Title: A Little Help
Author: TwilightKitsune1-REBORN
Word count: 950
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: K+
Challenge: The Christmas challenge on an LJ community called dracoharry100. Prompt #12, Pocket picked during the Christmas shopping crush. (Not everyone is rich, right?)
Summary: Draco learns that helping some children should come with warning labels...
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters, ideas, or location's, found in the Harry Potter universe. The storyline concept for this particular fanfiction was created in the recesses of the twisted mind of this writer. No profit is being made.
Warnings: One-Shot, AU, OOC-ness
Notes: So there goes another little Christmas story for you guys. This is a prompt from dracoharry100 ...This story was a tough one to figure... I wanted to go this way, it wanted to go that way, and when I finally sat down the words didn't want to come... I hope you guys like what came out!

A Little Help

The crush of bodies inside the store felt as though he had suddenly been stuffed inside one of those sardine cans he'd seen witches feeding cats off the streets from time to time. Slowly Draco pushed his way to the front of the store to try to reach the door as he silently wondered where all these people had come from. The store had not been this crowded when he had come in, and now it felt like it was going to be impossible to leave. "Excuse me." said a young girl as she ran into the shop and straight into Draco.

Draco looked down at her, noting her ragged clothes and the dirt that was smeared around her face as though she had tried to wipe it off in haste. "In a hurry?" He asked as he bent down, ignoring the others in the store as they yelled and fought over the merchandise behind the two.

"Y… Yes sir." She began to look around them as though scanning the angry mob in the store. "I wanted… I wanted to hurry before mommy found out I was missing."

"Oh I see, you're out shopping for a Christmas gift for your mother then?" Draco asked, a smile playing on his face as he recalled when he had been younger and slipping out to shop for his parents. "Do you need help?"

The child was silent for a moment before she finally nodded her head. "A crystal."

"Is that it?" Draco asked raising one of his eyebrows and looking behind him. Sure that section was clear but really, a crystal? "Doesn't your mother have any hobbies?"

"She likes fortune telling and her last crystal broke." The girl said, her eyes becoming determined.

Relenting Draco nodded and stood up. Before he even begun to move the child grabbed onto his hand and he felt as though she were hanging from him. He couldn't help but imagine having a family one day, maybe a daughter like this girl... He and Harry had talked about it sure, but nothing had ever been serious. Now as he was talking to the small child, telling her the qualities of each crystal and which would do best depending on the level of training, skill, and ability, he couldn't help but feel a small tugging at his heart. Perhaps he had gotten soft through the years; perhaps Harry had made him soft... The thought of having gone soft didn't bother him as he was sure it may have once had.

As Draco stood watching her debate between three crystals he felt the familiar arms of the one he had been thinking of wrap themselves around his waist. "And what do you think you're doing watching children?" Harry whispered in Draco's ear, his breath tickling Draco's neck.

"You shouldn't tease me like that in front of a child?"

"I'm just holding you and asking you a question Draco, there hasn't been any teasing yet. I've just missed you is all. The question still stands though, what are you doing here Draco?"

"Helping." Draco stated simply, a smile playing on his lips as he could feel Harry's confusion.

"I've got it!" The little girl said as she turned around and then froze when she saw Harry standing with Draco.

"Hello there." Harry said, a friendly smile on his face.

"Hello." The little girl said, her voice sounding near a whisper as her eyes kept darting to Harry's scar and then back to his eyes. "Are you—?"

"Yeah, I'm this helpful man's other half I'm afraid, so I'll be stealing him away from you unless you need any more help?"

"You are..." Shock still visible on her young face.

"Guess not. Merry Christmas then!" Harry said as he steered them both away from the gawking child and out the door.

"Why is it so much easier to get around when I'm with you?" Draco mumbled.

"Because people tend to not want to hit me. They more want to shake my hand or have a picture taken with me, so I use you as a shield there." Harry joked as they were safely out onto the snow covered sidewalk. "So have you finished your Christmas shopping?"

"Not quite. I still have a few more things to get but I should be done by tomorrow if I keep this pace up." Draco said as they walked towards a shop to get something to eat. "How about I buy the food if you get the desert?"

Harry laughed. "You always need that sugar boost don't you."

"Of course." Draco said as he begun searching for his change purse. "No meal is complete..." He felt on the other side of his robes and pants with a raised eyebrow, "Without that little bit of..." Slowly Draco checked his back pockets. "A treat at the... end— I'VE BEEN ROBBED!" Draco shouted as he begun to turn in circles where he stood.

"What?" Harry said not understanding what Draco was saying or his reaction. "You were robbed?"

"Did you not hear me the first time? YES! I've been robbed! Quick go do something!" Draco said his voice in hysteric's as people on the street glanced their way as they continued on doing their business.

Harry sighed. "What do you want me to do?"

Draco froze.

"It was probably that child Draco... To be honest there were various signs that it was her... You should let it go though, let the girl have a Christmas."

"This is why I hate children." Draco fumed as he marched past Harry towards the shop. "I want the biggest desert they have, and you are paying for every cent of it!"

The End