Chapter 18
"I don't need to hang my stocking there upon the fireplace
Santa Claus won't make me happy with a toy on Christmas Day
I just want you here tonight holding on to me so tight
What more can I do? Baby, all I want for Christmas is you."
Song - All I Want for Christmas Is You, by Clementine Duo
18 December 2005
Draco
Draco held Teddy's left hand and Harry held the boy's right as the three of them walked through Hogsmeade. The wind coming off the mountains cut through Draco's cloak, making him shiver and nearly taking his breath away. A Warming Charm suddenly fell over him — and he guessed Teddy as well, as the boy relaxed slightly — making that spot in Draco's chest that felt tight so often these days tightened just a little bit more.
The feel of loving someone this much was so strange. Surely it wasn't normal to feel this way, was it? But then Harry looked at him with that little half-smile and bright eyes, and Draco decided he didn't care. "Thank you," he mouthed to Harry, and the smile grew.
Teddy slipped on the ice a little and Draco and Harry both firmed their grips, keeping their charge upright. But instead of the ensuing giggles Draco expected, there was only silence.
Harry must have noticed it too. "Hey, Teddy Bear, what's wrong?" he asked when Teddy didn't say anything.
"Nothing. Can we go home now?"
"I thought you wanted to go up and see Hagrid?"
Teddy shook his head. "I don't think I feel very good. I want to go home."
Draco met Harry's eyes, seeing the same concern reflected in them. He squeezed Teddy's hand. "Absolutely. Let's go home. Do you need to go home to Gram's? We'll understand if you don't want to stay the night."
Teddy shook his head, but when Harry picked him up and they walked to the Apparition point, Teddy didn't even complain about being too old to be carried. He only rested his head on Harry's shoulder.
When they arrived back in Grimmauld Place, Harry took Teddy into the sitting room to warm up, and Draco tucked Andromeda's gift that Teddy had picked out into the closet. It was the purpose of their outing, one they'd done each year they'd been together. Teddy had come to expect it as much as the ice skating.
Another tradition, Draco realised, making him smile.
A quiet sob from the sitting room caught his attention, and Draco hurried over to the threshold and stopped.
Teddy was mumbling something to Cat, then he let out another sob and scooted up next to where the animal slept under the Christmas tree, running his hand over her soft fur. He continued talking, but Draco couldn't quite make out the words.
Teddy laid down next to his feline companion, the fire flickering warmly over them both from the hearth several feet away. He looked exhausted.
"Teddy," Draco said as he entered the room, "where's Uncle Harry?"
"In the loo."
Draco moved closer and settled down on the rug next to Teddy. "Can I sit here with you and Cat?"
Teddy shrugged listlessly.
"Are you still feeling sick?"
"'m not sick."
"Then what's wrong?"
"Don't wanna talk about it," Teddy mumbled.
Draco sighed, wondering how he could comfort the child. He watched Teddy's fingers play with the fur in Cat's paw, the little pads of her foot twitching occasionally but her purring continuing without a hitch.
"I don't like Santa."
That took Draco aback. Teddy had been adamant about meeting the Santa in Hogsmeade for weeks. He'd counted down the days until they could go, so this sudden change was… interesting.
"Why not?" Draco worked to keep his voice even, but he was already seething. If that man did something to hurt Teddy, Draco would not be responsible for whatever actions resulted on his part. But Harry and Draco had been only feet away—
"He's a liar."
Uh, what? "What do you mean?"
Teddy inched closer to Cat now, pressing his face into her speckled fur. "He's supposed to make toys and give good kids what they want for Christmas, right?"
"Yes," Draco said hesitantly, unsure where this was going.
"And I want a Jedi lightsaber that glows and fights and is the coolest toy ever. And I've been a really good boy this year, haven't I?"
"You have," Draco said, still confused but now overly excited about his purchased gift.
"But Santa said those lightsabers were really hard to make and that he couldn't make enough for everyone this year, so I should think of another toy I also want in case he can't make me one."
Draco wanted to laugh. If Draco hadn't been able to find one, then he'd be thanking Santa for his quick thinking. Instead, the man had just needlessly pissed the little boy off.
"Maybe Santa didn't want to upset any children whose families didn't want them to have one, since Santa listens to parents' and guardians' wishes."
Teddy seemed to think about that before his face lit up. "So Santa might still give me one?"
Wait, what was he doing? He was not going to give Santa credit for his amazing gift, was he? Was he?
"Yeah, of course," he managed to get out, his voice sounding like a croak as it was forced past the ball of pride in his throat. The Best Cousin Ever award was fading before his very eyes. "I bet Santa has a lightsaber ready just for you, and he was only trying to surprise you."
"Yeah," Teddy said, his voice excited again and full of awe. "Yeah, you're right. Thanks, Draco! I'm going to go write him a letter right now, telling him I understand now and that Uncle Harry and Gram said I could have one." Teddy hopped up and ran from the room, leaving Draco alone to contemplate his new honorary-Hufflepuff status with the now sullenly awake Cat.
"Well done, love," Harry said from the doorway. He sat down next to Draco and pulled Cat into his lap, scratching between her ears.
"Yes, well, it's only a gift. As long as he's happy and all that rubbish," Draco said, waving his hand, pretending to brush the matter off.
Harry leaned in close and turned Draco's chin until they were nearly nose to nose. "You're the Best. Cousin. Ever."
And there was that feeling in his chest again.
Like a freaking Hufflepuff.
A/N: One week! Only one week until Christmas! I am only 50% ready, so this next week had better be productive, lol. Hope you're enjoying the story. Final countdown: 7 more days.
