What Is This "Love" You're Talking About (Love Doesn't Lie Sequel)

Chapter 40: Christmas

Chapter 40: Christmas

'Narcissa, can you place those plates on the table?' Hermione asked. Narcissa nodded, grabbing the plates and placing them on the festively dressed table. The Christmas holiday had started and most of the students had travelled home to spend the holidays with their families. The Potters, Weasleys and Zabini's would come over to celebrate Christmas with them, so the house would be packed with people. Normally Narcissa would be extremely excited about the matter, but with the fact that James hadn't spoken a word to her yet gave her slight anxiety to see him again, especially with family around. She wouldn't know what to answer when someone would ask them what's wrong, because she didn't know the answer. Narcissa had invited Elizabeth over, but she would be spending Christmas with her own family, which was understandable. 'Hey, you okay?' Hermione asked, snapping Narcissa back to reality.
'I'm fine.' Narcissa faintly smiled.
'I know you wanted to bring Christopher, but it's understandable that he'd want to spend Christmas with his own family, right?'
'Oh it is.' Narcissa nodded.
'We'll meet him another time.' Hermione smiled.
'I know. You'll like him.'
'I like him already.' Hermione chuckled, pressing a kiss to her daughter's cheek before turning back to the stove.
'Dad's taking long.' Narcissa stated.
'Maybe he has forgotten how to tie a bow-tie.' Hermione chuckled. 'Speak of the devil.'
Draco walked into the kitchen, trailed by Scorpius. 'You look dashing.' Hermione smiled, seeing her son in a suit and a slightly crooked bow-tie.
'Dad had to retie my bow-tie three times.' Scorpius said, looking up at his father.
Draco laughed. 'Oh well, what can I say.'
'When is everyone coming?' Scorpius asked.
'They should be here in a few minutes.' Hermione answered.
'CHRISTMAS!' Jean yelled, appearing in the kitchen, pushing her brother and father aside.
'It seems someone's excited for Christmas.' Narcissa chuckled.
'YES!' Jean exclaimed. 'PRESENTS!'
'Why doesn't it surprise me that's the reason why's she excited.' Narcissa muttered.
Hermione chuckled and softly nudged her eldest in the side, just as the bell ringed.
'Seems our first guests have arrived.' Hermione said.
'I'll go open the door.' Draco said.
'No! I will!' Jean said, hurrying after her father and racing him to the door.
Narcissa's heartbeat raised as she heard voices in the hallway, but she couldn't make out to whom they belonged. Would James even come with his family to them? Would he want to come?
'Narcissa!'
'Hey Isobelle!' Narcissa grinned, glad to see one of her best friends walk into the kitchen.
'What are you up to?' Isobelle asked.
'I was assigned to making the salad.'
'Sounds like a good assignment.' Isobelle laughed. 'Shall I help?'
'It's salad, it's no rocket science.' Narcissa chuckled. 'Plus, I'm almost done.'
'Hello everyone.' Blaise grinned, walking into the kitchen and pressing a kiss to Hermione's cheek. 'Who's ready to eat?'
'I AM!' Scorpius exclaimed, running up to Blaise and giving him a high five. Scorpius adored Blaise. Blaise was the cool uncle who'd play soccer and rugby with him. With whom Scorpius could always have a laugh.
'Hey buddy.' Blaise laughed. 'Did you tie your bow-tie yourself?'
'No, dad did.'
'Well, that explains it, here come on, let me fix it for you.' Blaise said.
'Hi there.' Rosaline smiled appearing in the kitchen and first greeting Hermione before greeting Narcissa and giving Scorpius a smile and a pat on the shoulder. 'Would you like me to help?' Rosaline asked.
'Oh no, don't worry about it. You brought the first course, right?' Hermione asked.
'I sure did.' Rosaline smiled, placing three plastic boxes on the table.
'Mummy.' Jean said, appearing by her mother's side.
'Yes, Jeany?'
'When are we going to eat?'
Hermione chuckled. 'When everyone has arrived, darling.'
'But when is that?'
'I don't know, depends on whether the Potters and Weasleys are on time.' Hermione winked.
'Rosa, can you come with me? I want to show you something.' Jean asked, turning to Rosaline.
'Of course.' Rosaline smiled, taking Jean's outstretched hand and following her out of the kitchen.
'Hey! What are you doing to my masterpiece?' Draco asked, appearing next to Blaise.
'You call that a masterpiece? Damn, sorry mate, but that sure wasn't even close. So I'm perfecting it.'
The doorbell rang again and Draco turned around to open the door for the next guests. 'Come on, let's give the girls some room.' Blaise said, walking with Scorpius to the living room.
'Why are you looking so anxious?' Isobelle whispered.
'Hu? Oh, it's nothing.' Narcissa answered, trying to wave it away.
'Is it because of James?'
Narcissa slowly nodded.
'Don't you worry about him, I'm here.' Isobelle said. 'If he's a jerk to you he'll have to deal with me.' she smirked, slamming her fist into her hand.
'Right.' Narcissa chuckled.
'Look who has arrived on time.' Draco said, appearing back in the kitchen, followed by Harry and Ginny.
'We're always on time.' Ginny said.
'Apparently our clocks are set a different time then.' Hermione joked, greeting two of her best friends.
'Hey.' Albus greeted, appearing next to his father.
'Hey Albus, how are you?' Hermione asked.
'I'm good, thank you.' Albus nodded, his hands shoved into his pockets.
'You can all go sit in the living room, I'll be right there. Draco, can you give them some drinks?' Hermione asked.
'Sure.' Draco nodded just as the doorbell rang again. 'After I've opened the door again.'
'Where is Jean?' Lily asked, tucking on Hermione's dress.
