Harry was sorting through all the permission forms and registration slips. In doing the mindless chore, he couldn't help overhearing the multiple phone calls happening around him as the event organizers panicked over minute details someone was sure to have forgotten.

"And what did you say his name is, sir? Mhm, mhm. And your name? Okay. I have your number now so when I find him, I'll be sure to ring you up… Yes, I'm sure he is safe." The man rolled his eyes at Harry as he answered, causing Harry to laugh quietly. "Yes, we'll keep him safe. Yes, yes… I will find out about him right away. Bye." He put the phone down. "Seriously, what is it with some parents?"

"What?" Harry asked.

"This man just phones me up and asks if his son is here. You'd think he would read the brochure before sending the kid over."

"Hmm…"

"Say, you aren't doing anything important," the man remarked, sidling over to Harry.

"Gee, thanks," Harry muttered sarcastically, snatching the piece of paper from the man.

"You're a lifesaver," the man laughed, returning to the phone as it rang once again.

Harry read the messy writing, trying to decipher it. It was near impossible. "What does this say?" he asked.

"Guy's name is Draco. Son's name is James. James Malfoy."

Color drained out of Harry's face.

A torrent of memories and emotions struck him breathless. Draco's son.

He all but ran out of the room. How had he not seen it? How had he not seen the resemblance? Draco's son… But then-

He staggered to a halt. "Oh God."

He was in his hotel room the next instant, having no recollection of how he got there. He sat on his bed heavily, pressing his hands to his mouth. Was James… then Astoria… "No," he breathed, squeezing his eyes closed as he willed his stinging eyes to stay dry.

"Hey."

James turned around to find Harry kneeling on the floor beside him. "Oh, hi!" he exclaimed in excitement. "Guess what?"

"What?" Harry asked, yearning to reach out and touch James' hair.

James cleared his throat importantly. "Comment ca va?" he asked.

Harry laughed shakily so he wouldn't end up crying. "Bien. Merci," he answered, clearing his throat. "Et tu?"

"Huh?" James asked, confused.

"'Et tu' means 'and you'," Harry explained.

"Oh!" James remembered. "Bien, bien," he grinned.

"You're doing so great," Harry murmured, feeling oddly proud.

James...

Had Draco and Astoria really named their firstborn after him? He watched James interact with the other children, always sunny and excited. Harry was glad. He was glad that the boy was happy, even without his mother. It said a lot about Draco.

He had been thinking a lot about Draco after finding out about James. He wondered how Draco was doing now, where he was working, if he was as happy as James... He hoped so. Life would be much too cruel otherwise. He couldn't wrap his head around the fact that Astoria had passed away. She was so young and so beautiful. She had too much life in her to die early.

It hurt him simply to think these thoughts.

"So... what do you and your dad do for fun?" he asked tentatively while he helped James set up his paint station.

James shrugged. "I don't know. We play and laugh and stuff," he said. "What do you do with your dad?"

"About the same," Harry smiled. "And your dad must think you are quite responsible to send you here all on your own."

James blushed and winced sheepishly. "Um... I... sort of ran away," he mumbled. "I mean, I ran away with Grandma." Harry must have had a frightened look on his face because James was quick to add, "But it's okay. I called Dad and he's not mad or anything. He didn't want me to come so I had to run away, that's all. It's fine."

"It's... fine?" Harry asked with a weak gulp. "How is running away from home fine?"

"Because Grandma's with me, silly," James dismissed. "Let's paint!"

"Sheesh," Harry breathed. This was one handful of a kid.

Harry was in the field with his parade of children in tow. Orange cones were set up at intervals, as were a plethora of footballs. They had been running drills for over an hour. He blew his whistle, indicating for the children to start. They weaved between the cones while kicking their footballs, trying to control it all.

Draco was nearly frantic as he urged the organizers to tell him the whereabouts of his son. "He called me. He sounded sick. Are you sure he isn't with the doctor?" he asked.

"No James Malfoys in the infirmary," the woman said apologetically.

"Well, where can I find him, then? His room?"

"I can check the schedule for today," she offered.

"Great work, you guys," Harry shouted over the chaos. "Now let's run some laps, okay?"

The children didn't need to be told twice. They took off at full speed, racing each other. Harry wondered where all that energy came from.

Draco's brow rose as he watched his son sprint around the track. Sick? Not so much. He sighed while smiling in dismay. He had been played like a well tuned violin. He trudged towards the spot where all the chaperons were gathered.

James was just rounding the corner when he saw a familiar figure standing off to the side. He squinted in response. As he kept running his third lap, he moved close enough to identify the man.

"DADDY!" he screamed in excitement, sprinting faster than ever towards Draco and launching at him.

