Hi, everyone! SO sorry that this took so long! I'm hoping you're still with me! I had fun writing this chapter and we are closing in on the dreaded two words 'the end'! Let me refresh your memories:
It's May. Kingsley and the Wizengamot have ended the Marriage Law and begun having couples see a mind healer to discuss their relationships and see who needs counseling or divorces and who can and should remain married. Andy is still suffering the effects of her mini-stroke. Harry and Draco are still in love and preggers.
******** ******** Chapter 45 ******** ********
Harry watched his husband's pale face as they rode the lift. They'd left the twins and Teddy with Lucius and the elves again but this time, the reason wasn't as frivolous as going to a movie. It was the day of their appointment with the ministry assigned counselor – a mindhealer who specialized in marriage counseling.
When the couple arrived at the Ministry offices, Harry led Draco carefully inside and helped him settle into a chair. Harry noted the discomfort in his husband's expression and automatically cast several cushioning charms. He then stepped up to the front desk to sign in.
"Hello, Mr. Potter! It's lovely to meet you!" The greeting witch said with a wide toothy smile.
"It's Malfoy-Potter, miss." Harry replied softly as he signed the register. "And it's nice to meet you as well. How long do we have until the healer will see us? My husband is pregnant and may need the men's room soon."
"She won't be long, Mr. Potter." The witch continued to smile at him.
"That's great..." Harry frowned and repeated his correction but she didn't seem to take notice. "Draco, would you like some tea?"
The blond nodded and let Harry fetch it from the service cart beside the door. If he was bothered by the woman's attitude, he didn't let it show.
Harry was just about to sit next to his husband when three people walked out of the inner office. The Pucey's said goodbye to the golden haired woman who'd followed them into the room and looked pleasantly surprised to see them.
Setting down his cup of tea, Draco stood up with little difficulty to greet one of his longtime friends. "Daphne! How great to see you!"
"Draco!" She came over and hugged the blond while Harry shook her husband Adrian's hand.
"We haven't seen you in months. I hope things are alright." Harry frowned. He liked Daphne's husband and whenever they had met up he'd always enjoyed their conversations.
The other man sighed quietly. "We've had some problems but nothing we can't work through. It's nice to see you both but our children are waiting at Daphne's parent's house and…" He trailed off as he heard Draco begin to engage his wife in further conversation.
"Are the kids alright?" Harry heard Draco ask his friend. "How is Astoria? I haven't heard from her in a while."
"Flori and Nathan are both just fine. I love having a baby again, Draco – there's nothing like it!" Daphne grinned as she and the blond turned to join their spouses' discussion. "Tori is alright too, but little Lorien is really struggling. He only says a few words and his development hasn't really progressed very far. Tori is depressed and discouraged, but at least Carina is good to her."
"Draco, it's so good to see you." Adrian smiled warmly. "But as I was just saying to Harry, we need to be going. Daphne's parents have the kids and we promised them we'd be back as soon as we could."
"Oh, pish. My mum knows it'll be a while and she's perfectly happy to have them." Daphne grinned at her husband but they were interrupted by the greeting witch.
"Mr. Potter…Mr. Malfoy, Healer Shadowholm will see you now." She called from the door.
Harry huffed and glared at her. "Excuse me, but I've corrected you several times now. Our name is Malfoy-Potter and I'll thank you to use it."
Her cheeks colored slightly but didn't try to deny it or defend herself.
"Thank you for calling us. We'll just say goodbye to our friends and be right in." Harry told her in his coldest most formal voice.
Adrian was visibly holding back a chuckle and Daphne had a look of pride in her eyes. "Draco's invited us to his birthday celebration, Harry. We'll see you next month."
"Give the kids a hug from us." Harry said as he hugged her.
Draco kissed her cheek. "We'd best hurry. The healer's time is valuable."
"She's nice, Draco. Just be honest and show her the side of you only Harry and your closest friends get to see." Daphne smiled at them before following her husband out the door.
Harry held his arm out with a smirk and Draco clasped his hand around Harry's elbow to be escorted into the inner office.
