A/N This is technically a one-shot that follows the original story but as it makes more sense if you've read the first story I thought I'd add it as a chapter. There will be a few more of these

"Harry, do you have a moment?" Draco asked that night as the children began getting ready for bed. "Not now, but when we're done with this."

"Sure, meet me in the kitchen."

Half an hour later, Draco made his way down the stairs to find two steaming mugs of coffee on the table and a small plate of brownies between them.

"It's decaf," Harry assured the other man. "I know neither of us sleeps well when we have caffeine this late at night, and after that battle over dinner I thought we deserved a treat too."

"Who knew they'd all decide suddenly that they hate mushrooms and want to rebel?"

"I'm kind of surprised they all agreed. I was sure someone would argue just to be obstinate."

"Like Conor," Draco asked.

"He is usually the odd one out."

"I'm pretty sure he thought about it. I saw the look on his face, but I'm pretty sure he actually doesn't like mushrooms. I've seen him pick around them before."

"Well now that the mushroom mutiny is over-"

"Mushroom mutiny?" Draco's eyebrows shot up and he began to laugh.

"Ok, I know it's dumb but it seemed to need a name. I think I'm getting delirious. So what did you want to talk about?"

"Theo would like to come over and spend time with me."

"And you felt the need to ask."

"I don't think he's coming over just to spend time with me or I wouldn't ask."

Harry considered. "You think he wants to meet the kids, specifically Marcus, Liam, and Caela."

"Yes, well Caela for sure."

"Has he said anything about it that concerns you?"

The blond head shook. "No, if he had I wouldn't even entertain the idea of him coming here. I'd go somewhere to meet him. We talked about it a bit back when his father was arrested. He was torn between wanting to meet them and not wanting to."

"As long as you trust that he won't do or say anything to hurt the kids then I don't see the problem."

"I'll stay close to him, just in case I need to apparate him out quickly. We can do that can't we, you and I, I mean?"

"Yes, I don't usually do it, but it is set that way in case of emergency, out anyway. I'll double-check the wards. I think I also have it set to allow both of us to apparate in if need be, though I never do and haven't ever felt the need to."

Draco nodded. "I don't know that I would either. As long as we have the Floo in working order we don't need to, but it would be faster if there's going to be an issue. I don't know, maybe I'll still just go to his house."

"If you're going to keep spending time with him, eventually it would make sense for him to spend time here anyway. You may as well invite him over. If you're worried I can keep the kids occupied elsewhere in the house."

"We'll see. I'll talk to him again and see if I can get a better handle on what he's thinking."

"Alright, but the offer for him to visit is open."

"Thank you."

"Theo, are you sure you want to do this?"

"Draco, I'll be fine," the man said. "Now, budge over and let me come through."

"Fine."

Draco stepped back from the Floo and watched as his friend stepped out and dusted himself off.

"You'd think by now there would be a way to get through there without getting dirty."

"You can if you cast the right charm on your clothes before you step through."

"Yeah. That thing never works for me."

"Would you like a drink?" Draco asked gesturing to the firewhiskey bottle and glasses.

"No, let's just sit. It's been ages since we've actually talked. You're so busy now."

Draco took a seat and Theo sat down across from him. "I am, but you know all you have to do is ask and I'll meet you somewhere."

"Anywhere but Diagon that is," Theo mentioned, then held up a hand. "I know, I know why you won't go there, but you can't avoid it for the rest of your life."

"I absolutely can, and I will. That's what owl order is for."

"You're ridiculous."

"Theodore," Draco sighed.

"People will get over it and move on."

"They haven't yet."

"How do you know?"

"Do you not read the Prophet anymore?"

"That rag? Not if I can avoid it. Why?"

"Skeeter wrote a flaming piece of dragon dung after the adoption hearing."

Theo nodded in understanding. "Then you got a ton of howlers."

"Actually no. Harry has those blocked, but for a solid week, there were explosions right outside the wards. The Muggle law officers were here every day trying to figure out what the problem was. It made it rather difficult. I think Harry finally broke down and guarded the back garden so the kids wouldn't be seen, or maybe that ward was already there and he just strengthened it."

"Still, that's not everyone. There are people who will accept that you've done your time and-"

"Draco," Liam said coming into the room. "Where is my book?"

"Did you leave it in the classroom at the table?"

