"My Lord." Draco Malfoy called, before bowing slightly.
"Draco, you wanted to speak with me?"
" We did my Lord," Pansy replied from next to the blonde, before biting her lip in hesitation. "We… have a request."
"Something to do with the holidays no doubt."
"Yes, my Lord. Have you ever heard of the phrase, 'jus primae noctis'?"
"A supposed ancient tradition in which the Lord would be given a bride on her wedding night before the husband. What of it Draco?"
"Well it isn't all that 'supposed' my Lord. The Muggles got the idea from before them and the Wizard culture completely split, and although there are few true 'Lords' remaining, the tradition is still expected, and welcomed, to those who swear fealty."
The raven-haired boy quirked an eyebrow at the two teens, before gesturing to continue.
"It is also more… extensive than that my Lord and…"
"Draco and I were hoping to do some 'bonding' this holiday break, but first tradition states we ask for your permission… and allow you… well…" Pansy's voice trailed off, a faint blush adorning her cheeks.
"Ah, so you two want to shag but you aren't allowed to until I say you can…"
"Uh actually my Lord…" Draco muttered, his eyes shifting around in embarrassment, "we can't do anything until you say we can… and are offered first rights."
Emerald-eyes blinked once, in actual surprise, before glancing over to the girl, whose blush had deepened considerably. "What you are trying to tell me is that you have to ask my permission to… even kiss?"
"To be alone with each other…" The Parkinson heiress whispered in correction.
"But also, I am supposed to have my way with you first… such an odd set of traditions you have Draco…"
"Lordship is more than just authority, it is a sign of superiority. When we took our oaths, we are acknowledging you as greater than us, my Lord. Pansy has been… quite excited over the prospects of being worthy of your attention and touch."
"As you said last year, it is an 'honor' for me to have my way with your betrothed." Harry mused, earning soft mutterings from both teens.
"Perhaps we could think of it as an… early Christmas gift?" the Parkinson heiress inquired shyly.
...
Hermione Granger sighed happily as she sat curled up on the couch in the Slytherin common room. How strange to think that just one year prior she had been sitting alone, crying and feeling miserable at the mere thought that her parents didn't want her and that her own housemates hated her existence. Now she hadn't even bothered to plan on returning home and couldn't care less about whether her parents would be in the country or not.
As for her housemates, she had found that spending time with either Neville or Ginny was quite enjoyable, and once they had gotten used to her the Slytherin girls were very kind as well. Sure, they asked for advice on schoolwork occasionally, but there wasn't any of the demand that there had been in Gryffindor, and instead often pointed out minor corrections she could make in potions or other classes. More than that though, was the fact that she had begun sneaking out in the evening, and simply having 'girl talk' with the others her age.
Even now, with nearly all the Slytherin House returning home for the holidays, she found it was a peaceful quiet, rather than one of stress and loneliness.
"Ah Hermione, enjoying a book in front of the fireplace I see."
A grin split her face as she turned to greet the raven-haired boy. "I am Harry, would you like to join me?"
He nodded and took the spot next to her. "I assume you will be joining us for Christmas morning?"
"If you will have me."
His smile turned sultry, "Anytime and anywhere my dear, you know that."
The bookworm's face lit up in a pretty blush, "You best be careful Mr. Potter, or else I am going to have to put this book away and take you up on that offer."
"And you had best be careful my dear, or else I will be spending the remaining days until Christmas ravaging you." he whispered back, before his lips found her neck.
Moments later she had wrapped her arms and legs around him, and he had carried her up towards his room, the girl's book left forgotten on the couch.
...
"What is going on Luna?" Hermione whispered, not that she needed to do so but for some reason felt the inclination to.
"Shhhh, the walls have ears… also Harry has really good hearing and I want this to be a surprise."
Hedwig rolled her eyes, as a warm smile crossed her face, despite the blonde's antics the girls had grown remarkably close, and the white-haired girl would be lying if she claimed that she didn't enjoy having female friends.
"Okay, so what is the 'surprise' you troublemakers?" Tonks inquired as the group of four sat together on the floor.
"Christmas silly, we need to plan out a gift for Harry. He is always so nice to us, we should make this year special."
"So, what are you thinking?" the bookworm questioned, already having a guess based on the blonde's usual train of thoughts.
"Well since we can't exactly take over the world for him… I was going to kidnap Ginny… and then suggest an orgy."
Hermione lit up like a Christmas ornament, while Tonks burst into laughter and Hedwig rolled her eyes. "One track mind as always Luna."
"Well, do any of you have a better idea?" The Ravenclaw asked back with an innocent tone.
"Harry isn't difficult to buy for, he is just… simple. He doesn't really need anything."
"Except sex, lots and lots of sex" Tonks corrected the changeling, "I mean have you seen the way he goes through women? Merlin that boy acts as though he breathes orgasms, both his partners and his own. Never knew a guy who could finish one minute and be up and ready again in less than another."
"Okay Tonks, we get it Harry is ridiculously good at everything including sex." the Gryffindor interrupted.
"Actually, he seems especially good at that, like that thing he does with his tongue when he…"
"LUNA!"
...
It was getting a little bit… ridiculous for the boy-who-lived as he came down into the Slytherin common room on Christmas morning. Over half the room was now filled with gifts, which the delivery owls had apparently decided would look far better stacked up in a rather intricate throne shape.
"Let it never be said that owls do not have a sense of humor…"
Various articles of clothing and sweets, books of all types, and more than a few innuendo-laced letters were discovered as he slowly unwrapped the various packages.
Luna had, very thoughtfully, gotten him a lifetime subscription to the Quibbler, something he found far more enjoyable to read than the useless gossip of The Prophet.
Neville's had been a book on his family ancestry and that of the Longbottoms, indicating a connection between the two, along with a promise from his parents to take him out to dinner during the summer and possibly even offer him a place to spend the free months.
Hermione's gift was a simple hand knit scarf, do to lacking the money of the other children. Still it was rather warm, and, in her card, she had mentioned spending the night with him at some point.
Sirius and Remus' gifts, however, had been a simple card that mentioned visiting them as soon as possible.
.....
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