When Lindy first started to come around, she could hear voices. Also, she was able to realize she was breathing. What a relief. Yet, it took a few more minutes for her to be able to understand the voices she was hearing, and guess who they belonged to.

"I think her breathing sounds a bit stronger and more refined," a nervous male voice stated. She recognized it as her dad instantly.

"You said that a few minutes ago Mr. Potter! Please go to bed and get some rest," said Madame Pomfrey huffily. "You're setting a horrible example for Mr. Riddle. Dear, will you please return to your house? I'll send word as soon as she awakens and-"

"Just a few more minutes, please," the voice she recognized as Nick begged.

"I give up! I'm telling you, you'll be lucky enough if the swelling is down by tomorrow for her to see; There's only so much I can do, as the Healer told you just yesterday, might I add."

"Harry!" She heard her mother's voice ring clearly. "She obviously isn't going to wake up anytime soon, much less talk. Now come back to our room and get some rest. Your dinner's waiting on you."

"Alright," she heard her father grunt before getting up and leaving.

"Five more minutes Riddle." And with that, Madame Pomfrey stomped off.

"Good, we're alone," said Nick. "Up for a brief chat?"

'Sure,' she thought groggily in her head, not surprised he could read her thoughts.

"Great," he replied. "What would you like to know?"

'Well, for starters, who won?' She slightly moved her mouth as she asked him.

"Hufflepuff. They caught the snitch five seconds after you were knocked out," he replied, starting to massage her right hand.

'I've been out how long?'

"About a week."

'A week!' She couldn't believe it. She'd been out for a full week. And she still couldn't fully function. 'Another question?'

"What?" asked Nick.

'How long have you been reading my thoughts?'

"Er- I think I best get going. See you later Lind." Then Nick got up and left, leaving her alone.

'I am so going to kill you!' She thought in her mind.

Madame Pomfrey came rushing back in and started to check over her. After the nurse left, Lindy fell asleep once again, pondering many things in her head. Who bewitched the bludger? And what did Nick have to do with all this?

A day or two later, Lindy was back on her feet; she did have to take a potion to reduce her facial swelling, but other than that, she was ok. Everyone, including her parents, had left Hogwarts and now Lindy, Lonni, Jacob, Michelle, and some fifth and sixth years were all that were left in the Gryffindor House.

One evening, the trio took a trip out to the lake side to talk in private. Lindy and Lonni filled each other in while Jacob skipped stones into the shallow water. He'd skipped a particularly shiny black one when he noticed some type of head sticking out a few feet away in the deeper section of the lake.

"Guys, look!" shouted Jacob.

"Show yourself," hissed Lindy in a different language, starring straight at it.

The creature raised it's massive body out of the water to reveal itself. It was a huge, black and livid orange snake, and had to be at least six feet long. However, it was a bit slender.

"Come here," hissed Lindy in a commanding sort of tone.

However, the snake remained where it was. Its eyes, which were steely gray, gazed down at her. Between its razor sharp teeth slithered in and out its forked tongue.

"I'm going in after it," declared Lonni. And, without a second guess, she dove into the icy water.

"Lonni!" shouted the two after her. Lonni came up for before diving back down.

"I'm coming!" hollered Lindy, running into the shallow water of the shore.

"No," Jacob told her, shoving her back before she could dive in. Then he dived in after Lonni.

Lindy, shocked at being pushed back by Jacob, stood still in the water. A few minutes later Jacob was pulling Lonni out and back to the shore. She was fighting to get free of his tight grip so she could go after it again.

"I almost had its tail!" Lonni screamed, red-faced.

"What you almost had was the giant squid's tentacle," he retorted back. "Look at you! You're going to get sick-"

"But it was the snake!" shot Lindy back at him.

"And you! NEED I REMIND YOU YOU ARE RECOVERING FROM A HEAD INJURY!" After seeing their hurt reactions, he calmed down a bit before softly adding, "I hope you're both satisfied."

And then, he turned and walked off. The two starred at each other before getting up to the castle to dry off and warm up.

Two days later, Christmas Eve, Jacob still refused to talk to them. He usually sat by Michelle or alone by himself now.

Eventually, Lindy and Lonni thought up a way to get his attention. One of the fifth years had decorated the common room and even placed a tree from the Forbidden Forest in a corner, with a star at the top and tinsel draping down it. As Jacob entered the common room that evening, Lindy and Lonni stepped into their positions and started to chat.

"Lindy, doesn't the common room look great?" asked Lonni.

"Lovely Lonni," replied Lindy falsely. "I wonder, did anyone put up mistletoe?"

Suddenly, Jacob followed the girls' gaze up above them and sure enough they were standing under mistletoe. They watched his expression turn from shock to horror.

"Jacob," cooed Lonni.

He coward back in fear.

"Listen Jacob," said Lindy, "we won't make you kiss us if you promise to forgive us for the other day."

"Alright, I forgive you both for the other day," he said, relaxing a bit.

"Good, cause I wasn't going to let you kiss me," muttered Lonni, pulling the mistletoe down.

"I was coming back up here to talk to you guys anyway," he added. "We need to discuss this somewhere private."

