Disclaimer: I do not own anyone or anything in this story, except the plot, that's mine.

A/N: First of all I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed this story, I had no idea this was going to be such a hit. The story originally was just going to be one long one-shot but then it kept growing and growing, and you all kept asking for more. I'll be the first to say that revenge isn't something I am personally very good at, and there may not be enough in here to satisfy every need (and there seem to be a lot of needs if your reviews are anything to go by) but I hope you'll enjoy it just the same. Anyway, read on lovely readers, and enjoy!

All I Want
Chapter 5:

Harry stared down at the files in front of him in disbelief. No, it wasn't really surprising; he had partially expected to find what he had. He had been so willing to avoid his job as Ron's department head in favor of being Ron's friend that he had completely avoided the conflict that he was inevitably about to be a part of any moment now. A conflict that was most likely going to be worse than it would have been if he had just caught the problems when they first started.

How could he not have seen this? Harry shuffled the papers in front of him around a bit, knowing without looking what they said: Ronald Weasley had not done a lick of work since Harry had been promoted and Ron had been given a new partner. He had verbally claimed to be involved, but as Harry had suspected earlier, there hadn't been a single report turned in that corroborated his stories…not even in the reports that had been turned in by his multiple varying partners. That was another thing: Ron held the record for the most partner changes the department had ever seen.

As much as he hated to admit it, even though he had already done so out loud to the man, but Malfoy had been right…was still right, and Harry had no idea about what to do. Okay, that's not quite true, he knew what he had to do, it's what he would do if it were anyone else in the department, he just didn't want to do it.

Just then Ron's typical half hearted knock sounded on his office door at the same moment the door was already opening. Harry watched with new eyes as Ron sauntered into his office as if he belonged there and plopped himself down into one of the two chairs in front of Harry's desk.

"Hey Harry," Ron stated with a grin as he lifted his feet to rest on the edge of Harry's desk in a move that was so routine Harry hadn't taken time to notice how much it irritated him before, "What's up?" Harry stared at Ron's feet, trying to figure out where to start. Ron seemed to take this as confusion about why he was here and spoke again, "You left a note on my desk telling me to come speak to you when I got in," he stated as if Harry were too slow to follow his words.

Now Harry looked at the clock pointedly, it was just after eleven, "What time did you get here?" he asked, though he was pretty sure he already knew the answer, it seemed as good a spot to start as any.

Ron raised an eyebrow and looked at the clock as well before looking back at Harry dumbly, "Just a few minutes ago, why?" he asked casually, not at all concerned.

Harry waited for Ron to figure it out, hoping he had not let this go on for long enough that Ron really didn't see a problem; but when the silence simply stretched on he gave a heavy sigh of resignation, "Work starts at eight. You're three hours late."

Slowly Ron removed his feet from the desk and sat up straighter, "So?" he asked slowly.

Harry also sat up straighter, attempting to subtly assert his authority, "It has come to my attention that you have been making yourself an exception to many if not all of the rules."

"What?" Ron interrupted, now fully alert.

"You show up late to work, you don't actually do any work. You have submitted several pointless complaints while others are consistently complaining about you. You haven't filled out a report since we were partners, you fight with other aurors, you have had more complaints lodged against you by non-aurors than everyone in the department combined in the last twenty years. You take credit where you deserve none, and after investigating it has been discovered that you have been spreading rumors around the Ministry about things and people that are not true," Harry stopped and assessed Ron's incredulous expression as he waited for the predictable blow up.

"Is this about Hermione?" Ron suddenly demanded, his eyes narrowed.

Harry frowned, "The last comment about rumor was partially about Hermione, yes," Harry noticed Ron seemed surprised that he had acknowledged his comment, "But I'm also talking about the rumors you spread about Draco Malfoy, Timothy Jerock, Narcissa Malfoy, even Severus Snape, a war hero who cannot defend himself. There's also the rumors about the fake budget cuts, about me leaving the department more than once under your control, when my second in command is Barthens, not you."

"So what? You're going to fire me?" Ron sounded sarcastic and mocking, making Harry study him closely. He didn't actually look concerned in any way.

