Happy Birthday
"Harry!"
Hermione's cheerful voice traveled to him, diverting his attention from his rather excitable godson.
He forced his expression to remain nuetral.
"'Mione. How has your summer been?"
She brought him in for a hug, only slightly hurt when he did not return it.
"Terrible. I'm so sorry Harry I didn't mean what I said, honest! You're my best friend!"
He looked at her critically, holding her at arms length.
"So it doesn't bother you that I'm gay? Not even a bit?"
She shook her head quickly.
"I was only angry because you hadn't told me sooner Harry. I don't give a rats arse what gender you prefer your partner to be, as long as they are kind to you."
Harry smiled, bringing her in for a hug.
"He is," he said.
Before she could ask who, she felt Harry release her, running to an upset looking Malfoy in the doorway.
"Draco," Harry reached for him.
"Don't," he hissed, "Not til you tell me what you were doing with your arms around that chit."
Harry frowned at him.
"Watch your tone with me. I'm not doing anything wrong by hugging my friend. It's only Hermione."
Draco sniffed.
"I don't- I suppose I just can't-" Draco slumped in apparent defeat, voice going soft, "Sorry."
Harry moved forward to embrace him, trying to muddle through his odd reaction.
"I'm not angry dragon, only confused. Why are you bothered?"
Draco turned his face into his holder's neck.
"I just don't like it," he admitted softly, "When you hold her like that."
Harry pulled away.
"You're jealous? Of Hermione?"
Draco looked down at his feet, feeling ashamed of his stupidity.
"Drake," Harry admonished, bringing him closer again, "Hermione is like a sister to me. Nothing more. My heart and soul belong to you, my dragon."
Draco nodded in understanding, feeling a bit more reassured.
"Come. Teddy wants to say goodbye before Andy comes for him. He seems to quite like you."
Draco followed, restraining himself from grinning stupidly when his hand was clasped.
"Dwayyyy-co!" the boy squealed, reaching up to be held.
"Hey Teddy bear! Are you having fun with Uncle Harry?"
The two-year-old gave a gap-toothed grin.
"Unca Hawwy gave me kool-aid!"
Draco lifted the boy to his hip, smiling at the red mustache on his lips.
"Did he? Was it good?"
"Gramma ony lets me have juice."
"Are you ready to go back to grandma?"
Crocodile tears filled his eyes.
"You-You don' wanna pway with me no more?"
"Of course I do, but grandma wants to play too. We have to share."
Teddy frowned at him.
"Can I have a cookie?"
Draco smirked.
"Yes my little Slytherin-in-training, you can have a cookie. Only if you're good for grandma though."
"I pwomise! I'll be super good. Gooder than good. I'll be goodest."
Draco laughed, setting the child down.
"You better."
Harry chuckled, pulling his boyfriend into his side.
"Did Ron come Hermione?"
She nodded, "Him and Ginny too," She leaned forward, "There lying to you Harry. They're going to act nice, but it's all fake. I'm so sorry Harry, but they want to use you."
He frowned.
"I expected something like that. I'll be kind, but cautious. Thanks for the warning."
"Harry mate! Happy Birthday!"
Harry adopted a smile for his upcoming friend.
"Hello Ron."
"Look, I overreacted eariler. You'll forgive me right mate? I really didn't mean it."
"Of course Ron."
The youngest Weasley narrowed her eyes.
"I didn't realize you and Draco had gotten so..." she curled her lip, "close."
Harry lifted an eyebrow at her.
"It seems you've missed quite a bit then. Draco and I have been going steady for two months now."
She crossed her arms.
"Harry! You know better! You supposed to be with-"
She received a sharp elbow from her brother, silencing her.
"Whatever makes you happy Harry. I'll love you no matter what."
Draco pulled forward, his veela telling him to take his mate from her.
Harry pulled him back.
"Just as I love Draco, Ginevra."
She rolled her eyes.
