Lily in the Shadows

Chapter 21: The Malfoy Ball

Christmas morning is a flurry of guests entering the manor, presents in hand. The drawing room comprises Malfoys, Zabinis, Notts, Parkinsons, and Greengrasses. Clad in family pyjamas, the Malfoys are kind enough to gift Lily a green nightgown with little Malfoy crests around the bottom edge. It matches Draco's green pyjama set, Mrs Malfoy's green dressing gown, and Mr Malfoy's green robe. The Zabinis are in blue, the Notts in red, Parkinsons in yellow, and Greengrasses in pink. Presents fill the room in piles as the children giggle, acting more like toddlers than almost teenagers. House elves walk through carrying trays of little breakfast snacks and coffee. The parents chat with one another on the couches, taking their time opening their presents and sipping their tea and coffee. Meanwhile, Draco is tearing open another package, this one from his cousin.

Lily is eating a strawberry tart when a familiar snowy owl taps on the window. Being let in, she flies to the red-headed girl. Setting a wrapped parcel and a few letters in her lap Hedwig steals the rest of her tart before flying back out of the window. Lily sees her letters from Harry, Ginny, and Mrs. Weasley. Opening Ginny's first she learns that the Weasley family stayed at Hogwarts but that her mother would be sending both the annual Weasley jumper she made and her gift from Ginny. She wishes her a Happy Christmas and tells her that she cannot wait to see all the pictures she took. Mrs Weasley's letter was very sweet and the expandable charm on the envelope contained a Slytherin green jumper with a pale pink L in a Malfoy family crest. She adores it and immediately puts it on. Draco compliments her sweater asking where she got it, but makes a face upon learning Molly made it. Ginny's gifts of ribbons for her hair are much appreciated and she puts a matching pink one in her hair. Moving closer to Draco she ties the loose bits of his hair on top of his head with a pale blue ribbon, the colour perfectly matching his right eye. Lucius laughs at his son until his wife takes a black ribbon, and ties his long locks into a nice bow.

Lily giggles when opening the letter from Harry, he tells her about the Firebolt he got but that Hermione reported it because of the lack of identification. McGonagall took it away. He wished her a Happy Christmas and said thank you for the memory stone she sent him- a small iridescent stone containing many of the most cherished memories of the two of them together. He appreciated the time and effort she put into the gift, unaware that Narcissa was much help with the enchantments. He tells her to enjoy his gift and hopes she likes it.

She unwraps her present from her brother to see a beautiful intricate egg shape. The golden egg sparkles on its little stand. Looking at it she is confused. She thinks it's lovely but she doesn't know what to do with it. A small metal crank is at the very tip of the egg, twisting it she hears metal mechanics twist inside the egg. It separates at the centre, revealing a rotating carousel. Instead of animals going round and round but enchanted dancing ballerinas. They do pirouettes, and small leaps in a circle as the sound of classical music and a vocal accompaniment fill the room. The children stop what they are doing and begin dancing around the room to the sound, Draco pulls Lily to him and begins leading her through a classic waltz. The rest of their day is spent laughing, playing with their presents, and eating good food.

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That evening everyone begins getting ready for the ball. After her bath Lily sits at her vanity, brushing through her hair and adding some mascara. Unsure of what to do with her hair she ends up tangling it terribly. Almost in tears, she struggles to brush out her failed attempts at a hairstyle, painfully. Narcissa enters the room to see a tearful Lily, with smudged mascara and tangled hair.

"Oh dear, please don't cry my love, we can fix this. It'll be alright." Narcissa gives the frustrated girl a hug around her shoulders and pulls out her wand. A few well-placed spells and her curly hair falls into neat ringlets down her back. Her face now bare of makeup Narcissa takes a good look at her, thinking. With a nod, she decides what she will do. Taking bits of her hair she braids some of it back and pins it all up into a sophisticated bun, she adds a few accessories that match her dress before stepping back to make sure it is right. Ordering a house elf to fetch her makeup Narcissa gets back to work. Skillfully, she puts a subtle eye look on her along with some lipstick. She doesn't need to do much to her skin given that it is unblemished.