Blaise somehow managed to combine their preferences and Harry got things like silk pyjamas while Draco got soft wool sleepers with feet, which Draco found astonishing because they’d keep his feet warm and he wouldn’t even have to wear slippers. Draco’s wardrobe choices were being toned down, while Harry’s were being spruced up.
Somewhere along the line, leather trousers were added to their growing pile of items they were buying. Dragon hide boots sat alongside regular trainers.
Harry wasn’t sure where they’d come from, but wizard’s robes appeared and they selected several of those, too. They even picked out formal robes despite the fact that Harry couldn’t figure out why they’d need them.
Snape stood leaning against the far wall, simply observing the whole process. He didn’t interject comments of any kind, whether positive or negative. He didn’t even comment when Draco picked out a red and gold jumper that would match one of Harry’s selections. There weren’t any comments forthcoming when Harry selected one with green and silver either.
Draco ended up taking a short nap as Blaise and Harry argued over exactly what to keep and not to keep, but eventually everything was selected, paid for, and bags and boxes shrunk down to fit into one bag. Harry was once again dressed in the original clothing that he’d arrived in, but Draco was dressed in blue jeans, t-shirt and a green hooded sweatshirt with white trainers on his little feet.
Harry handed Blaise the bag as they finally left the store and picked up the tired little boy. “Draco, did you know shopping for clothes was such exhausting work?” Harry asked with a tired smile.
Draco nodded fervently. “Oh, yes! But normally it’s not this much fun!”
Harry laughed and hugged Draco to him. “I suppose it was kind of fun, too. But we’re not doing that again anytime soon,” Harry said mock sternly.
“You two have enough clothes to last you awhile, I’d say,” Blaise declared.
Harry glared at him. “Well, it’s certainly not because of me. I would have grabbed a few jeans and t-shirts, some socks and underwear and that probably would have been about it.”
“Then it’s a good thing I came along, isn’t it?” Blaise said cheekily.
Harry shook his head and gave him a rueful smile. “Let’s just go get something to eat. It’s way past lunchtime. I never expected clothes shopping to take so long.”
“Yeah, I’m starving,” Draco declared.
“There’s a McDonald’s right over there,” Harry said, pointing to the golden arches across the street and down a ways.
“Pray tell, what is a ‘McDonalds’?” Snape sneered.
Harry grinned. “It’s a fast food restaurant that sells food. Juicy hamburgers and greasy chips. I think my cousin Dudley got half his fat from that place alone. Once in a great while they even brought some back for me. It’s really good!”
Blaise looked at him curiously as they automatically started walking towards the place. “You’ve never actually been there?” he asked.
“Um, well, no,” Harry admitted quietly, having not realized until then that he’d let something else slip about his past. He was once again uncomfortably aware that Snape was eyeing him, a calculating gleam in his eyes, and Harry quickly averted his gaze back to Blaise.
“Well, then it’s definitely decided that we’re going to this McDonalds place to eat,” Blaise said cheerfully. Harry could’ve hugged him for his understanding and letting the issue drop.
A short time later they were seated in a booth and the three boys were happily wolfing down burgers and greasy chips. Harry did his best to hide his amusement as he watched Snape eyeing his food with distaste. Harry went back to the counter and when he came back, he set a salad with recognizable food items in front of Snape without a word. Harry tried unsuccessfully to tone down his grin when Snape actually shot him a grateful look.
In contrast to Snape, Draco was ecstatic over his Happy Meal. Starving, he made short work of his burger and fries and happily slurped down his root beer, even as he marched the little toy that came with it all across the table.
“Harry, what is that?” Draco asked suddenly. “What are they doing?”
Harry looked where Draco was pointing to the play area right outside. “Well, it’s a play area for kids to play on. You can climb up through those tunnel things and slide back down the slides,” Harry tried to explain.
“Why would they do that?” Draco asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.
Harry looked at him with a sad smile. “Because it’s fun, angel. There used to be one kind of like that at the school I used to go to, but it was a lot smaller. Sometimes I got to play on it and the slides are especially fun.”
Draco was still watching the kids outside curiously and Harry glanced at Snape. He wanted to take Draco outside and show him, but wasn’t sure if Snape would allow it. He’d been nice enough overall today, for Snape, and Harry didn’t really want to push his luck.
Snape gave a curt nod to his unspoken question.
“Thanks!” Harry said, a grin brightening his features again. Harry turned to Draco. “You want to go check it out?” Harry asked.
“Yeah!” Draco exclaimed.
Blaise followed them outside and the three of them stood there simply looking at the giant play structure. “So, what do I do?” Draco asked quietly.
Harry crouched down next to Draco and pointed. “You see that hole there?”
Draco nodded.
“You start there and climb all the way to the top. Then you can slide down,” Harry explained, his hand pointing out the path Draco should take. Draco was still looking a little unsure.
“Just go with him,” Blaise said.
“I’m too big,” Harry protested.
Blaise rolled his eyes. “Just go!”
“Yeah, come with me, Harry,” Draco pleaded, tugging on Harry’s hand.
Harry grinned suddenly. “Fine.” He let go of Draco’s hand and began backing away towards the play structure. “I bet you can’t catch me,” Harry challenged, before turning and running towards the tunnel opening.
Draco tore off after him, giggling all the way. Harry crawled through the tunnels, Draco scrambling behind him, trying to catch up to him. They reached the top and Harry waited only a few seconds before Draco jumped on him. “I got you!” Draco shouted happily.
Harry tickled him, causing Draco to squeal, peals of laughter echoing through the series of tunnels.
“H-Harry, st-stop!” Draco gasped out through his giggles.
Laughing himself, Harry stopped and turned Draco to look out the bubble dome they were currently in. “Look, angel,” Harry encouraged.
“Wow!” Draco breathed. Suddenly, Draco started waving and Harry looked out himself to see a grinning Blaise waving up to them. Harry saluted him and laughed.
“What do you think, Draco? Should we go back down and make Blaise come play, too?” Harry asked.
“Yeah!” Draco shouted enthusiastically.
Harry sat down at the top of the slide and motioned Draco over to sit in front of him. “Come on. You can slide down with me your first time.”
The two of them went swooping down the slide—only to land on their backsides at the bottom.
“Ouch!” Harry said, rubbing his arse as he got up.
“It didn’t hurt at all, Harry,” Draco exclaimed.
“Not for you,” Harry retorted. “I cushioned your landing.”
