- Chapter 14 -

Yule Tidings

Weasley and Finnegan had lost their House a total of fifty points between them for their midnight wanderings, and a further twenty for sending three teachers on a manhunt through the castle for the corresponding Slytherins. Rumour had it that when Professor McGonagall had complained that the Slytherin Head of House hadn't helped them search, the Potions Master had merely smirked and responded that he had known that all of his Slytherins had been in Slytherin territory. Consequently, for the next three weeks not a single student of Slytherin House overstayed their curfew.

The run up to Christmas had seemed to take forever to Draco and Blaise, but was gone in the blink of an eye for Harry, who was still nervous about spending the holiday with Draco's family. Despite having met them before, Harry still found it difficult to fathom living in a house without fear, although thanks to the group sessions with Professor Snape, he was adjusting.

Harry, Draco and Blaise had shared a carriage with Daphne Greengrass and Hermione Granger. The two girls sat together with one of Daphne's magazines between them. The others had taken one look at the giggling girls and had retreated to the other side of the compartment to play exploding snap.

When they left the train, they soon saw Lucius and Narcissa, who stood off to one side of the platform talking with a beautiful woman. She was olive-skinned, like Blaise, and had long, straight black hair that hung down to her waist. Despite the similarities between her and Blaise, Harry was still surprised when Blaise ran to her.

"Mama!" he called, a wide smile on his face. "Mama, I've missed you!" She smiled back toothily, wrapping her arms around him. To their left stood Narcissa, and Draco; a similar picture.

Harry stood shyly apart from them, arms crossed, self-consciously across his chest. It's not fair, he thought angrily. Why can't I have somebody to hug me? He sniffed and stared resolutely at his shoes.

"Harry!" Harry started at the arm clamped around his shoulders, but forced himself to calm when he realised it was Draco's father. "So glad you're staying with us, this Christmas!"

Lucius kept his arm around Harry as they waited for the other Hogwarts students who would be joining them.

Harry was pleasantly surprised to find Josef Yaxley among them, seeing as he had stayed with the Malfoys for the previous Yule. Also sharing Christmas with them was Olivia Mayfield. It was a pity, really, that Daphne had decided not to come.

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It had turned out that it was Professor Snape who organised where his students spent their holidays. He'd called each student into his office, and asked about their plans for the holiday. Harry's interview had been relatively short, but Daphne had been with the Professor for ages.

Eventually, the dour man had stuck his head out of his door, and called for Harry to come back. Daphne had been curled up in a chair, sobbing. At Harry's questioning look, and raised eyebrow the Professor had spoken.

"She was asking for you," he said simply. Harry had nodded and moved over to his friend, gently rubbing soothing circles on her back - a trick he'd learnt from watching Jacob Blishwick attempt to calm his distraught fiancé, Marylyn Max, one night in the common room. It appeared to work for Daphne too, as the girl calmed herself some, throwing her arms around Harry.

"Miss Greengrass," the deep voice of their Professor had the pair springing apart, both sporting slight blushes, although Harry wasn't entirely sure why. "Are you calm enough to speak with me now?"

"C...ca… can Harry stay with me, sir? While I talk to you?" With a roll of his eyes, Professor Snape conjured another chair, and motioned for both of the first years to sit.

"Now, Miss Greengrass, remembering that Mister Potter here, nor I will speak of this, I would like you to know that I would much rather you did not go home for Christmas." For barely a moment, Harry wondered at the man's motives, before remembering that Daphne was part of the support group, and while her injuries hadn't been bad per se, but they had been there, and were likely to return if Daphne went home. "Especially not when there are other places that you may spend the holiday."

"I… I would love to go somewhere else, but I can't." She bit her lip, and tightened her grip on Harry's hand. "I've got a sister, Professor, Astoria, and she's already been with my Mother since September. I need to see her, I need to make sure that she's alright." She blinked rapidly, and Harry could see her eyes begin to water again.

"Then it will be as you wish, Miss Greengrass." The Professor pursed his lips, and frowned slightly. "But I shall be sending you with nutrient potions, and healing salves." He paused, then added - "Enough for two for the holidays, and extra for one until the summer." He smiled kindly at Daphne, then narrowed his eyes. "If they are not necessary, I will be expecting them to be returned, is that understood?"

