Christmas at Malfoy Manor

Looking around surveying the wreckage of the holidays, I can’t help but think about how different everything is from my childhood memories. I guess that is the point, though, to raise Scorpius differently than how I was raised. There were no brightly wrapped presents, no bright lights twinkling from the trees, and a lack of Christmas smells in the air.

I never went without during the holidays. It was just a different atmosphere. Holidays at Hogwarts used to make me sick. All the singing, Christmas smells, and festive spirit made me hate everyone even more. I couldn’t wait to be back home in the solitude and quiet that the Manor provides.

Mother had our house tastefully decorated. There was no lack of presents under the tree. However, they were not wrapped with brightly colored paper. Silver and green was the color scheme for my Christmases as a child. Not the warmest of color schemes, but it was what I knew. Mother always had the house-elves adorn the Christmas trees with white lights and nothing else. All the decorative banners got switched to elegant emerald and silver.

Similar to now, there was always a holiday party. Back then, everyone was dressed in their formal dress robes, mingling while classical music played in the background. These parties were never much fun for a child, but I learned my place in life very quickly. I never thought that I was missing out, but looking around the Manor now, I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Now the Manor is crowded with people, dressed in warm winter clothes. Weasley sweaters were scattered throughout, and heaping platters of cookies were being passed around. Bright, colorful lights are covering the trees and running down the banister. The kids are sitting on the floor laughing and talking while stuffing their mouths full of homemade cookies. Wrapping paper with a magnitude of colors and patterns sat in heaps throughout the room, a memory of all the presents under the trees. Looking at all the smiling faces around me, the light that is shining from Scorpius’s eyes, and the smell of gingerbread in the air, it hits me.

This is what Christmas is supposed to be. You should be surrounded by the ones you love, sharing laughter and memories. I have never had the warmest of personalities, but I am trying. Happy holidays to you and your family, and may your Christmas always be merry.