If you asked any student attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, they would tell you that the most beautiful season the school ever saw was winter.
The inside of the castle was made extraordinary. Every year the Christmas trees became bigger and more numerous. The decorations became more extravagant, the common rooms grew warmer, and the very stones Hogwarts was built out of seemed to sparkle. Outside, on the grounds, nature itself seemed to draw itself up with pride.
Hermione gazed at the perfect scene through the fogged window of her carriage. Harry stood outside looking in, hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans, white snow dotting his hair and eyelashes like stars. She opened the door and beckoned him towards her for a final hug.
"I'll see you soon enough," she said, pulling away and smiling up into green eyes.
"I know. But if that brute sitting next to you starts, you know, being himself, or something else equally nasty, just come right back," Harry said, dropping Hermione's hand.
Ron reached over Hermione and punched Harry playfully in the shoulder.
"We'll be back in three weeks. Try not to have too much fun without us," Ron said, sliding back into his seat.
"Well, it'll just be Malfoy and me, but I'll try my best," Harry said soberly. They looked at him pitifully, but the carriages were beginning to move. Hermione shut the door and waved at him.
"Three weeks!" She mouthed, and continued waving at Harry's rapidly shrinking figure until she could no longer see him.
Once the carriage had disappeared, Harry kicked at the snow. Not that he hadn't been expecting them to leave. Not that they didn't deserve the time to themselves. But he could not help being disappointed, and loneliness set in almost instantly. He trekked back up to the castle and headed towards the common room.
Not a single other Gryffindor had stayed behind for Christmas. In fact, the only other student remaining at the castle was Malfoy, which Harry found out at breakfast that morning. And he knew why.
Though the Slytherin looked as if he would like nothing better than to be home at his manor, it was he who had requested sanctuary at the castle.
Malfoy had declared loyalty to Dumbledore a few months before Christmas, putting himself and his entire family in danger. He was one of very few Slytherins who had done so, and now it would be impossible for him to return to his home, to the anger of his father and that of the Dark Lord.
Not that this turn had affected Harry's feelings towards Malfoy. The Slytherin was still a bastard, if now a bastard with the most obvious and basic of morals.
The roaring fire in the common room seeped through his veins, into the tips of his fingers and toes, and calmed him.
The inside of the castle was made extraordinary. Every year the Christmas trees became bigger and more numerous. The decorations became more extravagant, the common rooms grew warmer, and the very stones Hogwarts was built out of seemed to sparkle. Outside, on the grounds, nature itself seemed to draw itself up with pride.
Hermione gazed at the perfect scene through the fogged window of her carriage. Harry stood outside looking in, hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans, white snow dotting his hair and eyelashes like stars. She opened the door and beckoned him towards her for a final hug.
"I'll see you soon enough," she said, pulling away and smiling up into green eyes.
"I know. But if that brute sitting next to you starts, you know, being himself, or something else equally nasty, just come right back," Harry said, dropping Hermione's hand.
Ron reached over Hermione and punched Harry playfully in the shoulder.
"We'll be back in three weeks. Try not to have too much fun without us," Ron said, sliding back into his seat.
"Well, it'll just be Malfoy and me, but I'll try my best," Harry said soberly. They looked at him pitifully, but the carriages were beginning to move. Hermione shut the door and waved at him.
"Three weeks!" She mouthed, and continued waving at Harry's rapidly shrinking figure until she could no longer see him.
Once the carriage had disappeared, Harry kicked at the snow. Not that he hadn't been expecting them to leave. Not that they didn't deserve the time to themselves. But he could not help being disappointed, and loneliness set in almost instantly. He trekked back up to the castle and headed towards the common room.
Not a single other Gryffindor had stayed behind for Christmas. In fact, the only other student remaining at the castle was Malfoy, which Harry found out at breakfast that morning. And he knew why.
Though the Slytherin looked as if he would like nothing better than to be home at his manor, it was he who had requested sanctuary at the castle.
Malfoy had declared loyalty to Dumbledore a few months before Christmas, putting himself and his entire family in danger. He was one of very few Slytherins who had done so, and now it would be impossible for him to return to his home, to the anger of his father and that of the Dark Lord.
Not that this turn had affected Harry's feelings towards Malfoy. The Slytherin was still a bastard, if now a bastard with the most obvious and basic of morals.
The roaring fire in the common room seeped through his veins, into the tips of his fingers and toes, and calmed him.