Chapter 34
Holiday Surprises
Feeling more content than he could ever remember feeling in his entire life, Draco took in the joyous sights around him. In the corner of their common room in the Founder's Hall a tall fragrant blue spruce was decorated with bright cheerful fairy lights and what appeared to be many ornaments made lovingly by a toddler's hand. Over the fireplace amongst the evergreens strung with gold ribbon and holly berries, someone had carefully hung stockings for each member of their family.
Draco walked over and tenderly examined each of the colorful garments, reverently tracing the name on each stocking with his finger as he gave thanks for each of them. Severus, Remus, Sirius, Nicole, his own name, followed by two smaller stockings for each of the twins. He paused, blinking tears back at the last name…Harry. The events of the past hours had changed everything. Suddenly the festive Christmas garlands became beacons of hope and peace instead of painful reminders of what wasn't likely to be. Inhaling deeply, Draco relished the strong fragrance of evergreen with a soft hint of peppermint and orange, exactly the way Christmas was supposed to smell.
It was only fitting that Harry would return to him on Christmas Eve, the most magical night of the year; the one night when the whole world rejoices in goodwill and hopes for a better future all due to the sacrifices of one.
A soft rustle of fabric from the stairway alerted him to the fact that he was no longer alone. Draco turned toward the sound and had to swallow hard to keep from laughing outright.
Harry was dressed in a bright red suit and looked to have put on a considerable amount of weight in the hour since he had gone upstairs to put the twins to bed. "Um Leo…any chance that you fried you brain when you burned?"
"Ha…ha…very funny, Dray," Harry replied ruefully looking down at his temporary impressive girth that actually did seem to resemble a great bowl full of jelly. With a wave of his hand, 'Santa Claus' summoned a large sack of presents.
Draco just shook his head as he watched Harry stumble across the room, his coordination clearly off as he struggled under the additional mass, to where the tree was displayed. Giving up the fight, Draco laughed hard when Harry tried to bend over to reach into the sack and lost his balance all together falling over onto the floor in a large heap.
Ignoring Harry's disgruntled look as the poor man thrashed about trying to stand back up, Draco couldn't help but tease, "Do you think Dumbledore felt the aftershocks up in his tower?" Not wanting to risk waking the twins, Draco bit the inside of his cheek to try to stop laughing. "And, how on earth did you manage to put those black boots on?"
"That's enough out of you." Harry panted from the great effort he was expending. "Why don't you do something constructive and help me?"
Bending down Draco extended his hand which Harry gratefully accepted. "You know, you could actually help put the gifts around the tree." Harry suggested slowly once he had righted himself, a little apprehensive about trying to reach into the bag again.
"What do I look like, an elf?"
A casual flick of Harry's finger later and Draco found himself dressed in a green felt tunic which was belted around his middle and worn over red tights. The outfit was complete with large pointed slippers bearing a jingle bell on the toe. Feeling a weight on his head, Draco was certain that if he dared to look into a mirror that he would also be wearing some sort of ridiculous hat. This, of course, was confirmed when Draco shook his head and was met with the distinct sound of more jingle bells. "Potter!"
"Well, now you look like an elf; so how about some help here?" Harry wasn't the least bit put off by his mate's annoyed growl. "And keep the noise down, the boys are sleeping, I don't want them to wake up and see us."
"And how does that make any sense? Didn't you dress up so that they could see you?" Draco paused as he took pity on Harry and reached into the sack of gifts. He was smart enough to realize that if he didn't help him unload the presents that they would be here all night, and to be honest, he had other more enjoyable plans on how they were going to spend the few hours they had left before the twins would undoubtedly wake them very early on Christmas morning.
"Or do you have some disturbing fat fetish that you haven't told me about? And what is it with you and hideous clothes?"
"Shut up Draco, its tradition."
"Tradition," Draco said incredulously, gesturing wildly at their attire. "You spend a few years across the pond and now this is a tradition?"
Draco immediately regretted teasing Harry when he saw the look of sadness that passed briefly over his exquisite face as he managed to retrieve a large wrapped parcel from the bag and place it gently under the tree so that the name tag and red bow were displayed properly. "You wouldn't understand, Dray."
