Fae Queen of Slytherin

Christmas Day

"My Dear... What is that?" 

I smile as I hold up my new sweater. I'm sitting on the floor with Draco. Christmas day has come, and with it the promised Weasley sweater.

"A sweater, Mrs. Malfoy, Mrs. Weasley sent i-" 

Lucius springs to his feet with a shout.

"THE WEASLEYS?!" 

"I- yes." 

"Now Lucius, we mustn't jump to conclusions, Lupa obviously isn't friends with them, why would she be?"

"I-" Draco elbows me and shakes his head. 

"Don't" he mouths.

"Right, yeah. Who would be friends with them? I can't stand them..." Narcissa smiles.

"See Lucius? Here, Lupa, let me take care of that..." She holds her hand out for the sweater.

"W-what are you going to do with it?"

"Get rid of it dear, you don't want it do you?"

"What? No! I want it! Why would I get rid of it?!" Lucius glares at me.

"Because, Lupa, the Weasleys gave it to you. You don't want anything to do with them."

"Maybe I do. They're nice. And they went the extra mile to get me a sweater when they didn't have to." I stand up and pull the sweater on, "And since they sent it, I'm. going. to. wear. it."

I stare defiantly at Lucius and cross my arms over the dark green knitting.  Lucius stands up and storms out of the parlor. 

"Well." Narcissa sighs, "I guess we can't really do much about that can we."

Draco glances at me with a hint of a smile.

Wish I could stand up to Dad like that.

"Oh yeah, Draco I got you something." I hold out a small box.

Draco takes it and pulls out a bracelet. "Wow! Lupa thanks!" I smile as he puts it on and gives me a hug. 

"Lupa, there's another present for you here." Narcissa holds out a small package with my name in Dad's familiar handwriting.  I take it, but instead of opening it I place it in my lap.

"If you don't mind, I'd rather open this one on my own. If that's okay?"

Narcissa looks confused, but nods, and smiles. "And this one is from us..." She hands me an elaborately wrapped package with a stunning bow on top. I smile at the locket nestled in silk inside.

"Thanks."

                                                                                     ~~~

In the solitude of my room I open Dad's present. The ripped paper reveals a small ball, with a letter next to it. 

Lupa,

This is an Omniball. The button on the side opens it. You can record memories inside it and then watch them again. I added my favorite for you.

I love you Lupe.

~Dad

I smile and push the button. The ball opens to reveal a screen with a few buttons labeled watch, record, contact. Colors swirl around in a globe surrounding the buttons. I touch the button labeled watch immediately the globe grew bigger and surrounded me. I experienced a falling sensation before my feet touched solid ground. 

"Dad, dad, what's that?" Lupa tugs at my arm and points at the mountain and the colorful sky behind it. When I don't answer she turns to Thea Marie. "Mom, what's that?" Thea signs something and Lupa smiles. "Why's the sky all wrong?" Thea shakes her head with a smile and motions for Lupa to sit.  "Dad!"

"Yes Lupe?"

"Why's the sky all wrong?"

"There's nothing wrong with it, there's just no light pollution here, so you can see all the stars."

"Okay. But why's it all different? The sky's blue, not pink and purple." I pull Lupa into my lap.

"Just watch Lupe. You'll see." She stares at the mountain intently for a moment then looks up at me again.

"Dad!"

"Yes Lupe?"

"It's still pink and purple."

"Just keep watching." She sighs and stares at the mountain again. After a moment a meteor shoots across the sky.

"DAD! Did you see that?" She points to where the meteor disappeared, "LOOK! There's another one! Dad look!"

"I'm looking Lupa."

"Mommy look!" Lupa grabs Thea's hand and points at the meteor shower. Thea smiles and nods, she almost looks like she might have laughed.

The landscape fades and I'm back at Malfoy Manor. The omniball folds back up and sits, innocently in my hand. "Mom..." my voice cracks and I slide to the floor. I curl up into a ball and rock myself back and forth against the door. 

I want to go home.