Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction ❯ The Christmas Loan ❯ Happy Christmas ( Chapter 15 )

The Christmas I Loaned My Sons

By: Ellipsis the Great

DISCLAIMER: The idea is from `Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul.' Harry Potter and all things affiliated with him belong to the amazing J.K. Rowling. I own the Potter twins, and all of the plot outside what I garnered from CSFTCS.

Summary: After losing his wife and son to a magical disease, Draco Malfoy puts an ad in an editorial to borrow a son for Christmas. Harry Potter answers.

Rated: T just in case. May change later on.

Spoilers: Five years post-Hogwarts. Compliant with all books, sans the epilogue in DH.

Warnings: CONTAINS SLASH! There WILL be shounen-ai in this story! Maybe actual yaoi later on, but definitely shounen-ai!

 

~*~*~*~*~*~

 

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Happy Christmas

 

“Daddy, Draco, wake up! Wake up! It's Christmas!” Something heavy landed on my stomach, causing me to sit up, the breath knocked from my lungs.

“Mflgh?” I wasn't sure what I had tried to say, or if I had even been trying to say anything.

A giggle erupted from the redheaded toddler now situated in my lap.

“He sounds like Daddy.” Byrne said to his brother, who was sitting on a [somehow] still sleeping Harry.

“But he wakes up faster!” Nix said, bouncing on Harry's stomach again. “Daddy, wake up!”

Harry's eyes shot open suddenly, his arms coming up to shield his face as he sat up slightly.

“'M s'ry!” He sputtered. It was the first time I had heard him sound truly frightened—perhaps Granger's book hadn't been quite as exaggerated as some people (including me) believed.

“Daddy's silly!” Nix let out a high-pitched laugh, shaking his head.

Harry visibly relaxed at the sound of his son's voice, one of his arms lowering to prop him up while he used the other to wipe his sleepy eyes.

“Wha'tim-izzit?” He slurred.

I grabbed my wand and cast a quick `tempus' spell. “It's seven.”

“AM?” He groaned, letting himself flop back down on the bed.

“Daddy, it's Christmas! Wake up!” Nix said.

He muttered incoherently and put his (well, my) pillow over his face.

“Potter.” The twins looked at me, obviously confused by the use of their surname. “Harry, you might as well wake up. I'll bet those two are as stubborn as their uncle.” I paused to reconsider the statement. “Their Uncle Ron. Dunno about the others.”

“Sod off, Malfoy.” His muffled voice said.

“Daddy!” Byrne said, joining his brother on Harry's stomach.

“Wake up wake up wake up!” They chanted, bouncing in time with their words—Nix hitting his stomach at the word `wake' and Byrne hitting it at the word `up.'

“Oof! Fine, fine! Stoppit!” Harry yelled, the pillow falling off of his face as he sat up, arms going around the boys in an effort to stop their bouncing. The boys giggled and hugged his neck.

“Happy Christmas, Daddy!” They chorused.

“Happy Christmas, boys.” He replied, and then gave me a bleary smile. “Happy Christmas, Draco.”

I leaned forward, trying to ignore the feeling that I was intruding on their `family moment,' and kissed the corner of his mouth. “Happy Christmas, Harry.” I ruffled the twins' hair. “Happy Christmas, Nix. Byrne.”

Nix snickered. “Draco stole your Christmas kiss, Daddy.”

“Christmas…kiss?” I repeated slowly.

“That's a Weasley tradition, boys, I doubt Draco knows about it.” Harry said, a grin tugging at the edge of his lips as he looked at me. “Every Christmas a person has one allotted kiss. Whoever steals that kiss is the only person allowed to kiss the kissed person for the rest of the day.” The grin finally won, spreading wide across his face. “I'm pretty sure they did it so they wouldn't have to kiss so many people every Christmas.”

“There are a lot of them.” I said carefully, afraid to overstep my bounds.

“And more every day.” He laughed, then kissed me full on the lips. “There—now I'm the only person allowed to kiss you today.”

I blushed a little.

“Daddy! Time for presents!” Nix said.

“Yes, yes, of course.” Harry said with a light chuckle, scooping Nix up.

Byrne had attached himself to me during their short exchange, and I could have sworn I had seen Harry shoot me a jealous look as he stood. I followed his example, yawning as I did.

