Lucius had taken Harry aside and was whispering "Would you explain to me what's so funny about a Japanese golfer?"

"It's not funny, "Harry replied. Lucius nodded grimly.

"I thought not."

"Because it's racist, " Harry said patiently.

"I thought it was unfunny because golf jokes are never funny, "Lucius said. "Never saw the point of the game."

Narcissa had done a wonderful job cooking her first Christmas goose, and Lucius had allowed Draco to choose the wine this time. He congratulated Draco on the selection, and Draco was able to breathe easier after that. His family was too dignified to wear paper crowns and pull wizard crackers, although Draco had, in a rare moment of optimism, bought some for later. Meanwhile, Narcissa had found Draco's old baby chair for Teddy.

"And how old is your manor?" Aunt Petunia asked.

"This wing was built in the eighteenth century, "Lucius said. "After a fire destroyed the original building."

"One of our ancestors, Sir Flavius Malfoy, liked his dragons,"Draco said. "Unfortunately, he was also a narcoleptic."

"The original building was at least pre-Norman," said Lucius. "Although my family has always lived in this region."

Dudley shoveled food in his face. So did Uncle Vernon, but he didn't have the decency to stop talking while he did. He'd also had a lot of wine by that point. "Has my poofter nephew proposed yet?" He demanded. "I figured that was the only reason the ungrateful boy would contact us."

"No-uh- we haven't thought about that," Harry said.

"But we are very serious," Draco added. He smiled at Harry, who blinked in surprise and smiled back. "Harry belongs here, with me. With the rest of us unnatural freaks. "

"I'm not paying for the wedding," Uncle Vernon sneered. "Mind you, you poofs still can't get properly married, can you? Don't you get a civil partnership or summat? What do you plan to do for work?"

"I work for a wizard newspaper, "Draco said. " And Harry has entered Auror training."

"An Auror is a bit like a policeman, "Harry said reluctantly.

"You? A policeman?" Uncle Vernon snorted. "They won't take you, boy!"

"I think you'll find they have, "Harry said.

"It's really more elite than that anyway, "Draco said. "It's only for the highly dangerous, important crimes. Like your James Bond."

"Well, I must say you're not what I expected, "Aunt Petunia admitted. There was chocolate cake for dessert, but Narcissa paused in the act of slicing into it.

"What did you expect?" Narcissa asked. "Your sister married one of our purebloods. The Potters lived quite well and provided a sizable trust for Harry. As did his godfather - my cousin, Sirius Black - who left Harry his house in London, which Draco and Harry share." Draco was no longer sure how his parents felt about Sirius Black, but tonight it was definitely family versus the outsiders.

“ I was concerned that you’d be like that awful boy she used to be friends with.”

“Awful boy?” Lucius raised an eyebrow. Harry froze.

“Greasy haired, big-nosed boy who was always following my sister around. His family had nothing, I don’t think he even washed his clothes. Severus Snape, that was his name. I’m sure you wouldn’t associate with someone like that.”

“He wasn’t…”Draco started to say, his hand gripping his fork tightly.

“Draco.” Narcissa’s smile was tight-lipped and didn’t meet her eyes. “Severus Snape was a good friend of ours and he is recently deceased.” Lucius twitched.

“May-may I ask how?” Aunt Petunia murmured. She had the grace to flush.

“He was murdered by the same person who murdered my parents,” Harry said. “The same person who was going to kill you.”

“Lord Whosywossit,”Uncle Vernon said.

“Volodermorts,”Dudley said. Everyone stared at him, surprised he’d been paying such close attention.

“Yeah, Lord Voldemort,”Harry snapped. The entire Malfoy family winced at once.

"If you ask me," Uncle Vernon said. (Nobody did, Draco thought spitefully.) "If you ask me, messing about with wands and spells and whatnot, he deserved what he got."

"I always thought he was rotten to the core," Aunt Petunia murmured. Draco could practically see his father's temper starting to flare. His own temper was rising and he clutched his fork until his knuckles turned white. His wine glass started to develop tiny cracks.

"Not a fine gentleman such as yourself, "Uncle Vernon finished, turning to Lucius.

"I knew he'd fall in with criminals, "Petunia said. "That kind can't help themselves."

"What kind would that be?" Narcissa asked, her voice dangerously soft. Andromeda looked back and forth worriedly. Teddy’s hair slowly turned orange as he whimpered and wriggled in his high chair.

"The children of poor, lazy mutts with…unnatural…tendencies."

Draco's wine glass shattered, his mother put a gentle, restraining hand on his arm.

