........................................THE THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS................................................

When in doubt, go to the library. At least that was Hermione's motto, and Hermione was the hailed queen of figuring things out. So Jessica thought she would take a lead out of her friend's book and give research a try. After all, it couldn't hurt, and there had to be some kind of spell that would help her out.

At least she hoped there was.

Raised voices from the other side of a book shelf made Jessica pause in the thick, glossy leather bound book she was currently looking through. With absolutely no luck I should add.

"Didn't know you could read Weasel." Jessica heard someone drawl.

"Either find whatever you came here for, or get out, we don't have time for the likes of you." She heard Hermione demand. Jessica raised her eyebrows, it took a lot for Hermione to yell in the midst of a library.

She heard Malfoy (she decided it could be no one else) say something she couldn't decipher, at least he's trying to follow the quiet rule. She thought amused. She could however not say the same thing for her red headed and tempered friend.

"Get out of my face, you bloody Death Eater!" Ron shouted, from the rustling that could now be heard, Jessica guessed Ron was being held back from pouncing.

Jessica heard Malfoy chuckle before he rounded the bookshelf and headed for the exit of the library. When he passed her, he gave her a wicked smile, that told her how proud of himself he was but it was a prolonged look and hid something in it. Jessica raised an eyebrow at him then rolled her eyes.

After a few minutes, Jessica saw Hermione stick her head out from the bookshelf Malfoy had emerged from. She smiled warmly when she saw her, but Jessica could tell she was still seething from the encounter with Malfoy.

"Hey Jess." She greeted, coming over to sit at her table. "Catching up on school work?" Hermione asked approvingly.

"Er...yeah." Jessica replied, she didn't know why, but she didn't want everyone to know about her 'Secret Santa.' She would most likely eventually tell Hermione but for now she wanted to see what else would happen. Hermione would most likely tell Ginny but Jessica didn't mind. They were her best friends but she didn't want Ron or Harry finding out until she had solved this.

"I wish Ron was more like you and Ginny! I had to force him down here today, I don't know why he makes such a fuss, You remember that Snape gave us a horribly long essay due after the holidays. (Jessica nodded) If I were him, I would be grateful to someone trying to get him on top of things." Jessica smiled sympathetically at Hermione.

"He probably will be grateful when he's finished and doesn't have to worry about it anymore." Jessica reassured. "But I wouldn't expect him to say so, he's such a stubborn git sometimes." she added affectionately.

"Yeah..." Hermione said, a distant look in her eyes. "Well I'd better get back before the boys try to escape." As Hermione got up, she spotted something lying at the end of Jessica's table. "Hey, Jessica is that yours?" She asked curiously.

"What?"

"That red package at the end of the table."

"Oh!" Jessica spluttered, her head shooting up spotting for the first time what was obviously her third gift. "Yeah...that's my err...present for Oliver!" She said, blurting the first thing that came into her head.

Hermione smiled knowingly at her. "Don't worry, I won't tell him I saw anything."

"Thanks." Jessica said, watching her retreat back to her table.

Jessica berated herself. Her quick thinking could definitely use some working on.

When her eyes were drawn back to the package, her heart started beating faster and faster. How did he get it here without me noticing?

Jessica got up, leaving all her research lying on the desk for another time. She picked up the red wrapped package, weighing it in her hands. She retreated to an empty corner of the library and opened the red envelope, adorned with gold ornaments just like the last two had been. The parchment inside didn't come as a surprise, neither did the fact that it didn't have a name anywhere on it.

On the third day of Christmas,

Your true love gave to you,

three gingerbread cookies

Jessica re-read the verse, as she had done to all of them so far, marveling at the flow of the unique handwriting. It wasn't messy and it wasn't elegant, it was in the middle. It was in cursive and had a definite flow.

Whoever wrote this has steady, talented hands. She thought, but then blushed crimson while smirking slightly at the double meaning.

Moving to the package, revealed (as the verse had hinted) three delicious looking gingerbread cookies. She couldn't help it, she started to laugh. All three of them were made to look like her(white icing hair, chocolate chips for buttons, etc.) with three different expressions on her face, happy, sad, and surprised.

"This is so sweet." She whispered to Nick. He grinned at her and she couldn't help but smile brightly. This person knew how to put her in a happy, feeling goofy, kinda mood. "Those look good, can I have one?" Nick's voice broke her thoughts. She laughed. "Yes, but not until I've had some, after all, whoever made them made them for me." she replied.

Madam Pince was looking in her direction. I'd better get these cookies out of here before she sees me and starts making books chase after me. Jessica grinned slightly at her thought. It amused her. She went over to her table, scooping up her things and leaving fast. As she was walking down the corridor though, her thoughts brought her back to her gifts so far.

I have to know who's doing this. She thought with new determination.