"There's an empty classroom down the corridor," said Lindy automatically.

Quickly, the three ran out of the common room and dashed to the empty classroom. Once the door was shut, Lindy and Lonni took seats and listened to what Jacob had to say.

"Well, I've been researching snakes the past few days," he started, "and I've almost determined what breed it is. Anyway, what I've been wanting to tell you is while I was researching, I was trying to figure out how it was getting around the school. That's when it struck me that most common snakes like dark, wet places, like holes in the ground for example."

Here, he stopped to take a breath before continuing.

"Don't you see? We have lots of bathrooms in this school and therefore have lots of pipes."

Of course! That's how the snake had been following Lindy. Through the pipes that ran just about everywhere at Hogwarts. Yet, there was still something bugging Lindy….

"Whose snake is it though? That's what we need to figure out," stated Lindy. Jacob changed from a smile to a frown. "Not just any snake chooses to roam though the pipes. Someone had to have brought it here."

"Wish it was Malfoy so we could get her expelled," said Lonni, trying to lighten the mood.

"Well, we should head back up to the common room and worry about this later," said Lindy, her emotions wearing her out. Not to mention her face did hurt a bit still.

And without any objections, they ran back up to the common room. The two girls played wizards chess while Jacob watched, cheering for whoever he thought was most likely to win. After Lonni had thumped Lindy 7-10 times, the two retired to their dorm.

Lindy read while Lonni flipped through her new magazine. She couldn't help but think about that snake. How many seven-six feet snakes did you meet? She was almost certain she'd seen that snake before, but where? In a book, or in a dream? Or maybe she was just imagining things?

Sighing, she laid her book and glasses on the stand beside her and rolled over. She almost immediately went to sleep. In her dream, a huge snake was towering over her. She'd tried to grab her wand to defend herself, but found her arm was unable to move. Frantically, she screamed, a pain shooting through out her body.

Instantly, she shot up in her bed and looked wildly around. It was morning and a huge pile of presents laid untouched at the foot of her bed. Blinking, she threw her covers off and got out of her bed.

"Lonni! Lonni! Wake up!" shouted Lindy cheerfully.

"Five more minutes mom," she protested, rolling over.

"It's Christmas!" exclaimed Michelle, waking up to find an equally huge pile of presents laying at the foot of her bed.

"It's Christmas?" repeated Lonni dumbly. Then, as she laid her sleepy eyes on the foot of her bed, she was shocked to find a huge pile of presents as well.

Immediately, she shot up out of her own bed and started to rip open her presents. Michelle and Lindy both couldn't help but laugh. Lindy then returned to her bed and grabbed her glasses before starting on her own presents.

Lindy first opened Hagrid's present, which was a box of the gooey rock cakes and a book on magical monsters. After stuffing a rock cake in her mouth, she opened her present from her brother Jake. He'd given her a quidditch magazine and some new fancy quills. Her grandparents (Hermione's parents) had sent her a box full of sweets, a flashy skirt, and three different books; one about handy charms, a fictional muggle story, and a book about urban legends.

Next came her presents from Lonni and Jacob. Lonni got her a stationary set, a few wizard band CDs, and a fluffy purple pillow. Jacob, on the other hand, got her a handful of chocolate frogs, a CD, a beautiful notebook, and a new bag to carry her things in.

"Thanks Lonni," Lindy told Lonni before opening her present from Michelle. Michelle had gotten her two boxes of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans and a butterfly barrette. "Thanks Michelle!"

"Thank you too," said Michelle as she tossed the quill and book Lindy had gotten her on her bed.

There were only a few presents left now. A note laid on top of a small box which had just now became visible. Carefully, she picked up the box and pulled off the note. After smoothing it out, she read the note (which read as follows):

Dear Lindy,

Sorry about the bludger incident and I hope you feel better. Merry Christmas!

Nick Riddle

Inside the box she found a necklace with a broomstick pendant on it, beautifully crafted.

"Lonni! Look!" said Lindy, showing it to her.

"Who got it for you?" asked Lonni while marveling at it.

"Nick," said Lindy softly. She couldn't help but blush. Only when she looked down did she toss the necklace on her bed, eager to open the next present. The present was from her mum and dad; a broom.

"Whoa!" said Michelle, stopping to come over and look at it.

"A Midnight," said Lonni excitedly. "And look, you got a broom repair kit too."

Lindy nodded and ran her shaking fingers over the polished black broom. In silver, cursive writing was Midnight.

"And my gran sent you a sweater," said Lonni, unwrapping a package underneath the broom. She threw it at Lindy, who put the bright red sweater with a lion on the front on quickly.

"Let's give your broom a go after breakfast, ok?" suggested Michelle, tidying up her bed.

"Alright," said Lindy, starting on her last present.

There are many strange books in this world, but the book Lindy had received that Christmas had to be the strangest she'd received by far. On the cover was a dark green snake that blinked and hissed. On it was printed, Hissing Breeds: Snakes Found Throughout Europe, by Hannah Abbott.

When she opened it up, a note fell out.

Thought you'd find this useful.