Chapter Eight

In December, Hogwarts breaks up for the holidays. Almost every student has gone home to their families. Penny is one of the few who has stayed behind. She received a letter from her Father informing her that he has had to go to America. There is a joint Ministry of Magic and Macusa meeting to determine the usage of a slime like magical creature that seems to be useful for cleaning. As it falls under his departments jurisdiction he is heading abroad to determine just how useful it really is. Penny has recently moved her research into Composite magic up a notch. With the free time she holds over the Christmas break she can be seen constantly scribbling in her notebook. She has busily determined what she calls spells with a synergistic relationship. By combining many spells in a controlled environment she is able to determine what effect they hold when combined. A recent discovery has led to the creation of a new spell of her own devising. She calls this spell "Umbra Mantellum" By casting a combination Disillusionment charm on one's self and Transfiguration on ones own shadow Penny has become able to completely erase her presence within her own shadow, this greatly improving the effectiveness at keeping ones self hidden. Penny is so unnoticeable in this form that it would even give an invisibility cloak a run for its money.

Christmas day has arrived in Hogwarts. Penny awakens by herself in the Ravenclaw dormitory. There are a pile of presents at the foot of her bed, Penny slowly gets out of her bed. She places her dainty little feet into the slippers placed at the side of her bed. Hogwarts is bitingly cold this morning. Penny wraps herself within a Ravenclaw coloured dressing gown that greatly helps in warming her up. She looks at the pile of presents, her Father had sent her quite a large pile more so than usual. No doubt he feels guilty for not being able to spend Christmas with his beloved daughter. Penny remembered the Christmas' of her youth reading about Father Christmas. To wizards Father Christmas or Santa what ever you want to call him is said to be an ancient wizard, long before the era of the four Hogwarts founders. This wizard with his army of House-Elves gave presents to all good little Muggle children. His magical beasts that resembled reindeer pulled his sleigh with their ability to Apperate anywhere in the would at will. Penny loved this story as a child, and even though Father Christmas is thought of as being a strange person by wizard standards the act of gift giving during this time of year caught on within the wizarding community. Penny thought to herself how that wizard that became known as Father Christmas would have coped in the modern age with the Statute of Secrecy in place.

Penny opens up her presents. From her Father she has received textbooks and reading materials required by the Illvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, She also was given books from the Muggle world from their famous Physicist's, Biologist's, and Chemist's. She specifically asked her father for these much to his confusion. although she can memorize their contents understanding them is going to prove difficult so Penny hopes to take her time with these books and see what she can implement into her magical knowledge. From Drew she received a girt from the Muggle world. It seemed to be a book collection famous in the Muggle world. Penny remembered him telling her it is a book about wizards, elves, and dwarfs. Drew was excitedly talking about something called the ring of power within the book and how he wished it was real as a child. The only one not to give Penny books was Agnes. She sent Penny several well-known beauty products within the wizarding world the most notable being a container filled with Sleekeazy's Hair potion. Penny asked Sebastian if he would keep them safe for her to which it agreed.

Penny spent her Christmas in Hogwarts relaxing and leisurely reading in the Great Hall until mid-day. The Great Hall which was decorated splendidly by Professor Flitwick. Holly and mistletoe were hung neatly around the walls there were at least twelve trees stood around decorated with either sparkling icicles or hundreds of flickering candles. The four large tables had been pushed against the walls, The already large hall felt even larger than usual. There was a small table placed for the remaining students, of which Penny was sat reading a book her Father had sent as one of her gifts. The book is the first of the seven issue series called Chadwick's Charms, it is part of the required reading at Illvermorny in their Charms Class. Penny was thoroughly enjoying reading the what another country considered essential magical knowledge, She greedily devoured all that wasn't covered within Hogwarts. Professor Flitwick seeing the book Penny was reading began excitedly asking all sorts of questions. It seems he too has also read this book series in the past, the contents he described as "eye-opening". Penny agreed and she could see how many of the overlooked applications of charms within this book could vastly improve a wizards magical abilities if implemented. The two sat discussing the many ideas put forth in this book until it was time to eat Christmas dinner. Professor Flitwick reluctantly made his way back to the teacher's table, his diminutive stature seemingly even smaller as he walks with his shoulders slumped. The other Professors were all cheerfully smiling. The mood became infectious as soon the few students that were also found themselves full of festive cheer. Every one pulled wizarding crackers that banged with such ferocity that Penny jumped the first time she heard one. The cracker Penny pulled contained a live mouse, the little soft creature scurried onto Penny's hand where she proceeded to stroke it gently. This little Mouse soon found its way to the pocket in her robe and soon fell asleep. The hall was reverberating with the sound of laughter and jokes. Penny was warmly laughing with the other students that stayed behind. The Weasleys, and Harry Potters seemed to be the focus of everyone's attention as they were reveling with such glee that even the usually staunch Percy Weasley seemed happy. Penelope Clearwater is one of the few Ravenclaws to have stayed behind. Penny watched with amusement as Penelope and Percy kept stealing glances towards each other. The Christmas feast was sumptuous, the roast turkey, potatoes, chipolatas, peas. The show piece however was the flaming Christmas pudding. Everyone ate till they were full, For some reason Ron Weasley was challenging anyone he could find to a game of Wizards Chess. He was so desperate for an opponent that he even asked Professor Snape. Snape with an incredulous smile refused and was about to walk away. Penny who maybe letting the merry-making get to her head spoke up. "What's wrong Professor?, Surely you're not intimidated by a students intelligence are you?" Snape spun around his anger visible for all to see. Penny even heard Ron Weasley make a swallowing sound in his nervousness. "Please Miss Partridge, I simply didn't wish to embarrass young Weasley". With a bit more prodding Penny said "Is that true Professor? And here it looked like you were running away". Since the incident with Malfoy Penny has quite enjoyed seeing Snape become uncomfortable with her provocations. "Very well then. Weasley set up the board, but should you lose too easily you will be helping the house elves in cleaning the dungeons". Ron Looked at Penny like he wanted to complain, but it was already to late for that. Everyone sat around watching the two play. It was an incredible game where Snape aggressively attacked not leaving Ron on the back foot for most of the game. With every piece that was destroyed Snape's sneer grew larger. His yellow looking skin and disordered teeth made him look almost like a feral animal that had caught its prey. "Come on Ron, What you playing at?" yelled Fred towards his younger brother. Snape thought he was to finish Weasley off in three more moves. Suddenly much to Snape's surprise, Ron made a move he hadn't seen coming. Ron had let Snape focus so much on attack that he had left part of the board open. Ron moved his Rook and put Snape in Check. This move proved to be the turning point and from there it became a back and forth with both players angling for control. The game became so intense that the students and the teachers were cheering wildly. Sadly for Ron though Snape managed to finished the game with a splendid Check Mate. Ron looked dejected and Snape not looking his age at all, looked as though it was the most victorious moment of his life. Everyone clapped and Dumbledore even congratulated Ron saying "Congratulations Mrs Weasley, it has been a long time since I have seen such a splendid game of Chess, I hope you will provide us with another great showing at a later date". Penny amusingly picked up on the meaning behind what Dumbledore said. It almost feels like the events in the not to distant future are all according to the headmaster machinations.