Chapter 12
December 24th, 1994
Christmas Eve.
Maria was the first to wake up in her dorm room, glancing over to see Hermione still fast asleep, with Crookshanks curled up beside her on the bed. The Patil twins had their curtains wrapped around their beds, but she could hear their rhythmic breathing, indicating that they’re asleep.
The room was dimly lit by the early morning rays streaming through the windows, and everything was still and quiet. With a soft sigh, Maria dressed in casual clothes, trying not to make a sound as she left the girls’ dormitory and padded down the staircase into the common room.
She had expected more students to stay over the holiday, especially with the Yule Ball being tomorrow, but it seemed Hogwarts had emptied out. Just the other week, she had learned that many had gone home for break and planned to return only for the ball. A smart choice, she mused, though it wasn’t one she could make.
It was strange, not being home for Christmas this year. She missed her family, especially her mother. Yet, there was a warm feeling in her chest knowing she would spend the holidays at Hogwarts. While her heart wanted her to be home, she was grateful to be surrounded by friends. Like last year, she’d share the remainder of the break with Blaise, Theo, and Draco, their close-knit group making Hogwarts feel a little less lonely during the holidays.
Draco…
She couldn’t stop thinking about him and the way he had asked her to the Yule Ball. His words had played on her mind all week. Just as friends? She shook her head, as if that could scatter the confusing thoughts. Many said Draco was ‘smitten’ with me…was that ever true?
Whatever.
There was no point in thinking about it now. She made her way down the final steps and into the common room, pausing for a moment to take in the sight. The Gryffindor Christmas tree stood tall next to the fireplace, its branches adorned with golden lights and enchanted snow that softly fell, disappearing just before it hit the ground. A tiny sleigh circled the upper half of the tree, disappearing and reappearing as it wove behind the branches.
It had always been her family tradition to open one present the day before Christmas. The only challenge for Maria was choosing which one.
Presents piled high at the base of the tree, their colorful wrappings shining in the glow of the lights. Maria knelt by the pile, searching for the ones with her name on them.
Aha! Found them.
Her fingers grazed the labels—some were from her new friends, others from her family, and a few from her oldest friends.
Her eyes landed on a medium-sized box wrapped in emerald green with gold trim. She noticed the small note attached: Open on Christmas Eve.
She knew instantly who it was from. The wrapping was far too precise to be anyone else’s handiwork. Of course it’s from Draco, she thought, shaking her head as she brought the present over to the couch.
Sitting down, she traced her fingers over the tag, her heart fluttering slightly at the sight of his name written in his familiar handwriting. It was ridiculous to feel this way, she told herself. Pushing the thought aside, she untied the twine and carefully peeled back the wrapping to reveal a velvet box.
“Maria? You’re up already?”
Startled, she turned to see Harry emerging from the boys’ dormitory, his hair as wild as ever, still wearing his pajamas.
“Morning, Harry,” she said with a smile, turning her attention back to the box.
He shuffled over and sat beside her on the couch. “Opening gifts already?” he asked, eyeing the box. “Isn’t that for tomorrow?”
She nodded. “Normally, yes, but my family has this tradition: we open one gift on Christmas Eve. It feels a bit odd doing it here at Hogwarts, but I wanted to keep the tradition alive.”
“What’s in it?” Harry leaned in closer, his curiosity piqued.
“I’m about to find out,” she said as she lifted the lid of the velvet box.
Inside, she found a neatly folded letter with her name on it, written in Draco’s handwriting. At the bottom of the envelope were the words, Read after the Yule Ball. She set the letter aside for now, her attention shifting to the rest of the items inside the box.
The first thing she saw was a book—a novel, but not just any novel. It was her favorite one. Her eyes widened as she noticed the author’s signature on the inside cover. How did Draco manage this? she thought, astonished. He must have gone to great lengths to get it signed.
Next to the book was a smaller velvet box. Maria carefully opened it, revealing an emerald pendant set in gold, hanging from a thin, but sturdy, chain. It was breathtaking, and she couldn’t help but wonder how much it had cost. The pendant shimmered in the firelight, the gemstone casting a few rays.
“Bloody hell,” Harry muttered under his breath, his eyes wide.
Maria had almost forgotten he was there. “Bloody hell, indeed,” she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper. She closed the smaller box and placed it back in the larger one, her heart still racing.
There were a few more things inside—her favorite sweets from Honeydukes and a selection of chocolates—but the pendant and the book had left her speechless. She hadn’t expected anything like this.
