"Don't you think you are over-reacting to this?" Harry asked, handing Draco a cup of hot cocoa. The Slytherin turned to stare at his boyfriend in apparent disbelief.

"Over-reacting? Don't you understand what this means?" Draco asked, incredulously, setting down his cup on the table.. Harry raised an eyebrow.

"You knew this was going to happen when they got married, didn't you?" Harry reminded. Draco slumped down further into the copper-coloured couch and held his head in his hands.

"I know, I know," Draco sighed, running his hands through his hair. "Just that it didn't seem real, then, somehow. And I kind of forgot they would be moving in with us and..." He broke off mid sentence.

"And?" Harry prompted, wondering where his boyfriend was going with this.

"Well, Mrs Zabini isn't exactly the nicest step-mother. And is Blaise supposed to be my brother?"

"Come on, Draco, it can't possibly be that bad. Give them a chance. Who knows, maybe they'll surprise you?" Harry laid a comforting arm on Draco's shoulder, but Draco did not seem comforted at all.

Draco shook his head sadly. "I can't believe father fell for her charms. She's killed all seven of her ex-husbands for Merlin's sake! Even Blaise doesn't like her. She's a terrible mother and a worse step-mother."

"Maybe the war changed her. Who knows?" Harry offered, knowing he was not going to win this debate. Draco could be extremely stubborn when he wanted to, and this was obviously one of those times.

"She's practically a tyrant, Harry. Blaise has told me horror stories about her. She's...psychotic"

Harry took a deep breath. There was no consoling Draco when he got like this. "That's taking it too far. You're making it worse than it is, you know."

Draco looked up at Harry. "I...know."

This took Harry by surprise. He was not expecting that.

"Then why are you-" he began, but Draco cut him off.

"Because I miss her. I miss my mother. And I don't want anyone, anyone, replacing her."

An uncomfortable silence reigned in the room for a few minutes after Draco's declaration. Harry did not know how to respond. He could offer his sympathies, but he would not lie and pretend to know what Draco was going through. He had lost his parents too...but it was far from the same thing and they both knew it.

It was Draco himself, who broke the quiet.

"And besides, if Mrs Zabini lives up to her reputation, my father might-"

"NO!"

Harry surprised both himself and his partner with the forcefulness in his voice. He had never been particularly fond of Lucius Malfoy, but even he didn't want the latter to suffer at the hands of Blaise's mum. "We'll make sure your father is fine, Draco. I promise. You won't lose him."

Draco was still staring at Harry in some shock.

"It won't be all bad," Harry assured. "You'll see. You've got us."

"I have," Draco agreed, finally believing it.

Notes: For the British Literature Challenge on The Golden Snitch. Prompts: tyrant, copper, Draco Malfoy, disliking a step-parent.

Also for the Star Wars Week Challenge: Prompt: Brother

And for the Through the Universe Challenge. Prompt: Psychotic