He's Gonna Find Out
Banner by the delightful capitu
Title: He's Gonna Find Out
Character(s): Harry/Draco, ocs
Rating: PG
Warning(s): None
Word count: 900
Summary: Carolyn comes home for the holidays.
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. 19
♦ dracoharry100 Christmas Challenge 2024 No. 19 - Home for the Holidays
♦ newyearcntdown New Year's Countdown Challenge, Day 19 - Train
♦ adventdrabbles Prompt No. 19 - Christmas gift for someone you don’t like
♦ slythindor100 Traditional Prompt No. 19 - Snow-Covered Trees
"Dad, why are you giving your perfume, I mean cologne, back to Uncle Chesney?" Ben asked.
Harry turned from the mantel, where he was putting some small items in the twins' stockings to hear Draco's answer.
Draco was busy wrapping the infamous bottle of cologne in a box three times too large for it. "Because I don't like him."
"Draco Potter-Malfoy!" scolded Harry.
Draco grimaced before amending his answer. "Giving this bottle of cologne back and forth each year is a prank that Chesney and I play on one another. It's all in good fun, I promise." He finished wrapping the gift and looked at Harry. "I'll send this from Hogsmeade and stay at the shop long enough to make sure Astoria has things well in hand. I'll be home in time for us to go to King's Cross Station."
"Is Carolyn coming home today?!" Ben gasped.
Jasmin looked up from her coloring. "Carolyn's coming home?"
"She is, indeed," Harry replied. He winced when his minions erupted in excited cheers. "Shush," he told them. "If you wake up the babies, Miss Frances will send you to the dungeon."
~*~
True to his word, Draco returned home in plenty of time for the family to travel to King's Cross Station to meet the train. Frances would remain behind with Lilian and Jameson, but she was eager to meet Carolyn for the first time.
It had begun snowing, and Harry smiled as he looked out at the garden. The ground was covered with white, and snow clung to the bare tree branches and the needles of the evergreen trees. He was envisioning the older children cavorting in the garden and building a snowman. With luck, Chewy wouldn't christen it this year.
Draco stepped into the enlarged fireplace, holding Jasmin's hand. They vanished in a flash.
"Are you ready, son?" Harry asked Ben.
"Yeah, Dad, let's go!"
~*~
Harry's heart leaped in excitement as the Hogwarts Express chugged into the station. He was elated that Carolyn was finally coming home for the holidays, but the train itself filled him with joy. Harry literally felt Jasmin quiver when students began pouring out of the open doors.
"Be still," he admonished her. "Carolyn will see us and come here, okay? If you run over to look for her, you'll get trampled."
Harry saw Carolyn wave as she called out, "Dad! Dad!" She rushed over with her cat, Nicholas, cradled in one arm while she dragged her trolley with her free hand.
"Caro!" cried Jasmin, dashing the final two steps to meet her sister and fling her arms around Carolyn's waist.
"Hi, Carolyn," greeted Ben, sidling close to give her a quick hug.
After greeting her siblings, Carolyn flung herself first at Draco and then Harry, accepting hugs from her fathers. Nicholas leapt from her arms and onto Harry's shoulder.
"Where are Jamie and Lili?" Carolyn asked.
"We left them home with Miss Frances," Draco told her.
"Oh, I can't wait to meet her," Carolyn enthused. "She sounds like such a dear lady."
"Let's go, minions," said Harry. "The sooner we leave, the sooner we'll get home. Draco, get Carolyn's trolley."
"Why do I have to lug the trolley?" Draco demanded.
Harry smirked at him. "Because I'm lugging the cat."
~*~
Carolyn and Frances had been mutually delighted with one another. Dinner consisted of Carolyn's favorite foods, and now the family was relaxing in the family room. Harry and Draco sat at either end of the sofa, each of them holding a baby. Jasmin sat next to Harry, Ben was seated beside Draco, and Carolyn was stuffed between her brother and sister. Nicholas purred on her lap, Cassi was purring on Jasmin's lap, and Barnabus was draped over Ben's legs. Chewy had flopped across Carolyn's feet and fallen asleep.
"It's like we're each holding a baby," said Benjamin.
"I think we need a larger sofa," Harry opined. It was a tight squeeze, but his heart was full. "Why don't you children go stand by the tree?" suggested Harry. "We'll have Carolyn and Ben each hold one of the twins, and then I can get a photo of all five of you together."
Five! Harry sometimes had to pinch himself. His heart was very full, indeed.
The older children nudged the felines off their laps and went to stand by the tree. Harry and Draco rose together and carefully handed off the babies to Ben and Carolyn. Harry retrieved his camera and aimed it. "Smile, everyone!"
They all grinned, Ben showing off a gap where he'd recently lost one of his incisors.
Harry took a few more quick pictures before looking at the display. One picture was markedly better than the others, all five children looking at the camera, and Harry's heart melted.
"Excellent," Harry said. He set the camera aside, and he and Draco reclaimed the twins. They sat on the sofa again, but when Carolyn plopped down on the floor by the tree, Ben and Jasmin joined her. The family room filled with her happy chatter as she talked about her adventures at Hogwarts.
Harry had missed Carolyn's loquaciousness, and he smiled as she grew ever more animated. As Carolyn turned her head to address Jasmin directly, Harry caught a glint of something through her brown hair. He leaned forward slightly and waved his fingers, riffling his daughter's hair back.
Harry gasped. "Carolyn Marie! Did you pierce your ears?!"
All Dressed Up