Chapter 43

"And this is when I still wore diapers. I don't wear them anymore," Cassie stated pointing to a photograph of when she was two. It'd been taken on a beach in New Zealand. The waves were splashing against the shore and Cassie as holding tightly to Draco's hand, afraid of the water. She was eyeing it with an unsure face, her little ruffled skirt flipping up in the strong wind.

"That was the first time we went to the beach," Draco explained, smiling as little Cassie pressed herself against Draco's leg. Next to the magically enhanced photo rested a regular photo with the two walking barefoot in the sand. It looked like it belonged on a greeting card. "Heather really liked how that shot came out," he continued noticing where Harry's gaze had moved too. "She said it would be a crime against art to use magic on it."

"It's a very nice picture, I can see why she wouldn't want to." Harry was staring at it. Draco's expression was tender with a hint of amusement as Cassie watched where she stepped. Blond hair falling in his face, one hand reached up to brush it out of the way, showing the viewer the small smile on his face. Harry couldn't help but smile himself. He could see the love for Cassie in Draco's face.

Turning the page, Harry found beach shots, including several with Heather. With each page he witnessed the change in Draco and Cassie. They'd started out looking at Cassie's baby pictures. Draco looked scared and unsure in the early ones. Cassie was so tiny, that it was hard to believe looking at her now that she was ever anything other than a five year old. Still there was proof laid out in front of him. As they progressed from the first album to the second, Draco grew more confident and actually started smiling in some pictures. Cassie learned to walk and play Patty-Cake.

"I still can't believe you can go to the beach on Christmas," Harry said lingering over a picture of a small flat with a tree decorated in garland, ornaments, and lights.

"We didn't do that until the day after usually," Draco joked remembering the Christmas they were looking at.

"I meant it was warm enough to do so." He paused and stared a photo on the opposite page. "There's your stuffed kangaroo."

"Zooroo. I've had him forever." Cassie snuggled up to Draco, leaning her head on his shoulder.

"When did you get him?" Harry inquired, watching her yawn.

"He was my very first Christmas present from Daddy."

Harry was a bit shocked by the response. He was sure Heather had given it to her. Obviously he was wrong.

"Are you getting tired Cassie?" Draco asked. She shook her head.

"I want to see Papa's pictures."

Shifting slightly, Draco gave Harry a 'we might want to hurry this' look. Reluctantly closing the album, Harry picked up one of his. It was the oldest one he had. Hagrid had given it to him after his first year and it held almost all the pictures of his parents he had. The pages were well worn from use, but they still were well preserved. Opening to the first page, he couldn't hide the bittersweet smile that always appeared when he saw the photo.

"He looks like you Papa," Cassie murmured. She lifted her head off Draco and sat up straighter.

"That's my father, James and my mother, Lily." Harry paused. "They're your grandfather and grandmother."

Gazing at the photo, Draco realized that this was the first time he'd actually seen what Harry's parents looked like. People had said that Harry looked a lot like James, but he'd never paid attention. Just like many people had thought he was a smaller, younger version of Lucius. He'd proven everyone wrong on that account. Briefly he wondered how difficult it would be for Cassie. She would have many obstacles and people expecting great things from her, but she needed to be herself. She would find her own way because she was a Malfoy and a Potter.

There definitely was a likeness between Harry and his father though Draco decided, but he could see Lily's influence. She'd given Harry his green eyes, just like he'd given Cassie her gray eyes. The mothers had given their eye color to their children. He almost chuckled at that oddity, but kept it in.

"So, I have a grandfather and grandmother Potter?" Cassie inquired, putting her hands on either side of the photograph.

"No," Harry said softly. "Voldemort killed them when I was a baby."

She didn't say anything, simply studied the photo. Shifting slightly, Harry waited for her to move her hands away before turning the page. There wasn't anything he could say to her. No way he could bring them back even though he'd wished for it himself. She'd have to deal with it as he had and simply look at the photos. At least she knew her parents loved her very much and that they were here and alive.

Harry sighed inwardly. He couldn't change the past, but they still had a future.

"Voldigmort is very bad," she said after a minute, her hands retreating to her lap.

"Yes, yes he is." Draco whispered as Harry turned the page.

"Voldigmort kills people. He needs to stop."

"Yes," Harry agreed.

Sitting quietly they looked through the next few pages with a solemn view. Cassie didn't speak, simply studied each photo as if committing it to memory for an exam. Draco couldn't help but smile at a few images, including one with Lily pelting James with snowballs. The couple looked extremely happy hurling snow at each other. James ducked around a tree hoping to outwit his wife. It didn't work. When he poked his head out, she creamed him with a snowball. He fell down out of the frame of view only to pop up a minute later covered with the white powder.

"Daddy?" Cassie asked, yawning.

"Yes, Snapdragon?"

"Will I ever get to meet your mama?"

"Why do you want to know that Cassie?"

The little girl wiggled her sock clad feet.

