𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹, draco malfoy

˗ˋ 15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN
✧
-: third year :-

── IN WHICH IT'S CHRISTMAS

. . .

Hermione, the twins and Ron spent a lot of the next few days in the library, searching for things that could help with Buckbeak's case - something which both Hermione and Marlie were becoming slightly obsessed with.

Classes had finished for Christmas a while ago, and whilst a lot of students had returned home for the holidays (more than usual, considering the whole Dementor-Black situation), the group of friends stayed behind.

Meanwhile, in the rest of the castle, the usual magnificent Christmas decorations had been put up, despite the fact that hardly any of the students remained to enjoy them. Thick streamers of holly and mistletoe were strung along the corridors, mysterious lights shone from inside every suit of armor, and the Great Hall was filled with its usual twelve Christmas trees, glittering with golden stars. A powerful and delicious smell of cooking pervaded the corridors, and by Christmas Eve, it had grown so strong that even Scabbers poked his nose out of the shelter of Ron's pocket to sniff hopefully at the air.

On Christmas morning, Marlie woke rather early - and soon had woken up Hermione in no time. Her Christmas time at the Dursleys had consisted of maybe one or two presents a year, but at Hogwarts it was a whole other story.

The two girls set about opening their presents - and the very top one was one from Mrs Weasley, containing a dark green sweater with an 'M' inscribed on the front.

Mrs Weasley also made up for the lack of presents from the Dursleys, also sending a dozen of freshly-baked mince pies, some Christmas cake and a box of nut brittle. There were a couple of other presents, but right at the bottom was a long thin package - which looked suspiciously like the Nimbus 2000 that Harry had recieved in his first year.

"No way." Marlie said, pulling the package onto her bed and opening it. Her mouth dropped open as a broomstick rolled onto her bed - but not just any broomstick. "The Firebolt?" She gasped, and Hermione stared.

Hermione wasn't really into Quidditch, but she even seemed to know what a big deal this was. She said nothing, jumping out of bed and pulling on her jumper from Mrs Weasley over her pajamas and rushing out, broom clutched in her hand.

She quickly rushed down the stairs into the common room, practically running across the short distance to the stairs and up them, pushing the door open to Harry and Ron's dorm and closing it behind her.

"You got one too?" Harry exclaimed, and Marlie's eyes landed on his bed, where a Firebolt sat. She nodded, sitting down on the edge of Dean's empty bed.

Hermione appeared in the doorway then, Crookshanks in her arms. "Who sent you those?" She asked, dropping Crookshanks down on Seamus's empty bed.

"No idea," said Harry. "There wasn't a card or anything with it."

To his great surprise, Hermione did not appear either excited or intrigued by the news. On the contrary, her face fell, and she bit her lip. "What's the matter with you?" said Ron.

"It was the same with Marlie's - I checked before I came.. But I don't know," said Hermione slowly, "but it's a bit odd, isn't it? I mean, this is supposed to be quite a good broom, isn't it?"