A/N: Great news! I am nearly done with the story. I'm hoping to have it completed in the next week or so. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Harry's POV
After Draco had left, I laid there staring up at the ceiling. Draco loved me or was falling in love with me. That made my stomach flutter happily and my heart soar. I couldn't ask for anything better. I wish I had something better to say than, "I don't know what to say." The fact is I didn't know what to say for real. I had strong feelings for him, I knew that, but I was also very cautious about being in love. I had lost so many people that I loved. I didn't want Draco to be one of them. Now it was my turn to be guarded. Draco had put it all on the line for me and I said nothing. Of course, I didn't want to say something that I wasn't ready to say. When I told Draco I loved him, I wanted to mean it.
I turned over on my side and stared at the still burning lantern on my bedside. My mind wandered to Draco's dream. I didn't want to tell him that the dream scared me too. I hoped it wouldn't come true, but so far Draco's dreams have come true lately and that scenario wasn't one I wanted to come true. I began to question if we could truly rid the Wizarding world of inequality with Dream Big. If the Lestranges were so against it, who else did they have backing them? I had the words love and fear flitting around in my head as I fell into a fitful night sleep.
I awoke to my alarm the next morning. I sighed and shut it off. I sat up in bed and rubbed my eyes. I reached for my glasses and put them on. It was about eight and I was due at the office around nine. I slid out of bed and walked towards my door. Once I left, I glanced over at the door to Draco's room. It was still closed so I figured he was still asleep. I went downstairs and could smell bacon being cooked. My stomach grumbled. I walked in and saw Kreacher cooking bacon and eggs simultaneously and saw Tibbles setting the table and placing some toast on the table with jams and butter. I smelled tea and smiled to myself at the two working so well together.
"Master Harry," Tibbles said with a smile.
"Good morning Tibbles, Kreacher," I said as I sat down at the table. I picked the Daily Prophet up off the table and looked at the front cover. Of course, the break in was front page news. There was an old photo being used of Hermione and me. I rolled my eyes and skimmed the article. "Is Draco awake?" I asked absently as I turned the page in the Prophet.
"No, sirs. He wasn't sleeping wells last nights," Tibbles replied, his tone worried.
I looked over at him. He looked worried about his master. I couldn't blame him. I was worried too. Sleep was precious and when you don't sleep well in a night it's usually because of bad dreams or stress. I hoped neither of those for Draco, but I somehow imagined that they were both relevant.
Kreacher brought me my breakfast and I ate quickly. "Thank you, Kreacher, it's delicious," I complimented. Kreacher looked at me in surprise, as he always did when I complimented him.
"You're welcome, sirs," he croaked. Tibbles cleared off the table and set to washing the dishes. I closed the Prophet and stood. I left the kitchen and went back upstairs. Draco's door was still closed. I thought about going in there, but decided I'd get ready for work first. I went into my room and got ready. Soon, I was back at Draco's door. I opened it carefully as to not disturb him.
He had the blankets up to his chin so that all I could really see was his blonde hair. I smiled as I walked in further. He was snoring quietly which made me smile. I leaned over and shook him awake. He groaned and batted at my hand. Not a morning person, I see. "Draco," I said quietly.
"Don't bother me, I'm sleeping," he muttered.
I smiled further and leaned down, pressing a kiss to his parted lips. I felt him smile against my lips and I leaned back to look at him. His eyes were still closed, but I could tell he was a bit more awake than before. "I have to head into work. What will you be up to today?" I asked.
He frowned. I wasn't sure if it was because of me going to work or because he didn't have plans for the day. "Do you have to go to work?" he asked.
I kissed him briefly again. "Yes, I do," I replied.
He opened his eyes and they were a startling shade of silver this morning. It took my breath away. "What?" he asked.
"Nothing. I've just never seen your eyes first thing in the morning," I commented. I felt my face warming.
He smiled at me. "I'll have to remember that. Alright, well, can I come to work with you?"
"I have to go in now, but if you want to come in a bit later that works. We can get you set-up at a desk and get you caught up on what our business is all about," I replied.
He nodded. "That works. I'll come in after lunch. I've got to go into Diagon Alley to get some things this morning. Huh, I'm actually venturing out. What have you done to me, Potter?" he questioned.
