Chapter 11- Christmas Holidays

Harry had just finished his last lesson before the Christmas Holidays and had agreed to Ron and Hermione not to meet up to walk back to the Common Room together, because Ron and Hermione couldn't stay with him over the Holidays and so had to pack their things. Ron had got a letter from home saying that they were having a big family dinner because his brothers could get enough time off to come home, and it was such a rare occasion that this happened that Fred, George, Ron and Ginny all had to come back. Hermione's Dad had got the flu and was feeling quite rough, so Hermione went back as well to see him.

Harry's head hurt and he was very tired from all the work. He very slowly dragged himself up the stairs. He dropped his school bag on his bed and looked round to see Ron asleep on his bed with his things all over the floor. Harry could understand this because he felt like collapsing on his own bed as well. But he thought of Hermione's face if she found out Ron hadn't even thought about packing and decided it was best if Harry woke him up. Ron, however, had other plans, because he just ignored Harry's nudging, and refused to get up until Harry had threatened to tell Hermione on him.

"Harry," Ron yawned as he grabbed a bundle of clothes and through them into his trunk. "Who are you going to hang around with if me and Hermione go home?"

"If you go home? Don't you mean when you go home?"

"Whatever."

"Well, Neville isn't going anywhere, is he?"

"No, suppose not. There's always Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle." Harry and Ron looked at each other and laughed.

"Anyway, I've got enough Homework to last me all year. And I'll probably try and get in touch with Snuffles."

"OK. Well best be off. You wouldn't mind giving me a hand with this trunk would you?" Harry helped Ron and Hermione collect their things and went to see them go. Then he went back up to the Common Room to see where Neville was.

          "Hi Harry! Do you want to play Wizards Chess? I'm not very good but I've been practising." Neville Longbottom was sitting by the fireplace setting out the Chess Board. He had moved a chair to be opposite his on the other side of the table, obviously assuming Harry wouldn't say no.

"OK. Why not?" Harry sat down in the padded chair and sank into the cushions. "So who's going first?" Harry and Neville played many games of Wizards Chess, Harry winning most of which, before finally deciding that it was getting late and they should go to bed.

"Harry! Wake up! It's Christmas!" Neville was standing at the end of Harry's four-poster bed with wide eyes and a big grin on his face. "Come on! I haven't opened any of mine yet because I thought it might be nice to do it together."

Harry rubbed his eyes and stumbled out of bed. He walked down the boys' staircase with Neville in front to find about twenty presents for them. It was only Harry and Neville from Gryffindor staying at school over the holidays, and the Common room looked empty but had a certain feel of Christmas in the air. Neville had sat himself down and was looking at the nametags to see which were his and which were Harry's.

          "This is mine!" Neville said putting the final present onto his pile.

Harry rapidly made himself wake up and run down to his pile. He smiled at his friend and said; "You go first."

"OK. It's from my grandma!" Neville unwrapped the gold and red coloured wrapping paper to find a book called 'Flying through your O. W. L.'s.' by Nev. R. Dunnit. Neville wasn't too pleased with this, and had wanted something that wasn't to do with studying for once. He put the book down and looked at Harry, gesturing for him to go next.

          Harry and Neville unwrapped all of their presents quite quickly. Harry had got a navy blue sweatshirt with a large 'H' on it from Mrs Weasley, another pack of 'Weasleys' Best Blowing up gum' from Fred and George, a dancing frog on a broomstick from Ron (who was never good at buying presents), 'The Large Book of Quidditch through the ages' from Hermione, and a small card from Sirius which had arrived yesterday from a small brown owl.

          After Harry and Neville had had enough fun unwrapping and playing with their presents, they went down to the Great Hall for breakfast. They found very few people there, but the Teachers seemed to be having enough fun, except Snape of course who was slurping down some soup with a very serious face.