So here we go, the Great Hall collaboration to celebrate the Christmas period.

Disclaimer:Obviously all the characters and places from the Harry Potter verse are the invention and property of J K Rowling.Other characters may at sometime been the property of others, The Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen being two, I'd guess!

Their are a couple of rules and a few silly requests, just to add to the fun of it. Anyway, have fun!!

The story can include any of the characters from all 7 books including those subsequently killed off by JKR. Other characters allowed for this fic are:-

Santa Claus, Elves (of the Santa’s helper type), Mrs Christmas, Jack Frost, Snowmen, Fairies, the Reindeers including Rudolf, and any other traditional Christmas characters including those in traditional pantomime (Mother Goose, Widow Twanky, Wishy Washy, Baron Hardup, Buttons etc…if in doubt read this) but not those of a religious nature, sorry no Joseph, Mary or Jesus, this is because we tend to make these collaboration fics rather silly and some members may find that including religious figures to be inappropriate.

Please, do not include any characters of your own invention, or random off the wall ones like those in horror movies, as it gets too confusing. Despite it’s silly nature, we like the characters to be in context.

For the purpose of this fic, I am setting a challenge. The following articles must somehow be included into the fic. Choose one item/phrase only for your chapter.
A Magic Lamp.
A Sword in a Stone
A Golden Egg
A Sleigh
A Star
A Glass Slipper
A Time Turner
A Spinning Wheel

Edit: The following should also be fitted in, in sequence...

A Partridge in a pear tree
2 turtle doves
3 French Hens
4 Calling Birds
5 Gold Rings
6 Geese A Laying
7 Swans A Swimming
8 Maids A Milking
9 Ladies Dancing
10 Lords A Leaping
11 Pipers Piping
12 Drummers Drumming

**Thanks for the brilliant suggestion passerby!!

The phrase, ‘It’s behind you!’
The phrase, ‘Oh no it/he/she isn’t!’
The following verse should be included within a conversation between at least 2 HP characters and it must make sense.

You better watch out,
you better not cry,
you better not pout,
I'm telling you why:
Santa Claus is coming to town!

Please check with the topic starter, that’s me, before posting a closing/final chapter. Remember to keep it PG rated, and above all have fun! Oh and leave a link to the feedback thread!

Edit 2: Items phrases etc, will have a strike through when used!
***********

The First Bit!!

It was three days before Christmas, and Hogwarts was transforming into it’s usual winter wonderland splendour. Hagrid had spent the last week, chopping down trees from the forest and having Grawp drag them up to the castle. Professor Flitwick had charmed some amazing decorations to adorn the trees and Professor Dumbledore was busy enchanting tiny little candles to look like muggle fairy lights.

As usual, Harry was not going to Privet Drive for the holidays. He was staying where he loved to be at this time of the year. This year, Hermione, Ron, Fred and George were staying too, and this meant the world to Harry.

A good foot of snow had fallen over the castle grounds the night before, and when Harry and Ron set off for Hogsmeade, to shop for gifts, they were wrapped up in scarves and hats knitted by Mrs Weasley.

“This is magical, this place isn’t it?” said Ron.
Harry gave Ron one of those, what are you stupid looks that he normally reserved for Crabbe or Goyle, when suddenly something came flying from the sky and landed in the snow in front of him.

"What is that?" Ron asked, looking a bit as if he'd swallowed a bug.

Harry drew his wand and pointed it at the fallen thing. "I don't know," he whispered. The foreign object started coughing and wriggling around in the snow. "I think it's alive."

Ron started to whimper as he shakily pointed his wand at it as well. "We should go tell Dumbledore."

"No!" Harry yelled. "I mean, we shouldn't bother him. He seems rather busy of late."

The object suddenly stoop up on its hind legs to its impressive full height of three inches, shook the snow from its fur, and looked alternately at Harry and Ron.

"I think it's a chipmunk," Harry offered.

The chipmunk started squeaking and sputtering as it gyrated around pointing this way and that.

"It looks like it's trying to say something." Ron knelt down to get a closer look, hoping the little thing was not rabid. "Do you speak chipmunk?"

Harry looked at his best friend as if he'd grown another head, sure that Ron was taking the mickey out of him. "Chipmunk? Ron. . ."

"I think Dumbledore can. We should definitely take him to see Dumbledore."

