Disclaimer: HP and Co. belong to the lovely J.K. Rowling not myself. Siri and Ori are mine however =]
A/N: OMG I'm so sorry for the long, long wait. I'm super sorry you guys, but I really hope you enjoy this chapter =] This chapter is dedicated to Brisingrblade09, I'm so sorry for the long wait but I hope it was worth it! Also a big thanks to my lovely beta drnic!
Chapter 9: Back to School
Harry sighed softy, rubbing a hand over his still legs, feeling the fabric underneath his fingers roll lightly. He was beyond sad that his children were leaving tomorrow, back to Hogwarts and away from him. He hated when they left. He knew it was necessary, but that didn't mean he liked it.
Pushing himself down the hallway, he paused in the door, a small grin adorning his face as he saw Draco standing at the kitchen counter, flour smudged on his cheek as he stood behind his sons watching them attempt baking. Siri was balanced on a chair, stirring a bowl filled with batter vigorously while Ori added ingredients into the bowl at Draco's direction. The blond looked slightly haggard but was grinning like a loon, which indicated, despite the mess to him and their kitchen, that Draco was enjoying himself.
"What are you three making?" Harry asked curiously as he moved further into the kitchen, smothering a laugh as the threesome whirled around in shock and surprise.
"Daddy" Siri yelped, dropping his wooden spoon in the bowl, "You're not supposed to come in here yet" the green-eyed boy admonished before turning around and beginning to fish his spoon from the batter.
"Oh?" Harry asked curiously, shooting Draco a curious look, the blond just shrugged helplessly a playful grin gracing his lips.
"Sorry love, but the twins are planning a surprise and you aren't supposed to see it yet," Draco said with a grin as Orion rushed across the room and carefully pushed his Dad back into the hall.
"We'll call you when it's ready" the Slytherin said with a grin before he hugged his father and disappeared back into the kitchen. Laughing, Harry turned and wheeled himself down the hallway, heading into the family room and pulling himself up onto the couch. Summoning his the book he was currently reading, he settled himself in; a blanket pulled over his legs and flicked the page he was currently on.
MOA
Orion dumped the bag of chocolate chips into the batter that Siri was carefully stirring, Draco standing behind the twins monitoring them. They were going back to Hogwarts tomorrow and both Siri and Ori knew that Harry would miss them like crazy so they were making him his favourite chocolate chip cookies without the help of the house elves. As soon as Siri had finished mixing the batter the boys quickly began putting chunks of the batter onto the cookie sheet and Draco quickly popped it into the oven, he knew his boys were almost teens but he still didn't trust them around the stove, or anything hot for that matter.
"Go tidy up" he shooed them out of the kitchen, while he followed at a more sedate pace. He asked the elves to keep an eye on the cookies and to let him know when they were ready. Washing his face and changing his clothes he headed into the family room where Harry was snuggled up with the book.
"Hm?" Harry mumbled, pulling himself from the world within the pages to glance at Draco as the blond settled himself down next to him. "Where's my surprise?" he asked, a fake pout on his full lips.
"You'll just have to wait and see love, it will be ready soon enough" Draco said wrapping his arms securely around Harry and pulled him against his chest.
"Ah" Harry said, snuggling against his husband and returning his gaze to his book. Draco chuckled and let his chin rest gently on Harry's head and tried to read over his shoulder.
"Daddy!" Siri cried gleefully as he and Ori entered the room, both boys were clean, though Siri still had a smudge of flour on his cheek.
"What?" Harry asked setting his book aside and ignoring Draco's whine of disappointment, clearly the blond had been enjoying the book.
"Nothing, just missed you this morning," Siri said, scrambling onto Harry's lap. Orion snorted in amusement but clambered onto the couch as well, settling himself against Draco's available side.
"You missed me?" Harry asked in mock surprise, his arms tightening around Siri's waist and he grinned against his son's hair.
