Medicine - T. Nott

forty one

Song for this chapter: All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version)

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One Year Later

December 24th, 2000

It's weird being back in London. I haven't come back since I left just over two years ago. Not for Christmas, not for any birthdays, not even when Draco got engaged to Astoria, Daphne's younger sister.

I've been perfectly fine on my own.

Of course, I haven't actually been alone for the past two years. I have new friends, and a job with coworkers that I love, my mum and Matt come to visit all the time, and sometimes Sawyers comes along too, I write to Daphne and Pansy weekly, and I've dated around a bit. Though, it never seems to work out long enough to turn into something real.

I wasn't planning on coming back, but my mum convinced me and Daphne practically begged me to come "home" for the holidays.

This is how I end up on the front porch of Daphne and Blaise's house for a Christmas Eve party.

I'm not quite sure that I'm ready to see everyone, some people more than others, but I knock on the front door anyway. A few seconds later the door opens and Daphne is standing there with a smile on her face.

"Alex, you're here!" She says. Daphne hugs me tightly, which proves to be quite difficult considering that she's currently seven months pregnant with her and Blaise's first child. "I missed you so much."

I hug Daphne back just as tightly. "I missed you too, sorry I didn't come to visit sooner," I say.

"Oh, it's alright," Daphne says. "I'm just glad that you could make it. Come in," She says.

I take a deep breath and step inside. Daphne walks down the corridor and I follow her, the sound of talking and chatter getting louder.

We walk into the living room and there are people scattered throughout the room, talking and drinking. Immediately, my eyes go to Theo.

He's in the middle of a conversation with Draco but he glances over at me when I walk in. Then he does a double take before turning back to Draco and muttering something before getting up to go get another drink.

Draco spots me and gets up to come to talk to me. "Rosier, I'm surprised to see that you're back in town," He says.

"Me too, it took a lot of convincing," I say. "How've you been?"

"Pretty good, Astoria and I set a wedding date," He says. "June 16th."

I smile, "Congratulations, you seem really happy."

"I am," Draco agrees, looking truly happy for once in his life. "How've you been?"

"Good, I've been good. I got promoted a few weeks ago," I explain.

Draco smiles, "That's good, congrats."

Someone comes barreling into me, hugging me extremely tight. It takes me a second to process that it's Pansy, but when I do I hug her back.

"Oh my god," She says, her voice muffled against my shoulder, "I've missed you so much, Alex."

"I've missed you too, Pans," I say. We break apart and I actually get a good look at Pansy. She grew her hair out so now it reaches the middle of her back. It really suits her. "You look amazing."

"So do you," Pansy says. "How's Paris? You have to tell me everything that you didn't cover in the letters."

I laugh, "I'm going to need a drink first then."