Notes: Assume that Voldemort was defeated when Harry was a baby. VOldemort never survived the backlash of the killing curse. Harry still lived with the Dursleys until his second year when he was adopted by Sirius and Remus. Sirius was imprisoned for 5 years for attacking Peter Pettigrew (understandably) at a medium-level prison facility.
Chapter 1
1999
Harry hummed as he cleaned out the cages of the newly-hatched Blast-ended Skrewts, he was elbow deep in Skrewt droppings and litter but he didn't mind. Though he could have cleaned the cages out by magic but some creatures just didn't respond well to magic – Blast-ended skrewts were just one of them. It was a relatively slow day at the shop, weekdays usually were since most children would be at school and their parents would be at work. Harry usually used the time to catch up on his cleaning.
Harry wore thick dragon-hide gloves that reached his elbows, it was last year's birthday present from Charlie Weasley, as he cleaned, scrubbed and washed. Sweat beaded on his forehead, droplets slithering down his face. Harry used the sleeve of this shirt to wipe his face. When he was a child living at the Dursleys, he loathed cleaning and scrubbing and mopping and sweeping. But sometimes, these days, he liked the work. Especially because there was no one screaming at him every so often to do this again or clean that again or not good enough, do it again. He liked cleaning the cages of his magical creatures and seeing them play in clean cages. He liked seeing his animals happy and healthy. His animals loved him as long as he fed them, gave them water and somewhere warm (or cold, depending on the preference) to sleep. It didn't matter if how handsome or how ugly he was, how rich or how poor, who he was mated to – as long he kept his hands gentle and took care of them, they loved him.
A bell rang and echoed throughout the store. A customer, probably. Without looking up from his cleaning, Harry greeted, "Welcome to the Magical Menagerie!"
"Harry!" Dennis Creevey called out to his boss, " I got the herbs you wanted from Neville's shop. Though I'm not so sure what kind of lilies you wanted." Several packages floated into the shop behind Dennis as he struggled with the particularly squirmy baby mandrake in his arms.
"I got the pink ones though, they seemed the prettiest," Dennis laid the mandrake on the floor next to a couple of empty cages.
Harry chuckled, "It doesn't really matter, Dennis. The flowers are for Mother. Nothing brightens her day more than flowers in the morning." Harry took off the dragon-hide gloves, wiped his face with his sleeve and reached for the bouquet of pink lilies still floating in mid-air.
Dennis brows furrowed as arranged the packages on the counter. "Somehow, I can't seem to decide whether you did something wrong and you're trying to get Mrs. Malfoy to forgive you or you just want to give her flowers." He glanced at Harry, "Mate, you know that you're already her favorite, right? Whatever you do, she'll forgive you. And that's saying a lot, other mother-in-laws hate their child's mate."
"You're just being dramatic, Dennis. Mother-in-laws are not always monster-in-laws." Harry placed the Blast-ended Skrewts back in their cages carefully, making sure he had a good hold because who knew when they might decide to propel themselves to the ceiling. "Enough of that, mate. I just like surprising her from time to time."
"And that's why you're her favorite," Dennis smirked. "But what about your other mother-in-law?"
Harry shook his head, "Mamma is allergic to flowers but she will never admit that. I just give her chocolates instead." Harry disappeared into the storage room and came out with a box of Honeyduke's finest chocolates.
Dennis laughed, "I wondered why you had so much chocolate in there! I thought you had a hoarding problem!"
Harry grinned and threw a dirty rag at him, "Back to work, Creevey!"
"Sir, yes sir!" Dennis gave him a sloppy salute before heaving bags of feed into the storage room.
Harry fussed over the bouquet and the chocolate for a few moments, adding a quick note to each.
"Dobby!" The Malfoy house elf appeared with a loud pop.
Dobby's large ears quivered excitedly, "Master Harry sir! What can Dobby be doing for you?"
Harry smiled as he handed Dobby the flowers and the chocolate, "These flowers are for Mother and the chocolates are for Mamma. Please give these to them."
"Yes, sir, Master Harry, sir!" Dobby nodded eagerly and then popped away.
Harry had bought the Magical Menagerie right after graduating from Hogwarts using the inheritance that he had gotten from his parents. It was a win-win situation – he loved dealing with magical creatures and he could do his work near home. When he had bought the shop, he had thought of changing the name but decided against it. There was a legacy to be kept. After all, it was in this same shop that he had bought Hedwig. Changing the name would be like changing the name of Hogwarts, it was going against tradition.
It was nearing five when Harry began closing the shop. They had a few customers looking for the more common pets: kneazles, toads, cats, owls. One man was looking for a more dangerous sort, ashwinders. Harry was usually careful whenever he had someone come in looking for the more dangerous sort of animals but today was one of the good days.
Harry was at the counter, counting out the day's sales. He hummed under his breath as he worked.
Dennis was sorting out some stocks when he said, "Harry, it's only five. Why are you closing up the shop so early?"
