𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐊𝐓𝐀 𝐋𝐔𝐂𝐈𝐀

Chapter 2

Stjärnan från Betlehem

Leder ej bort men hem

. . .

The star from Bethlehem

Don't lead away, but home

- "Betlehems stjärna"/"Gläns över sjö och strand" ("Bethlehem's Star"/"Shine Over Lake and Beach"), Tegnér/Rydberg / arr: Agnestig

"WHAT?" Draco burst out before he even realized that his mouth was open. And he found that he didn't care. This was insane! "I refuse to –"

"Mr Malfoy, if you would please keep quiet!" McGonagall cut him off, looking ready to hex him if he said another word. "Starting today after your last class you will meet in Professor Flitwick's choir room, and I must ask you not to talk about this to anyone except eighth year students and professors. Off you go!" she dismissed them. "Mr Potter and Mr Malfoy, you stay."

Draco was giving McGonagall an unparalleled death-stare and he felt Pansy rise beside him and squeeze his shoulder a little before she went.

"Now, if you please will take a seat here." McGonagall said as soon as everyone was gone, except the three of them and perhaps Flitwick, but Draco couldn't see him, and she gestured to the seats directly in front of her.

With great difficulty, Draco gathered his things,making as much noise as possible, and he marched to one of the seats, as far away from Potter as acceptable.

"Now I understand that you are not precisely thrilled about this-"

"'Not precisely'? I'm a bit more than 'not precisely thrilled about this' as you put it." Draco snapped and McGonagall glared at him, while Potter just looked annoyed.

"You will calm down and not fuss about this Mr Malfoy, the goblet chose you two and that is final! I won't hear another word about how you refuse to do what is now your duty!"

"But you said that a girl was to be Lucia. Last time I checked, I was a bloke."

"Sure about that, Malfoy?" Potter suddenly opened his mouth to say, and Draco was just about to counter with a poisoned retort when the headmistress beat him to it.

"I said usually." McGonagall had a low, stern voice which told both boys that they will shut up, or she would make them. "I believe that Professor Dumbledore was Lucia when he was a student here, so yes, boys can also be Santa Lucia.

"Now I must ask that for at least these next 13 days you two lay your differences aside and come to some kind of truce, or else this is not going to work. I don't care how you do it, but you two will not go against each other before or during the ceremony, it is of utmost importance that you don't."

"Excuse me professor, but why?" Potter asked.

"Because Mr Malfoy will need you to watch his back, and that will not work if it is you who is stabbing it."

"And why would I need Potter?" Draco snapped.

"This is a war between light and dark, Mr Malfoy, and since the goblet named you to be Santa Lucia, ergo the leader of the light, the dark will – how should I put this, attempt to blow your light out. And you'll need Mr Potter to keep that from happening when you aren't strong enough to defend yourself."

"Since when have I not been able to defend myself?"

"You will find that the dark will be growing stronger and more forceful the nearer the 13th we come, and you need to focus on the ceremony and keeping yourself from falling apart, so you will find that you'll actually be needing Mr Potter." Draco swore under his breath, but knew it was a lost fight.