Uncovering Deceptions chapter 12

Hard times will come, we'll keep movin' on (Movin' On by Good Charlotte)

Mid-November

"So," Pansy said conversationally. She had waited a whole day to bring up the plan that formed after Ginevra's speech about them being a family now. They had missed Halloween and though it was only the middle of November, she felt that their home needed a bit of brightening up. She poured her tea and grabbed the last chocolate muffin and waiting until everyone else was staring at her expectantly. "We missed Halloween and I think we need to start decorating for Yule."

Asteria clapped her hands, nodding and grinning. "Oh yes, do you think we can have a big tree?"

"Why do I get the feeling no matter what we say, you will rush ahead with this?" Theo poked the bacon on his plate with his fork, looking quite mutinous.

"Don't be that way," Ginevra said teasingly. "I think it will be fun for us to have our first family Yule together. Now raise your hand if you can honestly say that we don't deserve a bit of fun."

Pansy snickered when not one hand was raised. "We will have to see if Severus or Albus can get us a tree and all of the other evergreen sorts of items."

"I think we should make the decorations ourselves."

"Ginevra!" Daphne exclaimed. Clearly she was scandalized by the very thought.

"What? I am not saying we don't use magic at all just that I think it will be fun to do it ourselves."

"Actually," Pansy interjected before Daphne could get going again, "I agree. We have lessons in Charms and Transfiguration to do. Why not use them to make decorations? It isn't as if we can pop down to Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley to purchase decorations anyway."

"So long as you promise not to ban store bought gifts," Draco said dryly.

"That I would object to as well," Blaise added. "Though, I am quite interested in what you ladies come up with."

"Oh no, you aren't getting out of this." Daphne tossed a scone at his head, which he neatly ducked. "This will be a Family project."

"Wonder if the elves will bring us frosting and cookies. If we get gingerbread ones, we can decorate the tree with them." Ginevra huffed. "Don't look at me like that. It will be fun."

"Your definition of fun and mine are not exactly the same," Daphne quipped. "I have no clue how to decorate a cookie."

Pansy just laughed and laughed. It was so...well ...nice. No one was scared and wary now, they all seemed to feel just as she did - that they were protected. It was giving them a chance to finally act their age. The boys though, they seemed to have reverted to childhood- teasing and harassing one another as she hadn't seen them do in years. "Alright children, stop throwing your food. Severus will be here soon and I am sure it will take some finagling to get him to agree."

"Ruin their fun," Ginevra groused. "I was having fun watching the gargoyles try and catch all the food. It's a good thing Draco wasn't a chaser."

"Oh I'll get you for that!"

Pansy laughed even more when Draco rounded the table, picking Ginevra up and tossing her over his shoulder. "Don't you dare drop her, Draco!"

Theo surprised her by picking her up and doing the same. "Aww, no being a spoilsport, Pans."

"Put me down, you oaf!"

"What in Merlin's name is going on?" Severus said, his voice rising to be heard over the uproar.

Pansy pushed up off of Theo's back, her eyes wide. "Oh, Severus, we weren't expecting you yet."

The man just snorted, crossing his arms over his chest. "Miss Greengrass, either one of you, can you explain what is going on?"

"Well...we were talking about decorating for Yule and one thing led to another. Oh please don't be upset with them," Asteria said in a flustered rush.

"Yes, please don't be upset. Pansy and I weren't doing anything. It was Draco and Theo," Ginevra said seriously, though it looked like it was taking all of her control to keep from laughing aloud.

"We will file this under things I do not ever need to know about, shall we?"

Theo snickered but placed her back on her feet. "It never happened. Are we running that late then?"

Severus walked over to the table, making himself a plate. "No, but I prefer you lot to the chaos that is the Great Hall. The illustrious Gryffindor threesome glares at me through every blessed meal. They have even tried to follow me. Rest assured that they will not, even if they find a way to sneak into the Restricted Section, find a way through the wards that protect you." He sat in the chair at the head of the table. "Now, what is this about decorating for Yule? You do realise it is still November, yes?"

"Of course, but we missed Halloween!" Asteria's eyes went wide and she blushed bright red. "Sorry, I did not mean to yell."

Much to her surprise, Severus actually laughed and said, "I don't mind, at least this once. It is good to see you sticking up for yourself."

"So you will get us a tree and boughs for the fireplaces and such?" Ginevra said sweetly. "We plan on using our lessons to transfigure or charm other items we will need."

"I will discuss it with Albus," he said, pouring himself a cup of tea. "I do not think it will be a problem. Taking that into account, we shall begin with those two classes today."

Pansy giggled, finally getting back to her food as Theo groaned, all but throwing himself on one of the floor pillows looking woebegone. Yes, things were definitely looking up for them.

