'Harry! Wake up Harry!'

A pillow hit the side of his bed and woke Harry up. He looked bleary eyed at Ron and saw him sitting up with an open box of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans and presents scattered on his bed.

'Happy Christmas, Harry!'

'Happy Christmas, Ron! Happy Christmas, Seamus! NEVILLE!'

Neville started from his snores as if someone had given him an electric shock. 'Wha. What?'

'Happy Christmas, Neville!'

'Oh, Happy Christmas, Harry!'

Harry seized his own pile of presents and frantically began tearing off the paper. Soon his bed too was littered with presents - a box of sweets from Hagrid, a bag of Zonko's tricks from Ron, 'The Thorny Rose - A History of the England Quidditch Team' from Hermione, the traditional knitted jumper and load of mince pies from Mrs Weasley, a pair of socks from Dobby and a huge box of various goodies from Sirius and Remus, including a long list of prank ideas.

Finally he was left with one badly wrapped package that was very small. It looked oddly familiar. He tore off the note to reveal a scrawl not quite as untidy as that which he had received on his birthday, but it was close.

'Dear Harry,

I sent you this to thank you and your friends for what you did for me in the short time I was at Hogwarts. For those weeks I truly believed I could be happy again and it was all because of you three. I have not known much friendship or contentment in my life and what you gave me is more than words can say. I will always have the memory of it in my heart and perhaps it will keep me sane. I have survived thirteen years here so what is few more?

Your friend,

Storm.

P.S. Please don't send any letters back as it will only mean trouble for me.'

Harry unwrapped the package to reveal a wooden figure of a dragon, but unlike the Horntail this one sat benevolently still, a serene expression on its carved face.

Harry looked over at Ron and saw that he had one too, although his looked like it was about to take off.

'Who's it from?' he asked. Harry threw him the note and saw his face fall. 'God, I wonder what sort of a Christmas she's having. I wonder if Hermione got one too?'

'Let's go find out.'

They went downstairs to where Hermione was already sitting by the fire in the common room.

'Merry Christmas!'

'Hermione, did you get a dragon made out of wood?'

'Oh, you mean this? I was wondering who it was from.' Harry and Ron looked at the dragon - it appeared to be calling the stars down from the sky.

'Here, read this,' Harry gave her the note.

'Oh. I didn't realise we touched her so much. Do you reckon Lucius knows about this?'

'I doubt it. I don't think he even knows she can write. She says she'll get into trouble if we send anything back.'

'Now I feel really guilty.' Ron slumped down on a comfy chair.

'Come on, forget about it, it's Christmas! She sounds cheerful enough. I'm hungry, who's for some breakfast?'

The day passed with copious amounts of food, sweets and snowball fights before people began to dissolve away to get ready for the Ball. Harry had asked Cho Chang and this time she hadn't refused. Ron had jumped in first and asked Hermione - she hadn't been short of offers considering how she had looked last year - so Ron now got envious looks from most of the boys.

Even the teachers were excited about the event. Except for one and it was no surprise who that was. Severus sat in his chambers making no effort. He wasn't even going to go. He tried to make out that he despised large social gatherings, but in truth he was shy, not wanting to be the only one without a partner, receiving suspicious looks from the students. But worse would be if he did have a partner - he could see it now, the whispering, the sniggering.

He took down the one photograph he kept in his rooms - not of his family or friends, he didn't really have either - it was of Enyana. He remembered an event similar to the Yule Ball, his Leavers Ball, where he'd asked her and she'd accepted. He was sure she'd only done it to make Sirius jealous, but it didn't matter. She had said yes to him. He loved feeling her that close when they'd danced, felt the softness of her skin, felt her breathe, he could even feel her heart beat in her chest. His photo wasn't of that night, however, but of a few days before that, just before he left Hogwarts.

