Hey! So here is the next update. I sure hope you like it because I have revised it so many times that if I have to read it one more time, my head will explode... And I'm sure there are still some mistakes that I missed. :/ Oh well, such is life. Anyway, this is the first half of Christmas, and the next part is the part I'm truly worried about you all liking, but you will have to wait until Friday to find out what happens. :)
So, I own nothing, and all mistakes are my own.
Christmas morning dawned bright and early, the house waking up earlier than normal. I had been up for almost two hours before the others, but I was so comfortable in my position that I hadn't made a move to get up.
After sleeping in Draco's arms the night before last, I had taken the liberty of making the bed in his room larger and slipping in it with him last night, ignoring his smug chuckle as I snuggled into his chest. I knew I wouldn't be able to do this back in school and I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity while I had the chance.
So, I was incredibly reluctant to move from Draco's arms simply to shower and be awake alone for a few hours, when I could lay here, cocooned in solid warmth using his firm, naked chest as my pillow.
Was there anybody who would want to leave that?
As Draco began to stir, I squeezed my arms tighter around his torso, making him chuckle as he bent to kiss my forehead.
"Good morning, my love," He whispered to me softly, tipping my chin up. "Have you brushed away the morning breath yet?" He smirked at me as I scowled.
Reluctantly, I mumbled, "Yes," but added in a stronger tone. "You jerk." I narrowed my eyes at him as his smug look only got bigger.
His hands gripped my waist and pulled me until I was lying on his chest, my legs on either side of his hips. His hand cupped the back of my neck as he brought me down to him. "That's good… because I would hate… to have to deny you… your morning kiss... again." He said softly, stopping every few words to kiss my forehead, my cheeks, and my chin. Finally he stopped talking all together, and kissed me, making me bury my hands in his hair and forget that I was supposed to be aggravated that he was teasing me.
He let me up a few moments later so that we could catch our breath. God, I loved it when he kissed me. His lips were so soft and damn if he didn't know what he was doing with that tongue… I had to force my mind away from the other things he could do well with his tongue.
"How do you always have fresh breath, anyway?" I asked breathlessly.
He smirked up at me. "I can't give away all of my secrets, now can I?"
I glared at but sighed, sulking. I leaned up from my position. "Come on, you can take the shower first; I'll just go down to Hermione's room and use the one there. I'm quite sure everyone else will be up shortly."
I got off of Draco after placing a soft kiss over his heart. I loved that he was comfortable enough with me to sleep nearly naked, even after everything that he had gone through. I just hoped that I would be ready for him to see my scars soon. It wasn't as though he hadn't already seen them; it was the fact that this time, he would see them up close and personal.
With a small smile in his direction, I made my way down from the third floor to the second and headed inside.
The sight I was greeted with was one I, surprisingly, wasn't expecting.
There stood Hermione, in the process of slipping on her underwear, still without a bra; wet, fluffy hair falling in her face as she bent over, thankfully, facing the door. He head jerked up as I entered the room, her body straightening as her hands shot out to cover herself.
I smirked at her, ignoring her nakedness. "Well, I guess now we're even. You saw me and now I've seen you." I chuckled at her fiery blush as I walked into the bathroom.
Making my way down the stairs forty minutes later, presents shrunken in my pockets, I stepped into the kitchen for coffee before walking into the dining room. The room was full, more people here today than there had been my entire visit here.
Draco was seated in the back, as far away from everyone as possible. The seats next to him were occupied by Lucius and Severus, and I wanted to be close to him, so I chose the only other seat available: Draco's lap.
He looked at me with a raised eyebrow, to which I simply shrugged before leaning back against his chest and watching the other occupants in the room.
Molly was bustling around the room, Ginny helping her, placing food on the table, glancing every once in a while at the corner I was in with an ugly look on her face. The Cullens were spread around the room, talking to the room's other occupants. The twins were holed up in another corner with Alice; her in between the two of them with a smile on her face and a blush on her cheeks as they whispered to her, hands stroking the skin revealed by her wife beater and jeans; something surprisingly simple for Alice.
Alice had always known that she would end up with two men, twin red heads with freckles and devious smiles, Seeing them in her visions. I guess she had finally found those two men. I smiled as I imagined that Alice would pull me aside one of these days before going back to school and tell me about it.
Rose was sitting next to Lucius, the two of them so obviously flirting with each other that it was rather disgusting to watch. I smirked, thinking that they would make a cute couple. Lucius for sure deserved to be happy after all the shit he's gone through… and having such a bitch for a wife. But, if he hurt my Rosie, I'd have to break him… I smirked again: if Rose didn't hurt him, that is.
Jasper was next to Bill, Fleur sitting beside her husband, and another red head that I hadn't met before; conversing about who knew what, but his eyes kept straying in my direction. We made eye contact and his moved in the direction of my father before he cocked an eyebrow. My eyes widened in shock before I smirked at him and nodded. He winked at me before turning back to a just catching on Bill.
If Jasper had his way, I'd be calling him dad before the end of the school year.
