The End of the Beginning

Soundtrack Suggestions: O Little Town of Bethlehem, Let it Snow, It’s Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas, Silent Night, Silver Bells, Mary Did You Know?

Neville stared out at the snow falling down around him.  The group had been forced to find shelter when the first flakes had fallen and now, hours later, they were still trudging along muggle farmlands, unable to agree on shelter and unable to Apparate back to Hogwarts due to the ministry bands on Apparition.

Neville smirked as Draco cursed, the Slytherin sinking into thigh deep snow for the third time and he turned to look at the other boy. "You know, Malfoy, that wouldn’t have happened if you had allowed us to stop at the last barn."

"It didn’t have a roof!"

"It had half a roof and was sufficient for shelter," Justin said, grabbing one of the blonde’s arms and helping haul him out of the snow.

"It was cold and drafty and no." Draco said, crossing his arms over his chest. "We are not trekking back there." He strode onward, pushing past Neville despite the fact there was plenty of room for him to go around. He felt like pushing the younger boy around just for the hell of it. He smirked, pointing ahead. "There, lights, we’ll just go up, knock on the door, and…"

"And get ourselves captured by Death Eaters? We don’t know if that house is safe or not, it hasn’t been secured," Hannah said stubbornly, crossing her arms over her chest, more to keep her warm then any real stand against Draco.

"Secured? SECURED! We’re in the middle of nowhere walking past cows, who by the way are giving us weird looks! It doesn’t have to be secured, it’s owned by MUGGLES."

"You don’t know that," Neville said softly. "It could be a stronghold."

"Oh come off it Longbottom, what self respecting Dark Wizard would be out here in the middle of nowhere?"

The other four gave him a pointed look and Draco smirked. "Okay, what minion of Voldemort’s would be out here?"

"I agree with Draco. Besides, I think my toes have frozen together. Can’t we just, try it?" Dennis asked, wiggling his foot in his over-sized boots. "It’s better then getting frostbite out here. Besides, maybe the spells will warm us up if Death Eaters ARE in there."

Neville sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine, but YOU’RE knocking Malfoy," he said, pulling the hood of his cloak up. "And I’m not defending you if they try to kill you. It would be better off just to get rid of you."

"Knew you loved me Nev, really," Draco said, slinging his arm around the shorter boy’s shoulders and leading him up towards the warm, inviting light spilling from the windows of the house.

Catriona Finnigan, the Matriarch of the Finnigan clan, stared out the kitchen window into the falling snow, rolling her shoulders slowly. She had been slaving over the stoves and her cookbook for most of the day and now, deep into the darkness she was still trying to cook Christmas dinner for twenty or so Finnigan family members. She was secretly glad that Seamus had been agreeable to staying at Hogwarts this holiday. As much as she loved her son, it was a lot easier cooking without him and his boyfriend underfoot.

She turned away from the window and back to the stove, waving her wand and watching the sauce swirl around with the movement. She smiled to herself, remembering the first time she cooked for her husband with magic. The poor man had nearly had a heart attack watching the mashed potatoes fly across the room.

She groaned as someone came into the kitchen and spun around, brandishing her wand at them, intent to curse them back into the living room, muggle or no when she found herself looking at nothing but the opposing wall. Lowering her gaze a few feet she found one of her husband’s nephews standing there, holding out his little cup. "Milk?" he asked softly, giving her a shy smile.

"Of course, Cotty," she said, pouring him a fresh glass of milk and ruffling his hair. "Now why don’t you go back and tell all the adults that dinner will be ready soon, alright?"

Cotty nodded and toddled off to go do as she asked, spilling some of his milk as he went. Cat sighed, massaging her face before turning back to the dinner.

Draco frowned, peering through the kitchen window with Neville. "I’ve seen her before…"

"Of course you have, she’s Seamus’ mother you idiot. She also works with Arthur Weasley regarding Wizarding-Muggle relations."

"Oh yeah...she’s the big mouth that’s in all the papers."

"Yup, parades her husband to every ministry function so they can watch a happy mixed marriage in works."

"Think she’ll let us in?"

"Us yes. You, she’ll most likely curse till you hit China. Shall we knock?"

"Sure," Draco said and hopped off the barrel he had been standing on, heading over to the kitchen door where Justin, Hannah and Dennis were waiting for their two uppers to make an assessment of the house. He rapped lightly on the window pane and cursed loudly as it singed his hand. "Bloody hell that hurt!"

"Should have knocked on the wood then," Cat said, opening the door and glaring down at him. "What do you want Mr. Malfoy?"

"Sanctuary and shelter," Neville said, shivering. "Please, Mrs. Finnigan."

"Neville?" she asked, trying to peer under his hood.

Neville smiled and pulled down the hood of his cloak, beaming up at her. "Hullo ma’am."

"My word, well come in children, come in. What in Merlin’s beard are you all doing out here?"