Enyana was going out with Black at the time, who was very overprotective of her, but she was friends with him. It was just after she'd finished the final game against Gryffindor, which Ravenclaw had lost 150 points to 160, and was walking back to the shower rooms with her team mates. He thought she looked so sexy when she'd been playing, her hair all wild, her face streaked with sweat and her eyes bright. He'd asked if he could have a picture with her. She got a friend to hold the camera while they stood side by side. Then at the last minute she'd jumped into his arms, laughing.

He looked at the photo and he couldn't remember a time before or since when he'd smiled so widely. Once the photo had been taken she'd leapt down again and he'd blurted out like an idiot, 'I think I love you!'

She'd turned with what he took to be pity in her eyes, 'That's really sweet, Severus, I'm flattered. I really like you, but I love Sirius. I think you're a thoroughly nice guy, deep down. You should try and show it more often and believe me you'll have all the girls after you. I've really got to shower, I'm sweating like a pig!'

Shortly afterwards Black had come up and threatened him because he was "annoying Enyana". Enyana had, however, caught him at it and this had sparked off a big row. They still weren't talking at the Ball so Severus had asked her to go with him and she'd agreed. But afterwards Black and Enyana made it up during a long talk in the grounds. She'd taken Black into the Forest, he followed them and that's when he'd found out what she was - a Lupuscan. There were wolves everywhere around her and she yapped and barked with the best of them. Black just grinned dreamily as if enjoying the whole thing. He, of course, had been horrified by it. He'd run away when they started howling.

He'd always been a deeply insecure person with few friends and no one to confide in so he now found comfort in work and being alone. He'd probably go out later on to make sure that no one was destroying the shrubbery like they were last year. He only hoped they'd learnt their lesson, but he doubted it.

* * * * *

For Harry and Ron the Ball was a much bigger success than last year. They were both partnered with girls they thoroughly liked (not that they didn't like Parvati and Padma) and maybe even loved, especially in Harry's case. They enjoyed every minute of it. Both girls once again looked stunning and both boys got several envious glances from others who either were without dates or got last pick. But the real stars of the evening were Justin Finch- Fletchley and the Ravenclaw Prefect Lucy Seymour.

Harry and Cho were taking a rest next to Justin and his partner, Hannah Abbot, when the spiky haired girl came over to them.

'Come on, 'Teo, show me if you Hufflepuffs can dance!'

Lucy's boyfriend, Jason Thomas, held out his hand to Hannah and she blushed as she stood up with him. Lucy winked at a member of the band who she obviously knew and a lively reel kicked off. Soon there were various whoops and shouts around the pair. The dancers had moved away to leave an open circle in which Justin and Lucy were dancing.

It was amazing, it was almost as if they could read each others minds as they kept in perfect step. At one point Justin even managed to lift Lucy right off her feet where she performed and acrobatic little twirl in the air. With the final notes they finished facing each other like professional dancers breathing heavily.

'Not bad, you'll learn!' Lucy panted at him through the applause.

'Thanks, Brack!'

Harry took Cho outside, scared at first, and they sat down on a bench together. Neither knew what to say, but when they looked in each others eyes they realised that they didn't need to say a thing. It felt so right, so easy, that when they broke away from the most passionate kiss of their lives they didn't feel any of the embarrassment that usually followed such an incident. All Harry could find in his brain and coming out of his mouth was 'Wow!'

'I never get tired of hearing that.'

Their arms slipped around each other and they leant in again to taste the deepest magic of all.

* * * * *

Severus was walking the grounds, occasionally blasting apart bushes and taking points off the occupants as they ran for cover. 'Ten points from Gryffindor, Bell, and you Weasley!' As he disturbed the cover of one couple there was a loud shriek and a half-naked girl shot off like a hare to be quickly followed by a strawberry blonde boy with his robes tied around his waist to hide his manhood. Snape was disgusted to see that they were both from his own house. 'I'll see you in my office first thing tomorrow, Grimsdale,' he shouted after the boy, 'tell that to Miss Walden as well!'

