Chapter Eleven – Twelve Days of Christmas:

A chill wind brought snow to the grounds with the beginning of December. No one made mention of Astoria and Stephan's argument, in fact, it was so seamlessly ignored it was almost as if it had never happened, except that Sara adopted a very chilly attitude towards Stephan, apparently deciding that it had been he in the wrong and not Astoria.

Astoria thought, perhaps, that she might chock this up as another victory against Stephan, but somehow couldn't muster the previous animosity she had felt for him. Perhaps it something to do with how every time Astoria allowed herself to smile with Sara or Melissa or met with Daphne in the library, Stephan's voice whispered into her ear two-faced, liar, coward.

When Astoria met with Daphne in the library on the first weekend of December, both sisters were noticeably subdued.

"This is hopeless!" declared Daphne, stuffing aside an issue of the Daily Prophet from twenty years ago with a great deal of crinkling pages.

Astoria looked up from her own paper where she'd been reading a follow-up article about the disappearance of Juno Vance.

Daphne looked stormy. Astoria knew better than to say anything. "We've been searching for months! There's no way we're ever going to find out what we're looking for. It's utterly hopeless!"

"Well, we've found out a bit…" offered Astoria half-heartedly, almost glad when Daphne cut her off because she couldn't even convince herself.

"We haven't found out anything," said Daphne. "Nothing of any substance, anyway. I don't know what I was thinking. There's nothing in these papers worth knowing."

Astoria fiddled with the corner of her paper, not saying anything. There really wasn't anything to say. Daphne was probably right.

"Well?" Daphne demanded. "What are you so moody about?"

"I'm not moody –" said Astoria angrily, wondering why everyone was so anxious to pick a fight all of a sudden.

"Yes you are," snapped Daphne. "You've been sulking this whole week."

Astoria frowned but bit back all the raging retorts that threatened to slip from her tongue. Daphne wouldn't understand. Daphne couldn't be reasoned with when she got into these sorts of attitudes, anyway. Astoria would probably only manage to attract the attention of Madame Pince.

Daphne leaned back against the shelf, hitting the back of her head against a protruding book. She groaned. Astoria scowled at her sister for a moment before looking back at her newspaper. She couldn't find the place she'd left off reading.

"I'm sorry," whispered Daphne suddenly.

Astoria looked up so quickly she almost cricked her neck. She was astounded. She couldn't remember Daphne ever apologizing before – let alone for something like this.

"I'm just…frustrated," Daphne continued ruefully. "There's so much I'd like to know about him and I – I don't know how I can find it out – if it's even possible. And – and realizing I might never know it's – it's so terribly…."

"I know," said Astoria and sighed. "Daphne, I – I was wondering if maybe we couldn't…." Daphne looked at her but Astoria plowed relentlessly on, figuring if Daphne wanted to play nice than at least Astoria might comply, as well.

"–If maybe we couldn't ask somebody about it, Mum, or…." Her idea dissolved into silence off her tongue; she could tell by Daphne's expression that it was a foolish one.

"Mum wouldn't understand," said Daphne flatly. "She's never really –" Daphne stopped. "I don't think she'd tell us anything, anyway. She'd probably say we were too young."

Again Astoria recognized the curiously bitter tone Daphne used when speaking about their mother. Astoria had always assumed it had been herself that hadn't gotten along perfectly well with Lyra Greengrass, that Daphne had always been their mother's favorite, but now Astoria began to wonder if maybe Daphne and herself had more in common than Astoria had always believed.

"Yeah," said Astoria. "I guess you're right. But…it wouldn't hurt to try, would it? We could…ask her over the Holiday."

Daphne shrugged. "I don't know. I guess we could try." She didn't sound very convinced.

There was silence between the sisters for a few moments. Astoria turned a page of her paper, watching an advertisement for a racing broom that had become obsolete decades ago.

"Are you alright?" said Daphne. Astoria looked up again. "I mean," Daphne blushed. "I didn't mean what I said about you sulking all week but, you know, I wasn't sure if something was bothering you –"

"No, I'm," said Astoria quickly, "…fine. I'm fine."

Daphne peered at Astoria and Astoria smothered the uneasy impression that Daphne didn't believe her.

"Alright," said Daphne finally. "But if you weren't…."

Astoria wondered what Daphne was going to say, if you weren't you could always talk to me about it, maybe I could help, but Daphne didn't continue so Astoria assumed she would never know.

"I guess we should clean up," said Daphne instead, standing. "I don't feel very much like researching anymore. Anyway, I have homework."

