To all my readers, i am so so so sorry that it has taken me this long to get this chapter out but circumstances beyond my control prevented me from doing so.
Originally i was going to put all of Christmas day in one chapter but it would end up quite long so i have decided to break it down into three parts Morning, Afternoon and Evening. Hopefully i will have the time to post the next chapters up soon but as i have a habit of breaking my own deadlines i'm not going to say when they will up but i promise that i will have them up as soon as possible.
Thankyou to those who have written reviews i love receiving them and appreciate each and every one of them.
Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with Harry Potter
And without further adieu, here is the chapter, i hope you enjoy it!
Chapter Eighteen: A Malfoy Christmas: Morning
Hermione woke on Christmas morning to the feel of something heavy across her feet. Glancing down she saw a royal purple stocking, decorated with silver Christmas themes and her name embroidered in silver thread, stuffed full of items, laying across the foot of her bed. Giggling with glee she pulled the heavy stocking towards her and began to go through the items. Hermione knew that the house elves were the ones to deliver the stocking, but she was aware and thankful towards Lucius and Narcissa for having thought of it and informing the house elves of this muggle tradition. Diving into the depths of the stocking Hermione pulled out a plethora of Honeydukes candies and chocolates, a couple of new quills and a gift voucher for Flourish and Blotts book store. After putting all her goodies away, Hermione moved to the bathroom and enjoyed a relaxing shower before changing into some jeans and a body hugging long sleeve top. After slipping her shoes onto her feet she left her room and made her way down to the dining room where it was decided over dinner last night, that they would have breakfast first before moving into the sitting room to exchange and open gifts.
Upon entering the dining room Hermione saw that Lucius, Narcissa and Snape were already sitting at the table.
"Merry Christmas, Lucius, Narcissa, Professor" she greeted as she took her seat and helped herself to a couple of croissants and jam.
"Merry Christmas Hermione" Lucius and Narcissa smiled.
"Merry Christmas Miss Granger" Snape greeted with a nod.
"Thankyou for the stocking it was wonderful" Hermione addressed Lucius and Narcissa.
"Your welcome Hermione, it's a wonderful tradition, one that Lucius and I have decided to keep" Narcissa answered with a smile.
"Draco and Blaise haven't made an appearance yet?" Hermione asked curiously.
"No, knowing those two, they were up till all hours of the night talking" Lucius replied.
"Why doesn't that surprise me in the slightest" Hermione commented with a smile.
"Why doesn't what surprise you Mia?" Draco asked as he and Blaise entered the room, both sleepy eyed.
"The fact that you and Blaise were up till the wee hours talking" Hermione answered as Draco plopped into a seat next to her and Blaise slumped into the seat next to Snape.
"Your not surprised?" Blaise asked as he poured himself a coffee.
"Nope, Harry and Ron do the exact same thing, as do Ginny and I" Hermione replied as she took a sip of her coffee.
"What was with the stockings at the end of our beds this morning mum?" Draco asked as he began to eat his bacon and eggs.
"It's a muggle tradition that Hermione told me about yesterday while we were baking the cookies. I thought that it was a nice idea to start off the morning, it fitted in with the changes that we've made to our family Christmas, since that we are now going to be sitting around the tree for the present opening instead of having all the gifts delivered to the end of your beds" Narcissa answered her son.
"I think it's a great idea, it was a nice surprise to wake up to" Draco grinned.
"I'm glad, because its one muggle tradition that we are going to keep and make one of ours" Narcissa smiled happily.
