Courtesy of Narcissa Black, the Slytherin common room was clad in red and green Christmas decorations. Not a Christmas fanatic himself, Rodolphus found it unnecessary; after all, he believed the only positive thing about the holiday was that everyone slept for the better part of the morning during Boxing Day.

A both familiar and unfamiliar feminine voice whispered a, “Happy Christmas, Roddy,” and a sharp blink was forced out of him. It was familiar because he would recognize that voice anywhere, and unfamiliar because she never employed that tone on him.

He snapped. “There is nothing happy about today, Bellatrix.”