Each Shop Window
Banner by the delightful capitu
Title: Each Shop Window
Character(s): Harry/Draco, Madam Puddifoot, ocs
Rating: PG
Warning(s): None
Word count: 985
Summary: The Potter-Malfoys visit Madam Puddifoot's tea room.
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. 6
♦ dracoharry100 Christmas Challenge 2024 No 6 - Yeti
♦ newyearcntdown New Year's Countdown Challenge, Day 6 - Chocolate
♦ adventdrabbles Prompt No. 6 - Candles in the window
♦ slythindor100 Traditional Prompt No. 6 - Candle in the window
Harry, Ben, and Jasmin tumbled from the Floo into Draco's potion shop in Hogsmeade. They all stayed on their feet, but only just.
"Mr McWeasley!" Harry greeted Josh. "Where is my husband?"
"He's hiding in the back room," Josh replied.
"Joshua, you're fired," Draco grumped from said back room.
"Draco, stop threatening your staff and come out here. The minions are excited to visit Madam Puddifoot's."
Draco stuck his head into the shop proper, a distinct sneer curling his lip.
Ben saved the day with his enthusiasm. "Dad told us Madam Puddifoot has hot chocolate with cinnamon!"
"Cimanen!" echoed Jasmin, clapping her mittened hands together.
Draco huffed but acquiesced. "Give me a minute, Harry. Josh, please keep an eye on the potion I have warming back here."
"I thought I was fired."
"I'll keep you around until Astoria is fully trained," drawled Draco before disappearing once more. He emerged a moment later, wearing his elegant coat and tugging on a pair of leather gloves.
Harry swore Draco had nicked those gloves from him. He chose to ignore it. "Ben," he said, "are you ready to brave the Pinkery?"
Ben nodded, and Jasmin crowed, "Cimanen!" again.
"You and Ben go on ahead," said Draco. "Jasmin and I have an errand to run."
"Oh?" Harry was intrigued. "What is it?"
"It's a secret," Draco replied. "Right, Jasmin?"
"I dunno."
"It's a secret," Draco repeated, making a statement rather than asking a question.
"Okay, Daddy!"
"Come on, Ben," said Harry, steering his son to the door. As they stepped outside, Harry paused to admire the inflatables he'd set up in front of Draco's shop. This year he'd put out the green dragon, the festive llama, and the maniacally grinning Yeti. Harry waved to Mr Toadvine across the street before leading Ben in the direction of Madam Puddifoot's.
Along the way, they saw other inflatables, courtesy of Harry, as well as a plethora of pink trees twinkling at them through many shop windows. Other shops had candles in the windows and merry wreaths festooning their doors. Madam Puddifoot had her own pink tree, and Harry had set up her pink dragon inflatable, along with the inflatable snow globe in front of her tea room.
Madam bustled forth to greet them as they stepped inside. "Mister Potter-Malfoy, and young Master Potter-Malfoy, how nice to see you! Will the rest of your family be joining you?"
"Draco is bringing Jasmin along shortly," Harry replied. "We left the twins home with their nanny."
As they spoke, Madam was guiding them to a table near the windows, where anyone walking by could see that the Potter-Malfoys were gracing the tea room. A candle, surrounded by greenery, was burning on the windowsill, no doubt to draw the eye of passersby.
"What may I get for you?" asked Madam.
"Ben and Jasmin are eager to try your newest hot chocolate creation with the cinnamon on top, and Draco and I will have some of your fabulous spiced hot chocolate."
"Dad, may we get some scones?" Ben asked.
"Of course, son," Harry agreed. To Madam, he said, "Please bring us a selection of half a dozen scones." As he tried to work out how to prod her for a bake sale donation, Ben took one for the team.
"Will you make some of your scones for the bake sale?" he asked, eyes bright. "Everyone loves them!"
"I will be delighted to," Madam responded with a smile. She hastened away to get their order, and the tension drained from Harry's shoulders.
Draco and Jasmin came in then, Jasmin's small, mittened hand in Draco's larger, gloved one. Harry wished he could have snapped a quick photo of them. Harry stood and pulled out Jasmin's chair as Draco helped her out of her coat.
"Where did you go?" asked Harry.
She brightened. "We went--"
"It's a secret, Jas," Draco interjected. "Remember?"
She nodded vigorously before lifting her little chin and telling Harry, "It's a secret."
Harry opened his mouth and got kicked under the table for his trouble.
"Harry, don't attempt to pry it out of her. Did you order for us?"
Harry scowled and reached down to rub his shin. "Yes, I got the new cinnamon hot chocolate for the minions, and I ordered us some spiced hot chocolate."
Draco's eyes narrowed. "You didn't get me a toffee nut latte?"
"Draco, you are going to turn into a toffee nut if you keep drinking so much of it."
Benjamin and Jasmin giggled, but before Draco could comment, Madam approached with a laden tray. She set the fancy hot chocolates in front of the children, gave the spiced drinks to Harry and Draco, and placed a plate of scones in the middle of the table.
"Enjoy!" she chirped before moving away to greet some incoming customers.
Draco allowed the children to choose first before he selected a scone. "Why are there six scones and only four of us?"
"The extras are mine," said Harry.
"Daddy!" Jasmin cried.
Harry laughed at her pique. "The extras are for Mr Josh and Miss Frances," he said.
"Will we get some mulled cider for Mr Josh?" asked Ben. He swiped a finger through the whipped cream on top of his mug.
"Thank you for reminding me, son," said Harry. "We'll get some cider for Mr Josh before we leave."
As the family enjoyed their treats, Harry's mind buzzed with all he had yet to do. Ben had relieved him of the duty of procuring a bake sale donation from Madam, but Harry still had to draft some bachelors for the auction, take care of holiday correspondence, shop for gifts, get Draco a pair of inappropriate holiday pants, and buy an ugly Christmas jumper to wear to the Burrow. There was much more to be done, but thinking about it was making Harry's head ache.
Thank Godric they'd hired a nanny.
Christmas Can't Be Very Far Away