A/N: I do not own Harry Potter.
Stuffed from an intense meal of cabbage and roast beef, Anwen Van Buren trudged up the spiraling staircase. She muttered "lemon drops" to the stone gargoyle before entering the Headmaster's office. Seated in front of the kind professor was none-other than Draco Malfoy in his platinum blond glory. Anwen fought the urge to roll her eyes when he turned around and gave her his signature smirk, "Punctual as usual, Van Buren?"
Anwen ignored him, tossing Professor Dumbledore a warm smile. "Anwen, I hope you enjoyed the feast. Please take a seat." Dumbledore said kindly, motioning the seat next to Draco.
Anwen daintily sat down, sinking into its plushness as she listened to Professor Dumbledore, "You two are the brightest students in your year and house. I have taken the liberty to appoint you prefects this year."
Anwen always took her studies seriously, spending early mornings and late nights in the library. The Sorting Hat spent an unusual amount of time debating on whether to place her in Ravenclaw or Slytherin. Her older brothers, seventeen-year old fraternal twins Gavin and Griffin were both placed in Slytherin. Anwen remembered how nervous they looked, anticipating the Hat's decision. He whispered something about Anwen's amount of "ambition" that surpassed her intelligence. She was mildly surprised that Draco Malfoy was considered to be a prefect candidate. Anwen always thought that Draco was just a player, focusing on girls rather than his studies.
"Together, you both shall patrol the halls every night and deduct points from those who are not following the curfew." Dumbledore continued, his blue eyes sparkling from the moonlight.
Sounds easy enough, Anwen mused. She raised her hand and asked, "Does our status mean we get our own rooms, Professor?"
Draco sat up straighter and Anwen curled her lips in disdain, has even he been listening? Professor Dumbledore chuckled and answered, "Of course my dear, your new responsibilities shall be awarded. You both will not have a dorm room but a suite - two bedrooms, conjoined by a mutual bathroom and a common room. The suite is accessible via password. The password this year is 'Salazar,' please do not forget."
Anwen replayed her new living quarters… she's sharing a bathroom with Draco Bloody Malfoy?! Her eyes blazed for a moment, turning to Professor Dumbledore, "Headmaster, are you stating that I have to share a suite with him?"
Yes, Draco and Anwen had classes together all throughout their years at Hogwarts. Yes, their parents were very close to each other. Yes, they have talked and teased each other. But all that interaction only made him a mere acquaintance to Anwen. He wasn't worthy of being considered a "friend" in her opinion. Anwen simmered in anger at the thought of sharing a room with Draco freaking Malfoy for a whole year. Draco however, smirked at the new arrangement, "Why Van Buren? We've shared a room before."
"Yeah, at the Manor and even then I sneaked out to sleep in Gavin's room." Anwen sniffed indignantly, crossing her arms.
"Aw, I don't have cooties anymore, Annie."
Anwen cringed at her childhood nickname as she snapped, "Shut up, Malfoy."
"I won't bring my lady friends if that'll make you more at ease."
"Ew, I'm going to pretend you never said that."
Professor Dumbledore looked at two Slytherins in amusement before stating, "That is all I have to say, you both are free to go. The entrance is between the staircases leading to the girls and boys dormitories. Remember, the password is 'Salazar.'"
Draco got up without a word, winking at Anwen and she frowned. Why the sudden interaction? She graciously thanked Professor Dumbledore before rushing out of the office, catching up to Draco. She kept pace with him, wrapping her gray cardigan around her as Draco questioned airily, "Afraid you'd get lost, Van Buren? I'll save you from the scary trolls if you promise to award me with a kiss."
Anwen sighed before entering the Slytherin common room, Draco hot on her heels. She found the door and mumbled the password before opening it, stepping into what looks like the prefects common room. It was nicely decorated, an expensive black leather couch in the middle that was flanked by two matching arm chairs. There was a roaring fire and a mahogany coffee table that made the room cozy and rustic, despite its dungeon location. Two doors were on either ends of the room and Anwen noticed her name carved into the wood in cursive.
"I'll be in my room if you want to gift me your kiss, Van Buren." Draco said in a velvety tone.
Anwen simply glared at him before entering her room, making sure to slam the door behind her.
Draco watched after her, quietly laughing to himself. Anwen Van Buren has definitely grown. She was no longer the nerdy, out of place girl that annoyed Draco but was now an attractive young woman that enticed Draco to no end. She was quiet and wickedly smart but testy when needed. That made her a challenge, which Draco welcomed because all the girls besides Anwen swooned over Draco's every move.
