Chapter 11: Christmas Time

"Mail!" Harry pointed. The group got at least one package per person. Hailey was looking at her mail. She turned one envelope to the back. There was a purple seal. Mrs. Poshre! She opened it immediately.

Dear Hailey,
Plans have changed for Christmas. You're going to be unable to come home. But don't worry, you don't have to stay at horrible Hogwarts! Instead, you and Trip will stay at the Malfoy home. Happy Christmas! Mother

Hailey sighed. "I guess I'd better go pack this afternoon."

"Why? Where are you going?" Harry asked.

"I have to spend Christmas at Malfoy's place," she replied.

"Poor you," all three said.

"Maybe it won't be that bad…" she then opened her next letter. She looked at the bottom. SIRIUS BLACK?

"Oh my God! Sirius Black is sending me a letter! What if it's jinxed? How did he know where to find me?" she looked up at them, panicking.

"Hey, he's our godfather," Harry calmly explained.

"No he's not!" Hailey screamed.

"Yes, he is," Hermione insisted. She then told the story of their third year, with help from Harry and Ron.

"Weird," Hailey finally said after hearing the entire story. She then opened the letter, not knowing what to expect.

Dearest Hailey,
Harry told me that you arrived at Hogwarts. I am so glad that you are alive- when I went looking for you after your mum and dad were killed there was no trace of you. We thought the worst- he had killed you too and left nothing behind. I am pleased to say you and Harry will stay at my place since your father wanted it if something were to happen to him and your mother. Happy Christmas. It will be a pleasure, looking forward to seeing you after all these years. Sirius

"Short but sweet," Hailey remarked. "So we're-" she glanced at Harry, who was pointing madly. "What-" she turned around. Malfoy.

"Sirius Black?" Malfoy read. "What's he writing you for?"

"Long story, darling," Hailey said, putting her plate up by magic. "I'll explain it on the way to Arithmancy." She cuddled into Malfoy's arms, then started to walk.

"DARLING?" Ron cried.

"Why would she say that?" Harry asked.

"She's been a little dreamy lately," Hermioned admitted.

"She can't be- she doesn't actually like him, does she?" Ron asked.

"I dunno," Hermione shrugged.

When Hailey got off the train, Malfoy gave her a look. "I can't wait to show you my room."

"Hello. You two must be Hailey and Trip. I'm Mrs. Malfoy, and this is my husband."

"Pleased to meet you," Hailey said. She waited for Trip to say something, but when he didn't, she gave him a look and elbowed him, and he muttered hi. Malfoy opened the door and let Hailey I, then he slid in, then Trip got in and shut the door.

"You guys okay back there? Comfortable? Any chocolate frogs or butterbeer?" Mrs. Malfoy offered.

"Yes, please, but-" Hailey started.

"Malfoy grabbed the middle piece of the cart and pulled it out. There was a button on the bottom, and as he pressed it, it opened, revealing a chocolate frog and butterbeer maker. He punched another button and a chocolate frog hatched from an egg, jumping out towards Hailey and Trip. He looked at Trip after handing Hailey the frog, asking "Do you want one?"

"No," Trip replied.

Hailey gave him a Can't you be polite and not rude? We're their guests! Look.

Malfoy pressed the button a couple times and handed a few frogs to Trip, then punched it again for him.

"Who wants butterbeer?" he then asked. Everyone said they did. He handed those out, punching the button on the bottom again, and then it close. He placed it on the handle.

When they got to the Malfoys' house, Hailey was amazed. It was so… big. "Come on, guys," Malfoy led Trip to his room, then Hailey to hers. When they got into the spare bedroom Hailey would be staying in, Malfoy asked, "Do the Three Stooges know where you are?"

"You mean Harry, Ron, and Hermione?" she gave him a look. "Yeah, they do."

"So what did they say?"

"They just said 'Poor you'."

"Well what did you say?" he asked.

"It can't be that bad," she shrugged. "What else could I have said?"

They laughed. "You know, I'm glad you're trying to seem happy," Malfoy said.

Hailey looked up at him. "Who said I'm trying anymore?"

Smiling, he then left her to unpack.

That night, Hailey had a dream. It was fuzzy, but all she could make out was her good friend Willow and Malfoy.

Hailey woke up with a jolt. Something weird, freaky. She glanced around the room. A light glowed in the corner.

"Hailey," said a voice.

Hailey had to squint. "Willow!"

"Yeah, it's me," Willow replied.

"What are you doing here? You-" Hailey began.

"Shh. So you like Malfoy," Willow cut her off.

"No, I do not. But you-"

"You're talking about him in your sleep, Halz," Willow sighed. "Something told me I should come visit you. Just because I'm an American witch doesn't mean I can't prove it. She waved her wand in her left hand, and a bubble popped up, revealing little things.

"You're right," Hailey said as Willow waved it gone.

"Oh, my gosh, gotta go! Things just got really bad at home! They've found a dragon…." she then apparated out of the room. Hailey blinked.

"You couldn't even have said hi, it's nice to see you, or even a goodbye?" Hailey muttered as she crawled back into the bed and went back to sleep.

"Hailey!" a voice called. Hailey woke up. "Malfoy?" she asked, yawning.

"Yes, it's me. Happy Christmas!"

Hailey jerked up with a jolt. "Christmas!" she cried.

"Of course," Malfoy replied. Hailey slapped her forehead and jumped up to let her white owl Tiger out of his cage. She handed it three packages and told it, "Please take these to Ron, Hermione, and Harry." She then opened the window and watched Tiger fly out until he became a white blur.

"You forgot to send their presents to Hogwarts?" Trip began laughing at her. "You are so STUPID!"

Hailey glared at him. "Give her a break, Trip," Malfoy said.

They then traveled downstairs to see what they had received for Christmas.

"Wicked," Trip said as he opened his present from Hailey, which was a broom with wheels, used so the rider could ride the broom on the ground. Hailey opened Trip's, which was an album of a famous American pop star in French. Then she opened Malfoy's which was a locket that when opened showed a hologram of Malfoy.

Hailey looked up. "Thanks, Draco," she said as she hooked the clasp around her neck.

"Oh, I've gotta go and make a special delivery," Hailey said.

"I'll go with you," Malfoy volunteered.

"I have to go alone, dear. Sorry," Hailey ran off and zapped a present up, ran down the stairs with her broom. She then flew as quickly as her broom would take her to Sunnydale in the United States. She leaned down and landed and ran into a house. "Willow!" she called. "Willow!"

A face poked out. "Hailey?"

"It's me. Happy Christmas!" she handed her a present. Willow opened it. Inside was a purple friendship bracelet.

"It's a friendship bracelet. See?" Hailey pulled up her arm to show an identical blue bracelet. "Oh, and look what Malfoy gave me," Hailey added. Before Willow could say anything, Hailey had opened it and the hologram appeared. Willow began to laugh.

"What's so funny?" Hailey asked defensively.

"I'm sorry, it's just, I don't really get what you see in him. He's kind of self-centered!" she laughed.

"I thought it was sweet!" Hailey frowned, a bit hurt.

Willow glanced up. "I'm sorry. You know I haven't been the same since they didn't pass me at school. I get a little weird every now and then."

"You just can't run from who you are, Will. You're a witch. You failed your last year. It happens. You can't let it affect you," Hailey frowned. "One day you need to go back and finish it out. You're so close! I still can't believe they didn't take your wand away."

"So what do you want to talk about?" Willow asked. The two ran into the house to do a bit of catching up before Hailey had to return to England.