disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
Warning for this chapter:a little angsty in the beginning
Hello again! I know this chapter is long over due, but like I mentioned on the latest chapter of "Can You Protect Me?" I am just getting back into my writing, so bear with me please! I hope you enjoy this chapter.
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"Oh Draco, try not to be too angry with him," Andromeda said to her nephew. Draco was acting like a petulent child. She could understand being scared and hurt over Harry going out by himself, but the cold should he had given Harry was unnecessary.
"It's not safe for him to be on his own. I have no idea where he is even going," Draco spat out before turning away.
"You need to trust him," she said as she followed Draco. However, Andromeda paused when she saw Athene sitting on the sofa looking dejected. "You also need to be with your daughter, she is just as scared as you."
"What can I do Andromeda? How can I fix this? I wasn't able to protect my family! What if the rest of the ministry finds out he and I are alive? We could lose everything because I grew careless. I thought for one moment we could relax and enjoy ourselves. But I was wrong, and now because of my mistakes, my pregnant husband has gone off somewhere. He told our daughter that sometimes they must protect the family! I can't take it!" Draco left the elder witch standing there, mouth agape, stunned silent by the outburst. He ran down to the cellar where a small potions lab was kept. The leftover noxious smell and dim lighting helped to relax him, but not before he took his frustrations out on a stool, kicking it and sending it skittering across the floor. He sank down to the floor, pulling his knees up to his chest.
"Draco?" A soft voice came from the doorway.
"Not now Teddy, please," the blonde mumbled into his arms. Draco looked up as he heard feel shuffle towards him.
"I trust you," Teddy said as he sat down next to Draco. With emotions strained and tension high, Teddy's natural features were prominent. Tawny colored hair, pale skin, and a strong jaw showed who his father was, while the boy had the Black family's trademark grey eyes. He turned towards his cousin, "I know you can protect all of us, but I think people who can do the protecting need protected the most because at some point they didn't have that."
Draco could only stare at the child beside him. A boy of only eight, who would be attending Hogwarts in a few years, had given Draco a perspective he never gave thought. It was true of course, he hadn't been protected by the most evil thing in their world and because of that he worked so hard to ensure his family felt safe and secure all the time. He couldn't believe how more mature Teddy sounded, it truly reminded him of his late professor. "When did you become so wise?"
"It happens when you read as much as I do and have Andromeda Black as your grandmother," Teddy joked.
"I suppose that's true," Draco mused to himself. The two cousins sat in a companionable silence for a few more minutes when Draco figured he should go find Athene. "Come on Teddy, let's go find Athene and keep ourselves busy."
"We should make cookies!" Teddy exclaimed, the thought being quite sudden.
"Cookies?" Draco asked as they climbed the cellar stairs.
"Cookies always make people feel better and I think you should give some to Harry."
"Yes, I should." So together, Draco and Teddy began collecting the ingredients they needed to make cookies.
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"Thank you for coming over Kingsley, I know you must be busy with the ministry." McGonagall closed the office door as Kingsley took a seat from across her desk. She gave the briefest of glances towards her private set of rooms where Harry was hidden. She hoped dearly that Kingsley would be able to help the boy.
"My work takes many days and years to complete, Minerva. It's good to get away once in a while. What can I do for you? You seemed rather urgent in your message."
"That's because it is," she said. Minerva walked around her desk and picked up the picture of Harry's daughter, Athene. Her and Harry had discussed it would be best to appeal to the fatherly side of Kingsley, rather than start with the issue of Severus. Minerva came back around and sat down next to the minister, handing him the picture of the child. "I need your help to protect this little girl."
"She's beautiful, but Minerva, if this a domestic case you should call for the Aurora," Kingsley said, confused over the importance of this child. All children were important of course, but for the professor to call him? For one child? There was more to this than just a child.
"If it were a case of abuse of any sort, I would have followed the proper procedures. No, this is about the safety of a very important wizard that would like to ask a favor of you."
"Now my interest is piqued," commented Kingsley, placing the picture back on the headmistress's desk. "Who is this important wizard that would come to you and then me?"
"Before I tell you, I need an oath made to protect this wizard and his family and to not share what is about to be revealed to you." Minerva stared down Kingsley. She knew the risk he would be taking with such an oath, being the minister. But she would rather compromise Kingsley than Harry.
"That's a hard bargain. You know as minister I shouldn't be making any such vows." Kingsley met McGonagall's eyes and the two sat in silence, waiting for Kingsley to make his decision. Whoever this was for, was very important to Minerva and it did involve a child. After a few minutes of weighing the pros and cons, Kingsley stood up and reached out his hand. "Very well. I, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Minister of Magic, do hereby swear this oath of silence on my magic to do what I can to protect the wizard that Minerva McGonagall is presenting to me and will not reveal who he is, his family, or any information given, so I declare."
"I, Minerva McGonagall, Headmistress of Hogwarts, do accept the oath promised to me." She accepted Kingsley's hand and felt the magical oath bind them. "Thank you Kingsley," Minerva said, tension releasing from her shoulders. She turned away from the minister before calling out. "You can come out now."
