Another drabble
Well, with less than twenty six hours until HBP gets released overhere, I thought I would try one last little ficlet thing.
It's unbetaed so please forgive any mistakes.
Silver
“Happy birthday, Harry.” Hermione kissed her friend on his cheek before pulling him into a hard embrace. “And happy anniversary.”
The two stood for a moment, a quiet oasis in the hubbub of the party around them. Harry was content to be held by the person who had been part of his life since he was eleven, and now here they both were thirty-nine years later alive, well and happy. “Thanks.” He finally pulled back and returned the kiss.
“How does it feel to be fifty?”
Harry gave a shrug. “To be honest, I never thought I’d see the day ... you know, back then, what with the war and everything, but here we all are.”
She squeezed his hand. “And are you and Draco still happy after twenty-five years?”
He glanced across the room to where his husband was standing with their heavily pregnant daughter. The two were deep in conversation with Harry’s other friend from his school days, Ron Weasley, and he couldn’t help but smile fondly at the trio. Who would have though all those years ago that Draco and Ron would ever be able to have a civilised conversation, let alone end up as friends. From the body language of the three Harry decided they were probably talking about the proposed laws restricting certain potions ingredients. Draco was against any restrictions while Ron, as a Member of the Ministry was, no doubt, sticking to the government line. As for Lily, she took after Draco in both temperament and passion, and was probably giving both men a run for their money.
Draco had aged well, Harry decided. With his long blond hair tied neatly at the nape of his neck, Draco was less angular now then he had been at a young man. He’d filled out rather nicely over the years and, as Harry had often told him, now there was something for him to hold on to. But it was his husband’s grey eyes that Harry loved. They were like the weather ... full of different emotions ... and over the years Harry had learned to read them like his own personal forecast of just how Draco was feeling. The colour seemed to change slightly depending on the other man’s mood ... sad, happy, angry, depressed, ecstatic ... and even when Draco’s expression took on the cold, closed look to hide how he was feeling, Harry could see through it by watching those incredible eyes.
As if he knew Harry was watching him, Draco glanced up and met his gaze. For a second they just looked at each other and then Draco’s mouth twitched in a little smile. It was a smile his husband reserved just for Harry and even after all those years it still had the power to make his heart race and his knees go just a little weak. Harry smiled back, aware that his cheeks were flushing. Twenty-five years ago they’d stood in this same hall and pledged themselves to each other, and here they were again, still together with their family and friends around them, getting ready to renew those pledges again. Oh, they’d had their moments over the years ... knockdown drag-out arguments, which neither thought they would ever get over, but they always found a middle ground, a place of peace, and companionship that they both needed.
“We’re still in love, if that’s what you mean. And happy.” Harry glanced over to where his twin fourteen-year old sons were playing and then fondly back at his daughter. “And about to become grandparents for the first time.”
Hermione hung onto his arm, giving him another squeeze. “When is Lily due?”
“She’s already overdue by a week. Anthony’s been watching her like a hawk.” Harry glanced around, looking for his son-in-law. “I’m surprised he’s not hovering now.”
“Is Draco excited?”
“He says it makes him feel old,” Harry snorted. “And that he doesn’t want to be called ‘grandpa’.”
“I don’t know,” Hermione giggled close to his ear. “I think it rather suits him.”
He joined in the woman’s laughter for a moment. “You, know, Hermione, in some ways I’ve got a lot to thank Voldemort for.” Her expression changed almost immediately, the smile changing to surprise. “Well, think about it. If he hadn’t done what he did to Draco back in our sixth year, Draco and I would never have gotten together and we’d never had all of this. This....” He spread a hand wide as if trying to come up with a term to encompass the last twenty-five years. “He gave me a life, Hermione. After taking away my parents, he actually gave my life back to me.” Harry blinked rapidly, aware that his eyes were filling with tears. He didn’t want to cry ... not here ... not at his birthday and anniversary party.
“Oh, Harry.” She hugged him again. “Draco is a very lucky man.”
“No,” he looked up as the subject of their discussion strode effortlessly through the crowd towards them. “I’m the lucky one.”
