Angela was pacing around the living room the next day, quickly flicking her hand and changing the color scheme as she tried to do something that she knew Harry would like. She was nervous about how he would react to Draco being one of her secret keepers, but she was fairly certain that it wouldn't be good. On the other hand, he did know about the night that Draco had saved her life, so perhaps he wouldn't be as mad as Ron. Then again…her thoughts were interrupted as she flicked her hand and the room turned to shades of blue. It was breathtaking, with just a hint of silver here and there.
"Who cares if he likes it? This is perfect!" she thought to herself. Just then a knock came at the door. "Come!"
Harry stepped through the door, laughing. He stopped when he saw the room, looking around, wide-eyed.
"I'm sorry if you don't like it. I was going through, trying to find something you would like and this just popped up, and it was just so lovely that I decided to leave it. But if you want me to I can cha-" Angela was cut off by Harry's lips on her own.
"It's perfect," he said in a low voice after they broke the kiss, standing with their foreheads together. Angela couldn't help but smile. Then she remembered what she was worried about and took a step back.
"Aren't you angry?"
"Angry? Why would I be angry?" Harry looked at her, genuinely confused.
"Oh…I guess Ron didn't tell you then."
"Tell me what?"
"Well, shit. The git could have at least told Hermione and Harry." She thought to herself. "Well, about who the other secret keepers are."
"If you're talking about Malfoy being your secret keeper, I'm not angry. Why should I be?"
"Well, because you hate him, for one. Ron was livid yesterday."
"Yeah, well, Ron's got a temper on him that even I'm afraid to cross. And besides, I don't hate Malfoy. He saved your life. You wouldn't even be here if it weren't for him, and for that I am forever in his debt."
Now it was Angela's turn to be surprised. "I'm proud of you. I'm glad you were able to overcome your silly grudge with him. I guess the holidays won't be so bad after all."
"I didn't say that I liked Malfoy, just that I don't hate him. We'll see about the holidays later. Right now, I just want to think about you."
He took her into his arms again, kissing her slowly but deeply. "I love you," he murmured in between kisses.
"I love you, too."
He swept her up in his arms and carried her to the bedroom.
Angela woke the next morning to the smell of a cooking breakfast wafting through the open door. She smiled to herself as she stretched, thinking about the night before. Harry seemed to learn new things that he was only too happy to share each time he visited. She rolled over onto the pillow he had slept on the night before and deeply breathed in the smell of him. Still smiling she got out of bed and wrapped her robe around her before padding her way to the kitchen.
When she got there she almost laughed at what she saw. Harry was cooking bacon and eggs and pancakes, trying to do them all at the same time and not being very successful. Angela quickly walked to the stove and took over the pancakes, surprising Harry.
"Hey! I didn't know you were up! I was going to bring you breakfast in bed." He sounded a bit disappointed, but Angela just laughed.
"The smell of your cooking woke me up. Besides, I'd like to eat on the balcony."
Harry gave a choked laugh.
"What's so funny about that?" Angela looked at him, getting angry quickly.
"Don't get mad. Look out the window!"
Angela turned and gasped at what she saw. The pancakes were momentarily forgotten.
"Snow!"
The balcony was covered, as well as the scenery beyond. It had been unseasonably warm that year and she had often heard fears that it wouldn't snow for Christmas. Angela was only slightly upset that it might not snow, being used to no snow where she was from. But she had never seen anything as magnificent as the scene before her.
Suddenly a sharp smell brought her back to the pancakes and she turned back to it, quickly getting it off the skillet, but not before it turned a dark shade of brown.
"Sorry bout that. I'll take that one." She was slightly embarrassed and felt the pink creeping into her cheeks.
"Don't worry about it. Maybe we can go out on the balcony later and look at the snow." Harry bent and gave her a kiss on her cheek. Angela smiled at him, loving him more for his kindness.
They finished fixing breakfast and sat at the table, Angela facing the window to eat. She ate a little bit of eggs so that Harry wouldn't get upset, but that plan didn't work.
"Is there something wrong with them?" he asked, looking worried.
"No! I'm sure they're perfectly good! I just…don't like eggs. Period. They make me nauseous."
Harry laughed at that, obviously seeing the look she was giving her eggs.
"The bacon's really good though. I haven't had bacon this good since…well, since my grandfather made it." She finished quietly, trying to hide the tears she felt in her throat. She generally tried not to think of her family but occasionally she did, and it was often the little things that did it. She couldn't count the Saturdays that she had been awoken by the smell of bacon, eggs, and grits cooking for breakfast. The thought of grits just made her wistful for home even more and before she knew it a tear was sliding down her cheek.
