A/N: Thank you for amazing reviews! Here's the next chapter, hope you like it!

Draco woke up the next day to his personal house-elf's high-pitched voice.

"Dante is sorry, Master Draco, but Mister Zabini is wanting to see Master." He said.

"Lead him to the living room." Draco said burying his head into his pillow.

Groaning he dragged himself out of the bed, took a quick shower and dressed before leaving to meet Blaise in the living room.

"What do you want, Zabini?" He groaned slumping tiredly into the chair opposite of the one Blaise was sitting in.

"Long night, Draco?" Blaise asked amused.

Draco just nodded. It had been nearly midnight when he got home from Potter's apartment and he had had to look over some papers before he went to sleep. Thank Merlin it was Sunday.

"You work too much. You should go out more often." Blaise said shaking his head.

"Don't have time." Draco said. He was always working on a new case and now with all the research he had made with Potter he hadn't had time to do anything else.

"I haven't seen you in months, what've you been doing?" Blaise asked.

Draco regarded his best friend for a moment pondering whether he could tell him about the contract with Potter or not. Blaise had always been a good friend and had tried to tell Draco not to follow his father and take the Mark, but Draco hadn't listened to him. Blaise himself had stayed neutral as his mother didn't much care about anything else than marrying as many rich men as possible and then killing them so she could get their money, and so had not joined the Dark Lord. Deciding he could tell him as Potter was going to tell Weaslette too, he summoned his copy of the contract.

"I've been researching ways to get out of Betrothal contracts." He said and Blaise raised his eyebrows.

"A Betrothal contract? With whom?" He asked.

Draco handed the parchment to Blaise who read through it his eyes widening.

"You have a contract with Potter!" He exclaimed.

"No need to tell the whole world." Draco muttered.

"What are you going to do? I know Scorpius is friends with Potter's kids, but to force them to marry?" Blaise said. "Did you find a way around it?"

"No, unfortunately not." Draco sighed.

"So Scorpius has to marry one of Potter's kids?"

"No."

"No?"

"I'm not gonna force him to marry anyone. I can't do that to him."

"But then…"

"The contract doesn't say it has to be the kids who need to marry." Draco said and Blaise looked at him confused for a moment before his face cleared and he gaped at him.

"You're gonna marry Potter!?" He exclaimed. "But- But, you hate each other!"

"It's not like I have much of a choice." Draco said. "And I don't hate Potter, I just… dislike him?"

"Seriously, Draco. You think you can live with Potter for the rest of your lives?" Blaise asked.

"I don't know, but I'm gonna have to, am I not?" Draco said not willing to say anything about Potter's illness. It wasn't his secret to tell. "Besides, I have found he's not that bad."

"Oh?" Blaise said cocking his eyebrow inquiringly.

"I've been researching the contract with him for the past three months and worked with him in a few cases." Draco shrugged. "We get along well enough…"

"Wow. Just wow. Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter are finally getting along. And well enough to get married." Blaise said shaking his head in disbelief and Draco glared at him.

"Well at least he's good looking and amazing in bed." He continued with a wistful smile.

"And you would know that, how?" Draco asked raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, I had a summer fling with him after the war." Blaise said dismissively.

"You what?!" Draco exclaimed. "And you didn't tell me!"

"Well, it's not like you tell me of every one of your flings." Blaise defended.

"But it's Potter!"

"So?" Blaise said. "You know I always thought he was cute."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Why the hell would Potter sleep with you?" He frowned. "Wasn't he dating Weaslette back then?"

"He was just experimenting. We met at a Muggle bar a week before the start of the 'eight year' and got talking and drinking and then one thing led to another… Merlin, he's amazing in bed. He's the best shag I've ever had, both men and women included. And the things he can do with that mouth of his… I think it's because he's a Parselmouth – so hot… " Blaise said dreamingly. "I would have never believed he was virgin, had he not told me. He was so good… Anyway, we met a few times that week for a shag and then parted ways. I went back to Hogwarts and Potter to Auror training. We kept in touch, but just as friends and are pretty good friends now." He shrugged. "And what comes to Weaslette, I think she knew. Potter was definitely gay, but for some reason he married her a few years after that. I always thought it was to provide an heir, but then they stayed together for a long time and had three kids, so I wouldn't know."

Draco gaped at his best friend not believing what he had just heard. Blaise had taken Potter's virginity? They were still friends? How the hell Draco had not known about this?

"I can't believe you didn't tell me." Draco said.

Blaise shrugged. "You were having your own circus with Greengrass and we didn't meet that often. I just forgot about it more or less."

"And you're still friends with Potter?"

"Sure, we meet up from time to time for a drink or something."

"And you didn't tell me this either. I'm supposed to be your best friend."

