Painted Stars

The next few days passed by in much the same manner. Harry and Neville spent hours in bed making love, only really stopping to nap and snuggle or share showers and meals. At night they curled up beside the fire, listening to music while talking about their aspirations and dreams until, exhausted, they would retire to bed. They slept soundly, bodies entwined, til one would wake the other with languid kisses that, more often than not, led to slow and relaxed sex before sleep would claim them once more. So it came as quite a surprise when Harry woke up on Tuesday morning and Neville was already fully dressed and ready for a day of playing in the snow. 

"Wake up, lazy bones," he teased Harry cheerily, wrapping a scarf around his neck as he leaned in for a good morning kiss. "It's time to go find ourselves a tree and decorate it."

Stretching, Harry grabbed his glasses from the nightstand and propped himself up on one elbow, blearily glancing out the windows to the snow-blanketed landscape beyond. Picking up his watch, he glanced at the time and frowned. 7:32? Failing to see how tramping around in the cold could possibly have Nev so excited this early in the morning, he dropped back down to the bed and pulled the coverlet up around his neck with an indignant huff. Shooting his new love a grumpy scowl, Harry tried his best to ignore the way his heart melted at the adorably chipper smile resting upon Neville's handsome face, and groggily mumbled, "Are you mad? It's freezing out there!"

"It certainly is!" Nev beamed, completely unfazed by Harry's sour demeanour.

Deciding to try another tactic when his first failed, Harry pushed the blankets aside and turned onto his stomach. Parting his legs, he bent one at the knee and rutted his prick against the sheets, delighting at the carnal desire which burned in Neville's eyes as he pinned him with a pleading stare. 

"It's cold in here, too," he murmured with a sigh. "Why don't you come back to bed and we can work up a sweat?" 

Grinning when Neville crawled up towards him from the foot of the bed, he closed his eyes as he waited to feel the familiar brush of Nev's tongue. However, delight was quickly replaced by surprise when Nev gently grazed his teeth across one of the cheeks of Harry's arse and rather suddenly spanked him, then stroked the stinging skin. 

Securing one hand upon his hip, Neville leaned down, kissing the tender spot just behind his ear and affectionately murmured, "That won't work."

Turning his head to look at Nev, Harry pouted, yet began to show signs of relenting as he said, "But you normally love an early morning lie-in."

"Mmm, that's true. Normally I do. Especially when it's with you," Neville hummed with a genuine smile. Running his fingers through Harry's hair, he leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips, then pulled back so that they could lock eyes as he sweetly continued, "However, after having known each other for over a decade, I think that I know you pretty well. And one thing I am certain of is that no matter how much I would enjoy spending our every spare moment buried inside of you, if I were to do that, then it wouldn't be long before you started worrying that sex is all I want from you. And it's not."

"Oh," Harry breathed softly, looking adoringly up into Nev's eyes as his own sparkled with sudden emotion. "It's not?"

"No, baby," Neville murmured ardently. "I want so much more."

Urging Harry to turn around with a pull against the hip, Nev nodded approvingly as he rolled onto his back. Then, wrapping both arms around Harry's waist in a comforting embrace, Nev settled between his thighs and brushed the tips of their noses together as he softly continued, "Now, I've laid out some clothes for you. Why don't you take a warm shower, get dressed, and meet me downstairs? Once you have, we can head out and start creating some new Christmas memories together. How's that sound?"

"That sounds lovely," Harry said, voice thick with emotion. 

"Good," came Neville's contented reply. Swiping a thumb slowly back and forth over Harry's full lower lip, his gaze dropped to track the movement and darkened, heating as he cleared his throat and continued in a tone which was full of promise. "And, if you're still cold when we get back, I promise to carry you back upstairs and do whatever it takes to warm you up. Have we got a deal?"

Harry nodded eagerly, suddenly unable to find his voice. With that, Nev pressed one last dizzying kiss to his lips, leaving him breathless, and slid out of his grasp. Standing at the foot of the bed, he reached down and boldly squeezed the hardening bulge that was pressing against his thigh, then casually readjusted himself. 

"You've got fifteen minutes, then I expect to see your handsome face looking up into mine and giving me a kiss at the front door," he said, giving Harry a roguish wink before he turned to head downstairs.

___

Harry practically vaulted out of bed, rushing into the bathroom and washing up in record time. It felt like pure agony having to wait for his toothbrush to finish cycling, and when it finally had, he quickly spat the froth from his mouth, then dashed back into the bedroom. 

Pulling his hair up into a messy bun, he glanced around the room and smiled as he spotted the outfit that Nev had pulled together for him, laid out across a chaise which rested against the bannister. As he drew closer to the articles of clothing he looked them over and, spotting the sleek black pants which he'd normally wear, was struck by an idea. Remembering one of the fantasies that both he and Nev had found they shared in common, he quickly Apparated back home and sprinted into his closet, grateful to find the scandalous undergarments he had in mind exactly where they'd been tucked away since their original purchase. 

