Chapter 9: Just When You Thought Life Was Perfect. . .
Wow, these chapters are coming out faster than I thought they would. I guess it's just that this story is actually really fun to write. Anyway, like usual the same warnings apply and I would also like lots of feedback. Umm. . .other than that let's get on with the story.
Chapter 9: Just When You Thought Life Was Perfect. . .
Rai awoke to Harry almost pouncing on him in his excitement as announced the obvious fact that Christmas was here. Laughing, Rai relented to his friend's tugging and allowed Harry to pull him down the stairs and to where the Gryffindor tree sat. He couldn't resist the smile that formed on his lips as he saw all the gifts that laid under the exquisitely decorated branches of pine.
Taking residence on the chair closest to the tree, Rai gratefully accepted the presents as Harry handed them over before tearing open his own. Rai shook his head and went about unwrapping his packages at a more controlled rate. In the end, the elf had quite a pile at his feet. From the Weasleys, obviously Ron had told his family about him, Rai had received a deep blue sweater similar to Harry's crimson one, from Ron, the brunette had gotten 'Quidditch Throughout the Ages' and from Hermione he had, of course, been given a thick tome about Hogwarts. Harry's present, to Rai's great shock, was a new Firebolt. They had spent several moments arguing about how much the other Gryffindor had to spend on the gift but finally Rai thanked his friend and carefully laid the broom aside. After that he had opened Draco's and Derek's presents, unwrapping a beautiful painting of a dragon and a dragon pendent from his blonde friend and a broom care set from his boyfriend. Dumbledore's gift, which Rai had placed under the tree the day he got it, turned out to be a varied assortment of treats; that, along with the numerous gifts from the other Gryffindors, provided Rai enough candy to last the rest of the year.
On the other hand, Harry had also allotted about as much presents as Rai had. Like Rai, he had received candy from Dumbledore and his fellow Gryffindors. From Ron, though, the ebony-haired man had acquired a bag of jokes and tricks from a local shop in Hogsmeade and from Hermione a self writing quill with assorted colors of ink to fill the quill. Draco had given Harry a beautifully crafted silver ring embedded with emeralds along with a golden chain. Then, to both Gryffindors' surprise, Harry also found a gift from Derek, which turned out to be a new sketch book and a set of charcoal pencils. "How'd he know that I could draw? Did you tell him Rai?"
Rai denied it. "I didn't. It could have been Draco though."
Accepting that explanation, Harry set to opening his remaining gift from his elven friend. Carefully tearing the golden wrapping paper away, the ebon-haired wizard withdrew an intricately designed emerald set in silver on the end of a thin yet sturdy chain. Cradling it in his palm, Harry's eyes widened when he felt warmth emit from the stone and his head shot up. "What is this Rai?"
"Tis made by the best of elven craftsmen and I had personally integrated a protection spell into the stone." The wintry-eyed archer smiled. "This will provide some shielding from magical enchantments and may make your encounters, if you have any further ones, with Voldemort tilt in your favor."
Clasping the necklace around his neck, Harry gently tucked it beneath his shirt. "Thank you Rai. I mean it. Thanks."
Rai nodded then chuckled. "Tis the least I could do for the Firebolt, Harry."
Harry grinned and they chatted for a few hours before they each collected their presents and went upstairs to put them up and dress for lunch, having realized that they had missed breakfast already. Upon entering the dining hall, Derek and Draco approached their boyfriends.
"Thanks Rai." The blonde Slytherin said. "When do you think you could teach me?"
"Teach you what?" Harry asked, a little puzzled as he kissed Draco and ignored the surprised looks that the rest of the students were giving them.
Draco grinned. "Archery. Rai got made me a set and he had told me a while ago that he would teach me."
"Can I come and watch?" Harry asked.
"Sure, love." Draco dismissed both himself and Harry, promising to meet their companions later and leaving the brunette with Derek.
"Have you eaten yet?"
"Not yet." Derek responded, giving Rai a curious look. "Thank you for the present. It is quite beautiful."
