Everybody's Fool
Epilogue: Some Other Beginning's End
Harry had come out to the public not long after the disappearance of Voldemort. He'd told the story from beginning to end- the correct way- the way it was meant to be told.
With Draco.
As an ex-Death Eater, the Slytherin was not exactly respected among the Wizarding world. However, with the true Harry behind him, Draco could tell the truth without a second of doubt.
And, the world believed it.
They believed Harry's every thought. This never ceased to amaze Draco- the pull that Harry had on the others around him. He literally told the entire world that his body was taken over by a demented and power-hungry Dark Lord and he was previously living within an eleven-year-old like a parasite and people believed him. Not only that, they berated themselves for falling for Voldemort's tricks again.
What puzzled Draco even further was the more intense amount of modesty Harry claimed. None of the Dark Lord's fall was his doing through those emerald eyes. Davis had protected him and Draco had found him. It was almost as if they, as a team, defeated Voldemort and not him. Harry held the wand and the Slytherins did the rest.
The public praised every inch of the Savior for his work. Even Rita Skeeter had nothing to top the story with. She began writing a best selling novel within a week of the story's release. Hermione actually found it to be nearly entertaining- something no one thought possible with her incredible hatred for the woman.
It would be a month or so before Harry was well enough function on his own again. Apparently switching bodies and nearly killing your own body within a few months of each other was not necessarily something that a person was ready for. It needed rest after such feats.
It was the longest month of Harry's life. He couldn't eat on his own, lest he choke to death. He couldn't use the bathroom on his own, bathe on his own, even sleep without supervision. Granted, Draco took care of quite a bit of the babysitting, but that irked Harry to no end.
He couldn't do a damn thing in his state!
Well, he wasn't supposed to do a damn thing. Draco made sure he kept that promise. That didn't keep the Slytherin from being an utter tease though, tempting Harry with chaste pecks and longer than necessary touches to decide on any discomfort.
That bloody smile could get him away with murder, Harry thought, having to shake himself again after Draco helped finish lunch. The blond hardly ever recognized what he was doing to Harry- and the Gryffindor knew that. Draco innocently wanted to help Harry in any possible way and he was simply angry with himself for being so impatient to recover.
To distract himself from his dilemma of utter boredom, he spoke to Davis, getting to know him as a person and not an involuntary host.
He'd learned that Davis had possessed magical abilities before Harry had come along. He would have come into his magic with or without the Hero, but having such a strong amount of power present definitely sped the process up a bit.
Some of Harry stayed within Davis; memories, magic. Some of Harry's most personal secrets dwelled within the now twelve-year-old. The boy would take each word to his grave, though. Of that, Harry was certain.
Davis was beginning to love Draco less and less romantically. Seeing Harry so enamored seemed to help significantly with the younger boy's decision to look elsewhere.
And he was finding something.
Harry, in his newly discovered need to observe, saw an interest spark within Davis towards Ginny. He even seemed to find humor in her interest. It only made sense that she would begin to see someone worth loving in Davis. Davis could have been and had been Harry in a recent life.
The two were seen nearly everywhere together and even visited Harry as a couple. Davis blushed as a boy would and Ginny seemed genuinely smitten. The Slytherin had no fame to enthrall her. He was simply Davis. Nothing more and nothing less. Ginny needed that. She needed someone that hadn't known her inside and out. She needed a person that hadn't seen as much as Harry, someone that could grow with her and didn't need to wait for her to play catch-up.
Harry was happy for each of them, happy in general, really.
He lived, again. And if he could get out of this godforsaken bed, he would take each moment with as much force as a freight train.
Two months passed before Harry was well enough to leave his hospital bed for good.
Signing his papers and winking at Madame Pomfrey on his way out of the infirmary, he made a hurried dash for the Great Hall- knowing full well that dinner was being served and that an uproar hadn't been caused by Harry Potter in quite some time.
So, without further ado, The Savior of the Wizarding World, Man- Who- Won and currently life-desensitized Harry Potter marched into an extremely noisy hall only to have every conversation drop to mere whispers in his presence.
"Bloody 'el 'Arry!" Ron nearly shouted, choking on the obscene amounts of food shoved into his mouth. The entire room moved to stand and attack Harry with questions and congratulations.
Three people remained seated.
Hermione sat and tried to revive Ron from his choking fits and Draco, with a reserved grin plastered to his face, looked to his food and finally up at the emerald eyes of the man he'd been tending to for the past couple of months.
