On my Profile is a link to a letter. It would make sense to read it first. Give you some insight in the meeting with McGonagall. Thanks to all the reviewers and alerters! You guys rock!
Having had to reschedule their meeting with the two eldest Weasley threw off Harry's and Draco schedule. The Elder Malfoy's had returned to their manor after extracting a promise from both Draco and Harry to visit soon with the boys. Although Harry had received Unbreakable Vows, he knew that some people believed so strongly in a cause they would be willing to die for it. And he at one time would peg Lucius Malfoy as being an extremist, so suffice it to say; Harry Potter didn't trust Lucius as far as he could throw him without a feather weight charm. And that wasn't very far. So for now, visits would remain on Harry's turf.
The meeting with Bill and Charlie went surprisingly well. The age difference between them and their younger siblings made them a little bit more distant and able to see Harry's point of view.
Charlie was more of the black sheep of the family and it had surprised Harry to learn that because he was gay he wasn't entirely accepted by his mother. And regardless of patriarchal rules, his mother's temperament set the mood for the rest of the family. All the time Harry spent with the Weasley's he'd never hear a whisper in regards to Charlie's personal life.
Charlie still saw Harry as family and hoped that given Harry's penchant for men; he would be more welcoming than his blood family. His family had no problem with him just his gay ways. And somehow they failed to understand that by avoiding that part of him they hurt him more than any words they could ever say.
Harry was glad to hear that Charlie was not only dating but wanted to propose to his partner but knew that unless he introduced him to someone close to him he wouldn't accept. And Charlie wasn't willing to risk his heart that way.
Fleur Delacour had made it plain to Bill Weasley that she thought his family too involved in his personal life and just as dysfunctional as some of those Muggle families she had saw in France. Few people knew exactly what status Bill and Fleur had and they never felt it was anyone concern to confirm or deny. It had driven Molly crazy because although loving the idea of grandchildren the thought of them coming from a creature was repulsive. Harry wanted to renew his acquaintance with his fellow Triwizard competitor and so it was decided that Harry and Draco would host a dinner party.
"Draco, we forgot to ask if anyone had any allergies."
"Harry we are wizards and they are too. Let them accio whatever is in a dish that they are allergic to. Or they could bring their own food. I'm not sure how you are comfortable with Kreacher around the boys. I heard him coo at them. And singing. And smiling at his young masters. I thought the apocalypse was upon us. Or surely hogs and sows had taken flight. "
If anyone had told Harry that Draco would be such a mother hen he'd have laugh after punching them for insinuating he would've ever let Draco near his children. Harry had wanted keep the gathering by him because of the logistics of the children's bedtime.
When Charlie first arrived he was nervous. Seaendithas Fletcher or Sean as his friends called him was smiling so brilliantly that Charlie was afraid something would go wrong at dinner and Sean wouldn't want to see him again. And after all this time they've been together he would be so devastated. He'd explain the situation with his family and during the war he didn't want the Fletchers to become a target. He loved them all and if one of them was to die because of his family's involvement in the war he wouldn't have been able to forgive himself.
After the war when everything was settling down, Sean and he had gotten into so many fights. Sean was under the impression that he wasn't good enough for the Charlie and no amount of smooth talking on Charlie's part could dissuade him. So here they were, meeting the part of the family that didn't follow his mother like a blind little duck.
As they knocked on the door and were waiting for Harry to open the door they heard laughter behind them and saw Luna and Neville. Luna was talking about some new edition of The Quibbler and how dotty the old lady she interviewed was. Luna was looking forward to this dinner. She hadn't seen her nephews in a few days and while she loved her work at the paper she cherished the time she spent with them.
Neville who was observing his surroundings saw a Charlie Weasley on the door step and someone who he had to be close to with the way they were holding hands. Reaching the doorstep Neville opened the door and allowed them to walk in. Luna was giddy with excitement for the party but wished some more females for her to talk to.
When the guest arrived it was to find Draco and Harry kissing each other thoroughly. The fight for dominance was evident. Harry had Draco sandwiched between him and the counter top and Luna was sad to interrupt but it seems things were only going to get heavier.
