Christmas was approaching.
With so much having happened at school lately, many students chose to leave and go home.
Professor McGonagall had the Gryffindor prefects help tally up the students' plans. Harry did not want to return to the Dursleys, so he chose to stay.
"Mate, I understand how you feel, so I'll stay at school with you again this year."
Ron Weasley hurried up and slung an arm around Harry, who was walking ahead with his head lowered, then laughed.
"Me too. I'm not planning to go home this year either," Hermione Granger said with a smile as she approached, holding a book.
Harry glanced at Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, and the despondency in his heart soon faded.
"Thank you, Hermione, Ron."
Harry's gratitude was utterly sincere, without a trace of pretense.
"I just heard that Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle have decided to stay too."
"That's a surprise!"
Ron Weasley suddenly remembered something and spoke in a low voice.
"Who knows how much trouble the people leaving will bring us when they come back?" Hermione Granger muttered beside them.
"Why?" Ron Weasley asked, puzzled.
"Because there might be enemies among them. Going home for the holidays gives them a perfect chance to contact one another, while we won't know a thing," Harry explained.
"What do we do, then?" Ron Weasley froze for a moment, then spoke helplessly.
"There's not much we can do except deal with whatever comes our way," Harry said after a moment's thought. "Of course, that depends on us being strong enough."
"You're their target, Harry!" Ron Weasley exchanged a glance with Hermione Granger, then looked at Harry and spoke gravely.
"I know that, of course. But I'm strong now," Harry said with absolute confidence.
"All right!"
Time slipped quietly by. Harry worked hard to