#10 ~ The Dunderhead's Miracle [PG] (RL/SS; HP/DM) Title:
The Dunderhead’s Miracle 10
Author:bonfoi Rating: PG Pairing: Remus Lupin/Severus Snape; Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy; Kreacher; Lucius/Narcissa 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 10 ~ Fur Word Count: 961 Genre: Alternate Universe; EWE; Post-Second Voldemort War; Romance; Angst; Humor Warnings: Original characters; Deathly Hallows, what Deathly Hallows? A/N: Hm, a mystery and a romantic memory? Hee, hee, hee! What will I come up with next?
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.
§¤§¤*§*¤§¤§
Remus woke up the next day, a furry feeling in his mouth. He turned over and found himself curled up on an old fur coat. He sniffed and sneezed, violently, until he rolled off of it and then crawled over to a padded bench.
“Kreacher?” Remus whispered harshly. He put one hand to his head and slowly turned so his back was against the bench as he sat on the floor. “Krea-cher?”
“Wolfy uncle whimpers for Kreacher?” The house-elf had a small tray with a bubbling concoction in an old-fashioned chalice. “This helps.” He came close enough to hand Remus the brew and watched as he tentatively sipped it. Then, Remus gulped it down, groaning as his hangover disappeared and left only random aches and pains to contend with.
“Why in Merlin’s name am I sleeping on a fur coat, Kreacher?” Remus finally asked in an almost-normal tone of voice.
“You asked questions about Snape. Very loud, very growly. Kreacher gave you more sorry juice and eggnog until you stopped.” Kreacher looked into the empty chalice, and then looked back at Remus and grinned. “Then wolfy uncle asked for something to warm him. Kreacher remembered Master’s fur coat.”
“Oh, how could I?” Remus muttered. He reached out and then looked around the room. “Kreacher, this isn’t my room.”
“No, Kreacher put you in Snape room. Snape always liked sleeping here.” Kreacher’s gaze turned sly. “Snape liked Master’s fur coat, too.” He popped away before Remus could respond.
Remus shook his head and winced. The hangover remedy only went so far. Then he realized that Kreacher had mentioned this was a room Severus had spent time in. And the fur? He’d said Severus had liked it too. What did that mean?
He found his wand stuck to his trouser seam and tore it off with soft whimper. He summoned the fur coat and, then, steeling himself, Remus took a deep sniff of it. There were the normal scents of old fur, dust, and the naptha smell of mothballs, but there was something like Severus: cinnamon and cardomon, lye and glycerin, and more. Remus reared back, his eyes dilating. Severus had liked this fur coat very much!
~o~O~o~
“Thank you so much for letting me spend the night, Mrs. Malfoy.” Harry patted his lips with the napkin and winked surreptitiously at Draco across the table.
“My pleasure, Harry.” Narcissa glared at Lucius, keeping his eyes steadfastly on The Daily Prophet next to his plate. “You’ll have to get used to calling me by my name, Harry. Narcissa or Mother will do.”
Harry squirmed in his chair. “I don’t think I can call you ‘Mother’ yet, ma’am, but I think I can remember ‘Narcissa’ more often than not.” Narcissa’s eyes widened as she realized what she’d said and how politely Harry had responded.
“Oh! I am sorry, Harry. Just be comfortable with me, that’s all I ask.” Narcissa put out her hand and waited until Harry put his in it. “You make my son happy. That gives you leeway.”
Harry chuckled and then nodded. “Thank you…Narcissa.” He squeezed her hand before letting go.
“If you expect to call me anything other than—“ He was interrupted by Harry’s precise voice.
“Lucius, you’re going to be my father-in-law, but we’ve got history, so, I’ll just call you Lucius and let’s leave it at that.” Harry and Lucius stared into each other’s eyes and Draco and Narcissa felt wild magic rise around them. Then it suddenly dissipated into effervescent bubbles that popped as they settled on hair and clothing.
“Hmph!” The Daily Prophet rose up, crackling as it snapped open in front of Lucius’ unhappy face. Draco chuckled and Narcissa daintily laughed.
“Well done, Harry.” Draco laid his own napkin down on the table. “Mother, Harry and I have to visit the, the Weasleys…” Draco waited while his father shook the newspaper out and then continued. “He’d like to tell them himself, before the news gets out. We’ll take the Thestral-drawn sleigh if you don’t mind.”
Lucius spoke from behind his newspaper barrier. “You’ll need the thick fur blankets and warming spells or you’ll be blocks of ice when you land, Draco. Not an auspicious way to greet future in-laws, so to speak.”
Harry and Draco shared a surprised look as Narcissa nodded in agreement. “Lucius should know. When he courted me, he came to Papa’s house in the dead of night, in that same sleigh. Poor dear was blue around the edges, but he insisted on serenading me still.” Narcissa looked toward Lucius and his barrier and smiled softly. “He still has a lovely singing voice.”
Draco stood up and stepped over to kiss his mother’s cheek. “I hope we’re still as in love when we’re married as long as you are now, Mother.”
Harry stood as well and then took two steps toward Lucius’ end of the table. “Sir, thank you for blessing our union,” he said formally. Then he held out his hand, tapping it on the edge of the open newspaper. “Here’s to a bright future for us all.”
Lucius closed the newspaper and leaned toward Harry. He looked at the proffered hand and then stood up, putting the newspaper in his other hand as he reached out take Harry’s hand. “I never imagined a world the likes of this one, Potter, but as long as you make my son happy, I think I can put up with you. To a bright future.” They shook hands and both Draco and Narcissa applauded.
“Oh, hush,” Lucius said without looking at anyone. His cheekbones were tinged with red as he sat back down and hid behind The Daily Prophet once more. “Go on, you two. You’re only young once,” he admonished with a mutter.