After breakfast was finished, the three adults and three teenagers, adjourned to the sitting room and gathered around the glittering Christmas tree. Lucius and Narcissa took one of the love seats, while Blaise and Snape took the two chairs. Draco flopped down onto the second love seat and waited for Hermione to sit beside him. Hermione surprised everyone however, by plonking herself down on the floor between Draco's feet and leaning back on the love seat, nestled comfortably between his strong legs. For her part, Hermione ignored the surprised looks directed in her direction and smiled inwardly. During her contemplation the night before, over the meaning of Draco's kiss under the mistletoe, she had come to the startling conclusion that she had feelings for the blonde Slytherin that ran deeper than the mere friendship that she had first believed that she was only interested in. Running over and over the kiss while she lay awake in bed the night before, Hermione had decided and hoped that perhaps Draco shared those feelings. Being too shy to come out and ask him straight out, she had decided to do a few subtle moves and watch his reaction to them to see if her instincts were correct. Placing herself between his feet and nestling between his legs was the first of those moves and she hoped that her gamble would pay off and that if Draco did indeed harbor feelings for her that went beyond the friendship that they now shared, that he would take these moves as a sign that she would be interested in something more. Holding herself just slightly tense she awaited his reaction to her position. She relaxed when she felt his hand tentatively move towards her head, then begin to gently play with her hair. Leaning her head against his inner leg, she slowly and discreetly moved her hand to curl around his ankle and began to stroke the skin above his sock with her thumb.
Nobody had been more shocked than Draco himself, when Hermione plonked herself down on the floor and nestled herself between his legs. He stared at the back of her head for a moment, but when she didn't move he slowly moved his hand towards her hair and began to gently play with the brown curls that were resting against his leg. When Hermione's reaction was to lean her head against his inner thigh and begin to subtly move her hand just inside his trouser leg and use her thumb to stroke the skin above his sock, Draco could feel the hope that resided in his body flair brighter at what he believed to be a sign that she shared his stronger feelings. Out of the corner of his eyes he could see Blaise's amused grin and his godfather's slightly raised eyebrow but his attention was solely on the brunette witch sitting in front on him. Glancing up for a moment he met his father's content gaze and his mothers smiling one, knowing that they were reading the same into Hermione's actions as he was. His mother had confessed to him last night that both she and Lucius would be overjoyed if Hermione and he got together, as they both adored her. Giving them a small hope filled smile he returned his attention to Hermione when she spoke.
"Ok so who's playing Santa this morning?"
"Playing Santa?" Narcissa asked confused.
"It's a muggle term, I meant whose dealing out the presents?" Hermione smiled with a blush as Draco's hand began to massage her scalp.
"Oh, Lucius how about you do it" Narcissa addressed her husband. Lucius was about to protest and say that perhaps Draco would like to do it, when Narcissa nudged him and indicated with her head to look at Draco. Glancing at his son, Lucius saw that the younger blonde was engrossed in massaging Hermione's scalp and would more than likely not be interested in moving. Nodding in acceptance Lucius rose to his feet and moved towards the mountain of presents beneath the Christmas tree. He dealt out a few for everyone before returning to his seat to open his next to Narcissa. The silence of the morning was broken by Snape's exclamation of surprise, he having been the first one to receive a present and open it.
"Miss…Miss Granger where did you find this?" he asked in awe as he held the small dusty book in his hands reverently.
"It was hidden on a shelf at the back of Flourish and Blotts. I admit that I considered keeping it for myself, but decided that it would be more prudent for you to have Professor"
"Thankyou Miss Granger, and I mean that sincerely, Thankyou" Snape responded with a small smile at the young witch.
"You're welcome professor" Hermione smiled in return, to content to be embarrassed by her professors unusual response.
"What is it Severus?" Narcissa asked curiously, wondering what Hermione had given him that would coax a response like that from him. Snape looked up from his inspection of the small book and saw that everyone except Hermione was staring at him in shock.
"It's a copy of Merlin's potions journal, there were only three copies of the journal made. I had heard that there was a copy in London somewhere, and have been searching for it for years! Miss Granger this must have cost you a fortune!" Snape exclaimed.
