Bianca trudged up the stairs to the astronomy tower, her mind whirling with each step. After leaving the library, she went back to the common room. The Christmas festivities were still going strong, and her friends excitedly waved her over to take part in gossip and sugar quills. However, Bianca went past them and up to her bed. They believed she still had to work on her essay, which she did. She didn't finish it in the library. Of course, she didn't finish it afterwards either. It still laid only halfway completed in her satchel. Professor Flitwick would just have to understand that she needed an extra day or two.
How was she supposed to finish an essay with what she'd seen in the library?
Things had been ok, for a start. Seeing Frankie was fantastic. The blonde had been so cute sitting there with her textbook, trying to discreetly stare at Bianca. Then, the other Slytherins showed up. It went well for a bit, Bianca being able to see her girlfriend interact with her friends was something she didn't usually get to see unless they were in the hall and the Gryffindors were up in arms against the Slytherins. Being able to see Frankie hanging out, though, was nice. It gave her a glimpse into the girl she cared so much for.
It also gave her a glimpse into the Slytherin house. It was obvious to anyone with a brain bigger than a blast-ended skrewt that the house thrived on blood purity. They were arrogant jerks who thought they were better than anyone else because of their families and status. Most, if not all, pure blooded families tended to have high positions in the ministry. Bianca came from a pure blood family, but unlike those whose children went to Slytherin, her family did not believe those who came from muggle-born or half muggle-born backgrounds were inferior. Clearly, this thought ran in the minds of many Slytherin students – like that boy.
Speaking of blast-ended skrewts, he was one if there ever was one. Blast-ended skrewts were long vile creatures who ended up looking like a cross between a scorpion and a crab. They were cruel and would attack anything if given the chance. They'd learned about them the year before in Care of Magical Creatures. Yes, that boy was certainly as repulsive as those things.
How could he have said that to Frankie? He indirectly called her a mudblood, indicating that she had dirt in her blood. He even slyly defended Novak, the snake. Frankie sat there and took it. She was in the library…maybe she would have confronted him like she did Novak if it had been somewhere else.
Finally reaching the door, Bianca pushed it open and stepped outside. It was colder than normal that night, and she could instantly see tiny white clouds form with her breath. Peering around, she immediately spotted Frankie. She strode forward and threw her arms around the girl before Frankie could even get out a hello.
Startled for a moment, it took a second for Frankie to hug Bianca back. She did, though, wrapping her arms around the warm body. Bianca held her tightly and pressed a quick kiss in her hair. "Hi." She breathed out, resting her cheek on the top of Frankie's head.
"Hey." Frankie murmured back.
"Are you ok?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Frankie's tone was confused.
Bianca pulled back slightly and looked down into her face, "I can't believe that boy said those things to you in the library."
The corner of Frankie's eyes tightened a fraction.
"The way he tried to say you have dirty blood or something, it's dumb." Bianca went on. "No one should talk like that to you. What did you do to him after Pince made you leave? And, she's kooky too for that."
"Nothing." Frankie replied evenly.
"Nothing?" Bianca furrowed her brow. "Gary and Rich did something, then. What? Did they turn his legs to jelly? Make him eat a whole box of canary creams?" the candy turned the eater into a giant yellow canary for a few minutes.
Frankie moved back from Bianca, her gaze hard, "No."
"What do you mean no?" Bianca reached out and grasped the sleeves of Frankie's coat.
"Nothing happened." Frankie snorted, "Is it that difficult to figure out?"
Bianca felt her mouth drop open. Nothing happened? "You let him say that and you didn't do anything about it? Gary or Rich either?"
Frankie shrugged, "It's no big deal."
"No big deal?" Bianca almost shouted. "He said you had dirty blood, Frankie. He implied that Novak was better than you because of his family."
"Like I said," Frankie spoke slowly, "it's no big deal."
"Yes, it is. People can't say things like that." Especially about you. "I would have turned him into a toad for what he said about you."
Frankie scoffed, "Sure, go ahead. Brilliant plan."
Bianca frowned and dug her fingers further into Frankie's coat sleeves, "You let him talk like that to you? You let people call you names?"
"I don't let anyone do anything to me." Frankie ground out, her gaze flashing.
"Then why didn't you say something to him? Huh? You turn Simone yellow for saying something about your house, but you don't even raise your wand when one of your own attacks you?" this made no sense whatsoever.
Frankie rolled her eyes and jerked her arms out of Bianca's hold, "Whatever."
Oh no you don't, "Don't walk away from me." Bianca followed Frankie as she went toward the other side of the platform. "This is serious, Frankie. If you're too scared to confront them, I will."
