CHAPTER SEVEN
Welcome to the Family
The first instalment of the Dark Lord's plan had gone through with ease. I'd prepared everything he needed, and his plan was well on its way. I kept his secrets easily to myself. If anyone else were to know of this, it could go wrong. Though it was a lot of work for one Death Eater to do, I was happy to do it. When I had come back, Lucius and Narcissa had been waiting for me with a gift. I'd been absolutely shocked. It would be the second gift I had ever received in my lifetime. I hadn't expected anything at all, just working for the Dark Lord had been enough. After opening the box, I'd pulled out the most beautiful, velvet red dress I had ever seen, with black vines twisting all around it. It was heavy, but it would be worth it. I'd put t on before attending dinner that night. It was an off-the-shoulder piece, ruched perfectly from the top, where it just covered my breasts, to my waist. From there, the dress fell to the floor in beautiful pleats, giving it a nice, full look, and making me appear to be floating as I walked. I'd been the highlight of the whole dinner. Even Bellatrix had admitted that I was, indeed, a beautiful girl. Of course, she'd also stated that she hated my guts, and if I ever tried to show her up again, she would roast me alive, no matter what the Dark Lord said.
The Dark Lord and I had both agreed that night that the dress looked much better on the floor, though this time, as much as I tried to ignore Severus' voice in my head, I hadn't been able to. Every minute I had been with the Dark Lord, I'd been thinking of Severus' soft kisses. I wanted desperately for him to see me in my dress, but he had gone back to Hogwarts after we'd spoken. He was only allowed short periods of absence from the school, as long visits outside of the school would ruin the Dark Lord's plan to kill Harry Potter. He needed Severus there as much as possible, in case the boy returned, and he had no doubt that the boy would return. I ran my hand along the dress three months later as it hung in the closet, the soft fabric making my fingers tingle, wondering how many galleons they had paid for it. Surely, it was expensive. I could tell that there had been no magic involved in the making of the dress. After that wonderful training day with Severus, I could feel magic everywhere, anywhere it had touched. I could even distinguish one person's magic from another now.
"I'm starting to see what the Dark Lord saw in me. The only thing he sees in me. The only thing he'll ever see in me..."
I close the door to my closet and turn around, looking at all of my things. I was staying at the Malfoy Manor again, permanently. Both my father and the Dark Lord had made sure to that, though I still wanted to leave, to find an old house at Spinner's End. Doing that would surely make the Dark Lord angry, though, so I would stay. Bellatrix didn't bother me as much, by the Dark Lord's request - demand, rather - and it was much easier to live there. Feeling the need to do something, anything, I left my room and walked down the hallway. I had done everything that I could for the Dark Lord's plan to progress already, and now that I had nothing to fill my days, I didn't know what to do. As I walked along the halls, I noticed the red and white draped around the banisters, the reeves on the doors, and mistletoe at every entrance. "Oh, no... Not-"
"CHRISTMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAS!"
Draco yelled into my ear. He knew how much the I didn't like the holiday, and always loved to bother me about it. "Oh, do grow up, Draco. Or are you still waiting for are you still waiting for 'Santa' to show up?"
"Who the hell is Santa?"
I laughed softly and pushed by the annoying boy. "Some drug-induced muggle fantasy. He brings you presents on Christmas if you're a good boy. So, I s'pose you wouldn't get any," I taunted Draco as I walked away.
"Of course I would. He'd love me. I mean, everybody loves me." Draco bragged as he followed me through the house.
"Mhm... I'm sure they do, Draco. I bet Harry Potter is just itching to be your best friend."
"Potter is a loser, and he had his chance. He decided to be an idiot and hang out with a nitwit redhead and his mudblood girlfriend. All a bunch of morons, if you ask me."
"Yes, well, I didn't ask you, Draco, did I?" I say, giving him a glare over my shoulder. "Personally, I would have to agree with the Potter boy that you're not much for company."
