A/N: Hehe. Christmas time! Bet you guys can't wait to see what happens!. ^-^ Thanks to Tealey for giving me a great review to inspire me once more. If not for you, dear, I would have never gotten off my butt (hypothetically speaking of course) and written this next chappie.
Disclaimer: Nope!!
Chapter Eight---------If It's A Broken Heart, Then Face It
Christmas Day. I was fidgeting, I knew. Draco could tell I was when we took a shower together. I fidgeted nervously all through the wonderful Christmas breakfast and finally, at last, we were sitting in the large den. I wasn't so nervous that I couldn't appreciate the enormous silver tree twinkling with faery lights and bells in the corner, nor the magnificence of the other decorations. It was truly beautiful. The presents were each in their own pile per person, and much to my surprise, mine was almost as nig as Draco's. Narcissa gave me a wink and a smile when she saw my astonished look. Dray was such a little kid sometimes.
He immediately ran over to his pile and happily tore into it, occasionally gasping in surprise or taking on of the gingerbread man cookies off of the tray on the table. I was much more precise with my own. Instead of tearing the wrapping, I carefully and meticulously unfolded each one, placing the paper aside. I had never gotten so many presents in my life. Most of them were from Dray's parents. Narcissa had picked me out a special rounded jade comb that fit into my hair, somehow managing to hold it's growing length up in a surprisingly stylish way as well as a few beautiful trinkets and things. Lucius had gotten me a heavy winter cloak with a chimera clasp as well as several books on obscure magics and a stylish casual suit that managed to compliment every feature I had. I thanked them profusely for my first real Christmas.
It wasn't long before Narcissa turned to me with a deep frown. That could not be good.
"Harry, dear, where are your gifts from your relatives?" She asked curiously, looking around as if they had been misplaced.
I froze, my worst fear coming true. Why couldn't Voldemort just pop out of the drapes and kill me now?!
"Erm…They- ugh -…"
Draco seemed to note my anxiety and he came to my defense spectacularly.
"Harry doesn't celebrate Christmas with his relatives, mother."
Narcissa had a strange pensive expression in her eyes but she nodded and glided over to me, urging me to eat a few of the cookies. I nibbled my lip before taking one with a soft smile. It was harder for me to lose weight than for Draco, so I had to be extra careful about what I ate. He had metabolism like a speed train. I didn't notice the dark look that Lucius and Dray shared over me.
~ o ~
Dray was staring out of his bedroom window, contemplating something or another. It had started to get a little static between us romantically and I knew that he was feeling it too. It was fun while it lasted but to be honest…I just missed my best-friend-Draco, not boyfriend-Draco.
"Hey Harry?"
"Yes?"
He fidgeted alittle before straightening up stiffly. Malfoys did NOT fidget. He turned to me and I could see that in his eyes he was worried about my reaction to what he was about to divulge.
"Do you think…that maybe we work better as friends?" He asked somewhat timidly.
It was as if he expected me to burst into tears or make a scene. I gave him a crooked grin.
"I have no doubt about it. Besides, I've seen the way you look at Blaise. Who am I to come between a Malfoy and what he wants?" I teased lightly and grinned as Dray's eyes brightened and he struck a pose.
"That would be no one. Malfoys always get what they want." He scoffed.
A pillow to the face was all it took to break him from his self centered strutting. He sputtered and then he was after me. I shrieked, happiness coursing through me as he raced after me. I ran down the elegant hallways, passing an unsurprised Lucius. I shot a smirk back at a cocky Draco before skidding into the parlor.
"Narcissa! Narcissa help! Draco's gonna eat me!" I yelled and saw Draco's face grimace.
If anyone was the enforcer in the Malfoy household, it was it's matron. Narcissa was standing, dictating flower arrangements to a house elf when they came barreling through. She folded her arms and pretended to get cross with them.
"Now, Draco, what have I told you about consuming your guests?"
He gave me a wicked smirk that had me blushing a a small smirk on Narcissa's lips.
"Just a little taste…" He said suggestively before coming over quickly and scooping me into his arms.
His mother chuckled at us as we exited the parlor and headed to the kitchens for some ice cream. Everything was working out. It was the best Christmas I'd ever had.
~ o ~
Draco sat across from me, shoveling a cookie into his mouth with the force of a bludger. I had my own plate of the treats and we were scarfing them down at an amazing rate. We'd already made our way through a pot of pasta alfredo, a pan of cinnamon rolls, and the gingerbread cookies. After we were done, we had been eyeing the tub of ice cream in the freezer. It was a bad day. I made a small whimper at the uncomfortable fullness in my stomach. It was starting to hurt but I just couldn't stop…Draco and I shared a look over the pan of cookies. It was a look filled with self loathing and hatred. A look of failure. We made a silent agreement to never talk about these kinds of nights. We ended up in the bathroom, puking because of our over distended stomachs and taking some of the potions from the medical cabinet just to make sure. It was the first night I had ever binged and although I knew that it would not be the last, I was at least grateful that Draco was there with me, even when I cried because my stomach hurt so much. He just curled me up in his lap and held me until it was all gone. I would never forget that he did that for me and no matter what happened, I would forever remember that he stayed.
Two days later found us unwillingly back on the Hogwarts express, heading back to the place that I was soon learning wasn't as much of a home as I used to think. Home was where Draco was and for the first time, I was dreading returning to school.
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