Hermione was the last one to be awake out of everyone in the family. She had woken up and dressed quickly, but when she reached the Christmas tree, Draco, Lucius, and Narcissa were already waiting there for her, along with several enthusiastic house-elves.
"Merry Christmas, Hermione dear." Narcissa's voice rang out, beaming at the red holiday dress Hermione was wearing. It was made of red satin and full length, accessorized with only a crisp white sash tied into a bow around her waist, and some white lace embroidered around her throat. Her hair was tied back with a large white ribbon, and she knew she looked like some sort of fairytale doll as Draco gaped at her, his jaw dropped open.
Lucius smiled slightly, and murmured a soft "Good morning." Hermione murmured her salutations and moved over to join the family, taking the still-staring Draco's hand, and asked, "So, how do we start?"
Narcissa bent down, and handed her a small and long present wrapped with dark blue paper. "My gift to you first, dear. We can go from there."
Hermione sat down and started carefully opening her present. She was delighted when she found a tall, crystal bottle full of golden sparkling perfume that looked like had cost a fortune or two, and thanked Narcissa repeatedly, although the elder woman waved it off, saying it was nothing.
Then Narcissa gave her presents to the rest of her family, who were pleased with this year's results. Draco received a couple of books on taking care of his Firebolt and Lucius received several designer ties made of fine silk.
Next, it was Lucius's turn to hand out his presents. To Hermione, he gave her several books on magical law and regulation that she had been so eagerly pursuing. Although to some it seemed a rather odd and boring present, Hermione was thrilled that she had finally gotten her hands on such marvelous scriptures, since such detailed and comprehensive books did not come cheap. To Draco, he presented a new Firebolt maintenance kit that complemented the books that his wife had given their son. And for Narcissa, she received from him a stunning diamond bracelet that was both delicate and ornate. It was made of fine silver that linked together gracefully and swirled and molded into roses, complete with the diamonds in their centers.
Hermione cooed and admired it with Draco's mother, and Lucius looked rather smug that he had managed to impress his wife and his son's girlfriend so much with his little masterpiece. He exchanged knowing looks with Draco that plainly meant: "Women. They're all the same when it comes to this kind of stuff."
Hermione demanded to go next, not wanting to be last. For Lucius, she gave him a couple of books on electronic devices that included telephones, computers, televisions, and cars, much to his delight. To Narcissa, she gave a pair of simple silver earrings that went perfectly with her new bracelet, as they were in the shape of roses. And finally, for Draco, she presented a gold-framed picture of the two of them cutting Hermione's cake during her birthday gathering, looking as happy as humanly possible. On top of the frame was inscribed, "Draco and Hermione, September 19th, 1998."
Draco had pulled her in immediately for a passionate hug, and whiled he didn't kiss her or show any other sign of affection as his parents watched this intimate moment fondly, Hermione could feel his joy at her giving him such a lovely gift, and felt better than she had ever felt in her entire lifetime.
"It's my turn now." he whispered for only her to hear as he drew away. He quickly gave his gifts to his mother and father, who were delighted with the lace handkerchiefs and new quills they received from their son. Finally, with trembling hands, Draco placed his present to Hermione gently into her hands.
"I hope you like it…" he had mumbled shyly as Hermione lifted up a silver locket from the tissue paper it had been wrapped in. She mouthed something inaudible as she gently fingered the delicate silver chain. The locket was rather small, only about the size of a butterbeer bottle cap, and was shaped in an oval. The lid was engraved with Draco's "DLM" monogram, as well as a tiny dragon. She carefully pried open the lid of the locket, and inside was a miniature portrait of Draco's face, moving and all. She gasped delightedly as the portrait beamed at her, and then noticed the tiny inscription on the inside of the locket opposite the picture, behind the lid of the locket.
"For Hermione Jean Granger, my heart is, and always will be, yours." Big, fat tears started cascading down Hermione's cheeks, and she took one look at Draco before she flung herself into his arms again. "It's beautiful. Absolutely perfect. I love it." she cried unabashedly as Draco kissed her hair. Narcissa had started weeping as well at the sight of the two young people, and Lucius had happily wrapped his arm around his wife and murmured, "I know, Cissy, I know. It's wonderful," and had even started tearing up a little himself.
