With the coming of the holiday, the castle emptied of most of the occupants. Zarif found that, besides the Weasleys, Harry, those from his orphanage, and Merula, there were very few students still remaining at the school. Most of them besides Percy to his knowledge were blowing off their homework, unlike him Merula and Percy, and waiting to do it later.
"At least it's quiet," Zarif says as he stares out the window, spotting Hagrid removing some snow from his hut. "Say Merula, have you ever visited Hagrid?"
Merula looks up from her work for a moment. "Why would I?"
"He is the groundskeeper and who would be one of the most knowledgeable of the grounds and I heard from Ron and Harry, he has a pet dog," Zarif says smiling.
Merula hums before closing her books. "Let's go."
"Alright," Zarif says getting up and walks with her.
The two head out to the hut where Hagrid was still shoveling snow when they walk up. "Hi, Hagrid," Zarif greets in their winter gear.
"Hello, you two. Something you need?" Hagrid asks.
"Came to visit you Hagrid," Zarif says, smiling under his scarf.
"Heh, very kind of you," Hagrid says smiling as he finished shoveling the snow.
"No problem. It is winter break after all," Zarif says smiling.
Hagrid invited them inside where Fang, his pet dog, was lying next to the roaring fire. Merula smiled seeing the dog and walks over and pets Fang. "Hey there," Merula says smirking.
The dog whines a bit and nuzzles her hand back before lying back down.
"You like dogs?" Zarif asks seeing this.
"I don't like dogs. I love dogs like this big guy," Merula informs.
"Confusing, but okay," Zarif sighs.
"Ah, well feel free to come visit anytime then. Fang, there would love the attention," Hagrid says smiling as he puts the kettle on.
"I will. We will be the best of friends you and I," Merula says playing with Fang who seems to enjoy the attention.
'This is something interesting,' Zarif thinks smiling.
Hagrid kept entertaining his guests as they talk and socialize, having a good time around. As the sun started to go down, they all head up to the castle for dinner. Hagrid did have to convince Merula not to bring Fang along though.
"I will get you a dog," Zarif half-jokes and promises.
Merula hearing that stopped and slowly turns to look at him. She says nothing, but Zarif knew from the look that if he didn't come through with this, he was a dead man.
"Do you have a pet of your own yet?" Zarif quickly asks.
"No," Merula informs.
"Okay then…" Zarif slowly stops and gulps to the side.
"I will wait patiently for it," Merula says walking to the great hall.
'I'm off to see Dumbledore. Thankfully, I have all that extra money from those side jobs,' Zarif thinks before moving quickly.
Heading to the front of the staff table, he finds the headmaster eating dinner with some of the other facility and looking like he was about to leave. "Headmaster. I need to speak to you."
Merula awoke on Christmas day, the only Slytherin student still in the castle for the holiday. After getting dressed, she made her way to the common room to go to breakfast when she heard the sounds of something. Turning around, she saw a Christmas box with some holes in it and the lid moving slightly.
Merula, curious, goes over to investigate and see only one tag on it saying 'Merry Christmas Merula'. Merula, seeing that, opens it up and gasps as she spotted the puppy of a great dane with dark orange coloring. Merula looked at the puppy and slowly pets it before picking up and holds it against her.
Zarif smiles as he lays down as Harry and Ron unwrap their presents.
Zarif smiled, even though he received no presents. He wasn't one of them for the most part. And didn't want to strain any of his friends' funds with it, seeing as most are from his orphanage. What caught Zarif's eyes though was when Harry got a cloak that was supposedly his father's before he died and it turned the parts wrapped in the cloak invisible, making him shoot up in surprise.
"How the heck…?" Zarif tried to ask.
"That's an invisibility cloak. Those are rare," Ron says.
'Note to self, research that more,' Zarif thinks.
Before he could say or think anything else, the dormitory door was flung open and Fred and George Weasley bounded in. Harry stuffed the cloak quickly out of sight. He didn't feel like sharing it with anyone else yet. "Merry Christmas!" both proclaimed.
"Hey, look. Harry's got a Weasley sweater, too!" George said as Zarif turned to see Fred and George were wearing blue sweaters, one with a large yellow F on it, the other a G.
