20th December

"Parselmouth?" I questioned.

"That's what it's called!" Hermione explained.

"Wait, what?" Harry was confused. "All I did was tell the snake not to attack Justin!"

"You didn't tell us you could speak in Parseltongue!" Ron said, but with another quizzical look from Harry made him continue, "You can talk to snakes?"

"I know! I accidently set a Boa Constrictor on my cousin Dudley at the zoo once, long story, but anyway, who cares? I bet loads of people can do it?" Harry finally made it on to the same page as we were.

"It's not a very common gift, Harry..." Ron said.

Hermione continued, "Speaking to snakes was something Salazar Slytherin was famous for! That's why the Slytherin House symbol is a serpent."

Harry stared at Hermione, gobsmacked.

"So now everyone's going to think you're Slytherin's great-great-great-great-grandson or something!" Ron finished.

"But I'm not? Surely I can't be?" Harry and I exchanged looks; we both knew he was going to be placed in Slytherin by the Sorting Hat... After that we unanimously decided to head to bed.

25th December

Harry, Hermione, the Weasley's and I were the only Gryffindors to stay at Hogwarts over the Christmas holidays. Ron and Harry were running about like mad men. Hermione and I chatted and tended to the potion-making. Fred and George were playing Exploding Snap together and generally messing around as they usually would. As for Percy, he was taking his prefect duties to the extreme, so we didn't see him! Draco, Crabbe and Goyle were the only people in Slytherin staying behind. Harry is convinced that Draco is the heir of Slytherin, I for one am yet to be persuaded.

This morning I woke to Hermione ripping open the massive pile of presents at the end of her bed.

"Merry Christmas!" she beamed over at me, putting on a Christmas jumper (green with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer) from her parents, "it's a tradition..." she added, staring down at the jumper, slightly pink in the cheeks.

"Merry Christmas!" I said, reaching down to find a single package from my sweet, sweet Grandmother. I took a look at the card first,

"Merry Christmas Kathryn!

I'm just writing to let you know that I am well and no longer need both crutches. Your mother and father, once again have 'coincidently' forgotten to post you a present this year, so I took it upon myself to purchase a present on their behalf! I hope you are keeping well, my love and a very Happy New Year to you! Can't wait to see you in the summer!

Lots of love, Granny S x"

Once again, I felt a tear rolling down my cheek which I brushed off as Hermione started looking at me strangely. The first present in the package was the usual Terry's Chocolate Orange. The second was a set consisting of a notebook, pens, writing paper and envelopes. I took the hint that she wanted me to write to her! And the final present was a handmade fabric handbag that had strips of different blue, cream and beige material all sewn together. It was beautiful, topped off with a little badge that said, "Handmade with love".

I quickly had to snap out of the immense emotion, getting changed into Hermione's present... another Christmas jumper- mine was blue with white snowflakes. I must admit it was so much nicer than hers. Next thing, Hermione sprang out of bed to trail me along to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom to add the final lacewings to the polyjuice potion.

When we came back to the common room, Fred and George were sitting by the window, heads together concentrating on something inside a box. George looked up and smiled at me, before lifting a present from under the tree. Fred then stood and lifted the last present, placed it into Hermione's hands and they engaged in friendly conversation.

George put his free hand on the back of his neck and said, "Merry Christmas, I know it's not much, but I know you'll appreciate them all the same!" I took the box from him, there was some blue ribbon around it delicately, and I smiled up at him as I untied it to reveal home-made brownies. I was completely overwhelmed.

"Wow! Thanks!" I said, putting my arms around him and willing myself not to cry again. Then I whispered, "Have a read at this!" I put the letter into his hands which he quickly skimmed over before searching my face for an indication of what reaction he should show. I gave away nothing.

"3 presents?" he smiled.

I returned the smile and said, "Yeah! I'll give you a piece of the chocolate later, yeah?"

"That would be lovely!"

"Can I break it this year?" Fred interrupted.

"Break what?!" Hermione was shocked.

"Oh, don't worry 'mione it's just some Terry's Chocolate Orange!" I explained.

Hermione questioned, "Don't tap it?"

"WHACK IT!" we said in unison, laughing lightly to each other, the boys exchanged glances as if to question our sanity.

