Disclaimer: Harry Potter isn't mine.
Warnings: Slash, mpreg, time travel in later chapters (like in the next chapter). Mention of a character's death (but since it was after a war what did you expect!)
Chapter 4 – The Fireplace.
Harry got dressed whilst Draco went downstairs to get his children fed. When Harry finally joined them all in the kitchen Kali giggled and the boys grinned as they saw the state Harry was in. Shirt un-tucked and hair messy Harry was walking into the kitchen slowly but grinning all the way.
"Papa looks silly." Alex offered when Draco sent him a questioning gaze. Smiling Draco stood up and walked to behind Harry's chair making Harry turn his head up to face him before the blonde leaned down and gave Harry a kiss.
"He may look silly, but he's still wonderful." Draco said smirking as the children shouted their agreement.
After breakfast was over and done with and the children cleaned and dressed, they were all in the lounge with Harry reading to Kali and Alex on the floor whilst Draco taught Seb the 'Wingardium Leviosa' spell. Seb was getting the hang of it rather quickly and had successfully managed to levitate a flower so that it floated over to Kali. When Kali saw the flower she grabbed it and made Harry use that as a pointer as he read the words in the book. Draco laughed as Harry met with the demands but he didn't laugh for too long as Sebastian had turned his eye on the book case and was attempting to levitate one of the larger tomes from the very top of the case.
"Ah, Seb…perhaps we should leave that for…" Too late. Sebastian levitated the tome off the shelf but couldn't keep the spell up for long and dropped the tome. Luckily for Seb the tome fell onto the sofa before bouncing to the floor. Draco sighed before glaring weakly at the boy and reprimanding him. Just as Draco decided to help Seb with his reading skills a house elf 'pop'ed into the lounge.
"Masters Malfoy sirs…you is having a fire call." Harry lifted his head up to look at the elf dressed in a cleaned pink pillowcase. Harry had offered all the house elves clothes as a uniform for working for him but the elves had refused. Harry had finally gotten them to agree to wearing clean, expensive pillowcases so people could see their high class and their importance to their masters. After a lot of crying the house elves accepted the order from their gracious master Harry. Harry had then made them each pick their favourite colour and Maisy had chosen a soft baby pink pillow case.
"Who is it Maisy?"
"Maisy doesn't know Master Harry sir. Peppy just told me to get the masters."
"Okay Maisy, we are on our way. I take it the fire call is in my study?" The house elf nodded and poped back out of the lounge again. Harry and Draco shared a look before rising to their feet and helping the children to theirs. Holding hands with their children the adults walked into Draco's study.
The study was done up with a dark ebony wood but the room was far from dark. Windows covered one whole wall of the study and a balcony with steps led from the room into the gardens below. It had been a favourite hobby of Draco's and Harry's to go walking in the lavish gardens after Draco had a bad day at work or had been working for too long in his study. The large ebony desk had a small pile of parchment next to a platinum inkwell and a quill holder containing three large and wonderful quills. On the desk there was a large square surface in Slytherin green that provided a softer surface to write on. The room as large and decorated with a pastel green but with the sun shining through the windows so brightly the green seemed to have a bit more life to it rather than the watered down pastel colour it had been.
A black Marble fireplace stood opposite the window wall and in the fire was the face of the Minister for Magic Archimedes Fenrow. A house elf dressed in a navy pillowcase with a silver dragon on it was stood next to the fire with his hands clutched before him and his head bowed slightly towards his masters. Alex cried out in joy and ran towards the elf hugging him tightly and breaking the elf out of his subordinate stance.
"Peppy! You haven't come to see me in AGES Peppy! Don't you like me anymore?"
"Peppy is always liking Master Alex sir! Peppy has just been busy working on sir's playground outside." Alex grinned widely. In the back garden at the centre of a large maze was a huge playground complete with climbing frame and swings that often, at will, changed themselves to a different arrangement allowing hours of fun. The play ground had, however, suffered a bit of destruction when a wild dragon had escaped the clutches of wizards and flown over the Malfoys' home using the maze as its nest. Suffice to say the house elves had their work cut out for them with the clean up and repair of both maze and play ground.
"Archie! How nice to see you!" Harry said smiling graciously at the face in the fire. Kali pulled her hand free of Harry and went towards her brother and the house elf. Since she was only eighteen months old though she had mastered the art of standing and running but could only walk with her fathers help and she was still unable to stop on her own. Thus the little girl, who often refused to do things on her own, ran full force into Peppy and Alex and fell backwards onto her nappy padded bottom. Draco sighed whilst Sebastian snickered. Kali started whimpering.
