Title: Yours, Mine, and Ours
Author: AlexJanna
Pairing: H/D, past H/G and D/A mentioned
Rating: PG-13 (overall)
Genre: Au, Romance, Post-Hogwarts/War
Warnings: SS(PS)-DH compliant, EWE, future m-preg, reference and discussion of difficult topics
Word Count: (For this Ch.) 9,273
Disclaimer: HP is not mine. Plot and OCs for this fic are though.
Status: WIP
Summary: After his wife leaves him and abandons their children abruptly, Harry doesn't think he or his kids will ever be able to heal. But a chance meeting with an old nemesis and his son in Diagon, various childish schemes, and a little bit of quick upheaval make Harry realize that just maybe everything isn't as irreparable or dire as he thought.
A/N: Inspired by the classic movies Houseboat (1958) and Yours, Mine, and Ours (1968). I love fics with their kids in them and have never really written one before for this fandom. This idea just came to me while I was watching Houseboat and started flowing like water. I hope you all enjoy this one!
***Chapter Four***
Harry watched his kids playing outside from the kitchen window while he cleaned up the dishes from breakfast and pondered this new turn in his life.
He'd sent off an owl to George to warn him of Lucius's request for information and had promptly found the redhead flooed into his kitchen to badger him with questions and frantic manipulation detection spells. Harry just laughed him off, sat him down with a cup of tea, and explained everything.
After a time of silence, George admitted that it was a good idea. He hadn't considered expanding since Fred had died, but it's not such a bad idea to look into it. Besides, Lucius Malfoy was rich enough for ten people, he must be doing something right.
That had been a fun visit, Harry reflected with a soft chuckle. They had a meeting set for the next morning to discuss WWW with Lucius and Harry was hoping he could bring the kids along to play with Scorpius while he was busy. After the last week of going on business alone he really didn't feel like he could leave them again.
The floo flared up and he looked over absently only to see Andromeda and Teddy step into his kitchen.
"Harry!" The little boy shouted his hair immediately morphing into a black messy mop atop his head.
A bright smile broke out on his face and he dropped the plate he'd been cleaning in the sink with a clatter.
"Teddy!" He opened his soapy arms for the little boy to come barreling into. "How are you, little Moony? Gosh, you're getting so big!" He exclaimed as he lifted him up into the air and squeezed him tight.
"I grew three inches." Teddy informed his godfather with a grin that reminded him so much of Tonks. "Besides, Harry, I think you're shrinking."
Harry threw his head back and laughed. "Oh quiet, you. Why don't you go outside and say hi to James, Albus, and Lily. They'll be happy to see you." He put his godson down and watched as the little ten year-old scampered out the backdoor and bounded through the yard with an ear splitting shout that was promptly answered by his cousins.
Turning back to the older woman in his kitchen, he smiled and sighed as she pulled him into a hug. "Good morning, Harry." She smiled and squeezed him.
"'Morning, Andromeda. How are you doing?" He squeezed back feeling the comfort seeping into him from the older woman.
"I should be asking you that, Harry." She sighed and pulled back to look him up and down. "You, boy, are too skinny."
He laughed and squeezed her arms once more before turning to pull out the kettle and put on some tea. "I'm sorry for not coming to see you both. It's just been really hectic lately."
Andromeda waved him off and took over making tea while he finished up the dishes. "That's understandable, Harry. Teddy just couldn't contain himself anymore and insisted we come and visit."
Harry snorted as he watched Teddy from the kitchen window directing an ambush on their garden gnome, his cousins hanging off his every word. "I think he was more excited to see the kids than me, Dromeda."
Turning, he moved over to sit with her at the kitchen table and was struck not for the first time by just how much she resembled her insane dead sister.
"Enough stalling, young man. Tell me how you all have been now that Ginevra is no longer in your lives." She instructed sternly causing Harry to almost choke.
"Blunt as always, Andromeda." He grinned wryly only to have it grow when the woman shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.
"Yes, well, that girl never was good enough for you." She said with such an air of arrogance and breeding that Harry saw Narcissa Malfoy in her for the first time.
"Why do you say that?" He asked, somewhat perplexed. He had never thought that Andromeda had anything against Ginny. Perhaps he'd been wrong, but the woman didn't seem to have a problem with any of the rest of the Weasleys.
Andromeda took a sip of her tea and looked distinctly uncomfortable now that she had brought it up. "I didn't want to say anything, Harry, because you seemed happy, but she was never very kind to Teddy." She explained finally.
He jolted, feeling almost like he'd been slapped. "What?"
"It wasn't anything overt." Andromeda assured him with a hand on his arm. "It was just that she never seemed to like it when your attention was diverted away from her. When James was born it seemed like she couldn't stand that you spent time with us away from them." She sighed and sat back in her chair wrapping her hands around her cup.
"She was never as welcoming as you were." She finished with a wan smile before picking up her tea and sipping at it daintily.
It was then, while he felt that heavy weight of guilt reassert itself in his chest, that Harry realized that Ginny hadn't let him have Teddy over for any long visits in some years. Really, since Lily was a toddler. He groaned and slammed his head down onto the table.
"God, I'm sorry, Andromeda." He tangled his fingers in his hair and pulled. "I'm really sorry."
She chuckled sadly at him and stroked a hand over his hair soothingly. "That's alright, Harry. You didn't see it."
He pulled his head up and glared in frustration. "Yeah well, I didn't see a bloody lot, now did I?"
Andromeda tisked and pulled at his ear in punishment. "That's enough of that, Harry James. It is over and done with. She is long gone, and good riddance. There is no reason why you shouldn't spend time with Teddy again."
That's an idea, he mused dryly. "Why don't you leave Teddy with me for a while?" He asked suddenly. "You could take a break and relax, and me and the kids could spend some long overdue time with our favorite Teddy." He grinned at her.
