The Hogwarts Express was much emptier on the way home for the Christmas holiday than it normally was. It seemed like every student over third year was staying at Hogwarts for the Yule ball. But that was okay for the Dreemurrs and most of their friends, they were able to spread out between two adjacent compartments, talking, playing cards, or whatever else. So was Ginny, she'd been asked to the Yule ball by Neville, and was very excited to not to have to spend Christmas with her brother Percy.

"So what are you going to get Asriel and Chara for Christmas?" Opal asked them.

"Probably some quidditch books, or something on magical creatures," Frisk said. "Asriel has a dream of being the first monster to play on a quidditch team. And, well, Chara's pretty good with animals, no matter what she's said." she asked. Neither Opal or Steven had brothers or sisters.

"What about your parents, and other friends?" Opal asked her, pushing the cards towards Steven. They were playing exploding snap again. Frisk had considered asking for a book on card games to find others to play.

"I was talking about that with Asriel and Chara this morning," Frisk said. Her siblings were in the next compartment with Colin, Dennis, and some of their other friends. "We thought if we pooled our pocket money, we could find a new anime for Undyne and Alphys. There's loads of them out there. You know, we should get together sometime over the holidays." She was quite aware that Steven had never seen an anime. "We could watch one together. There's not always a lot to do in the winter."

"I'd like to," Steven said, picking up the cards to shuffle them, "But we usually spend a lot of time with my grandparents in Ireland. So I don't know if we'll get the chance." He dealt out the next hand.

"You've Irish grandparents? Bet they were excited about the cup, then," Opal said, picking up her cards. Steven favored her with a wry look. "What about your parents?" she asked. "Do you have anything for them?" They played through the hand, and Opal gathered up the cards for the next go round.

"The best I could come up is some matching jewelry," Frisk said, as Asriel and Chara opened the door to come into their compartment. "It's not very exciting, but it would celebrate them coming back together. It's either that or clothing. Or maybe more books. We could probably find something for them in the bookstore. It's Sans that's tough. Papyrus, we're going to get him some sort of puzzle games to go with the DS that Alphys got him last year. But I have no idea what to get Sans."

"I still say we get him the biggest bottles of ketchup and mustard we can find," Asriel said as he sat down, grinning. "I'm serious!" he said, as Opal and Steven stared at him, Frisk rolled her eyes. "And Chara could get him a jar of Mayo!" Chara just shook her head, but she was smiling as she next down next to Frisk.

"Didn't you get him a camera for Christmas last year?" Steven asked. Frisk nodded, as Opal finished shuffling and dealt. "How about some nice picture frames to go with them." he suggested.

"That's actually a pretty good idea," Chara said, and Frisk had to agree. They continued the conversation, being quizzed on what everyone hoped to get for themselves, as the train headed back to London's King Cross station.

They arrived, eventually, disembarked and immediately looked around for their parents. Mom and Dad were waiting for them on the platform, standing with the Oxtobys. With one last goodbye to their friends, the Dreemurrs headed to join them. There was a ministry wizard accompanying them to put a disillusionment charm on the monsters, before they headed up through the barrier, where they would take a ministry car back home.


It took multiple trips for the three Dreemurr children to purchase the presents they wanted to give for Christmas. They researched things with Alphys on the internet, visited non-wizard shops with the Oxtobys, and had a trip to Diagon Alley with their parents, then they had to hide the packages from each other to get them wrapped. When all was said and done, there was a huge pile under the Dreemurr's tree, a pile that only got bigger as the gifts from Frisk's friends came in.

Just like before, nine people had gathered in the Dreemurr's living room. Sans, Papyrus, Undyne, and Alphys were all there; and they were going to visit Mettaton, Napstablook, and Burgerpants, and a few others over the next few days. Toriel, with help, had made stacks of chocolate chip pancakes, and they were being eaten with gusto. Even Sans was awake this time.

And again, Frisk couldn't remember every present everyone received; she and her siblings each received various school supplies and other things to help them with their studies... the talking homework planner might have gone a little far. Chara and Asriel both received Swiss army knives to match Frisk's. Dad had also purchased Dominion games (and expansions) for them to take back to Hogwarts.

Chara had gotten everyone variety packs of chocolates, from Peanut M&Ms to Whisper bars.

After putting their heads together, the children had pooled their gift allowance to find Alphys and Undyne a copy of "Record of the Lodoss War", which seemed to be right up their alley. At least, judging from Undyne's huge smile and Alphys squee noise. In return, Undyne got them more NERF weapons, naturally.

Papyrus was thrilled with having more Layton puzzles to work on, and well, more 'Bathroom Readers'. It was the thought that counted, right?

Sans, again, got everyone gift certificates. His brother got another recipe book, Frisk was pretty sure it wasn't the same one as last year, but she wasn't positive. There was laughter all around the room when he unwrapped the 64 ounce bottles of ketchup and mustard, and it took Toriel exclaiming "Not on the carpet!" for him not take a swig right there and then.

