At Last//Harry Potter [1]

15

The holidays were just around the corner, and Autumn was excited to see the girls again. She wasn't too excited to see Madame Dreace again, but that's the cost.

One cold winter day, Autumn, Harry, Ron and Hermione took a walk around Hogwarts to see that Hogwarts itself was covered in snow. Hermione even stifled a laugh when the Weasley twins threw bewitched snowballs at the back of Quirrell's turban. Of course, they waited until they were out of sight to laugh -- Ron laughing the loudest.

The entire school was edged with anticipation for the holidays. Someone had brought a small Christmas tree into Autumn's dormitory. The entire common room was not only decorated slightly, it was cozy as well. Autumn imagined the common room would be decorated more, if Percy wasn't head boy. He was so stressful to be around. The way he treated everyone; he treated them as if they were all beneath him and that the rules were written in stone.

In potions class, towards the holidays, Draco decided to be even more irritating than normal. "I do feel so sorry for all those people who have to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas because they're not wanted at home." When he said that, he stared directly at the four, staring at Autumn the longest.

Autumn rolled her eyes as he was watching, but when he turned around, her expression changed. Why couldn't she go home? Did he know something that Autumn didn't?

When they left the dungeons when Potions ended, they saw Hagrid carrying a giant tree.

"Hello, Hagrid," Autumn said, giving him a small wave.

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

"Nah, I'm alright, thanks, Ron."

"Would you mind moving out of the way?" Malfoy's cold drawl came 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."

Autumn tried to slap Malfoy, but Harry held her back. But no one held Ron back as he dove at Malfoy just as Snape came up the stairs. "WEASLEY!"

Ron let go of the front of Malfoy's robes, and Hermione let go of Autumn.

"He was provoked, Professor Snape," said Hagrid. "Malfoy was insultin' his family."

"Be that as it may, fighting is against Hogwarts rules, Hagrid," said Snape silkily. "Five points from Gryffindor, Weasley, 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," said Ron, grinding his teeth at Malfoy's back, "one of these days, I'll get him—"

"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 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 you got left until yer holidays?" Hagrid asked.

"Just one," said Hermione. "And that reminds me -- Harry, Autumn Ron, we've got half an hour before lunch, we should be in the library."