So, dear reader, have you ever woken up feeling AMAZING, even though you feel absolutely dreadful? Like your body’s been beaten up, but you couldn’t care less?
That was me on Christmas Day.
“Today’s a brand-new day… Yep, yep, hooray!” I sang into my toothbrush.
Toothpaste lined my mouth, and I laughed at my reflection.
“Oh yeah, yeah, yeaaaah! Today is Christmas, and that’s all right with meee!” I rocked my shoulders and jabbed a thumb at my chest.
“Oh yeah, there’s a Christmas tree and a present spree! Ha ha ha, ho ho ho! I’m jolly, me, me, me! Ha ha ha, ho ho ho!”
I sang while wiggling my bum and bobbing my head.
After my shower, I strode across the empty Slytherin common room to reach my dormitory. Of course, Slytherin students didn’t stay here during the holidays, so I had the place all to myself.
“Merry Christmas, House SLYTHERIN!” I yelled.
My voice echoed through the empty room. I chuckled and ran a towel through my hair as I headed for my dorm.
I strode into the dining hall to find it looking extra Christmassy. The decorations seemed to have multiplied overnight, and small Christmas trees covered every table.
I spotted Harry doing something to my Christmas stocking. I crouched and sneaked up on him.
“Whatcha up to?” I announced.
He screamed and jumped back.
“Stealing my presents, hah?” I reached into the stocking.
I pulled out chocolate coins and a weird Muggle object. I’d seen those before.
“Someone gave me a toy car?” I asked.
“Ah… you… didn’t get anything. So I gave you some of mine.” He grimaced.
“Oh… no gifts.”
“You’re here secretly, remember? Oh, but I saw some gifts under the tree for you. You’ve quite the haul.”
“Well, thanks for this.” I smiled and shook the toy.
Then I grabbed his wrist and pulled him towards the tree. The presents had been bound with magical cords, each secured by an orb bearing my face. I touched one, and it shattered into magical dust, along with the cords.
I guessed it was insurance against theft.
I sat down and noticed Harry had a small pile of presents, too.
“You’re popular,” he said, nodding towards mine.
“Gifts from Slytherin. I’m the princess, and that means lots of admirers.”
I shook one of the books and tossed it aside.
“You’re not opening it?” he asked.
“Oh, I save the crappy ones for later. Anyway, you open yours.” I nodded towards his pile.
He knelt and started opening his presents. He received one set of Christmas-themed clothes, then another. One gift contained some boys’ supplies, and another held underwear, which he promptly hid.
I covered my mouth as I laughed.
Then I peeked into a box and held it out to him.
“Here.” I waved the gift at him.
“It’s for you.” He shook his head.
“Take it, plebe!” I tossed it to him.
“Whoa! Are you sure?”
“Yes! Also, take this, this, oh, and this one too. OOOH, these, and this, aaaand this one too!”
I tossed present after present at him.
“What’s that?” He pointed at a long box.
“It’s a Firebolt, Silver Star edition.” I shrugged.
“A broom?”
“Yep. Mine got busted by the Voisych.” I nodded.
“You know, we never talked about it. I mean, you saved my life when you didn’t have to.”
He opened another present and removed a leather-bound journal.
“Who else would save you? The Voisych had your voice, and I had to go get it back.”
“But they said you looked like you’d…”
“I handled it.”
“Thank you.” He gripped my shoulder.
Eeeee! He’s touching me!
I gasped and nodded vigorously.
“Yeah!” I said.
“Yeah!” I said again.
Yep, dear reader, I looked like a total moron.
We walked through the garden, where first-years were playing in the snow. A snowball struck my jacket.
I stopped and glared at the Ravenclaw who’d thrown it. The boys exchanged a look, then ran away screaming.
“I should learn that trick,” Harry said.
“Become a princess, and it’s no problem.” I shrugged.
“I think if I were a princess, it would make things worse.” He shrugged.
I burst out laughing.
We chatted about nothing in particular. The sort of conversation where you spend hours talking but can’t remember what you discussed five minutes later.
