Harry wakes up on Christmas morning with a slight headache and his phone buzzing beside him.

'Hey,' he answers, voice thick and scratchy with sleep. An excited squeal echoes down the phone, making Harry wince and rub his temples. 'Bloody hell Hermione, is that you or an irritable parrot?'

'Harryyyyy! Happy Christmas! Go get Ginny,'

'Okay, okay,' Harry mumbles just before the door crashes open and Ginny bounds onto the bed, poking a sharp elbow into Harry's ribs as she scrambles for the phone.

'I heard,' she says to Harry, pressing a kiss on his cheek before yanking the phone up to her ear and emitting another painfully loud screech. Harry, just about done with the entire charade, buries his head under a pillow.

'Mione! Merry Christmas to you too! Yeah, he's fine. Just drank a bit too much wine last night, I think. Yeah, we're all ready for today. Sure, we can be at yours by then. Can't wait!' and with that last high-pitched squeal, she slams the phone violently against Harry's ear.

'Harry, love. You are going to be over here in an hour so get a move on cause me and Ron need some help getting everything shipshape. Also when is Draco meant to arrive?' Harry sits up reluctantly and tries to process Hermione's quick-fire orders.

'Erm, I don't know. I'll text him to make sure. Anyway, thanks for the wake-up call that I didn't ask for. See you in a bit, slave-driver,' Harry hands the phone back to Ginny before dragging himself out of bed towards the window and yanking back the thick curtains. As usual, no white Christmas for the London-dwellers. Just a thick layer of grey-blue cloud heavy with promised rain.

Later, in the kitchen with a mug of much-needed coffee in front of him, Harry rings Draco.

'Merry Christmas,' Draco's voice is warm and makes Harry smile widely.

'Hey there. Merry Christmas to you too. Just wondering what time you'll be over today. Hermione wants allllllll the details,' Harry says, dragging out his words into a slow drawl.

'Should be able to make it for around 11, if that's ok. I'm going to skype Pansy then get ready,'

'Good, good…,'

'Lost for words, are you, Potter?' Draco's snark is back, with just a hint of that Hogwarts sarcasm.

'Shut it, Malfoy,' Harry mumbles back, face flushing as memories come rushing back.

All he can hear is Draco's muffled laughter at the use of his surname. 'Okay, I'll behave. Anyway, how are you doing this morning,'

'Better. Little headache but that's about it. Sorry you had to experience a tipsy phone call,'

'Nah, no problem. It's quite funny to see usually-in-control Harry Potter inebriated. Will I get to see it tonight as well?'

'Probably. Any Weasley gathering ends with most of us completely drunk,' Harry grins ruefully.

'Alright, I need to start getting ready. I'll see you in a couple of hours,'

'Can't wait,' Harry ends the call and looks up to see Ginny carrying a huge mountain of previously wrapped presents into the kitchen. She looks miniscule, arms filled with huge boxes and sellotape stuck to the hem of her little black velvet mini. Even her sparkly tights have a ladder down the back, but as usual, she makes it work perfectly. Ginny gazes down at Harry's outfit and rolls her eyes, disappointment visible across her expression. Harry can't see anything wrong with the t-shirt and dark wash jeans that he is wearing but from the look on Ginny's face, it's not nearly appropriate for the occasion.

'Shoulda put tinsel on your glasses or something,' she mutters, brushing a couple of curls off his forehead. 'Well, at least you'll be wearing a paper hat for most of the day. Would it have killed you to just be a little bit festive?'

'I don't own anything festive, really. I throw away all the novelty t-shirts, or you nick them,' Harry protests.

'True enough,' Ginny muses, before snapping into action, producing colour coded bags for the present piles to be organised into. Harry sighs and stands up, mug in hand to go and help her.

In less than half an hour, they're walking down the road, bags in hand, towards Sofya's cafe. As part of their usual tradition, every Christmas morning, Harry and Ginny go into the cafe to wish seasons greetings and grab a coffee and freshly made panettone. Harry always loves this moment with them, it's a real family moment. Just shows that a family can be found anywhere.

