Chapter Nine

Holidays

Christmas came to Hogwarts. Many of the students left for the holidays and went home. The twins stayed and so did we. Their father was on a trip, and there was a quidditch match just a few days before Christmas. Gryffindor won, and Oliver said the game couldn't have been won without the twins. He said that the twins were unbeatable.

Classes were out, so we kind of did what we want during the days. Explore the castle using the Marauder's Map, a map Fred and George snatched from Filch's office last year. They taught us a couple of the secret tunnels since we had no classes to go to. They let us use it whenever we want, as long as we tell them ahead of time.

It's Christmas Eve and the twins taught us how to enchant snowballs. We hide behind benches or pillars and wait for someone to walk out before pummeling them with snowballs. We also built a snowman and put one of McGonagall's hats on it, much to her dislike. She didn't punish us, though, because she knew we weren't being rude or doing something mischievous. We went back to the common room to warm up and eventually went to bed, after Percy came downstairs and yelled at us.

"Vera, Vera! Wake Up!" I hear Mona say as she shakes me. I wake up and we head down to the common room. Under the Christmas tree are presents for us.

"Wait, they transported our Christmas presents here? How?" I ask Mona.

"Magic." Fred answers. I turn around to see the twins walking down the stairs in their matching striped pajamas and bath robes.

"Mum probably offered to send them here for your parents." George says.

"That's still so weird to think about. Our family knowing your secret."

"Our secret." Fred corrects me. He kneels down and picks up his and George's presents. They tear open the paper and pull out two matching hats.

"Wow. Mum did it again." George says, putting on his hat. Fred puts on his and the two turn to face us. They pose. "What do ya think?"

"Wow. Just wow." Mona giggles.

"The pom-poms really pull it all together." I joke. They laugh and Mona hands me my present. We open them together and our parents sent a two-book series about wizards.

"Wow," Fred says, "that wizard on the front sort of looks like Dumbledore." He points. I turn my book around and look at the bald man on the front. Fred bursts out laughing. I shake my head.

"George, I think it's time we give them our present." Fred turns to his brother. George nods.

"You got us something?" Mona asks.

"Of course! Get dressed and we'll show you." Mona and I run upstairs and change.

After running into the Great Hall and grabbing some toast, we follow the twins outside. We run past Hagrid's hut and end up outside of the quidditch field. The twins turn to us and stop us before we step onto the field.

"What are we doing here?" I ask. The twins smile and whistle. Two brooms fly into their hands and two fall in front of us. "What-"

"They're yours." George says.

"What!" I say again, this time excitedly. The twins smile.

"They're Bill and Charlie's old brooms. Granted, they are older models, but they still fly great." I look at the broom and smile.

"We thought you might like them so you can maybe try out for the team next year if you wanted." Fred says. Mona and I hug them tightly.

"Your presents are so much better than ours." Mona says.

"Yeah, all we got you were some every flavor beans." I say.

"Granted, we don't really have any wizard money so-"

"They're great." George says. Fred opens a wooden case and pulls out four bats and a bludger. He hands two bats to us.

"Losing team has to have the first beans, and they're the winner's choice." Fred says.

"You're on." I challenge.

We hop on our brooms and play for the rest of the day. The twins beat us, obviously, but Mona and I put up a good fight. This is one of the best days I've had in a while. Playing with my best friends and twin sister. This Christmas is one I'll never forget.