TRAINING WHEELS—
MISTLETOE.

017

Amora's heart was pounding out of her chest as she raced through the corridors of Hogwarts. People were dotted around the building, students and teachers, all laughing and carefree as they socialised with one another, nobody bothering with a curfew after the success of the Yule Ball.

All Amora could think about was the fact that Draco Malfoy had just kissed her. It had the potential to be so romantic; the way that they had been at the top of the Astronomy Tower on Christmas Eve after a ball, watching the snowfall delicately around them, both dressed beautifully.

However, it hadn't been romantic. It had been harsh and fast and Draco had even made up a rubbish excuse for it afterwards.

"It shut you up," he'd shrugged. It reminded her all too wickedly of what Goyle had said to her only minutes before.

She's much prettier when she's not talking, isn't she, Crabbe? Malfoy might stop saying how she's so annoying now.

She was quite distraught, her brain a mess of confusion as she tried to navigate her way to the Hufflepuff common room. Amora heard Leon call her name from where he'd been standing in a hallway with Kathy and a couple of Ravenclaws, but she kept her head down and moved swiftly to the dorms.

Once she'd made it inside, she found out that she was the first one back. All of the girls must still be hanging out around the school or in the common room (which she had walked so quickly through that nobody had ever seen her). Amora slammed the door to the bathroom and locked it, staring herself down in the mirror.

Stupid Draco. Why did he have to go and kiss her? With those stupid lips. They were slightly chapped but overall soft against hers, and she could taste the transfer of her cherry lipgloss when he'd swiped his tongue across her bottom lip. That's when she'd snapped out of it. When she realised what she was doing.

Kissing the enemy.

"Bloody hell." Amora buried her face into her hands, tearing her gaze away from the intense eye contact that she'd been giving herself in the mirror. "I am so done for."

Her fingers unconsciously traced her lips, feeling them tingle beneath the pads. If she thought about it hard enough, which she couldn't seem to stop doing, Amora could still feel the grip that he'd had on her wrists, feel the warmth of his body in contrast to the harsh iciness of the air, smell the expensive cologne he wore and feel his nose brush her cheek.

Draco liked her. Her thoughts from earlier at the Yule Ball when she'd caught him staring had been confirmed. He'd kissed her and he'd seemed almost apologetic before she left him alone, a heartbroken and defeated expression on his face that Amora had never seen before on him. He looked genuinely scared for her to leave him alone, but she'd done it anyway.

Amora convinced herself that he deserved it. When she'd scolded him for kissing her so abruptly, he'd tried to immediately shut her down by making her feel small and insignificant. Draco couldn't handle being the one that was in the wrong or embarrassed, so he acted just like he did when Amora bumped into him on the train the first time they ever met-- like a small child.

The brunette pulled her dress off and hung it up before she climbed into the shower. She washed away all of the makeup from her face and the product from her hair, brushing her teeth whilst she let her conditioner stay in for extra long. Once she'd finished, Amora felt better than before, although her mind was still distracted. She pulled her pyjamas on and pushed the door open.

"Amora!" Kathy was right there, making her jump. "Are you okay?"

Amora forced a small smile. "I'm perfectly fine, Kathy. Did you enjoy your evening with Leon?"

Kathy was taken aback by Amora's optimism. She'd expected to find her with tear stains down her cheeks or looking hurt, but the petite brunette simply pushed past the curly-haired blonde and went to sit on top of her bed.

"It was great," Kathy admitted, sitting down on her own bed, still clad in her dress and looking like some sort of angel. "How was yours? I didn't see you after you said you were going to get a drink. You disappeared!"

"Hermione needed some comforting," Amora said, reaching into her bedside drawers and pulling out some notepads. It wasn't a total lie.

"Oh. Is she okay?"

"She'll be fine."

"That's good. Everybody's down in the common room. We're playing some games if you want to join?" Kathy offered.

Amora forced another smile. "No thanks, Kathy. I think I'm gonna write my father a quick letter for Christmas. I forgot to earlier."

"Oh! Of course, you know where we are if you finish up early."

