Disclaimer: Want a disclaimer? Go back a chapter.
A/N: Too tired for comments. Merry Christmas. A little early. Watch Heroes. It's awesome.
Nailpolishremover: Too tired to give you a hard name. Thanks for reviewing as always. I love you lots. I spent today with a certain russian Pascha. He's cool.
Slytherin Luver: Again, thanks dearest. I love my reviewers.
HeavilyBrokenSpirit: Your name is rather sad. You made me unbelievably happy. I really love you a lot. Thanks for reviewing. You make me keep posting.
Onward.
"Ginny is really getting into the whole holiday spirit thing." Draco said over Christmas eve dinner. I grinned and nodded.
"I don't mind it though. It's kind of nice to see everyone so happy." I scanned the ballroom, which was set for a private dinner. Lucius, Narcissa, Draco, Adele, Bellatrix, Rudolphus and Rabastan sat at the long head table with Ginny and I. I sat at the head and Lucius sat at the foot of the table. Draco and Rudolphus sat on either side of me, Adele beside Draco and Ginny beside her. I longed to twine hands with her underneath the table, to have her sitting next to me, but she was deep in conversation with Adele and Narcissa about some woman thing, so I decided she was content with her seat. The house elves had produced a huge turkey, already carved with all the fixings, and it was delicious. It was the first time I could remember being excited for Christmas. True to my word I hadn't gotten anyone anything except for Ginny. She had been very excessive about decorating, with huge Christmas trees strung up with lights in all four corners of the large room. She looked up from her plate and glanced at me. I grinned and raised my glass to her, and she smiled back mysteriously. God, she was so beautiful.
After dinner we sat around a fireplace and talked. She sat in my lap, with her head on my shoulder and listened to my conversation with Rabastan.
"-Yes the mudbloods are breeding with the purebloods, so eventually everyone will be a half blood." Rabastan was saying.
"Not if the muggle born population keeps increasing." I said. "Eventually there will be more muggleborns, and everyone will just forget that anyone who isn't a muggleborn isn't pureblood. Everyone will forget, do you see?" Rabastan looked confused. I rolled my eyes, but she cut in,
"Can I go to bed now?" I looked down at her. She was half asleep.
"Of course, love." I said, and stood, holding her.
"Put me down, I can walk." She yawned.
"I'm worried you're going to pass out." I said, then more quietly just to her, "Plus that gives me a reason to go to bed too." I smiled fondly down at her as she closed her eyes and snuggled into my shoulder. It was nothing carrying her, and I truthfully was glad to leave. I walked down the corridors, not thinking about anything. I couldn't believe it was Christmas eve, and I was happy. When I was at school, I hated Christmas. Everyone else was so cheery, and all the rich kids in slytherin got huge, beautiful presents if they were at school. I was always jealous of them, even though I would never have admitted it. Even when everyone went home for the holidays I was sad and lonely. In my later years I would relieve the pressure by torturing some mudbloods in hufflepuff. They were too weak and cowardly to report it to their head of house, especially if they were first years. I frowned. I regretted being such an awful person. That was probably what made Voldemort become what he was. I kicked the door open gently, and strode over to the bed. I lay her down on it, and after a second thought, removed her clothes with a flick of my wand, and replaced them with the shirt I had made for her months ago. I smoothed her hair out of her face lovingly, and stripped down to my boxers myself, before sliding into bed beside her. I laid a hand over her waist, and buried my face in her neck.
GGGGGGGGG
I woke early on Christmas morning, and grinned to see snow falling heavily out the large windows. I looked over at Tom. He was still asleep, his dark hair tussled around his handsome face. I looked down at him fondly, and got up carefully. I shivered in the cool air and pulled in a pair of sweatpants, and a hoodie of Tom's that had Slytherin printed across the back in silver letters. I shot him one last look, smiled, and closed the door quietly behind myself. I walked to a greenhouse that was used for growing plants for potions. I sat in a glass alcove, and stared out the window.
"Hey," Said a voice, and I turned to see Adele, dressed in a nightgown and housecoat, her beautiful, waist-length blonde hair down. "Merry Christmas." She said, smiling.
"And to you." I replied quietly. "Draco sleeping?" She nodded, and yawned. I patted the bench next to me and she sat.
"Beautiful morning." She remarked, and I nodded.
"Listen, Adele, would you have killed her? Hermione? You know, in Diagon alley?" Adele looked at me for a second.
"No, I don't think I could have. I don't think I could kill anyone." I breathed out a sigh of relief.
"I was hoping you'd say that." She grinned.
"I'm not a monster, don't worry." I smiled back at her.
"I already knew that."
"Are you scared?" She burst out. I raised an eyebrow at her.
"Scared of what?"
"Of loosing him? He's a wanted man. Everyone on the other side wants to kill him." I didn't answer her. "I don't mean to scare you. I'm sorry. Pretend I didn't ask."
"No."
"What?"
"I'm not scared of loosing him. He's strong, and even if he did get killed, I'm sure I'd be following him right afterwards, by choice or not."
"You'd-" she spluttered. I cut her off with a look. She gulped, and smiled at me. "I'm happy we're friends." I smiled back at her.
"You're like my sister. I love you." She punched me lightly on the shoulder.
"I should get back." She said. "Draco will be waking soon, and I want to be with him." I nodded.
"I'll walk you back. It's en route to my room." She nodded, and we walked down the hall with our arms wrapped around eachother.
"See you later." Adele said, then winked at me. I smiled back at her mischeviously. I walked back to my room, and opened the door quietly. Tom was still asleep. I couldn't help grinning like a loon whenever I saw him. He was so sweet and serene when he slept. I realized I was just as protective over him as he was over me.