How to Save a Life

After the boys were done with their ‘shower’, they made their way back into Draco’s room to dress. Harry pulled on a pair of black combats and, with a grin, tugged his new t-shirt on over his head.

Draco however, could not be persuaded to wear his. Not even the sight of Pansy wearing hers made him relent. Spotting the stubborn pout on the blond’s face, Harry let it go, but resolved to try again before the holidays were over.

The three friends headed down to breakfast, where both Harry and Draco proved to have worked up quite an appetite - much to Pansy’s amusement.

“So what do you three have planned for this morning?” Narcissa enquired politely, as the elves cleared away the last traces of their meal.

“I’m going to try my new broom out,” Draco replied instantly, before turning to his boyfriend. “I’ve got a snitch, we could play some one on one, if you like?”

Harry nodded in agreement. “Sounds like a good idea. But I need to write a letter first.”

Then, seeing Draco’s raised eyebrow, he explained further. “I want to thank Dudley for sending those photos.”

“But why, Harry? He was awful to you.”

Harry just shrugged. “I know we never got on, but then neither did you and me, and look at us now. He’s made the first effort, and it’s only polite that I reply.”

“Well said, Harry.” Narcissa beamed approvingly. “It’s refreshing to see good manners on youngsters nowadays. They’re fast becoming a thing of the past.”

“Harry’s had his own personal etiquette tutor,” Pansy interjected, chuckling to herself.

“Yes, well, Draco always was very particular,” Narcissa admitted, smiling. “He gets that from his father.”

Seeing the smile fall from Narcissa’s face at the mention of her absent husband, Pansy swiftly changed the subject.

“Harry, do you think if I wrote to Charlie, that you could send it? I don’t really want his entire family knowing it’s from me.”

Harry nodded thoughtfully. “That’s fine. I really should write and thank George for the present he bought Draco and I. I’ll put your letter in with mine, and then he can give it to Charlie when no one is around.”

“Why the need for secrecy?” Andromeda enquired, unable to suppress her curiosity.

Draco smirked at this. “It would certainly cause some confusion, considering that most of the Weasley family think that Pansy is currently dating Harry. He’ll have the Weasel on the Floo telling him that you’re cheating on him, Pans.”

“Ah, I can see how that might be difficult,” Narcissa agreed, pushing her chair back from the table. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, Andromeda and I are attending mass at the local church, and we really must be leaving shortly.”

“Mass?” Draco repeated, confusion etched on his face.

“It’s a Muggle thing,” Harry attempted to explain, though none too sure himself.

“My husband’s family were quite religious,” Andromeda explained. “After he entered the Wizarding World there wasn’t really much opportunity for him to practice his beliefs, but he always attended mass at Christmas. It became a sort of family tradition, one that I want to continue, to honour his memory. Narcissa has kindly offered to accompany me.”

“Do you want us to watch Teddy for you?” Pansy offered, impulsively.

“Thank you, dear. That would be a great help. I think that sitting still and quietly for an hour might just prove too much for him to manage.”

“I don’t think he’ll be any trouble,” Pansy mused, as she looked at the placid baby, who was now busy, slobbering all over the soft green fur of his new best friend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As the group went their separate ways, Harry and Pansy headed into the drawing room. The secured Teddy in his playpen, and then seated themselves at the ornate desk. Producing parchment and quills, Pansy handed some to Harry before turning back to her task.

Harry sucked thoughtfully on the end of his quill, as he pondered what on earth to say to Dudley. He knew it wasn’t just good manners that was prompting him to reply, there was a large amount of curiosity too.

He looked at how much he and Draco had had to overcome to get to the point they were at now. If there was the tiniest chance that he and Dudley could put the unpleasant past behind them, then he was going to grab at it with both hands.

The Weasleys were a wonderful surrogate family, and Draco and Pansy were certainly helping to fill holes in his life. But Dudley was family, he was blood, and that made all the difference.

In the end, Harry settled for a fairly simple message. Just thanking his cousin, making polite enquiries as to what the boy was up to nowadays, and wishing him a merry Christmas. He even managed to swallow his resentment long enough to ask after his aunt and uncle.

He leant back on his chair and reread the note with satisfaction. It held just the right amount of interest, without leaving himself open to rejection again.

Harry then moved on to scribble a short note to George. He made several veiled threats as to what he would do to the redhead next time they met, in payment for sending such a present to be opened at a family gathering. He also explained about Pansy’s letter and then finished up with a teasing thank you for the present, alluding to the hours of fun he was sure that he and Draco would have with it.

Pansy peered over his shoulder at this point, having finished her own missive.

