The arrival of snow brought joy to the castle. Decorations were being put up and everyone was getting into the Christmas spirit. Even I was. I had toughen up over the last few months as well. I wasn't the fragile little girl who cried when someone called her a name.

"traitor." A second year Slytherin shouted from behind me

"Who cares! At least I have friends." I shouted back smiling slightly.

It was the day before the Christmas holidays and we had our last Astronomy lesson. We all trudged out of the common room at quarter to eleven to get up to the astronomy tower. We had an hour long lesson at midnight every Friday with the Ravenclaws.

The next morning came and I watched as my friends boarded the train to go home. I didn't mind to much, Hogwarts was my home how. I waved them off as the train left Hogsmeade station. After watching the train disappear from sight I trudged back up to the castle leaving footprints in the fresh snow.

I was the only one at the Slytherin table the next morning. I received many an awkward stare during this time. After this I spent most of my time either in the common room or the library studying. It was really weird seeing the common room so empty, since Slytherin wasn't exactly the quietest house. I would wander round the common room bored not having to worry about people getting in the way or sending hurtful words my way.

Soon Christmas morning was upon us. I was never a big fan of Christmas, I never got any presents with my adoptive parents. To me Christmas was just another day of the year. I slumped down to the great hall to get some breakfast before starting my Transfigurations homework. I grabbed a piece of toast from the middle of the table and watched as the owls came swooping down to give presents. I got the shock of my life when a barn owl smashed into a large bowl of cereal a little further up the table. The owl hobbled over and dropped a box and note in front of me. Curiously I opened the note, it read

Dear Avi,

We know you probably wouldn't be getting anything for Christmas so we told our mum and she made you a Weasley jumper. We hope you like it.

Love Fred and George.

Whilst reading the note I failed to notice the tawny owl that landed in front of me with yet another parcel along with a letter. Once again I took the letter and read through it.

Dear Avi.

You probably haven't had any presents today (unless the twins got you anything). So I went to Diagon Alley before leaving London and got you a few bits. I hope you like them. Plus I told my parents about you and they said you were welcome to stay for the summer holiday (don't worry I didn't tell them anything just that you didn't have a place to stay).

From Wood

I smiled to myself as I grabbed the parcels and hurried off to my common room. Inside the parcel from the twins was an emerald green jumper with a silver A in the middle. A smile spread across my face as I slipped the woolen jumper over my head. Next I opened the parcel from Wood. Inside was a book called 'The Tales of Beedle The Bard', a few boxes of Berty's every flavour beans and some chocolate frogs. My smile increased as I thought about my friends. I grabbed a few pieces of parchment and a quill and began writing replies to my friends.

Dear Fred and George

Thanks so much for the jumper. Tell your mum I love it. I can't wait until you're back again, see you in in week.

From Avi

I wrote to the twins. I then began a letter telling Wood how I love the book and sweets, and that the twins had given me a Weasley jumper. I finished of by telling him that this was the best Christmas I'd ever had.

I headed up to the owlery to send the thank you notes to my friends. It took a while to find Wood's owl since it looked so similar to about ten other. The twins bird was easy to find I just looked for the owl that kept falling off its perch. I attached the notes to the birds ankles and let them go one by one telling them where to go. After sending the notes I head down to the great hall for the Christmas feast taking place. Since I was the only one of the Slytherin table the teachers let me sit with my friend Lydia on the Gryffindor table who greeted me with a box full of chocolate and sweets from Honeydukes sweet shop. Let's just say this did turn a few heads.

I fell asleep that night with Wood's book on my chest and my stomach full of Christmas dinner, two things I hadn't had before. I would usually just get left overs and I never got presents.