I do not own Harry Potter or it's characters, this is merely a work of fanfiction.

This is another long chapter. I really wanted to get through all of Yule Break.So grab a snack, grab a beverage, and settle in. I am sure the second year will go a bit more quickly, but there is a lot to establish in the beginning of a story. I hope you enjoy! I would love to hear your feedback:)

Just a reminder that I have created a pinterest board for this story, and posted moodboards for a lot of the character's. Please check that out if you want to see a visual representation. Thanks! :) https://pin.it/7zoJY3q

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

As they arrived at the manor, Holly breathed a sigh of relief. She felt the ancestral Malfoy magic wrap around her like a warm blanket.

"Little Mistress and Little Master is home!" Mipsy screeched as she hugged their legs, "Mipsy is missing yous so much! Look at you both, so skinny! Hogwarts elves don't know how to take care of you!"

Draco and Holly laughed, and patted her on the head. They had certainly both grown larger over the past few months, but there was no use trying to tell Mipsy that. To her there was no better place than Malfoy Manor, and no better house elves than her staff.

Lady Malfoy shooed her off from them, and directed them to their rooms. They were expecting company soon.

Holly showered quickly and went into her walk in closet. It was so nice to be able to dress as she pleased again. Mipsy hadn't unpacked her trunk yet, but Lady Malfoy had obviously been shopping in her absence, because everything she needed was within.

She picked out a light blue dress, with long sleeves and a full skirt. She went to her drawer that housed her glove collection, and pulled out a pair of sheer white gloves to wear with it. She quickly buckled her favorite shoes, and left the closet.

Lady Malfoy was sitting on the couch, just like everyday that summer, ready to brush and braid Holly's hair. Holly smiled at her, and took her usual place in front of the vanity.

"I'm glad your home dear," Lady Malfoy said as she brushed through Holly's long hair. She noticed it seemed to have grown even longer during her time at school. By the time she was old enough to bond it would be down to her ankles.

"I'm glad I'm home too," Holly assured her.

Lady Malfoy weaved her hair into intricate braids, and placed ribbons that matched her dress in the plaits.

"It's beautiful," Holly whispered, as she touched the braids gingerly.

Lady Malfoy smiled back at her reflection, "Thank you, dear. Now let's go greet our guests."

Holly grabbed her wand off the vanity, and placed it into the wand pocket that was sewn into all of her dresses. She followed Lady Malfoy through the first floor of the manor, to a formal breakfast room that she had never been in before.

She saw Draco standing next to Lord Malfoy, and two people she had never met before. A lanky man with black curls, and a girl with hair as pale and fine as Draco's. Holly went to stand by Draco's side, as she always did.

"You're awfully pretty," the girl said as she held out a bouquet of flowers to Holly. Holly chuckled as the girl's father corrected her. Not many people commented on her looks, besides to tell her how small she was.

The girl in question was incredibly pretty herself, and appeared to be a couple years older than them. She wore a pretty set of dress robes that seemed to shift colors between pink and lavender, depending on how the light hit them.

"Thank you," she said as she took the flowers and curtsied, "I'm Lady Holly Potter, but you can call me Holly."

"Oh lovely," the girl said, "I'm Heiress Luna Black, but you can call me Luna. I'm Draco's cousin...or something. See my dad, Lord Black here, is Cissa's cousin, and Draco's godfather."

Lord Black was looking down at his daughter with indulgence. She had received etiquette lessons with the finest tutors in France, but she was still uniquely Luna. Just as her mother Pandora had been a creature all her own, so it was with Luna. She could not be tamed.

"Oh that's lovely!" Holly giggled as she smelled the flowers Luna had handed her. They were gorgeous.

"I picked them from the gardens at Beauxbatons, but don't tell anyone! It is strictly forbidden, but how can they control nature? I put a stasis charm on them for you, so they won't die."

Holly ran a finger over one of the petals. It was a precious gift, and she would treasure it.

"Thank you very much," she responded as the adults led them over to the table. She sat between Draco and Luna and listened as Lord Black asked Draco questions about school, and generally caught up with the family.