"We got lost," Dennis said as he hurried to the stove, warming his hands inches from the hot oven door.

"Very lost," added Hanna as she hung up her wet cloak on the cloak rack. She glared at the boys till they all shifted and handed her they’re cloaks, grumbling about her mothering them.

Cat smiled at the group, though it was a bit of a strained smile. "Well, we don’t have much this year, but I’m sure we could all make room for you."

Neville shook his head. "We don’t want to be a bother, we’ll just warm up a bit and then camp out in the barn. Wouldn’t want to get into your way."

"Nonsense! No Finnigan has ever turned a friend out in the snow. Besides, it’s Christmas," Said Damian Finnigan, walking into the kitchen. The elderly gentleman leaned heavily on his cane, but Neville could see he was as young in spirit as their beloved Headmaster.

Cat smiled fondly at the old man then turned to the five young wizards. "You heard him Neville, you’re staying. Now why don’t the three of you go out into the living room and warm up by the fire, I’ll send Damian back out with cocoa."

Hanna nodded and herded the boys out, calling thank you over her shoulder as she went. Cat sighed and turned to Damian who was smirking at her as he leaned on his cane. "Yeah, easy for you, you don’t have to manage the food," She muttered, fighting the urge to kick him in the shin. "Well go on with you, take the poor souls they’re cocoa."

Lucius Malfoy sighed as he turned to look back at the other two members of his team, who were carrying a third. "How is she Martin?"

One of the masked Death Eaters looked up at Lucius before glancing back at the young girl in his arms. "She’s hurt, badly. We can’t keep walking without healing her Lucius, and we can’t heal her."

Lucius sighed; running a hand through his perfectly clipped blonde hair, leaving it in more disarray than it was from the trek. "Then we need to find shelter, the snow’s coming down faster."

Martin nodded and pushed his mask off his face, glancing around. "I know a place, come on."

Lucius helped him and Penelope pick up the girl and they hurried along the snow-covered path, following Martin’s directions.

"ANNACOTTY FINNIGAN GO WASH YOUR HANDS NOW!" yelled a plump woman, glaring at her five year old child whom was playing with his train set instead of listening to her.

"Ah leave him alone Doria, let the boy play a bit," Damian said with a smirk.

Cotty made choo-choo noises around the living room, ignoring his parents and by extension, his grandparents. He smiled at Draco as he ran the train over the Slytherin’s toes, choo-ing right along.

Draco had to smile, watching the boy. He was the reason Draco was out here in the mind numbing cold, the reason he still fought. Sometimes, it was hard to remember that until it was shown to you. Draco turned to Neville to find the Gryffindor watching the boy, sadness in his eyes. "You okay Nev?"

"Hmm? Oh, of course Draco. Just…remembering.."

Draco nodded, clapping the other boy on the back. "Well knock it off before you start bawling eh?" Draco said, smirking and heading into the kitchen to see if he could help Cat with anything.

Neville sighed softly and hurriedly wiped a tear from his cheek, ignoring Hannah’s look of concern. He took a deep breath, pushing away memories of the past before kneeling on the floor next to Cotty.

"You know, I used to have a train-set just like this…only I could never get the people to sit inside it, they kept falling out on turns."

"Mine too, till grandpa stuck them in with bubbly gum."

"Where IS this place Finnigan?" Lucius growled, stomping through the snow, nearly falling face first into another snowdrift.

"Not far Malfoy, not far," Martin said, glancing around him, getting his bearings. "I hope," He whispered before trudging ahead.

Lucius gave him a look. "You hope, YOU HOPE? Finnigan I’m starting to freeze here!"

"There! Told you it wasn’t far!" Martin said, gesturing to a farmhouse in the distance. "My family should just be sitting down to dinner. We can get some food, warm up, and maybe mum can help with Pansy."

"Just so long as there’s a fire and alcohol I don’t care," muttered Penelope, pushing past the two men, carrying Pansy in her arms.

The four soon arrived at the front door and they stared at it for a long moment before Lucius rolled his eyes and reached around the two youngest Death Eaters, pounding on the door.

Neville looked up from his empty plate as someone knocked on the door. He then glanced at the other 20 or so people at the table whom had all froze mid-motion. Cat blinked and she raised an eyebrow at the door. There was a moment of silence as if everyone were holding their breath, waiting for something to happen.

Cotty glanced around at the adults then slipped from his chair, crawling under the table, avoiding feet until he reached the other side and crawled out, racing for the door.

Cat dashed from the table after him. "Cotty no!"

But it was too late; Cotty was already opening the door to reveal Lucius Malfoy, blinking down at him from behind Penelope. Cotty looked up at him and he smiled, showing off his missing teeth. "Merry Christmas!"

Cat placed her hands on Cotty’s shoulders and she glared at Lucius Malfoy, asking silently what the hell he wanted.

