Draco was sitting at his desk doing some paper work in the end of July. Tomorrow was Harry's birthday. He had not seen Harry and Lily for a week as they had returned back to Beauxbautons so Harry could prepare for the next semester. Draco kept trying to concentrate on the file he was working on but his mind kept wandering to Harry. They had a lot of dinners in and days at the park with Lily, and from time to time when Harry trusted his daughter to a sitter, they had gone for a show or for dinner.

One of his co-workers came in "Hey Drake, coming out for drinks with us tonight"

He looked up at Shelly "Not tonight"

Shelly shook her head "Drake, you never come for drinks with us on Friday nights. Let loose on the weekend already"

Draco just shrugged "Perhaps next week"

"You know you have been pouting to much since that man of yours returned home" Shelly pointed out

Draco thought of something and smiled "Your right. I have"

She smiled smuggly "That means you are coming with us"

Draco finished off his report, shoved it in the desk and said "No. I am heading off to the south"

Shelly just smiled and watched as Draco grabbed his bag and headed for the fireplace in his office to floo home. He had already sent a birthday gift to Harry via his eagle owl. Harry would be surprised, happily he hoped, when he showed up on his doorstep.

Bauxbautons was not far from Bordeaux so many weekends Harry spent at the cottage he owned but this weekend he was at the school. Beauxbautons was not a castle like Hogwarts, it was more a palace. The school did not have houses like Hogwarts, and the students were divided only by their grades. Harry and Lily had rooms in the north wing of the palace with a great view of the quiditch pitch.

Harry and Lily were sitting at the head table in the grand hall for dinner. Gabrielle was sitting next to them "harry, you really should have gone away this weekend"

Taking a bite of his meat pie and watching his daughter did not make to much of a mess he shrugged "Have tons of lesson plans to do before term starts"

Lucilla Fraux, the transfiguration teacher turned to him "You have weeks left. You should be out celebrating your birthday."

Harry just smiled "I have my daughter and you guys here to celebrate with. What more could I want?"

Part of Harry had been hoping to see Draco but when his bird had delivered a package to Harry he knew that he would not see Draco. Draco was busy and he knew that if he had the weekend off he would probably go to London. Harry had known when he came home from Paris this might happen. He would just enjoy himself with his daughter and friends.

Gabrielle smiled behind his back at Lucilla and the others and then turned to Harry "Why don't I take Lily for you for the night? Give you a bit of a break."

Harry smiled "Are you sure about that?"

She nodded and Harry reluctantly bent down and kissed his daughter on the head and transfigured a bag with all of the necessary bottles and other items his daughter would need for the night. He did not feel to bad, Lily was quite fond of Gabrielle.

"Hey sweet heart, you be good for Aunt Gabby" he said to his daughter.

Gabrielle took her up in her arms "Tell daddy to stop worrying. We will have fun won't we"

Harry just laughed and took off from the room. He was so distracted that he did not even think about how odd the offer was, or the smiles that were being shot between those at the table. Harry headed back to his rooms and while he started to try and do some lesson plans, he ended up with a book instead.

Draco came into the great hall about 20 minutes later. Lily who had seen him alerted everyone around of his arrival with her happy squeals. He went over and kissed her on the head and ruffled her beautiful black curls.

"He is down in his rooms, and not expecting anything" Gabrielle said

Draco smiled "Thanks for helping me arrange this"

Gabrielle nodded "I was a bit surprised to get your owl two hours ago. A little bit unexpected"

Draco nodded "A bit on inspiration from a co-worker. I hope you don't mind sitting for us for the night"

Gabrielle just smiled "You know we are constantly asking Harry to let us sit for his princess. He is usually pretty reluctant to leave her"

Draco was worried "Does he have any idea that I am coming?"

Gabrielle shook her head "I think he was just tired enough not to put up a fight."

She gave him directions to the wing in which Harry and his daughter lived and even gave him the password so that he could go right in and not need Harry to let him inside. He was still smiling from ear to ear when he came to the portrait of a phoenix rising from the ashes that he had been told was the entrance to Harry's rooms. The painting seemed fitting to him.

Harry was having trouble focussing on the book that he was reading and was surprised to hear the portrait hole open. He expected it to be Gabrielle and thought that Lily must have put up a fight over staying with her.

