Harry shifted in his sleep before his eyes flicked open and he wiggled a little further into his blankets and got comfortable again, not ready to wake yet, but not quite going back to sleep. He woke a little bit more when he heard something moving in the living room, and four paws hitting the carpet before what sounded like human feet making their way over to his bed.

"Did you stay on the sofa all night?" Harry asked, staying under the blankets at the bed dipped at his feet.

"Yes, I know that I push boundaries, but I would not sleep on your bed," Barty told him. "Not until you asked anyway," Harry groaned and kicked his foot out at the chuckling man. "Are you ok?" Barty asked, resting his hand on Harry's leg after a few moments when the younger man didn't move.

"Mm...I slept well, better than I have for a long time," Harry admitted, the safety of hiding under the covers and not looking at Barty, as well as the fact that he had managed to get proper sleep for the first time in who knew how long, not having to worry about the Dursleys, not having to worry about Draco, or something happening at Hogwarts.

"You have not been sleeping well?" Barty asked, sounding concerned.

"Being here, first it was everything and not feeling safe being with the Malfoys, even though I knew I was one as well now, and then Draco," Harry sighed.

"I will kill him for you," Barty offered again.

"You're serious?" Harry lifted the covers enough to be able to look at Barty who was looking right back at him. "I thought you and...my dad were close friends,"

"We are, and I think a lot of him. But I will do it for you," Barty looked him in the eyes and he sucked in a deep breath realising that he was 100% serious, and that if Harry said yes it would happen.

"I don't want him hurt, and I don't want to take another child from my parents when they have just got a child back,"

"But?" Barty asked, taking Harry's hand carefully, obviously waiting for him to pull away.

"I am worried that he does not feel the same way and would happily see me dead and out of his life...and I am worried that he will do it himself. I haven't been able to sleep and relax properly because of it. Having you here, knowing that you were watching over me, it really helped," Harry closed his fingers around Barty's unconsciously as he admitted what had been worrying him since he realised that Draco was not calming down. "After the Durselys and thinking that they were my family, thinking that they hated me, coming here and finding a different family member that hates me, what if it is m…"

"Don't finish that," Barty said sharply, tugging on their hands so that Harry was sitting up in his bed, but he kept his green eyes cast down to his lap. Not having that the older man reached out and took Harry's chin firmly between his thumb and finger, lifting it so Harry had to look at him. "His behaviour is on him because he is a jealous, possessive, insecure little shit, he has delusions of grandeur that as he grows older he realises aren't real, he isn't as magically powerful as you, all he has is more knowledge, and he knows that you are quickly catching up on him with your lessons because the Flint boy is always praising you,"

"But...what if it is me Barty? What if Lucius and Narcissa realise and they hand me over to Voldemort," Harry blurted out.

"Firstly, that isn't going to happen, because Draco is the one who is deluded here, and Lucius and Narcissa already love you Harry, and they love you more and more as time goes on," Barty said firmly.

"I don't know why it has suddenly started bothering me so much,"

"Because you have started allowing yourself to care for Lucius and Narcissa, and allow the chance of a parental relationship with them in your life, with that comes the worry of what they think of you," Barty smiled. "Secondly, I would never allow anything to happen to you, even if something was to go wrong between you and Lucius and Narcissa, I would not allow anything to happen to you, I would step between you and whatever My Lord wished to do to you, remember you are not completely reliant upon the protection of the Malfoy's, do not forget no matter what happens you have my protection for the next five years, and we are bound together,"

Harry wanted to feel angry at that, he wanted to feel annoyed at the fact that Barty had bound them together for 5 years and he didn't have a choice about it in a lot of ways. But in the face of having a good night's sleep because of it, the security of knowing that Barty was watching out for him, would protect him no matter what. That he was willing to kill someone for Harry, he could not bring himself to feel as annoyed as he thought he should do.

