Disclaimer: Am not Rowling, or a believer in any kind of magic except the magic of love. I do like suspending disbelief and pretending for a story's sake, so don't flame me for a little literary witchery, people! lol
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Chapter 21- Yule
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Blaise appraised her outfit in the wardrobe mirror. The flirty, short skirt with matching black halter top wasn't quite appropriate for a breakfast picnic. She chose a hot pink cashmere jumper and pulled it on. In the mirror, her reflection grinned.
Moving to the Louis XIV desk, she wrote a note. When Draco came looking for her later, he'd find it. She glanced at the Ormolu clock on the mantel. There was plenty of time to get downstairs to the library and Floo over to meet Terry. Closing the door, she headed for the stairs, singing quietly, "Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me."
After stepping out of the winery fireplace, Blaise looked around the transformed office. Today was the Winter Solstice, the day the sun stood still, and time really did feel suspended as she gazed at the faery lights floating around the room. The desk had been pushed to a far wall. In the centre, an enormous green circular blanket was encompassed by pots of small white flowers.
When she heard the door open, Blaise looked up to see her boyfriend entering with a picnic basket. Terry's brown hair was pulled back into a pony-tail. His eyes, against the navy roll neck jumper and denims, were incredibly blue.
He placed the items down onto the blanket and closed the distance between them. Cradling her face in his palms, he softly kissed her lips. "Happy Birthday, Baby. Surprised?"
Nodding, Blaise smiled tremulously, taking his hand and walking into the circle. "The faery ring, the lights...you...it's so beautiful."
The pleased smile on his face was beautiful too. "You like it?"
"I love it...I love you." Kicking off her shoes, she wrapped herself around him, trying to express her feelings with a kiss. It was very successful, because Terry's knees buckled, taking them both down to the blanket. Realising that the floor beneath her felt cushy, Blaise said when she was allowed to take a breath, "You used a comfort charm!"
Long strands that had been pulled free by her naughty fingers tickled as her boyfriend teased, "Pampered little rich girls don't lie on hard floors."
"This one would, to be with you."
Eyelids closed as lips met in a tender kiss that turned into a succession of kisses. Only the sound of Terry's stomach rumbling ended the snog. Laughing, they pulled apart and sat up.
Terry grinned. "I'm starving. It took forever to set this up and sneak to the village bakery."
Accepting a flute of cider and pronouncing it a 'very good year', Blaise broke off a bit of pumpkin-cranberry muffin and popped it into her guy's mouth before taking a bite herself. "Mmmm," she approved.
A peek into the basket made her smile. There must have been a dozen different kinds of muffins as well as basket of strawberries. Watching Terry eat half a dozen muffins before turning to the berries made her hungry for something more than food. Trying to appear casual, she tossed the cashmere jumper aside and reached over to pick up a berry and bring her boyfriend's attention to her nearly bare back.
He traced her spine with the tip of a finger and murmured, "Whose birthday is it anyway? I feel like it's mine, but I won't be seventeen until Summer Solstice."
Blaise shivered happily. "How do you feel about older women?"
Setting the basket aside, Terry drew her onto his lap. "I love older women, as long as they're you."
Her hands were a lot less subtle, tugging his jumper off and hurling it out of the 'faery ring.' Lying in his arms was the best present of all and she told him so. Blue eyes that had been closing as he trailed kisses down her neck opened abruptly. Stretching to pull a small box out of the basket, Terry handed it over, smiling at her surprise.
Inside the box was a heart-shaped locket on a fine chain. The jeweller's child immediately knew that it was sterling silver, Victorian, and expensive. The engraved star in the centre of the heart had a ruby set into it. The pure red colour of the jewel was so vibrant, and the locket so lovely, that Blaise had to press her lips together not to cry.
Terry fastened the chain around her neck with the heart resting underneath the hollow of her throat. Pressing the small catch, he opened the locket to show her the tiny picture of him on one side and a lock of his hair in the other.
"Oh, Terry, I..." She had to break off or start bawling.
Masculine lips curved. "I wanted you to know you have my heart. I wish you could live with me and be my love, and we (could) all the pleasures prove."
"First the breakfast, then the locket, now Shakespeare..."
His eyes twinkled. "I got that from one of my mother's poetry collections. It's Christopher Marlowe. Seems his buddy Shakespeare borrowed from him too. Of course, Marlowe probably borrowed that from someone else."
