Harry Potter and The Beloved Incubus (BP4)
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
41
Views:
21,701
Reviews:
120
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
41
Views:
21,701
Reviews:
120
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.
First Step
Chapter Number/Total: 22/40
Chapter Title: First Step
Words: 4503 Words
Harry followed Draco very quickly, getting that spinning, dizzy feeling he got from long distance Apparation. He heard himself crying again and knew that if his seventeen-year-old self didn't like the feeling of Apparation, his one-year-old self certainly would not either.
Little Harry was howling in Draco's ear and the blond winced.
"We have to get him quiet before we go up there," Harry said, stepping inside the gates.
"Ideas?" Draco yelled over the noise. "Shhh," he told the boy, but the child was not listening.
Harry flapped his hands a bit. "I - I don't know," he said. "Why don't you try to make him laugh or something?"
Draco frowned, trying to think of what would get the child's attention. He pulled his glove off his left hand and wiggled his silver fingers in front of the boy's face. Little Harry's eyes went wide and he stopped screaming, only letting out a little hiccup instead. The boy reached out and began running fingers over the hand.
Harry sighed with relief. "Good," he said, gesturing for Draco to follow him up the long path to the school. "Are we just going to be able to walk in? It's not like we're students here. I'm right there," Harry pointed to the baby in Draco's arms, "and you're at home probably asleep in your cot."
"How would I know?" Draco asked. He raised an amused eyebrow as little Harry began to chew on his silver thumb.
Harry sighed. "We have to be careful. We have to keep him quiet as well or else we'll certainly be caught."
"Well, he seems to be content to chew on me for the moment," Draco said. "You could put your Cloak on and sneak into the castle while we waited outside."
"Yeah, we could do that," Harry said, thinking. "How the hell do I get into Dumbledore's office? I don't know what the password would be for right now and I know that's where he has to be at this time of night."
Draco looked up at the tower where the Headmaster's office was and considered it for a minute. "I could fly up there," he said.
"And how are you going to do that?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow.
Draco was distracted by little Harry sucking on one of his silver fingers. He raised an eyebrow, smirking. "I think he is hungry."
Harry frowned. "Well, we can feed him when we get up to the school, I suppose," he said with a small shrug.
Nodding, Draco looked around. "I can get a broom from the team equipment lockers," he said. He gently pulled his finger from the boy's mouth and was rewarded with a familiar scowl. He chuckled.
Harry shook his head at Draco, amused. "Okay," he said, hoping that Dumbledore would let them in.
"There are benches over there," Draco said, nodding in the direction. "You two can wait there for me."
Harry nodded. "Okay," he said again, and he thought for a moment. "Tell Dumbledore that someone he knows wants to see him. It won't be a lie and he'll probably think I'm my dad for a minute."
"Even better," Draco said, "I'll tell him Potter is waiting to speak to him." They reached the bench and Draco held out the little boy to Harry.
"All right," said Harry, taking the baby from Draco. He took a seat on the bench with him and sighed sadly when he began chanting, "Dada," again.
Draco leaned in and kissed his husband gently, laying his right hand on his belly as he did.
Harry gave Draco a small smile. "You better go before he starts crying again," he said quietly.
Draco smiled and tousled little Harry's hair. He left the bags on the bench too. "There's food in our pack," Draco said. "I think the three of you should eat while I am gone."
Harry nodded, reaching for the bag with the food.
Draco made his way across the dark grounds of Hogwarts to the Quidditch locker rooms. A couple simple spells and he had gotten into the equipment storage area and found a serviceable broom. It was very old-fashioned but it appeared new.
The tower was dark, so that meant he would most likely be waking the old man up. He sighed, mounted the broom, and launched into the air. Hovering near a window to the Headmaster's office, he pulled his wand and cast Lumos. That was when he realised the full importance of what he was doing. He was about to talk with Albus Dumbledore - a man who was now dead in his time and of whom he carried a lot of interesting memories. Draco took a deep breath and knocked on the window.
Harry waited for Draco nervously as he tore off little pieces of the food they had brought to feed to little Harry. He smiled at himself as the small boy drooled a little and got jam from the sandwich Harry was feeding him all over his face.
Draco waited a few minutes more and then knocked again. He grew increasingly nervous hovering in the air, lit up like a big target.
After a few minutes, he saw a light appear in that back room he remembered as the man's bedroom. Draco knocked again, shivering a bit as the wind buffeted him.
Finally he saw the man make his way toward the window, wand held at ready. "Who's there?" he called out.
"The Potters have been attacked," Draco called back. "I am here with Potter and little Harry."
Dumbledore's eyes widened in alarm and confusion. "Where are they?" he called.
"Below, outside Hogwarts," Draco said, pointing.
Dumbledore looked down around Draco, but obviously could not see Harry from where he was. "I will be right out," he said, turning from the window and hurrying quickly across the room.
Draco assumed that was a dismissal and flew back down to land beside Harry and little Harry. The little boy waved at him and reached for the broom.
"Well?" Harry asked. "What happened?" He held onto the baby as he attempted to get out of his arms.
Draco raised an eyebrow at the baby's behaviour and moved the broom out of reach. "He will be right down," Draco said as he sat beside them. Little Harry climbed right into his lap.
Harry nodded and then laughed at the baby. "Merlin, I think I already like you," he said.
Draco held the boy and looked into his eyes. "If only you had been like this in Madam Malkin's," he told the child.
Harry snorted. "Climbing all over you?" he asked with a sly smile.
Draco smirked. "I wouldn't have minded." Little Harry had tugged his hood down and was now pulling on his hair which came loose from its tie.
Harry smiled again and then stared off towards the castle, waiting for Dumbledore as his heart began beating quicker.
