Jon - I see you logged in again! Haha. I don't know who would hate getting 'the talk' from Snape. I would think they all just decided to obliviate each other, then themselves just to be sure they never remembered it. Vlad doesn't whine... much, no matter how mean I am to him! All he wants is pumpkin juice and Harry hugs.

-YDHP-

Christmas at Malfoy manor was extravagant from the start. The house elves had already decorated, so there were elegantly charmed Christmas trees in every seating room, decorations hovering in mid air and candles that flickered different colours, releasing different scents to compliment the almost never-ending baking they did.

They had the ward to prevent magical detection up within a day, so they agreed to seperate the holidays. Their first week was for essay work and potions practice, like before. The second week was relaxed mornings, spell practice between lunch and dinner and reading for the evening. Their third week would be actual training. That was only a guideline, as Vlad and Harry spent almost all their free afternoons working on spells, and evenings scouring the Malfoy library for information.

Harry watched as Vlad's head snapped up, turning to the door and running over to the nearest front-facing window.

"The Weasleys are here! And Hermione."

"Put the 'dark books' back in the corner? I don't think he would arrest us, but Mr Weasley can't just ignore them laying out and about."

Vlad waved his hand, the books hovering over to the enclosed corner that didn't have an obvious entrance and Harry piled the more innocuous books on magic study in the centre of the table - he was part way through the stack and didn't want to re-organise them later.

All the Weasleys (minus the one nobody really liked) and Hermione's parents were staring around the decadent decorations, and the twins spotted the plates piled with cakes and cookies in seconds. Hermione only had eyes for her friends, leaping at them in fierce hugs and declarations of "I missed you!" all around.

Mr and Mrs Weasley greeted Severus and Bertrand, who were sat aside from the teenagers discussing the Daily Prophet. Mr and Mrs Granger looked truly star-struck, but Harry thought her mother might have spotted the way Hermione and Draco were looking shyly at each other. Vlad started shaking with suppressed laughter next to them, and when Harry followed his friends eyeline upwards every piece of mistletoe hung around the room started hovering over the two.

Hermione flushed, but it seemed to steel Draco's nerve somewhat and everyone gaped, then cheered, clapped - or rolled their eyes and looked away in Ingrid's case - as the two finally kissed.

"Ok, who won the bet? Harry had Valentines, so did Seamus and Dean."

"That would be Neville, he said Christmas!"

Draco and Hermione looked around as they became hot gossip, realising everyone had been just waiting for this to occur. They deliberated for a minute, then Draco took her hand and led her over to the table, where everyone gathered around into seats and hot cocoa flowed copiously.

"Bubbly will show you all to your rooms, if you need anything just call her. Otherwise, we'll be outside enjoying the snow!"

An elf popped next to the Weasleys and led them to one of the guest wings - near their rooms, but set aside a little so the official occupants would have privacy from visitors. The Weasley twins and Ginny soon joined them outside, entering into vicious snowball wars until they were all soaked through. It took some begging and pleading, but Vlad eventually joined them on broomsticks for a 3-on-3 game of Quidditch. Ingrid agreed to referee - solely because she enjoyed distracting the twins enough that they flew into each other, or the goalposts.

The break from studying was much needed, and the raging war outside didn't penetrate the bubble of happiness that afternoon. Dinner was rich and heavy, followed by butterbeers and spiced pumpkin juice accompanied by stacks of gingerbread and Christmas pudding.

It was cliche (according to Ingrid) but everyone dumped their Christmas gifts under the biggest tree, even with Christmas a few days away yet but it looked so festive Harry couldn't stop grinning whenever he saw it. The Dursleys had never involved him in Christmas, unless he counted when they bought a new mop and handed it to him while Dudley opened enough computer games and toys to open his own store.

"Sweet Merlin, this place is huge!"

"I could fit a dragon in here and have room to spare!"

Peering out into the reception hallway, Harry spotted Charlie Weasley, and who must be Bill too, taking hurried steps away from Severus who had apparated them into the manor - to join their family, obviously.

"Harry! So it's true, you've been smuggled over to the dark side?"

"Be quiet Bill, these two are the ones who saved Ginny!"

They were like older, stockier versions of Fred and George, both giving Harry and Vlad hugs and hair-mussing in greetings. They were even more exuberant greeting the other Weasleys, thanking Draco cordially for allowing them to stay there too.

"Don't let on this is where Harry is and anyone's welcome. This place is enormous, I'm hardly going to run out of space. Your rooms are near your parents, the house elves are on call if you need something. We're going to do some duelling practice before dinner, just ask to be pointed to the second training room."