"I didn't know it was dinner and a show, Harry."
Harry and Draco jumped apart as they realized that they had guest. And as Neville has taken a seat they might've been there awhile. Luna kissed Harry on his cheek as the blush rose from his neck to his cheeks. Draco however, who was waiting for Harry to make another move was looking like the cat that got the cream. They had agreed to take things slow but it was hard with Harry always so close.
Draco was about to greet his guest when Bill and Fleur walked in. Immediately the two women made a beeline to the nursery. Kreacher was more than a little put out not to have his young masters to put to bed but Miss Luna was always nice to him and he couldn't refuse her.
As the guys got to know Sean, he seemed to be a really chill person. Him and Charlie seem to be get along well and it was evident they loved each other. They had the love of a couple who has been together for awhile and didn't need to touch each other constantly but whenever they touched they couldn't help but lean into it.
As they sat in the dining room with the babies retired to the nursery once more they heard the floo. Harry was surprised to see Hermione. His last letter from her hadn't mentioned when she'd return from her parents.
"Hello everyone, I didn't know there was a party, I'd have delayed my trip" Hermione said apologetically.
"Nonsense 'Mione. Come on we have enough to feed a small army." Harry assured her.
As they were about to have dessert the monitoring charms Luna had set went off. Draco got up to get the babies when Harry reassured him that Kreacher would see to them.
"Harry," Hermione began "I'm disappointed in you turning over your care of the children to house elfs. I never thought you subscribe to pureblood ideology. I wonder were these new ideas are coming from. Did you forget about SPEW? I'm disappointed in you."
Luna was about to answer when Harry called Kreacher and asked if the babies were okay. Assuring Harry that he had it under control Harry thanked him. Draco was more than a little upset and by the looks around the table he wasn't surprised to see that he wasn't the only one.
When Teddy woke up crying his "I need only Draco" cry, which was currently in the restroom. Harry went to fetch Teddy. Knowing that James would be waking up soon he put Teddy in his carrier.
"Harry those devices are hardly comfortable for an infant. Really, you should carry him and use only the bassinet. I know you don't agree with Molly on everything but she did raise enough children to have some experiences you could borrow from.
Neville, who had grown more confident since the war asked Hermione "Sounds like you had a difficult pregnancy, Where's the baby? Surely someone who doesn't have a child, no siblings and you are the only child of only children you must have a baby somewhere to be so condescending towards Harry."
Harry was glad Neville answered Hermione because he doesn't think he would've been as nice towards her at the moment.
Sean was trying to keep his calm but it was clear in this circle of friends he couldn't see himself getting along with Hermione. She was condescending and who talk down to your friend in front of guests. Sean knew it wasn't his place to say anything and he began telling them about his extended family back home.
As the night drew to a close Harry asked Luna and Neville if they were spending the night because he wanted to discuss some things with them after they were all rested.
Fleur who was looking more than a little drowsy accepted Harry's invitation to spend the night as well. Bill who was silent for the most part of the night was watching Fleur worriedly. He told Harry that he'd be staying as well.
Sean and Charlie wished everyone good night and promised were made of another gathering.
All in all Harry thought everything went well.
It was a few days after the party when Harry received an invitation to lunch with McGonagall. He hadn't been in contact with her lately and decided a visit was due.
Draco was entertaining his parents and the boys and Luna and Neville wanted to stop by for dinner. They had news to share and Harry was pretty sure what it was. Nevertheless he was excited.
When Harry got to the gates of Hogwarts he felt the familiar feelings of nostalgia wash over him. He had missed his home for several years but he wouldn't miss certain aspects of the school.
As with all meetings were the meeting holder has an agenda, niceties are exchange and other trivial discussions. Harry's hackles were raised when McGonagall asked him were the children were.
McGonagall asked all forms of questions about how the children were adjusting and how their day to day care was handled. When she spoke of her disappointment in the Weasley's she alluded to the fact that although Harry was within his rights to take James he should've considered that Molly was a better person for the role.
"Having the right to do something Mr. Potter doesn't mean you should."
