Christmas 2006
For the second time, there is a gift wrapped in festive paper with a dull brown string tied around it. It's the simplest wrapping beneath the tall tree that shimmers in the corner. It's also the most meaningful.
It tells of bridges being built. Not repaired. Built. Something new reaching over a gap centuries old.
A small package, soft looking. A very out-of-place object among the Malfoys' presents. Potter's owl delivered it. It wasn't the only gift that noble looking black and brown owl had carried. But it was the most singular.
It's not from the Potters though. It's not even the first occurrence of its kind. Last year, Draco had spared his parents. He left the gift on Delphini's bed in the morning. This year, he gave them a warning a couple of days ago.
He can't deny even his own feathers were a bit riled up the first time. They still are today, and he supposes the feeling will always linger. It is, all and all, somewhat of a rare astrological alignment. Except it seems this will take place every year from now on.
Scorpius is a happy three-year-old chasing away a fur ball that has gotten considerably larger these past months. Zebra is quite a sidekick to his son. It gets along with the pre-existing kneazle. Not so much with the raven, which has taken to keep its distance.
Delphini is seated on a low cushioned stool close to the fire, her legs crossed on it, nestling Vicious, that she pets absent minded. There have been no more incidents involving wands, though there has been plenty of not-quite-accidental magic. The Ministry has given up on her. As long as she only uses her magic on Malfoy Manor grounds, they have decided to let her. Apparently, Potter pulled a few strings and Granger pulled a couple of old files on what happens to children whose magic is suppressed. Not entirely legal, or right, but fitting the new attitude the Ministry proclaims.
The clock strikes midnight and there is a smile on Delphini's lips. His Father smiles back. He even laughs, wholeheartedly, when his grandson slams into his legs and asks if they can finally open the presents.
Draco looks on as Astoria moves effortlessly towards the tree. There's an absence of weight to his chest, for the first time in years. She is healthy. She has been healthy since the dying summer, out of bed and comfortable armchairs completely. He feels like he is in a dream. His Mother's hand on his arm assures him he is not.
Astoria gathers two gifts from the pile that has been growing for the last week, under the protection of several charms. Otherwise, he suspects, Delphini and Scorpius would already know exactly what they are getting tonight.
They shouldn't be getting their gifts until the morning, but the green-eyed beauty had somehow talked them into letting them stay up until midnight. And since midnight means it's already the 25th... She made sure her cousin was very aware of that part of her scheme, so Scorpius had been terribly excited the whole evening.
"This is for you, Scorpius. And this one is yours, Delphini."
She extends the small mismatched present to the girl's awaiting hands. Delphini makes quick work of the knots and bows and unwraps the colourful paper. Eager, but delicate. Unlike her cousin, who is properly destroying the wrapping of his gift, to the delight of the kneazles.
Delphini pulls a sweater up from the paper. It's knitted wool of the deepest green, fluff and soft. When she turns it, so as to show it to them, there is a cheerful red D in its centre.
"Yay! Look Delphi! I got a scarf!" Scorpius is waving a scarf of green and red in the air.
Well that he wasn't counting on... He looks to Astoria, out of words.
"Molly asked me if it would be alright. The package suffered quite a bit on the journey so I had to take care of it. Sorry I didn't tell you, but I couldn't miss the look on that face." Her smile is so incredibly joyful that he forgets to be angry at her.
His Father looks quite stern, but there is a hint of a smile on his Mother's face, so he figures the matter is set. Or will be, later, in their chambers.
The Malfoys have received clothes from the Weasleys of all people.
Hats off for Molly, he thinks, as his mind rights those feathers back to their proper place, and his body moves to kiss Astoria, who smiles through it.
X
May 2007
"Oh, I completely forgot you two were coming!"
Draco rushes to welcome Harry and Ron inside his office. Their visit was nowhere near his thoughts.
"I'm sorry. Delphini is not even home. I left her with the Pritchards for the week."
Potter smiles, running his hand through his hair. Weasley looks at him in disbelief. Draco laughs openly at that, telling him that he need not worry, they can still have a chat on those armchairs and two fingers of fire whiskey.