It was then that Harry was certain Ron wasn't joking. "All right, Ron." By this time, the chipmunk had stopped squeaking and stood, still on two legs, with its little hands on its little hips. Harry took two steps forward and knelt down in the snow a little in front of Ron. He placed his hands on the snow, palm side up. "Come on, little guy. We're going to take you to see a powerful wizard. I'm sure he can help you." The chipmunk took a deep breath, appeared to sigh, and climbed into Harry's open hands.

Their trip to Hogsmeade totally forgotten, the two burst through the doors of Hogwarts castle and raced to the gargoyle that guarded the entrance to the Headmaster's office.

"Sugared Plums!" screeched Harry as he barely paused in time to let the gargoyle hop out of the way. They bounded up the stairs and rapped on the Headmaster's door.

"Enter," said a voice behind the door. Harry and Ron composed themselves as much as possible and walked into the room.

"Ah, Harry. Ron."

Harry noticed a bit of mist behind Dumbledore's half-moon spectacles, but he ignored it in favor of finding out what was behind the mysterious falling chipmunk. "Sir, we were on our way to Hogsmeade when this," he held out his hands where the chipmunk snuggled warmly against his thumb, "fell out of the sky into our hands. It's been trying to tell us something, but I don't know what it is! Can you help?"

Dumbledore took a moment to look at the tiny forest creature. He beckoned it out of Harry's hands and onto the desk. The small animal complied easily and strutted down, still on two feet, onto the desk. It began to chirp and squeak.

"I do believe I can help you," Dumbledore softly replied.

"You do speak chipmunk?" Harry asked with his eyes wide in disbelief.

"Chipmunk? Yes, it is one of the languages that I speak, but this little creature is not speaking chipmunk."

"He isn't?" Ron sputtered.

"No, he's speaking elf."

"Elf?" Harry and Ron asked simultaneously.

"Squeakedy squeaker, squeakem squeakum, squack," the chipmunk passionately stated as it walked around the desk.

Dumbledore smiled kindly at the creature in front of him and began to translate for the benefit of the two boys.

"He's saying, 'You'd better watch out.'"

"Squeakery squeak squeakoly."

"'You'd better not cry.'"

"Squeaken squeaka squeakatoo."

"'You'd better not pout.'"

"Squeako squeaka squa."

"'I'm telling you why.'"

"Squeakama squakora SANTA!"

"'Santa Claus is coming to town.'"

The chipmunk collapsed upon the desk, having exhausted himself with the telling of his tale. Ron and Harry looked at each other and tried not to break down laughing.

"Oh, dear," Dumbledore muttered.

"What does it mean, sir?" Harry bravely ventured, sobering immediately with the grave look of Professor Dumbledore.

"It means, dear boy, that you and your friends are going on another adventure!"

***

A/N: Best of luck continuing on! Here's the feedback link. (For the purposes of the continuation, the chipmunk is an elf in disguise.)

Dumbledore rose from his chair. His light blue eyes were lost in thought underneath of his half moon spectacles. As the headmaster paced behind his desk, Harry and Ron gawked at the situation which was playing in front of them.

Unable to contain himself any longer, Harry spoke cautiously, "Sir, what exactly does this 'adventure' involve?"

Harry's voice brought Dumbledore out of his thoughts and he spoke surely of what he was saying, "I believe that the answer to all of our questions lie within our little companion here. Let's leave him to rest for a little while before we ask for more information."

***

An hour later, the group grew impatient and decided it was time to question the little creature.

"I'm going to ask what the problem is," Dumbledore explained to the two boys before turning back to the elf and beginning a elvish conversation. "Squeak squeakedy squakum squacker."

The elf shook its head violently and replied, "Sqeakums squaker squackle squam."

"He says that he can't tell us. We have to crack the code to find the answer," Dumbledore narrated.

"Well what's the code?" Ron asked in a manner of the question being as obvious as it was.

"Squaker squabble?" the Headmaster questioned the elf again. Upon receiving an answer, his face turned into stone.

Harry and Ron impatiently awaited the translation. Finally, the professor looked into their eyes, a solid look of concentration and curiousity lining his features.

"The first clue is: Twelve Drummers Drumming...."

______________

This idea is so cute Elaine and Janet! Bravo!
Here's the feedback thread again.

“Are you sure you have that translation correct sir?” questioned Harry.

“You know boy, you are quite right, it should be, a Partridge in a Pear Tree!”