"Hello Misters Malfoy-Potter." The woman said with a warm smile. She seemed about the age Harry's parents would've been. "I'm Starla Shadowholm. I'd like it if we all used our first names in this room. Do you mind?"
Harry grinned at the soft-spoken woman as he and Draco sat on the armchairs across from where she was perched on the edge of her desk. "That's a good idea. Thank you."
"I like to be casual with the couples I council. Now then…" Starla began as she tied her golden blonde hair back into a ponytail. "I feel the need to apologize for my receptionist. When we were going over the cases I'd be seeing today, she divulged that your choice of marriage partner bothered her but I didn't expect outright rudeness. It seems she had hoped you'd end up with your friend's sister – a Miss Ginevra Weasley, now Thomas."
Harry frowned and began to grumble. "I don't know your receptionist from a hole in the wall, Starla and – quite frankly, my relationship isn't anyone's business but mine and whoever I've chosen to share it with."
Draco patted Harry's hand with a slight smirk. "She's not the first to have a problem with us and she won't be the last."
"Famous people always have these issues, Harry. The best you can do is live your life knowing that you can't make everyone in the world happy." She nodded with a serene smile.
"True." Harry reluctantly agreed with a sigh. "That's why I choose to make myself and Draco happy most of the time. My friends have all accepted my sexuality and my chosen partner. They may not have liked him in the beginning but they also didn't really know him at that time."
"Things were awkward in the beginning…" Draco chuckled in remembrance. "Ron could barely get through a chess match without arguing with me about some nuance of the game or calling me Malfoy or Ferret in a derogatory manner."
Harry snorted. He was amused that Draco's attitude about 'the ferret incident' had changed so dramatically.
"I'll ask about the ferret reference in a moment but how are things between you and Harry's best friend now?" Starla asked, frowning as she brought her focus to the blond.
"Cordial…to say the least." Draco grinned. "Ron and Hermione are very friendly with us both. Almost a year ago, we had a wonderfully amusing conversation about how Harry has reacted to being married."
Recalling what Draco had told him about that conversation, Harry felt his face warm as he turned a weak glare on his husband. "I really don't think she needs to hear that kind of thing, Dragon."
Starla looked back and forth between them. "I'll hear anything you'd feel comfortable telling me, Harry."
With mischief glimmering in his grey eyes, Draco recounted how Hermione had brought up the fact that Harry had become more at ease with being in control of things since getting married. "So I told her a little about how Harry had changed with regard to me. I said that when we'd first married, I had to remind him that he could be more assertive whereas now he wouldn't hesitate to walk up behind me and whisper a politely phrased demand directly into my ear."
The brunette's eyes closed momentarily before looking to see how Starla would react.
"I see." To Harry's surprise, their councilor looked troubled instead of amused. "You seem to be one of several couples who took the ministry command to choose the Dominant or submissive positions of the relationship a little further than they'd meant it."
"I don't know what you mean." Harry frowned to show his confusion.
"Well, I've spoken to the council that set the law in motion and it seems to me that they only meant for the couples to choose who would bear the children and who would sire them." She told them. "From what they told me, there wasn't meant to be a Master/ slave power game going on."
Harry smirked. "You're not from Britain are you?"
She shook her head. "No, I'm from the US. Things are so very different here but they chose me for this job because, with only background knowledge of the people and events that occurred during the war, they thought I could be more objective."
"Well, they're trying to get one over on you, Starla." Draco said softly. "I can show you the letters I was sent about the law."
"As can I." Harry broke in. "The wording shows the intent and Draco's second letter is even worse. They wrote some of the words in a thicker, bolder script as if it was meant to dissuade him from allowing me to choose him as my spouse."
"They wanted me to know my place." Draco divulged with a glare at the floor. "The first letter reminded me of the trials my family and I had been through since the war. It then proceeded to inform me that my sexuality would be catered to if need-be before stripping my parents of their rights regarding the courting traditions and gave all control to me – who'd never had a scrap of true power in my short life."
Starla bit her lip. "Didn't you want control? I was under the impression that the law was meant to liberate you from your oppressive positions under your parents' control."