Lucius cleared his throat, giving Cat his best smile that died before it even reached her. "Uh, right. Hullo Madam, sorry to trouble you this bitterly cold evening but we were wondering if we could…"

"MUM!" Martin yelled from the bottom of the steps and elbowed past the others, hugging Cat tightly, and squishing a protesting Cotty. "Missed you so much Mother," He whispered.

Tears wet Cat’s face as she clung to her eldest son. Despite they’re differences, despite the different ties of loyalty, he was still her baby, and he always would be. Cat sniffed and pulled away, trying to wipe her eyes. She looked from him, to Lucius, to Penelope, her eyes finally landing on the wisp of a girl that was bleeding all over her front stoop. "Leave your wands," she croaked. "Outside, in the box, box. Then you may come in," she said softly.

Lucius glanced at the others, silently refusing to do such a thing and Cat’s eyes grew harder. "Leave them Mr. Malfoy, or you can go right back out into that snow. I doubt that girl will live long enough for you to find one of your secret Apparition points," she said coldly. "She probably wouldn’t live long enough for you to get out the front gate."

Lucius looked down at Pansy’s pale face and he closed his eyes, pulling his treasured wand from its pocket. He slid it through the hole of the small, locked wooden box next to the porch.

"Your other wand as well," Cat said, giving him a knowing look.

Lucius rolled his eyes and pulled out his spare wand, adding it to the box. Penelope did the same, as did Martin.

Neville watched all this from the table, eyes wide. He went to look at Draco then frowned, realizing the other boy wasn’t in his seat. Taking a guess he lifted the tablecloth and looked down at Draco’s scared gray eyes. "Think we should run for it?" he asked in a whisper.

Draco shook his head and motioned for Neville to be quiet.

Neville shrugged and flicked the tablecloth back into place, glancing back at the group by the door. He felt his stomach turn when he saw Pansy as she was carried to a couch by Damian and Cat and he stood, walking slowly over to her.

Lucius watched as the boy walked close to Pansy, sneering softly. He itched to curse the Light Wizard and realized just why Cat had him leave his wand outside. He sighed and glanced at the others, still in the kitchen, still frozen, staring at them. He rolled his eyes and turned back to the group crowded around Pansy. Penelope was telling Cat what they had used to try to heal the girl, to no avail obviously, while the old man poked and prodded at the wound.

"She’s been shot," Damian said loudly, startling Cat who had been leaning over to look at the wound.

"What? Shot?" Cat said, shocked.

Damian nodded, prodding the wound. "With an old style revolver. Last century at least."

"Colin," Neville said suddenly, causing everyone to look at him. "Colin Creevey. Mr. Malfoy, you were near Chipping Sodbury yes?"

Lucius nodded, confused. "We were coming from Malfoy Manner and she got attacked on the way to the Apparition point. Are you saying some…kid shot her with a muggle firearm?"

"Yup," Neville said, smirking slightly. "Collin’s been saying for ages we should all carry sidearms. I should tell him that his idea bears merit."

Lucius rolled his eyes at Neville’s slight babbling and turned to Cat and Damian. "Can you…help her?"

"Why should we?" Cat asked, coldly. "One less Death Eater to worry about in my opinion."

"Mum," Martin said softly.

Damian looked at the group around him coldly. "Catorina, I don’t know what problem you have with this young gentleman and I don’t care. No, you’ll hush and let me speak now," he said, silencing Cat when she would have spoken. "Now you go get me my medical bag and you, Blondie, fetch some water off the stove. Well go on then, move!" Damian barked and Cat hurried from the room to get the bag while Lucius headed into the kitchen, grumbling under his breath.

"You boy, Neville’s your name, you know anything about Muggle medicine?"

"A bit, my uncle’s a doctor."

"Good, you hold her still, she’s going to be in a world of pain in a bit. Ah, thank you Cat," the old man said, taking his bag and digging round in it for his scissors.

Lucius came back in with the water, wincing as Damian cut his way through the expensive silk robes Pansy wore. He set the pot of water down close to the muggle and sat near Pansy’s head, holding her hand.

Penelope dug around in Damian’s medical case and handed him his tweezers before he could even ask. Damian smiled at her and started digging around in the bullet hole, searching for the missing piece of metal. Pansy’s body thrashed, reacting to the pain even when she wasn’t awake and Neville held her still as best he could, cursing softly as his chin was hit by her thigh.

"Ow," he muttered and Draco snickered, watching from under the table.

"Gotcha you little pest," Damian muttered, pulling out the tweezers and holding up a mushroomed bullet before dropping it into a tray that Penelope held. Penelope looked at it, frowning. "Why couldn’t we heal her?" she asked softly and Neville answered, examining the bullet. "Colin got Severus to pour these full of a potion that prevents magical healing. There’s only a small space for the powder so the bullets don’t fire far, but enough to wound someone."

"Ingenious," Penelope said, raising an eyebrow at the bullet. "Very smart."

Neville patted Penelope’s back and stood, wetting rags for bandages when Damian finished sewing Pansy back together.

