Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling. This story is merely my way of saluting her. I do not own any of these characters; I just manipulate their thoughts.

"Why?"

Draco struggled to let the question through his panicked and euphoric mind. He rested his head on Harry's shoulder and closed his eyes, staving off the dizziness. "Because you care…"

Harry felt his frightened heart settle against Draco's chest. "I do?"

"You care about everyone. Even me."

"Even you…"

Draco smiled into Harry's neck. "I fell in love with that."

They held each other in silence. Draco marveled at the feel of Harry against him. He had never imagined this. He had dared not imagine it. And to have Harry in his arms was spectacular. He would have given the sun and the moon for this. He revisited the desperate kiss and the yearning in Harry's eyes. He didn't know what the yearning was for, but he knew that he had given what Harry wanted. The satisfaction nearly did Draco in. He reigned in his emotions instead of laughing hysterically.

He felt Harry's heart speed up.

His stomach dropped.

"No," he murmured, tightening his hold on Harry's waist.

Harry didn't say a word, choosing instead to reciprocate by squeezing his eyes shut and calming himself down.

"Please, Harry."

"What are we doing?"

Draco felt queasy when he heard the hurried, whispered question. "Don't think. Please."

"I can't – I'm not – what if I can't… And Molly… The kids. We can't –"

Draco wouldn't let Harry pull away. "Don't do this."

"I – I need to think, Draco."

"I love you."

Harry groaned painfully as he pushed away from Draco, breaking the hold. "I need to think."

Hermione stumbled down the stairs, flicking the lights on with a wave of her hand. It was past midnight as the bell rung insistently, causing a colorful stream of curses to fall out of Ron's tongue. The last vulgar insult of 'shoving a crooked broom up the bastard's arse' did it for Hermione. She ran her fingers down her tangled hair and pulled the door open. Harry pulled Hermione into a terrified hug, waking her up in an instant. "H – Harry? What's wrong?" she asked, her words thick with sleep.

"I did something I – I don't – I don't know what to do. I didn't know where to go."

Hermione's breath hitched in alarm. "What happened?" she asked as she untangled herself from Harry's arms.

His hands shook uncontrollably. Hermione's expression betrayed her immense worry. He closed his eyes in anguish. "I think I – No, I know – Fuck!"

"You're scaring me, Harry. Please, just tell me what happened! The kids?"

"Oh god, no. They're fine," he said quickly. "It's not them. It's – me."

"Tell me."

Harry's eyes shot open as he heard Hermione's tortured screams in his mind. He saw her broken body in Shell Cottage. This can't happen… "I shouldn't have come," he said distantly, backing away.

"No, Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, holding the man in place. "You will tell me what happened."

He easily pulled his arms out of her grip. "I have to go," he murmured, giving her a pained look. With a pop, he vanished from her doorstep.

"Ron," she yelled out. "Ron. Wake up, now!"

Draco leaned against the doorjamb of the darkened playroom. He watched the four children sleep soundly, surrounded by toys and pillows. Lily was happily splayed over James, her long tresses feathered over the blanket. Scorpius was wedged between James and Albus, a fist clutching at the latter's shirt. Draco couldn't help the smile on his face even as his mind raced with worry.

"Draco," Narcissa whispered from behind him.

"Hmm?"

"What happened?"

He glanced at her from over his shoulder. "Let's not talk about it, okay?"

Narcissa wrapped an arm around her son's waist. "Really?"

"Yeah."

They stood together, casting long shadows across the playroom. The quiet lull washed over the house again.

Scorpius jerked and gasped, hands flailing as he fell in his sleep. Albus groaned when he was hit with flying limbs. Draco and Narcissa watched the boys blink at each other sleepily.

"Just a dream," Albus sighed, throwing an arm around Scorpius and closing his eyes.

"Yeah," Scorpius murmured, curling up and falling asleep.

Draco chuckled silently as he dropped his arm around his mother's shoulders. "Mother, what if…" he started saying before trailing off.

