AN: I'm aware this chapter took a terribly long time for me, but hey, writer's block happens & stuff. I expect the following chapters will take just as long unless a miracle happens & the words fly from my fingertips.

If the toddler language in the chapter offends you well sorry, but I based it off something my children had done so that's the way it is.

Thanx for reading *kisses*

Chapter 21 – Number 4 Privet Drive

"Do you think Harry's alright?" Hermione walked begrudgingly beside Draco as they traversed Diagon Alley.

He had refused to allow her to carry Xander, which she felt was absolutely ridiculous. She was pregnant, not an invalid, but Draco had refused to yield.

"Who cares? Don't look at me like that. I'm sure he's bloody delightful, having copious glasses of whisky with Wendell and dancing about completely starkers. Stori has a tendency to overreact. What would you like us to do? We've spoken with Kingsley and he assured us the victim was not Harry. Other than that, all we can do is wait it out, which we can do as easily here as we can at home." Draco cradled Xander carefully in his arms, pointing out the menagerie of witches and wizards wandering down the street.

"I hate it when you're right." Hermione shivered due to the light chill in the air and tightened the belt on her navy peacoat.

"Admit it, love, I've finally outlogicked Hermione Granger."

"Outlogicked isn't even a word."

"Doesn't matter, I've done it. Come along then, Xander here requires some robes if he's ever going to make a go of it as a proper wizard."

Draco stopped suddenly to stare down at his irritated little wife. He glanced about at the lunch hour bustle and realised, in that moment, he felt content. It was silly to think of such a thing while there was a deranged murderer running about, but he couldn't help it. He felt as if he truly had a family and while he couldn't imagine his heart capable of expanding further, the idea of his child growing within his wife brought him near to bursting.

Draco caught Hermione around the waist and he knew her first instinct would be to slap him. She grasped his forearm to keep herself steady and looked up, prepared to reprimand him when she saw the shine in his eyes. He'd never looked at her that way before and she found it slightly unnerving. Hermione didn't have more than a breath to contemplate it before his lips lightly touched hers.

She could no longer here the chatter on the streets, nor the clipping of shoes along the cobblestone. She was vaguely aware of Xander patting her head, but none of it mattered. Hermione's hand found his cheek with her eyes closed shut tight. She stretched onto her toes, pulling him closer, disregarding their surroundings as the sensation of his soft lips consumed her. Draco gently broke their kiss, keeping his arm tightly around her and pecked her forehead.

"I love you." Hermione inhaled deeply, memorising the moment.

"La loo." Xander bounced on Draco's arm, smiling happily.

"I feel guilty for feeling so happy." Hermione whispered into his chest while Xander chanted and waved at everything.

"You're definitely not alone there. Why don't we have a bite to eat?" Draco pushed open the door to a little café Hermione had never noticed before.

"Thank Merlin, I'm absolutely famished!" Draco laughed, his hand on the small of Hermione's back as they were lead to a small table in a darkened corner.

Xander was twisting and turning, trying to capture everything in his excitement. Draco had half a mind to stick Xander to his chair, but he couldn't imagine Hermione looking kindly upon him for it. Instead he whispered to the hostess and she brought what looked like a high chair, yet the straps were magically enhanced keeping Xander firmly in place.

"Da! Eat! Eat, Da!" Xander pounded the table with his chubby fists, his feet kicking wildly.

Hermione took it upon herself to calm him. It was obvious he was incredibly attached to Draco, but after some coaxing they had come to an understanding. Xander was determined to eat 'pi pa' and Hermione was adamant he was going to eat something more substantial.

"Nee? What the fuck is pi pa?"

"Fuck!" Xander laughed, repeating the curse so many times older witches and wizards were glowering at them.

"Malfoy! You can't say that in front of him. He'll repeat anything. He wants pizza and since this is a Wizarding establishment he'll have to settle for chicken and a bit of mash. Xander behave." Hermione scowled, yet poured some pumpkin juice into a small glass and held it to his lips.

"Like it!" Xander laughed, grabbing the glass with both hands and finishing it quickly.

"I have no bloody idea what I'm doing." Draco mumbled while perusing the menu with a disgruntled sigh.

"We'll figure it out together. I'll owl Andromeda and have her bring Teddy over for a spell. Perhaps we can have Victoire visit as well. I don't expect Xander has even met children his own age; it could be good for him. Of course we must finish shopping; he's in desperate need of clothing."

"We haven't even delegated him a room yet. He'll need toys as well. I'm sorry I sprung this on you…"

"He's family. Don't give it another thought. Did you finish the papers?" Hermione gestured with her fork, immediately diving into her salad, while Draco cut Xander's food into manageable pieces.

"They're on file with the Ministry. Lovely bit of magic, really. The moment I signed they disappeared. It seems as though Xander here is officially a Malfoy." Hermione leaned across the table, holding Xander's hand to keep him from flicking his mashed potatoes across the table.

"I gave him your name. I hope you don't mind." She studied the confusion etched in the furrow of his brows.

"Well, it would be strange if he were to remain a Granger when we're all Malfoys, wouldn't it then?" Draco took a large bite of dripping beef sandwich with a small shrug.

"Draco." His head popped up instantly. It wasn't often Hermione called him by his given name and he deduced it must be important. "Alexander Draco Malfoy."

Draco's sandwich dropped to his plate, unnoticed and a drop of jus dripped from the corner of his mouth to his chin. Hermione was suddenly nervous. She thought it was a sweet gesture when she had done it, but if he grew angry, she didn't know what she would do.

