******** ******** Chapter 28 ******** ********

Draco woke early the next morning but didn't feel the need to get out of the bed. He was, after all, wrapped tightly in Harry's arms. He smiled to himself, recalling his husband's antics last evening and chuckling at the memory of his father's face when Harry had swept him off his feet and promptly left the room. When Harry got him back here, Draco had savored the love and attention he'd been given. He loved the brunette more than ever when he could read Draco's desires. Sometimes he wanted to be held down and forcefully Dominated, but other times he wanted Harry to be soft and sweet with him…and Harry always seemed to know.

As he waited for Harry to awaken, he wondered about the gifts he would be receiving this morning. How many things did Harry get for him and were they expensive or were they just heartfelt and sentimental? He told himself it wouldn't matter if Harry had tied two twigs together and wrapped them up – he'd find a way to use it and love it.

Suddenly, Draco felt Harry begin to move. He felt Harry's morning wood resting against his back and whispered, "Harry?"

Harry moaned and held the blond tighter before beginning to rub his cock into Draco's back.

Draco felt himself harden and tried to wake his horny husband up. "Harry!"

"Mmmm, Draco!" Harry groaned.

"Harry Malfoy-Potter, wake up!" Draco was determined that Harry would not use him like a humping post and not give him any pleasure.

Harry's eyes popped open at the sound of his new last name. When he realized what he was doing, he apologized before quickly remedying the situation. "Lie face up, Dragon. I want to touch you…"

Draco pulled the covers off and did as he was told. He wasn't surprised to see Harry looking hungrily at his body once it was revealed. Harry took possession of the blond's mouth as he lifted himself to hover over Draco. He called for the jar of lubricant and used one hand to slick both their cocks. They both moaned in pleasure as their sensitive members found each other. Harry held the blond's hands above his head and stared into his eyes as he created the needed friction.

Draco writhed under Harry and began to beg. "Harry, please! I want you in me, Harry! I want you in me when I cum!"

The brunette didn't argue; he simply called the lube jar again and prepared his husband's opening. "I want to feel you pulse around my cock before I cum, Dragon. I want to hear you shout your pleasure…"

Draco moaned at the words and let his head roll to one side.

Harry – quite predictably – took advantage of that to lick and suck and created another love bite below his husband's ear.

Draco's moans became louder and higher pitched during the process. He loved it when Harry marked him like that.

Harry lifted Draco's balls and slipped his cock into his husband. "God, Dray! I love how you feel around me!"

Draco squeezed his sphincter and reveled in Harry's pleased gasp.

"I'm so glad you woke me, love," Harry moaned into the blond's ear. "The dream I was enjoying was nothing compared to this." He thrust into Draco again and had them both screaming in ecstasy soon after. Harry cast the cleansing charms minutes later, but just in time as Dinki popped in to make sure her masters were awake.

"Dinki? Before you go, may I speak with you?" Harry asked.

She nodded silently as Draco went into the bathroom.

"Are you happy that Lucius and Narcissa gave you to us, Dinki?" Harry asked, sitting up.

"Oh yes Master Harry! Master and Mistress Cissy know Dinki be missing little ones to care for," the diminutive creature told him. "That's why they be giving Dinki to you and Master Draco. They be knowing that they won't have any more little ones – but you two be just beginning your family. They be having many more elves than just Dinki, Master Harry, so they are being fine without her."

"Thank you for coming to us, Dinki." Harry smiled as he stood and stretched. "I just wanted to make sure you weren't as unhappy in your role as Dobby had been. I couldn't bear that."

"Master Harry be knowing Dobby?" Dinki asked with wider eyes than usual.

"Dobby helped me and my friends many times. He wasn't happy as a Malfoy elf and I found a way to free him," Harry told her quietly. "I was there when he died."

"Dobby was being Dinki's brother, Master Harry," she said sadly. "Dinki was being very sad when Dobby left the Manor, but happy Dobby was out of danger."