Rai glanced over to the other as the Slytherin presented the life stone that he had on a chain around his neck. Reaching out, the elf gently caressed the silver-blue surface. "Keep it safe Derek."
Derek's eyebrow raised in question at the elf's almost doubtful tone. "What is it Rai? Is there something about this that I should know?"
Snapping out of his trance, the brunette shook his head. "For now it's nothing. Just promise me that you shall keep it safe."
"I promise." Leaning down, Derek lightly and lovingly brushed his lips against Rai's. "With all my heart I promise."
"I love you." Rai breathed as they parted and he watched as Derek's face brightened considerably.
Derek could feel the joy rushing through his veins and kissed Rai again. "I love you too."
The elf nuzzled his cheek against Derek's before pulling away slightly. "Let's get something to eat. Besides, I believe that we may be embarrassing a few people on our behalf."
Smirking evilly, Derek brushed his lips against Rai's before fully pulling away. "Now let's get something to eat."
Rai rolled his eyes but followed his boyfriend as they both sat down at the only table set out and spoke cheerfully as the archer ate his lunch.
* * * * *
"Hey, Draco." Harry called softly as the two boys snuggled together on the couch in Gryffindor Tower.
The blonde mumbled sleepily as he burrowed deeper into his lover's chest. "Hmm?"
Harry chuckled softly, twining his fingers into the sun-tainted locks and bending down to kiss the top of Draco's head. "What are we gonna tell everyone when they come back from holidays? I'm sort of worried about how they may react."
Draco shifted slightly so that he could look up into the dark green depths that studied him. "We tell them the truth Harry. Why should they think any less of us just because we chose to love each other?" He placed a small peck on Harry's lips. "And if they are truly our friends then they will accept us for this. Besides we will always have Rai and Derek."
"I don't know about Derek. I don't think he likes me very much." The Gryffindor mumbled, playing with the ring that hung about Draco's neck. Apparently, Draco had bought a matching band to Harry's.
Rolling his eyes, Draco poked the other's nose playfully. "He likes you and even if he didn't Rai would have 'convinced' him to by now."
Harry grinned, his eyes sparkling in a knowing manner. "I guess I do see you're point. Rai can be very devious when he wants to be."
"You've got my full agreement on that." The blonde humphed at the memory of his first encounter with Rai and by the look on Harry's face, Draco knew that their sneaky friend had also pulled quite a few tricks on him to get them to finally admit their feelings to one another. /He did help us do that didn't he?/ Immediately his misty eyes softened at the thought. "Although, we should be grateful to him. I mean, we wouldn't be together if it wasn't for his interference."
"That's true." Harry bit his lip thoughtfully, which Draco found adorable and couldn't help but kiss his boyfriend gently on the corner of his mouth. The ebony-haired wizard titled his head in question. "What was that for?"
"Just because," he gave Harry another brief kiss, "you are too adorable," another kiss on the nose, "for your own good and," another on Harry's forehead, "for just being you."
Sighing, Harry savored the perfection of the moment and tugged the taller boy closer to his body. "I love you Drac."
"I love you too." Placing one last kiss on Harry's full lips, Draco cuddled up to his boyfriend again and soon both wizards were sleeping soundly in each other's arms.
* * * * *
It was almost five in the afternoon before Harry stirred. Without opening his eyes, he tried to stretch but a warm weight on his chest hindered his movements and caused his eyes to snap open. "Who. . ." Catching sight of the silky locks however, Harry visibly calmed and a slow smile spread across his handsome features.
/Draco. . ./ The Gryffindor reveled in the sensation of his boyfriend, feeling at the moment the luckiest person in the world as he tightened his grip on Draco. Said boy unintelligibly whispered Harry's name sweetly in his sleep while his lover watched him with an affectionate smile on his face. It was a moment later that silver gems blinked hazily open and Draco yawned kittenishly.
"Welcome back to the waking world, love." Harry grinned as he kissed Draco's forehead, which in turn resulted with an eager meeting of lips.
