A/N: Chapter seventeen: Christmas part 1.
This is Harry/Draco, post-Hogwarts, though the slash content is extremely light. There are very vague suggestions of other relationships as well.
I've got this all written out, and am posting one a week. There will be 23 chapters total. All that's left is the editing.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Dedication: To Foodie, who still betas me despite my predilection for slash, and for FionaFawkes, who read and reviewed every single chapter, and gave me such excellent feedback. Also, for everyone who's read and loved my Harry/Draco. This one's for you.
-----17
The week before Christmas was hectic, and Draco found no time to go and buy presents for everyone, let alone examine the lists Kingsley had given him again. By the twenty-third, he was nearly frantic. When Harry finally asked him what was wrong, he told him that he still hadn't been able to get presents for anyone, and Harry offered to take him out to Diagon Alley, but this only made Draco's panic worse. If Harry went along, he might never find him the proper present.
"No offence, Harry, but…"
"I get it," Harry said sadly. "Maybe Remus would be willing to take you."
Draco immediately felt relief at the suggestion. Now, why hadn't he thought of that? Remus would be able to help him figure out the perfect gift for Harry. "That would be perfect," he smiled. "Do you think he'd be willing?"
Harry shrugged. "Can't hurt to ask."
Draco ran to the living room where Remus and Lucius were sitting reading. "Remus, would you be up to taking me to Diagon Alley this afternoon? I need to get Christmas presents."
Remus looked at him, a bit surprised. "Of course. Harry will be here all day?"
Draco nodded. "He and father can make do for a few hours," he smiled.
Lucius snorted, but otherwise didn't comment. Remus smiled. "Sounds like a plan, then. How about directly after lunch?"
"Sure."
Lunch was a quick plate of sandwiches thrown together, and then Remus and Draco were off. When they got to Diagon Ally, the place was packed. Of course, Draco had known it would be, but his distracted worry about what to get Harry made the crowd disappear from his consciousness. He turned to Remus. "The reason I wanted you to come with me is that I wanted to find something special for Harry. But I could hardly ask him, now could I? Do you have any ideas?"
Remus looked at him, a bit startled. "To be honest, Draco, I'm not sure how much help I'll be. The only time I managed to get him presents was with the help of his godfather. I'll do what I can, though."
Draco sighed. "Well, I'm sure we'll find something. Come on. Let's start at Flourish and Blott's." He pulled the other man into the horribly crowded shop, and began scanning the books at eye level. Really, he needed to find something for everyone, so this would be as good a place to start as any. He found a journal that had a self-transcribing charm on it for Severus, and another blank for Hermione, that Remus had promised he would help charm so that it would transcribe notes for whatever subject she wished just by writing it on a page.
The Quidditch supply store was next, and Draco found himself drawn to the latest model of Nimbus. He couldn't help recalling the fight he and Harry and his friends had had second year over the Nimbus 2001s his father had donated to the team. Perhaps Weasley might like a new broom…
But Draco knew just how touchy Weasley could be. He'd see it as a dig against him. He turned to the counter where a man was having a new Firebolt wrapped up. "Excuse me. I'd like to buy that Nimbus 2004. But I need to have it dinged up a bit, so that it doesn't look new. How much extra would that cost me?"
The clerk and the man at the counter both looked at Draco as though he were mad. Even Remus looked a bit uncertain. "Why on earth would you want that, sir?" the clerk finally asked.
"The person I'm giving it to wouldn't accept a new broom. But I'm sure you don't have many of those used yet, do you?"
"None, sir," the clerk said with a nod. "I'll see what I can do. No charge. Shouldn't be too difficult. Give me an hour, all right?"
Draco nodded, and placed note on the counter. "Here's a note for whatever funds you need to be drawn from my account, all right?"
"Thank you, sir," the clerk grinned.
After a few more minutes looking around the shop with no ideas for what to get for Harry there, Draco and Remus went back out onto the street. Draco insisted that they stop at Madam Malkin's to get his father a self-sizing cloak. "After all, he really does need one, and I'm sure he misses his old wardrobe. Wouldn't do for father not to look good," Draco said with a smirk.
He saw Remus fingering a new deep maroon cardigan on one rack, and whispered to the clerk to wrap it up as well, and send it along to Harry's house after they had left.
Now Draco only had Greg, Pansy, Blaise and Harry left to buy for. His friends were easy enough. He bought Greg a bag of candies, and asked Remus to remind him to stop back in at Flourish and Blott's for another blank book for Greg to start writing his recipes into. Blaise got a stationary set, and Pansy a lovely pin with a small yellow rose that opened and closed depending on the level of light in the room.
