Chapter Twenty

The Gifts

Draco stood in the Entrance Hall, arms crossed, a small bag slung over his shoulder. It had been exactly nine minutes and seventeen seconds. Where is my boy? Just then, Draco looked up and saw Harry clomping down the stairs toward him, his book bag flapping on his back with every movement. A smile spread across Draco's features as he watched Harry jump over a vanishing stair and then hop off the third-from-the-bottom stair to land two feet in front of Draco. Harry's eyes raised from his feet, where he was looking to make sure they landed firm, to the blue orbs of the boy before whom he stood.

"Hey."

Draco responded not with an echoed 'hey' but by grabbing Harry by the front of his robes and pulling the Gryffindor to him. Harry gasped. Draco's smile had vanished before Harry even got to see it, and was replaced by the Malfoy Sneer.

"You are late." growled Draco. He brought Harry closer to him.

Harry's emerald eyes grew to the size of dinner plates. "B-B-But-." Draco watched Harry look at his watch. "My-my watch says it's six forty-five. That's when we were supposed to meet, isn't it?"

Draco's eyes narrowed. "You are late," drawled Draco again.

Harry stared at the Slytherin. "By five-point-two seconds," said Draco. He winked and released Harry. Harry exhaled thankfully. He really thought I was mad, didn't he?

Draco smiled. "Don't you know I can never get mad at you?"

Harry's face relaxed. "I'm sorry. Flashbacks of the last five years."

"I'm sorry too," said Draco. "I was only teasing. I didn't mean to upset you."

Harry waved off the apology. "It's alright. I shouldn't be so doubtful of you. I should know better by now."

Draco poked Harry in the chest, emphasizing each word. "Yes. You. Should." Draco grinned at his boyfriend. "Well, Love. Ready for a little Christmas celebration?"

Harry grinned back. "But of course." Draco held out the hand not holding his bag for Harry to take.


~*~*~*~

Draco started walking toward their destination but stopped after only a few steps.

"What?" Harry stopped next to him and sent him a curious look.

"I want you to be totally surprised." Draco shifted his bag to the other hand and shoulder, and reached into his pocket.

"I'll just close my eyes, Dray," said Harry, closing his eyes to prove his willingness.

"Nah, you could peek," said Draco. When Harry's eyes opened, Draco was pointing his wand at Harry's face.

"Uh… Draco? What-. What are you doing?" Harry took a pace back, but Draco dropped his bag on the floor and grabbed Harry's hand. Harry looked down at the pale fingers wrapped around his wrist and back to the blue eyes shining back at him.

"Harry, love. Trust me. Please?" Draco looked at Harry pleadingly. He lowered the wand slightly. "Please?"

Harry took a deep breath and nodded.

"Close your eyes," said Draco quietly. Harry obliged. Harry heard the sound of Draco's wand swish and heard the words. "Vista nuvolosa."

Suddenly, Harry felt something seeping into his eyes. When he opened them again, he could see only a thick, swirling white mist. It was like being inside the mist of a crystal ball. When he moved his eyes, he felt a liquidy substance roll around inside them. He let his eyes wander around, trying to find something to focus on. Then his eyes fell on the only thing he could actually see.

Draco's slightly worried face stared back at him. "Harry, what do you see?"

Harry smiled, despite his odd lack of most of his vision. "A beautiful angel in the midst of clouds."

"Uh oh. You're supposed to be just seeing me. Bugger, what have I done? We need to get you to the hospital wing." Draco muttered some more, sounding scared. Harry saw him twisting his hands nervously, his face getting panicked. Harry reached out and caught Draco's face in his hands. Oh! I can see my hands, too! Oh good. I can see my whole body. That's good. Now… Got to calm Dray…

"Draco. Babe. I only see you. You're my angel, Love." Harry smiled again. He saw Draco's face relax again.

"Oh," said Draco, sounding sheepish. Now isn't that cute? A sheepish Draco. Harry sniggered quietly. "Alright then. Ready to go?" Harry nodded. Draco grabbed his hand and tugged Harry along down the corridors.

Harry felt Draco leading him through the hallways. But Harry could not figure out where Draco was taking him. He was led through doorways, secret passages, and tapestries. Or at least what he thought were doorways, secret passages, and tapestries, since he could see only mist and Draco. And he knew he'd gone up a flight of stairs. Draco's smooth tenor voice led him all the way, telling him to duck when he needed to duck, jump when he needed to jump, turn when he needed to turn. This feeling of letting go and having Draco lead him everywhere was a little strange, but oddly comforting. He knew that Draco would do nothing to hurt him. He loves me too much to hurt me, thought Harry. Finally, after a good length of time, and a lot of liquidy sloshing in Harry's eyes, Draco stopped. Harry stopped behind Draco, almost running into him. "Are we here?"

