H/D Candy Hearts Fest

A daily prompt fest running from February 1st to 28th, focusing on lighthearted Drarry works! banner by the talented joy AO3 Collection Prompt List Info & FAQ

[hdcandyheartsfest]

H/D Candy Hearts Fest 2023: Prompt List!

Welcome to the second year of the H/D Candy Hearts Fest! For every day in February, we will provide a prompt meant to inspire lighthearted works with Drarry as the main pairing. This is a lowkey fest, so feel free to use however many prompts in whichever order you want! Just post your work on Tumblr (tag us so we can share) or the AO3 collection between February 1st and February 28th! For more info on how to participate and post to the collection, check out our Info & FAQ 💕

Any questions? Ask your mod team: @softlystarstruck, @lou-isfake & @m0srael 💌

Prompt list in plain text is under the cut!

1. second date

2. sweet treats

3. handmade

4. bouquet 

5. charm me

6. bakery

7. mementos

8. amortentia

9. “love”

10. pink

11. come over

12. pillow

13. i miss you

14. valentine’s card

15. yearning

16. love language

17. happy tears

18. nap

19. surprise

20. coffee date

21. hug

22. strawberries

23. home

24. snail mail

25. soft

26. meet cute

27. “beautiful”

28. honeymoon

[peachydreamxx]

Day 28 of @hdcandyheartsfest with the prompt "Honeymoon"

This is my first time doing hdcandyheartsfest and it's been so much fun! I've adored writing these short stories about Draco & Harry in love! and thank you to the mods for creating this wonderful fest!

Here's some silly, fluffy Drarry for the final prompt!

“We’re so excited that you’re back!” Pansy squeals, clasping her hands together as they all huddle around the coffee table in her lounge. "We want to know everything!”

“Jeez, Pans, they only stepped off the plane thirty minutes ago.” Blaise says, pouring the wine into all of their glasses. 

“Yes but it was their honeymoon! Our two boys finally tied the knot!”

“It’s just another holiday really,” Harry says, matter-of-factly

“Only with endless supplies of free champagne and the fanciest newlywed suite in their entire hotel.” Draco adds, taking a cool sip of wine. He’s resting back on the sofa, his arm around Harry’s shoulder whilst Pansy sits opposite them, Blaise perched on the arm of the sofa while Hermione and Ron squish together in the armchair. 

“I see someone’s caught a gorgeous tan,” Hermione says, fussing over the radiant golden complexion on Harry’s skin, whilst Draco sits next to him, positively pink with sunburn and frowning at his boyfriend's ability to capture the sun so effortlessly.

“I did spend an hour or two out in the heat,” Harry says coyly, brushing off the compliment. 

“Draco looks like a prawn.” Ron adds

“One more comment out of you, Weasley, and I’ll hex your bollocks off.” Draco bites. 

It’s been less than an hour and they’re already bickering playfully. Things are definitely back to normal. 

“Was it nice being alone, just the two of you for two whole weeks?” Pansy asks

“We would’ve been alone if someone had managed to go five minutes without writing to his other husband.” Draco jabs, raising a disapproving yet amused brow at both Harry and his clingy best friend, Ron. 

Harry holds his hands out in defense, “For the record I it wasn’t every five minutes, alright?”

“You sent Ron four owls!” Draco argues

“Five actually.” Ron interjects. “And what’s the issue with that? I wanted to know if Harry was having a good time. By the way, Harry, did you tell Sergio the bartender that I hope his mother has a speedy recovery from surgery?” 

“You didn’t even meet Sergio!” Draco exclaims

“I know, but I still care about the man! Harry said he makes a mean porn-star martini.” 

“Oh he does!” Harry shoots up with excitement at recalling the memory of them. The rest of the group are laughing, Draco slumping back into the sofa with exhaustion. 

“Poor boys haven’t gone more than a day without talking to one another,” Hermione cuts, tussling Ron’s hair with a pitying smile. “You’d better get used to this Draco, having to share your husband.” 

Draco simply shakes his head in defeat and tries to ignore the smiling blooming over his face. 

“Was it romantic?” Pansy asks, leaning forward in her seat for more juicy details. 

“So  romantic,” Draco says, “Rose petals over the bed every night, candlelit dinners on the beachfront, sunrise walks along the shoreline, it was perfect.”

“We were shagging like rabbits.” Harry grins

“Harry!” 

