It had to be the worst winter ever. He could not remember a time before when the cold had managed to breach the castle walls so completely. Even down in the dungeons, where it was always slightly chilled, Harry couldn't remember a time near ad frigid. But now Harry could see his breath fogging, and that just wasn't on. He could never fall asleep when he was cold.

He made his way out of bed quickly, and quietly. Remembering to grab the thinner wool blanket that was lain over his comforter at the last moment. He shivered while he wrapped himself in it, and walked steadily down the steps into the common room.

The Slytherin dorms were quite a sight. Tastefully decorated to represent the prestigious youth that inhabited it. The most eye catching part of it was the large glass windows that opened up to the lake, and gave an inspiring look unto the bed of the lake. Unfortunately, it was these very windows that allowed the chill of the lake's waters to seep into the common room, and into every Slytherin's bones.

As Harry made his way to the other side of the Common Room, he made sure to take a wide berth around the glass panes in an effort to keep away from the chill. It wasn't until he reached the hearth that he noticed someone was already seated in front of the fire.

And of course it had to be Riddle.

He could always go back. Away from the warm fire, and back into unforgiving cold of his bed. It didn't sound at all tempting. Though spending time around Riddle didn't seem much nicer. Though perhaps, for once, he could just sit with the prefect, and neither of them would speak?

Tentatively, Harry made his way to the chair across from Riddle. Once he sat down, he made quick work of curling up and wrapping himself with the blanket. Slowly, the heat of the fire began to warm him, and Harry let his eyes drift close. When Riddle spoke, startling him to full wakefulness, it felt both as if a while, and no time at all had passed.

"Wuh…?" he spoke unintelligibly.

Riddle gave him a smile, that managed to appear both genuine and condescending, and left Harry's blood boiling.

"I said, do you intend to sleep out here for the night?"

Harry smiled back stiffly. Riddle always managed to put Harry on edge, for no apparent reason. And Harry really just preferred to avoid him. Yet here the prefect was, starting a conversation.

"Perhaps." he said simply, and went right back to shutting his eyes.

"Do you think that's wise? Leaving yourself vulnerable, out here in the open?" That smile never left his face.

Gods, Riddle could be such a creep.

"Unless you're planning something, I hardly think I need to worry much over what a first year could do to me." Not that he trusted Riddle, but it was only ever him and Harry in the dorms over winter break, until this year. Riddle had his reputation as a well mannered student uphold, and a firstie was hardly a threat to his health.

Riddle tsked at him. Still smiling. "No self preservation at all. It's a wonder you made it into Slytherin."

Harry rolled his eyes. That wasn't anything he hadn't heard before. He'd long since stopped getting hung up over it, it's not like he was the least Slytherin of Slytherins. He wasn't lacking in ambition or cunning, he just tended to be more passive about it then his housemates.

Harry didn't bother to reply, and Riddle didn't speak any more after that. Together, separately, they enjoyed the warmth of the fire. Riddle went back to his book, and Harry allowed himself to doze off again. Until the point where he noticed the barest hints of sunlight streaming through the waters of the lake. He yawned, quietly, and stretched some. Running a hand through his hair, he cast Tempus(?) and found that it was nearly 7. Late enough into the morning to head to breakfast, while being early enough to do so without fearing someone would be awake enough make a bid for conversation.

He gathered himself and his blankets and made to head back to the dorms to freshen up.

"Did you sleep well?"

Harry jumped, and only just stopped himself from yelping. He turned, and found that Riddle was indeed still seated in front of the fire, and seemed to have all of his attention directed straight at Harry. Bloody hell.

"Yes." Harry said simply and cautiously. He began to walk past the prefect and to his dorm, but Riddle stopped him by grasping his wrist unexpectedly. With quick tug, Harry found himself sharing a seat with Riddle.

Harry stiffened. "What are you doing?"

"I'm afraid I'm still awfully cold, despite the fire. I thought you might warm me up."

"That...what?" Harry scrambled out of the seat, and off of Riddles lap. (And if his elbow met Riddles side, well then that was just an accident.) He turned to face the prefect and made sure to keep a healthy distance. "Why are you always so bloody creepy?"

"Creepy." Riddle repeated deadpan.

"Yes!" Harry exclaimed. "You're always singling me out, showing up out of nowhere and going out of your way to mock me!"

The Temperature around Riddle seemed to drop. He stood from his chair stiffly. "Well. I apologize then. I hadn't realized my attentions were so unwanted."

"Than-wait. Attentions? As in…" As in this entire time, Riddle had just been flirting with him? Harry was at a loss for words, failing terribly to fight back a blush. Riddle seemed to be between irritated and amused at Harry's expense.

"You're only just now catching on, Potter?" He furrowed his brows in mock confusion, and Harry wished he could get past his embarrassment enough to be properly pissed. "Obliviousness on your level just can't be healthy."

"Wait, but you can't honestly mean…?"

Riddle sent a familiar smirk his way, and made to walk past Harry towards the common room entrance. But not before stopping before Harry and reaching a hand to his jaw.

"Chin up darling, you'll catch pixies. I'll be seeing you at the Great Hall, I'm sure." And with that last comment, Riddle made his way to and out the door. Leaving Harry to struggle with his own frenzied thoughts.

Sweet Merlin. There were still weeks left of Yule break for him to be stuck alone with Riddle.

A very brief "cuddling" scene, but then i cant see them as the type to do much cuddling in the first place. Its probably obvious, but most(?) of these chapters will not be occuring in the same world, or timeline, rather. its likely that some will overlap though.

Also this is so late. Its been mostly finished for the longest, i just struggled on how to end it. And again, hard to picture these boys in a position to cuddle. But around this time of year, Riddle's bday, i tend to get an itch to write for hp, so here we are. With an update.