The most interesting gift came from Alphys. She had got them all new cellphones. "Your mom asked me to work on the electronics versus magic puzzle after she couldn't make a call in Diagon alley." Alphys said, looking proud of her accomplishment. "This one uses ambient magic in area to actually sustain its battery life!"

"Now I want you to note," Toriel said, "I'm going to let you take them to school, but they are for emergencies only. If any of your teachers so much as figures out they exist, they're coming home on the next owl. But if we're not at the platform when you get there, or something else happens, I want to know you're covered."

Just like Frisk last year, Asriel and Chara both got mathematics books from Toriel... and a Nimbus 2001 that they would be able to take to school with them next year. Frisk had gotten them a home Quidditch game kit, so they might be able to practice before trying out for the house teams next year.

But perhaps Frisk's favorite gift came from Asriel. He had to search for it under the tree, as they were small container, but there was one for Chara and Frisk. After she carefully removed the blue wrapping paper, she was left with a small, hinged, velvet box. She opened it carefully, and peered inside. There, attached to a chain, was a small golden heart locket. She picked it up before she saw the engraving: "Family forever."

She looked up. Chara was holding hers in shaking hands, staring down at it. Then, without saying a word, her sister unclipped the chain, draped it around her neck, and refastened it. She didn't say thank you, Frisk didn't think she could. She stood, walked over to Asriel, and embraced him instead, pausing just long for Frisk to see that Asriel was wearing one of his own.

Then she put her own on, and went to join in.

That night, they were all going to eat together, friends and family alike. Most of them pitched in making dinner. Even Papyrus was allowed to show off his improving cooking skills. Undyne, however, was still restricted to setting the table and tossing a salad, much to her displeasure.

Some might say a family dinner didn't hold a candle to the feasts at Hogwarts, Those people are wrong. "Alphys?" Asriel asked about halfway through the main course. "What was it that you wanted to talk to Headmaster Dumbledore about?"

"O..o..oh, that?" Alphys said, her cheeks reddening. "It wasn't anything important," she said, turning to study her plate. "Just an idea I had. Frisk asked about, well, it's nothing. Really."

"Alphys!" Papyrus exclaimed from the other end of the table. "It was a fine idea! Dumbledore himself said so. You should be prouder! I'm sure everything well turn out perfectly well!" Asgore rumbled his own agreement, and both Undyne and Toriel gave nods of encouragement.

"Well, yes," Alphys said, blushing harder. "We're going to try it. I hope it goes okay. Everyone's pitched in," she looked up from the table. "And you'll tell me if you get any more ideas, right?" There was a approval from all the other adults at the table.

"But what is it?" asked Frisk. This was no explanation at all. She could tell that Alphys wanted nothing more than to tell her, but Toriel shook her head.

"It's a game that Alphys set up," Toriel told them. "You'll hear about it when you're back at school." She smiled at Frisk, "I wouldn't want it spoiled for you..."

"But it's something you'll enjoy!" Alphys exclaimed. "I think, er, I hope," And with that tease, the conversation was moved to how the students were doing in school, how they were enjoying it, and what the adults were doing when the children weren't on holiday.


Going to Burger King on Sans's gift card for a second year didn't make it a tradition, Frisk decided. It'd take at least a third year. But here they were again, crunching through freshly fallen snow, all wrapped up in new winter clothing. There were four of them this time. Even Asriel had been allowed to go out, though he was was wearing a full ski mask. The only parts of him Frisk could see was his bright green eyes, the tip of his nose, and and the edges of his lips.

Their orders were similar, smaller burg' for the kids, a Whopper with extra condiments for Sans. There weren't many mundane humans out, even though it wasn't that cold, and Asriel was enjoying the chance to walk through the nearby village's high street.

"you know," Sans said, popping a french fry. "i wonder if we could get grillby to make a chain. bet it would sell."

"He can't be everywhere at once," Frisk said, swallowing a mouthful of sandwich. "Though it would be great if they served all the different types he does."

"so," Sans said, lowing his voice to a whisper. "i gotta question for ya."

"What was that?" Chara asked. "I couldn't hear you, Sans."

"You can speak up," Frisk told the skeleton. "You can ask them anything you'd ask me, after all."

Sans's eyelights flickered. "if you're sure," he said. "did you, on any of your loops, ever have to hurt anyone?"

Frisk stared back at the skeleton. She had not been expecting this question at all. "Dad," she whispered. "And," she looked guiltily at Asriel, "Flowey. But never anyone else."

"absolutely positive?" he asked, his eyelights flickering for a second time.

"If she isn't sure, I am," Chara said quietly. "I remember all of them, every single trip. Frisk had trouble defending herself, even when she knew what was coming. She never wanted to hurt anyone. She was just looking for a way to save my brother, it's what convinced me I was wrong about humans."

