Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Door #24

I lay in bed for a while that morning, just staring at the ceiling and trying to get up the urge to get up. I pulled the covers around my shoulders, snuggling down into the warmth in my narrow bed. I could hear other people moving in the house, their murmurs and whispers and excited giggles. It didn't make me feel any more inclined to rise. I just kept thinking how things weren't going to be the same this year. It didn't feel like Christmas at all. Where was the magic?

The whispers got louder as though the people were congregating outside my bedroom door. There was a gentle tap and a soft voice asking "Draco?"

"I'm awake," I replied.

The door opened and a figure entered the room. "I brought you some coffee." A steaming mug was placed on the bedside table.

"Thanks."

"Don't be long, certain people are getting impatient."

I grinned as a tiny person charged at the bed and flung themselves on me. "Dwaco! Dwaco! Get up!" I fought them off as best I could, using all tactics I had: struggling, tickling and as a last resort, feigning injury, till we both emerged rumpled and laughing.

"Okay, okay! Let me get up and dressed, all right?"

"Be quick! I want my pwesents!"

"The sooner you let me up, the sooner I can get dressed." This made sense and with a final order of "Huwwy up!" I was left alone, hearing the shouts of "He's getting up!" over footsteps clattering down the wooden stairs.

With a sigh and a chuckle, I collapsed back on my pillows and noticed the mug of coffee waiting for me. I inhaled the rich aroma before bringing it to my lips and drinking deeply, swallowing down with it any feelings of regret and disappointment I may have had. Thus fortified, I managed to clamber out of bed and tumbled into the shower.

Before long, I was squeaky clean and dressing in front of a full-length mirror, remembering another mirror in another place with a pang that closed up my throat and made it momentarily difficult to breathe. This was just a normal ordinary mirror; a long piece of silver-backed glass in a simple metal frame. That was all there was to it, nothing else. I took a long shuddering breath and put such thoughts to the back of my mind.

With a final check of my reflection, I walked over to the curtains and pulled each one back before taking a cursory glance outside. The sky hung heavy, looking as though it was balanced on the very tops of the trees. I left the room and went downstairs where I was greeted with smiles and an excitedly bouncing child who hurled their body at my legs.

"We've forbidden entry into the front room, we didn't want you to miss out on the surprise."

"Can we go in now?" Without waiting for an answer, a tiny hand was slipped in mine, pulling me towards the closed door behind which the Christmas tree and presents awaited.

"Ohhhh..." A sigh of wonder escaped the child upon seeing the large pile of brightly wrapped parcels. "Where did they come from? How did they get here? Are they all mine?"

"Are we not allowed any?" I asked with a smile, taking a seat on the floor with no heed to what it would do to my trousers. "Haven't we been good too?"

A tiny face was screwed up in thought before replying. "Of course!" I nearly laughed out loud at the seriousness of the expression and consideration given to this response. My heart swelled a little at the knowledge that this child deemed me worthy of gifts and I brushed my hand over the soft hair that crowned the little head. Fairy lights reflected in large blue eyes that were looking over my shoulder. "Dwaco, look!"

I turned to see what was so captivating and noticed the gentle flurry of white flakes that had started to fall. "It's snowing," I breathed, joining the little child in wonder. Once again I felt as though I was six years old, captivated by the arrival of presents on Christmas morning left by an unseen hand, watching snowflakes falling to cover the ground in a blanket of white, and seeing my parents smiling and sharing in my enjoyment as I played with my new toys. Once again, I found the magic of Christmas in the eyes of a Muggle child.

A/N: Many thanks to everyone who has reviewed, I hope you've enjoyed reading my Malfoy Advent Calendar. Many of your questions will be answered in the final chapters of Father To Son, andin the followingParts Two and Three of I Am Draco. Merry Christmas to you all! Ganimede 2004