"And what a welcome it is." Draco breathed huskily against Harry's mouth. He was about to lean in again, when a snicker caught their attention. Both, Slytherin and Gryffindor, gazed up in shock to find Rai inclined on the back of their chair with a raised eyebrow and a smirk threatening to escape.
Rai couldn't resist the temptation and grinned. "I was wondering when the two of you would wake up and then it happens just when I take a five minute break and I come back to find you all over each other."
Harry and Draco flushed as crimson as the couch they were lying on as they both attempted to scowl up at their friend. Draco grumbled something about 'pesky, interfering fairies' before pushing himself into a sitting position.
The elf tutted. "Now, I am not a fairy. Entirely divergent race."
Flushing a little in embarrassment, Draco sighed and rolled his eyes. "You do know that you show up at the most inconvenient times."
Having become used to the Slytherin's blunt statements, Rai only shrugged. "Well, I just wanted to inform you that dinner will be in an hour." Winking, at Harry, the brunette pushed away from the sofa and climbed the stairs back up into the boys' dorms.
The couple watched Rai for a moment until Harry felt caressing lips moving across his throat. "Wha-what are you doing?"
Draco purred as he nuzzled his lover's neck. "Finishing what we started."
"Wha-oh." Harry's cheeks stained a light red as he turned in Draco's arms. "Should we be doing that in the common room?"
Silver eyes lit with a wicked glint, as Draco kissed Harry. "Probably not but no one's here to stop us. Besides, our beds are too far." He pressed their mouths together in a passionate lip lock, cutting off any protests until Harry gave a quiet moan of pleasure. Smirking into the kiss, Draco slowly lowered them to the rug in front of the fireplace, neither noticing Rai when the other cast a silencing charm over the room and inaudibly shut the door to his dorm.
T.B.C.
Well, here's chapter nine. Hopefully it was alright. I left it on a sweet note, so hopefully that was to everyone's liking. ^_^ Anyway, please review and chapter ten will be out soon.
Wow, these chapters are coming out faster than I thought they would. I guess it's just that this story is actually really fun to write. Anyway, like usual the same warnings apply and I would also like lots of feedback. Umm. . .other than that let's get on with the story.
Chapter 9: Just When You Thought Life Was Perfect. . .
Rai awoke to Harry almost pouncing on him in his excitement as announced the obvious fact that Christmas was here. Laughing, Rai relented to his friend's tugging and allowed Harry to pull him down the stairs and to where the Gryffindor tree sat. He couldn't resist the smile that formed on his lips as he saw all the gifts that laid under the exquisitely decorated branches of pine.
Taking residence on the chair closest to the tree, Rai gratefully accepted the presents as Harry handed them over before tearing open his own. Rai shook his head and went about unwrapping his packages at a more controlled rate. In the end, the elf had quite a pile at his feet. From the Weasleys, obviously Ron had told his family about him, Rai had received a deep blue sweater similar to Harry's crimson one, from Ron, the brunette had gotten 'Quidditch Throughout the Ages' and from Hermione he had, of course, been given a thick tome about Hogwarts. Harry's present, to Rai's great shock, was a new Firebolt. They had spent several moments arguing about how much the other Gryffindor had to spend on the gift but finally Rai thanked his friend and carefully laid the broom aside. After that he had opened Draco's and Derek's presents, unwrapping a beautiful painting of a dragon and a dragon pendent from his blonde friend and a broom care set from his boyfriend. Dumbledore's gift, which Rai had placed under the tree the day he got it, turned out to be a varied assortment of treats; that, along with the numerous gifts from the other Gryffindors, provided Rai enough candy to last the rest of the year.
