The Holidays Begin
Outside, snow poured like the rain. Thud, thud, thud, it went. Every splat on the window was satisfying to Draco’s ears. Leaning against his side, Harry rested. Peaceful, quiet, beautiful. Opposite him, Ronald’s eyes kept darting to the window, like he was waiting for someone to appear. “What?” Draco asked him.
“Huh?” Ron’s head snapped to Draco, but his eyes wanted him to stare at the window.
“You keep looking at the window. What for?”
“Oh, er- Lavender.” Sheepishly, Ron replied.
Draco scoffed, “Can you not spend five seconds apart?”
“Like you can talk.” Ron gestured to them both. “And anyway, I wanted a… well, a bit of space, really.”
“Finally realising she’s a bit crazy?”
Awkwardly, Ronald shuffled, “It’s both of our first relationships… you know? I just… want a bit of time to myself.” Draco thought he should just communicate with Lavender. She may be into Divination, but she was not a mind reader. Maybe, if he just told her how he felt, it would be OK. However, Draco was not going to tell him that, after all, he should be smart enough to figure that out for himself.
For a bit, Draco just thought about Christmas. Everyone in the home would be given a gift, and Draco got books, mainly. He got a record once, but the record player was a thing used by everyone, the record was just brought because he liked the artist: Green Day. He was only allowed to play it when the little kids were gone, so it wasn’t very often, but Draco loved it nonetheless. He didn’t miss anyone from the home, but he missed the atmosphere around Christmas time. How all the younger children would glow with excitement, and the tree, and that they’d all eagerly want to put out milk, cookies and carrots for Santa. Solemnly, Draco thought about what it would be like this year. What did they tell the children about his disappearance? Were the police involved? Maybe it would’ve been easier for Draco to not leave Grimmauld Place while he’s there.
Then, Draco thought about Hogwarts. About his new friends, Blaise and Theo. Blaise was calm, relaxed, yet intense and sharp at the same time. On the other hand, Theo was a firework that didn’t stop bursting. Draco couldn’t stop laughing at some things that boy said. And, even though he was all these wonderful things, there was a sense of self-preservation. Like most Slytherins, he was loyal to his family no matter what, and self-preservation was a key. And Draco shared those values, except, his friends were also his family. Harry was his family, Tonks was his family (that one was biological, actually).
Oh, how Harry has been everything Draco wished he and Lewis could have been and more. Harry was there to brighten his day when it was too dim, to distract him when work got too much, to take him flying to loosen up. Draco just wished he could help Harry with his burdens more than he does. While Harry has told him about his meetings with Dumbledore, about horcruxes, about the Dursleys, Draco wanted to do more than just be there. But he didn’t know how.
He wondered what Christmas at Grimmauld Place would be. Most of all, he hoped to enjoy himself. “Won-won!” Lavender waved at Ronald through the window. Every time Draco hears that nickname he doesn’t know whether to cringe or to burst out in mocking laughter, “Hi!” She called through the glass. Awkwardly, Ron waved back, cheeks red from embarrassment.
Having an idea, Lavender breathed on the glass - Draco took note to disinfect it after - and started writing in it. Drawing out the letters and making a cross in the middle, a heart around them. “Well isn’t that sweet.” Draco pouted, condescending.
“Shove off, Malfoy.” Grumbled Ronald after he smiled at Lavender and caught the kiss she blew him. Unfortunately, Hermione had to arrive before Draco could get rid of it. Taking one look at the image, Hermione huffed and stomped away.
“Well done, Ronald.” Draco scoffed.
Ron looked affronted, “I haven’t done anything!” He defended. Draco hoped Florian would be OK.
When Harry woke up, he bugged Draco with stupid, idiotic questions. Some about the muggle world which “you should know about being raised by muggles!” and ones Draco decided to ignore because they were just so stupid. Finally, the train pulled up. On the greyed, dull platform, children poured out the compartments with their stuff and rushed to their parents. Hugging, kissing, nodding in acknowledgement.
People were staring at three people standing together, whispering as Draco and Harry approached them. “I don’t know why they are allowing him back into school.” Said a woman in front of Seamus.
“I will-” Sirius began. He didn’t even get to hug his godson before someone made a comment.
“It’s alright, Sirius.” Harry interrupted, looking at a guilty Seamus with a blank face.
