Pilfered Progeny - Stolen Dreams

Draco gazed down at the photo of little Angel McCallester. A recent photo of the girl was paper-clipped onto the first page of her case file, which was horribly thick. Draco shuddered inwardly, thinking every page of that folder was another incident, another family… the poor little thing. He wished more than life itself that he could have this child in his life; she was so sweet, so beautiful…"So Ms. Masterson; why do you say her case is a troubled one…?" Harry asked as he and Draco settled into the rather worn chairs in the caseworker's office. "Was the child traumatized in some way?"

"No, not that we have uncovered… she came from a very loving birth family. It's a tragedy, really. Her birth mother was killed in an accident while the girl was in daycare; there was a fire at their home and her mother was trapped in the flames. She never had a chance to escape. We couldn't find her father, or any relatives. Little Angel has gone from home to home but had a difficult time fitting in; regardless of the fact that she is very sweet and wants to be loved… she is…" she paused a moment, considering the proper term. "Gifted, I would call it…"

"Gifted isn't a problem; we can certainly deal with that." Draco smiled.

Ms. Masterson paused, glancing at him. "None of the foster homes have been able to cope with her… there were often accidents in her presence that no one could explain. I don't think she intends to do anything, and she's always remorseful… I was sure this would be her final placement, too. This was a good, strong catholic family and they have a strong track record of dealing with children that other families were unable to cope with…"

"Cope with…? They told the girl that she had been named incorrectly; they called her a devil." Draco said softly. "Angel told me that while we were in the park."

"Good heavens, such superstitious nonsense…!" she frowned. "She's such a sweet, tractable child…"

"How is she doing…?"

"She was transferred last night up to intensive care, but they say she is actually doing quite well, considering what has happened to her. She has the best doctors available to tend to her, I assure you…" she answered.

"Please; do keep us informed as to what's going on. You can't call too often." Draco said softly, his gray eyes holding his worry for the child.

A soft smile crept across her lips. She rarely saw such interest in a child anymore… "Of course, Mr. Malfoy... If you wish, I can arrange a visit for you at the hospital…"

"Yes, please…" Draco said.

She pulled the file to her side of the desk, and closed it. "Well, I took the time this morning to pull your file up on the system, and I find it is in much better shape than most of the foster parents that get approved… your documents are in perfect order, the home study is completed and your financial reports are excellent. I see no reason to delay getting the paperwork started. If everything checks out, I see no problem in fulfilling your wishes…"

"Thank you, miss; you have been very helpful…"

"That is absolutely perfect…" Harry smiled contentedly, rising and shaking hands with the woman. "Thank you, Ms. Masterson. It was a pleasure, ma'am… Ready love…?" He asked Draco.

"Yes… I need to stop at the market if we're having dinner guests…"

"Very true… have a great day…" Harry called to the woman as they moved out. "So what are we having…?"

"Hmm… Remus likes meat, and Sev is partial to pasta… what would you like, Harry…?"

"I have everything I need right here." He said as he rested his arm about Draco's waist.

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Severus Snape stood beside the bed that Angel lay in, eyes closed, looking much like the angelic beings she was named for.

"This poor little girl…" the nurse murmured as she adjusted the intravenous line.

"Indeed." Severus agreed in a quiet tone as to not disturb the girl. "But she has shown vast improvement…"

Emerald green eyes blinked sleepily and looked confused a moment, then focused and gazed up at Severus. "Hi… Are you gonna take me home with you…?" she asked in a raspy and drowsy voice.

"Not I, child… but someone does want you…" he said quietly to her. "If everything works out, you might have finally found your true home…"

"Hurts…" she whispered.

"Is there anything you need, doctor?" The nurse asked, turning to leave.

"Not at the moment; I need to check her charts." He answered, moving to the foot of the bed and picking up the chart that was hung there, lifting the page and studying the writing there.

"Call me if you need me." She said, and Severus nodded absently, paying her little attention as the nurse walked out.

