A/N: Don't kill me! I know I promised the Valentine's Day chapter, but I had a reviewer say that Keiron didn't properly grieve for his parents, so I decided to deal with that issue directly. I'm getting to the proposal. Just be patient! And I'm sorry this is short. But I think it came out all right.

Chapter 17: A Grief Interlude

The day before Valentine's Day...

When Harry finally awoke, he saw it was near noon. He groaned audibly. The Headmistress was going to kill him for skivvying off his classes. Then he thought back to why he was so tired in the first place.

After leaving Keiron sleeping in Gryffindor Tower the night before, he went home to Draco to show him how much his support of Harry adopting the small boy meant to him.

Afterwards, they snuggled together and had a serious discussion about living arrangements. Both agreed the flat was too small. Harry suggested his family home in Godric's Hollow.

Harry had rebuilt and refurbished his parent's home the year before Hermione gave birth to the triplets, but had decided not to live there right away. The huge house was too lonely for one person.

Draco agreed to Harry's idea and after a quick shower, they Apparated.

While Draco took care of the charms and wards to protect the house and grounds, Harry went inside to take stock of what needed to be cleaned, replaced or repaired. He also transfigured one of the spare rooms for Keiron.

He absolutely insisted on a Quidditch pitch in the field behind the house. He and Draco spent nearly 5 hours warding and charming the grounds, as well as tending to the lawn.

By the time they'd gotten the furniture arranged, shelves stocked with food, appliances and authorization for a Floo connection. It was nearly 5 in the morning. Too tired to Apparate, they hailed the Knight Bus and fell into an exhausted slumber as soon as they arrived back at the flat.

Harry closed his eyes and rolled over to his left, toward Draco's side of the bed. Instead of warm skin, he came into contact with a sheet of parchment. He pulled on his glasses and waited for the world around him to focus before he looked at it.

-Harry

I told Minerva what we'd been up to last night and that you were too tired to teach so she gave you today off. Tonks will meet you and Keiron at the Ministry at 2 and show you where you need to go.

Minnie excused Keiron from his classes for today so he can get settled with us.

I gave Dobby instructions to start storing anything here we won't be needing there, and the Realtor will be coming this evening with a couple of prospective buyers. Please try and keep things orderly. We do want to make a good impression.

I love you.

Draco

Smiling, Harry got to his feet to begin what was left of his day.

Surprisingly, adopting Keiron was easier than he thought. All they had to do was sign a document with a drop of their blood. Once done, the document vanished to be filed in the Department of Records and a second document arrived in its place stating that Harry was now officially Keiron's guardian. Keiron noticed that his name had been changed to "Keiron Jacob Michaels Malfoy Potter" and asked the clerk about it.

"It's because your parents are a part of who you are. To give up your heritage and the name they blessed you with is a crime unto itself." she explained. He accepted the reasoning with a nod, but Harry could sense the deep sadness within him.

They took a trip to Gringott's so Harry could transfer some of his money into a vault for Keiron.

"Harry, you didn't have to do that!" Keiron exclaimed while Harry signed some documents.

"Nonsense. I have more than enough and what's mine is yours now. No questions asked." Harry smiled. "And no monkey business. I get monthly reports about what's spent where."

"Yes, sir." Keiron smiled.

They lunched at The Leaky Cauldron before heading to Godric's Hollow.

Keiron fell in love with his room the moment he saw it.

"Keiron, there's something I forgot to tell you." Harry began when Keiron started to draw his wand. He had wanted to change the colors of the walls.

"What? Oh. I can't do magic here. Stupid underage wizarding law." Keiron grumbled. Harry laughed.

"No, actually, you can do magic here. I discovered this spell in my 6th year of school. No one from the Ministry will be sending you owls."

"Honestly?"

"Yes. Try it."

"Okay." Keiron pointed his wand and changed the four walls and ceiling of his room to a deep purple color, almost black. Another wave of his wand and it looked as if the universe exploded. There were twinkling stars and planets and comets all over.