Draco had put his gloves back on. The night had grown colder. He picked up the blanket and tried to re-wrap the little boy, but little Harry wasn't having any of it, tugging hard on Draco's hair again.
Finally, Harry could see a tall figure approaching, long white beard nearly glowing in the moon light. Harry sat up straighter and then got to his feet.
Dumbledore stepped forward, frowning. "James?" he asked hesitantly, looking at Harry confusedly, but he seemed to think twice because his frown turned into one more of suspicion than confusion.
"Professor," Harry said quietly. "No, I'm not James."
Draco sat, holding little Harry and watching the two other men. He winced as little Harry tried to pull himself up using a handful of white-blond hair.
Dumbledore frowned even heavier and looked over at Draco and the baby. His eyes widened with alarm and he actually took a firm step towards them. His eyes took in Draco's hair. "Lucius Malfoy?" he asked, sounding like he wasn't too sure of that either.
Draco's eyes snapped up to the older man's and widened. "No," he said, "I'm related, though."
Dumbledore looked like he wanted to take little Harry from Draco. "Who are you?" he asked both men. His wand was drawn and Harry noticed his hand tightening on it. "You said that 'Potter' was here. I only see one Potter and I assume he is certainly not the one who wishes to see me."
"In a way, he is," said Harry. "Please, sir. Please, please, please hear me out. I know it sounds mad, but I'm Harry. And he's Draco Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy's son."
Draco had not drawn his own wand and continued to meet the older man's gaze levelly. He nodded in acknowledgement of what Harry said. "A message from you sent us back here this night," he said.
Harry nodded hurriedly. "Yes. I'm Harry at seventeen. Look at my face, my eyes. Compare me to the baby if you have to. He got a scar on his forehead tonight; I have that same scar."
Dumbledore stared from Harry to the baby, still looking very suspicious and wary.
"I swear it, sir," Harry said desperately. "I swear it."
"It's cold out here," Draco said. "We should get this little bloke inside."
Dumbledore had that expression on his face that Harry always took for being a stern look. "I hope you won't mind if I insist upon taking Harry and having the two of you walk ahead of me. If you are who you say you are, then it should be no problem."
Draco stood up and tried to hand little Harry to Dumbledore but the child protested, refusing to release his hair. "Come on, Harry, let go," he said. "Always obsessed with my hair."
Dumbledore frowned but Harry smiled.
Dumbledore reached out and took the little boy from Draco and Harry reached a hand out for his husband's.
Draco spent a moment gently prying the little fingers from his hair and then hefted their bags onto his shoulders before taking his lover's hand.
"To your office, sir?" Harry asked.
"Yes ...." said Dumbledore slowly, waiting for them to move.
Harry nodded and the small group began walking over the vast lawn of Hogwarts, making their way to the castle. It looked exactly the same as Hogwarts in Harry's own time.
Draco drew his hood back up, as much to hide his hair from anyone who saw them as because of the cold. He squeezed Harry's hand gently.
Several minutes later, they were standing in front of the gargoyle guarding Dumbledore's office.
"Fizzing Whizbee," Dumbledore said, and they all stood back as the gargoyle sprang to life and hopped aside. Dumbledore nodded for Harry and Draco to step onto the moving staircase.
Draco stepped in, pulling Harry closer as he did. His hand unconsciously came to rest on Harry's belly.
Harry smiled softly at Draco's movement.
Once at the top of the stairs, Dumbledore reached between Harry and Draco and opened the door. "Inside," he said, nodding his head.
Harry stepped forward and into the familiar room, looking back over his shoulder at Dumbledore. It felt strange to be treated with such unfamiliarity and suspicion. He was so used to being listened to without question.
The three men stood looking at each other and then Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Take a seat," he said, sharp, blue eyes never leaving Harry and Draco's forms.
Draco nodded gently to Harry, waiting for him to take the lead here. He was never comfortable with Dumbledore, although strangely enough, the suspicious version set him more at ease than the overly familiar one.
Harry stepped over to the two chairs that sat in front of Dumbledore's desk, taking a seat in one of them.
Dumbledore moved behind his desk and sat with little Harry on his lap. The baby had now taken to pulling his beard, but he seemed to take no notice. "You are Harry Potter?" he said after staring hard at Harry for a few seconds. "This child I have in my lap?"
"Yes," Harry answered, meeting Dumbledore's eyes straight on. "Draco, we brought his letter, didn't we?" he asked.
Draco sat down on the edge of the second chair, putting the packs at their feet. He bent down and opened their satchel, pulling out the parchment container and laying it it on the desk in front of Dumbledore.
Dumbledore stared at him for a moment and then picked up the container and pulled the scroll out. As he read, the hardness left his face gradually. He took his wand out and did several spells over the parchment. Probably detection spells. When he looked up again, he was staring at Harry very differently.
"It is me, sir," Harry said seriously. "But I don't think I have much time here. I have a lot to tell you."
Draco looked at Harry, before speaking. "Harry is the only survivor of an attack on his home tonight," Draco said.
Fear and disbelief passed quickly over Dumbledore's face. "Lily and James, they're-"
"Yes," Harry said quietly. "They've been killed. By Lord Voldemort."
Dumbledore seemed to go paler. "How is that?" he asked, seeming to unconsciously hold little Harry tighter.
"Their Secret Keeper betrayed them," Draco said, unsure if he should say who that was since Sirius would go to Azkaban for the crime.
"No," Dumbledore said, still disbelieving. "He would never -"
"He did," Harry spat angrily, and he knew that Dumbledore was speaking about Sirius while he himself was speaking of Wormtail. It hurt him more than he could say when he realised he could not tell Dumbledore the truth about his godfather.
