It was the first week of December, and the last Hogsmeade trip of that year. At least until the New Year. Chalondra had managed to avoid Kate, who was hounding her like the plague, and Yoyo didn't even bother to come near Chalondra, so she had no trouble there. She felt like she was going to crack again, and knew she should pay a visit to the hospital wing before Christmas and see if they had any Soothing Draught.

Right now though, Chalondra was digging through her trunk to find her gold and blue scarf, warm woolen mittens and a blue woolen toque. Grabbing them all she hurriedly reached for her purse of coins and her wand, tucking them into her robes pocket. Finally she glanced around the room out of instinct. Ever since the one day when Kate had begun to question her in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Chalondra always managed to sneak into the dormitory either before or after everyone was there and asleep, and managed to wake up before anyone else broke a grunt. She always cast nervous glances around the room before and after she left or entered. The rest of her time Chal spent in classes and the library, knowing she shouldn't isolate herself. But it was the only thing she could think of doing. Luckily Tali still chatted with her, but she was most often in the common room, which Chal avoided at all costs these days. The only person she ever really talked to anymore was Kadric, and that was only during tutoring, and even then Chal barely spoke. She knew Kadric was suspicious and often asked what was wrong with her lately, but Chalondra could never find an appropriate answer. She didn't know what was wrong with her lately, apart from the fact that she was being stalked by an evil man, which was what haunted her these days.

A sudden commotion from the common room brought Chalondra to her senses, and she hurriedly walked to the dormitory door. She was just about to grab the handle when it opened on its own, showing Yoyo all ready to go standing in its wake.

"Oh—er—hi," Chal muttered feebly. Yoyo ignored her and strode into the dormitory, shoving past her rather violently. Chalondra bit her angry tongue and whirled around to face Yoyo, who was now digging in her trunk. "Yoyo, I'm sorry, all right? I don't know what you want from me, but you keep ignoring me! I just want to tell you that--," Chalondra was cut off by an angry Yoyo.

"Tell me what? That you liked him all along and that you WANTED to kiss him? That you WANTED to hurt me even more?"

"Yoyo, he hates you! When you asked him out, remember? I don't understand! And I DON'T like him! I don't! He was the only one in the hall that was there, so he brought me to the Hospital Wing! I don't know what happened, I don't! Just please…" Chalondra stopped, on the verge of tears. She let out a great big sob and rubbed at her eyes. Yoyo looked at her with very little, if any, sympathy.

"Oh, why don't you just go buy your new boyfriend a present at Hogsmeade?" she spat, slamming the lid on her trunk closed. "Quit trying to make amends, because it won't work."

"Yoyo!" Chalondra cried desperately. "If you'd just listen--,"

"And what?" Yoyo asked, her voice quivering dangerously. "Listen to what you and Kadric have been up to lately? How you planned to break my heart twice?"

"I DIDN'T MEAN TO!" Chalondra shrieked angrily, sending Yoyo back a step. "I HATE HIM! DIDN'T YOU SEE ME ARGUING WITH HIM AFTER? DIDN'T YOU SEE?"

Yoyo shook her head stubbornly. "No. But I bet you liked being close to him, didn't you?"

"Yoyo!" Chalondra cried again, but her friend was already past her and out the door, joining the rest of the students in the Entrance Hall.

"I hate this," she muttered darkly, slamming the door shut behind her. "I hate this very, very, much."

The air was nippy and cold as Chalondra trudged through Hogsmeade all alone. Wrapping her scarf tighter around her neck, Chalondra looked at her list of Christmas presents to give. She was still going to buy one for all her friends, just in case.

Kate? Check. Tali? Check. Danny? Check. Yoyo? Check. If she ever forgave her, that is. Mom and Dad? Check. Little sister and older brother? Check and check.

Chalondra stuffed the note into her bag of presents, standing in the middle of village like a lost soul. She had one more store to go to, but she had no idea which. Yoyo had given her an idea, even if it had meant to hurt. Chalondra was going to buy a present for Kadric. Just a thanks-for-tutoring-me gift. She hoped he wouldn't laugh at her, which he probably would anyway, and rubbed at her arms for warmth. Snow covered the ground, and all the students around her crunched through the snow on their way to stores and The Three Broomsticks. Chalondra would go there after, but first she needed to get his gift.

