"Merry Christmas!" said Narcissa Malfoy as she skipped into Draco and Leo's shared room.
"Mum," said Leo. "It's half past six in the morning. I know I'm an early bird, but Draco's still asleep. Oh, and you do realise you have tinsel in your hair?"
"Of course I do! I'm getting into the Christmas spirit!"
Leo followed his adoptive mother downstairs. The large drawing room had been completely transformed: a twenty-foot high Christmas tree stood guard at one end, covered with a sort of glittery snow. Underneath was a pile of presents almost as big as Leo was.
Sitting next to the tree, wearing a decidedly glum expression, was Lucius Malfoy.
"Hello, Dad," said Leo, going to sit down next to him. "Not enjoying Christmas?"
Lucius shrugged. "If my wife didn't have tinsel in her hair, I wouldn't mind it so much."
"Sorry for getting into the mood, you…"
"Scrooge?" suggested Leo, and then winced. Marisa had told him about A Christmas Carol a few weeks ago, but it was definitely not a good idea to reveal that to his parents. He was acting like Draco.
"What's a Scrooge?" asked Lucius.
"Ebenezer Scrooge is a really famous fictional character who hates Christmas."
"If he's so famous, why haven't I heard of him?" asked Lucius, giving Leo a searching look.
"I meant famous… for Muggles."
Lucius and Narcissa both raised their eyebrows.
"There was this girl who had grown up with Muggles, and she was talking about it."
"Miss King?" asked Lucius.
"How – oh, that note I sent you. Yes, it was her."
Thankfully, Leo was then interrupted by Draco, who had arrived downstairs in his black dressing gown.
"Presents?" Draco said, making a beeline for the tree. "Yippee!"