"Wow," Draco breathed, just as he had in the shop where we purchased the dress robes.
Christmas eve had arrived swiftly. I had thanked Draco repeatedly ever since he offered to pay for the robes. They were by far the most expensive thing I owned, and I couldn't help the thank-you's that I kept slipping out as I readied for the party that night.
"Seriously, stop saying thank you," Draco said firmly as he clasped his cuff links and fixed his hair in the mirror beside me.
"Sorry."
"It's really not a big deal."
"Of course it is!" I exclaimed. "It was expensive!"
"So?"
"So! So few people can drop money on something like that!" I found myself staring wild-eyed at him as he calmly adjusted his robes. "You should be more grateful."
"Or maybe you should be less finicky."
"Stop being a prat. Can't you tell that you're so lucky to be so well off?" I turned to face him fully, ignoring the necklace that was dangling from my hand.
"It's not like wealth just appeared for the Malfoy family, you know. Someone had to work for this honour."
"And the rest of the world doesn't work just as hard?" I shot back, feeling my anger bubbling to the surface at Draco's apparent lack of interest in the discussion.
"If they did, they could all afford to look decent." Draco fixed his tie.
I had no answer. I mouthed soundlessly at him as I struggled with my sudden desire to strike the boy. How could he be so absolute on the meaning of wealth?
"Is that what Slytherin parents teach their kids?" I finally managed to whisper. "That the rest of us just don't work hard enough? That we aren't just as worthy of wealth as you are?"
"Don't talk about my parents like that!" Draco thundered, his calm demeanour shattering abruptly.
"Then don't talk about mine like they didn't do everything they could when they were alive!" I shouted back.
A house elf aparated into the room. "Master Malfoy, Mistress Evans; the party awaits your presence."
I huffed indignantly, stomping over to the doorway. When I reached out for the doorknob, I noticed the necklace still clutched in my hand.
Before I could move, a pale hand reached out and took the necklace. I felt my hair being swept away from the nape of my neck as Draco clasped the chain into place. I was startled by the gesture, confused even more when Draco brushed past me and into the corridor, leaving me alone in the doorway.
I caught up to the blonde boy just outside the dining hall doors. He wordlessly offered me his arm, and we strode inside to find the room decorated with extravagant Christmas decorations, from ice sculptures that didn't appear to melt to mistletoe that dropped tiny petals that disappeared before they could hit anyone.
I couldn't help but stare around as Draco pulled out my chair for me. I sat, gazing around in awe at how stunning the space looked. Everything was pristine, right down to the silverware and chalices laid out flawlessly on the table. And it was when my eyes finally found the table and its occupants that I froze in my seat.
"Professor Snape!" I yelped.
"Yes, Sam," Lucius said grandly. "Severus is an old friend of mine, and Draco's godfather."
"Oh," I said stupidly, frowning as I fought the sudden blank buzzing in my head. Of course he would be Draco's godfather. That explained why Snape treated him specially, even amongst the other Slytherin students.
"Happy Christmas, everyone!" Narcissa said graciously. "Tuck in!"
I forced myself to focus on the task of eating, but was soon distracted as Lucius began conversing with me.
"Sam, may I say you look quite radiant."
I chuckled nervously. "Thank you, Lucius." I cleared my throat, trying desperately to calm myself so I could concentrate on getting through this evening without embarrassing myself, a task that was proving itself to be near-impossible as I made unwanted eye-contact with the Potions master seated across from me.
Snape looked quite different than usual. His hair wasn't greasy with potions fumes, and he had exchanged his work robes for a very handsome set of dress robes. His hair was pulled back slightly, emphasising the curvature of his face that was so often hidden behind his long hair. He also had a spectacular ring on his right hand, just like the one Draco was wearing, only with a different crest.
I glanced at Draco, who was conversing with Narcissa. He, too, was wearing a handsome set of dress robes, his tie matching my own ensemble. I squinted at his ring, tiny letters becoming clear under my scrutinising gaze: MALFOY.
Family crests, I realised. The benefit to being of an old Wizarding family. The Evans' certainly didn't have one, as my father was of non-magic parents. My mother, however, had never spoken of a family crest, not that I would be willing to sport my mother's crest under any circumstances.
Lucius had a ring identical to Draco's, but Narcissa's ring bore a different seal, one that I could not read from this distance. It appeared to have two names, one of which I felt safe assuming was MALFOY, and the other her maiden name.
When dinner was over, the table and chairs were cleared away. Several soft chairs and love-seats appeared, the lights were dimmed, and music began filtering softly into the room.
"May I have this dance?" Lucius asked Narcissa, and the two began revolving slowly on the spot. Draco and I, however, chose instead to take a seat and sip on whatever it was the elves had laid out on the trays.
"I'm glad you came, Severus," Draco said smartly, tipping his glass toward the man as he sat down in the chair next to us.
"As I do every year, Draco," Snape replied. "Even before you were born."
"Apparently the parties were a huge ordeal back then," Draco said for my benefit, but not quite making eye contact with me. Not that it bothered me, seeing as I was still miffed with him.
