"You're going to upset the House elves you know," Draco drawled as he walked into the kitchen.
"I've bribed them," Harry waved him off as he carried on mixing the cake batter in his bowl.
"With what? Can you bribe House Elves?" Draco looked amusingly perplexed as he sat at the counter.
"They're sorting through all the baby things and giving them a pre-pre wash, and I had them go shopping for suplies for me," Harry grinned.
"Why are you cooking? You clearly have remembered we have House elves if you had to bribe them to leave the kitchen,"
"I find it soothing," Harry shrugged.
"Soothing, its manual labour," Draco scrunched his nose as he watched Harry trying to balance the bowl to mix it without his stomach getting in the way.
"Its making something with your own hands that the people you care about can enjoy. Plus its fun to get messy every now and then,"
"Really?" Draco said doubtfully.
"Why don't you help me and see for yourself?" Harry suggested before smirking. "Unless of course you think you can't do it?"
"I can do anything that you can!" Draco rose to his challange as he had expected, standing and rolling his sleeves up.
"Why don't you start on cookies then?"
"They're burnt! Why are they burnt?!" Draco's hair was sticking up at all angles, flour streaking it liberally, streaked on his cheeks and clothes as well. He had a good bit of dough and peaunut butter covering him as well.
"I told you, its like potions you have to watch the temperature on the cooker, plus you left them in for too long," Harry said as he poured his mix into cupcake mixes.
"What are you two up to?" Severus' drawl had them both looking up.
"I'm teaching Draco to bake," Harry explained calmly while Draco eyed his godfather suspiciously, it seemed he had not quite forgotten Severus' previous actions.
"What are you making?"
"Draco is making peanut butter and chcolate chip cookies, I'm baking some cakes," Harry smiled.
"You need to turn the temperature down," Severus hummed as he looked in the cooker Draco was using.
"Hey!" Harry grinned when one of Severus' hands shot out and stole one of his still cooling cupcakes.
"They're best while they are still warm," Severus smirked.
"Is this right?" Draco asked.
"A little further, and here," Harry carefully threw the baking paper with the burnt cookies away and spelled a new sheet onto the tray. Quickly and with clear practice he lay out six new balls of dough onto the tray and levitated it over to Draco. "Now it says that its ten minutes on the recipe, but it can be quicker or slower, plus the top tray will cooker quicker than the bottom, so you need to keep an eye on them and swap the bottom to the top and put a new tray in once they're done," Harry explained.
"Ok," The blonde nodded determined.
"Want to lick the other spoon?" Harry offered Severus as he scooped out the last bit of batter.
"Only if you share the bowl," Severus raised his eyebrow as Harry chuckled.
"Are you eating raw batter?!" Draco frowned.
"Its the best part!" Harry laughed already scooping a good amount out to eat.
"Really?" Draco tilted his head as he watched his godfather to the same.
"Really," Severus nodded.
"Why are you in the kitchen?" Darius startled the three of them when he suddenly popped his head into the room.
"We're baking!" Draco said proudly, motioning to the plate of cookie that were admittedly various shades of brown to slightly blackened, but much better than his initial first few batches. They were currently nibbling their way through them and cleaning another bowl.
"Baking? You? Why?" Darius frowned walking into the room.
"Its surprisingly fun!" Draco shrugged.
"It looks like you are wearing more of the ingredients than you baked with," Darius smirked.
"Sit down and eat a cookie and stop teasing your cousin," Harry said firmly as Draco raised his hand self conciously to his hair.
"Oh dear Merlin don't start getting momma dragon over Draco as well," Darius snickered seating himself down.
"Do I want to know why you are all gathered down here?" Lucius asked only ten minutes later as he and Alexander walked into the kitchen. "And why the elves are all in a tizzy going through the nursery,"
"I bribed them to let me use the kitchen," Harry waved him off.
"Erm..." Lucius eyed his son concerned.
"I was baking," DRaco rolled his eyes.
"Here try one of his cookies, hand made all by himself," Harry smiled nudging the palte towards Lucius.
"You can pick through the burnt ones," Draco rolled his eyes as Lucius hesitated. "Baking is surprisingly difficult, there is a lot more to it than you would think,"
"Zese arf goof," Alexander hummed through a mouthful of red velvet cupcakes.
"Thank you," Harry said amused.
"These are very good Draco," Lucius said surprised after a tentative nibble. Draco puffed up slightly grinning at his father.
"Harry has promised to show me more recipies and how to cook meals as well. It is surprisingly relaxing to do. Though we are going to need to make him a kitchen upstairs and in the family wing, if he enjoys doing this so much and is going to be taching me he cant keep trecking down here and bribing the House elves," Draco said as he battled with Severus over the last scoop from the bowl.
