December 19, 1991

~Lucia~

As the days grew colder the number of attacks increased. Everyday more and more students were signing up to go home for Yuletide, unfortunately Draco and I were not among them. Father and Cissy would not be home for the Yule holidays.

Instead they'd be in Norway for a charity ball. As much as I wanted to go, they wouldn't take me because the Norway Wizarding World is an extremely dangerous place. They're in the middle of a war and things were apparently out of control. This meant that despite our many complaints, Draco and I were forced to spend the holidays at Hogwarts. "You'll spend Yule with your Uncle Sev," Father said when I flooed him last night. So with annoyance I watched as my friends left to catch the train.

"Don't be too upset, you'll still go to the Yule Ball on Saturday," Marcus said giving me a quick peck on the cheek. I nodded my agreement. "You have Harry here too," he points out, "you'll finally get to spend Yule with both your brothers, just like you've always wanted." I smiled at that.Even when Mum was still living I've never had a Yule with both Harry and Draco.

It's always been separate because James insisted on celebrating the muggle holiday Kistmask. I'd spend the first part of Yule with my mother, who would take me to do all the Yuletide traditions for those days. After that I'd go to my fathers and leave Mum and James to have their Kistmask. Now that I have both my brothers back I finally have my chance to spend Yuletide with both of them.

"Shouldn't you be getting on the train?" An annoying voice asked, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Shouldn't you?" I snapped back. Fred and George Weasley were both glaring at me. "If you must know, Draco and I are staying here for Yule, as our parents will be attending a charity event in Norway," I huffed. "Shame you couldn't join them, I'd love to see you get blown up," he snarked. "Well I guess, once again, your wishes won't be granted," I smirked as I walked away.

•••

Draco and I spent the first night in Uncle Sev's quarters going over what we'd do for Yule. We'd start our traditions today with the other Slytherins who were staying, all the students staying from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, and a select few from Gryffindor. Professor McGonagall picked the few from that house that she trusted not to sell us out.

This year I had begged them to invite Harry, and they agreed. I was hoping he would agree if I personally invited him so I decided I'd find him myself before the event. Luckily today's event wouldn't be until later tonight though, so I had extra time to find Harry.

I finally found Harry in the library with Hermione and Ron. "Harry!" I exclaimed as I saw him. "Hey Lucia," he said. "How's your Yule going so far?" I asked. "What's Yule?" He asked. "The winter solstice?" I asked. He shook his head. "Then what do you celebrate?" I asked. "Christmas," he said. "Kistmask?" I asked. He explained about Kistmask to me and I explained Yule to him, Ron, and Hermione.

"Isn't that a dark holiday?" Hermione asked. "No, many light wizards also celebrate, it's when we honor our magic and the gods who blessed us with it," I explained. "That's silly, and dark, and dangerous, my mum said so," Ron said. "Well your Mum is wrong, but I just came to wish you a good Yuletide," I said. I'm not arguing today. "Merry Christmas," Ron said forcefully and I rolled my eyes.

•••

"Cia!" Harry called as I passed him in the hallway. After our last meeting he's the last person I want to see right now. Despite this, I turned around and rolled my eyes, "What?" I asked. "I'll go, I'll celebrate with you," he said. I arched my brow at him, "Why?" I asked. "Draco cornered me after lunch, explained the importance of Yule and how much it means to you," he shrugged, "Guess I never thought of how Mum's death affected you."

"It's not just her death," I said, "everything changed and this is the first time I've had the opportunity to see you, to celebrate anything with you." I shook my head and sighed. "I don't want to force you, it was supposed to be an invitation," I explained. "I want to go," he said, "besides I need to make up for how I treated you back there." I nodded.

"Today's celebration starts during dinner in the room of requirement, dress nice, don't be late," I instructed. "What is this celebration?" He asked. "Mother's night, it's where we honour our female ancestors along with Frigg and her 12 handmaidens," I answered. "Like Mum?" He asked. "Yes, but also Grandmama, Great Grandmère, Great Aunt Rosemary, Gram Lea, and Great Aunt Holly," I explained, "Basically most all the women you saw in the portraits."

I explained a bunch more things to my brother before leaving to get ready. I explained how Yule at Hogwarts has always been lowkey and has been even more chill since Dumbledore became headmaster. I explained how it was technically against the rules to celebrate anything but Kistmask here, but every Professor gathered some of their students in the Room of Requirement for celebrations anyways.

Finally, I handed him the slip of paper he'd need to find the room. "You can't tell anyone Harry, only tell the people invited, ask Jade or Dorian to take you if you wish," I instructed. "We don't want Dumbledore to know about this, ask Professor McGonagall if you have any doubts. And don't worry there are many 2nd years from Gryffindor who are joining us." I said in his mind.

I'm a Legilimens, something passed through the Slytherin line in the Evans family. Yes I'm one of Slytherin's heirs, but I didn't have anything to do with the chamber! I also speak parseltongue and can do parselmagic, not to mention my wandless magic, and mind magic.

"Cia!" Cynthia shouted pulling me away from Harry with Austin Rhodes in tow, "Cindy and I have been looking everywhere for you, we're getting ready in the Hufflepuff dorms." She looked towards Harry, "The Gryffindor boys are in the Ravenclaw dorms, you should hurry there," She said. "Go," I told him, "I'll see you tonight." He followed Austin to the Ravenclaw dorms as Cynthia and I hurried to the Hufflepuff dorms to see Lucinda.