Amora watched as Kathy left before she opened her notepad and began to scan through all of her notes, looking for the perfect jinx to get Crabbe and Goyle back with, doing her best to forget all about Draco Malfoy, and particularly his lips against hers.

D.M + A.B

"Merry Christmas, guys!"

The brunette glanced up from her spot beside Leon and Kathy at the Hufflepuff table, grinning at the Golden Trio who stood in front of her. They slipped onto the bench on the other side of the three members from the yellow house, pulling individual presents out and placing them in front of them. Amora gasped excitedly and reached into the pocket inside her robe, grabbing her own neatly wrapped gift.

"I nearly forgot about Secret Santa!" She exclaimed, placing it in the middle like everybody else.

Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes. "I think we should stop calling it 'Secret Santa' and just start calling it 'Santa' seeing as Ron and Amora were adamant on spoiling it for everybody."

Ron rolled his eyes and looked at Amora. "She's been on about this for ages."

Amora smiled in amusement as everybody reached to grab a random present and read the tag stuck to the side. Hers read 'Kathy' so she handed it to the blonde girl, Harry passing her the one that he had picked up. She grinned at the square-shaped present that she already knew was from Leon.

"Who gets to go first, then?" Harry asked, glancing around their group of friends.

Hermione giggled. "Well, Amora looks like she's about to burst."

It was true; the brunette loved Christmas, not only for receiving presents but also for giving them. Being a bad liar also meant that she got nervous opening presents-- she always worried that she might not like it and then she'd have to lie to their faces, and she really hated upsetting people.

Kathy laughed. "Okay, Amora first then-- we can go around clockwise."

"Are you guys sure?" Amora asked, though her foot was tapping on the floor and her fingers were tracing the snowflakes on the wrapping paper subconsciously.

"Get on with it!" Ron insisted, "I wanna open mine too at some point today."

"Okay," she breathed.

She started to rip at the neatly wrapped present, carefully placing all of the paper onto the empty plate in front of her. Amora realised that it was a photo frame and that she'd opened it up the wrong way around. She flipped it and allowed a small gasp to rip past her rosy lips.

"That's why you asked Neville to take that picture!" Amora gaped, her eyes nearly tearing up at the photograph sitting inside the frame.

On their Hogsmeade trip at the start of December when they'd gone shopping specifically for Secret Santa and additional Christmas presents, Leon had asked the Gryffindor boy to take a picture of the six of them. Amora was standing in between Harry and Leon right in the middle, and all of them were grinning. The picture moved and showed Amora leaning her head back on Leon's shoulder as she laughed at a crude joke that Ron had made a second earlier, her best friend looking down at her with an adoring smile. All wrapped up tight in hats and gloves with rosy cheeks and noses, it quickly became one of Amora's favourite presents ever.

"I love it," Amora pouted, placing it on the table before she flung her arms around Leon on the bench, his lanky arms holding her back. "I love you."

"I love you too, Amora," he chuckled, shaking his head as she ran her thumb across the glass, admiring her gift once more. "Sorry that it's not a lot. I didn't have much money--"

"Leon, don't you dare apologise." Amora clutched the photo frame to her chest. "I shall keep this forever and ever."

They moved onto Harry next, since he was opposite Amora, then Hermione, who Amora had gifted some of her favourite books by Wizard authors that Hermione had never heard of, then Ron, Kathy, and finally Leon. The table ended up a small mess of wrapping paper, but with a flick of the wand from the Gryffindor witch, it was banished and left it empty again.

"Are you guys staying here for breakfast?" Kathy asked eagerly, playing with the ends of the scarf that Harry had bought her.

"Might as well," Ron said, looking at the selection of food running up and down the middle of the table and reaching for some sausages. "Y'know, speaking of a Merry Christmas, guess who got sent to the Medical Wing last night?"

Amora frowned worriedly. "Who?"

"Crabbe and Goyle of all people!" Ron practically roared with a mouthful of food, earning a smack to the arm from Hermione. He ignored her. "Apparently they got hit by a Stinging Jinx and Goyle has a broken nose!"

