Chapter 8

"I still can't believe you battered the bloke."

"I didn't 'batter' anyone."

"That's not how Bill tells it."

"Well Bill's exaggerating," Draco said with a sigh, glaring at Harry as the boy dumped an armful of books all over the kitchen table and his meticulous notes.

"I don't know, I spoke to Kingsley and he was pretty impressed too," Harry insisted, chucking himself down in the chair opposite Draco.

"It wasn't anything to write home about," Draco said dismissively, feeling embarrassed.

News of his and Bill's exploits had spread around the Order, and even Snape had given him a slightly begrudging well done. Ron had been gleeful that a 'snotty Pureblood', as he had put it, had resorted to using his fists, while Ginny, with a frightening grin, had told him that she wouldn't mind sparring with him one day. He could only hope that she was joking.

"And what about spending all that time with Bill?" Harry asked with a sly smile.

"I'm going to kick you under this table if you don't stop talking," Draco replied, willing the blush away from his cheeks.

"Had a nice time, eh?" Harry asked teasingly.

"Oh yes, chasing after Death Eaters and fighting for our lives was a rollicking good time. Can't wait to do it again."

This, of course, had a ring of truth to it. While he hadn't particularly enjoyed being placed in danger's way, he couldn't deny that the rush of adrenaline had been exhilarating. Of course, working alongside Bill had been an added perk, and he was hopeful that they would be paired together in future assignments.

"Well you've had more success than most of the Order's had in a long time. It's been a real boost to morale."

"Well…that's good," Draco murmured, trying not to show how pleased he was to hear that he had helped to contribute in such a way. "Harry, if you shove your books all over my notes again I might have to stick my wand up your nose."

"Touchy git," Harry replied. "What is all this anyway? Are you doing more medical research?"

"No," said Draco, gathering the papers together, wishing Harry hadn't asked. "It's…just a little something else."

Harry frowned and looked at the things spread out on the table, then looked up at Draco and said, "You want to learn how to cast a Patronus?"

Embarrassed at being caught out, Draco looked away and nodded. "There are…lots of things I don't properly know how to do. I mean, let's face it, we didn't have the world's best DADA teachers did we? Truth be told…I really wanted to join your little club back in 5th year."

He refused to look up at Harry, knowing how surprised the boy would probably look. He shrugged and said, "I feel like I'm lacking when it comes to Defence, and I don't want to feel that way when it comes to fieldwork."

There was silence for a moment, and, although Draco knew that Harry wouldn't mock him, he was unsure what his reaction would be. He wished he hadn't said anything; it wasn't like him to leave himself so vulnerable to another person but something about Harry brought it out of him.

"I can teach you," Harry said.

Draco looked back at him and said, "What do you mean?"

"You remember back in 3rd year with the dementors?"

Draco nodded, hating being reminded of what a prick he had been to Harry about that situation. Harry, with his usual generous nature, didn't seem to bear him any ill will for it. "Well, Lupin taught me how to cast a Patronus back then, to ward the bastards off. Saved my life actually, but that's a story for another time. In 5th year, I taught that 'little club' of mine how to cast them. I could teach you too."

Draco considered the offer, wondering if Harry teaching him might end in tears. Somehow, he didn't think so. He could see Harry being a patient and tolerant teacher, although he himself was probably not the most teachable student.

"You wouldn't tell anyone that you were teaching me, would you?"

"Not if you didn't want me to," Harry said with a shrug.

It was stupid, but he didn't want Bill finding out that he couldn't cast a Patronus. He kept thinking back to the other night and how embarrassing it would have been if Bill had asked him to send the Patronus to Kingsley rather than doing it himself. He wanted to be able to present himself as a fully-capable adult in the wizarding world, but there were gaps in his knowledge that he needed to rectify.

"You want to start now?"

"Now?" Draco echoed in surprise. "I…I suppose we could."

"Come on, let's go up to the 2nd floor."

Without waiting for an answer, Harry got up and left the kitchen. Draco followed after realising that he looked like a prat sitting there on his own gawping at an open door. Harry was in the 2nd floor, the same one that he and Bill had used for sparring and Draco stood there, watching as Harry extracted his wand and smiled at him.

"There's nothing to worry about," Harry assured him. "I promise you won't get hurt."

"It's alright, I trust you," Draco said before he could probably consider what he had admitted to. "Get on with it," he huffed, while Harry grinned at him.

"The magic of the Patronus hinges on conjuring up a happy memory. Before you can do anything you have to have that in the front of your mind. You have to be able to feel how happy you were at the time of the memory, you have to push those thoughts and emotions through the memory."

