Harry was a bit pale as they entered the Great Hall. He could see the eyes of the different houses on him. Other then Katie and Neville, and the Creeveys, he was getting looks that could kill from his old house and Hufflepuff was not much better. Ravenclaw was quite passive and some like Luna friendly. Slytherin was not about to jump up and hug hum but they were at least more welcoming then the lions would have been. He took a sea between Draco and Blaise. As they were waiting for the first years to come in Draco introduced him to a seventh year across from them.
Draco smiled. "Harry this is Tom Pucey, Adrian's little brother and the new captain of the team. Tom, Harry has some pretty good ideas. I thought he might coach."
Tom looked him up and down. "I must admit you are an amazing player and I would ask why you are not trying out but Draco is seeker. We have never had coaches."
Though he was not sure that Tom sounded thrilled by the idea Harry spoke to him. He told him what he had spoken to Draco about. He realized a few others at the table were listening and he knew they were on the team. Harry did not tell them he was not trying for the team because of his husband's baby plans. They just took it for granted harry would not want to try out for chaser as there was one opening for it. Harry had never tried out for the team. He had been selected. His former team had once told him he could have played chaser, and Oliver once joked he could be a beater. He had practiced with his chasers and had basic skill in it. But he reminded himself it was not possible. His husband might have been gentler but he still waned a baby and he would not risk Harry flying if he could be pregnant.
Tom looked at him s the first years entered. "Seems you could be useful. I wouldn't mind the help since the captain usually coaches. You're welcome to coach."
One of the other guys looked though. "But you do realize now that if we lose a game that the house is going to blame and hex you."
Draco saw Harry go pale and laughed. "He was just kidding and besides no one hexes as Malfoy."
He could see the others were laughing. As the first years came in Harry was introduced. Tom was the keeper and two other seniors, Alex and the guy speaking, John were on the team, Alex as a chaser and John as a beater. Draco was the only sixth year while the other beater and chaser were fifth years. Adrian was the third chaser last year and had graduated. He had actually gone professional and was not playing for a team on the continent. Harry had known Adrian a bit from quidditch and had to admit the guy seemed friendlier then any other Slytherin, definitely better then Flint. And his brother is definitely friendly enough now Harry passed his test. Harry found that Draco might be right and in coaching he might be able to get the house to warm up to him more. Especially if they won.
When the sorting ended Tom looked his way. "We will be having try outs this weekend on Saturday morning. You'll be there I assume."
Harry nodded. "If you meant you did not mind me helping coach I will be there. I need to see more of how your team flies together, including your new player."
The meal was a bit less of an interrogation and he was actually drawn into a talk of classes by Goyle and Crabbe. It turned out they were the only two taking herbology with him. Blaise and Draco shared four classes with him but they were also doing ancient runes instead of herbology. Harry realized when given half a chance the Greg and Vince who he was told to call them that, were not the brainless muscle that he had always thought they were. They were pretty decent guys when given a chance.
Lucius came by when the feast was ending and offered his arm. "Time to see our new apartments. You have potions first thing in the morning."
Harry stood and took his husband's arm. "I guess it has been a long day. See you guys tomorrow."
Draco reminded him they would be potions partners and that he was always welcome in Slytherin. He would have the passwords even if he did not live there. Harry and his husband were half way to the stairs, Harry relieved to see they were not dungeon dwellers when Hermione appeared in front of them. He was shocked. She would not be foolish enough to try something when his husband, a professor, was standing with him.
Instead Hermione thrust a package at him. "I have no idea why I agreed but I said I would give this to you. See if you can open it, we sure as hell could not."
Harry was about to toss it back when he noticed Remus' writing on the package. "Thanks I guess."
His husband led him past her and up through the halls to a painting of a large snake, near the DADA room. The sitting room they entered had three walls of mahogany bookshelves except where the fireplace was in the corner, and the window seat and windows were, or corridor. The only wall with no shelves had some tapestries and pictures he noticed of Draco and one he had not realized was take at their wedding, the wall of the door they came in. The room was done in fine furniture he guessed from the manor as it was elaborate, a dinning table and chair, as well as a couch and two armchairs and a coffee table before the fire. The coloring was all in silver and green but Harry reminded himself he was now a Slytherin and they were his colors as well. There was a painting of the manor above the fireplace. The corridor had a door into Lucius' classroom and office, a spare bedroom he knew his husband wanted to be a nursery soon and their master bedroom. Harry had seen a desk and study area in the sitting room and his husband explained it was for his use. There was a second bathroom as well.
Lucius looked at the package when they went into their ensuite bedroom which was dominated by a king size bed. "It is from him? Will you open it?"
Harry looked at the package confused, confused like he had been at the appearance at the train station. "I don't know. I am not ready to open it."
Drawing Harry into his arms and helping him from his clothes Lucius told Harry it was his choice when. He knew Harry was scared and confused. He was scared to see what it was. He had already been hurt so bad by his fathers who turned their back on him. He was scared it would just cause him more pain. But he was also confused why Remus had been at the station and why he had sent this. He knew Harry should open it but Harry needed time and to make the decision for himself. As he made love to his husband he knew Harry was hurt by the fact that he would miss the birth of his sister, and that his kids would have no grandparents. Lucius honestly wished there was something he could do to ease his husband's pain but his son and Severus reminded him he was not to blame for them abandoning Harry.
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The next morning Harry and Draco were working well on a potion together in their first double potions' class. It seemed they actually worked well when they were not sabotaging each other. Draco knew where Harry's limits were and got him to do jobs he knew Harry would not mess up on. Severus had been watching them and knew he had been right in the pairing. He could see that Draco would help Harry do better in classes. Lucius definitely wanted his husband to do better in school then he had before. Other then DADA and charms Severus had been surprised how well Harry had doe. He had never achieved that well on day to day classes. Harry had actually topped the school in charms and tied in DADA. Charms was actually his best class from day one and not DADA.
Draco saw though as the morning was moving on that Harry was a bit quiet and he wondered what was going on. He had known Harry had been having a rough time but some how he knew this had nothing to do with the marriage. Something else was bothering his new friend that morning.
Draco turned to him as he was putting some of the quills in. "Is there something wrong Harry? I have not seen you like this."
Harry sighed. "Hermione confronted me after the feast and gave me a package. It was from my dad, from Remus. He gave it to her at the train station for me."
That surprised Draco and he was not surprised to learn it had been charmed so Hermione and the others could not get in, or that they had tried. He remembered how pale Harry had seemed when he had seen his dad at the station. He was also reminded of how Harry had said he was not sue why the man was there; he had made it quite clear he had no kids to see off. After they had given Ginny his birthday gift Draco was not sure what Harry could expect from the package. He asked Harry if he had opened the package but some how he knew the answer before he had asked him.
Harry shook his head. "No. I don't think I am ready to see what ever he sent or read what ever note might be in there. After my broom, I don't think I can take it."
Draco understood. "You know if you want some one there when you do I would. I know we are new to being friends but at least I understand. I mean if you want."
Harry tuned to him in a bit of surprise but he nodded. "Maybe. I don't know if I ever will be ready. I just keep thinking about Christmas and my sister and not....."
He let his new friend's voice trail off. Harry did not need this in class right now. They were done their potion and they received top marks for a perfect brew. He knew Harry was hurt that his dads were having a baby he would never likely get to see or hold. He was also aware that Harry would be going to his brother's wedding around the time the baby was due and wondered if he would run into his dads. There were so many questions. As they headed for lunch he knew Harry would open the package eventually. He hoped if he or Harry's old friends could not help, maybe Harry would actually lean on his dad for some comfort. He was not so sure though.