MARA WILLIAMS

The absence of warmth in the bed besides me announced the dawning of another morning, Christmas morning to be exact, and Draco was nowhere to be seen.
I dressed quickly in one of Malfoy's oversized Slytherin sweaters and some black joggers before wondering down the hall, still wiping sleep from my eyes as I pulled my wild hair into a rough bun.

If the portraits had seemed to leer at me before, it was nothing compared to the looks I received now. I shot a wink at the familiar face of Druella Rosier as I passed, and if looks could kill I would've been able to taste the earth.

Every inch of the manor practically dripped with candescent fairy lights, and I slid my fingers along the marble banisters that were threaded with elegant wreathes as I descended the stairs in search of that devilish boy. The scent of pine and cinnamon and dried orange lingered in the air, enveloping my senses in its comforting embrace.

It didn't take me long to find Draco, he stood before hearth of the roaring fire with his back facing me. He had never once seemed small, in fact his large frame practically dwarfed my own, so it was strange to see him so seemingly insignificant next to the mountain of a Christmas tree that towered above us, the underneath practically overflowing with presents of every colour, shape and size.

"Merry Christmas, Mara." He grinned the moment he saw me, wrapping me tightly in his thick arms and placing a kiss on my forehead. Here I felt safe. Here I felt wanted. "Are you ready to open your presents?

I smiled with a nod as we settled on the floor beside the fire, and I absentmindedly tangled my fingers in the plush rug as he searched under the tree before pulling out a small package with an envelope attached and handing it to me, "This ones for you."

I muttered a thanks before tearing it open. Inside was a pair of thick woollen socks the colour of quill ink and raven feathers, as well as a note from Parvati that read...

Mara, I hope life's not too terrible for you living with Malfoy, though I highly doubt it. I bet you've been having a rather rough time.

And then she'd drawn a winking smiley face that caused a grin to cross my lips. If I were you I'd probably take full advantage of the opportunity, if you know what I mean...

I rolled my eyes with a chuckle, little did she know...

I can't wait to see you again next week and get out of this damn house! There's nothing to eat besides green stuff and leaves, I've had enough.
What's more Padma's driving me absolutely bloody mental, for some reason she's decided she's suddenly got the fattest crush ever on Terry Boot, despite the fact that he looks like the incestuous love child of Vincent Crabbe and a hairy little hobgoblin and she won't shut up about him.
Please write back ASAP if you know of any decent tongue binding spells, or even a hex will do at this point, I'm losing the will to live here!

-Send help and snacks, Parvati.

"Who's that from?' Draco asked as he tore the wrapping off of a strange glass ball filled with pale smoke which he shook hurriedly with a frown. "Parvati," I answered, "-And what the hell is that?"

"It's a Remembrall." He grunted as he tossed it to the side, "My Grandmother sends me one every year... She should save the bloody things for herself."

Next he handed me a thicker, square package, covered in brown wrapping paper and tied neatly with string. It smelled like old books and fresh parchment, everything that distinctly indicated the presence of Hermione Granger.

Inside was a red knitted jumper and a book. The jumper was the thick and clunky and entirely lovable, obviously hand made, I wondered if Hermione had made it herself. On the front was a giant gold M. At once I pulled off Malfoy's sweater and changed into Hermione's as I flicked through the pages of the book, Hogwarts a History, before scouring her note.

Dear Mara, I do hope you like the book, I highly recommend you read it, I've already read it six times over and it's greatly improved my knowledge of the wizard of faction.
The jumper is from Mrs Weasley, Ron's mum, as she felt incredibly guilty that you were unable to come to The Burrow with us and she sends her regards, as do Harry, Ron and the twins.
I hope you're well, and we will be back at school before you know it.

-Yours faithfully, Hermione J. Granger.

"What's with the ugly sweater?" Draco teased, grabbing me by the collar and pulling me in for a kiss. He tasted like mint and rain and hellish intent.

After a moment I shoved him away, "It is not ugly!"
And he rolled his eyes before raising an eyebrow at me as if to say, are you serious? "-It's hideous."

"It is not!" I said punching him in the shoulder as I reached over to grab the final thing addressed to me, a letter stamped with my great aunt's seal.
"-Besides, I like it."

He said something else but I wasn't listening, I was already tearing at the wax, a horrid gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach. When I opened the letter three bronze Knuts fell to the floor.

To my dearest niece Mara,
Your dress for the ball is coming along splendidly, I'll have it sent out to you the week before the occasion, it is a size smaller than the dress I had made for you last year, this shall be your motivation to lose the weight you've no doubt put on, as if you're anywhere near the size you were last time I saw you, you'll have no chance of fitting into it and this will not be able to attend the ball.

As I'm going to such great effort to have your dress made, I hope you're putting the same amount of effort into speaking to that dear boy Viktor. I've already taken the liberty of writing to him and his family, thanking them for their gracious hospitality last year and wishing them well for the coming one.

They say Viktor has become one of the most established and prestigious quidditch players in the Western Hemisphere, and that he's looking forwards to his return to Hogwarts in a few months, he really is a darling.
Take this as a sign that he's willing to forgive and forget! To move past the discrepancies of last year. Don't you dare mess this up now Mara, not after everything I've done.

-Great Aunt Mathilde

"Jesus fucking Christ." I mumbled, scrunching the parchment into a ball as Malfoy shot me a questioning look and I threw it into the fire. Watching as the flames engulfed the vile words, turning them into nothing more than ash and dust and a whisper of smoke. "-Don't worry about it." I mumbled. "Do you want to go have something to eat? I'm starving..."

"Not yet," A hint of a smile played on his lips as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black box. "You're still got one more left to open."

"What's this?" I frowned as I took the gift and Draco chuckled, "-Open it and find out... It's just a little something from me."

I felt his eyes on me, the weight of his pressing gaze blanketing me in its unnerving embrace as I opened the box, gasping at what I wound. A necklace, a rich emerald stone set in a bed of diamonds, the colour of jealousy and silver serpents.

"Draco..." I said breathily, trying to force the gift back into his hands but he wouldn't take it. "I can't accept this, it's too much..."

Fine lines marred his perfect skin as he frowned at me, his demeanour darkening as something flickered behind this steely eyes. An emotion that made my heart ache painfully at the mere thought. "...Do you not like it?"

"No not at all, I mean I love it, it's beautiful!" I rambled hurriedly which only seemed to amuse him, lightening his shadowless countenance that only seemed more devilish before the flickering fire light, painting the world in warm shades of amber and gold. "It's just...I have nothing to give in return..."

Draco's deft fingers brushed mine as he wordlessly removed the necklace from its box, holding it up as he motioned for me to turn around. It glimmered and shone in the wicked light, reflecting tiny specs of refracted stars onto his face. "You don't need to. You're already everything I could ever want..."

Heat rose on my cheeks and I thumbed the pendant on my chest thoughtfully as he fastened the chain at the back of my neck. I should've hated the warm feeling that exploded within my chest, that giddy, stomach turning, heart racing kind of feeling, but I couldn't bring myself to despise it. "Mara every second with you is the greatest gift of all."

***
QOTD-I hope you're all prepared for the absolute shit storm that is the next chapter🤠 grab some snacks and fasten your seatbelt ladies and gents!
-TFOA