Taking both of Harry's hands into his own, Draco drew the other man over to one of the large leather couches. Only after settling them so that they were curled up against each other, Draco whispered, "try me, I want to understand."
Harry sighed and closed his eyes; leaning back into Draco's warmth, he rested his head on Draco's strong shoulder. "Well, until I came here to Hogwarts as a first year, I had never been a part of a Christmas celebration, at least not that I can remember. As a child, Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon would lock me in my cupboard every year while they decorated the tree and sang Christmas carols. Vernon would dress up like Santa and they would have egg nog in front of the fire. Before Dudley went to bed that night, they would all sit together and read the story 'A Night Before Christmas'. They never included me in any of their holiday celebrations." Harry sighed as he remembered how he longed to be included, even just for a little while.
"Christmas morning before Dudley woke up Petunia would let me out from under the stairs for a short bathroom break before I was ordered to the kitchen to start preparing their Christmas morning feast. I would wait all night for that one split second I was able to catch a glimpse of the beautiful tree surrounded by a mountain of gifts. Every year I would pray that one of those hundreds of packages would have my name on it. Needless to say, it never did."
Draco tightened his embrace when Harry's voice cracked. 'Damn those Dursleys and damn Dumbledore too, Harry never should have been placed with those worthless muggles.'
"When I was old enough to realize that it didn't matter how good I was during the year, I still wasn't going to receive a Christmas present, I promised myself that when I was able to leave that horrible place I would start some of my very own traditions." Harry turned so that he was facing his love. "So you see, no matter how silly I look, this is important to me."
Thankful once more that Harry was able to no only survive his awful childhood, but somehow managed to become the strong, loving person that he was today, Draco nodded. "Well, if it means that much to you, I guess that I can tolerate looking like an elf for a couple of hours each year. But…how about we start some of our own traditions later?" Draco finished suggestively, rubbing a finger slowly up and down Harry's chest.
Relieved, Harry leaned forward and brushed his lips against the blonde's, "I wouldn't have it any other way."
Draco deepened the kiss, becoming quickly consumed in the hunger that overshadowed all other types of hunger. The primitive need to love and be loved in return and the physical expression of that union was almost overwhelming. It was only when Draco slid his hand between the buttons on Harry's Santa jacket and he felt not the toned firm lithe form that he knew by heart but a soft flabby tummy that Draco pulled back in surprise.
"Not that I don't want you, Harry," Draco fibbed unconvincingly. "But, I know two children who would be very disappointed come Christmas morning if there wasn't any toys under the tree for them. How about if we first play Santa, and then Santa can play?"
Harry grinned and rolled off the couch. Hand in hand, Santa and his elf filled the room with a small mountain of presents.
oOoOoOo
Almost finished with Santa's gifts, Draco sneaked away to find the holiday surprises that he had secreted away. When he returned to the room he watched as Harry finished laying out the last of the gifts from his sack and stood back to admire their efforts. It was truly astounding. Draco's breath caught in his throat at the image of Harry standing there surrounded by brilliantly wrapped Christmas parcels, the firelight and fairly lights from the tree both reflected in Harry's midnight colored hair, making it shine with a warm glow. He was so beautiful that if he didn't know better, Draco would swear that Harry was some sort of Christmas angel, sent to earth only as a blessed gift from God. Unaware that he was being observed, Harry began to hum.
Not recognizing the unfamiliar tune, Draco didn't want to interrupt but instead went to stand beside Santa. Memorized Draco watched as Harry licked his lips and softly began to sing completely a cappella.
The all too familiar sting of tears was back as Draco choked up listening as Harry sang, his voice taking on an unearthly quality. Damn, he was becoming an emotional sap, Draco thought as he wiped furiously at his eyes. Who would believe that a Malfoy could be this sensitive? But Merlin, this was just too much. Draco listened to the heartfelt words caught up in the waves of emotion being released. It was magical and compelling and Draco knew without a doubt that this Christmas was certainly going to be a Christmas to remember, for all parties. Feeling his presence, Harry turned and forest green once more caught and held sterling, communicating in a way that only two people who shared a single soul could.
