Chapter 9: Escape
Nobody really knew what to make of the young man living in number 72 Temple Grange. He'd been living there for a little over 6 months and he was rarely seen out of the house. He obviously didn't have a job, and had the same people visiting him every day or so. His house was well presented and neat, and seemed perfectly normal. Then one day he appeared with two beautiful newborn babies.
Two men, one wearing all black and another with sandy brown hair knocked on the door. They were often seen there along with three others who also visited a lot. The young man living there opened the door. His hair was more mussed up than normal, he had bags under his eyes, and he was only wearing a pair of boxer shorts. He was also holding a tiny baby with blonde hair in his arms. He let the two men in gratefully, and the front door shut.
"How are you Harry?" Remus asked as the front door shut. He threw his coat over the banister at the bottom of the stairs.
Harry smiled wearily, "I'm fine," he answered, "Very tired, and sore but... I'm fine."
Snape nodded, "Yes, well it is to be expected, you just gave birth to twins forty eight hours ago."
"Have you named them yet?" Remus asked curiously.
Harry nodded hesitantly, "Yeah... I have. But I wanna tell you when everyone is here. Sirius is asleep at the moment, and Dean and Seamus aren't coming around for another couple of hours. Will you both wait?"
Remus nodded surely, and Snape looked at him hesitantly, then nodded when he saw the expectant look on Harry's tired face. Harry's expression brightened and he led them into the living room. Sirius was dozing on the couch, his legs over one of the arms, and his arm dangling off the edge. Harry put the sleeping baby he was carrying on the floor next to his sister, who was lying quietly on a blanket.
Harry collapsed into the chair and Remus looked at him worriedly. Harry's eyes fluttered shut for a brief second, and tried to open them again, but Remus said, "Harry, go upstairs, have some rest. Severus and I can take care of them. If you're needed we'll wake you."
Harry opened an eye, and nearly laughed at the horror struck expression on Snapes face. He nodded and wearily trampled up the stairs and collapsed on the bed, and fell into a deep sleep.
He awoke a couple of hours later, and finally dressed for the first time in two days. He pulled on a pair of jeans and a loose shirt and walked down the stairs.
The living room was complete chaos. Sometime while he was asleep Dean and Seamus had arrived, and Sirius, Remus and Snape were still there. The babies were fully awake and crying. And it appeared noone could make them stop. Snape was carrying Harry's son, pacing the room, trying to send him to sleep. It was vaguely working as he was only grizzling, but the little girl was screaming. Harry frowned and strode into the room. That was her hungry cry.
He picked up a bottle from the coffee table and checked its temperature, which was correct. He swiftly took the child from Sirius's grip and teased the bottle over her lips, which she eagerly took. He gave her back to Sirius, who was now sitting down, and took the baby from Snape. He held him to his chest and patted his back comfortingly. The tiny baby burped, and was quiet, and drifted to sleep. Harry handed the baby back to Snape, who cradled him awkwardly in his arms.
Seamus and Dean gawped at Harry who shrugged.
"How do you do that?" Seamus asked despairingly.
Harry smiled, "Dunno. I just... know."
Sirius grinned at him, "So you gonna tell us what you're calling them then?"
Harry smiled, "Sure. Well, you are holding Persephone Lily Potter, and Professor you are holding Sebastian James Potter."
There was a general murmur of consent around the room and Seamus piped up, "Why did you pick those names?"
Harry shrugged, "I'm not sure. I just liked them I guess. I wanted to give them interesting names, ones I knew noone with the same names. Plus I can shorten they as well, Sephy and 'Bast, I should think."
Sirius nodded, "They're beautiful names Harry..."
"Potter... Harry...you aren't planning on telling people that you're the mother so to speak are you?" Seeing Harry's affirmative shake of the head, Snape carried on, "When your children first show signs of being magical, their names will be recorded in a book. It records the mother and father of the magical child, where they reside and when they first perform magic. Eventually someone will find out... that you gave birth to them and that Mr Malfoy is the father."
Harry was silent. What was he going to do? Everyone would find out... Sirius and Remus looked at him worriedly. They knew how badly Harry wanted his children to have normal childhoods, but that was looking increasingly more difficult as every day passed.
"I've decided on godparents!" Harry announced suddenly to the room.
Everyone swivelled to look at Harry, Sirius eagerly, Dean, Remus and Seamus curiously and Snape reluctantly. Snape would never admit it at the moment but he actually liked Harry's children. He wouldn't have minded being a Godfather, he was to Draco, and God knows where he was at the moment. He would really like to prove that he could do the job properly for once.