"On the contrary Professor, I doubt that the owners of Flourish and Blotts knew what it was, and I'll leave it at that" Hermione smirked. Taken aback by the very Slytherin like smirk on the Gryffindor's face Snape nodded in acceptance and after placing the book gently down on the small table beside him he retrieved another present from his pile and began to open it. Their attention shifted back to their own presents as they opened them. Hermione received a new quill from Harry, a gift voucher for Honeydukes from Ron, a pair of earrings from Ginny, various articles of muggle clothing from her parents as well as a silver bracelet with charms that represented her magic, a wand, cat, book, broom etc. Lucius and Narcissa had given her a gift voucher for Madam Malkin's, to which Narcissa had added that she would like to take her for a girls day out with her friends. Snape had gotten her a book on healing spells, having known about her choice to become a healer, Blaise had given her a dragonhide arm holster for her wand. Mr and Mrs Weasley along with Harry's parents, Sirius and Lupin had given her some magical charms for her charm bracelet, along with a note from Molly Weasley that explained that her parents had written to them and told them about the bracelet and that they were having trouble finding magical themed charms. Blaise grinned and thanked Hermione for the chocolate that she had given him, along with the new broom servicing kit from Draco and the various other gifts from his friends and family (the ones that weren't interested in stealing his inheritance) but it was Lucius and Narcissa's gift that left the black haired Slytherin speechless, along with a new broom, he had received a folder full of official looking documents.
"Lucius, Narcissa, what…what are these?" he asked as he leafed through the papers in the folder.
"They are confidential documents that prove your aunt and uncle's shady dealings, as well as a statement from myself regarding their activities. I will also be available should you need me to appear before the Wizengamot to testify on your behalf" Lucius replied.
"Thankyou, it means a lot that you would do this for me" Blaise stated with a suspicious shimmer in his bright blue eyes.
"You're welcome Blaise" Narcissa smiled. Lucius rose to his feet and distributed the rest of the gifts and then retook his seat next to his wife.
"Oh Merlin! These are exquisite" Narcissa exclaimed as she and Lucius admired the pair of Waterford crystal goblets that Hermione's parents had sent them as a Thankyou for having Hermione over for the holidays. The goblets had gold piping along the rim and base and their names were etched into the crystal in loopy cursive writing.
"They are indeed, too beautiful to use" Lucius agreed as he quickly cast an unbreakable charm on them, then placed them on the mantelpiece for display.
"I'm glad that you like them, mum sent me a letter saying that they had bought you a gift, but didn't tell me what it was" Hermione piped up as she opened a present from Theo and Lavender. Seeing that it was an annual subscription to the wizarding worlds healer journals the young witch grinned in delight.
"I'll send your mother a letter to thank her and to let her know how much we love them" Narcissa replied. Hermione nodded in response then began to open her last present, it was from Draco. Untying the crimson bow, she carefully unwrapped the silver paper which revealed a black velvet jewelers box. Opening it slowly, Hermione gasped at the sterling silver pendant that lay on the white velvet inside.
"Draco, its beautiful!" she exclaimed as she lifted the delicate silver chain and examined the pendant closely. A dragon with two tiny emeralds for eyes hung from the chain, and a lioness with rubies for eyes was curled protectively in front of the dragon. Although the pendant was small, the detail of its two characters was exceptional. Hermione knew that the dragon represented Draco and the lioness represented her. Handing the necklace to Draco she lifted her hair and indicated for him to clasp it around her neck. Draco did as she directed and allowed his fingers to softly linger on the nape of her neck and caress it gently.
"I had it specially made, the lioness is protecting the dragon, just as you protected me from my fear" Draco whispered huskily to her as he finally dropped his hand from her neck. Aware of the other people in the room, Hermione refrained from jumping to her feet and hugging him, instead she wrapped her arms around his calves and hugged his legs, squeezing gently. To avoid the awkwardness that was about to fall, Lucius and Narcissa opened their last gift, the one from Hermione. When they opened it Narcissa grinned delightedly as she lifted out a couple of the DVDs and read their titles.
"Gone with the wind, Scarlett, pride and prejudice, Emma, Sense and Sensibility, Oh how wonderful!" Narcissa exclaimed as she went through the titles that Hermione had purchased especially for her. Lucius on the other hand was grinning down at the titles he had pulled out from the box.
