Competition/Challenge Block:
Written for/Stacked with: Monthly Challenges for All (Year 3)
Other MC4A Challenges: Su Bingo 3B (Fire); Fireworks (Adventure Writer); Community Garden (Chore List [Hugging]; Bed Types [At Night]; Plant Types [Nontraditional Family]; Garden Tool [Ceramic Mug/Teacup]; Plant Food [Grains]); Shipping Wars (Heroic Shadow [Unconventional Date]); Link Maker (Bingo); Scavenger Hunt (Ceramic Mug); Chimera Creator (Protection)
Representation: Harry Potter/Blaise Zabini QPR; Protective Behavior; Holiday Traditions
Primary & Secondary Bonus Challenges: Second Verse (Unwanted Advice; Spinning Plates; Zucchini Bread; Nontraditional) Chorus (Tomorrow's Shade; Fire Song; Machismo; Pocky Pockets; Pear-Shaped) Demo (Muck & Slime; Queen Bee); Demo (Sitting Hummingbird)
Tertiary & Generic Bonus Challenges: O3 (Olivine); FR (Satisfaction; Liberation); SN (Intercept); T3 (Terse; Terrarium)


Summary: Harry loved Christmas, but hated decorating for it. At least one person he loved knew this.

Rated: T

Genre: Family

Warning Tag: References to Canon Child Abuse


Yuletide Comforts

Christmas time for Harry never had been the most wonderful time like the songs in the stores sung about. To him, it was a reminder of how much he was loathed by his family. Most people enjoyed decorating their homes and trees with lights, baubles, and tinsel, but not Harry. Those things were seen as a chore, a punishment, and to the Dursleys, there was never enough garland around the house or the baubles weren't ever perfectly spaced out with the rest of the ornaments. No one ever helped him decorate anything at Number Four Privet Drive, there was only criticism and complaints. They never corrected any of it themselves, either, yet always took credit for it whenever guests or neighbors complimented the dressed up home.

So when Hermione suggested they brighten Grimmauld Place up with some lights in the windows and dress the empty tree that was set up in the sitting room, Harry physically flinched. Naturally, some of the Weasleys who happened to be visiting that day loved the idea, but Blaise knew better than to take Harry's reaction as more than face value. He was on his way into a complete meltdown at the mere request.

"Get out," Blaise snapped, violet eyes glinting at the small group clustered around the sitting room.

He never took it too kindly when Harry's alleged friends triggered him. Blaise would've thought that after a decade they'd know what would have Harry completely shut down.

"Pardon?" Ron asked, clearly offended by the command.

"Is this all just a game to you people?" Blaise hissed back, moving to the now catatonic Harry and grabbing his hand, giving it a squeeze to try and ground him. "I said, get out."

Hermione, the only one who seemed to register what was happening, got to her feet. Ron was about to protest, but George and Angelina intervened. The two couples quickly said their goodbyes, and Hermione whispered an apology as she passed by Harry.

Once the door clicked shut, Blaise guided Harry to the couch, sat him down, and lit a fire. "Focus on the flames. I will be right back."

Harry gave a feeble nod, staring into the roaring fire. Blaise didn't take long to return with a bowl of popcorn, dried berries and apples, and long pieces of thread with needles. He wasn't surprised to see Harry had managed to construct a pillow and blanket fort in his absence, using the knitted throw blanket as a roof and couch cushions as walls. The floor was a nice cushioned area of pillows and blankets as well.

The warmth from the fire made the space act like an incubator.

Placing the bowls at the entrance, Blaise cuddled in beside Harry. "My mother and I used to make these garlands when I was young."

Blaise grabbed a dried apple slice and some popcorn before taking the needle and poking it straight through the center of the apple and then the popcorn. He proceeded to separate the fruit with the popcorn, alternating between apples and the various berries.

"They make a lovely fireplace treat, too," Blaise said, popping a few pieces of popcorn into his mouth.

Harry laughed then, doing the same with some berries. He leaned into Blaise then as their charmed cocoa and tray landed in front of them. Harry had come back to him, and was now melting into the contact and comfort it provided. Thoughts of decorating long casted from his mind and into the fire.

"Thank you."

"Anything for you."


Originally Written For:

Monthly Challenges for All

Word Count: 589

Originally Written: July 2020