"Since Christmas break is fast approaching, I know many of you will be slacking off. However, I expect more from fourth year students like you. You are already being prepared for your O.W.L.s next school year. Therefore, you will be assigned a project to do during the break."

Groans of disappointment echoed throughout the dingy classroom in the dungeons.

"Silence," Snape drawled. "Lucky for you, it will be done in groups of three." Murmurs and looks of excitement came from the class, so he raised a hand to silence them once more. "And no, you will not get to choose who you are to work with. I have already chosen your group mates based on your abilities to ensure that each member does their task and presents a decent output."

"Damn it," Alista grumbled, who sat in between Jessica and Bethany. Naturally, the three of them wanted to be grouped together, but Snape was always a step ahead.

Snape went on to explain what the project was. The first half of the project was all written work. Its purpose was to test the students' knowledge on a specific potion; its uses, casualties, and ingredients. Jessica knew this was the easy part. She could easily finish this essay on her own in the library. However, Snape announced that the minimum length of the essay would be seven feet.

The next portion of the group work would be potion making. Simple potions were usually done alone, but Snape gave pair work once in a while depending on the difficulty of the potion. Now, he wasted no time in saying that this was a level higher than their usual potions in preparation for their O.W.L.s.

Snape then began calling out the members of each group.

"Faye, Greene, and..." The three girls crossed their fingers, hoping for the impossible. "... Zachary."

"So close," Bethany muttered in disappointment. "Sorry, Jess. Guess you're too smart to be compatible with us."

"Chopra, Hawthorne, and Higgs."

Jessica's eyes scanned the classroom, searching for her group mates. Zarina Chopra, one of Alista's Slytherin friends and roommates, seemed to not even be paying attention, her chin resting on her hand as she stared blankly ahead.

"Don't worry, Jess," Alista reassured her, seeing her friend's uneasy face. "You met Zarina already, right? She's got a bit of a strong personality, but she'll get the work done when it gets down to it."

Then, Jessica locked eyes with Terence Higgs, the current Slytherin Seeker, and now her group mate for this Potions project. She knew he was one of the more decent Slytherins, according to Alista, but she was still mildly surprised when he sent her a small smile.

"See? Terence isn't going to be hard to work with, either. He's a good guy," Alista continued, easing Jessica's worries. "But of course, it would've been so much better if we were grouped to —"

"Greene."

Alista stopped talking, sending Snape, who had stopped in front of their table, a sheepish look as she slumped back into her seat.

"Sorry, Professor."

★ ★ ★

It was a snowy Saturday when the last trip to Hogsmeade before the year ended took place. It was also the day when the first train back to Kings Cross Station would leave for the break, so the students were making the most of it and doing last minute shopping.

Bethany took the first carriage ride back to the station early in the morning. Aside from spending the holidays with her relatives, her family had also planned reunions with old school friends from their time at Hogwarts. She even mentioned to Jessica and Alista that one of those families included the Brown family, and their son, Alden, happened to be a third year Hogwarts student, but Bethany only spoke to him a few times in school and only really interacted with him outside during similar events.

Hence, it was just Jessica and Alista walking down the slippery street of Hogsmeade that afternoon. Alista, too, would be leaving that day later in the evening on the second train back home, so she still had some time to spare. Jessica would be left alone for a few days in the castle, but she didn't really mind. She just wanted to spend part of the Christmas break in Hogwarts before she would go home to her family.

Jessica now sat in a small round table in the center of the hustle and bustle of the Three Broomsticks. It was completely booked at this time of the year, especially now that many of the Hogwarts students were there, and with everyone, including the residents of the village, craving a nice, warm mug of Madam Rosmerta's famous Butterbeer.

It took Alista a while to spot Jessica in the middle of the pub, the latter's dark hair causing her to blend into the background. She sighed in relief when she finally found her friend, carrying the two large glasses of Butterbeer she ordered as she walked towards her.

"Took you long enough," Jessica said once Alista reached their table.

"It just had to be my turn to buy the drinks today," Alista said with a roll of her eyes, setting the Butterbeers down.

"Well, that's what you get for switching turns with me last time," Jessica pointed out, sipping her Butterbeer with a smug grin.

"I wanted to talk to that hot Hufflepuff!"