"You knew about the danger?" Harry asked while choosing the clothing he would wear. His favorite black trousers seemed to call his name, as did a green silk shirt Draco had made him buy a few weeks ago.

"Dobby was always telling Dinki of the punishments Dobby was given, sir." Dinki looked up at Harry balefully as she snapped her fingers to rid the clothes of wrinkles. "Mistress Cissy was never punishing Dinki like that when Dinki was caring for Master Draco and when Master Draco wasn't needing care, Dinki just helped in the kitchen. Master had no reason for dealings with Dinki."

"Master Lucius was the danger – wasn't he?" Harry asked softly, placing the clothes on the end of the bed.

"Yes Master Harry – but only because of the bad snake-face man," Dinki told him. "He always be feeding Master's bad feelings for non-pure-bloods. It was being like Master was sick and snake-face man made him sicker."

Harry nodded carefully. "So he's better now that Voldemort is gone?"

"Oh yes Master Harry. Master is being like new man," she said nodding. "Master Harry, is Dobby being buried someplace?"

"Yes, Dinki, I buried him in a beautiful place," he whispered. "There was a lovely hill overlooking the beach at a place called Sh- Oh, I forgot it's still under the Fidelius charm. Don't worry; I'll take you there sometime soon."

"Dinki is being patient, Master Harry." She nodded. "You is being finished with Dinki, Master Harry? Dinki is being needed in the kitchen."

"Oh, yes. Of course you should help the others until we leave. Thank you for indulging me." Harry grinned as she popped out with a bow.

Draco approached the bedroom area and chuckled. "You have the strangest conversations with the strangest characters, Harry. I've never had such long discussions with my house elves."

"Maybe that's why you don't appreciate the true value of them, Draco." Harry smirked. "You know, I almost forgot the need for your punishment."

Draco's mirth fell flat as he wracked his brain to figure out what he'd done to deserve punishment. "What are you talking about, Harry?"

Harry walked toward the blond. "Someone didn't ward our suite yesterday and your father got an earful of our pillow talk when he came to check on us…"

Draco gasped, remembering now the rule that said he was in charge of placing wards on any room where he and Harry became intimate. "How will you punish me?"

"Being that the only consequences of your mistake was slight embarrassment, I'll not punish you too harshly, Dragon," Harry whispered into his husband's ear. "No sexual actions for twenty-four hours. Hugs and kisses are still allowed."

The blond sighed. "I suppose I can deal with that."

"This punishes me too, you know?" Harry commented wrapping his arms around the pregnant man.

"I'm sorry, Harry," Draco said, leaning into Harry's hug. "It's almost time for breakfast, Harry. Hurry!"

Harry grabbed his clothes and rushed into the bathroom. He washed quickly and dressed himself before stepping into the other room again.

Draco was wearing black trousers and a blood red shirt with a silver tie. His eyes seemed to stand out and Harry wondered why until he got close.

"Draco Malfoy-Potter! You wear make-up?" Harry was astounded.

"Only when I wear certain colors, Harry. Red this dark makes me look too pale so I add a touch of color," he said matter-of-factly. "Relax - it's only a bit of liner around my eyes."

"No...you're wearing blush too aren't you?" Harry pulled the blond closer to get a good look. "And gloss?!"

"My lips were dry. I had to use a potion to prevent chapping." Draco's shrug was a little too blasé.

The brunette smirked, catching onto his husband's plan. "You're trying to make it difficult for me to stick with your punishment! It won't work."

Draco's lips twitched but he admitted nothing. "Come, Harry. We should be early this morning."

Harry nodded. "Yes, it'll make up for yesterday."

The blond linked arms with his husband as they walked to the morning meal.

Lucius nodded regally as he and Narcissa strolled past his son and son-in-law.

"You see, Luc?" Draco's mother whispered. "I told you the boys would be here on time and without the mischief from yesterday evening."

