Fireplaces, Hot Chocolate, and Marshmallows

Chapter #8

After Britney dropped off her books, she went straight to dinner. As soon as she walked through the doors, all the talking in the Great Hall ceased. She just kept on walking.

As she sat down, the talking started up again, especially at the Slytherin table. 'Hm, why isn't Draco here?' she thought, dishing peas onto her plate.

Just then, Hermione came in and sat down beside her. "Hey Britney," she said, straightening her robes.

"Hey, do you know where You-Know-Who is?" Britney asked.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione gave her very skeptical looks. "You don't have to act like that," Ron said. "The whole school knows now."

Britney looked positively puzzled. "But... how?"

Hermione shook her head. "You probably what everyone asked you when you drank the potion, do you?" Britney shook her head. "Well, someone asked you if you had a boyfriend, and you said 'Draco'."

Ron grinned. "The whole school practically knows by now. He was absolutely livid! You should've seen his face! He told them it wasn't true, but no one believed him. No one's seen him since."

Harry nodded. "He's probably writing to his father right now, ranting about injustice."

'Oh no!' Britney thought. 'I've got to find him!' The Slytherins snickered as she ran by, running as fast as her short legs would allow. She bumped into Snape on her way through the doors. He smirked at her, but she started running again, not wanting him to deduct points form Gryffindor. She ran all the way across the grounds. She knew where she was going; knew where to find him. The willow tree. Not until its low branches swatted her face did she stop. Sure enough, Draco was there, looking as though he might cry.

Britney sank down beside him. She knew how precious his reputation was to him. "Oh, Draco. I'm so sorry," she whispered.

Draco shook his head. "It's not your fault." He looked up, through the branches and out to the stars, staring off into space. "He'll find out."

"Who will?" she asked.

"My father. He'll find out, some way or another. God, he's gonna kill me."

She felt like saying, "I'm sure he'll understand", but she knew that it wasn't true, and no matter how good a liar she was, he'd never believe her. Instead, she looked him straight in the eyes and said, "Are you going to be okay?"

He eventually nodded his head.

"Are you sure Draco?"

He nodded again, standing up this time, signaling that he was ready to go. Britney hugged him, just trying to make him feel better.

"All for the better I guess," he said. "I was getting tired of hiding it."

Britney smiled. "Yeah, me too."

* * * * * * * * * * *

The next morning at breakfast, Britney arrived at the entrance hall to find a terrible scene: students were screaming and running around while pictures floated everywhere in the air above.

'That's not way to act just because it's the day before Christmas break,' she thought. As she stepped on a picture, she picked it up.

A giggling group of second-year girls came up to her. "Wow, you're so lucky," said one of them. The group looked at Britney funny. Her face was ashen white, and her eyes sparkled with rage.

"Pansy," she whispered, crumpling the picture in her hand. She threw it on the floor and stalked off, leaving the group behind to gape at her. The picture on the floor was one of Draco kissing her.