Finding Freedom
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, if I did I would be rich and famous and probably not writing fanfiction.
Notes: So sorry it's been soooooo long. I started college like a month ago and I have been really busy doing homework and studying and writing papers. I hope you can all forgive me! But you have done a good job at making sure I don't forget my story with your constant reviews. So I'm going to give it another go now, I hope you enjoy the next chapter of Finding Freedom.
oOoOo
Harry awoke to a soft slapping on his cheek. Prying his eyes open he was met with a teary gaze that belonged to his son.
"What's wrong baby?" Harry asked picking Zachary up and cradling him in his arms. Zachary took one hand and placed it on his mouth and looked at Harry expectantly. Harry had to rack his brain; he didn't know what Zachary was trying to tell him.
Zachary noticed that Harry wasn't getting it so he tried a different approach; this time he took his hand to put it on his stomach.
Harry finally figured it out by putting two and two together, Zachary was hungry.
"Are you hungry little man?" Harry asked getting out of bed, his son safely in his arms. Walking into the kitchen Harry had to laugh a little, the kitchen looked like a bomb hit it. "I guess Remus and Sirius were tired after all that shopping," he commented more to himself then to Zachary.
Scanning the room Harry found a baby seat, he didn't know if Zachary would like it but he needed to put the boy down to search through the bags for bottles and formula. Harry placed Zachary in the seat and when the little boy didn't protest he fastened the belt. Zachary looked a little put off and Harry quickly found a little toy to divert Zachary's attention.
Now Harry had to find try and find what he needed in the mess of a kitchen. Emptying bags Harry found it easier to put the things away instead of just dumping everything. Eventually he found a bottle; all that was left was to find the formula.
Coming down to the last bag Harry emptied it and held the formula up triumphantly. When he did this however he also found the receipt. The thing was at least a foot and a half long and the total at the bottom gave Harry a headache. How could he pay them back, he didn't have that kind of money, and this was only a start up he would constantly need new bottles and more formula, he didn't have the income to raise a kid. Tears started to well up in his eyes and all his insecurities surrounded him allowing no escape.
Luckily for him Zachary wanted his daddy back at that very moment and had decided to get his attention by throwing his toy on the floor. Harry's head shot up and his eyes locked on those of his son's.
Realizing that tomorrow was tomorrow and today was today Harry gathered himself and started to make a bottle. He would find a way to pay for this later, right now his worry was for his son. Sitting down in the chair he took his son into his arms and offered the bottle.
Zachary started sucking and Harry went back into deep thought, "Don't you worry Zachary, your daddy has an idea to keep up with you and make sure you get everything you need." Zachary stopped sucking for a moment and looked at his daddy with a knowing gaze, and then he continued to suck at his bottle.
After burping his son they returned to the bedroom. Laying down Harry was starting to feel the tug of sleep again when Zachary's face scrunched up and tears started to flow. Harry sat up with alarm, "What is it?" he asked as if he expected an answer.
All of a sudden Harry's nose caught a whiff of the problem, Zachary needed to be changed. Up and out again Harry was left with the task of finding the changing mat, the diapers, the wipes, and the baby power. Finally all the tools were gathered and Zachary was on his back waiting to be changed.
"Bare with me, I'm a first timer," Harry said taking off the dirty diaper and placing it aside, just as he was about to put the new diaper on he felt something warm and wet hitting his shirt. A little too late he realized what it was. "Zachary!" Harry exclaimed quickly throwing ff the shirt, Zachary only laughed at his father's antics. With Harry cleaned off and Zachary changed the two retired for the night, hopefully.
When Remus woke the next morning he was surprised at what he saw. For one all the groceries were put away, not in the right place, but away. Then he started to notice the mess, there was a slightly damp t-shirt on the floor next to a dirty diaper, Remus had to raise an eyebrow at that. Then in the kitchen there was formula all on the counter and a dirty bottle in the sink. Remus chuckled at the sight.
"What's got you in such a good mood?" asked Sirius from behind him.
"Looks like Harry just got his first taste of being a full time father," Remus said hinting to the messy room.
