Chapter 26 The Visitor

Harry got off the Hogwarts Express after it pulled into Kings Cross for the Spring Holiday. Harry had decided he would give Draco a second chance and had told his Dad to invite Draco to Windy Corner. Harry scanned the platform. He saw Remus, and felt a wave of disappointment at not seeing Cassius. Papa had said they would both be there. He looked just a bit further and saw Dad talking with Draco Malfoy. Draco and Cassius were almost the same height, their hair was the same silver blond, their profiles were similar - the family resemblance was very strong. Harry watched as Cassius put his hand on Draco's shoulder and smiled. After saying goodbye to Ron and Hermione, Harry walked over to Papa and hugged him. He heard steps behind him and pulled away from Remus. Cassius was standing there, next to Draco who was looking slightly uncomfortable.

"Draco, this is my husband, Remus Lupin. Remus, this is my nephew, Draco Malfoy."

Draco held out his hand as if meeting Remus for the very first time. "I am very glad to finally meet you, Uncle Lupin." Remus looked startled for a moment and then shook Draco's hand.

"It's nice to meet you, Draco." Remus said politely. Draco smiled.

"Draco, this is our fosterling, Harry Potter. Harry, this is your cousin, Draco."

Draco held out his hand again. "Nice to meet you, Cousin Harry." He sounded friendly, not like the Draco Harry was used to.

"Hi." Harry said back – it felt strange to be civil to Draco. He took a step closer to Papa.

"Let's go." Cassius said, waving his wand at Harry and Draco's trunks causing them to disappear. He starting to walk towards the car. Remus put his arm around Harry and they followed Cassius and Draco. When they got to the car, Draco stood uncertainly next to it. "Why don't you get in the front with me, Dray." Cassius said as he opened the back door. Harry climbed in first and as Remus got in, Cassius murmured something in his ear. Draco slid into the front seat.

Cassius started the car and turned out of the parking lot down a quiet street. "All clear?" Harry and Remus turned and looked around the car before answering yes. Cassius pushed a few buttons on the dashboard and the motor was silenced, the car turned invisible and lifted into the air.

"A flying car? Aren't they against the law?" Draco looked over at his uncle

"Are they?" Cassius smiled innocently back at him. "We've got just about three hours until we get home."

"Are you boys hungry? Tabby packed us dinner." Remus gestured to the picnic basket, Harry nodded so Remus picked it up off the floor. Draco looked confused at the mention of Tabby.

"Bettina Sprout, she's a former auror and our…housekeeper…of a sort." Cassius answered the unspoken question.

"Professor Sprout's sister." Remus added as he handed Draco a sandwich.

"Thank you very much, Uncle Lupin."

"Gramps will be there, too, Harry." Remus handed a sandwich to Cassius.

"Really?" Harry piped up as he took his sandwich from Remus. He hadn't seen them since they left Hogwarts the night Voldemort was finally defeated. "How are they doing?"

"Wonderfully happy. And of course, Dad thinks it's all his doing." Remus grinned at Harry.

"It is my doing." Cassius spoke around a mouthful of sandwich.

"Don't talk with your mouth full." Remus said automatically. "I think really it's Harry who should get the credit." Cassius swallowed quickly and opened his mouth to protest.

"Who's Gramps?" Draco asked quickly.

"Mad-Eye Moody." Harry answered. "But don't worry – remember, it was actually Barty Crouch Jr. who changed you into a ferret." He grinned cheekily at Draco, wondering if Draco would sneer at him. Draco stared at him for a moment, then started laughing.

"Well – I didn't so much mind being changed into a ferret, it's the bouncing up and down on the floor of the Great Hall that's something I wouldn't care to repeat." Draco said with a sly grin, looking and sounding amazingly like Cassius. Remus and Harry both stared, startled by the similarity.

"I never heard about that." Cassius poked Draco's shoulder.

"It wasn't something I was going to brag about." Draco poking his uncle back.

"At least it wasn't a bunny, eh?" Cassius wiggled his eyebrows.

"I know! Yuck!" Draco shuddered.

"I've never understood this hatred for bunnies." Remus said to Harry. "You should see him when they get into the garden."

