Disclaimer: You know they're not mine. -DUH-


Author's notes: This chapter is so weird. -shudders-
Reviews:

Thanks to Klikapele, Mz Psycho, Wraith79, Anny Pervert Snape, Yana5, volleypickle16, Lady Angelique of Mystiqu, Starrarose, kaikiki (Really odd playlist there- but I can just imagine how funny it had been), Makalani Astral (Ahem. The purpose of this fic is to fit in the cliches, remember?) D-daygirl, notime, Superkid, shola, Goldensong, Sarah, Princesspepper, Incessant Darkness (here, you get your wish :D), Tyi-Maxwell, trekkie-54


"Draco, can you go check on James? I think he's crying," Harry shouted across the study as he buried himself in his potions essay- due the next morning, obviously.

"Can't you do it?" snapped the blonde as he coddled Lily. "My little ittle coochee coo," said Draco in a singsong voice to the baby girl, who smiled at her father, her lips forming a toothless grin.

"Come on, I have to rush this essay." Harry replied impatiently as he dipped the nib of his quill in ink haphazardly, never mind it staining his fingers. Never once looking up at the blond, Harry leafed through pages and pages of his potions textbook, in a meek attempt to find a paragraph or so to lift. Professor Snape never cared more to notice if he paraphrased or not, Harry would always received a pathetic grade.

"Don't push your luck, Harry James Potter. The fact that I took care of both of them single-handedly last night so that you could go for your quidditch training is no indication that you can boss me around every night. Besides, serve you right for not completing your work earlier." Draco barked, annoyed at how Harry was treating him. Padding towards the nursery, Draco hummed a song to the baby girl, gently rocking her to sleep. Laying her gently beside her twin brother in the crib, Draco snorted. "Potter and his obvious lack of keen hearing," muttered the blonde to himself; the boy was sleeping soundly in the crib, gently sucking on his thumb.

"He's not crying," Draco drawled as he returned to the study. Sitting down at his own table, the Slytherin fiddled with his quill as he watched Harry work.

"Hm," agreed Harry, though the sound came across as just a random snort to Draco, which pissed him off greatly.

"I'm going out," announced Draco, to no one in particular as he exited the room. Not knowing why he was in foul mood, Draco stormed out of his dormitory and towards the Astronomy Tower, where he had casually hidden a broomstick behind a nearby statue. Albeit not his Nimbus 2001, it would provided a well-needed flying experience, just as Draco needed that evening.

As Draco was about to kick off the ground from the top of the tower and head for the disappearing crimson sun, a hand pulled him back forcefully.

"Don't you go flying away again," a voice whispered. The figure stepped out of the shadows- it was Harry.

"Let me go." Draco struggled free of Harry's hand.

"Draco. We could talk, you know." Harry knew better to let go of Draco's arm promptly, not wanting to risk a fist fight like they had last week.

"Talk? About? There's nothing to talk about." Draco turned away from Harry, examining his nails to feint boredom.

"Draco, we both know something's wrong. You've been in a grouchy mood, we've distanced, you refuse to talk to me, we don't even sleep together anymore…" listed Harry, exasperated. He was equally tired of whatever was going on between them.

"Grouchy mood? Is that the best word from your non-existent vocabulary? Right, I refuse to talk to you. When you're always busy with your darn quidditch, something I had to give up! When you're always busy with schoolwork you never seem to be able to finish…" Draco's voice started to tremble. "I don't sleep with you. I don't even sleep anymore. Who do you think has been the one to take care of Lily and James at night?"

"I… I…" stammered Harry.

"You're lost for words, huh? No smart retorts? No pathetic excuses?" mocked the blond as he laughed, in delirium, no doubt.

"Why have you been facing all these alone? Why didn't you tell them to me?" Harry questioned, perplexed at why Draco had kept everything to himself. A familiar stabbing pain came to his heart, the same ache he felt the last time Draco walked out on him, and nearly lost his life, and the babies', while flying.

"What could you have done?" Draco snapped, as he turned around to face Harry, peering deep into those emerald eyes.

"Nothing. I could have done nothing," Harry replied, his voice hoarse. "But I would have been there for you, as I promised."

Silence descended upon the couple, who stood staring at each other. Draco eventually smirked.

"You thought I'd fall for those words, time and again? They are all but words. I know you, and I know how you always manage to convince me." Draco took a deep breath. "But enough's enough. I have fulfilled what I set out to do. I've mated," Draco left a pregnant pause. "And that's all."

Those last words lingered about in the air, as Draco picked up his broom and walked towards the stone parapet. Kicking off the ground, Draco rose to the air and headed for the clouds.

Harry sank to the floor as he saw Draco fly off. Draco never shed a tear, for deep within him, he was fatigued. Flying fast and high, Draco went into the clouds and surrounded himself in the orange glow of the setting sun. Shocked beyond words, Harry sat on the stone floor and stared into empty space. He allowed Draco's words to sink into him, he chided himself for being insensitive, he lamented himself for being a lousy husband. Yet it did not change anything. Draco would not forgive him, and furthermore, Harry would never forgive himself too.

Xxx

"Harry, you look like crap. What happened?" Ron queried as Harry sat down for breakfast at the Great Hall the next day. Draco did not return to their dormitory till midnight, knowing well that the children would wake up for their formulas at about that time. Like any other nights, Draco spent the rest of the night on a chaise in the nursery. Draco had woken up just before daybreak to summon the house elves earlier to baby sit the two. Harry pretended to be asleep whenever Draco moved around in the room, though he was wide awake, unable to sleep on his troubles. Or rather, their troubles.