"Harry, if he hurts you I will…" Barty scowled and let go of Harry completely as though he had burned him or...no like he was afraid of burning Harry. The younger man reached out and captured his hand back, completely intentionally this time. "My mind can still be...there is a hint of damage still there in my mind, you have been a bright spot in my life since I landed in Hogwarts to complete the mission, completely uncaring for what happened to me if I had been found out, completely uncaring about the fact that I was right under Dumbledore's nose, and then you were there, and even after we separated, you have not been far from my mind. I wanted to get better mentally so that I could be...better if we met again. But if something happens to you…"

"You make me feel safe and normal, in amongst all this crap and uncertainty. I…" Harry looked down at their still joined hands, and then up at Barty, looking into his brown eyes and wondering whether he was ready to admit this out loud, whether he was ready to admit it out loud and give the other the information, who would run with it, he knew that he would. "I missed you, and I am glad that you're here,"

"I will be here for as long as you let me," Barty said lowly, something crossing his face that made Harry's heart race and heat flood into his face. "You know I am going to be at Hogwarts again right?"

"Yes, I know," Harry nodded.

"I could teach you defensive magic, dark magic, if you wanted, something that could protect yourself if Draco decided to attack you," Barty offered.

"Dark magic?" Harry bit his lip uncertainly.

"You have been reading on dark, light and grey magic with Flint right?" Barty asked tugging gently on their joined hands.

"Yes, I know. I guess it is just what I have had drilled into my head," Harry admitted.

"Think about it, putting a good mixture of knowledge into your head to be able to defend yourself is never a bad thing," Barty shrugged.

"I will think about it," Harry nodded.

"I will be by your side as well, I am not going to let you get hurt," Barty promised.

"I just…" Harry started to say but snapped his mouth shut.

"What is it?" Barty frowned concernedly.

"What is going on?" Harry sighed.

"You're not ready for that conversation yet," Barty shook his head with a soft smile.

"Barty," Harry frowned.

"Not yet," Barty shook his head leaning forward to kiss Harry's cheek gently, before standing and tugging the younger man to his feet. "Now, come on, breakfast!"

"Barty," Harry sighed but when the other man's blue eyes looked at him he sighed and gave him, allowing Barty to shuffle him into the bathroom.

Half an hour later the two of them made their way down the hallway to the dining room together, Barty talking Harry through some of the things that Harry was looking through for his next lesson with Samuel, explaining what Harry had gotten himself a little confused on.

"What is he doing here?" Draco snapped as soon as they walked into the room, Harry sighing tiredly next to Barty.

"I am Harry's protector, I am here to make sure that nothing happens to him," Barty said calmly leading Harry to the table and seating him before he sat down next to him.

"What is it that you think he will need protecting from here?" Draco sneered.

"Oh, I don't know," Barty narrowed his eyes at the blond as Harry leant slightly against him.

"You are allowed Blaise here, Harry is allowed Barty," Narcissa said.

"But that is...wait what?!" Draco spluttered, horror crossing his face as he turned to look at the two of them. Harry looked right back at him before he started getting his breakfast, Barty sitting firmly next to him staring at Draco without blinking until Harry nudged him.

He did not miss the comparison between Blaise and Barty, and he did not miss the way Barty and Lucius seemed to wait for him to protest Narcissa's words.

Harry took a bite off his eggs and then sipped his tea without saying anything, though he did roll his eyes at the smug smirk that Barty gave Lucius while his father looked a little put out. They may not be ready for the conversation about it, but he wasn't going to deny the fact that the relationship between them existed.

Draco was fuming away on the other side of the table while looking a little concerned about the fact that Barty clearly wasn't going to be going away anytime soon. Barty was eating his breakfast happily beside Harry, chatting away cheerfully to Narcissa and completely ignoring the waspish retorts Lucius gave him, his father looking almost as though he were pouting where he was shoving his breakfast into his mouth a glaring mulishly at Barty.

