The Reason for the Season

The Reason for the Season
Chapter Seven: What Child is This?

It was two days before the charity auction, so Hermione, Draco and a team of houselves were working to get the West Wing ballroom up to par.

They had returned to the Saunders Christmas tree farm and purchased four large pines. They stood at the corners, draped in lights and decorations that the children had made.

One wall was lined with tables where the items would be set up for auction. Smaller round tables had been set up for dinner the dance floor polished. The room looked festive and inviting, just what Hermione had hoped.

By lunch the pair was ready to take a break and the elves served a delicious meal in the winter garden.

“This is a really beautiful place Draco.” Hermione commented as she looked around the glass enclosure that held a variety of different blooming plants.

“One of my mother’s favorite places on the grounds. This was her personal garden and made sure it was in bloom all year round. She hated winter.” He explained while playing with his soup.

Hermione reached across the table and laid her hand on his and smiled, “She did a wonderful job Draco.”

“Come I want to show you the snow bells. They have always been my favorite this time of year.”

He wrapped one are around her waist and guided her to the far side of the garden.

~~
They had no idea two pairs of big round eyes were watching them.

“Peas-blossom, do you think that we will have a new mistress soon”

“Yes Mustard-seed, I do indeed. Master has never brought a lady friend home and Ms. Hermione is a good match.” Said the elder elf a smile on her face.
~~

Draco was gently running his fingers along the stems of the little white blooms; Hermione listened as the flowers chimed a soft melody. It was a beautiful song.

They smiled at each other as he took a sit next to her on the low stonewall of the refection pool.

“I have a favor to ask of you.” He said pushing a stray curl behind her ear.

“Anything,” she smiled and ran her hand up and down his arm.

“I need you to cast a familial recognition charm.”

“On who?”

“Adina and myself.” He explained.

“Draco I know she looks an awful lot like you…”

“It is not just the physical resemblance, I feel strangely drawn to her, like I should know her. And there is something…” he hesitated

“Tell me.” She urged.

“Right before our final year my mother went into hiding, or so I was told. When the war ended she returned home- different.”

“How so?”

“She kept wandering into my old nursery. I would find her staring into the crib, as if she had lost something. When I asked she would just shake her head and continue on like nothing had happened.”

“That sounds like a symptom of shock.”

“She also started embroidering little pillows and wall hangings, all for a little girl.”

“You think that Adina is your sister.”

“Yes. I think that my mother was used to breed like those other pureblood women were, she just wasn’t allowed to remember any of it.”

“If you’re right then, Adina’s inability to talk may be due to a spell, and we could cure her.” Hermione said was a happy smile.

“Whether she can speak or not, I want to adopt her, give her the home she should have had.” He looked into Hermione’s eyes. “Will you help?”

“Of course, when do you want to cast the spell?”

“As soon as possible, the idea has been eating at me since the moment I met her.”

“Shall we make a little trip to the orphanage?” she asked.
“Yes,” he dragged her to her feet and gave her a kiss so full of emotion it took her breath away.

“Thank-you Hermione.”

~~
As they watched their master and his lady leave the two elves smiled. They would have to prepare for the arrival of the new Miss. Malfoy.
~~

Adina gave the pair a small smile as Cardea ushered her into the office. She hugged Hermione and Draco, who lifted the girl into his arms and sat down with her on his knees.

“We have a favor to ask you Adina.” Draco explained.

The little girl nodded looking between the two.

“I want Hermione to cast a spell on us to see if we are related.”

She tilled her head and seemed confused.

“To see if we are family.” He tried again, that caused the girl to smile and nod.

“Okay?”

She nodded yes again.

“Alright you two, stay still.” Said Hermione as she flicked her wand and muttered the charm.

A white glow began to manifest around the chair they shared, the light began to form shapes, which turned into letters “Frater sanctimonialis.”

“I knew it.” Whispered Draco as he pulled the little girl closer wrapping his arms around her small frame and kissing her forehead. “Sister,” he said.

And to everyone’s surprise she whispered back “Brother.”

~~

The night of the solstice was clear and bright, the moon nearly full. Draco stood in the entrance hall waiting for the two most important people in his life. One, who he had just found, the other, he was lucky enough to find again.

He was pulled from his thoughts as Peas-blossom announced that Ms. Hermione and Miss. Adina were ready.

The smile that graced his face was that of man who felt nothing but joy. At the top of the stairs stood Hermione, her body draped in garnet silk. A dress, she had told him was to expensive and flashy for her, but he didn’t listen, she deserved the best in the world.

Clasping Hermione’s hand was his sister, the ice green frock combined with her impish features and coloring made her look like a little snow fairy.

“Well aren’t my girls looking lovely,” he commented as he watched them descend, making his way up to meet them half way.

“You look very handsome Draco,” said Hermione, giving him a kiss.

“Like a prince.” Piped up Adina. Hermione had been reading her stories again.

“And you are as pretty as a princess.” He ran his hand over her blonde curls and kissed her little nose.

“And what does that make me?” laughed Hermione.

“The queen of course.” Said Adina.

“You most definitely are.” Draco agreed and kissed her blushing cheeks.

“Master the guests are arriving.” Called out Mustard-seed.

“Best get down there then.” Draco scooped up a giggling Adina and offered his other arm to Hermione who threaded her arm through his.

**

Draco and Hermione opened the dance, much to the surprise of many of the guests. When Adina, who was introduced as Draco’s sister, joined them, many a mouth hit the floor. But they didn’t care, they were happy.

All the children had come from the orphanage. There was much laughter and cheer, as there should be. Eamon and Cardea had been caught under the mistletoe more then once causing many of the children to laugh at their guardians.

Hermione had spoken to the older children who were attending Hogwarts and smiled as they all paled at the sight of their Headmaster walking in. They were all laughing later though as they watched Snape dance with Adina standing on his black boots.

All in all the night went off without a hitch. Draco had instructed Peas-blossom to find out how must each item had been won for. He planned on doubling the amount secretly and giving the orphanage triple what they were expecting.

He carried a sleeping Adina, who he had found curled up underneath one of the Christmas trees to her room. Hermione saw out the last of the guests as they made their ways home, a heavy snow starting to fall.

He had just tucked his sister in and turned to find Hermione leaning on the doorframe, in her stocking feet, with a satisfied smile on her face.

He kissed Adina one more time; he wanted her to know the affection and love he had so seldom received at her age.

“I don’t know what I did to deserve all this happiness in such a short period of time, but I am so grateful it has happened.” He confided in her as he extinguished the lights and quietly shut the door.

“Everyone deserves to be happy Draco.” She kissed him gently.

They wandered back down stairs to find the house elves busy clearing away the remains of the party. The glass doors of the ballroom looked out onto the snowy grounds of the manor, the snow coming down quickly in large snowflakes.

“We were lucky this blizzard held off until now.” Hermione said into his chest as he held her watching the snow pile up.

“Indeed.” He mumbled, watching their refection in the glass, utterly memorized by how much the reflected image of them made him feel.

“I best be getting home.” Hermione sighed as she went to leave his embrace, but found his arms tighten their hold.

“No, stay here with me.” He didn’t ask, and he left no room for argument as his lips found hers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N Some of you saw that coming lol...I wanted Draco to have some family (in the traditional sense of the word)

I am also the baby sister of two very big brothers (both in age, both are over a decade older than me, and in sheer size, both being over a foot taller and broader then me :-) I really like the idea of Draco taking on the role of big brother for some reason, so I went for it.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and have no fear our leading Man and his Lady shall have some Christmas Lemony Goodness soon!

Thanks to everybody!

xox Sarah