Chapter 14
December 26th, 1994
Blaise Zabini was observant. While others were quick to react, to engage, or to lose themselves publicly, Blaise preferred to sit back and watch. It was a skill that made many feel uneasy in his presence—maybe scared, too. It was as though Blaise knew something they didn’t, as though he could predict the next move they themselves hadn’t thought of yet.
This morning, however, the show was…off. There was an odd tension hanging in the air. The Great Hall buzzed lightly with only a fair few students enjoying their breakfast. After last night’s Yule Ball, many were still asleep due to going to bed later than usual. Theo, seated to Blaise’s left, was unusually subdued, poking at his eggs with a grim expression. Blaise wasn’t surprised; Theo’s most recent romantic endeavor had lasted just shy of three hours—an impressive record even for him. Yet, even with that valid excuse, his silence seemed only to dampen the mood.
Across from them, Draco and Maria were quiet as well.
Blaise’s gaze flicked between them, his dark eyes narrowing slightly. Maria, who usually had a comment or a playful jab for every conversation, was now staring at her plate, aimlessly prodding a sausage around as though the very thought of eating it exhausted her. Next to her, Draco was repeatedly stabbing at a lone cherry tomato with his fork, his jaw set tightly as if the vegetable had offended him.
Blaise cleared his throat. “Did you all enjoy the ball last night?” His voice, smooth as ever, cut through the quiet, forcing his friends to acknowledge him.
Theo grunted first, barely lifting his gaze from his plate. “It was fine.”
“Just fine?” Blaise mused, casting a sidelong glance at Draco. He couldn’t resist pushing the conversation forward, intrigued by the tension simmering beneath the surface. Maria, usually the first to speak in their group, let out a sigh.
“It was…okay.” She didn’t elaborate, and Blaise noticed the way her fingers tightened around the silverware, like she was trying to keep her composure in check.
Draco, on the other hand, didn’t even look up from his plate. “Just a ball,” he muttered, finally spearing the cherry tomato and popping it into his mouth as though he was finishing a task rather than enjoying a meal.
Blaise’s brows rose ever so slightly. Something was definitely off. Nearly Headless Nick had already started spreading gossip about the Yule Ball—rumors of private moments and secret meetings in the dark corners of the castle. A third-year Slytherin had eagerly informed Blaise just that morning about a certain pair sneaking away from the festivities, perhaps kissing in the corridors. Yet here were Draco and Maria, acting as though last night had been nothing more than another dreary Hogwarts event.
It made no sense to Blaise. He was focused on Daphne for 95% of the ball’s duration and the rest was him watching over his friends in case anything wrong were to happen. Besides Theo’s unfortunate situation with Hannah Abbott, he found Maria and Draco enjoying each other’s company. He even caught them slow dancing, Maria’s head placed on Draco’s shoulder.
Blaise shifted in his seat, keeping his tone casual, but laced with curiosity. “I heard a few things about last night”
Before either of them could respond, Maria pushed her plate to the center of the table, the food vanishing in an instant. “I’m leaving,” she said quietly. Her voice was soft, but there was a weight to it that Blaise didn’t miss. She stood from her seat, and without so much as a glance, she left the Great Hall. Theo, finally lifting his gaze, scowled and kicked Draco under the table. Hard.
“What?” Draco snapped, glaring at Theo as though daring him to continue whatever he was thinking.
Theo raised an eyebrow, jerking his head in the direction Maria had disappeared. “Thought you two had a splendid evening together,” he drawled, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “So why does it look like neither of you want to be within five feet of each other?”
Draco’s glare deepened, but he didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he pushed his plate away with a huff, clearly irritated. “Does it look like we want to talk to each other?” he shot back before standing abruptly. He left the Great Hall as well, heading in the opposite direction Maria had taken.
Blaise watched Draco’s retreating form with amusement, then turned his attention back to Theo, who had now slumped back in his seat, arms crossed. The heavy silence between them was punctuated only by the clinking of cutlery from nearby students.
“So…” Blaise began, his voice low and contemplative. “Who do you think messed up?”
Theo sighed dramatically, resting his chin on his palm. “Draco, obviously,” he muttered. “It’s always Draco.”
Blaise exhaled. “Of course,” he mused. “But the question is—how badly?”