Harry looked thoughtfully at Barty as he carried on with breakfast. The man was probably right, they weren't quite ready for that conversation, they were just finding their feet within their relationship after everything that had happened between them, and being thrown back together again in such an unexpected way. The fact that Harry did not have a full balance with his parents, and definitely not Draco, yet, and that he was still trying to work out what his future was now meant that it was definitely not the right time to talk about them yet.

He had no doubt though that Barty would go on a killing spree should Harry show any interest in someone else, or someone else tried anything with him, he also had no doubt that Barty would do everything that he could to win Harry over and ensure that Harry's eyes were only looking at him.

Barty turned to look at him, feeling his eyes on him and his pale blue eyes met the green that were watching him so intently and thoughtfully, he smiled at Harry, clearly happy to have his attention, and it wasn't his smirk or bearing of teeth that he gave, or the polite pureblood society smile that looked forced to Harry, it was a real smile, a smile that Harry was beginning to think was just for him, something warm and soft around the edges, something that made Harry want to lean into him and press his face into his shoulder to breathe in his familiar scent.

He wasn't likely to be looking elsewhere anyway. Conversation or not.

"Harry tucked his hair behind his ear as he worried his lip nervously. This was different to everything else that had happened so far, they had been in their own little world here, through the ups and downs it hadn't fully felt real yet. Going out into the outside world felt different, felt like it was going to make it real.

"Are you ok Harry?" Narcissa asked taking his arm as she reached him.

"It just…" Harry paused looking down and then looking back up as Lucius also reached them. "It is silly but this feels a little overwhelming,"

"We don't have to go if you don't want to, we can rearrange this. We just didn't want you to feel like you were a prisoner here," Lucius said a little concerned, leaning forward to look into Harry's eyes as he rested his hand on his shoulder.

"I...no I want to go, I haven't felt like you are keeping me prisoner," Harry chuckled a little. "It just feels like it is more real if we leave home to go out there together, but I...I always dreamt of going out for the day with my mum and dad, and I know that in the last few years I pictured...James and Lily, but for most of my life it was just 'mum and dad', I thought that it was something that I would never get to do,"

"We dreamt of this as well, what it would have been like to take you shopping, to buy you new things, to get you the things you needed and wanted. We may have missed a lot of things for you, but we have plenty more. Come on, let's get going!" Narcissa smiled happily linking his arm and when her son turned and smiled at her she apparated them away, Lucius a second behind them.

Hhhhhjhjjjhjjjjjfjhfgjdfjhkjghkjdfhgjkdfghkjdfhgjkfdhgjkdfhgkjdfhgjkdhfkjgdhfkjghdf

Harry hadn't thought that he was really going to enjoy this, he didn't think that it was something that would be for him and it was something that he was going to have to get through, but he found himself really enjoying himself.

He looked through the different coloured fabrics, definitely liking the brighter and more colourful fabrics more than the darker ones. He picked out the different shades that he wanted, going through hundreds of different patterns, colours and shades, before going through the different designs with the tailor, who was obviously delighted with Harry's interest and chattered to him about the different designs that she thought would suit him, and realising that he actually had a preference for something a little unique and different started adding little flairs to the designs, including showing Harry dozens of different types of pretty buttons.

"Dear Merlin, there are two of you," Narcissa sighed as she walked back into the store from where she had disappeared to get something to eat and drink leaving him and Lucius with the tailor. The two of them turned to look at her, blinking at her.

"Narcissa?" Lucius frowned a little concerned when her eyes widened.

"You looked alike then!" Narcissa beamed at them.

"Really?" Harry turned to look at Lucius who was looking back with what felt like a similar expression on his face. He smiled at Lucius realising that he had spent nearly three hours with his father and they had managed to get on the whole time, and had actually been having fun together.

His father smiled back at him as Narcissa slipped her arm through his and looked at what they had laid out, the tailor discretely moving to go and collect something else allowing them a little privacy. "What have we here then?" Narcissa asked, clearly not wanting to push the moment. Harry turned to go through the robe designs that they had come up with, but after a small second of hesitation he pressed his shoulder to Lucius' arm.