"Well... you see... it was really hard to decide... and well I consider... Sirius and Remus as more of Grandparents to them, seen as you're like parents to me, so I chose Seamus, Dean and... Severus as Godfathers to both of them, shared." Harry answered.
"Thank you Harry," Severus said, being the first to speak – and get over the shock. Seamus and Dean nodded with his words.
"Yeah... Harry mate, thanks a lot... we'll do real good... real good," Seamus and Dean said, their words blending together as one.
Sirius hadn't said anything that, but Remus was beaming.
"Is... is that OK?" Harry said tentatively.
Remus nodded silently, and held out his arms. Harry grinned and gave him a hug, before he turned around to Sirius.
"Are you OK Sirius? You don't mind do you... you can be Grandpa Padfoot and Moony." Harry joked, but was actually more than half-serious.
Severus discreetly left the room, heading upstairs, then scowled at Seamus and Dean. They got the hint and followed him up the stairs, muttering about checking on the twins. Remus (never one to like being in these kinds of situation) looked at his shoes.
Sirius looked at Harry curiously, "Did ... did you mean that?"
"Mean what?" Harry asked. At times liked this Harry really was very slow. He was never good with matters of the heart, and now was no exception.
Sirius repressed the urge to roll his eyes, "About... us being like parents to you?"
"Of course I did," Harry said vehemently, "I wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it. I would never say anything like that for the sake of it. I really do. You've been so great with me over the last six or seven months, both of you and before as well. I really do consider you my parents ... in everything but biology and name."
Sirius nodded, but his black hair fell in his eyes, not letting Harry see the tears in his eyes. That really meant a lot to him. Both of them considered Harry to be a son to them, but they never expected him to really return the feeling. Sirius seized Harry by the shoulders and hugged him fiercely, so Harry couldn't see the tears in his eyes. He squeezed him tightly, and Harry winced.
"Er... Sirius, as much as I love you, I gave birth two days ago. This hurts." Harry said sheepishly.
Sirius blushed and let go, and Remus rolled his eyes at his mate. Werewolves had what they considered packs, and he and Sirius were the heads. James and Pettigrew had been in his pack before. His pack had become bigger lately, with the addition of Harry, Seamus and Dean. He suspected that eventually Severus would become part of his little 'family' as well as Harry's twins. He gave Harry a light hug, which Harry returned, then let go. Remus rested his chin on Sirius' shoulder, and leaned his head against Sirius', who returned it. Harry smiled at them, and turned away. As much as he loved Remus and Sirius, and was glad they had each other, he really didn't want to see them kissing. Seamus and Dean he could handle, but Sirius and Remus really were too much.
He looked around at his messed up living room, and sighed. He knew that having children was going to be messy. But he didn't think there was going to be this much stuff so early on. But there were loads of things they needed. His house was full to the seams of children's things, sterlilizers, toys, cots, Moses baskets and nappy changing tables to name but a few. And most of it was in the living room. Clothes littered the floor, with old bottles he was yet to wash up, fresh nappies and tiny teddy bears. He picked up a baby grow, which had a stain down the front, courtesy of Sebastian, and began to collect items which needed washing. There was a loud cry from upstairs and Harry sighed, and threw the offending items on the couch. He turned to go and went to see to his children.
Draco looked around the room he was locked in. It was tiny, barely 5ft by 5ft, but he recognised it. He'd been in the same room before, when his father was punishing him. He'd only spent nights in there, all alone, nothing compared to the eight months he'd been here now. He was no closer to escaping. There was nothing he could do. If he could get out of this room, he knew plenty of secret passages that could lead him out of the mansion (he'd been shown them by the house elves when he was younger). But nothing so far. Things were no worse than before, although everything was bad before.
Suddenly the door was flung open. Lucius Malfoy stood in the doorframe, grinning maliciously. Draco backed into a corner, crawling away from the man who was supposed to be his father.
"Get up," he demanded.
Draco stood up quickly, trying not to anger him. He knew what was coming, he was going to be tortured, but he was trying to avoid the worst of it. Lucius walked out the door, gesturing for his son to follow him. Draco complied, and followed the man out the door.
He was led to a room through a maze of confusing, harsh corridors. Wearing only a threadbare pair of trousers he was tied to the wall opposite the door. He was handcuffed at his feet and wrists, spread out like a star against the walls. In front of him, at a mahogany desk sat his father and some men in black cloaks.
"Draco..." his father said condescendingly.