“Mrs Finnigan,” began Remus, “I had the pleasure of teaching your son in his third year.” Normally, Remus would hold his hand out to greet them but not this time, “As you know, it is not up to the parents to decide who is allowed at Hogwarts, but the School Governors, and Dumbledore himself. And I suggest you do not comment on matters to which you don’t understand.” She let out a little, annoyed noise and walked off, expecting Seamus to follow her.
“Sorry, Harry…” He said, walking after his mom. Ever since he heard about what happened with Katie, Seamus has been more on Harry’s side than his mothers.
“Imbecile.” Sirius tutted, and Harry brightly smiled. “It’s great to see you, pup.” Wrapping his arms around Harry, the boy threw himself into the much needed and long awaited hug. Harry didn’t think Seamus’ mum was wrong, per say. He is a danger to the school, to the students, to the faculty. Maybe it would be better if he left and stayed at Grimmauld Place, or joined Dumbledore in his search for Horcruxes. Afterall, this whole war thing was his fault. Sometimes, Harry wonders what their lives would be like if he was never born. Maybe, his parents would be alive, maybe Sirius would never have gone to Azkaban.
“Hey,” Remus caught his look, “chin up, Harry.” Nodding, Harry took a step back. “Welcome back.” he pulled Harry into a hug, and it was just as tight as Sirius’, but felt more awe-consuming because of the height.
Tonks punched Draco in the arm, something that was meant to be a friendly gesture. “Alright Drakey?” She asked, spritely as ever, “I had high expectations of you, you know. Shame you followed the rest of the family. Did you have to get sorted into Slytherin?” She sighed, “I heard Remus, James and Sirius made it a swear word back in their day.”
“Oi.” Sirius interrupted, pointing a finger, “I am not old.”
“You’re fifteen years older than me, Dog.” Tonks rolled her eyes.
“Hello to you, too, Nymphadora.” Draco smirked, folding his arms.
Tonks’ skin started to heat, and her hair turned a flame red, “My name is Tonks.”
“Calm down, fiery elf.” Draco patted her hair - not hot, huh, “If you get to call me names, I can call you names, too.”
“He has a point.” Remus added.
“Pipe down old man.” She grumbled, her hair going back to normal. Holding out an almost unwilling arm, Draco took it and they - along with his stuff - apparated to Grimmauld Place.
Back at Grimmauld Place, Harry saw new décor. Gone were the dull, red walls and in, was white with a black bottom. Even the furniture looked cleaner. Especially the piano, looking brand new. “Did someone break in?” Asked Harry.
“No.” Sirius looked confused, darting his head around the doorway to check for something off.
“It looks like someone cleaned. Just thought I’d check.” Shrugging, Harry turned to face Sirius who had a deadpan face.
“Haha, Harry, hilarious.” Remus found it funny, laughing at Sirius’ side. “You’re letting him get away with that? Handle him.”
“Cleaning isn’t a very Sirius thing to do.”
“I’ll have you know, I am a responsible adult.”
“Right.”
While they were talking, Draco and Harry exchanged a look. Within seconds, they were running up the stairs, cases following their lead. Opening his bedroom door, Harry collapsed on the bed, grateful to be back. The bed dipped as Draco collapsed with him. “What Finnigan’s mother said isn’t true.” Draco started, looking at the bed canopy with his hands folded on his chest. Harry turned his head, facing him, taking in the beautiful sight. “You deserve to be at Hogwarts, you’re still a teenager.”
“She’s not completely wrong though, is she?”
“Harry Potter, you are simultaneously one of the smartest and stupidest people I’ve ever met.” Draco commented, turning to face his boyfriend who weakly smiled at him. “You’re a teenager. You’re allowed to go to school.”
“But-”
“Erm!”
“I just-”
“Potter.” Draco said in a demanding voice, shutting Harry up immediately. Not arguing any further, Harry shuffled closer to Draco. Sighing, content, Draco slung an arm around Harry, allowing them to get closer. Cautiously, Harry put his hand on Draco’s chest, messing with his shirt button.
“This is nice.” Sighed Harry. “Too nice. Something’s going to go wrong.”
“This is a rare occasion where we have to agree.” Draco chuckled. The hand around Harry started playing with his hair, unconsciously trying to sooth it, straighten it. Was he a victim of Stockholm Syndrome? Really thinking about it, he was a - quote on quote - victim, ‘falling’ for his - quote on quote - captor.