She looked at him skeptically. "I don't know, Harry. You have your hands full with those three."
"Oh, come on. Please Dromeda?" He pleaded much like a little boy. "Please? I'll even ask the kids and see what they think." And before she could protest, he was up from his seat and swinging the kitchen door open.
"Hey! What do you heathens think about Teddy spending some time with us?" He called out over the yard. He was responded to by raucous exclamations and a thundering of feet toward the kitchen.
"Oh! Can Teddy really stay with us, Aunt Dromeda?" Lily asked, her heart in her eyes as she latched into Teddy like a limpet.
"Yeah! Can he stay?" James added eagerly followed by some light begging from Albus.
Andromeda looked from one pleading face to the other before her kind brown eyes fell on her grandson.
He smiled at her and shrugged. "Can I please stay with Harry, Grandma?" He hit her with his natural amber eyes that he inherited from his father and shocking bright pink hair like his mother used to wear knowing Andromeda couldn't resist them.
She scowled at him for it, but finally nodded and sighed in defeat. "Fine, you little devil. You can stay."
Both she and Harry were almost deafened by the outrageously loud exclamation of happiness from the kids. She rolled her eyes and stood from the table.
"Alright, how long should I pack him a bag for?" She asked Harry, hoping he knew what he was doing trying to take on all four of the kids at once.
"Oh..." He shrugged with a grin. "A week or more."
She raised an incredulous eyebrow at him and rolled her eyes. "Alright, Harry. It's your sanity."
He laughed as she popped back through the floo to pack Teddy a bag, the kids stampeding back outside to continue their war against the garden gnome.
Life was starting to get back to normal. Or at least become a lot more fun. Harry just hoped Draco didn't mind the addition the next morning.
Flooing to the Manor the next morning took some juggling. Lily went as Harry's barnacle as usual, but this time Albus was forced to floo with them leaving Teddy and James to come behind them and George to pop through last.
Despite the Manor's enormous fireplace it was still a little bit of a disaster.
Draco and Scorpius nearly split themselves open laughing at the unlikely parade that tumbled into their floo room.
"Good morning." Draco chuckled as he and Scorpius strolled up to them to make their greetings. He ignored near everyone else 'til Lily had attached herself to him sitting on his hip rather primly. "Well, I can at least say that you never cease to entertain me, Potter."
Harry huffed in annoyance and bent down to make sure all the boys were unharmed and relatively soot free. "I'm glad to be of some amusement to you, Malfoy."
"Mm." He hummed with a smug smirk before turning a rather cool regarding look on the redheaded Weasley in the room. "Weasley." He greeted.
George had quirked an eyebrow while he watched the familiarity and banter between his brother-in-law and their former enemy. "Malfoy. What a lovely home you have." He complimented rather sardonically.
Draco just snorted and rolled his eyes then turned back to Harry. "What's this? A new child, Potter? Do they just grow on trees at your place?" He asked with an amused grin.
Teddy looked at him from his place next to James and immediately morphed his hair to silver blond and his eyes to a cool gray. "I'm Teddy Lupin." He introduced, holding out his hand.
Eyebrow quirked in surprise, Draco reached down and took the proffered appendage. "Draco Malfoy, Mister Lupin." He introduced then flicked his eyes toward Harry silently asking for an explanation.
Harry cleared his throat rather uncomfortably. "Teddy's my godson. Professor Lupin, you remember him, was his father. His grandmother is letting me take care of him for a bit to give her a rest." He ran a hand through his hair nervously. "I should have told you he was coming, I'm sorry."
Waving it off, Draco turned back to the little boy that was still eerily copying his features. "Don't apologize, Harry. The more the merrier, eh?" He grinned wryly. "Welcome to my home, Teddy. You may call me, Draco, and this is my son, Scorpius." He placed a hand on top of his son's head.
Teddy looked at the little blond boy and smiled widely at him. "Hi Scorpius. Albus told me a lot about you."
Scorpius blushed and peaked a look at an equally blushing Albus. "Really?"
The older boy just grinned widely, his hair morphing dishwater blue and his eyes bright green. "You are the pretty blond boy with the horses and ducks, aren't you?" He asked mischievously earning himself an elbow in the ribs from his furiously reddening little cousin.
"Teddy!" Albus moaned completely embarrassed while Draco burst out laughing, a warm rolling sound that shocked Harry with it's pleasantness.
Draco calmed himself down and adjusted Lily on his hip. "I like you, young Professor Lupin." He chuckled then shifted toward the doorway and ushered the children along with him.
"Come along, ducklings. Mother awaits us with cookies and pumpkin juice." He grinned and strolled from the room, the children following him like he was the pied piper.
Just before he disappeared from view he turned back and addressed the two men standing somewhat stunned in his floo room. "Weasley, Harry. Father is waiting for you in his study."
Then he was gone the sound of chattering children following him as he went.
George shook his head and turned to grin at Harry. "Well, well. Malfoy is sure something else. Never expected the pointy faced prat to be that good with children."
Shrugging, Harry tried to smooth his hair down again and began leading the way up the stairs toward Lucius's study. "I wouldn't have expected it either. He sort of pushed his way into my house that day he returned Albus and took over until I didn't even know what was happening. The kids love him though, and he's really not like what he used to be. He's matured, you know."
George grinned knowingly. "I'd say something about him matured."
Harry frowned and was about to asked what he meant, but Lucius's study door opened to reveal the man himself standing there waiting for them.
After they'd seated themselves in their respective chairs, Lucius pulled out all the pertinent papers and documents and various other things.
"Now, I have reviewed the information you were so kind as to send me, Mister Weasley and am, despite my better judgment, rather impressed." Lucius began, folding his fingers together over his ink blotter and settling his cool gray eyes on George. "You and your brother had quite the heads for business."