"No. If I did, I would've chosen the Dominant position before my parents even thought to travel to Hogwarts to try and pressure me into it. The sub role is where I'm comfortable…it's the same with most pure blooded children if you notice." Draco shrugged.
"I haven't really noticed many pure blooded males being drawn to other men, Draco." She commented. "In most of the relationships I've seen so far, pure blooded marriages tend to be heterosexual with the male in a very dominant role – not including sexual domination… They tend to enjoy taking control of their lives and wives while enjoying a mutually satisfactory sex life. What I'm trying to ask is why you felt so drawn toward submission when you'd spent your youth in a tightly leashed state under your parents' watchful eyes. I was given a rough overview of your trial and, in many of the testimonies, the witnesses were quoted as saying you 'had no choice' or you 'were still a child' and 'couldn't get away from your destiny'."
"I'll admit that the position I'm in is eerily similar to my previous one…" Draco glanced at Harry carefully. "But I did choose this. Where my parents raised me with rigid structure, Harry's control is gentle and more like guidance. He made it quite clear that he wouldn't force anything that was against my will but I didn't need to be forced to be the passive partner. It's what works for me – what I'm comfortable with…perhaps it's because I was more tightly leashed than the others…I don't really know."
"Were you extremely sheltered as a child?" Starla frowned in thought. "I was given a summary of your years at Hogwarts as well and it stated that you were enrolled in Potions – which is known to have a rather hazardous curriculum. It also noted that you were the Seeker for your house Quidditch team – which is an extremely hazardous sport. That didn't translate to 'sheltered' at all to my mind."
Draco nodded. "I understand your meaning of the word 'sheltered' to mean 'protected'…and I was but not from the dangers of a normal childhood. I was taught to fly soon after I'd learned to swim. Quidditch posed minor danger as far as my parents were concerned. The bigger danger – in their minds – was the deteriorating state of the wizarding world …by which I mean the taking in of muggleborn and half blood witches and wizards and the absorption of their ways. I was almost ten before I met a halfblood…and it wasn't until the Hogwarts Express that I met a muggleborn but my parents taught me the names of the oldest pureblood families and I was to assume that any surname I didn't recognize belonged to one of the two. Also note that I grew up with the children of several if not all of the Death Eaters."
Starla stared at him but slowly began to nod.
"And Potions is not a dangerous course of study as long as the instructor is well trained." Draco said softly as he reached out a hand to clasp Harry's.
She felt there was a story there but recalled the newspaper clippings which had indicated that Harry had first disapproved and then seemed to change his mind and finally the clipping which had detailed why he'd been cautious in evaluating his husband-to-be's future occupation. Starla looked at their hands and smiled before addressing Harry's seemingly surprising turn toward domination while Draco excused himself to the men's room.
"I reacted to my strict upbringing a bit differently than Draco did." Harry said quietly in answer to her questioning gaze. He told her about the Dursleys and how they'd controlled him using food and the cupboard and then he spoke a bit about what he'd discovered his parents were like through Sirius and Remus. "I decided after the war ended that I didn't like the way I'd been controlled for my whole life. I decided that I would be the only one in charge of my future from then on…and then I set out to do exactly that. After some interesting dreams and finding myself attracted to a blond male dignitary, I looked at more blokes and then looked at my history with girls. While I might be attracted to girls – and they to me – I was much more drawn to men. The dignitary was nice looking but much older than me so there was little to no chance of me being able to have my own choices in life with someone like that."
"So you looked to your own age set." Starla nodded.
"Yes. First I dated a muggle that was a little older than me. He taught me a bit about how the gay scene worked. He taught me how sex could be…" Harry blushed and smirked at his husband who was just returning from his trip to the loo. "We only switched off once in the handful of times we'd been together. I preferred to top, you see, while he liked both equally."
"He also taught Harry to dance. I'm thankful to him for that." Draco chuckled and squeezed Harry's hand before using the other hand to absently stroke his belly.