"Wh-why did you do that?" His voice but a whisper, barely heard above the idle chatter around them.

"I..I thought," Hermione took a deep breath and ruffled Xander's dark curls. "I thought if we were going to do this, to really do this, I wanted him to feel as much a part of our family as possible and I know he's related to me but I wanted you to feel included as well."

Draco's hand covered hers, threading their fingers together beside their plates. Xander immediately grabbed each of their hands, sliding them across the sticky wood.

"You did that for me?"

"I suppose I should have discussed the idea with you first. We've never spoken about naming our prospective children but…"

"I never thought of naming a child after myself."

"Do you hate it?" Hermione held her breath, worrying the corner of her lip and he almost smiled seeing her nervousness.

"Surprisingly…no." Draco quirked his head to the side, taking in the vision of dark curls in front of him.

Hermione leapt from her seat, kissed Xander on the forehead after smoothing his unruly curls and threw her arms around Draco. She had intended to embrace him from behind, but he had other ideas and quickly drew her down into his lap.

"I love you." Hermione whispered against his lips, kissing him soundly.

"I can't recall you ever saying that before. Tell me again." Draco kissed her pink cheeks while she laughed and Xander clapped.

Xander's claps grew louder as did his laughter and neither of his new parents were surprised when their glasses of pumpkin juice exploded. It seemed he was vacillating between surprise and tears but a boisterous witch ambled over quickly.

"No tears here, love. We're well equipped for unexpected underage magic." Her rosy cheeks and kindly green eyes had Xander chortling in delight when she conjured another glass of juice.

"Oh look dear, isn't it sweet? The Malfoys are a beautiful family, aren't they?" Hermione and Draco were startled by the intrusion, especially to find themselves gazing up at Millicent and Ron Weasley.

Hermione attempted to extricate herself from Draco's hold but he wasn't having it. He held her tight and even managed to pull Xander's chair closer to them as well. Draco's grey eyes narrowed with suspicion, though Ron Weasley never raised his head.

"Do you mind if we join you? Ronny here has something very important to say, don't you Ronny?" Millicent jabbed him none too gently in the ribs with an impressive elbow.

Hermione's eyes widened slightly as she stared upon the formidable witch. Millicent Bulstrode wasn't the same hulking woman she vaguely remembered from Hogwarts. She was still a large girl, there was no mistaking that, but she no longer looked like a linebacker. She had grown curves where curves actually belonged and her mousy brown hair had grown lustrous with streaks of gold.

Hermione hadn't had but a glimpse of the woman at her wedding before Draco was stating he'd had enough Weasleys for a lifetime and they'd left. She was surprised to see Millicent was almost…pretty. It was obvious she had been taught the proper usage of makeup and between that and the flattering robes, it was a lovely effect.

Draco gestured toward the two empty seats across from them completely expressionless. Xander on the other hand, had decided he quite disliked the flaming red haired wizard and squalled until Hermione removed him from his seat.

"No like it." Xander waved his hand furiously and Ron's ginger locks turned green. "All gone!"

"We've really got to teach him to control his impulses." Draco chuckled. He stood Xander on the chair beside him and one of the passing servers handed him a large cookie which quieted him down.

"I'm sure you're wondering why we've bothered you. I barely remember seeing you at our wedding. So much has happened since then. We really should catch up. It would be lovely to get together for a spot of tea with Astoria and Ginny, wouldn't it Hermione? Perhaps even a girl's night out. I'm sure we could all do with a night away from the men folk to drink away our cares." Millicent giggled and Hermione wasn't sure how she felt about it but managed a weak smile.

"Uhm, Millicent…"

"Please, call me Millie." Millie's dark eyes sparkled and Hermione was surprised to see no malice.

"Alright then Millie, I suppose a cup of tea could be lovely, perhaps later this week. A girl's night, while alluring is simply not…I mean…"

"Bulstrode, Hermione's pregnant, there shan't be any night out getting pissed. Stop it! Why are you hitting me? Is it a bloody secret now?" Hermione beat Draco's arms until he captured her hands, crushing her against his chest.

"You and him? Hermione, how could you?" A green haired Ron Weasley finally managed to speak albeit with a barely contained rage.

Before Draco could yank his wand from his pocket, Millie's was shoved beneath Ron's chin. Her eyes were almost pitch black with silent rage and the Malfoys watched in awe as it twisted and Ron's mouth closed with an audible snap.

"Don't pay him any mind. We've been having a lesson in proper manners. He's a slow learner, but I'm hoping eventually he'll be fit for society." Millie carefully laid her wand on the table and waved at Xander.

"No like it." Xander pointed at Ron and Millie nodded understandingly.

"I understand, dear. He hasn't been a very nice man, especially to Hermione here…"

"Mum-mum." Xander pointed at Hermione before leaving a sloppy crumb filled kiss on her cheek.

"Oh is he yours as well? Ronny here never told me."

Hermione and Draco looked to each other for the answer. They weren't prepared to discuss such matters. They had barely come to terms with it themselves.

"Da, go potty." Xander began doing a little dance on his chair. His tiny feet tapping against the smooth wood and Draco moved quickly.

Hermione was placed on her feet with a quick kiss upon her brow. Draco hurriedly picked up Xander and weaved through the scattered tables to take the child to the loo.

"I knew you were a cheating whore." Ron grumbled, his lip snarling in anger.

