AUTHOR'S NOTE---This is all filler here, so bear with me for a while if you can. If it's too boring, tell me.
Christmas holidays started off with a bang, literally; Peeves had stolen an entire crate of Fred and George's Weasley Wildfire Whizbang fireworks, nearly blackening a quarter section of the Entrance Hall. Apparently the twins had snuck them in for a little bit of advertising. To the student's amazement, most of the teachers did not mind, saying it reminded them of the one satisfying memory of a soot-covered Professor Umbridge scurrying around the school. Predictably, Flitwick had mended the damage in the Hall in about two seconds.
The teachers were lightening off a bit in the studying, but it was still hard enough that Harry had a stack of it on his bed.
Hermione had promised him and Ron that she would help them out, but Harry was still dreading all that he had to do.
Professor McGonagall, punctual as a clock, had gone down to bring around the list of people who would be staying for the later part of the holidays. Ron and Ginny had assured both Harry and Hermione that they would be going to the Burrow for Christmas.
The prospect of Christmas at the Burrow was so wonderful to Harry that it continued to lift his spirits toward the day of departure, so much that he discovered himself actually counting down the days.
There was much bustle before departure day, however. Harry, Ron, and even Hermione felt that they really shouldn't have to bring so much schoolwork home for Christmas.
"It's supposed to be a family time," she said, refilling her quill. "And shouldn't be interrupted."
"Hear, hear." Harry and Ron chorused heartily.
"I'm looking forward more to mum's Christmas dinner." Ron whispered. "The whole family'll be home, even Charlie."
Every single student who was going home seemed to have the same idea.
"Why do the teachers have to load us up with so much work over Christmas?" Seamus Finnigan burst out desperately. "I'll never get all this baloney done before I go to me mam's place."
"Oh, come on," Hermione encouraged. "Join our little study group here. What do you need help with?"
"McGonagall's human Transfiguration essay, the physical anatomy change one."
Hermione snatched it, and read quickly.
"You're missing out on a couple of important points there," she told him. "Like human unnatural limbs and how they are transfigured. Add that to the body paragraph, and I've put some things down for your fourth body paragraph in point form on this other sheaf here..."
Before long, every student in the Gryffindor common room had lounged together, helping each other out with homework.
Three hours later, Ron had called a halt.
"Ah, this is perfect," Ron said, opening up a large package of Wrunklew's Fruit & Sound Chews. "Let's all take a break. Take one, and pass it on."
He popped one in his mouth. "Banana," Ron said. "And - "
He honked like a seal, amid gales of laughter. The sound was the after-effect of the fruit chew.
"Go on, you try one, Harry."
Harry got Wildberry and a foghorn, while Hermione got a sour apple flavoured chew with the snarl of a wolf, making quite a lot of people jump with shock.
And so the afternoon passed.
Finally, Harry had packed all that was necessary into his trunk, and dumped out the rest onto his bed.
Ron and Hermione had done likewise; in fact, finished their homework on time too. Everyone had finished before departure, and Hermione had refused several currency offers to make up for the help on schoolwork for others.
"Thank heavens." Hermione sighed, bleary-eyed. She re-stacked her finished schoolwork, sealed it with her wand, and put it into her bag.
"Gee, I thought work made you happy, Hermione." Ron wisecracked.
"Don't be silly," she snapped. "It's not the work, but I do enjoy my good marks."
It was snowing outside, lazy drifting flakes dotting the lightly frosted window. Hogwarts in wintertime was very pictureesque and beautiful, but Harry had never enjoyed it before.
Every single one of the Gryffindor sixth-years were going home for Christmas, and they lazily sat around the common room, idling around.
"Stoke up the fire, will you, Harry." Ron said.
Harry pulled out his wand and pointed at the guttering flames in the fireplace. "Incendio!"
The flames rose up again, so much that it scorched the hearthrug. It also nearly burned a portion of Seamus's sandy hair, who was lying on the floor.