As Damian finished tying the last bandage around Pansy he patted the girl’s hand and looked up at Lucius. "If she survives the night, she’ll live," he said, standing shakily. "Now, I still don’t care what your problems are with each other, I just care about my family. You have returned one of them home to me this Christmas, and for that, I thank you. Come, eat with us. It’s Christmas, and for tonight, we are going to forget our differences and sup together and there will be peace at this table or so help me I’ll use one of those ruddy wands you lot carry and whip your arse with it!" That said, Damian hobbled back to the table, taking his place and jerking the green beans from his son’s hands, dishing them onto his plate.

Lucius stared after the man, open-mouthed and Neville snorted, heading back to the table. Penelope followed him, smirking as did Martin who eagerly embraced all of his family, picking up Cotty and giving him a small toss before sitting, the young boy on his lap.

Draco came out from under the table and took his place, his head down, staring, sightlessly at the food before him. Ignoring Penelope sitting down next to him, giving him a warm smile, and defiantly ignoring the way Dennis smiled coyishly at Martin.

Lucius watched as his fellow Death Eaters took a place amid Muggle and Muggle-lovers, slipping easily into the role of friends and family without even a thought otherwise. There was an unspoken tension filling the air but it was avoided, as all white elephants that crashed parties were. There was laughter, strained and broken, but it was there, filling the small house, pushing at the tension and trying to drag it out kicking and screaming.

Life was a funny thing really. You did your best to play the game, to fit into your assigned role but life had this thing about it, it liked to change the rules mid-session. haters [Muggle-haters were not supposed to dine with Muggles. Enemies were not supposed to break bread and offer you a slice. And Lucius Malfoy’s son was not supposed to fall in love with Harry fucking Potter.

If fate was a whore then Life and Chance were her bloody pimps in Lucius’ opinion. He turned away from the heartwarming and touching scene of enemies throwing aside their differences and spend a Christmas dinner together. He brushed a lock of Pansy’s hair from her face, biting his lip as he checked her pulse, letting out a breath when he felt it against his fingers. He had lost to many to this damned war; he didn’t want to lose her, not yet. He wasn’t ready for that. –Please, God. If I ask for nothing else in this lifetime, please, let me keep her. I know, I have done nothing to deserve your consideration but please. Let me keep her for just a little while longer- he prayed, silently, turning to a god that he had long since stopped believing in.

Draco watched his father bend over Pansy, kissing her cold lips softly and he had to turn away. He knew that Lucius would not grieve over Narcissa forever, but still, it hurt him somewhere down deep inside to know his father had moved on. And despite what a certain raven-haired twit might think, it wasn’t just because Pansy used to be his own lover.

His mother had only been gone for such a short time, moments really, in the life of a wizard. So how could Lucius have learned to love someone else so fast, so quickly that it seemed Narcissa had barely taken her final breath before he was with another? That was a question Draco could never answer, even if he really wanted to. So now he just sat, blocking the images from his mind, staring down at his full plate, wishing he were anywhere but in this house.

Neville glanced around the table, watching everyone with a wary eye. Everything seemed to be just fine; but then again, they were dining with their enemies. People who, a generation ago, had taken his parents from him, seduced his lover into their world, and left so many of his friends, broken, bleeding and dead.

Neville massaged his face before closing his eyes, centering himself, steeling himself to the task at hand and dug into his food, allowing himself to be drawn into a conversation with Doria regarding washing machines verses wizarding methods of laundry.

Cat stood and walked into the living room, carrying a near to over-flowing plate of food to the lonely wizard that sat on her couch. Placing it in his lap with a napkin she took a place near Pansy’s side, balancing her own plate on her knees. "It’s been a long time Malfoy." She said softly, not looking up at him.

"Huh?" Lucius said, slightly startled that the woman had given him food, let alone was trying to start a decent conversation with him.

Cat snorted softly, letting her gaze meet his. "I said it’s been a long time, since we sat together, in the same room, sharing a meal."

"Did we ever do that in the first place?"

"Oh yes, but it was ages ago. When we were young and stupid and cared more about N.E.W.T.s and lovers then we did Muggles and pure-bloods."

"Oh, do tell me when this was, I can’t seem to remember any time I was young though I remember being stupid many times."

Cat laughed, taking a bite of her turkey. "Well, let’s see, there was the night we, and by we I mean those that were actually bored enough to take Advanced Potions, stayed up in an all night study session and spent so much of it bickering we all failed."

"I remember that night. Severus insisted we were mixing the damned potion in the wrong direction and sometime around two A.M. you threatened to use his head for a stirring spoon if he didn’t shut up."

Cat smiled, ashamed of her temper. "That I did, of course, I remember you spending most of the night with your face locked to Narcissa’s lips so I’m surprised you even paid the slightest attention to who else was in the room with you."

"It’s hard to forget Catriona Ligget and Remus Lupin tying poor little Severus Snape to a table in order to get him to shut up."