"Do you even remember his name?"

"Talon."

"It was Tate, Alista. Henry Tate."

Alista grumbled in annoyance. "Whatever. Come on, drink up so we can walk around more. I haven't even finished packing."

"You haven't finished packing?" Jessica exclaimed, putting her mug back down. With her shocked tone and a whipped cream mustache, it was an odd combination but a very hilarious sight to Alista.

Alista giggled at her face but didn't bother to tell her friend why. "Nope."

Terence Higgs was on his way back from the counter when he accidentally bumped the table where his housemate and Potions group mate sat.

"Sorry."

When Terence realized who were sitting there, he straightened up. "Oh, hey Alista. Hawthorne." He paused when he saw the foam mustache she had.

"Terence," Alista said back for the two of them.

The Slytherin boy pointed to Jessica's face. "You have a bit of a..."

With wide eyes, Jessica got the hint immediately and blushed, hurriedly grabbing the napkin and wiping off the mustache from the whipped cream. She couldn't believe this was happening again. With Wood, it was fine because they were friends. But this was Terence Higgs, a person she couldn't even consider an acquaintance, so she felt slightly embarrassed.

"Er, thanks, Higgs," she said. He nodded with an amused smile, and then he was back on his way to his own set of friends.

"Alista! Why didn't you tell me?"

"I'm sorry! It was funny, okay?"

"It's embarrassing. This already happened with Wood!"

By the time they had finished their Butterbeer, it was already two o'clock in the afternoon. Alista chose to go back to the castle to start packing and getting ready for the next ride back to King's Cross Station at six in the evening.

"If you had only packed earlier, you could still be walking around Hogsmeade with me," Jessica grumbled.

Alista smiled guiltily. "Sorry, Jess. You know how I am."

"I still have to shop for Christmas gifts. Maybe I'll buy you an enchanted watch that whacks you on the head every minute so you don't forget anything."

The two girls bid each other goodbye, promising to see one another one last time before Alista had to ride the carriages back to the station for a proper farewell. And then, Jessica eventually found herself alone, buying a bunch of sweets in Honeydukes for her family members.

As Jessica paid for the load she purchased, she overheard a familiar Scottish accent complaining behind her.

"Carson, you prick," the boy was saying. "I still have to buy presents and you're going to leave me here to do it alone?"

"Sorry, Oliver. I'm freezing out here and I have to finish packing. I'm leaving at six."

"I'm leaving at six too but I've already packed," Oliver replied with a huff. "If you'd done the same, we could still be enjoying Hogsmeade."

Jessica had glanced over her shoulder, noticing that she and the Quidditch-obsessed boy were in similar situations.

When Jessica had finished paying and turned around, it seemed as if Oliver's friend, Carson Grey, had already left. Oliver wasn't even lining up behind her in the first place; he was standing on the side, so he only realized it was Jessica when she passed by him on her way to the exit.

"Hey, Wood," she greeted when their eyes met.

"Oh, Hawthorne." He looked behind her as if expecting one of her friends to pop up. "You alone?"

Jessica nodded. "Bethany already left and Alista had to finish packing for tonight."

Oliver chuckled. "Sounds like Carson. He ditched me for the same reason."

The dark haired girl smiled sympathetically. "Wanna walk around together?"

Though her request sounded so casual, Oliver was still mildly surprised. "Really?"

"Sure. I still have some presents shopping to do," she told him, remembering that's what she had overheard him say moments ago.

The fifth year boy eventually nodded with a small smile. "Okay, let's go, then."

Oliver didn't know what to expect from strolling around Hogsmeade with Jessica. They were good friends, but he didn't think they would ever be close enough to walk around the village together. Then again, it was a spontaneous suggestion from her, and they were both alone, anyway — it's not like they asked each other out.

They first headed to Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop upon Jessica's request. There, the girl bought writing instruments for her mother — whom Oliver learned was also a muggle-born who enjoyed calligraphy and lettering — to use such as a fancy quill and charmed ink. It was Oliver's turn to choose where to go next, so they went to Spintwitches Sporting Needs. There, Jessica witnessed him gush about his favorite sport.

