THIRD DAY: Three Terrible Parties
Harry woke abruptly and bee-lined it for the toilet as a wave of nausea hit him. Severus sat up at the sound of his small husband vomiting. He calmly rose and went to Harry's side, rubbing gentle circles in the man's back. Harry coughed and was hit with another wave of sick. This time he groaned and rested his head tiredly on the seat.
"What time is it?" he rasped as Severus wiped his face with a cool, damp rag. "I usually wake up early enough to manage it better."
Severus rubbed the washcloth over Harry's neck too, kissing his forehead. "Nine. Draco woke first and shut off your alarm. He went out to handle something and will be back by eleven." He cast a breath freshening charm on them both. "Come back to bed for a bit longer, Kitten. You need to rest."
Harry nodded as he was scooped up into Sev's arms and tucked into bed, spooned by the other man. "Thanks, Sev. I sleep better when someone's here," he said drowsily, fading back to sleep.
"There you are Draco," Harry beamed, kissing him briefly. "Now, which suit do you want to wear to the dinner party? I want to lay out our clothes now so we can relax a little between lunch and dinner...hmm..."
Draco pulled Harry close and kissed him properly. He pulled back, snickering at the dazed expression that the formerly frazzled Gryffindor wore. "You pick Kitten. My boss just reminded me that I'm bringing-"
"The wine? I know. I picked up five bottles of that Merlot you love so much. They're in the wine cupboard," Harry breathed, kissing him tenderly. He was happy to have him home, inexplicably happy. Damn hormones. The Gryffindor smiled up at him, gazing into the steady silver pools that twinkled with affection. He shook his head, remembering they were on a schedule. "Will you wear the green cashmere to the luncheon?"
Alas, the moment was gone. Draco went to complain about changing, but he saw that Severus had agreed to wear the deep sapphire jumper he hated and changed his mind. "Of course."
Harry flitted on to his next train of thought. "And don't worry, Sev. I took care of your 'Secret Santa' gift. You had Minerva remember? I then I made sure we had a little something for Remus and Sirius too," he babbled as he continued in his task of picking out their dinner attire.
Draco strolled over to Severus, who was sitting in his chair near the bedroom fireplace, reading. The blond leaned down and kissed his concentrated brow, sliding a folded copy of the floor plan into the book.
"Everything in order?" Severus asked, closing the book with the paper in its pages.
"Yes. You look really dashing in that color, by the way," Draco smiled as he moved to change his top.
"So you two keep telling me," Severus drawled.
"I thought you were going to have him sleep in."
"I did...until 9:05." Draco chortled, shaking his head in amusement.
"I swear if I hear myself referred to the living embodiment of Ebenezer Scrooge. pre and post Christmas ghosts, one more time," Severus growled as he stormed into the condo, "I'll strangle them all with the garlands!" The bedroom door slammed to punctuate his point.
"He certainly comes close," Draco commented softly.
Harry glared at the man. "You know how much he hates that. Don't think that I don't know you instigated it, Draco. Do you even know why he hates it? Have you actually read A Christmas Carol?"
"No! It was written by a muggle!" Draco gasped in horror.
Harry marched to the bookshelf and pulled the classic from its place, slapping it into the blond's hands. "Read it. Yes, they are similar. But does our husband need to be reminded of his flaws and past personality every Christmas? No. If you intend to have a witty comment and sharp tongue, at least know how to use your weapon so that you don't cut too deeply into the wrong person," Harry seethed, summoning Draco's clothes. He threw it at him. "And you can dress out here, while I try to calm him down."
Draco stared at the door in disbelief...but did as he was told. Harry rarely got that direct or enraged anymore.
Harry tiptoed into the bedroom to see Severus lying on the bed. He tilted his head affectionately as he climbed on top the man. "Why did you throw his clothes out?" Severus croaked.
Harry ran his hand, soothingly into Severus' hair. "He started the Scrooge comments." Harry struggled to hold the furious Potion's Master down. "Don't. He doesn't get it."
Severus exhaled. "I know that I was a cold, heartless bastard of a man..."
"Well, I think you're better than Scrooge...nothing like him really," Harry purred. He continued at the man's curious gaze. "He became bitter and cold by his own greed. Your heart hardened because at every turn you met toil and it didn't allow you to love or experience it. And even though you were driven to crave power, you continually worked for redemption...for the right reasons. Scrooge had to experience one crazy night of ghosts and when he woke it was if it never happened. But you, my dear Severus, saw your own heart and struggled to change while everyone watched and criticized your hunger for life. Scrooge had to face his demons and fears for one night...you face yours everyday...because they weren't just a dream you experienced on your own. In my opinion, you are a far better man than Scrooge could ever be acclaimed to be."
