Chapter Thirty-One: Christmas Surprise

"Jingle bells! Jingle bells! Jingle all the way! Oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh hey!" They all sang together once the horse started trotting through the snow while Patches barked along with them but that's when they realized that Draco wasn't singing along.

"Oh come on Draco sing with us!" Hermione exclaimed before they continued singing the song but Draco still didn't look like he had any interest in singing along.

"Sorry but I honestly don't get this Christmas thing." Draco said and before anybody could say anything else that's when suddenly Patches decided to leap out of the sleigh unexpectedly and ran away.

"Patches!" Harry hollered as James quickly brought the sleigh to a sudden halt and Harry jumped off and started running after his dog.

"Harry wait! You're going to get hit by a car or something!" Draco exclaimed as he leapt off the sleigh and started to follow him. "Not to mention that you're going to get us lost!" He added and before the boys knew it the tiny dog had led them to a nearby church a crossed the street where a display Nativity was setup.

"What's that?" Draco wondered.

"Don't you know? That's the Nativity story." Harry replied.

"The what?" Draco questioned him with uncertainty and that's when Harry suddenly realized that he was probably never told the story of the true meaning of Christmas in his life.

"A long time ago there was a woman named Mary and she was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph. That's when an angel appeared to her and told her that God had found favor with her and she would be blessed with having His Son and His name would be Jesus because He was coming to save His people.

So they traveled all the way to Bethlehem because of a census that was taking place and when it was time for Jesus to be born there were no rooms for Him to be born so He was born inside a nearby stable instead. After Jesus was born Mary took her firstborn Son and wrapped Him up in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger. There were shepherds watching their flock of sheep at night and an angel of the Lord appeared before them and they were sore afraid, but he told them to rejoice and for onto them a Savior was born which was Christ the Lord and told them how to find Him.

A star also shone in the sky and guided three wise men to where the baby Jesus lay and they presented Him with three gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then all the angels began to sing glory to God in the highest and peace on earth and good will to men." Harry said.

"Wow, that was an amazing story." Draco said as Harry scooped Patches up back inside his arms.

"Yeah I know and it's why we celebrate Christmas. We celebrate Easter because of His death and resurrection and that all those that believe in Him will have everlasting life." He explained as Draco looked at him questioningly.

"Really? I thought that it was because of the chocolate." He replied as Harry stifled a laugh.

"No, but I have to admit that it's still one of my favorite parts. Just like even though there's more to Christmas I still like receiving presents as well as giving. Speaking of which I still have to give you a present." He said and then looked down at Patches and grinned. "And I just so happen to have the perfect idea for one as well." He told him.

"Thanks, I appreciate it but I don't really need a present." Draco said.

"Maybe not, but I'm pretty sure that it's going to need you." Harry told him as Draco raised an eyebrow at him before he started following him back to the sleigh.

…..

Christmas came sooner than expected and everybody started opening up their presents before Harry gave Draco a rather large box with red and green striped wrapping paper and a big red bow on top of it. "Merry Christmas Draco." He told him with a grin.

"Gee thanks Harry." He replied as he returned it and then started tearing into the paper. Underneath it all was a great big box with holes on top and as Draco opened the lid Harry grinned because he knew that his friend's suspicions had been correct when he pulled out a tiny black and brown Border Terrier puppy with a blue ribbon tied around his neck.

"A puppy!? You got me a puppy!? All I got you was a sweater and you got me a puppy!?" Draco cried out in complete and utter disbelief.

"Yeah, as I told you that your present would need you more than you needed it. And you did say that you always wanted a dog well now you have one." Harry replied as he smiled warmly at him. "And he's small enough that you can take him to Hogwarts with you even when he's an adult." He told him.

"Gee thanks Harry I love him already." Draco said with a rather wide grin as his new friend started wagging his tail and licking his face. "Hey, cut that out that tickles!" He exclaimed with a laugh. "Hey that's a perfect name for you too. From now on I think I'll call you Tickle. Huh? How does that sound?" He inquired as he sat Tickle down and he and Patches started to play together and both boys laughed while they continued opening up their presents along with the rest of the children. Nobody could wait for Christmas dinner that would be happening later that evening.

Before they knew it Christmas Day was over, and it was now the night before the day where they would be going back to Hogwarts and even with Tickle to keep him company Draco found that he could hardly sleep since what if when his father saw his new puppy, he would not let him keep him? With that nagging thought still on his mind, he rolled over onto his side and silently cried himself to sleep.