A/N: Again, sorry for the hiatus.

The face-claim for Sage's sisters: Eden, Fable, and Reilly is Danielle Campbell.

Chapter 13: Christmas Day

In the morning, Cassia, Lily, and Sally-Anne went to the entrance hall so Cassia can see Lily, Sally-Anne, and Terence off, only to see that Hermione, Harry, and Ron were there too.

While Cassia bidded her friends good-bye, she tried to ignore the way Harry and Ron glared at Terence when he hugged Cassia bye.

Hermione reminded Cassia to keep looking for Nicolas Flamel while she was gone.

Cassia waved bye to her friends as they got in the carriages and were taken to Hogsmeade Station to get on the train.

During the holidays, Cassia kept up the search for Nicolas Flamel, although she was growing a bit weary of the search, especially since Ron and Harry weren't helping look for Flamel. She told herself that since she was a Hufflepuff, hard-work was a trait of Hufflepuffs. Besides, she was curious about Nicolas Flamel and she didn't want to go back to the common room, where she and Sage were the only first-years that had stayed behind.

Sage seemed content to do his own thing by roasting things over a fire, although he spent time with his sisters in the library. A few times Cassia joined in roasting things over the fire and tried to make conversation with Sage, but he didn't seem interested in what she had to say, which was about Quidditch or plants, so she stopped.

Cassia was in the library, looking through five books, all of which were open and laid out on the table when someone was at her side. She looked up to see Harry, "What?"

"Ron wants to teach us wizard chess," Harry whispered, taking a seat next to Cassia.

Cassia thought about it. "It's like Muggle chess, but the pieces move and talk."

"I know that, but Ron wants to teach you as well," Harry said.

Cassia wasn't interested in chess, both the Muggle and the wizard version. She turned the page of the book that was right in front of her. "Tell him that I said 'no thanks.'"

"You need a break," Harry said.

"We're supposed to look for Nicolas Flamel, remember?" Cassia pointed out.

"Of course I remember. Ron and I just have been taking a break," said Harry. "Have you taken a break since we started looking for Flamel?" countered Harry.

Cassia thought about it, "Uh, no?" She hadn't even taken a break. She really wanted to find Nicolas Flamel.

"Don't you think it's hopeless? We haven't seen any mention of him," replied Harry.

"I'm a Hufflepuff, we're supposed to be good at looking for things," stated Cassia.

"That's one trait that you don't have," Harry replied.

Cassia scoffed, "I do. I just need to look harder." Although she was sure it was true.

Harry rolled his eyes, "How many times have you fallen asleep in the library?"

The answer to that was plenty of times. Madam Pince didn't appreciate the fact that Cassia had drooled a few times on the books when Cassia had fallen asleep at the table. Madam Pince really didn't appreciate Cassia's sneezing fits that Cassia sometimes had in the library due to her allergies.

Cassia had lost count of Madam Pince threatening her to be banned from the library for the rest of her school career due to the drooling and sneezing.

"Thought so," Harry replied taking Cassia's silence as yes. He reached over and closed Cassia's book shut. "You need a break and you're coming with me to learn how to play wizard chess."

Cassia asked, "What if I refuse?"

"I'll carry you," replied Harry in a serious tone. They both ended up laughing at that because they both knew that Harry wasn't strong enough to carry her. Once they calmed down, again, in a serious tone, Harry said, "I'll drag you."

Cassia figured that would be embarrassing so she closed the books and stacked them, before leaving with Harry. She ignored the scathing look that Madam Pince had given her when they walked out of the library.

Harry led Cassia to the Gryffindor common room where there was a portrait of a fat lady wearing a pink dress. The lady looked at Cassia in a suspicious manner before Harry gave the password to the lady.

The Fat Lady swung open the portrait, revealing a hole to step through. They entered a circular room that looked filled with squishy armchairs, tables, and couches.

Ron was at a table nearest the fire, with a battered chess-set set up. Cassia by-passed Ron to look out a window to see the grounds.

She hummed to herself. Admittedly it was a nice view, considering that the Hufflepuff common room had circular windows that showed rippling grass and dandelions. The common room felt off, but that was probably because she was used to the warmth that her common room gave. Or maybe it was because she was a Hufflepuff and was essentially unwelcomed in the Gryffindor Tower. It seemed kind of bare since it didn't have plants hanging around. She turned around and noticed Harry and Ron looking at her.

