Harry and Teddy had gone to spend the rest of the day on the beach. Teddy was sad to leave, but happy though to be at the beach. Harry grimaced though when his son wanted to bring Mr. Toby next time. Harry never really understood why either his son or Draco could like the ma so much. Harry had always looked on his class with such dread. And the last months with the man as a patient, had been little better. He planned to tell Lucius that he needed to find a new healer for the man, in September. Harry would be a full time healer, as well as a dad, and dating he hoped. He had started when in med school, but had been able to count it towards work. The same couldn't be said now about being a pediatrician. He continued to bring his son, allowing Teddy to read with the man, after done. As long as his son was happy, he was fine.

As September approached, Harry decided it was time for a second date. Every time he faced Severus, he knew that had been a real mistake. He should have known the man would only hurt him. He probably thought that it was the perfect way to get back at James.

Lucius called as Severus was about to go outside. "Sev."

Severus turned back. "I'll be back in for dinner. I just need air."

Lucius summoned his crutches, almost toppling the man. "Not with those."

Severus braced himself in the door to keep from falling over. "How soon you forget I can best you in a duel."

Lucius smirked. "A little out of practice."

Severus couldn't deny it. "Holding me prisoner?"

Lucius threw something at him. "No, I just thought it time for this."

Severus looked down at the cane. "I am not certain."

Lucius shook his head. "Harry assured me you are."

Severus grunted. "That boy."

Lucius turned to leave. "Dinner is in a half hour."

Severus shook his head. "I didn't need reminding."

Lucius looked back a bit. "You lose track of time when you brood."

Severus ground his teeth. "Maybe it's more the company."

Lucius smiled. "I think you will like tonight's."

With that Lucius disappeared through the door, with no more explanation. In truth Draco and Pansy were coming, as well as the Tonks. Teddy would be coming with them, but Harry he was told was on a date. Lucius wondered what his brother would say when he found out about that. Severus may deny it, but he had been jealous about the first date. And Lucius knew for a fact, this date was with the same man. He doubted that Harry was serious, he knew he was hurting over Severus. And Lucius and Draco planned to make the fools see some sense.

Severus looked at the cane. It was of the same craftsmanship of Lucius', but was a different wood. It was the same wood as his wand, though his wand was not hidden within, like Lucius. It had a snake head as well, though it looked like his animagus form, not like Lucius'.

He was out in the gardens when he heard. "Mr. Toby."

He was surprised to see Teddy. "What are you doing here?"

Teddy beamed. "I Uncle Draco's ring bearer."

Draco was behind him. "Pansy's idea. Muggle traditions are in fashion it seems."

Pansy shook her head. "Men."

Teddy bounced. "Mr. Toby read to me."

Severus grunted. "I believe it is dinner time."

Draco agreed. "Dad told me to remind you, what you said about not brooding."

Pansy laughed at his expression. "Not late yet."

Teddy pulled on his hand. "Come."

Severus grunted as he came into the dining room. "Where is your dad?"

Andromeda looked up. "Harry had a date tonight."

Teddy shook his head. "Daddy said boring. I want daddy come."

Ted picked up his grandson. "Well sometimes adults have to do boring things."

Severus bristled a bit and grumbled under his breath. "Again."

Lucius seemed to have bat hearing. "What was that?"

Severus slumped into his chair, and ignored the looks from both Malfoy men. They had both made it clear, they thought he and Harry belonged together. They didn't even know the two had kissed, and were this obnoxious. He had always thought it was Narcissa who was the meddler. He was grateful when talk went to the wedding. Draco and Pansy were to be married in early September, only two weeks away. Severus thought about it a lot since Harry had told him back in the hospital. Harry had reminded him Draco wouldn't have his mother there for him.

Later after dinner Teddy was anxious for him to tell a story. "Later."

Teddy pouted but he turned to Draco. "Uncle Draco, take me see horses?"

Draco smiled. "In a moment Teddy I promise. I just have to ask my Uncle something."

Severus looked at Draco, Teddy forgotten. "What is it?"

Draco shared a look with Pansy and back. "We'd like you to come to the wedding."

Pansy agreed. "And you can bring a plus one."

Severus was surprised. "Do you really mean it Dragon?"

Draco sighed. "I always wanted you and my mother there. She can't be…."

Severus put a hand on him. "She'd be so proud of the man you have become."

Lucius agreed. "And thrilled to plan this with Pansy's mother."

Draco knew. "I just wish she got to be here for the happy moments too."

Severus felt a pang. "I should have been here before."

