Title: This time around
Disclaimer: We do not claim to be Rowling nor do we claim to own HP.
A/N: The challenge we found stated that they would like to see two semi-large families intergrated and shown how well the two fight and or mesh. So this isnt going to be -exactly- like the movie. I am a huge fan of the first movie and my co-writer hasn't seen either of them, so..no navel themes, no lots and lots of kids, the shopping expidition wouldnt be all the fun to do...but the kids count is in this chapter, so...read and enjoy and maybe leave a review?
Draco stood outside the restaurant that Pansy had given him directions to a bit anxiously. He was, in all actuality panicking about going in. He knew he was early by at least twenty minutes, but he had no way of knowing whether his 'date' was one to be early, punctual, fashionably late, or just late period.
Taking a deep breath to center himself, he pulled open the door and walked up to the podium that was placed just outside a large archway. God, trust Pansy to come up with a place that was like something out of a muggle romance novel.
"May I help you sir?" The hostess standing behind the podium asked, looking about as bored as a little kid shopping. He knew that expression from experience.
"Yes, I have a reservation? Under Parkinson?"
The lady bowed and grabbed a small red booklet from a shelf and motioned for Draco to follow her. He was led to a small, circular table at the back of the room. It was the only one in the general area and was placed in front of a large bay window that overlooked the river. He sat down and accepted the wine list from the hostess with a small smile.
Harry paused in front of the restaurant. Laughing a little to himself he tried to calm the intense feeling of wanting to hide in a hole. He took a few breaths and told himself that he had given birth four times and meeting someone for dinner was nothing compared to it.
Harry shook his head and looked down at his watch, he'd be just a little late if he when in now. And yet as Harry started walking up the stairs he had the thought that he'd rather give birth again then go on a blind date with this dream man.
He walked up to the Hostess and smiled lightly despite the horrid feeling that was churning in his stomach. "Reservation under Parkinson." He mumbled looking down at the woman.
She looked up and her eyes widened before she blushed and replied almost breathlessly. "Right this way Mr. Potter."
He followed her to a table in the back of the room where a very blonde man was sitting with his back towards Harry.
Draco looked at his watch again, for what seemed to be the twentieth time in the last half hour. It was only a bit past the appointed time, and he had given himself a grace period of half past, so he knew he had awhile to go.
He reached out to grab his goblet of water when he heard the clacking of the hostess' shoes. Since no one could be seated in the general area, he knew his date had arrived. Pushing himself to his feet with the grace he was born with, he swallowed the sudden horde of butterflies that had decided to make a home of his stomach.
He turned just as the hostess came to a stop next to his table. When his eyes fell on the man Pansy had set him up with, he couldn't help but gasp. He knew those emerald eyes, "Harry." He mumbled, no longer sure if he wanted to run and hide, a very un-Malfoyish trait, or sink back into his seat in shock.
Harry's eyes widened and his mouth fell open in shock. "Malfoy?" Harry's whole world seemed to stop it now didn't matter if the sky turned pink and started singing out loves songs. Draco Malfoy was his date.
Harry remembered back to when he was in 6th year and how much of a crush he had on the boy, before he had fallen for Blaise. He closed his mouth and smiled before walking over and taking his hand. "It's nice to see you again Draco."
Draco nodded his head, "You too. It's been awhile." He motioned with his free hand to the chair opposite him, "Won't you have a seat?"
Harry let go and nodded before walking to the seat Draco had gestured to. "So Pansy got you into this too I see." Harry smiled and sat down.
"Yes. No offense meant to you, but that women does not understand the word no." He cocked his head slightly, "Although maybe this isn't such a bad idea."
He smiled at Harry then looked up when a shadow fell over their table, "I'm Gustavo, and I'll be your waiter for this evening. Is there anything I can get for you to drink?"
Draco looked over at Harry, allowing the raven haired man to go first.
Harry opened his mouth and then closed it before looking up at the man, "I'll just have water, thanks." He replied before leading back against his seat as he put he napkin on his lap. "Draco?" He asked politely.
Draco, too, looked up at the man to give his order, "I'll have an Iced tea with a lemon wedge." As the waiter nodded and placed two menu's on the table. He then turned and went to fill their orders. Draco turned his full attention back to Harry, "So? What have you been up to?"
Harry laughed lightly. "What haven't I been up to?" He smiled and looked into Draco's eyes. "Mostly I've been taking care of my kids." He scratched his head, a habit that was just to hard to kick, and let his eyes flutter down to Draco's lips before going back to his eyes. "What about you?"
Draco bit back a gasp when he saw Harry glance at his mouth. If only he knew what was meant by that. For all he knew if could very well just be an innocent glance, "The same actually. Raising my own lot of rugrats."
Harry laughed again. "Really? How many?" He at first wanted to ask who was the other father, or mother, but he felt it would be a little rude and kept that question to himself.
Draco grinned, "Would you believe me if I said five?"
Harry's eyebrows raised and his eyes widened. "Five?" He asked. "Well you beat me. I have four." He said still smiling and willing himself not to look back down at Draco's lips.
"Your drinks." Draco glanced up as Gustavo placed their drinks down on the table, "Have you decided on a course for dinner?" He asked, sounding almost as bored as their hostess had looked.
Draco allowed himself a slight frown at the discourtesy, "Actually, we haven't looked at our menu's yet."
The man looked like he was holding back a frustrated sigh, "Very well then. I will return."
"I have three boys and two girls, ages eight and down. So far, three have shown magic. My oldest daughter is of a very mild temperament so there have been no magical tantrums." Draco reached out for his menu, "How about you?"
Harry took a sip of his drink. "Three boys one girl, oldest 14, youngest 4, all have shown signs of being magical. Loki, my youngest and my only girl, turned her brother pink when she was three." Harry felt his chest fill with pride at something as simple as a magic spell. "It was rather funny so I left him that way the whole day."
Harry laughed. "He said he didn't like it but he complained for a week after that he looks so plain with out being pink."
Draco chuckled, "My youngest, Ambrosia, who's only a year, gets great pleasure in tossing her books and harder toys at Braden, my five year old and youngest boy, with her magic. He's the rowdiest of the bunch, I'd say, but Am is catching up quickly." He paused to take a drink of his tea, "I've also only caught one name out of four. What are the rest?"
Harry took another sip. "Well Vladimir who is my oldest at 14, he looks nothing like me he is all his father in every way." Harry laughed a little as he paused. "Then I have the twins Ince and Kaden who are nine and make me wonder if all twins turn out to be trouble makers. They remind me of Fred and George a little to much, but what's creepy is that they look identical to me when I was about that age. And finally Loki who's 4 and my only girl."
Harry was quiet for a moment and let his smile slip off his face before shaking his head and looking back at Draco. "Sorry about that." He said quietly.
Draco's smile had slipped off his own face only a moment after Harry's and now he was a bit confused, "What are you apologizing for?"
"I was a bit out of sorts." Harry smiled again lighting up his whole face, but his eyes. "So what about you? I know two but I need three more."
"Well, there's Derek. He's my oldest at eight, followed by Ren who's seven and just like his brother. Practically identical except for their hair color and size. Ren is actually bigger then Derek," Draco paused, "Then there's Braden, he's five followed by Calliope who's four and Ambrosia, who's one. Calliope's my most quiet one." Draco's face took on a slightly haunted look as he thought back to -why- she was so quiet, before pushing the thought away. She was getting better and that's all that mattered.
Harry was quiet for a moment. "What happened to your husband?"
