Water, obviously.
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Don't ask.
BLOODY FUCKING CAR ALAR-
Morning, ya'll!
Abraxas is from Chicago and she is sayin' ya'll? What the- Oh well.
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We love repeat reviewers. :hearts: Welcome to all our new youngin's (which is a total lie because Abraxas is young enough) and welcome to all our returning readers!
NOTE: Any grammatical errors will be edited in the next 24 hours. We decided to post, but Syl had to get to sleep, so we will just replace it. Love you all!
Enjoy.
-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-
"Harry? Theo?"
"Harry! What the fuck is Malfoy doing here?"
Harry rubbed his forehead, muttering under his breath. "I told you, Theo. I told you I was done. I meant it."
"Harry, I-" Draco took a step forward, brow drawn in cautious confusion.
"But Harry! That was only two months ago," Theo wrapped an arm tightly around Harry's waist, muttering something about a perfect fit as he drew the brunette to his chest. "We can move past all that Harry, look to an amazing new future. Together."
Harry swore, pushing him back and stepping away. "For Merlin's sake, no! Not this bloody time, Nott." He lifted his left hand, rubbing at his temple and the headache that was forming there.
Dark brown eyes narrowed viciously. "What the fuck is that- that thing on your finger."
"What do you think it is?" Harry grumbled, closing his other hand over it protectively. He glanced at Draco. "I'm sorry. I didn't know he would be here."
Draco gave a cautious shrug, eyes narrowed, hand grasped firmly around his wand that was hidden up his sleeve. "Theo, what are you doing here? What happened to Azkaban?"
The dark-haired male smirked, turning around to face off against the shorter Slytherin. "Oh Draco, I didn't see you there. Well, I just came back to visit my lover. Azkaban was," he stepped forward, feet slowly stepping against the hard wood floor as he made a small, predatory circle around the ever-cautious blonde. "Horrifying without Harry by my side. He always makes the day brighter. I got out for being a good little Wizard, so," he stopped infront of the blonde, hands crossed firmly over his broad chest. "I figured I'd come and pay my lover a visit, rekindle our relationship, our love."
"For fuck's sake," Harry muttered. "You know I don't bloody love you, Nott. And there is nothing for you to rekindle. How in Godric's name did you even get through my wards?"
Theo rolled his eyes, back turning towards Draco as he slowly stalked up to Harry, leaning down, their lips just a breath away. "The wards know me Harry." He lifted a hand, caressing the smooth, supple skin of his love's cheek. "They want me in your life, obviously. I always told you wards were living, thinking things. They know you missed me. They wanted me home, with you. Like how we used to be. Remember? Warm, sunny Sunday mornings; coffee and breakfast in bed." The male's eyes lifted to meet beautiful eyes of shocked, tantalizing green. "Our sweet, sweet love making. Don't deny it, don't tell me you don't miss me, Harry." And with a final, pounding heart and whispered word, Theo leaned forward and sealed their lips together in a soft, passionate kiss.
Harry couldn't back up fast enough, practically jumping away. His held his wand up threateningly, eyes narrowed. "Enough," he spat. "I do not want you in my life. I warned you."
Theo leaned forward with a small, pleading pout against his full, red lips. "Oh Harry, you've warned me before." He leaned down to grip the others hand, lifting it to his own gaze. "And this silly engagement, this silly farce you've invented doesn't mean anything. It didn't that first time three years ago," he stood up a little taller. "Or that time in Italy," a little taller. "Or even two months ago when we kissed passionately. Right here. And you told me how amazing it was to have me in your arms again," he stood to his full height, drawing the wayward brunette into his arms. "Let it feel amazing again, Harry."
"I will hex you, Nott." Harry pressed a firm hand against his chest, shoving him back. "There's nothing silly about this engagement. Draco is my family now. You are a pain in the ass who needs to get the hell out."
"Harry! You can't be serious!" Nott's voice rose, hands coming to grasp Harry's arms. "This stupid marriage, this stupid family- You weren't suppose to have it with him!" The brunette's eyes were swimming, heart pounding. No! Fuck, no! He did not suck up to fucking Azkaban guards, walk for miles and miles and miles to trek down this damn apartment again and spend three fucking hours trying to get inside just to be bested by- by- by fucking Malfoy! "You were supposed to have it with me!"