The shop bell jingles as they step in through the door into the warmth. Sofya rounds the corner from the kitchen and runs at them, streams of excited Italian pouring out of her mouth as she rushes to gather Ginny up in her arms. She then turns to Harry and kisses him soundly on both cheeks, ruffling his mass of curls and ranting in her usual fashion. Vincenzo also joins the group, twirling Ginny around and hugging Harry tightly. As they all talk at once, a gabble of voices sharing the news, Harry finds himself being steered (rather forcefully) into the back room and pushed down onto one of the sofas, Ginny landing with an oomph beside him.

'So, angeli, what have you two been getting up to? Long time, no see!' Sofya asks. 'What about your bello Draco? He still doing you good?'

Harry blushes, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment. 'Yeah, Sofya, we're still doing good. He's actually coming over to Hermione's today to be with all of us,'

'Ahh, lovely, lovely Hermione. When's she coming to see me, huh?'

'We'll let her know, Sofya. She's very busy at the moment,' Ginny chips in.

'That girl, she does too much. Busy, busy, all the time. She should slow down,' Sofya sighs and looks despairingly towards the heavens.

'You work all the time, Sofya,' Vincenzo smiles at his wife.

'Yeah, but my work, it's making people happy. It makes me happy. Is Hermione happy? See, Ginny is happy. That kind of work is good for a girl like you,' Sofya smiles approvingly at Ginny before turning her gaze on Harry.

'You, figlio, how was your trip? No accidents?' She glares down at his still strapped-up fingers.

'Just a little one this time,' Harry smiles sheepishly, saluting her with the bandaged fingers.

'Mon dio, Harry. You be careful out there. They are lunatics to send a lovely boy like you into the dangerous, dangerous world,' Sofya cries, irate. Vincenzo places a hand on her shoulder, calming her down from her tirade.

'Sofya, it is my job, I did sign up for the danger. I'm just a clumsy human being so whenever I'm hurt, it's usually completely my fault,' Harry grins.

'Well, look after yourself, amore. There would be nobody to eat my cakes if you weren't around. Speaking of…' She suddenly produces two huge paper bags stuffed with food. 'Panettone for today. Send my wishes to Hermione,'

In less than a minute, they're bundled out of the door and walking down the pavement towards Hermione and Ron's. Harry has an ear-splitting grin on his face as he juggles the four bags of presents that he is holding. Ginny sighs and smiles.

'Ahh, I just love them. People like that, they're so special. Actual angels,' she says, peering into the food stuffed bags with a look of bliss on her face.

Hermione and Ron's front steps are covered in ice, it's an adventure trying to get to the wreath-adorned door. Harry's feet are sliding out from underneath him and Ginny is laughing hysterically at his expression of pure terror when the door swings open to reveal Hermione's tiny form. She launches herself at Harry, making him stumble back into one of the white-painted pillars as he wraps his arms around her waist, brushing her huge mass of curls out of the way. Hermione kisses his cheek with an expression of pure, undulated happiness.

'Hey there, stranger,' she smiles up at him. 'You're looking good!'

'Who's looking good?' Ron comes up behind Hermione, pulling her into his arms after he gives Harry a hug.

'Harry. Don't you think he looks happier?' Hermione turns around to address Ron.

'He's happy because he's been hit by cupid's arrow!' Ginny says cheekily, nudging him with her shoulder and squealing as Harry puts her in a headlock. Still in that position, he drags her through the open door into Hermione and Ron's kitchen, their friends following behind with an amused expression on their faces.

Sitting on the living room sofa is none other than Charlie Weasley. Harry releases Ginny, who grumpily fixes her hair, and steps forward to greet him. Charlie's looking good, as tanned and untamable as ever, a world of difference from Draco's sleek, model-like looks. Bill and Fleur are also there, with little Victoire playing with some new toys. Across the room, is someone who makes Harry's heart burst with happiness. Teddy is here, squirming in the arms of Andromeda, who looks sick to death of the child's antics. Seeing Harry, he jumps out his grandmother's arms and runs towards him at full speed, crashing into Harry's legs with a force that almost knocks Harry off his feet. After gathering the blue-haired child up into his arms, Harry turns to see Hermione smiling up at him from the doorway, alarming tears filling her eyes. Harry takes a few steps towards her, but Teddy shrieks, noticing Ginny and wiggles out of his arms. When he looks back, all trace of tears are gone and instead, she is chatting to Fleur.

