A/N: Another chapter I'm not very proud of after how long it took for me to update, but it does get the story moving... Again, I'm SORRY for the long wait.

I particularly didn't like this chapter because it takes over the span of a week so nothing gets into detail until the end, and even then, the ending seems so short and abrupt.

Thank you to everyone who continues to review, you guys inspire me!

x

A Weasley Named Malfoy

Christmas

Getting caught would mean more than just detention. It proved tricky to enlist trusted people without breaking some sort of law to weed out possible spies. Though the DEC used them often, there were laws and regulations one had to follow when performing a memory charm. And strictly speaking, memory charms were illegal to underage wizards.

The SUCA took no chances. With the help of DEC members, and Serena's cousins and friends, possible members were interviewed once before having a memory charm placed upon them and recommended to Serena. It was then up to Serena to interview them. Along with memory charms, the use of veritaserum was also strictly regulated. Serena would privately interview them, disguised under polyjuice potion, and if they were deemed worthy, they were put to the veritaserum test. If all proved well, they were sworn into the Strictly Underground Children's Army and took a blood oath; an powerful, unbreakable, magical oath which lead to fatal consequences if broken.

Slowly but surely, the DEC grew, and soon there were nearly 200 students under blood oath. From the estimates of Malikye, this was nearly as many students under the Arm, who still remained blind to any opposition, which all who know, remained thankful for.

Unlike the Hogwarts Arm, the SUCA never planned to meet as a whole. Instead, it was worked through a complex network of communications in which no ordinary student knew more than a handful of people within the union. This ensured their protection and secrecy.

x

The night before Christmas Holiday, Hogwarts held a grand feast. That afternoon, Killian Powers had been smuggled back into the castle, with only the single memory of opening a door.

With only this evidence, it was concluded that Killian had entered one of the many wayward rooms of Hogwarts and had finally found his way back to the student population.

Serena could finally relax. She meticulously worked to finish as much homework as possible before the break, and had finished the greater part of it. There was no need to worry about the SUCA, those members who had chosen to stay behind would keep in contact with her if any problem arose. There would be no DEC meetings unless something came up, and Malikye was certain that any form of attack would not come until later when more students were in the castle anyways.

Last but not least, she would enjoy the luxuries of being only child (for the present moment) as she returned to the Wandseye estate for a few days before joining the rest of her cousins at the Burrow for Christmas.

The Great Hall was magnificently decorated with Christmas trees and tinsel and holly. Snow was falling softly outside as the students began wandering in for the feast. At the staff table, Professor McGonagall was talking amiably with Professor Dumbledore and Professor Flitwick.

The otherwise, happy atmosphere was then broken by Professor Snape swooping in with a very disagreeable face and striding menacingly down the length of the Hall to the staff table. It wasn't the normal Snape 'strut-and-scowl,' as the Quads like to call it, but one that meant something was up.

He walked straight up to the Headmaster, interrupting his conversation by leaning over the table and whispering loudly and angrily, pointing haphazardly behind him. The Headmaster replied calmly back which seemed to upset Snape more than he already was. Dumbledore said something more and Snape straightened up, and whirled around to look at the students seated around the Great Hall, accusing everyone of them. With a final scowl, the potions master exited the same way he entered.

Serena overheard about this from Ladonna when she sat down to the feast and later on found out the Children who were assigned the task of smuggling Killian back in decided to, 'fix him up,' before hanging him upside down by one leg above the Slytherin common room fireplace with a few empty Firewhiskey bottles strewn around him.

The Feast seemed to go without a hitch before the Quads and gang began singing Christmas carols loudly and obnoxiously.

Professor Dumbledore gave his usual speech wishing everyone a Happy Christmas, then the students headed back up to their dorms and to their own house parties.

Serena headed up the stairs for one last check on her packing before letting herself get away with a few butterbeers. Of course, when she got upstairs, everything was mostly in order anyways. She noticed her hangings on her four poster bed were all drawn; she remembered having left them open on her way down. She approached it cautiously before ripping them back. Sitting neatly on her pillow was a package wrapped in all green with a bright red ribbon on top. Serena picked up the card; nothing was written on the outside. She slit the envelope open and pulled out the card.

Merry Christmas-- I wanted to give this to you now rather than when you got home. I figured it'd be safer and there'd be less questions. I wasn't sure what to get you, I'm not really good at this sort of thing, but I hope you like it.

xxx

Serena had no doubt who it was from. She studied the package before picking it up and shaking it, noting the tinkling sound. She'd kill him if it was fragile.

She looked behind her; she doubted anyone was going to come up the stairs to the dorms… but just in case. Serena shut the door and sat on her bed, closing the curtains behind her.

The packaging was seamless. She admired the simple beauty of that before ripping it open with excitement.