"Older or not – with a muggle – not to mention being the Top – you would always have control and choice." Starla commented, nodding with clear understanding. "So what happened there?"
"He went off to muggle university, while I came back to Hogwarts which had always been 'home' to me. I never told him about magic and I knew I didn't want to be with someone I could only share half of myself with." Harry thought fondly of Joseph Butterworth but there were just too many differences between them. "There's no ill will at all… He was very sweet, but even if I'd loved him I wouldn't have been able to have children with him."
"So tell me what happened to make you take notice of Draco when you'd gone several years without doing so." Starla suggested.
Harry smirked. "I always noticed him, Starla. Who could ever ignore him?" He chuckled at the glare Draco was shooting him. "Truly, though…It wasn't a far leap from blond dignitary to Draco. Both were aloof and formal…both seemed out of my league…neither one let on whether they were gay or straight…"
"The truth Harry…" Draco chided his lover. "During the final battle, he'd saved my life." Draco spoke softly and Harry was straining to hear him. "We were in a room that was full of obstacles and teeming with Fiendfyre. He had somehow gotten a broom and was on his way out but he swooped in and scooped me out of danger first. I'd been clinging to him on the flight out…"
"I used the memory of that embrace to comfort myself during the weeks of funerals…" Harry smiled sadly. "Then came dreams of the blond dignitary…and one day I decided I wanted to know what made a certain other blond I knew of tick."
"But then the law came into play." Starla nodded recalling another clipping she'd seen in a newspaper.
Harry nodded back solemnly. "Just when I thought I had freedom, it was ripped away. I had to marry. No time to date or court a lover. No time for anything but decisions. I was considering my options as I walked to the Headmistress' office when…" He smirked at Draco who needed no further prodding to continue the story.
"My parents were attempting to convince me that I should be the Dominant." Draco chuckled at the memory. He explained how his parents tried to railroad him but he stood strong and resisted. Then he told Starla how Harry had broken in and answered every one of his father's accusations. "My father had maligned Harry in so many ways I'm shocked he was able to hold himself back for as long as he did. So he came in and apologized smoothly for eavesdropping before countering everything Father had said against him and when he had finished he stepped up close to me and whispered into my ear…and then he just walked out. I was shocked at his audacity and mildly outraged that he'd left without allowing me time to compose an answer of some sort but he was essentially offering me something I couldn't count on from anyone else I might end up with. The whispered words cemented the urge to follow him and I did."
Starla smiled. "What was it he whispered, Draco?"
Draco shivered slightly as Harry repeated the words he'd said that day. "I haven't forgotten how it felt to have your arms around me as we soared above the flames."
"Well, that just ignited my curiosity so I followed him to the headmistress' office where he proceeded to convince me that he was the best choice I could make." Draco held tightly to Harry's hand. "He convinced me that he could love me and asked only that I try to reciprocate while living as his husband and bearing our shared children."
"Obviously, you accepted…" She murmured. "But why?"
A small smile curved Draco's lips. "Arranged marriages are not uncommon in my family, Starla. Harry offered a good life with the possibility of love. At the time, I didn't know about his wealth but I respected his power – still do – and his actions during the war proved to me that I could trust him in other ways. Trust and respect are important in any marriage but the fact that he could possibly grow to love me was – I think – what really made me say yes. I mean he was going into this marriage wanting it to become love. In my mind that meant I could count on being treated with some dignity and respect despite what my father thought was likely and any children we raised would be loved."
There was barely concealed awe in her voice when Starla asked her next question. "What happened next?"
Draco chuckled. "I waited in the hall while Harry got a crash course in pureblood courting."
Harry's cheeks flushed when Starla looked to him in surprise. "Ron Weasley is pureblood – as is the Headmistress of Hogwarts so they told me the traditions as my other friend – Ron's wife Hermione – helped me clean up my look… wrinkle-free charms and tying my uniform tie…" He exchanged a look with Draco. "And then I went with Draco to inform his parents of our impending union."
"From the first part of your story, it seems like your father didn't like Harry too much." She looked at the other blond.
Draco's eyebrow arched. "That's quite an understatement."