"I am so. I had all of the Slytherin girls fawning over me at school," he stated, adopting a smug expression. "In fact, I've had each and every one of them."
"Ugh, please, Draco don't say such disgusting things. Besides, I'll never be able to wrap my head around you being able to have sex with that tiny thing you've got there," I teased, motioning to his crotch. "And it wasn't you that they liked, Draco. It was father. And his title. A ministry man later discovered to have worked in stride with the Dark Lord... Every Slytherin girls' dream. Some of the guys, too, no doubt. Am I right, Draco?" I looked back at the boy to see him blush at my last statement.
"Yes, well I never actually p-pursued any of the guys..."
At his stumble I turned to face him with a wild smile on my face. "Are you gay, Draco?"
"W-what? No, why would you even suggest-"
"'Cause it makes you blush."
"Well I'm not-"
"It's okay to admit it, Draco." I turned around and began walking again, knowing full well that my blushing brother would be following along behind me. "There is absolutely nothing wrong with being gay. Hell, even I've thought about it. But if you fancy Harry Potter, that's completely okay by me."
"YOU-"
"Ah, denial. It's the first step, you know."
"Would you just-"
"What's that, Draco? You want Harry Potter naked on a broomstick for Christmas? Well, it's a bit much, but-"
"I DO NOT WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH HARRY FREAKIN' POTTER!"
I stopped again and looked at Draco, making my expression blank. After a few seconds, I turned my head away in mock disappointment. "More denial. Seriously, Draco, when will you learn?"
"If there were anyone I would want from that loser group, it would be Hermione Granger."
Jackpot. "Oh, really?" I turned back again, my mock disappointment turning into true curiosity.
"Y-yeah, because she's a g-girl and all..."
"Falling in love with mudbloods are we, Draco? I thought you said they were beneath you?"
"Would you stop twisting everything around to make me look like an idiot?" Draco fumed, his face red from both anger and embarrassment.
"Oh, I don't have to make you look like an idiot, Draco, you do that all on your own."
"Father will hear about this," Draco warned, clenching his teeth as he spoke.
"Oh, do tell him, Draco. And please, let me be there when you do. First you're a man-whore with a small penis, then you're gay and in love with Harry Potter, and now you're falling for mudbloods. I can't wait to see his reaction. When shall we tell him?"
Draco just stared at me for a moment before all of the anger left his features, as if he had simply given up. "You know, you're a real bitch, Pippa."
"Hm. Never thought I'd see the day when you gave me a compliment."
Letting out a frustrated huff, the gay, mudblood loving womanizer left, happy thoughts for the upcoming Christmas completely forgotten.
"If he knew anything about muggle movies, he'd have called me a 'Grinch'," I murmured, chuckling softly as I continued my random stroll around the manor. Draco and I didn't get along, but I found that I was starting to crave our little confrontations. I wondered if he felt the same way. Probably not, seeing as I always managed to outwit him in the end. Alas, a sister could hope, could she not? "Perhaps for 'Christmas', I'll let him win one," I thought aloud before entering the large family area. It wasn't used very often, but you would never have guessed considering how extravagantly decorated it was today. The Malfoy family may not have seemed the type to participate in the jolly holiday, but when you could bathe in all of the money you owned and had a tendency to want to out-do others, Christmas turned into a competition. Who got the most, who gave the most, and who spent the most. Perhaps if I had grown up viewing Christmas in the joyful way of muggle children, I'd have enjoyed the holiday. But not like this. There was no spirit in buying gifts solely for bragging rights.
