How Sweet They Are
Banner by the delightful capitu
Title: How Sweet They Are
Author: enchanted_jae
Character(s): Harry/Draco, ocs
Rating: PG
Warning(s): None
Word count: 1255
Summary: The Christmas play at the orphanage, with a side of match-making
Disclaimer: Characters are the property of JK Rowling, et al. This fic/drabble was written for fun, not for profit.
Written for:
♦ Jae's Advent Drabbles No. 17
♦ dracoharry100 Christmas Challenge 2023 No. 17 - Scarves and Gloves
♦ newyearcntdown New Year's Countdown Challenge, Day 17 - gloves/mittens
♦ adventdrabbles Prompt No. 17 - Manic children at Christmas
"Are you wearing your new pink pants?"
Draco didn't take his eyes from the mirror as he expertly knotted his tie. "You'll find out later."
"Draaaaa-co..."
"Will Nolen Wacker be joining us at the orphanage, or are we to meet him elsewhere?" Draco asked, blithely ignoring Harry's whining.
"He's meeting us there," Harry replied. He pressed on his Eiffel Tower tie, causing it to light up.
"Must you wear that travesty in public?"
"The children love it," said Harry, grinning at his husband. "Aside from that, it was a gift from Chesney."
"Chesney won't be there today. How would he know if you wore it or not?"
"Do stop being a stuffy Grinch," Harry scolded. "Come on, we don't want to be late."
~*~
The orphanage was decorated beautifully for the hols. Harry and Draco guided Ben and Jasmin into the auditorium. There were rows of chairs in front of the stage and several round tables located farther back.
Mrs Winkel rushed up to them. "There you are," she greeted with a smile. "Benjamin, Jasmin, come sit up front with the other children so you can see better."
Ben's lip shot out. "I want to sit with my dads."
"You need to go sit with Jas and keep an eye on her, okay?" Harry cajoled. "We'll be right behind you, sitting at a table with Mrs Schminkey-Winkel."
"C'mon, Ben," said Jasmin, grabbing her brother's hand and dragging him up front with her. They joined the other manic children who were all but bouncing in their seats.
Harry watched them go then gave Draco a small smile. "It's too bad Carolyn couldn't be here. She would have enjoyed it."
"Yes, but we cannot pull her out of Hogwarts just to attend fun events," said Draco. "It would foster resentment among the other students. Besides, she'll be home soon. We'll go see the lights, have a sleigh ride, and enjoy Christmas at the Burrow with her."
"You're right," sighed Harry.
"Naturally."
Any further bickering was forestalled when Nolen Wacker approached. "Good afternoon, gentlemen."
"Hello, Healer Wacker," Harry greeted. "Our table is over here." He led the way to where their names were placed.
Nolen took a seat. "I'm relieved you invited me to a play rather than ice skating," he remarked. "I'm afraid I am pants on skates. By the way, I do trust this isn't some mad matchmaking scheme of yours, Mr Potter-Malfoy."
Harry pasted on a bright smile. "I simply wanted to save you from the clutches of Romilda the Remora."
"Remora?!" Nolen exclaimed before chuckling.
"My auction nemesis must have a villain's name," Harry intoned.
"Indeed?" mused Nolen. "And what, pray tell, was my sister-in-law's villain name?"
Harry tugged at his collar. "Ahem."
"Come now, you can tell me. I won't repeat it."
"Do you solemnly swear you won't repeat it?" asked Harry, eyes focused intently on Nolen.
"I do so solemnly swear." It wasn't quite an Unbreakable Vow, but magic tingled between them all the same.
Harry leaned in and lowered his voice. "It was Belinda the Barracuda."
Nolen laughed out loud in delight. "An apt enough name for her," he said, "although married life seems to have tamed her wilder ways."
"She has certainly been an asset to the War Orphans Charity board," said Harry. "Does she have any bachelor brothers we can auction off next year?"