"Yeah," said Astoria, even though what little homework she had left could be easily finished on Sunday. "Me too."

Astoria quickly realized that if their mother was to be asked about their father than it would have to be Astoria to do the asking. Daphne's initial lack of enthusiasm ceased to be moved. Astoria also quickly realized that this was not to be a matter broached within a letter and began to carefully construct a way in which she might bring up her father to her mother over the Christmas holiday.

She allowed the matter to mercifully and willingly take over her mind. It was a welcome distraction from the problems that still revolved around Stephan, Sara, and her, as well as the lingering guilt she kept experiencing when keeping company with Daphne, as if she was somehow not being entirely truthful with her sister.

She wondered how she might approach her mother. She decided that she would have to be subtle and delicate, and had to admit that she was more than a little nervous about trying to hold her own against a learned diplomat like Lyra Greengrass, whose whole career – after all – centered around carefully constructed political debate.

Hey, Mum, I was just wondering if you might tell Daphne and I about Dad – you know, the man that died when I was five and who I don't remember you mentioning anything about for my entire life?

Astoria looked up from her breakfast mid-week to the customary rushing sound of many owls swooping into the Hall at breakfast time.

She grinned as several owls landed before her place setting, all lobbying that she might unburden them of their packages first.

Sara and Melissa looked at Astoria curiously as she reached for the first owl, a large, handsome tawny that she recognized immediately as belonging to her mother.

Astoria blushed under their scrutiny. "It's my birthday," she said in explanation, feeling curiously bashful about the fact.

Sara beamed, "Really? Happy birthday!"

"Happy birthday," echoed Melissa with a smile.

"Thanks," said Astoria, honestly wishing they wouldn't pay it so much attention, but also conscious of the blushing, tingling sensation in her chest. It was nice to experience such warm recognition. After all, last year on her birthday she, Sara, and Melissa hadn't been exactly friends, nowhere near as close as they were now, and her birthday had passed without comment.

"If I'd known I would have gotten you something," said Sara, reaching over to hug Astoria.

"Oh no," said Astoria, "It's fine, really." She returned Sara's hug and tried to convey without words that presents didn't matter, not when – but then suddenly, like poison, Stephan's voice crept again into her head: two-faced, lying…

Astoria pulled away from Sara sharply, pretending her mother's owl had nipped her on the finger. Sara didn't seem to notice anything strange in Astoria's behavior and excitedly settled in to watch Astoria open her packages.

Her mother's owl, sprinkled with flecks of snow from outside, impatiently lifted its leg which was bound to a scroll and a small package. Astoria unwrapped the box and found that her mother had sent her an intricate, silver pendant and a letter with birthday wishes.

She finished unwrapping her gifts and the owls, one after another, took flight and sprinkled the table with melted snow. By then it was time to leave for lessons. She rose from Ravenclaw table with Sara and Melissa.

"Christmas decorations already," observed Sara as they made their way through the halls. "Hogwarts seems to be outdoing herself."

"They'll want to impress Beauxbatons and Durmstrang," said Melissa as they passed a suit of armor who was murmuring a Christmas carol.

"Do you suppose the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students will be going home for Christmas?" said Sara, stepping over a string of garland that had been rigged near the floor to trip unwary students, clearly the work of Peeves or perhaps the Weasley twins.

"I don't know," said Astoria. "Probably. I can't imagine why they might stay."

"I'm surprised the rest of them didn't go back to their homes after they weren't chosen as champions," said Melissa. "I wonder what they do all day here. Do they take the classes with the rest of the older students, do you suppose?"

"I don't know," said Astoria, honestly wondering it herself. She wondered if it wouldn't be a bit toilsome to have had the same professors for all one's magical education, only to travel to a different school for a year to be taught by different professors, perhaps teaching different magical theory in accordance to their cultures.

Astoria was interrupted by her musings by a shout behind her. She turned to see it was Daphne, peeling away from her usual posse of Slytherin girls.

"Happy birthday," her sister said warmly as she came up to Astoria, hugging her brusquely.

"Thanks," said Astoria. Nerves erupted familiarly in her stomach, there whenever Daphne approached Astoria in the company of Astoria's friends. This time the squirming of her stomach was accompanied by Stephan's voice, unusually loud, shouting in her mind: two-faced, lying, disloyal –

"I hope you have a good day," said Daphne with a smile.

"Thanks," said Astoria again, trying to disguise her discomfort as well as she could. Sara and Melissa hovered uncertainly behind Astoria. Astoria hoped Sara would have enough sense not to draw attention to herself.

