Forever and Always: Book 1 Of Always

Christmas

     The weeks up to Christmas holiday went by fast with only me recovering and the trio and I looking for clues about who Nicolas Flamel is. I wanted Draco there but I could tell he felt uncomfortable so I told him everything afterwards.
     Harry and I automatically signed up to stay for Christmas. Ron also signed up along with Fred, George and Percy since their parents went to Romania to see their brother Charlie. Hermione didn't stay to see her parents. She did however give us directions to possibly find about Nicolas Flamel. Nicole decided to go home as well since her older sister was coming home to her mums house and she doesn't usually. Blaise's mom made him meet her newest husband so he couldn't stay. Draco, in the other hand, decided to stay with me so I wouldn't be alone. I told him to go home since his father would probably punish him but he refused to since no other Slytherins but a 5th year and a 7th year. and he wanted me to have somebody to spend time with.
     I woke up, it being Christmas morning, to Draco shaking me and saying, "Wake up, we need to open presents."
     I looked at him and said, "I have presents?"
     "Of course, why wouldn't you?"
     "Harry and I couldn't afford presents and my aunt and uncle didn't get us anything but maybe an old sock or something like that."
     Draco stared, "Your aunt and uncle are horrible people. Why do you put up with them?"
     "Why do you put up with your father?"
     "Ok, I get your point," he replied, "Let's go open presents now."
     We walked down the steps and under the tree in the common room were multiple presents with my name on it.
     "Wow," I admired. I picked up one and read, "To Rebecca From Harry."
I opened it and inside was an advanced potions book. Along with it was a small necklace that had a charm of potions on it.
     I looked over at Draco and he had just opened a large package that was opened to reveal dark black robes and a book called, "A Guide To The Sacred Twenty Eight: British Pureblood Society." I could see Draco stuffing it back inside and moving on.
     "Blondie, who is that from?" I asked pointing at the package.
     Draco looked up, glared at it and responded, "A present from my father."
     "It looks um educational."
     He looked at me seriously and said, "I used to want to be exactly like my dad." "That, Ginger, is a small attempt at making me more like him."
     I got up and went over to him. "Why don't you stand up to him?"
     "Even though I can't stand him, I still want him to be proud of me."
     I hugged him and turned to him, "Blondie, it's his fault if he can't be proud of you. You are what anybody would want in a son, or a friend." I whispered the last bit, "maybe one day you can make someone special proud,"
     I finished opening my presents and they were as follows:
Hermione: a book called, "Charms for Your Everyday Needs."
Ron: A bunch of chocolate frogs and other sweets
Ginny: a Slytherin pin and a charm bracelet with charms of the Slytherin crest (for me),a pair of glasses (for Harry), a book stack (for Hermione), a snake (for Draco), a chudley cannons logo (for Ron), a makeup pallette (for Nicole), a trophy (for Blaise), and a little redhead (for Ginny.)
Nicole: A notebook and some muggle drawing supplies.
Blaise: a pair of combat boots since he knows I love them
Mrs and Mr Weasley surprisingly made me a Weasley sweater, or that's what Ron said it was. I also got a very nice bracelet that had, " To L. J. E. From S. T. S." engraved on it. I didn't know who gave it to me but I loved it none the less.
     I realized Draco hadn't given me a present yet. I had made him a Slytherin scarf and a scrapbook of pictures I took of us with Dudley's old Polaroid camera I fixed.
     Draco came over to me and said, "Sorry, your present wasn't done yet but now it is, here."
     He handed me the gift and I unwrapped it to find a small box. I opened it and found a gold heart necklace. It was beautiful.
     "It's beautiful. You didn't have to get me anything this amazing," I bowed my head, "I just made you some silly things."
     He held my head back up and said, "You were the only one to care enough to make something and spend time on it unlike my parents. Also, that's not it,"
He pulled his wand out and pointed at the necklaces face and said, "Carorum."
     Suddenly, mine and Harry's faces showed up, then Ron, Hermione, Harry and I, then Nicole, Blaise, and I and last Draco and I in the common room the night we found Fluffy (three headed dog). More pictures ran through but I looked at one significantly. There was a woman who looked kinda like me and a man who looked like Harry. I asked, "Blondie, are those....?"
     "Your parents," he replied.
     "How did you get a picture of them?"
     "I asked around and there is a couple of photos of them and even one with you and Harry, and your parents. Hagrid had photos and gave some when I told them what they were for."
     I was crying. I ran to Draco and hugged him tight.
     "Thank you, Thank you so much."
     We went to the Great Hall for lunch and I was wearing my necklace proudly on my neck and the mystery bracelet.
     I ran to Harry and said, "Happy Christmas, Harry! Can I show you something?"
     I took my wand and pointed it to my necklace, said the words, and showed Harry.
     "Happy Christmas. and that's amazing, Rebecca," it came to the picture of mum and dad and he said, "Is that?"
     "It's mum and dad."
     "Who got it for you?" he asked.
     "Draco," I replied still smiling.
     Harry however marched up to Draco and shook his hand then left to sit. They were never going to be friends but at least Harry could accept an act of kindness.
     All of the houses and teachers were sitting together since there was little of us. It seemed perfect here. Hogwarts was my home.
     Harry whispered to me, "I have something that can get us into the restricted section."
     I whispered back, "When are we going?"
     Harry answered, "Tonight."