" Incarcerous! Silencio!" The spells were cast in rapid succession, Theodore falling to the ground with a silently muted thud. Draco Malfoy sneer evident on his calm and collected face as he stalked up to the ex-Death Eater. But, inside, the blonde was fucking furious. "So Nott," he spat, not even glancing up to check if Harry was alright. He'd deal with him later. He'd stood by and watched like a good little wife, but now he was fucking pissed. "Got out of Azkaban did you? What'd you have to do?" The blonde leaned down, words being spat with poisonous venom as he leaned over Theo's chest, his wand hand coming to gently tap against the other Slytherin's reddened cheek, turning his head so their eyes could meet. "Suck a few cocks to get your way?"
Harry started to tell Draco to stop, but caught sight of the ring on his finger and just let it be. Nott didn't need any sort of encouragement. Letting Draco have his way would probably be better. Besides how dare he call this family stupid? "I never wanted to marry you, Nott. I told you that, too."
Draco nudged the dark-haired Slytherin with his knee as he stood up. "I told you to stay the fuck away from my family Nott. Especially," he foot came down, shoe and all to press harshly against Theo's face. "After what you did to Pansy? She was in tears of hours, and couldn't sleep well for weeks. It took me and Blaise ages to get her into her right mind again, and that was after we set the pieces of her fucking broken heart back together, and a few of her bones, you disgusting excuse for a fucking human being." With a violent jerk of his legs, and a sickening crack, Theo's head lay limp and unconscious, blood pooling against his lips before ascending down his neck, his nose shattered at an odd angle, a few pieces no doubt finding their way close to his eye. "You stay the fuck away from my family Theodore Nott."
Harry leaned against the wall, running a hand through his hair, questions whirling in his mind. What in hell had he done to Pansy...? And... Fuck. His head hurt. "Draco...?"
"Are you alright Harry?" The blonde's voice was tight, his hands clenched tightly, nails biting into his skin, at his side.
"I'll be better when he's out of my flat," he mumbled, twisting his ring around his finger. He felt incredibly tired all of a sudden. "Are you?"
"When he's gone, we'll see. But for now, just..." Draco ran a hand through his hair, a sneer slowly falling over his lips. "I'll apparate back to Grimmauld and get Ronald, the wards should still accept me, yes?" He didn't bother waiting for a response as he stuck his wand into the small holster around his wrist. "After that, I just- I need some time. Alone." There was a sharp crack of apparation, and Draco was gone.
When Ron arrived a few moments later, he took one look at the state of affairs - bloodied Nott on the floor, Harry dropped into a chair with his face buried in his hands - and took care of the git with ease. "Harry... Why didn't you tell him about Nott?"
"Because why should someone in bloody Azkaban matter when I've more important things to think about?" Harry replied, tone miserable.
"Yeah..." Ron dropped a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Good luck, mate."
-8-8-
"He's upstairs. Even Scorpius can't get in to see him," were the first muttered words to the Boy Who Lived as he apparated into Number Twelve Grimmauld Place a few moments after Auror's arrived to sweep Nott off back to Azkaban without a second glance at the two Aurors already occupying the room.
Harry sighed heavily. "Thanks, 'Mione... I'll go... see what I can do." He went up the stairs, tired. He wasn't even annoyed anymore.
"Unless you happen to be Pansy fucking Parkinson with her amazing hot chocolate laced with copious amounts of various alcohols... leave me the bloody fuck alone," was the immediate reply after a pregnant pause, Draco's voice drawling through the locked and warded door to Harry's en-suite bathroom.
"Not quite," Harry said, staring at the door. "Nott's... going right back to Azkaban."
"That's great." Was the only reply, a sloshing of water following before silence. Maddening silence.
Harry sighed. "For Godric's sake, Draco, what do you want from me?"
There was a pause and the sound of water draining and a quiet padding of sopping wet feet clacking against the tile floor, and another pause. Draco stood behind the door, a few feet away from the man he intended to marry.
"I wanted the truth. I've told you so many secrets about me these last two weeks, and I bring up Nott," he spat, "during dinner, and you just pass it off as if I said I was fucking Parkinson, as if it was normal! You could have told me, right then, or outside of the restaurant! But no!" There was a thud against the door, Draco had thrown one of his sopping wet towels against the wood. "I had to find out my fiance had a stalker of a boyfriend that escaped from Azkaban, and was there snogging him in his apartment!"
"He was in Azkaban! And I was done with him. It didn't... It didn't seem like it mattered, compared to everything else we're dealing with. He wasn't in my life. He's not in my life. You are, Draco."
"You still could of told me! Oh hey Draco, love, I should mention that I have a crazy psychotic ex who is stuck in Azkaban right now, but there is nothing to worry about, we're over! See? How hard could that have been?"
