ambition

Booked Up

Pansy let her head drop onto the table.

"This is ridiculous. There's nothing in any of these books. There wasn't the first time. Or the second. Why are we still looking?"

Draco turned the page he was on but sighed too, resting his chin on his other hand. "I hate to agree, but..."

Harry slammed the book he was on shut and rested his chin on his arms atop of it.

"We must have missed something. I know I've seen or heard the name Nicholas Flamel before."

"Harry." Pansy gave him a look, "darling. Do you know how many things you will have read that aren't every book in the school library?"

Harry slumped for a moment, but when he perked up again a moment later, he could practically feel Pansy bristling. She was surely going to kill him if he made her look through another book.

"That's true actually. But there's my parent's library at home. I've probably read at least half of it, and it might be in there somewhere. I can look while I'm home for Christmas."

"Thank Merlin. So, we can stop reading now, right?" Draco raised his eyebrow.

Harry rolled his eyes. "Yes Draco. We can stop reading now."

The months had passed a lot quicker than Harry had expected them to, so when Christmas was right around the corner, he wasn't entirely sure what to do with himself. He'd been packed for the holidays for weeks when the day to go home did finally arrive, but it didn't quite dawn on him that he was going home at first because they'd been utterly too focused on working their way through the entirety of the library. So when that stopped, Harry suddenly began feeling very nervous about Christmas and what it might bring. Most notably with his father.

He had hoped his nerves weren't noticeable to anybody else, but he couldn't help but feel a little relieved that it was Draco who did pick up on it in the end. On the last night before they were to take the train home for the holidays, Harry had gone to bed early with a headache, and said he wanted to sleep early for the journey. Pansy had complained that he was no fun, and Draco had only said 'goodnight'. Then half an hour later, the blonde had followed him - Harry recognised his footsteps as he came up the stairs, and just rolled over and pulled the covers around him, even though the curtains were drawn so he couldn't be seen. Draco didn't go to his own bed though, and instead approached Harry's, opening the curtains on the side that he was facing. Draco smiled.

"I knew it. You always face this way when you're stressed. Budge over."

Harry sighed, but sat up and shifted over so Draco could slide in next to him, closing the curtain again.

"Going to tell me what's wrong?"

"Don't suppose you'd believe me if I said nothing?"

"Um, no. Afraid not." Draco nudged Harry's shoulder with his. "Is it about your dad?"

Harry nodded, shoulders slumped.

"It's fine." Draco declared. "You can come to my house for Christmas."

Harry scoffed. "Brilliant. I'm sure your parents would really love that."

"What do you mean?"

"I just think there might be some animosity there."

Draco thought for a few moments, the tips of his ears going slightly pink.

"Okay, point taken." He nudged Harry's arm. "We'll work on that. Past is the past and all that. I think my mother would really quite like you actually."

Harry rolled his eyes. "I'll take your word for it."

Harry shuffled downwards so he was laying down, and looked up at Draco with a sort of curious face.