Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction ❯ The Christmas Loan ❯ Guests ( Chapter 4 )

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 FOUR: Guests

 

“Dessert now, Daddy?” Nix asked hopefully.

“Actually, dear, you'll have to wait a little longer.” Narcissa said. “Some of Draco's friends will be coming here for dessert and to open presents.”

“Aww…” Nix pouted, casting a forlorn glance at the desserts.

“They should be here soon, don't worry.” Malfoy said.

“Don't encourage him.” I said with a frown. “You know better than to whine, Nix.”

“You shouldn't be so strict, Mr. Potter.” Narcissa said. “It's Christmas, after all.”

I arched an eyebrow at her. “So you'll take full responsibility for him?”

“Until you leave, yes.” She said, ruffling Nix's hair. “And I'm sure he'll be very good for Grandmother `Cissa, won't you, dear?”

“Very, very good!” Nix chirruped, giving her a grin I knew from past experience meant he knew he'd found a sucker. Byrne giggled, recognizing the grin as well.

Much as I love him, Nix is pure Slytherin at times like these.

“Alright, then.” I said. Some people have to learn Nix's vices the hard way.

“Master Draco, sir, they is people here to see you.” A house elf appeared beside Malfoy's chair with a bow.

“My other guests?” He asked.

“Yes, sir.” The elf said, head bobbing up at down agreeably.

“Then show them in.” He said.

The elf nodded and bowed again before disappearing.

“Mr. and Mrs. Blaise Zabini.” Another elf said as it appeared in the doorway. “Mr. Theodore Nott.”

Everyone stood (the twins with some confusion) as Blaise entered the room with Luna (née Lovegood), and Theodore Nott entered alone.

“Harry!” Luna said, pulling away from her husband and running to me as best she could with her bulging stomach. “How wonderful to see you!”

“Hello, Luna.” I smiled at her as I hugged her as much as I could. “How's the baby?”

“He's fine.” She said, putting a hand on her stomach and smiling as dreamily as ever. “Though I suspect he's upset by the Nargles hiding in Draco's mistletoe.”

“As we all should be.” Blaise said gravely.

“Hi, Auntie Lu!” Nix piped up, standing on his tiptoes to see her over the table and waving ardently.

“Hi, Nix.” She said. “I didn't see you.” She looked down at my feet. “And where's Byrne?”

“Here, Auntie Lu.” Byrne said softly from where he stood beside Malfoy, looking torn between staying where he was and running to me.

Luna's eyebrows rose, her husband's expression mirroring hers.

“And what are you doing away from your dad, eh?” Blaise asked, crouching near Byrne so as to be at eye-level with him.

Byrne shrugged, scooting a little closer to Malfoy in search for comfort in the face of so many newcomers.

“Come here, Byrne.” I said, holding my arms out to him. He glanced from me to Malfoy, then scrambled into my arms, burying his face in my shoulder as soon as I picked him up.

“Poor baby.” Theodore said. “Not quite up to staying away from you for too long, yet, is he?”

“Not just yet, but we're making progress.” I replied, shifting Byrne to one arm so I could offer Theodore a hand. “Good to see you again, Theodore.”

“You as well, Harry.” He shook my hand. “Have you figured out that code, yet?”

I shook my head. “But I'm very close.” I said. “If I'd known you were going to be here, I'd have brought my notes.”

“It's Christmas, Harry.” He said, voice almost scolding. “No work.”

I laughed. “True enough, but you're the one who brought it up.”

“Granted.” He smiled a little, then looked down as Nix tugged on his maroon dress robes (Ron would've cringed at the color). “Hello, Phoenix.”

“Hello, Uncle Teddy.” Nix said, grinning brightly at him. “Did you bring me any presents?”

Theodore glanced at me, looking surprised that I hadn't intervened. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I did.”

“It is not polite to ask people such questions, Phoenix.” Narcissa said, giving Nix a stern look.

He turned his widest, most innocent eyes on her. “But Grandmother `Cissa, I was only asking out of curiosity. Uncle Teddy doesn't mind.”

Blaise snorted as he realized what was going on, and both Luna and Theodore looked amused as the same realization hit them.

