December 23 - getting advice

"He's avoiding me," Harry complained to his friends, "since that night, the night of the party, since I kissed him under the mistletoe he's been avoiding me."

"You don't know that," Ginny said. "It's the last two days before Christmas. Everybody's busy with last-minute details."

"I do know it. He wouldn't come anywhere near me during the bonfire."

"What about when he chased you down when you ran off?" Hermione asked. "He wasn't avoiding you then."

"That was different and only made it worse. As soon as he knew it was a flashback and it was seeing him by the fire that did it he took off back to the rest of you and stayed with one of the kids the entire time. He was in his room before I was and wouldn't answer when I knocked on the door just like after the party. Yesterday, he disappeared to the Manor for almost the entire day. This morning he nearly shouted yes when I asked if he'd mind if I left for a bit to run errands. He's avoiding me. I need to talk to him and he can't stand to even look at me."

"Why did you kiss him?" Hermione wanted to know.

Ginny rolled her eyes and shook her head, "Hermione he was under the mistletoe. He had to be kissed to be freed."

"But why did Harry do it?"

"What she said," he replied.

"Harry, that's a cop-out. Why did you kiss him? Why not let someone else do it? Did you want to?"

Harry hemmed and hawed for a while before answering. "Yeah, I guess I've been thinking about it for a while now."

"Have you talked to him about how you feel?"

"I tried. He avoids me."

"Tried how though, Harry?" Ginny asked. "Did you actually say hey Draco let's talk, or Draco I like you, or Draco I think we should have sex right now it would be amazing, a complete and utter out of body experience that we'll remember for the rest of our lives."

"Ginny, geez," Harry ran his hands up over his face and rubbed his eyes.

"Well it's the truth. Isn't it?"

"Yeah, but Ginny I don't need to hear you say it. That's just wrong."

Hermione shook her head. "I think that's enough you two. Harry, think about it, are you just attracted to him or do you want something more? Do you want to be in a relationship with Draco Malfoy?"

"I don't… I don't know. I think so."

"Be honest with yourself. You already are," Ginny observed. "You live in the same house. You spend almost all of your time together, by choice. You're raising children together. You're in a relationship. You just haven't put a name on it."

"But what if he doesn't feel the same way?"

"You are absolutely blind aren't you?" Ginny rolled her eyes again. "Everyone knows it but you. Draco is absolutely crazy for you. It's obvious to anyone with a working pair of eyes."

"You don't know that."

"Oh, but I do," she said knowingly.

"Has he actually said it?"

"More or less, I mean he hasn't actually come out and said the words I'm madly in love with Harry Potter and I can't live without him, but yes he has admitted it. Anyone can see it, everyone can see it, just like all of us can see that you're crazy about him. We've all wondered how long it was going to take the two of you to figure it out. Blaise and Theo have a bet on it. They were talking about it after the kiss."

"How did this happen? How? How did I become interested in Draco of all people?"

"Interested? Is that all?" Hermione prodded.

"What do you mean, is that all?"

"I mean, Ginny's right. All you have to do is see the way that Daco looks at you and you can tell. So, if you don't feel the same way he does, maybe you better back off. Don't hurt him."

Harry stood and stalked across the room. "I don't know what I feel," he insisted. "It's Draco."

"You've said that already."

"I know he's funny and caring and he's so good with the kids. He's thoughtful and so different from what he was. He's attractive." Harry stood staring out the window. "He's most definitely attractive. He's so hot sometimes that I can't help but stare at him. He's even more attractive when he's with the children, the way he cares for them. He wants to be their dad just like I am and I want him to be. I want him to feel the security with them that I have. I want him to know that nobody's ever going to suddenly pull them away from him, that he'll always be their dad. I want him to know that I'll always be there for him. I want to know he'll always be there for me, that he won't up and leave one day just because he can or we fought. I've been going out of my mind the past few days. He won't talk to me other than about the kids. He barely comes anywhere near me. I feel like I've already lost him."

"Why does it bother you so much," Ginny asked softly.

