A Regular Ninja (One-Shot)
Jan. 11th, 2012 04:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
noxiusveritasTitle: A Regular Ninja
Beta:lksnarry1
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Length: 6200 words
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Fluff. A lot of Christmas time fluff.
Summary: St. Mungo's was not where Draco had intended Harry spend his Christmas. And Draco is not about to let Harry spend the holidays there alone.
Disclaimer: I make no claim to Harry Potter or the accompanying ideas and characters. They belong to J.K. Rowling, Warner Brothers, Bloomsbury, Scholastic, and others. This is written for entertainment only.
Author's Note: This was written forhdseasons Stocking Stuffer fest, my first ever fest, and I had a ridiculous amount of fun working on it. It was a gift for 1farmer_girl. Thanks, as always, to my wonderful beta.
"Caden, get down from there. Now!" Draco's expression was hard as he scowled fiercely at his son.
"But why? This is fun." Caden slung himself upside down over the banister he had been swinging on. Draco's scowl deepened, and he raised his wand.
"Now, Caden. Before I charm all your gifts to remain wrapped until Boxing Day." Caden shook his head like a top and put his feet back on the wood of the stairs. Draco rolled his eyes at his son's foolishness. "Go fetch the mistletoe from the mudroom. Get your daddy to help you carry it in, and be careful not to hurt yourself."
While his son was out of the room, Draco set himself to charming various large Christmas baubles to hang from the ceiling. In a sudden fanciful gesture, he organized the baubles so they formed the constellation of Draco. It was unlikely that anyone but Draco would notice, and the shape would keep him amused through the chaos of the holiday season.
"Daddy's not here, Father! Maceley says that he is out shopping for presents and will be back in about an hour." Draco rolled his eyes. He was sure Harry was shopping for his gift. They had gone out to handle Caden's presents weeks ago, and Draco knew Harry often left his personal shopping to the last possible moment. It wasn't Christmas Eve, so Harry must be getting better with the terrible habit, but still, Christmas was only a week away.
Still, Draco was furious that Harry had dived out of the house. He knew today was decorating day, and he would be getting an earful later for not being there to help.
Draco never decorated the house until the week before Christmas. It had been a tradition in his childhood, and it was one that carried over to his adult life. A week to the day before Christmas, everyone in the house would begin preparing for the holiday. Decorations would go up, stockings would be hung, and Draco's mother would select the foods that would be served at Christmas dinner. All the gifts would be wrapped, and by the time Draco went to bed, the house would look like Christmas from a utopian fairytale.
"All right. Would you like to decorate the tree, since Harry isn't here to help you carry?" Caden nodded quickly. Draco smiled. Caden was happy Harry wasn't here, then. Decorating the tree was much more fun then carrying in the mistletoe.
*
By the time dinner was ready, the house simply screamed Christmas, though it was refined and tasteful throughout. Draco, however, was distracted by his worry. Harry wasn't home yet. He should have come back hours ago, but Draco hadn't heard from him.
Draco had Caden sitting down at the table before going to the Floo. "Granger-Weasley Residence." He stuck his head in and waited silently. Granger had wards all over her Floo, she would know that he was calling. There was no need for him to shout into the room like a plebeian.
"Draco, what are you doing at home? I thought you would be at the hospital." Draco's eyes widened.
"What the hell happened that would require me to visit the hospital?" Granger looked at him in shock.
"You mean no one called you? I thought the hospital did, she said she had called all Harry's close kin. I'm sorry--"
Draco couldn't wait any longer. Something had happened to Harry, and no one had thought to inform him. Bastards, all of them. "What the fuck happened, Granger?"
"Harry was in Diagon Alley. There was a fire. He was trying to Apparate a group of children out of the buildings, but he splinched himself. He's at St. Mungo's now." Draco had his head out of the fire before she finished speaking, and Granger had to push her head in to keep the connection. "I can take you to his room. I knew you weren't there when we left, but we thought you were just leaving Caden at Parkinson's, like you always do when you need a babysitter."
"You can watch him for a few minutes, yeah? You can take him back to your place or come here, I don't care. I'll just go say good-bye to him." Draco watched Granger long enough to see her nod. "Excellent."
Draco marched straight to the dining room, and Caden looked from Draco to his seat at the table. "Are you coming back to eat dinner, Father?" Draco smiled gently at his son. The boy was only five, and it wasn't odd that he considered Harry's absence no major deal. Harry had been gone shopping for longer than this before.
"No, Caden. I have to go see Harry."
"Are you going to bring him back home? He's late for dinner." Draco nodded.
"I know, and I have no idea if he will come home tonight. He had to go to the hospital." Caden frowned and stood up to walk to Draco.
"He's all right, right? He's just a little sick," Caden asked. Draco shrugged.
"I don't know how sick he is. But I'm sure he'll be fine. He'll want to see what all you got for Christmas, so he will have to get better, yes?" Caden nodded, but he still had a worried look. Draco sighed and gathered his son in for a closer hug.
"Listen, Cay. Are you listening?" Caden nodded silently. "If your daddy is still not feeling good and has to stay in the hospital tomorrow, I will take you to see him; would that make you feel better?" Caden nodded.
"And I will get to see him on Christmas, right? No matter what?" Draco nodded resolutely. If Draco had to break down the walls of St. Mungo's, he would make sure Caden saw Harry on Christmas. For that matter, Draco would do just as much to make sure he saw Harry on Christmas. It had been years since they had spent the holidays apart, and Draco damn well wasn't going to let the berk break their tradition now.
"Yes, Caden. You will get to see him everyday. Now, I am going to check on him, so you need to stay with Hermione. I expect you to act like a gentleman, do you understand?" Caden nodded. He didn't mind being told to act like a gentleman, and he did well with it, considering his age. Please and thank you and pardon me were common words in his vocabulary, at least.
*
St. Mungo's was incredibly crowded. Various people there to see those injured in the fire crammed themselves into the hallways, and the Welcome Witch's desk was almost impossible to reach in one piece. Draco managed though, elbowing and scowling his way through the group.
"I want Harry Potter's room. Now." The Welcome Witch looked at Draco, eying him before she spoke.
"Who are you, if I may ask?" Draco hissed quietly. This was a waste of time, and he wanted to see Harry.
"Draco Malfoy. His husband, whom no one thought to tell that he was injured. Get me the damn number, now." Draco made sure with his stare the Welcome Witch didn't doubt he was act against anyone trying to stop him from seeing Harry.
"He's in room four thirty-three. On the fourth floor." Draco nodded and left the desk.
The trip up the stairs was quick, and Draco slid past the doors and the few people easily. Stairs were much better than the elevator, which Draco was sure was full of people who would slow his trip.
Harry was in a room alone, for which Draco was thankful. Draco hated letting their relationship become fodder for the public, which was still obsessed with Harry.
The door was plain white, but Draco hadn't expected anything else. He opened the door quietly, just in case Harry was sleeping. "Hello?"
"Hey. How are you?" Harry's eyes were closed as Draco walked in, but he spoke, so he was awake. And when he recognized Draco's voice, he shot up and his eyes opened. "I doubt you're supposed to sit up, you idiot." Draco stepped forward. "How are you?"
"Better. Took you long enough to get here." Draco scowled, causing Harry to cock his head.
"No one thought to tell me that you were hurt until I called Hermione when you didn't come home in time for dinner." Draco kissed Harry gently. Harry saw no need for the gentleness, biting Draco's lip and gripping his arms. Draco pulled away.
