December 1994

Hogwarts is hosting the Triwizard Tournament this year.

And with it comes of course the Yule Ball, held on Christmas Day every time when the Tournament is occurring.

“Dress robes will be worn, and the ball will start at eight o'clock on Christmas Day, finishing at midnight in the Great Hall. Now then, the Yule Ball is of course a chance for us all to let our hair down. But that does NOT mean, that we will be relaxing the standards of behaviour we expect from Hogwarts students”, McGonagall informs you students about the upcoming ball.

Winter is finally coming to Scotland, a layer of snow coating the Hogwarts Castle and the landscape around it.

But behind the calm facade, a storm is brewing. It started with the attack two months ago at the Quidditch World Cup, then Harry Potter participating as a fourth student in the Tournament even though he’s not seventeen yet.

And then there are some Slytherin parents acting strangely. Including yours and Draco’s.

And it’s been toying with Draco a bit. He’s been on edge more often lately, his father giving him a hard time.

“So about Christmas…”, you start while sitting with your boyfriend in the library.

“My father said you can spend the holidays at the Manor, but then he needs the house to himself at the end of the year”, Draco replies, hunched over his potion papers and not looking at you.

“Your father is cancelling his famous New Years Eve party?”, you huff and Draco shrugs.

“Don’t ask. He’s even sending my mother away to spend New Years with her friends.”

You look at him, playing with your quill before asking, “you’re still in for the ball right?”

Draco looks up.