Disclaimer: I am afraid I do not own Harry Potter; all belongs to the remarkable J.K Rowling.
A/N- thank you for all your support and lovely reviews, keep them coming cause they are giving me the motivation to keep writing the rest of these chapters! I hope you enjoy this chapter and please keep reading :D also sorry this chapter took a little longer, next one will be uploaded by Thursday UK time :)
Dear Hermione,
Just a quick note to tell you how we have gotten Professor Dumbledore to let you Floo home. He said to go to his office at 1:00pm and that you are welcome to use the Floo powder provided next to the fireplace. We can't wait to see you darling, we have been working hard to put up all the decorations for you! Yes that is by hand, we know how upset you get when the house elves do it!
See you soon pumpkin, Mother.
Hermione smiled as she re-read the letter before folding it up and placing it on the inside pocket of her crimson robes, another gift her mother had given her. Looking down at her watch she realised it was time to leave. She had wanted to say goodbye to everyone before she left, but Ron and Harry weren't at breakfast. She had also tried looking for Blaise and Draco, only to find that Blaise had left early to go home for the holidays and Draco hadn't been seen anywhere. Sighing she dragged her trunk behind her until she got to the headmasters office. Nobody was there when she arrived, but Hermione didn't mind, in fact she preferred not to be watched as she is always more likely to make mistakes, not that she would tell anyone that.
Grabbing a handful of Floo powder, Hermione held tightly onto her trunk and ducted into the fireplace. Before she knew it, she was engulfed in green flames and appeared in the main hall of her home. Smiling and dusting of the dust, Hermione heard to too familiar voices.
"Hermione! Darling, is that you?" the unforgettable voice of her mother who rushed out of a nearby room, quickly followed by her father.
"Sweetheart! you're home!" the tall man said, beaming happily. The two adults hugged their daughter and her father kissed her lightly on her head.
"Mum, Dad, I missed you so much!" Hermione beamed as she was lead into the large room at the front of the mansion. Entering the room, she gasped. The ceiling was covered in green and red decorations and there next to the tall window on the far side was a Christmas tree that basically touched the ceiling and was decorated with various things. Lights danced around the plant and candles illuminated the room. It really was breathtaking.
"You like it? Your father and I worked very hard on it for you." Her mother asked, brushing her blonde locks to one side. Hermione beamed up at her parents.
"Thank you! It is beautiful!" she said excitedly, running around and inspecting the rest of the room.
The days passed and soon enough it was Christmas morning and Hermione shot out of her bed like a rocket, after all this was the first propper christmas in many years. Running over to the large curtain and pulling it back to show a snow covered landscape. Clad in her pastel pink P.J.'s she grabbed the stocking and ran into her parents bedroom, who were already away. A house elf was standing nearby with a tray of biscuits and a teapot as well as three mugs.
"Hermione! watch out-" Her mother called and just in time as the excited girl only just dodged the small elf and jumped onto the bed, causing her father to laugh.
"Someone's excited!" He said kissing her on the forehead.
"Of course.. It's Christmas!" she laughed happily and began to open her stocking while the other two poured their cups of tea and watched happily.
Once finished, Hermione sat cuddled up to her parents, while being surrounded by a new make-up kit, candles, parchment, a self inking quill and two new books. Sighing Hermione tried to remember when she the last time was that she was truly this happy. It was so relaxing. Soon enough it was time to get dressed. Her mother had come out of the shower and her father got up to kiss her on the cheek and then enter the bathroom himself.
"Okay darling' you better go and get ready before Mrs Zabini and her son arrive." her mother said, moving over to her vanity table and applying make up.
"Blaise is coming?" she asked, slightly confused, moving to sit herself on the edge of the double bed.
"Of course, he does every year why would this be any different?" her mother laughed. Hermione nodded and left to go back to her own room, deciding not to ask anymore questions. On her bed the was a note left;
Chose something as stunning as always. I am trusting you to pick yourself.
Mother.
P.S. I recommend the blue and silver dress robes.
Laughing slightly at her mothers poor hint, she went and changed into the suggested robes. Curling her hair and pinning it up, before putting on some lipstick and eyeliner. Well it is Christmas after all she thought to herself, after closing her new makeup kit. She spent at least 15 minutes hunting through her things until she found a pair of white heels which had a strap crossing the front of her ankle.
Making her way down the staircase into the main hall she froze when she saw her Mother and Father greeting Blaise and his mother. Blaise was dressed in dark blue robes and his mother stood even more elegantly dressed in an emerald dress. She was also tanned with hip length dark brown straight hair that flowed loosely down her back and piercing green eyes. Slowly Hermione made her way down the rest of the staircase, holding her breath and praying she wouldn't trip. When reaching the bottom she greeted the two guests.
