Jae's Monthly Drabble Challenge #107
It's a new year and time for a new drabble challenge!
For January, the prompt is the right thing. Use it any way you wish. You may write/draw any fandom, pairing, threesome, gen fic, etc. Combine it with other prompts, if you like.
Please post your entry in your own journal (unlocked!) or a community of your choice, and leave me a link in the comments below. You have until January 31 at 10:00pm CST to submit an entry. At that time, I'll post links to the entries and draw a name from among the participants to receive a drabble from me.
Below is my entry for this month:
Title: Unwanted
Author: enchanted_jae
Characters: Draco/Harry
Rating: PG
Warning(s): None
Word count: 720
Disclaimer: Characters are the property of JK Rowling, et al. This fic/drabble was written for fun, not for profit.
Written for:
♦ JMDC #107 - the right thing
♦ Gift for JMDC #106 winner digthewriter, whose prompt was pet adoption
Summary: Draco and Harry visit the shelter to adopt a dog.
Draco dug in his heels at the entrance to the shelter. "Harry, it's not too late for us to get a pedigreed crup."
"Not a chance," Harry said with a shake of his head. "You're the one who wanted a pet, and if we're going to adopt, I want it to be a homeless animal."
Draco's lip lifted in a sneer, but he allowed Harry to drag him into the Shelter for Unwanted Muggle Pets.
"May I help you gentlemen?"
Draco turned to see a young Muggle bloke blinking at them from behind thick specs. He was reminded of a young Harry, and Draco snickered.
Harry elbowed Draco in the ribs and said, "We'd like to see the dogs available for adoption."
The young man smiled at them. "Certainly," he beamed. "Follow me." He led them through a doorway to a large room with cages on either side. "If you have any questions or wish us to bring a dog out, please let us know," said the bloke before leaving them.
Draco was appalled. "Harry, these dogs are living in cages."
"That's why I wanted to adopt one of them," Harry said with a sharp nod. "There's a waiting list for pedigreed crups, but not many options for these fine fellows."
A shaggy blond dog woofed at them, and Harry grinned and crouched down to let the dog sniff his fingers. "What do you think of her, Draco?"
"She's...not bad," Draco admitted. He walked away, wandering up and down the aisle and looking at the dogs. Most of them barked cheerful greetings to him, while others simply looked bored. One small dog was huddled in the corner of its cage and refused to even look at him. Draco crouched down and crooned to it.
"That's Barney," said the young man Draco had met earlier. "He was surrendered to the shelter when his owner died, and he's too scared to even greet potential families."
"What manner of dog is he?" asked Draco.
The man shrugged. "Beagle mix, from what we can tell. He's a senior dog, and most people want a young, energetic one like your friend is looking at."
Draco glanced up to see that the blond dog had been released from her cage and was currently prancing around Harry, tail wagging with excitement. It was obvious that Harry wanted her, but Draco's heart ached for Barney. He stood up and strode to Harry.
"I think Gilda will make an excellent pet, Draco," Harry said, ruffling the dog's fur. "Do you like her?"
Draco's brows drew down, but Harry's expression was so hopeful that he hated to disappoint him. Still, perhaps someone else would want the lovely Gilda. "She's lovely, Harry, but I had my eye on another dog over there."
Harry's lips thinned, but rather than appear hurt, he looked almost thoughtful. "Is there any reason why we can't adopt two dogs?"
~*~
Harry pulled the car into the garage and snapped a leash on Gilda's collar before leading her into the house. Draco scooped Barney out of the backseat, sighing when he felt the dog tremble in his arms. By the time he entered the house, Gilda was slurping noisily from a dish of water, while Harry stood by and laughed. Draco set Barney down, and the poor dog scooted under the kitchen table and hid.
Draco looked at Harry and bit his lip. "Did we do the right thing?" he asked.
"He just needs some time, is all," Harry said.
Gilda saw Barney under the table and dashed over. She lowered her front half, tail waving madly, and woofed at the beagle. Barney belly-crawled closer to her and touched noses. Gilda swiped his face with her tongue and dashed away, only to return and bark at Barney again. Reluctantly, he clambered out of his hiding spot and slunk over to the water dish, tail between his legs. Barney lapped at the water, one eye on Draco and Harry the entire time. Gilda nosed him and began to explore her new home. Eventually, Barney trailed after her.
Draco exhaled. "Well, that's encouraging," he commented.