“I can hear you thinking. It’s so boring.” Whined Harry, but he smiled into Draco’s chest.
“How barmy my life is.”
“Think I win on this front?”
“Oh?” Draco raised an eyebrow at the ceiling, “Ever been kidnapped?”
“Ever been locked in a cupboard?” Retaliated Harry.
Draco tutted, “You don’t always have to win.” Laughing, Harry’s laugh was bright and playful and the most beautiful sound Draco had ever heard. Honestly, he dared someone to argue with him that that sound was not the best sound in the universe. “Well it wasn’t that funny.” Rolling his eyes, Draco was still smiling. It made Harry laugh even more, turning into Draco.
A knock came to the door to a little jingle. Scrambling off the bed, Harry leapt onto the sofa at the other end of the room, just perching his bottom on the seat before Sirius walked in. Unfortunately, Sirius was not stupid. Seeing the situation (and his godson’s flustered face), Sirius’ eyes immediately hardened. “Oh no, no, no.” He waggled his finger, “This,” Sirius gestured between Draco and Harry multiple times before finishing his sentence, “will not be happening. Nope. Never. Not under my roof, and my rules. Separate beds, separate rooms! Separate houses!” Exclaimed the barking mad man, “My godson will not get pregnant when he is sixteen.”
Harry had never been more embarrassed in his life, even worse than his and Cho’s date.
“Moony! Get the other room set up!” Sirius shouted, walking down the stairs and completely ignoring Harry’s embarrassed spluttering.
“Potter, you’re overreacting.” Draco rolled his eyes. Of course he didn’t want to be in a separate room, but it wasn’t like they were going to stick to that all the time. Harry has the Invisibility Cloak and he could stuff pillows under his quilt.
“Well they get to sleep in the same bed.” Grumbled Harry, “Plus, I don’t have the… the…” Aggressively, Harry gestured to his crotch area and Draco raised an eyebrow, not saying anything until Harry finished that sentence, “vagina and stuff.”
Draco scoffed, fondly looking at Harry behind his disgusted demeanour, “Nicely put, Harry, perfect use of the Queen’s English.”
“Shut up.” Complained Harry, chucking a pillow at Draco for it to hit him square in the face.
While Harry was busy laughing, Draco took both hands and fired two at Harry from opposite directions, “This is unfair!”
“You caught me unawares! You think people out there will care about fairness?” Although this was all in good spirits, it wasn’t like Draco was wrong.
At dinner, Draco stayed professional, ignoring earlier circumstances, while Harry was the complete opposite. He was messing with his food and not looking up from his plate. “Do I have to mother you, Harry?” Complained Draco, snatching Harry’s fork and putting a chunk of beef on the end. Making an aeroplane noise, he ‘flew’ it to Harry who couldn’t help a bright smile and ate the meat off the end of the fork.
Loudly, Sirius cleared his throat and Remus glared at him. “Boys… I have to say we should have seen this coming.” Remus explained.
“I- sorry?”
“Pup, you complained about him everyday.” Remus carried on, “Because of recent events, Sirius believes it would be better for you two to have separate rooms.” Again, Sirius coughed, “Sirius and I, believe.”
“But Moony!”
“I understand, Remus, Sirius.” Draco conceded. Afterall, Harry was their kid. What parents want their sixteen-year-old child to sleep in the same room as their boyfriend/girlfriend?
“Tomorrow there will be a meeting, and we wanted to know if you would want to be there.” Sirius finally said in a calm voice.
“Well where else would I be?” Sarcastically inquired Harry. Smiling, it was like Sirius had a proud dad moment. That also meant redheads, which also meant Fred and George bugging him constantly about his powers. Not that he minded the attention, obviously, rather enjoyed it. “What about Draco?”
Sirius and Remus exchanged a look. “He is extremely powerful for his age…”
“He is right here.” Added Draco. “And he would love to be involved because if Harry is then I will be there.” But it wasn’t just that. Draco had hope that they’d discuss Florian at the meeting, wanting to help in the decision of what to do with him. There would be many meetings apparently, but not one of Christmas. Christmas was a week away, and maybe on that day Harry could finally relax. He was holding on to Christmas.