Betrayals, Truths and Family

Chapter 11: A Son Needs a Hug… Or Many

Harry woke tiredly, groggily to find that he was in his bed and someone was next to him, holding his hand. He turned to the side to find Draco lying next to him, his platinum hair radiating the sunlight seeping through the cracks in the curtains. He was sleeping peacefully, a small smile on his face even though he had worry lines around his eyes.

Harry's heart fluttered as he brought their intertwined hands to his chest and held them, cherishing them.

Merlin, if Draco wasn't his mate he didn't know what he would do. He needed this. Needed him.

There was a soft knock on the door and his dad entered the room, looking at him worriedly as he crossed over to the bed and sat next to Harry, running his fingers through Harry's hair.

"How are you feeling?" Severus said quietly, not wanting to wake Draco.

"Tired. I-I'm sorry for ruining dinner," Harry said, looking at the hands on his chest, not wanting to see the anger that was sure to be in his dad's eyes.

A gentle finger lifted his chin, however, forcing him to look at his dad. He was shocked to see only worry and love in the eyes however.

"Harry, you did nothing wrong. None of us are angry with you. We are just worried. But know that we are all here for you, to support you, with whatever you need. I love you, Harry, and nothing is ever going to change that,"

"But-"

"No buts, Harry. We care about you, we are worried. But we aren't angry. You did nothing wrong. And I will keep saying that until you believe me. I will keep telling you I love you, until you understand. I know how difficult it is, believe me, I do. But I do love you, we all do, and we all believe in you. And we will keep showing you that until you believe us, and we will still keep showing you that long afterwards,"

Harry's throat bobbed with the emotions welling up in him and he felt Draco moving beside him. He turned his head and found Draco slowly waking up, his eyes red with what he assumed was sleep.

"Harry, you're awake," Draco said, relieved, as he sat next to his friend and squeezed his hand comfortingly, "How are you feeling?" the worry in his eyes and voice made Harry's stomach flutter with happiness.

"Tired. I'm sorry for ruining dinner with your parents,"

"You didn't ruin anything, we all understand and care for you. You worried us, but that is all. It isn't your fault," Draco said, a smile on his face even though the worry was still clear in his eyes.

"Why? Why do you all care about me? I'm nothing," Harry asked, tears welling in his eyes.

"Harry, you are everything. You are my friend. Sev's son. You are amazing. Kind, caring, loving, selfless, intelligent, beautiful inside and out. You are the most amazing person in the world and you deserve love, and care, and kindness. You do not deserve the pain you have been through, and are still going through. You do not deserve pain at all. We all wish we could take your pain away from you. And we will do everything we can to help you, love you, care for you, and do whatever you need us to do to help you believe that you are worth it. Because you are worth it, Harry. You are amazing," Draco said and Harry's heart felt like it was going to burst.

Draco pulled Harry gently into his arms and Harry practically melted in their safety and warmth.

"I love you, Harry," Draco whispered so quietly that Harry almost missed it.

But he didn't miss it.

Harry's heart was beating fast, but not so fast it hurt.

Draco loved him.

"I love you, too," he whispered back, his voice shaky, but the smile on his face was brighter than any star in the sky.

Draco loved him.

He felt his dad wrap his arms around them and a kiss on the top of his head, "I love you, Harry. And I am here for you, always. But I will leave you two to it for now, breakfast will be in an hour,"

"I love you, dad," Harry said before his dad kissed his head again and left the room.

His dad loved him.

Draco loved him.

It was hard to believe.

Hard to believe that he deserved that love.

No one had ever loved him before.

Not that he could remember anyway.

Why did everything have to hurt so much?

Harry felt himself shaking with tears. Everything hurt. Why? Why did they love him? He was nothing. He was a freak.

Even more of a freak now.

He could just imagine what the Dursleys would do if they found out he could get pregnant. That he was part creature. That he was gay.

"Harry, what is the matter? How can I help you?" Draco asked, clearly worried, and the care in his voice just made Harry cry harder.

