Rachel chose to stay in the dorms over the Christmas holiday since virtually the entire House had stayed for the Yule Ball. It was much more festive than usual and Severus had set up a Christmas tree in the common room and the upper years had decorated it. On Christmas Eve Rachel decided to stay in Severus' quarters for the evening and overnight so that he wouldn't be alone on Christmas. She could see her friends at lunch later that day.
She woke up from a nightmare early on Christmas morning, her heart racing and feeling sick even though she didn't fully remember the contents of the dream. After a few minutes of fighting the sensation she got out of bed and sat on the stone floor, letting the stones leech heat from her body. It wasn't exactly comfortable but it was enough of a change to pull her mind fully out of her dream and back to the present.
Torey had been working with her on her nightmares, but she had warned that until Rachel actually addressed the content of her nightmares they probably would continue to distress her. Rachel didn't want to do that for a number of reasons. She'd really hoped that over time, especially since she hadn't been exposed to a Dementor for so long now, that the nightmares would simply stop. They weren't nearly as frequent or as bad as they'd been during her third year, but they hadn't gotten any better since the summer either.
Deciding that she wasn't going to go back to sleep, Rachel got up and went to take a shower, and then changed into the clothes she had brought with her. Then she checked the time on her watch and found that it was three in the morning. She sighed, because she hadn't brought her journal or a book with her since she'd planned on simply staying over and returning to her dorm the next day. She didn't particularly want to be alone with her thoughts for the next five hours.
"Lumos," Rachel said, holding her wand out, and deciding that Severus probably wouldn't mind if she borrowed something from his bookshelves for the night.
She crept out into the main room, mostly seeing by the light of her wand though there was still a low fire in the fireplace, and she began to look at the titles of the books Severus had. Most of the books were for Potions or Defense, though he had a fair amount of fiction as well. There was a set of classic literature, which Rachel had never read as she'd never really known where to start, and then a shelf of muggle fiction that ranged from children's books up to adult books. Rachel knew her mom had given most of these to Severus.
She wondered a little about that. They'd obviously been close friends, but Severus still didn't talk much about her. There was also the fact that her mom had been a muggleborn and Severus had been a Death Eater. It didn't seem like it was a situation like Hermione and Theo, where Theo was working to avoid following his father's footsteps. And besides, Severus had told her his father was a muggle. How did Severus go from being such close friends with a muggleborn that they regularly exchanged gifts to being a Death Eater?
"Rachel? What's wrong?"
Rachel yelped and brandished her wand in the direction of the voice, the light at the end of her wand flaring in response. "Sorry," she said, placing her other hand over her heart as she felt it pounding.
"I didn't mean to startle you," Severus said, coming further into the room. He was still in his dressing gown. "Why are you up?"
"Oh, I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep. I was going to borrow a book, I hope that's okay? I didn't mean to wake you," Rachel said, lowering her wand.
"I have wards on my office and quarters that activate in the night, that way I know if someone has breached my quarters while I'm sleeping," Severus said.
"I didn't realize, sorry," Rachel said.
"That's alright. You had a nightmare?" Severus asked.
Rachel frowned. Was it that obvious? "Yes, but it's okay."
"Why don't I give you a half dose of Dreamless sleep and you can go back to bed," Severus said.
"That's okay, I'm up now," Rachel said.
"You need to sleep regularly, I don't think you understand how important sleep is to your health. Have you discussed the problem with Torey?" Severus asked.
"Yes, she knows. We're working on it," Rachel said.
"Good. I really think you should try to get a few more hours of sleep. If you don't want a Dreamless Sleep potion I can give you just a regular Sleeping Draught," Severus offered.
"No, it's okay, I'll just go back to my room," Rachel said, shifting uncomfortably.
"I'm not your relatives, I am not locking you in your room. I want to help you," Severus said.
Rachel sighed. "I don't like to be in my bed after I have nightmares like that."
Severus paused and then nodded. "I can understand why that would be the case. What if you slept out here on the couch?"
"I don't think you want me sleeping on your couch," Rachel said.
"I don't particularly care where you sleep as long as you are getting enough sleep. How do you deal with this when you're in your dorm?" Severus asked.
"Sometimes I sit on the floor for a while, or I go out into the common room and sit on the couch," Rachel said. "It's not that often though."
"How often?" Severus pressed.
"It gets this bad maybe once every two weeks. Most nights I can go back to sleep, or at least stay in bed," Rachel said. "I really can just go back to my room."
"What if I give you a half dose of a Sleeping Draught and you can stay on the couch. You'll wake up in four hours," Severus offered again.
"I really don't want to sleep," Rachel said.
"I can see that," Severus said, moving to sit down in his armchair. "Can you tell me what the problem is? If you take Dreamless sleep you won't need to worry about the nightmare recurring. Come sit down."
Rachel went to sit down on the couch and pulled her legs up with her. She didn't want to do this, but she didn't know what else to tell Severus. "You know they were drugging us, right? Like I told you how they gave us medication so that we'd be sleepy and not cause trouble."
"I didn't realize," Severus said quietly. "You've taken Dreamless sleep before, was this an issue for you then?"
"Sort of, but it was worth dealing with it to get a few nights away from the nightmares while they were bad. Now they're not every night anymore, and not as intense usually," Rachel said. "I don't need a Sleeping potion to get by day-to-day."
"You know that you are safe here, with me?" Severus asked.
"I do know that, I trust you, Severus," Rachel said. "It's just difficult sometimes to deal with the things that are in my head."
"I understand, in a way, from my own experiences. I believe I have mentioned before that there are experiences in my life that I prefer to not think on, but sometimes they do surface. Sometimes unexpectedly," Severus said.
Rachel nodded. Over the past few years she had kind of gotten the impression that Severus' childhood hadn't been the best, and that his time at Hogwarts had been difficult - in no small part thanks to her own dad - and that he'd had some bad experiences in the war. Severus probably knew better than most what it was like to have memories that were hard to get rid of.
"What if you read for a while, out here on the couch, and then you turned off the light and closed your eyes and see if you can fall asleep naturally?" Severus suggested.
"I can try that," Rachel agreed. She didn't think she'd sleep, but it was the best option she'd been given so far. "The wards won't keep you up if I'm out here?"
"No, I have dismissed them. The alarm won't go off again unless another person enters," Severus said. "Come knock on my door if you decide you do want a Sleeping potion."
"Okay," Rachel said, knowing that she wouldn't.
"Alright, goodnight," Severus said, standing up.
"Goodnight," Rachel said, watching as he left the room.
She went back to the bookshelf and picked one of the classics at random, deciding that boring herself to sleep would likely be the best option. She settled in on the couch again and began to read. It wasn't until an hour later, when she was several chapters into Jane Eyre, that she realized that the book she had picked wasn't boring and she actually wanted to know what happened next.
She set the book aside and laid down, deciding that she'd go through the second animagus meditation and then call that an attempt to sleep and go back to reading. Thirty minutes later she found herself dozing off and she curled up on her side and let her eyes close.
Severus left his bedroom a few minutes before eight on Christmas morning, half expecting to find Rachel still awake. He hadn't slept well himself after being woken by the alert from his wards. Part of it was just that he'd been woken and he had enough difficulties with falling asleep as it was. The other part was what Rachel had told him about her difficulties with sleeping in her bed and with Sleeping potions. It had been a long time since Rachel had spoken to him about what she'd experienced at her relatives' house and it had caught him off guard. He could only hope she was talking about it with Torey. He didn't know how else to help her with it.
He found Rachel asleep curled up on her side, a book laying next to her head with her glasses and her wand set on the cover. He stepped closer to see what she had chosen to read. Jane Eyre had been one of the books he and Lily had read together. They'd had a playful argument, where Severus had insisted that it was a horror story and Lily had insisted it was a romance. He was curious what Rachel's interpretation would be.