He had told himself the Malfoys were strong, and would get through it. But he knew he had been fooling himself. He knew the real Lucius and Draco, not the side they had shown in public. Lucius and Narcissa may have had an arranged marriage, but they had been soul mates, deeply in love before they ever said I do. And Narcissa had been a loving mother, as hands on as she could be, with the war going on. She should have been there, for her son's wedding, and to hold her grandchildren. So should have Lily been, both of the women he loved as sisters, were robbed of that. He knew Harry was right, he should have been here for Draco all this time. Maybe the boy wasn't as foolish as he kept saying.

Kreacher broke up the moment when he appeared. "Need to come now, little master in danger, need to come."


In London Harry was about to head out on his second date with Rick. He knew perhaps it had been a long wait between first and second dates. Rick had been extremely patient in all of this. He had not minded all the postponements to the first date. And he had allowed Harry to set the pace for the second date as well. Charlie assured him Rick was a good guy, and he wasn't in any kind of rush.

Harry wasn't sure why he had been so slow to make the second date. They had a great first one, dinner and a movie, he had a lot of fun. He had been slightly distracted, Rick had pointed out, but they still had fun. He was sure he would soon have Severus off of his mind.

Rick smiled when he came in. "I am happy you called."

Harry returned the smile. "Sorry it took a while."

Rick shook his head. "No apologies needed."

Harry looked at the door. "Are you sure you don't mind it's a double date?"

Rick laughed and shook his head. "No. You know Charlie and I are friends."

Harry smirked. "I didn't know at first."

Charlie called from the now open door. "Colleagues, friends will depend on how he treats my kid brother."

Rodger came to his husband's side. "Play nice."

Harry shook his head. "Gone for over two years, and already as bad as George or Bill."

Charlie shrugged. "I am on their pay roll."

Rodger turned to Rick. "I promise to keep him in line."

Rick laughed. "I am used to him by now."

Charlie ushered them into the dining room. "Dinner is almost ready."

Harry sent a worried look at Rodger. "He didn't?"

Rodger shook his head. "No, he just likes taking credit."

Charlie tried to look hurt. "Are you insinuating I can't cook?"

Harry laughed, and reminded him of what Molly always said. Of her children, the only one who could even remotely cook, was Bill. Well and Harry as she considered him to be a son as well. Bill had learned to do some cooking when in Egypt, as he had no one to cook for him there. Charlie had lived at the preserve, and he had his meals provided through work. Not even the only daughter could boil water properly. Of course Ginny, who was in prison for another two months, was not mentioned that night. Charlie would never ruin the mood like that.

Rodger it turned out was quite a descent cook. He came from a family with a bit more money, and he did have an elf growing up. It was odd that the son from a family with money could cook, and not the one whose family did all by hand. Well Molly used spells of course.

Harry smelled the food. "Definitely not Charlie."

Rodger smiled. "Chased him out of the kitchen with a knife."

Charlie put the salad down. "I did make this."

Harry shared a look with Rick. "I think we should stick to the pasta."

Rick took some salad. "I think I owe him."

Charlie looked at Harry. "Maybe I changed my mind, and he is too good for you."

Harry smirked. "Keep that up, and I'll tell our brothers."

Rodger shot a look at Rick. "Are you sure you know what you are getting into?"

Rick laughed. "You married one already."

Harry tasted some of the pasta. "Molly will be happy, at least another in law can cook. You could be a chef."

Rodger shrugged. "Not that good, but I took a few lessons."

He had to cook for himself abroad, and decided to expand on what his mother had taught him. It was one of his first dates with Charlie, cooking dinner for them both. Charlie had commented how long it had been, since he had a real home cooked meal. Harry shard a smile, and told Rick he would not be opposed to cooking for him one night. Tonight was a bit easier, and he wasn't as distracted as he was last time. He knew some of it had to do with the fact that Charlie and Rodger were there though. They could help before there were any awkward silences to be had.

They were having dessert when the floo flared to life. Charlie was shocked. "Snape."

Severus looked at him. "I need to speak to Harry."

Harry glared at the man. "What do you want? You can't just…."

Severus cut him off. "You need to come now."

Harry wasn't listening. " I am on a date. I am sure you know that."

Severus grunted. "You need to come to the hospital. It's your son."

Harry's heart dropped in his chest. "Teddy? What is wrong with my son?"

Severus didn't say much. "He had an accident. You need to come."

Harry nearly collapsed when the man vanished. "Accident? Accident?"

Charlie grabbed some floo powder. "Come on, we will take you to the hospital."

Rick offered. "I can contact George, and let him know."

Rodger went to go with them. "Contact the Burrow as well. Molly will want to know."

Harry was filled with dread as they headed through the floo to the hospital. He had no idea what was wrong with his son, and that was making it worse. Leave it to a Slytherin, to tell him nothing more than his son was at the hospital, and had been in some accident. He knew though it must be bad, as Andromeda and Severus were both trained, Andromeda as a nurse and midwife, Severus as a medic.

He found them and the Malfoys in the waiting room. "Where is my son? What happened to my son?"

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