Chapter Ten

"Harry! Harry!"

Seamus' voice startled Harry from his dream state at the Gryffindor table. It was the last week of lessons before the holidays and all the students were buzzing with excitement to see their families. Harry turned blearily to Seamus. "Sorry, I must have dozed off there for a second," he mumbled apologetically.

Neville, Seamus, Dean and Ginny all rolled their eyes at Harry. "That's all you've been doing lately, Harry. I mean you know something's wrong when even Slughorn has to takes points from ya!" Dean teased as Harry shot him a small scowl.

"Just haven't been sleeping right, s'all."

"Well who could, given your current sleeping arrangements," Seamus said pointedly as he gestured at the vicinity of the Slytherin table.

"Are you sure you're alright, Harry?" Ginny asked sympathetically leaning across the table, placing her hand gently on his forearm. "Do I have to get Hermione to force you to the hospital wing?"

Harry shook his head. "Honest, I'm fine. Just not a lot of sleep, studying for exams and all that." Harry lied. The truth was he couldn't sleep because he didn't want to. He didn't want to because every night since Draco had kissed him he couldn't dream of anything other than it. He relived the kiss in his sleep nightly to a point he was ready to brew some Dreamless Sleep Draught and risk poisoning himself to get rid of the vivid images of Draco doing what he did.

"Anyway, we were talking about the Christmas party we're going to have before everybody leaves. It'll be next Friday and in the Hufflepuff common room because it's the biggest out of them all. All the eighth years from Ravenclaw will be there, too, and most of the seventh years as well," Neville explained.

"And mate," Seamus grinned, "I think I can manage to get us some firewhiskey, too."

Harry frowned and looked up from his plate for a moment across the hall at Draco who was conversing with Pansy and Blaise. Ever since the kiss Draco seemed to be perfectly comfortable with Harry and he had no idea how he did it. He acted as though nothing had happened. They were still on relatively friendly terms and helped one another with studying as well as played chess or Exploding Snap in their spare time. Harry still couldn't grasp how he could go back to acting like that after what they had shared but he was more than glad Draco wasn't trying to draw attention to it, either, because Harry certainly wouldn't know what to do then.

"I doubt I'll be there, sorry guys," Harry said. "I mean, can you really see Draco stepping foot in the Hufflepuff dormitory?"

"That's bollocks, mate," Dean sighed.

"I always forgot you two can't be too far away from each other. Sorry, Harry," Seamus frowned.

"At least you'll be coming to Christmas, right Harry?" Ginny said in an attempt to cheer him up.

Harry looked across the hall again and this time Draco was looking at him, too. Draco smiled softly at him before returning to respond to something Blaise was animatedly talking about. "Oh Gin, I totally forgot to tell you. I have to write to your Mum-"

"Don't you dare, Harry James Potter!" Ginny began pointing her finger crudely at him. "There is no way you're missing Christmas because of this stupid bond, too!"

"I won't miss Christmas," he shrugged. "I just promised to spend it at the Malfoy Manor because his mother's all alone. At least you guys have each other. And who knows, maybe I can convince him to let us go over on Christmas Eve."

Ginny lowered her finger looking defeated. "He better drag his arse over. Malfoy or not, you need to spend at least some of the holidays with us."

Harry smiled weakly. "I'll see what I can do, Gin. And sorry about the party guys," he apologized again. "You've reminded me now though, I've got to write to let your Mum know that she shouldn't be expecting me."

"Good luck. I bet two galleons that you will have a howler response by Wednesday," Ginny teased.

Before Harry left the Great Hall he caught Draco's eye. He waited only a few minutes in the entrance hall with his head buzzing dully due to the distance between them before Draco joined him and they immediately started up towards their dormitory. It was a Sunday and they both had plenty of studying for their exams to do. Harry was just glad he had avoided Hermione the entire day thus far as she was most likely keeping Ron on library lockdown.

"What's wrong?" Draco asked.

Harry shot him a nonplussed glance. "How do you-"

"Bond," he said shortly.

"Ah. Well, uhm, I was talking to Ginny and I guess I sort of forgot to tell Molly I wouldn't be at the Burrow for Christmas this year. I reckon she's not going to take it very well," Harry mumbled.

"Harry, you don't have to do this you know. We could always stay here for Christmas," Draco offered earnestly.

Harry shrugged. "What good will that do – then nobody gets what they want on Christmas. It's fine, really, it's just one year and it's not like I'm not used to spending Christmas alone."

Draco stopped and grabbed Harry by the wrist. That same electric current still jolted through them whenever they touched. "You won't be alone," he said firmly.

Swallowing the lump in his throat as images of Draco kissing him feverishly kept sweeping through his head, Harry nodded. "Er, right. Thanks."

"Doing this doesn't just mean a lot to me you know," Draco explained as he regretfully let go of Harry and started down the corridor again, "It means a lot to my mother, too. In her last letter she went on to say how thankful she was and how accommodating she will be to you and our situation. Even without being bound to you my mother is very fond of you," he admitted.

