The great hall was fully decorated for Christmas the next day. Frank felt a small ounce of pride as he entered the great hall next to Spencer, Melanie, and Patrick. Snow drifted from the enchanted ceiling, somehow dissipating before it reached the festively decorated house tables. The walls were lined with tall Christmas trees dusted with decorations. Occasionally, a fairy could even be seen zipping by.

"It's more beautiful than where we left it!" Melanie exclaimed, tightly hugging Spencer's arm. "Babe! Look at the sugar crystals!"

"Babe, look at the sugar crystals!" Frank imitated her, grabbing hold of Patrick's arm and causing the Hufflepuff to giggle.

Melanie rolled her eyes. "I'm proud of my festive work. Spencer," she turned to him, "come sit with me!"

"We're in different houses though." Spencer frowned.

Melanie giggled, "Who cares? It's Christmas." She popped up on her toes to kiss the Slytherin before pulling him in the direction of her house table.

"They're so sickeningly cute." Frank said as he released Patrick's arm, "How do they stand it?"

Patrick laughed, "Like you haven't been sickeningly cute with Gerard before."

"Where the bloody hell did you hear that?!" Frank exclaimed as some more students moved past him, giving him strange looks.

Patrick just laughed again, covering his mouth to hide his smile. "We're housemates and he's pretty much my best friend." Patrick responded with a soft giggle in between his words, "I've heard a couple of stories."

Frank stood with his eyes widened for a moment before shaking it away. "I am going to kill my Hufflepuff." He laughed as Patrick made his way over to his house table. Frank shook his head, making his way to the Slytherin house table.

Tyler was there, sitting next to a figure with his head down. The closer Frank got, he realized that it was Josh. Josh was the only one that Tyler would let his fingers dance over like that, and also the only one with that vibrancy of hair. Well, not counting Melanie.

"Is everyone mixing up tables today?" Frank asked as he took the empty seat on the other side of Tyler, "Hi, Josh."

Josh raised his hand in a short wave before letting it fall back to the table. Tyler shrugged, "I doubt most people care about house tables now that the holidays have started." He gestured out to the fairly empty great hall. "We're all just students at the moment, no house division."

Frank nodded with a smile. It was nice to see friends able to sit together without competition. He wished Gerard was here to see it. Usually this sort of seating only happened when students met up in the library or when they sat around the grounds.

"This is a whole new sort of magic." Josh commented. He had finally sat up and was now leaning against Tyler's shoulder. Tyler leaned his head against Josh's with a soft smile.

"If only everyone could see it." Tyler commented, "It's always surprisingly calm and friendly."

Josh hummed, tilting his body in order to hide his face in Tyler's shoulder. Tyler shifted to make the position more comfortable for the Gryffindor. He began speaking softly and quickly, prompting Frank to turn away from the couple.

Frank looked up at the sky, watching the snow flakes fade just before they were within reach. Winter was such a beautiful time here, but it made Frank feel just slightly guilty. He was missing family just to be here, just to avoid the awkward silences, and to evade his mother's tears... The more he thought about it, the worse he felt.

Thinking about that caused him to miss Jamia and Brendon walking into the great hall. The two sat on the edge of the Slytherin table, looking around the great hall.

"So, Brendon, do you have a type?" Jamia asked as she grabbed a muffin to pass to Brendon.

The boy shrugged as he took the muffin. He absently took the small bottle of potion that Jamia had given him last night and poured it over the muffin. "I like people..."

Jamia nodded, letting her eyes drift to the hardly occupied Ravenclaw table. Dallon had his head rested in his hand while Breezy looked at him with concern. A small twinge of panic swept over Jamia. What if Dallon remembered? He could get her in so much trouble... Unless...

"What about Weekes?" She piped up, nudging Brendon before gesturing over to the Ravenclaw. "Based on your last relationship, I'd say he's your ordinary type."

Brendon blinked, looking over to where Jamia had gestured. "That girl seems to like him." He said as Breezy pushed hair away from Dallon's hand covered face.

"She doesn't. Not like that, anyway." Jamia assured Brendon. She patted his back with a smile. "Just small talk and give him the muffin."

Brendon nodded as he slid out of his seat. He grabbed the muffin before he moved to the next table over. A smile found its way to his lips as he sat down next to Dallon.

Jamia bit her lip as she watched Brendon pull out his charm and offer Dallon the muffin in his hand. She let out a soft breath when Dallon took a bite out of it. She turned her attention to her own table. Tyler was holding onto a boy with blue hair, but that isn't where her eyes stopped. Frank was looking up at the ceiling with an absence in his eyes. He seemed to be thinking deeply about something.

