On the 12th day of Christmas...
On the 12th Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...
From hp_muffins!
A Holiday Limerick from jadarene...
Hermione was feeling quite glum
About Christmas with no dad or mum,
But the holiday came
(And she did the same!)
With the sexy and sweet Viktor Krum!
Pimp Cane icon #12 from lysa1...
A Harry/Draco Ficlet from dork_core of the thelemontree community here on LJ.
**
Draco Malfoy had been a very happy child. Scratch that, a very spoiled, mean, and runty child. But he always got what he wanted. Never question that, he always got what he wanted. Christmas just provided justification for giving him more things to add to his collection. Toy brooms, silk shirts, books upon books, and one day a cane of his very own.
Upon reflection of Christmas' past, Draco thought of his first Christmas home from Hogwarts. The Manor had been beautifully decorated in the finest fairies, gold, silver and baubles money could buy. He could still remember the smell of the goose cooking, and fresh cookies the house elf was baking - just for him. He tried to remember what he had been given that year, maybe a racing broom? Possibly new French silk pajamas? It was all a blur to him now. He had memories of looking in his stocking filled with sweets, and, of course, at least a small fortune inside. He was sure of one thing however; he always had a place to call home.
This year, Draco mused, he was upset, cold, and his hair was greasy. There was no "home" of any kind. A murdered Muggle's house was not a home This was hell. He had his thin cloak, a fire, and this shack. He couldn't even summon a tree to place in the house. "You must not be seen, or even thought of Draco!" Snape had bellowed when Draco asked if he could. "This is a Muggle village! Do not draw attention to yourself, you foolish child!".
Draco sighed, it was Christmas Eve, and he had no stocking, no tree, and more than likely no small fortune hidden for him somewhere in this hovel. There were no cookies, no Butterbeer, he thought sadly. Hell, there wasn't even any food that could be thought of as civilized. Draco's only hope was that one person was having a worse Christmas than he was - and that that person was Harry Potter.
Draco didn't know that Harry was having a good, wait a great Christmas. He was warm in his thick, woolly Weasley jumper. He fondly looked at the Snitch on it, memories of his own Christmas' at Hogwarts in the outskirts of his mind. Harry refocused his mind on his task; he did have a letter to compose. Putting quill to parchment, he finished his letter. It was snowing by the time he fell asleep that night.
When Draco awoke, it was blinding bright in the shack. He had fallen asleep on the couch, instead of the bedroom; he was not used to this bright of a light so early in the morning. It was as if the sun had conspired against him, and was having a very Happy Christmas indeed. He was making himself a very simple breakfast (gruel as far as he was concerned), when he looked out the window. A very beautiful snowy owl was staring back at him.
But no one was supposed to know his hideaway. Only Snape knew, he thought to himself. This was a mistake, he was caught, the worst came to mind when he opened the window - Wait was that Potter's owl? He unburdened the owl of its parcel, gave it a slight pat on head, and sent it on its way. If this was Potter's owl, he was in for it. One way ticket for Azkaban for a crime he couldn't even commit.
He got out his wand, it only crossed his mind for a moment what trouble he would be in for using magic to begin with, but he didn't care. At the moment the only thing that mattered was what Potter had to say to him. He tapped the letter once with his wand, nothing happened. Twice, still nothing. He performed every spell he could think of, counter curse, charm, and jinx. Absolutely nothing happened. He quietly and quickly opened his letter.
Malfoy,
You may ask yourself why I am writing to you. Or how I found you. Be at peace that only I know, for the time being where you've hidden yourself. The only reason I have not turned you in - yet - is that I know something about you the other do not.
I know you relented. I know that you were not going to do the job you were supposed to do. Even if Snape had never showed, you were not going to kill him.
So I have a present for you, and since this is Christmas, it is only fitting I give it to you now. Did you sweat a little seeing his letter? Did nightmares of Azkaban fill your mind? They are a possibility at this point, Malfoy, but not the only one. I am giving you the choice. The choice Malfoy - Draco is to do something good with your life, when you have caused so much evil, or star all over again.
It is Christmas, and a New Year is coming, why not change your fate? I know you don't want to die, I know that somewhere in there, you do not want to take someone else's life as well.
I give you this choice, you can take me up on my offer and use the portkey provided and it will take you to where I am staying. It will only work for you. If you had say... a snake, or any other greasy creatures with you, it will not work. If not, I will come to your house, and make a quick end of you.
I told you once Malfoy, "If it takes forever, I will wait for you." I meant it. I don't want to kill you, but I will if I must. I just hope you do the right thing.
So make your choice Malfoy, live or die.
Happy Christmas,
Harry Potter.
Draco sat for a moment. Thoughts poured into his mind from every direction, "Will they kill me if I show up anyway?" "Do I really have a death wish?" "Who am I really loyal too?", "Is his how it all ends?".
And then he thought of that first Christmas home from Hogwarts again. The bitter cold of the house could hardly dampen the warmth he felt at the memory. You could barely see the twinkle in his eye as he made that choice. Picking up his wand from the table, clutching the letter in his hand, he grabbed the portkey, and left everything else behind.
The familiar pull in his stomach was a release of sorts for Draco. When he opened his eyes a dark haired bespectacled boy was staring right into his silver eyes.
"Nice sweater Potter, amusing really, " Draco sneered.
"I was hoping to see you today, Malfoy."
Draco nodded, looked Harry right in the eye, and kissed him hard. The warmth, the want, in that kiss expelled from them. The want in the kiss told a story of it's own. The forgiveness, the bitter rage was gone. A moment in time that could be placed in a bottle for all to see was in that kiss. And most importantly, love was in that kiss. True, passionate and beautiful, life changing, world stopping, only two people in a crowd, love was in that kiss.
"Happy Christmas to you as well Potter," Draco smirked.
**
And a Holiday Christmas Wish picture by acidquill!
That's it for today! Stay tuned for more tasty treats!
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