“You will not,”Lucius snarled. “Insult Severus Snape in my home!” The cake exploded, showering everyone in bits of chocolate ganache.

“Oh Lucius,” Narcissa said plaintively. “That was a very expensive cake.” Andromeda covered her face and groaned.

“Out! Out of my house!” Lucius roared. The chandelier shook, the little crystals hanging off it tinkled. The Dursleys huddled together, screaming in panic as they ran from the manor. There was a huge splash from out in the garden.

"I think your uncle fell in the pond, "Draco said. Harry's mouth opened and closed rapidly.

"May Harry and I be excused?" Draco asked. Lucius brushed crumbs off his black velvet robes and sniffed.

"Yes, of course. Why don't we all adjourn to the drawing room for drinks?"

"Excellent idea, "Narcissa agreed.

"Will my aunt and uncle be okay?" Harry asked as they proceeded to the beautifully decorated drawing room.

"Oh, sure, "Draco said. "It's not like we have anything dangerous on the grounds." Draco sank onto the overstuffed sofa, pulling Harry down with him. "Right?"

"Right, " Narcissa and Lucius said, although they smirked at each other.

"Well, as long as it won't kill them, they can find their own way out," Harry said. "I can't believe I'm saying that, but there it is. I did warn them. "

"If they haven't rescued themselves in a few hours, I'll assist them, "Lucius said. "But only because they're your Muggles and I don't want Draco to get upset. "

Draco felt the laughter bubbling up and it burst out of him before he could stop it. Teddy shrieked joyfully and flailed his tiny arms.

“He-he blew up the cake!” Draco wheezed. He leaned against Harry, who wrapped an arm around him. Harry cracked up into Draco’s hair. "Out! Out of my house!"

“It isn’t bloody funny,” Lucius said. But he looked like he would have been laughing if every instinct for non-sarcastic laughter hadn't dried up years ago.

“It most certainly is not,” Narcissa agreed, even though she was hiding a smirk behind her delicate white hand. Draco wiped his eyes and took a sip of the mulled wine that had been laid out with a selection of cheese. His father left and came back with a camera, and Narcissa suggested they open the presents.

Draco's parents gave him theirs first. Playing the proud father to the hilt, Lucius took photos of every present Draco unwrapped. As usual, they'd spent a lot of money on him, more than he figured they could afford at the moment, but Draco was a selfish creature and he liked his new stuff. Harry loved his sweater and boots, but he was puzzled by the book.

"The Holy Thorn: A Wizard Bloodline," Harry read. "Oh uh- thanks." Draco's heart sank. Harry didn't get it at all. Narcissa and Lucius looked just as disappointed at Harry's lack of excitement. It was as if a winter chill had seeped into the room. "No, it's cool,"Harry insisted.

"There's some important information about our family in there, "Narcissa said. "We-that is, Draco, thought it would help you adjust."

"Thanks," Harry mumbled. Harry handed Draco a package that Harry had at least had the good sense to get gift wrapped (Draco had seen Harry's previous attempts to fold paper). Draco unwrapped a cashmere scarf in navy blue, and matching socks.

"Those are lovely!" Narcissa exclaimed. "Oh, Harry, you do have excellent taste!" Harry blushed. Draco kissed Harry impulsively on the cheek just as Lucius snapped a picture of them.

"Now I have something to blackmail you with, "Lucius said. And they were so comfortable with each other now that they all laughed instead of feeling awkward, even if Draco still wondered how serious his father's last remark had been and he was sure Harry was thinking the same thing.

After more than enough celebration, including a moment when Harry somehow found himself dancing with Narcissa, the boys excused themselves to go to bed.

"Are you sure you don't want to come to midnight mass?" Narcissa asked. She was holding the baby, who was all wrapped up in a soft fuzzy blanket. "Andromeda and I are."

"We'd rather get some sleep,"Draco said.

"Lucius, put your cloak on,"Narcissa said.

"I am not going!" Lucius complained.

"Oh, yes you are! I'm going to change and you will have your cloak and boots on by the time I'm back. "

"Was this what you expected A Malfoy Christmas would be like?" Draco asked as he and Harry climbed the massive stairs up into the darkness of the first floor.

"I usually spend Christmas with the Weasleys," Harry said. Draco stopped in the middle of the hall.

"Ewww," he gagged.

"They're really great people, Draco. Ron's mum has been like a mother to me. "

"So you'd rather be with them." He held up his hands. "Yuck, I still have cake on me."

"No- if I don't want to do something, I don't do it. And I want to be here, with you," Harry insisted. He followed Draco into the bathroom that adjoined Draco's bedroom.

"You didn't like your book," Draco said bitterly.

