January 3rd, 1992

“Get lost, you lot,” I said, fondness filling my voice as Draco and I waved away our snakes. And Longbottom.

“Yule’s over. We’ve got rest to do!” Draco shouted as Pansy took a pinch of Floo powder, rolling her eyes.

“Yes, yes, goodbye, Draco. We’ll see you soon enough.” Blaise laughed, stepping through the flames and heading home.

Theo and Daphne left simultaneously, followed by Vince and Greg.

Only two remained, Millie and Longbottom —who, after two days of dealing with snakes, was holding up remarkably well.

Millie was headed out when she eyed Longbottom and grunted, “See you at Hogwarts, Longbottom. Don’t be a stranger.”

Longbottom, to his credit, only took a moment to shake off his shock, “Yes, um, you too, Bulstrode.”

And then there was one.

“All right, Longbottom, off you go,” Draco huffed as the boy shuffled anxiously in our foyer.

“Shut up, go somewhere else for a minute, will you?” I said over my shoulder to my brother, but focusing my gray gaze onto Longbottom’s blue one.

Longbottom flinched as Draco tsk’d and turned on his heel, “Fine, but I’m going to raid your candy stash if you take too long.”

Shaking my head, I focused back on Longbottom.

“What are you going to do now?” I asked lightly.

Longbottom, with his blonde curls and slimmed-down face, looked absolutely adorable. Not that I would ever admit that out loud.

“What do you mean?” He said, his voice quiet, his gaze flicking to the floor.

“I mean,” I said, my face stony, “are you going to go back to Hogwarts and pretend Yule never happened? That Theo didn’t best you in wizard’s chess, or that Blaise didn’t play you in quidditch? That Pansy didn’t teach you a new charm? That Daphne didn’t do your hair, or that Millie didn’t race you, or, even, that Vince and Greg shared their sweets with you? Are you going to pretend that Draco and I didn’t open our home to you during a time meant for only the closest of relations? That is what I mean.”

“Oh,” Longbottom said, his voice smaller than before.

I closed my heart, waiting for Longbottom to say the obvious. That we would be relegated back to nothing once Hogwarts returned. That he would remain weak for another term.

“I, um, I want to keep it up.”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

I blinked. “What?”

Longbottom swallowed thickly.

“I miss running together. And being friends–uh, friendly.”

I felt my eyebrow twitch, “Longbottom, let me clear. We were friends.”

“Oh.” He said happily, perking up until he processed what I said. “Were, right, of course.”

“Neville,” I sighed, “It’s fine to go back. But you can’t hide it from Potter forever. He’ll figure it out rather quick.”

A smile spread across Nevilel’s face at his first name, and something lurched in my stomach. Out of habit, I whacked his shoulder.

“Wipe that grin off your face. I’m still pretty peeved, you know.”

He nodded in response, but the smile never left his face.

“Of course, Medea.”

Rolling my eyes, I waved him off to the fireplace, “Off you go. I have things to do.”

“Right, right. Well, I’ll see you at Hogwarts.” Neville said, turning his back to me and taking a pinch of Floo powder.

“See you, you daft Gryff.” I laughed, turning away from the fireplace.

Across the hall, Draco was waiting impatiently, tapping a timepiece he’d received during Yule.

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It was freeing to forget, to let myself dissolve into the feeling of burning muscles and rough breath. So, I ran. My feet pounded on the forest floor as I traced the well-worn path I’d been avoiding since the beginning of Yule.

Soon, I would have things to do. Plans to plot. Plots to disrupt. Dragons to steal.

For now, though, it was enough to forget my troubles. To forget the harsh reality of being a Malfoy, of being trapped in a world governed by Fate that wished for my family’s demise.

I ran one lap through the forest, then another. And, because two was a weak number, I finished with a third and final lap.

It took me two hours and meant I had to down a potion.

Coated in sweat, I jogged back up the garden steps.

“Medea Malfoy!” A scandalized voice shrieked from my side and I turned to see Mother standing there with one Severus Snape.

I was too exhausted for this.

“Ah yes, my godchild,” he drawled.

I waved lightly, “Good evening. If you would excuse me, I’m—”

“Coming this way, right this moment,” Mother snapped.

My shoulders slumped, and I turned on my heel. “Yes, Mother.”

As I approached, Snape took my shoulders in his hands and shifted me around, his scrutinizing gaze looking for any indication that I was ‘ruining my health.’

“I’m headed to take a potion now, Godfather,” I huffed.

“No need for that. I’ll cast the required spells now,” he said gruffly.

I stood motionless as Snape pulled out his wand and pointed it at me. I did not flinch when he began casting. It was five charms later that the itching began.

“Good to know it’s just as unpleasant as the potion,” I grumbled.

“Indeed,” Snape snorted. “Now, come. Your mother and I were just discussing the best charms for her garden, and it’d be beneficial for you to know.”

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The sun had long since set by the time I was able to escape back to my room and tumble into bed.

It took everything in me to get back up and wash myself. But life was nothing without discipline, so I did so despite my aching muscles. Using a charm to braid my hair in this state was asking to be strangled, so I opted to brush out my hair and allow it to air dry. There was no need to overexert myself for the sake of it.

Besides, tomorrow was a trip to Little Hemming, a wizard village tucked inside Wiltshire with a bookstore filled to the brim with random charm books.