Ready for Winter

"I've been nice to you haven't I?" Draco asked as he slammed his books on the desk next to me, our Potions class still partly empty. "Given you books so you can learn and a broom so you can be involved with school activities." I ignored him, pretending to clean my cauldron.

"Not that I've asked or anything..." I mumbled.

"I haven't said anything about being in Slytherin, I've made sure my friends have you left you alone."

"Again, not that I've asked or anything" I repeated, this time loud enough for him to hear. He grunted as he set his cauldron down. "What is your problem?" I asked him.

"You're with him, the Weasley twin" he snorted.

"Fred, because that's his name, Fred, and yes, I'm with him."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"It wasn't any of your business" I snapped back, getting quite fed up with his, well, whatever it was. "Listen, you don't have to be nice to me, I can pay you back for all the books and if you want me to return the broom I hardly used it. I don't need your help Draco" I reminded him.

"I just, it doesn't, this must be hard for you" he said, seeming to stumble over his words which I was fighting to not laugh at.

"It's really not, Melinda's very supportive, or at least she would be if she would have normal conversations with me..." I said as Professor Snape walked in, writing down today's lessons without saying a word.

"Why isn't she having normal conversation with you? Does she disapprove of your dating?" For some reason Draco sounded overly concerned, almost making me feel guilty about being so mad at him.

"She happened to notice some of your kind favors" I answered sarcastically.

"Does she need books too?"

"What? Yes, I mean, no, no, that's not what I mean. She thinks you're doing it for one stupid reason rather than the actual stupid reason," I tried explaining but he just blinked at me. "She thinks we clicked and we like each other or something ridiculous." Draco's face went from pale, to red, to green as his expressions changed in a matter of seconds.

"No!" Draco exclaimed as the rest of the class looked around at us. He apologized to Professor Snape but he didn't seem to really mind, just glared at us and continued talking about the importance of a bezoar. "What? Absolutely not, did you tell her that?"

"I haven't had the chance" I told him.

"Well tell her, I'll tell her, don't worry about it, I'll handle it."

"I feel like that's a terrible idea, we'll talk to her together, after dinner. I usually have my walks with Fred but I'm sure he won't mind if I skip one. For an important reason." Draco nodded in an agreement. Now I just had to find some way to corner Melinda. Maybe her friend Holly could help with that I thought to myself as Professor Snape started directing us in today's potion.

The rest of the day passed unusually slowly, maybe it was because I was waiting for Draco, both excited and nervous we'd be talking to Melinda, but at least this could all be put to rest. "Hey, where are you off to?" Fred asked as he caught to me after dinner, ready for our walk.

"I actually have plans tonight" I told him as he furrowed his eyebrows.

"I'm pretty sure I have an offer you can't pass up" he said as I resisted all inner desire to just walk off with him.

"Trust me, I have never heard a more tempting offer but, it's important, it involves Melinda, I gotta clear the air with her."

"What happened? Can I help?" He asked switching to thoughtful and serious.

"No, I kinda already accepted help from someone else..."

"Who?"

"Draco Malfoy?" As if saying his name was linked to some connection he came from around a corner, I hadn't seen him at dinner but I assumed he had to be close, he seemed more anxious about all this than me.

"Oh" Fred said frowning at Draco as Draco stared at him.

"Can I help you, Weasley?"

"Stay away from my girlfriend, Malfoy" I shook my head, pushing Fred one way and Draco the other as it looked as if they were about to go toe to toe, or spell to spell.

"We're not doing this, it will not help my case."

"And what case do you need help with from this guy?" Fred asked turning his chin up in Draco's direction.

"If you really must know, Melinda thinks Draco likes me..."

"That's it? Okay, then I think, and hear me out, as your boyfriend I'm way more suited to explain to Melinda that I actually like you. Why does she think the prat likes you anyway?"

"I'm right here" Draco muttered through gritted teeth.

"Did I stutter?" Fred shot back.

"Draco gave me some books, new books, when I first arrived and he refused to let me pay him or take them back and Melinda happened to find out—"

"Hang on, did he give you your broom?"

"Where else do you think something like that came from?" Draco snorted with an arrogance I knew was only possible from such high privilege. Fred didn't respond, I figured either he was trying to work this all out; I only hoped he didn't think I had something going on with Draco.

"I thought it was from Oliver" he said as I laughed, both boys looking at me.

"Oliver Wood? Why? Because he's captain?" I laughed again, but noticed the boys looking at me like I had missed something crucial.

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"She'll be fine" Draco answered.

"I wasn't asking you" Fred said without looking at him.

"I'll be fine, promise" I said with a half reassuring smile as he came over and gave me a hug and then a kiss on the forehead. "Don't take any of this personally" I reminded him as I kissed his cheek, feeling bold. He smiled and turned back toward the great hall, whistling the whole way.

"Did you need to do that?" Draco asked.

"So why did you give me that stuff Draco? You must see how it looks to everyone else."

"That's why I never wrote my name, I didn't want you or anyone else getting the wrong idea."

"Then what's the right idea?" I asked, growing a headache over his lack of truthfulness. Before he could answer Holly skipped down some steps, Melinda behind her.

"Like I promised!" She sang with a huge grin as I handed her five sickles.

"What is this?" Melinda asked quickly summing up the scene.