Lucius paused at the contact, turning to look at Harry with wide blue eyes before a honest, warm smile crossed his features, and he pressed back a little as he turned to their choices as well.

An hour later they were done, and had several new robes packed away into bags, shrunk and tucked away in Harry's pocket, and they headed into the Gringotts branch here in France. Unsure fully what they were doing here Harry followed Narcissa and Lucius from the desk to the cart, following behind the smartly dressed Goblin who led them after a whirlwind journey, that his parents managed to make look as though they were taking a calm stroll through a park, towards a massive vault.

Lucius reached out after the goblin performed a complicated spell on the door of the vault and grasped the handle of the vault. A golden light enveloped his hand and then with a hiss the door opened. Harry gasped as the glittering gold, silver and bronze was revealed, shining jewels, massive portraits, huge pieces of furniture, books, scrolls, and everything else that he could have imagined were here. There were multiple rooms to the vault with even more items being revealed as they walked through the vault, the Goblin waiting outside.

"This is the Malfoy vaults, this is part of our family history and wealth, this belongs to you as well. Even though the blood adoption has removed your automatic access to this vault, we have had you registered as a family member in the same way someone marrying into the family would have," Lucius explained.

"What if…" Harry started to say and then closed his mouth.

"Harry?" Narcissa asked concerned.

"Draco is the oldest of us, he is the heir, what if when he becomes heir he removes me as a family member?" Harry asked nervously, not wanting to start an argument. He was surprised therefore when Lucius and Narcissa sighed.

"We are hoping that with a little more time he will come around, should he not have in his own time by Yule, we will be having words with him. We are not ignoring his behaviour Harry, we just don't want to make things worse and potentially ruin any type of a relationship with him by scolding him and forcing a relationship, or at least civility between you," Lucius said softly.

"Barty spoke to us though, he said he would not betray your confidence, but he made it clear that you do not feel comfortable with Draco's behaviour, and you are concerned about it. We have taken steps to ensure that Draco can not disinherit you or cast you from the family. There is something else that we could do though," Narcissa frowned.

"You don't look happy about that choice?" Harry asked looking between them.

"We aren't really, it is another ritual, and it can be dangerous," Lucius said taking Harry's hand and gently leading him to a bench, the three of them sitting on it with Harry between them.

"Dangerous?" Harry asked looking between them.

"What the Potters did, the blood ritual that they used, it can not be fully undone. There is another ritual, another blood ritual, that can add onto the existing blood ritual, it was actually designed to combat the ritual that they used. But there is a forty percent chance that the ritual could cause you physical harm, and there is a ten percent chance that it could kill you," Narcissa explained softly.

"After everything that has happened, and the conversations that we have had, we do not wish to hide things from you, especially because you are a smart man and we are sure that you will at some point want to look into what they did to you. But it is not something that we are comfortable with you taking a risk on. Even though they blood adopted you, you are our son, you're ours, we don't need a ritual to make it official,"

"The ritual would make me a blend of you, and them?" Harry asked curiously.

"Yes, but the danger of it far outweighs any gain from it. We are going to do everything that we can to make sure that you are safe and cared for when we pass away, even if we have to set up a vault for you only and move half of everything, we will do that," Lucius said firmly.

"Ok," Harry nodded, seeing the distress on their faces and not wanting to push them any further. His brain was already ticking over for the person that he planned on speaking to in regard to this. His parents did not look fully convinced, but they moved on to happier topics.

"We wanted to show you all of this, to show you more about where you have come from. There are books in here that will tell you more about our family if you want to read them?"

"That would be amazing," Harry smiled eagerly at his mother.

"It is also traditional for children of the Malfoy family to pick a piece of jewellery belonging to our family. Draco wears the heir ring, and he will pass that to his heir as I passed it to him, but all members of the family wear something from our history to remind us about where our family has come from. If you would like, we can pick that piece today?" Lucius asked nervously.

