Last Christmas

They both apparated to Hannah Abbott's christmas party at the same time. No one else knew why. They only supposed it was fate, and prayed that fate would never strike them the same way it did Roger and Elosie.

Last Christmas I gave you my heart,
But the very next day, you gave it away.
This year, to save me from tears,
I'll give it to someone special.

"Roger!" Surprise was the most evident emotion in Eloise's tone, but underneath it, something was brewing.
"Huh? What?" He turned around, suddenly facing the beautiful girl with the lovely nose, long blonde hair and perfect figure. He eyed her hungrily for a moment before asking, "Do I know you from anywhere?"
"It figures you wouldn't remember. It really figures. I really should have thought of this. I really should."

Last Christmas I gave you my heart,
But the very next day, you gave it away.
This year, to save me from tears,
I'll give it to someone special.

"Miss, I'm sorry, but I really don't know what you're talking about. Maybe you'd like to come inside with me?"

Once bitten, and twice shy,
I keep my distance, but you still catch my eye.

"My God, Roger Davies. I am so fed up with your crap. Do you realise that you are the last person I have ever wanted to see again in my entire life?"

Tell me, baby,
Do you recognize me?

Roger was taken aback. "Miss?" He backed away from her a bit. "I really don't think I know who you are. Do you think you could tell me?"

It's been a year,
It doesn't surprise me.

"My name is Eloise, Davies. Eloise Midgen! Bring back any fond memories now?" She humphed in disgust and began trekking away, the strappy heels she had on filling with snow.
"Eloise? My God! I didn't recognize you!" Roger began running after her and quickly caught up. Her fire engine red heels were no match for his snowboots.
"Of course you don't recognize me, you git. This is what a year of cosmetic surgery and gym memberships is supposed to do person. And it was working fabulously. If only I hadn't told you my name, I could have been inside already, sipping punch."
"Eloise." He reached out a hand to her. "Eloise, I'm really sorry."
She shied away from his touch. "Don't touch me, Davies. I've had enough of you touching me to last a lifetime."
"Eloise, listen. I'm so sorry, really. You don't understand."
"Oh, but I do. You like me now that I'm pretty, don't you? But before, it wasn't about me at all. It was just a game. And you took something away from me that I'm never going to be able to get back." Her cheeks flushed at her last statement. She usually wouldn't admit something so personal to someone she hated so vehemetly. But it was the only way.
"Eloise, please. You should have known it would have only lasted for a night. Besides, we were both incredibly drunk. Neither you nor I would have done it if we hadn't been."
"But I didn't have a bet running with my friends, did I?" She spat at his feet and hurried away from him, away from the house. The house was happy, with all its colored lights and christmas carols, and she needed to escape that right now.

Happy Christmas.
I wrapped it up and sent it,
With a letter,
Saying "I love you", I meant it.

Roger Davies wasn't a quitter. He continued following Eloise, after subtly wiping his boots off in the snow.
"Listen, Eloise. I'm really sorry. Really." He was eyes were pleading with her.
She only turned her back to him once more. "You told me you loved me. But I guess you wouldn't be sorry if I didn't know about that game."

Now I know,
What I fool I've been.
But if you kissed me now,
I know you'd fool me again.

"Eloise, how many times do I have to tell you? We were both inebriated. I was stupid. I was stupid and selfish and cruel. But that doesn't mean you have to hate me forever."
"You weren't drunk when you woke up the next morning, were you? No, of course not. That was when you really found out who was in bed next to you. That was when you freaked out. You were almost going to run out, but no, instead you remembered your little bet and called your friend. Were they proud? I would really like to know."
"You saw?" Roger was too shocked to think of anything else. "But...but you were asleep!"
"If only I had been." Eloise turned and glared at him. But she couldn't do it anymore. Raising one manicured hand to her face, she began to cry.

Last Christmas I gave you my heart,
But the very next day, you gave it away.
This year, to save me from tears,
I'll give it to someone special.

"Why did you do that to me?" She wailed. It was only when she began to cry that Roger could see the real Eloise trapped inside the perfect girl. In her mind, she was still slightly overweight and pimply. In her mind she still had mousy brown hair and a crooked nose. It took Roger aback, and left him speechless.
"Eloise...I...I don' t know why."
Fishing a tissue out of her sequined purse, she squinted at him with distaste. "Figures. Ravenclaws know everything except why they screw up, right?"

Last Christmas I gave you my heart,
But the very next day, you gave it away.
This year, to save me from tears,
I'll give it to someone special.

"Eloise, I really don't understand you. Why did you change yourself? What good came from it? You're obviously still the same person."
Eloise took that remark as an insult. "God! Why can't you just apologize and leave me alone?"
Roger stood there, gazing at her, bewitched by her features and the moonlight and the snow, and the way that if someone could take their words away, the scene would be perfect. "Because...because I think I love you."
Eloise stared at him for a long time. "You liar." She turned and ran this time, really ran, sprinting through the snow and up to the door. She let herself in, and was suddenly all smiles. Perfect and happy in her briliant red dress.

A crowded room,
Friends with tired eyes.
I'm hiding from you,
And you're so revived.

Roger came in a few moments later. He drifted toward the opposite end of the room, but kept his eyes on Eloise. He took a cracker from the buffet table and crossed to a chair. He sat down, still feeling secretive, like a felon.
Eloise was sitting strangely alone, clutching her plastic cup of punch like it was an anchor to reality. Her eyes sparkled, but Roger knew it was from the tears.

My God, I thought you were someone to rely on,
Me? I guess I was a shoulder to cry on.

Finally, Roger could take it no longer. He stood up and walked over to her. "Eloise?" His voice was barely above a whisper.
"Why can't you just go away?"
"I don't play that way."
"You did last year, Roger. You used me, and you ran away."

A face on a lover,
With a fire in his heart.

"I'm sorry Eloise. I really am. But I saw you again today, and I just don't know what it is, but I think I love you."

A man undercover,
But you tore him apart.

"You just like me now because I'm pretty!" It was such a childish thing to say, Eloise knew, but she said it anyway.
"No." Roger whispered. "No." He turned her head so she was staring at him, and she could look into his eyes and knew he was telling the truth.

Maybe next year,
I'll give it to someone special.

Eloise couldn't stand it. "No! No! Don't touch me!" She shrieked, spilling her punch in his lap and standing up. All the other guests turned and looked. They didn't know. They didn't remember last year.

Last Christmas I gave you my heart,
But the very next day, you gave it away.

Roger stood up slowly, feeling the eyes of everyone on him. He nodded to Hannah Abbott sadly, took a cup of hot mulled wine from her, and grabbed his long black coat. He had come here to do what he had to do. He had done it, it had failed, he could leave. As he left, however, he locked eyes with Eloise and said what he had to say. He didn't know if she could hear it, but it had to be said.
"You were better before. You've changed Eloise. And it's not good."

This year, to save me from tears,
I'll give it to someone special.