Come What May
Chapter Four
AN: Once again apologies for the delay, I lost my aunt recently and I guess I've kind of been in a bad place (she was like a second mother to me). Then when I finally got back to work my lovely (please insert sarcasm here for now) boss hadn't even got my work covered, so needless to say I was swamped. But perseverance, an excellent group of work colleagues/friends and the threatening of bodily harm to said boss I finally got sorted. But thank you for hanging in there though, so anyway I'll stop my mumblings and get on with the story shall I...
It hadn't sunk in. Forty Eight hours since he had been told and he still couldn't grasp it...it was unbelievable. But the second opinion he had sought confirmed the first, so had the third, the fourth and finally the fifth. It was real, it could happen and it had happened to him...much the same as most things usually happened to him.
The smiling Mediwitch he had first spoken to had explained how rare it was, how unique his case would be. In a voice which had oddly reminded him of his best friend Hermione Granger during one of her knowledgeable spiels about pretty much everything, she had explained it was through the bond he shared with his lover. The magic that caused it came from a deep seated love and inevitably this was its outcome.
But now he was left with the reality of it all and the constant gnawing doubt that plagued him. Was he too young to carry such a responsibility? How would he fight in the impending war which he was to pay a pivotal role? What effects would it have on him? What would happen...what would happen when the time came for him to...he couldn't even finish the though as a pained wince crossed his face at it.
So many questions with very few answers, yet he had one answer that he had not sought. One fact stood out from all his findings that would not be denied and he was unsure if he even wanted to deny it. In all his confused thoughts only one coherent sentence repeated itself over and over and over in his head.
He was pregnant.
Sighing he flopped back onto his bed, his gaze focused listlessly on the ceiling above him and he bunched his coverlet in his hands. He savoured is feel, he drank in the colours that surrounded him, so familiar and comforting. He needed the anchor of it, for if he let it go for just one second he was sure the calm he had managed to drag over his person would fracture and break as surely as completely as a dropped crystal vase.
He wondered what his friends would make of this new turn of events. Would they scold him? Would they tut in a purely disappointed way and call him irresponsible? Would they see it as a hindrance to the war effort? Or would they hug him close? Tell him how happy they were for him and plan around it? But more importantly than all that...would they still be there for him?
He imagined it would start out as the former and gradually become the latter. But the one thing he did not know was how his lover would take it, true they had been together for the better part of two years but he could not claim to know his every reaction. Oh he did not doubt the love his partner had for him but this was a huge responsibility and not something they had discussed...especially since he had not known it was possible and his lover had never really brought such a thing up with him.
"Well Mr Potter, I believe congratulations are in order are they not?"
Harry sat up abruptly; he did not need to cast a quick glance in the mirror to the right to know that his face would be ashen in colour. For stood in front of him, her usually elegant and beautiful face scrunched up with a look of distaste and loathing that made his blood turn cold was the one person he did not want to contend with. If he thought his day had started poorly he could see it was about to get worse, he slowly inhaled a deep breath for courage and lifted his gaze to meet that of his lovers mother.
Narcissa Malfoy.
"How...?" words failed him as she suddenly stalked forward. Her whole body screamed barely repressed fury, her usually flawless movement now stiffened with her anger. His hands instinctively moved to wrap protectively around his stomach, her icy gaze tracked the movement and she threw him a disgusted look in response to it.
"Did you really think that you would have been able to keep such a sordid little secret from me? That you would tell my son, and then actually get to play happy families behind my back whilst I remained blissfully oblivious of what was going on? Honestly Potter I really thought that having a clever mudblood friend you would have known better" her voice was soft but he did not miss its underlying steel.
"So do you believe that you will trap my son with a baby? I very much doubt that Potter, Draco understands that the family traditions need to be upheld. But I was lenient with him and decided I could overlook his need for experimentation, however when I heard of this new...development...well I decided it was time I intervened."
Harry opened his mouth to protest, to deny her claims that he would want to trap Draco into anything. He loved his lover with all of his heart; if he were to have a life with him then it would be because Draco had chosen to be with him not because he had not felt he had a choice. But the words that he wanted to form never made it past his lips, the venomous glare she shot him as soon as he had made to speak had robbed him of whatever it was he had been about to say.
Silently he stared helplessly up at her as she raked his sprawled figure from head to toe, never before had he felt so helpless under someone's gaze. Never before had he felt that he were the lowest being on earth, but as he watched her eyes cloud with pure disgust, rejection and an obvious disappointment that Draco had involved himself with Harry of all people...he felt as though he were something she had trodden on.
