Hey everyone,
This feels weird beyond words. I am writing a Christmas chapter when summer is only a few weeks away and we are already in tropical decrees of heat and with crazy amounts of sunlight. Oh well, at least I get to write about something I love very, very much; having a ton of people show their affection to our favorite hero.
Also, as you know, I ended the last chapter on a cliffhanger as I was debating on how Lindilwen would answer to Jaurion's proposal. And because I didn't want her to outright deny him just yet, due to the conversation she had with Snape last chapter, yet accepting would clash with her current character, so I will compromise.
Have fun y'all,
Venquine1990
PS. Inspiration comes from Leonette, check out their stories.
25th of December 1977
The Snow Garden
Lindilwen's POV
Valivial warned me twice now that his gift could be considered over the top when it comes to showing how he feels for me and my talk with Severus definitely made me think that I was prepared for whatever the Hazel eyed Elf could have in mind for me, yet standing where I am now, I feel that Valivial proved me very, very wrong.
"How long, Evans? How long do you want me to wait before you accept the future we have read about?" These question had shocked me as I had actually expected an actual proposal question and I look at the dress once again before I suddenly see something in it that makes my eyes widen as I can't believe I didn't realize it sooner.
"My childhood dream. My childhood dream to be – to be a princess. If Potter's back-up plan is what I think it is, I should be able to live out my childhood dream regardless of whether or not I can ever accept to call myself Mrs. Valivial." And the fact that I don't shudder or scowl at this notion makes me feel a little better.
"Valivial, how – how about a – a compromise answer? Is that good too?" And to my shock does Valivial actually smile in happy acceptance before he asks: "What is your compromise, princess?" Making me roll my eyes and actually smile myself before I say: "You just gave yourself my answer right there."
This seems to intrigue and confuse Valivial and I turn to Hari to see if he can accept this as well as I say: "I – I'm not ready to – to be with you in any – any other form than friendly companionship, but – but I am willing to admit my pride over what – in the future – you and I managed to create – or better said, who we gave birth to."
This makes Hari actually shine like the star at the top of a Christmas tree and I say: "So, I – I can't say yes or no to being yours yet, Valivial, at least not in the sense of calling myself the future Mrs. Valivial. But – and this might sound a little greedy and selfish, but – I always dreamed of being a princess ever since I was little."
This makes Valivial glow with glee and he asks: "So you're not yet willing to be my girlfriend, fiancé or future wife, but you're willing to be my princess? Do know that comes with the added bonus that I will be showering you with all kinds of gifts that will prove to you I consider you the queen of my heart, just so you know."
At which I rub the back of my head and say: "To be honest, that is more or less one of the reasons I always wanted to be a princess when I was little; I loved the rich, royal possessions those gorgeous ladies were able to have and how men showered them with even more expensive gorgeous stuff. And yes, that does sound materialistic."
Yet Valivial seems to care nothing about this fact and asks: "So, you'll be my princess, allow me to shower you with royal gifts and in return I will have the seamstresses change this dress from wedding to royal?" And while a very small part of me wants to object to this last bit, do I nod, feeling quite gleeful at the idea of being a princess.
Valivial nods and says: "Fair enough. Merry Christmas, Evans." And simply because he is willing to accept this, even though it goes completely against the reason why he had that gorgeous dress made, do I decide to throw him a gift in return and say: "Merry Christmas, Jaurion." And the way his face lights up makes me very proud of myself.
"Ehm, dad, can I – can I talk to you – for a second?" Hari then suddenly asks and the shyness with which he speaks while holding Draco's hand, the Veela both confused and yet looking happy to be this close to his mate, makes me actually feel a bit of worry that I may not have truly taken his feelings into account with my answer.
His father nods and while Hari doesn't let go off Draco's hand, does neither the Veela or the father say anything about this as the trio move a little away from the rest of us, a pair of Wind Elves causing for a barrier of wind to pop up between us and the three of them, yet I notice Hari's gaze lingering on the wardrobe as he leaves.
Behind the barrier
Hari's POV
I really don't know what I am thinking or why I am thinking of doing this, but when dad offered mum to have the dress changed, I felt my heart break. Yet not because that was an indirect confirmation that they might never get together, but because the dress that was shown in the wardrobe spoke to me like no other cloth ever had.
And before I knew it, I had asked dad if I could talk to him, drawing comfort and assurance out of my grip on Draco's hand as the Veela has yet to leave my side since we woke up this morning and when dad accepted my request, I took Draco with me, no one in the group commenting on that and the Wind Elves allowing us privacy.
Now I feel my body trembling in doubt and concern as I really don't know what has gotten into me, but the notion that mum always dreamed of being a princess actually produced images in my own head, not just of their original wedding picture, but of a potential new one and of mum in various other gowns, royal and ceremonial.