"I don't care who wrote it. I love the thought almost as much as I love you." Blaise said, "I knew something had happened that day I finally noticed you in Potions, but I never dreamt I could feel so much or fall so hard." She admitted, "My family isn't into touching or any kind of closeness. I didn't think I needed it until you came along, but now..."
Holding Terry so tightly she could barely breathe, Blaise was too choked up to continue. He seemed equally moved, letting his eyes and hands and lips express his emotions in kisses and caresses.
Eventually tearing himself away, her boyfriend covered his closed eyes with both forearms as he lay beside her. Finding her jumper, she put it back on. She picked up Terry's shirt, admiring the view for another moment before saying with a regretful sigh, "Here's your jumper, sweetie."
"Thanks."
She helped pack up the basket and started to bring the faery lights down.
"I'll do it," Terry said, quickly lowering the lights back into a box before transfiguring the dozens of potted flowers back into one large arrangement that he placed on his father's desk.
The blanket magically folded into a handkerchief-sized cloth and was placed in the box with the lights and stored in a closet. Once he'd moved the desk back into its usual position in the room, they sat on the sofa holding hands. Blaise resisted the temptation to do anything other than talk.
He asked, "How are you going to celebrate the rest of your birthday?"
Blaise stopped kissing each individual finger on his hand--she considered it a present to herself--to reply, "Luna and Ginny are Flooing from Lovegood House to spend the day with us. We're going to make all kinds of Yule stuff before I drag everyone into the woods to get holly and the Yule log before dinner."
He looked amused by her enthusiasm. She smiled and touched her locket. "The ruby is one of the stones of Yule. It's a stone of love, passion and promise of heart." His smile was so boyishly sweet. Blaise almost threw herself at him and snogged him silly.
Terry said, "I looked for blue topaz, but I saw this and the lady at the antique shop said the ruby was December's mystical birthstone. It's supposed to open the heart to love, so I had to get it." He pulled her hand and body into his arms. Snogging had never seemed less silly.
"Terry?"
The couple jumped apart. Standing slightly behind her boyfriend, Blaise peeked over a broad shoulder while listening to the conversation.
"What do you think you're doing, brother?"
"None of your business, David."
"It became my business when my girlfriend found a silver earring between the cushions of that sofa last night and accused me of cheating on her. I told Angie it was your girl's and she came over this morning to ask Mum and Dad if Blaise is going to be at the Christmas Eve party so she can return it. I saw the lights flickering up here and figured you were fooling around again." The older Boot's face looked a lot like Terry's. His eyes weren't as blue, though, and he wasn't as handsome, with a broader build and short hair.
Terry frowned. "What did the folks say?"
"Don't know, but I think you need to come find out. Say goodbye and owl her later. No offence, Blaise."
Terry told his brother he'd be right down and closed the door in David's face. He walked her over to the fireplace. "I guess this is one birthday you won't forget. I really did want it to be special."
She twined her arms around his neck. "It was special. The most special birthday I've ever had. I'm never going to want to take the locket off."
Somehow, the brief, soft kiss she meant to give turned into a long, ardent one. A knock on the door reminded her Terry had parents to talk to. She had people to see also. After blowing a kiss and promising to mirror later, she Flooed back to Malfoy Manor.
Stepping out of the ostentatious marble fireplace in Wiltshire, Blaise ran upstairs and changed into a swimsuit. She needed either exercise or a cold shower, and swimming was far more enjoyable.
Not wanting to lose the necklace, she reluctantly undid the clasp and placed it by her precious mirror. Downstairs, a side corridor lead to the indoor pool converted out of a sunroom and conservatory.
Inside, the sound of the pool shower halted her steps. From behind a potted palm, she saw Draco, in a black Speedo, running his hands through platinum hair as the water streamed down his body. Quicker than a house-elf chugging butterbeer, Blaise backed out of the chamber and ran upstairs to take a cold shower.
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Luna stirred a pot of porridge and smiled at the man frowning over the competition's 'rag' at the breakfast table. She served him a bowl, adding raisins, brown sugar and cream, just the way he liked it.
Munching on a rasher of bacon, the Quibbler editor returned his daughter's smile and picked up his mug of coffee. "Where are you off to today?"
"Malfoy Manor. It's Blaise's birthday, and I'm going to Floo over and return after dinner." She didn't mention that Ginny Weasley was coming too. Luna didn't trust her father not to casually let it drop to his cousin Arthur.
Shrewd blue eyes softened. "I'm glad you're not going to be alone today, sweetheart. You and your mother always spent Yule together doing all that girl stuff that looks and tastes so good."
"I'll bring us back some cookies and a holly wreath."