"We should go wake the other two; we need to get back to our... project!" Hermione hinted.

"You're not working on Christmas day, are you?" Fred was quick to react.

"Sadly so... We'll not bore you with the details," I grimaced to them, "see you at lunch!"

Christmas at Hogwarts was simply the best. All eight of us walked into the masterpiece that was the Great Hall. I looked up at the falling snow that was warm to touch; I also saw some holly and mistletoe that I pretended to ignore. (I didn't feel awkward standing beside George at all!) There was a single, rounded table sitting out for students and teachers to celebrate together. I had Hermione on one side and Harry on the other. Shortly after our arrival, Dumbledore encouraged the singing of a few carols- O Holy Night, Ding Dong Merrily on High and lastly Silent Night. For the last carol, Dumbledore had all the lights dimmed at it was simply... magical!

As we ate, Professor McGonagall commented on my 'wonderful' singing. Fred and George cracked jokes. Dumbledore made polite conversation with everyone. Hagrid got progressively in a more drunken state. Draco blatantly flirted with me across the table and so George bewitched the Slytherin scarf he was wearing to interchange between, 'plonker', 'dimwit', 'dunderhead', 'brat' and 'vile'. Crabbe and Goyle gorged themselves. Ginny was her usual, quiet self. Snape sat scowling the whole time.

The time for 'Project Polyjuice' to be initiated had commenced. Hermione had stated clearly a plan of how to get 'bits' of the people they were changing into. I was on guard duty of the Gryffindor portrait, in charge of diverting Fred, George, Ginny or Percy should they have tried to get in. I plonked myself on the floor, not having a clue what to say if anyone did come... After about 10 minutes of chilling by myself, Ginny appeared.

"Dinner was lovely, wasn't it?" I asked her, having noticed our lack of conversation until now.

She looked a little edgy and answered, "Yeah, it was lovely!"

The next thing that popped into my mind was, "I'm just cooling off, would you like to join me?" I tapped the floor beside me. She sat down, hardly making a sound. "What was your favourite part of dinner?" I asked, trying to make awkward conversation.

"Dessert!" she answered, simply. I paused and smiled at her, willing her to continue, "I like the P-pro-profiteroles..." she started shaking, eyes filled with tears.

"You okay?" my conversation wasn't that bad, was it?

"I- I don't think Harry is the person behind the attacks. I think it's-" she stopped. Harry, Ron and Hermione had just left the common room.

"Oh, hey Ginny, come on Kathryn!" Hermione said politely. I was forced to go, left wondering what she was about to say...

Hermione and I went to the bathroom whilst Harry and Ron went to the front entrance hall with some sleeping-draught filled buns. She took out some goblets from her bag and placed them on the toilet seat before stirring the gloopy, treacle like potion. I didn't like the idea of re-tasting my dinner so I took a step back and shortly after, the boys arrived. With the hair in hand, they added it to the potion, making it smell even more fowl, turning shades of ochre, green and brown. I wished them luck as they entered the cubicles and drank.

Glasses smashed, clothes ripped and pain sounded from each of the three partitions. I stood with fresh robes, handing them in, ready for them to get changed. Harry was the first to step out, and then Ron, the two of them looked at each together in disgust.

"Unbelievable!" came the voice of Crabbe in Ron's expression.

"Hey! Ron!" I said, winking, "You're looking fine." I raised an eyebrow. I was merely winding him up (of course) to see how funny Crabbe would look with Ron's mannerisms.

The results were hilarious as Ron flailed his arms around in revulsion and pointed Crabbe's fat finger at me, "Not funny, Kathryn, just cause you're an Invisibilia..."

"I didn't choose it, you know and if you stay close ill save your-"

"Stop arguing!" Harry snapped, "We're wasting time! Kathryn knows the plan as well, Ron, she can get us out of tricky situations."

"Hermione?" I knocked on her door.

"You go on without me..." a high pitched voice sounded.

I open the door and saw Hermione; face covered in cat fur with a fantastic little tail. I could see it in her eyes that she wanted no fuss. Moaning Myrtle, on the other hand was laughing her massive see-through head off.

