X. JIGSAW

This sixth year was the most trying time for Draco Malfoy. First, his task from the Dark Lord to fix the broken Vanishing Cabinet. Then taking care of the Malfoy Manor, making sure it was free from Dark Lord's influence. Then making sure he kept his Occlumency as strong as possible to keep the Dark Lord from prying his mind and making way of harming him and his mother through his head. Then making sure the safety of his mother.

And last, he was mostly annoyed by Harry bloody Potter who kept trailing him whenever and wherever Draco went. The careless Gryffindor couldn't even hide himself well when he was spying Draco! Even though faintly, Draco practically could sense his presence.

Nevertheless, Draco must keep an eye on Harry. It wouldn't do him good if the Wonder Gryffindork found out about the Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Requirement.

Draco hadn't made progression on it. If he couldn't fix the cabinet within three months since the sixth year term started, the Dark Lord promised him that his dear father would suffer in Azkaban. He wasn't sure how the Dark Lord would use his influence in the most secure unplottable criminal's detention facility, but Draco wouldn't take a chance. The Dark Lord had people in the Ministry.

Draco was still struggling to find the right enchantment for the cabinet. In October third week, he finally found the right spell. He tried with inanimate stuffs at first. After several tries, he finally could transfer the stuffs from the cabinet to its twin in Malfoy Manor.

In November Draco moved to living insects and small animals.

~o~

Three months had passed since the task was given. It was the second living bird he was trying to transfer from the cabinet channeled to its twin at the Malfoy Manor on the last day of November. And when he reopened the cabinet in Hogwarts a minute later, the bird was there but dead.

Draco was almost exploded from it all. He was very anxious for the Dark Lord's threat. But he heard no news about his father for two weeks now. He asked Severus about it and his godfather told him that the Dark Lord dismissed his thread because he had more important things to do. So Draco exhaled in relief. He could go home on Christmas holiday in peace. It was end of autumn term and he couldn't wait to go back to the Black House to see his mother.

~o~

The first thing he did after he hugged his mother, safe and well in the Black House, Draco visited the Malfoy Manor. Outside the wrought iron gates that were sealing the entrance to the Malfoy Manor, he checked the Malfoy estate territory through the ward concealing the land. No one had passed through it since he secured the manor four months ago. Next, with his heart pounding hard, he entered through the gates and Disapparate to the front door of the manor.

The gentle vibration he was feeling when his palm touched the wooden double doors signaling that the inside was null of activity, bar the house elves. Clutching his father's cane that was enchanted with a Shield Charm, Draco opened the doors and stepped inside. He began the screening from the entrance hall, the ground floor, and up to the rooftop of the manor, then the spacious dungeon. Finally, at dinner time Draco declared that the manor was safe for him and his mother to return to. He contemplated leaving his father's cane in the manor. But his father's wand was hidden inside the cane and if something happened with the cane, his father could lose his wand. So he brough it back wit him, maybe handed it to his mother for her to secure? Draco Disapparate back to the Black House.

The next breakfast Draco and his mother announced their farewell to Potter and thanked him for providing them shelter and safety for the past four months.

"Are you sure it's safe?" Harry asked when he walked them to the fireplace. Draco had channeled Harry's Floo Network with the Malfoy Manor's main one.

"Yes, I'm sure, Potter. I have checked and re-secured the manor myself yesterday," Draco frowned, feeling insulted by Harry's doubtness. "Are you saying that I am not capable of performing such level of warding?"

Draco did almost unsuccessfully set the new ward. At the time he performed the ritual to claim the mastery of the Malfoy Estate and re-arranged the wards' design to make it more complex to breach, he exhausted his magic core and the land almost swallowed all his magic. Thank Merlin his mother was there to help him with the ritual. When his mother saw his eyes became dull, she quickly finished the outro of the ritual for him and cut the connection between Draco and the raw magic of the land. Holly Mother, if not for her, Draco would have lost his magic and became a squib. And he thought smuggling some drops of his father's blood from Azkaban was the hardest part!

"N-no!" Harry shook his head and waved his hands hastily. "I mean you don't have to go back now. I don't mind if you stay longer. It's not like I live here every day…"

Draco noticed that Harry tried to sound nonchalant. Draco raised his eyebrows a bit at that.

"You know how to close the Floo Network?" Draco ignored Harry's generosity.

