Far away
Long ago
Glowing dim as an ember
Things my heart used to know
Things it yearns to remember
And a song someone sings
Once upon a December……….
Once Upon a December
Part 1
"Hermione!" a mother's voice yelled. "Hermione!" she said again. It was to no avail. Her daughter was upstairs in her room humming a sweet song while she wrote in her newly bought and bewitched journal.
Hermione's mother finally came up the stairs in exasperation to wave her finger at Hermione, but when she reached her door, she found that she could not do anything but stare at the beautiful little angel who was sitting on a chair and facing away from her. After a few minutes, Mother decided to shake her gently and kiss her forehead.
"What are you doing, love? Have you forgotten the time? You should very well know c'est l'anniversaire de votre grand-père," she said to her little one. Hermione turned around and looked into the identical brown eyes her mother had.
"Ah, bien sûr, Mère! I know it's grand-père's birthday, but I wanted the whole day to be recorded; especially all the details! I just didn't want to write it all down afterwards. I prefer it to be written just as I experience it! Therefore, I have bewitched my journal to do just that," replied Hermione enthusiastically.
Her mother looked at her amazed. "Well, I certainly underestimated your powers! Never again!" said she and continued with a smile, "Now, let's fix you up and find the beauty within!" At this, Hermione squirmed.
"But, Mama! You know how I hate being dressed up," was her weak reply. Her mother looked at her and then said, "You'll never know, there may be one very handsome prince worth enough for my little princess!" Hermione only blew a raspberry at her. "Boys! Yuck. Who needs 'em?" Mother only laughed.
After much struggle and effort, Mother finally managed to get Hermione dressed up. "Phew! Who knew little 10 year olds were so hard to manage?" said Mother to Father.
Hermione walked down the stairs prettier than her father had ever seen her before. Her hair was tamed down into the sweet curls that she usually refused to show off, and they glittered and shined with jewels that Father had bought for her the year before. Adorned on her head almost like a halo, was a startling tiara made of only the most flawless diamonds, and there was a necklace to match the tiara both in price and beauty.
Her makeup was light for she was only a child, but the beauty of her pout was enhanced and not hindered. The dress she wore was so white that ivory in comparison would have been like the candle to a flame. Delicate black ribbons were strategically placed on the dress so as to improve her maturing figure. Matching slippers had to be forced on her small feet for she had refused so fervently to have them on.
But even after she had been dressed so perfectly, the most stunning feature were her beautiful brown eyes. They were her what her father loved the most because even though his little girl had inherited his intelligence and cunning, Hermione had gotten her mother's charming eyes.
The King had no words to describe his delight, so instead he went over to his daughter and held her close in his arms. She happily returned the embrace.
She giggled slightly at his show of emotion.
"Let's go, Dad! I want to go see grand-père, but even more than that, I'd like to get this wretched dress off. It makes me feel all girlie." He could only laugh, and soon they were on their way in a bewitched carriage with elegant white horses leading the way.
"Draco!" called Narcissa. "Draco, love." He stood up straight and looked toward his mahogany door expecting his mother to come in at any moment. Then he glanced back at his mirror to be certain, for at least the 10th time, that there wasn't even a piece of lint on him. Draco wanted to make his mother proud. As he was looking back, Narcissa opened the door intent to find a little boy, but instead found a dashing prince.
"My, my. What do we have here?" asked Narcissa. Draco spun around and tried not to fidget.
"Excuse me, sir," Narcissa inquired, "But have you seen my little boy?" Draco was dumbfounded, "But Mama! It's me! I am your little boy! Draco!" Narcissa squinted her eyes and tried to look skeptical, but a smile had already taken its place on her face.
"Well, will you look at that! You clean up quite nicely, love. I don't think I've ever been more proud of you." Draco's face lit up and he ran into his mother's outstretched arms. "I love you, Mother." She tussled his hair a bit and he looked up at her. "Oh, don't do that, Mama. You'll mess it up."
She laughed and said, "I don't want you growing up too fast. You already look too much like your father and not a bit….," before she could finish her last two words, Lucius himself had come into the room, "Like me," she finished lamely.
Draco's father looked at the two of them and wished deep inside that he could show the affection he felt, but having already pledged allegiance to the Dark forced him to disregard the love he had inside. He did, however, unintentionally allow them to see a twinkle of happiness in his eyes, if only for a second.
"Why did you not respond to my beckoning? Time is past for a gracious arrival" said Lucius impatiently. Narcissa and Draco looked at each other and both nodded.
Narcissa answered, "Pardon us, Husband. We've abused the time limit set." She curtsied gracefully and made haste down the stairs. Narcissa had left her son and Lucius alone.
"Father," said Draco with a bow following. Lucius nodded his head in acknowledgment. Mentally, Lucius was surveying his son's physical appearance as well as attitude, and Draco knew it. Lucius started from the bottom and glanced approvingly at his son's identical black shoes used only for formal occasions. There were no misplaced creases on his suit's pants or coat. There was a silver tie knotted perfectly atop a green silk shirt.
"Slytherin colors," Lucius thought inwardly and chuckled. This caught Draco's attention.
"Pardon me, Father?" Draco raised an eyebrow at his Father's chuckle for it was quite out of character. His father looked at him and quickly recovered.
"Show respect, boy, and do not raise that eyebrow at me. Let me finish my inspection." Draco submitted.
Lucius continued and found himself staring at his son's handsome face.
"A ¼ veela, of course. Just like his mom and dad," thought Lucius to himself.
It was obvious that Draco was his father's son. There was that finely chiseled nose and stubborn chin. The proportions were all the same, and even the hair had the same blond almost white coloring. Draco would have looked exactly like Lucius except for that he inherited his eyes and mouth from his mother. His mouth did not form a straight line but instead curved at the edges, and his lips were not thin nor overly large. But it was not his mouth that made Draco exceptionally different in appearance from Lucius.
Draco's eyes would change from shades of blue and gray according to his mood. If he felt much affection, his eyes would be the deepest shade of blue, but no one, except Lucius and Narcissa, had ever seen them blue because he felt no emotion for any other person. He was taught that it wasn't proper to; just like a Malfoy.
According to practically everyone in the wizarding world, this trait was inherited only by the purest of bloods and was no longer seen. As far as anyone knew Narcissa Black was the only person to have it. This trait had been apparent in the Malfoy line thousands of years ago, but because Malfoys were known to never show emotion, it became something benign. Draco became the first in the Malfoy line to express this gene for almost a thousand years.
"I approve," Lucius finally said, "It would do you well to remember what I taught you before, and I expect you to never abuse or shame the family name." Draco's eyes flashed a shade even darker than gray, but he was quickly in stride with his father.
AU: Okay, dudes. I changed the title as it was originally "First Love". But now there's a little evil plot bunny who is forcing me to change a few things. Don't worry though. It'll still be good. Hehe. Keep reviewing!