The snow comes down as a pleasant dusting. Kiara is grateful to have everyone back at Hogwarts. Though she enjoyed some time alone—and even her adventure with the Slytherin boys who she almost feels like she can call friends—she felt spooked by the nearly-empty Ravenclaw tower.
She desperately hopes her family understood that she just couldn't get herself to come home this year, despite their meticulous planning around it. She was very close to going. . . . But it was as though she was holding her breath, waiting for a reason to have to cancel at the last moment. When Professor Longbottom caught her in the Great Hall past curfew and told her she may have to take a detention, she found herself lunging at the opportunity to stay at Hogwarts.
Christmas season is a hard time of year for her. It's around the time she had the accident that changed everything. If she were to go home, her family would be celebrating Christmas with presents, a hot feast, and ice skating. She would have to spend the whole holiday break pretending she remembered their traditions and was enjoying herself.
Students are bundled in heavy blankets to keep warm in the stands. Her cheeks sting from the cold. "I think Ravenclaw's got this one in the bag," Callie says through her scarf, offering Kiara a mug of hot chocolate from a thermos. She sips it gratefully, letting the heat warm her fingers through her gloves.
"Agreed."
Ravenclaw is in the lead by a hundred points. Jaden Denholm, Ravenclaw's Keeper, is doing the best she's ever done before. Kiara can see Henry, from Slytherin, trying desperately over and over to get the Quaffle through the goal posts. He's one of the fastest on the pitch, but Denholm is unstoppable tonight. She searches the sky for a sighting of Finley, but sees him low to the ground with his hand outstretched, skimming snow off the field. He forms a snowball in his hands that he whips toward a Ravenclaw Chaser. Kiara points this out to Callie.
"Can he do that?" Callie complains.
"I think he just did."
"Oh! They've spotted the Snitch!"
Kiara looks to the right just in time for Albus to come flying past. He swings his bat forward with enough force to send a Bludger rocketing forward, straight to Ravenclaw's unsuspecting Seeker, Leo Blane. Callie leans forward, shouting with the others for Leo to duck—which he does just moments before being hit.
Sighing dreamily, Callie says, "Did you know Albus chose to be Slytherin? The Sorting Hat thought about putting me in Slytherin. If only I'd known Albus freaking Potter was there, waiting for me. . . . He's got the nicest body in Slytherin."
"Callie," Kiara complains. "You understand he is a real human being? Not just a body."
"Don't be dim, Kiara. You think you're better than me? You're acting as though you've never looked Potter in his dreamy eyes and fallen for him like the rest of us."
Kiara considers this, for only a brief moment. The way Callie talks about boys makes her cringe.
"And Leo Blane has caught the Snitch! Ravenclaw wins, three-sixty to one-thirty!"
Ravenclaw House surges forward off the stands, heading out to congratulate the team or head inside where it's warmer. In most situations, Kiara is a spectator—even if there is nothing in particular to observe. But Callie is by her side, rushing Kiara to her feet and guiding her down the stands. She is saying something about how she's excited to congratulate the boy she's been crushing on for awhile, and she wants to introduce them.
Kiara thinks he is a seventh-year named Jason Harper. She met him once, when she first came to Hogwarts, in the same train car that she had first met Callie. At the time, the timid boy was a third-year and entirely bald from head-to-toe. She realizes just now that this is how she knew who Rose was . . . Rose has been coming to the Ravenclaw tower for Jason, at least a few nights a week, for months on end.
"I can't wait for you to meet him. He is so gorgeous! The Captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team likes me. Can you believe it?"
"How long have you been seeing him?" Kiara asks cautiously.
"Not long. He just dumped his girlfriend recently. For me! I hope I like him enough to date him."
"Oh, Callie . . ." Kiara sighs.
"What?"
Callie drags her through the lingering crowd, pushing to be sure she can get to Jason. As she forces Kiara to twist through between broomsticks and bodies, she's slammed into Henry, who stumbles back in surprise. Callie lets go, yells she's sorry and that she'll be right back, and races off to find him. Henry's hands reflexively catch Kiara by her arms, but she collects herself quickly and steps back. Finley waves, popping up next to him.
"Sorry, Henry," she say, clouds of white breath filtering between her lips.
Henry chuckles. "I was hoping to see you."
"Rough out there tonight, huh?"
