One's True Nature

17

The morning rushed in on Harry and Draco. The air was bitter cold as Draco awoke from his sleep. The fire had gone, the heat with it, but Harry was pressed up against Draco's side, an arm slung over his chest. He didn't want to get up, but the talking downstairs was loud, indicating that they may very well be the last two up on Christmas morning. Harry didn't stir and Draco was really unsure if he should wake him, his soft snores told the story of someone who was sleeping comfortably and the swollen bags under his eyes spoke of someone often sleepless. Draco wondered if that was due to him, or just the sex they had had.

Harry stirred after about ten minutes of Draco debating whether to wake him. He opened his eyes and Draco was amazed at the first sight of his green eyes. He had always been used to those eyes being furious or angry, bitter and cold. These were warm, a little hesitant and unsure, definitely cute. He kissed Harry on the lips. He pulled back and despite the man's age, he looked almost like a young man who was unsure of what he was really doing. Draco was becoming equally insecure, he may have potrayed himself as someone strong in certain situations, but especially when it came to love he felt inadequite. He started to get up in his confusion and anxiety, just to avoid Harry's gaze.

Harry pulled him back down to the bed, his smile wide.

"Good morning Draco." He said softly.

When they finally arrived downstairs, they found that everyone was in around a warm fire sipping cocoa, no presents having been opened. Draco was particular to notice that Hermione and Ron were very close to eachother and looked very tired or sick, it was unusual he thought, for him to notice this, but he couldn't help it.

"Good morning you two." Ginny spoke softly, handing each of the men some cocoa. They both nodded appriciatively at her and took carful sips to warm themselves. There was playful banter from the children about their gifts, all of them, save Albus were very distracted by their gifts. Albus was huddled by himself wrapped in a blanket, slightly shivering and Harry took notice after surveying the room.

"Why is he by himself Gin?" Harry said almost sternly and Draco turned his head in such a way so that he could hear the exchange without staring at them. She let out an exasperated sigh.

"Listen Harry, you don't think I've tried to get him to be more social?" She was speaking with a clear bite to her words. "He doesn't feel comfortable, I don't know why, he won't talk to me." Her frustration built with each succesive sentence. "What exactly am I supposed to do force him?" Her voice almost rose from the sharp whisper as the last words came from her lips.

"I'm not attacking you Gin, but if you didn't coddle him so much-" Harry stopped when Ginny met his eyes with absolute anger and frustration. Draco couldn't see them, but he could clearly feel the intensity of their rage.

"Coddle him?" She threw up her hands in disgust and turned and left.

Draco was not sure if he should say anything. Harry was really angry, he could tell, but on the other hand, Draco felt that Harry had been unfair to his wife. He decided he needn't be on Harry's bad side after last night, especially since, they hadn't even declared it an official relationship. Draco decided to go chat with Scorpious.

He definitely felt less awkward with his son now than in years past, his son knew his secrets, at least part of them and that was the biggest reason he always felt a barrier between them as the boy grew up. He went and sat next to his son. It was noted that any conversation they might have would not be private because the room was full of people talking and warming themselves by the fire.

"Good morning son." Draco said warmly as he sat down in a chair which stared into the fire. The flames danced on both Malfoys' skin and shone brightly in their silver eyes. Scorpious gave a non-commital shrug and hello. Draco took that as some kind of sign that something bad had happened.

"Are you ok?" Draco asked after a sip of cocoa.

"Yeah, I'm ok, but Albus isn't." Scorpious said almost sad, like Albus was dead.

Draco raised his eyebrows in confusion. "What do you mean?"

The Malfoy heir looked his father in the eye. "Do you promise if I tell you, you'll keep it a secret?"

This worried Draco, what did his son know about Albus' troubles? Was it possible that Harry or Ginny might find a way to blame him or his son, were scorpious somehow involed, but like a controled explosion, the inner self confidence destruction only lasted a moment and he responded gently.

"Son, if you know something that might help him, you should tell me, or even his parents." Draco's eyes were gentle, but they hid a continued worry that he might be in trouble for this. He cast a dulling charm that didn't stop the sound from his area of the room from traveling as that might look suspicious, he was thinking like a Slytherin would, the sound would still carry, but anyone who heard them couldn't discern what was being said. A word here or there, some soft speech, but nothing exact.

"I promised him I wouldn't say Dad, I promised." Scorpious was deepily conflicted, Draco could tell by the indecision of the boy's eyes.

"Listen to me Scorpious," He took a deep calming breath so that he did not sound too stern when he spoke. "You'd be doing the right thing. That's important over a promise." He looked his son in the face and gave him an encouraging look.

"Ok." Scorpious relented, his shoulders slumped his body looking worn and tired. "Do you remember last year when those three boys were expelled for doing unforgivables on Hagrid's animals?" Draco nodded and then his eyes looked slightly confused, but he let his son continue. "Well, Albus, he was the one who saw them doing them." Scorpious looked pained as he continued to explain. Draco listened very intently.

