Chasing Shadows || Draco Malfoy x OC

Year 5- Ch. 127

Céline woke up to a pile a presents at the foot of her bed. When she looked over, she saw that Ginny and Hermione were both just waking up.

"Merry Christmas," Céline said giving them a sleepy smile. She didn't feel anxious anymore, she felt happy and excited that she was there with them now, instead of waiting in the castle or even worse being in the basement of her home.

The three of them began opening their presents, Hermione had given her a beautiful new quill, and Ron had given her a big pile of her favorite chocolate, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley gave her a cute knitted jumper in a dark green, Harry had given her a poetry book from a muggle poet and Sirius and Lupin had given her a beautiful new cloak.

"Oh thank you, Céline." Hermione said from across the room, "I've been needing a new journal."

"Yeah, thanks for the scarf, Céline. It's very pretty." Ginny said happily as she wrapped around a long maroon scarf around her neck.

"I'm glad you liked it." Céline said to Ginny in relief, "I had Hermione show me how to knit. I'm glad they all turned out well."

Ginny tilted her head slightly, trying to understand.

"Oh I made you, the twins, your parents, Sirius and Lupin, scarves. They all have your initials at the bottom too." Céline said meekly.

Ginny looked at the end of her scarf to see that her initials were in fact embroidered in the corner.

"Sorry, I wish I could have gotten everyone something different, but I'm a bit low on funds, from what I brought with me." Céline said, her cheeks turning slightly pink.

"Please, don't apologize, Cél." Hermione sternly. "These are wonderful."

Céline gave her an appreciative smile.

After while of opening gifts they decided to go downstairs. They met up with Harry and Ron at the bottom of the stairs.

"Merry Christmas!" Céline beamed at them.

The boys returned the Christmas getting, then Ron looked at what Hermione was holding in her hand.

"Who's that for?" He asked.

"Kreacher." She said happily.

"It had better not be clothes," Ron warned. "You heared Sirius, Lreacher knows too much, we can't set him free"

"It's not clothes," Hermione said. "Although, if I could have it my way, o would give him some. It's a patchwork quilt, I thought it would brighten up his bedroom."

"Kreacher has a bedroom?" Both Harry and Céline asked, quietly as they passed the portrait of Sirius's mother.

"Sirius said it's not much a bedroom and more of a... den." She said. "Apparently he sleeps under the boiler in the cupboard off of the kitchen."

When they reached the basement kitchen, Mrs. Weasley was the only one there. It sounded like she had a head cold when she wished them Merry Christmas.

"So this is Kreacher's bedroom?" Rom said looking at a dingy door.

"Yes..." said Hermione, she seemed nervous. "Er— I think we'd better knock."

Ron knocked on the doors but there was no reply. "He must be sneaking around upstairs." He said, before opening the door.

Harry and Céline peered inside. Most of the cupboard was taken up with a very large and old-fashioned boiler, but in the foot's space underneath the pipes Kreacher had made himself something that looked like a nest. A jumble of assorted rags and smelly old blankets were piled on the floor and the small dent in the middle of it showed where Kreacher curled up to sleep every night.