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Chapter 25 – Strange Behavior
The time that they spent traveling home, Miki kept his nose in a book working through the words and constantly asking his parents for help. Finally Harry took the boy on his lap and began to read to him. The things that Miki didn't understand, he put into terms that Miki could understand.
After the boy fell asleep, Harry chuckled and looked over at Ginny. "Most kids want to read 'The Little Engine That Could' but our son wants to read…" Harry looked at the book he had been reading to his son. "…'Ten Easy Steps To Transfiguration'. I sure don't want him to get discouraged, Gin."
Harry shifted his son on his shoulder so that he could put an arm around his wife.
"He'll be fine Harry. There are things that he can do, that we can't. Now suppose you tell me what the Headmaster said about our son?"
By the time Harry finished telling her, Ginny's eyes were wide. "My goodness, Harry, he has nothing to be ashamed about. I never would have guessed. To me, he's just my little boy. I sometimes shudder to think what would have happened to him if you hadn't adopted him. Would anyone else have understood like we do?"
Harry shook his head. "You know, he told me that the first time he saw me, that wolf told him that I had come to take care of him."
"So what did he do?"
"He kicked me!"
Ginny laughed. "That's my boy."
"He said that he didn't want to leave Mrs. Lee and his friends."
"At four, after having lost his parents, I can understand that."
"I can too. I'm glad he finally came around though."
"Now, tell me about this kid at Hogwarts?"
"Reg? Well, he's a great guy, really. Slytherin. The only reason I bring that up though is because he was trying very hard to maintain Slytherin expectations. His father follows Lucius and he spent most of his time spouting about what his father said or his father did. Sound familiar?"
Ginny nodded. "Draco!"
"Severus, prat that he is, tricked me into teaching his class. He knew that the kid would attack me verbally, if not physically, just because that was what was expected of him. So instead of teaching potions…"
Ginny smirked.
"What?" But Harry smirked too. "All right so I suck at potions. Anyway, instead of teaching potions, I told him about Voldemort. Actually the whole class was participating, but I was talking to him. When I came back the today, he wanted to talk. It ended up that I promised him that I would talk to Davis for him. All he needed was an excuse. Something to believe in. All I did was set him in the right direction. We'll see what happens. I will tell you though, that I would hate to meet him across a battlefield. I find that I quite like him."
By the time Harry, Ginny and Miki reached New York Harbor they were ready to put their feet on solid ground again. They stayed again at the Hyatt Regency and flew out early the next morning. The flight was much smoother this time, much to Ginny's delight, and they made their way home via taxi from the airport.
When they walked in, Harry banished the suitcases upstairs and carried Mikeal to his bed.
Ginny went into the kitchen and was surprised to find Moira crying. "Hey, are you alright?" Then she looked disgusted. "What a stupid thing to ask, of course you're not alright. Moira, what's wrong?" Ginny sat next to her and ran a comforting hand up and down her back.
She sniffed and looked at her friend. "Oh, Ginny, I don't know what's wrong. It's Draco. He received an owl from someone, I don't know who, and it seemed to put him in a horrid mood. I have never seen him act this way. And I especially have never heard him say the things he said. He swore like a sailor, he threw things. See that hole in the cabinet over there? He did that with his fist.
"Then he yelled at me. He said that I got pregnant on purpose and that he didn't want the baby and that I should get rid of it! Can you believe that, Ginny? When he first found out, he was ecstatic."
"What in heaven's name was in the letter?"
"I have no idea. As soon as he read it, he destroyed it."
Ginny sat deep in thought for a moment then looked at her friend. "Where is he now?"
"Haven't a clue. He took off in his car several hours ago and I haven't heard from him since."
"I can send Harry to look for him if you like."
"No, he needs time to cool down. I just wish he would talk to me, Ginny. He would barely even look at me. I'm beginning to think that I did something or he thinks that I did something to him."
At that point, Harry walked into the kitchen. "Well, the littlest shaman is asleep. It didn't take…what's wrong Moira?"
Ginny looked up at him. "Draco is acting strangely."
"You mean stranger than usual?"
"Harry, don't act like an arse. This is serious. He got a letter from someone today and he went ballistic."
Harry narrowed his eyes. "Who was it from?"
"Don't know."
He nodded knowingly. "Lucius!"
Both girls looked up at him. "Lucius?"
"Yes. I've seen him act this way before. Once when we were in training, he got an owl from his father. He was out of it for days." He looked sympathetically at Moira. "It affected everything that he did for about a week, then one day out of the blue, he apologized to me and then acted as if nothing was out of the ordinary. It was strange really. Moira, I think he will be fine. He just needs to learn not to react so badly to his father. I have never seen anyone hold so much hate for another family member before." Harry shook his head.