And then all Draco had left was Harry. By this point, he was near frantic trying to figure out what he could possibly give Harry that would show him that they were friends. He wanted Harry to see how pleased he was that they'd finally managed to get rid of the animosity that had dogged them for seven years. And that maybe—just maybe—he might want more.
They were making their way back up to the Quidditch shop when Draco saw something that he knew would be absolutely perfect. In the window of a small junk shop next to Madam Malkin's, Draco saw the most perfect gift he could possibly imagine. A memory crystal. He grinned, and hurried into the shop.
Harry's gift in hand, they made their way back to the Quidditch shop and then out of the alley, where Remus flagged down the Knight Bus. Not the most comfortable mode of transport around, but it would get them home quick enough. Particularly when Draco bribed the conductor to let them off next.
All in all, a pleasant experience, Draco thought, placing the gifts under the little tree Harry'd set up the day before. Despite the fact that he wasn't at the Manor this year, Draco thought that this might well be his best Christmas ever.
◦♦☼♦◦
Christmas Eve started simply enough. That morning was spent baking and cleaning, and though Lucius grumbled about it, they all helped out, and by the time two o'clock rolled around, the house was spotless. They all retired to their rooms for a quick rest, and a change of clothing, and Draco found himself quite looking forward to the evening ahead, Gryffindor-filled or not.
Draco was still a bit upset he wouldn't be allowed to see Blaise or Pansy, but at least he would get to spend some time with Greg. Greg's scores hadn't really improved much, but Draco was hoping it was just confusion, and nothing more. If he could just get through to him, he was sure everything would improve. There was no way in hell he was going to let Greg go back to Azkaban. Not if he could help it.
At four, Draco was dressed in a new outfit he'd bought the day before, and settled on the couch next to the tree, waiting for their guests to arrive. He couldn't wait to see Greg again, and he was actually rather surprised at how much he was looking forward to seeing everyone's faces when they opened their presents.
When the doorbell finally rang, Draco felt like he shot halfway to the ceiling, and to cover his surprise, jumped off the couch to answer the door. Hermione and Weasley stood behind a grinning Greg, and Draco couldn't stop himself from throwing his arms around his friend. It had been too long. After a moment, Greg cleared his throat. "You okay, Dray?" he asked worriedly.
Draco backed up, embarrassed. "Yeah, just a bit over-excited. Sorry. Come on in, all of you," he said, managing even to smile at Weasley in his over-exuberance.
Lucius was scowling at Draco, but Draco couldn't care less. It was all too much, and he couldn't help but be happy. "May I show him the den?" he asked Harry.
Harry smiled. "Of course."
Draco led his friend through the kitchen and into the den. "Here. Harry's got this great game…" He stopped, realizing that Greg was still standing in the doorway, his mouth wide. "Greg?"
"What is all this?" the other boy asked, looking around at all of Harry's electronics in a kind of horrified awe.
"They're Muggle electronics. Sort of one of their versions of magic. You can watch stories on them, or play games on them. It's very cool. Come on. Let me show you."
Greg nodded, and Draco led him to the couch, then turned to the Telly to set up the game. He handed one of the controllers to Greg, and settled down next to him. "I'll play a quick track, so you can see what I'm talking about, all right?"
Greg nodded, and watched, wide-eyed, as the images played across the screen. Draco chose his favourite character, Irons, then his favourite course, just to give Greg an idea of the game. He finished in first place (not really a surprise, given how much he played, but always nice to see), then turned to Greg. "So, what do you think? Want to give it a try?"
Greg blinked at him for a moment. "I don't know, Draco, it seems awfully complicated."
"Nah, it's easy. I beat Harry first time we played head to head."
"Really?"
Harry's chuckle came from behind him, and he turned to the doorway and saw not only Harry, but Hermione as well. "He not only beat me, he wiped the floor with me. You might not want to go against him, Goyle."
Draco glowered at him. "It's only fair, considering how you trounced me every year in Quidditch, Potter."
Harry moved to the couch and held his hand out to Greg. "Here, Goyle, let me have that. I'll show you what I mean." Greg gratefully handed it to him, scooting over so that Harry could settle onto the couch next to him.
Harry and Draco debated which tracks they should use for a three-course race, Draco insisting on his favourites, while Harry tried to negotiate for the ones he knew Draco was worst on. Finally, they chose one of Harry's best for the first track, to give him a head start, one of Draco's for the second, and a really horrific one they both hated for the third. They were at it for over an hour when Remus came into the room.
"I think the turkey's done, folks."
"We're nearly done here, Remus. Give us a mo," Harry replied.
"Of course. Boys and their toys," he murmured to Hermione, who had been standing behind the couch watching the entire time.
