The Girl Who Lived (Draco Malfoy x OC)

The Dog in the Snow

December 8th 1996

She loved winter and all of its crystalline joy. There were days where Harper loved to stay in her warm bed, to observe the pearly snow from under her duvet, fingers wrapped snugly around some hot chocolate. And then there were days where winter would take her hand and show its beauty, the sunshine and cold, the sparkle and the ice. She loved it on every day. Today, she was making the most of it with Ginny and Dean on their trip to Hogsmeade. As they strolled through the jewellers, she waited outside to watch the snow dance in the light, like ballet conducted by the gentle breeze.

She crossed her arms, cuddling her soft winter coat to her body as she kicked fallen snow. The street looked like an unfinished painting. So much of the canvas still perfectly white, as if waiting for the artists hand to return. She blinked thoughtfully as the frost kissed her face, captivated by the soft, dusty illusions of light that sat on her eyelashes. Turning smoothly on her heel, her eye caught the gold jewellery on display in the shop window.

Harper wasn't a jewellery person. Though she had the Potter fortune secure in the bank for her, she never spent much of it. When she did, it was on school necessities, never superficial things like jewellery. Sometimes she would admire the sparkling crystals Daphne Greengrass would wear or the big gems on Pansy Parkinson's fingers. But they were meaningless and in her opinion, a nuisance. They weren't like the necklace Hermione had strung around her neck. Hermione's necklace had been passed down in her family for generations and meant something. She twisted her lips, it had been years since she looked in her vault. Maybe Lily left some pretty jewelry for her to wear. At least that would have some heart to it.

"A spot of shopping, Potter?"

It was a voice that used to make her roll her eyes, now it did the polar opposite. She tried to mask the smile fighting its way to her lips as she turned to see the beholder.

"You didn't strike me as the lavish type," Malfoy said, eyes on the window of gold.

"Let me guess, too pretty for me?"

He huffed, hands in the pocket of his big winter coat. "Not enough," he said quietly.

The smile broke forth.

"I'm just waiting for Ginny and Dean," she turned to the window, suddenly unable to look at him. "The jewellery just happens to be here."

"A bit of gold would suit you, Potter," he remarked.

"Of course you would think that," she half-chuckled. "I think you would sink in the lake with the amount of silver you wear."

"Ha ha, very funny," he spread out his fingers, displaying his rings. "They are all family heirlooms, it would be disrespect if I didn't bear them."

She eyed the biggest one, a hunk of solid silver with the Malfoy crest embedded into it. Words inscribed in Latin arched beneath. "What does it say?" She inquired.

"Sanctimonia Vincet Semper," he said without a beat. "It means, Purity Will Always Conquer."

"Of course," her voice went tight. "And this one?"

"It belonged to my grandfather Septimus," he said, displaying the thick, silver band.

"Let me guess, this was your grandmothers?" She chimed at the thinner ring, small emeralds dotted around it.

"My grandfather Nicholas's," his voice a bit stiffer, "I was gifted it on my eleventh birthday. They inscribed my name inside the band."

She nodded, a pinch of jealousy from all the history he could adorn. "It's incredible they are still in the family."