A/N: I do not own Harry Potter, although I do own the right to call myself a Potter-head…
Draco sat at the window in one of the Malfoy manor's living rooms. It was Christmas evening and the day had been very uneventful. The day had been spent in the manor with his family, his cousin Nymphadora, Aunt Andromeda and Uncle Ted had come over for dinner and had given and received gifts. He felt Dobby and Penny, his Aunt's house elf, had done an excellent job preparing the feast they had put on for his family although he could never say it out loud. Nymphadora however had thanked both the elves and offered them a hug and it had made him a little happy that at least she could thank them when he couldn't. He was watching the snowflakes fall over the grounds and let himself drift off into his thoughts.
Draco was thinking of the next day and what it would bring, of course his parents had agreed to have Pansy over since she was a pure blood and Slytherin but what Draco was worried about was both their parents arranging something that Draco did not think he wanted. Arranged marriage was not uncommon in the pure blooded families, something that many of the extremists (which was most of them) did to ensure the pure blood status would live on in generations to come. Draco wasn't yet ready to be promised to someone that he didn't even love for one and besides he was only 11! He was however excited to see the girls reaction to what he had gotten her as a present. Thinking about Pansy's present led him to think about Hermione and the gift that he had gotten her. It was a pendant as well but not quite the same as the one he had gotten his best friend. The one he had gotten Hermione was a heart shaped ruby set in a gold key. It wasn't that flashy but it represented what she meant to him. She held the key to his heart. It wasn't only that though, the pendant was charmed so that if she was wearing it and she ever felt the same way as he did the ruby would glow and both their initials would show up on the back with a special message. That way she would know how he felt if he never got the chance to ever tell her.
The morning of Boxing Day had arrived and Draco bounced out of bed eager to get the day started with Pansy. After showering and making himself presentable he ran down to the main entrance to sit next to the grand fireplace that was their Floo entrance and await the arrival of his friend and her parents. AS he was waiting Dobby arrived next to him with a familiar pop and bowed low "mister Draco, your breakfast" the cute elf said setting his breakfast on the stand next to the chair Draco was sitting at and left again with another pop without waiting for a reply because he knew the young boy wouldn't give one. Draco sighed and picked up a piece of the toast Dobby had left for him and started to eat I wish I could show him how much I actually appreciate his efforts he thought about the poor magical creature forced to be at his beck and call, not that he ever did call for him, the elf usually just showed up whenever he needed him.
After finishing his toast he got up to bring his plate into the kitchen as he heard the fireplace start to roar. Once again the little elf showed up at his side with a pop "I take that for mister Draco" taking the plate and vanishing for all of a second reappearing back as Pansy stepped out of the fireplace with her parents "I is taking your coats mister and misses Parkinsons" Dobby squeaked as they had brushed themselves off
"Draco! Oh, how I've missed you" Pansy said in almost sarcastic delight.
"And I have missed you Pans, shall we go through to the main living area and wait on my parents? Mr and Mrs Parkinson, if you would follow me please" Draco led them all into the largest of the living rooms and offered them to sit down itching for his parents to show up so he could give Pansy her gift I do hope she likes it.
Lucius Malfoy strode into the main room of his home followed by his wife Narcissa and boomed out a greeting "Ah, the Parkinson's! How lovely for you to accept our invitation it is quite a pleasure to have you here in the Malfoy Manor, please! Make yourselves at home. DOBBY!" Lucius shouted, once again the little elf apparated in with a pop
"Yes master?" the small doe eyed elf said, head bowed not daring to make eye contact
"Tea! For our guests" he bellowed. Oh why does my husband have to insist on shouting everthing Narcissa thought.
"Yes master Lucius" Dobby replied, still fearing to look up, leaving and returning with tea in a matter of seconds. "anything else my master is requiring?" Dobby asked almost trembling.
"No, leave" Lucius once again barked an order at the mistreated elf and Dobby disaperated once more.
"Come on Pans, let's get out of here" Draco hissed at Pansy and ushered her out of the room not causing any disappointment to his father for he hated children anyway and thought it was best they were not seen or heard.