"What if…" Narcissa repeated, instigating her son to keep talking.

He gazed at the sleeping children. "What if they were all mine?"

"I ought to smack you one."

Harry jumped in fright and whipped around. Ron was steaming behind him, scowling fiercely.

"You damn near gave Hermione a heart attack!"

"S – sorry," Harry stammered, looking away quickly while trying to wipe away his tears as discreetly as possible.

Ron noticed. "What's wrong?" he asked, appearing calmer now.

"Nothing," Harry muttered quickly.

Ron sighed in exasperation. "You knock at my door and then leave my hysterical wife standing in the hall, screaming at me. I damned well deserve to know what's going on."

"Look, it's nothing. I was just having a – meltdown. I'm fine now."

"No, you aren't."

"I just need to be alone."

"No, you don't."

"Ron."

"Harry."

The men were at Godric's Hollow. They were standing in front of the dilapidated house. Ron wondered why Harry felt the need to torture himself by coming here. Harry's eyes never left the destroyed second floor of his home. Dawn was breaking slowly.

"I think I'm falling in love."

Ron blinked at Harry's back owlishly. "Huh?" he asked, more out of shock than as a query.

Harry hugged himself and let his eyes fall shut. "I think I'm falling in love," he said again, as though wanting to hear the words out loud. "And I think it's for the wrong reasons."

"Who?" Ron asked in confusion.

Harry shook his head. "It matters why."

Ron wasn't sure what he felt. Harry was his brother-in-law and best friend. To hear him talk about loving someone other than Ginny was irking him. But it was also causing him to feel a sense of relief. "Okay. Why?" he asked cautiously.

"Because I miss Ginny."

Ron shifted his weight uncomfortably. "I don't understand," he said.

"I want someone to love me like she loved me."

"Oh."

"And I found that someone."

"Oh…"

"And I'm doing it for all the wrong reasons."

Ron's mind was now overwhelmed with questions and memories. But he couldn't voice anything.

Harry let out a humorless laugh. "And if you knew who, I may as well be dead," he said vacantly. "Like I said, just a meltdown. Head in the clouds and all."

"This is not a meltdown! It's your life!" Ron said in disbelief.

"But there isn't anything I do about it, is there?" he asked helplessly.

"She loves you?"

Harry felt a horrible motion of déjà vu. He steeled himself by digging his fingers into his palms. He knew that he could lose everything – everything that mattered to him. He didn't want to lose Ron. "It's fine, Ron. I'm fine," he lied, trying not to grit his teeth.

Ron saw Harry struggling, even though it was hidden under the mask of calm. "Are you happy with her?" he asked.

Her hair flowed down her shoulders and the white satin moved as though enchanted. Her arms wound around Harry's neck as they twirled with the music. Their smiles mirrored each other as they danced.

He smirked slyly as he knocked into Harry's broom. A haughty challenge showed in the grey eyes when he titled his head in amusement. Their smiles mirrored each other as they swerved towards the fluttering Snitch.

Her eyes widened in shock before dissolving into musical laughter. Harry scowled as he dripped water from head to toe. Loud giggles and splashes sounded from the bathroom, accompanying her delight.

He put his thumb to his nose and wiggled his fingers, the children following suit. Harry couldn't help the laughs that bubbled up at the spectacle in front of him.

She kissed Harry softly, her lips moving in patterns that never failed to take his breath away. Harry hugged her close, never wanting to let go.

He kissed Harry tentatively, his lips moving in self-conscious patterns. Harry hugged him close, never wanting to let go.

"Yes," Harry said almost inaudibly. "He makes me happy."

Ron swallowed painfully. "He?"

Harry nodded. "I'm sorry," he said quietly.

"You're sorry that you love him?"

Harry frowned in confusion. "No... I'm not sorry about that," he said.

"You aren't?"

"Sh – should I be?"

Ron didn't know. Half of him thought that Harry should feel remorse for loving someone other than Ginny. He felt that Harry should be horrified at his feelings for another man. But the other half wanted Harry to tell him more. He wanted to understand. "No," he said impulsively.