"I looked. It's not there."

"Did you take it up to your room? Or maybe it's up in the playroom."

"I think Michael hid it from me again."

"I don't think he'd do that again. Go look in your room and in the playroom. If you don't find it ask Harry."

"Okay," the boy said sadly. As he turned to go he caught sight of Theo. "Who are you?"

"I'm a friend of Draco's."

"You look like… Marcus!" Liam yelled and took off running from the room.

"I take it that's one of the kids old Thoros had," Theo said trying to cover his sudden case of nerves.

"Yes."

"I should probably go."

"Maybe-"

"Look," Liam shouted as he and Marcus came in the room. "See, he looks like Mister."

Marcus crossed the room and stood next to Draco's chair, staring intently at Theo who sat with his hands gripping the arms of the chair, white-knuckled.

"You do look like Mister. Are you Theodore?"

Theo's eyes went wide and his jaw dropped. He couldn't find the words to answer.

"He prefers the name Theo," Draco told the boys. "Did Mister tell you about him?"

"Sometimes he would tell us stories about when his boy was little and was bad."

This brought Theo back to movement with a snort and a head shake. "Of course he did."

"You know Draco?" Liam asked.

"We've been friends for a long time," Theo answered. "We knew each other when we were your age, or younger."

"Marcus?"

It was Draco's turn to tense. Caela had come looking for the two boys she was still closest to in the family. He should have expected it. He looked at Theo to see his friend gazing at the little girl, face inscrutable. The child continued into the room and looked up at Theo. She tilted her head to the side.

"You look like Poppa."

"He's Mister's son," Marcus told her.

"Theodore?"

"Theo," the man himself said.

Caela stepped closer to him. "Hi, Theo."

"Hello."

Silence took over the room and stretched for several seconds. Finally, Draco spoke.

"Liam, you should go look for your book. Marcus, why don't you help them. Caela, it's almost time for lunch. You should go tell the others and wash your hands."

"Ok, Draco."

The three left the room and Theo sat staring at the door after them. "She was just a baby. He took her and she was just a baby. They were all so little. I knew that, from what you told me, but seeing them, really seeing how little they are… He killed their families and took them. He took care of at least two children in diapers…" he trailed off.

"Hard to imagine Thoros changing diapers, isn't it?"

"Yes and no. It's not like he had to touch them as long as he knew the right spell, though how he knew it I don't know. Mum was still alive when I was a baby and it's not like he would ever deign to take care of me then. He was too busy with the Dark Lord, then too busy covering his arse so he wouldn't wind up in Azkaban. Guess he can't avoid it anymore."

"No, this time he'll be locked up just like Lucius."

"Locked up," Theo huffed. "He deserves worse. Don't the Muggles kill their killers?"

Draco shrugged. "You'd have to ask Harry. I think maybe in some places they do."

"Maybe he'll get the kiss."

"Kingsley outlawed it," Harry said. "Lunch is ready if you'd like to join us."

"I think I'll pass, but thanks for the offer," Theo responded. "Draco, go ahead. I'm going to just sit here a bit."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine. Don't worry. I won't leave this room."

"I'm not worried."

"I would be if I were you, but I'll stay here or if I feel like leaving, I'll just go home."

"Alright then. I'll be back shortly."

Theo watched the other two leave and stared into the fireplace. It seemed like an eternity when he heard little footsteps in the room.

"Will you read to me?" Caela asked holding up a book.

"Um, don't you want Draco or Harry to read to you?"

"Uh-uh, you."

"I don't…," he sighed. "I guess."

She smiled and handed him the book then climbed up and settled into his lap.

"I'm ready," she announced.

"Oh, uh, okay." He opened to book and began to read. "Once upon a time, there lived a young girl…"

"Have you seen Caela?" Harry asked Draco.

Draco put a finger to his lips and pointed into the drawing room.

"So, that's where she went."

"She's almost asleep. We can get her and put her in bed once she's out."

As they watched the little girl's head dipped to Theo's shoulder and her eyes drifted closed. He kept reading for another moment, then he closed the book, and laid it down on the table next to his chair. He reached up and brushed her hair out of her face and ran that hand over her back.

Harry looked at Draco and nodded before turning to go up the stairs.

Draco crossed the room silently. "I can take her," he whispered.

