Chapter 10: Because I am Harry Potter

Yeah chapter ten! Whoop I'm so proud of my story so far and the reviews keep making me very happy. Anyway, here your tenth chapter in the hope that you all had a nice apocalypse.

Harry finished signing some important papers for work before eventually putting his feather aside. His neck was sore as well as his hands. He had been writing all day long, finally getting his mind off Draco. Harry couldn't figure out why the blonde was haunting his thoughts day and night, even finding a way into his darkest nightmares and his most wonderful dreams.

Harry groaned in frustration and suddenly got up from his chair, quitting his study to snatch some fresh air. His stomach growled furiously, startling Harry a little. He looked at his watch and realized that it was well past lunch time. Quickly, Harry walked to the kitchen where his godson was already eating a self-made sandwich. Harry looked at him apologetically, but Teddy merely smiled.

"Sorry, I just had to finish that paperwork"

"It's okay, I'm able to make a sandwich, you know. I'm not five anymore" Teddy took another bite of his sandwich and chew carefully. Harry smiled at his godson and opened the fridge, grabbing jars of jam and peanut butter. He placed the two jars on the table and went to fetch some white bread and a knife. Then, he took place next to Teddy, unscrewing the first jar containing the jam.

"Are you finished with your paperwork now, uncle Harry?" Teddy asked. Harry nodded absently.

"Great, so we may to Cousin Draco's house today" Harry stopped his activity to look at Teddy's serious features. Why would he want to go to Draco's house today? Harry hadn't even gotten a reply to his letter.

"And why should we go to Malfoy's house?" Teddy stuffed the last bit of sandwich in his mouth, swallowed it and started to speak as though Harry was a foreigner who didn't understand English.

"Because Draco has lost his bracelet" Harry cocked his head to the left, lifting his eyebrows in surprise.

"What do you mean?" Teddy sighed and pushed his chair back, his hand disappearing inside his jumper pocket and pulling out a smart silver bracelet..

"Where did you find it? And how do you know it's Draco's?" Harry asked. Teddy put the bracelet on the table for Harry to see. "Well, it was here on the kitchen floor. And I suppose the fact that Draco was wearing the bracelet can't possibly mean that it actually belongs to him. I mean, that would be too obvious, wouldn't it?" Harry smirked at his godson, ruffling his hair playfully.

"Also there's something written on its back. Look…" Harry turned the piece of jewellery around and saw that there was truly a small engraving on its back. Narcissa Black. The name was well-known to Harry, yet he didn't understand why Draco would wear his mother's bracelet. From what he knew, both had never been terribly close. At least, that's what Harry had thought at Hogwarts since Draco seemed to show off his father a little bit too much. Maybe he had been mistaken on that point.

"Harry?" Teddy's voice brought the man out of his thoughts.

"Yes, Teddy?"

"Is that Narcissa Black the sister of granny?" Harry smiled softly at his godson, nodding softly. "Yes indeed, this is her. She was a beautiful woman as I recall and also very brave and beyond intelligent. She saved me from Voldemort" Teddy's eyes shone in excitement.

"How so" he asked. Harry looked at the bracelet and got lost in his memories once again. He knew that Teddy saw him as a hero and loved to hear the tales of him defeating Voldemort. But Harry still believed that killing a man, no matter how many people that man had killed before, was not an act of bravery but of cowardice.

"When I went to meet Voldemort in the forest at the Battle of Hogwarts, he tried to kill me. The spell hit me, but the protection of my parents and of my own godfather kept me from dying. Narcissa lied about my death and Voldemort believed her. But in return, I had to tell her if her son was still alive. I couldn't be sure, because I didn't know what had happened after I left but I think that… maybe…" Harry was at loss of words and Teddy looked at him eager to know more. Harry met his eyes and completed his sentence: "… maybe I hoped that he was not dead" The sudden realization hit Harry's mind brutally. Had he wished for Draco Malfoy, his nemesis and the one whom he had despised since his first year at Hogwarts, to survive? He wasn't making any sense, he knew it and Teddy was quick to point that out.

"But I thought that you hated Draco" Harry nodded.

"Yes I did, but… somehow I couldn't bring myself to see him dead. I just thought that… yes he made mistakes and he… has made bad decisions but if he did so it was to protect his family. I couldn't blame him for what he had done… somehow I knew that he had no other choice and I didn't want him to be punished for a crime he didn't commit"

"It's also therefor that you saved him in his trial?" Harry was surprised that Teddy knew about that part of the story, but the child had certainly asked Hermione for some information.

"Yes! He didn't deserve to go to Azkaban. We were but children and we had been forced to fight a war we didn't want to be involved in. Also, Draco and I… might not be so different at all. He and I were scared of an enemy greater than death. He and I fought for the ones we loved…" Harry suddenly looked into Teddy's quizzical eyes and smiled reassuringly. "But don't worry about that, buddy. I will take the bracelet back to Draco's, would you care to join me?" Teddy eagerly nodded, a smile appearing on his lips.

"I will see Scorpius again"

"Indeed you will" Harry couldn't help but laugh when Teddy screamed joyfully.

"Wait here, I'll be ready in a few minutes"

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOO

Where was it? He had been looking everywhere, yet it there was still nowhere to be seen. Think, Draco, think! He remembered wearing it at Potter's house, but what came after was a blur of memories that had nothing to do with the bracelet. Draco remembered Potter's warm welcome, he remembered Scorpius gleeful expression and the favour he had asked Marcus on the same night. He remembered the abuse of the previous day and how his boyfriend had almost choked him after the scene in the bathroom. He remembered all of this and the memories brought tears in his eyes. He looked up in the mirror. Where were the times when Draco Malfoy would simply get it his way? His fingers went to touch the bruises left by Marcus' hands on his throat. They had turned an ugly shade of purple.