"Why shouldn't I?" he responded quietly, "Give me a reason Ron."

There, the concern finally appeared dimly in the other man's eyes followed quickly by anger, "A reason?" Ron snapped, "We're best friends Harry! You shouldn't need a reason not to fire me!"

Harry felt his heart sink, for just a moment he had hoped that Ron could give him a reason, or at the very least act apologetic for what he has done and ask for another chance, maybe even just a promise that he'll do better. Yet somewhere in his mind and in his heart he had already recognized that the Ron Weasley sitting in front of him was no longer the Ron Weasley he went to school with and he couldn't help but feel that part of it was his fault; he had let Ron continue acting this way for far too long.

"Honestly Ron?" Harry paused, "That's the only reason I haven't fired you," he spoke calmly, resigned to the fact that he may lose his best friend as a result of what he now knew he had to do, but he had to do it, it was the right thing to do, and maybe Ron would learn something from it, though Harry doubted it, "I have to be fair to the rest of the department," he nodded his head towards the door, not taking his eyes off of Ron's increasingly red face, "They come to work on time, they do what they are supposed to do, they don't lie or spread rumors and they don't use the fact that they know me as a get-out-of-jail-free card," Harry noticed Ron's confusion at this muggle reference but ignored it, his point was clear enough, "I don't have a choice in the matter Ron, but even if I did, I still believe this is what is best for everyone involved. I'm going to have to let you go. You have until the end of the day to clear out your office and leave."

A heavy silence fell over the two friends as they stared at each other, Ron in disbelief and Harry in a patient acceptance of the blow up he knew was coming. Sure enough not minutes later Ron burst to his feet, attempting to use his height as an intimidation tool, his face red and seething with anger and embarrassment, "How can this be what is best for everyone?!" he yelled, "What about me?"

Harry calmly raised an eyebrow, "You need to remember what it's like to work Ron," he stated clearly, "You haven't honestly worked a day since the end of the war. Even when we were partnered together you would sit back and avoid doing anything too difficult. I let you get away with it, thinking that you deserved a break after the war, but it got too out of hand, and I think you forgot what working for something feels like. I just hope losing this job will help you wake up."

"Wake up?" Ron exploded, "Wake up? You're the one who needs to wake up Potter!" now this surprised Harry, Ron hadn't referred to Harry as Potter since their Hogwarts days, and even then it was quite rare, "You'd be dead if it weren't for me!" he hissed, "I have saved you're life more times than I'd like to count and this is how you repay me?"

Harry gave a small humorless chuckle, "That's debatable Ron," he said simply, "I believe that if you think really hard you'll find that most of the times you supposedly saved my life came as a result of something Hermione did, and when you weren't 'saving my life'" Harry snorted, "You were running in the opposite direction if I recall correctly."

"You—you—" Ron looked angry and baffled and quite ridiculous.

Harry gave one last sigh and gestured to the door, "Please Ron, get your things and leave before the end of the day, or I will be forced to have you removed forcefully from the Ministry."

Ron gaped at Harry like a dying fish for several seconds before narrowing his eyes and turning on his heel to stomp out of the office. Harry watching him go with a small frown on his face, he had no doubt that the rest of the Weasley family was about to hear about this and when they did…Harry didn't even want to think about their responses. He looked down at the files on his desk and gave a saddened sigh before deciding to finish filling out the paperwork that came with firing one of his aurors and then go home early.

To Ginny.

Merlin, he didn't want to open that can of worms.

When Hermione had kicked Ginny out of their apartment Ginny had stayed at the Burrow for a while before deciding that it was time for her to move into Harry's flat; without him knowing about it. It was supposed to be a nice surprise, and Harry supposed in some way it was, but it hadn't been part of his plan; and some part of him felt suspiciously uncomfortable and distressed that she had done so. Up until that moment it had just been him and Teddy living in the small two bedroom flat, and it had been nice. But as he thought back on it now, he realized the discomfort and stress at Ginny's unacknowledged imposition was probably when he first began to fall out of love with the witch.

