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Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Harry and his partner, Draco, making their way through the thinning halls of Hogwarts after classes are finished. Draco was the new Matron in training for the school, having always been great with potions, it translated well into making concoctions for healing.
Though, if you ever asked the blond he’d never admit helping people gave him that warm fuzzy feeling in his chest.
The winter break was starting tomorrow, though students who didn’t take the Hogwarts Express were already on their way home, judging by the smell of floo powder drifting through the halls.
The two couldn’t wait for the break, away from work— away from kids. Just the two of them. It was their first holiday season as an official couple after all.
They left after a few days, using floo powder to get home. A house that Harry purchased not long after graduating, which would look akin to The Burrow had Draco not moved in with him.
. ˙˚• ｡˚˙ .
Christmas came and went quickly, but something Harry wasn’t expecting in the days following was Draco talking about New Years so much. Specifically how muggles in New York celebrate. Asking Harry all kinds of questions about stories he’s heard from muggle London, Harry would guess from trips to find potions ingredients for cheap. Not that it was an issue for the either of them.
“Why a ball coming down in the sky?” Draco asked, breaking the silence they had over tea and having Harry look up from his book. His free arm around Draco’s shoulders.
“It’s called the ball drop and…” Harry began but paused. He knew what it was but not the *why*. “For… To give the people there something to watch I suppose.” He shrugged, glancing back down to the blond. But by the look on his face Harry could already tell he wasn’t satisfied.
“You know..” He started, marking the page in his book before setting it aside, then checking his watch. “We could just go. Then you would get all the answers to your questions.” Harry mused, his fingers playing idly with the ends of Draco’s hair. Even 𝙞𝙛 technically it was already the New Year for them here in London. With the time difference being a few hours, they were already up for the day and sipping their morning tea.
It was rare moment to leave Draco speechless, but this was one of those moments. The blond gawked until his brain caught up to just what Harry was suggesting.
“But— it’s 11:50 there now? How are we ever going to make it to 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙔𝙤𝙧𝙠 in time? We can’t floo or port-key straight into the crowd and it’s sure as hell too late to fly.” Draco said as he stood, words spilling out of his mouth now that his head had caught up. Beginning short and quick pacing back and forth in front of their couch, surely thinking through every way they could get there before the clock strikes midnight.
Harry stood before Draco could even begin to think they’d have to wait until next year. His hand finding its way to the others side to pull him close. “I can Apparate us there.”
“But I haven’t… I’ve never Apparated before.”
Harry simply just shrugged, reaching out to pull Draco close by his waist. His hand settling on the small of his back. “You’ll do fine, my love.” They made their way outside, stepping out onto balcony. Harry still holding Draco by his waist, pulling him impossibly closer.
“Just hold on tight and we’ll be there before you know it.”
And Draco did, he held onto tight. Squeezing his eyes shut once the momentum picked up around them. He couldn’t help but think it felt like being sucked through a straw and spit back out.
The blonds eyes stayed squeezed shut, the ringing in his ears fading and being replaced with the roaring crowd around them. And Harry calling his name.
“I’m okay— I’m okay just… catching my breath” Draco mumbled back to him. Willing his eyes to focus on the jostling around them. The lights were brilliant, illuminating the streets like it could be midday and not nearly midnight.
𝙈𝙞𝙙𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩, that’s right. That’s why they were here.
“You did well, most people throw up their first time.” Harry teased, his hand rubbing idly at Draco’s back while he recovered.
Draco took in everything around them, at least tried to. So much to look at and such little time. The dazzling lights, people cheering, the weird number glasses everyone seemed to be wearing.
In less than five minutes people started to count down from ten. Watching the giant ball lower and flash colorfully. Harry held the blond close, just holding him while they counted, but also keeping the crowd around them from bumping into them.
When the clock struck twelve, bringing with in the new year, Harry pulled Draco in for a kiss. Their lips crashing together and sealing with it happiness and love for the new year.
“Happy New Year, my love… again, technically.” Harry whispered between them cheekily.
“Happy New Year.”