Epilogue

"Seven years ago we walked through the doors of this school wanting to learn what the teachers had to offer. And now we leave carrying their knowledge that they gave to us for bettering our world and the lives of others.

"I recently learned that it isn't hard to get from where you are now to where you want to go. It's never easy but once you've accomplished what you want it's worth it.

"I heard once that you have to crawl before you can walk, and that you have to walk before you can run. That's true in its own way but I go by another saying. Life's a climb, but the view's great."

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Ring-Ring-Ring

Harry slapped a hand down on the alarm and burrowed back down under the covers. He was still tired from the night before and he wanted to get as much sleep as he could.

He was almost on the edge of sleep when three voices woke him up very loudly.

"Papa!"

Harry groaned when his children dog piled on top of him and began attempting to get him out of bed. Harry laughed as he wrestled with the three on the bed.

"Guys, what did I tell you," scolded Draco hurrying in the room. "Let your father sleep."

"Awww…." said the three in unison. Harry smiled up at his partner.

"It's all right, Draco," he said. "I need to get up anyway. Work doesn't stop just because we want to sleep."

Draco sighed. "All right then. Downstairs for breakfast. Let your father dress." The three groaned and shuffled out of the room. Draco turned to Harry. "Dinner. Belladonna's. Don't forget."

"Like you'd let me," said Harry smiling at him. Draco smiled back at him and left to make breakfast. Harry threw back the covers, stood up, stretched and went to get dressed. He walked over to the closet and dresser and threw on clothes.

Harry never recovered the weeks he lost after the fight with Riddle. He tried to remember on numerous occasions but each time his mind drew a blank. At first Draco often had a look of disappointment but after a while the look went away and life went as normal.

Harry finished school during the summer and finally graduated. He applied to the University of New York to study law and graduated there four years later. He and Draco made their union vows soon after.

Harry reached in a pair of his work boots and pulled out a black box. With a soft look he quickly stuffed it in his pocket and went downstairs and smiled at the three children eating Draco's strawberry pancakes. Draco was still at the stove cooking Harry a batch.

"Morning, guys," he said to his children, seven year old Scorpius, and four year olds James and Lily all looked at him with a smile. Scorpius was a miniature version of Draco with his silken blonde hair and storm gray eyes. James looked like Harry but had hazel eyes instead of green, and his twin sister Lily had red hair and green eyes. Harry turned to her and kissed her hair. "Morning, love."

"Morning, papa," she said. Harry smiled over at Draco who smiled back.

After the death of Riddle and Harry's near death experience Draco told Harry he was frightened that he was leaving this world without accomplishing anything. Draco went to college with Harry and after they graduated he and Harry spoke to Ginny and Hermione. They asked for one of them to be surrogates mothers and both agree. Scorpius was born first with Hermione. Both she and Ron visited every week with their daughter Rosalie. James and Lily were born later thanks to Ginny and all three kids loved to boast about having two mothers and two fathers.

"Can you take the children to school?" asked Draco. "There's a problem with the produce and Carl got into an argument with the delivery guy last night…."

"No problem, Draco," said Harry. "I'll take care of the kids."

Draco gave Harry a grateful smile as he gave Harry his stack of pancakes.

"Thank you, Harry," he said.

A half hour later all three children and both fathers walked out of the house.

"Bye, Daddy!" said the twins hugging Draco. Lily kissed his cheek.

"You be good, you hear," said Draco handing each a lunch box. "Love you."

"Love you too," they said and headed to Harry's car. Draco turned to Scorpius.

"You be good too," he said.

"I will, Dad," said Scorpius taking his lunch money and went to Harry's car.

Draco turned to Harry. "Remember…"

"Dinner. Belladonna's. Don't forget," said Harry in a dead tone but with a smile. "I know. I won't. You know I won't."

Draco smiled back. "You had better not," he said and leaned to kiss him. Harry kissed him back. "See you later."