Harry blinked a few times in surprise. "She is? Uh – I was always pretty certain she despised me."

Draco laughed. "Yes, well, a lot of people think that's how mother feels about them. She's my mum, Harry, she's thankful you saved her only child's life and were the one to give him another chance. And her another chance."

Harry nodded knowingly but he didn't want Narcissa to admire him out of respect for her debt to him, he would much prefer it if there were no debt at all. "There's still one thing about Christmas though. I was wondering if you would, er, if we could go to the Burrow on Christmas Eve. We would still be spending the day with your mother and the rest of the holidays but…the Weasleys are my family, it would be nice to see them, too," Harry said as they approached their portrait hole.

"Me? Spend an entire evening with a house full of Weasel-" Draco sucked in a breath as he felt Harry become automatically restrained through the bond. "Yes, well, I guess that's the least I could do."

"Really?" Harry chirped up, "I thought it would take a lot more convincing than that! Thank you, Draco, really. It means a lot to everybody."

"Just, promise me they won't kill me," Draco groaned at the thought of it. 'How many Weasleys are there again? Seven? Eight? Too bloody many if you ask me.'

Harry chuckled. "I promise I won't let them, not to say some of them won't try," he teased which caused him to receive a swift elbow in his side from Draco who muttered their password and disappeared into their common room.

The four knights saluted Harry, each of them sporting a knowing grin. "We are quite impressed, Mr Potter."

"Impressed?" Harry probed curiously as he crossed his arms at the portrait, he could see Draco from the corner of his eye taking out some homework and settling down at the table paying Harry no mind at all.

"Indeed we are impressed. You and Mr Malfoy have begun your journeys in overcoming yourselves," Sir Cowper said.

"And who would have though," Sir Leland spoke up, "That you would be on your path of accomplishment due to who was once your enemy."

Sir Albacour nodded, "Much like Sir Dumbledore and Sir Grindewald."

Harry blinked a few times. He knew Dumbledore and Grindewald had a questionable relationship but that was as far as his understanding of it went. "I really don't know what you're on about. We respect each other now. We're...friends. Doesn't mean we're overcoming anything great, really, we're just adapting," Harry shrugged.

Sir Ferguson grinned. "Ah, but you do not see what doors of opportunity this opens for you. But you will, in due time. Mr Malfoy shall as well."

"It is he who shall benefit extraordinarily from the pursuing of the bond."

Harry paled at Sir Cowper's words. "P-pursuing? But, we're not pursuing anything here!" he hissed, forcing himself to stay quiet so Draco wouldn't hear him.

The four knights looked between themselves again, their grins and smiles broadening. "We did not say you were in the act of pursuing the bond."

Harry lightened up ever so slightly until he could swear he heard a night whispered voice say, "Yet."

"Bloody portraits," he mumbled and entered the common room, shutting the knights out into the empty corridor.

XXXX

"How goes courting Potter, Malfoy?" Blaise teased as he approached Draco at the Slytherin table on the last day of exams. Draco sneered at his friend and quickly looked around to see if Pansy was in the vicinity. "Don't worry, the annoying bint is gone," Blaise assured him.

Draco scoffed, "That's rather rich; you calling her that when you've been in love with her for the past four years."

Blaise scowled playfully at Draco. "Honestly, how goes your courtship? I thought you said you were going to pursue it and from what I can tell none of the proper steps have yet to be taken."

"In due time, Blaise. Before I begin to further our bond any more than I already have I want him to willingly do it himself," Draco explained, his eyes glancing up at the Gryffindor table where Harry sat amongst his friends.

Over the week Harry had become increasingly more comfortable with Draco. Draco's soft, honest approach was working and he couldn't be more pleased. Although he was growing rather impatient, he knew Harry would be worth it in the end. "Draco, you know I'm all for whatever it is that boils your cauldron but are you certain Potter wants any of this?"

Draco shrugged noncommittally. "The bond I'm certain he doesn't want but neither do I. I know what I want now and I want Harry without the bond pulling our strings," he explained lowly. "As for me, well, let's just say Harry's dreams aren't exactly quiet ones these days."

"Still?" Blaise asked, pulling a mildly amused and disgusted face.

"Mhm. Every night," Draco grinned, looking back across the hall again at Harry who was looking at him this time. They locked eyes for a moment before smiling and turning back to their friends.

"That poor bastard must not have much to compare you to if he's still fantasizing about kissing you. What a poor sod," Blaise shook his head. "And your mum? How's she?"

"As good as can be. Still rather befuddled by the entire current situation," Draco exhaled. When he thought about it, even though all he had was Blaise and his mother, he was truly lucky. Blaise didn't bat an eye when he approached him a week ago about his budding feelings for Harry and how he wanted to pursue the courtship bond. His mother, when learned of his situation and how it was being handled, was, as always, supportive and understanding and offered her assistance in any way he could need it.

