{One week later}
"Only twenty days 'till Christmas break!" Anna exclaimed happily, throwing her hands above her head.
Ella and Snow exchanged amused looks. The three girls were walking from their Divination class to lunch. The halls were crowded, prompting a few stares from the students passing by during Anna's declaration. She simply ignored the stares, feeling too elated to give them much thought.
"Only you would loudly count down the days until our holiday break," Ella observed.
Anna rolled her eyes. "Oh, c'mon! How could you not be excited for a break! Especially Christmas," she retorted.
Snow giggled and shook her head. Her friend has always been a bit odd, even by wizarding standards. Anna had a strange sense of humor, abnormal physical strength, and was the clumsiest person Snow had ever met. But she was sweet and kind.
As they neared the library, Anna stopped suddenly and slapped her forehead. Ella and Snow, who were slightly ahead of her, stopped as well and turned around, giving her quizzical looks at their friend.
"I just remembered that book Elsa recommended for Transfiguration. I'm going to go look for it really quick," Anna announced. "I'll meet you guys at lunch!"
Ella and Snow said goodbye as she rushed into the library. The two girls looked at each other and shrugged, then turned around again to walk to lunch.
Anna quickly scanned the book shelves. She couldn't find Madam Pan-Darling, so she went to search on her own.
She turned a corner, only to step too close to it, and tripped. Anna yelped and started to flail her arms around in a fruitless effort to stop the falling, only to grab a hold of some poor person and dragging them down with her. She fell on her back and pulled the person on top of her.
"Oh my gosh! I'm so so so so sorry!" Anna apologized adamantly. "I wasn't looking where I was going and -"
"It's fine," the person cut in.
Anna was about to continue apologizing when she looked up and suddenly lost all ability to talk. The boy above her was incredibly handsome: a head full of thick, auburn hair, with an adorable smirk and gorgeous green eyes.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"What? Oh, yeah, I'm fine," she replied. "Are you fine? Because you look fine - I mean handsome - I mean gorgeous - wait, what?"
Oh my gosh, what am I even saying?! I have a boyfriend! she yelled at herself. Sure, this guy is really good-looking, but Kristoff is even better! In his own, special way, of course.
The boy chuckled as he stood up, then offered his hand. Anna glad took it, and he helped her stand up. He kept a hold of her hand and kissed it.
"I'm Hans South-Isles," he introduced himself.
Anna giggled and felt the strong urge to curtsy. She didn't, of course, because that would be weird.
"I'm Anna Arendelle," she said.
"Arendelle? As in..." Hans started to say.
"...Elsa Arendelle's little sister? Yes, yes I am," Anna finished.
"Actually, I was going to say you're one of the Hufflepuff Beaters, right?" he said.
"What? Y-yes, I am," she stuttered.
"Wow," he said. "That's really cool. Not many girls are Beaters, and from what I've seen, you're amazing. And really pretty,"
She blushed and looked away. "Thank you, that's so sweet, but not entirely true. Elsa is incredibly beautiful, and smart, and talented. I'm just...well, I'm just me,"
Hans placed a hand under her chin, gently turning her head until she had no choice but to look at him.
"I would have to completely disagree with that," Hans said quietly.
"Um..." Anna muttered, feeling her face turn bright red.
They stared at each other for a long time, until Hans removed his hand took a step back and around Anna.
"I have to go," he said. "I'll see you around?"
"What? Oh, yeah, totally, see you around, Hans," she said.
Hans smiled, bowing slightly, then walked away. Anna watched him leave, feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.
The feeling surprised her. She shook her head to get rid of those sudden thoughts.
I'm with Kristoff, she told herself. He's sweet, kind, smart, handsome...even if he does have strange affinities for ice and reindeer and was raised by Rock Trolls.
Anna shook her head again. She started to turn around, when she caught sight of the book she was looking for. She took it from the shelf, and went in search of Madam Pan-Darling again.
Chip caught sight of Belle in the library. Her head was bent over a book, completely focused on the text. Jasmine Aziz was nowhere to be seen, so it was safe to assume that they weren't having a tutoring session today. Then Chip remembered Belle telling him how her favorite place in the entire school was the library.
Which meant she was still sad.
Chip hated seeing her so sad. His romantic feelings aside, he saw her as a friend, and wanted to help her anyway he could.
He slowly approached her, nibbling on his bottom lip. He tapped on her shoulder. Belle looked over and smiled.
"Oh, hello Chip," she greeted.
"Hi," he replied, also smiling.
He shuffled his feet and wrung his hands, avoiding eye contact. He kept is focus on the books surrounding them.
Belle turned around in her chair until she was fully facing him and looked at him knowingly.
"I can tell that something is on your mind," she observed.
Chip didn't say anything, rocking back on his heels instead.
"What's wrong, Chip?" she asked quietly.
He finally looked at Belle. With a sudden burst of courage, Chip straightened his back and lifted his chin.
"That's what I wanted to ask you," he said.
Belle lifted an eyebrow and tilted her head to the side, clearly confused.
