WHO: Draco, Sirius, Remus WHAT: Christmas! RATING: C for cute!
The party had been brilliant, but there was something to be said for the magic surrounding Christmas mornings. Draco had never truly experienced the proper jumping into his parents' bed and screaming 'it's Christmas!' that most children had. Rather, he had been taught to wait for a nanny to fetch him when his father was done with his usual morning activities. Even Christmas didn't stop Lucius Malfoy. Hence, like all the holidays before, Draco sat as patiently as he could in his room waiting for either Remus or Sirius to come for him.
As Sirius had also never had a proper Christmas morning, he wasn't really expecting a little bundle of blonde hair and pale skin to come charging into his room. It did surprise him, though, when he woke up a bit earlier than usual and still no sign of Draco. Pulling himself out of bed, he checked to see if anyone had been downstairs to the large tree in the parlour before he made his way to his little boy's room, peering in with a smile as he cracked the door open. "Happy Christmas, my dragon. Are you awake?"
Seeing the man Draco wished had been his daddy his whole life, Draco jumped up on his bed, grinning. "Daddy! Merry Christmas!"
Sirius moved more fully into the room at the greeting, his heart swelling in that undeniable way it always did whenever Draco called him 'daddy'. Lucius Malfoy hadn't deserved the child. He may have loved him. He may have thought he was doing what was best, in his own twisted way. But Sirius would never understand harming a baby for something children simply did. "You don't sound excited at all," Sirius teased, heaving a sigh. "I suppose that means we should all just go back to bed for another hour or so."
Draco shook his head fiercely. "No! We can't! Where's Papa? You blokes take FOREVER!" His eyes squinted as he heaved a big, dramatic sigh. "I've been here for hours, you know!" Still, he smiled that innocent grin of his again, holding his arms out for a hug. "I got you the best thing ever!"
When those little arms opened up, Sirius didn't even hesitate to move forward, wrapping Draco firmly in a tight hug. "Hours, huh?" he said softly, burying his face momentarily in that soft blond hair that, again, needed to be cut. He lightly brushed it off of the boy's face and smiled down at him. "I suppose you want to go wake up your papa and get busy handing out those great gifts, huh?"
"Huh huh." Draco nodded eagerly, his tiny arms pulling him up and around Sirius' neck. But then a tiny shadow crossed the otherwise happy face. "I wish Mummy could come too." Not Lucius, but Narcissa.
Sighing softly, Sirius only nodded, pressing a gentle kiss against Draco's tiny neck. "She's here, my boy," he said quietly. "Always. Remember? She'll be here this Christmas and every single one after. Just in here." He rested his hand gently against his little boy's neck, wishing he could take away all the pain Draco had been through over the last year.
True, Draco had faced more than any little boy should, but he had also gained more than he had ever had. Oh, he had always had plenty of toys and books, but love? Hugs? Kisses? Bedtime stories? A real family? Those things he had not had; he hadn't even realized he was missing anything until Sirius, Remus, and the Potters brought it to him. Even the Longbottoms and MacMillans had welcomed him warmly. It was a new and much needed experience for the Malfoy heir. "I know," he sighed. "Just wish I could see her is all." He shrugged his bony shoulders, but giggled at the kiss that tickled his skin. "Let's goooo."
"Oh, fine, fine, you're so very pushy!" Sirius teased, lifting the boy from the bed and making his way down the hall to Remus' room. Unceremoniously, he pushed the door open (praying briefly that his friend did wear pajamas to bed) and dropped Draco with a plop right next to Remus' head. "Goooood morning!" he said brightly, laughing helplessly as he, too, dropped on the foot of the bed.
Of course Remus wore pajamas to bed! He'd have blushed at the very thought of his going to sleep nude. Modesty and Remus Lupin went hand in hand. And, really, it was odd that we was still asleep, but the night before had tuckered him out. Hence, he was ill prepared for Sirius' booming voice and the thud that crashed next to his poor head. "Sirius, you---" But realizing Draco was sitting there beaming and what morning it was, all bitter thoughts flew from Remus' mind. "Happy Christmas, pup!" Remus beamed, pulling the boy close. "And you too, mate. I guess." He flashed his best cocky smile toward Padfoot.
Sirius gave Remus' calf a firm nudge beneath the blanket before grinning widely. "Oh, me too, you guess," he said with a roll of his eyes. He stuck out his tongue playfully, but was in too good a mood to start any sort of proper row. The party had been nice but this? This was what Christmas was.
Unlike the 'boys' who had hijacked his bed, Remus had always had the proper Christmas. His parents made sure it was warm and filled with biscuits, presents, and carols. Nonetheless, he still realized how special it was to have a precious child on such an important day. It was also one of the best holidays he was experiencing in years. "So, do you think you were a good boy, Draco? Will you get lots of gifts?"
Draco paused at that, glancing nervously between the two. "I think so," he replied in a small voice.
Remus glanced at Sirius before laying a soft kiss across Draco's cheek. "Oh, I know so."
"Rumour has it that all good little boys do," Sirius said quietly, resting a hand on Draco's back. "And I think you've been the very best this year. Father Christmas should have left quite a haul, I'd think. Trust me, I was still awake when he got here, I know these things!" Most of Draco's friends probably didn't believe anymore. Merlin only knew if Draco himself still really did. But the little fantasy world made Sirius smile, at least, and he was happy to revel in the idea.
