A/N: Wow, what can I say for the strange range of reviews I've gotten. I have been flamed more for the last chapter than for any of the previous chapters combined. That rather made me take a step back. But what got me is that yes, I understood where the people were coming from…and well, there's plenty of answers for their concerns, but dammit, I have a plot to follow and I'm bloody well sticking to it. Achem. Yes, the story is angsty and dark. But compared to my original fiction most of this story is sunshine and flowers. There is a point to it all, but the reasons why won't show up for a few chapters. So here's some only-mildly-laced-with-sadness fluff. Enjoy.
ALSO: There are a myriad of reasons for the delay. One is that I got married, the other is that I'm moving. So…erm…I'm sorta not sorry cuz I've been busier than hell. But! The good news is that I am about 3 chapters ahead in the first draft stages of the story…so I will be getting started on them asap. Thanks!
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing. But I sure wish I did.
IMPORTANT!!!!: I apologize for the qpqpqpqp stuff…ffnet won't let me use little stars anymore, so I had to come up with something that would make for a good section break. So, there you go. It's a little retarded, but oh well.
Chapter 29: Winter WondersChristmas Day: 6:00 A.M.
Ginny woke slowly from the most pleasant dream she'd had in ages. She stretched in her warm bed, blinking the sleep from her eyes slowly, not really wanting to wake up and let go of the dream.
She got up from bed slowly and limped to the bathroom, making a face at the coating on her teeth. She glanced at the mirror and looked away – then froze, slowly turning back.
"Well hello missy. Or should I say Ms. Black?" Ginny barely heard the mirror's quip; her attention was riveted to her reflection. It hadn't been a dream.
The Familius spell was a tricky thing, or so the Headmaster had mentioned briefly before he'd left that night. Sometimes witches and wizards were not affected by the spell, merely taking the name of the House they'd been adopted by. But some others were affected by the spell – incredibly so.
Ginny's once red hair, the pride of the Weasley clan, had darkened to a deep ruby color; a red so dark it was nearly black. Her eyes were now an icy aqua, sometimes blue, sometimes green. Her freckles had faded and the pale Black skin made her new features stand out even more.
She raised a trembling hand to touch her cheek, a startled gasp escaping from her throat. She spun, her teeth and hair forgotten, rushing as fast as she could limp for Bill's room.
"Bill! Bill! Bill!" She burst through his door, dashing over to the bed, her cane making thumping noises as she moved. "Wake up!" Her cane connected with the floor loudly as she abandoned it to use both hands to shake the slumbering man. Bill came awake with a snort, shooting up in bed, bonking heads with his sister painfully.
"Fu-ooey!" Bill rubbed at his head, peering over the edge of the bed to where Ginny had fallen. "Gin? You alright?" He stared and she looked up at him, her eyes solemn. "Oh Merlin." Bill blinked a few times and then shot off the bed, heading for the closet mirror at top speed, his bedspread flying to one side. Ginny clambered to her feet, using her cane to steady herself as she watched him examine his face.
Bill's appearance hadn't undergone as radical a transformation that Ginny's had – but the difference was immediately noticeable. His hair had not darkened to the ruby color of Ginny's, but had instead mellowed to a dark auburn. His eyes had also become a darker shade of blue, edged with black. His freckles were still prominent on his face, but they had faded to a degree. "Oh man. Would you look at that." Bill tilted his head to one side and then the other, poking at his skin and pulling down his eyelid to check out his eyes. "Merlin."
Ginny crossed the room and plopped herself down in the chair next to him, watching his antics. "When I woke up this morning I thought it'd been a dream. But when I saw this…" she lifted a hand to touch her hair, noticing that it had also grown in the night, making it now almost to her waist. "I look so – different."
Bill looked at her down turned face and forgot about the mirror. He turned to her and knelt, brushing back the hair from her face, studying her carefully. "Do you regret it?"
She looked up and shook her head emphatically, her eyes wide. "No! Not at all. It's just…" she looked away, hunching slightly, her hands smoothing her pajamas absently.
"It's just that what those – those – assholes said yesterday really did a number on you, didn't it?" Bill's eyes saddened as she nodded miserably, still not meeting his gaze. "Aw, Gin. Look at me." He gently turned her to face him again, tucking his feet under him so they would be eye level to one another. "We're Blacks now. We have a family. We have a home – a flippin' fortune and," he looked at her intently, "a legacy. Don't let them cast doubts in you. Sirius would have never made the offer if he hadn't meant it. He cares, Remus cares, Harry cares – they all do. They're family now, our family." He gripped her shoulders and shook her lightly, finally getting her to look up at him.
