Chapter 20: Changing Traditions
Initially, Eva had teased Shyla about her small home. She remarked how it was the size of a match box, or that Yet, it didn't take long for it to feel like an actual home. It was much more friendly, cozy, and warm than the Malfoy Manor. It was full of Christmas spirit, with white tinkly lights strewn across the rooms. A small pine tree sat in the corner, covered in glittering ornaments, and bewitched lights that looked like fairies.
Shyla and Eva had decorated the tree, as Eva called it, the muggle way. The girls giggled as they danced around the loft to the radio. It was playing Christmas music by popular Wizard Rock bands. Wiskers even joined in on the fun, attacking a ball of tinsel, spreading the silver strands across the room. Eva had never decorated a tree this way, and found it to be quite enjoyable. Typically, her father hired a witch to come and decorate the Manor. It was what the Malfoys had always done.
The morning of Christmas Eve came all too quickly. Shyla loved having Eva visiting, it kept her distracted from missing the Weasley family's traditions. Normally, Hermione and Shyla would spend Christmas Eve night at the Burrow. They would have a large feast, enjoying a glazed ham, potatoes, and a variety of pies. All of the grandchildren would open a small present that night before bed. Followed by Christmas morning, where all of the Weasleys would gather to open presents, and enjoy the holiday.
Shyla found herself awake before Eva, so she quietly slipped from her room.
"Morning, Shy." Hermione greeted, passing her a mug of warm cider. "Is Eva still sleeping?"
Shyla sipped from the mug and sighed with content, "Thank you. And yes, Eva is still crashed out. We were up late talking last night, but I just couldn't sleep any longer. I am far too excited!"
"Excited?" Hermione teased, "Why on Earth would you be excited? It's not like you're getting any presents."
Shyla let out an exasperated sigh, "Mum. Really?" When Hermione feigned dumb, Shyla continued, "The Malfoy Christmas party?!"
"Oh, that's tonight?" Hermione attempted not to laugh at Shyla's reaction.
"Yes, Mum! It's tonight! We can't be late!" Shyla insisted. She took another sip, and pet Wiskers as he jumped onto the chair at the counter. "What are you wearing tonight?"
Hermione shrugged, "I really hadn't given it much thought." She lied. "I was just going to throw something on."
Shyla's eyes got large, "Mum! Professor Malfoy said to wear something nice! The Malfoys' level of nice, is a lot higher than our level of nice." She sighed, and rolled her eyes at her supposedly adult mother, "Eva and I will help you pick something out."
"Shyla, I appreciate the offer, but I am not going to let two eleven-year-old girls dress me. I am a grown woman, I can pick something out by my self." She watched as her daughter grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill. "What are you doing now?"
"Writing Tonks." Shyla stated, as she began to write furiously. "If you won't accept my help, you'll accept Tonks' help."
"Shyla..." Hermione warned. "Is that really a wise move the day before Christmas?"
"Yes." Shyla responded casually, "At this point, you have already purchased my presents and wrapped them. It would be awkward to open my presents yourself just to return them. That and you'd give up, and just give them to me anyways."
"Wow. What are they teaching you at Hogwarts?" Hermione gaped. "What happened to the innocent little girl that behaved herself?" She stuck her tongue out playfully.
Shyla ignored her mother's question, and crossed the living room to Felrin, "Hey buddy. Take this to Tonks, okay?" She opened the window, allowing a cold breeze to flow inside. It wasn't snowing at the present, but there was a soft coat of fresh snow on the ground below. London was beautiful at Christmas. In the early morning, there were still houses and buildings decorated with muggle-style Christmas decorations, and she could here Christmas bells ringing in the distance.
Felrin let out a small chirp as he flew out the window, the note tied to his leg.
It was only a mere thirty minutes later that there was a loud pop that came from the living room. "Tonks!" Shyla cried out excitedly, running to the woman she considered an aunt.
Tonks had short black hair this time, with red streaks throughout it. "Shyla! Where's your mum with this crisis of fashion, as you called it?" Her hair was chin length today, blonde with red streaks of varying shades.
Shyla smiled innocently, "She's in her bedroom."
Tonks walked to Hermione's room and tapped on the door, "I'm coming in, Hermione!"
Hermione was laying on the bed, and sat up when Tonks entered. "I'm going to kill my daughter."
Tonks rolled her eyes, "You and I both know that she made the right choice in not letting you handle these decisions on your own." She smiled and sat next to her best friend, "Where are you guys going anyways? Christmas Eve was generally dinner with the Weasleys."
Hermione bit her lip, "Well, not this year."
"Where?" Tonks persisted.
Hermione ignored her, and allowed herself to fall back onto her bed, letting out a girlish squeal.
"Where?" Tonks asked more demanding this time.
"Draco Malfoys." Hermione squeaked out, trying to hide her face with her arms.
"Merlin, Hermione! You have obviously left out some very important details as to how and why!" Tonks poked Hermione in the shin, in a silent way of telling her to start talking. She sat on the bed next to her best friend, staring at her intently.
Hermione sat up, yet again and let out an exasperated sigh, "My dearest daughter went home with Draco and his daughter, Eva, when the Hogwarts Express came in. She was supposed to go home with my parents, since I had an interview with the Daily Prophet. So when I found out, Draco insisted I come to dinner." She paused, her face flushing, "And I did."
