to him?" Ron asked as the two of them rushed forward.
"I don't know," he answered. "I found him like this under his cloak in the very last train car."
"He's been petrified," Hermione said, taking out her wand and waving it at Harry.
At once the teen in his arm went limp and then got off his shoulder.
"Thanks," he said gruffly.
"Who did this to you?" Ron asked.
"Malfoy," Harry said with no small amount of venom in his tone. "I was trying to spy on him and see if he'd reveal anything to his friends once they were alone, but he caught me."
Hermione flicked her wand at him again, muttering "Episkey!" under her breath, and Harry's nose was fixed. She began siphoning the blood off of his face.
"Did you at least learn something?" Johnny asked.
Harry shook his head in defeat. "No, he wasn't telling them much of anything really, but it's the way he talked about it, he sounded like he was keeping something from them. Even Parkinson."
"He might have just been showing off for her," Hermione said after she was done cleaning Harry's face. "She's his girlfriend, after all."
"I really don't think that's it," Harry said. "He's already got her wrapped around his finger, he doesn't need to do anything like that to impress her."
"Let's talk about this later or something," Johnny said, looking around. A small crowd was forming around them, trying to listen in.
All four of them got in the carriage, and the Thestrals started bringing them towards Hogwarts.
He had to admit, the castle was very impressive. The huge lake nearby glittered beautifully in the sunset.
Johnny looked across to Hermione, she was smiling knowingly at him.
"I had the same expression on your face when I first came here," she said in remembrance. "No amount of books and pictures could have prepared me for it."
"It'd be cool to see what house the Sorting Hat would put you in if you were a student," Ron said with a thoughtful expression.
"He'd probably be put in Gryffindor," Harry said, to which Ron nodded.
"Those are based on the founders right?" Johnny asked, and Hermione's smile grew even wider. He remembered her mentioning how the houses worked in one of her letters.
"Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin," Hermione confirmed. "I have to agree with them though, I can't see you fitting in any other house but Gryffindor."
"Why?" Johnny asked curiously. He knew about them but didn't know how one was sorted. What traits someone needed to have.
"Our house values bravery, nerve, daring and chivalry," Hermione explained.
Johnny looked away briefly. "I don't know about me being brave." He admitted, thinking of when he tried to leave the Order months ago and he was hit with a wave of shame. It was right after Christmas too, right when he was feeling so happy, his rage took over. It happened a lot thanks to the Rider's influence. He hadn't noticed it recently, but Johnny can't place the last time he's gotten really mad or had a random mood swing since losing his powers.
"Didn't you fight frost trolls?" Ron asked. "I'd probably just run away..."
"It was only one, not multiple," Johnny said.
"You fought a God and a Giant from Norse myth," Hermione said, sounding a little stern.
"Bloody hell," Ron said, "you did? When?" Even Harry looked surprised.
"When I fell through the veil," Johnny answered, and then he explained to them what happened in Hel, including meeting Odin. He left out Mephisto though, just as he did with Hermione. He didn't feel good about lying, but that was one thing he wasn't ready to tell them yet. Even Sirius and Harry got a watered-down explanation.
He'd tell Hermione soon if anything. She wasn't owed it, he supposed. But Johnny strangely felt like he was lying by omission to her, even if rationally that didn't make any sense.
"Bloody hell," Ron said again, Harry nodded in agreement.
Nothing else could be said, for they finally reached Hogwarts entrance. They got off the carriage and Johnny handed Harry his invisibility cloak back.
Once they entered the castle, he couldn't help the look of amazement that quickly worked its way onto his face again.
There was a large hall that was lit by both floating candles and torches on the walls. It was a bit dark, but it fit what with how the sun was going down now in real-time.
Hundreds of students sat around at four large tables. Johnny guessed it was the four houses, seas of green, blue, red and yellow accented uniforms.
"What about our suitcases?" He asked Hermione as they walked in, just now remembering that he'd never grabbed his.
"The elves will take them up to our rooms," she answered, looking a little bitter. "Much easier and safer that way now, it was included in the letter Hogwarts sent us in the summer."
"Oh," Johnny said. He supposed that made sense.
"Do you know where you have to sit?" Hermione asked, still at his side, making sure everything was going to plan despite not knowing the plan herself. Johnny greatly appreciated it, he was suddenly feeling very nervous.
He shook his head in response, but Ron nudged his shoulder.
"Look at the staff table, mate."
Johnny did and saw Dumbledore jovially waving him over. With one last nervous smile at the trio, he walked towards the long table that sat higher up on a sort of stage. He saw a few he recognized from the Order meetings, but that was only a third of the staff. A lot of eyes were on him as he went, dinner was not served yet, and so with nothing better to do, the students watched the newcomer with open curiosity.
He took a seat next to Snape, which was one of the only ones available.
"Hey," he greeted, to which Snape gave him a nod of acknowledgement. Better than a jibe or an insult, he supposed, though Snape had never really been all that mean to him before really. Just acted superior.
To his right was the older woman he had seen at the recent Order meeting.
She was regarding him with a calculating look, her lips were pursed. She seemed to disapprove almost, but Johnny couldn't be sure. He assumed it was either because he was a muggle in a magical school, or because of his attire. More than likely it was an even mix of both.
Still, he introduced himself politely. "Johnny Blaze." He extended his hand.
The woman grasped it only for a second. "Minerva McGonagall," she replied in a Scottish accent.