Draco threw himself on the four-poster bed as he uncharacteristically thought about Anwen's dark curly hair, her piercing hunter green eyes that always looked warm and inviting, and her full, pink lips. Wait, Malfoy's are not soft. Draco shook his head, as if ridding his thoughts. He sighed deeply and closed his eyes, not bothering to unpack his stuff or change out of his uniform.
Meanwhile, Anwen changed out of her uniform and into a pair of pajamas. She walked over to her desk and wrote a letter to her brothers, asking to sit with them at breakfast. She tied the letter to her eagle owl, Phebe. She gave Phebe a treat and a pat on the head before opening the window, watching her fly off. Why has Draco given her so much attention in the span of an hour? He wasn't usually this chatty with Anwen. They both went their separate ways after classes and even if they spent holidays together, Anwen stayed cooped in her room or the library while Draco and her brothers played Quidditch out in the field.
Confused as ever, Anwen settled into her bed and hoped that she wouldn't have to see too much of Draco tomorrow.
A loud tapping interrupted Anwen's slumber and she got up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Phebe rapped the glass window with her beak and Anwen let the poor owl in from the chilly September air. Untying the letter, she noticed Gavin's messy scrawl, stating that she had an hour to meet them for breakfast. She tossed the parchment into the trash before grabbing her belongings and entering the bathroom.
Draco stood in front of the mirror, clad in nothing except a white towel around his waist. He ran a hand through his wet hair as he took in Anwen's pink and white polka dotted pajama pants and baggy cream sweater. He deemed it cute, noticing how pretty Anwen was without make up and how the pink made her dark hair stand out. He smirked at her and Anwen blushed profusely; covering her eyes with her free hand, "Bloody hell Malfoy! Cover yourself, I know we have to share a bathroom but you're so freaking white that it blinds me!"
Anwen hated to admit it but Draco Malfoy is in shape. From her five second sneak peak, she made out his taut abs and defined pectorals. The fact that he was still wet, glistening under the bathroom lights was definitely making Anwen uncomfortable. Anwen blushed deeper as her mind wandered to what could be beneath his towel.
She heard a throaty chuckle followed by, "It's okay, Annie. No need to be embarrassed, we are sharing this bathroom for the rest of the year. This won't be the only time you'll see me. Maybe I'll even be naked the next time."
Anwen blindly threw her hairbrush at him, frowning when she heard a clanging noise instead of a thud. The brush landed in the sink instead of hitting Draco's chest as she hoped it would. She turned around and uncovered her eyes, staring at her door, "Go away, Malfoy. I would like to shower."
"I'd gladly shower again." Draco said seductively, making Anwen slightly nervous because Draco Malfoy was indeed, sexy.
Anwen cleared her throat as she stammered, "N-no thanks. Y-you can leave n-now!"
With a final chuckle, Draco closed the door behind him. He was glad that he could easily ruffle her feathers. It was going to be fun, teasing her every morning.
After a shower and a quick drying spell her mother had taught her, Anwen dressed in her uniform, glancing at her Muggle watch before rushing out the door. She passed Draco who hurriedly finished a Potions essay, his quill almost snapping in two from his vice-like grip. He glanced up from his essay and shouted after her, "We have prefect duties tonight, meet me here at ten, Van Buren!"
"Okay!" Anwen yelled back, glad that he remembered. She was too busy unpacking and finishing her summer work that she almost forgot.
Anwen dodged the bustling students walking towards the Great Hall and scanning the room for her brothers. She found them sitting across from Miles Bletchley and Adrian Pucey, boys from their year. Anwen pouted slightly, she thought she would be having breakfast with just her brother's not half of the Quidditch team. She walked up to the four boys, squeezing herself between Gavin and Griffin.
"Who's this?" Adrian asked, throwing Anwen a charming smile.
Gavin shot him a glare, "Our baby sister, Pucey. You've seen her at galas."
"Annie?" Adrian and Miles shouted as they drew stares from the other tables.
Anwen shushed them fervently, "Yes you babbling twits, it's me."
"Merlin's beard, I'm in love." Miles dramatically swooned, taking Anwen's hand to place a chaste kiss on the top of her knuckles.
"Bletchley, hands off." Griffin growled, taking a napkin and wiping Anwen's hand free of his germs.
