Hey everyone, I'm so very sorry I've been out of sync with the story! But I'm catching up and can't wait to post this for you all! I hope you enjoy it!
Lori
******** ******** Chapter 29 ******** ********
For the most part, Boxing Day was quite pleasant. In the morning, Andromeda and Teddy left to visit friends for a few days but she promised to return for the New Year's ball.
Luncheon at the Longbottom Estate was similar to the day before with Draco's parents. Harry was pleased to see his friends and have a long conversation with Neville's grandmother about the name that had been picked for her great-grandchild. In response to her demands for the child to have five names, Neville and Seamus decided on Tavin for the baby's first name out of respect for Seamus' Irish heritage. Jude – an English derived name – would be his first middle name followed closely by Finnin and Stanley, which were Irish and English respectively. Augusta Adelaide Evanthia Violet Longbottom heartily approved of their choices.
Tea time at the Burrow was nice, but the festive atmosphere was tempered with a loss. A miscarriage had apparently rocked the Weasleys' collective world on the morning of Christmas Eve, when Penelope Weasley nee Clearwater had called out from the bathroom for her husband to floo the healers at St. Mungo's. The whole family had sprung into action and, although the baby was lost, Penny had been saved from a fatal hemorrhage.
Harry was speechless at the news but instantly enclosed Draco's shuddering body in his arms. The still-pregnant blond was inconsolable for almost half an hour. Harry soothed and cuddled his husband until he finally calmed, then carefully explained to his adopted family that miscarriage was one of Draco's worst fears.
Ron and Hermione showed the pair into the back garden where a stone had been placed in the child's honor. It was simply engraved with her name: Adrielle Vega Weasley.
With tears in his eyes, Harry took his wand and conjured a small wreath of light pink roses.
Molly was happy to see Harry and thrilled to hear that one of the twins had been named, but she proceeded to nag the couple from that moment until they left. "Be sure to name that boy before the new year, Harry!" she said. "You know, Draco-dear, if he isn't named soon he'll not feel welcome in the family!"
This gave Draco a mission and, when Harry got him back to the Manor, he insisted on a visit to the family tree tapestry in the library. After escorting Draco to his intended destination and calling Dinki to attend him, Harry went looking for his in-laws. He found Lucius reading in his office and, after knocking on the door, he walked woodenly to the sofa across from the desk.
"Harry." Lucius barely spared him a glance. When no reply was forthcoming, the blond man laid down his book and watched the younger man stare into space. It worried Lucius that the brunette had searched him out and yet seemed to have nothing to say. After a moment of careful observation, Lucius stood and walked around his desk only to lean against the front of it. "Harry, is there anything wrong?"
"We found out at tea…" Harry's voice sounded hoarse. "Percy and Penny Weasley lost their baby."
"I hope you'll send word of our condolences to the Weasleys, Harry." Lucius cared little for the Weasley family as a whole but he could acknowledge that this event was a tragic loss. "Is Draco as affected as you seem to be?"
"Draco was so upset at first. He heard the word miscarriage and started sobbing. I had quite the time calming him down…" Harry said with a deep frown. "Then Molly started us feeling guilty about naming one child so much earlier than the other. She said if we don't name him soon…" his breathing hitched, "that the baby wouldn't feel welcome in the family and now Draco's frantic. All he can think of is finding a name for our little boy, while I can't think beyond being thankful it wasn't us!" Harry felt tears roll down his cheeks. "I'm terrible for thinking that, aren't I? I'm such a bad friend for thinking that!"
Lucius blinked rapidly as his normally calm and somewhat composed son-in-law began to fall apart in front of his eyes. He remembered well the way he'd felt upon being told Narcissa had miscarried. He'd wished, at the time that it'd been someone else – anyone but his wife – and his child. He quickly called for Dinki to bring Draco to his office straight away.
When he saw Harry in tears, Draco was shocked. "Father, what happened? He was fine when he left me in the library," he whispered.
Lucius quietly explained the chain of events as they'd unfolded.
