CHAPTER 8

Four months have passed since Professor Binns told the Gryffindor first-years and the Hufflepuff first-years about the Chamber of Secrets. Now it was Christmas Day and the three girls along with Lily Denis and Diana Miller were tearing open their parcels.

"I have...four parcels!" Summer counted all her presents.

"I've got four as well!" Ashley began tearing open a parcel.

"Me too!" Ginny grinned. Summer opened her first parcel, which was from her mum, Callie. It was a beautiful pair of earrings. They were swirly and could change colors slowly. Summer opened her second parcel which was from Ashley. There was a misty ring that could change colors to go along with Summer's emotions and a dark pink diary with a lock. Then came Ginny's parcel which was a beautiful Christmas tree charm for her charm bracelet and a pack of Chocolate Frogs.

"And we all know that present is from your lover." Ashley smiled with mock-tease and pointed at the last parcel, which was wrapped with golden paper and a sapphire blue ribbon.

"Ashley..." Summer glared at her friend with a pretend warning tone as she unwrapped the parcel. She gasped. It was the most beautiful necklace she had ever seen. It had a pure silver chain and on it was a jewel with misty colors. The band around the jewel was solid silver. There was also a card wishing Summer a Merry Christmas. It was signed 'Draco M.'

"Maybe when a dance comes up, he'll ask you to dance!" Ginny smiled at Summer.

"Okay, enough about Draco. Let's see your presents!" Summer abruptedly changed the topic. Ashley had already opened two of her four which were a book on interesting wizardry facts and a packet of Bettie Bott's Every Flavor Beans from Ginny and a golden bracelet from her mother. The present from Summer was a shiny friendship ring with an opal on it and a knitted green friendship bracelet. The present from her father was a purple scarf with neon blue stripes.

Summer had given Ginny a shiny friendship ring too, but with an amethyst and a knitted blue friendship bracelet. Ashley's present to Ginny was a silver banded bracelet with 'Ginny Weasley' carved on it. The letters would change colors. Ginny's present from her parents were a knitted sweater and a homemade slice of cake.

"Come on, let's get down to breakfast." Summer suggested, clasping her necklace and charm bracelet on along with the misty ring. She shook her snow globe once more. Now the sparkles have turned into snow and the trees have been topped with snow. It was a very special snow globe, also from Draco Malfoy. It changed with the seasons and now the unicorn was wearing a scarf.

Ashley and Ginny put on a bit of their jewelry and went down to the Great Hall for breakfast.

"I...er...need to go to the bathroom." Ginny said uneasily. She walked out of the Great Hall clutching her black notebook.

"I wonder why she always carries that notebook around with her." Ashley commented, eating a spoonful of delicious chicken lasagna.

"Perhaps it's for writing her feelings in it. Like too much homework or History of Magic was too boring." Summer suggested, drinking her pumpkin juice. Ginny didn't come down for breakfast for the rest of the morning.

"I wonder what's happened to her. I'll go check it out." Summer walked out of the Great Hall and into the nearest bathroom.

"Woah! What's happened in here?" Summer was trodding on water.

"Well some people think it's funny to throw books at ghosts because they can't feel it!" Myrtle, the bathroom ghost, flew out of a cubicle.

"Hello, Myrtle. Have you seen Ginny?" Summer asked.

"No! Well, Harry did come in here with his red-haired friend. They pocketed the black book someone threw in here at me!" Myrtle said.

"Thanks for telling me that, Myrtle. 'Bye!" Summer walked out of the bathroom and back to the Great Hall.

"I think Ginny threw her book down a toilet or something. Harry and er...Ginny's brother pocketed the book. Maybe they're returning it to Ginny. Come on, we've got a whole day of nothing to do. Let's go find Ginny." Summer told Ashley. Suddenly, she heard the voice again.

Kill this time… let me rip… tear… Summer was really freaked out, even though the voice was moving away.

"Summer, you okay? You've gone all pale and white." Ashley began shaking her friend.

"All students are to make their way back to the House common rooms, where their Heads of Houses will give them further information. As quickly as you can, please!" Professor McGonagall's voice sounded through the Great Hall. All the students hurried back to their common rooms, practically squishing everyone else. When they've all gotten to the Gryffindor common room, Professor McGonagall began speaking.

"All students will return to their House common rooms by six o'clock in the evening. No student is to leave the dormitories after that time. You will be escorted to each lesson by a teacher. No student is to use the bathroom unaccompanied by a teacher. All further Quidditch training and matches are to be postponed. There will be no more evening activities." Professor McGonagall said.

"I need hardly add that I have rarely been so distressed. It is likely that the school will be closed unless the culprit behind these attacks is caught. I would urge anyone who thinks they might know anything about them to come forward." She continued. Then she walked out of the portrait hole.

"What a way to spend Christmas Day." Ashley sighed as the girls went up the stairs to their dorm. Ginny was there, writing in her notebook again. This time, the notebook was wet and battered.

"Guess we have nothing much to do now." Summer sat on her bed, gazing at her unicorn snow globe.

END OF CHAPTER 8!

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~R.J. Malfoy