There's only a couple more days until winter break arrives and I couldn't be happier. Being done with tests, no homework, just total relaxation. It's winter once again here at Hogwarts and Draco, Blaise and I have just left the comfort and warmth of the Slytherin common room for a night out at The Three Broomsticks. One last outing before we go back home.

As we the three of us walk into the pub, Blaise in front of Draco and I, I immediately spot Cedric with his friend Anthony Rickett and a few other Hufflepuffs chatting together as they enjoy a butterbeer in good company. What meant to be a quick glance changes into a longer one seeming to catch Cedics eye. In response Cedric sends me one of his famous charming smiles. As I return the gesture, I feel Draco hold me tighter and closer by the waist than before, breaking my concentration away from Cedric. I shoot Draco a stunned look expecting him to explain why is his grip on me changed when we walked in. But rather than explaining, he continues to walk to the booth in silence avoiding my glance.

We all take a seat at the booth, Draco beside me and Blaise in front.

"I'll got get us some drinks" Blaise announces as he stands up, probably eager to escape the tension between Draco and I.

I take this chance to unravel myself out of Dracos arms to which he objects to several times.

"What was that?" I ask Draco as I cross my arms.

"What was what?" he chuckles innocently.

"Surely you did that only once you noticed Cedric" I say.

"So what if I did?"

"The question is Draco, why did you do it?" I suggest, curious for his answer.

He huffs turning away from me before he answers. "I see the way he looks at you, y/n. It's the most annoying thing in the world. He has no right to look at you like that."

"What do you mean?" I giggle at his silly accusation. "Cedric respects our relationship and you know that, he's never once tried anything." I reach over for his hand and soothe it, he sends me a small smile.

"Ok, so then why does it bother you when I do little things like that when I notice him in the room?" Draco asks.

"Because there's no need for it, it just shows jealousy."

"Fine," he shrugs, "just one more thing-"

Without another thought, Draco grabs my face and kisses me allowing his hands to roam freely through my hair. Draco is definitely feeling some sort of resentment towards Cedric and I's friendship, if you could even call it that, I haven't spoken to him ever since I sought him out for help on the Muggle test. But Draco has nothing to be jealous or insecure of. I mean I did just spend the past couple weeks with him, but if this is what he needs to prove something to himself I wasn't going to deny him.

"Ahem"

I quickly pull away from Draco and turn behind myself and see Blaise holding a tray filled with our drinks.

"Er- um, didn't see you there" I announce to Blaise as I wipe my mouth.

"Mhm" he hums in response.

"Thanks for the drinks mate" Draco chimes as he takes his butter beer off the tray.

"So Blaise, any plans this holiday?" I ask before taking a sip from my butterbeer.

"Probably" Blaise shrugs, "dunno what though, might just spend Christmas elsewhere like my family and I always do."

The conversation then simmers into Quidditch, Draco and Blaise go back and forth on calling each other out for this seasons mistakes, all playful banter of course. Then Blaise goes on to talk about how the team captain, Marcus Flint, gets on his nerves. Claims that he's over working him and from what I've seen of Blaises performances, he does an exceptional job. I slowly start to tune them out as the conversation furthers into official Quidditch teams. Don't get me wrong I love Quidditch, but I can only digest so much.

"So! Is there anyone who catches your eye Blaise?" I blurt out, knowingly interrupting their Quidditch conversation.

Shrugging off the fact that I've changed the subject Blaise clears his throat, "Uh- no, just focusing on classes and Quidditch" he responds with a weak smile.

"Blaise, that's the lamest thing I've ever heard" Draco announces.

I raise a skeptical eyebrow at Blaise waiting for him to give me a better response.

Blaise lets out a loud exhale, "There really is no one honestly" Draco and I scoff in unison, "But I mean I guess there is this one girl. I always notice her at the games and especially after the games when everyones down on the field, always seems like she wants to approach me, but never does" he states.

"Ok, well does this girl have a name?" I gush, placing my chin on both of my propped hands.

"Something Greengrass"he replies as he tries to think about the girls first name.

