The Black Bunny

by Windseeker2305

Harry's had it with his destined role after the Order does something he can't forgive. Now he's done with both sides of the war and wants to be left alone. But since when have his wishes ever counted for anything? LV/HP Slash & MPREG.More warnings inside.

26. Chapter 26

This chapter is dedicated to Dustin who is a fabulous inspiration and has kept me sane the last few hectic weeks. I'm so happy to know you!

The Black Bunny

Chapter Twenty-Six

"Really wish you'd tell me what's going on," Harry muttered as he paced back and forth within Tom's office.

Being in Tom's office wasn't unusual for him. He had his own chair in there after all, placed by Tom and at Tom's insistence. But what was unusual was the fact that Tom was sitting on his half-chaise, leaning back with one ankle perched on the opposite knee and a book open in hand. And his mouth had been firmly shut for the last half hour. Since they'd come home from watching the Dursley house burn to the ground.

"HELLO?"

"No need to shout."

Harry scowled. "What's going on? Why can't I leave this room?"

"Because you would run and hide and my good mood would then be ruined by having to go and locate you," Tom replied as he finished reading one page and turned to another.

"Why would I run and hide?"

"You know perfectly well why."

"You enjoy tormenting me."

Finally Tom pulled his eyes from his book. "As much as you enjoy tormenting me. Yes."

Harry sulked off to slouch against the desk. "I'm going to find the holiday you appreciate least and I will then decorate this castle to the fullest of my abilities—Yule! Yule and your birthday! This Dark domain is going to twinkle! Ha!"

When Tom remained quiet, not jumping to the bait, and quite clearly ignoring him again, Harry scowled and released a lot of vulgar words into the air. Tom raised one eyebrow but he didn't pull his eyes away from his book.

After what seemed like eternity to Harry- the standing there and scowling and being ignored- Tom finally produced his wand and cast tempus. "It's time."

"Yaaay."

Tom shook his head as he stowed his wand away and stood up. "If you are so committed to not enjoying yourself, you will not enjoy the evening. And I promise it's not going to be a horrible affair. It's only a dinner party, Harry. It isn't as if you're going to be around strangers."

Harry looked at him in suspicion. "Dinner party? I thought you said there wouldn't be that many people."

"I may have understated the truth," Tom said as he rounded his desk to rummage through the top drawer. Back beside Harry, he held out the ornamental key for Harry to touch.

Harry perked up a little. "We're going to the villa?"

"Yes."

Mood instantly lightened, Harry flashed a grin and reached for the Portkey. Quite soon he was walking along with Tom through the garden, enjoying the warm breeze which brought the scents of the ocean up to their bit of paradise. Even from where they strolled along the cliff's wall, the farthest spot from the villa, Harry could hear voices. Many. At least whomever was here seemed to be in a cheery mood.

"The birthday boy is here!" Fred called out as soon as Harry and Tom appeared from garden shadows and stepped onto the back patio which was made for outdoor dinners.

"He's hardly a boy," Draco drawled disdainfully.

"Draco, love…" George murmured lowly and soothingly too as if he'd done something wrong and wanted to keep Draco's anger at bay.

Draco turned cold blue eyes on the twins. "As if I'm not good enough anymore."

"Draco, no!" the fiends hissed passionately.

Draco scowled for half a second before looking at Harry, suddenly looking relaxed and smirking. Harry smiled back even though he wanted to ask what that was about and would as soon as possible. The twins sat on both sides of Draco, completely stiff and looking worried. They weren't even touching Draco; seemed afraid to and that was just off.

Harry sat down at the head of the table where Tom ushered him, unable to keep a smile off his face as he noticed everyone who had been to Privet Drive were now here, plus a few who weren't. And despite so many people meeting here for his birthday, Harry was in fact enjoying this. At least this portion anyway. Sitting down to dinner on the outdoor patio with his husband and friends. It was actually very nice. Peaceful and enjoyable. Everyone was relaxed- except for the twins, but Harry had a feeling they'd be feeling alright by the end of the night. He hadn't noticed this behavior from them when they'd all been on Privet Drive, but then again Harry supposed he really hadn't been paying too much attention to anything beyond his aunt's house burning down.

As Harry scanned the faces of those around him at the time, his eyes widened in pleasure at spotting the Veela couple sitting down the way between Narcissa and Bellatrix. He was very touched Tom had thought to invite Iseut and Diandre as he really did enjoy spending time with them. They had taken great care of Draco and himself when they had stayed with them in Paris. Some of the Silvers were there as well, he was pleased to note. Bill, Charlie, and Luna. Harry wasn't surprised Tom did not have any of the Enforcers invited but he was disappointed to learn Neville had sent apologies after receiving an invite. And Tom had also invited Remus and Fenrir, which kind of made Harry's eyes water, and he tried not to let Tom see his visible mushy emotions. Remus saw it though from his seat down the table and gave Harry a happy soft smile.

Harry turned to Tom and looked at his shoulder. "You… you didn't have to," he whispered thickly.

A hand cupped his face. "I wanted to." Harry nodded and blinked rapidly. "Now stop crying and enjoy yourself."

"I'm not crying."

Tom's eyes softened and he caressed the stretch of jaw under his thumb. "You're about to," the Dark Lord replied softly. "And you know what that does to me. Your tears are my Achilles' heel."

Harry gave a trembling laugh. "How is that supposed to calm my emotions?"

Tom moved his hand and rubbed the back of Harry's flushed neck. "It's time for dinner."

Harry turned back to the table at large just as dinner appeared; plates loaded with food. With Harry's favorite meats and soups and salads also. Harry was immediately distracted by the wonderful scents floating around.

"This is a lovely place," Luna said to him halfway through dinner.

"Thanks. It'll be nice when I can work on turning it into a home."

"You'll have plenty of time for that in a couple of months," Tom sad from his seat at Harry's left.

Harry nodded and then smiled, thinking of it. "Yeah."

When dinner ended, Harry was treated to a birthday cake. The sheet of cake was massive, but it would provide a piece plus some for all of his guests. Harry shifted forward in his seat, staring down at the cake and the candles. He heard a couple of people snicker under their breath. Harry lifted his eyes and grinned at Hermione and Draco. He had made this cake. And in fact at the time of the cake's conception, Harry had spent some time figuratively drooling over it, wishing he could have a piece.

"For a little old witch giving her spinster daughter a lovely birthday… Clever," he remarked dryly, a half smile curving his lips as he looked at Draco.

"We couldn't very well have gone to some other baker! Not when we all know it's not the best," Draco replied with a wink. "And I couldn't have told you the truth about where this cake was going and you kept asking!"

"Only because this cake was sinful to make and I wanted to eat it!"

"You can eat it now, prat!"

"I will!" Harry sat back, his smile broadening. "Thank you."

And so the cake eating went well too. Except for the obvious lack of twin pranks or flinging icing- which most everyone around the table expected of Fred and George. But those two behaved themselves. Almost too much. Even Tom had given them a funny look when they all moved from the outside patio into the drawing room.

And then Harry's good mood drastically plummeted when he saw one of the small sofas had been moved by the unlit fireplace and the table sitting beside the sofa loaded with presents. "Oh, Tom, nooo," he begged quietly. "It's really too much."

"They wanted to, Harry. Now be polite, sit down, and accept your gifts with a grace I know you have buried very deeply inside."

Harry rolled his eyes at the shallow barb and then turned to him as everyone gathered near; either sitting in the other antique chairs and couches strategically placed around or standing nearby. "Did you get me something?"

"Of course I did. You'll get it when we retire tonight… it's not sex," Tom said when Harry's eyes brightened. And then they immediately dulled and Tom rolled his eyes. "But of course after my gift giving I have plans to tie you down and ride you into the headboard again. No need for that pouty nonsense, brat."

Harry smiled and gripped Tom's bicep; squeezing and then moving his fingers across to his chest. You know how much I love being your whore.

He moved away towards his birthday seat then, leaving Tom to turn away from everyone, stare down at the floor and pinch the bridge of his nose; he stood that way for a full five minutes before he thought he could move without alerting everyone to the arousal Harry had suddenly buried him under.

The moment Harry sat down, Narcissa and Bellatrix appeared out of nowhere and slid in next to him, squeezing him in between. They both wore the Black smiles; one a psychotic lovable smile, the other a serene showing of teeth. Both were frightening smiles in Harry's opinion. He barely had time to blink before Bella thrust the first gift into his hands. Harry looked to Iseut for help, but she only smiled softly at him. She also seemed a bit wary of the sisters. Harry really didn't blame her for wanting to keep some distance when they were smiling like they were at the moment.

Harry was nearly done with his presents and he was not amused. Not in the slightest. And he made that abundantly clear to his husband, whom was standing not far away, smirking at him. Harry glared at the Dark bastard while Bella continued to pet his hair and Narcissa went on and on about some of the presents they'd gotten him for his birthday. Most of Bella and Narcissa's gifts- and they were half the large bundle of presents- consisted of maternity clothes.

It's not that he wasn't grateful; it was just that he really really did not like his birthday and he didn't feel comfortable getting loads of gifts like this. But he did like the smiles being aimed his way. He did like the laughter that filled up the drawing room. And he especially like that Tom seemed relaxed enough; standing there and talking with Lucius, Severus, and the Lestrange brothers while Harry was bombarded by gifts.

Harry laughed as he opened the last gift. A present from Pansy. He raised the two identical baby rattles and shook them a bit. "I thought this was my birthday." He shook the rattles a little more and a soft smile crossed his features as he looked at the witch. "Thanks, Pansy."

A little later Harry and the guests congregated to different places around the drawing room to relax and mingle for the rest of the evening. After a time, Bill nudged Charlie and tipped his head to the side with a quick glance in the direction he wanted his brother to look. Charlie turned partially to see what had Bill's attention. Harry was making his way across the room and settled himself down beside the Dark Lord, rattles still in hand. After a moment the Dark wizard wrapped an arm around Harry's waist and pulled until Harry was resettled in his lap.