Not sure he even was listening to the beautiful lyrics Draco was just caught up in the emotion that was pouring out of this amazing man before him. Small snitches of words circled around him faster and faster, seemingly filling his every pour and bringing his senses to the brink of being overloaded. Pushing down the overwhelming sense of joy, Draco thought he might have heard something about making dreams come true and snowy nights spent beside a warm fire. Harry really was too much.
'I love this man, I love this man…' At that moment in time Draco was incapable of any other thought. Draco felt his knees go weak, but before he could stumble, he was caught and supported. Arms of steel circled his waist protectively and drew him close.
Harry continued to sing. His words whispered against Draco's goose bumped skin, wrapping around his heart and tingling all the way down to his toes. All too soon Harry finished with a soft "All I want for Christmas is …you".
Taking a few moments just to embrace the essence of Harry, Draco eventually felt his soul that he could have sworn temporarily left his body to become one with Harry, return. Pulling back away slightly, Draco turned in his lover's embrace, "By Salazar, I swear, you are the most beautiful thing that I have ever seen."
"I love you, Draco. I love you more than life itself, you have to know that." Harry whispered his voice hoarse with desire; he too was caught up in the magic that surrounded them.
"I know, Harry. And I love you too, more than I ever believed it was possible to love someone. When I thought that…"
Draco's words were interrupted as his lips were lovingly captured and words became the least of his concern.
Knowing that he couldn't wait any longer to be properly reunited with his mate, Harry pulled away, shushing Draco's protest. "I need to make you mine, luv. Can we please take this upstairs?"
Even if Draco hadn't been on the edge of a full melt down earlier, those words alone would have done it. Unable to find the words, Draco nodded his assent.
Swept up into Harry's arms, Draco didn't even realize that they had ascended two flights of stairs and entered their bedroom until he was gently laid down on a cloud of pillows. Unwilling to waste even another second, a subtle flick of the wrist later and any barrier that had been between the two men was gone. Not only had their clothing been effectively removed, but Harry had restored himself to his 'pre-santa' condition, toned and firm.
Feeling a hunger that would never be satisfied, not even if they were able to spend many lifetimes together, Harry roughly pulled Draco to him and kissed him hard. He needed Draco as he had never needed him before; he needed to touch and be touched, to feel and be felt. He needed to reassure both his lover and more importantly himself that they were both still alive and that the nightmare that had constantly plagued him for longer than he cared to remember was over.
The desperate fire in his lover's kiss was unmistakable. It was overwhelming, burning hotter and faster until it was completely out of control. Afraid that if he didn't pull away soon that there wouldn't be anything left of himself, as he would have been completely and utterly consumed until the only thing remaining of Draco Malfoy would be ashes, Draco reluctantly pulled back, gasping for breath.
Reverently Draco softly kissed Harry's questioning eyes, and then his scar less forehead, all the while slowly stroking Harry's smooth cheeks with the lightest of touches, paying homage to the man before him. "I feel it too luv, I do", Draco reassured his mate, "but if we don't slow down a bit, I'm afraid I'll explode with everything I'm feeling right now."
Although the neediness was still there, the urgency was slightly diminished. "I love you," Harry whispered just before nipping gently at Draco's ear. "I will never have enough. There will never be a time when I will not want for you."
"Nor I you," Draco responded breathlessly. "Forever and always, you will be mine."
"Forever and always," Harry muttered, his lips pressed up against the pulse point in Draco's warm neck. Harry proceeded to worship Draco's body, inch by glorious inch, bringing the blonde to the heights of ecstasy, only to deny him fulfillment. Ignoring the pleading and begging, Harry reacquainted himself intimately with his mate's perfect body.
Finally at the breaking point, Draco knew he couldn't take anymore of Harry's loving caresses. Reversing roles and flipping Harry onto his back, Draco started his own tender explorations of the delightful landscape before him. Slowly his fingertips chartered the sensitive terrain, starting with Harry's mouth before moving in a southerly direction. Draco paused momentarily when his lips circled first one nipple and then the other as he teased the twin peaks with his teeth and tongue while his pointer finger played havoc with Harry's navel.
