I took a quick trip to the bathroom, anxiously looking at my neck in the mirror. I was relieved to see that it was only slightly red, barely visible, in fact.

Satisfied that I would not need to cover up with a scarf, I went back down to the sitting room to join the others, feeling oddly disappointed when it transpired that the boys had taken up a sofa each.

I sat down on the sofa next to Scorpius, exchanging quick, guilty, furtive glances with Draco who was sat with Albus on the other sofa.

The atmosphere felt suddenly very strained, and I didn't know what to say. Albus and Scorpius were completely oblivious to any tension, it seemed, their eyes fixed gormlessly on the television in the corner.

"So, what are we watching?" I asked, deciding to focus my attention on the television instead.

"Titanic." Scorpius answered.

"Oh. Not very Christmassy, is it?" I said wrinkling my nose. "Everyone drowning at sea."

Scorpius just shrugged. "Nothing else on," he muttered.

We all sat in silence and watched as the boat sank into the sea killing a whole hoard of men, women and children.

My god, this was depressing shit. Not even Kate Winslet's tits could liven the mood.

Although I couldn't help but notice a sudden unusual interest being taken in my Gryffindor cushions.

"So, you say this is stuffed with real feathers?" Scorpius asked, hastily placing the cushion on his lap as Leonardo DiCaprio sharpened his pencil.

"Hippogriff," I smirked, noticing Albus and Draco doing exactly the same.

And don't get me started on the end.

"But- but there's plenty of room on that flipping door!" I cried incredulously as Kate Winslet greedily spread herself out, allowing Leonardo DiCaprio to freeze to fucking death in the sea. The bitch.

"He's being chivalrous, Potter," Draco drawled, rolling his eyes derisively as though he considered me to be some kind of dimwit.

"What's the point of being chivalrous if it goes and gets you killed?" I sniped, feeling irritated that I just wasted hours watching this shit only for one of them to go and fucking die.

"Well, you would know." Draco shrugged, the underlying message in his bitter tone not lost on me.

"Oh, would you just let it go, already?" I scoffed as we glared at one another, our after-dinner desserts in the kitchen quickly forgotten about.

"Shhh, I can't hear what the old lady is saying," Albus complained.

God, he really was his father's son. My home had literally been taken over by Draco and his mini-me's.

"So, what does everyone want to do now?" I asked as the credits finally rolled.

I looked around at my companions. The boys appeared utterly fed up and Draco looked stiff and uncomfortable, refusing to look me in the eye.

There was only one thing that would liven this mood up.

"Oh, Mum, not Monopoly!" Albus groaned as I blew the dust off the top of the lid.

"It'll be fun!" I trilled, turning the television off and throwing the box on the coffee table, making Draco flinch.

"And what on earth is Monopoly?" He drawled, eyeing the offending item before him with disdain.

"It's a game, Draco, a fun game for the whole family to play." I beamed at him and I saw something flicker in his eyes at my words.

A little while later on, I had a hotel thrown at my head.

"What the hell was that for?" I yelled at Draco.

"It's ridiculous that you could charge so much for a poxy little hotel in the crappiest street of London!" He bellowed indignantly.

"It's not my fault that you suck at this game," I yelled back, "refusing to buy somewhere because it sounded too Muggley!"

"Have you ever been to Piccadilly Circus?" Draco roared, "it's barbaric!"

"Uh, guys," Albus said, cutting in, "I think I'm just going to go to bed now."

"Yeah, me too," Scorpius added quickly, jumping to his feet, a look of relief flooding his face that he could finally be free.

I glanced at the clock. It was two o'clock in the morning. Shit.

"Well, doesn't time fly when you're having fun, eh?" I said, glancing happily back at the boys.

But the sitting room door had already slammed shut after their hasty escape.

"Well, that was a stupendous waste of time," Draco drawled, throwing his last two pound notes on top of the board game.

"This always happens when I'm about to win," I said sniffily, grumpily packing the game away.

"It's a crap game, Potter. Never ask me to play that again."

"You're just sore because you won second prize in a beauty contest." I muttered.

"It should have been first prize - I'm fucking gorgeous!" he bellowed.

I rolled my eyes, tossing the game back onto the bookcase.

"I'm going to bed," I yawned, heading for the door, "got to preserve my energy for tomorrow."

Draco looked up at me, alarmed. "Why? What's happening tomorrow?"

"Oh, didn't I tell you?" I asked innocently, reaching for the handle, "we're spending Boxing Day at the Weasley's."

And, at the look of horror falling upon Draco's face, I quickly made my hasty exit before he could make his protests be heard.

*****

"Kill the spare,"

I screamed as the sound of Cedric's body thudded sickeningly to the ground. The pain in my scar burned so much, I was sure my head was going to split in two.

"Crucio!"

My body writhed in agony. There was no pain like it. Kill me, kill me now.

Laughter. Grey eyes staring into mine. Laughing.

"Etta! Etta, wake up!"

My eyes flew open. And I screamed as Lucius Malfoy stood over me, his cold grey eyes piercing mockingly down into mine.

Except, they weren't cold, and they weren't mocking.

"Etta?"

My breathing instantly calmed as I realised it wasn't Lucius staring down at me after all.

"Draco?"

I looked around, confused. I was in my room, and Draco was standing over my bed, worry etched over his features.

"I could hear you screaming through the wall," he explained quietly, "I was worried."

My hand flew to my scar which was prickling. Fear engulfed me almost immediately. It hadn't hurt since the Battle of Hogwarts.

"Bad... bad dream," I said breathlessly, my heart still hammering in my chest. I realised my pyjamas were clinging uncomfortably to my body.

Worry still pinching his features, Draco crouched down next to me, tenderly brushing my hair away from my damp forehead.

"You shouted his name," he said, swallowing hard. "You shouted Voldemort."

"I was- I was back in the graveyard," I explained, my voice trembling, "Cedric... your father..."

Draco closed his eyes, exhaling a long slow breath, but he didn't remove his hand which was now gently caressing my cheek.

"Is there anything I can do?" he asked. And when he opened his eyes again, I could see they were full of tenderness.

"Stay with me," I whispered, suddenly craving his comfort so much.

He froze, his fingers ceasing their stroking as he looked at me, his eyes widening. And then, after considering it for all of a second, he silently stood up and walked around to the other side of my bed.

The mattress lifted as he fell heavily onto it beside me, his arm snaking around my waist, pulling me into his embrace.

"I'm here for you, Etta," he whispered just above my ear, his arm tightening around me so that my body was pressed up firmly against his hard, comforting chest.

Cool lips pressed against the scorching skin across my temple, and I sighed as he tenderly stroked my hair, making me feel safe.

I would have thanked him, but exhaustion overtook me, my heavy eyelids drooping shut to the heavenly feel of Draco's steady heartbeat against my chest. And, as he softly whispered goodnight, I at last found myself in a deep and restful slumber.

*****