Cros woke up to something brushing over his nose. Grumbling he batted at it. Cros was startled to feel a human hand over his face. Then he remember. He'd been freed and he was with Draco and Uncle Severus again.
"Draco?" Cros asked sitting up and touching his twin's face.
"Morning. Come one. We need to shower and eat so we can go get your things. I'm going to fire call Charlie and see if he can join us for the day." Draco pulled him to his feet.
Though it had been years they both moved in the bathroom in the same manner. Draco set out their clothes and bathing items while Cros worked the shower adjustments. The only difference was Draco leading him to the shower.
Once the preparations had been made they both stripped, not caring of their nudity. In the rather large shower they moved together, Draco washing his hair after he'd handed Cros a soapy cloth. Then they switched Draco poured some shampoo into Cros' hand after Cros had handed him the cloth.
The twin's shower went quickly and they stepped out a short ten minutes later.
"You hair is so long, Cros... Would you like me to braid it?" Draco asked as he petted the almost waist length hair.
"I would prefer it if you were to cut it."
This mad Draco's eyes bulge. "I wouldn't DARE!"
"It just gets in the way, Dragon... But if you find it so pleasing go ahead and braid it." Cros allowed his twin to spell his hair into a thick plait.
"Now, while you're dressing I'll fire-call Charlie." Draco told him after finishing Cros' hair.
Going into the bedroom he pulled out a hand full of floo powder and threw it into the fire. "Charlie Weasley's bedroom Firebrand Cottage."
A moment later the couple were face to face. "Brightness? Is everything okay?" Charlie asked as he saw his bondmate-to-be's face in the fire.
"It's fine... the raid on Malfoy Manor went down last night. Do you remember the time I told you about Cygnus... Cros, my twin?" Draco couldn't help but smile lovingly at the man who had captured his heart.
"Yes..."
"He's alive, Charlie... He's alive and here. But as to the reason I called... I don't suppose you would be free this weekend would you?" Draco smiled coyly at the thought of his lover being in town.
"Well... since it has to do with family matters I could take the time off. Give me a few minutes to get everything arranged then I'll be through. Love you." Charlie told him before pulling away from the fire.
Draco was just pulling back when Cros stepped out of the bathroom. "That was your Charlie."
"Yes... and I'm going to get to introduce you to my new family... And the two most important men in my life can get to know one another. But for now you should eat!" Draco said sounding a lot like his future mother-in-law as he drug his twin into the living room where Harry and Severus had already finished their breakfast.
"We'll go as soon as you've finished." Severus told them while he wrote out a list of things he needed in the alley.
"And Charlie's coming so we have to wait on him." Draco said as he made one large plate for both he and Cros.
Harry watched in amazement at the way Draco and Cros worked in tandem. It was like watching the Weasley twins together.
He'd no sooner thought about the Weasleys when Charlie came out of the living room fire place.
"Dragon-tamer!" Draco cried in an almost taunting tone as he ran to him.
"Brightness." Charlie held his delicate lover close for a moment before settling him down and looking him over. Once he was satisfied with Draco's health he turned to the twin his bondmate-to-be had cried for many times.
Standing Cros offered his hand toward the lover Draco thought so highly of.
Charlie took the hand for a moment before pulling Cros to him for a gentle hug. "He's spoke of you many times."
"In what time we've had together since my release he's told me how much he loves you more often than anything else. I wish I could say welcome to the family but it isn't a family most would want to be a part of." Cros told him as he trailed his hands over his face, learning his features.
"Then let me say it, welcome to my family. I'm certain Mum will love you." Charlie smiled as he allowed Cros' fingers to study him.
"Thank you..." Cros drew back and relaxed with all the grace befitting a Malfoy.
"I think we should probably be going." Harry said as he smiled at the twins and Charlie.
Charlie took Draco's arm and wrapped it around his before he touched Cros' arm lightly. "It would be my pleasure to escort you."
"Thank you, sir." Cros' smile brightened at not having to find his way on his own in an unfamiliar place.
Reaching ut he wrapped his arm around the offered limb. Draco knowing his twin, reached out and slid his hand around Charlie to just touch the bare skin of Cros' waist. It was enough for them to link and share Draco's vision. Draco had tried to explain what he and Cros did, but he'd never had the words.
Severus and Harry stepped into the fire place first and disappeared with a poof of floo powder.
The three followed right behind them. A moment later they were stepping out into Diagon Alley. Cros couldn't help his eyes going wide as Draco's view of the shopping street came to him.
"First things first, clothes. Severus and I can gather the books you will need while you three take care of the clothes and the wand." Harry all but drug Severus away with a smile.
"Those two don't get anymore normal as time passes." Charlie mumbled as he lead them towards Gringotts.
"Ah... Mr. Malfoy... I had wondered what had become of you. When your brother came in for his wand but you were no were in sight... Oh well... I should have a want suitable." Mr. Ollivander turned and went back through his shop as the tape measure took Cros' measurements.
Draco and Charlie stood back and watched as wand after wand was tried and discarded.
"There haven't been many who've given me so much trouble, Mr. Malfoy." Mr. Ollivander said but then a small smile formed on his face as he walked into a small dusty corner. "I never expected to sell this wand... by maybe..."