Voldemort then ignored those sitting around and nuzzled Harry's neck as he fingered the rattles Harry didn't seem to want to give up. But then Harry dropped the rattles into his lap before he threaded fingers into his husband's hair and started to rub their cheeks together, talking softly into the ear very close to his lips. The Dark Lord suddenly moved. His action took less than a second, but in that time he had Harry's mouth under his in a clear all consuming assault. Arms wrapped around Harry, a hand digging into Harry's hair; his complete attention on his young husband and apparently ignoring everyone else around them. Harry reciprocated and he definitely looked as if the world had disappeared.

Bill turned to Charlie with a shocked and amused expression on his face. Charlie just looked shocked as he stared back at his brother. True, they'd seen the two kiss at the executions, but that display had clearly been a statement. And they had seen pictures in the Prophet, but it was completely different seeing it in a relaxed setting like this. Maybe a little offsetting, too. Because, well… it was still You-Know-Who. Never mind he had his handsome human features back. The Dark wizard still struck fear in them and anyone else who was within ten feet of him. Bill cleared his throat and he and his brother turned back, only to visibly jump when they found the Dark Lord was staring right at them.

"Merlin," Bill whispered as he turned completely away from them. "His eyes are bloody scary. It's like he sees everything."

Charlie gave a jerky nod. After another moment, he started to snicker. "That was a bloody snog. The Dark Lord snogs."

Bill threw an arm around his neck and jerked him away. "C'mon, idiot. Don't want you to die for laughing at the Dark Lord."

"I wasn't laughing at him!"

"Look. What do you suppose that's about," Bill asked, jerking his arm around so that Charlie was facing the wanted direction where their brothers and Draco were standing and talking with Parkinson, Hermione, Andy, and Luna. Almost immediately Charlie knew what Bill was talking about. The twins were just standing there. Stiff and silent. So silent for them. That was when it was clear they were afraid of something. It had to be a terrible afraid too.

"Have no idea. Did they row?" Clearly, because Draco was standing there, speaking animatedly with those before him and yet he oozed 'displeased'.

"Looks bad."

Charlie nodded and then shrugged out from under Bill's heavy arm and turned back to where Harry sat, noting Harry was now sitting on his own and speaking to the two Veela. "This new project of Harry's. Sounds fun, yeah?"

"Yes. Definitely. Can't wait to get started, actually."

Harry got up then and started walking over. He paused beside them and gestured with his rattles to Draco and the twins. "Do you see this?"

"Yes!" Bill hissed quietly. "Thank you. It's starting to get annoying. They haven't pet his hair once this whole time we've been here!"

"Weird, right?" Harry went on with a nod. Charlie and Bill returned his nod with their own.

"I'm thinking the twins did something very wrong," Charlie said. "The way they're acting. Guilty and terrified. And then Draco is being himself, except there is this vibe…"

"He's got them on a fishhook," Harry announced. They turned to him in question. Harry shrugged. "They did something wrong, obviously. But they think Draco's angrier than he really is. He's playing with them now and they haven't figured that out yet."

Harry smiled, shook the little rattles he couldn't seem to put down, and approached the group. Charlie and Bill coming with him. Everyone turned to them and Hermione laughed. "Harry, are you going to walk around with those all night?"

"I really like them."

"You'll be such a wonderful papa," Luna breathed, smiling dazedly at him.

Harry smiled back and then looked at the rattles. "I can hit Tom with these and pretend it was an accident."

"If you feel that's wise…." Pansy answered, eyeing him and the rattles warily.

Harry gave her an odd look and Draco snorted. "Of course it's not wise. Otherwise he wouldn't bother."

"They have a twisted relationship," one of the twins said, drawing Draco's narrowed gaze on both his fiends.

"He's not the only one, is he?" Draco murmured lowly.

The twins' expressions were pained and at once they reached for him. But the blond shrugged their hands off with a hiss. Draco then excused himself from Harry, completely bypassed the twins, and headed out of the main den and towards the stairs leading to the guest rooms. They twins were after him like a shot. The expression on his face never changed as he walked up the stairs and down the hall.

"Are you sure it's a fish hook?" Bill asked in concern.

Harry laughed. "Yeah. Draco's very excited."

"I didn't see that."

"If he doesn't want you to see it, you won't. He is a Malfoy, after all. Besides, if Drake were really very upset, everyone would know it. Narcissa would be up in arms by now. She would already have the twins gagged and roped with her wand and a dagger at their throats."

Bill and Charlie conceded that were true and relaxed and the three of them went back to talking with the others, enjoying Harry's birthday party. Meanwhile Draco was stalking down the hall with two terrified copper-heads trailing after him. Draco entered their provided room for the night and immediately crossed the suite towards the bedroom without a word or glance to the two following him.

"Draco, listen! We can explain!" Fred expressed as George shut the door behind them. They quickly followed him to the bedroom when it was apparent he wasn't going to listen.

"Here us out, Draco! Please!"

Draco strode straight for bathroom and disappeared inside. When a pair of expensive handmade boots sailed out moments later to smash against the far wall, the twins winced. That was a clear indication of how enraged Draco was. He would never treat his expensive attire in such a way otherwise.

Fred cupped the back of head with his hands and started pacing, while George dropped onto the edge of the bed and flopped onto his back with a tortured moan. They knew they had truly messed up this time. It was a mistake… they should have told him before he witnessed it. But they hadn't thought about it. It hadn't ever been brought up and it was only a mutual wank. It wasn't as if they had been replacing Draco. On the contrary. It had been because of Draco that they couldn't stop from doing what they did. But that didn't matter because they very well may have just lost their fiancé. It was a painful thought. Fear and panic pounded away in their chests.

"I can't believe you kept this secret!" Draco suddenly shouted from within the bathroom. "Or that you thought it was okay to do it without me! The least you could do is let me watch, wankers!"

Fred instantly stopped pacing and faced the doorway while George's head popped up, his eyes widening. "What?" he croaked. "What did you say, Draco love?"

Draco appeared in the doorway; bare foot and bare-chested. His shirt balled within hand. Draco walked to Fred, shook his shirt under the twin's nose and then got in his face. "Bloody fiend! No common courtesy at all!" He spun around on George. "The least you could have done was ask me. Me! Your fiancé, twats!"

Fred was inexplicable aware of Draco's half dressed state, as was George, and Fred found himself leaning down so that he could have Draco's face in his again. "Asked you what?" he asked.

"What do you think?" Draco snapped and twisted away to storm back into the bathroom.

George looked at Fred. "I'm confused."

Fred nodded.

Draco came back out in only boxers this time. He looked at Fred and pointed a rigid finger at the bed. When both twins were sitting there, the blond started pacing back and forth in front of them. "You were fucking each other."

Instead of answering, Fred reached out a hand to touch Draco's bare hip as he passed in front of them. George grabbed his wrist and pulled it back down to their sides, shaking his head.

"You were fucking each other!"

George cleared his throat. "Not exactly fucking, not yet—we were gonna tell you, we just- we don't think about it!" he hurriedly went on when Draco paused and glared coldly at him. "And we hadn't thought about it since before we met you and then it kind of just happened."

"So you're bored already?" Draco demanded.

"No!" they both yelled, quickly rising to their feet and reaching out for the body that had been pacing in front of them and teasing them. "No! It just sort of happened! We started thinking of you and talking about you and you were really busy here setting up Harry's party… and we had worked ourselves up to a Draco state."

Draco pulled himself away and scowled. "I understand this is something that you did way before you met me, but you could have at least told me! I tell you my secrets!"

"But, Draco love! It didn't even register. We would have told you if we'd thought about it. If you hadn't walked in on us, we would have told you after being reminded."

"You could have at least asked me if I wanted to watch before you started that!"

That stopped them short and for a moment they blinked blankly at him. A smirk appeared on Draco's face as comprehension slowly lit there face. When they realized Draco wasn't disgusted or had no plans of severing their marriage contract. When Draco was really just angry at the fact he missed a free show.

Fred and George than turned to each other. "He's perfect," they breathed.

"I am, yes," Draco replied dismissively. "But you're still in trouble."

Draco stepped back and then stepped out of his boxers. He let them hang from a finger as he waited for two pair of blue eyes to meet his. He let the boxers drop before returning to the bathroom. The moment he disappeared, the twins were a whirlwind of movement; mainly stripping out of their clothes as fast as possible and by the time Draco returned from the bathroom, wand in hand, the twins sat side by side on the edge of the bed, waiting.

Draco was silent as he stood in front of them and swished his wand towards the wardrobe. He watched their swelling cocks as they watched his. And then a bag came sailing out of the wardrobe and into Draco's waiting hand. Draco walked over to the vanity where he set his wand, and then he walked back and dropped the bag onto the twins' thighs.

"Am I going to have to worry about you two suddenly realizing you don't need anyone but each other?"

George shot out a hand and grabbed Draco's wrist. They stared at him intently. "Draco. We're brothers, not lovers."

"What I witnessed is usually what goes on between lovers."

"It's only ever been for release!" Fred answered. "We love you and we'll never do it again if it bothers you."

Draco's gaze dropped to the ground. "It's not that it bothered me. Not really. You two were bloody hot, in fact…" He wasn't really mad at them, and he wasn't really that surprised either. Because he did know them intimately and it hadn't come as much of a shock to find them nude and lip locked in the shower. And in actuality, this would ease things up in bed for him when he needed it. They were monsters sometimes; lovely gorgeous monsters who adored his pale arse. Both of them. And there were times when he had the itch that could only be scratched by having both their cocks in his arse. Like right now. But not all the time. Beyond all that, and aside from the fact he wasn't really angry, he was worried.

"No, Draco. Don't get that look." Fred was on his feet and gathering the blond into his arms, squeezing him tightly. "We may be a bit selfish and impatient, but you're our world, okay? And we're sorry. We're so sorry for ever making you doubt that."

It took a moment, but Draco finally stopped looking at Fred's shoulder and met his eyes before nodding. Then George was behind him, petting his hair and kissing his neck and snuggling against the back of him and Draco smiled in relief when Fred started to kiss him and he had to very interested cocks pressing against his body. And then he jumped and quickly pulled away after feeling George prodding his arse open with a couple of fingers.