Frankie stopped and spun around so fast, Bianca nearly ran into her, "I'm not scared. You need to let this go and stop trying to be the big Gryffindor hero."
"I'm not trying to be a hero." Bianca waved her hands, "But my girlfriend is being told she's got dirty blood, and I don't like it. So, I'm going to do something about it if no one else will."
"There's nothing for you to do."
"You can't let them push you around,"
"No one is pushing me around." Frankie cut her off. "You need to let this go."
"Why? Because this is how they all treat you?" Bianca felt a surge of sadness in her chest. "It is, isn't it? You shouldn't have to deal with this." She wouldn't if she had been sorted into Gryffindor.
"I'm fine, Bianca. I don't need some lion in shining armor to ride in and rescue me." She lowered her voice, "Let this one go. Remember, choose your battles."
Choose your battles. That's what she told her to do with Snape. Bianca searched Frankie's hazel orbs. Choose your battles. In the swirling depths she saw everything. Frankie was choosing her battles, and she needed Bianca to do the same. She told her to not go after Snape because she'd lose. Did Frankie think she'd lose against that boy?
No. It was bigger. She'd lose against her house. The boy wasn't a threat like Novak. It would only hurt Frankie to go after him.
Nodding softly, Bianca bit her bottom lip, "Ok."
Frankie waited a second, seemingly testing if this was real. When Bianca offered her a tiny smile, Frankie's lips quirked up. Her gaze softened, and Bianca smoothed the palm of her hand up her sleeve and to her shoulder. "I missed you today." She forced the previous thoughts from her mind and focused only on Frankie. It wasn't too hard when she was alone with her.
"You saw me earlier." Frankie moved into her body.
Bianca slung her other arm around Frankie's waist, "Saw, didn't touch."
A satisfied smirk crossed Bianca's face as she saw the spark of heat in Frankie's face mixed with blatant shock at her words. Bianca leaned forward and captured Frankie's mouth in a kiss. Her eyes snapped closed at the contact. Her body trembled when a velvet tongue swept across her bottom lip, enticing her for more. Hands grasped the sides of her face, and a gentle thumb stroked back and forth across her skin.
When they broke for air, Bianca couldn't help but giggle. Frankie had a dazed look on her face, eyelids drooped low while she sucked in air between swollen lips. Hearing the giggle, Frankie blinked, "What?"
"So cute." Bianca cooed.
Frankie rolled her eyes, "That again."
"Again? It never stopped." Bianca grinned. "My girlfriend's adorable." Her hands wandered up and down Frankie's sides.
Frankie shook her head, but the hint of a blush appeared on her neck, "Whatever. Guess I know why you went after me."
"Because you got me drunk and gave me the best kisses of anyone in my life?" Bianca shot back.
"Are you saying someone else kissed these lips?" Frankie's eyebrow ticked up challengingly.
"Maybe." Challenge accepted.
"Maybe?" Frankie pinned traveling hands.
"So cute when you're jealous."
"I'm not jealous." Frankie's eyes widened.
"No?" Bianca tangled her fingers with Frankie's.
"Why would I be?" Frankie smirked cockily, "You're here with me. You stalked me."
"I didn't stalk you."
"No?" Frankie tossed back playfully.
"No, I pursued you. Big difference."
"Sure there is."
Bianca nodded, "Yes, there is." Frankie kissed her, unable to stop herself, and interrupted what Bianca was going to say next.
"Mmmm, I like you jealous." Bianca hummed.
"Not jealous." Frankie corrected her.
"So jealous." Bianca teased. "People better watch out; you might turn them into a frog or throw stink pellets at them." She laughed as the image of the librarian yelling after a retreating Frankie came to mind, "I cannot believe you threw those at Pince."
Frankie shrugged casually, "Worth the detention."
"My girlfriend the delinquent." Bianca chuckled. "I'm a little disappointed, though. You let yourself get caught really easily."
"I thought you were going to come in and provide a distraction."
"You did not." Bianca slapped her shoulder.
Frankie tilted her head, "Didn't I?"
"No, you didn't." Bianca kissed her. The chaste touch quickly turned deeper; hands threading into hair and teeth nipping lightly.
"What?" Bianca panted as something wet hit her cheek. Looking up, she laughed gleefully, "Frankie, it's snowing!"
The blonde followed Bianca's gaze to see tiny snowflakes falling from the clouds above. They dusted the floor of the tower with a fine sheen of white and soon covered their clothing.