"Gosh your dad is mean" Pansy whispered to Draco not knowing if they were yet out of hearing range.
"Yeah, I know" Draco replied a little sadness in his voice. Silently Pansy took Draco's hand and let him lead her to wherever it was he was heading. They dismounted a set of stairs leading down to the rooms beneath the manor and Draco stepped aside. "This my dear friend, is my quarters" he stated and gestured with his hand for Pansy to look around freely. Draco had a set of rooms all to himself, a library, his bedroom with on-suit bathroom, a separate bathroom for guests and a living room with an enchanted window, a huge fireplace and the most inviting soft cushioned sofa in striking green and soft silver colours. As Pansy looked around she saw the Slytherin theme ran throughout his entire quarters, realising that her best friend had probably been under pressure to be in Syltherin his whole life. Pansy also noticed there were only two pictures in the whole place. Above the fireplace mounted on the wall in a grand frame that almost covered the whole wall, was a glorious painting of the Malfoy family. On the fireplace there was a smaller more modest frame holding a photograph of what seemed to be a younger happier Draco next to a teenage witch with brightly coloured hair. "My cousin, Tonks" Draco explained as Pansy picked it up and smiled at her crushes younger self running around and playing with the teen.
"Why is her hair such a pretty yet unusual colour? That must have taken some amount of transfiguration skills" Pansy said awed at the colour as it seemed to change right before her very eyes.
"She's a metamorphmagus" Draco giggled, he had no idea why girls were so into changing their hair so much must be a girl thing he mused. Draco walked over to the sofa and sat down patting the cushion next to him mentioning for Pansy to come and sit. As Pansy smirked at him and made her way over to sit Draco fumbled around in his robes pockets for something damn it! I've left the gift upstairs. Reluctant to leave her he thought about summoning Dobby when a loud pop sounded next to him. Dobby motioned him over to the side of the room and when he got there the elf then motioned for him to get lower so he could whisper something.
"Mister Draco is forgetting his gift for the miss, Dobby has gotten it for his mister Draco. Dobby needs no thanks" and handed Draco the box going as suddenly as he had appeared. It is beyond freaky how he does that Draco thought. Heading over to the sofa once more Draco sat down beside Pansy and cleared his throat.
"Um, Pans" Draco said nervously, "Happy Christmas!" the blonde said cheerfully, almost sounding overenthusiastic, thrusting a small box forward into Pansy's face.
"Oh! Thanks" Pansy gushed. She took a deep breath and opened the lid of the box, gasping at what laid inside. The pendant was enchanted platinum, shaped as a star with a phrase written in tiny letters. It read 'Amico fideli nulla est mei diebus', meaning 'my one true friend always' in Latin. Although Pansy didn't know Latin she knew it was special and was speechless that Draco had gotten her such an amazing gift. The small brunette leapt from her seat and threw her arms around Draco pecking him on the cheek "Oh thank you Draco, this has got to be the best gift ever! I love it, will you put it on me?" Pansy smiled at him. Pansy moved do Draco could put the necklace around her neck and the hugged him once more. "I got you a present too," Pansy said in a timid voice "although it's nowhere near as good as the one you've given me" she sighed. Without waiting for Draco to object to anything she said she held out a small parcel wrapped in shimmery silver paper. Draco grinned at his best friend and carefully tore open the wrapping. Inside was a new silver and green wand holder, the skin on the outside was tough and shiny like dragon hide but the inside was soft and furry like the fur of a new born Puffskein.
"Wow Pans, where did you get this, it's amazing" Draco beamed at his best friend "thank you so much." Draco hugged Pansy and the brunette let out a breath of contentment if only it were always like this she thought.
After talking, wizards chess, Boxing Day lunch that could only be described as a small feast and some polite small talk with their parents it was time for the Parkinson's to leave. As the Malfoy family seen the other family off Draco shared a small smile with the girl he had come to call his most loyal and best of friends. This has been the best Christmas ever Draco smiled to himself and Pansy disappeared through the Floo.