-dbg-

It was wrong, Gin knew that, but how could you not laugh at poor Theo's attempts to perform a simple charm that would affix the bow onto the wall? His expression was enough to send her into a fit of the giggles. She did elbow Draco though, thinking that Theo would not be as amused if the boys were laughing at him. It was amazing though, to see how quickly Severus and Albus had agreed to their decorating plans. He had even Flooed Albus, who oddly enough had a box of items ready- to include clear glass ornaments and spools of ribbon. There were times that Gin wondered if he had a bit of Sight or if he just knew them well enough to anticipate their requests.

"Children," Severus intoned, waving his wand in their general direction. "Let us try to focus and perhaps Theodore won't snap and try a bout of Muggle duelling instead of his lesson."

Much to Gin's amusement, Draco didn't say another word. They worked quietly for a while; the only sounds were the incantations. "I like this, quiet lessons with no grumbling threats across the aisle or snarly professors who are fed up with the inter-house feuds."

"Oh me too!" Asteria was looking quite smug as the pile of perfect bows in front of her grew. "Next lesson can we knit? I like lessons where I don't feel foolish and very much outclassed by everyone else."

"You kick everyone's arses with your Herbology talents," Pansy pointed out, waving her wand to try and charm the glass ornaments with pretty designs. "We won't mention the three who kick all of our arses in at least three subjects either. We all have our strengths."

"What is mine then?" Daphne asked, biting her lip as she tried to get the wand movement correct. "It certainly isn't making bows or decorating the ornaments. I'm not sure I will get the charm down for hanging the bows either."

"I bet you will do great at decorating the cookies." Gin had already charmed her ornaments and was now watching the others finish up. "Actual lesson-wise, you are better at Transfiguration than you think you are."

Severus cleared his throat, dropping a crate of assorted items down in front of her. "Why don't you get started on transfiguring these?"

"Severus," she whined playfully. "Do I have to?"

"Well, this was your idea and if you don't finish these lessons then we may run out of time. I was planning on a potion that will create an incandescent fluid that will light up those bobbles nicely."

"Evil," Blaise muttered, grabbing a handful of the assorted items. "You are an evil, brilliant man."

Severus chuckled. "Yes, yes I am. Now back to work."

Gin was grinning when she picked her wand up and did as instructed.

-dbgdbg-

That night they were all sprawled out on the pillows in front of the fire in the courtyard. It was a scene that Blaise never thought he would see but one that he wouldn't give up for anything in the world. Gin had propped her feet in his lap and her head on Draco's thigh. She was listening to Asteria explain some knit stitch while her knitting needles and yarn were sitting in her lap. He grinned, watching Daphne and Pansy attempting to follow the directions. Theo was curled up with his gargoyle on the pillow next to him and a sketchbook in hand, drawing them from what Blaise could see. Draco, well he looked to be sound asleep but Blaise knew better than that. If there was one word to describe them it would be relaxed. That was something else he was getting used to. Even growing up he had never been quite able to settle in and be comfortable- not with his mother's forever changing husbands.

It was nice. He had those he cared most about in the world right here where he could see, touch, and even feel them at any point during the day. Having the others here was an added bonus to his way of thinking- a family he would have never in his wildest dreams imagined but one that he would fight to keep.

Leaning back against his gargoyle, which made him remember that they should discuss names for the creatures, he grinned, content to just watch the scene. Everyone was winding down for the night, there was no need for him to get what would likely be a lively discussion going. He nearly fell asleep, at least that was until he heard Pansy mention 'girls night'. When he heard them mention tomorrow evening, he closed his eyes again, content that Gin wouldn't be moving just yet.

-dbgdbgdbg-

Gin just shook her head and shared an amused look with Theo and waved the rest out. It might take a while, but she would get Draco and Blaise awake enough to make it up the stairs and into bed. At this point though it seemed like a tall order. "Wake up, you two." She shook them both gently, to no avail. "Of fine then, I'll leave you here and go up to bed all alone."

That seemed to get Draco's attention, his eyes blinking open slowly. "Wha?"

"Bedtime. You don't want to sleep on the floor do you?"

He shook his head and rubbed his eyes, rolling to poke Blaise in the ribs. "Wake up now or you'll be sleeping on the cold hard floor with only your gargoyle for company."

"'Not time to wake up," was Blaise's sleepy reply, "Leave me alone, Drake."

"Okay, we're going to bed. I hope the floor is comfy," Gin said, patting his arm as she stood and turned towards the door.

"I am awake. Well, enough to make it to bed," Blaise mumbled, running a hand through his hair and slowly getting to his feet. "Sorry."

"No need," Gin assured him, holding her hands out to them. "We all stayed up later than usual."

He took one of her hands and Draco took the other. This, right here, was all he wanted or needed- the rest was simply icing on the cake as far as he was concerned. But, Blaise didn't dare say what he was thinking, that he loved these two more than life itself. Really, one of these days he was going to have to grow a spine and actually say it aloud, no matter the consequences.