"Oh you don't need..."
"Of course," Lucius interupted. "Harry is you enjoyed cooking you should ave said, the House elves can put together a kitchen for you in a week. Its your home,"
"I have a potions lab," Draco nodded.
"Thank you," Harry smiled blushing slightly.
"Are you eating raw mix?" Alexander frowned at Severus and Draco.
"Its really good!" Draco protested.
"I want to make one last cake, Lucian said he was craving a double layered jam and cream sponge cake," Harry said before smirking. "You can help me Lucius,"
"How is this so hard!" Lucius grumbled stopping and putting the bowl down to take his robe off and roll up his sleeves before picking it back up to whisk.
"You just need to put a little elbow grease into it," Harry snickered.
"Elbow what?" The four Malfoys paused in their assigned tasks to look at him a little grossed out.
"Erm...how do you explain that one?" Harry looked to Severus.
"Its a metaphor, it means you need to just put some effort into it," Severus explained.
"I don't understand why its still so bitty! Harry what am I doing wrong?!" Alexander huffed poking at his mixture with his whisk.
"You need to be a litle gentler and more smooth, like this, in a figure eight," Harry showed him before handing the whisk back and watching carefully as Alexander tried to copy him.
"This is harder than it looks," Darius huffed blowing a strand of hair out his eyes.
"You're doing really well, you're a natural," Harry patted him on the back before groaning as he sat next to Severus and took the weight off of his feet.
"Are you ok?" Severus asked quietly.
"The babies just seem to be quite active today, they're kicking a little hard," Harry smiled rubbing his stomach absently as he watched Lucius and Alexander showing each other their mixtures proudly.
"May I...never mind sorry," Severus was actually blushing a little as he turned to look back at the line of baking Malfoys.
"You're welcome to feel them move if you want to," Harry said softly getting black eyes staring at him shocked. Tentatively Severus reached out and allowed harry to take his wrist and guide his hand to the right place, after a moment his eyes widened as he felt the small kick under his hand.
"Its amazing," Severus smiled looking up to meet Harry's eyes.
"Yeah, I grumble, but knowing that its our babies in there, and that in a few months we will get to meet them...its pretty amazing," Harry grinned happily.
"I haven't seen you smile so honestly before," Severus said after a few moments where he just sat with his hand on Harry's stomach feeling the small movements.
"I've not had much to smile about before," Harry said looking up and locking his eyes with Lucius' who was watching them with a small content smile.
"You truly love him," Severus' words got Harry's attention back to him and the Gryffindor tilted his head smiling.
"With all my heart,"
"I'm glad. He's a good man with a lot to give, he deserves someone that can love him completely and totally," Severus nodded.
"Thank you," Harry nodded realsiing he had just been given Severus' approval.
Harry was pouting and he knew it but he wasn't happy about this. The reporter looked like she was about to wet herself she was so excited. His only saving grace was the fact that it looked as though Draco was attemtping to cause her to spontaniously combust with the glare he was throwing. He met Marcus' eyes and had to smother his laughter at the eye roll and look of sheer disgust the man shared with him.
"Thank you so mcuh for this opportunity!" Ms Sawaki trilled digging out her pad and quill.
"Yes well, we have a busy day, so if we could get on with this," Marcus rose an eyebrow.
"Oh of course. Lord Potter how are you doing now?" Ok he had to give her points for that one and the honestly concern in her face.
"I'm fully healed now thank you, just the normal pregnancy fun of not being able to stand up off the sofa on my own and craving strawberries in lime sauce," Harry smiled a little.
"With vinegar on top, don't think I didn't see you sneaking that on top," Draco rolled his eyes. The reporter let out a small sound of amusement as Lucius and Marcus could not stop themselves wrinkling their noses.
"And Lord Malfoy, how are you?" She turned to Lucius with concern.
"I am healing quite well thank you," Lucius nodded.
"I can't help but notice that you seem to be redecorating the manor," Ms Sawaki asked.
"We decided that this place needs a change. We wanted to make it our home so we are redecorationg it together," Lucius explained.
"Yourself and Lord Potter?"
"Oh no all our family," Harry shook his head. He blinked when Draco snorted tilting his head to look at him.
"Family?"
"Marcus has decided to move back to Britain, and for a time our cousins Alexander and Victoria and their son and his husband Darius and Lucian are staying here for a little while," Lucius explained.
"So all your family is supportive of your relationship?"
"Incredibly, we're all very happy to have Harry as part of this family, he fits in perfectly with us all and he makes Lucius very happy," Marcus smiled slightly.
