Chapter 12

"Christmas time is here," sang Ron. "Time for love and time for cheer. Happiness will settle down while everyone is near…."

"Are those even the words," asked Harry as they walked down the hall. Ron shrugged.

"Who cares," he said and started singing again. "Hark, the herald angel sings. Glory to the newborn king…"

Hermione came up behind her boyfriend and shoved a cream pastry in his mouth. Ron gagged on the pastry for a moment before chewing it, glaring at his girlfriend.

"Haven't you learned anything in seven years, Harry," she asked.

"I never listen to anything you say," said Harry with a teasing smirk. Hermione gave him a look.

"Ha-ha. Oh, and let's not forget, ha. Never let Ron sing if you can help it."

"Hermione," said Ron through the cake. Both friends grimaced as flecks of pastry dribbled down his chin.

"Ron, no one likes see food," she said. Ron glared at her and continued to eat.

"Don't forget about the Christmas party at my house," said Harry.

"Haven't yet," said Hermione with a grin.

"Charlie's going to Australia to visit his girlfriend," said Ron after swallowing the pastry. "And Bill's going to France to see Fleur's parents."

"I guess that's just what you get for having a long distance relationship," said Hermione.

"He's actually thinking of transferring," said Ron. Harry and Hermione looked at him in surprise.

"Charlie's transferring?" said Harry. "But that'll break up the family."

"He said something about visiting plans. It was all jumbled."

"What about the twins? Can they make it?"

"Have they ever refused a party," asked Hermione with a smile.

"Having a party, Potter?" All three turned to see Malfoy smiling at them with Zabini beside him. "What kind of games do you have? Apple bobbing? Pin the Tail on the Weasel?"

Ron made an attempt to lunge at Malfoy but Harry and Hermione held him back.

"Easy, Ron," said Harry holding tight to Ron's arm and sent a glare at Malfoy. "Back off, Malfoy."

"No thanks, I love parties. Blaise, remember what happened at the last party you held? With what happened to Crabbe?"

"He still doesn't remember why he woke up with Bulstrode," said Zabini smiling.

"Think we can come to your party?" asked Malfoy turning to Harry.

"No," said Harry and dragged Ron away.

"Just once, just once I would love to punch him," said Ron.

"Yeah, and half the school," said Hermione. "How do you put up with him, Harry?"

"Infrequently, thankfully," said Harry. "I only have to see him at school. Other than that he's on his own."

"But he's at your house," said Ron. "When you were shot, he came to your house."

"He was with me at the shootout," said Harry. "He wanted to go out and so something exciting so I took him to Tom's."

"Oh, and that wasn't a coincidence?"

"Ron," hissed Hermione as Harry gave him a skeptic look.

"Are you saying Malfoy set up the shoot?" asked Harry.

"Well, he is the son of Riddle's right hand man."

"Why would Malfoy set up a shooting he could get killed in," asked Harry. "He's more interested in keeping the expensive clothes on his back then having them blown off."

"He has a point there, Ron," said Hermione.

"Okay, Harry, get Bones off my back and tell me why Malfoy is finding every reason he be around you?"

"Ron, Bones deals with skeletal forensics," said Hermione. "We're more NCIS."

"This coming from the girl who wants to be a doctor," said Harry teasingly.

"Hey, I like crime shows."

"And I don't know why Malfoy's always around me," said Harry. "Maybe it has something to do with what my father found out?"

"What did your dad find anyway," asked Ron.

Harry shrugged. "I don't know. I checked everywhere but I found nothing."

"Let's forget about it for now," said Hermione. "I don't want to hear anything about Riddle, crime syndicates or Malfoy for the next two weeks."

"Hermione's right," said Harry. "From now on it's about turkey dinner."

"Badly sung Christmas songs," said Ron.

"And reruns of It's a Wonderful Life," said Hermione. All three laughed as they walked out the school and sang.

"Oh, I'm getting nothing for Christmas. Mommy and Daddy are mad. I'm getting nothing for Christmas, because I've been nothing but bad!"

