because you're mine {donn}

It was just the reaction the wizard wanted, and smiled at her joke about staying. Ignoring all the conflicting emotions with in him, and instead concentrated on just the fact that she made him feel good. That Donn had been only half alive before. Yet with Penny, he could share nearly every piece of himself and a castle was nowhere special if you didn't have anyone to share it with.

As the love struck wizard explained the significance of the rose, he willingly rapped his arm around her. This was what he wanted. A beautiful witch at his slide to enjoy his family garden with. It was almost enough for him to forget she was only a halfblood. It wasn't her fault really. You can't control whom your parents are. It's Not Like they were muggles. No Penny was smart she would understand in time. Some day, Donn will show her his mother's research and she will see for herself and know that the muggle were a disease. For now he was enjoying her fully and that was all he wanted.

The words she started with when she  pointed to the flower was everything the wizard long to do, say and make her feel. Donn was about to kiss her again, like they did earlier in Diagon Alley but halted  as she continued. Hearing her words, the British wizards pale face smile fell and formed a concern frown.

"What do you mean don't belong?" Asking before the Hufflepuff thought it better to remain silent as she continued to explain. At first, Donn didn't understand where this was coming from, yet there in Penny's word he found clues. Blood status, social graces and the elves.

"I don't understand what you mean by your world. Penny this is your world. This was the world you were born into. Your birthright as a witch with magic running through your veins. This is the only world wizards are meant to live in. Not that half muggle life. Just because you didn't inherit this crummy rundown keep and crumbling wall, doesn't mean you never could belong here. Penny you belong with me... well if you have me." The recently self diagnosed love sick wizard took her hands in his, almost in a begging plead. Before going on to dismiss what he thought triggered this discussion and self doubt. "You see, Nanna she is... she was influenced by another generation. Another way of thinking. My mother she was smart like you she knew better. She studied and experimented on blood of muggles and wizards. There is a difference, but not between... well a wizard was a wizard. Her only concern was for the future."

He did not want to going to too much of his mother's research so he change the direction, of his "Penny all that I know, is that you make me happy and I want to be happy. It was not your fault you never learned all the social graces or proper wizard etiquette. That can't be born into, it is taught. I know you are smart so .... and well I kinda like how you tend to push my limits. YOU make me feel alive."

Falling silent for a second, Donn recalled the last of what Penny seemed concerned with. "I just don't understand. Is not my world, your world?" He leaned in brushing her cheek with his leather gloved hand. Then added in a whisper. "Penny, right now you are my world or have you not noticed?"

He doesn’t understand! Penny thought to herself, frustrated. Sure, Penny knew that Donn thought the magical world to be superior, and it’s not like Penny disagreed with him; she was just asking that he understand that she wasn’t raised to believe those things. Few wizards were, nowadays. Arguments and counter debates formed on her lips, but as she listened to Donn she felt her throat couldn’t work to voice them. It was true, he didn’t understand, he couldn’t even begin to understand, but despite that Donn wanted her. He wanted her here, in his home, and he wanted her in his heart. And against her better judgment, Penny found that that was enough for her. Besides, they were just getting to know each other; there was time yet to work out all those details, and have those difficult conversations.

“You’re right, I’m sorry” Penny said, her head still buried in his shoulder. What she was sorry for, she had no idea, but she knew that she didn’t want to continue discussing this. And there was only one way to make sure that he dropped the issue. Penny lifted her head up, and stroked Donn’s cheek before her lips found his. They sat there kissing on the garden bench, as the snow started to fall softly around them again. Penny hardly noticed at first, content to just be there with him, in his arms, their arms and lips exploring. But then the snow started to fall faster and Penny felt her eyelashes grow heavy with snowflakes. She pulled away slightly, and caught her breath.

“Perhaps the library can wait until tomorrow?” Penny could barely believe those words coming out of her mouth. Before Donn nothing could keep her away from the promise of a well stocked library, but for now it was the mere thought of what else they could do that night that had her no longer caring if she ever saw another book in her life.

Penny allowed Donn to lead her back inside, and to the bedroom, barely taking note of which way they were turning. She just hoped that she’d be able to find the loo later, in case she woke up in the night.

They didn’t make it to dinner that night, but after a few hours the house elves left them a tray with delicious dinner, and some wine. Some of them might hate her for her blood status, and the others gossiped about her blood status, but there was no denying that they were excellent cooks. And Penny decided, for once, to focus on the positives. I could get used to this kind of treatment she thought, as she felt herself falling asleep later that night.

He was happy that she finally was perceiving, not just how she had a right to this world but that he wanted to share his world with her. He took the apology to mean she was expressing regret over ever doubting her place. To him it was all confirmed with the kiss. It was just to reaction he hoped for. He treasured the kiss that sent his heart leaping with joy. Surely this means that she must feel the same for him. With his notion, the broken wizard suddenly felt whole again. When he held her he felt like he was no longer alone in a world that hated him.