"Yup" Siri grinned, snuggling against Harry contently. Harry held his son tightly, relishing the feeling, all to soon his son's would be back on the train and he wouldn't see them again till summer and sooner rather then later they would be far to big for hugs, or cuddles and that just sucked.
Snuggling his son, Harry shifted slightly and gestured for Orion to move so he was now seated between Harry and Draco, Siri still on Harry's lap.
"We miss you guys as well," Draco murmured, "Especially when you go back to school" the blond said with a small sigh.
"We miss you two while we're at school, but school is important, Papa always says the 'foundation for a good future is a good education and Hogwarts provides a very good education' or something like that" Orion said with a grin as he quoted his Papa.
"Or something like that" Draco echoed, "Papa is right, school is very important for your futures, but that doesn't mean we miss you any less" the blond said with a grin. He knew that Orion idolized Lucius, which wasn't a bad thing, at all. If Orion was going to have a hero, he would rather it was someone successful and family oriented like his own further over some random quidditch player or something, despite the fact that he, himself, had been a quidditch player.
"What time are Grandma, Papa and Uncle Sev coming over for dinner?" Siri asked curiously, looking between his parents.
"Around six" Harry responded, "You know that they wouldn't miss your farewell dinner" Harry said with a small grin.
"I know" Siri said with a smile, "I just wanted to know what time they'll be here" the youngest blond said with a grin. Harry sighed contently and nodded, Siri liked to know what was going on and when, he had since he was little.
MOA
Draco smiled as he pulled the cookie sheet from the oven, admiring the perfect batch of Harry's favourite cookies that the boys had made for him, sans house elf help. Setting it on the counter, he cast a cooling charm on the tray and cookies lest the boys get into them and smiled. The boys knew that Harry was once again feeling down about not being able to see them off at the platform tomorrow, hopefully for the last time, so they had made him his favourite cookies as a present. He, personally, thought it was adorable and had enjoyed baking with the twins. Of course the pair of them had wanted to bake the cookies without any help from him or the elves, but he had put his foot down, not only had he wanted the kitchen to remain intact he hadn't wanted the twins near anything hot, such as the oven. As far as he was concerned they were far to young to be playing around with something like heavy-duty muggle appliances.
"Your parents just arrived" Harry said from behind him, causing his husband to whirl around, a small grin on his face.
"Already?" Draco asked in surprise.
"Already? Dray love its six" Harry said softly, "They're in the sitting room with the boys and I'm sure Sev'll be here any moment" Harry added with a grin. "I guess you zoned out while taking the cookies out of the oven"
"Guess so, but now you've gone and ruined the boys surprise" Draco admonished his husband slightly.
"Whoops," Harry said with a sardonic roll of his eyes, "As if I didn't know what they were doing this morning. I'll be sure to act surprised when they show me later" he added, "Come along now the elves should have dinner ready soon, they've been cooking all afternoon, well ever since they got their kitchen back from the boys"
Draco chuckled and shook his head, the boys had left quite a mess for the poor elves, but they had tidied up as well as they could, though he was sure Mipsy and Flipsy had re-cleaned everything anyway.
"Shall we go? It is our last dinner with the boys before summer" Draco said, pushing Harry slowly out of the kitchen and towards the dining room where the rest of the family had moved to while they had been speaking.
MOA
Dinner had been a lovely affair with lots of talk and laughter. The boys had enjoyed interacting with Severus and their grandparents, but now was the time to say goodbye. Severus had bid the twins goodbye the night before after dinner, and Harry had said a tearful goodbye that morning, around a mouthful of cookie. Now Draco, Lucius and Narcissa were standing on platform nine and three quarters, Draco's hands resting heavily on the twins' shoulders as the family stared at the gleaming scarlet engine.
"And you'll remember to write?" Draco asked, swallowing heavily, he hated saying goodbye to his children and this was almost worst then saying goodbye to them on September 1st, at least then he had known he would get to see them at Christmas, now he knew he wouldn't see them until summer and that was a lot further off then Christmas had been.
