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An enormous log, that Harry had to say was two hippogriffs long and one hippogriff tall, crackled and spit embers high into the sky, as it sat in the center of the clearing by the lake; at the insistence of the Death Eaters.
Light sizzles could be heard as slow falling snowflakes kissed the tips of the flames.
Voldemort had come to ritualistically light it at the moment of the winter solstice and then the enigmatic Dark Lord left and hadn’t returned.
Three days had passed and now it was Christmas Eve night.
What started as a reluctant truce marked by tension and sneers melted into conversation and feasting of a grand proportion, as huge portions of food and drinks went around. And with what felt like every Witch and Wizard in Britain who came and went to give Harry thanks for the temporary ceasefire.
Harry couldn’t shake off his anxiety despite the peaceful atmosphere that surrounded him. He was actually hoping to have a moment to speak with the Dark Lord, alone, but he still hadn’t reappeared.
Sitting at a distance on a log by the lake shore he listened to the soft splashes of the water on the rocks and the distant laughter and chatter. It seemed as though a big raucous was being made.
Looking over his shoulder, Harry could see the shadows of people beginning the gift exchange that was to take place at midnight and someone was making a big deal of a person giving a Death Eater a present.
He considered whether he should go over and make sure everything was going alright.
His fingers found the two presents in his cloak pocket and he fiddled with them.
No, he could let Hermione and Ron take care of it first and if it was that important they could come get him.
Turning his head back to look at the lake he immediately slipped off in surprise when he found himself next to a dark hooded being.
The chuckle that followed could only belong to one person.
“You could’ve told me you were there,” Harry said as he sat back on the log. “And where have you been? I have had to deal with everyone thinking this truce was only my idea,” he huffed.
“That’s precisely why. I can’t afford to soil my reputation yet, my dear,” Voldemort replied, pulling his hood down to reveal dark wavy locks sprinkled lightly with silver at the temples.
This appearance was new.
Over the course of the last eleven months Voldemort had gone through various disguises to meet with Harry. It would always be the same. The appearance would start out with normal colored eyes but over the course of Voldemort using the disguise his eyes would turn red and his hair would get silver streaks.
During one instance where Voldemort had given his disguise platinum blonde hair did Harry walk away from their meeting immediately. It was later followed by Harry asking why he couldn’t just use muggle means of being vain and caring about his appearance. In retaliation Voldemort walked out on that meeting.
So, this new disguise with the silver and red eyes already on display was new. But that wasn’t right either. Voldemort looked like his old self. Right down to the quirk of his smirk lifting more on one side.
Green eyes met red eyes.
Oh.
He had been caught staring.
“Like what you see, Harry?” Voldemort leaned in closer and whispered.
“No, because the heat lamp I got you for Christmas is now going to go to waste.” Harry shoved the man lightly while he merely chuckled again in response.
Voldemort’s cold hand quickly grabbed Harry’s hand and held it to his chest where Harry had shoved at him.
“Darling, you can’t lie to me,” he said as he slowly moved Harry’s hand up across his clavicle, up his neck, and then to his cool cheek where he moved his head slightly to kiss Harry’s palm.
Harry’s breath caught and he let out a heavier sigh than normal. “I haven’t even given you your Christmas present yet and you’re already giving me bedroom eyes,” he said.
Voldemort let Harry’s hand slip. “You really got me something for Christmas?” he asked bewildered.
“And for your birthday as well,” Harry began as he dug into his cloak pocket. He lifted two presents out. “This one is for your birthday, so don’t open it until then,” he said, lifting the bigger, green wrapped one, “and this one's for you to open now.” Harry held out the smaller red wrapped gift to Voldemort.
Voldemort took it into hand. It was smaller than his palm. What could possibly even be that small? He lifted his gaze from the gift to look into Harry’s eyes, who nodded at him.
Harry watched him meticulously open the paper gently on one side. He then folded the small bit of wrapping paper and put it into his cloak as he looked at the small box. Like taking a bandage off he grabbed the top of it and tore it open suddenly.
Inside laid a single key.
“Harry, this is…” Voldemort began, “you can’t give this to me,” he looked between Harry and the key quickly as if he was afraid one would disappear.
“I just did, and if you give it back then the war is back on immediately,” Harry said without a hint of a lie.
“Where?”
“That cottage we saw by the ocean back in September. I, uh, actually have been staying in it already,” Harry bashfully got out, getting ready for the next part of the confession. “And I was hoping you could surprise me some time, like we have talked about?”
Harry watched as Voldemort’s eyes darkened and felt a hand sneak around his waist, slowly caressing up his back. The movement made him shiver despite how hot he now felt, wishing Voldemort would take his scarf off of him like a present.
“You want me to come in one night, slip into bed, and use you as I see it fit? You want to be a bed warmer for your Lord that badly?” Voldemort whispered into Harry’s ear as he brought him closer.
“Yes,” Harry breathed out, hands grabbing fistfuls of Voldemort’s robe.
Unfortunately a wicked grin spread across the man’s face and he put his hands on Harry’s shoulders and pushed him away to a respectable distance.
“Well, if that is what you would like, Harry, then I will graciously accept this key, and your proposal for a further truce,” Voldemort said to a flabbergasted Harry as he got up and looked away into the distance of the lake.
Harry hurriedly reached out and grabbed at Voldemort’s robe and yanked him back.
“Oh no you don’t. You don’t get to leave me wanting tonight of all nights. I know you didn’t get me anything so, for tonight, be my present.”
The wide eyed look Voldemort had at being grabbed so suddenly melted as he listened to Harry.
Reaching his hands down towards Harry, both of their hands found each other and they both equally pulled the other closer, the robes rustled as they met in the middle.
The embrace morphed as hands began to explore and when they looked into one another a spark went off resulting in a deep kiss.
Lips joined and parted with gasps as Voldemort grabbed at Harry’s scarf and pulled it off. Harry’s fingers found the buttons on Voldemort’s robes and began the battle to undo them.
“Harry! We need your help over here!”
Harry jumped at hearing Hermione yell after him. Groaning loudly, he fell onto Voldemort’s shoulder.
“Be quick, I’ll go try out my present and be waiting for you, darling,” Voldemort murmured as his long fingers ran through Harry’s unruly hair.
“Okay be back soon, V,” he said as started fixing his scarf and walking over to the giant yule log.
And just before Voldemort apparated away, Harry was running back.
“I almost forgot!” Harry lifted himself on toes and kissed Voldemort. “Merry Christmas!”