The incident during the Halloween feast was the talk of the school for many days afterwards. For a week after the feast, Pettigrew was nowhere to be seen. He finally returned to the Gryffindor Common Room one week later. James, Lily, and Sirius had found a couple of new friends during this time. Zandra had been spending time with them, as well as a boy named Remus Lupin. They introduced them to Pettigrew upon his return. After the introductions were made, James pulled Pettigrew aside and asked, "Where in the world have you been? You missed all the excitement! Someone attacked one of the Slytherins." Pettigrew nodded and quickly filled James in on his encounter with Maleficent and Severus. James's eyes went wide with surprise as he heard the tale. "So, you went down there and attacked her?" he asked, not fully believing what Pettigrew was saying. Pettigrew nodded and said, "Yeah. I wanted her to pay for humiliating me last year." James said in amazement, "Peter, you shouldn't have ever done that! I mean, yeah she's a stinking Slytherin and all but you are supposed to be above that kind of behavior. But that still doesn't explain where you've been." Pettigrew said, "Dumbledore gave me a week of detention. I had to work with Hagrid in the Forbidden Forest and was not allowed to go anywhere but there and Dumbledore's office. He was really mad and punished me heavily for the attack."
James and Peter returned to the group and Peter went up to bed to get his first good night's sleep in a week. James quietly filled everyone else in on what he had just been told. They listened intently to the story. After the story, Sirius crossed his arms and said, "Well I, for one, don't want to have much to do with him anymore. I mean, if he's capable of that, who knows what he might do!" James nodded and said, "Yeah, but he just needs a chance to get over it. I think his punishment changed him a bit." Lily smiled sweetly and said, "Yes, I think what Peter needs is a good group of friends to listen to him more. We need to start giving him a chance to express himself more. If he has that, then he won't resort to such a violent act." Zandra added, "I agree with Lily, even though I don't really know Peter." It was quite a debate but in the end they all agreed to more fully embrace Peter into their circle.
The Slytherins, on the other hand, were furious with the Gryffindors. They would call them names and be rude to them any chance they got. Plus, they were all a bit overprotective of Maleficent now. Whenever she went anywhere, at least one other Slytherin went with her. And Severus was the worst. He hardly ever let Maleficent out of his sight now. He walked with her to every class, escorted her to all meals, and followed her every time she went to the library. Narcissa promised Severus to keep an eye out on Maleficent while she was in the girls dormitories. But after a month, things died down back to their normal quiet. But whenever they went to a class with the Gryffindors, the Slytherins all crowded around Maleficent, putting her in the middle of them all so that Pettigrew had no way to get to her. Severus usually spent those classes glaring wickedly at Pettigrew. Pettigrew tried not to look at him but it didn't always work.
The end of the term arrived quickly and Pettigrew was the first one on the train home for the holidays. Zandra, Maleficent, and Severus all stayed at the school. Even thought she was a Gryffindor, Severus still accepted her as a friend. Without homework, the three spent their days having fun. The snow had fallen and they had numerous snowball fights. They would come in soaking wet and laughing. Filch was furious with them but never could catch them. He had a bad head cold and wasn't up to his usual anger.
Christmas morning dawned bright and early for Maleficent. Zandra came running into her room, shook her awake, and shouted, "Merry Christmas!" Maleficent sat up sleepily and saw Zandra standing at the foot of her bed. She sat up and exclaimed, "How did you get into the Slytherin Common Room? And into my dormitory?" Zandra winked and said, "That one's my little secret, Maleficent."Maleficent really didn't care. She was glad to see her friend. "Merry Christmas, Zandra," she said. At the foot of her bed were some presents. Zandra was carrying some packages as well. "Let's open them!" Zandra said happily. Maleficent crawled to the foot of her bed and reached for the first package. By the time they were done opening presents, Zandra had a new set of Hogwarts robes with gold and red embroidered around the sleeves and the bottom, a box of chocolate frogs, a new quill (as her other was bent from being stuffed into her bag), and some new ink bottles that wrote in sparkly colors. Maleficent had a new music book (with a note from her father instructing her to practice), a bag of Bertie Botts' Every Flavor Beans, a book called "Unique Potions for Everyday Use," and a wizard chess set. She and Zandra played a game of wizard chess before breakfast. Maleficent lost spendidly to Zandra, who turned out to be an excellent chess player. Then the two of the hurried down to breakfast.