Ginny took a deep, shaky breath and let it out slowly, nodding. "You're right. We're family. And Blacks never let family down." They shared a smile, their eyes shining. A wicked look suddenly entered Ginny's eye. "I wonder what Harry and Sirius are going to do when they see us."
Bill smirked at her and winked. "Naw, I think it's the Malfoy's and Professor Snape who we should watch. After all, there's now three Blacks in the world now, not one."
Ginny giggled quietly, her hand coming up to hide her mouth. "C'mon brother," she sniffed haughtily and turned her nose into the air. "It is far too early for such Blacks as ourselves to be up. Noon sounds like a much more fitting time for us to grace the others with our presence." Bill tilted his head back and laughed, but swept Ginny up into his arms and deposited her onto the bed. He grabbed the coverlet from the ground and threw it over the both of them, snuggling her giggling form close before they both fell asleep again.
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Christmas Day 8:00 A.M.
Harry struggled into his heavy outer robes, frowning at his inability to find the opening for his arm to slip through. He growled at it futilely, feeling an angry blush heat his face. He paid no attention to the fact that his hands were shaking, or that small black dots bloomed in his vision.
"Here," Draco's voice was full of amusement. "Let me help you."
"I'm fine, thank you. I can get it." Harry drew in an angry breath and let it out slowly, focusing on getting his arm through the stupid bloody hole. Finally gentle hands took a hold of the material and helped him shrug the bulky thing on. Draco's hands rested briefly on his shoulders, and his thumbs brushed gently against Harry's neck, sending shivers down the dark haired boy's spine.
"Thanks," Harry turned his head to the side, catching a glimpse of the boy behind him, but did not turn around fully.
"You're welcome. Where are you going, anyhow?"
Harry shrugged and looked out the window. "I dunno. I just – needed some air, you know?"
"At eight in the morning? On Christmas Day?"
"…and the reason you're up is…?"
"Point. Where are we off to then?"
The hands resting on Harry's shoulders finally slid away, and Draco moved around Harry to open the door for him. He glared briefly at the blond, but stepped out into the whiteness, his boots sinking up to mid calf into the snow. He moved out of the shadow of the Manor and tilted his head back, studying the sky. The sun hadn't cleared the nearby hills yet, so if he concentrated, he could almost still see the stars.
"I fear my father and Severus are going to be at your godfather's throat soon." Draco came up beside Harry, tilting his own head back to study the sky.
Harry smiled. "Hey, he only boasted about Ginny and Bill for a – er, well." Harry closed his mouth and snorted. "Alright, so he went a bit overboard. He's Sirius though…it's sorta part of his nature."
"Sort of."
"Whatever."
Draco sighed and stuffed his hands into his pockets. "I wonder what they'll look like if they adopt any of the Black traits."
Harry's head whipped around to stare at the other boy. "What did you just say?"
Draco frowned at Harry. "Weren't you listening? The Familius spell will sometimes affect the people that it's cast on. They'll change physically and all that. You weren't listening, were you?"
"I was on my second brandy!"
"Light weight."
Harry glared at the blond, who smirked at him. "I am not."
"Mmm hmm."
"I'm not!"
"Riiight." Draco nodded solemnly at him, his eyes shining clearly in the twilight.
"Oh for the love of god," Harry swore and stomped off towards the gardens, Draco's laughter loud in the silence.
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"Here," Draco stopped Harry with a hand around his upper arm. "I want to show you something."
Harry looked down at the long fingered hand that still had yet to dislodge itself from his upper arm and finally nodded. The blond led him down some smaller paths, away from the main gardens and towards the skeletal remains of what seemed to be orchards. They passed through one of the gates and immediately the air was warmer, moister.
"This is my favorite place," Draco looked out over the quiet grove, his eyes distant. "I know it's just a glorified hot house, but…this was my grandmother's garden. She had it built after my grandfather died. The spells that maintain the temperature, the moisture, all of it – they're all hers. Even now that she's dead; she loved this garden so much…" Draco trailed off, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He pointed to a large tree a ways away from them. "She used to take me out here when I was little; she'd have High Tea in here with me, and even though we were sitting on quilts and sipping from her fourth best china, I had to behave as though we were seated at a society dinner." He abruptly snorted and looked over at Harry. "She hated society; I think she was trying to get me to hate it too. But her stilted lessons just ended up fascinating me, really."
