On the third week of December, our finals started up. The week wasn't nearly as stressful since we only had two classes a day to do our final exams. I felt like I had loads of free time, but everyone else I knew was studying with every available second. No matter how hard I tried staring at books and notes, I found myself rereading paragraphs over and over again, only to get lost in a fantasy of playing Quidditch or riding on a hippogriff.

In Defence Against the Dark Arts, our exam was simply standing in front of the class to showcase our Patronus. Everyone was able to get out a whisp of glowing light but nothing more. Daphne came close with some sort of animal trying to take shape at the end of her wand, but ultimately, she still couldn't do it. When Leon went up to the front of the class, I leaned forward, eyes wide. I didn't even blink. Daphne also watched with bated breath.

"Expecto Patronum!" Leon yelled with a slight malaise, missing a shred of confidence I knew he was capable of. Much like Daphne's attempt, I saw something taking shape, but it never solidified. I analyzed his every move, and I could tell a wing was trying to form. Nevertheless, the students clapped.

"Rollie, you're up next," Professor Shacklebolt announced.

Standing in front of everyone, a surge of sweat coursed through me. What was the happiest moment in my life? What was the happiest moment... Quick, think of something. All eyes are on you.

"Expecto Patronum!" I yelled. The only thing I could focus on was going to the concert with Daphne, but it only produced a faint puff of silver vapor.

Regardless, the class clapped, and I went back to my seat.

"I don't want any of you to be disappointed with your results today." Professor Shacklebolt meandered up and down the rows of desks. "Some of us came close to producing a Patronus, which is wonderful, but something we should all be proud of is that everyone generated something from their wand. This is advanced magic. Even seventh years still have trouble. Don't let that deter you, you're all on track to mastering this magic before you graduate. Congratulations, though, you've all passed for the semester."

Upon dismissal, Leon was the first student out the door. I didn't even have a chance to ask him some questions that were dancing around in my mind.

I passed the rest of my classes, but barely, except for Care of Magical Creatures, the only one where I excelled. The semester ended the way I expected.

One day away from break starting, I walked around the castle, and I saw Leon sitting in a courtyard by himself with a book in his lap. Outside, in the middle of winter? I thought, but it was an unseasonably warm day. Part of me wondered if the land curse had an influence on the temperature.

I went outside and stepped up to him. He didn't look up from his book.

"Hey, man, you slipped out of class pretty quick the other day. I didn't even have a chance to talk to you."

Leon glared at me. "Maybe I had somewhere to be."

I puffed out a single forced laugh. "I get it."

"I don't have to answer any of your questions, y'know," Leon focused back down at his book.

"You don't even know what I was going to ask."

"I'm not daft."

"I just wanted to ask you one thing--"

"Here we go." Leon eye-rolled and packed up his book.

"Seriously, the only thing I want to know is, how are you?"

Leon froze and stared at me with his head tilted. "What?"

"Just a simple question, how are you doing?"

The corner of his lip pulled up. "You're asking me how I'm doing?"

"Yeah, you've looked a little down lately, and you're here outside in the middle of winter like a psycho. Just wanted to check in." I chuckled and gave him a pat on the shoulder, and he didn't flinch.

"Leon!" someone yelled from behind.

I spun around, Johnny and Sable rushed over to us.

"We've been looking all over for you, is the yankee here giving you problems?" Sable asked, scowling at me.

"We were in the middle of a civil conversation, something neither of you probably ever had," I said without a care in my voice.

Johnny shoved my shoulder. "Piss off!"

"You're not going to call off your dogs here?" I peered at Leon.

"You've got some nerve calling us dogs," Sable snapped.

"I could've called you something worse, you two are full of material."

"Go back to Huntshrow." Johnny cackled.

"I'd be sad too if these were my only friends." I stared at Leon for a moment before I trudged back to the castle.

"Luxino prement!" Sable shouted. A fizzling spark of light struck my nape, but it only was a pinch.

Turning around, I smirked. "Remember how Oliver embarrassed all of you in Quidditch? I'll make that look like a fond memory." Heading back to the castle, I waved my hand and hollered. "Happy holidays!"

***

I rode the Hogwarts Express back to London, sitting in the cabin with Edna, Daphne, and Bran. All the other students on the train were beaming as the walls leaked with excited chatter.

"Gosh, this is going to be the best Christmas ever!" Bran shouted like a wind-up toy.

"What makes you say that?" I asked.

"We always have a blast at Daphne's castle, but you're going to be joining us this year with your grandpa, which will make it extra special!" Edna said.

"Wow, uh, that's really kind of you to say," I said. "I hope it goes well. Am I supposed to bring any gifts? I forgot to ask."

"No, no gifts, my parents give everyone something, but they don't allow people to bring anything for them," Daphne said.

"Well, that's awfully kind. But they don't even know me."

"Don't worry, I told them in a letter things that everyone likes. It will only be something small."

"How cool." I nodded. "What did you say about me?"

"I'm not telling. It's supposed to be a surprise," Daphne grinned.

"Whatever you say." I smiled.

For the rest of the train ride, we talked about our favorite holiday meals, sweets, and gifts we've received. Although I didn't contribute much, Christmases in the U.S. weren't very merry. As the train was getting closer to London, Agatha Hart opened our cabin door. Her thick plastic frames sat low on the bridge of her nose.