Severus met them in the Great Hall. The three of them ate quickly. After eating, Zandra said that she needed to go stary an essay for Charms and headed off toward the Gryffindor Common Room. Severus and Maleficent returned to the Slytherin Coomon Room, which was completely empty. Alone in the Coomon Room Severus said, "Oh, I have a present for you, Maleficent." Maleficent smiled and said, "I have one for you as well, Severus." He reached into his cloak and pulled out a package. Maleficent did the same. They swapped gifts and Maleficent said, "You open yours first." Severus nodded and unwrapped his gift. Maleficent had given him a book called "Highly Advanced and Complicated Potions." He smiled and said, "I love it. I can't wait to read it and try some out. Now open yours." She unwrapped a small box and opened it. Inside was a beautiful silver brooch. It was a rose. The silver had been tinted red and green for the petals and leaves. Around the rose was loosely wrapped a silver serpent. It was the most elegant piece of jewelry she had ever seen. "Severus! Thank you so much! It's beautiful!" Maleficent exclaimed. She pinned it to her robes and said, "I'll wear it every day for the rest of my life." Severus said gently, "It was hand crafted by dwarves in my hometown. I hoped you would like it." "Severus, I love it. It's incredible," Maleficent said softly. Slowly, she reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck. He placed his arms around her and they held each other for a moment. "Merry Christmas, Severus," Maleficent said quietly. "Merry Christmas, Maleficent," Severus replied.
They spent the rest of the day together. They played wizard chess numerous times. Severus was just as good as Zandra was and he gave Maleficent some tips on how to improve her game. The had their own snowball fight. After dinner, they sat together in the common room, alone. This had been their first day that they had ever spent completely alone together and both loved it. After Maleficent and Severus said good night, Maleficent went to bed. Many thoughts were running through her head. A voice inside whispered, "You care for him deeply." Maleficent listened to the voice in her mind and realized that it was true. She did care for Severus. She was beginning to truly admit to liking him as more than just a friend. But what was she to do now? To tell him would frustrate him. After all, he had already stated plainly that he wasn't looking for a soulmate type of relationship. But.....could these feelings be denied for long?
James and Peter returned to the group and Peter went up to bed to get his first good night's sleep in a week. James quietly filled everyone else in on what he had just been told. They listened intently to the story. After the story, Sirius crossed his arms and said, "Well I, for one, don't want to have much to do with him anymore. I mean, if he's capable of that, who knows what he might do!" James nodded and said, "Yeah, but he just needs a chance to get over it. I think his punishment changed him a bit." Lily smiled sweetly and said, "Yes, I think what Peter needs is a good group of friends to listen to him more. We need to start giving him a chance to express himself more. If he has that, then he won't resort to such a violent act." Zandra added, "I agree with Lily, even though I don't really know Peter." It was quite a debate but in the end they all agreed to more fully embrace Peter into their circle.
The Slytherins, on the other hand, were furious with the Gryffindors. They would call them names and be rude to them any chance they got. Plus, they were all a bit overprotective of Maleficent now. Whenever she went anywhere, at least one other Slytherin went with her. And Severus was the worst. He hardly ever let Maleficent out of his sight now. He walked with her to every class, escorted her to all meals, and followed her every time she went to the library. Narcissa promised Severus to keep an eye out on Maleficent while she was in the girls dormitories. But after a month, things died down back to their normal quiet. But whenever they went to a class with the Gryffindors, the Slytherins all crowded around Maleficent, putting her in the middle of them all so that Pettigrew had no way to get to her. Severus usually spent those classes glaring wickedly at Pettigrew. Pettigrew tried not to look at him but it didn't always work.
