By the time that Christmas rolled around, Hermione was ready for a break. She liked being friends with Harry and Ron well enough, but making sure that they did their homework was a full-time job. And she was anxious to see her parents again.

She packed with exuberance, eager to be home. It would be nice to be able to take a break from studying. In spite of her reputation at school as the know-it-all, Hermione wasn't as fastidious at studying while at home.

She liked to read and learn things. She liked to know things. It bothered her immensely when there was something that she didn't know. But, when term exams were over, she liked to relax and have fun just as much as anyone else her age.

There was little doubt in her mind that she would retain her reputation. She would always be the annoying know-it-all muggleborn. And oddly enough, she was okay with that. She had a couple of friends who she was sure would fail if it weren't for her and her insistence that they do their homework.

When she had finished packing she headed down to the great hall. She was going to remind Harry that he'd agreed to look in the restricted section for information on Nicholas Flamel. But, she walked in to find Harry and Ron playing chess.

"Queen to D5," Ron said.

The stone queen glided across the face of the chessboard to the spot Ron had called. She reached the square where Harry's bishop was. The queen stood, and whacked her chair into the bishop smashing him to pieces.

"That's barbaric," Hermione exclaimed.

"That's wizard's chess," Ron said. He looked Hermione over. "I see you've packed."

"I see you haven't," Hermione said.

"There's been a change of plans. My parents are going to Romania to visit my brother Charlie," Ron said. "He's studying dragons over there you know."

For once Hermione was glad that she was an only child. She would hate it if she wound up being left behind while her parents visited siblings of hers. She quickly squelched that feeling. It wouldn't do her, or anyone else, any good.

"Well then, you can help Harry," she said. "He's going to look for Nicholas Flamel in the library."

"Why would you make us do that?" Ron moaned. "We've looked at least a hundred times already."

"Not in the restricted section."

"I don't have even the slightest clue how to get in," Harry said.

"I'm sure you'll figure something out," Hermione said. "Have a happy Christmas."

"Happy Christmas," the boys chorused.

The train ride home was more relaxing than Hermione had anticipated. She even managed to have a whole compartment all to herself. That made what she was going to do even easier.

She pulled out quill and parchment from her bag. She had tasked Harry and Ron with looking for Flamel, but she still had resources that she could use. Not to mention the fact that she fully expected them to forget about it until the day before break was over.

Dear Viktor,

This may come off a tad weird, but one of my professors mentioned Nicholas Flamel offhand. Didn't say much about him. Just mentioned that he and Dumbledore had worked together at one point.

Naturally, I wanted to find out more about him. I've looked for any mention of him in the library, but haven't been able to find anything. I have to confess that I'm not really sure where to look.

On a happier note, what are your plans for the holidays? I assume that you're going home since that was the plan last year. What does Sofia look like in the winter? I forgot to ask that last year.

My family is going to be staying at our home in London this year. We alternate where we spend the holidays. It's not a strict rotation. Last year we spent the Christmas holidays in Rome. Which I seem to recall telling you all about.

Do you guys ever travel over the holidays? I know you have quidditch camp all through the summer, but it's not the same.

Hermione

Viktor smiled as he read her letter. If only she knew his plans.

A/N: I'm so sorry. I've been writing. It just hasn't exactly been fanfiction. And I apologize for letting this get shoved to the back burner.