A/N: Sorry for the delay in getting this chapter posted, sometimes real life gets in the way! Thanks so much for all the follows, favorites and reviews, you can't imagine how much they mean to me!

Thanks to CindyBarnard, who is my fantastic beta! I couldn't do this without her!

Check out The Auror Mentalist Pinterest Board to see who my headcanon is for Narcissa Malfoy and her dress for the ball!

Username: ffaChalayne
Contact Name & Business Name: Fanfiction Author Chalayne

Chapter 10

Hermione wakes to the noise of laughter downstairs, she is glad to hear it since there wasn't much of it last year, but spending Christmas at the Burrow isn't the same as spending it with her parents. This is her third Christmas in a row without them.

The first year she didn't think it could get any worse; she and Harry were on the run, Ron had deserted them, a giant snake tried to eat them and they almost died – that part was commonplace – but she had been preoccupied trying to save the world. The Christmas after the war was more devastating than the last, truly awful. They were no longer in physical danger, but everyone was emotionally damaged; mourning was the norm with Fred gone, along with everyone else they had lost. The only bright spot was little Teddy, Remus and Tonks' son. They had made Harry his godfather, but their loss was a shadow hanging over them as well.

Then there was Ron in all his nasty glory, mean-spirited and always angry, sitting in the corner making snide comments. Hermione hadn't felt slighted when he did not get her a gift as he didn't get one for anyone, but he didn't thank her for his. She had finally perfected knitting, didn't use magic to make his gifts and had been heartbroken when he leaned over to George and sniped, "she thinks I'm a bloody house elf." Molly had even been impressed when she showed her the hat and mittens she had made to go with his annual Christmas jumper.

Hermione unconsciously hugs herself as she thinks about the other Christmases she'd had since she started Hogwarts, wishing she had spent additional ones with her parents, but at the time she thought she would have plenty more. She'd only spent two of the Christmas breaks with them, her first year, and in 1996 when she and Ron had been rowing for most of that year. They had planned to all go skiing the year before, but she had rushed off to Grimauld Place after Arthur Weasley had been attacked and she wishes she had not.

With a heavy heart, Hermione thinks back to what was probably their last Christmas together. She had cried and told her Mum about everything that had happened with Ron and Lavender Brown and her disaster of a date with Cormac McLaggen. She had hugged her tightly then went and canceled all her remaining dental appointments for the year. They became friends that holiday, not just mother and daughter, they had spent the time together shopping, baking and talking. On Christmas Eve, she, her Mum, and Dad had wrapped up all the biscuits - the only time of the year sweets was allowed - they had made and gone caroling to deliver the treats to their neighbors. She can almost hear her father's baritone singing "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" in her ear, she would much rather hear him than Celestina Warbeck, whom Molly loves so much.

Hermione sits up and when she rubs her eyes and realizes she's been crying. She huffs; she really is tired of doing that. She glances at the picture on her nightstand, of the three of them from a Christmas several years before Hogwarts. She is holding her stuffed unicorn that she had named Sparkles. She remembers when she read about them before she started her first year, and ran to her Mum, the book and Sparkles in hand, jumping up and down squealing "Mum they are real! They are real! Maybe I can get one for a pet!" Her mom looked at her in wonder and said, "This is brilliant! I love that my lil girl is full of magic!" She hugged her and they read about unicorns together. She was disappointed when she realized a unicorn wouldn't make a good pet, but then her Mum promised she could get her very own familiar whenever she was ready and it made the world right again. She picks up her journal and writes about this, her parents, about some of her happiest Christmas memories and how loved they made her feel. Her writing made her feel warm today, instead of hollow, which is an improvement.

She stretches and looks around her room; she and Ginny don't have to share one anymore since none of the boys live there now. She smiles when she sees that almost everything is packed and ready to go to her new flat. She gets out of bed to get ready for the day.

She finds Molly in the kitchen and chuckles when she hears Warbeck coming from the wireless. Molly turns and greets her, "Happy Christmas Hermione!" She wipes her hands and walks over to Hermione and gives her a hug. "I am really going to miss you when you move."

She releases her and steps back biting her lip before she says, "Me too Molly, you all have been so wonderful to me. I don't know what I would have done without you."

Molly pats her cheeks lovingly. "You may not be my blood, but you are my daughter dear." She smiles her motherly smile and hugs her again, breaking the hug, she brushes a tear hoping Hermione doesn't see.

"What do you need me to do?"

"I have everything ready, just finishing cleaning up. I left a breakfast plate on the counter for you. Why don't you eat then head to the living room, Arthur, Harry, and Ginny are in there already."

"Thank you, Molly."

-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Draco startles awake from a heavy sleep, he is sure he was having a nightmare but the tendrils of the dream have already slipped away. He tends to have these when he spends any time with his father. There are too many reminders around him of Draco's darkest days. His pulse is still elevated so he takes slow deep breaths until it is back in a normal range.