"Why would it have mattered? He was never exactly..." Harry sighed. "Will you come out so I can stop yelling through the door?"
"No," was the firm reply, Draco's heart pounding and twisting violently. This was all too quick! "You can talk to me through the door, that is perfectly fine."
"Draco..." Harry closed his eyes, sighing heavily. Bloody hell, what was going on? "He doesn't matter enough to me to have told you... He's just... a mistake."
"A mistake that showed up at your bloody front door and proceeded to snog you in front of your fiance."
"That was not snogging. I got away from him, didn't I?" Harry ran a hand through his hair. "I didn't want that. I didn't know he'd be there."
There was a small thud, Draco's body falling back to lean against the sink, arms crossing over his dripping wet chest, hair leaking water into his eyes. "There is still the fact that you didn't tell me you and Nott had a past, Harry. I brought him up during dinner. You could said you had something going on, even if he was in Azkaban. It would of been better than finding that- that thing snogging my fiance."
"You mentioned him in the context of school... I never... He cheated on you; I figured that was all there was, and all it did was put another nail in his coffin. I didn't want to say that I had any sort of history with him. It was awkward enough that I knew; I didn't want to talk about him any more."
"It was probably you, Potter! Nott was probably fucking obsessed with you in fifth year! And you didn't feel the need to tell me? You didn't feel the need to drop some semblance of a hint that my fucking fiance had a past with my ex?"
"I was never with Nott in school! I would've told you then if it was. I barely knew him. I barely knew any of the Slytherins. For fuck's sake, I met him on a case. And he just... I don't know. He needed some help and..."
"And your stupid Golden-Boy-Everyone-Needs-To-Be-Helped sense kicked in? Bloody fuck Potter! That was my ex who was just snogging you not even an hour ago!"
"Stop calling it snogging! And what else do you want from me? I didn't ask him to bloody do anything! I kept trying to get him out!"
"I know you did Harry, I broke his fucking nose, or have you forgotten? But the point is, is that I wanted you to tell me! I wanted you to mention your past, just like I had! I've told you countless things, and yes you've told me some too, but that doesn't get rid of the fact that we have both had pasts with Nott, and you refused to tell me!"
"I didn't want you to think... I mean... Bloody hell, Draco, I was..." Harry bowed his head, feeling every inch in the fool. "I didn't want you to compare the situations," he mumbled.
"What "situation" Harry?" The blonde made air quotes with his fingers, even though he knew Harry couldn't see. "The fact that I'm, bloody hell I can't believe I'm going to say this, bloody fucking head-over-heels in love with you? The fact that I'm engaged to you? What situation? I fail to see similarities in the relationships, since none of us were every bloody engaged. Unless..."
"No," Harry said quickly. "I was never... No. Nothing ever went that far with Nott. But I mean... Finding him out of the blue, helping him out and forming a... a thing. I didn't want you think... And then, fuck, he made me stupid and I didn't want you to know about that either..."
"Harry..." The blonde's tone sounded deflated, defeated. "Since when have I? Since when- Oh bugger." There was the sound of a quiet padding of a feet, a pause and Draco opened the door, a plain white robe tied firmly around his waist, hair sagging and wet, dripping cool drops of water onto his cheeks. "Since when have I seemed to judge anymore, Harry? Since when have I seemed to care about the past as much as I care about the future?" His arms crossed firmly over his chest, eyes cool and distant, face impassive.
"If you mean that, why does it matter so much that I didn't tell you about Nott? I didn't want to drag all that to surface because it was behind me." Harry ran a hand through his hair, sighing. "I told him I was done, Draco, really. It was over and I didn't want to... I didn't want to think about it."
"Because Harry, your past affects our future. You can't honestly tell me, look me in the eyes and tell me, that not telling me about Nott was a smart idea, that it wouldn't of come back to bite you in the arse at some point or another after we were married." Draco's arms tightened around his chest, his sharp, silver eyes narrowing slightly.
"I..." He looked up, shoulders slumping. "No, I... I suppose it would've. I'm sorry." Harry looked down at his hands, twisted the ring on his finger. "He's just... not important enough for me to really think telling you mattered. Not compared to... to everything else."
Draco lifted a hand to rub at his face, ignoring the stinging behind his eyes, his wavering gaze. "Look Harry, l-love... I just... I need a few days. Maybe a few hours, who knows? But this is just something... that I... I need to think through this," his body shifted, leaning back into the bathroom, the door beginning to close. "You understand, don't you? He did so much to me, to Pans, and to see what just h-happened- well- I just- I need some time to sort out my thoughts."
