Chapter 20 – Hagrid's Heart
December 22nd
Harry smiled down at Draco's sleeping form. It wouldn't be much longer before he woke up. They had both taken the sleeping potion at the same time. With that thought, Harry kissed Draco softly and climbed out of bed. He pulled on his scarlet silk pyjama pants and tiptoed into the living room. He rang the bell by the front door and then sat down in the armchair to wait for Dobby. The little elf didn't keep him waiting long as he appeared mere seconds after the bell was rung.
Dobby stood before Harry, his eyes darting nervously around the room. He seemed a bit upset when he realised that there was no one else there.
Harry sighed. "Dobby. I'm not going to hurt you."
The quiet declaration appeared to appease the house elf somewhat but doubt still remained in his eyes.
"But…but Harry Potter is hurting his Master Draco," Dobby stuttered.
"I know," Harry admitted, raking a hand through his hair. "I know and I'm sorry that I did it but you have to understand Dobby that I didn't mean to. I had been cursed with dark magic."
Dobby's eyes widened at this. Dark magic was not something to be joked about.
"Professor Dumbledore fixed me though," Harry explained, trying to explain the situation in terms that the house elf would understand. "I'm fine now, back to normal and I would never do that to anyone."
Dobby smiled up at Harry. "Dobby is being very sorry that he ever doubted Harry Potter, sir."
Harry smiled at this, glad that something was back to normal. "Thank you, Dobby. Now, would you be able to bring Draco and I some breakfast. He should be up soon."
"Yes, sir, I bring the best breakfast ever," Dobby said earnestly before disappearing with a pop.
Harry relaxed back in his chair with another sigh. He heard the shower running and grinned. I think perhaps I should clean my teeth before breakfast, he thought wryly, it has nothing at all to do with the fact that Draco is naked with water cascading over his perfect body, it's merely an interest in oral hygiene.
Later that day, there was a knock on the door. Actually it was more like thumping. Harry was standing, staring out the window. He turned to stare at the door but made no move to answer it.
Draco smiled reassuringly at Harry and got up from where he was sitting at the table taking notes for his Arithmancy essay.
He opened the door was confronted by a huge pine tree struggling to get through the door. Draco stepped back and glanced questioningly at Harry, who shrugged his shoulders.
Once the tree was in the room, the two boys could see Hagrid standing behind it.
"Well, where do you want it?" Hagrid asked gruffly.
"Uh, over in the corner near the fireplace I guess," Draco said uncertainly.
Hagrid stood the tree up in the corner and turned around. He caught Harry up in a big bear hug, Hagrid style.
"Are you okay, Harry?" Hagrid asked, sounding perilously close to tears. "I couldn't believe it when I heard they'd locked you up in that place."
"I'm alright," Harry muttered once he'd managed to pry himself out of Hagrid's death-grip. He wrapped his arms around himself and wandered over to the fire. He stared morosely into it. He just didn't feel up to dealing with anyone right now, not even Hagrid.
Draco smiled sympathetically up at Hagrid. "Thank you, Hagrid."
"Dumbledore also asked me to bring this," Hagrid said, sniffing slightly. He walked out of the room again and carried in a big box of decorations. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas, Hagrid," Draco said warmly. Hagrid managed a smile and a wave as he left the room.
Draco closed the door and leant against it as he contemplated Harry. The seeker was still staring down into the fire.
"So, shall we decorate the tree?" Draco asked brightly.
Harry didn't move so Draco opened the box of decorations and started pulling them out at random.
"Hey, these look really old," Draco commented, blowing some dust off an ornament he'd pulled out of the box. It was a broomstick. Draco placed it carefully on the coffee table and reached in for another. This time, a golden snitch with wings that fluttered. Obviously, whoever had owned these ornaments had loved Quidditch. That was probably why Dumbledore had sent them to Harry, Draco surmised.
