Harry Potter and all associated characters are the property of JK Rowling.
This story belongs to MinaandChao. I make no claim to ownership.
Chapter 10: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Harry and Draco headed up the stairs to the tallest room in the Manor. Wide, arching windows streamed sunlight into the circular room and inside of it was a podium with a book on it. Draco prodded Harry as he strode towards it and Harry rushed to keep step with him. The book was old, bound in rich, dark leather. Upon it was a silver and black iron crest, the shield of the crest was flanked on either side by black, writhing Wyrms, their wings unfurled and screeching. The shield was spiked and had snakes coiled about the top. In the middle on the patched green and black field was a glinting silver M, below which was an unfurled banner with the motto Sanctimonia Vincet Semper.
"It's the Malfoy family book. Traces us back as far as we go, and the Blacks too, which is Mother's side of the family."
Draco placed his hands on the book and whispered something and the book rose into the air, the pages flipped rapidly before settling, with some unknown charm, the pages of the book glowed hot before the ink on the page shot out and projected into the air. Draco smiled widely and rose his arm, tracing through the spectral display of names.
"What am I looking at?" Harry squinted up at the flurry of names.
"There. Married to Dorea Black."
With the uttering of the name, the line of descendants shot forward, a hot red, and Harry followed the line. "Charlus Potter." Harry stared at the name and rose up a hand, which passed through the smoky name effortlessly. His eyes drew down, searching for his own name. "Was she my Grandmother?"
"More likely an aunt of some kind. It doesn't trace to you, it only gives the name of the spouse and if they had children. She had a son who died before the first War."
Harry nodded, but his eyes traced back up to the name. The link between their families. "So... we're related?"
"Third cousins twice removed, or something crazy like that. Same with the Weasleys."
The Potter line sunk back into the din as the pages of the book flipped and a new bloodline shot out. The name Cedrella Black was connected to Septimus Weasley. The line didn't descend below them, though it was obvious the Weasley's had children.
"How come we're all related?" Harry asked, following the lines and names, which all seemed familiar.
"Inbreeding," Draco answered with a shrug. "Keeps the blood pure."
Harry stared at him. "Why?"
There was silence as Draco utterly failed to understand that. "Because it keeps us stronger?" He managed to voice, watching the other boy with wide, confused eyes.
Tilting his head, Harry thought about this. "But isn't inbreeding really bad? Like, weird stuff happens with the kids? That doesn't seem stronger."
"It makes the magic stronger." Draco told him.
That only served to confuse Harry more. "But, not all purebloods are really strong, but some non-purebloods are. Like no offense to Greg and Vincent, but they aren't really that good, and Hermione Granger is usually the first one to get stuff right."
Draco shook his head. "She's the exception, if anything. And she's just a know-it-all." His voice was getting sulky. "Purebloods are just better, okay?"
Staring at the other boy, Harry pointed out, "But, I'm a half-blood."
The other boy froze. Clearly he had forgotten that. "Well, you're the heir to the Potter line, who were really pure. I guess that was enough to keep you from getting bad effects."
"Then it doesn't matter that my Mum was a muggleborn at all?"
"Yes...no!" Draco flapped his hands around, unable to articulate himself. "Just...It's better to be Pureblood. That's it!" Harry wanted to point how much sense that didn't make, but just sighed and shrugged. There was no sense in trying to talk to Draco when he was so worked up.
Draco grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the room, babbling about the library and the Manor, unusually transparent in his attempts to change the subject. The two went back up to the section they had been in before breakfast, and Harry happily settled down with a potions book - a different one than the one he'd been so excited about before. It was well beyond his level. Draco grabbed a few Quidditch books and flipped through them, restless and hyperactive.
Unable to ignore him, Harry finally broke. "Is there something else we can do? Like, you knew how to fly before Hogwarts. Do you have a place you go for that?" Draco's eyes lit up as he nodded, and the two went and grabbed their brooms. They made their way to the Malfoy's personal pitch (Harry wondered why they had one, considering they didn't have near enough people to make even one team, but figured asking that would only get him an eye roll). They spent a few hours happily whizzing around, playing Seeker vs Seeker (which Harry won every time, to Draco's clear frustration) and what was basically tag (which had them about equal, which calmed the other boy back down).