"It's Draco."

Ron jerked back at the impromptu confession. "Wh – what?"

"Draco Malfoy."

"N – no…"

Harry felt tears well up in him again. He could hear the horror in Ron's voice. He didn't want to lose Ron. And he didn't want to lose Draco. Not now. "I'm sorry," he said hoarsely.

"You can't…"

"He loves me, Ron."

"Are you hearing yourself right now?"

Harry felt the tears fall on his cheeks and was glad that he was facing away from his friend. He nodded silently.

"You're talking about Malfoy?"

Another nod.

"He doesn't love you."

Harry stiffened as he clenched his jaw.

"He – he can't! I don't – I have no idea what you're saying, Harry!"

He fisted his shirt as he hugged himself with vigor.

"He has a hidden agenda! Why else – and you – you don't love him! What are you even – and the kids… Oh god, the kids!"

Fury welled up and Harry whipped around. "Don't you dare say another word," he snarled, curling his lip in disgust. "You have no right making accusations!"

Ron held his ground. "He's manipulating you! He's always manipulated you!" he said, overpowering Harry's words. "And you're falling for it again! Stop being so fucking naïve. You love Ginny. Not this fucking bastard!"

"Shut up!"

"You are married to Ginny! How dare you tell me that you love a man?"

"I was married to Ginny!"

"What has he been –"

"She's dead!" Harry roared.

Ron let out a strangled breath, as though he had just been punched in the gut. Harry's fury left him in that instant, now replaced with dread.

"Where are the kids?"

The question sounded muddled in Harry's head. "What?" he asked breathlessly.

"What did you do with the kids?"

"I didn't – what do you mean?"

"I want to know where they are right now."

"Ron, please –"

"Where?"

Harry was frightened to see Ron staring at him, looking strangely blank and devoid of expression. He moved forward and Ron moved back without hesitation. "Malfoy Manor," Harry murmured faintly.

A flicker of revulsion ran through Ron's eyes before he Disapparated.

"No," Harry breathed, following Ron to the mansion. He caught the man on the stairs leading up to the front door. "No," he said louder, his hand latching onto Ron's arm and pulling him away.

"Let go," Ron said vehemently, slapping Harry's hand away and racing up the steps.

Harry sprinted after him and grabbed him by the shoulders. Spinning him around, he said, "Stop it, Ron! You're being unreasonable!"

Ron shoved Harry, causing him to trip down a few steps. "I'm being unreasonable? You leave the kids in – in this house? What the fuck happened to you?" he asked in horror.

"It's not like that!" Harry said earnestly, trying to make Ron understand. "You don't think I would –"

"I'm taking the kids," Ron interjected. "And I'm keeping them in my home."

"Wh – why?" Harry stammered.

"Because you – you're a fucking lunatic! That's why!"

Harry gawked at his friend in disbelief. "I – I'm what?"

"Mentally unstable," Ron said, pushing Harry away before he took the last five steps in a matter of a second. He opened the door with a flick of his wand, letting the wood slam against the wall.

"You can't! Ron!" Harry stumbled up to the foyer. "You can't!"

The men froze when Draco stared at them incredulously from atop the second floor. "What the hell?" he muttered. He took in Ron's fury before looking past him at Harry. His heart staggered when he saw the pained expression. "What's wrong?" he asked, making his way down to the landing slowly, his eyes never leaving Harry's. Neither man answered, instead choosing to stare. "Harry, what's wrong?" Draco asked again, his steps quickening out of panic. Harry opened his mouth to say something but all that came out was a broken sob. That was all it took to get Draco running down the steps in twos and threes. "Please, tell me," he pleaded, clearing the last three in a jump and advanced.

Ron easily stepped in, wand pointed out. Draco jerked to a halt, his gaze moving away from Harry. "What are you doing?" Ron asked quietly.

Draco frowned in confusion. "I – Harry – and he's – what's wrong?" he stammered.

