Love Of My Life

Chapter Thirteen: Mas

There was one week left until Christmas break and Salem was already planning all the things that she was going to do with her parents.

She sat with Andromeda in the great hall, eating breakfast. Except, Andromeda was still terribly upset due to her family casting her out for accepting Ted's marriage proposal. She had nowhere to go for Christmas and Salem felt horrible because of it.

"Hey, do you want to go Christmas shopping with me after classes?" She tries to boost her mood. "Yeah, I guess," Andromeda says, cheering up a little. 

"And I also have a surprise for you." She tells her. "Oo, what is it?" A now curious Andromeda asks. 

"When I leave, you and Ted can have my room for the break. Most of Slytherin house will be gone and you can enjoy the big space and quiet with him." Salem offers. "I would love that but blondie over there would never allow a Hufflepuff into Slytherin territory" Andromeda motions to Lucius that was sitting farther up the table.

"Well, you're in luck because I overheard him telling Parkinson that he's going home for Christmas," Salem says as Andromeda smiles for the first time in days. 

"Thank you, Salem." She wholeheartedly tells her. "You're welcome. Now let's go, i am not gonna be late for exams." She says as they get up and leave.

**********

Year Sevens' designated test spot for final exams was in the deviation classroom where Lucius sat, watching Salem.

She was two rows up and to the left of him. He watched how she meticulously went over her answers, searching for any mistakes. He desperately wanted her to come home with him for Christmas, especially since Abraxas would be gone on ministry business, but he heard her talking to Andromeda about going home.

"Focus. Test." Lucius mentally slaps himself. He took one more quick look at his beautiful blonde before going back to his exam.

Salem sits, fidgeting after turning her exam in. Everyone still had three minutes left in the class and that gave her just enough time to overthink every answer that she put on her test. 

She watched the last person turn their exam in when professor Broadmoor calls time. Everyone gets up and collects their things. A few had a hopeful expression while the others could tell that they failed.

"You ready?" Salem asks Andromeda. "Yeah." She responds as she grabs her wand from her desk.

Once they get into the hallway, Andromeda grabs onto her, and Salem apparates to Diagon Alley.

Diagon Alley

"I figured that they'd have more options here," Salem says as they walk through the snowy, busy street. "I was getting bored of Hogsmeade anyway," Andromeda says as the two girls laugh.

They first went into Madam Malkins and Salem sneakily bought Andromeda new robes that were a light blue color.

They opened the door of the shop and the chilly December air immediately hit the two girls' faces. 

"Is there a big cold front coming in?" Andromeda asks. "Yeah, it's supposed to be a very white Christmas." She tells her as they step into a jewelry store.

The two girls wander around for another two hours and see the sun beginning to set. "Hey, I'll be right back," Andromeda tells her as she wanders off. "No, wait-" Salem groans, unable to stop her friend from leaving.

She looks over and sees the sign to knock turn Alley. Usually, she would avoid the alley at all cost but she still hadn't found anything for Lucius and the sun was almost completely set.

She takes a deep breath and walks down the dark alley. She stops in front of Borgin And Burkes and something spots her eyes.

She quickly opens the door and goes in to find a long cane that holds a wand. She figured with the snake on the end of Lucius's wand, it would have been perfect for him. "How much for the cane?" She asked the creepy sales clerk. "10 galleons." He croaks.

She quickly hands over the money and runs out of the shop and the alley.

"There you are. Surprise!" Andromeda says as she hands Salem a black and white cat. "Merlin, Andromeda you didn't have to-"

"Stop. You have been my best friend for seven years and not once did I get you a very good Christmas present, and you have never had a magical pet. So, therefore, you have to accept my gift." She says as Salem smiles and pets her new feline friend.

"What's this?" She asks as she grabs the long box from Salem. "Um, A present for my dad." Salem stutters. "Hmm. Well, are you ready to go back?" Andromeda asks as the street lights come on. "Yes." Salem holds out her arm for Andromeda and they apparate back into the common room.

********

"I'll see you tomorrow," Andromeda says as the two hug and goes up the stairs.

Salem walks down the hall and opens her door to find Lucius on her bed. "Shit, you scared me," Salem says as she holds her chest. 

He chuckles at her as she lets the cat down to run around her room.

"When did you get a cat?" He asks as it jumps in his lap. "Andromeda gave me her for Christmas." She says as she sets the box and bags down on her bed. 

"Ooo, what's in the box?" He asks as Salem slaps his hand away. "That is your Christmas present so you've got a few days until you can open it." She says as she giggles and crawls into bed with him. 

"Yes, I wanted to talk to you about Christmas," he says as she sets her head on his chest and the cat lays in between them, purring.

"I was wondering-"

Lucius is cut off by a loud bang on the window, they both look over and Salem sees that it was her mother's owl. "Alohomora." She says as she waves her wand and the window unlocks and opens. 

"Hold that thought." She tells Lucius as she pulls the letter off of the owl's foot and opens the wax seal.

Dear Salem,

I'm so sorry sweetie but your mother and I's plans changed last minute and we can't have you come home for Christmas. I have a business trip in Germany and your mother has been called away on ministry business.

We will try to see you as soon as possible.

I'm so sorry darling.

-Father

"Great." She says as she tosses the letter off her bed. "Now I have to stay here for Christmas." She says as she lays back, slightly agitated. 

"Or...... You could come home with me." Lucius says with a hopeful expression on his face. "What?" She smiles as she looks up at him.

"My father is going to be gone until the day after Christmas and I have the whole Manor to myself. Why not come with me and make the week interesting?" He asks. 

"I would love to but what am I going to do with her?" She asks as she pets the cat. "Bring her with you, once magical animals are assigned to their witch or wizard, it is with you for life. And she could enjoy chasing the birds in the garden," he suggests as Salem smiles once more.

"I would love to, Lucy." She tells him. "We leave in the morning. Oh and, what are you going to name that cat? You cant keep calling it her." He says as Salem giggles. "You'll find it rather stupid." She says as she pets the purring creature. "Oh come on, how bad could it be?" He asks.

"I wanna name her Mas. My father knew that my mother was having a witch, panicked and named me after the Salem Massachusetts witch trials. So I will name her Mas to coincide with my name. Mas, short for Massachusetts" She explains as she laughs at the ridiculous name. "I love it," he says as he kisses Salem's forehead.