"I guess Milicent's at home anyway; the plan would have been stranger with you there. We'll see you in an hour, 'mione." Harry gave me an inquisitive look and I shooed him, "Come on you two, we're running out of time!" I left the bathroom to check that the coast was clear and directed the guys out, then making myself invisible. After all, it would be dodgy if I was seen with Crabbe and Goyle!

Our first challenge was to get into the Slytherin common room. This was obviously too hard a task for Ron who decided that asking a girl from Ravenclaw was the right way to go. He really was getting into the stupidity of his character, wasn't he? After that embarrassment, we searched the school for someone... anyone in Slytherin, but it seemed the place was deserted... Eventually we saw a figure in robes striding down the corridor toward us. It was Percy Weasley.

"What're you doing down here?!" Ron asked his brother, forgetting that he was Crabbe.

"I am a prefect and you ought to be in your dormitory." He stuck his nose in the air, "it isn't safe for two second years to be wandering around in the corridors at this time of night."

"It wouldn't be safe for you, either, then."

"I, am a prefect no monster is going to hurt me!" he said nonsensically.

"I'd quite like to hurt-" Ron began, but thankfully Draco appeared from around the corner. I never thought I'd be thankful to see Draco in all my life, but there's a first for everything, right?

"Crabbe! Goyle! Have you been pigging out in the Great Hall all this time? I've been looking for you; I want to show you something really funny!" Harry as Goyle awkwardly pointed his fat finger at Draco and excused himself from Percy presence. "And what are you doing down here, Weasley?" Draco added in his authoritative tone.

Percy looked outraged, "I think you ought to show more respect, I don't like your attitude Malfoy, run along now or I'll be forced to take points from Slytherin."

"Oooooooh!" Draco snorted, turned his back and walked away. "That Peter Weasley-"

"Percy-" Ron corrected him automatically.

"Whatever! He thinks he owns the place! He must be traipsing around thinking he can catch the heir singlehandedly!" At the end of the next corridor, the boys stopped in front of a bare bit of stone wall.

"Pure blood" Draco said, boastfully and a door appeared into the Slytherin common room. Draco left to retrieve something from his dorm. I, totally invisible, searched around for clues, looking at books, newspapers, paintings and ornaments.

"Kathryn?" I heard the voice of Ron behind me and jumped, not that they could see me!

"What?"

"We can see the books moving around and Draco will be suspicious!"

"Oh, sorry," I lifted up one final book entitled, 'Purebloods- the superior race' which I quickly set down as Ron repeated "Kathryn!" as Draco came down the staircase holding a copy of the Daily Prophet.

Draco smiled, "We all know that one day that girl is going to be mine, I've told you millions of times! Honestly!" I let out a gasp, Harry and Ron both looking in my direction. "What?" Draco questioned, thinking he was missing something.

"Nothing," Harry and Ron said in unison.

Draco shook his head and chucked the paper over to them and laughed, "Arthur Weasley is undergoing an enquiry because of that stupid car! Isn't this fantastic?"

Both Ron and Harry had to force laughter, Ron getting redder and redder as Draco continued to slate the Weasley family, muggleborns and Dumbledore. He explained how Dumbledore was at fault for letting muggleborns into the school, "apart from Kathryn, of course, but she's... different," then he added, "I hope Granger is the next one to be attacked, surely Kathryn'll be falling into my arms with no friends, the grief will have us inseparable." Draco smiled to himself yet again, as I stood there, steadying myself against the sofa behind the other two. But what had to be the most shocking revelation followed, "I wish I knew who it is, I could help them."

Ron nearly fell off the seat, Harry covered by saying, "Surely you know who's behind it?"

"I've told you a thousand times before! Father won't tell me anything, the only thing is, the last time a mudblood died. This time, I really hope its Granger."

I bit my tongue and said only to Harry and Ron, "Ask him if he knows who was behind the attacks last time!" which they did.

"Whoever it was, they were expelled and sent to Azkaban, they're probably still there-" he stopped mid sentence, "What is the matter with you two?"

Goyle's hair was quickly growing back into Harry's and Crabbe's was turning flaming red, the hour was up. They had to get out of there, fast. "I feel sick!" Harry blurted out then got up and ran. They forgot to hold the door open long enough for me. Leaving me trapped in the common room, invisible and alone with Draco.