The end of the term arrived quickly and Pettigrew was the first one on the train home for the holidays. Zandra, Maleficent, and Severus all stayed at the school. Even thought she was a Gryffindor, Severus still accepted her as a friend. Without homework, the three spent their days having fun. The snow had fallen and they had numerous snowball fights. They would come in soaking wet and laughing. Filch was furious with them but never could catch them. He had a bad head cold and wasn't up to his usual anger.
Christmas morning dawned bright and early for Maleficent. Zandra came running into her room, shook her awake, and shouted, "Merry Christmas!" Maleficent sat up sleepily and saw Zandra standing at the foot of her bed. She sat up and exclaimed, "How did you get into the Slytherin Common Room? And into my dormitory?" Zandra winked and said, "That one's my little secret, Maleficent."Maleficent really didn't care. She was glad to see her friend. "Merry Christmas, Zandra," she said. At the foot of her bed were some presents. Zandra was carrying some packages as well. "Let's open them!" Zandra said happily. Maleficent crawled to the foot of her bed and reached for the first package. By the time they were done opening presents, Zandra had a new set of Hogwarts robes with gold and red embroidered around the sleeves and the bottom, a box of chocolate frogs, a new quill (as her other was bent from being stuffed into her bag), and some new ink bottles that wrote in sparkly colors. Maleficent had a new music book (with a note from her father instructing her to practice), a bag of Bertie Botts' Every Flavor Beans, a book called "Unique Potions for Everyday Use," and a wizard chess set. She and Zandra played a game of wizard chess before breakfast. Maleficent lost spendidly to Zandra, who turned out to be an excellent chess player. Then the two of the hurried down to breakfast.
Severus met them in the Great Hall. The three of them ate quickly. After eating, Zandra said that she needed to go stary an essay for Charms and headed off toward the Gryffindor Common Room. Severus and Maleficent returned to the Slytherin Coomon Room, which was completely empty. Alone in the Coomon Room Severus said, "Oh, I have a present for you, Maleficent." Maleficent smiled and said, "I have one for you as well, Severus." He reached into his cloak and pulled out a package. Maleficent did the same. They swapped gifts and Maleficent said, "You open yours first." Severus nodded and unwrapped his gift. Maleficent had given him a book called "Highly Advanced and Complicated Potions." He smiled and said, "I love it. I can't wait to read it and try some out. Now open yours." She unwrapped a small box and opened it. Inside was a beautiful silver brooch. It was a rose. The silver had been tinted red and green for the petals and leaves. Around the rose was loosely wrapped a silver serpent. It was the most elegant piece of jewelry she had ever seen. "Severus! Thank you so much! It's beautiful!" Maleficent exclaimed. She pinned it to her robes and said, "I'll wear it every day for the rest of my life." Severus said gently, "It was hand crafted by dwarves in my hometown. I hoped you would like it." "Severus, I love it. It's incredible," Maleficent said softly. Slowly, she reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck. He placed his arms around her and they held each other for a moment. "Merry Christmas, Severus," Maleficent said quietly. "Merry Christmas, Maleficent," Severus replied.
They spent the rest of the day together. They played wizard chess numerous times. Severus was just as good as Zandra was and he gave Maleficent some tips on how to improve her game. The had their own snowball fight. After dinner, they sat together in the common room, alone. This had been their first day that they had ever spent completely alone together and both loved it. After Maleficent and Severus said good night, Maleficent went to bed. Many thoughts were running through her head. A voice inside whispered, "You care for him deeply." Maleficent listened to the voice in her mind and realized that it was true. She did care for Severus. She was beginning to truly admit to liking him as more than just a friend. But what was she to do now? To tell him would frustrate him. After all, he had already stated plainly that he wasn't looking for a soulmate type of relationship. But.....could these feelings be denied for long?