Waves of Emotion - Part 1 of A Different View (H/D, PG)

[sesheta66]

Title: Waves of Emotion (1/? of A Different View)
Author: sesheta_66
Rating: PG
Word Count: 500
Pairing/Characters: Harry, Draco
Challenges: awdt's prompt of "A Letter to Santa," slythindor100's holiday challenge #7 - "Christmas cake," and my GJ 100_prompts entry #084 - "Waves".
Summary: Draco reads something that was never meant for him, and the impact of it is a bit overwhelming.
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. They belong to JK Rowling and her publishers. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.

To see all parts of A Different View, click here.




"Aren't you going to go through the box?" Draco asked. Potter had just received a box of things from Privet Drive, and had tossed it aside.

"Nope. I took everything that meant anything to me."

"How can you be sure if you don't go through it?"

"Look, Malfoy, just trust me when I say there's nothing from that place I want."

"But it's your past, your history, your childhood." Potter had snorted at that. "You should at least make sure there's nothing of value that you may have forgotten."

"Tell you what, Malfoy. Why don't you go through it and then you can tell me if I need to keep anything. I would just rather forget it all happened, okay?"

Draco shrugged, confused by Potter's reaction, and curious about the contents. There were school papers and a few doodles, an old deck of cards and ... what was that? It was a sealed envelope addressed to Santa Claus. Draco grinned as he opened it, wondering what outlandish things Potter had asked for from the Muggle-invented Santa.

Dear Santa,

Did I do something wrong? I thought I was a good boy all year, but I still didn't get anything from you. I don't want much, really. Maybe you didn't get my letter.

I know I asked for really hard things before, like to have my mum and dad back, or maybe a friend that wouldn't be scared off by my cousin, or a new family that loved me, or even to sleep somewhere that wasn't a cupboard under the stairs. I understand that you couldn't give me any of those things.

But this year I was really careful to ask for something really small. I didn't think it would be too much to ask for a piece of Christmas cake so I could save it for a day when I'm really hungry. But you didn't bring it. I know you were here, because Dudley got presents from you. Have I been bad? Please tell me what I did wrong, so I don't do it again.

Harry Potter


Draco walked over to where Potter was sitting, placed a hand on his shoulder and, looking him in the eyes, whispered, "I'm so sorry, Harry. I -- I didn't know."

He let the letter fall to the table, suddenly drowning in a wave of emotions. His heart ached at the thought of the little boy who had written this. He felt ill as he imagined a friendless child, confined to a cupboard, unloved by his family, so hungry that the only thing he wanted for Christmas was a piece of cake -- not even a whole cake -- so he could stash it away. Then guilt washed over him as he recalled all the times he had taunted Harry about his parents.

Draco left the house, not sure what to make of these emotions, but sure that he couldn't stay in close proximity to Potter another minute. He needed to get air, gain some perspective.

Part 2 - A Little Better
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Comments

[lire-casander.livejournal.com]

The letter was so vivid, so sad, that I'm almost crying at work, dear. I feel for this boy, and I wish Draco finds the way to make it better for Harry.

[stitchesandlace.livejournal.com]

This brought tears to my eyes. It's lovely! Somewhat similar to the one I just wrote for awtd, except yours captured the emotion a lot better! (Maybe we were sucking from the same muse wavelength!)

Oh, Harry. *sniff* I wonder how many children write letters like this to Santa every year, ones whose parents can't afford to give them big shiny gifts... Oh dear, now I'm getting all weepy.

Can't wait to see more!

[stitchesandlace.livejournal.com]

oops - I meant for awdt

[nocturnali.livejournal.com]

Lovely.
Beautifully done, so sad.

[hpstrangelove.livejournal.com]

It's too early in the morning for me to be crying already, but at least no one's at work yet to see me! Draco will make it better - I have faith in him.

[softly-sweetly.livejournal.com]

The letter broke my heart, brought tears to my eyes. You captured the desperation and pain of Harry as a child so beautifully, without being gratuitous *loves you*

This looks fabby babe, though I have a question - what house are they in? I assumed that they were just friends, not lovers, but then when you said Draco left the house... it's prolly just me being dim *g*

Looking forward to more, &herats;

[jamie2109.livejournal.com]

Gah, there is angst all around me today. Writing angst, reading angst... Waaaah. You made me all teary at Harry's letter and made me want to kick the Dursleys all over again.

Beautifully sad.

[kaykayen.livejournal.com]

That letter absolutely shattered my heart into tiny little pieces. Gorgeous start.

[chibidraco.livejournal.com]

Like I sap, I'm overwhelmed by emotions myself. Poor Harry. As for Draco it had to be an overwhelming experience not to hear it from a composed adult, but in a letter years ago written by a lonely little boy.

[gurliemoviegeek.livejournal.com]

So, so beautiful, yet so sad.
Poor Harry! I just hope Draco can gain the perspective he needs to be strong for Harry...

*wibbles*

[accioscar.livejournal.com]

OMG! My heart is being broken into little pieces with all these 'Letters to Santa'. I am literally crying. So sad and beautiful...

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I love the way that you have taken a potentially slight, even banal, prompt and made it into something that is strong and evocative. Draco's response is touching and very human. I look forward to the next part with hope.

[winter-june.livejournal.com]

For all the evil characters JRK created, the Dursleys are the ones for whom I have no mercy (if I unleash my 'Dursleys speech' here this would be really quite long). Neglecting a child by lack or attention is horrible, but doing it consciously, even with premeditation, is abominable.
But the past can not be changed. I hope the future (and Draco's help) can heal that little child that probably is still inside Harry.

[kittie8571.livejournal.com]

These letters to Santa are going to kill me this week. This was lovely. Brought tears to my eyes.

[dysonrules.livejournal.com]

Oh man, just thinking about poor Harry at Christmas makes me want to feed the Dursleys to dementors. They got off too lightly, IMO. (Make it better, Draco.)

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Draco's not too sure what to do yet. He's just so overwhelmed that he needs to think.

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Did you write something similar for the prompt? Great minds, I guess. ;) I am so far behind on reading, but I plan to catch up on the weekend, if not sooner.

*hands tissue*

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Thanks. *snuggles Harry*

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

*hands tissue*

Go Draco!

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

*hands tissue* - thanks, hon.

Um ... you're not dim ... truth be told, I had written the back story, but it was 200 words too long. So ... I left the meaty stuff in, and will explore the rest in part 2. I left the references as 'Potter' until the end, to (try to) show the lack of intimacy (not exactly friends, and definitely no closer - yet).

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Who knew "Letter to Santa" would produce angst?

*hands tissue*

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

*puts your heart back together*

Thanks, hon.

[enchanted-jae.livejournal.com]

Oh, you made me cry!

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Indeed, it cut him to the quick. He wasn't sure what to make of the emotions he was feeling. *snuggles Harry*

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Thanks. We'll see what Draco can do.