"Love you," said Harry and walked to his car. Lily was giggling at their fathers kiss, James hid his eyes and Scorpius was pretending to throw up. "Scorpius, not appropriate."

"So is you and Dad kissing, Papa," said Scorpius. The way he spoke and the look in his eye reminded Harry more of Draco then just Scorpius' looks.

"You can just call me Harry, Scorpius," he said as he drove out of the driveway. "I'm not your biological father like Draco is."

"Maybe later," said Scorpius with a smirk that also made him look like Draco. Harry chuckled and drove them to school. They drove in silence till they reached Scorpius' school. Scorpius grabbed his backpack and got out of the car.

"Be good," called Harry. "Stop getting into trouble."

"Bye, Pop!" called Scorpius and he ran toward the school. Scorpius didn't turn back and wave like the other kids walking to the school. Yet another way Scorpius was like Draco. Say good-bye once. Don't prolong it with emotional baggage. When Scorpius was safely in the school Harry drove out of the parking lot.

"And where to next," he asked the twins. James and Lily cheered.

"Mommy!" they cheered and Harry smiled as he drove. They stopped in front of a home day-care center. The sign read Blazing Sun Daycare. Standing in front of the house was Ginny grinning at the sight of her daughter and son.

"Mommy!" yelled the twins running toward their mother. She hugged them both carefully because of her bulging stomach.

"Hello, my loves," she said and smiled up at Harry. "Hello, Harry."

"Hey, Ginny."

"Still up for dinner?" she asked.

"Yeah, like Draco would let me forget. Think you could drag Blaise out of the office long enough?"

"You know how a lawyer's life is. But I'll see what I can do. See you at dinner."

Harry smiled. "See you then." He smiled at the twins. "I'll see you later, okay?"

"Okay," said the twins. Lily walked up to Harry and hugged him. "Love you, Papa.

"You too, sweetheart," he said hugging her back. He turned to James. "And you, bud."

"Bye, papa," he said. Lily went to Ginny and Harry left for work.

After four years of learning law in college Harry went to become a federal agent. He was still a junior agent but he wouldn't trade his job for anything. He walked into the office and was greeted by all too familiar faces.

"Wotcher, Harry," said Tonks sitting on Remus' desk as usual. Romulus looked up at her feet. Four months after Harry woke up Tonks gave birth to Theodore Remus Lupin. Unfortunately due to complications Tonks will be unable to have any more kids, but both didn't care. They were proud of the son they have and doted on him endlessly.

"Hey Tonks," said Harry sitting at his desk. He looked around but couldn't find his godfather. "Where's Sirius?"

"Picking Severus up at the airport," said Remus. "His trip to Grimwald's laboratory seemed most interesting."

"To quote Snape," said Tonks. Harry laughed.

"Well, he better be back in time for dinner or Draco will pitch a fit."

"Oh, today's the day," said Tonks in realization. Harry nodded.

"Casual or formal," asked Remus.

"Formal," said Harry. "And I reminded Sirius for a dozen times."

"Let's just hope he remembers," said Tonks.

"If he doesn't he'd better find a hole to hid in," said Harry and he went to work. After a half hour Sirius walked in. "Hey, Sirius, how's Snape?"

"I couldn't understand half the things he said. How did you pass his class, Harry?"

"It's a survival instinct."

All four smiled at the joke. The last decade had been a work of survival for Sirius and Snape. After Harry graduated Sirius gave Harry the house and moved in with Snape. Both men didn't know a thing about each other's professions and were constantly arguing but after an intervention from Tonks they were reminded by how much they loved each other.

Sirius sat at his desk across from Remus', logged onto his computer and blinked in surprise at the screen. He looked at Harry in annoyance.

"Ha-ha, very funny," he said.

"Just a reminder," said Harry smiling over at his godfather.

"I'm reminded," said Sirius and deleted the reminder in bold words to go to dinner at Belladonna's. Harry smiled and their work day began. The amount of cases wasn't really a priority since most were for the local authority and not an international incident, but there was one case they were looking at that could be something more. Unfortunately they didn't have enough evidence on it yet so it was easy for Harry to get out of work early for Draco's dinner party.

