Secrets Only Trouble Knows - George Weasley

14 - Lost In the Light

The rest of December flew by right before my eyes. Suddenly it was the day before classes were to end and Christmas break officially began, much to mine and the rest of the school's delight.

I walked through the chilly corridors with Adrian on our way to the Great Hall. Along our stroll, I'd heard numerous conversations about what people were going to be doing and where they would be going for the holidays. Most people seemed to be returning home to spend a nice and relaxing Christmas with their parents. Some, though, were planning to travel, whether just for fun or to catch up with family friends and distant relatives. And then there were a few like me who would be staying here at Hogwarts.

Not too long ago, Jasper and I had received a letter from Mum telling us it would be best if we spent the holidays at school this year. As much as she desperately wanted to see us, St. Mungo's had been unusually swamped the past few weeks and she'd been asked to work overtime, including on Christmas Day. Someone had to ensure patients were taken care of on the holiday while other staff went home, and unfortunately this year it was going to have to be her.

It wouldn't be fun for us to be at the house all alone while she was away, so there wasn't much of a point in going to Castle Combe. She also didn't think it would be worth it to try and stay with our grandparents either as they were quite busy with Ministry matters that would take up most of their time. They wouldn't be hosting their annual New Year's Eve party for that reason either, which bummed me out a little. I absolutely adored their parties and had been looking forward to the occasion all year.

When he'd learned of all of this, Adrian said to me that he wished Jasper and I could stay with his family at his manor, but they were traveling, seeing as it was one of the few opportunities they had throughout the year to go somewhere all three of them. I told him I didn't mind. As much as I wanted to be in my own bed in my family cottage and spend time with my mother, I understood the circumstances.

It helped that I wouldn't be entirely alone either, which was important to remember. At the very least I would have Jasper I could spend the holidays with, as well as a few friends of mine that would be remaining at school too. Harry was staying for obvious reasons. But so were the Weasley siblings. Their parents Molly and Arthur were visiting their other son Charlie where he worked in Romania and unfortunately were unable to bring their other children along too.

So it would be very different for sure, as it would be my first Christmas spent at Hogwarts and without my mum, but I knew there wasn't anything I could do about it. I'd miss her a lot, but I'd make the most of it anyway. Being mopey about it wouldn't get me anywhere.

Adrian and I finally turned the corner and made our way into the Great Hall. It was absolutely breathtaking inside. There were festoons of holy and mistletoe that hung around the walls and as many as twelve gigantic Christmas trees stood all over the room. They sparkled with tiny icicles or glittered with hundreds of candles. In the air, snowflakes fell from the ceiling, giving it the illusion that it was snowing in the Great Hall, but the white flakes would disappear before they hit our heads or made it to the ground. Professors McGonagall and Flitwick were currently hanging up all sorts of decorations, just as Hagrid was carrying another humungous tree down the center aisle. The sight was absolutely gorgeous.

"Sure is beautiful, isn't it?" I asked Adrian breathlessly, my eyes lighting up as I gazed around the room in wonder.

If this was how the Great Hall was going to look during break, I wouldn't be too upset— it was definitely more extravagant than our house ever looked for the holidays.

Adrian looked down at me and gave me a wide grin.

"Sure is."

Just then, I spotted the trio running after Hagrid. I decided to head over to join them. Adrian and I greeted Harry, Ron, and Hermione as we caught up with them. We talked for several minutes about the beautiful decorations.