Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction created sorely to satisfy my imagination. Harry Potter and anything/everything related to the novels belongs to J.K. Rowling. I own nothing in this fanfic that might be recognizable as belonging to the canon of HP.

Chapter 16: Christmas break

I was alone in Slytherin House.

All my housemates had gone home for the Christmas holidays and when I say all I mean every one of them. The only Slytherins in the castle left were me and some people in paintings, and they didn't strictly count.

For the first three days of the break, I enjoyed the complete solitude. It wasn't like during the term, where I was alone while being surrounded by people. Being alone-alone felt good in the sense that I didn't feel bad for being so. I wasn't being socially rejected or antisocial, I was just and simply alone. Obviously I saw sick of it by the third day.

I had written to Lily two times by then, and I was seriously missing her and her company.

The Great Hall was too massive for the students it had for the break. We were only a handful watched over by another handful of teachers and staff in a giant room with five huge tables. During meals, I imagined I looked ridiculous sitting alone on my table. At least the other houses had a minimum of two students, except for Hufflepuff. There was an orphan boy from Hufflepuff that was sitting with two Ravenclaw brothers that were also the only student representation of their house for the holidays. So that table was empty next to mine.

Up until now, I have tended to eat my meals quickly to leave the hugeness of the Hall. I spent my three days between reading and taking notes in the Library, to reading and taking notes in the Slytherin common room. Going anywhere else was a hassle because of the abysmal cold that invaded the hallways. My coat was cozy, but too heavy and it was a hassle walking to places with it. Even Merlin agreed with me, when he first saw me fumbling with it as I sat in front of him for our daily talk.

The only time I lingered in the Great Hall after finishing my meal was on Christmas Eve. It was post day. I waited for a few minutes and sure enough a rental owl dropped my very first letter. It was from Lily of course, but the lack of surprise didn't damper my high spirits. I replied her as soon as I finished reading and walking to the Owlery.

Christmas morning, I almost had a heart-attack when I saw a small box at the bottom of my bed.

It was a present from Lily. There was no possible way for me to keep my face straight. I smiled excitedly as I dug open the package to see what my friend had gotten me. There were a couple of items. The first and largest one was a studying schedule. The only way I can describe it as the most beautiful piece of enchanted parchment I had ever seen. It had wonderful markings all around that were charmed to morph into encouraging words that made me wish the term would immediately begin so I could take them to heart. In the box there was also an assortment of yummy candies, of which I wasted no time in eating, hence the reason I didn't got down to the Great Hall from breakfast or lunchtime.

Lily also got me a warm jumper, and I was delighted to see that it was a size that fit me perfectly. Other than my white nightgown, it was the only piece of clothing I now had that was my size.

"I wonder if she got mine." I said out loud in the empty dorm.

I had gotten her a gift from owl-order of an advertisement I saw in the Daily Prophet. I would had much prefer to get her something I could had picked up myself, not to mention give it in person, but the fact that I was stuck in school with no place to go to and I hadn't thought of going to the village Hogsmeade, damaged that intention as soon as I had thought it when Lily left.

I think Lily would be okay with what I got her and how. A set of multicolored quills looked fabulous to me when I saw them at the back of the newspaper. It was a shame though, that for an extra couple of galleons I could have gotten her name engraved but I came short.

I did nothing all day, I even tried not picking up a book or any of my notes for the sake of Holiday cheer. Obviously I was so bored out of my mind that I ended up sitting with Merlin most of the day, hearing stories the painting could remember about himself when he went to Hogwarts.

For dinner, I figured I should try to make myself a bit more presentable than normal. I put on Lily's jumper, and left to sit alone for Christmas dinner. I don't really know what I was expecting for I have no recollection of a previous holiday, but my instinct told me it would be a special occasion, and that I had to treat it as such. Plus McGonagall had told me 'Don't be late for the Christmas Feast, Miss Nolan', so my guess was that the school had something particular planned.

The Great Hall was pregnant with decorations, its twelve Christmas trees being the most spectacular of them. It had been that beautiful since they were placed at the beginning of the month, and they did make the air about extra special. For the first time, I saw the house tables pushed to the side, free of seats. In the middle of the Hall was one short table, perfect for accommodating the handful of students and staff members that had stayed for the holidays.