"Silenco." Millie flicked her wand almost lazily and winked at Hermione. "I've had just about enough of that. I've tried with this one, let me tell you. He's simply determined to remain angry and miserable. It's ridiculous really. We've a lovely yet modest home not far from the Burrow. I thought that would make him happy, Merlin knows he has an unhealthy attachment to his mother. He works with his brother George and I had to beg him to take Ron back on. He refused to entertain the idea of a holiday, not that I blame him really but he could bloody well try. Am I asking so much of him? I don't know what to do and I'm terribly sorry to lay this on you, it's obvious your hands are quite full. Congratulations by the way." Millie's voice broke and it was heartbreaking.

Hermione closed her eyes for a moment and took a cleansing breath. She had never been friends with Millicent and while the idea had never been appealing before, but these were different circumstances. Times had changed and it was easy to say they had changed; it was harder to act as if it were so.

"Is he drinking?" She finally whispered, her hand covering Millie's.

"He says he's not, but I can smell it on him sometimes and…"

"Don't talk about me like I'm not here!" It had seemed Ron had finally managed to utilise his training and remove the Silencing Charm. Personally, Hermione thought it took him entirely too long.

"Ron, you know you're supposed to take your Potion. Why are you doing this? You were doing so well. I don't understand what happened." Hermione was hard-pressed to keep from laughing at his shocking green hair but she managed.

"What does it matter? You've got this bloody fantastic life now, don't you? Harry and Stori have got their life and their kid. I'm sure they'll have loads more. It seems you've had an entire secret life with Malfoy and you've got a kid and another on the way and I've just fucked everything." Millie thought her new husband looked quite like a Yule tree with his Slytherin green hair and flaming red ears, but she focused on his words, hearing the hurt in his intonation.

"A perfect life? Are you bloody mental? People we knew, we went to school with are being murdered all around us and the only connection we've managed to suss together is that Harry and I both knew them. I've been targeted by a maniac. I got blown up for Godric's sake. My parents are in bloody Australia with their memories and wish nothing to do with me. They gave my husband my brother and said here, you keep him, we never wanted children anyway. If I wish to have a child with my husband that's my bloody right and you can stuff it." Hermione's chest was heaving by the time she was finished and from the gentle lull in the conversations around them, she surmised her voice had risen dramatically. Lowering her voice, leaning forward with her elbows on the table, Hermione continued "You were my friend Ron. You were one of my best friends and you ruined it because you couldn't come to terms with your life after the war. You couldn't come to terms with the fact that Harry and I had moved on. We grew up. We didn't want to leave you behind, our intention was never to move on from you, but you have to understand we didn't want to be angry children anymore. We didn't want to hold onto the prejudices and the hate. You made your choices, we made ours. You chose the drink and we chose to marry our Slytherins and try to carve out some sort of happiness. You've a wife now. I realise she may not be who you would have chosen, I apologise Millie, but that doesn't change the fact that she's your wife. Don't you realise you're not just hurting yourself anymore, you're hurting her and your family. If you want to wallow in your own misery, well have at it. It seems to have worked out really well for you, hasn't it? If you wish to finally grow up, take your bloody Potion, stop blaming your troubles on everyone else and take some bloody responsibility."

Hermione tore her eyes from a contrite Ron, her mood lightening considerably when she spied Xander walking calmly beside Draco. She hadn't realised she was smiling until Xander began frantically waving, struggling against the firm hand in his own.

"You really love him. Harry said and I tried to believe him but to see it myself is something…well its strange frankly but not necessarily wrong. You're right of course, you're always right. I'm embarrassed alright? I ran out of the bloody Potion and I didn't want Millie to know. I hate going there, feeling like some sort of degenerate. I mean, is it so fucking unreasonable for them to…"

"No fuck! Bad!" Xander had climbed back up onto his chair and threw the remaining piece of his cookie at Ron's head.

"Shit. Sorry! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say it." Ron covered his head, preparing for the various hexes he was sure were going to strike him.

"Dit? Dit otay?"

"No Xander that word is not alright either. How about this, if you don't know the word, don't say it?" Draco sat beside his wife, allowing Xander to stand on his legs and refrained from some spouting vile words at the Weasel.

"Otay Da."

While there was a definite lull in the conversation, eventually it segued into stilted words and begrudgingly acknowledgements until Hermione was actually slightly hopeful her friendship with Ron could be salvaged. Eventually Hermione managed to finish her lunch while making plans with Millie for tea. Draco was still wary of Ron but the sake of his wife, he tried. Xander had fallen asleep on Hermione's shoulder and no matter how many times he tried to take the toddler, she'd held him tight.

*Malfoy, Harry Potter requests your assistance. Number 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey.*

Minister for Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt's voice was surprisingly gentle, which made Draco a bit nervous. No matter how many times he informed the Minister he had bloody quit, Kingsley refused to hear of it and beckoned to him whenever the mood struck. It seemed Harry Potter had returned from Australia, but what he was doing in Surrey was anyone's guess.

"Draco, that's…that's…Harry's childhood address." Hermione's voice quavered slightly and she willed herself not to cry.

"Nee, Shacklebolt already told us there was another and Potter wasn't the victim. It's alright. I've got to go. You know I don't want to anymore than you wish me too, but you know how he gets. Millie, Weasley, I can trust you to get them home safe yeah?" He didn't want to entrust his family to Ron Weasley but with Millie along, he felt a bit better about it. She was a quick draw when necessary and she handled Ron better than he'd ever seen.

