Comments on reviews: Thanks for reviewing, S.E. Benson, Vanessa-Black and Zabini, singin'intherain251, brokenperfection, Xani, and most of all, Jedi Knight Padme!

Extreme special jumbo thanks (again) to Jedi Knight Padme for beta reading for me! Yay!

Chapter 8


Saturday December 16

1:09 PM Hogsmeade

Found some leather stuff for Draco in a furniture repair store. I'm going to have to peel off the label because it says it's for conditioning couches, but I asked the lady at the shop and she said it should be alright to use on pants. It was rather expensive, but it was worth it! Now, what to get Robbie?

2:30 PM Dervish and Banges

Have found the perfect gift for Robbie. A novelty quill that looks like the Union Jack! Just to prove how crazy and patriotic I am. I don't really know him that well, but I think he'll like it. Christmas shopping is officially DONE! Now I must go buy myself some new knickers. And hope that Draco doesn't walk in while I'm browsing.

Monday December 18

7:40 PM Dormitory

Have just caught the Cat in the Act. Attacking a pair of Marie's so-called 'knickers'. Disgusting. I let him have his fun. Anyway, my drawer is still locked. We get off school on Wednesday this year! Finally, a break! I so need it, especially because I work so incredibly hard, and do so much homework, etc.

Tuesday December 19

6:09 PM Great Hall

Mentioned to Hermione about her pervy cat. She said she'll deal with him, but everyone knows how she disciplines that cat, with much kissing, hugging and petting. Well, Crookshanks IS quite cute. One more day until vacation!

Wednesday December 20

12:09 PM Empty Classroom

Draco is going away for the holidays! And I thought this vacation would be good. At least he'll be warm and relatively happy at home, though he'll probably spend more time polishing his wand than anything else. I gave him his present already, but we agreed that he wouldn't open it until Christmas Day. He said that he'll send mine along later, but it's not quite ready yet. I can't wait! I know it will be totally fab. How could it NOT, it's from DRACO!

Just the afternoon, then VACATION TIME!

Thursday December 21

8:09 PM Dormitory

It seems like EVERYONE has gone home. I'm the only one in my dormitory, and there are about four Gryffindors in total. Three more days till presents, not counting the rest of today!

Friday December 22

9:08 AM Breakfast

It seems like the whole school is empty. There are about twelve people in total, so we're going to do what they did in second year and all eat at one big table on Christmas. I got a present from Robbie but I won't open it until Christmas day. I wonder what it is? It's roughly the shape and size of a broomstick, I think, but he wouldn't get me a broomstick, would he? What if he got me a Firebolt? That would be utterly fantastic. Then, Harry wouldn't be the only one in the school to have one! Ooh, I can't wait! I hope I get a Firebolt!

Sunday December 24

7:06 PM Head Peoples' Dormitory

Hermione was saying how lonely and scary it is in this room by herself, so I offered to stay overnight. She said I could sleep in Draco's bed, as long as nobody tells him.

11:21 PM Draco's Room

Hermione went off to bed and advised I do so, as well, because otherwise Father Christmas won't come. I was innocently searching through Draco's drawers. Nothing really interesting, but there was the biggest box of condoms I'd ever seen in the drawer in his nightstand. It was unopened, too. What the hell would ANYONE do with that many condoms? Except make balloon animals, that is.

11:41 PM Draco's Room

Have just found the most interesting book on Draco's shelf, The Joy of Sex. There was a page book marked and I'm not sure if that's where he stopped reading or if that's the one he wants to do. Whatever it is, that's what we're doing when I decide to shag him. It doesn't look too difficult. I should be getting to bed. "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

Monday December 25

9:01 AM Draco's Room

It's Christmas, it's Christmas! Woke up to Hermione pounding on the door because the Head Girl isn't allowed into the Head Boy's room and vice-versa. PRESENTS! Wait... I don't HAVE any presents!

9:06 AM Head Peoples' Dormitory

Hermione said that my presents are probably by my bed in Gryffindor Tower, so I'll help her take her gifts and we'll open them with Harry and Ron.

9:21 AM Gryffindor Boys' Dormitory

I have lots of presents! I haven't opened them yet, and I don't know which one is Draco's. He probably got me something stupid like socks or underwear or chocolates. Not that I hate chocolates...