Narcissa stood in the centre of the room, using magic to decorate the very large, very beautiful tree in the corner. On the tree hung different coloured shiny bulbs, twinkling lights, tinsel, family photos, and an assortment of ornaments. The bulbs had faces, and, if I remembered correctly, tried to bite your finger off if you ever touched them. I wondered how long they'd been in the family, and how many Malfoy children had lost a finger to one of them. On close inspection, the twinkling lights were tiny little balls of magic, some softer form of lumos, perhaps. The tinsel was ever-changing- never staying one colour for more than three seconds. The photographs, and some of the ornaments, waved at me. One of the ornaments- a little teddy-bear using a candy-striped wand- was poking at a particularly angry red bulb, who tried to bite the bear every time he got close. I laughed as the bulb finally caught hold of the bear's arm.
At my laughter, Narcissa turned around, realizing that she was no longer alone. She lowered her wand as the last of the decorations floated onto the tree, latching to the branches. "What do you think?" She asked, motioning around the room at all of the decorations. Truthfully, it seemed a bit much to me, but it seemed to be important to her, so I gave her a big smile.
"It looks delightful, Narcissa. I've never been much for Christmas of course, but... Well, I'm sure that everyone else will appreciate it."
"This year will be different, you know."
"How so?" I asked, helping Narcissa adjust a few things here and there.
"People are starting, slowly but surely, to think of you as part of this family."
I stopped, turning to face my father's wife. "Part of the family? I've never been part of any family, Narcissa."
"You are now. Before, you were as good as invisible. But people have taken notice of you. And that means presents."
"Ugh. You mean to say that I actually have to participate this year?"
"Is that so terrible?"
"I suppose not, but... I just... I just never really liked Christmas and all. It just seems so foolish. What is the point in exchanging all of these gifts?" I motioned to the numerous boxes already positioned beneath the tree.
"Does there have to be a point? Can't we all just share in the delight of giving and receiving gifts? Of being happy, and making others happy?"
"I guess I've never really thought of it like that."
Narcissa smiled kindly. "Well, now you have. Keep that thought in mind for tomorrow morning, Pip," she said, giving me a thoughtful look before she swept gracefully out of the room.
"I will," I mumbled, watching her leave.
Narcissa was in my room on Christmas morning when I woke up, looking absolutely stunning in a powder-blue gown. She helped me get ready, telling me to put on my red velvet dress and then putting my hair up in a beautiful, elaborate braid. "Severus will be joining us later this evening," she stated quietly as she intricately wove strands of my hair.
Though the very thought of seeing Severus set my heart on fire, I kept a calm, unchanging expression. "Will he? That is very kind of him, taking time away from Hogwarts to visit us for the holidays."
"To visit you, I'd say."
"W-what? That is hardly appropriate! I would never-"
"Shhh," Narcissa soothed as she pinned the last strands of my hair into place. "Your secret is safe with me," she whispered, gently nudging me towards the mirror. In the mirror stood a mature, powerful witch that radiated beauty. "You know, your mother was beautiful too, when she was your age. Picture perfect. I was always so jealous. She was going to become a wonderful witch. She was going to bring about a magnificent change in the world. But one day, a man came in and swept her away. He stole her heart, and beat it down, down, down, until there was only enough room in it for one thing- him. He took everything that was beautiful in her, everything that was wonderful about her, and he threw it away like it meant nothing. He turned her into a shell, filled her with rage, and hatred, and when he was done with her, he threw her back. Only it wasn't her anymore. Not really." Narcissa smoothed my dress out as she spoke, but I never looked away from the mirror. As I looked at myself, I could see Bellatrix, see all of the things that had once made her so beautiful. Warm, soft glances changed to cold, heartless glares. Gently pouting lips changed to cruel, mocking smirks. Defined, rosy cheeks changed to tired, sallow flesh. "Do you know who this man was, Pippa?"
"Voldemort," I said, without hesitation. Would he do the same to me? Would he suck all of the beauty out of me until there was nothing left but a frigid, broken witch? I didn't want to believe that the man I respected, the man I admired would do such a thing. But there was truth in Narcissa's words. Honesty. And also fear. She did not want to see me fall as her sister had. Narcissa's expression in the mirror was sad, and after I'd turned to face her, she lifted her hand to cup my cheek.