"Poor kid," Sirius said making Remus' smile fade and the man nodded.
"Let's get breakfast ready and coffee made, maybe it will make his morning better then his night," Remus said setting to work.
Harry woke feeling a draft, opening his eyes he realized that he had no shirt on. Groaning remembering his night he turned towards his son who he expected to be asleep, imagine his surprise when he saw bright violet eyes looking at him expectantly.
"Good morning love," Harry said kissing Zachary's forehead. Zachary smiled and clapped his hands, and then he made the same motion from last night. "Hungry then," Harry said and Zachary smiled again.
Harry got out of bed grabbing a new shirt and picked his son up. "Let's get some food," Harry said looking to his son for confirmation, but Zachary was too absorbed in sucking his thumb. Harry smiled rolled his eyes; he should probably stop him before it got out of hand but he couldn't bring himself to deny his son anything.
Walking into the kitchen Harry was immediately enticed by the aroma he smelled. "Smell's good, what's cooking?" Harry asked finding a bottle and getting the formula.
"Let me help you, why don't you and Zachary sit down," Sirius said taking the bottle out of Harry's hand. Harry thanked him and all but flopped down on the chair with Zachary in tow. Sirius handed the grateful and tired father a bottle and watched as Harry fed his son lovingly. Halfway through he burped Zachary and there was a knock on the door. Remus set down the plates full of food and went to see who was at the door. Opening the door he almost had a heart attack.
"Remus my old friend!" James exclaimed practically jumping on the sandy haired man. James noticed that Remus wasn't responding to his hug and pulled back.
"Is everything alright Remus?" Lily asked going to hug the frail looking man. Remus could only nod, he definitely didn't expect this, and they weren't due home for another week on Christmas Eve.
"Surprise, we came home early when we heard that Harry had moved in with you, what happened my old friend," James asked getting serious, he hadn't wanted to leave his son with Lily's sister but she had convinced him it would be alright. Imagine his surprise when they called to talk to Harry only to learn that, and he quotes, "the fag has moved out and won't be coming back."
"It is a long story, we are just sitting down for breakfast," Remus said still slightly dumbfounded, he didn't even realize that he was leading them to the biggest surprise of them all.
Harry was sitting with his back to the opening when James, Lily, and Remus came into the room. Sirius' eyes widened when he saw his boyfriend looking like death warmed over followed by Lily and James Potter. His eyes darted back and fourth between the two older Potter's and the two youngest.
"Who was at the door Uncle Remi?" Harry asked balancing his son in one arm and eating with the other, giving everyone in the room a good look of Zachary.
"A better question son is who that is?" James asked sternly, he had a feeling those violet eyes looked familiar. Harry's head whipped around never losing grip of his son.
"Mom, dad?" Harry asked, he was so happy to see them alright and alive he didn't even register that they were inquiring about Zachary. "I'm so happy to see you," he said hugging them with the arm that wasn't holding Zachary.
"We are happy to see you too son, but who is this, is this Zachary, is this your son?" Lily asked carefully, she knew how hard the loss hit her son and she was really concerned about what had happened while they were gone.
"Mom, Dad, try to understand, I had to," Harry started but James was furious and cut him off.
"No, no son you didn't have to, I'm sure he was fine where he was, there was no need to ruin the last few years of high school looking after some sluts kid who only shares your genes because she raped you. You didn't have to do anything for that thing!" James screamed, he couldn't believe what he was seeing, how could his son find Zachary, let alone gain custody, in only a few short weeks.
Harry couldn't breathe and he certainly couldn't speak how could his father go off like that and not even let him explain.
Zachary didn't like the way this man was yelling and started to cry, the silent sobs a sight for both older Potter's to witness. Harry's heart broke seeing his son cry, seeing his parents hate their grandson so much that they wished he was back where he used to be. Getting up quickly he ran out of the room and into his own slamming the door after him.
Harry quickly locked it and placed Zachary on the bed. After he was sure everything was secure he broke down, he couldn't do this, they couldn't do this, and he wouldn't let them take Zachary again. His body shook with sobs as the tears flowed. Zachary was lying on the bed wondering why his daddy was crying and why that mean man yelled at his daddy.