"I heard that," Harry shouted at him as he left the room. Remus's chuckle floated back to them.
◦♦☼♦◦
Christmas dinner was surprisingly friendly and cozy, even with eight people crammed around Harry's spell-stretched table. Draco had done his best to try to prevent the Slytherins from all bunching up at one end of the table, but there was only so much he could do. Harry sat at the head of the table, and Remus at the foot, with Draco, Severus and Lucius at Harry's right, and Weasley, Hermione and Greg at his left. The dishes were all wonderful. Snape had brought a cauldron of warm spiced cider, and Hermione had brought Christmas pudding—a plum pudding and two different pies. The turkey was perfect—carved by Remus, and there was enough food to even sate Greg for the evening.
They chattered in a friendly way throughout the meal until Weasley turned to Draco and said, "So, what'd you do to trick the Ministry this time, Malfoy?"
Draco bristled, Harry's annoyed response mere buzzing in his ears. He wasn't going to let Weasley ruin this for him. He clenched his jaw and stood up. "I think it's time to open presents," he said, turning to Remus. "Could you clear the table? I'll bring in the first round. I figure this way we'll have enough room for everyone to see what everyone else gets."
Remus nodded as Draco made his way out of the room. Weasley was going to eat those words, if it was the last thing Draco ever accomplished. He pulled the gifts he'd bought into his arms, and returned to the kitchen, depositing each with its proper recipient, then settling back into his chair.
They all stared at each other for a moment before Severus sighed and carefully began to remove the wrapping from his package. He looked down at the journal in his hands for a moment, the looked up at Draco. "Thank you, Draco. This will quite come in handy when I'm experimenting with new ways to make Lupin's potion less palpable," he smirked.
Draco rolled his eyes, but Harry growled at him, "Can't you even be civil on one night a year, Snape?"
Snape turned his gaze on Harry. "Apparently not, Potter." He put the book on the table, then turned to look at Lucius. "And what did your son get for you?"
Lucius opened the box in front of him, then smiled and pulled out the silvery velvet that filled the box. "Exquisite, Draco. You always did have lovely taste. Even as an infant."
"Thank you father. It's spelled to fit you no matter what size you are. I figured…."
"Very nice, indeed. Thank you Draco."
Draco looked across to Hermione. "You next."
She glanced at Weasley, who was scowling down at the package in front of him, and looking as though he thought it might bite. She sighed and turned back to her own package. Opening it up, she smiled and looked up at Draco.
"Read the note," he prodded.
She looked back down at the journal, and opened it up to see the note stuck just inside the cover. She read it quickly, her eyes widening. "Draco, that's wonderful. Thank you." Weasley scowled at this, but Hermione was too busy scrambling for a quill so she could test it out.
Greg was next, and grinned when he opened the box of candy that Draco'd gotten him, though he seemed puzzled about getting his own journal. "I thought you could use it to keep track of the recipes you liked," Draco told him.
Greg grinned. "That would be cool."
Remus flushed when he opened up his box and recognized the cardigan he'd been admiring in Madam Malkins. "Draco, you didn't have to…"
"I know. That's why I did. I could tell you liked it."
"Yes," Remus said simply, slipping off his old, tattered cardigan and pulling on the new one.
Draco turned to Weasley. "Your turn."
"I'm not opening it. It's probably booby-trapped," Weasley snarled.
"Ron," Harry and Hermione both said in a warning tone.
"Fine. But if I end up in St Mungos, you'll both be in big trouble…"
He unwrapped the large box cautiously, and Draco was about ready to rip it out of his hands and finish unwrapping it for him when he finally slid the paper from the box. He set it on the table in front of himself and Hermione, then slowly lifted the lid. He goggled down into the box for a moment, then slammed it shut. "Take it back."
"What?" Draco asked, incredulous.
"I don't want it. Take it back to wherever you got it. I'm fine with my old Cleansweep. I haven't had it that long, and I don't need charity from you, Malfoy," he growled.
Draco spoke loudly over Hermione's admonitions to Weasley. "I can't, Weasley. It's not returnable. But if you don't want it…"
"What do you mean, not returnable?" Weasley scowled. "It's the latest model. I'm sure someone would take it off your hands."
Draco snorted. "In that condition, Weasley? I don't think so. Why would anyone bother when they could get themselves a new one? I went to some effort to get that for you, but I suppose I could always find another use for it."
"I don't need your charity, Malfoy."
"I didn't think Christmas gifts were charity, Weasel—"
"Draco," Harry warned.
"Weasley, I'm sure there's some orphanage or something I could donate it to. But to be honest, I'd prefer that you take it. I bought it for you, after all."