"I didn't think it would make any difference. It's not like we could go out the three of us with you two being at each other's throats all the time. Besides, I always thought you hated him. Potter's a good bloke. Easy to get along with and he's more Slytherin than you think."

"I know." Draco mumbled.

"Maybe now that you two get married we can go out together." Blaise said jovially.

"Argh, whatever." Draco said rubbing his face into his hands.

"Anyway, I gotta go I'm having lunch with dear mother." Blaise said standing up.

"See you later then." Draco said waving his hand as Blaise started walking out of the room.

"Oh, and I call for best man!" He yelled before disappearing from sight. Draco groaned and closed his eyes trying to get rid of the image of his best friend going at it with Potter.

'Damn Blaise.'

Harry stood in the Platform 9¾ with Ginny waiting for the train to arrive. Like one could expect Ginny had been horrified to find out about Harry's disease and about the Marriage contract, but had accepted Harry's decisions and supported him. She had wanted to tell everyone about his illness, but Harry had managed to convince her to wait as he didn't want to worry people and wanted to tell the children first so that he could tell them himself.

Surprisingly though, she hadn't been at all shocked by his decision to marry Draco, and Harry somehow got the feeling that she was very much looking forward to it. Trying to question her hadn't been much help though, as she had only smirked at him, refusing to explain why she was so happy about it. Too happy, in fact, and Harry found it very disconcerting. But then again, he reckoned, sometimes it was better not to know what went on in his best friend's head – he knew that from experience.

They could already see the train coming when Malfoy joined them with a brief nod of greeting. Harry thought for a moment that Malfoy looked at him oddly, but couldn't question him as the train arrived and kids were coming out to greet their parents. A few minutes later they spotted James' messy dark-red head followed by Albus' black, Scorpius' blond and Lily's bright red.

"Mum! Dad!" They yelled and rushed to greet their parents.

"How was the trip?" Harry asked them and soon they were all telling about what they did on the train ride and who hexed who.

"Where are we going, Dad?" James asked as they walked away from the crowd and Harry pulled out a Portkey.

"We'll spend the summer in Potter Manor." Harry said. "Malfoy and Scorpius will be joining us for dinner. There's something we need to speak to you all about. But that can wait for now. Everyone take hold." He said and everyone complied.

A few moments later they were standing in the Hall of Potter Manor.

"Kids go put your trunks into your rooms and meet us in the dining room in ten minutes, Winky has prepared us dinner." Harry said and walked to the living room with Ginny and Malfoy on his heels and poured himself a glass of Firewhiskey, which he downed in one go.

"You okay, Harry?" Ginny asked worriedly.

"I'm fine Gin. Just... worried."

They heard the children thundering down the stairs and moved to the dining room where Winky had set up a table. As all had seated themselves they started to eat.

"What did you want to talk to us about?" Albus asked.

"It can wait after we have eaten." Harry said smiling slightly at his son, who looked so much like him. "For now I want to hear all about your school years." He continued and the children started happily chattering about their adventures at school. Harry watched them with a fond smile with a hint of sadness on his face, thinking that this could be the last time he would see them all together like that.

As he watched the children, he did not notice that someone was watching him.

Draco listened to the children chatter and watched as Potter interacted with them. He was really good with children. He saw the longing look on those emerald eyes as they watched his children looking so happy and careless. Draco could easily tell what he was thinking and felt the urge to go comfort the raven-haired man, but shook the feeling off. He was just feeling sorry for a dying man, nothing else.

Draco felt Scorpius looking at him questioningly and subtly shook his head. He would speak with his son later in private.

The dinner quickly ended and the group of them moved into the living room where the adults sat on the couch opposite the kids.

"Now, you know how I told you I was cleaning the other houses we have here in England." Potter started and the kids nodded. "Well, I was in the Potter Castle a few months ago when I found this." He continued and handed the parchment to the kids.

"What is it dad?" Lily asked trying to read over Albus' shoulder to see what it was.

"Is this valid?" James, who held the contract in his hands, asked his face paling.

"Yes it is." Harry said. "It is a Betrothal contract between the Potter and Malfoy families." Potter said to clarify for Lily and Scorpius who hadn't been able to read it.

"You mean one of us has to marry Scorpius?" Lily gasped.

"And as I'm the oldest it falls to me." James said tonelessly.

"Potter and I have searched for months to find a way out of it, but unfortunately there is none." Draco said and James paled even more and Scorpius didn't look very happy either.

"However, neither of us wants to force you to marry each other. And will not do so." Potter stepped in.

"So we're gonna lose our magic?" Albus half stated half asked.

"No. Malfoy and I have come to an agreement that we will marry each other to spare you from having to do it." Potter stated and a deep silence fell upon them as the children stared at their fathers in disbelief.

