ice ice baby

The lock emitted a soft dull beep as it briefly flashed green, allowing access. 

“Hello Mackenzie, what have you learned?” Mackenzie’s father asked as she and Georgia stepped into their suite, having just returned from the last game of the day. Not even managing to slip off their shoes before the inquiry started. 

“Wow." Rolling her eyes as she replied, "Good evening to you too dad. My day was great, thanks for asking.” 

“Apologies, kiddo.” He attempted to smooth things over so he could ask the same question again. 

She knew exactly how it’d go, so she cut right to the chase. 

“Beauxbatons aren’t looking like a threat. Real graceful skaters, though, looking more like ice capades.” Miles Kirke nodded along with rapt interest. “The Durmstrang are some brutes, Dad.” Mackenzie grimaced at the thought of her brother getting on the ice with those violent players in a few days. 

“Ravens have a wicked goalie. He’s a force, but that’s really all they’ve got going for them. It’s like they think too much about what to do before doing it, leaving ‘em vulnerable.” Georgia chimed in, as she thought back to watching the blue team play that afternoon. “They were playing Saginaw. A low scoring game. Talk about another wicked goalie, Zabini didn’t let anything past him either. Malfoy got the only goal, of course.” Georgia shot a pointed look in Mackenzie’s direction as she finished explaining. 

“Ah, that prick. He’s in for a rude awakening playing against our boys tomorrow.” Miles nodded definitively, and stood from the loveseat that faced the tv, keen to head into his room. “Right. See you at tomorrow’s game. Remember, Drummondville and Sarnia for you two in the morning.”

“Really Mr. Kirke?” Georgia chastised, having known the family for so long she hadn’t a problem calling him out. “She just talked about this.” 

“I’m so over this.” Mackenzie tossed her hands in the air, giving up. “I’m going to go see Drew, maybe grab his keys.” Mackenzie insinuated it was the only reason she had been invited. “Gonna go out for a drive, go grab some food or do something other than watch hockey as your fucking spy. God, dad. You didn’t even ask if we had fun?” 

Georgia followed her out of the room, a hand on her back in support. Mackenzie appreciated her friend's loyalty but she wanted nothing more than to be alone with her thoughts. Taking one look at her best friend, Georgia pulled her in for a quick hug. Deciding the perfect fix would be a moment of fresh air and a change of scenery, the pair headed up to the hotel’s roof.

Mackenzie felt a temperature change as she entered the stairwell. She could nearly see her breath as she began climbing the stone steps. Her fingertips instantly feeling the chill, she stuffed her hands in her pockets. 

Which, she would admit, probably wasn’t the smartest thing to do while walking up stairs. Luckily, she managed to make it to the access door without any injury or misstep and she pushed open the old door with a shoulder check. 

It took a moment for Georgia's eyes to adjust to the sudden darkness. She stood a few steps away, staring out at Hogsmeade, alit with festive lights. Gia inhaled deeply, taking in the moment.

Her head snapped to the side as she turned to glare at her friend, noticing the lit cigarette between Mackenzie’s fingers. 

“Mack. That’s so terrible for you.”  She chastised, and frankly Mackenzie expected nothing less. Georgia was in school to be a nurse, of course she’d criticize the casual smoking. 

“C’mon, I’m stressed?” Mackenzie pouted, going so far as to stick out her bottom lip. 

“Put it out.” Georgia demanded, and with a huff, her friend did as she was told. 

Mackenzie looked off in the opposite direction, facing the frost-covered forest. 

It may have been a trick of the light, but she could have sworn she saw faint blue mist creeping through the pines. Causing the snow to glow brightly for a second or two before vanishing entirely.

The two friends stood in companionable silence, their eyes on the cinematic view beneath them. The whistling wind, the only sound between them. 

Their quiet was interrupted by the rusty squeak of hinges.

Heads turned instinctively toward the sound as the stairwell door was pushed open.

The light coming through the now open door, revealed a tall figure. The newcomer stopped in their tracks upon noticing the small section roof was currently occupied. 

“Pardon the intrusion.”  A deep voice spoke, and Mackenzie squinted to identify the individual. A black coat, it's hood pulled up, obstructed their face. “I’ll go-”

“Draco?” She blurted, recognizing his voice as he continued speaking. The stranger flinched at the name, not expecting to be recognized. He turned his head, his face now clear in the light of the door. 

“Mackenzie.” He breathed, his grey eyes now trained on her face. He closed the limited distance between them.  “Hi.” 

