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CHRISTMAS MORNING HAD ARRIVED AND, UNLIKE MOST CHILDREN, CASSIOPEIA COLDWELL WAS NOT EXCITED. Most children would be thrilled when they woke up on Christmas Day, excited to open gifts and spend time with family. Cassiopeia, however, was dreading it. She knew that Christmas didn't mean anything to their father and that he would carry on with their training. Not only that, but she also had to attend the Malfoy's ball tonight and she wasn't looking forward to it.
Plums had woken up Cassiopeia at eight o'clock sharp and the youngest Coldwell begrudgingly got dressed before she headed down to the living room. The tree had been put up on Christmas Eve by the house elves and it was the only thing in Coldwell Manor that had any color on it. The bright white lights that were strung on it brought some light into the dark mansion and the colorful ornaments contrasted the black and green interior nicely. A few gifts had found their way under the tree and were waiting to be opened. Three large boxes were wrapped in Slytherin green wrapping paper and Cassiopeia knew that those were from their father. It was the same every year.
The twins soon joined and the three children took their seats on the black leather sofa. Orion pulled out his wand and cast a levitation charm on the gifts, gliding them over to the children through the air. When the few presents that they did get were in front of them, Orion nodded his head at them and went back to sipping his tea, never uttering a word to his children.
Cassiopeia opened up the large box first, knowing what was going to be inside. A few new dresses and skirts along with some sweaters and stockings. It wasn't any different than what she had been getting for the last four years. All the same clothes in all the same colors and all the same styles. Their father couldn't care enough to actually put some thought and care into what he got his children for Christmas. He got them what he wanted, not what they wanted.
Putting on a fake smile, she scanned the box before moving on to the gifts that her siblings gave her. Thalia had gotten her new bottles of Sleekeazy's hair potion and a new pair of lovely green heels that she was most likely going to force Cassiopeia to wear tonight. Zethus had given her a new deck of Self-Shuffling Playing Cards and a book called 'Prefects Who Gained Power,' the latter of which she rolled her eyes at. There was a small gift from Draco, which was a new set of eagle feather quills, and a basket of Licorice Wands from Blaise and Daphne. Once she was finished opening her presents, Cassiopeia summoned Plums and asked her to take her new belongings up to her room and put them away.
Teddy and Daisy came and took Thalia and Zethus' things away before their father ordered them into the main room while the other house-elves took down the Christmas tree and other little decorations that were put up. Cassiopeia solemnly walked behind her father and siblings, knowing what was to come. Even on Christmas, he couldn't take a break from torturing them. If they weren't spending time preparing for their roles as Death Eaters, then it was time spent wasted in the eyes of Orion Coldwell.
He ordered them into the main room and Cassiopeia knew what was coming. More agonizing amounts of torture they would have to endure. Orion took his place in his large chair at the end of the room while the children stood in front of him. This was his way of demeaning them, showing them that he was more powerful than they would ever be. He sat in that chair as if it were his throne, ruling over his children and dictating every aspect of their lives.