"Well then, we drink and you tell us what she's been up to. We'll tell the Ministry everything is fine anyway." Ron replies with a chuckle.
They have made a habit of these meetings. Sometimes Astoria joins them, although his parents never do.
X
At the Pritchard House, in Yorkshire, two dark haired witches chase each other on brooms over the lawns. Syrianna's mother had warned them about not going too far or too fast, and they had heeded. For the first ten minutes or so.
They are now over the most remote part of the gardens, a maze. Syri's dress catches on the tall bushes and she loses her balance, falling into one of the gravel paths. Delphini gracefully turns her broom in the air and lands next to her.
"It's fine. I'm not hurt." Syrianna says, as she rids herself of the dust and pulls her long silky hair off her face. They decide on making it out of the maze on foot. Picking up the brooms, they lazily make their way out of the maze and back to the house, including a detour so that they walk by the rose bushes Delphini is so fond of.
At some point, Delphini could swear she hears a voice. Turning on her feet, she sees no one. She hears it again.
It's coming from the roses... Under Syri's baffled gaze, she starts pushing branches and flowers aside, careful not to prick her fingers.
"Delphini! There is a snake!" Syri is at her side in a moment, ready to shake the branches so that the serpent drops to the floor. But Delphini stops her.
"No! It's fine. Look, she's tiny. She won't hurt us." Her eyes locked momentarily on the small coiled body and the piercing yellow eyes that seem to watch her carefully.
"I'll tell the elves to get rid of it, then." Syrianna's lips have thinned to a worried line.
"Why? Why can't you just leave the snake live here? It's not like she means harm."
"How do you know? And why is the snake a she?"
"I-I guess I just... well, I don't know." She feels terribly puzzled, but she simply knows that the snake is friendly. And most definitively a she. Delphini keeps those thoughts to herself. "Look, I thought I heard something in the bushes, it's a snake. Mystery solved. Can we just go inside? I'm starving."
Syrianna raises her eyebrows but concedes. As they move away, Delphini could swear she heard something from the bushes again.
"Thhhhank yousss"
She blinks her confusion away. It's probably Nargles in her ears.
X
September 2007
"Be careful Delphini! Scorpius is only four!" Narcissa gives her a warning look.
"He knows how to fly, we'll be fine." Delphini looks back to her as if it's the most obvious thing ever. The Malfoys have several Quidditch players in the family, and she figures Delphini has her own reasons to feel comfortable amidst the air, even if she is unaware of them.
"Just the quaffle, Delphie. No snitch. And don't even ask about the bludgers!" Her tone allows for absolutely no pleading. She watches as inky curls and silvery tresses wave in the wind as the children run to the lawn, brooms in hand, to where the box is. Delphini gets the quaffle out while Scorpius leaves the ground, and in an instant they are both in the air, passing the quaffle between them.
In a year, she'll be gone. Just until Christmas she knows, but the separation is heavy on her chest already. She will be alone at Hogwarts, with none of her family to protect her. She decides to shrug such thoughts away for now. There's a whole year to go still.
A whole year to keep Delphini from getting into too much trouble.
A whole year for her to keep dropping a hint of roses on her niece's pillow.
A whole year of piano lessons, of walks in the garden, of birthday parties, and social gatherings.
A whole year of brushing her hair, of picking ribbons and dresses, of reading together by the fireplace, of kissing her cold rosy cheeks when she comes in running from outside in the winter, of sending her off to bathe at the end of the day.
A whole year of scolding her for bringing her pets to the dining room, for scaring the house-elf livid, for using her magic way too much, and for pranking everyone in her reach.
A whole year of goodnight kisses and good morning smiles.
A whole year of the things of love that need no words and yet sound like a song.
Author's Notes: Hello people, happy to be back to this fic. Sorry it took so long, but there is a lot going on in real life. I've already uploaded a new side-piece, there's a couple more that need some more work but that should be ready soon. To the guests who reviewed the last chapter, thank you so much.
Concerning the next chapter, guess where Delphini is going? *huge grin* Hint: there's a red train involved.
Don't forget to review please, your thoughts are always appreciated