Crystal Power

Chapter 14: - Christmas at Hogwarts

Christmas Eve brought a fresh snowfall. Vir joined everyone else outside to partake in a snow fight. Dumbledore was irritated that he couldn't participate but had great fun watching everyone else. There were only about twenty students left along with Dumbledore, Binns, McGonagall and Malfoy. Vir howled with laughter when a first year hit McGonagall with a snowball to the back of her neck. She made a perfect snowball and sought out Malfoy. She was going to get her revenge. He was hiding from several third years behind the Dumbledore memorial. She edged closer and crept up behind him throwing the snowball at the last minute at his neck. She giggled as he jumped with the initial impact and as the snow dropped down between his neck and robes he shouted and turned to see her. Her hair was wild and held a few flakes and her cheeks were glowing. He glowered but that just caused her to laugh more.

"You will pay for that Weasley," he growled. She set off at a sprint as he picked up a pile of snow. She could hear him closing in on her as she ran into the courtyard. "You can't escape from me now, Fox."

"Don't you call me Fox, Ferret." She aimed another snowball that hit his knees.

"Fighting talk." He threw his snowball and it hit her shoulder. He laughed evilly. She growled and knelt down to make another snowball. A shadow appeared over her and when she looked up she watched him dump a small mountain of snow on her. He started to escape and she tore after him snow in hand. He slowed and she caught him ramming the snow into his hair and neck. He turned on her and she looked at his shoulder before looking up at him. A wicked smile flashed across her face and she slipped a leg behind his and pushed him over. He tripped and landed in a snow bank. She let out a laugh while he lay in the snow and his hair blended into the white frost. His grey eyes stared up at her with a playful glint. She extended her hand to help him up. He took it and pulled. She fell down landing on top of him squealing, a smile played on his lips. Her hair fell down and began to tickle his face. They closed in on one another and met in a brief kiss before he pulled away.

"Fox, as pleasurable as this is I'm getting soaked." Draco smiled. She stood up and smiled back. "Not going to help me up?"

"Not after last time," she replied placing her hands firmly on her hips. He scooped up some snow and stood up.

"Come on then. Let's go back inside." He took the snow and placed it down her neck.

"That was evil, Malfoy," she growled staring into his eyes as they left the courtyard.

"Malfoy does mean evil you know." They walked back to the castle picking up an extra bit of snow to leave for Filch. She left him at the top of the main staircase and proceeded to her personal bathroom, which was adjoined to her bedroom. She ran a bath with lilac scented bubbles and slipped into the foamy water.

*****

Vir wrapped herself in a fluffy crimson robe and then went into the common room. She slumped into her favourite spot on the sofa by the fire and picked up her book, 'Guardian Angel' by Sara Paretsky. She opened at her marked page and began to read. By the time she reached the middle of the page, there was a head grinning at her from the fire.

"Boo," the head called. She shot her eyes to the fire to see Draco.

"Er, what are you doing?" she asked peering from over the pages.

"Nothing just thought I'd talk to you."

"And why are you doing that?"

"I'm bored, all right?" Despite his position on the staff he still acted like a pupil. "It was either you or cauldron cleaning. Much as I love cleaning, those cauldrons are sparkling and I don't want to wear them away."

"Oh, so I came second then?"

"A very close second. So, what are you doing?"

"Reading." He peered closer.

"Oh, I was going to ask if you wanted a game of chess or exploding snap."

"All right then, come up here. The password is 'Chilli Peppers'."

"Bye." He disappeared and she replaced her bookmark and waited.

*****

No less than twenty minutes after their conversation Vir was beating Draco at chess.

"CHECKMATE!" she announced laughing.

"No if I just... no if I...ARGH!" He threw down the piece he was holding and shook his head.

"Hard luck, Malfoy." Vir stood up from the chess table and sat back on the sofa. Opening a chest that doubled up as a table she removed two bottles of butterbeer and a box of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans. She laughed as he continued to find a way of winning the chess game.

"Drink?" she asked holding up the bottle. Grunting he made his way over to her and sitting down next to her, took the bottle.

