Christmas Changes Too
Banner by the delightful capitu
Title: Christmas Changes Too
Author: enchanted_jae
Character(s): Harry/Draco, Weasleys, ocs
Rating: PG
Warning(s): None
Word count: 1550
Summary: Christmas with children is different and exciting.
Disclaimer: Characters are the property of JK Rowling, et al. This fic/drabble was written for fun, not for profit.
Written for:
♦ Jae's Non-Advent Drabbles No. 1:
♦ Santa outfit for groolover
♦ Christmas hats for felaine
♦ First christmas for alafaye
♦ Sled for sassy_cissa
♦ dracoharry100 Christmas Challenge 2020 No. 25 - First Christmas Together
♦ newyearcntdown New Year's Countdown Challenge, Day 25 - Food/Feast
♦ slythindor100 25 Days of Draco and Harry Early Bird No 25:
"Mister Harry! Mister Draco! Come see what Santa brought us!"
Harry groaned and pulled his pillow over his head. Beside him, he heard Draco mutter, "At least they waited until the sun was up. Barely."
Harry shoved the pillow aside and propped himself on his elbows. He called out, "We'll be there in a few minutes. No opening gifts until we get there!" He had no idea how two children could create such a chorus of disappointment. However, their footsteps thudded away, and all was quiet once more.
Harry flopped back down and reached for his husband. His hand found its target with practiced ease. "May I open your package. Ouch!" Harry cried as his hand got smacked sharply.
"There's no time," scolded Draco. "Our children are demanding their goodies. I'll get Jasmin up, you go downstairs and keep order."
"Why do I get the difficult job?" Harry whined.
"Because you're better at threatening them with a stay in the dungeons."
Harry grumbled and rolled out of bed. He threw his robe on over his pyjamas, stepped into a pair of slippers, and was still grumbling as he went downstairs.
~*~
The parlor was knee-deep in cast-off wrapping paper. The children's voices were shrill and excited. The cat was diving into the paper and ambushing various victims from within. The dog was noisily gnawing on a rawhide, and the baby was grizzling.
It was magical, and Harry couldn't recall ever being happier. He smiled at Draco. "Our first Christmas together, as a family."
Draco smiled back, and they leaned together on the sofa to exchange a kiss over Jasmin's head.
~*~
Jasmin had been dressed in a little Santa outfit, Ben was wearing a new jumper and jeans, and Carolyn needed to be talked out of wearing one of her new dresses to the Burrow. She'd settled for a new jumper and some warm leggings. Harry changed into his "Jingle My Bells" jumper, and Draco reluctantly donned his fuchsia bunny jumper again.
"I didn't have time to find anything else," he lamented.
"I won third prize with that last year," Harry reminded him. "Besides, the girls all love it."
As if on cue, Carolyn got her first look at him and squealed, "Mister Draco! I love your bunny! It's so pink!"
Draco's ears turned pink. Harry helpfully jammed Draco's Santa hat on his head. "We can't show up for Christmas without wearing our Christmas hats," he said.
They Floo'd to the Burrow as one unit, tumbling out in a tangle. Draco handed off a bottle of wine to Arthur, while Angelina immediately relieved Harry of Jasmin. He was left with Ben clinging his his free hand and pressed against him in terror. Carolyn, who'd spent most of her life in a bustling orphanage, had no such reservations. She skipped into the midst of chaos, greeting those whom she'd already met and offering polite hellos to those she hadn't.
Harry nudged Ben forward. "It's all a bit mad, isn't it?" he whispered in his son's ear. "You should have seen the look on Draco's face, the first time I brought him here for the hols."
Freddie grabbed Ben by the hand and hauled him into the fray, saying, "Come play Exploding Snap with us!"
Harry didn't realize how fearful his own expression must be until Draco nudged him and murmured, "Relax, he's going to have a ball once he warms up to his dozens of ginger cousins."
Harry's shoulders eased, only to tense up again when he saw that Angelina no longer held a baby in her arms. "Where's Jasmin?"
"Do you see a cluster of female Weasleys?"
"Ye-ah," Harry replied slowly, eyes on a huddle.
"I expect Jasmin is in the middle of that," said Draco. "Calm down. If these people trust you with their children, you can certainly trust them with yours."
"Yeah, you're...oy, was that an insult?" Harry huffed.
"Uncle Draco!" shrieked Rose, flinging herself at him and patting the fuzzy bunny on his jumper.
Harry wandered away to see if Molly needed any help in the kitchen. His attention was snared by a large dragon, sculpted from ice, on the sideboard. "Did Fleur make that?" he asked.