"Indeed. But that hasn't kept your parents from making these smaller versions equally extravagant."
"It's impossible to expect any less of them," Draco concurred.
Lucius' loud laughter cut across the conversation; I had noticed him drinking quite a bit through dinner. What had started as a worrisome expression on his face had become a blissfully tipsy mask of enjoyment. And so when he came swaying over to me, I couldn't help but grimace.
"Sssam," he said, drawing out the 's' a little too long. "Would you join me on the dance floor?"
"Of…course," I said uneasily, accepting his hand and allowing myself to be pulled away from my spot on the love-seat. Narcissa sat down gracefully in the place I had just been, waving cheerfully as Lucius spun me and pulled me into his arms.
"Seems such a pity you weren't sorted into Slytherin with Draco. You two could have become good…friends," Lucius said slyly.
I made a noncommittal noise to give myself time to think of a proper response. None came.
"Perhaps they could consider a House-swap. Your mother was a Slytherin, of course."
"I'm quite happy with where I am," I said slowly, not wanting to seem disrespectful of Slytherin House like so many other Hogwarts students were. I thought of Terence, and suddenly wished desperately that he was here. Terence would know how to pull me out of this situation…
"Father?" came Draco's voice.
"Mm?" Lucius replied, stumbling slightly.
"May I cut in?"
"Of course not. This is my dance," Lucius replied, almost pouting. I frowned. Were all Slytherins this confusing?
"I think you should go talk to Severus. He's been meaning to talk to you about…certain plans for January."
"Oh, right, of course," Lucius said, seeming to sober up slightly at Draco's words. He left.
"Thanks," I said, relieved.
"Apparently he used to do this a lot when the parties were bigger; get drunk and flirt with all the women, I mean," Draco said, taking Lucius' spot and continuing my previous revolution about the room.
"That's…awkward," I said honestly.
"Not just awkward for you."
I chuckled softly. "Yeah, that can't be easy."
"Well, I know he's been stressed lately. Not that he'll tell me why, mind you." Draco's expression darkened slightly.
"You two don't get along?" I said, my voice bordering between a question and a statement.
"No," Draco said shortly.
I nodded, trying to seem compassionate, but still feeling my irritation from earlier that night bubbling just beneath the surface.
Draco sighed quietly, and I resolved to continue the dance in silence. And despite the tension, the silence still felt more companionable than uncomfortable.
"All right, you two! Presents!" called Narcissa.
Draco dropped his arms, bowed respectfully, and escorted me over to where the adults were seated.
"Of course, actual presents will be tomorrow morning, but we do like to have a small exchange to end the party if you don't mind, Sam."
"Not at all," I said, settling down in one of the chairs. "Although I must confess, I didn't get anything for Professor Snape. I didn't realise he was—"
Narcissa's chuckle stopped me short. "Oh don't worry, dear. Severus doesn't care for gift giving himself. But I'm sure he'll stick around…" she trailed off as Snape moved to rise from his seat.
"Of course," he replied, clearly begrudgingly, settling back in the chair.
The gift exchange was brief, and thankfully not too embarrassing for me. Draco and his parents exchanged small, but clearly expensive gifts, but didn't seem at all disappointed when they opened mine.
"Sam, how sweet!" Narcissa cooed as she lifted the delicate figurine from its box. I had spotted it during the trip to Diagon Alley with Draco and figured she and Lucius would find it…appropriate. It was an intricately designed ornament, its reflective surface hiding the fact that, when examined closely, the entire structure was of one long entwined serpent. It had been mercifully on sale, and had a free engraving option.
"It's also to say thank you for inviting me here and showing me new qualities of Salazar's noble house," I said with a small bow of the head as Narcissa read through the ornament's quote by Salazar Slytherin. The Malfoys had, after all, treated me extremely well without making me feel any less welcome because of my own House affiliations being contrary to that of my mother's. And for some strange reason, I actually appreciate it quite a bit.
When Draco opened his gift, I found myself holding my breath. The keychain inside wasn't particularly flashy; the leather was dark, the design nearly invisible on the surface, of a dragon alternating between positions and breathing fire occasionally.
"A dragon for my little dragon!" Narcissa exclaimed, kissing Draco on the head.
"How did you know my name meant dragon?" Draco asked quietly.
I shrugged. "I read."
To my great surprise, Snape gave out a brief snort of laughter, which he smothered quickly.
"Thank you," Draco said.
"You're welcome." I smiled. Maybe this wasn't as crazy a Christmas as I thought it would be. I trekked back with Draco to his chambers clutching the gifts I had received with remnants of the smile still flitting across my lips. Lucius and Narcissa had presented me with a spectacular wristwatch that told me far more than just the time, and Draco had given me a blank leather-bound journal with a magnificent eagle feather quill.
We had bid each other goodnight after the exchange, Snape turning down repeated invitations to remain at the Manor for Christmas morning, and I soon found myself curled up comfortably in the guest bed feeling that all was well.