Snow was now falling heavily around Hogwarts which meant Christmas was approaching and the 5th year Gryffindor girl's dormitory was usually filled with Briar singing at the top of her lungs and putting tinsel wherever she could reach. But this year the dormitory remained undecorated and no singing ran through the room
Truthfully Briar was happy that the holiday season was approaching, but knowing that when she went home her godfather wouldn't be there waiting for her made it harder. Sirius, like her, always enjoyed Christmas and he had always been the person who would sing songs with her at 2am
On top of that she was dreading Professor Slughorn's upcoming Christmas party since she knew it would be a night full of other Slug Club members, such as Cormac, and ex-students of Slughorn's that he wanted to show off to his students
Cormac kept talking about how excited he was for them to go to the party together, but Briar was quite annoyed he hadn't actually asked her and had just assumed they would go together since they were dating. But at least she had a date unlike Harry who still didn't have one on the day of it
At least until that morning in Transfiguration, when Luna informed Ginny and Briar that Harry had asked her to go with him and the two girls were really happy
Sureenough, in no time at all the whole school seemed to knowthat Harry Potter was taking Luna Lovegood to Slughorn'sparty.
"You could've taken anyone!" they heard Ron saying at lunch "Anyone! And you chose Loony Lovegood?"
"Don't call her that, Ron," snapped Briar, pausing behindHarry on their way to join friends.
"I'm really glad you're takingher, Harry, she's so excited." Ginny added and the two girls headed off
When their classes ended for the day, Briar and Ginny had to get ready for the party and Briar settled on wearing a light blue satin belted mini dress
And she paired it with a pair of black heels, and once Ginny was ready they headed down to the common room to meet their dates, before the 4 of them made their way through the dimly lit castle towards Slughorn's office, which had definitely been charmed to be bigger than the usual teacher's office
Luckily Briar spotted Luna and Harry there so she excused herself to talk to Luna and throughout the night she somehow managed to mostly successfully dodge Cormac, mainly by appearing interested in meeting Slughorn's old students
But when Eldred Worple excused himself to talk to Harry, and Cormac began to walk towards her Briar quickly ducked to the drinks table, poured herself a glass of wine and finished it almost instantly
"Damn," whistled the voice of Blaise Zabini "Rough night?"
"You can say that" Briar replied awkwardly and she glanced around in case any Slytherin girls were about to come over and call her names for talking to him, but she couldn't see any "No date?" she asked him
"No," he shrugged "You?"
"Bad date" she answered and he chuckled
"McLaggen I'm guessing?" he asked and she nodded "If he's so bad why don't you just dump him?"
"I don't know," Briar sighed "I've been trying to avoid him all night so I'm hoping he'll take the hint"
"It doesn't look like it, he's on his way over," Blaise chuckled
"Oh no," Briar groaned "Hide me"
"Where? In my pocket?" he said sarcastically and she glared at him sharply which made him laugh
"Alright I have an idea," he said and grabbed her hand, pulling her towards the dance floor. Briar's face was still full of confusion when he placed his other hand on her waist "Put your hand on my shoulder,"
She realised she had just been standing awkwardly, which made her blush, but she quickly recomposed herself and did as he said "What are we doing?"
"Dancing," he shrugged "McLaggen can't bother you while we do so you're welcome,"
"Thanks," Briar said
"No problem," he replied and they continued to sway to the slow music
"You know, you're nice for a Slytherin" she said after a moment and he raised his eyebrows in confusion "Well, for starters you speak to me, and you don't call me a blood traitor or a filthy half breed, and you just saved me"
"I'm just built different," he grinned "My mum's married about 7 different guys and they never lasted or mattered to me, and I guess she was just too busy with them and all the funerals to teach me about pureblood supremacy or the dark lord"
"So you don't believe in any of that?"
"If you're asking if I'm a death eater the answer's no," he said "And I'll be honest, I don't like muggleborns, but I don't hate them enough to want them dead"
"Oh thanks," Briar said sarcastically and he laughed, an actual laugh
Their dance was suddenly interrupted by a loud bang coming from the door to Slughorn's office, and in came Filch dragging Draco Malfoy
"Professor Slughorn," wheezed Filch, his jowls aquiver andthe maniacal light of mischief-detection in his bulging eyes, "I discovered this boy lurking in an upstairs corridor. Heclaims to have been invited to your party and to have beendelayed in setting out.Did you issue him with an invitation?"
Malfoy pulled himself free of Filch's grip, looking furious. "All right, I wasn't invited!" he said angrily. "I was trying togatecrash, happy?"
"No, I'm not!" said Filch, a statement at complete oddswith the glee on his face. "You're in trouble, you are! Didn'tthe headmaster say that nighttime prowling's out, unlessyou've got permission, didn't he, eh?"
"That's all right, Argus, that's all right," said Slughorn,waving a hand. "It's Christmas, and it's not a crime to wantto come to a party. Just this once, we'll forget anypunishment; you may stay, Draco."
Filch's expression of outraged disappointment wasperfectly predictable. Filch turned and shuffled away, muttering under hisbreath; Malfoy composed his face into a smile and wasthanking Slughorn for his generosity
"It's nothing, nothing," said Slughorn, waving awayMalfoy's thanks. "I did know your grandfather, after all..."
"He always spoke very highly of you, sir," said Malfoyquickly. "Said you were the best potion-maker he'd everknown..."
"I'd like a word with you, Draco," said Snape suddenly and Briar didn't even realise he was at the party
"Oh, now, Severus," said Slughorn, hiccuping "it'sChristmas, don't be too hard -"
"I'm his Head of House, and I shall decide how hard, orotherwise, to be," said Snape curtly. "Follow me, Draco."
Draco nodded and as they turned around, his eyes briefly landed on Briar and Blaise who were still stood in the middle of the dance floor, still holding each other as if dancing but both of them watching him. Draco quickly tore his eyes away and hurried after his Head of House
"What was that about?" Briar asked the Slytherin
"No idea," Blaise lied "I need a drink" and he hurried to the drinks table, leaving Briar there speechless. She spent the remainder of the party drinking more of Slughorn's wine and feeling relieved that Cormac seemed to have turned his attention to Hermione, although she did feel sorry for the poor girl
When the party ended Blaise was the only invite heading down the stairs and when he reached the common room once again Draco was sat there alone. The boys shared a look and Blaise took a seat with him
"So you're dating her now?" Draco suddenly spat, as if it was hard to say
"Merlin no," Blaise immediately scoffed "She was avoiding McLaggen and I helped, that's it. She's still with the twat as far as I know"
"Good," Draco nodded, but again it seemed difficult for him to say and the stiffness of his jaw told Blaise he was angry
"Mate," Blaise sighed "Why don't you just talk to her?"
Draco let out a humourless laugh, as if scoffing at the ridiculousness of what Blaise just said "I'd rather her be involved with that git but safe, than involved with me and in danger. You know that's what would happen"
"You don't know that," he replied
"I do," Draco said "I waited too long and now there's nothing I can do. This is it." He could feel the pain and fear creeping up his throat, and before it could come out as sobs or tears, he swept away and up to their dorm without a word