And it is the latter that I draw determination from as I say: "I – I don't want you asking the seamstresses to change the dress." This confuses dad and he asks: "And why not? You think I still have a chance to make her my bride or something?" And while part of me desperately thinks: "Merlin, I hope so."
Do I ignore this thought and squeeze Draco's hand a little tighter, part of me unsure if this is me taking advantage of the fact that I have my family or of the fact that I now have a solid future with someone who truly loves me as I say: "No, not because of that. It's – it's because – because I – because I want to –."
But while I hate how I can't seem to find the courage necessary to tell my dad the reason I don't want the dress changed, does Draco seem to hear my unspoken words as he suddenly pulls at my hand, turns me to him and smacks his lips against mine, kissing me with a vigor, love and devotion that make me practically faint.
I cling to him in return, amazed and overjoyed that he isn't appalled by what I have been trying to ask dad this whole time and when we part, does Draco whisper: "Mine." And without any regret, doubt or fear in my heart, do I happily reply: "Yours." Before cuddling my head under his and gazing at dad as I whisper: "Your bride."
Shocking the teen before he smiles and asks: "You want to wear it? When you and Drake here get bonded?" And while I don't really know if there's a difference between bonding and marriage, do I still nod and dad practically glows with exhilarated pride before he says: "Excuse me a moment." And he leaves the barrier.
Jaurion's POV
"I have a princess and now I have a son who wants to wear the wedding dress I made for what I had hoped would be my bride to be. This is officially the best Christmas of my life." Goes through my mind as I pass the barrier of sound, yet motion the Elves to keep the barrier up as I want them to still give Harry and Draco their privacy.
"Lindilwen, would you be opposed to one teeny-tiny change in our compromise?" I ask and the girl looks doubtful before she asks: "What change?" And I answer: "Instead of me changing the wedding dress into a formal princess dress, I will gift you an entire wardrobe of dresses in the same fabric, but with different colors."
"And what of the wedding dress? What will happen to that?" The girl asks and I feel my face glowing with glee yet again as I answer: "That's why Hari wanted to talk to me. He loves the dress and – as shy and timid as he sounded when he tried telling me – he wants to wear it. When he and Draco seal their bond, I mean. You okay with that?"
The girl looks flabbergasted and asks: "Hari – Hari wants to – to wear the dress?" And I nod before I ask: "Yes, but because I made it for you, I felt I had to ask you. So, are you okay with this change in the compromise?" And instantly Lindilwen turns to where Snape and Malfoy are standing, yet both shrug in indifference.
"Draco may be the Submissive of the bond, but I do believe Valivial will look much better in the bridal role when they seal their bond. Besides, it wouldn't be the first time a Dominant and Submissive pairing switch places upon their bonding day and from what we've read so far, Valivial definitely deserves that switch in roles."
"Just say you're excited to see my son in that dress already, Malfoy. You're not fooling anyone here." I argue and Malfoy smirks at me as he asks: "Didn't I?" Making me groan before Lindilwen giggles and says: "Fine Jaurion. Tell Hari he can have the dress. Though I do think the seamstresses will have to make some adjustments."
At this I shrug and say: "Heh, nothing they can't handle." Before turning back to the barrier, using my wand to levitate the dress out of the wardrobe and letting it float behind me as I return to my son. And the look of dreamlike wonder that shows on my boy's face as he sees me approach with the garment makes me feel even better.
Hari's POV
I actually felt worried when I saw dad move over to mum and I had realized that I had asked the wrong parent for permission to keep the dress, yet the fact that dad came back after a short talk with the dress actually floating behind him made me feel like my every last bit of my Heart's desire had come true at the same time.
"You are going to look so gorgeous in that." Draco whispers and I feel a soft hue of embarrassment shine on my cheeks before the boy's tone turns a little more serious as he says: "You know, it's not unusual for some magical creatures to change their disposition when the situation calls for it or their mate is in need of it."
This confuses me and I turn to him as he is now standing behind me with his arms wrapped around my waist and he says: "I'm currently the Submissive, but if you want, I can use the inner magic of the Veela to become the Dominant." This shocks and I ask: "Are you believing on that because of the wedding dress?"
To which he answers: "And because you have a bit of a mixed nature yourself. You definitely love being able to make your own decisions and you clearly hate it when others make decisions about your life without taking your opinion or beliefs into account, but I can also sense a severe desire for someone to just care for you."
At this I sigh as I know this is thanks to how often I, in my youth, wished for someone to come and take me away from the homelife I had as well as how alone and desperate I felt so often throughout the war when it was obvious that, even though they tried saying otherwise, even my own friends depended on me to win.
"I won't deny your words as truth, Draco, I – I'm just not –." I mutter and Draco nods against my shoulder as he says: "You're not sure about giving up the freedom you've been given with the end of the war and you're still getting used to how much care you are getting from your father and grandparents. I get it.