"Malfoy, we still need to get Xander things and…"

"Nee, don't argue. I'll owl my mother. She'll take care of everything. I love you, go home." Draco hugged her quickly, tossed a handful of galleons on the table and whisked through the crowd.

Hermione stared at Xander who stared at Millie who glowered at Ron. It was uncomfortable until Ron smiled at the toddler. Xander hid his face in Hermione's curls, glancing at the green haired wizard every few seconds.

"I suppose it's up to us to get you home." Ron stood quite suddenly, offering Millie his arm and by the surprise on her face, Hermione surmised it was the first time he'd ever done such a thing.

"I just want to stop by the Tiny Tots shop and…"

"No way. Malfoy entrusted us to get you straight home, besides little man there looks completely knackered. There's only one thing I need to know." Ron studied Hermione's caramel eyes carefully, glancing between her and Xander.

"What's that then?" It was obvious she was quite put out. It wasn't often she was unable to do exactly what she wished.

"Where do you live? We've never been there."

Harry Potter surveyed the modest garden of number 4 Privet Drive with a practiced eye. This was not what he was expecting when he finally arrived back in England. As he studied the indentation in the damp grass, he wasn't sure how he felt about it.

He had managed to convince Wendell Wilkins to come along with him, though the man resolutely refused to answer to Paris Granger. It had taken him longer than he'd expected, but as an Auror he was used to such delays. His wife on the other hand had completely succumbed to a menagerie of tears, hurling herself into his arms due to the Minister's Patronus.

Astoria was less than pleased with Harry's explanations. He had done his best to calm her, but after she jinxed him, he hurried from his residence. Harry surmised Astoria would calm eventually. It wasn't as if she wasn't aware of his profession. He's an Auror for Godric's sake, she couldn't expect him to drop everything because she was lonely or James was cutting a tooth.

"Alright Potter, what the bloody hell am I doing here? You could have sent for Moretti. He's your partner. I keep telling you and Shacklebolt that I quit, but it seems the lot of you is incapable of listening." Harry barely glanced at the disgruntled wizard.

It seemed he couldn't take his eyes from the hulking form on the ground. Draco yanked on his polo shirt, slightly uncomfortable in Muggle attire. He knew the situation warranted it, but it didn't make him feel better. He much preferred his slacks and button downs to Muggle jeans and strange shirts he was forced to pull on over his head. They weren't even jumpers for Merlin's sake. Draco scoffed and prodded the deceased bloke's arm with his trainer.

"Malfoy, don't do that." Draco rolled his eyes and began walking around the man.

"You didn't answer my question Potter." Harry squatted beside the body, seemingly studying the thinning grey hair.

"I knew him."

"Apparently you've known all of them."

"Yeah, but this is different. I wanted Hermione or even Ron but Shacklebolt said you were the best I should expect in this matter." Harry had a half smile playing about the corner of his lips as he studied the seam of the tweed jacket. It was nearly split down the seam, which apparently amused him.

"Nee is heading home with Xander. I wouldn't want her here. She's pregnant you know. She keeps beating me for telling people. Pretend you don't know when she tells you. Millie and Ron are escorting her for me." Draco sat on the step of the home, waiting for Harry to pull himself out his stupor.

"I used to live here." He knew something was wrong with Harry, but he'd never seem him so detached. Draco glanced over his shoulder at the home and shrugged. It wasn't the worst place he'd ever seen, but having spent his childhood in Malfoy Manor, everything else seems to pale in comparision.

"Would you like me to send for the Cleaners? We could go inside and you should tell me all about your pitiful childhood."

"No, no Cleaners. I don't trust them. I can't trust them. I can't trust anyone. You don't understand Malfoy. This was where Hagrid brought me on Sirius Black's motorcycle. Dumbledore and McGonagall were here and they left me with the last bits of my family." Harry sighed heavily, falling back onto his heels.

"I-I didn't know that."

"Exactly. Everyone has heard of The Boy Who Lived and whatnot, I don't even care about that. They were my dirty little secret I suppose you'd call them. The Weasleys knew of them of course and Dumbledore but…"

"Potter, you're saying the maniac is closer to you than you'd like to admit." Draco stood up quickly and walked across the grass, ignoring the body.

He clapped his hand on Harry's shoulder and dragged him to his feet. Draco roughly pulled Harry into his childhood home, instantly sneezing from the layers of dust and dirt. He pushed Harry through the swinging door into the kitchen and pushed him onto one of the wood chairs beside the eating table.

"Potter, look at me. You're jumping to conclusions. You were the idiot who was adamant Molly Weasley was the culprit, which I still maintain is absolutely disgusting. I'm sure anyone could have discovered where you lived. It's not that bloody difficult, even if you did live as a Muggle. I'm going to suss us up some disgustingly old and dusty whisky, brandy, scotch, whatever I find and we're going to drink it while you compile a lovely list of who you've told. Then I'm going to owl Nott. As a Slytherin, we never gave a fuck where you lived, no offense Scarboy, but he's trust worthy." Draco left Harry at the table while he began scrounging through the cupboards.

Harry dropped his head to his hands, trying to process the information swirling through his brain. His elbows smudged through the thick layer of grim on the table and he blinked profusely. The fear of childhood coursed through him and he almost leapt from his position to begin the rigorous task of cleaning the home when he stopped. Calmly he surveyed the room with a practiced eye and almost smiled. The home was obviously abandoned and had fallen into disrepair and it was no longer his responsibility. Harry began to laugh and while Draco was quite terrified by the sound, it continued until tears were streaming from green eyes.