But this was his lover's mother, a person that Draco loved. If he had any hope of wanting a life with Draco then he had to show her how much the blonde meant to him. That he had no intention of trapping Draco with anything that it would be his lovers choice to stay with him or not, that he would not force his hand and he would respect that choice because he loved him.
She had to see how much they meant to each other.
"You would be wise to listen to me Harry and you had better listen well. That...that abomination you carry will never and I do mean never be accepted as a Malfoy, and if Draco goes against his values and he chooses to stand by your side...he will forfeit his right to the family name."
Harry felt his stomach plummet at her words; would she really do that to her own son? Would Lucius...a man Draco claimed loved him and was completely misunderstood...would he turn his back on his own flesh and blood? Harry already knew how much pride the Malfoy's placed on their family name, would it really be so hard to believe that Draco's parents would disown him if they felt he had tarnished that name?
Lowering his gaze he stared at his hands, noted how even though they were curled in a gesture of protection they trembled badly and he sighed in resignation. This was Draco's mother, and even though he knew that the blonde loved him he knew that he could not compete with a familial bond. Looking up at the flaxen haired women's now neutral face he could see the dim gleam of triumph in her eyes, she knew that this was an argument she would win...she knew he could not compete with her.
Slowly she stepped forward before finally lowering herself to sit at his side. Reaching out she clasped his shaking hands in her slender steady ones, her fingers were icy as they wrapped around his own but he did not miss their meaning. Her grip on him was too tight to allow the underlying warning to be overlooked.
"I think deep down you knew it wouldn't last Harry. After all, Draco is and always will be first and foremost a Malfoy and maybe he would have done the honourable thing and stood by your side throughout your pregnancy and into the first years of the life you talked of sharing. But years down the line, when his name lies in nought but disgraced tatters about his feet...he will look at you and feel nothing but contempt." Harry wondered at how her voice could sound so soft and soothing when her words were breaking his heart.
"Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind, you may hurt Draco now but think about how hurt he would be if he lost his family legacy" and didn't the underlying truth to those words cause a bitter ache.
"Draco understands his duty to his line; why else would he be betrothed to someone else...Draco does not belong to you Harry." He knew of course about Draco's betrothal, the blonde had been quiet candid about it. But Draco had always maintained that he would never spend his life with anyone other than Harry...but that had never been set in stone.
He knew the value that Draco held for his name, knew how proud he was to be a Malfoy...he had boasted it often enough. Yes he probably would stand by Harry, would do what he thought would be right by him. But Draco was young and with age there was every possibility that those feelings could change.
The thought that his lover, the man with whom he had entrusted his heart and soul to, the man who he loved beyond any shadow of a doubt, could one day look at him in contempt caused a small whimper to escape him. Everything else he could endure, but not that...never that.
"What would you like me to do?" he asked softly.
If it were possible for any person to embody the saying 'the proverbial cat that got the cream' he knew that it would be Narcissa Malfoy. Her whole body screamed triumph; her eyes gleamed with happiness and what Harry surmised could pass for a smile suddenly started to curl the thinness of her lips. Knowing that she had conquered him was a low blow, but something deep inside him told him that this was what needed to be done.
"Tell him that you have had a chance to think things through and it's over; tell him that you no longer love him. You could tell him that you're both just too different to make this relationship between you work and have a prosperous future. Put whatever spin you feel you have to on it, as long as it disentangles you from his life I really could care less. What you will not tell him is that you are expecting his child, perhaps you would do well to look into a more permanent way of rectifying that mistake...of ensuring he never has cause to find out the truth.
He didn't need her to clarify her meaning; she wanted him to get rid of his child. The thought of ending a life before it had even had chance to begin caused his heart to chill. No matter what Narcissa thought he was capable of, he really was not capable of that.
"I will break up with Draco" he finally responded, he knew that she would have noted that he did not address her wish to abort his child. But she already had what she wanted most so obviously she did not care to comment.
Standing she brushed none existent dust from her impeccable robes, the action was so reminiscent of Draco that he had to look away. He would never again get to watch his lover fuss over his clothes, never feel the warmth of his arms as they embraced him after a nightmare or have him sooth away his fears.
"If I find that you have not done as I have asked, you will find that I make a deadly enemy even for the boy who lived. Furthermore if your Gryffindor sense of rightness urges you to tell Draco the truths of your child...know that I will do everything in my considerable power to make life very difficult for him or her."
