-

-

Ron and Harry started a chess game, while listening to Dawn and Hermione talk about certain spells. A large crash interrupted their conversation a bit, a Gryffindor ran up to their dormitory. They didn't notice who it was but did not pass the fact that it could be Parvarti.

In the morning it was still a holiday (boxing day) Dawn looked at the lump in Stephanie's bed.

"Hey sleepy head, wake up!" she yelled at the lump.

It didn't move, she started to poke at it, it felt like a human underneath. The bat from last night fluttered down on top of Dawn's long brown hair. "Hello." she looked at the small figure. "You want to wake her?" It flew out of her hair and into a shadowed area of the four posted bed. "Fine Steph, you'll miss breakfast and it won't be my fault."

"Just go." the blankets shuddered.

Hermione came in, "You coming down for breakfast?"

"Yeah I am coming, Steph's too tired." Dawn grabbed her robe and hurried down to the great hall with Hermione.

*

Ron and Harry were already there pigging out on pancakes and sausage.

"Morning." they chorused, greeting the boys.

"Mornin'." they responded.

The girls just got their plates and food when Ginny sat down near them. "You didn't hear anything about Steph getting something from the ministry of magic did you?" she looked around the lot.

Everyone looked at her. "No.... did she?" Dawn asked, looking confused.

"It's the rumor going on. More rumors say she's getting taken from Hogwarts." Ginny said.

"Who is saying that?" Harry narrowed his eyes.

"George and Fred eves dropped in on a conversation the teachers were having." she said.

"Oh." Ron waved it off. "They probably misinterpreted it like everything else they do."

"Yeah most likely." Hermione agreed.

*

Soon they were all outside, making snowmen and angels. Some students were bewitching them to dance and other funny things. Dawn, George and Fred looked around.

"Where's the little squirt, Mickey?" Fred laughed looking around for Steph.

Dawn through a large snowball it his head. "I don't know. I hope she isn't still in bed."

"What's that Summers?" Malfoy's voice came behind her. "Little one isn't coming out?" he laughed, but looked carefully at Dawn.

"She seems to be hiding. I haven't really seen her all day." Dawn said. "Maybe I should coax her out." she ran back into the school.

*

Jogging up the steps she hears low mumbling. Dawn carefully walks up to the girls dormitory door.

"one thing lost, another gained." a sigh was heard. "two alike hearts... okay well it's hard to tell with you eh, Earendil?" a forced laugh was added.

Dawn crept in, and looked to the window side. Seeing Steph out of the covers she spoke up.

"Hey ya." she smiled. "Just wondering if you wanted to come out in the snow with us."

Steph jumped, and turned, her eyes were red and blood shot, tear stains covered her cheeks.

"Oh uh, awesome be, be right down." she stuttered, but with a small smile.

Dawn waited in the common room for Steph. They both went outside, both pelted by snowballs, by Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle and the twins.

"Took you long enough." Malfoy sneered.

Dawn stuck her tongue out, Steph tried to smile.

After about fifteen minutes into the fun, Malfoy noticed Steph suddenly stopping and standing there. "Oi, McDougall. You frozen?" laughed

She turned and gave him a icy stare which only last a few seconds before tears fell from her eyes. He walked over. Looked at the short girl in front of him.

"What's the matter?" he asked, noticeably uncomfortable.

She sniffed, then just bursted into loud sobs. Though she was his friend, he really wasn't ready for girly out bursts of cries. He put he arm around her trying to get her to stop shaking. "Summers!" he called out. The group stopped and looked at Draco in his unusual position of helping others.

"They are gone." he heard a whisper from below before Harry and the others came.

"Eh?" he looked down.

"What happened? snow ball? ice ball? ice?" Dawn looked down at her friend.

"You didn't say anything to her did you?" Ron asked accusingly.

Malfoy glared at Ron.

"You're sick aren't you? I shouldn't have asked you to come out." Dawn said.

"Uh oh, no." Steph looked up wiping tears from her eyes, "the home sickness must be finally getting to me." she faked a laugh.

"Oh. well don't worry, Easter holidays you can go see them... well unless they're busy." Ron said, patting her back.

Her eyes welled up even more. 'Here comes the water works again.' Draco sighed inwardly. Hermione looked over everyone, to see if it was something said.

"Too busy for words." she choked out.

"Oh, like with their job?" Malfoy asked.

Tears poured down her face. Some freezing to her cheeks.

"You don't have to tell us." Dawn sat patting her friend.

"I want to, but can't form the words." she wailed.

"Lets go inside." Harry said guiding everyone back into the castle.

-

-

A/n: yes so that was most of their x-mas holiday at Hogwarts..