It was till his phone rang just as he was leaving.

"Agent Potter," he said.

"Agent Potter, we're sorry to disturb you. This is Principle Kelly at Scorpius' school. You were on the contact list along with Mr. Malfoy. We need you to come to the school if you can."

"What's wrong? Is Scorpius hurt?"

"I'm afraid Scorpius has gotten into some trouble. Could you please come so we can discuss it face to face?"

"I'm on my way," he said hanging up. He grabbed his coat and walked out.

"What's wrong?" asked Sirius.

"Scorpius got himself into trouble," said Harry as he went out the door. As he walked out of the building he called Draco. "Did the school call you about Scorpius?"

"Yes, but I'm swamped. Can you handle it?"

"Sure, my hands are empty." He got in his car.

"Thanks, Harry. Oh God, hold on. Peitro, not there! In the other one!"

Harry chuckled. "Trouble in paradise?"

"How can a day half booked be so long?"

"Hey, it's you establishment. I'm just a cop."

"Funny," said Draco in a dry tone, but Harry could see the humor behind it and he laughed.

"Okay, I'll tell you what it's about later."

"If he started it, he's grounded."

"Right, talk to you later."

"Bye."

Harry hung up and drove out of the parking lot. He drove up to Scorpius' school and walked up to the principle's office. Scorpius was waiting outside. He looked up when Harry walked in.

"Pop…"

"Let's wait till we talk to the principle before I hear your side of the story," said Harry walking up to his stepson. The door to the office opened and the principle walked out.

"Mr. Potter?" she asked and Harry nodded.

"That's me."

"Please come in, you as well, Mr. Malfoy," she said and both followed her in. she sat behind her desk as Harry and Scorpius sat in chairs. "I'm sorry I had to drag you here."

"It's no problem. My day was slow," said Harry.

"I got hold of his father but he was unavailable at the moment and his mother was also unavailable," said the principle. "Mr. Malfoy suggested I call you since you are a legal guardian of his."

"I would like to know what had happened."

"Scorpius got involved into a fight with a group of boys a little while ago at recess," said Principle Kelly. "All of the boys were roughed up pretty good."

Harry looked over at his stepson. Scorpius was looking at his hands with an almost guilty look.

"Is that true?" he asked.

"They asked for it!" said Scorpius defensively. "They were calling you and Dad perverts and that the school was going to take Lily and James and me away from you and Dad!"

The look on Scorpius' face was one of fright and Harry was surprised at that. Scorpius always acted like the tough guy, like Draco and Harry did when the need called for it. Hardly anything scared Harry's little man.

"Why would they say that?" asked Harry. Scorpius looked down at his hands.

"Because of you and Dad," he said. "He said it was because you and Dad loved each other and that it was a wrong kind of love! But it not! It's not wrong!"

Harry sighed. "Scorpius, I told you…."

"I know."

"Mr. Potter, I assure you your personal situation is not in question here," said Kelly. "And I assure you, Scorpius, the school has no authority to take you or your brother and sister away from your fathers." Scorpius smiled at her. "But it still doesn't excuse you from what you did. You are suspended for three days, and a week of detention at your return."

Scorpius looked at her in surprise. "What? But what about the ones who started the fight?"

"A month's detention each," she said. "I assure you if they try anything again, they will get expelled. But I will say the same to you. Any more fights and you will get punishe."

"We understand, right, Scorpius," said Harry looking at his stepson.

"Yes, ma'am," he said.

Principle Kelly stood and both stood as well. "Again, I'm sorry to disturb you, Mr. Potter…."

"It's no problem," he said holding out his hand. "It's a pleasure to see you again, Principle Kelly."

"You as well, Mr. Potter," she said shaking his hand. "Have a good day. And you," she turned to Scorpius. "Be good."

