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MIA RETURNED TO HOGWARTS after a joyful yet bittersweet Christmas with her father. The halls buzzed with excitement as students reunited after the break, but all Mia felt was a gnawing emptiness. It had been weeks since she had received a letter from Draco, and despite knowing he was only a short distance away, the silence weighed heavily on her heart.
She lay on her bed in the Slytherin dormitory, staring at a small framed picture of herself and her father, taken during their last summer together. In it, Draco had his arm slung around her shoulders, both of them laughing heartily. Mia traced the edges of the frame lightly with her finger, feeling a mix of nostalgia and longing.
Just then, she heard a soft knock at the door. “Come in,” she called absentmindedly, not looking up, thinking it was Albus, her friend who had a knack for sneaking in to play pranks on her.
With a flick of her wand, the door unlocked. “I am not in the mood to play any pranks right now,” she said, her voice muffled by the picture frame.
Instead of the usual playful banter, she heard a deliberate clearing of the throat. Curious, she finally looked up, and her heart leaped as she saw her father standing there with a wide, beaming smile.
“Surprise!” Draco announced, his arms open wide.
Mia nearly stumbled as she bolted towards him, throwing her arms around him in a tight embrace. “Dad!” she exclaimed, her voice muffled against his shoulder. “You didn’t write! I was worried!”
Draco chuckled, wrapping his arms around her. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I wanted to keep it a surprise. I had something special planned, and I wanted it to be memorable.”
Mia pulled back, her eyes sparkling with joy. “You could’ve at least sent me a note! I thought something happened to you!”
He feigned innocence, holding his hands up in mock surrender. “I was just being mysterious! Come on, let’s sit.” He gestured toward her bed, and they both plopped down, still grinning.
“I can’t believe you’re here!” Mia exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over. “What do you want to do first?”
“I heard you were practicing for the upcoming Quidditch match. I thought I could give you some pointers,” Draco suggested, winking.
Mia rolled her eyes, playfully nudging him. “Dad, you’re a great player, but I think I can manage without your expert coaching.”
Draco feigned offense. “Hey! I was the best Seeker at Hogwarts! I could teach you a thing or two about snatching that Snitch.”
“Sure, if you can keep up with me,” Mia teased back, her laughter echoing off the stone walls.
Just as they were getting into a rhythm of joking and reminiscing, there was another knock on the door. Without waiting for an invitation, Albus walked in, his usual carefree attitude on full display. “Mia! You want to join us for Quidditch practice? I’ve got a new prank planned for the Gryffindors!”
Mia smirked at his enthusiasm, but before she could respond, Albus looked up and froze, his eyes widening as he took in the sight of Draco sitting casually on Mia’s bed. “Oh! Uh…sorry!” he stammered, taking a step back. “I didn’t mean to interrupt!”
Draco raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Interrupting, are we?”
Albus gulped, looking sheepish. “I, um… I’ll just—” He turned on his heel and dashed out of the room, leaving behind the faint sound of hurried footsteps.
Mia couldn’t help but giggle at the sudden turn of events. “Looks like you scared him off!”
“Did I? I was just sitting here, minding my own business,” Draco said, feigning innocence again. “But I have to admit, it was a lovely reaction.”
Mia’s cheeks flushed slightly as she sheepishly smiled. “He can be a bit jumpy. I don’t think he expected to see you here.”
“Seems like you and Albus have gotten much closer since I last saw you,” Draco teased, leaning back on her bed with a knowing grin.
“Dad!” Mia protested, her cheeks heating even more. “It’s not like that! We’re just friends!”
Draco raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in his eyes. “Uh-huh. Just friends, huh? He certainly seems to have a soft spot for you.”
“Stop it! We’re just working on the Quidditch team together!” Mia said, crossing her arms defensively, even though she couldn’t help but smile.
“Sure, if you say so,” Draco replied, his teasing tone making it clear he wasn’t convinced.
Mia laughed, rolling her eyes. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
“Maybe. But it’s a father’s job to embarrass his daughter,” he said with mock seriousness. “And I think I’m doing rather well at it.”
She shook her head, still smiling. “You’ve definitely succeeded.”
“Good to know I still have it!” Draco said proudly. “Now, what’s this prank Albus has planned?”
Mia leaned forward, her voice low. “Well, I heard he was thinking of using those sneezing powder beans on the Gryffindors during practice.”
Draco chuckled. “Clever! I always appreciated a well-executed prank. Just make sure you don’t get caught!”
“I won’t,” she assured him, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Besides, it’s Albus’s idea. If anyone gets caught, it’ll be him.”
“Ah, the classic misdirection! I like it,” Draco said, clearly enjoying the banter. “But seriously, Mia, I’m glad to see you happy. It’s what I want for you.”
Mia smiled softly, feeling the warmth of his words. “Thanks, Dad. I’m really glad you’re here.”
Draco ruffled her hair affectionately. “Now, let’s see if we can find a way to get you ready for practice. I could offer some tips on how to outmaneuver those Gryffindors!”
Mia’s laughter filled the room again as they planned out their next steps, both of them grateful for this unexpected time together. The warmth of family and friendship surrounded them, making the Hogwarts castle feel a little more like home.
