Author's Note: Rated T just in case. Enjoy!

Harry blinked awake and frowned at the unfamiliar surroundings. "What's wrong Daddy?" a young voice asked from beside him.

"Daddy?" he parroted as he blinked at the little boy with messy black hair and silver eyes.

"Don't tell me you've changed your mind on what you want him to call you, love," a familiar voice drawled before Draco appeared in the doorway. "You were so excited the day James could say it."

James? He blinked again. "No," he assured.

"What's wrong Daddy?" James asked again, his cute face scrunched in concern.

Harry's expression softened. "Daddy just had a bad dream, and needs a big hug to feel better," he replied, soon the recipient of an eager hug from the little boy. Harry held onto him tight as Draco sat beside them on the bed.

The blonde stroked their son's hair gently. "Why don't you go get dressed, sweetheart, we'll join you soon."

James hopped off the bed and Draco magically closed the door behind him. His expression concerned, he turned to the brunet. "What was it?"

"It's noth-" Harry cut off as the blonde placed his hand on the back of his neck and tugged him into a kiss. He responded instantly, the blonde claiming his mouth the moment his lips parted.

He moaned and Draco pulled back with a smirk. "The day you don't respond to my touch, I need to be concerned," he murmured. "It was the battle, wasn't it?" Harry nodded. "You're always a little off after," he murmured, shifting his grip to stroke the brunet's cheek. "Take a few minutes, I can sort out breakfast." He leant forward and kissed the brunet's forehead.

Harry smiled wanly before the blonde left the room. He yawned. He was so tired. He'd just…take a few…minutes…

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Harry blinked awake, surrounded by the battle-scarred courtyard of Hogwarts. "Harry!" dual voices cried before Ron and Hermione appeared at his side. "Are you all right?" she asked in concern.

"Yeah," he breathed as he sat up heavily. "Give me a couple of minutes, and then why don't we take a walk? I'm sure you have questions."

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Harry ducked into a room, and blew out a relieved breath. "Don't mind company, do you?" Ginny asked with a smile.

He returned it. "Not at all, Ginn," he assured. "I was looking for you."

"But got beleaguered by well-wishers on the way?" she guessed.

"Yes," he sighed. He sat down and she settled opposite him. "I need to talk to you about something." She nodded, expression encouraging. "I don't think we should get back together, Ginn-"

"Good," she interrupted. He blinked. "Sorry, but I didn't want you to feel guilty, and roll out a ton of arguments about why, when I agree with you."

He chuckled softly. "You know me so well."

She nodded. "I had time to think, and I realised that while I do care about you, Harry, I don't love you the same way my parents, or Bill and Fleur, love each other."

"You deserve to have that, Ginn," he stated.

"So do you," she replied firmly. Her expression turned knowing. "Do you have someone in mind?" He blushed. "Shall I guess?" He licked his lips, then nodded. "It's Draco, isn't it?"

"How-"

"You were obsessed with him," she pointed out gently.

"There is that," he sighed. "I want you to know, Ginn, that I never consciously wanted him while we were together. But, well, I had a dream, and when I woke up…I wasn't horrified, so I knew it wasn't fair to you to get back together."

"I understand." He blinked again. "Sometimes what we want, or what we think we want, isn't what we need. Are you going to give it the Gryffindor try?"

He blushed. "I might just start with returning his wand, and see from there."

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Harry stared across the table at the blonde, surprised he had gotten this far. "What is that muggle phrase? Oh yes," Draco spoke with only a split-second pause, "cat got your tongue?"

The brunet laughed softly. "I'm surprised you know that, but then again, this is turning into a surprising day."

"Oh?"

He nodded sagely. "I half-expected you to take your wand from me through the gate."

Draco poured his companion a cup of tea. "I was surprised you didn't simply mail it," he murmured as he handed it over.

"That seemed…" The blonde waited. "Too cowardly."

"That wasn't what you were going to say," he stated.

Harry smiled wryly. "Too easy," he corrected, then sighed. "I'm not used to doing things the easy way, even when it might be smarter."

"No, you do the brave thing, the right thing, always."

"Not always," he corrected gently. "And bravery comes in many forms," he added seriously, locking eyes with the blonde. A tinge of pink coloured Draco's cheeks. "You know I meant that as a compliment, right?" Harry asked in a rush.

Draco chuckled softly. "Yes, I was aware, although…"

"Don't tell me you thought it was too little, too late?" The blonde inclined his head in agreement. "It's harder to do what you did, than anything I did." Draco blinked. "I had to forge ahead, do what I needed to do to help the light side, because for me it was fight or die."

"Why?"

"There was a prophecy, which he believed, so he was determined to kill me. So, I had to stand against him, or just stand there and let him kill me. The need for survival is too ingrained for me to do the latter. No matter what people might think to the contrary."

The blonde pursed his lips. "I know your faults better than anyone, would you agree?" Harry nodded and Draco poured himself a cup of tea. "You are a true Gryffindor who charges into situations, when taking a moment to pause would be better. You forgive your loved ones any trespasses. Are unceasingly loyal, unless said person does something you deem unforgivable," he listed. Then took a sip of tea. "And, you care little of the potential danger to yourself, if someone you care for is in harm's way. But I cannot say you are any more than that."

"Not an attention seeker?"

"More like the opposite," he replied and had another sip. "You did your best to be like everyone else, when it was impossible."

