#6 ~ The Dunderhead's Miracle [G] (RL/SS; HP/DM) Title:
The Dunderhead’s Miracle 6
Author:bonfoi Rating: G Pairing: Remus Lupin/Severus Snape; Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy Summary: Rebuilding means forging new relationships…and rediscovering old ones. During the first Voldemort-free Christmas hols, two couples—one brand new, the other separated by time and distance—discover the joys of giving and receiving. Challenge:adventdrabbles 2011: Day 6 ~ Christmas Kissing Ball (Bough) Word Count: 782 Genre: Alternate Universe; EWE; Post-Second Voldemort War; Romance; Angst; Humor Warnings: Original characters; Deathly Hallows, what Deathly Hallows? A/N: Sorry for the delay. Work was frenetic today/tonight. And I’m ready to bake for Christmas.
Disclaimer: The world of Harry Potter, its characters and settings are the copyrighted works of J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., her publishing companies and affiliates. No profit was made from the writing of this story nor was any malice intended in any way, shape or form to the author or the actors/actresses who so brilliantly have brought them to life.
This author is not responsible for underage readers. Please observe the ratings, warnings, and age of legal consent for your country.
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Remus figuratively girded his loins and plumbed the depths of his romantic nature—even if it was sorely abused without Severus to focus upon. He put his shoulders back, lifted his chin, and smiled. It was a bit brittle, but he could pass for happy for the newly affianced pair. He led Draco and Harry to the Christmas market’s greenery section.
“You two need a kissing bough. My mother was from Derbyshire, where she said the only original kissing boughs were made today.” Remus searched through piles of enchanted mistletoe bunches and brilliant green fir boughs. He tugged out what he considered the best of them, draping the fir boughs in Harry’s arms and tossing mistletoe bunches at Draco, testing the young man’s dexterity with a laugh.
“You keep those safe, you two. Draco, I want you to look for ribbons, deep red and emerald green. Harry, you search some oranges, as perfectly round as possible, at least a dozen.” Remus looked like a general directing his troops as he barked out his orders and waved his cane in all directions. “I’m going to the spices. We need cloves and star anise as well. And you’ll need wassail if you’re holding your betrothal party during the holidays…” His voice trailed off over his shoulder as he walked away from the bemused couple.
“Did you know that would happen?” Draco stage-whispered. His eyes were wide and slightly dazed.
Harry shook his head, his own gaze bemused. “It…it just came over him, you know? Like Imperius or something.” He shared a look with Draco, and then they both laughed. “I know he’s glad I found someone, Draco, but if this is how he’s with us, imagine how he’ll be with Snape.”
Draco laughed so hard, he almost swallowed some of mistletoe berries. Then he sobered suddenly. “Oh, dear Merlin! Harry, we need to find Severus and quick!” he choked out. “What if he…what if Lupin decides to ‘help’ us with everything? It’ll be just like having Mother. Hell, she’ll see him as a kindred spirit,” he whispered brokenly.
Harry set his fir boughs aside and put both hands on Draco’s cheeks, directing his face down so shocked grey eyes could meet laughing green ones. “Love, we already promised to find Snape.” He kissed Draco’s chin and then his lips. “Just think of a romantic-minded Remus as incentive to find Snape, and quickly.”
“Yeah. Yeah, you’re right,” Draco mumbled as he leaned down and kissed Harry’s nose. “Never knew you were hiding a brain under there, Potter.”
“Oi! I did save the world a few times, you know.” Harry’s smile was a bit off, but at least he could joke about his past now. Draco rewarded him with a dazzling smile and a sultry look.
“I’ll have to do something special then to celebrate that lovely brain, won’t I?” Draco called over his shoulder as he wandered in direction Remus had pointed out for the ribbons. “See that you get your perfectly round buttocks moving for those oranges, Potter, hmm?” He sashayed a bit and Harry chuckled and picked up his boughs.
“See that those ribbons are just like Remus told you, or I may need to find another blond prince to marry,” Harry yelled. He laughed out loud at the two-fingered salute Draco threw over his shoulder.
~o~O~o~
Severus wiped his hands on his apron and surveyed his kitchen. The bakery was filled to the brim with every delicacy of the season. Almost each one had something to do with Remus: truffles with orange cream and hazelnut cream and even raspberry jam, chocolate hazelnut tortes like Remus’ mum used to make, Russian teacakes like Severus’ mam had made and Remus loved to steal, marzipan fruits of all shapes and colors, and so many more. There were even biscuits with crescent moons piped on them.
He shook his head and rolled his eyes. When had he become so…so infuriatingly obsessed with Remus Lupin?
“It was when the daft prat caught me at that pub in Warwick,” he muttered under his breath as he began boxing some of the truffles for Confectionary Spells. The Londoners would go wild for them as hostess’ gifts for all the parties and soirees they’d be attending.
One of the raspberry jam truffles wasn’t perfect and Severus decided he deserved a treat, so he picked it up and bit it in half. The jam was just tart enough, the dark chocolate he’d used to enrobe it just bitter enough. “Just like Remus,” he breathed out. Severus popped the other half of the truffle into his mouth and chewed slowly, savoring as his hands made swift work of boxing, stacking, and sorting.