"You know, Luro, Christmas is coming up soon. You know what that means!" Gloria waved her wand as if to cast a spell, but of course it did nothing as she wasn't really doing magic.

"No," Luro replied, "What does that mean?"

"Glor, don't give her ideas now. Christmas isn't until forever away!" Tobias said.

"What'll happen at Christmastime?" asked Gregory, "We do get off school, right?"

"Or we can choose to stay," Gloria laughed mischievously, "What will you chooooose?"

"I'm going to go home and check on my mum, then," Luro decided, "She didn't seem to be getting all that much better in the last letter I've gotten from her."

"Well, even though I'm quite late," Gregory admitted, "I am a bit homesick already."

"C'mon, guys," Tobias laughed, "How about instead of talking about what we're going to do in a long time from now, we discuss present matters?"

"You're so boring, Toby," Gloria nudged him in the arm.

"For the millionth time, Gloria, I prefer Tobias!"

"Guys, calm down," Luro laughed, "You're making Northstar all fidgety." She gestured to the silver owl perched in the branches above its owner. Hufflepuffle was sitting next to it, swishing her black and white feathered tail and occasionally batting at the bird.

"He's clearly afraid of Puffley up there," Gloria frowned.

"Oh, they'll be fine," assured Luro, "Puffley's probably part Bird or something, so they'll get along. Eventually," she added.

Gloria doubtfully shook her head, but nonetheless stopped worrying. She changed the subject. "So Greg," she asked, "How were you able to do the homework so well if you've never been to most of the classes?"

"Yeah?" agreed Tobias.

"Well," the small bit replied, "I did have some help from another - er, what do you call it? Oh yes - muggle-born. He's a Ravenclaw, too, so he was able to help me out." He smiled at this.

"Ah, so you've got friends in your house already? Kudos to you, then," Gloria slapped him on the back.

"Ouch!" He whined, "What was that for?"

Gloria frowned, "Ku-dos means con-grat-u-lay-tions!" Tobias and Luro laughed at this, whilst Gregory was left feeling a little sore.

"I think I'm going to go catch up with my muggle-born friend, then," he announced, getting up, "I'll see you guys later?"

"Yeah," Luro smiled, "sure."

"See ya!" Gloria waved.

"Bye!" Gregory waved back, then headed off through the school grounds to find his friend.

"So, Toby," Gloria turned to the only male left, who gritted his teeth, "What are you going to do this Christmas?"

"I-I'll decide when I get there," he seemed unsure. Luro frowned, and Gloria just rambled on about how her mother would kill her if she didn't come home for the holidays, and how her father would probably be equally disappointed. Soon, a few Slytherin girls walked past them with a little giggle, pointing a little as they made their way by.

Luro seemed to be the only one who noticed, other than Hufflepuffle, who hissed from her spot in the tree. Luro became a bit confused.

"What's wrong, Luro?" Tobias asked, cutting off Gloria's speech about her Christmas dinner and how her older brother would usually eat half the entire thing.

"It's - nothing," she sighed, "What were you saying, Gloria?"

But before Gloria could respond, a large Gryffindor boy that looked to be perhaps a fourth-year came ambling behind the previous giggling girls. He spoke confidently to Tobias, "Hey, you're that kid who got that howler, aren't you?"

Tobias gulped. He remembered that morning.

"Well," The boy continued, "I'm sure you are. Really love your mum, do you? Ha, I bet your mum really hates you, sending in a howler like that," he adopted a mocking tone, "Tahliyla, honey! We wuv you so much!" He chortled at his own joke.

"Back off," Gloria growled, "You're just making a fool of yourself."

"Am I really?" The older boy laughed, "The only fool here is Tahliyla's mum, sending him that howler."

"His name is Tobias!" Gloria shouted.

"Go away," Luro agreed, "What do want? Are you jealous he's got such a loving mum?"

The older boy frowned, "Right, you say your words. It doesn't change anything. I'll be back for you later, fresh meat," he smiled and went off to join the giggle girls.

Tobias' face was pink. "Thanks guys," he managed to mutter.

"Don't mention it," Luro huffed.

"We're Hufflepuffs," Gloria added, still watching the rude student who had bothered them, "Loyalty is what we do."