"Plus he's bringing a bit of fresh air into the Malfoy family," Draco laughed.
"He had us baking yesterday," Marcus nodded.
"Baking?!"
"They did quite well. I'm now just convincing them that we're going to be decorating the nusery without magic," Harry smiled.
"I can't see why we have to do it by hand!" Marcus grumbled.
"A nursery is something special, taking the time to decorate ourselves makes it more special! No magic is touching those walls!" Harry said firmly.
"The thought of watching Alexander and Marcus with a paint brush does sound amusing," Lucius hummed.
"You do know that you're included in that as well," Harry laughed reaching out to link their fingers together.
"How are the preparations going for the babies?" Ms Sawaki asked, reluctantly interupting their by play.
"We are mostly there, it is just a last few minute things that we need to do," Draco nodded.
"With the delay in opening Hogwarts due to the defeat of the Dark Lord, what are both you're plans for your schooling?"
"I will be returning to Hogwarts once it is open again, though we have already filed the paper work with the ministry so that I can leave fo a small break when the babies arrive," Draco said.
"Once the babies are born and a little older Marcus is going to home school me," Harry smiled.
"You aren't going to go back to Hogwarts?" the reporter looked between them a little suspiciously.
"I would like to, but the babies are my priority, I don't want to have to leave them, especialy when they are so young. As long as i complete my education that is the important thing," Harry shrugged.
"And your plans for the future Lord Potter?" Ms Sawaki asked.
"At the minute the only thought to the future I have is whether we have enough nappies and changes of clothes for the babies. My whole life it seems that my life has been planned out for me, it is nice not to have to worry about the future and just enjoy things one day at a time, with the people I care about around me," Harry smiled at the Malfoys around him squeazing Lucius' hand.
"I'm afraid that is your half an hour," Alexander stepped into the room.
"A few more questions!" Ms Sawaki protested.
"Half an hour was the agreement," Lucius shook his head.
"We are due a scan in a week, we will get in contact to let you know how everything goes," Harry said as Lucius helped him to his feet.
"Thank you for your time!" she said quickly scrambling to her feet.
"Ok that wasn't as bad as I thought it would be," Harry huffed as he tugged Lucius out the room. "Still terrible but not as much as I was expecting."
"Alexander put the fear of Merlin into her not to upset you before we came in," Lucius snorted.
"Really?" Harry grinned at Alexander.
"If those vultures think that they can get away with the same treatment of you as they have in the past then they are sorely mistaken. I am already having the solicitors prepare invasion of privacy law suits ready for the first person that thinks they have free reign into your private life," Alexander sniffed.
"Thank you," Harry said softly.
"You and Lucius deserve peace, especially after everything that has happened," Alexander smiled down at him. "I am going to go and take Victoria shopping, she has seen something 'we must have'," Alexander rolled his eyes before hugging Lucius and then surprising Harry by pressing a quick kiss to his cheek.
"Hmm, do you fancy sitting in the conservatory?" Harry asked leaning against Lucius' side.
"Of course," Lucius kissed Harry's temple and wrapped his arm around his waist to start leading the way down to the conservatory which had quickly become Harry's favourite place to curl up and read.
"What about this boarder?" Harry frowned holding up one with yellow ducks on.
"Erm oh dear Merlin, definitely not!" Lucius looked up distractedly before quickly focussing on the boarder in horror.
"I'm sorry, am I disturbing you?" Harry asked concerned looking at the paper work in Lucius' lap.
"No its ok, I just need to get these done this week," Lucius shook his head with a smile.
"I can go and sit somewhere else, I am distracting you," Harry shook his head.
"No, I like it when you're in the room with me," Lucius leant over carefully to press a kiss to the frown lines on Harry's forehead.
"Tell me if I get annoying," Harry settled back down.
"You could never be annoying," Lucius smiled kissing Harry properly.
"Sorry to interrupt," They pulled apart with a start at the voice and looked up to find Draco, Fred and George standing in the doorway.
"Hey!" Harry grinned starting to wriggle to try and stand up. "What are you guys doing here?"
"The others have been stuck with Dumbledore since our visit, so we are here to see how you're doing," Fred explained walking over quickly with George to help Harry to his feet and then squash him between them in a tight hug.
"Mum sent this with us, she said it worked wonders for her ankles when she was pregnant," George held out a small pot of cream.
"Ah that will be for me to take then," Lucius smirked as Harry grinned at him.
"Huh?" the twins asked.
"Lucius has been massaging my ankles and feet for me, they are starting to get a little sore," Harry explained getting comfortable between the two of them on a sofa.
"Would you like tea?" Lucius asked.