"No," Theo shook his head. "I'll do it. You just lead the way."

The blond did exactly that as soon as Theo stood with the little girl in his arms. When they reached her room Draco pulled down the covers on her bed and Theo laid her down gently, pulling up the sheet over her. He stepped back and shook his head then headed for the door.

By the time Draco caught up with him, Theo had poured a glass of firewhiskey and drank half of it. He'd turned and was leaning against the sideboard, glass in hand against the edge.

"You ok?"

Theo shrugged.

Harry came up behind Draco but said nothing.

"I wanted to hate her," Theo started. "The boys I could feel for, I could identify with. I wanted to hate her. She stole my father. Except, of course, she didn't. She didn't have anything to do with him not being there for me ever. She didn't have anything to do with him always wanting a girl. None of it is her fault. He stole her. He killed her parents and stole her. I wonder if he would have ever given her up or if he would have insisted on raising her himself. I wanted to hate her. I wanted someone else to take the pain out on. I could go yell at him. I could scream and yell and disown him, but he wouldn't care. He never cared. It's better this way. Now I can start again with the family name, maybe I can make it something new, try to remove the black marks. I wanted to hate her and I feel like shit for that, for even thinking about taking it out on a little girl."

He took another drink. "I wanted to hate her, but I just can't. She's just too…"

"She's Caela," Draco said.

"Yeah."

"Strangely even with what Teddy endured at the hands of his captors, Caela is the most fragile of them all, or at least the most outwardly fragile," Harry commented.

"None of the others connected with the adults they were with like she did," Draco said. "Well, the twins did to some extent but they have each other. Even though Caela was with Marcus and Liam it's different for her."

"He loved her," Theo mused. "I don't even have to talk to him to know that. He loved her and showed it. She loved him too, the boys obviously not. I saw the look on their faces when they saw me. Hers was different."

"It was," Draco confirmed. "The twins will once in a while say something about 'Momma' but I don't get the same feeling from them."

"I need to go. I need time to think, but is it okay if I come back?"

Draco looked to Harry.

"Absolutely."

"Thanks, Potter. Sorry, Malfoy. We'll have to catch up later."

With that Theo left.

"Will he be alright?"

"I'd imagine he's on his way to the Ministry to see his father and doesn't even realize it yet. He probably won't until he gets there. He'll just wander the streets of London for a while and wind up there or suddenly apparate there."

"Maybe you should go and meet him there. You can let Ron know what's up."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "You think that's a good idea? Weasley can't stand me. He won't like Theo any more than he does me."

"Fine, then let Addie know, or go straight to Robards. Here I'll write a quick note to get you to him and then you can take the Floo."

"Don't bother writing me a note. I'm not a child."

"Draco, don't get huffy," Harry lightly scolded. "I'm just trying to make sure no one there harasses you for suddenly showing up."

"Ok, fine," the blond sighed knowing the other man was right.

Five minutes later Draco was in the atrium of the Ministry for only the second time since the day of his sentencing hearing.

"Can I help you, Mr. Malfoy?" a witch asked from beside him.

He tried not to wince at the name. "No, thank you. I'm waiting for a friend. When he arrives we'll be visiting the Auror department."

"Well then…"

"Actually, I'm sorry. I'd forgotten I have this letter for Auror Robards from Harry Potter. He asked me to bring it since I was coming, could you get it to him, please. I think Harry wanted him to have it quickly and I'd hate to wait any longer."

"Certainly." The witch took the parchment he held out and tapped her wand on it. The parchment folded itself into a plane and took off.

"Thank you."

Draco drifted over to the statue looking up at it again as he had on the day of the adoption. He wondered how long it would take Theo to find his way there. He turned and sat back as far as he could, trying to be inconspicuous. He began to watch the witches and wizards coming and going. There were so many he didn't know. He hadn't thought the wizarding population was quite so large. An errant paper plane caught his eye as it spun and dipped back and forth across the atrium as if lost.

"What are you doing here?" Theo asked.

"I could ask you the same thing, but we both know why we're here."

"I don't even know…. Fine, I do know why I'm here and you can't talk me out of it."

"I don't plan to."

"So you're going with me?"

Draco nodded.

"Not sure if it's worth it, no way they're going to let me see him."

"Actually, I don't think that will be a problem."

