One Last Christmas Part 7

Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy were surprised to see Draco's owl, Archy, fly from their son's school with a letter. He rarely wrote, unless it was a serious matter he needed to let his parents know about. Lucius was in his study when the owl flew in. The elder Malfoy looked up to see a letter attached to the bird's leg. He untied it, took a moment to set it down and look in his desk for an owl treat and fed it to Archy. Lucius unrolled the parchment, not knowing what the contents could be about.

He silently read:

Mother and Father,

As you both know, the Head Girl is Hermione Granger. Despite our horrible past we and her friends have, she and I decided to make a truce for the year and work together. She is an amazing girl, Mother. I think you and her would get along quite nicely, if you gave her a chance.

Father, I know we're not on good terms, but I have been given a second chance and I won't let it go to waste. She has told me things that I hadn't thought of before, and it has certainly been sticking with me.

The school year has been going well so far. Hermione and I study together and we've been getting top marks in everything. She's not the smartest witch of her age for nothing. She's taught me that as well. Even though she's a Muggle-born, she's just as good as or possibly even better than a half blood or pure blood. The war changed us all, you both know this. I never believed in the made up stuff Tom Riddle spoke of

Mother I know you weren't very into the prejudice like Father was, but I would like to have you both meet her during the next school holiday. I'll be meeting her parents over the summer holidays. Please, just give her a chance and you'll both see how amazing a girl Hermione is.

She's truly forgiven me of everything. I just want you both to know this.

Your son,

Draco.

Lucius wanted to know what his son was thinking when he sent this letter. Though the Dark Lord was vanquished, their family status in the Pureblood ranks had gone down considerably over the months since the War ended. His son should not be thinking this way about Muggle-borns! He hated that word, but Narcissa banned him on the grounds of saying 'mudblood' because Hermione was one and she helped Harry defeat the Dark Lord.

Lucius left his study to find his wife and talk about what to do with Draco and the Muggle-born he is currently infatuated with. He found her in her usual spot when she was thinking about something or reading a book. He smiled grimly at Narcissa sitting on the couch in the Malfoy library.

"Narcissa, darling, we need to talk," he said to her, all the knowing breaking her out of thought.

Narcissa saw past the fact Hermione was a witch born from Muggle parents. She honestly couldn't care less, because Andromeda taught her that "a witch coming from any kind of parents is as much as a witch from Pureblood parents". Her sister was cast out of the family because of marrying a Muggle-born wizard. She was happy for her, even if it cost her sister getting cast out from the family. She was also thankful to Molly Weasley, for doing something she couldn't ever to do her own family. She pushed the thought away, shaking her head, knowing she shouldn't be thinking that way.

Her next train of thought was interrupted by her husband's voice. "Narcissa, darling, we need to talk," she heard and looked up at her husband holding what seemed to be a letter.

"Lucius," she smiled. "What do you have there?"

"It's a letter from our son. I think perhaps you should read it," he said with a serious voice.


The couple days after sending his letter had been driving Draco crazy with not only anticipation of waiting for his parent's letter back, but also the days were filled with worry. Hermione tried helping to make him calm down, but nothing she did helped. She was also worried for him, and what the contents of his letter would contain. Just then, there was a clicking sound against his bedroom window. Archy's back, he thought then ran up his stairs to open his window to let his owl in.

Archy flew in and perched himself on Draco's desk, with a letter tied to its leg. The owl stuck its leg out, and Draco carefully took it with shaky hands, nervous of what he was about to read. He took a moment to calm his nerves. He carefully unrolled the parchment, and quietly read:

To Our Son Draco,

Your mother and I have had a serious discussion about your 'predicament', 'What predicament?' Draco scowled, feeling the anger already getting to his head. About a certain Muggle-born witch you are currently Head Student with. Your mother thinks it's perfectly fine for our son to want to date a Muggle-born witch, let alone the Hermione Granger. Well, I think not, Draco. You are not to have anymore contact with her or her friends from now on. Draco never felt so angry with his father before in his life. This was worse than having that mad man live in his own mansion. No, he wasn't going to allow his father to control what he can and cannot do. He was of age, and he can take care of himself! In his rage, he didn't notice another parchment fall from his father's letter. He took another moment or two to control his anger again, and continued reading.

That's not what you want of course, is it son? You're not going to listen and stay away from her, are you, boy? Your mother and I had a serious talk and I persuaded her to agree with me. Draco could just picture his father laughing in his face, at this point. It didn't matter what he wanted, because he knew his mother would actually side with him, not his father. He read on some more. You, son, have much to learn. You cut off all contact with the girl, and I'll think about giving you another chance.

Until next time son,

Your Father.

He couldn't believe this. The one time he finally gets close to the witch he taught to think was a nuisance was more brilliant than most of the witches in his own house. Like he was going to listen to his father and do what he says. He wasn't going to stay away from Hermione, because they have grown close since Christmas. Draco took a breath in, and sighed deeply. He didn't want to do this to her, but he had no choice. He got up from his bed and walked through his bedroom door to find Hermione sitting on his stairs, leaning against the wall and her eyes were closed.

He smiled at the sight. She fell asleep waiting for him to come out. 'She must have been really worried to have come up here and wait for me,' he thought. He slipped his letter in his slacks back pocket, and stepped in front of the sleeping witch to pick her up with ease. Draco carefully treaded the steps to not slip and fall down while holding her. Coming down the steps, he walked to the couch, and gently laid Hermione down. With a flick of his wand, she was covered with a blanket. He moved her hair out of hair face, and whispered, "I guess this is our last Christmas together Hermione."

Draco felt pain in his chest for doing this to her, but he wouldn't let his father control her as well. He found a parchment and a quill and started to write a note to the girl who opened his eyes up to giving her another chance, just like she did for him. He only hoped that one day she would forgive him once more.

Hermione,

I am sorry for leaving you. If my father only gave you a chance, he would finally see that Muggle-borns wizards and witches are worth getting to know. I hope you will forgive me for this, one day. My mother would definitely want to get to know you. She isn't like my father.

I'm leaving for the rest of the school year. I won't be back. I'm leaving in the morning, and I'll be gone by the time you read this.

Please, forgive me and I will come back for you, some day.

Draco

He never thought he'd still be at his father's mercy, still under his control. The young wizard never wanted this to happen, just because he and Hermione were getting along. It made him terribly angry that he had no control over the situation. Draco thought he could finally be with someone without having blood prejudice come about.

It was very hard for the young man to leave the note for Hermione to find in the morning. He just couldn't bear the thought of leaving her so soon after everything that happened between them. He promised to come back for her, no matter how long it took him. He looked at Hermione one last time before leaving for his room, ignoring the harsh tight feeling in his chest. Not wanting to wake the sleeping witch, he slammed the door after casting a silencing charm then slammed it as hard as he could, trying to get his anger out.

Draco knew he would have to leave in the morning via floo in the Headmaster's office. His father most likely sent Professor McGonagall a letter containing reasons why he'll be leaving. He started packing his belongings when he noticed a note on the floor. It was his mother's handwriting. She wrote that he shouldn't listen to his father, he's free to do whatever he wants, but his mind was already made up; there was no turning back now. He'd be gone by the time she would wake up.

Draco's final thoughts: Thank you, Hermione, for believing in me and giving me hope. I only hope you will forgive me for doing this to you. I'm only trying to do what's right for us to be together one day. I'm so sorry.