Standing on Dumbledore’s desk, amidst the many silvery instruments, was the little elf with the most annoyed look on his face.

“Alas, I am now in the bad books of this elf, because he finds it an insult to be misunderstood.”

Harry and Ron looked at each other, wondering why it was such a big deal.

“Squeak, squack, squa sequential,” yelled the elf, - well one assumes that it was a yell, since the tiny creature was puce in the face!

“He says, that I should have remembered that the foundations for this adventure have to be in sequence.” translated Dumbledore.

Harry and Ron looked at each other once more. Harry shrugged his shoulders then said “So sir, what does this mean? Where am I supposed to look for a Partridge in a Pear Tree?”

Dumbledore pondered on this for a moment; suddenly the elf’s voice interrupted his thoughts, “Squeakum, Sqawket, Squelching, Chihuahua!”

“What did he say, what did he say?” said Ron quickly.

“Well, what a curious thing,” smiled Dumbledore, “But ofcourse, yes you must ask for Miss Grangers help with this one, she'll be a Star as per usual, tell her, she needs to find the rat like creature that resides in a tea cup!”

.................................................

Sorry Ashley...being a bit picky

Feed back please!!

Harry stood for a moment in front of Dumbledore as if waiting for more instructions.

"I daresay, Harry, you can stand here all day and watch me work, but I think it would be better for you to get started straight away. Christmas is almost upon us, and if you do not succeed, I fear for the entire world!"

"Is there nothing else, sir?"

"I'm afraid not, Harry. You know I detest being vague, but that is all the information I can give to you. I will keep the elf here, but you will need to come back after you've deciphered the first clue."

Harry and Ron regarded their odd Headmaster for a moment before retreating out of the office. As they closed the door, they could hear Dumbledore joyously singing, "Don we now our gay apparal! Falala lalala la la laaaaa."

"He wouldn't be singing if we were about to die, would he?" Ron asked uncertainly.

Harry decided it better to ignore the question. "Come on, we'd better get an owl to Hermione."

***

Snuggled safe in her bedroom, Hermione felt a slight longing to be someplace that she wasn't. Christmas break always brought about such emotions in her. She loved coming home and spending time with her parents, but she also loved staying at Hogwarts with her two best friends. It would be so much more helpful if she could somehow tear herself in two! Her parents were busily wrapping presents downstairs, and she had retreated to her room to read for a bit.

She absently flipped through the pages in her book, not really seeing what she was reading. The behavior was not like her, but she chalked it up to Christmas time blues. She rose from her bed, the blanket still wrapped around her shoulders, and moved to stare out of the window. She thought she saw something small and fast heading furiously toward the glass. She squinted her eyes and rubbed them a bit then reopened them to discover that she wasn't hallucinating, but something was flying towards her at such a speed that she was sure it would kill itself on impact.

"Oh!' Hermione shouted as she recognized it at last. "It's an owl!" She wrenched the window open just in time, for the little bird flew in a flurry of feathers and snow into her bedroom. Hermione closed the window firmly and shivered as the cold air penetrated her blanket. It was Pigwidgeon, and he was flying agitatedly around her room.

"Come down here, Pig," Hermione coaxed, taking a small cookie from her bureau drawer. Pig spastically floated down to land on her desk, took the cookie in his beak, and held out his leg for Hermione to extract the letter.

She unrolled it and began to read:

We are in desperate need of your help. New adventure given to us from Dumbledore. Something about Santa Claus coming to town. First clue is a partridge in a pear tree. Need to find the rat-like creature that resides in a tea cup. Please respond. We need help!

She read the letter over twice more then sat it on the desk. The rat-like creature in a teacup? It didn't make any sense.

She scribbled a note hurriedly to return to the boys, fastened upon Pig, and sent the owl back to Hogwarts. She packed her trunk with her warmest belongings and rushed down the stairs to tell her parents that she'd have to go back to Hogwarts early.

They listened attentively and nodded their understanding. They would be disappointed not to have her at Christmas, but they also had come to understand that life would never be normal again once they learned they'd had a witch in the family.

"Now I just need to think of a way back. The Express isn't running. I can't Apparate there. The floo network is too crowded this time of year." She continued muttering to herself as she absently flipped through a large coffee table book on her mother's tea table. She came to a picture of the cutest little black and white chihuahua sitting in a tea cup. At first she was repulsed by the ugliness of the tiny dog with its rat-like creatures. "OH!" She jumped up from her seat. "The rat-like creature is a chihuahua! Brilliant!"

