Slytherin Pride

The Feast and the Tree

Gin's POV
Christmas Eve finally arrived. But none the less. We had piles among piles of homework. Snape gave us an extra essay just to be sure we would be busy. Mione silently clapped under the table but she could've clapped as loud as she wanted because of the rest of us groaning so loudly. Of course groaning only made it worse. 50 points was deducted from Griffendore house, but not even half of an emerald was drained from Slytherin. Draco was smirking so widely his aura caught the attention of Ron and Harry, who started to throw pieces of parchment at him. He of course couldn't do anything because of his seating position near the front so I directed one of the balls of paper towards snape. Which hit him square in the nose. He looked immediately at Ron and Harry and sentenced them for detention. Draco winked at me and smiled. I bit my lip and smiled back. Hermione nudged me in the arm. "Snap out of it goggling eyes!" I looked at her and then at the board. Snape had written instructions for a potion. We had three minutes. I lunged at the ingredients in the table but stayed back as everyone races for the potions closet. I rubbed my wrist nervously, but excitement tingled inside of me. This was where I made out with Draco for the first time. His lips were perfect, and his tongue in my mouth made me get lost in everything except for him. Hermione pounded my rib cage with her elbow. "Will you stop day dreaming for one second?!" I nodded and replied, still not listening. "Yes thank you." She slapped my arm and walked to go get each of us ingredients from the closet. I was relieved, but disappointment pricked as I replied, "oh...thanks." I also noticed Harry's expression as he walked to go get ingredients. He stomped back to his table and I heard Ron say. "Harry. You didn't grab the rat claws...how are we supposed to..." He growled back. "I. Do not. Care. I'm not going to touch something that close to...never mind. You go get it yourself if your so content on making it. We're going to mess it up either way. Choosing the wrong ingredients would be a better excuse." Ron shrugged looking more confused than normal and walked off to go get the claws, a little concerned at "what it was close to."
Mione returned with all of the ingredients stacked on top of each other. Then she sat to work, making me hand her her wand and utensils for chopping herbs and claws. I gagged as the smell of rotting flesh nagged at me. What a Christmassy potion.
The class dismissed after snape gave a full out speech about what he does not want to see from students this evening. Including; making out in public, stripping, skinny dipping in the lake, have sex, filming porn, drinking, and any illegal magic for growing body parts. Which include; breasts, penises, tongues, asses, and anything else usually covered with clothes. Then he had to scold Draco and his whole house for snickering. He got Draco to shut up pretty quickly after he replied, " you shouldn't be laughing mr. Malfoy. I'm mainly saying they precautions to you." This made Draco's sheet white face go as red as my hair. This triggered Harry's laugh, and the professor quickly added. "But mr. Potter is becoming a more regular threat with each growing day, knowing you now are with miss. Chang." He turned about as red as Draco and neither spoke as we exited the classroom. Draco bumped my shoulder and whispered in my ear. "Room of requirement, 7:30?" He met my eyes for a second then continued walking and I shouted into the blue. "Yeah, sounds great!" He nodded slightly and walked on to lunch. Mione rushed up to my side. "What are you and Draco doing tonight?" I looked bewildered. "What?" She rolled her eyes. "He just asked you to go do something. Mind telling me what it is. Or are you going to break the rules Snape just mentioned." I looked at her, and an idea popped into my head. "How about we have Christmas tonight. In the room of requirement. Draco would be there. You could come. I would attend. Luna would. What do you say?" Her face brightened. "It sounds wonderful. So are we exchanging gifts?" I nodded. We could do that tonight. Draco would have a bit of a surprise. But I bet he wouldn't argue too hard. We giggled and went to lunch.

