For Ana as part of Gift-Giving Extravaganza 2021, I'm so sorry it's so late, but I hope you enjoy this Draco/Harry, angst with a happy ending.

Disclaimer: Neither the world, not the characters, belong to me.

Hogwarts: Assignment 11 - Culinary Arts (Task #6) Write about eating or drinking something warm on a cold/cool day.

Don't Leave Me (You're All That I Need)

The coffee shop was quaint, and surprisingly empty, but Harry supposed that had something to do with the sprawling Christmas Market just one street over. The scent of freshly roasted coffee permeated through the air as the barista scooped beans from a burlap sack behind the counter, swaying out of time to the faint Christmas tune Harry could barely hear over the grinding machine and whistling kettles. He stamped off the ice and snow that had clumped in the tread of his boots on a small doormat before making his way towards the counter, and the employee behind it.

"Can I get a hot chocolate, with cream and marshmallows and a mocha please?" He spoke softly as the woman smiled at him, happily accepting the handful of coins he gave her before directing him to the open seating. Harry gazed at the choices before him, a few tables with mismatching chairs filled the open space, and lining one wall was a series of small cosy booths, providing a little more privacy to the occupants. He shuffled into the booth furthest from any other customers before shrugging off his scarf and coat. While it had been more than chilly outside, the small coffee shop was bursting with heat and Harry could already feel the sweat beginning to bead at his brow.

The rattling of teacups and saucers on a tray caught his attention as the barista gently placed a bright emerald mug with a tower of whipped cream and marshmallows onto the table, followed shortly by a deep crimson mug which Harry knew contained his much needed mocha. "Thank you," he murmured softly, shuffling the emerald mug across the table as he tugged his own drink close to him. He wrapped his hands around the scolding mug before lifting it to his mouth, pausing for a moment to take in the rich scent of coffee paired with the warm comfort of chocolate, before he took a hearty sip.

"Ouch! That's hot!" He yelped, almost slamming the mug back onto the table as the liquid within sloshed precariously against the rim.

"It's just been made, were you expecting it to be cold?" The teasing words caught him off guard as he froze in his seat. It had been almost a week since he'd last heard that voice, and he almost couldn't believe that he was hearing it once again. The last time they'd spoken there had been no teasing, only arguments filled with yelling and slamming doors.

"No, not cold. Maybe not scolding though," Harry stuttered before finally making eye contact with the man standing before him. Icy grey eyes were alight with mischief, but Harry could make out a hint of nervousness hidden behind the facade. His blonde hair was no longer gelled back, and instead hung over his face like a small curtain, and as expected from someone who truly detested the cold, he was bundled up in a coat and thick scarf while his hands were encased in woollen gloves. Draco Malfoy looked stunning, as usual, and Harry could feel his heart beating a little faster in his chest at the sight of him.

"Hmm, is that for me?" Draco gestured towards the hot chocolate sitting on the table, cream beginning to melt and spill down the sides of the mug. Harry nodded softly, and Draco slid into the booth, his eyes glinting with happiness as he plucked a marshmallow from the top and popped it into his mouth. "Thanks, it's bloody freezing out there."

"Is it still snowing? I got caught in it when I dropped Teddy off this morning."

"No, it stopped just after I left. The ground is icy as heck though." Draco paused, sipping slowly at his drink as he looked down at the table, his voice softer, but laced with a heartache Harry recognised as he continued speaking. "How is Teddy? I-I've really missed him."

"He's doing alright, he misses you though." Harry gazed at Draco with softness, knowing how much the words must hurt him. Draco had spent a lot of time with Teddy, building a strong relationship with the young boy as he integrated into the family, and his godson had welcomed him with open arms. They were as thick as thieves, always getting up to some kind of mischief. Harry had loved coming home from work and being greeted by their laughter, it was one of the things he missed the most when Draco left. He swallowed tightly as another wave of heartache washed over him. "He's asked about you every day. He also told me to tell you that he's waiting for you to finish his book, I'm not allowed to read it because I don't know how to do the voices like you do."

Draco chuckled softly as he ducked his head to avoid Harry's gaze, sipping slowly at the drink clutched in his hand. "I mean, your dragon voice does need some work, it's more squeaky than ferocious."