"What have you done to him?"

"What?"

All it took was a long stride to close the gap between the wand and Draco's chest. Ron's anger had doubled since seeing the blond. Draco's breath hitched when Ron pushed the wand into him. "Where are the children?"

Draco saw Harry flinch in his peripherals. He looked over Ron's shoulder to find Harry shaking. "Why do you want to know?" he asked, trying to keep his eyes on Harry. A low growl quickly broke the silent conversation between the two men as Draco looked back at Ron.

"Tell me where they are," Ron seethed, vaguely wondering why Draco didn't have his wand out.

Draco looked at Ron helplessly. "I don't understand," he said faintly.

"What's there to understand?" Ron asked harshly. "I'm taking the kids."

"Why?"

Ron's eyes widened with disbelief. "You are seriously asking me why?" Draco flicked his eyes at Harry as he nodded. The wand singed through Draco's shirt, causing him to hiss. "Because they're in this filthy house. That's why," Ron said, digging his wand into Draco's chest.

Draco snatched the wand and ripped it out of Ron's grasp in a flurry of movements. "What did you do to Harry?" the blond asked lowly, gripping the front of Ron's shirt.

Ron forced Draco back with a push. "You son of a bitch," he swore, using Draco's surprise to pick up his wand. "You're manipulating him."

Draco's wand slipped out as well, now trained at Ron. "Shut up, Weasley. Get out of my house."

"Not before I get the kids."

"You aren't taking them anywhere."

"I don't need your fucking permission. I am their uncle."

"You'll take them away without Harry's consent?" Draco asked menacingly.

"If he can't think straight, then yes."

"What the fuck are you saying, Weasley?"

"He thinks he's in love with you! Of all the fucked up things in the world, he is – I can't even –"

Draco couldn't hear the rest of the rant. His stomach clenched at the first words. He stared at Harry wondrously. Harry looked back with equal shock. And it's what put him in motion. He forced his legs to move towards Ron. He grabbed his friend and turned him around forcibly. "Stop," he said softly, holding Ron in place. "Please…"

Ron twisted out of Harry's hands and turned to glare at Draco. Their wands lifted at the same moment, the start of curses at their tongues.

"Immobulus."

"Expluso."

"No."

Draco and Ron watched in horror as Harry sidestepped into the spells. They whipped their wands away a moment late. Harry was thrown against the wall jarringly. He fell to the ground with a crack. Narcissa's cry of alarm broke through the silence. She flew down the stairs with purpose. "What did you do?" she breathed, pushing the horrified men out of the way. She knelt beside Harry, trying to assess his health. Her hands were trembling and her wand was held over the limp man unsteadily. "Wake up," she said desperately. "Rennervate," she chanted. A small white light flew into Harry. "Harry, please," she said, trying to keep her voice from shaking. He wasn't breathing.

She looked back at Draco and said, "Get Blaise. Now." Draco could do nothing but stare helplessly. "Draco!" Narcissa all but shouted, trying to snap her son out of his trance. He blinked as his eyes focused. "Get Blaise. We need to take him to St. Mungo's. Now," she said concisely, hoping her son understood. He nodded faintly and staggered into the drawing room to firecall Blaise. Narcissa turned back to Harry, feeling nauseous at the sight of blood that was trickling down his nose. She wiped it away with her hand while trying to revive him. "Rennervate."

Ron knelt beside Narcissa, dazed and in shock. "Harry?" he said, his voice cracking. "You have to wake up." He clutched Harry's cold hand. "I'm so sorry. Please, wake up." He tried to will Harry into waking up.

"Rennervate," Narcissa tried desperately.

Harry choked on his tongue as he struggled to breathe. Swallowing hard, he pushed away the pain to focus on dragging in air. He couldn't hear the cries of relief from Narcissa and Ron. He squeezed his eyes shut as he let his oxygen-starved body breathe. After a few deep breaths, the pain came pulsing back. He clenched his jaw as he groaned, trying to shift his body. He clamped down on Ron's hand as the agony shot through his shoulder and into his chest. His eyes shot open at the sound of Ron saying something, but he couldn't understand.