"Lily giving you a hard time already" he asked without looking up

"Lily flower give me a hard time, I doubt" a voice said coolly and when Harry looked up "I was coming to see her dad anyways"

Harry was on his feet and threw himself into Draco's arms feeling like a teenager again "Draco"

Draco lowered his lips down to kiss Harry and when they came up for air smiled "Calm down or I might think you were happy to see me"

Harry slapped him on the arm but drew him into the chambers. Beautiful French windows were along one wall opening to gardens, while the walls along the fireplace and across from it were filled with golden shelves of books. There was a painting of Hogwarts above the mantle and he could see pictures of Lily and his friends all over the place as well. There was a kitchenette to one side and a hallway led to Harry's room, the nursery, a bathroom and an office.

"I got your gift. I was not expecting to see you" Harry said as they sat down on the couch

Draco smirked "Would not have been much of a surprise if I told you I was coming"

Harry sunk back against his embrace and said "How long are you here for?"

"The weekend. I do not have to be back to work till Monday." Draco said "Thought you could finally show me your cottage, tomorrow"

Harry nodded "Lucked out that Gabrielle has Lily for the day"

Draco shook his head "I had a little help on that" and seeing Harry's face added "I hope you do not mind, I just hoped we could have the romantic night together"

Harry and Draco spent the evening curled up on the couch talking and watching the flames in the fireplace. Harry loved the feeling of being curled up in his arms, head resting against his chest, listening to the beating of his heart. They fell asleep like that together. Harry was the first one to fall asleep and as Draco held him close he felt this over whelming desire for the man in his arms. They had not been together physically yet but he knew Harry was not ready yet. He had not been patient like this in the past but there was something about that made him willing to wait.

The next morning Gabrielle showed up with Lily and a gift. Lily went straight to Draco who just smiled and played airplane with her. Harry had gone to quickly pack a few things for him and his daughter for them to spend the next night at the cottage.

When he came back out and saw Draco with Lily he smiled "Perhaps I should be jealous?"

Draco looked up "Of me, or of her"

Harry laughed "Of both" and handed him some floo powder and told him the name of his cottage

Draco smiled when they landed in a comfortable sitting room. It was all light and airy done with red and gold but also green and silver could be found. Harry had money enough to own houses all over the world, but some how this little tiny cottage seemed to suit Harry. The sitting room library, a kitchen and a small dinning room made up the main floor and there was three bedrooms and a bathroom up the stairs.

They spent the afternoon playing out in the garden with Lily. They even had a picnic out by the pond. After dinner which was prepared by Kreacher, who Draco was surprised to find was still in Harry's service, Draco turned him towards his gifts.

There was his usual sweater from Mr and Mrs Weasley, books from the Weasley kids, some new quiditch gloves from Hermione and Ron. There were a few gifts from his old teachers and from his colleagues.

Draco smiled "Never would have taken you for the book worm"

Harry turned to look at the shelves "Filled all of these myself. Part work part pleasure"

Draco had taken a look at some of the books "I recognize some of those, they came from his library didn't they?"

Harry was a bit worried Draco might be jealous but nodded "Severus left me his worldly possessions. Not much other then his home, but his library from school I kept. Most are at Grimauld and Spinner's end but I brought the more precious ones with me here or to school"

Draco looked at Harry "its okay to talk of him. He was my godfather, and I am not jealous of his memory"

Harry smiled and said "One more gift" and motioned to the package that Draco had given him

"Its not much" Draco said but Harry stopped him "You being here tonight is more then enough for me"

He opened the package and inside he found a small jewellery case and inside on a bed of blue velvet lay a silver chain and dangling from it was an onyx pendent with a dragon and a Lion wrapped around a blue crystal. Draco made him touch the crystal before he put it on. It was a protective charm, matching the onyx dragon he wore about his neck. It would let either of them know if the other was in trouble or pain.

Harry had Draco put it around his neck. By this time Lily was asleep for the night and when it was time to sleep Harry took Draco up stairs. Draco was about to go into his own room when Harry stopped him and drew him into a long passionate kiss. Draco opened his mouth allowing Harry's tongue entrance and they soon found themselves in Harry's bedroom.

Draco pulled away for a moment "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Harry nodded "I have never been so ready" he said and began to kiss Draco again.

That was enough for Draco and he pulled Harry down onto the bed with him. It was not the quick shag Draco was used to or the hot driven sex Harry had with Severus but was long, passionate love making. They slept wrapped up in each other's arms and as Harry drifted off he could not help but think of what an amazing birthday gift this had been.