Now, what could he want? Chalondra thought slowly, feeling giddy at the thought of giving him a gift. I'm sure he's probably bought out Zonko's. And besides, he doesn't seem the type to do pranks a lot. Dervish and Banges doesn't have anything of interest…I've got it!

"Honeydukes," Chalondra murmured to herself, walking quickly in the direction of the sweets store.

Inside, Chalondra mulled over the candy. For some reason, she felt the nagging voice telling her to get the perfect gift. She had to be super picky, just so it would save her from relentless teasing. "Oh, I don't know what he likes!" she moaned, stamping her foot in a frustrated way. "I guess I'll just have to give him a thank you or something." Sighing heavily, Chalondra made her way through the crowd of children towards the door. Just as she was pushing it open, she heard a familiar voice from behind her.

"Sugar mice? That's disgusting," Kadric said loudly, just so the shopkeeper could hear. His friends giggled loudly, and Chalondra felt some sort of power drawing her back into the store. I can figure out what he likes, she thought wisely, hiding herself discreetly behind a caramel popcorn machine. Kadric was just at the shelves in front of her, so she could hear every word he said.

"Sugar quills are good," his tallest friend said. Kadric nodded slowly, and Chal felt her heart beat quicken. Is that what he wanted?

"Yea, I guess they're okay," he said in a voice that lacked enthusiasm. "But do you know what the best are?"

"What?" his friends chorused, and Chalondra asked silently along with them.

"None of them," Kadric decided triumphantly. "No offense to candy, but I personally hate it."

Chalondra felt her heart sink. Great. Just great. He didn't like candy either. Goodness, what did this boy like for gifts anyway? Chalondra snuck past and slithered out the door, making her way towards The Three Broomsticks. What did he like? Herbology, obviously.

Wait. That was it. Herbology…

Chalondra laughed out loud, getting a few strange looks from people nearby. She nearly skipped to The Three Broomsticks, a plan already formulating in her mind.

"Thanks," Chalondra mumbled to Madame Rosmerta, grabbing her flask of butter beer and scurrying back to a table in the far corner, where a row of large Christmas trees completely hid it from view. It was where they piled the empty boxes where their decorations usually sat until after Christmas, but Chalondra just pushed them under the table and reveled in the silence and isolation this secret spot gave her. She was never so glad to be alone.

And yet, as she peeked through the pine needles on the Christmas trees, she felt a pang in her heart. All those groups of students, laughing and drinking with their friends, looking forward to the next day and that after made her feel incredibly lonely. But Chalondra couldn't go sit with anyone; she didn't have anyone. With a heavy sigh she sipped her butter beer, feeling a bit warmer after one gulp.

For a few moments Chalondra sat in silence, thinking over everything and trying to sort out her thoughts and feelings. She just wished Yoyo would accept her answer that she was sorry, although she knew how Yoyo felt. With a sickening turn of thoughts, Chalondra realized in two days that cloaked man would send for her again. She'd have to find out something useful about Kadric…and soon. But she didn't have tutoring until Tuesday! With a groan, Chalondra realized she would have to search for Kadric in public. What a nightmare.

But she didn't have to search. With a rustle she heard voices from behind the trees. She cowered against the wall, afraid when she heard the voices.

"Hey Kad, what's behind them trees?"

"No idea, I'll check."

"Ooh, maybe it'll be drinks!" crowed a different voice. "If it is, we should take them!"

"Yea, that'd be great!" cackled another boy. Kadric just laughed.

"All right guys, I'll grab them--," His head had just poked through the pine needle branches. He stopped his sentence as he saw Chalondra sitting, cowering, in her seat. With a sigh of relief she shook her head slightly at Kadric, whose eyes were bulging out if his head.

"Don't," she whispered viciously, pleading in her eyes. Kadric didn't move, his face full of question.

"Oi! Kad, what's taking so long?" asked a voice.

"Yea, keeping all the beer to yourself?"

Kadric seemed to snap out of it, giving Chalondra one last curious gaze and then vanishing back to his friends. "Uh—sorry guys nothing there. I checked."

"Aww man! Are you serious?"

"Yea, sorry guys."

With some mumbles they all trotted off to get drinks, and Chalondra let out a louder sigh of relief. Thank goodness Kadric had been the one to poke his head through. But…why hadn't he told his friends she were there? Surely it would have been a good laugh to see a strange girl sitting all alone? Chalondra shook it out of her head and sipped on her butter beer again, her mind drifting.

