No thanks

[alt_draco]

Mother and Father, I'm writing here to let you know that I won't be owling your Christmas gifts off in time for Christmas Day.

I'll send them off later, at some point when it's a bit more convenient for me. Possibly this could be months from now. Sorry about that, I'd give more explanation but I have exams to think about right now. Let's just say that something's come up, yeah?

Your son,
Draco

Comments

[alt_narcissa]

Oh, Draco.

I know you're upset, sweetheart, but really. Mother's going to send along all sorts of treats. It shan't be that bad.

You know we'd both prefer you come home as planned, but sometimes these things just happen.

[alt_draco]

Oh really? What things happened then, exactly?

[alt_narcissa]

Well, darling, there are a few things going on. I think most importantly, Our Lord wants no one to feel that Hogwarts is unsafe, no matter what that lunatic blood-traitor has to say about it.

And, there are other things.

[alt_draco]

Well of course Hogwarts will be safe over the holiday. You know why? Because no one is here! No one but ghosts and house elves and old people and Ron bloody Weasley. What a grand time.

[alt_lucius]

Enough.

You will not speak to your mother in this manner. You are staying and that is an end to it.

[alt_draco]

Oh, of course, you only get upset only when she gets upset. If I'm upset I'm just throwing a wobbly or having a pout.

Maybe I'm glad I have to stay.

[alt_lucius]

If you are aware that you are pouting, then why do you persist?

You are lucky that your mother has already insisted that you receive the full measure of her generosity with no penalty and no punishment. Otherwise I should be sorely tempted, young man, to truly cancel your Christmas indefinitely.

I am displeased not because you have upset your mother but because you are behaving in a most immature and disrespectful manner. Mind you remember that we are still your parents, not your servants to bend to your whim.

[alt_draco]

Right. Servants don't cancel Christmas, parents do.

[alt_narcissa]

Oh, sweetheart.

[alt_narcissa]

Oh, darling. You don't mean that.

Listen to your cousin. It will be a wrench not to have you home, but you'll enjoy yourselves.

Do try to understand, son. And please don't vex your father further. He really had little choice in the matter - not, of course, that we feel you're in poor hands. Hogwarts is really quite lovely at Christmastime.

Perhaps we might come and see you, would you like that?

[alt_lucius]

Draco, neither your mother nor I have time for this nonsense. It is understandable that you are disappointed, as are we. But I am most surprised to see you succumb to these outbursts of childish temperament.

You were provided an explanation that ought to have been sufficient. If you required more detail, you might have remained calm and written to us privately.

Now, I want no more of this foolishness.

[alt_draco]

The tone of my writing is quite calm, actually. I merely wanted to inform you of circumstances that have come up which prevent me from acknowledging you properly on this holiday. I'm sorry that you think the explanation that I've provided you with is foolish and not sufficient. I would have written privately, but seeing as you're so very busy I wasn't certain you'd have time to read it, you see.

[alt_lucius]

The tone of your writing in both your message and your reply is decidedly surly and do not think that prevaricating with me is in any way acceptable, my son.

Be assured that you need not fret over sending our gifts. That is the least of our concern. As for your claim that I am too preoccupied with business to read your letters, consider that this show of petulance taxes my time and my patience much more greatly than your usual letters.

[alt_narcissa]

Lucius, please. It's no use getting cross with him, anyone can understand he's upset.

Draco, he didn't mean it to sound as ... well, as dismissive as all that. Did you, my love?

We always value your letters home, son. And don't worry, dearest, we'll be sending you all you need for a jolly Christmas with Harry and your cousin Hydra. You'll barely miss being home.

Please you two, don't quarrel.

[alt_draco]

If you don't like it then why don't you just punish me, then. At least then I'll know I deserved it this time.

[alt_narcissa]

No one is punishing you, Draco. Neither you nor Harry have done anything wrong.

You've every right to be dismayed. Your father is just ... you know how he is.

[alt_lucius]

Narcissa, I'll thank you not to encourage our son's display of temper.

You are naturally correct that we none of us are pleased with this outcome, but Our Lord has expressed His will and that must be enough for us all. You need make no excuses for me or for yourself; it is for Draco to accept his parents' decisions on his behalf with grace and dignity.

Our confidence in the safety of Hogwarts can be demonstrated no better than by entrusting him to the care of the school. As for the 'other reasons' that is a matter of confidential deliberation at the Ministry, as yet, and he will learn of it when it is appropriate and not before.

[alt_narcissa]

Lucius, really. He's not out of bounds to be so disappointed. You two are just feeding off each other. Let him get it out of his system and he'll feel much better.

You can't expect him to accept things like an adult would, he's still a boy. He hasn't had to grow up quickly like you did, and thank Merlin for that.

Now, I thought I heard you say that you have a few letters to return. Why don't you put the journal down and let our son cool off before you revisit the topic?