"Fiend!" he shouted.

"Draco," said fiend replied lowly. "We've been thinking about you all bloody day! And then you took off here right after the Dursley house, leaving us by our lonesome at the manor and how were we supposed to ask you if you wanted to watch if you were gone? Aside for that, I really really want your arse right now."

Draco shuddered at both their stare. "Sit back down."

The twins instantly did what he said. Draco once again dropped the bag onto their legs and gestured to it. The fiends immediately dug into the bag and were soon pulling out a paddle and rope. "Very nice," Fred stated, looking up at Draco.

Draco's smirk morphed into a wide smile. "Which one of you started it?"

Two hands shot in the air. "I did!" was the enthusiastic reply. Then they turned to each other, frowning.

"No you didn't," George said.

"Yes I did. I'm the one who jumped in the shower with you!"

"I started by wanking in front of you! And then I moaned Draco's name, and once I did that, you were all over me. I started it!"

Fred's eyes brightened. "I started it by intentionally talking about the luscious body of our lovely Draco." He then nodded as if that were that.

Draco looked at George. "Did you intentionally start to wank to entice your brother?"

"Yep."

Fred was shaking his head. "No way! He was wanking thinking about you. He didn't know what he was doing!"
Draco had to continuously bite back a smile. "George wins I think," he said and handed the paddle and rope to Fred, who was soon grinning when he realized what Draco was about.

"Wait, what? If I win why does he get the paddle and the rope?"

Draco backed away, matching Fred's grin. "You didn't really win, did you?"

Fred nodded along. "Yes, most definitely. It was George's fault. He enticed me. Yes. And now he should be tied up and be our plaything."

"Oh wait, hold on!" George quickly got to his feet and began backing away from his brother and their lovely.

Draco leaned over to Fred and said softly, "there's a cock ring in that bag as well."

Fred dove for the bag while George tried diving over the bed to get away from Draco who had immediately moved to tackle George as soon as Fred moved.

"No fair! No fair! No fair!" George cried as he wrestled with Draco on the bed.

"Shut up!" Draco hissed. "You know you want this!"

George kind of melted against the mattress and stared at Draco over his shoulder with adoration.

"Git!" Draco laughed. "Back in the game!"

George blinked and then his eyes cleared. "Right, yeah. No fair!" he mock cried again and tried, not very hard, to get out of Draco's clutches and his brother's as well when Fred jumped in to help Draco restrain him.

Soon they had George tied to the bed. He was on his knees with his arse sticking up in the air. Fred handed the paddle to Draco and then crawled onto the bed, grabbing the back of his brother's head and forcing George's mouth on his engorged cock.

"Not fast enough," Fred hissed.

Draco moved behind George and paddled him. And paddled him every time he didn't follow Fred's every direction. Though George's disobedience was only pretend because he clearly liked what was happening. And when Fred made a pleased sound when his brother started deep throat him, Draco moved and draped himself on the corner of the bed; in prime position to see both his fiends and for them to see him as he slowly took his own erection in hand.

It was brilliant watching them watch him as he slowly wanked to them. They never looked at each other. They were always looking at him when their eyes weren't closed. And then it became quite clear when they lost complete interest in each other and were only concerned with watching Draco wank.

"Why've you stopped?" he questioned, pulling his hands away and rearranging until he was on his knees.

Fred backed up a step. "This will work better if you stand here."

"You only want to fuck me."

"Yes. Yes, I do."

"And I want to suck your cock so bad," George put in.

Draco took up Fred's position. Fred reached around him, grabbing his brother's chin and a handful of hair and jerked George's face up before pressing against Draco and urging the blond's hips forward. Draco extended a hand, grabbing the back of George's neck; his fingers sliding against and over Fred's.

Draco's mouth fell open in a soundless gasp and his head dropped limply back onto Fred's shoulder. George was more eager and far more responsive with Draco's cock than he had been with Fred. In fact it was less mechanical now and more sensual as his lips slid against Draco's cock, his tongue sliding and wrapping around him slowly in a burning torture.

And Fred continued to stand behind him, plastered against his body. Copper hair fell into his eyes as Fred dipping his head, mouthing Draco's exposed neck. Fred released his hands from George's hair and face and at first dropped his hands to Draco's hips. He continuously pushed his hips forward against Draco's backside; but it was a gentle movement. All their movements were slow; this wasn't just a release.

Draco choked on a gasp when George lunged forward as far as he could go; taking Draco's entire length into his mouth and it was then when he felt probing fingers and a slow gentle burn where Fred was working a slick finger inside him. Soon Fred had him doubled over George, his cock tucked fully inside him. Fred wrapped arms around Draco and started to pick up the pace. Draco noticed George trying valiantly to free his hands and he was also wiggling around, trying to press his erection against the bed to relieve pressure. It wouldn't work anyway since he still had that cock ring on.

He vaguely thought, as Fred pushed into him faster and harder, thus making him fuck George's mouth faster and harder, that George's jaw was probably aching something awful. But his wonderful fiend didn't seem to mind in the least. His mouth around Draco's cock never stopped sucking, never relented and his tongue never stopped doing sinful things to his shaft until Fred pulled out and pulled him away from George's mouth.

George stretched his jaw as he looked up at a cloudy eyed Draco with darkened eyes. "What do you want now?" he asked hoarsely.

Draco moaned and fell back against Fred's chest. "Both of you."

George's swollen mouth twisted into a wicked grin. "One of you release me right this fucking second."

Draco raised a hand towards him and the rope quickly unraveled. Once his hands were free, George raised up n his knees and lunged forward, grabbing the back of Draco's head and slammed their mouths together; pulling Draco until his lovely blond was straddling his lap and over his pulsing cock. Draco draped one arm around his neck and yanked the cock ring off before quickly moving and slamming himself down onto George huge dripping cock. The blissful moan leaving George's mouth was well worth the pain he caused himself.

George dropped his head back against the pillow, grabbing Draco's hips as the blond started to move. George moved within him quickly, eager since the two prats had been ignoring his cock the entire time, and tried not to come immediately from feeling Draco's trembling walls squeezing tight around him.

They'd been in this position before, but they'd always gone slow at first because neither wanted to hurt Draco, despite the fact Draco eagerly took anything they wanted to give. So Fred placed himself against Draco's entrance and sliding along his brother's cock already tucked inside their beautiful smart wicked lover. Draco pressed himself against George's chest, breathing through his nose, trying to stay relaxed and ignore the pain while listening to both the fiends murmuring about how good it felt.

Once Fred was completely sheathed, Draco remained relaxed and passive and let the fiends take over movement. They had no problem with this. Fred was bent over him, chin dipped to his chest, mouth slightly parted and fingers digging into Draco's slender shoulders while George continued on with up thrusts that soon turned erratic in pattern. Only at the last moment before he came did he release Draco's hip to grab the blond's erection.

Draco gasped and threw his head back. That one touch was all he needed before he was coming in George's hand and George followed him shortly after. Fred wasn't far behind and soon he collapsed on top of them, causing both George and Draco to groan.

"Get off you great big lug!" George shouted. "You're squishing Draco!"

"Can't move," Fred slurred against the back of Draco's neck, though he had enough energy to move a hand and start petting the blond hair spread over his face.

Draco smiled contentedly against George's sweaty chest and closed his eyes. He may be a little squished, yes, but he was also exactly where he wanted to be.

---

"This is nice."

"Nice and open," George agreed.

"No neighbors," they said together. "For miles."

Walking through a field of tall reeds, the twins walked with about a dozen other Death Eaters and the Dark Lord. All the Death Eaters, themselves included, dressed in complete DE garb; all prepared and some more than eager for what was about to happen here.

They walked through a field towards Marjorie Dursley's country home where she bred mean dogs and drank far too much. The closest neighbor, a muggle by the name of Fubster, definitely wouldn't have heard her since he was already incapacitated.

The first dog came, curious and barking, and Severus silenced it with a cutting hex to the throat. "Got it."

Lucius sneered slightly. "Show off."

Severus turned and smirked. "It was moving too."

"Rather ugly things to keep as pets," Lucius said as he toed the dying creature in the side.

"Easy to kill."

"Yes."

Draco blinked at them. They were rather more chatty than usual when on a Death Eater hunt. They sounded like they were on a mate outing instead. Perhaps because nothing was riding on this mission except revenge and a little muggle killing fun. A muggle who deserved what was about to happen since she dared treat a Wizarding child the way she had. Things were less tense because of that and the fact they didn't have to worry about being attacked back.

"What if it were bunnies?" George suddenly asked, looking at his brother.

Draco tripped a step.

"Yeah, bunnies," Fred said, nodding. "Could we do it if it were a bunny farm she had here?"

"If they were cute and cuddly instead of loud and obnoxious and just plain annoying bulldogs?"

Voldemort suddenly swooped in on them, stopping the twins in their tracks and Draco by default. A few more Death Eaters also paused and lingered around. Draco grabbed the back of his lovers' robes and squeezed his eyes closed, hoping the idiots would keep quiet.

"What are you blathering on about?" Voldemort snapped. "Bunnies?"

"Yeah, bunnies, my lord? Like Harry's bunny. Cute little bugger it is," George answered.

Voldemort's gaze snapped over to Draco, who took a step back and began shaking his head rapidly. The Dark Lord did not miss the amused and knowing look passing between his Lieutenants.

"Would you order us to kill bunnies, sir?"

Someone giggled behind them. The giggle dissolved into laughter and quickly turned into delighted cackles.

"Bella?"

"I'm truly sorry, my Lord, but the thought of you ordering us to destroy a bunny farm is rather amusing. Delightfully amusing. Could we do so? Bunnies are really too cute, aren't they?"

Voldemort turned, looking off towards the muggle woman's house. "I happen to think the creatures do the world no disservice," he blandly replied; speaking as if he would of the weather.

When Bella cocked her head and kind of gaped with incomprehension at the Dark Lord, Draco had to duck his head and bite his lip hard to keep from laughing. Voldemort noticed Bella's idiotic stare and paused to turn to her. "Is something the matter, Bellatrix? Do you not agree?"