Theo shrugged, glancing over his shoulder in the direction Maria had gone. “Bad enough for her to leave breakfast early. That’s saying something.”
Blaise’s gaze lingered on the Great Hall’s doors, his mind already piecing together the puzzle of what could have happened between Draco and Maria the night before. Whatever it was, it wasn’t going to stay quiet for long.
“Well,” Blaise said, “this is going to be entertaining.”
The moment the Gryffindor common room doors creaked open, Maria felt her stomach churn.
Inside, she spotted Ron and Harry slouched on one of the couches. An unfinished chess board sat on the table in front of them.
Harry was the first to look up before slapping Ron’s arm. The redhead turned towards Maria’s direction and looked away after a brief glance.
At the same time, Hermione descended from the girl’s dormitory, her expression freezing when she saw who was in the common room.
“Maria and Hermione,” Harry started, his voice awkward, as though he’d rehearsed this but wasn’t sure it was coming out right. He stood, motioning between himself and Ron, who remained seated with his arms crossed, looking anything but apologetic. “We—uh—wanted to say that we’re sorry.”
Maria’s eyes flicked to Ron, whose disinterested expression did little to hide his discomfort. His half-hearted nod of acknowledgment made her feel annoyed. She scoffed at him, before turning on her heel without a word.
“Oi!” came the Fat Lady’s screeching voice as Maria slammed the common room’s door behind her. “Think about the hinges of my painting!”
Maria ignored her as she quickly ascended the Grand Staircase. Her heart was pounding, though whether it was from anger at Ron or anticipation of what was to come, she wasn’t sure. As she passed the sixth floor and entered the seventh, she slowed down her pace. She glanced around the dimly lit corridor, ensuring she was alone before she began to whisper-shout.
“Draco!”
Silence greeted her. She bit her lip, glancing over her shoulder just to make sure no one had followed her. With a breath, she moved further down the hall, turning right towards the familiar blank stretch of wall where they continued their activities from last night.
She blushed as she recalled the way he gently kissed her.
“Draco,” she called again, louder this time but still keeping her voice low enough to avoid drawing attention.
Suddenly, she felt a pair of hands snake around her waist, pulling her back against a solid chest. She inhaled sharply, ready to shout—but the familiar scent of Draco’s cologne hit her. She let out a shaky breath, her muscles relaxing as she leaned into his hold.
“You git,” she whispered, spinning around to face him and smacking his chest lightly. “You can’t scare me like that!”
Draco only smirked, the gleam in his grey eyes filled with mischief. “You should’ve seen the look on your face.”
Maria rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress the small smile tugging at her lips. “You’re impossible.”
They stood there for a moment, the fake tension from breakfast was gone. She glanced up at him, noticing the way his jaw clenched slightly, as if he were deep in thought.
“So,” she said, breaking the silence, “did it work? Was our little performance at breakfast believable?”
Draco’s expression shifted, a mixture of amusement and pride crossing his features. He scoffed, shaking his head. “Theo? He’s too busy wallowing over his latest ‘heartbreak’ to notice anything. His tragic six-hour romance is still a sore spot.”
Maria giggled at that. “And Blaise?”
Draco’s smirk faltered for a second, but then he shrugged dismissively. “Blaise may be observant, but he won’t figure it out. He’s more interested in watching everyone else’s drama unfold. As far as he’s concerned, we’re just another blip on his radar.”
Maria leaned back against the stone wall, crossing her arms as she eyed him thoughtfully. “You’re sure about that?”
Draco arched an eyebrow, his confidence unwavering. “Positive.”
For a moment, silence fell between them, the distant chatter of students down the hall barely reaching their ears. It felt like their own little world, secluded from the prying eyes of Hogwarts. Maria let the quiet stretch, content to bask in the comfort of his presence. Then, she broke the stillness, her voice soft yet laced with admiration.
“Great acting this morning, by the way,” she said, her lips curving into a smirk. “I almost believed we were furious at each other.”
Draco tilted his head, his smirk returning with full force. “Almost?”
“Well,” Maria teased, stepping closer, “you did stab that poor tomato at least a dozen times before eating it. It was very convincing.”
Draco chuckled, the sound low and warm, pulling her closer by the waist. “Glad I could put on a good show for you.”
Maria smiled, her hands resting lightly on his chest. “You always do.”
