Chapter 10: 'Tis the Season

Draco felt his breakfast move up from his stomach and onto the first snow of the season. For a moment he remained behind the tree, gathering himself. Normally apparation didn't have such a bad effect on him. Perhaps his dread of the holidays was adding to his nauseous feeling.

"Oi," called Weasley. "You alright? WHat did you do to him, Harry?"

"Just apparated," Potter replied. He sounded concerned. "Alright, Malfoy?"

Draco stood up straight and gave his breakfast one more look before moving from behind the tree. He touched his pocked to double check that he had his dreamless potions with him. The last ones from Professor Snape's desk. They reassured him.

"Fine," he drawled.

"Good, we have to go up the road, we have an anti-apparition charm on the safe-house," Weasley said.

Potter motioned for Draco to follow and they walked in silence for a few minutes, their feet crunching in the fresh snow.

It was a quaint village with a narrow road surrounded by look-a-like cottages on either side of it. They passed a graveyard, a church in the background. From Draco's view he could see rows upon rows of snowy tombstones protruding from the blanket of snow. Even in the morning light the stained glass threw glints of light on the snow just beneath it.

"St. Jerome's Church," Potter said. "You're in Godric's Hollow."

Draco said nothing. He knew, as all wizarding children (especially pureblood children) knew: St. Jermone's Church held some of the oldest wizarding families. It also held the Potters.

Long before anyone knew what happened to the famous Harry Potter , before the wizarding world had discovered he'd been raised by muggles, Draco could recall his visit to Godric Hollow. The place where the Dark Lord fell, the place (perhaps) where the next dark lord was born. But Harry Potter had not turned out to be the next dark lord. Instead, he turned out to have chosen a safe house in the tradition of all Gryffindors (his parents, Dumbledore) all finding their way to Godric Gryffindor's birth place.

At the center of the square was a statue, which Draco had seen once before, but now he stopped to give it a longer look. From a distance it looked like an obselisk, carved with the names of people who died in the first wizard wars. As Draco approached, the memorial changed into a family of three: James Potter, Lily Potter, and an infant Harry Potter (looking content in his mother's arms). Draco traced the face of Lily Potter with his eyes, her chin downturned to her son who she would die for. He didn't have to look to know that the names on the memorial were those of the Order and enemies of the Dark Lord. No statues would be erected for Aunt Bellatrix, no memorial carved for Professor Snape, and certainly no note or mention of his Father. They had been disgraced. Chosen the wrong side and, in their blindness, been dealt their hand with the possibility of death. Draco knew this was how it should be, but his heart gave a pang of pain as he thought of his own losses. They would be forgotten.

He touched his pocket again, reassured by the dreamless potion.

"Malfoy," Potter said gently.

Draco moved back from the statue and followed the two aurors to the outskirt of the village. There stood a two story house- no manor, but certainly no cottage either. Draco glanced around and recognized the location. Potter had rebuilt the once ruined Potter house- once a memorial to the night of their death. Still, on the door, stood the same sign covered in names and messages of wizards and witches who, like Draco, had visited the spot. Draco leaned in very close.

"Bit unorthodox, isn't it," Weasley said with a chuckle. "I told Harry, but he likes it."

"Ginny does too," Potter said, though he looked sheepish.

"Ginny is a history nerd," Weasley said firmly. "See any names you recognize, Malfoy?"

"Yes," Draco said. "Mine." He ran his finger over the far right corner, were his own name was written in the smallest handwriting a six year old could manage while his parents were distracted. He remembered the day thinking that he would attend Hogwarts the exact year as the famous Harry Potter. He had imagined them meeting on the train and becoming good friends- wouldn't Father be proud of such a connection?

Potter and Weasley said nothing, though they seemed more surprised that Draco had once added his name to the sign than Draco would have liked. Almost a surprised as Draco was sure he looked when Potter pushed the door open and the first thing Draco saw was his mother holding a baby with sandy brown hair and hazel eyes. That had to be Teddy Lupin.

"Thank Merlin you're here," drawled Lucius. He strode into the hallway and addressed Potter, evidence of Azkaban in the bags under his eyes. "That thing has been crying all morning."

"Teddy seems fine," Potter said cooly, moving over to the baby and peering at him. "Mrs. Malfoy, you're very good with him."

Narcissa allowed a small smile to tug her face.

"Draco," Lucius said in his stern voice.

Draco was very aware of Weasley watching them, a look of confusion on his face. Draco was sure that this behavior mystified Weasley. He had seen the Weasley clan hugging and kissing in public. Malfoys did not do such things. Draco closed the door behind him.

"Father," he greeted holding out his hand. "Did my things make it okay?"

"Lucius, say hello to our son properly," Narcissa said firmly. "We are not guests, this is our home. Auror Potter said so himself."

Lucius took Draco's hand and shook it, his grey eyes surveying Draco as if he had not seen his son in years rather than months. Draco felt a sudden tug and was enveloped in his father's arms. He stiffened in surprise for a moment. He could distinctly count on his two hands the amount of times he and Lucius had hugged- it wasn't in their nature. Affirming smiles and compliments, handshakes and pats on the back, these were signs of affection in the Malfoy household. Lucius pulled back and surveyed his son again, a mist in his eyes mingled with pride. This made Draco almost bashful with embarrassment.