Leaving the threat as her last words to him she sailed from the room. Slowly slumping in on himself Harry could do nothing but watch her departing figure, his world slowly shattering to tatters in her wake.
He wasn't sure how long he sat there motionless on his bed. It could have been seconds, mere minutes or even hours; he couldn't even find cause within himself to care at that moment. All that remained with him was that he had allowed Narcissa Malfoy a victory he had never thought to grant; now he was left numb in its aftermath with nothing to comfort the blow.
Maybe it was his hormones, or maybe he really didn't place enough value on his own self worth. Contrary to popular belief Harry had always been a very insecure person, always seeing himself as lesser than his peers. It would seem that Narcissa had known his inner feelings, and had been able to pinpoint exactly every single one of those hidden fears that had unknowingly always been plaguing his mind.
Draco was beautiful, intelligent and carried himself with confidence. In short he was all the things that Harry knew he himself was not, sometimes he had been awed at his good fortune and then he would wonder exactly what the other man saw in him.
'He will look at you and feel nothing but contempt'
Harry bit back a sob as the cruel words recanted again and again almost mockingly in his mind. The part of him that knew Draco loved him just as much as he loved Draco argued that that day would never come, it would never happen. But the part of him that did not know what it meant to be a Malfoy, to have a family name that held so much value of old, was not so sure.
He couldn't be allowed to be selfish and make Draco choose between him and his family...he really did have no other choice but to let his lover go.
He wondered when he would begin to show. The Mediwitch told him that he might never develop a baby bump, that he may retain his flat stomach up until the last months of his pregnancy. It would be easy enough to hide if that was the case, and if not then he would use a glamour charm.This was his last year and when summer came he would graduate from the only place he had ever thought of as a home. He had hoped he would be graduating into a life with the man he loved...fate it seemed had other plans for him.
Standing he made his way over to one of the towers windows and lowered himself onto the seat just beneath the sill. Perhaps it would not have been so painful if he had not been alone, as always Christmas time had seen his fellow students going home to their families leaving him behind. Usually it did not bother him so much, but now he would have given anything to see a friendly face.
He thought back to how he had imagined he would welcome Draco when he returned to Hogwarts, how he had been so excited at the thought of giving him the gift he had spent hours lovingly picking. He'd imagined how his face would have looked when he opened it; how his eyes would light with happiness once he had pulled it free of its wrappings. He'd smiled when he thought of how Draco would pull him into his strong embrace and kiss him senseless.
But those images would not come into fruition, even now his memory of thinking them had turned to ash. Now new images of Draco's face, filled with pain and confusion danced cruelly at the forefront on his mind...visions of how he would look when Harry broke his heart.
Staring out over the horizon he watched as the sun began to rise; its sheer brilliance cast crimson rays across the cloudless skies...a red dawn. Muggles depicted that a red sky in the morning was often a sign of a bad omen if his memory served correctly.
Maybe it was a sign, that although his mind was set...it really wasn't the right choice to make.
Gasping for breath Harry bolted upright, his heart was pounding a mile a minute as the contents of his dream rushed to the forefront of his mind. It was the same one that had haunted many of his nights in the past...it had been a while since he had had it.
He could always recall with perfect clarity the night that Draco's mother had come to visit him, how she had stayed until dawn to sow the seeds of doubt within his mind. When he had looked back on it he often wondered how he had been swayed so easily, how he had given up the greatest love of his life without so much as a sense to fight for it...perhaps he really hadn't deserved Draco back then after all.
Sighing his flopped back against his pillows and made to turn, his movement however was blocked by the presence of another body in his bed.
Then memory slammed into him, pale moonlight, pale skin, lips travelling over his body leaving nothing but fire in their wake, knowing hands reacquainting themselves with all the old places they had long forgotten. Skin on skin, breath mixed with breath and a feeling of rightness he had not felt in such a long time. The body lying next to him was Draco, and last night they had made love.
He recalled how Draco had been in his room when he had woken, how the blonde had reached out to him so tenderly. He remembered how he had whispered his lovers name and watched with widened eyes as though that alone had caused Draco to tip over whatever edge he had balanced on. If he had thought it just a dream he had the pleasant pains in certain places to remind him it was reality.
An arm snaked around his waist and he held his breath thinking he had woken his blonde companion. But the even breathing against his neck signalled that Draco was indeed still asleep, now he had the task of disentangling himself from the hold he was currently in.