Molly and Arthur arrive a little while later, along with Neville and a few of Hermione's uni friends. The room grows louder, Teddy, as usual, the centre of attention as he enthralls people with his five year old attitudes and knowledge. Hermione is busy with a crowd of people in the kitchen, preparing way too much food as usual. There's a uni mate each side of Charlie, listening to his stories, and Harry smiles at the sight, new and old friends together again. The tree is almost engulfed by the huge pile of presents underneath and Fleur is frantically trying to steer Victoire away from the lit scented candles positioned on every surface. Harry's already been captured by Molly, and soundly told off about his bandaged fingers. Ginny has got her sights set on the same scholar boy who she flirted with at the engagement party. Just a classic Weasley Christmas.

When the doorbell rings again, Hermione catches Harry's eye and gestures towards the door. He stands up and begins walking towards the noise but is halted by a small body barrelling into his legs again.

'Comin' with you,' Teddy says as Harry picks him up and throws him over his shoulder, Teddy squealing with delight. Once Tedd's settled into a more comfortable position, little legs hooked around Harry's shoulders, they undo the latch and let the door swing open to reveal a frozen-looking Draco Malfoy, a black beanie pulled low over his hair. Harry stands there, just taking in the sight of him for probably far longer than is socially acceptable, until Teddy starts squirming around. Obviously, five is too old to be carried everywhere. The silence is broken by Draco, reaching a hand out towards Teddy.

'Hey there, little guy,' Draco says softly, the way one might talk to a frightened animal.

Teddy grabs his hand and shakes it, an air of importance surrounding him. 'I'm not little. I'm five now,'

'Yeah, Harry told me,' Draco crouches down to speak to Teddy, who has determinedly wriggled out of Harry's arms.

'Who are you?' Teddy asks, eyes filled with curiosity.

'I'm Draco. I'm a...friend of Harry's,'

'Boyfriend,' Harry cuts in quickly, seeing the uncertainty about what to call himself on Draco's face. A shocked expression replaces the uncertain one as Draco takes in Harry's proclamation, followed by a smile that spreads across Draco's entire face, causing his eyes to sparkle brightly. Harry can feel himself mimicking the smile as Teddy states a simple 'Cool,' and runs off, back into the warmth. Draco stands up to his full height again, grinning at Harry and placing his hands on Harry's shoulders.

'Little kids. Nothing fazes them,' Draco says, smiling widely.

Harry looks up towards the door frame, where some carefully positioned mistletoe hangs, just waiting for a moment like this. Draco follows his gaze upwards and starts to laugh, body shaking.

'Well, we can't disrespect the mistletoe, can we?'

'Hermione, that meddler. She's probably watching and laughing right now,'

'Shut up and kiss me, Harry Potter,'

Best. Christmas. Ever.

The Christmas meal is now over and everyone is flopped over the sofa's in the living room, watching Teddy and Victoire tear into the last of their presents. Grown-up parcels are also being handed round, at much more of a sedate pace than the kids. Harry is sleepy from wine, curled up next to an equally relaxed Ginny, who's still engaged in a frantic battle of lust-filled gazes with Hermione's friend. Draco is on his other side, slumped back into the sofa cushions and just watching the chaotic gathering. Hermione flounces over to plonk herself down in Harry's lap, while Ron wanders behind, with a pile of mixed presents, sitting down on the floor beside them. The sounds of Mariah Carey echo around the busy room. Hermione hands a silver wrapped present towards Harry, another to Ginny and a third to Draco. She then proceeds to bury through the pile, allocating which ones are for her and Ron.

Wrapping paper flies through the air as everyone opens their given gift. Hermione reveals a small, leather-bound book from Harry, worn and tattered at the edges with one word in gold ink decorating the cover. Love. She opens it to discover pages of drawings of her and Ron, throughout the years, in pencil, pen and paint. Flicking through the pages, she displays the book to Ron, tears once again welling up in her eyes. Harry grins at the reaction, heart swelling at the thought of the moments he has captured in that small notebook.

'So, for a long time now, you two have been in love. I started drawing it in Hogwarts, and just carried on the book. Thought you might like to see what's kept my belief in true love alive so long,' Hermione hurls herself onto his neck and buries her face into his t-shirt as Harry says those words.