Dumbledore headed the table, and all around there were a total of six students from the other houses, of which I only recognized Peter Pettigrew. In between sat McGonagall, Madam Pomfrey, Professor Flitwick, Hagrid and Filch the caretaker.

As I walked to them, all seemed cheery and whatnot to me until I noticed where I had to sit. The last remaining chair was between Dumbledore and Pettigrew.

I had no choice but to sit next to the Gryffindor, I was the last one to get there so most of the eyes of the table followed me from the entrance to the seat. Even if I didn't want to be in such proximity to the Headmaster, I guess it wasn't that bad sitting next to a person I had actually talked to, if it had been only for a second. The other students, the two Gryffindor girls, the Hufflepuff orphan and the Ravenclaw twins, I had never seen them before in my time in Hogwarts. Though, that isn't too surprising. I limited myself to my House, the Library and my classes; other than the students my age and my Slytherin housemates I knew none else's face.

"Hi," I said to him as I sat next to him. When I spoke he looked up, his watery blue eyes washing with confusion. "Its Peter right?"

He nodded looking at me like he wasn't sure of anything at that moment as he squinted his eyes. "You're Faraday Nolan."

"That's me." I was glad that for some reason no one was paying attention to us. The staff was engrossed in a conversation that they tossed around from each side of the table. "Mind if I sit here?"

He shook his head.

I don't know why I asked; I was already sitting. There was no reason for me to. There was the one seat left, and regardless of the situation, or rivalries or whatever, it was rude to deny me the chair. Ever more so, considering we were at the very front of Dumbledore, the highest authority in school. Maybe I asked because I didn't want to seem rude. This was the first time I sat in the Great Hall with someone that didn't belong to my House. Heck, none of those people were Slytherins.

"Now that we are all together," Dumbledore said when the moment appeared to be right for him to speak. "Merry Christmas!"

"Faraday, grab a cracker." Headmaster Dumbledore said, holding out the noisemaker for me to take. Once I did, he left me to it, turning away. On his other side he offered one to Professor McGonagall, who held it, but insisted on Dumbledore pulling the end of it.

Smiles broke out around the table, as we jumped with the bang of the cracker. Pretty lights went off forming the outline of a Christmas tree.

I tried to do mine, before I was told to, but I couldn't quite do it. I turned to the Gryffindor next to me, and offered him the end of it since I wasn't strong enough to do it. Pettigrew watched me strangely, and hesitating long enough to seem rude, he went and pulled it. I looked at the flashing colors of the fire shinning over me as they took the shape of a pointy witch hat.

"That's nice." I said to him with a smile, that he returned uncertain.

Everything about him washed over me as uncertain, and I remembered the time he was introduced to me. His friend and fellow Gryffindor Remus Lupin had been the one to do it, as Pettigrew cowered behind him. I understood why he did it back them, but now, when there were no big Slytherins glaring his way, there wasn't a point.

There were more bangs around the table as more crackers went off before Dumbledore called for the meal.

"Do you mind?" I said to the boy, reaching out pass him to grab roasted chestnuts.

He moved aside to give me space. When I got what I wanted, he adjusted himself again, and I noticed that the sleeve of the arm closest to me had a strange mark that was dripping green droplets unto the leg of his trousers.

"You have a stain. There." I said pointing with my fork after I got his attention.

He fumbled over himself once he saw the mess.

The movement made it splash a droplet onto my skirt.

"Sorry." He muttered.

"It's alright." I said handing him a napkin to clean himself and using one myself for my clothes. Once I did my best with the stain, I took a good look at it and eventually smelled it. "It's this Flobberworm Mucus?"

Pettigrew's stare widen turning to me and giving me a glare that made me feel like he couldn't see me. I in turn, could see him well and he appeared to be distressed. His watery eyes flashed unto Dumbledore, who was engrossed into a conversation with McGonagall and the Hufflepuff boy at the other side of the table and was therefore ignoring us for the moment or I preferred to think that.

