Harry Potter and The Serpent King (BP5)
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
52
Views:
20,408
Reviews:
85
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
52
Views:
20,408
Reviews:
85
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Constant Vigilance
Chapter Number/Total: 14/52
Chapter Title: Constant Vigilance
Words: 2681 Words
It took less time to get out of the Ministry than it had to get in. No one stopped them this time and Harry was very glad, as it wasn't any less hot beneath the Cloak. It only took about fifteen minutes before they were standing in the entrance hall of the Manor and Harry ripped the Cloak off, fixing his glasses again and adjusting his twisted and slightly damp shirt.
Draco sighed, shaking out his damp hair. "Thanks, Lee," he said.
"No problem at all," said Lee, nodding. "Like I said, Sundays are best for when you need to go back. Tell Fred and George I'll see them, yeah?"
"Sure thing," said Harry, giving the man a small wave as he stepped back into the fireplace to Floo home. He turned to Draco when Lee was gone.
Draco had been controlling his face and now he allowed himself to relax, rolling his eyes and blushing.
Harry gave him a small grin. "Let's get Valen," he said, "and then we can talk about ... whatever it is that happened."
Draco nodded, smiling and relieved.
Harry reached his hand out and took Draco's, finding Mrs Weasley, Fleur, Hermione and Ron in the large sitting room. Valen sat in Ron's lap, playing with his little ball again.
"Hey, look, your dads are home," he said to the baby. "How'd it go?" he asked Harry.
Harry crossed the room, his arms held out to take his son. "It went fine," he answered, feeling relieved to find Valen in one piece, even though he'd known he would be all right. He smiled at Valen and kissed the tip of his Draco-like nose, smile growing as Valen made a face at him.
Draco put his arm around Harry and smiled down at the infant.
Leakey popped into the room then, holding a silver tray with a parchment in the centre.
Harry turned his head to look at the elf, raising an eyebrow as Valen jumped happily at the Apparation.
Draco smiled and reached for the parchment, which was addressed to him. He frowned when he saw the handwriting. He stepped away from the others to read it.
Harry didn't like it much when Draco moved away and he exchanged meaningful glances with Ron and Hermione. He absently patted Valen's back, waiting for what he dearly hoped wouldn't be any sort of bad news.
Draco read the letter a couple times and then folded the parchment and tucked it in his pocket.
Sort of taking that to mean that he should ask later, Harry didn't say anything.
Everyone in the room was silent for a bit before Harry asked, "Was he good?"
"Oh, of course he was, dear," said Mrs Weasley, looking away from Draco hastily.
Harry smiled and nodded. "Good boy, Valen," he said, kissing him again. "Did he eat okay?"
"Yes, he was perfectly fine."
Harry nodded again and patted Valen's bottom, pretending to feel wetness there. "I think he just went - better go change him," he said, turning to leave through the door. He raised an eyebrow at Draco. "Coming?"
Draco nodded and followed them to their rooms. He understood that Harry wanted to talk to him and he wanted some quiet time with Valen.
Harry sat on the couch in the sitting room against the armrest, bringing his knees up to lean Valen against them so that he could play with him properly. He took both of Valen's little hands and smiled when the infant wrapped them around Harry's index fingers.
Draco leaned over the back of the sofa, his face alongside his husband's. "How is our pretty boy?" he asked the infant.
Valen tried to put one of Harry's fingers in his mouth as he looked at Draco, but Harry wouldn't let him. "Daddy's hands aren't clean enough, love," he told him, wiggling his finger in Valen's grasp. He kissed Draco lightly on the cheek. "What was that letter?" he asked quietly.
Draco sighed and pulled out the parchment, reopening and looking at it. He read aloud something in French.
"Ah, right," said Harry sarcastically, raising an eyebrow.
"Severus's handwriting," Draco said, "and it says we have a spy in our home."
Harry went very still. "What?" he asked, eyes going wide. "Who the hell - how could that be?"
Draco sighed and came around the sofa, sitting down beside Harry. "I don't know," he said.
"He didn't say who it is?" Harry asked incredulously.
"No," Draco said with a sigh, and reached to pull on the little boy's foot.
"A spy for Voldemort?" Harry asked, feeling that Draco was being far too calm about this.
"Yes," Draco answered, leaning back and closing his eyes. His heart was hammering in his chest and he felt ill.
Harry's mind was racing. "We have to get out of here," he said. "No fucking way is Valen sleeping here tonight if there's a spy for fucking Voldemort. We have to go."
"We can't," Draco said.
