October faded into November with a stiffening coldness setting itself on Grimmauld Place. Hermione was now so worried about Ron that she had forgotten to nag Harry about Draco's loyalties. Harry and Draco rarely saw her leave her room on the second floor, not that either of them were complaining. They quite enjoyed their new found privacy in other rooms of the house.

However, Harry grew increasingly worried about her every time she ventured out of her room. She had dark purple shadows under her eyes, and she constantly looked as though she'd been crying for hours.

On the last Friday of November, Hermione spoke to them both for the first time in weeks. She summoned them to the kitchen, clutching another letter from Remus Lupin.

"Hermione? It's not… bad, is it?" asked Harry, his voice tender and kind.

"No, Remus says he's been delayed by a mission from the Order," said Hermione, her voice scratchy due to its lack of use.

Draco reached out and took the letter, it was shorter than the last one.

Hermione,

I'm deeply sorry to say I won't be able to come now until at least January. Order mission. They've sent me off to a werewolf colony to see whose side the rest of… my kind is on.

I don't want you to worry yourself about Ron! Severus should be in touch with the Order soon. I'll write the moment I get wind of Ron's state.

Remus

Harry looked up and offered a warm smile to Hermione. She half-heartedly returned it and took the letter back from Draco. Harry watched her fold the letter carefully with trembling hands and tuck it safely in the pocket of her robes. She looked pale and tired today.

"Hermione… were- or are, you and Ron together?" asked Harry cautiously.

Hermione looked startled at the question. "I thought you would have figured that out, Harry. He and I were sharing a bed at my- my- my… place," her voice cracked and her eyes welled up with tears again.

"Oh, right… 'course. So that's why you've been so worried?" said Harry. "More than Draco and myself, I mean," he added hastily.

Hermione forced a painful smile. "You could say that, yes. I love him, Harry," she looked down at her hands.

Draco cleared his throat. "You know we're going to do everything we can for him when Lupin arrives," said Draco kindly.

Hermione nodded once and turned from the room, blowing her nose as she went.

--

The wintry sun rose early on Grimmauld Place on December 24th, Christmas cheer thin in the air.

Harry stirred as the blinding white sun hit his eyelids. He snuggled closer to Draco for heat. Again the previous night, the pair had slept naked. Nothing more than kissing every so often had occurred, but it seemed to be habit now that they shed their clothes when they climbed into bed of a night time.

Harry yawned, not wanting to open his eyes. He knew it was only sunrise, and he didn't intend on getting out of bed until well after nine, so he pushed himself closer to Draco and drifted back to a lazy sleep.

A couple of hours later, Harry was jerked awake by cold air piercing his skin. Draco had ripped off the blankets. Harry shivered and turned to look at the person he's come to know so well these past six months. Draco looked around at Harry's awaken form.

"Harry! God I'm selfish, I'm sorry. I completely forgot you were asleep," said Draco, keeping his voice low.

"Nah, it's okay. What time is it?" yawned Harry, pushing the sheet down and hurrying to find his bath robe.

"Just after eight I think," said Draco, pulling on his boxers.

"Mmm, okay," replied Harry, stretching "Come downstairs, Kreacher might have cooked something decent for once seeing as it's Christmas Eve," he laughed, very much doubting this would be the case.

"What?! It's- it's Christmas already?" Draco asked, wildly looking out the window. Snow was drifting gracefully down in the morning sunshine.

"Yep," said Harry, walking out the bedroom door.

Christmas Eve day passed with little significance. Hermione joined them in the kitchen, chatting happily late into the night. She seemed a lot more cheerful than she had done in months. Watching on as Harry and Draco played a game of Exploding Snap, she curled herself up in a chair in front of the blazing fire.

Finally at 11pm, the three of them climbed the stairs to the higher levels. Harry and Draco bade Hermione good night on the second floor and continued to climb to their own level.

"Firm arse you've got on you, Harry," said Draco, smirking as he climbed the stairs behind Harry.

Harry couldn't think of anything to say to this. Draco never commented on Harry's body in their hours spent together. "Uhm, thanks," he said unsurely.

Harry casually walked into his room and undressed. He didn't even notice Draco close the door, or the fire he conjured in the grate.

Harry climbed into bed, completely unclothed. It was only now he saw the fire. He frowned from the dancing flames to Draco's shadowy face, utterly perplexed. They never needed a fire before…

Harry watched Draco de-robe down to his underwear. What was going on? Was this going to be a tease show for Harry? Well, if it was, it was definitely a first.

"What's wrong? Are you cold? We can just go to sleep tonight if you want…" said Harry. Draco allowed Harry to talk himself into silence.

"Draco…?" Harry started again.

Draco walked forwards, leaning over Harry, kissing his lips lightly, teasing slightly with his tongue. Harry enjoyed it and longed for Draco to linger, but he didn't. Instead, Draco stood up and pushed down his underwear. Harry understood. Tonight was the night.

"Draco, are you sure you're ready?" asked Harry, drawing a sharp breath as Draco brushed Harry's chest with his member.

"I'm sure, Harry," whispered Draco into Harry's ear. "I'm ready to give myself- all of myself to you. I love you,"

"I've always loved you," whispered Harry. "I was just scared to- oh okay," he cut off, feeling Draco's mouth at the base of his hardening penis.

There was no doubt in Harry's mind now that Draco was ready. He wasn't interested in foreplay, and simply wanted to feel Harry inside him, or Harry in he. But the latter was caught off guard, finding himself gently squeezing Draco's shoulder to get his attention. Draco looked up from Harry crotch where he was massaging every part of Harry he could get to with his tongue.

