Chapter 5
**Milia POV**
I stumbled out of the fire into a cozy living room of what looked to be a large cottage.
"Hello?" My voice carried through the brick walls as I coughed the soot up from my lungs and began brushing the soot off of my clothes in attempt to look presentable.
I heard foot steps running on stone the flooring, becoming louder and louder as the high heels became closer before the person entered the living room revealing my Mother in all her glory.
She was wearing a blue and white checkered apron which had various colorful stains on it indicating she cooks and bakes frequently, her hair was piled on
top of her head in a messy but stylish bun and she was holding a piping bag in her right hand.
"Milia is that really you?" Mother looked at me dumbfoundedly as I nodded whilst trying to hold back the tears that threatened to over spill onto my make up.
She quickly put the piping bag down on the brown leather sofa and ran to give me a long over due hug as we both stared to cry, sod it to the make up
I had my real Mother in my arms.
"You have to tell me everything," She managed to demand in between sobs. We were crying so much we didn't hear dad come out of the floo fire with a
happy smile firmly in place.
"Well I hope these tears are tears of joy and nothing else" He came round to hug us both before looking amusingly at Mother.
"Dear what have you baked this time?" We broke up the hug as my mum smiled and reached up on her tippy toes to give my dad a peck on the lips before
returning back through the door she had entered in, with the piping bag in hand. Dad grabbed my hand and with a pleasant smile and showed me through to
the kitchen where Mother was putting the finishing touches on a large chocolate cake.
"Wow it looks amazing!" I exclaimed as I walked over to get a closer look ignoring the temptation to just divulge in the chocolaty goodness, head first of
course. Noticing a blue ceramic bowl on the side I went to pick a strawberry out of the bowl but Mother slapped my hand away with a smile in place.
"There for the cake. Geez your just as bad as your Father you are."
"Now tell me all you know." Mother asked as she finished piping white chocolate onto the chocolate cake, so I told her about everything up to date that I could remember even my outburst in Dumbledore's office where I blew up a vintage chair.
"Oh Mother is it okay for me to invite a friend over during the holidays and maybe I could go shopping to get them a present?"
"Yes,how about we go together say in about Five Minutes? Your Father has to leave the house soon anyway to visit the Apothecary. Perhaps you can to tell me who your friend is?" She asked nudging my shoulder. I smiled and tapped the side of my nose with a finger when Mother let out a little laugh.
I gave her sheepish grin in return before turning round to dad who was smiling approvingly at our antics.
After Mother had finished decorating the cake she decided now was the right time for shopping. Mother walked with me out into the hall and Father
draped a long black muggle military style coat around her shoulders and then helped me into mine before parting us with kisses. Linking her arm in mine
we side-apparated away to a shopping center in Manchester called Meadowhall.
"Is this friend a boy? I am not sure how your Father will react to that" I snickered lightly thinking how much Father seemed to like Draco in school.
"It is a boy, he seems to be Father's favorite in School so I think they may get along famously" Mother grimaced and pulled me to the side so we was not in the
way of other shoppers.
"It's Draco Malfoy, isn't it?" I nodded my head slowly, all of a sudden feeling really anxious and guilty about my decision.
"Yes Draco is your Fathers favorite, within reason. Draco is mine and your Father's Godson, his parents are not ... attentive shall we say than what
we are, I asked your Father to keep an eye on the boy. After you dissapeared it felt like the only child we could stand to be near without breaking down in a mad rage was Draco, we have had a connection with the boy since day one"
Mother linked her arm within mine again and off we went zigzagging in between busy and rude shoppers. We visited clothing outlets, sweetie stores,
gadget shops and the science museum before calling it a day, we had bought plenty for Father but I had to yet find one single present for Draco.
Mother draped her arm over my shoulder and pulled me tight into her side-wards embrace.
"Do not fret my dear, we shall find him something" I smiled a very tight smile up at Mother before looking where we was walking.
"Wait" I called as Mother stood at a standstill, sitting there in the display of an odd bits and bats shop was the perfect present, hand carved figurines of the Greek Gods.