Severus went back to his bedroom and collected Rachel's Christmas gifts and her stocking, levitating the packages out into the sitting room and then hanging her stocking on the mantle. It was nice that they had a tradition, and even more nice that she'd wanted to come back to his quarters for Christmas Eve. He hadn't expected her to choose spending time with him over spending time with her friends.
Rachel sat up and rubbed at her eyes. "It's morning already?"
"It's eight, you can continue to rest if you wish," Severus said.
She shook her head. "No, I'm awake now. I didn't expect to fall back asleep."
"I'm glad you did," Severus said. "I'm going to order a tea tray from the kitchens, would you like tea?"
"Yes, please," Rachel said, putting on her glasses.
Severus flooed the kitchens and by the time he made it back to his armchair a tea tray for two was on the side table next to his chair. "Come get a cup, then you can open your gifts. Happy Christmas, by the way."
"Happy Christmas to you too," Rachel said. "How do you always wind up with my Christmas gifts?"
"Albus activates a spell in December that checks the mail for Christmas parcels and directs them to the House Elves so they can be placed on a students' bed on Christmas morning. The House Elves know to send your gifts to me, since you have Christmas here," Severus said. "I assume you're also opening gifts with your friends later today?"
"Yes, we are going to open gifts from each other after lunch," Rachel said.
Severus nodded, he'd suspected as much when he hadn't seen a package from her closest friends. "Why don't you start with your stocking?"
Rachel placed her cup of tea on the small table by the couch and went to unhook her stocking from the mantle. "How did you get this stuff out here without waking me?"
"I didn't, you woke up just as I finished," Severus said.
"Well, thank you. I appreciate that you do things to make Christmas nice for me," she said.
"I do want Christmas to be enjoyable for you, but you don't need to thank me for it," Severus said.
Rachel shrugged and began unpacking her stocking.
It was good that Rachel appreciated sweets and seemed to like the odds and ends he gave her as he wasn't sure what else to put into her stocking as she got older. He mostly based what he put in her stocking from what he remembered receiving in his own stocking as a child. His mother had gone out of her way to make sure that Severus received things on Christmas morning and he remembered how important that had been to him when he was young. He was glad he could do it for Rachel now.
Rachel stood up after she finished with her stocking. "I'll be right back."
Severus took a sip of his tea as she hurried out of the room.
She came back a minute later with a small wrapped gift. "For you. I know it's not a lot, but I don't really know what to get you."
"Whatever you wish to give me is fine, and is appreciated," Severus said. He'd found the muggle children's books she'd given him over the years to be interesting and sometimes insightful. He could easily see why the book Matilda had reminded Rachel of herself when she was a child. He opened the package and found a photo album inside, just big enough to have one photo per page. He began flipping through and was surprised to find photos of their home, and of Hogwarts, along with some photos of Rachel, a few photos of her friends, and even a few photos of himself. "Thank you. I like this very much."
Rachel smiled. "There's still some space in the back, so I can give you more photos to put in there too as I take them."
"Yes, I'd like that," Severus said. It was a good way to mark this time in their lives.
Rachel sat down on the floor and began to sort through her gifts, picking out the ones he had given her first. "A wetsuit," she said, standing up and holding it against herself. "How did you know my size?"
"I guessed, and tailoring charms will take care of the rest," Severus said. He'd actually had to go out into muggle London to get it. Wetsuits weren't particularly well known in the wizarding world.
"Thank you. That will help a lot. I wasn't looking forward to freezing in the lake. I can't believe we're going in there in the winter," Rachel said, sitting back down.
"You and me both," Severus said. He couldn't fathom why the judges would have thought that was a good idea. They'd be lucky if none of the champions came down with pneumonia afterward.
Rachel opened a new pair of winter boots, a gift account for Flourish and Blotts, and finally the envelope from the British League. "Tickets to the Holyhead Harpies and the Ballycastle Bats! We can really go?"
"Yes, we can. It's for July so we don't have to worry about leaving school grounds to do it," Severus said.
"Thank you so much! I can't wait!" Rachel said, grinning broadly.
Severus smiled. "You're welcome. I'm glad you're looking forward to it." It seemed that Rachel was still learning that he would go out of his way to do things that would bring her joy.
Rachel continued opening her gifts, receiving a tin of baked goods from Hagrid, a large bar of Honeydukes Best Chocolate from Pansy, and another small Quidditch figurine from Daphne.
Severus was somewhat relieved that there wasn't a Christmas gift from Draco there. If they were close enough friends that they were exchanging gifts he would have needed to talk to Rachel. He needed to talk to her about Draco anyway, but that could wait. They still had time.
"What's this?" Rachel asked as she pulled something out of a package.
He leaned in to look closer. "It's a Sneakoscope. It's a type of Dark Detector that will start spinning and whistling if someone is doing something untrustworthy. You might have difficulty keeping that in your dorm, as what it deems as untrustworthy can vary with how sensitive it is. If it keeps going off you can keep it here in my quarters instead."
"Okay, thank you," Rachel said, setting it aside along with a letter and then pulling out something else from the package.
"What is it?" Severus asked.
"A tether for my wand, so I don't drop it while I'm in the lake. Remus sent it. The Sneakoscope was from Sirius," Rachel said.
"A sensible precaution," Severus said.
"Did the Gillyweed that you ordered ever show up?" Rachel asked.
"It did. I can give you some to take with you. You'll want to keep it in a container of water," Severus said. "Do you need assistance in finding a place to practice with it? I'd prefer it if you weren't practicing in the lake."
"No, we're practicing in the prefect's bathroom," Rachel said.
Severus considered Rachel. "Are you certain you wish to practice there? I'm sure we can find an alternative," he finally settled on asking.
"It's okay. I'm fine, Severus," Rachel said, gathering her gifts up from the floor.
Severus had difficulty believing that - he thought Rachel often said that she was fine when she wasn't. "If you're certain. However, if you decide you wish to practice somewhere else, just let me know and I will make arrangements. There's no shame in deciding not to go in there."
"I'm really okay," Rachel said. "Can we have a light breakfast?"
Deciding to let it be for now, Severus got to his feet and vanished the wrapping paper from the rug with a wave of his wand. "We can."
"Oh, can I borrow this? I didn't think I'd like it, but I want to know what happens," Rachel asked, picking up the copy of Jane Eyre.
"You can. I'd like to know what you thought of it when you're done. That's a book your mother and I read together," Severus said.
Rachel smiled. "What did she think of it?"
"She thought it was romantic," Severus said.
Rachel made a face. "I don't know about that."
"Wait until the end, and then you can decide," Severus said, going to the fireplace to order them some food.
"Happy Christmas!" Millie said loudly as they entered their study room after lunch, each of them carrying a gift with them, and a platter of Christmas cookies balanced on top from where they'd visited the kitchens. Rachel was carrying butterbeers in her bag.
"Happy Christmas!" Hermione said, grinning brightly from where she was sitting with Neville, Ginny, and Luna.
They had decorated their study room with some tinsel and streamers, but none of them were good enough at conjuration to get the conjured Christmas Tree spell to work. That was alright, it was festive enough with all of them there.
"I'm glad we get to do this at least once," Theo said as he set down his gift on the table. "Not just the ball, of course, but spending Christmas together."
Rachel smiled. "I'm glad too." Even though she had good Christmases with Severus, she knew the holidays were difficult on Theo.
"Are we opening presents now?" Luna asked. She had tied back her hair today to display that she was wearing red and green Christmas baubles as earrings and they seemed to be twinkling.
"Yes, let's!" Ginny said, practically bouncing in her chair. She was wearing a new yellow jumper with a wavy maroon stripe across the front.
"Are we all opening at the same time or are we opening gifts one at a time?" Hermione asked.
"I think at the same time might be more fun," Neville said. "I mean, my Gran just usually watches me open gifts, but it's kind of awkward."
"My sister and I usually open gifts at the same time, neither of us like to wait," Millie said.