He was so occupied by the kiss he managed to blockout just how cold they were getting. When she pulled away, she looked like a frost Goddess. For the top of her head and her lashes and shoulders were all covered in a thin layer of snow. He was just about to ask her if she wanted to go inside get warm and finish the tour when she surprised him by saying she wanted to see the library tomorrow. He was at first confused. There was only one thing that could distract his Penny from books... and then he understood.

His momentary frown melted too silly grin of a boy given permission to steal a slice of cake before dinner. He grabbed her hand and led her through the cellar and to a set of circle stairs up to the master floor. He was about to lead her to his childhood bedroom. Then realizing it had a narrow bed and it would not likely suit them well for the night. Instead he notice his parent's old room door stood open and waiting. The fire was lit and the bed turned down. His elves had been bugging him to take the master's room for years. He did not tell Penny what it meant to him to be comfortable enough to claim it.

Donn had slept next to Penny enough that he started to look for that dark headed of hair, and warm body to curl up to in the morning. Although too often she was usually up before him, to run home or to put her nose in a book before she started work. Yet, today he actually woke up before his little bookworm. Relishing the moment, he shifted himself closer to her.  Molding his body to hers under the thick blankets. The  wizard braved the long dark wild locks to nibble on his witches neck and whisper, "Nollaig Chridheil, Mo Leannan" The galic holiday greeting was paired with the word for a beloved lover.

He wrapped one of his arms around her waist. "Wake up, I have something for you."

Penny’s muscles felt they were melting with warmth and comfort. It was that unique kind of satisfaction and contentment that came from being perfectly warm and cozy while the outside was surely frigid cold. Why am I even awake? She thought to herself lazily, and rolled over again. She felt like she was laying down on a cloud, covered with the warmest of fur. Why would she ever leave the comforts of bed?

Just as she felt her mind drifting into the land of dreams again, she felt Donn’s embrace surround her. She let out a little purr of contentment as she settled her body into his, thinking that this was obviously a superior way to fall asleep. At the feel of his lips on her neck, however, she felt sleep slipping further and further away. The words he was now whispering in her ear made no sense to her, and in her early morning fuzziness it took a moment for her to realize that they weren’t English.

“Is that Gaelic?” She said, curiosity winning out over sleepiness. “I didn’t know you could speak it.” Penny wished she could speak another language, but despite her surname, neither her nor her father spoke anything but plain English.

What could he possibly have for her? Then it hit her with a jolt, and Penny bolted upright in excitement.

“Christmas!”

Penny couldn’t remember the last time she felt so excited about Christmas, and she looked to the foot of the bed to see what presents awaited them. But of course, she was at the most glorious house of Bane or whatever they called it, and so traditions needed to be observed. Breakfast had to be eaten in the Great Hall, and only then could presents be opened. Penny put her foot down at getting dressed for breakfast; Christmas morning was for pajamas.

The house elves, diligent as ever, thought out every detail in the Great Hall. The fire was roaring, and there was a magnificent tree at the center of the room. The grand room was definitely decorated for Christmas, but in a very adult, elegant way. Although she wanted nothing more than to run over to the tree where their presents were and rip them open, a table lavishly set with breakfast distracted her.

“My only question to you Donn,” Penny said, as she chewed on delicious black pudding, “Is how do you maintain such a magnificent body when you’re constantly fed delicious food?” He had mentioned previously that three of the house elves minded the estate, but that meant that he constantly had two house elves caring for his every need. She didn’t think she’d last one week at the same weight she was at if she was being fed their delicious food.

Penny ate rather hurriedly, eager as she was to get to the presents. When it was clear to her that breakfast was over, she tore across the hall, and plopped herself in one of the comfortable looking chairs near the tree.

“Let’s open them together?”

Penny watched Donn’s face eagerly as she handed him her present and watched him open it. Her own present forgotten for the moment, she watched him carefully as he opened the burgundy bow and dark yellow wrapping of the present. She supposed at first glance it didn’t look like much: just an old watch with dark brown leather straps and a plain white face with black hands and numbers. Penny bit her lip nervously. The gift didn’t cost much, but she had spent hours on it and hoped that he would like it…

Donn was getting dressed and buttoning up his shirt. He had given up on hinting that she should wear something other than pajamas for breakfast. It was not like he did not appreciate, how her cotton top was stretched across her chest. It was just that they got sidetracked yesterday and he wanted her to look her best when she formally met his house elves. The simple beasts were very impressionable. If it was not Christmas he would have stayed in bed all day. Yet he knew if they missed both Christmas dinner and breakfast the elves might label her a horrible influence and the few that were on her side, might turn against her. He slipped on his less formal robe and his house shoes and offer her his arm. “Breakfast and gifts awaits, my dear.”

Down stairs the hall was decorated like it hadn’t been in years. He had not bothered going home for Christmas after his parents died, for there was no one there. Then soon after he started working at the Ministry and just stayed in London since then. Holidays were no longer joyful, well until he met Penny.