I remember when we were sat by the fire that Draco was interested in Greek Mythology as a boy.
Mother followed me in and looked at me inquisitively whilst I inspected the items thoroughly.
"Are you buying that here item Missy?, I am closing up in 5" Mother snapped her head around at the intrusion, successfully making the man cower
away in fear, his hands up in a sign of surrender. I gave Mother a knowing look whilst she smiled angelic at me before I turned to the till for paying.
Once we returned home I was given a full tour of the house which was just outside the small village of Robin Hoods Bay. The small garden backed onto
a cliff which gave it a wonderful view from the Patio.
"This is the bathroom and the other door next to it is your bedroom, feel free to redecorate at anytime if nothing is to your liking."
Mother said as we stood on the landing up stairs out side the bathroom. I went to see what my bedroom looked like whilst my Parents stayed still on the landing
allowing the time I needed to view my personal space.
My bedroom was very classic looking with a white dressing table with various nick-nacks a young lady may need, a large four-poster bed was pushed
right to up to the wall with pale blue and silver drapes draped over the top frame of the bed. The curtains seemed to be the same color if not a touch
darker. The bed sheets were a deep Blue striped with a deep Purple rather strange combination but surprisingly it didn't clash. A large white wardrobe stood
in the corner with lots of nice looking clothes occupying inside. Looking out of my bedroom window I noticed that I had the best view of the sea and sky which
looked absolutely breathtaking on this winters day.
I got changed out of my school clothes into a knee length knitted dress, red leggings and brown ankle boots. With a spell I had found in the library
I charmed my wavy hair into lose ringlets.
I went into the study to were Father was sat writing something or other at a desk.
"Don't mind me" He smiled up at my reluctance to enter the room before dipping his quill in his ink and returning it to the paper.
Walking over to the desk across from Father's I dipped the quill into the ink pot and wrote a letter to Draco saying it was fine for him to come over on
Christmas eve if he wished, below I wrote the address to floo to.
The days leading up to Christmas were full of catching up as a family and another trip out for Christmas shopping with Mother and Father where I bought Draco a book
he had told me he really wanted. I found out that my mum only acted crazy as a way of coping with my disappearance and that they looked for me
for three whole solid years but never lost faith that I would return.
Christmas eve arrived and so did a letter from Draco saying he would be arriving around ten.
"Darling, me and your dad are going out to so some final Christmas food shopping but we will be back for lunch,"
"Your Mother always over buys and there is always too much food left over" Father said cheekily before he and Mother apparated away. Walking into the kitchen I
retrieved a cherry lolly pop out of the cupboard, Mother bought me a couple of packets the day we went shopping together, I went to sit in the living room and read a
book that Father had allowed me to borrow from his study.
At ten o'clock on the dot the fire place flashed green and Draco stepped out holding a blue parcel in his hand.
"Hey, Um this is for you," He said awkwardly as he handed it to me and bashfully looked away. He didn't even seemed fazed by the floo travel like I was. Maybe he had
more practice? I smiled taking the present from him and gave him a peck on the cheek. Placing the present onto the sofa I ran out and up in to my room to grab
the few presents I had bought Draco. Downstairs I find him, back faced to me looking around at the different moving baby photographs of me.
"Here you go," I stated loudly, making him jump slightly as I held the presents at arms length for him to take.
"Do you want to open them now while we are both here together?" I asked whilst picking up the present from the sofa that he gave me.
"Yeah, Why don't you go first?" We both sat down on the sofa. I slowly opened the small parcel. Inside was a pendant with a single blue butterfly on it that magically flapped it's wings.
"Wow it's beautiful!" I said slipping it over my head and watching the beautiful creature flutter it's wings.
"Thanks, your turn!" I gave a wide grin in excitement whilst He carefully unwrapped the present and when he saw what it was a smile adorned his face.
"You remembered? Thank you Milia!" He said dropping the book and the small carvings on the sofa and giving me a long tight hug. The rest of the day went past quickly.
Mother and Father were happy to find out my friend was Draco, Well Mother pretended that she didn't know anyhow.
Before bed my Parents announced that my Granddad was coming over for Christmas dinner...