Wow! Another chapter from France. Enjoy and thank you for the reviews xx

~PureBloodSnake xxx

Divulging December

November came to an end too quickly for Caelum's liking. He was a little anxious for Yule to arrive. He hadn't spent much time with Lucius at all since he had met him as his father and was still, no matter how much they talked and Lucius apologised, he struggled to imagine the blond man as a loving father. Draco seemed to be getting more excited for Christmas as the days passed. The more anxious Caelum was the more he wrote in the journal that his parents gifted him in September. He had only started writing in it due to Narcissa's reminder that it was there to help him, not to make him feel too girly. Caelum hadn't checked to see if Draco could get into the journal but he trusted his brother to keep everything a secret if he did read what he had written. He was currently writing his anxieties about the coming holidays, once again, into the journal's pages, while Draco was packing all of their belongings.

"Why aren't you helping?" He growled at his brother. "All you seem to do is write in that bloody journal at the moment." Caelum inwardly snickered at the irate tone and formed a response that would hopefully not get a bad reaction.

"Draco, we still have three days left before we leave, there is no rush. And as for this journal, you know how anxious I've been recently and this is helping a lot." As Draco's glare softened into one of shame and concern, Caelum silently cheered, he had given the perfect response.

? ゚ミノ? ゚ミノ?

The last day of classes was more stressful than any other. Most teachers had set a simple Yule-themed activity for the students to do before assigning some reading or an essay to do over the break. Umbridge, however, had the results of their end of term test. None of them, besides Hermione, had gotten anywhere near the pass mark. Hermione, obviously got full marks, it didn't put her anymore in Umbridge's good books. Caelum had wanted to disrupt that test, but Umbridge, fed up of the cruel pranks played against her, took all wands as soon as they entered the classroom. It was the only lesson that Caelum stayed in for the full length of time, not wanting to leave without his wand. Caelum's marks however, annoyed Umbridge even more, he had gotten the closest to the pass mark of everybody who wasn't Hermione. That didn't bode well for her lessons, and the boy that she had crucioed had almost the same marks as his brother, neither of them were scared of her, which meant her tactics weren't working. She'd have to step up her game after Christmas.

After they received the results, Umbridge flicked her wand and locked them in the classroom. Caelum stood up and protested immediately.

"You can't lock us in here. Have you any idea what my father would do to your career if he found you were holding his sons prisoner?" Ron looked at Caelum with a poisonous glare, but many in the room were thankful that someone had said something.

"Sit down Mr Malfoy. Your marks in this test were as bad as everyone else's, you obviously need to stay in the room while I'm teaching. The locked door is just a precaution." Umbridge's sickly sweet voice didn't match the daggers her eyes were throwing at Caelum.

"If you were a competent teacher you would realise that you set us a test that did not cover anything we have read this year. You cannot have expected any of us to pass. And that's why you did it. You take pleasure from our pain and I don't want to be a part of this anymore."

"Mr Malfoy!" She yelled in protest as Caelum completely blanked her and turned to Draco.

"You going to stay?" He was not bothered either way, he would prefer for Draco to leave that class forever, but he knew his brother wouldn't want that. But whatever happened, no one was going to hurt his brother without paying the consequences. Draco hesitated for a second, took a deep breath and noticed that his brother was actually giving him a choice: there was no right answer.

"Yes, my Defence still isn't as good as yours, I can't afford to miss a lesson, even with a teacher that cannot teach." Caelum smiled and nodded as if that was what he expected.

"Okay, I'll help you over the holidays to get all the work done. I'll see you after this lesson then?" Draco nodded. Turning his attention back to Umbridge, who had been trying to gain his attention throughout their exchange, Caelum sneered in her direction. "If I find out that my brother or our friends, have been hurt by you, I'm going to make you feel more pain than you can even imagine." His warning sent a chill down everyone's spines, except Draco's who felt a warm feeling of safety shoot down his. "Now I'd appreciate it, Professor, if you'd let me out." Reluctantly Umbridge flicked her wand towards the door and the locks clicked. He left the room and the students breathed a sigh of relief. If it lasted any longer they were sure that someone would've ended in the hospital wing. Caelum smiled to himself as he walked out of the classroom, he was a little anxious to leave Draco in there but he had faith in their Slytherin friends. He had an important meeting to attend anyway.

? ゚ミノ? ゚ミノ?

The Weasley twins, we're waiting for Caelum in the corridor outside the room of requirement. When he walked in, both their gazes slid to him, suspicion held in their eyes.

"What could-"

"A slimy snake-"

"Want from-"

"Two Gryffindors-"

"Like ourselves?" They spoke in tandem, and Caelum was glad that Draco wasn't with him, it would very much annoy his brother.

"I need your help. I don't think it's escaped your notice but Umbridge has been the subject of many pranks. I'm not going to incriminate anyone by saying who has taken part, but they don't seem to be having the desired effect. I need you to help me take it up another notch."

"How do we know that you aren't going to snitch on us?" Asked George.

"Because I'm going to tell you the truth, against my brother's wishes, and then you'll trust me with your lives." Fred and George had a silent conversation, their eyes flashing in confusion .

"Let's hear it then."

Caelum sat and told the twins of how he used to be Harry Potter. Their eyes widened and they let out shocked gasps when appropriate, but otherwise they stayed silent. Something Caelum was very grateful for. A moment of silence passed after his story and Caelum let a momentary flash of fear flash through him. The twins seemed to be conversing with only their eyes, once against, something he and Draco had yet to perfect.

"What have you come up with?" Fred asked, shocking Caelum with the casual tone.