No, the beginning probably occurred sometime after she had been kicked out and he had heard her ragging on Hermione to her mother, telling her lies that Harry knew for certain were completely untrue. It was then he began to see his girlfriend in a completely different light. He didn't like seeing her in this new light and preferred to bury is head in the sand, wanting desperately to stay that young boy in Hogwarts who had his friends and family all in one place, so he continued to ignore the faults he was beginning to see all too clearly.

Harry finished the paperwork and rose from his desk; deciding to drop it off on his way out of the Ministry rather than having his secretary take it. On his way past Ron's office he noticed with part sadness and part satisfaction that the room was bare and empty. He turned his gaze from the office to see the rest of the aurors looking at him curiously from their various desks in what muggle law enforcement referred to as a bull pen. Even the three aurors who had their own privet offices were standing out there staring at him.

At first he worried that they were upset with him for firing Ron and that they would begin to fear for their own jobs, but then he noticed the nods he was getting and thankful glances. Finally it was Barthens, his second in command, who spoke up, "Thank you for finally getting rid of that…"

Harry knew it was unprofessional but he couldn't help himself, "Weasel?" he suggested.

The office broke out in laughter and Barthens nodded with a smirk, "Yes," he agreed, "If I had to take orders from that 'weasel' one more time I don't think I could be held responsible," several people nodded their agreement with his comment.

"Orders?" Harry repeated, "You held rank Barthens," he stated in confusion.

"And Weasel had your ear, we all saw what happened with Malfoy," again more nods of agreement.

Harry looked at his men and women in surprise, "So if given the choice between Weasley and Malfoy—" He was interrupted as several voices spoke up at once all of them saying Malfoy's name. Harry shook his head and readjusted his glasses, "And none of you brought this up to me because…?" he asked, looking around curiously, already suspecting why.

"Well, sir," a first year auror stepped forward, "You're Harry Potter."

Harry raised an eyebrow, "And you're Jordan Wroth," he replied calmly, trying to ignore the surprised expression Jordan was now wearing, clearly the man hadn't thought Harry knew who he was, "What's the difference?" he looked around at the faces looking back at him already knowing their answer, "Let's get one thing straight," he lifted his voice, speaking with the clear voice of a leader, "We are a team. Teams need leaders, but they also need followers. We work together, we fight together, we win together or we die trying. I am no more important than Auror Wroth here; it is my job to lead, yes, but if you ever have doubts or questions, it is your job to voice them. If a team doesn't trust each other enough to ask questions or voice their opinions, then they are not a team. Do not blindly follow those in charge, but even when you question them, show them respect."

Harry looked around, watching as his words sank in, "Ronald Weasley didn't understand any of this, and I mistakenly thought you all did. I will admit I was more lenient towards him than I should have been, and for that I apologize. But believe me when I say that won't happen again. It is my job to make sure our team works together as a team, not as a leader and bunch of resentful followers," Harry gave mock pointed looks at several aurors, causing a few reluctant chuckles, "If there is ever a problem like this again, any kind of conflict between teammates, don't just fill out a report, schedule a time where you can come and speak to me about it and we will sort it out together. Are we clear?"

"Yes sir!" many of them responded, some even giving him mock salutes though there was no official salute in the auror department.

Harry smiled at them and mock saluted back, "Good, now get back to work you mangy lot!" he waved his hand dismissively, his eyes twinkling, feeling as if he department was truly united as team for the first time since he had joined, perhaps for even longer than that. "Oh," he called as he reached the department exit, "And come December we will be having a departmental team Christmas party!" he proclaimed with a grin before disappearing from the department all together, not seeing the astonished expressions on his Aurors' faces. He smiled to himself; turns out he could do Dumbledore pretty well.

DHDHDHDHDHDHDH

Harry apparated to just outside his flat's front door and took a deep breath, the high he'd been on from his speech having faded as he remembered what he was about to do. He used to love coming home, seeing his godson come rushing out of whatever place he'd been playing at to come and give him a welcome home hug always brought about warm and comfortable feelings he was unfamiliar with considering his own home life as a child. He'd hug the boy back, head to the kitchen where Andromeda, who normally watched Teddy during the day, had made dinner, eat and then spend the rest of the night relaxing with his godson once Andromeda had gone home.