Jamia sighed, looking down at the table. He was probably thinking about that Hufflepuff, Gerard. It was so obvious how much they cared about each other... It almost made Jamia second guess herself, but the screams of the howler quickly covered up those thoughts. She shook her head, not noticing Brendon slipping back into the seat next to her.

"Now what?" He asked, propping his elbow on the table and leaning his chin on his hand.

Jamia looked up to make sure none of the staff was looking in their direction before turning back to Brendon. She slipped her wand out of her sleeve and pointed it at Brendon from under the table. "Be yourself." She spoke simply, thinking an incantation that pulled the yellowish green haze fully from Brendon's eyes.

Brendon quickly reached up to rub his eye with a look of befuddlement. Jamia quickly hid her wand. She looked away Brendon and instead over to the Ravenclaw table.

The muffin had disappeared from in front of Dallon, but nothing seemed to be happening yet. Jamia frowned, but knew she had to be patient. It shouldn't be too long now...

"Woah..." Brendon shook his head, "I feel like someone used a bubble charm on my brain or something..."

Jamia snorted, "What kind of analogy is that?" She asked, causing Brendon to shrug.

"I mean, I just feel weird, okay?" He laughed, reaching up to push his fingers through his dark hair. "Did I use some of my stash?.." He muttered questioningly to himself.

Jamia held back a laugh, looking up at the ceiling. Casual conversation picked up between them before Jamia excused herself. She was making her way out of the great hall when someone bumped into her, sending her to the floor.

"Oi!" She exclaimed with irritation. She glared up, surprised to see Dallon rushing past her. She scrambled up to her feet and looked wide eyed in the direction he had gone.

Dallon was standing next to where Brendon sat, nervously rubbing the back of his neck with a timid smile on his face and a loving look in his eye. Brendon was looking up at him with a bit of a shocked expression. He offered the Ravenclaw a seat, which he eagerly took.

Jamia felt a smile creep onto her lips. It worked.

---

Gerard spun the present that Frank had wrapped for him between his fingers as he sat on a spare bed in his aunt's house. He missed Frank, even if it had only been a few days since he had left the school for holiday.

Mikey was snoring softly from a bed just a few feet away. Gerard looked over at the clock that read 11:59. He looked back down at the present in his hands. He could open it in just one minute. He could see his present from Frank in just one minute! Maybe it would help him take his mind off missing Frank.

"No, not the unicorns!.." Mikey swatted at the air as he dreamed. Gerard held back a laugh as his brother rolled onto his stomach and continued to sleep as if nothing happened.

Gerard looked back at the clock, ecstatic to see that it now read 12:00.

"Merry Christmas!" Gerard whispered before tearing into the brown paper. Underneath it was a small sack, a box of every flavor beans, and a card.

Gerard was going to reach for the card first, but he noticed that the small sack was moving. He tilted his head at it, shifting his hand to that instead. He carefully picked it up and tugged at the opening.

Gerard nearly cried out as a small badger jumped out. The miniature creature clung to Gerard's pajamas, snuggling against him.

A soft laugh escaped Gerard's lips. He brought his hand up to the miniature and stroked if with his finger. "Hello." He whispered, "I'm Gerard."

He continued to stroke the badger with one hand while the other hand reached for the card. He smiled wider at the sight of Frank's handwriting.

Hi, Gerard
Merry Christmas! I know you'll be going home, but I wanted you to take a small piece of the school with you.

I hope you like him. It was really hard to find the perfect gift for you... You're a gift all on your own

I can't wait to see your face
Xoxofrnk

Gerard felt like he could float. Frank had given him possibly the best gift possible... He just wanted to be with him in that moment to kiss him.

He looked down at his miniature badger. "You're my piece of Hogwarts, ey?" He asked it with a smile, "Think I'll call you Mitch. I like you already."

Mitch looked up at him, hopefully with approval of the new name, and crawled up his pajama shirt to perch on his shoulder. Gerard laughed as Mitch nuzzled against his cheek.

"Hope that means you like me too." Gerard said. His smile wouldn't go away as he imagined Frank's face upon opening his gift. "I hope Frank likes what I got him..."

---

Christmas morning came like no time. Every student still at the school rushed from their dorms to their common rooms with excitement and glee.

Up in the Gryffindor common room, Pete and Josh nearly knocked each other out in their attempt to exit their dorm at the same time. A second year, Kellin, shook his head with a giggle as he hurried past their room. Eventually the two boys made it out of their dorm.

"Kellin! Get your hands off my presents!"

"Lynn touched it first!"