"They're Quidditch ornaments," Draco informed Harry, who still wasn't moving. Draco was starting to get concerned. Alright, more concerned than he already had been but he had been wrapping Harry in cotton wool for the past few days and as much as he wanted to keep on doing that, he knew it wasn't in Harry's best interests if he wanted Harry to be able to join the rest of the school and resume his life.
Draco gasped as he pulled a photograph out of the box. He'd noticed the frame against the side of the box and curiosity had insisted that he have a look. It was a wizard photo so the people captured on the film moved. Draco looked up at Harry, who was still staring into the flames as if they held all the answers to all of his questions.
"Harry," Draco said quietly. "I think you should look at this."
It was Draco's shocked tone of voice that propelled Harry to turn around and raise puffy red eyes to stare at his boyfriend. Harry noticed him holding out a framed photograph. Harry stepped away from the fire and reached for the photo. He glanced down at it and his eyes were instantly locked to the image before him. It was his family, his first Christmas. There was his mother, holding him and helping him to unwrap his presents. There was his father, joking with Sirius as they drank eggnog. Remus was there too, laughing with his mother as baby Harry seemed more excited about the wrapping paper than he did with what was in it. Luckily, Peter Pettigrew seemed to be absent from the group that day.
Harry sniffed as his finger traced his mother's face. She was so unbelievably beautiful. So young and full of life. Why did life have to be so unfair and take her away from him? And his dad. His face alight with mischief, planning some hilarious prank with Sirius. Why?
Draco watched him anxiously. Perhaps he should have held the photo back until Harry was stronger. He was still so emotional these days but Draco thought perhaps this glimpse into the past might cheer him up.
Finally Harry smiled and turned back to the fire. He reached up and placed the photo in the centre of the bare mantelpiece. He turned and grinned at Draco. The two of them smiled at each other, time stopping for a moment, before they both turned their attention to decorating their tree with James and Lily's decorations.
December 23rd
Draco was sitting on the sofa, reading a book about Quidditch, with Harry's head resting on his lap. Harry was asleep, his first sleep without the Dreamless Sleep Potion. They had been talking quietly about the Gryffindor Quidditch team and when the conversation had lulled Harry had drifted off to sleep.
Draco closed his book and rested it on the arm of the sofa. He stared down at Harry and started stroking his hair. Harry had told him of his conversation with McGonagall the night he had been arrested. It had given him a lot to think about. Harry had obviously been worrying about how to handle the fact that Draco now wasn't on any Quidditch team.
Draco remembered how surprised he had been at the beginning of the Quidditch season last year when the Gryffindor team had revealed its new line up. The Weasley twins and the three female chasers had graduated the year before and Harry had replaced them with seventh years. Draco had been stunned. Surely Harry had realised that he would have to replace practically his entire team the following year. But apparently the Gryffindor seeker hadn't thought that far ahead. He'd just recruited the best people for the positions, regardless of their age.
After reading up on the other positions available of the Gryffindor team, Draco thought he'd quite like to try out for chaser. He knew he wasn't cut out to be a beater. He just didn't possess the strength and raw nerve that such a position demanded. Although he'd never played chaser before, he rather thought he'd be good at it. But he was determined to win his place on the team fairly. He also didn't want Harry to be accused of favouritism again if he did indeed win a place on the team.
At the beginning of fifth year, the Gryffindor team had had to replace their keeper. Tryouts had been held, as they always were for any house team and Ron had won the coveted position. The Weasley twins had been co-captains at that stage and with Harry, Ron's best friend, on the team as well, the rest of Gryffindor house had given the three of them hell, accusing the them of nepotism and favouritism. Draco grimaced as he remembered his own appalling behaviour as he had mercilessly teased both Harry and Ron about the selection.
Draco decided then and there that he would not let Harry be involved in discussions about whether he should join the team or not. Ron, Madam Hooch and Professor McGonagall could decide if he was worthy of the team. Tryouts were set for one week after Christmas and Draco was determined to give it his best shot.
This decided, Draco picked up his book and turned to his marked page, which described tactics and strategies for chasers. He had his eyes closed and was trying to visualise one of the strategies when he was snapped out of it by a blood-curdling scream.
