Our Christmas passed by very frostily.

I went to see Katie but her state wasn't too good. The Healers said it would take her time to recover so it was probable that she wouldn't be rejoining school after the break. 

Even at Christmas, things weren't looking up much, and surprisingly, Perce decided to visit. His coming over for Christmas dinner would have been splendid if only he hadn't brought the newly elected Minister Rufus Scrimgeour along with him.

Mum made sure that all of us were on our very best behavior but to be honest, neither of us wanted our Christmas dinner spoiled by a stranger with high authority. The one event we were all looking forward to was also tainted with talks of war and killings and Death Eaters, etc.

By the time the Minister left, all the Christmas spirit seemed to have vanished somewhere, and while we were clearing up the dishes, it didn't feel like we had just taken part in a festivity at all. The gloomy darkness of the war was tainting everything with despair.

It was also the first Christmas in which we didn't get to open our presents together. As the Minister was there, we kept the present opening for the end but after he had left, no one was in the mood to stay in the living room any longer. All of us just wanted to go to bed before the worries about the future consumed us.

So when I retired to my room at night, I took the boxes and the letters bearing my name with me, intending to open them on my own as everyone else had retreated to their rooms too.

Once inside my cozy little room in the attic, I closed the door and placed everything on the bed. Mum had gifted me a hand-knit scarf in my favorite fiery colors. I knew it would come in handy when I returned to the school and resumed the Quidditch lessons in such cold weather. 

Dad had given me an enchanted quill and ink set. There were two big boxes of merchandise from Fred and George's Joke Shop that I placed aside to check later. And, of course, Percy got me the books I once told him that I'd like to read.

Then there were letters and more gifts from our brothers overseas. Bill as always sent a very long letter along with a beautiful seashell bracelet. He had stated in his letter that he bought the bracelet from a renowned Egyptian handicraft shop and I appreciate that he thought of getting me such a nice gift.

Charlie sent a shorter letter compared to Bill's but he had enclosed a wand holster crafted out of dragon skin. Now I am no fashion expert but I do know that dragon skin is very expensive and as I read the letter, I was even more surprised to learn that Charlie had crafted the holsters for me and Ginny himself. 

So incredibly sweet of him.

As always, Ron forgot to give me a gift but I let that slide. He has been too occupied these days and I don't mind if he forgets. I sent him the latest issue of the Quidditch magazine to which I now had a free subscription, courtesy of working at Hogwarts. I think he will be delighted with the gift.

Ginny gave me a hairclip that she bought from Hogsmeade for me. It was the first time she had given me a Christmas gift too as our relationship had been strained in the previous years. I kept the clip safely and I knew I would cherish it as a token of the improving bond between us. 

Aside from my family, I got a letter from Remus and a generous selection of our favorite chocolate bars. It reminded me so much of the time I had spent with him and the Marauders in my fourth year.

I thought I had gone through all the letters and gifts when a small package caught my attention. I didn't remember seeing it earlier so I picked it up and turned it over to see if it indicated the sender.

But there was just my name written in an unfamiliar but flourishing cursive. I don't think I have ever seen this type of handwriting before.

Curious to know what was inside, I opened the package and found a letter and a sealed envelope. I turned over the letter to read it first.

Dear Miss Weasley,

Merry Christmas. I thought about it and came home for the break. It turned out to be a good decision otherwise Mother would have been alone at Christmas. I told her that you have taken up the job of Flying Instructor at Hogwarts and she is sending you warm wishes as well. 

I didn't know if you would accept a Christmas gift from me or not but I sent what I hope might give you an answer to a question you asked me last time. I know you will have more questions once you see all the contents but please don't write back to me. It would be better if you burn this letter as well after reading it so as not to cause any complications later. Please don't discuss this with anyone that I wrote to you or sent you this package.

I will see you when we return to Hogwarts. There's a chance I might still not be able to answer all your questions but I hope you will understand from all I can manage.

Take care of yourself and have a nice Christmas.

Sincerely,

I had truly not expected him to write to me even though I was the one who suggested it. I read it again and picked up the sealed envelope to open it. As I removed the seal and turned the envelope upside down, a heap of photographs fell out.

I looked at the smiling faces with wide eyes because it was no doubt the same siblings I had seen in my memory; the girl named Cynthia who I thought was myself. But as I picked up the photographs and looked at them all, my hands turned cold as I saw the photos of the kids with their parents.

It was Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, without any doubt.

So the little boy I briefly remembered and could see with Cynthia in the photographs was Draco himself.

And if I really was Cynthia, then that would make me Draco's sister.

Seeing the pictures, and the letter, and recalling every single conversation I had had with Draco and Narcissa so far, I couldn't shake off the feeling that everything made perfect sense.

Draco's insistence that looking out for me was an obligation to him, Narcissa telling me that my real mother missed me a lot even after all the years that had passed, and last but not least the time I had overhead Mum and Dad talking in which they had clearly said that I was related to the Malfoys...

The truth had been right in front of me the whole time.

I was just forcing myself not to see it.

***