Now, however, he came home to a messy flat, clothes were everywhere and dishes piled up. Andromeda refused to come take care of Teddy in such an environment, leaving Harry to bring Teddy to her. The two had quietly decided that Harry should be the one to take care of the boy, Andromeda declaring herself to old to keep up with a little boy twenty four seven. Andromeda, or Andy as he'd been told to call her, had insisted that she come and take care of Teddy during the day despite her protests that she was too old. Harry considered himself lucky that she hadn't reconsidered the situation after Ginny moved in and started wrecking their home, making it nearly unlivable.

Today Andy had regretfully informed him that she wasn't going to be able to take care of Teddy, leaving Harry to try and figure out what to do. He had ultimately decided that since Ginny had quit her job just days after moving out of Hermione's flat, she could watch Teddy while he was at work.

Now he wasn't so sure that was such a great idea.

With another deep, steadying breath Harry reached out and opened the door; "I'm home!" he called, waiting to hear the eager feet come running towards him. Instead he heard a loud crash coming from the kitchen, followed by a string of explicative's that made Harry cringe, "Why you little demon!" Ginny screeched, "This was a new shirt!"

"Teddy?" Harry called again, not sure why he suddenly felt anxious to remove his godson from his soon to be ex-girlfriend's presence.

Ginny came around the corner with Teddy in her arms, both were covered in some sort of batter and flour, "Oh good your home," Ginny sighed in relief, shoving four year old Teddy into his arms, "Now you can take care of this brat," she stated with a small glare at the little boy, "Are you sure Andy can't raise him on her own?" she asked as she began to walk away.

Harry looked appalled that Ginny would even suggest a thing but Ginny didn't notice. Just as he was about to speak something whipped out and hit him in the face, causing him to look down at the boy in his arms, surprised to see that instead of the normally turquoise hair there were several snakes flying around his head in a very medusa like way as the boy scrunched up his face and stuck his tongue out at Ginny's retreating back.

"I didn't know you could do that," Harry stated in surprise, wondering at the expression on Teddy's face, wondering if he had always looked at Ginny with such dislike and if he had just never noticed.

Teddy shook his head slowly, his eyes not leaving Ginny's back, "Me neither," he stated slowly in his cute childish voice with a jerk of his head, "But she just makes me wanna…" suddenly the small form of Teddy was replaced by some sort of demonic looking thing with big pointy ears, red eyes, sharp teeth and black skin. The thing growled at the direction Ginny had disappeared to before transforming back into little Teddy.

Harry gaped at his godson in shock and surprise, "Do me a favor pup," he commented, placing him on the ground once more, "Don't ever do that again okay?" Teddy looked up at Harry in confusion, his eyes questioning him silently, "It was kind of scary," Harry answered quietly as if sharing a secret.

Teddy looked pleased with the idea and nodded his head, "Okay," he said with a shrug, "If you say so Daddy," Harry looked down at him again, remembering just how surprised he'd been the first time Teddy had called him Daddy. He'd felt as if he'd somehow betrayed Remus and had tried to explain to the little boy that he wasn't his daddy, that Remus held that title, to which Teddy had smartly replied with the question, "So I can't have two daddies?" Harry had been stunned as he finished tucking Teddy into bed, all the while the boy's question was running through his mind. By morning he had decided that yes, Teddy could have two daddies, and no, Remus wouldn't be upset with him for allowing Teddy to call him Daddy.

"Hey pup, let's go get you a bath alright?" Harry smiled down at the now pink haired boy who smiled widely back, nodding his head so fast and hard Harry was worried he would get whiplash. Teddy loved baths.

Together the pair went and filled the bathtub and Harry helped Teddy to remove his dirty clothes and set him in the comfortably warm tub once it was filled. He quickly placed two charms on the water, one to make sure no matter how hard Teddy tried, water would not touch his face, even if he submerged himself in the water completely, making it so he couldn't accidentally drown himself; and the second to keep the water warm.

