The 5th change – Who stays over at Christmas?

We were now well into December and I, of course, had just written my name down on the list to stay here for Christmas. It's not like home would be any better. At least here I could sneak down to the kitchens on Christmas day and eat with the house elves.

I never ate in the Great Hall during holidays, there were too little amount of people to hide myself in, usually they all just ate around one big table, and I don't think I could stand having all the teachers see me looking so morbidly depressed on Christmas day.

But all the same, the house elves were just as much fun, I was never hungry with them and, due to my constant kindness toward them, they sometimes managed to distract Filtch if I ever wandered back too late.

Most times, if I'd stayed there too late, I ended up sleeping the whole night on the sofa there in front of the fire. But I tended to avoid that, mainly because it gave me a sore neck in the morning.

Christmas was much like a birthday for me, except everyone else was happy, and everyone knew that the day was there for celebrating. So on my list of days to hate, it came above that of my day of birth.

I got my card from my grandparents, a scarf from my father. That was pretty much normal.

But then another, my heart racing as I noticed the characteristic white ribbon sealing the card and the small brown papered package. The envelope was just as plain and simple, and I just as carefully pulled the card out.

It was another sketch of me, this time the Rose in the picture was thoughtfully chewing the end of her quill (a sugar one), there was a small smudge of ink on the finger and her hair was only half pulled up, most of it fallen down. I couldn't help but notice that I looked vaguely pretty in the sketch, a thought that brought back that pool of happiness.

Merry Christmas my darling Rose

This is for your bracelet.

Have a good day.

Love from your prince

xxx

I untied the white ribbon that was around the small brown crinkle of paper, putting it with all the others I had, (kept in that black box under my bed along with my prince's other letters, I tipped the paper up and a silver charm fell into the palm of my hand.

I moved it closer to my eyes; it was a book, a small silver representation of a book. I felt the smile fill my lips as I attached the small charm to one of the seven loops on the bracelet. Whoever this person was, they certainly wanted to be friendly and by now there was no way it could ever be any of my family.

I'm deciding, (I'm not sure if I'm being really stupid or not here) to go down to the Great Hall for the dinner today. The happiness from my new charm and card is overwhelming me a bit and I think I might be able to handle it.

I lightly walked in through the doors, only McGonagall looked up as I entered and I could see the smile in her eyes of a strange approval. I was too on edge to react much, but I sat down on the single long table, quietly waiting for everyone to arrive.

As I expected, most of the spaces filled up, and pretty soon I heard someone sitting heavily into the chair next to me. I kept my eyes fixed on my empty plate, hoping the food would arrive soon so I didn't need to talk to whoever was sat beside me.

I was given no choice, "Having a good Christmas?" sneered Mclaggen.

I slowly turned to look at him to make a weary comment back, but a voice from behind me beat me to it.

"It's Christmas Mclaggen, give it a break." It was a smooth silky voice that cut through the sneer of Mclaggen with a soft slice.

I turned again, to face the new voice and almost choked. Malfoy was standing there, an impassive look gracing his face, looking too comfortable in his jeans and shirt.

I blinked a thankful look, but all I got was a slight nod in return before he slid into the seat on the other side of me. I guess that was him thanking me for my stupid little decision regarding the mistletoe.

However,

Now I was stuck between Mclaggen and Malfoy.Merry Christmas Rose.

I'm not really sure how I lasted through the meal, I was on edge the whole time, cautious in regard to my surroundings; contemplating as to why Malfoy had spoken so harshly to his fellow Quidditch player; and just generally avoiding conversation at all costs.

I noticed McGonagall watching me carefully throughout, doesn't she have enough time to look at me during breakfast or dinner, or even lessons? Her gaze attracted the attention of Professor Longbottom (a man I used to regard as my uncle almost), who nodded at her when she smiled sadly in my direction.

I didn't need their pity, it was my fault I lived like this, since my mother and brother died I'd obviously changed, and now I was inadequate, or so I was told often by my Step mother, and deserved to have no friends.

I didn't need it, but somehow I felt better with it, it was nice to have someone who cared. That thought reminded me of my 'Prince', someone did care about me, and I found myself beginning to like this unknown person more and more.

It was a huge relief to see two Hufflepuff girls, who'd been sitting a few seats down and on the opposite side, stand and leave the hall.

Without so much as a backward glance I stood and left only moments later, I could feel almost all of the eyes on the table boring into my back, one pair in particular.

I spent the rest of the afternoon forming snow shapes at the top of the (once grassy, now snow covered) bank that bordered the west side of the Forbidden Forest.

By the time I was done my hands were almost numb and it was cutting into evening. However I took a small moment to admire my handiwork; there was a house-elf, mid skip, chasing butterflies that I charmed to hover; a lady lovingly holding a child; a young boy being tickled by his father; a small girl doing a cartwheel, a flower tucked into her hair. Lastly there was a teen, sat separately from the scene, sat in front, her back to the joyous display behind her, her knees pulled up to her chest and her head hung.

All these were memories from my child hood, before. The last was a reminder that it was all in the past – I was alone now.

I cast a holding spell on everything and hurried back to the castle, wiping a few stray tears.

When I returned the next day, just to sit with my family again, I noticed something fluttering around the 'girl on the floor's neck.

A white ribbon, barely identifiable amongst all the glittering snow, but its movement gave it away.

I felt a smile tug at my lips, my Prince has been here!

My holding spell was still doing well, so I approached my stone cold figures, slipping the ribbon off her neck.

There, written along the smooth surface of the ribbon, were the words, 'look at the elf'

I slowly turned my head toward the small gaily skipping figure, his one hand reached out toward the charmed butterflies, that same hand with its perfectly shaped fingers, those same fingers that had a white sheet of card propped between them.

My excitement bubbled deep and I moved quickly to pull it free.

There sketched upon its surface was my scene, in my Prince's hand it was more lifelike, more enchanting, it was amazing. After studying the figures of my family my eyes flickered to the 'girl at the front'.

She was different, in the drawing she was stood up, a smile gracing her features, but that was not the only difference in the picture. Behind her stood another, a male, his arms wrapped lovingly around her and his face buried, hidden, in her hair as she gazed at him, a sparkle in her eye.

I felt my knees give way and I slipped to the floor, it was magical, it filled me with some sort of indescribable hope. How this person managed to make me feel so wanted, how they made me crave that embrace, that touch. Make me feel the need to one day have that look in my eyes.

It was at that moment I knew I desired it so badly, but more than anything how much I hungered for it from, My Prince.

AN

The next chapter (half written) is going to be much longer I think, judging by how much I have for it already.

So, await the Valentine Interests