Daphne nodded solemnly, before smiling brightly at the Professor.

"Thank you, sir," she whispered, dragging Harry from the room.

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Harry shook his head, bringing himself back into the present. Their party had left the station, and were currently taking two cars to the Leaky Cauldron. Harry had wondered about the cars, but Lucius had explained that, as they were in a Muggle environment, they had to do their best to blend in. When they got the near derelict pub, Lucius and Narcissa directed the group inside, and they stood together near to the fireplace.

"We're going to Floo to Malfoy Manor," Narcissa said authoritatively, pulling out a small wooden box from her handbag. She held it out to her husband, first, who took a pinch, before throwing it into the fire, which turned green. He then stepped into the flames, calling out as he did so.

"Malfoy Manor," he said in a deep voice. The flames roared upwards, and when they had died back down, Lucius had disappeared. Harry's eyes widened slightly, but he said nothing as the others seemed perfectly sanguine with what had just happened.

"Josef, you go next," Narcissa held the box to the older boy, who smiled and did as Lucius had, followed by Olivia, leaving only Narcissa, Harry and Draco left in the Leaky Cauldron. Draco turned to Harry immediately.

"See, I told you it wasn't as bad as it sounded!" He smirked.

"Draco, it still looks kinda bad - they all just disappeared!" Harry shook his head, before laughing a little. "I'm okay to go next, I think. But if anything happens to me, I'm blaming you!" Narcissa looked between the pair, obviously confused.

"Harry, sweetheart, I thought you didn't know much about the Wizarding world," she asked gently, bending down so that she was at the same level as both boys. Pausing, then smiling widely, she turned to Draco. "Honey, have you been teaching Harry about the Wizarding world?"

"Yes, but so has everyone in Slytherin too. We've been taking turns to tell him about stuff he needs to know." Draco raised his chin proudly. "We did travel way back in September, mother, just give him the Floo powder." Narcissa looked to Harry, who nodded, looking more confident than he felt, and offered him the box.

Harry took a pinch of the bright green powder, and threw it into the fire. As with the others, the flames turned the same colour as the powder. Harry stepped in and spoke as loudly, and as clearly as he could.

"Malfoy Manor!" The flames around him grew past his head, and span around him. He kept his elbows tucked in, arms close to his sides as Marcus Flint had told him back at school. He idly noticed that the flames were cool to the touch, rather than hot, as would normally be expected of fire. Almost before he knew it, the flames span erratically, and he was pushed out through another fireplace. He stumbled as he stepped out, and blinked, furiously trying not to fall.

Strong arms gripped him, and Harry looked up to smile at Josef Yaxley, who had apparently been standing waiting for Harry to come through.

"My first time through the Floo on my own, I tumbled out, and knocked over a vase," he said, sotto voce. "Compared to that, your stumble is really quite graceful." Josef pulled him to one side, where Olivia and Lucius stood, as the flames turned green again, as Draco entered the room, followed in short order by Narcissa.

The elder Malfoy woman frowned at her husband, as she ran a pointed eye over the assembled children.

"Really, Lucius, would it have been difficult to cast a cleaning charm at any of them?" Lucius had the grace to look down at his feet, causing Narcissa to narrow her eyes at him as well. "You haven't cast one on yourself, have you? I just can't see it as you're wearing black!" She shook her head at her husband's unrepentant smirk, waving her wand over each person, cleaning them of soot.

"Thank you, Mrs Malfoy," Harry said politely, as he was cleaned up.

"Ooh, that reminds me of the house rules!" Narcissa said gleefully, ignoring the groans from the other two blondes. "Follow me to the sitting room, everyone!" Once they were all comfortable sat in the Malfoys tastefully decorated lounge, Narcissa clapped her hands. "House rule number one; everybody has a nickname, of my choosing. Those of us who already have nicknames will introduce ourselves." She stood, and curtsied gently. "I'm Sa, like the end of my name, Narcissa!"

"I am known as Ci, as in the second syllable of Lucius."

"It's Ray like the middle of Draco."

"I'm Sef,"

Narcissa smiled widely at the two who were left; they sat looking nervously at each other. She looked at Olivia first.