Although the elder blond narrowed his gaze at him, Harry simply smiled and – after helping Draco with his chair – took the same seat he'd had the night before.

"You did say that, Darling… and you were right," he answered quietly – but not quietly enough because Andromeda was able to comment.

"Of course she was," the older woman confirmed with a proud nod.

Lucius barely restrained an eye-roll as he called the elves.

Harry suddenly recalled Draco telling him that Christmas breakfast was never served buffet style. He watched everyone else order before he decided his own. The food was ordered and delivered in a quick organized manner so the table was soon filled.

Lucius had a three meat/ three cheese omelet. Narcissa had asked for a Belgian waffle that was covered in fruit and cream. Andromeda ordered French toast for herself and a bowl of oatmeal for Teddy with raspberry sauce drizzled on top. Pansy's order was for peach cobbler and banana nut bread. Draco had his usual eggs and salsa, but also wanted chocolate chip pancakes and a bowl of berries and whipped cream. In the end, Harry decided on a ham and Swiss cheese omelet as well as fried potatoes and pancakes to match his husband's.

Once everyone had been served, Lucius stood and performed a stasis charm for the food before clapping his hands in a strange pattern.

Draco frowned and leaned toward Harry. "That's the signal that calls for all Malfoy elves to report to their Master. Father rarely uses it…"

Harry was curious to see what Lucius wanted with his elves so he watched the older man as elves began popping in all around the room. There were fifteen elves in all.

"Before we eat, there are a few subjects I wish to address. Firstly, I'd like to thank you all for your excellent service over the years." Lucius began, though Harry interrupted with a round of applause and the ladies joined Draco and baby Teddy in its continuance. "Next, I will be adding a new rule or two. I do not wish any Malfoy house elf to punish themselves anymore. The only exception to this will be if you contribute to putting any Malfoy family member in danger."

The elves began to look at each other with a mixture of confusion and disbelief.

"The other new rule is that every elf will be given a full day to themselves per month." Lucius went on. "These rules are, however, connected because minor mistakes and infractions will be punished by removal of time from your day off. Is this clear?"

The elves could only nod.

"Now, one last thing before we break our fasts…" Lucius pressed on. "Harry Potter is now a Malfoy – he has married your young Master Draco, changed his name to include ours, and has helped to continue our bloodline. I ask you all to welcome him properly."

One elf clapped his hands and the others organized themselves into two lines by gender. Two by two, they stepped forward. The females curtsied while the males bowed. When each pair had greeted Harry, they popped out of the room and back to their posts and soon there was only one elf left.

He stepped forward and bowed deeply. "I am being Dooley, Master Harry. Dooley is being the Head Malfoy Elf, Sir. Master Harry may be calling upon Dooley for anything at any time, just as Master, Mistress and young Master Draco do."

The display touched Harry in a way that very few things ever had. "Thank you very much, Dooley. I'll do my best to remember that."

The diminutive creature popped out of the room and its occupants were left with a very awkward moment.

Narcissa cleared her throat. "Let's all begin our meal, shall we?"

Everyone agreed, so they all dug right into the food.

A little later, as they were all gathering in the parlor, Narcissa used her wand to levitate piles of gifts to their recipients. By unspoken agreement, Teddy opened his gifts first. He received quite a few toys and set about playing with them as soon as he finished.

Upon opening their gifts from Harry, everyone looked at him for an explanation.

"They're cloak pins that have been charmed to growl when there is danger nearby." Harry told them.

"I don't know if this happens with all of them or just mine – Harry gave me one too – but when Harry put it on me it felt like I was being held in a tight hug." Draco blushed slightly at this admission. "I suggested the leopard for you, Mother."

Harry nodded, "He did. I thought of the snake for you, Lucius, because it matches your cane."

The elder man nodded silently while his wife hugged her son before returning to her seat at his side. It was as if Lucius had something to say but didn't think it wise to give the sentiment a voice.