“That doesn't make it polite to ask.” Narcissa said, though her face and tone had softened. “In any case, don't you want dessert first before presents?”

I hadn't realized Narcissa would be such a pushover, though I probably should have guessed after knowing how spoiled Malfoy was back at Hogwarts. I also realized that I probably should have warned her that you never, under any circumstances, use sweets to get Nix to behave.

“Yes, please!” Nix said, beaming at her.

“Alright, you may choose one thing.” So she did have some semblance of a backbone. “But you may not eat it until the Goyles arrive.”

Nix had started toward the desserts before her first sentence was finished, but paused. “Who?”

“The Goyles.” She said. “Gregory, Millicent, and their daughter. They should be here soon.”

Nix perked up again. “Daughter?”

“Valerie.” Narcissa nodded.

I sighed, hoping that Valerie hadn't inherited her father's brains.

Nix smiled winningly. “Okay!” He burbled, then continued toward the desserts, humming to himself as he surveyed all of the sweets.

“Definitely a Slytherin in the making.” Luna sighed.

“Definitely.” I agreed with a sigh of my own.

“Your son?” Malfoy asked incredulously. “A Slytherin?”

“It's not terribly surprising, actually.” I said. “Ginny's related to the Black family on both sides, you know. And…if you must know…the Sorting Hat wanted to put me in Slytherin. I practically had to beg to be put into Gryffindor.”

 

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A/N: XDD So they find out about Harry's near Slytherin-hood! I'm having way too much fun with this fic, seriously! OH! And before I forget: this story definitely isn't going to be just five chapters long…whoops! Damn my muses! ^^ I'm expecting it to get up to about fifteen at this point, depending on what happens. We'll see where the plot bunnies take me, yeah? Hope you'll all stick around `til the end!

 

Review Responses:

 

suki53: Yeah, Nix is very much James' grandson, from what we know of him from the books. He's a wily little brat, too! And I definitely agree; Byrne is such a little sweetie!

 

SwarmOfFanGirls: Lol, I'm glad you like them! I've fallen in love with them, myself. Which is probably a bad thing……but whatever. I loves them! *glomps twins*

 

Sesshy'sSannah: Thank you! I'm sorry it's moving slow, but I didn't want to just throw everything together and leave it at that. I over think things too much, I guess…^^'

 

Cutefelix: Isn't Byrne ADORABLE? I really shouldn't, but I let him become my favorite. Although I think he comes off as a bit of a wimp sometimes…poor thing…*huggles Byrne*

 

Ryen Selenity Caliburn: Aren't they, though? I'm glad you like them!

 

Keisan: Me, too! I guess Draco and Harry haven't gotten a lot of conversation stuff going as of yet, but Narcissa did get some in. I hope she can handle Phoenix; I've made him kind of evil, haven't I?

 

amber v: I think so, too!

 

AliuIce0814: XD Your conversations are so amusing…it sounds kind of like my roommate and I! But I'm glad you both like the twins! I was kind of hesitant about having two OCs, but everyone seems to like them, so I must be doing something right! I can't wait to hear your next review! And don't drive each other TOO crazy, `kay?

 

Tu lo sai inc.: Thank you! It's nice to hear that you think I'm doing a good job; hopefully I'll be able to keep it up!

 

teacher123: You know, you're one of the only people to comment on the Malfoys! I'm so glad I've been able to portray them well so far. I'm really struggling to keep everyone as in character as possible without ruining my plot…or something like that. Hope it comes across well!

 

Spikesbitch: Oh, good! It's so hard to write her character, since we never see much of her in the books. Even though she's so protective of Draco and all in the later books, I can never quite get the picture of her at the Quidditch World Cup in Book 4 out of my head! It's hard to ignore the part of my brain that makes me want to portray her like that!

 

QuincePaste: Thank you! I've said it before and I'll say it again: I loves me a Byrne!

 

Jojo-Ashbash: Thank you so much! I probably put way more thought into their names than I should have, but I'm glad it paid off!

 

Marikili68: Thank you! I will!

 

Thank all of you SO much for your reviews! They're all really helpful and they make me smile every time I see that I've gotten a new one! I hope this chapter lives up to everyone's expectations! Peace! -PTLX