Harry's eyes widened further. "What do you mean we can't?" he said. "Yes, we damn well can."
"We don't know who it is," Draco continued. "If we let on that we know there is a spy, then we won't be able to figure it out."
Harry clutched a hand in in his own hair, unable to believe that any of the Weasleys would ever do such a thing. "Who do you think it is?" he asked, his hands shaking.
Draco reached out and took the infant, who was now squirming.
Harry sighed as shakily as his hands were moving and he rubbed at his eyes, knowing he wouldn't be able to sleep or even let Valen out of his sight once. He thought about ignoring that they didn't know who the spy was and leaving anyway.
Draco stood up, putting Valen on his shoulder and rubbing his hand on the baby's back.
Harry took deep breaths, trying to control himself, but feeling the edge of panic. "No one touches him except for us," he said after a moment, voice higher than usual. "And I'm dead serious."
Draco transformed a chair into a cot and laid Valen in it. Then he sat next to Harry on the sofa, putting his face in his hands.
Harry moved so that he was on his knees next to Draco and wrapped arms around him, eyes shut tightly and face pressed against Draco's shoulder.
"Someone could be under Imperius," the blond said quietly.
"Then it could be ... anyone who leaves the house," Harry whispered.
"Yes," Draco sighed, "anyone."
"What do we do?" Harry asked, his hold on his husband tightening.
"I don't know," Draco said, trembling.
"Can Valen sleep in our bed with us?" Harry asked. "I don't even want him in his cot."
Draco looked up sadly at his husband and smiled. "When we are asleep, I suppose that would work," he said.
Harry nodded, still trying to remain calm. "Is there anything else we can do to lock our door or something?"
"We can lock our door," the blond answered. It had felt so good to live with people they trusted and now that trust was gone. It made him feel very tired.
Harry swallowed. "Merlin, now how do we know who we can talk to about anything? Voldemort can't find out I'm going to the Ministry to ... he can't find out our plan." He suddenly felt very sick, finding that it was very possible that Voldemort could have found out tons of information already.
"This was always a possibility," Draco said. "We forgot that. There is a reason no one knew who to trust before."
Harry rubbed furiously at his eyes again, thinking. "If it's one of the twins we're fucked, if it's Mrs Weasley we're fucked, if it's Mr Weasley we're fucked," his breathing was escalating as he spoke, "if it's Ron or Hermione we're very, very, very fucked, but I don't think it can be either of them as they don't ever leave and haven't for a long time."
"More likely one of the Weasleys, but not Ron," Draco said. "It could also be one of the Muggle family members but that would be less likely, since they don't have access to the Manor House."
"Fred and George know about the Ministry plan, and Mr and Mrs Weasley know about everything except for Horcruxes. Draco - Draco, if it's one of them, Merlin, what the hell do I do? Everything will fall apart. He'll know about it." Harry was paling quickly and shaking even more now.
Draco gritted his teeth and forced himself to be calm. "Stop," he snapped.
Harry squeezed his eyes shut and moved away from Draco, sitting properly on the couch now and resting his elbows on his knees, head in his hands.
"You can't do this, Harry," Draco said. "You can't fall apart."
Harry didn't say anything. He simply sat there, breathing deeply.
"We can't act any differently," Draco said, "or He will know."
Harry knew that was going to be hard for him, but he nodded, still not sitting up though.
"We must still behave as if we trust everyone," he said. "We can just be more careful about who we share information with."
"No one if we can help it," Harry said, voice muffled. "We say nothing to anyone unless we have to."
"We still trust Hermione and Ron," Draco said, "because if they are compromised, it is too late. We need them."
Harry nodded. "Yes, they have to be safe," he said. "We need to tell them not to say anything either if they can help it."
"But we can't tell them this," Draco said. "I don't think they could behave the same."
Harry groaned. "Then we just have to keep conversation away from anything we don't want Voldemort to know, which is bloody everything."
"Yes," Draco said, knowing how hard this would be for Harry. Draco himself had spent too many years keeping secrets; he wasn't worried about his own ability to do so.
"I'm not going back down there," Harry said, flopping limply back against the couch and frowning heavily up at the ceiling. "I can't deal with this right now."
"No, not now," Draco said. "Now we are going to bed."
Harry nodded, but he would be highly surprised if he slept.
Draco stood up and held hands out to his husband.
Harry was still for a few more moments and then reached for Draco's hands with his own, allowing himself to be pulled up.
Draco led him over to the cot, where he picked up their sleeping infant and then led them to their bedroom.