"Because I care, because… Oh, bloody buggering hell! because I'm in love with Draco sodding Malfoy. I am. I'm in love with him. I know… no I don't. I don't know what to do. He's never going to agree to a relationship. You know how he is Ginny. How hard did he fight to not go to Diagon Alley with you last time? He never goes out with me in wizarding public. He's only been out in the Muggle world with me once. He doesn't want to put any of us in a position to have to defend him. He was livid with Skeeter and her article after the adoption hearing. He thinks I don't know that he planned to actually leave if he had to so that I could adopt them. He was going to leave. He would have come back, but he was going to leave. He told Conor and though he made him promise not to tell me, Conor did. He wanted me to know so I could keep Draco from leaving in case he didn't come back. He won't agree to a relationship."

"So, you'll have to convince him."

"And how do I do that?"

"You'll come up with something," Hermione assured him. "Just give it a little time."

"I don't want to give it time. I want to be in a relationship now. I want him to be with me. He should be with me and the kids. He should be their other… that's it! he said suddenly. "I have to go. Thank you." He dashed into the floo and disappeared.

The two women exchanged a look and a smile knowing that Christmas day was going to be interesting.

"Sheila, Sheila are you here?" Harry called as he stepped into the Department of Family and Children.

"Mr. Potter," she said, rushing out of a side office. "Is something wrong with the children? Are there more children?"

"No, nothing like that, but I need your help."

"Certainly, sir."

"Sheila, please call me Harry."

"I don't know if I-"

"I insist."

The woman's cheeks flushed. "Certainly sir… Harry. What can I do to help you?"

"How would I go about allowing someone else to adopt my children?"

"You're not giving them up are you?" her face was stricken.

"Oh no, no, never. I worded that poorly. How would I go about allowing someone else to be an additional adoptive parent? Is it the same process as before?"

"Not the very same now, but it is quite similar," she told him. "The other person would need to complete the document and you would sign off on them that you approve. Then it simply takes the Minister's approval."

"Not the entire Wizengamot this time?"

"Heaven's no, these are the types of adoption cases we handle most so they can be handled much more quickly. Provided a living parent approves there's no reason for the Wizengamot to add it to their docket."

"Thank you. Could you give me copies of the paperwork so we can get it done? I guess I'll need nine copies because the twins count as one again, correct?"

"Yes, they do. Nine copies it is."

She retrieved applications from a file drawer and passed them to Harry who thanked her and headed back into the hall to the lift and up to the Minister's office. Arriving there he gave a brief curt nod to the Minister's assistant when the man held up one finger. About five minutes later he was shown into the office.

"Harry, it's good to see you," Kingsley said, "but I must admit I am surprised. Is there something you need?"

"Yes, actually. May I sit?"

"Absolutely," Kingsley replied, pointing to the chairs in front of his desk and joining Harry there. "Now, tell me what's going on."

"I'm going to need your assistance." Harry laid out his plan. "I know I shouldn't fill them out for him, but I also know that he won't do it. I wanted you to know that they'll be coming with my handwriting. I do plan to show them to him first."

"Let's do this then," the minister suggested, "you give him the papers and then let me know what he says, and I will come over. I can sign them in person so that he knows and the children know right away."

"Thank you."

"Is that all?"

"Actually there is one other thing, that I'd like to be handled very privately, at least at first." Harry went into the second half of his plan. When Kingsley agreed he thanked him and left, heading to Diagon Alley.

Climbing the stairs to Gringotts he wondered about the likelihood of accessing his vaults today, but he had to try. When it was his turn he stepped up to the counter and was greeted by the goblin there. "How may I help you, Mr. Potter?"

"I would like to visit my vaults."

"Which ones?"

"The Potter Vault and The Black Vault, please."

"I assume you have your keys."

"Yes," he replied, withdrew them from his pocket, and held them up thankful he'd had the foresight to apparate to his room before going to the Ministry.

"As it seems everything is in order Fergus will be helping you."

"Thank you."

The new goblin came to Harry and led him to the carts. A long windy trip later they were at the Potter family vault. He opened the door and went in then stood looking around unsure where to begin. There were as always the piles of knuts, galleons, and sickles. Towards the back there was a pile of family heirlooms he had yet to go through. It had always been his intention to do it, but he never had the time. He still didn't today, and he was unsure just how to go about finding what he was looking for. He stepped to the pile of heirlooms and began rifling through.