“Are you ever going to tell me what was in that box,” she pouted.

Harry grinned. “Let’s just say that George has obviously been into an ‘adults only’ store.”

Pansy’s eyes widened in understanding. “I bet that made Draco’s day,” she chuckled. “He’s probably off planning what to do to you with them as we speak. He’s a kinky little devil, your boyfriend.”

“So I’m told. With any luck, I’ll get to find out first hand.”

Pansy gave a shriek and slapped Harry’s arm playfully. “Harry Potter! You bad boy. I always thought you were so innocent.”

“I was,” Harry agreed. “Hanging around with you Slytherins has corrupted me.”

Pansy just snickered at this. She folded up her parchment and sealed it.

“Here, put this with yours then.”

Harry took the note off her and then sealed his own letter. He addressed one to Mrs. Figg - he didn’t think that sending an owl direct to No.4 Privet Drive would be a very good idea, and the other he sent to the Burrow.

Once the two friends had wrapped up warmly, and Harry had grabbed his broom, they headed outside to the Manor’s small owlery.

“So,” Harry began, glancing slyly at the girl by his side. “Charlie Weasley, hmm?”

A slow smile spread across Pansy’s face and one hand began absently fingering the pendant at her throat.

“He’s nice,” was all she said.

“Nice?” Harry repeated, in a disbelieving tone.

“Okay then, I like him. He’s cute and funny, and for some reason I don’t freak out when he touches me.”

“That’s good, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, I think so. It’s just a shame he lives in Romania most of the year.”

“Maybe you could go and visit him, once school has finished?”

Pansy looked faintly alarmed at this suggestion. Charlie’s touch may not repulse her, but that was a long way from staying with him - alone.

“Maybe we could all go,” Harry tried again. “Give you a chance to get to know him better.”

Pansy relaxed slightly at this suggestion and nodded faintly.

Once the letters had been secured to a pair of stately eagle owls, Pansy returned to the house with Teddy, and Harry mounted his broom and shot off in search of his boyfriend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Christmas dinner at the Manor was a sight to behold. Harry was sure he could hear the dining table groaning from the weight of all the food on it.

Harry and Draco were dressed similarly in black dress pants, teamed with their new cashmere sweaters. Harry had voiced the idea of him wearing this year’s ‘Weasley jumper’, not from any real desire to wear it, but more from a desire to see the reaction on his boyfriend’s face.

Draco had not disappointed, and after much indignant spluttering on the blond’s part, Harry had been forced to promise never to wear the offending article of clothing in his presence - ever!

The house-elves fluttered excitedly around the dining room, ensuring that their every want was met. Harry couldn’t help but smile to himself as he imagined Ron’s reaction to a feast of this size. Mrs Weasley certainly knew how to lay on a good spread, but the Manor’s elves had completely blown her out of the water with their efforts.

Eventually, even Harry was forced to admit defeat as he turned down the offer of seconds of Christmas pudding. He leant back in his chair, one hand resting lightly on his expanded stomach. What he really wanted to do was unbutton his trousers to give himself room to breath, but he very much doubted that this was the kind of behaviour that was accepted at the Malfoy’s table.

Narcissa took pity on the younger members of the party and waved them off towards the sitting room. Harry paused in the doorway and shyly asked his hostess if it would be okay if he used their Floo to call the Weasleys. Narcissa just smiled warmly and directed him to the ornate fireplace in the drawing room.

Harry grabbed a handful of Floo powder from the antique urn on the hearth and dropped to his knees. Trying his best not to make a mess, he threw the powder into the flames and thrust his head in.

“The Burrow,” he requested, clearly.

He found himself looking into the surprisingly empty living room at the Burrow.

“Ron!” he shouted, as loud as he dared.

After a minute or so had passed and still no redhead had appeared, he tried again.

“Ron!” He made his voice a little louder this time. He couldn’t figure out where on earth they all were. He had never seen the Burrow so quiet.

Just as Harry was reluctantly pulling out of the flames, the door banged open and a harassed Mrs Weasley appeared.

“Oh, Harry dear. Have you been there long? Things have been a little…unusual round here today.”

“It’s fine, Mrs Weasley,” Harry reassured. “Happy Christmas.”

“What? Oh yes, Happy Christmas to you too. We did miss you today. How are things going?”

“Really good.” Harry nodded, as if to emphasise the point. “It was a little quieter than a Weasley Christmas, and I did miss you guys, but I’m having a good time.”

Mrs Weasley smiled weakly. “That’s nice, dear.” But Harry got the impression that she really wasn’t listening to him.

