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Draco Malfoy knew how interrogations were run. He didn't like to talk about it very often, but he could remember the feeling of the entire Wizengamot staring down at him in the most accusatory fashion, while questions were hurled his way. Somehow the small child staring at him with squinted amber eyes was making him feel ten times more terrified than he had in his trial.
"So Teddy, do you like ice cream?" Draco rarely spent time around children, but he was sure that all kids liked ice cream, it seemed to be the best place to start.
"I like chocolate ice cream. Do you like ice cream?" He continued to stare Draco down, to the point that he was sure he'd begin to sweat from fear if he didn't ease up soon.
"I do. My favourite is cherry, but chocolate is great too!" He tried to stay calm, his tentative smile slipped slightly at the sight of Teddy frowning. In some ways he felt as if he was slowly failing a very important test. "In fact, having a scoop of both together is the best."
Teddy's eyes widened in awe at that, and for a moment Draco felt his heart leap with happiness that perhaps he was finally approving of him. He had known that it would take a lot of time, effort and plenty of patience on his part for a bond to form between him and Teddy. He'd been more than willing to put in the work, knowing that he didn't just want to be with Harry, but he wanted to be a part of Harry and Teddy's family.
"Two scoops. You can have two scoops?" The words were spoken quietly, and yet the way Teddy was eyeing him had Draco preparing for the inevitable. "Uncle Harry never lets me have two scoops, but you will, won't you Uncle Draco?"
oOo
"This is yummy!" Teddy cheered, licking away at the cone clutched tightly in his hand. Two large scoops of ice cream, one chocolate and the other vanilla with ripples of cherry woven throughout leaned precariously on the cone, chocolate sauce spilling down over his tiny hands .
"I told you cherry was good, right?" Draco held a cup in one hand with the same two flavours, topped with cream and cherries, in his other hand he clutched a pile of napkins he was sure he'd be needing very soon. "This chocolate though, you really know the best flavours Teddy, it's delicious!"
"I know right, it's got little chocolate bits in it too. Sometimes they add cookie crumbs on top," he said. Draco couldn't help but to laugh at how knowledgeable the little boy was when it came to his favourite ice cream flavours and toppings, at the same time he was thrilled that they had found something to bond over. Draco was more than willing to spend every sickle he had on ice cream if necessary.
"Cookie crumbs sound amazing," Draco nodded in agreement. "Perhaps we should try to make ice cream sundaes one day, we could have different flavours and a lot of toppings to try. Would you like that?"
Teddy's eyes lit up as he began to bounce in excitement at the thought of making his own monster sundae. "We could put brownies and cake and ice cream all together, with all of the sauces! Some cherries too, I like them now."
"That sounds magical, and a bit sickly, but as long as Uncle Harry says yes then you can put what you want in it." Teddy paused, contemplating Draco's words with a slight tilt of his head. It was rather unlikely that Harry would allow Teddy that much free rein with the dessert cupboard, but there was always a chance that he didn't have to know.
"Or, it could be a special Teddy and Draco secret?" His grin was cheeky and the twinkle in his eyes told Draco exactly what he was doing. It was a good thing for Teddy that Draco loved a little mischief, and he also loved ice cream.
"Hmm, a Teddy and Draco secret it is."
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