This long day ahead started badly for Harry. To be caught watching his enemy wasn't what he'd call a good start to the day. He blew a good blow and got out of bed. He walked, a step too fast to look natural, to the bathroom. He closed the door a little brutally and leaned against it. He sighed, closing his eyes, his head leaning against the dark wood behind him. This situation couldn't last, if he had to live with Malfoy then he wouldn't do it in this heavy and hateful atmosphere. On this new good resolution, he opened his eyes and went in the shower. When he came out of the bathroom, his eyes fell immediately on Malfoy's back. The latter was standing in front of a cupboard filled with more classy clothes than the others. He was not wearing his towel but a black boxer. Harry couldn't stop his gaze from coming off the blonde's back and down his body. Harry blushed furiously as his eyes fell on Malfoy's ass. He quickly looked away and went to his closet too.
Harry did not see him, but Malfoy had a big smile on his face, if Potter thought he was being discreet by looking at him that way, he was more silly than he'd thought. Finally, Harry pulled on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt while Malfoy put on black jeans with a gray sweater, magnifying his eyes beautifully. Malfoy was walking towards the exit of the room and Harry remembered his new good resolution so he held the blonde by the wrist just before he opened the door. Malfoy turned to him, an eyebrow raised in wonder. Harry cleared his throat, uncomfortable.
"Look, we're going to have to live with each other for a while, so I thought we could make peace, somehow." He finally let go of the blonde's wrist and held out his hand. They looked into each other's eyes, both remembering a similar scene five years earlier. Malfoy's lips stretched into an ironic smirk, then he sneered.
"It would be fun that I refuse, don't you think?" Harry chuckled and Malfoy grabbed his hand, squeezing it tightly. Then the blond retrieved his hand and opened one of the doors of the double door of the room.
As Malfoy came out, Harry turned and looked at the room. The room was square and two double beds were on each side, then two large wardrobes were placed next to the beds. On the back wall, there was the bathroom door. The room was in shades of beige, gray, black and white. Harry smiled a little as he looked around the room, he felt good here. He turned around and went through the door too, or at least he tried but he hit Malfoy's back, who had been standing on the doorstep.
"What the fuck are you doing, Malfoy?" Harry didn't saw it but Draco flinched as he felt Harry's breath in his neck.
"These kids look happy and seem to have a loving family." Harry frowned and moved a little closer to see what was going on in the room. As a result, he was almost completely stuck to the blonde's back. He shuddered at this contact and found himself closing his eyes. In front of them, Lyra, Nathaniel, Ezekiel and Emett were sitting in a circle on the ground and Lesath was sitting in the center of this circle and chatting happily with his brothers and sisters. Harry smiled without being able to stop at this scene.
"What's the problem, Malfoy?" The blonde seemed to think for a few moments before opening his mouth.
"I don't know how to behave with them, especially the little one"
"Why?" Malfoy chuckled before continuing.
"I guess he doesn't understand we're not the same as we're in his day." Harry nodded.
"I don't know, if I don't act as they wish, they may be disappointed." Harry laughed slightly, staring at the blonde's neck.
"Are you worried, Malfoy?" Harry was laughing completely now. Malfoy quickly turned to face him, their faces being a few millimeters apart. His cheeks were red with anger and embarrassment, and he glared at Harry. Harry stopped laughing immediately but kept an arrogant smile on his face. The blonde pushed him, not too violently, inside their room and he closed the door behind them. He then slammed Harry against the door, placing his arm against his throat.
"Shut the hell up Potter, I'm not worried." His look and tone were really threatening and when Harry wanted to take a breath to answer him, he almost choked. Malfoy pulled his arm out of Harry's throat.
"Okay, you're not worried." They stared at each other now, blinking, giving themselves a sort of battle of glance. The doorknob slowly lowered and someone tried to enter but Harry's weight prevented him. Harry peeled off the door, pushing Malfoy back at the same time. He turned around and the door opened slowly, revealing a little blond boy. Harry smiled at Lesath and eyed him.
"It's time for breakfast, Daddy." The little one now had a big smile on his face as he stared at his two fathers. They had not moved and did not know what to say to the boy. He then stepped forward and grabbed the hands of the two boys and ran out of the room, pulling them behind him. They both looked incomprehensively at the other occupants of the room. And they just shrugged and laughed. Harry stopped suddenly.
"Slow down, sweetie, maybe we'll wait for the others." The three of them were now planted in the hallway, Harry and Malfoy holding hands with Lesath. Harry was going to suggest that they go into the living room to wait for the others when he saw Hermione coming out of one of the rooms, further down the hall.
"Hermione?" The girl turned to them and smiled when she noticed the situation they were in.