Holly mentally compared Luna and her father. They were both of a slim build, and shared the same piercing silver-blue eyes. Luna's hair however was the palest blonde, while her father's was as dark as could be.

Luna leaned in to whisper to Holly, "Papa is an expert on the Founders Families, he can help you."

Holly's head snapped to the side, but Luna was already talking to Lady Malfoy, telling her all about her time at Beauxbatons.

How did she know? Had Lord and Lady Malfoy told her? She would have to ask them later.

Draco was pleased to see his cousin Luna, and Lord Black. They usually went to France at least once a year, but it would be much better to have them here in Britain. It was a shame that Luna was going to Beauxbatons instead of Hogwarts.

"Cousin, you really should consider transferring to Hogwarts now that Lord Black has moved back to Britain. We could all be together, all the time, wouldn't that be fun?"

Luna looked inquisitively at her father, who seemed to be struggling. "Luna would be the first part-veela to attend Hogwarts since her mother. I am not sure how she would fit in."

Luna nodded sagely.

Veela were fairly commonplace at Beauxbatons, there were several part-veela families in attendance. She didn't know how the students at Hogwarts would react to her. Her veela genes seemed to cause extreme jealousy in some girls, though her part-veela dorm mates at Beauxbatons had no such struggles. Her allure was generally not an issue, since she was only a quarter veela, though she was known to turn heads.

Luna was content to follow her father's instruction on this. She would stay where she was until her Papa said it was time to transfer.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Holly sat by the fire with Draco. The kitchen elves had supplied marshmallows for toasting, and Lord and Lady Malfoy were enjoying a drink while they talked about the children's year with them.

When she told them about her meeting with Headmaster Dumbledore, Lord Malfoy's glass had shattered in his hand.

Dobby had been called to clean the mess, and heal Lord Malfoy's hand, while Mipsy was instructed to fetch the package, but not to touch it with her hands. He would check it after the children went to bed.

"It will be taken care of, my dear. You must know that I consider you a daughter now. No one hurts my family and lives. His days are numbered, but we must be patient. If he tries to meet alone with you again, activate your Heiress ring and we will come to you. It is unacceptable. Your Potions master too, played a part, and he will pay the price."

Holly wondered if she should be wary of Lord Malfoy's violent words. She knew some people would condemn violence all together, such as their Headmaster.

She couldn't find it within herself to disapprove. All she felt was loved and cherished.

"Thank you," she whispered. A thought occurred to her, and she moved from her spot by the fireplace to sit on the sofa across from Lord and Lady Malfoy.

"Luna...how did she know about my Founders heritage? She said Lord Black could help me."

Lord and Lady Malfoy looked at each other with amusement written clearly on their faces. Lord Malfoy took the new tumbler of firewhiskey that Mipsy offered and explained.

"Luna is a seer. She has never made a prophecy, but she just knows things. Her mother was similar, if I remember correctly. Keep it in the family, please. There are those who would try to use seer's for their own gain. Most people think she is merely eccentric, and it is best to let them think that."

Holly nodded. That made sense. They had to protect Luna, just as everyone protected her. It was a give and take.

They took care of their own in a way that many talked about, but few actually carried through.If anything, they talked very little, and let their actions do the talking.

"She's three years older than you, but only two years ahead in school. Her mind healer thought she could use another year to adjust, after the death of her mother. It was very hard on her."

Poor Luna.

And yet- she was so sweet and friendly. Holly hoped in time she could learn to be half as friendly and outgoing as Luna seemed to be naturally.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Gringotts was imposing, but Luna's airy narration kept Holly's spirits light as they walked down the marble lobby, to a desk where a goblin sat.

Lady Malfoy explained to the goblin that Lady Potter wanted a thorough survey and inventory of her vaults. The goblin ushered them to an office where they were met by a goblin named Short-Snout, who was in charge of the Potter accounts.

"Welcome Lady Potter, Lady Malfoy, Heiress Black. Please, have a seat. Someone should be up shortly with an updated report on your vaults. They are surveyed yearly for security purposes, so they just need to verify the findings from last year."

