A/N: I am so sorry for going underground for so long. I have been having a hard time with depression and anxiety. To the point that I couldn't even bring myself to write. But I took today as a mental health day, and did one of my favorite things - I wrote. I'm not looking for sympathy, I think we should just be honest with each other and ourselves, that sometimes we struggle, and it is hard. Anyways, onto the chapter!

Chapter 33 : Let's Build A Snowman

Just as Draco was to head to his own dormitory, he heard a small knock at the door. The door creaked as it was pulled open. Shyla stood on the other side. Her hair in gentle waves, she tugged at the bottom of her shirt.

"Shyla…" Draco breathed. He took a deep breath and shifted his composure, "What can I do for you, Miss Granger?"

Shyla frowned. "I know you're going to be busy with all the extra students, but do you think we could still have time for me to talk to you?"

Draco felt an immense urge to pull her in his arms, and just hold here there. Holding her petite body against his, as he comforted her. But he couldn't. As far as she was aware, he was strictly her professor. He nodded, "Of course." He paused as her demeanor did not shift. "Do you need to talk now?"

She nodded and entered the office lit by a fireplace. With a flick of his wand, Draco lit the candles around the room. He gestured to the arm chair she normally took, and sat himself in his own.

"How is Quidditch going to work with Durmstrang here?" Shyla asked, her face serious.

Draco had to hold back a chuckle, "Is that all this is about?"

She rolled her eyes, and slumped further into the chair.

Draco smirked, "The Durmstrang Quidditch players will form two teams, and they will be rotated in for regular practices and matches. The new schedule will be posted tomorrow at the pitch. But I can tell you, that Slytherin will practice on Mondays and Thursdays."

"That will work."

He let out a laugh this time, "I am glad you can agree with the faculty's decision."

She sighed, "I just…. I feel like I belong with the Quidditch team. It feels like they don't care about my mum's past, and they don't treat me like I'm some heir of a hero. I get to be normal."

Draco gave her a gentle look, similar to the one he gave Evangeline when she was picked on for being 'the princess of darkness.' "Are the other students still giving you trouble?"

"They stare a lot," she shrugged, "Sometimes they ask me how I, my pathetic self, can be the daughter of a such an incredible person." She scoffed.

"So what are you going to do about it?"

She stared at Draco strangely, "What do you mean?"

"You can either accept what they are saying, or you can prove them wrong. Which do you choose?"

"I choose to prove them wrong."

"How are you going to do that?"

"By winning the Quidditch cup?"

"That's a team effort. What are you going to do about it?"

She thought for a long second, "I'm going to build a snowman."

—

Shyla sat on the table where the Weasleys sat. She wore her winter cloak around her uniform, a green and silver scarf tied around her neck, and a bright pink winter hat atop her head. The sides covered her ears, ending in purple puffs. "Hi!" Her feet dangled over the side, swinging as she sat.

"Hey?" Ali eyed her curiously.

"What are you guys doing today?" She inquired.

"You do know that you're on our table." Chloe scolded, "Where we eat."

Shyla playfully rolled her eyes and slid onto the bench, her elbows staying on the edge of the table.

"Shyla?" Victor asked eyeing her, "What are you doing today?"

She looked around casually, and smirked, "Me? Well, I'm building a snowman, and I need your guys' help."

"A snowman?" Justin laughed, "Why do you need our help?"

Shyla leapt to her feet, "Because, Justin! It's not just a snowman! It's going to be THE SNOWMAN!" Her voice was near shouting.

"Miss Granger." Professor Ralonius called, "Please keep your voice down."

Shyla shrugged into her cloak, "Sorry." She looked back to the red heads, a twinkle in her eye. "Just promise me, you'll come to the area between the pitch and the lake after breakfast."

Ali laughed, "I promise. I will drag them if I have to."

Shyla skipped away gleefully. She bounced into her normal seat at the Slytherin table.

Tripp snorted, pumpkin juice dripping from his nose. He coughed as he wiped his face on his sleeve. "What the bloody hell is that?"

She shook the puffs on her hat, "This old thing? Why Tripp, I never thought it was really your color, but okay!" She took off the hat and placed it on the boy's head.

"Granger."

Matilda let out a loud laugh, "Oh Shyla, dear. You are so very wrong. It is definitely his color!"

"Granger…"

Matilda continued her contagious laugh as other students began to look over to see what the commotion was.

"Granger, you are so dead!" Tripp tore the hat off and threw it back at Shyla playfully. "You will pay for this."

"But first," Shyla smirked, "I need the team to help me." She looked to her secret sister, "And yours."

Eva looked at her suspiciously, "For what?"

"You'll see." Shyla nudged Eva's shoulder with her own. "Get your stuff, let's go!"

"Would you just sit down and eat something?" Eva scolded.

"Can't! Too excited!" Shyla exclaimed, bouncing on the bench.

Eva glared at the girl, "What has gotten into you?"

"It's snowing!" Shyla nearly shouted.

"So?"

"So! I want to have fun today!" She grasped Eva's shoulders and stared at her intently, "We start course work again tomorrow, and I want to do something that is just pure fun! No drama, no fights, no rivalries; just pure fun!"

Tripp shrugged, "I'm in."

Matilda nodded, "I'll get the other boys."

"Eva?" Shyla squeaked.

Eva groaned, "Fine!"

"Yay!" Shyla shrieked.

—-

"What's the plan, Granger?" Matilda asked, holding Alec Jones by the sleeve. "You're not getting out of this Baby Jones!"

Shyla bounced on her toes, "Just a few more minutes. They should be here."

"Who?" Drew asked, leaning against a shadeless tree.

"My family." Shyla said casually.

"The Weasleys?" Eva spat.

Shyla glared, "Yes, and don't forget, you promised to be here. So get over it, and let's just have fun for today."

Shyla bit her lip in anticipation. Tripp moved to stand next to her, "Are you sure they're coming? We can always start without them."

Shyla shook her head, "They'll be here." Just as she feared that they may not come, a troop of Gryffindors headed towards the field, followed by a single Ravenclaw. "I told you!"

"It took some coercing to get Chloe out of the common room, but we're all here!" Ali sang out as she skipped.

Shyla clapped her hands excitedly, "Everyone? We're going to build a snowman!"

Alec laughed, "Is this why I'm out here? I could have been snogging a Durmstrang girl, and you drug me out for this?"

Matilda pushed his arm away, "You wish you were snogging a girl! Now get over it, this should be interesting."

"It won't just be any snowman, though!" Shyla threw her arms into the air, "It's going to be the biggest snowman that Hogwarts has ever seen!"

"And exactly how big is that?" Drew called over, seeming to be up for the challenge.

"Umm-" Justin spoke up, "I had an inkling when I heard we were building a snowman, so I went to the library. The larges snowman on record had a base circumference of 5 meters, and a height of 12 meters. It was made in back in the 70s by a group of friends."

Payton finally spoke up, "So, if we're going to beat this record, we are going to have to get a lot of snow. And I'm not meaning, we beat it by a meter or two. I mean, we're going to double its size."

Shyla grinned, "This is going to be amazing!"