I am sorry with how long this took to come out. End of summer for me here and everything just blew up! But have no fear I will finish this fanfiction!

Scarhead chapter 18

Lucius Malfoy stepped into the room leaning slightly on his cane. Draco stood quickly like he always would when he was younger. He felt like he was moving through water. Time was simply an illusion.

He suddenly worried about how he must look to his father- no, to Lucius. He felt ridiculous for thinking about his appearance. He hasn't worried about it in years, but now he felt filthy, insignificant; he felt like a wild animal or a bum compared to Lucius.

Draco was still a bit malnourished, and his hair had indeed begun to become untamed again. His clothes were large and common while he was barefoot. He straightened his back subconsciously.

Lucius on the other hand was prim and proper. His back was as straight as his cane and his hair elegantly pulled back, blonde mixed flawlessly with grey. He had aged subtly, perfectly, his robes immaculate and his head held high.

Yet, Draco could feel the broken regretful gaze and wondered that, if he had not taken the path he'd chosen, would he have ended up the same as Lucius: a perfect ice sculpture that had a few internal cracks no one could see and that would shatter before anyone would ever know how weak it had become.

Draco knew he was being judged the same way and said nothing at all to the man. He didn't want dramatic reunions or teary hellos. Malfoy's aren't affectionate, he recited bitterly in his head. Just then Harry came running in, feeling a disturbance in the wards. They must have been staring at each other for no more than a few seconds.

"Mr. Malfoy," Harry blinked, glancing a Draco. "You're early."

Here to catch me off guard. Draco thought. Well it worked.

"Harry" Draco murmured. "Why don't you get Dobby to put on some tea, while I talk to our guest."

"Draco-" Harry protested.

Draco silenced him with a meek pleading look. Harry turned to Lucius and Draco read the warning in his eyes. Harry walked out and the room seemed to freeze itself with the tension the two projected. Yet there was no tension in Draco's movements when he gestured to the opposite armchair. They sat across from each other and the silence itself stung.

Draco sat cross-legged in the chair, making sure to cross his arms over his chest defensively. "How much do you know?" he said to the floor.

Draco focused and heard Lucius's heart beat slightly faster. Oh look, he does have a heart.

"I know what I need to know, yet you are ignorant." Lucius used that voice like melted butter that seeped into your mind and persuaded anyone to bend to his will. "I would like you to come with me Draco. You are unstable. It would be better to have you home."

Draco weighed his words carefully. "I don't have a home. It's gone."

"You don't really have a choice. You are still my son. All shall be forgiven. Your mother will be so happy to see you. Just come with me Draco. Come home."

Draco brought his knees up to his chest and picked a spot to stare at. "Is it a big home? With lots of room?" He asked innocently like he was five years old again. "I don't like it here. It's cramped and crowded. There's no room."

He fought the urge to grin as his father lapped it up. "Of course. I just came here to take you away where no one will ever bother you again."

He took comfort in his family's bad habit of eavesdropping and their presence outside the door. Draco closed his eyes and breathed deeply, taking in the scent and sounds of this place. His true home. He let it calm him, and heard Harry's steady heart outside the door. He focused on it and looked Lucius directly in the eyes for the first time in his life he can remember. He fought the urge to grin at the slight scent of fear it triggered. His eyes must be glowing.

Lucius leaned back and gripped his cane. "You were manipulating me."

This is when Draco finally grinned. It was a madman's grin; full of dark mockery and bright pride, in the fear it rung from people's eyes. His voice changed from innocent to cold disdain. He said each word like he was toying with it; like a cat that had cornered its prey and was prolonging its death for fun.

"Do not act like I am a child. You know that Harry would not contact you if he did not have control. Since I am officially dead, no one has any jurisdiction over me. I have no name or family. However, since I am also ill, I am admitted here like any other no-name mental at St. Mungo's. Even if you were to identify me, you would lose possession due to my age and Harry's status in the Wizarding world. But I don't need to explain this to you. You know very well, that you have no control here so do not act like you do."

"There was a very slim possibility that I would be compliant with everything you say and you have no idea what depth my insanity goes to. What was your real motivation for coming here?"

Draco knew that he had the upper hand here, despite what Lucius might think. He was going to use it to his full advantage. He was scared of a lot of things now. He was scared of people, memories and himself. What he wasn't scared of was the man in front of him. He was just angry. And maybe more than a little bit hurt.

Lucius nodded, resigned that he'd been played. "I came here to see for myself that you were alive. Current circumstances have allowed me to tie up regretful loose ends of my past."

