Chapter 7

It was a white Christmas this year. When I looked out of the window beside my bed on the 25th of December I had to shield my eyes from the reflection off the snow. It was like a pure white blanket covering the school grounds and, early as it was, I could already see some of my fellow students skating on the lake. I imagined that I would be joining them later - the only other interesting thing today would be the Yule ball.

Pulling my eyes away from the festive scene outside, I looked around to the end of my bed. A small mountain of gifts had erupted at the end of my green bed spread. Looking around the room I already saw a few beds empty, the floor was already half covered in wrapping paper and I watched silently as Pansy unwrapped yet another gift.

"Happy Christmas," I yawned.

She sent me a quick smile, "Morning, happy Christmas. Thanks for the gift by the way, I've been looking at that bracelet for ages - it's really fashionable at the moment."

That was why she was happy with me…I got her the right bracelet….that girl is so shallow, "anytime," was all I replied before dragging myself into a sitting position so I could open my own.

The first package I grabbed was a small box from the top of the pile. It was wrapped in red wrapping paper, so I guessed it was from someone in Griffindor and, sure enough, I found a tag that read I Dear twin, Happy Christmas, Love your brother Harry. /I I gently peeled off the wrapping paper to find a small jewellery presentation box. Carefully I opened the lid. Inside, laying against the red fabric, was a small round, golden locket with a snitch engraved on the front. Reaching inside I unclasped the catch. On one side of the locket was a picture that Molly Weasley had taken the first summer me and Harry had spent at the Burrow. Our young, eleven year old faces stared up at me, both smiling happily. On the opposite side was a picture of mum and dad. The small people in the photo were waving up at us. Small tears rolled down my face as I shut the locket and placed it around my neck.

I wondered down to the common about half an hour later, my PJ's still on. Christmas was the only day we did this. It was a day to spend lazily around the common room. Breakfast and lunch tended to consist of chocolate and sweets that had been sent by friends and relatives. Sure enough, Draco was parked on the best sofa beside Montague opening a box of cakes his mother had sent.

"Merry Christmas guys," I greeted, walking over.

My two favourite Slytherins turned to face me. Both gave me a cheeky smile and Montague offered for me to sit on his lap. I accepted - we were officially an item now - and gratefully accepted the chocolate muffin that Draco offered.

"How are your parents?" I asked him as I unwrapped the cake.

"Very well," he replied, "did you like my present?"

I smiled, "Yes thank you," before flashing him my wrist.

A small, delicate bracelet wrapped around the skin below my hand. It was formed by two snakes intertwining with each other. Their scales were different shades of green and each had a white diamond for their eye - it was obviously expensive.

"What about mine love?" asked Montague.

"Fabulous," I whispered, pecking him on the lips

Montague, being the subtle man he was, had brought me a matching bra and knickers set. It was green with black lace. He had also brought me a subtle, thin white gold chain with a diamond heart hanging perfectly on my neck - I was also wearing that.

He smiled greedily, though I knew he wouldn't get what he wanted this Christmas. I had given him a set of handsome and fashionable wizards robes as I had been aware that he needed a new pair - he used them a lot due to his high society parents - I also got him a set of green cufflinks - both engraved with snakes. For Draco I had purchased a broomstick servicing kit - he had been a member of the house team since second year - and a pair of arm guards to protect his delicate figure from passing Bludgers.

The two boys thanked me for their gifts before having another discussion about Quidditch. Don't get me wrong, I loved the sport, I just wasn't in the most talkative of moods this early in the morning.

We had exactly an hour until the Yule ball was to begin. The entire of the 4th year Slytherin girls had clustered in the dormitory. We were all looking forward to the evenings festivities and seeing all the different couples that had sprung up.

"Kirsty is it true that your brother is going to the ball with Chang?" asked Pansy sweetly while trying to learn to walk in her heels.

I smiled gracefully, "yes. You're going with Draco I presume?"

"Of course I am and you with Montague?"

"Who else?" I replied.

"Is it true that you have to start the dance?" asked Millicent.

I nodded, "I'm so nervous."

The champions were expected to begin the nights festivities. I was so afraid of tripping over my own feet, at least Montague could dance and Draco had been giving me private lessons that we had 'forgot' to mention to Pansy.

My halter neck dress was a dark midnight black. It reached to the floor and was very tight fitting and had a plunging neckline as well as a slit down the left leg. I was to be wearing gold stiletto heels for the evening - I had spent the entire week learning to walk in them!

"Come on girls!" announced Pansy, just as I had finally fixed my hair so it wouldn't frizz, "lets go meet our dates!"

We all grinned, each as excited as the other.

I spotted Montague within seconds of me entering the common room. He was dressed in the dress robes I had given him for Christmas and he had the air of a 'dark handsome stranger'. The rest of the girls glared jealousy in my direction as my boyfriend took my arm. Everything was so perfect, though I was surprised to see Draco staring longingly in my direction.

The ball began beautifully and even I had to grudgingly admit that Hermione and Krum did actually look very good together. Ron, having only recently noticed Hermione was a girl and thus missing his chance to ask her, was sat beside a very sullen looking Patil twin. Harry was up dancing near Montague and myself with his date Cho. I could see the upset looking Cedric standing someway off with a drink in hand.