"My mom makes us take turns, but that usually just gives Fred and George a chance to slip something into people's gifts," Ginny said. "I think at the same time would be fun."
"Does anyone have a problem with us doing it at the same time?" Theo asked. No one spoke up. "Alright, let's exchange gifts then."
There were a few moments of chaos as everyone tried to get their package to the person it belonged to at the same time, but before long everyone was sitting down with a large gift in front of them.
"Luna did you make the wrapping paper yourself?" Neville asked.
"I did, do you like it?" Luna asked.
"I do, I bet people would pay to have their wrapping paper done like this," Neville said.
They all looked to see that Neville's gift was wrapped in parchment that had animated carolers, fireworks, Father Christmas coming down a fireplace, and presents being stacked under a tree.
"That must have taken you a while, Luna," Hermione said.
"Not that long, it was just something fun to do before going to bed," Luna said. "Are we opening our presents now?"
"Yes, we can," Hermione said with a smile.
Rachel tore off the wrapping paper and then stood up so she could open the box that contained her gifts. As usual she found a box of chocolate frogs, which she always appreciated, and a copy of the new Horath Bogtrotter book - Horath Bogtrotter and the Darkest Timeline. When she glanced up she saw that Hermione, Ginny, and Millie had all received copies of it as well. She was glad they all read the series because then they could talk about it after.
There was another book set, a trilogy this time called The Time-Turner Diaries, and a quick glance told her that they'd been published in the wizarding world instead of the muggle world. Glad for something new to read, Rachel set the books aside and dug deeper into the box. She'd been given three new Quidditch figurines that were the current Holyhead Harpies Chasers, which went with the Keeper and Seeker of the team that she'd been given by Daphne. Now she just needed the Beaters and she'd have the whole team.
She puzzled over a piece of leather that had two circular straps and two sets of smaller holes.
"A forearm holster for your wand," Theo explained after a moment. "Usually people like aurors and the MLE wear them, and sometimes duelists. But it's a lot quicker to pull your wand that way than from your robe or skirt pocket."
"Thanks," Rachel said. She didn't know that she'd wear it often, she wasn't exactly drawing her wand on people, but it was nice to have the option. "Thank you everyone, for everything."
"Yes, thank you!" Ginny said, the others quickly joining in the chorus of thank yous.
"Sorry I wasn't able to get muggle books this time around, I didn't want to put the burden on my parents to find and send all of them. Next year," Hermione said.
"That's fine," Rachel said, glancing around the table. Luna had taken out her paint set and was trying out the brushes on the discarded wrapping paper from her gift. Hermione was examining a book she'd been given. Neville also had a book open, and Ginny was leaning over to look at it while snacking on some chocolate. Millie had some quills out along with what looked like a notebook, and Theo was sitting back in his chair looking over them with a fond smile.
"Hermione, do you have any muggle books with you?" Theo asked.
"Not at the moment, no, but I'm sure I could get my parents to send something from my shelves if you want something specific," Hermione said.
"I have the Alanna Quartet with me, but it's set in a fantasy world, so it wouldn't really tell you what muggles are like," Rachel said. "But you're welcome to borrow them if you're interested."
"I could start there," Theo said. "I guess I'd like to read something with ordinary muggles, set in their world."
"I have a few ideas, I'll ask my parents to send them, it might take a week or two though," Hermione said.
"Thanks," Theo said.
"Maybe I could borrow them too?" Millie asked.
"Sure, of course," Hermione said. "What's the sudden interest in muggle literature?"
"Curiosity, mostly. Rachel showed me her...What did you call it?" Theo asked.
"A Walkman, with cassette tapes," Rachel said after a moment when she realized what Theo was thinking of.
"Yes, and she said that muggles have all sorts of things like that," Theo said. "And I realized that I didn't really know. Maybe I should have taken Muggle Studies."
"Well, I don't know that Muggle Studies would have really told you how muggles lived though. Lavender is taking it and I've seen some of her homework and I have my doubts about what is actually being taught in that class," Hermione said. "Pure-bloods aren't really taught anything about muggles, are they?"
"Well, my dad knows quite a lot about muggles, because of his job, but I know even he doesn't understand some of the stuff. He talks about ekletricity a lot, but I don't really understand how that works," Ginny said.
"Electricity," Rachel said. "It's like power that comes into your home and it makes all of the muggle devices work, you plug them into the wall. My Walkman has batteries, and that's where it's electricity comes from, but eventually the batteries run out of power and you have to get new ones."
"But where does it come from?" Millie asked.
"There are special power plants that generate electricity and they send it in a wired network to people's homes and shops and buildings. It's actually a bit of a problem, because some of the ways electricity is generated can cause pollution, so they're trying to find better ways to do it," Hermione explained.
They got mostly blank looks from the rest of the table.
"I bet my parents would let all of you come over, though maybe not all at once. We can show you, which might be a little bit better than trying to describe it," Hermione said. "But, in the meantime, I can get you books and Rachel and I can explain the parts that are new to you."
"Thanks," Theo said. "I'm glad we have the day off."
"Well, kind of. We've got to go get ready in two or three hours," Hermione said.
"But the ball isn't until seven," Neville said.
"We've got to do our hair and make-up," Ginny said. "Luna, you're coming with us up to Gryffindor Tower, right?"
"Yes, though I need to go back to Ravenclaw to get my gown," Luna said, looking up. She now had a smudge of green paint on her cheek.
"It takes three hours to do your hair and make-up?" Theo asked.
"Well we all have to wash our hair, dry it, and then style it, and every single girl is going to be wanting to use the showers," Hermione explained.
Rachel thought it sounded like a bit of an ordeal, but she and Millie had agreed to let Pansy and Daphne do their hair and make-up. At least she wasn't left trying to figure out what to do with it on her own.
"Theo, do you want to practice doing the dance again?" Rachel asked. She'd been trying to avoid thinking about doing the opening dance but the closer it got the less she could ignore it.
"We can, but you'll do fine," Theo said.
"I'd like to practice one more time too," Hermione said.
"Let's dance then," Theo said, getting to his feet.
Rachel took a steadying breath and got up. She could do this.
Rachel went back to her dorm room with her hair wrapped up in a towel because Daphne had said to leave it wet and loose after she showered. She was torn between nerves and excitement. On one hand, she still had to dance in front of everyone. On the other, she was going to get dressed up and go to a ball with her friends.
In a way that was more unbelievable to her than going to a magic school was. Even as weird as Hogwarts could be, school was school. Wearing a fancy dress and going to a ball, that was almost like being a princess. When she'd been very young she had spent some time imagining that her life was a mistake and some day her parents were going to show up and rescue her and then she'd live like a princess in the story books she'd read. In a way she'd gotten most of her wish, even though it had taken until she was eleven before it happened. And having Severus as her guardian, and having all of her friends - that was even better than being a princess. Now if only she could talk to her parents, just once.
In her dorm she found Pansy doing Daphne's hair, Daphne holding up a hand mirror to watch as Pansy worked.
"Just leave your hair as it is, I'll do yours as soon as Pansy is done with mine," Daphne said.
"Should I change into my gown?" Rachel asked.
"No, hair and make-up first, then your gown," Pansy said.
Rachel shrugged and sat down on her bed, going back to reading Jane Eyre. She wanted to finish it before she started with the new Horath Bogtrotter book.
Millie came in a few minutes later, her hair also done up in a towel. "I'm glad we're not sharing the bathroom with the upper years, it was busy enough in there as it was."
"Most of the third year girls have dates," Daphne said. "Speaking of dates, you haven't told us who your date is."
"You're not going alone, are you?" Pansy asked, looking away from Daphne's hair.
Millie scooped up Midnight and looked down at her. "No, I'm going with Luna."
"Well that's not exactly a date, but at least you aren't going alone," Daphne said.
Millie looked at Rachel, seeming to ask for help.
