A/n: I hope you all had wonderful holidays! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! My break was rather full and I didn't get much time to write, but I'm back at university now and writing regularly, so expect some new chapters in the near future! Thanks for sticking with me this long everyone, and welcome to new readers!

Nell

'Nell!' I hear someone shouting my name from the other side of the Great Hall. Coraline comes running, grinning widely and holding a broomstick in her hands.

'What have you got there?' I ask to be polite. Now everyone on the team has their own broom except me.

'A Skyscraper – you have no idea how many galleons I had to fork over for this, but it was worth it!' She's glowing with happiness and holds it out proudly for inspection.

'It's very nice.' I tell her, trying not to be bitter. Coraline and I had ordered our brooms at the same time, and hers has gotten here before mine. 'I'm still waiting.'

'What, you thought I'd come to brag? Yours came with mine!'

I don't wait for her, already halfway down the table. My glorious Boomerang is open in front of Rose and Ida and I take it in my arms as a mother would her child.

'Want to go for a test flight?' Coraline asks, pulling on a hat, mitts and a scarf.

Rose and Ida wave us on, neither dressed for the trip to Hogsmeade, instead laden with their school books and bags.

Out in the cold, my hands grip my broom handle, numbing slightly – but being in the air on my own broom makes up for it. We hover in the courtyard, waiting for a teacher to come tell us off, simply smiling through the nerves. After one match, one win, and one bad plan thanks to our quidditch captain, we're finally quidditch players.

'Nell?' A male calls from behind us and I turn to see Arne standing at the entrance to the court with a bundled up redhead girl. He waves her away and approaches.

'Who's that?' I ask. I can't say I recognise her, and it worries me a little.

'Just a girl from class, looking for notes.' He shrugs, giving me a wink. 'What's this?'

'This is my new broom.' I reply, sitting up higher and smiling down at him as he lays a hand on the handle where the name is written in glittering gold letters.

'Went with the Boomerang, very nice.' He comments, inspecting the grip, the footing and the tail. 'Very nice indeed.'

'Yes, I'm sure you're glad that you've already played us – we'll be unbeatable now.'

'How do you know we won't be playing you in the finals?'

'You'd better get to work then. Merlin knows that now I'm off school brooms I'll be a beast.' I grin, planting two feet on the ground and swinging off my Boomerang. 'You look like you're going out – heading to Hogsmeade? Need company?'

'I'm meeting some mates, but thanks for the offer.' Our breath mingles in the air and I try my best not to look put out. He glances into the Entrance Hall where students are gathering for the carriages. 'I'll owl you during the break, get you away from Klause for a while.'

'Thanks, I'd appreciate it.'

He steps away and offers a little wave which I return. He grins and disappears into the Hall and I can hardly keep myself from sighing. Compared to his friend, Arne is an angel in my eyes. How a bloke like him and a bloke like that get mixed up together, I'll never understand.

'Coraline!' Another boy comes running out of the hall, this time looking for my companion. 'Coraline, you said we'd – you know…'

'Right, sorry Lysander. I was excited by my broom and I forgot.' She says, landing and stepping towards them.

'Yes, it's quite fine, but they're leaving.'

'Nell, would you mind taking this for me?' Coraline turns to me, holding out her broom. 'I've got to dash!'

'Yes, of course. I'm going up to the common room.' I sigh, gathering up her broom. 'It was silly of me to have asked Arne to Hogsmeade anyways, I don't have a jacket with me, or a hat – I'd catch my death – and besides, I have an essay to write… and I'm talking to myself…'

I watch Coraline and her friend desert me in the courtyard, clutching two broomsticks and mourning my incredibly dull love life. At least I wasn't the only one left behind, I think of Rose and Ida with their books and I suppose that a day in the library would do me well.

I leave the brooms in the dorms and grab my bag, slumping with the weight of it over my shoulder, and make my way to the Ravenclaw haven.

I choose a table from which I can see out the windows, watching the Whomping Willow shake off snow from a safe distance, and kick my feet up. I'm here for the long haul.

Not five minutes into my studies a voice I recognise all too well is calling me.

'Dortan!' McLaggen shouts before being berated by the librarian. He repeats in a whisper when he's closer: 'Dortan, don't be ignoring me, I bring but pleasantries.' He swoops into the seat across from me, effectively cutting off my view to the wonderful, snowy world outside.

