I smiled at his kindness. "No, thank you Mr. Malfoy. I'll be just fine. I'll floo you as soon as I'm home."
Smiling and offering one last wave, I pulled out my little blue ball and began the long journey home.
CHAPTER 10: CHRISTMAS PRESENTS
I arrived home to find that all was well, Hugo was just waking when I peeked into his room and the fake me was still in place. Quickly, I cast the spell to remove her and fell in a heap onto my bed, and, groaning, sat right back up. Walking to the fireplace, I grabbed a fistful of floo powder and said clearly, "Malfoy Manor."
I poked my head into the green flames and found myself staring into the parlor from the view of the fireplace. Adelaide's big, green eyes greeted me first.
"Hello Rose. Did you make it home okay?"
"Yea, I'm fine. Mind telling your dad that?"
She smiled at me. "Sure. DAD! ROSE IS IN THE FIREPLACE!" She bellowed. I laughed.
Mr. Malfoy walked swiftly into the room, black robes swirling around him. He nodded when he saw me. Oh, how that man loved to nod!
"You made it home safely, I hope."
"Yes, sir. Thank you for asking."
"Just being cautious. Well, I'll leave you two to chat." I watched as Mr. Malfoy walked away, leaving Adelaide and I in silence.
"I'd love to stay and talk, Adelaide, but I really must go. I don't know when mum and dad are coming home."
Adelaide nodded. "Understandable. I'll tell Scorpius that you're safe. Don't forget to write me!"
"I won't." I laughed, pulling my head out of the flames. Wiping off some ash from my forehead, I walked into the kitchen. "Breakfast, Hugo?"
"Yea, yea, yea!" He went to sit at the table while I fixed him something to eat. I glanced at the clock and saw that it was nearly eleven o'clock. Hugo had really slept in late. I guessed that he must've stayed up late with mum and dad.
"Breakfast Hugo," I said when the porridge was done. He dug into it greedily, making a mess of the kitchen. I frowned. "You're making a mess, Hugo." He grinned at me and flung some porridge at me. "Oh ho, no you don't!"
I threw some porridge back and hence, the porridge wars began. Mum was furious when she got home.
"I leave you alone for one day and I come home to find this. Rose, you know better than that! Look what a mess you've made of my kitchen!" She then proceeded to clean up the mess, waving her wand over all of the soiled surfaces. "Rose, no broomstick for two days. And Hugo, no more bouncy ball until I say you can have it back. Rooms. Both of you. Now."
I gawked at my mother. No broomstick? For two days?! It wasn't possible. I was going to die! Besides, the mess wasn't even that bad!
"But mum-"
"No buts! Get to your room!"
I stormed off, fists clenched. Stupid Hugo, stupid porridge, stupid mum! I wished I had just stayed at Malfoy Manor. This was so unfair!
I heard dad come home and listened at the door as mum told him what happened. He laughed when she said that Hugo and I had had a porridge fight – before mum told him off.
"Oh, come on Hermione. They were just having a bit of fun-"
"A bit of fun?! They nearly destroyed my kitchen!" I pictured mum's fuming face and dad's bemused expression. I had to put a hand over my mouth to stifle a giggle.
"Obviously it was nothing a few charms couldn't fix."
Silence. I held my breath, waiting for mum to go on. After a few seconds, mum told him about our punishments and dad sighed.
"No broomstick for two days? That's going to kill her, Hermione. And the damage wasn't even permanent…" he sounded a little disappointed. "How about one day? And as for Hugo… couldn't we give him his ball back later on tonight? You know how he loves that thing…"
I heard mum sigh and then, "I suppose."
I flung open my door and jumped into dad's arms. "Thank you, daddy! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I kissed him on the cheek before heading off into my room, ready to ride out my twenty-four hours without a broom.
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Christmas came in a flash and I found myself sitting impatiently under the Christmas tree before I knew it. Hugo was next to me, staring at a rather large present with his name on it. Finally, mum said the magic words.
"Okay you two, you can open your presents now."
I tore open the closet one and pulled out a hand-knitted sweater from Grandma Molly. It was brown with a red "R" on the front. I loved it. Immediately, I pulled it over my head and smiled proudly at mum and dad before opening my next present.