After the gift-opening, the family went to have a light breakfast, for lunch would be the imminent feast. Hermione and Draco were gazing at each other like lovesick puppies across the dining room table and Narcissa was watching adoringly until Lucius cleared his throat, claiming all of their attentions. "Narcissa, dear, didn't you want to tell Draco and Hermione about our guests for lunch?"
Narcissa blinked confusedly for a moment, and then smiled widely. "Oh, yes! I've invited my sister Andromeda, your aunt, Draco, over to our house to have Christmas lunch with us! We've been corresponding through owl after the war ended, but haven't had a chance to meet up yet, since she's got to take care of her infant grandson, Edward."
Hermione stifled a gasp. Edward as in… Teddy? She thought sadly for a moment on Tonks and Lupin, and then moved on to Narcissa's reconciliation with her sister again. Haven't they been estranged for years?
Draco was obviously thinking of the same thing as she was, for he asked with a frown, "Aunt Andromeda? Mother, you swore you would never speak to her again, and I know that you always keep your word. Why the change of mind?"
Seeing the sudden look of despair on his wife's face, Lucius decided to reprimand his son for his ignorance. "It was more a change of heart, Draco." he drawled coldly. "You see, when your dear Aunt Bella was killed by the charming Molly Weasley, your mother realized that the only person left in her family was your aunt. Does that make sense to you now?" he asked, sneering at his son's foolishness.
"Lucius, don't." Narcissa said sharply, looking worriedly at Hermione. Of course, she thinks the mere mention of Bellatrix Lestrange's name will make me cry. she thought, touched by Narcissa's concern.
"It's alright, Mother." said Hermione seriously. "But won't the Weasleys be expecting Teddy and Aunt Andromeda to spend Christmas with them? I mean, Harry's Teddy's godfather, and I'm sure he'd want to see him today."
"Of course, I'm sure Teddy will go over to the Burrow for Christmas dinner, but Andromeda certainly won't." Narcissa replied, stiffening again. "Perhaps she'll meet up with some other friends."
"Why?" Draco asked, again earning another glare from his father, which he completely missed.
"Because, maybe, your Aunt doesn't want to spend Christmas with the killer of her own sister, no matter how horrible she was." Lucius snapped, glancing with concern at his sad wife.
"But I thought they were really good friends! And Aunt Bella had it coming for her." Draco said indignantly. Narcissa paled suddenly at Draco's last words, and Hermione decided to intervene for the sake of the rest of the day not being spoiled.
"Mother, Father, I think it'll be wonderful to have Teddy and Aunt Andromeda over for lunch. I can't wait to see how much Teddy's grown, and I know you and your sister have so much to catch up on. Draco, the war changed a lot of things, so just let your mum and dad decide what they want to do. Family is family no matter what, and nothing can ever change that."
Draco nodded gravely, and went back to his pancakes, chewing thoughtfully. Narcissa looked at Hermione with shining eyes, and her look was of one displaying the deepest gratitude. Lucius nodded covertly to his son's girlfriend, silently thanking her for ending that awkward conversation effectively. Christmas had missed disaster by an inch. I guess the war didn't just turn out with peace, but new estrangements and bitterness, as well as lost friendships. Hermione thought sadly. She thanked her lucky stars that with Draco and his family, it had turned out the opposite way.
Hermione and the Malfoys were sitting primly and properly in one of the plush and ornately furnished living rooms when the doorbell rang. Hermione resisted the urge to stand up and answer the door herself, knowing that the house-elves were supposed to get it, and instead touched the silver locket hanging over her bosom instead. Her other hand was intertwined with Draco's, and he gave her a reassuring squeeze when footsteps could be heard just outside the living room door.
An older male house-elf came in first, and announced grandly, "A Mrs. Tonks and Mr. Lupin here to see you, Milord and Milady."