Harry looked back up, eyes wide and hurt. "B-but..." Fear clawed at him. He couldn't have messed up that badly... had he? He tried so hard to live without regrets and here was one threatening to beat him senseless. He dropped his gaze, defenses kicking in. "Fine," he breathed.
Draco's hand itched to caress Harry's cheek, itched to just pull him in and forget none of this had ever happened. "I-I love you Harry, Merlin I do. But this is just too much to take in for one day. I need some time to just sort my thoughts out," a small, sardonic smirk pushed at his lips. "Maybe put some clothes on. I just need some time to figure this all out, figure out how my past is coming back with a vengeance to affect my future."
"Fine," he repeated, still not looking up. "Whatever you need." He turned to go and tackle the burgeoning fear in his own way - Bugger, why did he need Draco so desperately after only a few days?
The door to the bathroom closed firmly with a resounding click, Draco leaning back against it, eyes clenched shut, body shaking violently. F-Fuck.
-8-8-
"Papa?" A voice spoke quietly, a firm knock on Harry's study door.
Shite. He couldn't ignore the boy... Harry'd been filing overdue paperwork, anything to get his mind off Draco, and here comes his little clone. Harry pinched the bridge of his nose, fighting back the additional fears thinking about Scorpius brought along. "Yeah, Scorp... You can come in."
"Pap- Papa!" The little boy gasped after the creak of the office door signaling his entrance, his little feet padding into the room. Scorpius rushed forward, arms shooting out to grab at the chair Harry was sitting on, making a few huffing attempts to jump up, to comfort his teary-eyed papa. "Papa!" He jumped again, "Papa! Wha's wrong?" The small bubble (Hermione must of found a way to make it smaller, stick to his skin so he wasn't knocking things over) molding around Harry as Scorpius clambered up the chair and into Harry's lap.
"I..." Harry sighed, helping the boy up and hugging him close. "Nothing's wrong," he lied. "I'm okay."
Scorpius clung desperately, tightly to Harry's neck, tears stinging against his eyes, his nose sniffling instantly. "N-No yous not! D-Daddy hasn't come downs all day, and-and- y-you are all quiets and-and-!"
"Oh, Scorp... Hey, don't worry." Harry rubbed the boy's back gently, trying to soothe. "It's just grown-up things, okay? Everything'll be alright. Your daddy's just... he's a little upset with me right now."
"B-But-" the little boy sniffled against the collar of Harry's shirt, arms tugging tightly around Harry's neck. "You and daddy is supposed to be happy!" Another sniffle and tears slowly began to leak against Harry's shirt. "Y-You- You s-shouldnts be fighti'g!"
"Don't cry, kiddo. It'll be okay. Sometimes people fight. That doesn't mean I don't love your daddy still." Harry pressed his face in the boy's hair, rocking gently. "It's okay."
"Y-You has to m-make it up to him papa," Scorpius fingers tightened ever-so slightly against his already tight grip on Harry's shirt. "Y-You and him has to live happy, like those Muggly fairytales."
"Scorpius, I don't think there's anything I can do. He wants some time to think, and I just have to let him have it." Harry cupped the child's chin in his hand, tilting his head back. "It'll be fine, though. When he's done, we'll talk. And everything'll be okay."
Scorpius lifted a small hand to rub viciously at his watering ice-blue eyes, another sniffle accompanying the motion. "Y-You still love daddy?"
"I love him very, very much." He ruffled Scorpius's hair, smiling slightly. "I love you too."
Scorpius gave a sniffling nod, burrowing back against Harry's chest. "Papa and daddy needs to get better," a yawn pushed at his lips, the crying tiring out his little body far more then it should have. "My bir'hday is soon!'
"Yeah, I remember." Draco had told him at dinner before... Harry sighed quietly, getting to his feet, the boy cradled to his chest. "Come on, kiddo. Let's get you laid down."
"Daddy?" He questioned tiredly, another yawn pushing his tear-stained cheeks up.
"Why don't we go see him after you get some sleep?"
"No," the child pouted, shaking his head in disagreement for the first time since his bath with Hermione.
Harry smiled slightly. "You want to see him now?"
Scorpius nodded adamantly against Harry's neck, burrowing his face against the warm neck and yawning. "Yes! Makes up."
