Christmas Holiday

During the Christmas holidays, the Hogwarts Express traveled across the frozen countryside, the smoke from the red steam engine scattering over the white expanse and mingling with it.

"Pansy and Snape were talking in secret at the feast, and they even mentioned Dumbledore leaving the school. They must be plotting something," Harry said firmly to Ron, leaning back beside the window rimed with icicles and turning his head.

"I believe you, Harry." Sitting beside Harry, Ginny clasped her boyfriend's hand in return.

Ron braced both hands on his legs and leaned forward, just about to say something, when the sound of Lavender Brown knocking on the glass at the compartment door drew his attention away.

Lavender gripped the doorframe with both hands, rolled her head around, and breathed on the glass until it fogged over completely. Ron propped a hand on the seat, sat up straight, and watched Lavender's every move with a strained smile.

Because of the cold, her breath formed a white mist on the glass. Lavender stretched out a finger and drew a shining heart pierced by an arrow, with "R+L" written in the middle. Seeing that the fog was not quite clear enough, Lavender breathed on it again, making the heart she had just drawn more obvious. Then, through the glass, she mouthed exaggeratedly at Ron, "I miss you." Only after seeing Ron mouth something back to her, though no sound came out, did Lavender turn and leave.

"How cute." The atmosphere in the carriage was rather awkward, and Harry spoke up, trying to ease it, only to have Ginny immediately twist the flesh at his waist. The pain made him hiss and pull a face.

Looking troubled, Ron suddenly thrust his lips right in front of Harry's eyes. "All she wants to do all day