When Draco emerged swinging two very dusty bottles, Harry wiped his eyes and sat up straight. Draco's eyebrows rose slowly, while Harry's lip twitched.

"Potter, you're very strange." He slid a bottle across the table, as he twisted the cap off his own. "Did you know there's a little cupboard under the stairs? There's a bloody bed in there, what on earth was wrong with these Muggles?"

"That was my room." Harry winced as the whisky burned his throat and avoided the grey stare.

"Shut up. No one would do that. Sweet Salazar, you're not bloody kidding. What the actual fuck Potter?"

"They hated me obviously." Harry shrugged.

"Alright, well I suppose it won't make you feel any better to learn I had my own personal cell in the Malfoy dungeon. If you promise not to look at me like that ever again, I won't pity you either." Draco sipped his brandy, wiping the mouth with the edge of his shirt and winked.

"We had a completely fucked up childhood, didn't we?"

"Yes. Let's never speak of it again. So I'm assuming, the fat bastard in the garden was your relative. Granger would say something to the effect of..."Draco stood and then decided it would be best to kneel. "Harry Potter, you've got to allow yourself the proper time to mourn your loss. You might not know it yet, but if you don't deal with this properly you'll never heal."

"Hermione's taller than that."

"Yes well I did the best I could. Personally I say good riddance. Why would our serial psychotic murder a relative of yours anyway? It's not like you're attached to them or anything. They have a better chance of getting a proper reaction if they killed Nee's father. You lot seemed to have a lovely rapport."

Harry knocked his bottle over, not even flinching as it shattered and the amber liquid soaked the leg of his slacks. He stood up on shaky limbs and swallowed hard.

"Malfoy, we've got to get back."

"Sit down Potter, Nott hasn't even arrived yet. What's your hurry?" Draco casually tossed his feet onto the table, prepared to drink until Theo arrived.

"I…I brought Wendell with me. I stayed behind to convince him to visit Hermione one last time. He agreed. I've got him stashed at a flat in Muggle London as his former house was sold years ago." Harry was already removing his wand from his back pocket, preparing to Apparate when Draco caught his arm.

"Potter, if he's stashed away, why are you so nervous? What do you know?" Harry wrenched his arm free, quickly stalking down the corridor and throwing open the front door.

"That man there was my uncle, Vernon Dursley. He was the worst of the bunch really, but my cousin is never going to forgive me for this. I suppose it doesn't matter not really, but we have a civil sort of relationship and I thought…well I don't know what I thought but…" Draco caught Harry about the waist just as the wizard's knees crumbled and sat him on the curb roughly.

Theo Nott jaunted from the back garden, twirling his wand in his fingers, his robes casually tossed over his arm. He glanced at the body and rolled his dark eyes.

"Now that's a fat bastard."

"Dammit Nott, you scared the shit out of me."

"Haven't. I'd notice. So, what are we to do with him then? Have the Investigators inspected the area already? Where's Moretti? Why isn't Chang here? You don't expect me to deal with this fat bastard on my own do you?" Theo knelt in the grass and attempted to roll Vernon Dursley onto his back, without the use of magic which was lunacy.

"Oi, Nott show a little respect. That's Potter's relative there. We haven't contacted anyone and I think Potter would prefer it that way. He seems to believe our culprit has intimate information." Theo flicked his wand and Vernon Dursley was on his back with his shirt spread.

"Doesn't look like he put up a bit of a fuss. There isn't any post-mortem trauma which is for the best. Looks like it was quick and painless, Potter. I would suggest having Moretti come out. He couldn't possibly be our suspect, he's an American for one and he doesn't know shit about our history for another." Theo stared at the ragged edges of the few runes carved into the bulbous stomach and shuddered. "I'd ask for Pansy as well. She's a Slytherin."

"Malfoy." Harry sputtered in the seconds before the contents of his stomach were expelled upon the small brush. "Four people. I've only ever trusted four people with the secrets of my childhood."

"Dead or alive Potter?" Draco tossed Harry an embroidered handkerchief and tapped his trainer against the stone.

"Listen, whether others found out is something else, I can't control that at all. I've spoken of it to Sirius of course but he's dead. The members of the Order of the Phoenix were aware of some of my blighted history but…"

"Potter, for the love of Merlin, get to the point." Draco could hear Hermione's voice in his head, telling him to be patient yet it was an impossibility. He simply wasn't a patient person and had little interest in listening to Harry Potter sputter through his entire childhood recollections.

"I don't trust myself Malfoy. I was wrong when it came to Molly and if I'm wrong again well…"

"Alright listen Potter. None of us are going to run to the Daily Prophet with your suspicions." Draco whistled, calling Theo over.

"If I'm right, I don't know what I'll do and if I'm wrong…" Harry's clutched his chest, the anxiety taking a physical toll on his person.

"I'm going to hex him." Draco struggled to contain his anger, but he was losing the battle.

"I'm going to help you if that makes it any better?" Theo grumbled, wiping a light sheen of sweat from his brow.

"Ron, Hermione, Cho and Astoria." Harry finally breathed before heaving into the brushes.

"Why the fuck would you tell Chang anything? She's a strange bird." Theo flicked his wand, closing Vernon's shirt as the sight offended him.

