Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with JK Rowling in any way. Anything similar to her works is hers. I own Maria and what little plot I had added to the story.

Harry spent the rest of the weekend in the Hospital Wing at Madam Pomfrey's insistence. Maria visited with Cedric on Saturday after dinner, the Gryffindor team (with Oliver this time), and once with only Ron and Hermione there.

The trip with Cedric had been awkward. Cedric spent the whole time apologizing and offered to loan Harry his Nimbus. After they exited the Hospital Wing Maria gave him a stern talking to about timing and tact.

"Harry just lost his first broomstick to a tree that destroys anything that touches it," Maria explained. "Imagine losing your broomstick the same way, and then having another one offered to you by the person who just beat you."

"Not good?" Cedric asked her.

"Not good," Maria responded sternly, before smiling. "You did try your best, and did pretty well, considering you're a guy."

"Hey!" Cedric cried.

The visit with the Gryffindor Team didn't go any better in Maria's opinion. Oliver told Harry that he didn't blame him in the slightest, but his inflection wasn't genuine. Maria gave a similar telling off that she had to Cedric, to Oliver.

Her final visit was intended to be between Harry and herself, but Ron and Hermione were there as well. Nothing the three of them did seem to help Harry. Hermione excused herself to do homework and Ron went to go find Scabbers, so Maria had a few minutes with Harry.

"You're not okay," she said bluntly.

"Wha-" Harry started.

"You haven't said anything besides assurances that you're okay all three times that I've been here," Maria said. "Now why would someone who is okay, be sitting here not looking okay, and insisting that you are? Budge up, what's bothering you?"

Harry explained to her about seeing the Grim in the stands at the match, right before he fell off of his broom. And how the last time he saw one he was nearly hit by the Knight Bus.

"Well that's not a very good Grim then, is it?" Maria said. Harry looked appalled. "I don't actually want you to die, Harry. I think that you've seen this black dog, or Grim, more than just these occurrences over the past few months. And you haven't associated the dog with the Grim since you didn't nearly die. But, if you're so concerned, I can try and do a reading on you sometime soon."

Harry, for the most part, looked relieved. He and Maria talked about Quidditch a bit until Ron and Hermione both returned to the Hospital Wing. Maria excused herself, satisfied that she had at least partially helped Harry.

Monday's were Maria's least favorite days in the week. Not only did she have to wake up early, but she also had to use her time turner four times. Harry was back in class Monday morning for Care of Magical Creatures. Where they were still studying flobberworms.

Draco had finally taken off the bandages from his arm and was very happy with Gryffindor's defeat. He was doing spirited imitations of Harry falling off his broom whenever he thought Maria wasn't looking. Unfortunately for him, it didn't last long, when in their next potion's class Ron threw a crocodile's art at Draco. This not only caused Gryffindor to lose 50 points but also drew Maria's attention to Draco. She glared at him, before continuing with her potion.

"If Snape's teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts again, I'm skiving off," said Ron as they headed toward Lupin's classroom after lunch. "Check who's in there, Hermione."

Hermione peered around the classroom door.

"It's okay!"

Professor Lupin was back at work. It certainly looked as though he had been ill. His old robes were hanging more loosely on him and there were dark shadows beneath his eyes; nevertheless, he smiled at the class as they took their seats, and they burst at once into an explosion of complaints about Snape's behavior while Lupin had been ill.

"It's not fair, he was only filling in, why should he give us homework?"

"We don't know anything about werewolves —"

"— two rolls of parchment!"

"Did you tell Professor Snape we haven't covered them yet?" Lupin asked, frowning slightly.

The babble broke out again.

"Yes, but he said we were really behind —"

"— he wouldn't listen —"

"— two rolls of parchment!"

"— Maria flipped out!"

"— Yeah! She even said we were behind!"

Lupin looked at Maria questioningly.

"Well, you are behind," Maria defended herself. "We were taught everything so far in first and second year at Beauxbatons. However, that's not your fault."

Professor Lupin smiled at Maria and the rest of the class.

"Don't worry. I'll speak to Professor Snape. You don't have to do the essay."

"Oh no," said Hermione, looking very disappointed. "I've already finished it!"