"They're dead?" Dumbledore asked, shaking his head as if that would make Harry give him another answer.
"Yes, and I survived," Harry said. "He tried to kill me, but only ended up giving me that scar." He pointed to little Harry's cut forehead and pulled his own fringe back to show Dumbledore.
"Something happened that the Dark Lord didn't count on," Draco said. "Lily Potter sacrificed herself to save her own child and the spell rebounded on the Dark Lord, destroying his body."
Dumbledore looked at Draco, very alarmed. "Voldemort is gone?" he asked, mouth hanging uncharacteristically open.
Harry was silent, trying to think of what he could tell Dumbledore and what he could not. "He's - he's not dead though," he said finally, slowly. "But for the moment, yes, he is gone. He doesn’t have a body."
"He will return when we are at Hogwarts," Draco said.
Harry nodded. "But we can't tell you much about when, or what happens, as it could change the world I live in now." He huffed, frustrated. "But he will come back."
Little Harry was wiggling in Dumbledore's lap restlessly and the man put him gently down on the floor. He crawled away rapidly to explore the room.
Draco's eyes followed the little boy, curious as to what mischief he would get into. As he watched, the little boy used the desk to pull himself to his feet.
Dumbledore shook his head and looked a little older, although not as old as he had looked in his last few days of life. Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breath, knowing that he couldn't tell Dumbledore about that either. He felt like he was cheating the man.
"Love," Dumbledore said quietly. "Love and sacrifice. Ancient magic. Of course, he would have overlooked ...." He was muttering to himself. He looked at the letter again. "Blood magic ... sacrifice ... love."
"Yes, sir," said Harry, nodding. "It's what kept me alive ... and it is what will continue to protect me. You have ... you have to give me to my mother's sister. I have to live there ...."
Draco listened to the conversation, listened to Harry telling the Headmaster to take him to those awful people. He didn't like it even if he knew it was what had to happen. Little Harry was looking up at Draco from his place by the desk. Draco slid his hood back and held out his hands, beckoning to the little boy.
"To live with Muggles?" Dumbledore asked, frowning at Harry.
"Yes. It's where I stayed for the next ten years of my life. I will be ... safe there. I had no contact with the wizarding world at all until my Hogwarts letter came, so that is how it must be this time as well. I will be protected there because of the blood magic. My mother's blood flows through my aunt's veins. Voldemort cannot touch me as long as I call my aunt's place home."
Little Harry's eyes were wide as he let go of the desk and took one and then three more unsteady steps, his chubby fingers reaching for Draco's hands. Draco gasped as the little boy grasped his fingers and held on, still standing. He was so caught up in the little drama in front of him he had almost forgotten everything else. "Good boy, Harry," he said to the little one and then blushed when the other men in the room looked at him.
Harry let out a quiet, amused-sounding breath. His mind reeled a bit as he thought about the fact that his first steps had been steps he had taken walking to his own husband. It was a bit confusing and so very strange.
Dumbledore was smiling very softly at the small child, sadness in his eyes. "This little boy has lost his family and now he must go to live in a world that is not his own, with people who do not understand him. I know of Petunia Dursley and this is a very hard thing for me to allow."
Draco nodded at what Dumbledore said. He smiled into the little boy's face with those huge green eyes. "You have the right idea," he said as the boy began to try to climb into his lap. "I don't pretend to think it is a good idea," Draco said to Dumbledore, "but it is what has to happen. As is his returning to our world when he is eleven."
"My life ... hasn't been ... all happiness and sunshine," Harry said. "But I'm all right, and I'm happy now. Very happy. I'm married and I'm ... having a baby," he leaned back a bit and placed hands on his stomach, "as strange as that may sound."
Dumbledore raised white eyebrows, looking shocked. "You're ...."
Harry laughed quietly. "Yeah," he said.
Draco smirked, blushing. He helped little Harry the rest of the way into his lap, because it wasn't exactly comfortable the way he was pulling his trousers. Of course, the first thing the boy did was take a handful of Draco's hair and yank. "Oww!" the blond yelled. "Harry," he complained, "what is it with you and pulling my hair?"
Harry blushed now. "I'm married to him ... if you hadn't already guessed," he said to Dumbledore, nodding his head toward Draco. "And, ah ... we won't get along too well in school ... but don't worry." He laughed gently.
Draco snorted. "Pull my hair now, but don't be shocked when I break your nose later." Draco waggled his eyebrows at the boy. The boy reached for his eyebrows.
Harry shook his head at Draco as Dumbledore observed them all quietly.
"Also ... Hogwarts won't be normal for me," Harry said slowly. "But don't worry about that either. I know this must sound ominous, but I survive it all. Let me do it."
Dumbledore's brows furrowed only slightly.
Draco rolled his eyes at what Harry said, dodging the hands that went for his eyebrows. "And you can trust Severus Snape," he added. "Don't let this git talk you out of it."
Harry sighed and nodded. "Yes, trust him," he said quietly.
Dumbledore seemed a little surprised. "Severus Snape is already in my services, but I thank you for the confirmation."
"It's getting late," Draco said, glancing at Harry.
Harry nodded. "It is," he said. He turned to Dumbledore, frowning and thinking of Horcruxes again. Not knowing what he had to find was making him very nervous "I - I'm not sure actually what I'm supposed to do with, um, well, me, I suppose. Do I leave him here with you?"
Dumbledore frowned. "I suppose you could," he said, looking at the boy in Draco's arms. "Was there anyone at the house when you left there?"
"Well, Snape was there ... but no one saw us leave ... I don't think. Would that be ... bad?" Harry asked.
Dumbledore seemed to be thinking intently. "I am not sure," he said. He looked out the window. He sighed. "The Fidelius Charm has been broken. I can think of the name of the town and the house itself. Godric's Hollow. Yes, the Charm has definitely been broken."
