Ch.11: Holiday Break

Watching the other students filtering out of the school for the holidays from the library windows, Harry and Hermione were filled with childish excitement. For three weeks, they had the castle to themselves. Almost.

Of course, many of the teachers stayed behind. Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Hagrid, and Trelawny all called Hogwarts their home, having no other family to be with on the holidays.

Of the students, Harry and Hermione noted, almost all had disappeared for the holidays. Draco and Harry, of course, opted to stay in the castle, and so Hermione and Ron wrote home, deciding to keep their friends company. Ginny too, had written home, saying she preferred to stay at Hogwarts to make sure her brother didn't get into too much mischief.

Several first years were wandering dazedly around the grounds. Hermione laughed quietly to herself as she watched them realize they had gotten detached from the group and rush to catch up the rest of the students making their way to the Hogsmeade station.

The two turned back to the task at hand. Hermione had declared that an hour each day should be spent by at least two of the group, researching in preparation for the confrontation they were sure would happen later in the year.

Draco had proved to be a useful tool in this work. He was familiar with the Dark Arts, having been instructed in them since he was a child. Being well versed in the Dark Arts also made his Defense Against the Dark Arts training much easier.

The DA had been revived, of sorts. After the incident with Marietta, Harry was reluctant to begin training again, and so Hermione had suggested that only a select group be allowed to train.

Thus, Hermione had sent out several letters.

Attention of:

Harry Potter

Draco Malfoy

Ginny Weasley

Hermione Granger

Ronald Weasley

Luna Lovegood

Neville Longbottom

This notice officiates the revival of the DA. We will meet in the in the same place as before on a regular basis. Please use the old signal to learn the date of the first meeting.

Satisfied that this note was obscure enough to not attract attention, Harry had sent out the letter shortly before the holiday, with a first meeting directly following. To everyone's joy (but no one's particular surprise), all invited members attended the first meeting.

It had been a serious meeting, with a discussion of what might occur in the upcoming year, but the students had all left with confidence that the DA would provide them will some of the skills they would need in order to help fight.

Draco had admitted his knowledge of Dark Magic at the meeting, expecting to be shunned from the group, but to his surprise, they seemed happy that someone could share with them clear descriptions of what exactly it was they were up against.

During lessons with Dumbledore, Draco had admitted a much darker secret. His father had a member of Voldemort's inner ring, and Draco, being an observant boy, had picked up intimate knowledge of Voldemort's powers, plans, and cruelty. Dumbledore had asked that Draco share some of his memories with the others, but that he could do that when he felt ready to.

Dumbledore reminded them at the end of the last lesson before the holiday that they should enjoy themselves over the next several weeks, and try to put the task at hand from their minds.

88888888888888888888888

Although Harry, Hermione, Draco, and Ron did not completely forget about the "task at hand," they certainly did enjoy themselves over the next several weeks.

One day, while walking by the lake, a clod of snow fell from a branch onto Ron's fiery head. Assuming that it was a snowball thrown, he scooped up a ball of snow and threw it at the nearest human being.

That human being happened to be Draco Malfoy.

Draco glowered at Ron for a moment, before grinning evilly.

"Now you're in for it, mate." Harry chortled as Draco swished his wand, and snowballs began to fly through the air, pelting Ron.

Ron whooped loudly and tried to duck the balls.

"No bloody fair! Tell me what spell you used!!" Ron yelled, scooping up balls of snow and hurling them at Draco.

Draco continued to smile, and the snowballs continued to fly at Ron. He gracefully sidestepped the snowball the Ron had thrown.

Hermione watched the fight, and a slow smile spread across her face.

She snuck behind Draco and flicked her wand. A steady stream of snowballs erupted from her wand, aimed directly at Draco's behind.

As the first snowball hit, Draco turned.

"Hey! What's the idea!" he yelled.

It was then that Draco realized the snowball hadn't been badly aimed. Rather, they were aimed directly for his behind.

Rather than hitting his front, the snow curved gracefully around him, only to curve back to their intended mark.

Draco did what any dignified man would do in such a situation.

Grabbing his smarting behind, he ran for it.

Harry and Ron howled at the sight of Draco Malfoy engaging in what appeared to be a complicated jig around the lake.

Hands clapped firmly to his bottom, he ran with an odd upright posture, attempting to keep that particular part of his anatomy as far away from the stream of snowballs as possible.

"HEEEEEEERMIIIIIIOOOOONNNNNEEE GRAAAAAAANGER!!!!! I'LL GET YOU IF IT'S THE LAST THING I DO!!" Draco howled.

With a smirk, Hermione waved her wand again, and as quickly as the stream of snowballs had begun, they disappeared.

888888888888888888

Draco never did get his revenge on Hermione, because in truth, he was afraid of what the witch would do in retaliation.

However, when questioned by Harry and Ron as to what elaborate scheme he had cooked up for their friend, he made up an elaborate response about deciding to be the bigger man and forgive Hermione her transgression.

Harry and Ron suppressed their laughter at this obvious lie, but did not call Draco on it, as Hermione entered the Great Hall.

As she sat, Dumbledore stood, address the five sitting at the Gryffindor table, as well as an assortment of 4th and 5th year Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw students who had also stayed behind.

"I am pleased to announce that this year we will be extending an invitation to you all." Dumbledore said, smiling down over his half moon glasses.

"It is faculty tradition to serve a Christmas Eve dinner, and this year, as there are so very few of you here, we would like to invite you to dine with us. The dress is, of course, traditionally formal. We expect that you will help us to carry on this tradition."

Dumbledore sat down again, and the students began to talk once again.

"A formal occasion! That means dress robes! And makeup!" Ginny sighed happily to herself.

Hearing this, Hermione panicked.

"Draco!" she hissed to the boy sitting next to her, "Formalwear?! I don't know the slightest thing about this sort of thing! Make up and all that I mean. It took me HOURS to get ready for the Yule Ball."

"And you think I know anything about these things?" He replied coolly. "Why don't you ask a girl friend? Like…oh I don't know…Ginny!"

"Oh. Right." She said, flushing slightly. Why did I think to ask Draco for help with makeup?

"Hey Ginny?" She asked tentatively

"Yeah?"

"Would you be willing to help me out with this whole…formalwear thing?" Hermione finished, red faced.

"Well, of course. Absolutely not a problem. We can go to Hogsmeade tomorrow morning." Ginny offered.

Hermione was so relieved that she did not notice the look of triumph that passed between Draco and Ginny.

Finally. A chance to complete Operation Otter.

A/N: Hooray! I'll be posting two chapters this evening! That makes for three chapters posted in one day. These next to are fairly light chapters, so writing them went pretty quickly. Hope they were as fun to read as they were to write!

College-Mischa and Julia: I'm glad you guys are enjoying the story!

-NH- Jackie - BL-: I can't wait for the next book. Or movie. The suspense is killing me. But I'm glad this is helping tide you over!

KtotheT: Glad to see you are still with me! Consider these two chapters a little pressie for all the lovely reviews!

MiKaYGiRl: I'm having fun with Operation Otter. I'm glad you are too. I guess the next chapter brings the transformation to a close though. However, don't worry, it's not the end of that particular storyline.

Reviews make my day, which makes me write more, which means…faster updates! So keep them coming! And of course...I don't own any of these characters. Duh.

Elizabeth