"Really? You're listed as my next of kin. . ."
"I have no idea what happened. I'm going to find out, though." Harry shrugged. Draco didn't let himself think that meant Harry was going to let him do anything he wanted, or keep his mouth shut. Harry always hounded out what Draco was doing, and he always had an opinion on Draco's ideas and actions, especially when he considered them extreme.
"Is Caden all right?" Draco nodded.
"He's worried about you, of course. He wants to come see you tomorrow." That reminded Draco of something out he wanted to learn. "When do you think you will be able to come home?" Harry shrugged.
"I don't know. The mediwitch should be in soon, ask her." Draco shook his head. Harry never worried about what was going to happen to him as much as he should. He would trust that the healers and mediwizards would have the idea about how much time he should spend in the hospital, even though he hated St. Mungo's with a passion. In fact, he would likely try to leave early, but that was to be worried about later.
"I will." Draco rolled his eyes. "So, Granger tells me you got yourself hurt trying to save a group of children from a burning building. You idiot. You could have simply put out the building. Or called the Aurors." Draco poked Harry in the arm.
"I couldn't just leave them. They were kids." Harry's eyes were blazing, and he was sitting up again. "Draco, what if it had been Caden?"
Draco fell silent. The answer was that there would have been no need for Harry to run into rescue Caden. Draco would have already been there. But he couldn't say that. It would make Harry think Draco accepted him running off to rescue people. Draco's husband was not going to put other people's health above his life.
Draco settled himself onto Harry's hospital bed, absently tracing Harry's fingers. They were quiet until the mediwitch came in to tell Draco that visiting hours were over. "I have a question before I leave."
The mediwitch looked at Draco. "When is Harry going to be released to return home?" The mediwitch frowned in thought. Then she looked at Harry questioningly.
"This is my husband, Draco. You can tell him anything you would tell me."
"Mr. Potter should be released in about a week and a half. He has splinched several internal organs, and it will take a week for those to heal; then we will want to keep him a few more days for observation." Draco nodded. Internal organs were finicky, and Harry was lucky the healers were able to heal him fully.
Still, Draco's nod was given with a scowl. Harry would be in the hospital for Christmas.
*
Caden's visit to the hospital was interesting. Draco had told him before they left that Harry was going to be in the hospital over Christmas, and Caden had broken into pitiful sobs when he realized his daddy wouldn't see him open Christmas gifts.
Upon ending his crying, Caden had insisted that they take Christmas decorations to Harry's hospital room. Draco hadn't fought his son's determined demands; he had thought it a wonderful idea.
"Daddy, we're here! Father said we could decorate your room for you!" Draco smiled as he heard Harry's laughter.
"Did he now? What did you bring to put up everywhere?" Caden piped into a cheerful list, telling Harry that Draco had all the things Shrunken in his pockets.
"Hey, Harry." Draco dropped a kiss onto Harry's lips, and Harry responded with a kiss of his own. "How are you feeling today?"
"Pretty crappy, actually. They gave me some shi—" a glance at their son and Harry changed his wording quickly, "potion that makes my chest hurt way too much to be helpful." Draco placed a hand on Harry's chest gently.
"I'm sorry. I hope our visit helps a little." Draco smiled. If there was one thing no one wanted when they were in pain, it was an excited child running around their rooms like a pleased puppy dog, but Draco knew Harry wouldn't trade it for a few hours of peace and quiet. Neither of them could really go any time at all without seeing their son, and Draco had no idea what they would do when he went off to Hogwarts.
"I'm sure it will." Caden had climbed his way up Harry's bed, and he hugged Harry tight around the middle. Draco saw Harry wince and grabbed up Caden's arms.
"Gentle, Caden. Daddy's hurting, and you don't want to hurt him more." Caden's eyes widened.
"I'm not hurting you Daddy, am I?" Harry shook his head.
"No, Caden. But I had to take some potions that make me sore, and we just have to be careful, all right?" Caden nodded frantically, and Harry grinned. "Come here. I want a hug; you just can't be rough."
Draco let go of Caden, who flew straight back into Harry. Harry held him for a few moments before letting go. "Weren't you going to decorate my room, short man?" Caden grinned and nodded, rummaging in Draco's pockets to pull out the popcorn strings and getting Draco to enlarge them.
*
By the time Caden finished the room, there were popcorn strings falling from the ceilings and holly or mistletoe on every flat surface. Draco had tried to stifle his son's decorating, but the boy was just too excited to keep things subtle.
Draco would have insisted they removed some of the décor, but he could see Harry was thrilled with it. He thought it was brilliant, of course. Draco's husband wasn't much older than his son, sometimes.
"Caden, we have to go get you some dinner, all right?" Caden started to look at the ground, and Draco knew what that meant. "Going isn't optional, Caden. It's time for dinner, and then you need to get ready for bed."
"I want to eat with Daddy! I don't want to leave." Draco looked at Harry to see if he would be getting help. If he wasn't, it would be a while. It seemed Harry was too busy at the moment grinning at their son's show of loyalty to his daddy.
"We will come back tomorrow, I promise. We'll come see your daddy everyday, but we have to go home at night. It's the rules of the hospital." Draco sighed mentally when he saw that he wasn't convincing his son.
"Hey Caden, come up here." Caden crawled willing back into the bed beside his father. "Listen, I need you to go home with your Father, yeah?"
"Why? I want to stay here with you. I want Father to stay too, of course," Caden gave Draco a nod, showing who he meant in case there was any confusion. "We can go home another day."
"The hospital has a rule that everyone has to leave at night. And I need you to go home with your father. Otherwise, who will make sure he eats his food? You know how he forgets when he is worried." Draco scowled, but he couldn't say anything. Harry's methods might be annoying, but they produced results. Thinking he would be helping his father, Caden agreed to come home without any further complaints. "There's my short man."
Harry gave Caden another hug before helping him down off the bed. Draco came over to give Harry a hug and kiss of his own, and they said good bye before leaving the hospital.
*
It was Christmas Eve before Draco had any more trouble with Harry being in the hospital over the holidays. He and Caden had visited every day, but Draco realized that his gift wasn't something he wanted to give Harry in the hospital.
So he would have to go shopping. He thought to take Caden with him, and let the little boy get his daddy something to cheer him up in the hospital on Christmas.
"Caden, come here for a moment." Caden came careening down the hallway. "Walk indoors Caden." The boy obediently slowed down. "Now, how would you like to go to Diagon Alley?" Caden frowned worriedly. Draco wondered if it was due to the fact that's where Harry was hurt.
"Why are we going?"
"I thought we could get you daddy something for Christmas in the hospital. Since he won't get his real gifts until he comes back home." Caden thought, but he eventually nodded.
"Put on your coat then. The shoppes will close early for the holidays." Draco smiled as Caden rushed out of the room. Caden reminded Draco sharply of both his fathers in that regard. Once he made his decision, he wouldn't change it. He would stick with his choice until the end.
Diagon Alley was crammed with last minute shoppers. Everyone was trying to get everything they needed as quickly as they could. They were both eager to return to the peace of their homes and afraid of a fire like the one last week. Draco grabbed Caden's hand and told the boy not to let go, for fear of the little one getting lost in the shuffle.
"What do you want to get your daddy, Caden?" The little boy slowed down while he thought, and Draco tugged him along. Draco already knew what he wanted to get Harry, and he wanted this trip over with quickly.
"I'm not sure. What are you gonna to get him?" Draco raised his eyebrow.