"Yes," Harry nodded dejectedly.

"Good. Close it right after we left this house," Draco reminded Harry. "Mother, I'll go first. Potter, thank you and see you in Hogwarts." Draco nodded to Harry and his mother, then grabbed a handful of green floo powder and processed to transport himself to the manor through the Floo Network. When Draco arrived at the manor's fireplace in the library, he stepped aside and a moment later his mother followed.

"I'm glad we're back here," Narcissa said as she squeezed Draco's hand and then walked out of the library.

Draco walked toward his bedroom and immediately owling notes for Pansy and Blaise for a Christmas gifts hunting. He planned to go to Italy to get his mother a beautiful painting as her Christmas present (Severus wouldn't mind to escort him to Italy).

~o~

On December 25th, Draco and his mother celebrated Christmas in the manor alone. They didn't want to take any chance to visit their relatives or hosting Christmas Party at the manor for the sake of their own safety. And on the day after the Boxing Day, Draco visited the Black House.

At first, Draco thought that his act was too much or that he was overreacting. But he made sure himself that he wasn't. He just wanted to give Potter a small gift –Christmas gift— as a thank you gesture. After all, a Malfoy always showed their gratitude toward someone to tell them that the Malfoys appreciated their assistances. It's an important thing, his father once told him. Diplomatic things Draco was still learning on.

So Draco, holding a box wrapped in green and silver luxury papers, turned on the Floo Network in the library. He tried to connect with the one in the Black House but it was blocked. He then tsk-ed, remembered that he told Potter to close the network.

"Oh!" Draco remembered that Potter gave him access on Apparition at the Black House. Hopefully the messy haired teen hadn't taken his access off. So, at ten in the morning, Draco Disapparate from the manor entrance hall to the Black House hallway.

As soon as Draco appeared in the dark hallway, he heard incoming footsteps, abrupt and rapid. Five seconds later Harry stopped seven meters before him, pointing his wand tip at Draco.

"Malfoy!" Harry ran toward him when he saw who had entered the house. He stopped only a meter away from Draco, smiling with his white teeth on show.

"Are you too lazy to celebrate Christmas, Potter?" Draco noticed how silent the house was. When the Gryffindor nodded, Draco said, "I thought you always celebrated Christmas with your know-it-all girl and the Weasel."

Harry's smile faltered and he shrugged his shoulders. But then Harry's smile grew wide again at him.

"Are you here to stay here again with your mother?" Harry asked hopefully.

"No. I came to give you this." Draco handed Harry the gift box. "Well, Merry Christmas, Potter. See you at Hogwarts in a week."

Draco turned his body and was ready to Disapparate back to the manor when Harry called.

"Malfoy, wait!"

"What?" Draco turned his head to look at Harry.

"Um, well, you can stay a bit for a cup of tea? Uh I mean, what's this?" Harry raised the box.

"Potter, that's a Christmas gift." Draco raised his eyebrow.

"Oh." Harry fidgeting on his feet. "Thanks. I… Sorry I didn't have any for you."

"It's fine. I just wanted to thank you for letting us stayed here," Draco said. "Well, if there's—"

"Can I open it?" Harry interrupted Draco.

"… Yes…" Draco knew that Harry didn't need permission to open the gift, but he suspected that Harry said so to make him stay. Draco sighed. He wasn't under any obligation to stay. But for the sake of Christmas spirit, and the boredom he started to gain at the quiet manor, Draco decided to entertain the Gryffindor for this once. "All right, Potter. Let's open it at the drawing room."

When they arrived at the drawing room, Draco took a seat at one of the armchairs. Harry, on the other hand, summoned Kreacher and ordered him to serve Draco tea and cookies.

Harry sat on the couch and waited until his house elf appeared with a tray of tea and cookies for Draco. He then started to unwrap the box. At that moment Draco realized that he had been holding his breath during the unwrapping. He felt a little uneasy waiting for Harry's reaction when the other teen revealed what's inside the box.

The glint, oh the bright glint in Harry's eyes could beat the sky full of stars and Draco was almost choked. He knew he was very good at picking gifts. This boosted his ego.

"Malfoy…this…this is great!" Harry pulled out a glass case from the box. Inside the case was a golden Snitch rested in its velvety green cushion. "Savvy Solo Snitch" engraved on one side of the case.