"They're…just…with their pink noses and their big ears…ugh." Cassius made a face. "But I'm not afraid of them."

"You said you wouldn't tell!" Draco shouted at his uncle. Harry felt as if he'd fallen into an alternative dimension, like on some muggle sci-fi show. This definitely wasn't the Draco he knew, but Cassius and Draco seemed to have fallen into a familiar routine.

"I didn't!" But Cassius flushed.

"You did! You told Pot - Harry that I'm afraid of bunnies, that's how he knew!" Draco shouted at his uncle. "He's been teasing me all year."

"Well – anyway – this isn't actually the first time you'll have been to Windy Corner." Cassius changed the subject abruptly.

"Really?" Harry, Remus and Draco spoke at the same time.

"No – Tabby reminded me you were there as a toddler. Your father and mother went somewhere…Egypt, I think. And they had me take care of you. You pulled Tabby's tail within minutes of your arrival and she spent the rest of your visit hiding in the attic."

"Her tail?" Draco said with confusion.

"She's an animagus, she transforms into a cat." Remus explained.

"I don't remember." Draco shook his head.

"Well, you weren't only two. You were horrible – always crying. I put a silencing spell on you so I could sleep through the night."

"You did not!" Draco laughed.

"No – but I did give you candy to stop you from crying. Narcissa was so mad at me for that." Draco's eyes suddenly filled with tears at the mention of his mother. "Dray, I'm sorry. I…"

"Here." Remus handed Draco a tissue from his pocket.

"Thank you." Draco whispered as he wiped at his eyes. Cassius looked distressed. After a moment, Draco took a deep breath. "Uncle Lupin, how long have you lived at Windy Corner?"

"11 years." Remus answered.

"But you were together before that? Uncle Malfoy told me you've been together 13 years."

"We dated for almost two before getting married." Remus explained.

"Mated, you mean? There's no marriage certificate."

"You looked?" Cassius seemed surprised.

"I thought maybe you might have actually gotten married, I looked years ago. I should have known you wouldn't leave any evidence." Draco shrugged. "Makes sense now since you can't actually marry a werewolf."

"The law is against marriage between a witch and a werewolf, actually." Cassius said quickly.

"Hmm…nice loophole, that." Draco smirked at his uncle.

"I thought so." Cassius smirked back.

Harry watched in bewilderment. This Draco was very different from the one he had known. He wondered if all the malicious remarks had been Draco's mask – was he really more like Cassius than his father? The rest of the ride home was pleasant enough but Harry didn't talk much, he couldn't get over the change in Draco that quickly. Draco had not been outwardly mean towards Harry since the revelation but Draco being more than polite to Remus and Harry was a little unsettling.

"Tabby!" Harry rushed out of the car to hug her as he arrived at Windy Corner for the beginning of the Easter Holiday

"Welcome home, Harry." Tabby smiled.

"Hello, Harry. Cass – we need to talk to you." Moody said gruffly.

"What about?" Cassius asked as he opened the trunk.

"We'll tell you inside."

"What's happened?" Cassius asked suspiciously.

"We just need to talk to you." Tabby said firmly.

"All right." Cassius said slowly, looking at Remus who shrugged, looking clueless.

The three of them went quickly into the house and Remus levitated Draco and Harry's trunks following slowly behind them.

"What's that about, Papa?" Harry asked.

"I don't know…I hope nothing bad." Remus answered, looking a little worried. "You'll be staying in the guest room, Draco. It's upstairs." He started up the stairs. He had just set Draco's trunk down and was sending Harry's trunk into his room when there was a loud shout from the living room. Harry's trunk landed on the floor with a thunk as Remus whirled around.

"Remus!!" Cassius yelled up the stairs. "Harry! Come here! Draco!"

Harry got down the stairs first and was lifted up into the air by Cassius.

"They're getting married!"

"Tabby and Gramps?" Harry asked, starting to feel dizzy as Cassius whirled him around.

"They're getting married!" Cassius repeated, setting Harry down. "Isn't it wonderful?" Harry nodded in agreement as he went to hug Tabby and then Gramps. Cassius moved towards Remus.