"Look at those gloves," Oliver said in awe, rushing over to look at this display. As usual, he looked like a happy kid whenever he spoke of or was near something Quidditch-related. "Mine are getting worn out, but my dad said he'd probably buy me a new pair in the summer. It feels like ages away, though."

Oliver ended up getting a new brush to polish and clean his broom, though he also mentioned he'd much rather just get a new broom. Jessica decided there, as he spoke happily about the sport, that she'd buy him a gift — not a new broom, of course. Those were way too expensive.

The pair then headed to Tomes and Scrolls where Jessica bought a book for Charles.

"Why didn't you buy him something from Spintwitches?" Oliver asked curiously.

"The boy has way too much Quidditch gear already," Jessica said with a sigh. "I'm afraid I'd buy him something he already has."

They also went to Dervish and Banges for a wand polishing kit for Oliver's parents, Gladrags Wizardwear for Alista and Bethany and Oliver's friends (including Carson; Oliver was close to buying him the ugliest pair of robes they had ever seen, but Jessica convinced him to not waste any money and save his friend from humiliation), Zonko's Joke Shop where Oliver asked Zonko's himself what to get for Fred and George, and back to Honeydukes for a snack break.

When Jessica had finished her Chocolate Frog and Oliver had devoured a handful of Sugar Quills, they decided to make one last round before heading back to the castle.

Of all things that could have happened on a Hogsmeade trip, Oliver Wood didn't think he'd ever be walking around with Jessica Hawthorne. After all, they had only become friends that school year. So, he certainly did not expect to be carrying majority of her shopping bags by the time they were almost finished with their gift-buying spree.

"Hawthorne."

"Hm?"

"I'm dying here." True enough, Oliver's arms were full of shopping bags. Some of them were his, of course, but most of them belonged Jessica. The only thing the girl held was the tote bag she brought for the visit to Hogsmeade and the paper bag of treats from Honeydukes when she first bumped into Oliver.

"You're a Quidditch player," she reminded him, smiling evilly. "Quit whining and deal with it."

"But it's different," he complained. Jessica hummed, purposely ignoring him as they walked down the snow road.

"Not really."

"Hawthorne."

"Wood."

"Hawthorne." No reply. "Jessica."

Finally, she glanced at him, slightly caught off guard at the use of her first name. "Er, yes?"

"Come on, I defend goalposts during Quidditch games, not carry around shopping bags. These bags aren't even mine."

"Oh, so you don't want your present, then?"

"You bought me a gift?" Oliver said, his eyebrows raised.

Jessica blushed. Was it too soon to give him a present? She considered him a good friend by now. They weren't the closest, but she was comfortable talking to him and always spent a good amount of time with him in the library, and now, they were in Hogsmeade together.

"Well, not yet because I know a better place to buy my present for you," she admitted. "But technically, yes, you do have a gift."

Jessica actually had an idea of what she should get him for Christmas before that day; she had already thought about this in the event that she would choose to buy him a present. Like she told herself earlier back at Spintwitches Sporting Needs, it was when Oliver mentioned that he needed new Keeper gloves that she was sure she would buy him a gift, and that was exactly what she would get him. However, Quality Quidditch Supplies in Diagon Alley had better products, so she would look there for a good brand of Keeper gloves.

"Aw, Hawthorne," Oliver cooed, nudging her. "That's cute."

"Shut it or you'll be getting dungbombs for Christmas."

He dropped the subject and instead laughed as they continued on their way. He was pleasantly surprised when she admitted that she'd buy him a gift. After shopping for presents with her, she seemed like she'd get him exactly what he wanted, so he promised himself that he would give her a decent Christmas gift, as well.

When they stopped in front of Madam Pudifoot's Tea Shop, much to Oliver's dismay, Jessica assured him that this was her last stop. When he continued to look at her with a slightly disgusted look on his face, she raised her eyebrows.

"What is it? Do you want to take another break?"

"No, that's not it. Why in Merlin's name are we going in there?"

"Relax, Wood," she laughed, his reaction very entertaining. "I'm just buying a small pack of tea for my muggle relatives. I always buy from here because ever since I brought it home last Christmas, they've loved it. They even said that the tea was out of this world, that it was simply..."

"Magical?" Oliver guessed.

Jessica grinned in amusement. "Yeah. Magical."