"Thank you Daddy!" Teddy stated, gleefully splashing the water enthusiastically. Harry smiled back at him and cast another spell that made it so the water evaporated once it left the tub and landed on anything other than Teddy.

"I'll be back in fifteen minutes okay Teddy?" Harry told him, fully aware that Teddy wasn't paying any attention to him; rather his focus was completely on the toys that were floating around the tub with him.

Harry left the door open just a crack so he could hear if Teddy called him and turned around coming face to face with an angry Ginny, "I was going to get in the shower first," she stated with a frown.

Rolling his eyes Harry moved her back towards the living area, "You're a full grown adult Ginny, I think you can stand being a little dirty for awhile while Teddy has a bath," absently Harry gestured around the room, trying to subtly point out that she lived in a mess all the time.

"The brat is a kid, what does he know about being clean?" Ginny snapped, pointing angrily in the direction of the bathroom and stomping her foot.

Harry's eyes flashed and moved to face Ginny head on, "We've talked about you calling Teddy a brat Ginny," he stated in a firm voice.

"Well that's what he is!" she insisted, clearly not realizing she was treading in dangerous waters.

"And you're a spoiled, arrogant, annoying, lazy, messy schoolgirl but you don't see anyone pointing that out do you?" Harry exclaimed, finally losing whatever amount of patience he had with the girl, "I was going to do this later tonight after we'd had a nice dinner, but I can't do this anymore Ginny," he said tiredly, "You never clean up after yourself, you only think about what you want, what you need, and you don't take care of Teddy. You refuse to get a job, you gossip and brag and I'm tired of it!" he paused for a moment, noticing that he was once again making another Weasley turn red in the face with anger, "You aren't the same sweet girl I went to school with Ginny," he told her softly, "I fell in love with the girl who was shy and nice and kind to everyone. But you've changed; you aren't even remotely that person anymore."

Ginny glared at him, her fists opening and closing at her sides, "How dare you!" she screeched suddenly, her wand flying to her hand and beginning to send hex after hex in Harry's direction, all of which Harry was able to block, Ginny may have been good, but Harry was one of the most powerful wizards alive, "After everything I have done for you!"

"What have you done for me Ginny?" Harry wanted to know, "The only thing I can think of is a bunch of verbal abuse directed at my godson, increased bills, a messy flat that I'm embarrassed to invite anyone to visit, and the list goes on!" he blocked a few more hexes, "I've already put up with you for much longer than I should. I kept giving you more chances to change; I thought maybe it was just a phase, but apparently not. I can't just think about myself anymore Ginny; I have to think about Teddy too! I have to think about what's best for him, what and who he needs in his life and you aren't any of those things."

Ginny looked outraged, "Then get rid of him!" she exclaimed as if it were obvious, "The brat has ruined our relationship! He's the one who makes the mess, he's the one—"

Harry cut her off, "No, you're the one who makes the mess, and you're the one who won't clean it up. So it's you I have to get rid of," Harry said firmly, his eyes daring her to argue, before he turned and headed back towards the bathroom, "I'm sorry Gin, but I want you gone by time Teddy and I get home tonight."

"And where exactly are you going?" Ginny hissed, stomping after him.

Harry turned to face her, "Out with Hermione," he stated clearly, feeling pleased at the words.

"You're going out with that—"

A hand raised and Ginny found herself incapable of speaking, "Yes, I'm going out with that wonderful, brilliant and hopefully forgiving witch. I should have taken her side all along, but I was too concerned about losing the only people I thought I considered family, your family. Turns out she was a better sister and family member to me than any of you have ever been. I can only hope she'll forgive me for my temporary stupidity," he looked at her with a content expression she hadn't seen in awhile, "Don't you have some things to be packing?" and with that he turned and entered the bathroom, closing and locking the door behind him.

"I was cheating on you!" he heard her shout through the door in a last ditch attempt to hurt him, "With Adrian Pucey!"