•••

Since today is Mother's Night, I chose to wear white. Mum always thought white was the color of new beginnings. "A blank canvas leads to a brighter future," she'd say. I wore a short white sheath dress with a white cape attached. My heels were silver, my makeup simple, and my hair curled in waves.

When we finished we walked to the Room of Requirement quickly as possible. None of us wanted to be caught by the headmaster. "Lucia!" Draco called as he walked in with the boys. I wrapped an arm around him and one around Harry. Everyone knows we're related, the light side is just forgetful.

"I got there first Potter," Draco spat. "If you can't be nice, at least be civil," I chastised. "Fine," they groaned. I smirked and rolled my eyes letting go of them both. They definitely don't hate each other.

•••

As per tradition we started of with the prayer to Frigg. Then our offerings of food and flowers that we burned. The house elves made a feast of our female relatives favorites. I noticed macaroons, Mum's favorite, ravioli for Great Aunt Lydia Malfoy, and Sushi for Madame Graciela Scamander.

I sat with Lucinda Scamander from Hufflepuff, Cynthia Serpux from Ravenclaw, and Talya Monkshood from Gryffindor. Talya and I are barely close due to the house rivalry, though we were best friends in our youth. She stopped talking to Blair and I in first year until we cornered her at the Malfoy Summer Ball. Then in second year we regained our friendship. It was never the same though.

I smiled when I noticed Harry and Draco laughing and talking together. "What are you two talking about?" I asked. "Just telling Harry about when you accidentally burned your hair off," Draco said cheekily. I raised an eyebrow at him, "Excuse me?" I asked. "You heard me," he said . "I will murder you," I seethed. "Then you'd go to Azkaban," he pointed out.

I rolled my eyes and changed his hair green. "Thanks, I was looking for a change," he said. I hexed Harry's hair orange and Draco's hair red. "That's uncalled for!" Draco gasped. "What did I do?" Harry asked. "Everything," I answered going back to my friends. "I hate them," I said. "Nice hex," Cynthia said. "Thanks," I said.

We then all sat down and wrote the names of the handmaidens on parchment. The Professors would call one student from each house come up to draw one. It was a competition for house points. "Serpux, Potter, Evans, Hunter," Professor Flitwick called. "Draw Sága, you have 5 minutes, go!" Snape commands. A picture of her showed in front of the room. I quickly started working. When I finished I handed it Snape.

"Fletcher draw Eir!" Snape called. Zachary Fletcher, a Slytherin first year came to draw Eir, Goddess of healing. "Jordan draw Eir!" McGonagall called when Harry finished. "Smith!" Professor Sprout called at the same time as Flitwick called, "Turner!" We all cheered on our houses as the scores were shown above our heads from a spell.

"Dale!" Professor Sprout called. "Findler!" Snape shouted. "Hayes!" McGonagall yelled. "Prichard!" Flitwick squealed. It was the last drawing. Slytherin was in the lead as we had the most people who actually knew about Yule. Next was Ravenclaw, then Hufflepuff, and Gryffindor was last. To be fair they had the least amount of people.

We then listened as the Professors each explained Yule and Mother's night. The Head boy and Head Girl explained the roles of each handmaiden. Then they told us about Yule logs and how we'd all be given the opportunity to make one tomorrow. They told us if we wished to join them we'd have a few hours to get ready and we'd leave at four in the morning for the bonfire. Finally we were dismissed.

•••

"Are you sure you want to come?" I asked Harry, "you don't have to if you don't want too." He shook his head, "This was so fun, I want to continue," he said. "Harry!" Finnegan called. "I'll let you too your friends," I said. I spun on my heel and went to the dungeons. I had a limited time to get ready and there's no way I'm going in heels. He actually wants to do it! He enjoyed it! I can't believe it! Maybe there's hope for him. Maybe there's hope for muggleborns. Maybe we can lower the amount of mudbloods.

"So, you and Harry got along," I said as Draco and I walk to Snape's hall. "Don't read into it, I just realized he's not such a terrible person," Draco said. I smiled at that. "His friends need some work though," Draco adds. "His friends are not my concern," I told him.

"You have only a few hours, I recommend changing beforehand," Uncle Sev said to the common room before joining Draco and I. "So how was it?" He asked. "I'm surprised," I admit, "I had no idea Hogwarts celebrated Yule." "That's the point," he agreed, "though I am quite surprised to see Mr. Potter in attendance."

I blushed, "I asked him and after some explaining he agreed to try," I explained. "I helped," Draco adds. I punched his arm. "I did!" He repeats. "Barely," I said. "I am the whole reason he agreed," he said. "Lies!" I accuse.

"That's not important, but it was nice seeing all three of you together as a family," Uncle Sev said. "But we aren't related," Draco points out. "You're god siblings, besides your relation to Luci is enough," He assured us, "It's what Lily would've wanted, all of you together."

I nodded, Mum emphasized the importance of family a lot. She'd say we could get each other through the toughest of troubles if only we could get along. I guess she was right. It feels good to have people who have your back. Even if it they're annoying sometimes. "Now get ready," Uncle Sev said. "Sir, yes sir!" Draco and I shouted in unison running to our rooms. Merlin, I love my brothers!