"Olivia's a hard one, most things are already nicknames. Hmm, I think it'll have to be Liv. Is that okay?" When the small girl nodded, she turned to Harry. "Well then, Mister, I think you and Draco will have to match, a little. You're Ree, that suit you?" Harry smiled, but it was Draco who got the link first.

"Ray and Ree! Mother, you're terrible," he said fondly.

"Rule number two; Christmas is supposed to be fun, so have fun. No more than two hours of working a day, although Sef, you can work up to three, seeing as you have your N.E.W.T.s this year. Rule three; if you need anything, Lucius and I are always here for you. Everything else, you'll pick up. Now the fun part, choosing bedrooms!"

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Narcissa, Harry reflected, was an enigma. The woman had taken them around every guest bedroom twice before settling on the ones she'd originally suggested. Harry's room was near to Draco's, allowing the two of them to spend much of the holidays together. The Malfoys, as a family were fairly easygoing, and once Harry had gotten used to being called to dinner as Ree, and he and Draco were spending most of their time either exploring the Manor, or flying through the gardens. Josef and Olivia sometimes joined them for their flights, and Harry was delighted to be able to play a bastardised version of Quidditch with the help of Lucius who enchanted two Keepers for them.

Harry was surprised to find that flying didn't come easy to all, however. While Josef and Olivia could happily sit on brooms, neither of them was comfortable with the daredevil stunts that Harry was teaching Draco.

Lucius and Narcissa, for their parts, were particularly good hosts. Whenever Josef came downstairs frowning over an essay he was struggling with, one of the pair would guide him to the relevant books in the library, or even talk him through the smallest details. Narcissa even had Olivia help her decide upon decorations for the Manor, and together they went shopping and bought Christmas outfits for every person living in the Manor.

On the twentieth they all went to Diagon Alley together to shop for Christmas presents. Harry, Draco and Olivia were warned to stay with either Lucius or Narcissa and not to wander off, and through a series of relays, and switching of shopping partners, Harry was finally happy with the presents he'd gotten for everyone.

For Josef, Harry had bought a gigantic compendium of complex Potions, having had several conversations where the elder boy had utterly lost him with elaborations on tiny changes of temperature, and of inert ingredients. Lucius had promised to take charge of wrapping a delicate floral glass statuette that Harry had bought for Narcissa. He'd been entranced with the way it sparkled under light, and Lucius had assured him that Narcissa would love it too. For Olivia, Harry had bought a butterfly shaped hairgrip with amber stones making up the wings. Narcissa had helped Harry to find a black, leather wand holster to fit her husband's wand, sharing the story of how he had damaged the one he wore now brewing a potion that had gone wrong.

For Hermione, Harry had bought a big, rather expensive, book on the many differences between Magicals and Muggles, which Hedwig had carried off to wherever she lived. A box full of pranking ingredients was winging its way to Blaise and Harry couldn't help but hope his friend would bring them to school with him at the start of the new term.

Harry struggled the most with buying a present for Draco. He wanted to get something perfect for his first friend, for his best friend. Lucius helped him to find a book on Quidditch manoeuvres, and while he was with Narcissa he spotted a dragon-shaped cloak clasp, but just as they were about to leave, Harry managed to unearth a mini-model of a Chinese Fireball that moved around, and breathed fake-fire. Harry was smiling by the time they got back to the Manor; finally happy with the gifts he'd bought.

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The twenty-second fell on a Sunday, something which appeared to please Lucius enormously, as did the arrival of Professor Snape, whom Narcissa enthusiastically greeted as 'Russ'. They all woke early, and, before breakfast, Lucius led the entire household out into the wood to the West of the Manor that Harry and Draco had been banned from exploring. They walked quietly, but with smiles, until they found themselves at a wide circle of trees, each one different. Narcissa moved to stand in front of the largest tree, taking her wand from its holster, and gesturing for the rest of the group to come up behind her.

"This is the Great Oak of the Manor, and this Yule, I am going to ask for it to provide us with a base for our Yule log. Ree, hold your arms straight out, and be prepared to catch something fairly heavy, okay?" Harry nodded resolutely, and did as he was told. Narcissa leaned in close to the tree, pressing her face, both hands and her wand to the wood, whispering so softly that Harry couldn't hear what she had said.

