Harry, Ron, and Hermione all stood towards the back of the courtyard tower, joining in the cheers and applause during the now famous duel between Pansy and Aster. Ron and Seamus bet on Aster - two galleons each. It gave Harry fond memories of Fred and George taking bets during the Triwizard Tournament, though this one was far less harmless than that.
When Aster started to fault, Harry could see Hermione's brow furrow with worry. The last time he'd seen her like that was last year in the Department of Mysteries. There was genuine panic on her face, and he thought she would've been tempted to hex Pansy all the way from where they stood.
Harry expected to find Io in the crowd, but she wasn't there. The only other twins he knew were Fred and George, and if one of them had been in that situation, he doubted that they would have done it alone. So when Io appeared out of nowhere to deflect that last jinx, he cheered. It was like one of the action movies Dudley always went on about where the hero (or heroine) saves the day.
Once it was all over, he took a step towards her, but stopped the moment he saw Draco Malfoy approach her first. He couldn't help but stare as Malfoy rushed her off without a word.
"Are Io and Malfoy friends?" Harry asked Hermione, whose head was turning everywhere and there to find Aster. She managed a weak waive before Aster and Blaise started their conversation in the courtyard.
Hermione finally stopped. "Well, they are in Slytherin. You can't expect them not to be familiar with each other."
"Yes, familiar, but are they friends?"
"Does it matter?" Ron managed to contribute while counting his winnings.
"No… I suppose not."
Saturday was his next lesson with Dumbledore. As vague as he was, the lessons seemed more about learning how Voldemort came to be. By now, Harry was able to land on his feet steadily after peering in the pensive, but he still never knew what to expect.
However, to others, there was a more pressing matter at hand. Slughorn's Christmas party was only a week away, and Slug Club members were scrambling to find dates.
By the start of the week, Harry spent the second half of Potions class in the library after being cut loose early for having found a bezoar and presenting it to Slughorn to Hermione's dismay. Being in the library seemed better than being in the common room with others who had a free period.
He absent-mindedly flipped through the pages of the Prince's potions book. Even though he'd been reading it so intensely, he was too distracted to be entertained by the Prince today. Ginny was going to the Christmas Party with Dean, and he had no idea who he'd ask - if there was anyone he'd be willing to ask at all.
The sound of footsteps coming reached his ears as someone entered this section of the library.
"Harry," Io smiled at him, holding two Herbology books in her arms. "Out of Potions early again?"
Harry nodded, unsure of what to say after seeing her with Malfoy.
She sat next to him, opening one of the books straight to a section on Venomous Tentacula. They sat next to each other in silence. He didn't know if she felt the same kind of tension, but he chewed on the inside of his cheek, thinking if and how he could ask her about that day.
"Are you going to Slughorn's Christmas Party?" He decided to ask instead.
Io sat upright, suddenly looking uncomfortable. "Um, yeah. Aster is going with Blaise, and she told me Slughorn has been wanting to pick my brain about our uncle."
Harry turned to face her, closing the potions book. "You're not going with anyone?"
"No. I'd rather not bring a date; I don't even really want to go as it is."
He expected her to say she was going with Malfoy. The last thing he wanted to see at a festivity was that glare. No doubt he'd turn the mood dark and depressing. On the other hand if he was there, Harry might be able to figure out where he's been disappearing so often. No one heeded his warning about Malfoy. It was so clear that he was a Death Eater, but those accusations fell on deaf ears. Harry couldn't understand why the thought was so implausible to everyone but him.
The other side of this was hearing Io had no intentions of going to the Christmas party with a date. If not Ginny, he would've asked her if only to attend as friends. Hermione was so insistent he asked someone, so he wouldn't be awkwardly alone.
"Are you going with anyone?" Io asked, still flipping through her book which was now on the combative uses of mandrakes.
"No," he reluctantly responded.
Another few minutes of silence fell between them, but Harry's thoughts still stirred.
"If you're wondering why I didn't ask Draco Malfoy, then I already told you why."
How did she know that… Harry was perplexed. She didn't even bother to look up, instead appearing more like she'd never said anything at all.
After finishing the last paragraph on brewing antidotes for petrification, Io shut her book, turning her chair to face Harry with a vague look of disinterest.
"Y'know I can be friends with both of you." She smirked. "You're very different people, but I am also not one-dimensional."
Harry tried to control his reaction at her casual banter. "I know, but he's not a good person. I just don't understand -"
Io stifled back a laugh. "You don't have to understand, Harry."
"But how..?"
"Draco is… Complicated. I'm not even really sure if we really are friends, but we have a tendency to be in the same place at the most convenient times. Much like you and me."
"Io, whatever you think he is, he's not. I've known him for over five years."
Still smiling despite the bitterness of the topic. "Harry, do you remember our very first conversation?"
He wondered how this could be relevant to how awful Malfoy was. "Yes, we talked about our families. But what does that have to do with Malfoy?"