"Oh, your friend paid me to lead you down here so she could talk to you about why you shouldn't be made at her." Holly said as Melinda glared at her friend.

"And you agreed because why?"

"It's stupid to be mad at someone who travelled all this way with you. Besides, her Fred make a cute couple" she said with a wink and then waved before continuing to skip down the steps.

"Hi" I said as I stuffed my hands in my pocket.

"Hey" she said back as she kept glancing at the floor and all around, anywhere but directly at me or Draco.

"I don't like her" Draco blurted out as I closed my eyes and let out a quiet heavy sigh.

"It's true, and you know I don't like him" I told her as she finally looked up.

"You gave her books and a broom" Melinda said, as I suspected she would.

"Her dad passed, I didn't know how much she's came here with."

"Why is that your concern?" I found myself asking but he just blushed.

"Listen, I don't wanna see any friendships get ruined because of me, but know I don't like Tammie, she's like...a close friend to me" he said as I made a face. That wasn't what I considered us to be.

"We're not friends" I corrected as Draco and I exchanged looks.

"Then what's going on?" Melinda asked but Draco bit his lip and looked away. Clearly something was going on and there had to be a very good reason he wasn't telling either of us.

"I gotta go" he said as he started to turn away.

"No, hold on, that doesn't explain anything, apologize" I said pointing at Melinda as she raised an eyebrow at me.

"Sorry I made you think I liked your friend" he said and then looked at me. "Sorry I'm trying to help, you'll understand one day." And with that he was gone.

"Understand what?" Melinda asked as I shrugged. "You know, you didn't have to be so mean..." she said in a low voice.

"That wasn't mean! You should see how he is in class with the others. He snickers at Neville all the time—"

"But to you he's fine, so maybe you should give him a break. He is trying to help after all" I shook my head, I didn't want to give Draco a break. "Try" she added as I half smiled.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the books sooner, I just, I didn't want you to get the wrong impression, which, obviously turned into you getting the wrong impression." We laughed as we headed up the stairs, myself relieved that everything seemed to be settled.

A few days later I walked into my Defense Against the Dark Arts class with the rest of the Gryffindors, I was surprised to see two chairs at the front desk. "What's the deal today?" I asked but Hermione shrugged. We all sat just as Professor Barrass came down from the back room, another women behind him. I arched an eyebrow, looking around to see everyone looking just as stumped.

"Good morning class, I have some important news. This is Stacey Burnner, she's from France, moved here about..." he turned to look at her.

"About six months ago" she said with less of a French accent than I thought she'd have. "Hello everyone" she said politely. She had beautiful full head of wavy brown hair that went pass her elbows, a thin long face, sweet expression, it looked bound to disarm anyone. She was taller than most of the professors around the school, and maybe a little thinner, but that was probably because she wore grey jeans and a green robe hugging her body. She didn't have a professor look to her at all, more like a curious adult. Was she a witch?

"Unfortunately I have to take some time away from school for a little bit; rather than having one of the other very busy professors substitute I'd thought I'd find my own" he explained excitedly.

"How long are you going to be gone for?" I found myself asking, my hand only partly raised. Professor Burnner's eyes shifted until she found mine and I wasn't sure if I had imagined it but I immediately felt the coldest sensation. I swallowed hard, trying not to flinch as her eyes seemed to rip into my soul. Did she say something without opening her mouth? Had I completely lost my mind? I shook my head, but the fog didn't clear, now I standing outside, looking at a giant house. I didn't know who's house it was, but it looked huge and older, nothing about it looked familiar. No, there was something on the banner that looked familiar. Was that a crest? Why did it look so familiar? I squinted as I felt myself walk pass it and into the house. I didn't see anyone greeting me but felt a presence near me, around me. In the house looked just as big and fancy as the outside. Whoever lived here was rich, not new rich, but old rich, it looked perfect. And there was that symbol again. Why did it look so familiar? Was that a wing?

"Tammie?" My mind jerked me from the image as I looked at Hermione, I was the only one still standing.

"Everything alright?" Professor Barrass asked as I nodded and sat down.

"What happened?" Hermione whispered but I shook my head, I couldn't tell her right now. How would I go about explaining it?

I spent the next few days with Fred who was very concerned about what I half told him about whatever I saw. Chalking it up as a bad headache or something of that kind. Thankfully he didn't question me too much and kept me very distracted with a lot of personal time. Not that we had much of that, Oliver barely let up on practice. He always claimed the cold weather made us better, but I was certain he just wanted to take up as much practice time from the Slytherins. Not that I thought they were much concern with Ravenclaw's new Seeker, Melinda who I heard was excellent. Katie Bell also claimed our practices doubled because Oliver seemed pretty snappy and bitter after he caught Fred and I making out instead of being early for a game between Hufflepuff and Slytherin.

I had planned to talk to him a few days before break but was interrupted on my way over by some Slytherin I didn't know. She nodded toward the Slytherin table, she knew didn't need to say who. I rolled my eyes but took the letter, thanking her as she waved and walked off. I sat down and opened the letter.

Tammie,

My parents would appreciate if you and your mother could stay with us for a couple of days over the holiday. We'll meet you at the station. Thank you in advance.

Respectfully, Draco.

PS: Tell Melinda.