"Wow, I put a lot of effort into my dragon voice I'll have you know," he teased back before the booth descended into silence. Harry hated how awkward and stilted things had become between them, somehow that one night had ruined everything they had worked so hard on, and Harry wasn't sure he could let everything they had disappear. "Why are we doing this? I don't want to do this, Draco."

Draco remained silent, but Harry could see the pain flashing behind his eyes as he hunched in his seat, tightening his grip on the mug in his hand until his knuckles went white. His defences were up and Harry knew that he would only have one chance to try and convince him that they were right for one another, that this didn't have to be the end for them.

—

Draco could feel his heart splintering as Harry gazed at him, his eyes pleading with him to hear him out, to talk things through. Those big, beautiful emerald eyes that Draco had fallen in love with so long ago, eyes that had haunted his dreams for the past week as he struggled to sleep alone for the first time in so long. It had been a shock to his system, no longer waking up wrapped in the arms of the man he adored with everything he had, instead all that greeted him was the cold and empty feeling of being alone.

"I don't want to do this either Harry, I don't want to lose you and Teddy," his voice cracked as he tried to swallow the lump that rose in his throat. He could feel tears filling his eyes, but he refused to let them fall in public, he would save them for when he was alone and no one was there to witness his heart breaking. "I don't want to live without you, but we have to move on."

"Okay, but why? Why do we have to break up?" Harry's voice was harsher as he struggled with the overwhelming notion that he was only moments from losing Draco for good. "We had one argument, and let's be honest, it was the aftermath that hurt the most. Being without you hurts, I feel like I can't breathe anymore. I'm always looking for you, waiting for you to say something to make me laugh. I need you Draco."

"You have Teddy, you don't need me Harry," Draco shuffled in his seat, heart beating faster as he tried to push past the words Harry spoke. He loved him, but they couldn't be good for each other, if all it took was one argument for them to break apart.

"You and Teddy, you're all that I need Draco." It wasn't the words themselves that caught Draco off guard, but instead the way Harry spoke them. Draco had heard that tone before, it was the way he spoke when he was absolutely certain of something, nothing could sway his decision once he'd decided on it. "What's the point of love if I can't be with you? You may not have been the first, but you'll always be my last love. Even if you walk out of that door today and leave me in the past, I will always be in love with you Draco. Nothing will change that."

Draco's breath caught in his throat, his hands slipping from their ironclad position around the long forgotten hot chocolate, as he struggled to comprehend everything Harry was saying to him. It was all too much, he didn't know what to do, but he knew that no matter what he was going to be in love with Harry for the rest of his life. Why should they love one another from a distance, what was stopping him from going back to the life he had been happily living up until a week ago. He'd never been as happy as he was with Harry and Teddy, they were a family.

"If we do this, we can't fight like we did that night," Draco gulped, his voice quivering as he held back the tears threatening to fall. His heart fluttered as Harry reached a hand out, grasping Draco's within his own before squeezing it in reassurance. "I can't go through this again, I don't think I can cope without you and Teddy. You make everything in my life better."

"So, can we try, please?" Harry began to gnaw at his lip, his leg bouncing under the table in anticipation.

"I love you, and I want to be with you. So yeah, I'm willing to give this another go if you want to," Draco felt like he was home. They could work through all of those little things that had built up between them and come back from this, they could be happy again and that was all that Draco wanted, happiness.

"I want to do that more than anything," Harry spoke earnestly, his words laced with promises of a future together, just like they had always imagined.

"Well, why don't we go and explore that Christmas Market down the road," the blonde squeezed Harry's hand as he drained the lukewarm dregs sitting at the bottom of his mug. "We can really talk things out before Teddy finishes school."

"I'd really love that," Harry grinned. The pair began to shuffle their way out of the booth, slipping into their thick coats before tangling scarves around their necks to fight the overwhelming cold awaiting them outside. Harry made sure to leave a tip on the table as they headed out of the small coffee shop that they knew would become a staple in their life. Unable to wipe the happy smiles from their faces they began to soldier on through the howling wind and heavy snow beginning to rapidly fall around them, their hands clasping one another so tightly nothing could separate them.

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