Ginny looked angry. "That may well be Harry, but he told Moira that she got pregnant on purpose and that she should get rid of the baby."
Harry stared at Ginny dumbfounded, then looked back at Moira. "Don't get rid of the baby, Moira!"
The two girls looked at him. "Well duh, Harry!"
Draco didn't return to the manor until late the next night. He was still in a frightful mood and scowled at the gathered group without saying anything, and went to his rooms.
Moira stood, then Ginny, but Harry motioned them both back to their chairs. "No! I'm handling this one, girls. I'll be back."
Harry followed Draco and found him pacing in his study. "WHAT IN MERLIN'S NAME IS WRONG WITH YOU, YOU GIANT PRICK?"
Draco growled at him. He reminded Harry of a wounded animal; one that you should approach with caution. But Harry was never one to listen to his own advice.
"Get out of my life, Potter! And take Ginny and Moira with you!"
"What's wrong, Princess. Get another upsetting letter from, daddy? You know, it's one thing to treat me that way, but to treat your wife that way…You should be taken out and hexed. How dare you tell her to get rid of the baby? How dare you treat her like she was yesterday's rubbish. She loves you, Draco. Merlin only knows why, and you …"
"Just shut it, Potter. You don't know what you're talking about. If you did, you…"
"THEN TELL ME!"
Draco waved a dismissing hand at Harry. "Just leave me alone. Go away. Get out of my life. I don't even want to know where you are!"
Harry calmed down and looked at his friend. "We've been partners for a long time, Dray. We can get through anything. Won't you let me help?"
Draco closed his eyes and growled. "The only thing you can do is get away from me."
"Fine, Malfoy! I'll leave you to sulk like the bastard that you are. If you decide that you want to be civil, you'll know where to find me. In the mean time, I better never hear that you are being abusive to your wife. You said some pretty crappy things to her. You'll be lucky if she ever talks to you again."
"That is none of your business."
"When you say the things to her that you did, I make it my business. You may be her husband, but you have no right to treat her that way. Good night. I hope you enjoy wallowing in your self pity!
Harry turned to leave but Draco picked up a book and threw it at him. Harry waved a hand and the book made a lovely arc in the air and landed on Draco's head.
Harry laughed and slammed the door as he left.
As the week moved on, Draco began to mellow a bit, but he still was not himself. He made it a point to avoid Harry and Ginny although he did apologize to Moira and begged her forgiveness. But no matter how she pleaded, cajoled and wheedled, he would not tell her what the problem had been; or still was for that matter. He would just say, "I'd rather not talk about it." And that was that.
For two months, Draco went out of his way to avoid Harry.
At first, Harry let it bother him. He couldn't imagine what he had done to upset the blond but after a while, he decided that it was just Draco being an idiot and left him alone.
On a sunny afternoon, Ginny went looking for Harry who was out in his 'Kitchen Garden'. Harry had found a new hobby and at any given time, if you were looking for him, he could be found there, magically growing the plants. He loved coaxing the tiny shoots into full grown plants that flowered, wilted, then grew into lovely tomatoes.
She stood in the doorway watching him as he forced the plants, then gave them a loving pat. "So what are you growing there, Harry?"
"Well, these are tomatoes." He pointed to another section of the garden. "And these are cucumbers, and over there are carrots and onions."
He looked at his accomplishment with pride. "Over on that side is corn."
"Hang around for a while, and you can have a fresh tomato."
Gin smiled. "I can't wait, Harry, but I just came to tell you that Moira, Miki and I are going shopping."
"How did you talk Miki into THAT!" He held up a hand. "No, don't tell me. It was either a stop at the book store or the library. Am I right?"
She kissed him on the cheek. "Both actually."
Harry pulled her close and kissed her gently then again with a lot more feeling. "I love you, Gin. Go, have fun. I'll see you later."
Ginny happily waved goodbye and left through the kitchen.
Moira kissed Draco. "When I get back we'll have enough decorations for the baby's room.
Draco smiled and nodded. "All right my lovely. Have fun."
With that she started toward the door but Draco hadn't let go of her hand. She looked at him with a smile. "What is it, Dray?"
"I love you. I love you more than I can tell you. Never forget that. I just…I just wanted you to know that."
She looked at him strangely for a moment then hugged him tightly. "I love you too, Draco. You act like I am going away for a long time. I'm just going shopping."
"Well – I – I worry about you, in your condition, that's all. Just be careful and take care of our son, all right?"
"All right, love. I'll see you this evening." Draco walked with her to the door. "See you later. Have fun, baby."
Then the three were off.
Draco watched them leave from the window of the Great Hall and smiled sadly after them.
Harry continued to work in the garden wondering what he did to deserve all of this. He loved his wife. He loved his son and he loved his house. In short, he loved his life.
For the first time in a very long time, he realized that he was quite content and happy.