Chapter 63
"The werewolf?" Blaise asked incredulously, wiping a tear of laughter out of his eye. "I mean I knew his name started with an R from his monogram, but I only ever heard him called Professor Lupin really... No wonder she liked it so much when I..." He suddenly stopped himself and smirked at Draco, his cheeks coloring, "You're probably not the best person to discuss this with..."
Draco just held up his hand in a warding gesture, "Thank you very much for picking up on that fact so quickly!" He said, still chuckling. "I know she mentioned thinking he had a cute arse or something, but I just thought that was the alcohol talking. Never thought she was that into him..."
Ginny squeezed through her siblings and finally managed to reach Draco. She slipped her arms around his neck. "There's my irresistible little Veela boy!" She giggled.
He grinned at her, relieved that she didn't seem upset or disconcerted by the revelation about his mixed blood. He automatically slipped his arms around her waist. She glanced around, then shifted her head closer, "Looks like they're all good and distracted... I think we were having a discussion..." She said, fluttering her eyelashes at him smirkingly.
He chuckled and quickly reclaimed her lips. Blaise just smirked and leaned back against the counter watching the others chatting quietly in little groups, most with amused expressions on their faces, undoubtedly speculating about what might have gone on between Narcissa and a certain ex-Hogwarts professor.
Ron looked over as his mother put her hand on his arm. She was looking at him with a concerned expression on her face. "What?" he asked when she didn't speak right away.
"Are you ok, dear?" She asked softly.
He blinked, then furrowed his brow. "Why wouldn't I be?" he asked, baffled.
"He... he's still a teenager... I'm sure it was just a mistake and won't happen again..." she said, patting his arm in a consoling way.
Ron quickly stifled his amusement as he realized what she was talking about. "It's ok, mum. Me and Pansy are both fine with what happened."
Molly looked from him to Pansy (to whom he'd been talking when she approached him) incredulously. Pansy just grinned at her. "I... thought that you three were...?" Molly said, trailing off uncertainly.
"A 'couple'?" Ron supplied with a smirk.
Molly nodded mutely.
"We are. We're just ok with it. Like Draco said, it's just the way Blaise is." He said with a shrug.
Molly blinked. "You're not even surprised by all of this?"
"We found out earlier when he came back to the room actually." Pansy replied before Ron could.
Molly's eyes moved over to her, "So he told you he... did... whatever with Draco's mother and you were just fine with that?" she asked, completely floored.
"To be honest, I'm stunned he's made it this long without shagging anyone but Ron and I. Don't worry, we did have a discussion about permission and..." Pansy started.
"Permission?" Molly asked, breaking in.
"Well ya. I mean he's the one who told everyone that if they wanted to shag me or Ron they had to ask first, so the same should really go for him as well. Only fair obviously. So we gave him a firm talking to about remembering to have them ask first. Don't worry, I doubt he'll forget again. We reminded him of where his loyalties lie. I gave him a good firm spanking and Ron was sure to..."
"You know," Ron said, clapping his hand over Pansy's mouth, "I don't think I'm really all that comfortable discussing my love life with you in quite such detail, mum..." He said, his cheeks burning. Pansy just giggled as he dropped his hand.
Molly, who had started looking a bit shell-shocked, looked almost grateful for her son's interruption. It took her a moment to find her voice, "So... you just let him go off tomming around with whomever he pleases?" she asked, obviously unable to comprehend this.
Ron sighed deeply. "Mum..." He said with an exasperated edge to his voice. "You just... you don't seem to understand. They've had a very open relationship for years and I wouldn't want it any other way. I mean why should I? If their relationship wasn't open, I would never have gotten to be with either of them in the first place! I feel thankful they want me to be a part of their lives, and I think it would be selfish and wrong for me to try to change them. Blaise is... well a very affectionate person. Like Draco said, it's just his nature. He just expresses his affection a bit more... physically than most people do, as does Pansy on occasion... but we have... well an understanding I guess. No matter who any of us sleeps with, we still know that we love eachother. We love him and he loves us, and nothing's going to change that. You and dad are monogamous, and I think that's great, really I do... and Draco and Ginny are, and I think that's great too... but not everyone is, mum. We three are together, we love eachother, and we plan on staying together and raising a family... but I'm not going to be upset just because they find a night's pleasure in someone else's arms. I'm just grateful for the nights they spend in mine."
Molly stared at him for a long moment, her expression thoughtful and unreadable.
Ron barely stifled a sigh of relief when the conversation was interrupted as a somewhat frantic house elf ran into the kitchen, drawing everyone's attention. It was running so fast it had to skid to a halt, nearly colliding with Blaise.
"Master! Master!" It panted, hopping slightly in its excitement, "I is so sorry master! I is not watching careful enough!"
Blaise quickly crouched in front of the small elf, putting his hands on its shoulders to steady it and hold it still as it gasped for breath. "Calm down and tell me what's the matter." Blaise said firmly to the obviously distressed elf.
It took a deep, calming breath and let it out, settling a bit though it still wrung its hands pensively, "Master's visitors is arriving and I is leading them in as you is asking me to, but I is not watching close enough and she is running into us... I is so sorry master."
"She who? Who ran into you?" Blaise asked, trying to fathom what the overwrought elf was stammering on about.
"Mistress Black. She is running into us and she is falling over and she is not waking up!"
Blaise stood abruptly as the others tensed. "Lead me!" He snapped. The elf turned without question and darted back the way he'd come, Blaise and Draco hard on its heels, the others all trailing close behind them.
Draco's eyes darted around as it led them into one of the many small sitting rooms that were scattered about the manor. Dumbledore was standing there before one of the couches with a girl Draco didn't recognize. Kingsley Shacklebolt, a tall well built bald black man that Draco recognized immediately as an Auror he had seen around the castle a time or two, was just settling Narcissa on the couch. Dumbledore turned, hearing the door, and Draco saw who was standing on the other side of him.
Remus Lupin.
Draco had a very hard time choking back the laugh that tried to escape him as Blaise quickly ducked his head behind Draco's shoulder and let out a little strangled snort of laughter.
"I'm terribly sorry," Remus said earnestly upon seeing Draco. "She rounded the corner so fast we ran straight into eachother. I never even saw her until it was too late. I was able to catch her before she fell, but it must have been a bit of a shock... she fainted dead away..." He said, looking down at Narcissa with obvious concern, "Is she feeling well? She looks a bit flush..."
Draco carefully mastered himself. "I'm sure she'll be fine. We should let her rest. She was feeling a bit off and was on her way to go to lay down. Probably just too much excitement for her."
