𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒯𝓌𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓎-𝒮𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓃
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The year's first snowfall had come to Hogwarts on Christmas Eve night. The grounds just the perfect sight for all the students who were spending their first Christmas in the castle. And an ideal start to what many hoped would be a magical day all through the night.
The many children in the castle were up early, starting their gift exchanges and running to catch the letters from owls that flew in nearly nonstop with presents from family and friends who had no faith in presents being left unopened until that very morning.
It was a strange change from the year prior, for the castle to be so full of life on the holiday. No one typically stayed on the grounds for Christmas… not by choice. Not when they had a home to return to, family expecting them with hugs and smiles after months apart.
And while there would exist some heavy hearts from homesickness… several people unlikely to ever want a holiday apart from family again, it would ultimately feel all the more special. The castle was just so special to be at, a Christmas Day so special to be a part of for just one year.
Because the true magic of Hogwarts always comes from its feeling of a home. And that was always most prevalent when its students wandered the halls.
~~~~~~
She jolted awake, an immense panic flowing through her when her eyes flew open to a pitch black. Hands grabbing at the object that had been thrown over her face. She was unable to process anything as she shot up and threw the object away.
Blinking to awareness, she faintly registered the muffled noise from someone off to the side. Brain finally catching up with her panic as she then noted the familiar giggles that followed.
And so she calmed.
Because it was safe. She was in her room, in her bed, and the only threats to her life were that of her friends. Each of them armed with a pillow, the only one who had gotten a turn in using said weapon being Sally-Ann who, as she laid sprawled on the ground, was dealing with the consequences of startling Iris Blackwell.
“Told you it was a bad idea.”
Now that startled Iris. To hear that, while familiar but still unexpected, voice. Sure, it had been talked about to invite Theodore Nott to the dorm for Christmas morning… but with her panicked start to the morning, having someone who wasn’t such a natural part of this space was just startling. Nothing more, nothing less… even as she began combing her hair with her fingers.
“Yeah, yeah. Still worth it. But presents. Now.” Sally-Ann had recovered fast enough, throwing her pillow back to her bed as she made quick grab of her blanket. The air of the dungeons especially crisp in the early morning, all girls unnaturally awake before the sun.
Giggles still were dying down as all the teenagers followed the demand. Iris grumbling to herself the whole way as she joined by the small Charlie Brown tree they had set up in the middle of the room. The poor thing practically lost to all the presents that had been set up the past few days. The only real proof of its existence being the paper star attached to the top.
Theodore was the last to join their circle, dragging Iris’ blanket with him, his eyes naturally on that very girl. Something that would be justified by naturally squeezing into the circle next to her and Jane. And he would justify his quick glance at her legs as he sat down to thinking about how much of a lunatic she had to be to sleep in shorts during the winter… but with no ability to give his usual passing comment… maybe that wasn’t it.
Throwing the blanket over himself and Iris, totally not an excuse to sit closer than necessary, he then watched as Iris and Sally took the role of passing out the gifts. The girls all fell into their usual chatter, yawns popping in from time to time.
It was just your typical Christmas morning, cozy blankets, wrapping paper everywhere, hugs and gratitude, noises from strange contraptions, laughs and jokes thrown in every direction, and small grumbles of having to write all the letters off to absent family later that day.
It was so normal… and yet, for some of those kids, it seemed so much more meaningful. A typical Christmas morning, a foreign thing.
Jane Yaxley watching mostly silent, studying the pure joy on their faces, that joy reflecting onto her own. The energy and happiness were so unlike any Christmas she had ever had.
Iris Blackwell seeming to linger on her small pile of gifts, each of them so personal. The whole moment was so personal and lacking in the attention of strangers.
Theodore Nott holding one gift off to the side, his mind so distracted by watching Iris. Taking in the moment he shared with perhaps the closest relationship he had ever had.
A typical morning can mean so much more to some.
~~~~~~
The morning would be a blur. Everyone lost in their gifts as Theodore busied himself with picking up all the wrapping and condensing the mess to a few empty bags.
Breakfast would come and as would complaints about having to fit into dresses that were fitted with nothing but hopes and dreams apparently. The girls all found a good compromise, being that if they ate, they could also go play in the snow for a while to work away whatever imaginary pounds would be gained from a bit of breakfast.
So that is what happened. A late breakfast followed by hours of running about the castle and grounds. Joining in the mass of students doing just the same, laughter everywhere in the halls, making those stone walls feel that much more alive. Hogwarts itself seeming to come alight on the holiday. One Christmas where it wouldn’t be home to the bitter few with nowhere else to go but instead the home, the place of joy, it is always meant to be.