"What...father?" Draco spat, emphasising and saying the word 'father' as if it was a curse word. He looked at his father in disdain.
"I should think you've been wondering why we have kept you around for the last 6 months? Correct?" Lucius asked him teasingly.
Draco said nothing, but he was wondering. He knew it was something horrible, that he would regret ever knowing what it was. But he needed to know. There was nothing more to it. He'd regret knowing, but he'd regret not knowing even more.
"Yes? Well... you aren't going anywhere are you? It can't hurt. And it'll make you so much more... desperate to go. And you can't do a thing." Lucius taunted his son.
"What are you doing," snapped Draco rudely, "Raising the Dark Lord again? Cos I'm pretty sure... Potter killed him last time." It pained him to call him that, but he couldn't very well go around addressing him as Harry in front of his father. Never mind his nickname.
"Potter is it? I thought it would be at least Harry to you. Because... I heard you got quite close to him, didn't you?" Lucius snapped back.
"Shut up," Draco yelled. Noone should speak about Harry to him. Noone had the right, especially Lucius, being the one who had forced them to break up.
"Oooh, a little bit touchy are we? I'll keep that in mind. And in reference to your earlier question Draco, we aren't going to raise the Dark Lord again. I'm going to become the new Dark Lord." Lucius revealed maniacally.
Draco was completely shocked. What the hell was he playing at? Becoming the new Dark Lord? Was he completely mad? He knew his father had a few marbles missing... but this ... was he completely delusional, there was no way that he would be able to pull this off. Someone would find out, someone must have realised by now that none of the ex-Death Eaters had been found, and that they were all in hiding together. And that was obvious that they were banding together and doing something.
"Why... why are you telling me this?" Draco asked hoarsely.
"Why not?" Lucius grinned, "You can die knowing this information, doing nothing about it... it's the least you can do – traitor."
"You're... you're going to kill me?" Draco whispered, but it echoed through put the cold room.
"Yes." Lucius answered, "Slowly and painfully. You're going to bleed to death, slowly and painfully, all alone, wishing and wondering what life would be like with your precious Boy Who Lived. Good bye... Draco."
He snapped his fingers, and the two men on either side of him rounded one him, evil glints in their eyes. Draco's eyes widened as they came towards him, and he found himself thinking, 'I'm going to die... and I didn't even get to say goodbye...'
Nervously, Harry got up and braced himself. He was about to undertake the most scary thing he'd come to face with for months, years maybe. He was going to attempt to take his children out of the house, to the shops. He'd run out of milk and only had one clean nappy left, and knew he wasn't expecting Sirius or anyone today, so there was noone he could get to bring him some.
He'd bought a new double pushchair – well he'd paid for it, and Seamus and Dean had bought it from a Muggle shop for him. He'd prepared a bag of everything he might need while he was out (the last nappy, two bottles, another blanket – they each had one already – and a clean baby grow). The children were dressed in winter outfits, coats, booties and gloves. It was the start of January. He was seriously beginning to doubt his sanity, taking week old babies out into the cold, but he really had no other options. He didn't really know his neighbours well enough – or at all – to ask for favours.
'They really do look sweet,' Harry thought as he took a last look at the babies to make sure they had as little skin possible showing. Sebastian was wearing dark blue, making the thick platinum blonde hair on his head seem really bright. Persephone wore all pale pink, making her full head of black hair look extremely dark, and her skin especially pale. Even though a lot was different about their looks, even now, they both had their fathers sparkling emerald eyes.
Harry pulled on a denim jacket from the banister at the bottom of the stairs, and put the dark blue bag over the handles of the push chair, and picked up his leather wallet from the bottom step and pushed it in his pocket. He stuck a note in the door in case anyone took a surprise visit. Once he was out of the house (which took a lot of careful manoeuvring) he locked the door, and began walking.
Ten minutes later he realised that even if his body had gone pretty much back to normal, after the reversal charm had been performed, his fitness level had not. Once he arrived at the nearest supermarket, he was quite worn out, and really had no idea how long it was going to take him to walk back. He was going to have to take up some kind of Muggle sport. This could not carry on.
He walked through the doors, and began to look around. He hadn't been in a Muggle supermarket for ages, a few years at least, since he'd been at the Dursleys after Voldemorts defeat at the end of 6th Year. He stopped at the baby aisle. There was a woman and a man with a pushchair, they looked about twenty-five or so, and they had an enormous pram, with a baby bundled up in it. Their voices were raised and they were debating which type of baby shampoo they were to buy. He pushed the pram up to them as nappies were next to bubble baths and shampoos and began to look over them. Suddenly he became conscious of their gazes on him. He turned to them and said, "Hi..."