Harry looked up at him and smiled widely. Dennis smiled back, a little surprised. He had never seen the older man smile as brightly as he did then.
"I got in, Dennis! I got accepted for the Creturae Healer scholarship! I'm having dinner out with Draco and Blaise so I can tell them," Harry grinned.
Dennis rushed towards his friend, hugging him tightly, "Congratulations, Harry! This is great news!" Dennis let go of Harry, "This is your chance. I mean you've let Draco and Blaise have their time, it's your turn now. You deserve it!"
Harry grinned, "Thanks, mate."
"Tell you what," Dennis began. "You can go on home and get ready for your dinner and I'll close up for the day. Where's the dinner gonna be, anyway?"
"I have a reservation at the Pearl Rose," Harry began fussing with his clothes.
Dennis whistled appreciatively. "You're pulling out all the stops, aren't you? That's a mighty good restaurant. Expensive as hell but brilliant."
There was a smile on Harry's face but his eyes were sad as he said, "They deserve only the best."
Dennis frowned, "None of this feeling sorry for yourself crap mate. The three of you, you're soulmates. There's a reason why fate chose the three of you to be together forever and all that." Harry shook his head.
"You're one of the lucky ones, Harry. To have found your mates so early. I hope I find mine soon."
Harry smiled at Dennis, "I know you'll find her or him soon, Dennis." Harry pointed his wand to himself to freshen up. He didn't notice Dennis' frown.
Harry dusted himself off, grabbed his coat from where it was hanging on the rack and slipped it on. He patted his left arm absent-mindedly, feeling for where his wand was fastened securely in its holster. Still there.
"I'll be off then, Dennis. Try not to burn the shop down, would you?" Harry teased as he walked out of the door.
"It was one time! And I only singed the Kneazles' fur!" Dennis yelled, laughing.
It was a cool spring evening, the wind was blowing lightly. It was a beautiful evening to take a walk, Harry mused. Maybe Draco and Blaise would like to take a walk after dinner. They could go take the scenic route home through the park.
Harry apparated from the outside shop to the front door of his home in the outskirts of Wizarding London. It was a modest 3-bedroom, 2-storey home with a large yard. Though their home was nothing like Zabini Manor or Malfoy Manor but it was home- at least, to Harry it was.
Home, it used to be such a foreign word to him. Growing up, all he had known was living in a house with the Dursleys. It was a house because there was no love lost between him and his relatives. But now, he had a home; a home he built, designed, decorated, cleaned and took care of. He put little bits of himself in his home; it was the work of his own two hands. His home was something he took great pride in. Harry had always wanted a home for himself, just him – but that was before he knew about the existence of soulmates and mate bonds, a phenomenon Muggles had yet to put a name to.
Everyone has a soulmate, a person that completes you and complements your very being. Some people their them early in life, others find them later. No one really understands the process of finding your mate, it's a process that varies from person to person. Most mate bonds are between two people, few are triads. It just so happened to be that Harry was one of those few. Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini.
Harry opened the door with the key hidden in the flowerpot. He preferred not to use Alomahora on their locks since it made them wear out faster. No one was home, but that wasn't much of a suprise. Harry turned the lights on with a flick of his wand.
His mates usually kept long hours. Draco had his Potions apprenticeship with Professor Snape and didn't get home until 7 at the earliest. Blaise had an internship at St. Mungo's and everyone knew that Healers kept odd hours.
Harry had told them that morning to meet him at the Pearl Rose at half past seven. He didn't say why, he wanted to surprise his mates with the good news. Harry cast Tempus, it was only a quarter past 5. He had more than enough time to fix the house a bit and clean up before he had to get to the restaurant.
Harry had chosen to start up the Magical Menagerie right after Hogwarts rather than get his mastery because he didn't yet know what he wanted to do. He also wanted to support Draco and Blaise as they did their own mastery and chased after their dreams. He didn't want them to worry about anything but their mastery so he kept house, he cooked, he cleaned. He laid out their clothes in the morning and made breakfast. He did the errands that they were too busy to do. He tried to be the perfect househusband for his mates. They deserved the best. Always.
Harry glanced at the Family Clock that Narcissa Malfoy and Arachnea Zabini gave the three of them after their Hogwarts graduation. Draco's clock hand pointed to class and Blaise's clock hand pointed to hospital. In Blaise's case, hospital doubled as work so Harry wasn't worried. He kept himself busy in the kitchen, chopping and slicing and dicing for tomorrow's breakfast. Draco preferred a light breakfast while Blaise insisted on heavier fare.
It was fifteen minutes after six when Harry went to the spare bedroom on the second floor where most of his clothes hung since they wouldn't fit with Draco and Blaise's. He dressed in the green silk long-sleeved top Hermoine had gotten him for Yule and paired it with black slacks. Harry ran a comb through his perpetually messy hair in an attempt to make it stay in place. But as always, it refused to listen.