Harry gave a humorless snort and shook his head, "I know!" he shouted back, to which he was greeted with surprised silence.

Teddy looked at Harry with a raised eyebrow, "Did you finally kick her out?" he asked with childlike simplicity, as if it had been the obvious choice all along.

Harry just smiled, "Come on, let's get you ready."

DHDHDHDHDHDHDHDHDH

Draco gave a small smirk when he saw her. She was curled up in what she called her Slytherin pajamas, a green tank top with the words "I kissed a Slytherin" written in silver across her chest and a pair of black silk pajama bottoms, a thick book about something or other held on her lap.

"Hey you," he murmured, leaning over the back of the couch to press a soft kiss to the crook of her bare neck, "What are you doing here?"

Hermione gave an exasperated sigh, "I gave up," she stated.

"Oh?" Draco questioned, removing his outer robes and rolling his sleeves up to his favorite position.

She just nodded, "Yes, I was sitting in my quarters thinking about how it was nice not to have any essays or homework to grade—I really should let up on the poor kids a bit—and all I could think about was how I wanted to be down here with you. I had a nice long argument about how I'm a strong independent woman who doesn't need to constantly be near a man to feel complete, and obviously," Hermione gestured around them, "I lost…to me…which made a lot more sense in my head," she frowned as she thought about her words.

Draco smirked, he was probably one of the only people Hermione felt she didn't always have to be overly intelligent around; even when they were with their friends she still held an air of genius about her. But this Hermione, the one who felt comfortable enough around him to allow confusing and admittedly not super intelligent words to occasionally come from her mouth, this was his Hermione, and he found her absolutely adorable, "I'm surprised it took you so long to give in," he teased, pressing slow tender kisses to the long pale skin of her neck.

Hermione gave him a playful glare as best she could considering their positions, and then returned her gaze pointedly towards her book. Draco slowed his kisses to watch her in silence for a few moments before straightening and looking over at the clock; Potter was going to be here soon. Clearing his throat he looked over at Hermione once more, "Why don't you go get dressed to go out?"

Hermione gave him a confused look, "Why?" she asked bluntly.

"It's a surprise," he replied dryly, "Honestly woman, I try to do nice things and you go and ask 'why'," he shook his head despairingly as he walked around the sofa she was sitting on to stand in front of the fireplace.

Slowly Hermione rose from her place on the couch, "Alright," she said suspiciously, her eyes narrowing at him as if trying to read his mind before giving up and moving to head towards his bedroom.

"You know," he called after her, "I don't know why you don't just move down here, most of your stuff is already here anyway!"

The click of the door was the only response he got; this was a common topic of conversation between them. Technically she had moved down here already, she slept here, ate here, and like he had said, most of her stuff was down here, it just wasn't official. Though Draco wasn't going to look a gift pig in the snout…or however the muggle saying went.

Draco gave a small contented sigh and moved to sit down in his favorite chair when he heard a knock on the door to his quarters. Confused and curious about what student was able to gather the courage to approach him at his quarters he walked over to the heavy door and opened it slowly, "Yes?" he started to ask, but was cut off as he realized who was standing at his door, "Oh Potter," he sighed, "it's just you," he ignored the roll of the eyes he received for his comment and open the door wider, "Come on in."

"Is that him?" he heard a small voice ask quietly, a voice that didn't belong to Potter, causing him to suddenly notice the short boy with dark green hair that was holding Potter's hand.

"Who's your friend?" Draco asked before Potter could answer the child's question.

Harry lifted his eyes from where they had rested on Teddy ready to answer his godson's question to look at Draco, "This is Teddy Lupin," he told him, "Teddy this is Draco Malfoy."

Draco stared at the kid, who stared right back, "Teddy Lupin?" he murmured, "As in my aunt's grandson?"his voice sounded very surprised and slightly hopeful, though Harry couldn't figure out why.

"Yes," Harry replied, "Remus and Tonks named me godfather, and when they passed on Andy and I decided that I would raise him," Harry watched Draco carefully, not sure what to make of the man standing before him who seemed very interested in Teddy.

