A Christmas Wish - Part Twenty-One
Dec. 17th, 2013 10:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alisanneTitle: A Christmas Wish - Part Twenty-One
Author:alisanne
Prompt used:![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
slythindor100/![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
slythindor100's 2013 Christmas prompt #17 Christmas tree lights and snow-covered benches.
Word Count: 664
Rating: PG
Warning: EWE, AU.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Author's Notes: Thanks tosevfan and emynn for the beta. This is part twenty-one in my Christmas Wish Series.
Previous parts are: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, Seventeen, Eighteen, Nineteen, and Twenty.
~
A Christmas Wish - Part Twenty-One
~
Harry stepped forward. “Someone’s stolen Malfoy’s magic, Minister. They drained it daily over his three year sentence, while he was doing his community service.”
“They did what?” Kingsley’s smile faded and his eyes sharpened. “Perhaps you’d better start at the beginning.”
Harry, Hermione and even Malfoy took turns telling the story, and within a few minutes Kingsley was shaking his head. “And you think that perhaps I may have been involved in this scheme?” In the ensuing silence, he raised an eyebrow. “Evidently so.”
Hermione cleared her throat. “It’s just...He’s such a high-profile prisoner that we thought--”
Kingsley held up a hand. “I’m not arguing that it’s a valid consideration.” He swivelled to face Malfoy. “But I pledge to you, Mr Malfoy, I’m not involved.”
Slowly, Draco nodded and Harry relaxed slightly. “I don’t think we honestly thought you were,” Harry said. “It’s just--”
“Someone very high up in the Ministry has to be,” Kingsley finished for him. He frowned. “Since assuming this post I’ve delegated a lot of duties to others, but the Death Eater community service program is under my personal supervision, so if someone is subverting it for their own purposes I want to know about it.”
“Who was Malfoy’s parole office, sir?” Hermione asked. “We’ve examined his sentencing papers but we can’t seem to tell.”
Kingsley sighed. “I keep that information at my office in the Ministry.” He glanced at the clock. “I would send someone to get it now, but tonight’s reception is to celebrate the new treaty between us and the sentient non-human magical creatures. I need all my personnel here--”
Malfoy looked away, and when he spoke his tone was defeated. “Of course, Minister. You’ve important things to do. I should go--”
“--but this is important.” Kingsley smiled as Malfoy’s eyes widened in clear surprise. “I was going to add that if you’ll allow me a few minutes to make an appearance at the reception and greet my guests, I can ask my secretary to retrieve the documents for you and bring them here.”
“You mean you’d actually do that?” Malfoy whispered. “For me?”
Kingsley smiled. “I’m everyone’s Minister for Magic, Mr Malfoy,” he said gently. “Even yours.”
Malfoy bit his lip and looked down. Harry’s hand clenched into fists as he resisted hugging him. “Thank you, sir,” he said when Malfoy seemed incapable of speaking.
Kingsley inclined his head. “It’s no less than I would do for anyone, and, more importantly, it’s the right thing to do. Now, while I go downstairs would you three like have some hors d’oeuvres? We’re serving wine and pastry out in the garden.”
“In winter?” Hermione asked.
Kingsley nodded. “Some of our non-human guests aren’t comfortable indoors. There’s a general Climate Control Charm over the back garden so you should be comfortable enough. I’ll have someone escort you.”
The gardens were quite comfortable, and the gardens behind the Minister’s Mansion were beautiful. The trees were all decorated in fairy lights of different colours: blue, green, red, yellow. There were even park benches, artfully covered in faux snow. People, centaurs, elves, dwarves and all manner of other creatures strolled about, chatting and eating.
Snagging two glasses of champagne from a passing tray, Harry handed one to Malfoy. “You look like you could use this.”
Hermione raised an eyebrow. “I guess I’ll get my own, then,” she said pointedly.
Harry coughed. “Erm--”
“It’s fine.” Hermione looked back and forth between them, expression speculative. “I thought I saw a nymph over there. I’ve always wanted to talk to one.” She smirked, moving away. “Hopefully you two can entertain yourselves.”
Harry blushed but didn’t call her back.
Malfoy sipped, eyeing Harry over top of his champagne flute. “So,” he finally murmured. “If it wasn’t the Minister, who was it?”
Harry shook his head. “No idea, but whoever it is, they will pay.”
Malfoy smiled. “You’re such a hero, Potter.”
