its all about blood - angelrider93

Chapter 17 - Christmas Eve (part 2)

Severus Snape didn't know what he expected to see as he flooed into the sitting room at Malfoy Manor that night. All he knew that it wasn't the sight that graced his eyes as he straightened and dusted himself off. Narcissa and Hermione were standing in the middle of the room attempting to control their laughter as they tried to direct a huge Christmas tree that seemed to have sprouted four legs into a corner near the huge bay window. Hearing the floo roaring behind him, Snape stepped out of the way and nodded in greeting to Blaise as the teenager stepped out of the fireplace and brushed the soot off his robes.

"No, Draco you have to step to the left, its still too far from the window" Hermione directed as she struggled to hold in a laugh. The tree hesitated for a second and mumbling could be heard from the branches before Draco's voice called out.

"Who's left Mia? Yours or ours?"

"Mine" Hermione replied.

"That means our right then" Draco could be heard saying to the other person in the tree.

"Tell me again why you wouldn't let me levitate this thing into position" Lucius demanded as he and Draco moved the tree towards the window.

"Because just for curiosity's sake I wanted to experience how the muggles do it" Narcissa answered her husband.

"Then why aren't you the one in the tree?" Lucius replied as he and Draco finally set the tree down in the correct spot and waited for the two witches to secure it with their wands.

"Because you two had to find the biggest tree that you could, I wouldn't have a hippogriffs chance at moving it manually" Narcissa responded. "Besides its too much fun watching you two trying to work together to move it" she added. Blaise and Snape glanced at each other, Blaise grinning in amusement and Snape smirking.

"Next year I'm levitating it" Lucius stated as he and Draco emerged from the tree. Narcissa, Hermione and Blaise all burst into laughter at the sight of the two male Malfoys. They each had fronds and twigs sticking out of their hair and both were looking quite ruffled. Draco, upon hearing the male laughter, turned to his best friend.

"How long have you been there Blaise?"

"Long enough" Blaise answered with a grin.

"Hello Blaise, Severus" Narcissa greeted as she helped Lucius pick the debris out of his hair.

"Narcissa" Snape greeted.

"Hi Narcissa" Blaise grinned. "Thankyou for having me over for Christmas" he added.

"You're welcome Blaise" Narcissa replied as Dusty arrived to take Blaise's trunk up to his room. "Your room is next to Draco's, Blaise, and Severus, you're in the green guest room" She added as Ziggy grasped the small trunk that Snape took out of his pocket and enlarged. Snape inclined his head in acknowledgement.

"Hi Blaise, Professor" Hermione chirped as she walked over to Draco and began to pluck the twigs from his hair.

"Hey Hermione" Blaise grinned as he watched her motion to Draco to turn around and begin to brush off his back when he did so.

"Miss Granger" Snape replied stiffly, as he watched the interaction between her and his godson with barely concealed curiosity. Hermione finished brushing Draco's back off and smirking, slapped him sharply on the butt.

"Oww! Hey! What was that for Mia?" Draco exclaimed as he turned around to face the brunette behind him.

"No reason really, it was just too tempting an opportunity to pass up" Hermione replied with a smug smile. Draco scowled at her.

"Just you wait, I'll get you back when you least expect it Mia" he retorted. Blaise, Lucius and Narcissa all chuckled while Snape smirked. Ziggy arrived to inform everyone that dinner was ready and they all headed towards the dining room.