Finally working his way out from under Draco's arm he slipped from the bed. His eyes landed on his sleep pants which had been thrown to the floor last night; he blushed at the memory of them being removed. Picking them up he flung them into his laundry basket and instead reached for his dressing gown, it was white and made of silk...the only luxury he allowed.
Belting the robe he made his way quietly from the room closing the door softly behind him. Turning he sagged against the wall only to straighten when he noted that both his daughter and Lyle stood before him. Both wore smirks that looked all Malfoy and Harry resisted the temptation...god he'd slept with Draco with children in the house, where the hell had his sense of propriety gone.
"We're hungry daddy" Abbey offered and even her voice sounded smug.
Pushing himself away from the wall Harry stalked down the hall towards the kitchen, he was sure that a small cough of laughter followed him but mortification held his tongue. He was meant to be an adult, not a horny schoolboy.
Heading straight to the fridge he pulled out a carton of eggs and set about making pancakes, banana ones would do for this morning. Abbey and Lyle entered the kitchen seconds later and both seated themselves at the breakfast bar, he could feel both their gazes on him but did not look up from his task.
A loud yawn sounded out and Harry chanced a quick glance up to see Abbey giving Lyle a sly look as he covered his mouth.
"Did you not get much sleep last night Lyle, I know how you feel" she simpered with what Harry rightly depicted as mock concern, the sleepy eyed boy shot him a look from beneath dark bangs and Harry felt his skin flush. God his daughter certainly was a piece of work, he wondered if she'd inherited her need to tease him from Draco.
Had he really been that loud?
Sensing him looking over Abbey turned to look at him, her eyes sparked with a mixture of mischief and mirth and it was then Harry had an epiphany. They hadn't heard a thing; the little devils had seen Draco's empty bed (after all Lyle had been sleeping in the same room and bed as him) and put two and two together. Not that that made him feel any better though, as much as he didn't regret what had passed between himself and Draco he wished their timing had been better.
Sighing he wondered what would happen now, a stolen night of passion meant nothing really. It could have been a caught in the moment thing, it wasn't as though Draco had declared to...oh god.
He'd told Draco that he loved him, how the hell could he have been so stupid as to open himself like that. Draco wanted to get to know his daughter, reacquainting himself with Harry's body had been an unintentional act Harry was sure. But he'd had to let the other man see that he still held his heart, he was setting himself up for a very hard fall.
He'd lied to Draco, had let him believe that he fell out of love with him, had told him that he just liked the way Draco could make his body feel. How in the hell did he expect Draco to overcome the hurt he must have caused him, why the hell had he told him that he loved him?
Too many questions for too early a time in the morning, he would have to think about what he wanted to do now.
"Daddy is everything ok?" Abbey's voice broke through his train of thought and he turned to offer her a small smile. He didn't want to be the cause of her worry, she had already had a very emotional twenty four hours and he did not want to add to that.
"I'm fine sweetheart, why don't you pour both yourself and Lyle some orange juice whilst I set about making these pancakes" he responded his voice sounding light and steady.
He watched from the corner of his eye as she scurried to do as he had asked with no complaint. She was such a sweet little girl, always polite, always playful and so well behaved. Yet she could be rambunctious at times, shrewd and far too intelligent for her own good...he was lucky to have her.
"I thought perhaps that you would spend the day with Draco today, maybe go out and do something with him and Lyle or take a trip to his home. I'm sure that you would like to see where you will stay when you visit with him" Harry said over his shoulder as he expertly flipped the pancake over.
"Will you be coming with us?" she asked in reply.
Harry was glad that his back was to her so she did not see the look that crossed his face at her words. He could think of a million different reasons why playing happy families with Draco would hurt, not only himself but in the long run it would hurt Abbey as well when she realised that they would not be a happy family...happy yes in a way but not as a family.
"I have a few business errands I need to do today sweetheart, I have to go and see Mr Tibias about the property I want to develop" Harry said serving up the pancakes he had made in stacks upon the two plates he had set out. Making his way to the freezer he pulled out the tub of vanilla ice cream and added a small scoop on each tray, finally he deposited a small amount of syrup in a serving jug.
Turning he placed a plate in front of each child and the set the syrup jug between them, his lips were pulled into a smile.
"Now why don't you both eat up and I'll get breakfast ready for Draco, then you can both get dressed and we'll see about getting the day started" he said brightly, they eagerly nodded and happily dug into their food.
