Chapter Forty-Eight

As always, Molly outdid herself with Christmas dinner. All of us, even Kreacher were crowded around a dinning room table loaded with more food and dishes than those at Hogwarts had ever been. You could hardly see the person sitting across from you, and when dishes were being passed, you could hardly hear them either. I loved it, every happy, laughing, clinking moment of it. This was my family, Daniel, Kreacher, and especially Draco included along with the Weasley's. George kept filling everyone's glasses, and I expected that Kreacher would be up early working on his cure for all of us, and I didn't care, and it seemed that I wasn't in the minority.

We told stories, about school, and about growing up as wizards and witches. We heard George's stories about torturing Ron as a child, and we even heard some stories about Fred, which brought a rapid silence to the room, in reverence for his loss; but just as quickly George raised a glass to his twin and laughter ensued, as Fred would have wanted it.

Hermione and I talked about some Muggle Christmas traditions, to the delight of Arthur, and Kreacher even told us about some of the elf traditions, most of which usually occurred on Boxing Day, after they cleaned up the homes of their masters and mistresses. It was almost cute to see him speaking so freely, being just a little tipsy himself.

By the time puddings were served everyone was feeling rather blissful, and not in any shape to do much but eat and then plant themselves in the sitting room in one chair or another, and continue laughing and joking together. There was really no chance of wizard's chess or exploding snap, no one was quite coordinated enough. I admit that I'd indulged a bit more than I should have, but I just felt so good about everything, and it felt so good to laugh. When I did finally try to stand up to make my way to bed I wobbled just a bit and felt Draco quickly at my side, offering me his shoulder to steady me, with his own subdued laugh.

"Hang on to me Harry, I'll take you to bed."

"Promises, promises." I whispered to him, not really caring if anyone else heard. Molly had long gone to bed, and Arthur, Charlie and Daniel were across the room discussing the changes at Hogwarts. Ron and Hermione were cuddling in front of the fire and Ginny and George were making fun of them.

"Night all!" I called out happily and let Draco help me upstairs.

He locked the door behind us as we came through. The wobbliness had abated just a bit as I had gotten my head on straight after a few minutes upright. Really, I think it had more to do with fatigue than alcohol; after all Draco, Daniel and I had been up half the night in the kitchen talking, with barely a few hours sleep before breakfast and presents, but I didn't mind Draco's hands on me, in fact right then I really craved them.

My whole house just felt like it was full of love and happiness that day, and I told Draco as much as I spun myself around in his grasp, purposely throwing us both off balance so we would fall onto the bed. Once down I slung my leg over his body, and hovering over him brought my mouth down to taste his in a desperate kiss. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me down to him where he slipped his fingers under the waistband of my pants, searching for a way to drag them down off my hips. I began to work on his shirt, trying to yank it over his head while still lip locked with him, which didn't work out so well, but left both of us laughing like idiots.

"I want you so much Draco." I breathed into his ear as I finally freed his shirt and cast it away.

"I want you too Harry." And he pushed his fingers hard against the front of my pants, finding the growing center of my desire. I moaned out loud for him and then dragged off my pants, desperately wanting more of his touch. He complied, cupping me, and grinding his palm against me, which brought out more sounds of pleasure.

Somehow I managed to get him out of his pants, it seemed like a flurry of hands, his and mine, tugging at clothing until we were both naked, rolling around on the crisp duvet, kissing and pulling at each other with mouths and fingertips, an action that left us both gasping. I tipped out the contents of the potion bottle in my bedside table into my palms and began to drip it over Draco, pouring little streams that ran down his hips and between his legs, and then I pulled my body over his, grinding my hips against his slick skin, thoroughly coating us both in the warming liquid.

"I want to have you on your back Dragon, I want to watch you." He nodded at me and I pushed his legs apart, settling myself between them, and brushing myself against his opening. His body jerked at my touch and I saw him bite at his lower lip, holding another moan within as I played with him, stroking and darting at him, teasing us both with what was to come.

