In just a few days, the Christmas holidays would officially begin.
Unlike Halloween Eve, when trouble always seemed to arise by coincidence, the students could not remember any accidents ever happening during the Christmas holidays.
Whether it was the Yule Ball on Christmas night or the long break afterward, both were well worth looking forward to.
After most students filled out their forms and chose to stay at school for the Christmas holidays, their thoughts gradually began to drift elsewhere.
Take the fourth-year Gryffindors, for instance. They were thinking about the imminent Yule Ball and the holiday when they could relax and have fun, forgetting somewhat that they were currently in Potions Class.
Like a fisherman preparing to haul in his nets, Snape waited until the bell rang and Harry and the others began clearing their desks to leave before announcing something in an unusually cheerful tone.
"Do not forget about the antidote. At any time, I may give one lucky person a... special Christmas gift, so that lucky person can enjoy an unforgettable Christmas holiday."
Upon hearing Snape say that—especially the words "Christmas gift"—many Gryffindor students found themselves thinking the exact same thing: Could they fill out the form to stay at school again now?
The contrast between Herbology and Potions Class was especially stark. Professor Sprout did not teach a regular lesson; instead, she led the students in making sachets, using sweet marjoram as the main ingredient along with some dried flowers.
After many students learned how to make sachets, they planned to buy more materials in Hogsmeade Village once the Christmas holidays began, so they could make the scents in their sachets richer and more varied.
Alastor Moody, who taught Defense Against the Dark Arts, could always spot anyone slacking off immediately, thanks to the vision