Harry had sat bolt upright and was staring wide-eyed around the room, looking disoriented and scared to death. Draco made a small distressed sound and wrapped his arms around a trembling Harry.
"Harry? It's okay, I'm here, sweetheart," Draco murmured.
"Can…can…" Harry gulped, trying desperately to hold back tears that just wouldn't be held back. He took a deep breath. "Can I take the potion tonight?"
"Oh," Draco felt his heart break yet again. "Of course you can."
December 24th - Christmas Eve
Draco was sitting on the floor in front of the fire surrounded by paper, ribbon and various items. He took a sip from his glass of butterbeer and thoughtfully regarded the house elf standing before him (neither of them noticed Harry leaning in the doorway to the bedroom, watching them both with an amused expression on his face).
"Which Gryffindors are here for the holidays?" he asked Dobby.
"All of them, Master Draco," Dobby replied earnestly. "Professor Dumbledore wouldn't let anyone leave the safety of the castle."
"Oh, that's right," Draco replied, remembering Dumbledore's speech of a few weeks ago. He thought for a minute and then reached for a piece of parchment and one of Harry's ballpoint pens that were sitting on the coffee table. He scribbled down a short note and folded it twice.
"Dobby, would you be able to deliver this note to Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley?" Draco asked, holding the note out to the excited house elf.
"Oh yes, Master Draco. Dobby is very good at delivering messages. I is Professor Dumbledore's personal messenger," Dobby announced proudly.
"That's…great, Dobby," Draco replied, taking another swig of butterbeer, thoughtfully supplied by Dobby. "So, tomorrow we'll have two guests for Christmas lunch. But don't say anything to Harry, okay. It's a surprise for him."
"Ooh, Dobby won't say anything to Harry Potter. Harry Potter will be very surprised. I will bring lunch for four tomorrow. Merry Christmas, Master Draco," Dobby said quickly.
"Merry Christmas, Dobby," Draco said dryly but he smiled at the elf as Dobby left the room.
"Whatcha doing?" Harry asked as he pushed himself away from the doorway and into the room. He smiled as Draco jumped at the sound of his voice.
Draco twisted around to frown at him. "How long have you been there?"
Harry pretended to think about this. "Let's just say that there isn't going to be much of a surprise tomorrow."
Draco grimaced and then looked anxious. "You don't mind, do you? Do you feel up to dealing with other people?"
Harry sat down behind Draco and pulled the blonde back against his chest as he slipped his arms beneath Draco's and wrapped them around the blonde's waist.
"I feel so much better, thanks to you," Harry murmured in Draco's ear. "You have been so incredibly supportive this last week. I'm lucky to have you."
Draco blinked back a few tears as he rested back against Harry. For a while there, he wasn't sure if he would get his Harry back but Harry was definitely on his way back now. He was maybe a little quieter than he had been but he was more affectionate than before which Draco wasn't complaining about. It was as if Harry wanted to make the most of every moment possible just in case something else happened.
"So what are you doing?" Harry asked curiously, gesturing at the paper and objects surrounding the pair of them.
"Wrapping Christmas presents," Draco said, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "Want to help?"
"How about I sit here and supervise you doing it?" Harry suggested, reaching for the glass of butterbeer sitting next to Draco's. Draco could hear the grin in his voice.
"Okay," Draco agreed. He reached for a book. "This is for Hermione. All of these are from both of us."
"What's it called?" Harry asked, reaching for it and reading the title: The Worst Band In The Universe by Graeme Base. Harry flicked through it, much to Draco's annoyance because Harry's arms were still around Draco and the blonde boy couldn't do anything while Harry looked at the book right in front of him.
"Do you approve?" asked Draco.
"Amazing illustrations, paragraphs that rhyme, cool story, how could I not approve?" Harry asked, and pressed his lips against Draco's throat. "Hermione will love it."
"Which colour?" Draco asked, holding up a sheet of red paper with a gold pattern of bells and a sheet of green paper with a silver pattern of holly.