They promised to keep the secret for Harry's safety, both giving (a very surprised) Draco brotherly shoulder nudges and following their parents to their rooms. The student-aged teens all picked up their wands, changed into comfortable, breathable clothes after the soggy snowball fights. Bertrand and Severus took lead on example - Bertrand was a skilled fighter in both hand-to-hand and weapon-combat, Severus skilled in magic. They made a fearsome duo to train with.

"It's no secret I know how the Dark Lord fights, so that can only aid us in training here. Miss Weasley, I will ask that you sit out at least for now, you can join in spell practices but I would rather you not risk a stray curse from those who've had their magical spurt."

Ginny nodded, watching rapturously as they were paired up - Harry and Hermione against Draco, Vlad against Bill and Charlie and Ingrid against the Weasley twins.

"He favours outnumbering, so this is an exercise in shielding against two. Bonus points for silent casting, and obviously stick to non-lethal curses."

Everyone stared a little blankly - especially the older Weasley family members who didn't know Vlad was easily the most powerful there. Percy opted to sit with Ginny, taking notes as everyone raised their wand.

"Come on guys, I'm good."

Bill and Charlie shared an incredulous look, then nodded and aimed at Vlad. Vlad didn't say a word as they both shot stunners at him, and the shield charm was barely even visible as a shimmer in the air before both Weasleys were unconscious on the floor.

Next was Harry's turn, remembering he too had managed silent charms before and knowing his friends weren't as powerful as Bill or Charlie. His shield stopped their charms but didn't deflect them, and he stumbled slightly when they both hit at the same time but his shield held.

Ingrid didn't even look as though she was paying attention, and her shield reflected Fred and George's hexes back twice over - both found themselves covered in itchy boils all over and falling to their tickling jinx laughing hysterically. Severus reversed the hexes, revived the unconscious adults and smirked approvingly at Vlad.

"Rule One - don't underestimate an opponent."

Both Charlie and Bill looked a little sheepish against Vlad smirking, commending him on being surprisingly strong.

"Voldemort is back" several people shuddered, but Vlad just ploughed on "I can't afford to slack off. Let's go again."

Ginny got to practice shields too, but with Hermione casting simple and non-painful things at her - Ginny found herself with purple hair and clothes flashing colours, but blocked every other spell until she had to stop, exhausted.

"You've got some good raw potential. When your power spurts come in, we should all be wary of you."

The small girl beamed at Vlad, and they were a tired but buoyed bunch over dinner. They all spent the next morning in the library doing essays, Hermione and Severus loitering to make sure everyone was doing well, Bill and Charlie on hand for advice mostly to Ginny - it was clear she adored her older brothers.

"What's it like being the only Slytherin here? Apart from Professor Snape that is."

It was obvious they weren't asking Ingrid in a judgemental manner, and he was glad nobody was looking at him to notice him tense up at the mention of Slytherin - his dreams had abated a little but he was always wary of more.

"It doesn't make much difference, you left in time to miss this lot" she gestured at the Gryffindors as a whole "and their crusade to make friends across the houses. We got this set of identical twins, one a lion and one a snake, so now everyone's best buds. Well, a lot of the older Slytherin students are resistant but the first years all get along."

Ginny added on that the Slytherins in her year were 'alright', and that seemed to solve the matter - especially when Fred and George decided to declare their undying love for Ingrid in their usual dramatic fashion. Mr and Mrs Weasley found them lying on the floor begging Ingrid to notice them, shaking their heads in a resigned sort of "not again" expression, then informed them it was an hour to lunch so they should be finishing up soon.

Managing to finish his History Of Magic essay, yawning at the memory of the class itself, Harry went to wash ink off his hands in the little bathroom off to the side. Bill Weasley followed, scrubbing off a little inked heart Ginny had drawn on his hand with a fond smile.

"She was so quiet after the chamber thing, we heard how you and Vlad always try to cheer her up. She's coming out of her shell again, so thanks."

Feeling a little unsure how to respond, Harry just nodded, dried his hands and left the bathroom in time to see Ingrid hex Draco for 'looking gooey', and the twins just because. It was bizarre to think this time a year ago, Malfoy Manor would have been cold and 'for show', now it was Draco's home and full of people who cared about each other. Regardless of what was awaiting them, Harry was already sure this would be their best Christmas yet.

After lunch came 'the talk', the one where the Weasleys all swore they believed Harry and Vlad about Voldemort returning - and Vlad was relieved he didn't have to reveal his killing curse scar to convince them - then they would have to explain why it didn't kill him.

"Of course we believe you. Dumbledore did, even if Fudge is denying it."