Harry looked up at the blond, watching the emotions pass freely across his face. "She sounds like a lovely woman."
Draco looked down at him, and the sight made Harry's breath catch. "She was." He looked away and Harry found himself able to breath again. What the hell was…Harry looked away, fighting a blush. He could feel Draco take a deep breath, and suddenly the blond was gently turning Harry's face towards him, a faint tremor belying the blonde's outward calm. "Harry I –,"
"Harry Potter where the hell are you?!" Sirius' panicked voice made the two boys jump away from each other. There was a moment of silence, then a loud crashing was heard and the animagus form of Harry's godfather burst into the clearing. With a pop Sirius transformed, lunging at Harry. "Don't do that to an old man, Harry. Tell me when you're going out – ye gods I thought – well – never mind what I thought. And you –," Sirius glared at Draco. "Ever think of leaving a note?"
"Sirius! Please!" Harry squirmed until his godfather released him. "I'm fifteen years old! I can walk around on my own, you know." He glared at the taller man, his hands on his hips.
Sirius' face was a sight. "Harry," the animagus breathed in carefully through his nose and let it out slowly. "I know you're responsible. I know you'd do your best to get out of a dangerous situation. It's the rest of the world I don't trust. And as long as I know where you are, and what back up you have, the less likely I'll kill something. Okay?" Sirius took a step forward and gripped Harry's shoulders tightly. "Kiddo – I love you. I just want you safe."
Harry tried his best to stay mad at the animagus, but in the end, he finally gave in to the hug the older man was trying to pull him into. He knew Sirius was only concerned about his well-being, but – couldn't he have picked a different time to barge in? Harry looked past Sirius to Draco, who was studying the quiet orchard, the remains of a blush swiftly fading from his pale skin. Oh yeah, Harry hid a sigh and briefly closed his eyes, then let the animagus guide him and Draco back towards the Manor. Sirius, your timing really sucks.
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Christmas Day 10:00 A.MSeverus looked over his teacup at his disgruntled lover. Lucius had a most particular expression on his face – one Severus had not seen for a very long time. Shock. Pure and complete shock. Of course, Severus looked around the dining room where they were seated. I completely understand it.
The Malfoy Grand Dining Room was in a state it had never been before. Pristine, yes. Covered with blood from past assassinations of various family members, yes. But never before had the Grand Dining Room been – been – pink. A particularly nauseating shade of pink that Severus was quite sure did not occur in nature. Why pink? Severus hid a shudder and returned to his tea, trying to ignore the cheerful brightness surrounding him. If I ignore it – well, it won't go away, but at least I can pretend I'm somewhere else. The change had come over the Dining Room minutes before Lucius had come downstairs to have a late breakfast with his lover – Severus had been up for a while and had nearly dropped the three hundred year old teapot when it had happened.
"BLACK!!" Severus was quite sure the townsfolk several miles away could have heard his lover's shriek. "Get your bloody arse down here immediately!" The dark haired Potions Master snickered into his tea, quickly hiding his mirth from Lucius as he turned to glare at him. "And don't you start." Severus narrowed his eyes briefly at the blond, but wisely kept silent.
The animagus bounded into the room several minutes later, a dark twinkle gleaming in his eyes. "Ah, Lucius. Good morning!"
"Good morning? Good morning? Why you bloody –," and Lucius was off, lunging at the taller wizard with rage burning in his eyes. Severus nearly snorted tea up his nose as he watched his lover scramble to wrap his aristocratic hands around the other man's throat.
"Lucius! No killing! You promised Draco!" Sirius scrambled backwards, easily ducking out of the other man's reach. Lucius stopped and pulled out his wand, fine tremors of rage making the wood wobble slightly. "Turn it back or so help me Black I will stun you and strangle you to death with my own two hands."
"But – it looks so – so – uh – pretty! And cheerful!"
"Turn it back."
"But –,"
"Stup –,"
"Alright! Alright! Finite Incantum!" The walls slowly faded back into their dark tones, the wood paneling gleaming once again. Lucius narrowed his eyes at Sirius once, holding his wand at the other wizard for a long moment before lowering it slowly.
"What the hell were you thinking?" the blond finally spat.
Sirius shrugged faintly and smiled. "I thought my new daughter and son would enjoy a bit of humor?" He had the grace to look abashed, although Lucius didn't buy it for a moment.
"Don't I repeat don't do anything like this again, so help you Merlin. Is that understood Sirius Black?"