"Harry's is better than ours, though," said Fred, holding up Harry's sweater. "She obviously makes more of an effort if you're not family."
"Why aren't you wearing yours, Ron?" George demanded. "Come on, get it on, they're lovely and warm."
"I hate maroon," Ron moaned halfheartedly as he pulled it over his head.
Zarif, seeing this, was quiet, which didn't go unnoticed to the twins who also spotted he had no presents as well.
"You haven't got a letter on yours," George observed. "I suppose she thinks you don't forget your name. But we're not stupid, we know we're called Gred and Forge," Fred joked.
"What's all this noise?" Percy Weasley stuck his head through the door, looking disapproving. He had clearly gotten halfway through unwrapping his presents as he, too, carried a lumpy sweater over his arm, which Fred seized.
"P for prefect! Get it on, Percy, come on, we're all wearing ours, even Harry got one," Fred says.
"I don't want to," Percy says thickly, as the twins forced the sweater over his head, knocking his glasses askew.
"And you're not sitting with the prefects who are here today, either," George informs. "Christmas is a time for family," Fred finishes before they frog-marched Percy from the room, his arms pinned to his side by his sweater.
'Family, huh?' Zarif thinks, going to look out the window.
The sun rising slowly and lets him sees the snow-covered courtyard before seeing a girl walking into the courtyard and something she is carrying. She soon drops her arms and a little animal starts to bounce around in the snow, almost pouncing on it. Zarif smiles a bit more at that, knowing she likes her present.
"I think that is Merula down there," Zarif said to Ron and Harry.
"Really?" Ron asks as they both walk over to see as well.
"See? Right there," Zarif says pointing out Merula.
They peer closer and see the girl jumping and moving around a small animal in the snow. "Is that a dog?" Harry had to ask.
"Looks like it," Zarif says.
"How did she get that inside the school?" Ron asks.
"The headmaster had to allow it," Zarif says before heading for the door.
"Where are you going?" Ron asks turning at him.
"To see the dog," Zarif says simply before heading out the portrait door.
Merula giggles as she dodges the jump from her new pet and watches her smack into the snow hill and gets stuck before digging herself into it and pops out on top, making her laugh harder.
Zarif walks out the main entrance to see this and starts walking over to the two.
The dog hears the snow crunching and barks happily at him.
"Hey. You like your present?" Zarif asks as the puppy ran around.
Merula smiles a little at him. "Guess you kept your promise after all. And so quick too."
"I talked to the headmaster. He agreed you can keep the puppy here as a pet, but when in class, she must stay with Hagrid or in his hut," Zarif informs as the puppy runs around the two.
Merula smiles. "That sounds fair."
"That is the only condition," Zarif says before the puppy stops and yawns.
"Aw. Guess it's time to sleep girl," Merula says picking her up and holding her in her arms.
"She is only a few weeks old," Zarif says petting the puppy's head.
The little pup yawns and stretches herself before curling up in Merula's arms.
"Merry Christmas Merula," Zarif says before she takes the pup inside.
Merula just gives him a small smile and wave back at him.
At dinner, Merula joined Zarif and the other Gryffindor students still at school at their table. Fred and George were taking turns looking over the puppy and feeding her some of the turkeys served to them. Meanwhile, the table had a few fat, roast turkeys, roast, and boiled potatoes; a few platters of chipolatas; tureens of buttered peas, silver boats of thick, rich gravy and cranberry sauce and stacks of wizard crackers every few feet along the table. Percy, seeing the dog was about to go into the rules before Zarif informed him that Dumbledore had approved of letting her keep it in school. Meanwhile, Harry pulled a wizard cracker with Fred and it didn't just bang, it went off with a blast like a cannon and engulfed them all in a cloud of blue smoke, while from the inside exploded a rear admiral's hat and several live, white mice. Up at the High Table, Dumbledore had swapped his pointed wizard's hat for a flowered bonnet and was chuckling merrily at a joke Professor Flitwick had just read him.
"She ok?" Zarif asks Merula as her puppy whimpered.