She paced the floor for a bit, still trying to think of the fastest way back to school, when someone knocked at her door. She ran to the window and peered out to see a beautiful winter sleigh complete with eight chargers in front of the house. A small driver came around the sleigh and made his way up to her door. He knocked.

"Yes?" Hermione asked as she cracked the door open.

"Miss Hermione Granger?" She nodded. "I've been sent to take you to Hogwarts."

"Wonderful!" she exclaimed as she bounded out the door, a book in her hands, and the little driver carted her trunk out to the sleigh. It was bitter cold, but as she stepped into the sleigh, the cold did not bother her in the slightest. The driver handed her a blanket as he took his seat in the front. She placed it around her legs and it heated her thoroughly. 'This must be a magical sleigh," she said more to herself than to the driver.

He turned, however, when he heard her muttering and smiled. "Of course it's magical. It's Santa's own!" Before Hermione could respond, the eight reindeer bounded up into the sky. Before Hermione could scarcely take in where she was, they were landing back at Hogwarts. The driver deposited her at the door to the castle and sat her trunk down beside her. "If ever you need my services again, just lay your finger aside of your nose and give a little chuckle of Ho Ho Ho!" He skipped back into the sleigh and was gone even before Hermione could properly thank him.

She bounded into the castle and raced up to the Gryffindor common room, carreening into Harry and Ron as they made their way out of the portrait hole.

"OI!" cried Ron. "Hermione! You made it!"

"Yes," she breathed, 'and you'll never guess how!"

"Santa's sleigh?"

"Well, yes," she replied. "You've really got to tell me what's going on."

They went into the common room, and Harry and Ron told Hermione their tale. She grew very excited when they got to the part about the chihuahua. "Do you know what it means?"

"Look, Harry," she said, pointing to passage in the book she had been clutching to her breast. "We need to get out of the castle and Apparate to Mrs. Doohiggy's bird bath."

Having lived in the magical world for several years now, Harry didn't even bat an eyelash at the mention of their strange destination. "Let's get going." They grabbed their coats and scarves and gloves and bounded out of the common room, down the changing stairs, and out of the door. The ran as fast as they could down the lane to the gates of Hogwarts and stepped outside of their protection.

"Hang on to me," Hermione said, as she was the most accomplished Appirator of the lot. 'One, two, three!"

At once they experienced the strange sensation of being compressed tightly in from all sides, each of them fearing that they'd be squeezed to death by some strange magical phenomenon. They landed in a heap in a very frozen yard next to a very frozen bird bath. Hermione stood first and looked around.

"There!" she cried as they saw an animal. "Do you see it?"

"Yes," said Harry, "but it looks like a kitten."

"A Siamese kitten," Ron supplied, standing and dusting the snow off of his pants.

The little kitten sauntered his way over to them. "Who are you?" he asked in a little voice.

"I'm Hermione, this is Harry and that's Ron. We were hoping you could lead us to the chihuahua in a tea cup."

The kitty-boy's face lit up instantly. "You are in luck. My name is Skippito Friskito" he said. He pulled out a little mask and tied it over his eyes and said in his best Spanish accent, "My ears are to beeg for my head. My head is to beeg for my body. I am not a Siamese cat. I am a CHIHUAHUA!"

***

A/N: Oh, my goodness! I'm so sorry that I wrote so much, but I totally knew what I wanted to do with the chihuahua. And I apologize profusely for putting Skippyjon Jones into the story, but he's SOOOO funny! You should all check him out. He's a little cat that pretends he's a chihuahua. The opportunity presented itself, and I was helpless but to follow.

Anyways, feedback here, please.

No, no. . .it's not me. This whole brilliant thing is Elaine's!

EDIT: And since I brought in another author's character for a brief cameo, I thought I'd add the disclaimer that Skippyjon Jones and all his crazy antics are the property of Judith Byron Schachner. I'm/we're just borrowing him for the purposes of funny.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me!” sighed Ron. “Is it my imagination or did things just get really stupid?”

“Well, I think he’s cute,” cooed Hermione.

Harry raised his eyebrows and stifled a laugh and said, “Erm, right, whatever. Thing is, and don’t take this the wrong way, but t you won’t fit in a tea cup, so you’re not the Chihuahua we are looking for.

“But, my fine friend, you is not looking at de bigger picture, I is having a bigger tea cup.”

