nursedarry | leo_palooza giftfic for <lj site="livejournal.com" user="groolove

To:

groolover
Gift: Drabble
Rating: G (what?!)
Word Count: 503
Summary: Telling his parents he’s in love should be easy, right?
Author's notes: To one of the brightest, most hard-working women in fandom. Thank you for all you’ve done for me both virtually and in RL. Huge ♥ and Happy Christmas!

“You shouldn’t be here in this depressing place.”

“I know, but I needed you to know that I’m all right.”

“We do.”

“Really?”

“Of course we’re happy to see you, but at what cost? You could be in danger; people hold grudges and have long memories.”

“This is important. I need you to know about…my life now.”

“Has something changed?”

“Yes. And you might…not approve of everything…I’m doing now.” He pulled his scarf closer around himself. It was very cold.

“You’re back at school?”

“Yes.”

“It’s better now? You’re learning?”

“Yes. I hadn’t realised how much I missed it.” He almost laughed at the thought and wondered if his father would approve. After all, it was questionable as to how much actual knowledge his father had come away with from his tenure at Hogwarts.

“You’re in love, aren’t you?” his mother said, chasing all thoughts of academia away. He had always thought she was the more intuitive of his parents.

“Yes, I am.”

“Who is she?” his father asked.

He paused, unsure of how to continue.

“Someone we might not approve of, eh?”

“Quiet,” his mother interrupted again. She looked at her son. “As if that really matters. It’s not a she, is it, sweetie?”

“No.”

“Does he love you?”

“Yes, I think so.”

There was a heavy silence.

“Darling, our son is in love; it’s all right to be happy.”

“I am happy. I just don’t want to see him get…”

“Hurt? I won’t be. He’s…he can’t hurt me after all we’ve been through.”

“You’ve known him long?”

“Since first year.”

“Do we know his parents? His family?”

“You could say that.”

There was another very long pause. He looked at the ground.

“It’s someone from the other side, isn’t it?” His mother was making this easier for him, even if his father wasn’t.

“…yes.”

“I’m not sure I—”

“Be quiet. Your son is happy and in love. You remember how that feels, don’t you?”

“I remember.” His father kissed his mother’s hand.

“Tell us more, sweetie. Is he as handsome as you? Is he nice or difficult or as worried for you as we sometimes are?”

“He’s all of those things. He’s clever, he’s beautiful, he’s…sorry.”

“That’s good, then.” His mother smiled. Her son smiled back.

The next long pause was less uncomfortable.

“Will you ever be able to leave here?” he asked, glancing around the place. It looked exactly the same as when he’d visited the last time.

“Of course we will,” his mother promised. “But we cherish your visits.”

“Me too.” He wrapped his cloak about him more tightly. “I better go,” he said. “I just wanted you to know I was okay.”

He turned and took a step away, his shoes crunching in the snow.

“Harry?” his mother called.

“Yes?”

“You’ll bring him with you next time, won’t you?”

Harry couldn’t help it, he smiled. And tried to imagine the conversation Draco was now having with his parents in a cold Azkaban cell.

“I’ll try.”

The End