𝖮 𝗂𝗌 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝖮𝖻𝗌𝖾𝗌𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇 ʰʲᵖ

• ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔗𝔴𝔢𝔫𝔱𝔶 𝔗𝔴𝔬 : 𝔚𝔦𝔷𝔞𝔯𝔡 𝔇𝔲𝔢𝔩 •

• Chapter Twenty Two : Wizard Duel •

[••• ––– •••]

Hogwarts seemed to be a little brighter than the previous year in (Y/N)'s eyes. She couldn't pinpoint how does she feel like that, though. The snow was shinier, the walls were cleaner, and the trees seemed taller. The Professors — Snape included — looked kinder than usual...

Or maybe it was just because (Y/N) was too happy to see the downsides. No matter, it wasn't just her that entered 1998 with such bliss.

Apparently, Ginny and Luna had their first kiss at Christmas, Ron and Hermione were caught making out while the others were eating for their new year celebration, Draco met some Muggle girl and had caught up with each other the whole holidays, Blaise and Pansy took each other's virginity, and Cedric finally proposed to Cho and was planning to have the wedding the following year.

(Y/N) was ecstatic with the news. If only she had the chance to tell her stories...

The group — shockingly complete (without Cho and Cedric) — was warming up in the Gryffindor common room, only because it was the warmest room so far since they came back to school. A stack of UNO cards was placed in the middle of their circle. It has been a while since they played as a complete group.

"You know, I always remind myself to be better each year." Pansy said, placing her cards on the stack. "But it's only a phrase. I never get to actually be better."

"In all aspects, yeah." Blaise teased.

Pansy glared at him before hitting him in the back of the head, causing him to groan in pain.

"Speaking of changes." Ginny chirped, turning to look at the girl who was currently placing cards on the stack. "(Y/N), have you dyed your hair?"

"Huh?" The girl who was mentioned looked up. She soon realized that Ginny was talking about the bluish tint on the tip of her hair. "Ah, yeah." she replied. "It's... uh... homemade. Lily did it."

(Y/N) discreetly looked at Harry. She was amused to see that he was staring back and was actually smiling at her. She looked down afterward. She didn't want any of the chaos that had happened in the past to happen again.

They knew that (Y/N) spend the holidays at the Potters but they knew nothing of the details as (Y/N) and Harry were careful enough not to slip anything that can cause another mess.

She remembered Pansy breaking down before and telling her everything she felt about their situation, that she doesn't like the way Harry was hurting (Y/N). Draco also punched Harry for the same reason and she swore she couldn't take it if there would be another brawl in between because of her.

"Wow, that's actually pretty. It looks good on you." Pansy commented, then suddenly turning to Harry. "Can you tell Lily to dye my hair, too? I want to get pink highlights on my hair."

"What if I'd get vivid orange in mine, too?" Ginny piped while brushing her hair, looking if she would like orange as another color.

"That actually sounds pretty." said Luna placidly.

"What would you recommend in mine?" Hermione inquired, sounding really curious while looking at Ron, who shrugged at the question. "Wow, great help."

Ron rolled his eyes.

"What? I don't know what to say. Anything looks good on you."

"Green or Lavender." said Pansy, shaking her head at the couple. "So, Harry, what do you think?"

Confusion filled both (Y/N)'s and Harry's eyes as they exchange glances for a second. They sounded so casual that made (Y/N) resort to everything being a hallucination.