With the way he was staring at her, Bellatrix composed herself rather quickly. "Yes! Of course I do agree with you, my Lord."

Voldemort turned back to the twins. "Stop talking about bunnies!" he hissed and turned to Draco, who jumped back in surprise at the sharp look. "You had better make sure they cease with that sort of talk, Draco."

"Yes, my Lord." Draco gave a jerky bow and then rounded on the twins.

Soon they were walking on and Voldemort fell back to walk with Lucius and Severus. He glanced sideways at the Potions Master. "And how did you find out?"

"We figured it out together, my Lord," Severus responded with little emotion. "Lucius was uncertain about his attraction to the animal's aura when he held you—it…the animal."

"We spoke about it," Lucius went on with a glance at tongue tripping lover, "and he put instances together."

"It is to stay a secret," Voldemort ordered.

"Of course, my Lord."

In no time at all, two Death Eaters had gone into Marge's country estate to apprehend her while others of their group went around, capturing the rest of her ruddy dogs. Someone had the foresight to silence the muggle, for it was quite clear she was trying to yell things at the top of her lungs as she was being carted out into the open field behind her house. But no one had thought to silence the dogs when they were rounded up. Voldemort quickly had the barking mutts stunned until he had use for them.

Marge was released in the center of a wizard and witch made circle; she teetered on her feet in clear terror of the situation. Any bravery she might have had against intruders was clearly chased away by the black cloaks and white masks of those standing around her. And the fact she was severely outnumbered.

Voldemort stepped forward, studying her with disdain before he finally spoke. Soft and deadly. "I wonder if you know who we are?" he asked himself, still circling. Marge looked lost between wanting to follow his movements, the obvious leader, and keeping her eyes on the Death Eaters in front of her. "Your brother and his wife surely do. Does she?" Voldemort asked, turning to two of the Death Eaters.

"Don't think so, my Lord," one answered.

"He said she was obliviated after that blowing up episode."

Voldemort smiled frigidly and turned back to her. "Ah, so that gives me the pleasure of explaining it to you… or perhaps, a simple reminder will do." In the blink of an eye Voldemort had a picture in his hand and he moved forward until he stood only a few feet away from her. "Surely you recognize who this is lounging beside me," he said, turning the picture and casting a lumos so she could see the image clearly.

The muggle clearly sucked in a breath even if they couldn't hear it. And of course she would know whom he was referring to even though two people were in the photo which had been taken earlier that day. It was a moving picture of course and part of her shock had to do with that and the light glowing from the tip of his wand. The other though… Harry and he were sitting on their thrones upon the dais. Harry had a leg thrown over one of the arm rests, smiling widely at camera. In one hand he held a sign that read RIP Aunt Marge (evil bint!) while he waved his other hand in the air, flicking the camera off in a clear fuck you.

"By the way," Voldemort went on, enjoying the way her eyes started to bug out of her head, "he wanted me to tell you the RIP stands for 'rest in purgatory'. In case you draw the wrong conclusions thinking he wanted you to have peace in any way. He does not."

The woman continued to stare at the photo. Clearly blindsided, though Voldemort could now see a spark of anger and disgust in her eyes as she studied Harry on his not-wanted-chair. The little minx was dressed in his finest clothes with his deep dark purple cloak spread out beneath him and hanging off the chair to brush against the ground. Voldemort rather liked this picture. It expressed everything it was supposed to. It expressed Harry's good health, his wealth, and his power. And most importantly, Harry's happiness. That was clear as day in his bright emerald eyes.

He pulled the picture away from her gaze and tucked it back inside his robes. "Let's begin, shall we." Voldemort turned and beckoned Severus forward. "You like torturing creatures smaller than you… though, most things are smaller than you, aren't they?" he stated with a nasty curl of his lip as he studied her. He nodded when Severus stopped beside him. "I'm sure your animals feel left out. It's time to rectify that."

As he relieved her of the Silencio, Severus tossed a dull knife down at her feet.

Marjorie Dursley was a sputtering mess of nonsense at this point, staring down at the knife and making no move to grab it. Voldemort half turned, pointed his wand at one of the dogs and levitated it over and dropped it also at her feet. "Pick up the knife, Miss Dursley," he ordered and in such a voice she didn't even need to be Imperiused to do so. Though when she snatched the knife up, she wield it in front of her as if that would protect her.

"W-what are you?" she shrieked, staring around and mostly at his wand. "What do you want?"

"I'd rather not hear you speak," Voldemort responded. "And you know all you need to know about us."

"I knew he was a ruffian!" She spat, seeming to gain some bravery when none of the Death Eaters made a move. She sounded not unlike her dogs. "A bad egg, that Potter! Poison is what he is!"

"Crucio," Voldemort hissed. "He is known as Harry Riddle now, my husband, and I will allow no one to speak about him in such a way."

Marjorie Dursley was too busy lying on the ground, writhing and screaming to reply to that announcement. Most watched the muggle with smirks on their faces. Bella was back to cackling happily. When the Dark Lord released the curse, the muggle woman remained on her back, her eyes tightly closed as she whimpered and continued to tremble.

"It's a miracle he wasn't poisoned by you and your family," Voldemort sneered down at her. "Just remember, what happens here tonight is brought upon by your actions in regards to Harry. You've brought this on yourself for abusing a child."

"I never touched the freak!"

Voldemort beckoned with his hand and several people moved forward at once. Bella reached the muggle first. She skipped forward eagerly and shouted, "CRUCIO!"

After that round was over, Voldemort shook his head. "We're getting off topic. You know what you've done and we know what you've done. There is no need to rehash what we all know. We've come here to pay you back and now it shall begin. The torture of your precious animals."

Dursley stared down at the unconscious dog beside her, "N-no, p-please! Not my Annabelle!"

"Annabelle? Really?" someone whispered loudly. Voldemort recognized the voice belonging to one of the twins.

"Such a pretty name for an ugly dog! How dare she use such a pretty name!" The two then broke down into snickers. They didn't stop until the Death Eater between them smacked the backs of their heads.

The Dark Lord pointed his wand at the muggle's face. "Imperio. Sit up and take the knife." She did so immediately, looking dazed and daft and holding the knife out in front of her, clearly having no idea how to wield it properly.

Voldemort had to push down the urge to tell her to shove the knife into her neck and be done with it. And then at that mental picture, he bit back a demented laugh and instead started to give her a set of instructions; reviving the dog before she got started. Reviving it, but making sure it couldn't move all that much. Voldemort wanted the muggle to hear its painful whines and vicious snarls as it tried but failed to get away from that blade.

Marjorie Dursley was made to torture half her bulldog population. She had thirteen in total. After each one, the Imperius curse was lifted and she was left there to mourn the dog and build on the guilt, horror, and shock of doing what she was just made to do. By the end, by the time she'd tortured and killed six of her dogs, Marjorie was just a whimpering and sick wide eyed mess as she stared at the dogs and over herself, drenched in her dogs' blood and guts. It was a delightfully dreadful sight.

Voldemort moved away and his Death Eaters approached, tightening the circle. "You may do what you wish, but do not kill her."

The ones who felt especially connected to this went first. The twins and Draco and also Bella. She only jumped in the first group because she'd become inpatient to cast some pain. Through the duration of the torture, Voldemort stood back or circled the woman, taunting her and smirking at her pleads, but he did not throw a single curse. He was content to watch the show and watch Bella and the younger Death Eaters. He'd had his doubts about the twins; doubting if they could really get down and dirty with the torture, and though they had no finesse with it, they did not disappoint him. They dived in and seemed especially excited to do so. He wondered how long they'd been harboring the desire to torture this particular muggle.

Bella suddenly shrieked in agony, making everyone freeze and turn to her. She then huffed, twitched, and glided herself over to the twins. She snatched their wands and started beating them over the head with them. "No, no, no!" she shrieked. "You are not making sandwiches! This is an art form!"

She turned sharply on her heel and stalked passed each of them and paused beside Draco. Flashing him a disbelieving look, Bella slapped the fiends' wands into his hand.

"What's that even mean, Auntie Bella?" one of the twins whined.

"There's a certain finesse to torture that you two haven't developed yet," Draco responded with a little smile at his upset aunt.

"Well excuuuuse us! It's not like-" that twin ducked quickly when Bellatrix sent a crucio his way. "Okay! We'll try to be… more graceful? No need for violence, Auntie Bella!"

Voldemort chuckled darkly under his breath and after another minute, he called a halt to the cursing. He beckoned Severus to come forward to administer healing potions. Once the muggle was mostly healed, Voldemort stepped back and allowed Severus, Lucius, and the Lestrange brothers their turn to her while he still remained an observer. She wasn't worth getting his hands dirty. This time around the watching would be more enjoyable. Watching his followers get back at the muggle for Harry.

After nearly an hour, Voldemort called a halt to the torture and had her healed again, as much as she could be healed. Dursley was coherent enough to understand pain and the coming of more of it. She was good for nothing beyond screams and whimpers at this point. And any coherent words coming from her mouth were pleads and apologies. Apologies Voldemort knew weren't real, so he took no notice of it. He wouldn't have anyway, even if they had been sincere.

Voldemort circled her once more, smirking at the state of her. "Perhaps I should be merciful this once," he said as he moved and then looked around at his followers. Most were smirking back at him, knowing what their Lord was getting at. "Perhaps I'll give you a chance to flee. To save yourself. Would you like that, muggle?"

All she did was cry and choke on her own tears and saliva as she lay on her back, staring blankly up at the dark sky. Voldemort turned and gestured and six Death Eaters came forward. The Dark Lord stood over one of the remaining six dogs and conjured a leash and his Death Eaters did the same with the rest of the dogs. Voldemort gripped the leash tightly, revived the dog and then started whispering words under his breath. With each passing second the newly awakened bulldog became more aggressive until it was a mindless feral animal; snarling and snapping its jaws in Dursley's direction. The other dogs being conditioned in the same way.

