A/N: Would you believe me if I told you I have five writing projects on the go right now? Five. Count 'em. And a Queer as Folk addiction that is not waning in the slightest. I was hoping that finishing Season 5 would cure me, but (and I have no idea how this happened) I seem to be watching Season 1 again. From the beginning. It's like a compulsion, a sickness that just forces me to put the next dvd in the player. And fast forward through any scenes that Brian isn't in. Make of that what you will.
Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that it's possible that my writing schedule will slow down somewhat over the next few weeks. I'll do my best, and it may be that something good comes out of my head and I write quicker than I was expecting, but I'm letting you know now. Just in case.

Chapter 17- No More Secrets

Harry sent one of Draco's owls to The Burrow well in advance of when he wanted to visit Molly, just to make sure she'd be free. And that no one else would be around.

Of course, at The Burrow there was nearly always someone else around. When Harry arrived it was one of the neighbours returning a glass cooking dish who smiled at Harry and waved as she tottled back up the garden path.

"So, how are you, dear, tea?" Molly said, already putting the kettle on the stove.

"Not bad," Harry said. He collapsed down at the kitchen table and ran his palms over the familiar worn wood. "You know, having Bear made a lot of things make sense to me."

"Hmm? Like what?" Molly asked. She collected two mugs and set the sugar bowl and milk jug on the table.

"Like how... I'm never going to be his dad, you know? I'm not his dad. Remus is. Being dead doesn't change that. But... Me and Draco are probably the closest thing he's going to get to a dad now."

Molly smiled, Harry could see it even though she was facing away from him, fussing with measuring loose tea leaves into a pot.

"And it sort of reminded me about when you and Sirius argued that time and you said that I'm like one of your kids."

She turned and set the pot down on the table and, still smiling, poured tea for them both. Harry added his own milk and sugar and waited for her to talk. Surely it was her turn to talk now?

"Sometimes, Harry, you get to choose your family rather than accepting the one that biology gave you. Your mother's sister and her husband, though I've sworn over and over that I wouldn't speak ill of them, are not your family. All I've ever wanted was for you to feel loved and welcome here."

Harry nodded. Wrapped his hands around his mug and took a deep breath for courage. "Same as how I'm not Bear's dad, but I sort of am; you're not my mum, but you're the best thing and closest thing I've got to one. And your approval means everything to me." He took another deep breath. "I'm sort of in a relationship with Draco. I think I love him."

"Oh." Molly sat back, looking shocked, her mug abandoned as she gently grasped the edge of the table. "Oh."

"I'm sorry to spring it on you like that," Harry said, his apology coming out in a rush. "But this is kind of important, which is why I wanted you to know, and I didn't want you finding out from someone else, not that anyone else knows, I mean..."

"Harry," she said, reaching over to take one of his hands. "I'm okay. I'm just a little surprised."

"Because of Ginny?" he said, wincing.

"No, not because of Ginny." Molly was silent for a few moments while she sipped at her tea, studying him carefully. "I think I've known for about three years. Maybe less, actually."

"That I'm gay?" Harry asked, confused. "I've only known myself for a few months!"

"It's a mum thing," she said with a quick wink. "Your relationship with Hermione more than anything else gave it away, actually."

"She's just a friend," Harry said, confused.

"And she was never going to be anything else to you," Molly said, as if this was the answer to it all. "You never once looked at her as anything other than a friend, the same way you look at Ron and Neville and Luna."

"I'm not sure I understand."

"It's not important. Tell me about Draco."

"He's... oh god, Molly, he's just as screwed up as I am, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not. I went with him to his therapist the other day."

"Oh?" she said, "Go on."

"She's a woman called Miranda. She kind of forces you to look at things from an outsider's perspective. We were saying how... we sort of want Bear back."

"That's a natural reaction, darling," Molly said. "He was with you for so long, he became part of your routine. But he deserves some kind of stable family environment. Andromeda can give him that."

"We can too," Harry argued. "It's not a whim, we'd want to keep him."

"Adopt him?"

Harry paused. "That's a big deal."

Molly nodded and hummed in agreement. "It is. But don't you think that little boy deserves a proper family? To know where he belongs?"

Suddenly something else struck Harry. George's offer.

"There's too much to think about," Harry groaned.