Scorpius nodded and followed Harry out of the school. Both didn't speak till they were inside of Harry's car. Scorpius looked up at Harry nervously.

"Pop…."

"What have we told you, Scorp?"

"But they were calling you and Dad perverts! You always said perverts were bad people and you're not!"

Harry turned to look at his stepson. "Your father and I made peace with who we are a long time ago," he said sincerely. "It's no excuse to start a fight."

"Then I should have let them make fun of our family?"

"No, you should ignore them." Scorpius glared at Harry and Harry sighed. "Listen, Scorp. Your father and I are no different then from any other parent. We love you and your sister and brother. Your mother loves you. So does Aunt Ginny, Uncle Blaise and Ron and Grandpa Sirius and Ron's parents and your mother's parents and the rest of your aunts and uncles. You have a big family that loves every bit of you."

"I know. I love you guys, too."

Harry smiled and gently punched Scorpius' arm. "Still proud of you through."

Scorpius looked at him in surprise. "You are?"

"Yeah, you stood up for your family. That's a good thing. Just no more fights."

"Okay!" said Scorpius with a smile. Then he frowned. "You're not going to tell Dad, are you?"

"I got to, son, and he told me to tell you you're grounded."

"Aw, Pop…."

"Talk to your father," said Harry and drove out of the parking lot. He dropped Scorpius off at Ginny's since the day care was closed for the day. After a hurried greeting with the twins and a quick examination to Ginny he went back to work, finishing up the report for the current case he was working on.

Later he walked into Belladonna. The host greeted him with familiarity.

"Mr. Potter," said the host with a thick French accent. "Mr. Malfoy and company are waiting for you."

"Jasper, you know you can call me Harry."

Jasper smiled at him. "Not tonight."

Harry smiled and followed him inside. Draco had graduated with top honors at restaurant managing and cuisine. After five years at working for a five star restaurant he used the money he saved from what Ron called "The Great Malfoy Escape" and opened his own place. He didn't use the money from his parent's account. He gave his share to charities each year. Everything Draco did was on his own.

Harry smiled when he saw his family sitting around tables pushed together. The Lupins, all the Weasleys, Zabini's, Sirius and Snape, Draco and the children were all present.

"There he is," said Sirius as the twins ran up to hug him. Harry hugged them back and smiled at Draco.

"Hey there," he said walking up to his partner.

"You're late," said Draco. Pulled Draco out of his seat and kissed him. Draco smiled and kissed him back as their family cheered. Only Ron looked away.

"Happy anniversary," said Harry.

"Happy anniversary," said Draco.

"Let's eat!" said Ron and they all laughed. They got through the meal with relative ease. Draco asked Scorpius what the principle called about but Harry gave him an "I'll tell you later" look and the subject dropped temporarily. They were just starting on dessert when Harry stood.

"Everyone, I'd like to thank you for coming here tonight. It was ten years ago today that Draco and I vowed to be together always and that was one of the happiest days of my life, and if you know me I've had very few." Some chuckled. "Draco has been a wonderful partner, confidant, and best friend. Every year we renew our vows but I don't want to do that anymore."

"Harry!" hissed Draco in shock. Harry turned to him.

"Instead, I just want to ask you something." Taking the black box from his pocket he placed it on the table. Curious Draco picked it up and gasped. Inside was a ring in the shape of a dragon with a green emerald on its back. Hermione gasped when she saw the ring.

"Harry…"

Harry knelt in front of Draco and held the box in Draco's hands. "Draco Malfoy, will you marry me?"

Draco looked up at him in shock. "Harry, I don't know what to say, except…." His familiar smirk returned to his face. "What took you so damn long? I swear it's prom all over again!"

Everyone laughed while Scorpius and the twins started asking who'll be best man. Harry and Draco just laughed with them as Harry slid the ring on Draco's finger.

"You know you're getting one too," said Draco.

"Oh, I know," said Harry and wrapped his arm around his fiancé's shoulder.

THE END