"Of course" Orion said as Siri nodded, "And you and Dad will write us as well?" the Slytherin asked.
"Every day if you'd let us" Draco said with a grin.
"We expect regular correspondence as well," Lucius said with a grin while Narcissa dabbed her teary eyes with an embroidered handkerchief.
"Of course grandma" Siri said, turning from his father to give her a hug.
Soon the goodbyes were said and Draco and his parents were left standing on the platform watching the train leave the station. Waving one last time, Draco bid his parents goodbye and apperated back to his home for Harry's second treatment.
He wasn't looking forward to this at all, seeing his husband in pain was not something he enjoyed, however he understood the necessity of Harry being able to walk again. Harry had never cursed his lot in life, his handicap, however with the issues caused by the Weasleys, Harry needed the wizarding world to see him as able bodied, as fit for caring for their children. He had always seen Harry as capable, however with the Weasleys creating such a fuss, people were beginning to question Harry's capabilities, it disgusted him that the public was so quick to judge but Harry, unfortunately, was used to the fickleness of the public and had just shrugged it off. He would regain his ability to walk, would prove to everyone that he was a capable Father and husband.
MOA
Harry lay panting on the bed; his body writhing in pain as the potion once again ate away at the damage in his back.
"Damn it Sev, this is worse then last time" Draco said, his face drawn and pinched as he stared at his husband.
"I know" Sev murmured, "It will get worse before it gets better" the potion master said with a soft sigh.
Finally after what seemed like an eternity, the pain ended and Harry was left a sore, panting mess on the bed. The sheets around him were soaked with sweat and he could barely get enough air in his lungs as he gasped for breath. As soon as he stopped writhing, Draco clambered onto the bed and pulled Harry against him, just holding him there.
"Gods love" he murmured, he almost regretted giving Harry the potion as a present but at the same time he recognized the necessity of it. He just hated seeing his husband in so much pain.
Harry chuckled weakly, knowing immediately what Draco was thinking about.
"S'fine love, I'll be fine. Just two more doses and I should be able to walk again" the brunet man said, his voice hoarse as he rested against Draco.
"I know" Draco murmured, "I just don't like seeing you hurt"
"I know Draco, I don't like seeing you hurt either, especially when you came home from Quidditch matches with bruises and barely mended bones, but this is our lot in life and soon things will be better" Harry said sagely. Severus snorted softly in the corner, who would have thought that Potter would be the levelheaded one in the relationship.
"If you're alright Harry, I shall be off, I want to open the shop today" Severus said, gathering his things.
"Bye Sev, thanks" Harry said weakly, lifting his hand to bid the former Professor goodbye.
"Bye" Draco called softly, still cuddling Harry to him before rising, Harry in his arms and heading to the washroom.
"Dray?" Harry mumbled sleepily, he just wanted to sleep damn it.
"I know your tired love, but you need a bath and the bed sheets need to be changed" Draco said, magically filling the tub with water and bubbles before setting Harry in the water carefully.
"Join me?" Harry asked, glancing at his husband with a grin.
"Of course" Draco said, hurriedly shedding his clothes and clambering into the large tub behind Harry.
"See the twins off alright?" Harry asked as he snuggled against his husband.
"Yea, bittersweet as always" Draco said, rubbing Harry's shoulders lightly, massaging the soreness out of his achy body.
"I can't wait till I can meet them on the platform myself" Harry murmured tiredly.
"Soon love, like you said, two more treatments and then we can both go to meet them at the end of the semester" Draco said with a soft grin.
"I can't wait" Harry said with a dreamy smile on his face. Most people would think his desire to go to the platform and see his children off was ridiculous. Lots of parents couldn't see their children off to school due to work or other circumstances, but they had the option of going. Currently Harry couldn't go, he wasn't physically able to go and that was what got him. He wanted the ability to see his children off and he damn well was going to. Two more treatments the drowsy man thought over and over as Draco washed his hair and rubbed his shoulders, just two more treatments.
