Athena Potter 🎞

Chapter 18: Christmas gift

Athena, Hermione and Ron are walking along a path with Hagrid, talking.]

Hagrid: Nonsense! Why would Snape put a curse on Athena's broom?
Athena: Who knows? Why was he trying to get past that three-headed dog on Halloween?
Hagrid: [turns to them, suspiciously] Who told you 'bout Fluffy?
Ron: Fluffy?
Hermione: That thing has a name?
Hagrid: Well, of course he's got a name. He's mine. I bought him off an Irish feller I met down at the pub last year. Then I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the..
Athena: Yes?
Hagrid: Shouldn't have said that. No more questions! Don't ask any more questions. That's top secret, that is.
Athena: But, Hagrid, whatever Fluffy's guarding, Snape's trying to steal it.
Hagrid: Codswallop. Professor Snape is a Hogwarts teacher.
Hermione: Hogwarts teacher or not, I know a spell when I see one. I've read all about them. You've got to keep eye contact and Snape wasn't blinking.
Athena: Exactly.
Hagrid: [Sighs] Now, you listen to me, all three of you. You're meddling in things that ought not to be meddled in. It's dangerous. What that dog is guarding is strictly between Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel.
Athena: [Curious and turns to Ron then back to Hagrid] Nicholas Flamel?
Hagrid: [Mumbles to himself] I shouldn't said that. I should not have said that. [He then leaves, mumbling to himself "I should have not said that"]

The women in the hall shook their head at Hagrid, who was sporting a bright red face.

Athena: Nicholas Flamel. [Turns to Hermione] Who's Nicholas Flamel?
Hermione: I don't know. [Shakes her head]

"Hermione doesn't know something" "the horror" The Weasley twins said dramatically placing their hands over their hearts making many laugh.

It is now Christmas at Hogwarts, with snow falling. Hagrid is dragging a massive Christmas tree to the castle. Hermione walks to the Great Hall entrance with her luggage and wearing a scarf as the ghosts are singing Christmas songs.

Ghosts: Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. Ring the Hogwart bell. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas...

"I love Christmas" Andromeda sighed in content "so do I" Narcissa agreed. The two sisters looked at each other, Narcissa smiled, Andromeda returned the smile the turned away facing the screen. Leaving Narcissa a bit of hope that they'll be able to be sisters again, she felt and hand on top of hers and saw Bellatrix smiling at her nodding as if saying she thought the same thing.

Hermione looks from the massive Christmas tree as Flitwick uses his wand to put another ornament on the tree to Athena and Ron as they play Chess and walks towards them.

Athena: Knight to E5. [The Knight moves to its destination. Hermione walks up behind Athena.]
Ron: [With a smug face] Queen to E5.

Hermione watches as Ron's queen goes over to Athena's knight and whacks the knight with her chair. Ron grins.

Hermione: [With a shocked face] That's totally barbaric!

Lily, Narcissa and Mia all nodded their head in agreement.

Ron: That's wizard's chess. [Looks over to Hermione] I see you've packed.
Hermione: See you haven't.
Ron: Change of plans, my parents decided to go to Romania to visit my brother Charlie. He's studying dragons there.

"That's a lie" the Weasley twins said to Ron, "we were all supposed to go" "I know but I didn't want Athena to be left alone" Ron shrugged his shoulders, Athena hugged Ron. "That was very nice of you Ron" Andromeda said sincerely.