"Yes Lucius Malfoy." Sirius folded his hands in front of him contritely, the image spoiled by the gleam in his eye.
"Oh for –," Lucius rolled his eyes and turned away, disgusted.
"Sirius? Sirius?" Ginny's shriek startled the adults and Severus was on his feet before he knew what was happening. Bill and Ginny burst through the door and Severus felt his mouth drop open in shock. He quickly snapped it closed, but couldn't help the slight bulging of his eyes. Lucius, he noted absently, was in no better shape.
The sight of the new and improved Bill and Ginny Black was a shock to all of them. Sirius took a hesitant step forward, a myriad of emotions flashing across his face. Shock, amazement, joy – he reached the two in the doorway, extending one hand out to touch Ginny's new hair. "Merlin," he whispered hoarsely, blinking rapidly. "You – you're Blacks! Really and truly Blacks!"
"Well that was the purpose of the spell, you twit."
"Shut up, Severus."
"Black mind your tongue or I'll –,"
"Shut up Malfoy." Lucius sputtered but fell silent, continuing to stare at Ginny and Bill.
A rush of footsteps were heard and Harry's form bounded through the door, nearly running into the Blacks. "Ginny? What's wrong? Has something hap – holy sh-crap!" Severus sent the boy a sharp glance at his language but let it slide. Draco was at Harry's heels, and he too stopped dead to stare at the changed wizard and witch.
"You – you – wow." Harry circled Ginny, staring at her carefully. "Wow."
Ginny grinned at him, bouncing. "Isn't it amazing? I woke up and nearly didn't recognize myself." Remus appeared in the doorway and did a double take. He drifted further into the room, coming to a stop near Sirius, never taking his eyes off them. His head cocked to one side and he took a step closer to them, sniffing delicately.
"You even smell like Blacks." Severus winced at the werewolf's statement, but let the allusion to his curse pass without comment. He didn't want to ruin the moment for Ginny – much to his disgust. Severus you're becoming too soft.
Ginny beamed at Remus, but was suddenly swept up into a hug by Sirius. The animagus lifted the small girl off the ground and twirled her around, laughing. "Ginny Ginny Ginny!"
She shrieked with laughter and clung to the tall man. He set her down gently, brushing back her hair with trembling hands. With a sudden grin he spun to Bill and before the wizard could get away, the animagus swung him into a hug as well, lifting him bodily off the ground, making Bill squirm and laugh at the same time. "The House of Black lives again! Remus – can you believe it? My parents must be rolling in their graves! It's absolutely delightful!" Sirius' voice was thick with smug amusement. Harry came forward and wrapped his arm around Ginny's shoulders. "I think this calls for a celebration." Severus felt the hair on the back of his neck rise.
Sirius pulled his wand from his robes with a flourish. "Appareo versicoloris domesticus ater atra atrum!"
Lucius' eyes bulged out again as not just the Dining Room but the hallway, the foyer and presumably the rest of the Manor suddenly transformed itself into the colors of the House of Black. Ginny's eyes lit up and Bill roared with laughter. "Sirius Black!" Sirius had to scramble again as the blond took after him, dodging curses while giggling madly. "Undo your miserable spell this instant!" The aristocratic blonde's robes flapped as he chased after Sirius, the laughter of Draco and Harry following them down the hall. "Black!"
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For all that Lucius had grumbled and complained about Sirius' antics, the blond had gone all out to make the newest Blacks' first Christmas a grand one. The tree that he had procured was immense – towering over even Sirius in the Den, lit by wizarding lights and delicate silver and blue ornaments – a compromise the Slytherins and remaining Gryffindors had agreed upon, much to Severus' disgust.
A heap of presents were piled underneath the boughs and near by the fire roared, filling the den with warmth and light. Harry and Draco sat close to one another on one of the couches – their bodies nearly touching from shoulder to hip. The blond stretched his arm out along the top of the couch, causing Harry to shift slightly and end up being pressed against Draco's side. The dark haired boy blushed but didn't move and Draco let his arm settle lightly on Harry's shoulder. Harry beamed.
Ginny cast a look in their direction, catching Harry's gaze and smirking. Harry just grinned at her and settled more firmly into the blonde's embrace, Draco's arm curling around him even tighter.
"Alright. Who's going first then?" Sirius' voice broke the small silence, his eyes twinkling as he looked at Harry and Draco. The tall animagus bounced on the balls of his feet, his entire body quivering with energy. Remus looked at his lover, a small, patient smile on his face; Sirius was in heaven – there was nothing to be done about him, other than let him have his way.
