View disclaimer and warnings in Chapter 1.

***

Draco sat in front of a roaring fire in the library, a glass of Firewhisky forgotten in his hands.

Two months, he thought angrily, his lips drawing together tightly. It had been two fucking months since he last saw Harry.

Draco closed his eyes, willing away tears he knew would come if he let them. He knew Harry wanted a family so badly he could fucking taste it, which is why he hadn't stopped him from going back to his wife. But the stupid shrew hadn't been pregnant.

He was certain she'd fabricated the whole thing, but Harry, his darling, trusting Harry, hadn't wanted to believe that of Ginny. So he stayed with her, comforting her over the loss of a child that had likely never existed, miserable but unwilling to put himself first.

Typical Potter behavior, Draco thought dryly. So he'd played his hand like the Slytherin he was, demanding that Harry leave his wife once and for all and commit to a relationship with him. All or nothing.

And look what it's gotten you, you idiot, Draco berated himself. Nothing. That's what.

It had been horrible to share Harry with his wife, to spend countless hours consoling the man when he broke down over the duplicity of their affair, knowing he'd be going back to Ginny's bed a few hours later. But Draco was finding out that it was worse to not have him at all.

Draco moved his leg restlessly, a sure sign he was distressed. He was so lost in thought he didn't see his mother enter the room. Narcissa's eyes narrowed as she watched her son.

"A Malfoy never fidgets. It is unbecoming," she said from her position in the doorway.

Draco started, raising his head. He quickly masked his surprise at her unexpected appearance, wondering for a moment if he'd managed to wallow away an entire day unknowingly.

"Mother," he said, rising politely. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to greet you. I didn't expect you until tomorrow. Is father here as well?"

Narcissa inclined her head, accepting her son's apology. She struggled to keep her face neutral as she swept into the room and took a seat on the sofa near the fire.

"He remained behind in Greece. He had an urgent matter arise unexpectedly, but he will be joining us for dinner. I believe he will be bringing a guest with him."

She saw Draco stiffen slightly. Allowing herself a small smile, she reassured her son.

"I've already spoken to the house-elves; preparations have been made," she said, bringing a slim hand up to pat a stray hair back into place. "Your father should be here shortly. You should change for dinner. Your grey dress robes would be appropriate, I think."

Draco bit back a retort, choosing instead to nod to his mother and head to his rooms.

Waltzing in here unannounced, with a guest, no less, and demanding I change into formal robes, he thought caustically. Am I or am I not the master of Malfoy Manor? I feel like a bloody 12 year old.

His mood darkened even more when he reached his bedchamber, noting that the robes his mother had suggested were already laying out on the bed. He kicked his shoes off with a sigh, heading into the bathroom for a quick shower. He shook his head fondly, smiling despite himself. His mother was definitely something else.

A house-elf popped in to tell Draco his father and guest had arrived, and drinks were being served in the drawing room. Draco fortified himself with a sigh, fastening his silver cufflinks. He indulged in a moment of self-pity, stroking the cufflink in his hand and its ornately engraved D and H, a gift from Harry two Christmases ago. He slipped his aloof Malfoy mask into place and Apparated downstairs, appearing just outside the French doors that led to the drawing room. He was surprised to hear his mother's tinkling laugh and an answering baritone chuckle from his father; the guest must be a friend of the family, since such intimacies were rarely shared with the outside world. While far from perfect, the Malfoys were not the heartless bastards most of the Wizarding world assumed them to be. As Draco opened the doors, the polite smile he had fixed to his face gave way to unmasked shock.

"Draco, that is no way to greet a guest," Narcissa chided, her lovely mouth drawn into a teasing smile. She stepped backward into her husband's embrace, both of them watching Draco steadily. The open display of affection in the presence of a guest would normally have surprised Draco, but his mind was still whirling with the shock of seeing Harry Potter laughing with his parents in his drawing room.

"Harry came to visit me this afternoon, Draco," his father said, no trace of mocking in his tone. "We had a rather enlightening conversation."

Draco's eyes shifted from Harry to his father warily. His parents did not know of his relationship with Harry. No one knew.

"I believe the house-elves are ready to serve, Draco," his mother said, her eyes dancing. "Your father and I will go on through. Join us soon, won't you?"