Harry put his fork down and came around the table. He wrapped her in a huge hug, and she cried on his shoulder for a few minutes.
She leaned up, wiping her eyes and nose with her napkin. "I'm sorry about that, it's just that this is my first Christmas away from them, and…I miss them so much."
"I know you do. I know. And they miss you too, I'm sure. And I'm sorry that you have to be here now."
Angela gave him a watery smile. "I'm not sorry I'm here, and I don't really want to be there, I just…miss them."
Harry smiled back and pulled a chair close to hers, sliding his food across the table. They finished eating in silence, though a massive footsy game was going on under the table. Angela looked out at the snow again, admiring its beauty. It would have been fun to romp across the snow-laden grounds, but Angela knew that wouldn't be happening, not this year at least. Suddenly she was filled with an anger that seemed to come from deep inside her.
"I'm sick of this!" she shouted, slamming a fist on the table.
Harry looked at her, surprised. "What? What did I do?"
"No, not you…you didn't do anything…well, nothing that I'm sick of. No, it's Goddamn Voldemort. He's holding me hostage without actually being anywhere near me. I haven't seen fucking snow in ages and even then it was nothing like this, and I can't even go out and build a damn snowman!"
Harry looked at her like she'd gone mad for a moment before softening his gaze. "Don't worry, there's enough room off the balcony in the bedroom to build a snowman. Or to have a snowball fight for that matter." He leaned over and gave her a kiss, which she returned.
She stole a glance at the clock out of the corner of her eye and saw that it was just now barely nine o'clock. When the kiss broke she gave him a mischievous grin. "I can think of a few other things I'd like to do with my time. Snowmen can wait." Harry laughed, but didn't object when she set the dishes to washing themselves and grabbed his hand, pulling him towards the bedroom.
They lay in bed a couple hours later, lingering in each other's arms. Angela knew she should get up soon as the others would be arriving in an hour and she still had to make lunch, but she just couldn't bring herself to remove herself from Harry's arms. He didn't seem in any particular hurry to get up either, kissing her hand and forearm that she had been rubbing his chest with.
Angela realized that if she didn't get up now they would spend another two hours in bed, and she simply couldn't do that, so she leaned up, kissed Harry firmly and got out of the bed, much to Harry's dismay. She heard him groan as she stepped into the bathroom to take a shower.
She was dressed and making lunch before Harry even got out of bed. He had, of course, watched her dress before taking his own shower, so he had taken a bit more time than she had. She was making some soul food for lunch, stuff she hadn't had in months and was craving. She hoped that the others would like them, but she could always have food sent from the kitchens if they didn't.
Harry walked up behind her while she was stirring the okra and tomatoes, wrapping his arms around her waist and hugging her to him tightly. "What smells so good?"
"Well, it's lunch. Here, taste this, tell me if you like it." She held a spoonful of the okra and tomatoes up for him to try, blowing on it to cool it. He took the spoon into his mouth, looking at Angela. She pulled it out and watched as his face went from confused to thoughtful to pleased.
"Damn, that's good stuff. I might have to marry you just for your cooking. What else is there?"
"Well, ham, cornbread, green beans, and, uh…I couldn't resist…I made some turnip greens. I had to have some. It's been so long."
"Turnip greens?" Harry looked disgustedly at the pot, obviously thinking that he didn't want anything that had the word turnip in the name.
"Yeah. Try them. They're REALLY good…please?" Harry looked back and forth between her and the pot. "Please? For me?" She kissed him softly on the spot that always made him gasp, just below his ear.
"Damn, alright. I'll try them." She beamed up at him and turned to get a spoonful of the greens. He grabbed her around the middle again and began to nibble on the back of her neck before pulling away. "Why didn't you dry your hair?"
"Oh, I didn't have time." She put her hand upside her head and muttered "Excaresco!". Her hair instantly dried and she ran her fingers through it. She turned and handed Harry the spoon just as someone knocked. She looked at the clock and saw it was five till. "Shit. I'll be right back. Try that. Wait, here." She shoved the spoon into Harry's mouth and left him behind, his choking sounds following her.
She got to the door and opened it and Draco Malfoy stood there, looking around nervously. "Hey, Draco, come on in. I'll show you your room."
Behind her came a voice. "Hey, Angela, this stuff is good! I'm gonna get some more!"
Angela laughed and shouted back, "Don't you dare, Harry Potter! That's for lunch."
Angela felt Draco stiffen at the mention of Harry's name and she quickly remembered that he had no idea who the other secret keepers were. She looked back at him, and Harry just kept talking.
"Aw, come one! Who was at the door?" He poked his head around the corner playfully. He saw it was Draco and the smile disappeared from his face.