"Going to, not gonna. And can you keep it a secret during our visit until he opens it?" Caden nodded happily.
"Repeat the words, Caden. You know how this works." Caden shrugged and corrected his grammatical error.
"What are you going to get him? And I can keep a secret. I didn't tell you what Daddy got you!" Draco nodded.
"That's true. Alright, I'm getting him a Quidditch book to read while he gets well. Does that help you choose?" Caden was quiet again in thought.
"Can I get him one of those Quidditch models like I got last year? You know, the ones where he can say a play and the model will do it?" Draco laughed. The model was a children's toy, not accurate enough to be used by coaches or players, but it was cute nonetheless.
"Yes. I think that will be a grand idea. We'll go to Quality Quidditch after our stop in Flourish and Blotts, sound good?" Caden nodded.
Flourish and Blotts was not the most crowded of the shoppes on the alley, but it was still incredibly full. Draco finally gave into the pressure of his hurry and picked up Caden, settling him on his hip. Draco had been trying not to carry his son all that often, insisting the boy walk. He was six, and he should be capable of moving himself around. But in these crowds, he was just too slow.
Draco found the book he wanted quickly, giving it to Caden to hold. It was a discussion on the various plays and moves used in Quidditch, which Harry still played on the weekends. In fact, he was starting to teach Caden the rules of the sport.
Draco had to wait in an eternal line to pay for the book, and he passed his time by talking to Caden. "What do you think you're getting for Chirstmas?"
"I don't know! I haven't opened my presents yet." Draco laughed.
"No, you haven't. I'm going to make a guess then. I think you got a lump of coal." Caden looked offended.
"No I didn't. I've been really good this year." Draco nodded easily.
"You have. So I suppose Father Christmas will have to bring you toys, won't he?" Caden hummed agreement.
The cashier nodded them up, and Draco payed before rushing out the doors.
The next shoppe was Quality Quidditch Supplies, where Draco continued to carry Caden. It was much faster then waiting on the boy's slow legs, and Draco hated being out with this many people.
The Quidditch shoppe was far more crowded than the book shoppe. Draco had to elbow and push to get in the doors, and then he had to fight with the group of middle age witches to get to the display of children's models.
"Excuse me, sir," Draco summoned a shopkeeper with the ease of long practice. "Caden, point out which model you want to get Harry to the gentleman." Caden helpfully pointed at the newest model and told the shopkeeper he wanted one with the Magpies and the Harpies colors.
"That sounds lovely, Caden." Draco grinned at Caden broadly.
Caden wanted his present for Harry to be gift-wrapped, so Draco had the clerk at the shoppe do so. He didn't usually let the clerks and shopkeepers wrap his gifts, preferring to choose his own paper and gift tags, but they were going straight to the hospital to give Harry his gifts, and there would be no time.
While he waited for the shopkeeper to wrap Caden's gift, Draco burrowed a quill to write a note in the front flap of Harry's book. He didn't want it to be wrapped, but he did want it to say something special.
"Let's see if we can get back through the crowds to give your daddy his gift." Draco took the gift from the shopkeeper and gave him the money. Then he fought his way out of the shoppe, a son in one hand and parcels in the other, and walked to the Leaky Cauldron.
*
St. Mungo's was shockingly quiet. Draco would have thought it to be bustling, with folks visiting their infirm relatives and friends, but apparently everyone either did that on Christmas day or didn't see the point of doing so at all.
Draco let Caden down to walk, and they made it through the halls and stairs quite quickly. Draco knocked on the door before Caden could burst through it, making sure there were no healers who would disagree with them bringing toys into the room.
"Come on in." Draco could hear the amusement in Harry's voice. He knew who it was, of course. He claimed his friends just didn't sound like Draco were when they were waiting at the door. Draco could only assume that they talked while they waited.
"We brought presents, Daddy!" Harry looked at Caden for a moment before turning to Draco.
"You did?" Caden clambered onto Harry's bed, just as he had done for the past week, and gave his father a hug.
"Yep! They're so you have something to do while you wait to get better and come home." Draco pulled out the book and the wrapped box, looked over at Caden.
"Which present do you want to give him first, Caden?" Caden laughed.
"Your's, Daddy. You thought of it first." Draco nodded. His son had an odd sense of fair play, but Draco let him have at it. He didn't do anything to harm anyone.
"Here, Harry. Something for you to read while you're hurt. You should at least expand your mind a little." Harry laughed good naturedly while opening the front cover of the book. Harry knew Draco all too well. He knew that Draco would have written him something in it.
Harry read the message quickly, looking up at Draco with a quirk in his lips as he finished. "Thank you, Draco. It's wonderful." Draco grinned. The message hadn't been overwhelmingly sweet, but Draco knew it was enough for Harry. Harry liked the occasionally simpering note, just to remind him that Draco loved him. So Draco had given him one:
Harry,
You're an idiot. One who is going to die before his thirtieth birthday, at the rate you're going. However, I love you dearly, and I hope you are well soon. I want you back at home.
Merry Christmas with love,
Draco
Draco gave Harry a kiss, but that was all he had time for before Caden decided it was time for his daddy to open his gift.
"Daddy, I got you something too. It goes with Father's gift!" Harry, laughing, took the package Caden was determined holding under his nose.
"Let's see here." Harry pulled the paper off fiercely, without any care for the mess he was making. Draco spelled the bits of paper away, to entertained by the two's excitement to be really upset. "Wow!" Harry pulled out his model.
"It's so you can see all the moves you read about in your new book. Father took me to buy it." Harry laughed, the bright tone making Draco smile right along with him.
"Thank you both. This will make my time in the hospital much nicer. As long as its not going to replace your visits everyday?" Caden shook his head.
"We're coming to see you everyday, right Father?" Draco nodded.
"Yes. Maybe more than once some days. Like tomorrow." Harry nodded.
*
Christmas morning without Harry was, in a word, wrong. It had been years since Draco had spent any holiday without Harry around, and Draco hated it. Still, he had a little boy to keep happy.
"Father! It's time for presents! I want to see what Father Christmas brought me. Wake up!" Draco grunted. It was early, and he had spent half the night setting out the gifts from "Father Christmas".
"You better not have peeked, young man!"
"No, Father. But you have to come down so I can go see." Draco forced himself out of the bed. It was another reason to hate Harry's absence. The gifts didn't take nearly as long with a second pair of hands, and Draco wanted the kiss they had always shared, standing in the middle of a room full of children's toys. There would be even more to set out next year, Draco was sure.
"Come on, short man. You can go open your gifts, now." Draco watched as Caden tore into the parlour, where the family Christmas tree was.
"Caden!" The boy looked back at Draco with a question all over his face. "Don't open the gifts from your daddy and I. We'll open them at the hospital where he can see you, yes?" Caden nodded, looking a little lost at the reminder that Harry wasn't here. "Go ahead and start your gifts. You can take your three favourites to show your Daddy."
Caden set aside the gifts from Harry and Draco; then he proceeded to rip into everything from Father Christmas. The gifts were excellent, of course. Harry had gone with Draco to pick them out, and they had gotten almost everything that looked appropriate for Caden.
The flurry of paper and packaging that flew in the parlour was remarkable. However much of a mess Harry could make unwrapping presents, Caden could beat it with his eyes closed. Interjections of "Wow!" and "Neat!" could be heard, and Draco just sat back and smiled, watching his son enjoy Christmas morning.