"I believe the youngest should go first." Remus took a sip of his hot chocolate, smiling warmly at Ginny over the rim of his cup. She blushed and looked down at her hands, not meeting anyone's gaze. Bill bumped her knee gently with his shoulder from where he was seated on the ground, which made her look at him, but not any further up.
Lucius smiled gently at them, stretching out on a couch and crossing his legs at the ankle. "By all means, Ms. Black. Go ahead." Severus crossed his legs and set his teacup aside, tucking his loose hair behind his ears as he looked from his lover to the small girl.
She looked up shyly at the older wizard and hesitantly smiled back. She got up from her seat with the help of Bill's shoulder and took a step towards the presents; before she could get any further, however, a house elf appeared and gathered all of Ginny's presents up from the pile and had them heaped around her chair, partially covering Bill in the creature's haste. She started, wobbling a bit from the creature's sudden appearance. "Ah, well. That makes things easier," she said dryly. She poked at Bill's head. "Still alive down there?" She caught Severus smirking at them and hid a snort. Bill batted away several small presents and extracted himself from the pile, moving to sit on a near by couch. She grinned at him, then sat back down in her chair carefully and just stared at the presents for a long moment.
She's never had so many presents before in her entire life. Not even added all together, she thought. She reached out and took one gently, hesitating before starting to carefully open the beautiful wrapping paper.
"Ginny!" She looked over at Draco, who was mock scowling at her. "Come now. That's not how a Black opens up presents. Cousin, I assure you that they are a lot more messy about the whole thing."
Ginny's hands stilled. "Cousin?"
Draco's grin turned wolfish. "Yes. My mother is your new father's cousin."
Ginny blinked owlishly at him before a slow, evil smile began to spread across her face. "I'm related to a Malfoy."
"Yes."
"As a Black."
There was a matching smile on Draco's face. "Yes."
"Oh lovely. Care to make posters of the family tree and put them up around school when we get back?" They all laughed and Ginny began to tear into her presents with a vengeance.
She was gifted with a lovely set of jewelry from Sirius; glowing, deep emeralds set in white gold. From Remus she got several thick volumes of hexes and curses – as well as a thin volume on non-magical practical jokes. "To go with the set Harry already has, you see." The werewolf winked at her, making her giggle.
From Harry she got a silver bracelet, with onyx and garnets set alternately in the links. As she slipped it on she felt a whisper of magic settle over her. She raised curious eyes to Harry, who stayed mute and merely winked at her.
From Draco she received a Nimbus 2000. She goggled over the sleek broom, her hands running over it reverently. From Bill she got a set of dragonhide pants with matching boots, "To go with the fancy new broom," he'd said with a grin. She blushed and put the clothing aside, appreciative but, like hell I'll ever get into those – not without an invisibility cloak to hide under, anyhow.
From Severus she got a first edition book on rare potions – something she'd been expecting, but appreciated none-the-less. It was Lucius' gift, however, that made her breath catch in her throat.
The elder Malfoy had given her a cane – the body was a twisted length of ebony and the handle was bright, shining silver in the shape of a roaring dragon with eyes that were emerald chips. Runes were etched down the length of it, nearly invisible except by touch. The eyes of the dragon gleamed with an inner light, flashing once brightly as she gripped the handle tightly in her hand.
"A person can never be without too much security, my dear. A well-hidden friend in the stickiest of situations can always be handy. His name is Jaredth; he is very old and very loyal. My he be your protector in every situation you my encounter." Lucius smiled at her, his eyes gleaming in the firelight.
She clutched the cane to her chest, hugging it tight. "Thank you," she whispered quietly, tears sparkling on her cheeks.
"You are most welcome, Ms. Black."
Everyone made out like bandits that Christmas – especially the children. Harry received numerous volumes on charms and curses – which he'd had to be dragged away from to finish opening the rest of his presents.
From Draco he received a bracelet similar to Ginny's. From Lucius he got a desk organizer that would automatically schedule all of his appointments and remind him of them. From Severus he received a small pensive, "For you dreams," the Potions Master had remarked quietly. They shared a look which caused Harry to smile slightly and the older wizard to look away. From Bill he received a set of dragonhide pants and boots that matched Ginny's – which he hastily set aside with a blush.