While he'd never had the courage to wear them for anyone else, Harry thought they'd make the perfect surprise for Nev to unwrap later, and he quickly shimmied into them before returning to the cabin and hurriedly slipping into the rest of the clothing he'd been provided. Securing his watch, Harry checked the time and a bubble of excitement expanded in his stomach upon reading 7:45. 

Two minutes to spare, he thought , as he stepped in front of the floor-length mirror and gave himself a final once over, admiring how good he looked as he did. The tight black jeans which Neville had selected clung perfectly to his arse and thighs, while the rich green of the checkered flannel accentuated Harry's eyes and made them pop. Black leather hiking boots and Sirius's sherpa-lined moto jacket completed the outfit, ensuring that he'd keep warm all while looking effortlessly fashionable. Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, Harry then winked at his reflection one last time and set out for the lounge. 

He bounded down the stairs, so eager to collect the kiss he'd been promised that he took them two at a time, and grinned when he cleared the landing and turned to face the door. And that is when he spotted Neville, causing his stomach to do a small flip and a blush burst across his cheeks. Leaning sexily up against the wall, with his arms crossed over his chest, Nev's eyes were pinned to Harry and filled with such heat that they could have thawed the frozen woodland outside.

"You look incredible," he breathed, reaching out for Harry as he approached and wrapping him tight into the security of his arms.  

"Thank you," Harry said softly as he wrapped his own arms around Neville's neck, stroking the curls at its base. "So do you."

It was true. Wearing an ivory cashmere jumper which glowed against his tanned skin and golden hair, as well as pale blue jeans and a matching denim jacket that clung temptingly to his athletic frame, Nev looked every bit the heartthrob Rita Skeeter had made him out to be in the years since his leadership of the DA had surfaced. 

"Just on time," he smiled, pulling Harry from his thoughts and stoking his desire as he leaned close and quietly murmured, "Now where's that kiss I asked for?"

"Mmm, right here," Harry whispered coyly and, standing up on his tiptoes, brushed their lips together.

Neville groaned with satisfaction, sliding his hands down Harry's back until they dipped past his waist to palm his arse and, deepening their kiss, he squeezed. The urge to be closer, to feel more, was instinctive and he quickly found himself pushing Harry up against the wall and grazing their pricks together as he nibbled a path along the column of his neck. It wasn't until Harry's breath hitched and he reached beneath Nev's jumper for his belt that Nev even realised how close he was to going back on his word, and with every last bit of resolve that he could summon he finally pulled away—panting slightly with the effort and doing his best to ignore the insistent bulge trapped inside his trousers.

"More," Harry mewled and leaned in for another kiss.

Neville relented with a smile, but only allowed the caress to last a few moments before softly squeezing Harry's arse and straightening once more. 

"Later," he murmured sweetly, kissing each of Harry's temples to soften his retreat.

"Fine," Harry pouted, chest heaving as he slid his fingers up to Nev's nipples and lightly squeezed them. "Spoilsport."

The reprisal caused Neville to chuckle and reach up beneath his shirt to extract Harry's hands. Lifting them up, he feathered tiny kisses across each of Harry's knuckles and gazed into his evergreen eyes as he softly replied, "Guilty as charged. Now, put on your gloves, hat and scarf and let's head outside."

Unable to suppress the smile that lit up his face, Harry practically beamed as he nodded and walked to the closet which stored the items in question. Pulling on the cheery scarlet items, he spun around towards Nev with a little twirl and struck a pose. 

"Perfect," Nev smiled as he reached out and opened the door. Standing beside it, he inclined his head and winked at Harry as he said, "After you, my love."

Stepping out of their little bubble, Harry looked around at the crisp alabaster landscape, sparkling as if it had been dusted in diamonds, and found that he was finally able to appreciate just how lovely a scene they were surrounded by. The meadow was blanketed in snow while all the trees glistened with limbs tipped in white; all the while, fluffy snowflakes tumbled down from the skies above, making it seem as though they'd stumbled into a snowglobe. As it turned out, Neville had been right: Harry was so distracted by the beauty surrounding them that he didn't even notice the cold as he tilted his head back and turned in circles, taking in their surroundings. 

Stopping suddenly, he turned and looked at Nev. His eyes were bright as he gleefully said, "It's so beautiful out here! Thank you for dragging me out of bed. I would have been sad to have missed such a lovely sight."

Heart swelling at the pure bliss shining in Harry's eyes, Neville found himself in complete agreement, although it wasn't the Cairngorms that had caught his eye. You are the loveliest sight in the world, he thought as his eyes slowly roved over the man of his dreams. He dedicated to memory the image of Harry with eyes lit up and joy radiating off him in waves. Picking up the handle to a small sledge that he'd been hiding on the porch, he levelled Harry with a smile of his own and walked up to join him, slipping Harry's hand into the palm of his and entwining their fingers as he leaned in for a kiss before sweetly saying, "Don't thank me just yet, darling. The morning has only just begun."

