"I feel sorry for certain people who have to spend Christmas at Hogwarts."
"Their hearts must ache from being abandoned by their families! They can't be with their loved ones or feel the warmth of a home. Every time the Christmas bells ring, they must feel so terribly lonely and forgotten!"
As Malfoy spoke, he kept his eyes fixed on Harry, his gaze filled with unmistakable malice.
Crabbe and Goyle snickered beside him, the two lackeys echoing his jabs.
Harry concentrated on his Potions work and ignored them.
Since the Quidditch Match, Draco Malfoy had grown even more bitter toward Harry Potter.
He had expected Potter to make a fool of himself, but the opposite had happened. Harry had turned the match around and led the Gryffindor Quidditch Team to victory over Slytherin.
The defeat had left Malfoy frustrated and jealous of Harry, so he had resorted to mocking his family.
At Malfoy's words, Ron cleared his throat and said loudly, "Harry, you were brilliant in that last Quidditch Match!" He paused deliberately, glancing at Malfoy with a challenging smile.
Harry understood what Ron was doing. "It wasn't that hard," he said calmly. "Slytherin wasn't much of an opponent."
Ron seized the chance to add, "Harry, you're only a first-year, but you're the first first-year to play Quidditch. Some people are so jealous they can hardly stand it, but there's nothing they can do. They just aren't as talented as you. Isn't that right, Malfoy?"
Their words struck Malfoy where it hurt.
Harry and Ron took quiet pleasure in the sight of him grinding his teeth, his eyes blazing with anger.
"If you keep making noise in my class, I'll throw all of you out!"
Snape's voice rang out beside them, making them jump. Harry and Malfoy both hunched their shoulders and immediately fell silent.
Once Snape had moved away, Harry muttered to Ron, "I really hate Snape and Malfoy."
Time flew by, and before they knew it, the Christmas holiday had arrived.
Jerry packed his luggage early and went to the Great Hall to find Hermione.
The Great Hall had been transformed. Colored lights sparkled on the Christmas trees, and warmth from the fireplaces filled the air. Jerry searched the crowd for Hermione, certain she had arrived early too.
Before long, he spotted her standing beside a Christmas tree, smiling at him. A faint blush colored her cheeks, and her eyes shone with anticipation. Warmth rose in Jerry's chest as he walked toward her, and their eyes met.
"Hermione, you look beautiful today," Jerry said with a smile.
"Thank you, Jerry," Hermione replied, smiling too. "You look very nice yourself."
Jerry took Hermione's luggage, then said goodbye to Harry and the others, who were playing Wizard's Chess at a long table.
"Goodbye, Harry, Ron, Neville! And don't forget to look for books on alchemy in the Library over the holiday. If anything comes up, send me an owl!"
Before leaving, Jerry reminded Harry to hurry. Christmas was here, which meant Harry would soon receive the Invisibility Cloak. It was time for him to take a look around the Restricted Section.
Jerry and Hermione wheeled their luggage into the busy station, where the Hogwarts Express was already waiting.
Just as they were about to board, a familiar, booming voice rang across the station.
"Keep hold of your luggage, board in an orderly fashion, and watch your step!"
Jerry looked over and saw Hagrid's towering figure a short distance away.
He waved to Hagrid on the platform and called, "Goodbye, Hagrid! Have a wonderful Christmas!"
"Goodbye, Jerry! You two enjoy your holiday too. Merry Christmas!" Hagrid replied in his deep, unmistakable voice.
Hagrid waved back. Jerry and Hermione exchanged a smile, gathered their luggage, and boarded the Hogwarts Express.
Once aboard, Jerry looked for a compartment. Luckily, he soon found an empty one.
He quickly stowed their luggage. Not long afterward, the train started moving, pulling slowly out of the station toward King's Cross Station in London.
The compartment was spacious and comfortable, with soft carpeting underfoot. Outside the window, the scenery shifted as the train rolled along.
Perhaps the warmth and comfort of the compartment made it easy to relax. Soon after boarding, Hermione grew sleepy. She rested her head against Jerry's shoulder and quietly fell asleep.
Hearing her steady breathing, Jerry felt a wave of tenderness.
He carefully adjusted his position so Hermione could rest comfortably, then watched the passing scenery and listened to the rumble of the train. In the peaceful compartment, he gradually grew sleepy too.
As darkness fell, a bone-chilling cold woke Jerry.
He glanced at Hermione, curled up beside him, then patted her shoulder. "Wake up, Hermione," he said softly.
Hermione slowly opened her eyes and yawned. Then she sneezed, and a puff of white breath escaped her mouth.
The freezing air stung her hands like needles.
She rubbed them together, trying to warm herself, then looked up at Jerry and saw him frowning.
Hermione was puzzled. The temperature in the compartment should not have dropped so quickly.
"Why has it gotten so cold in here?" she asked.
Jerry glanced at the window, where ice was beginning to form. Realizing the temperature was still plunging, he stood to see what was happening.
He eased open the compartment door, and a gust of icy wind hit him in the face.
He had barely stepped into the corridor when a piercing scream sounded ahead.
The sound cut through the air like a sharp blade scraping across ice, making his heart lurch.
Before Jerry could react, a figure in a black robe appeared before him, like a ghost risen from hell.
A Dementor!!