Ginny opens up her parcel to receive spa vouchers and jewellery, carefully picked by Hermione. Draco gets artisan chocolates and a beautiful green and silver handmade scarf. Harry opens his to reveal a sketchbook, embossed with his initials and a voucher for the fancy tattoo parlour on Curtain Road.

'You've been talking for ages about getting some ink done, and my mate says this is the best place that he's been in,' Ron explains.

'Yeah, I've been thinking about it for ages now. Thank you, guys,' Harry says, heart full of gratitude.

'Me next,' Ginny screeches, passing Harry a neat parcel and gestures for one back. She casually throws the other's their presents, engrossed in the one sitting in front of her. Harry rips his open to find a load of clothes from Ginny's favourite little designer boutique and a salon voucher for a haircut.

'Ha ha,' Harry says sarcastically, waving the voucher in front of Ginny's nose. 'Clever,'

'Well, you do need it,'

The present cycle continues until it's Draco's turn. He hands Harry a tissue-wrapped present while Harry passes over a small, delicate one. Ripping his open, Harry finds a small envelope with Isle of Islay written on it. Inside is the details of a holiday cottage and a couple of ferry tickets.

'So, I thought, you haven't really had much of a holiday, what with them sending you to Yorkshire, so how about we go to the Hebrides for a few days? Just me, you and probably constant rain,' Draco grins at Harry's excited expression before starting to rip into his present. Inside, is a delicately shaped greenstone, hung on a leather band.

'It's a koru,' Harry explains. 'It's a Maori good luck symbol and is symbolic for new beginnings as well as hope and peace,' Draco picks it up, slipping it over his head so it rests on the soft fabric of his t-shirt. He then leans forward, pressing a soft kiss onto Harry's lips. Harry gets a bit carried away, kissing Draco back until Ginny starts making gagging noises, causing them to pull apart and both turn bright red. As the present opening continues, Teddy makes a running leap into Harry's lap, curling up with a stuffed toy wolf and promptly falling asleep. Draco and Ginny's expressions show that this action is absolutely the cutest thing ever.

The clock ticks on, the presents are all opened and both Teddy and Victoire are getting irritable. Hermione, ever the hostess, is offering round mince pies and topping up rapidly emptying wine glasses. Everyone is wearing a large, knitted jumper in assorted colours, thanks to Molly. Harry has never seen Draco more pleased than when he was handed a parcel from Molly too, contain a moss-green jumper with a gold D on the front. Even Teddy has a mini blue one. George has pioneered a huge game of drunken charades, which is conjuring up huge gales of tipsy laughter. Harry is happy watching everyone, with Draco's hand tucked into his and his godson on his lap. It's been a good day.

People don't start leaving until a good few hours later. Victoire throws a tremendous tantrum so Bill and Fleur bundle her hastily out the door, blowing kisses and wishing everyone a good rest of the night. Slowly, the others start peeling off into the night, carrying armfuls of gifts and leftover food. Molly kisses everyone tipsily, before being steered off by an equally drunk Arthur. The spirits are still high, even with only a handful of people left in the house. Hermione is rubbing her eyes, exhausted after a long day of shouting orders, so after giving everyone a hug and kiss goodnight, she disappears up the stairs to bed. Harry, still clutching Draco's hand, grabs Ginny on the way out. Once out on the cold, dark street, Ginny saunters off with her scholar catch, leaving Harry alone with Draco.

'Jesus, Ginny's certainly got some game,' Harry comments as they watch the couple walk away.

'Good for her. Not afraid to go for what she wants,' Draco murmurs back. 'Right, thank you so much for inviting me over. Best Christmas I've ever experienced and I loved meeting Teddy,'

'You'll have to come over when I'm babysitting him, then,' Harry absentmindedly replied, twisting his hands up into Draco's hair. He leans forward to chastely kiss Draco, who pulls Harry closer to deepen the kiss.

'I'm picking you up at 8 am in two days, so be packed, alright?' Draco mumbles against Harry's lips.

'Ok. Thank you, by the way, for organising it. It's going to be so much fun, alone in a cottage with you,' Harry says, leering slightly as Draco laughs and pushes him away.

'Get home safe, you. Please. I'll text you when I get back,' Draco says before pushing him in the direction Ginny left in. 'I'll see you soon,'

'Merry Christmas, Draco Malfoy,'

'Merry Christmas, Harry Potter,'