"Excitement?" Dumbledore asked, a little smile slipping over her lips.
Draco got the distinct feeling this wasn't going to be a surprise to Dumbledore, but it was only polite to officially tell him. He slipped his arm around Ginny as she came up to stand beside him. "Ginny and I are going to have a baby."
Dumbledore beamed at them happily. The mousy haired girl beside him who looked no more than thirteen let out a squeal and jumped up and down clapping her hands, then dashed over, hugging Ginny. Ginny eyed the girl warily, then looked over at Dumbledore, "Who is this?" She asked, trying not to sound rude.
The girl released her with a giggle, stepping back a pace and putting on a pout. "Aw! How quickly they forget..." She said morosely, shaking her head. Then she smirked again, "Let me give you a hint! I'm a very good girl!" She said lofty. She turned her head to the side, smirking over at Dumbledore. A smirk slipped over Draco's lips as the girl's nose thinned and elongated, stretching out until it stuck out nearly four inches from her face.
Ginny immediately brightened, "Tonks?"
The girl giggled, putting her index finger on the tip of the long nose and pressing it back until it was back to its previous size. "On the nose!" she giggled. "Sorry to crash the party, but someone had to look after the boys!" She said, grinning. Even as she spoke she was slowly growing taller, her body filling out more as her hair began shifting in color, slowly cycling to brilliant metallic blue.
"Hello, Nymphadora." Draco said with a smirk.
Tonks let out a retching sound and smacked his arm, "It's Tonks! Tonks! Call me that wretched name again and, cousin or not, I may have to take you down!" She said haughtily with a sneer worthy of a Malfoy.
"Aw come on... you used to like it when you were younger... pretending you were a little tree nymph..." He teased.
"That was before I knew what nymphs were best known for!"
He smirked at her, "Please! From what I've heard, your name proves that your mother has a bit of Seer in her!"
She got up in his face, glowering at him. "If it wasn't Christmas I'd give you a good pounding, squirt!"
He chuckled, dropping his voice, "No thanks. I wouldn't put it past you, but I'm taken."
Her jaw dropped, her eyes going wide, "I didn't mean it like... ooh! You! That was just wrong!" she said in mock indignant fury, but couldn't stop giggling. She wagged her finger at him, "You best be careful! The Parents Curse is about to rear its ugly head on you're just going to make it worse talking like that!"
He blinked and furrowed his brow, "Parent's Curse?"
She grinned, "Yep. All ornery little shits like you are cursed to grow up and have children who are just like they were!"
"Oh bloody Hell what a wretched thought! Stop it! You're scaring me!" Draco said with a shudder.
Ginny giggled.
"Blimey!" Blaise breathed, watching Tonks with opalescent eyes as she finished shifting, "That was bloody brilliant!"
She looked over at him, then moved closer, examining his eyes. "Wicked. How'd ya do that?"
"Demonic curse, near death and jumped up counter curse. You?"
She giggled, "I'm a Metamorphmagus."
"So... you can look any way you want?" He said with growing interest.
"Yep."
"Just strictly generic kinds of changes or can you actually duplicate other people?" He asked, obviously becoming quite fascinated.
"I don't usually go for specific people, cause that tends to lead to awkward questions if you run into 'yourself', but I've done a fair job of it when I tried in the past. I can even change my voice, so that's one up on Polyjuice potion!" She said proudly.
"Can you even duplicate guys?"
She blinked. "Um... well I haven't really experimented much with that... I really prefer being a member of the fairer sex..." She said coyly, her endowments swelling noticeably, stretching the thin material of her shirt a bit.
Blaise blinked, then glanced over at Draco, grinning at him in an imploring way, "Draco... would you mind if I borrowed your cousin for bit? We'd play nice with her..." He said, his eyes going back to her and traveling down her.
Draco just rolled his eyes and shook his head in disbelief. No more than ten minutes since he'd fessed up to shagging Draco's mother, and now he was asking for permission to have a go at his cousin? Well at least he was asking first this time. Draco was starting to feel glad he didn't have that many close relations.
Tonks blinked, "We?"
"I already have two 'playmates', but we have a very big bed..." he said smirkingly, looking back at Ron and Pansy. Ron was chuckling softly to himself while Pansy rolled her eyes with a smirk on her face.
She looked them over appraisingly, then her eyes flicked over, noting the disapproving look on Molly's face. She reached up, tapping the tip of his nose with her index finger like a child might, "'Fraid all three of you look a bit young for me, and besides, I don't think it would be very appropriate. Sorry." She said with a little sad smile. "Wotcher Charlie!" She said, brightening as she spotted him.
Blaise quickly hid a smirk as her hand subtly gave his bum a good grope on her way past.
Harry edged his way forward through the others. He was reluctant to encroach on the greetings when the visitors were most likely here to see Draco and Ginny, but Dumbledore was busy introducing Kingsley to the few who did not yet know him, and it seemed like it had been forever since he'd seen Lupin. "Professor Lupin!" He said as he broke free of the crowd. He was glad to see that Lupin was looking much better than the last time he'd seen him, despite the fact that he was most likely getting markedly weaker right now since the full moon was approaching. Still, his face wasn't quite as weary and strained as it had been the last time he had seen him, and his clothes, though still not new looking by any means, were not looking nearly as shabby.
"Harry my boy!" Lupin said happily, hurrying forward. He was still limping noticeably and leaning heavily on his cane as he walked. Lupin didn't bother with a handshake as he pulled him into a one armed hug. When he released him he looked him over with a smile on his face. "It's been too long! Look at you! I swear you get taller every time I see you!"
Harry blushed a bit.
Lupin sighed, but was still smiling, "But then I suppose you're a bit old to be hearing that. So strange seeing James and Lily's little boy all grown up!" He said, shaking his head in disbelief. He shifted a bit closer, dropping his voice with a smirk, "Hear you've been taking after your father again... before Lily snatched him up he always did have an eye for the more mature women..." He said, glancing over at Delse. She had obviously overheard, her cheeks going slightly pink as she pretended to be listening to the Weasleys as they greeted the newcomers. Harry grinned, his cheeks coloring as well, but chose not to respond.
They both looked over as Draco moved over to where they were standing. He was looking Lupin over. "So, will you be staying a while?" he asked curiously.
Lupin sighed. "I just wanted to come to wish Harry, Hermione and the Weasleys a Merry Christmas and drop off a few presents. Don't worry, I'll be gone shortly."
"I wasn't indicating I wanted you to leave." Draco said, noting the resignation in his voice.
Lupin looked up at him, surprise evident in his eyes.
