Shadows Of The Past

Chapter Twenty-Six: A Christmas to Remember







Where the Malfoys cometh...bearing gifts.







“Where are we going?” Elias asked as he wrapped his arms around his father’s neck and held on for disaparation.







“Hogsmeade, we are meeting your mother for tea. Assuming she is finished with her shopping.” Lucius answered.







“She’s a woman, are they ever finished with their shopping?” Draco asked sarcastically as the three Malfoy men vanished from the foyer and reappeared at the end of the main street in Hogsmeade.







“Hermione isn’t like other women; she loathes shopping and rarely does it. She is only doing it now because Christmas is around the corner.” Lucius said as he sat Elias down on the snowy street and took hold of his hand.





“I like Christmas!” Elias said excitedly, his feet slipping on the icy ground. Lucius held on to him, trying not to be pulled down with him. “Can we go to Honeydukes?”





“I don’t know we have to ask your mother.” Lucius said.





“I’ll take you to Honeydukes, Little Man.” Draco said, giving the pom pom on top of his hat a flick. “Mum can yell at me later, she probably will anyhow.”





“Mum said you are “corrable”.” Elias said with a serious expression.





“She said he was incorrigible, Elias. And stop repeating everything you hear.” Lucius chastised.





“Oh bloody hell.” Draco said when he saw a familiar, wrinkled face and skinny body wrapped in a tartan cloak.







“Well, my goodness, Draco and Lucius Malfoy, it’s been ages!” Minerva McGonagall said as she approached. “And look at this! Draco, I hadn’t heard that you were a father!”





“I’m not; this is my little brother, Elias.” Draco said, his lips twisted in a smirk. Elias’s family ties were about to become public knowledge in the wizarding world.





“Your little….Lucius?” He could see the cogs turning and knew that Minerva was doing the math in her head and had figured out that Elias’s conception was within close proximity to his wife’s death.





“No, not little Loo-she-us, I’m Elias Malfoy.” He stuck out his little hand covered in hand-knit mittens and Minerva took it, smiling slightly at the little boy.





“I am Professor McGonagall, I am Headmistress at Hogwarts.” She said. “You look like your father and your brother.”





“Everyone says that but I have curly hair like my mum.” Elias said. His eyes drifted to a point behind her and his face lit up. “Hello, Mummy!” He shouted, waving wildly before he took off running. Minerva turned just in time to see him leaping into the arms of Hermione Granger.





“Mum?” Minerva turned once more to Lucius only she was glaring. “YOU fathered Hermione’s child? I thought he was Ron Weasley’s!” She whispered harshly. “She was but a child!”





“I’ll thank you to keep your nose out of my affairs, Minerva.” Lucius said low. “You know nothing of my life with Hermione.”





“Your life with….” Her confusion was palpable as Hermione came up to him, a smile on her face as she wrapped her free arm around his waist and lifted her lips for his kiss.







“Hello, My Darling, how was your shopping?” He asked. She held up a handful of shopping bags, her smile bright and loving. “Hello, Professor.” She said, turning towards McGonagall.





“Ms. Granger, it is such a surprise to see you here…with your family.” Minerva said, her brow arching on the word family. Hermione could see that she was shocked and more than likely disappointed but she would not apologize or be made to feel ashamed.







“We have tended to keep to ourselves since Lucius came home; we are only now venturing out in public.” The lie rolled off of her tongue with an ease that impressed Lucius and Draco both.





“Well, it is very good to see you. I would imagine that young Mr. Malfoy will be attending Hogwarts in a few years time?” She inquired politely, still trying to wrap her mind around the fact that Hermione Granger was involved with a death eater.







“If that is his choice. I confess I would prefer it but should he wish to attend another school I will not prevent him.” She said.





“I’m hungry, Daddy said we were going to eat and then Draco was taking me to Honeydukes. He said you can yell at him later.” Elias said, insinuating himself in the center of the adults.





“Well, I suppose we should get going. It was lovely to see you, Professor.” Hermione said as she took Elias’s hand in hers.





“Enjoy your day out, Ms. Granger, Misters Malfoy.” McGonagall gave them all one last look and with her chin up she strode away.





“You are amazing.” Lucius whispered against her ear, laughing softly as he hugged her to him.





“I didn’t think you had it in you to be a bitch to a teacher.” Draco laughed.







“Language, Draco, your brother repeats everything.” Lucius scolded as he turned and led his family to lunch, completely uncaring of the curious faces watching them.











~@~







“Elias Malfoy, get away from that tree!” Hermione shouted from the kitchen. Elias sat back on his heels staring at the brightly wrapped presents longingly.





“But I want to open them!” He whined.







“And I told you not until your father and brother get here.” She said carrying a tray of cinnamon buns and coffee into the lounge and placing it on the coffee table.





“Daddy was here, I don’t know why he left.” Elias pouted.







“What makes you think your father was here?” She asked, putting a pastry on a napkin and passing it to him. They were still in their pajamas, as was their tradition. Elias wearing red and white striped long underwear and she in her red pajamas with cream colored snowflakes. They always ate cinnamon buns and opened presents in their pajamas before going to the Weasley’s for their annual holiday celebration. This year Lucius and Draco would be joining them and Hermione was certain that it would not be dull.





“I know when Daddy sleeps over because I can hear you wrestling.” Elias said around a mouthful of cinnamon bun. Hermione looked up over the edge of her coffee cup, her face flaming. She was going to have to put a silencing ward around her room.





“Happy Christmas!” Lucius called as he stepped through her fireplace with his arms laden with gifts. Draco was right behind him, his arms also filled with presents.







“Oh boy!” Elias’s eyes widened with excitement when he saw all the gifts his father and brother were carrying.