"First snow of the year." Bianca announced. She stuck out a hand to catch a few flakes. "One step closer to Christmas. Do you think we'll have a lot of snow by then?"
"I don't know." Frankie spoke in a monotone voice.
Bianca didn't notice, "Break is coming soon. I'm going to miss you so much." She turned her attention back to the girl, "I'm going to go crazy without you. I almost wish break wasn't happening so I could stay with you." She tenderly shook Frankie's shoulders, "You probably can't wait to go home. I bet you've been counting down the days till Christmas. I bet you're really into the holidays."
Frankie's face fell.
"Christmas is huge with my family. All of my relatives come over to my house on Christmas day and we open presents and eat supper together. It's a lot of fun. Does your family get together like that, or do you keep it small?" Caught up in her thoughts, Bianca didn't notice Frankie closing off with each word. "I know some people, like my friend Babe, only have a small celebration with their parents."
Frankie stared over Bianca's shoulder into the night. She locked her gaze on the quidditch pitch, tuning out as best she could.
"Do you have any crazy family traditions? We don't really have anything that crazy. My aunt always makes the supper because my mother can burn water. You'd think even with magic she could make something, but she can't. Sometimes my cousins and uncles will have an impromptu quidditch match in the backyard."
Frankie pursed her lips and crossed her arms.
"Do muggles do anything differently for the holidays?" Bianca laughed and tweaked Frankie's cheek, "Does your grandmother do this to you? You're so cute, I'm sure she can't help herself."
Frankie jerked her head away from the touch.
Words died on Bianca's tongue as she finally saw the shift in mood. "Frankie?" What happened? She'd been talking about break and now Frankie looked like…she did when Bianca was fighting with her about what they meant to each other.
"What?" Frankie's response was short.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Right, nothing." That's why you're not even looking at me.
Frankie stepped around Bianca and moved toward the edge of the tower.
Bianca followed her, "Did I say something wrong?"
"No." Frankie reached the edge and stopped. She looked out over the landscape, the grounds now topped by a thin layer of white.
"Is it break? I'm upset about leaving you, too. But, we'll see each other when we get back. I'm going to write you everyday, probably twice a day. You're going to see Opal so much you'll be sick of her." Bianca saw the rolling eyes. "What is it?"
"Are you deaf?" Frankie spit out.
Were they really going to go through this again, "You need to stop trying to hide things from me. It didn't work when you pretended not to care about me, and it's not working now."
Frankie remained silent.
Merlin, Frankie was the most infuriatingly stubborn person in the world! "What changed? You were fine, and then I brought up break and you're ignoring me."
"Don't get the hint?" Frankie muttered.
Bianca heard, "I'm ignoring the hint."
Frankie shook her head.
"Fine," Bianca folded her arms, "If you won't tell me, I'll stand here until you do. If you leave, I'll just follow you. I'll follow you to the Slytherin common room if I have to."
"You're nuts."
"I care about you." Bianca moved to stand directly behind her. "I just want to get to know you."
The words resonated between them.
Frankie mumbled something, but Bianca didn't hear.
"What was that?" she placed her chin on Frankie's shoulder.
"I said I don't go home, alright." Frankie answered.
"Where do you go?"
Frankie sighed, "Nowhere."
Bianca narrowed her eyes in confusion. Nowhere? What did she mean by…wait. "You stay here?"
Frankie shrugged uncomfortably.
"But, the only people who stay here are the ones who…" she trailed off.
"don't have a home." Frankie finished for her. She pushed away from Bianca and began to walk again.
Bianca felt the pit of her stomach drop. Her heart twisted in her chest. Frankie didn't have a home? Her mind raced back to the first time they met. Frankie had been alone at the train station. She'd been scruffy. Well, some of her clothing still was. She never mentioned her family or where she came from.
"Stop looking at me like that."
Frankie's hard-edged tone brought Bianca out of her memories. "I'm not looking at you any differently."
Frankie scoffed, "Right."
"I'm not." Bianca insisted. Frankie didn't go home for break? She'd been staying at the castle all these years Bianca went home to her loving family.
"Whatever."
"Frankie," Bianca frowned, "why didn't you tell me?"
"Why would I?"
This aloofness was not helping, "Because it's something I'd like to know. I want to know about you, and this is really big when it comes to you."
"It doesn't matter."
"Frankie,"
The blonde faced Bianca, her voice controlled, "I don't go home for break. I don't have a home. I don't have those stupid little traditions you're talking about. I don't have your amazing family with their ties to the ministry." She leaned in closer, "Most importantly, I'm not some idiot loser off the street. I'm just as good as everyone else here, so don't think for one second I need your pity or help. I can do it all fine on my own."