"I dated her, sort of after Cedric and…"

"Potter, let's entertain this for a moment. What would be her motivation? Even you have to admit these are some pretty heinous crimes, which are obviously directed toward you, but why?" Draco surreptitiously sent a Patronus to Pansy requesting her presence while contemplating this new bit of information.

Harry scratched his head, hoping his stomach would stop punishing him. He bet Hermione would be able to deduce a motive without batting an eye, but he definitely wasn't Hermione. He hadn't had a very long relationship with Cho, if it could even be called that, but they had forged a friendship. Harry had confided in her and he had listened when she had spoken of Cedric Diggory with fondness. He couldn't fathom a single reason why Cho Chang would wish to wreck such havoc upon his life.

"Maybe she just despises his very existence because she never got over Diggory's death. I mean, you have to admit, if the Boy Wonder hadn't been so chivalrous and Gryffindor about it, Diggory never would have been in the graveyard." Theo yawned, obviously bored and waved at a frazzled Pansy as she came up to the home.

"Where the fuck is Chang? Why isn't Moretti here? Did those wankers decide they had better things to do than their job?" Pansy Parkinson Longbottom immediately began complaining while surveying the front garden.

"We decided to keep things very Slytherin today. All you need to do is take a few photographs of the carvings on his chest and we'll check the posterior as well. We'd prefer it if you kept this to yourself. It's a sensitive matter for Potter's family." Pansy ignored the strange look of bewilderment on the Chosen Boy's face and nodded curtly at Theo.

She traipsed across the grass and tucked her long dark hair behind her ear. She inspected every inch of the burgeoning girth without a single comment. Draco and Harry remained on the steps, observing her in quiet introspection. Draco disliked the idea of their main suspect being a respected member of their team, but he remained open to the possibility. It was easier for him considering he had never suspected his godfather had been a spy for the Order. It proved to him people were capable of truly anything. Harry on the other hand, was having difficulty stomaching such a betrayal, yet the more he considered it, the more he came to terms with the thought.

"Did you know she was quite good friends with Marietta?" Harry whispered, prodding Draco's knee with his own.

"Who the fuck is Marietta?"

"Edgecombe. The first victim. I spoke to Ginny, don't tell Astoria, but apparently Chang dated Corner at one time."

"Ginny's fat." Draco snorted before running his fingers through his hair. He wanted to go home and revel in his wife's pregnancy and strangely enough, give Xander a bath.

"She's not fat. Apparently she finally managed to get Goyle to sleep with her. She's pregnant with twins from their first go. Molly almost had a conniption. Didn't you ever wonder why they were practically thrown toward the altar?"

"Not at all because I don't care. I've been thinking about it Potter, and Nott certainly has a valid point. If you think about it almost all of the victims had something to do with the TriWizard Championship." Draco nonchalantly Accio'd his bottle of brandy and took a small sip. Harry turned a light shade of green, which pleased Draco immensely.

"I can't imagine her doing this though. I mean, isn't she married? I thought she had a child as well." Harry rubbed his scar, as was his habit and groaned.

"You lot speaking about Chang?" Pansy interjected after shoving her wand in the strap on her thigh.

"What's it to you?"

"Nothing at all Malfoy, just if your kid dies, are you still a mother?" Pansy flopped into the grass beside Vernon, her nose scrunched in disgust.

"Whatever are you going on about?" Harry's palms began sweating and he couldn't be sure if it was from being anxious or the excitement of incite.

"It's just something I overheard Hannah speaking about with Mrs. Weasley." Pansy tossed her hair, waiting until all eyes were centered on her. "Apparently Chang was married to some Muggle and there was a terrible accident. Mrs. Weasley was quite broken up about it since she was friends with the bloke, I can't remember his name but…"

"John." Harry whispered, his hands clasped in his lap with a lump in his throat.

"Exactly, so anyway, it was quite a terrible accident and Chang's son was with her husband and they both expired at the scene. It was a right mess from what I heard and…"

"That's enough Pansy." Draco swallowed hard, trying to imagine the pain of losing his wife and child in the blink of an eye.

Draco remembered the incident quite well. He and Harry hadn't been working together long and they hadn't formed a working relationship yet, let alone a camaraderie. They were often discovered in sullen silence, each resolutely stubborn, until they were called to the scene of a Muggle accident.

Molly Weasley was being restrained by the Minister for Magic and Arthur, yet she continued flailing against them. They were refused the use of magic, despite her bellows. Draco remembered seeing the bits of twisted metal, his first memory of a Muggle automobile no less. He had vomited on the Minister's shoes, making Potter laugh. It seemed inappropriate laughter was one of the many quirks of Harry Potter. Molly had clutched the lapels of his blazer and begged him to do something, anything, yet there was nothing to be done.

John and Henry Wells were on their way home in the midst of dinner hour. It seemed the level crossing failed and John was perhaps distracted by the young toddler behind him. There was no way to know what had truly happened. At the end of the day, John Wells vehicle stalled and he was unable to retrieve his son before the rail crashed into them.

Draco remembered it had taken hours for the Muggles to scour through the wreckage and confirm that John and Henry Wells had in fact been inside the vehicle at the time of collision. He and Harry were delegated to calming Mrs. Weasley until she began to demand they simply levitate the offending wreckage to find her friend.

Draco never knew it was Cho Chang's family that Molly Weasley so desperately mourned. He supposed the Minister had kept it quiet for the sake of respect and he understood it at the time. The war was still so fresh in people's minds; it was a natural conclusion to a terrible circumstance.

