Draco Malfoy was glad when Severus Snape, Potions Master of Hogwarts, had left the Manor. Not that he didn't care for his Head of House, but he was a gloomy person, and allowing him around the Christmas decorations was asking for uncontrollable fires.
In contrast, his parents loved Yule, the turning of the season, and the time when the sun started to return. His father always had that soft smile on his face, and his mother that bright silvery one that she saved for Family Time (she had plenty of others for lesser beings, Draco knew well).
Draco enjoyed each hour, each minute to the utmost. Everything from hanging holly and mistletoe, to a snowball fight, to building the world's biggest Snow Castle (who cared if that was a real title or not? Every year it was bigger anyway).
Draco knew that this might be his very last Christmas with his parents. He wanted every minute to count, and every smile to be as broad as he could possibly make it.
He let every single worry of his drop away, and, for once, he was free.
He'd even managed to be nice to Pansy on Boxing Day.
Well, mostly. He'd still thrown wrapping paper at her, as if they were still five and six.
His mother had put her fists on her hips and glared at him, and he'd quailed under it, and giving Pansy a Proper Malfoy Apology.
It was all quite fun. For once, Draco wasn't looking forward to returning to Hogwarts.
The Triwizard Tournament was deadly stuff, after all.
[a/n: Draco doesn't know when the Dark Lord is returning. Leave a review?]