Finally, they trudged inside, tired and freezing, but happy. They both took showers and changed into cleaner clothes, before they made their way downstairs, looking for something to eat. Once down, they found Narcissa fiddling with a undecorated Christmas tree, making the branches either grow or shrink until it became picture perfect. On the table was a plate stacked high with Christmas themed biscuits. Draco reached out a grabbed one, nibbling on it contentedly, and Harry hesitantly took one as well. He paused before eating it, afraid he would be yelled at for eating Draco's treat, but Draco only gave him an odd look for hesitating when he had a treat, and Narcissa didn't seem to care at all. Reassured, he took a big bite and smiled at the taste. So that was what a Christmas biscuit tasted like.
Narcissa called out for the ornaments to be brought, and with a sharp crack a trunk appeared next to her. Almost simultaneously, Lucuis apparated into the front hall. He made his way into the large foyer, spelling fat snowflakes off his thick clock with an impatient flick of his wand. Narcissa greeted him with a kiss on the cheek, and Draco smiled softly at the warmth between them. Beside him, Harry ducked his head, feeling awkward and out of place.
"Alright," Narcissa announced, a flick of her wand making the trunk's lid fly open, revealing that it was full of ornaments. Another flick and several little figurines of Quidditch players, passing a Quaffle between them, flew out of the box and began circling the tree. "Youngest to oldest. Harry, if you'd start."
Wondering vaguely how she knew he was younger, Harry glanced at Draco, who pushed at his shoulder towards the trunk. Harry knelt by it, leaning down and picking out a figuring that looked like a little angel. He wondered if they knew what it was, or if it had just trickled down into their culture, in the same way the entire holiday had. In fact, he wondered why they celebrated Christmas at all.
A quick swish had the angel stretching like it had just woken up from a nice, long sleep, and then it took to the air, flapping its tiny, fluffy wings. It glowed softly. Harry watched it fly about, half amazed and half lost in his own thoughts, before he felt a shoulder knock into his. He glanced sideways and saw Draco digging through the trunk with abandon. Finally he pulled out one that looked like a dragon, but this one didn't have wings. After a moment, it shivered and then jumped out of Draco's hand, climbing up the tree like a cat and hopping from one branch to another, chasing after the Quidditch players or batting at the tufts of needles.
One by one they set off the various trinkets. Some were bells that chimed softly and prettily. Others were bows that changed colours or sizes. There were even a few that simply hung there, playing animations of childish drawings. Draco blushed slightly at those and tried to look utterly bored, but Harry liked those best. They were more heartfelt than the rest, somehow, Each one Narcissa picked up by hand and placed herself, rather than simply magicking, and every time Harry smiled just a bit wider.
Finally, all the decorations were up, and Lucius waved his wand in a little swirl and murmured a charm. Little fairy lights appeared all over the tree, blinking in and out of existence and twirling themselves around the branches. It was the prettiest thing Harry thought he'd ever saw.
Finished with their toil, hot chocolate cracked into the room for them, and the family chatted together easily, sharing memories of holidays past. Harry remained quiet, unable to contribute, but not really desiring to. He simply enjoyed part of such a happy atmosphere. It felt like being next to a campfire - warm and comforting, casting light on everything around it.
Harry thought that he quite liked Christmas, actually.
Before long it was Christmas Eve, and the house was filled with the smell of baking biscuits and cooking foods. The smell of mulled wine and apple cider were floating through the air. Harry was lounging on the sofa in the main living room with Draco's puffskein, Malcom on his chest, while reading a book on Quidditch. He needed to get Draco some Muggle books, like Sherlock Holmes, or Oscar Wilde... Though they did have Shakespear., Harry really needed to question them about that.
A few more perfectly wrapped gifts appeared under the tree, and Harry eyed them curiously. There was a warm, roaring fire in the fireplace, but no stockings, and Harry was pretty sure they weren't going to be leaving a plate of milk and chocolate chip biscuits out for Father Christmas.
"Pansy's sent you an owl!" Draco announced, strolling into the room. He handed Harry the letter.
Dear Harry,
I got the gifts you and Draco sent me via Elf, they're sitting in our living room right now. I'm excited to open them. I've still been looking into Nicolas Flamel, no luck yet though, but I'll let you know if anything happens, and I expect you to do the same! The house is brimming with people. We have my cousins over from America, bloody idiots. They took an aeroplane over, how uncivilized. Anyway, I'm being forced into playing a game of shuntbumps with the kids. I expect bruises, and I'll owl you on Boxing Day.