“Lucius, you are spoiling him! That is way too much!” Hermione said shaking her head. Lucius’s lips went tight and he suddenly looked very guilty. It only took another moment for her to realize why as a line of house elves entered her house carrying even more packages that they placed under the tree until the bottom of the tree could no longer be seen.





“Can I use the excuse that we are making up for the previous Christmas’s we missed and promise to do better next year? Besides, they aren’t ALL for Elias…some are for you.” He offered.





“Why did you leave? We could have opened presents a long time ago!” Elias said as he eyes the packaged with total avarice. “I heard you wrestling, why didn’t you just stay?”





Draco began laughing and Lucius simply chose to ignore it, hoping that if he didn’t acknowledge Elias’s observations he might stop making inappropriate ones.







“Shall we open presents?” He asked, handing his stack to one of the house-elves who placed it beneath the tree before bowing and slipping back through the hearth.





“Yes!” Elias cheered and pumped his fist into the air as he and Draco settled on the floor.





“You look delightful in those pajamas. Are you all wrapped up for me to open?” He asked, leaning in for a kiss.





“You’ve gotten all you are going to get today….at least until later.” She said, smacking a loud kiss on his lips before reaching up to shove a Santa hat down over his head.





“What is this for?” He asked, reaching up to remove it but Hermione stayed his hand.





“As head of the family you get to play Father Christmas and pass out the gifts.” She grinned.





“Cant we just sit and let them dig in?” He asked, looking over to his sons sitting on the rug waiting impatiently.





“Nope. Come on, Lucius, it’s time to open presents.” She laughed, shoving him towards the tree.











~@~









Hermione arrived at the Weasley house with Lucius, Elias and Draco following closely behind, arms filled with gifts for the family. They were late thanks to Elias’s refusal to wear the snowman tie Hermione had gotten for him. In the end all three Malfoy men had ganged up against her, insisting that the tie was unbecoming of a wizard. The snowman tie was lying on the floor in Elias’s room, wrapped around a teddy bear while he wore his red sweater vest over his tie free white shirt and black slacks.







Elias immediately ran towards the kitchen knowing that Molly would have a treat waiting for him while Lucius and Draco bore the curious stares of the Weasley family. It took Harry stepping up to greet them both to break the ice. Hermione stuck close to them throughout dinner, worried that the older boys might make them uncomfortable, especially George who had a tendency to test his products on the unsuspecting. He would especially get a kick out of trying them out on Draco. They actually did quite well, though some of Draco’s sarcastic comments went over their heads which was probably a good thing.







Everyone gathered in the lounge to exchange gifts. As presents were passed Lucius fidgeted beside her. He seemed so nervous, tugging at his collar and wiping beads of sweat from his brow. He politely thanked Molly for the scarf, she had made it solid black which was quite touching given she didn’t care for him. Everyone was startled by their gifts from the Malfoys, dragon-hide gloves for the men and crystal perfume bottles for the women, and for Molly it was self cleaning cookware specially ordered from a magic shop in France.









“You did well.” She whispered. “Are you feeling alright?”







“I’m fine.” He said, swallowing hard and setting his glass down on the nearest table. He stood and cleared his throat. “I actually have another gift for you.” He said rather loudly.







“Lucius, you have already spoiled me enough.” She said, smiling . He had lavished her with gifts earlier, lingerie, perfume, the necklace around her throat.





“I could never spoil you enough.” He said softly, reaching into his pocket and withdrawing a red velvet box. “But I look forward to trying.”





“Lucius…what are you…” he went to his knee in front of her and flipped open the box. A square cut diamond ring set in silver sparkled up at her. “Oh!” She gasped, her hand coming to her lips and her eyes quickly filling with tears.







“I would be honored if you would consent to being my bride.” His voice was hoarse and his vulnerability was evident as he put himself out there to propose to her in front of everyone with the risk that she might refuse. “Hermione, will you marry me?”





She was stunned. She never suspected that he might want to marry her, that he had changed enough to even consider marrying a muggle-born witch. Her heart swelled with her love for him, with pride in the man he had become. As her mind slowly regained focus she saw that he was staring up at her nervously, his brow and upper lip sweating as he waited for her answer. She reached out and touched his cheek, smiling softly as she nodded her head.





“Yes…yes, I will marry you.” She said through her tears. She laughed when his shoulders sagged in relief and he slid the ring onto her finger, standing at the same time that he pulled her into his arms and covered her lips with his. The laughter and applause from the others filled the air around them as they kissed. They didn’t part until they heard Elias speak.







“Draco, can I sleep with you tonight? When they kiss like that they wrestle really loud.”







They were laughing when they pulled apart and faced the room, smiling and accepting the congratulations and well wishes.







“To Lucius and Hermione…” Harry said, raising his glass with a smile. “May your life together never be dull.”







“I wanna do one!” Elias said excitedly, grabbing his glass of milk and climbing up onto a chair so he could see. “Draco taught me!” he said as he raised his glass. “There once was a wonderful wizard

Who had a fierce pain in his gizzard.

So he drank wind and snow

At forty below

And farted a forty mile blizzard.”







Silence met Elias’s toast and then a raucous round of laughter that had people wiping their eyes and holding their stomachs.





“Draco, you have got to stop corrupting your brother.” Lucius said, shaking with laughter along with the rest.





“Sorry, I still claim it’s my right as the older brother.” He laughed. “Congratulations, Father. She’s a hell of a witch.”







“Believe me, I know.” He said, staring at the witch now being embraced by the others. “I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve her, but I’m not letting her go.”







AN: Good morning to you all!!! Thank you so much for your delightful reviews, you have made me laugh, made me cry and touched my heart more than once, I am truly blessed to have readers who are so loyal and utterly amazing =)