The Secret Hidden Inside
Chapter IX
"Christmas Morning"
…
Draco Malfoy's silver eyes flew open. He sat up in bed with a start and shook his head.
'This is so stupid! Why won't she just get out of my head?!' he thought angrily. But, even as he was thinking this, something caught his eye. He looked down at the foot of his bed and found a small, square-shaped package. It was addressed to him, and it was from…
"Dad?!" Draco exclaimed, immediately disappointed.
'I guess this means you won't be coming downstairs today, either,' he thought gloomily.
He picked up the package and tossed it roughly in his schoolbag. He then yanked his door open angrily and headed downstairs, where he sat in front of the fireplace in the lounge, scowling at the dancing embers.
Draco looked at the Christmas tree, which glittered brightly in the early morning sun. He had already received most of his presents the night before, when his friends had come over, but there were still some under the tree form his mother and anyone who had not attended the night before.
Draco felt himself cool down a bit when he saw Snape descending the staircase. It was a distraction, at least. He rose to his feet and greeted him, putting on a smile.
"'Morning, Snape!" he said.
"Good morning, Draco," Snape replied, managing a half-smile. He sat on one of the couches in the lounge, and Draco assumed the seat beside him.
"So, how late did you stay up?" Draco asked, for sake of conversation.
"Not much later than you, actually," was Snape's reply.
Why did he always have to be so vague? It left Draco in a state of nothing to say but what was actually on his mind. "Did dad come downstairs before that?"
"No…but he might've after I went to my room," Snape answered with a shrug. "I'm not sure."
"I don't see how he can go so long without talking," Draco mused. "I have to say at least a hundred words a day or I'll completely bore myself to death! I just…don't get it."
Snape smirked. "Not everyone is the same, Draco."
"Good morning, Sweetie!" said a voice behind them, and Draco turned around to catch his mother's embrace.
"Good morning, mom," Draco awarded her a smile. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas, Sweetie! Merry Christmas, Severus," Narcissa added, turning her gaze to Snape.
"Merry Christmas, Narcissa," Snape stood up from his seat with a gentle smile, and he opened his arms to hug the woman, as well. "Is Lucius awake yet?"
"I don't know," Narcissa answered. "He didn't come to bed last night. He stayed in his study."
She sighed, and, when both Snape and Draco frowned at this realization, the woman put on a false smile. "Well, I suppose you might as well get started, Sweetie," she told her son.
"Some are for you too, mom," Draco pointed out, his silver eyes wandering to the pile under the tree. "But…can't we do this after breakfast? You never know, maybe dad will come down by then."
Narcissa's smile turned more sincere, and she nodded her head. "Alright, Sweetie, we'll wait a little. What do you say, Severus?"
"I suppose we can wait," Snape shrugged, though he inwardly thought the two were just setting themselves up for disappointment. "It really doesn't make much of a difference to me."
"Great," Draco smiled. "Breakfast, then!"
Hermione Granger tore away from underneath her blankets at top speed. She had to beat Harry to the living room, or his hopes would die. When she came to the open room, she had to suppress the laughter at the sight she beheld: there, sitting on the small table, was the full glass of milk and untouched cookies.
"Aw, poor, Harry," she said to herself, but in amusement, as she picked up the plate of cookies and the glass of milk. "I guess it's up to me to make sure he isn't disappointed." So, she quickly drank the milk and set the glass back down. She then ate two of the three cookies.
"Oh," she realized, glancing down at her stomach. "I might not be able to eat breakfast if I eat this last cookie." She considered throwing it in the fireplace, but that seemed like a waste. Therefore, she nodded her head decisively and ate it in one bite, then set the plate back down and wiped the crumbs off her face.
Just as Hermione swallowed the last bits of the cookie, Harry came running into the room with a broad smile on his face.
"Merry Christmas, Harry!" Hermione exclaimed with a smile.
"Right back at you, early-bird!" Harry returned.
She smiled, before bringing her honey brown eyes to rest on the empty plate. "Oh look, Harry! Santa did eat the cookies and milk! Well, you've proven me wrong, there is a Santa Clause."
Harry shook his head. "You ate all those cookies before I came down, Mione, I saw you swallowing the last one," he informed her. "But yes, there is a Santa Clause; Professor Dumbledore told me about him. He said that he's a wizard that goes to everyone's house and delivers presents. The elves are house-elves that work for him. They make toys and keep the place in tact. He uses the time-turner to go to everyone's house on Christmas Eve, and you know how they say he can read your mind? Well, he uses Legilimency. So, Ole St. Nick is real, Mione!"
Hermione stared at him in disbelief. "I…never would have thought of that, Harry. I'm honestly a little impressed. Wow."
Harry nodded. "It shocked me, too. And he doesn't eat all the cookies! He brings some home to his house-elves."
