**So, as promised, here are two chapters in a row. Thank you to those who bothered trying to help, you gave me some good ideas and soon I will post the brand new Summary :D (that's what the description is called apparently…) Anyway here's the second part of the Christmas thing and the next chapter will be up shortly, after I finish doing the final edit on it. Enjoy**
Back in the house Bonny had left our treats out to cool. Draco went straight up to them and took a handful before slumping down on one of the island seats. He demanded milk from her ignoring me as I walked into the room. Lev growled but I tapped his nose, he had done enough. More than enough considering how upset Draco looked though I still didn't quite understand why... I kept Lev in my arms and reached for a cookie to give to him. Before he could snatch it from my hand I heard Bonny scream
"No! No chocolate! He mustn't have it!" she squeaked desperately
"It's okay, Bonny" I sighed. This was the downside to house elves.
"But –Master said he mustn't –Miss said –!"
"I am allowing it" I insisted. She looked confused over whether to follow this order or the earlier one. "When I'm the one feeding him he can have some"
Draco looked up, his face uncaring. I hated that expression. It was one he used whenever he didn't want people to see how he was really feeling. If there was one thing Draco was good at it was hiding his emotions. He had a habit of pushing them down and away from everyone. I felt like I was the only one who ever brought a true reaction to his face other than anger or annoyance. In my mind this felt like the reason why his mother had let us become so close, to get him to open up. I sighed and set my puppy down, instructing him and Bonny to leave us. He grumbled but at the moment Draco worried me more
"What's wrong?" I asked taking my seat next to Draco
"Nothing" he said tersely, turning away from me. I knew something was bothering him and it annoyed me he wouldn't tell me what. He always told me everything even if he knew I'd get mad at him. So why was he keeping this?
"Deedee…" I sighed and turned him so he would look at me
"Drop it, I'm fine!" I sighed knowing he wouldn't tell me. Usually I could read him fairly well but every once in a while I would be at a complete loss. "These are really good" he mumbled trying to lighten mood. I smiled
"You helped." He smiled too
Figuring that pushing him would only upset him more I decided to ignore what had happened outside and talk about other things. It was mostly small talk but it distracted him and eventually he stopped looking so angry. After a little while we decided that staying in dirty and wet robes was probably not the best idea. I went upstairs to my room and after a quick bath I put on my pyjamas. When I walked downstairs I found Draco waiting in the living room in his own pair. He had left an extra set in the house in case of a sudden sleepover, so his mum couldn't use that as an excuse to say no. Bonny must've given them to him. As I got closer I noticed they were slightly smaller than I remembered. The sleeve now barely covered his wrist as he put his arm on the back of the couch
"Nice jammies" I teased making his head turn up to look at me. He made a face at me but smiled
"What do you want to do now?" he asked shifting over a little so that there was enough room for both of us. He had sat on the smallest couch we owned
"Presents?" I suggested to which he nodded. He got up to get a pile of them after I informed him which was his. Draco looked rather happy with the size of the square in front of him and came to sit by my side again. I tried to suppress my laughter as he opened it but couldn't hold it back anymore once he saw what was inside
"Tell me this is a joke" he sighed not looking up from his gift. It was a very girly looking tea set. I laughed harder and he scowled at me
"Thought it would be appropriate for someone of your appearance" I said in a little girl voice. I could almost see his mind working as he put the pieces together. Once he figured it out he smiled
"You're still a terror" he grinned and I laughed again
"I was thinking about it, about how we met and all, a little while ago and thought you'd like it. It's the actual tea set my mother bought me then"
"Second hand?" he said raising eyebrow
"Think of it more as sentimentally valuable" I said batting my eyelashes at him. Draco rolled his eyes.
"I would've thought you'd thrown this away by now" he said a little more thoughtfully
"I was going to" I admitted. "A few years ago that was the plan but I decided against it. It's a nice reminder of our time together. You know, memories."
"Memories" he repeated setting the tea set on the floor by his feet
"If you don't want it I understand" I told him honestly. It was very girly and I wouldn't mind keeping it another few years
"Hey you gave it to me, don't even think about taking it back" he stated giving me a fake warning look
"Good because that's the only gift you're getting" I smiled.
"Just get me an actual present next time" he said but I knew he didn't mean it
"Okay, I lied" I said unable to hide it any longer
"About…?" he asked and I reached into the pocket in the front of my pyjamas to pull out two identical pieces of parchment. They both seemed like spare pieces that should be disposed of; they were old, somewhat smaller than usual, and slightly torn. He gave me a bemused look as I handed him one. I walked away from him and into one of my father's studies inside the house. He followed me to it still looking confused. "Are you going to tell me what sentimental value this piece of garbage has?"
"Just watch" I told him as I wrote on it with one of my father's quills. Surprise!
"Watch w –" he stopped midsentence as the words I had written in my piece slowly appeared on his. After a few seconds of him staring at the word it vanished. "What was that?"