Draco shifted a bit uneasily. "Listen... I know we didn't get along all that well when you were teaching at Hogwarts... but... I've changed a bit since then... not to mention I'm no longer under orders to make your life miserable..." He said, flashing him a little smile.
Lupin blinked, "Orders?"
Draco sighed, his pale cheeks taking on a slight tinge of pink. "Father. Apparently he doesn't much care for you." He straightened a bit, shrugging off thoughts of his father as he forced the smile back into place, "Point is, the Weasleys are my family now, and you're a friend of the family... so I was wondering if we could just... well, start over I guess."
A little smile tugged at the corner of Lupin's mouth. "I think I'd like that." he said softly with a nod.
Draco beamed. "Excellent. You know... I think we're going to get along just fine." He said, draping his arm around Lupin's shoulders. "Say... didn't you go to school with my parents...?" He asked leadingly.
> > > > > > > > > > >
Harry grinned as he gazed around the room. The house elves had decked out one of the larger siting rooms with Christmas decorations and a tree that nearly reached the ceiling (and considering Hagrid could walk around the Manor with headroom to spare, that was saying something!). The tree was bedecked with all manner of fascinating ornaments and lit with hundreds of fairy lights. There were large windows overlooking a statue garden, now covered in a pristine layer of new snow, big fluffy flakes still descending slowly from the sky. In the fireplace a big cheerful fire was crackling, lending warmth and comfort to the room. It was a picturesque setting really... and now the room was full of presents and laughter and a warmth that went far beyond mere temperature. Harry just sat there, his arms wrapped distractedly around Mrs. Weasley's yearly sweater, watching them all, feeling like he was watching a Christmas movie. No matter how many movies he'd seen such scenes in while growing up, in the back of his mind he had always thought they were just make-believe. Before going to Hogwarts, he'd barely had a Christmas at all. Well, there was extra cooking and cleaning for him to do, and there were studiously perfect decorations around, but rarely would he receive more than some more oversized (and usually quite ratty) hand-me-downs before being shuffled off into his little cupboard so he wouldn't be in the way while Dudley got to open his piles of large, flashy presents.
He smiled to himself as he watched Pansy giggling, looking into one of her present boxes. She was wearing her own Weasley sweater... it had row after row of just about every shade of green that probably existed. Blaise had his on as well, it was pure black and suited him well, Draco's a deep forest green. Even Narcissa (who had been very quiet ever since waking, and had only stopped blushing in the last half hour or so) was sporting one. Hers bore thick stripes of half a dozen soft pastel colors. Harry couldn't help but smirk as he saw Ron handing out a few more of the presents. Apparently either someone had had a talk with Molly or she had noticed Blaise and Pansy's fancy for the color green, for this year's sweater for him was a nice emerald green, as opposed to the usual maroon (which Ron had always loathed).
His eyes alighted on Kulia. She looked even more unaccustomed to this kind of festivity than he was. Molly must be extremely fast with her knitting needles, because even Kulia was wearing a new sweater, pure black like Blaise's, but with a row of four inch tall snowflakes running around the bottom hem. The contrast between the black of the sweater and the flow of snow white hair that had fallen down it was striking.
Delse was moving around the room, trying to make sure everyone had everything they needed. Harry took ahold of her hand as she passed by him for the fifth time, pulling her down next to him on the couch. She grinned and blushed, "Sorry... didn't mean to be neglecting you..." She said, settling against him with a happy sigh.
He grinned, wrapping his arm around her. He couldn't help but notice how perfectly she fit against him. They watched the others for a minute, then he reached into the pocket of his robe with his free hand, pulling out a small white box and handing it to her. She looked down at the box with its thin flash of crimson ribbon encircling it, then looked up at him in askance, "You got me something?" she asked, obviously surprised.
He cleared his throat, feeling a bit embarrassed, "Um... ya, well..." He was blushing.
She grinned, pulling the ribbon off and slipping the box open. "Oh Harry..." She cooed, pulling out the crystal earrings, watching the light glint off of them as they dangled from her fingers, "They're gorgeous..."
"Ya... well they're supposed to go with the necklace..." He said, still feeling a bit guilty as he looked down at it where it lay against his chest.
She finished putting them on, then leaned over, kissing him. When the kiss broke, she snuggled up against him again with a sad sigh. "I feel absolutely wretched... with all the excitement and wedding preparations I didn't get you anything... in fact I've only gotten presents for Blaise and Pansy, because I got those weeks ago... I planned on making a shopping trip once Blaise was home so he could come along with me and we could both finish up our shopping together, but..." She sighed again.
He grinned and pulled her close, "I'm sure no one will mind. You've done more than enough already. I'm certainly not complaining. You're present enough for me. Love is one thing you can't put in a box, and I'd rather have that than a hundred Christmas presents."
She smiled at him, giving him another kiss. He quickly deepened it, reaching over and pulling her into his lap. Their kiss drew out and Harry reveled in it. He couldn't remember ever feeling so happy and contented. When she was in his arms, it just felt so right... it made a feeling of peace settle into even the deepest recesses of his soul.
Keep that sweater where it is... a voice chuckled softly in his head.
Harry ignored him.
Um... I don't really want to interrupt this... I mean believe me I don't... but somebody's been trying to get your attention for a minute now...
Harry broke the kiss, trying to gather his wits as he looked up. He blushed brightly as he saw Lupin standing a couple of feet away, smiling at him. Delse blushed too, shifting back over to his side. Harry took the earlier advice and left the sweater in his lap, taking the demon's word for it.
"Didn't mean to interrupt..." Lupin said, his smile widening.
"No... no, you're not... um..." Harry ruffling his fingers through his hair, trying to hide his embarrassment at forgetting himself.
Lupin took a seat to the other side of him, "Just wanted to give you this..." He said, handing Harry a thin rectangular present wrapped in plain brown wrapping. Harry knew from the feel and heft it was a book. He flashed Lupin a smile and carefully prized the wrapping off. It was, indeed, a book. He flipped it over so he could read the title -
Misunderstood Magical Creatures - Dispelling the Myths
Harry grinned over at him, "Thanks. It's really..." He trailed off. His eyes had returned to the cover and noted something else for the first time. At the bottom, in neat script, were the words "By R. Moony". His eyes widened and shot back up to Lupin.
Lupin smiled at him. "The publishers felt it would be best. My name has been in the papers too often to go unrecognized."
