05# Christmas Carols
Time passed by quickly. The weather got better for the remainder of the month, but at Christmas Eve the first snow fell and coated the city in white. Lucius and Harry had met quite often during the weeks and built up a friendship none of them had thought possible only four years ago. How things could change, people change.
Once enemies, now they sat at Malfoy Mansion next to a huge Christmas Tree in the dining room and ate turkey and plum pudding with some guests Lucius had invited to cheer Harry up, who had looked a bit pale and restless over the last days.
Lucius had taken the chair at the head of the table, the Harry right to him. On his left sat Severus, next to the Potions master his lover Remus Lupin and opposite of the host Poppy Pomfrey. The remaining chair between Harry and Poppy was occupied by Minerva Mc'Gonagall. The dishes were delicious and the wine more than exquisite.
Harry was gleaming with joy and that was all Lucius needed for a perfect Christmas. Despite the usual negative attitude of pureblood families towards a Muggle holiday like this, he enjoyed the celebrations greatly since his own time at Hogwarts. The day was perfect!
"So, Harry, did you have a good time? We didn't hear much from you the last years."
"I wanted to write, but it was all a bit too much, Remus. I needed some time for myself."
"And then you ran into Lucius that night at the bar?"
"Kind of. I was pretty pissed that day and we talked a little."
"We were worried after that article, but Hermione said everything was okay."
"Did she.did she say anything else?"
"No, why?"
"Not important. We had an argument that day and she was quite upset, when she left."
"I noticed that. You should talk sometime, I think. She's a good girl, you know."
"Yeah, of course. So what have you been doing lately?"
"Uh? Me. well, since you don't know jet, I'll just tell you, then."
"I'm listening!"
"I'm teaching DADA again. That keeps me close to my husband."
"You - oh! That I didn't see it earlier, I must have been blind!" Harry chuckled and gazed towards his old Potions professor, who had his eyes fixed on the werewolf with a loving expression. At least the Remus had finally found his mate, even if it was Snape.
Lucius grinned wickedly and gazed over the table with mock surprise.
"Yes, indeed. It seems couples, my dear Harry, surround us. Lovely, isn't it!"
Minerva and Poppy blushed and giggled a bit. The fife empty wine-bottles on the table were evidence for their state, not to forget the laughter from the three slightly drunken men. Lucius had kept his limit. He had still things to do, after the party would come to an end.
When dinner was over they settled in front of the fireplace for another hour of talk, when Minerva and Poppy excused themselves. Remus and Severus followed so only Harry remained at the mansion.
"I suppose I better leave now, as well. It's time to call it a night."
"Another moment, please."
"Yes, Lucius?"
"I wanted you to know something."
"Then tell me."
"You know our relationship started a bit rushed. After that we became friends, and I enjoy your company greatly, maybe more than I should."
"At what are you implying? If you want to stop me visiting you so often-"
"No! No, it's more.the opposite." he sighed, "Harry, I think I'm falling in love with you."
"That is.nice."
"I don't expect you to say anything. Just keep in mind, that I'm there if you need me."
"Lucius, I really-"
"Harry, I-"
"-feel the same."
"What?"
"I love you, ever since that first night."
"You really do?"
"Yes, Lucius. I love you! So much-"
"Harry, is everything alright. You just looked-"
"Lucius - I'm not feeling well. There was just." and he fainted.
"Harry!" Lucius shouted and dropped to his knees to catch the falling frame of his beloved one. The black haired man's body cramped up in a sudden impulse and his eyes snapped open again. He coughed and groaned in pain.
"Harry, what is it?"
"I - I had it.before, some times.but never that intensive. It was more like a usual cramp."
"Does it hurt? When did it occur first? Did you see a doctor?"
"It - ouch - yes, it hurts, still. Please, I think I need - ouch."
"I take you to St. Mungos instantly. You have to be checked! Can you stand?"
"I doubt it - ouu. I."
"Okay. I'll be right back. GIBSON!"
~*~
The hospital entrance hall was crowded with reporters, when Lucius Malfoy boxed his way through to the counter, where he asked the nurse where Harry was brought. She first didn't tell him anything, but when he explained the situation, she led him to a waiting area on the third floor. The floor was labeled "Neurology and Magical Loss". Lucius wanted to see his love, but the nurse wouldn't let him and he shook his head in defeat.
"Mr. Malfoy, I can understand that you want to see him, but the doctors need their room."
"What's wrong with him?"
"You don't know?"
"What should I know?"
"Well, as his lover-"
"W only got together this evening, before he fainted."
"I see. Then it's likely that he didn't know himself."
"Would you please be so kind and enlighten me, what you are talking about?"
"Of course. Please take a seat."
"Is it that grave."
"Possibly. We do what we can, but it might be too late-"
"He won't die, would he?"
"No, but there might be damaged for life."
"Grave damage?"
"He could loose his magic."
"What kind of illness is it? Something like Inquisomnia*?
"Basically yes, though this is not a virus, but bacterial. It's not lethal, though has to be taken seriously and treated professionally. If it is not too late, we can restore his magic and he'll recuperate to 100%, but I fear it's too late."
"."
"I think you can see him now. The doctors just left the room."
"Alright. Anything I have to look after?"
"Did you two have intimate contact?"
"Why?"
"You could be infected."
"I see. Not in the last two month, but before."
"Then I'll do a little check on you. Impropia Magia Totale! Nothing. You're perfectly healthy."
"Thank you." he said relieved and entered the little room Harry was in. He hoped his lover was well, his hands shaking, when he pulled the door open.
* I invented some magical illnesses: Inquisomnia (comes from Inquisition) freezes all magical abilities of a person. It's very rare and spread by the ill person cursing somebody. It's lethal.