An eerie anticipatory smile appeared on Voldemort's face as he faced the woman again. "I suggest you run now. You'll have thirty seconds before we release your dogs."

It took 'Aunt Marge' a full minute to even get up off her back. She started crawling away, not even bothering to climb to her feet. Despite the animals being her beloveds, she knew it wasn't them anymore. She could see it in their eyes. They wanted to rip her to shreds. Whatever the freakish men had done, they'd already taken her lovelies from her.

It wasn't a long show. Marge hardly got anywhere before the dogs were on her. Voldemort had the dogs released twenty seconds after she started crawling away. They may have been smallish dogs, but they were vicious and intended to kill. They swarmed over her and three immediately went for her throat, wherein her shrieks turned into hauntingly sweet gurgling gasps. The dogs ripped at her flesh for minutes on end, still eating away at her even when she went limp in death. Voldemort's eyes gleamed with pleasure as he watched all this, watched the muggle bitch die by the things she held most dear.

Finally he turned away, a satisfied smirk on his lips. "Kill them," he ordered. Several Death Eaters moved closer to the animals; the dogs were still intent on their victim and didn't notice their approach nor the flashes of green light that instantly administered death. The twins moved up after the other Death Eaters had backed away. The two stood over the mangled body of Marjorie Dursley, and as one, they spat on her shredded corpse.

When they returned to Draco's side, the blond looked at them. "Well?"

"That was rather exciting. Should've bet on the winning dog."

"Typical."

"And the fat cow got what she deserved…who's that?"

Several people turned to see two bright lights approaching from the road in front of the house. Voldemort moved forward until he could see the vehicle clearly. And when he did, when he realized who it was, he threw his head back and laughed.

When Tom returned home, he immediately went in search of Harry, knowing he would find the brat in the kitchen, even at this late hour, though it wasn't really Harry's fault since he'd been transmitting through link the entire time with the muggle. Harry wouldn't have been able to sleep through that. He travelled down the hallway that would lead to the kitchens and slowed a few feet away from the door when he heard voices. He wasn't suspicious, merely curious, for it seemed Hermione was with Harry and they were obviously having a serious discussion about something.

"He won't let you."

"Hermione, something has to be done. And he may. This will help Tom to."

"It's a huge project, Harry."

"You've told me this a thousand times already. I know. I'm prepared. Are you?"

"Of course, Harry. I only want to make sure. Once we start, we have to keep going. The things we'll see there! If you thought the Veela slave trade was bad…"

"I know," Harry answered in a hard tone. "I know. That's one reason why we're doing this. I want to run it, Hermione. It will be under Silver control. Nothing will happen without us knowing about it. Nothing happens without our say so."

Hermione giggled. "Kind of like the mafia."

"Yeah. Pretty much. The magical mafia…" Harry trailed off and Tom didn't need to look in the kitchen to know Harry was grinning excitedly. "Except we have bloody morals. By the time we're done with the Magical Black Market, no one will dare cross the Silvers. Ever. If I have to live in this world, there's certain things I'll no longer abide by. And if I can help destroy these things and fix other aspects that need fixing, then I bloody well will! Besides, we already have an opening. Charlie knows some people and the twins sure as hell do. They have excellent places to start."

"But, Harry… Voldemort-"

"I just have to get all the facts, make a wicked plan of attack, lay the plans out to him, and then silver tongue may way through convincing him."

"You cannot charm a professional charmer."

"Very helpful, Hermione."

"It's true. You can't sugar coat this. All he's going to see is parts of our plans mean you going out frequently throughout the next months."

"For the time being all we're going to be doing is observing. We won't really attack until after the New Year sometime. After the twins are born for sure. And that's if we have enough information by then."

"I just don't think you should get so excited about this so soon, Harry. You don't know what his final word will be."

"I'm not excited," Harry mumbled.

Hermione laughed. "Yes you are! You live for this, don't try to deny it! The adrenaline rush. The excitement. The danger. You can't sit still for any length of time, Harry. You never have."

"Whatever. This will work."

"I agree. Our plans are very well thought out. But that's not the problem, Harry. For this, the Silvers will need their leader. And that's the problem. The Dark Lord won't allow this right now."

"I'll talk to him. We'll get as much done as we can before I get too big to move."

Hermione laughed at that. Tom smirked as he turned around and headed back down the hallway. Once back at the end, he let his magic slip passed his control, let his aura slip through their link and then walked back towards the kitchen. Since he did that, Harry knew he was close by, so Tom wasn't surprise to find the talking had stopped. Hermione was sitting at the kitchen island, scratching out on parchment with a quill while Harry sat across from her, slowly mixing something in a bowl. Both looked to him when he entered and both tried especially hard for innocent looks. It might have worked had Tom not heard what they'd been talking about a minute before.

Tom studied his husband as he took one of the empty stools. Harry reached out and brushed a few strands of unruly brown hair away from Tom's face. His fingers lingered on Tom's neck, just below his ear. "Is that her blood?" he asked softly, tapping the spot.

Tom only just became aware of the feeling of dried blood there and he nodded. Harry's fingers remained there for a moment more before pulling away. "What happened to her?"

"Dogs turned on her. Killed by the little beasts she adored so much."

It didn't surprise Tom when Harry's lips peeled back to reveal a sharp malicious grin. "Fitting."

"I thought you would think so." Then they went back to studying each other. Tom finally turned to study Hermione, but she was keeping her gaze strictly on the parchment. When he turned back to Harry, it was to find his husband half glaring at him.

"You were eavesdropping. You heard us, didn't you?"

Tom heard Hermione suck in a breath, but he ignored her for the time being and concentrated on Harry. "Now would be as good a time as any to pitch this project of yours to me."

"What exactly did you hear… you eavesdropping wanker!"

The Dark Lord smirked. "The Magical Mafia. Silvers controlling the Magical Black Market… now does this involve all of Europe or strictly Britain?" he asked in genuine interest.

"Britain for now," Hermione answered before Harry could. She shrugged when Harry turned to give her a little glare. "He heard, Harry. Might as well be now."

Harry huffed. "I wasn't ready," he whined. "Besides, you've already made up your mind so tell me your answer first and then I'll throw a fit."

"No. I haven't decided… the idea is a good one, a challenging one also, but one I know you can accomplish. However, your condition… explain what you will be doing in the next few months and then we can talk about it more."

"First it's going to be trips into one of the physical markets. Disguised and mainly invisible. We keep our heads down and watch everything and everyone. We'll become familiarized with all that goes on there and with everyone who is a regular. It's the regulars we want to keep tally of. It's pretty much information gathering, Tom. We want to know every last detail before we make a huge move in taking over. We'll have to do it slowly and carefully so as not to draw attention. We'll have to do it long enough that by the time we're ready for the next part of our plan, our disguised selves will be a permanent trust worthy feature of the market. The twins even thought to set up an illegal gambling ring with Lee Jordan as a cover."

Harry tried not to hold his breath as Tom processed all of this. Looking over, Harry could see Hermione did have her breath held. After an excruciating five minutes of Tom being indrawn with thoughts; his genius brain going over everything he'd heard and been told, finally he sat back and nodded. "You will always have someone with you and as you said, you will stop when you've become too big to move."

"Really?" Harry gasped, a huge smile spreading on his face.

"Yes. Now it's time for bed."

Tom stood up and looked at Harry expectantly.

"But I've got…" Harry trailed off and dropped the hand he'd been waving towards the counter. "Things I can finish tomorrow, I suppose," he ended weakly, knowing the look he was receiving was the end of the line look. Harry figured he shouldn't press his luck.

Harry passed on his bowl to Tally, who was always standing close by, waiting for an order. The little house elf took the bowl and went to put it away. Harry knew she would also put a charm on it to keep the mixture fresh until he could get back to it. While he was doing that, Hermione was gathering up her parchments. She paused, remembering something and then she dipped down to pick up the bag she'd placed under her stool.

"Sir," she said to Tom as she rummaged through the bag. "I have that catalogue you wanted. I apologize for the time it took to get it to you."

Her cheeks were already red, and Harry's did the same when she delivered the magazine into Tom's outstretched hand.

"Since you were gone on a mission, I can let it go this time," the Dark Lord murmured distractedly as he paged through the thick catalogue, eyebrows rising further with each page looked at. Several times he paused in his study of the magazine to give Harry the once over, his eyes darkening with each imagined outfit on his young husband. Somewhere along the way Hermione snuck out of the kitchen.

"Are you honestly going to purchase something from that?" Harry asked as he grabbed the distracted Dark Lord's arm and began dragging him out of the kitchen. Tom followed along, but most of his attention was still on the open catalogue in his hands.

"Some of these things are really very tasteful, Harry."

Harry leaned against Tom's side and looked at the lingerie catalogue. His ears started burning. "And some of those things are really very see-through," he whispered.

Tom finally closed the catalogue and tucked it under an arm. "It's amusing," he murmured, wrapping the other arm around Harry's shoulders.

"What is?"

"Your embarrassment. You're usually never embarrassed. Must be a pregnancy thing. This is one aspect I enjoy."

"Psychotic git."

Tom looked down at him with a small sexy smirk. "Is that the best you can do?"

Harry lifted his face, meeting Tom's eyes. Finally he grinned. "You had a fun time didn't you?"

"Yes. It was quite enjoyable. Especially when I told her exactly why we were there and what she could have done to avoid her painful demise. She was begging for forgiveness by the time we were done with her."

Harry was silent a minute while Tom continued to lead them up the stairs towards their bedroom. "What about that spike of absolute bliss I felt half an hour ago?" he asked. "I'll have you know that dropped me to the ground for a minute." When Tom stopped dead in his tracks, Harry rolled his eyes and grabbed Tom's hand to keep him going. "I'm okay, obviously. So what happened?"

Tom didn't answer until they were in their bedroom. When beside the bed, they immediately set to undressing each other. "As we were leaving," the Dark Lord murmured lowly, in that rich smooth voice that always sent Harry's pulse jumping, "the muggle woman received visitors. Oh I laughed, Harry. I laughed and laughed."