"Lord of the rings, all three of them, how close to the books are these Hermione?" he asked, having had an in depth discussion with Hermione about how books were shortened down to make entertaining movies.
"Very close, as close as they could get without making them go for too long"
"Wonderful, I can't wait to watch them!" Lucius replied as he put them aside and pulled out the next lot of DVDs. "Star Wars?" he questioned.
"They are classed as Science Fiction, basically fantasy, if you watch them in order the story spans over 25 years or so. They have a lot of action and special affects, but I thought that you all may be interested in that type of thing, firstly because of the entertainment value, and also because you have all expressed interest in learning how muggles do things without magic, that particular set is the special editions, with a second disk that shows how they made the movies, it explains everything about how the director and his team creates the final product, I would suggest watching the movies first before watching how they were made, it may take away from the effect of the movies" Hermione explained.
"It sounds interesting Mia" Draco spoke from behind her.
"Star Wars are one of my favorite sets of movies, you and Blaise should enjoy them as well, lots of action" Hermione stated with a grin.
"Thankyou Hermione, it's a wonderful gift" Lucius stated with a smile, Hermione could see the suppressed excitement in his eyes at the prospect of watching the movies that she had bought them.
"I was hoping that you would like it, up until Narcissa told me about how you bought the TV and DVD player, I had no idea what to get the two of you"
"Draco you have the last gift to be opened" Narcissa addressed her son expectantly. She knew that the last gift was from Hermione and she was dying of curiosity to find out what she had gotten Draco. Resting the cube shaped present on his lap, Draco removed the gold ribbon and unwrapped the emerald green paper. A nondescript box was revealed and Draco opened it gently. Peering inside, Draco gasped in awe as he lifted the contents out gently and after placing the box beside him on the loveseat, put his gift on his lap. A small crystal dragon with black onyx eyes was curled up in a blown glass nest lined with green silk.
"Mia this is brilliant" Draco stated still in awe of the detail.
"Stroke its back Draco" Hermione instructed softly, glancing up at him shyly. Draco did as she directed and gaped in shock as the dragon lifted its head. Slowly it rose to its feet and spread its wings. A small roar could be heard as the dragon opened its mouth and breathed, not fire, but a spray of glitter that once in the air formed a star constellation that hovered three feet above the dragon's head.
"Mia?" Draco questioned as he stared at the glittering cloud above the dragon.
"Do you recognize the constellation?" Hermione asked timidly. Draco looked closer and his eyes widened as recognition dawned.
"Draconis" he whispered as his eyes traced the shape of the dragon the stars formed. Hermione smiled at him and nodded.
"Yes, every time you stroke its back the dragon will breath out the constellation, its set to last for three minutes, but if you look inside the box there is a spell so that you can lengthen or shorten the length of time the stars hover, the dragon and its nest are charmed to be unbreakable and it will only breath out the stars when you stroke its back, if anyone else tries, it will just remain curled up in its nest" Hermione explained. As she spoke, the constellation faded and the Dragon once again curled up in its nest.
"Hermione that is absolutely gorgeous" Narcissa exclaimed as her eyes traced the dragons lines. Lucius nodded in agreement, speechless at the thought of what the gift represented, it was not a gift that was normally passed between friends, this gift held the promise of something deeper and altogether more precious.
"I had the idea for it while I was helping Draco with his fear, he told me one night that he used to look for Draconis in the sky on clear nights, I thought that this way he could see it even when the sky wasn't clear"
"Mia its wonderful, Thankyou" Draco said huskily as he bent down and placed a quick kiss on her lips. Hermione blushed but didn't move away, she smiled up at him and simply squeezed his legs in response.
There you go, i hope you liked it, please read and review and once again no flames, i'm critical enough of my work as it is lol.
thankyou again to all my readers, more Dramione action coming in the next chapters, i look forwards to your reactions.
Cheers
Angelrider93