Hey everyone! So, I've skipped ahead a little and the boys are about to see their first married Christmas! To recap a little: Draco is only 1 month pregnant and still feeling the love for Harry! Pansy is living with them and hasn't caused any problems...yet...if ever. It's an official Hogsmeade Weekend and Draco is in the shopping mood!
******** ******** Chapter 19 ******** ********
Over the next month, Harry, Draco and their friends continued on with their lives. They had their good days and bad days but somehow managed to make it into the Christmas season without any more major incidents.
"I want to go shopping, Harry! It's nearly Christmas and we need to buy gifts for my parents as well as our friends." Draco told Harry at breakfast on the last day of classes before the trip home. "I don't even have anything for you yet!"
"Ok, Dray, but I want someone with you at all times. I don't want anything to happen to you." Harry told him while he dished out some eggs and fruit for each of them. He was quite amused lately because Draco had developed a craving for each meal. Eggs had lost their effect of disgusting Draco as long as they were mixed with salsa and he'd begun to crave them for the protein they provide.
"What if you take me to Hogsmeade? That way, we can shop for everyone but each other and then meet up with some of our other friends later so I can get your gifts and you can get mine." Draco's silver eyes sparkled as he took some melon into his mouth.
"Good idea, Dragon..." Harry grinned and ate some of his scrambled eggs. "After that, we can meet back up at the end of the day and come home together."
Draco decided to push things a little. "I also want to take a house-elf with us to take our purchases home."
"We don't need an elf, love." Harry frowned grabbing a slice of bacon. "Either or both of us can cast a shrinking charm just fine and slip any items we've bought into a pocket."
"Silly Harry, we don't need an elf. " Draco reasoned eating a strawberry. "But it would be helpful anyway because we could move on with our shopping and leave the elf to wait for an item if it's not ready yet. I know that's what Mummy and Father always do."
"Well, I'm not your mummy or father, Dray." Harry eyed the blond. "No elf. I'll not have an elf do something we can do perfectly well ourselves. Besides which, Hermione would string us up by our toes if we used a house-elf that way!"
Draco rolled his eyes. "Fine. When are we going?"
"We'll leave just after lunch. Charms class was canceled due to Professor Flitwick's bout of the Witch-wood flu." Harry told his husband.
Draco cringed. "I had that once. It's dreadfully contagious."
"That's why he canceled class and is isolated in the infirmary." Harry said comfortingly.
"I'll send him a 'get well' note later." Draco nodded solemnly.
"We'd best get to transfiguration or the professor won't be happy with us." Harry said.
After class, Draco went off with Pansy, Blaise and Luna for a walk beside the lake and past the Owlry so he could send off the note to their teacher and a letter to his mother while Harry joined up with Ron and Hermione to play some chess and relax before the holiday rush. They spoke about their past Christmases, both together and separate. They spoke about how this one was likely to go and how Ron and Hermione and the rest of the Weasleys would miss Harry. Hermione insisted that he take the invisibility cloak with him as well as never letting his wand be out of his reach. They still didn't trust Lucius even though Harry had shown them the memory of his apology.
Not more than an hour later, it was time for lunch. Harry and Draco met up in the Great Hall for the meal and then they would begin their trip into Hogsmeade. As usual, Harry helped Draco get his meal together before feeding himself. They ate in relative quiet, planning which stores to go to for which person on their list and, when it was time to go, Harry held out a hand for Draco to hold. He'd become even more protective of the blond sine the incident with Pansy and her ex-husband in the Headmistress' office. As they arrived at the gates to the school, Harry heard a noise off to their left and drew his wand as he stepped in front of Draco. The pair looked closer to find only a small elf facing them.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" Harry demanded of the small creature.
"Wait, Harry..." Draco broke in as the elf seemed about to answer. "I think this is one of the Malfoy elves from home. Dinki?"
"Yes, Master Draco. Mistress Cissa sent Dinki to help with your shopping." It said.
Harry turned a glare on his husband. "I said no elf, Draco."
"How is this my fault?" Draco asked; the outrage in his voice clearly audible. "All I told Mummy in the letter I wrote after breakfast was that we'd be doing some shopping this afternoon. I didn't say anything about elves." It was a total lie. In actuality, he'd begged his mother to send his favorite elf to help them shop. If Harry called him on it, he'd have to tell the truth. He nervously wondered how Harry would punish him for it.