One Christmas where Hogwarts got to be a place of true celebration.
Theodore’s energy had died hours prior, so around noon, he sat on a bench in the courtyard and refused to move. The girls didn’t hesitate to make the most of it, wandering off ways into the deep snow to start construction on crude snowmen. Preparing to hold his ground for quite some time, Theodore hid further into his coat, content with just watching his more energetic friend do their thing while he warmed up.
But, of course, he wouldn’t get exactly what he had wanted… no, expected. He was actually quite okay with the turn of events, with Iris sitting beside him. Her presence pulling him out of his coat and back to fighting the bitter cold that she was oblivious to.
He hadn’t had time to notice the thing in her hands before it was jutted his way; Iris… odd, as she refused to actually look at him, she started rambling on, “I wasn’t sure if we were doing gifts. Since you and the others didn’t. Didn’t want to make you feel heartless if I gave you one but you hadn’t. Was just gonna pass this along another time but then I don’t know just thought that seemed dumber.”
Theodore wasn’t sure how much of that he actually heard as he looked down at the wrapped gift, fat little cartoon Santas all over the paper. Raising an eyebrow, he looked back at Iris for a second. The girl still refused to look at him, her fingers tapping endlessly against her leg.
Biting down that stupid, unwanted smile of his, Theodore turned back to the gift, taking care of unwrapping it. Not letting a single fat Santa be ripped apart from so much as a toe. And he probably could have guessed what the gift would be after all; Theodore had held plenty of books in his life, but what was a surprise was seeing the first Lord of the Rings… something Iris knew he had already read.
Theodore would look at his friend once more but more deadpanned; he would find her already looking back at him… no, rather, at the book. Her fingers went to open it up as she started rambling again, “I know you found it rather lacking even if good your first read, but I think a lot of it is because you can’t really visualize it. This is, umm, my copy I have had since I was a kid. Lots of drawings and doodles, some of them with magic so they move and whatnot.”
Theodore found himself looking down and joining in staring at this book as this new wave of information hit, the gift almost seeming to shift before his eyes. Spotting the pages she had opened to, the drawings filling every empty space, depictions of freshly introduced characters, their expressions wavering as if actually alive in that inky form. Spotting the few wares and tears, a book handled with love but still aged and worn from that love.
This wasn’t just a book. It was a personal piece of Iris… and he didn’t quite know what to say to that. The silence on his end was heavy as he started reaching into his coat, where he knew that one gift he had set aside that morning had been stowed away. Maybe he was bad with words, but Theodore could show his gratitude, his equal thought… he felt the need to.
But, of course, things rarely went exactly how Theodore Nott ever wanted things to go.
Rowdy Gryffindors rushed by, tripping over themselves as they all ducked down to grab snow and start throwing it at one another. And that seemed to be just the distraction Iris was waiting for to get away from her awkward gift-giving.
Flashing Theodore a smile, she nodded to the book, “I am more than happy to give you the others, too, if you like that one. Just be gentle with it; practically part of my soul is in there because of how obsessed I was.”
And then she was off and joining in all the laughter and fun. Theodore once more watched her smiles, her excitement, her pure joy. Once more, he would again pull away to look down to his book, back to the first page, as his fingers settled along the edge, feeling for special wears that came from the habits of the girl who gave him this special thing of hers.
~~~~~~
The girls were the first to give up on the seemingly endless snowball fight, boredom starting to creep in and make them all that more aware of their numb hands and aching arms. Sitting to the side as they watched the rest unfold, chatting of their plans to get ready for the ball that night. Sally-Ann and Tracey were in an intense battle over the shower order. Their friends refused to chime in to break the tie… so they sought an outside bystander.
"Granger!" Sally-Ann really did not need to shout; her voice was typically plenty loud on its own.
Hermione Granger had also seemed to have grown bored of the snow, standing aimlessly as she watched her friends carry on. She looked rather like a startled deer when she found where she was being called from, but nonetheless she made her way over. Joining the girls who surrounded the ledge next to Iris and Theodore's bench.
Not even getting the chance to make a greeting before Sally-Ann went straight to the point, "Who should shower first, me or Tracey?"
Once more, Hermione wouldn't even be given a moment to speak, this time Tracey cutting in, "Your showers are too long; you should be last if anything. Lucky Jane is nice."