"Never mind Kali honey, Loulou will make it better." Draco summoned Kali's favourite teddy bear to her and she wrapped her still chubby arms around it as her whimpering stopped. Louolou was a light coloured bear with the softest fir around. He was also the same size, if a little smaller, than Kali was allowing her arms to only reach around his neck as she clutched him. Sebastian went over and sat behind his sister with his legs to either side of her and cuddled her cooing in baby talk to the girl as she replied with muffled nonsense words. Alex had already dragged Pappy over onto the spare chair in the lounge and they were talking animatedly leaving Draco and Harry free to talk to the minister.
"Good morning Mister Potter, Mister Malfoy. I'm sorry for calling so unexpected however something has come up and I was wondering whether you could come to the ministry."
"Why? What's going on?"
"A death eater has requested a trial with the use of Vertaserum and the court is having difficulty silencing his demands." Harry tensed before turning away from the minister and hiding his face in Draco's shoulder. He hated being reminded of the war. Draco wrapped his arms loosely around Harry's waist before addressing the minister.
"Archie, when is the trial? What is needed of us?"
"The trial is today since the death eater was going to be submitted to the Kiss by Dementors tomorrow. What I need from you is confirmation of the crimes against the death eater and for you to be a witness."
"Who is the death eater?"
"Theodore Nott." Draco closed his eyes in regret and Harry cringed against Draco. Theodore Nott had killed Ginny Weasley in the war and both Harry and Draco had been helpless to stop it having been otherwise occupied with Voldemort and Belatrix LeStrange respectively.
"Very well, I shall do this but Harry shan't. And this will be the last time we try against a death eater. We have both washed our hands of the war and do not like being dragged back into this." Draco said glaring at the Minister. Harry looked over and met the Minister's gaze from his position against Draco.
"When we washed our hands of the war we got signed confirmation from Fudge that we would not be disturbed or hounded in any way relating to the war and the loss of our friends, family and comrades. Since the signing of the demands we have been called upon eleven times and each of those cases was to either speak of a warrior's innocence or condemn yet another man to death. This is the last time we shall help the ministry, after today we shall vehemently refuse to offer any more assistance. We like you Archie, you are a wonderful friend and I'm sure that the courts have coerced you into getting hold of us so we shall hold no grudge. However you are the Minister for Magic and if you do not respect our privacy then our friendship will be forfeited and you shall lose not only a lot of money but a lot of power. I don't like making threats Archie but when I do they are serious. This is the last time we help out, do you understand?"
The minister nodded hastily. It was well known that Harry had a nasty temper and that he was beyond normal imagination of the word 'powerful'. Draco Malfoy, being bonded to Harry, was also feared due to his large magical ability and his power. Sure, both men were lovely to speak to and know and they were very generous friends and allies. Sure, Draco came across as cold half the time but the other half the time he isn't on his own and Harry of Draco's children brought out the softer side of Draco Malfoy. Since the Malfoys, or the Potter-Malfoys were so powerful and the richest wizards in the country, as well as the most respected, it wouldn't do for the ministry to loose the favour of the family.
"I understand Harry, Draco." Archimedes said falling back into the informal tones he liked using in front of the pair. Archie had become good friends with the pair when he came in to office. Apparently Harry agreed with all his ideals and corrected the ideals that were less appealing. Harry and Draco's help had given Archie the chance to bring the Ministry back onto its feet and with it the Wizarding world. They were now enjoying a wonderful peace and, whilst there were small pockets of resistance to this peace, everyone, dark and light alike, were enjoying the prosperous times. "I am sorry to have to have dragged you into this. Make no mistake, I shall be making sure you will not be called on for 'old' business."
The pair nodded and Harry turned and entwined his fingers with Draco's.
"Thank you Archie. Anyway, on a brighter note, you are invited over for dinner sometime. It's been a while since we've had you over. I don't believe we've seen you since New year?" Draco frowned in thought.
"What happened to distract us from the important things after New Year? We seem to have missed a lot in three months!" Harry blushed and smacked Draco on the arm but Draco was seriously trying to figure out what it was that had happened.
"What do you mean?" Archie asked having obviously missed Harry's blush. Draco smirked and went to answer but received another smack from Harry.
"Oi! Domestic abuse!"
