After Pansy and Hermione had helped me gussy up, they stayed to decorate the room. All the furniture was moved out of the way, to the sides, and quickly became home to a multitude of candles of every shape and size, some even scented. I didn't even know there was such a thing, but apparently, there was. I wasn't going to think about the gayness of the person who actually went ahead and invented scented candles. Not that I had right to express myself, seeing as planning to shag a bloke often require a certain amount of gayness, and wearing make-up even more so. Although it was rather unwillingly, and only after hours upon hours of constant nagging from two very determined teenage girls, who never let you alone for a single minute, following you around even when you went to the bathroom, badgering and pestering you until you were just about ready to... eh, never mind. And I was not bitter. I was not. But anyway, the scented candles were all nice looking and they smelled, so all was good. You might not be able to tell exactly what they were supposed to smell, but when something is called by the name of 'Madame Rosinda's Scented Candles with Alihotsy and a hint of Puffapod', that is only to be expected.But I digress. In the middle of the room, we put a small, round table, with two chairs opposing each other. It was quickly dressed in a white cloth, with plates and eating utensils scattered around. Although, scattered is probably the wrong word to use, as Hermione used a good half hour to decide how they were best placed. Then as the last finishing detail, Pansy put a vase with a single red rose in at the middle of the table. Cliché, yes, but there's a reason it's overused, and as long as they didn't expect me to carry the rose around in my mouth, I was a happy camper.
"Finished at last," beamed Hermione and surveyed the result.
"Yes, now we only need to dim the lights and put on some music," smiled Pansy.
"Thank you, you guys, I could never have done it without you!" I said, hugging both of them.
"Damn right you couldn't," smirked Pansy, and Hermione laughed, nodding in agreement. "But do you remember everything we've taught you now?"
I nodded while going over everything in my head. I was supposed to walk a certain way, do certain things, and talk about certain topics. All in all it included much hip swaying, an insane amount of smiling, laughing and eyelash fluttering, and last but not least, a somewhat husky sound to my voice. Apparently all these things would land Draco in my bed, and since that was my goal, I did as I was told.
"Oh, and Harry," added Hermione. "Have you read the book I gave you?" Blushing a deep puce colour, I nodded. The book in question had been hid securely at the bottom of my trunk, but only after I had taken a look at it, of course. It was, in short, a guide to the things two wizards might consider doing in the privacy of their own chambers. And a couple of things they probably hadn't considered at all, but might be fun to try sometime. And, it was illustrated. Yessiree, a very educationalbook indeed.
"Very good," nodded Pansy. "And you've taken the contraceptive potion? Fabulous, then I think you're ready for the night! Any last questions before we go? No? Ok then, have fun, and don't do anything I wouldn't do!" Laughing the two of them made their way out the portrait hole, and I sat down to wait. The deal was that when we were finished, Pansy would go find Blaise and Draco, and then Blaise would suddenly calm down, and Draco would be free to leave. Fortunately for me, I didn't have to wait long. I think if I'd had to, the nerves would have been the death of me. They would have jumped out of my skin, crept up to my neck and strangled me while I was looking the other way. I'm not kidding. But as it was, Draco came tearing through the door within ten minutes, and I didn't really have the time to get nervous at all. Ok, so that's a lie, but I didn't have the time to get so nervous that my nerves considered homicide to get out of it. Or would that be suicide, seeing as my nerves are technically a part of myself? Hm, let me get back to you on that one.
"Sorry I took so long, love, Blaise can be so annoying at times, he just wouldn't calm down no matter what I tried! You'd think he was doing it on purpose! And on top of that –" It was at this moment Draco seemed to look around him for the first time. The face he made was very peculiar. "Harry? Harry, love, what is all this?" He said and looked around the room for me. When he saw me, his face took on an even more peculiar expression. It was very interesting, the way his cheeks flushed and his eyes glazed over, while his mouth opened slightly and his tongue came out unconsciously to wet his lips. Very interesting indeed. "Harry?" He gaped, sounding, for a lack of better wording, a wee bit shocked.
"Yes, Harry would be my name," I nodded, smirking slightly. Who else could it be really? I had already established that it definitely wasn't Jack. Walking to the middle of the room, I did a bit of a twirl so that he could see all of me. His expression only got more peculiar as time went by it seemed. Now 'chin on chest' and 'eyes as big as saucers' had joined the party.
"Are you wearing leather?" 'Licking lips' just entered the dance floor.
"Why, yes, I am. They are very comfortable, but if you don't like them, I could always go change – " I trailed off, knowing of course that I would do no such thing.
"No! Eh, I mean, no, that's ok, just keep them on." His eyes swept unconsciously over my leather clad legs. "Yes, on sounds like a plan." It was around this time he got a real good look at my face. Peculiar suddenly became too weak a word to describe his expression. "Harry, love." He started, staring at my face then blinking before staring some more. "I think you and I need to have a talk." He walked over to me and put a hand on my shoulder. "You see, it's like this; Wizardkind is split into two halves, males and females. Females are women. They use makeup. Males are men. They do not use makeup. Which one are you again, honey?" He smirked slightly, raising an eyebrow inquisitively.
