Harry Potter and The Beloved Incubus (BP4)
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Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
41
Views:
21,710
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120
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Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
41
Views:
21,710
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.
Ten Fingers, Ten Toes
Chapter Number/Total: 31/40
Chapter Title: Ten Fingers, Ten Toes
Words: 4015 Words
Harry took in a shaky breath as he kissed Draco back, clutching him like he would never let go. "Always," he whispered.
Draco still felt weak, but warm, and he lay panting in his husband's arms.
There was a knock at the door. "Harry?" Remus asked though the door. "Are you ... okay?"
Harry laughed. "I'm wonderful!" he called, kissing Draco again.
"I'm coming in," Remus said.
Harry was too busy kissing Draco to care what Lupin or anyone else was doing.
Draco opened his mouth to Harry, enjoying his enthusiastic kiss. His eyes fluttered closed and he relaxed in his arms.
Remus opened the door and stuck his head in. "Draco?" he asked.
"What's going on?" Harry heard Ron ask.
Remus pulled his head back and closed the door. "Apparently," he said to the others, who were anxiously looking at him, "Draco is alive."
Everyone's eyebrows shot up.
"But I thought ... I thought Tonks said he was ...." said Bill, frowning and looking sort of amazed at the same time.
Remus looked at his feet. "I am not sure exactly what happened." He hesitated. "But he seems very much alive at the moment."
"Merlin," said George, looking like Bill.
"That's ...." said Fred, but he seemed unable to say what exactly it was.
Draco's last memories came back slowly. "Harry?" he said, pulling back from the kiss to look into his eyes. "How's Valentine? What happened?"
"He's fine," Harry answered, smoothing Draco's hair back from his cut and bruised face. "Mrs Weasley has him. He's completely fine."
Draco looked around the basement room. "My mother? Macnair?" he asked.
"I don't know," Harry answered. "You're the only one that was here. You don't know where they went?”
"The last thing I remember was you got away and Macnair was furious," Draco said.
"That was when it started?" Harry asked in a high voice. "Merlin." He hugged Draco again.
"I knew we were in trouble," Draco said. "I couldn't have carried you up the stairs. That part wasn't a lie. I was cold and weak. After you left he started beating me. That's when I passed out." Draco didn't add that Macnair had made Narcissa watch.
Harry winced. "What happened?" he asked. "What happened when you left that first time and came back dressed?"
"Harry?" Draco asked. "Can we go home and talk? I want to hold him."
"Yes," Harry breathed and it was almost a sigh. "Let's go home." He kissed Draco again before pushing himself up gently, once again, trying to hide his discomfort.
"You're in pain," Draco said, frowning. "I have some potions at home you need to take." He sat up and looked around for his trousers.
"I took four of them," Harry said, getting to his feet and putting his trousers on.
Draco shook his head. "I will make sure you get on the right schedule for taking them when we get home," he said. He winced as he moved, but at least he was moving. He really hadn't ever expected to wake up again. Dying in a cellar - his childhood fear come true.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked, after his trousers were finally on him. "Oh," he said, "here." He pulled Draco's wand out of his pocket and handed to him.
Draco smiled, taking his wand from his husband. "Nothing wrong that a good potion won't handle," he said, tucking in his shirt and fastening his trousers.
Harry nodded as Draco tucked his shirt in. He came up and kissed his cheek gently, unable to get enough of him.
"So who is with you besides Lupin?" Draco asked.
"Fred, George, Ron, Tonks, and Bill," Harry answered.
"Merlin," Draco said. "And they are all out there waiting?"
Harry nodded. "They thought you were .... Tonks was the one who checked."
"I was dead, wasn't I?" Draco asked, looking at Harry.
"That's ... what she said," Harry said, taking a deep breath.
Draco frowned. "How long?" he asked.
"How long what?" Harry asked.
"Don't be evasive, Potter." Draco winced. "How long was I dead?"
"I - I don't know," Harry said. "I didn't get here until just about an hour had gone by."
Draco looked at Harry. He was pretty sure it was longer than that, but he didn't say anything. "Better open the door and get this over with," he said, bracing himself.
Harry nodded. He walked over to the door and opened it before stepping back, standing close to Draco.
Remus walked into the room, looking uncomfortable. "Draco," he said, "I'm glad you are ... well, I am glad we were able to get here."
Ron came in next, white. "Are you okay?" he asked, sounding disbelieving.
Draco nodded. "I believe I will mend." Then he looked up at the others peering in through the doorway. "Thank you," he said to them all, "for coming for me."
"No problem, mate," said Fred, frowning.
"Yeah - we're just - we're just glad you're ... okay," said George.
Bill nodded.
"Is the place secure? Is there anything here?" Draco asked, feeling very weary.
"We didn't find anything," said Bill, but he looked over his shoulder warily.
Tonks pushed past the wall of red heads. "I think it was just the two of them," she said. "At least from the things left behind."
"What was left?" Harry asked.
"Just some clothes and toiletries," she said, looking at Draco as she answered. She walked to stand in front of him and smiled into his eyes. "I am not sure if I understand how," she said to him, as she reached a hand out to cup his cheek., "but I am glad you are alive, cousin."
Harry smiled softly at Tonks, holding Draco's hand.
"We should get going," said Bill. "It's not safe, even if there isn't anyone here. And besides, I think there's someone probably waiting eagerly for you both at home." He smiled.
"Thank you, cousin," Draco said, blushing slightly at her open display. "Yes, I want to go home," he answered Bill. "Someone should Apparate each of us as I don't think I can yet and Harry shouldn't be using so much of himself right now."
"Come on, Harry, I'll take you," said Ron, moving to help him.
"We'll get the brooms," said Fred, and he and George left the room.
