𝑯𝑨𝑳𝑭-𝑩𝑳𝑶𝑶𝑫 𝑾𝑰𝑻𝑪𝑯 | 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫

𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯

W I N T E R   B R E A K

It was the first day of break. Marjory of the Slytherin House left to be with family. Astoria, Pansy, and Blaise invited Annalise to a family dinner for Christmas, but she rejected each one since she didn't want them to get in trouble. Out of everyone in the group, Annalise was the only one who stayed behind. Once her friends left, she changed into plain jeans, an off-the-shoulder sweatshirt, and black combat boots. All common rooms were open to everyone only until eight o'clock in the evening. Cedric invited Annalise to hang out in the morning before he left.

"What are you going to do during the break?" Cedric asked as he picked her up by the Hogwarts library.

"Not much really. I'm going to stay here and celebrate Christmas with Harry, Ron, and Hermione," she said with a smile as they made their way to the Great Hall for breakfast.

"Your first Christmas with Harry after, what, twelve years," he commented as Annalise nodded her head.

"Yeah... not sure what to get him. Should I get him a gift?" Annalise asked him.

Cedric shrugged, "Don't know, he is your brother, not mine. He is just my enemy in the Quidditch field," he said as both laughed. "Are your foster parents okay with you spending time here?"

"I want to say yes, but I also feel bad for not spending it with them. It would also be our first Christmas, but I want to spend it with Harry."

"Do they know about you having a brother?" He asked with a whisper as students were passing by, Annalise shook her head.

"No, I haven't told them," she said softly.

"Mia," he said, getting in front of her to get her full attention. "You should, they looked after you and cared for you. They deserve the truth, nothing more. We don't want them finding out the same way I did."

Annalise looked down and then up at Cedric, "You are still mad about that?" She asked.

"No...Not at all it's just not fair for them to go through the emotions that I went through you don't have to tell them everything only about your brother." He said reassuring her.

"I will talk to them when I am ready," Annalise said with a smile.

"Good, now let's go get breakfast. I am starving," he said with a laugh as he got a hold of her hand, walking towards the inside of the Great Hall.

Annalise felt a rush of warmth spread through her as Cedric held her hand. She couldn't help but feel a flutter in her stomach. His touch was comforting, and she found herself smiling more brightly as they walked together towards the Great Hall. The connection she felt with Cedric at that moment made her heart race with a mix of excitement and nervousness. At that moment, with their hands intertwined, she knew she was developing feelings for him.