Families

I was awake before anyone else, apparently to no one's surprise. I spent my time looking around the manor, trying to take in everything and memorize the layout, I would definitely be getting lost. I walked into the kitchen, everything a lot darker than I expected, but top notch cleaning. There was a bowl of fruit and more scones on the counter. I took an apple and walked into the dinning room, the table long enough for a party of twenty. Again, darker than I expected. "Morning" I turned to see Draco at the entry, a banana in his hand.

"You guys have guests often?" I asked as he shrugged.

"Kinda, my aunt used to be here a lot, but now they're locked up—"

"Bellatrix?" I suddenly remembered.

"Yeah, anyway, her family and ours always had big elaborate dinners" he explained as I touched the table. "Tammie, listen, I know yesterday was a lot to process, I'm sorry everything was so sudden" he said as I nodded and continued walking up and down the table. "Also, I can't promise my parents are going to be okay with you and Fred" he added as I shook my head.

"It's really none of their business now is it?"

"Tammie, you have to try and respect them, we're just trying to help" he said in a pleading sort of way.

"It will take some time I'm sure, but Tammie knows respect is key" mom said appearing next to Draco. "Go change and we'll head out, I have some shopping to do after I meet Fred" she said turning to look at Draco. "Are you coming along?" She asked either not clear about the rival or thinking it was petty.

"No, I think I have some other matters to attend to in Diagon Alley" he said, his face flushed.

"Oh good, you can help me then" she said happily as she beckoned for us to get ready to head out.

I was quite surprised Mrs. Malfoy was alright with letting Draco come with us, she knew we were headed to the Weasleys first.

As their house came into view I felt a wave of excitement as we walked closer. Not only would I get to see Fred away from school but he'd be meeting my mom and I'd be meeting his. "Couldn't they just build out and up and not just up?" Draco mumbled as we walked down the path to the very tall, very lopsided house.

"We have all have our preferences, Draco" mom said with a little bit of a look, Draco sinking down a little. I ran to the door before my mom could stop me, knocking as many times as I could before I heard someone on the other side.

"About time you got here, did you get lost? Let me guess you said—" he cut off as mom and Draco approached.

"Fred, this is my mom, mom, Fred...and you already know Draco" I introduced as Fred continued to look from one to the other.

"I'm not staying" Draco said quickly as he started to back up, right as a car came down the path. I pulled him to one side as my mom moved to the other. Mrs. Sawyer and Melinda in the driver and passenger seat. "What are they doing here?" Draco asked with a shock that make me chuckle.

"I invited them" George said pushing aside his brother to go greet the Sawyers. I watched the quick interaction, Melinda coming over to me, but slowed to a near stop as she noticed Draco.

"Hi Mrs. Allen" she said politely, her eyes darting at Draco as he did everything in his power to look at anything except her.

"Melinda, how are you dear?" Mom asked as Mrs. Sawyer came over, smiling widely as she reached mom.

"I'm so relieved this has all finally come to light" she said to my mom as my mom nodded with relief too. Mrs. Sawyer nodded, saying her to me and then continuing now looking at Draco, "you must be Draco, my parents told me a lot about your family. Well, mostly about Tammie's father, Dustin; I met him a few times before he passed, a wonderful man who had a wonderful daughter, you must be so happy to have Tammie as a cousin, Melinda can certainly relate, she has so many" she said with a laugh as as everyone looked at her. Well, so much for easing my best friend and boyfriend into the news.

"We haven't exactly told everyone yet..." I whispered to her as she looked both alarmed and shocked.

"Oh my, I'm so sorry! I thought you told her in the letter!" Mrs. Sawyer said as my mom shook her head, taking Mrs. Sawyer gently by the arm over to the car to explain things.

"Do I need to get my hearing checked because I swear I heard someone say Tammie and Draco are cousins, but I know that can't be the case because they look nothing alike" George said as I bite my lip and looked from Melinda to Fred.

"You don't have to look alike to be cousins you know, we can't all have red hair and hand—" I nudged Draco, desperate for him to just disappear for a moment. "Her dad is my father's half brother."

"How long have you known?" Melinda asked as I gave her a look.

"Twelve years Melinda, I just thought it would be a jolly surprise to wait until this exact moment to tell you" I answered very sarcastically. "If I had known before we got here don't you think I would've told you?"

"Well when did you find out?" Fred asked, his tone sounding a little too accusatory.

"Yesterday, she found out yesterday," Draco said either sensing the uncomfortableness or wanting to do the talking.

"And how long have you known Draco?" George asked.

"Maybe six months" he said as both Fred and Melinda turned on him.

"Six months? And you said nothing to her?" Melinda said with a snort.

"I didn't want it get blown out of proportion. At least I was nice!"

"Oh you mean all those gifts that could've been misconstrued for you liking her?" Fred asked as Draco went a beat red.

"I told you guys I didn't, that should've been enough" he said but Fred shook his head. "Whatever, I don't need to explain anything to any of you, Tammie, if you need me send a letter."

"Where are you going? My mom isn't ready" I reminded him as he waved me off and continued walking.

"I'll stand in the middle of the road until she is" he said from some distance away. I sighed but let him continue.

"Where is he going with your mom?" Melinda asked.

"I don't know, they have stuff to do in town" I told her as George ushered Melinda inside. I started to follow but Fred moved back to blocking the door. "Oh humble one, will you allow me access to your lovely home?" He half smiled as he leaned against the frame.