Ron, who had been staring at this kitty-boy with his jaw on his chest, shook himself from his reverie, “But you’re a cat, and the only cats that have ever got into Hogwarts are bad news.”

“You are right ofcourse Ronald, but I don’t think this creature has anything to do with Umbridge, and he doesn’t look like Mrs Norris, in fact, I’d say he looks more like Puss in Boots!” said Hermione observing the animal curiously.

“Well,” said Harry, “he’s the nearest thing to a dog so I think we should get back to Hogwarts and speak to Dumbledore. Plus we need to find out where to look for this Partridge in a Pear Tree. Right, let’s go then, Hermione why don’t you put Skippi……whatshisname in your pocket, then if we get split up or worse still, splinched, he’ll be with you.”

“Ron, put Skippity in my pocket.” said Hermione.

Ron turned to pick up the little kitty, “Where is he?”

“He’s behind you.” replied Hermione.

“Oh no he isn’t.” said Ron.

***********

Sorry, didn't do Janets idea justice....still feedback!

"Where did that thing run off to" Harry muttered with annoyance

"Harry he's not a thing he's a cat" Hermione said in a matter a fact tone. She looked around to see if she could find Skippito Friskito. She saw his little paw prints in the snow "Come on you two we must find him"

"What if we forget all about him? I mean shouldn't we be busy with a Partridge in a Pear Tree?" Harry said rolling his eyes, "Plus it's too cold to be walking around looking for that cat... dog or whatever he is. Are you with me Ron?" Harry turned to look at Ron only to find that Ron was no where in site. "where is he?"

"He was right behind you" Hermione said looking around she saw something glittering in the moonlight, "What's that?" She picked a very large glass slipper

"Hey that's Ron's" Harry said taking the slipper from Hermione, "I mean he doesn't wear it of course... he just... you know I mean"

"Whatever you and Ron do in your dorm is no business of mine" Hermione said taking the slipper and laughing. Harry turned blushed and followed Hermione. They followed the paw prints and the footprints on the ground suddenly they stopped

"Harry look!" Hermione squeaked....

***

A/N: I'm afraid I'm not very good at this. If I wrecked your aim you guys could set it back on track Feedback please

"What? What is it?" Harry said, turning around violently.

"Skippito's pawprints! There's a trail right there! I'm sure that if we follow it, some great adventure might come along!"

"That's exactly what Dumbledore said!" replied both boys at the same time.

"Where were you Ron? I thought we lost you too!" Hermione squeaked.

"I was looking for something I lost... I can't seem to find it..."

"This?" Harry asked while showing him the glass slipper and hiding a smile.

"Give that back!" Ron screamed, taking the glass slipper out of Harry's grip. "Where did you find it?"

"Stop it! What is it with you and that glass slipper? No! Wait! I don't want to know! We better hurry before the snow covers the prints. We have better things to do! Let's go!" Hermione squealed.

"Yeah, right. Following a rat-like cat in the snow is at the top of my priority list today," Ron told Harry in a bitter but low voice so that only he could hear. Harry hid a snort.

They walked quickly in the snow and after just a few minutes they saw a teacup half buried in the snow. They hurried over to where it laid and saw that it was big enough to fit the cat in, but he wasn't anywhere around. Hermione kneeled to try and take it, and as she moved the snow on its top, she gave a small yell of excitement.

"What was that for?" Ron replied a little mad.

"Look! There's something inside! Doesn't it seem familiar?" Hermione said, both surprised and proud of her finding.

"It's a golden egg! Just like the one I had to get from the dragon on the Triwizard Tournament!" Harry answered while staring at the contents of the teacup now held up in Hermione's hands.

"Stop! You giant bandit-os!" someone yelled in a fake Spanish accent from behind them. The three of them turned around quickly to see a small cat, who was wearing a mask and a cape.

"You can not take thee egg! You will have to fight mee first!" Skippito said while he brandished a small sword, leaving them staring at him open mouthed.


***
Same as Stef's post goes for this one: if you don't like it, feel free to set it back on track!

And remember to be nice and leave some feedback here!!! You know you want to!

And Janet: Skippito is so so cute!!! I had to do some research to put him in, I really hope it matches the description! Seems like he's some character! I really want to read the books!

"You have got to be kidding me," Harry said, noticing that the kitty-boy had brought out several beanbag chihuahuas and sat them around in a tiny circle.