"I know, I really do," Molly said. "You're far too young to be going through all this. But I'm not going to tell you not to do it. Gosh, I was only a year or so older than you when Arthur and I had Bill, but that was going back a ways, now."

"Miranda said we should talk to Andromeda."

"I would agree that's a fine suggestion."

"Molly... I know that this is sort of a moot point now, since I'm over eighteen and all that, but if things had been different, would you have adopted me?"

She rose and walked around the table, enveloping him in an almost trademarked hug. "If things were different, we would have taken you when you were a year old and brought you and Ron up as brothers. But Dumbledore had his reasons, of course, so we never had the chance." She pulled back and held him at arm's length, studying him carefully. "You grew up into a fine young man, Harry, and I like to tell myself Arthur and I had a hand in that. You are one of mine. Our hearts were never so small to not be able to love another child."

"Thanks, Molly," he mumbled, cuddling her again briefly.

"Don't be a stranger," she warned him as he prepared to leave. "And bring that Malfoy boy over for lunch on Sunday, do you hear me? I want to meet him."

"I will," Harry agreed, smirking already as he contemplated breaking that news to Draco.

xXx

"Training's cancelled tomorrow," Harry said as he jogged down the steps to the basement.

"What happened?"

"Niko's in St Mungo's with cabbages instead of elbows," Harry said, hoisting himself up to sit on a spare bit of counter space. "What's this?"

"Don't touch!"

"I wasn't going to. What is it?"

"Something that will turn your fingers into cucumbers." But he winked as he said it.

Harry dangled his fingertips over the simmering, clear potion and got his hand smacked away for his trouble. "It's Skele-gro, you heathen. And I would have thought you, of all people, would recognise it."

"I've only taken it once," Harry said, affronted. "And then it wasn't my fault."

"I'm sure," Draco said but rubbed his knee reassuringly. "It's a pain in the ass. You need to brew it for days."

"Do you want to go out tomorrow afternoon? We could do something."

"I can't, Harry. I'm busy Saturday afternoons."

Harry paused, thinking. Since he'd been playing for the Blackhawks he'd almost forgotten that Draco was out of the house during that time as well. It was another part of their routine, one he didn't question.

"Can I come too?" Harry asked hesitantly.

Draco looked up from where he was chopping some leaves. Dandelion leaves, Harry decided. Probably dandelion leaves.

"Why are you only asking this now? I've been going out on Saturdays since I moved in here and you've never wanted to come before."

Harry kicked his legs out from the counter, swinging them back and forth while gripping the edge with both hands for balance. He shrugged.

"I want to spend time with you."

"Harry, we're never apart."

"I figure… if you've been doing it for this long, then it's obviously something that matters to you. And if it matters to you then it matters to me."

Draco was silent as he considered things.

"You're going to be mad when you find out," he said eventually.

"Mad at you?"

"No."

"Oh."

He sighed heavily. "I go to the Phoenix Orphanage."

Harry let this information roll around his head for a moment. "The Phoenix Orphanage," he echoed.

"Yes."

A beat of silence. "To do what?"

Draco threw his hands up in exasperation which almost (but not quite) disguised his pink blush of embarrassment. "I hang out with the kids. Play with them, read to them, teach them stuff. Then I do the books, write threatening letters to rich people telling them how much money they need to donate and make cups of bloody coffee. Lots of cups of coffee," he added in a begrudging mutter. Harry felt his lips twitch with amusement but held it back.

"What else?"

"I clean up sick, sometimes. Bake cakes."

"Is that where my cookbook went?" Harry interrupted.

"Maybe." Draco was blushing harder now. "I get them changed for bed and read more stories. I try my hardest to get them put back with families because seriously, Harry, I'm not surprised the Dark Lord turned evil after growing up in an orphanage after seeing those kids."

Most of the details of Voldemort's life had been published by Rita Skeeter (who else?) within months of the War ending. There weren't any secrets any more, ever part of his dark history had been dragged out and drudged over for the masses. It was an even better seller than The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore.

Harry only had one question. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't have a choice, at first," Draco admitted. "I was given obligatory community service for six months as part of my sentence. I just never stopped going."

"That doesn't really answer my question."

"Percy Weasley is sort of in charge of running it."

