If it were love I would give that love every second I had, and I do.
Did I know where he'd lead me to?
Did I plan doing all of this for the love of a man?
Well I let it happen anyhow.
And what I'm feeling now has no easy explanation.
Reason plays no part.
Heaven help my heart.
I love him too much.

Don't you know that time is not my friend.
I'll fight it to the end.
Hoping to keep that best of moments
when the passions start.
Heaven help my heart the day that I find.
Suddenly I've run out of secrets.
Suddenly I'm not always on his mind.
Maybe it's best to love a stranger.
That's what I've done - heaven help my heart.
(Heaven help my Heart, Anderson-Rice-Ulvaeus)

Time passed swiftly. Narcissa got her wish and became pregnant again. This time, the pregnancy was blissfully easy, and in due time a new Malfoy child was born. The baby was blonde and blue-eyed, like Narcissa herself. It was a sweet baby girl.

Draco immediately started his covert and overt campaign to name his sister. The name he'd come up with was Cassiopeia, and it could be adequately shortened to Cass, as Draco kept mentioning at the drop of a hat. Eventually he wore down the other Malfoys so much, they just caved in.
They elected Iolande as godmother and Severus as godfather.
During the ceremony, it was very satisfying for Draco to observe how perfectly Severus's hand fitted into that of Iolande's.

Soon it came Draco's turn to act as best man in Severus and Iolande's wedding. The bride wore a dazzling cream ensemble, with crinolines and organdy, made by a Muggle designer. She had apparently insisted that Severus should wear a tuxedo. Snape looked imposing in the suit, as always, but it was obvious to see that he considered it highly uncomfortable.

Harry noticed when Narcissa summoned a camera. Daphne also noticed her mother-in-law summoning her camera, and mayhem ensued. Harry and Draco were sure they were going to witness a spectacular catfight. They got near and were bitterly disappointed when the bickering Malfoy women apparently decided on a compromise.

When they returned from the honeymoon, Draco bound Severus's powers. It was a bit daunting to stand in front of your godfather and mentor and cast the spell that would halve the magical prowess, but he knew the women were relentless. And it seemed to be working in the case of his mother and father.

In the fullness of time, Snape house had a new heir, a small raven-haired boy, with pale skin and an attitude, who was named Iolus Snape, to honor his mother.

Deneb and Antares grew to be very close. It didn't matter that Antares had a small age advantage, Deneb proved hard to beat, both in the playpen and around the Manor. They acted more like twins that anything else, "the twins from hell" according to Draco. Of course such an accusation coming from Lord Malfoy's mouth could not be taken seriously, seeing as how he cherished and protected them.

Harry's reputation as a talented painter became global. He had people calling from Tokyo, New York or Moscow asking him to paint them a picture. Eventually, people nearly forgot that he was once the Boy Who Lived, seeing how he now was Master Potter, the most renowned artist in the world.

His work was very hard to pin down and categorize, he didn't dictate the terms of the painting, he seemingly invited the observers' opinions and worldviews to subtly point out features underrepresented and slowly arrive at a new consensus, which was sometimes freeing to the watchers, sometimes frightening.

Daphne Malfoy became a licensed Healer. She worked at St. Mungo's for two years, until such a time when she grew tired of the routine, the waste of talent as the jobs were filled according to blood status or Hogwarts house. Thereupon she quit and returned to life in the Manor, near her beloved former Seekers, the blond and the black-haired one.

Draco, to the growing annoyance of his mates, continued using intensively the computing equipment, not forgetting to magic it away when visiting Iolande; he continued running the Malfoy companies, and trying to inoculate the Ministry against revealing willy-nilly the Wizarding secrets.

Looking at the Ward books, Draco was pleased to note that there were still practitioners enough of the art of creating concealment wards so that they would always be updated with the latest discoveries. That would make it very much harder for nosy Muggles to find out about the Wizarding World and try to destroy it, as had happened in his future.

Andromeda kept her promise to care for Antares. Eventually, when the child was older, she revealed all about his original parents, what they had been like and how they had died. Harry added his private recollection of the conversation with Hermione to assure Antares that his mother wanted to stay with him very much, but she was cowardly killed by his once best friend.

