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7s3ven · 5 months

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CINDY LOU WHO. cedric diggory

( master list )

IN WHICH… Y/N L/N helps her crush and longtime best friend, Cedric Diggory, get with another girl. Deep down, she knows she’ll never be the bright and bubbly girl Cedric wants. She’ll always be the cunning snake with a knack for starting fights.

“Cindy Lou is bright, bubbly, and extraordinary… she’s everything I’m not.”

A/N: I do take requests so feel free to ask for one :). I mainly write for Maze Runner, Harry Potter, PJO, and Hunger Games

Guess you make him happy like I couldn't do. Cindy Lou Who. With your hair so long, lips so red. Maybe we met once, I forget

Scrolling five years back, I'm obsessed. Breaking my heart, 'tis the season, I guess. The snow's gonna fall and the tree's gonna glisten. And I'm gonna puke at the thought of you kissin'

“The boy who I love who's now in love with you. Cindy Lou Who.”

—

Y/N sighed as she impatiently checked her watch and tapped her foot against the stone floor. It was almost curfew and Cedric was still a no show. The rules were less strict now that school was done, but Y/N had a reputation to live up to. It was the least she could do with all the trouble she had caused this year.

“Y/N.” Cedric jogged towards her, looking out of breath. She arched an eyebrow and her gaze scanned his untidy uniform.

“… Do I even want to ask?” She questioned.

“Ah.” Cedric sheepishly smiled, “My friends and I were playing hide and seek. It was a pretty intense game.” Even during his senior years, Cedric was still the bright-eyed kid Y/N had grown up with.

“Right. Well, why did you want to see me? You know how I don’t like going out before curfew.” Y/N folded her arms over her chest, “Plus, you’re late.” She quickly added.

“I know. I’m sorry about that. I just had to grab this.” Cedric pulled out a black box, smiling. He carefully opened it, showing the necklace to Y/N. “Do you recognize the crystal?” He questioned, making Y/N scoff.

“Of course I do. It’s my birth month crystal. (Insert crystal).”

Cedric grinned. “You still know so much more about gems than me. You should’ve been put in Ravenclaw.”

“Oh, please. If I was put there, I would be sleeping in the hallways. I can’t figure out riddles.”

Cedric playfully nudged her with his elbow. “Don’t say that. You’re smart.”

The pair walked beside each other as the moonlight shone through the cracks of the castle. Cedric had slipped the necklace box back into his pocket and he gently cleared his throat.

“I’m going to give the necklace to Cho.” He suddenly blurted out, causing Y/N to pause. She looked over her shoulder at Cedric, wondering if he was joking. He wasn’t.

“Why? She’s your ex.” Y/N felt mildly disappointed that the necklace wasn’t for her. For the longest time, she had been holding onto her feelings for Cedric. Everybody could see it; the Golden trio, the teachers, even Draco’s posse. And yet Cedric had never caught on. She was starting to wonder if he was just messing with her.

“She helped me through a lot. I owe it to her.” Cedric smiled. Y/N gazed at him before she nodded.

“Okay… I’m guessing you want my help?”

“Yes. Please.” Cedric was ready to get on his knees and beg. Though, he was sure Y/N would find great amusement in that. She had always been a little sadistic.

Y/N briefly looked away, blinking away small tears and recollecting her composure so her voice wouldn’t crack. “What do you want me to do?”

edric had wanted to meet Cho at the black late, which was where he and Y/N usually hung out. That stung.

Y/N tied the last of the heart-shaped balloons before securing them to a nearby tree. Cedric was pacing around, wildly muttering under his breath.

“Will you relax?” The Slytherin girl piped up, rolling her eyes. “You’re making me feel nervous.”

“I can’t help it.” Cedric replied. Of course, nobody could help but feel anxious around Cho Chang. She was beautiful and smart and kind. Y/N had talked to her a few times, and if she were a guy or lesbian, Cho would be her crush too.

“Well, that’s the last of the balloons. Good luck, Ced. I’ll be nearby if you need help. Just don’t expect me to hug you if she rejects you.” Y/N playfully punched her friend’s shoulder. Cedric boyishly grinned and quickly embraced her.

For a moment, Y/N was speechless. She slowly hugged him back and awkwardly patted him. She could smell his expensive cologne and it almost felt Cedric was confessing to her instead.

Y/N was the first to pull away. She wished Cedric luck once more before hurrying off, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt envious of Cho. Y/N had been by Cedric’s side since day one. She had comforted him and supported him and hid her breaking heart when Cedric admitted to liking Cho the first time.

And now it was all happening again.

Y/N hid behind a tree just in time to see Cho walk out of Hogwarts and make a beeline for Cedric. She watched as they conversed and when Cedric showed Cho the necklace, she jumped with joy.

Y/N let out a small sigh. She pressed her lips into a thin line, accepting that she wasn’t the girl Cedric would ever go for. She wondered that if they weren’t childhood friends, would Cedric still be nice to her?

She was a Slytherin. A somewhat mean one with a soft spot for certain people. She started too many fights to count, and the threat of expulsion was always hanging over her head.

She wasn’t Cho Chang, who was pretty like the starry night shining above the calm ocean. Cho Chang was kind, sweet, and loving.

Cho Chang was Cindy Lou and Y/N was the Grinch with no room in her heart to change.

The next time Y/N saw Cedric, he was by Cho’s side. Y/N usually sat at the Hufflepuff table with Cedric, much to some people’s dismay, but today Cho was with him.

Y/N didn’t feel welcomed at that point so she sat with her friends, completely missing the way Cedric gazed over at her in confusion.

“Ah, Cedric Diggory and Cho Chang. Everybody’s favorite couple has finally reunited.” Ivy, a pale-skinned girl with light freckles lining her cheeks and soft silver hair grimaced as she sarcastically spoke.

“It’s a shame you never dated Diggory, Y/N. You guys were perfect together.” Hime sighed as she poured herself a cup of pumpkin juice. She offered to fill Y/N’s glass as well, but the H/C-haired girl declined.

“Boys are always stupid.” Evan, short for Evangeline, piped up. “He doesn’t know what he’s missing. I agree with Hime. He should’ve gone for Y/N.”

Y/N silently ate as she listened to her friends complain about Cedric, probably in an attempt to make her feel better.

“Has anybody noticed how he keeps looking over here?” Hime questioned, whispering quietly. “Chang never seems to have his attention for long.”

“I’m telling you, Diggory secretly likes Y/N but he’s scared she’ll reject him. So he’s playing it safe and going for an ex who he knows he had chemistry with.” Ivy retorted, sparing another glance at Cedric.

Y/N huffed in amusement. “Where did you come up with that?” She spoke for the first time.

“It’s obvious.” Evan backed up Ivy’s theory. “When he wins a Quidditch game, who does he run to? You. When he needs help with homework, who does he find? You. When he wants to go to Hogsmeade, who does he immediately ask?”

Evan arched an eyebrow while Y/N sighed.

“Me.”

“Exactly!”

“It’s a plausible theory.” Hime uttered. “You two have been friends for ages. He’s close friends with Hermione Granger too, but does he hug her and look at her like he does to you?”

“That’s probably because she’s younger and he doesn’t want to end up with a sentence.”

“Good point. What about Floral over there?” Hime nodded over at the Ravenclaw girl who was always arranging flowers or reading about them. Her name wasn’t Floral but everyone called her that and it stuck. “You three are all friends, right?”

“More like I was forced to befriend her, but sure.”

“Diggory doesn’t look at her the way he looks at you.”

“And how does he look at me?”

Ivy slammed her hands on the table, looking like she had been waiting years for this question. “He looks at you like Jack Dawson looks at Rose. He looks at you like Chuck Bass looks at Blair Waldorf. He looks at you like Luke looks at Lorelei. Like Morticia and Gomez, Bella and Edward, uh.. give me another one!”

“Percy and Annabeth?” Evan suggested.

“Yes! That’s how he looks at you. He’s giving you the I wouldn’t want anybody else by my side look. He’s probably just… confused. You’re like his Cindy Lou Who. You make him happy and you bring out the best in him.”

“Cindy Lou is bright, bubbly, and extraordinary… she’s everything I’m not.” Y/N gestured over to Cho, who was giggling with Cedric. “Cho Chang is more like Cindy Lou.”

“Cindy Lou Who has a nice ring to it.” Evan said, off topic.

Y/N nodded in agreement. “It does. The rhyme is satisfying.”

“Enough about language features! You have to get your man back, Y/N.” Ivy intensely stared at Y/N, determined to get Cedric and her together.

“He was never mine to begin with.”

“Then make him yours! Come on, Y/N, you’re beautiful- no. Gorgeous. And sure, you have a bitter side but guys who can’t deal getting a little burnt aren’t worth it. And I know that you burnt Diggory over and over again, with both your anger and literal fire.”

“Just so we’re clear, the fire thing was an accident. And I don’t want to force anything onto Cedric. I’ll just… go with the flow.” Y/N ate the last of her food and stood up, “I need to wrap presents. Don’t you dare try and sneak in to see your’s.”

Y/N was mainly referring to Ivy, who lifted her hands in surrender.

Again, Y/N failed to notice how Cedric’s eyes trailed to her. But Cho saw it.

“Cedric.” The raven-haired beautify tugged on his sleeve, “Can we talk?” She spared Cedric’s friends a look. “Alone?”

“Uh, yeah, sure.”

The pair walked off, fully aware of how Y/N’s friends were watching them closely.

“What did you want to talk about?” Cedric questioned, tilting his head to the side.

“I don’t want to assume anything, Cedric. But to me, it seems like you only confessed to me again to play it safe. I can tell that your true feelings don’t lie with me.” Cho glanced at Y/N, who exited a nearby bathroom and was too busy drying her hands to notice the couple. “They lie with her.”

Cedric followed Cho’s gaze, softly staring at Y/N with that damned look of adoration.

“I think someone else deserves this necklace.” Cho gently removed the jewellery, handing it over to Cedric. “Face it, you love her. You always have. You can’t try to love me, Cedric, not when Y/N exists.”

“She doesn’t like me back.” Cedric muttered, grasping the necklace.