Draco received a gambit of magical games from his father and Severus – all which he examined at great length. From Harry he received two presents – one was a book on improving seeker skills and the other was a pendant, which he slipped on immediately. The gifts from Sirius and Remus he handled gingerly – but none of them exploded in his face, for which he was extremely glad.
The highlight of Bill's presents came from Sirius. The animagus had twitched and fidgeted as the lanky wizard carefully unwrapped the small box. Inside lay the Black family signet ring.
"It's supposed to go to the first born son of the Black line," Sirius explained hastily at Bill's silence. "Seeing as I'm technically the patriarch of the House now – and isn't that an odd thing to realize, ew – well, the ring is yours now."
Bill lifted the ring out of the small velvet box, his hand trembling as he slipped it on. The ring shrank to fit his finger snuggly. "I – I don't know what to say," he whispered finally, his eyes bright.
Sirius smiled gently, tension easing out of his stance. "Welcome to the family, son." Bill curled his hand into a tight fist, feeling the ring dig slightly into his skin. He didn't look up for a long while.
The adults got a variety of presents from the grinning children – as several pranks caused the evening to be spent in uproarious laughter – and the occasional bout of murderous rage. They sat up long into the night, laughing and drinking after the wrapping paper and dust settled to the ground. It was a night Harry, Ginny and Bill would never forget.
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Neville stared out at the winter landscape, resting his forehead against the glass windowpane with a sigh. He raised a finger to the quickly fogging glass, tracing absent patterns in the condensation.
His holiday had been pleasantly quiet. He'd wanted to invite Harry and Ginny to his Gran's house – but then he'd heard about the Malfoy's invitation and had decided to stay quiet. He'd seen how Draco stared at Harry – hopefully the blond would put the time alone to good use. Neville blushed and shifted on the window seat, the thought of Draco and Harry reminding him of his own state of affairs with one sable haired boy with a quiet smile and warm eyes.
Neville turned away from the window and looked to the kitchen where his Gran was puttering around, making a carrot cake. The scent was slowly filling the house, bringing with it a thousand memories. His first Christmas with his Gran; a sad, mournful time. His first Hogwart's Christmas. The first time he'd ever performed spontaneous magic, turning the couch a neon pink. Good memories and sad – a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
He wondered what Blaise would make of the cottage that his Gran and he lived in; would the pure blood find it disdainful? Pitiful? Quaint? An embarrassed blush stained his cheeks – he hoped the tiny size of his home wouldn't make Blaise pity him. Of course, Neville nibbled on his lower lip, tucking a leg under himself, getting comfortable. I don't know what Blaise's house looks like. He might not live in a mansion, you know, his logical side pointed out. Neville frowned briefly before shrugging the thought off. It's not like Blaise'll ever see the cottage anyhow. I mean, the only time we're together is at Hogwarts…
A polite tap on the front door startled Neville out of his musing. "Neville!" His Gran poked her head around the corner, a steak of flour decorating her cheek. "Get the door!" Neville hopped off the window seat, rolling his eyes briefly at his Gran, but hurrying over to the door none-the-less. He grasped the latch and pulled.
Blaise stood on the stoop, his black dress robes dusted lightly with snow. His sable hair gleamed in the porch light and his face spread into a delighted grin when he saw who answered the door.
"Blaise!" Neville blurted, then blushed hotly. He blinked rapidly at the sight in front of him. Wasn't I just thinking…
"Hello Neville. Happy Christmas."
Neville gaped at the other boy for a moment and then remembered his manners. "Ah, uh – Hello Blaise. Do – do come in. Please." He let him in, taking the heavy outer robe from Blaise and hanging it up on a hook.
"Neville? Who is it?" Gran came out from the kitchen, her hair bound up in a frizzy bun and her apron and arms splattered with frosting. She caught sight of Blaise and stopped dead. "Ah. Well." She smoothed down her apron absently. "Hello young man."
"Gran," Neville stepped forward, taking a deep breath, "I'd like to introduce you to Blaise, my – my friend." Gran closed her mouth with a snap and her eyes narrowed slightly.
"So, you're that boy from Slytherin that my Neville has told me about." Neville closed his eyes, feeling his face heat up yet again. If I keep this up I'll be blushing all night. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you." Neville's eyes popped open in surprise – he hadn't expected his Gran to be that polite.
Blaise chuckled and bowed slightly, adding a small flourish. "Blaise Zabini, at your service ma'am." Gran's face broke into a delighted smile.