The brunette narrowed his eyes at the blond; something in the tone of his husband's voice didn't ring true to him. "I want to see the memory of you writing that letter..."
Draco's heart sank. "What?" He didn't want Harry to see that he'd lied and tried to play him against his parents. What would he do? He sighed and decided to fess up now to avoid further unpleasantness during their trip but he would do it his own way. "Fine, so I asked for Dinki to be sent." He pouted. "I'm just not used to doing this without an elf, Harry."
Harry's green eyes flashed with annoyance. "You lied to me..."
"I know...I'm sorry, Harry." Draco said softly, looking up at Harry.
"You lied to me...What else did you do, Draco? What did you say to her in that letter?" Harry frowned.
Draco's eyes widened at Harry's displeasure. "I just told her you didn't think we needed an elf's help but I did and asked her to send one. That's all, Harry; I swear!"
"Did you badmouth me, Draco? Did you tell her I was being mean to you or something?" Harry asked distrustfully.
"What? No, Harry, no!" The blond protested. "I swear! I didn't! I'll let you see the memory to prove it, Harry... Please!"
"Dinki, go home to Mistress Cissa and tell her you weren't needed after all. If we need you for any reason I will be the one to ask." Harry glared at the creature.
"Yes, sir, Mr. Potter, sir." She said shaking her head at Draco before snapping her fingers and popping out of sight.
"If it wasn't Christmas and I didn't need your opinion on gifts for certain people, I'd postpone the shopping trip and take you back to the apartment to view that memory and give you a good spanking, Draco." Harry said in a chilled voice. "As it stands, that will have to wait until we get home with our purchases."
"S-Spanking?" Draco asked nervously.
Harry smirked. "Yes, Dragon...Lies get punished with a spanking. Now, let's deal with our shopping so we can get home in time for dinner."
Draco was very subdued as he walked into the town with Harry, who took him over to the jewelry store where they'd gotten their wedding bands.
"The Christmas before last, I got Molly a lovely pair of pearl earrings. This year I want to get her a necklace to match." Harry told his husband as he opened the door.
The man met them at the counter and showed them the pearl necklaces. Harry smiled as he picked one and pointed it out. The man wrapped it up and placed it on the side for them.
"Let's get Hermione this jeweled hair clip." Draco suggested. "And we can get one for Luna as well."
"I like that. I almost always get Mione a book or something, so a hair clip is a nice change and I never know what to get for Luna, but her hair is long and very pretty." Harry agreed.
"We should get Hermione a book too. You know she loves them." Draco looked around at the shelves and saw something he'd need to come back for later; for Harry. Then he grinned widely at something he saw on the shelf beside the door. "Harry, look at this!" It was a gorgeous silver brooch in the shape of a leopard. "My mother would love it!"
"Those brooches can be used solely as decoration or to securely close a cape or cloak. That one comes with a protective charm, Mr. Malfoy-Potter." The man said from his position behind the counter. "It growls when there is danger near and has a strong shield charm embedded in the metal."
"Do you have any more like it?" Harry asked.
"It comes in several other shapes: a wolf, a cat, a snake, a dragon..." He said ticking them off on his fingers. "It also comes in the form of: an eagle and a bear."
"We'll take the leopard, the snake and the wolf but I might come back for more." Harry told him. "The snake can go to your father; it matches his cane."
"Who's the wolf one for, Harry?" Draco asked.
"My godson, Teddy..." Harry told the blond as he signed the slip that would be sent to Gringott's. "Put the dragon on here too but give me a few hours...I'll be back to pick it up." He whispered to the man who just nodded.
"Oh, I haven't had a chance to meet him yet." Draco actually sounded excited. "I also haven't seen Aunt Andromeda since I was a baby. Well that's not precisely true; they were at our wedding and I was able to say hello."
"I'll take you to meet them over the holidays." Harry said as they walked out into the cold.
