I Think I Like Him

25. Merriness Of Christmas, Contentment Of You.

A/N- It was certainly odd to write about Christmas in June, but I hope you liked it! And thank you SO MUCH to those of you who have been interacting you have no idea how much it means to me. Comments feed the muse!! Ily all <3

Word Count: 1234 (lol)

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Christmas Day came quicker than either would have thought, and they spent the day comfortably tucked away in their usual abandoned classroom. To Harry's surprise, the Elves had caught on to their antics, and began cleaning the room and decorating it with tinsel and orbs of twinkling light dotted in the air like fairy lights, or stars.

They sat together on large cushions (also provided by the House Elves) opening the presents they had carried down immediately after waking up.

Harry, in the end, got a broom polishing kit from Hermione, and a crate of Honeydukes chocolate from Ron. Neville, Dean and Seamus had gotten him a hundred different kinds of muggle and wizarding sweets alike, while Luna gifted him a bracelet that looked to be made from dried flower stems. The one he found himself most uplifted having received came at lunch, however.

The table was packed with Christmas-themed foods. Light, to leave room for the actual Christmas feast, later on. Harry's plate was stacked high with lasagne -the steam charmed into the shape of snowflakes, broccoli made to look like tiny Christmas trees, and soft, pull-apart bread in the shape of presents; the garlic on top outlining the ribbon.

Just as Harry was about to move on to the treacle tarts topped with powdered sugar that snowed and occasionally formed tiny snowmen- he looked up to see an unfamiliar owl struggling with a lengthy parcel. It wobbled in the air for a moment before dropping it right on Harry's head. He caught Draco smirking across the room. The raven rolled his eyes and looked at the tag; indeed addressed to him.

He ripped open the brown paper, trying to think of who he hadn't already received a gift from, when he saw the thin rod of wood inside. Frozen, Harry stared for a moment before tearing away the rest of the wrapping to find a broomstick. Only not just any broomstick, oh no. This was the broomstick that Harry had spent everyday looking at in Diagon Ally before school began. A Firebolt.

Draco's eyes widened in disbelief, mirroring the stunned expressions of everyone else who had noticed.

Harry promptly shoved the treacle tarts into his mouth, and went off to the dorms to write Hermione, Ron, Oliver Wood, and pretty much everyone he knew about the broomstick, as well as a questionable, thank you? To those who could have sent him it. Draco came with him to the owlery, them enthusing about quidditch like first years, the whole way there.

The pair then practically sprinted to the Quidditch pitch, where they played seeker game after seeker game. The pair choose to use meaner trash talk than they usually would've, for the sake of the onlookers who gradually collected in the stands; all in awe of his Firebolt. Non were as impressed as Harry, however, when he dove to catch the snitch, slipped, only to be caught by the broom again.

He supposed he didn't have to worry about another trip to the hospital ward. Not for that reason, anyway. The raven could see the dementors hovering in the distance -his first glimpse of them since that dreaded Hufflepuff match- but that prick of fear wasn't quite so intense, now. He felt better protected.

Harry won overall, but Draco's few wins were certainly far more impressive with him using just his Nimbus 2001. The blonde made a show of being outraged at his loss, but the Gryffindor could see the smile crinkling his eyes, even with the insults spitting out of his mouth like tiny shards of hail.

Dinner was as brilliant as always, with mountains of roast and boiled potatoes; platters of soft carrots; tureens of buttered peas; silver boats of thick, rich gravy; saucers of cranberry and mint sauce, and finally at least a hundred fat, roast turkeys. Those were only the foods untouched by magic, as the sprouts would run across the table away from his plate whenever he tried to eat them. Then meanwhile, the pigs in blankets made a constant racket of oinks from their polished tray, and so it was best to leave them be.

The chocolate fudge pudding that replaced the meal later on, was so spongy and rich he couldn't get enough; piling his plate high.

Everyone -far more people than he had thought, now that they were all in the hall at one time- made jest of pulling their wizarding crackers. They exploded like great blue fireworks and produced glittering hats, gifts and jokes that were decidedly unfunny, but were charmed to make the reader bubble with uncontrollable laughter, regardless.

A few other Gryffindor's from younger years came up to Harry to pull their cracker, including Collin Creevey; who insisted upon a Christmas picture afterwards.

Harry pocketed his own cracker, already wearing two Christmas Hats from others he'd won. He also sported a shiny pink wart from a Grow-Your-Own-Wart-Kit, and a temporary Bear tattoo on his arm that ran on a loop of continuously baring its teeth.

When dinner ended, he and Draco went back to their abandoned classroom, where Draco opened the magical Hot Chocolate-Maker he had received from his mother that morning.

"Pansy is going to be insanely jealous when she sees this," he said, tapping his wand on the side. The machine buzzed and rattled for a minute; steam pumping out of a hole in the top, before two mugs of Hot Chocolate appeared in a compartment at the bottom. Draco shook cinnamon on the top, before charming it to swirl like a potion.

"Mother used to do this" He said, dutifully handing a gawping Harry the red mug, while Draco kept the green.

When Harry took a sip, the sweetness thawed his taste buds. The cinnamon kicked deliciously like glowing embers on a fire, like the peppered excitement of Christmas morning. Harry drank it as though it were the only thing keeping him alive, and sat contently with the aftertaste of smooth cream; like sweet snow, and milky clouds.

A buzzing, comfortable kind of warmth settled over him as they pulled Harry's cracker. For the first time in weeks, he realised, as blue light trickled around them, he felt truly, properly, Happy.

Without knowing who won, Harry crushed Draco in a kiss that didn't really work because the Gryffindor was smiling so much- but the blonde returned it anyway, steadying him with a soft palm settled on each of his cheeks.

Harry felt as though his soul was alight with the purest of joys as he wrapped his arms tight around Draco's mid. They were unsure of what exactly they were doing, and what this would lead to, but they could think about that tomorrow. Today was for happiness, and peace and for enjoying the company of those you care about. He had finally found the merriness in Christmas, after all those miserable years with the Dursleys. Harry had found contentment with Draco. And for that day, it was enough.

Until Hermione's owl arrived.