Mustering up all his strength he hit his daddy's unruly mop of hair. Harry looked up and smiled at his son, picking Zachary up he placed the small boy on his lap. Zachary sat on his daddy's lap and watched him cry, as many times as his daddy wiped the tears away they came back full force. Seeing his daddy cry made Zachary's eyes fill up with tears a well.
"Don't cry baby, it's alright, daddy's alright," Harry tried to reassure both himself and Zachary.
"Open this door young man," Harry heard his father banging on the door and tears inadvertently started to flow again. The yelling did nothing to cheer up Zachary as well.
Harry heard his mother outside the door yelling at his father but he didn't care, Zachary was the only person he cared about at the present moment.
"Come stop your crying, it will be alright,
Just take my hand, hold it tight,
I will protect you, from all around you,
I will be here don't you cry" Harry sung softly, at hearing his father's melodic voice Zachary calmed down and fell right asleep.
Harry picked Zachary up and carried to the bed where he laid his son down and climbed into bed with him, in his dreams he didn't have to face anything. With that thought he fell into blissful oblivion.
Back with the adults as soon as Harry ran out
Lily had just watched her distressed son flee the room with his son. She couldn't believe it, Zachary was back, they had found their way together again. She was happy for them; she hadn't known what she knew now about Zachary's conception and if she had known this before then maybe things would have been different, maybe.
Her husbands yelling drew her out of her stupor again; she couldn't believe the things that were spewing out of his mouth.
"James that is your son and your grandson. Calm yourself down and let Sirius and Remus explain," She said reasonably.
"I would like to, but right now you have a panicked son and a mute grandson in the same room and if you keep it up like this then you won't get to see them for a long time. I will not allow Harry to be hurt again, not like before," Remus said, he had never spoke his mind before and now seemed like a good time to start.
Sirius was stunned by Remus' words. James and Lily were not only Harry's parents but their best friends. Sure he didn't agree with the way they were acting or about their decisions before but they were still his parents.
"Hold on, did you say mute grandson?" Lily said still trying to calm her husband down. He was now banging on Harry's door in an attempt to get Harry to open it.
"Yes, it's all part of the story. First I need to call someone who can help with Harry," Remus said, he took a deep breathe and called the Malfoy residence.
At Malfoy Residence that morning
"Draco, how nice of you to join us," Mrs. Malfoy said as she saw her son take his seat at the breakfast table.
"Good morning mother, father," Draco said nodding to both his parents respectively.
"You got in late last night," Mr. Malfoy said. Draco's head shot up, how did his father know how late he got in? "The walls have ears son, I know everything that happens in this house."
"I was at Harry's settling him in;" Draco paused and looked up, "Settling him and his son Zachary." Draco almost wanted to close his eyes from the oncoming assault he thought was on the way. Imagine his surprise when he was met with silence.
Mr. Malfoy had started eating like nothing had been said but Mrs. Malfoy had tears in her eyes.
"Mother?" Draco questioned.
"He's so young, how can he be burdened with so much?" she said sadly.
Mr. Malfoy took a more practical approach to it, or so it would seem, "Well when do you plan to dump this political disaster?" he asked calmly.
This was more of the kind of reaction he expected, "I don't plan to father," Draco said with equal calmness.
"Surely you are joking son, it's not your child, you don't have to be burdened with fatherhood at a young age, I'm sure Mr. Potter will understand," Mr. Malfoy said looking at his son to study his features.
Just as Draco was about to retort a servant came into the room, "Call for Master Draco," he said in his crazy monotone voice. Draco rose and nodded his head to his parents before leaving the room.
And now all three scenes collide
"Draco Malfoy speaking," Draco said into the phone line, he didn't know who could or would be calling at this time.
"Draco it's Remus," Said a rather distraught Remus who was worried that there was no response coming from Harry's room.
"Is something wrong with Harry?" Draco asked immediately concerned for both Harry and his son.
"You could say that, his parents decided to surprise us," Remus said sadly.
"Shit," Draco swore.
"Language," Remus chided.