“Hi.” Georgia interrupted, waiting for an introduction to the man she inferred to be Wrong Room Guy.

“You must be the best friend from Nova Scotia, yes?” Draco dropped his hood, revealing the blond hair that poked out the bottom of his hat. His cozy apparel directly in contract with his sharp features. He brought a gloved hand to his chin, thinking. “Apologies, I’m blanking.”

“Georgia.” She reminded, and extended a hand in greeting. “And you’re Draco Malfoy.” He nodded his toque clad head. “Saw you play. Impressive, even though you hog the puck.” 

“Ah-” Draco laughed at the observation, his cheeks reddening. 

“Gia.” Mackenzie chastised. 

“No, it’s alright. She’s not wrong,” Draco smirked as he elaborated. “I might have been showing off a bit today. See, this gorgeous girl was coming to watch my game and-” Mackenzie’s face was a particular shade of crimson as he wrapped an arm around her shivering frame. He peered down at her, noticing the way her teeth clattered together. “Kirke, why is it you’re never dressed for the weather?” He scolded, removing his hat and handing it to her once more. 

Georgia laughed from her spot nearby, “She is usually the one saying that to me.” 

“Oh, hush. I didn’t expect to be out here, I just wanted to look at the stars for a bit.” She defended herself, wearing only what she left the suite in. Her winter coat, a pair of baggy jeans and beige Uggs. 

“Mackenzie, this is the wrong place for that.” Draco thought about one of his favourite spots on the entire grounds and an idea came to light. “I want to show you something.” 

“Ou, yes.” Georgia encouraged, thinking of ways she could occupy her time so her friend didn’t have the chance to object on her behalf. “I’ll go see if Magic Socks there has succumbed to his self-imposed bed time. Go, have fun.” 

“Alright, where to?”

“Ah, it’s a surprise.” Draco revealed nothing, his eyes once again steel grey. Unchanging. 

Mackenzie cocked her head to the side, impressed and excited. Despite the common hate of spontaneity,  she loved surprises.  

“Lead the way.” She bounced on the balls of her feet, both excited and fighting off the chill in the air. 

The trio descended the stairwell, talking animatedly about the restaurant options in the small northern town. Attempting to avoid running into any Gryffins, the stairs  brought them to the main floor, they avoided the halls entirely.

Georgia was headed to the training facility, figuring Oliver was a man of predictability. She thought that’s where she’d have the best chance of running into him again. 

---

Draco led Mackenzie deeper into Hogwarts, expertly navigating the winding halls. 

She followed along beside him, asking questions despite knowing he wasn’t going to budge. She could tell by the look in his eyes. They were stone. He was perhaps more stubborn than she initially gave him credit for. 

“How are we gonna see stars from the middle of Hogwarts? This place is all stone and aging wood.” Mackenzie complained, despite having just complimented the buildings intricate history just that morning. 

“This place is an institution, a classic.” He looked at the swirls and designs carved into the stone walls. Admiring them. “And just trust me, yeah?” 

“Oh, alright. But I reserve the right to ask again, if we keep wandering.” Mackenzie conceded, her footsteps muffled by the thin rug that spanned that entire section of hallway. 

“Of course you do, Princess.” He rolled his eyes playfully, catching on to her forthright nature and stubborn mind. “I’d expect nothing less.”

Mackenzie grinned at his sudden familiarity with her, she liked him like this. Comfortable. Genuine. 

They continued walking, and the conversation continued carrying them to another winding staircase. This time however, the stairs wound around the circumference of the slim tower. Wrapping upwards. And upwards still. 

They began the ascent, Mackenzie noticed it took far less time than she anticipated, as if the stairs helped carry her up. 

Once they reached the top, Draco stood beside her and began explaining just where exactly they were. 

The room had no real walls. Large archways of that familiar beige brick opened to reveal they were stories above any of the other buildings that made up the hotel. Despite the openness, the temperature remained the same as it had throughout the castle. A comfortable warmth radiated through her. How was this possible?

“You said you wanted stars, and it was a crime that you didn’t know about this place.” Draco gestured to the ancient telescope beside them. He had taken her to an observatory. “Welcome, Mackenzie, to the Astronomy Tower.”

“Draco, this is-” She wanted to thank him, for introducing her to something she hadn’t even known to look for. She moved further into the room, toward the edge where luckily a railing spanned the perimeter of the tower. 