Harry mouthed, 'Tonight. Your rooms,' in Draco's direction and the blond could hardly control himself from destroying the masses that surrounded what he'd been waiting ever so patiently for.
"Draco, mind giving me a hand? I think Ron may die if this isn't dislodged from his throat."
The Slytherin sighed and hit the back of the redhead a few times before his face turned from blue to his sickly pale.
"Thanks, Malfoy. Could've died, you know."
"Try chewing your food. It's done wonders for me."
If asked a year ago, Draco would have never considered being civil with Ron or any of his ever growing family.
Times can change as it turns out.
The evening, for Draco, was spent in near seclusion. He didn't bother to burst through Harry's fans. For one, he had absolutely no interest in having drool on his person or tears from the more hysterical stalkers. He also hadn't wanted to physically harm anyone that wanted to be in closer contact with Harry. They were excited and beyond happy to see him again- alive and well. And the blond, being of nearly sound mind, understood that homage needed paying.
So, he waited. He waited until his eyes began to fall on their own accord throughout the night, leaving the festivities that seemed to sprout from out of absolute nothingness. It didn't pain him to run off. He knew that Harry did this for his public, his nearly cult-like following that would now in his victory follow him to the edge of the abyss and never turn back.
They were a bit late in realizing that was the correct path after all.
Draco drudged to his room, his strength nearly absent after falling onto his own bed- shedding his school robes and trousers. Sleeping alongside Harry in the hospital wing in chairs and the cramped cot itself with the Gryffindor had done a number on his back and he was more than happy to have a full night's slumber on a mattress he knew all too well.
It hadn't taken longer than a moment before the backs of Draco's pale eyelids became his newest vision.
However, that small feeling of peace could not have extended over two hours time before something wet began to tickle the blond's ear.
"Fifteen minutes, I swear," Draco muttered into his mattress- the sound mingling with a deeper chuckle that never failed to force his own face into a smile.
"I'm not sure who's waking you up like this," Harry whispered casually into the drowsy man's ear, "But, I can assure you that he or she won't be permitted to do so again- unless they have no desires to see another year, then- by all means."
In such close proximity, Draco could feel the rumbles in Harry's chest vibrate through his back, instantly waking him. Still, though, the Slytherin couldn't pass up on a chance to strain the Gryffindor's nerves.
"I don't think I'm in the mood, Potter. Can't you see I'm sleeping? You've lost your glasses, haven't you? Or, did one of your doting fans finally take them to charm your naïve arse into some sort of enslaved romance?"
Jumping away from the bed, Harry honestly looked shocked at Draco's statement.
"Draco," the raven-haired man started in a huff, "you know I don't care for all of that."
The blond made move to roll onto his back and place his hands behind his head, a smirk gracing his lips. "And you know I do seem to care for that little blush you seem to succumb to when you're in distress. Quite an adorable shade of red."
"You're an outright git- you know that?" Harry proclaimed, crawling back over Draco and positioning himself about an inch above his instigator. "And I believe you know quite well who could charm this naïve arse into some enslaved romance."
"Now, now, Potter- you're free to go if you think these shackles are much too tight."
"If you don't stop with the surname, Draco, so help me Merlin!"
A blond eyebrow shot upward in challenge. "Make me, Boy Wonder."
Without further prompting, Draco found his mouth quite occupied- too occupied even to commit to a laugh at the other boy's incredible eagerness. He couldn't complain, though. It was utterly brilliant to handle Harry like a man instead of glass.
The months watching and waiting for health took their toll on Draco just as much as Harry- if not, more so. The Slytherin was simply better with self-control and subtlety. He'd mastered the art of emotional stability around Harry. Otherwise, he would have been a bumbling mess since the moment they'd met.
And he couldn't have that now, could he?
The excessive amount of rest did wonders for Harry's enthusiasm and possessiveness. Draco nearly forgot to breathe and upon remembrance, retracted into the bed and gulped in a breath he was sure could have filled an entire balloon in one go.
The loss of contact didn't deter Harry from his task, however. He simply moved lower, popping random buttons of Draco's shirt to reveal delicate skin by the inch. When a pale hand made reach for his tie, Harry slapped the offending appendage away- growling in a way that sent a chill directly to Draco's spine.
