Cranberry (Harry Potter, PG)
Title: Cranberry
Author: irisgirl12000
Characters/Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: PG
Warnings: Abuse of color clichés, interior decorating Draco, and irredeemable fluff, all wrapped up in a birthday gift for Harry.
Disclaimer: These characters belong to J. K. Rowling, not me. And they're probably happy about that, after this little bit of goofiness.
"Draco darling, that shade of red - so very Gryffindor - doesn't flatter your complexion at all. Are you sure-"
"It's not Gryffindor red, mother. It's cranberry, it says so clearly on the swatches and paint chips. That's two shades darker than Gryffindor red. And besides, this isn't for me; it's for Harry."
Narcissa eyed the half-covered walls and stripped floor of the study, then sighed.
"But why? I had your father's desk removed, and the décor was perfectly suitable for a comfortable study."
"Harry has never had a place of his own. He lived in a cupboard, then a spare room; he's shared a dorm room and the bedroom at Order headquarters. Even now, here, in the Manor, he doesn't have his own place. Look around our bedroom - it reflects my tastes and preferences. If not for his trunk and clothes in the closet, you would think I was the room's sole occupant. So I'm giving him a space that is all for him."
*****
"You have got to be kidding me."
"What? You think the scale model of Hogwarts is too much? I can have it redone in a smaller size."
"Well, yes, that too. But... I can't believe that you of all people would allow such a Gryffindork room in your home, let alone plan and install one. It's so... red."
Draco sniffed.
"It's not red. It's cranberry. You're just jealous because I've got my Gryffindor, but you haven't gotten the one you want yet."
Blaise smiled mysteriously.
"We'll see. I've got plans to meet with her to study for the bar exam tonight." After a few moments' thought, he admitted, "And if repapering the walls and reupholstering the furniture was all it took to win Hermione, I would redecorate my flat in a heartbeat."
Blaise headed to the door.
"But it is Gryffindor red."
*****
Snape's eyebrows rose higher and higher, until Draco thought they might merge with his hairline. The man had been visiting Draco's mother (although he said little about the reason for his weekly visits, Draco suspected he was only biding his time until the traditional year of mourning for Lucius had passed before properly courting her), and the pair had tracked him down in the half-finished study to inquire about his evening plans.
Draco could see an insult forming, but his former Head of House said only one word, letting his smirk do the rest of the work.
"Hufflepuff."
*****
"Happy birthday, Harry."
"This is for me? For my birthday?"
Stunned, Harry sat tentatively on a newly covered sofa. Dull gold fabric had replaced the dark green leather, and there were gold and burgundy patterned throw pillows propped in the corners. The walls had been recovered as well, so that wine-red brocade (printed with a repeating pattern of griffins, though it was barely visible unless light hit the fabric just the right -- or wrong -- way) stood out over the refinished walnut wainscoting. Photos of Harry and his friends were scattered around the room, and a picture of Draco and Harry together held pride of place on the mantel, sharing space with a portrait of James and Lily Potter and a snapshot of Sirius Black.
Draco nodded, holding his breath, unsure of Harry's reaction.
"Do you like it?"
"Like it? I love it." As he spoke, Harry rose. In two steps he had Draco in his arms, and was squeezing him enthusiastically. "But... are you sure you can live with this? It's a bit bold in comparison to our bedroom."
Yes, anything would be bold in comparison to the minimalist style and neutral grays that Draco favored.
"It's a change, but I think I'll like it."
"A change? I'll say!" Harry hugged him tightly again. "I never would have imagined you making a Gryffindor room of Lucius Malfoy's study."
"It's not Gryffindor. This color is cranberry."
"Mmm." Harry was too busy expressing his appreciation to respond to Draco's assertion.
Later, when they were sprawled on the newly christened sofa in exhaustion, Draco felt Harry's chest begin to vibrate beneath his cheek. He lifted his head to see Harry grinning, trying to stifle his laughter.
"Cranberry? I don't know what you're on about, Draco. This is Gryffindor red."