"Erm…" He hesitated a while, trying to find the words. "I want to humiliate her in front of the whole school. I want to make her feel the pain of the cruciatus she cast on Draco." Loud swears erupted from the ginger twins.

"It's not that we like that ferret," Fred began, flinching at the glare that Caelum sent him. "but using a cruciatus in a student is disgusting. We'll do anything we can to destroy her life. You have two more on your team."

? ゚ミノ? ゚ミノ?

The scarlet train pulled into Hogsmeade station, a cloud of steam pooling from engine. Students waited on the platform, trunks and owls standing next to them. Most were standing close together, not minding who they brushed shoulders with. Except the group at the end, who all students seemed to avoid. The fifth year Slytherins, stood huddled together, talking in hushed whispers.

"I've heard rumours that You-Know-Who, will be living at your manor. Is that safe?" Pansy asked, fear feeding her voice.

"I don't know." Draco replied just as scared.

"Mother and Father won't let anything happen to us, there's no need to worry. I won't ever take the mark, you have no need to worry for me." Caelum was stubbornly refusing to admit he was a little scared, nowhere near as much as the others, and for an entirely different reason. If Voldemort was at his home, then his family wouldn't be safe. Voldemort didn't take well to those who harboured his enemy.

"I'll stand by you no matter what." Draco started, refusing to look Caelum in the eye, although said boy could feel the warmth flowing between them. "If you don't want to take the mark, then I won't either, we stick together." Caelum couldn't help the bright grin that appeared on his face.

"If you're both going to do something stupid like that, you're going to need me." The boys looked at Pansy shocked by her use of the word stupid. "We're the children of his most faithful, not taking the mark will probably mean death for us." The others nodded in agreement but decided to stick with the boys. None of these Slytherins would be taking the mark.

The scarlet steam engine left the station with a puff of steam, very few students on board. Caelum and Draco were curled in on each other in a compartment, the other Slytherins in the one next door. The two brothers needed to talk.

"What are you going to do if he is staying at the manor?" Draco asked timidly. "If he finds out…" Draco didn't want to finish that thought.

"Mum and Dad know exactly what the repercussions would be to have both Voldemort and me in the house. I have a feeling that we will always come before Voldemort. We'll be safe. And anyway if he's there I'll just keep out of his way."

"How can you be so blasé about this? This could be a matter of your life or death. I don't want to loose you." Draco's voice trailed off.

"You won't." Caelum's voice was firm, no room for argument. "You see I'm very stubborn and won't let anyone take me away from people I love." Draco smiled and allowed his brother to rest his head on his shoulder, his small stature making it more comfortable. Caelum closed his eyes and after a short while, he fell asleep, relishing in the safety Draco provided. Draco watched the scenery go past, the train seemingly inching its way to London, he was nowhere near comfortable with Caelum's answer.

Narcissa Malfoy was nervously waiting on the platform. Lucius was trying to convince The Dark Lord that their manor was not the ideal place for him to reside. Neither of them wanted such a poisonous figure near their innocent boys. Yes, Caelum had seen a lot more evil than the average adult, but he still looked at the world in such a innocent way. Narcissa hoped she could keep that, she didn't want her children to grow up. The train pulled in and she held her breath, waiting to see her babies pile off the train with their friends smiling brightly, excited for Christmas. Except they didn't. Most of the students and parents had left the station, but she hadn't seen her boys. Pansy approached her silently, flanked by Blaise, Goyle and Crabbe.

"Good afternoon Mrs Malfoy." She began. "We've tried everything, but Draco and Caelum are still asleep, they can't be moved. I'm hoping you know some way to wake them." Narcissa breathed an unnoticed sigh of relief.

"Where?" Pansy turned on her heel and walked into the train, Narcissa following her. It had been a long time since Narcissa had stepped foot into the train that used to transport her to school, she marvelled with the fact that it had it not changed one bit. Pansy stopped and gestured to a single compartment. Inside were her two boys, leaning against each other, Draco's head resting against Caelum's. Smiling softly, Narcissa produced a camera with the flick of her wand and took a photo. She glanced at Pansy who grinned in response, then allowing a mischievous grin to show through her PureBlood mask, Narcissa stepped out of the compartment, closed the door and flicked her wand once again. SPLASH! Click! Freezing cold water was thrown over the boys, Narcissa capturing the moment on her camera. She couldn't wait to show Lucius that small moment of carefree happiness.

"MUM!" Draco yelled in shock and Narcissa couldn't keep the smile off her face.

"Wha-Why-are we in London?" Caelum's sleepy voice caused both women to try and avoid pinching his cheeks. "Mum?" Narcissa turned around and her smile grew wider and the sight of her youngest rubbing sleep at of his eyes, his hair dripping over his face.

"Let me get you dried up." Once more Narcissa flicked her wand and the water disappeared from her boys.

"Thank you." Caelum wrapped his arms around his mum and buried his face into the space between her neck and shoulder.

"Come on. Pansy I'm sure your parents are waiting. We'll see you on Christmas Eve." Draco grabbed hold of his mother and brother and allowed her to apparatus them home.

They arrived in the apparition room of the manor, a dark presence hovering over the home.

"Okay, go unpack your trunks. Then you have two hours to pack all you need to go to our place in the South of France. Draco will help you decide what you need and show you where your room is, all clothes and all of your things are already there. When we get back you may decorating to your liking. Leave all presents in an obvious pile in your rooms for the house elves to collect and deliver." Draco pulled Caelum's hand and they disappeared into the manor.