I swatted him behind the head before wrapping my arms around his neck. "I thought you enjoyed having your submissive looking as submissive as possible?" I looked up at him and fluttered my eyelashes jokingly.
"Well, you do have a point. And you're looking mightily submissive tonight, Mr Potter," Draco's breath ghosted over my lips and I could feel a shiver run up my spine. "Beautifully so."
Smiling, I leant up and landed a small kiss on his waiting lips. "All thanks to Hermione and Pansy, I assure you."
"Ah, so they finally got their hands on your face, did they? I was afraid that if you didn't give in soon, they would kidnap you, tie you to a chair and have their wicked way with you. Cosmetically, of course."
I laughed and nodded. "Yes, they can be quite fierce when they've put their minds on something. Though, I did manage to squirm my way out of the green eye shadow and the lip-gloss. For that I am rather proud."
"Amazing! I am not sure I would have managed the same had I been in your position. What is your secret?" He pulled me closer, resting his forehead against mine.
"Ah, but if I told you, it wouldn't be a secret anymore, now would it?" I teased.
"Hm, you might have a point." His eyes danced and he swooped down to capture my lips with his. The kiss went on for quite a while, our tongues leisurely taking the time to explore, but soon I pulled away, leaving the safe warmth of Draco's arms for the sake of dragging him over to the table.
"Have dinner with me?" I asked and he nodded. Easily slipping into the role as the perfect gentleman, he reached past me and pulled out my chair. I smiled gratefully up at him and gave him one quick kiss before he ventured over to his own part of the table.
When we were both seated, a loud pop could be heard and then Dobby was standing in front of us. He was dressed in a maroon knitted sweater that looked suspiciously like the ones Ron got from his mother every Christmas, dark blue pants with black stripes, and with a white something that strongly resembled a washcloth thrown haphazardly over one arm. His ears were twitching eagerly, and he beamed up at us. "Harry Potter! Master Draco, sir! Dobby is being your waiter for the evening, yes he is! Will Harry Potter and Master Draco be having Christmas dinner, or will they be having something else? Dobby is making lots and lots of food for Harry Potter's special night, but Dobby can be cooking something else if Master Draco and Harry Potter sirs is wanting it!"
Laughing, I answered him. "Christmas dinner would be great, Dobby, thank you." Draco nodded in agreement, and with a bow Dobby popped away, and food of every kind appeared at our little table. There was even a bottle of nettle wine, which Draco was quick to open.
"A glass of wine, good sir?" he asked, his eyes glinting in amusement.
"Wine would be lovely," I laughed. Draco then poured me a full glass, before taking some himself.
"To you, Harry," he murmured, raising his glass to me before taking a sip. Blushingly, I smiled before taking a sip of my own. "This was a very nice idea, love, I'm glad you thought of it." Draco took my hand and ran his thumb over it in a slight caress. "And I must say, you're looking exceptionally beautiful tonight. You must remind me to send a thank you note to the Nose Sticking Duo. They are of the mulish kind, but this time the result was more than good enough to excuse any animalistic traits."
Laughing, I squeezed his hand. "They aren't that bad, you know you love them."
"I most certainly do not!" scoffed Draco, sticking his nose haughtily into the air. "I tolerate them. There is a difference." He smirked.
"Not in Malfoy language, it's not," I muttered, just loud enough for Draco to maybe have heard it, before plastering a sweet smile on my face.
"I will not even deign that with an answer," Draco said, sniffing in an insulted way. It was very adorable. Laughing, I made an encouraging movement with my hand to make him try some of the food.
"What is this?" he asked after tasting one of the dishes. "It is very nice."
"Oh, that is goose, I think. Goose à la Dobby."
"Huh, I would never have thought, that groupie of yours can actually cook!" He smirked and I shook my head, reaching over to hit him playfully on the arm.
"At least I have groupies, that is more than can be said for you, dear."
Draco grinned broadly. He always did seem to enjoy our bantering back and forth. "But I don't need groupies, I have you, love."
"Ah, that you do, that you do," I nodded, taking a bite out of my bread roll. Draco smiled and ate a bit more as well. Soon we were finished with dinner, and it was getting more than late enough to go to bed. At least I thought so.
"I think I'm going to go to bed now," I murmured, looking over at Draco from underneath lowered lashes.
"I'll walk you home," he grinned, and I couldn't help laughing a little. We walked hand in hand the four metres over to the doors to our respective rooms, and Draco leaned down to place a chaste goodnight kiss on my lips. Except, of course, I didn't stay that chaste for long. After we broke apart I smiled softly opening my door, then I looked back over my shoulder and tugged on Draco's hand.
"Stay with me tonight?" I asked, and I could see him blinking at least five times before the meaning of what I'd said seemed to hit him.
"You mean –"
"Yes," I nodded.
"Are you sure?" He searched my face for any hesitancy, but I had already made up my mind so there was none to be found. I just smiled up at him and repeated the tugging motion on his hand. This time he followed, and I led him over to by bed.
"Merry Christmas, Draco," I whispered, and then I leaned up to capture his lips with mine. That was the last any of us said for a very long time.