That week Harry gave up two of his nights with his daughter. One was spent with a reporter giving that interview for Lucius, since Lucius' attorney finally said it was time to act. The other was wasted reliving his life with the Dursleys and how they made him feel with Madam Harris. That set the stage for their Saturday appointment with Draco in which they discussed how Harry's past affected their marriage.
First of all, people tend to emulate the relationship of their parents in their marriage and since Harry's parents died before he could remember, that meant his aunt and uncle were his marriage role models. Aunt Petunia had always been subservient to Uncle Vernon, doing whatever her husband said and taking Vernon's side, no matter how wrong the man was. In his marriage to Draco, Harry had unwittingly become Vernon and let Draco fall into the role of Petunia. And since his aunt and uncle had such an unhealthy marriage, he hadn't noticed when his marriage became unhealthy too.
Secondly, Harry's past affected him in other ways. He was used to suffering alone and viewed it as normal and something to brush off. So when Draco suffered, he didn't think twice about it and assumed Draco would brush it off too. Because he wasn't used to talking about what was wrong, he never said anything about what bothered him or tried to get Draco to talk about things that bothered Draco. He was used to bearing a much greater burden that Draco and expected Draco to be able to bear the same. He allowed their problems to be swept under the rug and build into an insurmountable mountain, instead of dealing with them as they came.
But despite all of Harry's problems, Madam Harris was confident that knowing about the issues would help the couple build a stronger marriage. Now that they both knew what to watch for, they would be less likely to let their problems slip through the cracks. If Harry worked on being less independent and depending on his husband and Draco worked on the opposite, they could meet in the middle and find a happy middle ground. They'd had different life styles and upbringings, but if they discussed their expectations, they could find compromises that would make them both happy. That was what they would be discussing in upcoming sessions, so both wizards were determined to look for and work on these issues when they came up in their lives.
They went on a shopping trip together that next Sunday. They picked up some new things for Draco, since his paternity clothes were getting tight, and for Eiona, since she was growing into the next size, but mostly they bought for the new baby. They picked up a few outfits that were so adorable they couldn't resist, but mainly stuck to getting the type of essentials they wouldn't be getting enough of at the baby shower, like toiletries, nappies, wipes, undershirts, and baby potions.
"If we don't get a swing at the baby shower, let's come back and get that one," Harry said, pulling Draco close to him as they passed by the aisle with larger baby items.
"We still have Eiona's. You don't want to reuse it?" Draco asked.
"It's covered in flowers."
"We could change the fabric."
"Yes, but I know something that you're overlooking," Harry said, leaning in to whisper the next part into Draco's ear. "Malfoys don't do hand-me-downs."
Draco gasped in surprise and a smile twitched at the corner of his lips. "I'll have you know that we had some used things for Eiona."
"Not many."
"I thought you'd be all into doing the Weasley thing."
"But that swing is just so perfect for our little boy. Look, there are dinosaurs with wizard hats and wands inside the flying saucers. That's like every little boy theme wrapped into one."
"You know that swing is the exact same model as Eiona's. We can just order the seat pad and the mobile and switch them out."
"Alright, but you know that money is no question when it comes to our children. If you want him to have something new, then it doesn't matter if Eiona's old one is perfectly fine; our son should have the best. Malfoys deserve the best of everything."
"I already do have the best of everything," Draco replied, pressing a soft kiss to Harry's lips.
The snogging session was cut short by the fact that they were out in public and someone was already reaching for a camera to take their picture. Harry cleared his throat and said, "Um, maybe we should stick to holding hands until we get home."
Draco complied. They finished their shopping and then apparated back to the Manor. Eiona was still down for her nap and Draco figured they just might have fifteen minutes left of grownup time left to talk. He led Harry into his sitting room and pulled Harry down onto the sofa with him.
"Harry, there's something I wanted to talk to you about," Draco said.
"Yes? What is it?" Harry asked, wondering if he was in trouble and what it was that he might've done wrong.
"We've been getting along lately and therapy has been going well."
"Yes, and I gave that interview for your father this week, like I promised," Harry said, trying to remind Draco of why his husband should not be mad at him.
"Yes, you did and I'm very grateful to you for doing so. You kept your promise and now it's time for me to keep mine."
