Before we knew it, it was Christmas time here at Hogwarts. Usually I go home for Christmas, but this year Stef and Lena were taking a vacation to Romania to see the dragons. Honestly, dragons don't really interest me. They're kind of terrifying.

So I decided to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas this year. All my other siblings were staying too, as well as Connor, who usually comes over to our house for the holiday season. He spends the least amount of time possible at his own house, which is understandable considering his dad is... well, he's an interesting man to say in the least.

My eyes fluttered open as sunlight streamed through the open curtains. I sat up and yawned, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes before realizing what day it was:

Christmas Day!

I jumped out of bed excitedly, taking Indigo from out of his cage and placing him on my shoulder, giving him a nuzzle. I didn't even bother changing out of my pajamas before running out of the common room and into the corridor, heading towards the Gryffindor dormitory to wake up Connor. The castle was basically deserted, seeing as most of the students went home for the holidays. Just as I thought I was alone, I turned a corner and-

Smack!

I ran into something hard and stumbled backwards. I looked up to see that it wasn't a something, but a someone. And I made that someone drop all of their books. Way to go, Jude. I made sure Indigo was okay on my shoulder before dropping to my knees and helping pick up the books that were scattered on the floor.

"Oh my gosh I'm so sorry. Are you okay?" I said, grabbing a few of the books.

"Y-Yeah." I heard a deep voice say. I looked up to see none other than the captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, Colton Summers.

"Are you sure?" I asked, a slight blush coming over my face. Of course I had to make a fool of myself in front of the really hot Quidditch captain. Nice going, Jude. "I'm so sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going." I said, handing him a couple of his books and standing up.

"Yeah I'm okay. I wasn't watching where I was going either. Are you okay?" He asked, looking at me concernedly.

I gave a small smile "I think I'll live."

"Sorry again, Jude-"

"You know my name?" I asked. I don't think I had ever talked to him before. Plus, everyone knew who Colton Summers was. I didn't think that he would know who I am.

"Well, yeah. You're Stef's son."

I deflated a bit. "Oh. Right." You think that I'd be used to getting noticed as a famous Auror's kid by now. Well, it's either I get noticed from that or one of my other siblings. Sometimes, it seemed like all of my other siblings were doing cooler things than me. Jesus was a Quidditch Captain, Mariana was just about the best Charms student that Hogwarts had ever seen and a prefect to boot, and Callie and Brandon were Head Boy and Girl. With a family like that, it's easy to get lost in the background.

He cut me off of my train of thought. "I mean, that's not the only reason I know your name. You're a prefect, one of the smartest kids in our year, and really cute-" He blushed and scratched his neck sheepishly giving me a shy smile.

My jaw dropped. Colton thinks that I'm cute? Me? Is he drunk?

"Uh… Thank you?" I said, but it came out as more of a question. I probably looked really stupid, with my face flushed and my jaw still slightly open.

"N-No problem."

"Bye Colton. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, Jude."

I approached the Fat Lady that guarded the Gryffindor common room, huffing slightly from my short jog. What? Connor is the athletic one, not me.

"Password?" She asked, taking a look at my pajamas and raising an eyebrow.

"Devils Snare" I said, flushing slightly.

She rolled her eyes, but let me in. I climbed into the common room, placing Indigo on top of a pile of presents under a tall Christmas tree and bolting up the staircase on the right and up into the boys dormitory.

"Connor!" I yelled, running up the stairs, "Wake up wake up wake up! It's Christmas!" I saw him sit up and rub his eyes sleepily before I launched myself onto his bed, laughing and flopping onto his lap.

He chuckled. "Jude? How did you figure out the password?" He asked, his voice still rough from sleep.

My lips quirked into a smile. "Did you really think I would give up?" The truth is, I had just gotten Mariana to figure it out for me… but he didn't need to know that.

"Jude Adams-Foster giving up? Never." He responded, running a hand through my bedhead and smoothing it down.

I rolled out of his lap and grinned. "Come on, you doofus. We have Christmas presents to open!" I said, and then ran down the stairs, Connor hot on my trail.

We sat down in front of the tree, taking a minute to look at all the Christmas presents we had gotten this year. Connor, who had an especially good relationship with the house elves, pulled a few strings and got them to put all of my presents in here so we didn't have to carry them from one side of the school to the other.

I picked up Indigo from the tall pile of presents, petting his fluff and placing him on my shoulder. Connor inspected his pile and grabbed one of his presents. "Gee, I wonder what this one is..." He said, holding up the obviously broom shaped package.

"Is it new robes?" I asked sarcastically.

"Shut up." He said, tearing the paper off quickly, revealing the latest model of the Moontrimmer, its sleek form leaving my best friend awestruck.

"Oh my god! Connor! It's that new broom you wanted! Who would have known?" I said in fake surprise, widening my eyes for comic effect.

He tore his gaze away from his new broom to glare at me. He put down his broom gently and walked over to me. "You're such a little-"

"Hey hey hey!" I interrupted, throwing out my arms to prevent him from coming any closer. "You can't touch me! I have a Pygmy on my shoulder!" I said, pointing at Indigo who I was pretty sure had fallen asleep. Although, I wasn't really sure. Pygmy puffs didn't really do much.

Connor calmly reached out and picked up Indigo from my shoulder, placing him on the couch and patting his tuft of blue fur before looking back over at me mischievously.

"I hate you." I declared, before running for my life.

He chased me around the common room before catching up with me and wrestling me to the ground. Curse those stupidly hot athletic genes. I struggled against his hold for a moment or two before letting him pin me down.

I laughed, looking up at the boy above me and trying not to drool. Calm down, Jude.

Connor opened his mouth like he wanted to say something before closing it and rolling off me. Well that's disappointing.

"I bet you twenty bucks that Lena knit you another scarf for Christmas." Connor said, grabbing the first present off of his pile and tearing it open, revealing Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. He took one out of the box and popped it in his mouth, offering one to me. I grabbed it out of his hand.

"I'm not taking that bet. Are you crazy? She gives me one every year." I said, eating the light green bean.

I shuddered as the taste filled my mouth. Eugh. Who makes an asparagus flavored jellybean?

"Which horrendous color are you hoping for this year?" Connor asked me

"Hmm... maybe a mucky yellow. Or puke green to go with my house colors."

Connor wrinkled his nose. I tore open the wrapping of my first present, which was signed from Lena. I opened the box to reveal a bright pink scarf with a lopsided J stitched on it.

I held it up, grimacing. "Cute." Connor said, doubling over with laughter. I chucked the florescent abomination at his head.

Connor and I lounged by the large, cozy Gryffindor fireplace, our opened presents scattered around us. We had managed to get some hot cocoa from the kitchens and at one point, Connor had tried to see how many marshmallows he could fit in his mouth.

Connor sighed, taking a sip out of his mug. "I'm so glad I didn't have to go home for Christmas."

I snorted. "Yeah, the last time we went over to your house it was a disaster."

He rolled his eyes. "Oh come on! The last time you came over for Christmas it was a blast."

"Oh yeah! I loved being blatantly ignored by your father! Good times." I deadpanned.

"Okay, so that part wasn't fun. But that fort we built in the woods was pretty cool."

That night we spent in the woods was a night that I would never forget. Connor and I had talked until the sun rose, exchanging dreams, hopes, and fears. We laughed together while watching the sunrise, our arms brushing side by side. It was the moment that I fell in love with him. And, the woods ended up being one of the scents in my amortentia.

"Yeah, that was pretty awesome." I sighed contentedly, resting my head on his shoulder.

He rested his head on top of mine. "Merry Christmas, Jude."

"Merry Christmas, Connor."