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They say when something is meant for you, it will surely come your way.
Only, you don’t have to walk around looking for that something, for what is meant for you will come precisely at the right time, even when you don’t believe it will anymore.
They also say Christmas is the most magical time of the year. It’s the time when miracles happen, wishes come true, dreams become reality. But for someone, Christmas is the loneliest time.
And such it was for Harry, whose heart clenched in a painful morse every time a happy couple crossed his path, every time he heard a family laughing and playing together in the snow. Harry felt the loneliest at Christmas, for he had no family, and no love.
It was fine, really, until it wasn’t. Sometimes he could just ignore that feeling and go on with his life, but sometimes it was hard not to think of what was missing. He felt out of place there, in the middle of a Christmas market where people went to enjoy themselves, not sulk and muse about the unfairness of life.
Yet here he was, and well, now he might as well try to enjoy himself too. That’s how Harry ended up shopping for Christmas decorations to brighten up his place, and eating an enormous cloud of cotton candy as if he was a kid all over again. It didn’t matter that he was maybe too old for this, he wanted to forget his miserable life, just for one night. One night far from any responsibility, what harm could it do?
His sweet tooth carried him right in front of a hot cocoa stall, from which came the most delicious aroma Harry had ever smelled. He eagerly stepped forward, trying to read the card with all the different flavours over the heads of at least a dozen kids. There were so many choices Harry’s head started to spin. How could he possibly choose between cinnamon, gingerbread, peppermint and cloves?
“Need any help?”
The voice made Harry jump a little, and as he raised his head his eyes fell on the most beautiful boy he’d ever seen, with hair so blond it almost looked like it was made of snow, bright grey eyes and an amused smile. “Sorry, you looked a little lost,” the boy spoke again.
“Uhm, yeah, I guess so,” Harry felt so stupid right now. “It’s just, there are so many flavours, I don’t know which one to choose.”
“Well, if I were you I’d choose peppermint. It’s my personal favourite. Or cinnamon, always a classic.”
Harry gave the boy a shy smile. “Peppermint is good.”
The boy looked at him for a bit longer than Harry deemed comfortable. “You know what? I can put both, if you want.” Harry nodded, and the boy turned around to prepare his drink. He hummed a Christmas tune while he worked, and Harry thought that was really cute.
“Thank you. How much do I owe you?” Harry asked as he reached out to take his drink.
The boy shook his head. “It’s on the house.”
“Do you gift hot cocoa to all your customers?”
“Not exactly. I still need to make a living. But it’s so refreshing to see someone so cute for once. I usually only meet old people, couples or kids.”
Harry gaped at him. “Did you just say I’m cute?”
“Pretty sure I did.”
A crowd of kids was approaching the stall, and the boy sighed before turning to Harry for the last time. “Well, it was nice to meet you…what’s your name, by the way?”
“Harry.”
“Have a nice evening then, Harry.”
Just before Harry could ask the boy’s name, the kids announced their presence loudly, jittering excitedly about which hot cocoa they were going to choose. Having no excuse to stand there anymore, Harry stole one last glance at the cute guy, then turned around and walked away, his heart feeling heavy and warm at the same time. No matter how happy he was about meeting this boy, Harry knew it would just be this: another meeting. Harry didn’t dare to hope; everybody disappeared from his life, one way or another, sooner or later. Nobody ever stayed.
Harry reached a small square with a huge Christmas tree in the middle. Beneath its branches there was an infinite queue of children waiting to tell their wishes to Santa Claus. Harry had never believed in such a thing. He’d never gotten what he really wanted for Christmas. He wished neither for toys nor for puppies. He only wanted a family, someone to love, someone who loved him back. Those weren’t things you could just go and buy, and certainly no Santa Claus could make his wish come true.
He sipped his hot chocolate, smiling sadly and thinking that, at least, he had one good moment to remember from this evening. Even if something is not bound to last, he thought, it can still be special.
Time was passing by; now the queue was significantly shorter and Harry’s mug was long empty, yet he didn’t move. He stared at the empty mug, twisting it around in his fingers. When he raised his head again, the square was empty. Empty but for Santa Claus, who still waited patiently for any latecomer.
