Secrets

Chapter Five

Christmas was right around the corner. The students could barely contain their excitement- some were staying at Hogwarts, while others were traveling home. As snow piled on the ground, classes and dorms became colder and colder.

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 Draco Malfoy, one Potions class, "for all those people who have to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas because they're not wanted at home."

He was looking over at Harry as he spoke. Crabbe and Goyle chuckled. Harry, who was measuring out powdered spine of lion-fish, ignored them. Malfoy had been even more unpleasant than usual since the Quidditch match. Disgusted that the Slytherins had lost, he had tried to get everyone laughing at how a wide-mouthed tree frog would be replacing Harry as Seeker next. Then he'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 Malfoy, jealous and angry, had gone back to taunting Harry about having no proper family. Rosaphina scolded him for this, but he ignored her each time.

Ron and Harry were outside with Hagrid, moving luggage into carriages.

"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."

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

"WEASLEY!"

Ron let go of the front of Malfoy'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."

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-"

"Don't bother," Rosaphina said as she stepped outside, her feet sinking into the snow. "Are you two staying?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah. I haven't really got a place to go."

"I'm staying, too," Ron chimed in.

"Wonderful! Perhaps we could spend some time together," she said with a smile. The boys nodded.

"I'm staying as well," Holly muttered, her arms crossed tightly over her chest as she stared out into the white abyss.

"Oh, bloody hell, Holly! I didn't see you there," Rosaphina jumped.

"I'm hard to notice sometimes."

"Is Carter staying?"

She was quiet for a moment, then shrugged. "I don't know."

"Do you think he's cute?"

Holly turned to her. Her eyes were narrowed. "He's my best friend."

"Do you like-like him?"

"No," she replied icily. Rosaphina chuckled. Holly turned her head back. "Where is he, anyway?"

"I have no clue."