Harry grinned happily, then opened it, flipping through it. There were sections on a number of different creatures including, of course, werewolves. It even had interviews with the creatures capable of speech. Harry smirked as he saw an 'interview' with werewolf R. J. Lupin. It also had a section on giants containing an interview with Hagrid. As he started to close it back up he caught sight of something. He flipped the first page out of the way and stared down at the dedication:
For Padfoot and Prongs.
Fallen comrades,
Fallen friends.
Your belief in me let me believe in myself.
Until we meet again, dear friends, you will live on in my heart.
Moony
Harry tried to keep his eyes from tearing up as he closed the book up, running his fingers over the soft leather of the cover.
"This one covers twenty different creatures." Lupin went on, having glanced across the room, not noticing Harry reading the dedication. Harry quickly returned the smile to his face, not wanting to remind Lupin of his lost friends on such a happy occasion. "It just hit the stores a couple of weeks ago and it's doing surprisingly well. I've already been commissioned to write a further two volumes. I've always had a passion for teaching, but with my... particular circumstances... it's been a rough road to travel, as you well know. I finally figured out the only way I was going to be able to teach the youth without alarming their parents... by writing. This way I can provide them with valuable knowledge without inflicting my presence upon them." He said with a rueful smirk, "Hagrid just informed me he's planning on making it required reading for next year's Care of Magical Creatures classes... I was a bit shocked, but I can't say I'm not thrilled by the prospect. Never thought I'd be writing Hogwarts' text books! I plan on covering dragons in the next volume... Charlie has already invited me to spend some time at his complex in Romania researching them... and I think I'll probably include Thestrals as well..." He said, smirking across the room at Tiger. Tiger was usually asleep right now, it being mid-morning, but he hadn't been able to resist the excitement. He was playing in the wrapping paper the others had been piling on him. He was obviously tired, as he hadn't ransacked the entire room yet, but it was easy to see that the house elves were going to have a fine mess to clean up by the time they were done. Lupin smirked at the bows the others had been sticking on the little Thestral's head. Tiger seemed to like the adornment.
"It shall also definitely include a section on Dementors, though I shant be casting them in a good light by far. They talked me into leaving them out of the first book, because they felt I should keep the theme positive so people would be more likely to be interested in further editions, but I made the section's inclusion in book two part of the contract so they couldn't push it off again. People must come to realize what a threat they truly are. Never again can we be allowed to become complacent and accepting about such creatures. When this war is over, I want no chance of them being put back in control of our society's most dangerous witches and wizards."
Harry shivered at the thought, then forced a smile. "Ever think of writing about shadow demons? I'd wager I could get you an interview..."
Lupin smiled, "Draco has already suggested it, actually. Seems he thinks they might be a bit misunderstood as well... I believe I would be very interested in talking to your... friend..."
Harry's eyes began to glow and he smirked at Lupin. "Any time, wolf boy." He said with a chuckle.
Lupin grinned back, then their attention was drawn over as Draco let out a laugh. He was looking down into a box he'd just opened. He pulled out a large, shiny object covered in buttons. Harry's eyes widened. It looked like a Muggle CD player... but with subtle differences... like the silver 'Zabini' embossed in elegantly scrawled script across the top.
Draco looked over at Blaise, "It looks like the one in the shop... but what have you done to it? And what's with signing it?" He asked, setting it in his lap and running his fingers over the name.
Blaise grinned. "It's called the name brand, Draco. Think I'm going to put someone else's name on it? That was a lot of bloody work! I didn't do much of it myself, mind you, but still I paid the people who did... The world's first magically tolerant and magically powered CD player."
Draco's eyes darted up to him, widening. "You mean this will work? Here?"
Blaise grinned and nodded.
Draco beamed, then he thought of something, shooting a worried look over at Arthur Weasley.
Arthur smiled at him, "It's ok. It's legal. Young Mr. Zabini here has been registering patents with my department for a good several months now. The first devices, namely those," he said, nodding at the CD player, "Should be finished being processed and ready for sale to the wizarding public in a couple of weeks. The restriction on enchanted Muggle artifacts doesn't apply to them, as they do nothing obviously magical. They merely duplicate their non-magical counterparts' functions, while remaining functional in magically saturated areas. They're very impressive actually. I've got one myself... for... um... testing purposes..."
Molly rolled her eyes, "He won't stop playing with it!" She said, smirking ruefully, then looked over at Blaise with a smile. "Thank Merlin you got him some more of those little song discs. I was getting wretchedly tired of hearing the one he had playing over and over again!"
Blaise chuckled, noting that Arthur had, indeed, already opened the package containing about two dozen cds. "No problem..."
Draco blushed slightly, "Um... if that's occupying him too much... uh... I'm really sorry for that next one..." he said, pointing to a brightly wrapped present beside Arthur that he hadn't yet opened.
Arthur's eyes darted to the package with interest. He picked it up, opening it eagerly. When the wrapping was out of the way, he gazed down at the contents of the box curiously. There was a black, metallic rectangle inside with a small silver stylized depiction of a Thestral in flight in the middle of it. It looked like nothing more than an odd metal book.
"I preferred coming up with a symbol instead of plastering 'Malfoy' across it. The name doesn't exactly bring a warm response for some reason..." He said with a smirk, "Turn it around and hit the button on the front edge..." Draco said, pointing out the silver button in the middle of the side.
Arthur pressed it and it opened up, flipping up and stopping once it was about halfway open. He stared down at the strange device, then looked up at Draco in askance. Draco smirked, pulling out his wand and tapping the tip of it against a stylized depiction of a wand showering sparks in the upper right hand corner of the base.
The top half sprang to life, brightening. Arthur's eyes bugged. "Is this... is it a..." he uttered in awe, unable to even speak coherently.
"Get naked! A computer?" Blaise said with a laugh, springing up and hurrying around to look over Arthur's shoulder.
Draco grinned. "Notebook computer. Yep. See, I wasn't ignoring the Muggle electronics either! Guess we just have different priorities." He said, chuckling, then turned his attention back to the computer, "It only has the basics as of yet... word processing, information storage, database capabilities and the like... Since it isn't compatible directly with Muggle computers my representative worked out the wand requirement with that bloke Perkins in your department. Muggles won't accidentally see anything they shouldn't because it requires a wand to start. Muggles would just think it didn't work. There are a ton of other features I want to get on it before putting it on the market, but once it's ready, I plan on donating a couple hundred of them to the Ministry to get them out of the dark ages. It's sad when the non-magical Muggles can get things done ten times faster than we can! Time to start taking their accomplishments seriously before magic becomes outmoded!"
Arthur caressed the smooth metal as if it were his first born, completely speechless.
