𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌 | 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘗𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳

8 || Cloaks and Christmas Trees

No one could wait for the holidays to start. The common room and Great Hall were always warm and inviting, but the Potions classroom and the Quidditch field were absolutely freezing. Most days in Potions I could see my breath puff up in a white cloud.

It was Potions that we were in today, and after hearing Malfoy's: "I do feel so sorry for those who have to stay here for Christmas, because they're not wanted at home" I turned around to hex him, but Harry, who was my partner, had grabbed my arm and told me to leave it, he didn't mind.

"I mind," I grumbled, glancing at Ron and Hermione at the table next to us. Hermione was adding crushed beetles to her potion and Ron was struggling to chop his roots with a blunt knife.

Malfoy had been even more nasty since Slytherin's loss at Quidditch: he took every opportunity he got to make fun of Harry, but since everyone was so impressed at his ability to stay on the bucking broom, no one joined in to poke fun at The Boy Who Lived. Which was good, because if they did I'd send them to the hospital wing in a second.

Hermione and I had been learning a ton, and I absolutely loved trying out new spells, especially ones that I could use in a battle-like situation. (You have probably guessed that Herbology is my least favorite subject). I was fairly good at Charms, however, and really good at DADA, like Harry. Hermione, of course, was good at everything.

When we left the dungeons after class, we were stopped by a large fir tree blocking the corridor ahead. I saw two large brown boots peeking out from underneath it.

"Hi, Hagrid," I said cheerfully.

"Want any help?" Ron asked, sticking his head through the branches.

"No, I'm alrigh', thanks Ron," came the muffled reply.

"Would you mind moving out of the way?" Malfoy's cold drawl said from behind us. "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, ignoring our protests. Just then 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 face out from behind the tree. "Malfoy was insulting his family."

"Be as it may, fighting is against Hogwarts rules, Hagrid," Snape said silkily. "Five points from Gryffindor, Weasley, be thankful-"

"How is that fair?" I said angrily, crossing my arms and ignoring Hermione's frantic whispers and Harry's hand back on my arm once more. "He didn't do anything, Malfoy provoked him on purpose."

"Fighting is against-"

"How would you feel if Malfoy insulted your family, Professor?" I glared daggers at him and Snape looked a bit taken aback.

"Not another word from you," he snapped. "Or it will be detention." With that, he swept away, robes billowing out behind him.

"Bloody hell," Ron whispered. I whipped back around to them, still angry.

"What?"

"You're scary sometimes."

My anger melted away and I laughed.

"I'll hate them both," Harry said, frustrated. "Malfoy and Snape."

"We all do," I agreed with him.

"Cheer up, it's almost Christmas!" said Hagrid. "Tell yeh what, come an' see the Great Hall with me, it looks a treat."

We followed Hagrid into the Hall and I craned my neck to get a full view of the holiday decorations adorning every table and chair.