“Go, go, go!” Nix ordered, practically leaping out of Harry's arms as he pointed at the door.

“Don't be so impatient.” I said, messing up his hair again—well, as much as it could be messed up. He had definitely inherited his father's hair, even if it was the wrong color. “Silly boy.”

“I wanna see what Santa brought!” Nix huffed as we walked down the hall toward the sitting room.

“Mhm.” Harry grunted, obviously too groggy to say much else.

A comfortable silence fell over us until we were just a few doors away from the sitting room. A shrill wail picked up from inside, causing us to quicken our pace, setting the twins down as we entered.

“What happened?” I asked as I saw that the crying person was Valerie.

Her parents didn't answer, but they didn't have to—I could see the pile of coal sitting on the couch in the place where we had placed her presents the night before.

“What on Earth…?” Luna asked as she, Theo, and Blaise entered the room, looking as if they had just woken up (as we all did, I suppose).

A tiny snort reached my ears, and I looked down at Nix, whose hands were over his mouth.

“Nix?” I asked.

He looked up at me with wide, innocent green eyes.

“Phoenix Adrian Potter.” Harry ground out beside me.

“Y-yes, Daddy?” Nix cringed.

“What did you do to Val's presents?”

“I didn't do nothing!” He exclaimed. “Santa gave her coal `cuz she's a rotten girl!”

“Phoenix.”

“It wasn't Nix, Daddy.” Byrne said quietly from my side. “It was me.”

“Byrne!” Nix hissed, but received only a sharp glare from his twin in reply.

Harry looked between the two boys, arms crossed over his chest, and eyebrows furrowed into a dark expression that didn't suit his normally cheerful face.

“I did it, Daddy.” Byrne kept his eyes on his feet and his arms tucked behind his back.

Harry's lips pursed together into a thin line. After a moment of glaring at them, he sighed.

“Very well. I'll take you back to your room until it's time to go to Nana's.”

“But Daddy—!” Nix protested.

Harry turned his formidable gaze on his younger son. “Do you have something to add, Phoenix?”

Nix grimaced at the use of his full name, shaking his head slowly.

“Alright.” He held his hand out to Byrne. “C'mon, I'll take you back. And I'll have to tell Nana that you're not allowed to open any presents. She can hold them until your birthday.”

Byrne's eyes widened. “'Til my birthday?” He squeaked.

“Yes. Pranks like this are not funny, and little boys who play this sort of prank on innocent little girls don't get presents.” Harry said. His jaw clenched in a way that made me think he was enjoying this even less than his sons.

Byrne's owlish green eyes filled with tears, but he nodded and took his father's hand. “Okay, Daddy.”

“Apologize to Val.” Harry said.

“'M sorry.” He mumbled.

“It's okay.” Val sniffled. “Don't make him go, Uncle Harry. If he turns `em back—”

“No, Val. Byrne needs to learn his lesson.” Harry said with an air of finality.

“Daddy, don't.” Nix said, wiping his eyes furiously in an attempt to hold back his tears. “Byrne didn't do nothing wrong. I changed Val's presents, not Byrne.”

“I figured as much.” Harry said with a nod, visibly relaxing.

“Y-you knew?” Byrne asked.

“I'm your daddy.” He scoffed. “I always know. Now, both of you can open your presents today, but since you lied neither of you are allowed to have dessert. And since you're the one that changed Val's presents, Nix, you're not allowed to play with any of your presents until after New Year's. Are we understood, boys?”

“Yes, sir.” They chimed.

“Apologize to Val, Nix.”

“Sorry, Val.” Nix sighed.

“It's okay!” Val said, obviously as relieved as the twins (and, it seemed, Harry). “Just change them back, okay?”

Nix gave her a blank look. “I dunno how.” He said with a decidedly unapologetic shrug. He was the most Gryffindor-ish Slytherin I had ever known…

Well, (I glanced at Harry) perhaps the second most.

Harry rolled his eyes as Val's expression turned panicky and pulled out his wand, waving it at the pile of coal. “Finite incantatem.”

Val squealed happily as the coal turned into dolls and coloring books and a new pink dress with no frills—she was girly enough to like pink, but apparently not girly enough to like frills.

