Heartbreak Cake:

See this link: .com/recipe/recipe_?rid=250

I love Christmas. Not many people are religious in the wizarding world. Or maybe they are but they just don't talk about it. I don't know. Merlin only knows why I'm writing a book. Anyway, Christmas is special for me.

I don't really believe in the Christian idea of Christmas (it's the virgin birth thing, puts me right off…and the whole labour in a stable, poor woman) but it doesn't mar it for me. For me, it's about being there for your family, about laughter and happiness and most importantly about love.

And nobody ever suspects that I might have floated a few convenient pieces of mistletoe over a few shady corners or doorframes. The twins always seem to get the blame –although, generally, the blame constitutes of going off and getting plastered. Romantic? On some level, I guess they are.

Anyway, this is meant to be an autobiography rather than my musings so I suppose I'd better get on with the story. I should warn you that this one Christmas will take several recipes. It was one of the biggest things we've ever experienced, joy and sorrow all mixed into one.

It was a snowy Christmas. The first after the war had ended. But for me, it was the first time we could laugh again. We had mourned long enough, we needed to continue with our lives and celebrate the fact that we were alive. It was what our friends would have wanted.

I know that's a clichéd statement but sometimes the clichés are true. I think we all need a bit of cliché.

Everyone felt so weird, so guilty. We had escaped the war almost entirely unscathed. Well, not unscathed but all alive. That was the main thing.

Harry looked the worst though, all of his moments we could feel the toll his life had taken him. There had been debate as to whether or not we ought to give him Dreamless Sleep Potions but it felt too risky. Everyone constantly had one eye on him, trying not to suffocate him but also so afraid that he might…well…join those we'd lost.

The world couldn't take that. We couldn't take that.

I was determined to do something…anything. I wanted to show him that life was worth living, in my own way. It might not be flashy, it's not super intelligent, it's not passionate and fiery. It's just me.

I wanted to have so many people there. To remind us of all the people who still lived. But I wanted them there for more than a day and the Burrow doesn't really hold that sort of number. However, luck was on our side again as Narcissa Black flooed me.

I know there are many people who have just reason to hate the Malfoys and I am among them. But I won't hear anything of the sort. Lucius Malfoy was a monster but he has died and we need to move on rather than living in hatred. Quite frankly, however, you are welcome to hate him as much as you wish.

However, please don't hate Narcissa and Draco Black. Who hasn't wanted the approval of someone they loved with all their heart? Both of them have suffered under Lucius and are trying to pay back everything he did. They were key members of the Order during the war and we owe them a great deal.

Narcissa was (an still is) a very elegant woman but at that moment all that I could see was worry and pain. A mother's pain. I didn't put down my wand but I loosened my grip on it and allowed the wards to let her through.

Oh sorry, that's a slightly odd statement. Hermione and Bill fixed the wards on out house during the war. We get a video of the person we are letting them in and some information. This lets us choose whether we want to let them in or not.

I've never clicked no but it matters to us. The threat of needing to is still very here.

Narcissa was in dress robes but she was wearing no makeup. Not even the not-wearing-make-up make up. Her eyes looked very blue and that was what showed me that she'd been crying. Pureblood society women know how to hide things like this but I saw too many of the kids try to put on a brave face, to miss the signs.

"I came to ask for your help. I know that my family has done enough against you and more, that you have no reason to even hear me out. I respect that and I am willing to leave now. But I want to make some of it up to you and I hope you can trust that I'm not about to curse you as we were on the same side during the war." I looked at her, without saying a word, silently wondering how I could find out what she'd done during the war.

Don't look at me like that. I believed everything she said, I was just curious. I was a Gryffindor after all.

"I wanted to do something for you all after all the pain I've caused. The Malfoy Manor has been a place for the Dark Arts for too long and I was hoping that you would take it. A holiday home or a hostel. Draco and I just need some of it. Please take it."

I stared at Narcissa for a moment before she broke down crying in front of me. I didn't ask why- she's far too proud to ever admit to problems- but I boiled the kettle, gave her a slice of my heartbreak antidote cake and we talked long into the afternoon.

She's been my friend ever since.