Harry, still watching her, raised an eyebrow. “That’s quite the gift.”
She nodded, smiling to herself.
Harry looked thoughtful for a moment, but said nothing more, glancing at the letter that sat unopened beside her. “You going to read that now?” he asked.
Maria shook her head. “No…not yet. It says ‘after the Yule Ball’. I’ll read it then.”
Harry leaned back on the couch, his expression unreadable. “You’re lucky,” he said after a pause. “To have someone gift you something like that.”
Maria didn’t respond, her mind still reeling from the contents of the box. For once, she didn’t know what to think, much less what to say.
The common room was quiet again, save for the crackling of the fire. The warmth of the hearth mixed with the soft glow of the enchanted snow drifting down the tree. It was peaceful, but in the back of her mind, Maria knew her thoughts were racing towards tomorrow—and to the Yule Ball, where so much still felt uncertain.
Harry shifted uncomfortably on the couch, his eyes darting between the unopened letter and her eyes. He hesitated, fidgeting with the edge of his sleeve before finally asking, “So…who are you going with to the Yule Ball tomorrow?”
Maria glanced at him, a hint of a smile–though sad when reminded of the circumstances–playing on her lips. “I’m going with Draco,” she said, turning her gaze back to the velvet box in her lap.
Harry felt his stomach drop, the feeling settling in his chest like a heavy weight. He’d been keeping himself from asking her the same question all week, hoping for a different answer, but deep down, he should’ve known. He should’ve asked sooner. But what had he expected? Of course, she’d pick Draco.
“Malfoy, huh?” Harry forced a smile, trying to keep his tone light, though his heart wasn’t in it. “Right. That makes sense.”
Maria didn’t seem to notice the strain in his voice as she continued to examine the gifts. Harry swallowed hard, his mind racing with what he should say next, the awkward silence stretching between them.
After a moment, Maria glanced at him curiously. “What about you, Harry? Who are you going with?”
Harry shrugged, trying to look nonchalant. “No one,” he said, his voice more casual than he felt. “Didn’t really work out for me.”
Maria blinked in surprise, her eyes widening slightly. “You’re not going with anyone? How is that possible?” she asked. “I thought you’d have half the girls in Hogwarts lined up waiting for you to ask after your victory from the first task?”
Harry let out a small laugh that lacked mirth. “I tried. But…I guess I was a bit too nervous to ask the person I wanted to go with.” His gaze flicked to the velvet box in her hands before quickly looking away. “By the time I worked up the nerve, I found out she was already going with someone else.”
Maria frowned, clearly concerned. She set the box aside, turning her full attention to him. “Harry, you shouldn’t have waited so long. You missed your chance because you never took a step forward. Next time…you have to act before it’s too late.”
Harry gave a tight-lipped smile, the weight of her words pressing down on him. She was right, of course. But even if he had asked, would she have said yes? Would she have chosen him over Draco?
“I suppose,” he muttered, not trusting his voice to say more.
Maria hesitated for a moment, as if weighing her next words. “Why don’t you ask one of the Patil twins?” she suggested. “I heard that no one’s asked them to the ball, and I’m sure one of them will say yes.”
Harry shook his head almost immediately. “No, I couldn’t. I don’t want to send the wrong message.”
Maria raised an eyebrow. “It doesn’t have to mean anything, you know? I’m going with Draco only as friends.”
Harry’s eyes widened in shock, his heart skipping a beat. “Just as friends?” he repeated, the surprise clear in his voice.
Maria nodded, though there was a slight strain in her expression, one that Harry didn’t quite catch. “Yes, just as friends,” she said softly, though her voice seemed to falter for the briefest moment.
Harry blinked, still processing what she’d said. He had assumed that Draco asking her meant something more. He hadn’t imagined it could be as simple as friendship. It felt like a tiny glimmer of hope, but it also made him wonder—was there still a chance for him, after all? Or was it too late, regardless?
“You see,” Maria continued, her tone a bit more collected now, “as long as you make it clear what your intentions are, there shouldn’t be any problem at all. It’s just a dance.”
Harry opened his mouth, then closed it again, unsure of what to say.
Maria shifted slightly, as if sensing his unease. “Harry…you’re a good person, and there are plenty of people who would love to go with you. You just need to be more confident.”
Harry nodded, though his thoughts remained tangled. He wasn’t so sure that confidence had anything to do with it. It felt more complicated than that. But for now, he gave her a quiet smile. “Thanks, Maria.”