"Oh yes please that..."
"Would be lovely," They said nodding.
"How are you..."
"Doing? We saw the news paper article..."
"Dumblefuck was spitting feathers..."
"He had planned to get ahead of you to 'express his..."
"'Concern over your relationship,"
"I have a headache," Lucius blinked having been looking back and forth between the two to try and keep up with their speech.
"You had better..."
"Get used to it quickly," The twins snickered.
"We have at least a few years before they start talking," Lucius sighed.
"Has Harry gone into his..."
"They're two people not one rant?"
"Oh dear Merlin, we're living in fear for if we can't tell them apart," Draco snickered.
"How's everyone doing?" Harry asked ignoring Draco except to stick his tongue out at him.
"They're not too bad, Ron and Hermione as your saw are currently dancing around each other even more than normal. We think Ronniekins has finally realised he's in love with her. Mum and Sirius have instigated a prank war against Dumbledore where they try and beat each other without getting caught - he's already had one trip to St Mungo's for a check up. Remus and Dad are just watching everything with that whole air of amusement that they have, though we're sure that Remus is part of the pranking on Dumbledore, he's just hiding it better from everyone," Fred and George rambled between the two of them.
"He's been to St Mungo's?" Draco asked shocked as Harry sat holding his side laughing.
"Yup, he keeps getting a burning pain in his tongue. He's not figured out yet it happens exactly three hours after he has told a lie about Harry," Fred grinned viciously.
"And you two?" Harry asked as he calmed down.
"Us?!" Both twins smiled innocently at him.
"You," Harry snorted.
"We have no idea what you mean our darling Harry!"
"Yes how could you accuse us, sweet and innocent, loving big brothers..."
"Yes loving!"
"...of such things!" Fred and George fluttered their eyelashes at Harry making him snort again.
"Somehow I struggle to believe that," Harry rolled his eyes throwing his legs over Fred's and resting back against George who wrapped his arm around Harry immediately in a hug.
Harry hummed as he walked through the manor, the last few days he had been a lot happier, getting to see his family again had helped to make him feel a lot lighter, he had been missing them more than he had realised. And Charlie and Bill were hoping to drop by in the next couple of days. He smiled as he thought about the work that they were planning on doing with the nursery, they had finally narrowed down the colours so one they decided they would be able to start painting.
It seemed that Dumbledore was managing to unravel himself as well, he had not had a good reaction to their interview apparently, throwing another tantrum at the table after Remus had ensured that the first time he had read it was in front of some of the Order. Seven members of the Order had left after watching him embed three chairs in the wall in a hissy fit of accidental magic. Thirtreen other members were hovering on the knife edge and Molly, Arthur, Remus, Bill, Charlie and Kingsley were working discretely to push six of them over the edge.
"Harry," Harry paused in the hallway as Alexander stepped out of the drawing room. "I have just read something very interesting on page seven," Alexander held out a newspaper to Harry.
A Further fall from grace
For the last three weeks the talk of the wizarding world have been based mainly around four people, Lord Harry Potter, Lord Lucius Malfoy and their two expected children. With the excitement of the announcement of the defeat of the Dark Lord, and the many rumours and conversations based around their new relationship and the soon to be born new Lords or Ladies. In amongst all of this a few things have been forgotten about.
The previous Lady Malfoy has not be heard of since we reported her making an incredible scene in Diagon Alley and trying to attack the wizard who was serving her her divorce papers. We did mention in a previous report that indications have been made towards the fact that the reason Lord Malfoy was able to disolve their bnd so easily was because he had proof that she had had numerous affairs. This reporter did a little digging and can confirm that this is in fact true. Several of her previous offers came forward with a little persuation, and it would seem that the previous Lady Malfoy was breaking one of the most serious vows that a witch or wizard can make.
With this in mind when this reporter stumbled upon the news that the previous Lady Malfoy was currently in St Mungo's she felt that it was Lady Magic was punishing her for breaking those vows. But she was confused that no one had been aware of the fact that she was in there. It was then that this reporter came across a very interesting bit of information, with the disolving of her bond with Lord Malfoy ex Lady Malfoy automatically reverted back to using her maiden name. However the head of her house, criminal Sirius Black, has disowned her from the Black family, meaning that she has no right to use of a surname and is currently known only as Narcissa.
And so with mounting time in hospital for an aparently rare curse that is currently causing her extreme pain every time she thinks anything unpleasent about anyone, which is aparently quite frequent, Narcissa's real hope for any sort of a future is for one of her previous affairs to marry her. Which going by my discusion with the several men I have managed to find is not very likely.
