AUTOPHOBIA - G. WEASLEY

First Year: Christmas

✯ CHAPTER NINE ✯

❝I wish I had a Mum.❞

December 16th, 1991.

CHRISTMAS WAS COMING very quickly, and soon enough, the Hogwarts grounds were covered with a thick layer of snow. The lake froze solid and the Weasley twins were punished for bewitching several snowballs so that they followed Quirrell around, bouncing off the back of his turban. The few owls that managed to battle their way through the stormy sky to deliver mail had to be nursed back to health by Hagrid before they could fly off again.

No one could wait for the holidays to start. While the Gryffindor common room and the Great Hall had roaring fires, the drafty corridors had become icy and a bitter wind rattled the windows in the classrooms.

Professor McGonagall had come round one day and made a list of the Gryffindor students who would be staying at Hogwarts throughout the Christmas break. Not many people signed themselves up, only Estella, Harry and the Weasleys -- who were staying at Hogwarts because their parents were away visiting Charlie in Romania.

It was the last day of term now, and Estella, Harry, Ron and Hermione were all just leaving Potions when they found a fir tree blocking the pathway out of the dungeons. Two enormous feet sticking out at the bottom and a loud puffing sound told them that Hagrid was behind it.

"Hi, Hagrid, want any help?" Ron asked, sticking his head through the branches.

"Nah, I'm all right, thanks, Ron."

"Would you mind moving out of the way?" came Malfoy's cold drawl from behind them. "Are you trying to earn some extra money, Weasley? Hoping to be gamekeeper yourself when you leave Hogwarts, I suppose -- that hut of Hagrid's must seem like a palace compared to what your family's used to. "

Angry that someone was speaking so horribly about her friend, Estella dived towards Draco, just as Snape was walking up the stairs.

"LUPIN!"

Estella let go of the front of Malfoy's robes.

"She was provoked, Professor Snape," said Hagrid, sticking his huge hairy face out from behind the tree. "Malfoy was insultin' Ron's family. She was only defending him."

"Be that as it may, fighting is against Hogwarts rules, Hagrid," said Snape silkily. "Five points from Gryffindor, Lupin, and be grateful it isn't more. Move along, all of you."

Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle pushed roughly past the tree, scattering needles everywhere and smirking.

"I'll get him," Estella sneered as she watched Malfoy's back. "One day, I'll get him -- just like I did Parkinson. I don't care what my Dad has to say about it!"

"I hate them both," said Harry. "Malfoy and Snape."

"Come on, cheer up, it's nearly Christmas," said Hagrid. "Tell yeh what, come with me an' see the Great Hall, looks a treat."

So the four of them followed Hagrid and his tree off to the Great Hall, where Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick were busy with the Christmas decorations.

"Ah, Hagrid, the last tree -- put it in the far corner, would you?"

The hall looked spectacular. Festoons of holly and mistletoe hung all around the walls, and no less than twelve towering Christmas trees stood around the room, some sparkling with tiny icicles, some glittering with hundreds of candles.

"How many days is there until the holidays?" Hagrid asked.

"I go home tomorrow," said Hermione. "And that reminds me -- Harry, Ron, Estella, we've got half an hour before lunch, we should be in the library."