"–Hello," chirped Sara.

Astoria's heart plummeted. She held her breath.

Daphne's eyes flickered to Sara, then to Astoria, then back to Sara. An unreadable expression crossed her face.

"Hello," she said primly. Sara was smiling kindly, clearly oblivious.

"Hello," murmured Melissa shyly.

"Daphne, isn't it?" said Sara.

Daphne gave a sharp, brief nod, almost a spasm of confirmation. "And you're –"

"Sara," said Sara brightly, extending her hand. Daphne looked at Sara's fingers as though she had never seen someone ask for a handshake before and didn't know quite what to do.

Astoria felt her heart pattering quickly within her chest. She wracked her brain for something to say with which to alleviate the tension that had fallen across the corridor.

Finally Daphne's arm swung outward and she touched Sara's outstretched palm marginally.

"We've met before," said Sara, "but we don't see much of each other around."

"No," mumbled Daphne in a daze, obviously shocked by Sara's nerve. "No, we don't."

Astoria opened her mouth, trying to think of something, anything to say, "I think we – we're going to be late for Charms."

"Yeah…" said Daphne. She blinked. "I've got to be getting to class, too." She looked back at Astoria and said rather jerkily, "Happy birthday again, Astoria."

"Thanks," said Astoria on her exhale of relief, watching Daphne jog to catch up to her friends. She slowly unclenched her fists at her side, realizing that her whole body had gone stiff. She tried to ease the tension from her muscles, breathing deeply.

Astoria, Sara, and Melissa continued on their way to Charms. Melissa said, "That was your sister, right?"

Astoria nodded, feeling numb, heart still hammering against her ribs. "Yeah."

Sara added happily, "She seems really nice."

Plans of asking Astoria's mother about her father over the Christmas holiday were quickly erased when news of the Yule Ball reached the older students and immediately circulated among the young students. Students in or above fourth-year were allowed to attend, which meant Daphne was staying, stubbornly and irrefutably.

"Why did they have to put an age limit on it?" said Sara drearily the morning after the news had broken out. The Great Hall was buzzing with excitement. A new level of festive air seemed to be achieved among the students and Astoria doubted very much that any of the teachers would manage to get much work done.

"I know," said Melissa, "who says second-years and third-years can't enjoy themselves at a party."

"It is a dance," objected Astoria half-heartedly. "I suppose they're encouraging people to bring dates."

"I had no idea Hogwarts had prejudices against younger students taking dates to a dance," said Sara.

"I suppose they want to discourage romantic feelings amongst children younger than fourteen," said Astoria, not feeling as if she blamed them – remembering Mark, who had come up to her one afternoon to whisper that he'd thought Stephan had gone way off his rocker and to please not hold Mark accountable for what his friend had said. After all, Mark had assured it, that wasn't at all how he felt about her.

"We could just go alone," said Melissa. "There's really no need that we should bring partners."

"The teachers are probably worried about keeping us up past our bedtime," said Astoria scathingly and Sara laughed.

Daphne approached Astoria later that day to tell her she'd received a letter from their mother, answering Daphne's inquiries of staying over at Hogwarts for the holiday.

"She says you might as well stay over, as well, Tori," said Daphne. "There's no reason to bring just one of us home. Anyway, she says there's loads to do at the Ministry, something about the Jorkins' disappearance."

"Oh," said Astoria. "But there – I'm not allowed to go to the Ball. There won't be anything to do."

"Don't be silly, Tori," said Daphne, evidently not in an understanding mood – perhaps it was because her gang of giggling friends were nearby, gossiping about the Ball. "Plenty of other people are staying over. I'm sure there will be loads of children for you to play with."

Daphne pranced away, leaving Astoria frowning. Astoria did not play with children.

She told Sara and Melissa that she would be staying over at Hogwarts, hardly daring to hope that one of them might be staying as well.

"Oh no," said Sara, lips puckering in sympathy. "There's no reason for me to stay because I can't go to the ball so I'll be going home."

Melissa had an older brother who was staying over but told Astoria that her parents were bringing Melissa home anyway. "I'm sorry – but I'm sure there will be others you can hang out with."

"Yes," added Sara. "And your sister will be here. You can hang out with her."

Astoria was feeling irritable and fed up with the Yule Ball when, on their way to History of Magic, the second-year Ravenclaws passed a group of second-year Slytherins.

"Going to ask your girlfriend to the Ball, Edgecombe?" sneered Livonia. Astoria held her breath, trying to calm the bundle of nerves and anger that squirmed in her stomach.