Harry didn’t know why he did it. Sometimes people make rush decisions, ones they cannot even explain to themselves. Before he could fully understand what he was doing, Harry found himself standing in front of the bearded man in a velvet red costume, who was currently watching him with poorly concealed interest.
“I was wondering whether you’d come talk to me, boy.”
“What do you mean?” Harry asked, confused.
“I mean, you’ve been sitting on that bench for almost two hours, and you seem in desperate need of someone to talk to.”
“I don’t believe in Santa, just so you know,” Harry said coyly. “Never have.”
Santa looked surprised. “Not even as a kid?”
“Especially not as a kid.”
The man didn’t look offended in the least. “That’s interesting. Why’s that, may I ask?”
“I never got what I wanted.”
The man nodded knowingly. “You see, sometimes not even magic can make our wishes come true.”
Harry was starting to get annoyed. “I don’t believe in magic either.”
Santa Claus chuckled. “You don’t believe in a lot of stuff, boy. Tell me, do you believe in love?”
Harry paused for a moment. “Yes. No. I don’t really know. I’ve never known love.”
“That doesn’t mean you never will. We’re not defined by our past, boy. That, you can’t change. What you can do is change the present. Is there something you want? Go and get it. Don’t wait sitting on a bench only for life to pass you by, go out there, chase your dreams.”
Harry bit his lip. “And what if I fail?”
“Then you try, and try again. Time you spend not doing nothing is already wasted time, so what do you have to lose?”
Those words hit Harry square in the chest. Santa Claus was not totally useless, after all. “Thank you, I needed to hear that,” he mumbled, smiling at the man, who smiled back.
“That’s alright, boy. Now go, go follow your dreams. I believe your hot cocoa guy is still out there.”
Harry froze. “But how do you…?”
“Santa Claus never reveals his secrets.”
Harry stared at the man, more confused than ever, then ran away, ran as fast as he could, back to the hot cocoa stall, back to the boy who made his heart flutter.
He was still there, even though there was no one else left. He smiled broadly and waved at Harry. “Harry, you came back! Fancy another cup?”
“No. As a matter of fact, I came back for you.”
“F-for me?” The boy stuttered.
“Yes. I was wondering, would you like taking a stroll with me?”
“’Course I do. I was hoping you’d ask. When you left earlier, I thought you weren’t interested.”
“Oh. I was, it’s just… I’m not really cut out for this kind of things.”
The boy laughed. “Nobody is, Harry.” He wrapped his plaid scarf around his neck and put on a pair of fluffy, woollen gloves. Then he offered his arm to Harry as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Harry accepted it, and they walked in silence for a bit, until they reached the square with the Christmas tree again. Harry noticed Santa Claus wasn’t there anymore. He suddenly felt very stupid. What if he was doing everything wrong?
“Hey, you alright?” the boy asked.
+
“Yeah, sorry. I-I was thinking, I didn’t have the chance to ask your name earlier.”
“Draco. My name’s Draco.”
Harry smiled. “Never heard it before. It’s beautiful.”
“Thank you. By the way, may I ask you to loosen up your grip on my arm a bit? I’m not going to run away and disappear, I promise.”
Harry felt utterly mortified. “I’m really sorry. Old habits die hard.”
Draco looked at him with a strange light in his eyes. “You look like someone who’s in desperate need of being loved.”
“And how do you know that?”
“I knew from the first time I saw you, Harry,” he said, eyes boring right into Harry’s.
“I don’t blame you if you want to run away.”
Draco looked up at the Christmas tree. “The thing is, Harry, running away is the last thing on my list. I can’t promise to be perfect, but I promise I won’t disappear.”
“You won’t?”
Draco shook his head. “I won’t. I’ve been waiting for you my whole life. They say when something is meant for you, it will surely come your way. I didn’t believe it anymore, until I saw you tonight.”
Harry smiled, tugging at Draco’s scarf to bring him closer. “Maybe magic does exist, after all.”
“Maybe,” Draco whispered, before closing the distance and kissing Harry’s lips.