Suddenly Draco crouched down to be eye to eye with the little boy, "What have you done to my cousin's hair Potter?" he demanded, reaching out a pail hand to brush some of the hair away from the boy's face to see it better.

Harry rolled his eyes again, "I didn't do anything Malfoy," he stated in partial amusement, "It was blue and hour ago, and pink when we were at the Weasley store a few minutes ago, and then he turned it green when we got here."

Draco raised his eyes to look up at Harry, "What? Why?" he seemed surprised and confused.

"Because Aunty Mione's favorite color is green," Teddy responded as if speaking to a little child, "Silly," he scoffed with a shake of his head, "And what do you mean cousin?" he asked, referring to Draco's earlier comment.

Draco looked back at Teddy in contemplation for a second, "Your mother, Nymphadora—"

Teddy interrupted, "She didn't like people to call her that, Dad called her Dora, but he was the only one allowed to, but Daddy says that everyone else called her Tonks," the boy rambled, unaware that he was interrupting.

Draco gave a small wistful smile and nodded, "I didn't know her all that well to be honest, but I did know that; Tonks, your mother, was my cousin, which makes you also my cousin," Draco was surprised when Teddy gave him a wide grin.

"Really?" the boy exclaimed, "you mean like how all the Weasleys are cousins?"

Smothering an amused cough Draco nodded, "But there's not that many of us."

"And thank Merlin for that!" Teddy proclaimed shaking his head so fast that Draco didn't even notice the boy's hair changing from green to blonde until he'd stopped moving, "There are waaaay too many of them!" he sounded exasperated and it showed in his now morphing eyes that changed from the blue they had been to a dark silver like Draco's own eyes, "There's never any pie left over after they all eat it, and they make so much noise that Daddy can't hear me talk to him when I try to!"

Draco rose from his crouched position to give Harry a questioning and amused look. Harry shrugged and answered the question he thought Draco was asking, "I guess it will be three of us on our outing tonight," he told him, "I couldn't find anyone to take Teddy while Hermione and I went out. Andy is busy with a muggle book club, and, well, the Weasley's all probably hate me right now," Draco raised an eyebrow at this so Harry would explain, "I fired Ron and kicked Ginny out of my flat," he elaborated, making Draco stare at him in surprise, "And no one else I talked to is available to—"

"I'll watch him," Draco declared, "He can stay here with me."

Now it was Harry's turn to be surprised as he blinked, resisting the urge to take a quick look around the small living area in search of hidden cameras, "You want to watch him?" Harry clarified.

"Sure, why not?"Draco shrugged and gave the boy a smile receiving nearly an identical grin back.

In response Harry simply raised an eyebrow and let go of the mini-Malfoy's hand; the boy took off like a shot, moving from object to object, touching things and asking questions so quickly neither man could understand him. Harry looked at Draco with a small smirk that slid slowly off as he noticed the affectionate look the other man was giving his godson.

Draco noticed his look and reluctantly tried to explain, "I would have been just like him growing up if my father hadn't…well," Draco cleared his throat, "I was always asking questions whenever my father wasn't around, in nearly drove my mother insane, but I couldn't help it, I wanted to know things, everything," he gave a small laugh and a smile, "We'll be fine," he then stated firmly, "Unless you don't actually trust me to watch him."

Harry gave a small chuckle and shifted his weight a bit, "You know, before yesterday I don't think I would have," he said honestly, "But then today I had the startling realization that I sort of already trusted you, at least when it came to thinks at work. I always knew you would do what you were supposed to when you were supposed to, as opposed to Ron, who I didn't really trust at work at all. Then I also realized today that every last person in the department would take you over Ron any day. So yeah, I trust you; and I'm sorry it's taken so long for us to get to this point."

Draco stared down at the hand that Potter was extending in his direction, "Don't worry about it," he responded gruffly, shaking the hand briefly before shoving his hands in his pockets, and turning to watch Teddy.