Amora's frown deepened, not out of concern but out of genuine confusion. She'd planned on getting them back with a bit of a lighter jinx, but not until after Christmas. Today was supposed to be about family and friends, and so she'd attempted to push away all thoughts of Crabbe and Goyle and... Draco.

Much to her dismay, her heart fluttered sickeningly at the reminder. She hadn't seen him since the Astronomy Tower last night, and she wasn't sure she wanted to-- at least, not today. Today was supposed to be a happy day, and Draco, even if he was attractive and sometimes managed to make her feel... strange, rarely ever bought happiness with him.

"They most likely deserved it," Leon shrugged and Kathy frowned at him.

"You don't know that," Kathy said softly, "They could be really hurt! I've heard that the Stinging Jinx swells the person's face! And it's supposedly agonising."

Amora suddenly remembered that the only people who knew about what Crabbe and Goyle had done to her were the Weasley twins. She paused from where she's been pouring herself some pumpkin juice and stood up.

"I just need to go and ask someone something," Amora muttered absentmindedly, but thankfully her friends were all too focused on talking about the Stinging Jinx to realise what she had said or that she was walking away from the Hufflepuff table.

At the Gryffindor table, the Weasley twins sat next to each other, breakfast in their hands as they spoke to some of their friends in their year group. Amora tapped one of them on the shoulder, unable to tell who was who from behind, but smiling slightly when George whirled around, Fred following. She could only tell them apart from the bump on George's nose.

"What can we do for you today, Amora?" Fred greeted.

"Are you feeling better?" George asked.

"I'm fine, thanks for asking," Amora beamed at the two redheads. "Merry Christmas, by the way. I was just wondering if you two happened to have anything to do with Crabbe and Goyle ending up in the Medical Wing last night? Something about a Stinging Jinx?"

"I had no idea," George admitted, "it wasn't us. You told us to leave it."

"Besides, jinxes are not our style. You should know this by now, Amora," Fred huffed, "you know what is? Sweets. Do you fancy one?" He grinned mischievously, producing some from his pocket.

"I think I'll stick to cereal for breakfast, thank you."

The rest of Christmas Day went by quite quickly, and smoothly at that. After spending some of the morning with her mother whilst her friends played Quidditch, the six friends had met back up again and hung in the Gryffindor common room. Neville, Seamus, Ginny, and Dean had accompanied them, not a moment of boring silence passing.

A huge feast was held in the Great Hall later and Amora stacked her plate with what she thought was the perfect roast dinner-- including turkey, stuffing, pigs in blankets, a Yorkshire pudding, parsnips, roast potatoes, carrots-- all of it. Leon had practically had a go at her when she put bread sauce on it, claiming that she was ruining a perfectly good meal.

Amora hadn't spotted Draco once. Not that she was looking for him...

Okay, she had been kind of looking for him. No matter how much she tried to convince her own mind that he didn't matter, her brown eyes would lift far too often over to the Slytherin table. She never caught a glimpse of blond hair or heard his arrogant voice, so she assumed that he had possibly gone home early. Nearly everybody was still there for Christmas this year because of the Yule Ball, but some students, like Amora, would be going home on Boxing Day-- tomorrow.

Her stomach was full and her eyes were tired as she entered her dormitory, ready to pack her bag and then call it a night. She'd had a really good day, despite the news about Goyle and Crabbe and the constant thoughts about a certain Malfoy, and she was disappointed that it had to come to an end. Now she had to wait another three-hundred-and-sixty-five days.

Amora was halfway through packing her trunk for the next week and a half when she realised that she had forgotten Leon's present to her back in the Gryffindor common room. She smacked her hand against her forehead, wondering how she could be so forgetful. She didn't say anything to the other girls as she left the dorm and then the Hufflepuff common room, wandering through the halls of Hogwarts.

It was slightly cold, her hands clutching her arms as she moved through, the loose slip dress she was wearing swishing around her thighs. The short-sleeved tee she had beneath it did no justice in keeping her warm. The snow falling against the windows outside made her feel even chillier.