"Well?" started Ron.

"Well what?" asked Cassia confused.

"Is this the best common room that you've seen or what?" asked Ron.

Cassia looked around some more. There were two staircases, one she supposed was for the boys and the other was for girls. One thing that she figured was good was that they didn't have to crawl just to get inside the common room. She looked back at the two boys, who were looking eager. She said, "It's…something."

"Is that a good thing or bad thing?" asked Ron confused.

"Yes," replied Cassia grinning. Ron looked like he was going to say something, but she asked, "You wanted to teach me how to play wizard chess?"

Ron looked at Harry, who looked like he was trying to suppress a smile or laugh.

Cassia made her way over to the table. She looked at the chessmen, who were moving around the board. "So, how do you play this game?" She picked up the knight and examined him.

Cassia woke up in her Hufflepuff dormitory on Christmas Day, expecting a present from Harry, but when she saw that she had a small pile of presents, she was surprised. She was glad that she was alone so that she could cry happy tears as she opened the presents.

She picked up the nearest package which was from Hagrid. She opened it to see that it was a wooden hollowed book that had a silhouette of a badger and in the middle of the silhouette was a calligraphed letter C carved on it. When Cassia opened the cover, there was a page from a book that looked pasted in the hollow space. When she looked at the page, she noticed that it was about Helga Hufflepuff. She set the hollowed book aside and picked up the gift from Harry.

Harry's gift was two books called Magical Water Plants of the Highland Lochs and Magical Mediterranean Water Plants and Their Properties both by Hadrian Whittle. She set the books aside, telling herself that she would read them by the fire soon. Harry had also sent her a black-and-orange striped cat collar that had a bell on it. Cassia reached over and grabbed her cat, who woke up from sleeping beside Cassia.

"Here, Harry sent you a collar," Cassia said and snapped the collar on. Harvest gave her a disgruntled look and laid back down on the bed beside Cassia, closing his eyes.

Cassia continued unwrapping her presents from Ron and Hermione. Ron and Hermione both had gotten her Chocoballs.

Lily had gotten her new pyjamas, which were dark red gingham sleeping trousers and a dark red gingham button down shirt. She was sure that they were new, but she couldn't tell since they looked a little worn. Maybe that was because it was being packaged. She set the pyjamas aside and picked up another parcel, which was lumpy.

She opened it and was surprised to see a thick, hand-knitted green jumper and a tin of homemade fudge. When she looked at the note, she was surprised to see that it was from Mrs Weasley. It was saying that Ron told her that Harry wasn't expecting any presents so that must mean that he thought that Cassia wasn't expecting anything too, so Mrs Weasley had made her a jumper and homemade fudge. Cassia almost buried her face in the jumper to cry. It was the most wonderful gift she had received and that included the news that she was a witch and going to learn magic. She pulled the jumper on and opened the tin of homemade fudge and ate some, which were delicious. She set it aside to save them for later.

She opened up Sally-Anne's present which was a necklace that looked like one piece of a heart. It had Cassia's name in cursive and had a small ruby pendant from the chain. The ruby was July's birthstone, so she figured that Sally-Anne's necklace would have an amethyst, which was February's birthstone, and Lily's would have emerald, which was May's birthstone. Cassia knew that the pieces would come together to make a full heart. On the back was words engraved on it, which wasn't full. According to the note that Sally-Anne had sent, it was a little poem that said:

Side by side or miles apart we are sisters connected at heart

Despite how cheesy it was, it was one of the most beautiful things that Cassia saw. It almost made her tear up, a little. She never had friends before, since Dudley made damn sure of that and no one wanted to go against Dudley and his gang. Besides, she always had Harry, but it just wasn't the same as having a friend.

She put the necklace on and smiled since it felt right. It was going to take a little getting used to, since she never wore jewelry before. The Dursleys saw no need in giving her any jewelry. Once a girl had transferred to the school from America and she handed the bracelets out to all the girls in the class, for some reason. Dudley saw the bracelet and broke the string, making the beads spill everywhere. It was soul-crushing to see the beads scatter like that.

She opened the present from Terrance, who sent her some yellow handkerchiefs with a black border. In one corner it had C.P. in calligraphic script. It warmed her heart knowing that Terrence remembered her and the fact that she had allergies. She knew that it was a strange thing to get sentimental over, but it felt heartwarming to know that he thought of her as a friend. She hoped that Terrence liked his gift, which was a toy black fruitbat with red wings that actually flew. Terrence was a fan of the Ballycastle Bats Quidditch team. She had looked into them and saw that they were a decent Quidditch team, since they had a lot of Quidditch World Cup wins under their robes.

