disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
warning: none for this chapter
I am SO sorry about not posting for so long. I haven't even been on twitter to give updates. First I had lost my notes for future chapters and then I went home for the hols and on internet. But I managed to bang out a few chapters for this story and others I'm writing. Hope you all enjoy it.
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Harry stepped under the hot spray of the shower and groaned as he felt the muscles in his back and neck release some of the tension held there. It had taken all three of them a few hours to fall back to sleep, curled around each other. When he had woken up, his chest hurt and his eyes were sore and puffy from crying so much, and he was in need of a shower to soothe his frazzled nerves. It had taken a bit of maneuvering to untangle himself from Athene by placing pillows and the blanket around her, much like he had done when she was a baby and didn't want her rolling off the bed. As he was gathering clothes, Draco had stepped out of the shower wearing only trousers and clutching a shirt in his hand. No words were spoken between the two as Harry went for his shower and Draco walked to the bed to stay with Athene.
Hurrying out of the shower, Harry dried and dressed before stepping back into their bedroom. He came up short as he watched Draco try to wake Athene, but his stubborn daughter seemed to be too exhausted to wake up. He could see the frustration growing on his husband's face and knew he had to stop Draco before anything was said or done that could do more harm than anything. Harry walked over and placed a hand on Draco's shoulder, when the man turned around he gave a reassuring smile and pushed him towards the door. "Go get breakfast and have some coffee, I'll handle her."
"I'm sorry," Draco sighed. His night had been long and his mind felt fuzzy with everything that had happened and he knew he wasn't in the best of moods, but he had to keep it together. Being the head of his family, everyone looked to him and expected him to know what to do. However, days like this he wished someone else was there to help him. Yes, he had Harry, but he couldn't push everything onto his husband whenever something became difficult. It was attitudes like that, which had caused Harry to want to run away from their world to begin with. Draco figured this need came from his lack of control and affection during his childhood. He was always told to handle everything on his own, that he was a Malfoy and Malfoys did not come whining to their parents for help. To try to get a grip on his emotions, Draco decided to just do as Harry said and left to go find some coffee.
"It's alright," Harry spoke softly as he gave a gentle squeeze to Draco's arm. He understood that it was difficult for his husband to leep a calm façade and he was trying to make it easier for Draco. Everyone had a breaking point and he wanted to make it as gentle as he could for his husband. And he also hope that it would not happen with Athene around. Harry did not fear that Draco would hurt their daughter, but with her power she could feed off their emotions easily and he was worried about the impact it would have on Athene.
Harry watched Draco leave their bedroom and sighed, placing a hand over his stomach. When he had run away with Draco, he was happy to have someone take charge for him. His childhood and the war had left him broken. People had placed too much power onto his shoulders. Too many had looked to him to make impossible decisions even for adults. His time with the Dursley's had made it impossible to trust easily and taught him to only look after himself. So when Draco came along, Harry was happy to give control to Draco and allowed himself to be taken care of. And then they had Athene. The medical difficulties alone were enough to terrify Harry, thinking if he couldn't even keep his body healthy enough for his growing child, maybe he shouldn't be allowed to care for anyone or anything. It scared him even more when he noticed Draco's own frazzled nerves. Draco had tried to reassure him that he was not upset with Harry, but he had trouble believing that. It had been a hard realization, but when he held his daughter for the first time he knew that he would have to take control again. He would ease his husband's worries like he had done for Harry. He decided he would allow his family to rely on him like he should have been doing from the beginning.
Now he would take more control. He would not let the fear cripple him as the despair had once tried to do. He no longer had only Draco, or Draco and Athene, but now the beginnings of a new child. With a new found resolve, that hardened his nerves, Harry sat on the bed coaxing his child to wake. "Come on Athene. It's time to wake up." When all he got in return was a sleepy grumble, he tried another way. "I believe I smell pancakes. If you don't wake up now, Teddy may eat all of them."
"Daddy, don't let him eat all of them," Athene whined. She poked her head from underneath the duvet and Harry smiled at the sleepy pout she gave. It was times like this that she truly resembled Draco.
"Then I suggest you get dressed and come down to eat." He was curious when she narrowed her mist colored eyes at him.
"Can't I stay in my pajamas?" Harry smiled at the request. There were few occasions that he and Draco allowed her to stay in her pajamas. It was one of the few things from Draco's upbringing they had agreed they would implement, excluding holidays and when she was sick. Something like what they were going through would definitely warrant keeping on pajamas. If only to make his daughter happier and try to forget what occurred the previous day.
"Alright, but you need to get dressed after you're done eating," Harry said with false sternness. He let out an 'oomph' when Athene jumped into his arms. As he walked down the stairs carrying Athene, she transformed into her new animagus form. He almost dropped her at the sudden loss of size as he held his daughter in her new kit form. Harry laughed as Athene gave him small licks to his nose. "You're a naughty kit," he said between chuckles before placing her on the ground. "Go on into the kitchen."
