Draco awoke with Harry and followed him outside, his friend Ron was already waiting. Kissing his cheek he promised he would return soon, Draco just nodded silently as he watched the two men and two wolves leave their hidden home.
Knowing he could not get back to sleep and began his chore's heading to the barn to milk the cows, and feed all the animals, he wasn't prepared for Hermione as she scattered feed to the happily clucking chickens.
"Good morning," she greeted with bright eyes.
Draco gave a curt nod before remembering his promise "morning, I trust you slept well?"
"Yes, and yourself?" asked Hermione with a smile.
"Quite well, how long have you been up?" asked Draco watching Hermione dump water into the trough, having already drawn the water from the well.
"Not long," replied Hermione turning her chocolaty brown eyes up at the still dawning sky, "I thought I'd help you out with chores."
"Thank you, Harry's not one to stick to mundane tasks, I've been eager for some help," he admitted pleasantly.
Hermione nodded "too much of a wild spirit in him to sit at home and farm, there's got to be some wild abandon in what he does."
Draco agreed whole heartedly as he took the empty buckets so he could water the other animals. Hermione took the feeding buckets and fed them, before moving on to milking the cows, while Draco bathed the horses, near enough to converse with her.
"If you don't mind my boldness," said Draco lightly "but you don't seem much a lady, I believe they wouldn't be caught dead doing 'peasant work," he used the term lightly thinking the same about himself…the only Malfoy heir and princess to boot.
"I used to work in the Potter castle," admitted Hermione "the prince bought my title personally, we…we got along quite well, sometimes I felt myself like a private advisor or something…got him out of some sticky situations covering for him."
"Please, tell me more," asked Draco trying to hide his eagerness.
"A lot of it had to do with court work," replied Hermione truthfully "he never listened, and I was always in the room to serve tea, wine or what ever beverage or treat they wanted. I always gave him pointers on what to say, helped him out with signing documents, you know how brutal a political system can be?"
Draco nodded, "he sounds rather… irresponsible."
Hermione shrugged, "he has his moments, politics bore him, he'd much rather be out among the people personally helping them."
"I can understand that," replied Draco and the second those words were uttered he wished he could take them back.
"What do you mean by that?" she asked raising an eyebrow.
"I'm sure Harry told you I'm a high lord's son," asked Draco and Hermione nodded "we'll I'm always jealous of the other boys my age, my father won't let me do anything that might injure me for later in life purposes…"
"I'm not following," admitted Hermione.
"To put it bluntly I would rather have been born a woman then endure a male body that bears," Draco felt ashamed and turned his head away from Hermione to focus on the task of washing Harry's black stallion.
"You're a breeder?" asked Hermione surprised and Draco nodded.
"Try not to think much of it, I believe I still have the mind of a man," laughed Draco.
"And you look the part as well," agreed Hermione and both of them talked, the chores getting finished faster that day then Draco's best time and he agreed that having Hermione around wasn't so bad, she was very kind and a good listener, 'perhaps,' thought Draco 'we could be good friends.'
Ron and Harry raced through the tree's carefully counting their steps and once several miles away they began a wide circle, charming the trees, the rocks and any other landmarks they could see. Harry took this job seriously his new family on his mind and he knew he would do anything to keep them safe. Ron on the other hand wanted to keep his prince happy and the love of his own life safe, after all she came to him in the dead of the night telling him Harry went missing and that her parents had no idea she left as well. They were all being hunted, and if they weren't careful the kingdoms best trackers could, and just might find them…it was a chance no one could risk.
"So what's Draco like?" asked Ron his wand pointed at a rock.
"Amazing, I've never met another man like him," replied Harry "he's actually gentle, not at all brash. When we first met he didn't even know how to do dishes, or cook, or fight…he's really sheltered, but so willing to learn."
"Your right mate, he's one of a kind," replied Ron finding it strange himself that he didn't even know how to fight or cook, "can he sew?"
Harry nodded, "he joked about it being the only weapon he could wield… if he was ever challenged to needlepoint."
Ron laughed as they both pointed to a willow tree and charmed it, "I guess only Mione could do that…I can't sew to save my life, you know mate it is strange he never learned to clean or cook… he must be a pretty high standing royal to not have to do chores. But never learning to fight, he's a male right?"
Harry nodded "yah he is, but he's different…delicate."
"Delicate?" asked Ron turning to his prince in confusion.
"A breeder," finished Harry and Ron nodded in understanding.
"That explains a lot," exclaimed Ron, "I have heard rumours of breeders being treated like glass dolls, but I just though they were rumours."
"Nope," replied Harry "it's true, I have been helping him train, and thanks to several books we got in the market we now know how to cook and stuff."
The two men worked long into the day, circling three times over and charming again, their border now secure they headed home just as the sun began to paint the sky the colors of a tapestry.
Draco back at the cottage paced nervously, Hermione watching him her uneasiness growing, "can't you stop that? Your making me worry, you don't need too those boys, well they are quite good at what they do."
Draco glared at her as he left the house, the sky was well lit, and the moon nearly full and the stars sparkled brightly. But the scenery wasn't what interested the blond the most, it was the shrubbery, their gateway to there hidden cottage world. He grew quite fearful that he would never see Harry again and have to raise their child by himself; nearly hyperventilating he neglected to notice Hermione who came out with a blanket to wrap around his shoulders. Panicking badly the next thing he remembered were the sound of a frantic woman's voice and a set of strong arms picking him up.
It was that set of arms he woke up to that morning, turning over he nearly cried in relief, he slept restlessly in his loves arms, Harry was back and sound asleep his arms wrapped around him middle, hands placed gently on his stomach.
Harry awoke to the eyes, "are you alright? You gave Mione quite the scare, she was crying saying you just passed out? The baby is it alright?"
Draco nodded "as far as I know love, I just worry about you too much."
Harry pulled him closer, "I thought the worse when I saw tears, and I thought I lost…" Harry refused to finish and Draco reassured him that he was alright, just worrying to much, then growled out loud and cursed the hormones.
"Excuse me," Draco pulled out of Harry's embrace and ran to the bathroom, which was thankful unoccupied and promptly threw up. Harry rushed in after him, rubbing his back in soothing motions while he pressed the morning sickness potion into his Angels hands "I'm sorry," sobbed Draco hugging Harry "I shouldn't do things like that, I'll hurt myself and the baby, I'm sorry."
"Shhh love, you're worrying even now," reminded Harry as he kissed his cheeks, "are you feeling better?" Draco nodded "well then let's go get breakfast."
"Ok," smiled Draco "but promise me again that you'll never leave me?"
"I promise with every ounce of my being, soul and heart, I love you Draco Black and I always and forever will," swore Harry and was swept up into a passionate kiss, picking his pregnant fiancé up he carrying him to the table and served him eggs, toast, smoked deer pieces cut thin like bacon, and tea.
"I love you forever, as far as the furthest star and back again till time exists no more," whispered Draco looking at his soon to be husband and father to their child, he really was everything he could have wished for and more, and little did he know Harry was thinking the exact same thing about him.