"Scorp..." Harry sighed. "Okay. You win. Let's see if he'll talk to me." He carried the boy out and down the hall, hesitating outside of his own bedroom. Bugger.
"Knock papa," Scorpius grumbled, eyes drifting close as he snuggled further against his papa's chest. "Knock."
"Who said you were allowed to get so smart?" Harry murmured and finally lifted his hand to knock, embarrassed that the five year old had caught him.
There was a small giggle against his neck, Scorpius glancing from under his lashes at the door that stood like an impervious castle in front of the two.
Silence was their answer.
Harry sighed, knocking again. "Draco? Open the door, will you? Please."
Again, silence met their ears, Scorpius rustling nervously, head lifting to peak at the door behind drooping eyelids. "D-Daddy? Papa, where's daddy?"
Harry knew no one was keyed into the Grimmauld Place wards; Nott didn't even know he had the place. "Shh." He retrieved his wand and unlocked the door, slowly opening it, and blew out a quiet sigh of relief. Draco was in bed, burrowed beneath the covers and fast asleep. "We don't want to wake him up," he said quietly.
Scorpius fidget, hands out stretched, eyes wide with a sudden awareness. "Daddy, daddy, daddy," he continually chanted, one arm tightly around his papa's neck, the other reaching for his blonde haired father.
"Okay, Scorp, okay." Harry carried the boy to the bed, settling him down on it.
The little boy's hand lifted instantly, tugging at the hem of Harry's shirt with a pleading yawn. "Sleep papa, sleep."
"I want to, Scorpius, but I can't. You sleep. Come and get me later."
"No!"
A groan hushed quietly escaped Draco's lips, the blonde's eyes cracking up with the first signs of waking up. "Scorp'us? Everythin' alright?"
Harry winced, trying to scoot back and retreat. He wasn't quite ready to face Draco.
"Daddy and Papa," the blonde yawned, maneuvering himself under the sheets, eyes drifting closed. "-need to make better." The little child's hand still clung desperately to Harry's shirt.
"Scorpius," Harry murmured, reaching down to pry the boy's fingers from his clothes.
"Just stay, Potter... Harry." Draco looped an arm tightly around Scorpius's extremely tiny waist, pulling the boy firmly against his chest, dragging Harry further onto the bed.
The last thing he wanted was to argue about that, so Harry positioned himself more comfortably on the bed, resting a hand on Scorpius's back. "Alright."
Draco's eyes slipped close once more, his brain addled with sleep as he drifted back off to unconsciousness.
"Daddy go night-night," Scorpius yawned, wiggling his body so his head was pressed firmly against Harry's side. "Papa go nigh'-night too."
"You too, Scorp," Harry murmured, letting his eyes close.
To say waking up in the morning would be a pleasant experience had been sorely misled.
-8-8-
The moment Harry had awoken the next morning, Draco Malfoy promptly rolled over and shoved him back, standing curtly and entering the bathroom, the en-suite door closing firmly in his wake. Scorpius lay snuggled against Harry's chest, the boy deeply sleeping.
Harry blinked, confused for a moment before remembering. And then he sighed heavily, eyes closing again. Bloody hell. What was he supposed to do now?
The sound of running water alerted the brunette Auror to the fact Draco was most likely showering. He had about thirty minutes to decide what to do.
"Papa, show'r." Scorpius grumbled tiredly, rolling over, little fingers clutched tightly against Harry's shirt.
He sat up carefully, smiling slightly as he adjusted Scorpius below the covers. "You keep on sleeping," he whispered.
Scorpius's answering nod was barely a movement, his eyes drifting closed once more. His shower could wait.
Harry straightened, running a hand through his hair and casting a furtive glance to the bathroom door. Obviously Draco was still upset with him, so... Damn. He found a change of clothes and quickly walked out to take his shower elsewhere. He'd much rather just not be there when Draco returned.
-8-8-
Walking out of the shower quietly, the bathroom a few moments later, Draco cast away the towel he had dried his hair with, glancing at the bed with a furrowed brow.
"Scorpius? What are you-" He took a few steps over, pulling away the covers.
"O-Oh Scorpius-" Draco carted a hand through his son's hair, heart twisting violently. The little blonde's cheeks were red, his nose constantly sniffling as he curled up into an even smaller ball, as if that would warm him up from his constant shivering. The door behind the two opened almost immediately.
"Harry! Go get Hermione."