"Shut up Draco. It was needed. You will not go spouting off our private business to Archie!" Archie raised an eyebrow and Draco looked curiously at Harry who had taken to blushing again. God, he felt so weak sometimes. He just blamed it on being around children most of the time and having their innocence and naivety catching onto him. There was silence for a while as Draco stared at Harry who stared at the floor and Archie tried to understand what was going on. Eventually Archie's eyes settled on Sebastian who was watching with a similar frown to the one Draco was wearing.
"Daddy?"
"Hang on a minute Bastian. I'm trying to think."
"But Daddy! Since the New Year Party Minnie has made you stay at Hogwarts during the week to help." Draco snapped his head to his son in shock before understanding bloomed inside him.
"I'm going to kill Minerva!" Draco growled before walking over to his son and giving him a quick squeeze and a hair ruffling. "You are a genius Seb. You take so much after me!" Draco ignored Harry's snort but from the look on Harry's face he had finally understood what was going on.
"Well, perhaps you'll excuse us then Archie. We'll all be at the ministry…when did you need us by?"
"Can you be here for five?"
"Certainly. I'd better call Luna and see if she doesn't mind the four of us staying with her whilst Draco is in court. Bye bye Archie. See you later."
"Bye Harry, Draco." Draco nodded then looked over at his children.
"Kids, say goodbye to Uncle Archie." Kali turned to look at the head and lifted up a chubby arm waving her hand up and down because her other thumb was restricting her speech since she was sucking on it.
"Bye Uncle Archie!" Yelled Alex across the room.
"Bye Uncle." Seb said with a small smile.
"Goodbye." And Archie disappeared from the fire. When he was gone Harry threw some floo into the fire and called out in a clear voice.
"Luna Lovegood, Department of Ministries!" As Harry started talking, a conversation that didn't interest the others in the room Draco asked Peppy to take the children back to the lounge whilst he made a fire call of his own. Peppy agreed and Draco walked off into Harry's study on the opposite side of the Grand staircase. Walking into the brightly decorated study with numerous books and a lavish carpet Draco kneeled down in front of the white marble fireplace.
Everything in Harry's study was light and bright. There were no dark colours at all. The walls were decorated with gold and white whilst the floor had a rich light red carpet on it. As was the same with Draco's study there were windows down one wall but in Harry's study the windows were behind the desk and the fireplace was opposite the desk and right next to the door.
"Minerva McGonagall's Office, Headmistress of Hogwarts School." Draco called as he threw the floo powder into the fire place. Green flames popped up and Draco put his face into them.
"Mister Malfoy, to what do I owe this pleasure?" Draco scowled at the woman who was slowly reclining into a blue chair opposite the fire.
"Minerva, do you realise that since New Year I've missed out on an awful lot at home because of my extra duties at school?" Minerva frowned in question.
"What ever do you mean?"
"I mean that it has been a very long time since Harry and I actually discussed the matter of our children or actually decided on having any more. I also mean that it's just been drawn to my attention that school has kept me so busy that I've hardly had any social arrangements at my manor and haven't had a social gathering of all my friends since New Year."
"I don't see how this is my problem Mister Malfoy." Draco sneered, his cold and dangerous side showing through once again.
"Are you aware Minerva that I am the only teacher at Hogwarts with a family outside its walls that has to stay there during the week. Hermione goes home every day and, might I add, so does Severus now that he's finally gotten married. I want to be allowed home during the week. It has only been this year that you've made me stay and I don't like it."
"Well, I assure you that you are only staying because Harry is quite able to handle your three children on his own for a while. Kalista is getting older and doesn't require as much attention and Hogwarts does need its head of Slytherin."
"Very well Minerva, I shall grant you that. Hogwarts does need a head of Slytherin but I am available to be on call through the floo should it be required. And, my dear Minerva, who said I only had three children?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean Harry and I are trying for another." Draco then left the fireplace with an evil smirk on his face."Now, on mondayI hope you and I can come to some sort of agreement on how to proceed. I need more time at home Minerva and one way or another I shall get what I want." Draco cut off the connection leaving a stunned and slightly angry Minerva in his wake. He'd set the ball rolling and he'd follow up on his demands another time. For now though he wondered about getting his husband upstairs once again and letting the house elves taking care of the children...
That's it, that's all I have for now. Please review. Should I continue or not? If I do continue then there will be time travel in the next chapter, if I don't continue I'll leave it there and change the summary. It's up to you.
Gemxx