"Were not you supposed to go back to the Gryffindor Tower?"
"Yes, and I went back, but Dumbledore sent me word that there was also a room for me here so I came back." Harry nodded and thanked the headmaster for that. Suddenly a thud rang out from Ron and Zabini's room. They all looked at each other, worried. It looked like something breaking on the floor or against a wall.
"These two have not gone to bed yet, it's amazing." Malfoy sneered. Harry and Hermione laughed with him but were stopped when the door opened and shut in a loud crash. Ron was now in front of them, a murderous look in his face and Malfoy felt two arms curl around his leg.
He looked down and saw his son, an air of pure panic on his face. He stooped down and took him in his arms, stalling his head in the crook of his neck. It was at this moment that Harry realized that one hand was still holding his hand and that it was not Lesath's. He turned his head to Malfoy after looking at their joined hands. The latter had just made the same observation and they dropped their hand in haste, their cheeks red. Ron passed in front of them, looking furious, and he descended the stairs with a furious step. Harry, Hermione and Malfoy stared at each other, not understanding the situation. Then the door opened again, allowing Zabini to pass, who seemed much calmer. He laughed lightly as he saw them all in front of his door, Harry's and Malfoy's children being out of the way too.
"Well, what a welcome" His attempt to humor to relax the atmosphere failed.
"Your buddy went crazy when Irina asked him why he didn't kiss me this morning." They all laughed as they imagined the scene. Harry and Hermione then advised him not to approach Ron while he calmed down.
"I'm hungry dad" Lesath reminded them of his presence by addressing Malfoy. The latter just smiled at him before leaving for the living room, Harry on his heels. All the others then followed them into the living room where Jordan and his two sisters watched, a little frightened, their father fuming.
"We're going to eat" Were the only words Malfoy uttered as he walked through the living room with his gracious step, Harry always following him closely. The brunette was making funny faces to the child in Malfoy's arms and the kid was laughing at his antics. All watched as they passed by and were very surprised to see Malfoy smile sincerely and tenderly. His words had silenced Ron, who was watching them now as they walked past him, as if he didn't exist. They had now passed the door, and everyone in the room stared at the door, which was still open, from where the little blonde's crystalline laugh still came.
"Are you deaf? He said we were going to eat." Ezekiel interjected, catching all eyes. Blaise smiled and approached the blonde. He ruffled his hair as he passed and laughed.
"You, I like you" The teenager now had a shocked look and was trying to sort out his hair. His twin laughed at his side.
"Obviously, Uncle Blaise already has this craze to unburden you" The young man grunted, folding his arms over his chest, sulking. Then Lesath reappeared on the doorstep.
"Daddy wants to eat with everyone but dad doesn't want to wait, so they scream at each other" He told them, his eyes glistening with tears.
"We're coming, darling." Hermione told him, coming to take him in her arms. They then all went out of the room and they saw not far away, Harry and Draco ready to jump on each other. They were facing each other and their faces were very close. Harry had his fists clenched and Draco clenched and convulsively unclenched his fists. Harry might be slightly smaller, but he looked just as threatening. They said no word but the argument went through their eyes and seemed particularly violent.
"Daddy and Dad aren't going to punch each other, eh Lyra?" The girl turned her head towards her little brother and assured him that she didn't think that was going to happen, but she did not seem very sure of herself.
"That's out of the question, Potter!" Harry squeezed his fists so hard that his knuckles whitened.
"I'm not gonna eat at the Slytherin table!" Malfoy rolled his eyes.
"It's just a stupid table, Potter!" Harry started waving his arms as he spoke.
"Well, if it's just a stupid table, why don't you and your noble butt come at MY table?" Malfoy looked shocked for a moment before replying.
"Because it's out of the question! I refuse to settle at this lion-filled table." It was Harry's turn to roll his eyes excessively.
"Fine, eat at your dear table and I eat at my own one with my kids." Draco's face got even harder.
"It's also my children, Potter." Harry gave him a provocative look as he turned to the small group and motioned for them to follow him. As they drove all the way into the Great Hall, Blaise walked over to his friend, still standing in the middle of the hallway.
"Are you all right Dray?" Draco turned to look at him and nodded. They then saw Pansy running towards them, followed at a distance by Theodore.
"By Merlin Draco! I thought you were going to fight, or to kiss. It was not very clear."Theo had finally arrived at their height while Pansy was delivering her sentences with an excited air.
"Calm down, Pansy." She calmed down then.
"Why didn't you came back from the interview with Dumbledore? And why did Granger have that blond kid in his arms? And why…"
"Pansy!" Draco cut him off. She then apologized for her behavior and Draco was going to answer her but they saw Harry coming back with a quick step. He passed between Pansy and Theo to reach Draco and grabbed his wrist and left without a word, pulling Malfoy behind him.