They went to the joke shop next and Harry bought a bunch of things for Ron and Theo, who loved joking around. Ron's love of chess inspired the purchase of a set of chessmen which were spelled to dance across the board rather than walk in a calm and dignified manner. If it was on the winning side, the king would sing 'We Are The Champions' by the muggle band called Queen, but if he died in the game he would enact a death scene from a random Shakespeare play. Theo's fascination with wand-lore gave Harry the idea for a trick wand that would turn into a bunch of flowers or a rubber chicken when waved and some new Gobstones for his collection that, when used, would spontaneously change color.
Draco suggested that Pansy and Lavender would like a perfume from the next store they went to. It sold many accessories and scents as well as books and other trivialities. Harry knew Blaise liked to watch Quidditch as much as Ron and the others so he'd already sent away for tickets to the opening game of the season between the Chudley Cannons and Puddlemere United and he was giving them to his whole group of friends.
For Neville, Harry found a book on the rarest flowers in the world. It contained information on both magical and muggle flowering plants and Harry knew it would please his friend greatly. Seamus was more difficult to buy for. Harry would normally get him something with alcohol, but he was pregnant, so that was out. As they walked past a clothing store, Harry remembered that Seamus had wanted a new hat and scarf set because the old ones were faded and fraying so they went in and bought it.
Dean was very interested in music so Harry decided to buy him a small old fashioned piano that was spelled to play Muggle Oldies music. Ginny enjoyed Quidditch as well as everyone else but she preferred to play rather than watch, so he bought her a set of brand new Quidditch balls that she could play with once her pregnancy was over. He decided that whatever book he got Hermione, it should be light and happy material – nothing dark. He'd order it from a Flourish and Blott's catalog later.
Then Harry shrank each of their purchases and placed them in his pocket before they went to meet the others at the Three Broomsticks for some hot chocolate and to switch shopping partners.
Blaise and Luna were accompanied by Pansy. Having just found out they were pregnant, Ginny and Dean had stayed back at the school with Lavender and Theo while Hermione and Ron shopped. Neville and Seamus had gone home a day early so they could meet both families in London for shopping before spending Christmas at Longbottom Hall. They all sat down at a table and ordered a small snack along with hot chocolate.
"So, Harry, did you get everything you need?" Hermione asked when Draco got up to use the bathroom.
"No, I need to get Draco some more things." Harry told her glancing at the doorway Draco had gone into.
"Any ideas?" Ron asked.
"If you need suggestions please don't hesitate to ask me or Pansy." Blaise spoke up.
"I do have a few ideas, guys." Harry smiled. "He told me his broom was destroyed during the war. Mine was too, so I thought I'd get us a matching set...I've a cloak pin on hold at the jewelry store that I need to pick up. I also thought he might enjoy a book or two."
"Good ideas; all." Blaise smirked. "Especially the brooms...He'll love that when he's allowed to fly again."
"Don't forget sweets, Harry." Ron grinned. "He loves his sweets...almost more than I do!"
Harry grinned. "Yes, and that's why I've already ordered an assortment of his favorites from Honeyduke's to be delivered on Christmas day." He frowned at the bathroom door and stood up. "He's been in there a long time...I'll just check on him. I hope he's not sick or something."
The others just kept eating and relaxing but Blaise watched Harry push the bathroom door open with his wand drawn.
"Draco? Are you alright, love?" Harry called through the door.
"H-Harry?" Draco's voice came back. He sounded afraid so Harry rushed in.
"What's wrong?" He asked as he came closer. "What happened?"
Draco just pointed to a cabinet under one of the sinks. "B-Bogart!"
He'd faced down Dementors before so he could handle seeing one now. Harry stepped in front of his husband and quickly opened the cabinet. He was shocked to see it turn into Draco.
"How could I have married you?" The spectre asked snidely. "I should've married someone better! You're not worthy of me! I'm leaving and taking my children with me!"
Harry disregarded a tear that fell at the hurtful words and waved his wand. "Riddikulus!"
It immediately turned into Lucius Malfoy. "Don't tell me you actually believed me when I said I'd support my son's marriage to you! You're nothing! Now he's finally made the right decision... he's leaving you and don't worry, we'll help him care for his children..."
Narcissa Malfoy took shape before him this time. "I'll help Draco keep my grandchildren far away from you! I can't believe you thought I would accept you into this family! You could never be a suitable husband for the Malfoy heir!"
Another tear fell as more painful words dropped from these familiar faces and Harry waved his wand again as quickly as he could. "R-Riddikulus!"
