........................................THE TENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS.................................................
Jessica was going through her day in a state of complete bliss. Even the people that usually paid little attention to her were noticing this odd behavior. It was true that she was normally a happy person but this, this was beyond normal. Her cerulean blue eyes were twinkling like mad in a fashion that could match her grandfather's.
Jessica, in her state of bliss, was completely unaware of the extra attention she was getting from the few who had stayed for the holidays at Hogwarts. While she was eating a peaceful lunch in the Great Hall, Neville and Colin decided it was their chance to get in some quality time in before the holidays ended.
"Hello Jessica!" They greeted her cheerfully, scooting into the seats on either side of her, Colin setting his camera down on the table.
"Oh…hullo Colin, Neville," Jessica replied, startled out of her thoughts.
"I haven't seen you around in a while, what've you been doing with your time off?" Colin asked, trying desperately to come up with some good conversation. His attempts were quite obvious to Jessica, and being in such a good mood, she decided to go easy on the poor guy.
"Nothing much, you know. Just lazing around the castle and such…what about you? Have you…err…taken any interesting pictures?" Jessica asked the last part hesitantly, knowing it would set him off on a seemingly endless one sided conversation. She just hoped since it was the holidays and no one was around that it didn't last too long.
Colin's eyes brightened at the question and he dove for his bag where he kept a lot of his photos handy. "I've got tons." He replied, taking out numerous folders with quickly scrawled titles on each. Since he was busy extracting more folders he didn't see Jessica wince.
So she turned to Neville to asked him pretty much the same thing, she only hoped his answer was short.
"So Neville what have you been up to?"
To her relief, his answer was short.
"Oh nothing much Jess, I've been hanging out with Luna mostly."
"You and her gettin kinda close huh?" she grinned.
Neville just blushed.
"I'll take that as a yes." Jessica chuckled.
Colin ended up having six folders total, each folder having a different theme of photos in it. Jessica stifled laughter when she noticed the thickest folder marked Harry Potter. The other folders were labeled, Quidditch, (which Jessica suspected were mostly of Harry as well), Hogwarts grounds, Hagrid's creatures, random, and memorable events.
Each envelope was filled, not all of the pictures being recent. Jessica and Neville sat at the Gryffindor house table for at least an hour before Colin had shown them every last one (some of which they had already seen). Jessica had been horrified at some of the shots he had gotten of her in various situations in the common room, or out with Hagridand his magical creatures. He shows these to everyone? She thought, hoping other people had cut him off before he got far enough to show them some of the unflattering ones. She was just about to leave when he pulled out one more folder. "Wait. You have to see these; I've just taken them in the last two weeks!"
Jessica sighed, thinking one more envelope wouldn't make that much of a difference; she couldn't get any more bored than she already was and Neville looked like he was about to fall asleep.
Jessica watched, and mechanically complimented each different shot, until she saw two that made her burst out laughing. Neville also laughed when he saw them.
One was of Draco Malfoy being hit with a snowball right in the face thrown by none other than her magical snowman. She had heard some people muttering about it when coming in from outside, but had yet to witness it in action. The other was of Harry getting smacked right in the face too. He glared at the snowman before wiping the snow away and walking off. She didn't really expect him to be mad because he was so used to Fred and George's jokes.
Colin was laughing with her, "Yeah, those are two of my favorites, they had no idea I was there." Jessica was too busy admiring the photos to notice the odd look Colin's features took on.
"That's priceless Colin; can I have copies of these?"
"No problem, maybe you'll get them for Christmas." Jessica smiled gratefully, anticipating the look of sheer joy that would come over Ron, Oliver, Hermione, and Ginny's faces when they saw it.
Colin cleared his throat, "I've got a few others being attacked by the same snowman…I also have a picture of you making it."
Jessica's grin broadened, and she looked at Colin innocently, "Well, it did give you a few great pictures didn't it?"
Colin then proceeded to show her the shots of a few students she recognized being ambushed by her ingenious creation. She started to laugh again when she saw them. There was a good shot of Ron and Hermione walking rather close together before they each got hit in the back of the head. Ron took turns glaring at the snowman, and at Colin (who he had obviously seen taking the picture). There was also a shot of Ginny getting whacked right under the chin so Jessica assumed some of the snow went in her shirt. There was also a picture of her brother getting whacked with a snowball in the face just like Harry and Draco.
