Though the December winters of Scotland are indeed beautiful, and I love the cold dearly, there are times in which I could do without the cold. Such as today. Today must be the coldest of days yet, and to our most complete misfortune, we're to spend it's full morning within Hogwarts' dungeons attending classes with Professor Snape and the Slytherins. How lovely for us...

"I do feel so sorry," Draco Malfoy begins from his end of the Potions class, "for all those people who have to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas because they aren't wanted at home." He's looking straight at Harry as he speaks snobbishly as if he's above everyone and everything in his presence. Unfortunately for him, he seems completely blind to the fact that I, personally, as well as many others, I'm sure, hold him no higher than the dirt we'll walk on outdoors.

"Or those who's families are dead," Pansy Parkinson continues on.

I'm not going to react to her pestering, as I'm sure, in Snape's presence, I'll only get myself into trouble for no reason. It'd be different were she telling it to any one of my friends, but as it's just me, I'll choose to ignore her, grit my teeth, and get through this lesson without incident.

Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Parkinson are each snickering away in their corner. I simply roll my eyes and smile to Mione, assuring her I'm alright.

I feel worse for Harry than myself and what I'm dealing with. After Gryffindor bet Slytherin in the Quidditch game, Malfoy and his goons have been giving him an even worse time than they were before. Harry's asked me to stop sticking up for him as he's worried I'll only get myself into more trouble, and to his knowledge, I've kept my thoughts to myself whenever he and they're involved. However, when I'm left with them, I don't hesitate to stand up for the boy. He doesn't deserve what they're doing, after all, and so I refuse to stand for it.

I'm not going home for Christmas this year, that much they've got right, but it isn't because my family is dead. It's because I want to give Connie some time with her daughter and daughter's family for once. I'm not often able to travel, due to the peculiarity and giveaway of my eyes, and so she's often unable to visit. This year will be perfect for her to see her daughter's entire family without issue.

Harry's said he isn't going to be going home for the holiday either, and I understand. Especially after hearing all of the horrid things about his good-for-nothing aunt and uncle, and his thicker-than-bricks, in two separate ways, cousin.

Ron and his brothers will be staying as well, due to their parents and sister (Molly, Arthur, and Ginny) heading off to Romania to see their other son Charlie. According to Ron, he's there working with dragons. I'd love to see one for myself one day.

I breathe a sigh of relief once we're released from out Potions class and stand to leave it with Ron, Hermione, and Harry in tow. We're pacing through the frigid corridors until we're blocked from our path by the appearance of a large fir tree.

"Hi, Hagrid," Ron greets before sticking his head into the tree's needles, "want any help?"

"Nah, I'm all right, thanks, Ron," Hagrid answers in his usual kind and jovial tone.

"Would you mind moving out of the way?" come's Malfoy's sickeningly posh and yet brash tone. "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."

"You retched snake!" I yell at the platinum-blond. Ron lunges for him rather than retorting however, and gets himself caught by Snape as he ascends the stairs and enters the area.

"WEASLEY!" he shouts aggressively, causing Ron to release Malfoy's robes.

"He was provoked, Professor Snape," Hagrid defends from his place still under the tree. "Malfoy was insulting his family."

"Be that as it may, fighting is against Hogwarts rules, Hagrid. Five points from Gryffindor, Weasley, and be grateful it isn't more. Move along, all of you."

"Hey! He instigated the damned fight! Are you not going to punish Malfoy!" I yell in disbelief. To be fair, I should be believing these things when they happen nowadays, seeing as Snape himself is just as slimy as his governed house. "You've got to be-"

Hermione's had is suddenly smacked over my mouth and muffling my angry shouts. Snape simply sneers at me and continues on his way, Malfoy and his troops following after him triumphantly.

"I thought we spoke about this," Hermione says after releasing me again. "You said you'd stop."

"Yeah, I did, but he's been a right git all day, and I've had enough of it! He doesn't get to insult someone else's family as if he's a clue what they're actually like, nor what their situation truly entails. I wont stand for that – You know that."

"I'll get him," says Ron after giving my an appreciative smile. "One of these days, I'll get him-"

"I hate them both," adds Harry. "Malfoy and Snape."