"I'll take Draco," Tonks said, helping him as well.
"Well, if everyone's ready ...." said Bill looking around the room. "Let's go."
Ron gripped Harry's arm very tightly before he Disapparated with a crack, appearing a moment later in the entrance hall of Malfoy Manor. There were more cracks as everyone arrived around them.
Draco was dizzy and nearly lost his balance when they arrived in the hall. Tonks held onto him until he caught himself.
Harry breathed a little sigh and moved over to Draco slowly, hand pressing into his stomach.
"We need to sit down," Draco said. "And where is Valen?"
"Mum's got him in your room," said Ron, moving after Harry, seemingly prepared to catch him if he stumbled. "Do you want us to Apparate you up there or do you want her to bring him down here?"
"My potions are up there," Draco said, swaying again. "Let's go to our sitting room."
Harry reached a hand out and gripped Draco's shoulder.
Ron sighed and nodded. "All right," he said. "Brace yourself," he told Harry, gripping his arm again.
Harry released Draco’s shoulder and nodded to Ron, who Apparated them to the sitting room.
Harry groaned a little and moved to sit down on the couch. "Get your mum, yeah?" he said to Ron, who nodded and left to the bedroom.
Tonks helped Draco to sit beside his husband. He told her which potions to bring for the two of them and she headed off to find them.
Harry took Draco's hand and Mrs Weasley came in a moment later, eyes tearful as she walked over to them, holding Valen.
"Oh, Draco dear," she said, passing the baby gently.
Everyone in the room smiled softly at them.
Valentine was sleeping but woke the minute Draco touched him, his eyes opening suddenly as if surprised. Draco tried not to tremble as he took the small, warm body into his arms. He had only held his son briefly before and then he hadn't been able to feel him like he did now. He sucked in a breath at the feel of the small life in his hands and that familiar magic.
"Hello, my son," he said softly, his eyes intent on those green ones. Valen replied with a series of small cooing and burbling noises.
Harry smiled and felt tears in his eyes as he reached to touch Valen's face gently with one finger. "We can get through anything," he whispered, the rest of the world disappearing.
Valen reached a tiny hand up to touch Harry's finger, wrapping his one around it.
Draco's face was soft and full of wonder and pride. "He knows who we are," he said.
Harry let out a small laugh. "He does," he said, staring at that little face. "He's so tiny."
"His body is," Draco said, his voice nearly a whisper.
Harry smiled widely at Draco's words. He nodded gently in agreement, kissing Draco's cheek again as they touched and held their son.
Draco carefully unwrapped the bundle. Underneath, Valentine was wearing a nappy and a long gown. Laying him in his lap, Draco unbuttoned the gown too.
Harry watched, wondering what Draco was doing.
Draco undressed his son while the little boy cooed and moved. Each part he undressed, he looked at, slowly moving arms and legs and lifting the little body so he could see every inch of him.
Harry smiled and ran his hand over Valen's warm skin, letting him grasp his finger again. He wiggled the finger gently and then kissed that little grasping hand.
Draco didn't stop until he had stripped his son bare, and examined him. Running his fingers over that soft skin. He stopped to kiss fingers, toes and belly. Then he slowly began to redress the infant.
Harry couldn't stop smiling. "He's perfect," he said. "Ten little fingers and ten little toes."
"Perfect," Draco agreed, and little Valentine made a kind of snorting sound at that.
Harry laughed gently, smoothing Valen's white-blond hair.
Draco looked from one set of green eyes to the other and grinned.
"I suppose you got what you want," Harry told him with a small, quiet laugh. "He looks like you and has green eyes, although I think those are my lips."
"Indeed," Draco grinned, kissing Harry's lips.
Harry grinned as well and kissed Draco back.
There was a sniff and Harry looked around to see Mrs Weasley and Hermione, who had entered the room with her, crying.
Tonks was standing nearby holding the potions, watching with a happy smile on her face. Everyone else in the room was staring happily at them as well.
"Congratulations," said Mr Weasley, stepping forward and kneeling to get a good look at the baby. He smiled at him with crinkled up eyes.
"He's so small," said Fred, staring over his father's shoulder.
"He's gorgeous," said Mrs Weasley with another sniff before she laughed a little at herself and dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief.
"He is all that and more," Draco said.
Valen looked up at the new faces and made more noises.
Everyone let out little chuckles.
"What's his name?" asked Charlie, looking down at Valen too.
"Valentine Leander Malfoy," Harry answered, still staring happily at his son.
Remus laughed and Tonks grinned, putting her arm around the man's waist.
"Congratulations, Harry," Hermione said, happy tears still falling from her eyes. She bent to kiss him on the cheek.
"Yeah, mate," said Ron, sounding a little choked up himself.
"Both of you," said Hermione, staring at Draco. "He couldn't have better parents."
Harry grinned at his two best friends.
Draco felt wet warmth spreading in his lap from the baby. "Merde'," he cursed, laughing. "Is someone going to show us how to change a nappy?"
Harry laughed too. "Looks like he takes after someone," he whispered in Draco's ear.
Mrs Weasley was smiling and shaking her head. "I'll go and get one," she said, walking back to the bedroom.
Draco rolled his eyes and shook his head at his son. "You are going to be trouble, aren't you?" he asked him.
Valen seemed to look a little mischievous and Harry laughed again.
Mrs Weasley returned with another nappy and a new little gown similar to the one Valen was wearing already. "Now you need to put him down on the couch, dear," she said, bending to show them how it was done.
First, Draco did Cleaning and Drying Charms on himself. Then he watched as she showed them how to go through the process and secure things correctly. Valen squirmed and seemed determined to make it take as long as possible.
