Christmas this year was brutal cold.
Snow buried Hogwarts under white. With all the rumors flying around, most students had gone home for the holidays. The castle felt empty.
"Hey! Get up!"
"Stop sleeping! It's the holidays!"
Hermione burst into the boys' dorm with Gunpowder, yanked the curtains open. Cold light flooded in. Harry and Ron blinked awake.
"Merry Christmas!"
"Just got back from Tiger's."
"He was up ages ago. Brought his presents for you..."
She set the gifts on Neville's empty bed, flicked her wand at the fireplace. Flames grew. Warmth spread.
"Oh no..."
Ron squeezed his eyes shut, buried his head under the covers.
Muffled groaning.
"Please, Hermione."
"If I can't sleep in during holidays, what's the point?"
Hermione opened her gift box. Pulled out a pink Colt Python. Pointed it at Ron.
"Trust me, Ron. You don't get up, your life won't have a point."
"No, my life—"
Ron peeked out. Shot straight up in bed. Eyes wide.
"Whoa!"
"I'm up!"
"Put that away!"
He'd seen what those did.
Two months ago, Tiger turned Crabbe into Swiss cheese with one.
"Classic Shelby..."
Harry opened his box. Pulled out a werewolf tooth necklace.
No mystery where those came from.
Since Fenrir Greyback united the werewolves, no wizard hunted them openly. Except the Shelbys.
"Wow..."
"Love that necklace."
Ron's envy showed.
Wild jewelry like that hit different for boys.
Seeing Ron's look, Harry quickly put it on.
"Check yours."
"Tiger killed plenty of werewolves in Knockturn—"
Ron rushed to Neville's bed. Grabbed his box.
"Huh?"
Too light. His excitement faded to confusion. Ribbon fell. A scream filled the room.
"Ron!" Hermione and Harry pulled him off the floor.
Ron pointed at the box, pale, voice shaking.
"Sp... spider..."
"He sent me a spider..."
Everyone knew Ron's biggest fear.
Tiger clearly didn't.
Hermione picked up the box.
A bowl-sized spider sat inside, fuzzy body curled tight, looking terrified.
"This is..."
She examined it closer. Recognition hit. She looked back, amused.
"Ron, you're rich. Acromantula hatchling. Its venom's worth a fortune!"
Tiger heard Ron couldn't afford a wand. Sent him a money printer.
Could he raise it?
Draco nodded seriously. Tiger tossed the spider in the box.
Pure-bloods are pure-bloods.
Should be fine...
"No! Take it!"
"Don't need it! Please!"
Ron looked ready to cry.
Without Harry there, he'd have fled. Set the room on fire first.
"Alright, Ron~"
Seeing her brother genuinely couldn't handle it, Hermione repacked the box, picked up Gunpowder.
"I'll raise it. Little guy's kind of cute."
"Fine!"
Ron cowered behind the desk. Maximum distance from spider.
"Oh, right!"
Hermione paused at the door.
"Potion's ready. Change quick. I'll wait in the common room..."
Harry's eyes lit up.
---
Second-floor girls' bathroom.
Ron stared at the bubbling green sludge. Swallowed hard.
"Hermione, are you..."
"Sure it worked?" Harry looked hesitant.
Hermione rolled her eyes. Tucked the spare vial away.
"Relax. Looks different, but it worked."
"Advanced potion-making."
"Half hour duration instead of one. Move fast."
"Uh... okay..."
"You're always right."
Harry and Ron breathed deep.
Dropped Crabbe and Goyle's hairs in.
Smoke rose. They downed the potions.
"Cough..."
"Ugh... that taste..."
The flavor made them gag.
Thinking about whose hair was in there made it worse.
Hermione watched curiously. Ron asked.
"Why haven't you drunk yours?"
Hermione smiled.
"No reason."
"Just still uncertain. Potion-making's precise. Even slight color differences..."
Harry: (?_?)
Ron: (?_?)
Before they could respond, heat surged from their stomachs. Blazing fire spread through their bodies.
Then.
Under Hermione's gaze, they expanded visibly.
Indescribable itching.
Robes stretched tight. Ready to burst.
Harry's view rose. "Bloody hell, this is incredible!"
Seeing them transform into Crabbe and Goyle, Hermione relaxed.
Snape's class was brutal. But she'd memorized everything.
Polyjuice was her first advanced potion. If something went wrong, someone needed to get them to the Hospital Wing...
"Blimey, Harry."
"Wait—Crabbe now..."
Ron stared at his reflection. Pinched his round cheeks. Laughed.
Hermione pulled out her potion. Dropped in Gemma Farley's hair. Cold smile.
"Merry Christmas, bitch prefect..."
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