Angel gazed at the cart outside her door. A pitcher of ice water and juices was on the cart, along with glasses of ice for the patients. Her throat hurt so bad; she needed a drink… Angel glanced at Severus, and then held out her hand toward the pitcher. It floated toward her. Severus' eyebrows rose as he noted the movement, and he reached out and caught it by the handle, turning his eyes to her questioningly.

She looked up at him and flushed, looking down. She wasn't supposed to ever let anyone see; that other doctor man who her last foster mother had made her talk to said it was bad to ever let anyone see… "Oh… I'm sorry… am I in trouble…?" she asked timidly. The man in the black smock, pants, and white physician's jacket smiled at her and with a wave of his hand he shut the door. She looked at
the door, then at him, her eyes wide. He could do stuff too…?

"You will never again be punished for being what you truly are, child." He poured her a cup of ice water, placing a straw in it. He used the bed's hydraulic lifts to help her to gently sit up, and then assisted her to drink by holding the cup for her and guiding the straw to her lips. "There you are… is that better…?"

"Yes… thank you mister…" she murmured, relaxing back on her pillows. "You can do it to… but… but they all told me it was bad. Even David said I was evil because I could make things happen…"

"There are choice words I would like to use to describe them, but you are much too young to hear them, child. Simply put; this 'David' is a muggle fool." Severus pulled out his wand and slowly guided it over her prone body. The wand glowed different tones according to the health of the body it ran over and Angel watched in complete fascination. Severus nodded, slipping his wand away up a sleeve and he noted her trying to see where he'd put it. "This explains why the medicine they are giving you is not working as well as it should… you are quite a powerful little witch… I'll have you better in no time, now…"

"You… you do it too…?" She asked timidly, gazing up at him. "Are you a bad man…?" her eyes flicked to the dark fabric of his scrubs."That's utter nonsense someone has taught you, little one. Magic itself is not bad." Severus soothed in an uncharacteristically gentle tone. "It is special, as you are special. Who was your mother, child…? Do you remember her name…?"

She looked sad and sighed softly. "Mama is gone…"

"Yes, I know. But she will always be with you, in your heart… What of your father?"

"I don't have a daddy, mister… Mummy Mel said the doctor put me in mommy's belly…" she said softly. The foster parents had told her that talking of her mother wasn't proper either, as she had not had a father…

"Mummy Mel…?"

"I had two mummies but… they wouldn't let Mummy Mel keep me and she had to go away…"

"And why is this…?" Severus asked, pulling three phials from inside his white jacket. Angel watched curiously as he poured the two into a third, mixing them thoroughly by swirling the different colored liquids together until they became a uniform sky blue.

She eyed his jacket; it wasn't all that loose but he had all that stuff inside and it didn't show...? "The worker-lady said she wasn't really my mommy but she was…. And they said she couldn't be with me anymore…"

"I want you to drink this down; it will let help you to feel much better and it will help you to sleep deeply. You are safe here, little one; you will be much better when you wake…" Severus helped the child to sit up enough to drink the potion, and then laid her back on her pillow and powered the lifts to lay her back down. "Go to sleep now, little one…" he whispered, stroking her dark curls. She sighed and her bright green eyes fluttered closed, and the girl drifted peacefully off to sleep.

Snape gazed at the child a long moment. "Who are you, little Angel…?" He murmured softly to himself. "And why do you remind me of Potter…?" He mused, and then shook himself. He was sure that Potter would be pressing forward on his adoption, and he knew what he must do to assure that it would be possible. He took the child's limp hand and used his wand to extract a sample her blood to find the child's hereditary background.

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Harry moved up behind Draco, wrapping his arms around his love, snuggling up behind him and just enjoying holding him in his arms, inhaling the sweet musky scent of his husband. "Harry…" Draco laughed softly. "I'll never get the cake done if you keep this up…"

"I can't help it… I just can't keep my hands off you…" he chuckled softly, kissing his neck.

"It's your fault; you're the one who left me for three long weeks…" Draco pouted at him. His pout didn't last long, turning into a smile as Harry's hands slipped down to caress his rounded tummy.

"You know I'd have rather been here with you… I didn't have much of a choice; I was needed, baby…" he murmured.