Angela looked back and forth between the two of them, scared of what they would do. Suddenly, Harry came out into the living room and walked right up to Draco. Angela wasn't sure about what he would do, and prepared herself to have to get them apart if they began fighting, when Harry stuck his hand out.
"We're in this together. I'll put aside my differences with you for Angela if you're willing to do the same."
Draco showed true surprise at Harry's gesture, but he shook his hand. "Alright then."
And with that there was an agreement between the two men to be tolerant for Angela's sake. She sighed with relief before smiling at both of them. "Thank you," she said, giving Harry a kiss. He smiled at her and shook his head before going back to the kitchen.
"Your room's over here. I don't know if you'll like the food I made for lunch, but I really wanted to make some of it, and so I made some, but if you don't like it-"
"I'm sure it's delicious, Angela. It sure smells delicious." Draco had that note of honesty that she knew he only used when talking to her. She couldn't help but smile at him.
"Alright, but I'm warning you, it's American Muggle food…Southern American Muggle food at that, so you may not find it delicious. A lot of people don't."
The got to his bedroom, which she had decorated in greens and silvers. "If you want different colors, just let me know. I just figured, you know, you're a Slytherin and all…"
"Actually, could you do the blue and silver like what's in the living room?"
"Sure!" She waved her hand almost impatiently and the room was suddenly transformed.
"Thanks. I get tired of all the same colors all the time." Draco truly looked grateful.
Angela laughed before saying, "Yeah, I know what you mean. Don't tell me you didn't notice the living room was different every time you came?"
Draco had just laughed and set his trunk down near the bed.
"Well, I'll let you get settled. I think the others should be here soon."
"I think I'll come with you." Draco followed her quickly out of the room, too quickly in fact.
"Are you alright, Draco?"
He blushed, well as much as Draco Malfoy could blush. A pale pink tinted his porcelain cheeks. "I…I'm kind of…well…let's just say that I don't want to give Voldemort any more chances to get me."
Angela couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Draco Malfoy, afraid?" but she only nodded as Draco followed her out of the hallway that led to his bedroom.
As they stepped out of the hallway and into the living room she saw Ron and Hermione on the sofa wrapped up in a fairly heavy make-out session. She heard Draco behind her mutter, "It's fucking snogfest." Angela had a hard time containing her laughter, but instead she cleared her throat rather loudly. Ron and Hermione both looked up and blushed shades of pink, Ron much darker than Hermione.
"Sorry about that, Angela." Hermione said, getting up from the couch. "I hope you don't mind that we let ourselves in."
"Nope, not at all." Hermione gave Angela a hug, followed by one from Ron, who was eyeing Malfoy with something akin to disgust in his eyes.
"Please just get along!" she thought to herself, looking back and forth between the two. She knew that Draco had the infernal Malfoy pride to protect, so he wouldn't make the first move, and Ron had the maddening Weasley pride to keep up, so he wouldn't do it either. "Maybe Hermione." But even that didn't seem very likely after all that Malfoy had called her and done to her. What happened next surprised them all.
Draco took a step forward and put his hand out. "I'm sorry," he said in a quiet voice, looking right at Ron. Angela could see the sincerity in his eyes and she was sure that Ron could too. Ron had a wide-eyed look of surprise as he looked from Draco's face to his hand and back before taking the hand.
"Alright then." The two shook as if meeting for the first time. Hermione looked slightly happier, but Angela knew what she was thinking and thought it unlikely that Draco apologize twice in one day, but once again she was wrong.
He turned to Hermione and repeated his apology, looking sincerely apologetic for all that he had done. She nodded and took his hand, a shocked expression on her face.
Angela again breathed a sigh of relief for the second time that day and for the first time thought that this might not all blow up in her face. She looked at all of them and realized she had to show Ron and Hermione their rooms.
"Draco, could you help Harry in the kitchen? Make sure he doesn't burn anything. Oh, and taste the stuff, see if you like it. That way we can get something from the kitchens if you don't like it."
He nodded and headed in the direction of the kitchen. Angela turned back to Ron and Hermione who were watching him leave, still looking surprised.
"All right, why don't you bring your stuff to your rooms."
"Rooms?" Ron asked, looking at Hermione.
Angela laughed at his obvious implication. "Don't worry. They're connected…there's a door in between."
"Right. Is Harry's room down here?" Ron asked, looking down the hall they were walking down.
Angela laughed again. "No, he's sleeping in my room, Ron."
"Sleeping, right…" she heard Ron mutter behind her. Angela opened the second door in the hallway, which led to Ron's room. The room was decorated in Gryffindor colors and Angela again offered to change it if he wanted. Ron, unlike Draco, apparently never got tired of the same colors all the time and declined her offer. He walked over to the double glass doors leading to the balcony outside. "This place is huge!"