Harry shook his head. "And he never said anything?"

"To be fair to him, he didn't really have a choice. He wasn't allowed to tell anyone."

"So… can I come?"

Draco's mouth dropped open. "You want to?"

"Yeah. I mean, I like kids."

"They'll see us together."

"Well, I'm not asking you to sit on my lap and stick your tongue in my ear," Harry said, exasperated.

"Ew."

"You know what I mean."

Draco added his leaves to another potion, it seemed to Harry that he was always working on more than one, and started to stir it slowly. He chewed his lip in concentration.

"There's no reason why you can't come."

"Okay. Cool."

"Harry-" Draco caught Harry's wrist. "These kids… they don't know much about my past. They're quite sheltered. They just know me as the guy who turns up once a week to spend time with them."

"I'm not going to out you as a Death Eater."

"I know that. I just need you to understand… why… I might be different."

Harry slid down from the counter and enveloped Draco in a quick hug. "You change more and more every day, Draco. And you keep getting more amazing. Kids are usually the first ones to notice that. And to bring it out in a person."

"Yeah."

"Oh," he said as he prepared to leave Draco to his Skele- gro, "And we're going to the Weasley's for lunch on Sunday."

"I hate you," Draco yelled as Harry jogged up the stairs. But Harry didn't believe him.

xXx

They left it a few more days before sending an owl to Andromeda, asking to visit and to see Bear. She replied with an 'of course', and so, with great trepidation, they headed over after lunch on Wednesday afternoon.

Harry took Draco's hand as they approached the door; Draco slipped his fingers in and around Harry's, squeezing it reassuringly. Harry leaned over after they'd knocked on the door and quickly kissed his cheek, loving the feel of scruff under his lips.

His hand loosened as Andromeda answered the door but Draco gripped it harder. Harry couldn't help the little smile of satisfaction that settled on his lips - Draco clearly wasn't ashamed of their relationship either.

"Hi, come in," Andromeda greeted them. They exchanged hugs but Harry felt almost sick in his stomach. He wanted Bear. "He's in the kitchen," she said, laughing. "Go on and get him."

Draco had a slightly guilty expression, clearly wondering if they were being too obvious. But Andromeda didn't seem to mind, she'd laughed, and they really were desperate to see him again...

Bear was sat in his high chair, banging toys against the plastic tray with the destroyed remains of a biscuit smushed into his blocks. As soon as he caught sight of Harry and Draco he squealed with delight. They moved into synchronised motion; Harry grabbed a cloth and wiped the baby's mouth as Draco hoisted him out of the seat.

"Hey, sweetheart," Draco cooed, kissing Bear's forehead. Harry dumped the cloth in the sink and wrapped his arms around Draco, completing the circle with Bear securely held between them.

The baby, for his part, seemed thrilled to see his former carers again. He turned from Harry to Draco and back again, patting his hands against one face then the other. Harry caught little fingers in a quick kiss and was rewarded with the same little fingers smearing biscuit and god-knows what else over his glasses.

Draco laughed as Harry cleaned them with a quick spell and flicked Draco's ear.

"La la la la ma rah dad da da da..." Bear told them.

"He's calling me Dada," Draco said, sticking his tongue out at Harry.

"No way," Harry argued, shifting the baby into his own arms. "Say Harry, Bear. Ha- ha- Harry."

"Rah ma la la la."

"Close enough," Harry said.

He took a moment to bury his face into soft blue hair and breathe deeply. The smell of his baby. Their baby. The conversation with Andromeda was going to be really bloody hard.

"He should go down for a nap in a bit," Andromeda said from the kitchen doorway. She was watching them with a smile Harry didn't really know how to read.

"I'll do it," Draco and Harry said at the same time. Harry caught Draco's eye and laughed.

"Fight you for him," Harry said.

Draco raised an eyebrow. "But Harry," he said innocently. "Then you'd lose."

Andromeda laughed. "Go on, the pair of you. The nursery is the first door at the top of the stairs."

They had a little, playful tug of war to see who got to carry Bear. Draco won.

As Draco set Bear down in his crib, Harry wrapped his arms around the slender waist and pulled it back to his chest. Draco gripped Harry's forearms as the baby settled down in the crib. They'd spent too many nights watching Bear fall asleep, just like this.

