Drarry Christmas at Hogwarts
Hogwarts was glowing all Christmas night, warm and full of soft, but celebratory, rumble. Harry had been composing himself for weeks, readying himself. He waited out most of the night anxiously, allowing Ron and Hermione to drink themselves into sleepy, content lust. It wasn’t long before they wanted to be left alone and Harry was all too eager to let them be. He swiped his wrapped gift from under his bed and then jet out of the Gryffindor common room, heading towards the dungeons. He bumped his way through crowds of classmates in the halls, all wishing him a merry holiday. He didn’t mean to seem rude, but he was all too aware that his bravery was dwindling as the night went on. He finally found Pansy Parkinson with a group of Slytherin girls and asked her for Malfoy’s whereabouts. She was visibly drunk and replied, “He’s in the library, but if you wanna fight on Christmas night, you can take it up with me,”
He shook his head, “No, I just need to talk to him —”
“Sure, Potter, but if I hear one complaint from him later, I’m coming after you,” She warned.
He waved her goodbye, running towards the library. He wondered to himself why Malfoy would be in the library on Christmas night. When he entered and saw the deserted, dimly lit hall, his mind answered him:
Because no one would be here.
He twisted his head around until he saw the shine of white-blonde hair. Moonlight leaking through the tall windows and casting milky spills all over the walls and tables had cloaked Draco. His black suit dramatized his pointed facial features, the shadows playing along his neck and face were long and strikingly dark against his typically pale skin. He approached slowly; his breath was heavily, but shallow from his running. The library was so quiet in contrast to the bustle of the halls and liveliness of the rest of the castle. He knew Malfoy was aware of him, but he didn’t look up from his notes. Harry allowed himself to calm for a moment. He couldn’t manage to stop the hammering of his heart, or the rushing of blood in his stomach and groin and face. His toes even tickled with anticipation; truly, the only thing he was able to do was catch his breath. His lungs felt stiff.
Harry jumped a bit, startled by the nonchalance of Draco’s deep voice. He sat down beside Malfoy and said,
“IbroughtyouthisIknowyouprobablywantedtobealonebutI—”
“Stop,” Malfoy interjected; making Harry go lightheaded with nerves, “Deep breath, then start from the beginning,”
Harry nodded, embarrassed, but too far along to stop. He exhaled deeply and repeated,
He handed over a wrapped, long, thin box to Draco. His dexterous, spidery hands gracefully took the gift from Harry’s hand. He eyed it carefully.
“It’s nothing bad, I swear,”
Draco looked up at Harry from under his long, blonde lashes. Harry gulped audibly, furthering his embarrassment. Draco quirked a brow at him, then opened the card atop it. It was small and in sloppy hand-writing it read; “To Draco Malfoy – From Harry Potter.”
“I thought you’d be in the Great Hall, so I had put it under the Slytherin tree, but you weren’t there, so…”
He trailed off, studying Draco’s expression. His face was a cross of confused wonderment and cautious flattery. Harry wasn’t sure if Draco had heard him or not, but knew his blabbering was inconsequential. He felt strained, inwardly. All of his muscles were tight with anxiety but his stomach was loose with blush and butterflies. His toes curled in and out, nervously in his shoes as Draco opened the wrapping. He lifted the lid of the slim box to reveal his own wand. His eyes went wide and shot up to look at Harry. Harry felt himself turn heated and he struggled to keep his gaze with Draco. He eventually broke it, too nervous to keep it up.