Family First Chapter 10: December 25

Disclaimer: I do not own anything

A/N: Thanks for all the amazing reviews. Hear is, as promised, chapter 10

Beta'ed by Jasper's Mom

Harry woke, and stretched, glancing out of the window for clues on how early it was. The sun was mockingly bright, and well hung in the sky. He sat up, but before he could stand, there were three sharp knocks on his door. In the time it took him to reach the door there had been three louder knocks accompanied with a sharp, but quiet whisper.

"Potter… Open the door." Harry did as Draco ordered, reluctantly, and taking a bit longer than necessary. As soon as the door was open, Draco pushed his way in, not taking the least interest in the room's minimalistic decoration, he threw open the closet, and began rifling around.

"What are you doing?"

"What am I doing? You're the one still in bed at 9:00 AM on Christmas morning. Normally I couldn't care less, but Mother, and Father are refusing to let me open my presents until you are awake, and 'enjoying the morning' with us in the family room. I would have woke you an hour ago, but Mother and Father wouldn't hear of it. So," Draco had finally found what he was looking for in the closet. "you're going to put these on." The blond boy threw a pair of pants and a shirt on the bed. "Then you're going to get downstairs so I can open my presents." With that Draco walked over to the door, swung it open, and whispered a quick 'hurry up' before returning downstairs.

Harry looked at the clothes Draco had pulled out. A dark blue button up shirt, a pair of black dress slacks, and a overrobe. Harry snorted, as if he would ever wear that by choice. He went back into his closet, and rummaged for a moment before returning with a Gryffindor quidditch t-shirt, it was a couple of sizes too big, having previously belonged to the Weasley twins, but it was in good repair, and, most importantly, it was comfortable. He pulled on a pair of jeans that Narcissa had bought him. For a moment he considered running a brush through his hair, but quickly decided that it wouldn't matter much one way or another.

Harry found the Malfoys in the family room. Lucius was lounging on a couch, still in his dressing gown, his socked feet rested on one end of the couch, and his upper body rested against the arm of the other. In one hand he had an oversized white mug of steaming coffee, in the other he was holding a copy of a newspaper that clearly wasn't the daily prophet. Narcissa, curled up on a loveseat also had a cup, although much smaller than Lucius' and containing tea. Like her husband she had her choice of reading material (a rather long letter on several sheets of rather expensive looking parchment) in her left hand. Draco was sorting presents into various different piles. The cup of hot chocolate he had been drinking had been abandoned on the coffee table. Naturally he was the first to notice Harry.

"Finally!" The exclamation caused the two adults to look up from their reading material. "Can I open my presents now?"

"No." Narcissa quickly replied before Draco could start ripping into the paper without bothering to wait for an answer. "Were still waiting on Severus, and besides, we want to let Harry get settled and eat a bit before we start handing out presents to be opened." Harry wondered slightly at the phrasing of that. It almost sounded like he would have presents. Before he could think about the matter any further Draco let out a rather exaggerated groan. Lucius gave his son a suspicious look.

"I hope you didn't go up there and wake him up after your mother and I told you not to." Draco opened his mouth to reply, and from the look on his face it was not going to be a reply that Lucius wanted to hear. Narcissa, obviously seeing the look too tactfully intervened without intervening.

"Harry dear, there are cinnamon rolls on the accent table over there, as well as hot coco and tea. Why don't you get something to eat, and sit down to have a bit of breakfast before Severus gets here."

Harry quickly took the suggestion, grabbing a rather large cinnamon roll, coated with cream cheese icing on top and sprinkled with pieces of pecans. He took a seat in a overlarge, overstuffed armchair near Lucius head. Sitting crisscross applesauce (as his primary school teacher would have said) he sat his plate in his lap and his drink on the nearby table. Reading over Lucius shoulder quickly showed what he was so entertained with. After a few seconds in which Lucius finished the article, the older man handed the paper to Harry. The title of the article, in a bold black print was stated rather dramatically

Britain in an Uproar

Harry Potter, 11, is a rather famous figure in Britain, although not immediately recognized in the international community. Separating fact from legend in the case of Mr Potter can be quite difficult. What we know is that on the night of All Hallows Eve James potter, son of well-known political figure Charlus Potter, and wife Lily Evans Potter were attacked and killed in their home. Harry Potter, then just a year old was left alive, but with a prominent curse scar on his forehead. Many believed that Mr. Potter was hit with, and subsequently survived the killing curse, although this has never actually been proven. The child was taken from his home, and with no magical family alive well-known controversial figure Albus Dumbledore placed the child in the custody of his mother's muggle sister and her husband.