She set the handkerchiefs aside and hesitated when she saw a present from the Dursleys. It was lumpy and she reached over and grabbed it.

"Harvest, should I open this and see what it is, or throw the bloody thing away?" Cassia asked. She looked at Harvest, who continued sleeping. "I'll open it and see what it is, then. I highly doubt it'll be useful." She ripped off the wrapping and stared down at her present in shock. "This is a new low." She held her present out in front of her. "Harvest look." The cat lifted his head, but kept his eyes closed. "They sent me a head of cauliflower, Harvest!"

Harvest opened his eyes and looked at the head of cauliflower unamused.

"At least its fresh. That counts for something, right?" asked Cassia. She noticed a note and picked it up. She unfolded it and read:

We received Harry's message and we enclose your Christmas present as well.
- Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon

Cassia wondered why Harry would ask their relatives for a Christmas present when it was obvious that they weren't going to receive a proper present from them. She didn't know what to do about the cauliflower, maybe she could give it to Hagrid as a gift or regift it and give it to Malfoy. She set the cauliflower aside and looked at the smallest present that was almost hidden by the wrapping paper. She picked it up and peeled off the yellow and black wrapping paper. She opened it and picked up a four row, beaded charm bracelet.

One row had red and gold beads, the next row had yellow and black beads, the third one had green and silver beads, and the last one had blue and silver beads. Cassia knew that the beads were for the four Houses, with their corresponding animal charms.

One charm on the Slytherin row had a serpent that was winding up and unwinding, with opening and closing its mouth in a silent hiss. On the Hufflepuff row, there was a charm of a badger that kept standing up on its hind legs. The Ravenclaw row had an Eagle that would beat its wings. Lastly was the Gryffindor lion on its hind legs and swiping the air with its front legs.

It was one of the most beautiful things that Cassia had ever seen. She examined the bracelet, wondering who had sent it to her and why.

She looked at the wrapping paper and noticed a note. In narrow, cramped handwriting, it said:

This once belonged to your mother.
I think she would want you to have it.
Happy Christmas.

Cassia looked at it, wondering who wrote the letter and why the person had something that belonged to her mother in their possession. The handwriting seemed oddly familiar though, but she couldn't figure out where she had seen it before. She shrugged, set aside the note and tied the bracelet on her right wrist. Surprisingly the bracelet felt like it wouldn't slide off. She looked around and shook her wrist, just to make sure that it didn't fall off.

After that she got up since she didn't want to miss the Christmas dinner anyway. She got up, gave Harvest a head-rub, and left the dormitory.

She passed the common room, only to stop to look at a plant that Professor Sprout had showed them a month ago. It was a Flitterbloom which looked like Devil's Snare, but was harmless. She moved some of the plant's tentacles aside so it can grow a bit better, before crawling out of the common room entrance. She left the corridor by the entrance when she ran into Harry and Ron, the Weasley twins, and Percy. Harry wore a green jumper, while Ron wore a maroon with the letter R on it. The Weasley twins were wearing matching blue jumpers, but theirs had F and G on it. Percy managed to somehow put his jumper on incorrectly.

"You know, your arms are supposed to go through the sleeves, right?" Cassia pointed out to Percy, who looked even more disgruntled at that.

"Hey, look, Cassy got a Weasley jumper, too," said Fred, walking over and putting his arm around her shoulders.

"Hers matches Harry's," said George, grinning. "Hers doesn't even have a C, either. I suppose she thought that Harry and Cassia won't forget their own names."

"That's silly," said Cassia. "We both know that our names are Clover and Hadrian."

Harry snickered at that, but he went over, putting his arm around Cassia's shoulders. "Happy Christmas, baby-sister."

Cassia groaned, "you're older than me by forty minutes. But Happy Christmas, older brother." Harry led Cassia into the Great Hall, but dragged her over to the Gryffindor table. "Harry…"

"Cassy," said Harry in the same tone.

"I can't sit at the Gryffindor table," said Cassia.

"Yes, you can," said Harry. "It's Christmas. I'm sure that they'll bend the rules just a little."

Harry and Cassia sat down at the Gryffindor table. Some older Gryffindors looked at her curiously before going back to what they were doing.

