Chapter Forty-Seven

The smell of bacon frying and fresh coffee woke me, even though my body tried to fight it. Kreacher must have been up just after Draco, Daniel and I finally dragged ourselves to bed to get everything prepared, because it was all fresh, even the bread. And it was delicious. Molly and Arthur looked rested, Charlie and George, not so much, but the levels in my decanters of liquor explained them. Now Ginny, she looked almost green, which I didn't quite understand. Her hangover had been brought about by magical suggestion, not alcohol. I looked over at Draco as she'd come down the stairs; he just winked as I questioned him with my eyes. Not that I'd ever distrusted his skills before, but if I needed any more proof as to how powerful he was, it sat down at the table beside Molly and groped for coffee.

Kreacher, as attentive to his guests as a mother hen immediately appeared with three glasses of his hangover cure, setting one down in front of each of the present Weasley children. Charlie didn't even question what it was and downed it in a long slurp. George sniffed it first and then did the same thing. Ginny was a bit more hesitant, but finally began to sip at it between sips of coffee. George was the first to feel it's effects and I watched the smile creep over his face as the color returned to his skin. He held up the glass.

"What is this?" His eyes were beaming towards me. I shrugged my shoulders.

"Not a clue what Kreacher puts in it. But it works."

"Kreacher my friend. We need to talk." Kreacher beamed a big smile of his own, which I was becoming more used to seeing on his wizened little face.

Even Ginny looked better, and I just shook my head not wanting to know how that had occurred. I did notice though, that she kept her eyes down when Daniel came down the stairs. He looked happier than I think I'd ever seen him, like the proverbial 'weight' had been lifted from his shoulders finally, and while there was a sadness in his eyes I doubted would ever completely disappear, he wore a smile and greeted everyone around the table before taking a place between Arthur and Draco.

"Should we wait for Hermione and Ron?" Charlie asked.

"Hell no." Was George's answer. Feeling better he was tipping bacon onto his plate and searching for the French toast.

"Well all right then, I guess we'd better eat before George takes it all." I reached for the scrambled eggs.

Ron and Hermione did join us a few minutes later, looking decidedly comfortable and mostly rested, and everyone, including Kreacher tucked into breakfast until we were nearly uncomfortable in our skin. Then the party adjourned to the living room and the pile of presents under the Christmas tree, which I swore had multiplied overnight. Not that I believed in Santa or anything, but I did know about Molly, and her magical talents were on par with Draco's to be certain.

There were potions sets for Hermione, new Quidditch gloves for Ron, a dragon leather cloak for Charlie and crystal beer steins for George. I'd gotten a real Muggle radio for Arthur and he looked over the moon as I explained how to tune it in to various stations. I'd gotten Molly a pearl necklace; a luxury she'd never have gotten for herself, or asked her family for. Even Ginny got some jewelry from me. Not the engagement ring I'd imagined I'd be giving her that Christmas, before everything had gone wrong for us, but still some gold earrings, trying to prove that I was beyond any animosity. There was even a bottle of vintage port for Daniel, taken from my stock and wrapped carefully by Kreacher on my instructions.

Piles were growing in front of us all as boxes and bags were opened, and gifts were displayed and 'ooh'd' over. I loved it. It was the first real, unburdened Christmas I'd ever had. By that I mean that I wasn't being shoved aside at the Dursleys or trying to smile with the threat of death hanging over my head as the last few had been. Here we were warm, comfortable, fat with food and surrounded by sincere laughter. I took some time to just look at everyone, absolutely happy, even Draco.

Kreacher had insisted on tidying up the kitchen before handing it over to Molly, and when he was done he joined us as well. Amongst other things I'd gotten him a bag full of semi-precious stones, which he spent a few minutes organizing into little pouches, and when Hermione produced a package for him full of picture books he was in a little elfin heaven. He made a nest for himself out of the discarded wrapping paper and ribbons and settled in by the fire, officially off work till the next day. And I made a point of fetching drinks for everyone, including him for the rest of the day.

Molly intended to have the last word on gift giving, and no one was going to take it from her. She used her wand to distribute the last of the boxes, one for everyone, even Draco, Daniel and Kreacher. Kreacher's had a lovely tuque, scarf and mitts, just his size. In my house there was no harm in giving house elves clothing, I knew Kreacher wasn't leaving; I paid well, and I appreciated him. Molly knew that. Daniel's box had a long Hogwarts scarf, with all the house colors woven into it; when she'd made it I hadn't a clue, but it wouldn't have surprised me if it had been the previous night; she was a demon with her knitting needles, in a good way.

Her kids opened their boxes to find their traditional Gryffindor sweaters; including mine, it was a tradition that was going to go on as long as Molly could manage I figured, and we all loved them. Finally we were left with Draco, the unopened box on his lap, looking nervous, not that he had a reason to be I thought.