Draco focused his grey eyes on his husband even as he spoke to his father. "May I have a moment alone with Harry please, Father?"
Lucius nodded and stepped silently out of the room as Draco took a seat next to his distraught spouse. He spoke Harry's name softly as he touched the man's shoulder. "Harry, I know you're upset – I am too, but we can't let our fears or our guilt take us over. It wasn't anything we did that caused this."
Harry paid no attention to Draco's words but pulled the blond onto his lap. He stroked his husband's hair and whispered, "I'm just so glad it wasn't us!"
Draco's eyes swam with tears as he relaxed into Harry's distressed hold. "Oh, Harry…"
A knock on the door heralded Lucius' return, and Narcissa was with him.
"Boys, I just heard about the Weasleys' loss," she said as she knelt next to Harry's legs and took hold of his hand. "I'm so sorry Harry."
The young brunette let Draco wipe his tears even as his green eyes met her blue ones. "I'll convey your sympathies, Narcissa – thank you," he whispered without loosening his grip on Draco who didn't try to move from his position. He seemed to sense that Harry needed him close at hand. The longer they sat that way, the more right it felt.
Soon Narcissa stood and walked over to her husband – it was the first real affection between them that Harry was witness to. Lucius' arms went around her waist and the two of them held each other.
"Harry, should we have Mummy and Father make our excuses to Blaise and Luna?" Draco asked once Harry seemed calmer.
Harry frowned. "No…we aren't in mourning, my love. We are lucky and we need to live our lives while remembering how close we came to knowing a little girl named Adrielle Vega Weasley."
Draco nodded in agreement. "Then perhaps we should dress for dinner."
"Yes, it's just about that time, boys," Lucius agreed quietly.
So Draco stood and walked with Harry back to their suite. Harry tried to smile while Draco picked his outfit from their closet. They dressed in silence though each had things they wanted to say. Dinki came to inform them of their visitors' arrival and the pair held hands as they made their way to the informal dining room.
Harry greeted Blaise and Luna cordially, but his old friend knew there was something wrong. When Luna asked if Harry was feeling well, he sighed and told his friends the sad news. They were sympathetic and Luna promised to send an arrangement of wonki-willies. Harry tried not to smile but then he asked what wonki-willies were.
"They're flowers of course. They grow in the jungles of the Arctic Circle and just being near a proper arrangement of them can fix any fertility problems they might be having," the lovely blonde told him solemnly.
Harry couldn't help it; he burst out laughing.
Luna smiled. "Well, I think the elves are waiting to serve the meal, Harry. Perhaps we should sit."
Draco quietly thanked her for cheering his husband up as they took seats around the table along with Pansy and the Malfoys. The meal went quietly and Luna kept Harry distracted from his discouraging thoughts.
After dessert finished and they all congregated in the drawing room, Blaise played chess with Draco while Pansy, Luna and Harry began to discuss the names of their babies.
"We've decided to have two children after this one," Luna told her friends. "I hope to have at least one girl and Cadence will be her first name if she comes along."
"I didn't let Cormac have anything to do with naming my Ambrose," Pansy sniffed.
"I don't blame you, Pans. He didn't deserve to have a say," Harry nodded grimly. "Luna, did Draco tell you what name we picked for our daughter?"
"Did you just call her…?" Blaise gaped at Harry.
Luna smiled with a shrug. "Yes, Harry. I think it's lovely. Lyra is after the harp constellation, right?"
"Yes, and Zinnia will be her middle name," the brunette nodded, happily explaining that Neville had told him the meaning of the zinnia flower. "We weren't thinking of it at the time but it's really perfect! You see, zinnias bloom in mid-summer and that's when the babies will be born. Nev says that the flower itself is symbolic of lasting love, thoughts of absent friends, and daily remembrance of good memories."
"Did he just call her…Pans?" Blaise turned to look at Draco.
"He's been on a nickname basis with her for a whole day, B. I can't believe it either, but it probably won't last." Draco smirked at Blaise's shocked expression.
