Severus stepped out into the blistery wind of a cold December morning, struggling to maintain his hold on an extremely wriggly two-year old. Hopelessly excited about seeing Santa in the mall two-towns away, Draco was positively vibrating with excitement.
"Draco!" Severus sighed, exasperated. "Hold still!"
"Santa!" Draco squealed, his greyish-blue eyes shining brightly.
"Yes, we're going to see Santa." Severus agreed, fighting off the migraine that threatened to overtake him.
A few moments later, Severus stood before his 1953 Chevrolet truck. Growing up, his Father hadn't even let him touch the vehicle, much less drive it. But, thanks to the miracle of birthrights, when that drunkard bastard had died from liver failure, all his property reverted to Severus- regardless of the oaf's many shouted promises that Severus would never inherit anything from him.
Opening the passenger door, Severus carefully placed Draco into his car-seat, taking great care to make sure all the straps were tight and secure. Adding a few more cushioning and shielding charms atop of the dozens already in place, Severus tousled Draco's hair before climbing into the truck on his own side.
Bringing the engine to life, Severus handed Draco a playset of keys to stick into the fake steering wheel attached to the dash in front of him. Grinning toothily, the future-Slytherin accepted the gift and started his own engine. Giving the horn a test, Draco looked firmly as Severus.
"Click!" He ordered.
Severus nodded and jerked his seatbelt over his shoulder, appeasing the toddler by doing exactly what he was already planning to do in the first place. Flicking through the radio stations, and earning mostly static, Severus finally settled on his and Draco's favorite station. A rock station, one that was prone to playing Queen and other bands equally as perfect.
"Let's go." Draco drawled, slicking his hair back like the Thunderbirds from the movie Grease.
Severus smiled, and pulled away from the street, directing his truck away from the dreary slums of Cokesworth. He drove on for a good half-hour, until even the nicer part of town was a distant blur in his review mirror. Santa might have been in several of the malls in the richer part of that town, but the snobs who resided there would never allow someone from the slums into their buildings. He and Draco were better off going to the much smaller, friendlier village of Greenwood. Even if it was an hour away.
"Mammmmmaaaa!" Draco sang along with Freddie Mercury, holding his fist high in the air. "Ooooo-oooo!"
Severus grinned, admiring the child's antics as he joined the singing. It was not often that Severus let himself give way into silliness, but what could he do? The boy had an uncanny ability to lesson his inhibitions in a way very reminiscent of Lily.
"Are you hungry, Dragon?" Severus asked, after half an hour had elapsed and the outskirts of Greenwood began to appear.
"Santa first, Sevus." Draco decided, hugging his stuffed dragon close to his chest.
"Very well."
He pulled up to a tiny schoolhouse, struggling to find parking in the designated area. Some halfwit had managed to double-park with their van, and Severus purposely backed in close enough to ensure they'd never be able to enter their vehicle until he left as they were now sandwiched between the side of the building and his truck.
Removing Draco from his restraints, Severus followed after the small throng of people just arriving for the same festivities. They were all heading towards the football field of the school, an impressive stretch of space that the villagers had transformed into the 'North Pole.'
"Sevus! Santa!" Draco repeated, tugging at Severus's hair.
"Yes, Draco." Severus smiled, hurrying behind the small line to greet the muggle impersonating Santa before it become too long. "We'll see Santa soon."
"Oh, Goodness!" A woman squealed behind him. "Look at all that gorgeous hair!"
Severus turned to see a friendly blonde woman, two small children holding onto either her hands. Her smile was bright and kind, and nothing about her overall demeanor was alarming or predatory. He relaxed after that analysis, and smiled politely at the stranger.
"He comes from a family of great hair." Severus explained.
"Are you excited to see Santa, little one?" She cooed, tickling Draco beneath his chin.
"I see Santa with Sevus." The toddler agreed, flattered at all the attention.
"Sevus?" She smiled, looking to him for explanation.
"Severus." He clarified. "I'm his Godfather."
"Mary." She introduced. "I'm taking my Godchildren out for the day, too."
"Mary?" A pig-tailed girl tugged at her arm. "How much longer?"
Taller than the pretty woman was, Severus turned and stood on his toes to see over the rapidly shortening line. Much to his relief, as Draco was getting squirrely, there was only half a dozen kids left in front of them.
"Ten minutes." Severus estimated.
"Mary?" A boy barely older than Draco spoke up. "Sleigh?"
"Yes, soon." She smiled, looking slightly harried. "After Santa."
"I take it they've been pestering you all day long with questions?" Severus smirked.
"All week long." She chuckled, clearly a remarkably patient woman.
"If you'd like, you may cut ahead of us." Severus allowed, feeling remarkably generous given the infectious Holiday cheer spreading throughout London.
"Oh no, we couldn't!" Mary protested. "You're little one is already so excited."
Severus didn't press the matter further, and for the next thirteen minutes both he and woman shared an amiable conversation about the various hijinks the children in their charge liked to get into.
Finally, at long last, Severus came face to face with the elderly man portraying Santa Clause. Clustered around him in a small crowd, young teenagers dressed as elves stood, giggling as brightly as a group of first-year Hufflepuffs.
"HO HO HO!" The octogenarian exclaimed, chuckling merrily. "And who've we got here!"
"Draco!" The toddler grinned, completely awestruck.
"Draco!" Santa exclaimed. "Come and sit on Santa's lap."
At the suggestion, a redheaded elf with a nametag reading Sparkle came forward and removed Draco from Severus's arms. Skipping forward, she promptly deposited the squealing child atop the plump man's lap.
"Come now, tell Santa what you want for Christmas."
"Bwoom!" Draco announced, referring to the children's Firebolt in Diagon Alley that had caught his eyes a few weeks prior.
Santa, to his credit, did not miss a beat.
"And what else!?" Santa grinned, bouncing Draco a bit.
"Lightsaber." Draco replied. "Red one."
"Well, Draco, have you been a good boy?"
"Very good." He insisted, fluttering his dark lashes.
"Santa is very happy to hear that!" The senior grinned. "And so is Floppy!"
Another teenager came forward, his dreadlocks racing all the way to his backside. Retrieving Draco from his 'boss,' the young man carried his Godson over to where a large pile of paper bags stood atop a picnic table.
"Pick one out, little man." Floppy encouraged.
Draco took a good three minutes before finally selecting a bag decorated with stickers of trucks and cars. Satisfied, he immediately reached out to Severus again, having grown suddenly shy around the odd-looking elves that looked nothing like his beloved Dobby.
"Let's see what's in this bag." Severus suggested, seating himself atop a rickety bench several feet away from the small crowds.
Draco ripped the stapled bag open and peered inside, an ear-splitting grin replacing his big smile. The inside was bloated with muggle candies, and a small toy car and truck to boot. Evidentially, Greenwood took the responsibility of adequately portraying Santa very seriously.