Christmas came dressed in freshly fallen snow and an azure sky dotted with a few immaculate, fluffy clouds. The Burrow's residents, despite being on the cusp of adulthood, still rushed with enthusiasm downstairs to the living room. The sweet-smelling pine tree that had been bedecked with lights, tinsel, and moving ornaments the day before stood in all its dazzling glory. Beneath it, wrapped in brilliantly colored packages, were…
"Presents!" Ron said happily.
"Mrs. Weasley, you didn't have to get us anything," Hermione said, "That's too kind of you, really, we're too old for this."
"Well, you gave each other things, didn't you?" Molly beamed, "And you're never too old for presents."
"Now, I hope you'll all listen to me this time," Percy said loudly over the din of the chattering students, "I really think it would be prudent to try and do this neatly."
"I completely agree," George said in a mock-serious tone. "Yes, what we really ought to do is make an assembly line to open these presents. That would be the most efficient." Then he grinned, picked up a random gift, checked the label, and threw it at Percy. "There, start with that one."
Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley, Percy, Xenophilius Lovegood, Luna, Ginny, George, Harry, Hermione, and Ron all arranged themselves in a loose semi-circle by the tree and began to pass the presents around. Draco, after hesitating a minute, sat cross-legged on the floor next to Harry.
"Luna, I think this is for you…" "Thanks, Mum, I've wanted this…" "Here, open mine next…"
"I have presents?" Draco said, incredulous, as Harry handed him a wrapped box.
"It's Christmas, isn't it?" Harry replied as he tore open a gift from Hermione, revealing A Modern History of Unforgiveable Curses. "Thanks, 'Mione."
"It's got you in it!" She told him excitedly.
"My parents aren't really the gift-giving type," Draco said monotonously, opening his own present. It turned out to be a stack of various licorice-flavored sweets, and Draco bit back a smile as he gave Harry a look. "Getting creative now, are we?"
Harry feigned an injured expression. "I don't really know what you like," He protested.
Draco smirked and placed the candy behind him. "They're great. Thank you."
George was by far the best gift-giver out of the whole company, delighting his family and friends with customized Weasley's products. Harry especially loved the model Snitch that spun dizzyingly around his head, disappearing and reappearing whenever it pleased. Ron gave Hermione a gorgeous yet simple silver necklace with a tiny, book-shaped pendant. It was in excellent taste, and both Hermione and Ginny oohed and ahhed over it.
Once they neared the end of the gift pile, Mrs. Weasley presented a rather squashy package to Draco, who took it dubiously. Recognizing the ambiguous shape, Ron asked, "You made him one?"
"Well, he's here, isn't he?" Molly said. "Go on, open it."
Draco carefully unwrapped the packaging to reveal a black knitted sweater with a bright green letter D in the center. He unfolded the clothing and ran his hands over the tightly-woven strands of yarn. "You made this?"
"Mum makes them every year," Ron said, pulling on his own, new maroon sweater. "Without magic."
Draco looked around to see that all the Weasley kids, plus Harry, Hermione, and Luna, sported similar garments. An expression of exceptional gratitude and pleasure spread across his face, and he pulled the sweater on immediately. "Thank you, Mrs. Weasley," He said, and Harry thought he glimpsed tears in the Slytherin's eyes. "That reminds me…I'll be right back." Draco stood and briskly left the room, and his footsteps were heard bounding up seven flights.
"We can open a couple more while we're waiting," Ginny said, taking one of the last presents from underneath the tree, a large, flat package. "Here, Mr. Lovegood." The gift turned out to be a beautifully made painting of a sunflower field from his daughter, which was admired by everyone present.
Draco, panting slightly from running upstairs, returned with a glimmering object about the size of a bottle of wine. A white ceramic vase, inlaid with swirling patterns of gold and bits of sapphire, was gently cradled in his hands. He held it out to Mrs. Weasley, who took it carefully, her expression taken aback by the obviously expensive decoration.
"I bought it in Diagon Alley the other day," Draco explained, "And then I charmed it. Think of your favorite flowers while holding it."
"All right," Molly closed her eyes and furrowed her brow. After a moment, small purple blooms, followed by green stems, edged out of the vase's top. A small bunch of irises unfurled, opening in glorious violet bursts. "How pretty!"
"That's very complicated magic," Hermione said, eyes widening owlishly.
"Yes, I suppose it is," Draco's chin tilted upwards proudly. "They'll die if you take them out, unfortunately. But the spells I placed should last a long while."
"That's very thoughtful of you, Draco," Arthur said approvingly. Even Percy looked impressed.
Draco, rightly pleased with himself, retook his seat next to Harry while the last of the presents were opened.
"I never saw you buy that," Harry said quietly to him, quite astonished.
"I can be sneaky when I want to be," Draco replied vaguely. "Do you think it won them over?" Ginny had the vase now, making roses bloom out of the top. Luna brushed their soft petals in wonder.
Harry, who knew the Weasleys well enough, was aware that they were not so easily swayed by material things. "Not with the vase," Harry told him. "With your kindness."
Draco gave him a curious look. "I never thought anyone would use that word to describe me."
Molly set the vase in the kitchen, where a shocking bouquet of irises, roses, and daisies had grown. Everyone gathered their haphazard stacks of presents, and Percy swept the torn wrapping paper and scattered ribbons into the bin with a flourish of his wand.
"Make yourselves some pancakes if you like," Mrs. Weasley said, sinking tiredly into the sofa. "The batter's in the fridge."