"Why is nothing organized in here? Why is everything just in a pile instead of in boxes that are labeled?"

"Do you need assistance sir?" Fergus asked.

"If you can," Harry replied, "Can you tell me, are there records of what is in each vault? Do you keep records somewhere?"

"There are sir. However, I fear that they are quite long. We would also need to return to the main floor to access them then return here to your vault. We can do so if necessary but is there a particular item that you're looking for?"

"A ring but I don't know if there even are any in here. Specifically, I'm looking for a signet ring or wedding ring, any that might be stored here."

"Do I have your permission to conduct a search?

"Yes, please," Harry said, stepping to the side.

Fergus stepped in the middle of the vault, closed his eyes, mumbled something Harry couldn't make out, and snapped his fingers. Seconds later seven rings landed in his outstretched hand.

"I didn't know goblins had magic," Harry commented. "I should have, and I apologize. I suppose I'm no better than many other witches and wizards who overlook others in our society."

"This is not true," Fergus protested. "We have all heard how you treated the house elf Dobby. Goblins have little magic, most is imbued into the things we make. What I used is an old magic embedded in the vault itself. Only those who have received special training are able to access and utilize it. Would you like to do the same thing in the Black vault."

"Yes, please."

On they went to Sirius's family where Fergus performed the same routine. This time thirteen rings flew and landed in his hand. Harry took all twenty and tucked them in the moke-skin sack that Hagrid had given him long ago.

"Thank you for the assistance," Harry said before they climbed back into the cart and rode again to the surface. Once in Diagon Alley, he ducked to the side, turned on the spot, landing at the gates of Malfoy Manor.

Narcissa had allowed him to be added to the wards several months ago so that he might enter the grounds as needed along with the children. He was still loath to land inside the wards however so he chose to land in the lane outside. He let himself in the gates and strode to the front door. He knocked. It was several moments later before the door opened and the mistress of the house answered herself.

"Harry, dear. What a surprise."

"I apologize, Narcissa. It is quite rude of me to just drop in, but I needed to speak with you."

"Certainly dear. Come this way. You are just in time for tea. It's so rare that I have visitors for tea anymore and now I've had them two days in a row."

"Would you like company often? The children could start coming over one or two a day if you would like. They could certainly use more practice at Flooing. They could also use some training in the more formal tea and the behavior at such."

"I would be delighted and am honored that you would allow me to teach them."

"You are one of their grandmothers. We will arrange a tea schedule starting after the holidays."

"Excellent, I'll look forward to it. Now what is it you've come to speak to me about?"

"It is an ancient muggle costume and I believe it is a wizarding one as well, to speak with the parents of your intended."

"Intended?" she asked, raising one perfectly arched eyebrow.

"Well that's my hope," Harry said. He pulled the moke-skin sack out, opened it, pulled the rings out, and placed them on the table. I would like your advice."

She looked over the rings and immediately slid nine of them aside. "As these are ladies rings I think you should pass on them."

"Good idea. I hadn't even looked at them yet. I just collected them from Gringotts before coming here. I could buy a new ring for him, but I thought he might appreciate a family heirloom. If he doesn't like it I can still buy him a ring. I can take him to pick it out."

"While he has distanced himself from the Malfoy family name and wouldn't want any of our heirlooms, I believe he would be honored at the offer of a Potter family heirloom."

"What about the Black family rings?"

"He might but if you know which are from your family I'd choose one of those."

"Should I choose or allow him to pick?"

She chuckled. "I'd suggest if you're going to propose that you have a ring chosen."

He sorted through the rings again, removing those with the Black family crest, then those with engraved initials indicating they were from that family. He was left with three.

"Do you have any further advice?"

"No, dear, you need to make the final choice. Know though that I don't think the ring will be the deciding factor."

"No," he sighed. "I know it won't. I'm already working on what to say to convince him."

"Well, I wish you luck. I should like nothing more than to see the two of you happy together."

"Thank you. I should go home, after tea that is," he said when Blinky appeared with the tray.