The snow fell gently, covering the already white ground in a soft fluffy blanket. The cold winter air was crisp and pricked at your ears as you walk through the winter clad street with Draco on your left side and Aleksandr on your right, the latter’s cologne filling your nose.

You’d invited Draco to stay the winter holidays with you in your family’s house far from the civilised wizardry world and in the snobby rich suburbs. Your family was amongst the wealthiest Slytherin pure-blooded families to ever have existed and it was common sense to not reject any offer from a family of such reputation. Even Draco’s parents knew this. So naturally, they’d allowed Draco to stay with you for the duration of the holiday.

You seemed to have forgotten to inform Draco that a family friend would be staying over as well. The Ivanov family had spent every winter holiday with your family for as long as you could remember. They were from the very eastern part of the wizarding world and held the same amount of power as your family. Their son, Aleksandr was therefore a friend you’d spent a short month with every year since you could speak.

Draco did not like Aleksandr. Perhaps it was the way he looked at you, the way he was more than a head taller than even him, or his accent, or maybe even his well groomed arrogance. It didn’t matter what it was. Draco disliked him nonetheless.

The ballet had been your mother’s suggestion. It seemed she was still as invested in turning you into a ‘proper lady’ as she was last year.

The walk from the ballet to your transportation back to the vampire-like castle your parents lived in was quiet aside from Aleksandr’s comments about the ballet piece and clever remarks that made you laugh. Draco was silent. His mind filled with insults and snide comments towards the boy who seemed to be stealing you away from him. Of course, you weren’t his, but with the way he’s been feeling about you lately you might as well be. If only he’d ever told you.