The Other Malfoy {Marauders Era}

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

     "Aquila Narcissa Malfoy if you don't get up this instance I will open and take your presents for myself!" A loud, familiar voice shouted in Aquila's ear. She groaned and tunneled deeper into her blankets. "Aquila!" After letting out in indignant, unladylike sound, Aquila unburrowed herself from the blankets and came face to face with a face she usually loved to see but, after the way she was woken up today, was very annoyed with at the moment.

     "Really, Sirius? You woke me up at-" she cut off to the at the clock next to her- "7 bloody A.M. for Christmas?" Sirius nodded and walked up to her bed.

     "Yes, but I expected a warmer welcome." He mused amusingly.

     "What the Hell did you expect, for me to jump into your arms and snog you senseless?" Aquila retorted, scowling as Sirius smirked.

     "A little bit, yeah. But come on! James is already down there and if he hides all the presents again Lily won't have any bit of him left!" He said as he grabbed Aquila's wrist and dragged her out of bed, with Aquila offering no sign to get up, so Sirius had to drag her down the stairs and into the living room, where James was trying to stay awake, along with the other Potters.

     "Oi, sleeping beauty, you showed up! I was beginning to think I had to stick myself on you!" James exclaimed as Aquila grumbled into a seat, shooting glares in Sirius' direction.

     "Yeah, James, because you get up so easily in the mornings!" She shot back, aiming a glare at James as he shrugged and turned his attention to his parents.

     "Now that everyone's here can we open the presents now?" He pleaded. Euphemia rolled her eyes but smiled anyway, nodding in the tree's direction. James grew a face-splitting grin and rushed towards the tree, Sirius at his side. Aquila just sat there rolling her eyes and shooting looks that said 'can these people get any more childish?' Fleamont laughed at the children's antics. Aquila watched as James and Sirius tore through their presents, leaving only a small pile left for Aquila, Fleamont, and Euphemia. Sirius was quick to examine everything and put it in a pile, while James just left his lying everywhere.

     "If you two are done, we would like to open ours as well," Aquila said, arching an eyebrow at the boys when they looked at her and blinked as if they had forgotten she was in the room as well.

    "Uh, of course, Aquila. We were just finishing." James said as he flashed her a grin and Aquila rolled her eyes and sashayed forward, smirking at Sirius. Fleamont shot a look at Euphemia and followed the young girl as Euphemia chuckled.

     "Well now, Aquila, I do believe these are for you," Fleamont said, handing Aquila two small gifts. Aquila smiled and took them gratefully.

     "Thank you," said Aquila as she put one down and started to open it. Just as she went to open the box it came in, an owl swooped down and plopped a letter into her lap. Startled, Aquila dropped the box and grabbed the letter, instantly recognizing Lily's handwriting. Smiling at the letter, she immediately opened it and read it, her smile growing bigger.

     "What?" James demanded. "What does it say?" At the sound of James' voice, Aquila jumped again and blinked at the boy.

     "Ah, nothing, James. Just girly stuff." Aquila waved him off as she tried to hide her amusement. Sirius raised an eyebrow but said nothing, watching Aquila as she picked the small box again and opened it, and her mouth widened in shock and then she smiled. "You did not, boys!" James and Sirius grinned.

     "We did," Sirius said cheekily. Aquila smirked and hugged the boys, not seeing the confused looks of Mr. and Mrs. Potter.

     "What did you get, Aquila dear?" Euphemia asked. Aquila looked at the older woman and grinned.

     "A book!" She exclaimed happily. Fleamont laughed- of course, it was a book.

     "Of course it is," Euphemia repeated, and then watched as the young girl opened her last present, from Fleamont and her. Shocked as the girl's eyes glistened, Euphemia watched as Sirius rushed forward and hugged the girl, while Aquila hugged the picture frame close to her chest, closing her eyes and cuddling into him. "What's wrong? Do you not like it?"

     "Like it?" Aquila repeated. "I love it. I just- Lucius and Narcissa never gave me something meaningful like this... thank you two so much!" She broke out of Sirius' grip and tackled the Potters into a hug, squeezing them tight and taking comfort in her adoptive parents.

     It was long since the present opening and Sirius was admiring the way Aquila carried herself as she went around, cleaning up all the trash from the presents. He was shamelessly watching the way she leaned down when Aquila turned to him, smirking.

     "You should take a picture, it'll last longer." She stated, putting the last bit away. Sirius smirked.

     "That's a good idea. Mind bending down again while I get my wand?" He flirted back. Aquila rolled her eyes but joined him on the couch, resting her head on his shoulder.

     "You know, when I was with the Malfoys, I never thought I would be able to be my own person." She started, catching Sirius' attention. "I was always in my brother's shadow, even though I was older by a few minutes. He was the boy, the pride and joy of my father. I was just the spare, the one nobody cared about. And then I went to Hogwarts- well, started at Hogwarts, and became friends with a Muggleborn, and a Gryffindor. Then I met you and James. Merlin, I regret that meeting." Sirius huffed in annoyance, but Aquila was smiling. "I can never thank you enough for being there for me. Good Godric, I'm thankful every day that I was sorted into Gryffindor." She paused then, and Sirius looked her in the eyes.

     "Do you miss him?" He asked softly. Aquila closed her eyes and sighed.

     "I do. I shouldn't, but I do. He was my brother, Sirius. My twin brother. He wasn't all that bad. In fact, he protected me more than once from Lucius's wrath, and he'll always have a place in my heart for it." She responded just as softly.

     "Alright love birds, I hate to break this up but I do believe that Aquila here has a visitor." A new voice said, and Aquila looked up in surprise while Sirius muttered under his breath. Aquila's mouth curved at the edges.

     "Lily! I got your letter! I can't believe that you fan-" Aquila started, but stopped when she caught Lily's look. "-Cy Longbottom!" She finished, ignoring Lily's glare and James' shout of what from upstairs.

     "And that's our cue to leave. Bye, Mr. and Mrs. Potter! It was lovely seeing you two!" Lily called as Aquila and she walked to the fireplace and disappeared in a puff of green smoke.

Who's the worst author in existence? Me! I'm so sorry I haven't updated, school is kicking my butt and I just haven't been motivated to write. I also have a question. How would y'all feel if I started a one-shot book about different fandoms? Or would you rather have individual books for each fandom?