"Wow!" Harry exclaimed. It was like being outdoors under a star-lit sky. "How'd you do that?"

"Charms classes aren't what they used to be back in your day." Keiron smirked.

"Are you calling me old?" Harry frowned with mock indignation.

"You're not that old."

"Old enough to tickle you to death!" Harry grinned, launching himself at the boy before he could get away. Keiron's shrieks of laughter echoed all through the house, and that is what Draco walked in on. He smiled when he heard it.

"Exactly what this house needs." he smiled, going up to join his lover and their new ward.

At 2 in the morning, Harry bolted upright in bed and looked around. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Draco slept peacefully beside him. He lay back down and closed his eyes.

Then he heard it again, a noise from somewhere else in the house. He concentrated his magic. The wards were secure. He quickly got to his feet, pulling on his robe. Draco muttered something in his sleep and fell still once more. He opened the door and looked into the hall.

A sob. A heart-wrenching sob. Coming from Keiron's room.

Harry crossed the hall and quietly opened the door, peeking inside. Keiron was thrashing about on his bed in a state Harry knew all too well. A nightmare. And it looked to be a horrendous one.

"Mom! Get out of the house! It's going to explode! Mom! No! Dad!" Keiron cried out. Harry was beside him in an instant as Keiron bolted upright in his bed, eyes wide with fright.

"Keiron?" Harry stated softly, touching the boy's shoulder. Keiron's head whipped toward him so fast, Harry heard a few of the bones pop in sympathy.

"H-Harry?"

"I'm here." Harry said in that same soft tone.

"I tried to save them. I couldn't reach them. It happened too fast." Keiron trembled. "They promised they would never leave me. They promised."

"Some promises are meant to be broken whether we mean them or not." Harry replied.

"Harry-" Keiron was at a loss, struggling with trying to control his emotions in front of the man who was his teacher, and now, his guardian.

"It's okay to grieve, Keiron. They're not really gone. As long as we keep them here-" He placed a hand over Keiron's heart, "-they're always with you."

"H-Ha-Oh god!" Keiron moaned, collapsing into Harry's arms as he cried over the loss of his parents. Those deep, gut-wrenching sobs tore into Harry's soul and he was surprised to discover that tears were falling from his own eyes as he thought about his parents. He couldn't actually recall if he ever grieved for them, not really knowing them. But he felt he could properly grieve for them now, as he lent his love and support to the young man in his arms.

Another set of arms came around him from behind and he felt Draco kiss his temple.

"You all right?"

"I'm fine." Harry stated, his voice husky.

"No you're not, Harry. Don't lie to me."

"I'm sorry, Draco." Harry sighed.

"He looks exhausted." Draco whispered. Harry looked down and saw that Keiron had fallen into an exhausted sleep. He eased him back into bed and tucked the covers securely around him. Draco took his hand and led them back to their own room, pulling Harry into his arms when they got back into bed. Harry was content with letting Draco run his hands up and down his back.

"I miss them, Draco." he said after a tense silence. The hands on his back stilled for a second before resuming.

"Do you wonder what it would be like had they lived?" Draco wondered.

"I do. And it makes me realize what I'd never have if they did." Harry whispered, looking up at Draco. "You wouldn't be here, Keiron wouldn't be here. I'd probably be married to some witch or muggle girl with a boat-load of tots running rampant." Draco chuckled, making Harry smile.

"We'll leave the boat-load of tots to The Weasleys, thank you very much." Draco replied with a grin. Harry laughed as Draco kissed his nose. Harry settled back down, tracing random patterns over Draco's chest.

"Do you think he'll be all right?" Harry wondered.

"He's a Potter now. He'll do okay." Draco pronounced. "Now get some sleep, love. Minnie will kill you if you miss any more classes."

"Point." Harry yawned, drifting off to sleep.

"I love you, Harry." Draco whispered, closing his eyes.

"Love you, too." came the reply as Draco fell asleep.