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Theo shuffled nervously as he peered at the incoming owls flying across the shining sky of the Great Hall.
Strengthening his Occlumency walls was the only response he could offer to Blaise, who had sharply elbowed him under the breakfast-laden table in an attempt to make sure Theo’s loss of composure wasn’t seen.
Theo inhaled sharply as he finally spotted Hedwig, Harry’s beloved owl who had refused to let one of the school owls carry the package for her human. The snowy owl swooped through the air approaching the Gryffindor table which, as always, was rowdy.
From the quick glances the Slytherin had shot around the hall as he entered, roses, gifts and chocolates were already found in the possession of most of the older students.
“Merlin, Morgana and Arthur-! Theo if you don’t start breathing again, I will not hesitate to force you to do so with a lovely portion of porridge over your overly styled hair,” Blaise mumbled from beside him. “Are you not capable of waiting until Potter actually opens your gift before you bless me with a breakdown?”
The brunet sent the nastiest glare he could to the other Slytherin before immediately turning back to the red-clad table, his stare fixing onto the short Gryffindor who currently had far too many heart shaped pins stuck in his braided hair, probably courtesy of Lavender and Parvati.
Theo did his best to refrain from picking at his cuticles, a habit his father had forcefully trained out of him as a child, as he watched Harry look at the large icy blue box, decorated with ribbons in silver, black and the same icy blue, the colours of House Nott, that landed next to his breakfast plate. Those jewel-green eyes blinked in confusion before glancing up at Theo and sending him the sweetest smile he had seen yet from the shorter boy.
Which was quite a challenge, honestly, because when Harry’s smiles weren’t mischievous or cunning in the way that only someone who was supposed to be a Slytherin could do, they were sweet as could be, especially when looking at Theo.
As Harry seemed to stare down at the box in astonishment, glancing up at Theo every few seconds, the Slytherin just sighed, and mimed opening the box. The flush that covered Harry’s cheeks as he immediately did so was a reward upon itself.
Those rough and gentle hands that Theo admired far too much gently opened the wrapping paper as if it were far more precious than simply some transfigured parchment. Having to force himself into refraining from bouncing his leg, lest Blaise decided to pester him even more, was torture as he kept icy blue eyes on the Gryffindor.
Conis, the stubborn snake, seemed to attempt to poke his head in the box before it was fully open to most of the surrounding Gryffindor's amusement.
Theo inhaled sharply as Harry finally removed the contents of said box. A beautiful furred cloak laden in so many runes that Harry would never find himself uncomfortable in the cold Scottish winters, as well as a smaller box filled with honey cakes he had baked himself.
He’d had to bribe Iris to actually cast the runes on the cloak, but he had come up with the whole Rune Matrix. And the Weasley Twins were not easy people to bargain secrets out of. The mystery location of the kitchens definitely left Theo with a lighter purse and an order of rare potion ingredients he would have to sneak to the two devils.
It was all worth it, though, to see the absolute joy in Harry’s eyes at the gift. His Harry wrapped the cloak Theo made around himself. The hours of tanning the fur himself during the Yule hols, sewing the actual cloak together during January while juggling his own school work was all made worth it by the absolutely adoring look the other boy shot at him.
As Theo relished in the flushed cheeks of his chosen, Harry got up, carefully packing away the box, wrapping paper folded inside it, and gently holding the dish of honey cakes. The russet fur cloak suited him well, making Harry seem taller as he approached the Slytherin table and slid into the seat across Theo, looking as elegant as a Warlord from the days of his ancestors.
“Good- Good morning, Theo!” Harry bashfully greeted, nodding at Blaise in what seemed like an afterthought as he was fully focused on Theo himself.
The dark-skinned boy just scoffed and left them to chat with quick goodbyes.
“This is amazing, Tee- Thank you so much! You really didn’t have to get me a gift, y’know?” Harry said, the tips of his hair discreetly turning the same shade of bright red as his cheeks.
“...Of course I did, Harry. You deserve nothing but the best,” Theo replied, as both of them kept their eyes on each other; the world outside was completely irrelevant to them.
After a tension charged moment, it was broken by Harry blushing deeply and reaching into his bag. Removing a far smaller and messier wrapped box, Theo still felt his heart swell at the thought.
Harry had gotten him a gift!
Heart beating out of his chest, Theo accepted the gift. Quickly, but still elegantly, he removed the bright red wrapping paper to see a full to bursting box of Solskinnsboller, a custard cinnamon swirl pastry from Norway that Theo had mentioned particularly appreciating once, while complaining that he couldn’t find anyone decent to make them for him here.
“I- I know it’s not much, and I feel bad that you got me such a big gift when all I got you is some pastries- But you mentioned missing them, so I uh- I asked your cousin? You mentioned she’s your cousin, at least I think you did? Luna? Yeah- Luna, the Ravenclaw? And she got me this recipe! Well, I didn’t really ask, she just came up to me as I was about to order cookbooks at the owlery and gave it to me? Anyways, um- I hope you like it!” Harry rambled on, in that adorable way he always did.
As he continued, Theo leaned over to pluck one of the honey cakes he had made from the box Harry had placed next to him as he sat down, and shoved it in Harry’s mouth.
“Eat, or we’ll be late to class.” Theo winked, sitting back down and grabbing one of his own home-baked goods, appreciating the perfectly cooked flaky pastry. Moaning as he took a bite, he smirked as he observed Harry choke on his honey cake.
Despite wishing Harry would be closer to him wearing green and silver, he had to admit that red truly suited his love, especially on his cheeks.