Happy Christmas,
Pansy.
Harry smiled and folded up the letter before he shifted on the couch so Draco could sit beside him. Draco picked up Malcom, who chittered loudly and squeaked, and placed the little ball on his shoulder, giving a soft shudder when the puffskein nosed at his neck and burrowed into the softness of the hood on his sweater. Harry had found, in his short time at the Malfoys, that unlike his father, and most days, his mother, Draco did not like to wear robes around the house unless necessary. Lucius blamed it on modernity. Whatever the case, Harry liked closed-quarters, relaxed Draco. Not that he didn't like public face, prattish, snooty Draco, they were just very different. And Harry now knew which one was more genuine. And appreciated it.
"C'mon, we'll play some chess to pass the time until Midnight, and then we're allowed to open one gift."
Harry grinned and stood, following after Draco to the study to pass the time.
Dinner had been outrageous. Filled with turkey, ham, far too many potatoes for one person to consume; mashed and roasted, salads, breads, jellies, steamed carrots, and just when Harry was sure he couldn't eat another bite - pudding with brandy and cakes. Harry was certain he would need to be rolled up the stairs. He was so full he could barely even think, let alone move, or keep his eyes open.
It wasn't long until midnight, since by tradition (according to the Malfoy's anyway) they ate dinner very late. Harry was idly playing with the wizard's chess set he had gotten from his Christmas cracker and ordering the pieces to move, checking to see their loyalty. They weren't bad, slightly mouthy, but they did what he asked them to with little fuss.
"Come along, Harry. We're going to open a gift now."
Harry joined the others in the living room and watched as they mused over which gifts to take, they each chose a small one. Harry chose one with Hagrid's distinctive writing on the lumpy package and sat down.
"Youngest to oldest, just as with the tree, dear." Narcissa took a sip of her tea as she sat down on the arm of the easy chair Lucius had occupied.
Harry nodded and opened his gift. It was a small, hand carved dragon. If he tapped on the tail just right the wings flapped. It was simple, and it wasn't anything he was sure the Malfoys were used to, but it made him smile. He looked to Draco. Draco toted up a gift from Blaise and shook it lightly, before opening it, nodding in approval at the large box of chocolate frogs now sitting in his lap. Narcissa unwrapped her gift, which was from someone at the Ministry, and turned out to be a very stylish muff. Harry had no idea people still used those. But it suited Narcissa, as it looked very soft and warm, was a deep, rich red and came with a matching scarf. Lucius opened his present - courtesy of Cornelius Fudge - and it turned out to be a bottle of expensive elf wine.
"Well, I'm off to bed," Narcissa admitted, standing slowly. She made her way to Draco and dropped a kiss on top of his head before squeezing Harry's shoulder. "Sleep well."
Both boys bid the older two a good night and Harry swung his legs onto the couch, stretching out sleepily. "This was amazing, thank you Draco."
"For what?"
"E'rything." Harry managed around a wide yawn. "You made my first Christmas very special."
"Your... what?" Draco turned to look at Harry to say something, but Harry had fallen asleep, one of his Mother's expensive, Chinese silk cushions crushed against his chest protectively.
The next morning Harry was woken from a nice, deep sleep by Draco barging into his room and jumping onto the bed, making the smaller boy fly up a full two inches. Harry flailed, disoriented, and gazed confusedly at the blonde, whose hair was in an uncharacteristic mess.
"Harry, get up! It's Christmas!" Enthusiastic hands grabbed at his wrists and pulled him upright.
Still a bit out of it, Harry muttered, "So?" Usually the adult Dursleys would rather he stay in his cupboard during the festivities. Dudley, on the other hand, always wanted his cousin awake to show off his new toys, and would stomp extra loudly on the way down the stairs to make sure of it.
Draco stared at him like he was crazy. "So presents!" He exclaimed, and tugged on the boy again, this time managing to get him half out of bed. Slowly, the events of the past week or so trickled into Harry's brain, and he answered Draco's slowly slipping smile with a grin of his own.