"Watch it!" he said annoyedly.
"Eh?" Ron grunted. "Oh, it's you."
"I'm bored," Harry yawned. "Come on, let's practise some jinxes."
They met some others on the way to the Room of Requirement. All the sixth-years from the previous year's DA had been wandering around, and gladly decided that a bit of practise would liven them up a touch.
When they entered the Room of Requirement again, Harry found that it was not the cavernous chamber, but the same old one from last year. He even recognized the mistletoe from underneath where he had kissed Cho.
Of course, he did not mention this to anyone.
"Ah, old memories," Ernie Macmillan smiled. "Such good times. A pity that old toad Umbridge had to teach."
"What first, Harry?" Hermione nudged him.
"Uh, well...." he began. Something occured to him. "You lot still think of me as your teacher?"
Heads nodded unanimously.
"Right, well..." Harry found that he was rather dry-mouthed. "I guess we should start from the ground up."
They had learned quite a lot in a few months. Besides what they had learned last year, they had learned the Silver Arrow, useful hexes which included Stinging Eyes, Itchy Armpits, and Swollen Stomach. Some Impediment spells included Fire Wall, Blaze(Harry had dubbed it the "Flamethower"😉, Sublimaius(which conjured a magical icy mist that froze whatever it touched), and the Epicentre Curse.
Everyone performed flawlessly, and Harry felt so proud of them that he thought he might float an inch in mid-air.
"We'll be a bit of a formidable force when the time comes," he told them. "...but still not ready enough."
"The Death Eaters'll be pretty suprised." Hermione said seriously.
"Yeah, they will." Neville said, deadly calm in his voice. "But leave Bellatrix to me, she tortured my parents."
A gasp of horror arose from whomever did not know what happened to his parents.
"You can't take her on alone," Harry told him firmly. "I'll be standing beside you, Neville."
"No, I - " he began to protest, but Harry cut him off.
"Say what you like. I'll still be there to fight alongside. She killed my godfather."
Finally, Neville nodded, face set.
***
Next morning, Harry awoke in the middle of a bustle of activity. Someone descended upon him within the space of five seconds.
"Oh, Harry, you're awake. Come on, pick up the pace - train leaves in about four hours." It was Hermione.
"Whuh...Hermione, what're you doing here again?"
"Helping them doing some last-minute packing." she jerked her thumb towards Neville and Dean.
Seamus was reading a book idly, laying on his bed. "Bogus," he snorted. "She was watching you sleep, Harry."
"Yeah, that's real nice." Harry yawned again. "And why did you want to watch me sleep, anyways? Why didn't you wake me up?"
Hermione was not the least bit bashful, to Harry's bewilderment.
"You looked so peaceful, and I couldn't bring myself to wake you up. So I just watched you sleep for a while."
Harry scratched his head sleepily. "Next time, wake me up or climb in with me."
"Will do."
Ron jumped off his bed. "Gerrout, Hermione, he has to change."
She swung a pillow at him, and flounced out.
***
After breakfast, the students sprinted back to their common rooms for their trunks and some last-minute packing.
"Locomotor trunk." Harry pointed at his packed trunk.
Ron and Hermione did likewise.
"You know, if Filch catches us, we'll get detention after we come back." Hermione said crankily.
"Lighten up, Hermione." Harry said. "It's worth it, I really don't feel like dragging this heavy load down thirty-plus staircases."
Unluckily for them, Filch intercepted the trio near the Great Hall entrance. Fortunately, Dumbledore had noticed immediately, pointed his wand behind his back at something, and came over.
"Ah, Mr. Filch! I noticed you haven't tried these excellent cream tarts that our fine talented house-elves have made for this morning. I myself was never a great cook. Why, I'd burn a salad. May I offer you one?" His wand appeared in his hand again, directing a tray of the corresponding sweet.
Filch had no choice but to follow.
