Chapter 23

Harry Potter had been summoned to Hogwarts. It hadn't been one of Dumbledore's usual polite invitations, the kind the involved nostalgic memories, tea and scones. This was a request and one never turned down a request when Dumbledore made one.

The owl had arrived shortly after he'd learned that Death Eaters had accosted several portkey guards in New Zealand and London. He'd originally been headed to London to investigate with Neville Longbottom, an old friend and fellow Auror, but the letter made it clear that he was needed more urgently at Hogwarts. Ron was already there, yet Harry wasn't willing to leave it all up to him. If Voldemort was making a move it was better to have two Aurors there. It wasn't that Harry didn't have faith in his friend's abilities; he just knew how overwhelming Voldemort could be.

Climbing the staircases that lead towards Dumbledore's office, he realized how fortunate he was to have Ron. He and Hermione Granger had been his friends since their first year at school. They'd had their differences over the years, but remained close. Harry had even been the best man at Ron's wedding. His wife, Natalie DeWinter a brunette Hufflepuff girl, had returned from being Nothing during their fifth year. When Ron became Nothing, she'd taken him under her wing. They'd returned to being Something together and had been inseparable since then.

He was lucky to find someone like Natalie, Harry thought waiting as the staircase he was on moved from one landing to another. I haven't. It wasn't for lack of trying, but Cho Chang had never given him a chance. She'd rather been his friend than his girlfriend. He'd lost contact with her several years ago after realizing that she never would see him as anything but a nice guy. Last he'd heard she was in China doing research on endangered magical wildlife. After her, there had been no one.

Life as Harry Potter, hero and enemy to Voldemort had its drawbacks. Anyone he befriended would become a potential target. Because of this he'd kept his circle of friends small. Starting a romantic relationship with anyone was hazardous, thus Harry had come to the conclusion that he was doomed to live alone. Maybe someday, when Voldemort was finally dead, he could try to have a lover. The question though was would they want him for him or because he was the 'famous Harry Potter'?

There is one who would be your lover for just being you, a little voice in his head piped up. He tried to ignore it, but it was persistent. You know who I'm talking about. A brief flash of memory brought the Quidditch locker room back to him. Laying Draco Malfoy to the bench, his eyes full of encouragement. His own reaction to the sight and what transpired. Shaking his head, Harry tossed the imagery aside. It was the result of a love potion he reminded himself, nothing more. Someone's idea of a sick joke no doubt. Are you sure it was? The voice asked, worming its way past his defenses. Didn't you like how he felt?

Harry stopped dead in his tracks. It had felt wonderful and that was something he couldn't deny. That little voice had him. He'd used all sorts of arguments to the contrary over the years, but they failed to silence it. Slowly he'd come to terms that he'd enjoyed that day in the locker room. Women had turned his head before, but more and more he'd been looking at men too. Maybe a part of him knew what he really was back then and the potion had used it to its advantage. Draco had been good looking and charming. Although that charm had hardly ever been used on him, Harry still admired it. The blond was able to draw people to him with a few careful words or a look.

You should find him, the voice advised settling in to a comfortable spot in his psyche. A part of him wanted to oblige it, but Draco had left Britain over five years ago. No one had heard or seen him since. According to Snape, Lucius had thrown him out, but no one knew why.

Harry couldn't forget him. Rivals they may have been, but he couldn't hate Draco. When he was younger he hadn't seen anything but a spiteful spoiled brat in the young Slytherin. As time went on, outwardly Harry disliked him, but secretly began admiring him. Draco was a good Seeker, never seemed to quarrel with his friends, was confident, sure of himself and his place in the world. He was good looking, charismatic, and ambitious. If things had been different they may have been friends, but by seventh year it was too late. The locker room was the closest Harry would ever get to Draco Malfoy.

Sighing as the staircase secured its new path, he reluctantly returned to reality. He could never tell anyone of his interlude with the blond. It was too shocking. Some secrets were better left alone he decided.

Reaching the landing, he took a right and continued down a long hallway. Stopping by an alcove with a statue of a griffon set in it, he pressed his hand against the wall. Instantly the griffon began rotating upwards revealing a spiral staircase. Climbing them, he reached Dumbledore's office quickly. Knocking twice, he waited for an answer before opening. As he started to enter, he nearly tripped over a small child. Blinking, he stared down at her.

She was gazing up at him with a curious expression. Noting the black hair, the green eyes and the lightning scar she carefully analyzed him before smiling broadly.

"You're that 'Bastard Potter' aren't you?" Cassie asked excitedly barely able to contain herself. "Daddy, I'm right, aren't I?"

Lifting his head, Harry quickly scanned the occupants of the room. Dumbledore sat at his desk with an impartial look on his face, arms folded in front of him. Lupin and Ron sat on one side of the desk, both had 'oh Merlin, she didn't just' expressions, while Black in his dog form, lay at their feet. Snape sat off to their left not attempting to hide his mirth. The final person kept his back to him, but was undoubtedly the child's father. He stared out the window; his shoulder's hunched slightly as if the weight of the world were on him. Long pale blond hair hung loose around his shoulders giving Harry the impression he should know him.

"DADDY," Cassie said more firmly trying to get her father's attention.

"Cassiopeia, it's not polite to call someone a bastard," Draco scolded gently. "Why don't you come over here?"

Harry knew that voice.

"But you call him that," she pointed out, no longer paying attention to the man in front of her.

"That's not the point. Daddy was upset and when Daddy gets upset he says things he shouldn't."

"Oh." Cassie pursed her lips together thoughtfully. "Like you did when you hit Mr. Snape with the curse?"