“Are you sure?” Cho quirked an eyebrow. “Why do you think she stayed by your side for so long? Even when the other Slytherins teased her, even when you two argued, even when you kissed me in front of her. How could you not notice, Cedric? She brings you drinks after quidditch practice and buys you gifts and even stays at Hogwarts so you aren’t lonely. Why do you think she never dated anybody, Cedric? It’s because you were the one she wanted.”

Cedric shook his head. “No. She doesn’t like me. Y/N is smart and amazing and cunning. I’m not her type. Her type would be someone like…” He paused, thinking, “Matteo Riddle.”

Cho sighed as she shook her head. “You really have no idea, do you? Spend more time with Y/N and hopefully you’ll notice the things the rest of us do.”

She quietly walked off, leaving Cedric standing outside the Great Hall. Cho made an immediate beeline for Ivy, Evan, and Hime and sat in Y/N’s spot.

The trio clad in green glanced at her, confused and a little hostile.

“Cedric likes Y/N.” Cho quickly uttered so the group didn’t explode on her. “I got through to him but he thinks Y/N doesn’t like him back.”

“Thats bullshit. It’s so obvious!” Ivy groaned.

“Exactly.” Evan agreed, “But Y/N doesn’t think Cedric likes her either.”

Cho sighed. “It’s obvious they have mutual feelings but neither of them believe it. So, let’s force them to confess.”

Hime raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you like Cedric? Why are you willing to help us?”

“Despite our dating history, Cedric is still my friend. And I want to help him in any way I can.” Cho smiled.

“Oh, I have an idea!” Ivy exclaimed, “What if we get them under the mistletoe? But instead, they have to fight! We can call it mistlefoe!”

Cho, Hime, and Evan exchanged looks.

“I think we should just stick to mistletoe.” Cho uttered. “We could, uh, surprise them by decorating one of their common rooms? The Slytherin room is never decorated, right?”

“I wish it was.” Evan sighed, “It’s a cute idea. We could surprise Y/N by decorating the common room and then led her in and Cedric can be standing in the middle of the room under the mistletoe.”

“But to pull that off, we’ll need more help.” Hime added, “I don’t think four people can do that. And it’s only us in the Slytherin common room. Not even Matteo is here. So he can’t help.”

Cho glanced past Hime and Ivy, staring at the Golden Trio and their extended group of friends. She smiled. “I have an idea. But it’s going to involve working with Gryffindors.”

The group of Slytherins all glanced at each other before they shrugged in unison.

“Anything for Y/N.”

“Whatever.”

“Do I get to kiss Oliver Wood after Diggory and Y/N kiss?”

Cho, Evan, and Hime stared at Ivy, who only cheekily grinned.

“Um… I’m not sure about that last one. Let’s just start off with asking the Gryffindors first.” Cho sheepishly smiled.

“Ivy and I will get the decorations.” Hime offered, “There’s some extra ones in the basement if Hogwarts too. Evan, Chang, you can get those after you ask the Gryffindors.”

“Call me Cho.” The ravenette smiled before she stood up. “We don’t have much time. Let’s hurry.”

“Wait, we forgot something.” Ivy piped up, “Who’s going to distract Y/N?”

“Evan can distract L/N. I’ll ask the Gryffindors myself and if they accept, they can help me get the decorations from the basement.”

“Okay.” Hime looked around, slowly nodding. She smiled. “Let’s go.”

Cho approached the red table while Hime and Ivy hurried towards Hogsmeade and Evan rushed off to find Y/N.

It took a few hours for everything to be set up, but finally the Slytherin room was decorated and ready.

“I need to get something. I’ll be back.” Evan smiled, lying through her teeth. She watched as Y/N entered the Slytherin common room and rushed off to find her friends.

Y/N squinted her eyes as she walked into the dark room. “Huh? Ivy? Hime? You here? What did you do to the lights?” Nobody answered her. She tilted her head to the side, confused.

The lights suddenly turned on, along with multiple Christmas LED lights. She quietly gasped as she stared at the tinsel covered stairs and brightly decorated tree.

In all her years at Hogwarts, the common room had never been decorated. Slytherins weren’t exactly big on Christmas.

Y/N looked around, realizing she wasn’t alone. “Cedric?” She stared at the brunette boy. “What are you doing here? Have you seen Ivy or Hime? I can’t seem to find them anywhere.”

Cedric silently looked up. Y/N, puzzled, followed his gaze. She lifted her head, staring up at the floating mistletoe above her head. “Oh.” She whispered.

She looked at Cedric again, jumping when he was only a foot away.

“I’m sorry if I ever hurt you, Y/N.” He uttered, “I should’ve noticed.”

“Noticed what?”

Cedric didn’t say anything as he leaned forward to softly kiss her. Y/N froze, her heart almost leaping out of her chest.

“Y/N,” Cedric pulled away and brushed a strand of loose hair aside, “You’ll always be my Cindy Lou.”

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ginger-by-the-sea · 5 months

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#Ben Myhre #hufflepuff #christmas magic

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aestheticpatronum · 1 year

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The Hogwarts Houses' Winter Aesthetics

Gryffindor: running outside to see the first snow, walking in the wind, snowball fights, cheeky gifts, warm berry pie, the crackle of a fire, dark nights and twinkling lights

Slytherin: making snow angels, celebrating the solstice, dying your hair dark, peppermint tea, brand new boots, freshly cut evergreens, catching snowflakes on your tongue

Hufflepuff: warming up with a cup of tea, long scarves and thick beanies, foggy glasses, hand-made gifts, baking shows, the smell of cinnamon, playing holiday music in the kitchen

Ravenclaw: decorating snowmen, watching holiday movies, homemade wreaths, flannel pj's, waking up with the sun, the crunching of snow beneath your feet, finding the perfect gift

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ninaxssworld · 5 months

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“happy christmas, harry” “happy christmas, ron”

#viral photo #reading aesthetic #harry potter #ron weasley #hermione granger #hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry #hogwarts aesthetic #christmas #snow #fred weasley #george weasley #gryffindor #hufflepuff #ravenclaw #slytherin

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aesthetic--mood · 5 months

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Harry Potter Winter Aesthetic

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0tr45hm0uth · 5 months

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Heya!! I just opened my ETSY and SHOPEE MY shop!! Currently dont have the DT bears but I do have Hogwarts and Omori bears!! Come get one if you’re interested, it would help me out a lot :) I love you all and have a merry new year!

Etsy

Shopee MY

#oh and also merry christmas lmao #0tr45hm0uth #hogwarts #harry potter #draco malfoy #ravenclaw #hufflepuff #slytherin #gryffindor #omori #horror game #sunny #basil #real world #dream world #keychains #acrylic keychains #bear #bear art

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thebluestockingfirefly · 1 year

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Christmas Cat: Part IV.

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joemerl · 5 months

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#Christmas #Santa Claus #Father Christmas #Hogwarts #Hogwarts Houses #Gryffindor #Slytherin #Hufflepuff #Ravenclaw #Harry Potter #Poll

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animasola86 · 5 months

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Hello there.. 👋🏻

Firstly I want to thank you for all the amazing screenshots, they help me a lot with my writing. 😊 Secondly, I wanted to aks if it's possible to show the christmas decorations in the different common rooms? I know how the Gryffindor one is decorated and I'm curious about the others. But please don't trouble yourself on my account. Just do it, if you feel like it. 😊

Hello :D Thank you and you're welcome! I'm glad I can be of service! <3 And thank you for your ask! I immediately hopped into the game and took a look, and boy, was I surprised by what I saw. Let me just say: Ravenclaws apparently hate Christmas! XD

I will publish individual posts for each common room, but here, have a little preview :)

Ravenclaw: one single tree and some garlands

Slytherin: three trees and lots of wreaths and garlands

Hufflepuff: two trees and lots of garlands

Gryffindor: three trees, garlands, wreaths, everything!

I was very disappointed to be a Ravenclaw, to be honest! Gryffindor felt the coziest (Hufflepuff too, but their common room already felt cozy before)! Even Slytherin went all out.

I'll show more details in the respective posts (I'll add some links in this post once they are all here, will probably post them tomorrow!)!

Detailed posts below:

Christmas Common Rooms:

Ravenclaw - Hufflepuff - Slytherin - Gryffindor

#ask #hogwarts legacy #hogwarts common rooms #ravenclaw #slytherin #hufflepuff #gryffindor #christmas #hogwarts christmas

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7s3ven · 5 months

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ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU. oliver wood

( master list )

IN WHICH… Nothing would make Oliver Wood happier than getting a new broom as his Christmas present. That, or Y/N Malfoy finally noticing him. When the two collide at Hogsmeade, Oliver is overjoyed. Perhaps this Christmas, he’ll get two gifts.

“I just want you for my own, more than you could ever know. Make my wish come true. All I want for Christmas is you.”

—

“Ah, he’s staring again.” Fred Weasley nudged his twin brother George and pointed over at Oliver. “Do you think he’ll ever actually talk to her?”

“I’ve seen them talk once.” George uttered, his mouth full and his cheeks puffed out. “It was in their second year.”

Fred lightly snorted and waved a hand in front of Oliver’s face. “Wood, you there? You’re drooling this time while staring at her.”

Oliver was snapped out of his trance by the twins’ loud laughter. He frowned. “Knock it off.” He told the pair, taking a sip from his goblet.

“Oh, come on mate, you gotta talk to L/N otherwise she won’t even know you exist.” Fred sighed and quickly added, “And quidditch talk doesn’t count.”

Oliver huffed and rolled his eyes. Talking to Y/N was an almost impossible feat, not just to him. She was Draco Malfoy’s older sister and was basically untouchable. She was Slytherin’s prized queen and the chances of Oliver even being able to talk to her with her posse around was close to zero.

“I’ll talk to her eventually.” He uttered the same excuse he had been using since fourth year. His crush had lasted way too long but he was still determined to win Y/N over.

She wasn’t like the other Slytherins with their mean glares and tendencies to outcast people who weren’t pureblood. She was… nice. Her friends, however, weren’t.

“You’ve fancied her since third year, Oli.” Fred uttered, “Probably before that as well! Just make a move already!”

Oliver’s crush hadn’t begun during first year. It had started before that when he was rushing around Diagon Alley trying to find all his school supplies.