“Wanna know something?” Draco offered a truth, trying to make conversation. Mackenzie smiled, giving him her full attention as he continued. “I’ve been coming here since I could walk. To this very room. My father, he’s coached my whole life. So, we come year after year to the Mythic and spend a week living in these walls. Like we stepped into some novel, dining in the great hall and stargazing through a telescope older than our country.” 

Mackenzie urged him to continue. 

“Anyways. Mother, she insisted I learn to identify every constellation, So, one year I skipped being in the stands and spent the entire time plotting stars and researching myths.” Draco now stood centimeters from her as he continued. “Learned to find myself amongst the stars.”

She looked at him quizzically, she liked the metaphor but wasn’t quite sure what he meant.

Draco placed his index finger under her chin, forcing her to look up at him. No, not at him, past him. Through the glass ceiling above them and to the glittering constellations overhead. Somehow managing to fit the entire night sky, in the convex glass.

“Tell me what you see?” Mackenzie inquired, wanting him to teach her. She recognized a few groups of stars, but she could tell he wanted to tell her all about them. 

“Well, my cousins are out in full force tonight.” He joked, and laughed to himself. “See, most of my family’s names come from those very maps. There’s Reg," he pointed to a particularly bright star. “Regulus. The heart of the Leo constellation. And over there, his big brother Sirius.”

“Canis Major, right?” Mackenzie asked, her limited knowledge coming to light with the odd name. “The dog.”

“Exactly. And across the sky,” He dragged his finger to the right, “is Andromeda. In the myths, she was chained to a rock to be sacrificed, but she was saved by her prince. In real life, she’s my older cousin who moved out with a guy to avoid a strategic marriage.”

“And where are you, among the sparkling mess?” Mackenzie stood, eyes wide, and spun in place still in awe of the magic glittering above them. 

Draco knew his namesake wouldn’t grace the skies until the summer, so he placed his hands on her shoulders. Stopping her search, she faced him. 

“Here. With you.” Draco's eyes darkened as he pulled her closer. He refused to acknowledge his myth, and the similarities this moment possessed. The greedy dragon hoarding its treasure away. 

Never one to be out maneuvered, Mackenzie rose on her tiptoes to meet his lips in a searing kiss. Her eyes fluttered closed. 

She felt his surprise, as he inhaled deeply before his hands moved to the sides of her face, deepening the kiss. 

Finding his pace instantly, she melted in the kiss, her lips parting of their own accord.

She put a hand against his chest, pulling back to catch her breath. 

“Sorry.” She whispered, opening her eyes to find him looking down at her, his pupils blown wide.

“No need for apologies, Princess.” He reassured her, taking a step back to give her a bit of space. 

“I didn’t say you had to go anywhere.” She reached and, by the lapels of his coat, pulled Draco back towards her. 

His arms wound around her, as she blinked up at him. Her brown eyes danced with anticipation, trapped within his grasp. Wanting nothing more than to keep that adorable expression on her face, he smirked. 

“Kiss me.” Mackenzie whispered, not breaking their heated eye contact. 

Draco could do nothing but obey the woman in his arms. The heat behind their kiss was unlike anything he’d felt. It lit something deep within him.

She groaned as his tongue slid along her bottom lip. A sound he wanted to hear again. Immediately.  

Her hands, previously gripping his lapels, moved to his hair. Raking her fingers along his scalp, he nearly shivered. 

“Ay, Malfoy!” Theodore’s distinct voice carrying over from his spot at the top of the stairs. “Knew you’d be up here.” 

Currently Draco’s back was to his unwanted guests. He’d have to move and greet them, but that would reveal he wasn’t alone. The last thing he wanted was to hear any flack from his teammates, so he froze. Unsure of his next move. 

“No need to get all tense now. Already saw you and Elevator Girl macking on each other.” The playful brunet teased, knowing the pair was bound to be super awkward about this. “Ha! Macking on Macker. Yes, new nickname!”

“Dammit, Nott.” Draco stalked towards him, knowing how inappropriate his teammates could get and not wanting Mackeznie to be the subject of such talk. “Don’t start.”

“Not very original, Nott. I expect better from you.” Mackenzie said, already having received the nickname from Fred two summers before.

“Whatever you say, Macker.” Theo raised his hands in defense. “Just came up to tell Malfoy here that everyone was headed to the dungeons.”

“Ah. Everyone. Well, have fun then, eh?” Draco couldn’t stand the guys Theo partied with, and liked them even less on the ice. Even as Captain, Draco found it hard to respect some of his teammates. 