"There's a younger sister, named Bettina," Nolen said. "Oddly enough, her middle name is Marie. We both stood up for Nigel and Belinda at their wedding. Then there's the oldest sister, Brunhilda."
Harry blinked. "Sorry?"
Nolen chuckled again. "I am having you on."
"Should I have left you to the tender mercies of the Remora?" asked Harry, his eyes narrowing.
"Merlin, no," Nolen replied. "My brother loves adventure, and a spirited woman like Belinda suits him. I, however, am more of a homebody. Some day I'll meet a woman who's content to stay at home and be boring with me. And, I shall find her myself, without any interference from London's most vaunted matchmaker."
"Oh, do I have a new title to add to The Chosen One?" Harry beamed.
"Suffering Salazar," muttered Draco. "Please don't encourage him."
Mrs Winkel bustled up in the company of a gentleman. Harry, Draco, and Nolen all stood as she was seated. "This is my husband, William," she introduced him.
Harry barely stifled a snort. He opened his mouth, only to clamp it shut when Draco kicked him under the table.
"This is Mr and Mr Potter-Malfoy," Mrs Winkel continued, "and this is Healer Nolen Wacker, brother to our children's healer, Nigel Wacker."
Polite hellos were exchanged around the table.
Miss Jane Winkel rushed over and took the final seat, nodding to the gentlemen who stood at her approach.
"And this is William's sister, Miss Jane Winkel," Mrs Winkel said.
"I'm sorry I'm late," said Miss Winkel. "I had to make an emergency repair on Mindy's costume."
"Miss Winkel made the children's costumes," said Harry, eyes on Nolen as he gauged his reaction.
"She knitted scarves for all of the children, too," added Mrs Winkel.
Jane blushed prettily and lowered her eyes. "I enjoy creating things." She raised her gaze to Nolen. "Thank you for sending gloves and mittens for the children."
"It was the least I could do," he murmured in response, his eyes drinking her in.
Harry thinned his lips to keep from grinning. Miss Winkel wasn't stunning like Belinda was, but she was pretty in her own way with warm brown eyes and soft waves of brown hair.
The lights dimmed in the auditorium, and everyone quieted down. A spotlight lit the stage, and one of the older girls stepped out from behind the curtains. "Good afternoon, everyone," she greeted. "Welcome to our production of Christmas in Northumbria."
~*~
"Stop laughing, Harry."
Harry removed his glasses and wiped at his eyes. He and Draco had returned home to Malfoy Manor, the Lesser, after the play. They'd sent Ben and Jasmin to their rooms to change out of their good clothes, and he and Draco had done the same.
"The man's name is William, Draco. Willie. Wee Willie Winkel!"
"I imagine he goes by William, like the Muggle prince does."
"Wee. Willie. Winkel."
Draco wadded up his tie and threw it at Harry, who caught it easily.
Harry brought the tie to his nose and inhaled the subtle scent of Draco's cologne. "Ugh, are you wearing that dreck that Marie-Louise gave you?"
"Merlin, no!"
Harry laughed at Draco's outraged expression. "I was teasing you, love. Did you see how Nolen couldn't take his eyes off Miss Winkel?"
"Is that the match you intend him to make?"
"They're perfect together," Harry said as he shrugged out of his suit coat. "He's a self-proclaimed boring homebody, and she also enjoys staying home and knitting. Knitting. If they aren't married within two years, I'll eat my Eiffel Tower tie."
"Congratulations, Harry. You've just given me a reason to keep them apart."
Harry gaped at him. "You wouldn't dare."
Draco laughed at him. "Far be it from me to stand in the way of true love."
"You did your level best to resist my courtship."
"You hit me in the head with a snowball!"
"It got your attention, didn't it?"
Draco's chin lifted. "Madness. You're a mad man, and I'm mad for marrying you."
Harry walked up to Draco and wrapped his arms around his waist. "We may be mad, but it's been fun, yeah?"
Draco's expression softened. "Yes, you ponker, it's been fun."
War Is Over