“Thanks, Uncle Harry!” She said, hugging his legs.

There were a few more relieved sighs and exchanged glances of amusement as the twins joined Val in exclaiming over the gifts Santa had left. Mother finally arrived in her silken green night robe (not quite as rich as the color of Harry's eyes, I noted with a touch of bitter humor), taking in the scene with an arched brow, but too refined to ask what had happened.

Then we began opening presents, with light banter tossed around. I hardly remember some of it—I have never been nor will I ever be a morning person. Certainly not a seven-in-the-morning person after only a few broken hours of sleep.

“Here's the last present!” Val said, grunting as she picked up a gift that was all but hidden at the back of the Christmas tree.

Greg pulled it from her hands easily, squinting at the tag.

“To Potter, from Malfoy.” He said.

Harry scowled at me. “I said not to get me anything.” He said.

“That would have been impolite.” I replied, returning his scowl and hoping my cheeks weren't burning as bright a red as they felt.

He snorted.

“Open it, Daddy!” Nix said. “I wanna see, I wanna see!”

“Alright.” He said resignedly, opening the gift hastily, as if to get it over with as quickly as possible. When he had finished, he stared at the book for a moment before a loud laugh burst from his throat.

“What is it?” Val asked.

“101 Ways to Run Off Paparazzi (Without Killing or Maiming Them).” Luna read, and giggled. “Oh, Draco, you absolute git!”

“You think I don't know that?” I asked as lightly as I could, trying to ignore the way my mind flashed back to the cufflinks Harry and his sons had given me. “You're always saying how much he hates the paparazzi.”

“It's perfect!” Harry choked out through his undignified guffaws. “Most useful thing I've ever gotten! Thanks, Malfoy!”

“You're welcome.” I said, not quite sure how facetious he was being.

“Daddy hates the papa-rats.” Nix said in a matter-of-fact tone of voice.

“Paparazzi.” I corrected automatically.

“Papa-rats-y.” He agreed with a nod. “He says they're nosy, but I've never seen one that had a really big nose so I dunno what he means.”

“He means they like to stick their noses where they aren't wanted.” I said. “Like listening in on a conversation they aren't meant to hear.”

“Oh.” Nix frowned for a moment as his three-year-old brain tried to put the explanation into terms it could understand, but finally he nodded.

“Well…it's ten o'clock, boys.” Harry said, standing. “Let's get ready to go to Nana's.”

“We still get to go?” Byrne asked.

“Yes, of course. Why shouldn't you?” He asked.

“You got mad at Nana yesterday.” Nix said.

“That doesn't mean I won't let you go visit her.” Harry chuckled. “But I won't be staying for very long.”

The boys wrinkled their noses, their faces pulling into identical expressions of dislike. Though they were twins, I had learned that it was a rare sight for them to look so similar.

“We'd best go as well.” Luna said, allowing Blaise to help her off of the couch. “They'll be expecting us. We can take the boys if you'd like, Harry.”

Harry adopted an expression so reminiscent of the one the boys were wearing it was rather eerie.

“I'm not going to run from my own mother-in-law.” He said with a drawl that he had very obviously stolen from me. I stifled a snort.

Luna laughed. I figured she recognized the drawl, too. “Very well, then.”

“Come along, boys.” Harry said, standing. “Let's get you dressed.”

“Okay.” Nix let out a big sigh.

“I'll have the house elves collect your gifts.” I said.

Harry nodded and left the room, Nix, Byrne and the Zabinis close behind.

“We shall have to invite them back.” Mother said with as much dignity as she seemed able to muster; to anyone who knew her it was obvious that she was going to miss them dearly.

“Oh, yes, please!” Val said. “After Nix can play with his toys!”

“I'm sure we can arrange something.” I assured both of them.

It took me a moment to shake the feeling that I was assuring myself, as well.

 

PAGEBREAKPOVCHANGEPAGEBREAK

 

“Daddy, can Draco come with us to Nana's?” Nix asked as I helped him and Byrne pull on their clothes.

“No, I'm afraid not.” I said with a slight frown. “I don't think Nana would like that very much.”

“How come?” Byrne asked.

“Yeah, Draco's nice!” Nix said, flashing me an impish grin. “I like him!”