She smiled back.
For a moment, the silence between them grew heavier, but neither moved to break it. The fire crackled softly in the hearth, casting flickering shadows across the common room as Harry tried to sort through the emotions swirling inside him.
Maria shifted slightly, then stood up, smoothing down her skirt and jumper as she gathered the wrappings and twine she had set aside earlier. “Well, I should probably drop this off in my dorm before breakfast,” she said, giving Harry a small smile. She glanced down at the unopened letter still tucked in the velvet box, her thoughts clearly elsewhere.
Harry blinked, momentarily pulled from his thoughts. “Yeah, of course,” he said, standing up with her. “I’m going to get more sleep. I’ll…see you around, then?”
She nodded, adjusting the gift in her hands before heading towards the stairs leading to the girls’ dormitory. “Yeah, I will.”
“Sure,” Harry grinned, though his heart still felt off. He watched as she disappeared up the staircase, the velvet box cradled carefully in her arms. For a moment, he stood there, wondering if things would ever feel less complicated between them—or if he had missed his chance for good.
With a quiet sigh, he turned and headed back to his dormitory, the lingering warmth of the common room fading as he left.
The Great Hall was quieter than usual, with only a few scattered students remaining for the winter holidays. Snow flurries gently tapped against the windows, casting a soft glow over the long tables. Most of the students who had stayed at Hogwarts during the break sat near the front, excited chatter filling the air about the Yule Ball. But farther down, away from the crowd, Maria, Draco, Theo, and Blaise sat together, savoring a quieter breakfast.
Blaise was the first to break the silence, his fork dangling in midair as he glanced at Maria. “You know, Maria, now that you’re free of that cursed ring, it feels a bit unfair that the rest of us still have ours.”
Maria glanced down at her hand instinctively, the ghost of the cursed ring still lingering in her mind. The ring that once bound them all in a pact had been destroyed a while ago, but its presence was still felt. She still hasn’t heard anything from Snape about her ring.
“I never really thought about that,” Maria replied, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “But I suppose you’re right.”
Blaise shared a grin with Theo, who had been quietly fiddling with something in his lap. Without a word, Theo slid the box across the table towards Maria. “We thought about that too. Merry Christmas Eve.”
Maria looked between the boys, her curiosity piqued. She opened the box to reveal four delicate necklaces, each with a finely carved pendant hanging from a silver chain. Her breath caught as she recognized the symbols: a snake for Draco, a wolf for Blaise, a lion for Theo, and for her, a cicada.
“Consider these…an upgrade,” Theo said, smirking as he watched her reaction. “We had them enchanted.”
Draco leaned forward, his voice lower now, tinged with something almost playful. “They’re charmed. If you speak the incantation—‘Animus quaerens’ followed by one of our names—the animal will come to life as an apparition. It will seek out the person you called. It’s our way of requesting each other’s presence. Or if one of us is in trouble.”
Maria’s eyes widened as she held up the cicada pendant, marveling at its craftsmanship. “This is incredible,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
Blaise chuckled. “We figured it’s a step up from those rings we made when we were kids. A little more…adult.”
Theo nodded in agreement. “We’ll only use them if someone’s in real need. Dire situations only.”
Maria’s heart swelled, her chest tightening as she looked around at the boys she had known for what felt like forever. For a moment, she was overcome, tears pricking her eyes. She blinked them away quickly, but Blaise had already noticed.
“Oh no, she’s getting all emotional,” Blaise teased, nudging Theo. “We’ve gone and made her cry.”
“I am not crying,” Maria laughed, wiping at her eyes as they all broke into smiles. “I just...I didn’t expect this.”
Draco sighed, his grey eyes catching hers. “It’s not that big of a deal, Maria.”
“Yeah,” Theo added, “Just a little token of our undying friendship.”
They shared a laugh, the kind of easy, warm laughter that felt like home to Maria. She couldn’t help but feel grateful to have them by her side. Their friendship, as complicated as it sometimes was, meant more than anything.
As they gathered their things to leave the hall, a sixth-year Ravenclaw approached Maria, looking a bit hesitant.
“Maria, I—” the boy started, scratching the back of his head nervously. “I was wondering if, maybe…you’d go to the Yule Ball with me?”
Maria blinked in surprise. She wasn’t cruel, but her tone made it clear that she found his request ill-timed. “The ball’s tomorrow,” she said kindly, though there was an edge to her words that suggested it was far too late to be asking. “I’m already going with someone.”