Then started the same bickering as Sally-Ann countered back, "My hair takes longer to dry than yours or Jane's."
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"Well, maybe it wouldn't get so wet if you didn't shower so long."
Back and forth it would go, absolute nonsense as always. Something Theodore had to comment on, "Just run before they lower your intelligence Granger."
Iris smiled, leaning over as if to bump him with her body but halting before she could, brushing off her hesitation with her quip, "Theodore lowers to our level more and more every day."
Theodore's eyes would roll, but before Hermione could fully comprehend that moment, she was again pulled elsewhere, this group giving her such whiplash.
"I just hope everyone gets all the bickering done now so we can get along later. I will be tugging extra slow on those waxing strips if you start something in the dorm Ann."
And so started more bickering.
Hermione once more found herself standing rather aimlessly, a tad bit awkward with the situation but finding it even more embarrassing to just walk away… so she looked to Iris, who seemed unoccupied, "When are you all heading off to get ready?"
Iris blinked a few times, that dazed look that only Theodore Nott ever seemed to notice fading away as she processed that she was being pulled into a conversation, "Pretty soon, I imagine, nails to paint, legs to wax, all sorts of fun."
Hermione nodded, a bit of tension leaving her as she finally was given a chance to speak, "My roommates and their friends had already gotten a start by now, I think. I wasn't planning on heading up until later."
And suddenly, there was silence. Hermione finding that tension wash over her again, suddenly the center of attention for five pairs of eyes. Tilted heads, blank expressions, and an overall curious demeanor about how this group of girls eyed their visitor. Even Theodore picked up on the strange energy as he side-eyed his friends.
Iris would be the one to ask the question all of them had, "You aren't spending the day getting ready with your friends?"
And then it was Hermione's turn to be confused, "Harry and Ron are my friends, not sure they want any part of that."
Sally-Ann was next, "Your girl friends. You don't have any girl friends you are getting ready with?"
"Why would I?"
Cause it is half the fun of a ball.
That was at least the general consensus between those girls. For any formal occasion it was just made better by sharing the most girly part with your girls. Turning the event of simply getting ready into a party in of itself. So much time and planning goes into how your makeup would be, what hairstyle you wanted, and the nails you would have; it just simply needs to be a shared experience. Gossiping for hours as hair was tugged at, nails carefully painted, makeup touched up. Fighting over the music but ultimately forgetting it is there half the time.
Girls brought a vibrance to the simple things and made it the best part.
Getting ready was the best part.
It was the part before the aching feet. Or before some boy could break your heart. Or before you start to really hate the feeling of the makeup and pinned up hair and constriction of a dress.
It was the dream before the reality.
So, to those girls, seeing some poor girl left out of such an experience was not happening. And maybe they hadn't all had the best first experience with Hermione Granger… but she was still a girl. One who severely needed other girls to give her just a bit of care.
So Jane Yaxley took the lead, "You are getting ready with us."
And that was that; the girls decided it was time and dragged off a shocked Hermione Granger, who shouted back to Ron and Harry.
Both boys took a few steps towards where the girls had departed from, both looking all levels of confused themselves. Ronald Weasley was the one to voice his confusion, "Why would they need almost 6 hours to get ready?"
Theodore sighed as he closed his book, getting up to seek refuge somewhere warmer, no doubt. Not without answering Ronald's question though, "When you look like an ogre next to them, Weasley, you will understand why."
~~~~~~
Only a group of teenage girls could double the time it takes to get ready. The first three hours spent so unseriously. Showers and nails and waxing all dragged out for a whole three hours. But the giggling non stop, and the music phenomenal.
It was about two hours before their scheduled picture time when things started getting serious. Bobby pins being broken out and scattered everywhere, dresses hung up on the bed posts, makeup absolutely everywhere. And the banter and giggles settled to levels more suitable to the need for the least amount of distractions.
Hermione had been more of a joyful bystander, still not really having a role in this group. And so she had no problems sitting at her own little mirror trying to tame her hair, simply listening. Had.
Every girl knows the frustration of messing with your hair for hours and feeling no progress had been made. And that frustration was beginning to shine through Hermione, breaking her quiet in the room as she threw the bottle of Magical Sleekeazy's Hair Potion, head landing in her hands as she stopped from pulling her hair out.
The girls had all caught the moment, a passing moment of understanding silence as they all paused in their actions. Sharing a glance between them all before Iris left her spot in the bathroom where she was taming her own hair… letting her more directly deal with the situation as they continued their small chatter to make the room less awkward for their guest.