“What? That was romantic too! Remember the night we did it on the balcony under the stars…”

Ron almost chokes on his drink. Blaise and Pansy stifle their snorts of laughter, Hermione eyerolls with a smile, clearly numb to Harry’s talent for oversharing and Draco just sinks further into the sofa, blushing profusely. 

“Then there was that time we did it secretly in the pool, it’s the funniest story, so—”

“Darling, I’m begging you to stop talking.” Draco cuts in, pinching his brow with exhaustion. 

“Anyway…” Pansy chuckles, “You both look so relaxed, I’ve never seen newlyweds as content as you two.” 

“Well, we did use the spa a lot as well.” Harry says, “Unlimited couples massages.” 

“Which sounded wonderful until Harry spent the entire forty minutes laughing and swatting the lady away.” 

“I didn’t realise how ticklish I was going to be, alright?” 

“Then, he proceeded to lick the vanilla shea butter from his arms—”

“My arms smelt delicious!” Harry explains, with no shame whatsoever. 

“Then he ate the slices of cucumber that were supposed to be used on his eyes.” 

“How is cucumber supposed to help my eyes?” 

“It hydrates them.” Hermione adds

“My eyes are already hydrated.” Harry counters, blinking hard to prove his point. 

“So, all in all, we’ve decided I’m not going to buy the joint spa membership here with Harry,” Draco says, patting Harry gently on the head as Harry - his clueless, fool of a boyfriend, smiles into his touch and nuzzles against his hand. 

“Well,” Pansy smiles at them endearingly, “I can honestly say, you both look positively radiant. Happier than ever.” 

find more of my drarry fanfictions on ao3 - here!

[andithiel]

Charm me

So February is officially over, but since I'm a slow and time challenged writer, I still have some ideas left for the prompts for @hdcandyheartsfest This one is for "Charm me", 180 words. All my love for my brilliant beta @crazybutgood

Up in the Astronomy Tower, the air is cool and damp; a storm brewing in the distance makes the sky above them crackle. 

“What would it take for us to move from here?”

Draco’s limbs are sore and sated, his heart thundering in his chest as he tries to calm his breathing down. 

“What, having mind-blowing sex in secret is not enough for you?”

Draco knows Potter doesn’t mean anything with his question to take things further. Having this kind of agreement with him has been more than Draco's ever dared to hope for. 

Warm lips brush his ear. “Don’t play daft, Draco.” Always his given name when they’re alone, spoken so softly, as if he really could—

Draco swallows that thought down, it’s too dangerous. Instead, he chooses his usual route: hiding. 

“I don’t know, Potter. I guess you need to charm me.” 

Harry smiles slowly, eyes glittering. Draco sees it, even in the semi-darkness.

“That’s all it takes?”

Draco nods, heart in his throat, and Harry’s smile widens. 

“Just wait, Draco. You’ve no idea what you’re in for.”

[quackquackcey]

Ch. 28: Hedgehogs, Honey, & Hazelnut-Covered Strawberries

Written for @hdcandyheartsfest day 28 prompt: honeymoon. 1477 words. Many thanks to my beta @wqtson​! 💛 I can’t believe it’s over—I feel kind of sad (´°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥ω°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥｀) but I hope you all enjoyed reading this daily February drarry fic.

Start from beginning on AO3 here, or click the #fic: HHHS tag.

Summary:

A chance meeting—or is it a setup?—leads to the start of a relationship filled with buttery baked goods, sweet smelling flowers, and hedgehogs.~ 🌹🦔

“Where are we going?” asked Harry in utter confusion as he followed Draco out of the convention centre. “The event’s about to start. Weren’t you all excited to watch those baking students compete?”

Draco just grinned in response as he pulled Harry out of the aT Center, where the Seoul Dessert Fair was being held. “You’ll see.”

Today was the third and last day the fair would be held, hence Harry’s somewhat confused and worried expression. Draco had, after all, practically been screaming from the rooftops and racing around the room taking notes and trying out every single strawberry dessert yesterday and the day before.

There were at least over a hundred different types of strawberry desserts on both of the days, each one absolutely delicious. Today was supposed to be a baking student competition, then a professionals competition, in which the strawberry desserts they created would be offered to all convention ticket-holders, as well as a world dessert section, a dessert design section, and a pop-up strawberry restaurant.

