Emerald (Lazuli Book #2) Harry Potter Fan Fiction (Draco Malfoy)

Chapter Twenty-One - Two Families are better than One

The next day was Christmas Day. It was completely unlike any Christmas I'd ever had before, and yet I enjoyed every second. From the moment I woke up - curled up with Draco's arms protectively wrapped around me - my heart was in a flutter of joy and pure happiness. Finally, I knew the truth about myself. I knew who I was, I no longer felt like an outsider.

A pile of presents sat at the foot of the bed, courtesy of Draco of course. I'd added a few that I'd collected for Draco beneath the small singing tree that Damon had set up whilst we were out yesterday, but had hardly been expecting anything in return. Draco had already given me so much - he'd taken me to my mother.

Like an over-excited toddler, I giggled and dragged him out of bed, handing him the first of his presents. I watched nervously as he opened it up and took out the wrist watch I'd bought, enchanted so that it never ran out of power or time. That watch would never stop, the shop-keeper had promised me. Draco clearly loved it, his eyes growing wide with amazement as he slipped the leather band around his wrist, stroking the golden face in admiration. "It's too much Juliet" he said, kissing me gently. "What, so you're allowed to spoil me, but I can't treat you?"

Draco nuzzled his head into my neck. "Having Christmas with you, and only you, is the greatest gift you could ever give me."

We opened the rest of our presents - Draco gave me a pair of gorgeous ankle boots among over things - but the best present of all came in a tiny velvet pouch, carefully saved until last when Draco pulled me to my feet and pressed the pouch into my fingers gently. "What is it?" I asked, taking out the small golden key and holding it up to the light curiously.

Draco blushed, "it's the key to the tree-house. I had the lock fitted before we left for Christmas break, and this key made to match it. It has our initials, see" he proudly traced the entwined 'D' and 'J' and raised the key and my hand to his lips. "I want to spend every day for the rest of my life with you. I want you to love me and only me. And in return I swear to do the same. I swear to always be faithful and to love you no matter what happens and who comes between us. I love you, whether you're Juliet Weasley or Andromeda Black. You are my life, and this tree-house is just the first step in our lives together."

We spent the rest of the day laughing and acting like the care-free teenagers we should be. After breakfast we went out into Diagon Alley, which was all but deserted, and built a snowman the muggle way, with our bare hands. Afterwards Draco bought me some roasted chestnuts and we went into the muggle part of London, watching one of the peculiar events they called 'parades.' They had men dressed up as Father Christmas waving at the little muggle children, throwing sweets from the floats and singing Christmas carols. We went ice skating on a beautiful ice-rink by the river - as usual, Draco was a natural even though he'd never done it before - and then returned back to the Leaky Cauldron, where we laid on the bed and stuffed ourselves with cookies and butter beer. The pub was nearly empty - Damon had gone to spend Christmas Day with his Aunt and Uncle plus their two children, his cousin's Caspar and Mila. So we basically had the whole pub to ourselves.

"Love" Draco said as we were lying on the bed, clutching our bloated bellies from eating far too many cookies. "Hmm," I said, stroking his soft hair and shutting my eyes. "I just realised - we're cousins."

My eyes flew open and I stared at him. Draco was smirking in amusement. Deciding to play along with it, I sat upright and gasped. "You're right! My father was cousins with your mother! That makes us..." I counted on my fingers for effect "third cousins!"

Draco chuckled. "Draco, how can you laugh about this! What we're doing... it's basically incest!" I jumped to my feet, grimacing as my stomach twinged, and pretended to be shocked. Draco's smile faded and he crept towards me. "I don't know if I can be with you, knowing that we're related by blood!" I smirked as I turned away, as expected, Draco grabbed my wrist and pulled me back. "Juliet Weasley," he snarled playfully, "you are my girlfriend, cousin or not. I wouldn't care if you were my sister - i'm in love with you no matter what."