"Draco," panted Harry, struggling to steady his breath. "Can we… take it a bit slower? I- I'm a virgin, too remember. Just because I'm ready doesn't mean I'm not… scared or…"

"Of course," said Draco, bringing himself back up to kiss Harry in stead. "I'm sorry- I thought- you'd want- to make it fast," said Draco between kisses.

Harry shook his head. "I want it to last as long as possible. I want it to be-" Harry blushed. "Romantic,"

Draco smiled and kissed Harry's tender lips with gentle, yet fierce passion. Harry sucked gently on Draco's lower lip, feeling as he did so, Draco rub his hardened cock against his own. Harry released Draco's lip and let a low moan escape his mouth. This ecstasy was beyond anything even fathomable to Harry. His breathing became shallow with Draco's quickened kissing and more rhythmic rubbing.

Harry panted, wiping sweat from his brow as Draco pulled out of the kiss, marking a trail of gentle kisses down Harry's jaw line, onto the tender, sensitive flesh of his neck. Draco sucked hard enough to leave a visible mark while Harry let out another moan of pleasure. He wasn't used to this… what other word to describe it- bliss. Draco was an expert at pleasing Harry's sexual needs by now. He'd managed to get an orgasm out of Harry in the past without venturing past his navel.

Draco continued exploring Harry's neck and chest, sucking Harry's nipples gently, working on each for a few seconds before they became hard nubs in his mouth. How sweet Harry tasted…

Draco sucked one final time of Harry's right nipple and raised his head. Harry's head was back in the pillow, a look of pure ecstasy on his face, his lips moving soundlessly. He raised his head, breathing shallowly.

"Fuck…" was all Harry managed to say before resting his head once again on the pillow, his eyes sliding in and out of focus.

If Draco hadn't known Harry was extremely aroused, his hormones going insane, he would have guessed Harry to be a mental patient by the look he wore. Draco sniggered at his private thoughts, bringing his left leg from being over Harry.

"That good am I?" asked Draco quietly.

Harry moaned again. "You have no idea."

"Wait until I get inside you…" murmured Draco, a hint of teasing in his voice.

"God, let it be now!" moaned Harry, clenching his jaw as he felt his cock throb harder than ever.

"But you suggested foreplay, Harry," teased Draco. "It's my turn now. Come on… I'm waiting,"

Harry forced a laugh. Yes, Draco was quite the tease. But he knew he'd have to return the favor if he expected anything else from Draco. So, almost reluctantly, Harry pushed himself onto his hands and knees. Gently, he lifted a leg over Draco's naked body and leant forward. Draco's lips were tender and smooth. Harry would never get sick of kissing this mouth…

Harry inhaled through his nose, taking in Draco's scent. He was the most wonderful thing Harry had ever smelt. This made his kissing become harder, faster and rougher. He hungered for Draco to be in him, but he had to do with the foreplay first. Fuck was this teasing him.

Harry tore himself from Draco's sweet, sweet mouth. He could have focused on that for the rest of the night. But no, not when he finally had access Draco's entire body.

"That was rather rough, Harry," panted Draco. "Anxious to move along, are you? I think I prefer when you take kissing at a slower rate."

But Harry wasn't interested in Draco's words. He was kissing and sucking Draco's bare, pale chest. He pulled Draco's nipple ever so gently with his teeth. He knew it wasn't hurting, for Draco was moaning in response. Harry abandoned the right nipple and made his way to the left. He enclosed his mouth around it, caressing it with his tongue. Draco's moaning growing steadily louder as his tongue worked. After a minute or so, Harry repeated the same gentle pulling with his teeth. This was too much for Draco- he screamed Harry's name out in pleasure.

Harry looked up, wondering whether this foreplay had been acceptable.

"Enough- enough- enough foreplay," panted Draco, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he spoke.

Harry smiled and climbed backwards, keeping his body weight lifted off Draco's now stiff-hard penis. Harry caressed it with his right hand, gazing down at Draco. He wasn't really concentrating on the present at that moment. He was trying to prepare his mind and body for what was to come, although he admitted to himself this was most likely useless.

Harry sighed and hopped off Draco, sitting down next to him instead. Draco regained a small amount of control and sat up, too. They stared at each other for at least 5 minutes, silently communicating their fear, yet excitement at the situation before them.

Quite abruptly, Harry sprang onto his hands and knees, Draco blinking at him.

"This is… it," said Draco blankly. "I- what- I don't know what I'm doing," he spluttered quietly.

"Neither do I," said Harry. "Just go with what feels right."

Draco did just that. He found himself somehow, suddenly behind Harry, his hands gripping each of Harry's hips firmly. It seemed to all happen subconsciously for Draco. Every movement fluid and painless. He knew exactly what he was doing.

He eased his way into Harry, pushing his hips forward in a rhythmic motion, inching himself inside. What he had expected to be painful was anything but that. He closed his eyes and leant forward onto Harry's back. Harry's breathing was deep and steady. He was moaning quietly, uttering Draco's name each time he spoke.

Draco found himself almost bucking his hips, feeling as though everything was going to explode. He yelled loudly. This pleasure was almost unbearable. He heard Harry yell and moan among many curse words. But Draco knew it wasn't hurting Harry any more than it was himself.

"DRACO!" Harry screamed, throwing himself forward into the bed.

Draco couldn't say anything. His mouth hung open, nonsense escaping him, the rest of his body acting of its own accord. Then he felt it, something inside him snapped and Draco felt his body reach its highest sexual peak. He screamed. The pleasure of the moment blinded him. He knew he had just cum inside Harry, for he felt himself softening within moment.

Draco withdrew his cock and collapsed next to Harry.