Harry could tell George was surprised by the compliment, but kept his own face as impassive as possible.
"Thank you, Mister Malfoy." He said, sounding wary in his neon lime green suit and his coordinated fuchsia waistcoat and tie. "Fred had more of a head for it than I do."
Lucius nodded then picked up a packet of papers and began flipping through them absently. "Nevertheless, you seem to be doing quite well on your own, even with Mister Potter's somewhat lackadaisical business attitude."
George turned and sent a grin at Harry who just glared at him in return. "You hear that, Harry? You're ackadaisical."
"Ahem." Lucius interrupted that little bicker before it could continue and raised a scolding eyebrow at both younger men before turning back to the papers in his hands. "Mister Weasley, it says here that your business offers prank and joke items of all types. Confections, toys, clothing accessories, potions, etc. Could you give me a few examples of these products?"
A mischievous grin split George's face almost in half. "Oh sure, Mister Malfoy. We've got your sweets like our Ton-Tongue Toffees, Canary Creams, and Skiving Snack Boxes: a whole line of products geared toward faking sick to get out of classes or boring business meetings and the like."
Lucius didn't look amused, but he waved George on to continue.
Shrugging, George leaned back in his chair and continued rattling WWW products off of the top of his head. "Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder, Headless Hats, Pygmy Puffs, Daydream Charms," George wiggled his eyebrows at a still unamused Lucius, "Shield Hats, Cloaks, and Gloves. All sorts really."
That got Lucius's attention. "You make defense products as well as joke products."
"Yeah. Have since the war." He shrugged again and lounged in his seat. "I believe your son used some of our products to help Death Eaters enter Hogwarts." If he was hoping for a satisfactory reaction he didn't get one. Lucius just seemed even more curious as he leaned back and began tapping his chin in thought.
"Have you made any advancements in any of your lines since the end of the war?" He asked.
This time George shifted uncomfortably. Inventing had been hard for him since his partner in crime wasn't there anymore and Ron had become an Auror. "Not really." He admitted. "I have some ideas, but I haven't spent much time trying to shuffle funds around to get the money for the research and development."
That was when Harry saw Lucius's eyebrow raise in amusement and Harry knew he was in for it.
"Really? That's fortuitous, Mister Weasley, because Mister Potter is looking to reinvest some of his finances into your company." He mentioned slyly looking like the cat that got the cream.
George raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Harry in amusement of his own. "Are you, now?"
He couldn't help himself, he just grinned. This was going to be fun.
Downstairs in the solarium, Draco, Narcissa, and the children sat on piles of velvety pillows in jewel tones with gold embroidery and tassels around a low table covered in sweets and homemade candies.
Narcissa watched the children stuff their faces with a curious look on her face as she sipped her tea and nibbled delicately at her tea cookie.
"Mother, are you alright?" Draco asked. His mother had been staring at Teddy for near twenty minutes now. He didn't think she had a problem with him being the son of a werewolf, but he could be wrong.
She tore her gaze away and smiled wanly at her frowning son. "Yes, dear. I'm just puzzled. You said that Teddy was Remus Lupin's son?" She asked in a deceptively neutral tone of voice.
"Yes." Draco confirmed warily. "Lupin was killed in the Final Battle, I believe, along with his wife. Harry mentioned that he lives with his grandmother, but visits often as he's Harry's godson."
"Oh." Narcissa sounded slightly faint now. She was staring raptly at the boy once more as he entertained the other kids with morphing his nose into different and rather ghastly shapes. Of course to children this would be absolutely hilarious, but it just made Draco want to rub his own nose in sympathy.
"Is there something wrong, Mother?" He asked again noting her rather perplexed expression. "You're staring at him rather intently."
As if jolted from her thoughts, Narcissa snapped her gaze away from the child and turned her light blue eyes on her son. "I'm sorry, darling. Do you know what Teddy's mother's name was?"
Draco scowled in thought. "Nymph-something. I really don't know. She left Hogwarts before my first year. I understand there was quite a difference in age between her and Lupin. Why?"
Narcissa made a strange sound in the back of her throat. "Nymphadora Tonks." She breathed seeming not to have heard him passed that first syllable.
"Mum?" Draco asked feeling somewhat wary of her one track mind.
Ignoring him, Narcissa leaned forward and placed her tea shakily on the little table. "Teddy." She called in what she hoped was a pleasant voice. "Would you come here for a moment?"
Still giggling from the kids' game, Teddy stood up and hopped toward her before collapsing on a deep blue cushion next to hers.
"Hello, Missus Malfoy!" He smiled happily, hair and eyes morphing to match hers, his hair curling at the ends into blond ringlets. The affect was rather comical, but Draco couldn't quite laugh as he was staring worriedly at his mother.
"Hello, dear." She smiled kindly at him. "Tell me, Teddy. Do you know where you got your Metamorphmagus ability?"
"Oh yeah." Teddy smirked nonchalantly for a ten year-old. His hair brightened to an outrageous pink and eyes darkened to a warm amber. "My grandma told me my mum was a Metamorphmagus. She loved to keep her hair pink like this. Grandma said it used to drive her nuts."
Narcissa surprised nearly everyone by laughing along with him. "That's wonderful, dear. Do you know what your grandmother's name is?"
Draco didn't know where she was going with this, but he was willing to let it go. He was curious as to what his mother was getting after.
Teddy scrunched his nose up and nodded his head. "It's Andromeda. She said she was named after a constellation."
A gust of air seemed to rush out of Narcissa and she looked like she might cry. "That is very true, my dear. How is your grandmother, Teddy?" She inquired pulling herself together though her eyes seemed bright.
Teddy studied her keenly for a moment before answering. "She's great. She let me stay with Harry and my cousins for a while. I haven't gotten to see them in a long time." He told her, but Draco could tell he was trying to figure out exactly what Narcissa knew that he didn't.