"Why?" The blonde's eyebrows arched. "Why was it impossible?"

His expression softened. "Because you are destined to shine."

Harry blushed. "Thanks," he breathed and looked down as he took a sip of his tea. "About that list of faults?" He glanced up and the blonde arched his eyebrows. "Apart from the first – as a Slytherin, you're the opposite – I could say the same of you."

Draco smiled. "We are rather alike. It's probably why we clashed so often."

"There were some hurt feelings involved too. You were upset I rejected your friendship. I was upset you insulted my friend."

Draco had another sip of his tea. "What did you want from this visit?"

"I already told you what I expected."

"Yes, but what did you hope for?"

Harry scraped his teeth over his bottom lip. "That we could clear the air?" The blonde gestured for him to go ahead. "Thank you for saving my life." Draco blinked. "You knew it was me, and you said nothing," he paused, his mouth kicked up at the corners, "thank you." He licked his lips. "We, uh, might have too much between us for it to work, but I'd like to put our past animosity behind us?" he spoke, unable to keep the questioning lilt from his voice.

Draco smiled. "I would like that."

"Yeah?" Harry asked with a grin.

"Yes." Harry's face lit up with a bright smile, causing a warm one from the blonde. "You want to put all of our history behind us?" The brunet nodded. "There is nothing else you want to address?"

Harry played with the edge of his cup. "It all seems so childish, after everything else that's happened…"

Draco placed a hand over the brunet's, causing the lion to look up. "It wasn't your fault." The brunet's brow scrunched. "None of the casualties were your fault," he said firmly.

"I will accept that, eventually, but it's still a little too fresh." The blonde nodded his understanding. "So what do you plan to do?"

"Do?"

"With yourself?"

"Lay low until it isn't so fresh in people's minds, beyond that…"

"Marry a pureblood girl and have an heir?"

Draco's nose wrinkled. "That option is not as attractive as it once was. What about you, resume your relationship with Miss Weasley?"

Harry shook his head. "We mutually agreed not to get back together. I love her, but I'm not in love with her, if that makes any sense?"

"I understand," he replied with a smile. "You have realised, that you do not need to marry into the Weasley Clan, as you are already an official member."

"That obvious?"

"Only to someone on the outside," he replied gently.

Harry toyed with his cup again. "I'm surprised you don't want children."

Draco grinned, causing his companion to blink. "I would love to have as many children as Arthur and Molly Weasley," he stated, expression still warm. "It's the pureblood girl that isn't the appealing aspect, hasn't been for some time."

"Oh?" Harry breathed eyes wide as they locked on the blonde's beautiful silver irises.

He regarded the brunet for a moment, then with a determined expression remarked, "Nearly seven years."

"Seven?" he breathed, an almost reluctant hopefulness entering his expression.

"Yes, since I was fitted for my first set of Hogwarts robes." Harry stopped breathing. "And met you," he added with a smile. The brunet let out a breath. "Do try and keep breathing," he teased gently. "I don't want to kill you off now."

Harry's expression turned sheepish, even as he continued smiling. "So you, ah, want to date me?" he asked, tone and expression hopeful.

Draco's face filled with warmth and affection as he laid his hand atop Harry's once more. "Honestly, I want to marry you and have as many children as possible," he replied, causing a startled laugh from the lion. "But I'll settle for dating."

"On one condition."

"Oh?"

"Don't lay low," he spoke lacing their fingers together. "Brave the public with me."

"Of course, love," he replied, raising their joined hands and kissing the back of Harry's. The brunet blushed.

"You do know that men can conceive, don't you?" he asked gently.

Harry nodded. "You're not going to go the traditional courting route, are you?"

The blonde laughed. "And deny myself the chance to give you anything but the most chaste of touches for many months? No." Harry blew out a relieved breath. "I'm surprised you know about that."

"My godfather was a pureblood," he reminded. "He was related to you actually."

"I'm surprised you were aware of that," Draco murmured.

"I spotted your name within seconds of seeing his family tree," he admitted. Draco's smile was bright. "I really should have figured out my interest in you years ago," he sighed.

"It's probably best that you didn't," the blonde replied. "We wouldn't have been able to do anything about it, before now, and you're not exactly subtle," he added with a fond smile. Harry blushed and ducked his head. Draco stroked his thumb over the back of Harry's hand, making him look up. "You do realise, that I love you as you are?"

Harry's lips parted in surprise. "Love?" he breathed.

The blonde's expression softened. "Do you think I would break generations of tradition for anything less than love?"

"I think…that it's going to take me a while to accept how lucky I am," he replied slowly.

"Don't worry, love, I'll say it as often as you need me to."

Harry leant across the table and kissed the blonde sweetly. When he shifted to pull back, Draco gripped the back of his neck with his free hand, tugging him into another kiss, more heated than the last.

He pulled back only once he had caused his lion to moan. His smile was possessive and pleased. "Ditto," Harry breathed. The blonde's eyebrows arched. "You're mine, and I'm very happy about it too," he murmured.

Draco smiled and kissed his lion again. "We're going to have an interesting life together."

"It's going to be heated, chaotic, and utterly amazing," he stated with a warm smile. "Let's at least let our loved ones get used to our relationship before we get married."

"Whatever you want, love," he promised, kissing his lion another time before he released him, knowing that this interlude was the first of many.