Yellow Badger [3]// Harry Potter // Draco Malfoy

Going Home for Christmas

Chapter Twenty-One: Going Home for Christmas

Avoiding Draco was a lot easier than expected. Between Quidditch practice, Harry's Secret Army  and dreaming of death, there was no time even accidentally to cross paths with him.
The castle had been decorated for the Christmas break, with trees on every floor and warm fires in every window. From the quidditch pitch, it was a beautiful sight as the fires flickered, and the roof was dusted white with snow.

"Ok!" Roger blew the whistle," That's the year's final practice done! You should all be proud of yourselves; the first match after the holidays is against Slytherin, and they will use the January frost to advance."
"Yeah, don't we know it," I spoke under my breath, flashes of the previous winter matches coming to mind.
Roger nodded," But for now, have a wonderful Christmas; I know many of you are leaving this weekend."
"Merry Christmas, Roger." I slapped his shoulder as I left the pitch with Jack and Uriah.
Over my uniform, I pulled on a coat and swung my duffle over my shoulder, stepping my broom to where a yoga mat would usually go. Going up the hill, I had my hands under my armpits, gloved covering my cold fingers. Winter was beautiful, I stand by that... just from the inside looking out, whilst you're warm with a hot chocolate.

The closer we got to the castle grounds, the more snow people popped up from the ground wearing different coloured scarves.  One had a snow dog, whilst another had been magicked its snow cloud; it was adorable with its carrot nose and coal for buttons down its middle.
"Gonna love you and leave you, Cels," Uriah announced as we crossed the gate," I have an essay to write."
I nodded," I'll see you at the Christmas meal."
Uriah smirked," I'm not missing out on those exploding crackers for the world."
I laughed, imagining the confetti raining down after each cracker was pulled.
Pushing my way through the corridors, other students bustled around, carrying bags of Christmas presents they had brought from today's Hogsmeade for others or on their way to gifts before they left. 

"Miss Longbottom!" Professor Flitwick called  from behind me.
I stopped, moving to the side as I waited for my head of house to make his presence known.
"Sir?" I questioned as my favourite  professor stood in front of me, a Christmas waistcoat under his navy cloak.
"Are you leaving this Christmas?" He asked, holding his parchment," I was meant to as yesterday, however..."
Professor Umbridge started measuring the distance between each bauble on the large tree in the Great Hall; unimpressed by the uneven decorations, she had Professor Flitwick redecorate the trees around the castle. The task itself isn't the humorous side; the sight of the charm's professor being thrown into the tree by an exploding teacup is what made the event funny. He trailed on; I pulled a tight smile as I attempted not to laugh.

"Yeah, I am – Neville and I are leaving over the weekend," I said with a smile.
Jotting my name on his piece of long parchment, he nodded as he crossed the double t's in my surname.
"Wonderful; if you ever need to talk, Miss Longbottom, my door is always open."  With a sharp nod, the professor spun on his heels and joined the sea of people.

"O.I.!" I heard a familiar voice," Longbottom!"
Turning my head, I saw a head of blond hair push his way through the crowds towards me.
Shit.

I didn't stop running till I made it to the safety of the music room.
It felt like months since I'd been here. With everything with Umbridge, The Order, Dumbledore's Army and O.W.L. classes, there was never enough time to do something I loved.   Picking up the guitar, my fingers strummed away at the strings as the anxiety melted. Drizella sat before the fire as the music echoed around the space. In the Christmas Spirit, I played Christmas Tree O' Christmas Tree in a loop, almost like I was a stuck record.
"Cels."
Shit.
"How long have you been there?" I questioned, not looking up from the strings.
He sat down in what used to be his usual space," Long enough."
"That's not a time."
"I've been here as long as you did that –" Draco mimed the guitar.
Pushing his hands down, I smiled," That's very vague, but thank you."
"You are a hard person to find, though," Draco stated, leaning back and resting his left ankle on his right knee," We need to talk."
"Not right now." I said," After Christmas, sure, but not now."
Draco rolled his eyes, "Yeah, no. You can't say shit like that, truth serum or not, and expect there not to be a conversation."
"Can it wait?" I asked, putting the guitar back on the stand.
"No."
I took a deep breath, I knew this was a conversation he wanted to have, but I couldn't focus, and it wasn't fair to him.
"I won't be able to give you my whole focus right now; my head is in too many places," I confessed.
He nodded," Then listen. You might have said something you were unprepared for, and I understand it scares you. You, Celyn Longbottom, sufferable because you think it was just you, it wasn't – it was me too, and as the person you said it to, you didn't even wait for my response."
"Because you would've just blown it off like you do Pansy or Daphne." I argued back," Why would I wait for that?"
"Because I wasn't going to blow you off." Draco sighed," You have supported me like no one else, and you have every right to hate me and my family. You have more freedom than most after what my aunt did, but since... he moved in, I've never been more grateful to have you around Cels. And as much as I would do anything to take you on a cheese date, I'll find it horrific to see you smile, even if you know it's too dangerous."
"That was a nice blow-off, thank you." I rolled my eyes, going to stand up.
Draco pushed me back down to my chair," Not finished. These are dangerous times, and I know I won't be standing on your battlefield. That's why we should take baby steps and test the waters. Not by choice, because if I could, I'd walk with you."
"Baby steps?" I questioned," What do you have in mind?"
"Christmas day, under the Eiffel Tower – sounds like a start, right?"
I nodded," Yeah, it does."