"Draco, have you gotten any closer to naming our little prince?" Harry asked softly.
"Not much…there are so many options out there." The blond sighed turning to their friends. "We want it to be unique but not outlandish. Neither of us is very Irish or Scottish and we don't want to name him after anyone – not directly at least."
"I wondered why you didn't just name him for your fathers or godfathers," Pansy smirked.
"Too predictable," Blaise commented. "Too cliché, as well."
"You should also make sure not to name him with something he'd be teased about." Luna smiled sadly. "I like my name but it was occasionally troublesome in that way."
"I wanted to suggest this before actually, Dray. What do you think of Orion as a middle name?" Harry asked. "It was my godfather's middle name so it honors him – if in a roundabout way."
"Hmmm…It's a respectable name in itself. It goes with Malfoy tradition since it is a constellation…" Draco glanced at his father who was across the room speaking to his mother. "I owl ordered a book of baby names before the hols and I did sort of like this one name I saw…Caelum. It's derived from Latin and means heavenly."
Blaise nodded. "Your son would be the heavenly hunter…"
"Lyra Zinnia and Caelum Orion Malfoy-Potter…" Harry whispered as Draco turned to face him.
"Momentous news! Mother, Father, would you join us, please?" Draco called not looking away from his husband's happy expression.
"We heard your discussion from across the room, darling," Narcissa smiled as she approached the group. "I think it's wonderful. Harry, Draco, both names would make our ancestors proud."
"I agree with the reasoning behind both of the children's names, Draco." Lucius nodded solemnly, "And I think that we should control the publicity of this information with care."
"Yes," Draco nodded. "I was thinking that Harry's name change should be put out there along with the childrens' names, Father."
"Indeed. One announcement should cover everything," Lucius told them. "I'll write to the Prophet in the morning and have them say something along the lines of 'the misters Harry James and Draco Lucien Malfoy-Potter announce the names of their children who will be born this summer' and so on. Good night, all."
"I'm glad this is all settled, boys." Narcissa grinned as she began to follow. "Good night, Blaise, Luna…we'll see you at breakfast, Pansy, Harry, Draco-darling."
After escorting their guests to the floo, Harry and Draco went up to their suite.
"You go to sleep, love," Harry said as he kissed Draco good night. "I'm going to write to the Weasleys. They should be told about this before the rest of the world."
"You're right, Harry," Draco nodded. "Don't forget to tell them that my parents send their sympathies."
"I won't." The brunette sighed and got to work. It was well past midnight before he joined his husband under the covers.
When they arrived at breakfast the next morning, Lucius handed him a small note card.
Harry read it to himself, "It's from the Weasleys. They're thanking your parents for their sentiments and congratulating them on their growing family."
Draco grinned and simply reminded his husband of their trip into the city later that day. "I'm glad they're being so affable, Harry. It'll make life easier for all of us if our families get along."
Harry beamed at the blond. "No, Dragon…One family…It'll make life easier for all of us if our family gets along with each other."
"You have one too, Harry. It's specifically addressed to you," Narcissa said as she began to eat her usual breakfast of egg-white omelet and fruit salad.
Harry grinned when he sat down and opened the envelope. Upon unfolding the parchment, he found that it lengthened quite a bit. "Wow, long note!"
Draco rolled his eyes. "Well? What do they say?"
"It seems like there's a note from each couple!" Harry smirked. "Ron and Hermione say that they love the names we chose and congrats on fitting so well with you and your family. Molly and Arthur agree that adding Malfoy to my name was the right thing to do. George and Katie are glad I'm happy no matter what my name is. Penny and Percy say 'thanks for the wreath' and they like the names we chose. Dean and Ginny are happy that we're happy. Bill, Fleur, Charlie and Gus think our names compliment each other, and the babies' names are delightful. They also sent a list of names they've chosen for their own kids. Do you want to hear?"
"Sure, why not?" Draco shrugged after accepting his dish of scrambled eggs and salsa.