"Well I guess so..." Draco gave a small smile that faded as he prepared to ask the question that had nagged at him all day. "Harry…? What do you think father will say about the baby…?" Draco asked.

"Honestly I really don't know… I can only hope he'll be happy. But you know how he feels about me, love…"

Draco sighed. His father had never truly forgiven him for bonding with Harry. "I know… I can't stand what he's been doing to you, how he treats you…"

"I'm used to it; I've come to expect it, really… but it certainly will be nice to be able to shove his words down his throat. He's always making it a point to say something disparaging about my manhood, accusing me of not being man enough to father a child…"

Draco snorted with derisive laughter. "A lot he knows. He didn't father a child with another man, did he?" he countered, spooning the cake batter into the pan.

"But you've always been more than enough man for me, and mother loves you. I'm delighted with what I have…"

Harry dipped his finger into the batter. "Ummm… sweet, just like you…" he grinned, licking the batter off.

"Get out of that, you!" Draco scolded, chuckling.

"Your cooking is too delicious, Dray…"

"You have an incurable sweet tooth." Draco chuckled as he put the cake in to bake.

"And you are the sweetest of all." He grinned, looking around as the doorbell rang. "Hey… how long do you think it will take before someone notices…?" Harry asked as he moved to answer the door.

"I guess we wait and see." Draco grinned softly, moving to join him.

Harry opened the door. "Hey Charlie, Blaise; come on in guys." He greeted, stepping back to allow in his guests.

Charlie Weasley was tall and still quite slim, face bearing several scars from his continued work as a dragon tamer. His red hair was trimmed rather short as it had been scorched by a dragon only a week ago, but he had an easy smile and a relaxed attitude. Blaise Zabini, his bonded of over ten years, had only grown more handsome over the years. He had allowed his hair to grow out nearly to the middle of his back and it was sleek and wavy. His face was finely chiseled and beautiful, and his eyes drew others to gaze into them… He was beginning his third season as a chaser with the Chudley Cannons, a world cup-level Quidditch team. They showed promise for taking the cup for the first time in several decades, if only they could flesh out a proper team.

"Hey Harry…"Blaise moved to give Harry a hug. "Welcome home…" He hugged the dark-skinned wizard back fondly. "It's good to be home, believe me… you want a drink?"

"Not for me, I have a game in the morning." Blaise grinned, strolling in, Charlie following with a smile. "Oh, hey, have you heard about Ron…? I think they're going to be scouting him; I heard my coach talking…" he said as they took a seat on the couch.

"He is being scouted." Draco confirmed, moving to sit as well. "I hear it's your team; the Chudley Cannons…"

Charlie chuckled softly. "Ron must be excited; the Cannons have always been his favorite team…"

"More than just excited…!" Harry laughed softly. "Ron's over the moon about it. He dropped me a line and from what I understand he's practicing every free moment…"

Draco moved to answer the door when the bell rang again, leaving the three to do a bit of catching up. At the door were Severus Snape and Remus Lupin. Severus was wearing his normal outfit of darkest black robes. Remus wore a fairly nice looking set of robes in a pale tan that greatly contrasted Severus and made him seem less pale and careworn. "Uncle Sev; Remus, come in…" he smiled, stepping aside to allow them inside. "Can I offer you a drink…?"

"Just fire-whiskey will be fine…" Severus agreed.

"Tea for me…" Remus agreed as he followed Severus inside.

Draco moved to fix Severus his drink and Remus went to get his own. He rarely allowed Draco to wait on him regardless of the situation. "Tonks couldn't come…?" Draco asked.

"No, business at the Ministry again…" Remus smiled softly, a little regretfully. "I often wish she hadn't taken that post as head of the Auror department… we've left Teddy with his grandparents tonight…"

Severus waited for a pause in the conversation as he settled himself into a chair. "I've taken the liberty of tending to the little girl you rescued personally, Harry… I'm having her transferred to St. Mungo's. She is actually a powerful little witch, but muggle medicines aren't helping her very much…" Severus said, though he had his eye on Draco as he spoke.

