Christmas vacation was just around the corner, and somehow, instead of cozying up inside with cocoa like any sane person would, I found myself being dragged across the freezing grounds toward the Quidditch pitch by none other than Alexie.
I tugged my scarf tighter around my neck and groaned, "Why do you want to watch that game in this kind of weather?"
Alexie just laughed, tugging me forward. "Come on! It's going to be fun! It's the final match Slytherin versus Gryffindor! And don't forget, Elliot and your brother Abraxas are playing. They need your support!"
I groaned again, exaggerated and loud, but secretly, I didn't mind. Especially since Tom said he'd be there too. "Fine," I muttered dramatically, and trudged back to the dormitory to grab an extra sweater and thicker socks. No way was I freezing to death for Quidditch.
On our way to the field, we ran into Thomas, Reinhardt, Theo, and Tom, standing by the main doors looking mischievous and excited like overgrown children except tom. Reinhardt waved when he saw us.
"Off to watch the grand battle?" he teased.
I rolled my eyes. "Well, I suppose since we're already halfway to the Quidditch field," I said dryly.
The three of them chuckled, and we fell into step together, heading down to the stands. Snow was lightly falling, dusting the grounds in white, and our breath puffed out in clouds. The whole world looked like a snow globe.
We found seats together and to my not-so-secret delight, Tom slid onto the bench beside me. He turned, his coat brushing against mine, and leaned in close, his voice low and teasing.
"So... how was your night?" he asked, smirking slightly.
I smirked right back. "It was amazing" I said, pausing, watching his eyes.
Tom's smirk deepened. He reached for my hand without hesitation, weaving his fingers through mine and playing with them lazily, drawing slow, idle circles against my knuckles. "Really?" he murmured.
I tilted my head, smiling at him seductively. "Yeah." I could hear Alexie snort from beside us, clearly listening to everything. I ignored her.
Before I could say anything else, the game started a blast from Madam Finch whistle, and the players were off, streaking through the air like comets.
Abraxas, my stubborn older brother, was flying with a determined scowl, darting after the Quaffle. Elliot wasn't far behind, just as focused. But it didn't take long for me to realize they were struggling. Hard.
I leaned toward Tom, grimacing. "I don't understand why people like this game."
He laughed softly, his breath warming my cheek. "Neither do I," he admitted.
I grinned at him mischievously, then turned back to the field. Well, if brute force wasn't working... maybe a little magic would.
Making sure no one was watching too closely especially not the professors I slipped my wand from my sleeve and, with a few subtle nonverbal spells, cast tiny confusion charms at the Gryffindor Keeper. Nothing serious. Just enough to throw him off for a few precious seconds.
I did it once goal. Twice another goal. Three, four, five times each spell making the Keeper fumble just a little more.
Slytherin racked up 50 points almost immediately.
But then... I felt it.
A piercing stare from the stands.
I glanced up —and locked eyes with Professor Dumbledore.
Crap.
I pasted on my sweetest, most innocent smile, silently praying he'd chalk it up to me just being very enthusiastic about the match. He didn't move, but the twinkle in his eyes told me he knew exactly what I'd done.
I squirmed a little under his gaze but luckily, at that moment, the Slytherin Seeker dove, hurtling toward the ground and snatched the Snitch right from under Gryffindor's noses!
The stands exploded.
Even I jumped up, cheering, almost forgetting the icy wind slicing across my face. "Oh my God, we won!" I shrieked, turning toward Tom.
His face was lit with a rare, genuine grin.
"Look at that!" I said gleefully, grabbing his coat sleeves in both hands. "We won!"
Laughing, I pulled me into a hug warm, steady, perfect lifting me off the ground slightly. I clung to him, dizzy with victory.
"I thought you didn't like Quidditch," he murmured into my ear.
I pulled back just enough to look up at him, breathless and grinning. "I don't," I said. "I just like winning."
He chuckled again, the sound vibrating against my chest, and tightened his arms around me once more.
After the game, it was time for the House Cup Feast and Slytherin had won both the match and the Cup.
The Great Hall was unrecognizable.
The ceiling glittered with floating candles and enchanted snowflakes, swirling in lazy patterns that never quite touched the ground. Massive green-and-silver banners hung from the enchanted ceiling, each emblazoned with the proud serpent of Slytherin. The banners shimmered, as if alive with magic, casting reflections that danced across the students' faces.
The tables were laden with a feast fit for royalty: roasted turkeys, glazed hams, massive platters of shepherd's pie and buttered vegetables. Steaming puddings and trays of treacle tart floated down the tables, refilling themselves with a snap.
At the Slytherin table, the mood was electric.
Students clapped each other on the backs, cheered, and occasionally threw bits of mashed potatoes at each other. Someone probably Reinhardt enchanted a platter of rolls to fly in circles above our heads like little Quidditch players.
Abraxas sat near the center of the table, a proud, victorious grin on his face, a fading bruise on his cheek from a particularly vicious Bludger. Elliot, sitting beside him, looked just as thrilled, both of them raising goblets of pumpkin juice in a toast when Professor Slughorn waddled over, teary-eyed.
"My boys! My brilliant boys!" he crowed, dabbing at his eyes with a silk handkerchief. "I always knew this would be Slytherin's year!"
I grinned and shook my head.
Tom, sitting next to me as usual, was more reserved. He toyed lazily with the goblet in front of him, one hand still brushing lightly against mine under the table, a private little touch that no one else could see.
I leaned in closer, my shoulder pressing against his, and murmured, "Admit it. Winning tastes sweeter when you're sitting next to me."
He chuckled under his breath, the sound low and dangerous, sending a delicious shiver down my spine.
"Perhaps," he murmured. "Or perhaps... you just make victory inevitable."
I laughed, tipping my head back, and caught Alexie dramatically pretending to gag from across the table. I stuck my tongue out at her, earning a bright laugh.
The enchanted suits of armor lining the walls began to clang their swords rhythmically against their shields, striking up a raucous beat. Soon, the whole Hall was singing badly, joyfully the Hogwart anthem.
Tom didn't sing of course not but he watched, amused, his hand never leaving mine.
I ate more than I should have hot pies, buttery rolls, ginger cakes dusted with powdered sugar — and by the end of the feast, I was full to bursting, warm, and just a little sleepy.
But reality loomed.
Tomorrow, we were leaving for Christmas break.
Back in our dormitory, Alexie and I finished stuffing our trunks. I double-checked to make sure and slammed my trunk shut.
"Ready?" Alexie asked, already hoisting hers up.
"As I'll ever be," I said with a sigh.
We clattered down the stairs to the common room, where Abraxas was already waiting with my luggage. He lifted it easily with one hand and ruffled my hair with the other.
"Well, Hogwarts wasn't so bad, was it, baby sister?" he teased.
I hugged him tightly, burying my face in his shoulder for a second. "No," I admitted. "It wasn't so bad."
He laughed, the sound warm and familiar, and together we made our way down to the carriages.
Tom, Theo, Reinhardt, and Elliot were waiting by the doors, their trunks stacked neatly beside them. Tom caught my eye immediately.
"Let's head to the train," Abraxas said, and we all climbed into the carriages, the Thestrals pulling us through the snowy grounds.
The ride was strangely silent, the kind of silence that felt full of meaning of things unsaid.
At the station, I found myself standing too close to Tom, our hands brushing, almost but not quite holding.
"You'll write?" I asked quietly.
He looked at me, something unreadable flashing in his eyes. "Of course."
I smiled, and boarded the train.
As it pulled away from the station, I watched Hogwarts shrink into the distance, golden and magical against the winter sky.
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