The now awkward silence that was hanging in the air was dispelled as Hermione suddenly appeared from the bedroom, looking down as she tugged at the bottom of her white slash-neck lace dress, unaware of the three boys staring at her.

"You're turn Drac—" Hermione had suddenly caught sight of the messy haired man standing in her fiancés living area, "Harry?" she breathed.

Harry opened his mouth uselessly to say something but found it unnecessary as Hermione's attention was caught by a blur of green as Teddy hurled himself from behind one of the sofas into a collision course with Hermione's legs, "Aunty Mione!" the boy cried with a large grin.

"Teddy!" Hermione exclaimed, sounding a bit choked up as she bent down to pick him up. Holding Teddy close to her as he clung to her neck, Hermione looked back and forth between Harry and Draco, "What are you doing here?" she questioned weakly, not entirely certain she wanted to know the answer.

However, if she was expecting the answer to come from either of the men before her she was incorrect, it was Teddy who spoke up, squirming until Hermione put him down, "Daddy was an idiot," he stated in a matter of fact tone with a jerk of his head, "He believed uncle Ron and that horrible aunt Ginny over his bestest friend. He is really sorry and really hopes that you will forgive him," then with careful movements Teddy pulled a large bouquet of roses from behind his back, causing Hermione to gasp in pleased surprise as she watched them slowly fade from one color to another, "Will you accept his apology Aunty Mione? Please?"

Draco looked over at Harry in surprise, both at the speech and at having not seen where the flowers came from. To his surprise Harry was looking just as incredulous as he was, and lifted his hands in an I-have-no-idea-what-just-happened sort of motion and shook his head.

"Where did you get these?" Hermione murmured bending down to take the flowers from Teddy.

"I made them," Teddy stated impatiently with clear frustration on his face at her distraction, "But you didn't answer my question, will you forgive my daddy?"

Hermione rose to her full height and looked back at her best friend and future husband, "Why are you here?" she asked Harry slowly, attempting to keep her watery eyes from overflowing.

Harry took a small step towards Hermione before pausing, "Yesterday, we were all at the store…things were said, and I finally let myself listen to what my subconscious had been trying to tell me all along, there was definitely something wrong with Ron's story. I went to Godric's Hollow cemetery," Hermione nodded knowingly and Harry went on, "There I started thinking, remembering the things I had seen and heard the Weasleys doing that I didn't want to see and hear that I had ignored. Ron wasn't doing any work, Ginny was cheating on me, and Molly was constantly gossiping, Percy was using me as a ladder climbing tool, the only people who had stayed the same were Arthur, Bill, Fleur, Charlie and George."

Harry hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I was beginning to realize how badly I had messed up when Mal—"Harry swallowed, "Draco found me and told me things I already knew, and some other things I didn't. Hermione, I'm so, so, so sorry!" he shrugged his shoulders; "I was so focused on keeping the people I thought were family that I lost the one person who actually was. Like Teddy said, could you ever forgive me?"

Hermione blinked absently causing a few tears to overflow before slowly taking a few steps forward until she was standing right in front of Harry. Then with several quick movements she began hitting him. "Don't you ever," hit, "Do that," two hits, "again!" she hit him once more before falling into Harry's waiting arms, with deep shuddering sobs.

Draco watched the two before him with a small smile on his face, already he could see the change in Hermione's demeanor, the world seemed to have lifted itself off of her shoulders and a wide grin, the likes of which he couldn't be sure he'd seen since sixth year spread across her face.

He felt a tug on his hand and looked down to see Teddy, his hair once again green, grinning up at him, "I think she forgives him," he stated calmly with a nod.

Bending down Draco picked him up, "Yes, I do believe she does."

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A/N: Soooo… this was a long time coming, and I'm so sorry! My muse hit me on another story that side tracked me for the last couple of weeks. This story could go on forever, but I've to changed its status to complete, at least for now, while I focus on my other stories. Maybe sometime later I'll add more (there is definitely more to be added) but for now, I'm considering this completed. I love hearing from you, reviews make the creative juices flow like you wouldn't believe. So let me know what you think; is this enough, or should I more seriously consider writing more?

Until next time….