"I'm not very into that bloodline stuff, " Harry admitted. "Sorry, I'm just not."

"You could try,"Draco said. "You want to be with me so badly, you could try."

"Where am I sleeping tonight?" Harry asked. Narcissa nodded at them and smiled as she passed.

“You’re uh, in my room,”Draco explained. He closed the bathroom door , whispered "Muffliato"and stuck his hands under the faucet. Water spurted out automatically from the snake-shaped tap.

“But I thought your parents were really conservative,” Harry said.

“They are,”said Draco. “They would never have let Pansy and I sleep in the same room. But they would have pretended they didn’t know, if we started sneaking back and forth. It’s all about surface impressions with them. At the moment though, they’d prefer I break with tradition rather than… My mother thinks we’re further along than we really are, and I want her to keep that impression. Otherwise, she’ll know that I know what she still thinks I don’t know.”

“Is this typical of Slytherin family life?” Harry asked.

“Not for everyone but it is for us,” Draco said, lathering the soap between his hands. He was quite calm.

“So why can’t you just tell her the truth?”

“Because it’s awkward, Harry. Talking about…that…is uncomfortable in the best of circumstances. If we talk about it, someone will find out and my parents will be humiliated.”

“Your parents will be?” Harry said.

“You wouldn’t understand,”Draco said. “It matters what people think of us. You wouldn’t understand because you grew up Muggle with those - middle-class - suburban nobodies. But I was born with a - sort of a price tag, and jobs to do. I have to increase my family’s honor in at least two ways. First, I have to accomplish things and avoid embarrassing the Name. My future is like this house, Harry. It’s not really mine, it belongs to the bloodline. Second, I have to produce an heir at some point in my life.”

Harry frowned. Draco rinsed his hands and shut off the water.

“You must’ve known that,” Draco said. He reached for a monogrammed hand towel in shades of blue and ivory. “I’m the last of two great pureblood families. If I don’t produce a miniature version of myself before I die, there will be no more Malfoys OR Blacks.”

“So we were never meant to last,” Harry said.

“I didn’t say that,” Draco retorted. He looked away. “You have to – you’re the last Potter. We could even work out a way to legitimately have both. My father certainly wants us to. But I won’t get an heir if anyone finds out about the-the-werewolf.”

“You mean, that you were r-

“Don’t SAY IT!” Draco cried. “I’m okay as long as we don’t talk about the word.”

“It’s not your fault,” Harry said. “Hermione did some reading on people who were raised in cults…”

“It wasn’t a cult,” Draco protested. "And how dare you talk about this with her? This is private!"

“Let’s see,” Harry said, ticking the items off on his fingers. “Special outfits, secret rituals, keeping people isolated, manipulating them, practically worshipping a sort of inverted Messiah type leader. Hurting people who try to leave or tell on them. If that’s not a cult then I’d like to know what is!”

Draco perched on the edge of the counter and bit his lip. “I can’t tell, Harry. Stop asking me to. And I won’t be your newest salvation project either.”

“I’m not trying to save you.” Harry rested his hands on Draco’s thighs. His palms were warm.

“Yes, you are,” Draco said. They pressed their foreheads together and stayed that way for a moment. They were both breathing a little harder. “You like the idea of fixing me.”

“No! I mean…”

“The Great Messiah of Wizards is trying to save the outcast sinner or whatever. Everyone’s trying to fix me. And I just want to not be here,” Draco murmured. “Come on. Let’s get out of here!” He hopped down. “Bring your broom!”

They bounded down the stairs, grabbing coats and hats and scarves on the way, and ran out the door, through the gardens and across the fields. It was dark now, and shafts of pale moonlight sparkled in the footprints their boots left in the snow. He wanted to get out beyond the manor's wards.

“I’ll race you to the stones!” Draco called over his shoulder. Draco When they both arrived, panting, they chased each other around the standing stones. They could run right up to it, since no one was around to catch them at it.

“Come back here, you sneaky little ferret!” Harry gasped.

“You’re the big hero, come and get me!” Draco teased. He let Harry catch him behind one of the biggest stones but pulled away before Harry could kiss him. Draco retrieved his broom from the ground and lifted off. "See if you can catch me now!"

A small group of Muggles were tramping by with a red painted wooden sled. Laughing, Draco swooped down over the Muggles. The rush of air almost knocked them off their feet. Harry sped after him, yelling something indistinct about Draco being insane. Draco guided his broom over the hill and slid to a stop. He caught his breath while he waited for Harry to arrive at the spot Draco had purposely led him to. Harry appeared a moment later and touched down with a thump.

“Uh, Draco, where are we?” Harry asked.