"Come in now," she herded the boys into the small living room. "Would you care for some tea? I was just about to start dinner, if you'd like to stay." She plumped up a few of the homemade pillows and whisked away her knitting needles, depositing them into a basket near the couch.
Blaise sank into one of the old armchairs, nodding graciously. "Yes, tea would be lovely, thank you. As for dinner though," he turned dark eyes to Neville, "I was actually wondering if I could steal your grandson away for the evening."
There was a long silence. Neville finally looked up at his grandmother, his heart sinking. Please don't let her be mad –
Instead of the angry, wrathful expression he'd feared, his Gran's face was a mixture of joy, delight and faint sorrow. "Ah," she said, folding her hands at her waist daintily now, her brows coming together. "That type of friend."
Neville risked a glance at Blaise, who showed only faint signs of anxiety. "Ah, well, that's for Neville to decide really," the sable haired boy finally stuttered, his calm exterior cracking slightly. "And also, that is, if you'll – uh, give your blessing." Blaise cleared his throat and fidgeted slightly. Neville looked back at his Gran. This is beginning to feel like a bizarre quidditch match.
She had a peculiar expression on her face. She studied the Slytherin, not saying a word. Finally she turned and disappeared into the kitchen without saying a word, leaving the boys to their own devices. Neville glanced at Blaise, who was staring at him intently.
"That was – uh, bold." Neville looked down at his hands, breaking eye contact.
Blaise leaned forward and grasped one of Neville's hands. "I like you, Neville Longbottom. I like you a lot. And I think you like me. But I know how much your Grandmother means to you. I wanted –," he sighed explosively, blowing his bangs out of his eyes. "I wanted to formally ask permission to court you; to do the right thing, the proper thing in your Gran's eyes. I hope," he squeezed Neville's hand lightly, drawing the sandy haired boy's gaze again, "I hope I did the right thing."
Neville smiled at him, a lump forming in his throat. "You did," he whispered.
"Indeed. Perfectly to form." Gran's voice caused the boys to jump and pull away, blushing. She chuckled as she bustled into the room, setting down a tea tray on the small table. Blaise automatically took the cup handed to him, as did Neville. "Now," she sat herself down next to Neville on the couch, her apron gone and her arms free of frosting. "Just what do you have planned for this evening?" She gave him a stern look from over the top of her teacup as she took a sip.
Blaise visibly gulped and shifted slightly in his seat, glancing briefly at Neville before turning his attention to his Gran. "I have reservations at the Grand Restaurant for us, and afterward a walk near the lake; if it's agreeable with Neville. A faint blush stained Blaise's cheeks, and he peeked at Neville out of the corner of his eye.
Gran hummed to herself for a moment. "And when, exactly, were you planning on getting my grandson home?"
"By – by eleven –,"
"Ten."
"Uh," Blaise glanced at Neville again and gulped. "Of course. Ten. By ten. O'clock. This evening." He blinked rapidly and took a sip of his tea, focusing on the motion to help calm him down.
Gran turned to Neville. "I assume you would like to go to dinner with this young gentleman?" Neville nodded hesitantly. "What was that? I couldn't hear you."
Neville blushed and cleared his throat. "I – yes. I would. Like to go."
Gran smiled and Blaise relaxed visibly. "Well then. I give my blessings to this – courtship," she blinked and shook her hear faintly. "But," she leveled a bony finger at Blaise. "I expect Neville to be home at ten o'clock sharp, is that understood? Not ten after ten, not five after, but ten sharp." The boys both nodded rapidly, smiles spreading across their faces. "Good. Now that that is settled, I have a cake to return to." She rose and looked down at Neville, her expression softening. She leaned down and kissed the top of his head. "Enjoy yourself, child." And she was gone, bustling off to the kitchen.
Neville pushed away his mortification and glanced at Blaise. The sable haired boy had a slightly awed expression on his face. "She's quite – intimidating," Blaise said quietly.
Neville nodded in agreement. "Yes, she's had to be."
Blaise suddenly smiled wickedly at him. "Now I see where you get your stubborn streak." He laughed delightedly at Neville's blush. He set down his teacup and rose, holding his hand out to Neville, pulling the other boy to his feet. "Now, we have a dinner to get to, don't we?"
Blaise's fingers threaded their way through Neville's and the sandy haired boy found himself tugged closer to the taller boy. "Yes," Neville said happily, tightening his hold on Blaise's hand. "We do."
