#vienna austria

(Image Description: Prompt 13 of 25 Days of Draco and Harry: Close up of frozen ice and snowflake crystals.)

(Image: The Adventmarkt am Karlsplatz in Vienna, Austria. The church stands magnificently in the background, in the foreground there is a hay pen and fairy lights strung across the market–for a more detailed description of the church continue reading the story!)

Drarry Christmas Fluff!
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Excerpt:

“And now, Harry, dear…” Draco kissed Harry on the cheek. “I have another surprise for you.” They were walking up towards Karlskirche , or “Charles’ Church” as Draco had translated for Harry. It was one of the most astounding baroque churches in Vienna, dedicated to Saint Charles Borromero, according to Harry’s stunningly gorgeous tour guide. Draco had taken him on a tour of the outside of the church after they’d done some Christmas shopping at the Standerln.  

* 

“You know, this church is considered architect J.B. Fischer’s greatest work,” Draco had explained, “And it’s not too difficult to comprehend why. As you can see—” Draco looked up at the building in awe as he held both arms open, presenting the church to Harry, who bit his lip attempting not to laugh at his lover who was taking his tour very seriously. 

“Now, Harry, are you paying attention? Look.  Do you see the façade in the center, which leads to the porch?” 

Harry nodded. 

“It mimics Greek temple porticos.”

“Ah…” Harry had remembered those from their trip to Greece, summer of last year. Ever since the beginning of their relationship, Draco had whisked Harry to different holiday destinations—evidently for the sole purpose of admiring the architecture. Draco could be such an insufferable architecture snob when he wanted to be, and Harry loved him dearly for it.

“And those neighboring columns—” Draco pointed out the columns on either side of the portico. “Their sculptures display scenes from the life of Charles Borromeo in a spiral relief. Charles, as in, Karl , the patron saint this church was built to commemorate who was revered as a healer for plague sufferers.”

“Oh, wow.” Harry had been standing a good two meters from the left column and he bent back to admire the magnificent piece of architecture from the bottom up. 

“Mmm, yes, I see the sculptures you were talking about. It’s beautiful.”

Draco nodded. “However, the columns were not crafted by J.B. Fischer himself.”

“Oh, no?” Harry couldn’t believe that after two years, Draco had finally got him hooked on this stuff too. 

“Nope. That was Lorenzo Mattielli, who was inspired by Trajan’s column in Rome.”

Harry’s eyes widened, as it finally dawned on him. “You’ve been planning this. Ever since we got together. It’s true!  Don’t even try to hide it anymore!”

Draco laughed, caught red-handed.

“First, we went to Rome on our first holiday together, then we went to Greece that summer…”

Draco nodded, the grin breaking out across his face. “And you know why, don’t you?”

“I would have never understood the epicness of this magnificent piece of architecture if you hadn’t have taken me to those places first.” 

Harry finally returned Draco’s grin and he felt tears form behind his eyes.

“This is the most well-thought out and meaningful gift anyone could have ever given me, Draco. Thank you so much.”

**

Read full story:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/27827017/chapters/68726799