"Come on," Draco whispered eventually.

Andromeda met them in the same living room Harry had been delivered to by Hagrid when they'd escaped the Death Eaters... shit... over a year and a half before. She had a tea tray set out with mugs and a pot and they sat nervously on the edge of the sofa.

"We wanted to talk to you about Bear," Harry said when they'd settled down and done the whole 'how are you feeling' exchange. Andromeda was fine, if a little tired.

She raised an eyebrow and nodded.

"If there's any possibility of him coming back with us," Draco said in a rush.

Silence.

"I'm not opposed to you taking him," Andromeda said after a few moments consideration. "Lord knows, he's better off with two young, healthy parents than this old bat."

"You're not an old bat," Draco said, amused.

"I am," she said, with a shrug and a wry smile. "But I can't say I don't have concerns."

"Okay," Harry said.

She played with her mug, rolling it between the palms of her hands. "You're both very young, and have careers ahead of you, I'm sure. Have you thought about how to balance a job and a toddler? What happens if you split up? How will you deal with the media when they catch wind of the story? Because, mark my words, boys, Rita Skeeter will find out eventually."

"I-" Draco started, but Andromeda cut him off with a raised eyebrow that made her look uncannily like her sister. He fell silent.

"How will you deal with him being teased at school for having two dads and no mum? Will you be 'Daddy' to him, or will you be Harry and Draco? How much are you prepared to tell him about Remus and 'Dora? How about brothers and sisters? Have you thought about having children of your own? I'm not scared to tell you, Draco, your mother will want you to produce a grandchild for her.

"I'm not saying you should have answers to all of this right now," she said, obviously taking in their twin shocked expressions. "Or even if you have answers at all. I just need you to know that this all needs to be considered and thought over and argued over before you can seriously make the decision to take him back."

"Are you sure you're happy for us to do it?" Harry said eventually.

Andromeda sighed. "Do you know how old I am, Harry?"

"Um, no," he said, embarrassed.

"I'm nearly fifty. I don't look it, I know," she winked, "but too old to be a mother again. I was thrilled to be made a grandmother, truly I was, but I can't say it's easy going back to having a baby. Please don't get me wrong, I love having him, I wouldn't give him up for the world, but he reminds me very much of having a baby Metamorphmagus daughter who isn't with us any more. And he loves you two. Just… unconditionally, he loves you. It's very easy to see that."

"We want to be his parents," Draco said confidently.

"You know that same sex couples aren't allowed to adopt."

"What?" Harry exclaimed.

"How do you know all this?" Draco added.

"I used to work for the Ministry before I took early retirement at the onset of the War. I didn't want to go to work every day and not know which of my colleagues I could trust. Again," she added wryly. "I worked in the department for children's protection."

"So, do you know Madame O'Connell?"

"Lenore?" Andromeda asked, surprised. "Why yes, of course. We were colleagues."

"She's who's in charge of Bear's custody."

"Oh. Well, that might help us in the future," she said. "I want the same as you two when it comes to Teddy - for him to be happy and healthy and loved. I'm not going to send him home with you today because you need time to really think about it."

"We will," Draco said seriously.

"Thank you," Harry added.

"Don't thank me yet," she said, laughing wryly. "I'm in the unfortunate position of knowing exactly what you're going to be up against if we decide for him to go back to you. It's not going to be pretty. You really have to be sure that you're in this a hundred percent."

They were left with that sombre warning hanging over them. Bear woke up while they were still mid-conversation and Harry rushed off to comfort him. Andromeda let them hang out for a few hours, playing with Bear with the promise that they could take him for an afternoon in the week some time. They also learned that Molly had been in contact with Andromeda and wanted to see more of Bear too. He simply had too much family who loved him.

When they finally left it was just before five; Harry took them beyond the protective wards at the gate and took hold of Draco's hands.

"Do you trust me?" he asked.

"Implicitly."

"Hold on."

He took Draco by Side- Along Apparition to Diagon Alley, just outside Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.

"I know where this is, you could have just told me," Draco said, laughing.

Harry shrugged. "I didn't know if you would come with me."

Draco smiled but dropped Harry's hands. "Are we going to go in?"