"The house was badly damaged," Harry said. "The windows shattered, parts of the ceiling knocked out, the walls as well."
Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, I believe that would have broken the charm, which means that Muggles could be swarming the area at any moment - if they aren't already."
"Sir?" Harry asked, not sure where Dumbledore was going with this.
Little Harry had curled up in Draco's lap and gone to sleep, clutching the blond's gloved silver hand. "All the house wards were down when we left," Draco said.
Dumbledore nodded. "If the charm is broken, it means that I am not the only one who can now think of the house. Lord Voldemort is not one to keep to himself when he thinks he is about to win. I would be very surprised if at least a few of his followers were not informed of where he was going to be. They will come looking for him. And they will want to know what has happened."
Harry still didn't quite know what Dumbledore was getting at.
"Take Harry back to his house. I will send someone to get him. I want this covered. I want everyone to think that I was the first on the scene. I do not think it wise for there to be even a chance that any of Voldemort's followers - or anyone else for that matter - to think Harry was not removed on my orders. I need to get preparations ready for the Dursley house in the meantime. I will have the person I send to get you, drop you off at your aunt's home, but I will not let you live there without extra wards and protection."
Harry was still a bit confused. "So ... you want us to take ... the baby back to the house to wait for you to send someone to get him?"
"Yes," Dumbledore answered. "Stay there with him in case anything happens. I will send for my gamekeeper to do the job as soon as you leave."
"Hagrid?" Harry said.
"Yes," said Dumbledore. "You know him?"
Harry smiled and nodded. "Yes, I know him." And then he suddenly remembered that Hagrid had told him, the first time that they had met, that Harry had been a baby the last time they had seen each other. "Yes," he said, "this is what's supposed to happen. I know it."
Draco sighed loudly and shook his head, but didn't say anything about Hagrid. "Yes, I know that Father and the others will be looking for their Master," he said.
Harry bent and grabbed the bag to hand it to Draco.
Dumbledore got to his feet as well. "Harry," he said, making a bit of an odd face at addressing Harry this way, "I am very sorry. Lily and James were dear friends. I have no words that could possibly be enough to express my sadness. I can still hardly believe they are ... gone." And his tone, indeed, was one of disbelief.
Harry gave a small, sad nod. "I've had sixteen years to get used to it, but I think it may be a bit harder for him." He looked at the little boy. "This is the right thing, though, Professor," he said. "This is what had to happen, as hard as it is."
Draco's hands were full of their bags and the child, so he nodded his head and prepared to follow his husband. "At least we can Apparate there this time," he said.
Harry nodded in agreement with Draco and picked the letter back up from Dumbledore's desk to tuck it back into the bag Draco was holding.
Dumbledore stepped out from behind his desk and walked them over to the door. "You probably don't need me to tell you, but remember, stay out of sight," he said, nodding to them.
"We'll remember," said Harry, and he started to leave the room but stopped and looked back at Dumbledore. "I almost forgot," he said, reaching a hand down the front of his shirt. He pulled his necklace off and handed it to the old man. "That needs to be turned into a Timekey to take us to Godric's Hollow on this night - a little after sunset."
Dumbledore clutched the pendant tightly in his hand. "Very well," he said.
"Severus Snape was at the house tonight. I - I think he went to try and save my mother. He saw us, but we knew that he would, so it hasn't changed time, but he didn't truly know it was me, and he didn't know it was Draco at all, so I would have to assume that you don't explain to him. What you need to do is tell Snape to place that necklace and the letter inside Draco's trust vault. That's where we got it from."
Dumbledore nodded again. "I will as soon as I can," he said.
"Okay," said Harry, taking a deep breath. "I suppose we should go then."
"Yes. I will send Hagrid soon."
Harry reached for the door again to leave. He paused once more, frowning in thought. His eyes widened. Of course .... he thought. "Oh, and, Professor?" he said, quickly looking over his shoulder.
"Yes?"
"Horcruxes," Harry said simply, feeling the weight of worry lift from his chest. He nodded and pulled the door open, stepping out onto the moving staircase. "That's it," he said quietly to Draco as the stairs carried them down.
"Was that a good idea?" Draco asked.
"That's what it is," Harry said. "We aren't going to find anything about Horcruxes here. We're only going to two places: my mum and dad's place, and Hogwarts. There's nothing back at Godric's Hollow, and there's nothing here, but Dumbledore told Snape that there was something about Horcruxes. Why would he think that if he hadn't heard me or you say something about them? It's the only thing that makes sense, and now he'll start looking for them and putting the pieces together."
Draco raised his eyebrows and nodded. "You still manage to amaze me, love," he said.
Harry gave Draco a crooked smile. "I'm actually pretty amazed with myself for that one." He continued walking, staying close to Draco.
Draco followed his husband through the halls of the school, the sleeping Harry still clinging to him.
Harry got lost in his own thoughts by the time they were standing back outside the Hogwarts gates. He looked up at Draco and sighed quietly. "He's going to wake up again," he said.
"Kiss me first," Draco whispered.
Harry smiled softly and moved closer to Draco before pressing their lips together gently.
Draco hummed happily at the kiss, and then whispered, "Remember, Potter, you took your first steps for me."
Harry smiled and shook his head but whispered, "Somehow I don't think it could have been for anyone else."
"Good," Draco said, "and I was right, you know."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "About what?" he asked.
"You were an adorable baby." He smirked.
Harry snorted. "I suppose," he said, and looked at the little boy sleeping with his head on Draco's shoulder. "Shall we get me home then?"
Draco nodded. "Be careful. Apparate to the back first," he said.
Harry nodded. "Okay," he said, and he closed his eyes and Disapperated.
