Chapter 25

Being blindfolded wasn't on Draco's list of things he enjoyed, whether in bed or out of it. Having a sense removed made him feel especially vulnerable. During the War, when Voldie and his goons were staying at the Manor, Draco had been constantly on edge, and even having all his senses with him hadn't been nearly enough to keep him safe.

The only reason Draco was allowing himself to be blindfolded was because it was Harry who was blindfolding him. If anyone but Harry had suggested it, he would have hexed that unfortunate soul and run about five miles away. But it was Harry, and Harry insisted that he had a Christmas surprise waiting for Draco and that he had to be blindfolded for a few minutes.

"This big gift really isn't necessary, Harry," Draco had said, slightly panicked. "I mean, all I got you for Christmas was a new broom and a Snitch –"

"I'll be right here the whole time," Harry had assured him as he tied the black cloth over Draco's eyes. "I won't leave you. Promise. Do you want your surprise or not?"

And that was how Draco found himself standing somewhere, out in the open snow, flakes falling against his clothes and face.

"I demand to know where we are, Potter!" Draco exclaimed, his arms stretched out blindly in front of him like one of those zombies Harry liked watching in Muggle horror movies.

Harry had his hands clasped around Draco's arm. "Patience, Malfoy. It's a virtue."

Draco wanted to retort, but just then, a bird cawed in the distance. Draco started and drew closer to Harry.

"I've got you," Harry soothed, and Draco felt a kiss press gently against his cheek. "We're here. I'm not sure if you'll like this, and you mustn't expect too much, but –"

Draco grit his teeth. "Potter. Get. This. Damn. Thing. Off. Now."

Harry hastened to obey, pulling the blindfold off quickly. Draco blinked at the harsh onslaught of light for a moment before his vision focused.

They were standing on a large plot of snow-covered land. Trees with bare, spindly branches stretched out for yards in a neat row and neatly trimmed hedges were arranged in front of them. Draco looked around him, eyes wide. "Where are we?" he murmured. Harry didn't respond, instead turning Draco around.

And then there, directly in front of Draco, was a large, slightly aged, brick-made house. It was about half the size of the Manor, and considering how huge the Manor was, it was pretty impressive, standing tall and mighty, almost intimidating. A series of elegant white marble steps led up to the magnificent mansion, which had long glass windows in perfect arches that were shrouded slightly on the inside with light wisps of curtain. The path leading up to the steps had the bearings of being a beautiful garden-like path. Draco could imagine resplendent greenery sprouting up on either side in vibrant blues, yellows and reds, and he could just picture shining clusters of colour in the form of flowers gathered around in spring.

"It isn't much," Harry was saying. Draco could barely hear him over the beating of his heart. "I just remember you saying that you missed the size of the Manor, being able to walk the halls and think in silence and stuff. I mean this isn't nearly as big –"

Draco started to walk up the staircase, smooth and solid beneath his feet, and the closer he got, the more detail he could see of the house. Vines hung low over the walls and entwined ivy snaked up the banisters of the staircase as his fingers brushed against them. From the staircase, he could see what looked like a garden on the side of the mansion, and an iron gate was wrought around it.

Harry was still talking. "I know it's old and needs a bit of fixing up, but I really wanted us to have our own house instead of renting. It's got a lot of land for Kreacher and there's a really nice garden, which I was hoping you could learn to love like the one in the Manor. It's got a lot of space and a really big library and I'll do the construction and whatever needs to be –"

"You bought…my Christmas gift is…you bought me a house?" Draco gaped, scarcely able to believe it, or form coherent sentences.

"I…well…yeah," Harry said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "I'm sorry if it's not what you were expecting. I mean, I understand if you don't –"

Draco spun around and dashed towards Harry, flinging his arms around him and crushing his lips against Harry's. Harry let out a surprised gasp and Draco took the opportunity to plunge his tongue into Harry's mouth. Harry let out a pleased moan and wrapped his own arms around Draco's waist, tugging him in closer.

When Draco pulled away, Harry's lips were swollen. Draco supposed his were the same. "Do you…like it?" Harry asked stupidly, blinking.

"Like it?" Draco laughed. "I love it! Thank you, thank you…" He reached out to press their lips together again.

Harry's smile was so bright it was nearly blinding. Draco felt himself melt a little, despite the cold of the snow. "Wait till you see the inside," Harry grinned.

Draco nodded excitedly. "How many rooms are there?"

"Bedrooms? Around eight or something."

"No, rooms in total. Studies, libraries, storerooms, cupboards, bathrooms. Everything."

"I dunno. Twenty, thirty, forty, I expect."

Draco smirked, pressing himself flush against Harry. "Oh, so many? What a pity. It'll take us quite a while to christen every room."

Despite the cloudy day, Draco could clearly see Harry's emerald green eyes darken. "If that's the case, we should get started right away," he said, his smile taking on a Slytherin-like quality.

Draco interpreted the gleam in Harry's gaze a second later. "Now hang on a minute, Potter, you are not going to carry me over the threshold like I'm a pitiful maiden –"

Without further ceremony, Harry hoisted him up into his arms, laughing when Draco squirmed and demanded to be put down, and unlocked the door wandlessly, successfully carrying Draco over the threshold. Before Draco could complain further, Harry had him pushed up against the wall, their lips pressed together once more.

"Don't I get a tour first?" Draco gasped when he broke away for air.

"Plenty of time for that later," Harry said, licking and nipping a trail up the pale column of Draco's throat. "The rest of our lives, in fact."

Draco couldn't help feeling a little lighter at that. "The rest of our lives?" he murmured.

Harry pulled away, smiling tenderly as he brushed some mussed hair away from Draco's face. "And then forever."

"Sap," Draco muttered.

"Shut up," Harry grinned.

"Make me," Draco hissed.

Harry growled and crushed their lips together again, effectively silencing Draco. Not that Draco minded in the slightest, of course.

Draco's last fleeting thought was that the rest of their lives and then forever sounded just about perfect.

The End

Thanks so much to everyone who's made my first advent fic such a fun ride by reading, following, favouriting and reviewing!

Special thanks to Carling, whose reviews are a joy to read and help me write better. :)

Happy New Year everyone! Have a lovely 2014!