"Yes, she did," Molly replied, without once looking to see what Harry was referring to. "And, before you ask, I have things well in hand here, Harry. Go out and mingle."
Harry grinned. "Yes, ma'am."
Eventually, the horde was summoned to the table to partake in a holiday feast for the ages. It seemed there was enough food to feed all of Hogwarts and the Ministry. Harry and Draco helped prepare plates for Carolyn and Ben before they filled their own plates. By then, Audrey had laid claim to Jasmin and was giving her tiny bites of soft foods. Harry reminded himself that his precious baby was in capable hands, and he pointedly looked away to visit with others as he enjoyed the dinner Molly had made with love.
Once the meal was over, the assemblage waddled to the lounge and found seats wherever they could. Arthur tallied the votes for ugliest Christmas jumper. First place went to Ginny, while Joshua got second.
"No fair," Harry sulked to Draco. "They shop in the States, where Josh assures me that ugly sweaters are an art form."
In a stunning turn of events, third place went to Percy, who had eschewed his normally staid attire for a hideous red and white jumper with tacky, dancing elves on the front of it.
"When will Santa be here?" asked Victoire.
"Santa's coming?!" cried Carolyn, sitting up straighter and looking around.
Hermione used the distraction to discreetly send her otter Patronus outside. Moments later, bells could be heard.
"Santa!" shouted the children.
The jolly man burst in through the front door. "Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas!" Mrs Claus followed, a basket of sweets dangling from her arm. Santa handed out gifts, while the Mrs doled out treats.
When Harry accepted a treat, he smiled up into Luna's blue eyes and whispered, "Do I need to sage this year, Mrs Claus?"
"There is only good energy surrounding you this year, Harry," she whispered back. "Happy Christmas!"
Once Santa and Mrs Claus left, everyone opened their gifts. Harry received a green Weasley jumper with a festive red H on it. He craned his neck to see if Draco's was the opposite, grinning when he saw that it was. Draco was shaking out a red jumper with a cheerful green D on the front. Next, Draco opened a smaller box, plucking out a small pink jumper with a white J for Jasmin. Meanwhile, Carolyn and Ben were opening their own Weasley jumpers. Harry didn't care that they were repurposed; they were beautiful. Ben's was brown with a black B, while Carolyn received one that was blue with a white C on the front of it.
Harry leaned forward and got his minions' attention. "Your very first Weasley jumpers!" he proclaimed.
"Welcome to the family!" boomed George.
Ben set his jumper aside in favor of something more interesting, but Carolyn had the grace to thank Molly for making her jumper. Molly's eyes misted over, and she pulled Carolyn into a matronly hug. "Welcome to the family, dear."
Arthur and Charlie organized clean-up, while Bill and George announced it was time to go sledding. By then, Molly was rocking a drowsy Jasmin, freeing Harry and Draco to get Carolyn and Ben bundled up for an outdoor excursion.
Everyone poured out of the Burrow, and Harry helped George and Ron fetch sleds and toboggons from the shed. He noticed the sled that George was pulling behind him.
"Not the Zephyr again?" moaned Harry.
"Oy, it hasn't killed anyone yet," George said with a laugh.
Adults and children alike queued up to take a run down the hill. Draco settled Ben in front of him on a toboggon, and they pushed off and raced down the incline. Next, Harry put Carolyn in front of him on a traditional sled with runners, and they sped down the hill. Harry steered them around a clump, but he over-corrected, and their sled tilted and tipped, spilling them across the snow.
Harry sat up and pushed his Santa hat out of his face. "Are you okay, Carolyn?"
"I'm okay, Mister Harry," she said, giggling a little. "I've lost my mitten."
Harry found the hedgehog, half-buried in snow, dried it with a spell, and handed it back. "Okay, Carolyn, I'll get back on the sled and you can pull me up the hill."
"Mister Harry!" she squeaked before dissolving into more giggles.
They agreed to both pull the sled back up. They arrived at the top of the hill in time to see Joshua and Ginny lining up the Zephyr.
"You're both mad!" Draco exclaimed.
Josh waved and pushed off, and the Zephyr rocketed down the hill, its riders screaming in terrified delight. The sled hit the clump Harry and Carolyn had managed to avoid, and it went airborne. Joshua went one way and Ginny the other. They both rolled to a stop and sat up, their hats askew, and laughed.
Harry turned to his sensible child. "Would you like to ride the Zephyr next, Ben?"
"Yes, Mister Harry!" bleated Ben, eyes wide and excited.
"What?!" Harry squawked. "It's too dangerous!"
Santa Bring My Baby Back to Me