Wow I can't believe that it's been so long since I updated this!  But don't worry, I'm here to update it now!

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One week from that day when we had that dinner together and formed our plans was when we started to execute them.  Hermione, Paisley and Ron began trawling through all the books they could get their hands on in the library that were about Nicholas Flamel while Harry, Jane and I tried to come up with ways to get DNA samples from students.

So far group 1 had yet to think of a plan that could actually work, all we had at the moment were silly ideas of trying to steal people's spit in their slip or some how trying to collect a sample of everyone's hair.  We quickly realised it would be almost impossible to remember what piece of hair had been from which person without a good system, and no one felt like keeping track of hundreds of strands of hair.  Thus, we ruled out both those options.

Group 2 hadn't had much luck either, as they were yet to find anything that was really useful.  Sure, they'd found a bunch of things that at any other time would have been quite interesting, and some things that were a bit funny, but given that we needed answers quickly they weren't very helpful.

Neither group could afford to give up on their task, but sometimes we did rotate who was in which group, hoping that swapping a few people around sometimes might bring in fresh eyes and ideas, to help pick up things that the rest of us hadn't seen.  Unfortunately, up until this point it hadn't been an overly helpful technique, but I had faith that one of us would have to find something eventually.  No secret could hide forever.

Still, there was reason to rejoice as the Christmas season approached.  I remember when they first put the Christmas tree up in the Great Hall and how amazed I had been by the how big it was and all of the decorations that the teachers had put on it.  It was really beautiful.  The snow outside was also nice to see, and it was...  Surprisingly fun to play in.  Jane and Paisley had forced me into a snowball fight and I had enjoyed it.  Even if I'd ended up with a snowball in the face at one point.

I had always liked Christmas, though I don't really know why.  Sure the presents were nice and of course there was the tasty food, but I guess it was just the feeling of being home that I really enjoyed.  Christmas was the one day when Hermione and I had always made the effort to be siblings, and this year that would be easier since we were working together as sisters even before Christmas.  Our parents would definitely be surprised to hear that.

'Are you looking forward to going home?'  I asked Hermione as we packed our trunks together.

'Yes.  Aren't you?'  She inquired, looking over at me while I folded my Hogwarts robes.

'Yeah, I think so, but I'm also going to miss the others.'

'So am I, but it won't be long until we see them again and they still have things to do while we're away.  You did explain the plan to Paisley and Jane, right?'

'Of course I did, they know what they have to do.'

'Sorry, I just wanted to make sure.  This is the perfect time to do it, after all, since there will be fewer students and staff around over the break.'

'I know.  Don't worry, Hermione, they will get it done.'

'I know, sorry.'

'It's fine.  For now though, let's just finish packing and go and say goodbye to the others.  Ok?'

She nodded and we folded up the rest of our things, placing them in our trunks, before going to bid our friends goodbye as we were about to go home for the holidays.

'Hey guys.'  I greeted when we saw Jane and Paisley with Potter, Weasley.

'So you're really going home?'  Paisley asked.

'Yeah.  Try not to miss me too much.'  I joked, making my friends grin.

'We'll do our best, but it won't be easy.'  Jane smirked and hugged me.

'Thanks.'  I grinned as I hugged her back.  After we let go of each other I hugged Paisley, then looked over at the boys.  'See you when we come back.  Make sure you keep each other safe.  With this thing around you shouldn't take too many risks, but...  Don't forget about the plan.'

'We won't.'  Ronald sighed dramatically and rolled his eyes.

'Don't worry Melanie, we know what to do.'  Potter said, though I didn't totally believe him.

'Ok.'  I nodded anyway.  'Have a happy Christmas you guys.  I'll send you something by owl, so make sure you keep an eye out.'

'You don't need to do that.'  Harry said.

'Maybe not, but I think I should.  You've done a lot of work.'  I shrugged.

'Well...  Thanks.'  He smiled a little.

'You're welcome.'

It wasn't long after that when we had to go to the train and Hermione and I sat and talked together on the long journey back to Platform 9 3/4.  We, of course, talked about the stone and the possible vampire that was roaming Hogwarts.

'Do you think the two are being done by the same person?'  I asked looking over at her.  We had decided to sit facing each other that way so that we could both have our own window seat and we could lie down if we wanted to, as I was doing now.

'I don't know.  If it is Snape, then how could he be a vampire without everyone knowing?  I don't think that Dumbledore would put the students in danger like that by hiring a teacher who drinks blood.'

'I don't think it's Snape.  He did help Potter and I by proving that it really was a vampire who was doing all of this.'  I pointed out.  'Why would he help us if it was him who was the vampire?'

'I don't know...  But Snape was there at the Quidditch match when Harry's broom was jinxed, remember?'

'Well yeah, but so where a lot of people.  It could have been another student.'

'But I saw Snape staring at Harry and he was saying something.  He didn't blink, Mel, you know that means he was up to something.  That is how you cast that sort of jinx.'

I sighed and put a hand over my eyes, all of this was making my head hurt.  We were getting nowhere...  But at least we weren't fighting I supposed.

'Has he done anything else?' I asked.

'Well remember, he was limping after the troll attack on Halloween.'

'Alright...  You have a point there.  That was a bit weird.'

'Exactly.  But it doesn't prove that he did it, does it?'

'No.'  I shook my head.  We didn't really have any proof that he had done anything wrong, and without that no one else would believe us.

'Let's just hope that our friends find something that will help.'

'I'm sure they will.'

Hermione seemed to go quiet after that and neither one of us said anything for what felt like ages.  Not that I cared at that point, I hoped that might stop my head from hurting, but it didn't help that much.

When the lady with the trolley stopped outside our compartment Hermione told her that she didn't want anything, however I interjected and asked for some chocolate cauldrons.  Thankfully I had a little bit of wizard pocket money so I was able to pay for the sweets.  After I bought them I sat back down in the compartment and my sister looked at me with a raised brow.

'What?'  I asked after I had bitten into one of the chocolates.

'Are you going to share?'

'I thought you didn't want any.'

'Well...  Ok maybe just one?'

'Sure.'  I replied, rolling my eyes with a smile before I handed one to her.  'There, now I shared.'

'Thank you.'

'You're welcome.  Maybe I should have gotten some more if I'd known I'd have to share them with you.'

'Oh stop it, I've only had one.'

'So far.'  I smirked at her.

'Oh very funny.'  She said sarcastically.  'Don't worry I won't have anymore of them then.'

'Oh come on, Mione, I'm just teasing you.'

'Don't worry, I know.'

We both laughed a little and I even decided to sit beside her so that we could share the rest of the chocolates together.  It was when the snow started to fall as we watched it through the train window, that a thought came into mind and I couldn't help giggling.

'What's funny?'  Hermione asked.

'I was just thinking..  It's almost like we're in a Christmas Carol or something.'  I explained.

'Well...  I suppose so.'

'Dashing through the snow, on the old Hogwarts Express.'  I said in a sing-song voice, causing us both to laugh at the silliness of it.  Things were definitely different from how they had been at the start of the year.  I almost had to admit that I did like this.  It was good to be going home.

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Well that was a long chapter, I hope that makes up for the wait.  I also hope that you liked what you read, I enjoyed writing it, even if it doesn't have a lot of action in it.  Anyway, in the next chapter we'll have a look at how Christmas is spent at the Granger house.

~ Lexa