Weasley looked sullen. "Just so we're clear, I still hate you, Malfoy."
"Feeling's mutual, really. Now, can you stop winging about it?"
Weasley shrugged, which Draco took as a yes. He turned to Harry. "Your turn."
"Draco, you didn't have to get me anything…"
"I know. I wanted to. Go on. Open it."
Harry carefully unwrapped the box and pulled out a small crystal, just about the size of his palm, looking at it curiously. "What is it?"
"Oh, Harry!" Hermione beamed. "It's a memory crystal."
Harry looked at Hermione, confused, then turned to Draco. "A memory crystal?"
Draco nodded. "It's like a mini-pensieve. I put a few memories in there, so right now it's full, but you can always clear it out and put others in, if you'd like."
"You're giving me some memories, for Christmas?" Harry asked, startled.
"Yes," he answered, heart in his throat.
"How—" Harry swallowed, and tried again. "How do I access them?"
"That's easy. You just tap the crystal with your wand, and the crystal itself will do the rest."
Harry pulled out his wand and tapped the crystal, and Draco watched as his eyes went slightly blank. He hoped he'd done it right. Lupin had helped him transfer the memories, since he didn't have his own wand, but he couldn't be sure that they'd transferred right. After a few moments, Harry blinked, and smiled at Draco. "Thank you."
Draco did what he could to control the blush he felt trying to rise to his cheeks. "I'm glad you like it."
"I do," Harry said, smiling softly.
Remus stood up. "My turn, then?"
Draco stood up as well. "I'll help you."
"Thank you, Draco," Remus smiled.
All in all, it was a lovely evening. Hermione and Weasley had gotten him a new set of robes that fit him properly, now that he was nearly at his full height. His father had found him a writing set, Lupin had gotten him a book on ancient civilizations, Greg had made him a batch of fudge, and Severus had brought him a book on advanced potion-making. Draco was looking forward to finding a way to finish his schooling once all this was over. He didn't particularly need it, but it seemed wrong not to at least try for his NEWTs someday.
His favourite gift was from Harry, though. He'd gotten Jet Moto 2, and Draco immediately ran off to try it as soon as everyone had finished opening their presents. Greg joined him, and actually gave it a shot, taunting Draco for choosing Steele, who was a girl.
"Come on, Greg. Look at Pansy. She's not a pushover. Besides, it's just a game, and she's handling her bike better than your character is," he smirked.
Weasley and Harry took a turn at the game next, and while Draco and Greg were watching, Greg nudged Draco. "C'n we talk?" he asked.
"We haven't been talking all night?"
"Not like that—in—well, sort of private?"
Draco glanced at Harry. He didn't want to break the rules of the Chrysalis project, but he really didn't think Greg was involved with those who'd been trying to cheat. None of the names had sounded right for him. Even Pansy had matched up with one of the names, though he refused to believe she was one of them. But still, Greg was such a willing patsy, he might not even know they weren't being helpful for him. "All right. But only for a minute, okay?"
Greg nodded, and the two went into the hallway just outside the room. Greg slumped against the wall and looked at the floor. "'M really worried, Dray. This is my third test coming up, and my score hasn't improved enough. I don't want to go back…"
Draco was relieved. He honestly wanted to do better, and that in itself was a good sign. But Draco wasn't sure what more he could do to help his friend. "I don't want you to go, either. But nothing we've tried has helped."
"I know. It's just those questions, you know? They're so confusing. I just never know how to answer them."
Draco sighed, and leaned on the wall next to his friend. Through the hall doorway, he could see Remus and Hermione in the kitchen, chatting away about something or other. If only Hermione could be with Greg at the test… Draco's eyes widened, and his face spread into a grin. "Greg. The problem is how they phrase the questions, right?" Greg nodded. "What if, when you're reading the questions, anywhere it says 'Muggle,' you replace it in your head with 'Hermione?'"
"But Hermione can't be there with me," Greg said, looking confused.
Draco shook his head. "No. When you read a question that says something like, 'If you see a Muggle mugged in the street,' what would your response be?"
Greg shrugged. "I suppose I'd answer something like 'Pass on by.'"
"And if it said, 'If you see Hermione mugged in the street,' how would your answer change?"
"I'd beat the guy up," Greg said indignantly.
"Exactly. So, this time, go through the test, and when you see 'Muggle,' just replace it with 'Hermione.' Okay?"
"But won't they get annoyed with me for crossing out 'Muggle?'"
Draco laughed. "Well, I didn't mean that, but if that works for you, go for it."
"All right, I'll try it," Greg said. "Thanks."
Draco nudged him with his shoulder. "If it works, you won't have to thank me. That'll be thanks enough."