Cassia saw Sage happily talking to three brunette triplets while they sat at the Ravenclaw table. One wore glasses, one wore a green-and-silver duo-coloured choker, and the other had a red-and-green stripped bow hair clip in her hair. Cassia assumed that they were Sage's sisters.

It was the most magnificent feast that Cassia had ever seen. There was a hundred fat, roast turkeys; mountains of roast and boiled potatoes, platters of chipolatas, tureens of buttered peas, silver boats of boats of thick, rich gravy, and cranberry sauce. Among the feast was stacks of crackers that looked nothing like the ones in the Muggle world.

Cassia grabbed one and held it out to Harry, who grabbed it. They pulled it and with a blast that sounded like a cannon, they were engulfed in pink smoke.

Cassia ended up with a golden Happy New Years top-hat and a deck of Exploding Snap. She grabbed the top hat and put it on her head.

Harry grabbed a cracker and held it out to Cassia to pull. She pulled it and instead of pink smoke, there was blue smoke. Out came an admiral's hat and several white mice that threw Cassia off guard at the sight.

She almost broke her teeth on a Sickle when she got a slice of Christmas pudding. She wasn't the only one, since Percy nearly broke his teeth too. All in all, she felt like she was having a good time. Harry had her pull some more Christmas crackers, with him ending up with a non-explodeable, luminous balloons, a grow your own warts kit, and a new wizard chess set.

Cassia pulled some Christmas crackers and she got another deck of Exploding Snap, a toy bird that actually flew and sang a very annoying high-pitched song, and a grow your own Flitterboom, which was just a small pot wrapped in plastic. She decided to keep it and grow it back at Privet Drive, just to feel somewhat closer to the wizarding world while away from it.

Harry and Cassia left the table, laden down with their presents from the wizard crackers, when Fred and George intercepted them.

"We're having a snowball fight in the courtyard in twenty minutes," Fred said.

"And we're inviting you two to join in," said George.

"It'll be fun," said Fred.

"Everyone is invited if they want to join," said George.

"We'll be there," said Cassia and Harry.

"Good," said Fred.

They continued out of the Great Hall when Cassia stopped Harry. "Do we talk like that? Like the way they do?"

Harry shrugged, "Beats me."

"We'll see you in twenty minutes," said Cassia.

"Yeah, you, too," said Harry. He went up the stairs and Cassia went to the door by the stairs. She opened it and went to the barrels. After tapping the barrel, it opened and she crawled in. She found Sage sitting in front of the fire and she felt bad for how lonely he looked.

"Hey, Sage," Cassia called.

Sage turned and looked at her, confused. "What?"

"There's going to be a snowball fight in the courtyard, and you can come participate in it, too," said Cassia.

"When is it?" asked Sage.

"In probably ten minutes," said Cassia.

She went to the circular hole that led to the girls' dorm. She went over, grabbing her scarf and two handkerchiefs. She put the scarf on, stuffed the handkerchiefs in her pocket. She left the dorm and saw that Sage wasn't there. Maybe he left to the courtyard already. Cassia left and headed to the courtyard.

The Potters and Sage had an interesting snowball match against the Weasleys for the afternoon. Sage's sisters were, Eden the Slytherin, who wore the choker, Fable the Gryffindor who wore glasses, and Reilly, the Ravenclaw who wore the hair clip. They had joined in the snowball fight.

Cassia had been surprised to see that the triplets both had brown hair and tanned skin. From what Cassia saw: Eden wore glasses, Fable had her hair pulled up, and Reilly always wore a blue bow hair clip.

It was a very furious snowball fight that soon left them drenched and shivering. They headed to their respective common rooms to change and get warm.

After that, Cassia had dinner with Harry, which was turkey sandwiches, crumpets, trifle, and Christmas cake. Cassia found refreshing after playing in the snow all afternoon. For dinner, Sage had joined his sisters at the Slythein table. Some older Slytherins were giving the little group a strange look, but most seemed to ignore it.

After dinner, Cassia said goodnight to Harry and headed back to her common room. She got in and went straight to her dormitory. Harvest was cleaning himself on Cassia's bed and looked up when she walked in. Cassia collapsed in bed and felt Harvest snuggle up at the foot of her bed.

"This was the best Christmas Harry and I ever had," Cassia said to her cat sleepily. She fell asleep content and happy.