A Rose's Thorn

After Hogwarts

Neville and Seamus spent the rest of the year traveling abroad. The Christmas gift from Pansy and Dean was a month long visit to Paris. A hotel booking was being held for confirmation of a date. A week after graduation Neville and Seamus left to Paris. While there, they decided to spend the year traveling. Seeing places and doing things only the two of them would know about. They had basically cut contact with everyone, promising to get together once they were back.

Narcissa gave her Christmas gift to Harry and Draco. The two ended up spending two months in Southern America. They travelled as far as they could while sight seeing in Brazil. Their trip ended in the Caribbean where they spent a week before returning. Spending the rest of the year helping Narcissa with reservations in the manor.

Blaise joined his favorite quidditch team. With encouragement from Hermione he signed up for a part-time coaching course. Hermione spent the remainder of the year doing whatever she wanted to. She sent a letter to Mcgonagall asking for an apprenticeship position in the school.

Pansy and Dean found themselves exploring the muggle world. Every second week of their exploration they had to contact Hermione and Harry for help with something. Having never been to the muggle world before. Harry was the one who mainly helped them as Hermione sometimes lost track of time buried in a book.

December time had come around rather quickly for the lot. Malfoy manor was always loud and busy due to renovations. Narcissa had taken down some walls to rooms on the ground floor, in order to create one huge room for Adriana. She had felt bad that Adriana had to stay in her human form while at the manor. Another renovation she was doing was changing the left side of the house on the top floor into a greenhouse. While all the renovations were happening Narcissa stayed with Harry and Draco in one of the other houses that were left for Draco.

Neville and Seamus sent out owls to their friends informing them that they would only return after the New Year. Pansy had made a joke about Seamus being pregnant as a reason they were staying away so long. Harry and Draco looked at each other rather oddly thinking about how that could be possible.

Blaise told everyone he wouldn't be around for Christmas because of his quidditch team and coaches exam. That meant Hermione wouldn't be around either. She was Blaise's number 1 cheerleader after all and hadn't yet missed a single game.

Dean was still busy working towards his acceptance in the ministry. So he wanted to spend the Christmas with Pansy before having to go back to training. The Auror position was a hard one to fill with its requirements both academic and physical.

*~*

"Happy New Year love."

"Same to you Dray."

Draco smiled. "Sevy wants me to study under him for the year. First step to being a potion master."

"Are you going to teach at Hogwarts after?" Harry asked lacing his fingers with Draco's.

"No I was thinking of making one of the other places into a lab. Then I'd make potions to supply hospitals and stuff." Draco said.

"Sounds brilliant. So you're going to be gone a lot this year huh?" Harry sighed.

"Unfortunately. But you don't have to worry about anything happening." Draco kissed Harry.

"Well yeah. I'm not upset about that. I was actually going to tell you I was going to be away. When I was helping Dean and Pansy in the muggle world I had an idea. I can't tell you yet because I want it to be a surprise." Harry grinned.

Draco shook his head and kissed Harry's cheek. They laid on the couch cuddled together. Harry's left hand laced with Draco's. His right hand combing through Draco's hair. It was a lazy day for the two. Narcissa had gone to Malfoy Manor to see what needed to be changed before more work was done.