Blackberry Jam (A Drarry FanFiction)

Chapter Seventeen

   Harry stared in disbelief. There were two bicycles propped up against the side of the cottage wall. "What on Earth-?" he uttered.

"They're from Father," he gushed. "I told him that's how everyone gets around in the country. One for you and one for me!"

Harry was too stunned to well up again, or even shiver in the terrible cold wind. "A bike?" he breathed. "For me?"

Draco nodded and pulled him over to inspect them closer. They were matching, except one was green, and the other was red. "You can pick the one you like the best," he said quietly.

But Harry shook his head. "No, you pick yours first," he said. "It's only fair."

Draco bit his lip. Harry worried he might insist on him picking which one he wanted, and he really didn't feel comfortable doing that. He would be happy with whichever one Draco didn't want. "Well," he said slowly. "I do rather like the green," he said hopefully.

Harry's face lit up. "And I like the red," he announced truthfully. "Perfect!"

And indeed, it was perfect, the whole day was.

They went back in to open all their other presents (including a can of tuna for a couple of hungry little kittens) and Harry was delighted to receive a new pair of shoes, a couple of books, lots of sweets, some socks, and last of all, a set of replica toy spitfire planes from his parents. "You must have one," he told Draco, holding one of the matching two out for him, extremely content that he was able to share a present back, even if it was small.

They left Mrs Figg and Mrs Malfoy with a glass of crimson wine each and a feast to prepare, whilst they took their new bicycles out for a spin. Harry hadn't ridden in a long time, and his new bike was quite different to the old one his parents had had, but he soon got the hang of riding it again. It was like some sort of flying, and the boys shrieked as they hurtled down the muddy paths, hot and sweaty despite the fresh flakes of snow falling quietly around them.

Dinner was one of the best Harry had ever eaten, and as such he ate until he was sure he might be sick. That didn't stop him from having some of the Christmas pudding though, because Mrs Figg lit it on fire, and you couldn't miss an opportunity to have a pudding that had genuinely been on fire. It was completely worth it too when he found the silver sixpence in his helping. "I'm rich!" he joked, holding up his prize.

After another bike ride, a visit to the graveyard to pay respects to Mr Figg, and a prayer in the local church, Harry and his adopted family made their way wearily back to the cottage. "I suppose we ought to be heading back to the hotel," Mrs Malfoy said after they'd had a restorative cup of tea.

Draco bit his lip, glanced at Harry, then back to Mrs Malfoy. "Mother," he said timidly. "I was wondering...would you mind terribly if I stayed here tonight, in my room?"

Harry blinked in surprise, suddenly a great deal more awake. Draco wanted to stay at home?

"Surely you want to make the most of having your own bed love?" Mrs Figg asked, but Draco bit his lip again worriedly, and looked to Harry for support.

Harry wasn't sure what to say, he was so torn. He knew they were never supposed to say how nice it was sharing a bed, because that wasn't something friends really did, it was something families did. But Draco was practically family to him, and if he was honest he had missed having him next to him at night quite terribly. "Shelley would like that," he said, blurting out the most idiotic thing that came into his head.

But Draco's eyes lit up. "Yes, I'd love to spend some time with Shelley," he said keenly, picking up the kitten sleeping by his feet as if to prove a point.

Mrs Malfoy was already smiling though. "Of course you can stay here," she said. "It is your home after all, and we have another week to enjoy our little holiday at the B and B."

Draco grinned at Harry in victory, and he grinned right back.

Shortly afterwards, they bid Mrs Malfoy a goodnight, and Mrs Figg didn't have too much trouble ushering two overtired boys into the bathroom to brush their teeth and get into their pyjamas. "These are a bit small on you now," she said, handing Draco his old pair, and his current one was at the hotel. "But they should still do."

When they crawled into bed, Harry knew he was going to sleep the best he had all week, and was pleasantly surprised when Draco rolled over and pulled him into a hug. "Night night Harry," he mumbled.

In that moment, Harry knew Draco had missed sharing their bed as much as he had, despite having a lovely time with his mother, and the realisation made his heart swell. "Night night Draco," he said.

From somewhere near the foot of the bed, one of their cats meowed in their own little goodnight too.

Out of all the gifts he had received that day, Harry fell asleep deciding that this moment right then was the best Christmas present he had got of them all.