The rest of the day pasted quickly and pretty soon ancient runes ended and we headed for the great hall. Where the Christmas feast would be held. Snow was falling from the ceiling and huge Christmas trees decorated for each house lined the wall with a huge one with an ornament for each professor hung beautifully on a branch. Mcgonagall tapped her champagne glass and the hall went silent, as if a spell had sweet over them as one. Mcgonagall spoke, her voice ringing through the hall. "This year as a tribute to all those fallen in the war I would like you to all for a single file Lina and pick up the empty cage with you name on it, it will also contain a folded slip of parchment with a name of one that had passed on in either the last three years or the last great wizarding war. Harry sniffles beside me, and even though we were in a fight I rubbed his back in a comforting motion. He didn't pull away, or question it. Mcgonagall commanded us to rise and we all did as one, suddenly acting respectful and good mannered. The line progressed through first, second, third, and fourth, then when fifth came the numbers started to dwindle. And by the time only the seventh year returns were left we only had 34 students. We walked by until Harry picked up his with his name scripted. In golden letters. Hermione was already back at the table, and Draco was walking back to his table as well, carrying a silver cage with green writing inked Ina name tag with perfect lines and corners. I was last and I picked up a bronze cage with a vine of golden leaves weaving I and out of the bars. I sat back down beside Hermione in silence. Mcgonagall spoke again. "Now I want you to carefully open your cage but shut it firmly again and read the name written on the parchment." Everyone opened their cage which contained the names. The whole table read there's out loud, one at a time. Parvati went first with ms. Abbot, Hannah's mother. She was no longer at Hogwarts, but I personally felt it was right to honor her mother. Seamus got Rufus Scrimgeour. Dean got Bertha Jorkins, who was brutally murdeed by death eaters. We winced a little as he called out her name. Next Neville unfolded his to reveal his patented. He choked a little bit swallowed. Even though only his mother was fully dead. We considered them heroes to be honored. Hermione opened hers and read in a choked whisper, Remus Lupin and Nymphorada Tonks. We nodded and Harry let a tear fall down his cheek. I briefly hugged him and Ron slug his arm on his shoulder talking to him quietly. Ron looked at me. Waiting for me to open mine. "I-I wanna wait." Ron nodded and slowly opened if and read it out loud.
"Bi-Bilious W-Weasley." He gulped and I fell into his arms and released a sob. He silently heaved too. Everyone wiped their tears away and said silent prayers. Harry nudged me and Ron once we stopped crying but our eyes were still red and blotchy. He then unfolded his and read. "Dobby. A
f-free elf" Hermione's head dropped as tears slid down her nose. She thought his death was her fault. She could've saved him. Of course it wasn't. He died a heroic death. Harry nodded multiple time to keep the tears in. We were done except for my paper. "I still want to hold off. Till the last second." They nodded and looked at Mcgonagall who had tears I her eyes herself just from watching our faces. First years were balling because of their mum or daddy dying in the recent war. The hall was silent listening for what to do next. "Now students, put the piece of paper back into the cage and close the door." We all did so. I unfolded mine but kept it face down. "Now I will call you one by one. I want you to say the name of the person clearly, your voice will amplify, and open the cage. Then stand around the tree." We nodded. And Mcgonagall started. "Luna Lovegood." Luna stood from her chair and walked to the right of the tree and opened her cage. She then said "Sirius Black" and a dove sprouted out of the parchment and flew up and landed on one of the branches. Once it touched the tree it turned gold and red, beautifully crafted. Representing his house along with his being. The bird landed in a mid flight position. Next the first ears went and 67 new doves sprouted around the tree taking different poses and turning different colors. Next Mcgonagall called, "Ron Weasley." He gulped and walked to the tree, choking out Bill's name before standing next to Luna wiping his eyes furiously. Hermione went next with lupin and Tonks. Their doves landed together their wings spread wide. Almost touching. Harry gasped. And he shed another tear. They died trying o hold each other's hand. I squeezed his shoulder as his name was called. Everyone murmured. I bet they were guessing. The names were his parents. But Draco's expression seemed to be pained, and I could tell he knew it was Dobby. "Dobby, he died a free elf." A small dove with huge wknd sprouted and flew to a low branch and froze in a tight caring position. Harry shuddered and stood beside Hermione and Ron. Then Mcgonagall called, "Draco Malfoy." Draco wiped his eyes before stepping close to behind the tree. He whispered hoping the amplifier wouldn't catch his voice but the his voice rang out the words. "Albus Dumbledore" and then he again wiped his eyes and stepped back behind the tree. I was the top five left. The third year went the a fourth, then a second, the first who was crying forced the third year who I guessed was his sister to say his so she choked out "m-my m-um and m-my dad." Before running towards her brother and hugging him and crying. I was last. "Ginny Weasley." I walked up to the tree. All the important people were said mostly. I probably had a muggle, which still was sad but I wouldn't choke up at least. I flipped my paper over in the cage and read, "Fred...w-weas-" I sobbed. And I couldn't finish the name. A bird fluttered playfully out and land in a position as if it was about to spiral downwards. I coughed and rushed to the back of the tree so people wouldn't see me cry and I met Draco's arms, and he buried his head into my hair and I scrunched my eyes closed and put my face in the crook of his neck, taking deep breaths, as I felt years land on my head. He was crying too. "Y-you didn't...k-kill him." He sputtered and shook his head. I hugged his stomach tighter. Calming down as the tree shot out silvery patronizes of all the doves. It was the most beautiful thing I've experienced. A silvery fox floated by me with a Phoenix right in time with it. Draco wiped his puffy eyes and gave me a watery smile. I decided to tell him about tonight. "Hey. We're going to have Christmas tonight. Hermione's coming, so is Luna. We can play truth or dare and give gifts." He looked like he was about to argue but nodded instead, a more confident smile edging it's way into his mouth. "Your going to regret truth or dare Weasley." I laughed, a little congestedly, but still a short little chuckle. "You wish."

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