Cortney spent a lot of time putting the outfit together for Brocklehurst. Today was the day, Brocklehurst was now in the Slytherin third-year girl's dorm. She was currently sitting in a Christmas tree dress, ornaments hung all around her. Underneath the dress, she had warm clothes so she wouldn't freeze. She had earmuffs on the had the shape of deer ears, her hat, and fake antlers sticking up with lights hanging from them. A red nose was placed on her nose, it was to glow every five minutes for a minute. Her socks were very warm long socks that were Christmas colors, with neon red boots.

"Let's go Christmas explosion," Cortney said pushing the girl out the door. People automatically started laughing. " After an hour, you can change into all your normal clothes. ", Cortney handed Mandy a bag. They all set for Hogsmeade, people pointed and laughed.

"Brilliant Cortney," Pansy applauded. 

" What are we to do for the first hour? " Tracey.

" First, a picture of all of us with Christmas explosion," Cortney said. Mandy was forced to trail along with the girls for an hour. They soon entered the village. They walked over to a perfect spot for a picture, strangers stared at Mandy as they walked past. Daphne pulled out her camera, she got a stranger to take the picture for them. All the girls laughed in the picture except Mandy, she looked like she was plotting revenge.

" You can now go change," Cortney told Mandy. She happily walked off to change. The girls spent time Christmas shopping and at Honeydukes.

" You have to be at Threebroom sticks in five minutes, I suggest you go now," Daphne said shoving Cortney out of a shop. Cortney laughed and head to Three broomsticks, she meant Theodore on the way. The two ordered two butterbeers and found a table.

" What are you doing for Christmas? " Theodore asked.

" I might spend it at the Malfoy's. What about you? " Cortney replied.

" Just going home," He smiled. " As I remember a few days from now, a year ago, you kissed me under the mistletoe".

" And a week or two after that, we started dating," Cortney smiled. She leaned across the table and kissed him on the lips.

" Do you want to go visit the Shrieking Shack? " Theodore asked.

" You are interested in visiting that place? " Cortney asked.

" Well your half-blood friend, Seamus Finnigan says he's seen some animals last time," he revealed. " You know he can be a very loud mouth". 

" And you believe him? " Cortney asked. They got up and left. They saw Seamus and Lavender fighting.

" They had just gotten together like two weeks ago, they fight all the time," Cortney informed Theodore.

" Would you just quit it! " Seamus shouted.

" Hello Seamus, Lavender," Cortney greeted.

" Hello you two love birds," Seamus greeted as Lavender glared at them.

" We were just going to go to the Shrieking Shack...want to join? " Theodore asked awkwardly.

" What a great idea," Seamus said coldly glaring at Lavenders.

" You don't have to if you don't want to," Cortney said.

" No, let's go," Lavender huffed. The four began to make the journey towards the Shack. They saw Malfoy and his goonies past, they look like they just had a fight, soon passed the Golden Trio. Cortney didn't question she just went with it.

"  Lestrange, what are you doing for Christmas? " Lavender asked coldly.

" I think I'm just going to stay here, at Hogwarts," Cortney answered. " What about you? "

" Me and Sea-Sea are both going home," She replied.

" That's cool," Cortney replied. She bent down and pretend to fix her shoe, Teddy bent down to pretend to help.

" Sea-Sea? " He whispered in her ear. She silently giggled, the two stood up. They finally reached their destination. The creepy place stood in a distance, behind gates.

" I dare you to go touch it the door," Cortney dared.

" Only if you touch it first," Lavender squealed in fright.

"Let's both go, It'll be more fun," Cortney dared. She took Lavender's hand and they started towards the house.  The two boys stood there awkwardly.

" Your girlfriend is really daring," Seamus said to Theodore.

" Your girlfriend is not so much," said Theodore.

" She's brave! " Seamus argued. " She is in Gryffindor".

" True," Theodore agreed. Lavender ran back screaming, leaving Cortney. " You left my girlfriend all alone !? " He was mad.

" Please I'm pretty sure Dueling Queen will be fine," Lavender panted. They looked towards the house and saw the long curly hair girl inching closer to the house.

" Cortney! " Theodore shouted. She turned around. " Come back! "

" Not yet! " She shouted back. Cortney ran up to the house and touched the door. She then turned towards them. " Still alive ! "

" Can you come back now !? " Seamus demanded. She started back towards the three.

" Sea-Sea, let's just go," Lavender urged.

" We are not leaving my girlfriend behind !? " Theodore fumed.

" Ready," Cortney said standing next to them.

" I really hoped the fox would show up," Seamus sighed.

" That's probably my fault, scared it off while running towards the place," Cortney said.

" No...I mean I'd appreciate if you didn't, but it's fine," Seamus huffed.

" I'll go back up there, I try to see if I can see it," Cortney said taking off back towards the house. She was already inside before they could say ' No'. Cortney knew what she had to do, she'll just change, and then pop out for a quick minute, and then go back in.

" What do you think is happening? " Theodore asked nervously

" I don't know we can't see anything," Lavender said. When Cortney heard that she knew she was safe. Then and there she changed into the fox. She then crept out of the house. She saw the people and crouched down cautiously.

" It's the fox! " Lavender shrieked. The fox jumped and ran back into the house. It turned back into Cortney, she then came bolting out the house and over to them.

" I think I caught a glimpse of it! " Cortney panted.

" Probably, it just went into the house, you came out two minutes later," Theodore said. He then wrapped her in a hug. " Thank god you're not hurt". Cortney smiled and snuggled up to him.

*******************

Cortney was now with The Golden Trio.

" Cort, I think there is something you should know," Hermione said.

" What is it? " She asked.

" Well, Harry found something out," Ron began.

" Sirius Black is my godfather and your cousin," Harry revealed. Cortney's eyes widen. " Your cousin sold out my parents to the Voldermort. He was their friend !".

" I believe you on the cousin part, the murder part I don't," Cortney said.

"  I knew it! You are just like the rest of your family! " Ron snarled, the other two glared at her.

" Look," Cortney said pulling out a ripped section of the Daily Prophet, it had Sirius Black on it. " Apparently to you, my cousin.....his eyes they hold devastation, not wickedness for selling his friends out, what house was he in? "

" Gryffindor, he murdered his best friend Peter Pettigrew, left only a finger! " Hermione said furiously. The wheels in Cortney's mind began to turn.

" He's probably devastated by the disappearance of Voldermort," Harry growled.

" I don't believe you and I don't believe the Daily Prophet," Cortney said angrily. " You can't make me change my views on this! "

" Fine, " the three spat.

" Don't talk to us," Ron snarled.

" Fine, you three, figure this out yourselves," Cortney said angrily.

" We don't need you anyway," Harry said. 

" A very not Happy Christmas to you," Hermione said. Cortney turned and walked away with tears in her eyes.