The house elves most have loved the change for they outdid themselves. The food was rich, the breakfast courses were too many. Apparently Penny was thinking the same thing for she proposed a question that was mostly a complement. Where his mother would tear him down or dissect his behavior for flaws, yet instead Penny was always building him up. If she was another witch he would have thought she was trying to manipulate him or lull him into a false security. Yet he knew Penny, for all her bright mind she was not like that. Instead she was so naive, so sweet and for some reason in awe of him. He loved how she practically worshiped him, so much so that he could not help but worship her in return.

Donn laughed before he replied, “I do think they outdid themselves a little today.”  Although he made a metal note to take an extra running lap around the grounds, this afternoon to make up for today’s meal.  If the elves were going to make this a habit, he did not want to gain too much weight.

It was obvious that Penny was trying to get through breakfast quickly to get to the presents.  She had a childlike quality to her. He knew she was only a few years younger but it was quite an unusual display in this household. He was taking his time could have enjoyed a few more bits yet instead he put down his fork and stated, “I’m done too.” 

Following her over, he claimed a chair between the tree and the fireplace. He smiled as Penny acted anything but patient and formal, yet he knew she was trying so he obliged her. “You want to open them together? You mean at the same time? Well I guess we could.”

He got backup and retrieved his gifts from under the tree where the elves placed them. He noticed there were a few for him for the elves and even one for a Penny from them too. She in turn gave him a small yellow wrapped box with a burgundy bow . He opened it, aware her large eyes were studying his face for his response. This was all new to him. It was a watch, quite unlike the flashy watch his father sent him for his seventh birthday. Do to his mix feeling of his father and the fact it never suited him, he had kept in a drawer for the last few years. The one he normally wears was given to him by his mother for school. Instead this was a mans watch. It looked like him; simple, plain, old but somehow still elegant. He looked up and faltered, “Penny I ah… It is perfect. Thank you.” He took off his beat up school watch and place the leather band watch on his wrist. He had slightly wide wrists but it fit. The time was already set perfectly. He leaned over and he set a kiss on her soft lips, before he teased, “I thought you wanted to open them together. Open yours I want to see if you like it.”

His gift consisted of a pink sparkling bag that was tied to a brown paper wrapped one. The pink bag held a set of massage oils, lotions and larger bottle of body scrub all in a lavender scent. The ladies at the lingerie store talked him into getting the set while Penny tried things on. Yet it was the brown paper package that was the real gift.  It consisted of three books he pulled from his parents collections each well over a century old. The first was titled Ancient Magical Mysteries of Britain, the second, The Development of the Magical Alphabet, Runes and Sigils through the Ages, and the third one was Unique Spells and Magical Practices of the East. He technically did not purchased them, instead he was giving her something more precious to him, part of his parent’s book collection. Yet he could not think of anything else that would give her the most joy.

"I checked they are don't have any wards them." He said, slightly worried she would be hesitant to touch them.

Penny studied Donn’s face closely as he opened the gift. Was that his face falling slightly? Maybe it wasn’t flashy enough for him? Penny bit her lip in nervous energy, the words flowing from her.

“Sorry the watch is a bit…plain. It’s what the watch can do that’s the gift. I’ve etched some sigils on the underside of the face that will tell you if someone untrustworthy is getting close to you. The watch will feel hot on your wrist if you’re in danger.” Penny stopped for a moment, studying his face further.

“Ministry sneakoscopes and such have very…set ideas about what ‘untrustworthy’ means. This sigil is different. The longer you wear it the more accurately it adjusts to what untrustworthy means to you. Really the fascinating thing about sigils is how flexible they are. They can account for new information and adjust themselves according to the principles of….” Penny trailed off, slightly embarrassed that she let her excitement take over.

“Well anyway, happy Christmas.”

Penny eyed the two packages that Donn handed her with interest, eager to shift the focus away from the watch. The pink sparkling bag had her raising one eyebrow in skepticism; she wasn’t usually into pink frilly things. The other package though….well, Penny could identify a package of books from across the room. She teared eagerly into the package, excited to see what books Donn had bought her.

She scanned the titles first, and had to stop herself from jumping up and down in excitement. Instead a large smile spread over her face, and she immediately opened Unique Spells and Magical Practices of the East, to scan the table of contents. The books were definitely old, and exceedingly rare. In fact, she had put in a request multiple times to the department to purchase all three of these titles, her requests being denied for budget reasons.

“Donn, these are…” But words failed Penny as she attempted to describe how wonderful these gifts were. She was now so engrossed in examining the books, that she almost didn’t hear Donn’s next words.

“Wards?” Penny said, somewhat confused. “Why would there be wards? Unless…” Penny looked at her left hand, the scar from Donn’s mother’s book looking like a bony sliver.

“Donn, are these from your parents’ collection?” Penny could hardly believe it. Nothing meant more to her; not only was she at his family’s house, but he wanted to share part of his dead parents with her.

Penny closed the book to face Donn, her eyes alarmingly filled with tears.

“Donn, I…” She meant to say thank you, but instead she chose to put into words her feelings from last night that she hadn’t even been ready to admit to herself.

“Donn I love you.”