Smart kid, Draco thought. He could tell he took after his father in that. Regardless of the man being a werewolf, he had been very intelligent.
After that Narcissa let Teddy return to the other children, but she kept a pensive look about her.
"Mother, would you like to explain that to me?" Draco asked after she'd sipped at her cooling tea and steadied herself.
"Do you remember me telling you, Draco, that your Aunt Bellatrix and I had a sister that was disowned?" She asked instead of answering.
"Ah." Draco popped a grape into his mouth and nodded. "Teddy's grandmother is your sister, then?"
She nodded. "My older sister. I was the youngest and the only one not named for a constellation or star."
"What was she disowned for?" Draco asked lowering his voice to keep the children from overhearing.
"For marrying a muggle-born named Theodore Tonks." Narcissa answered sounding cryptic and neutral all at once.
He looked at his mother with a frown. "And you haven't seen or spoken to her since, have you?"
"No." She confirmed her eyes falling on Teddy again.
Draco looked from his mother to Harry's godson with a sick feeling filling his gut. "Mother, if you have a problem with Teddy being here then I suggest you-"
"Oh tosh, Draco!" Narcissa interrupted her son's lecture. "I'll do nothing to the boy. He isn't at fault here. I have long since regretted isolating my sister. It was bad enough losing one to insanity and death, I wish I hadn't lost the other to pride and prejudice. Her grandson is welcome in my home regardless of whether we are on speaking terms or not."
Draco stared at his mother after her rather impassioned speech and mulled that over in his head. "You know, Mother. I'm sure that if you asked, Harry would help you get in contact with her again."
She stiffened. "I do not think Andromeda would want to hear anything of me. We shall leave things as they are. Alright, Draco? It is enough that I know she is well."
It wasn't really alright, but Draco let it drop anyway.
They sat in silence for a few more moments until the children started to clamor, wanting to go out and play in the gardens.
"Alright, ducklings, but remember stay away from the Rapier Roses, the statue of Poseidon in the back corner, and the Poisoning Poppies. Really, Mother. Who's idea was it plant such things in the public gardens?" Draco huffed as the boys all sped off in different directions shouting and screaming at the top of their sugar coated lungs.
"I believe, darling, that it was your grand-mère's," Narcissa informed him in amusement as she seated herself primly at one of the garden tables just outside of the Manor doors. "The woman is somewhat of a sadistic witch, isn't she?"
"Ugh." Draco scrunched his nose up and shuddered with memories of his father's mother. The woman was a nightmare. "When is she coming for a visit, again?" He asked wishing she would just stay in France where she was spawned.
Narcissa quirked an amused eyebrow at him as she snapped for a house-elf to bring tea. "Sometime next month, or the month after, dear. You'll have to ask your father, though. I never could stomach to correspond with her like he can."
"He did inherit his fascination with everything morbid from her, didn't he?" He commented wryly as he poured himself another cup of tea and stirred in a spoonful of sugar.
"I believe so, yes." Narcissa smiled blandly. "Abraxas was much more agreeable than Cassiopeia in that respect." She sipped her tea and reflected on just how much she truly disliked Cassiopeia Malfoy (née de Vil).
"You never got on, did you?" Draco inquired with some amusement.
"Not likely, darling." She responded. "I was never a good enough wife for your father according to her. Your Grand-mère wanted him to marry a nice, pure-blood, French witch. Too bad she had to settle for a not so nice, pure-blood, English witch instead."
"Meow." Draco chuckled completely diverted by the undercurrent of venom in his mother's words. "I never realized you hated her quite that much, Mother."
"I assure you, the feeling is mutual." Narcissa drawled causing her son to burst into laughter.
"Miss Cissy?" A little voice piped up from beside her making Narcissa turn with a questioning look.
"Yes, Miss Lily?" She inquired setting her tea down to turn all her attention on the little girl standing next to her.
"I don't want to play with the boys. Can I sit with you and Draco?" Lily asked. She had a smudge of dirt on her little sundress and a handful of leaves in her hair. In that moment, Draco thought she strongly resembled her father.
"Of course, sweetheart." Narcissa smiled and scooted her chair back so there was room for the little girl to climb into her lap. "Hop up, and I'll call Tizzy to bring you some pumpkin juice."
Lily situated herself in Narcissa's lap and Draco couldn't help, but feel a pang. His mother loved him and Scorpius to distraction, but she had always wanted a daughter and, failing that, a granddaughter. If things had been different maybe he could have given her one, but then he had married Astoria and that put him off any romantic relationship for a long time, male or female.
Now, though, he wasn't so opposed as he used to be.
"Lily-flower, you have leaves in your hair." Draco chuckled and leaned over to gently pluck the greenery from her fiery auburn hair before combing his fingers through it, smoothing the messy waves.
"Did all of you inherit your father's messy hair?" He sighed in playful exasperation when he realized that no matter how many times he tried, the part in her hair was still going to be a crooked zigzag.
Lily giggled as he finally gave up and just contented himself with curling a few of her locks around his fingers. "Daddy said he was sorry that we got his hair, but I don't mind. He said it's the color of my Grandma-Lily's hair, so I like it."
"It is a very lovely color, sweetheart." Narcissa chimed in after she was finished giving the house-elf instructions. "I must say, I'm quite jealous." She teased as she pulled out her wand and spelled away the smudge of dirt on Lily's dress.
"Oh! But I like your hair too, Miss Cissy." Lily protested turning on her perch to tentatively twirly a lock of Narcissa's hair around in her own little fingers. "I think yellow hair is really pretty."
"Blond, dear-heart." She corrected kindly before she handed Lily a cookie and began fussing over the little girl's hair and dress, much to Draco's amusement. "Yellow hair is called blond, but thank you, that's really sweet."
Lily just shrugged and focused her attention on the doily patterned cookie in her hand.