"A happy memory?" Draco repeated, feeling faintly dismayed at the notion.

"A bridge too far?" Harry asked gently.

Draco shook his head. "I'm sure there's one in there somewhere. It's just…been a long time I guess. Pathetic, huh?"

"No," Harry said, placing his hand on Draco's shoulder. "The first time I was able to successfully cast one, I thought about finding out I was a wizard for the first time. That was the first truly happy memory I could think of and it had happened to me when I was 11. I didn't have anything before that. It doesn't have to be something ground-breaking, but it has to be something that you can draw on when you need to, something that you can feel physically."

"I'll try," Draco said, wondering what the bloody hell he was going to think of. He had been happy, of course he had, but looking at those memory through retrospective eyes made them all turn to ash. The last year or so had been so difficult and he had been struggling to keep his head above water, let alone create any happy memories.

"The incantation is Expecto Patronum," Harry continued over Draco's discomfort. "Don't expect too much from your first few attempts, most people only manage a faint wisp. Keep your stance nice and light, don't carry any tension in your shoulders."

"Does that matter?" Draco asked sceptically.

"According to a book I was reading on wand lore, it matters a great deal," Harry said, his expression becoming animated. "It's fascinating actually. I never realised how in depth wand lore was. The smallest things can alter the efficiency of a spell and stance is one of them."

"I'll take your word for it," Draco said, rolling his shoulders to try and loosen up as instructed.

"Right, now close your eyes and think of your memory."

It took a moment, but after searching his mind, Draco realised that the one memory floating to the surface was the kiss he had shared with Bill a few nights ago. True, it had been an act to try and keep their cover, but the kiss itself had been wonderful. He remembered the feeling of being pressed up against Bill, of the man's lips against his and the man's hands cradling his hips gently.

He couldn't help but smile, and he was grateful that Harry had never mastered Legilimency. He held his wand out and focused on the memory, focused on Bill in general and the way he smiled, the way he spoke. He opened his eyes and spoke the incantation, amazed when a huge puff off fog materialised.

"That's fantastic!" Harry said enthusiastically.

"Really?" Draco said doubtfully.

Harry nodded. "Honestly, I've taught a few people how to do this and I've never seen them produce that on a first try, even Hermione. Must have been a damn good memory," he added with a grin.

Smiling in spite of himself, Draco couldn't help but wonder at the strength of his feelings where Bill was concerned. Was it really enough that thinking about the man could help him produce a Patronus?

They practised for the rest of the afternoon and by the end Draco's Patronus was really starting to take form. He couldn't quite tell what it was yet, but it seemed to be vaguely quadruped-shaped. Harry was pleased with his progress and that gave Draco a little extra confidence. Hopefully, the next time he was sent on assignment with Bill, he wouldn't show himself up with his lack of ability.

When they made their way back downstairs, they found Bill in the kitchen, unpacking a bag of takeaway food.

"What have you two been up to?" he asked, and Draco tried not to grin widely at seeing him there.

"Just a little bit of sparring," Harry answered. "Snape's given me a few new things to learn and Draco was helping me practise."

Draco gave him a grateful smile and said to Bill, "What are you doing here? I thought you were away for a couple of weeks?"

"I had a little bit of holiday left to use. Decided to come back and have an extended Christmas period. You're not complaining, are you?"

"Well it is nice and quiet around here without you," Draco replied, moving around Harry to see what food Bill had brought with him. He had the sudden ridiculous urge to give the man a peck on the cheek, and he wondered where that little cosy scene of domesticity had come from. Pushing it to one side, he said, "What have you brought us then?"

"Lamb kofta for Harry."

"Ooh thanks, my favourite," Harry said, his eyes lighting up as he took it.

"And beef stew from that little French place you like," Bill continued, passing the takeaway box to Draco.

"You went all the way there to get this for me?" Draco asked, surprised and touched at the gesture.

"Anything to keep you happy," Bill said with a teasing smile.

Draco was beginning to learn how to interpret Bill's little ways now, and he was aware that this little action meant more than Bill was letting on.

They settled down at the table and Bill filled them in on the latest happenings with his job. Draco knew he was enjoying it more than he let on; he always spoke about things that he enjoyed with a kind of put-upon air. Draco wasn't entirely sure why, but it amused him to think that Bill felt he had a reputation to uphold as 'the cool one'.

"I saw your mum yesterday," Harry told Bill around a mouthful of his food. He was the messiest eater Draco had ever come across and he had to resist the urge to kick Harry every time he ate.

"Oh yes?" Bill replied. "And what did the insane one have to say for herself?"

"She's frantic over Christmas. You know how she likes to work herself into a frenzy."