"Why are you asking this, Sans?" Asriel demanded. "How could you accuse Frisk of that? You know her."

"i guess i do," he admitted. He closed his eyes, something Frisk still didn't know how he managed. "i was pretty sure. but i've seen things now that i didn't think could exist."

"This has something to do with Dr. Gaster, doesn't it?" Frisk asked, remembering the question Sans had asked her on her second day of school. "Have you found a way to go back to the other loops?" Asriel and Chara stared at her.

Sans didn't say anything for a minute. A door open, then closed, somewhere behind them, a human going into a green grocers. "i thought so," he finally said. "maybe i'm going even further than that. He opened his eyes again, and his eyelights glinted, and he reached in his bag for his burger. "just what did you do, doctor? where are we going?"

"What did you see," asked Frisk. A chill had gone down her spine, and she didn't think it came from the weather. "What did I..."

Sans turned to her sharply, and his eyelights were out. "Not you, Frisk. If you don't remember it, and Chara backs you up, wasn't you." His eyelights reignited. "so don't worry about it, kiddos. you all have enough guilt for yourself without needing me to pile more on top of it. let me worry about parallel dimensions."

"That's probably for the best," Asriel said, as Frisk was about to protest. He tried to imitate his father. "The only person you can be absolutely responsible for is yourself, and the only person absolutely responsible for yourself is you."

"Okay," Frisk said, but she wasn't sure she was convinced. "But Sans? If you need help, you'd ask me for it, right?"

"eh, kiddo, this one's above your grade level at the moment. thanks, though. if i think there's something you could help with, i'll leave you a message on that sparkly new phone alphys got for you," Sans promised.

"I still owe you for helping rescue Chara and Asriel," Frisk told him. "Without your machine, it wouldn't have been possible. So, please keep me in mind." Chara and Asriel both voiced their support as well.

"eh, you're in line after Papyrus," Sans said, sounding happy. "but thank you again." They walked on, back towards the Dreemers house, talking about more pleasant things as they went, and enjoying their food.

Frisk and company made the most of their time over the next few weeks. They saw other monsters, like Majik and Knight Knight. They spent an afternoon with Burgerpants, Mettaton, and Napstablook, sharing some new music, wizard and otherwise. They had a long afternoon with Opal having her over to watch anime and see what it was all about. They had a day with Alphys and Undyne, trying again to extract whatever was going on with her and Dumbledore. And they had several tries in the yard with their new quidditch set, taking turns playing keeper against the other two trying to score goals.

But all to soon, it was time to go back to Hogwarts. They rode with the ministry again, and with trunks that were slightly heavier than when they left, got back on the train to head to school. And, of course, there were all sorts of treats and small gifts to share with their friends for the trip.


There was a feast the night they returned. When desert had been polished away, and everyone was fit to burst, Dumbledore rose to his feet. "To those of you who went home for the winter break, welcome back. For those who stayed for the ball, it is almost time to go back to work." He smiled down at them. "But before we do, I would like to direct everyone's attention to the wall near the Slytherin table."

Frisk looked up. That's where the hourglasses, which kept the running house totals, were. But it was on the far side of the table from her, and she couldn't see anything else there. Apparently, neither could anyone sitting near her.

"Now, I apologize, this may be hard to see from across the room, but if you cast your mind back to the last time you were in this room, you may remember the shields that adorned the wall above the hourglasses." Frisk did remember those, Asriel had even pointed them out. But they weren't there now. "It has been suggested that an activity be held to challenge those who did not have the fortune of competing in the Triwizard tournament, one that challenges Hogwarts students to work together rather than competing separately."

"Those shields have split into dozens of pieces each, and hidden throughout the entire castle and its grounds. My challenge to you all is simple. Each of these pieces is guarded by some sort of obstacle," he swept his gaze around the curious students. "Some may be guarded by a skillful trap, others by a physical challenge. Some may require a bit of mental puzzling to get past, and others may be more mysterious yet."

The whispers in the hall turned excited. "You will find these tasks are not as dangerous as the ones our champions will be put through, so as many of them as we can will be open to all years of students. Some will require magic taught in specific years, you will find some marked with a 'starred' number, and those doors will not open if you are not at least of that year. In the interest of fairness, some may be the opposite. Students who fall behind on their schoolwork will be prohibited from taking part. But they are, otherwise, open to all students, and our guests from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons are invited to join in. You may find their aid vital, in fact," he said, nodding to the Slytherin and Hufflepuff tables, respectively.

"And finally, for a challenge, there should be a reward. Should you all succeed, and I have no doubt you will, I shall arrange for some small treat given to the whole school. So work together, and find those pieces. But for tonight, it is time we turn in."

The hall broke out into excited discussion as they houses got up from their tables, heading to their outside quarters, or the separate common rooms.