'Obviously our idea of pleasant is different. If not, you wouldn't be here.' I retort, pushing away my books and leaning on my arms to glare at him. 'What do you want?'

'My mother wants to know what you want for Christmas.' He shrugs, leaning back. 'I don't always come to torment you.'

'Nothing, I don't need anything.'

'She's not asking what you need, what do you want. Just say sugarquills or something, I'm not sticking around all day.'

'I don't want anything.' I say, rolling my eyes and returning to my books. This was a less painful encounter than I'd expected.

'Fine,' McLaggen says, standing. 'But don't act all pissy when I get more gifts than you do.'

'If I've asked for nothing, so I'm expecting nothing. See you on the 15th.' I wave him off, wincing at the thought of Christmas break. It's coming all too soon.

'My father will be picking us up from the station so don't be late to the train. Better yet, do. Merlin knows I'll have a happy break with you stuck in Hogsmeade.'

What he says causes something to click in my head, drawing a question from my mouth. 'Why aren't you in Hogsmeade with Arne?'

He stares at me for a moment. 'Why aren't you in Hogsmeade with Arne?'

'He said he was meeting some mates. I just assumed by mates he meant you.'

'I've got a detention for spying on the Gryffindor practices this week.' McLaggen shrugs again, still staring at me. He finally cracks a smile. 'Perhaps he's not meeting with any mates and he's just grown bored of you.'

'Shove off.' I wave him away. 'Get to your detention, delinquent.'

'Do miss the train, Dortan.' He calls, dodging the librarian. 'Then we can all have a happy Christmas.'

I go back to my books, piecing together the final parts of his gift. With a magical trigger on his gift box, the dungbombs will go off in his face. It'll be a happy Christmas indeed.

Coraline

Lysander insists on changing our blonde hair black and wearing the collars of our jackets over our faces.

'Incognito.' He calls it. 'Like the aurors in the Wiz Man comics.'

'Neither of them know who I am.' I remind him. 'I've spoken to Dominique all of four times, there's no way she'll remember me, and I've never heard of this Eli until now.'

'He's Head Boy!' Lysander squeaks, pulling me by the hand into Honeydukes as the pair we're tailing makes a stop. 'Once, we charmed his pants to give him weggies ever hour. He couldn't take them off all day. He'll recognise me. Dom probably wouldn't, or, at least, she wouldn't care.'

I look over at him mournfully and rub his shoulder soothingly. He tugs me behind a barrel of cockroach clusters to peer at the two Heads.

'I'm not putting myself down.' He says, batting my soothing hands away. 'She turns a blind eye on most of our pranks and tends to have a selective vision when we're in a room. She'd rather not get involved, some of our tricks get messy – in a very literal way.'

'Oh.' I respond dumbly.

We pursue them across Hogsmeade. The Heads are meant to keep peace on trips to Hogsmeade, and confiscate any Wheezes products that students take home from the local tricks shop. Eventually they split up, Eli heading towards Puddifoot's and Dom reluctantly meeting up with a friend at the Three Broomsticks. Lysander and I agree that we're grateful for the split – Lysander for the fact that Dom is no longer with Eli, and I because I feel more like chips and butterbeer than heart shaped cookies and pink tea.

We leave the blustering snow behind and enter the tightly packed pub. Lysander spots our friends in a booth in the corner and we shove through the crowds to squeeze in with them. They don't appear to recognize us for a moment.

'Ly, Coraline, why is your hair black?' Lorcan asks, staring at his twin.

We share a look and I beg him to answer. Merlin knows what I'll say.

'Just trying out a new look.' Lysander says without missing a beat, wrapping his arm around my shoulder and mussing my hair.

'Oh yeah,' I can't stop myself. 'It's all the rage in Bulgaria.'

They stare at me for a moment while Lysander mouths Bulgaria?

'Change it back.' Fred says, shaking his head. 'Please. You don't look like you.'

'Alright.' Lysander taps me with his wand, returning my hair to normal, before tapping himself. 'A butterbeer, Coraline?'

'And chips?' I say, batting my eyes.

'And chips.' He sighs with a smile, stepping out of the booth to the bar.

'So, Coraline, where have you two been?' Marvel asks, gesturing discretely at Fred, who has returned to a game of exploding snap. 'Not on a date, were you?' He grinds out, staring my in the eye and hoping I get his meaning.

