Winter is my favourite time of the year. The climate reminds me of myself -- cool and nonchalant when the snowflakes come down innocently, but sometimes, harsh, fun-loving and uncaring during a blizzard. Yes, I’m not amongst the warmest of people on this planet but I’ve never cared about the effect it has on others. I’ve always had friends -- either the offspring of Dad’s friends from school, or some of the other Slytherins who befriended me the moment I was Sorted into Slytherin because of the social status that my last name carries.
True, our family earned a bad name after the war, but Harry Potter had cleared Dad’s name somewhat, so it was really only Grandfather who ended up earning the bad reputation. Ever since my parents got married, Mum got involved in all these charities to prove to everyone that the Malfoys could do good things. So, right now, we are back amongst the most reputable wizarding families. I’ve heard stories of the stuff that my grandparents have done and though I am a true Malfoy, I’m not proud of them. Maybe it’s because I was brought up very differently from my father. My family -- very forcefully and not at all with pleasure, I assure you -- abandoned the idea of the superiority of pure-blood wizards over everyone else. No one wanted to get into trouble like Grandfather again.
Since a very young age, I had been assured by Grandfather that I was a very special child. He seemed to think I was triply special or something, but before he could explain why, Dad would always stop him and tell me that I was just extremely special because I was a wizard and a Malfoy. There were always a lot of things I never understood about my grandparents and, sometimes, Dad. I knew they had a troubled past, but I wasn’t sure what that was. However, the day my Hogwarts letter arrived home, Mum and Dad sat me down and told me Dad’s story. They told me about everything -- the Dark Lord, the entire discrimination between pure-bloods and Muggle-borns, Dad becoming a Death Eater, being forced to kill Dumbledore (but not doing it anyway -- I was relieved that Dad wasn’t a murderer), being held prisoner along with my grandparents by the Dark Lord himself at this very Manor… I shuddered at the story and realised that I was thankful I was born a long time after all this, because I would never be able to please anyone with my kind of attitude towards these things.
Grandfather was upset at my reaction to these tales -- livid, rather. I think he expected me to be proud of my family or something, but I wasn’t proud at all. Grandfather told me that night that I was worthless and would probably end up in Hufflepuff.
When the Sorting happened and I was put in Slytherin anyway, we became the best of friends again. He would write to me all the time, asking me what was going on, how the Potter-Weasley clan behaved and everything, and I told him about all the classes and that I didn’t care about the Potter-Weasley clan. I guess that’s when he lost all hopes of me becoming a Pure-blood supporter. I think he secretly hoped that the Pure-bloods at Hogwarts would form a committee or something, but everybody’s parents were smart enough either not to incite such thoughts into their children in the first place, or even if they did, to ask their kids to shut up and keep these opinions to themselves.
Yes, the reason I like winter has a long explanation. Actually, there are two long explanations to it. The second one is so much longer and better. Oh, it’s so much better…
December, 2022
–Hey, Malfoy! Quidditch practice in ten minutes. Stop dreaming by the fireplace and get your arse to the Quidditch pitch!â€
I turned around and gave Ayesha, our Quidditch Captain, a thumbs-up, so she knew I had heard her. Then I stood up, stretched and made my way to the dormitory to wrap myself in a few more layers of clothes and get my broomstick for practice. In the five minutes, I was heading towards the Quidditch pitch, broomstick in hand and all but my eyes completely covered so that I wouldn’t freeze while I flew. Ayesha was waiting for the others with her hands on her hips and I waved at her.
–You look like one of those Muggle Japanese things that run up walls, Malfoy,†she said.
–What Muggle Japanese things?â€
–Forget it. I don’t want to explain it to you now.â€
I shrugged. –Mind if I just take a round on my broomstick so I can get used to the biting cold that you’ve damned us all to die in?â€
She rolled her eyes. –Go. And if it’s not now, it’s never, Malfoy! We have to win the Quidditch Cup this year. Remember that.â€
–Yeah, yeah, you’re the best,†I said sarcastically and took off into the air before she could hit me with her broom.
The weather was horrible. Tiny flakes of snow were falling from the unending sky. The sunrays were too weak for any comfort and before I had done two laps of the pitch, I was craving the fire again. I was circling downwards, my whole body numb from the extreme cold, when I saw them in the stands.
It was Rose Weasley and Benjamin Defrost. They both sat high up in the stands, covered in layers of clothing (which I guessed would come off later anyway, once they were someplace warmer). They were staring into each others’ eyes. And then Weasley suddenly leaned forward and she and Defrost started to snog in the most disgusting, puke-inducing way. Merlin, how stupid could they be to kiss in the Quidditch stands in this biting cold, when they belonged to the same house?
