ix. home is where the heart is.

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CHRISTMAS was coming.

On a mid-December morning, Hogwarts was greeted with a blanket of snow that covered the grounds with several feet of powder. The frigid temperatures caused even the tranquil black lake to freeze solid, creating an enchanted winter wonderland. However, not all was peaceful at the wizarding school - mischievous students Fred and George Weasley had been caught bewitching snowballs to follow Professor Quirrell around, causing chaos as they bounced off his turban. ( It was one of the most entertaining sights she had ever seen. )

Amidst the snowy chaos, only a few determined owls braved the stormy skies to deliver mail but were later attended to by Hagrid before they could resume their deliveries.

Emmalina had a hard time adjusting to the harsh cold. Even though she had lived in London for some time, her body was much more suited to hot, sweaty weather in her hometown in Nepal.

No one could wait for the holidays to start. While the Gryffindor common room and the Great Hall had roaring warm fires, the drafty 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, not that it would provide any benefit.

"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 cruelly.

Harry, who was measuring out the powdered spine of a lionfish, ignored them.

Emmalina glared at all three of them, silent anger smouldering behind her brown eyes.

Malfoy had been even more unpleasant than usual since the Quidditch match. Disgusted that the Slytherins had lost, he tried to get everyone laughing at how a wide-mouthed tree frog would replace Harry as Seeker next. Then he'd realized that nobody found this funny because they were all so impressed at how Harry managed to stay on his bucking broomstick. So jealous and angry, Malfoy had gone back to taunting Harry about having no proper family.

Because, of course, Malfoy didn't understand that life had more meaning than tormenting Harry. But why would he leave Harry alone if that was the sole purpose of his birth?

Emmalina glanced at Harry who didn't seem fazed, listening to Ron speak.

It was true that Harry wasn't going back to Privet Drive for Christmas. Professor McGonagall had come around the week before, making a list of students staying for the holidays, and Harry had signed up at once. The Dursleys were not pleasant people at all, was what Emmalina had gathered hearing Harry's stories about them. Vile, cruel and downright abusive.

She could feel tendrils of hatred in her heart for people she had never seen or met before. If they were to come face to face, Emmalina wanted to downright hex them into oblivion.

"Would you be polite enough to tell me what potion we are making, Miss Granger?"

Emmalina stiffened, knowing very well what was about to happen. "A Wiggenweld potion, Professor."

"Professor Snape."

"Professor Snape."

"What does it do?"

"Wiggenweld Potion is a powerful healing potion that can be used to heal injuries, or reverse the effects of a Sleeping Draught," Emmalina spoke, mentally thanking herself for remembering what Snape had taught them.

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