"Show them in." Lucius said without hesitation. The elf bowed deeply, and then went out again. A moment later, Andromeda Tonks and Teddy Lupin were being led in front of Hermione and the Malfoys.
Hermione immediately recognized Andromeda from her resemblance to her sister Bellatrix. Although her hair was brown and her eyes much softer, their dark looks in comparison to Narcissa were striking, but Hermione, with her Gryffindor courage, didn't flinch. Andromeda looked every bit as kind as Harry had described her.
In her arms, she was carrying a quiet boy with turquoise hair and his fist in his mouth. Teddy Lupin had grown into quite the rug rat, adventurous like his mother and brave like his father. Hermione could just imagine him crawling around his home, poking every object that came into his path straight into his little mouth.
"Narcissa." Andromeda finally said softly after the two sides had stared at each other for quite some time. The old elf had long since bowed out of the living room. "Thank you for inviting me over today." She bowed her head deeply, and seeing her own sister act this way finally broke Narcissa's composure, and she stood up suddenly.
"Andromeda…" her voice trailed off as she swiftly ran to her sister and enveloped her in a bone-crushing hug, to Draco, Hermione, and Lucius's shock. Andromeda seemed just as surprised as the rest of them at Narcissa's gesture, but closed her eyes and sighed at her sister's contact after all those long years.
The spellbinding moment was broken by Teddy's loud squall after being squished for so long. Narcissa pulled back and smiled at the little boy, who looked at her intently. "Why, hello there, little Edward."
"He goes by Teddy, Cissy." Andromeda smiled, not taking her eyes off of her sister. "Would you like to hold him?"
"I would love to." Narcissa gushed, and Andromeda handed her grandson over to her sister. The boy was quiet, and just studied his great-aunt as if she were a new toy and he was deliberating on if she would be fun to play with or not.
"Say hello to your Great-Aunt Cissy." Andromeda requested her grandson gently.
"Hello, Great-Auntie Cissy." Teddy said clearly and immediately without any hesitation. "I Teddy."
"Why hello, Teddy." replied Narcissa, throwing her sister a startled look. "And how are you today?"
"I happy, 'cause today Chrismus." Teddy promptly responded. "Play wiv' me, Great-Auntie Cissy!"
"Of course, little one. But don't you want to meet your uncles and aunt first?" she asked, bouncing the boy on her hip. Hermione inwardly gasped, realizing that Narcissa had introduced her as part of their family.
Narcissa turned to Andromeda. "Goodness, Andie, what have you been feeding him? What a precocious child!"
"Gramma give oatmeal." Teddy said proudly as he was passed into Lucius's grip. He started gurgling on what else Andromeda fed him as Lucius greeted his sister-in-law awkwardly.
"Really, Teddy, aren't you going to say 'hello' to Great-Uncle Lucius?" Andromeda asked her grandson sternly, to which Teddy shyly greeted him, before being passed into Draco's arms quickly.
Draco had been staring all this time at the aunt whom he had never met, and had shyly greeted her upon receiving his nephew, before his attention was stolen.
"This is your Uncle Draco. Say hello, Teddy." instructed his grandmother.
"Hello, Unca' Drake." Teddy said simply, poking Draco's cheek expertly, much to Hermione's amusement.
"Er, hello, Teddy." Draco replied shyly, obviously not used to seeing children this young. "Ready for lunch?" he asked, attempting to make conversation with his nephew.
"Goodness Draco, of all topics." Hermione said, standing up and shaking Andromeda's hand in greeting. She introduced herself as Hermione Granger, Draco's girlfriend, and Andromeda nodded in understanding, enthusiastic on the inside for meeting one of Harry Potter's best friends.
Teddy was passed to her, and he immediately looked at the locket on her chest. "Whassat?" he asked her, earning a scolding from Andromeda for not greeting Hermione first.
The little boy corrected himself, but obviously his mind had turned in another direction again, saying this time, "Aunt Miney, play wiv' me!" he commanded imperiously, sparking tinkling laughter from everyone in the room.
"Maybe after lunch, Teddy dear, since it really is time for lunch, and your Uncle Drake is hungry!" Narcissa sang.