Chapter 8
"Ah, but you're so busy changing the world
Just one smile and you can change all of mine."
Song - Angel (Holiday), by Jack Johnson
8 December 2005
Draco stepped out from the Floo into the now-familiar kitchen. The hand on the clock on the wall moved position, making his face heat. Even several months later, it made him feel strange to think that Molly and Arthur had given him a hand on their family clock for his birthday. They accepted him not only as a part of Harry's life, but as a part of theirs. A part of their family.
Still, it was rare he came here without Harry.
"Draco!" Molly greeted him, bustling into the kitchen. It was warm, and the smells of supper still hanging in the air made Draco's stomach growl. He'd eaten leftover pizza, but Molly's cooking rivalled anything he'd eaten at the best restaurants or classiest houses. It wasn't as fancy, but it was always delicious. "Let me make you a plate. Did you eat any supper? Never mind, I'm sure you could have a bit more. You boys are both so thin."
Draco chuckled. "Maybe I can just take some home instead and share it with Harry later?"
Her eyes warmed even further if that were possible, and she patted him on the hand. "Of course, dear, that's a wonderful idea. How late will he be working tonight?"
She ushered him into the sitting room, gesturing to the armchair next to hers, a lamp and basket of yarn between them. He sat down and crossed his legs, trying to push away his final few nerves that tried to rear their heads when he was alone with any of the Weasleys. "There was another break-in, so it's hard to tell. But at least it gives us a chance to get started."
The smile she gave him looked gleeful, as though she were about to be treated to something special. And maybe she was. He imagined it wasn't every day she got to share her hobbies with others.
"What made you want to learn to knit?"
He searched frantically for an excuse, something that wouldn't be a lie but wouldn't make him feel naked beneath her gaze. But nothing would come to him, and he finally just gave up. "You."
"Me?"
"Harry looks forward to your jumpers every year. He always tells me about how much it means to him that you take the time to make him something, and how every time he puts it on, it makes him feel loved."
"He's such a sweet boy," she says softly, her eyes glistening.
"I want to make him a pair of socks. Or a scarf. Or something. Something that he can put on and think of me, that he can know I spent time making myself. I'm not really very artistic, but I thought maybe I could do this."
She wiped a tear away from her eye, and her smile stretched from ear to ear. "Well, I think that's a wonderful reason to learn, dear. I think a scarf will be easier, so maybe we'll start there and do some socks next year."
He felt the tension he'd been holding in his stomach relax and smiled. Reaching over to the basket, he found a ball of yarn in a rich aubergine colour and picked it up. "Okay, so, how's this work."
Molly handed him a pair of knitting needles, pulled her chair closer, and they began. Harry would get a handmade gift from Draco this year if it killed him.
A/N: This was a short chapter, but there are a few longer ones coming up, don't worry.
On a side note, special to my FFnet readers... It takes a good deal more work for me to post to FFnet each day for this story, especially in the spicy chapters where I need to do some edits to keep it inside the FFnet rules/guidelines. I don't mind doing that as long as I know there are people out there reading it on this site. I'm not asking for reviews, as I know not everyone is comfortable leaving them, but if you don't mind hitting the favorite or follow button for the fic to let me know you're out there, I'd really appreciate it. I just want to make sure it's worth the extra effort I'm putting into it to make it available on this platform. And of course, if you'd like to drop a comment in a review, I wouldn't mind that either. (though I do tend to delete troll reviews, just a heads up).
Hope you're having a good week! See you tomorrow!