"Because then I'll have seen all my grandparents and I can get your baby pictures. I want to see yours too. It's not fair that Papa and I have ours, but you don't have yours."

"Cassie," Draco reached his arm around her and gave her a squeeze. "That's very thoughtful, but Lucius wants you dead and my mother is..." he sighed. "My mother is trying to keep up the image of a proper, albeit somewhat out-dated, ideal high class magical family. It's not a good idea to try to talk to her while Lucius and Voldemort are still alive."

"Is she a Death Eater?" Cassie asked quietly.

"I honestly don't know, but she's always turned a blind eye when Lucius did something a touch illegal."

Harry coughed. Draco glared at him.

"My mother, didn't say anything about it. That's how it goes. There isn't much that upsets her about what Lucius does." Although I thought my disowning would've brought some reaction, he thought sadly. She certainly was adamant about me going to Hogwarts. She and Lucius fought for two days over that. I never wanted to see that side of her again.

"Oh," Cassie murmured.

"We'll talk about it more later, right now, you need to go to bed." Nodding to Harry, Draco waited for him to remove the album before trying to hoist Cassie up. She protested, claiming she wasn't tired and that she wanted to see more photos. Assuring her that they could look at them any time, Harry set the album on the table and helped Draco move her. Draco carried her to her room where they helped her change and get ready for bed. She trudged to the bathroom, trying to prove she wasn't sleepy, but failing. She barely finished brushing her teeth, her eyelids drooping the entire time. Harry carried her back to her room where Draco had already turned back the covers for her. Laying her down, they pulled the blankets over her and with a soft 'good night', extinguished the lights.

Returning to the sitting room, Harry picked up his album and sat back down. Draco dropped down next to him.

"Did your mother know you were pregnant?" Harry asked glancing over at the blond.

He shook his head.

"She was on the continent for four, almost five months. She was supposed to be back week before Christmas. I fled the country before then. I have no doubt my father told her though. He, and I for a time, considered it an abomination that I was pregnant. Mother would've been horrified. I'd have destroyed her ideal existence and her plans for me." Draco closed his eyes and leaned back against the couch. It'd been a while since he'd talked about his mother; there was still a part of him that regretted leaving Britain without seeing Narcissa one last time. She wouldn't have been sympathetic, but Cassie was her granddaughter and some part of him hoped that she would at least acknowledge that.

Slipping his arm around his lover's waist, Harry pulled Draco to him. The blond let himself be moved, resting his head on Harry's shoulder.

"It must've been hard for you to do," he said, tilting his head so that it touched Draco's.

"It was and still is. I try not to think of Mother, it's better if I don't."

"I understand," Harry said sympathetically.

"She was an important person in my life and I wish that there was some way she could meet Cassie without Lucius or Voldemort's influence. I know Mother wanted a girl, but she never had any more children."

"Why?"

"I think she had a miscarriage, but I'm not certain. All I know is that there was a time, when I was about four, that I heard her crying a lot."

Giving Draco a light squeeze, Harry wished there was something more he could do. Right now he could only be there for his boyfriend.

"It's odd to think back on these things, because at the time I didn't understand or care. Now that I'm curious about it, I can't ask." Draco sighed.

"There might be a chance someday, at least you have that hope," Harry commented. Rubbing his hand up and down Draco's arm comfortingly, he gave a weak smile. "I will never have a chance to talk with my parents."

"They're not ghosts anywhere that you know?"

"No. I'm sure they've moved on."

"I suppose so," Draco agreed, cuddling closer. "By the way, thank you."

"For what?" Shifting slightly, Harry relaxed his shoulders a little more so that he was more comfortable.

"For letting me talk about my mother."

Harry kissed him lightly on the top of his head.

"You're welcome."

"Can we look at some more photos?" Draco asked after several silent minutes. "I never did get to see your baby pictures."

"Only if I can see more of Cassie's," he answered.

"Deal."

Heather came home about fifteen minutes later. From the entrance she could hear barely stifled laughter. Curious, she walked into the sitting room. Hunched over, Harry was covering his mouth trying to hold in the guffaws that were threatening to spill out. Beside him, Draco had buried his head in a pillow attempting to muffle his snickering. There were several photo albums on the coffee table.

Upon seeing her, both men broke out into more laughter. Quickly they smothered it with whatever pillow was closest. Heather eyed them, then glanced down at the photo albums on the coffee table. She gave them a bemused look.

"Frogs in diapers, I see." She smiled. "Ya know tha story behind that series o' photos?" Harry nodded, trying to gesture to Draco.

"Seven frogs, stuffed down tha lass' diapers. We didna know how many, she just kept pullin' them out one atta time. Right durin' the company picnic, scarin' poor Eloise Tuttle's mother. That woman couldna stand anythin' slimy."

Harry was laughing so hard he nearly slid off the couch. Draco had to lie down on the couch, his sides hurting. Grinning, Heather turned and sauntered out of the room leaving them to their own devices.