Maria had finished it also and had learned quite a bit more about werewolves in the process. Her essay detailed the effects of lycanthropy on the human form. The more she studied, the more she saw similarities in her readings and Professor Lupin. She had figured out that Professor Lupin was a werewolf.

They had a very enjoyable lesson. Professor Lupin had brought along a glass box containing a hinkypunk, a little one-legged creature who looked as though he were made of wisps of smoke, rather frail and harmless-looking.

"Lures travelers into bogs," said Professor Lupin as they took notes. "You notice the lantern dangling from his hand? Hops ahead — people follow the light — then —"

The hinkypunk made a horrible squelching noise against the glass.

When the bell rang, everyone gathered their things and headed for the door, Harry and Maria among them.

"Wait a moment, Harry, Maria," Lupin called. "I'd like a word.

The pair doubled back and watched Professor Lupin covering the hinkypunk's box with a cloth. He addressed Maria first.

"Professor Snape informed me that you received detention for your outburst," Professor Lupin said. "I hope it's nothing too hard, I could reschedule it-"

"I'd actually rather not, sir," Maria explained. "I get to make potions for the Hospital Wing."

"Ah, I see," Professor Lupin responded. "If you ever find yourself not challenged enough in my class, do let me know. Maybe we can work out some harder course material for you."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," Maria smiled at him elated. "If you don't mind me asking, did you ever find anything out about why I'm not affected by the dementors?"

"Unfortunately, I didn't. If I find something, I will be sure to tell you."

"Thanks, sir," Maria said before exiting the classroom.

The Hufflepuff versus Ravenclaw game was not an exciting one. Ravenclaw flattened Hufflepuff towards the end of November. The Gryffindor team was beside themselves with the aspect of being eligible for the Quidditch Cup. Maria was happy for her team, of course, but felt bad for her boyfriend.

After the match, Maria had gone to the Hufflepuff Common Room to try and help strategize for the Slytherin versus Hufflepuff match. She couldn't help much, being on a different team herself, but she tried.

Oliver was working his team even harder than before to prepare for their match against Slytherin. This despite the fact it wouldn't come until the first week in March. Still, the team practiced into December in the freezing cold.

Two weeks before the end of the term, the first snow hit. In the castle, people were buzzing about in Christmas cheer. All of the students were discussing Holiday plans. Maria was planning to go home to her house. She was dreadfully homesick, not only of her mother but of France. She and Cedric had made plans to meet each other's families around Christmas Day.

One day, Maria was taking her breakfast with Brendon when she received a letter from a regal looking owl. She didn't recognize the owl so she opened the envelope carefully. Inside, there were two pieces of fancy paper. The first one stated:

You are invited to join us to celebrate Yule hosted by
The Malfoy Family
December 21st at 5:00 pm
At the Malfoy Manor
Present Invitation at Gates

Floo Travel must be arranged by December 18th
RSVP to Narcissa Malfoy via Owl
Plus one included

Maria remembered the Malfoys' Yule-time parties pretty well from when she was a kid. For the adults, it was an honor to be invited to such a high society event. For the children, it was boring for the first hour was always very boring. Until they got excused to go play in the gardens or with Draco's many toys. Maria always grew up celebrating both Christmas and Yule. The Malfoys, on the other hand, hadn't celebrated Christmas since the Statute of Secrecy was passed in the late 17th Century, it was a muggle holiday that wizards had adopted. And of course, the Malfoys never associated with muggles.

Maria supposed that her mother would also receive an invitation, and undoubtedly force Maria to go to the party with her. Maria sighed and picked up the other letter from the Malfoys, this one from Narcissa.

Maria,

I'm so glad that you and your mother have moved back to England. When I heard from Draco that you were attending Hogwarts, I was overjoyed. And you made Hogwarts history in coming, with being in four houses. Your mother has already said yes to the invitation and mentioned that you have a boyfriend. Feel free to bring him to the party, just make sure to include his name in the RSVP. I can't wait for Yule!

-Cissy

Maria groaned, now she was expected to bring Cedric along to the Party. Cedric looked at her questioningly and she just handed him the letter. After he finished it, he looked at her questioningly.

"The Malfoys are my godparents," Maria explained. "My mother is very close with Cissy after they spent some time in France together. Draco was my best friend until I moved to France."

"And because you're back in England, they expect you to pick back where you left off," Cedric nodded. "And your mom and Mrs. Malfoy want me to come?"

