Harry Potter and The Charming Prince (BP7)

Harry stumbled dazedly out of the fireplace at the Burrow and into Draco's waiting arms. They had both wanted to come right away but neither of them wanted the children to be scared by seeing all of the adults that they depend upon simply ... falling apart. Harry and Draco also wanted to be able to sit down with their children and explain what had happened to the only real grandfather they had known. After Hermione had cried in Harry's arms, she explained that she only knew what Bill had told Ron; Arthur had passed away at home. Ron had gone immediately to the Burrow and Hermione followed after Harry and Draco promised her they would contact friends to come to the Manor and stay with all of the children.

The Malfoy children and the Weasley children were left in the safe hands of Neville and Luna as well as Tonks and her husband Donaghan. Each couple brought their own children with them and assured Harry and Draco that everything would be fine and not to worry. Harry wanted to worry, though. He wanted to feel anything else other than the numbing grief that threatened to swallow him. It had been hard when Charlie had been killed and Harry had shed tears at watching the family he loved fall apart, but Arthur was different. He was the closest thing Harry had ever had to a normal father and he had also been a good friend.

Glancing around the kitchen, Harry's heart ached when he saw Hermione and Ron in the corner, Hermione's arms wrapped around her husband as Ron's lanky body was bent down awkwardly and he cried with his face buried in her shoulder. Platters of food covered the kitchen table as if a meal were about to be served but there was nobody else in the room. Harry didn't want to step any further into the home; he didn't want it to be real and he knew that once he looked into Ron's eyes it would be very real. Harry took an involuntary step backward and walked into Draco. Spinning around, he looked at his husband in a panic and whispered, "I don't know what to do, Draco. I don't know how to fix this."

There were so many things now that Draco would never have believed possible when he was young. Being Harry's husband was at the top of that list. Having come to love the Weasleys, all of them, especially Arthur and Molly, and considering them a part of his family, was another. He felt numb at the news of Arthur's death, not yet able to absorb the impact. And he didn't want to allow it either. He needed to remain in control to help his husband and family through this. Draco caught Harry, one arm around the man's waist and his other hand coming up to cup Harry's cheek. "You can't fix it, love," he said softly.

Harry felt muted anger drenching him as he looked into Draco's eyes and tried to block those words. Just as quickly, the anger was replaced by raw need and Harry clutched at Draco's arms and pleaded, "Then ... can you? Please?"

Draco closed his eyes, resting his forehead against Harry's for a moment. "I wish I could," he said, heart clenching in pain.

"This isn't real," Harry said, squeezing his eyes shut and trying to believe the lie. "It's not real and if we just – "

"Harry?"

Harry froze against Draco when he heard the shattered voice of Ron behind him. Turning, he looked into Ron's eyes and his last hope for denial was sent smashing to the ground. The bewilderment on Ron's face made him look like a child again as he gazed at Harry and said helplessly, "He's gone ...."

When Ron lowered his head into his hands, weeping alone, Harry broke from his trance and rushed forward to wrap his arms around Ron, holding on tight to keep both of them from slipping away. Harry's own face was wet now although he didn't allow himself the luxury of actually crying. He needed to be strong for the Weasleys.

Hermione made futile attempts to wipe the tears from her eyes as she stepped closer to Draco. "The Healer said it was his heart," she whispered, watching her husband and best friend. "It just stopped working and there was nothing they could do. Nothing."

"Just stopped?" Draco repeated. It sounded so ... mundane. Arthur Weasley had survived the war and lived to see grandchildren. It felt strange to think he could do all that and then suddenly die. Draco laid a hand on her arm, trying to be supportive.

Hermione sniffled, the tears never stopping and she kept her voice low as she glanced up at Draco. "Bill said he never even woke up. He was napping in his favourite chair." Her brown eyes now fastened themselves on Draco's. "It – well, it seemed like Molly wasn't surprised by what the Healer said ... about Arthur's heart."

Draco frowned, wondering about that. Maybe Molly had known something but didn't want to worry the family. That would be likely if there had been a problem. "How is she?" he asked, almost afraid of the answer.

"She's – not good," Hermione said. "None of them are. We should go back in though, I know Molly will want to see both of you."