People were already starting to stare at them. Harry thought they were probably trying to work out if that really was Draco Malfoy; the tall, slim, handsome blond man dressed in stylish Muggle jeans and a beautifully tailored wool coat. He knew Draco wouldn't see it that way. He'd just see the staring.

He was desperate to slip his hand in Draco's as they ducked in out of the rain, but refrained, for both their sake's.

Due to the late hour things were starting to wind down in the shop. Mary- Anne was behind the counter and although a few people meandered through the aisles, it was pretty quiet.

"Office, guys," Mary- Anne called as she spotted them, gesturing to go back to the office.

"How do you know we're not here to see you?" Harry laughed.

"Get back there and stop messing up my shop," she told them, winking as they passed.

When they were out of the public area of the shop Harry reached for Draco's hand again. Neither mentioned it, but Draco squeezed Harry's fingers quickly.

"Hey! How are my favourite homosexuals?" George asked as they approached the office door.

"Offended," Draco muttered.

"I wanted to invite you and Angelina over for dinner," Harry said. Draco leaned against the door and didn't flinch when Harry stuck his hand into the back pocket of Draco's jeans.

"Sure," George said. "When?"

"Friday night?" Harry suggested.

"Sounds good. I'll bring wine. And don't think I can't see you groping your boyfriend's ass."

Harry just laughed as Draco blushed. "See you on Friday, George," Draco said in his crisp, formal voice and grabbed onto Harry to take them back to the house. "You little shit," he said as they landed in the living room.

"What?" Harry asked innocently.

Draco just shook his head. "You're a nightmare."

After removing his coat and tossing it over the back of the sofa, Harry carefully removed his wand from his pocket. And cast a stinging hex at Draco.

"Shit!" Draco exclaimed as Harry ducked out of the room, giggling madly. "Right, Potter," Draco muttered, stripping off his coat too, "It's on."

What Harry didn't realise was that Draco and Blaise had practically grown up playing these childish cat and mouse games. Draco knew stealth. And he knew a whole host of non-lethal but rather uncomfortable hexes and jinxes.

It didn't take long for him to corner Harry in the library (the other man's giggles revealing his location) and cast a quick Auguamenti at the spot just over Harry's head. Drenching him with cold water was more than slightly satisfying.

Especially when Harry screamed like a girl.

"You maniac!" Harry yelled. Draco smirked as Harry shook off water like a wet dog. "I'm freezing. Not gonna play with you any more."

"Oh, poor Potter," Draco said with a smirk, echoing the taunts of their school years.

"I'm going for a shower," Harry said. And shoved Draco in the chest as he passed.

"Do you need someone to scrub your back?" Draco asked, his eyes wide and innocent.

"Oh, I wouldn't say no," Harry said. "You owe me." He started to pull his wet robes off, shivering from the cold and fumbling with numb fingers. Draco soon stepped in to help, attaching his lips to the corner of Harry's jaw as he blindly stripped the robes off goosepimpled skin and dropped them on the floor.

Draco was dragged through to the bathroom where steam soon billowed through the cold, damp air and two naked bodies fought the prickly burn of too hot water where impatience won out against the chill.

The back scrubbing was quickly forgotten as Draco desperately pushed his naked, growing arousal against Harry as their lips met in frenzied, needy kisses; their fingers providing a frozen chill against heating skin which made a whole new thrill.

Too much, Harry's over stimulated brain protested. Too much, too many different sensations as hands skimmed water slick skin and teeth scraped along ears, jaws, necks, collarbones, shoulders... the little gasps and moans from Draco's throat as he found a good spot, their bodies in constant motion as they tried for more and found it. Over and over again.

"Do you want..." Harry asked with his neck thrown back, exposing the tight cords of muscle as Draco's lips worked up and down between clavicle and earlobe.

"Yes, yes, want it all," Draco mumbled.

Harry laughed breathlessly. Forcing himself to straighten, he pushed all ten fingers through Draco's hair which had turned a golden wheat blonde under the water. Angelic. Frowning in concentration, he studied Draco's face, committing every beautiful, well bred line to memory.

Then he smiled.

"Can you Summon your lubricant from here?" Harry said, leaning in to kiss the corner of Draco's mouth.

"Pfft. I have some in here."

Draco leaned over, making Harry swallow thickly as his erection twitched, and retrieved another (just as empty, Harry was to discover) tin.