"We wanted our whole study group to go and Luna's a third year. And we didn't want her to go with a Ravenclaw because some of them are really mean to her," Rachel said, hoping she was doing the right thing. "If Theo hadn't asked me first, I probably would have asked Luna or Ginny to make sure they could go."
"That's alright then. I'm sure there will be plenty of people who are unattached who will want to dance," Pansy said.
Rachel glanced at Millie and Millie gave her a small smile and nodded. Glad she was able to help, Rachel went back to her book. She felt bad for Jane, who was the titular character. She seemed to have had a hard life that wasn't getting much better. Mr. Rochester was also a strange character. Rachel thought there had to be something wrong with him and Jane was going to find out what it was. Hopefully they'd be able to help each other.
"Alright, what do you think?" Pansy asked.
Daphne's hair had been gathered up behind her head and then had spilled out in loose curls. She looked very pretty.
"That's perfect, thank you. Rachel, your turn. I'm thinking all we really need to do is define your curls so they aren't so messy, and then gather the sides in the back so your face isn't hiding. I don't suppose I could convince you not to wear your glasses?" Daphne asked as she came over to Rachel's bed.
"I wouldn't be able to see well if I did, and I'd wind up with a headache," Rachel said.
"That's alright. Though maybe later you can convince Professor Snape to get you new frames, maybe some thin wire ones that accentuate your features a bit better," Pansy said.
"Probably not until I need a new prescription," Rachel said. She didn't think her glasses were that bad.
"You've got your comb?" Daphne asked.
"Yes, there on my bedside table," Rachel said.
"And you're wearing silver jewelry like usual?" she asked.
"Yes, my bracelet and I have a necklace," Rachel said. She was going to wear the necklace Neville had given her for her birthday.
"Good, then this silver hair clip will match. Just sit still while I work. For now you can keep reading but when I'm done with the curls I'll have you look straight ahead," Daphne said, sitting down behind Rachel.
Rachel stiffened a little bit. It felt very strange to have someone else touching her hair. Daphne was very gentle though and after a while Rachel was able to go back to reading.
"What do you think, Daphne, a darker pink for my eyeshadow?" Pansy asked.
"That should be fine, but start with light pink on the inside and grow darker as you move further away from your eyes," Daphne said.
About twenty minutes later Daphne stood up. "Okay, have your chin level with the floor and put your back directly toward me."
Rachel shifted around on her bed so that Daphne was directly behind her and held her gaze steady at where Pansy was working on her make-up. She felt Daphne's fingers against the side of her face and flinched slightly and Daphne paused for a moment while Rachel sat up straight again. A few moments later she felt something being pressed against the back of her head and then Daphne stepped away.
"Here let me get my mirror and you can tell me what you think," Daphne said. "I didn't realize your hair was so long. It's almost as long as mine now, though yours looks shorter because it's so curly."
Rachel stood up and followed Daphne, accepting the mirror she was handed. She'd never seen her hair so tidy before, even in a plait. Her curls rested around her shoulders, all of the hair staying in the curl instead of puffing up around it. "Thank you, it looks so nice."
"No problem. Millie, your turn. Do you want curls or do you want to keep yours straight?" Daphne asked.
"Straight, I think, but maybe put up?" Millie asked.
"We can do that. Are you wearing gold or silver jewelry?" Daphne asked.
"Silver," Millie said.
"Alright. You're going to have to stay seated, turn so your back is facing me," Daphne said.
"Rachel, time for your make-up. Come over here because I have everything spread out," Pansy said.
This part Rachel was a little less sure about. She'd never worn make-up before. She went to Pansy's bed and sat down on the end.
"You don't need much, your complexion is mostly even. I think just blush to highlight your cheekbones, lip gloss, and some eyeshadow. We'll match the eyeshadow to your gown," Pansy said. "Face me. This will probably work better if you close your eyes."
Rachel hesitated but took off her glasses and closed her eyes. If having her hair done felt weird, this felt even stranger. She pulled away when Pansy touched her eyelids. "That felt weird," Rachel said, blinking to get rid of the sensation.
"It's alright, it goes quickly," Pansy said. "I was almost done with that one."
Rachel closed her eyes again and tried not to scrunch up her face while Pansy worked.
"All done with your eyes. Now I'm just going to rub this one your lips, and then you press your lips together and rub them around," Pansy said. "When you put your gown on, lift it over your face so you don't smudge anything."
"Thank you," Rachel said, mostly glad that it was done.
"What do you think?" Pansy asked, handing her a mirror.
Rachel put her glasses back on and peered into the mirror. She didn't look too different, which was good, but she could see what Pansy meant about the blush bringing out her cheeks. "It looks good, definitely not for every day though."
"It's not a bad habit to get into when it's quick things like blush and eyeshadow. You'll want to do it when you're an adult," Pansy said.
Rachel doubted that, but she smiled and got up. "Thanks."
"Millie, your turn," Pansy called.
Rachel returned to her bed and saw that Millie's hair had been swept up into an elegant twisted bun that Rachel didn't know quite how to describe.
"I'm not sure I need make-up," Millie said, even though she went over to Pansy's bed.
"It's fun, and you at least need eyeshadow to match your gown. I promise it will be quick," Pansy said.
"Alright," Millie said.
Daphne returned to her own bed and began working on her own make-up.
Rachel couldn't believe how quickly the time went and before long it was time to put on their gowns and slippers. "Pictures," she said, holding up her camera.
She took a picture of Pansy and Daphne together and then had Daphne take a picture of Rachel with Millie. She took back her camera and planned to pass it among her friends at the ball so she could get pictures of all of them.
"We look gorgeous," Pansy said, smiling happily.
"We do," Daphne agreed. "The boys won't know what hit them."
"Let's go in the bathroom and see ourselves in the full mirrors and then we can go out," Pansy said.
The girls bathroom was already crowded with the third year girls, but they managed to get spaces to see themselves. Rachel thought she looked like herself, but not quite. It's like she was the same person, but maybe from a different world where her life had gone very differently. She could do that, even if it was only for one night.
"Champions and their partners, please join me over here," Professor McGonagall called over the din in the entrance hall.
"Get some pictures and let the rest of our group take some too," Rachel said, passing her camera to Millie.
"Of course, I'll make sure to get a few of you and Theo too," Millie said.
Rachel waved at her friends and went with Theo to go join the other champions to the side of the doors to the Great Hall. Cedric was there with Cho Chang, Cedric leaning down slightly to listen to what Cho was telling him. Fleur was there in a silver gown - she had chosen to go with the Ravenclaw Quidditch Captain and Chaser Roger Davies. Roger looked very pleased with this arrangement considering he couldn't seem to take his eyes off Fleur. Hermione and Viktor joined them, both of them looking very elegant and the light blue of Hermione's gown went well with the deep red of Viktor's dress robes.
"We will allow the rest of the school to take their place in the Great Hall and then you will enter in procession and take your places at the head table," Professor McGonagall instructed. "After dinner you will take the floor and begin the opening dance. Do you have any questions?"
Rachel wished they were doing the dancing before the eating, but she would manage. She glanced at Theo and found him looking back at her. It was a little strange to see him in his formal dark green dress robes.
"Alright?" he asked quietly.
"Yes. Worst thing that can happen is I fall on my face," Rachel said.
"I won't let you do that," Theo said.
"Thanks," Rachel said. She appreciated even more now that Theo had asked her to the ball. She wouldn't have wanted to do this with someone outside of their group.
"Follow after me, one pair at a time," Professor McGonagall said a few minutes after the entrance hall had emptied.
Hermione gave Rachel a nervous smile as she and Viktor took their places and Rachel smiled back.
Cedric and Cho led the way, with Fleur and Roger following about thirty seconds later, and Hermione and Viktor following thirty seconds after that. They could hear the sound of applause in the Great Hall.
"Ready?" Theo asked.
"Ready as I'm going to get," Rachel said.
Theo took her hand and they walked into the Great Hall together.
