A Howling Christmas, Part Twenty-Six, by Maraudersaffair (Feeding the Less Fortunate)
Title: A Howling Christmas
Author: maraudersaffair
Word count: 630
Characters/pairings: Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy
Challenge: Christmas Challenge 2018. Prompt: Feeding the Less Fortunate
Summary: Overworked and lonely, Harry decides to spend the month of December at a Christmas-themed Bed and Breakfast owned by Draco. They quickly fall for each other, but whispers of werewolves and an unsolved attack threaten to derail their holiday romance.
Authors Notes: Also written for newyearcntdown. Unbeta'd. Wish me luck!
Read previous parts here.
“Hello,” Draco said from the doorway.
Harry looked up from his conversation with Ron and Hermione. It was a few minutes after Dean and Merkins left, and he’d been wondering if Draco was ever coming back.
“Hi,” he breathed, knowing his lovesick expression was embarrassing. Ron coughed.
Draco approached the bed. “Are you all done with speaking to Thomas and the other Auror bloke?”
“Yes, but he’s not all done speaking to us,” Ron said. Hermione elbowed him.
“Sorry, Malfoy,” she said, grinning uncomfortably. “Old habits die hard.”
“What?” Ron’s face was red. “It sounded like he knew this Mark person and he did nothing to stop him from nearly killing Harry!”
Draco flinched. He sucked in a loud breath and looked down at his clasped hands. “I’m sorry. I hate myself for not doing more.”
Sighing, Hermione glanced from Harry to Draco. “What did you know, Malfoy? Did you know that Mark was cursed?”
“Yes.”
Hermione looked stunned. “You knew and you kept it to yourself? How could you?”
Draco’s face was flushed. “Mark was my friend! I trusted him! He swore he had nothing to with Ernest’s attack. In the past, other people with the curse had come to the house to intimidate us. There was a chance that someone else had done it.”
She covered her mouth. “You knew there were others and you didn’t tell the Aurors? Do you realize how many people you put at risk?”
“I put people at risk for just existing!” Draco said.
“Hermione,” Harry said quietly. “Let me talk to him alone.”
“Yes, Granger,” Draco said snottily. “Go feed the less fortunate or something since you are such a damn angel.”
“Hey!” Ron said, plucking his wand from his pocket. “Don’t talk to my wife like that!”
Harry raised his hands. “Please! I need to talk to Draco alone.”
“I apologize,” Draco said through gritted teeth, his eyes shining. “I lost my temper.”
Hermione and Ron went to the door. “My name is Granger-Weasley now,” she said. “Remember thar for the next time you want to insult me.” They left.
Draco dropped into the chair beside Harry’s bed. He clasped Harry’s hands. “I’m so sorry. I’ve fucked everything up.”
Harry shook his head. “I’m having a hard time understanding. Why didn’t you just tell me about Mark?”
Draco turned away. He was gritting his teeth again and there were tears streaming down his face. “I’m so stupid. I never wanted this to happen to you.”
“Did everyone know about Mark?”
“Yes, all the employees. I knew Greyback had cursed him. I knew he was struggling to feed himself. I just wanted to help him by giving him a job.”
“Did you know the curse made him violent?”
“Not in the beginning.”
“Oh, Draco.” Harry took his hands away. “I trusted you.” He had trusted all of them.
Draco hid his face in his hands. He didn’t speak for a long while. “This is all my fault. You and Ernest. Mark’s death. It’s all my fault.”
Harry looked away. He needed time to think. He needed time to process everything. He didn’t want to see Draco in pain. He didn’t want to see him despair. But he also didn’t understand why Draco hadn’t told the Aurors the truth.
“I’m exhausted.” Harry fell back on his pillows. “Will you hold my hand while I fall asleep?”
Draco glanced at him with red eyes. “You still want me to touch you?”
“Yes.”
Draco sighed heavily. He took Harry’s hand and kissed it. “I’m so relieved that you’re okay. How is your injury? Does it hurt?”
“I’m on enough pain potion to knock out an elephant.” He smiled weakly.