Harry managed to smile just before Tom started kissing him; stealing his breath and his own laugh. As he was kissed, Tom pushed Harry's shirt off his shoulders and stripped it from his arms before tossing it somewhere and then went on to finish with Harry's pants while Harry was able to get Tom's tunic off. But he didn't go for his husband's pants and instead happily occupied his hands by running them across Tom's chest, down his stomach, and then back up over his shoulders.

He jerked his head back when they both needed air. Tom didn't pay attention to things like that. Especially not now when he was in one of his moods. But it was a lovely mood so Harry wasn't really complaining. "Y-you were s-saying," he began breathlessly, and then had to take a deep breath because Tom's mouth was working on his neck and he could hardly think. "A-about the visitors?"

Tom wrapped an arm around his waist and grabbed the back of his head, pulling Harry as he backed up towards the bed. When Tom lay on his back, Harry immediately crawled on top of him, straddling his husband. He wasted no time in leaning down and swiping his tongue against Tom's nipple, moaning from the salty taste and the musky scent of his husband.

Tom settled a light hand on the back of Harry's neck. "Your relatives arrived."

He frowned when that tongue disappeared from his chest and Harry's face popped up to stare at him with wide eyes. "Was that your doing?"

"No. Purely coincidence. Apparently after hearing about your cousin and then their house burning, Miss Dursley invited them to stay with her until something could be sorted. They were of course subtly led to the scene of Marjorie Dursley's demise. Oh, the anguish, Harry."

Harry took a moment to process this before that blinding smile lit up his face. "Brilliant."

Tom started laughing again. That wonderful laugh Harry prayed he would hear for the rest of his life. And he laughed along with his husband as Tom flipped them around and pressed over him, resuming their earlier activity and ceased Harry's need for talking.

---

Two weeks after Marge's demise and Harry would still break out into a vindictive smile every so often. And this was the smile that was on his face as he grabbed his notes and order forms before leaving his study. In contemplative silence, he traveled through the manor until he found his husband in the library with the single candle lit. Upon entering, he waved his wand, lighting a few more. Tom frowned in annoyance, shifted in his seat, and continued reading.

"You'll hurt your back sitting like that all the time."

"I will have no comments like that from you. Slouch king that you are."

Harry set his papers down and took the seat opposite Tom. "Slouch Emperor," he corrected, "and I'll thank you never to forget it."

Tom looked up sharply and laughed. "Very true," he said, half standing and leaning over; reaching a hand up to cup Harry's neck and drag his husband into a kiss. "Cheeky."

Harry pulled back with a hum, smiling that lop sided grin. "Since you don't seem so busy right now and appear to be in a fantastic mood, I'll now lay this on you and hope for the best." He slapped the papers down in front of Tom over his book. "Dates I'll need to be away for business."

Tom immediately frowned and started reading over the papers. "No… No… Perhaps… No… Definitely not... No… I approve of this one."

"One out of seven? Tom!"

"Three of these events will need to see Belial as a guest."

Harry sat back. "Oh." Then he leaned forward quickly. "Really?"

"Yes. Two of your jobs happen at two of these events, while the third is unrelated."

"And the other four?" Harry demanded, jabbing a finger in the parchments direction.

"You cannot go. That is the end of it."

"That's not the end! The least you could do is tell me why!"

"You'll be too far along and you've already promised not to go against me on this. I don't even know why you thought you could slip this in here."

Harry relaxed back in his chair and rolled his head back. "Never hurts to try. What about the 'perhaps' one?"

"That depends entirely on how well you feel during your Silver business."

Harry said nothing to this. He still couldn't believe Tom had agreed to the black market project. Without any nagging on Harry's part. So he was going to keep quiet now because he didn't want to press his luck.

Tom leaned back in his chair, took a deep breath, and then released it; all the while smiling as if he knew what Harry was thinking.

"Yes?" Harry inquired while glaring.

"I was only enjoying the peaceful silence."

"Yeah," Harry said, standing and nodding. "Enjoy the silence, Tom. Enjoy it."

Tom straightened and eyed him suspiciously. Harry caught his narrowed look and laughed. He laughed and waved and walked out of the library.

"Just what do you mean by that? Harry!"

Harry snickered and kept walking.

---

That evening Harry stumbled out of the Floo into Grimmauld Place and began to wipe the soot off his robe as he caught himself and then started his way out of the kitchen. As soon as he crossed into the hallway, he was accosted by Hermione.

"You're late!"

"Not on purpose. Is Neville here yet?"

"No. In fact it's you, Neville, and Nathan we're all waiting on. Why?" she asked when Harry frowned.

"I've been trying to get a hold of him but haven't been able to. I only know that he's been in contact with Lucius several times over the last couple of weeks."

"I'm sure he'll be here tonight. It's a full meeting," Hermione said as they walked into the meeting room where most of the Silvers, human and vampire, were congregated. As Hermione said, Neville and Nathan were still absent.

He hadn't been seated a minute when he felt the wards around Grimmauld shift and expand, allowing pre keyed-in wizards or witches through. From the magical shift, Harry recognized it to be Tom, Severus, and Lucius. It wasn't unusual for those three to pop up during a meeting- they were never seen- so Harry pushed them to the back of his mind and concentrated on those who were in the room with him.

Harry and the others turned to the door when the second to last Silver joined the meeting. There was a general call out of "Neville!" throughout the room, but soon everyone went quiet when Neville kept his gaze mostly on the floor and shuffled around the table to a free seat, giving only a half-hearted wave in an absent direction.

"Neville?" Harry asked quietly.

"Neville, what's wrong?" Hermione asked when Harry didn't get an answer.

"Nothing."

"Where's Nathan?" Harry questioned. He figured he'd ask since Nathan was the only Silver missing and as far as he knew Nathan was still living with Neville.

"Don't know where he is. Not surprised he's not here," Neville finally answered in a bitter tone.

Harry waited for more but when it was apparent Neville had nothing more to say, he spoke again. "Neville?" he prodded, feeling there was much more going on here.

Neville swallowed thickly and raised his face to look at Harry with blood shot eyes. "H-Harry… can I speak with you alone?"

Harry nodded and was instantly up. He then led Neville out of the room, quickly down the hall and into the library. There was a table in the middle of the room. The two wizards moved there and set in the chairs. Harry sat back and Neville didn't need any prodding to explain.

"That night… my birthday… I let him-I wanted it, you know?" Neville whispered and Harry nodded, knowing what it was Nathan and Neville had done that night. He'd been wondering about that. "It was amazing, Harry. He took really good care of me. Made me feel… but I guess it was all a joke," he ground out, dropping his eyes to the table and balling his hands into fists. "I haven't seen him since then. I woke up and he was gone the next morning. He finally got what he wanted and had no reason to stick around I guess. Three weeks and I haven't seen or heard from him. Suppose it's my fault. Falling for it. For him. It's just, I thought... I felt-" he cut off and shook his head.

First Harry's eyes had widened, but when the rest of his friend's words sank in, he narrowed them. Anger quickly rising within and making him ball his hands until his nails were cutting into his skin.

Before he could say anything, Neville started to laugh. A low dry not-amused laugh. "That's not the worst of it."

Harry was almost afraid to ask, but he did anyway. "And…what's the worst of it?"

Neville laughed again, this time hysterically. "I'm up the duff with a vampire's baby."

Harry sat back heavily, rubbing his neck and completely astonished.

"I've been feeling sick for a bit now," Neville went on quietly. "At first I thought it was because… because I felt abandoned and betrayed. I thought it was heartbreak at first that was making me so sick, but it's not. I went to St. Mungo's this morning..."

Harry slowly stood then, reaching out to squeeze his friend's shoulder once. "I'll be right back," he said softly.

He turned away after Neville dropped his head to the table. Harry strode from the room and then stopped in shock when he found his husband, Severus, and Lucius standing just outside the door. It was quite clear they had heard everything. Harry started moving again; glaring at them as he passed and headed straight back to the meeting room.

"Trent," he began in a level voice once he'd entered the room. "Perhaps you could go and locate our missing vampire for me?" it was clearly an order posed as a polite question.

Trent studied Harry's stiff posture and angry eyes before he nodded and looked at two others. Then the three vampires stood and left the room.

"Harry, what is it?" Hermione asked. "Is Neville alright?"

"No, he's not."

All of the Weasleys stiffened; their faces losing all trace of joviality. It was Fred who spoke for all of them. "What happened?"

Harry shook his head. It wasn't his story to tell. Neville would do that if he wanted. "He's not… he'll be alright eventually, and we'll all help him through this."

"Whatever it is, of course we will," Bill answered and he was backed by firm nods from everyone.

Harry nodded before leaving to return to Neville. He shook his head on the way, wishing Neville had come to him when he realized Nathan wasn't coming back. His friend had spent three weeks alone, depressed and doubting himself. No wonder Neville hadn't returned any of his owls. Harry had known Neville was corresponding with Lucius and so had assumed his friend was alright and only too busy currently to answer his owls. They hadn't been urgent owls anyway.

Harry paused mid step when he found Tom, Lucius, and Severus still standing outside of the library, all three discussing something under their breath. Mostly it was Tom saying something while the others nodded.

"This is fortunate," Lucius said just before he noticed Harry watching them with narrowed eyes. "In the long run, certainly."

"Yes. Very fortunate," Tom murmured as he turned to face Harry, not the least bit surprised to see him standing there.

"Why would you even think it was okay to eavesdrop?" Harry asked lowly.

"You've done it before," Severus was quick to answer with a raised challenging brow.

"Well I-" yeah, he had. "But this… you shouldn't have heard this. The last thing he needs is for people to laugh at him behind his back."

"Do we look amused?" Lucius asked.

"Aside from that, you should have put up wards against eavesdropping. I assume you've gone to order Nathan's capture."

Harry scratched the back of his neck. "Not in so many words, but yeah." His hand dropped heavily to his side. "He has a lot to answer for. I warned him… and this is much worse."