"Think my people could have a chat with yours? I've had them working on a DVD player for the better part of a month now, but they can't figure out how to make a bloody screen! Pretty bloody ridiculous if you ask me, considering even our paintings and photos move!"
Draco chuckled, "I'll see what I can do." He said somberly, then his smirk returned.
"Figure out how to hook it up to the internet yet?" Blaise asked with a chuckle, turning his attention back to the computer.
"No, and I'm not sure it can be done... but I think we'll be able to at least link all the magical ones together like the internet eventually... kind of a World Wizarding Web!" Draco chuckled.
"Internet?" Arthur asked, breaking out of his daze.
Draco chuckled, "Ya. Muggle thing. They link their computers together so they can talk to eachother and mail eachother and it only takes seconds to reach the other side of the world. Owl's are nice pets, but owl post? Wretchedly time consuming." he said shaking his head. Then he smirked, "Once I get this thing finished I plan on working on a phone system"
"Do I get one?" Blaise asked eagerly, indicating the computer.
Draco grinned. "We're only allowed to make a prototype until they've been approved, as I'm sure you know... you should be getting yours in a couple of weeks when the initial paperwork is finished up. You can be part of my test group, checking out new features as my people develop them."
"Brill..." Blaise breathed, reaching out and brushing his fingers along the edge of the small machine.
"The user's manual for what we have so far is under it." Draco said to Arthur, settling back and putting his arm around Ginny, looking very pleased that Arthur seemed to like his little gift.
"What's this?" Pansy asked excitedly as a couple of house elves came to a stop, letting the large box they had been levitating between them settle down before her.
Blaise grinned, hurrying back over to take the seat beside her once again. He reached out with his wand and tapped the colorful box. In a glimmer, the wrapping and box beneath it vanished.
Pansy blinked in surprise at what now lay before her. "A doll house?" She asked, glancing over at him in surprise. It was indeed a miniature house like she had played with growing up. It was a somber gray, standing about a meter tall and at least that wide. Oddly, it didn't appear to have any windows, doors, or recognizable features at all. She only knew it was a house by the roof and the general shape.
Blaise slipped his wand away, then slid off the couch, sitting before it and grabbing up one of the half dozen small wands that protruded in a neat row from the roof. He tapped it against the house and brilliant grass green spread from the tip, covering the house within seconds. He then tucked the wand back in its spot and picked a different one. He tapped it in the center at the bottom and a small door appeared. He then looked back at her, smirking.
She got down on the floor next to him, looking at him wide eyed. "Is this for the babies? Are they going to be girls?" She asked eagerly, unconsciously resting her hand on her stomach.
"No... well I mean I don't know. Pretty soon you should be able to cast a spell to find out, but they really all look the same to me... I mean the only way I can tell male from female is the same way as you can regularly... physical attributes... and the babies obviously don't have those yet."
"Oh..." She said, looking a bit put out.
He reached over, opening a latch on the side of the house and swinging it open. It was mostly hollow and featureless. There were four floors, and a few walls on the bottom floor, but other than that it was unfinished. "This is for adding things like walls, windows, furniture and such... you just have to imagine it how you want it and tap the place you want it to be... it can also alter an existing object or whatever as well." He said, handing her the wand he'd used to add the door. There was a little plus sign on the base. He had now taken out the rest of the wands and was sorting through them, then started handing them to her one by one, "For removing things (this one had a minus sign on it), coloring and adding surfaces (this one bore a paintbrush), Moving stuff around (an arrow), changing things back in case you don't like what you've done (an arrow looped around pointing back at it's own end), and saving (a star). You can still make changes after you save a room, but undo will take you back to the way it was the last time you saved it. It's based on one of the computer programs I saw in the electronics shop actually..." he said, smirking up at Draco.
Blaise then reached over and retrieved the wand with the minus sign on it, tapping it against the only wall facing them, blocking off a small area of the house on the bottom floor. Pansy blinked. It was a little kitchen, complete with tiny wooden cabinets and counters. There was a little table as well, around which sat three little dolls. They looked very familiar...
Pansy giggled and picked them up. Her giggle died in her throat and her eyes went wide once she'd gotten a closer look at them. Around each tiny waist was a gleaming golden band. Blaise took the tiny Pansy from her hand, slipping the band off of it and setting the doll back in the house. He then took her hand and slipped the ring on her ring finger. "It might not be 'official', but I still wanted you to have it..." He said. He then took the little redheaded doll and slipped the ring off it. Ron just watched in numb shock as he reached over and slipped the ring on his finger. Blaise then took the last doll, setting it in the house and slipping the last ring on his own finger. He smiled at them warmly, then spoke softly in elvish. The rings glowed, delicate elvish script flowing across them.
Ron snapped out of it first, "What did you say?" He asked, pulling his eyes away from the ring, which was now engraved with the characters that had appeared.
Blaise blushed, glancing over at the others and noticing all of them staring.
Draco chuckled, "He said 'Three that are as one, a trinity of love for all eternity'. It doesn't sound nearly as sappy in elvish, but then they're used to concepts like lifemates..." He said grinning over at Kulia. She just grinned back, rolling her eyes.
Blaise grinned sheepishly. Ron slipped down beside them and they both cuddled up to Blaise, kissing him and snuggling lovingly. Blaise sighed contentedly, holding them gently, then smirked. "Ron can help, but I expect this thing done a week before summer at the very latest." He said in a businesslike tone. "Can't expect them to get it built overnight, even with magic."
Pansy's head jerked back, her eyes darting over to the house. "A big green house with wooden cabinets in the kitchen..." She said numbly, then she looked back at him incredulously, "You mean THIS is going to be our house?"
Blaise chuckled. "No... it's just the model they're going to base it on. I don't know about you, but I'd be pretty bloody nervous about living in a house that could swing open if the latch came loose!" He said, smirking mischievously, "You can still have this when they're done with the full sized one. Who knows, maybe we will have girls and they'll want it to play with... in fact I might have my people look into marketing them... Oh, and if it doesn't have enough room you can always add more by..." He broke off as Pansy kissed him passionately.
After a moment, they all looked over as the twins broke into snickers. Fred was holding up a lacy black negligée. "Not exactly my size, Zabini..." He said, holding it up against him and looking down at it with mock consideration.
Blaise looked up and smirked. "I'll wager you can find someone who it will fit... I didn't think you'd much care for me giving it to your little girlfriend directly..."
Draco looked at the small, thin box in Fred's lap that it had come from, then looked over, spotting a similar box on his own pile. While the others were distracted, he removed the ribbon and peeked inside. He smirked, slipping the box to Ginny. She peeked in it, blushed and slipped it into her bag of already opened presents, a mischievous smirk on her face as she glanced over at Blaise. He just grinned back guilelessly.