He pulls himself out of bed and goes to the loo. He's only been in France since yesterday afternoon and the stress is already showing on his face, a haunted look and dark circles under his eyes. He grumbles to as he gets into a hot shower and hopes to wash his resentment away. If it had not been for his mother, he would not have stayed yesterday. At least her motives are pure, desiring grandchildren to spoil and wanting him to settle down and have a family to love and be loved in return. On the other hand, his father was always scheming in the background to improve his power and status.

Draco took a portkey to the French Ministry of Magic, then apparated to the family château in Vallée de la Loire. When he arrived at his parents' home it seemed as if there were at least a hundred servants about the place. When he finally found his mother, she was in the ballroom overseeing decorations.

"Hello Draco darling isn't everything just lovely, everything is coming along perfectly for the Yule Ball this evening. It is wonderful to see you." She walks to her son and kisses his cheek, she hasn't noticed his displeasure. "I have had your dress robes laid out for you in your room. Guests will be here at 7:00 pm so that should give you plenty of time to get ready so you can greet everyone with your father and me."

She walks away and begins fussing with a flower arrangement. He clenches his jaw and tries not to let bitterness seep into his voice since his mother seems radiant with having something to do. "Everything looks wonderful Mother. How long have you been planning this affair?"

"Your father suggested it right after you left for Auror training." Narcissa then turns to face her son and notices his tension and furrows her brow, realizing Lucius duplicitous behavior she exclaims, "Oh Draco! I didn't think…" He catches her hand as she reaches for him, lightly squeezes it and says, "I was taken by surprise is all. I am sure it will be superb with you as hostess." He kisses her cheek and smiles so she will know he is not upset with her. "I believe I will go and rest a bit before getting ready for the festivities tonight." She returns his smile. "I am glad you are here son." He manages to give her a nod.

Once out of the ballroom he heads immediately to his father's study, he doesn't bother knocking when he enters and strides angrily to his father's desk and with much venom asks, "I take it that there will be many appropriate families with single daughters attending tonight."

His father smirks and replies, his voice thick with condescension, "Yes, from Great Britain and France. Very astute of you, son."

This infuriates Draco, even though he already knew what his answer would be, he knows his parents have been on a match-making spree since he flat out refused an arranged marriage his father had tried to force on him after the war. He told them both pointedly that the Malfoy line would end with him if they even thought about it. He has lost all respect for the man in front of him, he glowers at his father. Deciding to no longer play his tedious game, he turns on his heel and stalks out of the room.

As he assumed, the ball is drudgery. For the sake of his mother, he plays the part of a Malfoy aristocrat well, flirting, dancing, and feigning interest in the insipid girls who drone on about the mundane. It's 10:00 pm and Draco had a horrible migraine and he knows it will be hours before the ball winds down. He glances around the room, looking for an escape and notices his father and mother speaking with Mr. and Mrs. Greengrass, and their daughters. His mother catches his eye and she is wearing a conspiratorial smile. Draco deflates and closes his eyes, rubbing them roughly. So Daphne or Astoria is who his father is angling for as his wife. He is so tired of this life and this world where his father continues to play Lord of the Manor and his mother is still the perfect pureblood wife and mother. It is like the bloody war never happened for them! How can it not have changed them as much as it changed me. Draco blows out a breath in a huff after he opens his eyes, and sees Lucius and the Greengrasses walking toward him. Merlin's saggy arse! There is no way he would consider either of these doltish twits. Daphne is a whore and he assumes Astoria still likes girls…I am bloody done with this shite. He schools his features, thanking the stars both matriarchs are still across the room, not sure he could actually say what he is about to in front of his Mum.

When his father and the Greengrass ensemble arrive at Draco's side, his father says, "Son, you remember Leo Greengrass and his daughters." Draco replies in his best smarmy tone, "But of course, lovely to see how well you all avoided any entanglements during the war." It had pissed him off that their family had stayed "neutral" paying lip-service to Voldemort during the war then damning everyone after who had been involved with him. He had been surprised to see them here but knows his family's money forgives a wealth of sins.

Lucius Malfoy practically hisses, "Draco," low and threatening. He ignores his father and kisses both girls' hands and continues, "Daphne, where is Blaise? I thought for sure you would be married or knocked up by now." She flushes in reply and he turns himself to Astoria, "and dear Astoria, out of her pigtails and into Pansy's knickers now, correct?" He glances at his father who has now turned puce and his mouth is gaping open like a fish. He sneers at him and says "Come now Father, everyone knows everyone's dirty little secrets at Hogwarts. Girls, wasn't my nickname the Slytherin sex god? And of course, everyone knew I was enslaved by my father's misdeeds to a madman." With this, Draco pulls up his sleeve and shoves it in his father's face

"Too bad my skin is all marred now where his mark used to be. Mr. Greengrass, I am sure you would not want to sully your perfect daughters with the likes of a former Death-Eater, no matter how much gold is in his family Gringotts vault. If you'll excuse me." He gives them his best smirk, turns on his heel and heads upstairs putting up multiple protective, muffling and locking spells once he entered his room.

Draco knows there will be hell to pay this morning, but the shocked looks on all their faces last night was enough to deal with the fallout of his words. He turns off the water and steps out of the shower thinking might as well get this day started.