"So what happened?" Draco asked trying to act in a calmly Malfoy manner while his insides were doing back flips.
"Short version, his father yelled and Harry shut himself up in his room with Zachary. Draco, we've been trying for a few minutes, there has been no response," Remus said giving Draco the full truth.
"Fuck, I'll be right over," Draco said hanging up the phone before Remus could comment on his language. Draco grabbed his jacket and ran rather un-Malfoy-ish-ably through the dinning room.
"Son?" Mrs. Malfoy questioned.
"Harry's in trouble, got to go, love you, be home as soon as I can," Draco rushed out as he ran back out the door with his car keys.
Remus hung up the phone on his side realizing that Draco had hung up on him and took a deep breathe. "Draco will be here soon and if I know how that boy drives it should be under ten minutes," he said calmly.
"Who is this Draco boy?" Lily asked finally able to calm James down after he realized he was doing more harm then good.
"He's Harry's boyfriend and don't you say anything about it James, he passes the test," Sirius said just waiting for James to jump up in protest.
"As long as he's good to Harry. Are you sure?" James asked Sirius, if he had to choose between two things, his son keeping his son or his son having a new boyfriend, he would rather his son keep the boyfriend and lose the son.
"Absolutely, but if you don't believe me then just wait he'll be here soon. He has been amazing with Harry. I do warn you though, he doesn't think to highly of you two," Sirius said quietly.
"And why is that?" Lily asked astonished that the boy dating her son had passed judgment on them already.
"He knows what happened to Harry and all about Zachary," Remus said.
"He knows everything? Who told him?" James asked, it took them months to know what happened to Harry, how did this kid find out?
"Harry did, and of his own free will, that should show you how much your son loves him," Sirius said. James was truly amazed; his two best friends were on the side of his son and his son's boyfriend, what had he missed?
Just as James was about to ask another question the door flew open, as often as Draco was there he didn't feel the need to knock. "Where is Harry?" was the first thing out of his mouth.
After his outburst he looked around, Harry's mother and father were very recognizable, Harry looked just like them. Lily was standing beside her husband with a hand on his shoulder looking like a comforting restraint while James looked a little mad.
Draco threw them a look he reserved for his enemies and looked to Remus who pointed to Harry's room silently. Draco nodded and left to try and retrieve Harry.
"What was that about?" James asked not liking the look he received.
"Well, I warned you that Draco doesn't really like the choices that you have made for Harry. He is very protective of your son," Remus said calmly.
"How dare he pass judgment on us? It is he who should be worried about our opinion of him!" James exclaimed not so sure about this boyfriend now.
"I don't desire the approval of the people that hurt Harry so much," Draco said walking back into the room, he was unable to get a response from Harry and was very worried.
"We were just doing what was best for our son, so he could live a normal life," Lily said thinking that her explanation would change his opinion of them.
"Harry will NEVER have a 'normal' life. If you would have seen that from the start and let him keep his son he would have had a much fuller life then the one he had after you ripped his son from him. How could you ever think that his life would be normal? He was raped! His body was violated by a person he trusted, and then you, right after it, betrayed his trust by shipping his son off like unwanted cargo. Did you think, did you think at all about Harry?" Draco said his anger getting the best of him.
"Of course we did, we love Harry," Lily said tears streaming down her face. She had never looked at it that way. She had never meant to hurt Harry.
"Then you better not oppose his custody of Zachary or I will take him away and you might never see him again," Draco said taking the liberty to threaten Harry's parents while he was at it.
"How dare you tell us what to do. You are a seventeen year old child; you have no children of your own. You have no idea what it is like to seen your child in deep depression, it tears you up inside. To see him in pain but not able to help, it's an indescribable feeling," James said.
"I know what it is like to see someone you love deeply hurt by the people that were supposed to do what was best for him. He trusted you and you let him down, lucky for him I won't do that to him," Draco said walking out of the room heading for the door.
"What about Harry?" Sirius asked thinking Draco was leaving.
"I'm going to climb through the window, it was open slightly when I left late last night, I doubt he woke up after I left and closed it," Draco said simply heading out the front and around back.