Sitting beside Hermione, grabbing at the bottle, Iris quipped, “They say you have to use this every day for a month for it to make a difference. Then once a week afterward. What they fail to mention is that it is for only the most naturally straight of hair.”
Placing it aside, Iris grabbed at Hermione’s thick hair, “I bet you have the best curls. Ever tried a curly hair routine?”
Hermione lifted her head, looking still rather put off, “My mum was never too into all that herself, never taught me.”
Valeria called out from where she was braiding Sally-Ann’s hair, “Remind me, and I can write down one for you. Obviously no time for that now, though. Can take a bit to get curls back how they should be.”
Hermione sent a faint smile in Valeria’s direction, eyes still locked on herself in the mirror, “I wish I didn’t care so much now. I don’t know what has been up with me, but I just… care so much about all of it now.”
Iris scooted more behind Hermione as she waved a hand, a straightener and some hair ties flying to her side. Reaching to plug in the straightener, she gave Hermione her full attention again, “Well, luckily, I have practice at taming wild hair, so no need to throw things again.”
Hermione smiled a bit despite herself, catching Iris mimicking it as she began to section off Hermione’s hair. Iris tried to ease into conversation, “Is there some boy you have been trying extra hard to impress?”
Hermione shook her head before the sentence could be finished, causing a few giggles, “No, nothing completely like that.”
Tugging at the hair a bit to stop Hermione from shaking it more, Iris hummed, a teasing smile on her lips, “But just a little bit like that.”
Hermione found herself having a lot of eyes on her for another moment that day, her cheeks puffing as she let out a sigh, “Victor Krum asked me to the ball. And—”
“WHAT!?”
That was Valeria and Sally-Ann, for anyone who couldn’t guess.
The two displayed an impressive feat as somehow they both jolted up without ruining the braid Valeria had been painstakingly building. Her grip on it impressive for having not pulled hard at Sally’s head. The instinctual teamwork they displayed to practically run over to Hermione and Iris was amazing.
Plopping beside them with wide eyes and agape mouths, Sally-Ann further expresses their shock, “The Victor Krum. You are going with THE Victor Krum!”
Hermione was sheepish as she nodded, “We have been sitting together in the library for quite some time, so I feel as if I was his only real friend. Everyone else that gawks at him, you know?”
Iris nodded at this fact, more than aware of Krum’s habit of spending time in the library; Theodore complained of all his followers, who seemed to do nothing but steal his favorite seats and stare. Sally-Ann and Valeria, though, seemed quite a bit more shocked. Valeria always preferred studying in the dorms, and Sally-Ann probably had no clue where to find the library. It was missed opportunities on both their parts to see the world-famous Seeker.
“You have to introduce him to us tonight. I beg.”
Iris pinched Sally-Ann, “Cause the poor guy definitely needs you two freaks bugging him tonight. Go finish your braid for Longbottom.”
Hermione’s laughed a bit as Sally-Ann screwed up her face and mimicked Iris childishly, her and Valeria ultimately still retreating back to their spot. A sort of peace falling back over the room after the diversion. Hermione broke the silence as she was hit with a thought, “Ron didn’t know what to say when he found out Neville had gotten a date, and he still hadn’t.”
“Ron tried to ask Fleur, right?” Jane glanced over from touching up her makeup to see Hermione’s slight nod, “Interesting attempt on his part.”
It was the nice way of saying Ronald Weasley was playing in a league far higher than he had any right doing. Hermione perhaps didn’t catch that, though, finding herself rambling on some more, “He has been practically drooling over her since he laid eyes on her. I get the Vella thing, but Harry hasn’t been nearly as bad, nor any of the other boys.”
Glances exchanged as the girls picked up on some underlying emotions in the annoyance peaking through Hermione Granger. But they continued to let her go on, “I almost felt bad for him at first, but he has just been so frustrating. Talking as if Neville would never find a date, as if I would never find a date. Almost hoped he would have ended up alone to really rub it in when he sees me with Krum tonight and in this dress and just looking….”
Iris smiled, “Like a girl.”
Hermione turned a bit red, “It’s so silly. But no one has ever seen me as a girl. And I know I don’t always look like one, but I am still one. And I feel like Ron… and Harry, of course, forget that. I just want to be seen as a girl for once.”
Iris hummed as she moved to straighten the last layer of hair, “I personally believe you should only ever look however makes you feel good. Boys and their opinions be damned… but I can understand the want to be perceived a certain way from time to time. Just remember, there is no look to being a girl.
