𝐍𝐎 𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒- Marlene McKinnon

𝐕𝐈.

𝐍𝐎 𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑: 𝐕𝐈.

December 21st, 1977

Six days after Mathilda's eighteenth birthday, she and her parents are summoned to Malfoy Manor.

She doesn't need an explanation.

She'll be meeting the Dark Lord himself today.

Ellandra helps her to curl her hair before pinning it up into a bun, leaving a few soft curls to hang into her eyes. She gives Mathilda a black dress and a pair of dragon leather boots.

They apparate to the manor to arrive promptly in the great hall. A house elf rushes to take jackets, arms bowing under the weight of the load as the creature carries them away to a closet.

Mathilda shivers at the feeling of Rabastan taking her arm. "Thilda," he says. "How wonderful to see you. Happy Christmas, darling."

"It's not for another four days," she says, letting him draw her into an embrace.

"Well, I won't be seeing you then. I'm afraid I have a mission that day."

She feels terribly like a child when she asks, "He's asked you to miss Christmas?"

Rabastan chuckles, giving her arm a gentle squeeze. "I've found that the greater good comes before Christmas, my dear."

A few more exchanges of 'Happy Christmas' occur among the crowd before Lucius Malfoy escorts the crowd into his dining room.

Rabastan takes his seat beside Mathilda, letting a hand rest on her thigh, making her squirm in her chair.

She leans to whisper, "When will the Dark Lord arrive?"

"Soon, dear," Rabastan replies patiently.

Regulus sits between his parents, looking terribly young. He musters a smile toward Mathilda as Lucius Malfoy moves to the head of the table.

"It is with great pleasure that I announce that we will be recruiting two new members into our midst tonight. Regulus Black and Mathilda Yaxley, if you will both rise and introduce yourselves," Lucius says.