Opening it up, the old wand-maker pulled out a long white colored wand. "Albino ebony wood with a snow dragon's heartstring. A wand made for transfiguring and elemental magics. It was such an unusual combination I never thought anyone to be right for it... but I wonder... I perhaps you are."
The wand-maker slid it into Cros' hand and stepped back as a shimmer of silver sparkles irrupted from the wand.
Cros could feel the magic of the wand and feel the ancient dragon behind it.
"A perfect match... though a surprising one indeed." Mr. Ollivander said the pride obvious in his voice.
Bill was just finishing talking with George and Fred as he stepped out into the street. He felt before he saw the person run into him. Bringing his arms up he caught the person before they could fall.
"Big brother!" was the next thing he heard before a set of strong arms wrapped around him.
"Hey, Charlie."
"Bill, what brings you to Diagon Alley?" Charlie stepped back to where Draco and Cros stood.
"Just checking on the twins..." Bill left off as he noticed the long-haired twin. "You..."
"You... Mr. Weasley, it is a pleasure to speak with you again... Especially in comparison to out last meeting." Cros held out his hand.
Bill accepted it and for a moment he felt the gentle brush of Cros' magic. "Agreed. It is nice to meet you in a much more agreeable situation."
Cros held his hand for a moment more, wondering at the magic their touch had created. Letting go, Cros stepped back and touched Draco to assure himself where his twin was.
"We should go. We still have to go get a few more things... You're welcome to come with us, Bill." Draco tucked Cros' arm in his whole he smiled at his brother-in-law to be.
Glancing at Charlie, Bill nodded. "Sure, I have a couple of free hours."
"So have you set an exact date for your bonding?" Cros asked as he and Draco sat watching Bill and Charlie talking in the distance.
"We're planning to have the headmaster do it right after graduation." Draco told him while lending his sight to Cros so he could enjoy the mild September evening.
"I bet you wish it to be sooner." Cros murmured as he enjoyed the orange and pink sunset. "And what about Severus? I noticed his family's bonding necklace around Harry's neck."
"That... is a complicated story... I guess it all began in 5th year when Harry's godfather fell through the Veil." Draco shifted a bit so that he was cuddled to his twin.
"Harry almost did something stupid the following summer. But Severus was there on a check and he saved Harry. Then through too many adventures to name they got together. It's still odd to see of even think about. The Gryffindor's didn't help him, so Severus had him resorted and he came to us. Strangely it was a first year little girl that got him to open up. Morgaine asked him for help with her DADA homework and soon he was helping the whole house. When he saw we were more than just a bunch of deatheaters in training he decided that he could show us how to protect ourselves. He's even saved most of the younger years from getting the Mark. Also, this summer he plans on opening his home to all of us who have been disowned because of not returning home for Christmas. Severus began seeing him in a different light and then... well it took a half remembered prophecy from his aunt to have out godfather moving Harry into his bed chambers." Draco said as he thought the little things that had happened.
"They seem so happy together."
"They're as opposite as can be, but they are happy for some odd reason. I think maybe their differences are the things that make them so good together." Draco told him as he settled even closer.
"We should go in. It's getting dark and I wouldn't want to see what comes out of the Forest at night." Cros said as he allows Draco to help him to his feet.
"Brightness, we should be going in now." Charlie called as he and Bill got closer.
"Of course... we do you leave?" Draco asked as he took Charlie's arm while Bill escorted Cros.
"Tomorrow evening." Charlie murmured just as unhappy as Draco about having to be parted.
"Then you two should enjoy your night. I'm sure Bill won't mind leading me back to Uncle Severus' rooms." Cros told him before patting the hand on his shoulder.
"Of course. Charlie... Draco... don't do anything I wouldn't do." Bill told them with a wink before leading Cros away.
For a short time they walked in silence before Bill spoke up. "What are you going to do now?"
"For one, catch up on my education... after that we'll see. I think I might trail a bit and then maybe stay with Draco and Charlie a short time... I've always wanted to see a dragon close up." Cros had never thought of future plans, but now it seemed like he should.
Bill nodded and then remembered that the person he was with couldn't see it. "I understand. I'm sure if I were in your position I would do the same thing... Though I would wait until the war was in a lull. Right now it's too much hassle to travel abroad if you're from Britain. People seem to think that everyone from here is either a deatheater or a coward for running away."
"I'll have to take that into account." Cros said as he kept close to Bill, not wanting to run into anything.
When they reached the door to Severus' door and knocked, the door came open to show a half dressed Harry. "Can I help you? Oh... Cros... Bill... What can I do for you?"
Bill thought fast, knowing that Cros probably wouldn't want to stay in there with those two right then. "We were just here to pick up a change of clothes for Cros. I was going to take him to Mum and Dad's. Dad's been asking about him so I was going to have him over for dinner and then take him out for some time in the sun tomorrow."
Cros' head tilted before smiling at Bill. He could tell from the musky smell coming from the room that his godfather and Harry were up to. "If it wouldn't be too much trouble to let me have an overnight bag."
Harry turned and wandlessly summoned a bag with everything he could need. Handing it out he smiled at them before wishing them a goodnight and closing the door.