Harry chuckled and shook his head as he read the list. "Ron and Hermione's daughter will be Angelica Rose. Dean and Ginny are having twin boys, you know. They'll be called Lucas Arthur and Lance Aldwyn."
"Those are nice…but Aldwyn? At least it's a middle name." Draco snorted.
"Dragon, stop – be nice!" Harry shook his forefinger at the blond. "George and Katie are also having twins. They're having girls though and they'll be named Florestine Aster and Guinevere Louise."
"Florestine! Guinevere!" Pansy smirked. "Those are so old fashioned!"
Draco rolled his eyes, "Yes and Ambrose is just SO modern."
"Bill and Fleur have decided on Victoria Adelaide for their daughter while Charlie and Gus will have a son named Corvus Frederick." Harry smiled when he saw Pansy stick her tongue out at the blond. "Aww, that's sweet – naming him after Fred."
"George kept the initials intact for his girls – Florestine and Guinevere," Draco pointed out. "I wonder what the others' children will be named."
"I guess we'll find out when we're back at school." Harry shrugged and picked up his fork. "Let's just have fun today. Tomorrow we'll go to the gravesites and then Diagon Alley."
"Oh, you have an appointment with Madam Malkin's for the new robes I promised. Be there tomorrow afternoon at one and she'll take care of you both," Lucius informed them as he unfolded the morning edition of the Daily Prophet. "Ah, they were able to place the story in this morning. I'm rather pleased they didn't wait for the evening issue."
"What are you talking about, Lucius?" Harry asked.
"It's a front-page headline but the announcement is on page two." The elder Malfoy explained. "Listen… The headline is a quote from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. 'What's in a name?' Lovely."
"The savior apparently thinks names are very important. Not only have he and his husband chosen auspicious names for their children, but Harry himself has changed his name. Misters Harry James and Draconis Lucien Malfoy-Potter announce the names of their twins. Lyra Zinnia and Caelum Orion Malfoy-Potter will be born sometime this summer. Though due in August, multiple births are notorious for delivering early. The Leaky Cauldron will be taking bets as to the date/time of birth as well as birth weight of the babies. Ask for Tom."
"How crass…" Draco frowned. "I suppose it's not unheard of for people to gamble on things like that, but I'd much prefer they left me and mine out of it."
"Yes, Draco – I agree." Harry sighed. "But there's nothing we can do, so let's just get ready for our day-trip."
They went back to their suite and changed into muggle clothing.
"Harry, do you know much muggle history?" Draco asked him while they pulled on their cloaks.
"I know some. There wasn't much else to do during my summers at the Dursleys so I sometimes read my cousin's old school books," Harry smirked.
"So you know about the English monarchy and Henry the Eighth?" Draco asked.
"Yeah, a bit. He had six wives and beheaded most of them." Harry shook his head. "Bit of a nutter, really."
Draco chuckled. "Yeah, that's him. Anyway, I wonder if we'll see any of the ghosts that are said to haunt the Tower."
Harry smirked. "Weren't they all muggles? Do muggles become ghosts?"
"I'm not sure, but I suppose we'll find out." The blond smiled as they walked down the hallway to the front door. Soon, the doorbell rang and they went out to the limo.
They returned to the townhouse just in time to change for dinner which was a calm affair. Everyone had done their own thing that day, after all. They simply ate their meals and told the others of their activities.
Pansy read aloud the letter she'd received from her father. Lucius related dealing with a few legal matters while Narcissa confessed to shopping for her grandchildren. Harry and Draco enjoyed their tales and told how they'd gone to the Tower of London and seen the Crown Jewels not to mention the ghosts of the two princes. Harry remarked upon the unreality of the apparitions and how they seemed to be one dimensional rather than the way wizard ghosts looked.
After dinner, Draco talked his husband into skipping the gathering in the drawing room, so the two young men went back to their suite and made love. The blond was glad to see that Harry had gotten over his melancholy.