Harry snorted in amusement before filling her in on the years of animosity between Lucius and himself.
Starla was visibly bemused as she asked her next question. "How are you getting along with your father-in-law now?"
"There are occasional bouts of frustration…" Harry told her honestly. "But for the most part we cooperate quite well."
"Can you give me an example?" She asked.
"Hmmm… Well the most recent instance was almost two weeks ago. We were at the dinner table with my parents and the children as well as Andromeda when we had an unexpected visitor. Our unofficial head elf…" Draco began. "We only have two so they're considered equal but she's the more reasonable of the two so I consider her the head – anyway she announced that the floo activity was unusual."
"All it took me was a glance…Lucius knew I wanted him to stay with Draco and the rest." Harry was proud of how the family had been working together that day. He knew that feeling was showing in his eyes.
"Why were you in charge if he is the elder?" Starla asked in confusion.
"It was at our home." Harry said matter-of-factly.
"Your home?" The woman sounded awfully startled.
"Yes." Harry frowned. "Didn't our file mention that we have our own home?"
"Most twenty year olds don't have the means to buy an apartment let alone their own house." Starla commented reasonably while shaking her head.
Harry sighed. "Most twenty year olds aren't heirs to massive estates, Starla."
"This Lucius doesn't seem to be the type to let you live off his son." She said lightly and Harry could see her eyes flicking back and forth between her clients. "So you must also have been heir to some money."
Harry nodded solemnly. "My godfather left me a substantial estate and that's where I got the bulk of my money. My parents had set up a vault for me when I was born and I inherited their joint vault as well…but back in my fourth year at Hogwarts, I made – what turned out to be – a very shrewd business decision." He told her about George and Fred and the Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes business. "When I won the Tri-Wizard Tournament I didn't want the prize money – it felt tainted. So I gave it to them and they insisted on making me a semi-silent investor. I was also quite close to Albus Dumbledore and he'd left me a small sum as well."
Starla seemed shocked by these revelations but processed the information quickly. "So you bought a home after leaving Hogwarts."
"Actually we had the house built while we were finishing our last school year." Harry explained eager to get back to the original subject. "It's just smaller than a manor. I owned several plots of land as well as the money to fund such a project and we moved in just a month and a half after the twins were born."
"I see." Starla blinked. "So you were in your home…Lucius and your mother-in-law were visiting, I assume."
"When my godson's grandmother fell ill in January, I convinced her to move in with us. She got worse in March and, at that point, Lucius and Narcissa moved in too." Harry explained resisting the urge to sigh. "We were in our home…at our dining table…and there have been a few attempts to make the Malfoys pay more than their share of war reparations so I took an unexpected visit as a potential threat to my family."
"As did my father." Draco nodded solemnly. "If the person had unpleasant intentions, he wouldn't get past Harry without a fight and my father would be able to help Mother and I protect the children and Andy if something happened to delay Harry. Luckily, we didn't need to do anything of the sort because it was a friend."
"So do you have a theory on why you do work so well together?" The healer was still reeling from the onslaught of information but she seemed to sense that Harry had more to say.
Harry grinned at her. "I believe our first few arguments paved the way for this slightly more than civil relationship to develop… Those arguments proved points on both sides and we just seem to understand each other now."
"Those arguments were very productive." Draco smirked and proceeded to inform Starla about the pre-wedding jitters Harry had experienced which had taught Lucius that apologies are sometimes needed as well as useful. He told her about their first Christmas holiday and how Lucius had dismissed Harry's requests for the certain foods Draco had shown cravings for as well as his concerns that Draco get a decent amount of rest. Then, he told her how Harry had changed many of the inner workings of the Malfoy family with just one short conversation about house elves.
"That Christmas also taught me a few things. Family and connections are different and more meaningful in the wizarding community than in the muggle world." Harry's face lost all expression.
Draco took soft hold of Harry's hand and explained how he'd told his parents about his and Harry's encounter with the Bogart. He proceeded to tell her about Lucius' speech during the opening of the gifts on Christmas night.
