Chapter 3
Snow had fallen on the grounds of Hogwarts long before the twenty fifth of December, but at last it had arrived.
It was Christmas day and even Anna got excited, she could see the presents under the tree and she wanted her share just as every eleven year old girl her age did.
She wasn't alone as Severus god son and her old friend was there too as well as his parents.
As the three elders came out to the living room they saw the two waiting children and smirked knowingly. They had been a lot like them when they had been young.
"Draco you know the rules, breakfast first, we go through this every year," said Narcissa to her son sternly.
"But mother," he pleaded, "just one."
"No," she said firmly and as he got the look from his father telling him not to push it, he went to the table and sat down where his god father had an egg and tea waiting, twice. One for his own child, not that he knew how much she would eat.
Lucius had never been a morning person and Annabelle found it rather funny how he looked first thing, his head was like hers a bed head, his head messy and his eyes half shut.
Narcissa was a different case, as beautiful and as elegant as ever not a hair was out of place.
She adored the both of them, they had been named her god parents when she had been a girl and she had always got on with them well.
As soon as she had finished she wormed her way in to Severus' lap unashamed of the affection she had for him even in front of the young boy. He had grown up seeing the two of them like this; his god father often he thought babied the girl.
Once he was done with his egg the two went off together with the three adults to open there presents.
Draco got a lot more than Anna did, as a lot off hers had gone up in smoke. What she did get she liked though. Her god mother, despite her god fathers will, had got her a book of fairy tales, and a lock with the three of them engraved.
Our fairy god princess
Lucius rolled his eyes. Yes he loved the girl but Narcissa and Severus would spoil her.
Then again maybe what she had been through just under two weeks ago he guessed merited thee treatment she was getting. She wasn't going to be able to stand alone strong again for awhile ass she normally did.
Her father got her books and robes, but then she noticed something else.
"Dad," she asked him.
"I thought you needed something extra special this year and you are soon to be a student," he said as he gave her a card board box which was open.
In side when she looked there was the most adorable black kitten she had ever seen.
It was so small, so sweet.
"Oh, oh dad," said Annabel and hugged him tightly. She remembered when she had been young she had always wanted her toy puss to co me to life and now he had.
All her other gifts forgotten she held to the kitten gently.
Seeing the pure joy on his daughters face was enough to make her fathers day.
She had been so down and yet this small kitten, a child hood character, something she had always been familiar with had sparked some thing deep inside of her he was sure. She wouldn't be so upset forever; in fact he was sure they had come to a turning point.
That after noon was a lot of fun for all. They chatted, teased, gave thanks silently for the gift of one another and ate as a family. It felt good to know that they were part of such a strong would always have one another.
However the Malfoys had to go home that night and Draco returned to the common room.
"I'll see you there in a few days," he said to her, but she wasn't so sure what house she wanted to go in to when the time came.
This side of Christmas it seemed a lot closer.
That evening the two Snape's were in the living room holding each other.
"Dad I did get you something I promise but I lost it in the fire I'm sorry," she said to him sleepily.
Covering her with a blanket Severus shook his head. "I have you home where you belong Annabelle, I didn't need or want anything else."
When he took her in to bed and tucked her in that night he slid leather bound book in to her chest. That had been her real present.
It was a scrap book filled with pictured of her he had got doubles of. The originals were gone now. She should have them he had decided. She needed the ones of her self and Jane much more than she did.
The small kitten lay at the end of Annabelle's bed, pride of place in her basket.
Anna was going to take such good care of her.
The rest of the holiday passed peacefully enough. They were left alone a lot of the time except the odd Slytherin who needed to talk to there head of house or when Draco visited them.
The three of them had a very good new year, Draco stayed the night in their quarters and they had fun just as they had at Christmas playing games like exploding snap and wizard's chess, as well as a game of gobble stones.
When the New Year came, Anna knew she had to look to the future.
New Year. New day. New school. New life.
hug-me: I looked harder to check this chapter I hope it is better, thanks for reviewing.
lia23: LOL Thank you!
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