The boy’s face fell, and he nodded, clearly embarrassed. “Yeah, I—I should have asked sooner.”
Before he could ask with whom she was going, Theo stepped in, his arm casually draped over her shoulder as he addressed the boy. “We’re leaving now. Enjoy your breakfast, mate.”
The Ravenclaw mumbled something in response and walked away, clearly kicking himself for waiting until the last minute.
As they stepped out of the Great Hall and into the crisp, snowy air, Blaise shot Maria a sideways glance. “Looks like you’ve still got admirers lining up.”
Maria rolled her eyes but smiled, her fingers gently clutching the cicada pendant around her neck. “Too late for that.”
Throughout the day, Maria’s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts about Draco Malfoy. She could no longer deny it—she liked him.
She’d noticed the changes in him, both physical and in how he carried himself. Thinking back to the Christmas party at Malfoy Manor last year, she was still surprised by how much he'd changed since that summer. He’d shot up in height, his features sharper, more defined. And as the months passed, he only seemed to grow more striking.
But it wasn’t just his appearance that had changed. His attitude towards her Gryffindor friends, minus his and Harry’s duel in the courtyard, had softened, too—a stark contrast to the stories Hermione often recounted of his cruelty. She could tell that there was something deeper between him and Harry that led to their quarrels, but Draco was trying, really trying, to be a better person. Maria liked that about him. She liked him.
With a frustrated groan, Maria stepped out of the common room, Draco still stubbornly lingering in her thoughts. Perhaps a little too much. Tomorrow night, they'd be going to the Yule Ball—just as friends, or so they both claimed—but the very thought made her heart race in a way she wasn’t sure she could ignore much longer.
As she descended the spiral staircase, lost in her thoughts, a voice called her name. She looked up from the stone steps to see Daphne Greengrass standing below, her blonde hair glinting in the low light.
"Hi, I’m Daphne," the girl said brightly, offering a small smile.
Maria returned the smile and took the last few steps to meet her.
"Maria," she replied, extending her hand. Daphne shook it, her grip firm but warm.
"I know this might seem a bit sudden," Daphne began, "but I’m going to the ball with Blaise. He mentioned you were Draco’s date."
“I am,” Maria replied, feeling a slight flutter in her stomach at the mention of Draco’s name. “We’re just going as friends, though.”
Daphne’s smile widened, a knowing look flashing in her eyes. “Just friends, right,” she teased, but then her expression softened. “Actually, I was wondering…I don’t really have anyone to get ready with tomorrow, and Blaise will probably be off with Draco and Theo. Would you like to get ready together?”
Maria’s face lit up with a smile, eager to spend time with Daphne. “I’d love that!” she said. “I didn’t really have plans either, so that sounds perfect.”
Daphne’s shoulders visibly relaxed, as if relieved Maria had agreed. “Great! I’ve been dying to talk to someone about my dress. It’s dark purple with these really intricate designs. Honestly, it’s probably a bit too much, but I couldn’t resist.”
“That sounds amazing,” Maria said, her excitement growing. “I’ve got a black dress with emerald green silk underneath the tulle. It’s more elegant than I’m used to, but it felt right for the ball.”
Daphne’s eyes sparkled with approval. “That sounds gorgeous, especially with the green. Very fitting, considering your date.”
Maria’s cheeks flushed slightly, but she laughed. “Yeah, I guess it is. But it is also my favorite color.”
The two girls continued down the staircase, chatting easily about their dresses, the excitement of the ball, and what to expect from the night ahead. The tension Maria had felt all day melted away, replaced by a sense of warmth and anticipation. As their voices grew softer in the corridor, the buzz of excitement for the Yule Ball filled the air, carrying them forward into the evening.
The Astronomy Tower was quiet that night. The cold December air was crisp and biting, but a warmth lingered around the blanket Draco had spread on the wooden floor, courtesy of the heating charm he had casted in the area. Maria sat beside him, the two of them tucked away from the rest of the castle, with only the stars and moon as witnesses to their evening.
She had brought a small basket filled with warm baked goods from the kitchens, the house-elves eager to indulge her request for a late-night treat. The smell of fresh pastries still lingered in the air as they sat close, basking in the cozy atmosphere.
As their conversations flowed, they enjoyed baked goods until a silence fell upon them.
