Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction ❯ The Christmas Loan ❯ Valerie Goyle ( Chapter 5 )

The Christmas Loan

By: Ellipsis the Great

DISCLAIMER: The idea is from `Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul.' Harry Potter and all things affiliated with him belong to the amazing J.K. Rowling. I own the Potter twins, and all of the plot outside what I garnered from CSFTCS.

Summary: After losing his wife and son to a magical disease, Draco Malfoy puts an ad in an editorial to borrow a son for Christmas. Harry Potter answers.

Rated: T just in case. May change later on.

Spoilers: Five years post-Hogwarts. Compliant with all books, sans the epilogue in DH.

Warnings: None insofar. Also may change later on. Probable yaoi, as my whimsies and muses take me. You've been warned.

 

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CHAPTER FIVE: Valerie Goyle

 

We all gaped at him.

“Well, all I really said was for it to put me anywhere but in Slytherin, but still…” Potter trailed off uncomfortably.

“I should have known.” Theo said finally. “No true Gryffindor could be as good at your job as you are.”

Potter gave him a blithe smile, his green eyes flashing behind his glasses in a way that left no doubt in anyone's mind that he could very easily have survived (if not flourished) in Slytherin.

“I want this one, Grandmother `Cissa!” Phoenix said, waving a large chocolate chip cookie at Mother as he pulled on her dress gently.

“That?” Potter asked. “All this and you want a cookie? I could make cookies!”

Phoenix fixed him with a look that had everyone deciding he was, indeed, a future Slytherin. “Your cookies are burnt, Daddy.” He said, as if he was an adult explaining something to someone his age. “I like them to be gooey.” Then he smiled almost wickedly. “And you said Grandmother `Cissa is in charge, remember? She said I could pick what I wanted.”

Potter held his free arm up in surrender. “Alright, fine. Narcissa is in charge.”

“If that's what you want, dear, of course you can have it.” Mother said, ruffling Phoenix's hair.

“Thank you, Grandmother `Cissa!” He gave her the smile that had stopped working for me when I was six years old, but apparently would still work for him because he was a newcomer.

“You're welcome, Phoenix.” She smiled back at him; the odd, motherly smile that I rarely ever saw on her face.

The strange and most definitely un-Malfoy-like urge to tell her in no uncertain terms that she was only allowed to smile at me like that came over me for a moment, but I squashed the idea firmly. He was only a child, after all, and Mother hadn't had the chance to dote on anyone since Adder passed away. She was the biggest reason I had put that ad in the paper, after all. Let her dote.

“Mr. and Mrs. Goyle is here, sir.” Cady, one of my house elves, said with a bow.

I could see Phoenix perking up from his place beside Mother. Though I couldn't decide what his expression meant, or whether it was meant for the cookie or the Goyles, I could tell that it meant trouble for someone (or something, in the case of the cookie).

“Show them in.” I said.

A few moments later, the Goyles walked in. Gregory hadn't changed much since school—still as brawny and intimidating as ever, although anyone who knew him also knew he was harmless. As long you don't make him angry, of course, but he's so stupid (and oddly good-natured) that it's very difficult to do that. Somehow, he had managed to thin out some, and with his now shaved head didn't look half bad (he didn't look half good, either, but he was no longer hideous) Millicent had, surprisingly enough, developed into a passably good-looking young woman. She was still a little overweight, but a lot of that had to do with the birth of their daughter, Valerie.

Valerie, at age five, did not remind anyone of her parents when they had been her age. She was tall for her age, which was reminiscent of her parents, but she was also insanely thin. She had dark brown eyes and even darker brown hair, which was always pulled up in two ponytails situated on either side of her head. Today was no different. Luckily for her, she had inherited more brains than brawn from her parents. She wasn't one of the brightest girls around, but she was at least of average intelligence, and seemed to have an interest in learning. (Hopefully she would develop her brains as much as Greg had developed his muscles) She had also managed to mostly inherit only her parents' more endearing character traits, such as Greg's loyalty and Millie's persistence. Much as it pained me to admit it, she would probably end up in Hufflepuff when she went to Hogwarts. Greg and Millie, I think, would be completely satisfied with any House so long as she graduated with at least average marks.

“Hello Greg. Millie” I said, shaking hands with Greg and allowing Millie to kiss both of my cheeks. I smiled at Valerie. “Val.”

“Hello, Uncle Draco.” She said, her ever-present smile widening when I patted her head. She spoke slowly, trying very hard not to lisp as she was wont to do.

“We were just about to start picking out our desserts, if everyone would please sit down.” I said, leading her and her parents to the table.

“Is that Harry Potter?” Valerie asked, pointing at the man in question. Her lisp began to show through as it always did when she got excited and/or nervous.

“Yes.” Potter answered for himself, bowing to her politely (or trying to, as Byrne hindered him quite a bit). “It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Goyle.”

Valerie looked back at her parents, who had been previously warned about Harry's presence and nodded encouragingly at her. “My name is Valerie, but everyone calls me Val.” She gave him a toothy smile, showing off the black space where her front tooth had fallen from a few days prior.

“You can call me Harry.” He said. “This is my oldest son, Byrne, and that's his younger twin brother, Phoenix.”

“Nix.” Phoenix corrected, giving Valerie an eerily calculating look.

“It's a pleasure to meet you.” Valerie curtsied to Potter, and then to Phoenix.

“You, too.” Phoenix said with a bow.

“Say hello to Val, Byrne.” Potter said, setting Byrne down.

Byrne immediately ducked his head and tucked his hands behind his back, scuffing his shoes together. “'Lo, Val.” He whispered.

“You're silly!” Valerie said, giggling as she leaned forward so as to look up into Byrne's face.

Byrne jerked backward, obviously surprised as his eyes went wide and his cheeks went red. He stared at her, frozen and not seeming to realize what he was doing.

Valerie grinned and grabbed his hand. “You want dessert?” Her lisp was completely out, now, but she didn't seem to mind in light of having found a new friend to shower with affection. She acted much the same around Theo's two-year-old niece, Carrie.

Byrne looked from her hand, to her face, and then up at his father with a rather panicked expression.

“Go on.” Potter said, nudging him forward.

Without waiting for Byrne to react, Valerie pulled him toward the sweets, either ignoring or not noticing the way his feet dragged a little. (I said she inherited more brains than brawn from her parents—they have a lot of brawn to be inherited, and she's still one of the strongest five year olds I know.)

“Let's sit, then.” Mother said, taking her seat again.

Phoenix sat beside her again, with Millicent and Greg next to him. Theo sat beside Potter, with Luna and Blaise beside him. The house elves had cleared dinner away while we were talking, and now the entire table had sweets on it.

“Dig in, everyone.” I said, waving my hand at everyone permissively, and they did.