XXXXXXXX

Draco walked out of the black car before Dobby could open the door for him. He felt like having a cigarette but weeks of going without prevented him from grabbing a pack. The news of Potter's party sent a feeling in him he didn't understand. He felt happy that Potter was having a party and half hoped that Potter would invite him, but Draco knew Potter wouldn't.

"Guess I shouldn't have made that "Pin the Tail on the Weasel" crack," he said as his phone rang. Looking at the I.D. he sighed when he found it to be Blaise. "What's up, Blaise?"

"Still keeping a lookout on Pansy?" asked Blaise.

"Should I?"

"There's a rumor going around that she's trying to find your biggest secret and out you."

"Should I be worried?" asked Draco opening the front door, and saw several bags of luggage set by the door and Narcissa checking her hair and make-up in the mirror hung on the wall. "Hold on second, Blaise." He lowered the cell phone away from his mouth. "Mother, where are you going?"

"Oh, hello, Draco," she said with a smile. "How was school?"

"Don't change the subject. Where are you going, Mother?"

"To France, sweetie," said Narcissa. "There is a fashion show happening there tomorrow and I'm not going to miss it."

"You're going to spend Christmas in France?!" said Draco in shock. "Does Father know about this? Where is Father anyway?"

"He went on a business trip in Greece," said Narcissa. "He would have taken you with him, but he'll be gone for the month and you do have school."

"But he said we'd spend Christmas together this year," said Draco, his face flushed with slight anger.

"He wanted to, honey, but something came up," said Narcissa picking up her purse and checked its contents. Draco glared at her. He knew Narcissa didn't really care for him. She only married Lucius for the money and Lucius needed an heir. As soon as Draco was born they hired a nanny and Narcissa spent little time with her son.

"He said the same thing last year and the year before that and every year since I was five! When is he going to actually keep a promise to me?!"

"Draco, stop your incessant whining right now," yelled Narcissa snapping her purse closed and shot an angry glare at her son. "Your father is a very important man who has other responsibilities then you. It's very important that you learn that, for your father and your children." She continued to glare at Draco as she lifted her coat off the hanger. "Your friend is still on hold."

And she left. Draco lifted the phone back to his ear.

"Sorry about that," he said.

"Need any company?"

"No, I'll be fine. Just keep Pansy off my tail."

"Call me if you need me."

"Sure." And he hung up, angry at his parents for leaving him during a holiday.

It had been like this every year around Christmas. He would get his hopes up in thinking that there wouldn't be a meeting or a need to see fashion line in some other part of the world other than New York, and every year his hopes were shot down. Lucius and Narcissa would leave and Draco would be left alone to spend Christmas by himself. There was a time when all three Malfoys spent Christmas together, but that had been when Draco believed in Santa Claus. Nowadays Lucius invited his associates for a party, forcing Draco to play good host in his father's absence. Draco would invite his friends so he wouldn't go through the torture alone. Blaise usually stayed over because his mother hardly kept tabs on him.

Draco had just started eating a snack with some bourbon when the front door knocked. He ignores it but the door opened anyway and Blaise walk in and sat on a chair.

"Want to talk about it," he asked.

"What's there to talk about," asked Draco slouching in the chair. Inwardly he laughed. If his father saw him now Lucius walk have a cow. "There's a meeting in Greece and a fashion show in France. That's all there is to it."

"All there is? Draco, they left you alone. Again! What kind of parents are they?"

"The kind I'm leaving behind," said Draco.

"Ugh, I need a smoke," said Blaise. Draco gave him a warning look. "I know. I know. Trying to quit. So how are you spending Christmas this year?"

"Same as I do every year. Alone by the fireplace with a bottle of red wine."

"Oh really? Because I thought you would spend it with your new friend," said Blaise with a knowing look.

"What friend," asked Draco trying to sound confused, but his voice hitched for a second. Draco hoped Blaise didn't notice it.

"The friend you've been seeing whenever you can without being seen," said Blaise. "I may not be as smart as you, Draco, but I am smart. I know you've been seeing someone, that's why you won't have sex with me anymore."

"Okay, one, I'm not seeing anyone. I'm as single as you are. Two, I'm not having sex with you because….Well, it didn't feel right to me anymore."