~
Author:
alisannePrompt used:
slythindor100/slythindor100's 2013 Christmas prompt #17 Christmas tree lights and snow-covered benches.Word Count: 664
Rating: PG
Warning: EWE, AU.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Author's Notes: Thanks to
sevfan and emynn for the beta. This is part twenty-one in my Christmas Wish Series. Previous parts are: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, Seventeen, Eighteen, Nineteen, and Twenty.
~
A Christmas Wish - Part Twenty-One
~
Harry stepped forward. “Someone’s stolen Malfoy’s magic, Minister. They drained it daily over his three year sentence, while he was doing his community service.”
“They did what?” Kingsley’s smile faded and his eyes sharpened. “Perhaps you’d better start at the beginning.”
Harry, Hermione and even Malfoy took turns telling the story, and within a few minutes Kingsley was shaking his head. “And you think that perhaps I may have been involved in this scheme?” In the ensuing silence, he raised an eyebrow. “Evidently so.”
Hermione cleared her throat. “It’s just...He’s such a high-profile prisoner that we thought--”
Kingsley held up a hand. “I’m not arguing that it’s a valid consideration.” He swivelled to face Malfoy. “But I pledge to you, Mr Malfoy, I’m not involved.”
Slowly, Draco nodded and Harry relaxed slightly. “I don’t think we honestly thought you were,” Harry said. “It’s just--”
“Someone very high up in the Ministry has to be,” Kingsley finished for him. He frowned. “Since assuming this post I’ve delegated a lot of duties to others, but the Death Eater community service program is under my personal supervision, so if someone is subverting it for their own purposes I want to know about it.”
“Who was Malfoy’s parole office, sir?” Hermione asked. “We’ve examined his sentencing papers but we can’t seem to tell.”
Kingsley sighed. “I keep that information at my office in the Ministry.” He glanced at the clock. “I would send someone to get it now, but tonight’s reception is to celebrate the new treaty between us and the sentient non-human magical creatures. I need all my personnel here--”
Malfoy looked away, and when he spoke his tone was defeated. “Of course, Minister. You’ve important things to do. I should go--”
“--but this is important.” Kingsley smiled as Malfoy’s eyes widened in clear surprise. “I was going to add that if you’ll allow me a few minutes to make an appearance at the reception and greet my guests, I can ask my secretary to retrieve the documents for you and bring them here.”
“You mean you’d actually do that?” Malfoy whispered. “For me?”
Kingsley smiled. “I’m everyone’s Minister for Magic, Mr Malfoy,” he said gently. “Even yours.”
Malfoy bit his lip and looked down. Harry’s hand clenched into fists as he resisted hugging him. “Thank you, sir,” he said when Malfoy seemed incapable of speaking.
Kingsley inclined his head. “It’s no less than I would do for anyone, and, more importantly, it’s the right thing to do. Now, while I go downstairs would you three like have some hors d’oeuvres? We’re serving wine and pastry out in the garden.”
“In winter?” Hermione asked.
Kingsley nodded. “Some of our non-human guests aren’t comfortable indoors. There’s a general Climate Control Charm over the back garden so you should be comfortable enough. I’ll have someone escort you.”
The gardens were quite comfortable, and the gardens behind the Minister’s Mansion were beautiful. The trees were all decorated in fairy lights of different colours: blue, green, red, yellow. There were even park benches, artfully covered in faux snow. People, centaurs, elves, dwarves and all manner of other creatures strolled about, chatting and eating.
Snagging two glasses of champagne from a passing tray, Harry handed one to Malfoy. “You look like you could use this.”
Hermione raised an eyebrow. “I guess I’ll get my own, then,” she said pointedly.
Harry coughed. “Erm--”
“It’s fine.” Hermione looked back and forth between them, expression speculative. “I thought I saw a nymph over there. I’ve always wanted to talk to one.” She smirked, moving away. “Hopefully you two can entertain yourselves.”
Harry blushed but didn’t call her back.
Malfoy sipped, eyeing Harry over top of his champagne flute. “So,” he finally murmured. “If it wasn’t the Minister, who was it?”
Harry shook his head. “No idea, but whoever it is, they will pay.”
Malfoy smiled. “You’re such a hero, Potter.”
~
no subject
Date: 2013-12-18 02:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-12-27 09:09 pm (UTC)Yeah, he and Harry are all over the bad guys. Draco will be fine. Eventually. :)
no subject
Date: 2013-12-18 04:37 pm (UTC);)
no subject
Date: 2013-12-27 09:09 pm (UTC)Thank you!