Harry waited until Narcissa and Lucius had left the room before taking a tentative step toward Draco.

"I've spoken with your father," Harry said softly, his eyes locked on Draco's.

"So I heard," Draco said, his voice thick. Harry's sudden appearance could mean only one thing; he had made his decision. Draco studied the dark-haired man's face, desperate for any clue as to what the decision had been.

"I told him my intentions," Harry continued, closing the distance between them. He stopped mere inches from Draco, and Draco had to still his hand before it could reach over to caress Harry's jaw.

"Intentions?" Draco asked, blinking slowly. The moment was surreal; he couldn't make his brain keep up. The joy and fear of seeing Harry after two months was too much, and he felt as though he was seeing the world through a hazy curtain.

Harry laughed, delighted that his presence had so befuddled the blond. He took Draco's hand.

"I needed his approval so he would give me this," Harry said, a hopeful smile lighting his face.

Harry reached into his pocket, pulling out an onyx ring. The Malfoy family crest glinted in the firelight as Harry held it out to Draco.

"That's the Malfoy signet ring," Draco said dumbly, his brow furrowed. "Why would he have given you this? It passes to the family heir upon his engagement –"

Draco broke off, his mind finally catching up. His breath hitched as he swallowed back the threatening tears. Still reeling from Harry's sudden appearance, he struggled to compose himself.

"You mean – you've done it?"

Harry took a deep breath, struggling to hold back tears of his own. His voice was heavy with emotion as he answered.

"The divorce filing was signed today. I went to your father as soon as the ink had dried. I want to marry you, Draco," Harry said. He looked down almost shyly, studying their joined hands.

"Harry, are you sure? You've only just left your wife. It's enough that you're here. I don't need marriage."

Harry looked up, emerald eyes blazing. Draco's heart skipped a beat; to have all that intensity turned on him was exhilarating.

"But I do," Harry said earnestly, his expression telling Draco everything he needed to know.

Draco dipped his head to capture Harry's mouth in a brutal kiss. They would need to talk about the details of Harry's divorce from Ginny later, and the problems that would likely emerge when they went public with their relationship and their intentions to marry. Draco knew nothing had really been settled, not until they sat down to have a real discussion about their future. At the moment, though, he could think of nothing but the beautiful man in front of him. He'd be damned if he would let Harry slip through his fingers again.

The two jumped apart guiltily when they heard Lucius clear his throat.

"If everything has been settled between the two of you, I'll ask you to join us in the dining room," he said, his smirk adding unexpected warmth to his grey eyes. "Your mother and I are returning to Greece this evening, so we'd best get the evening started."

Draco drew in a shaky breath, trying desperately to steady himself. He knew what he must look like: tear-stained, flushed and wrinkled. Hardly the image the Malfoy heir should project.

"Of course, Father. Harry and I apologize for delaying," he said, grabbing Harry's hand to lead him from the room.

"No apologies are necessary, son. May I be the first to congratulate you and Harry on your engagement?" his gaze swept over both men, looking for a sign that things had gone the way Harry had hoped.

"Thank you, sir," Harry said with a bright smile. "Draco hasn't officially accepted my proposal, but I am confident that he will."

Draco barely suppressed an eye roll, stopping abruptly. He turned, in full view of his father, and took Harry's face between his hands. He pulled Harry closer, kissing him gently before releasing him.

"Of course I'll marry you, you dolt," Draco said, exasperated.

Harry just beamed, sliding the Malfoy signet ring onto Draco's finger. It tingled as it magically constricted around his finger; he could feel the metal warm as the full responsibilities of being the head of the Malfoy household settled onto him.

"Father," Draco gasped, surprised at the sensation. He knew the ring would pass to him upon his marriage, but he didn't realize his father would truly cede all control over the family and its wards and assets.

Lucius inclined his head briefly, walking through to the adjoining dining room. Draco and Harry followed, taking their places when Lucius moved to stand behind Narcissa's chair. He rested his hands on her shoulders, her own coming up to grip his.

"You and your family are the future of the Malfoy line, Draco. All rights and responsibilities have passed to you. Consider it my blessing on your union," Lucius said, giving Narcissa's shoulders a squeeze before gracefully taking the seat next to hers.