“Good, good.” Draco held his hand as he drifted off.
Author: maraudersaffair
Word count: 630
Characters/pairings: Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy
Challenge: Christmas Challenge 2018. Prompt: Feeding the Less Fortunate
Summary: Overworked and lonely, Harry decides to spend the month of December at a Christmas-themed Bed and Breakfast owned by Draco. They quickly fall for each other, but whispers of werewolves and an unsolved attack threaten to derail their holiday romance.
Authors Notes: Also written for newyearcntdown. Unbeta'd. Wish me luck!
Read previous parts here.
“Hello,” Draco said from the doorway.
Harry looked up from his conversation with Ron and Hermione. It was a few minutes after Dean and Merkins left, and he’d been wondering if Draco was ever coming back.
“Hi,” he breathed, knowing his lovesick expression was embarrassing. Ron coughed.
Draco approached the bed. “Are you all done with speaking to Thomas and the other Auror bloke?”
“Yes, but he’s not all done speaking to us,” Ron said. Hermione elbowed him.
“Sorry, Malfoy,” she said, grinning uncomfortably. “Old habits die hard.”
“What?” Ron’s face was red. “It sounded like he knew this Mark person and he did nothing to stop him from nearly killing Harry!”
Draco flinched. He sucked in a loud breath and looked down at his clasped hands. “I’m sorry. I hate myself for not doing more.”
Sighing, Hermione glanced from Harry to Draco. “What did you know, Malfoy? Did you know that Mark was cursed?”
“Yes.”
Hermione looked stunned. “You knew and you kept it to yourself? How could you?”
Draco’s face was flushed. “Mark was my friend! I trusted him! He swore he had nothing to with Ernest’s attack. In the past, other people with the curse had come to the house to intimidate us. There was a chance that someone else had done it.”
She covered her mouth. “You knew there were others and you didn’t tell the Aurors? Do you realize how many people you put at risk?”
“I put people at risk for just existing!” Draco said.
“Hermione,” Harry said quietly. “Let me talk to him alone.”
“Yes, Granger,” Draco said snottily. “Go feed the less fortunate or something since you are such a damn angel.”
“Hey!” Ron said, plucking his wand from his pocket. “Don’t talk to my wife like that!”
Harry raised his hands. “Please! I need to talk to Draco alone.”
“I apologize,” Draco said through gritted teeth, his eyes shining. “I lost my temper.”
Hermione and Ron went to the door. “My name is Granger-Weasley now,” she said. “Remember thar for the next time you want to insult me.” They left.
Draco dropped into the chair beside Harry’s bed. He clasped Harry’s hands. “I’m so sorry. I’ve fucked everything up.”
Harry shook his head. “I’m having a hard time understanding. Why didn’t you just tell me about Mark?”
Draco turned away. He was gritting his teeth again and there were tears streaming down his face. “I’m so stupid. I never wanted this to happen to you.”
“Did everyone know about Mark?”
“Yes, all the employees. I knew Greyback had cursed him. I knew he was struggling to feed himself. I just wanted to help him by giving him a job.”
“Did you know the curse made him violent?”
“Not in the beginning.”
“Oh, Draco.” Harry took his hands away. “I trusted you.” He had trusted all of them.
Draco hid his face in his hands. He didn’t speak for a long while. “This is all my fault. You and Ernest. Mark’s death. It’s all my fault.”
Harry looked away. He needed time to think. He needed time to process everything. He didn’t want to see Draco in pain. He didn’t want to see him despair. But he also didn’t understand why Draco hadn’t told the Aurors the truth.
“I’m exhausted.” Harry fell back on his pillows. “Will you hold my hand while I fall asleep?”
Draco glanced at him with red eyes. “You still want me to touch you?”
“Yes.”
Draco sighed heavily. He took Harry’s hand and kissed it. “I’m so relieved that you’re okay. How is your injury? Does it hurt?”
“I’m on enough pain potion to knock out an elephant.” He smiled weakly.
“Good, good.” Draco held his hand as he drifted off.