"Will she be all right, Sev…?" Draco asked softly.

Severus was quite satisfied to see that Draco was not hurt by the girl's appearance, and seemed interested in her recovery. "Oh, yes; she will be fine… Her magic causing conflicts between her body and the medications they were giving her… the muggle medication was actually harming her. St. Mungo's will help her with her problems. They have plenty experience with that type of problem. Whoever her parents are, one of them was a powerful mage."

"How do you know she wasn't muggle born?" Harry asked.

"She is controlling her magic." Severus answered simply. "Children must be taught to control their magic, and this obviously requires at least one wizard or witch to have contact with her. Most wizarding children don't begin controlling their magic consciously until 7 or 8; muggle-born don't begin until they start school where they gain instruction."

Harry sighed sadly; that was the last thing he had wanted to hear. "In other words, I haven't a prayer… she probably has family that will take her." He said softly.

"I will determine that in the morning when the potion matures and I can add her blood to determine her heredity. Since she was already in the muggle foster system, I find it doubtful that she had any living family members…"

"And you're much cleverer than any muggle." Remus smirked at his mate, causing Severus to glance at him and roll his eyes.

"But… what if the father didn't know of her…?" Draco asked.

"A child with that sort of power…? I doubt it. But I will be able to tell you, one way or the other, in the morning." He agreed.

Harry kissed Draco tenderly. "It will be okay, baby… don't worry…"

"I was just hoping… she's such a precious little girl…" Draco murmured softly, his tone of sadness unmistakable. He looked up when a buzzer sounded. "Oh… oh, the cake…" he rose from Harry's side, moving off into the kitchen.

"He didn't have to cook anything complicated…" Remus sighed with a grin, rising to his feet. "I'll just go and give him a hand…"

Harry watched him go. "So, how's it been going with you and Remus…? Have you set a date yet…?" He asked Severus quietly.

Snape paused, and then shrugged in a non-committal manner. "Not yet… but he often speaks of preferring weddings in the fall… perhaps we will set it this fall, maybe next." He said, sipping his drink. "Our work always seems to get in the way. A formal bonding isn't truly necessary; after all he is already bound to Nymphadora…"

"Don't wait too long; he may get away from you."

"It is not my intention to let him escape me." He responded.

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Draco pulled the cake out of the oven. "I hope everyone is hungry… by the time supper is over, the cake will be ready to frost…"

"You didn't have to go to all this trouble for us, my boy… you cook such outstanding food every time we come over…" Remus closed the oven for him. "A simple dinner is fine…"

Draco smiled at him. "But I like to cook for everyone…"

"I put on five pounds every time we come over…" he chuckled softly, gathering the dishes to set the table.

"I hardly think you should complain about that… you seem to lose ten pounds between each of your visits. You're little more than skin and bones as it is…"

"The nature of my life doesn't allow me to gain much…" he said with a shrug, placing the sliced fresh bread onto the table beside
the condiments already set out there. "Although between you and Snape, I don't see how I don't weigh a hundred pounds more…"

"Supper is nearly ready; let's call the boys." Draco said as he pulled the stew off the stove. Remus went to the door and called the others in.

"Great; I'm starved." Blaise said as he rose, pulling Charlie up. "Come on, lazy; up ya get…"

"Hey, I work hard…!" he complained, though he went willingly along with him, an easy and amused smile on his face. Severus and Harry followed them into the kitchen.

"This smells wonderful, Dray." Harry smiled as they all took their seats about the table.

"Indeed…" Severus agreed. "It seems you've been enjoying learning to cook; you seem to be putting on a few pounds…"

"Severus, be nice!" Remus scolded.

Draco just smiled, not put off in the least. "A few pounds, but nothing out of the ordinary…" he said agreeably, serving the meal.

Blaise stared, the truth of the situation dawning on him. "Merlin… Dray… are you pregnant…?" he murmured.

"Yes, I am." His smile glowed forth, as did Harry's.

"How…? When…?" Charlie asked. "Are you… I mean, are you okay…?"