"Yours?"
"Yes, I promised to give you another chance and I mean to."
"And you have. These dates and even therapy are the highlight of my days." Not the solo therapy without Draco or the feelings part, but the rest of it was wonderful, just because Draco was there.
"I think it's time we upped the ante a little bit. Maybe we could live together again and see how it goes."
Harry immediately flung his arms around Draco, pulling Draco in for a hug. "Thank you so much for this Draco, I promise you won't regret it," he said, before initiating a kiss.
Draco kissed back and it turned into a bit of a snog.
When they broke apart, Draco said, "Harry, I know you've been trying to understand me and my culture and more importantly, you gave that wonderful interview about my father. You have certainly showed that you are willing to put forth the effort needed to repair this marriage. And now I know why you shut me out and did a lot of the things you did. I don't think everything is fixed, but it's a start; a good one at that."
"Draco, I'm trying my best, but I may need some help from you. If you could just tell me when I'm sticking my foot up my arse, I'd very much appreciate it."
"I'll try."
"Now when are you moving home?" Harry asked with a giant smile on his face.
"I'm not so sure I want to move back."
The smile fell from Harry's face. "What? Why? I thought you wanted to live together again?"
"I do, but I didn't agree to move back into Grimmauld Place."
"But I bought Hissy, the elf you wanted."
"Yes and that's a start, but it's too small. There's room for you and Eiona, but not me and the new baby."
"I'll make the spare bedroom into a nursery. I've already been working on it."
"But what about me? Where's my space?"
"In my room, in my bed."
"But I felt so cramped living like that. Harry, look around you. Do you see how much space I have here? I have an entire large bedroom, loo, and a sitting room to myself. This is the amount of space I'm used to."
"What if I make space in Grimmauld Place?"
"Where?"
"The third floor. I'll gut Regulus' old room and turn it into your own sitting room or second bedroom or whatever you want."
"Do you know what I really want?" Draco asked, looking at Harry with wide eyes.
"What? Tell me, I'll do anything."
"Anything?"
"Yes, to get you and my family back, yes, anything."
"Move in with me."
"Huh?"
"I tried living with you, now you try living with me. You've seen that my friends and family aren't all bad; it's time you see that my house isn't that bad either."
"But Voldemort-" Harry started to say, but Draco cut him off.
"Is dead. Why are you still letting him rule our lives?"
"Ergh, Draco! I have bad memories of this house from the war. Don't you understand?"
"I do, which is why mother and I don't use that drawing room anymore. We've closed off that wing of the house, if you haven't noticed. What's wrong with this wing? I can assure you the Dark Lord never entered it."
"I can't believe your house is big enough to shut down an entire wing, just because that was where Voldemort stayed."
"Well it is. The only thing on that side of the house we've used since the war is the formal sitting room and dining room and neither of those were where you were taken. You were only ever in the first drawing room; the one right off of the foyer. We closed that one down and don't even let the elves in there to clean. So what is the problem?"
"Fine, I'll give it a try. When should I bring my stuff over?"
"Give the elves a day to prepare your room."
"My own room? I thought you were going to let me sleep with you…"
"Maybe, but even if you share my bed, you still need your own space if you are living here. Let me show you how we live. Madam Harris said that I need to be more assertive when it comes to being with you and show you how to do things my way. I want you to at least try it."
"Alright, I'll give it a try," Harry agreed, nipping Draco's bottom lip, just so happy to be back together with his husband that he'd agree to practically anything.
"Good, but there's something else we need to discuss if we are back together."
"What's that Draco?"
"I don't want to be a Potter anymore."
"But I thought you said-" Harry started, but Draco cut him off.
"I'll take you back, but not your name. I like being a Malfoy again; it fits me better. I want to continue being a Malfoy."
"Alright, if that's what you want."
"It is and I want this baby to be a Malfoy too."
"But I thought you wanted the children to have my name?"
"I wanted Eiona to have your name. I want little Lucius to have my name. Eiona can be your heir and Lucius will be mine."
"Draco, you cannot name our child after your father."
"Why not?"
"Because!"
"Because why? This is you sticking your foot in your arse again Harry, just so you know."
