Draco never understood his adopted brother’s desire for ordinary muggle things.
For Yule, Draco had asked their fathers for a new broom, a special multi-lingual dicta quill, a number of books, and a new potion’s cauldron. Papa and Dad were delighted with Draco’s list, easily spoiling him with all of his requests and then some.
But Harry’s list?
That spurred many tense discussions between their dads when they thought both boys had gone to bed.
“A bicycle? Why in Merlin’s name would he want that? He’s got a broom! Did something happen flying? Was he harmed in anyway?” Papa went on, pacing back and forth as he read the muggle-heavy wish list.
Dad sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“You think I would keep something like that from you? Nothing happened with his broom. Harry still loves to fly. But I imagine these are many of the things he wished he had when he was small and…”
“Who’s going to teach him to ride such a barbaric, antiquated contraption?! Certainly not me!” huffed Papa.
Dad leveled him with a glare this time. “Careful, dearest. Don’t forget where I come from. I rode a bicycle as a child.”
“Years ago!” Papa protested.
“I’m sure I could remember. There’s a muggle adage about riding a bike…”
“Not you too with this nonsense. You’re nearly 40, Severus! I won’t have you breaking your skull for a childish whim. I would be forced to heal you just to kill you myself!”
Dad rolled his eyes. “What’s next on the list?”
Papa took a pause to read, eyes scanning furiously.
“C-D’s. What are ‘C-D’s??” he asked with a tone that suggested those items would likely be poisonous.
Dad snorted in amusement, “For their music players, oh beloved peacock. Come now, you never listened to a muggle record, not even in your own rebellious days?”
Papa ignored the remark, continuing, “A ‘walk-man’, a ‘yo-yo’, ‘pokemon’ cards and a ‘cell-phone’? What are these nonsense terms?!”
“He wants a cellphone?” Dad asked, sounding surprised. “Why?”
Papa transferred the parchment over to Dad none too gently.
Draco wondered if Papa blamed Dad for encouraging Harry to write his list differently this year.
Last year, Daddy posited that Harry’s Yule gift list was written to make their fathers’ happy more than to make himself happy.
That was probably true.
Harry had asked for text books and winter garments, like socks, and nothing more. Papa was offended by the practicality of the items – as if we would deny our child his basic necessities! the man had gasped.
Dad had settled him down with a promise to speak to Harry.
That had led to another teary discussion.
Harry had cried and asked them not to be angry. He told them he was just feeling so grateful for all they did, taking him in when they didn’t have to, treating him as one of their own – turns out that had been a poor choice of words, since it then brought tears into both of their fathers’ eyes too. What a mushy scene that had been, the three of them hugging and sniffling and promising that we were all one family, always would be, and Harry should not for one moment doubt that they loved to take care of him, their sweet second son.
This year, Harry should only put items on his list that he truly wished for, that he should feel so excited to received, even if they didn’t get all of the things, Dad said.
(Papa would have never said that last part. He preferred the boys to know that Malfoys get what they desire.)
“He says he wants it to stay in touch with some of his friends from before…” Dad read out, taking a painful pause at the end. “Perhaps this is my fault.”
“Oh really, you think so?” Papa bit out sarcastically. Draco nearly gave himself up wanting to laugh from his hiding place, but managed to contain it.
Dad sighed. “I’ll speak with him about the phone. However, I think the rest are reasonable.”
“Who’s going to go out and fetch these items?! Surely I cannot send one of the elves!” Papa attempted to argue.
“Never fear, I will venture out into the drab muggle world and get our child his gifts,” Dad said.
“Fine,” Papa scowled. “But there will be hell to pay if this means I have to talk to Arthur Weasley for even one blasted moment!”
Dad smirked and raised an eyebrow, clearly finding Father’s frustration amusing now. “Believe me, purchasing a few muggle toys for your beloved adopted, and previously neglected, child does not automatically make you chaps with Arthur. Besides, muggle toy or not, isn’t every Malfoy child entitled to be absolutely spoiled rotten with gifts?”
That seemed to settle Papa some, his face softening, not quite into a smirk but into some gray area of acceptance.
“Yes, well, he is a Malfoy so I suppose you’re right.” He paused a moment before adding, “For Harry,” just to be clear one more time of the reason he might consider a muggle item.
Dad inclined his head in agreement.
“For Harry.”