Harry wasn't sure what he was murmuring to Ron. They were the nonsensical words he whispered to his children when they were hurt or scared in the middle of the night. Ron's sobs began to slow and Harry heard the slight hitching of breath that always came after a hard cry. He had heard some of what Hermione had been telling Draco and it didn't make any sense. Arthur was still young and seemed healthy. At Valen's birthday party two weeks ago, while the candles were blown out, he had stood there with Emily in his arms and Sev on his shoulders with a huge smile on his face. And Molly. Harry tried to imagine spending decades with Draco and then losing him. Just the thought of it made Harry want to grab his husband and never let go.

Ron straightened up and Harry took a half-step back. Hermione immediately pressed against Ron's side and guided him toward the door that led to the living room while Harry watched. Once they were no longer in sight, he turned around and nearly knocked Draco over with the force of his own body as he lunged forward and held on tight.

"I know we need to go in there," Harry mumbled against Draco's neck, "but I just need a minute. Just me and you for a minute."

"Yes," Draco whispered, holding his husband tightly. He reached up to wipe at Harry's damp face.

In a home that had once been his only refuge during the summers of his childhood, Draco now became Harry's safe haven. He tilted his head back and gave Draco a weak smile. "I couldn't do this without you. I wouldn't – " Harry broke off, an image of Molly clouding his eyes as he finished shakily, " – wouldn't even want to try."

"I'm beside you, always," Draco whispered, kissing his forehead.

After a moment of holding each other in the silence of the kitchen, Harry pulled away and wiped his face with his sleeve before turning and heading for the living room. He held his breath as he pushed the door open and stepped into the sitting area with Draco right behind him. The only thing keeping him from turning around was Draco's the steady hand against his back. The room was fairly quiet considering the amount of people in it, occupying every space, except for Arthur's favourite chair which sat empty and immediately drew Harry's eyes toward it. His attention was pulled away by the quiet sound of Ginny crying, curled up on the couch against her mother who stroked her daughter's hair and gazed absently at nothing in particular. Oliver sat on the other side of Ginny, rubbing her back. Bill and Ron stood in one corner of the room near the stairs talking in low tones. Percy and his wife sat at the other end of the couch with stunned looks on their faces while Fleur stood behind Molly, keeping one slim hand on her shoulder.

A movement to the right caught Harry's eye and he glanced over to see Fred and George sitting on the floor with their backs against the wall. Their normally laughing faces were stripped of colour and the looks in their eyes made Harry's heart ache. They held hands.

Draco felt the tension in Harry's back and his own stomach flipped at the scene before him. The quiet of the room felt overpoweringly heavy, like the air was humid but with grief instead of moisture.

"They're in shock," Harry murmured, more to himself than anything else. He turned and kissed Draco on the cheek before whispering, "I'm going to see Molly. Will you check on Fred and George?"

Draco nodded, kissing the side of Harry's head before moving toward the twins. For a moment, he stood, unsure of what to do. Finally, he sucked in his breath and sank to his knees in front of them, arms to his sides and palms up. It was a gesture of offering. Both men looked at him with surprise. It seemed to take a minute to register what he'd done and then, together they reached for his hands, holding tight.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief when Fred and George both accepted Draco's hands. He turned and moved across the room until he reached Molly and knelt down in front of her. Her gaze lowered and when she saw Harry she gave him a sad smile and pulled him up with her free arm until he was nearly in her lap. He supported his weight on the arm of the couch and let her hold him close.

"You came," Molly said against his cheek, "Now all of my children are here."

Harry felt the tears threatening to spill over but he blinked them back. He shifted so he could look into Molly's face and couldn't stop himself from asking in a ragged voice, "Why?"

Molly looked across the room at Draco for a brief second before she replied, "I don't know, Harry. It's too soon to know anything. Bill and his family were here for dinner and you know how Arthur likes to take a little nap before he eats ... but he never woke up ...." Her voice trailed off just before she clutched Harry closer and began to cry. Ginny's sobs mingled now with her mother's and Harry looked up helplessly at Fleur and Oliver. Oliver carefully pulled Ginny closer to himself which freed Molly to wrap both arms around Harry and he tightly returned her embrace. He knew that she had probably spent the afternoon trying to be strong for her children but the sorrow had finally engulfed her. Tears formed again in Harry's eyes as his gaze wandered up the wall and he saw the clock. The Weasley family clock no longer had a hand for Arthur and seeing that felt like a blow to Harry's stomach.