Antares took to calling himself and responding to the name Teddy Lupin. Everyone expected Draco to blow a fuse, but he just smiled and took it in stride.

However, when Antares insisted in being called "Lupantar," Draco energetically put his foot down. To no one's surprise, he was joined by Daphne, Narcissa, Andromeda and Deneb.

Deneb asked tremulously if Antares didn't like him anymore. Antares answered that of course he liked his brother. Deneb replied dimly that they were named after two stars, and now Antares didn't want to be known as one anymore. He was seemingly deserting the Black tradition of star names, and he pointed toward a smiling Cass.

Deneb left the table and ran to his room. Antares hastily excused himself and ran to catch up with him, presumably to assure him that he would keep the name Antares.

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Neville didn't go back with Ginny, although she tried time and again to get him to return, he couldn't. He would not soon forget the empty hours spent waiting for her, how she devoured easily the meal he had painstakingly cooked, and not even thanked him. How she appeared to flirt with the team members and was incensed when Neville called her on it.

He eventually got together with Hanna Abbott, who had worked as a Healer in the Hogwarts Infirmary. Hannah was a no-nonsense kind of woman, and she understood Neville's needs. How he wanted to be loved and protected, while also protecting his lover.

Although his plain exterior would seem to dictate otherwise, Neville was a deep, passionate person, with the urge to sometimes perform great deeds, sometimes teach a hidden lesson in humanity.

Neville and Hannah got married later, and Draco was Nev's best man, while Susan Bones was Hannah's maid of honor.

Ginny Weasley lived the great life as a celebrated Quidditch Seeker for some time, she partied hard. She had several boyfriends, none of which ever filled her needs. Eventually an injury caused her to drop Quidditch and it forced her to reevaluate her life and goals. She fell in love with the person who helped her to overcome the consequences of the injury, and eventually married him, Peter Saunce.

Percy Weasley, after a suitable amount of time spent garnering experience as the Undersecretary of Magic, was duly elected Minister of Magic. During election night, his surviving family was by his side. No one paid especial notice to the majestic Eagle owl who disdainfully stuck out his claw so that Percy would get the parchment.

Studious Weasley,

Congratulations on becoming Minister. We look forward to working with you. Though we do not see eye to eye in some things, we know you'll prove a balanced point of view. Together we will guide the Wizarding World to hopefully better, more tranquil times.

The Malfoy-Potters

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It became a custom for either Draco or Daphne to greet the other saying, "Seven years and a day!" or "Three years nine months!" They were playfully alluding to the time remaining until the conception of their son would occur.

At first Harry abhorred this custom quite strongly. He felt it debased the entire situation, it made fun of their son, and their efforts to get him back.

Time changes everything, though, and it changed Harry's opinion. He grew used to hearing the amount of time left. In fact, he wondered how he would fare when the Charm fulfilled its function and they didn't announce anything. He expected to feel a little lost.

He could feel the tension in the Silver trio when the time decreased to months. That year they spent three inordinately frisky months in the Marauders' Cottage. It seemed the nearness of the Conception was making all of them a little horny.
Draco intimated to Harry that he could get an heir to Potter house by artificial insemination. Harry just declined the opportunity, inwardly he wanted to have his offspring only with Daphne.

The blonde had left that morning to visit a nearby hospital and analyze their Healing techniques. Draco turned to see his bedmate, a sprawling Harry, seemingly unaware of what was going to happen to him.

Draco cast a charm to take away both sets of clothes, and set to swallowing Harry whole. Needless to say, soon Harry was completely awake and aroused. Draco continued sucking, taking him down to the root.

Harry moaned brokenly, "I want you in me! Come on, fuck me!"

Draco wandlessly summoned a jar of lube and used his fingers to prepare Harry. Harry started thrusting back, seeking to impale himself in the long fingers. Soon Draco's member was at Harry's entrance and he pushed in. They made love energetically. They changed their positions after some minutes, Draco laid down and Harry crouched over him and slowly descended and rode his cock. Harry came hard, with a shout, and his spunk was sprayed all over his and Draco's chest. Draco came a little later inside Harry.

Harry got down and cuddled next to Draco. The blond asked, "Are you OK, Angel?" Harry replied, "Yes, I am. It's just that it feels so good, I never knew it would feel so good."