There were some major flaws in his reasoning, but the effort was appreciated. "Thank you, Kitten," he whispered, catching his lips in a gentle kiss.
"Besides, Scrooge didn't get nearly as much arse as you do," Harry purred.
Severus choked into a startled laugh, moving his husband aside. "I'm going to shower."
"Okay. Are you alright?" Harry smiled. Severus nodded. When he was gone, Harry exhaled. Severus was still upset and he probably wasn't going to speak to Draco for the rest of the evening. Men. Are. Babies.
"Explain to me why you decked your boss, the Head of Pediatrics, in the face again, Draco," Harry inquired, setting the blond's nose back into place and cleaning up all the blood.
"Merlin's cock! Harry, use a numbing charm next time!" He growled, tiny tears forming in his eyes from the sharp pain.
"Answer the question, Dragon," Harry sighed, fixing his husband's collar and tie.
"He...He made some unsavory comments about your role in our marriage...that you were just...a catamite...a-a fuck toy...and that I should share," Draco explained tiredly, his adrenaline ebbing from the surge of the fist fight.
Harry froze, slightly turned on by the fact that he had uncharacteristically defended his honor. "Oh...well...But you could lose your job!"
"Harry. I'm the best in my field. He's not going to fire me. And if he does, I don't care...no one has the right to say what he did."
Harry was about to argue, when Severus spoke up calmly. "I talked to his wife and she seems to feel that under the circumstances her husband deserved it. She's not going to allow him to press charges or retaliate in that manner."
Draco rushed forward to hug Severus. "I'm sorry about earlier," he mumbled into the man's chest.
"It was foolish of me to be affected in that way," Severus replied softly.
Draco pulled away, kissing him lovingly. When they parted, Harry finished straightening Draco's robes and hair. "Thank you for defending my honor, Dragon," he said softly. "But if you're not careful, people will think my Gryffindor nobility has rubbed off on you."
"There's no need to be offensive, Kitten," he grunted.
Harry chuckled, kissing the corner of his mouth chastely. "Come on, you two, let's get this last one out of the way..." he sighed.
Harry had tears threatening to break free as he hung his coat and wordlessly left his spouses in the doorway to do the same. Severus and Draco gave each other a confused glance. It wasn't something they'd done. They had been on their best behavior during the Blacks' Party.
They both cautiously entered the living room to see Harry lying on the couch, silently crying. Severus and Draco maneuvered his body so that his head was in Sev's lap and his feet were in Draco's. "Kitten? Did we do something to upset you?" Draco asked, starting to massage Harry's feet.
"No...you were both perfect," he sniffled.
"Then why are you crying?" Severus inquired, softly playing with the man's thick hair.
"Even when you make the effort to be cordial, they still give me the third degree about how I could possibly be with you...I just wish people would just shut up and realize this is permanent. I mean, we've been married for three years and dated for two before that. Five years is pretty invested for a whim," he rambled.
"They still need time. Not everyone is as forgiving as you are, love," Draco stated. "There's a Christmas Special on tonight. Want to watch?"
"Yeah," Harry rasped, wiping his tears away.
They watched in silence for a long while, when finally Severus had something to say. "Well...it's clear Christmas Parties are a decent tradition...just not three in one day. So I've a proposal." Harry turned to gaze up at him. "We only attend one party a year-"
"But how do we choose?" Harry blurted.
"May I finish?" Harry shut his mouth, nodding. "We only attend one party and it's the one we host. Draco and I will make sure our colleagues understand that if they want a staff party, it'll have to be during hours. Our holiday is off limits."
Harry thought for a moment. "What about the Weasleys? And the Annual Victory Yule Ball?"
"I consider the Weasleys' Party a family function and the Ball is an obligation to the State."
A smile began to brew in their lion's features. "That is a brilliant compromise, Sev!"
He leaned up and kissed the tall Slytherin, happily. Draco smirked, pouncing to assault Harry's neck with nibbles. Harry broke away to devour Draco's mouth, knowing well that Severus liked to watch the two younger. The Potions Master stretched his arms over the back of the sofa, gazing avidly at the scene unfolding in his lap. Jingles Bells rang faintly in the background from the television.
