A Twisted Christmas

By Shadow Rise

The Present is a Gift

He cracked open his eye as the clock struck two. With a sigh, he pulled back the hangings of his bed and jumped back at what he saw. Mounds of food, everywhere. Meats, fruits, cakes, everything!

And in the middle of it all stood a girl, near thirteen or so, with shoulder-length curls in a mouse-y blonde color; Her eyes were a deep green shade; and she wore a light green silk robe.

"Draco Malfoy?"

"Yes... that's me."

"I am the spirit of your Christmas present." she smiled.

He only stared a moment. She seemed familiar.

"I suppose we should be off?"

"Yes, yes... Come, Draco."

Thegirl held out her hand to him, Draco grasped it in his own. She pulled him towards the window as the child had and soon they arrived at a house, not too rich, but not poor.

"This is Tracey's house." he murmured.

"Yes."There was a living room filled with happy, laughing people. In the midst of it all was Tracey and a beautiful, willowy blonde.

Davis let out a hearty chuckle. "He said Christmas was ridiculus. And, as I live and breathe, he believed it, too!"

"Why, shame on him, Tracey!" the blonde, his wife Luna, admonished.

"He's a comical old prat, that's the truth, and not so cheery at times. But, his way carries its own punishment, and I haven't a word against him."

"I'm sure he's very rich, Trace. At least you always tell me so." she said, handing a girl with raven hair a glass of wine.

"And what of it, my love? His wealth is of no use to him.No good is done with it, he barely ever does anything with it! He hasn't the satisfaction of thinking-" he let out a chuckle "-that he is ever going to benefit us with it."

Luna sighed with a small smile. "I have no patience when it comes to Draco."

The group nodded in agreement.

"Oh, dearest, but I do. I feel for him:I couldn't be angry with him if I tried." Tracey began,"Who suffers by his ill whims? Him. Here, he thinks he should hate us, and he won't come and dine with us. What's the consequences? He misses a good dinner and the company of people, as opposed to his books. And I mean to give him the same chance every year, whether he likes it or not, because I feel for him. He may rail at Christmas until he dies

Draco turned and looked at the girl, who only stared on.

"Forget it, I'm not ready... I'm not..."

She ran a hand over the scene and turned to him. "Do you recognize this home?" she inquired with an arched brow.

"The Weasley's shack?"

"You'll see."

Hermione busied herself carefully placing the plates around the large table while Ron stirred potatoes in the kettle on the stove. It was Christmas time, and at the Weasley house, that meant one thing: No magic. They did Christmas by hand. Just then, David and Ella (Charlie and Fleur's twins) rushed in with excited smiles, soon followed by Charlie.

"We smelled the goose!" David grinned.

"Daddy took us to Diagon Alley and we smelled the goose!" Ella added.

"Go on kids, help your mum decorate." Charlie said, hanging up his cloak. They made their way into the living room with Fleur.

"Did you hear from Ginny yet?" he inquired when he was sure the twins were out of earshot.

"Yes." Hermione sighed, "She says she may not make it."

"Well, what about Dad, or Bill and Danny?"

"Bill and Dan are on their way back from the doctor's office." Ron said, his eyes shining with a sadness.

Little Daniel Weasley had had a hard life for a five-year-old. Bill and Nymphadora Tonks had been wed at twenty-eight, she was pregnant by twenty-nine. But, Dora died giving birth to the bundle of joy that she loved so much, Daniel Bilius Weasley.

But, since Dora died, there was no one left to train Danny on how to control his Metamorphmagus qualities. Tonks had had her mother to help her along in the process. And, Weasleys being Weasleys, they could not afford a tutor and no one at Hogwarts knew how to control the gift.

As a result, whenever Danny accidentally changed it would cause him a great amount of pain.

Charlie nodded. It had been tough on his older brother when Dora had passed, but this whole thing with Danny... Charlie was starting to worry that it was too much for poor Bill's heart to stand.

"If we only had the money." he whispered, more to himself than anyone.

"If only Malfoy would give me a raise." Hermione stated, setting silverware.

Then, Arthur Weasley opened the door and entered, followed by his son and grandson.

"'Lo all!" he greeted warmly, placing his jacket on the rack.

Bill waved with a smile, picked Dan up and made his way into the living room with the others.

Arthur smiled with a look around, but it soon faded.

"Where's Ginny?"

"Not coming." Hermione, Ron, and Molly sighed in unison as Molly entered with a covered dish.

"Not coming? On Christmas Day?" Arthur inquired, brows arched.

Suddenly, the door flew open to reveal a redhead with a Gryffindor scarf and a long, gray sweater to her knees.

"Not coming," she laughed, "because I'm here!"

Arthur ran forward, wrapping his arms around her caringly. Even at his age, Arthur picked up his daughter easily and twirled her a bit.

"So good to see you, luv!"

Draco raised a brow at the spirit and she waved him off.

"Just watch, Malfoy." she snapped.

It was later, after dinner, and Molly, her daughter, and daughter-in-law were cleaning up the kitchen.

"I do so wish Malfoy would give me a raise." Hermione said, quite out-of-the-blue.

Ginny and Molly looked over at the brunette, puzzled.

"I would save up the money to get Danny-"

"Hermione, stop." Ginny whispered, tears brimming, "Just... stop."

The brunette put a hand to her lips. "Oh, Gin." She stepped to the redhead and embraced her, "Oh Ginny, I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I didn't mean to..."

"It's okay." she muttered into the other woman's shoulder, "Just... don't. Don't think about the 'ifonly's or the 'what if's. It never did anyone any good. Especially when Draco Malfoy was concerned."

He understood now.

And that girl was looking at him with this glint in her eye. A familiar glint.

"Do I know you from somewhere?" he asked, staring again.

She only smiled in a way that said she knew something he did not.

"Do you see now?" she murmured.

"Yes."

"Good."

She waved her hand and everything dissapeared. Draco awoke in his chambers one more, in his bed. He was safe.

And alone.