Harry realised quickly that this wasn't just about picking out a piece of jewellery, this was whether he felt as though he was part of their family, whether he felt as though he was a Malfoy, and if he was beginning to see himself as one now. They weren't asking for him to fully sign himself over to being a Malfoy and expecting that he had made a 360 turn around on everything, but they were hoping that he felt comfortable enough, that he had come to know them enough, and care for them enough, that he felt ready for a step to make their relationship somewhat official.

"I would really like that, especially to have to take wear when I go back to school," Harry smiled and watched as his parents' faces glowed at his answer.

"Come," Narcissa pulled him to his feet and they led him into a chamber. He had to gasp as he realised that the whole room was filled with jewellery. Hundreds of necklaces, rings, earrings, bracelets, watches, with was shining with the different jewels glittering within their settings, a huge mix of gold and silver, rose gold and bronze shone.

"It is traditional that Malfoys are drawn to the piece that is for them. It may be different because of the circumstances, but try closing your eyes and focussing on your magic, the same way you do for Occulamency, and see if anything calls to you," Lucius said gently, nerves showing in his eyes though as he looked at Harry, clearly worried that this wouldn't work, clearly concerned that it would affect their relationship, or upset Harry if it didn't work.

Feeling a little concerned about this himself, he closed his eyes anyway and focused on the training that Samuel had given him, focussing on his magic, feeling it moving within him, sensing it in the same way that he could hear and feel his heartbeat underwater. He began to get impatient and was feeling a little stressed that this wasn't going to work, he could feel sweat forming on his forehead, and he felt as though a stone was sitting in his stomach.

And then…

He took a step forward, and then another, and another. Keeping his eyes closed he walked forward until his magic told him to stop, and as he opened his eyes he reached forward at the same time, his hand closing around a necklace. Letting out a breath of nerves, he blinked down at the necklace in his hands, a sense of awe replacing everything else as he looked down at the ice-blue stone surrounded by diamonds, the shape a tightly wound spiral in a rose gold casing, the pendant the size of a muggle 10p coin, when on it would sit in the hollow of his throat.

"This was the piece Killian wore," Lucius touched Harry's shoulder gently.

"Really?" Harry smiled brightly.

"Yes, he picked it out when he was fifteen," Narcissa was near beaming.

"It is definitely fitting that this is the piece that you chose considering how well you have gotten on," Lucius nodded.

"Can I put it on?" Harry asked.

"Of course, it is yours," Lucius looked inordinately pleased. "Can I put it on for you?" he asked.

"Yes please," Harry reluctantly but eagerly handed the necklace over, turning so that his father could place it on him.

"It is charmed so that only you can choose to take it off," Lucius explained.

"I can feel something…" Harry frowned as soon as the necklace was clasped, the feeling that he had had holding the necklace was enhanced.

"Oh...you can feel it?" Lucius smiled touching Harry's shoulders carefully, "I wasn't sure that you would be able to feel it because of the ritual. That is the family magic, each piece picks up the magic of every generation and it gets passed down the line, Your and Draco's future children and grandchildren, and great great great-grandchildren will be able to feel the guidance of your magic for which piece they pick in here. Wearing this, you are never alone, all of our ancestors are with you all the time,"

"Thank you," Harry smiled, looking between his parents he paused for a moment before stepping forward and wrapping his arms around Lucius, his father froze before he quickly wrapped his arms around him tightly, holding firmly onto him. When they parted Narcissa gently rubbed his back, a big smile on her face as she took in the joy written on his face.

"How did it go?" Barty asked, throwing himself down so he was lounging on the sofa opposite Harry where he was reading his next textbook.

"Pretty well," Harry looked up at him curiously. "How was your day?"

"Mainly politics, everyone is sniffing around me because of the vow I took to protect you, they are trying to work out what is going on so that they can make their own play," Barty yawned.