"Leave it on," the brunette whispered heavily, muttering something the blond could feel to be wandless magic. Harry pulled away just long enough to glance at his work and suppress a small chuckle. Draco immediately noted that his tie had changed to Gryffindor colors. "Something about you in my colors," he purred, resuming his work on the shirt before pealing it completely off of the heaving body beneath him.
"Self absorbed?" Draco asked before tearing Harry's clothing to shreds in his attempt to return the abuse. "Or is this meant to be some kind of personalized collar, Scar-head?"
"The latter, love."
All coherent thought was simply lost as Harry dipped back down to a now heaving chest and eventually southward to the dip of Draco's bellybutton. Biting back a groan was out of the question when that very same tongue removed itself.
"Dammit, Harry!" Draco almost screamed, a thin sheet of sweat coating his entire form.
"Got you to say it," Harry teased.
That was more than enough of those antics. There was no reason why Harry could still form Slytherin worthy plans when he could hardly manage a tongue-tied statement. He flipped their positions to have Harry beneath him and still grinning. His hair a ragged mess even before sex, his glasses askew, and his now uncovered chest that was as perfect and smooth as tanned marble.
Merlin's beard was he a vision.
"Ugh," Draco honestly wanted to shout his frustration at the sight.
"Something wrong?"
Harry tried concealing the slight confusion and self-consciousness in his voice, but failed against Draco's trained ears.
"You're too bloody perfect- it isn't fair. No wonder the Weaslette wanted me dead. I would have killed me too after losing you."
The emerald eyes of his counterpart danced with genuine amusement. "You do know she's seeing Davis, don't you?"
"Because he's you? What a surprise." Harry smacked him lightly. "You know it's true."
"I'm not perfect, Draco."
"I know you're not perfect," he agreed, pressing his lips quickly to the dip at the base of the Gryffindor's neck. "You're perfect for me."
"And you're utterly cheesy, but I love you for it."
"Tell anyone that I have an ounce of sentiment and I'll claw your eyes out."
"Who would believe me?"
It was Draco's turn to laugh then, the heat of his breath tickling the base of the darker man's throat as his tongue darted out to meet now perspiring skin, causing a twitch and chill to create goosebumps.
Of course, that wouldn't go unnoticed. "Scared, Potter?"
Harry reflected in the hilarity of the moment's déjà vu quality and answered appropriately.
"You wish. And not that I don't love this banter, but are you going to do-." That thought would have been completed with 'anything' if Draco's hand hadn't come to rest on one of Harry's most prized possessions. Instead, he grunted what he thought sounded like approval as his pants were removed instantly without his doing. "Wandless magic?"
"Can't have you outdoing me in everything."
The idea of the blond being able to match him in magical ability sent a new wave of attraction through Harry. He'd known the Slytherin to match his strength and far surpass him in mental intelligence, but magic was something he would have needed to practice and master- something that came to Harry as if from a dream. Draco worked to harness his potential and Harry's chest swelled with pride as he took hold of the paler boy's bottom and forced himself upward to pay attention to both growing problems at once.
Again, Harry found himself in a bliss he hadn't thought he was worthy of. Even after conquering the Darkest of Lords multiple times, he hadn't felt good enough. The task was appointed to him at birth. He would never have attempted the feat if the world hadn't expected and relied on him to do so. Harry wanted, no, needed normalcy. Thinking on it, though, would he be here now without everything that's happened to him? As much as he hated it, his name brought him to Draco.
But it wasn't a name that defined character- it's what you do with the name that creates an identity.
While deep in thought, Harry hardly realized that Draco had been preparing him, the slight discomfort only now beginning to show in the form of a heavy and held breath.
"Glad to see you're with us, Harry," Draco snickered while locating another sensitive spot behind Harry's ear before finding exactly what he was looking for with the crook of his finger. The brunette arched his back, forcing a deeper intrusion before the feeling of emptiness encompassed him.
That feeling was short-lived as Draco filled the man beneath him in one quick thrust- stopping immediately as Harry regained his breath. It'd been so long since either student had been intimate physically. Fortunately, Draco knew exactly what to do.
"I don't think," he began, choking on the sheer amount of control it was taking to hold his position. "I don't think that I've told you exactly how much I've missed you."
Harry breathed heavier in response.
"For quite some time, I wished for nightmares." Again, he paused to regain control. Begging his body not to move. "Almost each nightmare guaranteed your face. These dreams were implanted of course. But, I was still able to see you. Clear as day.