"I am seriously tired of everyone dictating to me how to live my seriously, why do you care? Worried that after the final battle that parents won't send their children here and with Molly imitating a fertility goddess you hope she'll populate the school." Harry countered.
"Had you shown to us that you were capable of living your live responsibly I wouldn't feel the need to intervene. You may be the Wizarding Saviour but don't let it get to your head."
"I'd tell you were to stuff your advice but your head is so far up there that there is no room for anything else. I am no longer a pupil at this school and refuse to be told your opinions of my life. As my former head of house you failed to realize that I was being neglected and abused by my guardians so how dare you talk about the care of my children. I had to fight giants and troll, deal with deranged house elves, teachers who abused me and a Headmaster who dealt with me like a pawn on a chessboard. No one at this school gets to tell me how to live my life."
"Mr. Potter there really is no need for hysterics. This just proves how unstable your temper is and that you shouldn't be the sole guardian for anyone. If you believe having a death eater around your children is good parenting skills you are more of a lost cause that I thought. You're forcing my hand here Harry. I'll be force to get the authorities involved."
"I am out of fucks to give you for this conversation. Fuck you and everyone else who want to tell me how to live my life. Merlin himself couldn't tell me what to do. Good Day Professor McGonagall."
Harry was so angry he could kill her but that would just prove their point and he couldn't have his children raised without him. That however would prove to the peanut gallery who seemed intent on telling him how to live his life. The fact that James was his child by blood would be hard to remove him from his care since he wasn't charged with abuse. However, Teddy could be removed from his care even temporarily while this mess was sorted out. And he couldn't have that happen to teddy. He needed to get home and speak to Draco immediately. Although he promised he wouldn't use his name to get preferential treatment he wasn't about using it to keep his children.
As Harry thought back to some of what was said he realized there was no way McGonagall would've known them without someone who has seen the children recently relaying the information to her.
"So is it our relationship or the care of the children? Draco asked.
"It seems to be both. She's spun some very innocent situations till it looked horrible. I don't want to have to part with Teddy even temporarily. And who knows where he might end up. Look how the Dursleys treated me? And we're family! I can't have him go through that. There are tons of people who would try to hurt me through him!" Harry was becoming hysterical.
Lucius sat thinking about some archaic laws he think that might be helpful in this case.
"Blood adopt Theodore. That's the best way to negate anything the ministry might try. As his guardian there is no approval needed from the Ministry and since his late parents wanted you to raise him there are few legal barricades that can be raised. You would need to choose new godparents however.
Harry who thought of Teddy has his own child wasn't hesitant at all to do whatever it took to keep him safe from the predators in the world. The small vault that Harry had set up for Teddy and eventually one for James could corrupt the weaker minded into accepting Teddy just for his money. And Harry refused to have that happen.
"The only thing is you need a Potion Master to brew the potion and be willing to witness the ceremony. And you need two parents." Narcissa added.
"I don't know any other potion masters. It's not like I can ask Snape anymore." Harry said. "Even if he was alive I doubt he'd help me considering how I treated him after Dumbledore's death."
"What do you mean 'even if he was alive'; He sent you a letter that you never answered Potter." Lucius argued. "It had hurt him to know you wanted nothing to do with him.
Harry was sure the house was flooding because there was no way Snape could be alive and yet, Draco never mentioned it.
"Why didn't you ever say something?" Harry rounded on Draco.
"He made me promise because you never answered his letters. He sent at least three. He wanted to give you some time to cool off to explain because you were there when he died or thought he died. He was only unconscious. His body shut down to prevent damage from the poison. And he sent you letters and no response. Then finally he stopped trying. He wanted to give you space."
Surely, he couldn't be alive. So many times over the last months did Harry wish he could get even ten minutes with Snape; five to punch him and five to hug him and to know that he was alive all this time and apparently tried to get in contact with him. Harry wanted to be mad with Draco but he saw the sincerity in his eyes and he knew Draco didn't do it to be malicious.
"Do you think he will help?" Harry asked the room at large.
"It's not an option, I will make sure of it" said Narcissa.