"I tried not to doubt we would see each other again," Lucius said. "But, in Azkaban it was difficult."

"I," Draco felt his words catch in his throat. He tried again. "I'm glad you're well and home."

Lucius seemed to remember himself and pulled back, straightening again. He glanced at Weasley with a cold glare.

"Can I help you Auror Weasley?"

"No, no," Weasley said. "I'll just go to the den to contact Kingsley."

He left the room and Lucius returned to an overstuffed red armchair where he had apparently been reading before their entrance.

That night Ginny Weasley and Hermione Granger came over for dinner. While Granger and Weasley bickered half heartedly about the best way to mash potatoes, Weaslette lay on the floor flipping through the most recent Quidditch Weekly, discussing her thoughts with Potter on the newest member of England's national team. Lucius had retreated to his room upon their arrival, but Narcissa remained, reading her book. Draco stood by the fire place watching the scene.

His mother, her back stiff as she turned the pages one by one, listened to the conversations. The Gryffindors likely had no idea of his mother's talent at being observant without being observed. It had saved them more than Lucius would ever admit. Saved Draco, certainly, and he knew. By the end of dinner she would have a perfect read on the lot of them, and they would still know nothing about the youngest Black sister.

Draco moved up the stairs and down the hall, considering if it were time for a dreamless potion. He heard a soft crying noise and pushed open the door to a room overlooking the street below. The crying increased in volume and Draco approached the crib. Inside was the small chubby baby with hazel eyes and a small patch of sandy brown hair. Teddy let out another cry, spotting Draco.

"Let's not do that, eh," Draco said.

Teddy rolled on its stomach, peering up at Draco. He gurgled and made some sounds Draco supposed were intended to be words.

"I'm a bit confused," he admitted. "Are you hungry?"

"Baba," Teddy said. He reached out to Draco and Draco accepted his hand. The small fingers closed around Draco's pointer finger and Draco felt a tug a Teddy attempted to pull the finger into his mouth.

"No thanks, Teddy," Draco said pulling his finger away. Teddy looked at his empty hand for a moment, tears rapidly appearing in his eyes.

"Oh,no,no," Draco said hurriedly. He returned his finger to Teddy, who promptly put it in his mouth. Draco felt the slight gnawing of teeth.

"He's not being a pain is he?"

Draco turned to see Weaslette standing in the doorway.

"No, just a big baby," Draco said. She approached to join him at the crib. She tickled Teddy's toes and he made a sound of joy, his sandy brown hair turning flame red, his eyes turning a brown to match Weaslette's.

"He can't control it yet," Weaslette explained at Draco's look of surprise. "Got it from Tonks, his mum. Andromeda said that when Tonks was a baby she would change all the time, especially when she liked someone. I think that's why he does it. His Harry impression is spot on. Oh!"

Draco looked back at Teddy to see platinum blonde hair and grey eyes looking back at him.

"He likes you," Weaslette observed.

"That makes two people," Draco replied.

"Dinner's almost done," Weaslette said with a smirk. "Why don't you bring Teddy and we can get him his bottle."

The next few days passed uneventfully. Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco were forbidden from leaving the house. Weasley offered to do christmas shopping for them, which Draco tried to warn him against, but Weasley ignored. So he was stuck getting the floor length list of gifts Narcissa directed him to buy.

"Not just a quill," Wealsey fumed to Draco later in a hushed tone. "A Peacock quill, refined and dyed and aged for fifty years. Who ages quills?"

Christmas came just in time and with it. Draco wasn't sure why he was surprised by it, but he was. The doorbell rang and he, tangled in the blankets on the couch, fell onto the floor with loud smack. FOr a moment, he didn't move, trying to wake form his dreamless sleep potion more fully. Where the bloody hell was he? Why was he on the floor? Who's floor was this? What was attacking his limbs?

He rolled over and beat his way from the blankets, straightening his PJ pants, and went to the door. The open door brought a gust of cold air as Draco realized he had taken off his shirt in his sleep. There was a low whistle and Draco recognized Granger, Weaslette, and Weasley standing in the door way.

"Evil, he might be," Weaslette teased, "But fit as can be."

"Merlin, Ginny," Weasley said in disgust. "What would Harry say?"

"He'd probably laugh," Weaslette said with a shrug. "Plan on letting us in?"

Draco blinked at them, then moved to the side, fighting the blush of embarrassment, which was difficult with his pale skin.

"Hello Draco."

Draco felt the flush rage across his face as he turned back to the door way. Luna stood there in a very large deep blue color with a giant L on it. Her hair exploded from a neon green hat with bells on the top that jangled as she walked.

"Luna," Draco said. He became fully aware that he was in his pajamas bottoms (and that his hair was mussed all about) and made a slight sound of horror that wasn't muffled in time.

"Where are we putting the gifts," she asked.

"Gifts?"