Theo cocked his head. "Potter?"

"Potter," Draco confirmed.

"Guess I have to do it then."

"You don't have to, but if you really want to you can. It's up to you. You can come back anytime."

"Better to just get it over with then."

"Right." Draco stood and led the way to the lifts.

Neither said a word as they walked down the hall and into the Auror office.

"Can we help you?"

"I've got them," Addie said before either could answer. "Draco, hello, and you must be Theo. Robards let me know you were coming. Let's just go back here."

They followed her to a room. When they entered they found a table and door on either side of the room.

"In just a few minutes we'll have Thoros brought in. Are you both staying to talk to him?"

Theo looked to Draco. "Well, are you staying?"

"Do you want me to?"

"If you want."

Addie looked at both men and nodded once. "Ok, well I'll go get your father. Whoever is here when we get back can talk to him. You will be observed. I thought you should know. No one is in watching yet but they will be."

"I assumed as much," Theo replied. "Thank you."

Addie said, "You're welcome." She then headed out the back door of the room.

"Theo, do you want me here or would you rather be alone with him?"

"I don't know," Theo replied.

Draco frowned.

"I honestly don't. I don't know what I want you to do. I can barely even believe I'm here. Stay if you want."

"How about I stay here by this door so I can leave if you want me to."

"I guess. I don't…this is a bad idea. I shouldn't have come here."

"You need to see him, at least one last time. It's completely understandable."

"Did you come see Lucius?"

"Not alone," Draco said. "That wasn't allowed, even with us being observed. Mother was with us every time we were together. Perhaps that was better, I don't know."

"Would you have said or done anything different if she hadn't been?"

The blond shrugged. "I don't know that I would have been strong enough. I was just trying to get through each day. I've thought about going out to Azkaban, to see him there."

"Why haven't you?"

"As soon as I was off house arrest I started visiting the children's ward, then helping Harry, then I moved in there. I've been too busy."

Theo didn't respond. He simply stared at Draco. The blond didn't react. He just stared back for several minutes until Theo finally broke. "How long does it take to get one old man out of a holding cell and up here to talk to me?"

He turned to look at the door. "What if he told them he doesn't want to see me?"

"He wouldn't do that."

"He would. He never-"

Theo was interrupted by the door opening. Thoros shuffled in, hands bound, with Addie following close behind.

"Knock on the door if you need anything or when you're done talking," Addie told them before she stepped back out.

Thoros shuffled on over to the table and sat down across from his son. "Theodore, young Malfoy."

"His name is Draco, Father. You know that. You also know I prefer to be called Theo."

"Your mother gave you the name Theodore. It is a grand old name. I don't know why you can't accept it and use it."

"I didn't come here to argue with you about my name," Theo said with a sigh. "I'm not sure why I came at all."

"How did you know I was here? They told me it was a secret. They told the others the same thing."

"The others? You're all together?"

"We all have cells in a row. We can talk to each other. So how did you know I'm here? Did they lie? Was it in the paper?"

"No, I was told personally. I thought you were dead. You let me think you were dead," Theo accused.

"Had to, had orders to follow," the old man replied as if it was obvious.

"From a dead man!"

"He came back before. He'll come back again."

Draco shook his head. "Not this time. I saw his body. I saw him carried away with my own eyes. So did my parents. So did dozens of people if not more."

"Doesn't change a thing. He found a way back before. He will again."

Theo growled and stood, shoving his chair back.

"You care more about him than you do about me, your own son."

"It's not just about you-"

"No, it's about her too. It's about you throwing me over for a new child. I'd say new children, but let's be honest you never cared about those boys just like you never cared about me. She's the only one that mattered."

"You matter," Thoros argued. "You're my heir."

"Don't bullshit me, old man!" Theo yelled. "If Mum had lived long enough to give you a daughter you'd never have given me a second glance. You'd have passed me over and handed the family fortune and properties to her or to her husband when she got married."

"Believe what you want, you always have."

"Because you always made it clear you didn't care about me. I never heard from you during the year when I was at school. Before that, you spoke to me maybe once a week. The house elves and my governess were the ones that took care of me. If given the chance you would have adopted Caela wouldn't you?"

Thoros looked at his son now eyes squinted. "You've met her," he said quietly.

"So what if I have?"