Bill rolled his eyes and said, "The last time I spoke to her she was having a meltdown over the sleeping arrangements."

Draco shifted uncomfortably in his seat and tried to ignore the sharp stab of hurt he felt at their conversation. He knew that, with no other options available to him, he would be staying at Grimmauld on his own.

"How many are going to be there?" Harry asked.

Bill leant back in his chair and counted silently on his fingers. "Last time she'd done the headcount it was 15. That's counting Percy's girlfriend and Charlie's mate from the reserve, oh and of course blondie here."

Draco's head shot up, looking at Bill in surprise. "Me?"

"Of course you. You are coming aren't you?"

"I…didn't think I'd been invited," Draco admitted awkwardly.

Harry snorted and said, "You don't need an invitation, you're part of the family. Hermione and I don't get invited, it's just…expected."

"Oh," Draco said quietly, taken aback.

He felt a warm hand settle in the small of his back and he looked across to see Bill smiling at him. "Did you really think we wouldn't want to spend Christmas with you?" he asked with gentle amusement.

"I…"

"Yeah, I mean we have to look at each other's ugly mugs, might as well add yours to the mix," Harry added with a grin.

"Charming."

As it turned out, he received two invitations for the Christmas period, and the second one surprised him even more than the Weasleys' one had done. Tonks sent him a letter to ask whether he would like to spend New Year with her and her parents, an invitation that also extended to Bill. He accepted it readily and looked forward to the Christmas period in a way that he hadn't looked forward to anything for quite some time.

The irony of the situation wasn't lost on him. He would never have expected that he would truly wish to spend time in the Weasley household, but it wasn't just because he was happy that he wouldn't have to spend Christmas on his own. He genuinely wanted to spend time with them as a family and he was excited to spend such an important time with Bill.

He was, of course, nervous about the whole thing, but he had spent time with the Weasleys before without incident. He was also getting used to spending time with Ron and Ginny and he couldn't say that he found their company unpleasant.

They were all due at The Burrow for Christmas Eve and when the day rolled around, Draco found himself in the Weasleys' living room, sitting by the fire with a cup of mulled wine. The room was a cacophony of noise; several different conversations were taking place at once and Molly was bustling about adding more and more food to the buffet she had spread out on a table that had been transfigured to hold it all.

Draco had never seen so much food in all his life and it all looked delicious. There was also the biggest assortment of drinks available and everyone was helping themselves liberally to the offering. The atmosphere was cosy and jovial and Draco sat back and drank it all in.

He had never experienced a Christmas like it. At the manor, it had always just been him and his parents and they had had a formal dinner on Christmas Eve, followed by an evening spent in the finest sitting room, Lucius holding court about the merits of Pureblood ancestry. Christmas Day had been much the same, apart from the fact that Narcissa always insisted on a stroll around the acreage after dinner.

He had never experienced this delightful informality, never sat and listened to three different conversations at once while a game of animated chess took place in the corner. Arthur was fiddling with the wireless, trying to get it work, all while telling Hermione what a wonderful invention something called digital radio was.

Harry and Fred were cackling almost maniacally over something, and Draco was fairly sure that he didn't want to know what it was. Percy and his girlfriend, a delicately pretty young woman, were talking with Ginny, while Charlie and his equally burly friend were conducting a debate that included much gesticulating and head nodding.

Draco felt a strange sense of belonging, a sense of security that he had never known before, and he felt content for the first time in a long time. He felt sheltered by the Weasleys' ability to welcome him into their family and humbled by the fact that they considered him worthy of such an invitation.

"You're quiet," Bill said beside him. "Anything wrong?"

"Just…taking it all in."

"Bit much?"

"No," Draco said, shaking his head with a smile. "It's…actually kind of…nice."

"How much of that mulled wine have you had?" Bill teased.

"Seriously, I'm…I'm enjoying myself."

The smile Bill gave him was enough to provide such a glowing memory that Draco was sure he could have produced a fully-formed Patronus right there in the Weasleys' living room. Although Bill never really spoke about it that much, Draco knew that the man's family was important to him. He had a fierce pride and affection for them and it struck Draco that perhaps it mattered to Bill what he thought of them.

"Shall we play charades?" Ginny suggested.

"Abso-bloody-lutely not," Ron said with a groan. "I hate that sodding game."

"Ronald Weasley, will you watch your language?" Molly chastised.

"She knows I hate charades," Ron protested.

"As if I do anything with you in mind, don't flatter yourself," Ginny returned, although Draco had seen the teasing glint in her eye and could well believe that she had made the suggestion just to annoy her brother.