"Hi," the woman said. She had shoulder length brown hair, and hazel eyes and was wearing tracksuit bottoms and a jumper, "Are you looking for anything? I do love seeing sons helping out their mothers ... so considerate... unlike a lot of young people today... how old are they?"
Harry almost burst out laughing, "Oh, they aren't my brothers or sisters. They're mine," he said proudly.
They both looked very shocked, "Ohh..." the woman stuttered, "But ... you must only be 16... 17..."
"Nah. I'm 18. Thought I looked it as well... but apparently not..." he mused.
"Oh..." she said again.
"Harry Potter." He stuck his hand out to the woman who shook it, and then the man, who also shook it.
"I'm Fiona Fitzgerald and this is my husband Sean," she said quietly.
Harry nodded, "So how old's yours?" he asked.
"Two weeks today," answered Sean. Fiona seemed to be in some kind of shock.
Harry smiled sweetly, "Bless. Mine are a week today."
"Where's the mother?" Fiona blurted out, then looked horrified at herself.
"There is no mother," Harry answered quite cheerfully, "She left me. Gave birth, and then delivered me the twins. Little bit of a shock it was, didn't even know she was pregnant, and then poof. She's gone, I'm a father of twins, and I'm completely buggered."
"Oh God!" sympathised Fiona, "Are your parents supportive?"
Harry snickered. This woman really did ask very inappropriate questions she really didn't want to know the answers to, "I'm sure they would be," he said, then elaborated, "They were murdered when I was a year old. I live on my own."
She gasped and Sean looked horrified, "Oh dear..."
Harry thought this was an understatement, "I've had 17 years to live with it, it's fine. My Godfather helps out, and my friends... it's all fine."
Fiona looked slightly pale and Sean just looked a bit ill, "So," Harry said, changing the subject, "What's his name?"
"Oh... "Fiona said, "This is Jack." She straightened her sons tartan covers and smoothed down his dark hair lovingly.
"That's a nice name," Harry said neutrally, "This is Persephone – "he stroked his daughters dark hair "- and Sebastian." He rubbed his thumb over his fair haired sons cheek.
Fiona and Sean nodded, "So do you work?" Sean asked.
"Nah," Harry said, "I had to give it up really, I didn't do much, I only just got out of school, but I'll go back soon, when I've got everything sorted out, but I need to be at home at the moment really. I might go to college actually, I haven't any plans at the minute though. What do you do?"
"Oh... I'm a chef at Delphines in town, and Fee is on maternity leave from John Lewis." Sean answered for his wife, who was crouching on the floor and cooing over Persephone who had woken up.
"Sod, has she woken up already? She's gonna want feeding. It was really nice meeting you...but I need to go." Harry said hurriedly. Sephy had already begun to grizzle a bit.
"Oh," Fiona said, disappointment showing through, "Would you like to meet up. For like a playdate or something?"
Harry looked at Sean, who seemed a bit miffed, but nodded anyway. He pulled a pen from the bag on his pushchair and an old receipt out of his wallet and scribbled his phone number. He gave it to Fiona who pocked it carefully and said, "I live in Temple Grange. Number 72. I'll see you soon, OK?"
Fiona and Sean nodded. Harry grabbed a bumper pack of newborn nappies off the shelf and hurried down the aisle, before Sephy began to cry properly. Before he turned, he heard from Fiona, "What a poor lad..."
Draco groaned. 'Am I dead?' he wondered. He opened a weary eye and decided that he wasn't not dead, just lying half dead on the floor of his cell. He sat up as much as he could, and began to assess the damage. He had a split lip and a black eye and at least a couple of broken ribs as well as a broken wrist. He honestly had expected a lot worse. Death Eaters were not normally known for their hospitality.
He stood up, and leaned against the door. His hand found the door handle. It was a habit. He always tried the handle in case one of the completely dense Death Eaters had dropped him off in his cell and forgotten to lock the door. It hadn't happened before, but hell Lady Luck could be with him today. She was. The door opened beneath his fingers and he slowly and quietly began to walk as fast as he could down the hall.
A/N What do ya think? Are you proud I updated so soon? I am. Thank you to everyone who reviewed, I really love your reviews, please do it again. Oh and sorry for the ickle cliffie... but he's out!! Yay. Finally. And what do you think of Fiona and Sean? Should they be in it again or not?