MOA
Orion sighed as he settled himself and the Slytherin table for the welcome back feast. He missed home but he was also extremely happy to be back at school amongst his friends and classmates. Sirius was sitting across the hall from him and the Hufflepuff table and appeared to be happily chatting with some of his friends, including that prefect that seemed to have taken his twin brother under his wing. Michael nudged him lightly, giving him a questioning look.
"You okay?" the Zabini heir asked curiously, his friend seemed a little out of it.
"Fine, just a bit homesick. Dad's doing treatments right now and their really rough on him" Orion confined in his friend.
"Oh? What sort of treatments?" Michael asked, concerned. He liked Orion's parents, a lot and hearing that Harry (as he insisted on being called) may be sick again, was a bit worrying.
"To walk again" Orion whispered, glad that the conversation in the hall was loud enough to mask his whispers.
"Uncle Sev invented a potion to help him walk again, but it really hurts him" Orion murmured softly.
"Why is he taking a potion? I thought he didn't care about not being able to walk" the other boy said, a small frown on his face.
"He doesn't care about that, but this stuff with the Weasleys is getting really serious and Dad and Father are worried about him getting taken away, so he's doing something about it. According to Papa the Weasleys entire case is based on Dad's inability to walk so if he's able to walk then their case is kaput and we don't have to worry anymore" Orion explained.
"Ah" Michael hummed, "Makes sense, I still can't believe they're trying to take your Dad away," he grumbled.
"I know, its really stupid but we can't do much about it right now" Orion said, glancing around as food appeared on the table. It seemed he and Michael had talked right through the welcome back speech, though it was far shorter then the Welcome to Hogwarts speech the Headmistress had given at the beginning of the year.
"Still is stupid though," Michael muttered, reaching for a plate of chicken.
Over at the Hufflepuff table, Sirius was filling Kevin in on everything that had happened over break while the prefect listened intently a small grin on his face.
"Sounds like you had lots of fun" Kevin said with a chuckle, "I'm glad you had a good holiday," The prefect added.
"Did you have a good vacation?" Siri asked his friend and mentor curiously.
"Yea, my older brother and his fiancé came and spent the holiday with us, so it was nice seeing them" Kevin said with a grin.
"F-fiancé?" Siri asked, stumbling over the unfamiliar word and looking at Kevin curiously.
"Fiancé, it means my brother's intended partner. The girl he is going to one day marry" Kevin explained, chuckling at the face Siri made at the mention of marriage.
"What? Don't like marriage?" Kevin teased, knowing full well that Siri was in the 'girls are icky' stage.
"Nope" Siri said with a wrinkled up nose, "Marriage is icky," He added, "And so are girls" he said as an after thought.
"Marriage isn't icky, your parents are married and they're not icky, are they?" Kevin said with a grin.
"No, my parents are parents though" Sirius explained in only that way young kids could. "They're icky sometimes though" Sirius admitted, his parents were just parents however they sometimes got all lovey-dovey and it was, well, gross.
"Parents tend to do that," Kevin said wisely. "But we love them and they love us" he added with a grin. "Better eat before the food disappears," he added, loading up his own plate with all his favourites. Sirius nodded and poured himself a glass of pumpkin juice before placing his desired food items on his plate. Digging in, the blond sighed contently he really liked Hogwarts food, though he'd never admit that to Flipsy and Mipsy, they got sorta weird when him and Orion said they liked other elves food.
Later that night, Sirius climbed in bed and snuggled down, glancing at his bedside table he pulled the picture he had of his family off of the table and lightly pressed a kiss to each of his family members faces.
"Goodnight" He whispered before dousing the light and drifting off.
A/N: Hey kids, hope you enjoyed the chapter, if you want to be up-to-date on me and my writing feel free to follow me on Twitter BloodyRed_Queen or on Facebook, just search BloodyRed Queen (Link is on my page)