"Yes, exactly," Draco replied finally turning away from the window. He sighed audibly, gave Harry a brief apologetic look then turned his attention back to her. "Now could you let Mr. Potter in?" She obliged him by trotting over and latching onto his left hand.

This didn't make sense; Harry gaped at the little family. How could Draco have a child? Well he was busy since that night, the voice said sarcastically. Harry hadn't wanted to hear that. The image of Draco he'd held for over five years dissipated. He hadn't wanted to think of him aging and moving on with life, but obviously he had.

Closing the door softly behind him, he waited to be addressed. Dumbledore offered him a seat and he took it before his legs collapsed underneath him. Clearing his throat the old wizard spoke.

"I trust you remember Mr. Malfoy." He said while Harry nodded numbly. "This is his daughter Cassiopeia Malfoy. They've had a rather exciting day. We were waiting for you before they explained things." Turning to Black he informed him it was safe to resume his normal form. There was a puff of smoke and Black flopped in the chair next to Snape. They exchanged glares, but said nothing. "Now that you're here Harry, we can begin. Mr. Malfoy, would you care to start?"

Gently ushering Cassie to the chair next to Harry, Draco waited until she was comfortable before beginning.

"Five and a half years ago, Lucius disowned me," he stated. Starting with the facts was always the best. "He decided that it was in the best interest of the family that Cassie be murdered. I refused. We fled to New Zealand and have been living there ever since." Before anyone interrupted him, Draco went on to explain that he was Cassie's only parent, but she did have a godmother. He needed to establish that there was no mother per se before they asked. From the pitying looks he received at that comment, he knew they thought Cassie's mother dead. They were unnecessary, and he felt slightly insulted. He wasn't something to be pitied.

He wasn't done though; he needed to tell them about Heather and what had transpired today. As he spoke, he tried to keep his eyes off Harry. It'd taken time to understand what he felt towards him in school and what he still felt now. Cassie was a product of their love, but whether or not Harry harbored the same feelings now, Draco wasn't going to risk asking. He'd most likely moved on without realizing anything.

Daftly avoiding any questions that the men in the room posed him about who Cassie's other parent was, Draco sighed. It wasn't their place to know; besides it was too dangerous. Lucius would want her more if he knew. At this point she was old enough for him to try and control.

Harry sat listening intently to Draco's story. He was leaving out things, he could tell. Obviously he'd been in hiding, but his clothing suggested that there was more. Malfoy didn't wear grass stained jeans. Peering over at Cassie, he caught her watching him. Her gray eyes were mirror images of Draco's, but her hair wasn't. It was black, black like his. A mark of her mother no doubt, he decided. They stared at each other for a moment before she ducked her head down.

"How old is she?" Harry inquired as Draco concluded what he planned on telling them.

"I'm five and a HALF." Cassie piped up putting emphasis on the final word. She was very proud that she was halfway to being six. It meant that she would be starting kindergarten this year. "I'll be six in November."

Draco wished she hadn't said November. It gave them a timeline on which to figure out her birth. If they put that together, he cast a look Harry's direction. They might delve deeper into my life than I want them to, he thought worriedly.

"November is a lovely month." Dumbledore said smiling at her. She nodded.

"It's summer and I only have to wait a month until Christmas." Cassie replied happily. "Plus it's a good time to catch kiwis."

"What's a kiwi?" Ron asked, looking across the room to Harry in hopes he knew.

"It's a small flightless bird native to New Zealand." Draco informed him moving closer to his daughter.

"Is it a rare magical creature?" He couldn't remember going over them in Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures class ever. Of course, if it were small and cute, Hagrid probably wouldn't have been interested in teaching about them.

"Hardly," Draco snorted as Cassie fidgeted in her chair.

"Then why would she..."

"Because I LIKE them!" She snapped. "They're cute!"

"Cassiopeia." Draco warned, his tone stern, but not harsh. She pouted, unhappy at being scolded. "I'm sorry Professor Dumbledore. We've been through a lot today."

"Yes, yes you have," he agreed. "Severus, why don't you take Mr. Malfoy and Miss Malfoy to the guest chambers off the teacher's living area? The House-elves have a room set up for them already."

Snape sighed deeply, but got up and escorted the Malfoys out of the office. Cassie urged Draco to pick her up and he gave in without hesitation. Safe in her father's arms, she rested her head on his shoulder.

Harry stared after them, unsure what to think. This was not what he'd expected when he'd arrived. Although, Draco's narration had filled him into what had happened at the portkey in London, it just created more mysteries. Around him the others began talking, but he wasn't paying attention. A knot was forming in his stomach.

The chimerical vision he'd been building around Draco and their one escapade in the Slytherin locker room had been destroyed. All that remained was the raw regret filled wound where it had stood. The voice had lied to him. In the end he'd be alone. Ron had Natalie, Hermione was still dating Viktor Krum and eventually they'd marry. That left him the only one of the three who would never love. Suddenly he wanted to be alone to think, to take in what he'd learned.

"Harry." A hand fell on his shoulder. Startled, he turned and found himself looking past half-moon glasses at Dumbledore. "I think it's time we all went to bed." He nodded and pulled himself together.

One by one the small group drifted to other parts of the school. Dumbledore lead Harry to his guest room. As they said good night, the old wizard paused.

"Is there something you're not telling me?" He arched a bushy eyebrow at him knowing Harry wasn't always forthcoming with his feeling and thoughts.

"No Professor, just something I need to puzzle out for myself." Harry replied closing the door slowly behind him.