May Your Days Be Merry and Bright - OTA

[black_nimbus01]

There wasn't much one could do with Apothecary supplies to make a Christmassy display in the window, but Draco did his best. There was a cauldron atop a burner with hot chocolate simmering inside its belly. The whole shop smelled like chocolate, much to the owner's delight. He sipped from a snowman-shaped mug between tinsel and fairy light

Comments

[evenprettydead]

To say that Cedric was a Christmas person was something of an understatement, the Hufflepuff's normally sunny disposition ramped up even higher with holiday cheer.

He'd seen Draco through enough Christmas' to get that it was hit-or-miss for the Slytherin, and that this was going to be a 'hit'. It was something Cedric was happy to see, something he actively supported and encouraged in various ways.

One such way, for example, was to show up for work wearing a small pair of antlers, buckskins, and a glowing red nose.

He grinned at the blonde when Draco first caught sight of it. "What? Is it too much?"

[black_nimbus01]

Draco just stood staring at him in shock for a beat or two before dissolving into laughter. He had to lean against the front counter for support.

"Just a bit!" he forced out, and failed at several attempts to get himself under control.

"Take the nose off! You're going to kill me!"

[evenprettydead]

Cedric did so, slipping the glowing item into a pocket. "Well, the school children liked it, anyway." He chuckled, walking over to the counter, amused at the faint jingle from the individual sleigh bells he'd attached to his moccasins.

[black_nimbus01]

Draco pulled a stool out for a much-needed sit and dabbed at his aching face. A tired fit of giggles came over him when he noticed the sleigh bells.

"If anyone asks, I have never known you." He massaged his face muscles. "Oh my god. What the bloody hell possessed you to dress up like that?"

[evenprettydead]

"The holiday spirit, of course." Cedric said, smiling. "Though I'll snitch a bit of the hot chocolate if you don't mind. I don't quite have Ruldolph's tolerance for chilly weather."

[black_nimbus01]

Draco waved him towards the cauldron. "Help yourself."

He stared at Cedric for a moment and then grinned. "Why Rudolph?"

[evenprettydead]

"Name recognition, of course." Cedric pointed out, getting a cup of the hot chocolate from the cauldron. "No one would recognize me as Blitzen, for example."

"I haven't had any luck finding any reindeer games, though."

[black_nimbus01]

"Not many reindeer about, I suspect that's why." Draco popped a few marshmallows into his mouth. "You'll have to find your own shenanigans."

[evenprettydead]

"I expect something will turn up." Cedric said, sipping the warm drink. "That's the stuff. I wonder if we'll have snow for the holiday this year?"

[black_nimbus01]

"Probably. The village does enjoy being whimsical around the holidays," Draco mused. "What are your plans this year?"

[evenprettydead]

"I'll likely mingle at the hotel party, at least a little." Cedric said. "Other than that, I don't have anything really planned out. How about you?"

[black_nimbus01]

"Much the same." Draco sucked on his peppermint stick and leaned his forearms on the counter. "You should be my date to the holiday party."

[evenprettydead]

"I'd be willing for that." Cedric agreed. "I'll promise to dress sensibly, even."

[black_nimbus01]

Draco snorted and dropped the peppermint stick back into his hot chocolate. "I'll have to forcibly re-dress you myself otherwise. You'll terrify everyone and probably end up hexed onto your arse."

[evenprettydead]

"Oh I expect you'd like that - dressing me." Cedric teased. "We might run a bit late, if you decide to do that."

[black_nimbus01]

Draco's grin was slow spread. "Worth it. You're quite the distraction, so I would blame you."