December 4th - Popcorn

Kreacher finished laying lunch out on the table and asked, "Now, Master Harry?"

"Wait until after we clean up from the meal," Harry replied.

Draco raised an eyebrow as he came in the back door, but didn't say anything. "Guess I'll do afternoon lessons," he commented.

"I'll be there to help."

"You sure Kreacher isn't going to need your help with whatever you're planning?"

"Kreacher can do all the work Master Draco. Kreacher doesn't need any help ever," the elf grumbled as he always did anytime someone made the slightest suggestion that he was incapable whether that was what they meant or not.

Draco bit his lip to keep from chuckling. "I stand corrected. Now, do I get to know what we're doing today?"

"When it's time."

"I'm guessing this one has nothing to do with the socks that came out of the calendars this morning?"

"No, they're going to get quite a bit of cold-weather clothing that will come in handy later this month and into next year. Clothing as a gift isn't fun but when it comes out of a calendar-"

"With a chocolate frog."

"With a chocolate frog, it's better. Like I said though they'll need it before Christmas for some of the things we have planned."

"Like when we go ice skating or find a place to have a bonfire?"

Harry nodded, "Exactly."

"I still say it's odd to have a bonfire in December."

"Precisely, and that's exactly why we should do it."

"You are a very odd man sometimes, Potter," Draco commented.

Harry grinned. "And you love it."

The blond stared and stuttered trying to come up with a response but was saved by the children beginning to come in from outside and going to wash their hands.

Was he flirting with me? Or was that just a joke? It had to be a joke. Harry wouldn't flirt with me. I have to stop thinking about it, but the way he smiled at me when he said it. It was more of a smirk than a smile wasn't it? That would mean it was a joke. Harry doesn't joke with me often, not like he does with Weasley or Granger, or Ginevra. He does tease me occasionally though. It was a joke. It was definitely just a joke. He didn't literally mean I love him, or that he's odd. He was just teasing. Right? He had to be. There is no other explanation.

"Draco?" Caela said quietly, poking him lightly on the shoulder.

He blinked and shook his head. "Yes, I'm sorry Cae did you need help with something?"

"No, you were just staring and staring," she answered.

"Yeah," Conor said. "It was strange. You were totally distracted."

"Are you okay?" Freya asked. "Are you getting sick? Do we need to get you a potion or some medicine?"

"No, no. I'm fine. I was just thinking about something," Draco replied.

"And really intently," Harry commented. "You haven't even touched your lunch."

"Okay, you can all stop worrying about me now," the blond said, picking up his sandwich and taking a bite. "There see, I'm eating. I'm okay."

Harry looked at him and shook his head. "Whatever you say. Okay everyone finish up eating. After lunch it's maths time, then activity time. I have a special plan for today."

"Aren't we doing something special every day?" Conor pointed out.

"Yes," Harry acknowledged, "but every day is a different something special."

Draco watched Conor roll his eyes but he also caught the small smile on the boy's face.

As the children practiced counting and basic addition using a set of toy elves and reindeer that Harry had managed to buy from somewhere just for December and had cast a duplication spell on so that they would have plenty for each child, a scent drifted up from the kitchen along with the sound of popping. It didn't go unnoticed for long.

"Popcorn?" James asked.

"Yes."

"Popcorn, popcorn, popcorn," the children chanted

"Settle down," Harry admonished gently. "We'll get to the popcorn, but we're not eating it."

"Why not?" Teddy wanted to know.

"Yeah I like popcorn," Liam said. "It's yummy."

Connor frowned. "I don't. It gets stuck in my teeth."

"In your teeth?" Marcus asked. "You mean like caramels or toffee do?"

"No, not in the tops but between them and down by the gums and it hurts," the other boy replied. "And I can't get it back out."

"It happens to me too," Marcus nodded "and I don't like that part but when it happens I go brush my teeth."

"Well, this time you won't have to worry about it because we're not eating it."

"We'll have to introduce them to caramel popcorn at some point," Draco said in a low voice.

"And cheesy popcorn," Harry agreed.

"If we're not eating it, what are we doing with it?"

"You'll see," Harry responded.

"It has something to do with Christmas doesn't it?" Liam inquired.

Michael looked bewildered. "What does popcorn have to do with Christmas?"

Draco chuckled. "I think I might know, but you're not going to find out until your work is done so you better get to counting."

An hour later Kreacher and Winky carried large tubs of popcorn into the room and set them on the table then quickly went away and came back with a large tub of cranberries. Harry took out several needles and a large ball of string then got a pair of scissors.

"Okay," he said. "Everybody put away your counters and then come sit in a circle on the floor."

The children did as asked and then watched as Harry floated a large piece of paper down in front of each of them.

Draco sidled over next to Harry and muttered, "Where are we going to hang these?"