10:02 AM Gryffindor Boys' Dormitory

Got lots of great stuff! A few books, cosmetics, a jumper and various sweets from mum and dad. Robbie didn't get me a broomstick. The stupid bloke got me a HOCKEY STICK. Plastered with Canadian flag stickers. How stupid! There is also a present which I cannot open, and it must be from Draco. Forcing box open doesn't seem to be working, and no one else can open it either.

10:04 AM Gryffindor Boys' Dormitory

Grr... almost... have... it... OPEN! YES! ... uh oh. Black tissue paper... things sliding out of black tissue paper... oh my God. Complete and utter and mortifying embarrassment. KILL ME NOW! WHY WILL I NOT SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUST! Sexy lingerie! Black and red and lacy and incredibly hot and looks like it will fit perfectly.

"I WILL KILL WHATEVER GIT THINKS THIS IS FUNNY!" roared Ron.

"It was probably just a joke, I'll be leaving now," I said, grabbing everything (knickers and bra included) and running back to my dormitory. I'M GOING TO KILL DRACO! ...after I try them on.

10:10 AM Dormitory

Oh my God. How did he know that they'd fit! How could he know my size? He's onlywe've onlyhe's onlyone time (or two or three...)! How could he guess so accurately after... oh dear. Well, they do look quite sexy. As long as Ron never finds out that I'm wearing it. I feel pretty, oh so pretty! I have realized, once and for all: I am hot.

Tuesday December 26

10:21 Breakfast

I'm just sitting here to be polite. I ate waay too much last night. Urf. Harry trying to keep a letter away from Hermione and Ron. It's probably from that girlfriend he had this summer, Angela or something. Hermione was complaining about her a few weeks ago.

6:20 PM Supper

This is quite peculiar. Dumbledore seems extremely tense, as do all the other teachers. That doesn't help me feel relaxed. Hermione, Ron and Harry seem to have disappeared. I'm really worried. They usually tell me what they're doing, where they're going, etc. God, I just hope they don't do anything stupid.

7:08 PM Hermione's Room

Was poking around for some sort of evidence as to where they went. Didn't really find anything, except the letter from AngelaI mean, Audrey. Audrey-Isabella, actually. What a pompous name. She has a weird style of writing. Some letters are darker than others. Maybe her pen or quill doesn't work properly. She's muggle, so I'm assuming she uses a pen.

7:29 PM Corridor

Dumbledore stopped me in the corridor. "Do you know where Harry has gone?" he asked worriedly.

"No," I said, "but wherever he is, I'll bet Ron and Hermione are with him."

"What were you doing in the Head Dormitory?" he asked.

I looked at him, trying to decide if I should lie or not, but I decided not to because he'd know. "I was thinking that maybe Hermione would have something about their whereabouts in her room. I found a letter from Harry's summer girlfriend, he got it this morning, I think."

"Oh... oh dear, let's have a look."

Dear Harry,

How have you been? Merry Christmas! I'm going to be in England this holiday, I was hoping I could meet up with you and have fun like we did this summer, if you know what I mean. The weather here is crappy, as usual. At least a meter of snow has fallen on my front lawn, and more is coming soon. Anyway, I'm going to be in Little Hangleton. Do you think it would be possible that we meet up there? I'll be staying at a little inn, next door to a house that the locals say is haunted. There's also a graveyard right across the street. I'm going with my grandmother again, and her brother's friend's something lives there. I don't exactly know why we have to visit, but we do.

Love you lots,

Queen Audrey-Isabella

"She's quite pompous, thinks she's queen," I blurted before I could stop myself.

"Harryhe never told me he had a summer girlfriend. What do you know about her?" he asked, muttering under his breath.

"Well, she's quite pretty, likes photography, is really good with computers, Canadian, has quite good self-esteem..."

"Computers, photography..." he kept muttering. "It's a code," he cried.

"Pardon me, sir?" I asked.

"A code. See how some of the writing is darker?"

"Oh yeah," I said, "I thought her pen was broken."

"No," he said. "Look at the letters, d, o, n, t, co, me, i, a, m, no, t, g,o, i, ng, s, t, a, y, ho, m, and e. What does that spell?"

"No idea," I replied. I feel dumb.

"'Don't come I am not going stay home.' I think she was forced to write the letter."

"But who, how, why?" I asked.

