Everyone has their problems

Chapter four – A little chat with Draco

The following morning Severus was there to bid them all farewell, he and Harry shared a long goodbye kiss that lingered with them even after they had parted. Severus even hugged each of his daughters in turn, he knew this was something that Harry had to see him do if he was ever going to get him back and repair their relationship.

"Daddy, why is Papa not coming with us?" Bonnie asked once they were all piled into the car.

"He has a lot of work to do; he wants us all to have a good time though."

"Will we see him before we go to Hogwarts?" This asked by Constantine.

"No, but when you come back for Christmas you'll see us all and the new baby."

"Is it going to be another girl?"

"We don't want a brother!" The twins said together.

"You'll have to wait and see, but I don't see much hope of a boy surviving with you lot."

The girls sniggered, all except Maria who was sleeping. It was a two hour drive to the small village of Cowbridge. They had to stop twice for toilet trips and each time sweets were bought along with more drink but Harry wanted to treat them, it wasn't everyday he and Severus argued, in fact it was a very rare occurrence.

Draco was there to greet them upon arrival, he could tell that Harry was upset, he had not brought Eric along this time, he wanted time to talk to Harry alone. The house was a fairly small one compared to the manor, a kitchen diner only just big enough to fit them all in, a living room crammed full of comfy looking scarlet sofas a coffee table and television. The bedrooms upstairs were not as big as the girls would have liked, the biggest room was Harry's, an ensuit included. The next room had two beds in it for the twins. Constantine and Bonnie had their own rooms but they were tiny, the smallest room had a toddler sized bed for Maria, it was made to look smaller by the fact it had a number of toy's crammed in.

Bonnie, Paige, Phoebe and Constantine were allowed to go off and explore the streets as long as they stayed together and didn't stray too far, Maria was playing with some building blocks in the sitting room while Harry and Draco settled themselves on one of the sofas to talk.

"How did he take it, it can't have been easy for him."

"It wasn't, but I need him to deal with his issues, the love we had in the beginning is still there but it can't work while he is still keeping things from me, I've told him everything, some I thought I could tell no one, not even Ron and Hermione. Life has never been easy for me, as everyone knows only too well; I just wish he was o open with me."

"He will be eventually; I still can't believe that you and he are still together, your kids are perfect, and thy just keep coming."

"Yeah, wonderful little angels that they are but I think that this may be my last."

"Why, what's wrong?"

"Severus was happy with one, ok with another two, his reactions used to be amazing, so joyful and excited, with each pregnancy the light that lit up his face would get dimmer, with this one he just acknowledged it, and went back to work, it was like he didn't care."

"Can you really expect him to be excited each time?"

"No, but I at least expect him to act as if he cares, do you know where he was when I was in labour with Maria?" Draco shook his head. "He was at work, he didn't even know until he got back to the manor and found us all gone. I want to be able to count on him to be there, so that when I do go into labour he can take care of the children, is that too much to ask?"

"Look at it from his perspective, he was an only child who grew up unloved, in a environment where his parents were constantly rowing, he like me was there purely to fulfil the role as an heir, then one day your there, he loves you and you love him in return. That was surprise enough, he leaves and by the time he comes back he has a daughter, I think he just woke up and the realisation hit him, he has a family that depend on him."

"We don't just depend on him, we love him, we need him not just to house us and feed us but to go living, the girls look up to him and admire him, they don't do that with me, I am their mother, I am there all the time whatever happens. He is turning into the father he had and the father you had, why can't he be the man he wants to be?"

"I guess it's just hard, he hasn't ha that many good role models, in a way his life has been as bad as yours it just isn't as public, just be patient with him."

"I am being but he just has this thing about you, he thinks that I'm going to run off with you and leave him even though I won't, I don't see why it's you he's paranoid about, why not any other man around my age?"

"It's because of this."

"What?"

"This, the way we can talk about anything, like you can with Weasley and Granger, however he knows they aren't a threat because they're together. You can't do that with him and he resents it."

"Since when did you become a shrink?"

"I don't know, most likely since I knew you needed to talk I guess. If you need anything else just fire call me ok, I've connected the fire here and at mine to the floo network, but right now I have to get ready?"

"Hot date?"

"No, but Eric does."

"So your letting him date other men." Harry said teasingly. Draco just laughed and took a pinch of floo powder and tossing it into the fire before stepping in and vanishing.


Another chapter done, what do you think? Please review xxx.