Drarry Oneshots (𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒆)

The Prince's New Garments

Top!Harry

Bottom!Draco

Author: Samayel ( on ao3 ) 

________________________________

Because it is the way in which all good fairy tales begin, it is precisely the way in which we shall begin this one...and so...

Once upon a time:

"TRASH! Utter garbage! Pathetic rags! Unfit for the lowest of beggars to caper about in, begging for their alms!"

His Royal Highness, Prince Draco, hurled invective and vented bile as he flung each outfit from his closet onto the floor. It wasn't an unusual scene, since the prince was widely known for his intemperate nature, but his people loved him just the same, since he was also known for his exceptional and captivating beauty.

One might imagine that the people of a great nation might value a kindly nature in their future leader as more precious than beauty that charmed every eye, but people are ever strange, and they took great pride in the stunning appearance of the heir to the throne.

Only months remained until the coronation proper, when their young prince would come of age and be acknowledged publicly, blessed, and crowned as the heir apparent, and since, like so many people of surpassing beauty, Draco had often had a care for his appearance and dressed splendidly for every occasion, he found himself at a loss for new finery that befit such an august occasion!

After exhausting his store of withering curses and emptying his entire closet, his chambers strewn with outfits that might easily have bankrupted lesser men, pulling his hair in frustration at the ignominy of soon parading through the streets of the capitol, dressed in clothes that might leave people whispering that his familiar magnificence had somehow waned, only then did Draco accept the advice of a terrified maidservant.

"A what? Speak up! What was that notion you babbled about?"

"A contest...Your Highness?" Squeaked the girl. "For all the tailors in the land. Let them each bring their ideas, and hire the one who impresses you most. Surely the promise of such a rewarding contract would have every tailor and seamstress redoubling their efforts and offering only their finest."

Draco grinned from ear to ear, eyes glittering as his imagination took over. It would be a spectacle that would not only endear him further to his people, since all who lacked gold loved to hear of a common merchant enriched by skillful labor, but he would also be ensured his pick of the most majestic and eye-catching garments of which his nation's many peoples could concieve!

"It's...it's brilliant! Here, now...fetch me ink and parchment, so that I can prepare a decree...then have it copied and delivered to the fastest riders in our employ so that the word might be passed to every city. Take this gold for yourself as well...you have simply made my day."

Draco could show largesse when he was pleased, just as he could show utter spite when frustrated. A single gold coin was far above the wages of even palace staff, and so the girl made haste, letters were penned and copied and riders were winding their way through the countryside by day's end, telling all and sundry of the prince's prize and contest.

One thousand golden talents was quite literally a king's ransom, sufficient to make a person wealthy beyond the wildest dreams of ordinary folk. The word spread from hamlet and village, town to city, each echoing the people's amazement at their prince's generosity, and of course, many stopped to speak also of his uncanny beauty.

And in a very small village, far on the edge of the nation in which they dwelt, someone listened to the tale of the contest avidly, mulling the story of the golden fortune over in his mind, entranced by the rider's casual reference to the prince's sublime appearance.