"Well, the who is obvious, it's Voldemort. The how is slightly more difficult, especially because you say she lives overseas. And the why is as obvious as the who: he wants to kill Harry. And I'll bet Hermione and Ron weren't supposed to go with them."

"How did they get wherever they were going?" I inquired.

"I don't know. They can't Apparate, and there hasn't been any Floo activity since I last saw them, so they either left on foot and flew to Little Hangleton or used a portkey. Did you see an envelope?"

"No, but I didn't really look."

I followed him into Hermione's dormitory, and he looked around and poked through her garbage can to see if there was an envelope. He didn't find anything, but he did look disappointed when he saw the enormous number of condom wrappers in the bin. I know for a fact that she hasn't had sex yet, so the only logical explanation for the wrappers is balloon animals.

"I'm quite sure the envelope acted as a portkey. The letter was supposed to be IN the envelope, so we wouldn't have any trace of where they went, but Hermione left it out. Clever girl," Dumbledore said fondly. "He was probably expecting Harry to keep the letter in its envelope in his pocket, but Hermione and Ron inevitably messed up his plans."

"That must have taken a lot of planning," I mused. "So, what do we do now?"

"Nothing we can do but wait. They could have gone anywhere with the portkey, and we just have to wait and hope that they make it back alive."

Wednesday December 27

9:09 PM Dormitory

I have been moping around, alone, pining for Draco, crying over Harry and Hermione and Ron and unsuccessfully trying to rid myself of spots. No news from the trio. I'm truly afraid that they've died. I have no idea what's going on now, and neither does Dumbledore or any of the other staff members. I asked Dumbledore if I could write to mum, but he told me not to, at least not until we've heard news. The other students are happily going about their after-Christmas duties, and they're blissfully oblivious of the terrible goings-on. Lucky bastards.

Thursday December 28

9:31 AM Breakfast

Dumbledore got a letter! From PIGWIDGEON, of all owls. The letter was very sloppily written, but it contained Harry, Ron and Hermione's whereabouts, so Dumbledore's arranging to bring them back to the school. By the looks of it, the three are alive!

Friday December 29

3:09 PM Hospital Wing

Harry and Ron and Hermione are alive! THEY'RE ALIVE! Well, Hermione is in a coma, Ron doesn't know who he is, and our hero, Harry, seems to be quite healthy. Madam Pomfrey says that Hermione should be OK in a few days and Ron's memory should come back quickly. Harry still isn't strong enough to walk anywhere, but we think he'll be back in Gryffindor Tower by tomorrow. Harry told us what happened, but there was too much for me to recount in here. Anyway, I doubt I'll ever forget it.

Saturday December 30

5:21 PM Supper

It's amazing how quickly things can get back to normal. Of course, rumours are flying left and right about the events, but in general, life isn't too crazy. Most people are still on vacation, because we don't get back to school until January 7th, I think, because the day after New Year's would just be cruel. Hermione's still comatose, but Ron and Harry are back to their usual annoying selves.

Sunday December 31

11:00 PM Common Room

Harry and Ron politely declined my idea to have a wild alcohol-consuming party in the common room. Hermione's STILL unconscious, but Madam Pomfrey believes that she'll be better by tomorrow.

Monday January 1

12:00:01 AM Common Room

HAPPY NEW YEAR! After the clock struck twelve, Harry went to bed, but Ron and I were playing chess. We sure know how to party, woo-hoo.

Resolutions:

1) Stop thinking about Draco

2) Stop thinking about not thinking about thinking about Draco

3) Be a better person.

Pfft, as if. I'll bet that none of those will last twenty-four hours.

12:14 AM

Hermione walked in. She seemed kind of dazed, and we jumped up to greet her, but she just muttered "hello" and proceeded up the stairs.

12:15 AM

Just realized Hermione went into boys' dormitory. She's probably still a bit confused.

12:46 AM

Hermione came back. She seemed strange still, and disoriented. She just ran down the stairs and out the portrait hole before anyone had a chance to help her. Ron and I packed up the chess set and went to bed.


If you want to know what happened between Voldemort and the Trio, read my Hermione story. "Coming soon to a computer near you: Love by Default, starring Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, and Ronald Weasley. Written by the really, really, ridiculously good-looking Andrea-Marie. April or May 2005." (Nice tag-line, eh?)