“The Weasleys and the Malfoys have never gotten along very well, boys.” I explained.

“How come?” Byrne asked again.

“I…don't really know.” I said. “I suppose it's because the Malfoys are a rich pureblood family and the Weasleys are a poor one. And, before Draco and his mother, the Malfoys weren't very nice to be around. There's a lot of bad blood.”

“They could go to Mungie's.” Nix said.

“That's St. Mungo's, Nix, and it's not that kind of bad blood. It just means they don't get along.”

“But Draco is really nice.” Byrne said. “And so's Grandmother `Cissa.”

“We know that, but Nana and the rest of the Weasleys…they don't. And they're scared to find out, because they've been disappointed so many other times by the Malfoys.”

“That's silly.” Nix said.

“Yes, it is. That's how grownups are, sometimes.” I said, ruffling his hair.

“I'll never grow up.” Nix swore. “Grownups are weird!”

I laughed, picking them up. “Alright, alright, let's go.”

The others were already at the doorway. Narcissa and Draco looked a bit stiff for some reason; the Goyles looked awkward, though Val also seemed to want to say or do something; Theo was yawning and grumbling something about wanting to go back to sleep; and Luna and Blaise were obviously ready to go, Luna already hugging the others goodbye.

“Lemme down!” Nix said.

“Me too, me too!” Byrne said. As soon as I put them down they threw their arms around Draco's legs.

“Bye, Draco! Happy Christmas!” They exclaimed as they released him.

“You guys have to come back!” Val said, putting her arms around them and lifting them up a little (she was an insanely strong five-year-old). “Okay? You can come play at my house!”

“Okay!” Nix said, although I wasn't sure if the smile he gave her was genuine or if it just meant he was looking forward to more pranks. He had just been punished, true, but that had never deterred anyone else in our family.

“Harry, let me steal that kiss of yours before one of those witches at the Burrow gets to you.” Luna said mischievously as the kids began chattering about what they were going to do when the boys went to Val's.

“Ah-ah.” I put a finger on her mouth. “It's already been stolen, Mrs. Zabini. Terribly sorry.”

“What?” She exclaimed.

“Draco stole it this morning, I'm afraid.” I said.

She huffed indignantly, rounding on Draco. “Draco, you slimy little ferret! I've been after Harry's kiss for years! You're not allowed to steal it the one Christmas I actually get to see him before the girls at the Burrow!”

Draco held up his hands defensively. “Sorry, Luna. I didn't even know about it until after.”

“Ooh, this is so unfair!” She stomped her foot, pouting.

“You can have my kiss, darling.” Blaise said smoothly, putting an arm around her. “You won't even have to set any Wrackspurts after me.”

She sniffled. “No Nargles, either?”

“Nope. We gave all those to Harry, remember?”

She nodded. “Alright, then. C'mere, you.” She leaned up and kissed him.

“Ewww; that's gross Uncle Blaise.” Nix said, making a face.

“Harry kissed Draco yesterday and you didn't have a problem with it.” Blaise retorted, blowing a raspberry at him.

“That's `cuz boys don't have cooties. Girls do.” Nix said, returning the raspberry by putting his thumb on his nose and wriggling his fingers.

“You just keep thinking that, squirt.” Blaise snickered. “I'll take my chances with cooties.”

Nix let out a disgusted sound. “I knew grownups were crazy.”

Luna smirked. “That's why they call me Looney Luna!” She said, then picked him up and smacked her lips loudly against his cheek.

“Ewww! That's nasty, Auntie Lu!” He whined, wiping his cheeks.

“Yep, and now your kiss is mine! I at least got one of the Potter boys!” She said triumphantly.

“Ugh!” Nix said, then ran over to Byrne and kissed his cheek, sighing with relief. “There. Now you're safe from girls and cooties!”

“For today.” Luna said ominously.

Byrne giggled at the horrified expression on Nix's face.

“Quit scaring him, Lu.” Blaise said, kissing her cheek. “Let's go.”

“Alright, spoilsport.” Luna said sadly. “You'll ride with us, Harry?”

“He isn't allowed to travel by floo again.” Draco muttered.

I laughed. “We'll be out in a moment, Luna.”