Sudden rustles and grunts snapped Chalondra out of her reverie. She glanced at the trees fearfully, gripping her wand. If she had to stun them to keep their mouth shut…

Out from behind the trees popped Kadric, pine needles littering his cloak and hair. In his hand was a butter beer. He let out a sigh and set the drink down on the table beside Chal's, brushing the pine needles off of his cloak. "They're everywhere," he muttered disdainfully. "Really Ravenclaw, couldn't you pick an easier spot to sit?"

"No," Chalondra snapped. "Considering no one else was supposed to come here in the first place."

Kadric gave a little shake of his head, letting some pine needles fall limply to the ground as he took the seat opposite of Chalondra. "You're going to get caught by your friends," she whispered viciously. "I'll get caught. I can't believe you came here in public!"

"Well," Kadric began slowly. "It is against my religion and all, but I just had to know. Why are you hiding all alone?"

"None of your business," Chalondra hissed.

"What, can't a guy just come to say hello?" Kadric asked breezily.

"No."

"…True."

"So what do you want? You ought to know that I'm not actually hiding any drinks," Chalondra said with a smirk. Why can't he just leave me alone? She thought grumpily as he stared at his butter beer silently. It'd be so much easier.

"Actually, I was just wondering why you're isolated like this," he asked with something like genuine curiosity, making a sweeping motion to the trees hiding them from the crowds.

"Well, do you think I have any friends right now to go sit with?" Chalondra asked rather rudely. "I just think being alone right now is easier," she hinted obviously.

Kadric didn't take the hint.

"Well, I don't think so. Don't you think you should be go apologizing or something?"

"Oh, what? Did you suddenly grow feelings?" Chalondra finally hissed viciously. "Or is this suddenly all my fault? YOU didn't do anything? Well, now it makes PERFECT sense!" Chalondra almost yelled, hiding her head in her hands in exasperation. She heard Kadric pushing his butter beer back and forth silently, as if he were thinking.

"Well, no. But…I do have feelings."

Chalondra snorted.

"I do! Or else—or else…" He grew quiet, and Chalondra risked a peek at him to see his eyes drawn to the table surface as if it were an interesting TV program. "Or else I wouldn't have come to check on you," he whispered so quietly Chalondra had to stretch to hear it.

"You? Check on me? Oh please."

"I did! I was…I am worried. But only a little bit worried," he corrected hurriedly, trying his best to look gruff. "It's really annoying having to tutor you with that simpering, little whiney baby attitude you've seemed to grow attached to lately."

"Oh, sorry I'm ruining your mood, Your Highness," Chalondra groaned through gritted teeth.

"Apology accepted," Kadric remarked stiffly. Chalondra glared at him, and he glared right back. "Why are you suddenly being so difficult anyway?" he snapped.

"ME? Difficult? You're one to talk! You act like the biggest jerk around everyone else in this entire school, but around me you're actually semi-normal. I don't know what's wrong with your brain, or WHY you think popularity and bullying and teasing makes who you are, but it doesn't. Why can't you just stop pretending to be someone you're not?"

Chalondra's words echoed around the two, as if they were alone in a large room and not three feet away from a cramped, humid room filled with drinking students.

"How would you know who I am? Last time I checked we barely know one another."

Well that man said I knew you best, Chal thought darkly, but said nothing and only bit her bottom lip in thought instead. "I'd like to keep it that way," she said barely above a whisper. Kadric stiffened.

"Yea. Me too," he replied sharply, taking a swig of his drink. "Just the teacher and the student."

"The smart one and the dumb one," Chalondra retorted.

"Hey, I'm the one teaching you. Who's the smart one?"

"Me, of course."

"Well you're pleasantly conceited."

"As are you."

"Agreed."

The somewhat pleasant conversation that had lasted about two seconds fell into silence between them. Chalondra stirred her drink with a useless straw, and Kadric traced shapes on his flask.

"Do you notice…anything strange about Professor Windex?" Chalondra asked suddenly, filling up the silence.

"Professor Windex? The Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?"

Chalondra nodded mutely, hearing that cold voice beneath the cloak all over again as it threatened her life and Kadric's.

"No," Kadric said immediately. "He seems like a quiet, mousy pansy to me."

"Kadric!" Chalondra cried.

"Well he is!" Kadric shot back immediately. "I mean, all he does is write stuff on the board and then sit at his desk all nice and polite. I mean, he never gives back any of my stuff."