"I didn't dare look for you in him. He wasn't anything like you. The man behind that scar was a monster. And, you're not a monster, Harry. You're everything to me. With or without that bloody mark on your face, you're mine." Draco promised Harry with a forceful kiss, moaning in time with the Gryffindor as he began to move.
"Mine, too?" Harry whimpered- digging his nails deep enough to leave red marks for days on Draco's alabaster skin.
"All," kiss, "yours."
./.\.
"Draco! Are you home, Love?" Harry called from the doorway of their home on the outskirts of Italy. The former Gryffindor once confided in the former Slytherin that he wished to move away from it all, to let the name, 'Harry Potter,' die in peace.
"In the kitchen," the blond responded.
The past six years since graduating Hogwarts had decidedly happened in all but a blur. Harry and Draco had publically announced their relationship and their plans to leave the Wizarding World for a time immediately after graduation. Neither wizard received hard feelings for his decision and they had spent time roaming, learning culture and life, but most importantly, learning together.
A small boy tackled Harry's legs and collapsed to the floor upon impact. The brunette lifted him into his arms and studied his freckled features with a smile. He'd looked so much like Ron that it was almost absurd.
"Can't seem to sit still. I'll bet you drove Draco mad all day."
"He make me eat icky yuck!"
"For the last time, Hugo! You don't need to use 'icky' if you're going to use 'yuck.' It's unnecessary! One would suffice," Draco bellowed, his feet stampeding out of the kitchen.
"What are you feeding him, Draco?"
"I was making him Salmon Wellington! The child has deprived taste buds."
"Darling, you feed kids macaroni and cheese from the box or chicken nuggets." Through the laughter, Harry could hardly recognize the severe lack of amusement in the blond's features.
"Oh, you find him torturing me funny?"
Harry turned his attention to the boy in his arms. "Run out back and set up the rings. I'll be out to fly with you in a bit." The boy nearly flew out of the former Seeker's arms towards the backyard.
"It's not funny," the brunette tried and failed at not laughing. "Okay, Draco, it's a bit funny. You have to see that. He's a child after all."
"If he wasn't Hermione's, I would have said 'no' to baby sitting. You realize this, right?"
Harry nodded and wrapped his arms around his boyfriend's waist. "You're so brilliant with him. Keeps me from worrying about when we have our own."
"Potter, I like having one that we can take back. Let's just leave it at that." The blond held the man's face with both hands and kissed his forehead soundly. "When is he leaving again?"
"Ginny will be here to collect him before the ceremony tonight. Davis is graduating and she'd like us to be there. He'd like us to be there as well."
"It still doesn't unnerve you that they are five years apart?"
Harry shrugged. "You love who you love."
"Are you at least going to attempt taming that mane of yours? I swear it grows back feistier after each try." He proved a fine example of this by running his fingers through the mountain of chaos that grew from Harry's scalp. "Quite a waste of time."
"Can't all be as pristine as you, Draco."
"At least you recognize that." Kissing him back chastely against the lips, Harry smiled and untangled himself before running towards the still opened back door. "Where do you think you're going?"
"To play with our substitute child before tonight. And you know my hair always looks best after a bit of wind's hit it."
Draco shook his head and sighed. He'd love to father a child with Harry. To be honest, he would just love anything that Harry loved. He was worried about his abilities as a father. His own father had never been much of a role model, but that's all he'd ever known of a significant male figure. Snape hated children and never had any of his own, so he couldn't be looked to either.
In all honesty, though, the thought of watching a child grow up to have Harry's shaggy hair and Draco's pointed nose excited him. Harry had done quite a bit of research with Hermione in hopes to find a way of possibly giving their genes to some kind of surrogate mother. They'd come to the conclusion that it was indeed very possible. Draco couldn't deny his fear. Fear of loving another so completely after it had taken such lengths to feel that way for Harry. Could he stretch his love? Was love truly something that could be considered infinite?
The blond man walked towards the window to the back yard and found another reason to love Harry when he tickled Hugo's ear with a long blade of grass, laughing when the young boy couldn't quite comprehend where the feeling had come from.
Perhaps love could be infinite, Draco decided.
With that thought comforting him, he reopened the door to his now crowded yard and immediately caught a child's snitch- charmed to slow down for beginners.
"Always the show off, Uncle Draco," Harry chastised. "At least you've impressed Hugo." The dark haired man pointed his chin towards the awestruck toddler.
"Good practice for our own, yeah?" Draco's face dipped to look at the ground. He wasn't embarrassed by his near readiness- simply not sure if he'd meant it yet.