"The wolf is perfect for Teddy, Harry; thank you." Andromeda smiled softly.

Narcissa and Lucius opened a few packages of Swiss muggle chocolates from Teddy and Andromeda, who laughed when she opened several matching boxes. Draco had ordered more gifts for his parents as well: a necklace for his mother and a second book for his father's collection.

Pansy received baby clothes from Narcissa and Lucius and a warm cloak from Draco and Harry, as well as a few items from her in-laws who held no ill will toward her for the incarceration of their son.

The next person to open their gifts was Draco. Andromeda gave him some Swiss chocolates and a store voucher for a few new items at Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. Then it was Harry's turn and he handed the blond his gifts one by one.

"Books for potions! Harry, thank you!" Draco said after opening three separate books, one after another.

"At my request, Potions Master Loveday sent me a list of books you might enjoy but aren't absolutely necessary for your future training," Harry said giving him another wrapped item. "Don't thank me until after you finish opening your gifts, Dragon."

The blond frowned at the small rectangular box. "What on Earth…?" He then lifted the lid and began to cry.

"What is it, Draco?" Narcissa asked hurrying over to comfort him.

He tilted the box so everyone could see. "Brooms! I'm sure you recall that mine was destroyed during the war. I'd mentioned it to Harry while we were courting and he confessed that his was lost as well." Draco sniffed clutching Harry's hand. "You remembered…"

"Some of my favorite memories involve flying. I know you miss it…I do too. So one of these brooms is yours and one is mine. I leave it to your choice," Harry told him. "I'll unshrink them when we can use them."

"No! Harry, you don't have to wait for me. Just because I'm not allowed to fly doesn't mean you can't test yours out now," Draco protested.

"I don't want to fly without you next to me, Dragon," Harry whispered, kissing Draco's hand.

"Oh, Cissy! They remind me of me and my Ted," Andromeda sniffed.

Lucius remained aloof from the emotional atmosphere, but Narcissa dabbed her eyes.

Draco smiled at Harry. "Is that all or may I return the favor?"

"Not yet, Dragon…" He pulled out a licorice wand and a package of Jelly Slugs. "There's more of this in our room; a whole assortment from Honeyduke's."

Draco's eyes lit up. "Really?"

Harry just grinned. "Now I'm done, love."

"Then it's my turn to give you your gifts." Draco's eyes narrowed. "Which one shall I give you first?"

Harry smiled as he waited.

"Why not allow us to go first, Draco?" Lucius suggested. "Harry, this is not completely for you, but…well, you'll see."

Harry frowned as he took the package. He carefully unwrapped it and found a large book. Opening the cover, he gasped. "My parents wedding picture!"

"Yes…and one of ours as well." Lucius said quietly. "These were the pictures that were printed in the Daily Prophet when the events were publicly announced."

Harry stared for a moment at the picture of his mother and father looking so happy, smiling and waving at him. He'd seen pictures from their wedding in the album Hagrid had given him, but he'd never had a picture of just the two of them together, so clearly in love with the other. Then he looked at the one of Narcissa and Lucius. They looked happy as well, but they remained dignified – no waving about. First they posed calmly and then they began to waltz. He flipped the page and found Sirius and Remus in dress robes, standing next to James and Lily. Next to that was a shot of several guests at the Malfoy's nuptials.

Draco pointed out a familiar face. "Look, it's Snape."

"We had no attendants or there would be a similar picture from our wedding. Severus was one of the guests though and I knew Draco would treasure a likeness of his godfather the way you do yours," Lucius continued.

Harry nodded as he flipped to the next page and found that the pictures skipped ahead quite a bit. He and Draco were holding hands as they walked up the aisle. "Draco, look."

Draco peered into the book. "Our wedding!"

Harry grinned. "I had hoped there would be more than just the candid pictures our friends took. If he'd lived through the war, Colin Creevey would've been the one to take them. I would've insisted."