"And make sure his little pee-pee is pointed down or else he'll go right out of the top of it like he just did," Mrs Weasley said, making many of the people in the room chuckle. "If you put a Drying Charm on the cloth, it should prevent anything from leaking every time he goes. You'll just have to remember to do it."
Harry was grinning widely and nodding as he watched her dress Valen again.
Draco raised an amused eyebrow at her language but nodded at the instructions.
Mrs. Weasley smiled at the baby before handing him back to Draco and getting to her feet again. "You'll do fine," she said to both Harry and Draco.
"I have a feeling we will," Harry said, petting Valen's head again.
Valen was squirming and making faces. "He's hungry," Draco said. "What do we feed him?"
Everyone made strange faces and looked at Harry.
Harry flushed a bit now, no longer in a dire situation like he had been before. "Erm ... I feed him ... or at least it's worked twice now," he said quietly.
Draco's eyes widened and his mouth fell open a bit. He blinked several times. "What?" he managed after a minute.
Harry gave a little embarrassed shrug. "Yeah," he said.
"Well, you just take your potions and we'll leave you alone," said Mrs Weasley quickly into the silence of the room.
"Yes, we can talk later," said Mr Weasley, getting to his feet from where he was still kneeling.
"Yes," Draco said, "I think that would be better."
Harry nodded quickly and looked to Tonks who was still holding their potions.
Draco handed Valen carefully to Harry, and then reached for the potions. "Thanks," he said to his cousin.
She smiled broadly. "No problem," she said, taking Remus's hand and leaving the room with him.
Everyone else cleared out as well, Hermione giving Harry's shoulder one last squeeze.
Harry let out a small sigh when the room was empty and he felt better with only Valen and Draco there. He placed Valen carefully in his lap and reached to pull his shirt off again, grimacing at what his stomach looked like. He picked his son up again and placed him at a nipple where he began sucking immediately. He gave another shrug and looked up at Draco. "I don't know why it's doing this, but it is," he said.
"You are truly amazing," Draco said, swallowing around a lump in his throat.
Harry gave him a gentle smile before looking back down at the baby, holding him close.
Draco was staring, unable to pull his eyes from his son suckling at his husband’s nipple.
"I love you," Harry told Valen, smiling down at him and holding his little hand. "I love you so much."
"I love you both," Draco said quietly, laying a hand on Harry's thigh and leaning in closer, watching them.
Harry smiled and turned his head to kiss Draco.
Draco kissed him and then remembered the vials in his hand. He pulled back and looked down. "So you took quite a number of them already," he said. "I will need to see how you react to them. I also didn't plan on the ... breastfeeding part. This means we have to be careful of what you take in, because it will also go into him."
Harry nodded. "This doesn't ... freak you out or anything, does it?" he asked.
"Freak me out?" Draco asked curiously. "Do you mean does it disturb me? No, it doesn't." He swallowed again. "I mean, it's ... beautiful," he said softly.
Harry smiled and nodded. "I'm glad," he said quietly. "Do you think my ... stomach will stay how it is?" he asked, frowning.
"No, I have a potion I have been working on that will help," Draco said, "especially if you get enough exercise." He smiled looking up at Harry, smirking. "Which I am sure I can help with."
Harry grinned widely. "Yes, I'm sure," he said, relieved. "You should take what you need, too. You're all banged up."
Draco nodded, realising he was staring again. He looked down at the potions and set several on the table before selecting one for contusions. He drank it, only wincing slightly at the taste. "Have you eaten?" he asked Harry.
"Not for a while," Harry answered.
Draco called for Babb and she brought them dinner. He leaned back, feeling the potion helping already. "What does it feel like?" he asked.
"What?" Harry asked, smiling at Draco.
"Feeding him," Draco asked.
Harry looked down, smiling at Valen, thinking. "Like - I don't know. Really ... right, I guess. It's hard to explain. I feel a little closer to him."
Valen had released Harry's nipple and was blowing little milk bubbles at them.
Harry laughed gently, bending to kiss him.
"Now what?" Draco said, watching the baby. "Does he sleep?"
"He did the last few times," Harry replied. "Don't real little babies like him sleep all the time?"
"I don't know. I have never been around one," Draco said.
"I think he's supposed to be burped or something first, though," Harry said, picking Valen up and holding him to his shoulder like he had seen Mrs. Weasley do. He patted his back. "Or at least I think this is what I'm supposed to do."
Valen squirmed a bit and then, after a minute, let out a loud burp and spit up milk on Harry's shoulder.
Harry made a face. "Ew, what was that?" he asked, holding Valen slightly away from him.
"There is white goo on your shoulder," Draco observed, chuckling.
Harry scrunched his nose up. "So he pissed on you and he spit white goo on me," he said, shaking his head. "Quite the troublemaker, I think."
"He is as messy as his birth-father," Draco teased, and reached for his wand, doing a Cleaning Spell on Harry's shoulder.
Harry snorted and brought Valen close to him again. He sighed happily, making a silly face at the baby.
"Hand him over and eat," Draco said, reaching for the baby. "You are still feeding two."
Harry sighed again and nodded, giving Valen to Draco. He reached for a plate and began piling it with food. He was hungry and hadn't really been paying any attention. After a few moments of staring at the baby as he ate, he frowned a little. "What happened, Draco?" he asked.
Draco waggled his eyebrows at Valentine and the baby made little scrunched up faces back, trying unsuccessfully to mimic his father. "Macnair wants control of the Malfoy estate," Draco said quietly. "He thought that by turning us over to the Dark Lord and marrying my mother, he could have that. He didn't plan on Valentine."