"Yes," said Draco. "We're here."

"Can I see now?" As much as Harry was comfortable with Draco, he still liked being capable of seeing. I hope this spell doesn't effect the one Madame Pomfrey did last year… Nah, should be fine… I think. He watched Draco's back disappear and his face come into view.

"Let me bring you in first before you can see again." Draco's back appeared again as he turned to where Harry figured the door was. Harry heard Draco whisper "Amore Allineare." A second later, he heard a creak of a door opening. Draco turned back to him and grabbed his hands. Harry let himself be guided into the room.

The room was much warmer than the corridor Harry was just in. He smelled pine and cinnamon. It reminded him of the proper smell a Christmas should have. Harry smiled, breathing in the Christmas smell that was hanging in the room. Then Harry saw Draco's smiling face materialize in front of his otherwise still-clouded eyes.

"Close your eyes again, Har. I need to lift the spell." Harry obliged once more, closing his eyes lightly. He could sense the wand pointing at his face.

"Vista perfezioni."

"Can I open my eyes now?" asked Harry.

"Certainly," said Draco.

Harry slowly opened his eyes and gasped. He looked around the small room in disbelief. He shrugged off his book bag, letting it land on the floor, and gaped at the room surrounding him. To his left was a plush couch pushed against the wall. The fabric was a deep, velvety burgundy. To his right, a large brick fireplace with a roaring fire. That would be why it's so warm in here, thought Harry. The fireplace was capped with a dark wooden mantelpiece, with two small stockings hung from it. One stocking bore his name on it, the other Draco's. In the far right corner, in front of Harry, was a Christmas tree, at least seven feet high. It was decorated with white lights, green and red glass balls, and silver and gold garland. In the far left, two wing-backed chairs of a dark hunter green, with matching ottomans. When Harry looked down, he saw a large circular throw rug made of twisted greens and reds. Harry's eyes sparkled with excitement and wonder as his eyes took in every detail possible. He looked at Draco, who was looking at him with eagerness.

"What do you think?" asked Draco.

"It's incredible," breathed Harry. He walked over to Draco and slipped his arms around the Slytherin. Harry grinned and pulled Draco's face to his own, kissing him deeply. He put as much feeling behind the kiss as he knew how. When they finally separated, they were both quite out of breath and quite aroused as well.

Harry wanted to continue their kissing, but if they were ever going to open each other's gifts, they had to get to it. Harry grinned at Draco.

"Present time!" cried Harry happily. Draco just laughed.

"I agree."

Harry grinned and pulled two packages wrapped in shiny green paper out of his bookbag. "You first."


~*~*~*~

Draco grinned, putting down his bag. He pulled Harry to the couch and they sat facing each other. Harry handed Draco the packages. Draco took the parcels, studying them. One was small, about four inches square and one inch wide. The other was bigger, the shape and size of a small clothing box. This box, however, was extremely thin, about a quarter of an inch thick.

Draco ripped the paper off both boxes quickly, noticing that the paper on the larger package seemed to be heavier, or thicker somehow than the paper on the smaller gift. He glanced at Harry. "Did you enchant this paper too? When Harry nodded, Draco balled up the paper from the smaller present and tossed it across the room and into the golden fire in the grate. The fire seemed to blush as it turned from yellows and oranges to a pale rose. White smoke billowed from the burning paper. Draco looked at Harry, worried that the smoke would cause damage to the room, but Harry smiled calmly and indicated with a nod of his head and the point of a steady finger that Draco should just watch. Draco gazed back at the haze to see it dissipating, leaving only a few wisps floating in midair. Draco watched, mesmerized, and saw the vapors taking form. He grinned as he saw the message created by the small clouds.

'I LOVE YOU'

Draco looked back at Harry, smiling. The smoke vanished after a few seconds and the fire reverted back to its original hues. Draco leaned over and places a quick kiss on Harry's lips. He smiled again. Draco balled up the bigger, thicker wrapping and balled it too. Draco tossed the ball across the room like he had with the first piece. Immediately, the flames turned dark green and a single silver thread emerged, wriggled and writhed into the same serpent Draco had seen that afternoon. Then the flames sputtered and turned a brilliant red. A gold thread materialized now and twisting and turning into the Gryffindor lion.

