A/N: Here ya go!!! ENJOY!!! Please Review!!
Chapter Ten
Home for Christmas and The Surprise
I ran into my dad's open arms and he embraced me tight. I had not realised how much I had missed him.
"So, how was the first four months?" He asked as we walked toward the barrier with my trunk.
"Excellent, given the circumstances," I replied as we ran through.
"Anything I should know about?" He asked as he nudged me with his elbow. I blushed and laughed.
"Yeah, the entire student body of Slytherin house is afraid of me."
"Well, then," he said trying to stop his slight laugh.
We walked to the carriage that was going to take us from the station and dad threw my trunk onto the back of the thing. We sat in silence in the confines of the carriage with no windows. I was again put under a sleeping spell as we neared the mansion.
* * *
The mansion was beautifully decorated. Garlands of silver bubbles were wrought over the banisters. Candles were in every corner of the place. Snow that generated heat was on the, once cold, stone floor. The Christmas tree was dazzling. It had luminous, silver ice fairies that were dancing on the branches. Snow was dusted over it. Plus there were the traditional candy canes and gingerbread people.
I climbed the stairs, with my trunk, and made my way to my room. It was just the way I had left it, except father had put a few seasonal touches in it. Like, I had a pine garland around the top edge of the wall. The house even smelt like Christmas. It felt so good to be home, but at the same time it tormented me. Not ten feet away from where I stood, my mother had died in my arms. Why, you ask, did I not change rooms? Even now I do not know why. Father had asked me several times if I wanted to, but I refused. I was drawn to the spot like if I held onto it she would still be, in the smallest measurement, there.
* * *
"Can we go to… I dunno… Diagon Alley?" I asked nonchalantly.
"Why?" Father asked.
"Because I need some things," I replied.
"Like what?" He asked. Boy, was this annoying; trying to explain to your father that you wanted to go and buy your boyfriend a Christmas present.
"A present," I answered.
"For who?" He asked.
"Loads of people," I answered.
"Like who?"
"Like you."
"Like who else?"
"Does it matter?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because if you don't tell me… I won't… take you to Diagon Alley!"
"That's rotten!"
"I know."
"As long as you know."
"So, who else?"
"Do I really have to tell you?"
"If you really want to go," he said smugly. What is with people and bending my words to suit their needs?
"Harry," I whispered.
"Pardon?"
"Harry!" I shouted. He almost giggled.
"I knew it!"
"How could you know?"
"You were smiling when you got off the train."
"That could have been from anything!"
"No, it couldn't have. I remember everything you told me that one night at the Leaky Cauldron! And you were so upset when I put you on the train," he stated.
"Are we going then?" I said changing the subject.
"You told me so… Yes," he answered.
* * *
We were sitting in the carriage and dad had this superior look on his face. I was trying to figure out what and finally I gave up and asked him.
"What are you so smug about?" I asked.
"You'll see," he replied. I turned back to my book as I waited for when I was allowed to look outside the carriage. "What are you getting Harry?"
"I really don't know. Do you have any suggestions?" I asked. He sat there and thought about it for a while.
"Do you know what he likes?" He asked after a moment.
"Quidditch and… chocolate frogs," I answered. It made me realise I really knew nothing about him.
"Hmm… That doesn't give us much to work with," he said thoughtfully.
"I know," I said quietly.
We went back to riding in silence as we both contemplated what I should get for Harry. When I was allowed to look out of the carriage, I realised that the sky had gotten darker and it was snowing.
"Do you think he'd wear a bracelet?" Dad asked after a time.
"Maybe. What were you thinking?" I asked.
"Well, what if you got him a bracelet that had green, red, silver, and gold all interwoven, but nothing flashy maybe just a thin string with the colours," he suggested. I loved the idea.
"That's perfect. I'll get him some chocolate frogs too!" I said happily that now I knew what to get. The problem was where would I find something so one-of-a-kind?