Merula looks concerned as she holds her little pet. "Don't know."
"I think the bang scared her," Zarif says petting her head.
"Oh, it's okay girl," Merula coos and pets the whimpering puppy.
"How is the little pup?" Hagrid asks coming down from the teacher's table to see the new addition.
"She's fine," Zarif says smiling as he keeps watching.
"Not liking the loud sounds does she?" Hagrid asks.
"Does any little kid?" Zarif asks back.
"Well, you are a little kid yourself," Hagrid jokes, reminding Zarif he was physically only eleven.
Zarif sighs. "Right…"
"Here. Some fresh milk for her," Hagrid says offering Merula a bottle.
"Thanks," Merula says taking it and holds up to the pup and she latches onto the bottle and starts to suck on it.
"Don't worry about her while in class. I will make sure she is fine," Hagrid says smiling at her.
"Thanks for that," Merula thanks looking up to him.
After a bit, Flaming Christmas puddings followed the turkey and then retiring for the evening. Although Zarif had made a trip to the library to borrow a few books on stuff like the invisibility cloak and started reading them.
"Hey…" Merula says quietly as she walks up, carrying a sleeping pup.
"Hey," Zarif says continuing to read as Mrs. Norris sat there, still watching him.
"You disappeared after dinner," Merula says, staying quiet.
"Take a look at some of these," Zarif says moving the book closer to Merula so she can see.
Merula hums as she looks over the book. "What am I looking at?"
"An invisibility cloak," Zarif says getting her to read about it.
Merula reads the book, holding her sleeping puppy and her eyes widen. "Such things exist?"
"Yes, and more," Zarif says reading through the book.
"What else can there be?" Merula asks.
"Sneakoscopes, remembrall, the Philosopher's Stone," Zarif says listing off a few really, getting her attention with the last one.
"What's this stone one?" Merula presses.
"An artificial, rufescent stone with magical properties. It could be used to create the Elixir of Life, which extended the drinker's lifespan, as well as transform any metal into pure gold. Amongst other things," Zarif informs.
"So…the ultimate alchemy tool?" Merula asks.
"And a giant target as well. Can you imagine how many people would do anything for the elixir of life?" Zarif asks.
Merula looks at him slowly. "I can…"
"In the end, having something so powerful creates jealousy or greed in others, leading them down a spiral to damnation," Zarif says before reaching over to try and pet Mrs. Norris, only for her to move out of his reach.
"Moody," Merula says simply.
"Anyways, there is a lot of amazing things," Zarif says going back to reading.
"What else you got?" Merula asks as she moves over to see better.
"Many things. I will be studying this book extensively over our break," Zarif says.
"I hope you gain something and tell me then," Merula states.
"I will," Zarif says before placing a little bowl on the table and bringing out a bottle of milk and pour it into it before going back to reading his book.
Merula looks at the bowl before picking it up. "Thanks…"
"Huh…that is for Mrs. Norris as the little one is asleep," Zarif says looking up.
"Meow," Mrs. Norris meows as she climbs up near the bowl while Merula places it back down and starts to lap it up.
"Now would you like to join me or would you going to put that one to bed?" Zarif asks.
"I'll put her to bed for now. She needs a good comfortable bed," Merula says, cradling her little pup.
"I think Hagrid said he would be making one," Zarif says as he goes back to reading.
Merula hums happily as she keeps rocking her little pup. "I'll head to bed."
"Night and Merry Christmas," Zarif says as she left.
Merula smiles as she leaves. "Merry Christmas."
The next day, Harry acted odd as he hadn't eaten at all the entire day and wouldn't say why till he had led him and Ron to a room under the invisibility cloak. Inside, Harry showed them a mirror with something engraved at the top that Zarif couldn't understand.
Harry stepped aside, but with Ron in front of the mirror, he couldn't see his family anymore, just Ron in his paisley pajamas. Ron, though, was staring transfixed at his image. "Look at me!" Ron said.
"Can you see all your family standing around you?" Harry asks.
'What?' Zarif thinks, trying to peer into the mirror now.
"No…I'm alone…but I'm different…I look older…and I'm head boy!"