Anwen giggled at her brothers' overprotectiveness as she piled her plate with fruit and toast with jam. Gavin and Griffin looked nothing alike but no one can deny the similarities when the three Van Burens were together. Gavin was dark and handsome, sharing Anwen's dark hair that the two have inherited from their mother, piercing gray eyes and rugged features. Griffin was charming with sandy blond hair, hunter eyes that he and Anwen shared, and a chiseled jawline that made him look more and more like their father. No doubt, the Van Burens were attractive. Girls were constantly throwing themselves at the Van Buren boys and they both welcomed it, teaching their charismatic ways with Draco who looked up to them as his own brothers. Anwen had guys pining after her but was oblivious, finding schoolwork to be easier than guys. Of course, she has had boyfriends before – Cedric Diggory and Cormac McLaggen being two of her latest ones.
The Great Hall doors opened for Draco who strutted in, taking a seat on the other end of the Slytherin table. Blaise Zabini, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle acknowledged his presence with a nod while Daphne Greengrass smirked at him. The two have sneaked in a couple snogging sessions, nothing too serious. He thought she was hot, Daphne thinking the same thing about Draco. He tossed her a smirk as Pansy Parkinson immediately clutched onto his arm, relaying her detailed trip to France. He pretended to listen as he ate a Granny Smith apple. His eyes fell on Anwen who was currently sitting between her brothers and he took note of how protective they were, babying Anwen and affectionately showing their love for their younger sister. It was going to be tough, Draco thought. He'd have to get the approval of her brothers first before pursuing Anwen.
"Are you even listening to me, Draco?" Pansy asked, her mouth forming a pout.
Pansy was mildly attractive, Draco thought. She grew prettier over the years but her obsessiveness with Draco made her scary and unappealing. He nodded absently, "Yeah, the Eiffel Tower's nice during Christmas."
Pansy's eyes brightened immediately as she gushed, "Maybe we can both see it this winter!"
Draco immediately regretted his comment as he picked up his satchel, "Maybe, I'm headed to class early."
"Save me a seat, mate." Blaise said, not looking up from a copy of the Daily Prophet in his hands.
Draco nodded, before realizing that his efforts were useless. "Sure, Zabini."
He headed towards the dungeons, glad that the first class of the term was Double Potions with Gryffindors. He entered the classroom and found Potter and his gang already seated at the front of the classroom, probably Granger's idea. He decided to take a seat at the back of the room, placing his bag on the free chair next to him for Blaise.
He heard humming and turned his head at the source. Anwen leisurely walked in the Potion's classroom and chose the seat in front of him. She raised a hand and waved her fingers at Draco before turning towards the front of the class, copying some notes that Professor Snape had put up on the chalkboard. Draco admired how studious she was and how hard she must have tried to obtain the prefect status. School came easy to Draco, he never tried paying attention. His photographic memory has saved his arse numerous times and he secretly thanked his father, who had the same trait.
Anwen stopped humming once the room became more crowded. Daphne took the empty seat next to her and gave a bright smile to Anwen, which she returned. Daphne and Anwen got along fine. They considered themselves friends but Daphne was too social for Anwen's taste. Daphne was incredibly smart despite her reputation for being an airhead which made her tolerable. Pansy stalked in after her, Millicent Bulstrode behind her as the two girls took the seats in front of Anwen and Daphne.
As Professor Snape went over the curriculum, Anwen felt something hit the back of her head. She whipped her head around to find Draco writing and Blaise nodding curtly at her. She gave a feeble smile before turning back to her own notes. Another item hit the back of her head and she glowered, who's doing that? She turned around again to find Draco, hand raised in mid-air. A ball of paper was in his hands and Anwen whispered hotly, "Are you a first-year, Malfoy?"
Draco merely flicked the paper ball, hitting Anwen dead center on the forehead. Anwen collected the paper balls on the floor and threw them all at once at Draco, catching the blond off guard and eliciting a laugh from Blaise.
"Ms. Van Buren," a cold voice asked from the front of the classroom, "What in Merlin's name are you doing to Mr. Malfoy?"
"P-professor, he threw them at me first." Anwen stammered as Draco shrugged innocently.
Professor Snape gave her a cold look before stating, "That is not prefect behavior, Miss Van Buren. Please don't make me regret my vote for you."
"Yes, Professor, I apologize." Anwen said through clenched teeth.
Draco chortled behind her and Anwen pretended to stretch, her hand casually knocking over his inkwell. The black ink spilled all over his white button-up and Draco shot out of his seat, sending his chair backwards. Professor Snape pinched the bridge of his nose as he seethed, "Detention, Mr. Malfoy – an hour prior to your prefect duties."
Some Gryffindors laughed, especially Ron Weasley who was laughing so hard, his face turned red to match his hair. "Do you want detention too, Weasley? Fifteen points from Gryffindor." Professor Snape snapped before continuing to list off various ingredients.