Eventually, we stopped on the roof of a tower, and I leaned against the crenellations.
“So… tell me. Why are you here?” I asked, my breath frosting in the air.
He looked away, and his shoulders sagged.
“I shouldn’t tell a Death Eater,” he said.
The words stung, and I clutched my chest.
“Oh…” I looked away.
We stood in silence.
“There’s a group. Everyone’s in on it. I spent this past summer just hanging around, waiting for news. Like, any news! They didn’t send me anything. All their letters were vague, and then they started acting totally shady. Turns out, they’re part of this Order… ah…”
He stopped and bit his lip.
“I swear, I won’t tell anyone anything. In fact, once I get this stupid ring off, I don’t want anything to do with—ah… ahhhhh!”
I howled.
My hand had been numb for so long that, when the pain finally hit, it felt ten times worse. I clutched my ring hand.
“Happy thoughts, remember.” He gripped my shoulder.
“I can’t! I hate them sooo much!” I screamed.
The ring tightened. My hand felt as though it were on fire.
“AHHHHH!”
I howled again.
“Think happy thoughts. Just be happy.” He hugged me.
He smelled faintly of mint and perfume. Of course, he’d sprayed the perfume I’d given him.
I breathed in, and the pain immediately began to subside. Blood dripped from my finger as the ring shifted, finally releasing its grip.
“It’s all right. Happy thoughts.” He patted my head.
I clung to him.
I didn’t want this to ever end.
After a minute, he began to release me, but I tightened my grip. I held him close and breathed in his scent. His warmth felt so good. I nestled my face against his chest and allowed myself to enjoy the moment.
Eventually, I pulled away and looked up at him.
His face was bright red.
Our lips were inches apart.
I looked at his mouth. If he kissed me, it wasn’t as though I’d stop him.
Come on, Harry. It’s all right. I don’t mind. But… like… if you want to?
“Ah… feeling better?” He stepped away.
I blinked.
Then reality struck.
“Y… yeah! Much better.” I nodded.
He turned to watch the horizon, and we stood there in silence.
I kept glancing at him.
What should I do?
I reached out several times but stopped just short of touching him.
“Harry?” I asked.
“Yeah?” He looked at me.
“So, why are you here? Like, for Christmas?”
“Arthur was attacked.”
“Arthur Plumly?”
“Who? No, ah… Ron’s dad.”
“OH! You should go see them.”
“Well, that’s the thing, ain’t it? No one told me. I literally found out on the last day of term. The guy’s in St Mungo’s. Apparently, Ron, Hermione, and the whole Weasley clan knew for weeks. I find out by accident.”
“Still, if it’s serious, you should…”
“They’re keeping secrets. They call it Order stuff. I think they think they’re protecting me, sneaking around and having conversations behind my back. Trying to protect me! Voldemort wants me! And now, my friends! The people who are supposed to have my back are keeping me out of the loop!”
He roared and smacked his chest.
His jaw trembled. His wild hair fluttered in the wind as he worked his jaw.
“We were supposed to be there for each other. So screw them! If they don’t want me anymore, then…”
He stopped when I hugged him.
“It’s all right! It’s fine. I’m here for you,” I said.
“Y… yeah.” He nodded.
Dinner came, and we sat opposite each other, chatting. He played with the pocket watch I’d given him, and watching him idly flip it open and closed made me smile.
Our Christmas cards lay unopened on the table. Mine were essentially a book bound with sparkly ribbon. He had a handful of unopened envelopes, the sort of sad, low-tier recycled stationery you found on the plebeians’ side of town.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” he asked.
“Resting! My muscles still hurt from the Noxocia poison, and we walked soooo much today.” I smiled.
“Oh, sorry.”
“Sorry for what? We had fun!”
He opened his mouth to speak, but then he looked past me, and his face fell.
“Fraternising with the Potters now, are we, Miss Malfoid?” Snape said.
I let out a squeal, then covered my mouth.