Blaise looked at him in surprise. "Didn't feel right? Draco, since when did you do the right thing?" Draco didn't say anything as he took a sip from his drink next to him. "You should spend Christmas with him."

Draco was the one who looked surprised this time. "He who?" he asked. Blaise rubbed his eyes.

"Your friend, duh. Spend Christmas with him instead of staying home alone. Lesser of two evils."

Draco gave him a skeptical look. "Are you implying something?"

Blaise shrugged. "Just making an observation." He settled down in his seat. "Who is this guy anyway? I'd like to meet him."

Draco grabbed a throw pillow and threw it at him, hitting Blaise in the face.

"Not a chance," said Draco with a chuckle.

XXXXXXXX

Harry yawned and walked downstairs in just a night shirt and pajama pants. The stair case rail spiraled with the tinsel Sirius had tapped there a couple weeks before and every room was decorated in evidence of the festive holiday. Outside multi-colored lights flashed at various intervals in the morning light. In the living room a pine tree stood already decorated with ornaments that James and Lily Potter had. Sirius had told Harry that he spent Christmas with his two best friends instead of alone, no reason to need ornaments or a tree, so when both died he refused to use anything else. Harry didn't care. It was something to look forward to each year.

As Harry entered the kitchen he smelt the problem before Sirius's yell or the crash, or the fire alarm.

"Yeow!"

"Sirius," called Harry as he walked into the kitchen. There he saw Sirius standing over of pot of burnt circular patties. "You burnt toaster waffles?"

"I wanted to make breakfast for you," he said guiltily. "To sort of give you the day off."

"But you can't cook, Sirius. You burn water." Harry sighed as he picked up the black waffles and threw them in the trash bin. He smiled gratefully as Sirius. "But thanks. It would have been nice."

Sirius smiled and Harry began cooking their Christmas breakfast. He cooked pancakes with red and green M&Ms with strawberries and whipped cream. To add to the pancakes he cooked sausages and pouched eggs. He had just finished when a knocked sounded at the door and it opened and Ron, Ginny and their parents walked in. The Weasley brother and sister held presents for the party goers and the Weasley parents held trays of food for the guest.

"Yes, pancakes," said Ron setting the presents under the tree and headed to the stack of hot cakes.

"You just had breakfast, Ron," said Ginny setting the presents down and followed her brother to the kitchen.

"But it's Harry's Christmas pancakes!"

"As opposed to my Halloween pancakes, my Valentine pancakes and all my other holiday pancakes?" said Harry smiling at Ron and Ginny. Ron didn't answer. He picked up a fork and started eating the food in front of him.

"Merry Christmas, Harry," said Molly walking up to Harry and kissed him on the head. She then took the spatula from him and proceeded to continue cooking.

"Merry Christmas," he said. "When are the other's arriving?"

"They should be arriving soon," said Arthur.

"But you're in your night clothes, Harry," said Molly. "Go up and get changed. Sirius, how could you have let him greet guests in such a way?"

Sirius stuttered as Harry went upstairs and changed. He put on a red shirt with a green stripe across the chest and blue jeans. After straightening his bullet pendent and combing his hair, he went downstairs to see Hermione, Remus and Tonks sitting around the table eating pancakes with the Weasleys and Sirius. Romulus lay on the floor and gobbled up the pancake pieces Tonks "accidentally" dropped.

"Much better, Harry," said Molly after an inspection. Harry joined the table and started to eat. When they finished they began their Christmas activities in which Molly kicked them out of the kitchen to start the dinner so they put on a Christmas movie. There was a fuss when Molly wanted to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" over "White Christmas" during lunch appetizers but they put it on to keep Molly from fussing. By evening the food was almost finished, the ham cooked and table set for the Christmas feast.

"Whose turn is it this year," asked Sirius rubbing his hands together as they walked into the living room.

"Ginny did it last year," said Remus. "And Ron the year before that."

"Hermione after Ron," said Ginny. "Isn't it Harry's turn?"

"What about us?" asked Fred and George.

"You're not still in school," said Ron as the doorbell rang. Sirius went to answer it.