“Thanks for my jumper,” he tried again. “Uh, is Ron about?”

“Yes, yes. I’ll just get him for you.” And she disappeared without another word.

Moments later, and a familiar freckled face was grinning back at him.

“Harry, mate. Good to see you.”

“You too, Ron. Umm, is your mum okay? She seemed kind of off.”

Ron’s grin widened. “She’s just had a bit of a shock, that’s all. George kind of announced he was gay during dinner.”

Harry choked at this and prayed that his face wasn’t as red as it felt. “What, he just came right out and said it?”

Ron shook his head. “You know George. Never does anything straightforwardly. He messed with the Christmas crackers, and instead of the usual crap jokes, he just put notes in them announcing it. It caused quite a commotion, I can tell you.”

Harry forced a grin onto his face. “How did they take it?”

For the life of him, Harry couldn’t keep the quaver out of his voice, but he just had to ask. This was his one chance to find out if his surrogate family would be able to accept his secret, without him actually having to reveal it.

Ron chuckled. “Percy spat his dinner out all over the table, covered Fleur in cranberry sauce! Dad was just a bit overwhelmed by it, I think. And Mum, well you saw her. I don’t think she knows what to think.”

“What about you?” Harry pressed.

Ron just shrugged. “I’m okay with it, I guess. I mean, he’s my brother, isn’t he. I’m hardly going to turn my back on him over something like that. I think Charlie already knew, cos he didn’t seem that surprised by it. Come to think of it, you don’t seem that shocked.”

Ron looked at him intently and Harry flushed, guiltily.

“You could have told me, mate,” Ron muttered.

“It wasn’t my place to say anything, Ron. I didn’t know he was planning this though.”

“Bet you wished you’d come here now instead of going to the ferret’s? How’s that going by the way?”

“It’s good, Ron; really good. You know it would have been too awkward for me at your house this year, what with everything going on with Ginny.”

“Mum ripped right into her for that, you know? We barely heard a peep out of her for days. I think she’s quite happy with George for creating a scene, at least Mum will ease off on her a bit.”

Harry murmured something unintelligible at this, not really sure what to say, and really not wanting to get into a discussion about Ginny.

“Thanks for the present,” he said, changing the subject.

“Hermione chose it,” the redhead admitted sheepishly. “You know me, crap at buying presents.”

“I kind of figured that out,” Harry answered. “What with it being a book and all. It’s good though.”


“What did you get from the ferret?” Ron asked, and then carried on speaking without giving Harry a chance to respond. “That reminds me, you‘ll never guess what.”

Harry smiled, “Well, in that case, you’ll have to tell me.”

Ron glared momentarily but the urge to spill his news was to strong. “Malfoy sent Mum a present. A big hamper from some posh Muggle store. I’ve never heard of it, but Hermione reckons it’s expensive.”

Harry was stunned briefly. “He never said anything,” he admitted slowly, and couldn’t help wondering why his boyfriend hadn’t shared.

“Said it was to say thank you for her being so nice to him when he saw her at King’s Cross. Mum was chuffed to bits. You might have to thank him for her though; I doubt she’ll remember after today’s news.”

“Yeah, okay,” Harry said, distractedly. “Look, I’d better get going, Ron. Draco and Pansy are waiting for me.”

“How’s it going, stopping with your girlfriend? Been sneaking over the landing yet?”

Harry wanted to snap that it was none of his business, but he knew how much of an effort it took for Ron to talk about either of the Slytherins without insulting them.

“Behave, Ron. I don’t ask about you and Hermione.”

“Can’t blame a bloke for trying. I’ll let you get off then. I’d better get back in there; when I left, Percy was suggesting that George needed admitting to St Mungo’s. Honestly, he’s only been back in the family for five minutes. You’d think he would know when to hold his tongue.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Draco and Pansy were sprawled over the floor in front of the fire when Harry joined them. They stopped talking when they heard the door close, and looked guiltily over their shoulders.

“What are you two up too?” Harry questioned, as he slumped to the floor at Draco’s side.

“Nothing much,” Pansy replied, airily. “Just planning our New Year’s Party.”

“Oh,” Harry answered, as he rolled onto his back. His stomach was still too full to lie on.

“Poor baby,” Draco sympathised, rubbing soothing circles on his boyfriend’s tummy. “That’s what you get for stuffing your face. I swear, I thought the Weasel was at the table with me.”


Harry glared at his boyfriend but then decided it required too much effort.

“I didn’t know we were having a party.”

“Ah, well, that’s because we weren’t. Pansy and I only just decided that we should. You have to keep it quiet for now, I haven’t exactly told Mother yet.”