"These are my friends, the los Chimichangos. They will keep you in line."

"Harry, you can't fight him," Hermione pleaded. "It would be too cruel. He's obviously deranged."

"I am not derangedito," said Skippito. "I am protecting my egg."

Hermione feigned indifference. "Why? Is there something in the egg?"

"Only the most beautiful, powerful, wonderful thing in the whole wide world!" he declared.

"What?" Ron asked, clutching his glass slipper to his chest and stroking it lovingly.

"I have no idea," Skippito admitted. "The thing is so difficultito to open, whatever is inside must be of great value."

"What if we help you to open it," Hermione suggested, her brilliant mind working quite fast.

"Then I suppose you will not have to die by the tip of my sword." Skippito sheathed his small tooth-pick sized weapon, and ran over to the egg. He climbed into the teacup and pushed the egg out.

"Look!" Hermione pointed at him. "It's a chihuahua in a teacup!"

"We need some water."

"There is Mrs. Doohiggy's birdbath," Skippito offered. "I know it looks small, but it's deep enough for even you."

"Me?" asked Harry. He picked up the golden egg, which was a tiny bit smaller than the egg he'd had in year four, and walked to the birdbath. "This seems strangely familiar," he mumbled as he sat the egg beside him and peeled off his clothes.

"Harry, wait," Hermione whispered. "Take these and put them in the egg after you've opened it." She handed him several small dog bones.

"Brilliant!" Harry said, taking the bones in his hand so that Skippito couldn't see. "He'll think this is the treasure inside."

"Exactly. Now get in there." Hermione neatly folded his clothes and tried to pry her eyes away from Harry's developing muscles, very aware that Ron was standing close. Harry jumped into the birdbath with the egg and disappeared.

Ron had noticed, however. He stood beside her and muttered, "I could take my shirt off, too. It's just that it's cold."

"That's fine, Ron."

A moment later, with all eyes watching the birdbath, Harry hopped out. He was shivering, but he was also smiling. He reached for his wand and dried himself off. "Here you are, Skippito! It was full of bones!"

"Full of the bones!" Skippito exclaimed with joy. "I knew it! Thank you, dudes, for helping me to open the magico egg! I regret that I cannot go with you, but I must return to my room and put them in my closet before my mommy find out!" With that, Skippito gathered up his beanbag doggies and the bones and scampered away.

"That was odd," Ron muttered.

"But what did the egg really say?" Hermione asked.

Harry reached into the birdbath again and drew out a partridge in a pear tree, a gleam of triumph. "Here it is!"

Hermione's eye lit up! "Oh, Harry!"

Ron looked forlorn. "Hey! I helped!"

"Of course, Ron. You were wonderful as well."

"The egg also had a song," Harry related. "It said we were next to seek two turtle doves."

"Two turtle doves?" Ron asked. "This sounds strangely familiar."

"Nevermind that," Harry said. "We've got to get this partridge in a pear tree back to Dumbledore before the bird flies away."

***

A/N: Hopefully this gets the story a bit more back on track! Here's the feedback link if you're feeling so inclined.

Back at the castle, Dumbledore, who for some obscure reason was dressed in a pink sequinned floor length evening gown adorned with marabou feathers, took the tiny pear tree and set it down on his desk. The equally small partridge made an attempt to fly away but Dumbledore deftly clipped its wings with his wand.

“Excellent, Harry, well done,” said Dumbledore.

Harry, who couldn’t quite get to grips with his head masters apparel nodded, but it was Ron who spoke first.

“I helped,” he said.

“Yes, Mr Weasley, ofcourse you did,” replied Dumbledore.

“It’s just that I was looking for something I’d lost when Hermione and Harry found the tea cup and egg,” explained Ron.

“There is no need to explain to me, although a certain young lady by the name of Cinderella is presently waiting in the Gryffindor common room, because she says she has lost a shoe.”

At this, Ron’s cheeks turned scarlet, he looked at Hermione and Harry who were staring at him quizzically.

“I only borrowed it,” he said defensively, “ask Professor Dumbledore, he was knows, he borrowed that dress off one of the ugly step sisters!”

Harry shook himself from this strange conversation. “Yeah, alright Ron, I believe you thousands wouldn’t. What I want to know is where do we look for the two turtle doves?”