Recently Harry Potter was spotted at the Malfoy's Winter Ball. While gaining one of the coveted invitations to the event may not have been unusual for someone of Mr Potter's status, his placement at the dinner table among other things most certainly was. The young man was sitting at the Malfoy family's personal table. After much digging by various different figures it was learned that Mr Potter is now a ward of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. In a press release Cornelius Fudge, British Minister of Magic stated that the Malfoy's gained guardianship of the young Mr. Potter after allegedly abusive actions on the part of Harry's aunt and uncle (neither of which have been seen, despite efforts to find them). While guardianship changes such as this one could have very well taken weeks it seems it was pushed through very quickly in an effort to ensure Albus Dumbledore did not know of the switch before it was finished. Mr Dumbledore's actions regarding the young Mr. Potter in the past, namely his insistence that Harry be placed with his muggle relatives despite the objections of the ministry, have led many to believe he has a personal agenda regarding the young man. In a statement we obtained from a follower of Mr Dumbledore, the man insisted that "The good professor was only doing what was best for poor James and Lily's baby, you know he was very close to the family." We at The Crystal Ball find this statement curious however as the political rivalry between Charlus Potter and Albus Dumbledore was well-known. It will be quite interesting to see what Mr. Dumbledore makes of this once he returns from his decidedly isolated vacationing spot.

It took Harry a few moments to digest that he wasn't an international celebrity (celebrating the fact in his head), before something else occurred to him.

"My grandfather didn't support Professor Dumbledore?"

"No, he didn't support the ideals of the Dark Lord or Dumbledore. He had his own opinions namely that too many people or laws favoring one side too extremely would result in civil war. Many thought that particular view was quite extreme. Back then when people spoke of the dark lord everyone assumed you were talking about Grindelwald. Voldmort was a little known political figure who was paied very little attention for lack of money and family. Arguments on whether to support light or dark magic were heated debates among politicians, nothing more. "

Before Lucius could go on the door opened and in walked Severus, a copy of Proficient Potinears tucked under his arm, and a cup of strong black coffee in hand.

"Finally" Draco exclaimed for the second time that day. He lunged towards one of the piles of presents.

"I think not Mr. Malfoy." Lucius flicked his wand and all of the presents including the one in Draco's lap flew into the air.

"Onto the couch, both of you. " Draco did as he was told, grudgingly taking a seat on one end of the couch. Harry, equally grudgingly took a seat on the opposite end of the couch. Narcissa took a seat on the couch between Harry and Draco. Severus, after absently looking over a small bookcase in the corner took a seat in on the lounge that had been previously occupied by Naricssa. After everyone was settled, Lucius took his own seat on the armchair Harry had been previously sitting on.

With a wave of Lucius' wand a present came forward, separating its self from the piles hovering in mid-air. With another flick it fell onto Harry's lap, surprising the boy. Draco did what came naturally to him and ensued with his whining immediately.

"Draco, hush. You know the rules, youngest first." Narcissa chided before Draco could really get started.

"But-"

"Your mother said enough Draco Lucius, and I quite agree." Draco didn't say anything else, not even a reply to Lucius statement, although neither parent made an issue of it. Harry however had barely noticed the conversation going on around him. Oh he had heard the words, but his mind had been busy processing the present in his lap instead of the words going on around him. Upon receiving Ron and Hermione's gifts (via Hermione as Mrs Weasley wouldn't allow Ron to send anything) Harry had accepted that as his friends they would get him a gift. But the present in his lap wasn't one of the ones from his friends, and Harry was at a loss as to why anyone else would want to send him a gift.

"Well, go on and open it" The demand was unsurprisingly from Draco.

"Who's it from?" Harry asked as he turned the box over in his hands looking for a non-existent seem in the paper.

"That one is from Lucius and Me." And so the day went on. Lucius directing presents selectively, picking and choosing who got to open what present. After Harry had opened the first present Draco got to open one of his, then Severus, Narcissa, and Lucius. Harry was a little overwhelmed at the massive amount of gifts changing hands. Not even the Dursleys did Christmas this big.

By the time there was only one round of presents left to go Draco was preening with all of the attention and gifts. Harry was much less sure of it, but none the less enjoying the moment. The blond-haired boy had gotten several new outfits, a pocket watch, broom accessories, loads of art supplies, and candy among other things.

Harry had also received broom accessories, books, games, candy, a training snitch. However one gift had nearly brought him to tears. His grandfather's journal. While Harry had been hesitant to take it Lucius assured him that it didn't contain too many personal facts. Apparently, the head of a family often kept a journal of the day-to-day running of the household, family traditions, and so on. Upon their death several copies were made one to the new lord of the house, one to each child, one for the vault, and additional copies as the will specified.

Severus had received several rare (and expensive if Harry were to judge based on the glare he aimed towards Lucius) potions ingredients. Harry also spotted quite a few defense related products. Surprisingly enough the man received several different types of art supplies much more advanced than Draco's. Harry slightly surprised at the lack of books in Severus pile made a comment to Lucius. The blond-haired man laughed and complained to Harry about how difficult it was to find something Severus hadn't already read and formed a strong opinion about.