"Hmm, you're right that is very interesting," Harry hummed handing the newspaper back to Alexander.
"I know that you have to be the one that talked to Sirius about disowning Narcissa, even though he has been out of prison and officially Lord Black for two years and hasn't made any move to disown any of the family,"
"I don't deny that, she deserves more punsihment for the years of suffering she put Lucius and Draco through," Harry shrugged.
"However this mysterious curse that has stuck Narcissa, that I can't figure out. Marcus can't help but gloat whenever he comes up with something that clever, I would know if Victoria had cast it, Lucius and Draco want to forget that Narcissa was ever in their lives, and out of the remaining who are likely to have cast that curse, you are the most likely if it weren't for the fact that casting dark and harmful curses are not like you," Alexander stared pointedly at Harry.
"You're right, its not like me," Harry nodded and turned to start walking back down the hall.
"They will look towards Lucius for this, the Ministry are looking for a reason to take him down," Alexander called after him.
"A simple test on his magic will prove that he has cast no curses lately, plus despite their desire to call fo his blood very few are actually going to be brave enough to do that against the 'chosen one's' love and fiance, those that do will be facing the biggest hissy fit that they have ever seen from me if they even think about taking him from my side," Harry turned back around to meet Alexander's eyes.
"The east side of the library, closest to the window, there are some books there that Miss Granger might be particularly interested in," Alexander said after a moment.
"I shall have a look later," Harry nodded his head to Alexander before turning and carrying on down the hallway.
"And when you are here you're going to be very very very loved, you have lots of people just waiing to meet the both of you,"
Harry lay still, keeping his eyes closed as he listened to Lucius. He could feel Lucius' hand resting on his stomach rubbing gently, and every now and then the soft brushing of lips against the skin there.
"And me and your daddy we are really looking forward to getting to hold you. We want you so so much, and you are going to be bringing light into a lot of lives. Your big brother is so excited to meet you, and he is going to love and protect you,"
Smiling and unable to help himself Harry reached down to run his hand through Lucius' bed mussed hair as he opened his eyes. Lucius' silver blue eyes looked up to meet his and Harry couldn't help but smile a little wider.
"Love you, Harry hummed twisting a strand of blonde hair around his fingers.
"Love you too," Lucius crawled up Harry's body to lean down and kiss Harry hungrily, humming whenthe younger man tugged gently on the hair still wrapped in his hand. Just as their kiss turned a little more passionate their bedroom door opened suddenly and they heard a yelp.
"Merlin my eyes! Sorry! Sorry!" They looked up in time to see Draco quickly disappearing out of the door.
"Wait, let me talk to him?" Harry grabbed Lucius' hand as he went to get off the bed.
"Ok," Lucius nodded after a moment. Harry smiled and rolled to get up before huffing and flopping back down.
"Going to need you to give me a bit of a hand!" He grumbled. Lucius helped him roll to his feet, charmingly not laughing or teasing Harry. After a quick kiss Harry grabbed his dressing gown and made his way out of their bedroom to track Draco down.
"Hey," Harry stepped into the kitchen, motioning for the House elves to leave them. Draco was sitting at the kitchen table staring down at the table top. He walked over to the kettle tapping it to boil and setting up two cups. Making his way over he sat down opposite Draco, sliding a cup across the table top to the unusually quiet blonde.
"Thank you," Draco picked the cup up and took a sip which Harry took as a good thing.
"Everything ok? I know things seem to be moving forward quickly, and a hell of a lot has happened in the last few months," Harry said softly getting comfortable on his seat.
"Yeah, no, no I'm fine, with everything honestly I am. Its just knowing that you two are together have..." Draco amusingly motioned to Harry's stomach instead of saying out loud what he meant. "And sure I have seen you kissing, and hugging and doing that lovey dovey eye gazing thing you do, but I have never really seen you like that before,"
"And it freaked you out?" Harry summed up.
"Knowing and seeing are two very different things," Drac grimaced. "Sorry I didn't mean to freak out, its just no one really wants to see thier father like that,"
"Its ok, considering everything, and considering how things were between us hen you first came to Marcus' I think that it is more than ok to have a little freak out. Maybe knock next time?" Harry said a little amused.
"You don't have to say that twice," Draco snorted. "You're good for him, for us," He said softly. Harry blinked at him shocked.
"I..."
"No need to look like I have just declared my undying love for you!" Draco snickered amused. "I can admit it, you have pulled our family togeter in a way in which my mother pushed us all apart. You can't be more different from her,"
"I...I don't know what to say Draco," Harry said softly feeling a little overwhelmed.
"No need to get all flustered," Draco took a sip of tea. "Just keep doing what you are,"