Oliver panted as he attempted to catch his breath. All afternoon he had been rushing from shop to shop to find all the books he needed for his first year at Hogwarts.

He held a pile of novels in his arms and momentarily stopped to marvel at the window of a broom shop. His awe was short lived as someone crashed into his back, sending his supplies everywhere.

“Ah! I’m sorry! I just wanted to look at the new broom!” A H/C-haired girl hurried to pick Oliver’s things up. She shoved everything into his arms, apologizing again.

“You… like Quidditch?” Oliver asked, tilting his head to the side.

“Huh? Of course. Who doesn’t? My father took me to see a game once and it was amazing. Some day, I want to join Hogwarts’ team.”

It was as if Oliver had met his dream girl.

“You’re going to Hogwarts too?!” Oliver exclaimed, his eyes sparkling.

“Yeah! I assume you’re also going, so maybe I’ll see you around.” She outstretched her arm to shake Oliver’s hand, but a black cane pushed her back.

“Don’t socialise with the trash, Y/N.” A man with long blond hair uttered, scowling. Oliver instantly recognized the man as Lucius Malfoy.

“I’ll see you around, Quidditch boy!” Y/N shouted as her father led her away.

That day, Oliver was reminded of where he stood in the scheme of things. He was a lowly half-blood while Y/N came from one of the most esteemed families.

Ever since that day, Oliver had been a little frightened to talk to Y/N, just in case she also referred to him as trash.

Y/N never did end up joining Slytherin’s Quidditch team. Her brother did instead. Oliver guessed it has something to do with her refusal to cheat, and Slytherin was infamously known for cheating.

“Say, are you going to Hogsmeade today, Oli? Perhaps to do a little last minute Christmas shopping?” George questioned, his lips curling into a smirk that could only mean one thing. Trouble.

“If you want to play one of your stupid pranks on me, forget it.” He stood up and silently walked away.

“Ah. He’s in a bad mood because of Y/N again. Jeez.” George rolled his eyes as he stabbed his fork into a carrot.

Oliver was going to visit Hogsmeade, but only to look at Quidditch shops and browse through the technique books. A Hufflepuff girl had asked him out, but he politely refused her offer.

Oliver shoved his hands deep into his warm pockets as he trudged through the thick snow. Hogsmeade wasn’t as busy as it usually was, but that was probably because most sane people wanted to avoid the cold.

The Quidditch captain made an immediate beeline for the broom store. He smiled as he gazed at the window display before entering.

“Good morning!” He kindly greeted the owner, who was an old lady hard of hearing. He immediately walked towards a shelve of books, running his finger over the hard covered spines.

The door opened again, the rusty bell attached to it quietly chiming. “Good morning, Gen!” A feminine voice shouted, piercing the calming atmosphere. Oliver peeked through the books, curious as to who the newcomer was. He could see their winter outfit but not their face.

The girl skipped over to the books, standing on the opposite side of Oliver. She locked eyes with him, and he could see her eyes squint as he smiled, meaning it was a genuine one.

The pair occasionally glanced at each other, jumping when they accidentally made eye contact. The girl tucked a strand of H/C hair behind her hair, quietly humming under her breath. She walked around to the other side of the bookshelf, almost crashing into Oliver.

His heart leaped in his chest as he grabbed Y/N and steadied her. “Sorry.” He said, not being able to muster up any more words.

Y/N silently stared at his face before she gasped. “Oh! Quidditch boy!” She exclaimed, grinning. “I knew I recognized those eyes!” When Oliver sent her a confused look, she laughed. “I’m the girl from Diagon Alley! Before first year, remember?”

“I remember… I’m just wondering why you do.”

“I spent most of my first year looking for you! But I never got your name so it was a bit hard. Then when you joined the Quidditch team and played your first match, I recognized you. I wanted to talk to you after but you seemed to have so many fangirls. I got shy!It’s been ages, jeez. How are you?”

Y/N grinned, an action that set butterflies free in Oliver’s stomach. His cheeks flushed red as he nervously smiled back.

“I’ve… been good. How about you? You never joined the Quidditch team.”

“Well, I don’t exactly like Flint and Draco is already on the team. They don’t need two Malfoy’s.” Y/N sheepishly smiled and laughed.

“I saw you play as a chaser during flying class. You were great. You should join the team some time.” That compliment coming from Oliver Wood, Gryffindor’s very own keeper, was a huge deal. “You’d be a wonderful addition. If only you were in Gryffindor.”

Y/N quietly laughed. “Maybe we’d actually be able to spend time together.” Her gaze flickered to the book Oliver was grasping, “Are you going to buy that? I’ve been looking for a copy of it.” She smiled, and Oliver didn’t have the strength to keep the book to himself when she was looking at him like that.

“No.” He uttered, “I was only looking at it. Here.” He handed it to Y/N.

“Are you sure?” She asked, to which Oliver nodded. “Thanks. I’ll let you borrow it. See you at school, Oliver.” She grinned again, skipping off to purchase the book.

Oliver stared at the ground, chuckling to himself as his cheeks turned rosy red.

School was finally coming to an end. Thank goodness. Oliver didn’t know how much more studying he could take before his brain gave up.

He returned to his dorm, tired and relieved to finally be returning home today. From his dorm, he heard his friends gasp.

“Ay, mate, there’s something on your bed for you.” One uttered as Oliver ended.

He tilted his head to the side and glanced at his mattress. A badly wrapped present sat on it along with a small card and the book he had let Y/N take.

Oliver grabbed the card, curiously staring at the cursive writing.

Consider this an early Christmas gift and my overdue apology on my father’s behalf (for calling you trash). You’re fun to talk to and I hope to see you around next year.

Merry Christmas, Oliver.

- Y/N

Oliver peeled the wrapping paper, almost choking when he saw the newest edition broom. It was shined and groomed to perfection and Oliver was sure he was going to pass out from excitement.

He slowly grasped the book, opening to the first page that was tabbed by a green sticky note.

On the blank page was the writing,

Merry Christmas, Oliver Wood

And underneath was the signature of Oliver’s favourite Quidditch player.

“She’s freaking amazing.” Oliver muttered under his breath, wondering how Y/N had even managed to pull all this off.

Oliver flipped through the pages, noticing how Y/N had annotated the book on his behalf. He was only falling deeper in love.

“I’m going to find Y/N.” He announced to his friends, who cheered.

“Go get ‘er, tiger!”

Oliver hurried out of the common room, wondering where on earth Y/N would be. The castle was huge, it would take him all day to find her. Luckily, he spotted Draco Malfoy walking down the corridor.

“Malfoy.” Oliver called out.

Draco sighed, rolling his eyes. “If you’re looking for my sister, she’s at the Black Lake. Don’t tell my parents you like her otherwise my stupid ship will be ruined.” And with that, he walked off.

Oliver ignored his odd words and rushed to the Black Lake. He saw Y/N sitting alone and humming to herself as she picked at the green blades of grass.

“You didn’t have to get me a broom, you know.” Oliver said, startling Y/N. She jumped slightly.

“You scared me! It wasn’t that much anyway… and it was on sale. So you don’t need to worry.”

Oliver spluttered. Not that much money? It was more than him and his friends’ bank accounts! Even if they combined all their money, it still wouldn’t be enough.

“The book by itself would have sufficed.” Oliver uttered as he took a seat next to Y/N.

“Yeah. But I had to up my game because other girls were eyeing you up.” Y/N grinned as she stood up, dusting the dirt off her skirt, “Merry Christmas, Oli. See you next year.”

Oliver spent his days before Christmas with the Weasley twins and more of his friends. Even Harry Potter was there. But one person was missing, much to his disappointment.

On Christmas Eve, he pondered what Y/N’s words at the Black Lake had meant. “I had to up my game because other girls were eyeing you up”. Did Y/N… like him back?

Oliver sighed, rushing to turn the lamp on his desk on. He pulled out a thick piece of parchment paper and began to messily scribble down his thoughts and everything he didn’t have the courage to say to Y/N in real life.

Oliver stared at his letter, sighing. He tried not to think too much as he rolled it up and sent his owl to the Malfoy Manor.

Meanwhile, Y/N was sitting by her window, relaxing as the fresh breeze blew through her hair. She heard a quiet chirp and opened her eyes to see an unfamiliar brown owl in front of her. It cooed and tilted its head.

Y/N slowly took the letter that was attached to the owl’s leg and got comfortable before she unravelled it.

Dear Y/N,

I know this letter may be unexpected and strange, especially since it’s Christmas Eve but those words you told me at the Black Lake are still stuck in my head. It feels a little lonely without you around. I’m going to be honest here… and hopefully you won’t laugh at how I pour my heart out.

I like you, Y/N. Not just for your looks or your family. You’re gorgeous, but there’s so much more to you that other guys can’t see for some reason. You’re kind and caring and you may as well be in Hufflepuff. Your ambition is admirable and you really know how to light up a room, even if it’s a room as big as the Great Hall.

You don’t look down on other people because they aren’t pure blood or come from a family like yours. Instead, you help them. There’s so many qualities that make you stand out from the crowd and I’m not expecting a reply any time soon, but I just thought you should know all this.

Santa Claus won’t really make me happy with a toy on Christmas Day. Y/N, I just want you for my own, more than you could ever know. Please Make my wish come true. All I want for Christmas… is you <3.

- Oliver Wood

P.S, thanks for the broom and book. I’m still trying to find a gift to top that.

Y/N’s lips curved into a smile as she read Oliver’s letter. Her room door was suddenly slammed open. Y/N couldn’t react fast enough and all she could do was place the letter face down on her bed.

“Father.” She greeted him, surprised that he was even home. He was supposed to be on a business trip. “What… are you doing here?”

“Receiving love letters already, Y/N?” Her father carelessly grabbed the parchment, his gaze scanning over the beautifully crafted words. After a moment, he nodded. “What is his blood status?”

Y/N looked at the ground, thickly gulping. “… Half-blood.” She uttered after a second of hesitation.

Her father silently nodded, his stern face never changing. “I’ll allow it.”

“W-What?” Y/N stumbled over her own words. Ever since she was young, her father had preached about the importance of marrying another pure blood so this was entirely out of character for him.

“That Wood boy…” Her father thought for a moment before clicking his tongue, “He’s staying at the Weasley’s house. The elves have packed your bags already. You leave tomorrow morning.”