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The moon was barely a sliver in the sky, casting most of the remote garden into shadows. Harry stood in the deep silence, knowing full well that if Sirius knew he was out there all alone he'd have Harry's hide in a heartbeat. But the teen had not been able to sleep, no matter how pleasant the evening had been; his thoughts had been dark and disturbing for most of the night. There was a dozen things spinning around in his head – fears, worries; the warm, almost family atmosphere of Christmas driving some of them home in his heart. He'd been sitting in his window seat, his legs tucked up under him; the faint moonlight had called to him, so he had followed, his feet finally taking him to Draco's grandmother's garden.
His breath frosted in the chill air, and he wrapped his cloak tight around his body, pushing away the bite in the air. He bowed his head, tucking his chin to his chest and closed his eyes. "I don't know if you can hear me," he began quietly, not knowing why or to whom he was speaking to, "but please – I don't know what to do." He looked up and his eyes were wet with tears. "The world seems to be falling apart as I look at it – and I know that Voldemort will come after me again and again until either he or me is dead. It's just – I – I can't do it alone. I've tried and tried but all that seems to happen is that other people get hurt. My friends. My family. I can't loose them, please don't let me loose them now."
His breath hitched and he cleared his suddenly tight throat. "I know it's selfish. I know I'm the one that's getting everyone in trouble. But please –," his voice broke slightly. "I can't do this alone."
"You're not alone, Harry." The small wizard spun around, his heart racing as he whipped out his wand. Draco regarded him seriously from the shadows, his gray eyes dark and a heavy winter cloak thrown hastily over his clothes. "You'll never be alone as long as I'm here." The blond walked up to Harry slowly, gracefully. Draco came to a stop a hair's breath away from the other boy, reaching up and cupping Harry's face with a cold hand. "I swear to you this; I will never leave your side. I will always be there to help you, I will always be there – no matter what. From here to death and beyond."
Harry opened his mouth to protest the oath, but Draco covered his lips gently with his free hand. "Shh. Thus I have sworn, this oath I will uphold. Get used to it, Harry. You're stuck with me."
Harry trembled, joy and sorrow flashing through him. "Good," he finally whispered.
A smile spread over Draco's face. He removed his hand from Harry's lips, his eyes darkening to near black. "I – I promised you something, did you know that?" Harry shook his head, slightly confused. A strange smile passed across Draco's face. "You were unconscious in the Hospital Wing, and you wouldn't wake up; I promised to tell you something if you would. And you did." Harry's breath caught and he could feel his heartbeat pounding in his throat. "I – ah Harry, I –,"
"Draco –," Harry began, cutting him off; he had an idea of what the other boy was about to say, and it filled him with a strange, wild rushing feeling. He was silenced as the blond suddenly leaned down and kissed him soundly, his actions telling the dark haired boy everything that the blond couldn't say. Harry clutched at the taller boy, all thoughts of oaths, curfews and homicidal godfathers flying out of his head.
The blond wrapped his arms around him, supporting him, lending warmth to Harry's chilled body. Harry leaned into Draco's arms, curling his hands into the other boy's robes, clinging to him for all that he was worth. He could feel Draco's pounding heartbeat, and it comforted him – it's like a familiar song…he felt safe there – secure. It's like he's the anchor that's keeping me from floating away…Draco slid chilled hands into Harry's thick hair and tilted his head to one side, causing all thoughts to fly out of the dark haired boy's head.
The moon had set before the two Slytherins finally returned to the Manor. Neither of them saw the misty figure that followed them through the garden, nor did they hear the throaty laugh of an elderly woman as they scrambled to get into the house before dawn.
"Ah, the joys of love." Adriana Malfoy watched her grandson disappear into the Manor with fond eyes. "They're good for each other. It's just what they both need." She turned suddenly, a presence making her expression soften. She took the outstretched hand offered to her, kissing the cheek of her husband as she let him guide her away. She cast one last look over her shoulder, her eyes now slightly sad. "Harry, my boy. May the spirits give your prayer wings to the ears of those left sleeping, for I do not think that the one god can help you now." She turned back around, casting a small smile up at the love of her life before looking away.
The figures vanished as the first stirrings of dawn peeked over the horizon. As their forms melted away, a gentle wind blew through the gardens, bringing the rich sent of spring with it as it passed.
End Chapter 29A/N: No list this time. But I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who reviewed. And especially, thank you to all of you who've been reading and reviewing Faith since the beginning. It means a lot to me that you've stuck with it, and me, for so long. Thanks again to everyone who's reviewed; you're what makes me keep on writing!