Sorry it took so long to update…. I've had the most extreme writer's block. Poetry and fanfiction came to a halt. But, tonight I was finally pushed to write this chapter as another request for it appeared in my email. So… here it is. J
Chapter 6
The ride home was fairly silent with only the occasional snuff of mucus back into Harry's nasal passage and the swipe of fingers over skin to wipe away any presence of tears. Draco sat very still except the comforting motion of his hand over his husband's right arm and Evan sat even more still, his head resting uncomfortably on the door as the Ford Anglia bounced along, Ron behind the wheel, Hermione dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief in the passenger seat.
No one expected to arrive to a home with a horrendous blaze burning down the happy memories of a young family. The orange flames licked and stuck out tongues through the broken and melting glass of the windows as the vehicle came to a stop at a distance in the front yard. Draco darted from the backseat, shoving his son onto Harry, and ran towards the crumbling and blackening home.
Harry stumbled from the car with Evan wrapping tiny arms around his right leg, those sapphire eyes gazing with confusion and sadness and emerald ones watching his husband drop to the dry ground, forehead resting on the dirt that once supported their home. "It's my fault. I just know it," Harry choked as his friends stood beside them.
"How could it have been your fault?" Hermione inquired softly.
The former Gryffindor sighed heavily. "I couldn't even destroy Voldemort alone," he mumbled.
"What does he have to do with this?" Ron gazed at him oddly.
The question went unanswered as Draco rose and threw his hands into his hair, pulling the dirty blonde strands outward, and screamed a name he loathed to voice or think. "Lucius!"
Once again, there was extreme silence in the vehicle as Ron drove on, flabbergasted at the sight he had witnessed. Hermione had no words of comfort as she held Evan close to her on her lap. His small dark head was resting against her chest as his father Draco broke down into tears further and as his father Harry chewed away at his lower lip, a hand constantly ghosting over his swollen stomach.
"There it is," Harry suddenly spoke up as a gigantic mansion came into view on the horizon.
Evan lifted his head from Hermione's bosom and his teary blue eyes settled on the home of his grandparents, Malfoy Mansion.
Ron whistled slowly. "That's a big house."
Rolling her eyes at Ron's unneeded statement, Hermione continued to hold on to Evan until the Ford Anglia came to a halt at the front door. With a sad sigh, she opened the door and allowed the young boy to hop out on his own, only to dash towards his daddy Draco as soon as the weeping man escaped the confines of the car. "I don't know what to say," she murmured as Harry approached her and gave her a comforting hug.
"There's no need for words, Mione." He buried his face in her neck. "Just let Draco and me work it out somehow. Everything will be fine."
"Merlin, I hope so, Harry." She pulled away slowly and gave his right hand a quick squeeze. With her arms wrapped around herself she headed back into the car as Ron gave Harry and Draco a soft pat on the shoulder.
His brown eyes couldn't have appeared sadder as he attempted to smile. "Take care of yourself, mate, and those two inside ya." He pointed towards Harry stomach as one side of his mouth sort of lifted to form a half smile. As Draco pulled Evan's broomstick from the trunk (the only item salvaged from the fire), Harry began to ascend the marble steps up to the front door of their new home.
Narcissa was at the door in a heartbeat after the first tap at the door. At the heartbroken faces of her child and son-in-law, she yanked them to her and hugged them tight. Snape couldn't move an inch from the door as he heard the news. People were in danger, his step-sons were in grave danger.
"Harry," came a soft voice outside an emerald decorated bedroom. "You have to eat dinner."
The black-haired boy sighed and ran his hands through his unruly hair. In the silk pajamas he wore, it was easy to simply slide further down in the wooden chair beside the open window. His eyes slipped closed and he swallowed the old saliva that had been sitting inside his mouth. The days were getting darker and he was a target again, only this time he would be the one in labor at a precarious time. Where and when was unknown at the moment, but as long as Lucius ran amuck, planning vengeance, the birth of his children was not looking to be the happiest day of his life. "No, I don't," he responded dryly.
Draco entered the bedroom and angrily threw his dress robe across the room at the foot of the closet. "Yes, you do." The statement was harsh, causing Harry to perk and eyebrow and glare in Draco's vicinity.
"I'll eat when I feel like it."
"You will not starve my unborn children, you prat!" He stormed up to Harry and leaned over his slouched body, baring his pearly white teeth in his husband's face.
The former Gryffindor simply swallowed, his adam's apple bobbing causing Draco's glare to falter. "They're mine, too. I know when they're hungry. Don't tell me you forgot the connection you had with Evan already?"
The blonde's eyebrows neared instantly, but soon they relaxed as Draco's lips descended and captured Harry's in a passionate kiss. Each man moaned involuntarily as their tongues mingled together in an eager dance. As his shaky hands reached forward and began to trace Harry's jawline, the door to the bedroom suddenly was yanked open.
Draco quickly pulled his bruised lips from Harry's and threw his hands in the air. "God dammit! We're always interrupted!"
Snape snickered from the doorway. "Naturally. What would life be like without irritating you constantly?"