"I don't deserve this. Any of this. I am a freak. I can't… I don't deserve love. I don't deserve care. I don't…"

"Harry, you are not a freak. I don't care how many times we have to say it to make you believe us. But you aren't a freak. You are the most amazing person I know. And you deserve all the love in the world. All of it. I love you. We all love you. And we always will. No matter what. You are not a freak. The freaks are the people that have hurt someone as special as you,"

"No… freak. I'm a freak. You shouldn't be hugging me. Freaks don't deserve hugs,"

"Harry, please. Why do you think you are a freak?"

"I… I can get pregnant. I am part creature. I am gay,"

Draco squeezed him gently in comfort.

"Harry, you are not a freak. I am gay, does that make me a freak?"

"No, of course not,"

"I am part creature, so is your dad, my dad, does that make us freaks?"

"No,"

"And my dad's mum was a man, does that make him a freak? Because he birthed my dad?"

"No,"

"Then why does all this make you a freak, Harry? If it doesn't make us freaks, then why are you a freak? Harry, you are so amazing. And personally, I think the fact that you will be able to carry and birth children when you come into your inheritance makes you so much more magical and special. You will be the most amazing mum, Harry. You will love your children so much and they will love you more than anything else. You aren't a freak, Harry. You are more precious than all the stars in the sky," Draco said, his voice both firm and soft.

"But,"

"No buts, Harry. If one of your sons was a submissive, if he was able to birth children, would you think him a freak?"

"No," Harry practically shouted, his hand going to his stomach at the thought of his future children even thinking that sort of thing about themselves, trying to protect them from that pain before they are even here.

"Just because the people who were supposed to look after you, raise you, love you, whilst your father couldn't, thought you were a freak and would think you a freak for all these amazing things you can do, it doesn't mean you are. None of us, the people that truly matter, the people that truly care for you, think you are a freak, Harry. And you don't think people with the same abilities as you are freaks, so why are you a freak if they are not? I know it will take you a while to believe me, to believe us, but we will tell you all these things until you believe us and even after then. Because they are the truth, Harry. You are amazing. You are special. You are not a freak,"

Draco's hand joined Harry's on his stomach, and the way that Draco looked at Harry as he spoke made Harry's heart stutter.

"Please believe me, Harry," Draco whispered as he rested his forehead against Harry's and held him closer, never removing his hand from Harry's stomach.

"I will try," Harry whispered back.

Draco smiled sadly, "How about we get ready for breakfast?" he said after a few minutes of silence where they just looked into each other's eyes, Draco holding Harry and both of their hands on Harry's stomach.

"O-okay," Harry said, not wanting to move, but knowing he should probably do so before he did something stupid.

He couldn't lose Draco.

Merlin, did he wish that Draco was his mate.

They got ready in a comfortable silence and Draco held his hand as they walked to breakfast.

When they arrived in the dining room he was shocked to find Draco's parents sitting there, and clearly worried about him.

"Harry," Tom said softly as he entered the room behind them. Harry turned to look at his grandfather, smiling at him sadly as Tom moved to wrap him in his arms, Draco's hand never letting go of his, "Are you alright?"

"No, but I think I will be," Harry whispered, hope filled his voice, "Eventually, anyway,"

"We are all here to support you and love you along the way," Tom said.

"I know, but it is hard to remember, or to know why,"

"I know, but we are here anyway,"

Harry nodded, not wanting to say anything more.

They sat down for breakfast and Harry was grateful that Draco still didn't let go of his hand.

Hiya, how are you all?

I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I would love to know what you think, what you think will or want to happen. I would love to know where you think this story is going to go.

I also have a Facebook group called Maraudering_Paige which each and every one of you are welcome to join. It is where we can talk about Harry Potter, fanfics, life, share memes and more. It is also where I will, when I have the opportunity and sort things out, be sharing an update schedule of sorts and will be keeping you up to date on what I am working on and when. I have recently posted a post about some of the fanfic ideas I have and am letting you decide which ones you are more excited about or which ones you would like to see the first chapters of first. So if you are interested in taking a look and have Facebook then feel free to go and join, I will accept everyone who wants to join.

I hope you are all having an amazing day.

Kind regards,

Paige xx