Nobody really knew what to make of the young man living in number 72 Temple Grange. He'd been living there for a little over 6 months and he was rarely seen out of the house. He obviously didn't have a job, and had the same people visiting him every day or so. His house was well presented and neat, and seemed perfectly normal. Then one day he appeared with two beautiful newborn babies.
Two men, one wearing all black and another with sandy brown hair knocked on the door. They were often seen there along with three others who also visited a lot. The young man living there opened the door. His hair was more mussed up than normal, he had bags under his eyes, and he was only wearing a pair of boxer shorts. He was also holding a tiny baby with blonde hair in his arms. He let the two men in gratefully, and the front door shut.
"How are you Harry?" Remus asked as the front door shut. He threw his coat over the banister at the bottom of the stairs.
Harry smiled wearily, "I'm fine," he answered, "Very tired, and sore but... I'm fine."
Snape nodded, "Yes, well it is to be expected, you just gave birth to twins forty eight hours ago."
"Have you named them yet?" Remus asked curiously.
Harry nodded hesitantly, "Yeah... I have. But I wanna tell you when everyone is here. Sirius is asleep at the moment, and Dean and Seamus aren't coming around for another couple of hours. Will you both wait?"
Remus nodded surely, and Snape looked at him hesitantly, then nodded when he saw the expectant look on Harry's tired face. Harry's expression brightened and he led them into the living room. Sirius was dozing on the couch, his legs over one of the arms, and his arm dangling off the edge. Harry put the sleeping baby he was carrying on the floor next to his sister, who was lying quietly on a blanket.
Harry collapsed into the chair and Remus looked at him worriedly. Harry's eyes fluttered shut for a brief second, and tried to open them again, but Remus said, "Harry, go upstairs, have some rest. Severus and I can take care of them. If you're needed we'll wake you."
Harry opened an eye, and nearly laughed at the horror struck expression on Snapes face. He nodded and wearily trampled up the stairs and collapsed on the bed, and fell into a deep sleep.
He awoke a couple of hours later, and finally dressed for the first time in two days. He pulled on a pair of jeans and a loose shirt and walked down the stairs.
The living room was complete chaos. Sometime while he was asleep Dean and Seamus had arrived, and Sirius, Remus and Snape were still there. The babies were fully awake and crying. And it appeared noone could make them stop. Snape was carrying Harry's son, pacing the room, trying to send him to sleep. It was vaguely working as he was only grizzling, but the little girl was screaming. Harry frowned and strode into the room. That was her hungry cry.
He picked up a bottle from the coffee table and checked its temperature, which was correct. He swiftly took the child from Sirius's grip and teased the bottle over her lips, which she eagerly took. He gave her back to Sirius, who was now sitting down, and took the baby from Snape. He held him to his chest and patted his back comfortingly. The tiny baby burped, and was quiet, and drifted to sleep. Harry handed the baby back to Snape, who cradled him awkwardly in his arms.
Seamus and Dean gawped at Harry who shrugged.
"How do you do that?" Seamus asked despairingly.
Harry smiled, "Dunno. I just... know."
Sirius grinned at him, "So you gonna tell us what you're calling them then?"
Harry smiled, "Sure. Well, you are holding Persephone Lily Potter, and Professor you are holding Sebastian James Potter."
There was a general murmur of consent around the room and Seamus piped up, "Why did you pick those names?"
Harry shrugged, "I'm not sure. I just liked them I guess. I wanted to give them interesting names, ones I knew noone with the same names. Plus I can shorten they as well, Sephy and 'Bast, I should think."
Sirius nodded, "They're beautiful names Harry..."
"Potter... Harry...you aren't planning on telling people that you're the mother so to speak are you?" Seeing Harry's affirmative shake of the head, Snape carried on, "When your children first show signs of being magical, their names will be recorded in a book. It records the mother and father of the magical child, where they reside and when they first perform magic. Eventually someone will find out... that you gave birth to them and that Mr Malfoy is the father."
Harry was silent. What was he going to do? Everyone would find out... Sirius and Remus looked at him worriedly. They knew how badly Harry wanted his children to have normal childhoods, but that was looking increasingly more difficult as every day passed.
"I've decided on godparents!" Harry announced suddenly to the room.
Everyone swivelled to look at Harry, Sirius eagerly, Dean, Remus and Seamus curiously and Snape reluctantly. Snape would never admit it at the moment but he actually liked Harry's children. He wouldn't have minded being a Godfather, he was to Draco, and God knows where he was at the moment. He would really like to prove that he could do the job properly for once.
"Well... you see... it was really hard to decide... and well I consider... Sirius and Remus as more of Grandparents to them, seen as you're like parents to me, so I chose Seamus, Dean and... Severus as Godfathers to both of them, shared." Harry answered.
"Thank you Harry," Severus said, being the first to speak – and get over the shock. Seamus and Dean nodded with his words.
"Yeah... Harry mate, thanks a lot... we'll do real good... real good," Seamus and Dean said, their words blending together as one.
Sirius hadn't said anything that, but Remus was beaming.
"Is... is that OK?" Harry said tentatively.
Remus nodded silently, and held out his arms. Harry grinned and gave him a hug, before he turned around to Sirius.
"Are you OK Sirius? You don't mind do you... you can be Grandpa Padfoot and Moony." Harry joked, but was actually more than half-serious.
Severus discreetly left the room, heading upstairs, then scowled at Seamus and Dean. They got the hint and followed him up the stairs, muttering about checking on the twins. Remus (never one to like being in these kinds of situation) looked at his shoes.
Sirius looked at Harry curiously, "Did ... did you mean that?"
"Mean what?" Harry asked. At times liked this Harry really was very slow. He was never good with matters of the heart, and now was no exception.
Sirius repressed the urge to roll his eyes, "About... us being like parents to you?"
"Of course I did," Harry said vehemently, "I wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it. I would never say anything like that for the sake of it. I really do. You've been so great with me over the last six or seven months, both of you and before as well. I really do consider you my parents ... in everything but biology and name."
Sirius nodded, but his black hair fell in his eyes, not letting Harry see the tears in his eyes. That really meant a lot to him. Both of them considered Harry to be a son to them, but they never expected him to really return the feeling. Sirius seized Harry by the shoulders and hugged him fiercely, so Harry couldn't see the tears in his eyes. He squeezed him tightly, and Harry winced.
"Er... Sirius, as much as I love you, I gave birth two days ago. This hurts." Harry said sheepishly.
Sirius blushed and let go, and Remus rolled his eyes at his mate. Werewolves had what they considered packs, and he and Sirius were the heads. James and Pettigrew had been in his pack before. His pack had become bigger lately, with the addition of Harry, Seamus and Dean. He suspected that eventually Severus would become part of his little 'family' as well as Harry's twins. He gave Harry a light hug, which Harry returned, then let go. Remus rested his chin on Sirius' shoulder, and leaned his head against Sirius', who returned it. Harry smiled at them, and turned away. As much as he loved Remus and Sirius, and was glad they had each other, he really didn't want to see them kissing. Seamus and Dean he could handle, but Sirius and Remus really were too much.
He looked around at his messed up living room, and sighed. He knew that having children was going to be messy. But he didn't think there was going to be this much stuff so early on. But there were loads of things they needed. His house was full to the seams of children's things, sterlilizers, toys, cots, Moses baskets and nappy changing tables to name but a few. And most of it was in the living room. Clothes littered the floor, with old bottles he was yet to wash up, fresh nappies and tiny teddy bears. He picked up a baby grow, which had a stain down the front, courtesy of Sebastian, and began to collect items which needed washing. There was a loud cry from upstairs and Harry sighed, and threw the offending items on the couch. He turned to go and went to see to his children.
Draco looked around the room he was locked in. It was tiny, barely 5ft by 5ft, but he recognised it. He'd been in the same room before, when his father was punishing him. He'd only spent nights in there, all alone, nothing compared to the eight months he'd been here now. He was no closer to escaping. There was nothing he could do. If he could get out of this room, he knew plenty of secret passages that could lead him out of the mansion (he'd been shown them by the house elves when he was younger). But nothing so far. Things were no worse than before, although everything was bad before.
Suddenly the door was flung open. Lucius Malfoy stood in the doorframe, grinning maliciously. Draco backed into a corner, crawling away from the man who was supposed to be his father.
"Get up," he demanded.
Draco stood up quickly, trying not to anger him. He knew what was coming, he was going to be tortured, but he was trying to avoid the worst of it. Lucius walked out the door, gesturing for his son to follow him. Draco complied, and followed the man out the door.
He was led to a room through a maze of confusing, harsh corridors. Wearing only a threadbare pair of trousers he was tied to the wall opposite the door. He was handcuffed at his feet and wrists, spread out like a star against the walls. In front of him, at a mahogany desk sat his father and some men in black cloaks.
"Draco..." his father said condescendingly.