"What's wrong, Belle?" he clarified by asking.
"Oh." was all she uttered. Belle turned around again and focused on her book.
Despite her body language, Chip wasn't about to give up so easily. He squared his shoulders and marched to an empty chair beside her. He pulled it out, plopped himself into the seat and gave Belle a hard, determined look.
"I'm not leaving until you tell me what's wrong," Chip stated. "I know something happened last week and you won't tell anyone about it. Well, I'm here to listen,"
Belle turned to look at him, clearly set on not talking. But then her expression softened and she sighed.
"I suppose I should tell someone," she consented. "But to be perfectly clear, I'm not going to tell you everything that happened,"
"Why not?" he wondered.
"Because there's a secret I have to keep, and that's all I'm going to say about it," she answered firmly.
Chip was confused, but decided that, so long as she talks to him, it doesn't really matter.
"I honestly had a wonderful time with Adam last weekend," Belle began. "It was just...towards the end of the date, we were looking at the Shrieking Shack, and he told me a story. It was about the original owner of the shack and it was scary. A truly scary story."
She went quiet, lost in her thoughts.
Chip looked dubious. There was obviously more to the story than she was letting on. "Is that all?"
Belle smiled a humorless smile. "Not really. But Adam's story did bother me, and it still does,"
She stood up, gathered her books and looked down at the first year.
"Thank you for listening, Chip," she bent down and kissed his cheek. "I'll see you at dinner?" Belle asked.
Chip was in complete shock by the kiss she gave him, yet somehow gave her a nod. Belle smiled, said goodbye and walked away.
Chip sat in the library for a long time, until Madam Pan-Darling told him it was time to go to the Great Hall to have dinner. Numbly, he followed the librarian.
I wonder what really happened last weekend. he thought to himself.
Malinda stared at Adam intently, absentmindedly stroking Diaval's feathers. They sat in the Slytherin common room, the only souls still in the space and remaining awake. It was nearly ten at night, but neither were making any effort to go to bed.
Adam was aware of her eyes on him, and, after hours of Mal staring at him as he glared at the fireplace, he finally had enough.
"What the hell do you want, Mal?" he snapped.
Mal simply smiled that knowing smirk, white teeth gleaming and framed by deep red lips.
"Oh, nothing," she said casually. "Only, I'm curious,"
Adam lifted an eyebrow, eyeing her suspiciously. "What are you curious about?" he asked.
"You and that Ravenclaw fifth year...oh, what's her name..." she started to say. Diaval cawed when she paused. "That's right! Belle French. Thank you, Diaval."
Diaval cawed again, flapping his wings before settling down again. Malinda continued to pet her crow as he rested on her lap.
Adam crossed his arms and legs, gauging Mal and her possible intentions.
"Could you be a little more...specific, about Belle and myself?"
She chuckled darkly, that smile still graced her lips.
"Isn't it obvious, dear?" Mal asked rhetorically. "I want to know what you're doing with her and why,"
Adam remained silent, stubborn and brooding as usual.
Really, it was getting quite old, she felt, practically acting like a beast. But, she consented, he doesn't act like that as often anymore.
And Malinda believed she knew why.
"Fine. Don't tell me. I've seen enough to draw my own conclusions," Mal stated. "I know you've been spending a lot of time with her since your accident, and I know that you like her. I mean really like her. And despite what you might think, Adam de la BĂȘte, I am actually a bit of a romantic.
Belle is good for you. Far too good for the likes of you, mind, but I digress. I can already see you change for the better, for what it is worth."
They were quiet again, with only the crackle of the fire filling the void. Adam prayed that that was all she was going to say on the matter. It was strange enough that Mal was able to immediately notice his growing feelings for Belle.
"However..." she added.
Of course, she has more to say.
"...I worry about that temper of yours. You're very quick to anger, and I have witnessed the consequences of that temper on multiple occasions. Adam, you need to tread carefully if you ever hope to be with someone like Belle French."
She was right, naturally. While Belle had seen the wolf side of him, she has yet to see the truly beastly part.
Mal urged Diaval to move from her lap to her outstretched finger, then stood up. She walked past Adam, then stopped, turned around and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't lose her, Adam." she warned. She gave his shoulder a gentle pat before taking her leave.
He looked over the back of the armchair, confused and (as much as he didn't want to admit,) a little touched by her warning. Mal was always sticking her nose in his business, as much as it annoyed him, but at least she doesn't push. It was one of the things Adam liked about her, and one of the reasons why he begrudgingly relies on her as a confidant.
"You can talk to me about her whenever you want, darling. Just so you know," Mal called over her shoulder.
Adam rolled his eyes. Of course, she would leave an open invitation for herself to further weasel her way into his personal life in an effort to gain the upper hand.
But, if he was being completely honest with himself, the thought of having someone to talk to about Belle was...nice.
Even if that someone was Malinda Ficient.
A/N: Well, this came out sooner than expected. I think it's because Maleficent wanted to make an appearance. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed it! As always, let me know what characters you want to see, and you can always prompt me(:
