A/N - So let me start. Thank you for the review TotteringSprog. I sat and laughed at it with joy for a good minute and then over two days wrote out this chapter and the next. Now I've moved from the city I'm studying four classes, Media, writing, language and Latin and I'm working, maintaining involvement in several clubs and remembering to eat, shower and sleep. Getting to these fictions is hard and putting time into them, costly, but I love it! It's fun and that one review that was just one word literally motivated me to write this chapter.

Warning - Okay, so a new one on top of the Slash and future M rated content to come and some brief little moments of sexuality in earlier chapters I found something else out.
In a way all Drarry is incest. (yuck) Draco is Harry's second cousin once removed (JK Rowling has confirmed Dorea is James' mother and she is on the Black family tree)
I didn't want it to be this way! I will NOT use this new revelation as a kink! It will be a very real conundrum.

But really, to be fair a lot of people in the real HP books are married and distantly related, it's just the material I'm working with, I wasn't aware of it and I didn't choose it. I'd prefer it if Draco and Harry weren't related and I considered pretending I didn't know but I came to the discovery whilst I was writing and it just became part of the plot.

Again, very sorry.

Disclaimer - The themes and most characters belong to my queen, JK Rowling, author of the true Harry Potter books.

A good day indeed it was, for Harry finally had an afternoon free. This he had not anticipated.

He'd made it to the castle's entrance, not sure where to head but grinning with each stride anyway.

His smile vanished in place of a startled shout at Pigwidgeon collided with the side of his head.

"Ouch!"

He picked the hysterical bird from the ground where it had become entangled by the letter tied to it with excessive string.

Harry unwound it and separated bird from parchment.

"Thanks!" He told the tiny owl zooming around his head.

Harry recognized Ron's scrawl immediately.

Meeting with Hermione in Hogsmeade tonight. Come with her and we can catch up.

PS. Don't give the owl any treats he's been eating Hermes' feathers.

Harry looked wearily at he plump ball of feathers that began sticking its head into his pockets and scratching at the cloth for treats, when he found none he began to screech.

Harry was scribbling "Alright" on the back of the note when he was interrupted.

"What is that infernal racket Potter?"

"Malfoy, I didn't expect to see you so soon after yesterday."

"Usually when people find themselves fortunate enough to get back on even ground they're humble about it." Malfoy snapped.

Harry shrugged.

"Is that Weezlebee's pathetic excuse for an owl?"

Harry pulled Pigwidgeon out of his sleeve by the tail.

"What this?"

He promptly tied the letter back on, using considerably less string.

Malfoy reached inside his pocket and threw a mouse carcass at Pig. The owl flew from Harry's grasp and caught it in his tiny claws, proceeding to drop several inches under its weight.

"Off you go then." Malfoy commanded as if speaking to a student.

With difficulty Pig flew away over Malfoy's shoulder, chirping with delight.

"What ever happened to your owl?" Malfoy asked.

Harry felt his body run cold.

"She died."

"Oh." Malfoy's mouth formed a straight line. "It happens. You should get a new one, hawk owls are really superior, they…"

Harry walked away. His eyes were growing hot and he was not going to cry in front of Malfoy.

Hedwig had been with him through his time with the Dursleys. She was his connection to who he truly was. When he thought of her death it was almost as painful as remembering Remus, Fred, Collin, Tonks, Sirius, Dumbledore, Dobby and his parents.

He wouldn't get another owl.

He was spun around. The unexpected physical contact stirred unwanted responses. Probably due to memories of the contact the potions had forced them to endure. Harry pulled away roughly, trying to hide his flushed face and quickened breath.

"I'm sorry, but did I do something? Last I checked I was helping you."

Harry laughed cruelly.

"Last I checked you were helping yourself. When did you start to care about upsetting me anyway?"

Malfoy screwed up his face momentarily. As much as he could at least, a wrinkle appeared on his brow and his nose scrunched ever so slightly.

"Is this about your owl?" He asked incredulously.

Harry shook his head.

"Oh I get it, you're just being the same rude, arrogant walking mass of ego you always were."

"As if you know anything."

"I just came to tell you that aunt Andromeda is visiting me this coming weekend and so you get babysitting duties. I thought you should know."

Harry swallowed, that was good to know.

"In fact she was going to leave the infant with the Weasley woman but I was the one who said you'd want to look after it, being its godfather and all. So see, I am helping you."

Now Harry's eyes felt really hot and his heart was leaping about in its chest cavity. He cleared his throat.

"You're calling her aunt Andromeda now?"

"Yes, well, one in my circumstance can't be choosy."

"Thank you, Malfoy."

"I don't want your thanks."

"What do you want then?" Shocking realization of what that question could imply immediately seized Harry.

Malfoy paused; Harry couldn't bring himself to look at him.

"Your humble apology for rudely walking away from me."

Relaxing, Harry shrugged. "I'm sorry. It was about the owl."

Malfoy pulled a confused look. "Oh, really? So you err, really like animals then?"

"No. I mean yes I like animals, but mainly because Hedwig was killed by death eaters."

Harry heard the short sharp intake of breath through Malfoy's nostrils.

"They killed your owl?"

Harry nodded.

Malfoy stared off in silence.

"You're not going into…you know…are you?" Harry asked, referring to spellshock.

"What? No." Malfoy shook his head.

More silence threatened them but both jumped at a burst of noise.

"Blimey, if it isn't the Harry Potter."

Harry's instinct to run out the great big oak doors subsided into relieved laughter as Rhys came into view from down a staircase.

"Who the hell let you into the school?" Harry asked him.

"Some crazy old bitty who turns into a cat. I was in your hospital wing reviewing the case studies of old Pomfrey's treatment of Quidditch injuries. You got a load of juniors coming through."

Harry cringed.

"Anyway, I'm on the sickle standing here chatting, but if you can get into Hogsmeade tonight then Isobel's coming through from London and we're going to the broomsticks."

"Oh, I was meeting someone else tonight."

"Really? Who?" Rhys asked with an impish grin,

"Old friends."

"Oh, well then, bring them, the more the merrier!"

"Harry!" Hermione's shrill voice preceded her.

"You better not be missing class." He warned her with a mocking smile as she ran toward them from a stream of students exiting the great hall.

"Don't try that. Now did you get a message from my stupid, good-for-nothing, so-called husband?"

Harry nodded slowly.

"Urgh! I knew it, Molly was right, I was rushing into things, that boy has no idea how to act as an adult! What did it say?"

"You were meeting him in Hogsmeade…"

"Yes but did it say where? Did it say when?"

Harry was about to shake his head.

"The orange weasel said seven, evening, at the broomsticks." Malfoy drawled, looking nonchalantly at his nails.

Hermione scrutinized him.

"No he didn't." She pointed an accusing finger at Malfoy's chest.

Malfoy looked at Harry to verify.

"Yeah, I think, it may have mentioned something. Seven pm. At the Three broomsticks, it sounds familiar…"

"And you're coming?" Hermione asked Harry, turning the finger to him and raising her eyebrows.

"We all are!" Rhys announced, throwing his arms around both Harry and Malfoy who quickly struggled free.

"All?" Hermione squeaked. Then her faced hardened. "Fine, then I'm inviting Genevieve and Luna. I'm not going to be stuck in some blokes fest while you obsess about Quidditch."

"Wait I'm not…" Malfoy's protests where drowned out.

"Then can Neville come to? He's spent the weekend in the green houses" Harry told Hermione.

"Yes, good idea. You know Hannah Abbott's in Hogsmeade for Ministry work. We should invite her as well. I heard those two were very close last year."

"They were?" Harry asked.

"Yes, didn't you see them together in the DA?"

Harry smiled, all he'd been focused on back then was Voldemort and Cho Chang, and then the year after that came his obsession with…

"Malfoy, you should invite some people too." Rhys said, clapping the blonde's shoulder.

"I'm not…"

"You should come!" Hermione interrupted, "If Genevieve comes she'll bring Grossly and if Harry's inviting Neville then it will really be a teacher's event, it would do you good to come. Publicly…"

Hermione bit her lip.

"Okay, I might have a gap in my schedual…"

"Brilliant, it will be quite and event. Got to go now. See you Harry. Hermione. Blondie."

Draco scowled darkly as Rhys dashed away.

"Oh, no, I will not be late for Arithmancy." Hermione cried as she followed him.

"You're really coming?" Harry asked, as he and Malfoy stood alone.

"Who was he?"

"Who?"

"That man, and I don't mean the Mrs. Weasel."

"What Rhys?"

"Yes Rhys."

"He's my old therapist from Mungo's."

"And he stayed friends with you?"

"Yeah, he's close to my healer and to McGonagall's niece."

"Which one?"

"Huh?"

"The McGonagall's are a substantial family Potter, which of McGonagall's niece's?"

"Isobel."

"Oh, of course, that one. Is that normal? Staying friends with healing staff after you leave hospital?"

"What do you care if it's normal or not?"

"I don't." Malfoy replied.

"Well if you do come tonight you better bring someone." Harry informed, bringing the conversation back to where he'd started it.

"And who would I bring?" Malfoy spat.

"Don't you keep in contact with anyone?" Harry asked.

Malfoy sneered. "None that haven't tried to kill you."

"Zabini?" Harry tried, thinking of neutral Slytherins.

"Back in Rome, cut off all ties to Britain."

"Oh, ok."

"There's always my fiancé."

"No!" Harry cleared his throat. "I mean, no. Don't bring her."

"I should, you know, actually meet her before the wedding."

"But she won't know anyone."

"Neither will I. It will be a bonding experience."

"Anyone else?"

"My, my Potter, you really do not like the idea of me getting married."

"And you don't like the idea of me having friends you don't know." Harry pointed out, flushing.

"That is if he's just a friend."

"What are you on about? Of course Rhys is just a friend!"

"Keep your voice down there are people nearby."

"Fine, sorry. Bring your fiancé then for all I care."

"Well, you do care. Besides the only other person I speak to is Pansy and you don't want me bringing Parkinson."

"Bring Parkinson." Harry ground out.

"Okay then I'll bring Pansy and Astoria, there'll be Longbottom, Abbot, Nightingale, Grossly, The Weasels, Your friend, Isobel McGonagall, you and me. Merlin if this doesn't start an apocalypse I don't know what will."

Harry found himself chuckling.

"How's George Weasley fairing?" Draco asked.

"Better." Harry replied.

"Do you think he'd come?"

"I'll invite him." Harry said, feeling weary. "It's strange of you to think of him though."

"Really Potter. Last I heard you got your hands on my mother's family's old house. Haven't you seen that ugly old family tree?"

"I've seen it."

"Try looking at the scorch marks some time. They may lead you somewhere."

Malfoy sauntered away.

"Now who's being rude?" Harry called after him.

At least now he knew what he'd be doing for the rest of the afternoon. That was right after he sent an owl to George, and Hagrid too come to think of it, he'd like to catch up with Hagrid, he could bring Madam Maxime if she was back from France.

Having flood to Grimmauld Place hours ago Harry sat with Kreacher looking at the wall; surrounded by old books the House Elf had found about family history. They were opened to various pages, yellowing and pungent.

It was nearing 7pm but Harry was still dumfounded and so he sat in silence.

At first when he'd arrived Kreacher had tripped over himself to look after Harry. The house was spotless and cared for, although still dark and crumbling. It seemed the elf had thrived in his solitude.

As Harry found the wall the Elf had begun telling gruesome and disheartening tales of all the depicted Blacks. Eventually Harry hushed him and asked if he'd like some clothes to shut up.

That had gone a bit too far and the elf had begun wailing.

It was when he threw himself on the floor and beat it with his fists that Harry knew he needed to do something.

"No! Don't make Kreacher leave!"

"Harry had picked him up and explained that the house was more Kreacher's than Harry's and he'd even leave it to him if he wanted. After all Harry really didn't want it, it had its uses but the memories it contained were almost physically constricting.

Then Kreacher had fainted.

When he came to he had enthusiastically collected the books from hidden crevices and compartments. Apparently his ancestors had saved them from the "family purges" the old Black family members had conducted. The house Elf went about his business saying. "Kreacher knows just what it is Mr. Potter is looking for."

Eventually he had returned and piled the books around Harry in a circle, opening each one to the page he'd need.

It hadn't taken Harry long after that.

That tree, the inter-connected, huge, monstrous tree of the Nobel and Most Ancient House of Black.

The Potter's Weasleys and Malfoys all belonged to it.

Harry repeated what he'd learnt over in his head, trying to make sense of it..

Arthur Weasley's mother Cedrella was cousin to Harry's Grandmother, James' mother, Dorea. Which made James and Arthur second cousins, Harry and Ron and Ginny, oh god Ginny, were third cousins. Also James was the cousin of Cygnus and Walburga Black, Sirius' mother and Draco's grandfather. That made Narcissa and Harry second cousins. What did that make Harry and Draco? Kreacher had helpfully pushed a book toward him, which held the answer. His second cousin once removed.

Was what they did in the potions lab even legal then? Was his and Ginny's kiss on the Quidditch pitch incest? Were all wizards and witches in-bred abominations?

It seemed like his only option was to get out of Britain and find some nice muggle to shack up with.

"Kreacher is thinking Mr. Potter should leave."

Harry nodded stiffly.

"Yes well I've just found out I'm related to nearly everyone I ever kissed so excuse me if I'm not in a hurry to go and face them all."

"Suck it up Mr. Potter, as you wizards is saying, most magical people is being related, Kreacher is knowing this, it's how the Blacks stayed powerful."

"But I didn't know." Harry whimpered, burying his face in his hands.

Kreacher shrugged. "Then you weren't raised with your fiancé as family, you're not really family."

"I don't have a fiancé."

"Then what is being the problem Mr. Potter?"

"The problem is I kissed my third cousin and my second cousin once removed."

Kreacher barked with laughter.

"You kissed the Draco Malfoy and a Weasley! Or was the third cousin the Neville Longbottom who you kissed because I is knowing you didn't kiss a Crouch and your third cousins on the other side are the same Weasleys!" Kreacher barked gravelly laughter a little more, rocking back on his tailbone and kicking his feet.

Harry cringed and felt ill. On the other side his third cousins were the Prewetts. Molly Weasley and her two brothers. Molly was related to Arthur the same way Harry was to Malfoy. Second cousins once removed.

It was all so fucking messed up.

"Welcome to the real world Mr. potter. You were wanting family weren't you? Well the Wizarding world is your family."

"I didn't want it to literally be my family." Harry moaned. "And I didn't want them to all be each other's family."

Kreacher's face grew hard.

"It is how we survive." He said in a gravely. "So you kissed the Draco Malfoy and...which was it the Longbottom or Weasley?"

"Ginny, Ginny Weasley."

"Oh yuck Mr. Potter. I'd be going with the Draco Malfoy instead."

Harry had to fight back surprised laughter.

"And why is that? Aren't you afraid me kissing Malfoy will end his family line?"

"Oh no, not if Mr. Potter be giving Kreacher his house. Anyway wizards are having heirs every day now."

"What?" Harry asked screwing up his face.

"Yes, yes, yes, first the muggles were doing it and now the purebloods. They make the heir. They make it and the two fathers or mothers is raising it and then there are more wizards and less of this which you hate so much." Kreacher said, pointing at Sirius' parents, clearly connected as second cousins by the branches of the tree.

"I don't think I want to be having kids with anyone on this tree." Harry growled. Kreacher laughed, "Then you will have kids with a muggle!"

"Fine!" Harry retorted.

"But you haven't been kissing muggles." Kreacher purred. "You have been kissing Malfoys, and kissing this Malfoy." Kreatur pointed to Draco's ugly little painting. "It has broken Mr. Potter's heart."

"My heart is not broken!" Harry snapped.

Kreatur laughed again, rasping barks.

"You sit here sobbing, oh boo hoo I is Mr. Potter and I be kissing my cousins and not knowing boo hoo hoo. I do love Mr. Malfoy and I be kissing him I is so sad." Kreatur finished and flashed an evil grin.

Harry ripped off his shoe and sock and threw the balled up cloth at the elf that dodged it.

"The fact you is not knowing Malfoy is your distant relation is you is being raised as not related." Kreacher said, crawling back to where he'd been sitting. "It is like you're not related at all. You is not needing to have kids with him. Kreatur will look after the house."

Harry nodded and Kreacher's gnarled old hand came and patted his shoulder carefully.

"I should go and talk to him." Harry said.

"Yes, yes, you is a welcome guest here but Kreacher likes to be alone."

"He sent me here, he must've already known..."

Kreacher nodded. Trying to pull Harry to his feet.

"This makes Phineus Nigellus my great-grandfather."

"What an honor! Now I show you where the powder is."

"Would you really like to be free Kreacher?" Harry asked, getting up on his own. "I can give you some clothes."

"You be putting those smelly socks back on. Kreacher will need to be looking for work so he can fix up this mess." The house elf gestured to the large, dark and ancient house. "Kreatur will come and visit you, you be making me some nice clothes."

Harry felt his eyebrows raise then. "Okay."

He was pushed into the green flames.

"Hogwarts." He managed to say just in time. He needed to head back to his quarters before he went to the Three Broomsticks.

Harry rarely dressed up. The times he did could be counted on one hand. He had bathed in scented potions and dried with some careful charms. He passed over the dress robes for some delightfully tailored Madam Malkin's evening robes. Navy with a subtle black trim and silver lining. Under he wore a perfectly black suit, regular brown shoes and with the most deliberation and effort he'd ever used he tackled his hair.

"Not bad Harry." He murmured at his reflection. It was already half past. He was more than late.

Grabbing his broomstick he cast impervius and several barrier charms on himself and flew out his enlarged window, into the night.

Using lumos maxima he landed his Firebolt perfectly in from of the pub. It glowed as a bright orange beacon in the frosty night air. It's stained, diamond windows glittered, revealing glimpses of familiar faces, flushed and laughing. Hagrid and Maxime's silhouettes being the most prevalent. Harry used a sticking charm to hide his broom under a post. He couldn't worry about thievery for the moment.

His heart pounded sporadically. He stood glued to the ground. He needed to get inside before he began to think. If he thought he'd never go in. A gust of cold air pushed him onward, toward his fate.

The sound engulfed him as much as the warmth did, friendly voices. It all formulated into a motherly embrace that set his adrenaline pumping even higher.

"Harry you finally got a move on!" Rosemertta commented from behind several flasks of Firewiskey and Butterbeer.

"Harry!"

"Where you been lad?"

"Harry's here!"

Several conversations stopped as he was queried. He scanned the room, smiling and calmly ignoring them.

Ron clad in a knitted beanie that looked very much like the ones Hermione made for house elves sat with his wife in question on his lap. Harry was glad he'd found the right place and time.

George and Angela sat with them. So did Charlie who was chatting with Rhys, Isobel sat beside them, grinning and beside her was Hanna, red-faced as Neville laughed at something she'd said.

Luna was staring at a glass of water, which had something swimming in it as a young man Harry didn't recognized watched on and took notes. At their table with them sat Hagrid and Maxime. Next along was Grossly and Nightingale, sitting with…there! Draco was in between Pansy and the other girl. Harry bee lined for them.

Draco did a double take of Harry and Harry wondered if the broom ride had messed up his hair after all.

"Wow Potter you almost look decent!" Pansy exclaimed.

Nightingale did an almost exact replica of Malfoy's stare. "You look gorgeous!"

Malfoy regained control of his expression. "Is that why you're more than half an hour late? Grooming?"

"Actually I got distracted researching some family history." Harry half-lied.

Malfoy's jaw dropped.

"Hello, you must be Astoria Greengrass, Malfoy's told me so much about you." Harry greeted, extending his arm to the girl. He tried not to laugh as she timidly shook it. She was younger than him and Malfoy, at least two or three years. "I'm sorry but is it legal for fifteen year olds to be in here?"

"Harry!" Malfoy ground out awkwardly.

"Found out some interesting news today."

"To do with family history?" Pansy asked. Harry was pleasantly surprised with how casual she was, after she'd tried to sell him out to Voldemort and all.

"No and yes." Harry ignored the seat Dorian Grossly pulled up for him. "To do with couples around the Wizarding world. There are wizards and witches forming bonds and raising heirs…together."

"He means same sex couples." Pansy explained slowly to Astoria as if she was three. Harry felt a burst of joy in his chest but made sure not to laugh.

"It's very progressive." Nightingale nodded from across the table. "Not to mention it will widen the gene pool a bit, less inbreeding."

Dorian Grossly boomed with laughter. "It's a bit late to think about that. My father says we should just accept our fate and all marry muggles."

"And that's why he married a Rosier is it?" Pansy asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Yes well we can't help love can we?"

Nightingale giggled.

"No we can't." Harry agreed.

"What's your point Harry?" Draco asked, looking more pale than usual.

"It's nice you call him Harry like that." Pansy murmured, sipping her drink. "Careful Astoria it looks as if your Draco's trying to replace you with a better model."

"Actually that is my point."

Simultaneously Grossly, Pansy and Nightingale sprayed their respective drinks across the table from their shocked mouths. Malfoy had gracefully turned away in time but Astoria had ended up dripping with butterbeer and looking very wide-eyed and confused.

"I am sorry Miss. Greengrass but I'm afraid you won't be marrying Draco."

"Oh thank Merlin," she breathed.

"What?" Draco asked her. He stood up, causing the chair to screech loudly. "What?" He bellowed at Harry.

"I can't let you marry her." Harry replied, folding his arms.

"WHY THE HELL NOT!?" The entire pub stopped to look at them, although some conversations chatted on.

"Because I'm in love with you. And probably have been since before we kissed."

Dead silence.

Somewhere a glass smashed, and then another.

"I knew it." Nightingale breathed.