"Not half bad" he said but remained standing.

"Are you not letting me in now?" I asked feeling both offended and saddened. "Because I really didn't have a great night."

"It's not you, okay?"

"You have a problem with me being a Malfoy, don't you? You know I can't control that and I didn't know anything about it. And it doesn't change anything between us; I still like you" I told him as he half smiled again.

"You sure about that?" He asked skeptically.

"That's a stupid question, let me in" I told him as I tried to look under his arm, just able to spot Hermione and Harry.

"Do you have to go back there or are you going home with your mom later?"

"I have to go back to the Malfoy Manor later, it's complicated" I told him not wishing to discuss it with him because it made me feel sadder about everything.

"Oh" he said looking a little surprised to hear my answer.

"If I didn't have to I wouldn't so please let me in. It's cold out here" I told him as he straightened up, just as my mom came over.

"Everything alright?" She asked looking at Fred with mom eyes. "It's a bit chilly out here, why don't you get inside and warm up, we'll pick you up later. Anything special you'd like?" I shook my head, quick to take Fred's opening as my sign to go in. "Fred, a moment please" she said as I paused to look over but she waved me to go ahead and mind my own business.

"What's going on out there?" Ginny asked as she came over to give me a hug. "I heard about the Malfoy thing, that's ghastly" she said with a laugh as I nodded in agreement, I was certain my situation could only get better.

Though I expected things to get better I didn't think the rest the Weasleys would pretend I wasn't related to Malfoys. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were especially kind, Mr. Weasley making a joke around lunch time that I wasn't anywhere close to stuffy like the Malfoys. I only gotten to the part telling him I grew up with muggles that I was stopped, him jumping into questions. I looked to Harry and Hermione to help but they just chuckled, leaving me to fend for myself, saying they had put up with it for years and it was time for fresh blood. Melinda left just after lunch, George taking her to wherever she was meeting her mother.

Around five my mom showed up, Draco in the distance, whatever his problem was with the Weasleys seemed so silly, they were wonderful people and a loving family. I didn't feel like I was smudging their stuff when I touched a counter or table or picture. The Burrow looked like a home rather than a fold from a magazine. Though I didn't know how Draco's parents acted toward each other it really seem like Molly and Arthur cared about each other, like they truly loved each other. I didn't know why but it pained me to watch, it made me miss a person I never really knew and wondered if I'd be able to have the same. "Have you said thank you?" Mom asked as I started to walk out. I nodded, I had thanked Mrs. Weasley repeatedly, but she didn't want to hear any of it, just hoped I'd be back soon.

"Fred too" I added, though saying 'see you later' to him was a lot harder than thanking his mom. He tried insisting I ask for a little more time, tried to get me to break my leg, offered me some potion him and his brother had been 'working on,' pretend I run away, ask Harry for his cloak of invisibility. I told him I could try all those suggestions but he knew what a mother was like when she wanted her kids home and she meant it. All I could do was give him five uninterrupted minutes after playing a game of Exploding Snap with everyone else.

"Is he okay with everything?" She asked as I shrugged, sad to be walking away from The Burrow. "You know, when you're father told me he was Slytherin I had no idea what that meant, I didn't go Hogwarts, I didn't grow up in the UK, but he sounded so ashamed to be saying it. It's awful that people think they'll be disliked or liked based on a house that means nothing once you all graduate" she explained. I smirked at Draco who looked like he had heard all this a least a thousand times. I should've told him when my mom wants to instill good values into someone she will go on and on.

"Mom, we're back" I told her a short while later. She had been telling a story about her and dad's first date, I honestly hadn't been listening, I was talking to Draco behind her back about Quidditch teams. I wouldn't have guessed it, but he was just as informative as Oliver.

"You know I hate goodbyes" mom said looking at the house.

"Well then don't say goodbye, I'll be back at school before we know it. Are you going to be okay spending Christmas without me?" I asked as she laughed.

"Bill invited me over, he's having some friends, I think Melinda's mom might be stopping bye. We have so much to catch up and figure out still; don't worry about me." She said as she patted Draco's shoulder. "Take care of her, yes?" He nodded, quickly, with a purpose.

"And you, behave, be kind—"

"Take of myself; I remember" I told her as she nodded and pulled me in for a tight hug. I clenched my teeth, this was the first time not spending Christmas with my mother and for some reason that wasn't the problem bothering me. Not wanting to make a big deal about it I kissed her cheek and she kissed mine as well as my forehead and nose before letting go. "You're father would've been so proud, Tammie" she whispered, her eyes a little glossy. I looked at my feet and nodded, if she started crying I would too.

"I'll see you soon mom" I told her as she nodded, smiled and then pop she was gone. I immediately felt regret letting my mom go, I didn't want to spent Christmas without her, what if something happened? What if she needed my help? "She'll be okay" Draco said kindly as he put a hand on my shoulder.

"Thanks" I said as we shared a single moment of comfort. "So, what do you guys usually do for the holidays?" I asked, shrugging his hand off and going over to sit on the couch.

"Decorate the tree, have a family dinner, open presents, talk" he said as I nodded, finding the silence nice.

"What do you do?" He asked as I stared at the spot my mom had stood.

"Same mostly." He nodded and we were quiet again.

"Thanks by the way, for accepting the invitation."