Draco hadn’t been able to stop talking about all the events offered the past two weeks, so when Harry reminded him again that the first event was about to start, Draco firmly told him, “I have better plans for today.”

Harry didn’t look any less confused, but he went along with Draco.

Keep reading

[drarrypotterrenaissance]

So, my goal this year was to post at least one fic a month. This is not an unreasonable goal, as I have dozens of finished or very-nearly-finished fics in my WIPs folder. However, writing fic and posting fic are two very different activities for me, and so I literally waited until 6 minutes before the end of February to post anything this month. I have written a bunch of fics for the amazing @hdcandyheartsfest, and I am going to make myself upload all of them, in chaptered installments, to this fic on ao3. (They can all be enjoyed on their own though!)

(If I don't update fast enough, please poke me! My irl bestie and my therapist are both so good about reminding me to share my work, but that doesn't mean I listen all the time 🙃 I'm hoping that maybe the 1,954th reminder might finally do it...)

Second Date

On their second date, Draco gives Harry a bottle of Felix Felicis, thrusting it across the table with far less ceremony or poise than Harry would have ever expected from a Malfoy, muttering something about it not being traditional to give gifts on a second date, but it was finished brewing, so…

"Draco! This is amazing! Did you brew it yourself?" Harry asks, clearly not put-off by this breach of second-date-protocol, if perhaps a little overwhelmed.

"Yes, well, you mentioned that you had used the bottle you won from Slughorn for doing Dumbledore's bidding and ensuring your friends weren't killed by my idiocy, so I thought that perhaps you should also have a bottle for your own enjoyment."

Draco's voice is far too prim, in the way it only gets when he's spectacularly nervous, and Harry's heart squeezes with something far too much like love for this early in the relationship.

"I mentioned that ages ago."

"Felix Felicis takes six months to brew, I couldn't have gotten it to you a moment sooner. Hence the poor timing, I suppose."

Harry can't believe how endeared he is to that snotty little sneer.

"I'm not the one who's stuck up on traditional courting etiquette, Malfoy. I don't care that you've brought me a gift on our second date, I just wish I could have gotten you something too."

Draco starts to brush that last comment off, but Harry interrupts him.

"Wait, this isn't some sort of apology, is it? We've already cleared the air and then some, and you know I wouldn't be here with you tonight if there was still anything from the past standing between us. You don't need to atone for anything with me."

Draco scowls.

"No, it's not an apology."

At Harry's suspicious frown, he presses on, "Alright, it may have been one in the beginning, when I first started brewing it. But I still couldn't believe we were friends then, that you could be so nice to me and forgive me - yes, Potter, I know I "put the work in" as you so often say, but even still - and I just felt so sad for who you were when you were sixteen. You had so few good things, and it seemed like all of them were taken from you, or twisted for the War, and I wanted to go back in time and fix that. But, of course, I couldn't, so, I made you Felix Felicis instead, to sort of replace what Dumbledore and I had both taken from you. I just,"

He looks up from his hands, where he has been fidgeting with the tablecloth the whole time he's been speaking, and Harry isn't sure he can hold any more love in his heart; this is it, his future is fixed on this man and he can't do anything about it, even if he wanted to, "I wanted you to have something nice. Something just for you."

Harry can't help it then. He leans over the table, takes Draco's face between his hands, and kisses him.

[steampunkserpent27]

HDCandyHearts 2023 Masterlist

I had such a blast writing for all of the @hdcandyheartsfest prompts this year. When I started, I never thought I'd be able to do all of them, but I just couldn't stop. I've never completed an entire prompt sheet before, so I'm very happy with myself for that!

You can read all of the prompts listed below: Second Date: Veela Draco (rated G) Sweet Treats: Ferret Draco (rated G) Handmade: Mermaid Draco (rated G) Bouquet: Deer-Centaur Draco (rated G) Charm Me: Veela Draco (rated G) Bakery: Baker Harry, Bakeshop AU, Pining Draco (rated G) Mementos: Sad Dad Draco (rated G) Amortentia: Veela Draco (rated T) "Love": Pining Harry, Love Confessions (rated G) Pink: Veela Draco (rated G) Come Over: Baker Harry, Misunderstandings (rated T) Pillow: Werewolf Harry (rated G) I Miss You: Obnoxious Draco (with a phone) (rated G) Valentine's Card: Mermaid Draco (rated G) Yearning: Pining/Baker Harry (rated G) Love Language: Vampire Harry (rated G) Happy Tears: Good Draco, Emotional Harry (rated G) Nap: Veela Draco (rated G) Surprise: Deer-Centaur Draco (rated G) Coffee Date: Gorgon Harry (rated G) Hug: Vampire Harry (rated G) Strawberries: Ferret Draco (rated G) Home: Mermaid Draco (rated T) Snail Mail: Oblivious Harry (rated G) Soft: Werewolf Harry, Fox-Animagus Draco (rated G) Meet Cute: Werewolf Harry, Potion-Maker Draco (rated G) "Beautiful": Gorgon Harry, Self-Esteem Issues (rated G) Honeymoon: Veela Draco (rated T) Thank you to anyone who takes the time to check these out <3 <3