The usual four House tables had disappeared and instead there were about twenty round tables that could seat about a dozen people each, along with the head table at the front of the hall. Everyone was politely applauding. It seemed like, for tonight at least, any inter-House animosities had been forgotten.
Rachel saw that the rest of their study group had gotten a table to themselves and that the other Slytherins in her year had gotten a table nearby. She wished she could sit with her friends, but it was only for one night. She and Theo took seats at the end of the head table, next to Hermione and Viktor. Professor Dumbledore, Professor Karkaroff, and Madame Maxime were in the center of the table, flanked on either side by Mr. Bagman and Mr. Crouch.
"Menus," Theo said, picking up the piece of parchment that was resting in front of his plate. "That's new."
Further down the head table, Professor Dumbledore leaned forward and said "pork chops" to his plate. A moment later his food appeared.
"I wonder how that works," Rachel said. "At The Three Broomsticks they just have us touch our wands to the menu."
"They probably have some recording parchment in The Three Broomsticks' kitchen that lets them know what table ordered what. I imagine here the House Elves are just listening and sending up ready made plates," Theo said.
Rachel supposed if each House Elf watched over a few plates that would probably work. "Goulash," she told her plate after reviewing the menu.
A moment later a bowl of goulash appeared along with a goblet of pumpkin juice and a small bowl of buttered peas.
"Pork chops," Theo told his plate. His pork chops appeared along with mashed potatoes, a bread roll, and a goblet of pumpkin juice. "Not exactly a traditional Christmas dinner, but it works."
Rachel nodded. They'd had roast turkey at lunch anyway.
"I hear the Weird Sisters are playing tonight," Theo said.
"I don't know who they are," Rachel admitted.
"You've heard them a few times when they have the Wizarding Wireless Network playing in the common room. They're pretty good," Theo said.
"When it gets warmer come out with me to the Quidditch stands and you can listen to my Walkman. I want to know what you think of Pink Floyd," Rachel said. She went back and forth on whether or not she favored Pink Floyd or Fleetwood Mac out of the cassettes she had, but she thought Theo would definitely prefer Pink Floyd out of the two.
"I'd like that," Theo said, glancing down the table and then turning back to Rachel. "I was thinking maybe I could borrow that muggle series you were talking about, at least until Hermione's parents send the other muggle books."
"Sure," Rachel said. "They're a little bit...Well, they're intended for children. But I like them."
"That's okay," Theo said. "Are you enjoying the new Horath Bogtrotter book so far?"
"Haven't started it yet, I'm finishing a book Professor Snape is letting me borrow first. Have you read the Horath Bogtrotter books?" Rachel asked. She didn't think so, because he never talked about them, but she wasn't sure.
"No. My father says they're Ministry propaganda and has forbidden me to read them. Which means I probably should while I'm at Hogwarts. It's not like he'll know, I'll just have to hide the covers so no one else tells him I'm reading them," Theo said.
"You can borrow mine, I'm sure we can find a way to disguise them," Rachel said. "How is it propaganda?"
"The brave Ministry aurors hunt down dark and evil wizards," Theo said, shaking his head. "Let's just say the aurors did a lot of cursing and killing during the war and my father hasn't forgotten. And that's without getting into the idea that anything portraying the Ministry as competent and not corrupt is stretching the truth at best."
Rachel considered that. She had always known that the Horath Bogtrotter books were fiction and that being an auror probably wasn't anything like it was shown to be in the books, but she'd also learned that the Ministry had done a lot to let Death Eaters go free while imprisoning Sirius. "It's not the whole Ministry, is it? I mean, it's just some people who are acting in their own self interest?" she asked.
"It's not everyone, but there are enough people in positions of power who are corrupt that it's hard to trust any of them. Madam Bones is said to be incorruptible. My father and his friends would like to be rid of her. They'd like to be rid of Scrimgeour as well," Theo said.
"And the Wizengamot?" Rachel asked.
"Varies from person to person. There's always behind the scenes deals when it comes time for a new law to be voted on. Draco's father holds a lot of sway, but so does Professor Dumbledore," Theo said. "We don't need to worry about the Ministry and the Wizengamot until we're older. Let's just try to make it through the year and the tournament."
Rachel nodded. She had enough problems without borrowing trouble that she couldn't do anything about.
"If everyone will please stand," Professor Dumbledore said, his voice carrying throughout the room.
Rachel stood along with the rest of the table. It seemed like it was time.
Professor Dumbledore waved his wand and all the tables and chairs moved to the walls. With another wave of his wand a platform appeared with several musical instruments on it. A moment later a group of wizards came running into the room, each of them wearing black robes with rips and tears in them. The students erupted in cheers.
"Those are the Weird Sisters?" Rachel asked. They had not been at all what she'd been expecting. For one thing, she'd expected women, given the name of the band.
"Yep. Ready to dance?" Theo asked.
"Sure, just as long as you're leading," Rachel said. She reminded herself that it was just one dance and that everyone was probably more interested in the Weird Sisters than they were in watching her.
They took their place in the middle of the floor along with the other champions and their partners. A slow song began and Theo began to lead her in the waltz that they'd practiced.
"Try to breathe," Theo said quietly.
"Working on it," Rachel said. She was only vaguely aware of the other champions dancing or the crowd around them. It was a little bit like a Quidditch game, where she could block out what the crowd was shouting, and Theo was the Snitch.
Before long the song ended and the students applauded.
"There. Still alive?" Theo asked.
"Yep," Rachel said, smiling at Theo.
"Still rather have faced the dragon again?" he asked as a new song began.
"No, this wasn't as bad as the dragon," Rachel admitted.
"Dance again?" he asked, offering her his hand.
"Sure," Rachel said. Now that there was a whole group of students out on the dance floor it was better.
After Rachel danced with Theo again she traded with Hermione and danced with Viktor. Then she danced with Cedric, while Viktor danced with Cho. After that she danced with Neville, and then with Luna, while Theo danced with Millie. Ginny handed over her camera then and Rachel retreated to the side of the room to get a bottle of butterbeer and to see what she could see.
While getting a butterbeer she noticed Crabbe and Goyle sitting together, both of them with multiple dessert plates, and Ron Weasley sitting and glaring out at the dance floor. She supposed dances weren't everyone's thing.
"Come dance with me again," Theo said after a while. Rachel had been spending the time finding her friends and getting pictures of them dancing.
"Okay," she said. She was glad she'd come to the Yule Ball.
Severus stood to the side of the Great Hall, keeping a careful vigil over his students. He'd already turned down offers to dance from Minerva, Pomona, and Charity, indicating that he felt the need to keep a close eye on the students. Minerva had just shook her head and told him that it wasn't in the Great Hall they needed to be worried about, it was the broom closets and empty classrooms later in the evening. Severus had resisted the urge to roll his eyes and simply hoped that Poppy had done a good job at teaching the upper years Contraceptive charms. They hadn't had a pregnant student at Hogwarts since Severus had been a student and no one wanted to deal with the fall out from that.
Although he was watching any students who were well known troublemakers - the Weasley twins were at the top of that list - he was also keeping a careful eye on Rachel. She seemed to be having fun with her friends and Severus was grateful for that. He knew how nervous she'd been to do the opening dance, but she had acquitted herself well. He was also relieved that she was dancing with a number of people. He would be more concerned about the situation with Theo if she had only danced with him.
"See anything interesting?" Moody asked as he clunked up to Severus.
"Not at the moment," Severus said.
"Then you might like to know that Mr. Berrow has a hip flask in his pocket and I suspect the contents are alcoholic," Moody said.
Severus sighed. "I will deal with Mr. Berrow, thank you," he said. As much as he disliked Moody he couldn't deny that his eye had its uses.
"I'm keeping watch," Moody said, both of his eyes focusing on Severus before he walked away.