I received a rubber duck from Grandpa Arthur, tickets to a Holyhead Harpies game from Aunt Ginny and Uncle Harry, a chess set from James, a flower that changed colors randomly from little Lily, a butterfly hairpin that fluttered from Albus, a stuffed bear that sang "Broomstick Bliss" when you waved your wand at it from Hugo, even a mini Sorting Hat that talked to you when you put it on from Teddy. But, by far, the best present was a new broomstick from mum and dad.
It was long and sleek, the handle golden in color. The words Snitchcatcher Three Thousand were etched in silver along the side. I hugged it to my chest and yelled, "I love it! I simply love it!"
Jumping up, I hugged mum and dad before shooting out the door and into the sky.
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Dear Rose,
Happy Christmas! How's your break been? Tell me, did your parents ever find out, about, you know. That? I wish you could be here with us. What presents did you get? Write me soon!
Love,
Adelaide
P.S. I hope you like your present!
I tore open the package and found a heart-shaped locket inside. On it was a rose. It was green on the outside, thought the rose was silver, and silver on the inside. Slytherin colors, I thought and then shrugged.
I put it around my neck and opened it once again. I jumped when it started singing to me.
"Surprise, surprise. What a lovely little surprise you have. One given out of love-"
I shut the locket. Slowly, I opened it again.
"Surprise, surprise. What a lovely little surprise..." I listened to the high-pitched voice. It was obviously female, but I didn't think I knew who it was. And then I gasped. I did know who.
The song abruptly changed with my shock and then understanding. I assumed the songs differed, depending on my mood. I smiled.
Dear Adelaide,
You never told me you could sing! The present is absolutely wonderful and I love it! Thanks so much!
My break has been great. Mum and dad got me a new broom! It's a Snitchcatcher Three Thousand. You should see this thing, it's amazing! I got a lot of other presents, too, but nothing as cool as the broom and your locket!
No, my parents didn't find out, but they will if you keep mentioning it! No worries, though. I'm sure our secret is safe. I wish you were here, too!
Lots of love,
Rose
I tied a similar package to the one that Adelaide sent to her owl's leg. I got her her present while mum and I were shopping in Diagon Alley. It was a charmed mirror that would change your appearance in away way, shape, or form so long as you picture the image of yourself in your mind and then look into the mirror. I had tried it a few times already. The effects wore off over an hour or two, but it was still fun. I hoped she liked it.
Once Adelaide's owl had flown away, I took out a piece of parchment and wrote to Scorpius.
Dear Scorpius,
Merry Christmas! I hope all is going well. Any interesting presents? I got a Snitchcatcher Three Thousand from mum and dad! It's so fast! You should see it! Anyway, I was just writing you to give you your present. Enjoy!
Lots of love,
Rose
I wrapped up his present and tied to Remus's leg. It was a silver ring with a black stone and a green "S" etched into it. I knew how proud he was of being in Slytherin house so I figured the ring would remind him of Salazar Slytherin. I just hoped he liked it.
Later that day, I got an owl from Hagrid. He sent me some rock cakes and I had mum heat them up for me before eating them. At least, they were a little softer…
I also got an owl from Scorpius.
Dear Rose,
Thanks for the ring. Happy Christmas. Here's your present.
Scorpius
I tore open the package and found two things. The first was a set of jacks that glowed and pulsed with light, like the fire in the room under the lake. The little bouncy ball pulsed in the same rhythm and pattern as the jacks. I smiled.
Then I looked at the next present and gasped. It was a Snitch. I held it up. Quidditch sets were expensive, especially considering that the most valuable piece in the set was made out of pure gold. Mum and dad had been saving up for almost a year for a set, and now I had the most expensive piece. I quickly scribbled back a thank you and sent Remus off to Malfoy Manor once again. I set the Snitch down on my bed and watched as it slowly unfurled its wings, twitching all the while. When it finally rose into the air, I did my best to catch it, giving up after half an hour of no success.
I sat on my bed and watched the golden ball whiz around my room. Without realizing it, I reached up and opened the locket around my neck. It sang to me and I fell asleep, listening to the music of Adelaide's voice and the Snitch's wings.