Teaching Teddy, 38

[twisted_miracle]

Title: Teaching Teddy, 38
Author: twisted_miracle
Team: death eaters
Word count: 100x2
Characters/pairings: Harry/Draco
Challenge: release
Disclaimer: They aren't mine, they belong to the clever Scottish lady. I just bend them and love them. Please don't smack me for playing. It isn't like I am going to earn any money from this!

Author's note: Comments are love!

Summary: Harry sets the table.

Continued from part 37: https://dracoharry100.dreamwidth.org/271857.html#cutid1



t-T-t-T-t-T-t-T-t

Harry hung about, hoping for a moment alone with Draco before dinner.

“I know you two want a bit of a snog.” Andromeda winked. “But you’ll have privacy after dinner. After Teddy goes to bed. Set the table, please? I’ll meet the floo.”

Harry nodded obediently and left the room, but he grumbled quietly as he set the table. He’d wanted a moment alone to ask Draco to apologize to harmed people, not for a snog. Well, he also wanted kisses, but that could wait. He was feeling pretty anxious about asking Draco to step out of his comfort zone.

t-T-t-T-t-T-t-T-t

Harry was putting the bread on the table when Andi walked in; Teddy on her hip, Draco trailing behind.

Draco looked exhausted? But… pleased.

“Sit, Draco, Harry,” Andromeda said. She had Teddy seated already. “I’ll serve. Draco, won’t you tell us all about your exciting day?”

“I — of course, Aunt Andromeda,” Draco said.

Harry looked carefully. Draco’s ears were pink!

“So,” Draco said, buttering his bread, “First I went to the Three Broomsticks to speak with Madame Rosmerta….”

Harry listened, fascinated and thrilled. The sense of release he felt as Draco detailed every apology — offered and accepted — was beyond welcome.

t-T-t-T-t-T-t-T-t

Continued: https://dracoharry100.dreamwidth.org/274996.html#cutid1

Comments

[enchanted_jae]

\o/

[twisted_miracle]

Yes! Yay! True progress has been made, and seen.

[lyonessheart]

Harry needs to know that he is not there to raise Draco as well... he can be his boyfriend but not his guardian ;)

[twisted_miracle]

Well, I really don't think Harry would see his intended request that way. At any rate, it looks like that job belongs to Andromeda now, and she's doing it quite well. :)

[lyonessheart]

While he would not see it that way, in Draco's place I would have felt patronized and probably lashed out if someone of my own age demanded that I apologize to people because I was on the wrong side of a war. So it is good that Andromeda gently guided him towards this :)

[twisted_miracle]

I'm curious. Why, when I use verbs such as "beg" and "ask," do you see that as a "demand"?

[lyonessheart]

Hi :) I think it has to do with the inherent power imbalance in their relationship. Harry is on the winning side of the war, he is the "good" guy the one with more power. Draco is to me in a weaker position, he has to "earn" the love, so anything Harry asks of Draco is to me more than a simple question. It is something with a lot more weight than it would be in a more balanced relationship.

So no matter if Harry begs or asks - because he comes from a moral highground it has the weight of demand and can't be refused easily. Since I tend to step into the character when reading your stories, and yes they are that good, I look at the story out of Draco's eyes and wonder how would I feel if my new boyfriend pulls that card on me.

I would feel pushed into a corner. And given what my headcanon on Draco says, I would lash out. Because the apology wouldn't be worth anything anymore since I hadn't had the chance to give it freely. If my Aunt or Mother sends me to do it, it still feels uncomfortable but they are grown-ups and thus have inherently more power and I am used to it. Does that make any sense?

[twisted_miracle]

Ok, you make some good points. Not sure I agree with you, but I definitely understand your perspective better now. :)