Severus restrained himself from rolling his eyes, knowing that Moody was undoubtedly watching, and turned his attention back to the dance floor. He found Darius Berrow dancing to the far side of the dance floor with Alice Jugson and made his way there. "Empty your pockets, if you would, Mr. Berrow," he said, holding out his hand.
"Sir?" Darius asked.
"Now, unless you wish us to take this conversation to my office," Severus said.
Darius grimly pulled the flask out of his pocket and placed it in Severus' hand.
Severus opened the top and sniffed the contents. Firewhiskey, and not very good firewhiskey at that. "Detention and be glad it's not more. I will let you know when you'll be serving it."
"Yes, sir," Darius said.
Severus pocketed the flask and walked away. He wasn't under any illusions that students couldn't get alcohol into Hogwarts, but it did fall to him to watch for any indications that it was becoming habit forming with any of his students. He could recognize the signs well enough and he asked that his prefects inform him if they noticed that it was becoming a problem with any particular student.
Rachel came up to him, smiling brightly. "Are you having a good time?"
"Well enough, and yourself?" Severus asked.
"Yes, I'm glad I'm here with my friends," Rachel said. "You aren't going to dance with anyone?"
"Not at this time," Severus said. "I trust you found dancing to not be as bad as you expected?"
"Dancing is alright, it's having everyone watch me that's the bad part. I'm glad I was with Theo," Rachel said.
"We're getting dessert," Neville said, coming up to Rachel. "Hello, sir. I hope you're well."
"I'm fine, Mr. Longbottom," Severus said. "Go on with your friends. I'll be around the Great Hall and the gardens if you need me."
"Bye," Rachel said, going off to join her friends.
"And how is Miss Snow doing?" Karkaroff said, approaching with a goblet in hand.
"She is doing well. I'm glad she seems to be enjoying herself at the ball. I believe I saw her dancing with Mr. Krum," Severus said.
The corner of Karkaroff's mouth dropped in disapproval. "Yes, I saw that as well. I had not expected them to become friends. Nor had I expected Viktor to be invited to join their Quidditch team."
Severus hadn't expected either of those things himself.
"Mr. Krum tells me she's quite a good flyer, and that is not praise he often gives. In fact, I'm not sure he typically notices how others fly if it does not affect him directly," Karkaroff said. "I suppose that's to be expected, Miss Snow is quite famous in her own right."
Severus watched Karkaroff, trying to understand what the message was that he was supposed to be receiving. "Yes, she is. I'm surprised that you let Mr. Krum play on a professional level while he was attending Durmstrang."
"Mr. Krum had a permanent portkey set up so that he could attend practices and games and then return to the school. He did not miss much class time. I trust you find his work adequate?" Karkaroff asked.
"I have no complaints about Mr. Krum's work in my class," Severus said.
"Good. I trust that Miss Snow is preparing herself for the second task," Karkaroff said casually.
Severus thought quickly and decided it was better to project confidence now that Karkaroff wasn't likely to underestimate Rachel. "She has told me she is in the process of preparation and feels confident that she'll be ready for the task," he said.
"Excellent. After her performance at the first task I'm quite eager to see what she will come up with. May we take a walk through the garden, to speak privately for a moment?" Karkaroff asked.
"Of course," Severus said. Whatever Karkaroff had to tell him, he needed to know.
They left the Great Hall and went through the entrance hall and out into the garden that Pomona had prepared. Someone, likely Filius, had performed a weather charm around the garden so that it was quite temperate despite the winter night. Severus and Karkaroff made their way down on the paths, past the giant rose bushes with little fairies lighting the way.
"What is it you wished to speak with me about?" Severus asked when he was certain they were alone.
"You've noticed, haven't you?" Karkaroff asked, his voice hushed. "I've been trying to speak with you about it, but you won't give me the time of day."
"Noticed what?" Severus asked, though he had a suspicion he knew what Karkaroff was speaking of.
"The Mark, it's coming back," Karkaroff said, dropping his voice even further. "Yours is too, isn't it?"
"It's of no consequence," Severus said. He had indeed noticed his Dark Mark slowly getting clearer and clearer and had shown it to Albus on multiple occasions during the school year.
"You can't pretend this isn't happening! How long will it be before-" Karkaroff cut himself off and looked around.
"You may flee, if you wish. However, I am remaining at Hogwarts, where I am supposed to be," Severus said, playing on the fact that the Dark Lord's instructions had been for Severus to stay at Hogwarts. He knew that Karkaroff would not have a welcome return, either by the Dark Lord or by the other Death Eaters.
"You can't want this to happen," Karkaroff said.
"What I want is immaterial," Severus said, pausing as he heard movement. He aimed his wand at a rose bush at the end of the path and silently cast a Banishing charm at the rose bush. Two students tumbled out.
Severus shook his head. They could find a better place to paw at each other than in a bush. "Ten points from Ravenclaw, Miss Fawcett. Ten points from Hufflepuff, Mr. Stebbins. Now kindly rejoin the ball after you have straightened your clothes," he ordered.
The two sixth years hurried away.
"Oh Severus. Teenagers will be teenagers. You think you'd have learned this by now," Karkaroff said. "Though from the sound of things you keep Miss Snow on a tight leash."
"If you don't need me for anything else, I will return to the ball," Severus said, gritting his teeth.
"Think on what I've said," Karkaroff said before turning and walking away.
Severus shook his head and returned to the ball, keeping an eye out for any other students lurking in rose bushes.
"Guess what?" Pansy said as soon as they were back in the dorm room.
"What?" Daphne asked.
"Draco and I are officially together! He asked me tonight," Pansy said, smiling brightly.
Daphne squealed and gave Pansy a hug.
"I'm hoping that my parents will arrange a marriage contract between us, I know it's something they've been thinking about," Pansy said, sitting down on the end of her bed.
Rachel took off her slippers and went digging in her wardrobe drawer for a pair of socks. "You want them to? Is that common?" The most she'd really heard about it was from the situation with Neville's Gran.
"Among some pure-blood families it is, but most of them wouldn't arrange a marriage that their child was truly averse to. Some people grow up knowing who they're going to marry, but my parents wanted to wait," Pansy said.
"My parents would never arrange a marriage contract for me. My great grandmother was in an arranged marriage and it ruined her life," Daphne said. "Millie, I saw you dancing with a few of the Durmstrang boys. Are you going to go out with any of them? Maybe you could go to Hogsmeade with one of them over the Valentine's day weekend?"
"No, it was just for fun. One of them was Viktor's friend, and then the other was his friend," Millie said. "I don't really want to date right now."
"Why not?" Pansy asked.
Millie shrugged and looked away. "I'm just busy. Studying takes up practically all my time and I like just spending time with my friends."
"You'll want to eventually," Daphne said. "Rachel, how was going with Theo? You looked so cute together!"
"That's a bad idea," Pansy said suddenly.
Rachel turned to look at Pansy and noticed that the other girls were looking too.
"It's not that you aren't adorable together, because you are, but with Theo's father being the way he is, you really shouldn't risk it. Either of you," Pansy said, looking entirely serious.
Rachel nodded. "I know. We just went together as friends and Theo had his father's permission before he asked me. I'm not planning on dating anyone either. But it was nice to go with Theo. I felt a little bit like Cinderella."
"Who?" Daphne asked.
"You know, the fairy tale," Rachel said, seeing that all three of her roommates appeared confused. "Like Snow White and Sleeping Beauty?"
"I didn't know the muggle world had its own fairy tales," Pansy said.
"Me neither. What happens in Cinderella?" Millie asked.
"It's been a really long time since I read it, but I'll do my best," Rachel said. "Cinderella lived with her evil stepmother and her evil stepsisters and they treated her really awful and made her do all the chores. Then it was announced that there was a ball and she wanted to go, and her stepmother said she could, but she dumped some rice into the fireplace's ashes and said she has to get all the rice out first. While her stepmother and stepsisters are gone to get their dresses for the ball, Cinderella sings and calls on birds to come help her and they peck all the rice out and put it into a pot."