Chalondra's heartbeat began to quick. "You're stuff? Like, tests and things?"

Kadric nodded. "Yea."

"Do these tests have, like, information about you?"

Kadric narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Why, planning on getting together a little stalking party just for me? You shouldn't have."

"Oh, I didn't," Chalondra, said evilly. "Just answer the question about the tests."

"Well, I guess so," Kadric said grudgingly. "Why?"

"Er—no reason," Chalondra said hurriedly, trying to shake the thoughts out of her head. It was all a weird coincidence. Nice, quiet Professor Windex couldn't possibly be that man. First of all, they were completely different. Second of all…

"Look, there is something definitely wrong with you," Kadric interrupted rudely. "You zone out at any chance you have!"

"Is that such a problem?" Chalondra asked almost sleepily, her mind still working about the man.

"Well, it is when I'm trying to teach you! Or even talk to you!"

"Oh, I'm sorry then," Chalondra said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I didn't realize Kadric enjoyed talking to Chalondra so much."

"I don't," Kadric said hurriedly. "But when I do, for some demented reason, it's really rather irritating. Why don't you just suck it up and go apologize?"

"Who are YOU to give me advice on a subject like this?"

"Kadric Marsters of course."

"That doesn't give me any confidence whatsoever."

Kadric snorted. "Fine. Be a baby."

Ooh, if only you knew the half of it, Chalondra thought bitterly. "Wouldn't be so cocky then, would you?" she mumbled aloud, not even realizing.

"What was that?" Kadric asked pleasantly.

Chalondra blanched and looked up at him quickly. "Whatwaswhat?" she asked hurriedly. Kadric quirked an eyebrow.

"That creepy mutter I just heard."

"Did you hear what I said?"

"Um. No."

Chalondra could have smiled in relief. "Okay. I just said…I'd like another butter beer."

Kadric smiled devilishly. "I'll get you one, just because I want one myself. But I'll only get you one if you give me the money for both."

Chalondra sighed but dug out the coins and slapped them in Kadric's outstretched hand. "Fine, fine, just go!"

With an obliged nod, Kadric squirmed out of the alcove and towards the counter. Chalondra felt a cold voice in her head telling her to run out, and she knew it was right. Kadric was suddenly being nice…eerily nice. And Chalondra didn't like pity, especially from a Slytherin. With a reluctant sigh, Chalondra leapt through the trees and ran for the exit like a scared rabbit, only looking back once to see Kadric grabbing the two butter beers off of the counter.

And then she was out, racing across the snowy ground as she made her way back to Hogwarts. Chalondra trembled from head to toe, but not because of the heat. Because Kadric and herself were becoming too close, whether it be Ravenclaw and Slytherin or Teacher and Student. Chalondra knew she liked him…she liked him a lot. But Kadric couldn't like her. It was against the code of everything. But he didn't. That was a ridiculous thought.

But then why, nagged her thoughtful voice, did he come and talk to you? Why did he offer to buy drinks? Do you think he's warming up to you? Answer the questions, you stupid girl!

Stifling a sob, Chalondra hitched up her robes and ran all the way back to the school, her eyes misting with tears and she stumbled her way back.

Meanwhile, back inside The Three Broomsticks, Kadric whistled as he walked back to the hidden table. He didn't know why he was cheerful, but Chalondra always managed to make him feel a bit better about his uncomfortable situation. But she also made him think about what he was doing, which was doubly worse.

What's that called again? Asked an annoying voice. Oh yea. A cru—But Kadric immediately blocked it out, reveling in the idea that they were just Teacher and Student getting to know each other better. Besides, he still hated Chalondra's attitude and brains and personality to an extent. Maybe just not as much as before. He was willing to admit THAT much anyway.

He pushed through the trees, grinning as the pine needles stuck uncomfortably to him. "Okay, here's your dri—," he trailed off, staring at the empty, pushed back seat. She was gone? Why? Did she purposely send him away so she could escape? Did she STILL hate him that much?

Kadric sighed heavily, thoughts whirling. He slammed the drinks on the table so they spilled out some beverage, then sat down angrily on his chair, his face not showing his anger, but something like sadness. With another sigh he lifted his flask, about to take a drink. Hesitating, he brought it against the other glass, which was standing lonely in the center of the table. "Cheers," he muttered miserably as the glasses clinked together. "Have a great Christmas," he mumbled, feeling thoroughly miserable for reasons he couldn't fathom.