Selene Walker and the Sorcerers Stone (Book 1)

Chapter 8

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 Weasley 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 post 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 Common rooms and the Great Hall had roaring fires, the draughty 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 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.

Selene looked over hearing him speak up and glared at him, but she did not say anything, knowing it would not do any good. He was going to do and say what ever he wanted to do. She sighed sadly wishing that he would just stop being such a bully. 

Kate on the other had had no qualms about reaching over and slapping him in the back of the head. 

 Harry, who was measuring out powdered spine of lionfish, ignored them. Malfoy had been even more unpleasant than usual since the Quidditch match. Disgusted that Slytherin 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. It was true that Harry wasn't going back to Privet Drive for Christmas. 

Professor McGonagall had come round the week before, making a list of students who would be staying for the holidays, and Harry had signed up at once. Selene had felt sorry for the boy when she noticed that he had signed up to stay at Hogwarts.

She on the other hand would be going home for the holidays. She could not wait to be home and with her family. 

Ron and his brothers were staying too, because Mr and Mrs Weasley were going to Romania to visit Charlie. 

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. Selene raised an eyebrow hearing Ron offering to help. He was one of the laziest people in Gryffindor, but at least he was polite enough to ask. 

'Nah, I'm all right, thanks, Ron.' 

'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.'