Harry did three very strong Locking Charms on the door, not stopping until he was satisfied, but of course, he wasn't very satisfied, even with the door locked. He even locked the patio doors and all of the windows.
"We aren't any less secure now than yesterday," Draco said, sighing again as he placed their infant in the cot beside the bed.
"So what?" Harry snapped but then sighed too, knowing it would not do to get angry with his husband.
Draco put a Silencing Charm on the cot. "Come here," he said in a commanding tone.
Harry frowned and looked over at Draco. "Why?" he asked.
"Potter," Draco said, sounding annoyed. "Because you are being a git."
"I am not," Harry said. "All I did was lock everything, or would you rather I not and leave the room open for the Voldemort spy?"
"Like we did last night?" Draco challenged, walking to stand in front of Harry.
"I didn't know about it last night," Harry replied scathingly. "And honestly, we should have been locking up like this every night, even before Snape sent the damn letter."
"So why didn't you?" Draco sneered, standing face-to-face with him.
"Because I got too bloody stupid and careless," Harry said, eyes glinting behind his glasses. "Is that what you want me to say? That what you want to hear?"
"Maybe this is my fault, after all," Draco snapped. "I brought us here. I suggested living here."
"Maybe it is," Harry snapped meanly. "Bloody hell, Draco."
"Maybe you should never have trusted me," Draco said, glaring.
Harry glared back, but didn't say anything for several seconds. "Why don't you stop being an idiot?" he hissed through his teeth.
"Make me, Potter," Draco sneered, eyes flashing.
"So, what, you want to fuck now?" Harry spat. "Bloody fucking hell, Draco."
Draco scowled and turned his back on Harry.
"I'm going to bed," Harry said angrily, striding around Draco and getting into bed with his clothes on, but he didn't close his eyes, only stared up at the canopy, still glaring.
"You give up too easily," Draco snapped, and walked into the bathroom.
Harry flew up out of the bed and angrily followed after Draco, pausing in the doorway of the bathroom. "Where the hell do you come up with that?" he said, looking at Draco like he was mad. "You wouldn't fucking be here if I 'gave up too easily'."
Draco turned and strode back to Harry, face inches from the other man's. "No," Draco said, "I would be dead."
Harry stared straight into Draco's eyes. "So why the hell would you say that?"
"You tell me," Draco said, an eyebrow raised as his heart pounded.
Harry glared and then pushed with his mind inside of Draco's. It wasn't hard to get inside anymore, but he still had a hard time focusing. His anger didn't really help him, but he concentrated hard.
Draco was startled when Harry used the spell and immediately put up a defence, which crumbled before he had a chance to react. What Harry heard was Draco's words of long ago, "Harry always does better when he is angry, not scared."
"You're making me angry on purpose then," Harry said, blinking to break the connection. "Just like you did before."
Draco shivered, moaning in the aftermath of the magical attack.
Harry sighed and looked down at the floor. "Sorry for doing that ...." he said, now feeling guilty for reading Draco's mind without permission.
Draco reached out his hand, cupping Harry's chin and tipping his face up to look into those green eyes. "I am yours," he said.
Harry nodded and pulled Draco into a tight embrace. "I am scared," he whispered, "but you're right. I can't be."
"We need you strong," Draco whispered against Harry's ear.
"I know," Harry replied, closing his eyes. "Valen's changed ... everything."
"Not everything," Draco whispered. "I am yours and I love you and I will do anything for you."
Harry sighed very quietly and nodded. "I'll do this for him, for you - for everyone, but for my family the most," he whispered.
Draco wrapped his arms around Harry and held him tightly.
Harry simply stood there in Draco's arms and held him close in turn. "I'm supposed to be a Gryffindor, right?" he said finally with a small smile. "Not a five-year-old little girl."
"My lion," Draco agreed. "And I am scared too."
"I suppose if we weren't scared we'd be mad," Harry said quietly, "but this really isn't just about us anymore - I know it wasn't before, but now more so than ever. We have a son now and I don't want to be fighting this in eleven years. I don't want to be fighting this in one year, but I really don't want Valen to grow up in hiding. I want him to be safe in school. I have to do this. I have to do this." He felt like he was mostly talking to himself, simply voicing his thoughts aloud.
Draco held his husband, listening and nodding. He understood how he felt. He was equally eager to have it over, and terrified of the final conflict.
Harry finally sighed and pulled away slightly. "But let's keep everything locked ... just in case," he said with another small smile.
"Agreed," Draco said with a smile. "Now, will you take me to bed?"