"She enchanted them without a wand?" Millie asked.
"It's not really magic like our magic, she just could just sing and the birds understood what she wanted," Rachel said. "After her stepmother came back, she said she couldn't go to the ball anyway. Later, after her stepmother and stepsisters are gone to the ball, her fairy godmother shows up and makes her a beautiful gown and makes her a carriage out of a pumpkin from the garden and horses from some mice. Her fairy godmother tells her the spells will end at midnight and she has to leave before then."
"Well that's pretty obviously transfiguration. Did she use a wand?" Daphne asked.
"I think so," Rachel said. She couldn't quite remember. It had been in a book of fairy tales she'd borrowed from the school library when she was little. "Anyway, she goes to the ball and dances all night with the prince, who falls in love with her. Cinderella doesn't realize how late it is until the bell starts chiming twelve and then she runs from the palace with the prince following her. She leaves behind one of her slippers and returns back home. The next day the prince goes searching through the entire kingdom to find out whose slipper it is and says that every girl has to try it on. When he reaches their house, the stepmother doesn't want Cinderella to try it on, but the prince insists, and the slipper fits perfectly. Then they get married and she becomes a princess."
"That's so romantic. He's in love so he goes to find her again," Pansy said.
"And he doesn't even care that she's just a servant to her family," Rachel said.
"It's very sweet," Daphne said.
"I think anyone who gets married after a single night of dancing has problems. But it's nice that he rescued her," Millie said.
"You never talk about your family, but they were like the evil stepmother from the story, weren't they?" Pansy asked.
"A little bit," Rachel said. She didn't want to talk about that with her roommates, but it was kind of her fault for saying she felt like Cinderella in the first place.
"Well I'm glad Professor Snape rescued you, and you didn't even have to get married," Daphne said.
Rachel smiled. "I'm glad too." She was definitely glad that she hadn't needed to get married in order to leave the Dursleys, though she might have done it if it'd been necessary.
"I'm exhausted," Millie said, flopping back on her bed and waking up Midnight in the process.
"Don't forget to wash off your make-up before you go to bed," Pansy said.
Rachel nodded and made herself get up. She needed to brush her teeth anyway. "Thanks for helping us get ready for the ball."
"Yes, thank you," Millie said.
"No problem. It's nice that we actually got to hang out. We should do it more often," Daphne said.
"Not the make-up part," Millie said quickly.
"Not the make-up part, though there's nothing wrong with make-up. Just spending time together when we aren't all getting ready for bed," Pansy said.
"We can do that," Rachel said.
"Yeah. We're usually in the common room at least thirty minutes before curfew. Just grab us from where we're usually sitting," Millie said.
"We will," Pansy said.
Rachel left to go to the bathroom, though part of her was wondering if this was something Pansy's parents had told her to do. It was Daphne who had asked them to spend more time together, but Pansy had jumped on it pretty quickly. It wouldn't hurt to spend more time with them, but Rachel wished Severus had been a little bit more specific as to what it was she wasn't supposed to say around Pansy and Draco. Maybe she should ask him again, and tell him that Pansy and Daphne had asked to spend more time with her.
She took one last look at herself with make-up on and decided that it was okay, but definitely not worth the hassle for day-to-day life. Her life was complicated enough without adding one more thing.
Rachel was most of the way through lunch the next day when Fleur and Cedric approached the Slytherin table.
"We were thinking of a little friendly competition. Would you be up for a game of Chaser's Folly with all of the champions?" Cedric asked.
"Sure," Rachel said. She'd read about Chaser's Folly in her book about Quidditch but she'd never played before.
"Viktor, how about you?" Cedric asked.
Viktor looked up from his plate. "Chasing is not my specialty."
"All four of us are Seekers, so we're on pretty even footing, except Rachel has been playing as a Chaser this year. But she's the youngest and the smallest, so I think that advantage balances out," Cedric said.
Viktor's friend Predrag leaned in and whispered to Viktor.
"Fine, I will do it. One game," Viktor said.
"That is all we will want to play, it's very cold," Fleur said.
"Great," Cedric said with a smile. "Let's meet in the entrance hall in twenty minutes. We'll walk down to the Quidditch pitch together to get our brooms and then set up on the ground nearby."
"See you then," Rachel said as she quickly finished the last of her food. She had to go down to the Slytherin dorms and get her hat and boots, though she wasn't going to bring her cloak because that would slow her down and this was a competition.
"I've never heard of Chaser's Folly, what is it?" Millie asked, finishing her own meal.
"You explain, I'm going to go let the rest of the group know what's going on. At least two of us will come out there with you," Theo said as he got up.
"Oh, sorry," Rachel said. "You don't have to come."
"Don't worry about it, at the very least I bet Ginny will want to come watch," Theo said.
"And I'm going," Millie said. "So you don't have to if you don't want to."
"It's fine," Theo said before heading over to the Gryffindor table.
"I really think I can go do Quidditch things without an escort," Rachel said as she left the Great Hall with Millie. "Besides, I'll be with Cedric."
"Who will be distracted by the game," Millie said. "Don't worry about it. We said we'd stay with you this year and we will."
"I should have at least asked you and Theo before I agreed," Rachel said.
Millie shrugged. "Maybe. But it's not like we would have said no. Of course you're going to prove yourself against the other champions. It's like tactics or something. You can't back down or they're going to think you're not capable. Now, Chaser's Folly?"
Rachel frowned. She hadn't really thought of it in those terms. It was just a game, wasn't it? She was pretty sure Cedric at least thought it was just a game. "Chaser's Folly can be played with an even number of players, between four and ten players. There's a goal hoop for each player and a Quaffle for every two players. The idea is you both have to guard your goal and score on other player's goals. However, the goals are far enough apart you can't do both at once. You get a point for each goal you score and lose a point for each time someone scores on your goal," Rachel explained.
"Tricky," Millie said.
"Some people are really aggressive players and never guard their goal, counting on scoring enough points to make up for being scored on. Other players try to stay close to their goal and only score on the nearby players goals. Usually it's a balance and depends on how the other players play," Rachel said, pausing to let some lower year Slytherins out of the door before going into the common room. "Mind you, all I know about this is from reading about it. So who knows how I'll actually do."
"I think you'll do fine. I mean, Viktor said it himself, he's not a Chaser. And Fleur at the very least hasn't practiced on a team this year," Millie said.
"But Cedric probably does Chaser drills with the Hufflepuff team," Rachel pointed out.
"Probably, but you do too and you're playing as a Chaser this year," Millie said.
They went into their dorm room and Rachel pulled out her hat from her wardrobe and sat down to put on her winter boots.
"You're not bringing your cloak?" Millie asked once they were ready.
"It will slow me down," Rachel said.
"At least wear it out there and I'll hold it for you while you're playing. Do you want to bring your camera too?" Millie asked. "I can get pictures of you and the others playing."
"Sure. Thanks," Rachel said, getting her camera out of her wardrobe drawer. She had just put new film in it this morning since she'd used the last of the roll at the Yule Ball.
They found a crowd waiting for them in the entrance hall.
"Apparently word gets around," Millie said.
Rachel kind of wished it hadn't, but at least she was used to being watched while she played Quidditch.
Ginny, Luna, and Neville made their way over to them, all of them with their winter cloaks. "Hermione and Theo decided to avail themselves of the library while it was quiet," Ginny said.
"That's fine," Rachel said. She knew neither of them were big on Quidditch.
"Ready?" Cedric called.
"Ready," Rachel called back, managing to catch a glimpse of Viktor and Fleur nearby, Fleur already carrying her broomstick. Rachel didn't recognize the model.
There were probably forty people with them as they left the entrance hall and Cedric fell back to walk near Rachel. "I hadn't realized a little pick up game would attract so much attention," he said.
"Anything involving Viktor and Quidditch is going to get loads of attention. And you didn't exactly keep it a secret," Ginny said.