"You absolutely don't have to if you don't want to. It's really boring from what I remember. There's normally a cocktail hour, dinner, and then dancing. When I was little we would normally skive off and play at the end of dinner until it was time to leave. I would normally play the piano for the adults during the cocktail hour. Did you know that Chopin and Beethoven were wizards? Sorry, I'm babbling a bit, aren't I?"

"Yes you are," Cedric smiled at her. "I'd love to go, as long as you're there."

"Shut up," Maria mumbled, embarrassed at his words. She kissed him on the cheek nonetheless. She decided that she would respond to Narcissa accepting the invitation after classes that day.

"Did you hear that there's a Hogsmeade trip the last weekend of term?" one of Cedric's friends asked him after they turned back to their food.

"Aha!" Brendon exclaimed. "You owe me a sweet from Honeyduke's!"

"That I do," Maria laughed at the eleven-year-old. "What would you like? A hunk of milk chocolate?" The boy nodded enthusiastically.

"Would you like to go to Hogsmeade with me?" Cedric smiled at her.

"Hmmm, maybe I already have a date," Maria joked. "Brendon here is my date, didn't you hear? He got special permission from Dumbledore to take me."

"Oh, I'm sorry to offend, Mr. Halkirk," Cedric played along. "It won't happen again."

"It better not," Brendon huffed. The two laughed at the boy's antics.

"Of course I'll go with you," Maria smiled at Cedric.

On the morning of the Hogsmeade trip, much like she did before, she met Padma in the Ravenclaw Common Room. Unlike the last trip, she would go with Cedric until after lunch. After that, she would meet the girls at Gladrags Wizardwear to pick out a new set of dress robes for the Malfoy Party.

The two girls met Parvarti, Susan, Lavender, and Hannah in the Great Hall. Lavender had read up about the winter dress styles for both the muggle and wizarding world. All the girls were excited to help Maria, and they started talking about Maria's colors and styles that would suit her.

Maria was relieved when Cedric came to pick her up. Don't get it wrong, she loved fashion, but when it took up one conversation fully she got a little annoyed.

"Ready to go?" he asked her.

"Merlin, yes," Maria whispered to him, earning a laugh.

Much like the last trip to Hogsmeade, they visited Spintwitches first. Maria made some purchases for the Gryffindor Quidditch team there (broom kits). They next went to Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop where Maria bought Hermione an eagle quill and black squid ink. Maria next bought Brendon his chocolate, and Ron some candy from Honeyduke's. Cedric had bought gifts for his friends at Zonko's when they went in to laugh at the products. One of Maria's personal favorites was a nose-biting teacup in the shape of a cat. She laughed especially hard when Cedric held it up and it clamped onto his nose. It came off but left a red mark on his nose.

The rest of their day before lunch was spent wandering into shops. Maria could've sworn she saw Harry with Ron and Hermione, but he couldn't have gotten to Hogsmeade. She mentioned this to Cedric and he agreed with her. There was no way that Harry could get to Hogsmeade. The pair took off to the Three Broomsticks and ate an early lunch. It was too soon that Maria's friends came to pick her up.

"If you hear a high pitched scream from Gladrags, come save me," Maria told Cedric after they stood up.

"I will, I promise," Cedric told her seriously. "But I doubt you'll need my help."

Maria's friends giggled when Cedric smiled at them, earning a glare from Maria. Cedric went to join his friends back at Spintwitches, leaving Maria to her friends.

The five girls went to Gladrags and spent the better part of the afternoon searching for a perfect dress for Maria. They quickly discovered that cooler colors suited Maria's complexion. Maria was very wealthy, not only from Old Money but also thanks to her mother's suitor's "tokens of affections." So when the other girls had started worrying about prices, she explained to them that price wasn't an issue. Rejuvenated, they started picking gown after gown, until Maria found the perfect gown.

Author's Note:

This is the last part I have written. I may someday come back to this story but, as of right now, I'm working on other stories that are more fun for me (and also with more originality/outlining/better writing). Thank you for taking the time to read this, and thanks for the support. I have many stories coming in 2019 (hopefully), but they will take a while to be released as I want to upload consistently. I will be either completing them before uploading, or uploading within 5 chapters of completion.