On the other hand, Harry had also allotted about as much presents as Rai had. Like Rai, he had received candy from Dumbledore and his fellow Gryffindors. From Ron, though, the ebony-haired man had acquired a bag of jokes and tricks from a local shop in Hogsmeade and from Hermione a self writing quill with assorted colors of ink to fill the quill. Draco had given Harry a beautifully crafted silver ring embedded with emeralds along with a golden chain. Then, to both Gryffindors' surprise, Harry also found a gift from Derek, which turned out to be a new sketch book and a set of charcoal pencils. "How'd he know that I could draw? Did you tell him Rai?"
Rai denied it. "I didn't. It could have been Draco though."
Accepting that explanation, Harry set to opening his remaining gift from his elven friend. Carefully tearing the golden wrapping paper away, the ebon-haired wizard withdrew an intricately designed emerald set in silver on the end of a thin yet sturdy chain. Cradling it in his palm, Harry's eyes widened when he felt warmth emit from the stone and his head shot up. "What is this Rai?"
"Tis made by the best of elven craftsmen and I had personally integrated a protection spell into the stone." The wintry-eyed archer smiled. "This will provide some shielding from magical enchantments and may make your encounters, if you have any further ones, with Voldemort tilt in your favor."
Clasping the necklace around his neck, Harry gently tucked it beneath his shirt. "Thank you Rai. I mean it. Thanks."
Rai nodded then chuckled. "Tis the least I could do for the Firebolt, Harry."
Harry grinned and they chatted for a few hours before they each collected their presents and went upstairs to put them up and dress for lunch, having realized that they had missed breakfast already. Upon entering the dining hall, Derek and Draco approached their boyfriends.
"Thanks Rai." The blonde Slytherin said. "When do you think you could teach me?"
"Teach you what?" Harry asked, a little puzzled as he kissed Draco and ignored the surprised looks that the rest of the students were giving them.
Draco grinned. "Archery. Rai got made me a set and he had told me a while ago that he would teach me."
"Can I come and watch?" Harry asked.
"Sure, love." Draco dismissed both himself and Harry, promising to meet their companions later and leaving the brunette with Derek.
"Have you eaten yet?"
"Not yet." Derek responded, giving Rai a curious look. "Thank you for the present. It is quite beautiful."
Rai glanced over to the other as the Slytherin presented the life stone that he had on a chain around his neck. Reaching out, the elf gently caressed the silver-blue surface. "Keep it safe Derek."
Derek's eyebrow raised in question at the elf's almost doubtful tone. "What is it Rai? Is there something about this that I should know?"
Snapping out of his trance, the brunette shook his head. "For now it's nothing. Just promise me that you shall keep it safe."
"I promise." Leaning down, Derek lightly and lovingly brushed his lips against Rai's. "With all my heart I promise."
"I love you." Rai breathed as they parted and he watched as Derek's face brightened considerably.
Derek could feel the joy rushing through his veins and kissed Rai again. "I love you too."
The elf nuzzled his cheek against Derek's before pulling away slightly. "Let's get something to eat. Besides, I believe that we may be embarrassing a few people on our behalf."
Smirking evilly, Derek brushed his lips against Rai's before fully pulling away. "Now let's get something to eat."
Rai rolled his eyes but followed his boyfriend as they both sat down at the only table set out and spoke cheerfully as the archer ate his lunch.
* * * * *
"Hey, Draco." Harry called softly as the two boys snuggled together on the couch in Gryffindor Tower.
The blonde mumbled sleepily as he burrowed deeper into his lover's chest. "Hmm?"
Harry chuckled softly, twining his fingers into the sun-tainted locks and bending down to kiss the top of Draco's head. "What are we gonna tell everyone when they come back from holidays? I'm sort of worried about how they may react."
Draco shifted slightly so that he could look up into the dark green depths that studied him. "We tell them the truth Harry. Why should they think any less of us just because we chose to love each other?" He placed a small peck on Harry's lips. "And if they are truly our friends then they will accept us for this. Besides we will always have Rai and Derek."
"I don't know about Derek. I don't think he likes me very much." The Gryffindor mumbled, playing with the ring that hung about Draco's neck. Apparently, Draco had bought a matching band to Harry's.