Her heart was still racing, though not from the run through the castle, but from being this close to him. She opened her mouth, ready to speak, when a low rumbling noise interrupted the stillness. The sound of stone grinding against stone, accompanied by the sharp clatter of shifting wood, echoed through the room. Draco’s arms loosened around her as they both turned in the direction of the noise.
There, in the very wall they had been standing in front of just moments ago, a door had appeared where none had been before.
Draco arched an eyebrow, his expression curious, and glanced at her, as if expecting some explanation.
Maria’s lips twitched into a smile. “Don’t look at me. You’ve been at this castle a lot longer than I have,” she said with a light laugh, her voice still tinged with the disbelief of the sudden appearance of the door.
Draco’s gaze flickered back to the door, a small, mischievous glint in his eyes. “So,” he said, his voice a touch lower, teasing, “should we go explore?”
Maria felt a flutter of excitement—this was exactly the kind of thing that thrilled her about Hogwarts, the endless mysteries hidden in its walls, and of course, the sense of adventure that always seemed to follow when Draco was around. She gave him a playful nudge. “You’re not afraid of what might be behind it, are you?”
Draco’s smirk widened as he stepped forward, brushing his fingers lightly over the smooth surface of the door. “Afraid?” he echoed, glancing over his shoulder at her. “Not in the slightest. You?”
Maria crossed her arms, “Maybe just a little.”
The door, as though responding to their interest, creaked as it began to slowly open on its own, revealing nothing but darkness on the other side. The air that escaped from beyond it was cool, almost refreshing, carrying with it a subtle scent of old parchment and damp stone.
Draco took a step closer, pausing to cast her a glance. “After you, then,” he offered, gesturing toward the now open doorway, his voice still carrying that teasing lilt, though there was a trace of genuine curiosity behind it.
Maria hesitated for a split second before stepping forward, the thrill of the unknown too tempting to resist.
The atmosphere inside the room shifted immediately as they crossed the threshold. The darkness seemed to thicken for a moment, as though the room itself was adjusting to their presence. Then, with a flick of Draco’s wand, soft golden orbs of light flickered to life, illuminating the space around them.
What lay beyond the door wasn’t just any forgotten part of the castle. The walls were lined with towering bookshelves, packed tightly with dusty books, furniture, clothing, anything. The ceiling was tall, but from somewhere within the room, a faint breeze could be felt, making the room feel vast and endless. It was quiet.
“Well,” Maria murmured, her voice low as she took it all in, “this is definitely not what I expected.” Draco moved beside her, his eyes scanning the shelves, his fingers brushing the spines of a few novels. “It seems like the castle has a mind of its own,” he said. “It always shows you exactly what you need.”
Maria gave him a small look. “And what do you think we need right now?”
Draco paused, turning to face her fully, his smirk returning, though this time it was softer, almost fond. “A room where no one can find us.”
Magically, as if sensing that its purpose had been fulfilled, the door behind them began to shrink. The stone walls of Hogwarts seemed to ripple, and with a soft rumble, the doorframe gradually grew smaller, its edges curling inward until, with a faint shimmer, it ceased to exist altogether.
December 30th, 1994
Maria had done her research. After a day of reading books from the mysterious room her and Draco stumbled upon, it turned out that the room has a name: The Room of Requirement. In one of the books, it detailed its magic capabilities–a space that materializes to someone who truly needs it in the moment.
When she showed Draco last night, he joked and said he was thinking of a place where no one can find them ‘snogging’. She smacked his chest playfully while he laughed at her reaction; reddened cheeks that didn’t seem to go away.
They haven’t put a label to their current situation–or relationship? There were no labels, just moments that happened between them. They kiss early in the mornings before anyone else is awake, have hidden rendezvouses in the Room of Requirement, and quiet talks in a secluded alcove before Draco would escort her back to the Gryffindor common room.
It’s all so new to her, but she couldn’t deny how much she liked it. She liked him.
She sighed as her fingers traced the plate stacked with cookies. It’s nearing midnight and she decided that a midnight snack is much needed due to her skipping dinner again–with Draco. The kitchen was warm as the fresh scene of cookies filled the room, yet she had an unknown feeling in her chest. He looked up from where he stood in the kitchens, near a fireplace, and closed the book he had in his hands shut.
