Christmas

The first snow of the season fell softly, blanketing the Hogwarts grounds in a white layer. The castle itself seemed to glow from within, its lights twinkling through the windows.

 The whispers about Andy's family had lessened somewhat, but they hadn't disappeared entirely. He still felt like an outsider, a shadow lurking. 

One December afternoon, Teddy found Andy alone in the library, surrounded by stacks of books. He looked up as Teddy approached.

"Hey," Teddy said, sliding into the seat opposite him. "What are you doing? Trying to read the entire library before Christmas?"

Andy managed a small smile. "Just… researching," he mumbled. "Trying to learn more about… well, everything."

Teddy frowned. "You okay?"

Andy shrugged. "Just thinking," he said quietly. "Thinking about… Christmas. And my family."

Teddy's heart went out to his friend. He knew how difficult this time of year must be for Andy, surrounded by the festive cheer, a stark reminder of the family he had lost, and the darkness associated with his name.

"You don't have to be alone, you know," Teddy said gently. "You've got me. And… well, maybe Leo too, eventually." He still held out hope that Leo would come around.

Andy looked up, his eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and sadness. "Thanks, Teddy," he whispered. "It means a lot."

"Come on," Teddy said, pulling Andy to his feet. "Let's get out of here. We can go to the Quidditch pitch."

Andy hesitated for a moment, then nodded. The prospect of escaping the castle, even for a few hours, was tempting.

As they walked back towards the castle, the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the snow-covered landscape. Teddy noticed Andy shivering.

"Cold?" he asked.

Andy nodded. "A bit."

Teddy grinned. "I know just the thing." He pulled out the Marauder's Map and muttered the password. The map unfolded, revealing the intricate layout of Hogwarts. "There's a shortcut we can take," he said, pointing to a hidden passage. "It'll be warmer than walking all the way around."

They slipped through the secret passage, emerging in a deserted corridor near the Gryffindor common room. As they walked towards the common room entrance, they heard voices.

"He's a Lestrange," one voice hissed. "You can't trust him."

"He's just a kid," another voice replied, but without conviction.

Teddy recognized the voices. They belonged to a couple of older Gryffindor students. He felt a surge of anger rise within him.

He grabbed Andy's arm and pulled him behind a tapestry, just as the two students rounded the corner. They paused, their voices drifting back to Teddy and Andy.

"I heard he's been talking to Dumbledore," one of them said. "Probably trying to get special treatment."

"He's just like his parents," the other one muttered. "Evil."

Teddy clenched his fists. He was about to step out and fight when he noticed something, Andy was not behind him. 

**********

 Andy slipped away from the crowded Great Hall after hearing the conversation from Gryffindor students and ventured into the grounds. He found himself drawn to the edge of the Forbidden Forest, it's dark silhouette looming against the horizon like a silent threat.

He hesitated at the edge of the trees, a shiver running down his spine. The forest was forbidden for a reason, a place of unknown dangers and whispered secrets. But the lure of its shadows was too strong to resist. He needed to escape, to find a place where he could be alone, where the whispers couldn't reach him.

He took a step into the forest, the sunlight fading behind him as the trees closed in. 

As he went deeper, a sense of unease settled over him. He felt a prickling sensation on the back of his neck, as if he was being watched. He quickened his pace, his heart pounding in his chest.

Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the trees, sending a shiver down his spine. He froze, his eyes scanning the shadows. A pair of glowing eyes materialized in the darkness, followed by the outline of a creature unlike any he had ever seen before.

It was large and muscular, with shaggy black fur and a pair of enormous fangs that gleamed in the dim light. Its eyes burned with an eerie green fire, and a low growl rumbled in its chest. 

Andy stumbled back, his hand instinctively reaching for his wand. But before he could utter a spell, the creature lunged. He cried out in surprise and fear as it knocked him to the ground, it's hot breath on his face.

He closed his eyes, bracing for the inevitable. But the attack never came. Instead, he heard a familiar voice, sharp and commanding.

"Get away from him!"

He opened his eyes to see Teddy standing between him and the creature, his wand raised. The creature hesitated, its eyes flickering and then ran away between 

"Let's get back to the castle, Andy," Teddy said and lifted Andy from the ground.

Andy scrambled to his feet, his legs trembling. They started running and didn't stop until they reached the safety of the castle grounds,

They collapsed on a bench, gasping for breath. Andy had faced whispers, but this was different. This was real danger, a creature of darkness that could have killed him. And Teddy had saved him.

As he caught his breath, he realized something else. The creature hadn't attacked him. It had hesitated, as if it were holding back.

He thought back to the creature's eyes, the way they had flickered. 

He looked back towards the Forbidden Forest, it's dark silhouette even more menacing now. 

**********

Christmas morning dawned bright and clear. A thick layer of snow covered the grounds, transforming Hogwarts into a magical winter wonderland. The Great Hall was decorated with a towering Christmas tree, its branches laden with glittering ornaments and twinkling lights.

Andy and Teddy hadn't forgotten about the creature but tried to avoid talking about it. 

Teddy woke to find a mountain of presents at the foot of his bed. He grinned, tearing into the brightly wrapped packages. There was a new set of quills from his grandmother, a book on advanced Charms from Professor Macmillan, and a box of Honeydukes sweets from Harry.

He looked over at Andy's bed. There was only one small package there. Teddy frowned. He knew that Andy didn't have any family to send him presents.

He got out of bed and walked over to Andy's bed. "Merry Christmas," he said softly.

Andy looked up, a faint smile on his face. "Merry Christmas," he replied.

Teddy handed him one of his presents. "Here," he said. "This is for you."

Andy looked surprised. "But… this is yours," he stammered.

"I've got plenty," Teddy said, winking. "Go on, open it."

Andy carefully unwrapped the package. Inside, he found a beautifully carved wooden box. He opened it to find a collection of rare and unusual potion ingredients.

"Wow," Andy breathed, his eyes wide with surprise. "These are… amazing."

"I thought you might like them," Teddy said.

Andy looked at Teddy, his heart filled with gratitude. "Thank you," he said softly. "This is… the best Christmas present I've ever received."

They spent the rest of the morning opening presents and exchanging Christmas wishes. As they headed down to the Great Hall for the Christmas feast, Teddy put his arm around Andy's shoulder.

"Merry Christmas, Andy," he said.

"Merry Christmas, Teddy," Andy replied, his voice filled with warmth.

The Christmas feast was a magnificent affair. The tables were filled with magnificent food. There were roast turkeys, chicken legs and a ton of other things. 

As the feast drew to a close, Professor McGonagall rose to his feet. She smiled warmly at the students.

"Merry Christmas, everyone," She said, her voice ringing out across the hall. "I hope you are all enjoying this wonderful celebration."

SHe paused, his gaze sweeping across the room. "I would like to take this opportunity to remind you all of the true meaning of Christmas. It is a time for kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. A time to put aside our differences and celebrate the bonds of friendship and love."

She said a lot of other things but most of the students ignored her.

As the students began to leave the Great Hall, Andy turned to Teddy.

"I think it is time to pay another visit to the forbidden forest." Teddy said firmly. 

" But why?" Andy said confusingly.

" To find some more about the creature" Teddy looked directly into Andy's

eyes.