[alt_harry]

Well if we haven't done anything wrong then why don't we have Christmas then?

I suppose I'm not allowed to send Father a howler. I'm not allowed to do anything. And he won't say anything to me here anyway. I bet he doesn't even write me. Sometimes he forgets. But you're meaner than him. You promised Draco!!

[alt_narcissa]

You shall most certainly have a Christmas, Harry, just not the one we any of us intended.

I don't much recommend sending Him a Howler, no.

As for our promises to Draco, dear, that is for us to address with him. I do appreciate your impulse to support him, of course. We have always been pleased that you two boys are such very good friends.

But to be quite honest, I thought you would be glad that he is staying with you. Weren't you unhappy when we went away last summer and you two could not spend time together? I thought you might prefer having him there at Hogwarts with you than think of him home with us, playing host to all your classmates without you there as well.

[alt_harry]

Well I don't think I like EITHER very much. Cause now it's my fault he doesn't get Christmas!!

[alt_narcissa]

Draco, really. I know you're upset but you hardly need to adopt such an attitude.

It's horribly unfair, of course. None of us is happy about it.

[alt_hydra]

Don't you think we might make it a grand time, Draco?
You and me and Harry, we can look all around the castle, and it will be so much quieter than usual, with just us, and we can go anywhere.
We can go flying in the snow, if it snows.
Maybe there will be real hot cocoa to drink.

From,
Hydra

[alt_draco]

Hydra, what did your letter, the one from Auntie, I mean your Mother, say about why you had to stay in the castle?

[alt_hydra]

Oh that, it didn't say a lot just that the Lord has decided Harry will stay and so I will stay too to keep Harry company and that if I keep Harry company I will be making the Lord pleased.

From,
Hydra

[alt_draco]

And that's... you're not upset that you have to stay? Why not?

[alt_hydra]

I don't know.
I did want to watch Daddy work on his dark objects, so I'm sorry I'll miss that.
But I'll still get gifts I think.
And this way I can make sure that Tully doesn't bother Mummy at home.

From,
Hydra

[alt_harry]

Well at least we all have each other. I suppose.

[alt_regulus]

You have the manticore by the wrong end, cousin. Your mother had no more notice than you did of this change of plans, and it is terrifically insensitive of you to rail at her when she herself is suffering disappointment. Your mother's only Christmas wish was to welcome you home.

There's more to it than that, however. It's time you learnt that we have a duty to serve in any way we are asked and at any time. I guarantee you my father and mother would have flayed me and sent my skin to the tanners had I reacted to instructions from them--let alone instructions from Our Lord--as you have done.

Our families, cousin, have always borne wizarding society on the backs of our dutiful service to the greater good, and in return for our unquestioning service, we enjoy great privileges. You behave as though it were the other way round: as if your privilege were your right before you've grown to an age where you can offer service of any note at all.

Luckily for you, your mother can't bear to have you disappointed. She and I spent the morning preparing a large array of parcels to equip you should you wish to host a holiday party of your own there at the school. You will want for nothing that the guests here will enjoy. You should expect to hear from the caretaker there this evening or tomorrow morning at the latest that a whole parliament of owls has arrived for you.

If I were you, I would begin now to rehearse an appropriate thank you for your mother.

[alt_draco]

Thanks ever so much for the advice. It's funny to see you talk about duty, of all things.

I appreciate Mother's efforts, but I would have rather been at the Manor with no gifts than be here with a whole parliament of them.

[alt_regulus]

Funny? Maybe from your vantage.

Let's say that I've learnt some things about duty--and that some of those lessons have been more recent and more severe than others. I hope you never need the sort of remedial instruction I've required.

As we both know, my family illustrates a particularly bitter truth: parents may do their very best to instruct their sons in the traditions and obligations of their noble (and ancient) names, and yet those sons may stubbornly disappoint.

If you'd like to blame someone for your current lot, you need look no further than my elder brother. (And if you're wise, you won't follow the path either of us chose--as sons or subjects.)

[alt_sirius]

What?

Don't go laying the whims of that madman at my feet, little brother. He may claim I'm at the heart of the timing, but his depraved idea of justice just keeps getting further and further away from anything resembling reason. How is leaving these students at Hogwarts going to solve anything about the Chamber? How does it prove me wrong? It's just another case of transferring his impotent rage onto some other innocent target.

As for disappointing in the face of traditions, names and houses, perhaps it's about time the lad begins to question what lies beneath those 'noble' attributes his families boast. And who they've harmed to attain their vaulted status, as well.

[alt_crouch_jr]

Spreading your lies in children's pages, Black? That's low, even for you.

As Draco knows, Our Lord sacrificed the pleasures of His own holiday so the parents of all Hogwarts's pupils will rest assured that all is well at the school. The things that have happened there are malicious pranks, nothing more; their perpetrators will be brought to light and to punishment in due time. Of that you may be quite sure.