"Were you practicing for Potions?" I said with a laugh, remembering that Flobberworm Mucus was an ingredient for a potion Slughorn had assign us to research during the break. We were supposed to write a roll of parchment essay about it and predict how our product would turn out should we make it ourselves. I was having a row with it. Potions was not my best subject, and no matter how much I turned it over, I couldn't get the essay done. Though I understood what we had to do, and I seriously didn't want to cheat, I couldn't get pass putting the potion together. Then again, I'm over reacting. The work was all strictly hypothetical; we weren't supposed to try making the concoction for real. That made me wonder why he was doing it. Was he doing it for the assignment or was it some plot? I remembered very well the infamous group of troublemakers he was part of and I wouldn't put it pass him to be planning something. Not after their last prank. And certainly not after all the times I had to wash my hair to get the stink off.

He gave me a nod, and then proceeded to concentrate on his meal. I took it as the sign to leave him alone, so I continued eating silently, as the other voices on the table spoke merrily. When spoken to I answered, when I thought it needed I smiled, and if a joke was said I tried my best to enjoy it.

"I'm considering leaving the tables as they are for the rest of the break. There are so few of us, it seems foolish to have one or two of you sit on such large tables." Dumbledore announced once we were all sufficiently stuffed. There were several agreements around the table at his words, but that didn't seem to be enough for him. He had to turn to me for some reason. "What do you think Faraday?"

His use of my name made me feel as if I was under a spotlight, and I kind of curse under my breath the staff members and the coward student that left the seat opened for me. I could do with less of the Headmaster's attention.

"Seems good." I croaked out.

His eyes twinkled in that way that only he could do, while I resisted the urge to grimace. I did not enjoy when he scrutinized me with a pleasant expression. It felt like he was laying out my innermost thoughts in a single line and categorizing them by size and color. If I couldn't do that, then I would not let him continue.

I stood, and to my luck it was less rude the abruptness of it because the other students were doing the same. Maybe I missed the part when we were stent to bed when I was trying not to insult the old wizard.

Pettigrew went pass me, as I walked away from the table. His shoulders were slouched as he went, and the stain on his sleeve went well with his disgruntled look. He was going to pass through the Great Hall's doors when I decided to catch up to him. I don't know what came over me, but I'm sure Lily would attribute it to my obsession with school work. "Hey Pettigrew, sorry to bother you, but did you do your Potions assignment?"

He stopped as soon as he heard his name, turning to look at me again as if he didn't see me. He fumbled with his hands; eyes darting to the staircase I guessed would take him to the Gryffindor tower. "Not yet."

"Could I possibly bother you by asking you to write it with me? Potions confuse me, a little." That was beyond true. I couldn't get Potions under my belt and the lack of Professor Slughorn to help me during office hours affected me greatly. Lily also helped immensely when it came to concentration on brewing, even when she still refused to be my partner during class. If I got stuck on that I wouldn't be able to move on, and if I didn't move on I would be at a disadvantage when the term began. And that didn't sit well with me.

"I'm not that good either." His expression was enough for me to believe him, and it was disappointing. For the life of me, I couldn't remember him during class. Slytherins took Potions with the Gryffindors, but since I sat on the second row with Gemma, I tried to not get distracted by looking around. Normally, I just saw Severus with his partner in front, and Lily on the first table at the other side.

I took his word as a refusal and I didn't hide away the dissatisfaction.

Honest to Merlin, I didn't know what I was thinking, asking him for help. If my housemates saw me talking to a Gryffindor boy, one of the Marauders no less, they would give me more hell than when I became friends with Lily. That was probably why he seemed so uncertain as to how to treat me. I was a Slytherin, a member of the rival house. But I didn't care for the moment. My school work was more important. And I needed help, even if it was from someone who was worse than me in the subject. I did not have the interest of going to anyone else for help with the assignment. Sure, I was desperate, however not desperate enough to go to people I hadn't met before. Pettigrew was only an acquaintance, yes, but I didn't have to go through introductions with him.

Grandfather's beard! I do like to confuse myself.

Pettigrew didn't move away, as I would have expected. He swung from foot to foot, looking at me, and looking away from me. Uncertain, and in a squeaky voice, he spoke while shrugging. "But we could go check the text book and try to figure it out."

I tried not to beam at him, I really did, but I couldn't help it. Somehow, I felt relieved.

I went after him.