"I found it at a shop when my father took me to Russia during the summer. I thought it'd be fun to have around. Now you try"
Draco slowly walked over to where I was standing, afraid to go into the office. My father was one of the very few people the Malfoys actually cared about offending. Once he reached me I handed him the quill as he started writing down his own message. He put his hand over where he was writing so I couldn't see his writing; not from there at least. My piece of parchment warmed up a little in my hand as the words appeared across it; a way to signal the receiver. You give awful gifts
"Hey!" I complained as soon as I read the words written across my own piece of parchment. I hit him in the arm and as they had with his the words slowly disappeared. He chuckled but looked impressed
"I guess this one's not so bad" he admitted and we walked back to the small couch in our living room. "So they're only connected to each other?"
"Yup. The man who sold them to us said that they could work even through long distances. Expensive, very expensive, but much faster than owls."
"I guess it could come in handy" he said tucking the piece away in his pocket. If he loses it I will hurt him. As if reading my mind Draco sighed and told me, "I won't lose it, stop staring at me."
"My turn!" I squealed as soon as we were back in our seats. Happily, I reaching for the present Draco told me was for me. It was rectangular and a little heavy. Under the wrapping was a book. I flipped through the pages ignoring Draco's laughter next to me to see the pictures and writing inside. It was a collection of my favorite fairy tales. I hadn't read this edition before
"There's another one" Draco said before I could thank him. He bent over and picked up another present. This one was slightly smaller and had a cylinder shape to it. I set the book on my lap looking at the next present with bright eyes
"You shouldn't have gotten me two" I told him but jerked the present out of hands. He laughed as I undid the wrapping. Inside the cylinder was a single rose. It had blood red petals and was closed. The stem was a deep green with a sole leaf sticking out of one of the sides. "It's so pretty"
"Pull it out" Draco's voice commanded. I gave him a confused look; I didn't want to ruin the packaging. He rolled his eyes and pulled the gift out of my hands. Draco tore the package open, making me squeak a little as he did. He chuckled to himself then took the book off my lap. Before I could register what he was doing Draco put flower in between the pages and shut the book. I gasped and stretched, snatching the gift out of his hands
"What did you do?" I demanded. He laughed and gave me humored look. The look threw me off as, no matter how mad he was, Draco never purposely broke something of mine especially if he gave it to me. I looked down to see the stem of the flower as it stretched out from under the pages and wrapped around the book. It looked like the vines that cover old buildings when not pruned properly. The rose, now bloomed, sat in one of the corners of the book, the small leaf neatly under it. I ran my fingers through the stem. It was strong yet still soft to the touch
"It's a book mark" Draco informed me, scooting a little closer. He reached over and pulled on the leaf gently. As he let go the stem slowly shrunk back down unwrapping itself and the book fell open to where Draco had left the rose. The flower sat neatly in placed, as if nothing had happened.
"Thank you" I whispered setting my gifts aside to hug him. Somehow he always managed to get me the best presents. Never had I been unhappy with anything he had given me
"You're welcome" he whispered too hugging me back. The hug lasted a little longer than usual. He kept a hold of me and I didn't pull away. I wondered idly if that had something to do with what was bothering him. Lev barked a ways away but Draco didn't let go still. I pulled away just far enough to see his face. He looked thoughtful and I tilted my head confused. Before either of us could say anything we heard another noise but it wasn't Lev. The front door was slammed shut and Draco shifted at least a foot away from me on the couch, just seconds before our parents walked into the room
"How was the party?" I smiled at them standing up
"I've been to better" my father mumbled looking between us. Draco was still on the couch looking over towards the kitchen for some reason. I couldn't even see his face. "How were things here?"
"Good" Draco and I answered at the same time. His was a little faster than mine. My father's and Mrs. Malfoy's eyes narrowed a little
"What happened to your robes?" my mother asked noticing I wasn't wearing them. I giggled a little and shook my head. Should I be surprised this is what she was worried about?
"They got a little wet in the snow" I told her. Draco shifted uncomfortably next to me. Whether that was because of what his parents would say or why my father was looking at him in that way I wasn't sure.
"They're ruined aren't they" my mother said putting a hand on her head
"You can buy me some new ones later" I suggested. This seemed to cheer her up
"It's getting late" my father said to which Mrs. Malfoy quickly nodded.
"Draco, let's go" his mother told him. He nodded and stood from his seat not saying a word
I ordered someone to pack him some of the leftover treats as we said our goodbyes. I thanked and hugged him again but this hug didn't last anywhere near as long as the last one had. I gave him his share of the treats and we all said goodbye. My parents both said they were tired and headed straight for bed, only briefly wishing me a Merry Christmas. I sat in the living room for a little while longer reading the book Draco had given me by our biggest fireplaces. I would be sure to keep it here for safe keeping. I didn't want to risk something happening to it at Hogwarts. They were good stories that kept my mind occupied yet I still couldn't completely forget about Draco's behavior… Boys are strange…