Snowflakes and Saviours (Grace and Thaddeus)

[Grace Concord]

The great hall was very much the heart of Hogwarts, it was where everyone gathered for meals, to do homework and for every event great and small. More than the classrooms, more than the lake of the forbidden forest the room had come to represent Hogwarts in the mind of its students. But, in the same way that a house might become ordinary when you saw it every day, the castle and it’s grounds had faded into the hum of the daily background.

Sure, intellectually Grace knew just how impressive the grounds were, how impressive the castle was, but it just didn’t usually register emotionally.

Or at least, it didn’t until the house elves decided to up their game, and they had really pulled out all the stops today.
It was like they had captured the very spirit of winter outside and transported it into the Great Hall, no that wasn’t quite right. It wasn’t the winter of the Scottish, this was winter as she imagined it to be in her dreams. A floor of ice, still pristine despite the countless pairs of shoes that had already swept over it lent the whole room an almost ethereal glow that it had never had before. Gone were the familiar wooden furnishings that normally filled the hall, in their place creations of white and ice that further transformed the hall. For a night, the elves had transformed the room into the winter court of the fae, filling it with that touch of imagination and amazement that reminded the girl just how special, Hogwarts truly was.

For a moment, just a breath Grace paused in the doorway, a hand resting against the solid wood as she drank in the sight before her. There was a small smile of delight dancing around the corner of her lips as she took a step forward, feeling the delicate touch of the drifting snowflakes against her skin. It wasn’t truly cold, not the biting way that snow could be,, but more of a gentle tickle that lasted for the space between heartbeats before dissolving. Her father had often expounded on and idolized the great spells that had been cast, those once in a lifetime spells that secured their place in history. And there was no doubt that they deserve their applause, their notoriety, but there was something about a spell like this, one that delighted in its delicacy but would perhaps never be heard about again that spoke to her in a way those other stories never could.

They were fantasy and dreams brought to life, a little bit of that childhood innocence brought into reality through magic. But this wasn’t a spell performed by a student, but a work of art by an adult capturing that childhood innocence, a sign that perhaps she didn’t need to give up that part of her as she grew up. A flicker of something away from her family and their ideals and expectations.

It was just a moment fleeting and ephemeral as the snowflakes that fell around them before she felt a body brush by next to her, her friends streaming into the hall, a riot of colour and fancy clothes. It wasn’t often you actually got to dress up when you were at Hogwarts, when you weren’t in uniform, jeans or comfortable clothes were normally the name of the game. The dormitory had been a whirlwind of chaos all day as they’d gotten ready, a rare break for the ravenclaw common room. Now though, as they clustered around a small table, drinks clutched in their hands she could definitely say it had been worth it. Grace had heard of Hogwarts parties before, but never really had the chance to experience anything like this, to just enjoy a party away from watchful eyes. Ok, away from most watchful eyes, sure the staff were still there, but she didn’t they would get too involved in the students activities. Not unless something crazy happened like someone let a troll loose in the castle, but that wasn’t going to happen now...was it?

Oh god, this was Hogwarts. Of course someone was going to let a troll loose.

A suspicious glance around the room failed to reveal any looming trolls hulking their way through the snowflakes, giving Grace the opportunity to relax and claim a glass from the table, taking a sip of the juice as she relaxed into the occasion with her friends. It was the same group she’d had since childhood, all the children of friends of her parents, or related somehow to their social circle. It wasn’t that they were bad per say, it was just...so much of the same. The same topics and jostling for prestige and social standing. The same need to prove themselves as miniature versions of their parents, playing out the same old stories, the same social dance when all she wanted to do was to twirl through the snowflakes and just enjoy the moment.

If Grace were honest with herself she’d have to admit that she was jealous of some of the others she saw flitting around the hall, lost in the little in jokes and teasing, sounds of genuine laughter and enjoyment. They didn’t have to worry about keeping their mask up, or how their actions might reflect on their families and businesses. THey could just be, just enjoy themselves.

It wasn’t a new thought, a new feeling, it was the one that would slowly build up until normally she’d let herself drift away to find a space for herself, the boathouse or one of the music rooms. An opportunity to unwind and let the mask she wore slip for a time, only she couldn’t do it now, not in the middle of a party like this. It was like the presence of her friends was like invisible chains, weighing her down, the mask just a little too heavy to wear. It had become so much a part of who she was that she could reply to questions, smile along even as her thoughts danced elsewhere, eyes flicked around the room.
She wasn’t exactly looking for a way out, just, watching the people, idly observing the other students making their way around the hall, drifting from once group to another. You’d have to be watching her very carefully to see the skip back in her gaze, that slight stiffening of her shoulders and back. The way her eyes flashed at a familiar face, as if trying to catch his attention.

[Thaddeus Egerton]

The Great Hall was often spruced up on special occasions, and while Thaddeus had expected it to look magnificent this evening, the sight that greeted his eyes as he stepped through the double doors with his fellow Hufflepuffs was so much more than he could have ever imagined.

Cascading from the walls were white and silver drapes, adorned with frosted holly garlands and glittering icicle-shaped lights that evoked the serene beauty of a wintry wonderland. The grand Christmas tree, the icy dance floor, and the ice sculptures on the tables complemented the décor, and the gently falling snow added the finishing touch.

Thaddeus turned to his three companions – fellow scions of prominent Pureblood families. They were decked out in their finest clothes: sharp suits and glamourous gowns. His outfit was classy yet understated, an almost monochrome ensemble comprising a black tailcoat over a crisp white shirt, a cream waistcoat, and black trousers and shoes. A white bow tie and a matching pocket square completed the look.

The quartet exchanged a knowing nod, and a weight lifted from Thad’s chest. For the first time in their lives, they had decided to go against their parents’ wishes. It was their parents who arranged for them to meet when they were little. But friendships couldn’t be forced, and while they didn’t dislike each other, they merely saw each other as acquaintances. And on this momentous event – their first Winter Solstice celebration at Hogwarts – they wanted to choose who to experience the magical night with.

And so they did. The four parted ways, and Thaddeus immediately scanned the Great Hall for a familiar face. Nope, nope, nope… His eyes darted from one face to the next, but none belonged to the person he was looking for—

There! Looking at him from across the hall was Grace Concord, a resplendent figure amidst all the other students. His lips curled into a smile as he strode towards her, the crowd parting before his purposeful steps, until he reached her side. “You look especially radiant tonight,” he beamed, unable to contain his joy.