'Lunatic Larry' Lovegood grinned. "Do that. Especially the cookies. I love Yule cookies."
"You love all cookies."
Slightly protuberant male eyes narrowed. "If you expect Father Christmas to fill your stocking with something other than switches, Miss Cheeky, you'll keep him stuffed with cookies."
She giggled. "We've already bought them, and anyway...what kind of Father Christmas makes children go shopping to purchase their own presents?"
"A smart one, who never has to stand in a return queue."
Slightly protuberant female eyes twinkled. "You're so brilliant, Daddy."
Her father, raring to Floo to work and rip someone's head off for not scooping the 'Non-Prophet' on some story or other, winked as he headed for the library. "Father Christmas just put you at the top of the nice list, young lady."
Humming 'Have yourself a Harry little Christmas,' Luna waved her wand to clean the kitchen before drifting off to wait for Ginny to arrive.
Inside the library, a redhead appeared in her fireplace carrying a brown paper sack. "Had to hide the presents. I told Mum I was cheering you up by spending Yule doing crafty things." Brown eyes sparkled. "I didn't lie, even if I did stretch the truth like a Slytherin."
Luna replied, "Must be all that stretching you do to kiss Draco. Paid off, has it?"
"You're so funny I forgot to laugh. Ready to leave?"
Lips still curving with amusement at her own humour, Luna nodded and passed Ginny the Floo powder. As she listened to the other girl say 'Malfoy Manor' in a clear voice, she thought smugly that Harry enjoyed her dry humour.
Wesley did too.
Her reflection in the mirror above the mantel frowned. She was wearing an amethyst jumper and jacket, but she refused to believe her choice meant anything other than a partiality for blue eyes...no, the colour blue. Exasperated, Floo powder was thrown with an angry motion.
The Malfoy library was just as magnificent and daunting as Luna had thought it would be. The walls of books didn't look like the kind she'd like to read, however. One title, How to Make Minions and Influence Others caused her to prudently decide not to peruse any more.
To her relief, Blaise bounded into the room wearing a red jumper that actually covered her entire torso. "Come on, there's so much to do and no time to waste. I sent the love-birds off. Snogging over cookies makes them sickeningly sweet, so it's just you and me, mate, until lunch."
Luna noticed the heart-shaped silver locket the other girl wore. "That's a lovely necklace. A birthday present?"
A dreamy smile accompanied the nod. "From Terry. He made me breakfast in a faery ring. He was beautiful."
"I think your boyfriend's really handsome, Blaise, but I don't know if I'd say he was beautiful."
The dreamy smile widened. "I meant the breakfast, the locket... His picture and hair are inside." Blaise laughed. "Oh, who am I kidding? You don't have to agree, loony, but I do think Terry is beautiful. Quit snickering and follow me to the kitchen. It's got enormous medieval ovens. When I wouldn't sit on Lucius' lap one Christmas, he cornered me and whispered they were used by his ancestors to roast cheeky little girls in."
Thankful the nasty man was in Azkaban prison and not slithering around marbled halls looking for 'cheeky little girls' to do vile things to, Luna followed her friend to the kitchens. A house-elf had been busy arranging all the ingredients they'd need on a massive work table in the centre of the room. Taking off her jacket, she took out her wand.
Seeing the rod, Blaise looked appalled. "Put that down! We're doing things the old fashioned way, with our own two hands!"
"But your house-elf will bake them magically in an instant. That's not old fashioned."
"Fat lot you know. People way back when had elves too." Waving a hand, Blaise said, "Will you light the candles in the centrepiece for me while I put on some music? I've got to have the atmosphere just right to get a Yule groove on."
Watching an Orpheus ball spin to engage the projection charm and play what sounded like an Icelandic Christmas Carol, Luna noticed the small oak branch in the middle of the table. It was used as a base to hold three candles, red, green and white. Sprigs of holly surrounded the branch. The sight made her happy and sad at the same time. Her mother used to arrange a Yule centrepiece too. The nostalgic girl watch the wicks ignite with a bittersweet smile.
Blaise noticed and said, "Take that home with you tonight. It's a good substitute for a Yule log, and the holly will invite good fortune to visit you."
"Do you really believe that?"
"No, but it's nice to follow traditions, feel connected with something. Yule is cool."
Luna agreed, and enjoyed making every kind of cookie imaginable by hand even more than she had anticipated. She boxed a set for her father and a larger one for Ginny's family. Blaise nibbled on a caraway cake while they drank cider and looked proudly at the table loaded down with their handiwork.
