Chapter 7: Disappearances

As the Christmas season approached everyone seemed to cheer up, even Filch the caretaker. Professor Flitwick, possibly her favourite teacher, had caught fire pixies (red and green) and they twinkled around the room. Professor Lockhart (whom Serenity had come to regard as Harry and Ron did, an Idiot) had enchanted the blackboard to belt out muggle Christmas carols. Mrs. Kindella, the muggle studies professor had aloud them to decorate the classroom Muggle-style. A few days before term ended Serenity recived a letter from Randy and the girls:

Dear Serenity, Thanks for your card, that Owl was beautiful! George sounds wonderful. I am happy for you. Enclosed is your Christmas gift. I hope you like it, it's from all of us. When I saw it I told Mary Anne "That's perfect for Sereni" and she agreed. Lynn's being her normal self, snobby and stupid. She's just mad because Gilroy beat Gwen again at Quidditch. Jewel's gotten a new keeper, not as good as you but fairly good. Her name's Lujza and she's from Europe. Gilroy wants to wish all you Gryffindor's a:

VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS. I loved my gift. Love, Rands

Mary Anne

Sarah Lee

Dawn

Cyn

Serenity opened the box and gasped. Inside was the auqamarine witches hat with the gold trim Serenity had adored in Oladaer's wear last year. She smiled as she walked back to Gryffindor Tower.

The Scene that greeted her was not at all cheerful. When she enterd the common room she found Ginny crying and her friends, Hillie Johansson, Amaka Janeway and Kes Kim trying to comfort her. "Ginny! What's wrong?" she asked sitting on the other side of Amaka. "C-Colin's missing" she sobbed. She glanced around the common room for a sign of the fourth year, but he wasn't there. "Maybe he's just in the library" she said, but something inside of her told her that he really was missing. "No" Ginny said as a fresh wave of tears rolled down her cheeks. "She found his pocket watch, the one she gave him last Christmas, at the edge of the forbidden forest today after Care of Magical Creatures" Amaka said. Ginny was holding, what looked like, a muggle pocket watch. It was gold and glittering.

News of Colin's disappearance spread throughout the school like wildfire. Serenity began to suspect that this was no cocidence. Colin was, after all, muggleborn. She waited until the other girls were asleep and the common room was empty before she snuck out. She headed quickly and steadily towards the Forbidden Forest. She quickly checked over her shoulder before entering. The forest was dark and damp. Serenity could hear the sounds of insects. As she drew farther into the forest she illuminated her wand. She was about to give up when voices suddenly reached her ears. She quickly extunished her light and crept nearer. She reached the top of a small hill and looked over; she couldn't believe her eyes. Deep in the forest was a fortress, Voldermort's no dought. "I should go to Dumbledore" she thought. Just then the door opened, and out walked Lucius Malfoy.