Draco followed him moments later and was prepared for the wailing of little Harry when they arrived.
Chapter Title: First Step
Words: 4503 Words
Harry followed Draco very quickly, getting that spinning, dizzy feeling he got from long distance Apparation. He heard himself crying again and knew that if his seventeen-year-old self didn't like the feeling of Apparation, his one-year-old self certainly would not either.
Little Harry was howling in Draco's ear and the blond winced.
"We have to get him quiet before we go up there," Harry said, stepping inside the gates.
"Ideas?" Draco yelled over the noise. "Shhh," he told the boy, but the child was not listening.
Harry flapped his hands a bit. "I - I don't know," he said. "Why don't you try to make him laugh or something?"
Draco frowned, trying to think of what would get the child's attention. He pulled his glove off his left hand and wiggled his silver fingers in front of the boy's face. Little Harry's eyes went wide and he stopped screaming, only letting out a little hiccup instead. The boy reached out and began running fingers over the hand.
Harry sighed with relief. "Good," he said, gesturing for Draco to follow him up the long path to the school. "Are we just going to be able to walk in? It's not like we're students here. I'm right there," Harry pointed to the baby in Draco's arms, "and you're at home probably asleep in your cot."
"How would I know?" Draco asked. He raised an amused eyebrow as little Harry began to chew on his silver thumb.
Harry sighed. "We have to be careful. We have to keep him quiet as well or else we'll certainly be caught."
"Well, he seems to be content to chew on me for the moment," Draco said. "You could put your Cloak on and sneak into the castle while we waited outside."
"Yeah, we could do that," Harry said, thinking. "How the hell do I get into Dumbledore's office? I don't know what the password would be for right now and I know that's where he has to be at this time of night."
Draco looked up at the tower where the Headmaster's office was and considered it for a minute. "I could fly up there," he said.
"And how are you going to do that?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow.
Draco was distracted by little Harry sucking on one of his silver fingers. He raised an eyebrow, smirking. "I think he is hungry."
Harry frowned. "Well, we can feed him when we get up to the school, I suppose," he said with a small shrug.
Nodding, Draco looked around. "I can get a broom from the team equipment lockers," he said. He gently pulled his finger from the boy's mouth and was rewarded with a familiar scowl. He chuckled.
Harry shook his head at Draco, amused. "Okay," he said, hoping that Dumbledore would let them in.
"There are benches over there," Draco said, nodding in the direction. "You two can wait there for me."
Harry nodded. "Okay," he said again, and he thought for a moment. "Tell Dumbledore that someone he knows wants to see him. It won't be a lie and he'll probably think I'm my dad for a minute."
"Even better," Draco said, "I'll tell him Potter is waiting to speak to him." They reached the bench and Draco held out the little boy to Harry.
"All right," said Harry, taking the baby from Draco. He took a seat on the bench with him and sighed sadly when he began chanting, "Dada," again.
Draco leaned in and kissed his husband gently, laying his right hand on his belly as he did.
Harry gave Draco a small smile. "You better go before he starts crying again," he said quietly.
Draco smiled and tousled little Harry's hair. He left the bags on the bench too. "There's food in our pack," Draco said. "I think the three of you should eat while I am gone."
Harry nodded, reaching for the bag with the food.
Draco made his way across the dark grounds of Hogwarts to the Quidditch locker rooms. A couple simple spells and he had gotten into the equipment storage area and found a serviceable broom. It was very old-fashioned but it appeared new.
The tower was dark, so that meant he would most likely be waking the old man up. He sighed, mounted the broom, and launched into the air. Hovering near a window to the Headmaster's office, he pulled his wand and cast Lumos. That was when he realised the full importance of what he was doing. He was about to talk with Albus Dumbledore - a man who was now dead in his time and of whom he carried a lot of interesting memories. Draco took a deep breath and knocked on the window.
Harry waited for Draco nervously as he tore off little pieces of the food they had brought to feed to little Harry. He smiled at himself as the small boy drooled a little and got jam from the sandwich Harry was feeding him all over his face.
Draco waited a few minutes more and then knocked again. He grew increasingly nervous hovering in the air, lit up like a big target.
After a few minutes, he saw a light appear in that back room he remembered as the man's bedroom. Draco knocked again, shivering a bit as the wind buffeted him.
Finally he saw the man make his way toward the window, wand held at ready. "Who's there?" he called out.
"The Potters have been attacked," Draco called back. "I am here with Potter and little Harry."
Dumbledore's eyes widened in alarm and confusion. "Where are they?" he called.
"Below, outside Hogwarts," Draco said, pointing.
Dumbledore looked down around Draco, but obviously could not see Harry from where he was. "I will be right out," he said, turning from the window and hurrying quickly across the room.
Draco assumed that was a dismissal and flew back down to land beside Harry and little Harry. The little boy waved at him and reached for the broom.
"Well?" Harry asked. "What happened?" He held onto the baby as he attempted to get out of his arms.
Draco raised an eyebrow at the baby's behaviour and moved the broom out of reach. "He will be right down," Draco said as he sat beside them. Little Harry climbed right into his lap.
Harry nodded and then laughed at the baby. "Merlin, I think I already like you," he said.
Draco held the boy and looked into his eyes. "If only you had been like this in Madam Malkin's," he told the child.
Harry snorted. "Climbing all over you?" he asked with a sly smile.
Draco smirked. "I wouldn't have minded." Little Harry had tugged his hood down and was now pulling on his hair which came loose from its tie.
Harry smiled again and then stared off towards the castle, waiting for Dumbledore as his heart began beating quicker.
Draco had put his gloves back on. The night had grown colder. He picked up the blanket and tried to re-wrap the little boy, but little Harry wasn't having any of it, tugging hard on Draco's hair again.