“Good. Ta, everyone!” Luna said with a wave, and allowed Blaise to lead her outside where a limo was waiting for them. Recent studies (made by Hermione, of course) showed that muggle cars were safer for pregnant women to travel in than by any magical means

“Goodbye, Harry. It was wonderful to have you and the boys here.” Narcissa said. Though she sounded as cold as ever, there was something about the way she spoke (or stood, or looked, or…something) that made me think she was completely sincere. “Do come again.”

“If you're willing to put up with us, we'll come back as often as you like.” I said, taking her hand and kissing it as I bowed politely.

Her lips pulled back into a tiny but genuine smile. “Please do.”

“Bye-bye, Grandmother `Cissa!” Nix exclaimed, throwing his arms around her legs.

“We'll miss you.” Byrne said, following his brother's example.

“I'll miss you, too, boys.” She said, putting her hands on their heads. “Goodbye.”

“Goodbye, Harry.” Draco said, holding out a hand towards me.

I smirked and leaned forward, kissing him. “See you later, Draco. And do try to loosen up a bit, won't you?” I whispered in his ear. Then I turned, picked up the boys, and followed Blaise and Luna outside with a polite nod towards the Goyles and Theo.

The ride to the Weasleys was shorter than I'd have thought. The limo was spelled, obviously, and I wasn't sure why I'd thought it wouldn't be. Perhaps I was just hoping it would be a long ride, so that I wouldn't have to face the Weasleys quite so soon.

Whether I stayed or not, I would have to face the Weasleys.

It was a quiet ride, too. I think the boys were picking up on how tense I was; Blaise and Luna were too caught up in each other, the romantic sops.

When we arrived we were first seen by Teddy Lupin-Weasley, Charlie's adopted son. In true Christmas (and Weasley) style, he had changed his hair to be a gaudy green color, his eyes just as bright a shade of red.

“Uncle Blaise and Auntie Lu are here!” He yelled, running into the house.

Almost immediately there was a flood of orange (with a few specks of brown, blonde, and, of course, Teddy's green) at the door as the Weasleys poured out to greet their friends, Molly leading the charge.

And then the limo door opened and the twins and I stepped out, Blaise and Luna behind us.

The Weasleys, who had been chattering excitedly (Blaise and Luna were favorites of the kids, thanks to Luna's quirky personality and Blaise's surprisingly Weasley twin-esque attitude), went completely silent. That, for the Weasleys, is quite a feat; not just because of the size of the family, but also because they were all chatterboxes…even the babies.

“Hi, Nana!” Nix said, as bold as ever even as Byrne took his usual place hiding behind me. “Hi, everyone! We had a really fun time at Draco's! We met this weird girl named Val and she—”

He tried to keep talking through the hand I had placed over his mouth, but eventually gave up, glaring up at me.

“Hello, everyone.” I said stiffly. “Have a good time, boys. And remember: no dessert. And Nix isn't allowed to play with his toys.”

“Yes, sir!” Nix said with a roll of his eyes. He knew full well that he and his cousins had no need of toys in order to have fun.

“Harry…” Hermione stepped forward, ever the peacemaker.

“I'm just here to drop the boys off, Hermione.” I said firmly. “Happy Christmas everyone.” I let my demeanor soften as I knelt beside the boys, hugging them. “Happy Christmas, boys. I'll see you in a few hours.”

“Okay, Daddy.” They said, Nix loudly and Byrne mumbling.

“Harry James Potter…” Molly began, finally overcoming her shock at realizing I had been serious the night before when I had said I wasn't staying for lunch.

“Molly Prewett Weasley.” I said.

“Harry, please don't.” Arthur said, as much of a peacemaker as Hermione (if not more of one).

“Don't what, Arthur?” I asked. “Don't leave? You'd like me to stick around and listen to you bash my friends in front of my sons? I think not.”

“Harry, it's just Malfoy! How can you stand up for him?” Ron demanded.

“As easily as I stand up for you.” I said. “And his name is Draco.”

“Oh, now you're calling him by his first name?” He asked. “What's he done to you? We're your friends, Harry! We were your friends first!”

“What does that even mean, Ron?” I asked. “Just because I became friends with someone later; is that supposed to mean you should come first in everything? That's bullocks, Ron, and you know it! And Draco's not done anything except be hospitable for the past day.”