"Indeed," I grumble.

"Come on, cheer up, it's nearly Christmas," says Hagrid, who's still with-tree. "Tell yeh what, come with me an' see the Great Hall, looks a treat."

I smile happily thinking about the surely extravagant Christmas décor to be awaiting us. Mum used to love dressing the house for Christmas, after all. She used to let me chose and charm the star every year. Last year, for example, I was every so intrigued by golden glitter, and so I chose the sparkliest star I could and enchanted it to glimmer as if it's raining glittering, gold snow. This year, I feel like I'm leaning more towards a brilliant golden and crimson tree, the perfect fix for making Gryffindor. Plus, the colours do flow together beautifully.

We follow Hagrid from the corridor and into the Great Hall where we find Professor McGonagall and Flitwick decorating it lavishly.

"Ah, Hagrid, the last tree – put it in the far corner, would you?" Professor McGonagall instructs from her place,

The Hall looks, with lack of better words, absolutely spectacular. Festoons of holly and mistletoe hung all across every wall and at least twelve gigantic Christmas trees stood here, there, and everywhere. They're decorated with enchanted icicles, baubles, tinsel, and candy-canes.

"How many days you got left until yer holiday?" Hagrid asks.

"Just one," Hermione replies happily. "And that remind me – Harry, Ron, N/N, we've got half an hour before lunch, we should be in the library."

"Oh yeah, you're right," says Ron, who's watching Professor Flitwick decorate one of the trees with a string of golden baubles.

"Great! I've been looking for a chance to get to the library all week, but we've been doing study in the Common Room and I haven't had the chance," I smile happily upon thinking about being in the presence of so many books. Harry looks to me with a smile while shaking his head.

"The library?" Hagrid asks, the slightest bit confused. "Just before the holidays? Bit keen, aren't yeh?"

"Oh, we're not working," Harry sheds light as we all walk from the Great Hall. "Ever since you mentioned Nicolas Flamel we've been trying to find out who he is."

I smile and nod in confirmation, though I just know I'll end up wrapped up within something else entirely once I'm looking through the books.

"You what?" Hagrid asks exasperatedly shocked. "Listen here – I've told yeh – drop it. It's nothin' to you what that dog's guarding."

"We just want to know who Nicolas Flamel is," Hermione defends our curiosity, though not completely truthfully. I'm quick to back up her reasons though.

"It's not like we mean harm. We're just curious. Harry said he's heard the name before and now we're just wondering where is all."

"Unless you'd like to tell us and save us the trouble?" Harry adds. "We must've been through hundreds of books already and we can't find him anywhere- just give us a hint – I know I've read him name somewhere."

"I'm sayin' nothin'" Hagrid ends flatly.

"Just have to find it ourselves, then" Ron sighs. "Not that Y/N will be any help. Gets distracted by anything, you do."

"In my defense, I haven't got all those books at home. It's interesting stuff, you know? I'd know next to nothing about Jiggleshroom Moths, nor the Venom-Spitting Vampire Caterpillar if not for those books."

We've been looking for information on the Mister Nicolas Flamel since Hagrid accidentally revealed his name and having something to do with everything not all that long ago. It's true, I do get easily distracted, but I've still probably spent more time than Ron looking him up. I honestly don't know why he's so worried about my wondering when he's barely read a thing! I tell him that as well – a lot.

This library must be filled with thousands of shelves, hundreds of lanes, and tens of thousands of books on all different matters. How can you blame me for getting side tracked.

We've looked through a great many as well, including: Great Wizards of the Twentieth Century, Notable Magical Names of Our Time, Important Modern Magical Discoveries, and A Study of Recent Developments in Wizardry, but we've found nothing so far. Though I did pick up a rather interesting book called Madam Gilliweedles Magical Fungi and Crawling Cave Critters, which was particularly interesting and could prove good for our Potions classes, as well as another book on the progression of Owl Mail.