Cat blushed lightly. "We were a bit hot tempered with him, but it was his fault we didn’t study the potion earlier, insisting we study every potion that Professor Akalam ever mentioned in our seven years at Hogwarts."

Lucius nodded, eating in a thoughtful silence. "What ever happened to us Cat?" He asked after a moment, looking at her. "You were a part of us once, you were Narcissa’s best friend, my first girlfriend, hell you’re Draco’s god mother."

"I grew up. We grew apart, and Voldemort caught your family in his web. As fun as it is to remember what we were Luc, it’s hard to forget what we are. I loved you so much, still do in fact. But I’m the wife of a Muggle, who by the way, threw a lovely row when I told him thanks to your wedding gift." She said, giving him a glare.

Lucius shrugged apologetically, but the smirk on his face told her just how un-sorry he was. She shook her head, smacking his arm lightly. She then turned and looked down at Pansy, watching as Lucius brushed a hand over the girl’s cheek without even realizing he was doing it.

"You really love her don’t you Luc?"

Lucius took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Yeah, I do Cat. I never thought…after Narcissa took her life I never thought I’d love anyone else like I did her but Pansy just brought it out of me. I don’t know how she did it or why I was blessed with her but she means so much to me."

Cat smiled and kissed Lucius’ cheek. "I’m glad your happy Luc, really." She then groaned glancing at the table, realizing an argument was brewing between her husband and eldest son. "Excuse me please." She said, standing and hurrying over to the table, trying to head off the fire works.

After Dinner-

Draco sighed as he stood on the front porch of the old farmhouse, wrapped tightly in Neville’s warm cloak. -So much warmer then my own, more expensive ones - He thought, smiling grimly. –Must be because his grandmum makes them for him- He sighed again and stared out into the clouded sky, placing a cigarette between his lips and sucking on the end, wishing he remembered where he had put that Muggle lighter of Harry’s.

A flame flickered in the darkness and Draco stared at it for a moment before lighting the cigarette, raising his eyes to meet his father’s. Taking a deep drag, he inhaled slowly before letting the smoky cloud escape his lungs, still watching his father as Lucius lit his own cigarette, the smoke curling elegantly from his nose. "Still rolling your own, or have you found a way to smuggle some in from Diagon Alley?" Lucius asked softly, staring out at the night.

"Dean Thomas makes them actually. His father had a machine that did it that he left to him."

"Convenient." Lucius said, still not looking at his son. They stood there for a long, silent moment, each lost to their own thoughts, the smoke curling up around them. It could have been a model poster of a perfect dysfunctional family if there happened to be a roving photographer.

"Do you still care about all of this?" Draco asked, waving his hand to gesture, indicating not the fields he was encompassing, but the whole sordid mess that was their lives.

Lucius remained silent, thinking the question over, his hand gripping the icy, wooden rails of the front porch. "No," He said finally, startling Draco who had thought he wouldn’t answer. "Not any more."

Draco stared at his Lucius’ face, taking in the wrinkles that had sprung up in the space of a few months, the gray that was barley noticeable in the silver blonde of his father’s hair. "Then why continue. Why fight if it’s not worth fighting for?"

"Because it’s all I have left," Lucius said, finally looking at Draco, really looking at him for the first time in a great many years. "I spent thirty-odd years believing in a cause that in the span of a few months, I discovered is not worth believing in. I’ve lost your mother…you…everything I wanted in my life. This is all I have left to me."

"There’s more left to your life then this war, than this man."

Lucius turned away, shaking his head. "I used to believe that."

"Is it worth it?"

Lucius went silent again turning the question over in his mind. He thought about everything he had ever told his son, every lie that had ever passed his lips when Draco had asked that question before. "Is it worth it?" He repeated, staring out into the night, not seeing the snow, or the barren trees, or the lumps in the distance that made up a fence, but instead seeing a small boy, gazing up at his father from his knee, asking if all the fighting, all the disdain, all the cruelty was worth it. "No Draco, it’s not. Nothing is worth dying for. Not pure-blood lines, not Muggles, not even family. Nothing is worth that price."

"But you’re willing to do it anyway?" Draco asked, knowing the answer.

Lucius looked at him again, smirking slightly. "Aren’t you?"

Draco shook his head, smirking as well. "You told me once that a Malfoy always wins."

"I told you that several times." Lucius corrected him.

"Several times," Draco repeated, rolling his eyes. "So if a Malfoy always wins, who’s going to be the victor of this little game?"

Lucius shrugged, looking down at his son. "Does it matter? Both sides will lose in the end; not even we can stop that. It doesn’t matter if the dark side is defeated and Voldemort destroyed forever. Or if he took over the wizarding world and made everyone his slaves. Or even if he donned a tutu and danced the Rumba with Dumbledore. Nothing will be the same again, not for you, or your precious Harry, or any of your fellow classmates and friends. There will be no winners in this game Draco, only losers."