Draco caught him while laughing.

Harry spun around in shock.

Draco's grin dropped instantly as he met the wide green eyes.

James seemed to notice the change in his father, quite pleased with himself now. "That's Harry, Dad," he said helpfully, wiggling out of Draco's hug and jumping onto the grass.

"Harry?" Draco breathed, blinking furiously.

"You..." Harry trailed off, his thoughts lost in his jumbled mind.

"Hi," Draco stammered. "What are you doing here?"

Harry roved his eyes over Draco while his heart fluttered against his ribs. "Nothing," he answered. This couldn't really be happening... "Draco?" he asked incredulously.

"Yeah."

"Wow."

And that was that. They managed to stumble through some pleasantries. James watched with growing dismay. Neither of them looked each other in the eye. It was awkward and lame. Then Draco just walked away in a daze while Harry turned back to finish up with the football session.

James was furious.

He huffed in indignation as he plopped down on Narcissa's lap. "You would think they had never met before," he muttered.

"Hmm," Narcissa smiled, hearing James mumble this and that about Draco and Harry for a few minutes.

"What are they so shy about anyway?" James pouted. "They're supposed to be best friends, aren't they? We have to do something about this." He rubbed his hands together wickedly.

"Oh, stop that," Narcissa rolled her eyes.

"Basketball?" Harry stammered.

"Basketball?" Draco asked incredulously.

"Yeah! We want to learn basketball," James exclaimed, glaring at the other children for support. Everyone nodded quickly, looking up at Harry and Draco with cherubic smiles.

"You can't be serious," Draco shook his head.

"I am!" James said, throwing the ball at his father. "See? It's a real basketball."

"Oh, come on!" Draco huffed, peeved.

"That's because you suck at it, Dad," James sniffed. "Harry will show us. Won't you, Harry?"

"I... I-er… I don't know," Harry stuttered, shifting his weight uneasily.

"But I bet you were so awesome when you were younger," James hinted, wiggling his brows.

Harry flicked his eyes at Draco unconsciously, remembering. "Yeah, guess I was," he seceded, his cheeks flushing pink.

"Cool." James snatched the ball from Draco's hand and threw it to Harry. "Dad's awful so you can teach us."

"I'm not awful!" Draco said, affronted.

"Oh, yes, you are," James and Harry said in unison. Harry paled and clamped his mouth shut a few words too late. James and the rest of the children were grinning wildly at Harry. "I… uh… I mean… um"

"What did you just say?" Draco asked quietly.

"Nothing," Harry squeaked.

"If you call those sorry excuses for basketball games, I truly pity you," Draco said.

"I beat you everyday..."

"No," Draco said slowly. "I beat you everyday."

Harry's jaw dropped. "Draco... You lost every game," he said, wondering if Draco had managed to repress those embarrassing memories from ten years ago.

"No, Harry."

"Yes, Draco," Harry said carefully, trying to gauge Draco's expression.

"Don't lie in front of these young minds," Draco said, arching a brow in mock disappointment.

"I'm lying?" Harry bristled.

"Are you implying that I'm lying? Liar," Draco insulted.

"What?" Harry gasped. Draco was always accusing him of one thing or the other. "Alright, then. Go ahead and tell everyone how you 'won' by cheating."

"Hey! Don't call me a cheater!" Draco growled through gritted teeth.

'That's what you are… A cheater," Harry scowled.

"I am not a cheater," Draco said, pulling himself to his full height as he stepped up to Harry.

Harry did the same, jaw set determinedly. "Cheater," he said, staring Draco in the eye.

"Potter," Draco seethed.

"Then let's play right now," Harry said, turning around without warning and dribbling the ball to center court. "And we'll see who's a liar."

"You can't be serious," Draco said in disbelief.

"Oh, I am," Harry said, blinking at Draco with a blank expression. "Why? Scared you'll lose? Again?"

"Whoa!" Draco said, holding up his finger. "Draco Malfoy is not scared of anyone."

"Draco Malfoy is not scared of anyone," Harry mocked, pulling a face.

"Why, you little…" Draco muttered under his breath, rolling up his sleeves as he marched towards Harry. The children were shouting with excitement, split into two cheering squads. "I won't lose today."

"You say that everyday," Harry jibed and threw the ball.

Draco caught it and then jerked it at Harry, causing him to flinch. "We'll see," Draco said.

"We'll see," Harry smirked as Draco finally passed the ball and began the game. Harry deked Draco with ease, faking right but stepping left. Draco fell for it, as he always did. The first shot was so easy Draco's supporters were booing him. Harry smiled smugly, challenging Draco with a silent jerk of his brows. Draco growled, incensed. With the ball at hand, he ran straight at Harry.

