- Thanks for 1k reads peeps !! Kinda weird that idk any of you guys personally but honestly hmu if you need anything, I'm just writing this for fun and practice, ya know ? -

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All I could see was dark. Suffocating, overwhelming blackness that surrounded me like a cocoon. Is this what it was like to be dead? I know I make jokes about wanting to die all the time, but I didn't actually mean it. Existentialism is hip nowadays.

I focused on moving my hand, and after a couple seconds I felt a twitch. So not dead, then.

As my senses started coming back, I heard low murmurs from my left.

"Is she gonna be okay? I heard it was that horrid Kenna Draper that did it to her. I never did like her."

"Madam Pompfrey said she should be waking up soon. Wait, was that...did her eyes just move?"

As a matter of fact, they had. As my body groaned in protest, I forced my eyes open and was greeted with a blinding white light.

"Aughhhh. At least if I'd gone to hell when I died it would've been dimmer."

"Y/N!!" Hermione tackled me and I laughed, still slightly disoriented. I opened my eyes for the second time and saw the Hospital Wing. Hermione was hugging me from the right, and Jack was sitting on a chair to my left, looking ragged.

"Jack, are you alright? You look like hell." My voice was slightly hoarse from disuse. He grinned tiredly, replying "I didn't wanna leave in case you woke up."

I felt a rush of warmth towards him and beckoned him closer to my bed for a hug.

"So what happened? All I remember is drinking that awful potion and then everything went dark."

I started to breathe more quickly as I thought of how the toxin had taken over my limbs and made me lose control of my body. I started to shake, and Jack wrapped an arm around me, holding me close to him.

"Oh god, Y/N." Hermione started tearing up and I waved it off. "It's not a big deal, seriously. I survived."

Jack pulled me to him more tightly, burying his face in my shoulder and said sharply, "It's okay, you're okay. I won't let anyone hurt you anymore." His grip started to hurt.

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It seemed that word about my near-death experience has spread around the school, and it resulted in many back slaps, sympathetic smiles (more like grimaces), and frequent "how you holding up's".

It was sweet to see my friends concerned for me, though. Fred and George had actually volunteered to beat Kenna up, stating (and I quote), that "We're not sexist, we'll kick a girl's ass. Hell, we'd kick a baby's ass if we needed to."

I told them that I currently didn't have any enemies that were babies but I'd tell them if I ever got on an infant's bad side.

I almost felt bad for Kenna. Like yeah, of course she poisoned me, but she'd been on the receiving end of more than a few death stares recently. I'm sure people will forget about it eventually.

More important than me almost fuckin dying though, was that finals were finally over and I could BREATHE. Sure, sex is cool, but have you ever thrown away an entire semester's worth of papers with the knowledge that you'll never use it again?

Currently, Hermione and I were in our room packing for the lodge trip. It was Friday afternoon, and we didn't leave until Monday, but Hermione insisted on being prepared. We were going to head into Hogsmeade tomorrow to go shopping for the trip, seeing as I didn't bring a bathing suit to Hogwarts. Because we're in Scotland.

"Hey 'Mione, what're you bringing?" I dug around my suitcase and threw out a couple comfy shirts and pairs of jeans.

"Well, I'll probably bring gloves, a bikini for the pool, or maybe a one-piece just to be safe. Yeah, I think I'll do a one piece. Of course I'll also need a big jacket, ooh and a hat. Maybe two hats. Just to be safe."

Hermione's chatter blended into the background as I started daydreaming about the trip to come.

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Katie sighed. "I love shopping. And shopping in winter? Twice as good. Hell, maybe three times as good, I dunno."

Hermione, Katie and I were walking down the cobblestone streets of Hogsmeade in search of clothes for the lodge trip. Katie couldn't come on the trip, but she went shopping with us to lend what she called "Constructive criticism and moral support."

It had taken a little bit of persuading, but I had convinced Ron to invite Jack on the trip. He wasn't happy about it, but he allowed it when I used my puppy-eyes on him.

I'd already bought a self-heating infinity scarf and Hermione had gotten fuzzy boots that were enchanted to never get wet. I loved magic shops.

As we were walking past a boutique, Hermione squealed and pointed to a bikini in the window. "Y/N, it's perfect for you! You have to go try it on."

I fake groaned, but I was secretly happy that she was looking out for me.

I came out of the dressing room and did an ironic twirl, walking in slow motion like the dumbass bikini commercials. It was received with extremely high pitched squeals and I laughed.

"So I'm guessing that's a yes?" I actually really like the swimsuit. I'd been working on my self-confidence lately, and I was finally starting to accept my body for what it was. The bikini was a light green with some thin straps and a flattering cut. Swimsuit shopping was a bitch, but I had finally found The One.

As usual, a bikini from Hogsmeade wasn't just a bikini. The shopkeeper had insisted that the fabric was interwoven with extremely fine pegasus hairs to ensure the suit's durability. In other words, it was unbreakable.

I was still wearing the bikini in the shop and debating whether or not to get it when the bell attached to the boutique's door tinkled. I looked up to find myself making eye contact with a pair of blue-gray eyes belonging to none other than Draco Malfoy.

His eyes widened slightly as he took the sight of me in, and then I saw the the corner of his mouth twitch as his signature smirk spread across his face.

"Swimsuit shopping, eh Y/N/N?" He walked towards us leisurely, "It's winter break. Now where," He paused when he got to where I was standing and looked down at me. "Where would you be going that you would need a bikini?"

He lightly trailed a finger along my bare shoulder and I stepped back so he wouldn't see the slight shiver it gave me. I crossed my arms.

"None of your business."

"Could it be on the Weasley trip to the mountain lodge?"

I cocked an eyebrow, "And how would you know about that?"

"Because," His cologne smelled of pine trees and the sea, and I unconsciously breathed in a little deeper. "I'm coming on the trip too."

He turned and walked away, satisfied that he had surprised me. One thing was for sure, he was the last person I'd expect the Weasleys to invite.

Katie exhaled slowly, and said, "Wow. That was some seeerious sexual tension going on there."

I slapped her and hissed, "Shut up!", but I caught Draco's chuckle as he left the store, signifying that he had also heard her.

I groaned and walked back into the dressing room, knowing I would never hear the end of it.

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Vote and comment if you have any requests or just general criticism. Also I got 3 hours of sleep last night, so I might need to revise this.