Harry walked by them and entered the room, closing the door with a snap and erecting those privacy barriers. Harry could see this hurting Neville in a lot of ways. Ways beyond Nathan leaving and breaking Neville's heart. For starters, Nathan leaving before Neville had even woken up after them finally shagging would have carved out a huge hole in his friend's self-esteem. Not to mention the fact that now he was pregnant. So now Neville was going to think he was the little boy his Gran had kept saying he was. He was going to think he couldn't do anything right. That he always needed to be watched over and told what to do, or mistakes like this would happen… although Harry really didn't think of it as a mistake, aside from the fact Neville was unmarried. That was another point that would get to Neville. He was Lord Longbottom. And now he was a pregnant unmarried Lord Longbottom.

Harry sat beside Neville, peering at his bowed head. "What do you want to do?"

"Forget him," Neville immediately answered as if he'd been praying for that very thing for days. "Forget this."

Harry glared at the table. "He should have known better!" he hissed.

Neville shook his head. "It was my responsibility too. I knew… I had known it was possible. We all know there are half vampires out there. I just-I wasn't thinking then. At first, when he took me to my room, leaving you downstairs, I managed to get away from him. But I wanted him then anyway. He was going to back off like he always does. He just wanted to get me in bed to sleep." Neville turned, looking at Harry, a blush on his face. "I started it. I practically begged him. Wouldn't take no for an answer," he whispered. "Maybe if I hadn't…"

"I'm not making excuses for him, but… at this point it's fairly certain he doesn't know about the baby and we don't know why he left, Neville."

"Even if he tried to come back to the manor… I warded my estate against Vampires two weeks ago. I was so very angry at that point."

"It's understandable."

"Do you think he has somewhere safe to go during the days?" Harry couldn't help but smile at that. "Wonder how many other little Nathans are running around out there?" Neville muttered bitterly.

Harry grabbed his wrist and shook him. "You don't know why he left. We don't. So we shouldn't jump to conclusions. When we get him, then we'll ask, and then we'll stake his nonexistent heart— Not really, Neville!" he exclaimed when that last statement seemed to cause Neville to panic. "But he won't get away with this if he left just because all he wanted was a shag from you, understand? He knew better. Now… what about the baby? What do you want to do?"

"Do?" Neville blinked at him. "I… don't know. Just found out today. Mind's been kind of blank all day, Harry. I don't know what to do."

Harry pulled in a breath and rubbed his own stomach. He had to ask the question even if it pained him. He wanted to help Neville as much as he could and no matter Neville's decision, he would stand beside him for support the whole way. "Do you want to keep it?"

"Dunno."

"When was the last time you slept?"

Neville reached up to rub a spot on the side of his neck as if hypnotized. "Dunno that either," he whispered.

Watching him rub his neck, Harry thought of another question. "Did he bite you?"

That seemed to pull Neville out of his momentary funk and his face flushed. "Yeah. I gave him permission. Wanted to be his donor. It hurt at first, Harry. It hurt an awful lot and then it was brilliant and then he kind of… he kind of freaked out, apologized, and then got back to doing incredible things- which had nothing to do with my neck- and we both kind of forgot about his biting and his behavior. Or at least I did, but now that I remember, as I was falling asleep, he was lying there staring at my neck. He looked sort of… troubled. Never had a chance to ask him about it though, obviously. Wanker."

Harry's brows lowered in confusion. "Why would he be upset when you gave him permission to bite you? That doesn't make sense. Maybe… maybe that's what ran him off, whatever was bothering him. I hate to think Nathan was a monumental bastard this whole time."

"I know. But why would he stay after getting what he'd wanted?"

Harry understood this was Neville's mentality right now and his opinion on the matter wasn't going to change until he heard from Nathan again. Harry couldn't imagine… well maybe he could. He could imagine sitting there, being pregnant with his twins. He tried imagining Tom had left him… Hadn't he been afraid that first time he and Tom had made love? He had been so afraid it was all a game to Tom. He'd been so scared and panicky. He'd been sick with the thought. Even now, just the thought of not having Tom… and Neville was sitting beside him going through it for real.

"Will you let me help you?"

Neville lifted his eyes to his and nodded.

"Okay, first before we do anything, I have to tell you… um, try not to get really mad. Try to keep calm-"

"Oh, Merlin."

"Right. Um… Tom, Severus, and Lucius eavesdropped earlier. When you told me about being up the duff. They heard that."

Neville's forehead hit the table with a loud thunk.

Harry nodded, agreeing. "Yeah. Slimy Slytherins, eh?"

Neville moaned. "I'm ruined… even more!"

After ten minutes, Harry managed to get Neville to lift his head from the table. His friend was being stubbornly stubborn about it. "It'll be alright, Nev. I promise. Tonight, you can kip at my place. I think you should. You really need some sleep. Let me take care of you for a couple of days. You can relax and think about things for a time and make your decisions in a few days."

"Okay, Harry."

Neville's agreement just like that surprised Harry and he frowned when he realized Neville really had no idea what he was suggesting. But that was okay. Harry wasn't going to explain it in detail to him.

"Do you feel like going back to the meeting?"

"Are the vampires still there?"

"Most of them. Trent went off with two others."

"To find Nathan?" Harry nodded as they both stood. "I don't want to see him."

"No," Harry agreed. "You need some peace right now."

Neville didn't say anything to that, keeping his face purposely blank as he followed Harry through the house back to the meeting room. Harry noticed Lucius and Severus had left, but he could still feel his husband was still somewhere within the house. Probably lurking in the library, where they had just come from. Or at least that's what he thought until he walked in and saw Bunnymort sitting regally on Hermione's lap. Hermione was talking with the vampire sitting next to her and scratching Bunnymort behind his ears. The bunny's nose twitching every once in a while.

"Oi, Harry! Why won't your bunny let us pet him?" George demanded the moment he and Neville were spotted. Clearly everyone wanted to know what was going on with Neville but they were going to pretend nothing was wrong until Neville seemed to want questions.

"He doesn't like people," Harry said, accepting Bunnymort when Hermione gently handed him over. He fell in love all over again when the bunny snuggled against his chest without any prompting.

Harry cut a glance at Neville, who was staring at the table and trying to ignore the vampire sitting beside him, Wills. Wills, Harry knew, was a friend of Nathan's. They'd been turned the same year and had connected soon after becoming vampires when they joined the same coven.

"Why didn't you go help find him?" Harry asked lowly. Too low for the others at the other end of the table to hear. Wills looked over and noticed Harry was staring at him. "You would know where to look."

"And so does Trent." Wills looked at Neville, concern in his eyes. "What did he do?"

Everyone heard that and the room went quiet. Neville looked at Harry, who shrugged. A silent message that said it was his decision if he wanted to tell. Neville looked back down at his hands, seemingly very concerned with a bit of dirt under one of his nails.

"I'm... going to have a baby."

Harry was very relieved the twins didn't jump in with any of their usual comments. He completely expected them to take the piss out of Neville. And even if it would have only been in good fun, it wouldn't have been appreciated at the moment. But everyone sat there, and everyone's eyes were narrowing.

"Nathan's?" asked Wills softly.

"Yeah. He doesn't know. Haven't seen him in three weeks."

Luna peered at him curiously. "How far along are you?"

"Three weeks."

"That bastard!" the twins exclaimed.

"Can we talk about something else?" Neville murmured.

"Yes, and we're all going to keep this to ourselves, right?" Harry asked, looking around the table, getting nods from everyone. "Good. Now today's order of business is our next project, which will be a long one. Long but fun, I should think. Dangerous too, just in case any of you are wondering," Harry said, grinning excitedly. Many of those around the table matched his grin, and Harry was pleased to see Neville was one of those.

"So what's this new fun mission going to be?" Angelina inquired.

"The magical Black Market," Harry declared with a little smirk, eyes taking in every member.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't we already cross that with the Veela?"

"That was only a fraction of what goes on," Hermione replied to Parvati.

Harry cleared his throat. "To make it simple, I want the black market under our control. There are things going on there that need to stop. Not everything, just some things. We will take it, clean it, and keep it under our control. Essentially, and this is Hermione's wording, we are to become the Wizarding mafia. Hermione," he ended, handing the floor to her and snickered at the gleam in the twins' eyes.

Hermione nodded and opened the folder containing her notes and she began to talk about the plans they had made to infiltrate the black market under disguise at first. There would be dozens and dozens of stake outs before they would make their first obvious strikes. The Silvers were handed individual packets of information, they chose partners and groups for locations and times and by the time the meeting was coming to a close, almost everyone looked excited with this new venture. It would be exciting, no doubt about that.

"You two," Harry said to the twins, who tried smiling innocently. Harry shook his head. "You play for two sides. But this is strictly a Silver affair. The Death Eaters get enough fun as it is. You're only allowed to tell one person about this outside of this room, understand?"

"Sure thing, Harry."

"Alright, everyone's dismissed. We'll meet back here in three days to begin operation black market."

George sighed and Fred shook his head.

"What?" Harry asked after seeing their expressions.

"That's a horrible name for a super wicked classy spying operation such as this one," Fred announced. "We're disappointed in you, Harry."

"Fine. You two come up with a better name."

"Wicked! We'll get right on that and report back later."

Harry smiled and nodded and watched the twins and the rest of the Silvers leave. He remained seated with the only ones left in the room; Hermione and Neville.

"It'll be alright, Neville."

Neville looked across the table to Hermione and he blinked tiredly at her. She smiled encouragingly at him.

"Nev needs rest."

Hermione nodded and stood, leaning over the table to pat Neville's hand. She looked at Harry. "Going with you?" Harry nodded. "Good. We'll talk later then, Neville. Get some rest."

And then she was gone, most likely on a 'research session' with Andrew. Harry stood, clutching Bunnymort against his chest, and waited for Neville to get up. Once that was done, he lured Neville into the hall and pulled out his dagger necklace. Before Neville could understand what was happening, Harry grabbed his friend's arm and activated the Portkey.

The moment they landed within the master bedroom, Harry released Bunnymort and watched his husband hop out of the room. He only laughed a little before turning to find Neville staring at him with wide slightly fearful eyes.

"Are we- are we… is this?"

