Chapter 18

*Time skip to Christmas*

I fell asleep on Christmas Eve not waiting for the next day as much as everyone else was. It was always just another day, and there was no reason that this year should be any different. One very good thing about the holiday break is that the Pride isn't here to ruin it. I am now sleeping by the fire in my chair, and it is comfortable. I woke up on Christmas, and there were presents at my feet. I was not expecting that at all, so it made me very happy. 

The first one was from Dumbledore. It was a nice habitat for Salazar. And there was also some snake treats.

Next was one from Tom. It was a green notebook, with one note in it. 'Have a very good Christmas, Ivy. I hope that you enjoy this.' 

Finally, there was a gift from McGonagall. There were two books. One was a book on Advanced Transfiguration, because I always enjoyed her classes. The other one was a book on defensive spells.

As I went to breakfast, I saw Snape in the hallway. I nodded my head politely. "Good morning Professor. Have a good Christmas." He looked back. "Have a good Christmas, Ms. Henderson." That was great.

As I ate breakfast, which was really good, I realized that I should get gifts for the people that gave me gifts. So I figured what I should get them. I would get Dumbledore and Tom nice socks, because that is always a good thing to have. I would get McGonagall a large box of cat treats, and I would get Snape a good book on potions. Now I just need to get the money to do that. Then I had a really good idea. 

"Professor Dumbledore, may I have some money to buy late Christmas presents? I will repay you when I have money." I asked him. He smiled and gave me a bag of gallions. "Don't worry about repaying me, just make sure to bring back the change. Have a good Christmas." He smiled and left. That went really well. 

I asked Hagrid if I could go to Hogsmead with him, because he was already going, and he said that I could. We split up when we got there, he wanted to get some good butterbeer, and I went to buy gifts.

I was almost done when I saw a great pranking set. It had so much, and I had only spent half of the money, and I could afford it and still have extra. So I bought myself a present too. I told Hagrid that I had found someone else who was just headed back and that I would go with them. He was very good with that. So I went back to Hogwarts by myself. I snuck down to the common room and got ready to give everyone their gifts. I asked someone if I could borrow the stuff to wrap them, so I wrapped them too. Now I just need to give them to the right people.

First, I gave Dumbledore his socks. "Oh, perfect. One can never have too many socks. Thank you." I also have him his money back. Then I went to find McGonagall.

She was in her office, so I knocked on the door. "Come in." So I came and put her gift on the desk. "I got you a gift, Professor. I hope that you enjoy it." She opened it up. "I really should deduct points for this." She said. "Have a biscuit." So we sat there, I was munching on a biscuit, and she was munching on her treats. It made both of us smile. Then I had to find Tom.

Tom was hanging out with his seventh year friends, so I just handed it to him and wished him a merry Christmas. Then I finally had Snape to do.

He was brewing a potion, so I waited for him to be done. He turned around when he was done. "What do you want?" He asked irritably. I swallowed. "I just came to give you this, and to wish you a merry Christmas." I handed him the wrapped book. He unwrapped it and looked at the book. He looked back at me. "Thank you. Now leave." So I left. I wanted to rest.