Over the following weeks, Adrian carefully watched Snape's movements on the Marauder's Map while occasionally checking on Quirrell's activities. Before he knew it, Christmas was getting close.
As December arrived, the weather turned really cold. A few days before Christmas, heavy snow began falling like thick feathers. When Adrian woke one morning, he discovered everything outside buried under a thick white blanket. Harry and Ron were shivering despite wearing multiple sweaters under their heavy school robes.
Adrian led them to the common room fireplace, using Transfiguration to create transparent windshields over the air vents, making the entire space much warmer.
This innovation proved problematic for the mail owls, several of which flew directly into the invisible barriers. Envelopes scattered across the floor as confused birds recovered from their crashes. Adrian quickly removed the windshields from the windows.
Outside, poor Quirrell was getting pelted by a bunch of enchanted snowballs. Adrian watched one particularly solid-looking snowball hit the back of Quirrell's head with amazing accuracy, and couldn't help but worry for the Weasley twins' safety.
Those two had no idea they were basically attacking Voldemort himself. This might well be the peak of their unwitting courage...
That afternoon, after their final Potions class before the holidays, all of Hogwarts buzzed with excitement. Tomorrow marked the beginning of their long-awaited Christmas break, and more importantly, most students would finally go home.
However, Adrian felt no such enthusiasm, he had absolutely no desire to leave. At least staying at school was safer until he could sort through his inherited memories.
When Professor McGonagall came around to register students staying for the holidays, Adrian signed up without hesitation. Harry did the same.
"Adrian, you're not going home either?" Harry asked with obvious relief.
"School feels more like home than home ever did," Adrian replied with a smile.
Harry seemed to find a kindred spirit in Adrian's feelings. He would have been perfectly happy to stay at Hogwarts forever rather than return to his so-called family with the Dursleys.
What made Harry even happier was learning that Ron and the Weasley twins would also be staying, since their parents were traveling to Romania to visit Charlie this year.
Harry's only regret was that Hermione had to go home, otherwise, this Christmas would have been perfect.
On their way back from signing the stay-behind agreement, Adrian, Harry, and Ron ran into Malfoy in the corridor.
"Well, well! Look what we have here," Malfoy announced dramatically. "A bunch of unwanted children staying at school for the holidays." He turned his sneer toward Ron specifically. "And Weasley, your mother must think she had too many kids and doesn't want you back!"
"Malfoy!" Ron lunged forward with his fist raised. Malfoy immediately drew his wand to fight back while Crabbe and Goyle moved to flank them.
But Adrian was faster than all of them. A sharp "Expelliarmus!" sent Malfoy's wand flying, and two quick "Petrificus Totalus!" spells dropped the two thugs to the ground in full-body binds.
With his magical defenses gone, Malfoy had to take Ron's solid right hook directly to the jaw.
Ron was winding up for another punch when an invisible barrier appeared in front of Malfoy's face, blocking the blow. Professor Snape came down the stairs with his usual stern expression, casually waving his wand to release Crabbe and Goyle from their binding spells before fixing his dark gaze on the Gryffindor students.
"Attacking fellow students and unauthorized use of magic," Snape said coldly. " Minus Ten points from Gryffindor."
"Professor, Malfoy started—" Harry began to protest, but Snape cut him off.
"Make that fifteen points."
Adrian quickly held back Harry and Ron before they could say anything else. Having seen Snape effortlessly counter his spells, he knew the three of them together wouldn't stand a chance against the Potions Master.
Since they couldn't win, and Snape had all the authority as a professor, arguing more would only make things worse.
Snape didn't push his advantage further. After casting a slightly disappointed look at Malfoy, he turned and walked away.
Malfoy picked himself up off the floor, glared at the easily defeated Crabbe and Goyle, then followed Snape down the corridor. He tried to walk proudly past the three Gryffindors, but his swollen face somewhat ruined the effect.
"Snape's obviously got it in for us," Ron complained bitterly. "I'm telling you, that business with your broom, Harry, Snape definitely did it!"
"By the end of this term, Snape will have cost Gryffindor nearly a hundred points," Harry agreed, nodding emphatically. "Compared to Professor Quirrell, who wouldn't hurt a fly, Snape's much more likely to be the real threat."
This time Adrian didn't bother defending Snape. The man was simply too good at making enemies, even he was feeling annoyed with his behavior.
But maybe that was for the best. Adrian had been somewhat reluctant to break into Snape's private potions storage and steal Boomslang skin, but now his conscience was much clearer about the prospect.
All he needed was the right opportunity.