"Harry, it's for you," said Sirius walking back with a smile on his face. Harry gave Sirius a curious look before heading to the door. Standing on the porch watching the new snow fall, leaning on the door frame was Draco Malfoy. He turned to face Harry as the other boy appeared.

"What the hell are you doing here, Malfoy?" asked Harry quickly closing the door behind him in case any of the Weasleys saw Draco. The blonde just shrugged.

"I had nothing to do," he said.

"It's Christmas. How can you not have something to do?" asked Harry. "Don't you have a five star restaurant to go to? Eat lobsters with silverware from France?"

"Are you going to let me in," asked Malfoy with annoyance. "It's cold out here." Harry just crossed his arms and looked at him with impatience. "Father's in Greece on a business trip and Mother's in Paris on a fashion show."

"You're alone on Christmas?" said Harry in surprise.

"Glad you're happy at my expense," said Malfoy angrily. He turned to leave. Harry grabbed his arm.

"No, wait, I didn't mean it like that," he said. "I'm just surprised you are alone on Christmas. It sucks."

"It's been like this since I was six," said Malfoy. Harry could tell he was kicking himself for telling Harry this. It wasn't something you told the guy you hate. "Father and Mother would find some reason to not spend any holiday with me."

"I can understand that," said Harry. Malfoy opened his mouth to say something when the door flew open.

"Harry, you still have to…oh," said Fred as he and George stood in surprise at the sight of Malfoy. "What's Malfoy doing here?"

"Leaving," said Harry before Malfoy could speak. Malfoy glared at Harry before stepping up.

"I was hoping to spend Christmas with my new friends," he said. Both of the twins gave him a skeptical look.

"Why would you want to spend Christmas with us," asked George.

"Yeah," said Fred. "Don't you have a five-star restaurant to go to? Eat silver ware from France or something?"

"That's what I said," said Harry under his breath. Malfoy cleared his throat.

"My parents had previous engagements," he said.

"On Christmas?" said both twins. Malfoy hesitated to answer as Sirius walked through the door.

"What's with the hold up?" he asked. "Why don't you let the boy in? He must be freezing to death out there."

Fred and George moved aside as Malfoy walked inside with Harry behind him. The twins still gave him skeptical looks. Everyone look at Malfoy in surprise as he walked into the living room and he saw them standing around the tree.

"What the hell is he doing here?" demanded Ron.

"Ron, be nice to Harry's guest," said Molly.

"Harry's guest? I thought we were Harry's guest!"

"Harry," said Arthur after clearing his throat. "Would you care to explain why Mr. Malfoy is here?"

"His, uh, his parents are out of town," said Harry shoving his hands in his pockets. "He's alone for Christmas."

"I find that hard to believe," said Ron under his breath. Hermione hit his arm.

"Welcome, Draco," said Molly with too much politeness. "We were about to put the angel on the tree. It's a tradition and it's Harry's turn."

"Oh," said Malfoy in an amused tone. "Looks like I made it just in time."

"Shut up," said Harry walking past him.

Actually Draco hoped that Harry and Sirius were going to spend Christmas together, not with the Weasleys, Lupin and Granger. He knew the Weasleys still resented the fact that he was Lucius Malfoy's son and he never had a chance to know Tonks. He actually had nothing against Granger, except the fact that she beat him on every test score. Draco may be able to see the shades of grey but he was a poor loser.

Sirius handed Harry the angel and Harry stepped in the step stool to place it on the tree. The tree smelled heavily of pine as Harry reached up and slid the angel on the top of the tree. Everyone clapped as Harry stepped down.

"Presents!" chorused the twins and presents were handed around as Malfoy watched. He had gotten the usual presents from his parents. New clothes and accessories his parents say will be in style soon, movies they think he'll be interested in and books on business his father wanted him to read. Things Lucius and Narcissa thought he needed, not what he wanted.