"What were you doing with my son late last night?" James said on the offense.
"Tucking him and his son in James, the boy really does have a good heart. Were you not listening, he told you that he loved him," Remus said calmly, he was trying to be the level headed adult.
Draco had to take a deep breathe after he got out of the house, Harry's parents angered him, they still thought they did the right thing! How could they after seeing what it did to their son when they separated them? Walking around he was happy to see that the window was still open a little and relived to see that Harry was sleeping. At least he wasn't hurt or freaking out.
Lifting the window up Draco made short work of jumping through the window. He had to smile at the innocent look Harry had on his face while she slept, like nothing was wrong. Draco looked at the door, he didn't really want them to bother Harry while he slept so instead he quietly unlocked the door and slid into bed with the two. It just felt so right.
Meanwhile outside the door the Potter's were getting impatient, hadn't Draco gone to open the door? Angry, James sprung up and went to the door fully intending to bang on it again. When he went for the knob though the door opened up.
"Doors open," he called back to his wife. Lily came running; she wanted to tell Draco thanks, she wanted to hug her son and tell him it's alright, she wanted to see her Grandson mute or not.
Peering in Lily smiled at the sight, Harry was curled on his side, Zachary was lying on his back snoring, and Draco was lying on his side facing Zachary. The sweetest thing was that each boy was being held by Zachary, like Zachary knew this was where he wanted to be and these were the people he wanted to be with. She saw her husband was about to enter so she quickly grabbed the door and shut it shaking her head.
"Let him sleep, for in our dreams even the most irrational thought can become a reality," she said to James sadly, she hadn't realized, she had been so blind. How had this boy who knew her son for a few short weeks know more then her, the child's mother?
"I'll explain everything over some coffee," Remus said seeing that things were calm for now. And so they sat and Remus told them the story, from what Vernon had done to Harry and how they rescued him, to Draco's outing himself and getting the press on them, to Draco finding Zachary and explaining why he is mute. The story consisted of a lot of tears; there wasn't a dry eye at the table.
"So those people left Zachary to die?" Lily asked still unable to get over what happened to her own flesh and blood.
"He would have died if the neighbors didn't call the police. As it stands he is only mute but Harry loves him so much, when you see them together you know he would go through hell and back for his son. You can't think of splitting them up, Harry wouldn't let you and Draco wouldn't let you," Sirius said.
"I wouldn't let you either," Remus said making up his mind on which he would stand with.
"You too Remus?" James asked, he felt bad for Zachary's situation he really did but Harry was still a minor and still needed to get an education. He didn't have the time or resources to raise a child.
"I saw what he went through and I rocked him after his episodes. You know as well as I that he is no longer a child. James, he has had so much pain in his life, why not allow a little light?" Remus countered.
"He's too young," Lily said.
"Maybe in body but not in mind," Remus said. "At least think about it alright?" he tried to compromise.
"I will but I just can't rationalize it in my mind," James said but finally nodding. "So now what?" he asked, their surprise of coming home early ruined.
"We wait for Zachary to get hungry again and wake the two boys up. Then you and your son need to have a talk," Remus said simply and the older Potter's had nothing to do but agree.
It was around lunch time that Harry woke. He was surprised to see Draco in bed with him and Zachary. Looking to the door he wasn't too surprised to see it open, after all Draco had to get in there somehow. Thinking that he still wasn't ready to face reality Harry got out of bed and shut and locked the door.
Unfortunately for Harry this action woke Draco. "What are you doing?" he asked right after Harry locked the door.
"I have to protect him; I have to protect my son. Draco this is the only way I know how, if they can't get at him then they can't take him away. You have to understand," Harry said desperately.
"I won't let them do that, I promise, but maybe you should give them a try. If things don't work out then I will take you and Zachary away, I will not let them take him. Just give your parents a chance," Draco said caressing Harry's cheek lovingly.
"You promise?" Harry asked with tears in his eyes.
"Yes, I would never do anything to hurt you, I love you HHHarry James Potter," Draco said kissing Harry softly on the lips. Harry pulled away breathlessly and smiled.