"What...father?" Draco spat, emphasising and saying the word 'father' as if it was a curse word. He looked at his father in disdain.
"I should think you've been wondering why we have kept you around for the last 6 months? Correct?" Lucius asked him teasingly.
Draco said nothing, but he was wondering. He knew it was something horrible, that he would regret ever knowing what it was. But he needed to know. There was nothing more to it. He'd regret knowing, but he'd regret not knowing even more.
"Yes? Well... you aren't going anywhere are you? It can't hurt. And it'll make you so much more... desperate to go. And you can't do a thing." Lucius taunted his son.
"What are you doing," snapped Draco rudely, "Raising the Dark Lord again? Cos I'm pretty sure... Potter killed him last time." It pained him to call him that, but he couldn't very well go around addressing him as Harry in front of his father. Never mind his nickname.
"Potter is it? I thought it would be at least Harry to you. Because... I heard you got quite close to him, didn't you?" Lucius snapped back.
"Shut up," Draco yelled. Noone should speak about Harry to him. Noone had the right, especially Lucius, being the one who had forced them to break up.
"Oooh, a little bit touchy are we? I'll keep that in mind. And in reference to your earlier question Draco, we aren't going to raise the Dark Lord again. I'm going to become the new Dark Lord." Lucius revealed maniacally.
Draco was completely shocked. What the hell was he playing at? Becoming the new Dark Lord? Was he completely mad? He knew his father had a few marbles missing... but this ... was he completely delusional, there was no way that he would be able to pull this off. Someone would find out, someone must have realised by now that none of the ex-Death Eaters had been found, and that they were all in hiding together. And that was obvious that they were banding together and doing something.
"Why... why are you telling me this?" Draco asked hoarsely.
"Why not?" Lucius grinned, "You can die knowing this information, doing nothing about it... it's the least you can do – traitor."
"You're... you're going to kill me?" Draco whispered, but it echoed through put the cold room.
"Yes." Lucius answered, "Slowly and painfully. You're going to bleed to death, slowly and painfully, all alone, wishing and wondering what life would be like with your precious Boy Who Lived. Good bye... Draco."
He snapped his fingers, and the two men on either side of him rounded one him, evil glints in their eyes. Draco's eyes widened as they came towards him, and he found himself thinking, 'I'm going to die... and I didn't even get to say goodbye...'
Nervously, Harry got up and braced himself. He was about to undertake the most scary thing he'd come to face with for months, years maybe. He was going to attempt to take his children out of the house, to the shops. He'd run out of milk and only had one clean nappy left, and knew he wasn't expecting Sirius or anyone today, so there was noone he could get to bring him some.
He'd bought a new double pushchair – well he'd paid for it, and Seamus and Dean had bought it from a Muggle shop for him. He'd prepared a bag of everything he might need while he was out (the last nappy, two bottles, another blanket – they each had one already – and a clean baby grow). The children were dressed in winter outfits, coats, booties and gloves. It was the start of January. He was seriously beginning to doubt his sanity, taking week old babies out into the cold, but he really had no other options. He didn't really know his neighbours well enough – or at all – to ask for favours.
'They really do look sweet,' Harry thought as he took a last look at the babies to make sure they had as little skin possible showing. Sebastian was wearing dark blue, making the thick platinum blonde hair on his head seem really bright. Persephone wore all pale pink, making her full head of black hair look extremely dark, and her skin especially pale. Even though a lot was different about their looks, even now, they both had their fathers sparkling emerald eyes.
Harry pulled on a denim jacket from the banister at the bottom of the stairs, and put the dark blue bag over the handles of the push chair, and picked up his leather wallet from the bottom step and pushed it in his pocket. He stuck a note in the door in case anyone took a surprise visit. Once he was out of the house (which took a lot of careful manoeuvring) he locked the door, and began walking.
Ten minutes later he realised that even if his body had gone pretty much back to normal, after the reversal charm had been performed, his fitness level had not. Once he arrived at the nearest supermarket, he was quite worn out, and really had no idea how long it was going to take him to walk back. He was going to have to take up some kind of Muggle sport. This could not carry on.
He walked through the doors, and began to look around. He hadn't been in a Muggle supermarket for ages, a few years at least, since he'd been at the Dursleys after Voldemorts defeat at the end of 6th Year. He stopped at the baby aisle. There was a woman and a man with a pushchair, they looked about twenty-five or so, and they had an enormous pram, with a baby bundled up in it. Their voices were raised and they were debating which type of baby shampoo they were to buy. He pushed the pram up to them as nappies were next to bubble baths and shampoos and began to look over them. Suddenly he became conscious of their gazes on him. He turned to them and said, "Hi..."