Author: irisgirl12000
Characters/Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: PG
Warnings: Abuse of color clichés, interior decorating Draco, and irredeemable fluff, all wrapped up in a birthday gift for Harry.
Disclaimer: These characters belong to J. K. Rowling, not me. And they're probably happy about that, after this little bit of goofiness.
"Draco darling, that shade of red - so very Gryffindor - doesn't flatter your complexion at all. Are you sure-"
"It's not Gryffindor red, mother. It's cranberry, it says so clearly on the swatches and paint chips. That's two shades darker than Gryffindor red. And besides, this isn't for me; it's for Harry."
Narcissa eyed the half-covered walls and stripped floor of the study, then sighed.
"But why? I had your father's desk removed, and the décor was perfectly suitable for a comfortable study."
"Harry has never had a place of his own. He lived in a cupboard, then a spare room; he's shared a dorm room and the bedroom at Order headquarters. Even now, here, in the Manor, he doesn't have his own place. Look around our bedroom - it reflects my tastes and preferences. If not for his trunk and clothes in the closet, you would think I was the room's sole occupant. So I'm giving him a space that is all for him."
*****
"You have got to be kidding me."
"What? You think the scale model of Hogwarts is too much? I can have it redone in a smaller size."
"Well, yes, that too. But... I can't believe that you of all people would allow such a Gryffindork room in your home, let alone plan and install one. It's so... red."
Draco sniffed.
"It's not red. It's cranberry. You're just jealous because I've got my Gryffindor, but you haven't gotten the one you want yet."
Blaise smiled mysteriously.
"We'll see. I've got plans to meet with her to study for the bar exam tonight." After a few moments' thought, he admitted, "And if repapering the walls and reupholstering the furniture was all it took to win Hermione, I would redecorate my flat in a heartbeat."
Blaise headed to the door.
"But it is Gryffindor red."
*****
Snape's eyebrows rose higher and higher, until Draco thought they might merge with his hairline. The man had been visiting Draco's mother (although he said little about the reason for his weekly visits, Draco suspected he was only biding his time until the traditional year of mourning for Lucius had passed before properly courting her), and the pair had tracked him down in the half-finished study to inquire about his evening plans.
Draco could see an insult forming, but his former Head of House said only one word, letting his smirk do the rest of the work.
"Hufflepuff."
*****
"Happy birthday, Harry."
"This is for me? For my birthday?"
Stunned, Harry sat tentatively on a newly covered sofa. Dull gold fabric had replaced the dark green leather, and there were gold and burgundy patterned throw pillows propped in the corners. The walls had been recovered as well, so that wine-red brocade (printed with a repeating pattern of griffins, though it was barely visible unless light hit the fabric just the right -- or wrong -- way) stood out over the refinished walnut wainscoting. Photos of Harry and his friends were scattered around the room, and a picture of Draco and Harry together held pride of place on the mantel, sharing space with a portrait of James and Lily Potter and a snapshot of Sirius Black.
Draco nodded, holding his breath, unsure of Harry's reaction.
"Do you like it?"
"Like it? I love it." As he spoke, Harry rose. In two steps he had Draco in his arms, and was squeezing him enthusiastically. "But... are you sure you can live with this? It's a bit bold in comparison to our bedroom."
Yes, anything would be bold in comparison to the minimalist style and neutral grays that Draco favored.
"It's a change, but I think I'll like it."
"A change? I'll say!" Harry hugged him tightly again. "I never would have imagined you making a Gryffindor room of Lucius Malfoy's study."
"It's not Gryffindor. This color is cranberry."
"Mmm." Harry was too busy expressing his appreciation to respond to Draco's assertion.
Later, when they were sprawled on the newly christened sofa in exhaustion, Draco felt Harry's chest begin to vibrate beneath his cheek. He lifted his head to see Harry grinning, trying to stifle his laughter.
"Cranberry? I don't know what you're on about, Draco. This is Gryffindor red."