"I'm absolutely healthy, the baby is perfectly fine, the magic is strong and my personal mediwizard says that everything is proceeding according to normal standards…"

"Oh, Dray…! After so long…!" Blaise's eyes sparkled with joy for his friend.

"You two must be thrilled…! When are you due?"

"About six months…" Harry began.

"Less, actually… less than five months, one week and two days…" Draco said, serving himself.

"You are past the danger period… I am very pleased for you…" Severus smiled. \

"Who is your medi-wizard? Did you go back to that clinic that Hermione works at…?"

"We gave all that up months ago." Draco answered. "I've been seeing Medi-wizard Kilpatrick and he's the absolute best. He came highly
recommended; he specializes in male pregnancies. He's been monitoring my health very closely."

"I will brew any potions you need." Severus said immediately. "And if you don't mind, I would like a chance to speak with this medi-wizard you're seeing…"

"Not at all…" Draco said with a chuckle. "He's expecting you, actually…" he admitted; he had told the medi-wizard that his uncle would be calling the moment he found out.

"Have you informed your father?" Severus asked as he buttered his roll.

"No, not yet…" Draco sighed. "I've been putting it off…"

"Oh, don't tell me he's been after you about Harry again…" Blaise asked with a frown.

"Why would he do any different…? I will never be good enough for Draco." Harry shrugged; he was used to it after twelve years and he wasn't about to let his father-in-law's attitude put him off now.

"He's a dunderhead…" Charlie stated firmly. "…and a nitwit…! You two belong together."

Harry laughed at his friend's comments. "I dare you to tell him that…"

Charlie rose to his feet with a grin, completely unafraid to go right ahead and do so. "Just watch me; you ought to know by now that I'm not afraid to speak my mind… he's no worse than a Hungarian Horntail protecting its eggs…"

Blaise reached out and caught Charlie by the waistband of his tight-fitting jeans and pulled him back down to his seat. "Calm down, Dragon Tamer... Eat." He said firmly.

He smirked, conceding to his husband's wishes. "I'd do it, you know…"

Harry chuckled softly. "Eat, you big oaf."

Charlie chuckled and started to eat, clearly enjoying his meal. "This is really great, Draco; you're definitely developing your skills in the kitchen…" he complimented.

"Molly gave me this recipe." He smiled.

"Mum is amazing; that goes without saying, mate… I'm sure you'll give Harry a proper middle-aged paunch before long…" Charlie grinned.

Remus chuckled. "I'd like to see that; Harry's never had extra weight on him…"

"I prefer to see them on Draco… he's gorgeous." Harry smiled.

"Merlin, Draco; I swear I always overeat when I come here…" Charlie sat back, rubbing his stomach.

"Don't worry, lover. I'll work it off you." Blaise smiled lasciviously.

"You'd better. A fat Dragon Tamer is also known as a delicious dragon SNACK." He smirked.

"Shall we have our cake in the sitting room?" Draco asked. "It would be more comfortable…"

"I would love to, Draco, but I am afraid that I have a potion that I need to get back to…" Severus rose.

"Dinner was wonderful; thank you for having us." Remus smiled formally, rising as well.

"At least take some cake home, uncle…"

"We'll take it." Remus assured. "Go on ahead, Severus. I'll be along in a moment or two…"

As the others said their goodnights, Remus moved with Draco into the kitchen to get the cake to take along home with him. The others moved into the living room to relax over dessert, drinks and a movie.

"Before we start the movie…" Draco said softly, taking his seat beside Harry and gazing at his best mate. "I do have something quite important to ask you, Blaise…" he said softly.

"Fire away, mate." Blaise said, settling in beside Charlie.

"I want you… both of you… to be our son's godfathers." He said firmly.

"What?" Charlie's eyes were wide.

"Seriously…?" Blaise asked also, as surprised as his husband.

"No, we're just having a lark… of course, we're serious." Harry laughed.

"That's a big responsibility…" Charlie started, and Blaise swatted at him.

"Ignore him, Draco; we're proud and thrilled and honored that you chose us…! We'd never even imagine turning you down…!" He smiled, clearly enchanted by the idea.