Snow fell in soft flakes from the sky, blanketing Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in a thick white blanket. It was Christmas, and nearly everyone had gone home for the Holidays with the exception of a few students and teachers. Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley sat in the Gryffindor common room.
"I don't see why mum made us stay at school this year," said Ron who was pouting in a large chair near the fire.
Hermione Granger shot Ron one of her patented cutting glances. "Ron, you miserable bastard. Harry's had to spend every holiday at Hogwarts and you don't see him complaining."
"It's either that or spend it with the Dursleys," said Harry. "At least here I'll get some decent presents."
Ron ignored them. "It's not fair, Fred and George got to go home."
"Fred and George also got suspended from school," said Hermione. "Your mom is usually quite kind, but I wouldn't want to be in Fred and George's position right now. She's probably beating them with a spoon right now."
"And if you don't shut the hell up, Ron Weasley, I'll start beating YOU with a spoon," called a voice.
"Grrowl! How hard and where?" he asked turning towards the voice. "Good Lord!" he exclaimed, his face contorting like he had just eaten an exceptionally sour pickle.
Ginny Weasley stepped out into the common room. "Now now, Ron. How many times do I have to tell you? I'm not into incest."
Ginny looked very good this year. As Harry and all the other boys noticed, she had gone from the shy little sister to a confident young woman. However, she never seemed to keep boyfriends for very long. So either she was a little whore, or she had some horrible personality defect.
"Anyway," Ginny said to them, "the feast is about to start. If you don't hurry up, we're going to be late."
Hermione turned to Ginny. "Do you know who has stayed behind this year?" she asked.
"Well, Ron, Percy, and I are all here. Then there's Draco Malfoy, Cho Chang, and of course, you and Harry." said Ginny.
Hermione looked like she wasn't paying much attention. "Who else, Ginny?"
"Well, that's all the students, everyone else is a teacher."
Hermione's eyes lit up, "What teachers are staying?"
"Dumbledore, of course, then McGonagall, Trelawney, Snape..."
Hermione cut Ginny off. "Well, we had better get downstairs before the feast starts. Wouldn't want to miss anything, now would we?"
"I don't see why mum made us stay at school this year," said Ron who was pouting in a large chair near the fire.
Hermione Granger shot Ron one of her patented cutting glances. "Ron, you miserable bastard. Harry's had to spend every holiday at Hogwarts and you don't see him complaining."
"It's either that or spend it with the Dursleys," said Harry. "At least here I'll get some decent presents."
Ron ignored them. "It's not fair, Fred and George got to go home."
"Fred and George also got suspended from school," said Hermione. "Your mom is usually quite kind, but I wouldn't want to be in Fred and George's position right now. She's probably beating them with a spoon right now."
"And if you don't shut the hell up, Ron Weasley, I'll start beating YOU with a spoon," called a voice.
"Grrowl! How hard and where?" he asked turning towards the voice. "Good Lord!" he exclaimed, his face contorting like he had just eaten an exceptionally sour pickle.
Ginny Weasley stepped out into the common room. "Now now, Ron. How many times do I have to tell you? I'm not into incest."
Ginny looked very good this year. As Harry and all the other boys noticed, she had gone from the shy little sister to a confident young woman. However, she never seemed to keep boyfriends for very long. So either she was a little whore, or she had some horrible personality defect.
"Anyway," Ginny said to them, "the feast is about to start. If you don't hurry up, we're going to be late."
Hermione turned to Ginny. "Do you know who has stayed behind this year?" she asked.
"Well, Ron, Percy, and I are all here. Then there's Draco Malfoy, Cho Chang, and of course, you and Harry." said Ginny.
Hermione looked like she wasn't paying much attention. "Who else, Ginny?"
"Well, that's all the students, everyone else is a teacher."
Hermione's eyes lit up, "What teachers are staying?"
"Dumbledore, of course, then McGonagall, Trelawney, Snape..."
Hermione cut Ginny off. "Well, we had better get downstairs before the feast starts. Wouldn't want to miss anything, now would we?"