Draco took a moment to deceiver that and it startled him enough to have him loose his composure. He stared at the man in shock. "You want to apologize to me? For what? My entire life?"

"I want to explain," he corrected, gripping his cane uncomfortably.

Draco grimly barked out a laugh. "Pull the other."

"Why did you tell me that you were-"

"What?" Draco interrupted. "A shirt-lifter? Oh, I was terrified at first. I thought I would never tell and do exactly as I was told." Words kept pouring out of him now, dark and bitter words, finally free after years of silence. A humorless laugh echoed from him and he was up and pacing now, the room suddenly smaller, cage-like; trapped like a wild animal with his mirror image, the wolf in him feeding off his freed anger.

"But everything was in chaos! Dumbledore was replaced by the Pink Toad Queen, and I knew that I would be The Dark Lord's chosen one. I had this last hope that maybe, just maybe, I could survive if I knew that you loved me like a father is supposed to. That I had a family to hold on for!"

Lucius tried to defend himself. "I was arrested soon after I got your letter—"

Draco stopped and hissed out his words. "But you had plenty of chances after that. That was your test, and you failed." Draco ran a hand through his hair almost laughing at the absurdity of the situation. "I always wanted to be just like you, did you know that? I was nasty because I thought you were right. I was horrible to people because I thought you were a God. Then when it really mattered, I remembered that you never once in my life told me you loved me."

He bit at the air, snarling, sneering, and he didn't dare look at the man, for he might let the wolf go free. Instead, he let out a lifetime of pain into one sentence so loud and feral in its power that it pushed at the wards and echoed through the house. "Did you ever fucking care!?"

Draco seethed, breathing heavily, staring at the fireplace and the dancing flames. How something so beautiful could be so deadly. He wondered how much heat an ice sculpture could take before it melted into a deformed puddle. But then he already knew the answer didn't he?

Then Draco paused. He couldn't hear Harry's heartbeat anymore, but he could hear a piano. Somewhere, in the old abandoned rooms of the Black ancestral home, a piano could be heard. Just a single note over and over, high, clear and powerful. He was suddenly ashamed of his anger and grief.

All the tension in the room melted and Draco stared at the dancing flames listening to the single note.

A single note.

"Why am I buried there, in the Ancestor's Garden?" It was quiet, a lifetime of loneliness in one sentence; so innocent but yet so loud, it echoed in the hearts of those listening.

Could create a symphony.

"Because we cared."

And he finally had his answer.

ScarheadScarhead

An agreement was made. Draco would see his parents every other week (with Snape or Harry supervising) and they could correspond by letters.

Draco went upstairs without eating and Harry sent off his letters to the kids. His spells alerted that nothing was wrong but still he took a plate of roast sandwiches up to look for him. Finding Draco's room empty, he retraced his steps from earlier in the evening to an old study, in the back of the house. He sent the kids up to bed early, their moods clouded by their own memories. Niki hadn't understood it but Lexie and Damian had each been in Draco's place before; with much more disastrous results.

He found Draco standing in the doorway, staring at the baby grand piano. He took the offered plate and glanced at Harry. "Thank you." He said.

Harry guessed it wasn't for the sandwiches. "I just wanted to help."

"You did." Draco sighed. "I haven't played in years."

Harry smiled. "Maybe you should. Severus would love it."

Draco hung his head and bit his lip. He felt tired and worn out. "Did I hurt them?" he asked setting the plate down on a nearby table. "When I left?"

Harry didn't hesitate. "Yes," he said with conviction, but his hands were gentle when he placed them on Draco's shoulders. "But you have the chance to make it better."

Draco shook his head. "I had no idea."

Harry smiled sadly and drew the blonde in for a hug. "Most don't. But they understand. Come on, I want to hear you play."

Draco shrugged within the embrace. "I'm not sure I remember how."

"Try."

Draco blinked up at him, expression tender. This is what he was really afraid of. He was afraid of Harry. Harry knew almost everything, he brought him back to life. He knew his strengths and weaknesses and could bend his will and play his desires like the puppet on a string or the keys on a piano. He was afraid of love, he was afraid of affection. The knowledge of it is so much different than expressing it. He could love Harry, if each of them tried. However, that was a very slim chance. After all, everything might just be in his head. He was ill after all; he could be imagining the emotions in Harry's eyes or over-exaggerating every smell and gesture. Maybe it was his wolf longing for a mate. He was afraid of being wrong. He didn't want Harry to be a mistake.

He dropped his eyes away from Harry's lips and bent his head, moving to sit on the worn wooden bench.