"Do me a favor and don't tell my brother or the gang I was the one to make it?" Jessica asked him, setting the pictures back in the folder.
"I won't."
Jessica then took the opportunity to take her leave, grabbing her stuff and bolting out of the Great Hall.
Neville and Colin didn't see the dark figure that followed her out of the Great Hall.
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While she was walking through the corridors, deciding to head back to her dorm to see if maybe her gift had arrived yet, she heard two familiar voices not too far away. And they got louder, as she walked closer.
"Oh Draco..." someone moaned.
Hmmm, by now I should just forget I heard this and go on to the tower but my curiosity won the fight. Jessica thought, making up her mind.
She quickly and silently approached the spot where she heard the voices. She recognized it at once as a broom closet even though she couldn't see it yet. She figured that's the only thing it could be, seeing as the Great Hall was pretty much right off the Entrance hall and there were no classrooms down here except for in the Dungeons and she knew that these voices were not coming from the Dungeons and that Snape would've busted them by now.
She finally got close enough to see who it was. The door of the broom closet wasn't shut all the way and there was a faint light coming from inside it. She silently peered inside it and her suspicions confirmed it. There, snogging in the closet, were no other than Draco Malfoy and Cho Chang.
She quickly and quietly walked away and started headed up the Grand Staircase and through the corridors. Why am I not surprised? Jessica knew Draco's faults and that was one of them. In the battle of personality or beauty, beauty won overall with him. I guess he's out of the picture now. Oh well, one down, so many to go. Jessica thought exasperated.
But since it isn't him, it means that my real 'Secret Santa' is still here, loving me and still making my heart flutter. This thought cheered Jessica up greatly.
'On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…" Jessica sang as she made her way back to her dorm. She had seen Ron and Oliver outside in the midst of a snowball fight on her way out of the Great Hall and decided to avoid them, hence the reason for going back to her dorm. Her footsteps echoed through the deserted corridors, as she looked appreciatively at the Hogwarts decorations. No suits of armor adorned this particular hallway, so it was free of any clanging and singing.
She had made it about half way to theGryffindor common room when she heard another pair of footsteps advancing on her. Her heartbeat picked up speed erratically, her mind going automatically to her 'Secret Santa'. Get a grip Jessica, it could be anybody. Her pace unconsciously slowed in anticipation of who was quickly gaining on her.
They'll be turning the corner any minute now, Jessica thought, biting her lower lip, and looking over her shoulder.
Here he comes…
Oh my god it's…
"Hermione! Ginny!" Jessica said out loud, trying not to sound disappointed and failing.
"Jess, We've been looking for you everywhere!" Hermione answered breathlessly, shifting the long package she had under her arm. Ginny nodded vigorously agreeing.
Jessica caught sight of the red package and blanched. It's just a coincidence, she thought weakly. Probably her gift for Ron or something.
For a terrifying moment, she thought that Hermione was behind all this fluttered through her head. It was squashed just as quickly though, that's just impossible, the person that kissed me had short hair, and it's a boy I KNOW it is…
Her mind wandered back to that delightful day in the classroom, and she smiled with relief when her mind gave her a flawless playback. Jessica had wrapped her arms around said person's neck and there had only been nice short manly hair at the nape of their neck. Jessica sighed, while Hermione raised an eyebrow at the glazed over expression Jessica had on her face. Ginny grinned when she saw that expression. That meant Jessica had a secret and definitely something juicy.
"This little first year Ravenclaw came up to me, asking for you." Hermione started, huffing exasperated when she realized Jessica wasn't listening. Ginny tried to stifle her giggling, she thought she was about to break a rib from trying so hard.
"Jessica! Wake up." Hermione said, pinching her not too gently on the arm.
"Oooww," Jessica complained, rubbing the sore spot while glaring at Hermione. Ginny gave Hermione a look that clearly said, 'Don't do that, I want to know her secret'.
Hermione cleared her throat before continuing. "A first year was looking for you today." She said, looking at Jessica as if she should know what she was talking about. "He wanted to deliver this package to you and was terrified that he's lost you."
"Why?" Jessica asked curiously, eyeing the package Hermione carried with sudden interest.