Y/N was speechless. Was this her father or a random intruder?

“Good night, Y/N.” And with that, he left. Y/N sat on her bed, her eyebrows furrowed as she tried to process what had just happened.

A knock on the door interrupted breakfast for the Weasley family, Oliver, Harry, and Hermione.

Oliver, as charming as ever, stood up. “I’ll get it.” He offered, walking over to the door. He twisted the door knob and yanked it open, coming face to face with Y/N.

She smiled. “I hope I’m not intruding.” She uttered, peeking over Oliver’s shoulder. “I just wanted to quickly say one thing.”

Oliver could feel the prying eyes of Fred and George and he exasperatingly sighed, shutting the door behind him. “Yes?” His heart leaped in his chest as Y/N leaned forward with a grin.

“I like you too, quidditch boy.”

#harry potter fanfiction #oliver wood #harry potter x reader #slytherin #malfoy manor #draco malfoy #malfoy family #hufflepuff #ravenclaw #gryffindor #hp fandom #quidditch #mariah carey #all i want for christmas is you #one shot #fluff

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flamboyantly-incompetent · 5 months

Text

OoTP, Chapter 6 - Brooms at Christmas

Draco Malfoy x Hufflepuff!Reader

Warnings: none?

Masterlist

Word Count: ~4,100

Note: a soft, friendly chapter for the Christmas season

The last day of term before Christmas holiday trudged on miserably, refusing to end. A few lucky, older students who had no classes on Fridays had been permitted to leave early, filtering out in waves. There was no such luck for fourth year Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors, as the last class they had to suffer through was possibly the worst imaginable.

You got to Defense Against the Dark Arts early, having skipped breakfast to write your mum. The excitement from the previous DA meeting had worn off, but you still took the opportunity to chat with other students before Umbridge got a chance to dampen the holiday spirit. Colin Creevey had arrived early as well, but his mouth was set into a hard line, suggesting something had already gotten to him.

"Happy Christmas, Colin," you said. "Any plans for the holiday?" He didn't answer, clearly lost in thought. Behind you, Donna, Yvette and Herbert trailed in. "Colin?"

Herbert clapped him on the back on his way to his seat across the aisle from you. "Hey, Creevey. You walk through a ghost on the way here?"

"Huh?"

"Everything ok?"

"You didn't hear?"

Yvette frowned. "Hear what?"

Colin looked around at the otherwise empty room. "All the Weasleys and Harry Potter left yesterday. Ginny's dad's at St. Mungo's."

"What?"

He nodded. "They didn't say much, but it sounds bad. They said he was attacked by something."

"Some thing?"

He nodded again. More people filed into the classroom to take their seats. Colin refused to say any more, which was lucky because Umbridge herself was even earlier than usual, lips pursed like she had an acid pop stuck under her tongue. The horrendous pink bow on top of her head jiggled as she strutted up the aisle to her desk. She didn't make eye contact with anyone, but rather sat down, pulled a compact mirror from her handbag, and began primping her hair.

The bell rang and she stood, face still sour, and said, "Good afternoon, wands away."

"Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge," the class chanted back, devoid of enthusiasm. Not that anyone had held out any hope since the second week of term.

The corners of her mouth pulled up tightly, apparently satisfied, and she sat back down to keep a watchful eye. "Today we'll be reading chapter seventeen. There will be no need to talk."

Your eyes skimmed the pages absent mindedly, wondering what could have happened to Mr. Weasley. And what Harry Potter had to do with it. Eventually, your thoughts drifted to how you were going to spend break - all your friends were going home for the holiday, so the only person you knew would be staying was Draco Malfoy. You were skeptical as to whether he’d even talk to you, but you were resolved to try. At worst, you might convince Professor Sprout to let you check in on her aquaponics setup while she was gone, or maybe Hagrid would let you hang out with those tiny dragons again.

Mercifully, the bell rang and before Professor Umbridge could say anything, the whole class swept their books into their bags and pockets in unison and fled.

Donna and Yvette were already all packed, so you sat in the almost empty common room by the fire, listening and laughing at the thumping and random curses coming from the boy’s dorm. Ten minutes later, Herbert emerged with a barely closed trunk, the toe of an argyle sock hanging out the bottom. You followed them to the front of the castle where they waited on the great stone steps with a band of other students for the last round of carriages to take them down the path to the Hogwarts Express.

“Are you sure you wanna stay?” Donna asked, “I’m sure my mum would be fine with you coming home with me.”

You shook your head. “No, it’s alright, I’m looking forward to having so much of the castle to myself. I’m going to see Professor Sprout once you’re all off.”

“You’d better go now, I think her last class ended a while ago,” Yvette said.

The three of them pulled you and each other in for a hug, mumbling holiday wishes into the nearest shoulder. They promised to write and made you swear you would actually get around to it, then you trotted into the castle and up the stairs to Professor Sprout’s office.

“Professor Sprout? Oh!” Warm air wafted out to meet you as the door to her office swung open to reveal your head of house struggling to close a gigantic trunk filled with all her potted plants, giving breathless instructions to Draco Malfoy. They both stopped and looked at you. “Sorry,” you said sheepishly.

“No, no,” Professor Sprout said, turning her back on the trunk, but leaning on it to keep it closed. “I was just telling Mr. Malfoy about an extra credit assignment for over the holiday. I don’t suppose you’re staying for Christmas as well?”

Draco’s expression was unreadable as he waited for your response. “Yeah, I am. I came by to see if you would let me look in on your aquaponics while you were gone. I can look after those too?”

She sighed in relief, the trunk popping open behind her. “Oh, thank heavens. Off you go, back to your places. Now where, aha.” With a wave of her wand, the pots and hanging baskets bobbed out of her trunk and scattered themselves over the room in their typical order; the enchanted watering can came out last, immediately resuming duty. She sat down at her desk, her hair more awry than usual, and gestured at the chair next to Draco. You sat hesitantly. “The puffapods are set to go to seed in about a week, and I think, given how much he’s improved, Mr. Malfoy has proven himself capable to tend to them on his own.” He smiled thinly at the praise. “This is a solo project, though I’m sure Miss Y/L/N would be happy to advise should you get stuck.” She patted the pockets of her robes, muttering quietly, then pulled out the key to her office which she handed to you. “Happy Christmas, don’t kill my koi.” She winked, then shooed you both out the door so she could finish packing.

Without saying a word or even looking at you again, Draco sped back down the stairs and out of sight. You huffed at his retreating frame, but you weren’t quite sure whether you were annoyed with him or yourself for caring. After all, it wasn’t like you really liked him in the first place. Right? What was there to like? To your estimation, he was arrogant, prideful, selfish, and full of derision for just about everything.

You huffed again and stomped off to the common room to mourn your poor choices. A few members of your house were settling in around the fire; Wanda was showing a first year how to knit, and both waved as you passed. Wilbur was basking in enchanted sunlight on your bed, so you flopped onto it next to him and buried your face in his fur.

Sometime just before dinner, you woke up. Wilbur had moved to the foot of the bed, and began purring when he noticed you were awake. You absentmindedly scratched his chin while feeling around under the bed for his treats. The smell of oven-roasted turkey and potatoes lured you out of bed.

Wilbur followed you into the great hall, tail held aloft, hoping to maybe also get some turkey. Draco Malfoy was nowhere to be seen, but Luna Lovegood was sitting alone at the Ravenclaw table, eating dessert first over a pile of books.

“Mind if I join you?” you asked her, holding up your own book - Dragons in the Wild - and grinning widely.

She looked up dreamily from the page and smiled back. “I don’t mind at all, please.” You sat and shooed Wilbur away from the turkey drumstick he had been reaching towards greedily; he sat down on the bench next to you and proceeded to twitch his tail around.

You waited to see if she’d continue reading. When she did not, you asked, “You aren’t going home for Christmas?”

She shook her head. “My father has been busy interviewing a number of goblins in secret for the Quibbler.” She closed her book and you managed to read Lion, Goat, and Dragon - Beast or Experiment Gone Wrong before she set it aside with the others.

“You’re studying chimeras?” you asked, shoveling roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding onto your plate.

Luna smiled happily. “Yes. I hope to meet one someday, and I’d like to be prepared. What’ve you got?”

Chewing, you held up your book silently, so that she could see the title. She smiled wider.

After a rousing conversation, as rousing as a conversation with Luna could be, on rare and interesting magical creatures, proven and suspected, the topic strayed into Care of Magical Creatures. Luna was not yet convinced Hagrid was the best choice to teach the subject.

“I admit, he certainly has a practical approach,” she said, finally getting to the pile of Brussels sprouts on her plate. A pair of ghosts floated past you, singing carols in their ethereal tone. She continued, “But I preferred Grubbly-Plank’s curriculum structure. Professor Hagrid seems to hop from one topic to the next.”

You frowned. That was true. “Sure, I suppose, I guess it’s more about your learning style than anything else.”

Her eyes twinkled. “My point exactly.” She yawned dreamily and began to gather her books. “Well, Y/N, I’d better be off. I’ve been up reading all night. Do let me know if you’d like to have supper again, I do enjoy our conversations. Happy Christmas!”

“Happy Christmas, Luna.”

Wilbur had curled up next to you and fallen asleep with one eye open; you waved a bit of turkey over his nose and he woke right up to snatch it from your hand. You scooped him up into your arms and he began purring.

“C’mon, you. It’s time to pretend to read by the fire and then go to bed.”

Christmas morning came, and you got up before dawn to trudge through the frigid wind to the owlery to send your mum’s gift. You’d also picked up some odds and ends at Zonkos for Julien, which you sent with a separate owl in the hopes your mum wouldn’t notice.

When you arrived at breakfast, Luna was not there, but Draco Malfoy was. He was still refusing to look at you. The decorated trees lining the Great Hall twinkled in the firelight, and the candles floating above you had been adorned with small ringed garlands. You joined Wanda and the first year at the Hufflepuff table, and piled your plate with eggs, sausages, and beans.

The rustle of wings was heard not long after, and far fewer owls than usual glided in to drop Christmas cards and crackers on the students around you. Your mother’s owl, Bertha, passed over you and dropped a package in your lap. You grinned - inside were several wrapped cauldron cakes, pumpkin pasties, and a couple liquorice whips, as well as a new pair of rain boots.

