Title: Something Magical
Rating: PG for this part.
Word Count: ~1,400. ~20,000 (overall)
Warnings: None, see first chapter for main story warnings.
Summary: An unwelcome visitor to Harry's home over the summer leads to something much more.
Notes: For allthingsmagical, it's her idea and she asked me to write it so I am. And Sirius' partner choice is dedicated to silenceberry.
Chapter Twelve:
Flashback
Harry had arrived at Snape's office during dinner, giving a vague excuse to his friends, and he found his dad waiting for him. Running into Sirius' embrace Harry hugged his dad tight.
"Dad, is it true? About Draco?"
"Yes, son it is."
Sniffing slightly Harry pulled back "why didn't he tell me?"
"Because you didn't want to know Harry, you told him that in front of me and you hurt him."
Harry sighed and ran a hand through his hair as he drew away from his dad's embrace, "I know. I've been an idiot about it this whole time. I should never have broken up with him in the first place but we're only sixteen? And what about Voldemort?"
"The order is taking care of Voldemort, we know you have to deliver the final blow but we'll get you when the time is right and when he's weak."
Looking away Harry didn't answer and Sirius knew his son well enough to know that he was uncomfortable with the concept that he had to end a man's life.
"I want Draco, dad. I suppose I always have, in one way or another and we're going to be parents."
"So Court him."
Frowning Harry silently asked for more information.
"Courting is an old tradition Purebloods use for a lovematch. A lovematch is where the two people are in love and the Courting will show to the family of the Courted that the Courter is serious and worthy."
"Worthy?"
"You need to prove that you're worthy of him. There are fourteen days and points you need to prove, the first you must ask his guardian for permission to start the Courting. And you cannot under any circumstances reveal who you are until the final day of the Courting otherwise the magic won't work and you'll come off as deliberately humiliating him."
"Okay. So dad, as Draco Malfoy's legal guardian, do you give your permission for my Courting him?"
"I do."
The two men embraced and Sirius informed Harry of the fourteen things he had to prove to Draco through gifts and letters, as they were finishing up Snape entered standing by silently as he watched them say their goodbyes.
"Professor Snape, sir," Harry paused before the potions master, "as Draco Malfoy's godfather I ask you for your permission for me to start Courting him?" Harry used the proper phrasing that Sirius had just taught him.
Snape stared at him for a long time before nodding once "you may Court my godson, Potter. You have my permission."
"Thank you Sir. I won't let him down." Harry rushed out of the room to plan his first letter.
XXX
The first week and a half the letters and gifts for the first ten days were typical and personal to Draco and Harry was proud that he had showed that he could protect, look after Draco, that he knew the blond as a lover should, that he believes in Draco as a person, that Harry loves him, honesty and faithfulness. That he showed restraint in not revealing anything about himself to the blond, that he could be sexually pleasing for Draco and that he was committed to Draco and to the relationship.
But the eleven gift of support scared Harry. He'd been nervous when he sent the owl flying off with the gift he'd stolen from the common room, the House Elves would be grateful and Hermione would be none the wiser.
Surreptitiously he watched the Slytherin table as Draco opened today's gift and letter.
Draco,
Only four days left of the Courting and then on Valentine's Day I hope you'll be mine forever. Today I have to prove that I support you, and this is the only way I could think of that hasn't already sort of been covered by previous or up and coming aspects.
Try not to be upset, and you can ask me how I found out but it's all over the school really. Just know that I love you and that I support you in this and in life.
While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about
Draco stared in shock at the letter, it was public knowledge about his pregnancy and he started to shake with fear. It couldn't be true, he had to tell Harry himself but now it seems everybody knows which means Harry must hate him.
And he obviously wanted nothing to do with their child if he knew and hadn't approached Draco.
"Drakie? Are you alright, sweetie?" Pansy asked laying a hand on his arm and peering into his eyes concern etched onto her face.
"I- they know. They all fucking know" he kept his voice down but it shook with rage.
"And nothing's happened, they haven't told anyone, no one has mocked or jeered at you. Nothing has happened, so open the present Draco and see what he's sent you."
Draco unwrapped the soft present and two blue booties fell onto the table, they were slightly uneven and looked to be hand knitted which made Draco's eyes water.
"He supports us," Draco rubbed his stomach and raised his head, eyes meeting Harry's for a moment before the brunet turned away. Ignoring the sadness that one look caused, Draco stroked the booties and smiled at his friends, someone loved him and someone wanted his baby.
XXX
Draco,
Today I need to show you trust. I honestly don't know how to do that through a letter. So after the fourteen days at any time you can use this on me. I won't question your reasons for choosing that time be it Valentine's Day or ten years from now.
Let this be my last word, that I trust in your love.
With this note there was a small bottle of veritasium, just enough for one dose and packaged in one of Uncle Sev's personal bottles, Draco pondered this and held the clear bottle and liquid up to the light, seeing the slight sheen of silver magic he knew that his uncle had brewed it.
Draco knew he couldn't ask about the Courter, it was against protocol. Leaning back he sighed, there was only one more day before the Courter reveals himself to Draco and the blond was getting anxious.
XXX
Draco,
Today I prove that I can provide for you. And for the baby, I was going to show you my bank account but was told that's too impersonal and offensive to the rules of the Courtship.
I'll admit I am nervous about how you'll react tomorrow but for now, I'd like it if you'd keep this with you until you know who am I therefore if you want to reject the Courtship you can give this back.
Giving is better than receiving because giving starts the receiving process.
Gingerly opening the black box that had come with the letter, Draco stared down at the silver key and the chain it was attached to. He recognised it as a house key, it was an old decorative one for one of the ancestral pureblood homes so the Courter obviously had a place for them to live.
His curiosity was peaked and he undid the chain before hooking it around his neck then tucking the key under his shirt.
XXX
The final day of the courting dawned with Draco a jittery mess of nerves and his friends doing their best to calm him down. They went to breakfast early which made Draco more foul-tempered because they had to wait longer for the Owl post to arrive and when it finally did Draco had barely eaten anything but two cups of tea later and he needed the bathroom as the baby was pressing harder on his bladder.
The last letter arrived much like the first, there was a flower wrapped carefully inside the rolled parchment, except this time instead of a narcissus it was a lily.
Draco, my darling Draco,
I started by giving you a flower representing your mother, now I give you one representing mine.
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
Draco let out a soft gasp and glanced up at the Gryffindor table but he wasn't there. "Who is it Draco?" Blaise asked eagerly.
"Harry," a smile broke out over Draco's face and he was happy. "It's Harry."