"What?" Harry asks, having Zarif's same reaction.
"I am…I'm wearing the badge as Bill used to, and I'm holding the house cup and the Quidditch cup, I'm Quidditch captain, too. Do you think this mirror shows the future?" Ron asks.
"Can I see?" Zarif asks.
"Yeah," Harry says and Ron needs to be pushed slightly for Zarif to stand in view and makes him disappointed at the loss as Zarif keeps watching himself in the mirror. Soon a familiar man stood behind him with Marcus on his shoulder. Zarif's expression turned to one of sadness seeing this.
"It doesn't show the future," Zarif says simply, knowing that both were long since dead now.
"What?" both ask.
"I see a friend who is now gone," Zarif says before looking away and getting out of the reflection.
Zarif sat against the wall as Ron and Harry took turns looking into the mirror. "How can it? All my family is dead. Let me have another look," Harry said.
"You had it to yourself all last night, give me a bit more time," Ron argued.
"You're only holding the Quidditch cup, what's interesting about that? I want to see my parents," Harry countered.
"Don't push me…" A sudden noise outside in the corridor put an end to their discussion. They hadn't realized how loudly they had been talking. "Quick!" Ron said before he threw the cloak back over the three as the luminous eyes of Mrs. Norris came round the door. Ron and Harry stood quite still, both thinking the same thing 'Did the cloak work on cats?' After what seemed an age, she turned and left.
"This isn't safe. She might have gone for Filch, I bet she heard us. Come on," Harry instructs before the three left the room.
After that, nothing much happened for the rest of the break. Zarif kept studying everything he could get his hands on and training his spellcasting with a wand the entire time till school started up again and he barely saw Harry as Wood was drilling the Quidditch team like crazy. Meanwhile, Hermione and Merula seemed to be developing a friendship with the studying with Zarif in the library.
One night, Harry came in looking very grim and told the three that Snape would be refereeing the next Quidditch match. Hermione and Ron kept giving Harry advise to avoid playing, thinking Snape would try and use this to kill him.
Zarif said nothing, not convinced Snape was not the one who did all of that. The two kept talking about ways to try and get out of this when Neville toppled into the common room. How he had managed to climb through the portrait hole was anyone's guess, because his legs had been stuck together with what they recognized at once as the Leg-Locker Curse. He must have had to bunny hop all the way up to Gryffindor tower.
Everyone fell over laughing except Zarif and Hermione, who leaped up and performed the countercurse. While Neville's legs sprang apart, Zarif asked, "What is so funny?" Making many shut up.
"What happened?" Hermione asked Neville, leading him over to sit with Harry and Ron.
"Malfoy," said Neville shakily. "I met him outside the library. He said he'd been looking for someone to practice that on."
"I am going to go find someone," Zarif says getting up.
"Is it Draco?" Hermione asks.
"No. Someone who can get at him more than I can," Zarif says.
"Who is going to bet Merula?" Ron asks.
"Hey, Merula," Zarif says as Merula scratches her pet's stomach.
"Hey. What do you need? Who's a good girl?" Merula coos down to her little dog who whimpers in happiness and tries to get scratches at every part of herself.
"Draco has started casting curses on other students. Think you can handle it or have professor Snape handle him?" Zarif asks.
Merula smiles as she looks up at him. "Leave it to me. I can handle Malfoy easy."
"Thanks. If we don't stop it now, he may one day use the killing curse on someone that displeases him in the slightest," Zarif says.
"You got him that figured out, huh?" Merula asks as she gets up, still holding her puppy.
"Just that part," Zarif says petting the puppy. "The rest I am working on. So the little girl has a name yet?" Zarif asks.
"No. Want to give her a good name. Something that speaks…well…her," Merula tries to explain.
"How about Morganna?" Zarif asks.
"Wow…that's…not bad actually. What do you think?" Merula asks the little pup.
The little pup licks her nose.
"I'll say that's a yes," Zarif chuckles at as Merula nuzzles the puppy. "Well, that is everything. Thanks, Merula," Zarif says.
Merula just hums in confirmation that she heard him as she keeps nuzzling the puppy.