Sweet\'s Little Collection

A/N: A little continuation of Day Nine and Day Twenty. :D

Day Twenty-Seven: 

Tristan Malfoy-Potter rolled his eyes as his father leaned down to straighten his tie yet again. He waved his hands away with a very Malfoyish huff, and attempted to fix the damage wrought on his poor robes by his father's nervous hands. "Draco, let the poor boy be," Harry said with a chuckle. "He's on his way to Hogwarts, not Azkaban." Draco's eyes met Harry's abashedly. Harry squeezed Draco's hand. He didn't like that their baby had grown up so quickly either, but he trusted in Severus's capabilities as the Headmaster. He had a sneaking suspicion that he would be Tristan's head of house, as well, but Draco firmly believed their boy would take more after Harry as far as house assignments went. 

Annabelle clung tightly to Harry's hand, blinking around Kings Cross Station with wide eyes. They had explained to Tristan how he would reach the platform, and as they approached the column between platforms nine and ten, he could see the tense set of their son's shoulders. Harry nudged Draco towards him. Draco took the hint and walked the few steps that separated them. He rested a single hand on Tristan's shoulder, and Harry smiled as he watched the stress melt from his muscles. He saw Draco lean down to whisper in Tristan's ear, then saw his son shake his head slightly. He watched as determination strengthened the steel of their son's spine. He pushed his trolley in front of him, walking at a very restrained pace. Harry bit back a laugh at that. He couldn't help but remember how he had barreled, nervously, towards the gateway his first go around. 

Tristan disappeared onto the platform and Annabelle's screech of delight caused several passengers to look their way. Harry smiled politely at them, and hoisted the rambunctious six-year-old onto his hip, shushing her discreetly. He met Draco's eyes and nodded at him, watching as he disappeared after their son. Harry cuddled Annabelle, tickling her to distract her as he leaned against the column casually, sinking into the bricks. As he emerged on Platform 9 3/4, he located his family quickly, and joined them so they could say farewell to their little boy until the Christmas holidays. "If you think of anything you've forgotten, owl your dad and I. We will send it to you straight away," Draco reminded him. Tristan puffed his chest out in pride at the mention of owls. He stroked his brand new Great Horned Owl that he had received as a coming of age gift from his parents. He had dubbed the bird Archytas, after the ancient greek philosopher. He had garnered his Aunt Hermione's love of the written word, and philosophy was his current fascination. "I will, Papa." 

The train's whistle blew, and Draco and Harry both glanced at each other, mutual panic in their eyes. They both leaned down to hug Tristan tightly. He hugged back just as tightly, a quiver in his voice as he told them both he loved them and goodbye. Harry nudged their daughter forward. "Annie, tell Bubba goodbye. He's going to school now." Annabelle's eyes widened further, filling with tears. She threw her arms around her brother, clinging to him. "Bye bye, Bubba. Love you," she sobbed. She had started calling him Bubba when she'd been two. She wasn't able to pronounce 'brother', and it had stuck. Tristan's face went bright red at the childish nickname, but he hugged his little sister and kissed her on the forehead. "Take care of Dad and Papa, Annie, okay?" She sniffled, pulling back to grip Harry's hand tightly. "I will. I promise." 

Tristan steeled himself, then climbed aboard the train. His family waited on the platform until he found a compartment, and he waved at them through the window. Draco put Annabelle on his shoulders so she could see her brother better. The train began to pull away from the station, and they waved until they could see it no longer. Draco turned to his husband and pulled him close, their daughter worming her way off of his shoulders and  into their hug. He pulled away to find tears in Harry's eyes, and smiled. "Shall we go home, my loves?" he directed toward them both. The sound of his voice snapped Harry out of his daze, and he smiled, blinking away his tears. They each took one of Annabelle's hands and smiled indulgently as she giggled and demanded they swing her between them. They turned to leave the platform, and quite a few families paused to watch as the two young men led their daughter away to happy calls of  'one... two... three!' and squeals of delight when she was lifted from her feet and swung forward, only to come back down and repeat the process over again.