"You're safe here, Neville. No need to panic," Harry assured as he turned and headed towards the dresser where he kept his sleep attire.

"Is that your bed?" Neville asked incredulously. Harry looked over his shoulder and laughed, seeing the gaping mouth look as his friend studied the humongous bed. "Is there an actual need for such a bed? Do you even touch?"

"I guess he wanted a bed to match his ego." Harry laughed again and started rummaging through his drawer. "If you think that's bad, you should see the bathroom. Though to be fair, it's really easy to get used to."

The only response he got was a squeak. It sounded as if Neville had tried to speak and his voice got caught in some emotion. Harry already knew Tom had entered the room by the time he turned around. What he did not expect was to see Tom grabbing Neville's elbow and dragging his friend to the bathroom. It was only a moment before Harry heard the sound of retching.

Tom came back out with a scowl. "I don't believe I've ever had someone look at me and then immediately have the need to vomit. Cry, yes. Scream in terror, certainly. Faint even. But vomit? No."

Harry snickered slightly. "It was very nice of you to direct him to the bathroom."

Tom narrowed his eyes. "You are completely responsible for him."

Harry nodded slowly, waiting for more. Waiting for Tom to tell him Neville was only allowed to stay the night. Waiting for Tom to spout off insensitive things about Neville's current predicament. Waiting for the lecture about inviting someone over without talking to him about it… Harry admitted he should have talked to Tom first. But Tom said only that one thing and left, most likely to his office or personal study. Which was very odd. Tom hadn't even complained about Neville being in their private bedchambers. Tom was up to something.

Harry was pulled from his thoughts when he heard a choked off sob. "Tally," he called softly. When Tally immediately arrived, Harry handed over the sleep clothes he'd found for Neville to use that night. "Prepare a guest room… I think the blue one down the hall will do. I want a mild dreamless sleep draught to be waiting by the bed as well. Thank you."

Tally popped away after bowing and Harry then went into the bathroom, finding Neville sitting near the toilet; knees drawn to his chest and face hidden against them. Harry crouched down, placing a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. "It'll be alright, Neville."

He was only speaking about the baby. He couldn't give reassurances about anything else, about Nathan, which was a shame because Harry was absolutely certain this sadness, the depression was because of the vampire. Neville really must have loved him.

"H-he d-didn't kill me," Neville whispered in shock.

"Nope."

Neville pulled in a deep breath and then looked at his friend with wide disbelieving eyes. "I threw up in You-Know-Who's lavatory!"

Harry laughed and helped his friend off the floor. "Just call him Voldemort, Lord Riddle, or sir. Don't go on with that you-know-who business while you stay here."

Soon Harry saw Neville to his room and into bed after he'd changed his clothes. Neville seemed relieved the bed wasn't an absurdly large one. Harry then made Neville take the dreamless sleep potion knowing it wouldn't hurt the baby since Severus had given him the same potion a few times already.

"Call for Tally if you need anything when you wake up tomorrow," Harry told him as he headed for the door after seeing Neville safe in bed and under the covers.

"Thanks, Harry," whispered Neville as his eyes closed for much needed sleep.

Harry only nodded as he turned and shut the door. He then stood there, pressing his forehead against the cool wood, his composed expressions morphing into ones of worry and pain. He pulled in a shuddering breath and turned to head back to his own room.

It was hours later, a couple after Tom had come to bed, but Harry wasn't asleep. He hadn't been able to keep his eyes closed for more than five minutes and after what seemed like an eternity lying still and stiff in bed, he'd gotten up and was now sitting on the edge of their bed, staring off at the wall. He wasn't really seeing anything. For one, it was dark in the room. And two, he didn't have his glasses on so everything was blurry. He wasn't really surprised he couldn't sleep. He was too worried about Neville and the circumstances surrounding Neville's current depression.

Harry still couldn't believe Nathan had taken off just like that. And then the fact that the other vampires couldn't find Nathan, or at least they hadn't found him yet which made Harry think Nathan was no longer in the country. He'd been so certain Nathan wasn't being a wanker; leading Neville on. Neville must have thought so too. Neville would never have lain with Nathan unless he'd been sure, and yet here they were with Nathan missing.

Do you really know a person? It was a frightening thought, Harry surmised as he drew in a shuddering breath and bit his bottom lip. He started rubbing a palm over the blossoming bump of his abdomen, a sense of panic washing through him. What would he do if Tom left him? How would he survive?

A hand touched his hip and Harry jerked in surprise. "Harry?"

"Tom," he whispered back.

"Come back to bed."

"You won't leave me, will you, Tom?" he whispered, not moving an inch. "You won't leave us?"

The following silence was heavy and encompassing. So much so that Harry began to breathe faster with each second that passed when Tom didn't answer. Why wasn't Tom answering? Maybe he didn't want to. Maybe he didn't want to tell the truth. If Harry had turned and looked, he would have seen Tom staring at him; eyes narrowed in worry and contemplation. But Harry didn't look because he was too afraid. He was trapped in his panic.

Tom's lips thinned as he realized what was going on and why Harry was using that soft small voice again and asking questions he knew the answers to. Tom inwardly snarled; mentally cursing that damned impregnating vampire. He slid out of bed and rounded it to kneel in front of Harry, whose gaze seemed to be plastered to a spot over his shoulder. "We've been over-"

"Don't leave me. Don't leave me. Never leave me."

Tom slid a hand to Harry's knee and squeezed gently. "Harry, stop this-"

Harry's eyes finally dropped to Tom's face. Fury and panic and power lit those green eyes in a vicious way. "I won't let you!" he shouted. "I won't let you leave me! I will never let you leave me!"

This was better. The rage and possessiveness. And although Harry was having a bit of a mental breakdown at the moment, Tom couldn't help but appreciate the fire burning in Harry's eyes. The little minx meant every word he said and Tom found he didn't mind it. "That's right, Harry. You would rather see me dead before-"

Harry gasped, eyes going wide in horror and he shook his head rapidly. "No! You can't die! I don't want you to die!" he exclaimed before bursting into tears.

"Don't cry!" Tom exclaimed in horror, quickly standing. "Harry, don't cry! You know I can't-"

"Please," Harry whispered brokenly. "Please don't ever."

Tom reached down, grabbed Harry by the elbows and pulled his shaking body to him. "I will not," Tom said more softly, running a trembling hand through his young husband's hair. "I swear on all that I am. I swear on my magic. I will never leave you. Calm down now. Come back to bed," he coaxed; using the soft voice he sometimes did when trying to calm one of his wild spooked horses.

When he had Harry finally lying down, Tom hovered over him. "Do not cry," he ordered roughly.

Harry managed a shaky nod as he wiped the tears off his face with the edge of the sheet. "Sorry."

"Bloody vampire," Tom muttered, pressing his face against Harry's bare chest.

"I'm sorry," Harry whispered again as he dropped his fingers into Tom's thick hair.

"You will cease with that ridiculous insecure tone."

Harry pressed his lips together, trying to keep them from trembling and trying to blank his mind from everything except the soft loving kisses Tom was bestowing upon his chest and lower down to his stomach.

Tom went down until he came to the small bump. He dropped a kiss there too. "I wanted a baby for you," he began softly, nuzzling that bump. "That was my first thought. I wanted to give you back a family. It's what you've always wanted. But do you know what you've done?" He lifted his face and Harry shook his head. "There is a part of me, a part of me deep deep down that has always wanted the same. And you've provided that—Harry, if you repeat this to anyone I swear to give you a punishment you will not enjoy."

Finally a smile curved the little minx's mouth. "Promise."

Tom nodded firmly. "Right. Where was I?" he asked just before dropping another kiss to Harry's stomach.

Harry started to happily fondle Tom's hair. "A part of you deep deep down that wanted the same and I provided it."

"Hm, yes… did you get the message?"

"No. I think you need to be more elaborate." Harry laughed when Tom scowled at him. "I can have tea fetched if you like?"

Tom dropped his nose back to Harry's stomach, and only then did he roll his eyes in exasperation. He supposed- and was hoping- that it was only the emotional upheaval due to the pregnancy that had caused this little meltdown. He sincerely hoped it was that and not Harry actually really believing these things again. And yet even though he felt a relief that it was probably only pregnancy hormones, it was also worrying for Tom since apparently, according to the books and Narcissa, this was only the tip of the iceberg and Harry had always been emotional before anyway. And those tears! Those tears had been horrible! Harry's tears made him panic. Made him feel destructible. Made him feel as if he weren't actually capable of taking on anything.

"You've… brought me family too, Harry," he finally whispered after a time. "And I don't think I can express what that means to me."

"You can express it by getting me some of that rainbow sherbet dessert I made this morning."

Tom lifted his face, peering at Harry with a cocked brow. "Sherbet?"

Harry squirmed under his not quite so patient stare. "I'm hungry, Tom."

"Sherbet at this hour?"

"Or something! I'm starving!"

"And you want me to… fetch it for you? Is that it?" Tom asked, watching his young husband dubiously. Harry grinned and nodded. Tom frowned. "You want me, the Dark Lord, to fetch you food?"

Harry matched his frown. "You are not the Dark Lord when in our bed, Tom."

The older wizard smirked and slithered up his body. "Am I not?"

Harry valiantly tried to fight off his bodily reaction to having Tom purring in his ear with that low seductive voice that drove him mad.

"Is that not a part of me? Is that not a part of why I can make you spread your legs with one look?"

Harry bit his lip and tried to not look into the eyes staring at him. And he tried to keep from squirming and spreading his legs because hands started groping him. And it really wasn't fair because Tom was completely right.

"Changed my mind. Don't want sherbet."

Tom smirked down at him. "Not hungry anymore?"

"No, you smirking arsehole. I want some of you instead."

---

A/N: yes, yes, I know it's been a long time, but it's been a hectic summer and I do have two other huge stories in the works and I have to hop from story to story after each chapter because I refuse to put any of them on hiatus.

Anyway, hope this chap makes up for the wait. And you'll be happy to know the next BB chap is already written so you'll get another chapter soon.

Thanks again for all your lovely reviews (and your patience) and have a great day! :D