"Nothing," replied Harry, obviously lying. His voice was hoarse and husky, a clear sign that he had been crying the previous night.

"You two had a fight again? That's like what, second time this week?" Ron commented, munching on his bread roll.

"It's all my fault, really." Harry replied as he stabbed at the food Hermione had place on his plate. He had no appetite to stomach anything.

"How so?" Hermione enquired, momentarily taking her eyes off her flash cards.

"It's that, I've been this total insensitive bastard," Harry winced. "And let's just leave it at that."

"Harry," Hermione swallowed her juice. "We've noticed. Draco's really depressed and snappy and emotional…" She shot Ron a furtive glance. "I think he's having post-natal depression."

"What?" Harry exclaimed, a little too loud and startling a few housemates.

"Obviously you haven't been showing him enough support to help him cope with the stress…" the girl trailed off.

"What can I do then?" Harry asked.

"I don't know… the usual kiss and make-up? Ron and I could take the babies for a night or so, go spend some quality time with him, okay?" Giving Harry a reassuring squeeze on his arm, Hermione smiled.

Harry nodded meekly.

At the Transfiguration classroom, Draco sat on a bench and ate a croissant he had smuggled from the kitchen. Evidently avoiding Harry, Draco had picked a seat near the back of the classroom, knowing well that Harry would take one from the front. Not wasting a moment, Draco worked on a piece of homework Flitwick had assigned the previous day; completing his homework during free moments as such allowed Draco to devote his evenings to the children.

As Draco expected, Harry took a seat near the front of class, sitting beside Neville and behind the Weasley couple. And as ironic as it may seem, both he and Harry sat at the exact same places they had been sitting the first time Draco confessed his love. Draco remembered how he had been watching Potter the whole time, yes, it was still Potter then.

Draco sighed audibly at the thought, and Blaise raised his eyebrows at the blonde.

Xxx

That night, Ron and Hermione took the babies with them to Hagrid's Hut. Even though not the most hospitable and suitable place for two month-old babies, it provided the privacy. Hagrid had a jolly good time entertaining the children, who, surprisingly, were not at all afraid at the sight of the half-giant.

Harry went back to the empty dormitory and waited for Draco to return. Arranging a candlelight dinner in the sitting room, Harry prayed fervently that Draco would appreciate all these.

The blonde entered the room quietly to be greeted by the sight of candles, flowers, and champagne.

"Hi," greeted Harry sheepishly.

"What's the meaning of all these? Where are the children?" Draco asked, stoic.

"Ron and Hermione are taking them for a night. Draco, we need time together." Harry explained as he moved towards the Slytherin, reaching out to hold his hand. Draco promptly pulled his hand away, avoiding Harry.

"I was about to come back to collect my belongings. Now that my veela hormones have subsided, I'm moving back to the Slytherin common room," answered Draco.

"What?" Harry took a step back. "Then… what about the children?"

"Snape has gotten me a full-time nanny away from school. I'm sending them away from Hogwarts." Draco spoke slowly, his gaze unmoving from a spot past Harry's head.

"What?" Harry shouted a little too loud, startling Draco though he didn't show it. "How could you? They're our children. How can you just send them away like that?"

"Our children?" Draco laughed bitterly, shaking his head in despair. "They're not our children. They are just, but products of a tryst. That's all." In finishing his sentence, Draco moved past Harry towards the bedroom. Harry stood rooted to the ground, tears welling in his eyes, threatening to flow down his cheek any moment.

In the bedroom, Draco threw open the door of the wardrobe and threw his clothes from the hangers into an open trunk near him. He could have done it by magic, but a part of him told him to do it slowly; after all, the Gryffindor seeker is only fast when he's after the snitch.

"Draco, please. I'm begging you, don't do this to me." Harry appeared at the doorway, Draco's trunk already half-filled with his clothes.

"Do what?" The blonde smirked.

"Tell me what I can do. Tell me what I must do before you'll forgive me," pleaded Harry.

"You didn't do anything wrong. Whatever went wrong, went wrong somewhere along my family line when they dabbled with veelas. Apart from that, no one else is in the wrong." Draco minced his words.

"Draco, stop acting like that. You're not the Draco I know anymore." Harry stalked towards the blonde, his face sporting tear stains.

"No. The Draco, or should I say, Malfoy, you knew, was a git who tormented your life for five whole years." Slamming his trunk shut, Draco shot Harry a look of contempt. Shrinking his trunk, Draco hissed and stuffed the now matchbox sized trunk in his trousers pocket. Harry just stood at the doorway, his emotions going haywire.

"Why? Why the sudden change in you? Is it me?" Harry demanded, for he wanted badly to know the reason behind Draco's sudden change. However, Draco himself knew no better. He just felt the sudden urge to give up everything and walk away, the urge to just make Harry feel bad for neglecting him…

"Give it up," stated Draco simply, as he walked out of the door. Harry put up his arm to block the blonde's advance, but to no avail. Draco had simply pushed him aside and continued his graceful steps towards the exit of the dormitory.

"Draco, please…" Harry never got to finish his sentence, for he had fainted and fell to the floor with a loud thud. Draco turned around hastily and witnessed the boy-who-lived sprawled on the floor, lifeless.


Author's notes: A cliffie, yes. And I reckon post-natal depression isn't a very cliche theme, or am I wrong? Anyway, don't worry much, Harry's not dead. Hahaha.