"What are you doing Potter?" Harry then sped up, entering the hall and heading to the Gryffindor table.
"Your son claims his father and he prevents me from eating and if I don't eat-"
"If you don't eat exactly three slices of bread with your three favorite jams soaked in your sweet milk coffee you're in a bad mood." Malfoy cut him off. Harry stopped short and the blond bumped into him, too immersed in his tirade to notice his effect. Harry turned to face him, still holding Malfoy's hand between his fingers. Besides, perhaps he should start calling him by his first name.
"How do you know all this?" Harry asked, squinting, suspiciously. Mal-Draco laughed slightly at Harry's mistrust.
"Relax Potter! I just watched you a little." Harry felt his cheeks warming up, a sign that he was blushing.
"Why?" Draco then blushed, too, and he just shrugged. Harry then saw a black arm curl around his shoulders in front of him as a female arm wrapped around his own shoulders. Harry turned his head to the origin of this arm and found himself facing Pansy Parkinson. He took a step back but she held him back.
"What if you continue this conversation later and elsewhere? For example, I don't know, somewhere else than in the middle of the Great Hall" She whispered. Harry turned his gaze and could see that absolutely the whole room was watching them. He released Malfoy then and turned to face the table. He walked over it and settled in his place, between Hermione and Ginny.
"Dad doesn't come?" A small voice asked on his left. He turned his head to Lesath, sitting on Hermione's lap. He sighed and looked in the direction of Malfoy who was staring at him from afar, not knowing whether to approach or not. Harry stared into the blonde's eyes, and he seemed to understand Harry's invitation as he motioned for his friends to follow him.
"Yes, he's coming." But the kid had not heard him. Lesath's eyes widened and a big smile was now blocking his face. He literally jumped from the brunette's knees and ran towards Malfoy and his friends. Harry, in a paternal outburst that he didn't know he had, tried to hold back the little one.
"Lesath no! Come back here." He got up too and followed the kid with a quick step.
"Auntie Pansy!" Harry stopped when he heard that and saw the little boy throwing himself into the girl's legs. The latter widened her eyes as she heard this and moved back, but Draco put his hand behind his back and pushed her slightly forward. She bent down and took the boy in her arms. He wrapped his arms around his neck and hugged her. Harry was still standing in front of them and Draco looked up at him. A thin smile, almost imperceptible, took place on the blonde's lips and Harry thought he was hallucinating when he thought that this smile was for him. He returned his smile and looked away to return to his place. He saw, before turning, that one of Blaise's daughters had come to find him and was huddled in his arms and that the second was in those of Nott. Malfoy came to him, hands in his pockets.
"You should go eat your last peach jam sandwich before your coffee gets colder." Harry raised a surprised eyebrow that Malfoy did not see as he had his head down. The brunet shrugged his shoulders.
"Okay" So they went to sit down, Harry took his place again and the blonde settled between him and Ginny. Harry resumed his breakfast in silence, having uttered far too much word for the moment to his liking. Malfoy, meanwhile, took a simple crescent that he pecked slowly watching Emett carefully, sitting in front of him. His three friends had finally joined, Pansy had sat next to him and Blaise and Theo were in front of him. Nobody spoke, too immersed in their incoherent thoughts. Finally, the ringing sounded, announcing the first classes of the day. Dumbledore announced that the children would attend their normal classes, thus finding themselves in the same class as their parents if they were in the same house and the same year. This only happened for Draco and Lyra. Dumbledore charged some elves with watching the little ones. So they all got up and went to their classrooms. Harry and the rest of the Gryffindors had history of magic for the next four hours. He settled next to Hermione. Harry started to have a headache only thirty minutes after the start of the class. Vertigo added to this an hour later.
"Harry? Everything is fine?" Harry looked up at Hermione and she could see he was strangely pale. He put his head in his arms and she let him rest for the next two hours. Harry winced when the bell ringed, making his head hurt. He stood up slowly, his legs shaking, and headed for the exit, accompanied by Ron and Hermione. The more minutes passed, the weaker he felt. He felt he was going to fall but two pairs of arms held him back. He looked at both faces and felt a wave of relief when he recognized Nathaniel and Ezekiel.
"You have to find Dad." Nathaniel nodded at his brother's approval.
"He must be with Lyra and Jordan" Ezekiel frowned.
"Why would he be with them?"
"We knew it would happen Ezé"
"It seemed to me that we had agreed that it would happen much later"
"We must believe that it is no longer relevant" Harry could hear no more, sinking into unconsciousness