Fathers, Godfathers, and Godsons...Oh My

Chapter 25

Hermione had a hand on her waist, shaking her finger at both boys in mock ire. She received a raspberry from Harry and two fingers from Draco. Ron grinned and started tugging at Harry’s covers. The brunette squawked and held on tightly, “Let go, bastard.”

Frowning in mock ire, he gave a fierce tug and crashed into the opposite bed, as Harry had immediately let go. Scowling, tossing aside the sheet, “The-Boy-That’s-Gonna-Die!!”

Jumping onto the bed, even as Ron jumped to his feet. Hermione gasped, “Harry!”

“You and what army...?”

Running for his best friend who neatly avoided his leap, “Death by best friend...I’ll do it myself!”

“Harry! Ron!” Stomping her foot, “This is a hospital, for Merlin’s sake!”

Draco just folded his covers neatly over his chest, watching the two run around the bed again and again
while Hermione kept beseeching them to stop. Suddenly, save for their shorts they were both stark naked. Hermione squealed and covered her eyes while both Gryffindors squeaked and dove for cover. Draco rocked back, laughing hard enough to give him a stitch in the side.

Madam Poppy Pomfrey came out of her office, an unholy fire in her eyes, “That...is the only warning I will give boys. If you ever, act in such a manner in my hospital again you will be without shorts as well.” Ron turned as red as his hair and hid under the bed covers. Draco had a perfect little angel expression, until Poppy just gave him an ‘Oh Really’ look and vanished the covers, exposing his fully dressed state, complete with shoes. He looked down at himself, relieved he wasn’t starkers, then sent her a sheepish look.

Albus chuckled softly from behind the irate nurse, “Draco...Harry...say goodnight to your friends, we have some things to discuss.” Harry and Draco glanced at one another. They were in trouble?

***

The Gryffindor and Ravenclaw followed after Albus into their common room and finding seats as Albus called from an elf for sandwiches and tea. Both grinned and perked up. Must not be that much trouble then. Not if Albus was feeding them. They stuffed themselves full and leaned back into their chairs contentedly, hands resting on their full stomachs while Albus coaxed a parchment over to him before addressing the boys.

“Boys...well, I first would like to ask if you have any regrets to being my ward, Harry?”

Harry grinned and slowly shook his head. He had people he could trust and his own room, not someone’s second hand possessions, “No sir.”

Nodding, “Good. Now, my second question, was if you still wished to be adopted?”

Sitting up slowly, “Of course.”

Smiling, “Then that is fortunate, for you are.” Harry’s eyes widened in surprise, “I just received word from the Council...it’s official.”

Jumping up excitedly, “You’re my father?” Albus nodded slowly. Jerking around to stare at Draco, “So you’re my brother!” And he tackled the surprised blond, hugging him tightly even as Albus chuckled softly.

He gave Harry a few moments to calm down a little and the shock to ease slightly, “Now, you must decide if your name shall remain the same or if you wish to change it.”

Harry glanced up with a small frown, “I have to change my name?” He wasn’t so sure if he could do that. His parents. He had no memory of them, except for a few pictures and his name. That’s all he had of them.

Shaking his head slowly, “Not at all, Harry. Draco merely did, as his choice.” And they all silently understood the why to that decision, “ I know that you will always feel close to your parents. Keeping their name is your choice.”

Looking down, “I want to keep my name.”

Nodding with understanding, “Of course, Harry.”

“It’s the only thing ever given to you.” Harry jerked his head to the right, staring at Draco and the blond smiled slightly, now both boys sharing the same chair, “I was given everything but your muggles, they didn’t give you anything. Your parents gave you your name and Voldemort gave you a scar...that’s it. Right?”

Nodding then smirking a little, “And even if Voldemort gave me something, I don’t want to be named after him.”

Draco snorted, “Perish the thought. Oh! We need to go shopping, Harry needs clothes.”

Blushing, “I have clothes, Draco...”

Snorting again and rolling his eyes, “You have one uniform and two shirts...everything else is a bunch of second hand rags and no brother of mine is going to be caught dead in them during breaks.”

Albus slapped his hands together lightly, “Well, I think we’d all best retire for the night. Plenty of rest and studying to do. We’ll discuss shopping soon but not tonight.” Both boys groaned but hugged Albus goodnight, going to their rooms. Though within ten minutes, Harry wrapped himself in his cloak and walked through their shared balcony, slipping into Draco’s room to talk to him.

“Brothers...”

Draco grinned and sat up, reaching over to his bedside table and pulling out an object wrapped in dark silk. Viola grumbled at him on his spare pillow and curled into a tighter ball, tail over her nose, “Pansy gave me this on my sixth birthday. The Malfoys never knew about it.” Draco rubbed the silk for a moment, gathering his thoughts, “Sometimes family isn’t about blood, but about marriage...sometimes it’s a different kind of blood...wizards have a way of making family with the people they trust most. It’s like a magical bond only it’s completely dependent on full consent. Pansy’s my sister, but not because we had the same parents...”

Carefully he unwrapped the silk, revealing the perfectly maintained dagger, “We made an oath of brother and sister when we were eight. Well, I was eight, she was ten. You and I, Harry, we’re brothers by law. You may not know me well enough, or require Hermione to help you research but when you’re ready, I offer a blood oath to you as brother.”

Harry considered Draco for a moment, “What would I have to do?”

“Not much, actually. I know the words. The dagger makes four cuts, one on each of our hands. Then we
join hands, left to right and I say the words. That’s all.”

Frowning, “Sounds too easy.”

Shrugging, “The most basic of magic usually is. But it’s also a powerful spell because it’s blood magic.”

“Isn’t that illegal?”

Smirked, “Scared?”

Murmuring, “You wish...” He nodded once, “Alright.”

Draco blinked and felt alarm shoot through him. He wasn’t trying to trick the Gryffindor. Not to something he might regret, “I wasn’t taunting. I want you to think-...”

“Draco, I don’t think. I act. And I want to do this. I trust you.”

Shaking his head, “Blindly, apparently...”

Shrugging again, “I trust my friends...I trust my family even more.” Draco felt oddly humbled but nodded once, picking up the dagger and scooting on the bed until he was sitting cross legged. Harry mimicked him, their knees touching, “You’re certain?”

Smirking, “Scared?”

This time Draco mumbled, “You wish.”

Lips pressed firmly, “Yeah.” Draco pulled in a breath and Harry nodded again. Nodding himself, he grimaced and sliced through his palm, right then left. Handing Harry the dagger, with a flinch the brunette copied him and placed the dagger on the bed.

Draco held out his right and Harry held out his left, the two clasping their hands and their blood mixing. Repeating it with their other hands, they stared into each others eyes as Draco carefully recited the words he’d learned...an ancient form of fae magic, if he recalled correctly. Their palms glowed, like from the inside out and both inhaled sharply as a flash of something coursed through them.

Slowly releasing each other’s hands, feeling oddly safe and comforted...he wasn’t alone anymore, “Brothers till death.”

Harry slowly smiled, feeling the exact same way, “Brothers forever.”