Still holding onto Harry's wrist with one hand, Draco pulled the other boy behind him as they dashed down the stairs and into the main foyer. Narcissa and Lucius were already waiting at the bottom. The woman smiled warmly, looking strangely cozy in her night-gown, and with her hair down and ever so slightly wavy. Lucius, on the other hand, gave a dry stare. He was in a pair of silk pajamas, which had a tiny version of the Malfoy crest stitched over his heart. Like Draco, his hair was a bit fly-away, strands of it straying away from his face like they thought with enough effort they could float off.
Harry blinked at them all for a moment, taking a moment to process that this was his life now. It only lasted a moment before Draco broke him out of his thoughts by pushing him towards the tree. "I'm sure you've picked up a pattern by now." The boy drawled, but the effect was ruined by the way he was bouncing slightly on the balls of his feet. "Pick one out already!"
One labeled that it was from Pansy caught his eye, and Harry carefully slid it out of its paper, ignoring the way Draco looked utterly baffled that Harry didn't just rip into it. The present turned out to be a scarf, mittens and hat combo, and he grinned slightly when he thought of how amused Pansy would be when she realized she got the same thing. Slowly, the grin faded into a soft, warm smile as he spotted the imperfections of the accessories. They were hand made. Coming from Pansy, that was practically a proclamation of eternal love.
Harry jammed the hat onto his head, stomach feeling like it was full of warm marshmallows. He stepped back and let Draco dive for his presents, catching the eye of Lucius, who gave him a half-confused, half-exasperated look at his new attire. He seemed confused as to why someone would wear such a thing when the manor was a perfectly reasonable temperature. Harry just smiled back and fingered the other items, sitting down on the sofa next to Narcissa, who patted his shoulder fondly while watching her son dig through his items.
Draco finally came away with the gift Harry had given him, eyeing the way it shifted in his hands with curious delight. He tore through the paper like it had personally offended him, and gaped at the hourglass. The dragon curled over his hands and he squirmed like it ticked him a bit. The blonde broke out into a grin and declared it "Brilliant!", before turning it over and watching the sand fall. "How long is it for?"
"A day." Harry responded, his chest puffing out slightly with pride at picking something Draco so obviously liked. The blonde sat down on the sofa next to Harry and knocked their shoulders together.
"Thank you."
Harry blushed and nodded. "You're welcome."
After watching them for a moment - Harry was very busy being pleased with himself, and Draco was turning the hourglass in circles, grinning at the dragon as it traveled around - Narcissa turned her attention to the presents. She seemed mostly disinterested, and Harry figured most of her presents were probably from people looking to butter her up. When her eyes hit on the one from Harry, however, she blinked and floated it over, looking curious. With a flick the paper vanished, leaving the set of mirrors floating in front of her.
Narcissa's eyes widened in recognition, and she turned to Harry, who ducked his head, feeling embarrassed. "They're two way mirrors," He explained, feeling silly for doing so. They probably already had some - the Malfoys had everything. "I figured you'd like a way to talk to Draco easier, since it takes a while for Titan to go back and forth."
With his head ducked and vision blocked by his bangs, Harry didn't see the look Narcissa sent at Lucius, or the considering look the man sent at him. But he did feel Narcissa's hand as she patted his head, which made him look up. She smiled at him. "Thank you very much, Harry. This is a very thoughtful gift. We used to have a set that was an heirloom from my family, but someonehad a fit of accidental magic when he was young and melted them beyond repair," She cast a dry look at Draco, who merely looked pleased with himself. After all, that was an impressive bit of magic for a seven year old. "And we haven't gotten around to replacing them." Giving his head one last pat, she directed the mirrors to settle down on the table, which they did with grace.
They went thought all the presents, one by one. Most of the ones for the elder Malfoys were indeed from people in various positions hoping for their influence, and they got things like wines and decoration. Most of them got uninterested looks and were simply noted for thank you notes (one of the exceptions was an extraordinary blown glass vase, which Narcissa eyed with interest). From Pansy, Draco got a similar set of accessories as Harry, but his were in an icy shade of blue. After a moment's hesitation, he put his own hat on, hair sticking out oddly from the sides. From Crabbe and Goyle he received two large packages of Every Flavor Beans. Harry wondered idly if the boys has come up with the gifts together, or if they were just so similar that they sent out the same things.