Harry's eyes widened considerably. "What do you mean 'didn't plan on Valentine'?" he said, heart speeding up a bit. "I thought you said he didn't know about him."
"He didn't. Until he saw you and then the blood," Draco said, kissing the forehead of the baby. "And then mother told him apparently."
"Your own mother went along with this?" Harry said, knowing the fear and anger could be heard in his voice.
Draco still didn't look up at his husband, tracing the outline of those tiny lips as Valen's green eyes seemed to study him. "He didn't give her a choice," he said.
"Then what happened?" Harry asked, watching the movements of Draco's hand over Valen.
Draco could hold Valen in one hand, the child was that small, but those green eyes shone with awareness. And his magical signature was bright. Draco didn't want to think about his mother right then. He had no idea where she was or what had happened after he'd left. And he had taken a vow not to look for her. He sighed, glancing up at his husband. "He used the Imperius Curse on her," he answered.
Harry frowned, watching Draco's face. "She took us from our bed," Harry said quietly. It wasn't a question. "Is she okay now? Do you know where she went?" he asked worriedly, looking intently into Draco's face.
Draco closed his eyes and Valen squirmed where he held him. "No, I don't," he whispered. "She wouldn't cooperate with him when she found out the entire plan. Even under Imperius, she resisted him."
"But then we have to find her," Harry said quickly, touching Draco's face with a hand. "We can find her, Draco."
"No, we can't," Draco whispered. "I swore an oath."
"What?" Harry asked, confused.
"Mother and I, we took oaths when Macnair wasn't in the room," Draco said, wincing. "She made me promise not to look for her if I got away. She said it would put us in too much danger."
Harry looked at the pain on Draco's face and he knew there was nothing he could say to make him feel any better. He pulled him and Valen close, wrapping his arms around them. "I'm sure she'll be all right," he whispered, having to try.
"I have to reset the wards to bar her from the Manor, just in case," Draco whispered, barely able to say it. "And Macnair won't give up. He will try again if he can."
Harry only held Draco tighter, unable to imagine what a hard thing it was he had to do. "We won't make it easy for him," he said quietly, stroking both Draco's and Valen's hair. "And we can have Tonks and the others look for your mother, like they did before."
"They won't find her unless she wants them to," Draco said, not saying, "Or unless she is dead."
Harry sighed quietly, simply holding his family close. He didn't know what else he could say.
Draco just breathed for a minute, holding his child and being held by his husband. Then he remembered something. "Oh, apparently I am immune to the Imperius Curse," he said.
Harry pulled back a little. "You are?" he asked, and then, frowning, "How would you even know that?"
Valen squeaked and Draco looked down at him. He realised then that the infant reacted to their emotions. Then he remembered Harry had asked him a question. "Walden tried it on me, to get me to cooperate," he said. "I think something about the way your magic has bound me repelled it."
Harry scowled at the thought of Macnair casting that spell on Draco, but he had to admit that it was valuable information to know. "Good," he said gruffly.
"Macnair will be back, not just because he wants my family's money or the Dark Lord's favour. It's much more personal. He wants revenge," Draco said.
Harry scowled again. "He's the one who helped take us," he said, voice filled with quiet anger. "It's not our bloody fault he's an idiot."
"You shoved a knife into his lover's throat and then fucked his lover's son next to his body. How do you think he feels about that?" Draco said.
Harry raised his eyebrows. "Lover?" he asked, confused.
Draco snorted. "I thought that was obvious. He and Father," he answered.
Harry made a face of disgust. He simply couldn't help it when it came to Lucius. The very name irked him. And Macnair was not his favourite person in the world either. "I don't give a damn about what Macnair thinks or how he feels. I'd do it all over again," he said, voice hard.
Draco nodded, picking up some bread from the tray and nipping on it. He patted Harry affectionately. "I know, I agree," he said, "but that does make for a powerful hate. And like love, hate can be a strong kind of magic."
"If he tries to come anywhere near my child or you again, I will send him through the wall with my bare hands," Harry said, voice still low and angry. He was afraid of the fact that Macnair knew about Valen, afraid of what the man would do with the knowledge. It put him on edge as he thought more about it.
Valen had nearly settled down but he squeaked again, eyes wide. "It's fine, we're safe," Draco tried to soothe both of them, rocking Valen a bit.
Harry closed his eyes for a moment and kissed the side of Draco's face. "Yes," he said. "We are."
They eventually turned back to eating and did so in silence for a bit. "Where does the baby sleep?" Draco asked.
Harry looked up, chewing. He didn't know if he was willing to sleep very far from Valen. "Well ... with us. For a bit at least," he said. "Can't we set up a little cot next to our bed or something?"
Draco smiled, nodding quickly. "Good," he said, relieved. "I don't want to send him to the nursery."
Harry smiled too. "Me either," he said. "I actually don't really want to leave his side ...." he said slowly. “I only left him to get you."
"We may have to put a Silencing Charm around his cot." Draco smirked.
Harry snorted. "Probably," he said, smiling crookedly.
"Right now, I just want to curl up with both of you and sleep," Draco said.
Harry sighed tiredly. "Yes, that sounds very good," he said, finishing off his juice.
Draco waited until Harry had gotten to his feet and then carefully handed him their son before getting up himself. He led his little family into their bedroom.
Harry laid Valen carefully on the bed and toed off his shoes. He got out of his trousers and then picked the baby back up and climbed into bed with him, laying him in the space that would be between himself and Draco when Draco got in. He ran his hand over Valen's soft hair, smiling at him gently.
Draco settled himself so that their son was cradled between their bodies and he lay on his side, looking at his husband. "Today is March 20th - a year ago is when I decided my life was over," he said softly, "and now I feel like it hasn't even begun yet."