Draco shook his head and smiled idly as he sipped his tea and watched little patches of bright pink, blond, black, and red pop in and out of the flowers and greenery in the gardens.
He had thought that Scorpius was the most perfect child known to man, but it seemed that Harry's children, Teddy included, were right up there with him. They were all so charming, and bright in their own individual ways and each was already showing signs of great magical strength. Which wasn't surprising considering who their father was.
Draco just hoped they hadn't inherited Harry's study ethic. Teddy seemed spared considering Professor Lupin had been an intelligent man and his mother was one of the youngest Aurors ever inducted. He'd be fine at Hogwarts, but James and Albus were Potters through and through.
From what he heard, if Lily took after her namesake at all, she'd be one of the smartest witches in her year. He wasn't worried about her at all.
Grinning, he stroked a hand over her head absently before turning back to his tea and losing himself in his thoughts once again.
He'd wanted more children. He could admit that to himself now. It had been lonely growing up in the Manor with just his parents and the house-elves for company and he'd often longed for siblings to play with.
He hadn't wanted the same loneliness for Scorpius, but after Astoria it seemed inevitable. Then again, he should have seen that already. Trying to sleep with her had been like trying to make love to a marble statue. All hard and cold and unsatisfying.
Of course, that could have been because he didn't find her particularly attractive. She was undoubtedly beautiful, but Draco didn't find the female form all that alluring. Why had he let his father talk him into marriage again?
Oh, yes. It was right after the war and Lucius had wanted it to seem like his family was trying to be on the up and up. Fat lot of good that did. Still, Draco got Scorpius out of the deal so he couldn't really complain.
After Scorpius had been born, Draco realized just how much he loved children. Which was a surprise as much to himself as it was to anybody. Who would have thought that Draco Malfoy was really rather paternal, and maternal considering Astoria's atrocious lack thereof. Regardless, he'd wanted more children to love and Scorpius to grow up with.
He could have had the children himself. Done things the muggle way with sperm-donors or some such nonsense, but he couldn't bring himself to do that. First the divorce, and then Scorpius had taken up his time, he didn't want just some nameless man's sperm, and then he had the shop, and it just got pushed to the back of his mind.
Besides, Scorpius never seemed to mind being an only child. Not like he had, at least, but maybe he'd been hiding it. Draco had grown very adapt at hiding his loneliness and want for siblings. After a time it seemed cruel, even to a child, to keep asking for something his mother wanted desperately to give, but couldn't.
Narcissa had tired to have more children after Draco was born, but after three miscarriages and one stillbirth, Lucius had finally put a stop to it. He couldn't stand to see his wife's heartbroken and devastated face one more time. On some level, Draco had been relieved.
Despite these sad recollections, Draco had the ability to give Scorpius more siblings, he'd just chosen not to. He asked himself if it was selfish that he'd held back because he was scared and wary of romance of any kind, but couldn't come up with a definitive answer.
Matris(1)-a derivative of the Latin words for mother- have been in the Malfoy line since it's founding. Sons born to carry children, by definition, and Draco had been surprised to discover that he was one. Malfoy Matris were never only children, that was just how the trait always manifested in the Malfoy family.
Generally the trait would surface in the third or fourth child with generations of separation, but in Draco it had manifested, quite surprisingly, after it had been assumed extinct.
Perhaps that was why Draco was suddenly thinking about more children after so many years. His biological clock was ticking. He chuckled to himself and munched on another cookie. What a ridiculous thing to think.
"Draco?"
"Yes, honey?" He turned to smile at Lily who was watching him curiously.
"What's so funny?" She asked, face just radiating innocence.
He sighed and leaned over to kiss her on the forehead and tuck an errant lock of hair behind her ear. "Nothing, really. Just thought of something ridiculous."
"Oh!" Her face lit up in understanding. "Like when you have to make a Bogart go away?"
Draco couldn't help rolling his eyes at that. Of course Harry would teach his five year old daughter how to banish a Bogart. "Yes, sweetie. Exactly like that."
Then again, maybe he was thinking about kids now because he suddenly found himself surrounded by ones he wanted to keep forever. He thought about that as the boys' laughter drifted toward them on the garden porch.
Teddy crouched in a patch of elephant ear, hair dark green to blend in, and stifled a breathy chuckle as he waited for James to back up just one... more... step.
"Gotcha!" He cried as he leaped from the greenery and tackled his younger cousin to the grassy path.
"Ahh!" James landed hard, his heart beating wildly in his chest as he tried to spit grass out of his mouth. "Gerr-off me, Teddy!" He struggled to rollover and practically threw the older boy off of him.
Teddy landed on his back laughing like a loon. "You're it! You're it!" He chanted as he clutched at his stomach and tried to suck in a breath around his giggles.
Scowling sullenly, James harrumphed and got to his feet. "Fine. I'm it, you great bloody cheater."
That just made Teddy laugh harder. "Hey Al, Scor! James is it!" He was met with a chorus of groans.
"But he runs too fast!" Albus complained as he stepped out from behind a boxwood pruned in the shape of a giraffe.
"Yeah! And his arms are too long." Scorpius added with smirk as he wandered toward them on the path. "He won't even have to run. He'll just have reach for us." He demonstrated by thrusting his arm out as far as it would go.
James just stomped and set off after the blond boy. "I'll show you reach!" He shouted as Scorpius let out a frightened yelp and dashed off through the undergrowth.
Albus and Teddy grinned at each other and faded back into the garden around them like Harry and Ron had taught them.
The green haired little boy was crouched behind a boxwood rhino listening to his companions shout in surprise before dashing off here and there to avoid James. It was nice here at Malfoy Manor, he thought. Draco was cool and Missus Malfoy was nice, if a little bit odd.
