I woke to a smiling face hovering above me, eyes glinting in their usual
teasing light. He ran a hand through his windswept hair, no doubt from
standing in front of an open window. I felt it in a second, the freezing
winds of a late December morning, and I shivered in response. I sneered at
him from my pillow.
"Are you mad, Zabini, or has your brain already frozen in this cold?"
"Morning, Draco."
He stretched whilst sitting on my bed, turning so I get a full view of his arched back and outstretched arms. I wasn't so cold anymore.
"Close that window before we catch our death. There's nothing worthwhile to see through it anyway."
"Snow covered grounds and the sky may not be much, but it's something. It's more than what the others get."
It was true. Most of us were so far below the ground that windows were an unviable luxury. However, it seemed that the system was a little more understanding towards its persons of authority. Namely, its prefects. And having a dorm with a view was only one of the perks I enjoyed as one.
"Anyway," he continued as he slipped on a shirt, "we've both missed breakfast and it's almost time for lunch. We better get going else we miss that too." He had gone down the gently spiraling stone steps, most likely towards the hearth to get warm, and I pulled on some clothes while he rambled on about having the dorm to ourselves this Christmas. "But here," he called, as his voice came back into focus in my head, "let's open our presents before we go."
I joined him by the fireside, where our gifts lay in a neat pile of silver and green. My brows furrowed involuntarily as I recalled some of the students gushing about having Christmas trees in their dormitories, which were Muggle in nature, as far as I knew. "Disgusting," I muttered, as I reached for the nearest package.
It happened to be the smallest one from the pile. Wrapped in silver satin and tied with a green silk ribbon, I knew instantly that it was from my mother. Her elegance and beauty exuded from it, and I let my fingers feel the soft textures before I reached for my wand to open it.
"Patefacio."
And with a simple word the cloths unravelled to expose its contents within.
A wooden box of rich mahogany lay in my palm and I looked upon the carved figure of the sleeping dragon, my face a mask of nonchalance. I opened to find a letter nestled on top of green velvet, and something else glinting from the cushiony confines.
Dearest Draco,
You must know that I would have you nowhere else but home if it were only my decision to make. I find the manor a rather lonesome place, without company. Your father is quite busy with work and he needs you there to be of use to our cause. Enclosed is a necklace. Never be without it. It will protect you from all harm that may come your way.
Always,
Mother
I folded the pristine white parchment and lifted out a silver chain which glinted in the sunlight. I held it in both hands, afraid to speak, afraid to breathe, lest I shatter the charm hanging off it.
A hushed voice spoke to me from afar, what in reality were mere inches seemed like thousands of miles away. "That's an altered form of the Fidelius Charm. It will protect your life with whomever's blood resides in that vial. If anything were to happen to you, the life of whoever gave you that necklace will be taken in place for-"
"I know what it is, Blaise. Save the lecture."
I put back the necklace in its box and closed the lid as gently as my forceful hands could manage. I set it atop the mantle, on which various pictures of our family and friends reside, so I may access it easily on my return to keep it in a safer place.
His eyes caught mine, and we needed no words between us. He spoke of the approaching danger, the years of chaos to come, and I simply held his gaze and reached out a trembling hand.
"Let's go to lunch."
~fin~
"Are you mad, Zabini, or has your brain already frozen in this cold?"
"Morning, Draco."
He stretched whilst sitting on my bed, turning so I get a full view of his arched back and outstretched arms. I wasn't so cold anymore.
"Close that window before we catch our death. There's nothing worthwhile to see through it anyway."
"Snow covered grounds and the sky may not be much, but it's something. It's more than what the others get."
It was true. Most of us were so far below the ground that windows were an unviable luxury. However, it seemed that the system was a little more understanding towards its persons of authority. Namely, its prefects. And having a dorm with a view was only one of the perks I enjoyed as one.
"Anyway," he continued as he slipped on a shirt, "we've both missed breakfast and it's almost time for lunch. We better get going else we miss that too." He had gone down the gently spiraling stone steps, most likely towards the hearth to get warm, and I pulled on some clothes while he rambled on about having the dorm to ourselves this Christmas. "But here," he called, as his voice came back into focus in my head, "let's open our presents before we go."
I joined him by the fireside, where our gifts lay in a neat pile of silver and green. My brows furrowed involuntarily as I recalled some of the students gushing about having Christmas trees in their dormitories, which were Muggle in nature, as far as I knew. "Disgusting," I muttered, as I reached for the nearest package.
It happened to be the smallest one from the pile. Wrapped in silver satin and tied with a green silk ribbon, I knew instantly that it was from my mother. Her elegance and beauty exuded from it, and I let my fingers feel the soft textures before I reached for my wand to open it.
"Patefacio."
And with a simple word the cloths unravelled to expose its contents within.
A wooden box of rich mahogany lay in my palm and I looked upon the carved figure of the sleeping dragon, my face a mask of nonchalance. I opened to find a letter nestled on top of green velvet, and something else glinting from the cushiony confines.
Dearest Draco,
You must know that I would have you nowhere else but home if it were only my decision to make. I find the manor a rather lonesome place, without company. Your father is quite busy with work and he needs you there to be of use to our cause. Enclosed is a necklace. Never be without it. It will protect you from all harm that may come your way.
Always,
Mother
I folded the pristine white parchment and lifted out a silver chain which glinted in the sunlight. I held it in both hands, afraid to speak, afraid to breathe, lest I shatter the charm hanging off it.
A hushed voice spoke to me from afar, what in reality were mere inches seemed like thousands of miles away. "That's an altered form of the Fidelius Charm. It will protect your life with whomever's blood resides in that vial. If anything were to happen to you, the life of whoever gave you that necklace will be taken in place for-"
"I know what it is, Blaise. Save the lecture."
I put back the necklace in its box and closed the lid as gently as my forceful hands could manage. I set it atop the mantle, on which various pictures of our family and friends reside, so I may access it easily on my return to keep it in a safer place.
His eyes caught mine, and we needed no words between us. He spoke of the approaching danger, the years of chaos to come, and I simply held his gaze and reached out a trembling hand.
"Let's go to lunch."
~fin~