"You should adopt her, make her your child, or at least take her in as your sister."

"Even if I could, I wouldn't."

"Why not? She's your sister."

Theo rolled his eyes. "She's not my sister. You kidnapping her and killing her parents does not make you her father."

"Better she be raised by me than by some blood traitor," the man spat.

"Then you don't want her raised by me either," Theo threw back. "Besides, like I said. I can't adopt her. It's too late. She's already been adopted along with the boys and all the other children found."

"Who?"

"Draco would you like to tell him?"

Draco stood up from the wall he'd been leaning on. "If you'd like me to."

"You?" Thoros said in disbelief. "They let you adopt them. Never, they'd never. Your mother maybe but not you."

"No, not me," Draco replied calmly, "and not my mother either. Harry Potter has adopted all ten children."

The old man's eyes went wide and he began to splutter. "You can't be serious."

"Yes, he is," Theo said. "It's true. Harry is doing a wonderful job with them. Draco is helping him raise them. They're quite the team, certainly better parents than you were to me."

"You Malfoy? You've become a blood traitor. I should have known. Your father must be devastated."

"I wouldn't know. I haven't spoken to him in years and I honestly don't care what he thinks. His decisions led our family to near ruin and near death."

"He should disown you."

"He may when he finds out. Again, I don't care."

"Well if you believe Lucius should disown Draco then I'll just assume you'll be contacting your solicitor to do the same to me. No worries. I have friends I can live with. The Nott fortune and lands can simply go back to the Ministry as you have no other heirs."

The older Nott swore. Theo kept a blank face though Draco could see he was distressed.

"We've been here long enough," Theo finally said. "Draco needs to get back home before the children wake up from their naps and I have other places to be."

Draco knocked on the door back into the hallway. It opened only seconds later.

"Goodbye, Father."

Thoros did not respond.

Neither man said anything until they reached the sidewalk outside the Ministry.

"He'll still try to come up with some way to avoid my having everything now," Theo observed. "I could see it as he sat there. He hates the idea of the Ministry getting everything but he won't want me to have it."

"You did that on purpose."

"Yes."

"Do you not want everything or were you just testing him?"

"I guess it was a test but I got the result I expected. It's over. I'm done. Whatever happens to him is on him. It might be time for me to stop being so lazy and get a real job. Blaise has some idea of a business. I could use the money to invest now before Thoros cuts me off."

"If he can."

"If he can."

"Do you want to come back to the house?"

"Not right now, but I may stop by later if that's okay."

"I don't care and I know Harry won't."

"Thank you for being here."

"It's what we do."

"I know, so that being said. If you decide you want to go out to Azkaban, let me know. I'll go with you."

"I'll think about it."

"Is there anything I can help you with sir?" a healer asked Theo as he paced the hallway outside the children's ward.

"I'd imagine the answer to that is no," he replied.

"Alright then, is there a reason you're in this hallway?"

"I'm not sure of that either. I seem to have just wound up here to be honest."

"Then perhaps I can direct you elsewhere, just let me tell me where you're supposed to be."

Theo shook his head. "Anywhere but here. Sorry, I don't mean to be cryptic. It's been a rather long and strange day. Would it be possible for me to talk to the head of this ward?"

"I believe she's in her office, sir. Just down there on the right."

"Thank you, and I'm sorry again for causing any concern."

"No concern, sir," the healer replied, but he watched Theo as he walked down the hall and stood outside the head's office and knocked.

Anara opened the door. "May I help you?"

"I don't know," Theo responded. "I have questions, but I don't know if you can answer them."

"Then perhaps you should ask and we'll go from there."

"Okay then."

She stepped back and allowed him to pass into the office. He sat in a chair in front of her desk while she returned to her own chair behind it.

"You have a Floo," he observed.

"Yes," she said looking perplexed.

"Sorry, I… I don't know. It's been an odd day. I suppose I should introduce myself. I'm Theo Nott."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Anara Bennett."

"I'm the son of the man who had three of the children Harry Potter adopted: Caela, and I think Draco said the boys are Marcus and Liam."

"Ah."

"I'm not here to ask for any personal information about them. I just… Oh, I really don't know," he shook his head. "And I've said that now so many times. I went to visit Draco this morning and the children came in. They all noticed I look like my father. The boys didn't seem to like that but Caela…"

"She saw you as a replacement for the man that she had grown close to, who'd raised her and cared for her."