Today, Hermione has her list of subjects that he may be related to sat before us, and has us each collecting books from her decided sections to quickly skim through in hopes of uprooting something on the mysterious man who is Nicolas Flamel. Despite Hermione's methodical ways, though, Ron is slowly strolling through random isles picking up random books categorised by random subjects, and I think Harry's wondered off into the Restricted Section.

It's after a few minutes of skimming through Magical Marvels and the Wizards Behind Them that I notice Harry leaving the library, closely tailed by Madam Pince, the librarian, a woman who I've come to know quite well over the months.

"Oi, Mione," I mutter to the girl stuck to her book. She looks up. "Harry's been kicked out. I think we should go as well. He'll get himself into more trouble otherwise. You know what he's like."

Hermione nods and begins taking her books back around to return them to their proper shelves, and upon Ron finally returning to the table with his own stack of books, I tell him of our plans, and with a groan he's off to put them all back again.

"Madam Pince?" I ask as I wander to her place. "Do you mind if I get these two today?"

"Of course, dear. Good choices! Are you growing a fascination towards Herbology?"

The books I'm getting today, are Herbolic Remedies for Commodities and 1000 Uses for Things Grown In Greenhouses.

"Well, I've been looking through other things as well, but I think these might really help with furthering my grade in Potions, you see. What's a potion without it's ingredients after all. I think learning about the ingredients will further my understanding on the potions and how they work." I smile to the lady happily.

"Very cleaver girl, you are. You and Miss Granger both, Miss Amethyst. I sometimes wonder if they should have placed the both of you in Ravenclaw, but then I hear about how much trouble you seem to find yourself in with protecting those friends of yours and I understand," she chuckles while stamping the books and handing them over. "Have a lovely holiday, dearie."

"You as well, Madam Pince."

It's no more than five minutes after Harry's been kicked from the library that we're all joining him outside of it giving him the shake of our heads telling him that, no, we haven't found anything else, and that, yes, we should be off to lunch now.

"You will keep looking while I'm away, won't you? Boys, I'm taking to you," Hermione asks once we've reunited and are sat at lunch. "And you'll send me an owl if you find anything."

"And you could ask your parents if they know who Flamel is," Ron suggests. "It'd be safe to ask them."

"Very safe," Mione confirms. "As they're both dentists," I finish with a smile.

Once the holidays actually rolled around, I spent many hours sitting in the library and the Common Room reading up on both Flamel and other interesting things I found in the library, such as things about more advanced charms and disarming spells, which are sure to come in handy one day, especially with the trouble we've already found ourselves in this year. Harry and Ron, however, have been far too preoccupied for research, and have been goofing off in the Great Hall and Common Room, which we've practically got to ourselves.

Ron decided one afternoon he'd try his hand at teaching Harry and I wizard chess, which ended up quite well on my part. I, funnily enough, had already learnt a great deal, as Mabel and I had played quite a lot during her visits, and she was always rather good.

Christmas day finally rolls around, and I awake to a few presents seated at the foot of my bed. My bed is the only one occupied within the girls dorms, and so I decide instead of opening them here, I'll make my way to the Common Room and open them by the fire. So I take the packages up in my arms and, in my flowy, maroon dressing gown, head towards the couches and the warm fire.

"Good morning, boys," I greet Harry and Ron as I enter, the two of them having presents of their own to unwrap. "Happy Christmas." I'm quite surprised they're down here actually. I'm sure they could have opened them in their dorms, but I'm appreciative none the less that they decided to spend the morning with me instead of just each other.

"Happy Christmas," Harry replies.

"Yeah, Happy Christmas, Y/N!" Ron beams with a cake already lodged in him mouth. Where on earth did he conjure that up from?

I open my first one, which happens to be from Hagrid. I strip the gift of the rough, brown paper to find a small, whittled statue of Newton! I must remember to thank Hagrid and take him down something, as well as some cookies for Newton, as I've found he's come to like them very much. Perhaps I'll take some for Hagrid himself, as well.

"Weird!" Ron's voice carries. "What a shape! This is money?"

I look over to see that Harry's holding a crumpled piece of paper with a fifty pence piece taped to the front. How... thoughtful.

"You can keep it" replies Harry, laughing at Ron's intrigue.

