3rd June 2004
Draco went back to the hospital with the boys the next day, Healer Forrest stopped them just before they entered the ward.
"Mr. Malfoy, his condition is stable but he's been unwell," Forrest looked at the kids.
"I'm concerned that the condition of the youngest will trouble him too much at the moment, we're looking to release him, at the latest by the end of the week, once he's allowed to go, he can see them but before then we must ask you leave them at home."
Draco pulled an uncertain face and turned to the boys. "He's asleep," he stroked Sirius hair and shushed James and Teddy's outraged cries.
"Boys you will have to wait until he comes home," Draco again shushed them. "If you knock him the wrong way or he doesn't get lots of sleep he won't get better, alright?"
"It's not fair!" Teddy said grumpily and Draco gave him a sad look.
"I know, but this way he'll be home in just a few days. Is that ok?" They all nodded and Draco took them to his mother, then went back to the hospital.
Draco was both relieved and dissapointed he wasn't sleeping when he snuck into the room. Harry smiled and waved him over.
"Is Sirius ok?" was the first thing Harry asked and Draco just nodded guiltily.
"He's fine, happy." Draco grabbed his hand.
"Are you alright?" Harry asked him, Draco smiled.
"Never better," Draco smiled at him. "I missed you scar head." Draco very lightly punched him on the arm, afraid he would shatter. "Thought you weren't going to come home."
"Stupid Ferret, you know I always win."Draco smiled at him, feeling like such a sentimental Huffelpuff. "Thank you for taking care of the boys, I never even considered I'd be captured I just-"
"Rushed in like a stupid gryfrindor," Draco finished for him. He looked around awkwardly. "So are you very broken?" Draco asked, Harry gently tugged his hand and he sat on the edge of the bed.
"I'm crippled, my leg is damaged beyond repair." Harry started with, Draco couldn't help the shock on his face, "I might need some help adjusting, I'll need a cane to walk. Fenrir bit me, but that's controllable. That's all."
Draco looked at his hand, still completely covering Harry's, and he let go. Harry's hand was shaking, tremors both slight and uch more serious.
"The cruciatus curse?" Draco asked, Harry just nodded.
"Sometimes the shakes are barely even noticeable." He said a a poor attempt at being positive.
"Other times you can't wipe your own ass."
"It damaged my core too, my magic." Harry was tearing up a little, Draco moved closer only to have the man cling to his side. "It's uncontained, uncontrollable I, the healers said if its too dangerous, I can't be around my kids alone, I-"
"Shhh I'll be there whenever you need me," Draco stroked his hair until he fell asleep.
4th June 2004
Draco was at the hospital again the next day. He stayed until Harry woke up and they agreed for Draco to live there permanently to help Harry as a friend. Draco was thrilled even if he wasn't with Harry he was still apart of their family. But when he went into the ward again he got a sense of dread, when he saw Harry's unsure face it was rooted.
"I think you living with me is a bad idea, Draco." As Harry said the words Draco felt his heart break.
"I can afford a nurse, you don't need to spend your life baby sitting me, I'm not worth it."
"I want to," Draco said softly.
"I don't need you too," Harry said, "Malfoy I don't need you to be my nanny, or my mother."
Draco smiled, he went and sat with Harry, not on the bed, just in the chair but he brought his chair as close to the bed as he could.
"I watched you in school Potter, hot headed, brave and selfless." Draco took a deep breath. "I don't want to be your mother or nanny, I want to be with you." Draco looked at the confusion and fear cloud Harry's eyes.
"Don't panic Potter, you have to stay calm," Draco looked at the floor. "I don't even know if you honestly like me but I have, somehow, already fallen for you. Damn scar head."
Harry seemed to have calmed down, and was, in fact smiling.
"Now," Draco continued, "You're not my mother, and I can make big boy decisions, I want you, crippled werewolf gryffindor and all." Then Draco stood and left.
Harry stared at the door for a long time. Draco was in love with him? What a nut. They barely knew each other.
Then Harry thought about how much time Draco spent with his family and started to see what had happened. Instead of taking over as the head of the family, Draco joined the family. The same way a partner would. He was good looking, and young, there was a problem there. He was so young and would be tied down to a cripple with three kids?
"Crippled werewolf gryffindor and all" Harry repeated out loud.
He smiled. He cared for Draco, he had started considering the big scary 'L' word befor she left. And the weeks they spent captured at the manor; "he looked after me," Harry said to himself. Harry smiled. A huge goofy grin.
"I might just be in love with Draco Malfoy."
"What?" Harry snapped his head to the side to see a scruffy grey haired old man in hospital pajamas. "Do you want an autograph, I'm very famous!" Harry stared at Lockhart shocked.
"Alright then Gilderoy." Harry said to the poor man. Shortly after that his nurse found him and took him back to bed.
5th June 2004
Harry was allowed to go home on the 5th June, the best birthday present Draco had ever had. Draco was anxious. He hadn't heard from Harry on the whole 'be my boyfriend' issue. He also had to tell Harry the bad news. Draco wrung his hands waiting for Harry to come out from the hinged privacy curtain.
"Harry, about Sirius," Draco began when they were on the night bus (Draco had insisted, because he wanted to talk to Harry, and Harry was probably in no condition to start apparating around)
Harry's eyes turned to him, fearful, "What's wrong?" he asked panicked, "Is he alright? Oh Merlin, he survived didn't he?"
"Yes, yes, Harry, he's fine," Draco squeezed Harry's shoulder, the dark haired man wiped his tears away.
"He… the cruciatus, at such a young age," Draco lost his voice for a moment, "his nerve endings don't work properly for starters. He's very sensitive to heat and cold. Sometimes he doesn't feel pain, other times it's intensified, and … his vocal chords, were damaged, he can't speak. Theres a very good chance the spell damage will get better as he grows up, but theres no hope for his voice"
Harry was crying, Draco hugged him and was surprised when he returned the hug. "He's alright though," Draco assured him, "It's something he learned to live with, he, James and Teddy are starting to learn sign language together, every one else has too."
"He's been through so much, he…" Harry said calmer, not by much.
"I cured his nightmares," Draco said with a proud smile, "it was one less thing he had to deal with, I also took his memories of the nightmares." Harry stared at him, stupefied.
"I, Draco, Thank you," Harry said, grabbing Draco's hand and smiling, his worry almost gone. They were quiet the rest of the ride, Harry looking out the window, but he heldDraco's hand the whole time.
They walked into the drawing room of Grimmauld Place, Harry with help from Draco and he was covered in people, more importantly his three sons, who latched onto him and wouldn't let go for the life of them. Harry didn't stop smiling that day, no one did. He met his beautiful goddaughter for the first time, a shy little girl, who gave him a hug and a kiss then went to sit back on her father's lap. After the kids had been sent to bed Draco brought Harry a cup of tea and sat with him in his room.
"Thank you, Draco" Draco looked into Harry's eyes, they were tearing up, again.
"Its just tea," Draco smiled weakly.
"No, well I haven't had a cup of tea in over a year, but for looking after the boys like you did, you, you didn't have to, that you didn't abandon them, or me, I will always be grateful."
"It was nothing," Draco sat next to Harry on the lounge, looked into his eyes.
"No, it, thank you," Harry choked on his words and began to cry again. "It was definitely something."
"Harry," Draco called, but Harry didn't look up, Draco slipped his hand under Harry's chin. "I love you," That made Harry look, and Draco gently brought their lips together.