Glad that she finally had the brunette's attention, Hermione continued with her story. "Well, that's what I asked, and he wouldn't really tell me anything. He just said he was supposed to give this to Jessica Dumbledore. So naturally I told the poor thing not to worry about it, I would see you eventually." Hermione frowned at the memory; first years shouldn't be taken advantage of by older students like that.
That was, however, the last thing on Jessica's mind. Hermione Granger was holding her tenth gift. She had talked to a kid who probably met the person responsible for everything.
"Did the kid tell you anything about the person that told him to give it to me?" Jessica asked eagerly. Sighing dejectedly when Hermione shook her head no.
"Well, either way, this is for you Jess." Hermione said, handing over the package. "Go on open it, I want to see what this person sent you." Hermione added, anticipation shining in her eyes. "They obviously went through a lot of trouble." Ginny looked even moreeager than Hermione.
Thinking that it would be very rude to go off on her own, Jessica started to unwrap the present.
"Don't forget the card!" Hermione exclaimed as an after thought, taking the ever so familiar envelope out of her pocket.
On the tenth day of Christmas,
Your true love gave to you,
Ten of your favorite flowers
Hermione stared at Jessica after she read the card out loud. "Who sent this?" She asked softly, and Jessica could have sworn she heard a touch of envy in her voice.
Jessica looked guiltily at Hermione before saying in a quiet voice, "I don't know."
Jessica saw Hermione's eyes change suddenly into calculating mode. Her brow furrowed in concentration, and Jessica could tell she was going over all the facts she had picked up over the last week or so.
"You lucky bitch." Ginny muttered, sighing slightly but still smiling slightly.
"Well thanks a lot Gin, I feel soo loved." Jessica said sarcastically but grinned at her friend.
Ginny clapped a hand to her mouth. "I didn't think you heard me."
Jessica gave her a look that clearly said, 'I hear everything'.
"So…correct me if I'm wrong. This is your tenth gift?" When Jessica nodded Hermione went on. "So the expensive looking jewelry, the owl, they were all gifts?"
"Yes." Jessica answered wearily, not knowing what to expect from Hermione's reaction, at the same time itching to tear open the red box held at her side.
"Jessica!" Hermione exclaimed, making Jessica jump at the sudden noise. "Why have you been keeping this from everyone?"
"Well, my brother would go into a raging fit, and kill whoever was responsible when he found out probably, no,especially if I mentioned I didn't know who it was from." Hermione pursed her lips here, but nodded reluctantly in agreement. "And Harry…" Here Jessica's face turned slightly pink. "Well, I tried to drop hints once, to see how he reacted…I doubt it's him, but one never knows." Hermione looked at Jessica with knowing eyes here, and Jessica went on explaining. "If it wasn't him and if he found out he would have gone right to Oliver. And you, well I thought you would do the same thing." Jessica looked at Hermione pleadingly here, hoping she was wrong in her assumption.
Hermione sighed exasperatedly; she had been planning to tell Oliver, Ron, and Harry about Jessica's secret admirer. However, the girl did have logical reasons to keep them in the dark, and Hermione couldn't ignore logic…
"Fine, I'll keep my mouth shut. But I want to know everything! Come on, we'll go up to Gryffindor tower and you can show me everything you've gotten so far."
"You'll have to tell both of us," Ginny corrected, "because I'm definitely not being left out of this!"
Jessica laughed in delight and relief. She figured that Mione and Ginny would keep her secret, They were, after all, her best friends besides Ron, Harry, and her brother.
"Okay, but first I must open this…" Jessica trailed off excitedly, removing the paper from the gift. Inside was, just as the note said there would be, ten of her favorite flowers, blue roses. She then extracted the beautiful bouquet of flowers. "This guy must really be carrying a torch for you Jessica." Hermione commented, her eyes twinkling.
"And he's got to be pretty well off to get you gifts for ten days straight and pretty much the next two days as well." Ginny said.
"Well, not all of the gifts were objects, a couple of them were events." Jessica spoke up.
"What do you mean?" they both asked in unison.
"When we get to the common room, I'll explain it to both of you." Jessica assured them.
Come on, back to the tower, you have a lot to tell us!" Ginny said tugging on Jessica's arm.
Jessica smiled at Hermione and Ginny, wondering how they would react to the snogging in the classroom. Smiling in anticipation, the three girls made their way back to Gryffindor tower.
When they had left, a dark figure emerged from the classroom they were standing by, a troubled and confused look on his face.