"Green," Harry replied and watched as Draco carefully wrapped the book in the paper and then tied it up with a think silver ribbon. He passed a sheet of Christmas stickers and a pen to Harry.
"Here, you can write on the tags," he instructed and placed the present near Harry so he could stick it on once he had written the message.
"Now, this is for Ron," Draco said, pulling a smallish box towards him. "I know it probably won't work here but it should once he gets home."
"A Gameboy?" Harry exclaimed. "Why on earth did you get Ron a Gameboy? And you do know that they don't come with a game, don't you?"
"I just want to watch him try to figure out what it does," Draco chuckled. "And of course I know it doesn't come with a game. That's why I also got him this."
Draco placed a copy of the classic Super Mario on top of the Gameboy. He picked up the red paper and quickly but precisely wrapped the present up.
Harry wrote Ron's name on the sticker, and his own and Draco's and stuck it on Ron's present. It was placed near Hermione's to go under the tree when one or both of them got up.
"So what did you get me?" Harry asked nosily.
"You, Harry Potter, will have to wait until tomorrow. Your present is already wrapped up and under the tree," Draco pointed underneath the tree at a tiny present wrapped in shiny gold paper.
"That's it?" Harry asked, wrinkling his nose at it. "That tiny little thing?"
"Hey, good things come in small packages," Draco said primly as he pulled another object towards him. "This is for Sirius."
Harry frowned as he suddenly realised that he didn't have anything to give Draco. He hadn't done any Christmas shopping before he was incarcerated and obviously he hadn't done any since he'd been released, as he hadn't left the safety of their apartment since he'd arrived back at Hogwarts.
"Harry? Are you alright?" Draco asked when Harry didn't comment on the box of classic muggle pranks such as a whoopee cushion, water balloons and fake vomit.
When Harry didn't answer, Draco swivelled around to look at Harry. He looks upset, Draco thought with no small amount of distress.
"Harry? What's wrong?" Draco asked anxiously.
Harry's troubled green eyes met Draco's worried grey eyes. "I don't have anything to give you tomorrow."
Draco sighed with relief and smiled gently at Harry. "Oh sweetheart, I don't need anything. I have you and you're all I'll ever need."
Harry tugged Draco closer and fastened his mouth on the blonde's in a searing kiss. Draco wound his arms around Harry's neck and made sure Harry knew just how much Draco needed him. As the kiss continued, Harry tugged Draco's shirt out of his trousers and unbuttoned it. He pushed the shirt off Draco's shoulders, the blonde boy helping to shed his shirt. It fell on the pile of wrapping paper but neither of them noticed.
Harry's hands slid greedily over Draco's bare skin, as if he was exploring him for the first time.
"Are you sure?" Draco asked as he pulled his mouth away from Harry's for mere seconds before it was captured again. Harry was hungry for Draco and he wasn't going to be denied.
"Oh god, yes," Harry muttered before kissing Draco again.
Draco slid his fingers under Harry's t-shirt and swept it up over Harry's head. The two boys resumed their almost frantic kissing and pulled each other closer, both revelling in the feel of their bare skin rubbing against each other.
Harry gently lay Draco back on the floor, his shirt, coloured paper and ribbon crushed beneath him. The seeker kissed him eagerly as he tugged at the button and zip on Draco's trousers. He pulled the pants off along with Draco's socks and boxers. Harry parted with Draco's lips long enough to shed his own clothes before kissing Draco soundly. Harry kissed along Draco's jaw and down his neck, pausing only to mark the skin at Draco's collar bone with a love bite.
For his part, Draco lay there, reacting to the feel of Harry's hands and mouth on his body, allowing Harry to refresh his memory of his body.
December 25th – Christmas Day
Draco was dreaming. It was an erotic dream, the kind Draco had regularly had in the long months before they'd gotten together. Harry's hands were everywhere all at once and his mouth, oh his mouth. Harry had a way with that mouth of his that made Draco scream with ecstasy. Right now, Harry's mouth was on his stomach moving south in a maddeningly slow fashion. Draco knew the intended destination and he arched up in the hopes that Harry would get the hint and hurry up. But Dream Harry wouldn't be hurried and he reached his destination in his own time.