Time passed by quickly. The weather got better for the remainder of the month, but at Christmas Eve the first snow fell and coated the city in white. Lucius and Harry had met quite often during the weeks and built up a friendship none of them had thought possible only four years ago. How things could change, people change.
Once enemies, now they sat at Malfoy Mansion next to a huge Christmas Tree in the dining room and ate turkey and plum pudding with some guests Lucius had invited to cheer Harry up, who had looked a bit pale and restless over the last days.
Lucius had taken the chair at the head of the table, the Harry right to him. On his left sat Severus, next to the Potions master his lover Remus Lupin and opposite of the host Poppy Pomfrey. The remaining chair between Harry and Poppy was occupied by Minerva Mc'Gonagall. The dishes were delicious and the wine more than exquisite.
Harry was gleaming with joy and that was all Lucius needed for a perfect Christmas. Despite the usual negative attitude of pureblood families towards a Muggle holiday like this, he enjoyed the celebrations greatly since his own time at Hogwarts. The day was perfect!
"So, Harry, did you have a good time? We didn't hear much from you the last years."
"I wanted to write, but it was all a bit too much, Remus. I needed some time for myself."
"And then you ran into Lucius that night at the bar?"
"Kind of. I was pretty pissed that day and we talked a little."
"We were worried after that article, but Hermione said everything was okay."
"Did she.did she say anything else?"
"No, why?"
"Not important. We had an argument that day and she was quite upset, when she left."
"I noticed that. You should talk sometime, I think. She's a good girl, you know."
"Yeah, of course. So what have you been doing lately?"
"Uh? Me. well, since you don't know jet, I'll just tell you, then."
"I'm listening!"
"I'm teaching DADA again. That keeps me close to my husband."
"You - oh! That I didn't see it earlier, I must have been blind!" Harry chuckled and gazed towards his old Potions professor, who had his eyes fixed on the werewolf with a loving expression. At least the Remus had finally found his mate, even if it was Snape.
Lucius grinned wickedly and gazed over the table with mock surprise.
"Yes, indeed. It seems couples, my dear Harry, surround us. Lovely, isn't it!"
Minerva and Poppy blushed and giggled a bit. The fife empty wine-bottles on the table were evidence for their state, not to forget the laughter from the three slightly drunken men. Lucius had kept his limit. He had still things to do, after the party would come to an end.
When dinner was over they settled in front of the fireplace for another hour of talk, when Minerva and Poppy excused themselves. Remus and Severus followed so only Harry remained at the mansion.
"I suppose I better leave now, as well. It's time to call it a night."
"Another moment, please."
"Yes, Lucius?"
"I wanted you to know something."
"Then tell me."
"You know our relationship started a bit rushed. After that we became friends, and I enjoy your company greatly, maybe more than I should."
"At what are you implying? If you want to stop me visiting you so often-"
"No! No, it's more.the opposite." he sighed, "Harry, I think I'm falling in love with you."
"That is.nice."
"I don't expect you to say anything. Just keep in mind, that I'm there if you need me."
"Lucius, I really-"
"Harry, I-"
"-feel the same."
"What?"
"I love you, ever since that first night."
"You really do?"
"Yes, Lucius. I love you! So much-"
"Harry, is everything alright. You just looked-"
"Lucius - I'm not feeling well. There was just." and he fainted.
"Harry!" Lucius shouted and dropped to his knees to catch the falling frame of his beloved one. The black haired man's body cramped up in a sudden impulse and his eyes snapped open again. He coughed and groaned in pain.
"Harry, what is it?"
"I - I had it.before, some times.but never that intensive. It was more like a usual cramp."
"Does it hurt? When did it occur first? Did you see a doctor?"
"It - ouch - yes, it hurts, still. Please, I think I need - ouch."
"I take you to St. Mungos instantly. You have to be checked! Can you stand?"
"I doubt it - ouu. I."
"Okay. I'll be right back. GIBSON!"
~*~
The hospital entrance hall was crowded with reporters, when Lucius Malfoy boxed his way through to the counter, where he asked the nurse where Harry was brought. She first didn't tell him anything, but when he explained the situation, she led him to a waiting area on the third floor. The floor was labeled "Neurology and Magical Loss". Lucius wanted to see his love, but the nurse wouldn't let him and he shook his head in defeat.
"Mr. Malfoy, I can understand that you want to see him, but the doctors need their room."
"What's wrong with him?"
"You don't know?"
"What should I know?"
"Well, as his lover-"
"W only got together this evening, before he fainted."
"I see. Then it's likely that he didn't know himself."
"Would you please be so kind and enlighten me, what you are talking about?"
"Of course. Please take a seat."
"Is it that grave."
"Possibly. We do what we can, but it might be too late-"
"He won't die, would he?"
"No, but there might be damaged for life."
"Grave damage?"
"He could loose his magic."
"What kind of illness is it? Something like Inquisomnia*?
"Basically yes, though this is not a virus, but bacterial. It's not lethal, though has to be taken seriously and treated professionally. If it is not too late, we can restore his magic and he'll recuperate to 100%, but I fear it's too late."
"."
"I think you can see him now. The doctors just left the room."
"Alright. Anything I have to look after?"
"Did you two have intimate contact?"
"Why?"
"You could be infected."
"I see. Not in the last two month, but before."
"Then I'll do a little check on you. Impropia Magia Totale! Nothing. You're perfectly healthy."
"Thank you." he said relieved and entered the little room Harry was in. He hoped his lover was well, his hands shaking, when he pulled the door open.
* I invented some magical illnesses: Inquisomnia (comes from Inquisition) freezes all magical abilities of a person. It's very rare and spread by the ill person cursing somebody. It's lethal.