"Potter? Again?" I teased. He laughed. He reached up with one hand and gripped my shirt, pulling me down into another kiss. He was quite friendly in the morning and I liked it very much. He pulled back and smiled at me again.
"I'll let you leave now. Be careful until I get there, please," he teased, but I could tell from his expression that he was serious.
"Be careful in Diagon Alley," I said back. I was just as serious as him.
He nodded. I kissed him once more and stood. I stopped at the doorway and looked back at him. He was watching me. I smiled and waved. He returned it and I walked out.
I flooed to the Ministry and made it up to the office. When I walked in, it was like nothing had ever happened. People were working, talking, and laughing. It made me feel better. Hermione was at her desk diligently working. I smiled and made my way over to my desk. There was an envelope sitting there. I felt my heart start beating quickly as I picked it up. My name was on the front. I recognized the handwriting and calmed myself down. I opened the envelope and saw that it was a letter from Andromeda. She had included a new picture of Teddy. I smiled. He was getting bigger and bigger every day. She had also asked if I wanted to get lunch today. It sounded like that would be nice and I hadn't seen Teddy in a few weeks. I wrote a reply and sent it with an owl.
I managed to work uninterrupted until eleven. I looked up and saw Hermione looking at me. She stood and walked over to me. "Hey, you've been busy working," she said as she came up to me.
"Yeah, it piles up quickly. I've got several more people lined up to get involved in our cause so that's great. I'm having lunch with Andromeda and Teddy today. And Draco is staying at my house and he told me he is falling in love with me. How's your day been?" I told her.
Her eyes widened and she looked quite surprised. "Well, then. I'm not sure where to start with that," she said unsurely.
I laughed. "Yeah, I know. I should head to Diagon Alley though to meet Andromeda. I'll let you process all that," I told her with a laugh. I stood up and she just shook her head at me.
"Oh, Harry, wait. Can you pick up some parchment, quills, and ink from Flourish and Blotts? We're running low and we won't be getting a new shipment until early next week," she asked.
I nodded and said good bye and walked downstairs. The Leaky Cauldron wasn't far from the Ministry so I walked out of the atrium and headed in the direction of the pub. I wasn't paying much attention to what was going on around me. I was thinking about Draco. I smiled as I replayed his confession from the night before.
I made it to the Leaky Cauldron and walked through the pub and out the back to the area that led into Diagon Alley. I tapped the necessary bricks and the arch opened to me. I walked through and headed towards the café that Andromeda was going to be at. As I walked up, I saw bright yellow hair on a small child and knew that they were right there. He spotted me first and started squealing and bouncing in her arms. Andromeda looked over her shoulder and smiled at me.
I had barely made it through the tables to theirs when Teddy was leaping towards me. I caught him and he wrapped his arms around me and hugged me tightly. "Teddy, you're getting so big!" I cried.
He giggled and changed his hair color through several different shades. "Harry!" he cried. I set him in his chair and watched as he started to look through a Wizarding book. I looked over at Andromeda and she was smiling, but looking a bit tired.
"Thank you for inviting me to lunch today. It's been far too long since I've seen you both," I said.
She smiled and nodded. "He's been talking about you lately so I told him I'd see if you could have lunch," she replied. I smiled. Teddy got up from his seat and crawled up into my lap. He started looking through the book again.
I held him close to me and continued smiling. A waitress came over and took our order. "How's everything?" I asked.
She sighed, but smiled. "I'm tired a lot more than I'd like to be, but Teddy is a good boy and he fills my life with such joy," she said. She looked over at him with some tears in her eyes. I figured that she was seeing Tonks in her grandson. I reached a free hand across and squeezed her hand.
"Harry?" I heard someone say from the street. I recognized the voice and turned to see Draco looking at me. His eyes settled on Teddy in my lap and several expressions crossed his face. He looked back up at me in surprise. I didn't know what was going through his head in that moment, but I imagined it was the same thoughts as when he looks at the picture of Teddy and me.
"Draco. Are you just getting here?" I asked.