"Continue..." Tonks urged.
Hermione's face had turned a lovely shade of pink, and she bit her lower lip again, "And we kissed."
"MIONE!" Tonks shouted.
"Shhhh!" Hermione said, nearly slapping her hand over Tonks' mouth. "Shyla cannot find out! At least not yet!"
"Merlin, Hermione, how did that happen?" Tonks asked, lowering her voice, leaning in with anticipation.
Hermione shrugged, trying to downplay the whole evening. "He admitted to still having feelings for me after all these years. It was snowing outside, and apparently I lost all control of the logic part of my brain."
Tonks smiled, "Did you at least enjoy the kiss?"
Hermione nearly squealed with school girl emotions flying around her stomach. "I can definitely say that I never felt that with any of the other men I dated over the years. But it's complicated." When Tonks just stared at her, she continued, "Draco's married."
"Oops." Tonks breathed.
"Yeah..." Hermione concurred. "He insists that they have been in an open relationship for years, but his wife didn't seem to feel that way when she came in during dinner, and completely flipped at the sight of me being there."
"Did you tell him it wasn't going to work?" Tonks asked, prying for more information.
"I was going to. Until he insisted we have lunch in Diagon Alley with our daughters. Since Eva is staying with us currently." Hermione explained. "He invited us to come to the Malfoy Christmas Party, that they apparently hold every year. I was going to say no..."
"But?" Tonks refused to let Hermione leave out any important pieces of information.
"Well, the girls went to Fred and George's shop, and he pulled me into a back alley, and yet again, I turned into a pile of mush when he kissed me. I told him I refused to be public with our relationship - if that's what you call it - until he is divorced." Hermione hated becoming that girl. She never intended to be the other woman.
"Hermione?" Tonks finally asked, "Have you told-"
"No." Hermione quickly replied, cutting her off.
"When are you?"
"When I know that this isn't just old feelings being drudged up." Hermione reasoned, mostly with herself. "It's just, we haven't been alone for more than a few minutes here and there. I can't just dump that on him."
"The longer you put it off, the madder he's going to be." Tonks sighed.
"I know." Hermione said, barely audible.
They sat in silence for several minutes, Tonks absorbing everything that had happened. She finally stood, "Well, let's see what you have in your closet. I can't allow you to go to a party like that wearing something you would wear to work."
Hermione opened her modestly sized closet and sighed, "Have at it."
Tonks scanned through the clothes, making noises of disapproval. "Wait here." She apparated on the spot, leaving Hermione alone in her bedroom. It wasn't long before Tonks had reapparated in front of her though. "Remus will be here shortly, and he'll keep an eye on the girls, and then we're going shopping."
"Tonks! It's Christmas Eve! We can't go shopping today! Every where will be a mad house!" Hermione reasoned.
"Then why didn't you tell me about this sooner?" Tonks snapped back, playfully.
Hermione glared at her friend, and relocated to the kitchen, where she offered Tonks a fresh cup of coffee. Tonks started to accept than stared at Hermione, "You make a terrible cup of coffee. We will get one in town."
"Shyla?" Hermione called, ignoring Tonks. "Tonks and I are going shopping. Remus is going to be here shortly to stay with you and Eva."
"Mum!" Shyla protested, "Eva and I don't need a baby sitter!"
"Maybe so, but Remus adores you, and he wanted to spend some time with you while you're home on holiday." Hermione replied in the way that often makes one give up in trying to reason.
"Fine." Shyla pouted, slumping onto the couch, Eva sat next to her, and pulled Wiskers onto her lap, stroking his black fur.
Once Remus arrived, Shyla had ended her sulking and hugged the man. He produced a small package out of his pocket, "Happy Christmas." He whispered to her.
Shyla smiled politely, "Thank you! Do I have to wait until tomorrow?"
Remus raised his eyebrows, "You really are your mother's daughter. Open it!"
Shyla tore the paper that enclosed the box. Inside the box was a necklace with a small golden snitch dangling from a delicate silver chain. "It's so pretty! Thank you!" She immediately put it on, and called Eva over to show it off.
"So you're Draco Malfoy's daughter then?" Remus asked Eva.
She nodded, taking note of the man's unmanaged hair, "Do you know my dad?"
Remus let out a light laugh, "I taught him when he was a third year. Defense Against the Dark Arts. Let's just say he was a confident young man."
Eva smirked, "That sounds like, Dad."
"Mum and I lived with Remus and Tonks when I was really little. Before we moved here." Shyla explained to Eva.
Eva got a mischievous look on her face before turning back to Remus, "Did you know Shyla's dad?"
Remus eyed Eva, choosing his words carefully. "That's not my place to say, now is it?"
AN: Wow, I am so incredibly sorry... I had this chapter written 5 months ago, seriously... But then some personal stuff came up, and I just hit a massive writers block. Then the semester started. Guess how many essays I wrote last semester... Ready for it? SIXTEEN! This, boys and girls, is why I am not an English major. I seriously wrote, rewrote, and rewrote this chapter again. I have enough typed for another chapter or two, I just need to do major rereading, and editing. But for now, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I will see you in a week at most! I will get started on the revision of the next chapter(s) today! Love to all! And thank you for your patience and support!
~PurplePygmypuff