A Gilded Cage

Chapter 13
The Way Things Should Be….

Draco stared at himself in the mirror, it was a man he hardly recognized. Deep purple had settled under his eyes, and his hair was in a constant state of disarray. His skin was paler then usual and it looked like he had lost weight that he did not need to lose. He sighed and turned away from the mirror and into the shower. It came to life the moment he stepped inside and he simply sighed and leaned against the wall allowing the hot water to loosen tense muscles. For a moment that’s all he did then he remember there was a pressing engagement he had to get to.

Moments later he once again stood in front of the mirror hair now more manageable. The bags were still there, but one glamour later no one was going to notice. He had just donned his simple black robes when Scorpius walked in with a crying Maria dressed in hr finest black dress. Draco could only sigh and draw the girl into his arms whispering soft words of comfort. He nodded to Scorpius who headed to the floo, Draco not far behind.

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The mourners stood around Draco offering condolences. He accepted them all with a stony expression, keeping the emotions he wanted to show tightly confined. The last few days had been hell for him. His own recovery had taken longer then it should have, due to stress according to the healer. And it all came from the discovery that he would have to plan a funeral. He had instantly buried any emotions he had felt and went to tell his children the news. Maria had taken it the hardest.

Maria was sobbing into her godfathers chest. Severus, who still wasn’t the best with children, was looking to a sad looking Remus for help. Remus gently took the girl from Severus and spoke gently to her. Draco wasn’t sure what was said but the girl calmed considerable a moment later.

She sniffed and offered Remus a watery smile. He returned it gently and then returned a sudden hug. Severus’ arm had wrapped around the werewolf’s waist and Remus gladly leaned into him.

Draco almost smiled at that. They were good for one another, now if only Harry… Draco shook his head taking his mind from those thoughts. This was not the appropriate time nor place. He moved towards the front shaking hands with a few people he passed, before he turned to face the assembled,

“Thank you for Coming,” he began drawing the attention of all the people. Some were faces he knew and others were not. Some looked at him with Pity, others with hatred. But he could deal with all that. He started to speak again, only to have his voice shake. He had to stop to regain his composure. The instant he did soft whispers of sympathy reached his ears. But they would never know the extent of it, how the relationship had began and how it had ended. It had been strained from the beginning and the ending was worse then any before it.

He sighed once more before beginning the eulogy he had planned all the previous evening. His voice echoing the grieving he felt.
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Draco entered the hospital room carrying a few flowers. Cliché he knew, but he thought the room could use some brightening up. He placed them in a vase beside the bed and then turned to the figure. He bent placing a soft kiss on the man’s forehead and sat back as bright green eyes fluttered open,

“Draco…” Harry smiled weakly and carefully moved into a sitting position which Draco instantly protested. Harry waved him off, but gave in when Draco settled into the bed beside him and insisted he lean against him,

“How did it go?” he asked softly and Draco snorted,

“They bought it all. Of course no one outside of the ministry knows exactly what happened. But I played my part, everyone believed I was mourning her.” he said sneering at the idea of mourning the woman who had ruined the last 13 years of his life. Harry sighed and nodded,

“How’s Maria and Scorpius?” he asked a hint of concern in his voice. Draco smiled, amazed how the other man could be more concerned about other people then himself,

“Maria…She’s coping… but she did spend all today crying, she’s with Remus and Severus now. Scorpius, he understood more than he let on. He didn’t mourn her death more than a passing thought. Maria will be alright, she’s already asking about you.” he added in watching Harry laugh and then begin to cough. Draco gently patted his back and Harry eventually settled,

“The healer told me that the poison that was on the blade should be just about out of my system. I should actually start getting better soon.” he said sounding annoyed, “And they’ve managed to convince the prophet that I’m not here and never was. As far as they know I’m on vacation in Egypt.” he chuckled, “But I’ve got to get back soon. Quidditch practice will start relatively soon.” Draco chuckled with Harry,

“Well you better be coming back from vacation then…plus Scorpius wants you to teach him to fly before school. Don’t look at me like that. He doesn’t want ME teaching him. He wants the great Harry Potter.” he teased watching Harry shake his head,

“Well I suppose I could help out a little. Maybe bring him to see our practices or something.” he mused, “I can always get you guys some tickets. And you know maybe when I’m not busy come over for a bit hang out have some fun…” he glanced at Draco who had one eyebrow raised,

“I don’t think so Mr. Potter. Your not coming to visit. You’ll bring all your bad luck and leave it behind!” he said watching the other man smirk,

“Oh? So then what if… I just stay? Then I can take care of all that bad luck when it comes?” Draco began to hum and looked like he was thinking about it,

“Well, I suppose. But of course since your so accident prone I’ll have to keep you close by of course… well we can always just move you into my room. I mean honestly you might trip and knock yourself out moving down the hallway…” Draco snickered when Harry weakly punched him in the shoulder,

“Git.” He muttered and Draco smirked, “Of course I am. But you wouldn’t accept anything else…” Draco leaned forward and kissed the other man never so happy to have Harry Potter in his arms.

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1 year later…

Harry stood in the dining room of Malfoy Manor with Remus watching as Severus and Draco attempted to beat Scorpius and Maria in exploding snap. Severus who had never even touched the game as a child was having a hard time understanding the appeal, but he had been unable to resisted the calls of his god-children. Ron and Hermione were there as well, Hermione with their youngest in her lap.