"I asked one of the press photographers to take special care and capture more than just the key moments of the ceremony," Lucius told them. "I even procured an allowance for his presence at the ball."

Harry turned the page and found a picture of them walking out of the chapel and through the halls. The brunette blushed upon seeing the shot of Draco whispering to him before he'd whisked the blond into the empty classroom.

Draco gasped. "They caught that as well?!"

Lucius smirked. "Did I not say that I paid the man handsomely?"

"You didn't, Father, but I had assumed nothing less of course." Draco frowned and turned the page. "Here's Ron and Hermione, Harry."

"That's right outside of the Great Hall before the Ball." Harry smiled at seeing himself conjure the rose for his new husband. There were a few pictures of them and their friends dancing and one of Minister Shacklebolt shaking Harry's hand as Draco looked on. There was also a picture of Lucius and Narcissa sitting at the table with them. "Oh, that's shame…"

"What?" Lucius frowned.

"It's just… Well, they didn't catch you giving us the potion, Lucius." Harry smirked. "That was such a lovely wedding memory…"

Lucius rolled his eyes to the snickering of his wife and son as they informed Andy of the true circumstances of the twins' conception.

"There's even one of me and Draco speaking with Neville and Seamus." Harry spoke softly, hiding a chuckle as the Draco in the picture made a face.

"That's when Seamus told me how much it hurt when he took the potion." Draco frowned.

"Oh, look! There we are sneaking out of the ball to go up and see our new apartment." Harry pointed as he watched himself and Draco hurry across the dance floor.

"And there we are going into the apartment!" Draco became alarmed. "Sweet Merlin, Father, did you tell him to photograph every moment of our entire day? I'm shocked he didn't take shots of the consummation!"

"Don't be silly, Draco. This was done on his own but your mother thought it was perfect to place in the album." Lucius did not roll his eyes but Harry heard a desire to do so in the man's tone of voice.

"Harry was being very gentlemanly," Narcissa commented. "I thought it was sweet and deserved its place in posterity."

"Thank you…" Harry smiled. "Really, Lucius – Narcissa – this truly means alot to me."

"To us," Draco interjected softly. "I think you've done quite an admirable job of finally accepting Harry into our family, Father. Thank you."

Lucius nodded almost imperceptibly to acknowledge his son's statement. Narcissa handed over a small box as Harry placed the album off to the side.

Harry opened the box to find a store voucher.

"This voucher will allow you to redecorate whichever house you've decided to live in after your schooling is over." His mother-in-law smiled while explaining it. "It must be used by the first of June so that the workers have time to do everything before you need to move in."

Andromeda's gift was a cherry wood crib with canopy for each child.

Pansy gave them clothing for the babies as well as a set of formal traveling luggage.

Soon it was Draco's turn to give Harry his gifts. "Now that everyone has given us our joint gifts, may I give Harry what I bought him?"

Harry pulled the disgruntled blond into his lap. "Please do, Dragon."

"You always seem to be able to know what I'd like so I hope my intuition measures up." Draco smiled and summoned a gift from the pile. "This one isn't bought; it's from my vault and I had it altered a bit."

Harry opened the jewel box and smiled when he saw the Malfoy crest on a pendant. "It's lovely, Draco."

"The crest was a bit on the feminine side when I found it, Harry, so I sent it to the jeweler who did our wedding bands," Draco explained. "He transfigured the setting and replaced the jewels with our birthstones, as well as selling me a masculine chain to put it on."

Harry kissed the blond's cheek. "I love it."

Next Draco gave him a book about wizarding traditions with marks on the pages that described the ones the Malfoys subscribed to.

"That'll come in handy, Dragon. Thank you so much!" Harry told his husband.