"Come on, kids," George said jovially, "I'll teach you how to make pancakes in the shape of a-"
"George!"
"A star, Mum, that's all I was going to say..."
The teenagers gathered in the kitchen to make their late breakfast, either settling for classic circles or branching out into more adventurous figurines. The rest of Christmas Day stretched before them like a warm, glorious promise. Harry recalled the Christmas before - he and Hermione camped out in the forest, alone, wondering if Ron would return, his wand broken, despair settling over them both faster than winter setting in…
Harry looked down at his pancakes, pushing away the unwelcome memories. He wanted to focus on the bright present, the unscathed people in front of him, the new friend who sat innocuously by his side.
And he wished, desperately, that it would last forever. Even if doing so was wretchedly futile.
• • •
The quarter moon shone hesitantly onto the glittering snow, peeking its bright and curious face around the earth's shadow. Standing beneath the crest of the hill was the town of Ottery St Catchpole. Windows from the many homes glittered with cheer, the solemn and silent church steeple standing over them like a mother watching her children. Within most houses gathered groups of family and friends, both wizards and Muggles, winding down after a well-spent, peaceful Christmas. The Burrow was no different, though, with six teenagers residing inside, it was a bit more chaotic than usual.
"Aha!" Ron shouted suddenly, making them all jump. "I've got a pair! of…oh…" The seven of spades, right before his eyes had changed into a four of hearts.
"Damn it all, I needed that card," Ginny griped, shuffling her hand. "Er…Luna, got any sixes?"
"Go search," Luna said dreamily, absentmindedly fanning her face with the cards.
"I've got one!" Ginny exclaimed as she picked a card from the draw pile, then she frowned. "Oh. Never mind." She huffed, placing the card in within her others. "I'm this close to waking George up to ask him how to stop these from changing."
"That would defeat the purpose," Hermione said soothingly - easy for her to say since she was winning by three pairs. "Wait a moment…Yes! A four, I win!" She cried, much to the dismay of her friends. "Shall we play again?"
"No, let's do a different game…"
Harry tossed his cards into the central pile and bumped his shoulder into Draco's. "Want to get a refill?" He said, referring to their empty cups of hot chocolate.
The Slytherin nodded, and the pair slipped away from the beginnings of a sibling spat over the next game. Harry filled their mugs with warm milk while Draco measured out the cocoa.
"I have something for you," Harry remembered suddenly, digging a hand into his jean pocket.
Draco tilted his head. "Oh?"
"Here." Harry took Draco's wrist and placed a small object into his open palm. Draco peered at a pin emblazoned with a moving, illustrated image of a scarlet squid drifting in green water; it waved its tentacles serenely, brushing through minutely-detailed strands of seaweed. "I doknow a bit more about what you like," Harry said, "At least, I think you like squids...At Honeydukes, and when we watched the giant squid in the Black Lake."
"I remember." Fondness played over Draco's face, a soft contrast to his usual shielded expression. He closed his fingers over the pin and slipped it into his own pocket. "Thank you."
Thank you. Harry found it strange, yet refreshing, to hear that from a former rival's lips. It was refreshing to have Draco's gratitude passed so quickly to him. So trustingly.
"That's two presents from you and none from me," Draco said, frowning. "Trying to get me to owe something, Potter?"
"You did give me this necklace," Harry mentioned, gesturing to his chest where the chain hung.
"Yes, well. That's a bit too long ago to count. I'll pay you back sometime."
"You don't have to, really-"
"If I want to, I will."
Unexpectedly, Draco reached forward and took Harry's hand, raising it to his mouth. Draco pressed his lips to Harry's knuckles with uncharacteristic softness, maintaining disarming eye contact as he did so. The suddenness of Draco in Harry's senses - his fingers curling, tips brushing the other's palm, his silver eyes piercing and melting all at once, the lingering scent of sweet gardenias in his hair - sent butterflies racing all across Harry's body.
He was close, too close - no, close enough, Harry thought dizzyingly. Draco's lips edged down to Harry's wrist and tantalizingly stopped there. There was something gorgeously intimate about knowing that Draco was teasing him deliberately, even more so than their impromptu kiss.
Draco paused, letting their hands fall away, but he kept them entwined. With his other arm, he leaned casually against the kitchen counter, not-so-subtly filling more of the space between them. Harry's heart was beating so loudly in his ears, he wondered how the whole house didn't hear it.
"So…was that your way of paying me back?" Harry's response didn't sound as smooth as it did in his head, but it coaxed a smile out of his friend.
"If it's enough for you. Do you really like me that much, Potter?"
"Maybe," Harry replied cheekily. Their faces were well within kissing distance, he realized - and though the living room was far away and it would only take a minute, he didn't feel pressured to take the leap. Part of him wanted to stay forever, just like this, halfway in and halfway out of Draco's arms, head titled slightly upward to look him in the eyes.
"You're blushing," Draco said smugly, and Harry's face felt warm enough for him to realize that there was no denying it.
"Yeah, so?"
"Nothing," Draco shrugged, his face becoming more impassive as he added, "It's cute."
Harry opened and closed his mouth, then pursed his lips to keep from smiling. Draco snickered, not unkindly. "Come on, let's go back," He suggested, taking his mug. The Slytherin's other hand relinquished Harry's, but Harry didn't feel as bothered by it as he had before. After all, Draco was still here with him - not about to run away, both of them safe and happy. At least Draco walked side by side with the Chosen One, like equals, as they were.
Which was the best Christmas gift Harry could have asked for.