Bianca met her glare with one of her own, torn between warring emotions. Gathering herself, she spoke, "I never thought you were some idiot loser off the street. Just because you don't have a home doesn't mean I'm going to judge you. I don't pity you, and I don't think you need my help. I feel bad you don't have a home, but that's because I care about you. If others treated you differently because of this, I'm sorry for that. I'm not one of them. But me caring about you means I care about you, Frankie. So, stop acting like a jerk, and stop this whole aloof/quiet thing because it's annoying."
Frankie blinked.
Bianca stared.
Frankie stayed silent, planning out her thoughts before eventually speaking, "If anyone else, especially a Gryffindor, spoke to me that way I'd hex them." The corner of her mouth twitched, "But, your troll like tendencies have me wanting to watch what I say."
"I do not have troll like tendencies!" Weren't they done with that?
"Clomp, clomp." Frankie joked.
Bianca smacked her arm, "Be quiet."
Frankie grinned crookedly and ducked her head, "And…I care about you, too."
Bianca released a puff of air and pulled her into a hug, "I will never judge you, Frankie." It hurt to know Frankie didn't have a home to go to, but it didn't make her feel sorry for her. It only made her care more.
"I'm a Slytherin, what's left to judge?"
Bianca kissed her.
Bianca swooped into the Great Hall, her satchel swinging with the speed. It was early morning, most of the students still asleep. However, she knew for a fact one of them was awake, and this was the one person she wanted to see.
Frankie was sitting alone at the long Slytherin table. The Daily Prophet newspaper was open beside her, and she perused the articles as she ate a bowl of cornflakes. The quietness of the room only amplified Bianca's footfalls, and Frankie glanced up to see her jogging to the Slytherin table.
"Bianca?" Frankie looked around to see if anyone was there to see them.
"Hey." Bianca eagerly plopped down beside her. She hugged Frankie and pressed a kiss to her cheek.
"What are you doing?" Frankie watched her scoop a spoonful of scrambled eggs onto her plate.
"Yes, I'm really happy to see you, too. It is great that we're having breakfast together." Bianca good-naturedly answered.
Frankie rolled her eyes and absently poured Bianca a glass of orange juice. "It's really good to see you. It is great having breakfast with you." She deadpanned, causing Bianca to giggle.
"Thank you." Bianca sipped her juice.
Frankie picked her spoon back up and stirred her cereal. A pensive look crossed her face. Spotting it, Bianca nudged her and fell into her side. "What is it?"
Frankie didn't look at her, "Last night…what I said…about your family…and stuff…I…"she took a deep breath, "I'm…sorry."
That had been very difficult for her to say. "Thank you."
Frankie shrugged. Her arm curled around Bianca's back, and she held the brunette against her side. "Any reason why you decided to have breakfast at my table? I thought you couldn't get up this early."
Bianca forked a bite of egg and lifted it to her mouth, "I just came from the owlery."
Frankie's spoon paused for a millisecond as it rotated through the milk and flakes.
Sensing the curiosity, Bianca continued, "I sent a letter to my parents."
"About?"
Bianca swallowed, bit her lip, and peeked at Frankie, "I told them I wished to spend break here at Hogwarts."
Frankie froze.
"I'm going to inform McGonagall I'll be staying before Transfiguration today."
Frankie dropped her spoon.
"Frankie?" not exactly the reaction she was hoping for.
"You don't need to do this." Frankie muttered prickly. "I'm fine."
Merlin, this girl. "I'm staying because I want to spend time with you, not because I feel sorry for you." She jokingly rapped her knuckles on Frankie's head, "Can you get that through your thick skull? I want to be with you."
Frankie stooped away and flicked a bread crumb at her. Bianca mockingly gasped and tossed a piece of egg. "Are those your Slytherin manners showing?"
"Like Gryffindors are any better." Frankie replied.
Bianca laughed heartily and Frankie chuckled. As they calmed down, Bianca grasped one of the blonde's hands, "I'm staying for break, Frankie."
"Yeah." Frankie bit her lip, fighting against the forming grin.
Bianca could see the dancing hazel orbs, "I can't wait for us to have the castle to ourselves. It's going to be great."
"Other students and professors will be here."
Frankie was trying so hard not to show how happy she was. "Well cutie, they're not going to be where we are most of the time."
That lopsided grin broke through, "It is a big castle."
"Very big."
"Don't ever call me cutie, again."
"But you're just so cute!"
Frankie shoved a slice of toast into Bianca's mouth.