Harry got a package of chocolate frogs from Ron, which he set aside for later. From the Malfoys (Draco had apparently had the idea, and bothered his parents into implementing it), he received a necklace. It depicted a coiled up snake, which shifted slightly and looked irritated at everyone around it. On the back was the Malfoy crest, which Draco cheerfully explained meant everyone had to treat Harry nicely now. Narcissa told him that there were several protective charms on it as well, and Harry grinned down at it.
His last gift was the most interesting by far. It was unlabeled, other than a simple note that said 'To: Harry'. Before Harry could touch it, Lucius shot several spells at it, checking for curses and hexes. Everything came up clean, and with cautious hands, Harry opened it, revealing the shimmering fabric.
Harry unraveled it, holding it up before him. He heard a choked noise, and spun it out of his view to see Lucius staring at it. Startled that the man could even make such a noise, Harry dropped the fabric. It fell over the lower half of his body.
Which then disappeared.
Harry gaped at his now apparently non-existent legs, carefully twitching his toes and sighing with relief when he felt them respond. He glanced up at the Malfoys, catching the tail end of Lucius and Narcissa sharing surprised glances. He shifted his legs and grabbed at the 'empty air', feeling the cloth under his hand. With a quick pull, his legs and the fabric became visible again.
Finally noticing a note pinned to it, Harry picked it up and began to read. The note had no signature, and only told him that it had been his fathers. He glanced up at Narcissa, who stood up, looking mostly unaffected. "Well, now that we're all finished up, I think breakfast should be ready. Go put those gifts away somewhere safe, boys." Harry and Draco nodded and dashed up the stairs with the goodies. Before they parted ways, they glanced at each other, slowly grinning. This was going to make Hogwarts a lot more interesting.
The rest of the day was lazy, filled with games, reading, and playing seeker versus seeker. Pansy Flooed in mid-afternoon on Boxing Day, looking rumpled around the edge. She had mentioned going Boxing Day shopping with her mother that morning. When she stumbled in past the grate she was wearing the hat and scarf Harry had given her, although the bauble on the top had had been spelled off. It made Harry grin.
"Good Christmas?"
They had locked themselves in Draco's room, they were all lounging on the affluent bed. Hary and Draco were on either end and Pansy was sprawled out in the middle. She had proclaimed herself the queen of the bed since she was the only girl.
"Best Christmas." Harry grinned and caught the snitch Draco had with his family's pitch and watched the fluttering wings slow before curling against the ball. Something about it was soothing. "You?"
"Not bad. But like I said, my American cousins... Did you know they play Quidditch there, but it isn't Quidditch? It's this idiotic game called Quadpot. The ball modeled after ours, but the Quaffle explodes. How stupid is that? Why on Earth would anyone play that?" Pansy rolled her eyes. "And they don't have houses in their schools. They're all mixed in together. Absurd."
"Wait, they don't sort the Houses? How do they know who's a Muggle-born and Pureblood?"
Pansy looked at Draco, raising up on her elbow. "They don't care."
Draco's brows rose up and his face did an amazing impression of the hula as his mouth hung agape. "They..." He sputtered. "But that's... How can...?" Draco's brows knitted together. "Americans."
Harry didn't see the problem with the mingling that Draco and Pansy did, so he just laid in the bed quietly, head resting on Draco's pillow and unwrapped a chocolate frog, watching as it sprang onto the bedpost with feigned interest. He plucked up the frog and took a bite of it, deciding that as long as his mouth was full, he could get away with mumbled answers if they asked him anything.
"Honestly," Pansy sighed, flipping her hair out of her face. "If my family wasn't so soft, I'm sure they'd blast people out like your mother's family." She plucked a bean out of the pile next to her on the bed and chewed into it. Her face contorting in disgust. "But, I guess I can't complain."
Harry sucked on the chocolate frog, feeling it melt against his tongue. He lifted up the card and peered down at Dumbledore's face. The elder wizard pushed up his glasses and offered a smile and a wave and Harry turned the card over. He had never actually read Dumbledore's card before. Why bother, since he was their Headmaster? Harry shot up in bed so fast he nearly choked on his candy and smacked Draco on the back so hard he could feel the impact and hear it crack loudly in the air as he gulped down a breath.
"I..." Harry coughed. "I found him!"
"Who?" Pansy asked, massaging a circle into Draco's now abused lower back.
"Flamel! I found him!"