[getawayfox]

I can’t believe @hdcandyheartsfest is over! I didn’t manage all the prompts, but the ones I did do were super fun. My heart belongs to @crazybutgood who not only betaed every single one of these, but also folded an origami heart inspired by each work and sent it to me on the days I posted them😭😭😭 You can see them all in the banner. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is🥺🥺🥺

You can read all drabbles on ao3 or from the list bellow.

🤍 Day 1: Second date (250 words)

🤍 Day2: Sweet treats (200 words)

🤍 Day 6: Bakery (270 words)

🤍 Day 8: Amortentia (160 words)

🤍 Day 9: Love (180 words)

💕 Day 10: Pink [ART]

🤍 Day 11: Come over (200 words)

💕 Day 13: I miss you [ART]

🤍 Day 15: Yearning (170 words)

🤍 Day 19: Surprise (380 words)

🤍 Day 20: Coffee date (130 words)

💕 Day 23: Home [ART]

🤍 Day 25: Soft (180 words)

🤍 Day 28: Honeymoon (190 words)

AO3 link: one for keeping

[steampunkserpent27]

Fly With Me

for @hdcandyheartsfest 's prompt: Honeymoon (the last prompt! How exciting!) Rated: T CW: Veela Draco, Implied semi-nudity (see-through clothing), Implied future off-screen sex

Draco was perched on the edge of the cliff, his talons wrapped around the gnarled rocks, as the salty breeze whipped against his hair, turning it damp and disheveled. His wings were unfurled, just slightly, so the air could buffet against them, causing his feathers to spread and sway in the wind. Harry was watching with bated breath. Draco was gorgeous. His skin was tinged slightly pink in the cold, while his hair clung to his skin, curling around his ears and giving him a wild complexion. His grey eyes stuck out starkly against his pale skin, matching with the turbulent sea and cliffside he was balancing on. His robes were long and flowing, more transparent than white, and they revealed far too much of his body. It was extremely distracting, and he found himself staring at Draco’s curled and wicked talons, as he didn’t trust himself to not look elsewhere. Draco stretched his wings, revealing their true length, although he kept them twisted downwards, so the wind wouldn’t sweep him away. They were breathtaking and pure white, almost glowing in the faint light of the stormy sky. For just a moment, he admired their beauty, before they were gone, once again furled at Draco’s sides. “You’re so beautiful.” He breathed. He hadn’t even meant to say it, but it was true. It was an understatement, the understatement of the century, but he was at a loss for words, and it was the only thing that came close to expressing the overwhelming admiration and love he felt for the man. Draco smiled, his cheeks turning a deeper pink, as he stepped towards him, carefully traversing the rocks. Although, he made it look easy, as his gnarled feet helped him to latch onto the slippery boulders. Draco extended a hand. “Fly with me?” He blinked, glancing between both Draco and the crashing waves below them. “With you?” “I’ll carry you.” Fingers brushed over his shoulder, gentle, tender, sending shivers down his spine. He let out a sigh, leaning into his touch and resting against his chest, feeling the steady thudding of Draco’s heart. He very much wanted Draco to hold him, to feel his arms wrap around him and to feel the breeze in his hair. He was only a little bit concerned about drowning in the ocean below them. “Don’t drop me.” 