“Nah, just some cool people. Pans. Tori. Even got Monty and the Lobster to be social for once.” He ran through the list of people at the get together, knowing his friend was selectively anti-social. 

“We’ll see, Notty." Draco didn’t want to cut their impromptu date short, so he didn’t give his friend a solid answer. "It’s not like I wasn’t busy when you arrived.”

“Oh you were busy alright.” 

“Nott.” Draco warned.

“You should join them.” Mackenzie suggested, knowing they should probably end the night. It wasn’t like she was going to go with him and meet his friends, or anything. “I should probably be heading back to my room now anyways.”

“You sure?” He asked, not quite ready to say goodnight. Mackenzie nodded once, firmly. “Let me walk you back, then.”

“I’d like that.”

“Well, fuck me then I guess.” Theodore raised his hands in a huff. “Suppose I’ll just meet you down there then?”

“I suppose so.” Draco snipped back, still annoyed by his previous interruption. “See ya.” 

Theodore grumbled out a swear and began stomping back down the steps of the astronomy tower. 

Mackenzie waited until their companion was out of earshot before she and Draco began the long descent, she was three steps faster than him. She had something to ask him, and found it easier to do staring straight ahead. Rather than under the all-encompasing gaze of the blond at her back. 

“Why didn’t you text me?” She blurted, not wanting to beat around the bush.

Draco opened his mouth to speak, but he didn’t have an answer. He continued his pace down the stairs. 

“Instead, I was so hopeful I even thought that Comac text was you.” She muttered, more to herself than to him. “I wanted it to be you.”

“Is that why you were in the lobby with him?” Draco’s voice took on added layers of shock and anger. 

“Yeah. So, you don’t text and then you let me join you skating. Then you bring me here and kiss me under the stars and I’m supposed to think what?” Mackenzie scoffed at her own inexperience. “And don’t you say it's fate or coincidence or something.”

“You went to the lobby the other night thinking I was who you were meeting?” Draco was fixated on that fact, stopping in his tracks.

“Yes, but-” That wasn’t the point Mackenzie was trying to make, she too, stopped on the stairs. She hadn't even meant to bring it up. 

“I’m so sorry.” He was staring at her again, looking down at her with eyes that swam with misplaced guilt.  “I should have reached out first. If I had, you’d have known and been more wary of random numbers.”

“Well, why didn’t you?”

“It’s complicated.” Draco winced at the lame excuse before elaborating. “Girls. Dating. Isn’t exactly in the cards right now. My father, my team, they need my attention on these next few games to be 100%.” 

“And, you can’t give them that?” Mackenzie asked.

“No.” He answered instantly. Definitively. 

“Why not?” 

“Well, like I said to Georgia. You’ve got my attention, even when I'm playing.” Draco admitted, his white eyebrows tightening. His sudden vulnerability was uncharacteristic. “And that scares the crap out of me.”

“I’m not-” Mackenzie was quick to reassure him that she wasn’t worth such anxieties. 

“So, to answer your question, I have no idea what I’m doing.” There was such a genuine lilt to his voice as he spoke, she knew it was the truth.  “What we’re doing.” Draco wasn’t used to not having the answers. “But, I would like to find out.”

Mackenzie was struck silent, but she knew she had to say something. Knew she couldn't let an awkwardness settle between them after such a revelation. But a cute guy was standing in front of her, telling her he was intimidated by the frequency he thought of her.

“If that’s something you’d also like.” He was trying to give her an out, or just trying to cover his own ass. Or maybe he just needed to hear her admit it too. 

“Yes.” Mackenzie whispered as she exhaled. Hoping for something more articulate than that, she supposed it was better than nothing.

As if they hadn’t just agreed to pursue whatever was brewing between them, Draco extended a bent elbow, as he descended the few steps distance. 

She looped her arm through his as he fulfilled his promise of getting her back to her suite. 

They were at her door now, their evening coming to a close. Somehow the walk back passed in the blink of an eye, and they were both delaying their goodnights.

“Will you be in the same seats tomorrow?” Draco asked, unprompted. 

Mackenzie was puzzled for a moment, she had thought he hadn’t noticed her amongst the large crowd.

“I think so.” The tickets she had been provided were for the whole week, she wouldn’t imagine their spot would change. 

“Perfect. In that case, I’ll see you at 2 tomorrow.” Draco pressed a featherlight kiss to her lips and retreated down the hall.