1A/N Merry Christmas! I've been delayed again in writing this thing. It's all in my head you see, but as I sat down on Thursday to write the next few chapters I fell asleep for 4 hours! The only bad thing about the holiday season, plenty of colds to go around. Now, thanks to my wonderful reviewers: thequeeneb, Tina1587, Christy, Supermal, Merchant-of-Death, M'rika, brittagirl, FizzingWhizbeez, MadnessLover, Amelda Marcos, lilpeng1, yellow jelly, hAzElEyEs, Gimlihamster, School-of-Rock101, HarrysTwinFromHell, and those who don't review but still read. I quite like you as well, though dropping a line once every, oh, I don't know, 3 chapters wink wouldn't be bad either. I Oh and something I've forgotten for the last 2 chapters:

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters they belong to JK Rowling and Bloomsbury and so on and so forth and for this chapter 'Fairytale of New York' belongs to the Pogues

22 Days 'til Christmas

Friday passed without any significance. No house points were lost from the Gryffindor 5th years (no potions class either), and loads of homework was assigned as the teachers tried to fill as much information as possible into each student's brain before the holidays. Saturday however, was a different story for the Gryffindors, as it was the first Hogsmeade weekend since the introduction of Secret Santa, and they were all eager to get a start on their shopping.

The trio has decided to head into Hogsmeade together, and then meet up at the Three Broomsticks for butterbeers after they completed their shopping. As soon as they arrived, they split off into different directions. Harry proceeded to walk down the street, passing each store as he tried to decide which one to go into. The post office was his first stop, to pick up packets of what he could Owl Order for his friends. He still had to get them gifts, after all. There was a small jewelry cart set up and Harry was tempted to take a look (for Hermione, of course) but decided against it and kept on walking. After a shuddering glance at Madame Puddifoots, Harry took a deep breath and entered Gladrags Wizardwear, hoping to find something and get it over with.

The place was surprisingly and horribly crowded with Hogwarts students, and villagers alike, shopping for holiday outfits and gifts. With a sigh Harry made his way to the Teen Wizard's section, which was surprisingly devoid of many Hogwarts students, though Harry did run into Dean Thomas, who was taking great time in choosing between two rather colorful robes that Harry sincerely hoped was for a girl.

After taking a good look at the selection of robes, Harry decided that perhaps they weren't the best choice, and proceeded to take a look around the store. He grabbed a pair of multi-colored socks that sang some song called the 'Rainbow Connection' when they got too dirty for Dobby, and after a second thought, decided to get a pair for Dumbledore, remembering a conversation of many years past. He found a pair that was yellow with purple stars, a perfect compliment for one of the Headmaster's robes.

Unfortunately, socks didn't really go with what he was 'magically obligated' to get for his Secret Santa, and after a final glance around the store, Harry made his purchases and walked out.

Lost in his own thoughts, Harry didn't pay attention to where his feet were taking him and didn't come back to Earth until he ran into a rather solid object.

"Hey watch it! Oh–Harry!" The solid object turned out to be Ron.

"Sorry mate, wasn't paying attention there." It was then Harry realized they were at the jewelry cart. "So, looking for anyone special?" Ron blushed.

"Nah, just looking. There's nothing good there anyway. Fancy a trip to Honeydukes?" he said, effectively changing the topic. Harry agreed, thinking that perhaps he would find something in there that would fall within his 'guidelines'.

Honeydukes was, as usual, filled to the brim and Harry and Ron had to push past some of the smaller students to get inside. Harry snickered as he saw some third year Slytherin trying an acid pop as his friend's egged him on. As he walked passed the yelp was rather hard to miss. As he walked down the aisle, checking off items ('no definitely not getting any Fizzing Whizbees. Billywig stings, honestly!') he finally came across something that could be used: the chocolate section. Chocolate frogs were out of the question, but perhaps some Chocoballs would do the trick and he could be done with it.

Eagerly he looked for the mousse-filled balls of chocolate, but, as fate would have it, there were none left!

"How is this even possible?" Harry moaned, double checking the empty bin. Oh well, he thought, it wasn't a very good idea anyway.

He was going to go ask the shopkeepers if they had some in the back when he noticed the time on the wall. They were late for Hermione! Grabbing Ron, Harry ran out the store and made his way to the Three Broomsticks.

That night, the Common Room was full of noise and excitement of kids trying to blow off some steam before settling down to do their homework on Sunday morning. The twins had brought a lot of butter beer and were passing it around to all their friends. They also had someone managed to get hold of fire whiskey and were trying to convince some of the upperclassmen to hold a drinking contest, until Hermione came and did a marvelous impression of Mrs. Weasley, ending the whole tirade with a threat to write to the Weasley matriarch if they so much as thought about holding a fire whiskey contest in front of the younger students. Ron was between agreeing with Hermione and trying to snag some whiskey for himself, much to her extreme chagrin.

Once that was settled, the trio went back to relaxing by the fire, chatting about school, friends, and of course, the Secret Santa.

"I've finished my person already." said Hermione happily. "It was quite simple once I started looking around."

"Well I haven't yet." Harry commented with a glum look on his face. "I'll take another look the next time we go into Hogsmeade."

"Harry, there isn't another Hogsmeade weekend before Christmas break. You'll have to take a look at owl order, I suppose. Ron, you've been awfully quiet. Can't find your person a gift?"

"I'm more than capable of buying a present Hermione–"

"I know that–"

"I know you think that because you just got your present today, no one else would be able to get it before hand—"

"I do not think that Ronald. Take that back or I'll—"

"What, write my mum?"

"Oh so this is what it's about, you want to go drink fire whiskey."

"No I don't!"

"Well let me tell you this. If you so much as go—"

"You can't tell me what to do, Hermione! You're not the queen of the universe, no matter how much you want to be—"

"AND THE BELLS WERE RINGING OUT ON CHRISTMAS DAY!"

The escalating argument, however, was cut off when the twins barged into the common room, shouting Christmas carols on the top of their lungs, and tripping over a leg rest on their way in.

"Oh they didn't." Hermione closed her eyes for a second and prepared to go give a lecture.

"You're a bum! You're a punk!"

"You're an old slut on junk!" The twins seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves.

"Wait Hermione, I want to hear this one" Harry commented, snickering

"Lying there almost dead with a drip on that bed"

"You scumbag, you maggot. You cheap lousy faggot." At this, a few first years gasped.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS YOUR ARSE I PRAY GOD IT'S OUT LAST!"

"That's it, I'm going to the Owlery." Hermione left the common room in a rush. Once Hermione had left, the twins took on a sad, theatrical look.

"I could have been someone." Said George, staggering a little.

"Well so could anyone! You took my dreams away, when I first met you."

"I kept them with me babe" at George calling his brother 'babe', Ron started to cough. "I put them with my own. Can't make it all alone..."

"I've built my dreams around you!."

And with a flourish, both boys bowed and then began to shakily make their way upstairs. Ron turned to look at Harry.

"Mate, Christmas isn't going to come fast enough."

A/N short i know, but i don't have the time today to write more, and i wanted to get it up

Once again, no one has guessed the secret santa. let me clear some things up. It's a gryffindor house secret santa, which means only gryffindors (though i wouldn't put it past the twins to slip something in) and that means that any gryffindor you've ever read about is up for grabs. the only person who got it right sent me an email with the entire list from hp lexicon, and i'm choosing not to count that as it's not a real guess :-D.

I'm a few chapters behind schedule b/c of sickness/life, but i'm going to try to catch up before school starts up again, and reviews always make me want to work faster.

So questions? comments? concerns? corrections? guesses?

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