A Forbidden Love

Chapter 8: My Family Continues To Grow

The rest of the two week break goes by quickly. I don't meet up with my friends anymore, so it's fairly uneventful. I don't have nearly as much fun with my parents as I do my friends. They're fun, don't get me wrong, but I enjoy my friends' company more. Especially since they accepted me when my parents didn't.

On Christmas morning, I come down to our annual sausage Christmas breakfast casserole and gifts from my parents. We eat the casserole with a side of hash browns and a glass of orange juice to drink. Once we can't eat any more, we go open gifts. I get a lot of books, a new cauldron, and a new deck of Exploding Snap cards. I give Dad The Empire Strikes Back on VHS tape. He has been a Star Wars fan since the first movie came out. I give Mom a new set of cooking utensils.

We celebrate New Years together. Once the final second ticks down, we drink to a new year. I drink sparkling cider and Mom and Dad drink wine.

The Monday after New Years, the second school semester begins. The Hogwarts Express leaves the day before.

I wake up Sunday morning, at ten, to my parents ready to leave. I packed last night so I could sleep in. I get dressed and ready quickly, more than ready to leave. It's exhausting living your life as a lie to the people you used to trust the most.

At 10:30, we are apparating away from the house with all the stuff I brought home for the break. We're on the platform and all my stuff is packed on the train by 10:45. I find my friends and run over to meet them.  Mom and Dad go to find their friends.

At eleven, the train leaves and me and my friends are in our train compartment. We fill each other in on the break and just talk. We never run out of things to talk about, it seems.

There are other people in our compartment. If they were there on our other rides, I didn't notice. I catch one girl looking at us, sitting around people but not with them. We decide to invite her over. I wave to her.

"Hey," I say.

"Hey," she says.

"Those your friends over there?"

"Not really," she responds, her face immediately dropping.

"You can be part of our group if you want."

"Seriously?" She perks up.

"Of course," I say. "Right guys?"

They seem kind of reluctant to add a girl to our group, but I glare at them and they mutter an agreement.

We spend the rest of the ride introducing ourselves. I learn that her name in Pansy Parkinson, and she is a slytherin like ourselves. As we talk, the others seem to warm up to her. I can tell she's excited to be included in something. I wonder what her relationship with her parents must be, if it makes her that happy to have someone include her. I feel a little bad for her.

We arrive at school just in time for the final holiday feast in the Great Hall. We head to our spot at the Slytherin table. I invite Pansy to eat with us. She willingly tags along. At the table, everyone is talking about their break.  My group eats in silence except to answer a few questions from others at the table. We are tired and all talked out from the train ride.

After dinner, we head back to the common room. The Slytherins have one final party to celebrate the end of Christmas Break. The house parties for a few hours until Snape comes in to shut us down.

"Go to bed!" He yells. "School starts back up tomorrow, and you better be on your best performance." Snape is such a party pooper.

Everyone goes to their dormitories. We are no different. We sit on the edge of our bed, too awake from partying to sleep just yet. There is one other person in the room, the only other first year boy. I think his name is Theodore, but I haven't talked to him besides in passing. He seems to be sleeping, so I judge it safe to talk with my group.

"You weren't upset about me welcoming in Pansy were you?" I ask. I may lead the group, but they deserve a say. After all, they didn't ditch me after I came out.

"We were at first, but she grew on me, honestly," Blaise says.

"Yeah," the others agree.

"Okay. Just making sure. You're just as important to this group as I am." I decide they deserve to know I appreciate them. "Thank you for not rejecting me for being bi," I finish, whispering, just in case Theodore is still awake.

On that note, we go to bed. I'm feeling good and I hope they are too. I lay back on my bed and roll over. I am on the closest bed to Theodore, so I notice when one of his eyes pops open.

"Psst." He pages me. "I wasn't asleep, you know. I heard everything you said."

"Dammit!" I whisper to no one in particular. "Stupid Slytherins and their desire to eaves drop and their ability to do so sneakily!" I curse some more.

"Don't worry," he says. "Us Slytherins, we're in it together. People may think we're evil, but we're also a family." I like this kid. "Oh, and if you don't want me to, I won't tell anyone that your bi."

"Dang. You even heard that?" I ask, not expecting a response. "Yes, that would be nice. Thanks."

"You don't have to be so worried. I don't think many people would care."

"I hope you're right because my parents' reaction says very differently."

"Ah," he says. "They grew up in a different generation. People don't like change. Plus, they were probably just shocked."

"I hope so. Thanks... Uh?"

"Theodore Nott."

"Draco Malfoy."

"I know. Nice to meet you."

"You too."

With that, I roll over, making a mental note to ask the others about letting him join our gang. I fall asleep relaxed. Theodore was right. We are a family. It's the best one I could ever have.