Harry never fell for this before and he sure as heck wasn't falling for it now. He didn't budge, knees bent and arms out slightly as he watched Draco's every move. All Draco did was shift his weight to the right. Harry snatched the ball with his left hand and tore down center before striding up to the three-point line and shooting.

"Lucky shot!" Draco exclaimed, grabbing the ball as it flew through the basket.

"Nothing lucky about it," Harry said.

The next round found Harry waving his arms in front of Draco while the latter tried to take a shot. "No way you'll make this one," Harry said.

"You'd be surprised," Draco said as he lobbed it into the basket nothing but net. His cheering squad went wild and Harry gaped in astonishment. "What did I tell you?" Draco asked, brushing off his shoulder. "Today's the day you lose."

"Sod off," Harry muttered, bringing the ball back to center. He raced past Draco's defense with scattered dribbles, shooting the ball in with purpose. It went in, much to Draco's chagrin. He swiped the sweat off of his neck. "Ready to beg for some mercy?" Harry asked.

"Don't you ever shut up?" Draco asked, fed up.

"Nope," Harry grinned.

Draco tried to push past Harry, back to him. Harry's arms were everywhere as he attempted to swipe the ball away. Unfortunately for Draco, just as he was spinning out of Harry's makeshift cage, Harry spun in and snagged the ball. But before he could move to make a basket, Draco stuck his foot out. Harry tripped and stumbled while Draco took the ball back to center and then shot it for another two points.

Harry was on his feet a moment later, appearing positively enraged. "CHEATER!" he shouted, stomping towards Draco. Harry's cheering team yelled the same as they shook their small fists at Draco.

"Don't call me a cheater, cheater!" Draco frowned, looking at Harry down his nose.

"But that's what you are. A cheater," Harry hissed.

"Don't call me a cheater," Draco threatened.

"Malfoy is a cheater. He is a cheater," Harry sang with a chorus behind him.

"Shut up!"

"CHEATER!" Harry shouted, nose-to-nose with Draco.

Draco heaved with fury, staring at the emerald eyes in front of him. Then he shoved Harry back and said, "I don't have time for childish games. Grow up."

Harry snapped back to reality.

Here he was, an accomplished chemical engineer with a heavy project that brought in the company's major revenue, and he was acting like a hormonal teenager.

He stepped back, blushing in embarrassment. "I… I-uh… S-sorry," he said quickly.

Draco noticed all this with immense surprise. Since when had Harry ever backed down from a fight, especially when Draco was clearly at fault? "Don't kid yourself, Potter. I let you win," he instigated, trying to snap Harry out of it.

Harry jerked his fiery gaze up at Draco, sharp words on the edge of his tongue. Then he saw the teasing smile and his resolve crumbled. "Forget it," he mumbled, dragging his feet while walking away.

Draco laughed as he grabbed Harry's shirt and pulled him. Harry stumbled back, bumping into Draco. He jerked when he felt an arm snake around his shoulder, gluing them together side-by-side. "No one give him a hard time about this, alright?" Draco said importantly to the young children. "He's a real softy so, if you're mean, he'll just start crying." He ruffled Harry's hair.

Harry swatted Draco away, offended.

"Friends?" Draco asked, winking at Harry impishly.

"Whatever," he muttered begrudgingly.

James looked quite pleased with himself at that moment.

"So… James happens to think the world of you," Draco said with a soft smile.

Harry shrugged shyly. "He's a great kid," he said.

"Like father, like son, huh?" Draco asked with a nonchalant sniff.

"Oh, you wish!" Harry laughed. He watched James practice his singing with his friends. "He looks like Stori…"

"Hmm. You think so?" Draco murmured.

"Yes. And... I'm sorry to hear about her passing," Harry continued. "I didn't know."

"How could you know?" Draco asked with a bitter smile. "You just left, didn't you?"

"Draco," Harry winced. "I-"

"What? You what? Couldn't bother calling? Visiting? Writing? What, Harry?"

Harry averted his eyes, looking down at the marble floor while he wound his arms against his chest.

Draco nudged him. "I'm not mad at you, okay?" he said. "I just wish you would tell me what happened."

Harry shook his head. "It's nothing. I was... having a bad time at school and I took it out on you, that's all. It's okay if you're mad at me. I just... I didn't think you really needed me. Didn't think I was that important."

"Of course I need you," Draco sighed. "I needed you when I got married. I needed you when I screwed up my first interview. I needed you when Stori died. Hell, I needed you when James broke his arm!"

Harry didn't know what to say. Nothing he said would make things better.

"It doesn't matter," Draco added. "I finally found you, hmm? Now you're my minion for life, got it?"

Harry laughed shakily, nodding.