"Ron," he gasped urgently, squeezing his friend's fingers. "Listen."

Ron nodded, unable to stop his tears.

"Don't take them away. Please. I – I'll forget about him. Just don't – please, I can't live – I need them… I'm sorry. I won't do anything. I won't say anything. Just don't – don't take them away. I'll forget about everything. Okay?"

"Okay."

Harry awoke screaming against his nightmare. Arms wrapped around him, stopping him from thrashing. He tried to push away and escape.

"It's me."

Harry let out a cry of relief as he stopped struggling against Draco. He held onto Draco as he fell back into reality. He clutched Draco's shirt and calmed himself down.

"Are you in pain?"

Harry rested his head against Draco's shoulder tiredly. "No."

"Good."

"Are you okay?" Harry asked.

"Y – yes," Draco stammered, squeezing Harry against him. "Don't ever do that to me."

"I won't. I'm sorry. I just – I didn't want you to get hurt…"

"So you got hurt instead?" Draco asked.

Harry swallowed the lump in his throat. "I – I guess."

"You love me?"

Harry's heart sank. "Huh?"

"Weasley said you love me. He said that's why –"

"We can't," Harry interrupted before Draco could get too far. "We can't do anything. Do you understand?"

Draco pulled away from Harry in bewilderment. "What?"

"If Ron couldn't handle it, how would anyone else?"

Draco blinked at Harry. "What are you saying?"

Harry let go of Draco. "I'm – I'm saying that nothing can happen."

"But – then, you – you do love me?"

Harry didn't deign to respond. He looked away instead.

"If you love me, what does it matter?" Draco asked pressingly.

"They'll take the kids away."

Draco reeled back in astonishment. "Who will?" he asked.

"Ron thought I was going mental. My best friend thought I was a lunatic. Imagine what – when everyone finds out, I'll – they'll take my kids away. Please, just – I need to – we can't do anything."

"But I love you," Draco said feebly.

"It doesn't matter. Fuck, I don't even know what love is anymore, Draco!"

"You're doing this to please everyone?" he asked with anger.

"You were the one who said I was being egocentric. Well, here I am trying to do the right thing and –"

"This is not the right thing!" Draco interrupted.

"What else would you have me do? Choose you over my children?"

"I never asked you to –"

"Because I can't. I can't choose one over the other, okay?"

"Then don't, damn it! Choose both of us. Please."

"Why don't you understand?" Harry asked in despair. "I can't. I can't ever choose. I never have a choice. I'm sorry."

"Have you ever thought of what I want?" Draco asked.

"Of course," Harry sobbed. "Of course I have. I know what you want. I can't give it to you. I don't have what you want. Please, just forget about me. I'm sorry. Please."

"I can't!" Draco shouted, drowning Harry's words. "I've tried for ten damned years. I've waited for you for ten years, Harry. You can't – I won't let you – you're mine. I love you and I won't let you go."

Harry pulled Draco into a hard kiss, savoring the need. Draco didn't have time to respond because Harry pushed him away the next instant. Harry's eyes bore into him with certainty. "I love you, Draco," he said. "I don't want you to get hurt. I'm letting go of you before you get hurt. I need to you let me do this. Will you do that for me?"

"No," Draco breathed defiantly. "I will never let you do that."

"Draco…"

"I won't let them take the kids away. I promise. Stay with me."

"I can't."

"You can. You will."

"Everyone will hate you," Harry said hoarsely.

"I don't care. I don't care what they think of me."

"And Scorpius…"

Draco halted, his eyes growing unfocused as he ran the words through his head. Harry pushed forward.

"Imagine what he would go through. I can't put him through that. I can't put you through that. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if –"

"Stop thinking."

Harry blinked at Draco. "Huh?"

"You're thinking too much. Stop it."

"I – I can't."

"You can. Just stop thinking and kiss me."