Then, you made the mistake of glancing across the room to the Slytherin table. Draco, the only Slytherin at the table, was glancing up at the whirlwind of owls hopefully, then, when they all left as quickly as they’d come, his shoulders slumped ever so slightly. You rolled your eyes and sighed, then excused yourself and carried the box over. He did not look at you, and you did not look at him, as you sat the box of treats, sans boots, on the table between you and sat down.

You waited a moment, then pushed the box towards him. He waited another moment, then pointed his pointed nose inside.

“Thanks,” he mumbled, unwrapping a cauldron cake. “These are my favorite.”

You grinned and unwrapped one for yourself. “Mine too.”

The corner of his mouth twitched before he sank his teeth into the chocolate. His eyes fluttered. “Wow,” he said, turning over the wrapping, “are these Honeydukes’?”

“No, this is my step-father’s recipe. Good, right?” He nodded in silent satisfaction. “Got anything interesting going on today?”

He gave you a sidelong glance, then dropped the facade. “No, not at all. Why?”

You shrugged. “I was thinking of flying a little. While the snow’s still fresh and pretty. If you’d like to join me.”

He frowned. “I suppose that could be enjoyable.”

“Good.” You took two more cauldron cakes, a pumpkin pastie and a liquorice whip out of the box and pushed them into his hands. “Meet me on the pitch in an hour. And you may want to wear something warmer than this.”

He smirked at you, but nodded and took the baked goods with another quiet, “Thanks,” and left for the Slytherin dormitory.

The fireplaces you passed on the way back to the Hufflepuff common room did nothing to quell the tingling in your fingertips. That had gone much better than expected. You took your own advice and layered a winter coat over two Christmas jumpers, along with a ridiculous wool hat with a bauble and fingerless gloves.

Draco was already on the pitch when you arrived with your Cleansweep 7, wearing a very fashionable tweed coat with large brass buttons. He laughed when he saw your hat.

“What died on your head?”

“The same thing that’ll keep me alive when you freeze to death,” you shot back. “What kind of broom is that anyway?”

“A Nimbus 2001, still the broom with the most class. I think you forgot we were meant to be flying with these broomsticks, not sweeping.”

You grinned and mounted your broom. “Enough talk, now we race. First one around the pitch three times wins!” You took off into the sky, wind biting at your face.

“What?” he said, and leapt onto his broom. He barely caught up to you; his broom sat level to yours in the wind. “That wasn’t fair!” he shouted.

“You’d know all about that wouldn’t you?”

He grumbled and pressed himself deeper into his broom, so he began to pull forward. You swore and did the same, practically giving the broom a very loving embrace, but it worked. You circled the pitch, weaving around the tall seats and taking turns trying to distract each other. At the very end, you won by a hair, only because you’d pointed and shouted, “what is he doing?” when there was no one there. You dismounted your broom, laughing. “Good game. How are you not freezing?”

Draco landed next to you, scowling. “Dragon hide lining, of course. And this was too easy. I demand a rematch.”

“What do you mean?”

“Race me across the lake.”

“We’re not supposed to fly anywhere else on school grounds.”

He pointed to his prefect badge. “Come on, who’s going to catch us?”

You looked around nervously, but he was right. The only sign of life from the castle was the smoke rising from its numerous chimneys, which was always there. Smiling, you prepared to take off without warning again, but he was ready for you this time, and launched himself into the air before you had a chance to react.

Draco flew whooping and hollering across the grounds, staying low to the snow-covered earth, and you followed in a similar fashion. The air stung your eyes and the wind nearly whipped the hat from your head, but then the snow gave way to choppy black water, which turned more and more glassy the further you flew across the lake.

The spray from the water froze to your eyelashes and clothes, and the scene before you made your breath catch. The shore across the lake was perfect, untouched snow before rows and rows of ice encrusted pine trees that sat still even in the wind.

Draco had flown upwards and was doing loops in the sky. You shouted, “Stop showing off! I could still win, you know!”

“Doubtful!” he shouted back before shooting towards the shore.

He beat you, again by a hair, and fell off his broom into the snow, laughing. “Now, that was fun.”

You flopped into the snow next to him, the cold striking a line across the back of your neck. “Only because you won that time. If we were on the same model broom I’d’ve had that one too.”

Draco snorted and sat up. “Big talk for someone who didn’t even make their Quidditch team.”

“I’d have made it just fine if you and your goons hadn’t intruded on our tryouts,” you snapped, remembering in anger his words months ago. You sat up when he didn’t reply. “It doesn’t matter anyway, I don’t think I even wanted to be on the team. You were being kind of an arse then, though.”

He said nothing, but didn’t disagree.

Across the lake, the castle stood still in a kind of quiet that can only be achieved when everything in sight is covered in a foot of sound absorbing snow. No rustle of wind or bird song, only the gentle lap of waves across the stony shore disturbed the peace. The flurries around you became bigger and thicker, until great globs of snow were falling heavily down as far as you could see. They landed on the snow from the day before with perhaps your favorite sound - a soft and continuous, breathy tinkling. You flopped back down onto your back to look up at the grey sky, letting the snow pile itself on your still form.

You wondered how the giant squid was spending its Christmas, and smiled. “Have you seen the giant squid? That lives in the lake?”

“Yes. All the time,” Draco said, confused.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, our common room is right under the lake. There are a few portholes it swims by everyday.”

You sat up again. “What? That’s so cool. We talked about it in Care of Magical Creatures. I had kind of assumed it was a myth.”

He pursed his lips and shook some snow out of his silvery hair. “We should get back across the lake before this snow gets worse.”

“You’re not going to try and convince me to take a stroll through the Forbidden Forest, while we’re at it? There’s no other school rule you’d like to break today?”

“No, not the Forbidden Forest.” He stood up, brushing more snow off his clothes. “You’ll see, come on.”

“Wait.” You sat up. “You do want to break another rule?”

“Yeah. Come on.”

You stood nervously, gripping your broomstick. “Draco…”

“Y/N. It’ll be fun, and we won’t get caught. You’ll like it, I swear.”

Nonplussed, you mounted your broom and followed him wide-eyed back across the lake, wondering what in the world had sparked such sincerity. Inside the castle, Draco led you down staircase after staircase, checking vigilantly around corners. The deeper into the dungeons you went, the more the chill seeped from the stone into your bones. You passed the Potions classroom, and it suddenly dawned on you.

“Draco,” you groaned, stopping in your tracks. He stopped and turned to look at you quizzically. “We’ll get into so much trouble.”

He once again tapped on the prefect badge glistening on his chest.

“You don’t think that’s an abuse of power?”

He rolled his eyes, “An abuse to who? I guarantee the common room is empty, and I’m offering you the chance to see something no one but a Slytherin has ever seen.” He let you consider for a moment. “Isn’t that the least bit tempting?”

“Of course it is.” You crossed your arms. “But if we get caught this was your idea.”

He smirked and led you down another couple hallways, before stopping before an imposing stone door. The frame was made up of dozens of stone carved snakes writhing around each other to form a twisted rope; a snakes head with emeralds for eyes held a great knocker in its fangs. Draco squared his shoulders and said proudly, “Pureblood.”

A note of unease rang through your gut, and the great stone door swung open, ominously quiet. The common room itself was similar in layout to your own, though everything, from the fireplace to the throw pillows, was austere. Cold green light filtered in through the porthole windows along the far wall. As you stepped in, the fireplace ignited into black flame that provided no light.

“See?” Draco said, “Empty.”

You gestured back towards the door. “A bit on the nose, don’t you think?”

He shrugged, “That’s what it’s always been.”

“Hmm,” you conceded. The light from the portholes drew you closer and closer, until you had your nose almost pressed against one to peer out into the murky lake. You could only see about a hundred feet out into the Black Lake until it truly lived up to its name. Scattered kelp stipes swayed gently in the current. You took a sharp breath in, eyes wide.

Draco shifted behind you, checking an ornate pocket watch. “Should be any minute now. C’mon old blighty.” He stepped up to the porthole next to yours and peered out as well.

“Hagrid calls him Squish.”

Draco scoffed and began, “Like I care what that oaf-”

But he was cut off as one by one, the portholes grew dim. Something gargantuan was blocking them. You danced nervously from foot to foot in your spot. At first, it just looked like a black curtain falling over the window; there was no texture to make out, only a sweeping black material spreading from left to right. Then, you took a startled step back as the squid’s giant eye filled the width of the porthole. It winked at you, or maybe blinked? And then as quickly as it came, it moved on. You laughed abruptly and ran to the next porthole to see its eye come and go, then the next, and the next, until finally you watched its epically long tentacles drift past you, and off into deeper reaches of the lake.

Still laughing you turned to Draco. “That was, I mean, he’s bigger than I thought! So cool!” You fell onto a sofa.

Draco, smirking, raised an eyebrow. “So I was right then.”

“Yeah, I guess.” You sighed and leaned back against the tough leather.

He shook his head. “I’ll need you to say it.”

You rolled your eyes. “You were right.”

“How hard was that?”

“Very.”

“Mr. Malfoy. Miss Y/L/N. What a surprise.” The both of you froze. Oh no. You turned slowly. Professor Dumbledore stood just across the room, hands folded lightly in front of him. He didn’t look particularly angry, which surprised you. “I wonder if you’re aware, Y/N, that you are in the wrong common room?”

You stood shakily and tried to sputter out a response, cheeks burning, but Draco interrupted, “We were just watching the squid. Professor. It… was my idea.”

“I see. I’m afraid I’ll still have to dock points from each of you. Ten I think should do, and I trust this won’t happen again?”

“Yes, Professor,” you said.

“No, Professor,” Draco said.

Professor Dumbledore smiled warmly. “I’ll take that to mean the same thing. Come along, Miss Y/L/N, I’ll escort you back to your dormitory. And I’ll expect you both to stay until supper. Yes? Good.”

You followed the headmaster out of the Slytherin common room, but not before turning back to Draco to wave and mouth a quick and silent “Thanks!” He had a hand on his hip and another in his hair, which he removed to wave back weakly. Then the door shut. Professor Dumbledore didn’t speak for a few minutes, seemingly content to accompany you through the maze-like dungeons of the castle.

