Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, I do not have any rights to Harry Potter and I do not make any money from writing these fics.

Written for: The As Much As You Can challenge, The If you dare continued challenge, The Restriction Challenge, The Halloween Competition, The Stay in the Box Challenge.

Prompt: drabble/ficlet/oneshot collection, between 500 and 1,000 words, Stutter, Nothing Cannon, (object) Cauldron.

Day 2 - Two Nervous Salesmen

Harry could not believe his eyes as he sat quietly on one of the bar stools in the closed pub wearing his favourite long skirt and red jumper. As he took a sip of his self made Butterbeer the sounds of a nervous salesman's stutter came to his ears. With a frown of confusion on his face Harry finished his sip and placed his cup down on the bar's counter and gave his full attention to the scene in front of him.

"Please sir, this is the best we could do," Mr. Smith said as he shared a nervous look with his co-worker. "These cauldron's are the most suitable for what you want to do..."

"My partner is right sir, even if we have no idea why you would want an everyday item like this cauldron for to celebrate Halloween," Mr. Jones said as he backed up Mr. Smith. "Would you not prefer to decorate your splendid pub in a more fitting fashion? Like paying some ghosts and ghouls to haunt your pub for Halloween night?"

"And we can't forget the good old fashioned Muggle person burning at the stake!" Mr. Smith said enthusiastically causing Harry to bite back a snort of amusement. "It really is a shame that a lot of places have stopped using that prop but with the new protection laws for Muggles and all...I can sort of understand why."

"I can assure you my good sir's that these cauldrons will be ideal for what I have planned!" Aberforth said with a happy clap of his hands as he ignored the two nervous salesmen and closely inspected the cauldrons. "Harry, dear, what do you think of these?"

"I take it with how large they are and how thin they look that you are not going to use them for brewing any potions?" Harry half asked and half stated as he did his best to understand just why his lover had been so excited about these two cauldrons for. "As decorations for the pub I have to admit that they would be a good idea and I look forwards to seeing what you have in mind."

"Of course I won't brew any potions using these cauldrons. If I did then we would have to say 'Goodbye' to the pub, what with how thin the bottoms are," Aberforth answered dramatically. "I plan to hide a few surprises in these to get the unwanted drunks who have become nothing but a bother and pain out of my shop or hold people until the Auror's can get here."

"Wow, practical and fun," Harry said with a low whistle as he turned himself in his seat so he could get a better look. "Well if sounds like you have some super special Halloween decorations planned for our first Halloween. Will these cauldron's go with all of the other decorations that you have planned? What if people try to brew real potions in them?"

"That problem is solved with a few simple spells my love," Aberforth answered with a shrug of his shoulders. "Plus these two cauldrons will be full with something special for a certain group of friends of mine who will come to the Halloween party."

"Certain group of friends?" Mr. Smith said suddenly as he gave Aberforth a searching look before turning his gaze onto Harry. "Is there something we should know because in our line of work we have had several occasions on when we have to report things to the Auror's."

"He means friends that are not human and would prefer something a bit different, like Hagrid for example," Harry explained as he carefully spoke only the half truth while leaving his lover's Demon status silent. "Do not worry Auror's Tonks, Moody and Kingsley at the very least will be attending our Halloween party so there is nothing to worry about."

"Alright...then I guess all that is left is the payment," Mr. Jones said slowly with an unsure expression on his face. "How will you be paying?"

"By the normal means," Aberforth answered easily as he pulled out a plastic card from one of his robe pockets. "Harry, be a dear and move these wonderful cauldrons into the corners of the pub that I cleared earlier."

Knowing better then to question his lover when he got a strange idea in his head, which was one of the few things he and Albus shared, Harry let out a soft sound of agreement before sliding off of his chair. With one last wondering look at his lover Harry did as asked.

To Be Continued...