"I love you too, and thank you," Harry said, he kissed Draco one more time and then his son before getting out of bed and unlocking the door, with one look back he left the room.
Sirius, Remus, James, and Lily had been sitting on the couch, Lily and James telling the other two what their short trip was like.
"There was a bad outbreak and there was nothing we could do about it, they had us all ship out before we caught it. That's why we are back so soon," Lily explained sadly, she had wanted to help.
The conversation was broken up by a small creak that came from the floorboards. All four heads shot up to see Harry standing looking very nervous.
"Son," Lily said getting up from the couch, when Harry didn't flee she ran to him and engulfed him in a hug. It took Harry a moment but finally his arms wrapped around his mother.
"Mom I missed you so much," Harry said crying into his mom's shirt.
"My boy, my baby boy," Lily said crying as well, she had missed her son so much, every time she went away she couldn't wait to return to her son. Now, after hearing everything that happened to him, what her brother-in-law had done. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry about everything," she whispered into her son's hair.
"Harry?" came the questioning voice of his father. Sure James had been mad earlier but he had gotten over his initial shock, after hearing what had happened at his in-laws house how could he be mad?
"Dad?" Harry answered in an equally questioning voice, he wasn't sure if James was still mad.
"Son I am sorry, I didn't know, forgive me?" James asked with his arms open wide. Harry nodded quickly and jumped into his father's warm embrace. "Son, no matter what happens know that we always love you, always," James said running his hand through Harry's hair.
"I missed you both so much, I'm so glad that you are back," Harry said, all of a sudden Harry remembered about his son, what would his parents do? Realizing this he pulled back from his parents, his smile disappearing.
Just as he did this Draco came into the room with Zachary, everything fell silent. Zachary seeing his father held his hands out towards him clenching and unclenching his hands.
"He woke up looking around for you," Draco said to Harry apologetically. Harry nodded and stepped forward to take his son. As soon as Zachary felt his father's familiar embrace he settled down and started looking around the room, there were two faces he didn't recognize. Zachary, wanting to know who these people were, hit Harry in the chest and then pointed to the two new figures.
Harry was learning to figure out his son's gestures and realized that Zachary was inquiring over the two new figures. "That's your grandmother and that is your grandfather," Harry said pointing out the figures respectively.
Zachary looked over the people carefully first looking at the woman, she looked nice enough and she seems to really love his daddy. When he looked on the man though he remembered how that man made his daddy cry, when he looked at that man his face scrunched up and he turned his head back into his father's shirt.
"I seem to be getting that look a lot today," James said feeling very ashamed of how he had been acting.
"It's alright Zachary, Daddy's not sad anymore, he is a good man and he won't hurt you," Harry said staring at his father when he said the last part. All of a sudden a fowl smell filled the room. "Looks like someone needs to be changed right baby?" Harry cooed to Zachary. Zachary clapped his hands and blew spit bubbles. Harry laughed at his son's antics and excused himself.
Walking back into the kitchen where the changing stuff was Harry took a deep calming breathe, he had to stay strong for his son. He felt a warm body hugging him from behind. "Let me, you gather your bearings. Your doing wonderful, I'm so proud of the way you are handling all this," Draco said taking Zachary out of Harry's arms and beginning to change him with skill.
"Where did you learn to change a diaper?" Harry said raising his eyebrow; he knew Draco had no younger siblings living with him.
Draco lowered his head a little embarrassed and mumbled out, "I looked it up on the internet."
"What was that?" Harry asked thinking he heard Draco say that he looked up how to change a diaper but that couldn't have been right.
"I said I looked it up on the internet, I just wanted to be able to help you so it wasn't so hard on you," Draco said a little embarrassed. Harry was taken aback; Draco had wanted to help lessen the load. Dropping to his knees next to Draco he took the blond haired boys face into his hands and gave him a chaste kiss on the lips.
Resting their foreheads together Harry whispered to Draco, "Thank you, you are such an amazing man, I love you so much. What did I do to deserve you?"
"I'm glad to help," Draco said with a cocky smile. Then he turned his head back to changing Zachary who had momentarily been forgotten. Harry sat back and watched in amazement. He had to smile when Draco skillfully avoided any problems and was soon finished.