"Yeah, I know. Sometimes it gets too big. Here, Hermione, your room's through here."
She opened a door that led to another bedroom, just as large and well decorated, though Hermione leaned over and quietly asked her if she could change the colors.
"Sure, what would you like?"
"Well, I really liked that yellow and blue pattern you had last Monday."
Angela nodded and waved her hand, causing the colors to change around them. The room brightened considerably with the change in colors and Hermione smiled at the change.
"When you two get settled, or in about ten minutes, come to the kitchen. Lunch should be ready by then." They both nodded and Angela left the room smiling, knowing full well what they would do with their ten minutes, and it wouldn't be unpacking.
She reached the living room and heard laughter coming from the kitchen. She walked quickly towards it, thinking that either Draco or Harry had hexed the other and was now laughing at him when she heard a second voice laughing. "They're laughing together?" She slowed her pace and peeked in the door to the kitchen. She saw Harry and Draco laughing as they threw small pieces of food at each other. Angela couldn't help but smile at their games before she realized that it was lunch that they were throwing around. She stepped in to tell them to stop and was hit by a piece of turnips on her left eye.
"Oh! Shit. Angela, I didn't see you there." Draco ran over and tried to wipe the turnips off. Angela ducked away from him, wiping it from her own eyes. She turned back to them and they both had worried looks on their faces.
"I hope you don't think you'll get away with flinging lunch around my kitchen?"
They glanced at each other, both looking like schoolboys who knew they were in trouble. They shook their heads, looking down, again looking guiltily at each other, before grinning. Angela couldn't help but grin at them.
"Damn you two. All right. Clean this up. And be glad I'm letting you off. I was going to do Rictusempra on you," she added, seeing the looks on their faces. She walked over to the stove and saw that there was still plenty of food left.
"Did you taste it Draco?"
"Yes, ma'am. And it was delicious, just like I said it would be."
She turned and saw them waving their wands at the green spots that covered the walls and ceiling and cabinet. Angela spotted one on the side of the fridge and cleaned it herself asking, "How the hell did you guys get it there?"
At that they started laughing again and were still laughing when Ron and Hermione came in. Angela gave them a tired look and said, "Don't ask, please. Come over here and taste this stuff…" Ron shook his head looking at the other two boys while heading towards the stove.
All in all lunch was fairly uneventful, if you didn't count the food fight Draco and Harry started up again in the middle of it. This time they all got into it and by the time they were done all of the food was either on them or the walls. They had all liked the food, however and were upset that they had thrown it all away. "Don't worry, there's more in the pots. I always make too much anyway," Angela said, picking some tomato out of her hair.
Ron jumped up and grabbed some more turnips, about to throw it at Draco when Hermione yelled, "Stop!" All of the guys stared at her, Ron's arm in mid-swing and dripping greens. Angela just laughed.
"Thanks Hermione. If you three don't mind cleaning the kitchen, I think I'm going to go take a shower." Hermione nodded and they walked out of the kitchen, followed by the stares of the guys. Angela laughed again, joined now by Hermione.
"I haven't had this much fun since…well…fun like this…since Fred and George were here." Hermione got out, still laughing fairly hard.
"Well, it's been longer for me. I really am going to shower though. There's a bathroom in your room."
Angela headed to her own bedroom, thinking, "This is going to be fun!"
That night they all sat around the fire playing board games until the wee hours of the morning. Draco was getting along superbly with all of them, and Angela was glad for it. She also knew that there was a silent understanding that when the holidays were over nothing would be different outside of this room.
Angela and Hermione beat the guys soundly at Scrabble a few times before they decided that they wanted to play something different.
Angela looked at the clock and saw that it was one in the morning. "Well, maybe we should sleep. You know, that whole unconsciousness thing you're supposed to do when the sun isn't in the sky?"
"Aw, hell, Angela who needs sleep." Ron looked peeved at having just lost again to his girlfriend.
"I do, for one, and Harry's about to fall asleep over here too." Harry sat up at that, wiping the drool from the side of his mouth.
"I'm not falling asleep." He rubbed his eyes a few times, yawning.
"Sure you aren't. Go to bed Harry. I'm just going to clean up…I'll be there in a minute."
"Ok, Mum," Harry said, getting up and trudging off to their bedroom. Angela shook her head and waved her hand, cleaning the mess up. The others got up too and Angela said goodnight to them all before heading to her own bedroom.
When she got there she found Harry lying on top of the bed, comforters and all, fully dressed and fast asleep. She woke him and helped him get undressed before putting him in bed. As she climbed into bed next to him she had to smile at her luck for having such wonderful friends.