"You have both developed a wonderful understanding of each other and your families." Starla shook her head in amazement. "I hope to Merlin that there are more well-adjusted couples out there. I'm happy to be able to tell you this, Gentlemen: I'll be reporting to the wizengamot that, in my professional opinion, your marriage is a stable and happy one."
Draco allowed himself a sigh of relief as his eyes met Harry's.
"I told you, love." Harry whispered as he leaned in to kiss his husband's forehead. "They won't separate couples who do well with each other."
"The members of the Wizengamot have no interest in destroying good relationships. They are offering these consultations as an evaluation of the damage done by the law they'd created nearly three years ago." Starla explained. "I've been assured by the minister that my recommendations will be taken into account in all cases and negative reports will be investigated further."
"Positive reports will be left alone, correct?" Harry asked quickly.
"That is my understanding, Harry – yes…You needn't expect any further interference from that corner." She nodded kindly and then turned questioning eyes onto her fellow blond. "Don't think I've forgotten about that 'ferret' remark, Draco; my curiosity is piqued."
Draco's face flushed to a pale pink.
"Why exactly would Mr. Weasley call you a ferret?" Starla looked completely puzzled. "I was under the impression Harry was the only animagus in the room…and they only told me you could perform that feat, I haven't been told your actual form."
"Yes, there's a seal that protects that information. Once the paperwork was signed and submitted, only I could tell someone what my form is." Harry said taking sympathy on his beloved husband as he told the story for him.
"Oh dear! I cannot imagine this kind of thing happening at our magical school." Starla had a hand to her chest by the end of his retelling of their fourth year. She shivered at the thought of a wizard out for her blood and that was nothing compared to participating in such a dangerous contest as this Tri-Wizard Tournament. They fell quiet for a few moments before a chime rang and Starla stood and held out her hand. "Well, that chime means that my next appointment should be here soon…"
Harry gained his feet and grinned at the woman. "It's been so nice talking to you, Starla."
Draco stood too and held Harry in place. "I realize that this isn't likely a common thing for a healer to be asked, but I believe it's necessary. Would you mind swearing an oath to keep everything said here – except what you need to report to the wizengamot on – to yourself?"
"Draco!" Harry seemed taken aback. "That's not…"
Starla looked calmly at the blond. "You're very astute, Draco. I could be anyone or could be having difficulties and need money…yes an oath is a good idea that will give you peace of mind and so I will give it." She lifted her wand. "I solemnly swear not to betray your secrets."
Draco nodded silently as Harry led the way to the door. There was nobody in the lobby so they ignored the secretary and made their way to the lift.
Harry turned to face Draco as soon as the lift closed them in alone. "What was that? There was no need for an oath! She's a Healer and they are automatically supposed to keep a client's information confidential!"
"And Moody really was our professor, right?" Draco's eyebrow rose and he crossed his arms. "And Rita was doing her job ethically, was she? People don't break their everyday promises?"
Harry sighed. Draco was making sense. "I suppose you're correct."
Draco sniffed arrogantly. "Of course I am. A Magical oath is binding and she had no objections so…"
"So let's go home and celebrate Starla's findings." Harry chuckled before pecking the blond's cheek. "Our family is safe from further investigation …because of you."
The pregnant man huffed and rolled his eyes. "We're safe from the papers because of me, Harry. We're safe from investigation because of our honesty in speaking to the healer."
"Yes…Our marriage is safe because we let her see us interact as we do at home." Harry pointed out as he watched the blond's face carefully. "There were no false fronts or masks."
"Yes, that's true…I didn't hide any of my emotions – positive or negative." Draco frowned and turned his face toward Harry. "I felt very vulnerable but with you beside me…I knew it was alright to be so open."
Harry grinned and pulled Draco into a tight hug. "I want to kiss you so hard right now." He murmured into Draco's ear.
"The floo is just a short walk, Harry." Draco snorted lightly; his frown changing to a smirk. "I'm sure you can restrain yourself long enough for us to get home."
The fire that sparked in Harry's green eyes didn't dim as he released his husband to walk side by side and use the floo. He held out the tin of powder for Draco. "You first, beloved…and you'd best be in the bedroom when I get there."