Harry was swept up in a confident kiss. Draco moved his lips against Harry's supple ones. Their fingers entangled into each other. "I love you," Draco murmured, breathing in Harry's tears and warmth. "I will love you forever. Till death us do part. That's how it will be."

Harry pushed into Draco, wanting every word to be true. "No…"

Draco stopped with his lips planted against Harry. He squeezed his eyes shut against the pain.

"I won't let you die."

Draco nearly cried in relief as Harry hugged him close with all his might.

"You will be with me forever."

Draco nodded silently.

"Because I love you."

"And I love you," Draco whispered.

They held each other for a long while. Draco felt Harry go limp from exhaustion after several minutes. He laid the sleeping man down against the pillows. He kissed Harry's forehead endearingly, wiping away the tear tracks with the back of his hand. He touched the cold cheeks before getting off of bed. His emotions caught up to him as he walked out of the room. He felt ready to collapse, so he staggered to one of the chairs beside Harry's hospital room and let the tears fall. He hid his face in his hands as he cried silently. It was beyond overwhelming. To know that Harry loved him made him hysterical. He smiled through his tears as he sniffed it back. Harry would stay with him forever. And no matter what happens, Harry would love him. The silent sobs turned to gasps as Draco tried to breathe through his euphoria. He breathed deeply, his chest shuddering, as he tried to calm himself down. He wiped away his tears with his wet hands.

"Malfoy…"

Draco jerked up and saw Hermione standing before him. He groaned lowly as he tried to make himself presentable by running his fingers through his hair and sniffing back his tears. "What?" he asked, wincing at his thick voice.

Hermione noticed Draco's pathetic attempt at looking calm and collected. "You love him," she said as a fact rather than as a question.

Draco massaged his aching temple tiredly. "No, Granger. I'm just crying over him for no reason whatsoever."

"You – you're crying o – over Harry?"

Draco just realized what he had said. "Fuck! Um… N – no. That's not wh – it's not like – no, I'm not crying over Potter," he stuttered indignantly.

"When?"

"What?"

"When did you start loving him?"

Draco pursed his lips in consternation, trying not to blush.

"Ten years," Ron responded for him, his voice expressing the shock.

Draco whipped his head at the man who was standing against the wall on the other side of the door. "Y – you were listening in?" Draco asked accusingly. Ron had the courtesy to look away. "That – that was personal!"

"Ten years?" Hermione mouthed to herself, staring at Draco.

"Doesn't matter," he muttered.

"B – but you got married…"

Draco closed his eyes while he begged Merlin to stop him from murdering Harry's best friends. "You should stop talking now, Granger."

"You have a son!"

Draco snapped and stood up vehemently. "And he has three kids. I love them. There is nothing either of you can do about it. So fuck off," he swore.

Just as he moved to leave the couple, Hermione grabbed him and spun him around. She held his left hand and dragged up his sleeve. "See this?" she asked, pointing at his pale green Dark Mark. "This is where your problems begin. I will not let you use Harry to end them," she said furiously. She threw his arm down and looked at him. She didn't expect to see sadness in his eyes. Draco quickly masked it with his blank face, staring impassively at Hermione. But she had seen it for a second and it threw her off.

"I am not using him for anything."

"Then what are you doing?"

"I just want to be with him, alright?" Draco answered forcefully. "I just want him to be happy. And if you insist on ruining it for him, so help me Merlin, I'll curse you both to Kingdom come. Don't you dare threaten to take our kids away. You have no right to hurt him or them. He's been through enough without you fucking up his life."

"We're fucking up his life?" Hermione asked angrily. "You have no idea what Harry has been through and you have no idea what he's going through right now!"

"I know him better than anyone else."

Ron interrupted his wife before she could get in another word. "You know… what do you mean you know him better than us?" he asked.

Draco's mask slipped when he realized that he had said too much. "I – just an expression," he said, glaring at the two.

"No. You meant something by it. What did you mean?"

"None of your fucking business."