"Who loved her more than he ever loved me, yes. She insisted I read to her after lunch and fell asleep in my arms. I thought I'd hate her if or when I met her. No, if. I knew I'd meet her eventually. Draco and I have been friends for years. I knew visiting him at Harry's meant that eventually, I'd meet the kids, all of them. I thought I'd feel for the boys, and I did. I saw it in their faces when they were so wary to meet me. He treated them the same way he did me. It was Caela that hit me harder. I thought I'd hate her."

"And you don't."

"No, I feel sorry for her. She lost the only father she's ever known. Someday she's going to be old enough to realize that he killed her real parents, her first parents. She has Harry and Draco. They'll take great care of her and love her, but she was attached to my father and he to her. I just came from seeing him."

She stood and began to pour two cups of tea. "That can't have been easy."

"Dealing with him never has been so this was no different. Thank you," he said accepting the cup she passed to him. "I didn't expect to end up there when I left Harry's, but Draco knows me well enough he figured it out and met me there."

"He's a good friend."

Theo nodded. "I left the Ministry and walked. I wound up here. I seem to be just moving on instinct today."

"Not always a bad thing."

"No, but it helps when I know where I'm going and why. I think I worried one of your healers because I was pacing in the corridor trying to figure out why I'm here."

Anara chuckled. "I'll be sure to allay any fears they have. Did you determine what brought you to see me?"

"I think so. I'm worried, about myself and the kids, but mostly about the kids. I want to keep my friendship with Draco. We can do that outside of his home, but Harry's made it clear that I'm welcome whenever I want to visit. I don't want to make things harder on the children though. I don't want my presence to further traumatize the boys." He stopped and shook his head once. "Marcus and Liam, I have to stop depersonalizing them. I also don't want to find myself trying to relate to them through our common disappointments in my father."

"The fact that you are concerned about doing so is incredibly healthy considering your feelings. I'd say it's a good sign that you won't lean on them that way. As for traumatizing them, I can't tell you any specifics of their care when they were here, but from the time I got to know them I think if you give them time and get to know them, let them get to know you, that it will all be okay. Don't push a relationship, allow it to happen or not naturally."

"I should have thought of that."

"You most likely would have in time. Now…"

"Caela," he said and nodded. "I'm not worried about traumatizing her, though the more I say it the less that seems like the correct word choice even when I'm talking about Marcus and Liam. Anyway, I worry about her becoming too attached to me. Harry is her father now. He's the one she needs to connect to and become attached to. I don't want to hinder that."

"And you worry that if she does become too close to you and you have to step back it will hurt her."

"Exactly."

"Again a very healthy concern. I'd suggest you have that conversation with Harry and Draco. Let them know your concerns. They can watch to see if your visits become a problem."

"I should have thought of that."

She smiled. "Don't beat yourself up. You're doing precisely the right things, asking the right questions. If you'd like, I can provide you with a name of a mind healer you can talk to about your issues with your father."

"No, I don't…" he sighed. "You know what, give me the name. I may not contact them, but I will be strong enough to admit that I might need help."

She pulled out a small piece of parchment and a quill, quickly writing a name, and passed it to him.

"Thank you. I know you have much more important things to do than to take time with me."

She waved a hand. "No worries, sometimes I appreciate a break from the endless paperwork that comes with the job. Besides, I do enjoy talking about those children. We're not supposed to get attached to our patients, and usually, I can maintain a healthy distance. This group though, there was something about them. I'm becoming a regular visitor to Grimmauld Place myself."

"Perhaps I'll see you there some time then."

"Perhaps."

"Thanks again."

"You are quite welcome."

"Dad, Dad," Liam came running up the stairs. "Someone is knocking on the door. We didn't open it."

Harry chuckled. "Good job. I'll be right there."

"Ok, Dad, but they've been knocking for a while. Michael and Riordan were arguing about who would tell you, so I came to do it."

"Got it," Harry replied standing up and following the boy down the stairs. Where he dispatched the arguing brothers to their room and opened the door. "Nott?"

"Yeah, um, hi. I know you didn't expect me again. I didn't really expect to be back but I wanted to talk to you if you have a minute."

