𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 (OC x OC)

[002] Chapter 13

Makayla

Christmas is coming. Great.

Christmas is never 'fun,' at Hogwarts. I always have to stay here, and that's not fun. Some of you guys would think Christmas at Hogwarts is like a fairytale, and yes, it is, but if you are forced to watch the same fairytale everyday while you want to do something different and it's on a never ending loop, it can get frustrating.

When I walk into the Great Hall, it's the same as every other year. Professor Flitwick setting up the extravagantly sized Christmas tree, students walking around with their bags, and other students sitting at random tables despite their houses, eating lunch. Everything is the same. Sometimes it's magical. Other times, it feels like I'm being forced into something.

Once again, my siblings are able to go home for the holidays. Meanwhile, I stay here. This has happened every year for the past three years. It's starting to get quite annoying, actually.

I sit down at Slytherin table and pull out a romance novel that I've been reading. While I read, I block out every noise that appears in the room. Whenever I read, I tend to get hyper fixated on whatever it is I'm reading.

There's one sound that does catch my eye–or ear, in this case–though, and it's the loud clicking of high heels. I set my hand on the page that I am in the middle of reading and let the pages I've already read fall on top of it. When I turn to see who it is, I'm greeted with my mother's eyes.

What the heck? What is she doing here?

Then I turn my head downward to see Nora standing there, smiling. She waves as I smile a tad back at her.

I wave back, then turn my head up to mother, "What're you doing here?"

"Well, I know how much of a pain it is to tolerate your father locking you up in this..." she looks down, watching a rat run across the floor, under a table, "castle... So I thought you'd like it if I brought Nora here for you to spend the holidays with her."

"Wait... Really?" I feel the smile on my face grow larger on accident. It continues to grow larger when I see Nora's head violently shake up and down.

This is great for Nora. It's her dream to go to Hogwarts, and now she gets a month to do so. Now you all see why I speak so kindly of my mother, don't you?

I place a piece of parchment on the page that my hand once lay on and close the book, standing up off of the bench. Nora runs over to me and wraps her arms tightly around my legs, almost making me fall over. Chuckling, I pick her up off the cobblestone floor.

"Would you like me to give you a tour, Ms. Malfoy?"

"Yes please!"

Her slightly crooked, white teeth are bare in her smile. Nora's smile might be the only reason why I haven't gone insane in these past three years, yet.

I turn to mother, "Thank you, mother. Are you going to come and pick her up after Christmas break?"

"Likely so. Your father doesn't enjoy coming to the castle, and I know how badly you two have been getting along lately."

"Well, I'll see you after Christmas then!" I walk out of the Great Hall.

As I leave, I hear Kai and mother having a conversation. I can't tell what they're exactly saying.

"Where do you want to go first?" I ask, turning my head to Nora.

"I want to go to your common room!" Smiling, I start to walk toward the Slytherin common room. Then she interrupts me, "Wait, I want to walk." So I set her down on the floor and we walk to the common room.

Every now and then, I glance at Nora. She's astounded by everything we pass by. She's too innocent for this world. Too pure.

"Makayla!" I hear Annelise shout behind us from down the hall. Nora and I turn to look at her as she runs over. Out of breath, she says, "Hey!"

I laugh, "Hey, Annelise."

Nora's eyes are wide, "This is Annelise?"

"Who is this?" Annelise asks.

"Oh, right! This is my sister, Nora. She's staying here for the holidays," I answer.

"Oh, well that's nice! You aren't going to be lonely this Christmas!"

"Sometimes, you are unbearable."

"But you love me!"

"Sadly."

"Are you guys going to the Slytherin common room?"

"Yeah, wanna come?"

"Sure! I was looking for Louis anyways. Perhaps, he will be there."

"Perhaps."

Annelise joins Nora and I on our walk to the Slytherin common room. Annelise and Nora talk a lot. They definitely get along very well.

When we reach the common room, something doesn't feel right. I walk in to see the common room empty. Jeez, everyone already left?

"Louis!" Annelise calls out, going up the stairs to the boys' dorms.

Nora is dumbfounded. She runs over to the window and presses her nose on the class. It's icing cold, she doesn't care. Her breath fogs the glass up, and she is surprised to see a large octopus swim in the water past the window. I don't think she has realized that the Slytherin common room is underwater, yet.

I get jumpscared by this tremendous voice grumbling as it walks in. I sigh, not even getting the chance to look at whoever it is, "Hi, Draco."

"What do you want?" He has become extremely British. He must be upset. That's kind of funny, not going to lie.

"I was just saying hi."

"Hi, Draco!" Nora exclaims, turning from the glass. Her face is now rose red from the cold glass.

Draco rolls his eyes, "Hi, Nora."

"What are you doing here? I thought you were going home with the others," I ask.

"Well," Draco scoffs, "mother and father are having me stay at Hogwarts for Christmas." You're kidding. This cannot be happening.

"Are you serious?"

Draco looks around, "Yes?"

I groan and sit on one of the couches. This is, by far, the worst holiday I have been forced to go through. And I've been spending Christmas with the Lupins. That's torture, enough.

Annelise walks downstairs, sighing, "I can't find Louis anywhere. This is starting to get ridiculous." She looks at Draco, "Oh, hi, Draco, I guess."

Then, Mattheo Riddle walks into the common room. Great. I have to deal with two assholes right now. I just have to deal with Draco this whole Christmas.

I've come upon a solution. This Christmas, I'll just avoid Draco! Boom, problem solved.

Nora walks over to the rest of the group, then looks at Mattheo, "Who the heck are you?"

"You know who I am, Malfoy. I don't need your pity."

"Pity is the only thing a woman is going to give you, Riddle, so how about you take it?" I say, annoyed.

He rolls his eyes and goes up to his dorm. This is going to be the worst Christmas ever.