A/N: Hello, people!
I don't own Harry Potter.
I have no beta.
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-AND FINALLY!
Harry smiled as he presented Tom with his masterpiece. Mrs. Weasley had taught him how to knit years ago during a summer where he stayed over the Burrow. Harry had a habit of knitting when worried, and his favourite things were jumpers! They were like substitute hugs and as Harry was of the sort to really like hugs, he really liked jumpers.
And so on the annual Ugly Jumper Day at the station, no one had told Tom because Harry wanted to be the one to bring him into their fold. Harry had personally made his and Tom's jumpers and was super excited to see the man's reaction!
It was hideous. In decoration. Harry's stitching was damn near perfection, but all the baubles he'd added, and the colours he'd chosen to use(chartreuse and orange), made it all the worse with the little figurines dangling here and there.
He was immensely proud of it!
"Happy Ugly Jumper Day! You have to wear this."
Tom was gaping in horror and Harry loved every second of it! "Why?"
"It's a station tradition Rita started like half a century ago."
Said woman sent him a glare as she hissed, "I'm not even fifty yet, you tosser!"
"Details, details." He returned his attention to the man he was crushing on. "You especially have to wear this one, because I made it."
Instantly, Harry saw the man's attitude shift, and he was reminded of what Hermione had told him not too long ago. About how Tom would seem to like anything so long as it came from him. And it was flattering in a sense as the man accepted the jumper with obvious care and ran his gorgeous hands over the cable pattern Harry had slaved over.
"You made this for me?" the man asked, voice full of wonder. It made Harry a bit… sad. It sounded as if Tom wasn't used to people making him things. He knew the man's mother died before he could meet her, and his father was busy with business and trying to prepare him for the future, leaving a lot to his nanny. But surely his nanny would have done something for him. Surely he had other friends who gave him gifts?
Tom proceeded to remove both his suit coat and his waistcoat and slipped the jumper over his head. It clashed with the mauve button-down he'd been wearing already. Harry never thought anything could look more beautiful in his life.
"Thank you, Harry," said Tom softly, a very light flush on his cheeks.
In turn, this prompted Harry to also blush and look away, mumbling how it was nothing and he'd do it again in a heartbeat. It came out rushed and kind of pathetic to his own ears, but Tom looked happy, which was the most important thing.
Hermione was sending him sly look from across the room and Harry turned his nose up at her. He refused to play that game in front of Tom. He might notice how much Harry fancied him and Harry was not prepared for that kind of thing yet.
That morning was probably one of the more fun ones. And if Tom's jumper matched Harry's in design, save for the opposite colours, no one commented on it, saving him from further embarrassment.
Tom hadn't expected it, but he actually really appreciated the fact that Harry went through the trouble to make him something. Tom knew that a single jumper could take from one month, to six depending on how much time someone had on hand to dedicate to crafting it. And Harry had spent who knows how long making him a matching jumper for a tradition he didn't even know about.
The smirks he got from the others didn't bother him in the least. Hermione even cooed and told him that this was most certainly a positive step in the direction of a romantic relationship. Harry James Potter did not just spend his time creating things for everyone apparently. He felt Tom was important enough to make an article of clothing for him. He even knew Tom's size.
Of course this little situation pushed him to do better for Harry's Secret Santa gift. The exchange was this upcoming Friday, and he'd already gathered the ingredients necessary. Harry's mother had been forthcoming in regards to the proper pastries her son loved. Tom had already informed Severus that he was going home directly after leaving the station on Thursday and that he should just place the work on his desk for Saturday afternoon.
He ignored the pitying shake of the head. This was important to him! If he had to woo Harry Potter, his dear Prongslet, with sweets and innuendos, then damn it all he was going to do it!
When Harry stepped into work that day, it was with his heart practically in his throat already. He had spent so much time wondering what to get Tom for the Secret Santa Exchange, and had finally decided on making him a pair of mittens because he never saw the man wearing any despite the weather getting colder by the day.
It took him about two weeks, around two hours at a time, to finish them off. They were black, but had his initials embroidered on the inner wrist of each mitten in green, just to be sure. There would be no way to mistake them for another pair. They were also really warm and he was super proud of how they'd turned out! He'd taken extra care with them and hoped Tom would like them.
Of course he stepped foot in the building, he was bombarded instantly. The twins had wrapped their arms around him, smirks on their faces.
"Harry!"
"Mate!"
"What did you get your lover?"
Harry flushed. "Tom is not my lover!" he protested. God, did everyone think that was the case?
Their brows wiggled suggestively. "But you want him to beeeeee!" they sang.
Well they weren't wrong.