"Actually, it is me. Harry's downstairs." Hermione walked further into the room, sighing. "I was worried about this... Considering the state Harry's in, he'd be a negative influence on Scorpius right now." She flicked her gaze Draco's way, clearly irritated. "Which can be discussed later." She laid a hand over the boy's brow, frowning, before lifting her wand and waving it over him for her diagnostics.
Draco stood back quickly, fidgeting for a few moments before turning and stalking out of the room, anger beginning to ebb at his veins like a simmering potion, which for some stupid reason reminded him to check his potion stores at his flat- Why the fuck did that matter? The blonde's magic snapped around inside his body. Fucking Theodore Nott had to go and mess everything up, didn't he? Draco was furious as he paced up and down the hallway outside Harry's bedroom.
Hermione was out a few minutes later, quietly closing the door behind her. "I gave him something that'll put him out," she explained, "and hopefully help his body fight off the infection that caused his fever."
"Hermione, look-" Draco's hands clenched tightly at his side, eyes swimming with a fierce determination. "I have a theory, about why Scorpius is getting sick."
"Well, this time it was clearly Harry." Hermione shook her head. "Honestly, why the pair of you are acting like children, I have no idea."
Downstairs, quietly shuffling around in the kitchen, Ron, Hugo, Teddy and Harry sat comfortably around the kitchen table, the two adults nursing their cuppas with sure hands while Hugo and Teddy ate their food animatedly.
"'Arry, where is Dra'o?" Hugo grumbled as he took a rather large bite out of his cheese sandwich.
Harry managed not to wince, gazing down into his cup. "He's upstairs, Hu."
Teddy frowned, looking at his godfather curiously. "But how come? And where's Scorpius at?"
"He's asleep." Harry looked up, forcing a smile. Godric, he hoped Hermione had been wrong. "Don't worry about them."
"Mate, look..." Ron gave a sigh, pushing his cuppa away with a firm shove, a hand coming to tug at his hair. "I've been meaning to talk to you about this whole..." he waved a hand as if to encompass the whole situation in one simple motion. "Thing."
Harry leaned back in his chair, sighing. "Yeah... Parlor? We'll just let the boys eat."
Ron nodded, standing to follow Harry out of the room as they made their way down the hallway and to the parlor, the two taking their seats quietly. "Look, mate," Ron spoke up after an awkward moment, a sigh breezing past his lips once more. "I'm really trying to see the whole of this thing, I am. But, Malfoy, really? Engagement? Taking on a dyin-" he caught himself, noticing the way Harry's shoulders tensed just slightly. "What's goin' on mate?"
"Ron... I know it isn't the best situation on earth, but it's how it is. Or how it might be." Harry looked at his ring, sighing. "Everything got... complicated last night. More complicated."
"Well yeah, mate. I can understand that. Your ex decided to come knocking on your front door with your fiance a few feet behind you? How can it not? But, Harry, I still don't understand-" He leaned forward, elbows coming to rest against his knees that were covered in a plain pair of black slacks. "Why didn't you just tell Malfoy about Nott? He obviously knew about the bloody bugger from their school days."
"Ron you know what's between me and Nott. Would you want to share half that ridiculousness with your own fiance? Especially when there are other things to think about. I mean... Bloody hell, what's happening with Scorpius right now is a million times more important than that git. It didn't cross my mind before yesterday and when I did think about it..." Harry shook his head. "It just didn't seem to matter."
"You're over thinking this again, mate." Ron grumbled, rolling his eyes. "You always do this with people you care about. Me, Mione, even George and Bill. It's the fact that you had something with Nott, slightly..." his cheeks flushed minutely. "Disturbing details or not. You didn't have to tell him all the damn details, you just needed to at least tell him that there was something of a past with the bloody idiot."
"I understand that, Ron! But... I mean... Bugger. I don't know how the hell I'm supposed to fix this. And I really need to. It's... it's the weirdest damn thing, loving someone this much."
He chuckled lightly, nodding his head. "Yeah, trust me. I had enough trouble with 'Mione. But Malfoy? Damn mate, you sure know how to pick 'em." Leaning back against his chair, Ron tugged a hand through his hair, then at the colour of his shirt. "Look mate, I can't go and tell you how to fix this, or that you were a huge idiot in not telling Malfoy about, well, Nott. But, I can tell you that you love him, and I don't know why, but you're over thinking how to fix this." Tilting his head, Ron asked the question that had been budding against his lips. "Mind telling me what the hell Malfoy is doing anyway? That's got you so buggered?"
"What d'you mean?"
"Well you obviously got him pissed, what is he doin' with that anger? Maybe I can give you some tips from me and Mione."