Harry smiled a genuine smile at their enthusiasm, he loved children. Their appreciation for almost everything in life often warmed his heart, and he was kind of glad in a way how things had turned out. Abbey now had a sibling, someone who she could share her own knowledge with and the love of a parent...she'd always said she wanted a brother or a sister.
He wondered if he and Draco would have had a slew of children if they had not broken up, would they have all been like his daughter. Shaking his head he banished the thoughts, nostalgia for what could have been was not the most productive way to start a day and it would only serve to make him more troubled.
His past feelings needed to be put in a box and abruptly sealed, no matter how hard it may have been to do it. He and Draco had been over for years. It was strange how that simple thought still hurt him just as much as it had always done, but this was the way things were. It didn't matter that he still loved the blonde because nothing would change how Draco felt.
For in the memories he could now recall with ease there was one fact that stood out with perfect clarity. In the whispered words that were shared last night the absence of certain ones had been most clearly noted, and Harry had felt their loss like a blow to his heart.
For he had whispered that he still loved the blonde, but Draco...Draco had never said that he loved him back.
The smell of pancakes wafted enticingly through the air; slowly he prised open one eye and winced at the harsh morning glare that attacked his vision. Groaning he rolled onto his back and flung an arm over his face, the bed felt empty. He wondered if Lyle had been awake long. Sitting upright with a speed that almost winded him he groaned again as memory assaulted him.
Dear god what had he done.
He grimaced he recalled with perfect ease his total lack of control when he'd come here last night, he hadn't meant for things to go that far. Harry had probably been vulnerable from everything that had happened and in need of comfort. So what had Draco done...he'd gone and taken advantage of the other man in his sensitive state, what the hell must Harry think of him now.
Sighing he threw the covers from his body and ignored his obvious nakedness, standing he stretched to work out the pleasant kinks in his muscles. A sudden gasp had him whirling round towards the door and his gaze instantly clashed with widened green orbs.
Harry stood in the door way, his slender body covered only a white silk robe and the v of the neck had fallen loose to show the naked skin of his chest. His dark hair was tousled still from sleep, his lips swollen from where the bottom one had been caught between his teeth and his cheeks and neck were adorably flushed. In his hands he carried a tray holding a steaming mug of tea and a plate filled with a small stack of pancakes.
"Good morning Draco" he finally said. His voice was soft...a whispered caress almost and Draco felt his body tighten in response.
A multitude of emotions slammed through him with an aching need directly at the fore, never had been affected by the mere presence of someone at such a level. But stood before him looking innocent and shy, Harry was embodiment of temptation and Draco wanted to ravish him on the spot.
Reigning in his libido with super human effort, Draco retrieved his sleep pants and slipped them on ignoring the memory of how they had come off the night before. He was well aware that Harry followed his movements as he dressed and it too sheer strength of will no to react. One he was decent he slipped back into the bed and adjusted the pillows so he could sit up against them; he regarded Harry with a hooded gaze lest the other man see what he was feeling.
Cautiously Harry made his way over, sitting on the very edge of the bed he handed the tray to Draco with visibly shaking hands.
Draco was at a total loss as to how he could put the other man at ease. Accepting the tray with a gracious smile he placed it upon his knees. Perhaps if he apologised to him them perhaps Harry would relax, as right as last night had felt he did not want his recklessness to be thing that pushed Harry away. But how did he word his apology? How did he tell him that he felt sorry for acting as he had done when that wasn't the case at all?
"Harry...about last night...I'm sorry, I should not have done what I did. It was a mistake and I make no excuse for having made it, I only hope that in time you will come to forgive me for it" he stated. That sounded ok to his ears, hopefully Harry would accept that.
Looking up his eyes widened. Of all the reactions he had expected, Harry recoiling from him as though he had been physically struck had not been of them.
The smaller man looked positively shaken as he stood, Draco caught the unmistakable hue of hurt in those beautiful green eyes and realised too late that he may have said the wrong thing. He watched in sort of detached misery as the other man stumbled into the walk in wardrobe were he must have dressed at the speed of light for he appeared fully clothed and shoed what could have been mere minutes later.
"I need to go, you're more than welcome to stay here as long as you like for today...perhaps you might like to take Abbey out and do something. I know that she's looking forward to spending time with you, maybe take her to your home" Harry stated softly then turning he all but ran from the room.
Draco waited all but two seconds (which he used to place the tray away from him on the bed) then he bolted after Harry. He skidded into the living area and caught sight of the front door closing and dove towards it. A crack sounded out as he wrenched it open and he knew before he even scanned the empty hallway that Harry was gone...what the hell had happened?