"Yes, it was him."
"What if he does the same thing to me?" I ask, trembling slightly. I did not want to end up like my mother. Hating the world, hating my own child... I could never live like that.
"It won't."
"How do you know?"
"Because you have one thing Bella never had. One exception."
"Which is..?"
Narcissa smiled then, letting her hand drop to her side. "That is something you must figure out on your own."
As it turned out, Christmas morning hadn't been as unbearable as I'd thought it would be. I had received numerous gifts- from Lucius, from Narcissa, and even some from a few people I didn't know at all. The gifts ranged from little Christmas candies, to funny little trinkets to decorate my room with, to beautiful pieces of jewelry. I had even gotten a gift from Bellatrix Lestrange, though I slid it over to Draco, saying he'd missed one. It had turned out to be my favourite present out of all of them, seeing as it ended with Draco getting a pie in the face. The pie didn't taste all that bad, either. By the time all of the gifts had been exchanged, I was exhausted. But the festivities hadn't ended there. There was a magnificent lunch after, followed by introductions to what must have been almost every single pure-blood wizard in London. Then, there were shows put on by the children for their families, followed by a round of duels to see which witch or wizard would win the Christmas Champion title. The last duel had been Draco and I against each other. I had won, but Draco insisted he had gone easy on me, out of the spirit of Christmas.
At last it was time for the evening feast, the most elaborate and important of them all. I was standing off to the side of the doorway, talking to my fourth cousin, three times removed, when he entered. Narcissa gave me a knowing look, and I turned my head away, trying my best to focus on the lovely conversation that I was having with Gepetto- no, Gilbert- no, no, Griffith...
"Good Evening Ms. Black." I felt his distinct presence behind me long before I heard his sultry voice. "Martin," He acknowledged the boy in front of me. Wow, I was way off, I thought. "You wouldn't mind if I stole her from you for a moment, would you?" Martin shook his head. "Thank you." Severus grabbed my wrist gently then, pulling me away from the crowds and the noise. We ended up in the kitchen, our only company three little house elves who were too busy preparing the last bits of the feast to notice us. "You look absolutely radiant. I'm glad that I took some time away from those dunderheaded students of mine..." Severus' voice trailed off as he took in my appearance. His eyes swept over every inch of me, careful and precise, as if he were trying to memorize every detail. Every fold in my dress, every twist in my hair. "Has he seen you tonight?" He asked, his eyes resting on mine. They were not jealous, or angry. Simply thoughtful. I shook my head softly and he smiled, taking me into his arms. "He may have seen your natural beauty, but I will gladly take this as second best." I blushed then, and softly pressed my lips to his.
When Narcissa walked into the room, Severus froze for a moment before hastily backing away from me and clearing his throat. "Well... There really is no excuse for this, is there?"
Narcissa laughed softly. "You've no need for an excuse, Severus." She winked at us. "Come," she said before Severus could even begin to register his shock for how calm Narcissa was being about the whole thing. "Dinner is about to begin, and you must both be there." We followed Narcissa back into the dining room, through the maze of witches and Wizards, and to our own seats. He was far away from me, but well within sight, and that was enough to make me happy. Once everyone had slowly taken their seats, Lucius stood up.
"This year is a rather special year," he began when all of the voices had died down. "I would like to give special recognition to a rather extravagant witch this evening. She has lived in this household for years, but not until this year has she spread her wings and revealed her beauty, her prowess. She has been an outcast here for far too long. And so, with a heart of pride, I would like to officially welcome Pippa, my daughter, to this family." Applause rang through the room and the person next to me- one of my father's friends, urged me to stand up. I stood slowly, blushing as all eyes fell on me. The cheering went on for a moment longer until finally, with one big, collective shout, I heard the words I had been longing to hear my whole life, but had never thought would come.
"Welcome to the family!"