Inside was the almost exact copy of the packaging. It was a green box. She carefully opened that and a soft, melancholy tune began to play.

By the time the song had ended, tears were rolling down Serena's face. Maybe it was from the song, maybe it was from who sent it, or maybe it was just the whole situation, she wasn't sure. He really was a jerk.

There was a knock on the door. "Serena?" It sounded like Andromeda. She quickly shut the music box. The door opened. "Are you in here?"

The glass dragon and the picture of herself were still sitting on the table next to her. She had not planned on taking it back with her to the estate.

"They've broken out the bottomless beers… I was just wondering if you wanted one."

"Yeah… I'll be down in a moment."

"Alright."

The door closed. Serena wiped away her tears and pulled back the hangings. She took the picture and the dragon and placed it in music box before going to her trunk and stowing it safely near the bottom. She shut the trunk with a satisfying bang and sat there for a few moments before checking herself at the mirror and heading back down to the common room.

x

The estate was very quiet. Serena had come home to find that the baby had already made it's mark on the house. In the corner of Harry and Ginny's room sat a crib and beside it, a rocking chair. They decided they'd rather not know what gender the baby would be.

It was later revealed to her that her parents hadn't told anyone about Ginny's pregnancy.

"Well what are you going to do when we see them in a few days?" Serena asked them.

"Not go," came Ginny's muffled response from behind the pillow she had put over her face as she lay on the bed, her belly protruding.

"Ginny, you can't avoid them forever, and they'll eventually find out," Harry reasoned.

She didn't respond for a while before she suddenly sat up and threw the pillow at him, yelling, "This is all your fault!"

"My fault! My fault! You're the one who's pregnant!"

"Oh, don't you act like you weren't in the room when it happened!"

"I'm not hearing this!" Serena shouted, stuffing her hands over her ears, closing her eyes. She then commence to sing Christmas Carols at the top of her lungs.

She was greeted by a pillow in the face from Harry.

"We are going to you parents Christmas party whether you like it or not. Serena, you'd better pack, I forbid your mother to use floo powder, so we'll have to drive. You on the other hand, can go through the fireplace, so you'll be leaving sooner."

"DRIVE! DRIVE! LAST TIME I GOT INTO A CAR WITH YOU" Ginny began shouting.

Serena reasoned she'd rather not know and quickly exited the room.

x

Serena landed with cat-like grace on the floor of the burrow a few days later. She quickly pulled her trunk out of the way; when she left, Ginny was holding a fistful of floo powder and Harry was restraining her with all his might.

"Hello?"

Molly Weasley poked her head at the door. "Oh, you're here dear, good. They're all out in the garden. Just leave your trunk there, I'll take care of it."

Out in the garden, the Quads had started a rough game of Quidditch, and, apparently, wands were part of the game. So far, there was a bloody nose, a beard, green hair, a monkey tail, and purple polka dots.

"Oi Strawberry, wanna join?" the man with the polka dots asked.

"I think I'll stay down here thanks." Serena joined the girls on the ground.

They spent the afternoon between playing Quidditch and hide-and-go seek, wizards style, in the garden until the sun set. Then they went swimming in the pond in the forest and at night, told scary stories in the tree house.

Aaron was at an especially frightening part when there was a knock on the trap door and Gail let out an earsplitting scream. Harry stuck his head in.

"Hey, Reenie… we're going to need you down here." He motioned with his head.

At the car, Ginny was sitting in the passenger's seat, teary eyed.

"Do you remember Serena, the first time I brought you to meet my family? What will they think of me now?" She broke into sobs, putting her face in her hands.

"Oh, Mum… it's going to be okay. They'll be happy, this'll be nothing like last time." Ginny looked unsure. "I promise." Serena helped her out of the car and they hugged each other silently for a long time.

Ginny took a breath, and pulled back.

"You're were right… and you are right. I don't know why I'm like this." She smiled through her tears.

"Just take it one step at a time." Harry joined her on her left and together they walked up to the door. Harry knocked.

Mrs. Weasley answered and screamed. When she saw Harry's smile, she screamed even louder.

"MY BABY!" Then she was on her knees, hugging Ginny's stomach. Of course, her scream had brought the rest of the house hold running, and the rest of them joined in the jubilation. Ginny was ushered inside and fawned over while Serena and Harry unpacked the bags from the car.

When Mrs. Weasley asked why they hadn't told them, Ginny began wailing and Mrs. Weasley quickly dismissed the question and enveloped her in a hug.

When everything finally did settle down, Ginny headed upstairs to rest.

Again, everybody was left to their own devices. The kids trooped back out to the tree house.

"Why didn't you tell us Serena!"

"How long have you known?"

"For a while now…" she sighed. "Look, I don't really want to think about it right now."