“She’ll say yes though, won’t she?” A tiny crease appeared between Pansy’s eyebrows as she pondered the possibility.

Draco nodded confidently. “She’ll agree,” he said, slowly. “But it’s always best to present her with a fait accompli. If we’ve already planned it out, it’s much harder to say no.”

“It’s a bit short notice though, isn’t it?” Harry queried. “What if people already have plans?”

“They’ll come,” Pansy said, with certainty. “No one’s going to pass up the chance of one of Draco’s parties. His birthday parties are legendary in Slytherin.”

“It’s true,” Draco agreed, a touch smugly. “We’re just working out who to invite now.”

Harry rolled onto his side and peered over at the parchment. He smiled when he saw that Draco had included Ron and Hermione’s names. The blond had obviously been torn by this decision, as he could see that the names had been written, and crossed out, several times before.

“Maybe you shouldn’t invite them,” Harry said softly, his finger pointing to his best friends names.

“Okay!” Draco didn’t need telling twice and reached instantly for his quill.

Pansy’s hand grabbed it first. “Hold on, Draco.” She turned concerned eyes to Harry. “Why not? We thought you would want them there. Did Weasley say something to upset you just now?”

Her eyes narrowed as she spoke, and Harry’s heart warmed at the sight of her protectiveness.

“No, it’s nothing like that,” he reassured.

“Then what?” Draco sat up with interest. “Are you ashamed to be seen with us?” he teased.

“God, no!” Harry exclaimed. “I would like to invite them, it’s just that they don’t know about us still, and I don’t think that the best way for them to find out is to see us snogging at midnight.”

Pansy chuckled at this. “That’s half the reason I wanted to invite them,” she admitted.

“So it had nothing to do with wanting to invite a certain older brother then?” Draco smirked as Pansy’s cheeks stained pink.

“No, of course not,” she answered, stoutly.

“I guess we could still invite Charlie and George,” Harry mused. “I’d just have to make sure they don’t mention it to Ron. I imagine George will be quite glad to escape from family gatherings at the moment.”

“How come? Trouble at the Weasels?”

“Don’t call them that, Draco,” Harry chided. “It’s not nice, and I know you don’t really mean it. Not after the present that you sent Mrs. Weasley.”

The blond flushed furiously at this. “Shut up, Potter,” he said, roughly.

Sensing his boyfriend’s discomfort, Harry forbore the teasing he had been planning. He shot a look of warning at Pansy, as he noticed the girl open her mouth ready.

Put out at being deprived of a prime chance to taunt her best friend, Pansy changed direction instantly.

“So what’s up with George?”

“He kind of came out to his family over Christmas dinner.”

Draco snorted. “Nice timing.”

“How did it go?” Pansy asked in concern. Not that she was overly worried about George, but she knew how important the Weasleys were to Harry, and how important their feelings on this subject would prove to him.

“Okay, I think. Ron was fine with it. I think Mrs Weasley was just really shocked. Only Percy was off about it, apparently.”

“He always was an arse,” Draco sniffed.

“I always though he was gay,” Pansy offered.

“Hardly. There’s no room for anything else up his arse, not when his head is so firmly wedged up there.”

“Draco!”

“Well, it’s true.”

“I know, but still. It’s hardly the mental image I want just after I’ve eaten.” Harry looked faintly green at the images Draco’s words had conjured in his head.

“So does this mean you’ll tell them about you now?” Pansy wanted to know.

“I don’t know,” Harry admitted, reluctantly. “I mean, I was worried about what they would think, but it was never really the being gay thing that was the main problem. It was more…”

“That you’re with me,” Draco finished for him.

“Yes,” Harry confirmed, smiling apologetically at his boyfriend. “I’m not ashamed of you, I swear,” he insisted, trailing his fingertips over the blond’s thigh. “But I’ve only just got things back on track with Ron and I don’t know if our friendship is strong enough for him to accept it yet.”

Draco slid his hand down and twined his fingers with Harry’s. “I never thought you were ashamed of me. We’ll tell people when you’re ready. I’m in no particular hurry to have my private life put under the microscope anyway.”

Harry felt a weight lift of him and Draco’s words and he lifted their joined hands to his lips.

“As if dessert wasn’t sweet enough,” Pansy groaned. “Now I’ve got to put up with you two as well.”

“You love it, Parkinson; don’t deny it. Now, as interesting as the tales of a ‘sexually confused redhead’ are, we have a party to plan.” With that, Draco snatched the quill back of Pansy and resumed his list making.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~