Finley and Henry each put an arm around her shoulders, and she finds that she leans into their warmth. She really had made friends up there, late Christmas Eve in the lonely tower. They where there for hours, setting off fireworks, telling stories, and teasing each other. It's a side of Slytherin most people wouldn't believe could exist—but Kiara knows better.
"We played our best, didn't we, Fin?"
"I've never thrown so much snow. May as well have just had a snowball fight up there."
"We wanted to ask if you're still coming to Hogsmeade with us tomorrow," Henry says. "Scorpius and Emmalee, too."
"Oh."
"Or just you and me," Henry offers with a grin.
"Kiara!" Callie's voice cuts through the noise. She waves her over frantically, while pointing at Jason like he's a trophy instead of a person. Jason looks completely different now that his hair is down to his shoulders, and the frightened look he had on the train has been replaced by a cocky twinkle in his eyes.
She starts to head to her Ravenclaw friend. "I'll be there," she says to the boys with a smile.
"Meet us at the Three Broomsticks Inn."
-o-o-o-
"I'm completely exhausted," Scorpius complains. "We should have been allowed to use the carriages, instead of walking."
"I would like to enjoy this visit without you," Kiara says bluntly.
It's the only thing she's said to him, two hours in. This is the first time she has ever come to Hogsmeade, and she feels that Scorpius is attempting to make it a poor experience for them all.
Scorpius glares at her, before looking at Finley. "Don't you think people will find it strange, to be hanging out with a Ravenclaw?"
"I agree," Emmalee says.
"Shut up, Emma," Finley replies.
"You'd like that, wouldn't you, Fin?" she replies. "I'll never shut up. I hope my voice haunts your nightmares. I hope all you can hear is me cussing you out, every waking moment for the rest of your life."
A tense moment passes, then Finley smiles at her and they laugh.
"Kiara is a sniper with the stunning spell. You missed out on a great night, Cory." He looks away. "I'm sorry, Kiara," Finley continues. "I didn't know Cory was going to be such a drag." He lifts his butterbeer and drains it in one breath. "Does anyone want to come to Spintwitches with me? I need to grab some new gloves before the next match."
"Oh, I just love Quidditch," Emmalee beams. "I'll come. Cory?"
"I haven't finished here."
Finley taps Kiara's shoulder and she stands with them. She doesn't look back as she leaves. But she finds herself growing bored as the group passes around sports gear. They start speaking in great lengths about Quidditch. Though Kiara enjoys watching the matches, she's never been interested in participating any further. Soon she is wandering around Hogsmeade alone.
And then she sees it. She doesn't just seeit, she's drawn to it. There's a magnetic pull coming from a storefront that showcases a long dress and some witch's hats—but that's not what catches her attention. It's the sensation of deja-vu. She's paralyzed, staring with equal awe and horror as she digs through her empty brain for a memory of this store.
"It's a Gladrags," Scorpius says, suddenly beside her.
Kiara becomes unstuck in time.
"I just thought I recognized it for a moment."
"You probably do. Have you ever been to Paris?"
"Wow . . . A magical store in a muggle city?"
"Paris is more magical than you might think."
The two of them stand together in the cold, staring at the storefront.
Scorpius says quietly:" I saw you from the window at the Inn. I thought that I'd . . . check on you. You were looking a little strange."
"I had just a hint of a memory," she responds. "It was startling." She ends with that, not willing to give any other parts of her life away.
"Shall we go in?"
Kiara turns to face him. "We?" she repeats.
He doesn't respond, only looking into her eyes with a heaviness like a blackhole—Kiara thinks she could be torn apart by his gaze if she lets herself. There's a trace of a smile playing across her lips when she throws the door to Gladrags open and steps in. She half expects Scorpius to be gone, but he follows her inside.
She immediately wanders to the back of the store. By the time Scorpius catches up, she wears a large, floppy hat, as well as satin gloves pulled up to the elbows. Her winter outerwear has been tossed to the floor. The hat has elaborate, colorful flowers across the brim that accentuate, she thinks, her natural features with its absurdly materialistic design. She takes her time as she examines herself in the full-length mirror, as though she is a patient at a hospital and not a young woman with a pretty smile. Behind her she sees Scorpius gathering her jacket, scarf, and hat into his arms.
Kiara spins in a circle to greet him.
