The Twelve Days of Christmas
Opps... ok, I lied. It's going to be ten chapters, simply because there's nothing else to write about. You get to find out one set of Saints though - that's a good thing, right? :o) Let's see if you all can guess the next set as well, now that you know who the players are. And yes, the title for this chapter was taken from Al's story... Just because I read the Christmas cookie last night, and loved it.
Aimée
Chapter Nine: Snitch!
The next morning, all of the Seventh Year Gryffindors walked into the Great Hall in a huddled pack, whispering excitedly about who they believed their Saint to be. The Great Hall was abandoned, save the Seventh Year Slytherins, each looking cold and aloof as the Gryffindors entered the Great Hall.
Dumbledore was standing in the middle of the Great Hall, a bright smile on his face. He gestured for the Gryffindors and Slytherins to sit down on two sets of tables that each seated ten.
"To start, I would like to wish you all a very happy and merry Christmas. The Hogwarts Express shall take those who wish to go home in just a few days, so that you may spend a bit of the holiday season with your families. Break shall extend an extra week for the inconvenience."
A cheer erupted in the Great Hall, but was quickly silenced as Dumbledore raised his hand to speak once more.
"Now, I'm sure you're all anxious to find out who your Saint is… However, I must to ask one thing of you first. Would Ronald Weasley, Harry Potter, Vincent Crabbe, Seamus Finnigan, Hermione Granger, and Gregory Goyle please step forward?"
Casting curious glances towards the Headmaster, the six students stood up from their respective tables and turned to face the Headmaster.
"Now, those seated please look up at these six students; one of them is your Saint. If you are quite sure as to who your Saint is, please stand up and join them."
Only two people stood up; Pansy, who went to stand by Seamus and take his arm, and Dean, who went to stand by Hermione.
"How did you...?" asked Hermione, surprised Dean had figured out it was her.
"Slytherins were never much for pink." Dean grinned, "And Parvati and Lavender aren't up here."
Dumbledore clapped his hands, "Very good, Dean and Pansy! Now, I shall now read off the list. Once I have read your name, please go and stand by your Saint.
"Ron Weasley, Parvati Patil.
"Vincent Crabbe, Lavender Brown."
After Dumbldore had announced Crabbe was Lavender's Saint, a loud cough that seemed to cover up a groan of disgust sounded throughout the Great Hall. Lavender stood up reluctantly and went over to Crabbe, standing as far away from him without being impolite as possible.
"Gregory Goyle, Neville Longbottom."
A surprised murmuring rippled through the air; after almost two weeks of receiving gifts for Goyle, ho was Neville still in one piece? Surely Malfoy would have tried to make Neville's Christmas as miserable as possible…
Knowing what was coming next, Draco smiled inwardly with satisfaction, knowing he had guessed correctly; after all, he and Harry were the only ones left.
"Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy."
As the rest of the students whispered like mad, Draco stood up calmly and walked over to Harry, who – for once – seemed to tolerate his presence.
"I shall allow you five minutes to speak amongst yourselves, and then the other pairings shall be announced." Said Dumbledore, stepping back and seating himself on the end of the Gryffindor's table.
"Well…" said Draco quietly, "That was quite the surprise."
"It was," Harry agreed. "Think the drawing was rigged?"
"In this world?" Draco looked up towards the cloudy ceiling, "Anything's possible."
Harry nodded, agreeing once more. For a moment there was complete silence between the two, and finally Harry spoke.
"I suppose I should apologize… for not accepting your friendship, when we were First Years."
Draco shook his head, "It was my fault for being such an arrogant git – it runs in the family."
"You were provoked," Harry said quietly, "Ron really shouldn't have insulted your family name."
Draco shrugged, "It happens more than you would think, Potter. The Malfoys and the Weasleys have always been against one another – it's just another one of those things you can't really do anything to prevent."
Harry stuck out his hand for Draco to shake, "Truce?"
Draco eyed his hand warily for a moment, and then took it almost gratefully.
"Truce."
Harry grinned and released Draco's hand, his own diving into his pocket. He held out a small golden ball of fluff and placed it in Draco's still outstretched hand, and it then proceeded to chirp loudly.
"Don't worry, it's not alive." Said Harry, looking at Draco's surprised expression. "It's a Snitch charmed to look and act like a real Snidget. I figured it could be both a pet and a practice tool."
Draco stood there for a few moments before closing his fingers around the ball of feathers. He looked back up at Harry, eyes widened slightly.
"Thanks, Harry."
Harry smiled and nodded, "No problem, Draco."
