Chapter 24
Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy - 24th December in the HP Secret Santa
(Another 700+ word beast to finish up my secret santa with. Thanks so much for all your amazing prompts @lol-zeitgeistic and a final Happy Holidays to you, @magpiefngrl!)
The sea was warm, lapping against Harry’s shins and pulling at the black hair on his legs. He waded out further, warmth spreading through him as the sea reached his chest. Tipping his head back, Harry closed his eyes as the bright sunshine turned the inside of his eyelids red.
A drop of cold against his forehead sent his eyes flying open again. Snow. Fat snowflakes tumbling down to float on the warm sea and tangle in Harry’s hair. The snowflakes didn’t melt and Harry watched as snowdrifts formed on the sand.
As soon as his foot touched the beach Harry was transported to a small tavern, overlooking the sea where he’d just been paddling. Draco Malfoy was sitting on the other side of the table. Tanned with a red stripe across his nose the only sign of the pale skin Harry use to watch out for.
Draco was smiling, laughing, even. One hand stretched out to Harry across the table.
“Come on, Potter,” Draco’s lips did’t move but Harry heard him speak. “If we’re late Molly will never forgive me.”
Harry blinked across the table, realising that Draco was wearing a red Weasley jumper with a large H stitched in gold thread. Something soft touched his hand and Harry looked down to see that Draco was pressing a green version towards him. He opened his mouth to protest that it was too hot but Draco was standing up, cocking a hip and looming over Harry.
“Come on,” he said again, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “How else am I supposed to take it off you if you don’t put it on in the first place?”
Rustling filled Harry’s ears as he pulled the jumper over his head. They were standing on the cliff-top outside a white villa, wearing their Weasley jumpers. Draco was laughing again, pulling Harry towards him as he murmured “It is tradition, I suppose.”
“What?” Harry felt like he was underwater, watching the flush spread up Draco’s neck. Draco’s lips were red and damp, unmoving as he said;
“The mistletoe, Potter. Potter? Potter!”
Harry woke gasping and covered in sweat, flinging out an arm and almost smacking Draco in the face.
“What is it?” Draco’s hands were in Harry’s hair, the sheet slipping down to reveal his Sectumsempra scars, glowing silver against golden skin. Harry reached out, covering Draco’s heart with a hand as his own heart raced. “Potter? Was it him? Was it Voldemort?”
“No,” Harry shook his head, dislodging Draco’s hands. “No it was you, we were outside. In the snow.” He fumbled for his glasses, pulling them on and gazing around at the familiar room.
“You were having a nightmare about me?” Draco’s voice was soft.
“What? No. Just a dream. I think that I, um...”
“Yes?”
Finally feeling his heart rate slow down, Harry looked up. “I think I’m ready to go home.”
“Oh. That’s...” Draco trailed off, large grey eyes glassy as he stared at the wall behind Harry’s head.
“Draco?”
“That’s, just, that’s just perfect, Potter.” Harry flinched at Draco spat the last word. He hadn’t called Harry ‘Potter’ since the battle. “Wonderful,” Draco continued, leaping off the bed and striding over to fling the windows open. “Good to know that a few weeks in the sun are all you needed to get back to being the Boy Wonder, thanks everso for allowing me to tag along. I’ll see you at the next Hogwarts reunion or-”
“Or you could see me at the airport,” Harry interrupted, following Draco to the window and scooping him into a hug. Draco’s hands rested lightly on Harry’s shoulders, not returning the hug but not exactly pushing him away either. “And you could see me at my flat in London,” Harry continued, smiling as he felt Draco relax. “And you could see me the next day, and the day after that, and lots of days after that.”
“How many days?” Draco’s voice was small, hands drifting down to land on Harry’s bare hips.
“All the days,” said Harry.
“Oh, well I suppose that might be... nice.” Harry could feel Draco starting to smile against his shoulder.
“Yeah,” he sighed, holding on even tighter.