DRIPS OF FANCY - draco malfoy

↳ 𝑐ℎ𝑝．15

Dinner in the Great Hall was a mix of clattering plates and the hum of voices, but Alvena couldn't quite shake the strange sense of unease that still lingered from her walk in the forest. She sat with her usual group—Sage, Stormy, Mattheo, Blaise—and tried to focus on the conversation, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the garden, the woman, and the eerie feeling that had gripped her.
Suddenly, the large doors to the hall swung open, and in walked Draco and Theo, both looking far from pleased. It didn't take long for Alvena to notice the bruised lip on Theo's face, the way his jaw was tight, and the barely-contained anger in both of their eyes. Draco's posture was stiff, his usual confident air replaced by something darker.
Alvena raised an eyebrow as they approached the table, but she didn't have time to voice her thoughts before Theo slid into the seat next to her. He looked at her briefly, his gaze flickering to the others before he spoke, his voice cool. "It's nothing," he muttered, brushing his fingers over the bruised lip, as if the pain didn't bother him.
Alvena could feel the tension in the air, the heaviness that only seemed to grow the longer she watched him. Her eyes lingered on his face for a moment, then flickered to Draco, who had taken a seat at the other end of the table, his eyes narrowing when he caught her glance. Alvena knew something had happened between them, but she couldn't figure out what.
They all began eating, the clink of silverware and the soft chatter filling the space around them, but Alvena couldn't focus. Her mind kept returning to the unspoken tension between the two boys.
After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Theo leaned slightly toward Alvena, lowering his voice just enough for her to hear. "Do you want to go to the ball with me?" he asked casually, but there was a challenge in his tone, as though it was part of a plan more than it was a wish.
Alvena's eyes darted to Draco, who was stabbing at his food with more force than necessary, his jaw clenched tightly. She wasn't sure why he was tensing so much but shrugged it off and found herself answering without hesitation. "Sure," she said with a slight smile, feeling the air shift in the room. "I'll go."
Theo raised an eyebrow, clearly pleased with himself, while Draco's eyes shot up, a flicker of something hard crossing his features before he quickly masked it. Alvena felt the heat of the moment, but before it could get any more awkward, an owl swooped down, dropping a letter onto the table in front of her.
The owl gave a soft hoot before flying away, and Alvena unrolled the letter, recognizing the familiar handwriting of her mother. Her fingers brushed over the parchment as she began to read, the words making her heart sink.
"Dear Alvena," the letter began. "I regret to inform you that due to unforeseen circumstances, the annual ball that we host will not be happening this year. As for the holidays, your father and I will not be able to attend, and you will be left to celebrate alone at home."
Her breath caught in her throat. The annual ball... her mother had always made it sound so grand, a significant event in the magical world. And now, not only was that tradition gone, but her parents wouldn't even be home for the holidays.
She folded the letter with a heavy sigh and looked up at her friends. "My parents won't be around for the holidays," she said quietly. "And the ball... it's not happening this year."
Sage looked up at her with concern. "Are you going to be okay?"
Alvena shrugged, trying to push the feeling of loneliness aside. "I guess. But, um... if any of you guys want to come over, I'll be home by myself. It'll be nice to have company."
Blaise grinned, leaning back in his chair. "Sounds like a plan to me."
Mattheo nodded. "Count me in."
"Same here," Stormy added. "I could use some time away from my family."
Alvena smiled, relieved that at least she wouldn't be alone. She quickly wrote a response to her mother, letting her know that she'd be hosting friends over for the holidays. After scribbling down a short letter, she stood up and made her way to the owlery.
As she walked through the castle corridors, her mind was still swirling, and she almost didn't notice the icy patch on the floor just outside the owlery. She slipped, her feet sliding out from under her, but before she could hit the ground, a pair of strong hands caught her.
She looked up to see Harry Potter standing there, his grip firm but gentle. "You okay?" he asked, his brow furrowed with concern.
"Yeah," Alvena replied quickly, trying to steady herself. "Thanks."
Harry smiled awkwardly, stepping back to give her some space. "No problem."
Alvena shook her head, still a little embarrassed. "I'm fine. Really."
She reached into her bag and pulled out the letter, tying it to the owl's leg. As it took off into the night, Harry stood next to her, his gaze flickering to her with a mix of curiosity and caution.
"I... uh, I just wanted to apologize," he said, his voice quieter now. "For last time. About your eye. I didn't mean to—"
Alvena cut him off, her voice soft but firm. "It's fine, Harry. You didn't know."
He looked at her, his brow furrowing. "But I should have."
Alvena paused, her gaze drifting out the window to the night sky. She took a slow breath, then turned back to him. "It's... it's complicated," she said quietly, unsure of how to explain. "In the magical world, red eyes are a sign of something... wrong. A child born with red eyes is... well, they're a child who wasn't meant to be."
Harry's confusion was evident. "What do you mean?"
Alvena hesitated, looking down at her hands. "Its a myth from an old folks story. An old ritual for barren wives to give birth, a ritual that required... a sacrifice. Give up a life to create one. I don't know exactly how I ended up with these eyes, but most assume it was from that."
Harry's expression softened, his brow knitting with sympathy. "That's... that's a lot to carry."
Alvena shrugged, feeling the familiar weight of it all pressing down on her chest. "It's just how it is."
Harry looked at her for a moment, his expression full of understanding, and then, to her surprise, he pulled her into a hug. It was awkward at first—his arms stiff as they wrapped around her—but there was an undeniable comfort in the gesture. Alvena, caught off guard, stood frozen for a moment before letting herself relax slightly.
She could feel something warm spreading through her chest, but there was a twinge of discomfort too. The pressure of Harry's mark against her skin was almost unbearable, and for a moment, it felt like a sharp pain running through her veins. She flinched slightly, but Harry didn't seem to notice.
He pulled away after a moment, looking slightly embarrassed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"
"No, it's fine," Alvena quickly said, brushing it off. "It's just... a lot. But thanks."
Harry gave a small nod, his face still a little flushed. "I understand. And, you know... if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here."
Alvena smiled weakly. "Thanks, Harry."
With that, they both left the owlery in silence, and Alvena couldn't help but feel a strange sense of comfort mixed with something else—something she couldn't quite put her finger on. The holidays were shaping up to be more complicated than she had imagined.