-The good, the bad and everything in between ch.3
Winter came late this year. Snow came late too. But it was finally here. Little by little, flurries had added up and now filled the school yard with a thick blanket of snow. Today was the day the Hogwarts express left to take students home for the holiday. Down on the platform kids waved goodbye to each other. As it was so, for Draco and Rae Malfoy. The twins were splitting up this year because Rae had to make up lots of tests. "Say hi to mum and dad for me." Rae said and gave her brother a quick hug which he returned. "Tell them I'm doing well and give them this." She handed Draco a rapped box of chocolate. Draco nodded. "So who is staying with you?" "Pansy is staying with me. She's so nice." Draco nodded. "See ya sis." And with that he bored the train. Rae was left standing at the gates. She saw a few others staying and waving goobye to friends as well. This group included Harry, Hermione, Ron and Chase. She was slightly annoyed, but tried to shake it off, it was 3 days before Christmas.
Rae sighed, now feeling quite alone. She headed up to the Great Hall to grab some lunch. She entered the hall and found herself alone except for a few people huddled in groups at other tables. She grabbed a sandwich and poured over her History of Magic textbook. She saw Harry's little group sit down at the table behind her. Harry and Ron were whispering something and Hermione seemed to her going off to the library. Chase had a game of exploding snap and seemed to be playing by himself. When Harry, Ron and Hermione set off for the library, he stayed. He seemed to be involved in his game, but Rae couldn't concentrate anymore. She grabbed her books and set out for the common room, annoyed.
"Hey! You wanna play?" Rae turned around. Chase had lifted his head and was looking at her. "Errr, not really." Rae said. "C'mon! Don't you like exploding snap?" Chased grinned. "I do…it's just..." Rae trailed off. "Fine." She rolled her eyes, but sat down across from Chase. He handed her the dice and pieces and she played silently for a while. "Why aren't you going home?" Chase asked finally. "Oh…I have to take tests." Rae said, but not looking up. "What about you?" Chase ran a hand through his hair. Rae sensed they had reached a delicate topic. "My dad's a drunk." He said finally. "I can't stand being near him on Christmas." Rae looked up. "I'm sorry." She said, and felt herself actually meaning it. "What about your mom?" Chase stared her hard in the eyes. "My mum's dead." Rae brushed some hair behind her ear. She stood up to leave. "Well maybe I should go." "No wait. It's not a big deal. You didn't know. Now, sit down Rae. You know, you're much nicer when you aren't around Pansy and her gang."
Rae sat down but glared at him. "What do you mean by that?" she asked flatly. Chase shrugged. "It's just that...they're not very nice to us Gryffindors. I'm sure you've noticed." Rae glanced at him. "How do you know I'm not like that?" Chase didn't move. "You're different. I can tell. You don't need to torment us to make you feel better. They do." Rae didn't say anything but this time she did head out the door. Chase didn't get up to stop her but he did shout before she shut the doors, "Lets play again sometime!"
Rae met up with Pansy in the common room. "Where were you?" she exploded. "I was waiting for a half an hour!" Rae sat down and sighed. "Sorry. I was playing exploding snap with Chase." Pansy looked up. "What? You were playing with a snobby Gryffindor?" Rae shoo her head slightly. "Chase isn't a snob like Harry, or Ron or that Hermione girl. He's…different." Pansy shook her head. "Whatever you say. Now, c'mon. I said I'd help you study, not go on about Gryffindor idiots." Rae smiled to herself and handed Pansy her textbook.
"WAKE UP! Rae, it's Christmas!" Pansy shouted at the top of her lungs. Rae grinned as she wiped her eyes. She hurried downstairs and grinned. There was a small Christmas tree with a good number of presents underneath, some for each Slytherin. Pansy had already dug into her lot. Rae took a gift and tore off the paper gently. "Ugh." She said, holding it up. "Socks again! I told mum I didn't want socks but she bloody, won't give it up!" Pansy cracked up. After all the presents were sorted and opened the two girls headed outside.
