52 Friday, December 20th

The rest of the party was somewhat of a haze for Noelle. Later she felt bad that she'd left Azraeyn for so long, and that, when she returned, she acted so despondent. Mentally she promised herself that she would make up for it.

Still, he'd been good to her even so. He'd caught on quickly that something had upset her, and though she'd brushed him off when asked about it, he'd been kind and gentle throughout the party, staying by her side.

Noelle noticed that Luna Lovegood also looked around for her date, though she seemed only slightly put off at not being able to find him again.

After Slughorn called everything to a close, Noelle and Azraeyn left together, and he offered to walk her to her dorm. She agreed quietly and walked alongside him, lost in her thoughts. At some point during the walk, he caught her hand, the warmth of his palm finding its way into the mix in her thoughts.

Nearly running into him when he stopped, she was surprised to find that they'd reached her house. Where had the time gone?

"Noelle." He took her arms until she met his eyes. "I don't know what happened tonight, but I'm here if you need to talk at any point." She nodded silently and went to move past him. His grip tightened gently. "I'll see you after Christmas break?"

Christmas break! She'd forgotten that the students would leave the next day, not to return until January rolled back around. She had decided to go after all, since no one else would be left, but it had slipped her mind.

"Yeah." She answered, briefly forgetting her other worries, now running through a mental checklist of everything left that needed packing still.

"I'll miss you." He whispered softly. The sincerity caught her off guard and she stared back at him, startled.

"I'll miss you too…" She breathed back, suddenly all too aware of the cold stone at her back, the chill wind that somehow found its way into the dungeon, and his misplaced warmth in the midst of it.

His eyes flicked down to her lips and he swallowed hard. "I did mention that you look beautiful tonight right?" His hands left her arms. One found its way around her to the small of her back, while the other he propped against the wall behind her.

"You could afford to say it more." Noelle answered, her heart fluttering. "Though, I'm sorry I wasn't a more fun date."

He shook his head as he leaned in close. "I understand. Things happen."

She knew this was a mistake. That what was about to happen would only make the next two weeks without him the hardest she'd had to endure. But just like magic, she was caught up in the spell and found herself powerless to stop it.

His lips met hers and heat coursed through her body. His smell enveloped her, clean linens and lavender. Her knees went weak, but she was held up by his frame as the two pressed closer together. His lips were soft and firm all at once, as though he didn't want to force his feelings onto her but he'd waited too long to just leave now. Noelle didn't need to read his mind to feel his attachment and devotion to her, she was only shocked at the intensity of it, and in so short a time. She took his face in her hands, unwilling to let the moment end.

And then, all too soon, it did.

"Noelle? I thought I heard-" Margaret peeked around the corner and then went white. "Oops." She added awkwardly as the two pulled apart.

The space now felt too open as he disappeared from her side. The cold air rushed in again and she shivered, the sweat that had appeared on her skin cooling rapidly.

Ignoring Margaret, Azraeyn smiled at Noelle, his cheeks flushed. "I'll see you soon. Merry Christmas Noelle." He turned to leave, the smile still stuck on his face.

Noelle watched him go, the same smile on her own. "Merry Christmas."

Wednesday, December 25th Christmas Day

Back home, Noelle sat on the living room floor, surrounded by family and shreds of wrapping paper. Her father, step-mother, and Ford all sat in nearby recliners and on the couch, clamoring about gifts they'd received and plans for the next few days while Noelle was home to enjoy it with them.

She'd received many of the typical gifts one could expect from their parents or extended family: socks, new pajamas which her parents had found ironic due to the small cartoon Unicorns depicted on them, as this multicolored fantasy was what the muggles pictured magical creatures to be (which she now wore), books, and mittens to keep warm. She also received more practical gifts which were given to her on an understanding of her needs at Hogwarts: a new writing quill which had been dyed red, several different colors of ink, and some school books of the non-magical variety, to help her keep up with her mathematics and English.

"I'm so excited to get to go to school with you next year!" Ford exclaimed. "We haven't gotten to see each other much these last couple years."

Noelle pulled her knees up, enjoying the soft new fuzziness of her pajamas. "Definitely. I think you'll really enjoy it at Hogwarts." She didn't mention the fact that the last few years there had been somewhat more dangerous than years prior, not wanting to scare her family any more than what they'd likely already heard. She also hadn't told anyone about her overhearing Malfoy and Snape on several occasions, or the conclusions she'd drawn. She was saving that conversation for Dumbledore.

"It only sucks that it'll be your last year there too." He added.

She shrugged. "At least then I'll have less to do and I'll be the one sitting around waiting for you to visit me." She stuck her tongue out at him and he laughed.

"Now Noelle, for your last two presents." Her dad announced, disappearing into the other room.

Noelle raised an eyebrow at her step-mother. "I have more?" Anastasia shrugged and smirked, waiting for her father to return.

When he did, he carried out a long package wrapped in brown paper, as well as a much smaller rectangular box. He set them at her feet and returned to his seat on the couch. "Go ahead." He wrapped his arm around his wife and watched her.

Still curious about why this was so different from the rest, she first opened the longer package, which was nearly as tall as she was. As soon as she unwrapped the end, she knew what it was. "My own broomstick?!" She rabidly ripped the rest of the paper away, reveling in the gift presented her. "And a Nimbus 2000 at that!" While not the best now on the market, it was still an amazing broom and fairly expensive on the market, though not as much as its successor, the Nimbus 2001.

Her parents smiled at her obvious joy and her dad winked at her. "Thought it was about time you had your own."

"Thank you!" She threw her arms around them both and then settled at their feet next to Ford for her last gift.

"That one's from me." Ford explained. "While it's not as exciting as a broom," he fake-glared at their parents, "I think you'll like it."

What she found inside was a necklace with a dull black stone in the silver setting. She put it on and smiled, unsurely, at him. "Thanks?"

"At night it glows and reflects the moon's phases. It glows pretty brightly too. I used it for a flashlight for a few nights before wrapping it." He admitted. "But I figured besides using it for a light and for jewelry, it could help you keep track of the time in a way. Days passing and whatnot."

"Thank you all." She stood and gave each of them a hug.

Noelle felt her heart warm. Though she missed Hogwarts, Azraeyn, and her friends, she was glad she'd returned home for the holidays. She hadn't realized just how much she also missed her family.