Harry picked his son up and kissed Draco deeply. Zachary smiled and clapped his hands reaching out for Draco as soon as they broke apart. Draco allowed him to catch his face where Zachary promptly kissed Draco on the cheek.
"What can I say the Potter men can't resist me," Draco said smiling kissing Harry once again.
"I can think of one," came the deep male voice that belonged to James Potter. Harry pulled back embarrassed.
"Dad," Harry half exclaimed half questioned.
"Sorry, they sent me to see what was taking so long," James said a little embarrassed that he walked in on such a private moment between the two. "Son we need to talk," he said before leaving.
Harry took a deep breath and kissed Zachary on the forehead before handing him to Draco and walking out of the room.
"Son, we need to talk," Lily said reiterating what James said.
"Your right mom, we do. Remember when you said the reason you got rid of Zachary was to protect me from the harsh world. That it was your job to protect me?" Harry asked tactfully sitting down on the love seat, Draco right by his side.
"Yes, finally you see our original reasoning, but…" James said thinking Harry had decided to give adoption another go but having something other to say.
"Not quite, I will not allow you to touch a hair on his head. It is my job as a parent to protect my son, even if it means from his grandparents," Harry said finally.
"Son, that's not what we needed to talk to you about," Lily said sadly, she couldn't press that subject. It had become clear to her that her little boy was growing up and that she had less and less say in the matter.
"Then what was it?" Harry asked confused, he was sure they were going to fight him about it.
"Honey, what happened at Petunia's?" Lily asked and Harry's world started to crumble. He felt Draco's hand on his back rubbing small circles soothingly. He leaned over and kissed the back of Harry's neck sensually.
"Take a deep breath and let it go, it will help," he whispered. Lily and James were surprised with the obvious display of affection. Harry sighed and leaned into Draco's comforting touch.
"Draco dropped me off late at their house, we had fallen asleep," Harry started feeling panicked.
"What were you doing that made you fall asleep?" James immediately asked but Lily shushed him so Harry could continue.
"I walked into the house expecting to be screamed at but they were all sitting on the couch watching TV like I wasn't even there. I didn't want any confrontations so I thought that if I went up into my room then everything would be fine. When I opened the door though," here Harry faulted. Harry closed his eyes to calm himself; the wound was still too fresh.
Draco wrapped his free arm around Harry, "Everything's going to be okay baby, they will pay for what they did," Draco whispered, Harry's head shot up. He hadn't even thought of retaliation, he, for some reason, thought he deserved it. "Harry, you know that you didn't deserve any of what they did right?" Draco asked, loud enough for everyone to hear.
"I don't know, I guess there was always a part of me that thought that I deserved some kind of punishment for not fighting for my son more then I did. Like what kind of parent would just let their son be taken? More then that I felt like such a loser, I didn't stop the rape and I didn't stop my parents, and then I couldn't stop my uncle. What good am I anyway? After all that I guess I really did believe I deserved it," Harry said sadly. Looking up he saw his dad holding his mom while she cried with his own tears streaming down his face. On the other side Remus had a firm grasp on Sirius' hand obviously disturbed by Harry's words. The most surprising reaction was that of Draco and Zachary. Zachary had his hand in Draco's while Draco cried silently.
"I didn't know," was all he said. Harry smiled sadly and nodded, no one was suppose to know, he had made sure of it, but now he chose to let it out.
"So when I went in, my guitar, and my keyboard, they were both destroyed. Completely, to pieces, there was nothing to be salvaged. I was upset, but more then that I was angry. How dare they touch what was mine. I guess I was blinded by rage. I stormed down the stairs and into the TV room. I turned the TV off and Dudley got really mad, apparently I ruined the ending to his favorite TV show and he was pissed. He started to whine to his parents and while Aunt Petunia yelled at me Uncle Vernon decided to handle things a little differently," Harry had to stop, he couldn't tell them, he just couldn't.
"It's alright you can tell us," Draco said placing a hand on the small of Harry's back as a comforting gesture.