Why did the Gryffindor common room have to be so far away?

"Hi, Amora," a first-year Hufflepuff squeaked at her as she went by.

"Merry Christmas, guys," she smiled, carrying on down the corridor.

Finally, she made it to the Gryffindor common room. She hadn't worked out how she was going to get somebody to come out and let her in, but, thankfully, a seventh year Gryffindor had already been on his way in. He said the password and the portrait swung open, revealing what looked like a small party. Amora wasn't sure how the Gryffindors were still going at it-- she felt like she could fall asleep at any moment now.

It was rowdy, students everywhere as Christmas music played through speakers and everybody conversed and laughed. Somebody shoved into her making her mutter an apology, her brown eyes searching everywhere for a member of the Golden Trio.

"Amora!" Harry greeted her, thankfully, "What are you doing back?"

"I left my photo frame from Leon here--"

"Potter and Buckley are under the mistletoe!" Somebody screamed and those seven words were enough to make her world start spinning.

Both their necks snapped up from where they were already only inches apart, Amora swallowing thickly when sure enough she found the white berries and green leaves hanging above them. Her heart started to pound in her chest when she heard laughter come from the Gryffindors around them.

She snapped back to look at Harry, finding him already looking at her in shock and surprise. When everybody started to chant "kiss, kiss, kiss", most of them drunk older students, Amora saw how embarrassed Harry looked. Hermione and Ron were probably the only ones not chanting, having heard from Harry how Amora had kindly let him down only a few weeks ago now.

His cheeks grew red and he opened his mouth, only stuttering, "I-I--"

"Come on, then!" Someone yelled.

Her heart was in her throat as she found her hands reach forward to grab at the Christmas jumper that he was wearing. Harry's green eyes widened as she leaned closer to him and he hesitated for a split second before he leaned down and pressed her lips against hers.

Cheers erupted from around them and all Amora could think about was those stupid silver eyes as Harry worked his lips against hers— soft and weak. His hands hesitantly moved to her hips, but before it could grow any more intense than a few overlaps of the lips, Amora pulled away.

Harry looked dazed and Amora nearly cursed herself, praying that it didn't give him false hope. She should have just laughed it off or politely declined, but Harry had looked so hopeful and scared that she would reject him in front of everybody.

Deep down, she knew that wasn't the only reason she'd kissed Harry, though. Amora had done it in spite of Draco as if to one-up him despite him not even being in the room. It gave her a sick rush of power for a second, but it all went away as quickly as it came, leaving her breathless.

Everybody turned back to whatever they had been doing before, but Amora still felt like Harry was the only person who existed in the room to her.

"Harry—"

He could see the regret on her face. "It was for the mistletoe," he said quickly, cutting her off. "Thanks for not embarrassing me in front of everyone."

He was saying it to make her feel better, she knew it. Amora's cheeks were burning as she watched his green eyes dart away from her and to the photo frame placed down on one of the tables by the couches they'd been sprawled across hours ago.

"Here." Harry handed it to her. "Have a great rest of your Christmas."

Amora swallowed, not even looking down at the object in her hands as she felt her heart grow heavier.

"Harry, I'm—"

"It's not your fault," Harry said, though it came out harshly and more of a snap.

He turned his back on her and started to weave through the crowds of people. Amora repeated his words in her head and couldn't help but think he meant something else by them.

It's not your fault that we kissed. It's not your fault that you don't like me back.

D.M + A.B

Waking up early the next morning required a phenomenal amount of effort. The past two days had been intense, a whirlwind of socialising and different emotions, and Amora hoped that Boxing Day would be better. She looked forward to sleeping at home tonight, and to watch the sea crash against the rocky shore as she brushed her hair for bed.

Now, she walked through Hogsmeade with Cedric and her mother, heading through the village to where a family friend lived. Amora's mother preferred to use her Floo Network rather than get the long train journey home, especially since after they had to go from London all the way back down to the South Coast.