"Oh for goodness sakes, Malfoy," Granger said rolling her eyes. "I told you those dreamless potions were too much. Over here Luna."

She led Luna to the tree just a few feet from where Draco had been sleeping. There was a pile of presents there that Draco hadn't noticed.

"Do you want to get your parents," Luna asked sitting on the couch.

"No," Draco said quickly. "I'll just change."

When he returned he found they had started opening gifts. Draco watched from the doorway, an outside observer to what seemed like an age old tradition. With each gift a large smile broke across the recipients face and they made sounds of awe, even from gifts they clearly expected. Weaslette kissed Potter on the cheek, sending his glasses askew for a box of sugar quills and a used Nimbus 2000. Meanwhile, Granger handed Weasley a large heavy present, which he prominently predicted was a book. When he opened it to find a large photo album he wrapped his arm around Granger and they peered at it together, eyes misting with joy.

How odd it was, Draco thought, to watch such intimacies. He took a step back, feeling suddenly invasive. In the entrance way he was out of sight, but also overcome with a feeling of loneliness. He had lost his friends, his allies, his reputation, and what was it he gained? Freedom, he considered, a better world? He smirked despite himself.

"Draco, there you are."

Luna was poking her head in the door, her elf hat jingling despite the fact that her head was still. Peaking from her hair he could see christmas tree earrings with twinkling lights. Behind her Weaslette, Weasley, Potter, and Granger were watching them closely.

"Didn't want to interrupt," he said.

"You aren't," Luna said with a genuine smile. She held out her hand, pulling him into the room. "It's your turn for present. Here you go."

Draco looked at the messy wrapping. This was certainly not from his mother or father.

"You act like you've never seen a present before," Weasley said, arm still around Granger.

"Who's it from," Draco asked.

"Our mum," Weaslette said, "But Ron wrapped it. That's why it looks like that."

"For me?"

"Yes, git," Weasley snapped. He looked at the gift in a resigned sort of way. "Open it!"

Draco did as he was told and found an off emerald green wool sweater, much like the blue one Luna wore, but his had a large D on it. Draco looked at the room- Potters ruby red sweater, Grangers pastel purple, Weasley's maroon, and Weaslette's odd off white one- each with a letter. He looked back at his sweater.

"It's not much," Weasley began, but Potter nudged him into silence.

"Try it on, Draco," Luna urged.

Draco put the sweater on. It itched something fierce, but Draco didn't mind.

"Thank you," he said. Weasley looked as if he were about to die from shock.

"I have gifts too," Draco reached into the tree and pulled out a hidden envelope and a few small packages. "I haven't had much time to go out and about," Draco warned them handing each a gift.

They opened them cautiously, as if trying to defuse a bomb, but each made a sound of surprised delight as they opened it. Weaslette pulled a broom compass from her small box. Weasley got robe cuffs with small lions heads. Granger unwrapped a book with large bold letters that read Safe Work and Fair Wages: A History of Protections for Non-Wizards.

"How'd you manage..." Wealsey began baffled.

"Malfoys always find a way," Narcissa said. She sat down on the couch next to Draco and Luna. To an outsider she might look haughty or above the exchange, but Draco could see her interest, especially as he eyes moved across Draco's sweater. She gave a slight smile.

"Open yours, Harry," Weaslette said.

"Luna first."

Luna unwrapped the small box to find a simple silver chain with a small eagle in the center, it's eyes sapphires. Granger and Weaslette made sounds of approval.

"That was owned by Rowena Ravenclaw herself," Narcissa said, taking the necklace and draping it around Luna's neck as she held up her hair. "It's said that wearing it promotes brilliant ideas and vivid dreams of clarity."

"It's lovely," said Luna in a hushed tone. She touched Draco's hand appreciatively and Draco could feel his mother's eyes on him.

Potter opened his envelope last. Inside were three pages of small writing on thick parchment. He scanned to letter, his emerald eyes growing bigger and bigger with each line. He flipped to the next page. Then the last one.

"Well," asked Weasley.

Granger grabbed the paper and scanned.

"He's given the last of the Black fortune to Teddy, the bit that Sirius couldn't transfer to Harry. Oh my, that's... Malfoy, that's a lot of money," Granger said.

Draco felt his mother's hand on his shoulder, it tightened for a moment at the mention of Sirius, then loosened it's grip.

"Malfoy," Potter said blinking in amazement. "Thank you. I knew you offered, but I didn't think it was possible."

"It's what Regulus would have wanted," Narcissa said. Then she added, "Sirius too."

"You knew Sirius and Regulus," Weaslette observed carefully. She paused as if hoping Narcissa would catch her meaning. Narcissa made no movement or comment.

"Mother," Draco said turning to Narcissa to translate. "Would you tell us a story about Regulus and Sirius when you were all younger?"

Narcissa looked at the teens eagerly watching her, then back at Draco. A moment of indecision crossed her face before her usual poise returned.

"Well," she said finally, brushing a bit of lint off of Draco's wool shoulder. "I suppose there was the time they interrupted Lucius' party with James Potter..."

A/N: PLEASE REVIEW!