Chapter 7: Christmas


Chapter 7.
Christmas.

It was three days after the end of term and me and Draco were settling back into life at Malfoy Manor. I had decorated my room and Draco laughed when he saw it. Book cases on every wall that held a mixture of Muggle and Magical books. Some of the Muggle books included my favorites. Classics like 'Romeo and Juliet', 'Oliver Twist', 'Othello.', 'and Macbeth' 'of mice and Men' and many more. The magical books included all my school books. Hogwarts: A History and those gifted to me by Draco.

It was Christmas Eve when I heard someone knock on my door. I called for whoever it was to come in and I was surprised to see that it was Severus. I had thought that he would be at home, settling down for Christmas. I sat up from where I was lying on my bed reading. He sat down at the end of the bed and waited while I put my bookmark in the book and put it back shelf where it belonged. I looked up and smiled at him.

"Severus." I greeted, pleased to see him. He nodded to me.

I was about to make convocation, but before I could even open my mouth, he produced a small, exquisitely wrapped box from inside one of his voluminous robes.

"For tomorrow." He said simply. Never being one to mince with words, he gave a small incline of his head and made to leave. "Happy Christmas."

"Wait!" He paused as I called him back. I jumped off the bed and dug around in my bedside drawer for the gift I knew I had put there. I'd bought Severus a Christmas present last time I was out shopping. It would have felt wrong not to, even if he hadn't given me anything.

"Here is yours." I said, a little bashful, as I passed it to him. He accepted it with a murmur of thanks. "Are you staying here for Christmas or are you going back to Hogwarts?" I asked a little hopeful he would stay.

"I'm staying here for a few days, and then I'm going back to Hogwarts for the last week of the holidays." He explained. I felt my spirits rise a little.

"Then I guess I'll see you tomorrow." I said and he nodded.

"Don't open it till tomorrow. I will know." He said, fixing me with a look he usually reserved for his classroom. I laughed to myself as he left.

I'd bought Draco a book I knew he had been eyeing. He was anything but subtle. For Aunt Cissa I bought a new perfume set that I caught her looking at longingly in a catalogue. Uncle Lucius got a cane cleaner. When I told Draco he fell about laughing. Pansy got make up set I had thought she would love. I'd even found something for my mother. It was a black necklace with the word mother on it. I walked downstairs to talk to Aunt Cissa. I had something to ask her.

"Aunt Cissa?" I said. She looked up at me from the book she was reading.

"Yes?" he said, dog-earing the page and closing the book and giving me her full attention.

"I've bought my mother a Christmas Present. Is there any way to get it to her?" I asked, nervous. She turned to Lucius who was dozing by the fire, a glass of brandy hanging precariously from his fingertips.

"Lucius." I fought not to giggle as he jumped and looked around for his wife. "Do you know any way to contact Bella?" She asked.

"Pardon?" He asked blearily.

"Is there a way to get a Christmas present to my mother?" I repeated. He sighed and shook his head. My heart dropped.

"Sorry. While she's in Azkaban there's no way to get it to her." He replied, trying to be gentle.

I nodded and left the room quietly, not feeling up to company. My feeling must have been strong because I heard Severus' voice echoing in my head.

"Cali? What's wrong?" He asked, his voice concerned.

"I bought my mother a really nice present. I just found out that I can't possibly send it to her." I said, dejected.

"You can give it to her after she is released." He replied, pragmatic as ever.

"I suppose. Are you looking forward to tomorrow?" I asked, wanting to change the subject.

"I usually wouldn't, but I think so. What about you?"

"Yeah. Drake says he's bought me something awesome. But of course, he won't tell." I said laughing.

"You haven't opened my present for you have you?" He asked seriously.

"Nope. I thought you'd know if I did?" I said, teasing. If I knew him, and I was sure that I did; he was smirking. "Where are you?" I asked.

"My guest room. Why?"

"You're three rooms down from me and we are talking through our minds?" I said flatly.

Before he got the chance to answer, there was a knock on my door. I jerked my head up.

"Got to go Severus, someone's at my door. I paused. "Wait. It's not you is it?"

"No. I'll talk to you later." He broke the connection and I got up to open the door.

I pulled it open and saw Draco leaning against the doorframe.
"Hay Cal," He said, levering himself up lazily.

"Hey Drake." I greeted, "Need anything?"

"Mum told me to ask you: Do you want to put your presents under the tree with everyone else's or give them separately tomorrow? He asked.

"Do you know what everyone else is doing?"

"Me, mum and dad do ours under the tree. Severus said he would put his under the tree if you do."

I smiled. "I think I will."

The next day. Christmas.

Late last night I had put all my presents under the tree for everyone else. It was one in the afternoon and we were full from a huge lunch. Time for presents.

Drake started by passing me one from him. It was a new book set. How utterly surprising. I read the curly, fancy script embossed on the cover of the binder. 'The complete works of Jane Austin'

"I've wanted this for ages!" I said happily and beamed at my cousin. I passed Cissa and Lucius their respective presents and they unwrapped them. My aunt thanked me for the gift and Lucius' lips twitched when he opened his. They both got me make up and some perfume I had spotted in Diagon Alley, but had not had enough money for. After we were done opening presents, I jerked my head in Severus direction, silently asking if he wanted to go somewhere private to open each other's respective presents. We slipped out and were soon in Severus room. I took stock of the room. It was rather like Severus himself, even if he had only been living there for a few days. It was neat, tidy and practical. I liked it.

I passed him the gift I had bought. As he unwrapped it carefully, I saw his eyes shine. I wanted to giggle at how he was acting over a book, before remembering I was probably the same. I had bought him a very old and worn potions book I had found in a dingy little shop in one of the offshoots of Diagon.

He turned it over almost reverently. "Thank you." He said seriously.

I flushed at his sincerity and accepted the neatly wrapped box he passed to me.

I took a deep breath and opened his present. My jaw dropped. It was beautiful. The pendant was small and looked delicate, fashioned into the shape of a heart with a small intricately designed gunmetal grey snake wrapping it's slender coils around it.

"My god, this is amazing!" I said, turning it over in my hands almost reverently. I looked up at him and gave him a beaming smile.

Over the next few weeks I stayed in my room reading and talking to Severus through my mind, I found it endearing how he was so engrossed in his new book. Lucius came up to my room a few days before I had to go back to Hogwarts. He knocked on my door announcing his presence and I called for him to come in.

I slotted my book back in its proper place and turned to face my uncle.

"Enjoying your new books?" he asked casually, referring to the collection Draco had bought me.

"Very much so. Having fun with your cane cleaner?" I asked, feeling cheeky.

He gave me a dry look and I suppressed a giggle. He sighed and his face turned serious. "

While you're at Hogwarts," he began, hesitating. I leaned forward, earnest. "Please be careful." His grey eyes bored into mine. I took a breath and gave him a small, reassuring smile.

"Of course."