"Malfoy, I can't be here any longer. I need to check on Wendell and if it's not too much of an imposition, I'd like…"

"Come along Potter. We'll go and see Wendell and then we'll go to my place. I'm sure Hermione would love to see you." Draco offered his hand to Harry as he stood.

Harry stared at it for a moment, his lip twitching at an old memory before he grasped it, pulling himself to his feet.

"What if he's gone?" Harry and Draco walked down Privet Drive side by side, neither bothering to give further instructions to Pansy and Theo.

"Why would he be gone? How many people know he's even here?" Draco sighed as the day's events were taking their emotional toll.

"I sent owls to the entire team." Harry's shoulders slumped and even Draco didn't have the heart to speak his mind.

Hermione Malfoy had long since given up on persuading her guests to leave. They were absolutely determined to keep her company until Draco returned. Narcissa had received Draco's hastily scrawled owl and brought it upon herself to drag Lucius to Forest Lake as well.

Hermione appreciated the multitude of gifts for Xander who was instantly overwhelmed with the amount of attention as well as affection, but she was tired. Xander napped in her lap, refusing to allow her to place him in his new bed. He clung to her sniffling while Narcissa decorated his new bedroom in silver and green, no matter how much it was protested.

"Don't be silly. He's a proper Malfoy now and all Malfoys are in Slytherin. It's best he get used to the idea at a young age." Hermione didn't have the energy to argue with her mother-in-law, deciding she would take the issue up with Draco when he returned.

Xander had already made it abundantly clear he wanted nothing to do with the colour red. It seemed Ron's hair offended him greatly. Whenever he saw the colour he screamed until the lights were extinguished. Ron was quite put out, his hair still a mottled shade of green.

Ron was trying, Hermione had to give him that much. He still managed to mumble disparagingly under his breath about being in the house of a Slytherin, but he was quite impressed by the Potions lab. Hermione truly believed she was living in an alternate reality when Lucius and Ron were discovered discussing the merits of Hermione's salve over glasses of firewhisky.

"Yeah, but Lucius this stuff is only for Death Eaters. Alright, alright, former Death Eaters, it's not like there's a big market for it or anything. Besides Mione made it for Malfoy and…"

"Mr. Weasley, do not limit yourself by your prejudices. I suspect there are many witches and wizards who wish to rid themselves of the scars of their lifetime. I suppose there are many who were scarred by Dark Magic, but even Mr. Potter could benefit from this delightful concoction."

"I can't even bloody argue with that." Hermione chuckled lightly, hiding herself behind Xander's hair.

She couldn't believe how easy it was to love the little boy in her arms. Hermione knew he was her brother, but she'd never felt a familial connection with her parents so it was unexpected to feel so strongly for Xander.

"It's completely natural to feel conflicted." Hermione gasped, squeezing Xander a bit too tightly, making him squirm.

"Luna. I was so sure you had left. I didn't want to wake you this morning and I'm sorry I left without saying anything but…"

"Hermione, I'm perfectly capable of managing just fine. I did however completely gorge myself on those lovely scones." Luna Zabini twisted and pulled her long blonde hair with that starry gaze in her eyes.

Luna snuggled into Hermione's side, her fingertips gently stroking Xander's cheeks. She smoothed the crease of his forehead with her thumb, inhaling his sweet scent with a sigh.

"I hope Blaise and I have a boy. I wouldn't know what to do with a girl." Hermione toyed with the ends of Luna's hair, taking long tired blinks.

"I wouldn't know what to do with either quite frankly, but I'm sure enough books on the subject exist." Just as Hermione's eyes closed, Xander's opened.

He glanced between Hermione and Luna while rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He patted Hermione's cheek before climbing from her arms into Luna's.

"I hungee." Luna's magical laughter filled the sitting room.

She held Xander against her breast while managing to dislodge herself from her comfortable position beside Hermione. She swayed as she walked with the toddler as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Now, what do little Xander's like to eat?" Luna pecked his forehead and smiled at all the occupants of the kitchen.

She barely blinked her blue eyes upon spying Ron Weasley and Lucius Malfoy sitting in the breakfast nook nibbling on chocolate biscuits. Millie Weasley was staring out the window over the sink basin, ignoring the subtle clink of china as it washed itself.

"Uhmm, have pi pa?"

"What the fu…"

"NO!" Xander covered Luna's mouth with his chubby hands, his blue eyes wide. "Da no fuck."

Lucius snorted into his glass, remembering when his son had discovered the joys of naughty language fondly.

"I believe what the child is attempting to communicate is Draco has already spoken with him regarding inappropriate language. It would be best to watch your tongue as small children have a tendency to repeat everything." Lucius lazily sipped the amber liquid, deciding it simply did not mesh with chocolate biscuits after all.

"Pizza. He wants pizza." Ron piped up, pushing away his glass of juice. It was easier to allow Lucius Malfoy to believe he had been drinking with him than to tell him the truth. Ron didn't relish the idea of being on the receiving end of a tongue lashing dedicated to his inability to properly hold his liquor.

"I don't know what that is, Ron."

"I'll take care of it. What do you like on it then Xan?" Ron approached the child slowly as his hair still hadn't recovered.

"You eat my pi pa?"

"No no! I didn't eat your pizza. I'm going to get you a pizza. I swear." Ron backed away slowly, hoping he wasn't inadvertently hexed by an angry three year old.

"Otay. Pi pa and roni and uhmm apple." Xander nodded quickly, his lips smacking together hungrily.