I chuckled softly, eyeing my father, wondering just what he'd think of that development. I knew from the gift my mom had given me for him that it would mean a lot to him, but maybe more so than I thought. I didn't read the letter she left for him, but maybe this was what she meant…
My eyes found Emmett who was sitting next to Edward, Emmett's chair close to Edward's, speaking softly to him, probably in an attempt to calm the submissive Veela down. Edward never had liked rooms full of people. It made my eyes soften as I looked at Edward, wondering if I should go and check on him.
As if he had heard my thoughts, he looked up and met my eyes, his mind open. Suddenly, he was in my head.
"Are you alright, honey?" I asked softly, mentally holding him. It was a strange feeling, doing something physical… but mentally… and now I was confusing myself.
Edward answered softly, "Yes, I'm alright. Just nervous is all."
"Do you want me to come over there?" I asked. While I didn't want to leave Draco, if Edward needed me, I'd go in a heartbeat.
He shook his head against my chest in my mind. "No, you stay with Draco. I'll be alright, promise." He smiled shyly at me, and I nodded hesitantly.
"If you're sure…" I replied and his response was to withdraw from my mind. I saw him give me a small nod and returned the gesture, still hesitant.
After a few more moments of looking at Edward worriedly, I resumed my search of the room and found Harry next to Ron, talking to him quietly; their hands under the table, probably linked together. I smiled softly at the obvious happiness on my little brother's face.
Hermione sitting alone on the left of Harry with her knees resting against the table. She had a book open, typically. She felt my eyes on her and looked up at me, only to look away quickly with a bright blush on her cheeks. I smirked as I thought of why. Now, I had another thing to tell Pansy about when I returned to the castle.
Finally, I spotted Sirius and Remus together; speaking lowly to each other, though they looked like the conversation was getting heated. It made me wonder just what they were discussing that could aggravate a man as gentle as Remus.
Having not seen Arthur, I figured he was at work, but where the fuck was Dumbledore…
I sighed softly, and sipped my coffee, laying my head on Draco shoulder, his arms coming around me gently. I smiled happily and let my eyes slip closed in content.
"Breakfast is ready! Everyone dig in." Molly voice rang loud around the room a little while later, stopping the conversation momentarily. The silence didn't last long as everyone quickly dug into the food that was laid out.
Severus, Rose, Lucius, Draco and I waited until the others had gotten their food before we grabbed ours. I made sure to eat more than I did at school as Rose's hawk like eyes stared at, ensuring that I would eat.
I widened to chair Draco was sitting on into the size of a small bench and sat down next to him so that he could eat. Emmett, having seen my use of magic, glared at me from across the room. I just smiled sweetly at him and shrugged.
Truth was, I felt fantastic. I knew that my magic levels were almost back to normal. I just had to keep the spells I used to a minimum for some time still… and do them as far away from the Cullens as possible, or risk death by boredom at another lecture of being careful.
About two hours later, everyone was done with their meals and we were –somehow- all in the living room. I mean really, I didn't think this house was that big.
Presents were passed around to people, the Weasley's mostly, and we all watched as they opened their gifts. I didn't pay much attention to them, keeping mine until the very end.
When Molly went to announce that they could leave, I interrupted her. "Wait. I have a few things to give out." I smirked at the ugly look she sent me.
I handed out the gifts my mother had left in her vault to Severus, Lucius, Sirius, and Remus, keeping Dumbledore's in my pocket. The gifts from the vault had all been taken from their original sack and put in correctly sized boxes and wrapped. I had put the little satchels in the box, right on top. "These were in my mom's vault at Gringotts. Open the little satchels first; she left letters for you there." I kept my voice clear of emotion as I spoke, not wanting to give the impression that anything was wrong. I really didn't want to talk about what had happened that day. It was still throbbed like a gaping wound.
I then handed the gifts to Harry, Ron, and Hermione that I had bought for them. "I had some trouble getting you guys your gifts, so I hope you like them."
Hermione's gift was simple: a wizarding credit card with a limit of a thousand galleons to any book store in any wizarding community all over the world. So, maybe not simple, but I figured she would prefer being able to choose books she liked rather than have me a guess at some. I had also gotten Ron a credit card with the same limit to any Quidditch shop he wished to visit. By the expressions on their faces, it was safe to assume that they greatly enjoyed their gifts.
Harry was much harder to buy for. He liked Quidditch, but not as much as Ron; he didn't really like to read, at least not anything educational. It hadn't really hit me what to get him until I had happened upon the entrance to Knockturn Alley and saw two beautiful necklaces, one emerald and one ruby, in the window of one of the shops. Neither were big enough that it was obvious if they were on, not that they would be seen, and not too feminine so Harry would feel uncomfortable wearing a necklace. I wouldn't tell him about the ruby just yet, however.
When I had asked about them, the enchantments on them were exactly what I needed in a present for Harry. The gift wasn't the cheapest, almost as expensive as Ron and Hermione's gifts put together, but I knew that, if my mother's warning meant anything, they would come in handy someday. I could feel it in my bones.
