Chapter 10
Christmas Hols
Soon it was the Christmas holidays. Snow covered the grounds like a majestic blanket. Nearly everyone had left for the holidays, including Aura. The Malfoy's had invited both her and her father, but he had declined. Her father had allowed her to go with the condition that she leave and return with Draco, not by herself.
On Christmas Eve, they were having a party where children were only allowed to stay until ten. She had donned her new midnight blue dress, which had an appropriate v-neck, and long sleeves, that were slit up to her elbow. Narcissa Malfoy had left Draco with Lucius, and she had fussed over Aura the entire day.
Aura had tried on about a hundred different necklaces, when Mrs. Malfoy found the right one. An obsidan black choker, bracelet, ring, earrings, headband, and broach. It was made out of onyx stones, beautifully designed.
When she was allowed to enter the sitting room, after about three hours of hair and make-up, she gasped. Draco looked very handsome with his white-blond hair slicked back, in contrast to his onyx dress robes. He was also wearing a midnight-blue dress shirt and he had a rose, charmed to be the same color as his shirt and her dress, in his robe pocket.
"Wow. You look-" Draco started.
"You too." Aura said as she smiled at him.
The guests were due to arrive in fifteen minutes. The elder Malfoys were elegantly dressed as well. Narcissa, in a blood red dress, with an appropriate v-neck and long sleeves that were wide from the elbow to the wrist. She was wearing silver jewelry that contrasted perfectly with her dress.
Lucius, was wearing black dress robes, much like Draco's but with a blood-red dress shirt underneath and a dark red rose. His hair was perfectly straightened, and hung down past his shoulders.
When the guests arrived their children were left with Draco and Aura, who chatted away happily with their friends. Dinner was served within an hour, and it was a small salad, a choice of roasted pork or lamb, treacle tart and a small piece of chocolate cake. The adults drank red wine, while the children drank tea.
When the dancing began, it was half-past eight. Pansy Parkinson was dancing with Gregory Goyle, while Millicent Bulstrode danced with Theodore Nott. They were both shooting desperate looks towards Draco. Blaise Zabini just shot a look at Aura that clearly read, dance with me.
Aura was watching the proceedings with an amused smirk, and sipping punch, when she felt a tap on her shoulder.
"May I have this dance?" Theodore Nott asked.
"You may." Aura said, putting her glass on the table.
She danced a few songs with Theo, and excused herself. She went back to the corner where Draco had taken residence, and stood next to him.
"Sulking?" Aura asked in an amused tone.
"I was watching. Crabbe and Goyle are rubbish at dancing. It looks like Pansy and Millicent are about to explode." Draco said as Aura giggled.
"You do know they were hoping to dance with you right?" She said as Draco shuddered. Giggling again, Aura took another sip of the punch.
"While I'm in the company of a beautiful young lady, would you dance with me?" Draco said, taking her hand in his, and bowing slightly to brush the tips of her fingers with his lips.
"I will." Aura said as they started towards the dance floor, hand-in-hand.
"You're good at dancing." Aura commented, letting him lead her.
"So are you." Draco said, taking the lead again as the waltz started.
They danced together for the remainder of the night, and Aura fell asleep instantly, dreaming of her long-lost family.
The next day was Christmas morning, and, as it was tradition to both their families, they had woken up at nine to start unwrapping presents.
Aura slipped on her green dress, with matching shoes, fixed her hair, and rushed into Draco's room, knocking only for propriety's sake, and seconds after running in. She ran over to him and started shaking him.
"Go 'way." Draco mumbled, pulling his pillow over his head.
"Draco get up!"
"M'tired."
"Draco Malfoy, get your lazy arse up this instant!"
"What d'you want?" he slurred.
"It's Christmas."
"What-oh! Sorry, um, forgot." He said with a sheepish smile.
"Well get up! I'll be downstairs." Aura said as she left.
Aura descended the stairs giving her hair a few extra pats for good measure.
"Good Morning, Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy. Happy Christmas!" Aura greeted them as she sat down. "Good Morning Aura, Happy Christmas." Mr. Malfoy said as he continued to red the Daily Prophet.
"Good Morning dear, don't mind him. He woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. Happy Christmas." Mrs. Malfoy said, cheerfully, as Mr. Malfoy glared at her. Aura giggled at the exchange.
"I had all of your presents sent over from Prince manor. They're under the tree with Draco's. We opened ours last night." She said, gesturing to the enormous tree.
Draco came in at that moment, in a green turtleneck sweater, and he was wearing beige pants and shoes. His blonde hair was no longer the haystack it had been this morning. It was combed back, neatly.