"I suppose not," Cedric said. "This alright with you?"
"It's fine, it's not like we don't fly in front of the school on a regular basis," Rachel said, though she was having some second thoughts about what Severus would say when he heard about it. He'd been at a luncheon with Professor Dumbledore and hadn't been in Great Hall for lunch.
"That's true enough," Cedric said.
They made their way through the snow down to the Quidditch pitch and they split up to get their brooms from the locker rooms.
"For some reason I never really imagined there would be lockers in here," Millie said, watching from the doorway while Rachel retrieved her broom.
"What did you expect there to be?" Rachel asked.
"I just thought they'd give you somewhere more private to change," Millie said.
Rachel shrugged. It had always been just her and Imogen and now her and Scarlett, and they always just turned their backs to change. "I guess you could change in one of the shower stalls if you wanted to. We just turn our backs."
"It's like that in the Gryffindor girls locker room too, but Katie does go in the shower stall to change. It's no big deal," Ginny said.
"If you say so," Millie said.
"At least the showers aren't communal. They are in some places, baths too," Luna said.
"Really?" Neville asked.
"Oh yes. And saunas of course," Luna said.
Rachel decided that she needed to find out in advance before she went traveling if places had public showers or baths. That was not something she wanted to walk in on. They walked a ways away from the Quidditch pitch to a relatively flat area without any intruding trees.
"I will make the goals, unless you wish to," Fleur offered.
"Go ahead," Cedric said, dropping two Quaffles on the ground.
Rachel nodded and watched as Fleur walked on top of the snow about thirty paces away and then conjured a tall goal post. "How is she walking on the snow?"
"Featherfoot charm," Viktor said. "It is simple."
"Is conjuring the goals like that something Professor McGonagall teaches?" Rachel asked. She wanted to be able to do that in the backyard at home.
"I don't think she teaches that exact spell, but once you're good at conjuring it should be doable," Cedric said, turning to watch Fleur conjure the next goal.
"It seems like a useful spell. Perhaps Fleur will teach it to us if we ask," Viktor said.
"We can ask, but I don't think I'm good enough at conjuring yet to cast it," Cedric said.
"Me neither," Rachel said. She hadn't gone back to practicing conjuring after she finished the first task. She supposed she probably should, but maybe not with birds again.
"Who is keeping score?" Viktor asked.
"That's a good question," Cedric said, scanning the crowd around them. "All three schools are represented, so we don't exactly have an impartial option. Do you have a suggestion?"
"My friend Predrag would be willing to do it," Viktor said.
"Are you okay with that?" Cedric asked Rachel.
"That's fine, but we should ask Fleur too," Rachel said.
Fleur finished conjuring the last goal and made her way back to them. "Are we ready?"
"Do you mind if Viktor's friend Predrag is the scorekeeper?" Cedric asked.
Fleur seemed to consider it for a long moment. "I do not mind. Let's play. It's cold."
Rachel pulled off her cloak and handed it to Millie. "Thanks."
"No problem, good luck," Millie said.
"Alright, if you're not playing move beyond the goals so you don't get hit if one of us comes close to the ground," Cedric called. "Each of us should pick a goal."
The crowd, which had grown even bigger now, backed away. Now it was the four champions and Predrag.
Rachel moved slightly to the left so that her back was to the goal that was by the Quidditch pitch. Cedric was to her left, Fleur was to her right, and Viktor was directly across from her.
Predrag pulled out his wand and conjured a whistle. "On my mark. First to twenty wins."
Rachel mounted her broom, deciding that she was going to guard her goal instead of going directly for one of the Quaffles.
The whistle pierced the chilly air and the four of them shot up. Fleur and Viktor both went for the Quaffles while Cedric and Rachel backed up to their goals.
Fleur made straight for her, apparently seeing her as the easiest target, and Rachel managed to catch the Quaffle when Fleur threw it at the goal. Rachel flew past where Fleur had swooped around to guard her goal and scored on Viktor's empty hoop. She immediately turned around and went back to her goal and narrowly managed to kick away the Quaffle that Cedric had thrown and then dove after it.
It was a fast and furious game and Rachel quickly forgot about the cold and the spectators. She got scored on plenty of times but also found it relatively easy to score because there was usually at least one hoop left unguarded. The trickiest part was not hitting each other in the small space and there were a few close calls.
Rachel got in one last score before she heard the whistle blow again and she flew back down to the ground. It had seemed fast, but she was sweating and she had no idea how much time had passed or who had won.
The crowd pressed in again and Rachel moved back so that she wasn't being surrounded.
"Who won?" someone called.
"Cedric wins, he got twenty points. Viktor was second, with eighteen points, Rachel was third with seventeen points, and Fleur was fourth with sixteen points," Predrag announced.
A group of Hufflepuffs broke out in cheers and Rachel was pretty sure she saw Cedric's Ravenclaw friend over there as well.
"Congratulations," Rachel told Cedric.
"Well, you know what they say, good Seekers can do both," Cedric said, shaking her hand.
Rachel smiled. Marcus had said those exact same words to her.
"You did well," Viktor said, shaking Cedric's hand.
"You too. We all were within a few points of each other," Cedric said, smiling easily.
"Are you going to be a professional Quidditch player?" Fleur asked.
"I don't think so," Cedric said. "I've got some ideas, but I still have a year to decide."
"Well you fly very well," Fleur said. "Now let us go inside before we freeze."
Rachel realized that she was rapidly getting cold and found Millie.
"You did good, considering they're all older than you and have more experience than you," Millie said, handing over Rachel's cloak. "And I got some good photos."
"Thanks," Rachel said. She didn't feel too badly about it. It wasn't like she was letting down her team.
"Ready to go back to the castle?" Neville asked.
"Yes, definitely. Do we want to drop by the kitchens and bring something up to the study room and surprise Hermione and Theo?" Rachel asked as they began the walk back.
"Yes, I like that," Luna said.
"Christmas cookies again, maybe they have more of the chocolate ones. And maybe they can warm up the bottles of butterbeer. I don't know if it's a good idea to cast a warming charm on them," Ginny said.
"Probably best to leave it to the House Elves," Millie said.
"Snow, a word."
Rachel looked up to find Professor Moody approaching them. "Yes, sir," she said, having a feeling that she knew what the problem was. She walked up to him and braced herself for another lecture on not being safe.
He cast a privacy ward around them though his magical eye was moving rapidly as people passed by on their way back to the castle. "Just what are you thinking, going out there like that without even a teacher nearby? Do you have any idea how vulnerable you are up in the air?"
Rachel thought that she did, given the incident with the Bludger that had followed her and her falling off her broomstick from the Dementors, but she thought it was a bad idea to mention either of those to Professor Moody. He'd probably have a heart attack on the spot. "My friends were there and they had their wands," Rachel said.
"That wouldn't stop one of the Durmstrang students from shooting you off your broom. There's probably a couple of students at Hogwarts who would do it if they had the chance too. You have to be more careful," Professor Moody said. "I tell you this in class but you don't seem to hear me. Constant. Vigilance."
"I'll be more careful," Rachel promised, figuring that was her best bet to get away from this conversation. "We're going inside to be with our friends. They'll protect me."
"The only person who can protect you is you," Professor Moody said firmly. "I'm not dismissing having allies, that's important, but you have to be prepared to defend yourself. Are you?"
"Yes," Rachel said, hoping that was the answer he was looking for.
"Then act like it," Professor Moody said, dismissing the privacy ward and then walking away on top of the snow.
"He just yell at you for not being careful?" Millie asked as they came over to Rachel.
"Yep," Rachel said.
"He doesn't have any wrackspurts around him, but something does seem off. The Muahorns don't know what to make of him either," Luna said.
"He scares me a little bit," Neville said.
"Me too," Rachel said. "Alright. To the kitchens?"
"Yes and far away from Professor Moody," Ginny said.
Rachel silently agreed.