Draco found Harry in the gardens. He really was not sure why. He had to admit he felt bad for Harry at how his dads had treated him. And he had to admit Harry had some good points about his team. He assumed since Harry was now his stepfather and would be turning snake that year he could attempt to make some peace with him. He was happy with the prospect of being a big brother. Though he had never thought that Harry Potter would be the father of them. He shook away the thought.
Harry saw him coming and dried his tears. "Come to rub it in or has your father sent you to drag me back inside?"
Draco sat down. "Neither. To be honest Uncle Sev was a bit worried how upset you were and I agreed to come check. They were asses; don't let them get to you."
Harry paled. "You really think I care about my former friends. You have no fucking idea how lucky you are Draco. None."
Looking at Harry he always had to admit he felt the same way about Harry. Harry was the boy who lived. He was the hero. All the teachers loved him. He was a celebrity in school and their world. Not that he had envied Harry's position that summer but before he had always thought he had it so easy. It was not like Harry had a Death Eater for a mother. He did not have a father who was forced to pretend to hate him because he was a spy. He did not spend the past few years pretending he would take the mark because of a number of housemates like Theo and Daphne for his age had been future Death Eaters.
Harry knew his mind. "You're just like your Uncle. He sees my dad and you see my persona. You have no idea what it is like being me. None."
Draco shook his head. "So you were the boy wonder? I mean there was pressure on you but you still had people bowing all over you and a personal fan club."
Harry laughed. "I was orphaned, raised by relatives who beat and starved me, was treated like a freak from day one at school and now my own dads have....."
Reminded that he had seen some of it. He remembered the buttons even the Gryffindors had worn in fourth year for Cedric that said Harry stunk. He remembered the rumours during second year. There had been some snakes who wondered if he was abused as he was so small and many of them had recognized it for they were as well. Draco really never considered what being the boy who lived and having people constantly staring at you must have felt like.
Harry went on. "Now your father has taken from me the only things that ever made me feel normal, quidditch, my house, my friends, the family I finally got."
Draco cut in." Father did not take them from you, they walked out. And you know my friends will welcome you in Slytherin. And you can coach us as well."
Harry smirked at him. "Why would the Slytherins ever welcome me? My own house treats me like an outsider at the bet of times. A traitor at the worst of times."
Draco shook his head. "The snakes do not have the loyalty of a piece of wood Harry. You're cool. They will grill you for a bit but they will welcome you."
The snakes were always more like a family. Severus had weekly talks with hi house and had older students look after younger. His friends would definitely give Harry the third degree. But Harry kept a cool head and he would win them over soon enough. And if he helped coach quidditch and did well he would win over the rest of the house soon enough. The former future Death Eaters were not around to worry him. He thought his father had likely done Harry a favour but he held his tongue on that.
Draco put as hand on his arm. "My friends will come tomorrow, face their third degree and you are in. I am sorry your fathers are jerks but you have a place here."
Harry sighed. "Yeah as your father's brood mare. I am surprised he even lets me continue with school. I doubt he will ever let me be anything but his mare."
Shaking his head Draco had to admit he was starting to understand some of the fear and emotions in Harry as of late. Not that he would have been thrilled to have to marry someone like this. He knew his father better then that. He would let Harry have a career even if they had children. He doubted an auror but still. But Harry was not about to listen to him. He hoped his Uncle could knock some sense into his father. He was more then aware of why his Uncle had asked him to leave them. He had been concerned about Harry in his own way but he had also wanted to talk to his old friend and knock some sense into him. Draco had listened to the speech while his dad and Harry were away on their honeymoon. He assumed that his father was now getting some variation of the talk from Severus.
Draco switched topics to quidditch and he had to admit that he was even surer that Harry would make a good coach for the team. He was sure Tom would agree to it. Even if it took a bit of convincing from Severus and Draco to get him there. The fact that Harry was now consort Lord Malfoy really should help him out there.
They were talking a bit when Lucius appeared. "Draco would you mind giving me and my husband some time alone to talk?"
Draco stood and shook his head. "Of course father." But as he passed his dad. "Play nice with him Father. Or Uncle Sev will not be the only one on you."
He was not sure how his father could handle this but he headed inside and found his Uncle. His Uncle confirmed he had been giving Lucius the same speech that he had given Draco for the past few weeks. He was surprised to find his father had gone out to find them some time ago and realized his dad had been listening to them talk for some time before he interrupted. He hoped his father had enough sense to not mention that to Harry. Though perhaps hearing might help his father.
He looked at his Uncle. "Okay you were right, he is not that bad and I think he could coach the team. You were not as wrong in the head as I thought."
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Lucius had not really intended to spy but when he heard his husband and son talking he could not help it. He knew these were things Harry would never open up to him about and if he had any chance of understanding his husband and trying to make this work in some way, he had to know where his husband was coming from. Hearing about his childhood and now about Harry thinking all Lucius wanted him as was a broodmare definitely shocked Lucius to the core. Looking back he realized he had really not done much to stop Harry from thinking that way. He wanted kids and he had no intentions of stopping with Harry till he was pregnant, but he assumed he could have been a bit less forceful and single minded about it.
He sunk down next to his husband and drew him in for a kiss. Harry did not try to pull away but he was rigid in his arms and when he let go he still saw tears twinkling in the radiant green eyes. He was drawn to the beautiful eyes and was grateful his dads had got him corrective surgery so they were not blocked out any more by the glasses Harry was once famous for.
He was a bit unsure what to say so he started with the easiest. "I did not make you go snake to destroy your life. I honestly thought in the long run you'd be happier."
Harry stared at him in disbelief. "You thought you could make me happier by making me change? You said it yourself it was about your damn family history."
Lucius shook his head. "I am sorry. I knew the lions would react like your friends did and Sev said how unloyal they were. I knew Draco and his friends......"
How to help him believe that he had thought that the snakes would welcome him. He knew Harry would face much of the same thing he had from his family, at school. He might not be living in the dorms but he would need a friendly house to count on. He knew Severus was going to pair him with Draco. He had been trying to make it easier on Harry. He admitted mentioning that all Malfoy were snakes definitely had been a mistake.
He put a hand to his husband's belly but gently. "I want kids but you're not my broodmare. You're my husband. I don't want to ruin your life, hurt you."
Harry refused to look into his eyes. "There is nothing left to ruin. I lost everything and almost everyone. It does not matter."
Lucius made him turn. "I can't make up for your dads but I can help. I care about you. I will support you, any career you want. I want kids but not a broodmare."
Though it was definitely far from making things better and he knew that Harry still hated the thought of sharing his bed or having his kids, it was a start. He would take it gentler and not spend endless hours taking Harry. He hoped by the time their first son or maybe a daughter he thought with a hidden smile, was born that Harry would at last see he cared. He didn't want babies raised by nannies; he wanted Harry to be able to raise his own children. And Lucius did not want either his husband or his children to hate him. He had lived in a loveless marriage filled with fights and troubles once. He wanted better this time.
Lucius held his hand and squeezed it. "You will share my bed and we will work on a baby but I will show you Harry that I care for you, I want the best for you."