"Not right now, it's almost dinner, but you're more than welcome to join us. Then you can witness the craziness that is after dinner and bedtime."

"Are you trying to scare me away from ever having children of my own? Or just scare me so I never come over again?" Theo raised an eyebrow.

"Ha, neither. I'm actually trying to take advantage of another adult being here," Harry said as he stepped back to let Theo in the door. "It's not that Draco and I can't handle the kids. We do it regularly. It's always nice to have another nonchild to help out."

"I don't understand how you make it through a day and don't just fall asleep at the end of the night, every single night."

"How do you know I don't?"

"Draco has mentioned-"

"What have I mentioned? Dinner time by the way. I already started collecting the kids."

"You've mentioned that you two occasionally have a drink after putting the crazy ones to bed."

"Oh yeah, and you thought it was amazing before you spent time with them. What do you think now?"

"I'll tell you at the end of the night," Theo responded and Harry laughed. Draco just shook his head and smirked.

Hours later sprawled in a drawing room chair with a nearly empty glass of whiskey Theo said. "I still don't understand how you do this every day and not pass out as soon as they're in their rooms, but I will concede that this isn't a bad way to end an evening."

"It's really not," Draco replied. "So why are you back?"

"Should I go? Harry asked.

"No, I came to talk to both of you. I suppose you know I saw my father."

Harry nodded. "Draco mentioned it but he gave me no details."

"Really?" Theo looked at his friend. "It would have been fine."

"I might have told him tonight, but since you're here you can share."

Theo did exactly that, telling Harry a detailed account of the visit, ending at the point that he and Draco had parted ways.

"He's right you know," Harry commented. "You should go out to Azkaban and see your father. If he can't go we'll get someone to stay here and I can go with you."

"You would do that?"

"Why would you think I wouldn't?"

"Honestly," Theo said. "I'm with Draco. I wouldn't expect you to do that either."

"I help my friends when they need it."

"Friend?" Draco breathed.

Theo could see the hope and pain in the blond's eyes and wondered if Harry could see it too, and if he saw it, did he understand it.

"Did you really think you were just the live-in nanny?"

"Well, I am."

Harry grimaced. "You can't possibly think that. You're being obtuse. For all intents and purposes, you're their second father."

"Oh no," Draco protested. "That title is reserved for your future husband, should you have one. Oh shite! Theo that doesn't leave this room."

Theo mimed locking his mouth.

"It's not at total secret," Harry told the other man. "My friends and family know. Draco knows, and now you. I really should just come out and make it easier."

"I'm telling you that's a bad idea. Skeeter'll have us as a couple in the paper in no time. We really don't need hundreds of howlers exploding outside again."

"He's right you know," Theo agreed. "It's probably better to wait until you have a special someone or are looking for him. We've gotten way off track here by the way, and normally I'm all for a detour but I'm tired and need to get home to sleep."

"We can find you a bed here if you want," Harry offered. "The rooms are all taken but we can figure something out. I really should look into trying to buy out one of the neighbors and opening up a door between the two places."

"Now he's starting to sound like one of us," Theo observed. "Talking about just casually buying a second house. Thank you for the offer, Potter."

"Harry, call me Harry."

"Thank you for the offer Harry, and call me Theo, but I prefer my own bed. You two can have the friendship conversation after I leave."

"No need for that," Draco interjected.

"We're friends. I don't think it really needs conversation," Harry declared. "Now what else was it you wanted to say, Theo?"

"After I left the Ministry I went to St. Mungo's." He shared with them the conversation he'd had with Anara.

"I have no worries right now," Harry told him. "If you were visiting every day that might be an issue but I didn't notice anything yet."

Draco frowned. "I do think Caela could become attached to you if she sees you too often, and I did see Marcus and Liam watching you fairly closely during both lunch and dinner, but I think they're just watching. We'll keep an eye on them and see if we notice anything or if they have any nightmares. All of the children do occasionally. Some of them can tell us about the nightmares, others can't. Still, I think it would be a good idea for you to wait a week or so before you visit again."

Harry shrugged. "Probably not a bad idea. We're figuring this out as we go along so I don't know what else to tell you."

"That's the answer I'd expect from any new parent. Thank you both for letting me come over. I'm going to head home now."

"You're always welcome," Harry reassured him.

"Thanks." Theo said and using the Floo headed out.