Finally, he said, “Please understand, I am always pleased when a student makes a friend with another outside their house. However, rules are rules.” He gave you a warm, sidelong smile. He winked.

“Y-yes, Professor. I understand.” You did not. If Professor Snape had been the one to catch you, ten points would’ve been a drop in the bucket of what you’d have lost your house, you were sure of it. Bringing this up seemed unwise.

You both stopped outside the giant round door to the Hufflepuff common room. The headmaster turned towards you and said cheerily, “Happy Christmas, Miss Y/L/N,” before tapping out the rhythm for you. The door eased open, welcoming you back.

“Happy Christmas, Professor.”

Two second years played Wizard’s Chess sprawled out by the fire; they hardly noticed your entrance.

~~~ Taglist ~~~

@jemomgershippingco

@snickersmee

@lafrone

@cillshot

#draco x hufflepuff!reader #draco malfoy #harry potter #draco x reader #order of the phoenix #christmas fic

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braveclementine · 3 days

Text

Chapter 10

Warnings: 18+ readers only, mentions of nudity

Copyright: I do not own any Wizarding World characters that J.K. Rowling wrote. I do however own Elizabeth Kane (main character) and Trang Nyguen (best friend). There should be no use of these two names without my permission. I also do not condone any copying of this.

🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎

"𝖂𝖍𝖔 𝖆𝖗𝖊 𝖞𝖔𝖚 taking to Slughorn's Christmas Party?" Trang asked as we sat down in the library.

"Er- probably no one." I muttered, "Why?"

"That Zabini guy seems like a bit of a er, option." Trang smirked though she looked a bit sour.

I snorted, "Yeah. . . Who are you bringing?"

Trang rolled her eyes, "I'm not going."

"You're not!?" I was legitimately surprised.

Trang smirked again. "Nope. Oliver's not here, I'm not going."

"Got it!" I nearly shouted and Madam Pince's head swiveled towards me and I quickly ducked my head. "We go together." I hissed.

Trang looked at me for a second and then said, "True, alright then."

"You agree?" I asked.

"Well, we're both dating other people that we can't go with so we should just go with each other." Trang said simply, pulling Transfiguration homework towards her and dipping her quill in ink. Then she looked at her quill, wrinkling her nose, "You know, in America, we used pens, and they are much easier to write with."

"I used pens my first year here." I said, smirking. "Believe me, it's best to use quills."

Trang shrugged, "I'll take your word on that."

Suddenly, Hermione entered the library, in a huffy mood.

"Guess she just left Ron and Lavender." I muttered under my breath to Trang who glowered with anger. She, like me, didn't particularly like Ron at this moment.

Ron and Lavender had been dating for about a week or so now. Every time I saw them, they were kissing, wrapped around each other. Harry seemed quite embarrassed by that and whenever Hermione saw it, she disappeared. I had the strangest urge to hit him every time that I saw him, though I knew this was just a step so that he could get to the true relationship he was meant to be in.

"Hi Hermione!" I said brightly. "We were just talking about the Christmas party, are you taking anyone yet?"

"No." Hermione replied huffily, pulling our arithmancy charts and books. Trang and I exchanged a look and quickly turned to our homework.

🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎

𝕬 𝖈𝖔𝖚𝖕𝖑𝖊 𝖉𝖆𝖞𝖘 later, I headed to the library and saw that Hermione and Harry were sitting at a wooden table aways away. I quickly hurried over, sitting down as Harry said, ". . . all the owls were being searched. So how come these girls are able to bring love potions into school? Hi Liz."

"Fred and George send them disguised as perfumes and cough potions, it's part of their Owl Order Service." Hermione said.

"Hello Harry." I replied, pulling out my charms book.

"You know a lot about it." Harry said.

Hermione gave him a nasty look and said, "it was all on the back of the bottles they showed Ginny, Trang, and me in the summer. I don't go around putting potions in people's drinks. . . or pretending to, either, which is just as bad. . ."

I rolled my eyes, "It was just a tactic Hermione."

"Never mind that. The point is, Filch is being fooled, isn't he? These girls are getting stuff into the school disguised as something else! So why couldn't Malfoy have brought the necklace into the school-?" Harry started and Hermione immediately shut him down.

"Oh, Harry. . . not that again. . ."

"Come on, why not?" Harry demanded.

"Look, Secrecy Sensors detect jinxes, curses, and concealment charms, don't they? They're used to find Dark Magic and Dark objects. They'd have picked up a powerful curse, like the one on that necklace, within seconds. But something that's just been put in the wrong bottle wouldn't register- and anyway, love potions aren't Dark or dangerous-"

"-easy for you to say." Harry muttered.

"-so it would be down to Filch to realize it wasn't a cough potion, and he's not a very good wizard. I doubt he can tell one potion from-"

Hermione cut off and I quickly flipped Harry's book closed so Madam Pince wouldn't see the writing upon the pages.

"The library is now closed. Mind you return anything you have borrowed to the correct shelf." Madam Pince said, gliding past our table. We gathered our things so that we could leave.

"Look," I said as Madam Pince moved past the wooden table and farther down the bookcases, stuffing my charms book into my bag. "Let's say for arguments sake, Draco's the Death Eater. Who says he brought it to Hogwarts at all? If, hypothetically, he was a Death Eater, he could easily have someone in Hogsmeade. Polyjuice potion, disguises, even the imperius curse. You should see if anyone in Hogsmeade has been acting funny, perhaps Dumbledore would know Harry."

We exited the library doors.

"But the necklace is expensive." Hermione argued.

"Well, the Malfoys are rich." I replied.

"And Borgin seemed scared of this Greyback character." Harry said. "Maybe he gave it to Malfoy for free."

"It's all speculation." I replied, "Until we find more clues or until we uncover something more at least."

I headed off in the direction of the Hufflepuff common room and doubled back to the Defense Against the Dark Arts office, knocking before I entered.

Severus smiled at me gently as I entered the office. Standing next to him was Professor Dumbledore. I hesitated in the doorway awkwardly, my cheeks turning red.

"Hello Miss Kane." Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling behind his glasses. "Please close the door behind you."

I did as he said but stayed near the door, looking from Severus to Dumbledore.

"Now, I believe you and Severus are going to have a child?" Dumbledore asked cheerfully and very bluntly.

"Ah, yes sir." I said, my cheeks turning a brighter color. I wondered what he was thinking about.

"And Severus has told you that a spell will be done in order to hide the figure?" Dumbledore asked in a slightly gentler voice.

"Yes sir."

"Very well." Dumbledore said, taking out his wand. I noticed that the black hand was still quite black and I glanced at Severus for half a second. "Now." Dumbledore said, approaching me, "the spell won't have to be reapplied, but at the time of birth, the spell will drop, revealing the bump. It gives a five minute warning before water breaking and then, hopefully, you'll be in the hospital wing before long."

"Thank you." I mumbled, extremely embarrassed now.

Dumbledore stepped backwards and I noticed that my stomach had shrunk quite a bit and was more pleased than before. "Congratulations you two." He smiled and then left the office, the door closing behind him with a quiet snap.

"That was horrible." I murmured after a second.

"Did it hurt?" Severus asked, coming towards me, his black cloak trailing out behind him.

"No, I was just. . . well embarrassed. I mean, we're married, I shouldn't. I think I'll feel better once I'm seventeen." I sighed, putting a hand on my stomach and feeling the comparative flatness.

Severus gently tugged at my hand, putting it around his neck and then took my other hand in his, wrapping his other arm around my waist. I leaned my head on his shoulder and smiled a little.

"Do you remember dancing in December, two years ago in the Forbidden Forest?" He whispered along the top of my head.

I smiled a little, "A bit hard to forget."

"That was the first time you told me you loved me." He said, but he didn't sound amused like I thought he would.

"Yes." I said simply.

He was silent for a moment. "I love you."

Now I was silent for a moment, savoring the words floating on the air. "I love you too." I whispered after a long moment.

"You shouldn't be embarrassed." Severus said gently. "As a matter of fact, Dumbledore seems a bit- overly enthusiastic perhaps about the whole thing."

"Does anyone else know?" I asked curiously.

"Well he's never kept a secret from Professor McGonagall." Severus sighed, leading me slowly over to the bed.

I groaned, "I forgot, I was supposed to practice human transfiguration for class in a couple of days."

"Oh?" He questioned, slowly lowering himself over me on the bed, "and what part of the body, may I ask, are you changing?" His fingers trailed down from my neck to the V-shaped end of my shirt.

"The eyebrow color." I said with a smile. "Wonder if Tonks ever used her Metamorphmagus powers to cheat in human transfiguration?"

Severus rolled his eyes, undoing the buttons of my shirt with one hand, the other around the back of my head. "Probably."

"Why don't you like Aurors?" I asked curiously. "I might be one. . . will that be a problem?" I asked, smiling slightly.

"Most definitely." Severus said, lowering his lips to my breasts, moving his lips softly against my skin side to side.

I laughed quietly. The movement felt wonderful. "Will you give me an honest answer now?"

"To why I don't like Aurors? Or if there will be a problem if you become an Auror?" Severus asked, his head still bent but I saw the flicker of a smile.

"Why you don't like Aurors." I asked amused, shivering a little as I felt his teeth slightly graze over my nipple.

"Because," he whispered, "they didn't like me first."

I smirked. "Well then, I'll be a first."

"You always were a first." He whispered mysteriously and without another word, we disappeared under the sheets.

🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎

𝕴 𝖘𝖙𝖆𝖗𝖊𝖉 𝖎𝖓𝖙𝖔 the small mirror on my desk, trying to block out the distracting noises of the other students. I heard Hermione laughing unkindly and I looked up and saw that Ron had given himself, through Transfiguration, a red handlebar mustache.

I looked back into the mirror, rolling my eyes. Sure, Ron was a rude, selfish, ignorant bastard, but did Hermione really have to be so childish about it? We were sixteen for Merlins sake and the two of them were fighting like they were still eleven.

Maybe it was the fact that I was going to be a mother and felt much older than them that set me apart from the others. Or perhaps it was the childish characteristic of her attitude. What she should have done, was ignore him. Get a boyfriend, a real one, and walked away from Ron instead of trying to make him jealous and angry.

I concentrated on the eyebrows, trying to change the color. I closed my eyes, focusing on turning them green.

"Lovely, Miss Kane." Professor McGonagall's voice said and I opened my eyes and saw that the eyebrows were a bright green. I also realized my hand was hurting from squeezing my wand so tightly and I quickly dropped my wand on the desk.

