Surprise!

Here's a little seasonal update for you lovelies. Thank you, as always, for sticking by this verse!

Prompts used: Poinsettias, Ollivander's wands

Summary: Scorpius tries out some wands.

Harry slipped his hand in Draco's as they strolled down Diagon Alley. It was a beautiful day to be out shopping for their Christmas gifts. The sun was shining despite the brisk chill in the air and crowds of shoppers milled about the market, questing for the perfect present.

As far as Harry was concerned, he had everything he wanted.

"We're almost done," he declared, hoisting Scorpius in his arms and herding Draco away from the crowd. He smiled and squeezed his boyfriend's hand. "Molly will love this Charm Your Own Cheese gift set."

Draco smirked. "At least someone will be happy. Father's going to throw a fit when he sees the golf clubs you picked up for him."

"What about them?" Harry asked innocently. "He plays golf."

Draco rolled his eyes and nudged him in the ribs. "You know that's supposed to be a secret, you plonker. You just want to rile him up."
Harry grinned cheekily, opting not to commit himself. Tormenting Lucius was one of life's great delights and he wasn't giving it up. Christmas was a time for joy. Besides, Lucius would probably gift him socks or Fashion for Dummies or something just as awful. It had become something of a Christmas tradition between them.

"At least Mother will like the poinsettias we got her," Draco commented. "And the vase."

"That just leaves our presents," Harry put in.

Scorpius perked up at the magic word, making his parents chuckle. "Yes, you too," Draco told him, bussing a kiss to the little blond head. "Did you write your letter to Father Christmas?"

"No," Scorpius replied, a little too happily.

Harry shook his head fondly. "It's not finished but we've been working on it all week. It's a long list."

Draco raised a questioning eyebrow. "How long a list are we talking?" Someone had to ask these questions. Left to his devices, Harry would gladly purchase Honeydukes for their son.

Harry shrugged. "There's plenty of room in the sleigh," he replied easily.

Draco smiled to himself and decided to let this one go. Nothing in the world would ever convince Harry to stop spoiling Scorpius. Besides, it was Christmas. Discipline could wait until the holidays were over. And speaking of the holidays...

"I nearly forgot," Draco said, stopping in his tracks. "We should make a stop at Ollivander's."

"What's wrong with your old one?"

"Nothing, really. It's just more suited for Charms than Healing and I could use something a bit more versatile at St. Mungo's."

"Well, that's your first Christmas present then," Harry decided.

Draco smiled and looped an arm around him. Perhaps, Scorpius wasn't the only one who was indulged.

The wand shop hadn't changed a bit since the last time he'd seen it. For that matter, neither had Ollivander. The old man was spry as ever, having recovered from his awful experiences in the War. Despite having made peace with him years ago, Draco felt a twinge of consternation while entering the ancient brick house.

Fortunately, Ollivander was a better man than him.

"Mr Malfoy," he greeted warmly as soon as he caught sight of them. "Ten inches, hawthorn wood with a core of powdered unicorn hair, very pliant and good for Charms— is that right? Oh, never mind, of course it is. And Harry Potter, a pleasure as always."

"It's good to see you again, Mr Ollivander," Harry replied politely. His hand squeezed Draco's briefly again— just the slightest touch of reassurance. Draco squeezed back gratefully and turned to the wand maker.

"Happy holidays, Garrick. I was hoping to select a new wand today. You see, I..."

"Oh, but of course!" Ollivander exclaimed enthusiastically. "You're a dash early but like we say in the business, it's the wand that chooses the wizard, yes? Now, let's see what we have here."

He peered curiously at Scorpius who blinked back.

"Hi," he chirped tentatively.

Ollivander chuckled. "And hello to you too, Master Malfoy. My word, what a serious young man. A Ravenclaw, no doubt."

"Gryffindor," Harry offered automatically.

"Yes, of course," Ollivander replied, waving him off. He was far too distracted with studying the small boy, gauging him carefully. "I do believe we have something that might work for you."

Draco blinked in surprise before catching on. "Oh, you misunderstood. The wand's not for..."

"Now now, patience, Mr Malfoy," Ollivander cut in. "These things take their time. If there's a wand for him, we'll find it. Come along now. No time to waste!"

Draco opened his mouth to argue again but Harry nudged him. "It might be fun," he whispered. "It's not like he won't be needing one soon."

"He's too young to pick a wand," Draco whispered back. The thought of his little boy going off to Hogwarts one day twinged painfully in his chest. Scorpius was growing up fast enough without the wand shopping. Still, Harry looked excited at the prospect and Scorpius looked mildly interested— which coming from him was a big deal. Draco sighed. "Fine," he replied. "But he gets it on his eleventh birthday and not a day before."

That, Harry could agree with.

"Come on, Blondie," he said, following Ollivander to the back. "Let's go find your wand."

"Kay."

Ollivander had a whole stack ready by the time they got there. "I have a feeling this one knows what he wants," he explained at Draco's raised eyebrow. "Come now, Master Malfoy. Take your pick."