Harry, on the other hand, happily received the gifts he had been given. Molly and Arthur gave him another hand-knitted sweater to replace the one given to him the year before. Fred and George gave him a joke book along with a few products from their joke shop and Hermione gave him an herb book. Ginny gave him a new Western movie she thought he'd enjoy and Ron gave him a jersey from his favorite football team. Sirius gave him a pair of boxing gloves to protect his hands when he practiced and Remus and Tonks gave him a history book on Japanese samurai.

Harry looked over at Malfoy as the boy sat off to the side, seeming out of place in the holiday cheer. He knew why Malfoy had come to spend Christmas with a group of people that didn't like him. He knew that Malfoy had received gifts but doubted most of them were things that Draco wanted.

"Time for dinner," said Molly happily. "Through I'm still stuck on desert."

"I can help with that," said Malfoy quickly. Everyone looked at him in surprise. "I mean, if you'll let me use your kitchen?"

"Trying to poison us are you?" asked Ron and Hermione hit him hard. "Ow! Hermione!"

"It's Christmas, Ron," she hissed. "Let's give him a chance."

Everyone was silent, hesitant in speaking up for Malfoy. Finally Harry sighed and stood up.

"Hermione's right," he said. "It's Christmas and we should give Malfoy a chance." He turned to the blonde. "What do you need?"

"Let me see what you've got," said Malfoy and followed Harry into the kitchen. He looked around the refrigerator for a minute, checking the vegetable and fruit drawers. He looked up at Harry. "How long have you had these apples and peaches?"

"A few days I guess," said Harry. "Sirius wanted to stock up for the holidays."

"Do you think he'll mind if I use the white wine?"

Harry shook his head. "No, I don't think so. We don't use it all that much."

"All right." Draco stood and checks the freezer. He took out a gallon tub of vanilla ice cream. "What's this for?"

"Movie nights," said Harry with a smirk. "We're watching Ocean's Eleven on Friday."

Draco hummed and replaced the ice cream. "I think I can work with it," he said and turned to Harry, unless you need to watch me. Make sure I don't put any arsenic in the mix."

Harry gave Draco a fake laugh as he left the kitchen.

Everyone packed away the presents, picked up the wrapping paper as Harry slipped past them and head for the stairs. He was almost up when a hand landed on his shoulder.

"Harry, why is the Malfoy boy here," asked Arthur. "And why do you seem so familiar with him?"

"We've been working together," said Harry before he realized what he said. "On a project. We've come to a truce till we finish."

"Why did you invite him in?" asked Arthur. "He's a Malfoy."

"Because no one should be alone on Christmas," said Harry and went back up the stairs.

"Where are you going?"

"To the bathroom," said Harry and disappeared down the hall.

XXXXXXXX

"Belgian may be a great work horse, but Arabians make great show horses," said Draco.

"Arabians may be pretty but quarter horses make best in show," said Ginny.

"Quit with horse talk," said Sirius. "It's Christmas."

Draco sighed as he sat between Ginny and Harry. Christmas dinner had been uncomfortable, except for the suspicious glances the Weasley men were giving Draco. Ginny, Sirius and the rest tried to keep conversation going through the meal and to ask Draco on his daily life. Draco answered with clipped versions. Harry had a few minutes after everybody had settled and sat next to Draco. As Harry sat down Draco felt something press in his pocket.

"Harry, which do you prefer?' asked Ginny as Harry sat down. "A quarter horse or an Arabian as a show horse?"

"I prefer a red roan myself," said Harry.

"Hush," said Molly and everyone joined hands. Draco looked in confusion but Harry gave him a reassuring smile and both bowed their heads.

"Dear Father," said Sirius, "we thank you for this meal and the gifts given to us by your Son, Jesus, on this most holy of days and we pray that you take care of those not fortunate in their lives and bless our family who are not with us today and look after James and Lily who are now in your loving embrace. In Jesus name, we pray."

"Amen," said the rest and the food was passed around. Somewhere between the garlic bread and the peas Draco reached inside his pocket and took out a capsule found in gum ball machines. Opening it up after quickly placing a spoonful of peas on the plate he found bracelet made of twine with green beads woven in the middle. Draco looked at Harry in surprise.

"Merry Christmas," whispered Harry as he handed Draco the ham. Draco smiled at him gratefully.

TBC