"But, you hate each other!" Lily said breaking the silence.

"Why does everyone always assume that?" Draco mumbled.

"Maybe because we are always throwing insults at each other." Potter said dryly.

"Touché." Draco said with a smirk.

Potter shook his head and turned to his daughter. "No Lils, Malfoy and I don't hate each other. We just…don't get along most of the time." He said with a slight grimace. "But after having to work together, we have come to… tolerate each other."

"But enough to get married?" James asked raising an eyebrow.

"Well, it's not like we have much of a choice…" Draco said and the kids nodded.

"So, you're really going to do this?" Albus asked. "Spend the rest of your lives together."

Draco looked at Potter who grimaced slightly as he said:

"About that… There's something else I need to tell you…" Potter took a deep breath. "A few months ago I was diagnosed with Leukemia." He said and the kids paled.

"But… it's curable, right?" Albus said anxiously.

"Yes it is, normally. It can be cured with a bone marrow transplant, but in my case, my tissue type is extremely rare and can be found in only a handful of people in the whole world. The healers are doing everything they can to find me a match, but… frankly it's not looking good." Harry said.

"So… you're d-dying." Lily asked tears running down her cheeks and all Harry could do was to nod. Draco watched as the red-haired girl shot out from the sofa to his father's arms and hugged him so tightly that she probably broke few of his ribs, the boys soon following. He glanced at the Weaslette, who too had tears running down her cheeks, before shifting his gaze to Scorpius, who was watching the Potter family sadly. Draco caught his eye for a moment and nodded to his side, deciding it was best to give them some privacy.

The walked in silence to the next room till Scorpius spoke:

"So, you're gonna marry Albus' dad."

"Yes." Draco said studying his son's features. "Are you alright with that?"

"I – I want you to be happy Dad." Scorpius said. "You have been alone too long, but I'm not sure if Mr. Potter is the one for you. Especially if there's a chance he will die soon. I like Mr. Potter, he's cool and easy to talk to, but I don't want you to get hurt, Dad."

"What-?" Draco asked confused. He didn't understand what his son meant by him getting hurt.

"I don't want you to get attached to him. I know you have some feelings for him already, you like him, but what will happen when he dies? You will be alone again and heartbroken." Scorpius said.

"I do not have feelings for Potter!" Draco hissed quietly. Where did his son get these ideas into his head?

"Don't deny it, Dad. I know you better than that." Scorpius said pointedly. "I see it in the way you look at him. You like him. That's why you're always ranting about him. There's a fine line between hatred and love, Dad."

Draco just gaped at his son. He did certainly not like Potter, did he? Sure Potter was good looking; Draco wasn't blind after all, but to like him? No. There was no way.

"I think we should get back to the living room." Draco said turning away from his son, who grasped at him by his arm, forcing him to face him.

"I have nothing against your marriage with Mr. Potter, but… just be careful, Dad." He said and walked off leaving Draco to stare after him.

No, Draco would not fall for Potter. There was no way.

Back in the living room Harry was almost suffocated by his kids who were hugging the living daylight out of him.

"It's gonna be okay." He comforted his crying children.

"How can it be okay, if you're dying?!" Lily asked untangling herself from his arms.

"There is still hope, Lils." Harry tried.

"You don't believe that even yourself, do you?" Albus accused, his emerald eyes glinting with tears.

Harry didn't know how to answer to that.

"Can't we be tested, Dad? We could have a fitting bone marrow for you." James said.

"Saint Mungo's have all of your records; none of you were a match." Harry said sadly.

"There must be something we can do!" Albus exclaimed.

"I have been visiting the hospital every week and they give me some medicine to slow down the illness and down the symptoms." Harry said.

"What are the symptoms?" James asked.

"Just tiredness mostly…" Harry said dismissively.

"Is that why you wear glamour?" Albus asked taking out his wand. "Finite." He said and Harry closed his eyes as he felt the spell leave his face. Damn, he should have remembered Albus could see he had glamour on. The boy had always been tuned with magic ever since he was little and could detect it very well.

He heard Ginny gasp as she hadn't known he had been wearing glamour for some time. Harry opened his eyes and saw his family looking at him with sad eyes. He knew he looked bad. He was very pale and had dark circles around his eyes as he hadn't been able to sleep well at nights.

"Oh my God, Harry, you didn't tell me it was this bad." Ginny said.

"I didn't want to worry you." Harry mumbled.

"You don't need to go through this alone, Daddy." Lily said gently. "We are here for you to help you get better." She said and Harry hugged her tightly feeling his eyes get filled with tears.

"I know, Princess. I know."

A/N: Thanks for reading! Please review and tell me what you think!

- Dalnim