He had learned from his boldness. Harry had subtly rejected him. He wasn't going to make that mistake again. Harry would be his friend, his guidance. Nothing more.

The song he played that night was sad and sweet, like the gentle tugging of worn heartstrings.

Draco pulled himself through the next few days with letters to the kids, and Severus. He wasn't quite sure what to say to his parents yet. He passed Harry's inspection with fake smiles and pretended not to notice the looks he was receiving from the man. He was sure to be especially cheerful around Damian, who was high on pre-birthday excitement.

Then came the real test: the party itself. It wasn't exactly a surprise party but Damian confided in Draco. "I have no idea why they're throwing me a party. I'm too old for it, nothing's special about by 16th unlike a coming of age party." Damian's smile never left his face. "Something's up and something big. Everyone knows something's going to happen but I think Harry didn't tell everyone why. Just that we should celebrate. This is going to be so awesome!"

Draco's word of choice would have been overwhelming. It started with the kids. There was a whirlwind of hugs and shouts and squeals. Draco wisely stayed out of the melee in a corner. He sat on an armchair with Dog and waited for the chaos to end.

The first one to approach him was a tall, coffee skinned girl who had sensitive chocolate brown eyes and hair that reached her waist. And then she smiled like a knife; sharp and cunning. Draco instantly knew that Immi Cain Potter really could crush you just by thinking about it.

Riley was large and imitating, offset by his happy-go-lucky personality. Draco's hand was smarting after their handshake and his arms still hurt after an unexpected hug. The twins had hugged him and welcomed him into the family warmly and Draco managed to catch Maria before she fell as she tripped over her own feet. Seb stood next to him like a bodyguard, amusing Draco with his occasional sarcastic comment aimed at his siblings and Immi told him juicy stories about their school year until he was laughing so hard he was in tears.

He barely noticed when the other guests arrived and instead sat himself next to the youngest and quietest of them all: Ciel who was as little as he'd said. His voice was small too and he mumbled, so much that to anyone else without Draco's hearing, it would've sounded like the returning echo in a canyon: messy, muffled and confusing.

Ciel had blushed when Draco had sat next to him and started fidgeting. "I never liked parties." He muttered, curled up in his corner. "Did you bring a book to read?" Draco asked quietly. "That's what I would do at my parent's parties. I would hide out and read."

"Forgot it."

Draco shrugged. "Well its Damian's birthday, you shouldn't be reading anyway."

"What should I be doing then?" Ciel asked sincerely.

"uh.." Draco laughed. "I really don't know. I haven't been to a party in years. I think you should go and talk to people."

"I'm talking to you."

"That you are," Draco smiled. "Did you find it?"

Ciel nodded and uncurled himself a little. "I found your journal. Would you like it back?"

Draco shook his head. "You can keep it. Did you read all of it?"

Ciel nodded.

"I was like you. I would sit there and read for hours. In the end, it just made reality harder because I lost track of it. I pretended I was a Hero in the story, a king going to reclaim his kingdom. Books are amazing, they teach you a lot, but I wasn't a hero because I lost track of reality. Do you know what I'm saying?"

Ciel nodded again, "so when you were alone in the woods…"

"I only had my imagination to save me. I was the king going to reclaim my kingdom again and I survived. But even now I'm not a Hero. I'm just me. Does that make sense?"

"but what if I go and talk to people, and they hate me?"

"You're talking to me and I don't hate you. You have to give them a chance." Draco thought back on his own words. Perhaps he ought to write a letter to his parents. Give them a chance. A chance to make it better.

Ciel seemed to think about that for a while and they sat in silence watching the celebration, not on the outside but not quite inside. Then Ciel got up and went over to the Weasley twins. Fred ruffled his hair and launched into an old tale of a firecracker dragon. George looked over his head at Draco and they shared a smile.

When the final slice of cake had been eaten, Harry called everyone into the living room. The room seemed smaller with so many extra bodies. Harry stood in the center of the organized chaos. "Alright," he held his hands up. "I just wanted to let everyone know just how special this day is. Its border lining ridiculous to announce Damian's gift when everyone is here but this is the true reason we're celebrating." Harry smiled down at his son. "You know Damian's been living here all his life, but now after years of paperwork, pulling some strings and overall luck, Damian Carlos Garcia Potter will end his last two years of magical studies at Hogwarts."