"I guess that comes with being high up," Harry said, tilting his head and looked at Barty, standing and making his way over to press his hand to his forehead. "Are you feeling ok?"

"A little tired," Barty shrugged.

"Hmmm," Harry turned and walked out the room leaving Barty staring after him a little confused. He looked even more confused when Harry walked back in a few moments later and walked over to him, handing him a potions vial and placing a cup in front of him.

"Pepper up?" Barty frowned.

"You don't look well, you have been running around too much, looking after me, going between me and my parents, my parents and Voldemort, amongst the other things that you do. It isn't good for you," Harry sighed.

Barty stared at him confused, still holding the vial in his hand, as Harry suddenly pottered around him, throwing a blanket over him, putting the tea closer to him, setting some more pillows around him, and then looked at him expectantly.

"No one has…" Barty started to say and then paused.

"What?" Harry tilted his head confused, perching down on the sofa next to Barty so that he wasn't hovering over the other man.

"No one has ever really cared like this before," Barty frowned.

"What about your mother? I thought…" Harry asked cautiously.

"She loved me, in a way, I always knew that but she never really showed it at all, she was cold and withdrawn, more interested in my father's career and enjoying the fame that came with his position. Swapping was the only thing that she ever did for me, and even then…" Barty looked at the vial in his hands.

Harry reached out and carefully took the vial from his hand and placed it onto the table, turning to place his hand into Barty's instead.

"Even then, it was because she was dying, it was something she could do to help me, yes, but it assuaged her guilt as much as anything else, and it was for her as much as it was for me," Barty looked down at their joined hands. "You saw my father, nothing else needs to be said about that,"

"You don't have to do it by yourself anymore," Harry said softly. "You don't need the pepper up potion, you need rest,"

"Hmm?" Barty watched Harry place a cushion onto his lap and used their joined hands to tug Barty gently. Carefully he moved so that he could place his head on the cushion, relaxing incrementally into Harry's lap. He sighed a little as he relaxed fully, closing his eyes as Harry's free hand started combing through his hair once he had summoned his book to himself, having it levitate in front of him so he could read it, turning the page with a small motion from him that did not disturb Barty's rest.

The older man relaxed completely, holding onto Harry's hand, warm and safe in his own, the soothing motion of Harry's fingers through his hair, it helped ease him into sleep quicker than he was expecting, the soft sound of pages turning a background noise that helped lull him away.

Harry looked down as he felt Barty completely relax into him, his breathing changing into sleep. He looked so much younger when he was sleeping, it was a cheesy thought, but it was true, and he couldn't stop himself from looking at him carefully.

He had gone over and over his face in his mind the summer after his fourth year. He had even found some pictures of Barty from the news reports from his arrest, watching the moving picture over, over and over again.

They weren't ready for the conversation yet. But they were getting closer, and the longer they spent in each other's company, the more he was able to see that Barty had been telling the truth when he said that he had been himself as much as he could in their time together. The longer they were together, the more he allowed himself to realise how much he had missed Barty.

Looking down at the other man he didn't allow his mind to wander to the L word. But...he combed his fingers through Barty's hair again after adjusting the blanket over his, tugging it a little higher, and settled back down to read and allow Barty to actually rest.

"I need a favour," Harry hummed to Samuel who looked curiously at him.

"This is going to be interesting," The other snorted seeing the expression on Harry's face.

"My parents told me about a ritual that could combat the ritual that the Potters cast on me, making me a blend of the two of them. Could you find me a book that I can look into and read up on the ritual?" Harry asked.

"I can, can I ask why you are not getting this from your parents?" Samuel crossed his legs looking at Harry curiously.

"They made it clear that they do not want me to do the ritual, they feel that the risks don't outweigh the benefits. I want to understand the ritual, the risks and benefits myself before talking to them about it more," Harry answered.

"And your shadow?" Samuel smirked.