Harry nodded, kissing Draco's nose gently and pulling on his hands to walk with him back into the bedroom.
Chapter Title: Constant Vigilance
Words: 2681 Words
It took less time to get out of the Ministry than it had to get in. No one stopped them this time and Harry was very glad, as it wasn't any less hot beneath the Cloak. It only took about fifteen minutes before they were standing in the entrance hall of the Manor and Harry ripped the Cloak off, fixing his glasses again and adjusting his twisted and slightly damp shirt.
Draco sighed, shaking out his damp hair. "Thanks, Lee," he said.
"No problem at all," said Lee, nodding. "Like I said, Sundays are best for when you need to go back. Tell Fred and George I'll see them, yeah?"
"Sure thing," said Harry, giving the man a small wave as he stepped back into the fireplace to Floo home. He turned to Draco when Lee was gone.
Draco had been controlling his face and now he allowed himself to relax, rolling his eyes and blushing.
Harry gave him a small grin. "Let's get Valen," he said, "and then we can talk about ... whatever it is that happened."
Draco nodded, smiling and relieved.
Harry reached his hand out and took Draco's, finding Mrs Weasley, Fleur, Hermione and Ron in the large sitting room. Valen sat in Ron's lap, playing with his little ball again.
"Hey, look, your dads are home," he said to the baby. "How'd it go?" he asked Harry.
Harry crossed the room, his arms held out to take his son. "It went fine," he answered, feeling relieved to find Valen in one piece, even though he'd known he would be all right. He smiled at Valen and kissed the tip of his Draco-like nose, smile growing as Valen made a face at him.
Draco put his arm around Harry and smiled down at the infant.
Leakey popped into the room then, holding a silver tray with a parchment in the centre.
Harry turned his head to look at the elf, raising an eyebrow as Valen jumped happily at the Apparation.
Draco smiled and reached for the parchment, which was addressed to him. He frowned when he saw the handwriting. He stepped away from the others to read it.
Harry didn't like it much when Draco moved away and he exchanged meaningful glances with Ron and Hermione. He absently patted Valen's back, waiting for what he dearly hoped wouldn't be any sort of bad news.
Draco read the letter a couple times and then folded the parchment and tucked it in his pocket.
Sort of taking that to mean that he should ask later, Harry didn't say anything.
Everyone in the room was silent for a bit before Harry asked, "Was he good?"
"Oh, of course he was, dear," said Mrs Weasley, looking away from Draco hastily.
Harry smiled and nodded. "Good boy, Valen," he said, kissing him again. "Did he eat okay?"
"Yes, he was perfectly fine."
Harry nodded again and patted Valen's bottom, pretending to feel wetness there. "I think he just went - better go change him," he said, turning to leave through the door. He raised an eyebrow at Draco. "Coming?"
Draco nodded and followed them to their rooms. He understood that Harry wanted to talk to him and he wanted some quiet time with Valen.
Harry sat on the couch in the sitting room against the armrest, bringing his knees up to lean Valen against them so that he could play with him properly. He took both of Valen's little hands and smiled when the infant wrapped them around Harry's index fingers.
Draco leaned over the back of the sofa, his face alongside his husband's. "How is our pretty boy?" he asked the infant.
Valen tried to put one of Harry's fingers in his mouth as he looked at Draco, but Harry wouldn't let him. "Daddy's hands aren't clean enough, love," he told him, wiggling his finger in Valen's grasp. He kissed Draco lightly on the cheek. "What was that letter?" he asked quietly.
Draco sighed and pulled out the parchment, reopening and looking at it. He read aloud something in French.
"Ah, right," said Harry sarcastically, raising an eyebrow.
"Severus's handwriting," Draco said, "and it says we have a spy in our home."
Harry went very still. "What?" he asked, eyes going wide. "Who the hell - how could that be?"
Draco sighed and came around the sofa, sitting down beside Harry. "I don't know," he said.
"He didn't say who it is?" Harry asked incredulously.
"No," Draco said with a sigh, and reached to pull on the little boy's foot.
"A spy for Voldemort?" Harry asked, feeling that Draco was being far too calm about this.
"Yes," Draco answered, leaning back and closing his eyes. His heart was hammering in his chest and he felt ill.
Harry's mind was racing. "We have to get out of here," he said. "No fucking way is Valen sleeping here tonight if there's a spy for fucking Voldemort. We have to go."
"We can't," Draco said.
Harry's eyes widened further. "What do you mean we can't?" he said. "Yes, we damn well can."