Soon all the gifts were opened and Caden was in front of Draco, showing him this and that which he had received. "Look, Father. I got a new Snitch."
"I see. Why don't we go get some breakfast?"
"Then can I choose what gifts I'm going to take to show Daddy?" Draco nodded.
"We'll go see him again after breakfast. Come on, we need to eat." More importantly, at this hour, Draco needed caffeine. Quite a bit of it.
*
Two cups of tea later, Draco was feeling ready to take the excited Caden to see his daddy. Caden picked out his new Snitch and a couple of other little toys to show Harry, and they left off.
"Don't forget your other gifts, Caden. If you bring them here, I will carry them." Caden darted back into the parlour to grab the presents from Harry and Draco before he came back in, ready to leave.
The hospital was more busy than it had been on Christmas Eve. People came in the doors, most carrying armloads of parcels clearly meant for their ill friends and family. Draco grabbed Caden's hand to make sure he kept up and led him though the halls.
When they reached Harry's room, Caden couldn't stand to wait for Draco to knock. He barged right in, calling out, "Daddy, we're here. Happy Christmas!"
"Hey! Come in, Aunt Hermione and Uncle Ron are here too. And they brought Rose and Hugo with them." Caden beamed. He loved his cousins. Sometimes Draco thought he loved the Weasley brood more than he loved his fathers.
"Hey, Harry." Harry smiled silently at Draco, waving him over for a kiss. Draco smiled too, wishing Harry was home so he could share Harry's real gift. Draco wasn't going to tell Harry in the hospital, that was for fucking sure.
"Hello. Weasleys." Draco nodded at Harry's friends. They weren't people Draco would have chosen to be his friends, but they were so close to Harry he had accepted them. There had simply been no other choice.
"Hi, Draco."
"Harry was just telling us you've been here everyday. He also said that Caden and you were in charge of decorating in here. I assume it was mostly Caden." Granger—Draco still found it easier to call her so, even after attending her wedding—smiled easily at Draco.
"Yes. He was determined that Harry get a little Christmas cheer." Weasley grinned. Neither he nor his wife every said anything, but Draco knew they both considered the way Draco treated his son and husband hilarious. The former Death Eater and one of the best solicitors currently available in the Wizarding World, completely floored by a please or a pleading smile from his family. As long as they kept their mouths shut about the entire occurrence, Draco let them keep their pleasure.
"It's sweet."
*
The rest of their visit passed with Caden opening his presents and about three hundred people visiting Harry. Every Weasley currently in the UK came to tell Harry they wished him a happy holiday and hoped he was feeling better soon.
Even Draco's mother had stopped by, though that was not in the least surprising. Draco didn't think it possible for Narcissa to let a holiday pass without at least speaking to her son and grandson. She didn't have any problems with Harry, either. It made sense that she would come over.
She brought with her gifts for all three of them, though Draco had told her they could open on Boxing Day, so she could open her gift from his family as well. She had insisted that Caden, at least, get to open his gifts on Christmas, so Draco gave Caden his gifts from his parents as well, and he marveled over tons of toys, books, and games he had gotten with relish.
Draco took the opportunity of his mother's visit to take her aside for a moment and ask if she would like to spend the night with him and Caden. He told her that he wanted to spend some time with Harry and without his son, he so was going to come back later. She agreed, stating that they could have breakfast together on Boxing Day.
*
As Draco had thought, he didn't get a breath of time alone with Harry and Caden, not to mention alone with Harry. When it was time to get Caden dinner and a bath, Draco gave Harry a kiss good night, leaning in to whisper in his ear, "How tired are you?"
Harry grinned, and Draco was sure that he had a good idea of what Draco was going to do. "Not in the least.
"Take a nap right after we leave. You've been up all day." Draco let that part of his little conversation be a little more noisy. It would merely sound like a worried husband, fretting over his sick partner.
"I will. I'm fine, though." Draco rolled his eyes. Harry would do as he said, Draco was sure.
*
With Caden safely in bed and Draco's mother set in the guest room for the night, Draco slipped out the door to his and Harry's house. From there, he Apparated out to St. Mungo's.
It was ten in the evening, well after the end of the visiting hours at St. Mungo's, but Draco knew perfectly well that he could get in. He just had to do it right.
Draco slipped past the odd looking wall that made up the guest entrance to the hospital. There were really no wards on the door; instead, they depended on the watchfulness of the healers and security to protect their patients. Draco would have kicked up a fuss about the habit, but the Aurors put watches on anyone in any danger. Harry had one, though they normally kept themselves quiet and subtle, hoping that anyone with the idea to attack Harry wouldn't see them until it was too late.
Draco walked up the staircase like he had every right to be there. There weren't many healers on duty at this hour and, unlike in the middle of the night, they didn't expect anyone to be breaking in. Especially on Christmas. Added to all that, Draco stopped at the first handy alcove and Glamoured his robes to the lime green that healers wore.
Draco relied on the fact not every healer knew every other healer and thought his little ruse should be plenty to get him through to hospital. The only people it was sure not to fool were the Aurors, and Draco thought they would let him through. Most were Harry's friends.
*
The Aurors did let Draco though, and he was soon standing in the front of Harry's room. "Harry, are you awake?" Harry started.
"Draco!" Draco smiled at Harry's childish joy.
"I was here just a few hours ago."
"You and a bunch of other people. Not that I didn't love their visits," the foolish Harry actually sounded like he was worried about offending someone, "but I haven't gotten to see you in weeks. Not just the two of us."
"It's been a week. Just a week." Draco dipped his head slightly. He did understand how it could feel like forever.
Draco walked over to the hospital bed, sitting down and scooting close to Harry's body. Harry was warm, and Draco enjoyed it after the cold of the outdoors. "It's awful, you being here for Christmas."
"At least I got to see everyone. And I still get to see you, too." Draco laughed.
"Yes, but you don't get your gift until you come home." Harry pouted.
"Really? Why not? Couldn't I use some cheering up just now?"
"It's not the kind of gift you give in the hospital." Draco had to fight the urge to laugh and give the game away. Harry would most definitely be getting this gift in a hospital, but Draco wasn't going to tell him about it in one.
Harry huffed out a breath, and Draco kissed him before he could speak again. "I can't wait until you're back home." Harry kissed Draco right back, running a hand through Draco's hair.
"Me either. I want to kiss you somewhere other than this damn bed, and I want to give you your present. Hell, I even want to give Caden his daily you-cannot-run-everywhere lecture." Draco laughed.
"I'll hand it to you willingly." He kissed Harry again. It was brilliant. After not getting anything more than short pecks while in front of their son, Draco couldn't help but give Harry a long, leisurely kiss.
A swoop of his tongue had Draco in Harry's mouth, where he grabbed Harry's lower lip in his teeth, pulling gently. Harry moaned, a sound that Draco worried would bring in his guards. Draco ended the kiss with a regretful sigh.
"It's past time for you to be home." Harry grinned.
"Yeah."
"Thanks for bringing Caden here for part of the gifts." Draco ran a hand absently up and down Harry's arm.
"Of course. It's not like he complained in the least, you know. Downright eager to open gifts with Daddy." Harry nodded.
"I still want my gift." Draco looked at Harry and couldn't help needling him, just a little.
"Well, the sooner you get your sorry arse out of here, the sooner you'll find out."
"Well, you seem perfectly comfortable sneaking in here, so I don't see why you can't sneak in to tell me. You're a regular ninja; I bet ninjas pass out parcels in hospitals all the time."