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Draco sat at the kitchen table nursing a cup of coffee, staring at the wall across from him not noticing anything, when Ted walked into the kitchen. Ted smiled sadly as he took in the desperate and pained face of Draco, before walking past to fix his own cup of coffee and begin making breakfast. As he passed the table, he noticed a note in a neat, but very tiny hand-writing that had Draco's name on it. Not wanting to be rude, Ted pushed it closer to Draco before turning to the cupboards and started making pancakes. He turned and raised an eyebrow at the whispered curse from Draco. "What's the matter?"
"Severus left early this morning. Apparently he has to stay at the school to avoid being sent to prison," Draco sighed as he placed the note down on the table. "I had hoped he would have been able to stay with us. I have no idea what to do about Lucius and we have to somehow make it up the missed birthday for Athene. I'm sure Harry would very much appreciate that to get everyone's minds off of yesterday."
"Well start with the birthday celebrations. Then you and Harry need to discuss where you are going to live or if you plan on staying here with us. You know Andy and I would love having you three here," Ted said. He wasn't sure what to do about Lucius either, other than try to avoid him and hope the Aurors catch him. It wasn't much of a plan, but Ted was a healer, not some master strategist. However, Draco, Harry, and Athene were family and he would protect them with his life.
"Uncle Ted, I'm lost. Short of reentering the wizarding world, there is no where for us to go. Sure, we can stay here for a bit, but as the baby grows Harry is going to want our own place to raise the children. I feel hopeless that I can't provide for him because if I were to go to Gringotts I would be found and who knows what could happen," Draco said, throat tight with emotion at his own failure to keep his family safe. He drained the last of his coffee and stood to refill his cup. "Hell, if Severus has to stay at the school for being a spy for the Light, then imagine what will happen to me if I am found out. Harry would be forced to raise the children on his own. I'm not saying Harry is unable to raise them himself, but he shouldn't have to."
"You're right, he shouldn't have to do it all alone and he will not." Ted turned to face Draco and leaned against the counter. "Draco, listen to me. Nothing is going to happen between you and the wizarding world. Even if it did, you and I both know Harry would fight everyone that stood in between you two. As for feeling hopeless at being unable to provide for your family, it's normal. Every family hits a rough patch and the roles may get reversed. Don't be afraid to rely on Harry for a bit, even if he is pregnant now. And remember, you two are not alone, stop holding the world on your shoulders." Ted walked over to Draco and pulled him into a hug. It was slightly awkward between the two men, but it provided comfort between family and that was all that it mattered. With a final pat, Ted broke the hug and moved to the hob to finish breakfast.
"Thank you, Uncle Ted," Draco whispered, almost too afraid to say anything else or any louder. He cleared his throat as he heard footsteps coming to the kitchen. Andromeda and Teddy were next to walk in, and little Teddy sleepily plunked himself into a chair and nearly fell back to sleep as he waited for breakfast. He smiled and looked up to Andromeda when the woman placed a kiss to the top of his head. "Morning Aunt Andy."
"Morning dear. Harry and Athene still asleep?" Andromeda asked as she fixed a plate of pancakes for Teddy.
"No, Athene was just struggling to get up so Harry took over." Draco turned around when he heard nails clocking against the floor. Confused because he could not remember Andromeda and Ted ever buying a pet, he waited for the mysterious creature to appear. In his confusion, Draco barely had time to catch the small fox that jumped in his arms and realized it was Athene.
"Athene, not at the table." Harry's voice was heard from the doorway. Draco laughed when Athene jumped down and turned back into her normal self and sat down at the table next to Teddy. Harry sat next to him and reached for his hand. Harry looked around the kitchen and took in all who was present. "No Severus?"
"He had to go back to the school because of his probation," Draco replied. Harry scrunched up his face at the news. He may have not liked the man, but he had been a hero and spy for the Light and was essential for the war going in their favor and yet he had to stay at the school on probation after seven years? It appeared that he had to do a little more today than he had planned. Harry looked to Draco as his husband leaned closer to whisper in his ear. "Uncle Ted and I were talking about celebrating Athene's birthday today. Think we could do that?"
"Yes, I just have somewhere to go. Pick up a few presents for her," Harry said. Perfect cover to run off to Diagon Alley. He saw Draco start to protest about him leaving and quickly came up with an excuse to go alone. "No, I can go and maybe either Uncle Ted or Aunt Andy will go with me, but I want you to stay here with Athene. It'll be fine."
"Alright, just be careful," Draco concede. He would feel safer if Harry went with either Andromeda or Ted.
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A/N: Again sorry about the delay on my postings. I will be posting a chapter of Can You Protect Me today and tomorrow a new chapter of Soul Brothers or Soul Mates. As Always R&R