December arrived, bringing with it more snow and a positive avalanche of homework for the fifth-years. Draco and Pansy's prefect duties also became more and more onerous as Christmas approached. They were called upon to supervise the decoration of the castle ('You try putting up tinsel when Peeves has got the other end and is trying to strangle you with it," Draco grumbled), to watch over first- and second-years spending their break-times inside because of the bitter cold ("They all show respect unlike the Gryffindors." Pansy said) and to patrol the corridors in shifts with Argus Filch, who suspected that the holiday spirit might show itself in an outbreak of wizard duels ('Moron." Draco grumbled.).