Rolling his eyes, Draco poked the other's nose playfully. "He likes you and even if he didn't Rai would have 'convinced' him to by now."
Harry grinned, his eyes sparkling in a knowing manner. "I guess I do see you're point. Rai can be very devious when he wants to be."
"You've got my full agreement on that." The blonde humphed at the memory of his first encounter with Rai and by the look on Harry's face, Draco knew that their sneaky friend had also pulled quite a few tricks on him to get them to finally admit their feelings to one another. /He did help us do that didn't he?/ Immediately his misty eyes softened at the thought. "Although, we should be grateful to him. I mean, we wouldn't be together if it wasn't for his interference."
"That's true." Harry bit his lip thoughtfully, which Draco found adorable and couldn't help but kiss his boyfriend gently on the corner of his mouth. The ebony-haired wizard titled his head in question. "What was that for?"
"Just because," he gave Harry another brief kiss, "you are too adorable," another kiss on the nose, "for your own good and," another on Harry's forehead, "for just being you."
Sighing, Harry savored the perfection of the moment and tugged the taller boy closer to his body. "I love you Drac."
"I love you too." Placing one last kiss on Harry's full lips, Draco cuddled up to his boyfriend again and soon both wizards were sleeping soundly in each other's arms.
* * * * *
It was almost five in the afternoon before Harry stirred. Without opening his eyes, he tried to stretch but a warm weight on his chest hindered his movements and caused his eyes to snap open. "Who. . ." Catching sight of the silky locks however, Harry visibly calmed and a slow smile spread across his handsome features.
/Draco. . ./ The Gryffindor reveled in the sensation of his boyfriend, feeling at the moment the luckiest person in the world as he tightened his grip on Draco. Said boy unintelligibly whispered Harry's name sweetly in his sleep while his lover watched him with an affectionate smile on his face. It was a moment later that silver gems blinked hazily open and Draco yawned kittenishly.
"Welcome back to the waking world, love." Harry grinned as he kissed Draco's forehead, which in turn resulted with an eager meeting of lips.
"And what a welcome it is." Draco breathed huskily against Harry's mouth. He was about to lean in again, when a snicker caught their attention. Both, Slytherin and Gryffindor, gazed up in shock to find Rai inclined on the back of their chair with a raised eyebrow and a smirk threatening to escape.
Rai couldn't resist the temptation and grinned. "I was wondering when the two of you would wake up and then it happens just when I take a five minute break and I come back to find you all over each other."
Harry and Draco flushed as crimson as the couch they were lying on as they both attempted to scowl up at their friend. Draco grumbled something about 'pesky, interfering fairies' before pushing himself into a sitting position.
The elf tutted. "Now, I am not a fairy. Entirely divergent race."
Flushing a little in embarrassment, Draco sighed and rolled his eyes. "You do know that you show up at the most inconvenient times."
Having become used to the Slytherin's blunt statements, Rai only shrugged. "Well, I just wanted to inform you that dinner will be in an hour." Winking, at Harry, the brunette pushed away from the sofa and climbed the stairs back up into the boys' dorms.
The couple watched Rai for a moment until Harry felt caressing lips moving across his throat. "Wha-what are you doing?"
Draco purred as he nuzzled his lover's neck. "Finishing what we started."
"Wha-oh." Harry's cheeks stained a light red as he turned in Draco's arms. "Should we be doing that in the common room?"
Silver eyes lit with a wicked glint, as Draco kissed Harry. "Probably not but no one's here to stop us. Besides, our beds are too far." He pressed their mouths together in a passionate lip lock, cutting off any protests until Harry gave a quiet moan of pleasure. Smirking into the kiss, Draco slowly lowered them to the rug in front of the fireplace, neither noticing Rai when the other cast a silencing charm over the room and inaudibly shut the door to his dorm.
T.B.C.
Well, here's chapter nine. Hopefully it was alright. I left it on a sweet note, so hopefully that was to everyone's liking. ^_^ Anyway, please review and chapter ten will be out soon.