Harry smiled and reached out to tuck Draco's hair behind his ear. "There's no telling what it's going to be like now," he said quietly.
Chapter Title: Ten Fingers, Ten Toes
Words: 4015 Words
Harry took in a shaky breath as he kissed Draco back, clutching him like he would never let go. "Always," he whispered.
Draco still felt weak, but warm, and he lay panting in his husband's arms.
There was a knock at the door. "Harry?" Remus asked though the door. "Are you ... okay?"
Harry laughed. "I'm wonderful!" he called, kissing Draco again.
"I'm coming in," Remus said.
Harry was too busy kissing Draco to care what Lupin or anyone else was doing.
Draco opened his mouth to Harry, enjoying his enthusiastic kiss. His eyes fluttered closed and he relaxed in his arms.
Remus opened the door and stuck his head in. "Draco?" he asked.
"What's going on?" Harry heard Ron ask.
Remus pulled his head back and closed the door. "Apparently," he said to the others, who were anxiously looking at him, "Draco is alive."
Everyone's eyebrows shot up.
"But I thought ... I thought Tonks said he was ...." said Bill, frowning and looking sort of amazed at the same time.
Remus looked at his feet. "I am not sure exactly what happened." He hesitated. "But he seems very much alive at the moment."
"Merlin," said George, looking like Bill.
"That's ...." said Fred, but he seemed unable to say what exactly it was.
Draco's last memories came back slowly. "Harry?" he said, pulling back from the kiss to look into his eyes. "How's Valentine? What happened?"
"He's fine," Harry answered, smoothing Draco's hair back from his cut and bruised face. "Mrs Weasley has him. He's completely fine."
Draco looked around the basement room. "My mother? Macnair?" he asked.
"I don't know," Harry answered. "You're the only one that was here. You don't know where they went?”
"The last thing I remember was you got away and Macnair was furious," Draco said.
"That was when it started?" Harry asked in a high voice. "Merlin." He hugged Draco again.
"I knew we were in trouble," Draco said. "I couldn't have carried you up the stairs. That part wasn't a lie. I was cold and weak. After you left he started beating me. That's when I passed out." Draco didn't add that Macnair had made Narcissa watch.
Harry winced. "What happened?" he asked. "What happened when you left that first time and came back dressed?"
"Harry?" Draco asked. "Can we go home and talk? I want to hold him."
"Yes," Harry breathed and it was almost a sigh. "Let's go home." He kissed Draco again before pushing himself up gently, once again, trying to hide his discomfort.
"You're in pain," Draco said, frowning. "I have some potions at home you need to take." He sat up and looked around for his trousers.
"I took four of them," Harry said, getting to his feet and putting his trousers on.
Draco shook his head. "I will make sure you get on the right schedule for taking them when we get home," he said. He winced as he moved, but at least he was moving. He really hadn't ever expected to wake up again. Dying in a cellar - his childhood fear come true.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked, after his trousers were finally on him. "Oh," he said, "here." He pulled Draco's wand out of his pocket and handed to him.
Draco smiled, taking his wand from his husband. "Nothing wrong that a good potion won't handle," he said, tucking in his shirt and fastening his trousers.
Harry nodded as Draco tucked his shirt in. He came up and kissed his cheek gently, unable to get enough of him.
"So who is with you besides Lupin?" Draco asked.
"Fred, George, Ron, Tonks, and Bill," Harry answered.
"Merlin," Draco said. "And they are all out there waiting?"
Harry nodded. "They thought you were .... Tonks was the one who checked."
"I was dead, wasn't I?" Draco asked, looking at Harry.
"That's ... what she said," Harry said, taking a deep breath.
Draco frowned. "How long?" he asked.
"How long what?" Harry asked.
"Don't be evasive, Potter." Draco winced. "How long was I dead?"
"I - I don't know," Harry said. "I didn't get here until just about an hour had gone by."
Draco looked at Harry. He was pretty sure it was longer than that, but he didn't say anything. "Better open the door and get this over with," he said, bracing himself.
Harry nodded. He walked over to the door and opened it before stepping back, standing close to Draco.
Remus walked into the room, looking uncomfortable. "Draco," he said, "I'm glad you are ... well, I am glad we were able to get here."
Ron came in next, white. "Are you okay?" he asked, sounding disbelieving.
Draco nodded. "I believe I will mend." Then he looked up at the others peering in through the doorway. "Thank you," he said to them all, "for coming for me."
"No problem, mate," said Fred, frowning.
"Yeah - we're just - we're just glad you're ... okay," said George.
Bill nodded.
"Is the place secure? Is there anything here?" Draco asked, feeling very weary.
"We didn't find anything," said Bill, but he looked over his shoulder warily.
Tonks pushed past the wall of red heads. "I think it was just the two of them," she said. "At least from the things left behind."
"What was left?" Harry asked.
"Just some clothes and toiletries," she said, looking at Draco as she answered. She walked to stand in front of him and smiled into his eyes. "I am not sure if I understand how," she said to him, as she reached a hand out to cup his cheek., "but I am glad you are alive, cousin."
Harry smiled softly at Tonks, holding Draco's hand.
"We should get going," said Bill. "It's not safe, even if there isn't anyone here. And besides, I think there's someone probably waiting eagerly for you both at home." He smiled.
"Thank you, cousin," Draco said, blushing slightly at her open display. "Yes, I want to go home," he answered Bill. "Someone should Apparate each of us as I don't think I can yet and Harry shouldn't be using so much of himself right now."
"Come on, Harry, I'll take you," said Ron, moving to help him.
"We'll get the brooms," said Fred, and he and George left the room.
"I'll take Draco," Tonks said, helping him as well.