"Incoming!" Pete exclaimed, jumping from the balcony looking down on the common room.

Josh laughed as he ran down the stairs, "You're going to end up in the hospital wing." He grinned as he made it to the base of the stairs. He hurried over to the tree, where Lynn pointed to a small pile with his name on it.

"It will have been worth it." Pete grinned as he made his way to the tree, "Where's my pile?"

"Holy shit! Tyler got me Weasley's Wild-fire Whiz-Bangs!" Josh exclaimed, "He's had to have had these saved for months..."

"I got some from my cousin!" Lynn grinned.

"Dude, wanna set them off?" Pete grinned wickedly.

Kellin shook his head, "You're going to burn the castle down."

Lynn shoved him to the side, playfully. "Just have a water charm ready." She laughed as she began to open her magic fireworks.

Moving to the Ravenclaw common room, only three students sat in front of the Christmas tree.

Breezy happily opened some comic books from her parents and magic quills from her friends. Kenny had opened a guitar that blew colorful bubbles as you played it and a sweater from a relative. Dallon hadn't opened a single gift yet.

"Dallon, you have presents!" Breezy said, pushing a small pile towards him. "Show them off!"

Dallon was laying on the ground, hands supporting his chin as he stared goofily at the wall. "I'll get 'em..." He sighed, obviously thinking about other things.

"Dallon, you've been so excited for Christmas." Breezy frowned, "What's up with you?"

Dallon shrugged. "Just have someone on my mind..." A dumb smile spread across his face, making Breezy realize.

"If this is what crushes do to people, I'm glad I don't bother with them." She sighed. She left Dallon's presents by his side and turned to watch Kenny play a song on his guitar, watching a plethora of bubbles float up into the air with it.

Further down in the castle, the Hufflepuffs sat in their common room, huddled in blankets. Melanie distributed presents with a warm smile on her face.

"Aw, look! Bitsy left me a present under the tree!" She exclaimed, picking up a tin foil box. The smell of fresh cookies coming from the gift was strong.

Patrick grinned as he pulled a gift from Pete close, but leaned forward a bit to look at another foil box hidden behind his gift. "Hey, who's Mister Miss Melanie?" He asked.

"She got Gerard a present too!" Melanie exclaimed, "Aw, bless her little house elf heart!"

"Things have changed so much since I was alive." Jon commented from where he floated around the top of the Christmas tree, "I kind of miss it."

"Did you ever stay at school for Christmas?" Melanie asked as she picked up a package from Hagrid.

Jon nodded. "I Like the castle. Hell, I liked it enough to die for it!" He floated down, resting with criss crossed legs between Patrick and Melanie.

Melanie smiled sadly at him. "I don't think I've ever thanked you for giving your life to defend this school."

"Don't worry, most people don't." Jon replied with a shrug.

"Then let me thank you for it." Melanie laughed, earning a strange look from Jon. "That was a big sacrifice to make. I appreciate it, and I'm sure the school does too."

Jon looked shocked; his jaw was dropped and he seemed unable to form any words for a moment. He finally reached up to scratch his head and look down. "Wow I...Thank you, Melanie, I-"

"Merry Christmas, Jon." Melanie smiled.

"Merry Christmas!" Patrick chimed in, "Hope you're in good spirits!"

Jon laughed, slowly floating backwards. "It was a moment, but I appreciate where it went!" He continued to laugh, floating in summersaults through the air near the ground.

Melanie smirked at Patrick, "That's the kind of terrible pun I'd expect from Pete." She turned to the package from Hagrid, letting out a soft 'oooh!' when the brown paper revealed a hand crafted cup.

Patrick's cheeks quickly became a dark scarlett color. He shrugged with a soft giggle.

Finally, near the known bottom of the castle, the Slytherin dorm room was becoming alive with excitement.

"Frank! Frank! Wake the fuck up, it's Christmas!" Brendon exclaimed as he jumped on top of the sleeping Slytherin.

Frank cried out, flailing his arms as Brendon laughed like a maniac. He stood before Frank could smack him and jumped to Tyler's bed. "TYLER! WAKE THE FUCK UP, IT'S CHRISTMAS!"

"Jump in my bed and I'll hex you..." Spencer mumbled as Brendon hugged a very tired and confused Tyler tightly.

"Aw, Spencer, don't be a Grinch!" Brendon laughed, giddily. He released Tyler and made his way to the edge of the bed. Before he could jump, however, Spencer sat up with his wand pointed at Brendon.

"Don't jump." Spencer threatened.

Brendon plopped himself down on Tyler's bed with a sheepish smile. "No jumping." He said innocently.