"He's just... He just wants me to give him space to think." Harry's smile was small and self-deprecating. "You know how well I deal with sitting back and waiting. It's got me panicking..."
"Harry," Ron chuckled, exasperated, shaking his head good-humoured. "Just go get what you want. Go and grab it. You always do that better, and it's always turned out in your favor, hasn't it?"
"Because my relationship track record really stands up to that theory," Harry pointed out, glancing down at his ring. It had, he realized, been working so far with Draco. "When Hermione gets back down, I will."
-8-8-
"It's me Hermione, it has to be me! I am the only logical explanation." Draco's forearm was bared, the grotesque and scarred remains of his Dark Mark standing out in shocking contrast to the paleness of his skin. "It has to have something to due with the fact that my Mark hasn't disappeared yet!"
Hermione frowned at the remnants of the brand, shaking her head after a moment. "That... It's not there for anyone else that we know of. Were you the only one of your generation to get it? Did Crabbe and Goyle? Or anyone?"
Draco shook his head quickly, eyes swimming with information, the silver, almost ice-blue in the waning hallway light, sharp with determination. "Just me. Just me. And I am still the only one to have it. Everyone else's burnt off, only leaving scars. Mine," he jerked his arm out further, his nail biting into his forearm, his hands shaking. "Mine is the only one left, the tail is just burnt off. It has to be releasing something, anything! There has to be a reason it is still here, a reason Scorpius got worse only after my divorce. We were the only two in the house! There was no other magic to filter in with mine." He shook his arm once more.
"Well, first order of business is for you to calm down. If your magic spikes too much, it could be dangerous if you're right. When your wand was taken away, was his condition stable?"
Draco paused, body sagging violently has he tried to calm his shaking nerves. His eyes slipped closed, hands unclenched from his sides, his breathing long, slow and deep. "Ok... Ok. It began waning almost the day after my magic was bound. It was a dramatic change from just being constantly sick. It practically nose-dived into the ground like a way-ward Quidditch broom."
"Alright. That is fairly indicative of you being the contaminate..." Hermione sighed. "It's never good when it's the parent..." She reached out and grasped his arm, studying the Dark Mark with narrowed eyes. "I have absolutely no idea how to get rid of this," she mused. "It's likely that it's absolutely impossible to get rid of, in which case we need to find out a way for Harry's magic to combat it thoroughly or, well... Worst case scenario."
The blonde's blood ran cold. "D-Don't you d-dare tell me worse fucking case scenario, Gra-Hermione. We will fucking figure this out. I refuse, do you hear me? Refuse to fucking lose my son to this goddamn war that should of ended a decade ago!" He ripped his arm out of her grasp.
"...Draco? Aunt Mione?" Teddy spoke up quietly from behind the two.
"Oh. Teddy." Hermione looked at him. "What are you doing up here?"
"Uncle Harry said Scorpius and cousin Draco were up here. Is Scorpius sick again?"
"Oh, Teddy..." Draco knelt down after a quick, momentary glance up at the calm and collected healer, choosing to ignore his own frazzled appearance. "Just... well, you see-" He gave a sigh, elbows resting harshly against his knees. "Yes, Teddy. Yes, Scorpius is sick again."
Teddy pouted, looking up at Hermione. "You have to fix him, Aunt 'Mione. Hugo thinks so too."
"I'm working on it, Teddy. Really."
"And Uncle Harry's upset." He turned back to Draco, poking his chest and putting on his best serious grown-up expression. "You have to fix that, right? Since you're getting married and stuff."
Draco winced, a hand coming to rub at his violently throbbing flesh. Ow. "Of course, Teddy. We are just at a... disagreement right now. But, it will all be resolved," he lifted a hand, waving it through the air.
"Good." Teddy watched Draco's arm move, frowning. He'd noticed the weird smell before, but it was stronger now that his sleeve was up. And the blood he'd drawn had mixed with it and was making him a little queasy. "Aunt 'Mione needs to make your arm better too. It smells like a really bad floo connection. Maybe that's what's making Scorp sick. Go make Scorp better first, though. Hu and I are bored." And then, with a huff, the boy spun around and trotted off, rubbing his nose to get rid of the smell.
Draco's brow furrowed, eyes flitting down to glance at his slightly bleeding arm. "A bad...?"
Hermione's eyes narrowed. "That's interesting. And seems to confirm the theory. I'll have to talk to Teddy about exactly what he smells. Now, Draco, do what he said. Fix this thing between you and Harry, won't you? I understand that Harry's kept certain... things from you, but surely Scorpius's health is more important."