With a wave of her wand, Professor McGonagall turned my eyebrows back to their normal brown color and I was to try again and then turn them back on my own this time. I set to work on doing so.

Professor McGonagall walked around to the front of the class to address us, asking questions. Hermione raised her hand every time, like we always did. But I did not raise mine.

No, I watched Ron in the back of the classroom as he imitated her, to make her feel horrible and to amuse Lavender and Parvati.

Hermione was nearly in tears by the time class had ended. Harry gathered up her things, following her out of the classroom. Everyone else got up in a more orderly fashion, chattering indifferently as they left the classroom. Ron and Lavender were hanging onto each other like the way an octopus clung to its prey. I just wasn't sure which one was the prey yet.

I shoved my things into my bag angrily. Professor McGonagall had retired behind her desk. I wanted to ask her how she hadn't noticed Ron mocking Hermione but kept my mouth shut. I wasn't a Professor or even an equal to her stature. There was no way I was going to criticize her.

I slung my light bag across my shoulders and made my way out of the room, closing the door behind me. I walked down to the Great Hall for dinner.

I sat across from Trang at the Ravenclaw table. She had her Defense Against the Dark Arts homework out, trying to aimlessly eat a piece of steak while looking intently upon the diagrams. Her glasses kept slipping down her nose.

"How's that going?" I asked, setting my bag aside and pulling over the hot chicken wings.

"Hmm?" She asked, not really taking notice in who she was talking to. I grinned, biting into the wing and she looked up. "Oh! Sorry! Distracted, that's all."

"Not distracted. Concentrating." I said, eyes watering and quickly took a swig of milk. I'd never seen milk on the Hogwarts tables before. Or perhaps I just was never paying attention because pumpkin juice was a wizard drink.

Trang observed me for a second and then slid the charts back into her bag. "Do you still want to go to Slughorn's party?"

"Have to." I said. "I'd like to stay in bed with Sev, but he's going to be at the party and that's how it has to unfold so I'll go and just leave a little early, that's all."

"Alright then." Trang said with a shrug. "He's okay with the two of us going together, isn't he?"

I shrugged, "I didn't tell him. I didn't think it was relevant."

Trang looked like she wanted to say something but instead continued to eat.

"Should I have told him?" I asked anxiously, abandoning my chicken wings and wiping my fingers on a napkin.

Trang paused, a piece of steak on her fork before her lips. "I don't know. I'm not married."

"Thanks." I said, slightly bitter. But it wasn't like I was married either. A hand fluttered to my stomach.

"Are you alright?" Trang asked in concern, her eyebrows scrunching together.

"Fine." I whispered, "I'm going to go see Severus."

Trang opened her mouth as I got up from the table, looking distressed. But she didn't say anything, closing her mouth, as I grabbed my bag and headed for Severus' room.

I knocked before entering. He was alone, wearing his usual robes as though there was no party tonight.

"You're going to Slughorn's Christmas party looking like that?" I asked, raising an eyebrow and dropping my bag down by the bed.

He glared at me. "I wasn't aware I was going to the party."

I shrugged. "All I know is that you end up there. I don't know the particular reason that you do."

"And are you going like that?" He asked, smirking and pointing to my school robes.

"Nope!" I said brightly. "I have a dress."

"Who are you going with?" Severus asked in a light, curious tone.

"Trang." I stated. "Since we're both dating people we can't go with, we decided to go with each other as friends."

"Fair enough." Severus said in what he obviously thought was a easy voice. However, he was much more pleased than he let on.

"The baby kicked." I said suddenly, going and pulling out the blue dress that I was going to wear.

"What?" Severus asked, sounding startled and looked up so fast I heard his neck crack. I tucked in my lips so I didn't laugh. He grabbed his neck, groaning.

"I said the baby kicked, when I was at dinner." I said, holding the dress up to my body.

I heard the scraping of a chair and footsteps. Severus came to stand behind me, resting his chin on my shoulder and putting both of his hands on my stomach where the bump should have been.

I felt her- just a guess- kick on the inside and there was an expression on Severus' face I'd never seen before. I couldn't even place it. Joy? Pride?

His smile was more genuine than it had been in a long time. Recently, under stress, his smiles had been forced. But this smile. . . we were going to be a family. Feeling the baby just made it more real.

The baby kicked again and Severus laughed, a real laugh too. I put a hand over his, pressing it to my stomach. I looked at our reflection in the mirror.

"You're going to be a great father." I said softly.

Severus smiled, our eyes meeting in the mirror. He pressed his lips to my cheek, his eyes still on our reflection.

I pulled away slowly, getting dressed for the party. The blue dress clung to my skinny frame in a flattering way.

"Can you zip me up?" I asked softly, braiding my hair to put up into a bun. Severus fingers lightly touched my back and then I felt the dress shift as he did the zipper up. "Thanks." I said, sticking pearl bobby pins into the elaborate bun.

"You look lovely." Severus whispered, wrapping his arms around my waist. I closed my eyes, feeling extremely tired all of a sudden.

"Thank you." I said and then leaned away to bend down and pick up my shoes. "I'll see you soon, okay?" I reached up and kissed him on the lips and then slipped out of his office and made my way to the Great Hall.

Outside the doors, I met Trang who was wearing a black dress with gold jewelry. She'd removed her glasses for the night, giving her a very sophisticated, older look.

"You look lovely." Trang said brightly and I returned compliments. We set down the hallway towards Slughorn's office.

"Harry's bringing Luna." I said. "But I'm sure you've heard of that by now considering your in Ravenclaw."

"Yes." Trang said. "She's quite happy about it, as you can imagine."

"Harry is quite an exceptional partner." I said proudly. "Though I would prefer Oliver over him, eh?" I grinned teasingly at her.

"Oliver is exceptionally handsome, isn't he." Trang said, smiling.

"I wish it was snowing." I said as we passed a window, looking out over the lawn. "It's nearly Christmas after all!"

"Ah." Trang said solemnly. "Alas, the effects of global warming."

I looked at her peculiarly for a second before she snorted with laughter. "It's an American thing, believe me."

"Perhaps you could enlighten me on the subject." I asked curiously. "For about the sixth time again."

Trang sighed. "Mind you, this isn't every American, just the really stupid ones."

"Alright. . .?" I agreed hesitantly.

"Well there is a certain group of people who believe the Earth is getting warmer. Melting glaciers in the Arctic, dying polar bears, etc. etc. But anyways, we're basically destroying the Earth with our fossil fuels and gasoline and oil and you know, all the things that help humans survive." Trang shrugged.

I snorted, "Do these Americans know basic science history? The Earth is constantly heating up and cooling down. That's why we have ice ages and then periods that aren't ice ages and then ice ages again. It's a cycle and each one lasts a few thousand years. If we're heating up, that just means that we've been exiting an ice age for some time now. Besides, it'll snow. It snowed back in October, we just need precipitation in the air. Perhaps Americans should refine their science and history classes."

"We only learn the same things every year in history class." Trang said. I looked at her with raised eyebrows, "I mean, Americans learn the same thing. It's always about the revolution, escaping from us Brits, and slavery. The same cycle every year. A lot of emphasis on Slavery."

"You'd think after a year you'd know everything." I said, and we turned a corner. We could now hear the sounds of music and chatter. "And move on to learn something new. Don't you guys have exams or something?"

"ACT and SAT, yes, but it doesn't include history." Trang said.

I snorted, "What a waste of study then. You have to take history every year up until you graduate?"

"Yes." Trang said. She pulled open the door to Slughorn's office. "When I was planning on college, I was going to take the study of East Asian History. It'd give me a break from the racial tensions of America."

"You know," I said, picking up two glasses of a bubbly golden drink off of a passing waiter's tray. I handed one to Trang. "Slavery has always been a large part of culture. The Romans empire, the slavery of the Egyptians in the Old Testament of the Bible, even way back to Abrahams time-"

"If you perceive the Bible's stories to be true, that is." Trang pointed out before sipping the drink.

"Fair enough." I consented and we moved to stand by a window, looking out at the black landscape. "But it's historically written that the Chinese had slaves as well as the Roman empire and many other empires leading up till today. Even still there are some countries with slavery- admittedly, illegal slaves but still, slavery. I shall never understand the racial tensions in America when they should have ended many many years ago. The African America Population in American does have all the same freedoms as everyone else, no?"

"Of course they do, but if they make a big deal about it, they get special services. Like free housing, free medical, food stamps which is sort've like free food, and some other things. I suppose that's the only reason they make a big deal out of it- they reap benefits from it."

I shook my head. "What a messed up system in America. Shouldn't everyone simply work to benefit their families, not rely on the Government to take care of them? Isn't that how life should work?"

Trang was smiling mysteriously and I looked at her curiously, "Okay, what's with that smile?"

"This is quite a philosophical debate." Trang said, raising her eyebrows. "Almost like we're adults."

"Cheers to that." I said, raising my glass. We clinked them together and I took my first sip of the drink. It had a warm, pleasant taste like apple cider. "You don't think this is alcohol, do you?"

"Should've asked before you drank it." Trang said with a smirk. "but no, I don't think so."

"There's Harry and Luna," I said, gesturing towards the couple. Luna was wearing lovely silver robes. Harry looked quite nice in his almost black but really green dress robes as well. I watched as Hermione intercepted him. "Shall we join them?" I asked, smiling at Trang.

"Let's." Trang said brightly.

We approached the trio.

". . .mistletoe." Hermione was saying, looking around her anxiously. Her hair was a bit messy and her face was flushed.

"Serves you right for coming with him." Harry said unsympathetically.

"I thought he'd annoy Ron most. I debated for a while about Zacharias Smith, but I thought on the whole-"

"You considered Smith?" Harry asked in a revolted voice.

"Smith would most definitely have been a better candidate." I said.

"Hello Elizabeth! Hello Trang!" Luna said brightly.

"Hey Luna." Trang and I said together.