After the girls helped Drinky clear and store everything away, a new set of items appeared on the table. The ingredients were extremely aromatic. Luna picked up a flagon to sniff and set down before picking up another item, and another. Frankincense, pine needles, cedar, and juniper berries became Yule incense, while cinnamon, clove, mandarin, popine, frankincense and myrrh oils were eventually combined into Yule Oil.
Once they completed their latest project, Blaise said, "Rub a little oil on your pressure points tonight, Luna, and you'll have lovely dreams."
The girls decided to do an experiment and apply a couple of drops to their wrists to see if lovely daydreams would come. After the pair giggled madly for a few minutes, Blaise stared off with a smile that reminded Luna of Wesley's--naughty and nice at the same time.
She looked at the holly around the oak centrepiece and remembered her mother telling her the story of the Holly King and the Oak King who battled twice a year to rule the world and win the Spring Maiden. At the Winter Solstice, as the waxing sun overtook the waning sun, the Oak King, representing light and life, won the battle against the Holly King of death and darkness.
Luna's eyes became heavy as her mind drifted off to an ancient time.
The Spring Maiden watched the dark King fall and the golden Ruler laugh triumphantly as he left the body of his vanquished foe and strode toward the maiden with flowers woven into the long, blonde braids on either side of her face. As the Oak King's arms encircled her trembling body, she knew the Holly King wasn't truly dead, but she couldn't think about him now, standing so close to the man who made her heart race. Bright blue eyes burned as they travelled the length of her body and the Oak King's dimpled smile drew ever closer to the lips that ached to explore his mouth in a passionate kiss.
"Luna, you okay? I don't know about yours, but that daydream of mine was bloody amazing. Terry and I were floating above the faery ring...Luna?"
Blinking, the dazed girl nodded and then shook her head, saying, "I'm not going to take any of that oil. I don't want those kinds of dreams." Although she smiled when Blaise joked that she was going to bathe in it, Luna immediately rushed to the stone sink to scrub off any trace of oil that remained her skin.
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The moment Ginny awoke Yule morning, she smiled. She was spending the entire day with Draco and the thought was so exciting she felt like doing a happy dance. So she did, right on top of her bed. What the girl lacked in agility, she made up in enthusiasm. Snickering, she hoped Harry was already awake.
She jumped down with a satisfyingly loud thud and ran across the room to her wardrobe. Opening its doors made her frown.
Her face twisted unhappily. As usual, she had nothing to wear. She might have clothes suitable for hanging out with brothers or visiting old people in a nursing home, but not one single item was trendy, new, or sexy. About to reach for the standard black jumper, she noticed a rectangular box on the floor of the wardrobe. It definitely hadn't been there yesterday. Wondering, who in the world, Ginny lifted the lid. Inside was a note.
I hate it when I accidentally buy clothes in the wrong size and colour. Take them off my hands would you? B
Two items lay wrapped in tissue underneath the note. One was a white top made of some stretchy material her mother would term fit for a 'scarlet woman.' The other was a soft green V-necked poncho with the cutest fringe. After running to the loo, Ginny pulled on denims before slipping the top on. Brushing her hair, she checked herself out in the mirror.
Blaise's words from Quidditch practice came to her, making her say laughingly, "Lookin' good, Weasley!"
"You're not wearing that out in public, are you?"
Ignoring her brother's look of wrath while applying eye liner, a puff of powder and lip gloss was a challenge, but Ginny was up to it. She lifted the poncho and lowered it carefully before replying, "I'm going to Luna's to do Yule things with her today. There won't be a single boy at her house. Happy, O brother who thinks he's my keeper?"
Ron looked relieved, the simple soul. She hadn't promised to stay at Luna's had she? She was becoming Slytherin and she loved it. Almost as much as she loved...juice, she needed to grab some orange juice before she left. She was too edgy to eat.
Downstairs, Ginny poured herself a drink in the kitchen, smiling at her father and Harry. They told her she was looking very pretty. Well, her father said that while Harry nodded and smiled in agreement. That meant she was bloody gorgeous, didn't it?
Her mother sang a different tune. "That's a...nice...poncho, Ginevra dear. I used to wear one myself, but I must say, mine didn't hang off a shoulder and show a top that was..."
Thankfully, Dad cut in. "Your mother's right, Ginny. She never wore a proper top under her poncho. Tube top or nothing, isn't that what you used to say love?"
"Arthur Weasley, how dare you say such things in front of impressionable children?"