Holly nodded, and took the seat in between Luna and Lady Malfoy. Luna had asked to come with them, as she had some banking to see to. Holly enjoyed her company. Her unique way of seeing the world lifted Holly's spirits.

A smaller goblin came into the room and handed a scroll of parchment to Short-Snout. He looked it over and then passed it to Holly. "It looks as if everything is in order. Nothing has changed since last year's survey, except the amount you withdrew when you were here with Mister Rubeus Hagrid."

Holly nodded her acknowledgment, and looked over the parchment. At the top was her name written in calligraphy, with a list of her vaults and properties beneath it. The vault she had been shown when she came with Hagrid was only the tip of a very large iceberg. It was a trust account that her parents had set up when she was born, in case anything happened to them.

The Potter's owned several properties, and several vaults that now belonged to her. She was also the owner of the Peverell vaults, which she assumed had not been touched in ages. It was an ancient line that had all but died out. It was her connection to Salazar Slytherin.

Further down the scroll was an inventory of each vault. Her eyes nearly bugged out of her head when she saw the total amount of gold in her vaults. She was fairly certain she would never have to work her entire life, if she didn't want to, and that was just her wealth, not Draco's.

She perused the list of vaults, and came to one that seemed to hold possessions of the last few generations of Potters. It was a hodge-podge of furniture, clothing, jewels, books, and journals.

"What is this vault?" she asked Short-Snout, pointing it out on the parchment. He peered at the parchment, and then up at her.

"Ah yes, this vault is most unusual. Most old pureblood families use vaults for one particular type of thing- gold, furniture, jewels, etc. This vault, however, was hastily assembled. It was set up by your Godfather in your name, before his passing. He had what could be salvaged from your home in Godric's Hollow placed within. He also collected the most valuable possessions from Potter Manor, and placed them within for safe-keeping. If I remember correctly, he was mumbling something about a traitor, and trusting no one."

"Sadly, that makes complete sense," Holly responded as she perused the vault's inventory. She stopped at the list of journals. There were the personal journals of her grandparents, Charlus and Dorea Potter, and even a few of her parents' journals.

She continued her perusal of her other vaults, and noted that there was a vault that seemed to be entirely jewels, and previous Lady Potter's wardrobes. Now that was interesting. There were several Lady Potter rings listed. She looked over the last of the parchment, and rolled it up.

"May I keep this?" she asked.

"Of course Lady Potter, it is yours. Is there anything you would like to withdraw today?"

"Yes. I would like all the journals from the vault my godfather set up, as well as the Lady Potter rings."

"Of course," Short-Snout replied as he filled out a withdrawal form with a quill. He pushed it across to Holly and she took the quill and signed it. He rang a bell and the same small goblin came in and took the form out, presumably to get her withdrawal ready.

Lady Malfoy was proud of Holly, she was handling all of this very well. She had not truly been put in charge of a vault until she married Lucius at seventeen, and even then it had been a tad overwhelming.

"Lady Potter, forgive the intrusion, but do you plan to claim your title as Lady Slytherin?" Short-Snout inquired.

They all froze. They hadn't said a thing, how did he know?

"How did you know about that?" Lady Malfoy asked icily.

Short-Snout snorted and laughed, "Pardon me, Lady Malfoy, but we goblins know pureblood genealogy better than purebloods do. We have to, to make sure the vaults are being held in the right hands. It may not be well known that the Potter's are descended from the Peverell's, and therefore to Lord Salazar Slytherin, but it is known to the goblins."

"We would appreciate your discretion," Lady Malfoy replied.

"Of course," Short-Snout assured, "We do not speak out of turn about our clients. I merely ask so that the vaults may be prepared if you wish to claim them. They have not been in use since the death of the former Lord Slytherin."

Yes, of course. Lord Voldemort. That meant the vault's had been sitting dormant for at least a decade.

"I will not claim my title yet. There are those who would make my way hard, if I was declared Lady Slytherin so young."