Anwen hid her smile beneath her hair as Blaise conjured a washcloth. Draco snatched it form him, dabbing the ink away from his shirt. Daphne giggled as she whispered, "Nice one, Anwen."
The class ended without any more problems and Anwen was grateful when lunch came by. Daphne offered to sit with Anwen during lunch and Anwen agreed; slightly shocked that Daphne wasn't sitting with Pansy or Millicent. The two girls idly talked about school and the upcoming Halloween dance as they walked towards the Great Hall.
"What are you wearing to the dance?" Daphne asked amicably.
The girls sat down in the middle of the table, each grabbing a ham and cheese sandwich and some chips. Anwen poured Daphne a glass of apple juice as she shrugged, "I don't know. I'm thinking of being a flapper."
Daphne cocked her blond head, "What's a flapper?"
Anwen mentally slapped herself, remembering that Daphne was raised in a traditional pureblooded household. Anwen's parents were pureblood but also pro-Muggle, encouraging Anwen and her brothers to walk the streets of Muggle London and own electronic devices. "During the 1920's," Anwen explained, after taking a bite of her sandwich, "Women dressed in tasseled dresses and it was the age of dancing and song. They're called flappers because of the way their dresses moved."
Anwen went into detail of her possible costume and Daphne listened on. her blue eyes shining with interest. "That seems cute!" Daphne exclaimed, finishing off her drink.
Anwen smiled, genuinely glad of Daphne's company, "What are you being?"
Daphne shrugged, "I don't know yet."
"There's a Hogsmeade trip two weeks from now." Anwen offered.
Daphne smiled brightly before leaning forward, "Would you like to help me, Anwen? Pansy and Millicent are useless when it comes to fashion. You'd be a great help."
Anwen didn't consider herself to be fashionable. She aimed for comfort not style but her mother was fashionable and made sure that Anwen wore brand-named clothing. Anwen glanced down at her Tory Burch flats, Twilfitt and Tatting's wool robe lined in green cashmere, and tailored uniform. Okay, maybe Anwen was a little fashionable. "Sure, Daphne," Anwen said with a friendly smile, "I'll go with you."
"Oh that's great, thanks Annie." Daphne beamed.
After separating, Daphne towards Herbology with Hufflepuffs and Anwen to Divination with Ravenclaws, Anwen rounded a corner on her way up to the towers only to collide into someone. Her Divination book fell with a heavy thud and the person's papers spilled all out on the floor.
Anwen immediately apologized, "I'm sorry!" She got on her knees and collected the papers, noticing 'Draco Malfoy' in elegant writing at the top corner of a page. Anwen groaned to herself, she's had enough of Draco.
"Klutzy as always, Van Buren." Draco sneered, exchanging his papers for her Divination textbook.
"Sorry, not my fault this bloody castle is a maze." Anwen said roughly, fixing her robes.
"It's your seventh year in this bloody castle." Draco responded cheekily.
"Yours too, maybe if you knew the castle, you wouldn't have bumped into me." Anwen snapped back, trying to side step him. She was going to be late for Divination.
"I think you liked it, Annie." Draco said, taking a step close to her and leaning dangerously close to Anwen.
She swallowed nervously as she tried to lean away from his stupidly attractive face, "No, I never enjoy my time with you Malfoy."
"But we used to have so much fun." Draco said as he mockingly pouted, "Remember Christmas mornings at the Chateau with hot cocoa and your mom's sugar cookies?"
Anwen rolled her eyes at the memory. Every year, her parents would invite the Malfoy's over to their Chateau in France to celebrate Christmas. Up until second year of Hogwarts, Draco and Anwen would sit in front of the fire as they giggled over steaming cups of hot cocoa. As they grew up, Anwen and Draco drifted apart and they would sit awkwardly with their parents, plates of untouched sugar cookies on the table.
"That was ages ago," Anwen snapped, ridding the memory that used to be dear to her, "Now, if you would please move, I'm late."
Draco stepped aside as he let her pass, watching the brunette hurry towards the Divination towers. He didn't want to admit it, but he and Anwen had a great childhood together. Draco would even say that they were best friends.
Anwen took a seat near the back of the room next to Cho Chang as Professor Trelawney wispily danced across the room, her airy voice explaining tea leaves and their meanings. Anwen felt a little sad at the brought up memory. She would always beg her mom to make those sugar cookies for her and Draco. It was her favorite Christmas pastime. Anwen shook her head and vowed that this Christmas would be different; no fires, no sugar cookies, no hot cocoa, no Draco Malfoy.