"Thanks." He took a large gulp of the liquid and looked at her. He took her bottle and placed it with his on the table. He put his hand on her cheek and made small circles with his thumb. She edged closer to him and rested her hand on his leg. Her eyes closed as they became closer and their mouths met. He trailed his tongue over her lower lip and ran it over her teeth. Her mouth opened and he slid his tongue inside. They kissed fiercely and her hands ran through his hair and down his back. His hand slipped under her robe and massaged her flesh. She moaned as he pulled away and looked at her. "Do you want this?"

"Yes, just not here." She nodded her head vehemently and stood up, taking him by the hand leading him away to the seclusion of her room.

*****

Vir lay closely next to Draco with her head resting on his chest. He smiled down at her and ran his fingers through her soft hair. He remembered the last time he woke up next to her. That time wasn't as pleasant. She'd woken him up with a scream and he was suffering from a huge hangover. The last time was all fake; a show for Lucius. Her smooth pale skin was pressed against his and he knew she was there of her free will. She moaned in her sleep snuggling further into his shoulder. Part of him realised that he'd broken several rules the night before; the other half didn't care. He kissed her and watched her closely, her eyelids fluttered open and she turned to look at him.

"Hmm," she sighed.

"Morning." She smiled lazily. "You aren't planning on screaming are you?"

"No, you don't look that bad." He laughed and she curled up closer next to him.

"So do you still think I'm nothing more than a Death Eater?" Her head shot up to allow her to look in his eyes.

"No, and I never did. I know you're more than that. If you weren't well..." She blushed. "I wouldn't have." He sat up and pulled her into a hug, before kissing her nose.

"Come on then Miss Weasley. Time to get up."

"But Mr Malfoy, I'm happy here."

"Well I'm starving and I happen to love Christmas."

"Christmas? Ooh." She leapt out of bed and pulling on her dressing robe she went out to the common room. Draco stayed in her bed for a little while before picking up his clothes and dressing. He moved into the common room and saw Vir sat by the tree looking at the individually wrapped parcels.

"What's wrong?" he asked going to sit next to her.

"I don't deserve these. Bill, Charlie and Fred and George all sent me gifts. Why should I have been the only one that was in that house that got to live?" A tear drifted down her cheek, which she harshly swept away.

"But you were so be glad of that." He reached out to her to pull her into a hug, but she shrugged away.

"Don't. I shouldn't be here when they aren't."

"Virginia, don't blame yourself. I was there too, remember. It wasn't your fault it was that man who I have the displeasure of calling Father."

"But we could have stopped it and I know it wasn't you."

"Open your gifts. No one blames you." He handed her a gift. Slowly she opened the paper and found a beautiful writing set. Holding the gift tag she read, 'To Ginny, Merry Christmas, Love Bill'.

"Pretty." Putting it carefully on one side she picked up another parcel. 'To Ginnikins, Merry Christmas, Gred and Forge'. "Uh oh." When she opened the package she expected a bang but instead found a kit. A 'WWW pranksters kit'. With a laugh she put it with the writing set. There was a small neatly wrapped box from Hermione; a pair of earrings whose stones changed colour to match the outfit. Harry sent her a wizarding wireless. Shane gave her an exquisite peacock feather quill and a bottle of purple ink. She picked up a large parcel and unwrapped it to find a slumbering yellowish white dragon. The note read, 'Gin, this is the hide of my favourite dragon, lots of love Charlie.' Draco exploded into hysterics, as did Vir, which woke the slumbering creature who growled, spat a little fire and then went back to sleep. "It's just like you."

"Hey, I'm not that grumpy in the morning," he replied defensively. She smiled and picked up the last gift. She read the tag first, 'Vir, I'm sorry, Draco'. She looked up at him. "Open it." She removed the ribbon and removed the gold paper. The gift was something she had seen before. It was her pendant. "I have a reason to give this to you now."

"Thank you, it's lovely." She reached and hugged him, the small dragon toy getting in the way. He picked up the necklace and fastened it around her throat. "I had better get dressed."

"I'll see you at breakfast." Nodding she kissed him firmly on his mouth as he left her alone and then went to dress. She found a pretty purple sweater and long black woollen skirt. Quickly donning the clothes she ran a brush through her hair and applied a little make up. She appeared to glow and picking up the dragon she skipped happily to the Great Hall.

*****