It wasn't a tale Lucius had encouraged, but Narcissa had taught Draco that Christmas was magical even if old St. Nick himself might have been the work of over active imaginations. Thus, Draco happily believed (at least for that year) that there was a jolly fat man in a red suit bringing him presents. If anything, Narcissa's stories of magic and love proved true thanks to Sirius and Remus. It was indeed shaping up to be the best holiday yet and it had barely even started. But the party had been wonderful and Auntie Lily had brought the best cider and cakes…how could Santa not exist? So Draco grinned again, blonde hair falling in his face as he pulled at Remus' shirt sleeve. "Let's go see. PLEASE?"
"How can you turn that down, sleepyhead?" Sirius asked, nudging Remus once more before getting to his feet and pulling Draco up on to his back in a piggyback style. "Let's go already! You can get dressed and all later."
"Gee, thanks, Dad," Remus teased, but obediently followed the 'horsie' downstairs. He wouldn't miss Draco's reaction for the world. Besides, all proper Christmases took place in pajamas as far as he was concerned.
"Ooooh." Draco breathed it all in ---- the dazzling tree lights, the piles of neatly wrapped gift with big bows…"Daddy! Papa! Look!" He had grabbed both men's hands and swung them toward the scene as he spoke.
Sirius smiled widely, letting the moment sink in. He was so incredibly grateful that he and Remus were able to give their boy this Christmas. He'd been through so very much and hadn't deserved a bit of it. But this? Hopefully, this would make up for some of that. After watching Draco's surprised and happy face for a moment, Sirius pulled his lanky form to the floor near the foot of the tree. "So what are we opening first?"
Draco stood, gaping for a moment longer before stepping back. "I don't know." He was suddenly very overwhelmed and, oddly, nervous.
"Hmmm." Remus gently propelled the child forward with a hand at his back. "How about this? It's a big one!"
Sirius was more grateful than usual to have Remus as a part of this small and broken family. Where Sirius would barely know how to act that morning, Remus knew just what to do. "And it's wrapped in your favourite colours, too. Must be for you after all!"
Draco giggled, accepting the package Remus offered. He always loved getting presents, but it all felt different. Not a bad different…just…different. "Oh! More books! And dragons! A-and chocolate frogs!" He squealed, throwing his arms around both men in excitement.
Grinning, Sirius accepted the hug before placing another, much smaller package in Draco's hands. "From big to little." There were loads under that tree, they'd be busy all morning, but that was half the fun. Spoiling him rotten. This was twice as fun as the night before, and spoiling all of their friends' children and watching Draco getting his gifts from the other families had been a thrill in itself.
"Good things come in small packages," Draco informed Sirius. "Auntie Lily says so!" He ripped off the paper without further adieu. "Ooooh, it's jewelry! Like you wear, Daddy!"
"Have to take care of that, Draco," Remus warned lightly. "Now get together, you two. I want a photo."
Sirius was amused to hear the gold chain he always wore called 'jewelry', but he simply smiled and shook his head. Pulling Draco a bit closer, he rolled his eyes at Remus pulling out the camera. "The pictures are supposed to be of him this morning, you know."
"Pffft. We'll all get one before the day is over, trust me. Lily would have my head if we didn't document all this! Now, say Happy Christmas!" Beaming, Remus aimed the camera at Draco and Sirius.
"Yay! Now your turn!" Draco dug under the tree, pulling out two boxes. "Dobby helped me wrap! And Auntie Lily helped me get them. Open! Open!" He was more than excited to show off the drawings he had made for each one and the carved trinkets in shape of old magical remnants he had purchased at a fair Lily had taken him to.
Dobby! Sirius had nearly forgotten the house elf. He was so good at staying out of the way. Reaching under the tree, he pulled out the two small gifts he'd wrapped and set them aside. He'd let Draco give the elves their quilts later.
With one hand lightly on Draco's back, Sirius pulled back the wrapping and grinned widely when he saw the carefully drawn picture and the wooden figure. They were simple gifts, of course, but for a nine year-old, they were incredibly special. "We'll have to find a special spot for these," he assured, finding himself choking up a bit.
Draco frowned. "Don't you like them?"
"Of course we do!" Remus assured, casting his friend a knowing smile. "They're the best presents in the world."
"Daddy's sad," Draco protested.
"No, my boy," Sirius said quietly, pulling Draco into a close hug. "I'm not sad at all. I'm very, very happy, in fact." He gently ruffled the soft blond hair, more grateful than ever that he'd accepted Narcissa's chance at giving him a family.
Draco looked deep into Sirius' eyes. "Me too, Daddy. Very happy."
"Big love?" Sirius asked, winking at the boy.
"Very big love! You too, Papa!"
Laughing, Remus joined the family hug. "I was wondering!"
"Oh, we wouldn't leave you out, you oaf," Sirius teased, grinning at Remus. "Seems there may even be a few presents for you under that tree, you know."
"Oh, was I a good boy?" Remus kidded.
"Course! No corner time, Papa!" Draco grinned wickedly.
"This year," Sirius emphasized, his own grin matching Draco's. "We'll have to see about the next one."