"He just lost all ability to preform spells and things. He doesn't sleep and when he does, he has nightmares about screaming animals. He doesn't like to use his wand, he's afraid to go anywhere alone." Tears of frustration were falling down Scorpious' face. Draco listened, ignoring the tears, in case his son lost the urge to continue. "I've tried helping him all I can, but I'm not doing any good for him. We had a huge fight last night because he woke up screaming again and I said he should tell someone. He won't tell anyone and I can't-"

And Draco realized his son was unable to continue to speak with him.

"It's alright son, you did what you could, but now, someone else has to help him." Draco didn't really ever hug his son, it just wasn't something he understood. So when Scorpious put his arms around his shoulders, he felt very awkward and unsure of himself. "It's alright son, I promise."

Draco removed the charm and both Malfoys' sat in relative silence until Harry clasped Draco's left shoulder. Draco looked up at Harry, who looked very pale, like something horrid had happened. Draco was almost afraid he'd been careless at that somehow Harry had gotten past his charm.

"I need to talk to you" Harry's voice was cold, no pained. Draco stood up instantly and followed Harry into the empty hallway just beside the room they were in. Harry turned and looked Draco in the eye. "It's Hermione, She had a miscarraige last night." Draco felt like he'd been smacked with a hammer. He had been so blind last night, he hadn't even asked Ron why he'd been out and about last night. It was a horrid revelation and the sudden closeness of the two made much more sense. They always were angry or conflicted, passionate, no matter what day it was, so any time they were both quiet and unmoved to some kind of match and passion was rare and easy to notice. Draco swallowed guiltily.

"Is she alright?" Draco asked softly.

"A bit ill as you could tell no doubt, but Ron seems to be taking it really hard. It was a boy after all." Harry looked at the wall, deliberately avoiding Draco's eyes. "I wanted to ask you-" Harry's eyes searched the floor "I mean, as a favor to me-" Harry's breathing became tense. "I mean, not that you owe me anythi-"

"Harry just ask me." Draco said softly.

"Well, you are so good with potions and things, I thought you might be able to help." Harry looked up into his silver eyes.

"I'm not a Mediwizard Harry." Draco's voice was gentle. "But I will try." And he kissed Harry's lips gently.

He followed Harry to Ron and Hermione's room, he noted that despite the home's unremarkable appearance, someone had taken great pains to build it to hold lot's perhaps a hundred people comfortably, not the manor by any respect, but it was surprisingly cozy.

They both entered the room, Draco following Harry, not really sure what he was going to be doing and not even sure what he should say. He saw Ron, attentive at his wife's beside. She looked very ill and Draco thought of a few potions that might help as he looked them both over. The tough deal for muggleborns was that, their bodies often didn't take the potions the same, especially ones aimed at pregnancy, it was a mystery because Halfbloods could, but Muggleborns couldn't.

Draco eventually Spoke. "Harry, you and Ron should go for a walk." Harry looked at Draco in surprise. "Listen," He whispered to Harry. "I need to do some tests first, I don't need Ron worrying and he looks like he could use a friend right now. Just go." Harry eventually relented and Ron gave no resistence as he followed Harry from the room. He looked absolutely crushed.

Draco waited only a slight moment before approaching Hermione's bedside. He didn't feel too awkward which was slightly wierd to him. She opened her eyes and looked up at him, no signs of the years of hatred or bitterness, only saddness was there now and Draco took her hand gently.

"I want to help You Hermione, is that alright?" He spoke softly. She nodded weakly.

"I need to ask you some questions and I'll need to do some tests, they shouldn't be harmful, but I need to know if anything bothers you, alright?" She nodded again and he began a series of tests.

After several minutes, he was unsure of his results, he ran his wand over her again and his eyes looked very confused and he shook slightly with excitement or fear. He looked up at her. He felt the wand viberate with a tiny heart beat. "Are you sure you miscarried?" He looked at her, his brows raised in confusion.

"There was alot of blood and then it hurt so terribly. This has happened before." She confessed, barely able to speak.

"It has?" Draco questioned. "How long have you two been trying?" "How many times?"

"A little over a year and a half." She breathed a shaky sigh. "About 5 times. The doctors don't understand."

"Hermione, your baby is still alive right now." Draco said softly.

"What?!" She nearly jerked upward.

"Calm down. I ran tests, he's still alive, but somehow your body is trying to reject him." Draco spoke gently as he ran a thumb over her hand. "I can help, but you both must trust me." He looked at her. And then, he pulled he blanket back and Hermione watched as her best friend's greatest rival spoke to her unborn son.

"Listen little one, I know you are so scared right now, but hold on, alright? I am going to help you, just calm down." Hermione was speechless. She had seen his true nature years ago, but right in front of her, Draco Malfoy had shattered everything she ever believed about him. "Just a bit longer, I will make your home nice and cozy again."

He asked for Ginny's help in the kitchen as he secured the things necessary to brew the potion he intended to use. Ginny, knowing the children were restless, Ginny encouraged them to open their gifts by themselves. She knew about Hermione and figured that it might be difficult to explain why all the waiting was going on. Draco worked through the shouts and whoops and tearing of wrapping paper and shouting of thank yous'

In all honesty, he had forgotten about his conversation with his own son just an hour before. Suddenly, out of nowhere, James spoke,

"It's the baby's turn to open his presents, maybe he'll cry like a widdle it bity baby." The boy's remarks seemed to spark Ginny into a sudden relization as to where she was.