Draco asked concernedly, "Why would it surprise you so? Still thinking of the past?"

Harry answered succinctly, "All my time with the Dursleys, I thought I was lower than dirt. Then I discovered the Wizarding World and everything looked so promising, for a day or two! Ultimately I felt the entire hopes of the Wizarding World pinned on me. Everybody either worshipped me or hated me, like you."

"For a long time I envied and despised you. It was really a thrill to win over you, whether in Quidditch or duels, and it was always so easy. But I started to note how good you looked, how you always managed to stand up and fight the next day, how your hair shined in the bright light of day. Relentless voices inside my head became aware of these feelings and changed them to suit them. I realize now they were the commands of Hermione and the Protection Charm."

"I wanted to own you and break you, up to such a time as the voices were vanquished for good, thanks to you. I know that if I had been left to their tender mercies for longer, I would have become the person who haunted and tormented you."

"As it was, with no voices, I hardly knew where to start. People were hurting me, and you fought for me, like you've done before. You offered me a clean slate in which to rewrite our relationship. It hasn't been easy, but you're one of the few persons who have protected me when I needed it the most, who have in time forgiven me, and loved and nursed me back to health."

Harry kissed Draco with the energy of love fulfilled, and Draco kissed back as energetically.

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Draco greeted Daphne cheerily, "Three months and four days!" Daphne kissed him and Harry and set down to have breakfast. Antares and Deneb had been restricted to their rooms because they had displeased their mother and aunt-grandmother Andromeda.

Apparently the two blonds had the makings to become notorious Black pranksters. Draco shuddered inwardly thinking of the dastardly pranks they would be subjected to from the twin menace. They had managed to scare Andromeda's owl so much, that the poor bird just up and died. Apparently they were aided in their delinquent activities by the irrepressible plushies, and it might be because the owl remembered being nearly mauled by the griffin, that his heart failed.

Andromeda was very saddened, because the owl was one of the few things that reminded her of life with Ted Tonks and Nymphadora. Narcissa was sympathetic, and had heatedly scolded her sons. Worse, she had forbidden Cass to play with them for a week. As they adored their sister, this was sure to cause a lot of discontent.

"Twenty-eight days!" greeted Daphne the blond Slytherin. Draco kissed her and then kissed Harry, nodding to a seemingly circumspect set of twins. After their latest escapade, Deneb and Antares had been forbidden to ride brooms. Seriously, who decided that riding a broom within the Manor was unsafe? Especially considering all the wards in operation.

Cass just took her customary bowl of cereal, intent on remaining thin, she listened to what her Dwa had told her. Her brother had expounded on the theories of a healthful diet, never realizing that he wasn't talking to a full-grown woman, but a small girl.

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"Three days!" whispered Draco to his Green Eyes on Monday. He held her hands tightly, and didn't notice her looking stealthily at Harry. For his part, Harry had a restless nervous energy that he couldn't seem to shake off, no matter what he did.

He'd tried painting, exercising, hexing unseen opponents, the twitch was still there. Obviously the blonds were feeling that too.

For a change, the younger Malfoys had behaved OK. No signs of pranks from Ant and Deneb, Cass was her charming self. Everybody looked well, even Iolus Snape, who was visiting them and obviously trying to intimidate them through a patented Snape scowl.

Unfortunately, it didn't work at all. No matter that his dad was the Headmaster, Iolus was just one among many in the Malfoy brood, and that became him.

Daphne announced to the family that she and her mates would spend a fortnight in the Marauders' Cottage. Ant and Deneb tried to invite themselves along, Cass pouted and Iolus smirked, eventually they were forced to yield to the Malfoy-Potters..

The Silver trio left for Canada . They wanted to have the relative isolation of their Canadian home for what would surely be an adventurous journey. That night, Daphne asked her blond mate to lay off with saying the number of days, for a while.

They visited Toronto, went sailing in the Great Lakes, and returned home exhausted.

On Thursday, after Draco had to leave for the North-American office of the companies, Daphne was left alone with Harry, and she wanted to try something new. She went to the living room where Harry was and proceeded to kiss him senseless. He weakly asked, "Do you want this, Daph? What about the Charm?"

