Happy Christmas

Request for Ron Anderson

"Would you mind making a Malfoy daughter bestfriend the twins and falling for Fred, and being scared when shes invited for Christmas but they end up loving her?"

Like your younger brother would endure two years after you, you were sorted into Slytherin the second the Sorting Hat touched your pale blonde hair. The table cheered for you, Snape clapped approvingly, and McGonagall let out an exasperated sigh. You were the daughter of Lucius Malfoy, and given his snobby attitude and prejudice nature, no one expected kindness from you.

You were sharp, snarky, and witty. You could dish out the best insults and didn't let anyone get to you. You had some of the best marks in all of your classes and you made friends within your House easily. You were also gorgeous in the eyes of every male student that saw you. Your pale blonde locks fell freely down your back, cascading over your shoulders and gently falling into your eyes until you brushed them back with your delicate hand. Your (e/c) eyes sparkled in the light, casting an immediate spell (figuratively) on every onlooker. You were thin but toned, able to handle yourself in a physical fight should the need arise. You were everything everyone expected from the Malfoy heir.

That didn't mean you didn't have feelings. While you were a confident, self-assured young lady, you had your moments of doubt, too. Sometimes you fretted over a test when you hadn't had ample time to study. Of course, Snape would give you perfect marks regardless, but you preferred to earn them. When you worked for your grades, the lower students in class had no argument about how you were Snape's favorite. You were his favorite as well as the top student.

You wondered about your friends. You befriended all of Slytherin, including the first-years. You were now in your sixth year, and your brother Draco was in his fourth. He provided great company as you had a lot in common, but you didn't like his posse, Crabbe and Goyle. They irritated you with their dimwitted minds and love of snack cakes.

People feared you. It was an empowering feeling, sure, but it was also lonely. People respected you out of fear. They knew you had connections as well as your own skill. Everyone knew better than to cross (y/n) Malfoy. Draco was proud to have you as a sister, but you had to wonder how many people truly liked you. It wasn't something you thought about often, but when everyone went into a panic over the Triwizard Tournament, you began to understand true friendship and wondered if you had any.

You spent a lot of time with the Gryffindors during that year. Draco and Lucius were disgusted, but you insisted that you were testing the waters. You wanted to see what they were like – what friendship was like. You could handle yourself if they didn't want you around, but you had to try. They were all so happy and kind… it seemed so foreign. All you'd known was cold determination. No warm hugs, no apologetic glances or words of comfort. It was quiet empty.

You soon befriended the Weasley twins. Ron was more than a little wary of you hanging around his crowd, but Fred and George liked having you around. After a while, you learned how to tell them apart. You picked up on little things like how Fred's nose tilted up slightly while George's tilted down, and how Fred's eyes were slightly darker and his cheekbones slightly higher than his brother's. You knew that he was the instigator of all of their practical jokes (though that didn't mean that George didn't enjoy participating). You had learned that Fred was quicker to react to situations, jumping to action or emotion while George took an extra second to comprehend it.

You had developed a crush on the older twin, and after a few months of pining, you began dating him. His family was shocked at first that he was dating a Slytherin- a Malfoy, no less- but they soon decided that if Fred was happy, then they were happy.

And Fred was very, very happy.

You hadn't met his family properly yet. You knew George, of course, and you knew Ron and Ginny from school. You had seen his parents here and there at various wizarding events, but your father refused to let you speak with them. For all they knew, you were just as snobby and self-centered as your little brother. You were confident, sure, but you weren't a brat.

A couple of months before the holiday break, you had expressed to Fred how sad it would be to be away. You didn't like going home for the holidays. Christmas at Malfoy Manor was cold and brooding and the air was thick with unspoken tension. It was less a family holiday and more a jail cell. Fred had quickly invited you to his home for the holidays, insisting that his parents wouldn't mind. You had eventually accepted, but you were nervous out of your mind. What if they didn't like you? Well, they already didn't like you for your family. What if they didn't like you for you?

The time finally came for you and Fred to meet up with his family. He'd asked George to go ahead of him, with their brothers and sister, so he could ease you into it. You appreciated his thoughtfulness.

You followed him through the portal to the train station, looking around at the muggle families. Your father and brother had already gone, not wanting to stick around while you "fraternized with the enemy." You nervously chewed the inside of your lip as Fred greeted his family, waiting for him to introduce you. You'd never been more nervous for anything.

"Mum," Fred said sweetly. "This is (y/n)."

"You're the Malfoy girl," Molly replied simply, looking at you with an expression you couldn't read.

"Yes, ma'am," you replied politely. "It's a pleasure to meet you officially."

That seemed to be enough for her. She smiled brightly and patted your arm, leading you over to where the rest of her family was waiting to go home. You turned to Fred with surprise in your eyes and he grinned at you. The rest of the Weasleys were eying you cautiously, but at least two of them liked you.

Once at their home, you smiled at how homey it was.

"We know it's nothing compared to your fancy manor," Ron sneered.

"No," you replied. "It's wonderful. A whole manor for a four-person family… It's too much. It's empty and cold. This… This is a home. It's warm and inviting."

Molly smiled at your awe and led you around, giving you a short tour. She led you to the couch where you'd be sleeping, because Arthur didn't want you rooming with any of the kids. Fred had gotten offended for you, but you politely complied with their wishes. You wouldn't get them to like you by arguing. You understood Ginny's caution, and you were sure Molly wasn't a fan of co-ed bedrooms.

Christmas dinner soon rolled around, and you loved seeing how a proper family functioned. You looked at all of them in their matching sweaters with their initials sewn in. You could see the love and effort that went into their gifts, thinking back on your own parents and the pile of nothing that would have been your gift. Or you would have gotten another lecture on how you weren't acting like a proper Malfoy, spending time with mudblooded Gryffindors.

Even Harry and Hermione were spending Christmas with the Weasleys. They were such a kind family, taking in stray children who had nowhere to go for the holidays. You wished you could do this every year, but you were sure they didn't want you back.

"(y/n), dear," Molly said, holding a lumpy package in her hand. "This is for you."

"What? Me?" you repeated as it was passed down the table, finally reaching your hands.

"Open it," she urged with a soft smile. You tore through the paper and found a dark maroon sweater, a few shades darker than the one Fred was currently sporting. Lifting it from the wrapping, you saw your initial stitched into the front, just like everyone else's. From the corner of your eye you could see smiles lighting everyone's faces as they gauged your reaction. You blinked to keep the tears at bay as you slipped the soft material over your head.

"Thank you," you said after clearing your throat. "It's perfect."

Fred's hand found yours under the table and he smiled, lacing your fingers. You finally matched his smile with one of your own, squeezing his hand as food was passed around and happy conversation was made. You felt silly for having been so nervous. It turned out to be the best Christmas you'd ever had.