44

It was the first holiday I wouldn't spend back at home— the first one I'd stay in the castle, instead.

And now, while I was sitting on the floor if the room of requirements on Christmas Eve, it really settled in for the first time; The fact that I was preparing to curse an object rather than help my mother host her annual ball like she usually did on the 24th of December.

Merlin knew she wouldn't host anything anywhere this year— unless they miraculously allowed her to do so from Azkaban.

They didn't.

I huffed, pushing the music box in front of me to stand straight as I wondered how my father would manage to entertain Gwen for the rest of the two weeks she'd spend at home without me.

The thought fled my mind as I focused on my task at hand — already cleansed; I raised my wand and pointed it at the box just like I had the last three times. At this point, the incantation rolling off my tongue was familiar.

"Adducam maledictum tactus."

The words echoed through the large room, my heart beating faster as my surroundings reflected the fluorescent green light coming from my wand before tightly swirling around the box.

My mind was flooded with thoughts of the music coming from the box gently lulling its victim to sleep— a sleep they'd never wake up from; certain death inevitable as soon as the short melody ended.

"Adducam maledictum tactus."

As expected, the green light turned into a shimmery purple, and for a moment, I admired the way it danced around the box; engulfed it in its purple hue as if it would never let go again.

My eyes closed, and just as the incantation was about to roll off my tongue for the last time, my mind as focused on the curse's outcome as it possibly could, I heard something that made my breath hitch, and my eyes shoot open.

"Hayes." His voice rang through the darkness, a mocking tone in it as a low laugh followed.

Startled, my gaze darted back and forth, trying to find the blond sneaking around a pile, or standing somewhere in the near distance.

I swallowed thickly, cursing under my breath as I tried my best to focus back on the music box in front of me— that purple light that had illuminated my entire surroundings before almost having faded, now.

"I know you're in here, darling." It echoed through the room again, amusement lingering in his voice. My eyes snapped upwards once more to dart around frantically.

I wondered what on earth Malfoy could be doing in here as the incantation escaped my mouth for the last time— quicker this time, quieter and almost rushed as I watched the previous red engulfing the box turn into a bright burst of white light.

My eyes squeezed shut at the sudden brightness, flinching slightly as the vague shapes around me became properly identifiable as broken furniture, old books and clutter in the light.

A second later, it was dark.

Though, instead of feeling relieved that my efforts had been worth it — that I was finally done and had nothing more to do than somehow get that box into Dumbledores hands — I felt more an edge than ever before.

And as I heard Malfoy's approaching footstep — no doubt being lured here by that incredibly bright light — I prepared myself for the worst as I hid the music box behind my back.

My eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness and spotting him as soon as he turned the corner, I cut him off.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" I asked into the silence, annoyance dripping off my tongue like venom at the sight of him.

In a swift motion, he swirled his wand upwards, a bright light shooting upwards — without a word muttered — now illuminating the area. I was still sat on the floor, hating the way he looked down on me, and I looked up.

I wasn't able to do anything about it, though. Especially now that there was light, and he saw me — his eyes currently dragging down my seated position with a casual smirk on his lips — there was no way I could hide that box while I got up.

My hand stayed behind my back, anxiously tracing the carvings on the outside of it as I tried my best not to portray the same emotion on my face; my lips were turned into a scowl, brows knitted together tightly as I took him in.

He huffed, scratching the back of his neck as his head tilted. "Back to Malfoy, are we?" He taunted, a teasing tone in his voice that made my head cock to the side.

Since the evening of Slughorns Christmas party, we hadn't exchanged so much as glances with each other. It was awful enough to find out he was staying over the holidays just like I was.

If there were anyone I would've expected to stay in Hogwarts less than myself, it was the irritating blond boy.

Yet, here we both were.

I sighed, eyes connecting with his again— a wicked smile gracing his features.

"What?" I asked in amusement. "You preferred Draco?" My tongue flicked over my lips, emphasising his name with an innocent smile on my lips. My head tilted as I watched him scrunch up his nose before he turned his head to the side only for a second.

He held back a smile as he thought, I could tell. Though, as quick as the moment came, it went again, and our eyes connected once more; Malfoy's brows raised.

"Well," He began. "There are certainly other things you could call me that have a better ring to them," He shrugged, stepping closer as he cocked an inquiring brow, studying my face like a page in a book.

Before I could reply, he raised his voice once more. "What's that behind your back?"

A victorious smile spread across his features, and my brows furrowed as soon as the words left his mouth.

"Nothing," I breathed out, facial expression not revealing the way my heart skipped a beat at the mention.

"Nonsense." His head shook lightly in disapproval at my lie, though my stern stare remained unfazed. "I'm no idiot, Hayes. It's that music box, isn't it?" He quickly waved me off. "Of course it is."

"It's none of your concern, is what it is," I corrected, looking up at him and hating the way it felt. If he technically already knew I was hiding something behind my back, the least I could do was get up to even out the playing field.

And so, as I rose to my feet, clutching the box behind my back tightly, he nodded with a smirk on his lips, eyes falling down my figure only for a moment.

"There you go," He muttered, eyes batting open again. "What are you doing with it?" He continued asking, stepping another step closer now that I stood before him.

I rolled my eyes with a huff. "It is none of your concern," I repeated my previous answer and emphasising every single word of it.

He snorted dryly, shaking his head in joking disappointment. "Wrong answer," He shrugged. "You don't think I recognise a cursing when I see one?" He wondered, brows raised as another half-hearted, amused huff escaped him. "You lit up the whole room with that bright light of yours; surely you must have noticed that."

A cocky grin played on his lips, and my nose twitched in annoyance and irritation alike.

"You're walking on very thin ice, Malfoy," I hissed, taking a step closer to him as my brows furrowed deeper. My voice was strained, holding back and sounding composed when all I wanted to do was try to murder him all over again— successfully, this time. "What are you doing here?"

"Well," He hummed. "I knew I'd find you here, of course. You see—" He paused for a moment, pretending to think as his gaze fell on something to his left. — "The thing about knowing how to curse an object, is knowing you can only do so on full and new moons. It wasn't hard to figure you'd do it here; after all, this isn't the first time I was in the room while you did so, and, well— here you are." With a shrug, he turned back towards me, a victorious smirk on his lips as he studied my reaction carefully.

I swallowed thickly, though all I said was, "That doesn't answer my question."

He licked his lips, realising how bothered I was by his presence and almost thriving off of it. "I thought this is as good time as any to remind you that it was you who promised not to try and kill me—" He began, cutting himself off to add an "Again."

My brows raised, head shaking as I tried to figure out where his words were leading. When he continued, it all made sense. "I, however, never made such a statement."

I couldn't help the singular laugh escaping my lips, the smile taking him off guard as his own face fell slightly.

"Are you...—" I cut myself off with another amused huff. — "Threatening me?" I wondered sarcastically. "Oh, you totally are."

His expression remained cold, lips in a straight line and eyes narrowed.

"Be careful is all I'm saying."

I smiled.

"Oh, well, promises are meant to be broken, aren't they?"

A/N: currently listening to sour by Olivia Rodrigo on REPEAT i love that girl so much it hurts and idek WHy kljhvgcfxd

Anyway, this was kinda a filler, but I hope you liked it!!

See you. <3