A/N: My, Christmas is approaching fast and I still haven't got presents for all my friends and family members. But I thought it was time for a Christmas chapter with lots of snow, cocoa, presents and fluff. So, merry Christmas! ^_^
@HeeroTomoe: I'm glad you like the story, my lone reviewer. ^_^ Well, Harry... I don't know how this idea got into my head. Probably because so people wouldn't wonder if he was in the story at all. Now, I hope this chapter is to your liking. ^_^
The Halloween ball was followed by a rather uneventful month and soon December was already there.
It turned out that Rhiannon and Draco would have the Slytherin dungeon all for themselves as no other Slytherins were staying over the Christmas holidays. Draco didn't mind, nor did Rhiannon. The two of them had come accustomed to sneaking into Draco's private room if they ever wanted a bit of time for themselves.
In the morning of December the 24th the two of them had conjured up some green and silver Christmas baubles, wreathes and faux icicles, with which they had decorated the common room. It now looked definitely more welcoming.
The next morning Draco was woken up by something heavy landing on his bed. He rubbed his eyes and opened them. It had not been his Christmas present that had arrived...
Rhiannon giggled gently. She was already dressed up for the day with a black pullover and a knee-length red plaid skirt.
"Good morning and a merry Christmas to you, Draco," she said happily and kissed him. "Oh, and here's one of your Christmas presents." She handed him something square wrapped with green paper and a silver ribbon.
"Thanks," he said. "Wait a minute." He turned to the side as good as he could without knocking Rhiannon off of him and opened the drawer of his bedside table. He took out his gift for Rhiannon that was wrapped in a similar way to the present she had just given him - in green and silver. She took it and they both unwrapped each others Christmas presents.
Soon it turned out that Rhiannon's present had contained a square box made of dark wood. But it was far too heavy for a box, so Draco opened it. He was right, there was something inside the box. He took it out and looked at it curiously.
It looked like a snowstorm globe. But that was where the similarity ended. The globe wasn't filled with water, artificial snow and a plastic snowman or something like that. As far as Draco could tell the globe was filled with air. On the ground lay a few dark stones and on those stones a silver miniature dragon was sleeping.
"It's really nice." Draco really meant it, but in his mind he added, 'If only I knew what it's supposed to be...'
"Good," said Rhiannon. "I made it myself. Originally it was a snowstorm globe, but I took out the snow and stuff and put this in it. It's works like a warning system. If there's anyone who wants to harm you, the dragon will wake up and spit fire and fly around."
Draco nodded. This was an amazing piece of work. He wondered how long Rhiannon had worked on this. He himself would have needed at least four months to work all the spells out... suddenly the present he had bought her seemed rather cheap...
"Thanks for your present, Draco," Rhiannon interrupted his thoughts. "I'll never take it off." She looked fondly at the little crystal hanging on the silver chain, that had been Draco's present.
Draco was somewhat relieved to hear that.
"And now, your second present." Rhiannon sat up straight and smiled. "For the next twenty-four hours you can do with me whatever you want."
He blinked. This was unexpected, to say the least.
"Does that mean I'll get to unwrap you too?" He asked after he had come over the initial shock and tugged playfully at Rhiannon's pullover.
"If that's what you want to do," she answered, still smiling. Now Draco started smiling too.
"Later, maybe. But for now... just stay here." With that he pulled her down to side and kissed her deeply. When he broke the kiss, she had her eyes closed and snuggled up to him.
Draco smiled again and then too closed his eyes. Only now that he held her fragile body in his hands, it occurred to him what power he had over her. That she submitted herself to him to this extend. It was something he would have never done. Not even for his parents, and he did almost everything they asked of him.
With these minds in his head he dozed off again.
Draco and Rhiannon came out of bed at around lunch. After Draco had dressed the two went up to the Great Hall. It was decorated like every Christmas with twelve big trees. Rhiannon admired the whole picture for some seconds before she sat down next to Draco. Again it was only one table, and Draco and Harry were having a glaring competition across the surface.
Rhiannon turned her head to the side and began chatting with a Ravenclaw girl, she had Herbology with.
All the chatter and glaring (although that was accompanied with insults and witty comebacks now) died down as Dumbledore entered.
"Merry Christmas," he said and beamed at the few students and teachers at the table. Then he turned around. "And please let me introduce our new Professor for Defense against the Dark Arts - Professor d'Arbanville." Dumbledore stepped to the side, so that everyone in the Hall could see the woman standing behind him.
Rhiannon's eyes widened. It was the woman from the clothing. The one, who had asked her, if she was a Hogwarts student. And almost predictably she felt the sharp pain again.
'Well, at least I know her name now,' she thought. 'd'Arbanville, somehow that sounds familiar...'
For the rest of lunch Rhiannon kept mostly silent and only talked, when she absolutely had to.
Rhiannon didn't know exactly how she managed to get through lunch, afternoon and dinner with the thought of Professor d'Arbanville always flitting in and out of her mind.
But that didn't matter too much to her now. It was almost eleven o' clock and she and Draco had made themselves comfortable in the common room with some hot cocoa and wrapping paper surrounding them. Their present lay on a neat pile next to them.
They themselves were sitting in front of the fire place on a rug with a thick blanket around their shoulders. She leaned against Draco and sighted.
"It should always be like this. Just the two of us," she murmured and closed her eyes.
"Hmm..."
The minutes passed and the silence was only interrupted by the crackling of the fire.
"Look, it's snowing," Draco said suddenly.
"I always liked snow... pretty... and soft..."
Draco stood up and Rhiannon opened her eyes again and looked up to him. He had an exited look on his face, almost like a child. She smiled.
"Let's go outside," he said eagerly. "We'll have to watch out for Filch and Mrs Norris, though."
Rhiannon nodded and stood up slowly. Draco already summoned coats and gloves for them. After they had put them on they snuck out of the castle, joking all while. Once they were out of the castle Draco took Rhiannon's hand and the two slowly went down to the lake.
While they were walking Rhiannon tried to catch some snowflakes. She caught three or four, but they always melted away in seconds. Still she laughed gently.
Draco smiled and finally the two stopped. He watched as Rhiannon caught an other snowflake with her hand and raised her hand up to her eyes to have a close look at it. He noticed only now that he had let go of her hand.
Suddenly he embraced Rhiannon tightly and buried his face in her shoulder. Just for a short moment he had thought about losing her - and he couldn't bear this thought. It wouldn't matter if his life would become like his father had planned it for him, right hand to Lord Voldemort and leading on the line of Malfoy, if Rhiannon wouldn't be at his side.
He looked up again and into Rhiannon's face. It shone in the moonlight and the snowflakes that were caught in her lashes and hair gave her an innocent air.
Slowly he brought his face nearer to hers and just before their lips met he whispered
"I love you."
A/N: Speaking of christmas presents - reviews. They are great Christmas presents, you know...? *hinthint* ^_^