An idea struck me and I decided to have some fun. I zoomed towards them, the whooshing of the air already a little muffled by the wind that was starting to blow. I reached a spot about ten feet above them and suddenly plunged downwards at top speed. When I was a foot away from them, they realised they were not alone and broke apart, alarmed. Weasley even threw herself into Defrost’s arms before I took a sharp upward turn, shouting, –GET A ROOM!â€
I was several feet in the air before Weasley’s agitated, muffled voice reached me. –Bastard!â€
I ignored it and rode away to join the rest of my team. Ayesha was glaring in my direction when I joined them. –I just noticed Weasley and Defrost in the stands. Did you tell them to leave? We can’t have two Gryffindors here while we practice. Defrost is on their Quidditch team too.â€
–I certainly embarrassed them enough to hope they will leave,†I replied and no sooner had I said it, I watched Weasley and Defrost get up and run down the stands. They walked quickly, passing us while Defrost gave me the finger. And then they were gone. Ayesha looked at me.
–You interrupted them, didn’t you? You’re an arse.â€
I shrugged as she released the Quaffle and sped off with the other Chasers and the Keeper to practice throwing it around.
Winter. December. The December of 2022. That was when it all started. This was just a snippet of the beginning, though. There was a lot more to come. And I would never know until it came.
Rose Weasley
Daddy was right -- Malfoys were the world’s biggest gits. He had some nerve, swooping up on us like that. How dare he do something as idiotic as interrupting someone’s private matters? He had no business looking at us. Stomping up the stone steps of the Entrance Hall, I vowed then and there to make him pay one day.
Or, I thought diabolically, I could just ask James to knock him off his broom in the next match versus Slytherin. I think James would like that very much, too.
–Um, babe? Where exactly are we going?†Ben asked as he calmly ambled along. Even though Ben was a Quidditch player (and a very fit one, too) I found it frustrating that he could keep pace with me so easily, even though I was practically sprinting.
–Someplace special,†I said cryptically.
It took us ten minutes to climb up to the seventh floor. Once in front of the tapestry of the dancing trolls, I asked Ben to stand there quietly as I walked past the bare stretch of wall.
–What in the name of Merlin are you doing?†Ben asked, crossing his arms across his chest and staring at me in a bemused way.
I smiled at him knowingly and, once I was done pacing for the third time, I stood back and watched his reaction as the huge door materialized in front of him. The Room of Requirement had its own brand of magic; no wonder that it managed to restore itself after that horrific fire uncle Harry told us about. I’ve felt nothing but awe every time I went there.
The doors creaked open, revealing a large chamber. I took Ben’s hand and pulled him into the room.
–What is this?†Ben asked, enthralled, swivelling his head around to look. The room had transformed itself into a small, cosy chamber with a plush carpet and a comfy-looking sofa. –I’ve never seen this place before.â€
–This is the Room of Requirement,†I said, walking up to the sofa and plopping down on it. –It becomes whatever you need. We’ve been together for two months now, so I guess it was time I showed this place to you.â€
–So...†he trailed off, looking at me. His eyes lit up, and in an instant he was beside me, crashing his lips onto mine. He kissed me with a passion that I’ve never seen in him before. His fingers entwined with my hair as I felt his tongue touch my lips. I felt like I was on fire as I parted my lips to allow his tongue in and trace the borders of my mouth. It was amazing. It was the best thing I had ever felt. I clashed my tongue with his, then enjoying the tantalising sensation. He was such an amazing kisser. Oh Merlin… oh, Merlin… I’d probably die with pleasure right then.
His lips moved from mine and I moaned, my heart racing as he trailed kisses along my jaw line. His caresses were now more fervent, and he gripped my hair harder with one hand as he made his way towards my neck, and he tugged at my T-shirt with the other. I had to bite my lip as he nibbled down on my neck. Even though I loved every bit of it, I felt like something was wrong. I didn’t think I was ready for this -- for I knew that this would definitely lead to sex. In some part of my conscience, I knew that my parents would be disappointed if they knew that I did it.
–Ben,†I managed to gasp. Sweet Merlin, he felt so… good.
My voice seemed to have enticed him further as his hands started to snake their way under my clothes. For a second I felt like letting him go on. –Ben, wait,†I mumbled as I put my hand on his, stopping him.
He looked up at me, confused. –What is it, baby?†He asked.