"Well, if everyone's ready ...." said Bill looking around the room. "Let's go."
Ron gripped Harry's arm very tightly before he Disapparated with a crack, appearing a moment later in the entrance hall of Malfoy Manor. There were more cracks as everyone arrived around them.
Draco was dizzy and nearly lost his balance when they arrived in the hall. Tonks held onto him until he caught himself.
Harry breathed a little sigh and moved over to Draco slowly, hand pressing into his stomach.
"We need to sit down," Draco said. "And where is Valen?"
"Mum's got him in your room," said Ron, moving after Harry, seemingly prepared to catch him if he stumbled. "Do you want us to Apparate you up there or do you want her to bring him down here?"
"My potions are up there," Draco said, swaying again. "Let's go to our sitting room."
Harry reached a hand out and gripped Draco's shoulder.
Ron sighed and nodded. "All right," he said. "Brace yourself," he told Harry, gripping his arm again.
Harry released Draco’s shoulder and nodded to Ron, who Apparated them to the sitting room.
Harry groaned a little and moved to sit down on the couch. "Get your mum, yeah?" he said to Ron, who nodded and left to the bedroom.
Tonks helped Draco to sit beside his husband. He told her which potions to bring for the two of them and she headed off to find them.
Harry took Draco's hand and Mrs Weasley came in a moment later, eyes tearful as she walked over to them, holding Valen.
"Oh, Draco dear," she said, passing the baby gently.
Everyone in the room smiled softly at them.
Valentine was sleeping but woke the minute Draco touched him, his eyes opening suddenly as if surprised. Draco tried not to tremble as he took the small, warm body into his arms. He had only held his son briefly before and then he hadn't been able to feel him like he did now. He sucked in a breath at the feel of the small life in his hands and that familiar magic.
"Hello, my son," he said softly, his eyes intent on those green ones. Valen replied with a series of small cooing and burbling noises.
Harry smiled and felt tears in his eyes as he reached to touch Valen's face gently with one finger. "We can get through anything," he whispered, the rest of the world disappearing.
Valen reached a tiny hand up to touch Harry's finger, wrapping his one around it.
Draco's face was soft and full of wonder and pride. "He knows who we are," he said.
Harry let out a small laugh. "He does," he said, staring at that little face. "He's so tiny."
"His body is," Draco said, his voice nearly a whisper.
Harry smiled widely at Draco's words. He nodded gently in agreement, kissing Draco's cheek again as they touched and held their son.
Draco carefully unwrapped the bundle. Underneath, Valentine was wearing a nappy and a long gown. Laying him in his lap, Draco unbuttoned the gown too.
Harry watched, wondering what Draco was doing.
Draco undressed his son while the little boy cooed and moved. Each part he undressed, he looked at, slowly moving arms and legs and lifting the little body so he could see every inch of him.
Harry smiled and ran his hand over Valen's warm skin, letting him grasp his finger again. He wiggled the finger gently and then kissed that little grasping hand.
Draco didn't stop until he had stripped his son bare, and examined him. Running his fingers over that soft skin. He stopped to kiss fingers, toes and belly. Then he slowly began to redress the infant.
Harry couldn't stop smiling. "He's perfect," he said. "Ten little fingers and ten little toes."
"Perfect," Draco agreed, and little Valentine made a kind of snorting sound at that.
Harry laughed gently, smoothing Valen's white-blond hair.
Draco looked from one set of green eyes to the other and grinned.
"I suppose you got what you want," Harry told him with a small, quiet laugh. "He looks like you and has green eyes, although I think those are my lips."
"Indeed," Draco grinned, kissing Harry's lips.
Harry grinned as well and kissed Draco back.
There was a sniff and Harry looked around to see Mrs Weasley and Hermione, who had entered the room with her, crying.
Tonks was standing nearby holding the potions, watching with a happy smile on her face. Everyone else in the room was staring happily at them as well.
"Congratulations," said Mr Weasley, stepping forward and kneeling to get a good look at the baby. He smiled at him with crinkled up eyes.
"He's so small," said Fred, staring over his father's shoulder.
"He's gorgeous," said Mrs Weasley with another sniff before she laughed a little at herself and dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief.
"He is all that and more," Draco said.
Valen looked up at the new faces and made more noises.
Everyone let out little chuckles.
"What's his name?" asked Charlie, looking down at Valen too.
"Valentine Leander Malfoy," Harry answered, still staring happily at his son.
Remus laughed and Tonks grinned, putting her arm around the man's waist.
"Congratulations, Harry," Hermione said, happy tears still falling from her eyes. She bent to kiss him on the cheek.
"Yeah, mate," said Ron, sounding a little choked up himself.
"Both of you," said Hermione, staring at Draco. "He couldn't have better parents."
Harry grinned at his two best friends.
Draco felt wet warmth spreading in his lap from the baby. "Merde'," he cursed, laughing. "Is someone going to show us how to change a nappy?"
Harry laughed too. "Looks like he takes after someone," he whispered in Draco's ear.
Mrs Weasley was smiling and shaking her head. "I'll go and get one," she said, walking back to the bedroom.
Draco rolled his eyes and shook his head at his son. "You are going to be trouble, aren't you?" he asked him.
Valen seemed to look a little mischievous and Harry laughed again.
Mrs Weasley returned with another nappy and a new little gown similar to the one Valen was wearing already. "Now you need to put him down on the couch, dear," she said, bending to show them how it was done.
First, Draco did Cleaning and Drying Charms on himself. Then he watched as she showed them how to go through the process and secure things correctly. Valen squirmed and seemed determined to make it take as long as possible.