Harry set Scorpius down gently. "Pick anyone you like, kiddo," he said gently.

"There's no pressure, son," Draco added.

Scorpius nodded and pattered over to the stack, rifling through the wands. Two were rejected immediately.

"No," he declared firmly, handing them back to Ollivander.

"But you didn't even try them," Harry pointed out.

"He doesn't have to," Ollivander replied. "If he doesn't like it, it's not the right one. Go on, child. Find one that feels right."

Wand after wand went sailing through the air as Scorpius intensified his search. Harry and Draco waited patiently throughno after no after no. Now and then, they caught a glimpse of a small, blond head in the pile but nothing more.

Eventually, Scorpius surfaced with a wand in his tiny fist.

"Ah, so we have a winner." Ollivander bustled over to examine the wand. "Six inches, rosewood with a dragon heartstring core. Excellent for Charms. Shall we give it a go?"

Draco sat Scorpius down and handed him the wand again explaining the process as he did. "How does it feel?" he asked gently.

"Kay," Scorpius replied. He didn't sound too sure.

"Try waving it," Harry added.

Scorpius obeyed, but the results were not exactly terrific. The wand fell flat after a few sparks. Harry's shoulders slumped but Ollivander just stepped in with another wand. "Close, but not close enough," he declared. "Let's give it another go, shall we? This one is holly and phoenix feather. Springy and light, suitable for spell casting."

Yet again, the wand failed.

"Bad," Scorpius decided, chucking it away.

Draco smiled and patted his back. "Don't worry, darling. We'll find the right one."

But it wasn't so easy. Wand after wand failed. Ollivander's frown intensified and Harry and Draco were starting to worry. What if their son couldn't find his wand? What did that mean? What if...?

"Oh, nonsense!" Ollivander replied as he bracingly handed Scorpius another wand. "A wand exists for every wizard and my selection hosts the rarest of the rare. The child just needs a challenge! Why don't we try something new? Now, this one is cedar with a core of unicorn hair and coral. Unusual yes, but..."

BOOM!

Harry yelped and Draco shielded his head with his hands as a flash of blinding white emitted from the tip of the wand. Scorpius squealed in delight as wands flew off their shelves and thick, purple smoke rose in the air. When the chaos cleared, Draco's hair was standing up on end, Harry's robes were yellow and Ollivander's face was covered in soot.

"Yes!" Scorpius cheered, happily brandishing the Wand of Horrors.

"No," Harry and Draco chorused at once.

"Well," Ollivander declared cheerfully, swiping a handkerchief over his face. "I suppose that rules out unicorn hair and coral."

Draco cleared his throat uncomfortable. "Maybe we should..."

"My thoughts exactly! We must persevere! Now this one is ebony..."

Draco sighed in defeat and slumped against Harry's shoulder.

Later that evening:

Harry twirled the brand new wand in his fingers, trying to get his mind around the happenings of the day. "Laurel, ten inches..."

"With a core of dragon heartstring and phoenix feather," Draco finished quietly. "It figures, doesn't it?"

Harry smiled and tightened his grip on the wand. "He's a bit of both of us."

Draco hummed in quiet agreement and took the wand. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

He started slightly as Harry reached out and pulled him in for a sound kiss. When they finally broke away, gentle fingers traced their way down Draco's cheek. "You know he's not going anywhere for a long time," Harry said gently.

Draco nodded and curled against him, silently grateful for the warm arm that slipped around him. "Too soon," he murmured. "He's growing up too fast."

"I know," Harry whispered, pressing a kiss to his head. "But he's still just a baby, Draco. He's not going anywhere any time soon."

"Promise?"

Harry chuckled and pulled him closer. "I swear. And if it helps at all, you'll always have me."

Draco smiled softly and pressed a soft kiss to his collar bone. "You know, Potter? I think it does."

They met for another kiss which was summarily interrupted when Scorpius pattered in.

"Fadder!" he chirped, pulling urgently at Draco's robes.

Draco smiled against Harry's lips and pulled his son into his lap. "Yes, my prince?"

Scorpius thrust a crumpled piece of parchment at him, eyes wide and anxious. "Santa," he explained urgently.

Draco smiled, running a gentle hand through his son's hair. "Of course," he murmured softly. "We should finish your letter for Father Christmas, yes?"

"Now," Scorpius agreed.

Harry shifted over too. "Let's get to it then," he said, wrapping a secure arm around both of them. "Santa only comes once a year and I think I hear reindeers."

Their eyes met again over Scorpius' head— a moment of understanding between two people sharing one life. Harry carded a hand through Draco's hair as Scorpius resumed his list of never ending expectations from this year's present haul. Draco smiled a pressed a kiss to his palm in thanks, tightening his hold on his baby.

One day it would be the two of them, waiting for him to come home from the holidays with his ten inch laurel wand packed away in a Hogwart's trunk. But today, he was still their little boy, sitting in Draco's lap and waiting eagerly for Santa.

There would come a Christmas a little ways down the lane, when things would be just a little bit different.

But not yet.

Not yet.