"Hi," the woman said. She had shoulder length brown hair, and hazel eyes and was wearing tracksuit bottoms and a jumper, "Are you looking for anything? I do love seeing sons helping out their mothers ... so considerate... unlike a lot of young people today... how old are they?"
Harry almost burst out laughing, "Oh, they aren't my brothers or sisters. They're mine," he said proudly.
They both looked very shocked, "Ohh..." the woman stuttered, "But ... you must only be 16... 17..."
"Nah. I'm 18. Thought I looked it as well... but apparently not..." he mused.
"Oh..." she said again.
"Harry Potter." He stuck his hand out to the woman who shook it, and then the man, who also shook it.
"I'm Fiona Fitzgerald and this is my husband Sean," she said quietly.
Harry nodded, "So how old's yours?" he asked.
"Two weeks today," answered Sean. Fiona seemed to be in some kind of shock.
Harry smiled sweetly, "Bless. Mine are a week today."
"Where's the mother?" Fiona blurted out, then looked horrified at herself.
"There is no mother," Harry answered quite cheerfully, "She left me. Gave birth, and then delivered me the twins. Little bit of a shock it was, didn't even know she was pregnant, and then poof. She's gone, I'm a father of twins, and I'm completely buggered."
"Oh God!" sympathised Fiona, "Are your parents supportive?"
Harry snickered. This woman really did ask very inappropriate questions she really didn't want to know the answers to, "I'm sure they would be," he said, then elaborated, "They were murdered when I was a year old. I live on my own."
She gasped and Sean looked horrified, "Oh dear..."
Harry thought this was an understatement, "I've had 17 years to live with it, it's fine. My Godfather helps out, and my friends... it's all fine."
Fiona looked slightly pale and Sean just looked a bit ill, "So," Harry said, changing the subject, "What's his name?"
"Oh... "Fiona said, "This is Jack." She straightened her sons tartan covers and smoothed down his dark hair lovingly.
"That's a nice name," Harry said neutrally, "This is Persephone – "he stroked his daughters dark hair "- and Sebastian." He rubbed his thumb over his fair haired sons cheek.
Fiona and Sean nodded, "So do you work?" Sean asked.
"Nah," Harry said, "I had to give it up really, I didn't do much, I only just got out of school, but I'll go back soon, when I've got everything sorted out, but I need to be at home at the moment really. I might go to college actually, I haven't any plans at the minute though. What do you do?"
"Oh... I'm a chef at Delphines in town, and Fee is on maternity leave from John Lewis." Sean answered for his wife, who was crouching on the floor and cooing over Persephone who had woken up.
"Sod, has she woken up already? She's gonna want feeding. It was really nice meeting you...but I need to go." Harry said hurriedly. Sephy had already begun to grizzle a bit.
"Oh," Fiona said, disappointment showing through, "Would you like to meet up. For like a playdate or something?"
Harry looked at Sean, who seemed a bit miffed, but nodded anyway. He pulled a pen from the bag on his pushchair and an old receipt out of his wallet and scribbled his phone number. He gave it to Fiona who pocked it carefully and said, "I live in Temple Grange. Number 72. I'll see you soon, OK?"
Fiona and Sean nodded. Harry grabbed a bumper pack of newborn nappies off the shelf and hurried down the aisle, before Sephy began to cry properly. Before he turned, he heard from Fiona, "What a poor lad..."
Draco groaned. 'Am I dead?' he wondered. He opened a weary eye and decided that he wasn't not dead, just lying half dead on the floor of his cell. He sat up as much as he could, and began to assess the damage. He had a split lip and a black eye and at least a couple of broken ribs as well as a broken wrist. He honestly had expected a lot worse. Death Eaters were not normally known for their hospitality.
He stood up, and leaned against the door. His hand found the door handle. It was a habit. He always tried the handle in case one of the completely dense Death Eaters had dropped him off in his cell and forgotten to lock the door. It hadn't happened before, but hell Lady Luck could be with him today. She was. The door opened beneath his fingers and he slowly and quietly began to walk as fast as he could down the hall.
A/N What do ya think? Are you proud I updated so soon? I am. Thank you to everyone who reviewed, I really love your reviews, please do it again. Oh and sorry for the ickle cliffie... but he's out!! Yay. Finally. And what do you think of Fiona and Sean? Should they be in it again or not?