"I'm going... I'm going..." Draco murmured with a sigh. He truly didn't need to hear anymore accusations, anymore suggestions that him and Harry needed to 'make-up.' "Just... Get Scorpius better, Hermione." Turning and coming to his full height, Draco stalked down the stairs.
The moment Harry saw it was Draco and not Hermione, he leapt to his feet. "Bloody hell, is it bad? I know you're mad at me, but just... Is Scorpius alright?"
Draco stalked forward till they stood a few feet apart, ignoring the ruffled red-head sitting a few feet away. Fingers lifted, grabbing at Harry's shirt and jerking him forward. "Bloody fuck Potter, does your so-called family know how to annoy people." He smashed their lips together violently, sharp, silver-hued eyes clenched shut.
Harry returned the kiss immediately, ignoring Ron's annoyed groan, and wrapped his arms tightly around Draco to make sure he couldn't step back.
"He's fine," Draco gasped, fingers tangling in impossible locks of hair, heart thundering loudly in his chest as he nipped and sucked at Harry's lips like he hadn't just woken up beside the man this morning, no matter how pissed off he was. "A small fever- Hermi- Mione thinks- Found contaminate-" A moan escaped his lips, low and building in his chest as his tongue came out to dance with the other's. Bloody fuck, had it only been just yesterday that he had been kissing this deliciously gorgeous man?
"Fuck, Draco." Harry's fingers bunched in his shirt, body pressing as close as it could to his lover's. So many of his fears were shot to pieced between the kiss and the news. "Never would've... mm. Forgiven myself if- Merlin, Draco." He moaned, losing himself in the kiss until he couldn't breathe. Even then he didn't break away, clinging to Draco and pressing his face in the other man's neck while he gulped for air. "I'm sorry."
His fingers tightened near painfully around Harry's hair, his tone sharp like the slice of a knife. "If you ever," he tugged at Harry's hair, tilting the others head to the side, allowing his teeth and lips to graze against the supple, flush skin. "Decide to not tell me about another ex," another sharp tug. "In Azkaban, or not," and another. "You will regret it, and this marriage will be over before it can even start, do you understand me?" He ground his hips against Harry's, his erection straining and achingly hard between his legs.
On the couch, Ron snorted. "That's going to be a weird conversation."
"Shut up, Ron," Harry muttered and nipped at Draco's earlobe. "I'll tell you anything, Draco. I don't want to lose you and I don't want this to happen again."
"Bloody fucking Merlin, Harry. Neither do I." And with that small, mumbled message, Draco sank his teeth down against the skin of Harry's neck, marking him just as the other had with the still bruised-over mark against his own neck.
The brunette cried out, clutching Draco's shoulders when his knees turned to jello. "Upstairs," he gasped, whimpering. "Draco...!"
Lifting his head, licking the small droplets of blood off his kiss-red lips, Draco smirked vindictively. "I don't think so, Potter," he purred lightly against the brunette Auror's ear, a hand crawling slowly down his lover's body to fiddle with his belt. "You're going to have to suffer."
With a groan, Harry latched onto Draco's lips again, his teeth sinking into his bottom lip. "Prat," he accused. "Gorgeous bloody prat."
Draco gave a small, dark, chuckling moan. "Good insult there Potter," he pressed their erections together firmly, eyes rolling back in his head with a moan. "But you'll have to do better than that now." And with one final, harsh nip to his lover's neck, Draco turned, gave a suave wave to the flushed Weasley sitting, fidgeting in his chair, and strutted out of the room.
"Well... At least I was right about going out and grabbing it," Ron mused. Harry only grinned at him before bolting after Draco. The issue wasn't completely solved, but they could deal with it after.
-8-8-
So loves, what did you think?
Me and Syl kinda just, wrote this chapter I suppose. XD No real plans, nothing.
OH. Anyone know DA MAN magazine? With Tom Felton on the cover? Abraxas got it yesterday- EKK! BOYAH! HAHAH! Eeeeek. Ok, ok. Night time for me and Syl!
We love you all, so THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for the 260+ reviews, we hope to reach at least 350 before this story ends! We have only about 4 chapters left, maybe 4 or 5 with an Epilogue! Then a small 2-3 day break for slight planning and relaxation and then the Sequel! Cha!
-jazzhands?-
Ok. Yeah. I'll follow Syl's example and sleep.
Night, loves!
-Abraxas and Syl.