“You okay?” he asked, his voice soft as he approached her.
She nodded and her gaze shifted to Dobby who was quietly sitting further down the table. The house-elf was watching them with his large eyes, unsure if he should even be in the same room as them.
“Dobby, you can sit with us. It’s alright,” Maria offered, her voice kind.
After all, she would be grateful to spend time with Dobby back when he served the Malfoys. Though it upset her when she heard of Dobby being a free elf now, she was glad to see he was comfortable in his new home at Hogwarts.
He shook his head. “Dobby doesn’t think it’s okay to sit with Miss Maria and Mister Draco because Dobby hears people coming.”
Maria's breath caught, her eyes widening in alarm. She whipped her head towards Draco, whose grey eyes mirrored her concern. A rush of panic filled her as she picked up the plate of cookies and they scrambled to find a hiding spot. But the kitchens, despite their size, offered little to no options. The door swung open with a creak, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze.
Two pairs of eyes locked onto them.
Harry and Hermione stood in the doorway, their expressions a mixture of shock and confusion.
Maria shifted her weight to her other foot before stretching the plate out with her hands. An awkward smile was plastered on her face. “Cookie?”
Draco snorted, not happy with the situation. “Honestly, Potter, what are you doing out of bed?”
“I could ask you the same thing, Malfoy,” He replied quickly, crossing his arms.
Tension filled the air. Maria’s eyes darted to Hermione, who merely shrugged with a tired sigh, being used to this kind of situation.
Maria clutched the plate a little tighter to her chest, then, with a quick glance at Draco, nudged him gently. “I think it’s time we go. We’ve been here for almost an hour, and we do have to be up early since we're leaving tomorrow.”
Draco blinked, suddenly reminded of the plans they have tomorrow. Right, the New Year’s Party mother’s hosting is tomorrow.
“Technically it would be today,” Hermione pointed out with an awkward laugh. Maria only smiled at her as the tension in the room continued to rapidly build. Harry and Draco continued to glare at each other, waiting to see which one would snap first.
“Come on,” Maria urged again, nudging Draco’s side more firmly this time. They exchanged one last glance, a silent agreement passing between them. Draco turned, finally breaking eye contact with Harry, and the two slipped out of the kitchens into the quiet corridors.
It was silent as the Gryffindor and Slytherin duo walked out of the room and into Hogwarts' dimly lit hallways.
Back in the kitchen, Hermione moved towards where Dobby sat, his large ears drooping slightly as he fidgeted with his hands. “Is everything alright, Dobby?” she asked gently.
The house elf nodded, his eyes brightening. “Dobby enjoyed seeing Miss Maria again. Last time Dobby saw her, it was during Mister Draco’s 12th birthday.”
A frown tugged at Harry’s lips. “Well, I’m glad you’re free from them now,” he said, his voice softening slightly as he recalled the horrors Dobby must have endured in the Malfoy household. “Must’ve been rough, especially with Malfoy and his father.”
Dobby blinked up at Harry with confusion. “Dobby is happy to be free, but Mister Draco…he was never cruel. It was the head of the Malfoy home who treated Dobby poorly. But Mister Draco always offered Dobby food and a seat at the table.”
Harry’s brow furrowed further, clearly taken aback by this revelation. “Malfoy was kind to you?” he repeated, almost as if the idea didn’t make sense to him.
Hermione sighed as she rounded the table to sit across from Harry and Dobby. Her brows were furrowed as she faced Harry with a serious expression. “You need to stop trying to paint Malfoy as the villain in every scenario, Harry.”
Harry’s mouth tightened. “He is the villain, Hermione. He’s rude, vicious—”
“And as I’ve said before,” Hermione interrupted firmly, her tone almost sharp, “he’s misunderstood.”
Harry scoffed. “You honestly believe that?”
Hermione nodded. “Maria does. She’s one of the kindest people we know, and if she’s friends with Draco, that means he’s not all bad. You don’t know everything about him.”
Harry shook his head, frustrated with the new revelation. “I just don’t get it, Hermione.”
All she could do was sigh. “I don’t either. But maybe one day we will.”
The kitchen grew quiet as her words hung in the air, leaving Harry to wonder about the possibility that maybe, just maybe, Draco Malfoy wasn’t the person he always believed him to be.