Reindeer Pause
Banner by the delightful capitu
Title: Reindeer Pause
Author: enchanted_jae
Character(s): Harry/Draco, Narcissa, ocs
Rating: PG13
Warning(s): Flangst, strong suggestion
Word count: 855
Summary: Harry treats Draco to a sleigh ride.
Disclaimer: Characters are the property of JK Rowling, et al. This fic/drabble was written for fun, not for profit.
Written for:
♦ hd_ina_tree December prompt - Christmas tree
♦ Jae's Advent Drabbles No. 17 - Sleigh ride for madeleone
♦ adventdrabbles No. 17 - Christmas Pines
♦ dracoharry100 Christmas Challenge 2019 No. 17 - Sleigh ride
♦ newyearcntdown New Year's Countdown Challenge, Day 17 - Blanket
♦ slythindor100 25 Days of Draco and Harry Early Bird No 17:
Harry and Draco eventually made it to the bedroom, where they shut the door against the dog and cat and indulged in another, more leisurely shag. Harry slept more soundly afterward than he had since Draco left for France.
The following morning brought on a third round of sex. Harry could have happily spent the entire day in bed, relearning each plane of Draco's body, but there were things to do.
"I need to go to the shop and see how Joshua is doing," Draco announced over breakfast. Harry saw him sneak a bite of scrambled egg to Cassi, which is something Draco always scolded him for doing. Apparently, his husband had missed the cat and the dog, too.
"We need to go to your mum's for tea," said Harry. "She was disappointed you didn't make it home for her birthday, so we'll celebrate today."
Draco agreed, and once breakfast was over with, Harry Apparated them to Hogsmeade. He walked Draco to his shop, grinning when Draco got his first look at the manic snowman inflatable outside the door.
"Really, Harry?"
"I wasn't going to do anything this year, but Mr Toadvine talked me into it," said Harry.
"Shame on you," scolded Draco. "Blaming that nice old gentleman."
"But, he did!"
Draco rolled his eyes before pulling Harry into a kiss. It lasted long enough that some of the passersby whistled and hooted.
Harry stepped back and smiled. "I'll see you in a little while. I have a surprise for you."
"If it's another tacky holiday decoration, I don't want it."
"You'll like this," said Harry. "Trust me."
~*~
Harry brought the sleigh to a halt outside Draco's shop, and he was immediately surrounded by a throng of people who were delighted at the sight of an actual reindeer in the traces.
"Where'd you get the reindeer, Potter?"
"Malfoy."
"Potter-Malfoy?" amended the first bloke.
"Hagrid has been nursing him back to health," said Harry.
"Can he fly?" asked a child.
"Is that Rudolph?!" asked another.
"His name," Harry announced grandly, "is Howard."
"..."
"Draco!" Harry called in the sudden silence. "Come dashing through the snow with me!"
Instead of being difficult, Draco came out of his shop, tugging on a hat and some of Molly's finest mittens. He stepped up into the sleigh, and Harry settled a blanket across their laps. He twitched the reins, and Howard set out at a fast lope. Draco whooped and grabbed the edge of the sleigh for balance. His happy laughter filled the air as they left the village behind them.
"Are we going to see Neville and Luna's Christmas tree?" asked Draco.
Harry nodded. "I wish we had time to see and do everything before you return to France. Do you have to go?"
"Étienne is making this more difficult than it has to be," Draco replied, a hint of melancholy in his voice. "Of course, he isn't the one who's been away from home during the hols."
Harry wanted to rant and rail, but he held his tongue. There was no sense quarreling when Draco was only home for a brief time. He drew back on the reins, bringing Howard to a halt in the scant snow that blanketed the area around Hogsmeade.
Together, Harry and Draco disembarked from the sleigh. Hand in hand, they walked through the pines to the edge of the frozen pond, where Luna and Neville had decorated a tree. This one had garlands of bright berries, and it was trimmed with suet balls, nuts, and pinecones. Birds and small woodland creatures nibbled on the bounty, while fairies flitted about the branches, lighting the tree up even in the day time.
"Beautiful," said Draco.
Harry looked at his husband. "Yeah," he agreed, pulling Draco into a warm embrace and a hot kiss.
~*~
"I am disappointed that you won't be here for our annual soiree," said Narcissa.
"I'm disappointed, too, Mum," Draco responded. "You know how Étienne can be."
Narcissa's lips thinned in disapproval, but she didn't argue. "Harry, I'll expect you to shoulder the duties of host."
"I planned on it," Harry said with forced cheer. "We make a brilliant team."
"Harry tells me you proved quite adept at baking," said Draco, changing the subject. The conversation flowed smoothly from there.
Before Harry and Draco took their leave, Narcissa summoned two wrapped gifts. "These were meant to be Christmas gifts, but I think you should have them now," she explained.
Harry opened his gift, discovering a beautiful glass dragon figurine. He glanced over at his husband to see Draco had unwrapped a stag figurine.
"Did you mix these up, Mum?" asked Draco, eyes darting from his stag to Harry's dragon.
"Of course not," Narcissa said. "The stag is to remind you of Harry, while Harry's dragon is to remind him of you. When one of you holds your figurine, the other will glow. See?"
Harry looked down, and sure enough, his dragon was glowing. "These are fantastic, Narcissa. Thank you." It wasn't as good as having Draco home with him, but knowing when his husband was thinking of him would bolster Harry's spirits.
Termites in Your Smile