Chapter 35: Feathers, Gifts & Decorations

It was December 21st, the day of the winter solstice. The time for Lucius' annual Christmas party had arrived. Scabior, Violet and Ranca were eager to attend the party. However, Jeremy and Greyback weren't all that interested.

Jeremy was the youngest and most inexperienced of the Snatchers. He was rather socially awkward and shy, and was somewhat nervous about going to the party. Greyback was simply not a fun loving party goer, and decided to stay behind at camp with Jeremy. Silis stayed behind as well.

Violet was beside Scabior as he walked up the cobblestone pathway leading towards Malfoy manor, with Ranca following close behind. Scabior knew his way around the manor, having visited Lucius several times in the years since they first met. He led the way into the ballroom where the party was being held, all the while listening to Violet's delighted comments on the holiday decorations that adorned the halls.

All throughout the manor there were bright strands of silver and green tinsel, neatly interwoven and strung up near the ceiling. More tinsel covered the banisters, with red ribbons tied to the railings. Glittering fairy lights filled the halls, sparkling in the corners and above doorways. Each light resembled a large, luminescent bubble. And each bubble contained a tiny fairy flittering around inside the glowing sphere.

Violet watched as the delicate orbs shimmered and glowed as they hung suspended in midair. The lights ranged in colors from iridescent blues and greens to pink, purple and red. Each one glowed with a gently pulsating light, becoming dim before growing bright again.

"They're beautiful, Scabior," she said, stopping to look at a cluster of lights that floated above the doorway.

"Yes, they are," Scabior agreed, standing beside her and gazing up at the lights.

As they entered the ballroom, a beautiful sight met Violet's eyes as she noticed a large Christmas tree in the corner of the room.

This magnificent tree was at least ten feet tall, and was decorated with multicolored fairy lights, red bows, strands of white pearls, and real icicles that had been charmed to prevent them from melting. Each branch was lightly dusted with a fine layer of snow, which seemed to glow faintly in the light of the shining, fairy filled orbs.

As she drew closer to the Christmas tree, Violet saw that it was decorated with a variety of round ornaments. Each brightly colored sphere had a different image painted on it in stunningly realistic detail. And each image was moving as though it existed in its own world contained within the miniature globe.

In one of the ornaments a group of penguins was singing Christmas carols in the snow, while another showed a family of snowmen wearing red mittens and red scarves. One of the snowmen looked up at Violet, then smiled and waved at her, causing her to gasp and giggle in delight. She did not hesitate to wave backat rhe snowman, then tired and saw a deer frolicking merrily through a snow covered forest in another Christmas ornament.

While Violet was admiring the decorations on the Christmas tree, Scabior made his way over to the buffet table that ran along the southern wall, and was now helping himself to food and alcoholic beverages.

"Well, if it isn't miss Stregheria."

Violet turned around as a mild, silky smooth voice reached her ears, and saw Lucius Malfoy walking towards her, a glass of wine in his left hand.

"It's been a while since we last me," said Lucius. "How have you been?"

"I'm just fine, mister Malfoy," Violet replied.

Lucius smiled. "Splendid. And how are things with Scabior? I trust they are going well judging by your attire and the streak in your hair."

Violet touched the streak in her hair and grinned. "Yes, mister Malfoy. Things are going good for us. Scabior bought me these clothes and streaked my hair for me."

"Please, call me Lucius."

"I will if you call me Violet."

"Will do miss - er, Violet." Lucius put a hand on Violet's back and turned towards the buffet table where Scabior was indulging in large amounts of alcohol. "Scabior," he called out. "Do you mind if I borrow your girlfriend for a few minutes?"

"Girlfriend?" Scabior echoed, looking up from pouring his second glass of brandy. His expression was that of mingled surprise and amusement.

"You are in a relationship with her, are you not?" Lucius asked.

Violet's face blushed as red as the streak in her hair.

"Yes, I am, Lucius," Scabior replied. "An yes, you may borrow 'er if you want. Just be sure to return 'er by the ten o' clock curfew," he added jokingly.

Lucius chuckled then led Violet out of the ballroom.

Lucius led Violet through a series of hallways until they came to a long hall where portions of the walls were made of large sections of glass. The glass created a series of picture windows that looked out into small, outdoor enclosures which contained grass, a few neatly trimmed bushes and clusters of delicate white flowers.

While the enclosures on the right contained a variety of plant life, the enclosures on the left contained a layer of shredded bark, rocks and logs, and a single tree in the center of the enclosure.

There was no ceiling in these enclosures. They were open to the starry skies above, allowing the moonlight to shine in. And each enclosure had some sort of animal living inside. Violet could see birds nesting in the trees and lizards sleeping on the rocks.

"Do you like it?" Lucius asked. "When I had this place built, I designed it with its own wildlife area, perfect for my wife's love of birdwatching."

"You had this specially made for Narcissa?" Violet said, peering through the glass at an owl that was perched upon the branch of a nearby tree.

The owl blinked at her and ruffled its wings, slowly turning its head to get a better look at her.

Lucius nodded. "Yes, indeed I did. The birds come and go as they wish, but most choose to stay and call it their home. My wife has the house elf put birdseed out for them, then watches the birds as they gather to eat and bathe in the bird bath."

Violet moved closer to the picture window to her left. She looked through the glass at a pair of sleeping chipmunks nestled in a hole in a tree trunk.

"Scabior told me that you borrowed Ranca's owl in order to send a letter to your sister, and that the owl has yet to return to its owner," said Lucius.

"Oh!" Violet blinked and looked up at him in mild surprise. "You know about that?"

"Yes, I do." Lucius was smiling again. "And you needn't worry because I have a solution to the problem." He turned towards the small owl that was still eyeing them with a curious and friendly look in its eyes. "You see that owl in there?'

"Yes."

"He's yours. And when you return to Scabior's campsite, you shall find everything you need to care for him. Consider him a Christmas gift from me and my wife."

"You're giving him to me?" Violet exclaimed happily. "Thank you so much! I've never had my own owl before."

From inside the glass enclosure Violet's new owl hooted cheerfully, hopping from foot to foot on his branch.

Lucius looked somewhat perplexed. "You've never been given an owl before?"

"No, I haven't," she replied. "My mother never spent that much money on me. She and my grandmother were always going out and buying expensive brooms and new sets of furniture every couple of months, then telling me how they supposedly had no money to spend on me or my sister.

"I've always had to borrow someone else's owl whenever I wanted to send a letter to someone. This is the first time I've ever had an owl that actually belongs to me.'

She turned back towards the glass, her palms pressed against the window as she looked at the tiny prancing owl. "He's so cute. I'm going to name him Kirby."