Her father's wink at his irate wife made his daughter giggle. Her brother and friend looked horrified. Hilarious to think Mum a wild child...the woman was anything but now...or was she? Children didn't get plucked from under cabbage leaves, no matter what Ronnikins might think. Seven children meant a whole lot of...Merlin; her watering eyes were going to ruin her makeup if she didn't yank her mind off its disturbing and disgusting path.
Ginny threw out desperately, "I hope Luna will be cheered up by all the Yule things we're going to do today."
Her family's sympathy for the motherless girl distracted everyone from her new clothes until right before she picked up a handful of Floo powder in preparation to leave. Forehead creased in suspicious thought, Ron asked, "Where'd you get the new clothes?" He looked at Harry, who shook his head.
"Wasn't me."
Smiling sweetly, Ginny said before she threw the powder and left, "From the best mate of your favourite Slytherin."
After a brief stop at Luna's, she walked out of the fireplace at Malfoy Manor. The appalled expressions of her two favourite hypocrites flashed into her mind again, making her smile even more brightly at the boy waiting to pull her into his arms.
She dropped her bag and returned his kiss, running her fingers through that beautiful hair while melting against his muscular body that looked so good in a silky long-sleeved grey tee and black jeans.
Breaking his lock on her lips, Draco stepped back and raised a white-blond brow. "Potter didn't pay for that outfit, did he?"
Her Dragon was almost as sexy steaming with indignation as he was being steamy. Ginny laughed. "No, your shopaholic mate did. Are you complaining?"
Chiselled lips looked even more perfect smirking. "Not likely. Blaise bought me this shirt and new dragon-hide boots for Yule."
Duly admiring black boots that her brothers would drool over, the girl glanced around the library and said, "Interesting decor. Is the rest of the place like this?"
"You mean dark and depressing? Some of it. I'll show you around. Blaise said to meet for lunch, complained we'd ruin the cookies with too much sugar or something, so I'll give you a tour of the kitchen last."
Slipping an arm around her waist, Draco led her out of the library she would've called eerie and evil, and into a marbled corridor. He gave her a dry, amusing spiel on which period or which ancestor or what artist as they went from one beautifully decorated room to the next.
Ginny could tell that, sarcasm aside, Draco loved his home but hated his dark family history. He was also incredibly conflicted about his parents. She couldn't really relate. It was sad to think of despising her mum and dad as much as she loved them. Trying not to let her pity show on her face, she tried to open a door. It was locked.
White teeth that really knew how to nibble flashed. "That's Blaise's room. We've got wards on the doors to keep unwanted visitors out. Come try this door."
He led her to another room further down the corridor. She tried the knob. The door opened right away. Inside the room, she noticed all the accents, from bed linens and hangings to the robe tossed over the back of a chair, were black. Running her hand along the silky counterpane on the bed, she turned to find Draco's quicksilver gaze close to hers.
Startled, she took a step back and found her back flat on the mattress with eyes, now the colour of rain clouds, staring into hers only millimetres away. Trying to appear nonchalant, she asked, "Your room, I suppose? Is that why I was able to open the door?"
The lips she was trying hard not to stare at so obviously hovered tantalizingly out of reach as he smiled that smug, Slytherin, smile that drove her out of her mind...in a good way. Ginny glared her intent to stay like this all day before she'd make a move. He liked being in control way too much and it wasn't good for him.
Long, delicious minutes passed as he pressed himself into her increasingly restive body. Noticing that Draco was supporting his weight with his arms so considerately, Ginny finally gave herself permission to pull his head down to hers.
After he rolled away, breathing heavily, Ginny laughed when Draco told her his home had too many rooms with beds, sofas, and flat surfaces. They needed to go outside. She slid off the bed and held his hand as he led her downstairs to a side door. Regretfully, Ginny reminded him that her poncho was more for looks than warmth. He pressed a wall panel that slid back to reveal a closet full of coats and jackets of every description.
"Mother, Eddy, and Blaise all have a collection of outerwear. Pick something."
Remembering that she was rich in love if not material possessions, and envy was wrong, Ginny picked out a vintage shearling coat, wishing she had a Western hat to go with it.
Her boyfriend grinned and snagged a matching jacket. He pulled down a couple of black hats, telling her they were charmed to stay on until taken off. Placing the smaller one on her head, he smiled. "Blaise and I saw a couple of Yank tourists in getups like this last year and decided we'd look even better dressed in Wild West. I'm a thinkin' you make a mighty purty lil' cowgirl too, Red."