Finally, Harry could see a tall figure approaching, long white beard nearly glowing in the moon light. Harry sat up straighter and then got to his feet.
Dumbledore stepped forward, frowning. "James?" he asked hesitantly, looking at Harry confusedly, but he seemed to think twice because his frown turned into one more of suspicion than confusion.
"Professor," Harry said quietly. "No, I'm not James."
Draco sat, holding little Harry and watching the two other men. He winced as little Harry tried to pull himself up using a handful of white-blond hair.
Dumbledore frowned even heavier and looked over at Draco and the baby. His eyes widened with alarm and he actually took a firm step towards them. His eyes took in Draco's hair. "Lucius Malfoy?" he asked, sounding like he wasn't too sure of that either.
Draco's eyes snapped up to the older man's and widened. "No," he said, "I'm related, though."
Dumbledore looked like he wanted to take little Harry from Draco. "Who are you?" he asked both men. His wand was drawn and Harry noticed his hand tightening on it. "You said that 'Potter' was here. I only see one Potter and I assume he is certainly not the one who wishes to see me."
"In a way, he is," said Harry. "Please, sir. Please, please, please hear me out. I know it sounds mad, but I'm Harry. And he's Draco Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy's son."
Draco had not drawn his own wand and continued to meet the older man's gaze levelly. He nodded in acknowledgement of what Harry said. "A message from you sent us back here this night," he said.
Harry nodded hurriedly. "Yes. I'm Harry at seventeen. Look at my face, my eyes. Compare me to the baby if you have to. He got a scar on his forehead tonight; I have that same scar."
Dumbledore stared from Harry to the baby, still looking very suspicious and wary.
"I swear it, sir," Harry said desperately. "I swear it."
"It's cold out here," Draco said. "We should get this little bloke inside."
Dumbledore had that expression on his face that Harry always took for being a stern look. "I hope you won't mind if I insist upon taking Harry and having the two of you walk ahead of me. If you are who you say you are, then it should be no problem."
Draco stood up and tried to hand little Harry to Dumbledore but the child protested, refusing to release his hair. "Come on, Harry, let go," he said. "Always obsessed with my hair."
Dumbledore frowned but Harry smiled.
Dumbledore reached out and took the little boy from Draco and Harry reached a hand out for his husband's.
Draco spent a moment gently prying the little fingers from his hair and then hefted their bags onto his shoulders before taking his lover's hand.
"To your office, sir?" Harry asked.
"Yes ...." said Dumbledore slowly, waiting for them to move.
Harry nodded and the small group began walking over the vast lawn of Hogwarts, making their way to the castle. It looked exactly the same as Hogwarts in Harry's own time.
Draco drew his hood back up, as much to hide his hair from anyone who saw them as because of the cold. He squeezed Harry's hand gently.
Several minutes later, they were standing in front of the gargoyle guarding Dumbledore's office.
"Fizzing Whizbee," Dumbledore said, and they all stood back as the gargoyle sprang to life and hopped aside. Dumbledore nodded for Harry and Draco to step onto the moving staircase.
Draco stepped in, pulling Harry closer as he did. His hand unconsciously came to rest on Harry's belly.
Harry smiled softly at Draco's movement.
Once at the top of the stairs, Dumbledore reached between Harry and Draco and opened the door. "Inside," he said, nodding his head.
Harry stepped forward and into the familiar room, looking back over his shoulder at Dumbledore. It felt strange to be treated with such unfamiliarity and suspicion. He was so used to being listened to without question.
The three men stood looking at each other and then Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Take a seat," he said, sharp, blue eyes never leaving Harry and Draco's forms.
Draco nodded gently to Harry, waiting for him to take the lead here. He was never comfortable with Dumbledore, although strangely enough, the suspicious version set him more at ease than the overly familiar one.
Harry stepped over to the two chairs that sat in front of Dumbledore's desk, taking a seat in one of them.
Dumbledore moved behind his desk and sat with little Harry on his lap. The baby had now taken to pulling his beard, but he seemed to take no notice. "You are Harry Potter?" he said after staring hard at Harry for a few seconds. "This child I have in my lap?"
"Yes," Harry answered, meeting Dumbledore's eyes straight on. "Draco, we brought his letter, didn't we?" he asked.
Draco sat down on the edge of the second chair, putting the packs at their feet. He bent down and opened their satchel, pulling out the parchment container and laying it it on the desk in front of Dumbledore.
Dumbledore stared at him for a moment and then picked up the container and pulled the scroll out. As he read, the hardness left his face gradually. He took his wand out and did several spells over the parchment. Probably detection spells. When he looked up again, he was staring at Harry very differently.
"It is me, sir," Harry said seriously. "But I don't think I have much time here. I have a lot to tell you."
Draco looked at Harry, before speaking. "Harry is the only survivor of an attack on his home tonight," Draco said.
Fear and disbelief passed quickly over Dumbledore's face. "Lily and James, they're-"
"Yes," Harry said quietly. "They've been killed. By Lord Voldemort."
Dumbledore seemed to go paler. "How is that?" he asked, seeming to unconsciously hold little Harry tighter.
"Their Secret Keeper betrayed them," Draco said, unsure if he should say who that was since Sirius would go to Azkaban for the crime.
"No," Dumbledore said, still disbelieving. "He would never -"
"He did," Harry spat angrily, and he knew that Dumbledore was speaking about Sirius while he himself was speaking of Wormtail. It hurt him more than he could say when he realised he could not tell Dumbledore the truth about his godfather.
"They're dead?" Dumbledore asked, shaking his head as if that would make Harry give him another answer.
