Current mood:	optimistic
Entry tags:	contributor: bonfoi, dec13, fandom: harry potter, prompt02, prompt12, prompt13, year: 2011

#13 ~ The Dunderhead's Miracle [G] (RL/SS; HP/DM)
Title:

The Dunderhead’s Miracle 13

Author: bonfoi
Rating: G
Pairing: Remus Lupin/Severus Snape; Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy; Kreacher
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 13 ~ Christmas Ribbon
Word Count: 1,263
Genre: Alternate Universe; EWE; Post-Second Voldemort War; Romance; Angst; Humor
Warnings: Original characters; Deathly Hallows, what Deathly Hallows?
A/N: If you can’t tell, I was hungry.

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Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7
Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 | Day 11 | Day 12

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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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“…looks lovely, Mr. Tobias. Almost too good to eat.”

“Thank you, Sean.” Severus looked over the desserts for the Potter-Malfoy engagement party. Small cakes were decorated as Golden Snitches. There were marzipan fruits in Quidditch Cup bowls. The diamond-shaped butter crème-filled cake was a tour de force of culinary imagination. “I seem to have gotten a bit carried away.” He looked at the order and read the pertinent portion aloud:

“One butter crème-filled cake, diamond-shaped, three tiers. Top with chocolate hazelnut crème. Center with raspberry jam. Bottom with French vanilla crème.

Piping of brilliant white and blue, spelling out ‘Potter & Malfoy…Finally’. Sweet. No hearts, no cupids, no bells. Snitch and crossed brooms acceptable.”

“Bells and ribbons are the only things I seem to be missing.” The young man laughed and nodded, which made Severus chuckle as well.

“Thank you for your help, Sean. Remember to grab the box by the door. I made your mother’s favorites, meringues. Let them sit one day and then give them to her.” Severus pulled his wand out of his sleeve and flicked it toward the door, opening it for Sean. “Time for my tea.”

“Mine, too, sir. Thanks for the meringues. Mum’ll enjoy them.” He smiled. “So will we.” He waved and grabbed the box as he went through the open door.

Severus snapped his fingers and the door closed, the sign on the door changing from Open for Business to Gone to Tea.

“Whatever was I thinking to go so overboard?” Severus asked himself as he went into the kitchen and set the kettle on the hob to boil. “I’d swear Narcissa was here, wishing in my ear.” He looked at the other cakes he’d made for Draco. Fairy cakes and even a berry trifle sat on the counter, flanked by a mousse so delicate, Severus had vowed to make a batch on the day of the engagement party so it’d be at its best.

The kettle whistled and Severus grabbed it off the stove and poured the water over his tea in the strainer. He wanted it strong.

A chair at the table pulled itself out and Severus sank down, setting his steeping tea on the table. He scrubbed at his face with one hand. “What in Merlin’s name am I doing?” he said tiredly. “I haven’t seen them for years. They’re enjoying the fruits of my and Remus’ endeavors, and here I am trying to live vicariously through them.” The strainer and its load of tea lifted out of the cup and the sugar pot nudged Severus’ hand, but he waved it away and took a gingerly sip of the hot beverage.

“I wish I was baking all this for Remus,” he sighed wistfully. He rolled his head on his neck and twisted the cup between his hands. “You’d think I was in Hufflepuff with how I’ve been acting,” he muttered.

~o~O~o~

Harry and Draco’s sleigh ride toward Ireland was breathtaking. And if one or two Muggleborns in small airplanes had to swallow their amazed smiles and some high-flying geese were snapped at by the Thestrals, well, it was still magical.

They landed in Shrewbury, Shropshire an hour and a half after leaving Malfoy Manor. The history of the place, the Brother Cadfael mysteries, all of it had Harry telling Draco they were coming back to visit once Snape was found. Draco shook his head at the thick sheaf of tourist pamphlets Harry collected, but he still promised to be at Harry’s side then.

Their second landing to refresh the Thestrals and eat was in Holyhead, Wales. Draco took Harry to a lovely restaurant by the bay, with a lovely view of the Isle of Anglesey. Somehow, Draco had even gotten a message to a jeweler as well, and a small box, wrapped in shiny, velvety Christmas ribbon was delivered to Harry at a nod from Draco.

“Draco?” Harry asked dazedly.

“I wanted you to have something to show we’re engaged.” Draco blushed and looked down at his plate. “Open it,” he said softly.

Harry gently removed the ribbon, rolling it up and putting in his pocket as if it were the gift. Then he pressed his thumb to the catch on the box and it sprang open with a slight snap. Inside was a bracelet. It was of braided gold chains, red, white, and yellow, with strands of platinum defining the edges of the gold braids. Harry’s eyes widened as he saw there was a pattern in the braiding. “You…you ordered this just now?”

“No. I’ve had it on order since we met actually.” Draco reached across the table and lifted the bracelet from its velvet bed. “Let me help you put it on.” Harry held out his arm and Draco pushed his cuff up so he could fasten the bracelet around Harry’s wrist.

“It’s…it’s light,” Harry said wonderingly. “But, why?” He turned his wrist this way and that, admiring the snake and the lion rippling along the braids, playing hide-and-seek.

“I thought you were worth knowing, Harry Potter. More so when I realized how you really were that good of a person.” The tips of Draco’s ears were burning until Harry leaned out of his chair, and across the table to grab Draco’s hand and kiss it. “See?”

“You really are a wonder, Draco Malfoy. That’s why I love you.” Harry reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a slim case tied with thin Christmas ribbon and handed it to Draco. “I got this as your engagement gift.”

Draco took the box and carefully slide the bows off one end and opened it. He grinned when he saw the Cartier watch and looked up to see Harry grinning at him. “I know, I know, but once in a while, I’m observant and I thought something understated would be fitting. The Cartiers were really nice when I Flooed them.” Draco laughed and shook his head.

“Only you, Harry, would ‘Floo’ the foremost jewelers in the Wizarding World aside from the dwarves.” They chuckled as their meals came, both of them expanding on the stories behind their engagement gifts to each other.

~o~O~o~

Remus had to give in to Kreacher’s pleas to eat a good meal before the house-elf would show him the boxes from the goodies Severus sent every so often. When the logo for Confectionary Spells appeared on one of the more recent boxes, he sat down abruptly, almost missing the edge of the chair.

“He’s…he’s sending you biscuits and cakes from an exclusive bakery?” Remus asked.

“Snape sends treats he makes,” Kreacher corrected Remus. He passed box of gingerbread biscuits to Remus after taking one himself. “Said once baking and cookery make a bad day better.” The house-elf shook his head in wonder. “No sense, but wizards don’t always make sense.”

Remus chewed his biscuit, noting how the ginger burst on his tongue, the brown and the castor sugars were blended so well that there were very few granules to grind against his teeth “…just like Mum’s,” he breathed out.

“Oh, Merlin’s bollocks! Severus, you git!” Remus suddenly exclaimed. He turned to Kreacher and grabbed him, pulling him up into a hug as Remus stood. “Severus is alive!” he shouted. “He’s bloody well and truly alive!” He swung Kreacher around and around and just as suddenly put the house-elf down. “I’m going to kill him, but he’s alive!” Remus laughed and ran out of the room.

Kreacher grabbed another gingerbread biscuit and munched it as he stared after Remus. “Wizards is barmy. Mama Elf always said so.”

To Be Continued

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~~~ Comments, like rain in the desert, are greatly appreciated.
Thank you for reading. ~~~

Welcome to Holyhead

Barclodiad y Gawres (Welsh for 'apronful of the giantess') is a Neolithic burial chamber on the coast of the island of Anglesey in North Wales.

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