He liked spending time with Harry most of all though. He smiled and darted out from his hiding place and lunged into a tangle of wisteria, his hair fading to a mix of purple and white to match the blossoms.
Harry was the only father figured he'd ever had and even if it was bad, Teddy was glad Aunt Ginny was gone. She had never liked him and was always making up excuses for him to not see Harry. His grandma didn't think he knew, but kids are more perceptive than adults give them credit for. Teddy could tell that Ginny didn't like him taking Harry away from her. Just as he didn't like Ginny taking Harry away from him.
It was different with James, Albus, and Lily though. He didn't resent them for having some of Harry's attention. They were like his siblings and they loved him like he loved them, but Ginny hadn't loved him at all. He was glad she'd run away with some other guy and left Harry. Now, he would be able to visit Harry and his cousins whenever he wanted.
Scorpius giggled quietly to himself as he crept through the large patch of red and yellow bird of paradise flowers his grandmama had planted trying to keep his head down and blend in.
He had never been quite this happy in his life, he thought. This was even better than when his dad bought him his first practice broom and let him ride it all afternoon. Scorpius didn't have many friends, it was hard for him to make them. They were either mean to him because he didn't act like a heathen, as his father would say, or he couldn't relate to them at all, but Albus was different.
Almost from the moment Scorpius had set eyes on him, he'd wanted to be friends with him so badly. It made him so happy now that they were friends it felt like he would burst sometimes. And James and Lily were so cool too.
James knew absolutely everything, and Lily was so nice! Scorpius sorely hoped that Harry would come over and bring them to play all the time. Even though he didn't ever tell his dad, he got lonely being the only kid at the Manor.
There was always plenty of stuff to do, but sometimes he just wanted to play with other kids. Meeting Albus had been like a dream come true. He really hoped Harry would stay at the Manor so then he could see James and Albus and Lily -and even Teddy- all the time.
Scorpius stepped out of the birds of paradise only to hear a menacing hiss from underneath his foot. He looked down and let out a frightened scream.
Across the garden at the tables, Draco jumped to his feet and raced toward exotic section of the gardens where he'd heard that sound that made his heart pound nearly out of his throat. His son was in trouble.
Slowly, very slowly Scorpius backed away from the furiously hissing snake as it reared up to look him in the eyes. The snake had a green and brown mottled hide and was thin and long. Not really terrifying by itself, but it didn't take much for the snake to completely petrify Scorpius in fear.
Albus had heard his friend's scream and came out of the bushes at the same instant Draco appeared further down the path just in time to see the snake make a warning strike toward Scorpius.
Fear spurred him on and Albus lunged forward and began hissing frantically. "Stop! Stop! That's my friend, don't hurt him!" He begged the snake.
It paused before another strike and slowly turned toward him sinking lower toward the ground. "You claim this human, Young Master?" The snake asked lowering its head differentially.
Albus almost wilted in relief as he hissed back, "Yes, he's my friend. Why would you want to hurt him?"
The snake sank all the way to the ground, but continued looking up at Albus and replied, "My apologies, Young Master. I am not normally this aggressive, but your friend stepped on my tail before I could slither out of the way. It hurt and I was angry."
"Oh." Albus said in English, then hissed, "I'm sorry. I'm sure he didn't mean to hurt you. You blend in so well, it would be hard to see you. I hope you're not hurt?"
The snake shook its head. "I am not seriously injured. I was more startled." It lifted its head and looked around at the other people watching them and asked, "I apologize once again for frightening your friend, Young Master, but if I may be on my way?"
Albus grinned and nodded. "Bye, Mister Adder(2)." He called as the snake slithered back into the undergrowth.
"Well," Draco breathed after a beat of silence. "That took me back." Suddenly he had Albus's pale face staring up at him in fear.
"Draco, you aren't going to tell anyone, are you? Oh! Please don't tell anyone!" He pleaded tears springing to his eyes. "Daddy said not to tell anyone, but I just couldn't let Mister Adder bite Scorpius! I'm sorry."
Draco's heart broke a little at the sight of those tears and he crouched on the ground and pulled both Scorpius and Albus into his arms. "It's alright, Albus. I'm not mad. Don't ever think I'd be mad." He soothed as the little boy sniffled and buried his head into Draco's neck.
Turning to his own son, he stroke a hand over his fine blond hair worriedly. "You're not hurt are you, Scorpius?"
The boy shook his head and collapsed against his dad. "No, it just scared me is all. I thought it was going to bite me."
Sighing heavily, Draco wrapped his arms around both boys tighter and rubbed soothingly over their backs. He looked up to find James and Teddy, along with his mother and Lily all watching him in trepidation.
"You're not going to tell anyone are you, Draco?" Teddy asked, sounding more wary than frightened.
He shook his head and gave the two frightened boys in his arms a quick squeeze. "No, of course not. I was there when everyone discovered Harry could speak Parseltongue." He told them then paused and chuckled. "Actually, it was my fault that everyone discovered it."
That earned him a wan smile from the children. Albus pulled his face away from Draco's neck and wiped furiously at his eyes to get rid of the remnants of his tears.
Draco smiled at him before turning his gaze on James and Lily. "Can either of your speak it as well?" He asked, genuinely curious.
James fidgeted rather uncomfortably before nodding. "Yeah, we can speak it." He said. "Though, not as good as Albus. Me and Lily have to practice."
He just chuckled at that and shook his head in amusement. "There's nothing wrong with practice."
"You're really not scared of us?" Lily asked sounding like she would break down in tears of her own if Draco said he was.
"No, sweetheart." He soothed as he released his hold on the boys and stood up, though he kept a protective hand on Scorpius' head. He'd nearly had a heart-attack when he'd seen that snake go after him. "You're not in the least bit scary. Parselmouth used to be a very rare gift, a sign of a very powerful witch or wizard. The first notable Parselmouth was Salazar Slytherin, one of the four founders of Hogwarts."