“Ah, ah, ah… he’s just a stupid plebeian whom I’m making do my chores. Here, Pot-head, open my cards!”
I shoved my stack of cards towards him.
“I’m surprised you haven’t told your parents you’re awake. I could draft a letter for you. I’m sure they’d be here in the morning.” Snape leaned against the table and gave me the side-eye. Read this novel at novelping dot com for the best experience.
“Ah… ah… the nurse said I need to recover, so no much walking for me.” I grimaced.
“Ah-hah.”
Snape eyed me, then Harry.
“Well, I should remember to speak to Madam Pomfrey about that. For now, remember your house, Miss Malfoid.”
Snape gave me another look before walking away.
My heart hammered.
“Let’s cancel tomorrow.” Harry pushed the envelopes aside.
“Or… we meet up… in the library.” I nodded.
“Yeah,” he said.
The next morning, Harry stared blankly into my eyes.
“Here goes nothing. So… like… I like you…” I grimaced.
He didn’t respond.
“I know! I KNOW! It’s like, waaahhh, Draconia has a crush on you, and everyone’s like, WHAAAT!? But… like… it’s true. I… like you. Like… really like you.” I bit my lip.
He didn’t respond.
“I think you’re suuuupes cute, and… I just wanna… you know… hold hands, and maybe kiss and stuff…”
I bit my lower lip, grimaced, and closed my eyes.
Then I opened one eye to look at him.
Of course, he didn’t respond.
Because this was Plussie Harry, not the real Harry.
“Eeeee!” I squealed and hugged the doll.
I kicked my feet and flopped back onto my bed, still hugging it.
Today was the day! Yep! I would tell him.
WAIT!
I had the perfect plan!
“Look at this!” I held up my finger, pockmarked with bite marks.
I waited in the library, and, dear reader, I literally slayed in this outfit.
I wore black-and-white high-heeled boots and a frilly dress with a big kitten on both the front and back. It had short sleeves, but I wore frilly gloves that reached up to my elbows. I’d applied bright pink glossy lipstick, cheek blush, and eyeliner.
Basically, what I called the Dealmaker get-up.
Yep. Today, I would slay!
I kicked my feet as I pretended to read. Miss Pince had definitely noticed me, though she seemed more interested in watching the door.
I faced it and spotted movement.
The moment Potter entered, I snapped my book shut. Then I examined the tip of my middle finger.
I realised it might look as though I were swearing, so I extended my other fingers just as he arrived.
“Hi.” He sat beside me.
Pince peeked out from behind a bookshelf.
Go away, witch!
Whatever. I ignored her.
“Hey.” I didn’t look at him.
“What’s up? Finger hurting?” he asked.
“Yeah.” I lied.
“Oh, I thought you couldn’t feel…”
“You know what I was thinking about? The number twenty-three.”
“Twenty… three?”
“Yeah. A fatal dose of Noxocia berry bites is twenty-three bites. I had twenty-two. One more second, and I would have died.”
I looked up at him and batted my eyelashes.
He looked confused.
“Ah… yeah?” he asked.
“So… like, I figured I owe you a favour. So go on, ask me… anything… ANYTHING at all.” I smiled.
“Ahhh.” He scratched his head.
Come on, Harry. Get the hint! Ask me on a date. Go on! I literally almost died. I’m beyond caring about all the other nonsense. I lived, and you saved me. So just… like… ask me out already!
It’s literally so obvious. You save the girl, you ask her out… right?
“Well, technically, you saved my life first, so…” He chuckled nervously.
It felt as though an arrow had pierced my chest.
WHAT?!
No, Harry. NOOOOO!
“So, like, I guess we’re even. So don’t worry about it.” He nodded.
I stared at him, open-mouthed.
IDIOT!
How could anyone be this dense? I was literally handing him an I’ll do anything card, and he’d straight-up thrown it in the bin.
“Never mind.” I raised my chin.
I stood, straightened my dress, and walked away.
As I passed Pince, she face-palmed behind the bookshelf.
I rolled my eyes and kept walking.