meant to be (2)

36

The double attack on Justin and Nearly Headless Nick turned what had been nervousness into real panic.

Curiously, it was Nearly Headless Nick's fate that seemed to worry people most. "What could possibly do that to a ghost?" people asked each other "what terrible power could harm someone who was already dead?"

There was almost a stampede to book seats on the Hogwarts Express so that students could go home for Christmas.

"At this rate, we'll be the only ones left" Ron told Harry, Hermione and I. "Us, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle. What a jolly holiday it's going to be!"

Crabbe and Goyle, who always did whatever Malfoy did, had signed up to stay over the holidays too.

But I was glad that most people were leaving. I was tired of people skirting around Harry in the corridors, as though he was about to sprout fangs or spit poison; tired of all the muttering, pointing and hissing as he passed.

Fred, George and Mason, however, found all this very funny. They went out of their way to march ahead of Harry down the corridors, shouting: "Make way for the heir of Slytherin, seriously evil wizard coming through..."

Percy was deeply disapproving of this behaviour.

"It is not a laughing matter" he said coldly.

"Oh, get out of the way, Percy" said Fred. "Harry's in a hurry!"

"Yeah, he's nipping off to the Chamber of Secrets for a cup of tea with his fanged servant" said George, chortling.

"Planning the next attack!" Mason added in a sing song voice.

Ginny didn't find it amusing either.

"Oh, don't" she wailed every time Mason asked Harry loudly who he was planning to attack next, or Fred and George pretended to ward Harry off with a large clove of garlic when they met.

Harry didn't seem to mind; he told me it made him feel better that Fred, George and Mason, at least, thought the idea of him being Slytherin's heir was quite ludicrous.

But their antics seemed to be aggravating Malfoy, who looked increasingly sour each time he saw them at it.

"It's because he's bursting to say it's really him." said Ron knowingly. "You know how he hates anyone beating him at anything, and you're getting all the credit for his dirty work."

"Not for long" said Hermione in a satisfied tone. "The Polyjuice Potion's nearly ready. We'll be getting the truth out of him any day now."

🤍

At last the term ended, and a silence deep as the snow on the grounds descended on the castle.
I found it peaceful, rather than gloomy, and enjoyed the fact that I, Harry, Hermione, my brother and the Weasleys had the run of Gryffindor Tower, which meant we could play Exploding Snap loudly without bothering anyone, and practise duelling in private.

Fred, George and Ginny had chosen to stay at school rather than visit Bill in Egypt with Mr and Mrs Weasley.

Percy, who disapproved of what he termed our childish behaviour, didn't spend much time in the Gffindor common room. He had already told us pompously that he was only staying over Christmas because it was his duty as a Prefect to support the teachers during this troubled time.

I usually was a pretty heavy sleeper, but on Christmas morning I was always the first to wake up.

"MIONE!" I shouted while shaking my best friend awake at 6:30 a.m. "WAKE UP! IT'S CHRISTMAS!"

"Merry Christmas, Julie!" she said happily.

"Merry Christmas!" I grinned. "Let's open our presents."

And so we did. We spent over an hour opening our presents and showing them to each other. My parents got me a beautiful golden watch, while my grandparents gifted me a set of hand knitted clothes, including a red scarf and beanie. I also got tons of sweets which will probably last me a lifetime. Mrs. Weasley also made me a new Weasley jumper. Hermione got me a beginners make up set with lots of different products and explanations on how to properly apply different make up products.

"Let's go and see what Harry and Ron got us" said Hermione, as she picked up her presents for the boys. I agreed immediately and got my gifts as well.

We quickly ran across the corridor and got to the boys dormitory.

"Merry Christmas!" Hermione and I said in union as we entered the boy's dormitory.

"Merry Christmas!" Harry and Ron grinned.

"Here are your presents." I said handing the boys their presents while they were giving me mine. I started unpacking Ron's present first, receiving the biggest pack of Liquorice Wands I've ever seen.

"Thanks, Ron." I grinned. Liquorice Wands were with no doubt my favourite sweet.

Then I started opening Harry's present. It was the most beautiful bracelet I've ever seen. The bracelet was made out of beads, which matched my eye colour and Harry's eye colour perfectly.

"Harry, the bracelet's perfect!" I said happily while putting it on. "Thank you so much!"

"Made it myself" said Harry proudly. "I personally think I deserve a hug for this."

"Of course you do" I said with a lot of sarcasm in my voice, but I still obliged and swung my arms around his neck. He had his arms around my waist and I could feel the tingling in my stomach again and a blush forming on my cheeks. After a few long seconds I pulled away.

"Look at you blushing, Jules." Harry said smiling at me. I couldn't help but notice that his cheeks were also slightly pink.

"I am not!" I argued.

"You are!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"No!"

"Ye-"

"Can you please flirt when you're alone." Ron said loudly, interrupting the two of us.

"Julie and I finished the Polyjuice Potion yesterday late at night. It's ready!" Hermione said awkwardly, looking between Harry and I repeatedly.

"Are you sure?" asked Ron wide eyed.

"Positive" said Hermione, shifting Scabbers the rat so that she could sit down on the end of Ron's four-poster. "If we're going to do it, I say it should be tonight!"

At that moment, Hedwig swooped into the room, caying a very small package in her beak.

"Hello" said Harry happily, as she landed on his bed, "are you speaking to me again?"

"Owls can't speak." I pointed out.

"Thanks for the information." Harry said smiling as Hedwig nibbled his ear in an affectionate sort of way, which was a far better present than the one which she had brought him, which turned out to be from the Dursleys.

They had sent Harry a toothpick and a note telling him to find out whether he'd be able to stay at Hogwarts for the summer holidays, too.

"Idiots" I muttered after Harry showed us the note, but I was happy that Harry was satisfied with the rest of his gifts.