"No – don't spin me, please. Tomorrow…" Remus protested. Harry immediately looked at the calendar in the hallway, tomorrow night was the full moon, no wonder Remus was looking more sick than usual.

"You're getting married!" Cassius turned to Tabby and whirled her around in a circle.

"So, they're getting married, then." Draco said to Harry.

"Apparently." Harry said, grinning from ear to ear. He was so happy he didn't even notice he was being friendly to Draco.

"Congratulations, Alastor." Remus shook Moody's hand. "And Tabby. When did you propose?"

"Just now – had to ask the boy's permission first." Moody nodded at Cassius who was waltzing around the sitting room with Tabby.

"I think it's…I think I feel faint." Remus said quietly, becoming paler. Cassius immediately rushed to Remus' side.

"Are you…you didn't eat…" Cassius reached towards Remus and stopped, glancing at Draco. Harry gritted his teeth as he noticed.

"I just…"

"Harry, get Papa some tea." Tabby said, pushing Cassius aside and helping Remus to his chair by the fire. Harry took off into the kitchen quickly.

"Oh, Tabby, I've ruined your wonderful news."

"Don't be silly." Tabby said as she conjured up a blanket and tucked it around Remus. Cassius stood by awkwardly, chewing his fingers. "Nothing could ruin this. Thank you, Harry. The ottoman, please." She handed Remus the tea as Harry moved the ottoman under Remus' feet.

"Cass, stop that. I'm fine. Go…go show Draco around." Remus said weakly.

"All right." Cassius said, shoving his hand in his pocket. "Harry, do you want to come?" Harry shook his head. "Come on, Draco." The two Malfoys left the room.

"Tabby, I'm so happy for you, for you both." Remus said.

"I know you are." Tabby said smiling, kissing Remus' forehead. "You should have eaten this morning."

"I couldn't…"

"I'll fix you a trifle." Tabby said, heading towards the kitchen.

"So when is the wedding?" Harry asked Gramps, sitting next to him on the sofa, watching his Papa carefully as a little color returned to his face as he sipped his tea.

"Bette wants a June wedding, on the solstice."

"That will be lovely." Remus said.

"And she wants it here." Moody continued.

"I'll talk to Cass about that. Just…give me until after the full moon."

"Gladly. I don't want to be the one to tell him how many people will be coming." Moody said, a smile twisting his scared face. "Do you, Harry?"

"No way!" Harry smiled as Moody roughly tousled his hair.

"Harry, you all right? You've been quiet since we left the station." Cassius crossed over and sat in one of the comfy chairs. Harry was reading in bed.

"It's just…Draco's…different." Harry couldn't look at his Dad.

"Oh…yes…I saw how he acted at school when I was there." Cassius started chewing his fingers. "He puts on an act for a lot of people, what he thinks they expect."

"This is what he's like when you're together?" Harry asked.

Cassius nodded. "He was really mad at me when he first found out…Stupid Daily Prophet…I thought the Ministry would keep what happened confidential – most auror business they do…so…I didn't tell him before he read it in the paper. I thought maybe the spring holiday – when we'd all have time to sit down and get used to each other would be best. So I was waiting to tell him until then. He was so mad and then he was so hurt about me keeping Remus a secret from him… after he calmed down….he really wanted to meet Remus…and become friends with you. We're all the family he has now. I think it means a lot to him…"

"Yes" Harry said. Cassius stopped chewing his fingers abruptly.

"I don't expect you to like Draco…I know you have a lot of bad history between the two of you…just…give him a chance. Ok?"

"Ok."

Cassius stood up and walked over to Harry's bed. "I love you, Harry." He leaned down and kissed Harry's forehead. Harry reached up and hugged his Dad tightly.

"I love you, Dad."

"Good night, Harry." Cassius walked towards the doorway.

"Night." Harry said, feeling slightly better after their conversation. He listened as Cassius said good night to Draco in the room next door.

Remus appeared at Harry's doorway. "Everything ok?" He asked as he walked over to Harry's bed. Harry nodded. "I know it's awkward…but we should give it a try, it means a lot to both of them. I love you." Remus smoothed Harry's hair and kissed Harry's forehead.

"I love you too, Papa."