"Yes, and I survived," Harry said. "He tried to kill me, but only ended up giving me that scar." He pointed to little Harry's cut forehead and pulled his own fringe back to show Dumbledore.
"Something happened that the Dark Lord didn't count on," Draco said. "Lily Potter sacrificed herself to save her own child and the spell rebounded on the Dark Lord, destroying his body."
Dumbledore looked at Draco, very alarmed. "Voldemort is gone?" he asked, mouth hanging uncharacteristically open.
Harry was silent, trying to think of what he could tell Dumbledore and what he could not. "He's - he's not dead though," he said finally, slowly. "But for the moment, yes, he is gone. He doesn’t have a body."
"He will return when we are at Hogwarts," Draco said.
Harry nodded. "But we can't tell you much about when, or what happens, as it could change the world I live in now." He huffed, frustrated. "But he will come back."
Little Harry was wiggling in Dumbledore's lap restlessly and the man put him gently down on the floor. He crawled away rapidly to explore the room.
Draco's eyes followed the little boy, curious as to what mischief he would get into. As he watched, the little boy used the desk to pull himself to his feet.
Dumbledore shook his head and looked a little older, although not as old as he had looked in his last few days of life. Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breath, knowing that he couldn't tell Dumbledore about that either. He felt like he was cheating the man.
"Love," Dumbledore said quietly. "Love and sacrifice. Ancient magic. Of course, he would have overlooked ...." He was muttering to himself. He looked at the letter again. "Blood magic ... sacrifice ... love."
"Yes, sir," said Harry, nodding. "It's what kept me alive ... and it is what will continue to protect me. You have ... you have to give me to my mother's sister. I have to live there ...."
Draco listened to the conversation, listened to Harry telling the Headmaster to take him to those awful people. He didn't like it even if he knew it was what had to happen. Little Harry was looking up at Draco from his place by the desk. Draco slid his hood back and held out his hands, beckoning to the little boy.
"To live with Muggles?" Dumbledore asked, frowning at Harry.
"Yes. It's where I stayed for the next ten years of my life. I will be ... safe there. I had no contact with the wizarding world at all until my Hogwarts letter came, so that is how it must be this time as well. I will be protected there because of the blood magic. My mother's blood flows through my aunt's veins. Voldemort cannot touch me as long as I call my aunt's place home."
Little Harry's eyes were wide as he let go of the desk and took one and then three more unsteady steps, his chubby fingers reaching for Draco's hands. Draco gasped as the little boy grasped his fingers and held on, still standing. He was so caught up in the little drama in front of him he had almost forgotten everything else. "Good boy, Harry," he said to the little one and then blushed when the other men in the room looked at him.
Harry let out a quiet, amused-sounding breath. His mind reeled a bit as he thought about the fact that his first steps had been steps he had taken walking to his own husband. It was a bit confusing and so very strange.
Dumbledore was smiling very softly at the small child, sadness in his eyes. "This little boy has lost his family and now he must go to live in a world that is not his own, with people who do not understand him. I know of Petunia Dursley and this is a very hard thing for me to allow."
Draco nodded at what Dumbledore said. He smiled into the little boy's face with those huge green eyes. "You have the right idea," he said as the boy began to try to climb into his lap. "I don't pretend to think it is a good idea," Draco said to Dumbledore, "but it is what has to happen. As is his returning to our world when he is eleven."
"My life ... hasn't been ... all happiness and sunshine," Harry said. "But I'm all right, and I'm happy now. Very happy. I'm married and I'm ... having a baby," he leaned back a bit and placed hands on his stomach, "as strange as that may sound."
Dumbledore raised white eyebrows, looking shocked. "You're ...."
Harry laughed quietly. "Yeah," he said.
Draco smirked, blushing. He helped little Harry the rest of the way into his lap, because it wasn't exactly comfortable the way he was pulling his trousers. Of course, the first thing the boy did was take a handful of Draco's hair and yank. "Oww!" the blond yelled. "Harry," he complained, "what is it with you and pulling my hair?"
Harry blushed now. "I'm married to him ... if you hadn't already guessed," he said to Dumbledore, nodding his head toward Draco. "And, ah ... we won't get along too well in school ... but don't worry." He laughed gently.
Draco snorted. "Pull my hair now, but don't be shocked when I break your nose later." Draco waggled his eyebrows at the boy. The boy reached for his eyebrows.
Harry shook his head at Draco as Dumbledore observed them all quietly.
"Also ... Hogwarts won't be normal for me," Harry said slowly. "But don't worry about that either. I know this must sound ominous, but I survive it all. Let me do it."
Dumbledore's brows furrowed only slightly.
Draco rolled his eyes at what Harry said, dodging the hands that went for his eyebrows. "And you can trust Severus Snape," he added. "Don't let this git talk you out of it."
Harry sighed and nodded. "Yes, trust him," he said quietly.
Dumbledore seemed a little surprised. "Severus Snape is already in my services, but I thank you for the confirmation."
"It's getting late," Draco said, glancing at Harry.
Harry nodded. "It is," he said. He turned to Dumbledore, frowning and thinking of Horcruxes again. Not knowing what he had to find was making him very nervous "I - I'm not sure actually what I'm supposed to do with, um, well, me, I suppose. Do I leave him here with you?"
Dumbledore frowned. "I suppose you could," he said, looking at the boy in Draco's arms. "Was there anyone at the house when you left there?"
"Well, Snape was there ... but no one saw us leave ... I don't think. Would that be ... bad?" Harry asked.
Dumbledore seemed to be thinking intently. "I am not sure," he said. He looked out the window. He sighed. "The Fidelius Charm has been broken. I can think of the name of the town and the house itself. Godric's Hollow. Yes, the Charm has definitely been broken."