Hermione smiled at this thought, "Well, I'll be sure to remember that if I ever see a strange in my house on Christmas Eve." Indicating the tree, she said, "Anyway, I can't wait for mom and dad to get up. And I can't wait to open those presents!"
Harry nodded in agreement. "You know," he said, looking around the house, "it's weird not spending this Christmas at Hogwarts. It's usually just me and Ron."
"Hm," Hermione mused thoughtfully, "I wonder what Ron's up to."
He returned his emerald eyes to her and asked, "Wanna find out?" Before waiting for a response, he lifted the house phone in his hand.
"Yeah, we should," she nodded in agreement.
The telephone rang as George walked by. He quickly picked it up and asked through laughter, "Hello?"
"Hey, this is Harry! Is Ron there?"
"Only always!" George answered. "Ronnies! Your little friends want to talk to you!"
Ron quickly snatched the phone from George and said, "Shut-up, you stuck-up git! Hello?"
"Hey, Ron! This is Harry!"
"Yeah, I figured," the ginger replied dryly. "So, how's Hermione?"
"Well, actually, she wants to talk to you," Harry told him.
George was listening in on the other line and chose now to reveal this. "Oh, Ronnies! Mione wants to talk to you! Remember, she's a girl, so don't be yelling at her! And don't stay talking to her for too long, you know that's not the right thing!"
Ron's face grew red-hot when he heard these words, and he felt sweat trickle down the back of his neck. "Shut-up, George!" he roared angrily.
Ginny and Fred walked by, and Fred said, "Ooh, Ron, I can feel the heat of embarrassment coming off you from ten feet away! Is Hermione that cute?"
"Ron, are you talking to a girl?" Ginny asked, acting shocked in attempt to mock him.
"Why does everyone in this house treat me like crap?!" he bellowed.
Fred, Ginny, and George, who had just entered the room, burst into a fit of uncontrolled laughter.
"I'm serious!" Ron shouted vehemently.
Harry quickly handed the phone to Hermione. "He wants to talk to you, Mione."
Hermione smiled and took the phone from Harry. "Hello?" she asked. When there was no answer, she asked again, "Hello?"
Ron heard her voice emerge from the phone and quickly picked it up. "Hello."
"Ron?"
"Yeah, it's me," he answered dryly.
"Okay, so how are you?" she asked.
Ron glanced at Ginny, Fred, and George, then answered, "You could say I'm okay. Yourself?"
"Great!" Hermione's voice sounded excited. "Are you having a good Christmas so far?"
"I s'pose," he answered, glaring at his siblings.
"Well, good. I'm glad to hear it. And your brothers and sister aren't giving you a hard time?"
"I guess you could say that," he mumbled, still steaming.
"So, did Bill and Charlie end up coming?" she asked.
"Well, Bill did. Charlie was held back at work in Romania," Ron replied boredly. "So, how are your parents, Mione?"
"They're good! As a matter of fact…they just woke up! I've got to go, Ronald! I'll see you later, okay?"
"'Kay," Ron mumbled.
"Have a Merry Christmas," she instructed.
"You, too," he told her. "Bye, Hermione."
"Bye," Hermione then hung up the phone and turned to her parents. "Merry Christmas, mom and dad!"
"Merry Christmas, Hermione," Mark pulled his daughter into a hug.
"Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Granger," Harry said smiling. "I suppose it's time to unwrap the presents under the Christmas tree?"
Kaitlyn smiled down at him and replied, "I see no real harm in that. You may go ahead."
Harry's smile broadened as he ran to the tree. As it was, the mere thought of opening presents always exited him, as he had been denied this pleasure for years during his time with the Dursleys. Hermione laughed as he handed everyone their presents, taking a seat comfortably on the couch and putting everything of hers into a neat pile.
After he was finished, Harry tore away at his own wrapping paper and smiled at everything he got. The others followed suit, Mark even more animatedly than Harry, and Kaitlyn laughed at the pair of them.
When Hermione came to the last present, it had been addressed to her, but there was no mention who it was from. She raised her eyebrow in confusion, and unwrapped it. Inside lay a silk ribbon, which was a stunning, almost surreal, shade of red. It was outlined in rubies, and, at the center, there was an intricate design that surrounded a diamond. In the box, there was a note, and Hermione read it quickly.
Merry Christmas, Hermione Granger,
I couldn't resist. I sent an owl with it this morning and he returned before you woke up. I will not reveal my true identity, but please accept this simple gift. Oh, yeah. Don't overuse it!
Hermione stared down at it with a puzzled expression. Harry, who had taken to watching his friend's confused expression, tapped her on the shoulder and asked, "What's that say?"
She shrugged and handed it to him. "I honestly don't know what to make of it," she admitted.
After reading the contents, Harry lifted his gaze to her, looking equally perplexed. "Now what is that supposed to mean?"