* * *
Diagon Alley was busy as ever with it being so close to Christmas and all. Witches and wizards bustled on either side of the alley. Some with friends, some with family, others just frantically trying to pick out that last present for the hardest person to buy for in the world. I was with my dad and we went through to many of the jewellers. We were down to the last one and I can't even remember what it's called. We stepped inside and the bell on the door rang.
"Good evening, fine sirs," said the little old man behind the counter. He was smiling pleasantly.
"Evening," I said quietly as I walked up to the counter. "I was wondering if you could make something for me…"
"Well, I'll try my best," he smiled. I pulled the drawing of what I wanted out of my pocket, I had drawn it in the carriage.
"This is what I want. I don't want it to be able to wear out or fade. It has to be strong to last forever," I said pointedly. He studied the drawing for a moment and then he ran into the back room. He returned after about five minutes with a minuscule wooden chest. He opened the chest and inside was a hoop of red, gold, sliver and green.
"It will conform to the exact size of the wrist of whomever the lucky girl is. Is this what you had in mind?" He smiled as he picked it up and handed it to me. I took the small bracelet in my hands and inspected it closely. It looked like it was made from embroidery floss but upon closer inspection, it was very soft metal. It was striking and perfect. I hoped he would like it.
"Exactly what I had in mind," I replied. I did not haggle for the price I paid whatever he wished (1 gold galleon and 3 sickles) and left the store.
After that, we walked to the sweetshop and bought some chocolate frogs. I later bought my dad a box of fizzing whizzbees, they were his favourite sweet.
* * *
"Dad, where's Merlina?" I asked coming in from the owlry. Merlina was our owl.
"She's out delivering something for me, why?" Dad asked.
"Because I wanted to send Harry his present," I answered.
"Well, wait until after Christmas. She'll be tired and won't want to go anywhere," he said as he looked through the daily prophet.
"But I want him to get his present for Christmas," I said almost like a child.
"He'll live," he said shortly.
"Fine," I snapped and trudged back up the stairs.
* * *
I was mad at my dad for not letting me send Harry his gift before Christmas so he could get it on Christmas morning. But I guess I could not argue with him, what could I have done except get into a big row and be mad at him for the rest of the holidays?
* * *
I woke up in my warm room on Christmas morning with the biggest smile on my face. I hopped out of bed and walked down to breakfast in my pyjamas. It was not a sunny day but the snow was falling and that was just as lovely. I stalked down the stairs and into the kitchen. What I saw there made tears well up in my eyes and made me want to laugh at the same time.
On the table was chocolate chip cookies and hot chocolate. The other part that made me want to laugh was dad. He was sitting on the island in the middle of the kitchen, munching on cookies and covered with flour. I could not contain my laughter any longer; I burst out laughing at my father. He hopped off the island.
"How long have you been there?" He asked.
"Only a few moments," I gasped through my laughing.
"At least I tried!" He huffed. I smiled at him, walked over to and hugged him.
"Thanks so much," I whispered.
"No problem," he said at ease. There was a knock at the door and I tensed. "Could you get that please? I have to clean up this kitchen."
"Are you sure it wise?" I asked.
"It's fine. It's one of your relatives dropping off some gifts for you," he said lightly as he went about cleaning the kitchen. I eyed him suspiciously and then walked out into the living room and then out into the main corridor. I opened the door and whoever was standing there had their back to me. I cleared my throat and they whipped around.
"Harry?" I breathed.
"Draco!" Harry said happily as he swept me into his arms.
"What are you doing here?"
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns it all… Unless of course you've encountered something different then, it probably belongs to me.
A/N: So how was that? Did you like it? I hope so. Come on guys! Review… You know you want to!! It really helps me write and I will say thanks soooo much in my next Author's notes. And I'll email you with updates if you want!!! I still can't believe only one person has got the little thing I put in there… Oh well, what can you do? Hahaha. I'm really happy because this is the quickest I've ever updated something. Well, that;s all for now. Thanks so much for reading and reviewing… Luv, Gia