"Happy Christmas mum, dad, Aura." he said as they echoed it.
Mrs. Malfoy gestured for them to start opening their gifts. Aura got money, clothes, and jewelry. Draco got money clothes, Quidditch gear, and a new broomstick.
There were two gifts left, and both Aura and Draco reached for them, opening them slowly. They were from her father. Draco opened his to reveal a purebred Siamese cat. It was white and silky.
In Aura's was a midnight black owl with a note tied to its leg. The note said:
Dearest Daughter,
I apologize I could not come with you to the Malfoy's. I had to brew countless potions for the hospital wing. I will see you when classes resume. If you want to send anyone letters I have sent you an owl. So many students have familiars and you and Draco should too.
Happy Christmas,
Severus Snape
"What're you naming your owl?" Draco asked.
"I think I'll name her Noaptae. What are you naming your cat?"
"Laika. Come on, let's go play in the snow."
"I'm going to change, be back in a minute." Aura said as she ran back upstairs.
Fifteen minutes later, they were outside making a snowman. Aura threw a snowball at Draco, all of a sudden.
"Hey!" Draco protested, wiping the snow off of him.
"Let's have a snowball fight!"
"I don't know…."
"Come on Dragon. My father and I always have them at home."
"Fine. But I get first throw!" He yelled as Aura ducked behind the snowman for protection.
They kept playing like this until a very agitated-looking house elf came to fetch them. They shared a knowing look and threw their snowballs at it.
"Master Draco and Mistress Aura are to be coming in for lunch." He croaked and then disapparated.
"Come on, Dragon. Let's go inside." Aura said in a disappointed voice, as they walked inside.
After a small lunch, they started on their school assignments.
The rest of the break was similar to this, until the last day. They were going into Diagon Alley.
Aura and Draco floo'ed there while Mr. Malfoy apparated. They were meeting at Florean Fortescue's in two hours, because Mr. Malfoy had to run an errand in Knockturn Alley and flat-out refused to take them.
"Come on Draco, let's go to Flourish and Blotts'."
Aura said. "We can come back to Quality Quidditch Supplies later." Aura dragged a reluctant Draco away from the store window.
When they entered Flourish and Blotts', Aura went straight to the rare books section.
"Aura look at this!" Draco said in an awed voice.
He was holding up an ancient diary. She took a few other books such as:
Ancient Curses
A Parselmouth's Guide
Diary of Salazaar Slytherin
Great Snakes and where to find them
Slytherin's Ancestry
When she went to pay, the shopkeeper gave her a strange look, but said,
"That's going to be seventeen galleons."
Aura pulled the money out of her purse as he shrunk the items and handed them to her. When they exited the shop she turned to Draco and said,
"I'm going to Knockturn Alley."
"Father's going to kill us." He whined.
"You don't have to come."
"I'm not letting you go there alone."
"Then, hurry up. We've spent about half an hour already." Aura said as she pulled her hood over her head, and Draco did the same.
Aura kept as much space between herself and the Alley's inhabitants as possible. There were old hags selling poisoned candles and others selling dark objects and cursed necklaces. One witch was even selling human skulls. Draco followed her reluctantly. When they got to Borgin and Burke's, Aura pulled Draco in as fast a humanly possible, and walked up to the counter.
"Excuse me sir." She said politely.
"Yes. What do you want?" He asked rudely, turning to face them.
"Do you have any rare potions ingredients for sale?"
"I have runespoor eggs, veela hair, and unicorn blood."
"I'll take the runespoor eggs.
"Fifteen runespoor eggs for fifty galleons."
"I'll give you thirty."
"Forty."
"Thirty-two."
"Deal." He said as he put the items in an expandable pouch, and cast an unbreakable charm on them.
Aura retrieved the money from her bag and paid him.
They rushed out of the store, but it took them an hour to get to Diagon Alley, because of the many people there.
"Come on, Aura." Draco said as he guided her towards Quality Quidditch Supplies.
They dropped their hoods and ran in. Gasping for breath, Aura sat down in one of the small chairs near the counter. She watched Draco examining some dragon-hide gloves and made a mental note to get them for his birthday on June 5th.
When nearly two hours since their arrival in the Alley had passed, they went to Florean Fortescue's, and ordered two ice creams.
"Everything went well, I presume?" The drawling voice of Lucius Malfoy asked.
"Yes, sir." Aura said respectfully as she started to eat her ice cream.
They started back off to the Manor and Aura wrapped her father's presents. The rest of the night was spent packing for school the next day.