The Girl Who Never Lived¹ | h. potter

💎Chapter 12💎

It began one winter morning when Hogwarts awoke and found that they were covered in several feet of snow. The lake froze solid and snow-dusted the very top layer of ice. The Weasley twins preoccupied themselves by bewitching snowballs and bouncing them off the back of Professor Quirrell's turban, which they were later punished for.

For days, Ciara suspected what was happening, and now, after the letters, the owls rushing in and out, the decorations, and all of the other students buzzing in their seats in excitement, her suspicions were finally confirmed.

Christmas was coming.

Holidays at Malfoy Manor were always... complicated for Ciara. She could vaguely remember two Christmases that didn't end in total disaster and even then, they were...sketchy at best...

She remembers how angry her mother would get and she would often spend the nights in Draco's room instead of her own. She remembers how frustrated Lucius would get and how he seemed to age ten years in the span of a few months. The only fond memory she had was of Narcissa dressing her up in gowns for the guests that would come over, all of the other pureblood maniacs.

All of Lord Voldemort's followers.

All of the people who could see she was nothing like her parents.

At the time, no one would hurt her. They would frown at her when she made a kind decision and scowled her if she thanked the house-elves. They would make snide comments about her actions but her mother would always stop them by saying, "She's only a child. She will learn."

Ciara never learned.

So while the Gryffindor common room and the Great Hall had roaring fires, the drafty corridors had become bitterly cold and icy.

This was nothing new to Ciara, given she lives in a basement. But everyone else was deeply affected by the turn of events. While students threw on as many layers as they could, Ciara walked around in her school uniform like there weren't mountains of snow outside.

But despite her resistance to the cold, even Ciara had to put on layers when going to Snape's class down in the dungeon. Their breath rose and fogged the air as their breathed and they all huddled as close to the hot cauldrons as possible.

"I do feel so sorry," said Draco Malfoy, one Potions class, "for all those people who have to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas because they're not wanted at home."

He was looking at Harry as he said this, but Harry, suddenly deciding to be a pacifist, ignored him in favor of measuring out his powdered spine of lionfish.

Ciara however... Ciara wasn't that merciful.

She immediately popped her stool back and leaned against the table behind her. Ignoring Hermione's angry hiss, she stared at her cousin with a cold, calculating eye.

"Who's to say they don't want the family Malfoy," she raised her brows and looked at his hair, "Or is all that hair gel making it hard to think?"

He stayed quiet for the rest of class.

The Great Hall looked immaculate, all of the trees decorated in white and gold, their ornament shining and glowing in the firelight. Some were sparkling with tiny icicles and some glittering with hundreds of candles. Festoons of holly and mistletoe hung all around the walls. The students and teachers were all smiling and laughing, everyone seeming to be enjoying the holidays.

Except for Snape. Snape doesn't like anything.

Ciara glanced around at the Great Hall, smiling along with everyone else.