"Perhaps they do." Draco merely grinned and gave Harry another kiss.
Beta:
lksnarry1Pairing: Harry/Draco
Length: 6200 words
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Fluff. A lot of Christmas time fluff.
Summary: St. Mungo's was not where Draco had intended Harry spend his Christmas. And Draco is not about to let Harry spend the holidays there alone.
Disclaimer: I make no claim to Harry Potter or the accompanying ideas and characters. They belong to J.K. Rowling, Warner Brothers, Bloomsbury, Scholastic, and others. This is written for entertainment only.
Author's Note: This was written for
hdseasons Stocking Stuffer fest, my first ever fest, and I had a ridiculous amount of fun working on it. It was a gift for 1farmer_girl. Thanks, as always, to my wonderful beta."Caden, get down from there. Now!" Draco's expression was hard as he scowled fiercely at his son.
"But why? This is fun." Caden slung himself upside down over the banister he had been swinging on. Draco's scowl deepened, and he raised his wand.
"Now, Caden. Before I charm all your gifts to remain wrapped until Boxing Day." Caden shook his head like a top and put his feet back on the wood of the stairs. Draco rolled his eyes at his son's foolishness. "Go fetch the mistletoe from the mudroom. Get your daddy to help you carry it in, and be careful not to hurt yourself."
While his son was out of the room, Draco set himself to charming various large Christmas baubles to hang from the ceiling. In a sudden fanciful gesture, he organized the baubles so they formed the constellation of Draco. It was unlikely that anyone but Draco would notice, and the shape would keep him amused through the chaos of the holiday season.
"Daddy's not here, Father! Maceley says that he is out shopping for presents and will be back in about an hour." Draco rolled his eyes. He was sure Harry was shopping for his gift. They had gone out to handle Caden's presents weeks ago, and Draco knew Harry often left his personal shopping to the last possible moment. It wasn't Christmas Eve, so Harry must be getting better with the terrible habit, but still, Christmas was only a week away.
Still, Draco was furious that Harry had dived out of the house. He knew today was decorating day, and he would be getting an earful later for not being there to help.
Draco never decorated the house until the week before Christmas. It had been a tradition in his childhood, and it was one that carried over to his adult life. A week to the day before Christmas, everyone in the house would begin preparing for the holiday. Decorations would go up, stockings would be hung, and Draco's mother would select the foods that would be served at Christmas dinner. All the gifts would be wrapped, and by the time Draco went to bed, the house would look like Christmas from a utopian fairytale.
"All right. Would you like to decorate the tree, since Harry isn't here to help you carry?" Caden nodded quickly. Draco smiled. Caden was happy Harry wasn't here, then. Decorating the tree was much more fun then carrying in the mistletoe.
*
By the time dinner was ready, the house simply screamed Christmas, though it was refined and tasteful throughout. Draco, however, was distracted by his worry. Harry wasn't home yet. He should have come back hours ago, but Draco hadn't heard from him.
Draco had Caden sitting down at the table before going to the Floo. "Granger-Weasley Residence." He stuck his head in and waited silently. Granger had wards all over her Floo, she would know that he was calling. There was no need for him to shout into the room like a plebeian.
"Draco, what are you doing at home? I thought you would be at the hospital." Draco's eyes widened.
"What the hell happened that would require me to visit the hospital?" Granger looked at him in shock.
"You mean no one called you? I thought the hospital did, she said she had called all Harry's close kin. I'm sorry--"
Draco couldn't wait any longer. Something had happened to Harry, and no one had thought to inform him. Bastards, all of them. "What the fuck happened, Granger?"
"Harry was in Diagon Alley. There was a fire. He was trying to Apparate a group of children out of the buildings, but he splinched himself. He's at St. Mungo's now." Draco had his head out of the fire before she finished speaking, and Granger had to push her head in to keep the connection. "I can take you to his room. I knew you weren't there when we left, but we thought you were just leaving Caden at Parkinson's, like you always do when you need a babysitter."
"You can watch him for a few minutes, yeah? You can take him back to your place or come here, I don't care. I'll just go say good-bye to him." Draco watched Granger long enough to see her nod. "Excellent."
Draco marched straight to the dining room, and Caden looked from Draco to his seat at the table. "Are you coming back to eat dinner, Father?" Draco smiled gently at his son. The boy was only five, and it wasn't odd that he considered Harry's absence no major deal. Harry had been gone shopping for longer than this before.
"No, Caden. I have to go see Harry."
"Are you going to bring him back home? He's late for dinner." Draco nodded.
"I know, and I have no idea if he will come home tonight. He had to go to the hospital." Caden frowned and stood up to walk to Draco.
"He's all right, right? He's just a little sick," Caden asked. Draco shrugged.
"I don't know how sick he is. But I'm sure he'll be fine. He'll want to see what all you got for Christmas, so he will have to get better, yes?" Caden nodded, but he still had a worried look. Draco sighed and gathered his son in for a closer hug.
"Listen, Cay. Are you listening?" Caden nodded silently. "If your daddy is still not feeling good and has to stay in the hospital tomorrow, I will take you to see him; would that make you feel better?" Caden nodded.
"And I will get to see him on Christmas, right? No matter what?" Draco nodded resolutely. If Draco had to break down the walls of St. Mungo's, he would make sure Caden saw Harry on Christmas. For that matter, Draco would do just as much to make sure he saw Harry on Christmas. It had been years since they had spent the holidays apart, and Draco damn well wasn't going to let the berk break their tradition now.
"Yes, Caden. You will get to see him everyday. Now, I am going to check on him, so you need to stay with Hermione. I expect you to act like a gentleman, do you understand?" Caden nodded. He didn't mind being told to act like a gentleman, and he did well with it, considering his age. Please and thank you and pardon me were common words in his vocabulary, at least.
*
St. Mungo's was incredibly crowded. Various people there to see those injured in the fire crammed themselves into the hallways, and the Welcome Witch's desk was almost impossible to reach in one piece. Draco managed though, elbowing and scowling his way through the group.
"I want Harry Potter's room. Now." The Welcome Witch looked at Draco, eying him before she spoke.
"Who are you, if I may ask?" Draco hissed quietly. This was a waste of time, and he wanted to see Harry.
"Draco Malfoy. His husband, whom no one thought to tell that he was injured. Get me the damn number, now." Draco made sure with his stare the Welcome Witch didn't doubt he was act against anyone trying to stop him from seeing Harry.
"He's in room four thirty-three. On the fourth floor." Draco nodded and left the desk.
The trip up the stairs was quick, and Draco slid past the doors and the few people easily. Stairs were much better than the elevator, which Draco was sure was full of people who would slow his trip.
Harry was in a room alone, for which Draco was thankful. Draco hated letting their relationship become fodder for the public, which was still obsessed with Harry.
The door was plain white, but Draco hadn't expected anything else. He opened the door quietly, just in case Harry was sleeping. "Hello?"
"Hey. How are you?" Harry's eyes were closed as Draco walked in, but he spoke, so he was awake. And when he recognized Draco's voice, he shot up and his eyes opened. "I doubt you're supposed to sit up, you idiot." Draco stepped forward. "How are you?"
"Better. Took you long enough to get here." Draco scowled, causing Harry to cock his head.
"No one thought to tell me that you were hurt until I called Hermione when you didn't come home in time for dinner." Draco kissed Harry gently. Harry saw no need for the gentleness, biting Draco's lip and gripping his arms. Draco pulled away.
"Really? You're listed as my next of kin. . ."
