Threatening To Love You.

Title: Happy New Year, And Beyond.
Author: Pekeleke
Pairing(s): Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter.
Rating: M
Challenge: Written for the adventdrabbles 2021. Prompt #28: Puppies & Champagne.
Word Count: 984
Warnings: Explicit Language. Dramatic Draco. Humor.
Disclaimer: The characters, setting, and the HP franchise are owned by JKR and not me. I make no profit from writing this piece of fanfiction.
A/N 1: Unbeated. Ch 16 of my Christmas Series: Threatening To Love You.
Summary: “You’re a sight for sore eyes, Sunshine,” Harry’s voice, coming hesitant and soft from right behind him, sends a thousand butterflies to Draco’s belly. He’d decided to see what Harry would do if he’d showed up at the party sans hiding spell. Draco is willing to listen to what Harry has to say, but that’s as far as his courage will stretch. He’s the injured party here.“ 
 

Happy New Year, And Beyond.

Although Draco’s ideal way of ringing in the New Year involves quality time spent with his mother, his precious puppies, and plenty of Champagne, that plan won’t work this year. The ministry is trying something new this holiday season. They’ve reworked the traditional Ministry-wide Christmas Ball as a New Year’s Eve event. It’s the biggest, boldest celebration Draco has ever designed, and he’s poured his considerable imagination, magical inventiveness, and half his soul into it.

Draco pushes his heartbreak aside, immersing himself in a demanding whirlwind of last-minute preparations. For three days straight, Draco runs himself ragged dealing with suppliers, caterers, and magical decorators whose favorite word is ‘impossible.’ Draco doesn’t believe in that word anymore. He’s in the business of crafting illusions. Nothing is impossible with magic at your fingertips. Any dream is conjurable for one evening. All you need is the right kind of faith and the power of your wand.

The New Year Ball’s guests don’t set foot in the ministry atrium they know, but on a snow-covered hill, crowned by the grandest classic temple they’ve ever seen. A magnificent marble staircase weaves around the magically-created mountain, delicately-crafted sculptures flanking each tread that leads guests up, toward the summit.

Draco’s team has folded away the atrium fountain, replacing it with a magical forest where young fairies flutter playfully, lending their shimmering light and twinkling laughter to the enchanting atmosphere. Draco himself charmed the ceiling to display the delicate array of oranges, pinks, and purples typical of a winter sunset. Sirius, the brightest star in December’s sky, shines luminously in Draco’s painstakingly crafted Winter Circle while, closer to the guests, gorgeously etched glass orbs float delicately in the air, each glowing with a different color and showcasing a different magical scene, a different magical creature. Draco’s New Year’s extravaganza is a party where everyone, wizard and magical creature alike, is welcome. This is Draco’s vision for the world that awaits them: the acknowledgment that magical folk belong together. That magical Britain is more beautiful, more welcoming, and altogether stronger, when they make the effort to accept what divides them.

Draco is leaning on the temple’s balustrade, basking in the guests’ delighted awe. He feels proud and accomplished on his department’s behalf but way too tired to mingle. He smiles as he spies Juliet kissing Brian, the goatherd, under the dangling ice crystals they’ve hung over the dance floor. He’s thrilled for her. They’ve been filling the hole in each other’s lives for far too long. Draco is honestly delighted that his loyal assistant isn’t alone enough to need him anymore. She finally has a lover willing to escort her to parties. She no longer has to settle for available coworkers.

“You’re a sight for sore eyes, Sunshine,” Harry’s voice, coming hesitant and soft from right behind him, sends a thousand butterflies to Draco’s belly. He’d decided to see what Harry would do if he’d showed up at the party sans hiding spell. Draco is willing to listen to what Harry has to say, but that’s as far as his courage will stretch. He’s the injured party here. Harry lied to him, fair and square. And although Draco desperately wants their dates to have been real, he doesn’t know if Harry views them as hilarious pranks he played on his naive ex-rival.

“There’s no sunshine whatsoever here, Potter. This is an evening party,” Draco points out, turning around to face his ex-future-boyfriend.

Harry flinches where he stands but doesn’t back away, “Moonlight doesn’t suit you as much. You bring warm light and laughter into our lives with every party you design.”

“Potter-

“Harry. Please. I want to be Harry to you. Or Scarhead. Or dimwit. I want to be anything you want to call me other than Potter. Potter doesn’t stand a chance with you, Draco.”

“You lied to me.”

“I’m sorry. I-I was afraid of losing you. Everything I’d tried before turned to shit, and I— I didn’t want to go back to being the crazy, awkward auror who ruined all your events with his doomed attempts at flirting.”

“I don’t appreciate cock threats.”

“I know. I shouldn’t have sent that letter. I tried to invite you out a few times, but you always rejected me. I thought you might go for a sex-only fling.”

Draco’s heart is about to burst out of his rib cage. Harry is looking right at him, all pleading green eyes and adoring expression, and Draco can finally see what he’s failed to notice all along: he holds this man’s heart in the palm of his hand. It’s a frightening gift to receive. Despite his longing to do so, Draco doesn’t really know how to nurture emotions, “You were wrong. I despise casual affairs.”

Harry swallows with visible difficulty and takes a single step closer, “Ron and Bill were wrong too. You’re not a delicate flower. You’re more like a cactus.”

Draco is too shocked by that appallingly un-suave description to be offended. He bursts out laughing instead, “Careful, you, berk. You’ll never charm me with insults.”

“I love you. Prickly spines and all. Draco Malfoy, You. Are. My. Sunshine. I don’t like my life when you aren’t there to make it brighter.”

Draco’s gray eyes soften. His fingertips reach out toward Harry’s just as the New Year’s countdown starts, “That’ll do. Now come over here and kiss your fucking boyfriend, Harry Potter. I’ve never started a year with a lover’s kiss.”

“I’ll fix that for you, Sunshine,” Harry smiles, gathering Draco close enough to whisper against his lips, “I’m gonna kiss you into the next year, and beyond, in Three, Two, One-

Draco melts into their kiss, loving every implication of the word Harry has promised him: beyond.

Beyond is more.

Beyond is infinite.

Beyond is worth risking one’s heart for.

Beyond is a metaphor for happy endings, and Draco sure as hell has earned himself one of those.

The End.