Draco just smiled and handed over one last box. Inside this box was a picture of a house that Harry had never seen. "This is the house I've decided on, Harry. It's modeled after several of the houses you showed me while we were courting. You said we could have a house built just for us if I wanted. Well, I exchanged owls with a wizarding architectural firm and this is what we came up with. It will fit well on any plot of land you choose."

Harry teared up. "I don't know what to say, Draco. This is a wonderful surprise!"

"I hope it tells you that I'm not going anywhere," the blond said softly. "I love you, Harry."

Startled, Harry looked up to see a very solemn faced, Lucius and Narcissa. Pansy and Andromeda looked curious and a bit concerned as Draco made reference to the Bogart incident of Hogsmeade. Andy handed Harry a handkerchief to dry his eyes.

Harry thanked her and tried to find his voice.

"I told Mother and Father about the Bogart, Harry," Draco said quietly as he slid to sit beside Harry instead of on his lap. "Mine and yours…"

Feeling incredibly vulnerable, Harry bit his lip. "A person's Bogart is a very private thing, Draco. While I understand your desire to discuss yours with your parents, I didn't think I had to tell you not to divulge mine to anyone."

"Harry…you can trust us not to try and remove Draco or the children from your care." Narcissa said carefully.

"Perhaps…but perhaps something bigger could influence you to do just that." Harry swiped at his fresh tears. "There's always a chance that…"

"No!" Lucius snapped as he stood. "You will learn – here and now – what it means to be part of the Malfoy family."

Harry sobered instantly. "I-I don't understand."

"I know…and that is why I am going to endeavor to explain it to you." Lucius nodded curtly. "While names do not define us they do call forth the loyalty of others. You changed your name, Harry. You are no longer Harry Potter. You are Harry James Malfoy-Potter which means that not only do you not have to worry about us removing Draco and the children from your care…you can trust us to back you up and defend your position. Being a Malfoy means protecting the reputation of the family as well as respecting the expectations of the family. If someone offends you, they offend us all. Your weaknesses are our weaknesses, which is why I need to know the fears you harbor… Our strengths are your strengths, which is why the Bogart you experienced will never happen – because we will not let it happen."

Harry suddenly recognized this man as one who was not to be trifled with. He'd always seemed weak to Harry because of his position with Voldemort, but now Harry could see what most others saw when looking at him and Lucius Malfoy suddenly seemed to be a pillar of strength.

"By your choice as well as Draco's, you are my son's Dominant husband. You are a member of the Malfoy family and no one will take your family from you again." The elder blond looked like some kind of avenging angel.

Harry fell silent as a soft and welcoming warmth surrounded him.

"Harry?" Draco whispered.

"Sorry, Love," the brunette whispered back as he stood to face his father-in-law. "Lucius, I don't know how to put this into words. What you've just said to me – what I just saw…Voldemort was your weakness. What I mean is while you followed him I saw you as weak – your spells and actions seemed petty. Even before Draco and I married, your argumentative manner was only an irritant. The morning of the wedding, I thought I glimpsed a new man with a new sense of dignity and integrity, but then you gave us that crazy potion and seemed disgruntled about our new relationship. The other day at dinner, I thought you'd become that other person again – the petty irritant. In the last two days, you seem to have transformed once again. I now see the true strength in you – in this family…can it really be just because of a name?"

"It is the name that connects you to us, Harry – and us to you. The name and the blood of your and Draco's children form a bond of unspeakable power! Pure-bloods treasure that! We protect it with all that we are – the oldest of us do at any rate!" Lucius ranted. "If children are – in and of themselves – to be cherished and celebrated, then so too are the adult members of the family who married into it and helped to continue that oldest of traditions! Do you understand yet? Each magical life on the family tree is a jewel of the most priceless quality, Harry. If Draco left you, you would be lost to us – so too would he if we attempted to take him from you against his will. We would then be lost entirely because we would lose our future."

Harry nodded. "So it's not really about you being in control but you having a future that you have a certain amount of control over."