"I have no idea what happened. I'm going to find out, though." Harry shrugged. Draco didn't let himself think that meant Harry was going to let him do anything he wanted, or keep his mouth shut. Harry always hounded out what Draco was doing, and he always had an opinion on Draco's ideas and actions, especially when he considered them extreme.
"Is Caden all right?" Draco nodded.
"He's worried about you, of course. He wants to come see you tomorrow." That reminded Draco of something out he wanted to learn. "When do you think you will be able to come home?" Harry shrugged.
"I don't know. The mediwitch should be in soon, ask her." Draco shook his head. Harry never worried about what was going to happen to him as much as he should. He would trust that the healers and mediwizards would have the idea about how much time he should spend in the hospital, even though he hated St. Mungo's with a passion. In fact, he would likely try to leave early, but that was to be worried about later.
"I will." Draco rolled his eyes. "So, Granger tells me you got yourself hurt trying to save a group of children from a burning building. You idiot. You could have simply put out the building. Or called the Aurors." Draco poked Harry in the arm.
"I couldn't just leave them. They were kids." Harry's eyes were blazing, and he was sitting up again. "Draco, what if it had been Caden?"
Draco fell silent. The answer was that there would have been no need for Harry to run into rescue Caden. Draco would have already been there. But he couldn't say that. It would make Harry think Draco accepted him running off to rescue people. Draco's husband was not going to put other people's health above his life.
Draco settled himself onto Harry's hospital bed, absently tracing Harry's fingers. They were quiet until the mediwitch came in to tell Draco that visiting hours were over. "I have a question before I leave."
The mediwitch looked at Draco. "When is Harry going to be released to return home?" The mediwitch frowned in thought. Then she looked at Harry questioningly.
"This is my husband, Draco. You can tell him anything you would tell me."
"Mr. Potter should be released in about a week and a half. He has splinched several internal organs, and it will take a week for those to heal; then we will want to keep him a few more days for observation." Draco nodded. Internal organs were finicky, and Harry was lucky the healers were able to heal him fully.
Still, Draco's nod was given with a scowl. Harry would be in the hospital for Christmas.
*
Caden's visit to the hospital was interesting. Draco had told him before they left that Harry was going to be in the hospital over Christmas, and Caden had broken into pitiful sobs when he realized his daddy wouldn't see him open Christmas gifts.
Upon ending his crying, Caden had insisted that they take Christmas decorations to Harry's hospital room. Draco hadn't fought his son's determined demands; he had thought it a wonderful idea.
"Daddy, we're here! Father said we could decorate your room for you!" Draco smiled as he heard Harry's laughter.
"Did he now? What did you bring to put up everywhere?" Caden piped into a cheerful list, telling Harry that Draco had all the things Shrunken in his pockets.
"Hey, Harry." Draco dropped a kiss onto Harry's lips, and Harry responded with a kiss of his own. "How are you feeling today?"
"Pretty crappy, actually. They gave me some shi—" a glance at their son and Harry changed his wording quickly, "potion that makes my chest hurt way too much to be helpful." Draco placed a hand on Harry's chest gently.
"I'm sorry. I hope our visit helps a little." Draco smiled. If there was one thing no one wanted when they were in pain, it was an excited child running around their rooms like a pleased puppy dog, but Draco knew Harry wouldn't trade it for a few hours of peace and quiet. Neither of them could really go any time at all without seeing their son, and Draco had no idea what they would do when he went off to Hogwarts.
"I'm sure it will." Caden had climbed his way up Harry's bed, and he hugged Harry tight around the middle. Draco saw Harry wince and grabbed up Caden's arms.
"Gentle, Caden. Daddy's hurting, and you don't want to hurt him more." Caden's eyes widened.
"I'm not hurting you Daddy, am I?" Harry shook his head.
"No, Caden. But I had to take some potions that make me sore, and we just have to be careful, all right?" Caden nodded frantically, and Harry grinned. "Come here. I want a hug; you just can't be rough."
Draco let go of Caden, who flew straight back into Harry. Harry held him for a few moments before letting go. "Weren't you going to decorate my room, short man?" Caden grinned and nodded, rummaging in Draco's pockets to pull out the popcorn strings and getting Draco to enlarge them.
*
By the time Caden finished the room, there were popcorn strings falling from the ceilings and holly or mistletoe on every flat surface. Draco had tried to stifle his son's decorating, but the boy was just too excited to keep things subtle.
Draco would have insisted they removed some of the décor, but he could see Harry was thrilled with it. He thought it was brilliant, of course. Draco's husband wasn't much older than his son, sometimes.
"Caden, we have to go get you some dinner, all right?" Caden started to look at the ground, and Draco knew what that meant. "Going isn't optional, Caden. It's time for dinner, and then you need to get ready for bed."
"I want to eat with Daddy! I don't want to leave." Draco looked at Harry to see if he would be getting help. If he wasn't, it would be a while. It seemed Harry was too busy at the moment grinning at their son's show of loyalty to his daddy.
"We will come back tomorrow, I promise. We'll come see your daddy everyday, but we have to go home at night. It's the rules of the hospital." Draco sighed mentally when he saw that he wasn't convincing his son.
"Hey Caden, come up here." Caden crawled willing back into the bed beside his father. "Listen, I need you to go home with your Father, yeah?"
"Why? I want to stay here with you. I want Father to stay too, of course," Caden gave Draco a nod, showing who he meant in case there was any confusion. "We can go home another day."
"The hospital has a rule that everyone has to leave at night. And I need you to go home with your father. Otherwise, who will make sure he eats his food? You know how he forgets when he is worried." Draco scowled, but he couldn't say anything. Harry's methods might be annoying, but they produced results. Thinking he would be helping his father, Caden agreed to come home without any further complaints. "There's my short man."
Harry gave Caden another hug before helping him down off the bed. Draco came over to give Harry a hug and kiss of his own, and they said good bye before leaving the hospital.
*
It was Christmas Eve before Draco had any more trouble with Harry being in the hospital over the holidays. He and Caden had visited every day, but Draco realized that his gift wasn't something he wanted to give Harry in the hospital.
So he would have to go shopping. He thought to take Caden with him, and let the little boy get his daddy something to cheer him up in the hospital on Christmas.
"Caden, come here for a moment." Caden came careening down the hallway. "Walk indoors Caden." The boy obediently slowed down. "Now, how would you like to go to Diagon Alley?" Caden frowned worriedly. Draco wondered if it was due to the fact that's where Harry was hurt.
"Why are we going?"
"I thought we could get you daddy something for Christmas in the hospital. Since he won't get his real gifts until he comes back home." Caden thought, but he eventually nodded.
"Put on your coat then. The shoppes will close early for the holidays." Draco smiled as Caden rushed out of the room. Caden reminded Draco sharply of both his fathers in that regard. Once he made his decision, he wouldn't change it. He would stick with his choice until the end.
Diagon Alley was crammed with last minute shoppers. Everyone was trying to get everything they needed as quickly as they could. They were both eager to return to the peace of their homes and afraid of a fire like the one last week. Draco grabbed Caden's hand and told the boy not to let go, for fear of the little one getting lost in the shuffle.
"What do you want to get your daddy, Caden?" The little boy slowed down while he thought, and Draco tugged him along. Draco already knew what he wanted to get Harry, and he wanted this trip over with quickly.
"I'm not sure. What are you gonna to get him?" Draco raised his eyebrow.