"And how do you reckon Potter's going to fare after a whole two weeks in the Malfoy Manor?"

Draco smirked. "It will be amusing, though he will probably be far better off than I will be at the Weasel's hole for one night."

Blaise shivered and clapped Draco sympathetically on the back. "Good luck with that, mate. Frankly, you'll need it. Ah, and speaking of the wonder boy," Blaise inclined his head at the Gryffindor table where Harry was sitting staring deliberately at them.

Draco raised his eyebrow at Harry who nudged to the entrance hall. Draco nodded and got up, ready to follow him a few moments later. "I guess I'll be seeing you on the train, Zabini."

"Hey, Draco, where are you off to?" Pansy asked skipping up to the table.

"You've got bloody good timing, mate," Blaise grumbled as Draco smirked and excused himself from the table to follow Harry.

'Two full weeks of Harry to myself. No outsiders looking in, no lessons to attend or professors to appease. Maybe he might even let us pick up that kiss where we left off…' Draco thought hopefully to himself.

The two boys returned to their room, discussing the final exams. "I'm certain Slughorn must have given me a separate exam from everybody else's," Harry admitted, "It was way too bloody easy."

Draco jeered, "Slughorn did give us individual exams. However, if you're referring to the level of difficulty of the said exams then yes, I full heartedly agree that Slughorn gave you a simpler version. That man deserves to have any Professor title revoked; you cannot properly teach when you're blinded by your own star struck desire."

Harry sighed, "Give the man a break. He's still a good Professor."

"Tch, hardly. Poor Sev is simply rolling in his grave right now, I can see it. He always disliked that man."

At the mention of Severus Snape's name, Harry shivered. It was a name he very rarely heard after the war. "How can you talk about him like that, 'Rolling in his grave'? I mean, weren't you two close?"

Draco, who was currently riffling through his trunk in their bedroom making sure all his things were in order for tomorrow, breathed. "Sev was like an Uncle to me, Harry. He was my Godfather. He meant the world to me. Severus was the greatest man I ever knew," he said tenderly. Harry was sitting down on top of his own trunk watching as Draco paused only for a moment in memory before continuing on. "When I think of those who have passed, I like to remember them for what they were and not for what they no longer are."

Harry thought about it for a minute. He had never considered it like that before. Whenever he thought about those who were lost he thought about what they could never be, memories they would never share. Harry was beginning to respect Draco's outlook more and more each day. Despite the accusations against him and his character, Draco was truly prevailing and striving to make a life for himself.

"Harry," Draco called, startling him from his trance. "I was asking you if you would like my mother to invite Andromeda over for Christmas dinner. She would be bringing her grandson, of course."

Harry looked up at Draco incredulously. "Really? Teddy? Draco that would be fantastic! But I thought Andromeda and your side of the family didn't get on."

Draco tensed. "We don't particularly but my mother offered to extend the invitation for your sake. There is a rumour that you are his godfather."

"Your mother offered? Well, tell her that would be really appreciated. I hate not being able to see Teddy more often because I'm here – he's probably so big. I wonder what colour his hair will be," Harry mused.

"You can tell her yourself. She was waiting to owl Andromeda once she had your word. And I have a feeling Andromeda will accept the invitation if she knows who else will be present. I think my mother's trying to make up for being forced to spend Christmas at our manor," Draco admitted. He knew his mother and when a guest was in her home she did all she could to make sure he was accommodated.

"I'm not being forced," Harry corrected him, "I was the one who offered."

Flashing a smile over at Harry, Draco closed his trunk and mirrored Harry by sitting on the edge of it. "And your offer is greatly appreciated. And how are the Weasleys handling our holiday situation?"

Harry bit his grin, he didn't want to seem too amused by the fuss Ron had made after hearing that Draco was going to come to the Burrow with him for Christmas Eve. "Ron's still pretty peeved about it. I think he's just upset he has to see your scrawny arse outside of school – oi!" Harry, thankful for his speedy Seeker reactions, dodged a pillow Draco had been quick to grab and hurl towards his head. "Mrs Weasley, Molly, is really fantastic though. She said the more the merrier and that she didn't want to go the whole holiday without seeing me and if that means bringing you along she'll take it."

"And the other Weasleys. Aren't there a hundred of them?" Draco queried.

Harry rolled his eyes exasperatedly. "The other ones I can't speak for but Molly's usually pretty good at keeping them all on their behaviour besides George and…" Harry trailed off. It wasn't Fred and George anymore, just George. "Well, just George," he finished quietly.

"We have all night. Up for finishing our Arithmancy assignment due for when we get back?" Draco quipped quickly, wanting to distract Harry from the mourning he had brought upon himself.

Harry groaned. "We have two whole weeks to do that!"

"Yes. Two weeks. That leaves us just enough time to complete the assignment and rewrite it at least twice," Draco shrugged.

"Merlin, what did I do to deserve two Hermione's in my life?" Harry grumbled jokingly, dodging yet another pillow that came flying in his direction.