Harry fought not to stagger as the heavy wood simply appeared in his arms, gritting his teeth and holding on with everything that he had. Narcissa turned to him with a wide smile.

"Here, I'll cast a lightening charm." She tapped her wand over the wood, and Harry immediately felt it reduce in weight by about a half. "Now, Ray, I need you to collect Ash, Sef, you collect Aspen. Liv, the Birch tree is just over there," she pointed, before turning to her husband. "Ci, my darling strong husband, find us some Pine and Russ some Willow. I'll get Holly myself, and Harry will stay with the Oak." She hummed happily to herself as the group spread out. "Just a small branch, or a couple of twigs!" She called after them.

Once they'd collected all that they needed, they made their way back to the Manor, where they gathered in the largest sitting room. Harry did as Lucius told him, gently putting the Oak down in the centre of the brazier that had been set up. The others placed their pieces of wood on top of it. Lucius held his wand over the pile with a grin, and started to speak.

"Here is Pine, for growth and prosperity!" Stepping a little to the left, he spoke again. "Ash, for protection and health!" Each time he spoke, he stepped to the left again. "Aspen, to help us to understand the grand design that is life!" Step. "Holly, to inspire in us visions, and revelations of our past lives!" Step. "Willow, to please the Goddess, who may choose to help us achieve our desires!" Step. "Birch, to signify the beginning of the new year, and the new beginnings in our lives!" Step. "We ask that you meld with the Great Oak, who brings healing, strength and wisdom!" Harry watched in fascination. Lucius' last step brought him to the same point that he had started, and - there was no other word for it - the wood began to melt into the Oaken log.

They stood in silence until the wood had blended together, then, under Narcissa's direction, arranged themselves behind Lucius. Severus and Narcissa each had a hand on Lucius' shoulders. Behind Narcissa were Harry and Draco, and behind Severus were Olivia and Josef. Again, Lucius' wand flared out over the wood.

"Incendio," he breathed. Then, "May the log burn, May the wheel turn, May evil spurn, May the Sun return." Narcissa and Severus repeated it with him at the next turn, and then, at a nudge from Draco, Harry understood that they all spoke the third and final time.

"And that, darlings, is this year's Yule log!" Narcissa beamed. "Now, breakfast, I think."

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When Harry awoke on Christmas morning, it was to a very different sight than there ever had been at the Dursley's, where he had been locked into his cupboard for the duration so he couldn't spoil their holiday. Whilst he'd been asleep, his bed had been covered with a warm woollen blanket covered with Christmas insignia, and at the foot of his bed was a large stocking with a reindeer embroidered onto it. Taking a moment to stare reverently at them, Harry gaped to see his name included in both designs.

While he was still stroking his hand over his name on the blanket his door flew open, and Draco scurried in, huddled in his own blanket with a similar stocking in his hand. He grinned toothily at Harry as he launched himself onto Harry's bed.

"Harry," he whispered gently, touching Harry's shoulder to bring him out of his stupor. "Harry?"

"Yeah?" Harry whispered back uncertainly.

"IT'S CHRISTMAS!" Draco yelled as loudly as he could. Harry grinned widely. Apparently, this year's Christmas would be fun.

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All through the day, Harry was shocked, time and time again by the amount of care that the Malfoy family put into the holiday. Harry had a pile of presents that was bigger than any pile that Dudley had ever been given, all full of brilliant things like strange sweets and wizarding toys, clothes and ornaments for his room at the Manor.

"It is your room, in any case, Harry. You can keep some of your things here, if you'd like." Narcissa told him with a smile. "We plan to have you here more often than you're not."

"But what about the Dursleys?" Harry had asked, an earnest expression on his face, mind already calculating how much time he could spend away from his relatives.

"Don't worry, dear." Her smile had turned cold then, and a little vicious. "Lucius is making plans for them."

Her face had turned back into a sunny smile, however, the next time he looked, and they carried on to the biggest, and best-tasting Christmas dinner that Harry had ever had.

It was a little disconcerting to see Lucius and Narcissa treating him as they treated Draco, but as none of the others seemed to see anything wrong with it, Harry soon grew to enjoy the day.

As he closed his eyes to sleep that night, Harry had a smile on his face. Things were finally going right. Better even, perhaps, than what he'd seen in the mirror.