Draco looked out across the great hall of Malfoy Manor and smiled. Finally, all the months of planning and the hours spent in careful consideration of every little detail were coming together. The hall, if he did say so himself, looked splendid.
The Malfoy Yule Ball had been one of the few time-honoured traditions that Draco had gratefully taken on-board as part of his inheritance. It wasn't quite the same stuffy, pure-blood, flouncing affair that his mother had once organised; he'd taken great pleasure in smashing those expectations. No, he had wanted a real party, the sort people talk about for years to come and remember with an appreciative twinkle in their eye.
As he looked out from the grand balcony, he could survey the whole scene unfolding. The long thin tables were already set out along the south-facing wall, covered with smooth white tablecloths and decorative plumes of winter flowers. Later they would also be stacked high with delicacies of all kinds; fountains of exotic fruits that burst on the tongue, enchanted desserts that danced onto your plate, sweet cakes and savoury biscuits and rich chocolate liqueurs - not to mention the bottomless pitchers of rum punch that literally poured themselves (a potentially dangerous addition, he conceded).
All along the walls wreaths were hung and they filled the air with a fresh wintry smell that reminded him of long walks in the evergreen forests that bordered the Malfoy plot. Mistletoe, too, was strung from enchanted thread that moved to where it felt most needed. House elves still bustled in and out of the heavy oak doors of the hall carrying boxes and trays of varying sizes, some stacked with beautiful crystal glasses, others containing enchanted candles that never burnt out.
At the north end of the hall though, stood the most magnificent thing of all: the great tree. Some thirty foot tall, it towered over the tiny elves that scurried about beneath it. Its huge branches were strung with tinsel and candles and baubles in an array of glittering colours that winked as they reflected the light of the chandelier above. Enchanted snow drifted down from the ceiling and settled lightly on the golden star that topped it. All in all, it was a wonder to behold.
…And peeking out from beneath its lower branches, just visible from where he stood, was an assortment of boxes, each its own size and shape. Every box had been carefully wrapped in the same bright red paper, tied with the same smooth silver ribbon, and signed by the same elegant hand. Yes; Draco had hand-picked each and every gift, and there was one for everyone.
With that thought, Draco's hand subconsciously drifted to his robe pocket, where he fingered a small square box through the fabric. It wasn't the largest of the gifts, nor the most elaborate, or even the most expensive… but it certainly was the most valuable of the ones he'd be giving away that night.
Happily, Draco smiled to himself. Tonight was going to be a night to remember.
Written for: the 'Game of Life' Challenge. Prompt: party.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
CC cover image (entitled 'Merry Christmas!') courtesy of Jason Devaun on Flickr.
A/N: I definitely have ideas for expanding this into a muti-chap including an OOC fem!Harry, but this is just a drabble for now. Let me know what you thought, and if you think it might be worth expanding. Thanks for reading! GG x