Closing the door he leant his forehead against it and hit the sturdy wood with his clenched fist. A small cough sounded out, he did not need to turn to know that his children were in the room watching him with curious gazes.
"Your father is an idiot" he stated his voice muffled against the wood. He knew he did not need to clarify whom he was speaking of, they both knew that he spoke of himself. At that moment he realised that he had never spoken truer words.
'I love you Dray'
God how could he have forgotten those whispered words. How could he have so carelessly called their love making a mistake when it had been so much more? Why had he not told Harry what it had meant to him? Why had he been so utterly stupid? Everything was a mess and he had nobody to blame about it other than himself.
Muttering an oath Draco pulled away from the door and turned to regard his children. As was his usual expression towards most things Lyle looked adorably confused over what had just happened, bless the boy. His daughter who stood with her arms folded regarded him back with a smirk that was most befitting of someone with Malfoy blood, if he was not so distressed he probably would have congratulated her on it.
"Well I guess that means I have you two scamps for the day, why don't you both get dressed whilst I finish eating and we will go see your Grandfather Lucius. I am sure that he will be most happy to get acquainted with you Abbey" he offered a smile to his daughter as he began to made his way back towards Harry's room to finish his breakfast before dressing.
He and his father had much to discuss.
"You don't think it weak of me father?"
Although he was aware how much his father loved him, crying so freely was still regarded as a weakness within the eyes of the Malfoy line. He didn't want his father to frown down upon him for showing his emotions so freely.
The Malfoy patriarch regarded him from a hooded gaze for a moment; he squirmed in his seat as the silence stretched between them. Finally Lucius offered a small smile before reaching out and gathering his shaking body in his arms and hugging his close. The contact was...surprising to say the least.
"Did you truly love him Draco?" his father murmured against his hair, there was no loathing in his question only a quiet curiosity.
"More than I ever thought I possibly could" he responded softly, he curled his fists into the fabric he was being held against. He needed the anchor of it at the moment; he felt that without something to hold onto his whole would surely shatter beneath him.
"Then spilling tears for the loss of such a thing is not a weakness Draco, you may be a Malfoy but you are also a man. In the end we are all human Draco and we all have hearts which can easily be broken, all have feelings which can often he hurt. Crying is not a weakness son, it is a cleansing and you should embrace it."
Draco smiled at the words even as fresh tears began to pour down his face, this was the Lucius he had wanted Harry to meet. The kind almost gentle man who knew just what to say to make Draco feel better, who spoke with a wisdom which was all his own and who showed his love for his son without fear of repercussions. But now Harry would never get the chance to meet him.
"I just don't understand it father, we were so happy and then suddenly he was leaving me...how can you just fall out of love with someone?" Draco asked his voice almost anguished as he spoke.
He recalled how Harry would not meet his gaze when he'd ended their relationship, how the smaller boy had kept his words to a whisper as they trembled from his lips. Each softly uttered syllable had been like a knife wound to his heart...swift and painful and deadly in its intent.
"He said I was his sun, that he was my moon...that he was born to die and be reborn in the fire I scorched him with. How do you take something like that back father, how do you claim that someone is your everything in one breath and tell them it's over in another?" Draco's voice was full of confusion as he thought about everything his black haired love had told him.
Sighing he pulled away from his father's arms to hug his own about his middle, he felt empty and lost and utterly betrayed.
"I have no doubt that Harry loved you Draco, the letters you sent me cannot deny that the boy returned your feelings. Perhaps he wanted to spare you any future pain, what with the war looming ever closer. Perhaps it is not as simple as you wish it was" Lucius offered.
Draco wanted to shout, he wanted it to be that simple damn it. Why couldn't he know what was going through his lovers mind when he had told him that they could no longer be together?
He thought of the ring his father had given him the Malfoy engagement ring. His mother had never received it when his father had become engaged to her, they may have had an accord which suited them but both knew that the other did not love them.
The ring was reserved for people who were in love with the person they wished to give it to.
He'd spoken with his father at length over giving it to Harry, had been pleased that Lucius supported his decision. In the end as long as he had his father backing him that really was all he needed...but now he knew that he'd needed Harry's love as well, needed it as surely as he needed air to breathe.
What would he do with himself now that his lover had cast him aside? Had Harry really fallen out of love with him? Had he suddenly woken up one morning and realised that Draco was not as important to him as he had first believed he was?
Or was his father right, had Harry thought to spare him any pain should he not make it through the impending war that loomed on the horizon?