Lucius began to feel hopeful. "I think you've begun to understand, Harry."

"Me too…" Harry replied softly as he retook his seat beside Draco.

Luncheon was next on the schedule and – although it was served in the formal dining room – it ended up being a simple buffet with snack-type items to munch on informally. Harry and Draco sat at one end of the table with a small plate of vegetables and chocolate milk while the others were scattered through the room.

As Draco led Harry out of the dining room, the young men heard a hissing sound. Harry located the source to be a painting which held the likeness of Abraxas and a female Malfoy.

"Harry, my boy! It's good to see you, Harry! I wanted to tell you that I've spoken to my fellow Malfoys. They have all heard your story and approve of your addition to the family," Abraxas divulged. "I want you to meet someone. This is my sister, Altaira Malfoy Nott. She married into the Nott family and died in childbirth."

The woman was young, with pale skin and hair that was a dark reddish brown. "It was tragic but not unexpected, Rax. I was never in the best of health to begin with. It's lovely to meet you, Mr. Potter." She curtsied to Harry.

"It's actually Malfoy-Potter, my lady," Harry interjected.

"Is it? How lovely." She smiled and her grey eyes sparkled. "My dear Draco, you look so happy and healthy as well! Being pregnant agrees with you."

Draco blushed. "Thank you, Auntie Al. I'm enjoying the experience."

"I'm so glad for you Draco. Now bring Harry up to meet the others – an elf has placed a few chairs for your comfort, you know," she told them.

"We'll be up in a moment, thanks," Draco told her as he touched the frame. When his two ancestors were out of sight, Draco turned to face Harry. "Looks like you've officially won over the Malfoy clan. The portraits adore you and you haven't even met most of them yet. My father is even on your side – nobody could've ever seen that coming!"

"As long as you are on my side, I'm happy," Harry whispered as he kissed Draco deeply. "Come, love. Show me your family portraits."

For the rest of the afternoon, Draco and Harry hosted a meet and greet in the upstairs gallery. Pansy and Andromeda joined them for a little while and Teddy was delighted to see the moving paintings. Narcissa and Lucius were the last to visit the gallery and they really just said hello before telling their son and son-in-law that it was almost dinner time.

The family gathered once again for the evening meal and this time Harry found it to be much less dramatic than the night before. He and Lucius seemed to be getting along much better than usual and Harry could see himself meshing more seamlessly into his husband's family.

As the brunette helped Draco get ready for bed, he felt his eyes begin to tear.

Draco turned when he heard Harry pull out a handkerchief and blow his nose. "Harry? What's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong, Dragon," Harry said softly. He pulled Draco close and closed his eyes as he treasured the warmth of the other man. "I'm just reflecting on the happenings of the day. Your father's words and the way Abraxas acted with the other portraits…that thing with the elves... I feel the connection Lucius spoke about… I really feel like a member of the family, Dragon."

"I'm so glad, Harry," Draco whispered while leaning further into the hug.

"Come to bed, love; let me hold you. We can make love again in the morning…" Harry smirked.

Draco pouted and glared at his husband. "You withstood it. Through the whole day, I was trying to tease you and make you break my punishment and it didn't work!"

"If I hadn't cottoned to your plans it might have worked, Dragon…but the minute I saw that makeup I knew you had something up your sleeve." Harry chuckled. "I will punish you when I must and I will stick with whatever punishment I set. Am I understood?"

Draco shivered at this verbal display of dominance. "Yes, Harry."

"Good. Now relax and by the time we wake, your punishment will be over." The brunette led his blond to the bed and lay down next to him. "Goodnight my love...and thank you for such a wonderful family Christmas."

Ok, so Christmas is finally over! There's still Boxing Day to discuss and gravesites to visit... a baby boy to name... See you soon and thanks for sticking with my story! I couldn't be doing this and posting right now without the FABULOUS assistance of my new Beta - kjwatson2. Thanks!

Lori