There was a soft, airy chuckle, as Draco pressed his lips against the tops of his ears. “I would never.” He looked up at him, seeing the same love and admiration he felt reflected in Draco’s eyes. “Okay.” Draco wrapped his arms around his middle and lifted him up, so he could curl his legs around his hips and cling to his chest. “Don’t let go though.” He pressed his forehead against Draco’s sternum, taking a deep breath. “I’m not that crazy.” Draco stepped towards the edge of the cliff, his wings starting to unfurl, as they spread out on either side of him. “Just making sure.” He tightened his grip, sure he must have been squeezing the air out of Draco’s lungs. “I mean it, don’t drop me.” “Relax, Love. I’m a great flier.” Draco leaned forwards, his wings starting to tremble as the wind blew against them. “Ready?” He squeezed his eyes shut, letting out an affirmative grunt. Draco bent his legs, before he leapt forwards and plummeted towards the sea, the air racing and batting against them. He let out a whimper and dug his fingers into Draco’s thin robe, his knuckles turning bright white. After what felt like an eternity, but was really only a few seconds, Draco shot his wings out and turned upwards, arching towards the sky. They were shaky at first, tilting to the side, before he flapped his wings a few times and leveled them out. The wind was still achingly cold, and his heart was still racing, but as he realized he wasn’t about to crash into the sea, he opened his eyes. The sea was a raging beast below them, but Draco was carrying him right below the clouds, so the spray of the battling waves couldn’t reach them. It was beautiful, in a terrifying, life-ending kind of way. Draco turned, banking to the left, while his wings trembled against the force of the current. He looked up at him, seeing how relaxed and content he seemed, and he found he truly had no reason to worry. This was natural for Draco, it was what he was meant to do, and he felt truly touched that he wanted to share that aspect of himself with him. It wasn’t how he had expected his honeymoon to start, but he wasn’t disappointed, it was an exhilarating experience, one that he got to share with Draco and Draco alone. And besides, they still had plenty of time left together.

[hdcandyheartsfest]

♥ February 28: Honeymoon ♥

Check out the rest of the H/D Candy Hearts prompts here!  

[getawayfox]

Last prompt!🥺 @hdcandyheartsfest it’s been so fun! This is 190 words for “Honeymoon”.

Sending air kisses all the way to @crazybutgood 😘

“When was the last time you were on vacation?”

Silence. Draco is standing at the sink with his back to Harry, washing dishes after their dinner. He does it the Muggle way, says it helps him clear his mind. His fingers are gentle on a wine glass.

“Draco…”

“I’m thinking,” he says, sinking another glass into the water.

Harry slides his hands around his middle, kisses the back of his neck. Feels Draco relax a fraction.

“Not all of us have unlimited free time at our disposal, you know,” Draco tells the suds.

Harry works his hands up, rubs Draco’s shoulders gently. “Last month, you did double shifts because Padma was on her honeymoon. So don’t tell me that Healers don’t ever go on holidays.”

“Yes, well. Honeymoon’s different.”

Harry’s eyebrows shoot up. His hands pause their work on Draco’s back. “Let’s get married, then. Let’s do it right now and we can be on the beach tomorrow!”

Draco snorts. “You’d do anything to see me in a pair of swimming shorts.” He turns in the circle of Harry’s arms, kisses him, slow, lingering. “Holidays, then. Tell me where you want to go.”

[drarrily-we-row-along]

Coffee Date

"Sorry I'm late," Harry said, pressing a presumptuous kiss to Draco's cheek and bringing his chaos, and his busy-ness, and his charm bursting in with him.

"You're two minutes early," Draco replied, tipping up his chin a bit to hide how embarrassed and off-kilter the other man always made him feel.

Harry grinned at him, bright and open, dimples utterly devastating. "But I'm still here at least ten minutes after you, going by the state of your coffee." He reached over and tucked a strand of Draco's hair behind his ear, "Can I get you another while I get mine?" he offered.

"Decaf," Draco said, "please. If you don’t mind.”

“I don’t,” he replied with a wink, boyish and charming, and Draco wasn’t sure how he was meant to control the pitter-pattering of his foolish heart.

He watched as Harry chatted with the barista, making her laugh while she poured Draco’s coffee and made a sugary drink for Harry that hardly deserved the title of coffee. She handed him two chocolate croissants and he thanked her before levitating everything back over.

“Hi,” he said when he sat down and handed Draco his coffee and a croissant. “How are you?”

“I’m well, thank you,” he replied politely. “You?”

He quirked an amused eyebrow at him, “I’d be better if I hadn’t woken up alone in my bed.”

His cheeks heated and he could feel his face and neck staining a horrible , blotchy red from his blush. He tried to hide it by picking up his coffee to take a sip but feared it didn’t really do the job when Harry grinned even more widely at him.