So many questions with no real answers, all he had in the end was what he wished were truth and what he knew to be truth and it did little to offer him comfort. But deep down what hurt the most was that for a fleeting moment when his lover had spoken with him, he'd wondered if Harry was right...were they really that compatible.
"Love can sometimes be a fickle thing my son, perhaps he did not love you as much as he first thought he did."
Turning Draco regarded his mother as she stood in the doorway, her hands were clasped together and her face showed an open mixture of concern and pity. It was strange she should be that way for he had never really been close to her.
"Maybe he realised what your heart would not truly allow you to see. That you both come from different backgrounds...that you really are much too different to ever make each other happy" her voice was soft but Draco still flinched at her words.
"I do not say this to make you feel worse my son, I know that we have never always been completely close but never forget that I am your mother and I love you. When you spoke of Harry I would have been a fool to miss the love that you held for him, I was looking forward to welcoming him into our home" she said as she made her way further into the room.
"I hate the fact that he has hurt you my boy but perhaps when you look within your own heart you will see that maybe he was right" she finished.
Draco turned questioning eyes to his father who was now regarding his mother with an unreadable expression. There was a slight curl to his lips almost an grimace but not fully formed, he wanted to ask him what he was thinking.
"Lucius do be a dear and inform the house elves that we will be having guests this evening, I am sorry to impose such an evening on you now Draco but I was not aware that you were upset...I have invited the Vasquez's to dine with us this evening."
Lucius inclined his head at her request but Draco did not miss the way his eyes had narrowed, nor how the line of his mouth had thinned. Something was on his father's mind that much he was sure of, but then he was being swept from the room by his mother and his sudden pondering of his father was forgotten as she set about coaxing him from his misery.
It had been the first time in a long while that he had gotten on so well with his mother, that she had down an avid interest in his life and what his plans for the future were. She laughed with him and teased him pretty much like any loving mother would when her son needed distraction.
That really should have been his first warning that something was not as it seemed.
Malfoy manor loomed before them and Draco smiled at his daughters wide eyed wonder at his ancestral home.
"Well angel, what do you think of where I grew up?" he asked his voice teasing. Having been caught blatantly awed by the sheer presence of the building Abbey grinned and the light in her eyes showed that she more than approved of it. Clasping his sons hand in his right he took a step forward only for his breath to still when he felt his daughters hand slip into his left.
"Tell me what Grandfather Lucius is like" she asked as they began to walk down the pathway that led to the huge entrance doors.
"He is probably the most infuriatingly knowledgeable man you are ever likely to meet, plus his friendship with Sirius Black of all people means he like to tease as well" Draco offered with a smirk. He loved his father to distraction but sometimes the man could be as irritating as sin.
"Well I will be sure to pass those compliments on to Mr Black when we next meet up" a voice cut in amusedly and Draco halted his movements. Turning he smiled as his father came to a halt behind them, his face was smiling as his eyes wondered over their group.
The years had been more than kind to Lucius Malfoy; his hair still held all the vitality of his youth but had now lightened with age. The corners of his eyes had developed lines throughout the years as his only mark that time had touched him, he wore silver wire-framed glasses now as his eyesight was no longer what it had once been. But other than that he still looked the same as he had in Draco's childhood.
"Hello father" he murmured softly.
"A pleasure to see you my son and you too Lyle, it seems that every time I see you that another inch has been added to your height. Keep this up and you will soon be towering over your father" Lucius mused and Draco shot him a dirty look, his father was still sore over the fact that Draco was his exact match in height.
"Hello, and who might you be?" Lucius asked softly his eyes resting on Abbey. Draco felt her tighten her grip on his hand for just a moment and then she was pulling away from him, she took a few steps forward and looked up at her Grandfather. Her eyes were openly full of curiosity and the older man smiled indulgently down at her.
"This is Abbey father...my daughter" Draco stated his voice laced with pride.
Lucius's eyes widened in surprise, he raked a gaze over the child stood before him and Draco knew he would be finally noting how much she resembled him. His father's gaze stopped at her face and Draco knew that he would be looking into those familiar green eyes and recalling exactly who had eyes the exact same shade.
"Abbey Potter sir, it is nice to meet you" her voice sounded out. If Lucius was shocked by her declaration of her last name then he hid it well, he reached down to bypass the hand she held out to him and pulled her into an embrace. His eyes however were fixed solely on Draco as his Granddaughter returned the hold.