"I'm starting to wish I'd chosen him." Hermione continued her conversation with Harry. "McLaggen makes Grawp look like a gentleman. Let's go this way, we'll be able to see him coming, he's so tall. . ."

We made our way to the other side of the room where we found Professor Trelawney standing there alone.

"Hello." Luna said.

"Good evening, my dear. I haven't seen you in my classes lately." Professor Trelawney sounded a bit tipsy and she was squinting at Luna as though that would give her better sight.

"No, I've got Firenze this year." Luna said.

"Oh, of course, or Dobbin, as I prefer to think of him. You would have thought, would you not, that now I am returned to the school Professor Dumbledore might have got ride of the horse? but no. . . we share classes. . . It's an insult, frankly, an insult."

"He's a Centaur." I said shortly, offended. "And he can't return to the forest- he'd be slaughtered. Dumbledore is keeping him from death. I think sharing classes is a small price to pay for that. Besides, he's quite wonderful."

Professor Trelawney focused her eyes on me and didn't say anything for a long moment. Then she said, "It'll be a boy of course."

I flushed. A boy?

Trang and I exchanged a look out of the corner of our eyes. Hermione and Harry were talking fervently about something in the corner as Professor Trelawney turned back to Luna to continue her rants about 'Dobbin'.

Suddenly another boy came up behind us and I turned to see Cormac there. I rolled my eyes, exchanging another look with Trang.

"Seen Hermione?" Cormac asked Harry.

"No, sorry." Harry said, turning to join Luna at her side.

"Harry Potter!" Professor Trelawney said, apparently only just taking in the fact that Harry had been standing in her presence for quite some time.

"Oh, hello." Harry muttered. Trang giggled.

"My dear boy! The rumors! The stories! 'The Chosen One'! Of course, I have known for a very long time. . . The omens were never good, Harry. . . But why have you not returned to Divination? For you, of all people, the subject is of the utmost importance!"

"Ah, Sybill, we all think our subject's most important!" Professor Slughorn appeared with a red face, a glass of mead, and a mince pie. I hated pie. He was wearing a velvet hat that was tilted on his head. His eyes were bloodshot and I was sure he was quite intoxicated. "But I don't think I've ever known such a natural at Potions! And Miss Kane as well!" Slughorn toasted me with his mead. "Instinctive, you know- like his mother!" (I'd finally managed to tell him that I wasn't Harry's sister, a fact he couldn't believe). "I've only ever taught a few with this kind of ability, I can tell you that, Sybill- why even Severus-"

And here, Professor Slughorn threw out his arm, ensnaring the love of my life to his side. Severus looked quite peeved to be held against Professor Slughorn. Trang and I exchanged a quick glance and we both looked away, determinedly not grinning. I met eyes with Zabini and I blushed, looking away again.

"Stop skulking and come and join us, Severus!" Slughorn said with a hiccup. "I was just talking about Harry and Elizabeth's exceptional potion-making! Some credit must go to you, of course, you taught them for five years!"

Severus looked at Harry with narrowed eyes, "Funny, I never had the impression that I managed to teach Potter anything at all."

"Well, then, it's natural ability! You should have seen what he gave me, first lesson, Draught of Living Death- never had a student produce finer on a first attempt, albeit Elizabeth. I don't think even you, Severus-"

Trang snorted and quickly turned away. I grinned down at the floor. It was worth it to come to this party just for this.

"Really?" Severus said quietly. I quickly took another sip of the apple cider before pinching my lips together to keep from smiling or laughing. Harry shifted where he was standing. Luna and Professor Trelawney were continuing to talk, completely ignoring us.

"Remind me what other subjects you're taking, Harry?" Professor Slughorn asked.

"Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology. . ." Harry started before Severus interrupted him.

"All the subjects required, in short, for an Auror."

"Yeah, well, that's what I'd like to do." Harry said with a bit of defiance in his voice.

"And a great one you'll make too!" Professor Slughorn boomed.

"I don't think you should be an Auror, Harry." Luna said. Professor Slughorn, Severus, Harry, Trang, and I all looked at her. "The Aurors are part of the Rotfang Conspiracy, I thought everyone knew that. They're working to bring down the Ministry of Magic from within using a combination of Dark Magic and gum disease."

Harry made a snortling sound as he inhaled mead up his nose. Trang burst out laughing and I laughed quietly too.

"Kingsley would love that." I muttered in Trang's ear. She laughed harder.

"So would your Uncle Moody." Trang muttered back, coughing now.

Harry emerged from his goblet, coughing. His front was soaking wet and I rolled my eyes before producing my wand and siphoning the mead from his shirt. "You really ought to be more careful." I muttered.

"Professor Slughorn," a new, wheezing voice said and I turned to see Filch holding Draco by the ear. "I discovered this boy lurking in an upstairs corridor. He claims to have been invited to your party and to have been delayed in setting out. Did you issue him with an invitation?"

I observed Draco curiously out of the corner of my eye as he wrenched himself from Filch's grip. He looked extremely sick. There were large dark circles under his eyes, a bit like the ones that I was starting to get from being unable to sick. But it was more than that. It had to be the stress of failing to do whatever Voldemort wanted him to do.

I would've exchanged a look with Harry except I didn't want to give it away. I decided it was safer to just sip my apple cider.

"All right, I wasn't invited! I was trying to gatecrash, happy?" Draco asked.

"No, I'm not." Filch said which contradicted his happy face. "You're in trouble, you are! Didn't the headmaster say that nighttime prowling's out, unless you've got permission, didn't he, eh?"

"That's all right, Argus, that's all right." Slughorn said, waving a large hand in front of his face. Filch took a step back. "It's Christmas, and it's not a crime to want to come to a party. Just this once, we'll forget any punishment; you may stay, Draco."

"Well." I said, turning to Trang. "I think we should take a stroll around the room."

"Quite." Trang said and we left our present company.

We went back over to the window we were previously at.

"What do you think we're going to do now?" Trang asked quietly.

"For the night?" I asked.

"Sure." But she didn't sound honest.

"I think I'm going to leave early now. We leave for home tomorrow, at least I do. You're staying here aren't you?" I gave her a curious glance.

"Yes, I wanted to spend a Christmas here at Hogwarts." Trang said, smiling a little.

"You could have stayed with us, you know?" I asked quietly.

"Yes, don't worry. This is what I want." Trang said firmly, turning to face the window. "And you?"

"I wanted to do both." I said and laughed a little. "Spend all of winter break with dad but spend Christmas Eve with Severus. Can't have everything though."

"No, I suppose not." Trang said softly.

"I'm going to call it a night." I said, putting my glass down on the windowsill. "I'm tired, my head hurts, and I wanted to spend the last night before break with Sev." I kissed Trang on the cheek. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Yes, I'll see you off." Trang said with a smirk.

I looked out the window. "Hey look, I told you global warming didn't exist."

Trang looked out the window as I walked away to watch the snow fall.

🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎

𝕾𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖗𝖚𝖘 𝖜𝖆𝖘𝖓'𝖙 𝖎𝖓 his office when I got there. I knew that he was probably chewing Draco out at the moment. I wondered if he would return to the party, as I had foreseen, or if things would change and he would come straight here.

I took off my shoes, rubbing my sore feet. There's a reason people don't wear heels everyday for long periods of time. I carefully extracted the pins and screws from my bun, placing them back in their proper place.

My hair fell down in waves and I decided to leave it like that instead of combing it out. The trouble was unzipping the dress from behind.

The door opened and I looked up as Severus closed the door behind him. He hung his cloak up on the peg and then he started to undress.

"He's still not telling you what he's working on?" I asked, reaching behind in an attempt to unzip the dress myself. Severus came over and unzipped it for me. "thanks."

"No, he's not." He sounded frustrated. He threw his shirt over the office chair. I hung the dress up on a hanger, putting it into the wardrobe before searching for pajamas.

"The progress isn't going well." I stated, grabbing his gray shirt that he usually wore to bed. He grabbed the clothes from my hands and tossed them on the bed, pushing his lips to mine.

"We don't really need clothes tonight, I don't think." he said.

I grinned against his mouth. "Fair enough."

He turned off the light aimlessly as he carefully pulled me into the bed.

"Are you mad?" I asked as he moved his lips down to my neck. He drew back a little.

"Why?"

"About me spending Christmas away from Hogwarts." I said, wishing I'd bitten my tongue.

He didn't say anything for a moment and then rolled off of me and laid down next to me. "A little bit, yes."

I was silent now, tears welling up in my eyes. I closed them and the tears spilled over the lids.

"Are you crying?" Severus asked suddenly. I didn't know how he knew as I had made no noise. I wasn't a loud crier.

I licked my lips and said, "No."

Silence.

"You're lying." Severus said, putting his hands on either side of my face. I supposed he could feel the tears now. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

"Just hormones." I said, sniffing. "I'm fine."

He put an arm around me, pulling me onto my side so that my head rested on his chest. My hair fanned out behind me on the pillow, out of the way. He smoothed my hair repeatedly in a soothing manner.

"Professor Trelawney said the baby is going to be a boy." I said, quickly changing the subject.

"You told her?" Severus asked, a bit incredulously, and a bit anxiously.

"No. I don't know. . . maybe she meant something else." I said, moving my head slightly. Shadows were dancing on the wall, Severus had left the candles lit. "She was talking about Firenze and I got in the conversation. She kind've just stared at me for a moment and then said 'It'll be a boy of course'."

"A boy. . ." Severus said slowly, moving his hand down to my stomach. Part of me wished the bump was visible. I wanted to see the bump rather than just know that there was a baby inside of me. But it was a foolish wish.

"I think she's wrong." I stated happily.

"You do?" He sounded amused.

"Yes. Her predictions are usually quite off." I trailed a finger over his neatly defined abs. I had a feeling they'd. . . what was the right word? Grown didn't seem right. Perhaps defined. More defined than last year that was for sure. Perhaps he was working out? "So I'm quite confident that it's a girl instead."

"So the opposite of what Professor Trelawney says is the truth." Severus said, more amused than before.

"Correct." I reached up and pressed my lips to his. His hands pulled me closer to his and that was the end of our conversation for the rest of the night.

3 notes · View notes