Lily seemed to shrink in relief, actually leaning against Narcissa as she gave him a small smile. "Oh good. Daddy said that when people found out about his gift they were scared of him."
Draco nodded. "That's understandable. It's extremely rare, and sometimes regarded as Dark magic. Personally, I think anybody who thinks ithat/i is completely idiotic." He said with vehemence.
The children giggled with him warily until James asked, "Will you tell us about when Dad found out he could talk to snakes?"
"Well, I'm not sure when exactly he found out, you'll have to ask him that yourself, but I can tell you about when everyone at Hogwarts found out. It's really an interesting story." He answered.
Everyone broke into excited smiles and darted off toward the garden tables to get ready for the story.
Draco stepped up to his mother who had been standing there quietly, face deathly pale. "Mum, are you alright?" He murmured.
She jolted and shook herself before she nodded and pressed a hand to her heart. "Yes, dear. I'm sorry, it's just- the last time I heard that was when ihe/i was staying at the Manor. It brought everything back for a moment."
Wrapping an arm around her waist, he gave her a comforting hug. "It's alright, Mum. I know." He soothed and walked her back to the tables at a more sedate pace.
Harry and George followed the house-elf out to the gardens where they were supposed to find the kids and Draco.
Their meeting with Lucius had gone surprisingly smoothly. Harry was going to finance the research and development for some products George had been itching to work on and soon they were going to start looking for another location to expand.
He had another meeting set up with Lucius to discuss other investment ideas he had.
Rounding the corner to the sound of laughter, Harry paused just outside the door and smiled at the sight before him.
Draco was seated on the stone laid patio with Lily in his lap and the boys sprawled around him. Narcissa was sitting primly at the table next to them sipping her tea and chuckling along to the story. Whatever it was it must be very funny.
Harry decided to stay out of the way and listen, George grinned at him and followed his lead.
"And back in those days Harry and I were horrible rivals. We hated each other." Draco explained as the children's giggles over Snape disarming Lockhart so humiliatingly subsided . "It was no secret just how much we disliked one another, so naturally Snape had to pair us together for the disarming practice."
"What happened?" Lily asked from her place in his lap.
"Well, I'm about to tell you." He teased, then continued on with his story. "We were supposed to 'disarm only', so of course we threw every spell we could at each other, as did everyone else, as well.
"I hit Harry with Everte Statum(3), which didn't do much good as he popped back up and flung Rictusempra(4) right back at me." He grinned and sighed exaggeratedly as the older boys who knew what the spell did fought to hold in their laughter. "I dropped right there laughing so hard, I thought I was going pee in my pants!"
Next to Harry, George snorted, but smothered his laughter to keep their presence secret 'til the end of the story.
At that little tid-bit all the children burst out in raucous laughter and began rolling around on the ground in hysterics. Narcissa had to put her tea down to keep from spilling it on her dress.
"What happened! What happened!" Albus begged leaning heavily on Scorpius to keep from falling over.
"Oh, well, after that Harry thought it was unsporting to attack a downed opponent, so I had ample time to slip a Tarantallegra(5) in between giggles." He informed them rather smugly and matter-a-factly. "Harry was stuck doing the quickstep until Lockhart called a halt and Snape came around and set us to rights."
The kids just kept on laughing. It was a happy sight to see. Harry just smiled and continued to listen.
"Individual duels weren't working out too well, so Lockhart decided to put Harry and me up on the stage and let us have at it." He went on, something in his voice sounded like he was reaching the apex of the story so the children quieted down and leaned in. Harry and George almost found themselves leaning as well, even though they knew where this story was going and Harry wasn't sure he liked it.
"When he got up there, Lockhart demonstrated some completely ridiculous technique for blocking spells and your dad didn't have a clue as to what to do. I was busy laughing evilly to myself when Snape leaned down and whispered in my ear, 'Draco, why don't you give the Wonder Boy something to be afraid of? Cast Serpensortia(6) and watch him flounder.'" Draco whispered as he spoke, making his voice sound eerily similar to the late Potion Master's.
The kids gasped in anticipation and leaned toward him. "Now, I thought that was a brilliant idea. Everybody knows Gryffindors are afraid of snakes, so why not try it out and watch Harry cower in fear."
Harry wondered if Draco realized that he was projected his childhood self. His voice sounded just a tad more mocking, more sneering. His handsome face turning pointy around the edges as he smirked maliciously. It disturbed Harry, but the kids seemed to be eating it up, just another aspect of Draco's story telling.
"So, before Lockhart even finished the countdown I cast it. Serpensortia!" He shouted, arm thrusting outward, hand clasped as if he held a wand in it ready to conjure up a snake. The kids jumped in surprise. "Out of the tip of my wand, a long black snake burst toward Harry hissing and snapping furiously!"
That was a bit of an embellishment, but Harry did have to admit that it made for a more exciting story.
"What happened after that?" James asked, eyes wide and bright with excitement.
Draco grinned at him. "Your dad just stopped moving and stared at the snake. The whole room was stunned silent. Then Lockhart, the bloody great idiot, steps up and claims he can get rid of it." Draco sneered. "Instead of banishing the thing he kicked it up ten feet in the air, so when it landed hard, with a thump, it came up hissing and spitting and madder than ever."
Lily gasped and clutched at Draco's shirt causing him to rub absently at her back as he continued. "The snake turned around and headed for the first person closest to it ready to do some damage: another boy in our year, a Hufflepuff, if I remember correctly. So the snake was inches from striking then suddenly your dad jumps forward and starts hissing at it. He sounded real strange, all those snake noises coming from his mouth and no one could tell what on earth he was saying, but the snake just stopped moving and curled up in a little ball until Snape came up and vanished it, like that." He snapped for emphases.
"Wow." Scorpius breathed. "That's so cool! I wish I could talk to snakes."