"Does that scare you?"

"It terrifies me. A Malfoy wins at all costs, so my father said to me, so I said to you. Now we’re in over our heads and drowning is our only escape."

Draco turned away from his father, taking counsel with the night. He then shook his head and snubbed out his cigarette. "This is a depressing way to spend a Christmas evening." He turned towards the door, pulling the cloak tighter around him. As he reached for the knob a small sound stopped him and he turned around, looking at his father.

Lucius held out the gold wrapped package he had taken from his pocket and tossed it at Draco who caught it with reflexes long buried inside. Draco stared down at it for a moment before looking up at his father, a question in his eyes.

"Merry Christmas, little dragon." Lucius whispered before turning away, finishing his cigarette.

Draco nodded and headed inside, shutting the door tightly behind him.

"I love you, Draco." Lucius whispered into the night, a tear frozen on his cheek, hidden by the darkness.

Cat banged her head slowly against the wall as Martin yelled at his father something in regards to wizarding rights being trampled and Muggles taking over everything sacred in the wizarding world. She paused, taking a moment to rub her throbbing head as she peered out the window. She cursed as she saw the still falling flakes and turned to look at her sudden guests, rolling her eyes at the obvious divide between them. "Lucius, Neville, come here a moment," She called, heading into the kitchen.

Lucius and Neville followed her, eyeing each other warily as they did. They stood behind her, silent, waiting for her to state why they had been called into a private conference. Cat turned to them, eyeing them up before speaking. "To state the utter obvious, you and your friends are stuck here for the evening. I ask, no, beg of you to stay, as I don’t want to find frozen bodies on my front porch tomorrow. Lucius, there are some blankets in the back hall closet, if you could get them please, and get Martin to help you before I strangle him. Neville, if you could, well, get Draco to stop mouthing curses at the Death Eaters when they pass him it would go a long way. I think Cotty’s starting to copy him."

Neville nodded, smiling up at Cat. "Of course, Mrs. Finnigan. Anything else you need me to get or do for you?"

"Make it stop snowing?" She asked softly, giving him a tired smile. "Or else make a large batch of eggnog with enough brandy to make everyone get along."

Neville patted her shoulder lightly. "I think we used up our limit of Christmas miracles." He said before heading out into the living room for a talk with Draco.

Lucius came back with the blankets, handing them out to his fellow Death Eaters before passing them over to Hannah who handed them out to the Light Wizards, telling each of the boys to be sure to snuggle up warm so they didn’t catch cold.

"Yes mother," Justin said in a whiny voice, smirking and dogging her kick to his legs.

Hannah rolled her eyes, sitting on the edge of the fireplace, putting her feet up on his lap. "You, Mr. Fitch-Fletchley, are very annoying."

"But you love me anyway." He said, un-lacing her boots. He set them on the wood floor and started pulling off her stockings, folding them carefully after he slid them off. He then took her left foot in his hands and started massaging it, smirking as she groaned softly. "And besides, Hannah, you put up with me for this." He said.

"Not the only reason I put up with you." She said with a wicked grin before sitting up and giving him a small kiss. "Merry Christmas Justin."

"Merry Christmas, Hannah." He said, kissing her nose softly and placing something in her lap.

Hanna looked down at the ring box, then up at him, eyes wide. With a shaking hand she picked it up and opened it, staring down at the diamond. "Justin…I…I…" She passed out, nearly singing her hair in the fire.

Draco raised an eyebrow, looking over at her, then up at Justin. "Nice move, Fletchley, now all you have to do is drag her back to your cave." He smirked at Justin and took a long sip of his Butterbeer, trying to ignore the ache in his heart as he thought of where Harry was right now. –Miss you Potter…wish I wasn’t here- He thought with a sigh.

Neville helped Justin arrange Hannah in a bundle of blankets, smiling sadly as Justin placed the ring box next to her. He patted Justin’s shoulder encouragingly. "Just think, when she wakes up she’ll be the happiest woman on Earth."

"You think so?"

"I know it. She would be a fool if she said no."

Justin smiled at Neville and gave his hand a gentle squeeze before arranging his own nest of blankets, snuggling into them and close to Hannah.

Neville turned away from them, arranging his own blankets, ignoring the tears in his eyes. –Not going to think about it, not going to thi…damnit, where are you Percy? - He thought, closing his eyes tightly.

Dennis watched his other team members, curling up on the edge of the fireplace, his chin on his knees. He wondered silently what it was like to be in love. Probably horrible from where Draco and Neville were sitting, and wonderful for Justin and Hannah. With the range of difference, why would anyone WANT to be in love? With a mental shrug, Dennis pulled a blanket around him and curled into it, yawning deeply.