Blaise looked over as he spotted Vincent depositing a large present before Bill. He snapped his fingers to get his attention. Vincent saw him and hurried over.
"Yes, master?" he squeaked eagerly. He had always enjoyed handing out presents, but before this year there hadn't usually been very many to give out.
"Could you get that one in the corner now? The big blue one." He said, pointing to a ponderous box sitting alone in a back corner.
Vincent nodded quickly and scampered off to fetch it. Blaise shifted around a bit to face him more and settled back against Ron, watching as the elf located the tag. It stood staring it for a moment, then looked back at Blaise in askance.
Blaise just grinned and nodded encouragingly.
Vincent looked like he might hyperventilate as he hesitantly reached up and peeled the wrapping paper away. He prized it open and looked into the box. It was full of brushes, paints, palates, scrapers, cleaning fluids, finishes and just about everything the shop had carried in relation to painting. Vincent just stared at the things for a long moment, then reached out and touched them almost reverently. After a long moment of stunned staring, he turned his eyes to Blaise. Blaise smiled at him warmly.
Vincent sprinted across the room andflung himself at Blaise. Blaise chuckled and held him like a child as Vincent curled up against him "You is being too kind, master!" Vincent sobbed against him, "I can't be accepting such things! Vincent is not being worthy!"
"Don't say that!" Blaise said gently, stroking Vincent's back soothingly, "You are the most worthy house elf I know. You're going to accept those things and put them to good use. Merlin knows I couldn't do more than colorful stick figures with the bloody things!" He said mirthfully, "The canvases are in your room already, and there is a catalog in the box. If you want anything else or run low on anything, I insist that you order more. I've already set up an account for you. I want you to paint, Vincent. Give us something better than all of these stuffy old portraits of relatives we don't even know to hang up!"
A stodgy looking old wizard in a nearby portrait gave a nasty hurumph and stormed out of view. Blaise just chuckled at him.
Blaise sighed contentedly, holding the small elf. "You've always been there for me, and it's high time I started showing you my appreciation for all your years of care and patience. I love you Vincent... and I know some day soon my children will love you too..."
Vincent looked up at him, blinking hard to try to clear the tears. He was beyond words, looking as if his little heart might burst at any moment.
Blaise took a deep breath, then let it out, giving Vincent one last careful squeeze, then he picked him up, setting him gently back on his feet. "Well, back to work with you!" He said with a grin. He reached over behind him and took a present off a nearby stack, then leaned forward, whispering in Vincent's ear. When he leaned back, Vincent took the present, nodding his head, beaming at Blaise with watery eyes. "Go on now! Scat!" Blaise said playfully, shooing Vincent along.
Blaise smirked as Vincent hurried up to Tonks, depositing the present on her lap before dashing off for more presents. Tonks obviously hadn't been expecting to get anything since no one had known she was coming. She opened it, then grinned. Ron, who had followed Blaise's gaze, saw a flash of brilliant blue lace before she quickly slipped the lid back on, looking over to make sure Molly hadn't seen. She tucked the box between her and the arm of the chair, leaning against it so it disappeared from sight, then looked over at Blaise with a smirk. He wriggled his eyebrows at her playfully and she put her hand over her mouth to stifle a giggle, then appeared to take an avid interest in watching others opening their presents.
Blaise settled back against Ron again, "It's good to keep spare presents around... never know when they'll come in handy..."
Ron just shook his head ruefully while Pansy swatted Blaise, giggling.
> > > > > > > > > > >
The present opening had taken them nearly until lunch time. Finally they had all finished and were starting to get up and move out so the house elves could cart their presents to their rooms for them and start the cleanup. Harry hung back, letting Delse hurry ahead to see about lunch preparations. Lupin caught the way Harry was watching him and hung back as well, sensing there was something he wanted to discuss with him.
When they were alone except for the house elves, Lupin approached him. "Something on your mind, Harry?"
"Something on the demon's mind apparently. He's asked to speak to you." Harry responded a bit uneasily.
Lupin blinked in surprise, "Oh... very well."
Harry nodded, "Um... he wanted to talk to you alone... so just so you know, he can sometimes be a bit... um... blunt..."
Lupin smirked, "Harry, I've taught teenagers. I think I can handle bluntness."
Harry nodded again, then his eyes began to glow. The glowing eyes looked Lupin over appraisingly for a moment. "I feel like I know you already. Harry thinks about you a lot."
Lupin smiled. "I'm rather fond of him as well."
Pax nodded. "I know this is probably not something you like to hear coming from a demon, but I think you and I have a lot in common. Both widely hated creatures... both unable at times to control ourselves... forced to do things we don't want to..." He gave a little grin. "At least you only have to worry about that once a month... and can go unnoticed..." he said, watching as the house elves all started finding excuses to leave the room quickly. In moments it was just the two of them. Well, Tiger was still there as well, but he was curled up asleep in one of the overstuffed armchairs, snoring softly, still covered in ribbons and bits of bright paper.
Lupin watched Pax as his eyes followed the last of the elves as they slipped out and closed the door behind them. His teaching career and been no more than a year here and there, but he'd been around troubled teens enough to recognize someone with the need to talk to someone. They hadn't met in person before this day, but Lupin knew Harry felt that he was someone he could trust and confide in, and the demon had obviously picked up on that. Lupin shifted his weight uncomfortably, "Do you mind if I sit?"
Pax stood aside and watched as Lupin limped his way to the nearest couch and sank down into it gratefully. "Terribly sorry... this leg's a bit gimpy in the best of times... this close to the full moon I just can't handle standing for very long..."
"Why don't you fix it then?"
Lupin flashed him a little smile, "Not that easy. Werewolves simply don't heal as well as regular people do and healing spells don't have nearly the same effectiveness, if they even work at all. Add to that the frequency with which we... incur injuries... and we don't tend to have the longest or healthiest of lives."
Pax rolled his red eyes, going over and kneeling before Lupin. Lupin straightened as Pax took ahold of his leg, starting to feel it. "What are you doing?" he asked in surprise.
Pax looked up at him, a slow smile slipping across his lips. "Do you trust me?" he asked softly.
Lupin eyed him silently for a moment. This was probably not a creature that many people had ever shown much trust in. This was yet another thing they had in common. He knew well what it was like to have everyone around you view you with mistrust or outright fear and anger. He slowly leaned back again.