He glanced over at Andromeda, reminding me that she was his aunt. She was watching him curiously. He took a deep breath and walked into the café and took Teddy's vacated seat. "Um, no. I was just finishing up and heading to the Ministry. Uh, hello Andromeda," he greeted.
"Draco. It's been a very long time," she responded.
He nodded. "Yes, it has. How have you been?"
"I've been well. How has your mother been?" she asked. I looked between the two feeling the awkward tension. It even captured Teddy's attention. He looked at his grandmother and then focused on Draco. He tipped his head to the side and his hair color changed to a curious shade of purple.
"She's doing well, I think. I haven't spoken to her much in a couple of years," he replied.
Andromeda's eyes widened slightly. Teddy blew a raspberry and caught both their attention. Draco looked at him closely and Teddy returned his gaze. "You must be Teddy," he addressed.
"Yes. Who you?" he asked.
"Uh, I'm Draco. Your cousin, I guess," he said unsurely.
"You know Harry?" he asked.
Draco looked up at me and smiled. "Yes, I know him." I blushed at his look. I saw Andromeda looking over at us in surprise which made me blush further.
Teddy seemed to accept this answer and went back to looking at his book. The waitress came a minute later with our food. Teddy got all excited again and Draco took that as his cue to get up and give Teddy his seat back. Teddy scrambled over and started eating his food. Draco smiled at him.
"Well, I will leave you to your lunch. I'll see you later. Andromeda, it was nice to see you and Teddy, it was nice to officially meet you," he said. He squeezed my arm and left.
I started to eat my lunch, but I felt Andromeda's gaze on me. I looked up. "Something wrong?" I asked.
"You and Draco are friendly," she commented.
"Yes, we are sort of together, I guess. We haven't said anything official, but yeah. Weird, right?" I replied.
She shrugged. "Whatever makes you happy, Harry," she said.
I nodded. "Thank you," I replied.
We continued to eat and enjoy Teddy's antics during lunch. After awhile, Teddy appeared to be getting tired so we paid our bill and headed towards the arch to leave Diagon Alley. I had intended to walk them all the way to the floo, but then I remembered Hermione's request.
"Oh, Merlin, I forgot that Hermione needed me to pick up some stuff for the office. I'm sorry. I'll see you guys soon. Teddy, be good for your grandma," I said as I picked him up and hugged him. He giggled tiredly. I handed him back to Andromeda and she smiled at me before walking through the arch. I watched them walk into the Leaky Cauldron and then turned back around and headed towards Flourish and Blotts.
I was in and out pretty quick and was heading back to the Leaky Cauldron. Halfway there, I noticed some people arguing across the street at one another. I kept walking, but kept an eye on them. I didn't recognize them. The arguing began to escalate so I sent a patronus to Ron and continued to make my way to the Leaky Cauldron. Before entering, I turned and glanced back, debating about whether or not I should intervene. I saw them pulling their wands out so I brought mine out and pointed it in their general direction in case I needed to throw up a shield. I ducked behind a trash bin. People were scattering from them, some apparating away.
Spells started to fly which made me want to help even more, but a voice in the back of my head that sounded strangely like Draco told me otherwise. I heard popping sounds again and noticed that the aurors were arriving. I watched as the people who had been arguing started to apparate away. Luckily, two were grabbed by aurors nearby, but the bulk of them disappeared. I stepped out from behind the trash bin and headed towards them to tell them what I saw. I saw Ron interviewing some other people. I felt someone staring at me.
I stopped and looked around. My eyes fell on two men who looked very similar to one another. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I hadn't seen them in a few years and even then I didn't get a very good look due to all the activity in the Department of Mysteries, but I knew who they were. One of them pointed at me and drew their finger across their neck. I lifted my eyebrow, but did nothing else. It wasn't the first time someone had threatened to kill me. What intrigued me was that the other man was staring at his brother fearfully and didn't look like he agreed with what his brother was doing.
"Harry!" Someone called out to me. I turned to look at the entrance and saw Draco coming towards me. He looked worried. I looked back to where the Lestrange brothers were and I saw two different looks on their faces before they disappeared. One looked at Draco in a calculating way, smiling evilly, while the other looked both surprised and interested to see him. I raised my wand at them to protect Draco, but they both apparated away.