Tears and Rain

Chapter 1

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In the five years since Harry signed the marriage contract in order to save his Godfathers' lives, his own life had been hell--again. Not like what he had gone through day after day living with the Dursley's for ten years, or the torment he suffered because of the Dark Lord. No--this was much worse. He had given up so much for everyone. But for his Godfathers, he would do anything.

Draco Malfoy thought of Harry as nothing more than a possession. That was only in the public eye. Inside of closed doors, he was a whipping boy. When he was angry, Draco took it out on Harry.

Now it was even worse. After five years, Harry had not yet conceived. The healers had told Draco and Harry-- as well as Lucius and Narcissa--that there was no reason, medically or magically, for Harry not to be pregnant. He was perfectly healthy and that the problem may in fact lie with Draco.

The furious blond shot out of the office, doors slamming against the walls, after denying that he was any way at fault. It had to be Harry's inferior filthy Muggle blood. After all, Pureblood Wizards were perfect.

Hours later, Cissa found Harry lying unconscious, in a pool of blood, in his and Draco's private suite, barely alive, barely breathing. Her scream alerted Lucius and the house elves. Lucius in turn summoned the Malfoy Family Healers. They worked on Harry all night, as Narcissa sat in a conjured parlor chair next to their door, her hands clutched nervously in her lap, and watched Lucius pace nonstop from one end of the hallway to the other. At each end, he spun on his heels, slamming the tip of his walking stick on the floor in anger.

After everything they had all been through in the last seven years. All Lucius wanted for his family now, was peace and contentment. But no. Draco still had not learned his lessons from the mistakes made by the Malfoy family since the first appearance of the finally-dead Dark Lord.

Harry had finally destroyed the madman almost seven years ago, thanks to information provided by the Malfoys after they'd had a change of heart. It wasn't common knowledge, and only Dumbledore, McGonagall and Shacklebolt knew the true reason for their defection to the Light, but it had kept them free and given them a chance to start over. Fudge was still Minister of Magic and it was his wish that Severus Snape, the Malfoys, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black and Harry all be sent to Azkaban, for their crimes. He didn't want anyone free who could threaten or challenge his position as Minister.

Lupin, because of his status as a werewolf, and his substantial time spent with Fenrir Greyback as a spy for the Order, it was felt he still posed a threat, and should be put down as the beast they considered him to be. Peter Pettigrew had been killed in his animagus form and the body incinerated when Riddle Mansion burned, so his body could not be presented to exonerate Sirius Black, mandating he would be returned to receive the 'Kiss.' Harry had cast an 'Unforgivable' when he killed the Dark Lord, and that mandated an automatic life sentence in Azkaban.

The Order stepped in for all of them, and there was also a public outcry when the story was leaked to the Prophet. The Ministry finally acquiesced in the case of Severus Snape and the Malfoys. Lucius and Severus worked closely with the Order to overturn Harry's conviction.

When Harry was brought back from Azkaban, Draco had approached Lucius and informed him of his desire to have Harry Potter for himself. He'd desired him since the first time he'd set eyes on him, on that staircase in First Year, as they waited to be taken in for their Sorting. Nothing Lucius or Narcissa said to him could dissuade him.

Lucius and Narcissa met with Dumbledore and McGonagall in a private meeting, to discuss the prospect, since Harry lived at the school now. Harry and Draco were already of Wizarding majority, and it was Harry who had to make the final decision. So after talking for several hours, they summoned Harry to join them. Lucius and Narcissa sat quietly, their expressions open and passive, as they listened to Dumbledore explain Draco's interest in him and his desire to bond with him. When he was finished, he and Minerva answered all of Harry's questions.

Harry had sat silent in his chair, for several minutes, stunned by everything he had heard in the last hour. Lucius had felt for the young man. After losing so many, and now, if they didn't succeed with the Ministry, he would lose two more people he cared about. Now, this. As his darling Cissa reached to grasp his hand, he said a silent prayer to the Goddess that Harry Potter could weather this as well. The Malfoy Family had much to make up for, especially to this young man. If he said no to this, Lucius, and Narcissa, had agreed they would support him, even against their own son.

Draco, ever impatient, had burst into the meeting as Harry sat silent, absorbing it all. Stalking up and standing in front of Harry, he looked at Lucius and asked, "Well? Did he agree?"

That question seemed to snap the young man out of his stupor, and he stood, anger on his face, as he told Draco, that he would not accept. He was still grieving for his godfathers, and just wanted to be left alone. As he turned and stormed for the door, Draco dropped his little bombshell that would secure for him, Harry's acceptance.

When Draco announced he had information that could, without a doubt, force the release and exoneration of both Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, his was the only face in the room, not showing stunned shock. Lucius admired Harry's selflessness that day, when, in order to save his only remaining 'family,' he agreed to and signed the bonding contract. Though, there was a bit of a delay when they had to explain the part about an heir and that Harry would be required to bear it within the first five years, as Malfoy tradition dictated.

The excitement of the preparations, then the actual bonding, followed by the newness of having a family, buoyed the happiness in Malfoy Manor for several months, especially after Harry joyfully greeted his finally freed godfathers in time for the bonding ceremony. But things changed about six months after the bonding, after the family Healer had examined Harry and found he was still not with child. He had taken the fertility potions and undergone the necessary painful charms willingly and without complaint. When the findings were revealed, Draco's eyes flashed, but he said nothing as a look of sadness crossed his bonded's face. Lucius and Cissa assured him all would be fine. After all, they hadn't conceived Draco until right before their first anniversary.

Sadly, with each negative report, things began to go progressively downhill, and Harry began to show signs of weariness and avoided being touched. He became quiet and withdrawn, sometimes spending days in their suite, no matter how Cissa and Dobby tried to coax him out with promises of his favorite foods and pastimes. When Harry refused to see the Weasley-Grangers when they visited, Lucius had had enough, and forced his way into their suite and happened to catch Harry coming out of the bath. His blood ran cold at what he saw; the bruises that covered his son-in-law's body; everywhere except his face, hands, and belly. It certainly explained why the young man had been so withdrawn, and kept himself covered from throat to wrists, to the floor, eerily reminiscent of Severus' usual attire.

That day, he had locked his son in the study with him and all but threatened him with the 'Unforgivables' if he didn't cease the mistreatment of his bonded. That behavior was no longer acceptable in the Malfoy Home, and hadn't been since Lucius and his brothers, were children. Well, tonight, they had proof that it hadn't stopped. Draco had just become more sly about it, obviously manipulating Harry further to cover it all up. Now, he and Cissa prayed that Harry would survive. Draco had disappeared to Merlin knows where, and as angry as Lucius was at the moment, it would be a wise idea if he stayed gone for several days.

"Lucius, my Love. Please stop pacing. You are making me dizzy." Cissa smiled tiredly at him, her pale blue eyes showing worry and weariness.

"I'm sorry, Dear." He walked back to her and conjured a second chair, next to hers, for himself and sat down, placing his walking stick across his lap. "I can't help feeling we've failed Harry. What should have been a secure and content home life for him has actually been a nightmare. We should never have agreed to this."

"I understand, but, remember. If Harry hadn't agreed, then he would not have been able to save Remus and Sirius." She reached over and patted his hand.

"Oh Bloody hell! We have to inform them!" Lucius started to rise but was stopped by Cissa's hand on his arm.

"Dobby has already left to inform them. They should be arriving at any moment."

He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Ah, my beautiful mate. What would I do without you?"

"Luckily, my Love, you will never know." She gave him a tired smile.

Tbc…