Kingsley looked pat McGonagall to atucked away door in the corner. Who ever was here must have been nervous because they waited for a brief moment before emerging, and Kingsley's breath caught. "I'm seeing a ghost," he said as he watched Harry Potter come out.
"Not a ghost, Minister, although the professor tried claiming as such," Harry teased. He walked up to the minister and stuck his hand out. "It's good to see you again, Kingsley."
"None of this handshake nonsense.* the larger man pulled Harry into a hug, having the need to do so to truly believe that Harry was real and alive. He pulled back and looked down at the one who saved all their lives. The years had been kind to Harry, but there was an old soul hidden in his green eyes that had seen too much and lived a hard life that could rival ten of his best aurors. Kingsley's eyes drifted back to the photograph of the little girl. "Minerva says your family is in danger? You've been busy while you were gone, tell me about them."
"Well as you saw in the photo, that is my daughter, Athene, who has the most magical potential than anyone I can recall. I have a husband and another baby on the way."
"Is your husband someone else that is to be believed dead, or someone you met while in hiding?"
"His name is Draco Malfoy, well Malfoy-Potter," Harry said, looking down into his lap. This part he was afraid of, telling the minister that Draco Malfoy, once a Death Eater, is actually alive and married to Harry Potter. Harry looked up at Kingsley when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"I believe I know what you fear. During the trials, it was believed that Malfoy fled, so there was a trial in his name. However, many people came forward and testified in his name, he was cleared and declared that if he were to return nothing would happen."
"That is a relief to hear." Harry felt reassured and warmth within his heart that so many people helped clear his husband. It helped Harry realize that had made the right choice to come back. "However, we cannot make a full return yet. The reason we had to come back to Britain was because of a man we thought was in prison."
"I haven't heard of any breakouts. Who is it? Did they send you a threat?"
"The threat he sent was himself, Athene saw him." Harry paused as the too recent memory of Athene being so terrified consumed him. He looked back to Kingsley. "It was Lucius Malfoy."
"Lucius Malfoy? But that's impossible, he's in the highest level of security."
"I can prove it to you by giving you the memory," Harry said. "As long as my name is kept secret of course."
"Of course it will. And please do, it'll help with authorizing a search of his cell."
"Okay." Everyone waited while Harry placed the memory into a vial for Kingsley, before he continued with his other request. "There's something else you can help me with and this one may be a bit harder."
"Name it, Harry."
"It's Severus," he started carefully, watching Kingsley's reaction as his whole body stiffened. "I know Draco would appreciate it, but Severus knows Lucius better than anyone and he can also help us teach Athene. I know he's bound to the castle as part of his probation, but is there anything you can do?" Harry waited for what seemed like hours as Kingsley processed his request. He hardly noticed an elf pop in and deliver tea, in fact only McGonagall fixed herself a cup.
"Give me until tomorrow and I'll have a solution. Where can I get in contact with?"
"Oh thank you so much Kingsley! We're staying with Andromeda and Ted Tonks at the moment, but we'll be moving hopefully in a week. By then you can reach us by owl."
"No reason to thank me, Harry, I'm happy to help. But for now, I must leave," Kingsley announced while standing up. He shook Harry's hand and McGonagall's before leaving.
"Professor, I need to go as well. Everyone must be getting worried," Harry said. He got up and walked to the desk to retrieve the photograph. "I will probably visit again, there are some things I would like to talk to you about and ask Professor Flitwick something."
"Should I let 'them' know you're alive?" Minerva asked, Harry knowing full well who she meant. They cared about Harry a great deal and have mourned him as much as their other son.
"Not yet, let me get settled and feeling safe again." Of course Harry felt bad about keeping the Weasley's in the dark, but the whole wizarding world of Britain probably knew how much they cared about him. And if they started acting differently where he was concerned, it could mean trouble.
"Very well Harry, I look forward to hearing from you." Minerva hugged the boy one last time before sending him on his way. She sat heavily at her desk going over everything that happened this morning. She still couldn't believe he was alive! And with children. It warmed her heart knowing there would be yet another generation of Potters running around Hogwarts.
"Interesting day so far, isn't it?" McGonagall shrieked at the sudden voice. She turned, looking for the voice, her face filled with shock and eyes wide in uncertainty. "My dear, I haven't seen that look on you face in many years."
"Albus?" She asked, realizing now who was speaking to her. Not once, since it was hung up, did her mentor's painting awaken.
"Yes, Minerva. I had my painting charmed not to awaken until Harry came back into this office so that I had the chance to apologize to him."
"What would have happened if the boy had died?"
"He was tied to the charm, it would have failed if he had died and I would have still woken up without his presence."
"You have taken too many liberties with that boy, Albus!"
"I know. That is why I wish to apologize."
"You had better," Minerva grumbled. After sending another glare in Albus's direction, she went back to her paperwork.
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A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Please read and leave me reviews, than you- love always, Echo Harmony