He opened it and his eyes widened. "Bella…" He said in warning, his whole being rejecting something that looked as expensive as that did.
I held my hand up and shook my head. "Harry, don't start. Money isn't a problem and you know it. But this, I couldn't pass up. This isn't just some random piece of pricey jewelry. This has special enchantments on it that will help me find you if anything happens. I want to be absolutely sure that I can get to you if you are ever in danger and this is the way I can do that."
There was another part to Harry's gift, the part that made the spells on the gem actually work, but that would have to wait until I could get him alone, away from all of these Light wizards. I mean, I bought it in Knockturn Alley; of course it would involve the use of Dark Magic. Then, the necklace would be as though it wasn't there.
Harry let a tear slip down his cheek as he got up off the couch he was sitting on and knelt in front of me, wrapping his arms around my waist and whispering thank you to me. I didn't know what had brought this reaction on; I'd have to ask him about it later. I did nothing but hold him for a minute as we held each other in a warm embrace. He pulled back, beaming.
I smiled back as he got up and walked back to his seat, reverently setting the gem back in its box.
I shook my head softly as I turned back to the room, ignoring the gawking eyes on me. I instead looked at the men with the presents still unopened in their laps.
Sirius let out a short laugh as he shook his head, ripping the paper off of his present. His actions seemed to knock some sense into the others and they followed suit.
They all opened the satchels first and began to read, all but Remus' eyes widening in shock. My father and Sirius let out a gasp as they read, and Severus' eyes, surprisingly, began to fill with tears.
With shaking hands, Remus was the first to pull his gift from the box. He pulled out a book with no title, just a black cover. He opened it and began to read through the things in it. His eyes widened slowly as he read.
Remus had gotten a book on old creature laws; laws that hadn't been eradicated, simply forgotten about. Laws that stated that if Remus were to find a secure place for him to roam on the full moon where no one resided, he would be given all rights of a human, he would be allowed to marry, have children, etc.
Remus' eyes filled with tears then, and he closed the book and held it to his chest as he looked up and smiled. Sirius looked over at him curiously but Remus just shook his head in an 'I'll explain later' gesture.
Sirius opened his next, pulling out a six inch knife that was tucked inside a soft leather holster that could be strapped to you. I had a similar one that I carried in my boot. He slipped the knife out and watched as it glinted in the light. There were words engraved on the handle: "For when you get yourself stuck in something magic can't get you out of." Sirius looked confused but excited, so he shrugged and tucked it back into its holster.
Lucius was next as he slipped the long box out, opened it, and gasped softly. He gently took the sterling silver chain in between his thumb and forefinger, pulling it up and out. At the end of the chain, there was a blue pendent the same color as Rosalie's eyes. It was a good thing that Lucius wasn't adverse to wearing slightly girlie jewelry. His eyes widened in realization of something as he gently sat the necklace back in its box and cleared his throat, looking up at Rosalie as she smiled softly at him.
Lastly, Severus shakily pulled the smallest present of them all out of the box. He flipped the top open and his breath caught at the sight.
I knew that the ring inside the box was his grandmother's ring, thought to be lost to the next generations of the Prince family when Severus' mother married a muggle and her mom disowned her. How my mom had found it, I would never know, but I knew that Severus would not question it.
He didn't remove the ring, simply closed the box, putting it and the letter back in the box I had put them in, and giving us a small goodbye before leaving hastily through the floo.
After a few moments of silence, everyone composed themselves, putting their things back in the boxes and leaving to take them up to their rooms; I turned to look at Draco next to me.
I grimaced slightly. "I kind of… didn't… get you anything yet…"
Draco smirked at me. "Don't worry, love. I didn't get you anything either." Instead of being offended, I let out a breath of relief.
"Good. I've been worried about that all break." I smiled at him as his small smile appeared.
He leaned forward and cupped my face, pressing our foreheads together. "You've already given me more than I could ever ask for, just by loving me, Bell. How could I possibly want for more?" He whispered lovingly, making me sigh adoringly, or sickeningly really, back at him. I ignored that little thought in my mind and leaned over to kiss him softly, moaning lowly when he deepened it.
A few moments later, a throat cleared behind us, and I looked over my shoulder at Jasper. He smirked. "So, you ready to start our tradition?" Jasper wiggled his eyebrows.
"Hell yes, I am!" I said with a smiled, jumping from my seat.
I ignore Draco as he laughed at my enthusiasm.
Well, there it is. I was stuck on the presents, I really was. i had no clue what to get Ron and Hermione, so I just got them what all people in the real world get people they don't know how to buy for: gift cards. Anyway, if it sucks, I'm sorry, but I'm... mildly proud of it. For how long it took me to write, I should be majorly proud of it, but alas, tis not the truth. So... Review and let me know if you guys liked it! :DD
Oh, and I hope you like the loving Draco, 'cause I like him. ^.^ lol.
xoxo,
kitkat
