Draco glanced at Rosie, steeling himself for what he was going to say next.

"Come back to the Manor with me."

Rosie looked up from her cauldron, ceasing the stirring. Draco quickly grabbed her hand that was holding the ladle and continued to guide it round in a clockwise motion.

"Don't stop or it'll curdle," he muttered.

"You want me to go back to the Manor with you?" She asked, eyes wide as they continued to stir the potion together.

"For Christmas." He coughed, clearing his throat.

"Oh," she simply said.

Draco waited for her to continue but she remained silent. His heart felt heavy in his chest. He knew it would be too much to ask.

"Look, Rosie," He said softly, placing his other hand gently on the small of her back. "I know it won't be easy going back there, but I want to spend Christmas with you. And my mother... Well, I can't leave her there on her own."

Rosie looked up at him. He couldn't read the expression in her eyes.

"But that's just it, Draco - your mother. Have you forgotten what she did? Do you really expect me to go and play happy families with her over turkey and sprouts?"

He had expected this. But his mother was ill and he just couldn't abandon her over Christmas, not whilst his father was rotting in Azkaban.

"She doesn't leave her bed anymore. You will barely have to see her. Please Rosie, I just can't face Christmas without you."

"And what about my parents?"

"We'll visit them too, I promise." He looked at her imploringly. "Say yes, Rosie. Please say yes."

She reached up on tiptoes, placing a light peck on his cheek. "OK, Draco. For you."

His heart soared, and abandoning the potion, he pulled her in, squeezing her hard to him.

"Thank you, Rosie. I promise I'll look after you." He brushed his lips against hers, making them both sigh happily.

"Mr Malfoy and Miss Carter!" Slughorn's voice rang out sternly and Draco stepped back, suddenly remembering where they were. "This is a Potions lesson, not a Drive in Movie!"

Some of the students tittered and Draco noticed a blush creep up on Rosie's cheeks as she hurriedly leant over the cauldron.

He smirked, turning back to his own cauldron, feeling remarkably lighter now that he knew he was going to spend the holidays with Rosie.

"Bugger," Rosie muttered. "It's curdled."

***

I dragged my trunk out to the common room where Draco was waiting for me, dressed in his usual black suit and greeted me with a smile.

"Ready?" He asked, cupping my hair in his hand and placing his lips down on my temple.

"I think so," I muttered, not really feeling ready at all.

"You'll be fine," Draco said, taking my hand. "You've got me, remember?"

We dragged our trunks out of the castle and to the station where we boarded the Hogwarts Express. I didn't say much on the train journey. I was too nervous about facing the Manor again, about seeing his mother.

"Does she know you're bringing me home?" I asked, leaning against his chest as I watched the countryside fly past the window.

"Um, not exactly." He muttered, not meeting my eye as I turned to him in horror.

"What?! Draco! You could have at least warned her!" I cried, not believing his audacity.

He gave a little shrug, exhaling slowly.

"She's ill - she refuses to get out of bed. She's not going to care who I bring home."

"Jeez, thanks Draco." I muttered, folding my arms huffily over my chest.

"You know, you're cute when you pout," Draco's eyes twinkled.

He pulled me on to his lap, catching my lips in his. Despite myself, I uncrossed my arms and brought them around his neck. I couldn't resist him and I deepened the kiss, allowing my tongue to dance over his teeth.

"Rosie," he growled, breaking the kiss and shifted uncomfortably beneath me. "Don't get me worked up, not on here."

"You're the one who pulled me on to your lap," I grinned, trailing my fingers down his shirted chest.

He took hold of my hips and lifted me off, plonking me on the seat next to him.

"Maybe later," he drawled into my ear, and my heart gave a sudden twist at the thought of Draco's bedroom and what happened the last time I was there.

***

Draco gave her hand a gentle squeeze as they walked up the drive. She had been very quiet on the last part of their journey, and now he saw her eyes look up in trepidation as the Manor loomed into view.

"I promise you, it'll be OK," He murmured into her ear.

She smiled, but he noticed it didn't reach her eyes. Despite the cold air, he could feel her palm sweat in his. He felt awful putting her through this, but selfishly, he couldn't bear the thought of two weeks without her.

And they could be together. Properly.

He led her up the steps, abandoning their trunks for the house elves to deal with. Since their return to the Manor, his mother had reinstated all the household staff, and it was them that took care of her whilst he was in school.

"We'll go and say hello to mother and then we can get something to eat, if you like?" He asked gingerly, suddenly feeling awkward. This wasn't a situation he was used to, and he was desperate to make Rosie feel at ease.

"Um, sure, OK," she said in a small voice, looking around as they stepped into the grand hallway.

"They've cleaned it up a bit." She said it so quietly he barely heard her. "It got dusty... before."

His heart gave a slight twist. He hated thinking about her wandering the halls, pregnant and waiting for him to come back to her.

"Come on," He said, gently pulling her up the opulent staircase.

They walked slowly, silently to the top. When they reached the door to his mothers room, Rosie hesitated.

"Draco, I don't think I can go in there. I can't face her." Her voice trembled and he could see she was visibly shaking now.

"It's OK," he said, gathering her in his arms. "She can't hurt you. I won't let her."

He could feel her heart racing in her chest and he suddenly felt dreadful. He shouldn't have done this to her. But she came, for him. And now he hated himself all over again.

"Look, you stay here by the door. I'll go in and say a quick hello." He kissed her fiercely on top of her head. "I won't be long, I promise."

She nodded silently and he could see the relief flood in her eyes.

He knocked gently, before slowly opening the door. Peering in, he could see his mother lying on the giant four poster, looking tiny and frail against its vastness.

"Draco?" She said, her feeble voice barely more than a whisper.

"Mother." He nodded curtly, closing the distance between him and the bed. "We just arrived back for the holidays. How are you finding yourself?"

"We?" She said croakily, looking around to see who he was referring to.

Draco took a deep breath, really not enjoying this. He just wanted to get back to Rosie.

"My girlfriend. Rosie."

His mother snapped her head up, her eyes widened in her gaunt face.

"I see," she said slowly, her voice dripping with disapproval.

Draco looked directly at her, daring her to continue.

"I trust the house elves are keeping you in good care?" He asked abruptly.

She nodded slowly, and Draco could see the sadness swimming in her eyes. He couldn't bear to look at them anymore and looked down at his feet.

"We'll be around, if you need anything." He said, already heading for the door.

"Draco," he stopped as she called weakly to him.

"You're a good boy, Draco."

Draco closed his eyes, fighting back the prickle of tears that had emerged from nowhere.

Without saying anything, he crossed the room to the door, leaving his mother looking sadly on behind him.

***