Io's expression changed to something between concern and sympathy. "And you told me that the Dursley's never paid you an ounce of love or familial empathy. That shaped who you are - despite the odds. You could've turned out so differently, but with your strength, who you became friends with, found ways to cope. With your imagination, with your quirks, with the humor around how comically awful they could be."
"And Malfoy grew up spoiled with parents in a manor. I still don't understand where you're going with this."
"Draco grew up in a home where both parents were attentive, but it was at a price. The Dursley's expected nothing of you, and so you became everything and proved them wrong. The Malfoy's expect everything from Draco with no exceptions for failure. So, yes, you two are very different. I won't say it isn't his fault that he can be cold and finds humor at the expense of others, but when you spend your entire life trying to meet impossible expectations that are out of your control, that isn't easy."
It would be a lie to say Harry never thought about Draco's upbringing. He and his friends had all met Lucius Malfoy, cruel as he was. He was a Death Eater for crying out loud. The prejudice he'd held had been bubbling up from the very moment he met Malfoy who spared no time insulting his now-best friend Ron. It just set the tone for every event thus far.
Io rested her hand on his shoulder. "I'm not saying you should forgive him - for anything. That would be an impossible task, and it's not my place. But what I am saying is that, much like you and me, he didn't ask for the family he was born into - or in our case, grew up with."
The concept made Harry wonder how Malfoy would have been if his parents weren't the way they were. Narcissa Malfoy didn't appear to be any better than her husband, and he would struggle to sympathize. Then again, look how Dudley turned out, his parents constantly doting on him, buying him everything he wanted and more. Dudley was a right piece of work, but if Vernon and Petunia had been different, so would Dudley.
Sighing, Io packed up her books, standing up to leave. "Again, I'm not saying you two should have a chat over a butterbeer. But I think, should the time come, if he needed help, I don't think someone like you, who values life over personal prejudice, would be there. Even if it meant biting your tongue to do it."
With another grin, she turned towards the door, leaving Harry with a million more thoughts than before.
Slughorn's Christmas party was just about as grand as one would expect - which is not very much, but it wasn't awful. His usually cozy office was now much bigger with Christmas trees in every corner. House elves did their best to avoid heavy feet as they held up silver platters with appetizers, and there was a tower of goblets enchanted to refill themselves with butterbeer or mulled wine.
Aster and Blaise arrived with Io standing just behind them. Aster dawned a floor-length black silk dress with gold chains draped around her waist. She and Blaise looked hauntingly charming with him sporting a black and green suit, a gold pocket watch in his pocket to match his date. Io wore an emerald green velvet dress that stopped a few inches above her knees. The long sleeves fanned out towards her hands, adorned with gold rings.
It was hard to say that the party was in full swing, but it appeared as if they were the last to arrive. All heads turned to them in awe as the twins' aesthetic truly represented Slytherin house and its signature colors.
Blaise left Aster to fetch a house elf to bring them three goblets of butterbeer.
Io held her sister's hand. "Not a bad way to start the holiday break."
"Not at all," Aster grinned, happily taking in the mood of the room. "Uncle would have a field day if he ever got his hands on that mulled wine."
From the corner of her eye, Aster spotted a mane of brown locks disappearing behind a curtain.
She slipped her hand out of Io's. "Tell Blaise I'll be back in a second..."
Nonchalantly moving through the crowd giving a nod every now and then, Aster poked her head into a curiously large space between the mauve curtain and the wall.
"Aster!" Hermione pulled her into the hiding spot with her. "I'm sorry, I'm just -"
"What are you doing in here?" She tried to hide her laughter.
"It's Cormac." She started wringing her fingers. "I needed to get away for a second."
Leading up to the party, Hermione had been awfully dodgy about who her date was. Aster just assumed she would take Ron, but obviously she was mistaken.
It was amusing seeing Hermione like this. She was clearly nervous, and this sounded like an easy but not fool-proof plan to get back at Ron whose relationship was very public in and out of the castle. More than enough first years have been exposed to the world of public displays of attention thanks to him and his girlfriend.
"So you're planning on hiding here all night?"
"It's better than being out there -"
The muffled conversation was interrupted by Harry Potter who must've also seen Hermione duck in here.
"Hermione, what are you doing?" Noticing they weren't alone, Harry nodded. "Hi, Aster."
"Hi, Harry!" Aster replied, still very much amused.
"I left Cormac under the mistletoe!" Hermione started to lament like she had a fever.
"I'll leave you two. I left Blaise with a few butterbeers, and I need a drink." Aster reached out to draw the curtain back.
"Hey," Harry called her attention back. "Is Io with you?"
The blonde nodded. Io had mentioned the less-than-ideal conversation she'd had with Harry about Draco. He was probably wondering if she'd really come alone or not.
"Yes. She's managing well enough. I think she and Blaise got cornered by Luna Lovegood over some conspiracy theory, so I'd better go save them."