Pax grinned, taking his silence as assent, and took one shadowy talon, splitting his pant leg at the knee and pulling it open so he could better examine it. The knee was covered with a number of rather nasty looking scars, some old, some obviously newer. Pax felt around, then nodded almost as if to himself. "This is going to hurt." He said without even looking up. Without waiting for a response, he sank his talons into the knee.
Lupin bit back a cry as there was a sudden searing, tearing pain in his knee. He took deep breaths as the pain continued and increased.
"Cover your ears." Pax said after a minute, pulling out Harry's wand.
Lupin took him at his word and clamped his hands firmly over his ears as the demon began casting in its native tongue. Even with his ears covered as tightly as he could get them he still heard enough of the soft spoken spells to get a queasy feeling in his stomach. After a moment he felt pinpricks that seemed to radiate a soothing coolness through the abused muscles and tendons. He cautiously eased up on his ears. Hearing no more incantations, he blinked his eyes open. It was disconcerting to see long, shadowy talons being withdrawn from his flesh, but they left no obvious punctures or other damage behind, and the pain had at least subsided. Pax muttered a mending spell, returning the pant leg to its earlier, undamaged state, then got up, casually taking a seat beside him.
Lupin reached down cautiously, feeling the knee. There was only a faint ghost of pain left. He flexed it and the knee moved freely for the first time in well over a decade. He leaned back again, looking over at Pax. "Thank you."
"Sure." Pax said with a negligent shrug. "It was just all healed wrong. Tendons and such were all fucked up. Had to tear them lose and put them back right. You didn't even scream. I'm impressed." He said with a smirk.
Lupin gave him a little smile. "I've learned to deal with pain over the years."
Pax nodded. "I know what you mean." He said softly.
"Why did you do that?" Lupin asked curiously.
Pax shrugged again. "Why not? Consider it your Christmas present. I don't have much more to offer than my knowledge, but that's not an inconsiderable thing. I'm over seven hundred years old after all. I was bound to pick up a thing or two."
Lupin smirked. "Don't suppose you know a cure for the werewolf curse?" He asked, half joking, half sounding almost hopeful.
Pax chuckled and shook his head. "Not I. Of course I don't think I'd give it to you even if I did."
Lupin blinked in surprise. "Why not?"
Pax looked over at him for a long moment, then spoke softly, "A werewolf is what you are. If that curse had never entered you, you wouldn't be the person you are today. Whether you understand why or not, you were given that curse for a reason. There's a reason for everything..."
Lupin looked at him with great interest. "A philosophical demon... not exactly what I expected..."
Pax grinned at him. "Yes, well I know it's probably just rubbish, but it sounds nice and makes living with fucked up circumstances a bit more bearable..." He leaned back, folding his arms across his chest. "You know, I used to believe even I had a purpose once. When I was first created I was sure there was something about me that no other shadow demon could claim... something special... some great destiny awaiting me... I don't know why... from the moment of my 'birth' I felt this unreasoning certainty..." He let out a deep sigh. "Probably just another psychological trip they stick in our heads to keep us going on and putting up with their abuse. A house elf probably has more chance of making something of its life than I do. At least people don't automatically scream and try to kill them the minute they lay eyes on them. The first couple hundred years beat the silly notion out of my head quite completely."
"And yet you mention it now... it can't be completely gone if you still think about it..." Lupin said gently.
"I didn't... not for centuries... not until I was forced into this body... even when he was at his lowest, crying into his pillow at night as his pain and despair overwhelmed him... even then, I felt something... a spark of a memory of how I used to feel. Maybe it's just because I'm in this young, idealistic human... but it's stirred the feelings a bit... there's just something about him... not just any human, but him in particular... I can't put my finger on it, but it kept bringing me back. I spent a lot of time outside him when I was first brought to Hogwarts... but after a while I found myself spending more and more time in him. Towards the end I was in him almost continuously. Sometimes I found myself forgetting what I really am... got so far into his head I started to lose myself... then I would look in the mirror and it would be like a slap in the face. I'd realize I hadn't even thought about my orders in days... weeks even... funny thing is, it would never pain me to disobey like that until I remembered... then I'd have to go out and fuck with people's heads for a while before I could even reenter his body without pain. It's just... so disconcerting... it's worse than it ever was before. Of course I've never been inside a human continuously for this long. I've actually started feeling almost human... thinking like a human... thinking of myself as a human... and yet I know I'm not. I never could be." He said, lifting his hand and staring morosely at the long shadowy talons protruding from the tips of his fingers.
They sat there in silence for a few minutes after that before Pax spoke again, "I don't think I could handle leaving him again." He said softly. "I have nothing... I AM nothing without him... I can't go back to being that great hideous beast... that thing is not what I am... it was never was..."
Lupin sighed, resting his hand on his shoulder, "Well, I doubt you'll have to worry about that any time soon. From what I've been told, that binding device doesn't appear to be removable. You'll probably be with him for the rest of his life..."
"Not if they think to ask the right person..." Pax said softly.
Lupin stared at him. Pax was gazing studiously away from him. Suddenly it dawned on him, "You know how to release it, don't you?"
Pax didn't move or say anything for a minute, then he sighed and slowly nodded.
Lupin watched him contemplatively.
After a moment, Pax sighed deeply. "I know you can't just leave me in here now that you know that... I'll set him free when he returns to school... just... just give me these last couple of days... then I'll give them the spell to release it the incantation to banish me."
"Banish you? I don't think that's necessary..." Lupin said quickly.
Pax gave a snort of amusement. "Yes it is. I told you, I won't go back to being that beast, and no one would willingly play host to a bloody demon! I've lived a good long life, and now my continued existence is nothing but a danger to Harry and everyone around him. My kind are nearly extinct. It's high time for me to join them." He said fatalistically.
"There's no reason you should have to die." Lupin said, saddened by the calm acceptance in the demon's eyes. "I could talk to Harry... maybe he would even let you remain in him..."
Pax gave a snort of amusement, "Not bloody likely. It's ok, Lupin. Really. Death comes to all of us sooner or later. It holds no fear for me anymore. It's what you do with your life that's important." He looked at Lupin intently, "It's the choices we make... the lives we touch... that' what's always frightened me before. The lives I've touched have rarely been the better for the experience. I haven't had much chance to make a positive impact before quite recently... but I'd like to think there will be at least a couple of people now who will, if not miss me, at least remember me somewhat fondly... who knows, maybe even more than a couple... sometimes we don't even realize how much we affect others..." A smile slid onto his lips as he smoothly changed the subject. "Which reminds me... I'm just curious... tell me about Narcissa."
Lupin looked over at him sharply, blinking in surprise, "Narcissa?"