"Ronny, how do you do what he's saying?" Millie touched Ron's shoulder lightly with an obvious sort of awe in her dark eyes. Ron blushed under the scrutiny, the tips of his ears turning red.

"Oh uhm, it's nothing. Ginny's the youngest and well yeah. Xander here just wants a pizza with pepperoni and pineapple. I can't really say if it's good or not, but I'll just go and get it then." Ron practically ran down to the Travel Room, thankful to be useful and even more thankful he wasn't hexed.

Narcissa finally made her way into the sitting room and smiled at the sight of a slumbering Hermione. She had half a mind to levitate the poor witch to bed, but the way her arms cradled her abdomen stopped the Matriarch in her tracks. Instead, Narcissa's heeled boots clipped across the floor slowly before she dropped a lightweight coverlet over Hermione and retreated to the kitchen.

"Ohh hello Xander. Would you like to see your room?" Narcissa crooned, her arms itching to be filled with toddler, but Xander wasn't having any of it.

"No, want my pi pa." Xander squirmed his way out of Luna's wispy arms and walked over to Lucius. He pulled on the dark pant leg expectantly. Lucius spared the boy a glance with a sigh.

"What do you want?" He took in the boy's unruly curls, no doubt inherited from his mother and his bright blue curious eyes without a sneer.

"Up." Xander demanded, stamping his foot.

"I don't wish to pick you up. Children are quite sticky." Xander shrugged his little shoulders and decided the best place for him to sit was on Lucius Malfoy's foot.

Ron rushed into Forest Lake carrying numerous boxes of pizza which he promptly dropped on the eating table. He practically collapsed onto the nook bench, his chest heaving as he sucked in lungfuls of oxygen.

"Crikey Ron, how many did you get and however were you that quick about it?" Luna peered into the top box staring at the melted cheese and tomato sauce concoction.

"I used magic, don't tell. I didn't want the little man to get angry."

"Ohhh my pi pa!" Xander didn't bother asking Lucius; instead he clambered into his lap and slapped his palms onto the table until Ron slid a small plate in front of him with a large piece of pizza. Millie was quite pleased Ron had enough sense to cool the strange food first.

When Hermione awoke from her much needed nap, she wandered into the kitchen and laughed. The perfectly coiffed Narcissa Malfoy and absolutely regal Lucius Malfoy were smattered in bits of tomato sauce, cheese and handprints. Ron was having a very serious conversation with Xander, trying to convince him that since tomato sauce and his hair were the same colour, Xander shouldn't hate red.

"What on earth happened in here?"

"Xander happened. Xander and fucking pi pa." Millie groaned, the side of her face against one of the bottom cupboards.

"Mum, no fuck." Xander gestured angrily at Millie before shoving the crust of his pizza in his mouth.

"I don't even care if I get hexed. I'm too bloody tired. Your son is definitely a Malfoy. I need a bath. I need a drink. I need to go home." Millie was on the verge of tears and while Hermione felt a pang of pity for the witch, she couldn't resist the laughter which bubbled forth.

"I'm sorry, it's terrible of me, I know it is, but you all…look so ridiculous."

"Mum, pi pa, eat it." Xander had climbed onto the table and opened one of the pizza boxes. Carefully he balanced the slice on his small hands and then flung it at Hermione.

She quite expected it to land on the floor, yet contrary to belief, it hit her on the forehead. She struggled to catch the piece, and barely managed before she was forced to wipe tomato sauce from her eyes.

"Yeah, it's not so funny now is it?" Ron snorted and offered Millie a hand. He tossed his arm around his wife's shoulders and waved at the filthy Malfoys.

Draco and Harry burst through the front door of Forest Lake, shoving each other as they ran down the corridor. Their feet skid upon the tile in their hurry. Harry and Draco looked at the guests and then each other before turning to Hermione. Hermione was nibbling the slice of pizza, paying no mind to their intrusion.

"Hermione, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, it's my fault. I should have left him in Australia…I didn't…"

"Harry? I don't understand…" A shiver worked its way down her spine as Draco cupped her face in his hands.

"Potter convinced your father to have a visit before his memories were removed. He had him stashed in a flat in Muggle London. After we were finished in Surrey we went to check on him, but he was a gone. There was a bit of blood and well…" Draco gulped, watching the colour fade from his wife's cheeks.

"You think the killer's taken him." Harry nodded slowly, feeling a bit ill once more.

Hermione nodded continuously nodding her head as she processed the information. She rocked on her heels slightly, her long green skirt swirling around her feet. Draco kept her close even as her knees buckled. He sunk down to the floor with her, smoothing her curls and kissing her temple. Hermione hadn't realised she was crying until an angry Xander kicked her shin.

His sticky red hands were on his hips and his brows were drawn together in a deep frown. Hermione snatched him off his feet but he remained stiff in her arms. His hands began slapping her face and her arms, his cheeks reddened with anger.

"No! No cwy. You bad! Go room. NO CWY!" Xander shouted over and over, bucking against the hands holding him tight.

Draco was confused and concerned by his actions. From his position on the floor, he was unable to properly restrain Xander and it seemed Hermione was completely at ease with the madness. He wrapped his arms around Hermione and Xander and heard her crooning to him so sweetly it almost broke his heart.

"You poor baby, whatever did they do to you? You don't need to worry about them any longer. They can't hurt you anymore. We're here now, my love. It'll be alright, I promise."