Competition/Challenge Block
Written for/Stacked with: The Houses Competition (Year 8); Monthly Challenges for All (Year 4)
THC: Slytherin - Astronomy; Drabble ([Object] Knitting Needles)
MC4A:
Word Count: 841
Beta: Ash Juillet, Hope, Dhrish
Not the Same Things
It was the first holiday Draco was spending with Astoria, and he was at a complete loss as to what to get her. They've only been dating for a few months, and a lot of her hobbies were things Draco never even considered being anything more than house-elf's work or a lowly job. (Who willingly becomes a seamstress or a tailor, afterall?) He hadn't even known the difference between crochet and knitting until she actually showed him.
Astoria seemed to favor doing a lot of things by hand, rather than with magic, like cooking, cleaning, and gardening. She also loved trying new Muggle things. Of course, his parents scoffed at the idea of him falling for a Muggle-loving, blood traitor Greengrass daughter, but he simply couldn't help it. Astoria fascinated him in ways he never knew possible, and her unique outlook about even the most mundane matters made him see reason and method to her pursuits.
"Don't you feel more connected to the flowers now that you planted them yourself?" she'd asked him after insisting he help plant her new snapdragons in the raised garden of her greenhouse.
In truth, he really did feel that desire to take extra care of them personally rather than have an elf do it or charm the tools to maintain it instead. He could've done without the dirt under his manicured nails, but a minor inconvenience to see that glowing smile on her face was worth it all.
So when it came to shopping for her, all he could think about was Muggle-related items, and that brought about a huge challenge, because he had no idea where to look for such things.
Draco absently touched the extra-soft crochet scarf Astoria gifted him out of the blue one day as he thought. Her favorite colors were cerulean blue and a deep, plum purple, and he recalled that one of her crochet hooks was misplaced and she had yet to find it.
That was a starting point… Now he had to find a store that had them.
When their parents excused themselves after dinner, Draco took the opportunity to approach Astoria with his findings after entering the living room.
"For you," Draco said hesitantly, handing Astoria three intricately wrapped gifts varying in size.
"Thank you, but it isn't Christmas yet. Wouldn't you prefer to wait?"
Draco shook his head. "I'd like to share this moment with just you, if you don't mind."
She smiled at him fondly and made her way to a nearby couch placed on the far side of the large living room. "That's sweet."
She unwrapped the longest yet smallest box first, discarding the sparkling white paper and icy-blue ribbon bow to the side. Draco awkwardly stood nearby looking tense as she revealed a pair of cerulean blue knitting needles.
"I know you like to try new things and that you lost your favorite crochet hook," Draco quickly explained. "But I saw these and thought they were similar to it?"
Astoria giggled, holding the box to her chest for a moment before unwrapping the second gift, its wrappings and ribbon matching the first, and revealed a book on knitting.
She turned the book in hand. "Let me guess: the third one is yarn?"
Draco smirked at that. "Good guess, the finest beginner bundle for you."
"I'm flattered."
She opened the box containing yarn and touched the soft skeins, sorting through a variety of colors. She pulled out the white, silver, and sage green and quickly set up everything, opening the book up to skim the example images and grabbed the knitting needles.
"This is all so incredibly thoughtful of you, Draco. I love it." Her coy smile held a hidden meaning, though.
Draco dropped his head in his hands, feeling embarrassed. "You already know how to knit, don't you?"
"I do," she confessed. "But it is fine. I love it all regardless and needed new needles. The book has patterns in it I can always use, and I am always low on skeins. So this is a wonderful gift, Draco. Thank you."
Her hands seemed to immediately form a chain with the white yarn, moving slowly as she followed the book's instructions. She was a natural with the needles.
"You're going to do this now?" Draco asked, quickly vanishing the torn wrapping paper and unraveled ribbons so he could sit beside her. "Wouldn't you like to go for tea first?"
"I'd much rather stay here and spend time with you," Astoria said, placing a hand on his thigh.
Draco rested one his own over hers, giving it a squeeze. "May I ask something?"
Astoria pulled away moment later, picking up the needles to continue on the chain. "Of course."
"Why do you enjoy these things by hand? Why not use magic?"
She paused and turned to face him fully. "Because magic fades away eventually. Doing it by hand assures it will last."
He was left awestruck at that response, allowing her to continue her task.
"Now, how about a hat to match that scarf?"