"And make sure his little pee-pee is pointed down or else he'll go right out of the top of it like he just did," Mrs Weasley said, making many of the people in the room chuckle. "If you put a Drying Charm on the cloth, it should prevent anything from leaking every time he goes. You'll just have to remember to do it."
Harry was grinning widely and nodding as he watched her dress Valen again.
Draco raised an amused eyebrow at her language but nodded at the instructions.
Mrs. Weasley smiled at the baby before handing him back to Draco and getting to her feet again. "You'll do fine," she said to both Harry and Draco.
"I have a feeling we will," Harry said, petting Valen's head again.
Valen was squirming and making faces. "He's hungry," Draco said. "What do we feed him?"
Everyone made strange faces and looked at Harry.
Harry flushed a bit now, no longer in a dire situation like he had been before. "Erm ... I feed him ... or at least it's worked twice now," he said quietly.
Draco's eyes widened and his mouth fell open a bit. He blinked several times. "What?" he managed after a minute.
Harry gave a little embarrassed shrug. "Yeah," he said.
"Well, you just take your potions and we'll leave you alone," said Mrs Weasley quickly into the silence of the room.
"Yes, we can talk later," said Mr Weasley, getting to his feet from where he was still kneeling.
"Yes," Draco said, "I think that would be better."
Harry nodded quickly and looked to Tonks who was still holding their potions.
Draco handed Valen carefully to Harry, and then reached for the potions. "Thanks," he said to his cousin.
She smiled broadly. "No problem," she said, taking Remus's hand and leaving the room with him.
Everyone else cleared out as well, Hermione giving Harry's shoulder one last squeeze.
Harry let out a small sigh when the room was empty and he felt better with only Valen and Draco there. He placed Valen carefully in his lap and reached to pull his shirt off again, grimacing at what his stomach looked like. He picked his son up again and placed him at a nipple where he began sucking immediately. He gave another shrug and looked up at Draco. "I don't know why it's doing this, but it is," he said.
"You are truly amazing," Draco said, swallowing around a lump in his throat.
Harry gave him a gentle smile before looking back down at the baby, holding him close.
Draco was staring, unable to pull his eyes from his son suckling at his husband’s nipple.
"I love you," Harry told Valen, smiling down at him and holding his little hand. "I love you so much."
"I love you both," Draco said quietly, laying a hand on Harry's thigh and leaning in closer, watching them.
Harry smiled and turned his head to kiss Draco.
Draco kissed him and then remembered the vials in his hand. He pulled back and looked down. "So you took quite a number of them already," he said. "I will need to see how you react to them. I also didn't plan on the ... breastfeeding part. This means we have to be careful of what you take in, because it will also go into him."
Harry nodded. "This doesn't ... freak you out or anything, does it?" he asked.
"Freak me out?" Draco asked curiously. "Do you mean does it disturb me? No, it doesn't." He swallowed again. "I mean, it's ... beautiful," he said softly.
Harry smiled and nodded. "I'm glad," he said quietly. "Do you think my ... stomach will stay how it is?" he asked, frowning.
"No, I have a potion I have been working on that will help," Draco said, "especially if you get enough exercise." He smiled looking up at Harry, smirking. "Which I am sure I can help with."
Harry grinned widely. "Yes, I'm sure," he said, relieved. "You should take what you need, too. You're all banged up."
Draco nodded, realising he was staring again. He looked down at the potions and set several on the table before selecting one for contusions. He drank it, only wincing slightly at the taste. "Have you eaten?" he asked Harry.
"Not for a while," Harry answered.
Draco called for Babb and she brought them dinner. He leaned back, feeling the potion helping already. "What does it feel like?" he asked.
"What?" Harry asked, smiling at Draco.
"Feeding him," Draco asked.
Harry looked down, smiling at Valen, thinking. "Like - I don't know. Really ... right, I guess. It's hard to explain. I feel a little closer to him."
Valen had released Harry's nipple and was blowing little milk bubbles at them.
Harry laughed gently, bending to kiss him.
"Now what?" Draco said, watching the baby. "Does he sleep?"
"He did the last few times," Harry replied. "Don't real little babies like him sleep all the time?"
"I don't know. I have never been around one," Draco said.
"I think he's supposed to be burped or something first, though," Harry said, picking Valen up and holding him to his shoulder like he had seen Mrs. Weasley do. He patted his back. "Or at least I think this is what I'm supposed to do."
Valen squirmed a bit and then, after a minute, let out a loud burp and spit up milk on Harry's shoulder.
Harry made a face. "Ew, what was that?" he asked, holding Valen slightly away from him.
"There is white goo on your shoulder," Draco observed, chuckling.
Harry scrunched his nose up. "So he pissed on you and he spit white goo on me," he said, shaking his head. "Quite the troublemaker, I think."
"He is as messy as his birth-father," Draco teased, and reached for his wand, doing a Cleaning Spell on Harry's shoulder.
Harry snorted and brought Valen close to him again. He sighed happily, making a silly face at the baby.
"Hand him over and eat," Draco said, reaching for the baby. "You are still feeding two."
Harry sighed again and nodded, giving Valen to Draco. He reached for a plate and began piling it with food. He was hungry and hadn't really been paying any attention. After a few moments of staring at the baby as he ate, he frowned a little. "What happened, Draco?" he asked.
Draco waggled his eyebrows at Valentine and the baby made little scrunched up faces back, trying unsuccessfully to mimic his father. "Macnair wants control of the Malfoy estate," Draco said quietly. "He thought that by turning us over to the Dark Lord and marrying my mother, he could have that. He didn't plan on Valentine."
Harry's eyes widened considerably. "What do you mean 'didn't plan on Valentine'?" he said, heart speeding up a bit. "I thought you said he didn't know about him."