"Just wait, "Draco said. He grabbed Harry's hand and Apparated. When they opened their eyes, they were on the outskirts of a different town.

“Somerset,” Draco said. He was suddenly nervous, what if this didn’t work? “I have something I want to show you.”

"I've seen this place on television," Harry said.

"You never paid attention in History of Magic, did you?" Draco said, aware that he was sounding for a moment just like Hermione. "You've seriously never been to Glastonbury?"

"Draco, the Dursleys never went anywhere," Harry said. "And when they did, they tried not to bring me along. I think I was here looking for the Horcruxes but that time's really a blur to me."

"I've come here often with my parents,"Draco said. "So I wanted to come here with you. " He glanced sidelong at Harry, hoping the double entendre was clear. They strolled through the dark, quiet town, Draco pointing out the different shops and sights to Harry.

"That's Dion Fortune's house, "Draco said casually. "I mean, she used to live there."

"The woman who wrote all those Defense Against the Dark Arts books."

Draco nodded.

"Grandfather Malfoy used to visit her."

"I thought she was a Muggleborn."

"Pureblood, "Draco said. "She even said so in one of her books. Bloody Gryffindor though."

He tugged on Harry’s hand and led him across the snow toward the stone ruins of the pre medieval church. It was dark, but Draco used I lumos /I to light the way.

“Glastonbury Abbey was the first above ground Christian church in Britain ,”Draco said. “King Lucius built the first tower on Glastonbury Tor in 176 A.D - he also built one of the first churches in London. He was known for giving shelter to the Gaulish Christians being persecuted by Rome. The legend says that four generations earlier, his ancestor Joseph of Arimathea - you know who that was?”

“No,” Harry shook his head. They stopped in front of a large tree, a hawthorn tree in full flower.

“Jesus’s uncle. Do you read ever? That's why I wanted you to read The Holy Thorn: A Wizard Bloodline! Anyway, he came here in a boat with Mary Magdalene and the baby-“

“What baby?” Harry asked.

“Don’t interrupt,”Draco said. “He came here in a boat with Mary Magdalene and her baby. He brought his religion with him, and their magic mixed with the magic of the druids and when he helped found the original church here he planted a staff of hawthorn, which grew into this tree. Well, this isn’t exactly the same tree, but parts of it are.”

“How do you know all this?” Harry wondered.

“I haven’t been allowed to forget it,” Draco said.

"So basically what you're saying is…"

"Yes. Please, don't laugh." Draco blushed a little. He hoped Harry would just think it was the cold air that turned his cheeks pink.

"I'm not! But how did you all turn evil then?"

“I'm sure your people weren't always the saints they are now. It's not so hard to get all turned around and twisted up when people keep telling you how special you are," Draco said pointedly. " The tree blooms twice a year. Once in spring, once just after Christmas. There are other grafts of the tree but none of them have been able to reproduce the twice a year bloom.” He picked one of the blossoms and balanced it on his palm. It rose a few inches and the petals opened and dilated at Draco's touch. Draco smiled at Harry and closed his fingers around the flower. Harry took Draco’s fist in his own and brought it to his lips.

"Your wand came from this tree, "Draco said stiffly. "The wand you took. Hawthorn wood with a unicorn hair core. " He couldn't look at Harry as he said it. "They only let wizards take one branch every fifty years. My parents couldn't believe how lucky I was to find mine in Olivander's. Father thought it meant I was going to be special."

"Look, I'm sorry I said you weren't important, " Harry muttered. "If that's what this is about…"

"No," Draco said. "This is me trying to show you who I am. I want to share it with you. A man who's going to be the leader of the wizarding world should know where we come from. And if I'm going to be with you, you should know me- all of me." Draco shook as he leaned forward and kissed Harry. He dropped his shields and allowed Harry full access to his thoughts. The first time he knew things had changed. His fantasy of taking off his clothes in front of Harry, and Harry not being repulsed by the scars on his neck and chest.

Harry had snowflakes on his eyelashes and his voice sounded a little hoarse as he asked, "How do you figure I'm going to lead the wizarding world?"

Draco stood shivering under Harry's intense stare. "I just know," he replied. Like I haven't been watching you for seven years. He kissed Harry again and pointedly stepped into the circle of his arms. It started to snow, first light flurries but turning to heavy flakes by the time they made it back to the town center, with their arms around each other's waists. Music, a woman singing Christmas songs accompanied by a violin, spilled out the half-opened door of the inn where Draco had reserved a room for them.

Yet in thy dark streets shineth

The everlasting Light

The hopes and fears of all the years

Are met in thee tonight