"Oh wow the Greengrasses, well there's only two that're currently attending Blaise. There's Astoria and Daphne, they're sisters."

"Ok well I didn't know there were two" Blaise responds in a high voice. "I don't know which one."

"One is in our grade Dolphin or whatever and the other Astoria, is a year above us (5th year)" Draco responds as he leans back into the booth.

I turn to Draco surprised that he actually knows who I'm talking about, "How do you know them?" I ask Draco.

"Dunno- their father's close friends with mine I guess" he says as he finishes off his second butterbeer.

"It's definitely Daphne then" Blaise affirms.

"Great! You should try going up to her rather than her going up to you. She might be a little star-stuck from all the Quidditch press you get" I tease as I laugh.

"Oh shove off."

---

After drinks at The Three Broomsticks I tell the boys to go on without me. I had just gotten a sudden craving for peppermint frogs and sweets from Honeydukes. I knew they wouldn't want to stick around for that since I like to take my time when deciding on which candies to purchase.

I walk into the colorful, sweet smelling Honeydukes and take a big whiff of the sweet air. I love it here. I saunter over to the spot where I have now memorized to be the home of the peppermint frogs. I grab a few packets and pick up a few other candies as I proceed over to the large assortment of lollipops.

"Hey stranger"

I turn behind me and see my favorite rosy cheeked Hufflepuff.

"Ced!" I announce meaning to approach him for a hug, but soon stopping when I realize my hands are full. Cedric notices my hesitation and reasoning. He then takes it upon himself to hug me, so that nothing falls out of my hands. He approaches me from behind and wraps his arms around my waist, holding me close to him. He's never hugged me like this before, nor have I ever received a hug from someone like this besides Draco, its a much more intimate hug.

Cedric pulls away after a considerate amount of time and places himself back in front of me.

"Would've approached you as normal, but I can see that your hands are full, so thought I'd improvise." He says with a smile.

"Yeah, it's fine" I assure with a chuckle.

"Are you late night candy shopping as well?" I ask him noticing how he himself has a couple sweets in hand.

He laughs taking a couple candies out of hands to help lighten my load, "Yeah I suppose so."

"Well make sure you get some peppermint frogs, they're to die for" I beam.

"I will I will" he smiles, "Say I was wonder if over Christmas break you'd maybe want to h-hangout?" Cedric suggests, his cheeks having a bit more tint in them than usual.

"I'll send you an owl" I reply with a warm smile.

—-

After acquiring the goods from Honeydukes I make my way back to Dracos room, aka where I've been staying these last weeks. I only go back to my room when I've run out of clothes, or forgotten something, but the house elves are quite attendant so there's rarely any means for me to go back to my Hufflepuff room.

"Was beginning to think you got sucked into Honeydukes" Draco announces as I walk into his room. "Did you find what you wanted?"

"Yes" I chime. I pop open a small carton of Berties Botts every flavor bean and eat a light blue one. "mm toothpaste" I beam sarcastically. I then proceed to place a dark green one in Dracos mouth. "What'd you get?"

Draco begins to slowly chew on it, skeptical of what he'll get, "Peppermint" he smirks.

"Nice" I smile .

I plop onto his bed and lay out the candies I got to show Draco and let him get his pick of what he'd like. "You used my card, right?" he questions scanning over the candies.

"Nope, but thank you love" I say planing a kiss on his forehead.

I hand him his card back and lay on my back as I continue to pop in the mystery jelly beans. Draco follows suit, laying himself beside me, snagging the jelly beans from my hand as we look up at the ceiling. "So you'll be meeting my parents in a couple days" he exhales before popping a jelly bean into his mouth and handing me back the petite box.

"Yes, I will" I beam scouting closer to him, resting my head on his chest.

"I don't want you to get your hopes up though" he gulps, "things at my house on Christmas aren't what you're used to."

"Draco" I say turning up to him. "I don't care about that, I just want to spend Christmas with you this year."

Draco starts to twirl my hair in a soothing manner, "Ok, I just don't want you to be disappointed is all."

"Never." I respond in a small voice as I wrap my arms around his figure, setting the jelly beans down.

😅