The next morning, Lilleth woke up early along with the other four in the dorm, and spent an hour sitting on the end of her bed, chatting with them all while they packed to go home for the Christmas holidays. Mourka tried to sneak into their various trunks multiple times, and each time, Lilleth tried to put him back in his favourite plant pot hanging by the window. But somehow, he kept sneaking out.

"I'm going to miss this little monster." said Piper, shaking her head as she lifted him out of her trunk for the third time. "Although it's nice to know how much he's going to miss me."

"I'm a bit offended that he's so happy to leave me." Lilleth remarked. "Honestly, it's bad enough that you four are leaving me alone, not him as well."

"Oh don't do that." said Missy. "You've still got Harry, haven't you?"

"Yeah, but he's been really grouchy lately." said Lilleth, sighing. "Not really sure why. Something happened at the Hogsmeade weekend."

"Then why don't you talk to him?" Piper suggested pointedly. "You could use words to find out."

Lilleth laughed and threw a pillow at her.

Before long, they were all packed, and Lilleth grabbed a jumper and shoes over her pyjamas, and they all walked out of the dorm to the common room, where lots of other students were starting to say goodbye to each other before leaving for the train. Lilleth pulled Piper into a hug, and then turned to all the others and hugged them too.

"Have a good Christmas." she said, smiling. "Don't forget to tell your families that I'm awesome."

"Don't worry, we will." said Piper jokingly. "And we'll definitely make sure to tell them about the time you fell down the stairs. Because you tripped on the Sellotape you used to try and put your shoes back together with."

"Maybe not so much that part."

"We'll see you after the holidays." said Mira. "Make sure Mourka doesn't forget us."

"I've got a picture of you all on my bedside table." said Lilleth, rolling her eyes. "I'm sure he won't forget."

The five of them all gave last hugs and then the other four all left, and Lilleth sunk into the sofa, Mourka curled up into her lap, in front of the fire, ignoring the mindless chatter of everyone behind her. She stroked his fur gently, staring into the flames boredly. The talking slowly began to thin, as did the crowds, and soon, no one was left. She was the only one left in the Hufflepuff common room, or maybe the entire house. She half wondered if there were any Hufflepuffs left at all over the holidays.

She was bored. Mourka jumped up onto her shoulders and she got determinedly to her feet and strode out of the common room and down the hall to the portrait of the bowl of fruit. She tickled the pear and the portrait opened. Her feet clacked on the stairs as she went down towards the cavernous kitchens.

"Morning Miss Lilleth!" squeaked Keely as soon as she appeared in view. "Is you wanting more foods for picnics?"

"No, but thanks Keely." said Lilleth, smiling. "Just a snack. Do you have any cookies?"

"Of course Miss!" said Keely eagerly. "Give Keely one minute."

The little house elf scuttled off across the kitchen, weaving between the hundreds of other elves working down there, making all the food. Lilleth watched them in amazement. With a snap of their fingers, vegetables were perfectly sliced and slid into a pan, and a chicken was fully roasted. Although, compared to the last time she had been down there, there was far less food for far fewer students.

Keely came speeding back across the kitchen towards her holding a clear bag filled with chocolate chip cookies and tied with a pretty pink ribbon.

"Happy Christmas Miss!" said Keely excitedly, offering them up towards Lilleth.

"Thank you, and Happy Christmas to you too." said Lilleth. "See you soon."

"Bye Miss!"

Lilleth turned around and skipped up the stairs and back out to the hallway. She made her way through the dark, cold hallways of the castle and up towards the Gryffindor common room in the hopes of catching Harry or Ginny, or just someone to hang around with, Mourka still wrapped lazily around her shoulders. She munched on the cookies as she went up.

Just as she reached the seventh floor, she ran into Harry, Ron and Hermione leaving the common room.

"Hey." she said, grinning. She held out the plastic bag. "Cookie?"

The three of them reached out and each took a cookie from the bag. Lilleth looked up at Harry as she took her own cookie as well. His skin was pale and clammy, and he had dark purple bag under his eyes, hidden partially by his glasses.

"You look terrible." she remarked.

"Thanks." he muttered. "Where'd you get the cookies?"

"Kitchens." said Lilleth. "What's up with you? What happened?"

"It's a long story." said Hermione grimly.

"We're all going down to see Hagrid, do you want to come?" asked Harry.

"Is Ginny here?" asked Lilleth.

"No, she went home." said Ron. "Everyone else did. Your common room empty?"

"Yeah." said Lilleth. "Kind of boring. Even Mourka's bored."

"Come see Hagrid." Hermione suggested. "We fancy talking to him -"

"About Sirius Black." growled Harry. "And why he never told me."

"Yeah sure, I'll come." said Lilleth, so fast she barely even realised the words coming out of her mouth. "Sounds fun."

Hermione gave Lilleth a dirty look, but Lilleth just shrugged, and she joined the three on their journey down through the empty castle and out through the oak front doors.

They made their way slowly down the lawn, making a shallow trench in the glittering, powdery snow, Lilleth's socks and pyjama hems soaked and freezing. She began to regret not bringing a cloak or wearing actual clothes. The Forbidden Forest, which had once looked intimidating and dark, was smattered with silver, like icing on a cake. Lilleth resisted the urge not to stride in and find Sirius again.

But she couldn't do that. He wasn't there anymore. He had left, gone somewhere else. She sighed as Ron knocked on Hagrid's front door.