"I'm not-" Albus defended himself with a barely audible cry.

"Do you know what it's like to have a stupid weakling brother like you?" James' venom was seething and Draco could see Scorpious rise to his feet. Ginny seemed incappable of acting, either unsure of what to do, or thinking somehow that this was a benificial turn of events. Draco continued to work, though he was now taking his eyes off the potion to check what was happening, he wanted to ask Ginny why she wasn't stopping this, but who was he to judge?

"I'm-I-I-" Albus stuttered he was clearly intimidated by the danger of his brother and Draco felt a stab of sympathy for the youngest Potter, himself, having been easily intimidated as a boy.

"I-I-I-" James mocked, "I heard you scream last night, what? Scorpious was too rough with you?"

"Alright!" Ginny's bark was so sudden and so loud that Draco nearly dumped the potion he was stirring, but quickily recovered himself and glared at her.

"You want to know why he's so upset?" Both adults were shocked as was the rest of the room when Scorpious spoke, such power in his voice, pure fury in his words. "Do you know that he was the one that saw Hagrid's animals tortured and killed? Do you know how much that scared him? He can't hold his wand without shaking. He hates magic of most kinds except potions.

"Scor, y-y-you promised me." Albus was horrified that his best friend was revealing his most private secrets.

"You don't understand what it was like James, you didn't see it! He did!" And both boys stared at eachother angry and hateful.

"He's weak, he's no potter!" Barked James.

And Draco paled of all the times for Harry to suddenly walk in on a situation. He saw the man's confused look. Without warning, Albus wailed.

"I hate you all, I don't want to be a Potter anyways. I hate this stupid family!" The youngest Potter stormed from the room. Scorpious made to go after him, but Draco stopped him with a sharp call of his name.

"No, I'll go after him." Draco said sharpily. He froze James with a evil glare.

"What's going on?" Harry asked, very confused and wondering what had made his son so upset.

"I'll explain later, ok?" Draco spoke softly giving Harry's hand a soft squeeze and then turned to follow Albus' path.

Draco didn't understand why he felt the urge to speak with Albus, afterall, he wasn't the boy's father and he'd not had any expirence dealing with a child in this state. Scorpious had been naturally self reliant and kept his emotions to himself most of the time. The only times Draco had significant parental interaction with his son was when the boy got in trouble, which wasn't very frequently.

He knocked gently and then turned the knob to the bedroom he'd thought Albus went into. He was relieved when he found a boy face down on the bed crying.

"Go away Scorpious, I hate you!" The boy barked, betrayal in his words.

"I'm not Scorpious, so I am afraid that request can't be applied to me." Draco's words were stern, but understanding was in them.

Albus tensed and then spoke again. This time with a shakier voice. "I don't feel like talking." Albus sniffed into his pillow. "Sorry."

"No need to be sorry, I understand why you don't want to talk about it?" Draco transfigured a box into a chair and sat beside the boy's bed. "But it's better to talk about it."

"I can't-" Albus sniffed. "It was just, they screamed and screamed, I never knew magic could do that."

Draco felt a complete connection with the youngest Potter just now. The only difference between them was that Draco had seen it happen to people. He waited several moments to speak.

"I know what you mean, but that doesn't mean all magic is bad Albus Potter." He breathed out. "Sit up please. The boy obeyed and Draco was amazed at how fragile the boy looked. His eyes red and puffy and hair messy. He was Harry, truly Harry, before Harry had learned to survive because no one had ever loved him. "Let me show you."

A small plant was on the table, perhaps a herbology experiment. Draco killed it in one swift motion and watched the boy's panic as the plant withered in front of him. Truly, he was innocence the way Draco had never seen.

"Now, magic can kill, but look at this-" And with a flip of his wand, the plant was twice as vibrant as before. The boy's reaction now one of admiration. "Whether magic is good or bad, or harms or heals, it's all up to the user." Draco looked into Albus' uncertain eyes "You shouldn't be afraid of it. I saw similar things like you did when I was young. I eventually understood this, but it took a long time."

"Do you ever forget what you saw?" Albus asked wiping his eyes with his sleeves.

"Never, but eventually, you'll understand that, bad things just happen, it's up to us to decide how we change them. that's what your dad did." Draco found a fondness and a understanding of Harry warming him inside as he spoke. "You should be proud to be a Potter."

"Thanks Mister Malfoy." Albus said and then got up.

"We should get back to everyone, Christmas doesn't need this much chaos." Draco said, more to himself than to Albus. Returning to the room with Albus in toe, he wondered how much more weird drama was in store, perhaps a relationship, when they called it that, would be just what Harry and he both needed.

End chapter 17
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A/N: Sorry for the long wait. H/D Picks up much more in the next chapter. The fights between Scorpious and James are settled. Christmas is an escape, or is it? Harry is just about to realize, old enimies die hard. Please Review. Next Chapter 'The kittens meow'