-o-o-o-
He watches her twist around, dainty and sweet—vague like the rays of sunlight reflected on a rippling body of water—until he feels uncomfortable looking at her and turns away. He tries to pretend she isn't beautiful.
She dumps the hat and gloves on a bench and disappears behind some shelves, melting from one moment into the next as though she doesn't leave chaos behind her. Scorpius follows slowly, first folding up the gloves and placing them back on the shelf.
At times Kiara acts like a child. It bothers him—she always says exactly what's on her mind. She has no filter. Above that, she acts as though everything she sees and everything she does is brand new: her insatiable curiosity is difficult to follow as she jumps from one shiny thing to the next. However, he's surprised to find that he's keeping up with her just fine.
It's easier and more relaxing to be around, as opposed to Emmalee's incessant chattering about Quidditch this, and Quidditch that.
Kiara leads him outside into the snow, not purchasing anything. She doesn't strike him as materialistic, or caught up with lovely items. Based on the state of her floppy boots, she doesn't seem to even spend on new clothing—even though she should.
She catches her breath and stares straight up, turning again in a circle. When she shivers, Scorpius steps forward, facing her, and wraps her scarf back around her neck. Then he throws her coat over her shoulders and holds it open while she sticks her arms through. As she buttons up, he tugs her hat down over her ears.
He's tempted to reach out and tuck her hair back, but he doesn't.
"Have you ever heard of Honeydukes?" she asks, while readjusting her hat.
Scorpius almost smiles. "Of course."
He doesn't wait for a response, guiding them through the gaggles of students crowding Hogsmeade. They walk in and are overwhelmed by all the sweet smells, so strong he can just about taste the sugar on his tongue. Looking over at Kiara's wonder-struck face, he is overcome by self-conscious impulses and starts to brush snow from his hair and shoulders. Kiara, on the other hand, lets the snowflakes melt upon her eyelashes.
The shop is packed, so much so that Scorpius has to step back from the door quickly. It swings open again and again to admit more witches and wizards. His eyes skim over the tubs and pots, looking for the most obscenely colorful one he can find. Kiara taps him on the shoulder, having found one first.
"What is this?" she asks.
Scorpius looks it over. Delicate candy insect wings stare back at him from inside hard plastic containers. "Sugared Butterfly Wings. Very sweet, and melts across the tongue like cotton candy."
"I like. I take." With a grin, she says, "Your turn."
Taking that as a challenge, Scorpius circles around. He finally decides on a small box of dangerous candy—Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.
"Jelly beans," Kiara says dully. "Very exciting."
He smiles deviously. "You'll see."
By the end of their competition, they have also compiled Pepper Imps, Jelly Slugs, Ice Mice, white Chocolate Frogs, Peppermint Toads ("Nauseating," Scorpius comments), Shock-o-Choc, Skeletal Sweets, and bewitched Spindle's Lick'O'Rish Spiders.
"I'm blooming hungry," Scorpius complains as they walk down the bustling street, having paid for their sweets.
She unwraps an Ice Mice and takes a tentative bite from the snout. Scorpius wants to explain to her that it's not a trick—take a bigger bite and the only thing that will happen is her teeth will chatter and squeak—but his mouth is full of chocolate.
Just then the entrance to Spintwitches crashes open. They make eye contact with the Slytherins, who push through the crowd to where Kiara and Scorpius are.
"You've been in there this whole time?" Kiara scolds. "There are more important things in life than Quidditch."
"Like candy?" Henry teases. Scorpius watches them carefully. He notices that Henry backs her into a corner, away from the group.
"Would you like some Jelly Slugs, Henry?"
He places his hand against the wall next to Kiara's head and leans forward. Scorpius hears him say, "I'd like something sweeter."
"White Chocolate Frogs it is, then," she responds, digging into the bag and pulling out a small box. She ducks under his arm and smacks his shoulder. Scorpius wonders how on earth she was able to make the meanest people at Hogwarts like her in such a short period of time.
-o-o-o-
"Cory," he hears behind him. Albus runs up to him, where he was walking alone. "You don't look so good. Are you falling ill?"
"Doubt it."
"Are you moping, then?" The dark green eyes of Albus suddenly become level with Scorpius's, who looks away. After a moment, he straightens out and says, "You are moping."
Scorpius quickens his pace, averting his gaze and looking only at his feet. He's not sure why he even came out today. He would have been much happier back in the dungeons, sleeping the day away.