"What do you have there?" Harry asked curiously, looking down to the baskets Neville had secured to the sledge.

"A surprise," he said with a cheeky grin and a wink. "You can open them when we get to the tree."

And for once, Harry didn't argue, instead happily chirping, "I love surprises. Lead the way!"

Walking hand-in-hand, the two made quick time and as they reached the edge of the clearing Neville slowed. Pulling Harry to a stop as they approached one of the smaller trees at the meadow's edge, he softly said, "Here we are."

Looking up at the young lodgepole pine, Harry's eyes softened, growing misty, and there was a touch of melancholy to his voice as he quietly replied, "It seems a touch sad to cut down such a pretty little tree while it's still in its prime, doesn't it?"

Nev's chest ached with emotion at the question and it hit him then just how incredibly in love he was with Harry. Smiling, he pulled Harry in and wrapped him up in his arms. He softly placed a kiss against the crown of his head before he looked down and said, "Yes, it does. So, I guess we'll agree that it's a good thing we won't be felling it today."

"We won't?" Harry asked. 

"No, love," Nev said with an affectionate grin. "We won't."

"But, I thought we were going to find a tree and decorate it," Harry said, brow raised in confusion. 

"And so we will," Nev smiled. Reaching up he stroked Harry's cheek and placed a gentle kiss upon his lips before softly murmuring, "It's time to open up your baskets, darling."

Curiosity and excitement danced across Harry's features, and he leaned up to steal another kiss before he stepped from Neville's embrace and approached the sledge. Leaning down, he untied the red ribbons which were securing the two wicker baskets in place and slowly opened their lids, one after the other. Inside was a veritable cornucopia of homemade Christmas decorations and his heart lurched in his chest. Filling up one basket were perfectly coiled strands of popcorn and cranberries which had been strung into garlands, and in the other were ornaments made from dried apple slices as well as peanut butter and birdseed-coated pinecones.

"You did all this?" Harry asked, voice full of awe as he pried his eyes away from the beautiful finery laid out before him. 

"I did," Nev smiled, colouring prettily. 

"How? When?" Harry murmured, looking up at him with wonder.

"While you slept," he said, softly. Voice thick, he explained, "My gran and I used to do this together. Every year she would dry the fruit and create the ornaments while I strung up the popcorn and cranberries. Then, when we were all done, we'd go outside and decorate the tree that my pa proposed to my mum beneath. It was our way of keeping them close. Of being able to celebrate Christmas with them." Taking off his hat, Neville dropped his gaze and slowly began to wring the burgundy fabric in his hands. Looking as though he was worried of what would come next, he cleared his throat and quietly continued, "I just thought that since neither of us has any family left and we're both on our own, maybe this year we didn't have to be. That maybe you and I could celebrate Christmas together... my gran always used orange slices for the ornaments, but I know that deer prefer apples, so that's what I've used here. That way all of them can be with us. Your parents, and mine, and gran."

Neville's voice broke on the last and he quieted, taking a moment to compose himself before he finally brought his glistening eyes back up to meet Harry's. Worry gnawed at his stomach and he tried to make sense of what Harry was thinking as he dropped his gaze to look back down into one of the baskets with renewed interest. Leaning down, he picked up one of the dried apple discs and cradled it in his hand before lifting it up and bringing it to rest against his heart. 

"I can't believe that you did this all by yourself. That you'd share this with me," Harry said softly, swallowing around the tightness in his throat as he looked back up to Neville. There was a brief moment where the two of them stood, quietly sharing a mutual pain that few of their peers understood, before something changed in Harry's eyes and he dashed back to Nev. Nearly knocking him over and causing them both to fall as he flung his arms around Neville's waist.  

"Thank you," he whispered tightly, burying his face in the crook of Neville's neck as his unshed tears finally sprang free. His response was so sudden and unexpected that it caused Nev's own eyes to water in response. Folding his arms tightly around Harry, Neville wrapped him up in a comforting embrace and slowly began to rock back and forth as he soothingly rubbed his back. 

"You're welcome," he murmured then softly kissed his brow. 

And as the snow continued to swirl around them, blanketing the forest in a soothing stillness, the two held each other close until finally Neville gave Harry one last squeeze and released him. 

"Popcorn or cranberries?" he asked with a smile, as he reached down and held up one string of each. 

"Cranberries," Harry replied, taking the garland with a smile. 

Stealing another kiss, he then followed Nev's lead and together they began to decorate the pine. The next hour passed by in a contended blur, with both Harry and Neville stealing kisses, passing each other ornaments, and swishing their wands in long sweeping motions to help aid in covering the uppermost branches, and before long the pretty, little tree had been transformed. Standing proud, its boughs showcased the edible and delicate decorations, which beautifully popped against their snowy backdrop. The project itself was a work of time, tenderness, and love, which Harry soon realised could easily be viewed from their cabin as, holding hands, they turned back and headed inside.