A debate then began as to what was the appropriate game to play for the occasion and in the end they ended up playing several. Draco could honestly say that he enjoyed every minute of it and he laughed more freely and openly than he had done in years.

He felt as though his presence was welcome, not merely tolerated, and he laughed and joked as confidently as anyone else did. The food and drink were all delicious and they all pitched in to help with the clean-up.

When it was finally time to trudge up to bed, Draco was happily exhausted. To his disappointment, he was sharing a room with Ron and Harry, while Bill was bunking with Charlie and his friend. It would have been too much to hope that he could have had a little Christmas snuggle with Bill, both of them happily muzzily from one too many festive drinks.

While Ron was busy using the bathroom, Draco took the opportunity to fetch Harry's gift from his luggage. He hadn't been able to purchase gifts for everyone, not with the wages he earnt, but he had wanted to get something for Harry,

"What's this?" Harry asked as Draco handed him the meticulously wrapped parcel.

"Just a little something for the season," Draco replied, hoping that he had made a good choice.

He watched Harry unwrap it and was thankful for the boy's usual openness with his emotions. He could tell that Harry was surprised by the choice of gift, but also that he like it, and Draco felt relieved to see it.

"This is…so cool! Thank you!" Harry said with a smile, turning over the book in his hands to read the back.

Draco had found the book on wand lore entirely by chance and had known instantly that Harry would like it. Hearing him speak the other day about wand lore had made Draco realise that there was so much more to him than most people knew.

"I thought you might like it. You never know, one day…maybe you'll be a wand maker."

"A wand maker?" Harry echoed, his expression indicating that he had never considered such a thing.

"Something to think about, maybe," Draco said with a shrug. "For what it's worth, I think you'd be really good at it."

Harry blushed charmingly and Draco felt a surge of fondness for the boy. That particular feeling was becoming more and more familiar and it was a testament to how much he'd changed that he no longer wished to fight it.

"I um…I got you something too," Harry said, turning around and crouching by the little trundle bed he would be sleeping on. He pulled his bag out from underneath it and rummaged in it for a moment before unearthing a shrunken package that he re-sized and presented Draco with.

Upon opening it, Draco found that Harry had gifted him a lovely muggle jacket made of wool in a dark navy blue. "Oh Harry, this is…it's lovely. You really shouldn't have."

"I thought you'd need something for your walk to the pub now it's winter. Did I do a good job? Gin helped me pick it out."

"She has impeccable taste. About time she had a go at your wardrobe," Draco joked, hoping to hide his discomfort that Harry's gift had obviously cost a lot more than his own had done.

"Prat," Harry said affably. "Come on, we'd best get to sleep or Father Christmas won't come!"

Draco slept soundly, despite the thundering snoring from Ron, and woke to a kind of organised chaos the next morning. He was greeted with a glass of bucks fizz in the kitchen, handed to him by Molly, who looked to be taking all the mayhem in her stride.

"Not drinking yet?" Draco asked Bill, who was nursing a cup of coffee in the corner of the room.

"Charlie and his bloody friend kept me up all night talking about sodding dragons," Bill said through gritted teeth. "I'm too bloody old to be sharing a room."

"Don't worry," Draco said with a teasing smile, "next time we can bunk together."

Bill raised an eyebrow and said, "Is that a promise?"

Draco gave what he hoped was a nonchalant shrug and said, "Maybe if you play your cards right."

They all pitched in to help with the preparations for Christmas lunch and the kitchen was full of laughter and noise as they all went about their assigned jobs. Ron had to be told off several times for swiping food and hoarding it in his cheeks like a hamster, and the twins delighted in winding Molly up with exclamations of various kitchen calamities, none of which were true.

The wine and champagne flowed all throughout the proceedings and by the time they all sat down to eat Draco was feeling quite light-headed. The huge quantities of food helped to soak it up, and Draco couldn't remember the last time he had eaten so much. Despite being involved in its preparation, he couldn't believe Molly was capable of producing such an impressive offering.

Conversations took place across the table in all directions and Draco found himself caught up in at least three at once. He found himself talking to Ginny several times, and, once again, he realised how much he enjoyed her company. She had a truly wicked sense of humour, and she had him in stitches with her sharp one-liners and witty asides. She was also a fiend for impressions, and her rendition of McGonagall was so spot on that it made Draco shiver.

Harry was more at ease with the Weasleys than he was anywhere else, and it was clear that Molly's mothering did him good. Draco could understand; he had felt himself benefit from the gentle affection that Molly bestowed and, although it felt like a kind of betrayal, he couldn't help but wish that his own mother had had half of Molly's nurturing spirit.

