The Other Potter (Draco Malfoy Endgame)

Christmas Memories

Chapter 8

After a note from Mrs. Weasley saying Arthur was still alive and she'd come for them later, the waiting was the hardest part. Alexis and Mattheo settled on a nearby couch to leave the others to worry in their own ways. Sirius suggested at one point in the night that everyone try to get some sleep but a stony glare from the Weasley twins made it clear that wouldn't be happening.

As the hours wore on Alexis leaned her head onto Mattheo's lap and got more comfortable. He ran his hand through her hair staring absent-mindedly off into the distance. Alexis watched him for a while, admiring and recording to memory every inch of his face. The wild curl in his black hair, the firm curve of his jaw, the slightly crooked set of his nose from who knows how many breaks. His dark eyes looked like a terrible storm coming over the black lake, and lastly, the curve of his lips was set in a hard line. She preferred when he has the cocky half-smile but she didn't expect to get to see much of that this break. At least not when anyone else was around, that was a side he struggled to show to anyone outside their little group.

"A knut for your thoughts?" she said turning his face to meet hers. As he looked down at her his eyes softened. He ran his thumb over her cheek and sighed, "Sometimes I forget why everyone hates me. I've done my best to seclude myself from anyone else he has caused pain. But here I am right in the middle of the grief he caused and I can see why people would hate me for it. I'm his blood after all and they can't hate him in person like they can me."

"When we graduate we could go anywhere, run as far as you want. I'd live in a jungle with you if it would make you happy. You don't deserve how everyone thinks about you. You are Mattheo, not Tom," she gently cupped his face, sitting up to look him straight in the eyes, "I only see you."

She got a sad smile, it wasn't what she wanted but it was a start. He shook his head momentarily, "Wait did you say a jungle? I'm unsure about that princess, but you would look quite fetching in one of those little straw explorer hats." She playfully hit his shoulder, "I only meant somewhere as far from people's judgment as possible."

"You know I don't think your father has taken his eyes off us most of the night," he told her with a glance over to Sirius. Alexis looked over smiling sweetly at Sirius and Harry who were indeed staring intently. "He's probably just waiting for you to do something he can chastise us for," she said with a smile.

Sirius was keeping his eyes on Mattheo, he'd asked Harry about his reputation with other girls which Harry told him but also told him he seemed different from his sister. "He does care deeply for her, Sirius, I think he would do anything for her, and I do mean anything. I think he would kill his father to protect her"

"I know she trusts him Harry but he is the Dark Lord's son and he will eventually come for him. He will expect his son by his side, and no matter how much he cares for her, he may not be able to resist his call," Sirius looked at Harry worry in every line of his face. "She said something about a bond, do you know what she meant? It didn't sound like the normal, 'but Daddy I love him,' kind of comment."

"I'm not sure but I can ask her later. I do know that once she gave in to her feelings they were both different. He seemed to soften and she hardened until they seemed to be equal almost like they became one person. The two of them even have all of Slytherin terrified to upset them," Harry finished with a shrug.

"I did notice her eyes earlier that is new. I'll have to ask around about that, it comes across as a bit volatile. Like she could explode at any moment," Sirius looked over worried for his little girl.

"She does Sirius, ever since she collapsed in Umbridge's class she has struggled not to let her temper take over. I heard she yanked a girl off Mattheo by her hair and slammed her to the ground, and she broke Draco's nose," Harry smiled at the last part. Sirius seemed deep in thought and quietly watched his little girl and this boy he couldn't bring himself to trust until Molly came flying in just after 5 the next morning.