"What was Mum like?" James asked Harry as they cleaned up their art table. "Was she really nice?"

"The nicest," Harry said, patting James' head. "Like you, always smiling."

"And?" James prompted.

"And," Harry sighed, "she was smart, funny… She's perfect for Draco." He winked at James. "And perfect for you, hmm?"

"Yeah, she's perfect," James grinned.

"Your dad worked really hard to get on her good side," Harry said, shuffling the papers together and putting them in a neat pile. "And if he was being mean to her, she wouldn't stand for it. She would be mean to him right on back."

James grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him down on the chair. "Stop doing that," he grumbled while hopping into the chair beside Harry. "Tell me more, okay?"

"Why don't you ask Draco?" Harry asked.

"Because Dad gets sad every time I ask him," James said dismissively. "But you don't, so you can tell me, okay?"

Harry smiled as he thought back to those days. He supposed it was the least he could do. "Will do."

Draco was on his way to the crafts room when he saw Harry kneeling on the floor beside a crying girl. Curious, he moved forward for a closer look.

"See, not even a scratch," Harry said soothingly, holding the girl's hand in his. "You're alright."

"No," the girl wailed, looking utterly miserable.

"You know what you should do, right?" Harry asked, leaning in conspiringly.

"What?" the girl asked, sniffing.

"You should kiss it better," Harry said gravely.

"Really?"

"Mhm," Harry nodded.

She kissed her fingers, getting tears and saliva all over it. "But it's not better," she sobbed.

Draco chuckled silently before rearranging his expression and kneeling down next to Harry, catching the latter by surprise. "Gosh, if kissing it better didn't work, I don't know what will," he said, taking her hand in his. "What's your name?"

"Sarah," she said, her breaths coming is spurts from having cried so hard.

"Well, Sarah," Draco murmured, gently pressing her palm to make sure it really was alright. "Can you tell me where it hurts?"

"Everywhere," she sobbed, enjoying the lavished attention.

Draco nodded with ample sympathy. "Let's try something else, okay?" he said, letting go of her and then rubbing his palms together quickly. She stared in amazement. Draco could feel his skin heating up after a few seconds. "Okay, let's see your hand again," he said. She eagerly held her hand out. He clutched it. "Feel that?"

"Yeah! It feels hot," she exclaimed.

"There you go," Draco said with finality. "Magic."

"Wow!" she said, gazing at Draco as though he were the coolest thing in the world. "Thanks."

"No worries. Now run off to the craft room, okay?"

"I'm going to show that to everybody," she exclaimed, bouncing away.

"Didn't know you could do magic," Harry said sarcastically as he got up.

"Well, if you weren't so dense, you'd know what to do, won't you?" Draco countered. "Kiss it better? Seriously?"

"What?" Harry asked, holding up his hands in surrender. "I don't have kids, remember?"

Draco laughed at Harry's defensive scowl. "No need to get all huffy."

"Go away," Harry said, folding his arms against his chest as he sulked with his back to Draco.

"Not unless you come with me," Draco said while dragging Harry along as they marched to the craft room. "You keep disappearing on me."

"Because I have things to do," Harry said, trying to pull his shirt out of Draco's grip. "Let go of me, you bastard."

Draco tsked in disappointment. "Language, Potter. Don't call me a bastard," he muttered, letting go of Harry's shirt, only to drop an arm around his shoulder. "Best buddy," he added with a sweet smile.

"And you wonder why everyone thinks you're weird," Harry huffed.

"Who thinks I'm weird?" Draco asked, affronted.

"I do."

"Good. Because I think you're weird too," Draco said with satisfaction. "It's why we get along so well."

"It's why we want to punch each other out," Harry corrected.

"And that," Draco laughed, giving Harry a quick squeeze.

"I don't get it," James said near tears. He looked tempted to throw his book across the room. "I just don't."

"One step at a time," Draco said, trying to sooth his son. Whenever James didn't understand what was being taught to him, it led to tears and anger.

"I'm so stupid," James sobbed, wiping his tears vehemently. "I'm stupid, stupid, stupid."

Harry sat down next to James. "You know who else is stupid?" he asked.

"No," James sniffed.

"Your dad," Harry said.

That jerked James out of it. "Huh?" he asked while Draco scowled in response.

"Oh, yes," Harry nodded, his lips pursed grimly. "Very stupid. When we were in school, he would have failed everything if it weren't for me."

"That's mean," Draco groused.

"So," Harry continued, "it's okay if you're stupid sometimes. I'll help you, won't I?"

"Hmm," James nodded, hiding his face against Harry so he could wipe his tears as discreetly as was possible. "You're so nice."

"Aren't I, though?" Harry said, aiming a smug smile at Draco.

Draco pulled a face in return.