It had snowed again last night and there was fresh snow on the ground. But the sticky kind, the kind that's easy to make into snowballs. And that was just what some were doing. Ahead of them, on the Quidditch field about 20 students were gathered and well, throwing snow at each other, laughing and screamed. "Pansy! That looks like fun!" Pansy rolled her eyes at Rae, but followed after her. Rae scooped up some snow and packed it down into a…spherical shape. She hurled it at the next dark figure that walked by. He glared at her then laughed and hurled some back. Rae even saw Pansy hurl a few at a kid before she was knocked to the ground by about 10 snowballs. Rae turned, trying to find a target to throw her snowball at. All of a sudden, a familiar figure appeared in front of her. "Well, if it's not my exploding snap partner." Said the warm voice. "You!" Rae accused for no reason. Chase laughed and chucked a snowball at her. Rae ducked threw hers. It hit him square in the face. Rae cracked up and even Chase smiled. Pansy headed over to her. "Rae! I'm leaving." Said Pansy furious. "Let's go. You are such a kid. I mean grow up, you're 12." Rae felt herself being dragged away by Pansy. Chase stayed where he was but gave her a small wink.
Come January the snow had finally started to melt. Grass poked through the snow but it was still cold, and rainy. Rae had fallen behind in her schoolwork and was spending way too much time in the library. One day while she was poured over her studies Pansy came to retrieve her. "You've been studying too much. Come with me." Rae followed her friend through the hall way and out of the library, pretending to be annoyed, while she was really rather amused. Melody ran up to Pansy and Rae. "Hey girlies. Where you headed?" Pansy snorted. "We're going back to the common room to stuff our faces with candy." Melody grinned mind if we tag along?" Alex and Alyssa had suddenly appeared at their sides. Rae didn't care much for these girls. Alyssa had long curly brown hair and brown eyes. She never talked to her. Alex had this annoying habit of insulting every girl that walked past them. She was blonde and had light blue eyes. She laughed too much and it annoyed her. Melody on the other hand was…okay. She didn't ignore her like the other too. She even seemed to be nice. But when a Gryffindor came around the courner she would be the first to attack with a wave of insults. She had pretty short light-brown hair and brown eyes. Rae was walking alongside Pansy and Alex when Pansy suddenly stopped short.
"Granger." She said bitterly, and sure enough there was Harry, Ron, Hermione and Chase. Pansy walked up to them and crossed her arms. "What's the matter Granger? Only get a 99 on the Herbology test?" Alyssa and Melody snickered cruelly. "Lay off." Said Harry who looked up from a magazine. "You wanna make us, Potter?" Ask Melody too sweetly. Ron stood up angrily. "Sure he will." He spat. "What's the matter, Weasley. Upset cause your daddy couldn't afford to get you a Christmas present except that horrible sweater?" Pansy grinned. "Don't you think Rae?" Pansy asked her. Rae nodded humbly. "It's horrible."
"Leave him alone Malfoy."
"Make me."
"You're just as bad as your brother."
"Am I?" Rae asked innocently. Behind her she heard the girls cracking up. Chase looked over Harry's shoulder at her. He had on a grim face almost…disappointed. "Didn't you hear me Rae Malfoy? I said you're just as bad as your bloody brother." Rae wasn't listening. A strange feeling was clawing at her from inside her chest. Guilt.
Chase threw her one last glance before her shouldered his book bag. Just then Draco and Crabbe and Goyle showed up. "Well, well. My favorite mudblood." He spat at Hermione's feet. Hermione looked like she was about to cry. Chase finally spoke. "I wouldn't be talking, Malfoy. At least Hermione can perform her Wigensweld potion correctly. As I recall, Goyle here tried to taste yours and ended up in the hospital wing for 3 days with a punctured spleen." The Gryffindors behind them roared with laughter. Chase put his arm on Hermione's shoulder and steered her away.
Later in the evening Pansy was talking to Rae. "You know. You were wrong about Chase. He is as big a brat as the others." Rae didn't say anything. She was lying down on her bed with her feet in the air and her face held up by her hands. "I dunno. Sometimes I think we may be too harsh on them." Pansy looked at her confounded, then smacked her. "Get a grip girl. You had better not let your father or mum hear you say things like that." Rae glared at her, then softened up a bit. "I know, I know. It's just…"
"It's just nothing. Don't think about it. Go to sleep."
Pansy rolled into her bed and flicked off the light.
"But what if..."
"SLEEP!"