Short-Snout nodded. He knew exactly who she was referring to. Headmaster Albus Dumbledore was a meddling fool, who the goblin's preferred not to deal with when at all possible. He never did seem pleased that they would not follow his orders, or allow his machinations.

"Well, when you are ready Lady Potter, you will have me on your side. I will do whatever I can to ease your way."

"Thank you, Short-Snout."

Just then, the small goblin came in with the items she had asked for on a tray. The journals were leather bound with the name of the writer and the year emblazoned on the spine. She took them and handed them to Lady Malfoy, who stowed them in her expandable handbag. She did the same with the tray of rings. They could be stored in the vault at Malfoy Manor, where she could pick one to wear.

"Oh those are lovely," Luna mused airily as Lady Malfoy placed them in her bag.

"Indeed they are," Lady Malfoy replied, "Is there anything else you need to take care of dears?"

Luna asked to withdraw some gold for their Yule shopping, and then they were ready to go.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Lord Malfoy twirled his wand in his hand. It wasn't everyday that he crossed wands in a duel. He had people to do that for him, but his daughter's safety was of the utmost importance, and he would trust no one else with it. He wanted to get this over with so they could enjoy the rest of the Yule break with their family.

Severus Snape had to be removed from Holly's sphere. As she grew, Lord Malfoy had little faith in his ability to separate her from her mother.

Lord Black had insisted on accompanying him to the meeting. They stood on the outskirts of the Hogwarts wards as snow fell from the night sky. They did not want witnesses to this.

Severus entered the clearing, and looked at them derisively. Lord Malfoy had never been more tempted to throw aside his wand and use his fists to beat someone the muggle way. No wonder Holly had punched that Weasley boy.

"What is this about?" Snape drawled, looking between Lord Malfoy and Lord Black. It had been over a decade since he had seen Lord Black, and the years showed on his face.

"Oh, I think you know," Lord Malfoy accused, as he stilled his twirling wand.

Severus raised an eyebrow, but did not respond. He merely drew his wand. He hadn't done anything. He had barely talked to Heir Malfoy or Lady Potter.

"If you have something to say, say it Lucius!" Severus spat. Lord Black scoffed. The man's arrogance knew no bounds.

"It is time for you to leave Hogwarts."

Severus rolled his eyes."Now why would I do that?"

Lord Malfoy ignored his question.

"Did you know what he planned to do?" he asked evenly, his wand trained on the Potions master.

"What are you talking about?!" Severus demanded, raising his own wand to point back at Lord Malfoy.

Lord Black snapped and shot a stinging hex at Severus' shoulder. "Your precious Headmaster tried to mind rape Lady Potter!"

Severus gasped, and gripped his shoulder where he had been hit with the stinging hex. Regulus fought to keep control of his magic.

"You allowed it to happen! You were the one who told her to go to his office. You should have never delivered that message!"

Lord Black could feel all his brokenness pouring out. Years of pent up rage, and loss were on the edge of pouring out in violent fits of magic. The loss of his brother, the loss of Pandora, it was too much. It was too much.

He was certain that the Potters' death had something to do with the man across the clearing, and if the Potters had never died, his brother would have never gone after Pettigrew. He would still be here, helping Regulus to raise his daughter, maybe even have one of his own. Severus stilled. In all his years at Hogwarts with Lord Black, he had never seen him so much as raise his voice, let alone yell like this.

"Surely you are mistaken..." Severus trailed off.

Surely, Headmaster Dumbledore wouldn't do that to Lady Potter. Then again, maybe his trust in the Headmaster was misplaced. She had already been through so much. He knew Petunia was a nightmare, but something must have been severely wrong for her to jump ship to the Malfoy's at the first chance she got.

"I am not mistaken!" Lord Malfoy glowered, all but shaking with rage. He aimed a bombarda at a tree just behind Severus. The spell missed him by a hair and the wood splintered and rained down on top of him. Severus could tell by the fire in his eyes that he was treading in dangerous territory. He was absolutely certain of what had occurred.