--- fin
It's unbetaed so please forgive any mistakes.
Silver
“Happy birthday, Harry.” Hermione kissed her friend on his cheek before pulling him into a hard embrace. “And happy anniversary.”
The two stood for a moment, a quiet oasis in the hubbub of the party around them. Harry was content to be held by the person who had been part of his life since he was eleven, and now here they both were thirty-nine years later alive, well and happy. “Thanks.” He finally pulled back and returned the kiss.
“How does it feel to be fifty?”
Harry gave a shrug. “To be honest, I never thought I’d see the day ... you know, back then, what with the war and everything, but here we all are.”
She squeezed his hand. “And are you and Draco still happy after twenty-five years?”
He glanced across the room to where his husband was standing with their heavily pregnant daughter. The two were deep in conversation with Harry’s other friend from his school days, Ron Weasley, and he couldn’t help but smile fondly at the trio. Who would have though all those years ago that Draco and Ron would ever be able to have a civilised conversation, let alone end up as friends. From the body language of the three Harry decided they were probably talking about the proposed laws restricting certain potions ingredients. Draco was against any restrictions while Ron, as a Member of the Ministry was, no doubt, sticking to the government line. As for Lily, she took after Draco in both temperament and passion, and was probably giving both men a run for their money.
Draco had aged well, Harry decided. With his long blond hair tied neatly at the nape of his neck, Draco was less angular now then he had been at a young man. He’d filled out rather nicely over the years and, as Harry had often told him, now there was something for him to hold on to. But it was his husband’s grey eyes that Harry loved. They were like the weather ... full of different emotions ... and over the years Harry had learned to read them like his own personal forecast of just how Draco was feeling. The colour seemed to change slightly depending on the other man’s mood ... sad, happy, angry, depressed, ecstatic ... and even when Draco’s expression took on the cold, closed look to hide how he was feeling, Harry could see through it by watching those incredible eyes.
As if he knew Harry was watching him, Draco glanced up and met his gaze. For a second they just looked at each other and then Draco’s mouth twitched in a little smile. It was a smile his husband reserved just for Harry and even after all those years it still had the power to make his heart race and his knees go just a little weak. Harry smiled back, aware that his cheeks were flushing. Twenty-five years ago they’d stood in this same hall and pledged themselves to each other, and here they were again, still together with their family and friends around them, getting ready to renew those pledges again. Oh, they’d had their moments over the years ... knockdown drag-out arguments, which neither thought they would ever get over, but they always found a middle ground, a place of peace, and companionship that they both needed.
“We’re still in love, if that’s what you mean. And happy.” Harry glanced over to where his twin fourteen-year old sons were playing and then fondly back at his daughter. “And about to become grandparents for the first time.”
Hermione hung onto his arm, giving him another squeeze. “When is Lily due?”
“She’s already overdue by a week. Anthony’s been watching her like a hawk.” Harry glanced around, looking for his son-in-law. “I’m surprised he’s not hovering now.”
“Is Draco excited?”
“He says it makes him feel old,” Harry snorted. “And that he doesn’t want to be called ‘grandpa’.”
“I don’t know,” Hermione giggled close to his ear. “I think it rather suits him.”
He joined in the woman’s laughter for a moment. “You, know, Hermione, in some ways I’ve got a lot to thank Voldemort for.” Her expression changed almost immediately, the smile changing to surprise. “Well, think about it. If he hadn’t done what he did to Draco back in our sixth year, Draco and I would never have gotten together and we’d never had all of this. This....” He spread a hand wide as if trying to come up with a term to encompass the last twenty-five years. “He gave me a life, Hermione. After taking away my parents, he actually gave my life back to me.” Harry blinked rapidly, aware that his eyes were filling with tears. He didn’t want to cry ... not here ... not at his birthday and anniversary party.
“Oh, Harry.” She hugged him again. “Draco is a very lucky man.”
“No,” he looked up as the subject of their discussion strode effortlessly through the crowd towards them. “I’m the lucky one.”
--- fin