It was a warm summer day in the first days of July as Harry was strolling down the road that lined the seigne river in Paris. The school year had ended a few days back and he had brought Lily to Paris for a few weeks. It was hard to believe Lily would be a year old in a few days time. It seemed like yesterday that the doctors had first placed her in his arms. For one moment he thought of her mother but shook his head. He had created a life for himself and Lily here in France.
He looked down at Lily "Your Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione and your cousins should be here any day now"
His beautiful little girl was fast asleep but he did get a response "But your Uncles Fred and George are here now"
Harry looked up to see Fred and George beaming at him "Hey you prats, what are you doing here?"
Fred bent down to kiss his niece and then answered "A bit of business"
"And a bit of pleasure" George added
"Did not think we would miss our niece's first birthday did you" Fred asked
Harry smiled. He had invited all of the Weasleys but other then Ron and Hermione only and Bill/Fleur and Molly and Arthur had said they could make it. Bill and Fleur were in France visiting her family anyways, and Mr and Mrs Weasley would never miss their granddaughter's big day.
"I thought you guys were busy. Your business is sure thriving. My students are constantly getting caught with them" Harry laughed
Fred nodded "Actually in the process of opening a shop here in Paris. Lee is going to run it for us"
George nodded "So the retired auror has become a teacher, how is that going?"
Harry shrugged "Good. It was suppose to be until the end of term as the DADA teacher at Beauxbautons passed away but they have asked me to return for the fall and I have accepted. I must say I enjoy working with the students."
Fred nodded "Must be a bit boring compared to playing quiditch and catching bad guys. Ever miss the old life?"
Harry shook his head "Not for a moment. Teaching lets me be a full time dad to my princess here. And I am even coaching quiditch at the school next term as well"
"I was a bit surprised when Fleur said you took the job. I thought you were going to be a man of leisure for a few years" George questioned
Harry smiled "You know me, never one to sit back and do nothing. It did not feel right living off my inheritance alone. I enjoy teaching and the hours are good. Me and Lils are comfortable at the school, though we have kept our little cottage in Marseilles as well"
Fleur knew for Gabrielle had helped Harry land the job. Gabrielle had been teaching charms at Beauxbautons since she graduated. Fleur had told Harry how to contact her family when she found he was moving to France and the Delacaurs lived close to Marseilles. Gabrielle had thought Harry was the perfect candidate for the job and convinced him to accept it for the winter term. She had thought Harry needed a life beyond his daughter and since she could not get him to date any of the young men whom she introduced him to, she thought teaching as the next best idea.
"Are you guys done with your business today?" Harry asked
Fred nodded "Yeah. Spent the morning doing some set up in the shop with Lee"
"How is Lee by the way?" Harry enquired
"Doing good. He came to help us in Diagon when Fred went to run the shop in Hogsmeade but now he is ready to run his own shop" George nodded
"How about coming back to the flat I am staying at for some tea? Lily would love you see you when she wakes up." Harry said
He lead them to the flat where he was staying for the next few weeks. A friend who he had met when he first came to France owned the flat. She was a writer and was off in Africa for the summer and had offered to allow him and Lily the use of the flat. Lily beamed when she woke up and found her favourite uncles there. The twins had earned that title because of their jokes and pranks, not to mention how much they spoiled her.
Over tea they spoke about their own lives. Fred and his wife Angelina lived in Hogsmeade. Angelina had replaced madam Hooch who had retired a few years ago as flying instructor at Hogwarts and Fred of course ran his shop. George and Alicia lived in London where he ran the original shop and she was a healer at St Mungoes.
As Fred bounced his goddaughter on his knee Harry asked him "How are my godsons?" referring to his and Angelina's two year old twins
"Fabian and Gideon are definitely in their terrible twos. Mom says its pay back for what we put her through as kids" Fred said with pride
George took Lily from him "Well here hopes my little goddaughter here is easier on her daddy then your two little monsters"
Harry noticed a small frown on the face of George. Harry knew that he and Alicia had been trying to have a baby for a few years now and had been unable so far, even with magical aid. The way he doted on his nieces and nephew as well as his goddaughter, Harry knew he made the perfect choice when he asked the twins to be co-godfathers. It was not customary but he could not have chosen between the two of them. They left after dinner and promised to be back for the birthday party in a weeks time.
A few days later Harry was sitting at a table in a cafe drinking a cup of cappuccino and reading a copy of the Quibbler. The newspaper had gone international in the years since Harry had made it come to fame with giving it an interview in his fifth year. Luna was a world famous magical zoologist and her stories about exotic but real magical creatures had spread the magazine further. Add to it the contributions of her husband Neville who now taught herbology at Hogwarts, the magazine had spread internationally. Harry even after years of not being in it and Skeeter being fired, could not get the bad taste out of his mouth to read the Prophet
He was flipping a page when he heard a familiar drawl "Potter"
Harry looked up as it was not a voice he had heard in years "Malfoy"
Draco was standing there looking quite hansom in a black set of robes with his hair tied back "Surprising to see you here Potter"
Harry nodded "You as well." And after a moment "Perhaps we can call each other by our first names, it has been years"
Draco smirked but nodded "Harry" he said and then looked down at the stroller "Who is this little beauty?"
Harry smiled genuinely "Draco this is my daughter, Lily."
Draco knelt down next to her "She looks like you. Never took you to be the father type. I thought that you..."
Harry knew that Draco had been aware of his relationship with Severus "I married Ginny a few years after graduation."
Draco seemed shocked "That surprises me a lot. She never seemed your type"
"The marriage was much more of one for convenience. She wanted the fame, I just felt, well it was expected of me" Harry said
"Where is your wife?" Draco asked
Harry shook his head "In the US with her boyfriend last time I heard. She took off when Lily was three months old
Draco was shocked "I am sorry to hear that."
Harry shrugged "She never really wanted Lily. Resented her from the start. We have made a life without her"
Draco asked to sit down and when Harry motioned Draco took a seat "So what has the golden boy been up to?"
Harry told him about his career as an auror and on the national quiditch team. How he had given it up when his daughter was born. He had come here to France six months ago and was now teaching DADA at Beauxbautons. He explained it had been temporary but he had agreed to come back for the fall full time and that he and Lily would be spending the month here in Paris.
"So what brings you to Paris, Draco?" Harry asked
"I have been in Paris since after Hogwarts. I have been training as a potions master here. I work at the wizarding hospital" Draco explained
Harry knew that Draco and his family had a hard time after the war was over. It had come out that they had been spies for the order but there were many who distrusted them. Draco had hoped to apprentice with his godfather, Harry's lover Severus, but when he had died he had come here to start a new life. He had been focussed on his work and building a life for himself.
"I go home to see mum and dad from time to time but work keeps me busy" Draco said
Harry nodded "I know the feeling. Being mum and dad to this little one as well as working..."
"Its nice to catch up with you" Draco said looking at his watch "I have to get back to work but how about dinner one night?"
Harry smiled "I would love to see you again but I don't like leaving Lily alone in a strange city"
Draco smiled and looking at the baby "Then how about I bring dinner to you guys tomorrow night. I would love to get to know your little girl"
They agreed and Harry gave him his address. He smiled as he watched Draco walk off. They had become tentative friends thanks to Severus. It would be nice to have a chance to catch up with an old friend. Later that evening as he put his daughter down for bed and sat by himself next to the window with a glass of wine, he smiled at the thought of dinner with Draco.