Snape wandered the lawns and saw that a couple had even had the audacity to put a neon sign claiming that the bush was 'engaged' flashing over a particularly thickset rose bush well known to have a hollow heart. He decided to be a bit more subtle with this one so he could get a good look at the impudent students that dared to make their actions so obvious. He cast a medium sized stone into the core of the plant and was rewarded with a cry. Next thing he knew a familiar spiky head popped out through the foliage.

'How many times have I warned you little bastards, now f. Oh, hello Professor!'

Snape stood staring with his coldest glare, but Lucy's annoyance at being disturbed had almost turned to a cheerful grin when she'd greeted him and she was putting on her best cockney accent.

'You've just caught me in the middle of something, if you come back a bit later it would be a more convenient time!'

'Oh really, Miss Seymour, what on earth.'

'Excuse me, Professor!'

The head disappeared back into the green depths and was replaced by a lot of giggling and odd exclamations.

'No, stop it, stop it! Take it off!'

'It's all twisted, hang on!'

'Ow! You're pinching me!'

'Stop biting!'

Severus lost patience and rattled the branches. This time two heads popped up like jack-in-the-boxes, the boy's long hair having collected twigs and leaves. Both wore the same inane smile and, by the looks of them, little else.

'Is that all of you, Thomas, or do you have anyone else hidden in there?'

'No. That's it, sir, unless you're propositioning me?'

'Fifty points off Ravenclaw for your barefaced.' there were more snorts of laughter at this, the reason clear to anyone with a little imagination, '.audaciousness and another fifty for your cheek.' At which there was more hilarity where the pair could hardly contain themselves and held onto each other for support.

Through the hoots Snape was just able to make out, 'So. that's. that's twelve and a half. per. per cheek!'

'You will both report to my office at ten o'clock tomorrow morning from where, if I am not satisfied, we will see that Headmaster.'

It still hadn't wiped the silly grin off the girl's face, 'Do you reckon he'll want a full explanation of what we were doing, sir?'

Exasperated at fighting a loosing battle, Severus left them to it, but it was Jason who had the last word. Standing proud to the world, the boy shouted and waved frantically at the retreating Professor, 'Why are you so ashamed of our love, my darling? Come and see me again soon!'

Lots of people saw and pointed at Jason and the retreating teacher who looked rather ruffled and came to their own conclusion. Lucy had already sunk back into the leafy haven and Jason rapidly joined her with a growl, knowing that it was doubtful that they would be disturbed again. They left their sign flashing just in case.

* * * * *

Diana had watched the whole scene with growing amusement from her perch on the castle battlements. Of all the teachers she thought she knew Jason and Lucy the best, but even their boldness sometimes surprised her. She'd been there the first time they ever really met and knew that they'd be a couple no matter what. Both of them had been so shy and introverted before they met each other and they'd come on in leaps and bounds. They wouldn't have said boo to a goose a few years back, but now look at them. Sometimes it was best to get things out in the open.

She missed Remus. He'd gone back to his cottage for the holidays, saying he had some business to attend to there and it was best if she didn't come. They knew each other intimately and from that she knew that he was hiding something but decided not to press the matter. Remus was still so shy and scared of the gift that he had been given. The hardest thing was convincing him that it was a gift, 'I wish Colvarn was still around,' she muttered to herself, 'He'd know what to say. Or even Hazzy. Why do you buggers always have to die when I need you?' But there was something different about Remus, he was changing, oh so gradually. When he noticed she'd have to explain the switch to him. She just hoped he wouldn't be too freaked out.

Diana heard a shuffling noise behind her and hid her biggest secret beneath her robes. She turned round and her amber eyes saw a young figure in blue pyjamas ascending the stairwell.

'Hello, Aisling.'

The girl jumped, 'Oh, hello Madam Hooch.'

Diana gave the girl her friendliest smile and indicated that she should sit on the next battlement.