"Thanks." Grinning over the contrast between his bad Yank accent and how good he looked in the rugged coat and hat, she followed him out to the stable where he'd begun storing his broom. He told her he liked to fly in the mornings and tried to sneak out without disturbing anyone.
He handed her a broom, performed Disillusionment and warming charms and said, "Giddyup!"
Following his lead, Ginny was amazed at the beauty of the Salisbury Plain. Sitting beside Draco atop Stonehenge, watching the tourists, she leaned over to whisper in the ear that begged her to breathe into it, "The people who built this must have been early Gryffindors. They were so bold."
He just grinned and shook his head before tipping his hat and suggesting they 'mosey on back to the corral'. Racing him back was thrilling. Maybe flying on the count of one instead of three was technically cheating, but a Slytherin should appreciate that, shouldn't he? Even more thrilling was being pulled off her broom and 'punished' for her trickery with kisses after she won.
Back inside, they removed outerwear and strolled into the informal dining room, which cosily sat twenty. Blaise and Luna sat on one end of the table while the mothers sat at the other.
Mrs. Zabini called out, "Blaise, darling, your other little friend's arrived." Waving a flute of champagne, the frizzy haired woman smiled brightly, told the girl to call her 'Eddy', and went back to perusing a selection of 'nibbly things' on her plate.
Narcissa raised a haughty brow and glass in acknowledgement before turning her attention back to her friend and her liquid lunch. The pair walked down to where Ginny sat between Blaise on the end and Draco on her right.
Across the table, Luna smiled. "Hello, Ginny. We had a nice time making Yule things. I boxed up loads of cookies for you to take home."
Blaise giggled as she ladled soup from the ornate tureen into bowls and waved to a plate of sandwiches. After inviting everyone to help themselves, she murmured, "Only nice? Luna, I'm hurt. That oil was absolutely fabulous."
Eyes narrowing, Luna warned the two dipping their spoons into French Onion soup, "That Yule oil of hers should be outlawed. If a couple of drops produce indecent daydreams like...well, I don't even want to imagine what dreams would come from more of it. Don't let her push a bottle on you."
Glancing sideways, Ginny smiled to see Draco's eyebrows waggle. Turning to Blaise, she asked, "May I have Luna's bottle too?"
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Draco watched his best friend and girlfriend snickering together at Luna's disdain over their interest in 'lovely dreams' and didn't know how his day could get any better. He found out after lunch.
When his mother tried to slink away, Draco reminded her of their outing.
She rolled her eyes and muttered, "Oh, Whatever, darling. I live to traipse into the forest."
Eddy whined to her daughter, "What's it all about, sweetie, this unhealthy interest in Yule and communing with bloody nature, darling. Do we really need to tramp into the wilderness to ruin our manicures gathering holly and dragging some gods-awful rustic log into the house? Can't we just have Drinky pop them here for us and finish off the beluga and champers?" The silly woman opened her puppy-dog eyes wide and bit her lip as she sidled up to her daughter and looked up entreatingly into her amused face. "I'm sorry if it sounds selfish, darling, but all this ceremony and ritual thingy is so much bloody work sweetie. Wouldn't you like to go shopping instead?"
"Like a normal girl?" said Narcissa. The steely look she received quickly closed her mouth.
Blaise informed the women, "This is our celebration, and we want to go into the bloody woods, cut some bloody holly, roll the bloody Jul wheel, and levitate the bloody Yule log back home where we'll have dinner, do the bloody lighting ceremony and open gifts...is that bloody clear to you?"
Eddy's lower lip was sticking out in a pout as she nodded.
Narcissa, over by the sideboard pouring Vodka into a flask, said with a sneer, "As bloody crystal."
A short while later, Draco and Ginny brought up the rear as Blaise and Luna blazed ahead in their red and blue coats. Behind them, Eddy and 'Cissy' stumbled along in their matching leopard print hooded jackets. Ginny, in a black fur-trimmed coat that was a twin to Blaise's red one, smiled quizzically up at him. "Do you do this stuff for you or for Blaise?"
He smiled back. "I used to do it for her, and because it's amusing to watch the mothers stagger through the woods, but the last couple of years I've found I actually like this tradition stuff. Why?"
"Just wondered. I'm glad I got to see this side of you."
"I look good from all sides."
His girlfriend shook her head, but she didn't deny it. How could she? About to kiss Ginny in front of anyone who cared to look, his head stopped its descent when Blaise called, "We went ahead and gathered the holly, but we're not rolling the wheel without you. Get over here now!"