Slowly, the students gathered in the Entrance Hall, wandering around.
"Leave the trunks here, I'm bored again." Ron said.
"Another walk around the castle?" Hermione said.
"Sure," Harry said, an idea popping to mind. "Hey, let's visit Dobby."
When they got to the kitchen corridor, Dobby was there, dragging something that looked horribly like a dead elf over his shoulder. Harry couldn't see clearly, for it was wrapped in a linen tablecloth.
When Dobby saw them approaching, he dropped his burden, which hit the ground with an ominous thud.
"Harry Potter, sir!"
"Good to see you, Dobby!" Harry grinned, patting the elf's skinny back.
"Dobby, what's..." Hermione pointed at his burden.
"Oh, that would be Winky, kind miss." Dobby said, expression souring a bit.
"Winky?" Harry gingerly peeled back the cloth. Sure enough, it was Crouch's former elf. "Still drinking?"
"Yes, sir." Dobby was very unhappy. "So sorry that you had to see this, sir."
"Don't worry." Harry said. "We're about to go home for Christmas, Dobby. I guess I won't see you for two weeks."
"Christmas, sir?" Dobby said. "But Dobby has already bought Harry Potter his present, sir!"
"You did? Oh, right..."
Harry felt ashamed that he was leaving Dobby behind. Ron seemed to know the solution right away.
"Hey, Dobby...think you can come to our house for Christmas?"
"Your house, sir?" Dobby sank into a very low bow. "Thank you, most kind sir, but Dobby has to work too! Dobby cannot go off enjoying himself while Dobby's friends here toil."
Ron and Harry exchanged glances.
"Hang on, stay here," Ron said hurriedly. "I'll be right back."
He dashed off. Shortly after, he came back, Dumbledore in tow.
"Professor Dumbledore, sir!" Dobby bowed so low Harry heard his back crick.
"Dobby," Dumbledore said, countenance stern but his eyes were twinkling merrily. "I order you to go to Mr. Weasley's house for Christmas, and enjoy yourself while you are at it. Although one thing, bring me back a pair of socks."
Harry grinned at Ron, appreciating his brilliance. House-elves were forbidden to ignore a direct order from their master.
"Yes, sir!" Dobby bowed again, eyes leaking happiness.
As Dumbledore strode pleasantly off, munching on a tart, Harry cheerily said to Dobby, "Well, there you have it! You're coming with us!"
Dobby beamed. "Will there be work there, Harry Potter, sir?"
Harry glanced at Ron, who immediately replied, "Of course, Dobby. Mum always wanted a house-elf to help around. Maybe this'll be one of her Christmas presents, bring a real one home to help around for two weeks."
"Ron, don't talk to him as if he were a piece of property." Hermione snapped.
"Lighten up, Hermione." Harry whispered into her ear. "He's used to it."
"But - "
"OK, OK...just listen. If you forget about all this stupid house-elf rights rubbish, just for Christmas...I'll set up a DA dance on Valentine's Day evening."
That shut Hermione up quite effectively.
Ron noticed immediately. "Hey, why're you all quiet?"
"Tell you later." Harry whispered into his ear.
***
A short time later, the great doors opened and the Thestral-pulled carriages stood there, awaiting to take them to the station.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny(who had positively squealed with delight when she heard Dobby was going to stay) reached for their trunks, but Dobby snapped his fingers. The trunks were surrounded by a blue light, and rose several feet off the floor.
"Where to, sirs and misses?"
Harry pointed at the closest carriage, since others were straining to pull their various luggage.
They were comfortably seated, warmly wrapped in cloaks. the trunks sat neatly at the back of the carriage.
"Aren't you cold, Dobby?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, no, kind miss." He tapped his arm, and the thin finger bounced off what seemed like an invisible force field. "This way, elves can climb into hot ovens without getting burnt. Thanks to Master Dumbledore's handiwork, miss."