“Also, doing all this for Ronald Weasley is something I feel we need to deconstruct.” A series of giggles followed Valeria’s words. Hermione’s face turned even more red.
“I am not doing this for Ron, he’s—”
“Egotistical.”
“Lazy."
“Lacking in empathy.”
Hermione puffed her cheeks in defense of her friend… but was ultimately unable to argue about the worse-off qualities, only able to further dig a hole in sharing the other side, “He cares about me,” she sent a dirty look to the room as she stopped what was coming, “He is a friend. Just want my friend to remember I am a girl.”
“So he’ll kiss you.”
“Hey, but he is just a friend.”
“Just a friend.”
And so went another round of giggles. Hermione completely unable to escape where she had been trapped.
Tracey eventually being the one to take pity on the poor girl, “Don’t worry, Iris seems to know a lot about, just a friend as well.”
Iris wasn’t quite as shy, confident in sending a nasty glare over her shoulder, that last bobby pin maybe being pushed in a bit too hard. But she would calm quickly and turn her attention back to Hermione, smiling at her work as she curled the two face-framing pieces, “And we are done.”
Hermione blinked a few times as she unblurred her own image in the mirror. Finally, taking in the work Iris had been doing. Unable to stop her smile as she took in her neat bun, her face free of the usual mass of hair surrounding it.
The other girls surrounded around to get a look, giving all sorts of compliments and Tracey grumbling about her own bun not being up to standard.
Iris hummed as she, too, looked at the mirror, smiling lazily as she rested her chin on Hermione’s shoulder, “Happy you kept your smile, Granger.”
And just like that, Hermione felt just a tad bit more a part of this group.
~~~~~~
Theodore was in the common room at precisely six o'clock. Sat alone in some chair as he watched in the direction of the girl's dormitory, bored as could be. Looking all sorts of unlike Theodore Nott as could be. His blue sweaters and plain trousers replaced by an all-black dress attire, silver detailing that he had been okayed to have added by his original companion for the night. His suit jacket folded neatly in his lap as he sat lazily in his waistcoat. Oblivious to the stares he was receiving from a few girls who had already made their way down.
The set time to meet was right then. The girls at least having the sense to give themselves grace in their scheduling. No chance of, first five, and now six teenage girls being ready on time. He just felt for Remus Lupin, who didn't have the comfort of a common room to wait for these girls.
Theodore's only disappointment in this situation was that he had to watch the door open and be filled with false hope before someone he didn't care for walked out.
The sun was already just about gone, and the signs of such were showing in the common room as the room relied more and more on the torches. Pictures could still be done anywhere; plenty of talented… or at least semi-talented witches could use their wands to figure out the lighting they wanted. Hence why they would be out at the courtyard, the one with the fountain.
More time in the snow as if they hadn't had enough for the rest of their lives that day.
But Theodore would hold back all his complaints. This wasn't really a night for him. He long accepted that. His friends could have one night catered to them in all their teenage years…. Iris wanted this one night perfect, so it didn't seem too hard to comply with.
Theodore perked up again as the door opened, spotting the light pink of the dress before the girl. Almost feeling deflated as he knew Iris would be in something else.
But then, the universe was on his side just once, for that was Jane Yaxley, chatting with Valeria in some orange reminiscent of fall. And if two were there, the rest had to be close behind. His excitement was kept mild, in the natural Theodore way, nodding to Jane as she smiled, making her way over.
Theodore, of course, stood to greet her. The only girl that would have her escort this early on. Eyes still lingering behind on the door as Jane approached. Sally-Ann in black, Tracey in yellow and Hermione in a light blue, purple sort of thing.
Theodore did almost have to wonder if there had been some secret rule that two girls could not wear the same color. Some mass girl meeting where everyone had to fight for what they wanted.
Giving Jane the polite smile he had been taught to give to a lady for a ball, he held his arm out for her to take hold of. Speaking out the rehearsed line that was supposed to pair with it, his eyes watching as the last followed through at the same time, "You look beautiful."
He could have choked right then. His breath catching. His whole body seemed to pause as his heart sounded the loudest, most dragged-out beat of its life. A single second dragged out for far too long as he focused on Iris Blackwell.
He couldn't even tell you just what he was seeing, all of it too much at once.
All Theodore Nott knew in that moment… as her stupid teeth shined his way, those eyes of hers landing on Jane Yaxley grabbing onto his arm….
It was going to be a long night.