Jae's Monthly Drabble Challenge # 226: Joy in the Children's Eyes
Banner by the delightful capitu
December has already had a bitter cold snap, but this weekend the temperatures were well above freezing. Weird month.
This month's JMDC prompt is: (holiday) baking. Feel free to write/draw any fandom, pairing, threesome, gen fic, original fic, etc. Combine it with other prompts, if you're able.
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 December 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: Joy in the Children's Eyes
Character(s): Harry/Draco, Narcissa, ocs
Rating: PG13
Warning(s): Suggestion
Word count: 1085
Summary: It's baking day at Malfoy Manor, the Lesser.
Disclaimer: Characters are the property of JK Rowling, et al. This fic/drabble was written for fun, not for profit.
Written for:
♦ JMDC No. 226 - (holiday) baking
♦ Gift for JMDC No. 225 winner bleedingangel84
♦ Jae's Advent Drabbles No. 8
♦ dracoharry100 Christmas Challenge 2024 No 8 - Mulled Cider
♦ newyearcntdown New Year's Countdown Challenge, Day 8 - Cookie
Harry was propped up in bed, waiting for Draco to emerge from the en suite. When Draco walked out a moment later, wearing a pair of pyjama pants and nothing else, Harry let out a low whistle of appreciation.
"You promised me a shag," he said.
Draco heaved a dramatic sigh. "Let's get it over with then. I need my beauty rest."
"First, there's this," said Harry, producing a small, wrapped package from beneath the covers.
"I don't want it."
"Yes, you do. You love gifts."
"I love expensive, tasteful gifts," Draco countered, "not tacky holiday pants."
"They're not tacky," Harry protested.
"Hah! I knew it."
"Stop being a Grinch and get over here. You must accept your tacky holiday pants with good grace."
Draco's lip curled, but he dutifully joined Harry on their spacious bed. "Let's see what atrocity you've fobbed off on me this year," he grumbled. He accepted the package from Harry and opened it. Draco shook out the green and silver pants and tested the material between his thumb and finger.
"Huh."
"They're not so bad," said Harry, jostling Draco's shoulder. "They're sheer and sexy, but still comfortable. In fact, they aren't tacky at all," he added. "Admit it."
"I admit nothing."
"They're even your old House colors."
Draco glanced at him. "Don't tell me you got burgundy and gold for yourself."
"Of course not," said Harry. "Mine are red and gold. See?" He flung the covers away from himself, showing off his new pants.
Draco's eyes zeroed in on them, and his gaze grew heated. Harry's new pants left nothing to the imagination, and Draco apparently liked what he saw. He pounced.
"Oy!" squeaked Harry. "It's my turn to top!"
~*~
Harry drew his shoulders back and straightened his spine. The movement revealed a delicious ache, which he manfully ignored. He narrowed his eyes and surveyed his troops.
"Babies, minions, husband, Miss Frances. Today is a big day in the Potter-Malfoy household."
"Is it baking day?" asked Ben, his eyes wide with excitement.
"Baking!" cried Jasmin, equally wide-eyed.
"It is, indeed, baking day," said Harry.
"Do you need me to take charge of Jamie and Lili?" asked Frances.
"Certainly not," Harry replied. "You've been conscripted as a baker for the day. Now, I know we normally don't ask you to work on the weekends, but it's all hands on deck for baking day and you've proven yourself quite adept at the task."
Miss Frances blushed in pleasure. "But what about the babies?"
"They can supervise from a safe distance," said Harry.
"Like Jas did when she was a baby?"
Harry nodded. "Exactly, Ben. Now, everyone run to the kitchen and grab a Nice apron before Chesney arrives. He gets the Naughty one."
~*~
Chesney stood at the stove, stirring up a batch of his vaunted mulled cider. He was cheerfully outfitted in the red Naughty apron, while everyone else was attired in matching, green Nice aprons. Ashton removed a pan of his madeleines from the oven, and Harry slid a pan of Snickerdoodles in. Draco was busy adding ingredients to make his chocolate crinkle cookies, Ben and Jasmin were icing cooled sugar cookies, and Narcissa was measuring out icing sugar for Russian tea cookies. Frances was occupied stirring up some batter of her own, and the twins snoozed in their carry cots at the far end of the kitchen.
"Mrs Malfoy?" Frances ventured. "Would you mind tasting this to see if it needs more peppermint?"
Narcissa glanced up in surprise. "Oh, I...why yes, of course, Miss Finifrock." She dipped a spoon into Frances' batter and took a tiny taste. "Hm, perhaps one more teaspoon of peppermint?"
"Thank you," said Frances, her smile lighting up her face. A tiny, answering smile curved Narcissa's lips. Across the kitchen, Harry turned away to hide his huge grin.
~*~
Harry slumped against the sink and raised the bottom of his apron to swipe at his forehead. Somebody snickered. "I reckon I just made things worse, yeah?" sighed Harry. He clapped his hands once. "Okay, troops, gather together so Ash can take our photo. Narcissa, no fixing your hair. Wait. Where are the twins? They supervised, so they should be in the photo, too."
Draco, Narcissa, and Frances all began to move in that direction, but Frances wisely stood back. Narcissa scooped up Jameson, while Draco picked up Lilian. They rejoined the group as Ashton set up his camera and set the timer. He dashed over to stand beside Chesney, and everyone smiled and posed with an array of baked goods in front of them.
Ash took two more group photos before snapping various pictures of the cookies, the children, and the mess.
"May we have a cookie now?" asked Ben.
"Yeah!" Jasmin exclaimed.
"Okay, everyone choose a cookie," said Harry. "Chesney, is there any cider left?"
Soon they all had a cookie and a cup of cider.
"Ash, these madeleines are superb."
"Thank you, Draco. Miss Frances, your peppermint sugar cookies are fabulous."
Frances blushed again. "Thank you. Harry, I haven't had Snickerdoodles since I was a girl. These are delightful."
"They're Draco's favorite," said Harry. "Narcissa, the Russian tea cookies practically melt in my mouth."
"They're fussy to make," she said, "but well worth the effort. The chocolate crinkles are divine, Draco, and Ben and Jasmin, you did a beautiful job decorating the sugar cookies."
"Sank you, G'ammeer," Jasmin said around a mouthful of cookie.
Chesney adopted a pout. "What about my cider?"
"It's yummy!" Ben enthused.
Once everyone had enjoyed a treat, Harry and Draco began filling tins with a variety of baked goods. They sent Chesney and Ashton on their way with a small tin and set the others aside for the bake sale and for family members.
"This has been fun," said Narcissa, removing her apron and handing it to Draco. "I must be off, however. Harry, may I fix my hair now?"
"You look as lovely as ever," Harry gallantly told her.
She beamed and gave the older children a hug and brushed a kiss across each baby's brow before leaving.
Harry collapsed onto a kitchen chair. "Frances, you may be excused. Thank you for helping today; we appreciate it."
"It was all rather enjoyable," she said. She then looked around and frowned. "Would you like some help cleaning up the mess?"
"No, no, you go spend the rest of the day relaxing," said Draco, guiding her to the doorway. "Besides, it's Harry's job to clean up the mess."
"Oy!"
Silver Neon Snowflakes