I watched his face, his beautiful pale skin and sharp blue eyes as he held his breath, waiting on me and the thrust of my body finally into his with a drawn out cry on my part as his heat enveloped me. Only then did he let his moan escape as he arched his back and closed his eyes, and I knew then I was free to work him, thrusting back and forth within him, at first slowly, and then with more passions as my lust and excitement built.

With a free hand I took his member into my grasp and began to stroke him, even as I continued to pleasure myself within his body and his expressions melded bliss into anticipation as I felt his body tremble under mine.

"Come for me Harry." He breathed out, pleading words born on the breaths he could take into his quivering chest.

"You first." I smirked, and focused my efforts on him, stroking him harder and faster till I knew I had him. His eyes closed, his muscles tensed, and I watched with absolute rapture as he exploded into my hand and over his belly with a beautiful, guttural cry of pleasure. Watching the orgasm rob him of his senses I began to work my hips against him with increased abandon, loving the sounds of his innocent cries even as I felt the wave taking over me. I roared as I felt the final spasm, and the jerk of his body around mine as I released myself to him. He hooked his legs around mine and pulled me close into his body, both of us sliding together with more laughter and more locked mouths, stealing air and taste from each other.

Having made a right mess of ourselves we adjourned love making to the bathroom for a hot shower. Well, perhaps adjourned isn't the right word. It was a long shower. Then with a quick flick of two wands the bed was set to rights, and ready for us to crawl in, now lazy from the warm water, and sated by the play. I knew there were a few things I wanted to say to Draco before we both drifted off, and a took his hand under the quilt, and squeezed it.

"This has been the best Christmas I've ever had Draco. I just wanted you to know how happy I am to have you here with me."

"Thanks Harry." His voice was quiet and shy with impending sleep. "Me too. I wish holidays would last forever." His eyes were flickering, and I knew he was fighting to keep them open.

"Good night Dragon." I leaned over and kissed him one last time, simply parting his lips and sharing a breath. I felt the blissful limpness and let him be, knowing he'd fallen asleep. "Happy Christmas lover."

Daniel was the first to leave on the 26th. He told everyone he needed to get back to the school, to put together lessons plans to make up for this first month's absence. Draco and I knew differently, we knew he was going back to search the nearly deserted castle for the Mirror of Erised, and we both offered to accompany him, but he made the valid point that the three of us poking around would arose suspicion, and what he really wanted was the time alone to say goodbye to Rubens, even if it was just to a fantasy in a mirror. He hugged both of us on the doorstep, out of sight of my other guests before he disapparated, and promised us that if we ever found ourselves in any kind of trouble, that we need only come to him, that he owed us far more than that. Then he praised our bravery, which made me blush a little, and Draco's magical skills, all of which was appreciated by us both. I had the feeling as we went back into the warmth of the house that once we were done with school Daniel would be a frequent visitor, and I was looking forward to it. I found it hard to believe that only a few days earlier I hadn't even really cared for the man, but shared confidences and tears could build many bridges I discovered.

Molly, Arthur and Ginny left next, wanting to have one night at home before they went out to see Bill and Fleur. Charlie and George hung around for another good meal before heading back to George's for a night at the local and whatever adventures lay in front of them, two bachelors on the prowl. Hermione and Ron had planned to stay another night or two before they left for a quick overnight to Paris to see the sites and have a romantic interlude to themselves. So after dinner, ports in hand, Ron challenged Draco to a game of chess and Hermione and I left them to it in the study while we went back out to the living room to relax.

I expected Hermione to pull a textbook out of thin air to start studying, but instead she came over to beside where I was sitting down on the couch, sans scrolls. I couldn't quite sort out what the look on her face meant, it wasn't anger, or amusement, or even frustration, maybe it had been confusion? Whatever it was, it had me a little uneasy.

"Hermione? What's wrong?"

"When were you going to tell me Harry?"

Damn.