"Well, glad you like it," Draco said. He was hiding his face behind the tea cup as he was sure he was blushing. Oh Salazar, Malfoys don't blush! Flattered? Yes, he's just flattered, not blushing.

Wait. Why did he blush? Did he really blush? Since when did he blush giving someone Christmas gifts? This house must be cursed and Draco must be confounded by it and caused him to act odd.

"'Like it'? I LOVE it! Merlin, this is expensive! I saw this in a Quidditch magazine. This is what every Quidditch player would die for! Velocity control, distance setting, movement patterns," Harry gazed at Draco, "I can practice even in this room!"

And Harry was smiling so wide and bright at Draco and it made Draco felt uncomfortable. His heart leaped like he was falling from his broom above in the air. Oh Merlin, the house must definitely working its curse on him! He should leave the house this instant.

"I'm leaving!" Draco dashed out of the room and ran to the hallway then Disapparate back to the manor, leaving a confused Harry.

As soon as he stepped into his bedroom, Draco casted all counter-curse spells he knew to his entire body. Then he grabbed his Alchemy book and started to read random page to distract his mind concerning Harry Potter. Five random pages later Draco gave up. He threw the book to his bed he was sitting on. His mind was on Harry again. He had a theory that Harry was getting weird every day probably it was the manifestation of living in the gloomy Black House. It was a good thing he and his mother left that house soon. Otherwise, if he stayed there longer, he would be as weird as Harry!

~o~

The day Draco arrived at the Hogwarts castle along with the rest of the student body who took the Christmas holiday, he heard someone called him. He turned his head to see behind him and his vision found the one and only Harry Potter. With his always-disheveled hair.

"Malfoy, hi, can I talk to you for a moment, please?" Harry panted. He must have been running to catch up on reaching Draco.

"What is it, Potter?" Draco frowned. He didn't get used to Harry calling him without malice or challenge in front of public. If Potter started doing that often, people might think that they'd became best friends.

"Just, follow me, Malfoy," Harry told him and walked toward the Quidditch Pitch direction.

"Why should I?" Draco refused, but Harry seemed to not hearing Draco and kept walking. So Draco had no choice but to follow him in annoyance, noticing most of students were watching them with blatant interest.

Halfway to the Quidditch Pitch, Harry stopped abruptly. They were completely hidden from prying eyes now. Draco was watching Harry fidgeting on his feet and stealing glances to him once in a while. The dark-haired teen looked hesitant. Draco sighed impatiently.

"Potter, what is it? I've got Prefect duties to perform," Draco informed the other teen. "So don't waste my time and tell me what is it."

"Oh, right. Sorry." Harry rummaged through his messenger bag and pulled out something. "It's for you." Harry shoved a small box wrapped in green paper to Draco and the Gryffindor immediately running back to the castle with a speed as if he was being chased by a Hungarian Horntail dragon.

Draco raised his eyebrow. Draco pulled out his wand and pointed it to the box. After he performed a charm to detect any jinx and found nothing in the box, Draco put the small box into his dragon hide bag and proceed to walk back to the castle.

At eight at night Draco retreated to his bed and lowered all the drapes to give him privacy. The other Slytherin boys were still socializing in the common room. Save Goyle who already fell asleep in his bed since half hour ago.

Draco grabbed the green box Harry gave him that day. Carefully, Draco unwrapped the box and he found a note on top of the revealed silver box. Draco took the small paper and read the messy handwriting.

'Merry Xmas. HP.'

Draco raised his eyebrow in interest. Did Potter give him a Christmas present? Draco opened the silver box.

Potter gave him a dragon statuette. A pinky tall, forest green crystal dragon miniature with the eyes made of…rubies? They were red, but Draco wasn't sure if they were made of rubies. A little research he did later told him nothing about the miniature's origin except for the material which was made of apatite gemstone. It wasn't even produced by any shops in Romania.

Draco tried the charm written by Harry on another small parchment to fly the dragon. The crystal wings made cling sound when they were flapping. After playing a little while, Draco put it back into the box and kept it in his trunk before he went for curfew monitor duty. He wondered why Harry wasn't chosen as a Prefect, too.

"Oh, right." Draco rolled his eyes to himself. One of the Prefect rules was high academic record. Potter suck at lessons.