Extricating himself from their grip, Harry handed the gift box over to Marcus at the desk. Poor Marcus always ended up having to bring the mail around and every year he passed the gifts out as well. Hermione was his Santa and the gift had to do with a gift voucher to his favourite coffee shop down the street.
Marcus was smirking at him as well. "I am interested in seeing you open your gift, Potter."
And that just made him all the more curious!
Marcus appeared at twelve on the dot, and placed the two gift boxes down before both Tom and Harry.
Tom's box was forest green with a silver ribbon holding it together. It was the size of a book and he wondered what sort of book it was. With care, he untied the bow on the ribbon and slipped the lid off.
White card stock greeted him atop a pair of black mittens. The card bore his name in calligraphy.
Tom,
Happy Christmas! I wanted to give you
something that you would actually use
so I decided that this was a good idea.
And I noticed how you don't really own
anything to keep your hands warm. You
have nice hands and I wouldn't want
them to get all dry and cracked. ^-^
Thanks for being such a great help!
Harry
His jaw dropped as he set the card aside and reached out for the mittens which were incredibly soft to the touch. Harry had made them for him. Harry had taken the time to do this and he felt… extremely touched by the effort.
He'd never received a better gift. Save for Nagini of course.
He looked up, smiling and unable to help himself. Harry was watching him expectantly, looking a bit nervous. "Do you like them?" he asked.
"I love them. Thank you, Harry. I think you should open your gift now."
Harry flushed and did so. The box was white, and was one often used in bakeries. Taped to the side of it was a small note wishing him a happy Christmas from Tom and a promise to take him out later on. Tom had made sure he was free today before planning everything, but Harry was getting more than some simple pastries.
"Wow!" the younger man exclaimed, eyes going wide with beautiful excitement. "Where did you get them, Tom?"
"I made them."
Harry's jaw dropped even further. "How did you know?"
"Your mother," he shrugged.
He looked a cross between emotional and ecstatic, and settled for sending Tom a warm smile and blowing him a kiss that Tom made a dramatic show of catching and clutching close to his heart.
They shared a smile and got back to work.
"You really don't have to doooo this!" Harry told him even as he clung even more tightly to Tom's arm in an attempt to not fall on the ice.
"I wanted to surprise you," he told the man. "The lights are especially lovely now and I figured you'd appreciate the view and the chance to try something different for once. You're always working so hard."
"You work harder. You have two bloody jobs and somehow still function as a human being!"
That was true, he wouldn't deny it. "I however, still manage to find time for my interests and frivolity."
Harry hummed. "Can't argue with that. This is surprisingly fun despite how bad I am at it."
Their arms were linked, and Tom wasn't in the least bit off balance. Despite his appearance, he was very sturdy and had a good center of gravity. Harry also weighed next to nothing too.
The next hour was spent going in some a semblance of a circle, teaching Harry how to get used to the skates and how to move on his own, one foot at a time. He fell a few times and ended up laughing madly as he stared up at Tom through his lashes. He looked like an angel with the Christmas lights reflecting so many colours in his eyes and the little flecks of snow sticking to his midnight black hair.
After that, dinner was very simple and Tom had amped up as much charm as he could. Their waitress thought they were a couple and told them they 'looked cute together'. Harry was left flushed from it, but didn't deny it either, which Tom felt was a big step in the right direction!
And on the ride home, they ended up listening to Blaise's show, which was always on late at night. The music was smooth and slow, and the topics were always more adult and therefore less guarded. Children weren't expected to be awake at ten in the evening after all.
In between the songs, he'd answer a call or two, and his chosen topic had been along the lines of sex positions. They got to hear some interesting stories and Harry buried his face in his scarf as a result.
And then it happened.
Someone called in and what they had to say had nothing to do with sex.
"You've tuned into Dark Chocolate with Black Widow. Lay it all out there, don't be shy," came Blaise's smooth voice through the speakers.
"Hey, I know this isn't on topic but I can't help it, I need to know. Are Voldemort and Prongslet dating yet?"
Both Tom and Harry stiffened, waiting with bated breath for Blaise's answer.
He ended up snorting. "Unfortunately, no they aren't. And we've all been watching as they flirt ridiculously for months. Neither seems to get how into each other they are and it is killing Gred and Forge! Nargle swears they'll get together over Christmas though I can't see how since both are so bloody thick. Sorry to ruin your ship. They exchanged Christmas gifts today and still nothing happened!"
The caller sighed in obvious frustration. "It's fine. I'll try again next month. Maybe something will change and they'll confess their feelings soon. Thanks for being a good sport about my little deviation! Love your show!"
Both Tom and Harry remained quiet even as a new song came on the radio. Something cool and jazzy.
That had been entirely unexpected.
A/N: Another is done!
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