Still, it wasn't hard to understand. It was Christmas, after all.
Better yet, perhaps because it was Christmas, not a single professor gave a speech at the feast, even though Dumbledore was there.
The professors were dressed more casually than usual, too. It suited the festive mood.
But professors who don't even go home for Christmas...
Andrew resisted the urge to comment and, to be safe, focused on the food instead. Then he nearly spat out his first bite. The turkey was as dry as air-dried chicken breast, despite looking rather tempting on the platter.
Fortunately, the other dishes were good, especially the little sausages, which were right up Andrew's alley. After finishing a serving of pudding, he left the table thoroughly satisfied.
The Ravenclaw common room was just as lively that afternoon. The Prefect gathered everyone together and asked each person to tell an interesting story. If they couldn't think of one, a joke that made people laugh would do.
It was perfect. Andrew happily collected stories without lifting a finger. They might not fit into what he was writing now, but they would make excellent material for later.
The storytelling by the fire lasted all afternoon, followed by another lavish dinner. The turkey that had escaped being ruined at lunch had been made into sandwiches. Thankfully, there were also baked flatbreads and cakes, so Andrew didn't have to suffer through more turkey.
After dinner, Andrew briefly checked the test subjects he was using to compare how long different Transfiguration spells lasted. Then he happily crawled into bed, bringing his Christmas to a close.
The next day, Andrew woke early again to get ready for his morning run.
This time, though, he heard a faint noise in the corridor as he headed downstairs.
"Peeves?"
He hadn't seen Peeves