"We don't know who it is," Draco continued. "If we let on that we know there is a spy, then we won't be able to figure it out."
Harry clutched a hand in in his own hair, unable to believe that any of the Weasleys would ever do such a thing. "Who do you think it is?" he asked, his hands shaking.
Draco reached out and took the infant, who was now squirming.
Harry sighed as shakily as his hands were moving and he rubbed at his eyes, knowing he wouldn't be able to sleep or even let Valen out of his sight once. He thought about ignoring that they didn't know who the spy was and leaving anyway.
Draco stood up, putting Valen on his shoulder and rubbing his hand on the baby's back.
Harry took deep breaths, trying to control himself, but feeling the edge of panic. "No one touches him except for us," he said after a moment, voice higher than usual. "And I'm dead serious."
Draco transformed a chair into a cot and laid Valen in it. Then he sat next to Harry on the sofa, putting his face in his hands.
Harry moved so that he was on his knees next to Draco and wrapped arms around him, eyes shut tightly and face pressed against Draco's shoulder.
"Someone could be under Imperius," the blond said quietly.
"Then it could be ... anyone who leaves the house," Harry whispered.
"Yes," Draco sighed, "anyone."
"What do we do?" Harry asked, his hold on his husband tightening.
"I don't know," Draco said, trembling.
"Can Valen sleep in our bed with us?" Harry asked. "I don't even want him in his cot."
Draco looked up sadly at his husband and smiled. "When we are asleep, I suppose that would work," he said.
Harry nodded, still trying to remain calm. "Is there anything else we can do to lock our door or something?"
"We can lock our door," the blond answered. It had felt so good to live with people they trusted and now that trust was gone. It made him feel very tired.
Harry swallowed. "Merlin, now how do we know who we can talk to about anything? Voldemort can't find out I'm going to the Ministry to ... he can't find out our plan." He suddenly felt very sick, finding that it was very possible that Voldemort could have found out tons of information already.
"This was always a possibility," Draco said. "We forgot that. There is a reason no one knew who to trust before."
Harry rubbed furiously at his eyes again, thinking. "If it's one of the twins we're fucked, if it's Mrs Weasley we're fucked, if it's Mr Weasley we're fucked," his breathing was escalating as he spoke, "if it's Ron or Hermione we're very, very, very fucked, but I don't think it can be either of them as they don't ever leave and haven't for a long time."
"More likely one of the Weasleys, but not Ron," Draco said. "It could also be one of the Muggle family members but that would be less likely, since they don't have access to the Manor House."
"Fred and George know about the Ministry plan, and Mr and Mrs Weasley know about everything except for Horcruxes. Draco - Draco, if it's one of them, Merlin, what the hell do I do? Everything will fall apart. He'll know about it." Harry was paling quickly and shaking even more now.
Draco gritted his teeth and forced himself to be calm. "Stop," he snapped.
Harry squeezed his eyes shut and moved away from Draco, sitting properly on the couch now and resting his elbows on his knees, head in his hands.
"You can't do this, Harry," Draco said. "You can't fall apart."
Harry didn't say anything. He simply sat there, breathing deeply.
"We can't act any differently," Draco said, "or He will know."
Harry knew that was going to be hard for him, but he nodded, still not sitting up though.
"We must still behave as if we trust everyone," he said. "We can just be more careful about who we share information with."
"No one if we can help it," Harry said, voice muffled. "We say nothing to anyone unless we have to."
"We still trust Hermione and Ron," Draco said, "because if they are compromised, it is too late. We need them."
Harry nodded. "Yes, they have to be safe," he said. "We need to tell them not to say anything either if they can help it."
"But we can't tell them this," Draco said. "I don't think they could behave the same."
Harry groaned. "Then we just have to keep conversation away from anything we don't want Voldemort to know, which is bloody everything."
"Yes," Draco said, knowing how hard this would be for Harry. Draco himself had spent too many years keeping secrets; he wasn't worried about his own ability to do so.
"I'm not going back down there," Harry said, flopping limply back against the couch and frowning heavily up at the ceiling. "I can't deal with this right now."
"No, not now," Draco said. "Now we are going to bed."
Harry nodded, but he would be highly surprised if he slept.
Draco stood up and held hands out to his husband.
Harry was still for a few more moments and then reached for Draco's hands with his own, allowing himself to be pulled up.
Draco led him over to the cot, where he picked up their sleeping infant and then led them to their bedroom.
Harry did three very strong Locking Charms on the door, not stopping until he was satisfied, but of course, he wasn't very satisfied, even with the door locked. He even locked the patio doors and all of the windows.
