Cherish All These Simple Things
Banner by the delightful capitu
Title: Cherish All These Simple Things
Character(s): Harry/Draco, ocs
Rating: PG
Warning(s): None
Word count: 890
Summary: The Potter-Malfoys enjoy a relaxing evening in front of the fire.
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. 4
♦ dracoharry100 Christmas Challenge 2024 No. 4 - Misfit Toys
♦ newyearcntdown New Year's Countdown Challenge, Day 4 - Potato
♦ adventdrabbles Prompt No. 4 - unwanted gift
♦ slythindor100 Traditional Prompt No. 4 - fancy cups of hot chocolate
Harry strolled into Draco's potion shop, levitating a tray with four cups of fancy hot chocolate ahead of him. Madam Puddifoot had outdone herself. Each cup had dark chocolate dripping down the sides. Whipped cream was mounded on top and liberally sprinkled with cinnamon and shaved chocolate.
Josh was at the counter, and his eyes widened in delight. "I hope one of those is for me."
Harry grinned and settled the tray on the counter. "Help yourself. Is my husband here?"
Draco emerged from the back room before Josh could respond. "Harry, what are you doing here?"
"I'm delivering treats to my husband, my boyfriend, and your new employee."
"My new employee starts next week." Draco picked up a mug and took a cautious sip.
Harry waited, but when nothing more was forthcoming, he couldn't take it anymore. "Who is it?"
Draco licked a bit of whipped cream from his upper lip and smirked. "Why is it imperative that you know?"
"Draco Potter-Malfoy, if you've hired some strapping bloke that you intend to throw me over for, I believe I deserve to know!"
"If you two are going to fight, I can make up an errand to run," said Joshua, his eyes darting between them.
Draco laughed. "For your information, my new employee is a woman, you jealous ponker, one who's brilliant at potions."
"Hermione?" teased Harry, feeling better now that he knew he didn't have competition.
Draco rolled his eyes. "I hired Astoria."
As the information sank in, Harry beamed. "You hired Mrs Greengrass-Brownleaf?"
"No, I hired Mrs Brownleaf," Draco replied. "She was grateful for the opportunity. Her mum is still angry that she eloped with Foster and has frozen Astoria's assets. Foster has his job at Gringott's, but they were struggling a bit."
Harry picked up one of the untouched cups and took a sip of hot chocolate. "Why didn't you simply say so?" he demanded.
"It was far more amusing to let you stew."
"Ponker," Harry muttered. The three of them finished their delicious treats. Harry returned his mug to the tray. "I need to get back home before the children drive Miss Frances around the twist."
"Who's going to drink that fourth cup of hot chocolate?" asked Draco.
Harry was tempted to drink it himself, but he didn't want to slosh when he walked. "I'll take it across the street to Mr Toadvine," he decided.
"That's a brilliant idea," said Draco. "What about the other cups and the tray?"
"You can return them to the Pinkery," Harry told him, grinning as Draco cringed. "It will be a fitting punishment for not telling me about Astoria."
~*~
Harry leaned back on the sofa, settled Jamie more comfortably against his chest, and put his feet on the low table in front of him. The heat from the fire felt good on his chilled toes. Beside him, Jasmin scooted down on the sofa so she could put her feet on the table, too.
Cassi and Barnabus had taken up positions on the back of the sofa, while Chewy lay in front of the fireplace. Only Carolyn and Nicholas, her cat, were missing. They would soon be home for the hols, and Harry couldn't wait.
He looked at Benjamin and Draco. "Ahem."
Draco sighed, shifted Lili in his arms, and put his feet on the table. Ben did the same.
Smiling in satisfaction, Harry said, "There. Don't we all look cozy and festive?"
"The babies don't have no socks, Daddy."
"I don't think the babies would want socks just yet Jasmin," Draco remarked.
"Unwanted gifts are a tradition in the Potter-Malfoy household," said Harry, winking at his husband over the children's heads. Draco scowled back, no doubt thinking about the ridiculous pants Harry gave him each year at Christmas. Which reminded Harry--he needed to shop for ridiculous holiday pants.
"You mean an unwanted gift like the perfume Uncle Chesney gives you, Dad?" asked Ben.
Harry chuckled as Draco attempted to correct Ben's assumption. "Perfume is for ladies, Ben," said Draco. "Cologne is for gentlemen."
"What sort of gifts would you not want to receive?" Harry asked. At the top of his list was fruitcake.
"Hm, misfit toys?" Ben ventured. "Or a tie."
Harry caught Draco glowering at him and decided not to give Ben a tie this year. "What about you, Jasmin?" he asked. "What don't you want for Christmas?"
"A potato!"
After taking her answer into consideration, Harry had to concur. "I agree, Jas," he said. "I wouldn't want a potato either."
"Or a parsnip."
"I thought you liked parsnips, Ben," said Draco.
"Yeah, but I don't want one for Christmas!"
Before the conversation could run the gamut of vegetables, Harry changed the subject. "Why don't you two each choose a book, and we'll read them before bedtime."
Ben and Jas bailed off the sofa, ducking under their fathers' legs to get to the basket filled with books. Harry took the opportunity to pass Jameson to Draco, freeing him up to read. He moved over a spot, and when the minions returned with their selections, one sat on either side of him.
"Read this one first, Daddy."
Harry took the book Jasmin handed him, opened to the first page, and began to read.
"Once upon a time, there was an arctic fox named Artem, who lived at the North Pole..."
The Weather Outside is Frightful