Author's Note:We all knew I wouldn't be able to leave them alone. Credit for the inspiration for this goes to cho-chan09 who suggested we find out a little more about H/D's future. Several other people have asked about Lucius too, so I figured we could all use a visit with him. The next part will be the wedding and I'll be posting that in just a few minutes. Just so everyone knows, I am not planning right now on continuing this. I'm sure someone will ask about further chapters and my answer is "never say never". I can't say that there's no way I'll add to it, but I have no desire or inspiration to at this time. Thank you all for reading and your reviews are greatly appreciated!

Common Ground

"Harry, will you quit fidgeting? You're making me nervous."

"Well, it's not like this is just some ordinary afternoon visit."

"You've been here about a hundred times before."

"Yeah."

"And you've seen him before. If I recall the two of you came to some sort of understanding at one point."

Harry looked up at the ominously dark building. "We agreed that we wanted the same people dead. And we wanted you safe."

"There you go. You have some common ground; me."

"Yeah. Draco, I know you love your father, but he has tried to kill me. You remember that, right?"

Draco smiled and grabbed Harry's hand. "That was a long time ago. He can't hurt you now; it would be the same as hurting me."

"Alright. Let's get this over with."

Together they walked through the gate, under the huge sign that read, "Azkaban Prison."

The prison had been remodeled in the post-war years, but somehow it still seemed dark and intimidating, as prisons often did. Dementors had never been implemented again and many of the policies concerning sentencing and treatment of prisoners had changed since Kingsley Shacklebolt became Minister. In fact, he had made many changes to the wizarding world and was so popular that nobody had a chance of replacing him.

Harry was quite proud to work for this Ministry, but not as proud of his future father-in-law. It was so easy to forget sometimes what being a Malfoy used to mean. Nowadays it meant all the wonderful things that Draco had accomplished. But there was a time when the name Malfoy was tainted by Dark Marks and war and the disgrace Lucius had brought his family. It was still hard on Draco. For the most part he had gotten past it, but there was always someone who saw only Lucius when Draco spoke and Draco was torn between loving his father and hating everything that his father had once stood for.

Harry and Draco were shown to the visitor's room and waited for Lucius to be brought to them. Harry was bouncing his leg nervously under the table when Draco set a firm hand on his knee. He shook his head slightly, a warning to calm down. Harry knew he had to get it together. This was just Lucius Malfoy. Draco was right; Harry had talked to him many times. But all those times were out of necessity and a common interest. It was never a social call. It was absurd to be nervous. Harry was a highly ranked Auror and Lucius was a prisoner. There was no threat and yet somehow Harry couldn't shake the idea that Lucius might just be able to kill him with one dirty look.

"Mr. Potter. To what do I owe the honor of your presence?" Sarcasm was always a good way to start.

"Hello, Mr. Malfoy."

"Mister Malfoy, is it? This must be serious. I haven't been called 'mister' in nine years."

Lucius took a seat at the table across from Draco and looked expectantly at his son.

"Hello, Father."

"Draco, I sense that this visit is not going to make me happy for some reason."

"I hope it will."

"Hm." He glanced at Harry and then back at Draco. "Then by all means, get on with it."

"Harry has asked me to marry him and I've said yes."

Lucius didn't seem at all surprised. "It took you long enough," he said to Harry.

"Sorry?"

"You two have been back together for what? A year? I thought for sure it would have happened by now. I prepared myself for it."

"You're not upset?" Draco asked eagerly.

"I'm not happy."

"But you'll give us your blessing?"

Lucius looked away quickly to hide the cringe.

"Father, please. We love each other."

"And if I don't give it?"

Draco hesitated. Harry thought it was a little naïve to think that he was just going to waltz in there and have Lucius open his arms to a former enemy, but Draco wanted desperately to believe only the best of his father.

"I… I will have to marry without my father's blessing then. But I don't want to."

Lucius sighed heavily.

"Father, your approval means a lot to me, but not everything. I must do what is right for me."

"I understand."

Harry studied Lucius closely. It pained him to deny Draco this, but then why was he doing it? "Draco, could you go get me a cup of water, please? It's so dry in here."

Draco was no fool. Harry didn't want a cup of water any more than he wanted to even come to the prison in the first place. He looked between Harry and Lucius and then nodded before leaving them alone.

"How can we settle this, Lucius?"

"There is nothing to settle, Potter."

"Is it just that it is me, or would you feel the same way if it was any other man wanting to marry your son?"

"It is both."

"Well then I don't know how to help you. Even if you succeeded in chasing me off, which you won't, Draco will never find a nice pureblood witch to fall in love with."

"You can't know that."

"No, I don't," Harry conceded. "I believe that we are all capable of loving people who we never thought we could love and so you're right; it could happen. I also know the chances of that happening are next to nothing. We were separated for four years and in that time he only dated men. So if you're hung up on having a gay son, then you need to get over that fast."

Lucius remained silent.

"If you can't accept that about Draco your relationship with him will change forever, maybe even be lost. And if you can't accept me… it will break his heart, he will go through with the marriage and you won't be a part of that. Whatever we do, any kids we have, the life we live from here on out, you will miss out on it."

"You won't actually have children, will you?"

"We've talked about it before, but I don't know." Lucius frowned, deep in thought. "Deep down a big part of Draco has always just been a boy wanting to please his father. He's his own man now and doesn't need that, but he will always yearn for your approval."

"You would really have children?"

"Well, we obviously can't have them, but adopt them perhaps." Harry smiled. He had found the old man's weakness. "It's the grandkids, isn't it? That's what's going to win you over?"

He scowled quickly. "No, Potter. No one is winning me over."

Harry laughed. "Look, sir, I love Draco. I have for a long time and we are… perfect for each other. One way or another we will spend the rest of our lives together and for his sake I want you to accept that. You have to see how good we are together, how happy he is. Don't you want your son to be happy?"

Draco arrived back at the table a moment later with a small paper cup in his hand.

"Thanks," Harry said, taking a sip. Then he excused himself to the loo, but really watched from just outside the room as Draco and his father talked. Suddenly Draco's entire face lit up and he actually gave his father a hug, which Lucius appeared to consider a mortifying event. Draco did not generally look favorably on such displays of emotion. He must have been truly excited to allow such a breakdown of decorum.

A short while later they were leaving the prison arm in arm.

"What did you say to him to get him to change his mind?"

"It's just my charming personality," Harry smiled.

"My father is not that easily charmed."

"You underestimate my abilities?"

"I would never. But you said something to him."

Harry smiled to himself. "We found some common ground."