“I’d planned to make you blueberry pancakes,” he added. “And mimosas, if you’d been so inclined.”

“Well, I didn’t want to overstay my welcome,” he said, a little sharper than he’d intended but Harry had always been annoyingly good at getting under Draco’s skin.

The other man set down his drink and reached across the table, covering Draco’s hand with his own. His face turned very serious, green eyes searching Draco’s. “I cannot stress this enough,” he said, “there is no possible way for you to overstay your welcome.”

He huffed and started to roll his eyes but Harry jumped in.

“I’m serious, Draco. I don’t have casual sex,” he said bluntly. “I’m demisexual, so by the time I want to have sex with someone, it’s basically a declaration of love.”

“You love me?” he asked incredulously.

“I literally told you that last night!”

He gaped at Harry, mouth opening and closing uselessly. “But things people say during sex don’t count!” he protested.

“Fine,” Harry huffed. “I’m fucking in love with you and if you don’t want your gasped ‘me too’ to count, that’s fine,” he said. “I can-”

“No!” he said, reaching for Harry’s hand as it retreated across the table. “I meant it,” he said, “Harry, of course I meant it.”

“Then why would you assume I didn’t?”

Shrugging, he looked down at where their hands were joined, “because you’re Harry Potter. You’re amazing, and kind, and funny, and charming, and anyone would fall in love with you. Everyone wants you-”

“I only want you,” he interrupted, brushing his thumb over Draco’s knuckles.

“Oh,” he breathed, searching his face for any trace of deception and finding none.

“Yes, oh,” he laughed softly.

He cleared his throat, “can we try this morning again?”

His smile returned, brighter than the sun, “I thought maybe you’d like to go to a movie with me,” he said. “Then maybe a stroll in the park, an early dinner, and then a night in?” he offered. “Then I’d be happy to try the morning all over again.” He squeezed Draco’s hand.

He smiled back, “that sounds good to me,” he whispered.

Harry brought Draco’s hand to his mouth and kissed his knuckles, “me too.”

—————————

Written for the @hdcandyheartsfest prompt “coffee date”

[quackquackcey]

Ch. 27: Hedgehogs, Honey, & Hazelnut-Covered Strawberries

Written for @hdcandyheartsfest day 27 prompt: “beautiful”, and @kinkuary​ day 27: cockwarming. 2820 words. Many thanks to my beta @wqtson​! 💛 Rated E. (cw: explicit sexual content).

Start from beginning on AO3 here, or click the #fic: HHHS tag.

Summary:

A chance meeting—or is it a setup?—leads to the start of a relationship filled with buttery baked goods, sweet smelling flowers, and hedgehogs.~ 🌹🦔

“Is there anything you want?” asked Draco out of the blue one night two lovely weeks later when they were snuggling on the couch watching a Muggle animated show—he’d basically been living with Harry at his flat ever since Harry found out he was Ormr, and he didn’t think he could be any happier than he was now.

Except for one thing.

Harry glanced at him. “No? Why?”

“Well, it feels like I lied to you all this time pretending to be your pet hedgehog and just got rewarded for it,” muttered Draco. “Which I usually wouldn’t mind, but I never wanted to hurt you….”

A devious look that did not bode well for Draco slowly crossed Harry’s face. “So you’re saying you want a punishment, hm?”

The way Harry said it heated Draco’s cheeks. “I guess, though I’m beginning to regret saying anything,” said Draco. “I’ll do whatever you want as long as it doesn’t affect my shop.”

Harry blinked, then laughed. “Could you get any vaguer? But what I have in mind won’t affect your shop at all, anyway.”

“…And what do you have in mind?” asked Draco with a feeling of premonition.

“Hm, not sure yet.” Harry carded his fingers through Draco’s hair and kissed his cheek. “Trying to think of a kink that’d get you proper flustered—you know how I love seeing you a pretty, blushing mess.”

Yes, Draco knew that very well from experience. Plenty of experience.

Read more here on AO3.

[drarrily-we-row-along]

Surprise

"Surprise!" Draco cheered, holding out the puppy he'd adopted for his husband. She was an adorable, fluffy black mess with giant paws and ears that flopped over at the tips. Harry was always gazing longingly at the puppies in the window when they walked past the pet store, so Draco thought it would be the perfect Valentine's present.