The other children were off running around with George and Angelina’s children. Crabbe and Goyle, who had shocked everyone by getting jobs that required more brains then anyone thought they could muster, were laughing with Bill and Fluer while their wives disappeared to the ladies room to powder their noses.

Ginny and her husband were close by as well talking to Sirius who seemed to have finally settled down with a lovely young lady that Harry realized he recognized. When she had first walked in, he had never imagined that his god-father had been seeing Draco’s secretary. Cassandra was showing Ginny the ring and Sirius was proudly grinning from ear to ear as Ginny praised him for his choice.

Harry had never felt more content then he did at this moment. He was surrounded by friends he loved and he had the love of Draco, who had finally been forced to concede defeat. Severus laughed when Maria said something to Draco that made the man frown slightly. Harry was so engrossed in the scene that he jumped when Remus spoke,

“Relax Harry.” Remus laughed tossing his arm around the younger man’s shoulders, “It’s perfect isn’t it?” he asked Harry who nodded,

“Almost. If mum and dad were here. Then it would be perfect. But this… this works just as well.” He said smiling at Remus who nodded,

“But then again we’d probably be in the midst of a prank war and then consequently a duel between Severus, Draco and James and Sirius. It would end with some bruised egos and then life would move on as if nothing had ever happened.” Harry chuckled at Remus’ description,

“It would have been an interesting evening…” he glanced at Draco who was rounding everyone into a large living room off the dining room where a large Christmas tree was sitting surrounded by what looked like hundreds of presents.

Draco had gone overboard with the gifts, but Harry had been unable to convince him it wasn’t necessary. Everyone had simply laughed at Draco’s exuberance. He’d never really had a decent family celebration between first his parents and then Pansy who was never there. He had wanted this one to special for everyone involved.

Draco waved Harry over a loveseat where he happily settled next to Draco to watch the gifts being opened. There was one for everyone, and even amount more for each of the children. Wrapping paper was flying all over the room and Harry laughed at the shouts of ‘mommy look at this!’ and ‘Dad look what Santa got me!’. Draco had made sure they were all signed from Santa Clause to give the kids something to hold on to.


Harry smiled brightly and kissed his cheek when he opened a box containing a silver chair attached to a pendent with a ruby in the center. There were a number of protection charms on it and Harry was flattered,

“Then maybe you won’t get into so much trouble.” Draco whispered into his ear and Harry rolled his eyes,

“I haven’t gotten into any trouble lately so be quiet.” He retaliated but quickly clasped the chain around his neck. Harry had gotten Draco a new cloak with protection charms and a couple of stress relieving ones woven into it. As Minister Draco needed all the help he could get.

All the wrapping paper had been cleaned up and people were just sitting around talking when Maria suddenly spoke up,

“Papa! There’s another one!” she said pointing to the small package. Draco looked,

“So there is… who’s it for?” he asked though he knew perfectly well who it was for and what it was, and his children knew as well. The girl scrambled over to it and picked it up,

“It says it’s for… Harry!” She said smiling and scrambling over to them and climbing into Harry’s lap holding the package. Harry took it with a slight glare to Draco. They’d agreed on buying just one gift for each other so what was this?,

“Just open it Harry…” Draco said with a smile and Harry glanced up noting everyone was watching with curious faces. He sighed and finally gave in. He removed the brightly colored paper and then stared curiously at the small silver box in his hand. It appeared to be very old and he glanced at Draco who was watching nervously.

Finally Harry opened the small silver box and gaped at the ring inside. It was an emerald with the Malfoy crest buried deeply inside the jewel. Suddenly Draco moved and was kneeling in front of Harry,

“Harry…Will you do me the honor… of marrying me?” he asked carefully watching Harry’s face for any sign of rejection. Maria had one fist in Harry’s robes staring at him with wide eyes. Finally Harry seemed to have found his voice and turned to Draco,

“Draco I…of course!” he smiled and Draco returned it as the group burst into cheers and applause. Draco moved to kiss Harry but was interrupted by Maria hugging Harry with a giggle,

“Yay! I have a new mommy!” Draco started laughing while Harry looked slightly horrified,

“How about dad sweet heart?” Harry suggested and the girl paused and then nodded,

“Alright then. I have another daddy.” she snuggled into the mans side and finally Draco got his kiss. He settled back down beside Harry and Scorpius joined them, squeezing in between them his head on Draco’s shoulder. Harry smiled, now he was more content then he thought possible. And Draco, well Draco was thinking that the place that he had thought of as a cage for so long, had finally become a true home.

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HAHAHAHAHA bet you thought I’d killed off Harry didn’t you? I thought about it. But didn’t. Oh how I wanted to. LOL but I resisted that evil part of myself. And the proposal thing, came out of right field. I didn’t even see it coming until I had it down. I was just thinking a happy little Christmas to end everything. But NOOO my mind went else where! Well that’s the end. I might do a sequel, but then again I might not. It just all depends on reviews and everyone’s opinions.

And I realize I didn’t say much about what happened to Pansy, and that’s because I just don’t like her and thusly decided all that mattered was that she was dead. End of story contract terminated! ^-^ Well that’s all for me. Oh and I would like to request that if you haven’t read my one-shot that you do so. I like it better then this one. Though I was a tad bit out of it when I wrote that ^-^; Thanks for those of you that stuck with me till the end!