I Fear Your Name Will Haunt Me Forever

It was the last day of November snow was threatening to fall and two more victims had been injured since Deniz's birthday. The teachers had started to escort the students to each of their lessons and curfew was a lot more stringent. Ellie hadn't really been able to spend time with her friends in their common room recently as she had nobody to escort her back to her room. The entire school was tense and people couldn't wait until Christmas. The majority of students were returning home and Ellie was going to stay in Hogwarts for at least some of the holiday, she wanted to celebrate her birthday with her Godfather as was tradtion.

Breakfast was as noisy as ever and Ellie was waiting expectantly, it was the last day of November and that meant Christmas Calendars. The owls swooped in and Ellie couldn't help but grin widely. When the first owl landed in front of her she looked like a small child on Christmas day. Her friends glanced between themselves before Oliver bravely started talking to her. Their relationship had been a little awkward for a few days after Oliver's confession but they were back to normal already. "Ellie, why are your still looking expectantly?" he inquired. She glanced at him briefly before going back to her vigil.

"There are more" she answered simply her eyes scanning rapidly. Her friends looked at her holding back grins, she was most defiantly irreplaceable. George kissed Deniz then left to get a book he had forgotten, apparently they had gotten together which was something Ellie had failed to notice until now. Six owls eventually sat before her looking at her. She smiled and took their packages not caring that she looked completely crazy. The owls flw off one by one each not looking back going to roost in the Owerly, hoping not to be sent on a long flight anytime soon. Once all the owls had flown off Ellie rubbed her hands together before ripping into the brown paper that was wrapped around all of her items. Marie looked in awe as one by one advent calendars revealed themselves. Ellie attempted to open one of the small windows but was hit with a small stinging hex. She frowned, they knew, they all knew. Maire watched the emotions flick across her friends face.

"What's up?" she asked looking closely at the frown Ellie was staring at her advent calendars clearly thinking. Suddenly a smile graced her face. She quickly went through the pile and found a specific calendar and attempted to open the first window. This time her eyes became wide in frustration and Marie, Deniz, Fred and Oliver all bit their cheeks to stop themselves bursting out laughing, her hair had changed colour to bright green. "Ellie, you may want to check your hair." It was at that point Ellie looked around the room and noticed everyone around her holding back laughs. Marie handed her a mirror and Ellie's eyes widened in horror. She read the note on the back of the box and couldn't help but grin.

"Damn" she muttered to herself. Her group of friends were laughing loudly at the girl, joining to crowds around her. She went bright red and looked towards the teacher table. Her Grandfather's eyes were twinkling at her in amusement. She ducked her head and looked at the table as though it was the most interesting thing since sliced bread. She had to admit that Krum had brilliant spell casting. She sighed when she realised in effect this calendar was counting down to his wedding. After her Marie had got her breath back she looked closely at her friend.

"Please explain why your hair is green." Fred started laughing again and Ellie had a quick glance at the head table, it told her that the lessons were about to start. She stood up and her friends followed her clearly wanting and answer. "Ellie! Tell us!" Ellie looked around the slowly filling corridor, hoping that there was something that she could find to change the subject. Her friends glared at her in unison. She sighed and then decided to speak once more.

"Well I love opening the Christmas calendars, mainly for the chocolate. I tend to open all of the windows in one day, then complain about the fact that there is less chocolate than there had been. It seems that even Viktor has realised this and this is my punishment for attempting to open tomorrows." All of her friends broke into raucous laughter just as they walked into their first lesson of the day. No doubt she would have to tell the story more than once today.

The day took forever to drag by. The lessons were interesting, the teachers were trying to force as much of the curriculum on them as possible before Christmas, and informed everyone that there would be tests on the second lesson back after Christmas, just to give the students enough time to ask about anything that they were struggling with. Ellie did not like this, it meant that her Christmas was going to be spent studying. The group sat down in the Great hall. It was at this time of year that the people who had been petrified were being missed. They were not with their friends, as they usually were, planning exactly what they were going to be doing at home for Christmas. As Ellie's friends were now doing.

"This Christmas we had been requested home." The twins informed the group, Ellie just smiled, though Oli noticed that it did not reach her eyes. "Mum is worried about the attacks." Fred informed the group as George nuzzled Deniz's neck. Then he spoke without moving giving it a muffled effect.

"She thinks we will be safer at home, not surprising really." Marie, Deniz, and Oli all told everyone what they were doing for Christmas but Ellie stayed silent. She would be doing what she did every year. She sat playing with her food for a little while taking in the sounds around her.

"I have a lot of homework, I will see you tomorrow." With that Ellie stood and left her friends. They all glanced at each other confused but they did not say anything, they did not need to, there was something wrong with their friend.

"We need to plan Ellie's Birthday party." Deniz whispered across the table a grin on her face. They knew when her birthday was and they had a feeling that Dumbledore would want to do something for her birthday. Oliver had a feeling that Dumbledore would let them do anything, after all the day would not be enjoyable for her. She was going to Dimitri's wedding.