"The house was badly damaged," Harry said. "The windows shattered, parts of the ceiling knocked out, the walls as well."
Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, I believe that would have broken the charm, which means that Muggles could be swarming the area at any moment - if they aren't already."
"Sir?" Harry asked, not sure where Dumbledore was going with this.
Little Harry had curled up in Draco's lap and gone to sleep, clutching the blond's gloved silver hand. "All the house wards were down when we left," Draco said.
Dumbledore nodded. "If the charm is broken, it means that I am not the only one who can now think of the house. Lord Voldemort is not one to keep to himself when he thinks he is about to win. I would be very surprised if at least a few of his followers were not informed of where he was going to be. They will come looking for him. And they will want to know what has happened."
Harry still didn't quite know what Dumbledore was getting at.
"Take Harry back to his house. I will send someone to get him. I want this covered. I want everyone to think that I was the first on the scene. I do not think it wise for there to be even a chance that any of Voldemort's followers - or anyone else for that matter - to think Harry was not removed on my orders. I need to get preparations ready for the Dursley house in the meantime. I will have the person I send to get you, drop you off at your aunt's home, but I will not let you live there without extra wards and protection."
Harry was still a bit confused. "So ... you want us to take ... the baby back to the house to wait for you to send someone to get him?"
"Yes," Dumbledore answered. "Stay there with him in case anything happens. I will send for my gamekeeper to do the job as soon as you leave."
"Hagrid?" Harry said.
"Yes," said Dumbledore. "You know him?"
Harry smiled and nodded. "Yes, I know him." And then he suddenly remembered that Hagrid had told him, the first time that they had met, that Harry had been a baby the last time they had seen each other. "Yes," he said, "this is what's supposed to happen. I know it."
Draco sighed loudly and shook his head, but didn't say anything about Hagrid. "Yes, I know that Father and the others will be looking for their Master," he said.
Harry bent and grabbed the bag to hand it to Draco.
Dumbledore got to his feet as well. "Harry," he said, making a bit of an odd face at addressing Harry this way, "I am very sorry. Lily and James were dear friends. I have no words that could possibly be enough to express my sadness. I can still hardly believe they are ... gone." And his tone, indeed, was one of disbelief.
Harry gave a small, sad nod. "I've had sixteen years to get used to it, but I think it may be a bit harder for him." He looked at the little boy. "This is the right thing, though, Professor," he said. "This is what had to happen, as hard as it is."
Draco's hands were full of their bags and the child, so he nodded his head and prepared to follow his husband. "At least we can Apparate there this time," he said.
Harry nodded in agreement with Draco and picked the letter back up from Dumbledore's desk to tuck it back into the bag Draco was holding.
Dumbledore stepped out from behind his desk and walked them over to the door. "You probably don't need me to tell you, but remember, stay out of sight," he said, nodding to them.
"We'll remember," said Harry, and he started to leave the room but stopped and looked back at Dumbledore. "I almost forgot," he said, reaching a hand down the front of his shirt. He pulled his necklace off and handed it to the old man. "That needs to be turned into a Timekey to take us to Godric's Hollow on this night - a little after sunset."
Dumbledore clutched the pendant tightly in his hand. "Very well," he said.
"Severus Snape was at the house tonight. I - I think he went to try and save my mother. He saw us, but we knew that he would, so it hasn't changed time, but he didn't truly know it was me, and he didn't know it was Draco at all, so I would have to assume that you don't explain to him. What you need to do is tell Snape to place that necklace and the letter inside Draco's trust vault. That's where we got it from."
Dumbledore nodded again. "I will as soon as I can," he said.
"Okay," said Harry, taking a deep breath. "I suppose we should go then."
"Yes. I will send Hagrid soon."
Harry reached for the door again to leave. He paused once more, frowning in thought. His eyes widened. Of course .... he thought. "Oh, and, Professor?" he said, quickly looking over his shoulder.
"Yes?"
"Horcruxes," Harry said simply, feeling the weight of worry lift from his chest. He nodded and pulled the door open, stepping out onto the moving staircase. "That's it," he said quietly to Draco as the stairs carried them down.
"Was that a good idea?" Draco asked.
"That's what it is," Harry said. "We aren't going to find anything about Horcruxes here. We're only going to two places: my mum and dad's place, and Hogwarts. There's nothing back at Godric's Hollow, and there's nothing here, but Dumbledore told Snape that there was something about Horcruxes. Why would he think that if he hadn't heard me or you say something about them? It's the only thing that makes sense, and now he'll start looking for them and putting the pieces together."
Draco raised his eyebrows and nodded. "You still manage to amaze me, love," he said.
Harry gave Draco a crooked smile. "I'm actually pretty amazed with myself for that one." He continued walking, staying close to Draco.
Draco followed his husband through the halls of the school, the sleeping Harry still clinging to him.
Harry got lost in his own thoughts by the time they were standing back outside the Hogwarts gates. He looked up at Draco and sighed quietly. "He's going to wake up again," he said.
"Kiss me first," Draco whispered.
Harry smiled softly and moved closer to Draco before pressing their lips together gently.
Draco hummed happily at the kiss, and then whispered, "Remember, Potter, you took your first steps for me."
Harry smiled and shook his head but whispered, "Somehow I don't think it could have been for anyone else."
"Good," Draco said, "and I was right, you know."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "About what?" he asked.
"You were an adorable baby." He smirked.
Harry snorted. "I suppose," he said, and looked at the little boy sleeping with his head on Draco's shoulder. "Shall we get me home then?"
Draco nodded. "Be careful. Apparate to the back first," he said.
Harry nodded. "Okay," he said, and he closed his eyes and Disapperated.
Draco followed him moments later and was prepared for the wailing of little Harry when they arrived.