Harry lifted the blond's chin to meet him at eye level.
"For our own? You're actually considering?"
"What can I say? I just can't get enough of you Potters. I think I may need another one of you prancing around."
The answering smile of the Gryffindor may have been the brightest Draco had ever seen.
If merely speaking of a child made Harry so sublimely happy, imagine what the pitter-patter of little feet would do?
Draco couldn't seem to wait as he made to kiss Harry for what seemed like the billionth time since their first.
There had been three Harry's in Draco's life. The first came to him in Madame Malkin's. A boy with too much courage and not enough sense. The second nearly killed him in pursuit, but earned his respect. The third fell in love with him and continued to fall.
Perhaps meeting Harry Potter, the father of his child, wouldn't be such a terrible fourth.
"I really do love you. You know that, right?"
"That's the only reason I am going through with this insane idea."
Harry rolled his eyes hugged Draco tight. "You have no idea how much this means to me," he whispered into the crook of the former Slytherin's neck. "You're going to be a wonderful dad. So, please stop worrying."
"How did you-."
"I'm afraid of that too. But, we'll be afraid together. And when he turns out to be perfect, we'll pretend as though we hadn't worried for a moment otherwise."
Knowing that Harry had acquired the same fears helped the pit in Draco's stomach shrink significantly. With his own personal hero at his side, Draco could be anything- even a father worth idolizing. A father that lived for his children and not through them. A father that he'd never had and Harry hadn't been able to know.
"You make good mummy," Hugo offered to Draco, tugging on his bottoms. "Mummy makes me eat icky yuck too."
Neither Harry nor Draco could control the fits of laughter that disturbed the otherwise peaceful moment. The Man Who Lived lifted the toddler into his arms between himself and his boyfriend.
"With that kind of blessing, I don't see how we can say 'no.'"
./.\.
The ceremony had been entirely familiar. Davis looked just as Draco expected, a young Harry. He was proud though, nearly as proud as Ginny.
"Congratulations, Davis," Draco managed finally after the reception had begun, presenting the newly graduated with a gift bag containing an ironic keepsake that both older men decided was fitting. Harry's journal. "I'm so proud of you!"
"Thanks, Draco. Harry, it's wonderful to see you again," the nearly identical man offered his hand and both wizards shook. Catching up couldn't be done as an overly excited witch whisked the boy off to the dance floor.
"Shall we?" Draco asked, slipping his hand into Harry's. He took it without any hesitation as the two joined the crowd in a slow dance. "You know, I've been thinking."
"That's always a good practice."
"We probably shouldn't have a child if we're not married. What would people say?"
Harry chuckled lightly, resting his head against Draco's shoulder. "Since when did you care about what people thought?"
With the blond suddenly stilling, Harry stilled as well. His mouth immediately went dry as the former Slytherin fell to one knee. The music silenced and the crowd around them stood in anticipation of the moment.
"I suppose you didn't understand my subtle proposal," Draco observed after taking hold of Harry's left hand and squeezing it lightly. "Harry James Potter, you're the absolute biggest pain in my arse. I've given up my sanity in order to be with you. I've given up any hope of getting along without you a long time ago. I've decided that the least you can do for me is marry me. So, what do you say, Love? Care to spend the rest of our lives together?"
A white gold ring with emerald stones found its way onto Harry's finger in a perfect fit.
"Figures you'd pick Slytherin colors. And I have one condition." The intake of breath from the masses seemed rehearsed as they waited. Draco didn't seem to breathe at all. "You have to promise not to tease our baby when he ends up in Gryffindor like his father."
The blond shook his head in amazement as he stood to kiss his possible fiancé.
"Is that a yes, Potter?" He asked after pulling back before getting carried away in public.
"Considering how much you've given up, well, I suppose it's the least I can do."
Failing to recognize the large party that gathered around both famous war heroes quickly became impossible as cheers struck each wall and bounced around to fill the entire room with a frenzy of sound.
"Love you, Scarface."
"Love you too, Ferret," Harry promised, using his newly clad hand to squeeze Draco's in affirmation.
Their life would never be simple. They would forever be on opposite ends of the spectrum. But, they would always have a few things in common.
They would fight until death to remain together.
They would live forever for each other.
And they would love the other until their last breath.
Draco once believed that he would never know love.
Sometimes, as the story goes, a Malfoy can be wrong.
El Fin.
Thank you for reading.