"I can see why he would deny it, but as the leader of the Magical world, it's his job to prepare even if it's only possibly true. He ignored us completely, even had a dark-marked auror stood not three feet from us the whole time and didn't notice."

Several eyes turned to Snape, and Vlad cringed internally - he knew the professor hated the mark and resolved to figure out a way to remove it. His chest started twinging, but only in a mildly annoying ache, easily ignored. Sipping at his juice and tossing yet another copy of the Daily Prophet swearing the wizard world was safe into the fire, he sighed.

"Alas, Fudge has always been a little... stubborn. It was how he got elected I fear, many of you-know-who's followers who dodged jail and kept their status and voting rights wanted someone who would refuse to see outside of his own world view. They got it."

"Yeah, the dementors are being removed from Hogwarts. Not that they weren't revolting, but blimey he put them there for Sirius Black, but not the big bad man himself? Honestly."

He knew Harry would be thrilled to hear those accursed things were gone, but Fred was right about the logic of the action being totally backwards.

"Come on, let's see if Ginny can disarm yet."

After some more determined spell practice, a shower and a fairly quiet dinner, Vlad went back to trawling Malfoy library and sat quietly reading while Harry was out flying with the Weasleys - Bertrand was watching them, he wasn't worried. Hermione joined him, rolling her eyes and complaining about "boys and their brooms", then checking Vlad's chest wasn't hurting.

"I'm fine, we've been disarming and shielding for over a year now, doesn't really strain my magic. How are your parents taking all of this?"

Hermione grimaced, and he suddenly wished he hadn't asked.

"I'm worried they'll kidnap me and refuse to let me back to Hogwarts, if I'm blatantly honest. They love seeing magic for real, but all this talk of the madman after us isn't exactly encouraging."

"They should be proud. You've saved lives, actual, real peoples lives. You're powerful and smart, brightest witch of our age and a constant reminder that everything Voldemort stands for about blood purity and rights to magic is wrong. You have that necklace, if they try that then use it and we'll go kidnap your parents, keep them safe. Me and Harry wouldn't have made it this far without you, and Draco will be sad if you leave him now."

Hermione chuckled through a few tears, hugging him tight and kissing his cheek. There was never any concern for misconstrued intentions with them - he knew she liked Draco and she knew Vlad was bonded to Harry, even if Harry wasn't aware of it.

"Thanks Vlad. I don't know, I just wish... I wish I could take them out of here until its all over. Is that selfish?"

"To wish you had cast iron certainty your family is safe? Hermione, how is that selfish? You could always get Bertrand to hypnotise them into moving somewhere hot, somehow I doubt Voldie the pale unfriendly ghost is any fonder of the sun than Ingrid."

One of the reasons Vlad was happy to be keeping his father mostly at wings length from his life right now (aside from not wanting to risk him realising the way Vlad looked at Harry, or his vampirism being exposed) was that it meant a lower risk of his father being in danger. Nobody was looking for the Prince Of Darkness in a run down castle in Stokely. No, he would suffer any and all complaints about their distant relationship until this war they would wage was over. He was immortal - he had all the time in the world to repair their relationship. When it was safe.

Giving up on having the privacy to research Slytherins bloodline, the Riddle family of Little Hangleton or horcruxes until after Christmas day when their guests would leave, Vlad tossed his book aside (well, he placed it carefully on a bookcase because Hermione was watching) and followed her outside, indulging in the pure joy on Harry's face whenever he was flying.

Dinner was brighter that evening, everyone lifted by a more relaxed mood. Christmas Eve was the next day, and even the adults were a little excited, he was sure. He was confused by the random waking in the middle of the night, briefly concerned enough to cast a light spell when his bedroom door opened, relaxing instantly at the sight of Harry.

"Vlad?"

"I'm awake. Come on in."

He didn't know why Harry came to him after nightmares, but he wasn't complaining about being able to take care of his mate.

"Want to talk about it?"

Harry dropped into the side of the bed Vlad had just vacated, eyes 'normal' even without his glasses and a few stray tears still on his cheeks, making Vlad's chest ache in a way desperate from his scar.

"It wasn't... Bad, I guess. Just sad. Solace having the last Christmas with her mother, not knowing it would be the last. I don't know, I guess it just reminded me of how I only got one Christmas with my parents."

Vlad didn't realise he had done it immediately, reaching for Harry's wrist and squeezing gently, reassuringly. Harry teared up again, burrowing into Vlad's chest and holding him tight. He shouldn't be enjoying it, not when his mate was so sad but it was the only time Harry was so tactile, the only time he held Vlad like this.

