Chapter Three: Merry Christmas, Draco!

It was half past three in the afternoon before Draco realized that he was actually hungry for some Christmas tea. He was a sixteen-year-old after all, and he really used to look forward to those cameo cookies and pudding- yeah, like thirteen years ago. But something was compelling him to go downstairs and tuck into those snacks waiting for just him at the Slytherin table. Finally realizing that he'd sat by the common room fireplace for too long a merry Christmas, he arose from the soft, green-leathered armchair and left for the Great Hall.

"Draco!"

Short arms grasped him around the waist. Choking at the pressure the bear hug was giving, he turned around and barely saw the little face that was beaming up at him about a foot or two below his height. He laughed and smiled back.

"Hey Mackenzie, what's up?"

"Don't you know, booger-head? It's Christmas!"

Little Mackenzie Blake was a Hufflepuff second year that Draco had developed a special bond with since some Slytherin bullies tried to beat her up last year. He had come to the rescue not because he favored her, but because his stupid roommates had been bothering him really badly about a made-up affair with him and Pansy. She seemed to like the teasing, but Draco certainly did not. He got back at them, which made about half the house, including his cronies Crabbe and Goyle, hate him. But he still had Mackenzie. She came from a poor family with really cruel parents, so she sought comfort in Draco. Pretty soon, they became like big brother and little sister or best friends, and that was the only bond the two ever had.

Draco grinned brightly at Mackenzie and withdrew a small brown envelope from his sweater's stomach pocket. "Of course I know it's Christmas! How could I forget? And you take back the booger-head crack if you want this!" And with that, he ruffled her jet-black hair, messing up her long pigtails. She laughed happily, and Draco just had to join in.

"C'mon, let's go eat something! I'll open your present downstairs! Besides, I have a present for you there, too!" Draco lifted both his eyebrows in surprise. Since Mackenzie's family was extremely poor, they both knew very well that she never could afford any Christmas gifts to give. But from the look in her eyes, he could tell that it was something really special. For once, Draco felt guilty about the fact that he was rolling in so much wizard gold.

"Here," he said, shoving the envelope into her hands and grabbing a cameo cookie and coffee mug at the same time. "Open it. It may just be an envelope, but it's really special." Mackenzie tore at the envelope with eagerness and gasped excitedly as she read the contents. "A gift certificate of ten galleons to the Budgerigar Pet Shop! This means I can choose any pet I want?" She hugged Draco so tightly that he choked out what remained of his cookie and some of his coffee. "Thank you! Thank you very much!"

"I recommend you to get Foxfeathers. You know, that little fox tail patterned owl that sits on the sign pointing to Hogsmeade Avenue all the time?" She nodded with huge eyes. "I'll go get him on our next Hogsmeade trip."

She hugged the envelope shreds threateningly tightly.

"But I have a gift for you too, Draco. Wait here."

Mackenzie scurried off to the Hufflepuff Hall, leaving Draco with a little more time to finish off all the cameo cookies in the House table (which really didn't take too long since there was only one plate of them) and get started on those lemon-pecan logs that were calling his name before she arrived to snatch all those Christmas sweets away and give him his gift-a tiny little box with holes poked on the surface. There was a moment of silence as Draco carefully examined the box, expecting something humble but worth his time, and before Mackenzie finally pushed it into his arms and nodded at him, urging him to open it.

He stared into the box with his intent ice-colored eyes. A pair of beautiful little sapphire-blue eyes brilliantly stared back at him, and then shut out their light. Puzzled, Draco lifted the 'thing' up. It appeared to be a small fur ball, with a thick, stripy tail protruding out of the soft gray hair. He stroked it, and those blue, blue eyes finally looked at him again, this time seemingly welcoming. The shape then straightened and it became clearer to Draco that he held in his hand a tiny gray black-striped kitten. Even for him, it was extremely cute and very nice to hold.

Mackenzie was delightful at Draco's reaction.

"Her name's Sapphire because of her blue eyes. You know, I think you and Sapphire have the same blue eyes."

Taken aback, Draco smiled at the kitty. It seemed to smile back, and let out a high-pitched squeaky meow.

"Thanks, Mackenzie. She's really pretty."

"I'm glad you like her."

And with that, Draco left for the common room, full of Christmas cookies, Sapphire poking her tufty head out of his stomach pocket.