"Leave us alone, Mentang," snapped Stephan.

"I don't blame you for not wanting to take her," Livonia continued. "I shouldn't want to appear in public with a Mudblood, either."

Stephan sputtered for a moment in speechless fury.

"Leave us alone," snapped Sara, sidling up to Stephan. Astoria wondered if Sara had forgotten her feud with him in the face of a common enemy. The thought made her feel oddly annoyed.

"Aw," cooed Livonia. "Look at her, coming to her boyfriend's defense."

"Shut – up," choked Stephan.

"Nothing you say could possibly interest me," said Sara, sticking her chin in the air. "I'm going to walk away now."

"Don't you turn your back on me, Mudblood," Livonia growled.

Astoria saw Livonia's wrist twitch toward the pocket of her robe and for a horrible moment was sure Livonia was going to draw her wand on Sara's turned back. The second-years were learning about hexes in Defense class and Astoria knew things could very quickly get ugly. Before she gave herself time to think, Astoria stepped forward, heart thudding.

She wasn't quick enough to draw her own wand so she grabbed hold of Livonia's arm, instead. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," she said, words barely getting up her throat, conscious of all the eyes that had been pulled to her.

Livonia twisted violently in Astoria's grasp. "Don't – touch me – bloodtraitor," she gasped, face twisting in rage.

Astoria didn't let go, feeling her fingernails bight into Livonia's wrist. Astoria was fed up. Blood pounded in her head, drowning out the voices of Stephan – coward, two-faced – and her sister's – loyalty, family, blood –

"Don't you ever try that again," Astoria hissed.

"She should know better than to turn her back on her superiors," said Livonia.

Astoria could feel the retort slipping off her tongue but Stephan got there first, "Sara is the one superior to you." His face was red. Astoria wondered if he was embarrassed that he hadn't gotten to Livonia first or was angry at Astoria's interference.

Livonia's mouth opened and closed soundlessly. The Slytherins and Ravenclaws watched.

"Livonia, we're going to be late for class," said Eris is a voice that very much implied, Livonia, you're making a fool of yourself.

Astoria released Livonia's arm and walked away, nervous about revealing her back to her enemy, but mutually sure she had quelled Livonia – at least for today.

She joined Sara, who gave her a warm smile. Astoria felt two conflicting halves of herself raging battle within her chest but, with effort, she pushed these feelings down. There would be time, later, to deal with the questions and uncertainty that pounded against the sides of her skull. Now, however, she could allow herself to relish the sweet taste of victory, and the even sweeter feeling of a friend at her side.

Astoria smiled back.

Christmas steadily approached. Decorations sprouted up with vigor across the castle, even more dazzling than Astoria could remember them the year before. The Yule Ball continued to dominate most conversation.

Gossip sprang up about who would be taking who. Sara mused idly and completely insubstantially about asking Cedric Diggory. Viktor Krum was followed by a pack of giggling girls wherever he went in the castle. During a frigid Herbology lesson, Romilda assured anyone within hearing distance that she was going with Harry Potter to the ball, she only had left to ask him. "Poor boy's very shy. He'd never work up enough courage to ask me, himself."

The Saturday before the end of term, Astoria sat with Daphne in the library. It was difficult to concentrate because Viktor Krum was also in the library, and several girls had followed him.

"I wish he'd just ask someone already," said Daphne, shooting an ugly look through a space in the bookshelves, "That way it would throw the lot of them off the sent."

"I wonder who he'll take," mused Astoria, peering through the bookshelf, as well. "He isn't even good looking."

"People will do anything if you're famous," said Daphne, scowling. "I've heard Potter's already been asked by half the girls in the school."

Astoria smiled as Daphne pretended to gag. She looked out of the corner of her eye at her sister. "Who are you going with?" said Astoria, working to get the words up her throat. The tiers of the book shelf behind her were biting into her back.

"Theo," said Daphne promptly, in a voice that suggested who else?

"How did he ask you?" said Astoria, feeling awkward.

Daphne hid a smile behind the flush of her cheeks. "He, well – just asked. One day when I was walking alone back to the common room he was suddenly walking behind me and he – just asked."

"Have you kissed?" said Astoria haltingly, trying to keep her voice neutral even though, honestly, the thought of kissing Theodore Nott – whose lips were slightly pointed like a rat's – was faintly nauseating.

Both Daphne's blush deepened and smile widened. Astoria had never known Daphne to be bashful. "Yes," said Daphne. "Once or twice."