The blond bit his lip and hurried to speak the name of his destination. As soon as he was through the network he buried his head in the nearby basin they kept in the floo room at Nettlestone Estate. Draco heard Harry's empathetic sigh just as he felt the other man's hand brush his shoulder. With tears in his eyes, Draco was soon on his way to the bathroom to brush his teeth and disrobe because Harry was sure to be waiting.
He heard noises in the nursery and peeked in to see Harry tickling their daughter who was just waking from a nap. His mother was tending to Teddy while his father held Caelum in his arms. Draco grabbed his silk dressing gown and joined them.
"It seems that Blaise and Luna have requested our children's company this afternoon." Harry said turning to face the blond. "Your father has arranged to take them so he can socialize a little with Blaise's mum."
"Thank you, Father. I was hoping for some time to…" He trailed off at the look on Lucius face.
"I heard the news, Dragon." The knowing glint in Lucius' eyes said it all. "I'm sure you want some time to celebrate by yourselves."
Draco's cheeks colored lightly but he nodded and kept that story intact. "Exactly right, Father."
"I'll help you deliver them, Lucius." Harry said with a smirk.
"I'll be fine with Dinki's help, Harry, but I'll also be taking one of the Malfoy elves. It seems that Lolli has been asking Dooley to be assigned to the nursery and I want to see her performance." Lucius smirked back and called the aforementioned elf. He gave orders and let the children say goodbye to their parents.
Narcissa kissed Draco's cheek. "I'll see you at dinner, darling." She whispered as she left the room.
Draco blushed as he realized they were now alone and Harry's arm had already curved around his waist to lift him into a tender embrace.
The brunette laid his husband down on the plush velvet comforter. His long blond braid had loosened and was lying off to the side. His body was stretched out across the bed and Harry could see the four and a half month baby bump.
"You are beautiful…" Harry told him softly. "Have I told you that today?"
Draco closed his eyes and smiled. "Just a few hours ago…It's always nice to hear though."
Harry laid out along Draco's side and placed a hand on his stomach. "Any movement yet?" He asked softly recalling the way he'd felt when the twins had moved inside his husband's womb just two years ago.
Draco smiled softly as Harry's finger made large lazy circles over his abdomen. "Not yet. It's too soon."
Harry nodded absently and, after a moment, he let his hand travel up to pinch Draco's pink nipples lightly.
Gasps of pleasure escaped Draco's lips. A moan bubbled up inside him and, when Harry's hands strayed lower, it came out with a good dose of need. Kisses followed Harry's touch as he set fire to Draco's body. Harry always knew how and where to touch him.
Harry paused the attack on his lover in order to disrobe. The moment he was free of clothing, his hands reattached themselves to Draco's soft skin. His touch was met with another moan of pleasure.
"Please?" Draco breathed. "Harry…"
"Your cock is just so smooth and warm, lover." Harry said as he stroked Draco's shaft.
Draco's hips bucked wildly. "H-Harry, please?"
Harry smiled and leaned down to lick Draco's hard cock. "I'm going to suck you and you're going to hold back as long as you can. After that…I'll make love to you properly."
Draco loved that game. His eyes fluttered closed as he prepared to resist becoming overwhelmed by the sensations Harry would bombard him with. Soon, his cock was surrounded by warmth and wetness but Draco just grinned and bit his lip, moaning lightly as he felt Harry's lips close around him. He whimpered at the feel of teeth lightly skimming his sensitive flesh and, when the head of his cock came into contact with the back of Harry's throat, Draco cried out in pleasure but wrapped his hands in the comforter below him still resisting the urge to come.
Harry smirked, loving the way his lover was responding to his ministrations. He took his mouth away for just a moment and blew lightly across the moist cock in front of him, chuckling as Draco trembled beneath him. He summoned the tube of lubricant and squeezed a bit onto his fingers. He loved that his husband was always so affected by him – it made Harry harder than anything else ever did. He reached behind the blond's balls to find the opening he could hardly wait to enter.
