The Eighth Year - Under Major Reconstruction

25 - Christmas

Soon, it's Christmas Eve and Narcissa is preparing to leave for the French Manor.

They had all been getting on quite well since they all had lunch together. Narcissa hadn't just been conversing with Hermione, but had also even been conversing with Hermione's parents and had even become friends with them.

She was slowly - very slowly - getting over her prejudice of muggles, she had to anyway as they were soon to be in-laws.
Although she was quite glad to get away to France and away from all of the hullabaloo of the past week and spend some quiet time alone.

"Mother, do you need any help with your bag?" Draco asks as she brings the bag to the front door of the manor

"No. Thank you. Tell Hermione and her parents I say Merry Christmas. I would like to leave earlier than planned. I'm quite tired." Narcissa says, stepping out of the manor and out of the wards to apparate.

It wasn't even nine in the morning yet and she had already left. She must have been quite tired of all the interaction she had in the past week.

She hadn't spoken with so many people in months.
Draco understood why she was so tired.
She had been trying quite hard and he had really appreciated it. It meant a lot to him that she was trying.

Draco closed the door and headed straight up to the bedroom they had been sharing to tell her that his mother had left.

He wakes her up and tells her the news which causes her to shoot up in bed.

"She left quite earlier than she said she would...Should we exchange presents today or tomorrow?" She asks excitedly

"Definitely tomorrow. It's just Christmas Eve today. Will your parents be staying after the holiday?"

"No. They're leaving on Boxing Day. So we can head over to St.Moritz if you'd like!" Hermione says excitedly

"I'm still a bit confused about what skiing is. But I'm excited if you are." He smiles

"Oh, you know what it is. I've tried to explain it the best I can. I'll show you videos or something before we leave. We'll probably have to head to some kind of library to watch them though. I don't think they would have Olympics reruns on right now." She smiles, crawling out of bed and to the wardrobe to get dressed for the day.

"So when will we be going?"

"I say we should probably go on the twenty-seventh. Hopefully, it won't be as crowded. I'm so excited to go back. Let me go get changed and then we will go down for breakfast." she says and runs into the bathroom

In the meantime, Draco writes out a quick note to Harry Potter asking for advice on this skiing business, sends it off, and then walks across the hall and knocks on Hermione's parent's door, telling them they would be having Christmas Eve breakfast in ten minutes

"Oi. When do you plan on popping the question Draco? We forgot to ask you. We know you're going skiing...are you doing it there?" Hermione's mother asks excitedly

"No, I'm not doing it there. January 3rd is the day. To be honest...I'm still working on the details, so if you have any ideas, I would love to hear them."

"When you've got a free moment we can discuss some things she always said. You might want to go or she might get suspicious." She giggles, closing the door, causing Draco to walk back into their room where Hermione was brushing her hair out

\\~//
The day passed by quickly and soon it was quite late and they were all heading to bed in excitement since Christmas was the next day