Our time •|Harry Potters Twin Sister|• {book two}

Chapter 12

Snow, once again, was swirling against the icy windows. Christmas was approaching fast. Hagrid had already singlehandedly delivered the usual twelve Christmas trees to the Great Hall; garlands of holly and tinsel had been twisted around the banisters of the stairs; everlasting candles glowed from inside the helmets of suits of armor and great bunches of mistletoe had been hung at intervals along the corridors. I for one couldn't wait for the Christmas break especially as I needed a break from the constant school work. And a lie in.

Ron, was a lot happier with his new girlfriend. Lavender Brown was always around him and considered a second not kissing Ron, a second wasted. So naturally I stayed with Hermione. We camped in the kitchens and studied there to get away from distractions, such as students fighting or snogging. And then in the evenings Harry, Hermione and I held whispered conversations in the library.

"He's at perfect liberty to kiss whomever he likes," said Hermione, while the librarian, Madam Pince, prowled the shelves behind them. "I really couldn't care less. "

She raised her quill and dotted an 'i' so ferociously that she punctured a hole in her parchment. I "hmmmd" while Harry said nothing and bent a little lower over Advanced Potion-Making and continued to make notes on Everlasting Elixirs, occasionally pausing to decipher the Prince's useful additions to Libatius Borage's text.

"And incidentally," said Hermione, after a few moments to Harry, "you need to be careful. "

"For the last time," said Harry, speaking in a slightly hoarse tone after three-quarters of an hour's silence, "I am not giving back this book. I've learned more from the Half-Blood Prince than Snape or Slughorn have taught me in--"

"I'm not talking about your stupid so-called Prince," said Hermione, giving his book a nasty look as though it had been rude to her. "I'm talking about earlier. Harley and I went into the girls' bathroom just before I came in here and there were about a dozen girls in there, including that Romilda Vane, trying to decide how to slip you a love potion. They're all hoping they're going to get you to take them to Slughorn's party, and thay all seem to have bought Fred and George's love potions, which I'm afraid to say probably work--"

Why didn't you confiscate them then?" demanded Harry.

"They didn't have the potions with them in the bathroom," I said scornfully, "They were just discussing tactics. I'd just invite someone to go with you, that'll stop all the others thinking they've still got a chance. It's tomorrow night, they're getting desperate. "

"There isn't anyone I want to invite," mumbled Harry, although I knew he was still thinking about Ginny.

"Well, just be careful what you drink, because Romilda Vane looked like she meant business. " said Hermione grimly.

"I'm going alone," I sighed.

"Why can't you just ask someone, as a friend? Asked Harry.

"Because I want to go alone." I said grinning. "I'm a strong independent woman and I don't need to go to a dance with anyone."

"Fair enough." Harry nodded, smiling slightly while Hermione laughed.

We all set into silence, Hermione quill scratching away while I read and Harry stared into a space.

"Hang on a moment," Harry then said slowly. "I thought Filch had banned anything bought at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes?"

"And when has anyone ever paid attention to what Filch has banned?" asked Hermione, still concentrating on her essay.

"But I thought all the owls were being searched. So how come these girls are able to bring love potions into the school?"

"Fred and George send them disguised as perfumes and cough potions," I said. "It's part of their Owl Order Service. "