Always Together

9. Christmas

Have I mentioned how much I love you, guys? So many votes ... You make my head spin around! Christmas is such fun at Hogwarts! ... I think ... Just kidding, I don't think! Dedication to @Parker2012! I have made a list with the names of everyone who voted for this story so I won't forget to dedicate any of you a chapter! If you haven't had a dedication, you will have one in a couple of chapters.

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Chapter 9 | christmas

Christmas was coming. One morning in December, Caitlyn woke up to find the Hogwarts grounds filled with snow. The lake was frozen and everyone was fooling around, like the Weasleys, who three bewitched snowballs at Quirrell's head.

Caitlyn couldn't wait for the holidays to begin, like everyone else. It would be her first holidays with her friends, ever, though very busy with homework. The castle had become very cold, specially in the dungeons; thankfully, the fireplace in the Slytherin common room was always lit. In Potions class, Professor Snape never put up a fire, so they had to use their cauldrons to get some heat; it sucked when they only had theoretical classes, though ...

"I feel so sorry," said Draco Malfoy, one Potions class, "for all those people who have to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas because their not wanted at home."

He looked over Harry as he spoke. His goons, Crabbe and Goyle, chuckled. Harry, who was measuring out powdered spine of lion-fish, ignored them. Draco had been very ... unpleasant than usual since the Quidditch match.

Caitlyn didn't mind the insult since she actually didn't have a family and considered Hogwarts a home more than Wool's Orphanage ever was. Sometimes she did wonder about her parents, and deep down, she wanted to know, but she was happy either way.

Professor McGonagall had come round the week before making a list of students who would be staying for the holidays, and Caitlyn had signed up at once. She didn't feel sorry for herself at all; this would probably be the best Christmas she'd ever had. Pansy, Millicent and Spencer were going home for the holidays, but Harry, Ron and his brothers were staying too, because Mr and Mrs Weasley were going to Romania to visit  one of their other sons, Charlie.

Caitlyn walked along with Draco and his bodyguards 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 large puffing sound told Ciatlyn that was Hagrid behind it. Ron, Harry and Hermione had just found him also and Ron asked if he needed any help.

"Naw, I'm all right, thanks, Ron," responded Hagrid.

"Would you mind getting out of the way?" asked Draco in a cold drawl from next to Caitlyn. "Are you trying to win 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 took a dive at Draco just as the Potions professor came up the stairs.

"Weasley!" he called.

Ron let go of the front of Draco's robes.

"He was provoked, Professor Snape," said Hagrid, sticking up a 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."

Draco, Crabbe and Goyle pushed roughly past the tree, scattering needles everywhere and smirking. They left Caitlyn with Ron, Harry and Hermione.

"I'll get him," said Ron, grinning his teeth at Draco's back, "one of these days, I'll get him --"