Spencer fell back on his pillows with a groan. Brendon slipped off Tyler's bed and ran over to his own bed. He tugged on a loose fitting tee shirt before hurrying to the door.

"You act more eleven than fifteen." Frank yawned with the scratch of his head.

"I'm excitable." Brendon shrugged, "Now hurry up!"

Tyler rubbed his eyes with a soft hum. "I'm not awake..." He mumbled as he slid further into his blankets.

"If we don't go now, he'll just come back with more energy." Frank reasoned, regrettably pushing himself out of his warm bed.

"You know me so well." Brendon said, holding his hand over his heart.

It took some strong encouragement, but eventually all the boys made their way out of their dorm. Jamia was sat next to the Christmas tree, wearing a thin paper crown crookidly on her head. She greeted them all with a smile.

"Happy holidays, boys!" She cheered, throwing her arms into the air.

Brendon mimiced her gesture before diving into the small pile of presents under the frosted tree. Tyler sat himself down by where Brendon dove, tiredly, and Spencer followed suit. Frank took the empty space between the three and Jamia. He gave Jamia a small smile before looking over the packages under the tree. His eyes traveled straight to the gold wrapping of Gerard's present.

"Oh, Frank! I grabbed one of yours by mistake." Jamia's cheeks reddened as she held out a small box with shiny, green wrapping.

"Oh," Frank shifted his gaze away from Gerard's gift to look at the gift Jamia was handing him, "Thanks."

She smiled sweetly as he took the package from her hands. She turned to open some of her own presents.

Frank looked at the small package in his hand. It had to just be a small treat, but there was no name on it. Frank tilted the box curiously. He shrugged to himself and began to tear at the wrapping.

Inside the wrapping was a box of liquorice wands. Frank nodded approvingly, letting a smile spread on his lips. He pulled one out of the box and bit into it, catching the strange scent of old flowers. He found himself finishing the whole piece of candy in the blink of an eye. He blinked at his now empty hand. That had tasted better than any liquorice wand he had ever had.

"Frank! Pop a wizard cracker with me!" Brendon exclaimed, crawling over to where Frank sat.

Frank shrugged, reaching out to grab the end of the cracker that Brendon held out to him. "Daddy needs a new wizard's chest set!" Brendon exclaimed as they both tugged it, growing encased in green smoke.

---

As the students made their way up to the great hall, Frank found himself feeling strange. His thoughts were clouding and reshaping themselves. He felt so off...

"Frank! You're going to get left behind!" A soft voice giggled, sounding like twinkling bells in his ears.

He looked up to see Jamia walking up the steps backwards to look at him. Frank felt his eyes grow wide as he looked at her. She seemed to be surrounded by a pink glow. Her smile was soft and kind; her eyes shined like an enchanted crystals.

"Frank?" She asked, stepping down closer to him. "Are you okay?"

Frank blinked rapidly, still trying to take everything about her in. "Y-yea... I, uhh..."

"We're missing Christmas breakfast." She laughed, reaching out to grab his hand.

Frank felt his skin heat where she touched it. His mind whirled with uncomprehendable words and thoughts. Puzzle pieces seemed to connect so simply and yet in such a complex way...

"Hey, Frank! You left a present under the tree!" Someone called from behind him, but Frank was currently lost in the girl in front of him.

"Come on." Jamia encouraged, pulling him up the stairs.

Spencer frowned as Frank and Jamia hurried up the steps. He looked down at the golden wrapped gift in his hands before pulling out his wand. "Reductio." The package shrunk to rest in his palm. He slid the package into his pocket before a tapping was felt on his shoulder. He spun around to see Melanie smiling at him. The blond half of her hair was stripped like a candy cane.

"Merry Christmas." She exclaimed, holding out a medical book to him. "I know you want to learn like your mum, but I ran out of paper, I'm sorry."

He smiled back at her, stepping down a step to be level with her. "It's perfect, Mels." He spoke honestly, taking the book from her. He leaned in and kissed her nose to hear her giggle. "Did you like what I got you?"

She nodded, excitedly. "Yes, It was absolutely perfect! You're so sweet." She hugged him, tightly. "You Slytherin's are so much more than your bad reputation."

Spencer smiled, but it faltered as what just happened crossed over his mind. "Most of us, at least..."

---
A/N~ yes, hello, hi!

So this is the end of the spam/Christmas updates!! It should go back to regular schedule (Wednesdays) now. Also, I'm trying to keep the authors notes to a minimum cuz I don't wanna ruin the EmersIoN

But yea, happy holidays, friends! Stay safe and well <3

~Skittles Out~