“Actually, Miss Granger could use her Time Turner, to go back in time to a place called Camelot, and find a young man called Arthur. To find him you will need to seek the help of an ancestor of mine called Merlin. But, before you leave, perhaps that glass slipper would be best left in my possession Mr Weasley?”

“Sorry Sir, but as we Brits say, not on your Nelly. If you think it will go that that dress you’re wearing, you are sadly mistaken!”

feedback

A/N. Janet you put it back on track nicely, shame I couldn't keep things that way

Ron grabbed the slipper tightly, turned around and ran outside of Dumbledore’s office.

“Excuse me professor, we should fix this in no time. Thanks for all your help,” Hermione said while grabbing Harry’s arm and sprinting in chase for Ron.

“But Hermione, our priority should be the two turtle doves!”

“And what about Ron? He’s grown very fond of that slipper and even I can say that’s not healthy!”

“Okay, okay, but where are we going to find him?”

Hermione stopped in front of the gargoyle and addressed Harry.

“Use your mirror! Come on Harry, we had to be in real danger to learn that it could have actually helped us even more. This is the time when a nice handsome dog might help us!” Hermione answered a little annoyed.

“What are you talking about?” replied Harry, extremely confused by Hermione’s last comment.

“Two way mirror? Sirius?” Have you been paying attention throughout the years?” She replied anxiously. Harry hesitated. “You’ve got a godfather, who can transform into a big black dog,” she whispered, “and who’s rather good looking, I must say… Call him with the mirror! Now!”

Harry jumped. He didn’t know why Hermione insisted on calling Sirius, but obliged. He took out the mirror and looked inside, searching for grey eyes. When he finally found them, he muttered, “Please Sirius, we need you to come.”

“Done, he’s on his way, now, what was it with him?” Harry said, he could feel his voice a little tense.

“Well, we need someone who could trace him, don’t we?” Hermione replied, her cheeks growing red. “Sirius can transform into a dog, and dogs have a very good sense of smell. We should wait here for him, that way he’ll tell us which way Ron went. Then we'll worry about turning back in time and finding the turtle doves.”

After just a few minutes, the black dog appeared and barked at them. They followed him a couple of floors down and then into a deserted classroom, where Ron was lying sound asleep in the floor. A spinning wheel was behind him and the glass slipper was still clutched tightly in his hand.

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It's been a while since the last time it was updated, hopefully this will start up the mood to write again!

I am utterly ashamed that I have'nt given this fic more attention. Well I've remedied that now, albeit it's no masterpiece...

“Oh no! What have you done Ron?” said Hermione sitting down besides him. “It’s no use, we’ll just have to go on without him, the last person who fell asleep this way, stayed like this for 100 years and was only awakened by a true loves kiss. And since I have no idea who Ron’s true love is, I say we go back to Camelot, look for Merlin, get the Turtle Doves and see what happens.

Hermione was un aware the Sirius had turned back into his dashingly handsome self wearing nothing more than a long overcoat and was standing next to Harry. Both were gaping open mouthed at what Hermione had just said.

“You’re kidding me right?” asked Harry.

“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.” She replied.

“What Harry means Hermione, is that Ron Weasley is head over heals in love with you, and if you hadn’t noticed, then your not the brightest witch of your age.” Said Sirius.

Hermione blushed and looked down at the floor.

“Cone on Hermione, just give him a quick snog and we can all be on our way.” Laughed Harry.

“Oh alright,” she said, “But this doesn’t mean anything.”

“Yeah, right.” Said Harry.

Hermione leaned towards Ron and gently kissed him on lips. Ron opened his eyes and it was a few moments before he realised who had kissed him. He was about to grab Hermione for a bit of prolonged snogging when Harry interrupted the moment.

“Anyone else notice what’s fluttering around above your heads?”

The group looked above them, at the precise moment that Hermione had kissed Ron; Two Turtle Doves had appeared and were now flying around in circles’ above their heads. Attached to the leg of one was a rolled up piece of parchment, not unlike those used to send messages by owl.

Sirius quickly transformed into a dog and pounced on doves carrying the message. Ignoring the extraordinary amount of feathers this exercise had created, Hermione unfurled the message and read.

“This is the third clue of your mission, the next…Three French Hens.”

“Well, let’s get on with it,” said Harry,” let’s go and see what Merlin can tell us. You coming Sirius?”

Sirius had transformed again back into a man, looking fine as he always did in that coat of his, replied. “What and miss all that pulling out the Sword in the Stone fun? Not in a million, let’s go!”

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