'I think she's upstairs in her room, she wanted to show Rosaline something. You can go up to check if you want.' Hermione smiled. Lily nodded and walked out of the kitchen. 'Where's James?' Hermione asked.
'Hanging his coat.' Harry said.
'I'm sorry in advance for his behaviour, he's not been himself lately.' Ginny whispered.
'It's probably his age, don't worry I'm sure it'll pass.'
'I hope so.' Ginny muttered. 'Ah Narcissa and Isobelle, how are you girls?'
'I'm good.' Isobelle smiled.
'Same for me.' Narcissa nodded.
'You look pale, are you feeling alright?' Ginny asked.
Hermione turned around to look at her daughter before giving her a small smile. 'I'm fine.' Narcissa said.
'Hey James.' Draco said, appearing behind Harry. Harry turned around to see his son wanting to walk straight to the living room. 'James, come and say hello.' Harry said sternly. James sighed and walked up to his father to walk into the kitchen. 'Hi everyone.' James said.
'Hey James.' Hermione smiled.
'Hey guys.' Ron said, appearing next to Draco. 'Is it just me or is it really crowded in here.'
'Hey Ron.' Hermione chuckled. 'No, it's not just you, but everyone's here, so we can get ready to start the first course. Could someone get Rosaline?'
'Will do.' Ginny nodded, disappearing from the kitchen. Harry turned around and walked up to the large dining table, followed by James, Albus, Draco and Ron. 'Oh James, could you call Blaise and Scorpius?' Hermione asked.
James turned to look over his shoulder and met Narcissa's eyes, only to quickly look away and nod before walking towards the living room.
'Odd.' Isobelle whispered, slowly shaking her head.
'Mum, the salad's done.' Narcissa said.
'Thank you darling, you can go sit down.' Hermione smiled as she set a timer.
'I'm here, I'm here.' Rosaline said, appearing in the kitchen again, followed by Ginny. 'I just have to set everything out on plates and then the first course is done.' Rosaline told the two women.
'Just tell me what we can do to help.' Ginny said.
Narcissa walked over to the dining table where all the guys had already seated down. Lavender greeted both girls before walking into the kitchen to see if she could give them a hand. 'How's school going, girls?' Harry asked as Narcissa sat down next to Isobelle.
'Good.' Narcissa nodded at the same time as Isobelle told him it went alright. 'How's your job going?'
'Good.' Harry chuckled.
'Dad told me you caught a wanted criminal last week.' Narcissa said.
'We did, it sure was a dangerous situation.'
'But we handled it.' Draco grinned. 'Tell Harry about your winning shot in the past Quidditch match.'
'Dad.' Narcissa sighed embarrassed.
'It was a great shot though.' Isobelle told her.
'I could make that shot because of our great team.' Narcissa muttered, feeling blood rush up to her cheeks.
'You made the winning shot, what do you mean?' Harry asked, just as Blaise and Scorpius joined them at the table, followed by James, who awkwardly stood behind his father, not sure where to sit or what to do. Blaise sat down next to Isobelle and, no surprise, Scorpius took the seat on the other side of Blaise.
'Oh well, the other team had the same amount of points, and while I was on the lookout for the Snitch the Quaffle flew my way when Christopher lost it because one of the Beaters of the other team had slammed a Bludger at him and it had knocked the Quaffle out of his hands, it was nothing-' Narcissa started.
'It sure as hell wasn't nothing! It was awesome! Narcissa quickly caught the Quaffle right before one of the opposite team's Chasers could catch it and she stormed towards the loops of the opposite team. She was almost knocked off her broom by two, TWO, Bludgers, but she managed to dodge both of them and she swung the Quaffle at the left loop! The Keeper was too late to keep it from going through. And just after she scored she saw the Snitch and she flew off, snatching it out of the air just seconds later!' Isobelle exclaimed proudly. 'It was awesome, right James?' Isobelle said, raising her eyebrows at James. James widened his eyes and shrugged. All the guys turned their eyes to James, waiting for an answer.
'No idea, I wasn't paying attention.'
'Right.' Isobelle huffed. 'Anyway, it was great and one that should definitely go down into the Quidditch history books.'
'I did pay attention.' Albus said. 'And it was a great way to end the game.' Albus agreed, Hugo, who was sitting next to him gave Narcissa a thumbs up. Ron shook his head laughing and ruffled his son's hair.
Draco grinned and nodded proudly. 'I wish I was there so I could've seen it with my own eyes.'
'It was okay, I guess.' Narcissa shrugged.
'You shouldn't downplay it, it was extremely awesome.' Isobelle said, nudging Narcissa against the arm.
'Well, thank you, but anyone could've done that.' Narcissa chuckled, trying to wave it away.
'First course will be served in a few seconds, are the three girls upstairs?' Lavender said.
'I know Jean and Lily are, I don't know about Rose.' Narcissa shrugged.
Lavender nodded, walking towards the stairs and yelling upstairs for the girls to come down because dinner is ready. Three pairs of footsteps could be heard before they quickly bounced down the stairs and ran towards the dining table. They all took a seat around the table, Jean the assigned seat next to her mother, Lily on the opposite side of the table next to the assigned seat for Ginny and Rose next to Ron. Harry pulled the seat next to him back and patted on it for James to sit on. A soft sigh, barely audible, left James' lips as he sat down next to his father, slightly to the left, opposite Narcissa. Hermione, Rosaline, Ginny and Lavender served the first course before sitting down themselves. Rosaline took the seat next to Narcissa and Lavender the seat next to Rose.