The Light in the Dark | Neville Longbottom

Chapter 57: A Gift From Narcissa Malfoy

December 20th, 1996

Today was the last day before Christmas break. Unlike last year, I had been on good terms with all of my friends, so it was ensured that I was going to the Weasleys for Christmas tomorrow. There were only a couple things I was worried about. For one, Fred and I haven't spoken to one another since our little "incident", and the possibility of getting attacked by deatheaters because they knew that I wasn't returning to the manor.

But those thoughts were buried deep in the back of my mind because my friends and I were busily invested in a conversation about the upcoming holiday. Well... except for Hermione. Ron had been sitting with us at breakfast for the past week, and according to Harry, has purposely been trying to avoid Lavender. We didn't dare tell Hermione this though.

"We need to play quidditch in a snowstorm!" Ginny suggested through her chews, she was eating cornflakes.

"Quidditch in a snowstorm?" I asked hesitantly, "Isn't that a bit... you know, dangerous?"

Ginny and Ron looked up at me like I was stupid before Ginny spoke, "Obviously? You're telling me that you've never played quidditch during a snowstorm?"

I shook my head, "Narcissa wouldn't even let Draco and I out of the house when it was actively snowing. We had to wait until the storm passed over."

"That's boring..." Ron yawned, digging back into his sausage.

"Well... it's not like I would willingly play quidditch in a snow storm..." I scoffed, trying to defend myself, "Only if I had to, you know, if a game fell on a snow day... But with you lot and the twins now involved, I'd come out with a broken arm..."

"Oh right... the twins..." Ginny teased, causing me to narrow my eyes at her, "When's the last time you've spoken to them? How about Fred? Have you spoken to Fred recently?"

Ron and Harry looked at me confusedly while Hermione's eyes widened. I shot Ginny a dirty look before she bursted out into laughter. Only Ginny and Hermione knew what had happened with Fred over the summer; we never told the boys.

"We haven't spoken to one another since I've gone back to school..." I hissed.

Ron shot Ginny an odd look, "What are you lot trying to get at?"

"It's nothing, don't worry about it!" Ginny exclaimed, "Right, Dawn?"

"It's obviously something!" Ron scoffed, "Come on, we're all friends! Tell the crowd!"

"Leave it be, Ronald!" Hermione spat. This was the first time Hermione spoke all of breakfast, "It truly is nothing, so just leave it alone!"

Ron gulped as he dropped the topic and whispered something into Harry's ear. I wasn't sure what Ron had said, but Harry nodded his head, agreeing with him. Hermione wasn't keen with Ron joining us at breakfast. It had been a month, and the two still refused to talk to one another.

"Alright, well..." Harry stammered, breaking the silence that overcame the table, "I'm personally excited for Christmas this year..."

"Same, it's the first Christmas I've spent without the Malfoys," I beamed, "Usually when I would return to the manor, this pit of fear would just settle in my stomach, and I don't have that this year..."

"Aww, Dawn!" Ginny cooed, wrapping her arm around me and pulling me into a side hug.

"That's exactly how I feel returning to the Dursley's every year!" Harry chuckled, "Thankfully, I've only got one more year. I'm free to go wherever I please after I turn seventeen!"

"Well, I'm definitely not returning to the manor this summer!" I scoffed, "I don't care what the Ministry says, I refuse to go. They'll have to drag me there by foot."