–Let’s not go any further,†I said quietly, looking at him apologetically. –I don’t... I don’t think I’m ready.â€
–It’s been two months,†he said, looking confused. –It’s been long enough -â€
–No, Ben,†I said firmly. Merlin, he didn’t get it. –It’s way too early. I’m not... you know.â€
He gave me a chilling look. For a moment, I felt afraid. What if he thought I didn’t want him? What if he thought I was a sissy for not wanting to do it and dumped me? I didn’t think I could handle that; Ben was the only guy I’d actually felt a spark with. I didn’t want to lose it under any circumstances.
Then, to my utter relief, his lips curved into a smile. –That’s okay, I guess,†he said. â€As long as we get to do it someday,†he added as an afterthought.
I grinned and kissed him on the cheek.
He kissed me softly on the lips before getting up and pulling me to my feet. –Now I say we better go back to the Tower. That annoying cousin of yours who also happens to be my roommate might send a search party if we’re out too late.â€
I chuckled as we walked out of the Room of Requirement, arm in arm. Behind us the door swung shut and shrunk until there was only bare stone.
–Where have you two been?†Dom asked as we walked through the portrait hole. Then, seeing our dishevelled looks, she scrunched up her face. –Oh, don’t tell me. I don’t think I want to know.â€
–Shut up,†I said, swatting her leg (which was draped over the arm of the couch) and sat down on the sofa beside her. The Gryffindor common room was, as was common at seven in the evening, packed. Ben gave me a wink and made his way through the crowd towards his dormitory.
Dominique was, for a lack of better word, a tomboy. While Victoire was a prim and proper princess and in a steady relationship with Teddy Lupin, Dominique was the total opposite; she hated relationships and boys of any sort. With her short, cropped blonde hair, baggy clothes and army boots, she was the only Weasley girl who had never had a boyfriend of any sort. It drove Auntie Fleur mad.
–I think Al was looking for you,†she said, looking at me over her copy of Quidditch Weekly.
–Why?â€
–I don’t know. Something about excessive and uncontrollable PDA while you two were supposed to be gathering dirt on the Slytherins,†she said, disgusted. –Scorpius Malfoy was apparently kind enough to tell him when they passed each other in the corridor.â€
I groaned. I had entirely forgotten why Ben was supposed to be there. And trust Malfoy to go and rat us out to Al... –Remind me never to accompany Ben on a mission,†I mumbled.
–I think you should never accompany him anywhere,†Dom stated bluntly.
I felt like hitting her.
–Have you seen Alice anywhere?†I asked instead, trying to change the subject. Alice was Uncle Neville’s daughter, and my best friend. At the moment, I really needed her advice about what to do about Ben and his... desires.
–She went up to your dormitory around ten minutes before you came in,†Dom said lazily, not taking her eyes off her magazine. I thanked her and made my way towards the fifth-year girls’ dormitory.
As Dom had said, I found Alice propped up on her bed, leaning against her pillow, which was propped vertically against the headboard, reading one of her trashy Muggle romance stories. Other than being my closest, non-relative friend, she was my go-to for any sort of relationship problems; with her calm demeanour, her listening skills and her innate ability to give excellent advice, Alice could solve any problem.
–Oi, Alice?†I said sitting down at the foot of her bed.
She put down her book and smiled at me. –You look worried,†she guessed easily. This was why I loved her. –Is everything okay?â€
–Well,†I started. –Ben and I were in the... Room of Requirement --â€
–I can guess why,†she said, raising her eyebrows. –And?â€
–And things got a little heated...â€
I told her what happened in the Room and how Ben had wanted to go further and how I had stopped him. I told her why I didn’t want to do it just yet. I told her about Ben’s reaction and that momentary anger I thought had flashed across his eyes. –Does that make me a bad girlfriend?†I asked.
Alice scrutinized me through her deep blue eyes, playing with a strand of her blonde hair. After a while she replied, –No, not really. I mean, Ben is a guy and it’s his nature to want to do something like that. You have the right to say no. Maybe he might have been a bit hurt when you stopped him, but he didn’t show it, did he? He was still okay, wasn’t he?â€
I nodded.
–See?†she smiled happily. –I’m sure he isn’t pissed at you! Why would he be, anyway? I don’t think he should be pressuring you, in any case.â€
–So he won’t think I’m a prude?â€
Alice narrowed her eyes at me. –Of course he won’t.â€
I reached forwards and hugged Alice. Then I stood up and skipped down to the common room, where I found Ben sitting by the fire, doing his homework. I plopped down beside him and kissed him on the cheeks.
–Not that I didn’t love it, but what was that for?†Ben asked, surprised.
–For being awesome,†I replied shortly.
Who knew that, someday, I was going to think back and regret my words so much?