Daphne replied, "It will be OK, believe me Harry."

Daphne muttered a spell to vanish their clothing, and then impaled herself on Harry's fat red cock. Harry pounded into her hard and fast, spurred by her moans and cries. Then he came, and Daphne got off him. Daphne asked Harry to keep the act secret between them for now, as she didn't want to worry Draco more. Harry agreed.

Draco returned at night, he felt an immense pull to be near Daphne, to lose himself in her Green Eyes and her generous body. He imagined Daphne felt the same. When he got to the cottage he just grabbed Daphne and carried her bridal style into the bedroom. Harry had made himself scarce painting a landscape.

Draco vanished their clothes, and he started thrusting into Daphne hard and fast. The blonde answered in kind, and they knew that the act would'nt last long. The relentlessness pushing them together, the magic making their union fruitful was just too much to ever resist for long.

Draco came and a little later Daphne did too. There were the typical aftereffects of orgasm, of course, but there was also the fulfillment of a debt, the completion of a journey, the weary light of day leaving the sky as one rejoices in the company of one's friends. All these feelings were called up and used to express that the Conception Charm had done its duty.

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They had their confirmation the next month, and it was a very trying month for one Harry Potter, having to suffer through the antics of his mates. Even though they had felt the Conception Charm's sense of completion, they still were fearful to put all their hopes in the one basket. Near the end of that period, Harry wanted to curse them really bad.

They found out that Daphne was pregnant through a Muggle pregnant kit! When Harry asked why they didn't go to a reputable Healer, Daphne replied coolly that they didn't want anyone looking over their baby. When the time came, Healer Iolande would deliver the baby. No one else need apply.

Daphne grew more beautiful with the pregnancy, according to Harry and Draco. However, to Harry's untrained eye, she looked too heavy sometimes. He had once expressed his concerns that maybe she was eating too much or something, in order to look so rounded, thereupon, he was smacked upside the head and Daphne ran from the room crying.

Harry learned to keep his observations about this to himself. If he had commented something to Draco, then perhaps the blond would have used his eidetic memory and compared the two pregnancies, and come to some startling conclusions.

Surprisingly Ant and Deneb proved to be valuable team players, being assured that they would soon have a nephew to play with. Of course, this made them feel a little older, and hopefully a little more mature. Cass was intrigued by the possibility of having a niece, which the wily Slytherin Prince had dangled in front of her.

Narcissa, Andromeda and Lucius pampered Daphne. Thankfully the blonde was not a despot, yet, and her demands were to have someone who would read to her and massage her feet from time to time, which her mates were eager to do.

One day, the Silver trio was sitting in the dining room when a barn owl swooped in. It had a letter from Neville, the Valedictorian was in a very good mood because he and Hannah had just had a baby boy, who they would call Ernest Longbottom. Draco commented that it was great news, because he and Scorpius could be friends.

Harry countered with the notion that they might detest each other, like he and Draco did. Draco replied that they'd make sure that the boys knew about each other before their Hogwarts meeting.

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Eventually, the time of labor came. Daphne had insisted that she would deliver Scorpius in the Marauders' Cottage. Draco strenuously refused, however, and insisted that it be done in the Manor. He wanted to be near more people and help in case something went wrong. Harry supported this decision and Daphne had to concur.

Iolande appeared and labor started. It lasted an inordinately long amount of time, according to Harry. He could hear Daphne's hoarse shouts, and it nagged at him that he couldn't do something to help her.

Draco paced to and fro, in front of Lucius and Severus. Narcissa and Andromeda tried to defuse tension relating incidents pertaining to their own labors, but in Harry's honest opinion, no one wanted to listen to that.

Antares, Deneb and Cass were huddled in a corner, playing the wizard version of Monopoly, which Harry knew for a fact had been tampered with by Draco so that Cass would always win.

Iolande opened the door and called for Draco. The blond Slytherin went to the door, took a peek inside and beheld a small figure swaddled in clothes, with wisps of hair as silver as his own, a glimpse of the baby's eyes showed them to be blue.

Then he chanced to look somewhere else in the room, and he couldn't stand the surprise.

He fainted

tbc