Chapter 29: Christmas

I didn't feel bad that I wasn't going home for Christmas. I was sad of course. I would miss my parents, and it would certainly be strange not being with them on Christmas morning. It wasn't that I didn't want to go home for Christmas. But I knew what we were doing was more important than going home for Christmas.

I didn't tell my parents the real reason why I was staying at Hogwarts, of course. Telling them the truth would only make them worry, not to mention ruin all the progress I'd made with them over the summer. And we were finally in a good place.

In the end, I told them that second years got a lot more work than first years and that my workload would be too great for me to come home. I knew they would understand and respect my decision, as studies always came first.

The third attack came right before the end of term. I had just stepped out of the common room to run down to the library for a moment, and when I returned, Gryffindor Tower was in chaos. Everyone was yelling and screaming over everyone else and Harry and Ron were nowhere to be seen. I spotted Neville sitting at a table off to the side, so I went over to where he was sitting and asked what was going on.

"There's b-been another attack," he said nervously. "It w-was Justin. He's b-been Petrified. And Nearly Headless N-nick was there to. Apparently he's P-petrified as well. I d-d-didn't k-know that ghosts could be Petrified." Neville seemed almost petrified with fright. He told me that he was afraid he would be next even though he was a pureblood. Though the news of the attack was extremely disturbing, I tried to appear calm for Neville's sake.

"Neville, calm down," I said. "You're not a squib and you're not Muggle-born, so you're safe. You don't have anything to worry about. You're not even half-blood, you're a pureblood. There's no way you'll be attacked."

"B-but I'm almost a s-squib," Neville stuttered. It was common knowledge that Neville wasn't very good at magic, but that didn't make him a squib.

"Neville, are you a student here?" I asked.

"Yes," he replied.

"And does Hogwarts accept anybody non-magical to come to school here?" I asked.

"No," he replied.

"Then clearly, you are not a squib," I said matter of factly.

"Well when you say it like that…" Neville said slowly. I knew within the hour he would be back to doubting himself, and it wouldn't be much use to sit around here all day trying to convince him he was safe, so I excused myself. I needed to find Ron and Harry.

If the rumors had been bad before the attack on Justin, they only got worse after the fact. Justin had been the object of attention of the snake Malfoy had conjured up in the duelling club, which only seemed to cement in people's minds that Harry was the heir of Slytherin.

It came to the point where none of us, most of all Harry, could walk through the corridors without being stared at, pointed at, or whispered about. When the holidays finally arrived and most of the school packed up and went home for the holiday, it was a relief. At least we would have some peace and quiet for once.

To my delight, all four of my dormmates had chosen to go home for Christmas, which meant that I had the entire dormitory to myself. In fact, apart from the rest of the Weasleys, who had elected to remain at the castle with Ron, none of the other Gryffindors had remained at school for the holiday, leaving us with the run of the entire tower.

I awoke early on Christmas morning. I was anxious about the Polyjuice potion, and restless as well. Even though it was six in the morning, I decided to get up and go check on the potion, to make sure everything was as it should be.

Ignoring the presents at the end of my bed, I headed down to the empty common room and headed into the castle and down to the second-floor bathroom. When I got there, I found that the potion had thickened just like it was supposed to, and I became very excited. I consulted the recipe and confirmed that all that was left was to add lacewings until it turned the colour of mud, as it was currently an icky yellow color.

Eager to finish the potion, I began adding the lacewings slowly, stirring clockwise as I did so. I watched as the potion became darker and darker, until finally, it was a deep, dark, murky brown. I checked and re-checked the directions to ensure that I had made it right, and when I was positive that I had done everything properly, I took it off the toilet and got rid of the flames.

Moving into the next cubicle, I quickly checked on the Sleeping Draught I had begun to brew yesterday. It had to sit overnight, but it seemed ready. It was a much easier potion to brew, and I wasn't particularly worried about messing that one up. I just needed to ensure that it had thinned out like I wanted it to, which it had.

I hadn't mentioned this part of the plan to Harry and Ron yet, but we would need to give it to Crabbe and Goyle while we looked like them, as it would be strange for there to be two Crabbes and Goyles in the Slytherin common room at the same time. I had brought two small cakes with me, so I took them, and with a syringe, injected them with the Sleeping Potion. When I was done cleaning up, I took one last look at the Polyjuice potion. Satisfied, I locked the stall door as I left the bathroom and headed back upstairs to tell Harry and Ron that it was ready.

When I returned to the common room, I first went back up to my room to grab Harry and Ron's gifts, and then I took them over to the boy's dormitory. Harry and Ron were the only ones left in their dorm, so I didn't think twice about barging in, pulling their curtains back and screaming, "Wake up!"

I told them about the potion, and after a quick exchange of gifts, I headed back to my own dorm, as Harry and Ron both seemed rather uncomfortable with my presence in their dormitory.

When I returned, I took a moment to enjoy Christmas and open my presents. Harry and Ron had gotten me candy, as usual. Mum and Dad had finally caved and tried out sending owl post and had sent my present back with the owl I had used to send the letter explaining that I would be staying at school.

There was a note saying they were disappointed they wouldn't be seeing me, but that my studies came first and that they understood, just as I knew they would. I felt a pang of guilt, knowing I had lied, but I shoved it away. They had also sent a muggle novel, saying that if I had any free time, I might find it more enjoyable than a textbook. I had also received a tin of treacle fudge from Hagrid, but upon opening it, I realized it would most likely break my teeth, so I decided not to eat it.

The rest of the day was great fun. Harry, Ron and I went outside with the rest of Ron's family and played in the snow for a while, and then we trooped back inside for the most magnificent Christmas dinner I had ever had. The Great Hall was wonderfully decorated, and there was even enchanted snow falling from the ceiling. The food was amazing, and everyone was merry and laughing loudly.

It was very different from the quiet Christmas I was used to with my parents. We normally spent the day together talking only a little bit and mostly spending the day in a comfortable silence. Dinner was usually a quiet affair, and after, we would clean up together and then retreat to our own rooms. Though I missed my parents, I found that I very much enjoyed spending Christmas with my friends this year.

Finally, after we had all eaten more than we should have, I'm sure, though Harry and Ron still seemed to be eating with gusto, I ushered them out of the Great Hall. It was time to use the Polyjuice Potion.