Chapter 18
Christmas arrived, bright and cheerful, and Hermione was surprised to find several disgruntled owls at the foot of her bed that morning, anxiously waiting to continue in their delivery of the presents. She untied a rather large and cumbersome package from Hedwig, who then proceeded to take a drink from the bowl of water Hermione kept by the window for the passing owls. She then stretched her wings, and soared off into the early morning, leaving Hermione to untie the rest of the owls. Hermione pulled off the white envelope tied to the first package, and put it in the pocket of her dressing gown.
She left the brown wrapped packages on her bed, and hurried down stairs, where she could hear her parents talking, and the sound of something frying. And there they were, standing in their pajamas in the kitchen, frying up tomatoes and kippers.
"Happy Christmas," she said, hugging her dad. He smiled, mussed her hair, and turned back to his tomatoes, which, as usual, were burning.
"Morning dear," Ms. Granger said cheerfully, passing her daughter a cup of steaming hot tea. "Gaelen will be up any minute, and after breakfast, we can start opening presents."
Hermione nodded, and headed back into the living room, cup in hand. She pulled the white envelope from her pocket. The letter was written on creamy thick parchment, and on the front, in red ink, was her name.
She placed her cup on the side table and hesitantly opened the letter. The red lettering popped out on the pale page, and she was reminded of blood on someone's face.
Dear Hermione, the letter went.
I am writing to you from Knockturn Alley. Professor Dumbledore was kind enough to offer a place for me to stay this Christmas, and I must admit, it has been most pleasurable. The others, though at first were a little cold, and I can't blame them, have warmed up considerably. I suppose they realize that it wasn't just my fault this time. I hope your holiday has been wonderful, and the Weasleys and the rest of us were hoping you could join us for Christmas dinner at four, at Knockturn Alley? If you abstain to remain with your family, we'll understand completely. Otherwise, just come as you are.
Love,
Draco
Hermione grinned as she folded the letter up, and wondered what the Weasleys would think if she showed up in her pajamas and dressing gown. She knew that Cho had been invited to Christmas dinner, and she wouldn't want to stay.
"Mum?" she called into the kitchen.
"Yes?" Ms. Granger poked her head out of the kitchen door.
"Do you mind if I go to Christmas dinner at a friend's house?"
"That's fine," Ms. Granger replied distractedly. "Will you stay here for the rest of your vacation?"
"Yes," Hermione replied.
"Well, come eat your breakfast, so we can get all the presents opened before you have to leave."
Hermione looked over at the tree, and was surprised to see that there were piles and piles of presents around the base of the tree, nestled in little mountains of brightly colored paper and ribbons.
After opening presents, Hermione took her new things up to her room and dumped them on the bed. For some reason, they had given her loads and loads of cooking tools. She pondered her mother's gift of a food processor, and her father's gift of a bread-kneading machine. Finally, she reasoned that they thought she would be getting a place of her own after school let out, and she would need various items, such as food processors and bread-kneading machines.
She placed the food processor aside, and took one of the presents that had been delivered that morning. She opened the letter, and found a brief and cheerful note from Harry, also inviting her to dinner. She opened the box, and was overjoyed to find a used (but in well condition), copy of Dead Good Magic by Séamas O'Conner. She had been looking for a good deal of time, but it had been out of print for fifty years, after being banned by the Ministry for 'dark magic.' But upon opening the book, Hermione was overjoyed to discover that it was simply Dead magic, not Dark magic, and as she had discovered in the last year, there was a remarkable difference between the two.
She put the book aside reluctantly, and opened Ron's messily wrapped box. Within, was a beautiful black sweater with silver and sparkling beading of a Hippogriff that looked awfully like Buckbeak. The letter was a haphazard mess, with smeared ink, and terrible spelling. But Hermione refrained from editing, coming to the conclusion that Ron was on vacation, and was exempt.
Another present had been delivered while she was opening things with her family, and she opened the letter, to reveal that Pan had sent her a present. For some strange reason, she was surprised. Pan had always been the forgetful sort, and remembering presents just didn't seem like something she would do.
Hermione-, the letter began.
Dreadfully sorry this is a bit late, but I was in such a rush to finish something I was doing (I'll tell you about it at dinner!) that I completely forgot to send it. I got it some time ago, and I think you'll like it a lot!
Hearts, Pandora
Hermione opened the small box to find a onxy covered amulet of a skull. On the back, it said in miniscule writing, Member of the Society of the Dead. Hermione raised an eyebrow, and decided that she wouldn't wear it until Pan fully revealed it's properties, and what the Society of the Dead was. She wasn't quite sure she wanted to know, but, Hermione was used to the unexpected.
Finally, she took the package that had had the letter from Draco, and she pulled it over onto her lap. She tore off the brown paper to reveal a large white package. After pulling the lid off the box, it revealed a wide narrow velvet box. She opened the box, and inside it was the most beautiful necklace she had ever seen.
It was a double loop of black pearls, with diamond shaped rubies as spacers. It came with a matching pair of earrings, with dangling pearls that sparkled in the morning light. Beneath the necklace was a small note.
This necklace belonged to Natalya. I found it in a small pawn-shop in a small muggle suburb not far from London. You wonder how I knew it was her's? Examine the clasp on the necklace. Love, Draco
Hermione looked closely at the clasp, and there, engraved in the gold, was the name, Natalya Malfoy. Hermione let it slid through her fingers, and then placed it lovingly back the box. What was it with her, Draco, and rubies? They seemed to be on every piece of jewelry she had ever gotten from him.
The Weasleys had also sent her a present, of a beautiful red knitted sweater, and a large bundle of mince pies.
And the last package had no note, or any indication as to whom it had come from. It was wrapped in the regular brown paper, and tied with a piece of dark twine. Hermione cut the twine gingerly, and then unwrapped the box.
The box within was unadorned and almost boring, but Hermione knew better than to judge a book by it's cover. She opened the box, and was most surprised by what she found within.
It was a simple chain, but on the chain, was a locket. The locket was silver, and engraved with a skull. She picked it up, and a small folded up piece of paper fell from it. She opened the piece of paper, and found, written in straight slanted block writing, these words:
This necklace belonged to my cousin. She would have wanted someone like you to have it.
It was not signed, and there was no evidence of any harmful intent. She looked at the back of the locket, and nearly fell off her bed. For, inscribed in tiny writing on the back of the locket, was the owner's name. Natalya Malfoy.
A/N: And you thought the whole thing with Natayla was over, eh? Mwa-ha-ha-ha! Okay, just leave a review:)
