The December Blues!
The next morning was one of the most horrendous yet. (that seems to be becoming a norm now.) The weather had turned gray and cold. The snowfall had turned into a blizzard. But of course Hogwarts was a safe school (Yeah, it’s really not.)
Harry was pale and had dark circles the size of smaller moons. They were even visible from all the way over Slytherin Table. Ron and Hermione were also triggered for some reason and clearly not talking to Harry. (there has to be something in the Hogwarts water to create such opinionated jerks.) Draco was feeling bad for Harry. It’s not every day that you find out that you have way more common, than you would want, with your parent’s killer.
Herbology was canceled, because Professor Sprout was worried about the possible extreme cold exposure of Mandrakes to the cold. (again... What's wrong with these teachers? How can the plants, even the monstrous ones, be more important than students?) Like any sensible person, after the breakfast they decided to get warm and cozy to study and gathered in the Gryffindor common rooms. (these teachers really need an HR intervention about extreme discrimination of the students.) The Slytherin common rooms were musty, cold and, yeah not for Draco’s sensibilities.
Around noon, Draco and Blaise were nominated, (they lost the Rock, Paper, Scissors) to raid the library and get the book bounty. Like any good pirate worth their grain of salt, (is that a thing?) Draco was faced with the kraken, in this case Ernie from Hufflepuffs, with his gaggle of plain old mean cronies.
“You definitely think it’s Harry than, Ernie?” Hannah Abbot asked anxiously. She sounded half convinced that Harry is the second coming of the Voldemort himself. (and just for that comment Draco will be making sure that Neville doesn’t end with that Twat.)
“He’s a Parseltongue. Everyone knows that’s the mark of a Dark Wizard.” Ernie boasted as a know-it-all. “They called Salazar Slytherin himself the serpent tongue.” (Is that so? Draco was going to unleash Pansy on this Twat for this one.)
“But…. he always seems so nice though. And well he made You-Know-Who disappear.” Hannah said uncertainly.
“Exactly! No one knows how he survived. Only a really dark wizard could have survived that. That’s probably why You-Know-Who wanted to kill him-” (Oh, no you don’t, you little shit.)
“Oh really? Is that so?” Draco said loud enough for the whole library. “How dare you spout such non-sense. How can you even think he’s evil? He’s the most Gryffindor to ever Gryffindor.”
“We were just-”
“You were what?” Draco channeled his most obnoxious Lucius Malfoy impression. “Don’t hurt your little brain cells accusing innocents. You might actually loss the remaining couple of the cells.” Draco said threateningly in a low voice.
Draco aimed a truly praise worthy glare at the group. Most of them looked ashamed, except for Ernie. But Draco didn’t waste his time on him. Draco did see a dark haired student in a Gryffindor uniform running away from the library.
.....
Draco was fed up of this teenage adolescent drama and decided to spend his afternoon with Hagrid, asking him about raising roosters. Hagrid laughed in his face for his aspirations, initially, but told him everything he wanted to know. (He’ll see who will be laughing in a few months, when these roosters will be the sole reason of a very alive Harry Potter. Humph!)
In the evening on his way back to the dorms he heard the news of Headless Nick, Ernie (Huh! That’s different) and Fletchley being petrified. He turned towards Snape’s offices, maybe it was time to give away his Draught of Mandrake.
.....
In the end the Stupid System prevailed and Draco never told Snape about the Draughts but instead he had to endure a few hours of Snape lamenting about his good old days. (Seventeenth time. That you very much.) The System had started pinging the moment he had entered Snape’s office. (Maybe Snape was the System…Hmmm….)
Polyjuiceplay:
Get interrogated by a Polyjuiced Harry.
Hence the seventeenth replay of Marauder Melodrama and now he was laying in his bed (not sulking! So what if Harry Potter hates him or thinks Draco’s evil. He doesn’t care. Really.)
At least Pansy, Fred and George were having fun. Anytime Harry or Draco were with them, they made sure to announce to the masses ‘Make way for the Heir of Slytherin.’ or ‘Seriously, Evil wizard coming through’ and once or twice ‘Get out of the way he’s in a hurry, off to have a cuppa with his fanged servant in the Chamber.’
Pansy was also ready to kick anyone to free up space for the Dark wizard with glares and unceremoniously threatening comments. (He felt like the Russian Mob boss.)
The Golden Trio proved resilient though. Despite the fact that they were still friends in a same group Draco felt disturbingly ostracized by Ron and Hermione. (Don’t ask him how they did it but they succeeded). And thanks to the new System update Draco was kept updated on their Polyjuice shenanigans. See if Draco saves Hermione from turning into a cat. (Hint: He won’t. Stupid, idiot Gryffindors.)