But Harry's reaction wasn't quite what Draco had anticipated. Instead of immediately taking the puppy and playing with it, Harry covered his mouth and started to cry.

"Shit," Draco said, pulling the puppy back and cradling her against his chest. He'd already started imagining their lives with this dog, how she'd grow, how they'd take her for walks and play with her in the back garden, how she'd have her own bed to sleep on in their room but would probably end up sleeping in their bed instead. "Sorry," he said, swallowing around the sudden sadness in his chest. "I can take her back. I just thought-"

"No!" Harry wailed, reaching out and taking the puppy from Draco, cradling her in his arms and burying his face in her fur as he sobbed. "Don't take her," he cried as he sank to the floor, still holding her.

She started licking his tears, and he huffed a laugh through a sob, kissing her on the snoot.

"So," Draco started, "to be completely clear, you do want to keep her?"

Harry nodded, hugging her tighter to his chest, "I love her," he whispered.

"Okay," Draco said, sitting down in front of Harry and their dog. "Good, because I really love her already and have already bought her so many things, and I-"

Harry leaned forward, still holding onto the puppy tightly, and kissed Draco, "Thank you," he said so soft and so sincere, that Draco's entire heart filled to the brim with delight.

He kissed Harry back, "You're welcome, my darling." With a smile, he stood, "I bought her some toys, should we try them out in the back garden?"

His husband nodded and took her to the back yard where he and the puppy proceeded to roll around and get filthy playing in the mud. In spite of the mess, he couldn't help the smile on his face, knowing that he was responsible for the all-consuming joy radiating out of his husband's body.

--------------

written for the @hdcandyheartsfest prompt 'surprise'

Read more of my 2023 hdcandyhearts ficlets here.

[steampunkserpent27]

Beautiful

for @hdcandyheartsfest 's prompt: "Beautiful" rated: G CW: Gorgon Harry, Snakes, Self-esteem issues, Happy Ending A sequel to this “Draco?” Draco paused, the paintbrush still balanced on his fingers. “Yes, Love?” He lingered near the doorway, leaning up against it. “Why… Why do you love me?” Draco’s eyebrows furrowed, as he got up and made his way over to him, taking his hand and bringing it to his lips. “Love, you’re such a wonderful, kind person, and you always take such good care of me. Why wouldn’t I love you?” His eyes stung, as he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. “But… Look at me.” “You’re beautiful.” “No, I’m not.” He shook his head, feeling the writhing coils of snakes attached to his scalp grow agitated, as they were thrashed around. “I’m…” He paused, his throat flexing.”God. I mean look at me.” Draco brushed his fingers against his cheek. “Hey. Hey. I see you, Love. I see you.” His shoulders shook, as he fought back tears. If he started to cry, the snakes would only grow more restless, as they’d want to know where the danger was. Only there was no danger, it was only him. “I’m a monster.” “No, you’re not.” Draco leaned closer, running his fingers through the writhing coils of snakes. They curled around and enveloped his hand, sniffing it with their pink tongues, before they gradually calmed and grew still, resting against the warmth Draco offered. The snakes had long ago accepted Draco and no longer tried to strike at him, even in their most frenzied of states. Draco wrapped an arm around his back and guided him closer, allowing him to rest his head against his shoulder. He found he couldn’t hold it back any longer and started to cry, letting out breathy sobs, as Draco attempted to soothe his frightened snakes. “You’re so beautiful, Love. Everything about you is so, so beautiful.” Draco continued to hold him, whispering words of encouragement into his ears, as he rocked him side to side. “I love you.” He whispered, once his tears had dried. Draco pressed his lips against his cheek, lingering over a patch of black scales that descended from his scalp, before he moved to his forehead and then his nose, kissing him again and again. “I love you.”

[peachydreamxx]

Day 27 of @hdcandyheartsfest with the prompt "Beautiful"

Thank you @nelweensfic for your help with this!

“Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?” Draco’s quiet voice breaks through the peaceful silence. 

They’re sitting together on the grassy bank just outside Hogsmeade, looking out over the expanse of lake at Hogwarts on the cliffs ahead, standing proud yet sunken in shadow against the inky-blue that’s blanketing the sky as twilight turns to dusk. 

Tiny lights begin to glow, one by one across the castle walls, mimicking the stars that are woven into the sky in a tapestry of jewels against the deep navy.