Draco was speechless. His parents – who, to his knowledge, hadn't even known he was gay, let alone in a relationship with Harry Potter – had just stepped down as the head of the family to make way for him and his husband-to-be. Who was, not inconsequentially, a man his father had been tasked to kill several times. Draco couldn't wrap his head around it.

"Thank you, Narcissa, Lucius," Harry said, toasting them with his wineglass. "I know your blessing means the world to Draco."

The rest of the dinner passed in a blur for Draco, who was still in a daze over the fact that Harry had not only chosen him over Ginny, he had gotten a divorce and planned to marry him. He barely noticed when his parents embraced both of them warmly before Flooing back to the Malfoy villa in Greece, where they had been living nearly full-time since Draco came of age and took over the Manor.

"You look like you've been hit with a Confundus," Harry chuckled, clasping hands with Draco and leading him back into the drawing room.

"I feel as though I have been," Draco said. He gave Harry's hand a squeeze before pulling away and crossing his arms in a defensive stance. "I haven't had a word from you for two months, Harry."

Harry sobered, his eyes clouding with guilt and regret.

"I was trying to make it work with Gin, since I thought she was carrying my child," Harry started slowly, moving to the sideboard to pour himself a drink. He didn't want one, but in truth, he needed the extra time to carefully choose his words.

"She told me a few days after I went back to her that she'd never been pregnant," Harry continued softly, the sadness in his voice evident. "I was shattered. I love you, Draco, I do. I know it now, and I knew it then. Hell, I knew it when I said my vows in front of 300 guests and half a dozen reporters."

Harry poured a Firewhisky for Draco, who accepted the finely cut crystal glass of amber liquid warily, as though he was afraid of it. Harry's jaw clenched; he knew this was going to be a horrible discussion, but he knew it had to happen. He didn't want a relationship built on deceptions and half-truths like the one he'd had with Ginny.

Harry ran a hand through his hair and pressed on, staring past Draco. The blond's face was full of conflicting emotions; relief at having Harry back, anger that he'd left in the first place, worry that he'd leave again.

"But to have a family –" Harry broke off, his voice wavering. Draco felt his own heart break along with Harry's. He knew how much that meant to Harry, both to the man standing before him and the unloved orphan he'd been years ago. Harry steadied himself. "To have a family is just about the only thing I've ever wanted. I'd trade everything I have – the fame, the Galleons, hell, even my magic – just to have that."

Draco's chest tightened, and he found it hard to breathe. He had always understood why Harry married Ginny, why he pushed aside his feelings for Draco to be with her. But he'd never fully appreciated the intensity behind the actions; how much they must have cost Harry. Before, he'd only thought of how much they cost him.

"I've been battling with myself over it for weeks now. And then suddenly, three days ago, it just became clear," Harry said, hesitating. He'd been unsure about whether or not to tell Draco about the Polyjuice incident, but it just didn't feel right. There was no reason to subject him to the gory details. The story hurt enough as it was. "It was obvious that Gin would do anything she could to manipulate me into staying with her. It all crashed down on me. What we feel for each other, it's different. You'd never manipulate me into doing something just to hold it over me as a bargaining chip."

Harry shook his head, gripping the glass in his hand. "If I did have children with Ginny, my whole life would revolve around her. I'd been thinking of her as an innocent victim in all this – but she has a part in it, too. She'd have used that child to control me for the rest of my life."

Harry looked up, his eyes searching Draco's for a sign of how this revelation had affected him.

"And I knew you'd never do that. And just like that, years of internal battles were just over." Harry swallowed, steeling himself for Draco's reaction. "I'm so sorry it took me so long, love. I hope you'll still have me, because the only one I want is you. You are my family."

Draco swallowed and nodded, not trusting his voice.

"Yes, we are a family," Draco said carefully, sliding his hands up Harry's arms to rest on his shoulders. "But that doesn't mean we can't have children. We will have children, Harry."

Draco raised his eyes to meet Harry's, smiling softly at the dark-haired man's bewildered expression.

"We can adopt, or we can have our own children through a surrogate. Wizards can't have children, but that doesn't mean we have no options," Draco said, his throat tightening at the sight of the hope that flared in Harry's green eyes. "You never had to choose between children and me, love. It was always possible to have both."

TBC