Camellia, Neville, Draco, Ron and Hermione were on the Hogwarts Express, back to home, playing games and having simple banter.
Ron also started teaching Camellia and Hermione wizard chess. This was exactly like Muggle chess except that the figures were alive, which made it a lot like directing troops in battle. Ron's set was very old and battered. Like everything else he owned, it had once belonged to someone else in his family -- in this case, his grandfather. However, old chessmen weren't a drawback at all. Ron knew them so well he never had trouble getting them to do what he wanted.
Camellia played with chessmen Draco had lent her, and they had complete trust in her, even more than they did to their real owner. Draco didn't really seem bothered. She wasn't a very good player yet and they kept shouting different bits of advice at her, which was confusing. "Don't send me there, can't you see his knight? Send him, we can afford to lose him." Though by the end of the long ride, she had managed to beat him twice.
They got off at the platform 9 and 3/4, and a few second later, Tom Riddle apparated next to them. He hugged Camellia gently, and shook the boy's hands.
''And you must be Hermione Granger. I've heard a lot about you from Camellia in her letters. Thank you for being a great friend for her!'' Hermione blushed slightly and also shook his hand.
He slipped out his wand and floated all of their trunks, though a second later, they had all vanished.
''Everyone hold my arm. You may feel a little queasy afterwards, but I assure you. You will be safe.'' He apparated to the Riddle manor, and as he said, the queasiness passed.
The children raced to the East Wing Tower to Camellia's room, where there were already four extra beds at the ready. A small house elf who was preparing the beds whirled around, and jumped into Camellia's arms.
''Camellia!''
''Bunkun!''
''Ooh Bunkun missed Camellia!!'' The head house elf cried out, her tears already falling down her cheeks.
The rest of the day was spent with them chatting, Hermione playing chess against Neville, and Isolt running around the place.
On Christmas Eve, they went to bed looking forward to the next day for the food and the fun.
When she woke early in the morning, the first thing she saw was a nice pile of packages at the foot of her bed.
She nudged the rest of them, all waking up slowly as mirth entered their eyes, noticing the presents.
"Merry Christmas," said Draco sleepily as they scrambled out of bed and pulled on their robes.
"You, too," said the rest of them, all rummaging around, impatiently trying to rip open the presents.
Camellia picked up the top parcel. It was wrapped in a pretty green wrapping paper with a silver ribbon. She opened the parcel up, neatly folding the paper. Inside was a simple elegant wristwatch.
Thanks for being one of my bestest friends. Draco xxx A small card said, and Camellia hugged him dearly.
The second parcel was from her aunt and uncle, as well as Dudley. It was some muggle money, as well as a collar for Isolt, which changed colour when he did. She had hoped they liked her gifts which included a book full of snippets from the Daily Prophet for Uncle Vernon, a locket with a picture of her mother inside for Aunt Petunia, and a package of the wizarding sweets for Dudley.
She opened another parcel, this time it was from someone she didn't know.
''Oh, I think that's from my nan'' Neville explained, looking at the handwriting of the letter. She opened it to find a letter filled with writing, telling her how much she appreciated her being Neville's friend. The package contained some herbology books from the Longbottom private library for higher levels.
She opened Neville's parcel next, which had a small flower pot inside.
''It's called Moonlace. It only blooms under the full moon.'' he explained shyly. She hugged him tenderly.
''Thank you Nev. I love it!''
She continued to open the packages, and opened a giant package which was from Hermione. Inside were muggle books which she thought might interest Camellia. She knew that Camellia couldn't go outside easily under Albus' watch.
''Hunger games, Divergent and Percy Jackson?''
''They are the best books in the universe! I swear! Those are the first books of the series' so I'll give you the rest eventually.''
She then reached a very lumpy parcel.
"I think I know who that one's from," said Ron, turning a bit pink. "My mom. I told her about you and- oh, no," he groaned, "she's made you a Weasley sweater."
Camellia had torn open the parcel to find a thick, hand-knitted sweater in emerald green and a giant 'C' in red. A large box of homemade fudge inside the sweater as well.
"Every year she makes us a sweater," said Ron, unwrapping his own, "and mine's always maroon."
"Your mum is amazing," said Camellia, trying the fudge, which was as fabulous as Ron's mum's personality.
Her next present also contained candy -- a large box of Chocolate Frogs from Ron.
''I didn't know what to get you...''
This only left one parcel. Camellia picked it up and felt it. It was very light. She unwrapped it.
It was a picture. A moving picture of herself, Harry, Tom, Lily, Sirius, Remus, Petunia, Vernon, Dudley, and Severus. A family photo of the sorts. She smiled, a tear dropping from her eye as she looked at her parents and her brother, all smiling happily at her as they pointed at the camera, and then waved at her.
''Thank you dad.'' She gave him a hearty hug and he rubbed her back.
''Anything for my princess.''
Then Camellia gave her presents which were perfectly hidden. The boys looked at their quite large present, wondering what on earth it could be.
Their faces of shock couldn't be bought with any amount of money. Jaws hanging open, touching the ground, and nearly broken, they held the Nimbus 2000's with pride.
Hermione had got books as well, but she got priceless books.
''First edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them! as well as the first edition of the History of Magic! Thank you SO much Camellia!!!!'' All four of them jumped onto the girl, hugging her dearly. Tom smiled at the small heap on the ground.
He was slightly surprised, yet very pleased when she asked him in a letter if she could get her friends some expensive presents. Of course, he could afford it, and he knew that they were lifelong friends. At first he decided to put her on the spot by asking her why, though was thoroughly outwitted when she decided to use her final card of:
''Think of it as a price for leaving me all these years.'' She wrote out, in a somewhat wide-spaced guilty script. He burst out laughing when he saw the content of the letter, and quickly ordered the required presents.
A few minutes later, Tom was pulled out of his joyful memories when he felt an intruder apparate on his property.
He called upon Nagini and apparated to the front gate where the intruder was.
There the man was. Clad in a forest green suit, a black tie and a crisp white shirt, hair trimmed neatly with no bags under his eyes.
''Is that you?
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Severus?''
''Hi Tom. I just came to say how sorry I was, am! actually...'' Tom interrupted his younger brother with a punch to the jaw, before he hugged the dear life out of him.
''That's for making me think you betrayed us. Though this is for coming back.'' Severus hugged his elder brother dearly, and the two walked back to the manor, laughing as they used to before.