"He didn't. Until he saw you and then the blood," Draco said, kissing the forehead of the baby. "And then mother told him apparently."
"Your own mother went along with this?" Harry said, knowing the fear and anger could be heard in his voice.
Draco still didn't look up at his husband, tracing the outline of those tiny lips as Valen's green eyes seemed to study him. "He didn't give her a choice," he said.
"Then what happened?" Harry asked, watching the movements of Draco's hand over Valen.
Draco could hold Valen in one hand, the child was that small, but those green eyes shone with awareness. And his magical signature was bright. Draco didn't want to think about his mother right then. He had no idea where she was or what had happened after he'd left. And he had taken a vow not to look for her. He sighed, glancing up at his husband. "He used the Imperius Curse on her," he answered.
Harry frowned, watching Draco's face. "She took us from our bed," Harry said quietly. It wasn't a question. "Is she okay now? Do you know where she went?" he asked worriedly, looking intently into Draco's face.
Draco closed his eyes and Valen squirmed where he held him. "No, I don't," he whispered. "She wouldn't cooperate with him when she found out the entire plan. Even under Imperius, she resisted him."
"But then we have to find her," Harry said quickly, touching Draco's face with a hand. "We can find her, Draco."
"No, we can't," Draco whispered. "I swore an oath."
"What?" Harry asked, confused.
"Mother and I, we took oaths when Macnair wasn't in the room," Draco said, wincing. "She made me promise not to look for her if I got away. She said it would put us in too much danger."
Harry looked at the pain on Draco's face and he knew there was nothing he could say to make him feel any better. He pulled him and Valen close, wrapping his arms around them. "I'm sure she'll be all right," he whispered, having to try.
"I have to reset the wards to bar her from the Manor, just in case," Draco whispered, barely able to say it. "And Macnair won't give up. He will try again if he can."
Harry only held Draco tighter, unable to imagine what a hard thing it was he had to do. "We won't make it easy for him," he said quietly, stroking both Draco's and Valen's hair. "And we can have Tonks and the others look for your mother, like they did before."
"They won't find her unless she wants them to," Draco said, not saying, "Or unless she is dead."
Harry sighed quietly, simply holding his family close. He didn't know what else he could say.
Draco just breathed for a minute, holding his child and being held by his husband. Then he remembered something. "Oh, apparently I am immune to the Imperius Curse," he said.
Harry pulled back a little. "You are?" he asked, and then, frowning, "How would you even know that?"
Valen squeaked and Draco looked down at him. He realised then that the infant reacted to their emotions. Then he remembered Harry had asked him a question. "Walden tried it on me, to get me to cooperate," he said. "I think something about the way your magic has bound me repelled it."
Harry scowled at the thought of Macnair casting that spell on Draco, but he had to admit that it was valuable information to know. "Good," he said gruffly.
"Macnair will be back, not just because he wants my family's money or the Dark Lord's favour. It's much more personal. He wants revenge," Draco said.
Harry scowled again. "He's the one who helped take us," he said, voice filled with quiet anger. "It's not our bloody fault he's an idiot."
"You shoved a knife into his lover's throat and then fucked his lover's son next to his body. How do you think he feels about that?" Draco said.
Harry raised his eyebrows. "Lover?" he asked, confused.
Draco snorted. "I thought that was obvious. He and Father," he answered.
Harry made a face of disgust. He simply couldn't help it when it came to Lucius. The very name irked him. And Macnair was not his favourite person in the world either. "I don't give a damn about what Macnair thinks or how he feels. I'd do it all over again," he said, voice hard.
Draco nodded, picking up some bread from the tray and nipping on it. He patted Harry affectionately. "I know, I agree," he said, "but that does make for a powerful hate. And like love, hate can be a strong kind of magic."
"If he tries to come anywhere near my child or you again, I will send him through the wall with my bare hands," Harry said, voice still low and angry. He was afraid of the fact that Macnair knew about Valen, afraid of what the man would do with the knowledge. It put him on edge as he thought more about it.
Valen had nearly settled down but he squeaked again, eyes wide. "It's fine, we're safe," Draco tried to soothe both of them, rocking Valen a bit.
Harry closed his eyes for a moment and kissed the side of Draco's face. "Yes," he said. "We are."
They eventually turned back to eating and did so in silence for a bit. "Where does the baby sleep?" Draco asked.
Harry looked up, chewing. He didn't know if he was willing to sleep very far from Valen. "Well ... with us. For a bit at least," he said. "Can't we set up a little cot next to our bed or something?"
Draco smiled, nodding quickly. "Good," he said, relieved. "I don't want to send him to the nursery."
Harry smiled too. "Me either," he said. "I actually don't really want to leave his side ...." he said slowly. “I only left him to get you."
"We may have to put a Silencing Charm around his cot." Draco smirked.
Harry snorted. "Probably," he said, smiling crookedly.
"Right now, I just want to curl up with both of you and sleep," Draco said.
Harry sighed tiredly. "Yes, that sounds very good," he said, finishing off his juice.
Draco waited until Harry had gotten to his feet and then carefully handed him their son before getting up himself. He led his little family into their bedroom.
Harry laid Valen carefully on the bed and toed off his shoes. He got out of his trousers and then picked the baby back up and climbed into bed with him, laying him in the space that would be between himself and Draco when Draco got in. He ran his hand over Valen's soft hair, smiling at him gently.
Draco settled himself so that their son was cradled between their bodies and he lay on his side, looking at his husband. "Today is March 20th - a year ago is when I decided my life was over," he said softly, "and now I feel like it hasn't even begun yet."
Harry smiled and reached out to tuck Draco's hair behind his ear. "There's no telling what it's going to be like now," he said quietly.