On an unexpected turn of events, he was missing Vii. Unbeknowst to him he had become quite fond of that nuisance. He missed their banter and song-offs. (No one here seemed to know Nsync or Brittany, the true travesty.) Especially, after they postponed the Gryffindor-Slytherin match, Draco was left bereft with absolutely nothing to do.
So, he took it upon himself to knit (yes, knit, and no he is not an old Babushka or Molly Weasley for that matter) small christmas hats for the kitchen elves. Obviously, the Twins, Luna and Neville joined him (for kicks mostly) with an added company of Greg and Vince as the taste testers for the kitchen.
.....
At long last the term came to an end, students went away for Christmas and Yuletide Hols. A silence deep as the constant snow fall fell upon the grounds of Hogwarts. Draco spend most of his time in the kitchens or with Greg playing Exploding Snap or Who’s that? Wizard Edition with Vince.
Harry Potter, Ron and Hermione stayed together and Draco (if he dared) ate his meals mostly alone (except for that 7th year Dunderhead) at Slytherin tables or in the kitchens with Vince and Greg.
Christmas morning dawned cold, grey and sad. Draco took Vince and Greg for breakfast to Snape’s rooms, breakfast cooked by Snape. The man was a wizard with food. (Honestly!)
He received a renewed permission slip for flying twice a week hassle-free from Snape, in return he bestowed his wisdom on Mandrake draughts (more like a proper tome written by a proper famous wizard.)
Theo, Neville and Blaise gave him a well charmed, auto-adjusting designer robe (Cheapskates! He should have sent them a single gift as well to teach them a lesson.) for Theo he made a one-on-one appointment with a well known French entrepreneur, Blaise got a pocket sized rooster (for kicks and maybe life saving reasons) and Neville received a Gilly weed plantarium from him.
Luna sent him a charmed bracelate to keep guard against wrackspurts, he gifted them a niffler for keeping track of their stuff. Pansy sent him a skincare kit (an understated dig at his paleness) and he sent her a Special Edition of ‘How to charm a Quidditch player’ manual. Ginny sent him a hand knit sparkly jumper (which he wore for the whole week) and he sent her a Quidditch Beginner’s kit.
Vince and Greg got some food vouchers from him and he received his favourite chocolates from them both so his snack inventory was full for the next year.
His Father sent him a brand new Firebolt and his Mother sent him a Goblet which later inspection revealed to be Fortescue’s year around icecream supply. From Hagrid he received a Growly, Bitting blood thirsty bag for safekeeping his stuff and he gifted him a 7day all included trip with the dragons to Romania. Hermione got a Signed copy of Alchemy: A virtue written and signed by Nicholas Flammel, Ron got a Nimbus and for Harry Potter….. he sent him a ‘Mer-Gem’ Bracelate.
Though he expected it, still it hurt when there was nothing not even a toothpick from Harry Potter, Ron or Hermione. (No he did not cry, it were just his allergies acting up).
......
Draco knew Harry Potter and Ron (or Vince and Greg) will find him easily enough so he waited for them in the dorms and right he was. Except… he was quite wrong. Because Ron and Harry were there to interrogate that git, Montague. Draco was shocked enough to not disturb their interrogation. After sometime he heard someone enter his dorm.
“Hey.” He heard Harry and almost fell out of bed in his hurry to move his curtains and shock of finally looking at Harry, who looked horrible. He was mid transformation probably or he hoped so.
“Hi.” Draco said hesitantly not sure what was going on.
“Are you the Heir of Slytherin?” Harry asked with no permeable whatsoever.
“What?” Draco was getting whiplash. (this all had a weird sense of de-javu.)
“It’s a yes or no question.”
“I thought it was a stupid ass question.” Draco muttered. “Do you think I’m the Heir?”
“I don’t know what to think.” Harry said stubbornly.
“Really?” Draco glared at Harry.
“Look I’m not here to fight-”
“Could have fooled me.” Draco sassed.
“Please? Can we talk?” Harry pleaded.
“Sure, come have a seat.” Draco moved and patted on his bed right next to him. “Would you like some tea as well?”
“Last year…. when I asked you, you said it’s complicated. What did you mean?” Harry ignored his jibe.
“I…I don’t know what you mean…” Draco stuttered.
“At the Astronomy Towers… when I asked you if you liked anyone…. you said It was complicated. What did you mean?” Harry asked all proud and that stubborn glint in his eyes. Looking formidable.
“Because it’s complicated and no, I can not tell you.”
“Why do you hide things from me?”
“I don’t-”
“Right.” Harry cut him off, his voice a little wobbly. “Sorry, to disturb you this late in the night. Just wanted to give this to you.” Harry put a small box on the bed and once again ran away.
The System started pinging Task Completed and Draco looked at the silver box a little afraid. At last after 10minutes or so he picked up the box and unwrapped it. There was a dainty little crystal necklace nestled between jade silk. In the crystal there were Forget-me-nots, preserved like a momento.