Waves of Emotion - Part 1 of A Different View (H/D, PG)
Title: Waves of Emotion (1/? of A Different View)
Author: sesheta_66
Rating: PG
Word Count: 500
Pairing/Characters: Harry, Draco
Challenges: AWDT's prompt of "A Letter to Santa," slythindor100's holiday challenge #7 - "Christmas cake," and my GJ 100_prompts entry #084 - "Waves".
Summary: Draco reads something that was never meant for him, and the impact of it is a bit overwhelming.
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. They belong to JK Rowling and her publishers. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.
To see all parts of A Different View, click here.
"Aren't you going to go through the box?" Draco asked. Potter had just received a box of things from Privet Drive, and had tossed it aside.
"Nope. I took everything that meant anything to me."
"How can you be sure if you don't go through it?"
"Look, Malfoy, just trust me when I say there's nothing from that place I want."
"But it's your past, your history, your childhood." Potter had snorted at that. "You should at least make sure there's nothing of value that you may have forgotten."
"Tell you what, Malfoy. Why don't you go through it and then you can tell me if I need to keep anything. I would just rather forget it all happened, okay?"
Draco shrugged, confused by Potter's reaction, and curious about the contents. There were school papers and a few doodles, an old deck of cards and ... what was that? It was a sealed envelope addressed to Santa Claus. Draco grinned as he opened it, wondering what outlandish things Potter had asked for from the Muggle-invented Santa.
Dear Santa,
Did I do something wrong? I thought I was a good boy all year, but I still didn't get anything from you. I don't want much, really. Maybe you didn't get my letter.
I know I asked for really hard things before, like to have my mum and dad back, or maybe a friend that wouldn't be scared off by my cousin, or a new family that loved me, or even to sleep somewhere that wasn't a cupboard under the stairs. I understand that you couldn't give me any of those things.
But this year I was really careful to ask for something really small. I didn't think it would be too much to ask for a piece of Christmas cake so I could save it for a day when I'm really hungry. But you didn't bring it. I know you were here, because Dudley got presents from you. Have I been bad? Please tell me what I did wrong, so I don't do it again.
Harry Potter
Draco walked over to where Potter was sitting, placed a hand on his shoulder and, looking him in the eyes, whispered, "I'm so sorry, Harry. I -- I didn't know."
He let the letter fall to the table, suddenly drowning in a wave of emotions. His heart ached at the thought of the little boy who had written this. He felt ill as he imagined a friendless child, confined to a cupboard, unloved by his family, so hungry that the only thing he wanted for Christmas was a piece of cake -- not even a whole cake -- so he could stash it away. Then guilt washed over him as he recalled all the times he had taunted Harry about his parents.
Draco left the house, not sure what to make of these emotions, but sure that he couldn't stay in close proximity to Potter another minute. He needed to get air, gain some perspective.
Part 2 - A Little Better
.
Author: sesheta_66
Rating: PG
Word Count: 500
Pairing/Characters: Harry, Draco
Challenges: AWDT's prompt of "A Letter to Santa," slythindor100's holiday challenge #7 - "Christmas cake," and my GJ 100_prompts entry #084 - "Waves".
Summary: Draco reads something that was never meant for him, and the impact of it is a bit overwhelming.
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. They belong to JK Rowling and her publishers. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.
To see all parts of A Different View, click here.
"Aren't you going to go through the box?" Draco asked. Potter had just received a box of things from Privet Drive, and had tossed it aside.
"Nope. I took everything that meant anything to me."
"How can you be sure if you don't go through it?"
"Look, Malfoy, just trust me when I say there's nothing from that place I want."
"But it's your past, your history, your childhood." Potter had snorted at that. "You should at least make sure there's nothing of value that you may have forgotten."
"Tell you what, Malfoy. Why don't you go through it and then you can tell me if I need to keep anything. I would just rather forget it all happened, okay?"
Draco shrugged, confused by Potter's reaction, and curious about the contents. There were school papers and a few doodles, an old deck of cards and ... what was that? It was a sealed envelope addressed to Santa Claus. Draco grinned as he opened it, wondering what outlandish things Potter had asked for from the Muggle-invented Santa.
Dear Santa,
Did I do something wrong? I thought I was a good boy all year, but I still didn't get anything from you. I don't want much, really. Maybe you didn't get my letter.
I know I asked for really hard things before, like to have my mum and dad back, or maybe a friend that wouldn't be scared off by my cousin, or a new family that loved me, or even to sleep somewhere that wasn't a cupboard under the stairs. I understand that you couldn't give me any of those things.
But this year I was really careful to ask for something really small. I didn't think it would be too much to ask for a piece of Christmas cake so I could save it for a day when I'm really hungry. But you didn't bring it. I know you were here, because Dudley got presents from you. Have I been bad? Please tell me what I did wrong, so I don't do it again.
Harry Potter
Draco walked over to where Potter was sitting, placed a hand on his shoulder and, looking him in the eyes, whispered, "I'm so sorry, Harry. I -- I didn't know."
He let the letter fall to the table, suddenly drowning in a wave of emotions. His heart ached at the thought of the little boy who had written this. He felt ill as he imagined a friendless child, confined to a cupboard, unloved by his family, so hungry that the only thing he wanted for Christmas was a piece of cake -- not even a whole cake -- so he could stash it away. Then guilt washed over him as he recalled all the times he had taunted Harry about his parents.
Draco left the house, not sure what to make of these emotions, but sure that he couldn't stay in close proximity to Potter another minute. He needed to get air, gain some perspective.
Part 2 - A Little Better
.