Narcissa had received several pairs of shoes, new clothes, and custom made jewelry (to which Lucius groaned and mumbled about the limits of magic on enlarging closets, and Narcissa gave her husband a dirty look.) She also got several craft materials such as fabric, colored parchment, a book entitled 'Charming Crafts'. And finally she received a subscription to some arithmacy magazine.

Lucius got his fair share of gifts. He received four tickets to the World Cup being held on the Alcina Island just off the cost of Washington State in America. He also received tickets for a festival in mid spring, located in Greece. But other than that, his presents mostly consisted of homemade trinkets, letters, and pictures. Harry assumed that it was hard to buy for anyone who could just go out and get whatever they pleased with no strain on their budget. It was unexpectedly Severus who responded to Harry's curious glance at the letters.

"Lucius, being the Slytherin that he is prefers to deal in the trade of information. When he was in fifth year a classmate asked Lucius what she should get him for Christmas. Lucius told her to write down a secret and send it to him. Every since he has gotten secrets for Christmas presents.

It was almost 10:30 when they started on the final round of gifts, Lucius once again directing the first present into Harry's lap. As all of his others had been, it was wrapped tightly in magical paper, with no seam. Harry, having become use to the process looked for the small nametags imbedded with a magical signature. He immediately recognized three of the signatures. Mixed in with Lucius Narcissa and Severus' there was another, less familiar signature. It wasn't completely foreign and Harry felt certain that he had felt it before.

"It's a joint gift from Narcissa, Oliver Sebastian, Severus, and myself." Lucius answered Harry's question before it could be asked. Harry pondered the answer as he slowly tore off the paper. At the ball yesterday Harry had gotten the sense that while Lucius didn't particularly dislike Oliver, he didn't particularly like him either. It was a strange group to give a joint present. Harry stripped off the paper to reveal…A photo album? Harry sincerely hoped that it didn't contain photos of him at the ball. He hesitantly opened it only to find what had to be a picture of his parents dancing in Diagon Alley, himself tucked securely between them.

"It was taken by the Daily Prophet three days before their deaths. Lily had just been accepted into Gringotts as an apprentice, something very rare. Including Bill Weasley and your mother, there have been three in the last fifty years. For the most part any work that needs to be done by humans is contracted out. Goblins are very suspicious of everyone, so not only does an apprentice need a perfect academic history, and powerful magic, but much harder to find, they need the trust of the goblin nation." Harry flipped through the pages as Lucius explained where the pictures were taken, and what was going on at the time. The album contained several shots of James, Lily, and Harry, as well as James and Lily, including their wedding. There were wizarding pictures of James, and his parents going all the way back to Harry's grandparent's wedding in their 6th year, as well as a single shot of Charlus as a first year. Naturally there were no wizarding photos of Lily before first year. However, there were several muggle photos, as well as several sketches. Whoever did the sketches was quite talented, and Harry suspected had grown up with lily. The youngest of the sketches, his mother jumping off a swing at a park, was clearly done with a child's hand. As lily aged, the skill of the artist grew. There were several of her lounging on a willow tree, as well as a few of her in front of what Harry assumed was her childhood home. There was one of her being sorted in first year, and another of her yelling at a group of boys including his father, but Harry's favorite was the last one, it was a picture of Lily in 7th year, dressed for the Yule Ball. Lucius explained to Harry that James proposed to her that night, in front of the moon and stars, and the whole of Hogwarts. Their wedding was held on Christmas one year later.

After that, all the other gifts were rather anticlimatic, even though Lucius had made the utmost effort to save the best for last. The family spent the rest of the day lounging around, something Harry had never seen either of the Malfoy parents (nor Snape) do. They played several games, had lunch on the coffee table together, told stories, and enjoyed each other's company.

It was a little after 4:30 when Narcissa ordered that everyone get ready for dinner out. Thankfully, Lucius told him not only where they were going, but the type of clothes he should wear.

Dinner was more pleasant than Harry expected. The diner was small, and tightly tucked between two shops opposite a larger restaurant. However it was clear that the diner served a very specific type of clientele. The lighting was soft, but not dim enough to be considered overtly romantic. Each dining table was hidden with greenery and flowers, to protect each customers privacy. From the menu, Harry could clearly see that they had taken several comfort foods and turned them into gourmet meals. The meal was accompanied with laughter, and stories and all around good cheer. Harry and Draco didn't even make faces at each other as they often did (although this was partially due to the close eye that all three adults were keeping on them).

That night, everyone in Malfoy Manor fell asleep perfectly content. unfortunately, those feelings wouldn't last through the next 24 hours.

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