When they first arrived at the Burrow on Christmas Eve, things were a little awkward. Most of them didn't know how to act around Draco. Honestly, when he'd first written Molly, she had been hesitant, but he had patiently explained the situation. Eventually, she had said that she would be more than happy to have Draco if it would make Harry happy, and that she would talk to the others for him.

The house was, as usual, crowded and overflowing with foodstuffs. Draco quickly charmed Molly by complimenting her food, and eventually enough food and alcohol was consumed that the atmosphere lightened up.

Draco was glad they had come over. He quite liked the Weasleys, as it turned out, and Ginny was perfectly nice to him. Ron and Hermione were also surprisingly easy for him to get along with, and Draco found himself wishing, once again, that things might have gone a little differently whilst they were in school so they might have become friends.

Molly, who usually complained that Harry was too skinny and too glum, was startled by how much Harry no longer seemed to need it. She felt odd, not fussing over Harry to smile. He was still much too skinny, of course, but instead of looking pale and underfed, he just looked...healthy. Really, he was practically glowing (although Molly swore she could still see his ribs).

Harry seemed almost like a different person. He was still very essentially Harry, but he didn't seem constantly tired and weighed down anymore. It was a strangely beautiful thing for Molly to watch: her last child finally growing up. It didn't matter that he wasn't the youngest, he was still the baby of the family.

Harry laughed at something Draco had said, and she watched as his face become impossibly brighter when he looked at the blonde.

Molly eyed Draco speculatively. She didn't know how he did it. None of the Weasley's had ever seen Harry like this before, but Draco somehow managed it with seemingly no effort. Then again, Harry seemed to bring out a certain ebullience in Draco as well, which Molly doubted was normal for him considering what all the poor child had been through and done.

Draco had certainly won her approval. She wasn't sure he could've avoided it even if he had tried, when he had Harry smiling like that.

~*~

Weasley jumpers were handed around on Christmas morning, and Draco got one too. It was faintly hideous, but at the same time that was somehow what made it charming. His was dark blue with a bright orange D on it, and Draco kind of loved it.

Ron challenged him to a game of wizard's chess after presents, which had ended up lasting for several hours, as they were well matched opponents. The game had only ended when George set off a firecracker in the living room, which went loose and zipped across the board, scattering the pieces. Draco strongly suspected Harry had had something to do with this.

Harry did, in fact, have something to do with it. After a few minutes of watching the two play chess, he had gotten bored and wandered over to talk to George.

"Do you have any new products planned for the shop?"

"Oh, hey Harry. Yes actually, but I have more important things to talk to you about first."

"What?"

"I know it's been awhile since we've seen each other, but Ron updates me occasionally, and you've changed a lot, mate."

"Is that a bad thing? I hadn't really noticed anything."

George grinned.

"Of course you didn't notice anything, you're Harry." He continued on, before Harry could get offended.

"You haven't changed in a bad way, no, and you're still definitely Harry, you're just, well...I'm not sure how to put it. I guess I didn't even know you could smile that big. Even at the Quidditch World Cup you didn't look like this. I'm not exactly concerned, but I'm wondering if I maybe should be."

Harry frowned.

"Neville said something like that. He said if he hadn't seen me himself this year, he wouldn't have believed I could be 'like this'. But the thing is, I don't really notice much difference. I'm less tired of everything all the time maybe, but other than that I'm the same."

"Harry, this isn't just one small change. It's more than just your mood, I feel like your entire being had a weight taken off it at some point in the last two years. It's not that I don't want to see you happy, it's just that it's strange after so long. You're not going off the deep end are you? Or doing fairy dust?"

Harry laughed.

"No. I think I'm more grounded than ever right now. Maybe it's that rather than trying to follow along with a plan for my future, I've gotten to a place where I really enjoy my life in the present, and I just want to keep it like that forever."

His eyes had found Draco across the room, as he spoke, and they were disgustingly tender. George made a face.

"You really love him, don't you?"

"Yeah."

George hugged him tightly.

"Even though I'm completely disgusted with how soppy you are...I'm proud of you."

"For what?"

"Growing up, finding yourself, anything. Take your pick. Make up a new one. I'm just proud. It's nice to see my baby brother happy."

"And you said I was disgustingly soppy. You git."

George laughed.

"So do you want to check out those new products?"

When Harry had finished looking at the plans for some of the new products and talking about the shop, he had gone back downstairs, only to discover that Ron and Draco were still playing chess. He promptly enlisted George's help to regain Draco's attentions.

When they sat down on the couch together though, Draco whispered in his ear.

"I know you had something to do with that, and I'll not be convinced otherwise."

"Maybe, but it's your own fault for playing chess for over two hours."

~*~

The next morning Hermione, Percy, and Harry were the only ones up and sitting at the table for breakfast. They had been having a perfectly nice conversation until George and Charlie came down the stairs.

"Good morning!" George called out obnoxiously, "I'm glad Harry finally learned how to use a silencing charm!"

Percy choked on his orange juice.

Harry just glared.

"I didn't need one, George, we're at the Burrow, I'm not going to do anything when Molly's—"

Mrs. Weasley walked into the room.

"What, dear? Did you call?"

"Er, no. George was just trying to convince me to set off more fireworks, and I was telling him that would be terribly insensitive to you, considering how much effort you put into the holiday."

"Quite right," she turned to George with a stern look, "no more of those Wheezes in my house."

Harry grinned as George shot him a glare.

~*~

Goodbyes took an incredibly long time, as there were just so many people.

Fleur gave them each a kiss on the cheek, saying she hoped Draco could meet Victoire next time. Bill hugged Harry and shook Draco's hand, saying there were no hard feelings, once again.

Arthur gave them each a wide smile and a firm handshake, wishing them well.

Percy settled for more stiff, formal handshakes, and Ron and Hermione both enveloped Harry in a hug. Ron clapped Draco on the back.

"It was surprisingly nice to hang out with you, I'm glad you came."

Charlie and Mrs. Weasley were the only ones to hug Draco, the former telling him he was "Not such a bad guy," and the latter insisting that they should take more food back with them.

As Ginny gave Harry her goodbye hug, she whispered in his ear.

"I'm so happy for you, Harry."

He smiled, glad that there was a chance he and Ginny could maybe be good friends again.

Of course, George came next, ruining the moment.

"Harry. You 'didn't need a silencing charm' my arse. Draco's shirt doesn't quite hide the massive love bite on him."

"Necking is hardly a crime. Don't make me tell Molly you've done something horrible."

"You're a sneaky little bastard," George grinned. "Some Slytherin must be rubbing off on you, eh?"

Harry merely rolled his eyes in response, and perhaps clapped George on the back a bit harder than strictly necessary.

~*~

When they got back to Hogwarts, Draco regaled Harry with a running commentary on everything about the Weasleys and the Burrow (making sure to at least focus briefly on Molly's cooking and the jumper). Harry rolled with laughter at some of Draco's remarks, which were sarcastic and surprised in turns.

He was so glad that Draco had had a good time, and that he had liked the Weasleys. He could tell that Molly absolutely loved him. She would want Harry to bring Draco around again, he was sure, and he couldn't possibly be more pleased to do so.