✓ WE NEVER SLEEP, draco malfoy

T H I R T Y - T W O

"Have you ever noticed how wanting burns you up from the inside out?"

— unknown

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It was the night of Slughorn's party and there was still no word about whether or not Dumbledore had received his intended package and there didn't seem to be anytime soon. 

To Rowan's dismay, she still couldn't find a way into the party like she wanted. Since her and Harry were 'no longer on speaking terms' it didn't seem wise to ask him or even Hermione. Granted there was Neville but he already had a date and Blaise was bringing Pansy, of course. There was no way in and she should've been more upset, it was a night of fun and dancing she was missing! But, after the last few weeks of constant worry and stress, it seemed a good night in would do her well.

Although, she was sad she was going to miss Hermione dealing with Cormac McLaggen all night since Ron had become infatuated with Lavender. Hermione even said she wished things were different so she could just bring Rowan instead, or to have her there as a buffer between her and her loathsome date. 

She had hoped Draco would want to spend the evening with her but he advised her to stay clear of him since he'd be attempting to sneak into the Slug Club party to investigate whether or not Slughorn got the mead they had sent him.

Therefore, Rowan was left to her own devices. 

Well, not entirely her own.

Florence and Rowan stayed in the Slytherin common room for most of the evening before climbing the stairs to her dorm to help pack her sister's things for the Christmas holiday.

Florence sat on the floor by her trunk as Rowan laid across her bed. The other girl was going through her sweaters, packing what she wanted and what she didn't. People were already beginning to leave for the holidays therefore no one was in the dorms tonight. 

"Do you think the Malfoy's will come to our home or us to theirs?" Rowan asked, running her fingers over the fluffy blanket Florence had brought from home for her bed. 

"Us to theirs, probably," answered her sister. 

"And how are we supposed to act?" 

"What do you mean?"

"Well," said Rowan, sitting up, "we can't possibly be like this when we go home without causing suspicion and a complete uproar."

"We can act however we like around mum," Florence said with a shrug, folding another sweater. This one had a black lace trim and Rowan remembered seeing her wearing it once before.

Three Christmases ago, when they were all a family and things had been normal.

Florence swaying to the carol's playing through a small radio. Her skirt twisting around her thighs and her tights casting off a shimmering gleam in the dimmed lights of the living room.

 Rowan was looking through the books on the shelves with Bowen, his arms reaching higher than her's would allow and pulling books of plenty from their dusty spots.

"Dance with me, will you, Ro?" called Florence and Rowan turned with a grin.

She passed her books off to Bowen and she glided across the room to take her sister's hands. The pair danced and spun, laughter bouncing off their smiles and from the walls. Marlena and Bowen coming to dance together as well in a joyful joust of holiday cheer.