Pulling Red by the hand, Draco explained as they walked toward the little group on a hill overlooking a small pond, "The sun was said to be the wheel in the sky and Jul is the season of the wheel." Winking, he confided, "We pick out the bits we like best from Norse and Celtic traditions and wing it, really. See that wheel of dry wood the girls are steadying? We'll set it on fire and let it roll down into the pond, like the Norse did. Don't ask me why. Then we'll go get the Yule log and bring it home. Someone always gives us an ash log—since it's never supposed to be bought—and one of the elves whisks it out here for us to find."
The girls, younger and older, all looked excited when he prepared to light the 'wheel.' As the flames began to engulf the rolling wood, Eddy and Sissy sang the song they called 'our contribution to your little fun'. Draco smiled at the shock on Ginny and Luna's faces as he and Blaise joined in with Wheels on fire...
Overall, his girlfriend seemed to enjoy the traditions, even if she giggled nervously while participating in lighting the Yule log after dinner. Ginny and Luna placed greenery around the massive log lying in the lounge fireplace. The mothers doused the log with cider and ale, griping about the criminal waste of alcohol. Blaise used a wheat stalk to dust the log with flour. Finally, he took a piece of wood saved from last year's ash and lit the Yule log. Luna explained to Ginny the meaning behind the ritual...celebrating life's triumph over death and bringing the sun's light into the hearth and home.
Sitting between his two favourite girls on the sofa, Draco rubbed his hands in anticipation at the sight of Yule presents. His mother had gone overboard with designer clothing, as usual, and he thanked her with a kiss on the cheek. The Birthday-Girl did the same with her mother.
Idly curious, he asked Blaise the title of her book from the not-so-loony girl.
"The Curious Lore of Precious Stones. It's great. I can look up rubies."
Curling his lip at the necklace from Terry-Boy, Draco handed a box to his friend. Her dark eyes sparkled as she lifted up a pair of delicate ruby earrings in the 'pigeon's blood' hue matching the small ruby set into her locket.
"Gorgeous, a genius, and generous too. You are truly a god, Frey."
The smacking kiss Blaise planted on his cheek made him grin. Ginny's quiet question made his smile falter. "Why do you call Draco Frey?"
Before he could think of an answer, Luna said, "Frey is a Norse god, "the Lover" god of Yule, peace and prosperity. His twin was Freyja, the goddess of love and war."
Blessing the matter-of-fact and edited summary, he smiled, feeling the same relief he heard in Ginny's voice. "Oh...brother and sister...that's nice."
Blaise quickly grabbed her present from Ginny and exclaimed over the red cap and mittens inside. "You made these yourself? That's brilliant!"
Draco was surprised when Ginny handed him a present. It was a handmade black jumper. He lifted it up while she said anxiously, "I'm not the best, but I thought about how good you look in black, and I hope you like it."
Standing abruptly, he ignored the mothers who said they were toddling off to bed, disregarded Luna's murmur that she would help clear up and meet Ginny back in her library. Sparing a single glance for Blaise, who winked, he dragged his girlfriend out of the room and into the first empty chamber he could find. Pressing Ginny against the closed door, Draco proceeded to show her he didn't just like it, he loved it.
Much later, he returned to the lounge and stood in the doorway watching Blaise hum while performing a comfort charm on the carpet in front of the hearth. Sauntering into the room and planting himself down beside her, Draco nudged her pyjama-clad shoulder with his own. "You sound sentimental. Been talking to Girly-Locks, Freyja?"
"Yes, Frey. I'm going to spend Christmas Eve with his family."
He tried to be happy for her, but he felt too sorry for himself at the thought of being stuck all alone with nothing to do but read a bloody book. Low, soft laughter received a glare. Did she think it was funny?
Blaise waved a flagon in front of him. "See this? I didn't tell you before, because that would've ruined the surprise, but that Hufflepuff sold me two Unmemorable Potions. We'll get Drinky to pop over to Gerd's...Ginny's...with a Memory Enhancer, and you'll Floo over and spend the day. Her father has a fireplace connected to the network in his workshop. What do you think about that?"
"I think this is the best Yule ever and making you my best mate the smartest thing I ever did." Lying side by side, they grinned at each other and then turned their attention to the fire. Watching it burn and sleeping before it was something the friends did every year, although he usually slept on a sofa. This year, he planned to stay right where he was. Thinking about her twelfth birthday, the one he had thought she had forgotten, Malfoy laughed abruptly.
Dark eyes smiled, although she asked calmly, "What?"