"Amora, are you sure you have everything packed?" Professor Buckley questioned for the second time that morning as they moved through Hogsmeade. "Oh, I suppose it doesn't matter now. We're not going back for anything."

Amora didn't reply to her mother and instead walked along beside her, a thoughtful frown on her face as she recalled the previous evening. Guilt settled in her stomach and made her feel queasy, her skin burning despite the cold biting at her.

She couldn't stop thinking about Harry. Or Draco. Merlin, Amora had never even had her first kiss forty-eight hours ago, and now she was kissing two different boys in two consecutive days. It made her feel like rubbish.

"Cheer up, Amora." Cedric clamped his hand on her shoulder from where he was walking behind. "Aren't you excited to spend Boxing Day with your favourite cousin?"

Amora rolled her eyes playfully. "You're my only cousin and we spend every Boxing Day with you and Uncle Amos."

"Amora," her mother scolded, "be nicer to your cousin, please."

Neither Mrs Buckley nor Mr Diggory understood their children's playful relationship— how they could tease each other yet never cross any lines, and how they'd make fun of one another for things that they'd kill anybody else for saying. They didn't need to be nice to the other to know they loved each other.

"It's okay, Auntie Elle," Cedric dismissed, "I'm used to Amora being mean to me."

A playful smile tugged at Amora's lips, finally forgetting all about her troublesome problems until her brown eyes landed on one of them themselves.

Draco Malfoy and his parents were leaving a tea room, dressed all in black in contrast to their pale skin and strikingly blonde hair. Amora had never seen Draco's mother before, but she was a beautiful woman with blonde hair beneath her black locks and a more gentle aura to her than her husband.

Lucius noticed them before anybody else, his grimace widening. "Morning, Mrs Buckley."

Draco's head snapped towards them at his father's words, silver eyes slightly widening when he saw Amora. Amora stared at him for a second or two before she tore her gaze to look at Lucius. The disgust in his tone was evident— he made sure to speak to her due to her Pure-blood status, but he would also remind her she was a blood traitor in a heartbeat.

"Mr Malfoy, Mrs Malfoy," Professor Buckley replied stiffly, "did you have a good Christmas?"

Mrs Malfoy seemed to force a smile. "It was lovely. How was yours?"

"Very nice," Amora's mother replied, "We were just heading home for the break."

"As were we," Mr Malfoy mentioned louder as if he was trying to brag to them. "I believe we do not live too far from each other?"

That was news to Amora. Well, she supposed it wasn't hard to live near anybody when England was so bloody small, and Draco did have a southern accent like her. She'd just assumed it was from some nice place in London since he was so rich and he spoke like a private schoolboy.

"An hour and a half, perhaps," Mrs Buckley nodded.

"Ah, yes— you still live on that beach, don't you?" Mr Malfoy poked, "in that cottage? Quite far from Muggles— perhaps not too bad of a choice then."

The Muggles Studies teacher knew he was trying to rile her up and said nothing in return, simply faking the sweetest smile that she could possibly muster.

"We best get going," Professor Buckley said.

Amora took a final glance at Draco and saw that he was watching her, a small glare on his face. She averted her eyes, accidentally landing on his hands which were gripping a briefcase hard. She noticed that they were slightly bruised and scabbed over, making her frown.

"Amora," Cedric shoved her a little when she didn't budge.

The brunette said nothing and followed her family, wondering what had riled Draco up so much that he had punched something or maybe even someone.

"Gosh, that family drives me up the walls!" Professor Buckley ranted once they were out of earshot. "Never listen to them, Amora. They're outdated and irrational, the lot of them."

Amora's heart sort of sank in her chest because she knew it was true. And what made it worse was that not only would liking Draco mean betraying her friends, but it would mean betraying her family too.

Her Hufflepuff loyalty warned her against thinking of him, but Amora knew just as well as everybody else— loyalties could change.

She just hoped she could stay away from him long enough for her feelings to fade, that way there would be no chance of it.

...

soooo i made harry and amora kiss for some extra spice

also is it true that americans don't have boxing day??

thanks for reading :)) dyiansobrien