Harry heart jumped in his chest when Albus turned toward him and said, "It's not that hard. I could probably teach you." Oh God! Oh God! Draco Malfoy knew his kids were Parselmouths!
"I don't know about that, Albus. Parselmouth is an inherited gift. It would be very difficult, next to impossible to learn." Draco said as calmly as you please. Harry almost fainted.
Narcissa turned from the group sitting at her feet and spotted them standing up outside the door way. "Oh, did you boys hear the story?" She asked innocently, but her keen blue eyes took in Harry's pale face and fearful look. "The children asked Draco to tell the story of how you discovered that you were a Parselmouth." She explained mildly.
Draco, shrewd man that he was, just grinned at him and nodded as he bounced Lily a little on his knee. "Yes, they were curious about the story after this afternoon."
"This afternoon?" He asked, his voice rough.
"Mm." Draco hummed absently. "Albus saved Scorpius from being bitten by an adder."
"Yeah!" Scorpius exclaimed, hoping to dispel the odd vibes coming off of the adults. "He was brilliant. Just started having a conversation with it."
Harry had to smile a little at that. Scorpius was perhaps the only child he knew that could make being a Parselmouth sound like the neatest thing since sliced bread. It probably had something to do with generations of Malfoys being sorted into Slytherin.
"Dueling Club second year wasn't actually the first time I'd every talked to a snake." He said, suddenly feeling a whole lot better. He should have known that out of every wizard in England, Draco was the one most likely to be accepting about his family's gift.
"When was the first time?" Teddy asked curiously, his hair a strange mottled brown-green pattern.
"Well," he began as he stepped up to the table and pulled out a chair, George following behind him just as eager as the children to hear the story. "The first time was when your Uncle Dudley turned eleven."
He told the story about accidentally vanishing the glass around the Boa Constrictor's tank and how the snake had thanked him as he set off on its journey to Brazil.
The children laughed hard, along with George when he described how the snake had snapped at Dudley and Peirce's ankles.
"That's quite the story, Harry." Narcissa smiled at him over her cup of tea.
He smiled back.
"Dad, can we get a snake?" Albus asked.
"No." Popped out of his mouth before he even had time to consider it.
"Aw! Why not? It would be so cool. Lily and I could practice talking to it, so we could get as good as you and Al." James said accompanied by an emphatic nod from Lily.
"Please?" She begged from Draco's lap making him chuckle and pressed a kiss to her hair.
"Yeah! Come on, Harry! I can't talk to snakes, but a boa constrictor would be so awesome!" Teddy cheered completely taken with the idea of having a pet snake.
Harry just snorted and shook his head. "Your grandmother would have a fit if I let you go home carting a giant boa constrictor."
"Teddy could keep his at our house, Dad!" James volunteered, getting more and more excited about the prospect of having a scaly pet.
"Well, I'm glad you've got it all figured out, James, but the answer is still no." Harry informed his oldest son, trying to sound decisive.
"But why!" He burst out. "It's not like we can't talk to them and tell them not to eat us if they get hungry."
That brought Harry up short, because it was completely true. As Parselmouths they were all considered the Masters of the Snakes. Snakes naturally follow whatever they tell them to do.
"Give up, Potter." Draco drawled from his previously silent seat on the ground. "You aren't going to win this one. I suggest you just give in now and save yourself the headache."
"He's right, Harry." George chimed in with a shit eating grin on his face as he nibbled on a delicate looking cookie. "Your kids are as stubborn as you are. They won't stop 'til you've gone crazy or bought them their snake."
"Fat lot of help you are." Harry grumbled at him.
"He's right, Dad." James piped up, apparently making himself their unofficial snake spokesperson. "You're just going to have give into to our irresistible cuteness." And on cue all four of his children, Teddy included, turned the worst puppy dog faces on him that he'd ever seen.
"Oh God. Just stop before you make me puke. Fine! Fine, you horribly spoiled brats win. You can get your bloody snake." He sighed and let his head fall into his hands as they all started shouting excitedly and jumping up and down.
When he lifted his head again he caught sight of Scorpius crawling toward his father and asking in a quiet voice, "Dad, can I have a snake, too?"
"I don't know, son." Draco responded just as quietly as he brushed back Scorpius's long bangs from his hopeful face. "We can't speak Parseltongue and I don't want what happened today to ever happen again."
Scorpius's face melted a little in disappointment before he nodded in resignation. "Okay. I understand."
Albus, seeing his friend's less than happy expression, came up and sat next to him again. "It's okay, Scorpius. You can play with my snake, and I'll teach you Parseltongue so you can get one of your own."
The blond boy smiled brightly at his friend and wrapped him in a grateful hug. "Thanks, Albus."
Later that night after Harry had tucked his kids into bed and giggled with Teddy for a little while, He laid in his bed and thought about Scorpius and Albus.
By all rights they should be sworn enemies and yet they are the complete antithesis to what Draco and Harry had been when they'd first met. They were very nearly best friends where Harry and Draco had been bitter dangerous rivals.
Though, perhaps you could chalk it up to different upbringing.
Albus was brought up loved and cared for. Scorpius was not over indulged by the looks of it and taught better manners than Draco had been.
If Harry had grown up in a loving family, would he have been more willing to give Draco a second chance after he'd acted like such a spoiled brat? Perhaps, but the past is the past and now, older and wiser, Harry and Draco were finally getting the chance to be friends.
(1) The Latin for mother is mater matris.
(2) The Adder snake is the only venomous snake native to Great Britain and the only one frequently spotted in Scotland.
(3) Everte Statum: sends your opponent flying backwards.
(4) Ristusempra: aptly named the Tickling Charm.
(5) Tarantallegra: jinx that induces uncontrollable dancing legs.
(6) Serpensortia: conjures a long black snake.
TBC...