"He'll adjust, you'll see," said Harry. "You did the right thing, Draco."
For January, the prompt is the right thing. Use it any way you wish. You may write/draw any fandom, pairing, threesome, gen fic, etc. Combine it with other prompts, if you like.
Please post your entry in your own journal (unlocked!) or a community of your choice, and leave me a link in the comments below. You have until January 31 at 10:00pm CST to submit an entry. At that time, I'll post links to the entries and draw a name from among the participants to receive a drabble from me.
Below is my entry for this month:
Title: Unwanted
Author: enchanted_jae
Characters: Draco/Harry
Rating: PG
Warning(s): None
Word count: 720
Disclaimer: Characters are the property of JK Rowling, et al. This fic/drabble was written for fun, not for profit.
Written for:
♦ JMDC #107 - the right thing
♦ Gift for JMDC #106 winner digthewriter, whose prompt was pet adoption
Summary: Draco and Harry visit the shelter to adopt a dog.
Draco dug in his heels at the entrance to the shelter. "Harry, it's not too late for us to get a pedigreed crup."
"Not a chance," Harry said with a shake of his head. "You're the one who wanted a pet, and if we're going to adopt, I want it to be a homeless animal."
Draco's lip lifted in a sneer, but he allowed Harry to drag him into the Shelter for Unwanted Muggle Pets.
"May I help you gentlemen?"
Draco turned to see a young Muggle bloke blinking at them from behind thick specs. He was reminded of a young Harry, and Draco snickered.
Harry elbowed Draco in the ribs and said, "We'd like to see the dogs available for adoption."
The young man smiled at them. "Certainly," he beamed. "Follow me." He led them through a doorway to a large room with cages on either side. "If you have any questions or wish us to bring a dog out, please let us know," said the bloke before leaving them.
Draco was appalled. "Harry, these dogs are living in cages."
"That's why I wanted to adopt one of them," Harry said with a sharp nod. "There's a waiting list for pedigreed crups, but not many options for these fine fellows."
A shaggy blond dog woofed at them, and Harry grinned and crouched down to let the dog sniff his fingers. "What do you think of her, Draco?"
"She's...not bad," Draco admitted. He walked away, wandering up and down the aisle and looking at the dogs. Most of them barked cheerful greetings to him, while others simply looked bored. One small dog was huddled in the corner of its cage and refused to even look at him. Draco crouched down and crooned to it.
"That's Barney," said the young man Draco had met earlier. "He was surrendered to the shelter when his owner died, and he's too scared to even greet potential families."
"What manner of dog is he?" asked Draco.
The man shrugged. "Beagle mix, from what we can tell. He's a senior dog, and most people want a young, energetic one like your friend is looking at."
Draco glanced up to see that the blond dog had been released from her cage and was currently prancing around Harry, tail wagging with excitement. It was obvious that Harry wanted her, but Draco's heart ached for Barney. He stood up and strode to Harry.
"I think Gilda will make an excellent pet, Draco," Harry said, ruffling the dog's fur. "Do you like her?"
Draco's brows drew down, but Harry's expression was so hopeful that he hated to disappoint him. Still, perhaps someone else would want the lovely Gilda. "She's lovely, Harry, but I had my eye on another dog over there."
Harry's lips thinned, but rather than appear hurt, he looked almost thoughtful. "Is there any reason why we can't adopt two dogs?"
~*~
Harry pulled the car into the garage and snapped a leash on Gilda's collar before leading her into the house. Draco scooped Barney out of the backseat, sighing when he felt the dog tremble in his arms. By the time he entered the house, Gilda was slurping noisily from a dish of water, while Harry stood by and laughed. Draco set Barney down, and the poor dog scooted under the kitchen table and hid.
Draco looked at Harry and bit his lip. "Did we do the right thing?" he asked.
"He just needs some time, is all," Harry said.
Gilda saw Barney under the table and dashed over. She lowered her front half, tail waving madly, and woofed at the beagle. Barney belly-crawled closer to her and touched noses. Gilda swiped his face with her tongue and dashed away, only to return and bark at Barney again. Reluctantly, he clambered out of his hiding spot and slunk over to the water dish, tail between his legs. Barney lapped at the water, one eye on Draco and Harry the entire time. Gilda nosed him and began to explore her new home. Eventually, Barney trailed after her.
Draco exhaled. "Well, that's encouraging," he commented.
"He'll adjust, you'll see," said Harry. "You did the right thing, Draco."