"We aren't any less secure now than yesterday," Draco said, sighing again as he placed their infant in the cot beside the bed.
"So what?" Harry snapped but then sighed too, knowing it would not do to get angry with his husband.
Draco put a Silencing Charm on the cot. "Come here," he said in a commanding tone.
Harry frowned and looked over at Draco. "Why?" he asked.
"Potter," Draco said, sounding annoyed. "Because you are being a git."
"I am not," Harry said. "All I did was lock everything, or would you rather I not and leave the room open for the Voldemort spy?"
"Like we did last night?" Draco challenged, walking to stand in front of Harry.
"I didn't know about it last night," Harry replied scathingly. "And honestly, we should have been locking up like this every night, even before Snape sent the damn letter."
"So why didn't you?" Draco sneered, standing face-to-face with him.
"Because I got too bloody stupid and careless," Harry said, eyes glinting behind his glasses. "Is that what you want me to say? That what you want to hear?"
"Maybe this is my fault, after all," Draco snapped. "I brought us here. I suggested living here."
"Maybe it is," Harry snapped meanly. "Bloody hell, Draco."
"Maybe you should never have trusted me," Draco said, glaring.
Harry glared back, but didn't say anything for several seconds. "Why don't you stop being an idiot?" he hissed through his teeth.
"Make me, Potter," Draco sneered, eyes flashing.
"So, what, you want to fuck now?" Harry spat. "Bloody fucking hell, Draco."
Draco scowled and turned his back on Harry.
"I'm going to bed," Harry said angrily, striding around Draco and getting into bed with his clothes on, but he didn't close his eyes, only stared up at the canopy, still glaring.
"You give up too easily," Draco snapped, and walked into the bathroom.
Harry flew up out of the bed and angrily followed after Draco, pausing in the doorway of the bathroom. "Where the hell do you come up with that?" he said, looking at Draco like he was mad. "You wouldn't fucking be here if I 'gave up too easily'."
Draco turned and strode back to Harry, face inches from the other man's. "No," Draco said, "I would be dead."
Harry stared straight into Draco's eyes. "So why the hell would you say that?"
"You tell me," Draco said, an eyebrow raised as his heart pounded.
Harry glared and then pushed with his mind inside of Draco's. It wasn't hard to get inside anymore, but he still had a hard time focusing. His anger didn't really help him, but he concentrated hard.
Draco was startled when Harry used the spell and immediately put up a defence, which crumbled before he had a chance to react. What Harry heard was Draco's words of long ago, "Harry always does better when he is angry, not scared."
"You're making me angry on purpose then," Harry said, blinking to break the connection. "Just like you did before."
Draco shivered, moaning in the aftermath of the magical attack.
Harry sighed and looked down at the floor. "Sorry for doing that ...." he said, now feeling guilty for reading Draco's mind without permission.
Draco reached out his hand, cupping Harry's chin and tipping his face up to look into those green eyes. "I am yours," he said.
Harry nodded and pulled Draco into a tight embrace. "I am scared," he whispered, "but you're right. I can't be."
"We need you strong," Draco whispered against Harry's ear.
"I know," Harry replied, closing his eyes. "Valen's changed ... everything."
"Not everything," Draco whispered. "I am yours and I love you and I will do anything for you."
Harry sighed very quietly and nodded. "I'll do this for him, for you - for everyone, but for my family the most," he whispered.
Draco wrapped his arms around Harry and held him tightly.
Harry simply stood there in Draco's arms and held him close in turn. "I'm supposed to be a Gryffindor, right?" he said finally with a small smile. "Not a five-year-old little girl."
"My lion," Draco agreed. "And I am scared too."
"I suppose if we weren't scared we'd be mad," Harry said quietly, "but this really isn't just about us anymore - I know it wasn't before, but now more so than ever. We have a son now and I don't want to be fighting this in eleven years. I don't want to be fighting this in one year, but I really don't want Valen to grow up in hiding. I want him to be safe in school. I have to do this. I have to do this." He felt like he was mostly talking to himself, simply voicing his thoughts aloud.
Draco held his husband, listening and nodding. He understood how he felt. He was equally eager to have it over, and terrified of the final conflict.
Harry finally sighed and pulled away slightly. "But let's keep everything locked ... just in case," he said with another small smile.
"Agreed," Draco said with a smile. "Now, will you take me to bed?"
Harry nodded, kissing Draco's nose gently and pulling on his hands to walk with him back into the bedroom.