Molly Weasley appeared suddenly. "Your parents would be horrified at you for marrying that Death-Eater! How could you disgrace them this way?!"
Draco appeared again as he crumbled the red rose in his hands. "You're a bloody disappointment as a husband, Potter."
He'd endured far worse than this at the hands of Voldemort, but he cried in earnest.
"Riddikulus!" Ron shouted suddenly as he stepped in front of the false Draco turning it into a spider on roller-skates. "Harry, you know Mum would never say that!" He panted when the creature disappeared in a puff of smoke. "And Draco really does love you, you prat! A Bogart does in the Savior! How's that going to look as a headline? Order the rest of your gifts for Draco by owl, Harry. Take your husband home and try to relax."
Draco approached him when Ron moved toward the door. "Harry, I hope you know that Ron's right. I do love you and I'd never let my parents take me or the babies away from you. Would it help to know what it turned into for me?"
"Maybe…" Harry shrugged as he stood up and hugged his husband.
"I saw me... I was lying on the floor with a bloody mess between my legs." Draco divulged cautiously.
Harry's tears started again. "A miscarriage! Oh, Dray! Maybe Ron has the right idea. We'll owl-order the gifts we haven't gotten yet. Let's go home."
Draco agreed, so he and Harry held each other and tried to calm down. As they came out of the bathroom, their friends gathered around them.
Hermione asked as she threw her arms around him. "Harry, are you alright?"
A tall wizard with graying brown hair came running over with Blaise. "Mr. Potter! I cannot express how very sorry I am that you and your spouse were exposed to a Bogart inside my establishment!"
"It's alright. I just hope it doesn't happen again." Harry told the man. "It wouldn't be a good thing for the pregnant men and women at Hogwarts to come across one of these and miscarry from the shock of it."
"Oh! My goodness, no!" The man agreed. "Your refreshments are on the house, Mr. Potter, and my staff will search the premises at once!"
Harry nodded and told his friends that he was taking Ron's advice to go home for the day and owl-order everything he hadn't purchased yet.
He held Draco's hand as they went back up to the apartment and when they were alone on the path, Harry said, "I think we should forget what happened this morning, Dray. You know you were wrong, don't you?"
The blond looked at him. "I really do, Harry... I'm sorry for acting like a spoiled child."
Harry stopped and pulled Draco into his arms. "Do you promise not to lie to me again?"
"I promise, Harry!" He said, nodding.
"Good, then I forgive you." The brunette whispered into Draco's hair.
"Harry...can we just go home now?" Draco asked softly.
"Dinki?" Harry called ignoring Draco's question for a minute.
The elf popped in next to the couple. "How is Dinki to be helping Mr. Harry Potter?"
"I'd like you to pack our things for the trip to London. Save the clothing for last so we can choose outfits for the train ride." Harry smiled at her as he removed the purchases they'd made earlier in the day. "You can pack these as well, and we'll owl-order the rest."
"Dinki is happy to be helping, Mr. Harry Potter, sir!" She grinned at him and then popped out.
"Harry?" Draco asked clearly astonished.
Harry grinned at the blond. "Draco, the last thing we need right now is to go up there and pack. We were both put through a stressful encounter with a Bogart and I want us to relax. The fears that we saw come to life, need to be calmed and overcome. We need to trust ourselves and each other before we spend the next few weeks with your parents."
Draco smirked. "I suppose you're right, love."
They walked the rest of the way in peaceful silence just holding hands and when they got to their apartment Harry went into his stash of chocolate, pulling out half of a bar. "After a scare like the one we had, I think we should each have a bit of this." He broke it into four pieces.
Draco sat on the white chaise and waited for Harry to hand him the treat.
"Open your mouth, Dragon..." Harry said kneeling next to him.
Draco's eyes shone with amusement as he did.
Harry placed one piece of the chocolate in his husband's mouth and then proceeded to give himself one.
Draco snatched the other two pieces and placed Harry's piece between his teeth before leaning in for a kiss. Then he laid back and ate his own.
Harry grinned and handed Draco a book before going into their bedroom to choose clothes for the morning train ride. Before going to bed that night, they both sent off owl-order slips to purchase the gifts they hadn't gotten already.
Hope you liked it! Can't wait to see what you thought!
Lori