"I just remembered...you were the one who came up with the 'Eternal Friendship Spell.' He chuckled at the memory of what happened years ago. Their newly co-dependent mothers had arbitrarily decided to throw a joint Yule/Birthday party for their 'darling babies' that year at the Malfoy's London home. Blaise had pouted in the library the entire day. She'd wanted her parents to spend time, not money. He hadn't minded. It was more attention for him.
Marcus Flint giving him a doll for a Yule present, sneering to everyone that it was the only girl Draco Malfoy would ever get close to, had thankfully come at the end of the party. He had sulked and brooded after that—refusing to eat cake or play with anyone. Eventually, he wandered into the darkened library and sat in a chair opposite Blaise.
After he told her what had happened, she asked, "Are you that upset because of what he said?"
"No. It's just that I shouldn't have to take shite from Flint or anyone else."
"What would you do to get close to one?"
"One what...a girl...? I don't know...Malfoys dare anything...why, you offering?"
"Yes."
He stared. The girl who bloodied Parkinson's nose for trying to kiss 'him' before break was serious. He smirked. Wanted him like every other female, did she? He followed Blaise upstairs into an empty chamber. Curtains fluttered on each side of the opened windows. A circle of candles illuminated the room. Walking inside the circle, he watched in disbelief as the girl took off her top. Blaise had obviously known about everything already and done all this because she'd known what he'd do. The girl was more Slytherin than he had thought.
She pointed her wand at him. "Take off your shirt too."
The situation was bizarre, but bloody interesting, and he would dare anything.
Blaise explained, "I'm not trying to do anything but be your friend. If we cast this spell, we'll be friends forever. Do you want that too?"
Blaise was a girl, but she was smart, easy to talk to, and her parents were as lousy as his were. It would be nice to know someone would always be there for him...be a real friend. What the hell, he would do it. Draco nodded and took off his shirt.
They stared at each other as the night breeze made the candles flicker. She waved her wand in four directions and said some sort of chant.
Using a letter opener from his father's desk to prick her finger, she placed it into his mouth. Reflexively, he sucked the blood away. She drew blood on one of his fingers and drew the digit between her lips.
Placing her hands on his shoulders, Blaise said solemnly, "Good or bad."
Brown eyes stared impatiently until he placed his hands on her shoulders and repeated, with a roll of his, "Good or bad."
"Right or wrong."
"Right or wrong."
"Flesh and blood."
"Flesh...nice flesh, too...Ow...all right...and blood."
"Make friends lifelong."
He liked the way that sounded. "Make friends lifelong."
A strong gust of wind blew into the room and extinguished the candles. After a long moment of utter darkness, the candles relit. It was creepy and very cool. He grinned, knowing he was going to enjoy having Blaise as a lifelong friend.
When their mothers had staggered into the room, Edina accepted his 'playing healer' excuse with drunken concern. His mother had sneered at the girl dragging on her top, receiving a formidable glare in return. Following her mother downstairs, Blaise had tersely said, 'see you' before telling her mother to 'hang on, damn it' and guiding their broomstick the short distance home. Eddy had been ranting about performing a Memory Charm the moment they got back.
All this time, he had thought her mother had erased the memory...and she let him think it. His best mate was a very smart girl.
His smile widened at something never considered. "That chant, and the rhyming thing you made up for us to say was bloody damn good for a twelve year old."
Big, serious eyes looked straight into his. "I didn't make it up. I found it in an old book hidden inside another text in your father's library."
"But that means...the wind...and the candles...and the spell...really…."
"Yeah. Are you okay with that?"
He stared, realising how much their friendship meant, and how glad he was that it would last forever. "Yeah."
Blaise rested her head against his chest while he stroked his fingers through her curls. He stared into the flames and thought about how bizarre, weird, and very cool life was. Suddenly, he chuckled.
Draco felt and heard her smile. "What?"
"I think this better be another one of our take-it-to-the-grave secrets. Don't think Terry-Boy would appreciate it like I do."
"Ginny either."
"Oh, yeah."
"Yeah."
As the Yule log burned, the friends drifted off to sleep.
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A/N: The fab four were very active this chap, and I had to have my ABFAB-ish mums and put the title to the theme song in too! I hope you enjoyed all the Yule/birthday celebrations. Next chap is Christmas Eve, so brace yourself, Bridget, for an even longer chapter...I do lurve me some Fred and George, and Ron, and Harry, and Terry, and oh my, Draco really outdoes himself...lol! Remember it's the Christmas season people (or that I'm a very needy person all you reading at another time of year!) and give the gift of a review.