"Draco dear?" Molly looked concerned, I could see, because I was sitting closer to him than anyone else, that his hands were trembling. "Open it." She said with a motherly lilt to her voice.

He could only nod, likely afraid that if he said anything that his voice might crack. He carefully pulled back the paper and lifted the lid.

"Oh Mrs. Weasley." His voice did crack a little as he pulled forth a Weasley family sweater, his done in Green and Black.

"Molly it's beautiful." I tried to speak for Draco who seemed to be unable to just then.

"Do you like it Draco?" She asked, motherly tone again.

"It's the nicest thing anyone has ever given me." I don't think anyone in the room doubted the sincerity in his voice just then. "You didn't have to."

"Nonsense Draco, besides, it gave me a chance to finally work with colors other than gold and burgundy. I mean, I'm all for supporting Gryffindor and all, but after that many years you really do long for a change." George began to laugh at his mom.

"Honestly woman, the rest of us could have done with a nice blue or something." She shot him a friendly glare and stood to cross to Draco. She gave him a little hug around his shoulders and whispered something in his ear that I did not hear. He just nodded, pursing his lips together. She smiled at him and then announced that she was off to the kitchen and that we were not to bother her.

"I think I'll just take everything upstairs." Draco whispered, and gathered up his gifts without making eye contact with anyone. He disappeared.

"Wow, I've never seen anyone get so emotional over a jumper before, especially one of Mom's." Ron piped up after Draco's footsteps had faded. Hermione leaned over and swatted him; which was good because I was preparing to do the same thing.

"Just think about who he's had to spend all his Christmases with Ron."

I nodded agreement; Narcissa and Lucius were not the picture of warm family moments at all.

"Do you want me to go and make certain he's all right Harry?" Daniel had been watching Draco as closely as I had been.

"No, it's okay Daniel, I'll go. You all enjoy the fireplace and you know where the drinks are."

I left the room hearing George striking up a conversation with Kreacher about marketing his hangover cure in the shops. If I knew George, he'd have a deal struck before dinner, I'd just have to make sure that Kreacher got properly compensated for his efforts.

Draco was in the master bedroom, I hadn't quite started thinking about it as 'our room' then, and I knocked before pushing the door open. He was on the bed, holding the sweater, crying very quietly. I went to his side, putting my arms around his shoulders. He looked up at me, little reddened tracks of his tears visible on his cheeks; I couldn't help but kiss his face, trying to take away the sadness.

"I can't believe how nice everyone's being to me Harry."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not a nice person Harry."

"Of course you are Draco. You just got thrown into something evil beyond your control."

"But it's like Daniel said, at the beginning it was what I wanted, I liked the power and the fear, I liked being important."

"You were deceived Draco, used. You just wanted to be important to someone, and that was the only way to do it."

"It doesn't make what I did right."

"It makes it forgivable Dragon." He collapsed into my arms at that one, and I just held onto him for a while, letting him cry it out, and shedding a few tears of my own. When it had washed through him and he was calmer I retrieved a box I'd kept hidden in my room, a gift for him from me, something more private.

"What is this?" He asked.

"Just a little something from me for you, nothing big, just something that I think you'd like." He opened it up. Inside I had placed a leather bound book and a quill. "It's blank, the quill will write down whatever you say. Write your own story now Draco. Exorcise the demons, and create the Draco you were supposed to be."

"Oh Harry." His fingers traced the tooled work on the cover. It, unlike the quill, wasn't at all magical. And it seemed like a good pairing to me. The best of both worlds perhaps, no preconceived notions, nothing but a canvas to work on, maybe for us both to work on.

Another knock disturbed the quiet of the room. Draco wiped the tears from his eyes and took a deep breath, them smiled to tell me it was okay.

"Hello?" I asked. The door opened just a crack. It was Kreacher.

"Kreacher wanted to give something to Harry Potter, when he was alone, or just with friend Draco." He held out a tiny little box to me, trussed up in gobs of ribbon.

"Kreacher, you didn't need to get me anything."

"Special thing Harry Potter, did not buy, found."

I took the box and peeled off the ribbon, I tipped open the lid and found a chain, with a charm on it that looked like a gold coin, suspended in a ring shaped frame. As I held it up I could see that one side of the coin had the paw print of a dog on it, the other side the hoof print of a stag.

"Kreacher found it when he was cleaning up old Master Sirius' room for guests, under one of the floor boards. Think it was very important to him to be hidden away. It spins." I didn't quite understand what he meant, until, holding it out in front of me he carefully flicked at one edge of the coin, and indeed it did begin to rotate in the frame, faster and faster until the two prints blurred together into one. I stared at it, understanding what it had meant to Sirius, and to my father.

I never doubted for an instant how much my father had loved my mother, but his heart had been big enough to hold love for one more it seemed. Now it was my turn to cry quietly.