"Darling, you know that you have never been able to tame that hair of yours," the mirror said wryly. "Don't bother with it, you look dashing."
Harry felt his cheeks heat up, "Thanks, mate."
Harry went downstairs in search of his good shoes-black, leather, and more importantly Draco-approved. He found them in the closet, hidden underneath Draco and Blaise's old shoes.
He stopped by the picture of his parents on the wall and waved at them, "I'll be going now, mom, dad." They couldn't speak but they smiled and waved back all the same.
As he locked the front door behind him, Harry decided to walk to the Pearl Rose. Fresh air was always good for the heart and for the lungs. Harry still had plenty of time, it was still a quarter till seven.
There was a long line outside the Pearl Rose when Harry arrived. Men and women dressed to the nines, pearls and diamonds glittering in the dim light. Harry fell in line behind an older couple, still in love by the way they leaned into each other as they waited. Silent but content. Harry wanted that sort of happy ending.
"Name please," the maitre d' at the door asked Harry. Her name tag read 'Matilde.'
Harry smiled, "Harry Potter, I have a reservation."
The maitre d' looked over her scroll and scanned the list quickly. "Yes sir, here it is. Reservation for Harry Potter, party of three." Harry nodded, "That's right."
Matilde called for a waiter, "Take Mr. Potter to table 15, Russ."
Russ smiled at Harry, "This way, Mr. Potter." Russ looked somewhere in his early 20s. Tall, pale-skinned, brown eyes, blonde hair. Russ knew he was attractive and wasn't afraid to use it.
"I'll be your server this evening, Mr. Potter. I give the best service, that is a fact," Russ winked. "Would you like to order now or later?"
Harry smiled faintly. "I'm waiting for someone." Harry cast Tempus, 7:15. Still early. Russ nodded but he seemed a bit disappointed.
At half-past seven, Harry waved Russ over and ordered a Chardonnay and appetizers.
7:45. 8:00. 8:24. 8:57. 9:11. 9:45. 10:10. The table beside him had changed people thrice already. Russ had stopped coming by.
One hour turned to two, two turned to three. His mates hadn't arrived. He didn't think they would ever arrive. Harry hadn't ordered because he wanted them to order together. He bit his lip as tears threatened to fall. He had waited and waited and all they had done was make a fool out of him. Maybe they'd forgotten, he tried to tell himself. But how many times had they 'forgotten'? Always. How many times had he attended draco's stuffy parties and endured the jeers of blaise's classmates? Always. He could feel the tears but he resisted, Harry was determined not to let them make a bigger fool out of him.
All throughout the evening, he was taunted with seeing mated pairs all cuddled up lovey-dovey with each other while he sat alone at his table. He had seen the older couples look at him with pity, he couldn't stand it. He didn't want pity, all he had ever wanted was someone to love him. Harry didn't bother to wave Russ over for the check, he simply left a couple Galleons on the table. Harry stood up and walked out of the restaurant without a second glance.
In another world, maybe Harry would've have taken Russ on his offer. In another world, maybe that Harry didn't have mates. In another world, maybe but not this one.
It was only when Harry stepped outside and a blast of the cool night air hit him that the tears started to fall. Big, fat tears of sorrow, regret, hate and heartbreak. His tears blurred his vision and the anger he felt made him blind to anything else.
"Oof!" Harry fell flat on his bottom when someone bumped into him. He removed his glasses, wiping them on his robes to clear the blurriness. He couldn't believe his eyes. Draco and Blaise. His mates.
Draco and Blaise had bumped into him and they were clearly drunk. Their arms were around each other's shoulders to keep each other from stumbling.
"Harry! Didn't see you there!" Blaise had the audacity to grin at him. He didn't seem to notice how upset Harry was. Harry stood up, dusting himself. Draco reached out to help Harry up but Harry slapped his hand away.
"Harry? What's wrong?" Draco reached for him again, "Why are you crying?" Harry shook his head, the tears unstoppable now. Blaise tried to wrap an arm around Harry
"I hate you! I hate you both! All I asked was for the both of you to come out to dinner with me tonight! You didn't even have to pay! I waited and waited and waited for you! Everyone was staring, feeling sorry for me. l I said that you were busy at work and you were running late! It turns out that you forgot! You forgot! You go out drinking with your friends! I didn't even know! You got drunk, you don't even care about me! I can't take it anymore! I give up!" Harry shouted, "Get away from me!" Harry pushed Draco away, shoved Blaise back.
Draco and Blaise stared at their mate in shock. Their eyes were less hazy but their movements were still lightly uncoordinated. They didn't move, staring at Harry as he stumbled backwards away from them.
Harry stared at them, white chocolate and dark chocolate standing together. The past two years were filled with his insecure thoughts, he had often wondered how he managed to get these two as his mates and now, he wished he had never known them at all.
"I wish you weren't my mates." Harry said softly, words almost lost in the pop of apparition.