"It's only been two months! How could you possible love him?"
Harry leaned down, pressing a kiss to his forehead.
"Draco is my other half. I don't expect you to understand, but I do expect acceptance. If you can't accept him as a part of my life then you will have to do without being my friend."
Ron's mouth fell open, "You'd pick that ferret over us? I've been your best mate since first year!"
"I've changed since then Ron, and so have you. So has he."
Ginny smiled.
"Well, I support you. When's the party?"
Harry rubbed Draco's arm, a movement that her eyes followed angrily.
"This is it. I was planning on just spending it with Draco and Teddy. Bill and Severus were going to come for lunch, then we were going to go for a date out on the town."
Ron stepped in.
"We should all go out mate. For your birthday."
Harry denied him.
"Sorry, but I want tonight to be just me and my love. That's why Andy is picking Teddy up before lunch."
Just then, said woman entered the great hall, bringing with her the defense and potions professors.
"Gramma!"
Bill laughed before noticing his brother.
"Ronald," he questioned, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here for Harry's birthday."
"Last thing I heard, you were not on too friendly terms with Harry."
"Well he's my brother in all but blood, I don't hold a grudge too long."
Severus put a calming hand on his arm, keeping him from delivering a scathing retort.
"Harry is a grown man," he reminded him, "he can handle himself and his friends."
Bill nodded.
"You're right Sev. Sorry."
"No harm done."
Bill smiled at his boyfriend, placing a light kiss to his thin lips.
"So I am forgiven?"
"Hmm... I suppose."
Ron made a noise somewhere between a gag and a choke.
"What is the bloody blazing hell in going on here? Why are you kissing the greasy old bat?"
Bill was in Ron's face within the second.
"That bat happens to be my boyfriend, and I don't appreciate your reamrks toward him."
Ron crinkled his nose in digust.
"You are revolting. He's at least ten years older than you!"
"Exactly ten years actually. Not that that means anything in the wizarding world. You are aware that we can live well past one-hundred."
"You should find a younger one Bill, he doesn't deserve you."
Bill pushed his brother away, turning to go to his retreating love.
"He is more than deserving. I don't want someone younger, I want Severus Snape."
He wrapped his arms around Severus, pulling his back to him.
Severus fought the hold, trying not to break down in the hall.
"My Severus. Relax darling. His words are empty. Meaningless."
"I am older. I am tainted."
"You are beautiful and you are mine. I told you I wasn't one for short flings. I want you for a lifetime. For always."
"Always?"
"Always my love."
Severus turned to him rising up for a kiss that he was willingly granted.
The noon-time party ony went downhill from there. Ron mainly sat in the corner, complaining to Hermione, who happened to be reading and not listening to word that came from his mouth.
She did stop to listen however, when she heard Ginny approach Draco while Harry was leading Andy and Teddy to the gates.
"He doesn't really love you," she said, "He is only confused. He loves me. As soon as he is done with this little phase of his, he'll leave you out to rot. We were meant to be together see?"
What she didn't see was Harry coming up behind her with a look that could kill.
"Ginny?" he snapped, "Could I bother you a minute? I need to speak with you."
He didn't wait for her response, yanking her to the area by the food table.
"How dare you?" he snarled, "How dare you speak to my mate in such a way? Putting these ideas into his head!"
"Harry! You're meant to be with me! Don't you understand?"
"No! I bloody well don't! You need to leave us the fuck alone! You have no business here!"
She gripped his shoulders.
"I love you Harry!"
"I don't love-"
She cut him off by smooshing her face to his.
He forced her off of him, not caring that she landing in the punch bowl.
"Get out."
He turned quickly, searching for his mate who had disappeared.
"Shite. Hermione! Bill! Severus! I'm leaving! See that Ginevra is brought home immediately."
He exited quickly, running to their rooms.
"Draco!" he called, "Where are you?"
Draco was at the door to their rooms, shivering with the overbearing cold that came with the rejection.