'It's a wild night. You never know what these sixth and seventh years will get up to when they're given the chance.'

The girl laughed and looked up at the half-moon that shone brightly down on them. 'I wonder what the moon thinks of it all?'

'She's seen it all before, and a lot worse. I bet she's bored of it all by now. Do you often come up here at night?' The girl wouldn't answer. 'It's all right, I'm not going to tell you off. We all need a place to go.'

Aisling shifted uncomfortably, 'Yes, when I can't sleep I mean. It's peaceful up here and I can think without anyone disturbing me.'

'What do you think about?'

'This and that, sometimes nothing at all.' Aisling stayed quiet for a little while as if deciding to trust the teacher, 'Madam Hooch, do you ever feel like you're different from everyone else?'

'Everyone's different, aren't they?'

'No, I mean really different. Like you don't belong?'

'Sometimes. I think everyone feels like that at some time or other.'

'I have these really weird dreams.'

'Nightmares?'

'I don't think so, they don't scare me as such, but they're always the same. There's always a white wolf and she's trying to tell me something and lead me somewhere.'

'She?'

'I don't know why but I always feel that she's female. Is that important?'

'I don't think so. Go on.'

'Whenever I have that dream I always sleepwalk and I always end up in the same place.'

'In the Astronomy Tower where I found you.'

Aisling nodded, 'What do you think they mean?'

'Normally I'd ask the Divination teacher, but.'

The Irish girl laughed, 'Professor Trelawney, my brother told me all about her. So what do you think?'

'Dreams are strange things - most of them mean nothing at all, but certain ones do. If we don't get the point they normally repeat themselves. Do you have any idea why you might be dreaming about wolves?'

'I've always liked them, I suppose, but I don't know why it's so important.'

'I think you might have a spirit guide who takes the shape of a white wolf. She's showing you the path along which you will travel and she wants to help you. Most people have spirit guides, but only the lucky ones know about them.'

They sat silently for a while Aisling took this in before she asked another question, this one a lot more deep and troubling, 'Do you ever feel like you were born in the wrong body? Like you should be something else?'

Diana pondered how to answer this question and thought with relief how the girl had asked her this question and not one of the other students or teachers who would either have laughed at her or called her mad, 'As a matter of fact, I believe I do and I'm glad you trusted me with this. I know how hard it can be to feel so different, but there's help for all in this place. What do you see yourself as in you mind, not in the mirror?' Aisling took out a drawing and handed it to the teacher. Diana studied the figure on the parchment closely, 'This is really good, did you do this?' The girl nodded, 'I think I understand now. Does she have a name?'

'Firethorn.'

'Firethorn? I like it. This is how you see you? All I can say now is that you probably don't understand why you feel that way, but with age and a little guidance from the white wolf, and a couple of your House mates, you'll understand.'

'Do you feel like this too?'

'I did at your age, but now I understand what I really am, and some day you will too, so don't fret.'

'Can I ever look like Firethorn?'

'If you ever feel like that is what you truly want then there are ways, but it takes a skilled witch or wizard to do them. So study hard and think harder, do you want to look like Firethorn or are you Firethorn? If you ever need me don't hesitate to talk to me. Now you'd better get back to bed before you catch your death of cold.'

'Thank you, Madam Hooch.'

'You call me Raq and I'll call you Firethorn.'

'Thank you Raq!'

Diana watched Aisling skip back down the stairs and everything became a lot more confusing. Lupus was making her presence felt again, but why in one so young? She didn't normally contact new recruits until their fifth year. There had only been one new member this year and she was already seeing a change. Life was difficult to one with so many responsibilities. She wondered how Saiph did it. Or any of the others.

She laid back and stretched out across several battlements, her arms behind her head. Her long robes hung around her and a fluffy grey tail dangled over the side where it twitched and waved in time with its owners troubled thoughts. It was going to be a long night.