"I'm not really sure. Some can go on the tree when we get it, trees actually. We could put garlands on both. They don't have to be completely identical but they could be similar. I guess some could get hung up with the swags around the ceiling. We'll figure it out."

"You know they're just going to eat this right? I wouldn't be shocked to see some of them snag a piece off of the string in the playroom when they get hungry." When they'd first brought the children home to Grimmauld Place many of them had been afraid to eat when given food. They had to be encouraged to eat whatever they wanted. He, Harry, and Winky had often found food the kids had squirreled away in their rooms. Anara had assured them this was perfectly normal for children who grew up hungry and not to punish or scold the children for it but to reassure them that there would always be food if they were hungry.

After a while, some of the children had begun to eat to the point of getting sick. That had also passed. There were still times however when one or another would get worried about food. Then of course they'd discovered that there were times the kids were so involved in play they didn't stop to eat if they were hungry unless there was food nearby, snacks had been found hidden in the playroom as well. One or two had even had to review how to tell when you need to use the bathroom as they became so involved in games that they'd wet themselves.

"Of course," Harry chuckled. "Why do you think I asked Kreacher to make so much? He's going to make another batch here in a bit for them to eat as a surprise, and I can't wait to see their faces when they try eating a cranberry."

It was Draco's turn to laugh. He recalled the first time he'd done that as a child himself. Getting impatient while the house elves made homemade cranberry sauce he plucked a ripe red cranberry from the bowl and popped it into his mouth expecting the same sweet and sour flavor of the sauce and instead getting bitter. He had spat it out immediately on the floor only to be scolded by Blinky, as much as any house elf would ever dare scold the child of the house.

Draco whispered the story to Harry as he helped him cut long strings and attach them to blunted needles.

"I never tried them until one time Molly was making a cranberry jelly to go with a pork roast for Sunday dinner. I was curious and mentioned it. Ron told me I should try one, they're really good."

"And you fell for that?"

"Yeah, I know," Harry responded with a self-deprecating grin. "If it had been George or even Ginny I wouldn't have thought twice. It helped that he stuck one in his mouth and pretended to chew."

"Granger didn't say anything?"

"She wasn't there yet. It's okay. When Molly saw what he'd done she bopped him on the head with her oven mitt and made him peel potatoes by hand, enough for the whole family."

"Aw the sweet revenge of watching someone get in trouble and have to do things the Muggle way."

"Yeah, it was pretty good. Especially since she let me do all the taste testing the rest of the day. Now, let's show the kids how to do this."

"You're going to have to show me first. I've never done this."

Harry rolled his eyes. "I should have known. Ok, come here."

"Here where?"

"Right here," Harry stepped back from the table a bit and gestured in front of himself. "It'll be easier this way, then you can help the kids the same way I help you."

"You can't just show me?"

Draco stepped in front of Harry and then chuckled. "You didn't really think this through did you? I'm taller than you. You can't see around me to see what to do."

"Fine, sit down like the kids and I'll show you that way."

"Are you serious? How about I sit with the kids and you show all of us at once."

"Draco, don't be such a pain."

The blond resisted sighing and rolling his eyes and sat on the ground cross-legged just like the children while they all giggled at him. Harry handed him a needle that had been threaded with a string, then placed a pile of popcorn and cranberries in front of him. Draco picked up the needle and a piece of popcorn ready to string the piece when Harry said "stop." So he froze holding the things in mid-air. Again the kids giggled.

"Ok, so," Harry said as he kneeled behind Draco and leaned over taking the other man's hands in his own. He held up the hand with the needle. "You'll take this needle and be very careful with it. They're not sharp but you could still poke yourself so be careful. You'll take the popcorn or cranberry," he said, holding up Draco's other hand while the man struggled to keep his breathing level and normal and pleaded with his heart rate to drop. "You slide the popcorn on the needle in the thickest fluffiest part and then down the string to the knot at the end. If you push too hard the popcorn will break." He demonstrated.

"See."

"Potter," Draco half-groaned.

"Patience," the man instructed him. "Now we'll try again." The popcorn slid smoothly down the shaft of the needle onto the string. "Next, a cranberry."

"Potter," Draco grumbled.

"We're almost done. I promise. With the cranberry you do have to push a bit harder, again be careful," he said as the needle popped through the berry and into Draco's palm and he jerked back almost knocking Harry over.

"Oops see what I mean, have to be careful. Now give it a try. Draco and I will help you if you need it."

Draco rubbed the spot on his hand and scowled at Harry. "You did that on purpose," he complained.

"Of course." Harry grinned, leaving the other man to wonder if it was just the poking that had been on purpose or the whole leaning against him, breathing in his ear, holding his hands that had been on purpose.

As Draco moved around helping the kids when they needed assistance he found himself looking up at Harry and watching him as much as he could without being obvious. The other man gave him no further hints that he had been doing anything other than teasing obnoxiously, still Draco wondered.