December 12 - ice skating
"I'm not sure this is a good idea," Harry said as they stood on the edge of the frozen pond at the back of the Malfoy Estate.
"You worry too much," Draco replied. "The kids will be fine."
"Of course, they will be. I'm more worried about myself. I've never been ice skating before. We have too much going on this month to risk me breaking every bone in my body."
Draco bit his lip. "You won't break every bone. You might break an arm, but we can repair that."
"Without vanishing the bones and having to regrow them because that really was awful?"
"Definitely, though we do have Skele-grow if we need it."
"Not funny."
"Seriously we can take care of you if something happens. Are you really more worried about yourself than the kids?"
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Seriously."
"You said it I didn't."
"No, I'm definitely more worried about them, but I'm older and if I break something and have to take time to heal then you have to take care of them and me and you shouldn't have to do that."
"You will all be fine," Draco began. "Even if something happens I don't mind taking care of all of you. Besides, Hermione made a suggestion yesterday when we talked about doing this today, and I took it. That's why I came over early. Let's get them over here and get their skates on."
Harry shook his head and then shrugged. "Okay." He whistled and waved his arms to get the kids' attention. They came running throwing the last few snowballs at one another.
"Sit down on the benches," Draco instructed them. "Take your shoes off and sit them on the bench beside you. When you have your skates on I'll put your shoes in the shed."
He went along and handed each child skates he had resized to fit them exactly. He and Harry then helped the children tie the skates tightly so they wouldn't come undone. Finally, after he had put their shoes away the two adults helped each child stand and balance two at a time while the others sat and watched.
"So you all can stand. The next step is walking a bit to get to the ice. Harry and I will help you."
"But Harry isn't wearing skates," Liam pointed out.
"I don't know how to skate yet either," Harry told them. "I'll put skates on soon. For now, my shoes are spelled to keep me from slipping so I can help you."
"How can you help us if you don't know how?" Conor asked skeptically.
"I'll just help you to balance and follow Draco's instructions."
"Do you have room for one more?" a cultured voice asked.
"Nana Cissa," Caela said. "You can sit by me and Teddy."
"Thank you Caela dear. Hello, Teddy."
"Hi, Aunt Cissa."
"Um," Draco whispered to Harry. "Since when is my mother Nana and not Grandmother Malfoy?"
"The kids wanted to know what to call her because they didn't like the latter option, so I sent her an owl and asked what she'd prefer."
"Wait, she suggested Nana?"
"Yes."
"But Teddy…"
"Teds is your cousin as you recall. He and I had talked about that back when he was supposed to come to live here. We talked about her then as his aunt. I guess that stuck."
"Draco be a dear and get my ice skates please," Narcissa asked.
"Yes, Mother." He retrieved the skates and handed them to her. "Perhaps you'd like to teach the children. You taught me after all."
"Did you cast a cushioning charm on the ice?"
"Yes."
"And those devices I see are to help the children?"
"Yes, it's apparently an apparatus used by Muggle children to help them maintain their balance as they learn. They can hold on with both hands and slide it along in front of them. As they gain the confidence they can push it ahead and skate a few strides to it."
"That certainly seems easier than trying to hold you up by the arms."
"Or the armpits," he agreed. "We'll see how it works. Hermione said it was how she learned."
"Miss Granger does seem to know best about the Muggle things we should incorporate into our practices." Harry tried desperately not to goggle at the statement, finally turning around when he couldn't keep his face quiet. I knew she'd changed, but Narcissa is even more different than I expected.
"Can we skate now?" Michael asked.
Draco chuckled. "Okay let's try this. We'll start with just a few at a time to make it easier for your dad, Nana, and I to help you."
Thirty minutes later the children were all on the ice, skating in one way or another. Harry walked between them trying not to jump anytime one of them stumbled. So far no one had done any more than bang a knee on the ice or fall on their rear. There had been no tears.
"Harry, dear, aren't you going to skate?" Narcissa asked coming to a stop next to him.
"I don't know how and I don't want to try and learn while the children are. I need to be able to watch them."
She nodded and skated gracefully away.
Another thirty minutes passed and at least half of the kids were beginning to wear out. Teddy and Caela had already found their way back to the benches to sit. James was on his way.
"Children, let's go inside. Blinky should have spiced cider for us to warm up. Draco, why don't you take this time and teach Harry to skate so he can enjoy himself more next time you come over."
"Oh no," Harry objected. "We'll come in with you."
"I can handle everything," Narcissa assured him. "I've had Blinky make up some small beds in the side salon. I'd say within fifteen minutes most of them will be napping."
"She's right you know," Draco said. "Come on, get skates on."
Narcissa led the children to the house. Harry watched them go and chewed his lip.
"She really can handle them," Draco told him. "I know she only had me, but there were times when I had multiple friends over. Besides, she's right most of them are ready for a nap. They'll be fine. Come on, I can teach you. You've watched the kids for an hour now along with Mother and me. I've seen you start to move your feet like you were skating even with your shoes on. You should be able to do this easily. If the kids can do it. You can."
"I won't have one of those things though," Harry pointed out, looking at the walker-like contraptions lining the edge of the ice.
"I'll help you. You get the skates on while I put everything back in the shed."
"Where did you get those anyway?" Harry asked as he took his shoes off.
"Hermione told me about them and then she dropped one off this morning. I brought it over and duplicated it. As per usual, she refused to let me pay for it. I owled Gringotts immediately after she left to have money transferred to her account."
Harry nodded and tied the skates then pulled the laces loose and tied them again.
"You really are nervous about this aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Alright then. I'll hold on to you and I promise not to let go." Draco held out his hand. Harry stood and hesitantly took the proffered hand.
They walked together to the edge of the ice, then carefully stepped onto the frozen surface of the pond.
"We'll start slow, push off with the right first," Draco said.
Harry nodded and pushed off slightly wobbly. His left hand was held tightly in Draco's, his right arm extended out to the side. They began to skate carefully across the pond. Harry slowly started to feel more stable and more confident."
"See, you've got this," Draco observed.
"Don't let go," Harry replied, clinging tightly to the other man's hand. "You said you wouldn't let go."
"You don't need me."
"Yes, I do!" Harry insisted and pulled Draco closer knocking both of them off balance. They landed in a heap in the snow at the edge of the pond.
"What was that?"
"You were going to let go," Harry accused.
"I was not, but you don't need me."
"Yes, I do," Harry said quietly and reached up to brush snow off of the blond's cheek.
"Harry," Draco started.
"Dad, Draco," Marcus called. "Nana says you should come in before the cider gets cold."
"We'll be there in a minute," Harry answered. "I guess we're done skating."
"I guess so."
The two men removed their skates, put their shoes back on, and double-checked that everything was put neatly away in the shed before crossing the lawn to the Manor. Draco could still feel the clench of Harry's hand in his as it had when they were skating. The other man brushed against his shoulder as they entered the kitchen. He stopped for a second to take a breath and steady himself.
"You coming?" Harry asked.
"Yes, just wanted to be sure my feet were dry."
"You can use a drying spell you know."
"Yeah, right. Okay."
His heart still raced but Draco did his best to hide it as they joined his mother.