"Barty would never give me the book if it risked my life," Harry said, not needing to ask who Samuel meant.

"Hmm, I will get you the books on it I know exist, and I will look into others so that you have all the information possible on it," Samuel nodded.

"Thank you," Harry smiled, and then rolled his eyes, "ask what you want to ask,"

"You and Crouch?"

"Yes," Harry smirked.

"Yes, what?" Samuel leant forward a little.

"Just yes,"

"Hmm," Samuel sat back in his chair looking Harry over curiously, his brain clearly spinning as he took in Harry. "Is it true that he is practically living here?"

"Yes, he is sleeping in my room on my sofa to watch over me," Harry hummed.

"Draco?"

"Yes,"

"I have some more books you can read on defence and dark arts, you are incredibly ahead on your studies," Samuel narrowed his eyes.

"Thank you, that would be appreciated," Harry smiled.

"Can't have him killing you now can I, not after I have invested all this time in cultivating our friendship," Samuel said as he stood.

"Cultivating our friendship is that what you're calling it, I personally just think you like all the gossip," He laughed.

"Well you are a little bit slow so I am not surprised," Samuel smirked.

"Ah ah, you just said that I was doing incredibly well so I am going to ignore that second comment and take the first," Harry grinned cheerfully.

"Selective hearing," Samuel called as he walked out of the room. "Crouch," He nodded his head as he passed Barty.

"Flint," Barty narrowed his eyes.

"See you around," Samuel waved.

"Flint was here?" Barty said as he walked into the room, closing the door behind him and making his way over to his spot on the sofa that seemed to have become his.

"Clearly you just walked past him," Harry hid his smirk behind his book.

"You get on well," Barty said slowly.

"Yes we do," Harry said. When the silence between them had lasted for about four minutes, during which time Harry could feel Barty's eyes glued onto him while he carried on reading his book. "Are you jealous?"

"Yes," Barty said simply and Harry lowered his book to look at him. The expression that he was getting could only be described as mulish.

"Hmm,"

"Harry!" Barty whined when Harry went to raise his book again.

"You have nothing to be jealous of. Samuel is my friend, not a romantic interest," Harry said.

"Just friends?" Barty asked and Harry lowered his book and looked him in the eyes.

"There is only one person that I am interested in," Harry said before lifting his book again, feeling his cheeks burning a little.

"Oh, that is good," Harry rolled his eyes at Barty's smug tone, flicking his wand so that the pillow from his bed whizzed towards the other and hit him in the face. Barty chuckled to himself as he threw the pillow down onto the sofa and dropped sideways onto the sofa.

"Why though," Lucius whined dropping down onto their bed and pouting up at the canopy.

"Now dear, don't be so petulant, him being here makes Harry feel more comfortable," Narcissa said as she slipped her nightdress over her head and made her way over.

"But...but...why!" Lucius whined a little louder.

"Don't whine," Narcissa snorted.

"But...why does he have to stay over?!" Lucius groaned, huffing little and rolling when Narcissa tugged the covers pointedly so that she could get under them.

"Because he makes Harry feel comfortable, Harry is happier, and they are moving towards each other, I do not think that there is much that we can do at this point to dissuade them, and if we try we will just isolate Harry. At least them being under our roof allows us to watch over them, and make sure that they're being...safe about things," Narcissa said, and then as she hid her face behind a book smirked to herself. "After all we're too young to be grandparents,"

She nearly wet herself laughing at the wounded noises that Lucius made, and only just managed to stop him before going and sleeping in Harry's room as well between her laughter.

As Harry went to sleep that night, he held the pendant of his necklace safe in his hand, imagining that he could almost feel the generations of Malfoys, his family, with him as he started slipping into sleep, the hum of his family magic singing to him like a lullaby and lulling him into sleep.

He allowed himself in the dark of the night to think about the fact that the colour of the sapphire in his pendant was incredibly close to the ice-blue eyes of the man currently sleeping on the sofa in his room in his Jaguar form.