"Ah Hermione, beautiful as always!" Mrs Zabini said before hugging her. Hermione stood stiff and unsure what to do until the woman let go and the five of them made their way into the main room. A few hours passed where the adults talked and Blaise and Hermione sat awkwardly until her mother said;
"Cricket, why don't you and Blaise go for a walk in the gardens, Mrs Zabini and myself have a lot to discuss... adult talk." She said with a wink. Hermione nodded happily as Blaise stood. She led him to the back of the building to the many fields they owned. The cold breeze stung at Hermione's skin and she had to stay on the path due to the snow and her heels. Finding a bench she sat down, eyeing Blaise curiously, she realized he hadn't spoken all morning.
"What's wrong Blaise?" She asked while wrapping her arms across her chest to prevent herself from shivering as much. Blaise took off his cloak and wrapped it around her shoulder's, sending a quirky half-smile. She smiled back and nodded as a thank you and to encourage him to reply.
"I'm sorry about what happened after the Quiditch match." he said, Hermione stared at him for a moment before he continued. "It's just - after being brought up like I have.."
"I don't understand." She said confused and in a half whisper.
"Well, not many people really know but my mother has been widowed seven times. I'm not even too sure who was my real dad. She said that these things 'just happen' but I doubt it, there has to be a reason why we have such a good amount of money when my mother doesn't work."
"Oh" was all she could say, looking away and over the hills, watching the delicate snow fall gentally onto the ground around them.
"Because of this I haven't had much of a 'supportive' family and slowly it made me despise most muggles and muggleborns and even half-bloods. They get away with so much. It isn't all about money or place in society, it had made me jealous. It had been hammered into my mind for so long, I've just been brought up like it. My mother warned me not to get too close to anyone other than those in Slytherin because we are all guaranteed pureblood and it would be a disgrace to befriend anyone who isn't. But... I suppose I am slowly realising it isn't your fault what family you are born into. I watched you leaving with you parents in Diagon alley and you have no idea how I wish for a family like that, I know it will never happen - but I can hope. " Blaise said slowly, not making eye contact.
"I see. Thank you for telling me. It must have been difficult."
"Wait. So you're not angry at me?"
"No, of course not Blaise you are one of my best friends, just don't worry about me. I can take care of myself." She said, looking over to him now, their eyes met and something in Blaise's lit up. Hermione smiled softly, but before Blaise had a chance to say anything else Mr Granger walked outside and called everyone to dinner.
Dinner past quickly and soon enough everyone had gathered around the tree and opened their presents. Hermione opened the longest one first, it was from her father. Opening it was a broom. Really? He expects me to ride this?
"For Quiditch practise over the summer, can't let the Malfoy's beat my daughter at something, after all." He said beaming down at her.
She also received a new traveling cloak from her mother. It was bright red and lined in white fur, a crimson ribbon tying it at the front. The present from Blaise and his mother consisted of a set of five new books, all with blank pages. Mrs Zabini explained how she could use them as either a journal or for note making during her studies.
Suddenly something caught her eye under the tree, in fact two things. One was wrapped in simple brown paper the note reading "To Hermione, sorry it isn't much, from Ron and Harry" smiling to herself, she opened it to reveal a knitted scarf, made up of different colours with her initals stiched into one end. Smiling softly she didn't notice that her father had picked up the label.
"Who is Ron and Harry, you never told us about these two in your letters. Are they in Slytherin?" He asked. Hermione froze unsure of how to reply but thankfully to her surprise Blaise answered.
"Oh they are in a few years above us I think. I remember we met the at the Quiditch match."
"Oh right, well it was nice of them to send a present." Hermione let out a sigh and mouthed a "Thank you" to Blaise who smiled up at her and winked. Finally the last box was wrapped in silver paper with an emerald ribbon.
"Oh that's strange, I hadn't seen that one under the tree, read the label out darling."
To the new Slytherin
I hope this is something to your taste, I bought it last minute but I hope you like it.
D Malfoy.
P.S. have you done something different with your hair?
"WHAT! You mean Narcissa's boy sent this? Well, well, well ...Hermione that is indeed a compliment, now quickly open it! I want to see what it is!" Her mother basically screamed with excitement and delight.
Opening the small box it revealed a silver hair pin, dusted in various silver and green diamonds that made Hermione's mouth drop open.
"Oh love that is absolutely beautiful! Oh I feel bad, we didn't send them anything this year!" her mother complained, but Hermione was to busy staring at the overpriced jewels that mesmerized her. I can't accept this. Especially when I didn't get him anything in return.
Before she knew it Christmas was over and Hermione had packed her trunk, making sure she had gotten a few extra books from her family library to show Harry and Ron. Wrapping her new cloak around her shoulders Hermione hugged her parents goodbye and took the Floo network back to Hogwarts.