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“Just ignore them and open it, Draco,” Harry said dryly.
Draco slowly started peeling the paper away from the rather large package, getting everyone’s attention again. “They’re puzzles,” he said blankly.
“Well, I thought you might find these challenging since you liked puzzles so much when you were younger,” Hermione said earnestly. “We got you a wide variety of the ones meant for adults.”
“Yeah, there’s a really wicked one of a dragon in there somewhere,” Ron said, coming over and rifling through the pile of puzzles. “Thought you’d like the picture, but it’s also supposed to have this extra challenge because it’s actually got another picture on the other side, too.”
Draco appeared a little startled by Ron’s enthusiasm, but Ron didn’t notice, too caught up in his search. Soon the right puzzle was found, and Draco and Ron were both pouring over the box, discussing how best to go about putting it together.
Harry watched with a slight smile as the blond and the redhead began sifting through the other puzzles, seeing what other challenges they could find in the pile. He sent Hermione a grateful smile which she returned with a somewhat smug smile of her own. With a stack of puzzles, she’d managed to give Draco a tangible connection to his childhood that he could still relate to at his older age. It was also a link between Draco and Ron that was clearly going to help get Ron and Draco adjusted to these new friendly relations.
Harry wasn’t going to be one bit surprised when Draco’s small play table was turned into a large puzzle table. Watching Draco, he felt like the puzzle pieces of his life were finally all falling into place. They could make things work, despite the challenges. Perhaps even because of the challenges.
Eventually Draco and Ron were brought back to reality, and all of the presents were opened. Dobby served them a sumptuous Christmas feast in Harry and Draco’s room. With all the talk, laughter and teasing, everyone was in high spirits.
Harry collapsed back on the rug in front of the fireplace after eating, feeling happy and content. Draco came and sat beside him, laying the scrapbook album Harry had given him on his lap. Slowly, he began flipping through the pages.
Having looked through the pages many, many times already, Harry elected to look at Draco instead. He enjoyed watching the play of emotions cross Draco’s features as he looked through all the pictures.
“Merlin, Harry! I was filthy!” Draco exclaimed suddenly after flipping to the next page.
Harry snickered, glancing at the scrapbook, but already pretty sure which pictures Draco was referring to.
“What the bloody hell were you thinking?” Draco asked.
“Hey, he found the mud pie pictures then?” Ron asked conversationally as he flopped unceremoniously into one of the chairs.
Harry nodded in answer to Ron’s question, still snickering at Draco’s expression of horror. “I thought you remembered everything, Draco?” Harry asked.
“I do,” Draco said, looking a little queasy. “It’s not quite the same seeing it as a sixteen-year-old.”
“Ah, we had fun that afternoon,” Ron said, clearly in fond reminisce.
“I remember having fun,” Draco said, swallowing heavily before he could continue. “I just don’t remember getting quite that dirty.”
Harry shrugged. “You seemed like you needed it at the time.” One extra warm Saturday afternoon, all of the Gryffindor boys had trooped out to Hagrid’s garden with Draco and proceeded to get as dirty as possible. Hagrid had greeted Harry’s request with an odd look, but he’d cleared an area for them that had already been harvested.
The primary goal had simply been to get dirty. Dean had instructed Draco in the proper technique for making mud pies. Harry had thought it a little sad but sweet to watch Neville listening almost as raptly as little Draco had before helping to make some pretty elaborate mud pies. It had gradually turned into a squishy, nasty mud fight that had left them all coated in mud from head to toe.
Draco now looked at Harry. “You’ve tried to give me everything I could possibly need these last few months, haven’t you?” he asked quietly.
“Yes,” Harry answered, sounding a little uncomfortable. “But it’s not like I didn’t get anything out of it.”
Draco smirked wryly. “Spoken like a true Slytherin.”
Harry grinned, knowing what a compliment it was coming from Draco. “Thank you,” he said smugly.
Draco shook his head ruefully, before he smiled softly. “This has been an amazing Christmas, Harry.”
“It has,” Harry said, sounding happy and satisfied. “It’s not quite what I had been planning, but this has been wonderful. Even better than I had hoped.”
He glanced over to where Ron was now involved in what appeared to be a serious discussion with Crabbe and Goyle about their favorite foods for various holiday meals. Hermione was browsing through the new books everyone had received as gifts and Pansy was inspecting any new clothing items, even as they talked with each other about who-knew-what. Blaise was sprawled beside a stack of toys that had been meant for the four-year-old Draco, rifling through them with interest.
Draco had glanced around at the others, too, before turning back to meet Harry’s broad smile. “We’ve got an odd bunch of friends,” he said with a wry smirk.
“True,” Harry said, unable to disagree, and not even wanting to. He sobered as he continued to gaze at Draco. “I’m glad you’re here,” he whispered.
“Me, too,” Draco said softly.
* * End Flashback * *
Harry startled when Draco slapped him lightly on the cheek. He blinked dazedly and looked down at Draco. “What’d you do that for?” he asked in bemusement, still slightly lost in his thoughts about Christmas.
Draco rolled his eyes and Harry glanced over at their friends who were laughing hysterically. “You’ve been out of it for awhile now,” Draco drawled wryly. “Had to get your attention somehow.”
Blaise snorted loudly. “What he’s not telling you is that he’s just been lying there watching you, smiling sappily all the while. In fact, both of you have been looking pretty sappy for at least the last five minutes.”
Harry blinked, looking down at Draco, who shot Blaise a glare.
“What were you thinking about, Harry?” Pansy asked curiously.
Unknowingly, Harry’s expression took on the same sweet smile, effectively capturing Draco’s attention again along with the others. “You said something about how much things have changed, and I just got to thinking about Christmas.”
“It was a really good day for all of us,” Pansy agreed softly. “The first day we were really all together as friends—even Draco.”
“Hey, are we all going to get together at all this summer?” Blaise asked suddenly. “It’s going to be weird not seeing everyone all the time.”
Harry shrugged. “I don’t know. Draco and I will have our own house so everyone could certainly come visit, but I don’t know that everyone could necessarily make it at the same time.”
Draco snorted in wry amusement. “You think Severus would be happy with that?”
“Uh, probably not,” Harry admitted, grimacing a little. “But he’d get over it.”
“I thought it was your house,” Blaise said, snickering at them.
Harry and Draco shot glares in his direction. “Do you want to argue with Severus?” Draco asked pointedly.
Blaise shook his head vehemently. “No, not really.”
“I thought not,” Draco declared haughtily.
“We’ve got to all do something together this summer, though,” Pansy said. “I’m going to miss everyone terribly.”
“Me, too,” Harry said quietly.
Draco rolled his eyes. “Bloody sentimental saps,” he muttered.
“A bit hypocritical of you, don’t you think?” Blaise asked in amusement.