The late-night chill is nipping at Harry’s neck, but he doesn’t seem to care. Draco’s close comfort is enough to keep him warm for a lifetime. 

“It really takes your breath away, doesn’t it?” Draco whispers, eyes filled with wonder and a sort of innocence that Harry wants to cherish and protect. He’s transfixed on the beauty, seemingly having found perfection, but Harry’s not looking at the castle, nor the sky or the stars, none of it. 

He’s looking at Draco. He’s found his own heaven - delicate to touch and easy on the eyes, smart and funny and so, so beautiful. A love that settled long ago in the depths of his heart.

“It really does.”

find more of my drarry stories on ao3 - here!

[peachydreamxx]

Day 26 of @hdcandyheartsfest with the prompt "Meet Cute" Hogwarts AU where Harry is a new student!

Phials organised. Parchment stacked. Ingredients lined in their allocated spaces. 

The potions workbench of Draco Malfoy, top of the class for the last five years running - might he add, is meticulously organised down to the very last detail. Even the dust that falls seems to settle in perfect lines. 

Which is why he can’t understand why he has been allocated a partner.

“I don’t need a partner, Professor.” Draco had groaned, crossing his arms angrily at the desk of Severus Snape.

“This particular module is a partnered study, Mr Malfoy, you both must collect ingredients from around the school grounds, document your findings, run experiments together based on multiple hypotheses. It would do you well to focus on working cohesively to produce concoctions of the highest standard.” Snape’s low voice droned on, as Draco resisted the urge to eyeroll and bite back but despite his reasoning and bargaining, his protests fell on deaf ears, and thus a partner would be joining him, and most likely ruining his entire first term of class.

He doesn’t bother looking up when a voice appears beside his desk the following week. 

“Hi, Draco? Is it? I’m Harry. Harry Potter” 

Draco fusses with the textbook in front of him, flitting through the pages. 

Harry clears his throat, “Um– I’m your new partner.” He sits down on the stool quietly and Draco tenses, feeling the boy looking at him from the corner of his vision.The boy then unpacks his belongings neatly on the desk, ensuring nothing disturbs Draco’s setup. 

Draco turns to him, parting his mouth to begin a long lecture about why he much prefers working alone and that his opinion of the whole partnered studies situation is ridiculous and detrimental to his work but he stops before he can get a single word out, meeting Harry’s gentle gaze. 

Harry is still smiling at Draco, like a fool, but it’s rather sweet, a sort of crooked half-smile, shy and soft. Waves of brunette seem to bounce in every direction, falling carelessly over his forehead, teasing the frames of his dorky round-rimmed glasses. Draco would sneer, make a comment like ‘four-eyes’ or something, but the striking gaze from his deep green eyes, beautifully round and inquisitive, lashes flitting nervously, stealing Draco’s heart, draining all the sense from his brain. 

“Hi…” is all Draco can seem to muster, low and breathy, still aware that he’s staring in awe but can’t seem to find the function in his mind to get his stupid mouth to close. 

“I hear you’re a wizz at potions,” Harry says, shifting a little on his stool, “That’s kind of intimidating, to be honest.” he brushes a lock of hair back behind his ear, but it immediately falls back over his forehead. 

“I suppose you could say that.” Draco replies, turning a little pink. “I was just in the middle of finishing my essay about Moonstow Potion, how adding an additional spring of knotgrass along with essence of fig can–”

“--turn the potion into a solid matter, additionally making it edible. Pretty cool, huh?” Harry finishes. 

Draco stares for a second, his mind suddenly filling with endless possibilities of how a potions partner could actually be exciting. Never in his six years of school has he been able to geek out over potions like this. His heart skips a beat. 

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have interrupted you.” Harry says, pressing his lips. 

“No,” Draco finds himself grinning, unable to suppress it, “It’s rather nice not having my intellect drained by my insufferable classmates for once. I like a challenge.” 

“Well,” Harry shrugs, inching closer to Draco, “I’m here now, we’ve got a potions study to conduct.” 

Draco runs a hand back through his hair, composing himself despite the fluttering in his chest and the dryness of his throat. “You said your name was Harry, right?” Harry nods in response, “Nice to meet you, Harry. I’m Draco.”

find more of my Drarry stories on ao3 - here!

[hdcandyheartsfest]

♥ February 27: “Beautiful” (endearment) ♥

Check out the rest of the H/D Candy Hearts prompts here!