Quickly ducking back into the party, Blaise was actually standing nearby, still holding two goblets of butterbeer. He handed Aster one of them, and she happily started sipping. By now, she positively considered Blaise a friend. He was quick to praise her for the performance at the courtyard, and he was more than willing to hand over the licorice wands from his invite box.
"Shall we have a dance?" He motioned towards a full orchestra, enchanted to play a Christmas waltz.
Aster curtsied and led the way to a group of other people who were already swaying slowly. Her wrists draped over Blaise's shoulders, broad and firm. He never smiled much, but he made up for it with kind conversation.
"Thanks for being my date." She said just loud enough for him to hear. "And for convincing Io to attend. I hate that she's been missing out on all the fun."
"Don't mention it." Blaise looked down at her.
They continued to sway through the end of the song, everyone clapping as the violins started up again. Her somber feelings over Hermione had managed to be pushed to an after-thought after talking to Io about everything. Holding it all in made it worse, but seeing her here in a casual setting managed to set in a different feeling. Aster thought to herself - if she'd managed to find enough courage to ask Hermione to attend, how different would she have acted? Would she still be hiding behind a curtain trying to escape?
The sound of Slughorn's office door smacking against stone disrupted the music and conversation. Everyone turned to get a glimpse of what caused the commotion.
Argus Filch was holding a very distressed Draco Malfoy by the collar.
"Professor, I caught this one lurking in an upstairs corridor. He claims to have been invited." Filch looked amused as he immobilized the boy with his grip.
"Alright, fine!" Draco knocked Filch's hand, dropping down by an inch. "I was -"
"He's with me."
All eyes slowly shifted to the tower of goblets where Io stood. She was holding two of them, slowly parting the crowd as she walked. She handed one goblet to Draco who accepted it silently.
"I apologize for the confusion, Draco." Io continued with a pleasant smile on her face. "Blaise, Aster, and I left the dorm a little later than expected. My mistake, I should have found you before we left."
Slughorn stepped beside her, grin as goofy and oblivious as ever. "Well, there, Mr. Filch! Mr. Malfoy is accompanying Ms. Visage, so he is welcome of course."
Draco's vice grip on the goblet intensified, almost looking furious at this pivot in his plans. "Apology accepted. I ended up taking a walk while waiting for you."
Io slipped her arm under Draco's, pulling him close. That same scent of apple and cedar wafted from his jacket. "I think we need some air. Please, excuse us, Professor."
Placing their goblets down on the nearest house elf's tray, Io pulled Draco out of the party and into an empty hallway.
"What the hell are you doing here?" She started. "You couldn't have picked a worse time to -"
"It's none of your business." Draco sneered, looking everywhere but at her.
"It's my business now!" Io hardly raised her voice during one-on-one conversations. "What's going on with you? You've been ignoring me all week, and after we…"
Draco's eyes finally looked up as she lowered her head. He didn't mean to avoid her, or maybe he did. After that kiss, he didn't know how close he could get without completely compromising himself. It would be a lie to say he hadn't been thinking of her, but regardless of how he felt, all the emotions had to be cast aside. Now that everything had calmed down in the Slytherin common room, it was harder for him to slip out. He had to resort to skipping classes and now - crashing parties.
"We should go back inside. Before anyone starts asking questions." Draco grabbed Io's hand, fingers instinctively lacing with hers.
As Io started to follow him, they were interrupted. Professor Snape was now standing just outside the door, quietly observing them. Draco took his hand back almost looking more frustrated that he'd been caught twice in one night.
"Ms. Visage, please return to the festivities." Snape spoke though it looked like he was disregarding her presence. "I need to have a talk with Mr. Malfoy."
"Yes, sir." Io brushed past them, casting a worrisome look back at Draco. He looked back at her and nodded as if saying it was okay to leave him be.
The party-goers paid no mind as Io found her place back in the middle of activities. Aster quickly found her, Blaise at her side.
"What was that about?" She asked, almost looking excited that Draco had showed up after all.
"Don't ask," Io fidgeted with her sleeve. From the corner of her eye, she spotted Harry swiftly leaving. After a minute of distractedly sipping butterbeer, Io had an odd thought. His date was still here, having fun talking to Professor Trelawney. And with the way he made sure no one was behind him, made her think - was Harry following Draco?
It wouldn't be unheard of. She assumed that their conversation about being friends with both him and Draco was him being protective, but it wouldn't be unheard of for him to trail Draco, who was clearly getting more frail-looking by the moment. Whether it was because of academic stress or something else is completely unknown.
"Sis, please, have a little fun while we're here. Come on - Blaise and I already danced, and maybe you can ask… um…" Aster frantically searched for an available body.
"Absolutely not." Io was firm. "I'd rather die than -"
"Io," Draco's voice interrupted.
Aster nudged her shoulder with a grin. "Draco! You have impeccable timing, as always. Io hasn't danced all night, so indulge her."