Pax nodded, "What's the deal between you two?"
"I... I don't know what you're talking about. We went to school together, but I haven't seen her more than in passing while she attended functions with Lucius after that... Draco was asking questions about that as well... why?"
"Because he's a smart boy. He's had a shitty father all his life, so by this point, the prospect of any chance at getting a decent step-father is rather appealing..." Pax said, smirking at him.
Lupin's eyes widened. "What would that have to do with me?"
"He's gotten the feeling that Narcissa fancies you..."
"Why on earth would he think such a thing? It's been nearly two decades since I've even spoken to his mother, and not to mention the last words we had were... not exactly civil..." He said trailing off, his cheeks coloring slightly.
"Lover's spat?" Pax asked mirthfully.
"Why would you think that?"
"You want it straight?"
"Please! Ever since I got here everyone's been looking at me and whispering behind my back when they think I'm not looking. It's beginning to give me a bit of a complex!" Lupin said, a bit exasperated by this point.
"Ok, well seems Narcissa and Blaise got wicked pissed at the wedding last night... ended up having a pretty lively little romp in the sack from the sound of it... and apparently she... mentioned you..." Pax said mirthfully.
Lupin looked stunned. "She mentioned me?" He asked in confusion.
"Repeatedly and with enthusiasm!" Pax chuckled.
Lupin blushed brightly as he realized what the demon meant.
"She had been teasing Blaise after it all came out earlier, so he asked her who Remus was right in front of everyone. She just turned red and ran out... then ran straight into you!" Pax just couldn't seem to stop chuckling.
"That's why she fainted..." Lupin said softly, obviously deep in thought. After a moment he shook his head. "I don't understand... why would she have said my name?"
"Tell me what happened between the two of you and maybe I can help you figure it out...?" Pax offered with a hopeful smile.
Lupin slumped back in his seat after a moment, running his hands over his face. Well, the demon had been more than open with him... As he dropped his hands he gave a deep sigh. "We didn't have much to do with eachother in school as you can imagine... from different, rival Houses... Sure I thought she was attractive... not even James could refute that! But there was never anything other than random insults between us, as with any other members of our respective Houses..."
Pax settled down, smiling eagerly as Lupin's hesitance indicated it was just about to get good.
Lupin sighed again, "I used to walk out on the grounds during the new moon. I quite liked the night and the outdoors when the hateful moon wasn't glaring down at me." He said with a slightly bitter undertone. "The last new moon before the summer vacation in my sixth year I was walking along the edge of the forest... I heard the sound of a girl crying and I followed it... I found Narcissa sprawled on the ground, sobbing in a clearing. I of course went to her, afraid she'd been hurt... it looked like she had been in a bit of a tussle... her shirt was ripped and she had a bruise starting on her cheek. I offered to take her to the Hospital wing, but she refused... she just wrapped her arms around me and held onto me... I didn't really know what to do so I held her. After a few minutes she looked up at me and just stared at me for a moment, then she started kissing me... I knew I shouldn't even think of doing anything with her... I mean it was widely known that she was betrothed to Lucius, and even back then he was an evil little bastard... and besides, my own... condition was always a danger to anyone I got too close to..."
"But you shagged her anyway." Pax finished for him with a wolfish grin.
Lupin's cheeks burned brightly. He didn't say anything for a moment, but then went on softly, "We spent what I thought at the time was a rather special night wrapped up in our cloaks in that clearing. It was my first time... and it was pretty obvious it was hers as well... it was the new moon, but the smell of her blood... may have made me a bit rougher than I should have been. I assume that's why she reacted the way she did after... I awoke in the morning alone... didn't see her for a few days... then I finally spotted her crossing a courtyard one afternoon and I hurried up, wanting to talk to her about what had happened... I touched her elbow to get her attention... she turned, saw who it was and... hit me. She has a pretty wicked right hook for a female, I must say! She then proceeded to tell me to keep my 'filthy paws' off of her... and she might have gone on to include a few comments not usually uttered by ladies... and that was that. The last we spoke. I never told anyone about it... not even my dearest friends." He said softly, his eyes downcast. "I realized that what I had done to her was unconscionable... to risk her life like that... if I had bit her, even in human form... I might have passed on the curse... it's a risk I've never allowed myself to take since."
Pax's eyes went wide, "You haven't shagged in like twenty years?"
Lupin gave him a rueful smirk. "One can live without it."
"Survive perhaps, but I sure wouldn't call that living!" Pax snorted. "I don't understand humans who choose not to shag. You have these amazing bodies that have the ability to give eachother pleasure more exquisite than anything else I can even imagine... and to just not do it? I don't get it." He said, shaking his head.
"Yes, well sometimes one has to put the other person's continued health and happiness before momentary pleasure."
"Like you've done to every other girl who has wanted to get you in the sack since Narcissa dumped you?"
Lupin rolled his eyes, sighing tolerantly, "In a manner of speaking, yes."
Pax sighed in a commiserating way. "Love sucks when you're a 'dangerous beast', doesn't it?"
Lupin looked up sharply, "I wasn't in love with her! I mean even if I wanted to... I'm a werewolf for Merlin's sake! Even that brief interlude was an unforgivable risk to her life. Intimate relationships aren't exactly in the cards for my kind."
Pax smirked, reaching over and patting his arm. "I know exactly what you mean..." He said with a little smile, then rose and walked out.
> > > > > > > > > > >
A/N - (pant, pant, pant) finally finished the chapter. Had to go over it and over it. Please don't all go, "hey, what did such and such get for christmas?" cause I really can't sit here all day listing presents, cause I imagine there was a crapload of presents. I mean I'm having a hard enough time keeping track of all the bloody people, let alone what each and every one was likely to get all the others. And before you all ask again, let me remind you that in the story it is currently Christmas day. The trip to the hospital is scheduled for 'this' afternoon. Chill.
kazhdu - I concede your point of course... but I wasn't talking about an unwanted child. The mother may not have wanted it, but that doesn't mean no one wanted it. Draco wanted it. Dumbledore offered to find it a home if she would keep it until it was born when he spoke to the mother, undoubtedly knowing Draco would want it, so it's not like it would have wound up in an orphanage. I'm also not saying rape isn't traumatic. I know how psychologically damaging it can be, and how disturbing it would be to have a constant reminder staring you in the face every day like that. In fact, not saying they shouldn't or anything, but I don't know how the women who keep them do it. It would take a very strong woman, that's for sure. Point is, she wouldn't have to see it ever again after giving birth and it would have a good home and be loved and taken care of. That's what Draco wants.