"What did you mean, Malfoy?" Ron asked threateningly.

"You know what your problem is? You don't know when to shut up. Like right now."

"He told you?"

Draco blinked. "Told me what?"

Hermione's frown of anger turned into a frown of confusion. "He told you?" she repeated after Ron.

Draco was taken aback by the sudden change in demeanor. "I – uh… about what?" he asked, wondering how long he could play this game before one of them blew up.

"Depression."

Draco flinched at the candid way it was said. "H – how did you – did he – how did you know?"

Ron looked at Hermione in wonderment before turning to Draco. "How did you know? Did he tell you?" he asked.

Draco blinked in puzzlement. "No. Do you really think he would tell me?"

"Then how?"

Draco shrugged. "I just knew," he murmured, unsure of what he was supposed to say at this point.

"Like Ginny," Hermione said softly.

"Um…" was all Draco managed to say to that.

"You love him," Ron mused.

"And he loves you," Hermione added.

Draco stood before them, gob smacked at the sudden turn of events. The couple looked at each other for a few seconds before nodding. "If you do anything to hurt Harry," Ron said threateningly. "We'll kill you without inhibition," Hermione finished.

Draco's jaw fell open, much to his chagrin. "Y – you – what?" he asked stupidly.

"No one's going to take the children away. Don't worry about that," Ron quipped.

"Oh…"

"We'll talk things over with Mum."

"What things?" Draco asked.

"You and Harry. Things. Stuff. Fucked up love triangles. All of it."

"Oh…"

Harry sighed awake, pulling the small body closer to him. "Hey, angel."

"Hi, Daddy," Lily grinned, kissing his cheek. "You're awake!"

"I know! How about that?"

"Are you feeling better?"

"Yes, I am. All thanks to you," Harry smiled, happy beyond reason. "I love you."

"Love you!" she responded with a choking hug.

He heard a soft cough behind him and he sat up quickly, dragging Lily up with him. He turned to find Ron standing by his bed nervously. Harry stared for a second longer than anticipated before turning to Lily. "Honey, go play with your brothers, okay?" She nodded and jumped off the bed, skipping out of the room. Harry looked up at Ron again. "Hey," he said hesitantly.

"Hi."

"I –"

"I'm sorry," Ron said quickly as he sat on the bed. "I didn't – I was being an fucking arse. I – I'm sorry."

Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I love Draco and I can't forget about him."

Ron looked at Harry blankly. "Huh?"

Harry swallowed painfully. "I know I – that I said I'd forget about him. I – I realized that I can't. But please don't – don't take the kids. I need all of them. I swear, I'm not going crazy. I can't forget about him…"

"What part of 'I was being a fucking arse' don't you get, Harry?"

"Uh…"

"Of course I'm not going to take the kids away! They're your kids!"

"Oh."

"And about Malfoy… I, um – talked to Mum. Didn't go over so well…"

"Oh…"

"It's alright. She'll understand. She just has trouble with understanding why. Like I did. I heard you two talking."

"Us talking… When?"

"In the morning. You said you loved him."

"Oh. Oh! You were eavesdropping?" Harry exclaimed.

"Well, I – er, wanted to make sure he wasn't strangling you."

Harry blushed when he thought of what Draco had done instead of strangling him. "R – right…"

"I talked to him, Harry. Hermione and I talked to him. And after the talk… I think he's what you need."

"Um…"

"He knows about your depression."

Harry shifted uncomfortably. "It just came out. I didn't – it was an accident."

"You don't need to explain it to me. All that matters is that he knows and he will take care of you like Ginny did."

Harry scowled. "I don't need anyone to take care of me."

Ron chuckled slightly. "Right, right. You can take care of him like you took care of Ginny, then."

"Right."

They looked at each other with amused expressions. "Also," Ron added. "Sorry about hexing you."

"Yeah, completely uncalled for."

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, Mum's threatened to take the hide off my bum."

"Makes me feel loads better. Thanks."

"It's what I'm here for."