"Urgh! Fine, I take that back. You could name our child after your father, but I'd rather our child be named almost anything else."
"Harry."
"Yes Draco?"
"I was testing you. I don't want to name our son Lucius, but if I did, I would expect you to consider it before outright rejecting it. See, this is what I'm talking about with you being more accepting of my feelings," Draco drawled.
"Er, sorry. I'm still working on it. What did you really want to name our son?"
"Orion James Malfoy."
Orion was both Sirius' middle name and his father's name. He hadn't often in his life let that fact be known, because it made his initials SOB, but his parents hadn't thought twice about his initials when naming him. As such there were only a few people left alive who knew.
"After Sirius and my father?" Harry asked, his heart swelling with pride. Maybe if he'd known Draco was going to name their son after his father he would've been more open to Draco's cause of bringing his father home. It definitely made him fonder of the idea now that he knew and also completely glossed over the last name in his mind. If Draco was giving him the first and middle names, then he could give Draco the last name.
"And a great many other Orions in the Black family, but yes, I wanted something you would approve of."
"Thank you so much. Orion James Malfoy is a perfect. Only…" Harry paused, looking at his hands.
"Yes? Is there some problem with that name?"
"Well, it's just I sort of have a list of names I wanted to use. You know, for all of the wizards who died for me. You just used up two of them, which is great; I didn't think you'd ever agree to either. But, there is someone else who gave his life for me; someone who is always overlooked."
"Who?"
"Honestly I thought you would've thought of this. He's the one person who was important to both of us."
"You're keeping me in suspense here Harry. Just tell me already."
"Severus. I figured you would pick the first name, but that we could use Severus as a middle name."
"In place of James?"
"Or in addition to. Orion Severus James Malfoy. That way we get most of my mentors in one go."
"Alright." Draco gave a curt nod, before looking down at his belly, his hands on either side. "Did you hear that Orion? Do you like that name?" he asked his stomach.
"But if we use all three of those names, then I'll insist on Albus or Alastor for our next son."
Draco looked up at Harry and said, "Harry, we are not having another one. This is it." His tone brokered no argument.
"Alright."
"You're okay with the last name then?"
"Definitely."
"Then it's settled. Did you hear that in there little man; you are a Malfoy," Draco told his stomach.
Harry bent down on his knees to talk to Draco's stomach, caressing his unborn son in the process. "Orion, your father and I love you very much. We can't wait until you come out and join us."
Vile Thing appeared then, to inform them that Eiona was up and on her way out of the nursery with Dotty.
Eiona soon joined them and they spent five minutes playing with her, before getting lost in each other once again. It was like new love all over again and they couldn't take their eyes, or their hands for that matter, off of each other. She was fine playing with her new toys she had gotten for her birthday, which happened to be a family set of pop together beetles, like her set of beloved ants. The beetles and ant parts could be joined together to make silly hybrid creatures and the child loved them so much that Draco feared he had a future Hagrid on his hands.
There was suddenly a creaking sound and then an end table went toppling over, along with Eiona and the candy dish upon it. She started screaming and Harry and Draco broke apart from their snogging session to rush over. Harry righted the table and tried to restore the candy dish to its original state, but the candies had scattered about the room, so he had to scramble to get them all. Meanwhile Draco picked up their daughter and comforted her, but it was unnecessary, because she was happy the moment she popped a candy in her mouth.
"Harry?" Draco called, looking down at his husband, still scrambling after candies.
"Yes?" Harry asked, looking up.
"We have elves for that. Dobson!" Draco called and the elf appeared instantly. "See to the candy dish Dobson."
The elf nodded and vanished the dish and spilled candies instantly. Then a fresh dish appeared on the end table, restoring the room to its original state.
Harry got up off of the floor and asked, "I suppose I need to get used to using elves the way you do?" He had Hissy now, but he rarely called her to clean up spills, used to doing some chores himself.
"Yes, you do."
Author's Note: The youngest Gorgons suggested the winning name. It sounded brilliant, so I went with it. Besides, I realized that the initials of Orion James are O. J., which is infamous in the US.
Up next will be the baby shower, Harry moving into Malfoy Manor, and there will be news on Lucius' parole…
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