Draco's eyes popped open as he felt Harry's finger brush his entrance. He wouldn't last long if Harry probed the tightly furrowed hole. He wanted more time…more teasing…and yet he also wanted more of Harry's finger at the same time. Draco began to pant in desperation as Harry breached his opening. "P-Please…more! I…need! I…want! Harry!"
Harry smiled as he felt his finger brush the sensitive nub inside his lover. He opened his mouth to once again pleasure Draco and was instantly swallowing the creamy goodness of his husband's ecstasy as the other man bucked his hips and gave in to his need.
Draco whimpered as Harry licked him clean.
"Do you still want me to…?" Harry started softly, moving up to lie next to his lover, but Draco cut him off by leaning up to kiss him hard on the mouth.
"Gods, yes…Harry – Please?" Draco whispered, his eyes sparking with that silver lightning that Harry loved to see.
The brunette was overcome with pleasure at just the sight, so he took his place between Draco's legs and pushed slowly into the welcoming heat of his husband's body. The baby-bump didn't let him close enough to kiss Draco's lips but Harry could kiss him any time he wanted so he settled himself as deeply inside the blond's body as he could before beginning to move. It didn't take long for Draco to start gasping and moaning in pleasure. He set a steady rhythm with the movement of his hips and Draco met him thrust for thrust until Harry groaned loudly with the words they both wanted to hear.
"Come…come with me…my Dragon…" Harry breathed the last with barely restrained emotion.
They reached cloud nine together and when Draco came back to his senses he realized that Harry had cleaned both of them and was now holding him tightly and tears were making streaks down his face.
This was mildly startling so Draco wrapped his arms around as much of Harry as he could reach. "Harry?"
"I'm just…" Harry kisses Draco lightly. "I can't put my emotions into words, Dragon. Words wouldn't do it justice."
"I know what you mean…" Draco smiled. "I almost can't remember a time when I didn't love you."
Harry wordlessly blinked at the blond. These times were rare and Harry treasured each of them.
They kissed again and just lay together – in each other's arms.
Over the next few weeks, Draco enlisted his mother and Molly to help him plan his birthday party. Harry helped too but most of his efforts went to keeping Draco calm and happy. Lucius, Harry and the elves switched off in child care duties while Narcissa's involvement with the party planning served to distract her from her sister's illness which didn't seem to be improving much.
On the last day of May, Narcissa was surprised to be awakened by Polli – the elf who'd been helping most with Andromeda's care.
"Mistress…Polli is being sorry to say this." The elf had tears in her eyes. "Missy Dromeda is not awakening."
Narcissa's hand flew to her lips to stifle a gasp. She threw on a robe and hurried to her sister's bedside where she desperately searched for a pulse. "Get Harry and Draco." She commanded as she rushed back to wake Lucius herself.
Calmed by her husband, she went to the floo and called Andy's healer. The woman came quickly and by the time Harry and Draco arrived in the room, she had her findings.
"Misters Malfoy-Potter, Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy…I'm sorry to say, Mrs. Tonks has had a full stroke. She's currently in a coma. I can't say when or if she'll come out of it." The healer said softly. "It's possible, given her state of mind and health over the last few months that she can come out of this…but it's very unlikely."
Harry nodded slowly. "Thank you, Healer. We'll call you if anything changes."
Draco waited to see what Harry would do. After Andy's mini-stroke, Harry had broken down and needed a lot of comforting. Would that happen again? Draco didn't have long to wait – Harry turned to him with shimmering eyes and opened his arms. Draco went willingly and let Harry feel his arms close around him.
"I'll set Polli to watch Andy." Narcissa said quietly. "We have the children to see to."
Lucius watched his son and Harry as they stood there. "Come now, boys. There's nothing left we can do here."
Draco nodded and helped his father lead Harry out of the sickroom. Once they were back in their own bed, Harry gave in to his tears for a while. When they woke for breakfast, they took care of their children in silent cooperation with Narcissa and Lucius.
Thanks for sticking with me! I'm hoping to get the next chapter out before April.
Lori