Only when Harry's pleasurable cries became more than Draco could bear, did he continue his way down his mate's torso. Settling himself between Harry' thighs, Draco continued his torment, running his fingernails a bit rough up and down Harry's ticklish sides, causing the other man to gasp and squirm.
Knowing that neither of them would last much longer, Draco ran his torturous finger along the top of the soft nest of Harry's pubic curls. He had gotten into the habit of tracing Harry's birth scar while they made love. This time however the skin felt slightly different; smoother. Curious, Draco raised his head from where he had been placing kisses along Harry's ribs and examined the area in question.
The skin was unblemished. The scar from the c-section when the twins were born and later from where Harry had been re-cut when he miscarried was gone. Angry at first that the symbol of the birth of his beloved children had disappeared, Draco raised his head and looked into Harry's happy face. The pure joy radiating from the man was palatable.
"Did the burning fix all of your scars?" Draco asked a little sadly, missing the familiar path that his fingers and lips had traveled so many times in the past.
"Yes, Dray. All the scar tissue is gone, both inside and out." Harry responded softly, but his eyes were twinkling brightly and Draco could tell that he was barely holding onto his excitement.
"Well, that's a good thing, I guess," Draco said, not sure he completely understood why Harry was so wound up over the removal of a few small scars.
Knowing what the next few minutes would mean to his partner, Harry sat up gracefully and took both of Draco's hands into his own. "Yes Dray, it's a very good thing. Do you remember why Nikki said that it would be practically impossible for me to conceive another baby after the fall?"
Draco frowned as he thought back to those terrifying moments when he realized that Harry was dying and then later when he recovered he remembered being heart broken when Nicole told him that they wouldn't be able to have any more children. "Nicole said that the miscarriage had left too much scaring…"
Draco didn't even finish his sentence as he finally made the connection between Harry's lack of scars and his abundant and overwhelming joy. If his external scars where healed then there was a great chance that his internal ones were also healed during the burning.
"You mean…you mean…a baby…we could have another baby."
Harry laughed as he wiped the excess saliva from his face as Draco had literally spit out the words. "I don't know for certain, but I feel pretty sure that we have a chance."
Thrilled, Draco gave Harry a hasty kiss before scooting out of bed and making for the door.
"And just where do you think your going?" Harry called stalling Draco's abrupt departure.
"I'm going to go get Nicole, so that she can examine you." Draco practically shouted as he opened the door.
Chuckling at Draco's response to the news, Harry couldn't help but tease. "As it is almost midnight on Christmas eve, don't you think she might be otherwise occupied? Besides, I don't think Sirius will appreciate it too much if you show up at her door at this time of night without a stitch of clothing on."
Draco blushed as he realized for the first time that he had been prepared to run to get Nicole without even bothering to put his dressing gown on.
"Come back to bed, luv; we have some unfinished business," Harry encouraged with a suggestive smile as he reached a hand out to his lover.
There was no choice, not really. Knowing that he would demand that Nicole examine Harry immediately after breakfast, Draco readily took his sole mates hand and settled back into bed. Their lovemaking resumed just as fiery as before but now with an added element of tenderness as they both realized what potentially could result from their activities.
oOoOoOo
Somewhere in the far distance the church bells sung out midnight and peace such as it hadn't known in many, many years settled across the world.
To be continued.
AN: This is only the first part of this chapter. It is however all that I have currently written. I wanted to post something in response to all the wonderful reviews and encouragement that I am constantly receiving. If it wasn't for all the support that this story and I have received, who knows how much longer it would be before I would have found the time to even finish this much. I am not completely happy with this chapter; let me know what you think.
This is unbeta'd and will be replaced with an edited version at some later date.
Important note: Additionally, I have had one reviewer who was upset by the fat references in this chapter. They reminded me that some of my loyal readers may be overweight and took a personal offense to this chapter. I am truly sorry about that. I in no way intended this chapter to make some 'thin is beautiful' statement. Please remember that this is Draco Malfoy talking and Harry isn't just a little overweight, he in the course of an hour gained over 100 pounds, as in looking like Santa Claus. While I may not personally agree with Draco's comments, I think that his observations are in character. Please forgive me if I have offended you, it was not my intent.