Merlin's Snake: The Philosopher's Stone

The Mirror of Erised

Christmas was coming. One morning in mid-December, Hogwarts woke to find itself covered in several feet of snow. The lake froze solid and the Weasely 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 Slytherin common room, The Epoch Common Room, (Hermione had come up with it, as an epoch is particular point in a person's life, marked by a significant event, and they would be at Hogwarts of the next seven years) and the Great Hall had roaring fires, the drafty corridors had become icy and a bitter wind rattled the windows in the classrooms.

Worst of all were Professor Snape's classes down in the dungeons, where their breath rose in a mist before them and they kept as close as possible to their hot cauldrons.

"I do feel so sorry," said Pansy Parkinson, one Potions class, "for all those people who have to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas because they're not wanted at home." She was looking over at Harry as she spoke.

Crabbe and Goyle chuckled, Draco had left their fake friendship behind when he picked up a real one with the group. Harry, who was measuring out powdered spine of lionfish next to her, ignored them.

Parkinson had been even more unpleasant than usual since Draco had joined their group. She had tried to get everyone laughing at how a wide-mouthed tree frog would be replacing Harry as Seeker next. Then she'd realized that nobody found this funny, because they were all so impressed at the way Harry had managed to stay on his bucking broomstick. So Parkinson, jealous and angry, had gone back to taunting Harry about having no proper family.

It was true that Harry wasn't going back to Privet Drive for Christmas. Professor Snape had come around the week before, making a list of students who would be staying for the holidays, and Harry had signed up at once. Ron and his brothers were staying, too, because Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were going to Romania to visit Charlie, Faye also signed up after getting a letter from her Mentor about him being in America and not being able to come get her. He had given her an early Christmas present, and one for each of her friends, because she had mentioned that the castle got cold, and they could be seen wearing a long warm fur cloak, the Gryffindors' were dyed a dark reddish color and the Slytherins a dark green.

When they left the dungeons at the end of Potions, they found a large fir tree blocking the corridor ahead. 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 Parkinson's cold drawl from behind them. "Are you trying to earn some extra money, Weasely? 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 families used to."

Ron dived at Parkinson just as Snape came up the stairs.

"WEASLEY!" Ron let go of the front of Parkinson's robes.

"He was provoked, Professor Snape," said Hagrid, sticking his huge hairy face out from behind the tree. "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."