PotterXMalfoy

CHAPTER 9: THE MISTLETOE LAW

My eyes debate on whether or not they should open. I don't want to walk away from the dream I'm having, but there's a strangely sweet smell filling my nose that makes me curious.
Ron, being Ron, doesn't have the patience for any long discussions; conscious or otherwise.

"Hey! Wake up, Harry! It's Christmas! Wake up wake up wake up, or I'll steal all your candy!"

I laugh in my sleep and open my eyes to a sizeable heap of gifts laid out at the foot of my bed. The candy Ron had threatened to the eat contains all of my favourite wizard treats. Pumpkin Pasties from Hermione, a box of sweets that looked precariously like one of Fred and George's Skiving Snackboxes and a bag of Every Flavour Beans.

"Those are from me!" Ron yells gleefully through a mouthful of chocolate frog.
I sift through the pile, pulling out the yearly lumpy package from Mrs. Weasly; a knitted crimson sweater with an extremely detailed picture of a lion on the front. I fold up the sweater, smiling and make my way towards the common room.

"Hold on, Harry. You've got one more." Ron says and points to a box that was hidden beneath the mess of torn wrappers and string.
I sit back down on the floor and tear at the paper.

"Oh no,,," Ron smirks at the fabric showing through the paper and my cheeks burn bright red.
It's another sweater; emerald, with red and gold words etched into the wool proclaiming:
"Malfoy's boy"
A cartoon drawing of a snake and a lion decorates the back. Ron doubles over, laughing and clutching his stomach. I roll my eyes at him and grin, looking down at the beautiful, knitted sweater in my hands.

"Wh- wait, you're wearing it?!" Ron gasps through his giggles as I tug the sweater over my head.

"Yeah, 'cause I am." I say, gesturing to the writing on my chest.

We climb down the to the common room, meeting Hermione by the portrait hole.
"Ooh, Harry- " she sighs and laughs, staring at the sweater.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" I laugh as we walk to the great hall for breakfast. Once we arrive, the first thing I see is Draco Malfoy, leaning against the Gryffindor table and wearing a red sweater with green and silver lettering declaring him:
"Potter's boy"
I swear my face has never been redder.

We walk towards each other, pointing at the sweaters and saying in unison.
"Is this-? Did you- ?"
We stand there in an embarrassed silence for a moment before Ron and Hermione burst out laughing. I turn and point an angry finger at them.

"It was you!" I yell, barely audible over their hysterics.

"Oh, Harry we're sorry, but it was just too good a chance to pass up." Hermione explained through giggles.
"I'm not sorry!" Ron laughs. "You two look ridiculous!"

I'm fuming at them when Draco takes my hand and pulls me into a hug.
"Well, at least we'll look ridiculous together."
Hermione "aww"s, Ron gags and I blush.

Christmas Day at Hogwarts is always incredible. The great hall is decorated with its usual 12 ginormous evergreen tree, each one decked with different kinds of ornaments. The food is twice as delicious as it is on a regular day and the wizarding crackers are extraordinary. I sit beside Draco at the long table, pulling crackers and stealing bites of his maple syrup  pancakes. Only a few other students stayed at school for the holidays; the Weasly kids, Hermione, Draco, Seamus, Luna, a couple of Hufflepuffs I didn't know, and Cho Chang's group of Ravenclaw girls. Draco tends to get kind of clingy whenever they're around, which I find adorable.

The snow hasn't stopped since early yesterday morning and the castle is almost completely buried. Nobody wants to go outside today, so Hermione, Ron, Draco and I all vote on just walking around the castle aimlessly. Luna and Seamus tag along but stay farther away, just talking.

We stop under an old stone archway on the second floor; garlands of holly dangle from the torches. Draco stands close to me, leaning against the wall. I notice Hermione and Ron staring at us and smirking.

"What's wrong now? Planning another way to get blackmail material?" I ask, annoyed, Hermione shakes her head and points to a spot just above me. I glance upwards and my heart drops into my shoes. A tiny branch of white berries dances above my head, mocking me from its place in the air.

"Come on, Potter! Don't tell your unfamiliar with the mistletoe law." Seamus and Luna have caught up with us and I can't read their expressions as the join Ron and Hermione in front of me.

"Really, guys? You're gonna be like this?" I ask and flush, trying to look anywhere but at Draco. They all nod excitedly.
"Oh my God, can't you go 5 seconds without- "

I don't get to finish my sentence, because Draco has just grabbed me around the waist and is pressing his lips against mine. I freeze, staring at him as he hugs me to his chest. Once I get over the shock, I throw my arms around his shoulders, ignoring Hermione's cheers from somewhere far away. Draco moves one hand to my chin, lifting my face up ever so gently. We sway back and forth, so absorbed in each other that we forget there are 4 other students watching all of this go down.

Later, I'm standing in the doorway of the portrait hole that leads to the Gryffindor common room; Draco stands just outside.

"I guess I'll se you later?" I say, a bit sadly. I don't want to go to bed. I don't want this perfect day to end.

"Yeah." He replies and reaches out a hand to brush a start lock of hair out of my face. This time, when he kisses me, I'm ready. I lean into him and tug on our matching sweaters.
"Merry Christmas, babe." He whispers when we pull apart. I blush and kiss him once more for good measure.
"Merry Christmas."

I flop down on the covers of my bed; Ron is already asleep. I beam and hug the stupid sweater to my chest, promising myself that I'll never take it off.