Draco gasped as Harry's mouth closed around him. God, Harry's mouth was so warm and wet and it felt so real. Draco opened his eyes slowly and glanced down. There was a Harry sized head beneath the sheet hovering over his body. Oh god, what a way to wake up!
"Merry Christmas," Harry said with a smile when he had finished giving Draco his present.
"Mmm, Merry Christmas," Draco replied, his eyes fluttering closed with a contented sigh.
"I'm going to have a shower. Ron and Mione will be here soon," Harry said cheerily.
"What time is it?" Draco murmured sleepily.
"Ten am," Harry replied, as he hopped off the bed.
"Holy shit! They're going to be here soon," Draco said, flying out of bed.
They both showered and dressed and were waiting impatiently in the living room for their guests when there was a knock at the door.
Draco glanced at Harry who was already striding towards the door with a big grin on his face. He'd had forty-eight hours since Hagrid's visit and by now he was ready to see his two best friends.
Harry pulled the door open and pulled his two startled friends into an awkward three-way hug.
"Oh Harry, I'm so glad to see you again. Are you alright?" Hermione asked, once they had let go of each other.
"I'm fine, Mione. Draco has been a tower of strength," Harry said, beaming at Draco.
Ron smiled at all of them and closed the door Harry had left open. He was holding a pile of presents, which he put under the tree with the others.
"How about we open some presents?" Draco suggested.
"Great idea," Ron agreed enthusiastically.
Hermione giggled. "He's been whining all morning about opening presents."
"Here, open this one," Harry said, handing Ron the present Draco had bought for him. Harry smirked at Draco and the two of them watched Ron eagerly. Hermione noticed their anticipation and she too watched with interest as Ron unwrapped the present.
Ron pulled out the Gameboy and frowned at it. "What is it?"
"Open the box," Harry suggested as he, Hermione and Draco struggled to hold in their laughter as Ron pulled the Gameboy out of the box and turned it around, pressing the buttons and looking confused.
"It's a Gameboy," Hermione explained once she'd finished laughing. "You can play games on it."
"It won't work here but it should work at the Burrow," Harry added.
"Here, Draco. This is from me and Ron," Hermione said, handing Draco a present.
Draco grinned at her and proceeded to unwrap the present with childlike glee. He stared at the box, and then up at Hermione in bewilderment. Hermione and Harry were again laughing and this time Ron too was laughing at him although he too didn't know what was in the box.
"Ron told me about the CD you bought in London," Hermione explained. "This is a CD player. It won't work here, because of the magic, but if you can get to a place with electricity then you can plug it in and listen to your song. Harry should be able to help you with it."
"So I can't play my CD at Hogwarts?" Draco said, disappointed.
"No, sorry," Hermione said with a sympathetic smile.
"Oh, well thank you for the CD player," Draco said, grinning at them all before turning to the tree. He reached under it for the present he knew Harry was dying to open.
"Here Harry, this is for you," Draco said, almost shyly as he held out the tiny golden box.
Harry took it eagerly and pulled the shiny paper off it. Inside was a navy blue box. It was obviously a jewellery box. Harry gulped. There was only one thing this could be. Harry snapped open the box and stared down at the ring nestled inside. It was a plain silver band. It was the most beautiful thing Harry had ever seen. Harry glanced up at Draco with an expression of wonder.
"It's engraved," Draco said softly, pulling the ring out of the box. He held it up so Harry could read the inscription written inside the band: Together forever, I will always love you, ~Draco.
"Do you like it?" Draco asked hesitantly.
"I love it," Harry declared, kissing Draco. The blonde boy reached for Harry's hand and gently slid the ring on Harry's finger.
TBC
A.N. It's not an engagement ring. It's just a symbol of Draco's love for Harry. *grins* nothing at all like an engagement ring!
Please review – it will make my day! Thank you to all those who have already reviewed. I love to read what you think.