Damian watched as his family and guests settled in for the night, each wrapped up in their own little worlds and their own problems. He shook his head and hobbled slowly towards the door, pausing to turn to look back at them. "Merry Christmas." He whispered before standing a bit straighter, his cane shrinking down into a small, 13 inch ‘twig’. He walked out onto the front porch where a small, white owl waited, shivering. "Hullo, Tom." He said softly and watched as the owl changed into a tall man, his raven hair blowing in the wind.

"Damian." Voldemort said, pulling his cloak tighter around him. "Cold out here."

Damian raised a gray eyebrow at the Dark Lord before hopping on the porch railing, kicking his feet like a child. "Interesting band of merry men you have there."

"That they are Damie, that they are." Voldemort leaned against a porch railing, staring at his young brother. "Remind me again why I’m not in there murdering my enemies."

"Because it’s Christmas."

"You never did grow up did you Damie? You and Christmas."

Damian smiled sweetly up at Voldemort, reminding the older man sharply of the eleven year old that had dragged him out of bed at 5 am just to watch the snow fall on the trees before opening their gifts. "What’s the fun of growing up if you can’t enjoy being a child every now and then? There’s more to life then just power and followers, Tom. There’s love, hope, life, living, and joy…"

"Love, I remember what that is. It’s something that kept your family alive when I should have killed them."

"There’s more then just me keeping you from killing them Tom, you know that." He stood and looked around the overgrown lands of the Riddle House. "You killed the gardener, now look at this place."

"I know, I’ve been meaning to have Wormtail do something about it but why waste the energy? I’m not going to be around to enjoy it."

"You feel it to then? The end is coming for us."

"As it does to all of us in time. I’m prepared for it this time, ready for death."

"Then why leave this as your legacy? I know your heart’s not in it anymore."

Voldemort sighed and leaned on a fence post, looking down at Damian. "Because Damie, it’s who I am. Who I always was. Besides, it’s fun, leave my mark on the world before I go."

Damian stared at his brother for a long moment before shaking his head. "Your idea of fun and mine are vastly different Tom."

"As they always have been." Tom ran his fingers through Damian’s hair for a moment before placing a gentle kiss on his forehead. "I’ll leave you now, Damie. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas Tom. Don’t kill too much?"

Tom smiled, shaking his head. "Don’t enjoy life so much?" He asked, their usual way of saying good-bye.

Damian smirked and closed his eyes, feeling Tom’s hand slid away from him. When he opened them again he was back on his front porch, staring out at the pure-white, unblemished snow. He turned and headed inside, stepping over bodies and sleeping forms, tiptoeing his way into his bedroom. He sat down on his bed, leaning his wand against the night table, staring at it for a long moment before transfiguring it back into a gnarled cane. He took a deep, heavy breath before lying back in the bed; closing his eyes, and letting sleep come for him.

The Next Morning-

Neville yawned and stretched, sitting up slowly. He could smell the wonderful smells of breakfast being cooked, and could hear others moving around in the room with him. Opening his eyes, rubbing them gently he saw Cotty dancing around, draped in garlands, spinning in circles as he tried to trip people passing by.

Hannah and Justin were curled up together in a blanket, and looking so much in love it was slightly sickening. Hannah kept displaying her ring, smiling a great, wide smile that made Neville wonder, sleepily, if she was entirely sane.

Draco was curled up in a corner, dead asleep, his wand at the ready. It was strange, seeing him alone like that, without his usual shadow. Draco and Harry were always curled together when Neville found them in the morning and it was uncomfortable for the young Gryffindor not to see the familiar morning sight, as if all was not well with the world. Draco shifted in his sleep, his hand reaching out for something, but finding only air. With a small whimper her curled his hand back against his body, trying to protect himself from some unknown attack.

Dennis caught Neville’s eye and he focused on the younger boy, smirking as he watched Dennis roll about under his blanket, trying to fight off the morning and claim more sleep. Losing the battle Dennis kicked off his blanket and glared at everyone, blinking sleepily. "Damn sunlight." Dennis mumbled, yawning deeply. "Hate it. Should stamp it out after the Death Eaters."

"Yes, it’s a horrible thing, daylight." Neville said, smirking and standing, stretching more, working out the kinks in his back. "Morning Dennis."

Dennis flipped him off before standing himself and going in search of something to drink and hopefully a toothbrush.

Neville rolled his eyes and gathered the blankets that were being un-used, folding them into a neat pile, nodding to Lucius who handed over his before heading outside for an early morning smoke, soon followed by Dennis, Draco, Martin and Penelope. Neville shook his head, trying to figure out how so many people could enjoy sucking on a piece of paper and cotton, only to be rewarded with a taste of something close to toxic waste.

Carrying the blankets into the back bedroom, he paused when he heard the sounds of crying. Despite his better judgement, Neville followed the sounds, figuring that even though he didn’t know the Finnigans well, he should at least try to comfort the crier. It was the very least he could do.

Cat hurriedly wiped her eyes as she heard someone approaching the door. She turned to the bed and pulled the sheets up over Damian, tucking them in around him, mentally slapping herself for doing something so stupid and useless. She turned towards the door and gave Neville a forced smile. "Hullo, Neville, what can I help you with?"