I don't want to change our dispositioned for those reasons, Hari. I want to change them, so you will, even if it's just by instinct, will feel more comfortable with things like asking for help and to give you a – I guess you can call it an aura – that will make it easier for others to see it when they need to help you instead of the other way around."
"Submissives have that kind of nature?" I wonder and, out of curiosity, do I turn to Fleur and Bill, but then I feel Draco shake my head and he says: "She's not magically meant for him, Hari. Trust me, a Veela can sense when another Veela is with someone who is not their destined mate. Personally I think her actual mate is dead."
This shocks me and I ask: "And she – she can still be happy?" To which Draco cringes and says: "I doubt her youth has been easy, Hari. I've been able to notice this since we met her in your Fourth. And back then, it seemed as if she was in her final stages of grief, of letting go." Which makes me wince before I ask:
"So she and Bill aren't –?" And Draco shakes his head before he says: "They're not meant for each other, so they really can't be any more than man and wife. However, this will change nothing about their happiness or their chances to continue the Weasley-Delacour line." And this makes me turn quite a bit red.
"Yes, that's another thing, Hari. Even though we are both male, the Submissive thing does come with one advantage; a womb." This shocks me and Draco says: "To be honest, Hari, wombs are actually part of both gender internal body systems; they have been since the 1500's when a horrid war almost ended the female population of Europe."
This actually shocks me enough I almost feel faint and I turn to Draco shocked as he nods and says: "However, if a wizard is not Submissive by Magical nature or choice or if they magically marry or bond themselves to a woman – or if they have a female Soul mate – the magic of their core makes their wombs turn inactive."
"And – and – and you can – you can sense –?" But Draco shakes his head and says: "I have no idea if your womb has become inactive yet or not. It could be because you were into Ginerva when you turned seventeen, but I can't say for sure. However, if you chose to become my Submissive Mate, your womb will definitely be active."
This makes me feel faint with horrified shock, but then I feel myself calming down by Draco softly running his hand down my cheek and he says: "Hari, I'm not stupid. I know the war didn't allow you to have any love life whatsoever. I know how innocent you are in that aspect and you have no idea how precious that is to me.
Dominant or Submissive, attributes of a mate that are considered young or even innocent in nature are instinctively precious to a Veela and are parts of a mate that said Veela is more gentle with than a cleaning House-elf working in a store selling glass figurines." And this example calms me down even further as Draco says:
"I don't want you to be Submissive because it can make you pregnant or because it will give me a chance to properly teach you what it's like to have a love life. I want you to be Submissive, because these books are going to be hard and I want to give you an instinctual chance to break down those walls you have been building."
This last part makes me turn red in gratitude and I whisper: "Am I that obvious?" To which Draco answers: "You're not trying to play matchmaker for your parents, regardless of the fact that they are two of the three people you have missed the most these past sixteen years." Making me snicker as I have to admit the truth.
"Hari, little one, good news. Lindilwen is perfectly fine with you keeping the wedding dress, though I did promise her a whole new wardrobe in return." Dad then says as he reaches us and while I am amazed that it took him this long to get here and long enough for me and Draco to speak like this, do I then take a risk and ask:
"Is there a spell that allows you to see how it would look on me?" And Dad happily nods before Draco asks: "May I cast it, my mate?" And the words my mate make me turn red again, making me wonder if I haven't changed dispositions already and I nod at him before he lets me go and moves over to stand with dad.
Dad then uses a spell to conjure a mannequin and this makes me turn a little more red as I can already guess how they are going to do this and I ask: "Ehm, guys?" At which dad laughs and makes a motion for the Wind Elves, who then use their powers to make the upper layer of snow fly up off the ground and create a blinding storm behind dad.
This makes me sigh in relief, only for dad to take my relief away and replace it with horror as he says: "You know, kiddo, when your gran finds out about this, she might just convince you to dress as a princess at a ball every once in a while." And while this seems to excite Draco, do I groan and say: "Once a year, no more."
Making Draco rush for me and press himself against me yet again with another searing kiss of love and I moan as I think: "Okay, being Submissive really isn't such a bad thing if it will entice Draco to continue treating me like this." And I happily start kissing the blond back, very, very happy with how this Christmas is turning out.
Hey everyone,
So the rest of the gang didn't really play a part here – other than Severus and Malfoy – but as I was writing this chapter, did I realize how long the chapter would turn out if I were to add the gifts everyone has prepared for Harry to it all, so I decided to keep it to just the wedding dress and Lindilwen's answer.
As for Hari – DON'T WORRY! I have no interest in changing him into a female in this story, I'm just trying to give him a few reasons as to why being a Submissive would be the better option and a bit of cross-dressing just seemed like one of the things that could help – though Draco's reaction to that fact definitely helps too.
Hope you enjoyed,
Venquine1990
PS. Inspiration comes from Leonette, check out their stories.