The Weasley kids quickly dropped the subject upon Serena's request.

x

People began to pour into the burrow the next day: members of the Order, friends, more relatives, until the house was fit to burst.

Christmas Eve was a cold, snowy day. It was inevitable that the company began to spill outside. The kids had been set to the task to melt the snow and set up warming charms and such to make the atmosphere much more bearable.

The normal socializing, laughing, teasing, ensued.

There was much more fawning over Ginny and congratulating Harry. Serena avoided everyone, choosing wander beyond the warmth of the charms in the garden and be alone.

As much as she tried, the subject of the baby held a depressing place in her heart. She was unsure why. It was not something she wanted to come to terms with, and something she dreaded. She continued to ask herself why as she kicked up snow and shuffled around the garden, the occasional gnome running across the path.

She didn't think it was jealousy, but if it wasn't that, what was it? Why didn't she want the baby to be born, and why did she feel depressed now that it was out in the open?

She came across a bench and sat upon it, placing her face in her hands.

She wasn't jealous. She wasn't.

"Serena?"

She looked up.

"Gail… what's up?"

The girl slid into the bench next to her. "Nothing, I was just wondering where you were."

There was a long silence. Gail swung her feet, kicking up snow so the ground beneath it could be seen.

"It's odd," Gail started, "knowing I'm not going to be the baby of the family anymore." She stopped swinging her feet. "I've always been the baby. I feel like… now, I have to grow up."

"Me too kiddo, me too." She gave her a sisterly smile, and put an arm around the girl, leaning into her. "I feel like I'm being selfish for… everything. I shouldn't be selfish."

"Well…" she began matter-o-factly, "being the youngest, let me give you some advice." Her voice dropped like she was about to tell her the most important secret. "Be selfish… while you have the chance."

The two of them giggled and sat a while longer before heading inside again.

x

The house was finally quiet at 1am, but Serena wasn't asleep. She had a feeling that she would miss something if she did.

She lay silent on her stomach, towards the foot of the bed, in the dark. The glass dragon gleamed in the moonlight on the spread in front of her, the crumpled picture of her next to it. She had not yet changed into her pajamas.

Something told her that her night had not yet ended. And it hadn't.

An hour later, the picture of herself began to motion towards the Dragon, a knowing looking in her eyes.

Serena took a deep breath, ready to meet Draco, and gripped the dragon. For a brief, chaotic minute, Serena was spinning before landing on solid ground again. She had anticipated the sudden impact and landed without falling.

Draco had promised that she wouldn't land in the graveyard again, but a dark, dingy, sleet filled, alley was hardly improvement, but improvement still for, to her left, the alley opened up to a brightly lit street. By the sound of it, she had landed in muggle London. It was snowing lightly and she wrapped her cloak tighter around her as she entered the street.

She immediately found him. For Serena, this would be a moment she would remember for the rest of her life: the snowflakes drifting down, feathers from heaven, the sky dark, but illuminated by the cheery, yellow glow from the street lamps, under which her father stood dressed in black and holding a single red rose, not yet in bloom… tragically romantic.

She smiled at him and was granted one in return, his first real smile.

She quickly crossed the street and, ignoring all formalities from the last visit, enveloped him in a hug. She inhaled his scent: cigars and books and leather.

At first, his arms came hesitantly around her before securing their hold. Serena felt him heave with a single sob and then sigh.

"Merry Christmas, my dear Serena."

"Merry Christmas…" she murmured into his robes. When the words first came out, it was originally going to be, 'Merry Christmas father,' but she couldn't bring herself to relive the harsh reality.

It was only when he pulled her away to properly look at her did he notice she was crying.

He panicked a little, he wasn't sure how to respond.

"I'm sorry." Serena looked down and quickly wiped her tears. "It's just"

But then his tentative hand was moving towards her face and cupping it. His thumb brushed away another tear. She looked up. Draco's face was dry, but the sincerity and emotion in his eyes made her realize that he was, in fact, crying as well. "I know, I know…"

She let out another sob and clung to him again, this time, his hand coming around her protectively and automatically.

"Come on," He pressed the rose into her hand, "Let's go get something to eat."

They walked the streets of muggle London, covering the basic formalities over again and finding a somewhat steady train of conversation.

Draco lead them to a cozy hole in the wall where they ordered some coffees and enjoyed each others company.

"I could have easily guessed that you were going to have me port key soon, but I haven't gotten you anything."

Draco seemed embarrassed at this. "Well…" another awkward moment, "I wasn't expecting…"

"Doesn't matter if you were expecting, I was going to buy you one…"

"You really don't have too…"

"Well, I'll be using your money anyways, so I guess I wouldn't really call it a present. More like a surprise I guess… which I just ruined."

Draco let out a short laugh, "Touché." Serena inclined her head in a mock bow. "You get that from me." He smirked.