On the floor, Draco scooted a little closer to Fred and George, the three of them still holding hands. They didn't speak, which was surprising on its own. He'd never seen Fred and George quiet. Draco heard Harry and Molly and felt a tug of fear in his chest. It was, of course, one of his worst nightmares – the idea of losing Harry terrified him. He had always told Harry that he didn't want to outlive him and he still meant it.

After several minutes of holding Molly while she cried, she finally pulled back and wiped her face with her apron. Harry settled back on his heels again and looked over at Ginny who was quiet now and resting in the shelter of Oliver's arms. Percy sat and examined his hands as if they had suddenly appeared at the end of his wrists without warning. Harry was thankful that Percy had returned to his family in time to have a few good years with his father before losing him.

"I'm going to make some tea," Molly announced shakily but with determination and Harry scooted back as she stood and headed for the kitchen with Fleur and Hermione trailing behind her.

Harry made his way over to Bill and Ron. Bill hugged him tight and thanked him for coming. Ron had an angry look on his face, his freckles nearly camouflaged by the flush flooding his skin.

"Ron?" Harry said.

"It's nothing, Harry," Bill cut in. "I mentioned that I thought Mum should come stay with us at Shell Cottage and it upset Ron."

"She shouldn't have to leave her home and everything she loves just because you decided," Ron argued, his body rigid. "Hermione and I could move in here with the kids and that way nothing would have to change."

Harry doubted that Molly would ever leave the Burrow and he was sure that Bill probably knew that and had simply been making a suggestion. Ron's anger was more than was called for and Harry knew it was because he was afraid. Losing Arthur was already hard enough but facing the prospect of Molly moving away and no more family gatherings at the Burrow was one change too many for Ron. He couldn't handle it.

"Bill's just trying to help, Ron," Harry said, stepping in front of Ron and looking him in the eyes. This wasn't the time for a family argument. "That's what families do for each other, mate, and you know your mum isn't going to let anyone talk her into leaving the Burrow anyway. This is her home and it always will be."

Ron's anger teetered for a moment before he hung his head and nodded. Bill stepped closer and wrapped his arms around his youngest brother who slowly brought his own arms up and hugged him back. Harry left them and made his way over to where Draco still sat with the twins.

Harry sat on the floor and leant tiredly against Draco. They hadn't been at the Burrow very long and Harry was already exhausted. There was still so much to do and Harry knew that the Burrow would soon be bursting at the seams with friends and members of the Order. He wished it were late at night so he could wrap himself around Draco and shut everything else out or, at least shut off the questions in his mind. Arthur's death just didn't make any sense. Harry didn't want to ask too many questions while the shock was still settling in but he hoped to talk to Molly or Ron later, even Hermione, in the hopes of finding out if anyone had answers.

The rest of the afternoon and evening crawled by. Remus and Sirius were the first to arrive after Harry and Draco and both men set about greeting newcomers – old friends, order members and distant famly – and conjuring seating areas outside when they ran out of room inside the Burrow. Harry and Draco spent their time by the sides of the Weasleys, listening to their grief and letting them know they weren't alone. All of the Weasley offspring went back and forth between needing their mother's comfort and trying to ease the pain that was already etching itself in her face. As night fell, Bill, Percy and Ron made various trips to their homes, gathering their children. Molly wanted to be surrounded by her grandchildren and Harry knew it would be better for her that way. Tonks and her husband came back with Ron, helping him with the babies while Harry and Draco made the rounds of saying goodbye and letting Molly know they would be by the next day with their own children.

Harry had tugged Draco outside, wanting to Apparate home this time and they stood there for a moment beneath the stars. Now that they were alone, Harry ran his hands up and down Draco's back as he was embraced, needing to map out the flesh that was real and solid. Arthur's death had ignited the kindling that represented every fear Harry had of losing Draco. He knew that the next day would be filled with more tears and reminders of the emptiness left behind in Arthur's wake but, at that moment, Harry also felt a spot of guilt for being relieved that Draco was still there, holding him. They still had each other and their children were safe at home. In spite of the fact that he knew it was unrealistic, Harry needed that to be true forever.