“What about for the past twelve years, Harry?” He asked. “You're just going to forget that?”

“Yeah. You know what? I am.” I said. “I did as many rotten things to him as he did to me. If he's willing to forgive me, then I'm willing to do the same for him. Give and get, just like it's always been with us.”

“Us? It's us now?” Neville asked. “Harry, you can't be serious.”

“Do I look like I'm joking, Neville?” I asked.

“He's a Death Eater, Harry.” Molly said. “I don't want him around my grandsons.”

“Yes, well, you don't always get what you want, Molly.” I said. “I, in case you hadn't noticed, am their father, and I get to decide who can or cannot be around my sons. And just so you're aware, Molly, Narcissa Malfoy is the only reason you're one of the former. If I hadn't seen how completely torn up she was about never being able to see her only grandson again, you can be sure I would take my sons far away from you and never let you set eyes on them again.”

“Harry!” Arthur gasped. “Surely—”

“Ginny and I agreed before the twins were born that we weren't going to raise them to be the prejudiced pigs that started the War.” I said. “That means keeping them away from people who keep their prejudices intact.”

“That means keeping them away from the Malfoys.” Ron said.

“No, it means keeping them away from people like you.” I said. “The Malfoys are trying to get past their prejudices. They're trying hard to do it. They invited me—me—into their home and were nothing but gracious to me. Not once did they make a disparaging comment about you or about muggleborns. But you…you aren't even trying, Ron. None of you are.”

“We aren't prejudiced!” Hermione said. “We've never—”

“Slytherins are evil.” I cut her off. “True?”

“Yes.” Ron said without pause.

“So Blaise is evil, then?” I asked as Blaise flinched beside me. “Or did you forget that he's a Slytherin? You are just as prejudiced as Voldemort and his Death Eaters ever were. Maybe you haven't gone on a murder-spree just yet, but I'll bet you anything that if Voldemort had been anti-Slytherin or anti-Malfoy the Weasley family would have been one of the first ones to sign up as Death Eaters.”

Ron looked like I had punched him.

“Harry…” Hermione tried again.

“I'll be back at four to pick up the twins.” I said, then turned and Apparated away before anyone could try to stop me again.

 

PAGEBREAKPOVCHANGEPAGEBREAK

 

“Mr. Potter is at the door, Master Malfoy.” Sesi (the house elf) said with a curtsy. “Shall Sesi show him in?”

I stood from where I sat at the lunch table, the Goyles, Theo, and Mother looking as surprised as I felt.

“No, Sesi, I'll show him in.” I said. She nodded and disappeared with a crack. I walked into the entrance hall, where Harry stood looking rather nervous. “Harry?”

He moved so quickly I could have sworn he Apparated to my side, kissing me roughly.

“Told you I'd see you later.” He said breathily when he pulled away.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, trying not to gasp for air.

“You stole my kiss.” He said, as if that should explain everything. I wondered if it did, but I was just too gob smacked by the kiss to put the pieces together.

“And?”

“And maybe I'd like to give you a few.” He said.

“…What do you mean?” I asked, tugging at my collar.

“I think you know what I mean, Draco.” He said in that voice that made me want to…never mind.

“Harry, I'm…I'm not the sort of person you should be getting involved with.”

He smirked, and that was almost enough to make me break.

Then he leaned forward, putting those sinful lips of his next to my ear so he could whisper, “I think I can choose the wrong sort for myself, thanks.”

My mind flashed back to our first year, as we stood waiting for the Sorting Ceremony.

Slowly, very slowly, I held out a hand.

This time, he took it.

 

THE END!

 

A/N: That's right, THE END! : hides from mob of angry reviewers and wipes brow: It's been a long time coming, but it's finally here! It's so sad…and yet, so happy! I'm also both satisfied and dissatisfied with it…blurgh. It was hard to write the beginning…but a lot of that is probably because exams were last week and I had to move back home (which is also why this chapter is late!). But…I definitely like the ending. >83 Yesh…

Thanks so much to everyone for your reviews! I am SO glad you have all enjoyed my fic so much, and I hope you'll all stick around for the epilogue! I NEVER expected this fic to be so popular! I have almost three hundred reviews! You people areAMAZING!

Much love, everyone!

-Ellipsis the Great