“Thanks for this,” Maria said softly, breaking the peaceful silence. “It’s nice.”
Draco’s lips curved into a subtle smile, his eyes on the glowing moon rather than on her. “You’re welcome,” he replied, his voice low, almost shy.
Maria shifted slightly, her mind suddenly on the pendant that he had gifted her for Christmas this year. “Oh, and Draco,” she began, glancing at him with a small smile. “I opened your present earlier. Thank you for the necklace…and the signed book. They’re perfect.”
Draco turned his gaze to her then, his eyes softening. “I’m glad you liked them,” he murmured, his tone warmer now. After a brief pause, he cleared his throat. “You, uh…think you’ll wear it tomorrow?”
Maria smiled, imagining how the necklace will complement her attire tomorrow. “Definitely. It’ll go perfectly with my dress.”
He gave a slight nod, pleased, though his expression was still carefully composed. The two of them sat in comfortable silence for a moment longer, the sound of the wind and the soft rustling of their blanket the only noise breaking the stillness of the night.
Their conversation floated between small topics—what they thought the decorations would look like at the Yule Ball, who would be dancing with whom, and light-hearted teasing about Blaise and Theo—but soon, Draco’s voice took on a more serious tone.
“Do you…think our friendship is strong?” Draco asked, still not looking at her. His gaze remained fixed on the moon as if it held the answers to whatever he was searching for.
Maria didn’t hesitate. “Yes,” she replied confidently, though she felt her heart begin to beat faster. “We’ve been through too much together for it not to be.”
Draco stayed quiet for a moment, the moonlight casting shadows across his sharp features. His voice, when he spoke again, was quieter. “Do you think we’ll still be friends after we leave Hogwarts? After we…move on?”
Maria’s breath caught. This wasn’t like Draco—he rarely talked about feelings, especially ones that hinted at anything more than their present lives at school. But she nodded, trying to reassure him and herself. “Yeah, I think so. I mean, we’ve been friends for so long. Surely people don’t just abandon each other after everything we’ve been through.”
Slowly, Draco turned to face her, and that’s when they realized how close they had become. Maria’s breath hitched as their knees brushed, and her eyes met his. For a fleeting moment, the world seemed to hold its breath.
Draco’s gaze dropped to her lips, and he leaned in ever so slightly, his movements almost subconscious, driven by the warmth of the moment. His heart raced, thudding so loudly in his ears that it drowned out the night’s quiet. He didn’t know why, but this felt right—like something that had been building for years, something inevitable.
Maria’s heart pounded in her chest, her thoughts swirling. She hadn’t expected this, but now that it was happening, she couldn’t think of anything else. The air between them was charged, electric. As Draco moved closer, she found herself holding her breath, her pulse quickening in anticipation. Her eyes fluttered closed, a tiny sigh escaping her lips as she waited, her senses filled with him—his warmth, his scent, the nearness of him.
Draco’s lips hovered just a breath away from hers, his mind clouded by the moment. He leaned in even more, drawn to her as though they were magnets. The cold night air was forgotten, and instead, it was just him and Maria. He can feel her soft breaths on his lips as he neared even closer—
CRACK!
The sudden explosion of magic shattered the moment. A bolt of magic struck the railings with a sharp clang, the sound ricocheting off the metal bars. Maria jolted in shock, her eyes snapping open as she instinctively pulled back, her hand flying to her chest in surprise.
Draco’s hand instinctively went to his wand, his gaze scanning the tower, his moment of vulnerability disappearing as his usual wariness returned.
“What was that?” Maria whispered, her voice trembling from the sudden rush of adrenaline.
His expression was hard, eyes narrowing in suspicion. “I don’t know,” he muttered, his tone sharp as he tried to regain his composure.
Maria nodded, her heart still racing, but for a very different reason now. She glanced back at Draco, who looked as if he was trying to shake off the moment just as much as she was.
They shared a quiet moment, the tension lingering in the air, though not in the same way as before. Neither of them spoke about what had almost happened, but the weight of it hung between them.
Eventually, Maria smiled softly, her fingers brushing the cicada pendant around her neck. “I should probably head back. Tomorrow’s a big day.”
Draco nodded, but there was a hesitation in his eyes. “Yeah. Tomorrow.”
As they gathered their things and made their way down the Astronomy Tower’s stairs, the almost-kiss remained unspoken.
But Maria couldn’t shake the feeling that, whatever it was that had sparked between them tonight, it wasn’t over yet.