"Draco, are you okay?" Draco looked fearfully at the door. He could hear Marcus' footsteps walk down the corridor to their bedroom. Quickly, he grabbed a nearby scarf and wrapped it around his neck to hide the bruises from his boyfriend. He didn't really know why he was doing it, it just didn't seem right to let Marcus see the purple marks on his neck. The door opened and Marcus entered the room, looking worriedly at the blonde.

"Are you okay?" he asked once again. Draco smiled and nodded.

"I was looking for my bracelet, have you seen it by any chance?" Marcus shook his head and eyes Draco suspiciously.

"What is the scarf for? There are twelve degrees outside…" Draco swallowed the lump in his throat, trying to sound casual.

"My throat was sore this morning and I didn't want to take any chances. Really, it's nothing…" Marcus didn't seem convinced though and he slowly walked towards Draco. The blonde didn't dare to move when his boyfriend took the scarf off.

"Draco…" There was no anger and no disappointment in Marcus' voice, but it sounded afraid. Draco looked into his boyfriend's… teary eyes? No, this couldn't be why would Marcus be crying?

"Draco, have… have I done this?" Marcus pointed a shaky finger at Draco's purple marks. The blonde didn't dare to answer. He didn't understand why Marcus was crying. Marcus never cried, never.

"I have done this to you" Marcus realized. He tenderly touched the bruises, tracing the path they took around Draco's neck. A tear rolled down the elder man's cheek.

"I… I…" Marcus was at loss of words. Draco didn't know what to do either, so he merely rested his head against Marcus' chest and wrapped his arms around the other man's waist. Marcus didn't move or say anything. Draco heard him let out a shaky breath, but he didn't embrace Draco back. He never did, and if only on rare occasions. It wouldn't change this day. The two were interrupted by Scorpius' loud shriek. Draco looked up and felt a fear invade his body. Quickly, he got out of the room and went to see why Scorpius had screamed when he heard a childish laughter that strangely belonged to his son. Confused, Draco went into the living room and saw how Scorpius was embracing Teddy tightly. Potter stood behind the boys, smiling warmly at them and shushing young Scorpius.

"Your parents will think that I'm kidnapping you, buddy"

"No they won't! I'm so happy to see you, Mr Potter" Scorpius' shyness towards Potter seemed gone, Draco noticed. He heard Marcus enter the living room and it was then that Potter looked up from the two children. A shy smile appeared on his lips and he lifted one hand in greetings.

"Hey"

"What the hell do you think you're doing, Potter?" Marcus asked angrily. The tears had gone from his eyes, leaving Draco to wonder if he had truly seen them. Before he could add anything, Harry stepped forward and handed Draco his bracelet.

"Teddy found this in the kitchen and I believe it belongs to you" Draco looked at the bracelet in wonder. A smile was on his lips when he thanked Harry.

"I was looking for that damned bracelet everywhere. Thank you Po… Harry. That bracelet means a lot to me, I'm glad you found it" Harry blushed and nervously scratched the back of his head.

"It's nothing, Draco. Besides, Teddy wanted to see Scorpius and I suppose the feeling's mutual" Draco nodded. Marcus cleared his throat loudly. "So Potter, since you've been so generous as to bring back my boyfriend's godforsaken bracelet, would you care about a drink?" Harry looked at Marcus and politely accepted. Then, his eyes turned back to Draco and to his horror, Potter fixed Draco's neck. He had forgotten to put the scarf back on. Draco lowered his eyes and went to pour Harry a drink, but Marcus was quicker.

"It's alright Draco, I have it!" Marcus walked out of the room, followed by Teddy and Scorpius who volunteered to help. Draco and Harry were left alone in the living room.

"Draco, what happened to your neck?" Potter tried to sound casual, Draco noticed, but he failed miserably. The blonde tried to sound as calm as possible.

"I was experimenting with new potions and some had nasty effects on my health" That was a lie and Draco was stupid if he thought he could have fooled Harry Potter so easily. The other man walked towards Draco and looked at him sternly.

"You were experimenting, well I can see that. Are you sure this has nothing to do with a certain friend of yours?" Draco glared back at Potter.

"What do you imply, Potter? Do you think that Marcus beats me? Do you think he rapes me and gave me these horrible marks?" Harry didn't reply, but the answer was written on his features. "Well guess what Potty I am no lovesick puppy. Of any of this had happened because of Marcus, believe me I would have taken my revenge. Have you forgotten what I am capable of? Should I give you a proof of me being a dangerous man?" Draco was shocked at his sudden boldness. He had never felt as self-confident in years and to be honest with himself, it felt good.

"I know what you are!"

"Then don't forget it. I can make people go through horrible things, don't forget that. If Marcus was beating me, he would have paid the price long ago" Draco saw Harry glare back at him, yet the former Slytherin Prince was not impressed for the slightest.

"No one has ever been able to fool me, Malfoy and you won't be the exception. I will find out, sooner or later! Trust me about one thing: I won't give up easily. I will get it my way because I am Harry Potter!"

Oh… finish!... for now. So in case I don't write until then, I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a prosperous new year.

TBC…