"I was just going to ask how I could help you." Neville said, setting the blankets down. "I heard someone crying in here."

"Oh, don’t worry about that dear, just got a little dust in my eye."

Neville looked at her for a moment before turning his gaze to Damian. "Died in his sleep did he?"

"H…How did you know?"

"You forget ma’am, I’ve been on the field for a few months now. Even I can recognize the signs of death."

Cat sniffled, trying not to start crying again. "I just don’t understand it, he should have had so many years left in him. Why did he have to go now?"

"Because it was his time. The end comes for all of us, and when it’s time, it’s time." Neville said softly. He walked over to her and hugged her tightly, giving her a bit of his strength.

Cat hugged him close for a long while, taking comfort in the young man she had always considered a son to her. "Thank you Neville, for coming in here. I didn’t know how I could face everyone after this."

Neville nodded, pulling away. "Come on, I smell breakfast and you could do with a bit of food before you have to tell the others."

"I’m going to wait, till everyone leaves. Burke would want to be strong in front of the guests."

Neville nodded and lead her out of the room, glancing back at the kindly old man who had invited them all in from the cold. He sent a silent prayer up for his soul, a tear escaping from his eye.

Lucius huddled in his cloak, watching as Draco, Neville and Penelope conferred quietly over Pansy how best to get her to the nearest Apparition portal. With a small nod, Penelope took her leave of the boys and stomped up the steps to Lucius, trying to get some feeling back into her toes. "They can help us create a stretcher for her, one that won’t jostle her too much, but…it comes at a price."

"Of course it does." Lucius muttered, rolling his eyes at the girl before looking down at her. "Well?"

"They want to use the portal to get back to Hogwarts."

"We’ll have to move it if they do."

"I know. Well? You’re the leader here, and you’re in charge of the portals anyway."

Lucius stared down at the shivering group of young wizards, turning the deal over in his mind. "Fine, but they better be careful with her." He said, glaring down at Penelope.

Penelope nodded and stomped back down the steps, nodding to Neville and Draco. Soon they had wrapped Pansy in their cloaks and borrowed blankets, getting her settled on a half-Muggle, half-magical stretcher that would keep her warm and free of movement as the group traveled.

With a flurry of hugs on Cat’s part and a few grunts on Burke’s, the group set off, waving back at the Finnigans, calling thank yous for the night spent there.

Cotty waved sadly at the group as they started off, wishing he could follow them. He didn’t want to be stuck at his Uncle’s house, far way from people who liked to play with trains and knew magic. He wanted to go with Draco and Neville and see his cousin Seamus and go to Hogwarts. He waved harder as the group started to grow smaller and smaller, not realizing that his waving was causing a small bush in the front yard to bloom.

Hours later and a great distance from the small farm, the group stopped in a small grove of trees, tired and weary of each other’s company. Draco set down his side of Pansy’s stretcher and pulled out a cigarette, lighting it with his recovered wand. Neville gave him a look and adjusted Pansy’s coverings before looking up at Lucius. "This is where we leave you. I…thank you for showing us where it was." He said stiffly, unaccustomed to thanking Death Eaters for anything.

Lucius nodded and tapped his wand against a tree. The area between three of the trees glowed, a circular platform emerging from the snow. He turned back to Neville, waving his hand at it. "Just state your destination, all the usual points are coded into it, except the Hogwarts entrance. The closest you can get now is Hogsmeade station."

"That’ll be close enough." Neville said and on a sudden impulse, held out his hand.

Lucius stared at it for a long moment before taking the boy’s hand, shaking it firmly. "Take care of my son Longbottom."

Neville smirked and glanced at Draco before looking back at Lucius. "I think he’d shove my wand up my arse before allowing that." With that, Neville stepped onto the platform and Apparated back to Hogsmeade, glancing wearily about for a sign of a trap before sending back to them a small coin, letting his teammates know it was safe.

Hannah and Justin followed Neville, wands at the ready just in case their leader had been wrong, only to be thrown off the Apparition portal by Dennis, who, eager to get home, had ignored protocol and followed right after them.

Draco stood on the Apparition portal, not leaving just yet. Instead he stared at his father for a moment, memorizing the man’s image for later review.

Lucius stared back at his son, allowing himself to taken in the image of the young man he had become. "Stay safe, Draco." He said softly, breaking the tense silence. Draco stared at him, still silent.

Lucius let his eyes drop to the dragon pendent around his neck, Lucius’ Christmas gift to him. A small silver dragon curled around a golden lion. His eyes went back up to Draco’s and he sighed. "Keep him safe too. The wizarding world needs it’s heroes."

Draco nodded once before closing his eyes. "Apparatus, Hogsmeade Station." He whispered and when he opened his eyes again, he was staring into Neville’s. "Let’s go home."