1000 Days of Harry Potter

Day 237

When they made the plans a month earlier, it had seemed easy enough. They were all getting on well, and Teddy hated the idea of spending Christmas with only one half of his family. But now, with his newfound feelings for Harry at the forefront of his mind every time they came into contact with one another, Draco is starting to wonder if he's made a mistake. But there's no turning back now.

The three of them spent the morning at the Burrow, and everything went smoothly there. The Weasleys are used to Draco now, friendly and accepting even, and their Christmas celebration couldn't have been more pleasant.

But Harry has barely come into contact with Draco's mother since the trials, and he's nervously adjusting the sleeves of his robes as they approach the impressive doors of Malfoy Manor.

"Don't worry, Harry," Teddy tries to reassure him, "Grandmother Narcissa is really nice."

Harry gives him a forced smile and ruffles his hair. "I know, kid. Thanks."

But watching a bead of sweat trail down the side of his face, Draco catches sight of his fist clenched on the other side of his body and realizes Harry is more unnerved than he'd thought. And then he notices the way he's eyeing the house, and it clicks: It's not seeing Draco's mother again that has him so anxious, it's going into the house. And Draco can't believe he didn't anticipate this. He'd just watched Harry force himself to enter another house full of horrible memories not that long ago—"

Swallowing hard, Draco reaches out and takes his hand. "Hey. It's okay if you want to go home, Harry, if it's too much..."

"But Draco!" Teddy complains. "You and Harry said we could spend the whole day together! All three of us!"

Harry takes a shaky breath and gives Draco's hand a squeeze before letting go. "Thanks, but I'm okay. Let's go in."

* * *

A few hours later, you'd never have known Harry Potter had been on the verge of a panic attack on the porch of Draco's childhood home. Harry and his mother are laughing so hard he's afraid one of them is going to pass out.

"'They might find you a double cell in Azkaban—'" Narcissa chortles, repeating Harry's words from over ten years ago, "you were such an audacious child. I wasn't sure if I wanted to laugh out loud or slap you across the face."

"Slap me, I'm sure," Harry laughs. "I was so angry back then, I just said whatever I wanted to, no matter the potential consequences. It really wasn't a good—"

"Grandmother Narcissa!" Teddy cuts in, sounding scandalized. "We don't hit people!"

"You're absolutely right, Teddy," Draco's mother agrees solemnly. "We don't."

Draco has no idea how to react to how well Harry and his mother get on; He'd expected awkward civility at the very best. And he really doesn't know how to react when she pulls him aside before they leave and tells him that, 'If he wanted to date Harry, she would approve.'

The knowing look she gives him as he sputters and coughs out fervent denials of any such plans is no comfort at all.