Just when Draco thought the figures would fade, the two threads curled again, undoing themselves from the forms of the mascots. The fire beneath the threds changed to a blinding white. Each thread twisted into the shape of a face. Draco gasped as he saw his own face appearing over the bright light from the flames. He watched the silver thread curl into the lin of his lips, the point of his chin. At the same time, the gold thread was mapping out the contours of Harry's features. Once each boy's face was created by the fire-born threads, the faces moved together in a kiss. When the thread-outlined lips met, the fire underneath emitted a shower of sparks. Then the images faded and the fire returned to its golden orange shades.

Draco looked at Harry, who was smiling broadly at him. Draco leaned forward again and kissed Harry. After a bit, they seperated, beaming. Draco looked at his lap where the two now-unwrapped white boxes still sat. "Which should I open first?" he asked.

"The bigger one," said Harry.

Draco lifted the lid to the thin box and pushed aside the tissue. There was one crisp piece of parchment, dyed the palest green. Draco eyes flicked back up to Harry's face, emanating questions.

Harry said, "It's enchanted. I have my own, too. When you write on it, I can read what you're writing, and the same for when I write on mine. So when you want to talk to me, but you can't because you're in the middle of class, just take this out and write. It will look like you are paying attention and taking notes, but really you are talking to me."

"But how will we know when the other one is writing?" asked Draco, intrigued.

"Open the other box," said Harry, ignoring Draco's query.

"But-"

Harry raised a hand to stop Draco. "Just open the other box."

Draco cocked his head to the side, but shrugged and lifted the lid. Inside was a green velvet box that just fit. Draco upturned the pair of boxes and shook out the velvet one. When it was released, Draco turned it right side up and prised open the lid. Laying inside was the pweter form of a dragon. Its arms were raised, claws and teeth bared as though about to attach. Its wings were stretched out behind it and the long tail, carrying spikes at the end, was curled around its feet. Draco ran a thumb over it and felt not cold metal as one would expect, but instead a warmth radiating from the tiny figure. Draco slid his hand underneath the dragon and lifted it and the silver chain attached out of the box, finding that it was actually a pendant with a chain fixed to it at the base of the dragon's neck. He unfastened the clasp of the chain and secured it around his neck. When it was fastened, the dragon lay against his chest, just low enough that it could be hidden under his robes. "It's beautiful, Harry," breathed Draco, fingering the tiny body.

"He's how you'll know I'm writing," said Harry.

"What?" Draco looked up at Harry, once again astonished.

Harry took a deep breath. "That dragon is enchanted to be connected to me. When I am near, or when I am thinking of you, he will be warm. I'm sure he is right now." Draco nodded. "When I take out my own parchment, and write the spell words, he will come alive and roar so you will know to take out your parchment. Watch."

Harry reached into his bookbag at his feet and pulled out a quill and a piece of parchment dyed the palest blue. He put the quill to the parchment to the page and wrote 'I swear that I am hopelessly in love.' Suddenly, the dragon's wings fluttered against Draco's chest, and there was a soft roar that echoed in Draco's ears. Draco gaped, not knowing which he wanted to stare at, Harry for crafting such a present, the dragon for coming alive, or the parchment in front of him. He landed on the parchment, because Harry's handwriting started blossoming on the sheet. 'See, Draco? Works like a charm. Which it is.' Draco looked up from the words to the boy in front of him that had just written them. Harry was beaming back at him.

"Then, when a teacher is coming or we are finished writing, we just say 'deletus' with the quill still touching the page. It will wipe clean, and no one will have any idea." Harry said. When Harry said the clearing spell, both his page, and Draco's had wiped themselves clean.

Draco gaped. When he recovered, he asked, "But how will you know I'm writing to you?"

Harry reached under his robes and pulled out a chain. Dangling from it was a tiny lion, mouth open, teeth bared. "He will roar at me if you start writing."

Draco was amazed. How in bloody hell did he come up with this? Draco put the parchment back in its box and put the boxes from his gifts on the floor at his feet. He pulled Harry to him and illustrated how thankful he was for the gifts with a deep kiss placed on Harry's lips.

When Draco was finished thanking Harry for the presents, he pulled away breathless and flushed. He grinned at Harry, who was grinning back, flushed as well. "Your turn, Love."