They sat in awkward silence after that, and neither Snape nor McGonagall seemed keen to break it. How lovely. He didn't really care when it came down to it, it'd just make meals a bit boring going forward.
"I trust the ride here was alright, Johnny?" Dumbledore called from his seat in the middle of the table.
He nodded. "The scenery was nice." He didn't mention Harry almost being left behind.
"Of course," Dumbledore smiled. "Scotland is beautiful and full of wonderous nature." He then looked at McGonagall. "Minerva, I believe it's time."
The woman gave an almost imperceptible nod, before reaching under the table and taking out a brown hat that almost looked like it had a face. She stepped down the steps to the main area just in front of the long table and a chair appeared out of thin air. She ignored it though and walked to the entrance. She opened one of the double doors and stepped outside for a few moments.
In that time, Johnny sought a familiar pair of brown eyes. And he was not disappointed when he received a smile.
McGonagall returned less than five minutes later with a large line of little children trailing nervously behind her. They couldn't have been more than eleven or twelve, he thought. Once they reached the chair, McGonagall placed the hat on the chair, and Johnny's eye went wide as it began to sing.
Damn, it did have a face.
It wasn't a half-bad singer, either. It was one of the weirdest things he'd ever witnessed, which by this point in his life was really saying something.
After the song was done and the students and teachers applauded, McGonagall took out a scroll and began to read names off it in alphabetical order.
One by one, each terrified-looking kid walked up when their name was called at sat on the chair as McGonagall placed the hat on their heads. After a few moments for most, a couple of minutes for a few, the hat would call out the name of a house.
Johnny watched on, genuinely intrigued as each table cheered for its new members.
It was a nice thing to see, as the houses readily accepted the kids that would be living with them.
Eventually, the last kid was called, and food began to appear on every table. Hungry students dug in with a scary eagerness. Admittedly, Johnny was pretty hungry too by this point, and when a large platter of chicken wings appeared out of nowhere at the table, he quickly grabbed a few along with some beans and mashed potatoes as well.
Hagrid came in about five minutes later, looking a bit bruised but waving happily at Harry, Hermione and Ron. He took his seat and greeted everyone there in a jovial tone.
The feast was over far too soon in Johnny's opinion, but his stomach was full and he was content. Dumbledore stood up and the entire hall went silent. Much how the room did at Order meetings when the old man had something to say.
"The very best of evenings to you!" He said, smiling broadly, his arms opened wide as though to embrace the whole room. "To our new students, welcome, to our old students, welcome back! Another year full of magical education awaits you."
He went on to talk about an updated list of banned items at the school, which now included anything bought at Fred and George's new shop. It was maybe a little rude, but Johnny couldn't help the smirk that worked its way onto his face. Looking over at the Gryffindor table, he could see he wasn't the only one.
"...those wishing to play for their House Quidditch teams should give their names to their Heads of House as usual. We are also looking for new Quidditch commentators, who should do likewise." Dumbledore then gestured at a man with a big belly and mustache that reminded Johnny of a walrus. "We are pleased to welcome a new member of staff this year. Professor Slughorn is a former colleague of mine who has agreed to resume his old post of Potions master."
There was no immediate reply, instead, Johnny heard multiple students say out loud "Potions?"
The word echoed all over the hall as people wondered whether they had heard right.
"Professor Snape, meanwhile," Dumbledore said, raising his voice so that it carried over all the muttering, "will be taking over the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
There was some small outcry from three of the tables, but it was almost completely drowned out by the thunderous approval from the table dressed in green and black robes.
Johnny looked sideways at Snape, who raised a lazy hand in acknowledgment instead of standing up, but there was no mistaking the look of triumph in his face.
"And finally," Dumbledore continued over the students' voices. "We have added some extra security this year." Dumbledore's expression turned grave for a moment. "As everyone in this hall knows, Lord Voldemort and his followers are once more at large and gaining in strength. I take the safety of everyone here very seriously, which is why I am happy to introduce you to a good friend of mine, and new enforcer here at Hogwarts, Johnathan Blaze!"
He stood up, cringing a little at the use of his full name, as well as the title they had given him. Way to make him sound like a cop, Jesus...
Johnny waved politely, just managing a small smile. Again, he sought out a specific pair of eyes, and when he found them, they put him at ease.
"He will be living here and assisting the prefects in their patrols. He can hand out detentions as well, so please keep that in mind..." Dumbledore took a breath as Johnny sat back down. "I cannot emphasize strongly enough how dangerous the present situation is, and how much care each of us at Hogwarts must take to ensure that we remain safe. The castle's magical fortifications have been strengthened over the summer, we are protected in new and more powerful ways, but we must still guard scrupulously against carelessness on the part of any student or member of staff. I urge you, therefore, to abide by any security restrictions that your teachers might impose upon you, however irksome you might find them - in particular, the rule that you are not to be out of bed after hours. I implore you, should you notice anything strange or suspicious within or outside the castle, to report it to a member of staff immediately. I trust you to conduct yourselves, always, with the utmost regard for your own and others' safety."
Dumbledore's blue eyes swept over the students before he smiled once more. "But now, your beds await, as warm and comfortable as you could possibly wish, and I know that your top priority is to be well-rested for your lessons tomorrow. Let us therefore say good night. Pip pip!"
A/N: I realize that Hogwarts elves have likely always brought up the students' luggage from the train, but in the last story I wrote Harry and Tracey grabbing their stuff after returning from Christmas break, and I don't want to contradict myself so here we are.