There's a pause. Scorpius doesn't look up. Albus finally says, "Right, then. I can tell you're moping, so you may as well fess up."
"I'm not."
"Not a single insult, and I've been making faces at you for almost a whole minute. That's not the Slytherin Seeker I know."
Turning a forced scowl Albus's way, he sneers, "You don't much know me at all in the first place, now do you?"
Albus grins. "Oh. Cold."
"Will you leave me be, now?"
"I won't." He sees Albus blow hot air into his hands and rub them together vigorously.
"Why not?"
Albus smacks his shoulder. "What's wrong, Cory? Down in the dumps?"
"Don't be an arsehole right now, Albus."
He smacks his other shoulder, harder. "Feeling a bit cloudy? Wish the sun would come out?"
"Leave me alone. Or you'll regret it."
"Is that a threat?"
"This isn't first-year anymore, Albus," Scorpius says coldly. "This time if I swing at you, I'm going to make sure it hurts."
"Cory, you give me chills. Don't you miss fighting? Well, probably not . . . since you always lost."
Scorpius stops and spins to face him. Albus stands to his full height. Though only a few inches taller than Scorpius, the Quidditch captain and Slytherin Beater is a formidable opponent. When they were younger they used to play-fight to see who'd cry mercy first. While neither of them ever surrendered, their games usually ended once someone was bleeding or if they were caught.
Almost nose-to-nose, Scorpius narrows his eyes. "Why can't you leave me alone?"
Albus shakes his head, lightly pushing Scorpius. "I could," he says. "But I won't."
"For fuck's sake," Scorpius mutters. "You're more annoying than I remember." He shoves past him, slamming his shoulder against Albus, who dramatically pretends to be wounded.
"Is that all you remember? How annoying I am?"
"Yes."
"Don't you remember sneaking around the library and being ghosts to scare the first-years? I recall you used your Put-Outer in the Great Hall one year, when the firsties were being Sorted. Headmistress McGonagall was livid, and she never even found out it was you. How about how we used to practice Quidditch for hours? Now I can barely get you to come on time to practice. I'm sorry if it pisses you off, Cory, but I still care for you."
"Want to know what I remember? I remember you and your brother, James, owning this school. I remember the name Potter was everywhere. I remember you would wear your father's name like a Prefect's badge."
"Don't act like that is what this is about. We were kids then, Cory."
"Of course that's what this is about. Don't you get it? You've met my family, Albus, and you must recall the way they treated you. It's only a fraction of how they—" He stops abruptly, already having said too much.
"Come on, Cory," Albus says. "We're almost back. Let me just walk with you."
Scorpius says nothing, and Albus sticks by his side all the way back to Hogwarts. It's not until they reach the dungeons that Scorpius finally speaks.
"So what's really going on? You didn't want to walk back with the boys?"
"All right," Albus says. "I can't stand watching Henry flirt with that girl."
"Why don't you do something about it?"
He raises an eyebrow, shrugging. "She's smart. Smarter than anyone I've ever met. Not only can she handle herself, she'd probably be put-off by some arsehole like me trying to step between them."
"Do you like her?"
"Do I like her? What are we, twelve-years-old? She's interesting, though. What's going on with you and Emma, huh? I saw Fin and her sneaking off into the woods earlier. I thought you two were an item."
"She basically told me to bugger off if I don't commit every second to Quidditch."
Albus nods. "She does have a type."
"Has she thrown herself at you, yet?" Scorpius asks, though not caring to know.
"Emma would never be interested in me. She knows my studies come before Quidditch. Anyone would be lucky to have her. Pretty girl. Really funny, too."
"Kind of cruel."
"Aren't we all."
"Do you find me cruel?"
Albus, looking bewildered by his question, holds his gaze—then begins to laugh. "Cory Malfoy, what did you just ask me? You are King of the Galaxy! My friend, you are the cruelest of the cruel. Just ask my cousin."
Scorpius swallows. Then, softly, he asks, "How do I not be?"
"Huh?"
"How do I stop being cruel?"
They fall deeply quiet, like they've entered a vacuum. Scorpius's ears begin to ring with the weight of the silence. Albus has one hand on the door to their common room, but he's frozen in place. His green eyes probe Scorpius's face imploringly. It's moments like these that Scorpius truly sees the Ravenclaw in him.
"You keep asking questions like that, Cory."