There was a heartbeat of stricken silence and then the screaming started. There were hugs and tears and general hysteria, and Damian was in the middle of it all, mildly dazed with a gigantic smile on his face as his fangs glowed in the firelight. He kept his eyes on his father and this was one of those rare moments when Harry absolutely loved his life. Damian untangled himself from the group and tackled Harry in a hug. "I'm going to Hogwarts." He sounded awed. Harry grinned and held his boy tight, so immensely proud of the young man. "You're going to Hogwarts." He echoed back.

"You're going to be a Slytherin for sure!" Riley called out breaking the moment. "You already have the 'being scary' thing down. Just look at Seb!" Immi clocked the back of his head and Seb rubbed his temples, praying for patience as everyone laughed and cheered. The Weasley twin's started a bout of singing and it wasn't until the evening when the final guest had left, that it finally quieted.

Hermione, Remus and Teddy had stayed and all nine kids and Draco were piled around the room. Harry laughed and waved his hands for attention. "That's not all!" The silence in the room was loud with unspoken questions. "A few weeks ago, I found something out. I know that Draco is new to most of you but he is like a brother to Damian," he smiled at the two sitting on the floor. Damian ruffled Draco's hair. "Draco has become an important part of our family and with those two so close, it's almost no surprise that they share a birthday too."

Cries of surprise echoed through the room including from Draco himself. "Today's my birthday?" his eyes were wide.

Suddenly Severus Snape's voice drawled from the doorway. "Yes, as a matter of fact Draco it is, your birthday and Potter, would it be too much of a bother for you to get on with it? I do not want to hold this infernal creature longer than I have too."

He was holding a pale white kitten, with bright green eyes and a dark green ribbon tied around her neck. Severus on the other hand, looked very disgruntled as he held the ball of fluff out to his godson. "For you, then."

Draco was startled by the sudden loud cheer as his gingerly took the kitten and accepted the 'happy birthday' and well-wishers. Draco laughed softly as the feisty thing nipped at his fingers. His smile was large and boyish, making him look years younger.

As the night drew to a close, Draco hugged his godfather and the stiff man politely but fondly said goodnight and left with a glare that dared any one of his students to tell of his display of affection.

Riley was trying to think of names for the little kitten before bed. "Oh I got it this time! How about Godric?"

"It's a girl." Seb pointed out petting the kitten. "Um…Godrina?" Riley asked hesitantly. Seb laughed with his eyes and ushered his older brother to the stairs leading to their rooms. Immi punched Draco in the shoulder and advised him not to go with Godrina. Mary and Maria gushed over the kitten and promised Draco that they would bring him a birthday present when they got back from school next week anyway.

He held out the kitten for Dog's approval and smiled when the kitten reached out to bat Dog on the nose. Dog looked as disgruntled as a cat could but purred in forgiveness when Draco scratched his ear.

Ciel blinked up at him and gave one of his rare smiles. "Thank you Mr. Malfoy for everything." Draco smiled back. "You're welcome and my name is Draco, Ciel." Ciel smiled grew bigger. "I know Mr. Malfoy."

Draco crouched down and held the drowsy kitten out for Ciel's inspection. "Why don't you pick out her name? I think you would be good with them." Ciel hesitated, anxious that he would say something wrong but Draco gave him a reassuring smile. "Hero," Ciel whispered at last. "Hero," Draco repeated looking down at the cat and back at Ciel. "That's perfect."

Draco was enveloped in a quick gentle hug, and then Ciel was gone, tucked under Riley's arm as they disappeared up the third floor for bed.

Harry walked Draco and the little Hero to his room. "I'm glad you enjoyed your birthday." Harry said when they came to the door. Draco juggled the now sleeping kitten in his arms and bit his lip. "Thank you again. It was amazing."

Harry shrugged and leaned a bit too close, that it had warning bells go off in Draco's mind. "I think she'll make a great friend. It was mostly a present from Snape."

"Really?" Draco said his good mood thoroughly ruined. It was bad enough knowing that the man would never want him but to have him so close was cruel.

"Ya, I actually have another present for you." Draco looked away at that, his imagination running wild when he knew he shouldn't get his hopes up. He was a fool.

"You really didn't need to do that." Draco murmured. His breathe caught when his chin was firmly grasped by Harry. "Oh, but I did." He hissed, his voice low and dark.

Their eyes met and Draco fought the urge to whimper at the want of this to be real. To have a chance at love.

Harry crashed their lips together soundly, solidly and it was all so real. This was Harry. This was his chance. And it was sweet and tart, crisp, like green apples. It was perfect.

Harry disappeared down the hall and Draco opened his door to find a giant cat scratcher in the shape of a gothic castle in the space under his bed. He set the kitten down in a little bed in the Slytherin green dungeons of the castle and saw something on the roof. It was three notes, a cat collar and-

It was his wand.

