It was winter the next year. James was graduated from Hogwarts, and now held a job cleaning The Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade. Alexi was in his sixth year.

The Malfoys had invited James to spend Christmas with them as they had for the past few years, and he, as usual, had happily accepted. He loved his family, sure, but it was nice to spend it with Alexi instead. And it was relieving in a way. He didn't have to deal with his father's constant nagging about getting a real job, didn't have to be tormented by Albus who was always threatening to reveal his relationship to their parents… here he could relax. And that's just what he was doing.

He was sitting in a plush, emerald green chair before the hearth, his lover draped across his lap and quietly reading him Muggle fairy stories. Draco was sitting in the chair opposite them, stroking a rather grumpy looking black cat. And Scorpius sat on the expensive rug before the fire, school books laid out around him in an attempt to get the homework assigned over break done. He looked grumpier than the cat.

Out of Alexi's immediate family, Scorpius was the only one who objected to his relationship with James. However, he didn't much approve of Alexi in general. The smaller boy was in Ravenclaw, he was dating a Potter, and befriended their house elves. In Scorpius' opinion, his little brother was the polar opposite of what a Malfoy should be. It irritated him even more that their father absolutely adored the boy and everything he did.

His face was forming a rather nasty scowl when one of those house-elves, this particular one named Minky, pranced into the room and tugged at the youngest Malfoy's hand. "Alexi?" (He had been instructed not to address any of them as "master") "Minky was just wondering if Alexi would want to help make the desserts…"

"Oh sure! I'd love to. And James will help." He closed the book in his hands rather matter-of-factly.

"I will?" James quirked an eyebrow.

"Yes." And with that, Alexi grabbed one of James' hands, one of Minky's, and led them both to the vast kitchens.

James was leaning against the counter (having been banned from actually helping with the cooking after he dropped an eggshell into the bowl), and was watching Alexi decorate a cake with intense concentration and shaking hands. But as he watched, he wasn't smiling the ridiculous grin he usually couldn't keep away when around the smaller male. In fact, he was quite sad. He spent every Christmas here, their relationship completely out in the open with Alexi's family. Hell, he even had presents waiting under the tree for him. Then back at his own house, Harry and Ginny thought he was working, not at Malfoy Manor. He was always weaving a bigger and bigger web of lies to keep his love a secret. That wasn't how it should be.

"Hey, Alexi?" He bit his lip to hold in the chuckle that threatened to burst forth when the blonde boy's hand jerked and the perfect frosting flower smeared across the top of the cake.

"Yes, love?" Sarcasm tainted his usually sweet voice.

"Do you want to come over to my house for New Year's?"

Alexi stopped trying to wipe up the frosting mess and turned his big eyes up to James, shock overwhelming his features. "R-really? I mean… your dad would be there right?" He shook his head after a moment and offered James a not very convincing smile. "No, you don't have to do that. I don't want to cause problems." He wrapped his thin arms around James' midsection, resting his head on his chest. "But thank you."

"I want you to meet them," he insisted, returning the embrace and pressing a gentle kiss to the top of the other's head.

"I know, and I would love to meet them, but… it just isn't a good idea." In a moment of quick thinking, knowing he had to put an end to this conversation before James made a decision he would later regret, Alexi dipped his finger in a nearby bowl of melted chocolate and dragged it across his cheek. "Oops is there something on my face?"

James tossed his head back and laughed then took on the same innocent voice. "Oh! It looks like chocolate! Let me get it for you." He leaned in and dragged his tongue across the blonde's cheek, making him squeal in mock disgust. And with that the conversation was successfully halted.