The hall was decorated beautifully. I had to admit that the teachers had really outdone themselves. Ice statues that would never melt lined the edges of the hall and a huge Christmas tree stood in every corner of the room - the highest branches disappearing off into the enchanted ceiling.

There was a live band and the entire student population of Hogwarts castle was up on their feet soon after they started playing. The band was called 'The Weird Sisters' and were well known in the wizarding world.

Being a forth year, I was one of the youngest there. Every time Montague and I shared a kiss I could either see Harry glaring in his direction, or boys from other houses looking at my boyfriend in a manner that informed me that they didn't approve of the age gap. I just ignored them. If I could survive Voldermort I could cope with a 17 year old boy.

Ginny was technically too young to come, however, she had found herself a date in the form of Longbottom. I was surprised she had accepted his invite - I had never thought of them as much of a pair - but I suppose she had taken any chance she could get to come along. Ron was nearby watching the boy with a brotherly glare, similar to how Harry was watching me really.

I went to bed around midnight. My feet were slightly sore but I had thoroughly enjoyed myself. Montague escorted me safely back to my dormitory and it took little thought to decline his offer of sharing a bed tonight, not tonight, not tonight.

The following term began like most others. There was an electric atmosphere as the students eagerly awaited the second task. My eyes guiltily landed on the golden egg as I opened my trunk on the first morning of term. It was the clue that would inform me of the next task and I was eager to find how it worked. The first time I had opened it, I had been greeted by a loud -high pitched - scream and had quickly shut it. I supposed it was in another language.

It was during dinner that night it clicked, that night on the astronomy tower. I had seen the judges ….they were talking to mer-people…..I really needed to go to the library…

"Where are you going?" asked Draco as I jumped up from my seat - pudding half finished.

"Library, tell Montague if you see him!" I called over my shoulder, ignoring the weird looks as I sped out of the hall.

I had found it!

I Mer-women

The female sex of mer-people have not got the ability to converse in human understood language above water. In air, their voice will seem to be a high pitched squeal and it can only be understood under the water.

They look like…./I

I stopped here, I didn't need to read anymore…

"Hiya love," greeted Montague from behind me.

Ok, I have an idea of how to listen to this, but I don't know if I have the guts….Merlin! I'll just go for it!

"Hiya Hun, I was wondering if I could use the prefects bathroom tonight?" I asked sweetly.

He shot me a pleased look, "and what would you want to do there?"

"Have a bath," I replied, as if that was obvious, "but I need a lot of water to help me work out the egg clue. Please love."

"Only if I'm in there with you, being a prefect I can't just let other students come and go as the please - I might get my badge confiscated."

I knew he would say that…but I needed to use that bathroom. I really hate my life! "Sure."

"Shall we go now then?" he asked, "while everyone else is at dinner?"

I nodded, may as well get it over and done with, "ok, let me just go and get the egg."

I slipped off quickly, my heart beating far to fast. Why had I agreed to do this?

Before I knew it I was outside the prefects bathroom on the third floor. The door was already open so I slipped in silently. I heard it shut sharply behind me, behind me stood Montague, thankfully covered by a towel.

I ordered him to shut his eyes, watching him carefully, I got undressed and slipped into the water - I was so glad he had filled the huge swimming pool sized tub with bubbles.

"In."

He grinned as he opened his eyes. Instead of opting for the modest route, he confidently dropped the towel - I averted my eyes to the egg in my hands - and dropped into the water.

"I'm gonna slip under the water with it," I explained, "join if you want."

My head dipped below the water, after I had filled with my lungs with air, before I opened the egg.

The water seemed to fill with a strange but beautiful sound, like singing.

I Come seek us where our voices sound,

We cannot sing above the ground,

And while you're searching, ponder this:

We've taken what you'll surely miss,

An hour long you'll have to look,

To recover what we took,

But past an hour - the prospect's black

Too late, it's gone, it won't come back.

/I

I detected a slight hint of playfulness in the singer's words, so I assumed the last to lines weren't actually completely serious - I'm guessing the hour was the time limit.

"That was weird," muttered Montague as I appeared above water.

"Yer…." I replied, chewing my tongue.

"What does it mean?"

"Well, it's sung by merpeople - so the task is in the black lake. The thing about an hour was obviously a time limit. I'm guessing that something is going to be taken from me that I really care about….." I paused, "but it doesn't tell me how I'm supposed to survive in the lake for an hour. Any pointers?"

"Gillyweed?"

I shook my head, the weed would allow the person that ate it to grow gills, "I'm allergic to it."

"Ummmm," he paused for a sec, "our gardener takes a potion to allow him to tend the plants beneath the lake at home. I think it lasts about two hours."

"I love you Montague," I commented, "you are a genius! Where can I get some?"

"My parents are going to be attending the second task and my father will be in school next week - shall I ask if he can bring some along?"

I nodded, then I swam over and kissed him.

Don't worry I didn't lose my virginity that night - what do you take me for?

A/N: I'm Good! That's 7 chapters - plus the Prologue - done in one night! Reviews would be lovely guys!

TBC….