?????? ???? | Lucius Malfoy

Priscilla and Isobel had ended up spending the next hour playing with the adorable little white kitten, while sharing a bottle of baileys to get more into the Christmas spirit.

It finally came time for dinner, and Izzy bought Ringo down with her, filling a small bowl full of the turkey so she could enjoy the Christmas dinner too.

At the table, Izzy was sat at the head of the table, opposite Stefan Miles - ironically it was the youngest two who sat at the heads of the table.

She was still next to Lacey and Enzo. Enzo was a little surprised looking at Izzy's plate, Lacey was used to it.

All she ate at Christmas was a tiny bit of turkey, two small potatoes, and half the bag of Yorkshire puddings.

"Seriously, what are you doing?" Enzo chuckled, watching Isobel fill the yorkshires with cranberry sauce.

"Don't look so shocked," Lacey started. "You must know by now how fussy she is."

"Yeah, but this?"

"I don't like the rest of it. This is my idea of a perfect Christmas dinner." Izzy defended, and tried to subtly put her own turkey into Ringo's bowl on the floor next to her.

"That's crazy." He muttered.

"Want a couple more potatoes Enzo?"

"Izzy, you can't be serious."

Before he could protest any further, she put her roast potatoes onto his plate, leaving nothing but four yorkshires.

"She does this every year." Lacey said, then put her own Yorkshire puddings onto Lacey's plate, and reached over to steal Stefan's stuffing. "I love this stuff."

Enzo was shocked, not because of Izzy's eating habits - well, partially - but because he'd never seen a family actually get along before. Not like this.

The closest you'd get with the Malfoys would be a meal in silence, it felt off to have all this noise but no arguing.

The dinner continued for almost an hour, and everyone migrated back to where they were before eating; Alexander and Bridgette in the kitchen, Miles, Enzo and Stefan playing video games, Lacey back to her bed for a nap, whilst Priscilla and Izzy went out back for a sneaky cigarette.

Well, they tried. To get to the garden, you'd have to go through the kitchen, and past their parents.

When that didn't work, Cilla gave up and Izzy dragged Enzo out for a walk round the block.

"So.. first Christmas dinner completely away from family.. thoughts?" Izzy asked, in between puffs.

"It was, different." Lorenzo said slowly, having a rare cigarette - he'd never been much of a smoker.

"Good different?"

"Yeah. Yeah, it was.. nice."

"Very loud, I know. It's hard to get a word in most of the time; what with all the different conversations going on." She chuckled, and he nodded in agreement.

"True. It's always pretty loud at the manor over Christmas, but a different kind of loud."

"Arguments?"

"Yep." He sighed. "Lucius and Cissa were always screaming at each other. Constantly. It's been so quiet in the past few weeks - even with us getting drunk every night and Blaise.. Blaise just being there."

Izzy couldn't help but laugh at that last part, but she understood. Her parents had definitely had their issues in the past, but with all the kids grown up (for the most part) it was definitely less stressful.

"Sorry.. so it's always been like that? Not just like recent years, but-"

"I assume since they first met. They never even liked each other. But it's been nice today, and since Cissa left. I miss her, but it's for the best. Even Lucius seems to have become happier. Which is weird because she'd been moved out for almost a year but he was still grumpy all the time."

"Oh.."

"Maybe having Draco home has helped."

"Yeah, it's probably that." Izzy agreed. "Draco being around definitely helps."

"Maybe he's been seeing someone." Enzo thought out loud.

"What?.. makes you think that? What makes you think that?" She stuttered, lighting a second cigarette.

"Well he's been happier, sex does that." He started. "And I saw some women's shoes in his study last a couple weeks ago. It was a few days after you got here."

"Maybe they were Mrs. Malfoys?"

"They were massive platforms - I've seen strippers wear smaller heels."

"Where have you seen that?" Izzy asked with genuine concern.

"Don't worry about it. But let's get back to the point." He said, as they stopped in front of the Thornton house. "Isobel."

"That's so weird."

"I haven't even said anything yet?"

"Sorry. I just don't remember the last time you called me Isobel."

"Well, Isobel-"

"It's weird."

"Oh, Merlin's beard, you're impossible."

"Oi!"

"Izzy." He sighed.

"Good boy." She joked, and he gave her a look.

"I'll leave and never come back."

"Get home safe?"

"Izzy."

"Yes?"

"Thank you for today. I know I wasn't your first choice as a date for family Christmas, but I'm glad you invited me. This is the first time I've seen a family that doesn't all hate each other. It was nice. A good reminder that family doesn't mean.. suffering? That sounds dramatic, but.."

He didn't get to finish his sentence before Isobel pulled him in for a hug.

They stayed hugging for a while, and finally pulled away to go inside, but Izzy stopped right at the door.

"Lorenzo."

"Actually you're right, it is weird."

"Enzo."

"Good girl."

"Don't even-"

"Go on."

"Enzo, you don't have to thank me for this. You're my family too. Oh! Next year we should do Christmas dinner but like.. with everyone. Onyx, Draco, Pansy, Theo, Blaise, that would be-"

"Very cool. Great idea. Now please open the door."

"Right. Sorry, it is freezing out."