It was soon time to return home for the Christmas holidays, except I wasn't going home to Brighton like usual, I was heading to 12 Grimmauld Place to spend Christmas with Harry and the rest of the order. Mr Weasley had recently recovered from an incident at the ministry, so we were all rallying round him helping him out. Mother and I made the deal that I could stay there for Christmas but for New Years I would come home to Brighton.
I briefly saw Draco on my way down to find Harry, Hermione and the Weasleys and he pulled me aside into a corner and pushed something into my hand.
"Here. Merry Christmas."
"Draco you didn't have to get me anything!"
"Please, take it Belle, I think you'll like it."
"Thankyou Draco."
"When are you back?"
"I'm away for Christmas but I'm back in Brighton for New Years"
"Where are you going?"
"Nowhere special, just somewhere my dad used to spend Christmas"
"Well, have a good one"
"Thankyou Draco, see you after the holidays!" I placed a small kiss on his cheek softly before running to the hall where Harry was waiting outside for me.
I still couldn't get Draco out of my head. I loved Harry, but I felt something for Draco too, I just couldn't work out what. It wasn't the same feeling I get when I'm with Harry, if anything it's more intense, but I can't possibly love him, I just can't.
"Ready?" Harry asked, and I pulled my hat down further on my head.
"Let's go."
He took my hand and off we went, I turned around to see Draco stood, staring at us the whole way.
~
"Here you are Tori!" Mrs Weasley places a squashy package into my hand and I rip it open to reveal a green jumper with a silver "V" embroidered into it.
"Thankyou so much!!"
"Oh don't mention it, now have some more Turkey dear."
I looked over at Harry, who was stifling a laugh.
"Don't say anything Potter. Besides I think green is my colour."
"Green like these Brussel sprouts" he says, shoving the bowl in my face and laughing.
"Hey I got you something" I said, and pulled out a small parcel.
Harry went bright red and opened it to reveal a small red notebook.
"I just thought, seeing as you'll probably be quidditch captain next year that you'll want to write things down, keep track of stuff you know?"
"It's lovely, Thankyou so much Tori." He leaned over to place a small kiss on my lips before depositing a package into my hand. "My turn".
I opened the small box to reveal a ring, dotted with rubies. "Harry it's beautiful."
"I know you like jewellery, and you already have a ruby necklace so I thought this ring could match" he shrugged, looking away and I threw my hands around his neck, breathing in his scent.
"I love it. Thankyou so much" I said into his neck, and I felt him smile.
"Look at you two" we turned around to see Sirius standing in the doorway smiling.
After an afternoon of fun and festivities I sat down in front of the fire with a tea, exhausted. I rested my head on Harry's shoulder and he laid his on top of mine.
"I wish things could always be like this" Harry sighed.
"Me too. But it's nice to have moments like this with everything going on."
"I'm still getting the nightmares" he said.
"You are?"
"Snape's trying to help me protect myself against the dark lord seeing into my head, we've been having lessons."
I turned to face him. "What? Harry why haven't you told me any of this?"
"Because if I told you everything going on in my head I'm sure there's a way Malfoy would find it all out."
"What?"
"His parents, they're followers of him, maybe that's why he's friends with you, to get information."
I moved away from him, my stomach dropping.
"So you think the only reason that Draco Malfoy could possibly be friends with me is because he wants information from me?! I've never ever talked about you to him Harry, EVER."
"So he's never asked about me?"
"Nope."
"So what do you talk about then."
"The things that we don't talk about, Harry." I stormed out of the room, leaving Harry confused and frowning.
We barely spoke the rest of the time I was in London, and I soon returned to Brighton on New Years Eve.
"I've missed you so much!" My mother greeted me at the station and I gave her a cold stare.
"I know."
"You know what?"
"I know what happened to dad."
She drew in a sharp breath. "I knew you'd find out eventually."
"Why didn't you tell me."
"Because you weren't ready to know. But now you are. Now tell me about the Potter boy." She placed her arm round my shoulders and we headed home, weaving our way through the crowds of people who were heading out to celebrate.
I went to the beach that evening, both to clear my head and to watch the fireworks. As I sat on the pebble beach shivering I heard a voice say "cold?"
I turned around to see Draco standing behind me, hands in his pockets.
"What are you doing here?"
"You said you'd be here for New Years, I had no plans and I'm guessing you didn't either."
He sat down next to me and took his black jacket off, putting it around my shoulders.
"You don't have to do that."
"I'm a gentleman." He smirked and I rolled my eyes, smiling.
"How was your Christmas?" He asked.
"It was....ok."
"Ok? What happened?"
"Me and Harry had a fight."
"What about?"
"I turned to meet his grey eyes. "You actually."
"Me?"
"He thinks you're only friends with me to get information from me to give to the dark lord."
"Well he's wrong. I don't even want to be a follower of the dark lord, truth be told."
"Really?"
"I haven't got a choice in the matter though. My family have had my life mapped out for me since the day I was born, I may not like it, but it's my life."
"Cant you say anything?"
"And get killed? No Thankyou Belle I'll pass."
We stayed silent until he said "do you think you and Potter will break up?" For once I didn't know the answer to this.
"I don't know." I sighed and I felt Draco's arm around my shoulder.
"Things will work itself out, Potter would be more stupid than he already is to let you go."
Suddenly fireworks filled the sky. Pink, blue, orange and greens filled the darkness and Draco whispered to me "happy new year Belle."
"Happy new year Draco."
We stared into each other's eyes, and I'm not sure whether it was the emotion flowing through my body or the heat of the moment but suddenly I found my lips on his.
He kissed me back for a second, then pulled back.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Believe me Belle I want to, Jesus the things I could do to you right now, but it's not our time yet."
"I know. But I really wish it was. I just don't want to break his heart. I love him, I do."
"I know. I'm here for you, whenever you're ready, I'm here. I mean that Belle."
I didn't doubt that.