Before long, it was already the middle of December.
The weather had grown colder, and the snow outside Hogwarts Castle was already several feet deep. Even the Black Lake was covered by a thick layer of ice, so quite a few students had started going skating on weekends or whenever they had no classes.
Today, Annie and Hermione were among them, of course!
Hermione had originally wanted to invite more of their Gryffindor classmates, like Harry and Ron.
Unfortunately, not everyone had ice skates, and not everyone knew how to skate, so in the end it was just the two of them.
At that moment, wearing ice skates, thick down jackets, cotton gloves, and thick scarves, with matching red winter hats on their heads, they cheered as they glided happily across the frozen lake.
"Hey—"
"Annie!"
"What are you planning to do over the holidays?"
Hermione asked because the holiday break was coming up!
Hogwarts' Christmas break lasted two weeks, from the day before Christmas until after New Year's Day. Students could choose to stay at school for the holidays, and the school and their Houses would prepare a lavish Christmas feast and other arrangements for those who stayed.
Quite a few students had already started discussing their plans, and Hermione was no exception.
After all, apart from the two-month summer vacation and the upcoming two-week Christmas break, Hogwarts didn't have many other long holidays. This break was undoubtedly very important to the students.
As for why a group of wizards who believed in Merlin and had once been at odds with the Church celebrated that holiday—and even got time off for it—that was anyone's guess.
"Plans?"
"I don't really have any plans..."
(′~`●)
"Since it's two weeks, maybe I'll go home?"
Maybe. Annie had only said she'd go home