"One could easily mistake Malfoy arrogance for a Weasley's assertiveness."

"Now you call me arrogant?"

"No just rich…" Draco gave a low chuckle. "Thank you for the gift by the way… It's beautiful."

"My mother… your grandmother, was pregnant with my sister when I saw this. I had originally planed to give it to her… but then my mother had a miscarriage."

"I'm sorry."

She found it ironic that they could discuss miscarriages given his history… It just seemed… disrespectful.

"Don't be… Who better to give it to than my own daughter if not my sister."

She smiled, and silence came over them again.

"So, I'm curious… what's your life like now? I mean, in hiding."

"Well, it's not horrible… it's quiet. I'm not fond of living among muggles, but I've made my… 'peace'… with them. The muggle world is vast, so I can say that when I do come out of my dark hole, I'm not likely to be found."

Serena shook her head, smiling into her cup.

"Don't get me wrong. I might not have be completely loyal to the Dark Lord, but it doesn't mean I'm ready to frolic among the mudbloods."

Serena choked on her drink and began to cough loudly.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah," she said weakly. "I just though… you had gotten past the whole… 'mudblood' thing."

"Gotten past muggles… the two of them are very different."

"How can you say that?" She slammed her drink on the table, luckily, it was rather loud, so no attention was drawn to them.

"How can I not?" His face had changed from contentment to resentment.

"For one, those born 'mudbloods' don't have much of a choice do they? And it's not like you can choose who you fall in love either. Therefore 'mudbloods' are inevitable, and I'm very much displeased with you."

"What are you, my mother?" he sneered. "Then again, my mother wouldn't have been giving me this conversation, let alone that tone with me…"

Another uncomfortable silence fell. Serena didn't know why she had even take the port key. She didn't know this man, even if he was her father.

"Look, I'm not here to disagree with you or fight with you. I'm sure trying to tell you otherwise will only make things much more… complicated, than the situation already is. Believe what you want, but you are still my daughter."

Serena stood up suddenly. Why did his words suddenly sound like nails on a chalk board? "It's getting late, I should be going."

Draco stared at her with the look only a Malfoy could give before throwing down some money and standing up. He swooped out of the café and didn't even bother to look to see if she was following.

She dashed out of the café and shouted after him, "Draco!"

He stopped short and sighed visibly before looking up at the stars. "I knew this whole father/daughter thing was never going to work… But here I am. Just for the record, I did try…"

"What, that's it? We disagree and you run away again? Do you really want me to think of you like that? Always running away?"

"I do not run away." He turned around, angrily.

"You don't… prove it to me. I know for a fact what happened during the War. Perhaps you think I'm just Ginny's little girl, but I'm in this deeper than you think. I know there are others Draco, stop pretending like they aren't there." From the moment it left her lips, she knew she had just stepped into forbidden territory.

"What?" His voice suddenly changed to a threatening growl and she saw a glint in his eye she had only seen Malikye give when he spoke of Draco.

Serena stood there, shocked at herself. She had not meant for the words to come out, and now that they were, she felt as if she had been caught.

Several ideas now flicked into her head, but they were far too risky to attempt alone, especially against her father. Other than those, there was only one more that had occurred.

She turned and ran.

She was sure Draco was running after her. She stayed on the sidewalk, weaving through people as she fumbled through her pocket for the dragon. If she wasn't already going to get in trouble for all the illegal magic she had preformed, she would have broken the code of secrecy right here in the middle of the muggle city and done the magic.

With the glass dragon firmly in her hand and her wand in the other, she continued to run down the street and across traffic. Across the street, she dodged into a semi-lit alley and prayed with all her might.

"Portus!"

"Locomotor Mortis!"

She hit the snow hard, the dragon still clutched in her hand, giving a faint blue glow. It hadn't worked. It was the first time she had attempted the spell; it was underage magic. (There were only so many rules one could break…)

She twisted around and saw Draco baring down upon her. She looked to the glass dragon again and saw it was glowing blue once more.

Draco saw this. "No!"

She closed her eyes, and was once again enveloped in swirling colors.

x
No me gusta el fin del capítulo!
(I don't like the end of this chapter)

First it's all very happy and touching and then two seconds later, they're at each others throats. Then again, having a Weasley and a Malfoy sitting down for coffee would quickly turn into conflict. Am I right? Eh... it depends.

Well...I'm human, I'm flawed. I'm not perfect and neither are my characters. Hopefully though, things will start rounding out because (if all goes well) this story will be ending within the next few chapters. NO PROMISES! I love the whole complexity of this story, but moving onto something new will definetly get me going again.

And after how many times I've said it, I sound like a broken record... sigh Some day, I'll shut up and keep my word. Until then... SUFFER! (heh... just kidding!)

--patronus