Sitting amongst the Weasleys, wearing a daft paper hat that had come out of a cracker, Draco realised that he was fully enjoying himself. He wasn't pretending, he wasn't being polite and he didn't feel the remotest need to try and sneer at things. He was happy, he was content, and, above all, he was grateful.

After lunch they all migrated to the living room, where presents were exchanged. Draco had got most people little boxes of sweets and chocolates, as it was all he could afford on such modest wages, but he had wanted to get something special for Molly and Arthur as a thank you for welcoming him so readily into their family.

He retrieved the gift and re-sized it from its shrunken state, hoping that it hadn't suffered any damage. He sat back and watched nervously as Molly carefully unwrapped it while Arthur watched with a smile.

"Oh Draco," she said softly as the gift was revealed.

"Bill told me that next year it was your 40th wedding anniversary," Draco said, feeling a blush spread across his cheeks. "40 years is meant to be ruby…so I thought a red rose bush would be…appropriate."

"This is a wonderful gift, sweetheart. I'm so touched. Arthur, isn't it lovely?"

"Absolutely fantastic. You've done us proud, Draco. Thank you very much."

"My pleasure," Draco said, feeling bashful.

"I can't wait to plant this in the garden and watch it grow. Oh sweetheart, what a lovely thought."

He'd had to ask Mike, the landlord, for an advance on his wages to purchase the rose bush, but seeing Molly and Arthur's reactions made it worthwhile. He'd wanted to give them something that was meaningful, and it had been enlightening to realise that one didn't have to spend a king's ransom to do that.

"This is from me and Arthur," Molly said, handing him a squishy package.

He noticed that both Bill and Harry were watching him with rather indulgent smiles and he tried to ignore them as he unwrapped the present. The crinkled wrapping revealed a jumper in dark, forest green with a pale D embroidered on the front of it.

"I knew he'd get a Weasley jumper," Harry said with a pleased smile.

"A what?" Draco asked.

"Every member of the Weasley family gets one, made by Molly's own fair hands. You're one of us now," Harry told him.

A lump formed in Draco's throat and he looked down at the jumper in his hands. Molly had made it for him, had taken the time and effort to create something that was not only a useful and practical gift, but one that signified his acceptance into their family.

"Would you please excuse me for a moment?" he said quietly. "I…just need some air."

Trying not to meet anyone's eye, he folded the jumper underneath his arm and made his way into the kitchen and out the back door into the garden. He was overwhelmed and overcome with emotion, and he couldn't bear for anyone in that room to see him that way.

He wanted so badly to belong, but he couldn't help but feel a surge of grief that he would never feel that way with his own parents. He would never experience that kind of acceptance and love from them and the thought hurt his heart. The door was now closed on their relationship forever, and although logically he could process that fact, his emotions were still conflicted.

He heard the door open and he didn't need to look to know that Bill had followed him out. The man stood next to him for a while before saying softly, "Are you ok?"

Draco nodded and said, "Yes. Just…I needed a moment." He looked at the jumper in his hands and said, "It might sound stupid but this…this means a lot to me. Your mum didn't have to make this for me…but she did…and it's all a bit overwhelming."

"It takes a while to get used to kindness."

"And isn't it just so sad that I need to get used to it?" Draco asked. "It's like someone's holding up a mirror to everything my life once was…and it's not a pleasant sight. I used to think that I had everything…perhaps not the most loving parents…but still, I felt privileged. I couldn't understand how Ron would walk around Hogwarts laughing and smiling when his robes were worn and everything he owned was hand-me-down.

"Now…being here, spending all this time with your family, I understand it perfectly. He never needed money or fancy robes or a palatial house…he had this…he had all of you. Money doesn't equal happiness and it's shameful that it's taken me this long to realise it."

"I think you're being a little hard on yourself. People don't change overnight. You've been through a lot."

Draco shrugged. "Maybe. Times like this just bring it all home. I'd have been lost these last few months without you and your family. I wouldn't have done the same if the tables had been reversed."

"You don't know that. You're a stronger and better person than you realise."

Draco huffed, unconvinced, and was then taken by surprise when he was pulled into a hug. He tensed for a moment, then let himself relax into it, bringing his arms up around Bill's back and resting his cheek against Bill's chest.

"You deserve a happy Christmas," Bill said above his head.

"This one's pretty good," Draco said with a smile.

"You can look forward to others then," Bill replied, and Draco felt the softest of kisses pressed to the top of his head. He nestled in closer and revelled in the idea of future Christmases with the man he was fairly certain he was falling in love with.

AN: Well, we're closer to Christmas than I usually manage to land with these things. Hope you enjoyed it my lovelies.