"Going to, not gonna. And can you keep it a secret during our visit until he opens it?" Caden nodded happily.
"Repeat the words, Caden. You know how this works." Caden shrugged and corrected his grammatical error.
"What are you going to get him? And I can keep a secret. I didn't tell you what Daddy got you!" Draco nodded.
"That's true. Alright, I'm getting him a Quidditch book to read while he gets well. Does that help you choose?" Caden was quiet again in thought.
"Can I get him one of those Quidditch models like I got last year? You know, the ones where he can say a play and the model will do it?" Draco laughed. The model was a children's toy, not accurate enough to be used by coaches or players, but it was cute nonetheless.
"Yes. I think that will be a grand idea. We'll go to Quality Quidditch after our stop in Flourish and Blotts, sound good?" Caden nodded.
Flourish and Blotts was not the most crowded of the shoppes on the alley, but it was still incredibly full. Draco finally gave into the pressure of his hurry and picked up Caden, settling him on his hip. Draco had been trying not to carry his son all that often, insisting the boy walk. He was six, and he should be capable of moving himself around. But in these crowds, he was just too slow.
Draco found the book he wanted quickly, giving it to Caden to hold. It was a discussion on the various plays and moves used in Quidditch, which Harry still played on the weekends. In fact, he was starting to teach Caden the rules of the sport.
Draco had to wait in an eternal line to pay for the book, and he passed his time by talking to Caden. "What do you think you're getting for Chirstmas?"
"I don't know! I haven't opened my presents yet." Draco laughed.
"No, you haven't. I'm going to make a guess then. I think you got a lump of coal." Caden looked offended.
"No I didn't. I've been really good this year." Draco nodded easily.
"You have. So I suppose Father Christmas will have to bring you toys, won't he?" Caden hummed agreement.
The cashier nodded them up, and Draco payed before rushing out the doors.
The next shoppe was Quality Quidditch Supplies, where Draco continued to carry Caden. It was much faster then waiting on the boy's slow legs, and Draco hated being out with this many people.
The Quidditch shoppe was far more crowded than the book shoppe. Draco had to elbow and push to get in the doors, and then he had to fight with the group of middle age witches to get to the display of children's models.
"Excuse me, sir," Draco summoned a shopkeeper with the ease of long practice. "Caden, point out which model you want to get Harry to the gentleman." Caden helpfully pointed at the newest model and told the shopkeeper he wanted one with the Magpies and the Harpies colors.
"That sounds lovely, Caden." Draco grinned at Caden broadly.
Caden wanted his present for Harry to be gift-wrapped, so Draco had the clerk at the shoppe do so. He didn't usually let the clerks and shopkeepers wrap his gifts, preferring to choose his own paper and gift tags, but they were going straight to the hospital to give Harry his gifts, and there would be no time.
While he waited for the shopkeeper to wrap Caden's gift, Draco burrowed a quill to write a note in the front flap of Harry's book. He didn't want it to be wrapped, but he did want it to say something special.
"Let's see if we can get back through the crowds to give your daddy his gift." Draco took the gift from the shopkeeper and gave him the money. Then he fought his way out of the shoppe, a son in one hand and parcels in the other, and walked to the Leaky Cauldron.
*
St. Mungo's was shockingly quiet. Draco would have thought it to be bustling, with folks visiting their infirm relatives and friends, but apparently everyone either did that on Christmas day or didn't see the point of doing so at all.
Draco let Caden down to walk, and they made it through the halls and stairs quite quickly. Draco knocked on the door before Caden could burst through it, making sure there were no healers who would disagree with them bringing toys into the room.
"Come on in." Draco could hear the amusement in Harry's voice. He knew who it was, of course. He claimed his friends just didn't sound like Draco were when they were waiting at the door. Draco could only assume that they talked while they waited.
"We brought presents, Daddy!" Harry looked at Caden for a moment before turning to Draco.
"You did?" Caden clambered onto Harry's bed, just as he had done for the past week, and gave his father a hug.
"Yep! They're so you have something to do while you wait to get better and come home." Draco pulled out the book and the wrapped box, looked over at Caden.
"Which present do you want to give him first, Caden?" Caden laughed.
"Your's, Daddy. You thought of it first." Draco nodded. His son had an odd sense of fair play, but Draco let him have at it. He didn't do anything to harm anyone.
"Here, Harry. Something for you to read while you're hurt. You should at least expand your mind a little." Harry laughed good naturedly while opening the front cover of the book. Harry knew Draco all too well. He knew that Draco would have written him something in it.
Harry read the message quickly, looking up at Draco with a quirk in his lips as he finished. "Thank you, Draco. It's wonderful." Draco grinned. The message hadn't been overwhelmingly sweet, but Draco knew it was enough for Harry. Harry liked the occasionally simpering note, just to remind him that Draco loved him. So Draco had given him one:
Harry,
You're an idiot. One who is going to die before his thirtieth birthday, at the rate you're going. However, I love you dearly, and I hope you are well soon. I want you back at home.
Merry Christmas with love,
Draco
Draco gave Harry a kiss, but that was all he had time for before Caden decided it was time for his daddy to open his gift.
"Daddy, I got you something too. It goes with Father's gift!" Harry, laughing, took the package Caden was determined holding under his nose.
"Let's see here." Harry pulled the paper off fiercely, without any care for the mess he was making. Draco spelled the bits of paper away, to entertained by the two's excitement to be really upset. "Wow!" Harry pulled out his model.
"It's so you can see all the moves you read about in your new book. Father took me to buy it." Harry laughed, the bright tone making Draco smile right along with him.
"Thank you both. This will make my time in the hospital much nicer. As long as its not going to replace your visits everyday?" Caden shook his head.
"We're coming to see you everyday, right Father?" Draco nodded.
"Yes. Maybe more than once some days. Like tomorrow." Harry nodded.
*
Christmas morning without Harry was, in a word, wrong. It had been years since Draco had spent any holiday without Harry around, and Draco hated it. Still, he had a little boy to keep happy.
"Father! It's time for presents! I want to see what Father Christmas brought me. Wake up!" Draco grunted. It was early, and he had spent half the night setting out the gifts from "Father Christmas".
"You better not have peeked, young man!"
"No, Father. But you have to come down so I can go see." Draco forced himself out of the bed. It was another reason to hate Harry's absence. The gifts didn't take nearly as long with a second pair of hands, and Draco wanted the kiss they had always shared, standing in the middle of a room full of children's toys. There would be even more to set out next year, Draco was sure.
"Come on, short man. You can go open your gifts, now." Draco watched as Caden tore into the parlour, where the family Christmas tree was.
"Caden!" The boy looked back at Draco with a question all over his face. "Don't open the gifts from your daddy and I. We'll open them at the hospital where he can see you, yes?" Caden nodded, looking a little lost at the reminder that Harry wasn't here. "Go ahead and start your gifts. You can take your three favourites to show your Daddy."
Caden set aside the gifts from Harry and Draco; then he proceeded to rip into everything from Father Christmas. The gifts were excellent, of course. Harry had gone with Draco to pick them out, and they had gotten almost everything that looked appropriate for Caden.
The flurry of paper and packaging that flew in the parlour was remarkable. However much of a mess Harry could make unwrapping presents, Caden could beat it with his eyes closed. Interjections of "Wow!" and "Neat!" could be heard, and Draco just sat back and smiled, watching his son enjoy Christmas morning.
Soon all the gifts were opened and Caden was in front of Draco, showing him this and that which he had received. "Look, Father. I got a new Snitch."