"My dear girl, what a pleasure to meet you it is" he whispered and Draco could sense the emotion he was feeling from the tone of his voice. Shock, bewilderment, confusion and happiness bordering on utter joy.
Lucius looked down at the blonde head tucked beneath his chin and back up again, Draco could easily make out the words 'we need to talk' mouthed silently at him and with a sigh he nodded his consent. Lucius would request to know everything and Draco would fulfil that request.
Then together they would decide exactly what to do about Narcissa.
Well, what do you think? I have to say that pumping this out was a bit tiring being that it is now 3am and my eyes feel like they have grit in them. I have decided that this is now going to be slightly longer than I had originally intended, I hope you all don't mind! I had only thought to do about 4 chapters when I wrote the first one but it seems that my muse has other ideas.
I thank you all for being very patient with me, and I hope that you liked the little flashbacks I gifted you with in the chapter. I decided to show some of what happened in the past and will obviously have some other flashes in future chapters (one will contain the breakup). Thank you to those who have favourited me or put me on your alert list I am flattered that you like the story enough to want to read more. Now onto thanking my lovely reviewers who as always make me very happy with the wonderful comments they leave.
Ashlynne: I am glad that your are enjoying your read, I have plans for Narcissa which will be revealed soon...but I think it's safe to say that Draco is determined that she gets her comeuppance.
DBZfanalways: Thank you for your wonderful comments; I am glad that you wanted me to continue. Yeah I guess I'm a sucker for a happy ending but it doesn't mean I'm going to make it easy for them to get there though!!
grey satin cloak: I'm glad that it let you review, computers tend to be annoying when it comes to commenting on peoples work. I am very glad that you liked the last chapter; I hope that you will continue to read and like the new chapters as they come.
DrArRy4EvA: blushes thank you very much for your review; I am glad that you're enjoying the story.
JennBenn3148: I really did consider her flipping out over the whole thing, but then I just couldn't do it. I'm glad that you liked what I eventually went with and here's the more that you were waiting for, enjoy.
Jolie71: I remember the first time I got into Harry/Draco, nothing quite like finding a story you enjoy when you start liking a new pairing. I'm very glad that you enjoyed mine; hope you enjoyed the new chapter.
Crash And Burn93: Thank you so much, I'm glad that your enjoying the current chapters. Hope you enjoy the new one and hope I can give you the good ending you want when I eventually get there.
Miss Romantic: Thank you so much for your review, it made me smile. I am very sorry that the update didn't come as quick as I would have liked but such is the way of life, anyway I am glad you are enjoying the story and hope you will continue to do so.
SeulWolfe: Oh yes I have plans for that interfering Narcissa don't you worry, and here we have Lucius's first meeting with his Granddaughter...This will probably be expanded on in the next chapter but hope you liked it anyway.
musehic: Glad to know your still liking the story, and that you enjoyed my little love scene. I never realised how difficult they are to write but glad you liked it, hope you liked the new chapter as well.
celestialuna: Thank you very much, glad you're enjoying. Here's the requested more and very sorry about the delay.
txcalbud: Thanks for the review, that's what I was going for when I wrote them talking. I wanted to show the first steps towards the relationship Harry and Lyle will forge, also that Harry wants to get to know him for himself. The question about Narcissa and her twistedness...I guess you could say her sense of family value has warped her, she has a need to keep Draco under control to prove she still has a say in what he does with his life. As for how far Draco would go to destroy his mother...he's a Malfoy and that's all I'm saying!!!
Kelly82: Thanks for reviewing; I love Harry and Draco together too so it's safe to say that they won't be staying apart.
Liquorish: Well your wish will have been granted, I do think there will most definitely be more than one chapter. Thanks for the review and hope you continue to enjoy.
Potter's Wifey: I am glad that you loved the last chapter, here's the update sorry it took so long. I hope that you enjoyed this one as well.
JinxyKat: Glad that you liked the interaction. Oh yes Mrs Malfoy will most definitely get what is coming to her, and I will quite enjoy writing it as well. Hope you liked the new chapter.
If I have missed anyone off I do apologised and due to the earliness of the morning I hope you'll forgive me. Please review and let me know what you're thinking so far, I did have a lovely e-mail off an author who has asked if I would be interested in a co-write. However due to my e-mail account having a fit the other day I think it may have been eaten as I can't find it, so whoever you are that sent the co-write request either re-mail me or review and let me know as I would most certainly be interested. Thank you for reading guys and hopefully I will be writing to you all again at the end of chapter five!! Ciao for now x