Opps... ok, I lied. It's going to be ten chapters, simply because there's nothing else to write about. You get to find out one set of Saints though - that's a good thing, right? :o) Let's see if you all can guess the next set as well, now that you know who the players are. And yes, the title for this chapter was taken from Al's story... Just because I read the Christmas cookie last night, and loved it.
Aimée
Chapter Nine: Snitch!
The next morning, all of the Seventh Year Gryffindors walked into the Great Hall in a huddled pack, whispering excitedly about who they believed their Saint to be. The Great Hall was abandoned, save the Seventh Year Slytherins, each looking cold and aloof as the Gryffindors entered the Great Hall.
Dumbledore was standing in the middle of the Great Hall, a bright smile on his face. He gestured for the Gryffindors and Slytherins to sit down on two sets of tables that each seated ten.
"To start, I would like to wish you all a very happy and merry Christmas. The Hogwarts Express shall take those who wish to go home in just a few days, so that you may spend a bit of the holiday season with your families. Break shall extend an extra week for the inconvenience."
A cheer erupted in the Great Hall, but was quickly silenced as Dumbledore raised his hand to speak once more.
"Now, I'm sure you're all anxious to find out who your Saint is… However, I must to ask one thing of you first. Would Ronald Weasley, Harry Potter, Vincent Crabbe, Seamus Finnigan, Hermione Granger, and Gregory Goyle please step forward?"
Casting curious glances towards the Headmaster, the six students stood up from their respective tables and turned to face the Headmaster.
"Now, those seated please look up at these six students; one of them is your Saint. If you are quite sure as to who your Saint is, please stand up and join them."
Only two people stood up; Pansy, who went to stand by Seamus and take his arm, and Dean, who went to stand by Hermione.
"How did you...?" asked Hermione, surprised Dean had figured out it was her.
"Slytherins were never much for pink." Dean grinned, "And Parvati and Lavender aren't up here."
Dumbledore clapped his hands, "Very good, Dean and Pansy! Now, I shall now read off the list. Once I have read your name, please go and stand by your Saint.
"Ron Weasley, Parvati Patil.
"Vincent Crabbe, Lavender Brown."
After Dumbldore had announced Crabbe was Lavender's Saint, a loud cough that seemed to cover up a groan of disgust sounded throughout the Great Hall. Lavender stood up reluctantly and went over to Crabbe, standing as far away from him without being impolite as possible.
"Gregory Goyle, Neville Longbottom."
A surprised murmuring rippled through the air; after almost two weeks of receiving gifts for Goyle, ho was Neville still in one piece? Surely Malfoy would have tried to make Neville's Christmas as miserable as possible…
Knowing what was coming next, Draco smiled inwardly with satisfaction, knowing he had guessed correctly; after all, he and Harry were the only ones left.
"Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy."
As the rest of the students whispered like mad, Draco stood up calmly and walked over to Harry, who – for once – seemed to tolerate his presence.
"I shall allow you five minutes to speak amongst yourselves, and then the other pairings shall be announced." Said Dumbledore, stepping back and seating himself on the end of the Gryffindor's table.
"Well…" said Draco quietly, "That was quite the surprise."
"It was," Harry agreed. "Think the drawing was rigged?"
"In this world?" Draco looked up towards the cloudy ceiling, "Anything's possible."
Harry nodded, agreeing once more. For a moment there was complete silence between the two, and finally Harry spoke.
"I suppose I should apologize… for not accepting your friendship, when we were First Years."
Draco shook his head, "It was my fault for being such an arrogant git – it runs in the family."
"You were provoked," Harry said quietly, "Ron really shouldn't have insulted your family name."
Draco shrugged, "It happens more than you would think, Potter. The Malfoys and the Weasleys have always been against one another – it's just another one of those things you can't really do anything to prevent."
Harry stuck out his hand for Draco to shake, "Truce?"
Draco eyed his hand warily for a moment, and then took it almost gratefully.
"Truce."
Harry grinned and released Draco's hand, his own diving into his pocket. He held out a small golden ball of fluff and placed it in Draco's still outstretched hand, and it then proceeded to chirp loudly.
"Don't worry, it's not alive." Said Harry, looking at Draco's surprised expression. "It's a Snitch charmed to look and act like a real Snidget. I figured it could be both a pet and a practice tool."
Draco stood there for a few moments before closing his fingers around the ball of feathers. He looked back up at Harry, eyes widened slightly.
"Thanks, Harry."
Harry smiled and nodded, "No problem, Draco."