I look to my next gift to find it wrapped in my favourite colour of green, and I know immediately who it's from. Connie has wrapped my gifts in this colour wince I was very young and took and interest in it. I'll need to owl her for Christmas and ask if she got my gift. It wasn't much, just a pretty ring that Newton must have stolen from somewhere, though I've no idea where, and it's just her colour, so I couldn't help myself.

I unwrap the gift and gasp in shock.

"What is it?" Ron asks from his place.

"It's a violin! Oh she must have found this in France! She's such a sweet woman!" I beam at the gift and lift the body and bow from the wrapping. "I haven't played one in so very long."

"You can play that?" Harry asks, looking over the instrument.

"My uncle, of not my uncle but my caretaker's, daughter's husband taught me when they came to visit, and I seemed to just pick it up fast, I suppose. I haven't played in ages! Would you like to hear something when we're done?"

"Yes please!" Both Ron and Harry spout at once. I laugh and nod.

I receive a book from Hermione, one I actually haven't read. It's a muggle story called Alice in Wonderland. I can't wait to give it a read. In fact, I think I'll do so later tonight.

"What's this? You've both got one as well," I mutter as I take the soft present from the small pile. Harry notices and takes his similar one up as well.

"Oh... I think I know who that one's from," Ron answers sheepishly, though also partially exasperated. "My mum. I told her you didn't expect any presents, Harry, and I know George and Fred speak about you in there letters, Y/N, I mentioned you once as well and – oh, no," he groans. "She's made you Weasley jumpers."

I tilt my head to the side and take the wrapping from the gift.

Inside sits a pretty jumper, the colour Sacramento green, information I entrusted with only a few people, those people being Hermione, Harry, Ron, and, suspiciously enough, the twins. It's beautiful though, and I can't be more thankful.

"This is beautiful," I murmur as I trace the sapphire (first initial) with my index finger.

"You what? They're horrid's what they are!" Ron pipes. Harry looks marvellously content with his as well. His, quite similar to mine though shades lighter, is an Emerald green, much, I think, like his eyes, "Every year she makes us a jumper, and mine's always maroon."

"I think it's a lovely gesture. My mum used to like to do things like that. She'd usually paint tea-cups though, as well as bookmarks. I love this... I'll have to owl you mum as soon as I can."

Harry smiles again, and Ron seems to as well. They're both lovely when on the topic of family, and I appreciate the way they refuse to pry, even though I know they hear the rumours and whispers around the castle. I suppose Harry is in the same boat, and Ron's just as sick of family assumptions as I.

"I am sorry I couldn't get you anything... I didn't have anything you'd like, and Connie's much too far away to send too much," I apologies to the boys.

"That's fine, as long as you'll hang out with us for the day, we'll call it even," harry suggests, and Ron nods. I smile and nod along with them.

I received an assortment of chocolates from Mabel and her family as well, and peculiarly enough, another small package without a name on it. I think it strange that I'd be receiving a gift from someone I don't know, especially seeing as I've already received one from everyone. I take the package up and peal back the dark-coloured paper. Inside is a pretty pendant on a chain. The gem inside is a glittering gold and crimson, just like our house colours, and the chain is just as glinting and gold.

"Wow," Ron says. "Who sent you that?"

I'm about to reply before I look over to see he's gazing at Harry, who's holding a silvery-grey piece of silky, slithery cloth, and from the look on Ron's face, he knows exactly what it is as well.

"I've heard of those," he then says after. "If that's what I think it is – they're really rare, and really valuable."

"I think it's exactly what you think it is, Ron," I smile is awe at the cloak, whilst fastening my new pendant around my neck. It's just long enough that it rests just below my collar bone.

"What is it?" Harry asks, perplexed.

"That's an invisibility cloak," Ron awes. "I'm sure it is – try it on."

Both Ron and I watch in wonder as Harry apprehensively throws the cloak over his shoulders and fastens it with his hands around his neck. I gasp and smile happily to Harry as I watch the entirety of his body disappear underneath the invisibility cloak. He looks down and gasps as well.

"There's a note," Ron says suddenly taking up the piece of parchment and handing it to Harry. "A note fell out of it."