"I see. Why don't we go get some breakfast?"
"Then can I choose what gifts I'm going to take to show Daddy?" Draco nodded.
"We'll go see him again after breakfast. Come on, we need to eat." More importantly, at this hour, Draco needed caffeine. Quite a bit of it.
*
Two cups of tea later, Draco was feeling ready to take the excited Caden to see his daddy. Caden picked out his new Snitch and a couple of other little toys to show Harry, and they left off.
"Don't forget your other gifts, Caden. If you bring them here, I will carry them." Caden darted back into the parlour to grab the presents from Harry and Draco before he came back in, ready to leave.
The hospital was more busy than it had been on Christmas Eve. People came in the doors, most carrying armloads of parcels clearly meant for their ill friends and family. Draco grabbed Caden's hand to make sure he kept up and led him though the halls.
When they reached Harry's room, Caden couldn't stand to wait for Draco to knock. He barged right in, calling out, "Daddy, we're here. Happy Christmas!"
"Hey! Come in, Aunt Hermione and Uncle Ron are here too. And they brought Rose and Hugo with them." Caden beamed. He loved his cousins. Sometimes Draco thought he loved the Weasley brood more than he loved his fathers.
"Hey, Harry." Harry smiled silently at Draco, waving him over for a kiss. Draco smiled too, wishing Harry was home so he could share Harry's real gift. Draco wasn't going to tell Harry in the hospital, that was for fucking sure.
"Hello. Weasleys." Draco nodded at Harry's friends. They weren't people Draco would have chosen to be his friends, but they were so close to Harry he had accepted them. There had simply been no other choice.
"Hi, Draco."
"Harry was just telling us you've been here everyday. He also said that Caden and you were in charge of decorating in here. I assume it was mostly Caden." Granger—Draco still found it easier to call her so, even after attending her wedding—smiled easily at Draco.
"Yes. He was determined that Harry get a little Christmas cheer." Weasley grinned. Neither he nor his wife every said anything, but Draco knew they both considered the way Draco treated his son and husband hilarious. The former Death Eater and one of the best solicitors currently available in the Wizarding World, completely floored by a please or a pleading smile from his family. As long as they kept their mouths shut about the entire occurrence, Draco let them keep their pleasure.
"It's sweet."
*
The rest of their visit passed with Caden opening his presents and about three hundred people visiting Harry. Every Weasley currently in the UK came to tell Harry they wished him a happy holiday and hoped he was feeling better soon.
Even Draco's mother had stopped by, though that was not in the least surprising. Draco didn't think it possible for Narcissa to let a holiday pass without at least speaking to her son and grandson. She didn't have any problems with Harry, either. It made sense that she would come over.
She brought with her gifts for all three of them, though Draco had told her they could open on Boxing Day, so she could open her gift from his family as well. She had insisted that Caden, at least, get to open his gifts on Christmas, so Draco gave Caden his gifts from his parents as well, and he marveled over tons of toys, books, and games he had gotten with relish.
Draco took the opportunity of his mother's visit to take her aside for a moment and ask if she would like to spend the night with him and Caden. He told her that he wanted to spend some time with Harry and without his son, he so was going to come back later. She agreed, stating that they could have breakfast together on Boxing Day.
*
As Draco had thought, he didn't get a breath of time alone with Harry and Caden, not to mention alone with Harry. When it was time to get Caden dinner and a bath, Draco gave Harry a kiss good night, leaning in to whisper in his ear, "How tired are you?"
Harry grinned, and Draco was sure that he had a good idea of what Draco was going to do. "Not in the least.
"Take a nap right after we leave. You've been up all day." Draco let that part of his little conversation be a little more noisy. It would merely sound like a worried husband, fretting over his sick partner.
"I will. I'm fine, though." Draco rolled his eyes. Harry would do as he said, Draco was sure.
*
With Caden safely in bed and Draco's mother set in the guest room for the night, Draco slipped out the door to his and Harry's house. From there, he Apparated out to St. Mungo's.
It was ten in the evening, well after the end of the visiting hours at St. Mungo's, but Draco knew perfectly well that he could get in. He just had to do it right.
Draco slipped past the odd looking wall that made up the guest entrance to the hospital. There were really no wards on the door; instead, they depended on the watchfulness of the healers and security to protect their patients. Draco would have kicked up a fuss about the habit, but the Aurors put watches on anyone in any danger. Harry had one, though they normally kept themselves quiet and subtle, hoping that anyone with the idea to attack Harry wouldn't see them until it was too late.
Draco walked up the staircase like he had every right to be there. There weren't many healers on duty at this hour and, unlike in the middle of the night, they didn't expect anyone to be breaking in. Especially on Christmas. Added to all that, Draco stopped at the first handy alcove and Glamoured his robes to the lime green that healers wore.
Draco relied on the fact not every healer knew every other healer and thought his little ruse should be plenty to get him through to hospital. The only people it was sure not to fool were the Aurors, and Draco thought they would let him through. Most were Harry's friends.
*
The Aurors did let Draco though, and he was soon standing in the front of Harry's room. "Harry, are you awake?" Harry started.
"Draco!" Draco smiled at Harry's childish joy.
"I was here just a few hours ago."
"You and a bunch of other people. Not that I didn't love their visits," the foolish Harry actually sounded like he was worried about offending someone, "but I haven't gotten to see you in weeks. Not just the two of us."
"It's been a week. Just a week." Draco dipped his head slightly. He did understand how it could feel like forever.
Draco walked over to the hospital bed, sitting down and scooting close to Harry's body. Harry was warm, and Draco enjoyed it after the cold of the outdoors. "It's awful, you being here for Christmas."
"At least I got to see everyone. And I still get to see you, too." Draco laughed.
"Yes, but you don't get your gift until you come home." Harry pouted.
"Really? Why not? Couldn't I use some cheering up just now?"
"It's not the kind of gift you give in the hospital." Draco had to fight the urge to laugh and give the game away. Harry would most definitely be getting this gift in a hospital, but Draco wasn't going to tell him about it in one.
Harry huffed out a breath, and Draco kissed him before he could speak again. "I can't wait until you're back home." Harry kissed Draco right back, running a hand through Draco's hair.
"Me either. I want to kiss you somewhere other than this damn bed, and I want to give you your present. Hell, I even want to give Caden his daily you-cannot-run-everywhere lecture." Draco laughed.
"I'll hand it to you willingly." He kissed Harry again. It was brilliant. After not getting anything more than short pecks while in front of their son, Draco couldn't help but give Harry a long, leisurely kiss.
A swoop of his tongue had Draco in Harry's mouth, where he grabbed Harry's lower lip in his teeth, pulling gently. Harry moaned, a sound that Draco worried would bring in his guards. Draco ended the kiss with a regretful sigh.
"It's past time for you to be home." Harry grinned.
"Yeah."
"Thanks for bringing Caden here for part of the gifts." Draco ran a hand absently up and down Harry's arm.
"Of course. It's not like he complained in the least, you know. Downright eager to open gifts with Daddy." Harry nodded.
"I still want my gift." Draco looked at Harry and couldn't help needling him, just a little.
"Well, the sooner you get your sorry arse out of here, the sooner you'll find out."
"Well, you seem perfectly comfortable sneaking in here, so I don't see why you can't sneak in to tell me. You're a regular ninja; I bet ninjas pass out parcels in hospitals all the time."
"Perhaps they do." Draco merely grinned and gave Harry another kiss.