"Well, while Aunt Petunia was yelled at me telling me I was worthless and that I belonged in the cupboard uncle Vernon's face turned red. All of a sudden he took a swing at me and caught me in the side of the head. I fell to the ground and he laughed. He started to kick me in the stomach and the ribs, he wanted me to scream, he kept telling me to scream but I wouldn't. I bit my lip as to avoid it; I wouldn't give him the pleasure. He kept kicking me but aunt Petunia was telling him to stop, she was yelling about money and how they were going to lose it. I really didn't understand what she meant," Harry said confused. Lily gasped and James had murder in his eyes. "Mom, do you know why?" Harry said taking her gasp as an epiphany.
"The inheritance, James she only gets her share of the inheritance if she keeps the family values our father had," Lily whispered. Draco could see a long story coming out of this but Harry's story wasn't over yet.
"One story at a time," he said trying to allow Harry to continue, he needed to get it off his chest.
"Continue Harry dear," Lily said wishing she could hug her only son.
"Well, he just kept kicking me while Petunia screamed for him to stop, all of a sudden I saw Dudley come out of the kitchen, he had a rolling pin in his hand. I didn't know what it was for then but when I felt a sharp hot pain on my back, I realized that he used it on me. I guess I passed out after that," Harry said finished. Harry trained his eyes on the ground; he couldn't look up and see the faces of his family, the disappointed looks he was sure he was receiving. Why hadn't he stopped his uncle, why had he just sat there and let himself get beaten?
Draco tuned into Harry's disposition right away, "No!" he exclaimed earning everyone's attention. "Harry you can't believe that it's your fault, it wasn't, not in any way shape or form," Draco said lifting Harry's chin and staring the boy right in the eyes.
The room went silent as if Harry and Draco were the only people in the room. The onlookers were shocked by the raw emotion coming from both boys, Harry was deeply upset and Draco seemed calm but furious. The only individual in the room that felt a need to protest the silence was Zachary who started to clap his hands. Harry looked down at his little boy and kissed him on the forehead.
"It's alright baby, daddy is alright," Harry said. Zachary smiled at Harry and then looked to Draco; the little boy was starting to think of that man as his other daddy. After all this man took care of his daddy and him, he had all the qualities.
"Now, Mrs. Potter. You said something about an inheritance?" Draco said trying to move things along, he could feel the tense muscles in Harry's back showing his extreme discomfort.
"Yes, when my father died it was his last dying wish that we stayed a family. In his Will he stated that I was to be in charge of the money and that Petunia, since she was always causing family problems, would only get a little bit each year as long as she stayed family orientated. Obviously she isn't getting the money anymore," Lily said sadly.
"That's why she seemed sorrowful when I came to get Harry that night," Remus said, the events of that night coming back to him.
"So why the rude phone call?" James asked not seeing how things matched up.
"They must have found money another way. They must not need the inheritance anymore," Remus rationalized.
All of a sudden it hit Draco like a freight train; anger welled up in him like nothing he ever felt before. "Those sons of bitches," he muttered.
Harry was shocked by Draco's language, especially in front of his son. "Draco, not in front of Zachary," Harry chided.
"Don't you get it? It was them, they sold the story to the press, and it's so obvious. Those low lives have sold your story to the press, the same press that turned the story around and made you out to be a rapist," Draco said angrily. At this revelation Sirius jumped out of his seat.
"That's it I'm going to kill them, James if you want in you better hurry up," Sirius said making a mad dash for the kitchen to get his keys.
"I'll take care of him," Remus said quickly following. This left the four remaining Potter's and one Malfoy alone in the room.
"So what are your plans?" James asked it was a reasonable question; he needed his son to know the reality of things.
"I plan to love and care for my son, at any cost," Harry said, he didn't want to have to drop out of school but he couldn't abandon his son, not again.
"Harry you can't be serious," Lily exclaimed, this was why they got rid of Zachary in the first place, to avoid all this.
"No, he isn't. Everything will work out," Draco said interrupting.
"What how?" Harry asked amazed.
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Okay, this took a long time to get up because I was lazy and had to actually do homework and shit like that. I hope you like it. Tell me through a review…please!