~*~*~*~

Draco was grinning broadly as he reached into the bag he'd been carrying with him all night. He pulled out a box wrapped in red paper and a glittering gold ribbon and handed it to Harry with a flourish.

Harry took it from Draco grinning. He pulled off the ribbon and tossed it aside. Tearing off the paper, he balled it and threw it at the fire. Now sitting in his hands was a small velvet jewelry box, about an inch and a half square on each face. Harry prised it open and gasped upon viewing its contents.

Resting in gray velvet was a gold ring. To any muggle, this would appear to be an average class ring from any high school or university. But to a wizard, this ring was anything but ordinary. The top of the ring was square-shaped, with two stones laid in. The stones were seperated by a diagonal line of running from the bottom left corner to the upper right. The top and left half of the square contained a shining ruby. The bottom right held a sparkling emerald. Etched into each stone was a small figure. The ruby had the Gryffindor lion, standing on his back legs, claws out, teeth bared. The emerald showed the Slytherin serpent, jaws wide, and tongue snaking out. The figures were moving, snapping their jaws and wiggling their tails. Surrounding the squared-off stones was a larger square with writing carved out of it. Above the lion it said 'Harry Potter.' Below the serpent was written 'Draco Malfoy.' There were triangles carved out of each side of the ring. The face on the right had a picture of a Snitch with a broom laying behind it on a tilt. The left face had a tiny version of the Hogwarts crest.

Harry felt his jaw was surely on the floor as he gaped at the ring sitting between his fingers. Finally, he wrenched his eyes away from the ring to gape at Draco. "It-. It-. Wow, Dray. It's gorgeous," stammered Harry.

"Look inside, Harry," said Draco, pointing at the ring.

Harry turned the ring over and looked inside the ring. On the opposite side from where the jewels rested was engraving.

'12th October

Semper Amore'

"It's our anniversary," breathed Harry. He was amazed by the ring. "What's that other bit?"

" 'Semper Amore.' It means 'Love Always.' It's Latin," said Draco. He was grinning at his gawping boyfriend. "Do you like it?"

"Do-? You must be joking," said Harry. "Of course I like it! I love it! You would have to be an absolute nutter not to!"

"Then put it on," said Draco, waving a hand at Harry. "Any finger on your right hand."

Harry saw a glint of light when Draco moved his hand, but dismissed it. "But isn't it sized?" asked Harry, confused.

"It won't be till you put it on. Magical rings aren't sized until they are worn by the intended recipient," explained Draco.

Harry looked down at his bare right hand. Which finger? He decided on his middle finger and slid the ring on. Instantly, he felt the ring get very hot and mold itself around his finger. Harry smiled and looked at his now-glittering hand. Then he looked at Draco's hands. On his left hand was a ring that was almost identical to the one Harry was now wearing… Except-

"White gold," said Draco, reading Harry's mind. "I had one made for myself as well. There's more to that ring, though. Here." Draco held out his left hand and Harry slipped his hand in. Their rings touched and suddenly music filled the air. After a few notes, Harry recognized the song.

"Oh Dray. That's our song. It's 'Beauty and the Beast,' " he cried.

"Yes. When we hold hands, and the rings touch, our song will start playing," said Draco, beaming. "But only we can hear it."

Harry felt his jaw drop again. "That's amazing, Dray. Thank you so much." Harry looked at the clasped hands between himself and Draco. Harry leaned forward and kissed Draco. He kept leaning until he was laying on top of Draco along the length of the couch. Their fingers released each other and started exploring the other boy's bodies. Harry pulled away. "Let me see… There has to be a way I can show you how much I love this gift. Hmm."

"Oh, I can think of an idea or two," said Draco seductively. He wiggled his hips under Harry, and Harry realized then how aroused Draco was.

"Oh really?" asked Harry.

"Yes, sir." Draco's lips began tracing their way down Harry's neck and stopping where it was covered by Harry's robes. "Oh, Harry. Problem, Love."

Harry raised an eyebrow. At the look, Draco tugged at Harry's robes. "Hmm. Yes. Definitely a problem," said Harry grimly. "Care to help me out with that?"

"Only if you help me, Har." Draco winked and started undoing Harry's robes.

Harry grabbed at Draco's robes, disengaging them and freeing Draco of them. "Oh, and Draco?"

"Hmm?" asked Draco as he pulled off both sweater and tee shirt, baring Harry's chest.

"Happy Christmas, Draco."

"Happy Christmas, Harry."

~*~TBC~*~