"Why do you-"

"Shower wanking is one of my favourite pastimes," Draco said without a hint of shame.

Harry snorted. "Turn around, you filthy bastard."

Draco complied, sticking his ass out further than was necessary and wiggling it seductively. He braced his arms on the shower wall and said "That's rich, coming from the man who's about to stick his fingers up my bum."

"Says he, who likes it," Harry said, smiling against Draco's shoulder as he reached between smooth, round cheeks to find Draco's hole.

"I do," Draco admitted. "Especially with someone who learns quickly and pays attention and takes initiative... Damn, why didn't I find a Gryffindor sooner?"

Laughing, Harry slid a second finger in besides the first. "Who else would you have gone for, hmm? Not Ron or Neville, I'm sure."

"Don't mention Longbottom right now, I'm begging you," Draco groaned.

"Seamus then? I could see the appeal. He has a nice accent."

"I thought you were going to tell me he had a big cock for a moment then."

Harry choked on a laugh. "How the hell would I know that?"

"Didn't you ever check it out in the showers after Quidditch?"

"No!"

"Shame."

"Did you?" Harry asked, curious now as he worked his fingers in measured thrusts, secretly amazed at Draco's composure under this erotic preparation.

"Look at other boy's cocks in the shower?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah. All the time. Fuck, that feels good." Harry smiled to himself, pleased that his efforts were being appreciated. "I'm not sure if you're aware of this, Harry, but I'm gay."

Harry giggled. "Really? I can't say I'd noticed."

"Are you going to make me beg for another finger?"

The third digit met little resistance. "Nope."

"Oh god."

"Are you going to beg for my cock?" Harry asked in a low voice, immediately embarrassed by this unusually forward approach, but Draco groaned at his words and pushed his ass back further.

"I was hoping you wouldn't make me."

Pulling out his fingers (which were starting to cramp anyway), Harry quickly rubbed the last of the lube over his cock and pressed it against Draco's hole. The temptation was there to check if this was okay, like he did every time, but Draco seemed to like his increased assertiveness. So when he was lined up, Harry pushed forward until he felt the round muscle and tight heat envelop the head of his cock.

"Fuck! Draco," he cried, grabbing Draco's hips hard enough to leave little thumbprint bruises.

Draco's head dropped forward to press against the cool tiled wall, his hand already fisting at his cock.

"Fuck me, Harry," he whimpered.

He wasn't exactly famed for his restraint and Harry let his hips slam into Draco, harder than he'd ever dared before, causing his partner to cry out with unrestrained pleasure. The pace he set was blistering, ball aching and cramp inducing; his thighs screamed with pain at being forced to work so hard, pumping his hips back and forth at just the right angle to nudge at Draco's sweet spot, fucking determined to do this right.

Harry was vaguely aware of his own voice chanting 'yes' over and over, possibly in tandem with his strokes but probably not, he never was the greatest musician. This was a new rhythm, though, one he hadn't fully explored before.

"More, Harry, more," Draco murmured.

The hot water still pounded on his back and Harry arched under it, thrilled at the new sensations of sex while standing up, sex in this position, sex in general. The naughtiness of it. The fact that it was Draco.

"Draco."

Draco.

His orgasm was like a punch to the stomach, hitting him out of nowhere and dragging his come out of his balls with a ferocity he'd come to appreciate while having sex with Draco. It was mean and fast and breath- stealingly wonderful and he bent over to rest his head between Draco's shoulders as his hips rode it out, then slid to the floor in a boneless heap.

Draco slid into his lap.

"You came," Harry murmured as his arms found a way to hold Draco close.

He chuckled. "Mm. About the same time you did."

"Sorry I missed it."

Draco laughed loudly then. "I don't mind."

Harry reached for Draco's cheek, turning his face for intimate consideration. Grey eyes that he'd once considered cold, steely, warmed under his gaze, understanding that Harry needed to be this close to see him. To really see him.

Their last kiss before climbing out of the shower was feather light, whispered kisses over swollen lips, a gentle dart of one tongue against another. Harry was starting to understand this language of kissing. That one meant 'until later'.

A/N: You know, every time someone leaves a review, Gale Harold makes his O face. True Fact.