Gingerly he picked up the length of wood and outright laughed at the feeling of having it in his hand again. He magic flowed through his blood as did the euphoria that he was trusted enough to have his wand with him again.

He picked up the first note, twirling his wand in his fingers. It was only three words in the delicate script of his mother.

Happy Birthday Draco,

Love, Mother, Father and Severus.

The second one was from Severus with a spell at the bottom.

I don't know what ridiculous thing you plan to do now that we got your wand back but might I suggest something along the lines of engraving the name of that beast into the collar? I do hope you named it something with class.

~S

The third was from Harry.

I leave Snape alone with the cat for five minutes and I find it spoiled rotten! A mini Hogwarts? Really? Your wand came in the mail this morning, along with the note. Kingsley wouldn't tell me anything and neither would Snape. It was my decision to let you have it. You deserve it. Sweet dreams, Draco.

Draco went to bed smiling that night.

ScarheadScarhead

The next morning during breakfast, Harry got up to answer the persistent pounding at the wards. Kingsley barreled through the fireplace, looking dazed and murderous all at once. "Kingsley?" Harry asked bewildered. "Is something wrong? Is it a tenant?"

Kingsley shook his head and his anger vibrated through the room. He said it all in one rush, as if he couldn't believe it himself. "You're being sued for unlawful possession of minors."

"What!?" Damian shouted.

"Kingsley what's going on?" Harry demanded.

The Minister shook his head, and looked Harry dead in the eye. "They're back, Harry. Mincent and Truxen: They're back."

ScarheadScarhead

"There is absolutely nothing I can do." Kingsley sighed over his cup of coffee, finally calming down. "It is perfectly within their rights to sue you." He sat at the table with everyone else, his sign proclaiming that he was "The King." Remus had abruptly left, when Kingsley had shown up, and no one had seen him since. Harry had sent all kids under thirteen upstairs and that left them, Harry, Draco, Hermione, Kingsley, Damian, Riley, Seb and Immi to figure out what to do.

"They won't win." Riley said stubbornly setting his jaw.

"It's not that simple." Hermione reminded gently.

"They don't just want to win," Sebastian growled. "They want to expose Draco to the public, demoralize Harry and win possession of Draco and Damian in one swoop."

"They can't possess Draco, he's not a minor." Damian pointed out.

Immi banged her hand on the table, making everyone jump. "They'll make him part of their pack and then go to the press. They'll want everyone to know that, 'hey we have Draco freaking Malfoy' it'll instantly give them political power and status. Same with the vamps. They'll have Harry Potter's son."

"Like hell they will." Harry hissed.

"How do we stop them from going to the press?" Riley asked.

Everyone looked to Kingsley who swirled his coffee around the mug. "Don't look at me. I wasn't supposed to stay here this long anyway. I can't help you."

"We don't." Draco murmured. Then with more conviction: "We don't stop them from going. I'm tired of hiding." Harry smiled at him and reached out to squeeze his hand.

"We go to the press first." Hermione argued getting everyone's attention. "We make it fair."

"No," Immi said slowly. "We go beyond fair. We ruin them. We make sure everyone knows how awful they are, so even if they do win, they won't be famous but infamous. So they feel the public pressure to release their power. Or they'll take back their lawsuit altogether."

Riley punched the air. "That's bloody brilliant!"

Seb narrowed his eyes at Immi and that look would have had anyone else bursting into tears. "How?"

Immi just looked at her Dad and her smile turned rather evil. Harry smiled right back and walked out to the living room. "Where are you going?" Hermione called.

"To contact an old friend!"

Kingsley got up and drained his coffee. "I heard nothing… but good luck." He closed the door behind him as he apperated away.

Damian warily eyed his little sister who was still sporting the psychotic-killer-evil-torturer grin. "Who is dad firecalling?"

"Remember how I said I got that summer job as an apprentice for the Daily Prophet?"

There was silence, and then:

"Harry, Darling!" Rita Skeeter's voice scratched through the house like a broken record. "To what do I owe the pleasure? My Immi? A long over-due interview? Or your little furry-fanged problem that'll be tomorrow's headlines?"

Draco dropped his head in his hands. "Oh, Hell."

DON'T KILL ME YET OR YOU'LL NEVER KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!

I am now shamelessly begging you to tell me if you like where this story is heading or not. And I shall beg you in song.

Hey I just wrote this. And this is crazy. But here's my story, so review it maybe… *awkwardly smiles*