human again / hp.

Chapter 92

Snow crunched under my boots as Daphne and I made our way down the long, winding path toward the train. The wind bit at my cheeks, painting them pink, and tiny snowflakes clung to my scarf and lashes. Most students were heading home today—dragging trunks, carrying owl cages, saying half-hearted goodbyes through frozen breaths.

Christmas at Hogwarts was always a strange thing. Some years it felt magical. Some years it just... didn't.

This one?
Definitely the latter.

I adjusted the strap on my shoulder as we walked, glancing around at all the students heading back to warm homes and glowing trees and crackling fireplaces. Some looked excited, others indifferent. I, on the other hand, felt like I was being marched off to my own sentencing.

"Have you picked out your dress yet?" Daphne asked beside me, her voice muffled slightly by the scarf wrapped around her face.

I gave her a look. "For the ball?" I muttered. "Ugh. Don't remind me."

She gave a dramatic gasp. "Celeste Malfoy? Dreading a ball? Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?"

I snorted. "It's not the ball. It's the Theo part."

"Ah." Daphne smirked knowingly. "So he said yes?"

"Unfortunately."

"You say that like he's a venomous slug."

"He practically is."

She laughed, pulling her cloak tighter. "I thought your parents liked him."

"Oh, they love him," I said bitterly. "He's pure-blooded, polished, properly dull—what's not to love? But he also made a jab at me last week about ending up like Sirius Black, remember?"

Daphne winced. "Right. Forgot about that. He really said that to your face?"

"Direct quote." I nudged a pebble with my toe, watching it skitter across the icy path. "And now I get to waltz into my parents' ballroom on his arm, pretending like everything is perfectly civil and respectable and not at all awkward or tragic."

"At least he's attractive," Daphne offered cheerfully.

I shot her a look. "Seriously?"

"What? I'm just saying—if you're going to suffer through something, it helps if the person you're suffering with has good cheekbones."

"You're insufferable."

She beamed. "And yet, you love me."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help the small smile tugging at my lips. "You're lucky you're cute."

Daphne smirked. "So are you. And that's why I'm bringing Astoria's friend, that Ravenclaw boy—what's his name again? Oh, right. Darien. Tall. Bit awkward. Looks like he's always halfway through a panic attack."

"That sounds... thrilling."

"Yeah, well, I figured if I was going to be forced into dressing up and playing nice, I might as well pick someone who'll make me look better by comparison."

I chuckled. "Brutal."

We walked in silence for a moment, boots crunching rhythmically in the snow. The wind carried the faint sound of laughter from a group of second-years ahead of us, dragging their trunks toward the train with more energy than I could ever manage.

I slowed slightly. "I wish they were here."

Daphne turned her head. "Who?"

"Harry. Hermione. The Weasleys. All of them. It's weird not having them around."