'Oh!' I cry, snapping upright at his accusation and going a brilliant red. I accidentally bump the table and the snap game explodes everywhere. After the sparks and smoke clears, all boys at looking at me, waiting for an answer. 'Of course not! Is that what you think? We were, well – you know–'

'Stop putting Coraline on the spot, mates.' Lysander returns, a knight with drinks and food and all of the answers. 'We were Christmas shopping, what a sinister plot, and for you shits no less.'

I nod quickly, taking a handful of chips and shoving my mouth full to prevent any sort of contribution on my part. Lysander stares at me for a moment before turning back to the others.

'And this is the thanks we get?'

They all murmur an apology and go back to stacking cards.

'What do you all want for Christmas, anyways?' I ask. Thanks Ly, now I need to buy five more presents.

'Pranking supplies.' Is the general consent, which really shouldn't surprise me.

Ruth

I pull off my hat, which has all but frozen to my head, and rub at my red, dripping nose. A vision, that's for sure, but trailing after Dominique Weasley, I'm sure I'm not a vision of beauty.

Shea stands and waves me over to the table she's secured with her fellow Slytherins. Posy is there and she scoots over so I can place a chair between her and Shea. I look to Romeo for a sign of his dejection at me not sitting with him, but he's laughing along with some boys and doesn't seem to notice.

'What happened to Eli?' She asks quietly. 'Why didn't he come get a drink with Dominique?'

'He went on down the road. Besides, I think she was beginning to wan a little. A group of third years ambushed her with snowballs and she was tripping over Eli's every word. She ran into a streetlight pole.' I say, trying to keep the amusement out of my voice. It was rather funny. 'Have you seen Malfoy? Rose stayed at the school.'

'He's behind us in a booth with Morris and some of his mates. She can't keep her bloody hands off of him – they're in a public place!' Posy says, peering over her shoulder.

I turn as discreetly as possible, trying to catch Malfoy in the loathsome act. Truly, I may just tell Rose off him and get her a nice boy instead.

'Ruth,' Someone calls. Posy and I both turn at the same moment and crack heads. Romeo is looking for my attention and I gaze at him through watering eyes. 'Sorry, I was going to ask if you'd like a drink.' He winces. 'I think butterbeer is in order, as an apology.'

'I'd like one too…' Posy says, but he's already gone. She glares sourly at me.

'I'll share.' I tell her with a grin. 'It's not my fault I've got blokes fawning all over me.'

She rolls her eyes at me but accepts a sip when Romeo returns with a drink for me. Shea slips out of her seat to talk to Niles and he takes her seat.

'So, Ruth, my brother told me you're tutoring him and his mates. What torture!' He laughs.

'Oh yeah,' I bite my lip. 'I think that as a Christmas gift I'll tell you what to look out for. I've been teaching them some rather nasty curses to go along with their charms. You'll want to be armed and ready.'

'I see, you've got it out for me!' He accuses with a glint in his eye. 'I've got to spend the whole break with Sal, and you've taught him curses! Ah well, good ol spell-o tape works a charm on thirteen year old boys. I like to tape him to the wall and see how long it takes him to break free. I add a little magic to make it a challenge, of course.' He twirls his wand, leaning back on his chair.

'Now that's just cheating.' I say, knocking him off balance with a kick. 'Acceptable, you are a Slytherin after all.'

'Anyways, we're going to a quidditch match over the break. Would you like to come?'

I really hope that by we he means just me and him.

'Who is playing?'

'Arrows versus the Cannons. We don't have tickets yet, we're still waiting on Damon and Ida to decide if they'll come, and then Posy will decide if she wants to.' He sips at his butterbeer, peering over the rim at Posy, who glare at the two of us.

'I could probably get us a box, if you wanted.' I suggest. 'They sit about fifteen people.'

'A box?' He gapes. 'We were going to just get shit bottom level seats. That would be fantastic! How're you going to pull that off?'

'I've got connections.' I simply smile and take a drink.

He puts an arm around me and whispers close in my ear with a laugh. 'Don't tell the others, but I think you're my favorite.'

I know he's joking. I wish that he weren't.

A/n: Can anyone imagine who Ruth's "connections" are? (Hint: check the first chapter)