Chapter Text
Snow blanketed the castle and grounds of Hogwarts, carols echoed through the ancient halls though no one knew where from and boughs of holly, ivy and pine trimmed the banisters of the moving staircases. Mistletoe hung in discreet places, much to Filch’s dismay.
Regina checked her appearance in the mirror of her dorm room. Her thick brown hair came down to her chin, and her fringe swept to one side. Since it was the holidays, Christmas Day in fact, she chose a white blouse and black trousers, leaving her uniform, Ravenclaw tie and prefect badge on her trunk. ‘When I am Head Girl next year, will I have to wear my badge at Christmas?’ she thought to herself, throwing her cloak about her shoulders. ‘Maybe I’ll ask Lily when she comes back’ though she doubted Lily had ever spent her Christmas in the castle. She descended the dormitory steps into the bright and airy deserted common room.
Snow still fell thick and fast on the other side of the long, elegant windows, and the room remained warm despite not having a fireplace.
Her steps echoed as she descended the spiral staircase from the Ravenclaw tower. She nodded to the portraits who greeted her as she made her way to The Great Hall.
“Good morning” she said to some younger students sitting together at a table who greeted her back. She had a reputation for being one of the fairer prefects to younger students.
“Good morning Professor” she said, approaching Professor McGonagall.
“Merry Christmas, Regina” she replied. Her brown hair was tied back in a neat bun and she wore her usual robes but with a brooch of fresh holly dusted with snow that didn’t melt in the warm hall.
“What are you going to do with your day?” She asked.
“After breakfast I thought I would walk in the grounds and I am going to work on conjuration after dinner” she replied. McGonagall surveyed her carefully and nodded approval.
“Well, don’t let me keep you from your breakfast Miss Mills. You’ll need it if you’re going out in this!” She gestured to the snow falling from the enchanted ceiling. Regina smiled and took a seat. She opened her bag and pulled out Quidditch Through The Ages by Kenilworthy Whisp. It made a surprising thud on the table and the student opposite her jumped. She looked up.
“Sorry…” she tried to put a name to the face. Long, curly blonde hair, fifth year, plays on the Hufflepuff quidditch team.
“Emma” the girl said “or Swan, if you’re one of those prefects” she said, then went back to her porridge.
“One of those prefects?” Regina bristled. Emma looked up again.
“Yeah” she said “some call you by your last name. Presumably to scare you into doing what they want” she went back to her porridge. Regina poured herself a cup of tea. Emma Swan, Hufflepuff quidditch captain, now she remembered, notoriously quick on her broom and with her words.
“I don’t think I’m one of those prefects” Regina said looking at her breakfast options.
“Because you can’t remember peoples names or…” Emma left her sentence hanging. Regina’s eyes narrowed at her.
“There are a thousand students at this school, Emma” she scolded. Emma held her hands up as she chewed some toast. Regina chose porridge. It was topped with spiced, caramelised apples and nuts. She placed a napkin on her lap and picked up her spoon. Emma sighed. Regina looked up. Emma was not looking at her. Regina peered over. She was sketching something. Probably quidditch plays, she guessed. She went back to her porridge. She opened her book and tucked the bookmark into the back. She took a spoon of porridge and Emma sighed again. Regina paused and lowered her spoon.
“Are you ok?” She asked. Emma looked up.
“Uh yeah. I’m fine. Are you ok?” she asked Regina.
“Yes” Regina said
“That’s good” Emma said and went back to sketching. Regina watched how she pushed her curls behind her ear to keep them out of the way and bit her lip in thought.
“I would have remembered your name if you gave me time” She said. Emma looked up again.
“Ok” she said and went back to her sketch. Regina rolled her eyes and picked up her spoon again.
“How come you’re not captain of the Ravenclaw team?” Emma asked. Regina had almost taken her first mouthful of porridge. She lowered her spoon again. “You obviously like it” Emma motioned to the book “and you’re really good”.
“I don’t have time for it” Regina answered, looking down at her quickly cooling breakfast.
“Do you want to practice later?” Emma asked
“In this weather?” Regina asked, shocked. Emma laughed
“It’s not like we’ll slip in the snow. We could just chase a snitch around”
“I don’t think so” Regina said, imagining the low visibility and cold.
“Fine” Emma said and went back to her sketch. Regina watched her for a moment and attempted her breakfast again.
“Do you like Davey Gudgeon?” Emma asked, looking up. Regina dropped her spoon into her porridge and pushed it away. For some reason, Emma seemed to be bent on preventing her from eating so she stopped trying.
“Davey Gudeon?” She asked.
“Yeah” Emma said. “Beater on the Hufflepuff team, kind of a show off, has a huge crush on you.”
“Really?” Regina asked. Emma waited. “I don’t dislike him” she half-answered.
“But you don’t like him back?” Emma asked “You don’t want to drag him off to the prefect’s bathroom?” Emma elaborated
“No!” Regina said, pretty loudly. Some students further down the table turned to look.
“Ok” Emma said “It’s just that he plays so badly when you play because he’s trying to show off and it makes him, well, rubbish. He’s a solid player though so I don’t want to lose him.” Emma stood up and collected her sketchbook. Regina watched her.
“You’d better eat that before it goes cold” Emma said, pointing to Regina’s porridge. Regina looked at the now congealed bowl then back at Emma who winked. She sighed and finished her tea, watching the tall Hufflepuff captain stride down the hall and out of the door.