"Was it nice?" said Astoria, squirming slightly, because she wasn't entirely certain if she felt comfortable with all of this just yet. But, after all, it wasn't just idle curiosity. She would have liked to know. Kissing must be nice, if people did it all the time.

"Well, yes…" said Daphne finally. "Do you like Theo?"

Astoria was surprised. Daphne had never asked for Astoria's opinion before.

"He's – I don't know," she said tentatively. Truly the answer was a brusque and solid no, but she didn't think she and Daphne had developed a relation quite so open yet. "I haven't really spent much time with him."

Daphne smiled. "You'd like him when you got to know him better."

Astoria doubted it but bit her tongue. "Does – Mum know about…you know."

Daphne's eyebrows furrowed. "I'm sure she knows…I mean – she knows I'm going to the Ball, and surely she isn't so blind as to assume I'm going alone. I'm sure she'd approve of Theo, too. After all, she knows his father from work. They have the same sort of political leanings."

"Oh," said Astoria, a thought suddenly coming to her and obstructing anything else she was doing. She wondered – when she got older – what kind of a boy she might…well…and whether or not Lyra Greengrass would approve of him, whether or not – as Daphne said – their families might have the same sort of political leanings.

It was something, Astoria decided, that she really didn't want to worry about on top of everything else.

Astoria went down to the entrance hall with Sara and Melissa on the last day of term, to say good-bye before they departed back home for the Holiday. She tried not to think about the two of them on the Hogwarts express, sharing laughs and treats on their way back to London. She also tried not to think about the coming weeks while she would be the only of her friends still at Hogwarts. She had asked around and discovered that almost everyone she knew was going to go home for Christmas.

"Don't worry about it," said Sara again. "I'm sure you'll have loads of fun."

"Yes, it's always loads of fun by myself," said Astoria, but knew Sara meant well, even though the encouragement was rather irking rather than comforting.

"We'll be back before you know it," said Melissa.

"Yeah," said Astoria, not feeling convinced.

"You could try to sneak into the ball," suggested Sara with a smile, "or maybe try to get an older student to ask you."

Against her best efforts, Astoria felt a grin tug at her cheek. "The only people left without a partner are the ones that no one wants to go with."

"Which means they're probably desperate," said Sara. "I'm sure you could get them to take you."

"Oh, thank you," said Astoria. "It's good to know only someone who's desperate will take me."

"That isn't what I meant –" said Sara, but Astoria smiled to let her know she was kidding.

The carriages were departing for the Hogsmeade station so she quickly hugged Melissa and Sara good-bye, watching them leave with a sick, lonely feeling in her stomach. She gave them a final wave as they climbed into a carriage together.

Astoria turned on her heel and slowly made her way through the entrance hall, heading back toward Ravenclaw common room. Most of the older students had stayed over for the ball, so Astoria was sure the castle wasn't nearly as empty as it usually was during holidays, but it still seemed as though the corridors were oddly hollow and echoing as she walked through them by herself.

She wandered listlessly through the hallways. Daphne was busy with friends, probably gossiping about the Ball and what they were going to wear. Finally concluding there was absolutely nothing to do, Astoria headed back toward the Ravenclaw common room, thinking vaguely of finishing up the homework the teachers had assigned over the Holiday; at least then she could get it out of the way and give herself freedom for the rest of the break.

Just what she was going to do for the remaining three weeks she had no idea.

She sighed, passing strung garland and twinkling ever-frozen icicles. Brightly colored fairies fluttered near the ceiling, lighting the hallway in multicolor, flickering shadows. Astoria climbed up the Ravenclaw tower, barely breaking a sweat now that she had gotten used to climbing the stairs every day. She let the ring of the Eagle knocker fall against the door and answered the Eagle's riddle glumly.

She pushed open the door with her shoulder, looked up lest she trip over the step, and froze.

Their eyes met over the top of his book, across the common room. Astoria wasn't sure, but she thought she saw Stephan Edgecombe's cheeks flush slightly behind the cover of the pages, whether with anger or embarrassment, Astoria didn't know.

The rest of the common room was empty, save for the crackling fire in the shining black stove. The rest of the older students must have been elsewhere in the castle and the rest of the younger students gone home.

She felt her lips pull downward into a scowl. It was going to be a very long three weeks.

Author's Note: Yes, I am aware that the actual celebration of the Twelve Days of Christmas doesn't happen until after the 25th. I sorely lack inspiration when it comes to chapter names.

Next chapter: Almost finished with it; hopefully it won't be any more than two weeks before I get it up, maybe even sooner.

In the meantime, please review :)