Death Eater Spawn

The worst Christmas ever

You would think growing up in an orphanage, would prepare you for some pretty terrible Christmas's. But my Christmas that year, with the Malfoy's was my worst yet.
The first week, when me and and Draco returned home, was spent in the spare bedroom. We had to return to it ever morning for a week, to try and increase the chance of me getting pregnant.
However, this time, we did not use as much Amortentia, only swallowing a teaspoon amount of potion, each time. So that we didn't feel as groggy when we woke up, because we hadn't spent as much time doing anything.

Despite the manor being huge, there were hardly any Christmas decorations anywhere.
There were about three Christmas trees (not including the ones in our rooms) and that was it. The trees themselves were hardly decorated at all, only being covered in silver and green baubles.
For such a big house, I was dissappointed by the lack of festivities.

To my surprise, the Malfoy's had been very generous with their gifts. I didn't have half as many as Draco, but I had more presents than I had ever had before.
Narcissa had bought me several expensive dresses to go in my closest, as well as a large selection of new clothes, to replace my hand-me-downs from the orphanage.
The Malfoy's had also brought me an owl, so that they could send me letters, while I was at Hogwarts.
"But I'm only allowed one pet while at school, and I've already got Star. She is not being replaced, by an owl" I said defiantly.
"You don't have to replace her. Lucius spoke with the school, and the Ministry, and they agreed to let you have an owl as well. Just don't go around boasting that you have two pets" replied Narcissa.

The owl was a pretty Tawney owl, who I christened Peace. As I knew he was a peace offering from the Malfoy's, to apologise for everything they were forcing me to do, under their roof. He was also the name of my hope for the future.
I also recieved a box of chocolate frogs from Draco, which made me smile, as I had bought him the same thing.
I had given Narcissa a piece of jewelery, that had belonged to my mother. It had a green snake on it, so I would never wear it, as I'm not a Slytherin. I had found it in my vault, along with other jewels and gems, that my parents had left me.

Harry had bought me a book on advanced potions, which I appriciated. I too had given him a book, but his had been on powerful defensive magic.
Snape had send me a book too, on the best places to find potion ingredients, which I found very interesting.
One surprise present, I hadn't expected, was from Luna. I hadn't sent her anything but a card, so I felt awkward. She had sent me a hand made, blue bracelet, with an eagle on, representing our house. Which was kind of her.

The last thing that I opened, had no card attached, and it also contained a book. I read the front cover, and cringed at the title.
'Practical Dark Magic, and its everyday uses'.
I couldn't think who would have sent such a thing to me. I opened the book, to look at the first page, and saw a hand written message inside.
'Hope you enjoy reading this.
-L.V'.
I knew at once who had sent it. Voldemort was mad if he thought he could tempt me into using dark magic, by giving me a book.
I was about to throw it into the fire behind me, but Narcissa stopped me, shaking her head.

"I wouldn't if I were you" she warned.
I lowered my arm, and dropped the book onto the floor, with no intention of ever reading it.
I didn't even want to look at it, as it made my skin crawl.
Luckily, The Dark Lord didn't take Christmas too seriously, so he didn't pay us a personal visit. Which is one good thing, I suppose. My holiday would have been 10 times worse, if he had shown up, unannounced.
The Christmas holidays weren't very long, so I was glad when I finally got the chance to go back to school. Even if it meant spying on Harry. I would do anything to get away from Lucius, and the Death Eaters.