Searching for something to do other than awkwardly lie there, he ran a soothing hand over Harry's hair, feeling the strands slide neatly between his fingers and Harry sniffled, but relaxed again. It was an uncomfortable position for Vlad, but the stiff back he would wake with was well worth this moment, and he was far too scared to disturb him and risk Harry letting go.

"Thank you."

He barely heard it, the whisper thick with emotions and held-back tears.

"For what? You don't ask for nightmares."

"For not thinking I'm weird to need this."

Smiling to himself where Harry couldn't see - he loved being the one Harry came to for comfort - Vlad shuffled slightly to stop Harry's wrist-bone digging into his rib a little, and resumed stroking his hair while he could get away with it.

"There is nothing wrong with seeking comfort Harry, you're not a machine. If this makes you feel better, then that's fine."

Silence and darkness fell over them again, and Harry fell asleep there, leaving a little damp patch of tears on Vlad's sleep shirt. Vlad couldn't sleep, just watching and unsure he wasn't dreaming about how obviously Harry found comfort, safety - maybe even solace, in Vlad. He was already wondering if he could find a way to hide this shirt from the elves, saturated in the scent of his mate as it was, then realised that was probably pretty weird.

When he realised Harry was stirring, he closed his eyes and hoped his heart wasn't giving him away. He had to swallow a whine of loss when Harry's arms loosened and moved off him, feigning a yawn and stretch before Harry could escape.

"Sorry. I don't know why I do this."

Gripping Harry's wrist and pulling him back, Vlad hugged him close, all sleep warmth and lazy muscles.

"Because we're friends. If that's what you need, I'm ok with that. What do you think, that I'm going to mock you for wanting a hug when you get bad dreams?"

Harry shrugged, relaxing a little in the hug and Vlad hated that he had to end it before Harry thought him weird.

"Don't be silly. It can be our secret, but never ever be ashamed of feeling Harry. Love is what saved you from Riddle, don't ever lose that."

Harry's jaw tensed, then he nodded tightly and left. Vlad let him, sad to see him go but knowing Harry had to process - and he hadn't woken with another nightmare, so at least his mate had slept. Swallowing down a pepper up to account for his own lacking sleep, he pocketed a couple of pain reliever vials and padded down for breakfast. He was the first awake, though Charlie Weasley came down not long after, following a boisterous house elf with wide eyes as he saw the breakfast table.

"This is tame, the first time we were here they cooked like it was Halloween at Hogwarts. So much food!"

Charlie smiled, sleepily sipping at a cup of coffee while Vlad started on his porridge. Harry was quiet, but ate a fair amount of bacon and sausage before they did a little homework, then some potions practice.

The evening brought a Weasley tradition - opening one gift the night before. Everyone opened their Weasley jumpers, trading them for last years - everyone had grown out of them by now. Bertrand and Snape looked surprised to be involved in the gifts, though they had thick winter socks and slippers instead of jumpers. After some caramel fudge flavoured hot cocoa, chocolate cookies and gingerbread in the shape of dragons, everyone went to bed full and happy.

Vlad liked Christmas, though clearly nowhere near as much as the Weasleys did. Draco seemed to forget he could be joyful and childlike at first, but Harry's excitement was contagious and the two wrestled in their pyjamas, fighting for who got to open a gift first and it was a heart-warming sight to see them at ease on such a family-orientated holiday.

Even Ingrid laughed and wore her Weasley jumper, though Mrs Weasley knew to make it a thinner knit, slimmer fitting and only in black with a red bat across the front. Mrs Weasley sat with Snape and Bertrand, observing and smiling over her coffee, but Mr Weasley got right down into the piles of wrapping paper, gleefully smiling when he saw the rubber ducks Vlad and Harry had given him.

Harry placed one aside - the wrapping clearly screamed Fred and George, and he wondered what that was about as he caught 'open alone' scrawled across the paper. House elves periodically vanished the cloud of paper they produced, and the exuberant energy was unbelievable. Bertrand had given them all books on defensive magic, and Snape had given them all books on healing potions - very fitting for the training they were doing.

Ginny was enthralled by the boxes of sweets and chocolates she had, which her brothers gave mildly concerned looks - apparently she could be quite the sugar fiend.

It took a while for the adults to convince them into actually having breakfast, all decadent pastries and horrendously unhealthy foods. But, as several Weasleys, Harry and Draco all repeated, eerily in sync with beaming grins pointed out - "It's Christmas!"

-YDHP-

I planned to put something useful or story-heavy in this chapter, I did, but I thought they deserved some Christmas fun times before its back to reality.