"Hello. How are we all this fine late-afternoon?" Agatha asked.

All of us stared around at each other.

"Good," Daphne finally said after an awkward pause. "How are you doing, Agatha?"

"Just peachy," she said monotonically. "My fellow Ravenclaws find my demeanor rather amusing. They're trying to see if anything from anyone's gift list would impress me. They all find it shocking that I find the holiday season an... ordeal. Since your cabin is all the way in the back, you're the last one. So far, no one has impressed me, and I'm rather certain it won't happen with you all, but you never know."

All of us stared at her with a scrunched brow.

"Go on. We don't have all train ride. Excite me already." Agatha rolled her eyes.

"I'm just hoping for any Wizarding game on the market!" Bran shouted, and I saw Daphne's lips curve up.

"Yawn. Edna, you can do better than your brother, let's hear it?"

"I'd be delighted if I also got a game, but I've taken quite a liking to Quidditch, so probably anything Quidditch related," Edna smiled.

"Higher-being help me now. This is worse than the other cabins. Rollie, AKA mohawk boy who was almost murdered by birds. What say you?"

I chuckled. "Uh, I don't know. I think it might be cool to get a cat or maybe even a dog, I don't have one at my grandpa's."

"Hm. I don't mind pets, but that means you have to take care of them for many years. Constant feeding, cleaning, and picking up after them. Fun gift until the responsibilities kick in. And then they'll die, and you'll be heartbroken. No thanks. Also, rather unoriginal," Agatha stared at Daphne with half-open eyes. "Take me home, Poisonwood."

"I would love it if I got a tamerung horn." Daphne smirked. The cabin went silent.

"Hm..." Agatha rubbed her chin. "Honest to goodness. No bollocks, I'm impressed. If anyone could do it, I knew it would be you, Daphne. Tamerung horn... Isn't tamerung the half-bat-half-unicorn, magical creature that's impossibly rare to find?"

"It's hard to find one, yes, but it's possible. Even when it dies, you have to detach its horn quickly because it will dissolve with the rest of its body. It's an ingredient used for potion making, but not very many potions because it's so rare."

"Now I'm riveted. Have you seen a tamerung before?"

Daphne nodded but didn't say anything.

"I won't pry then." Agatha nodded. "But before I go, it's the season of giving, and I'd like to just say some kind words: I find the four of you tolerable. Before you think that's a backhanded compliment, I find most of the school insufferable, including my own house. Yet the four of you are sorted into Hufflepuff. I find the whole sorting of personalities to four various 'houses' regressive, depressive, offensive, and I'm sure you could find other negative 'sives to describe it, but why is the Wizarding World so comfortable throwing kids in clusters based on behaviors? Shouldn't there be more collaboration? I don't know. I find the whole system perverse. Perhaps I'm on an island here, and perhaps my musings are trivial, and perhaps none of you really care, so with all that said, goodbye. Enjoy your holiday, I guess."

"Happy holidays, Agatha," Daphne said, but she had already strolled away from the cabin.

"What a strange girl," Bran said.

"I don't know, I quite like her. At least she's not like Layla Moors." Daphne shrugged.

***

When I got off the train onto the platform, all the families were waiting anxiously for their children with broad smiles, and some even had small wrapped presents in their hands that they gave to the younger kids. I hugged Bran, Edna, and Daphne goodbye.

"Wait, how are you getting home?" Daphne asked.

"I'm taking the knight bus. My grandpa couldn't make it to pick me up. I could fly my broom, but he rather I take the bus, so he sent Benson to give me some cash to pay for the fare," I said.

"Ah, how fun, why don't I join you?" Daphne said.

"Wait, how do you two get home?" I asked Bran and Edna.

"We fly off on broomstick with our parents. Our place isn't too far away. They're not here yet. Otherwise, we would've left right away, but don't wait for us. Go on home while you can!" Edna said.

We said our farewells. Daphne and I left the red-bricked train station and saw the purple triple-decker knight bus waiting out front.

The bus driver was a pale woman with bags under her eyes. We were the only ones (at least on the first floor).

"'Ello. Where to?" she asked.

"13 Dragontail, Pine, England," I said.

"Poisonwood estate," Daphne said.

Just as we sat down in our booth, Leon stepped on our bus and said his address, but I couldn't hear. He was frowning, and his head was hanging until he went down the aisle. He stopped when he saw the two of us. "Happy holidays," Leon said, with the slightest smile and nod, continuing his quick gait up the stairs. Both Daphne and I returned the salutation.

"I hope he's alright. He looked a little depressed," Daphne said.

"Yeah, I'm sure he's fine. How about you? How do you feel about all these people at your house?" I asked.

"Good... I think, I don't know. I'm a little worried. I feel like I forgot something back at Hogwarts."

"Like what?"

"If I had any idea, I might remember. But anyways. I'm a little nervous about the holidays. My parents can be quite intense."

The bus kicked into high gear as it jerked forward and dashed through the road, dodging all traffic. We barely talked the rest of the ride because it felt like we were on the world's oldest wooden rollercoaster.