Harry Potter and The Charming Prince (BP7)

It was a beautiful day in September as Harry and Draco wandered along Diagon Alley with the children. The weather carried hints of autumn as an occasional breeze made everyone shiver a bit or lean closer to one another. Valen and Sev needed haircuts. April refused to allow her hair to be cut and it hung in glossy dark curls down her back. Sev's hair had evolved into a unique combination of his fathers with Harry's black colouring but Draco's silky straight texture. Although Sev clearly looked like his brother and sister, there were times when Harry watched that dark hair swinging around his son's face and couldn't help but think of the man after whom his son was named. It was almost eerie.

Wizards and witches were out in large numbers, also enjoying one of the last nice days until next spring. Harry and Draco ignored the curious looks they received while April smiled at several people and even waved once or twice. Sev stared straight ahead as if he didn't see them but Harry could tell that his son was bothered by being the focus of so much attention. However, all three children had been promised ice cream at Fortescue's if they behaved during the outing and Sev seemed to be taking that seriously as he held tight to Harry's hand and kept walking. April skipped along between Harry and Draco, who studied the parchment in his hand on which he had written a list of what needed to be done while they were out.

"I want two flavours of ice cream, Daddy Harry," April sang out. "Can I get two?"

Harry spied the shop down the street where they always took the boys for haircuts and replied absently, "You know the deal, April. You need to be good while your brothers get their hair cut and then we'll talk about ice cream."

Sev leant around and looked at his sister. "Which flavours are you getting, April?"

"I need to look at the board before I know," April said. She refused to lock herself into a choice until she knew whether or not there were any possible new flavours.

"Oh," Sev said in a thoughtful tone. That made sense to him even if he was aware that April always chose the same two flavours.

"I need some potions supplies too," Draco added, studying the list of supplies in his hand. He smiled as he looked over at his husband. But then his smile faltered when he realised that something was missing from the family chatter. His eldest, Valen, who always had an opinion on everything, including ice cream, hadn't spoken up. Draco turned around, looking and when he didn't see that familiar head of white blond hair, he stopped abruptly. "Valen?"

Harry's smile disappeared as he realised he didn't see Valen anywhere. He spun around where he had stopped, dragging Sev with him while April glanced around uncertainly. Harry tried to recall when he had last seen Valen with them but his mind seemed to be spinning in too many different directions to be able to make sense of his own thoughts.

"Draco?" Harry said, his tone slightly higher than usual. There were so many people and, though Harry searched the crowds desperately, there was no little blond head to be found. "Should we separate to look for him? I can't remember when I last saw him."

"Merde'," Draco hissed, hand gripping his wand as he began to search the crowd with his eyes, heart speeding up. Draco's face was a mask now as he started to panic. With platinum blond hair, the nine-year-old boy was usually easy to spot. "Stay here, keep April and Sev close," he told Harry. "I will retrace our steps."

"And his magic," Harry gasped, not nearly as good at hiding his panic as Draco was. He could feel his hands beginning to shake. "Look for it!"

Draco nodded, already doing that. His ability to see magic wasn't something he could really turn off any more than his ability to see colours. He made his way back up the street, looking into every doorway and window, trying to spot their son.

Harry's breathing was coming quicker, his body turning in all directions as he looked for any sign of Valen. People were staring at him strangely and others stood in small groups nearby whispering to each other.

"Daddy," said April, sounding scared. "What's wrong? Where's Valen?"

Harry couldn't even spare a thought to answer her as he looked around frantically. This couldn't be happening, not again. Harry knew, in a distant sort of way, that this wasn't the same as what had occurred nine years ago but his body didn't seem to realise that. His feelings were too close to what he had felt the morning he had awoken to find his baby – Valen – gone. Harry took deep gulping breaths trying to calm himself down. He felt a gentle squeeze on his hand and looked down into Sev's concerned face.

"Daddy?" Sev asked quietly. "Are you all right?"

"I'm just worried about Valen," Harry replied, moving both of his children closer to the wall of a shop and further from the prying ears and eyes of strangers. Harry wondered if Draco was having any luck and hated to be standing there doing nothing.

Draco made his way all the way back to the Leaky Cauldron with no sign of Valen. He was sweating now, despite the cool weather. He turned and stalked his way back up Diagon Alley, still searching but getting increasingly worried and angry. When he reached Harry again, he shook his head. "Maybe we should send a Patronus to find him?" he asked.

Watching Draco return without Valen had sent Harry's heart plummeting into his stomach. "Anything!" Harry said, the panic now creeping into his voice. He was trying hard to stay calm for April and Sev, but Harry knew he was losing it. His baby was somewhere alone and could get hurt or taken. It didn't matter to Harry that Valen was nearly old enough for Hogwarts now; Valen was his baby and he felt as if he would go mad if they didn't find him soon.

"Do it, Draco!" Harry urged. "Please do something!"

Draco tried to control his own fear, something made even more difficult when Harry was agitated. His husband's fear made his magic crackle in a way that prickled across Draco's skin. Draco nodded. "I will. I'll find him," he assured Harry. Draco had never cast a Patronus except in that class or in private with Harry. Now he took a big breath and tried to focus his mind. Think of being happy, he told himself despite the fear hammering in his chest. It was decidedly difficult to do when upset. He had to focus on a happy memory that didn't include Valen as it just seemed to make him more upset. He focused instead on lying in Harry's arms in their bed, looking up at that silly "H" on the frame. The light was weak as it seeped from his wand but intensified when he thought of kissing Harry.

Harry watched as the lion sprouted from Draco's wand, huge and sparkling silver. It clawed at the air with one massive paw and the jaws opened in a silent roar. April's eyes widened and she took an unconscious step nearer to Harry while Sev cocked his head and studied the lion, moving a little closer to the Patronus.

"Find Valen Malfoy and tell him his fathers are looking for him," Draco told the Patronus, then gave Harry's shoulder a squeeze with his own hand before he sprinted away.

Watching Draco take off after the Patronus was too much like watching him disappear into the Floo when Valen had been kidnapped. Harry couldn't handle waiting anymore and grabbed April's hand, pulling her along as he ran after his husband. April and Sev pumped their own little legs, trying to keep up.

The Patronus went too fast to follow and then Draco realised he should be able to control it. He raised his wand again, concentrating on making the lion wait for him. He ran, dodging between the other people on the street and found his Patronus was waiting for him just past the entrance to Knockturn Alley. Memories of his own forays here, especially as a teen, brought enough fear to make his throat constrict. Knockturn Alley was not a safe place for the son of Harry Potter.

Harry continued to follow, and when he had reached Knockturn Alley, he felt a strong surge of panic. A cold wave of fear washed over him, thinking that Valen was somewhere on this dark and twisted street. He stopped, looking around for Draco.

Without the kids, Draco could move faster than Harry. He was furious and scared. People scattered ahead of him, staring after the Patronus lion. Draco was panting by the time the lion dove through the window of Borgin & Burkes. Draco peered in the storefront and spotted a head of white-blond hair.

"Daddy?" April said, her nose wrinkling. "That lady doesn't have any teeth and she's looking at us with a mean face."

"Just come on, April. Please don't stare," Harry said, searching the crowds that seemed to sneer at him and press in. He moved forward, battling his panic and vowing not to leave without his child. It was hard, though, and his breathing sped up again until he was nearly gasping as he looked around. He felt a tighter squeeze on his hand and looked at Sev again.

"He's okay, Daddy," Sev said in a voice so soft that Harry had to lean closer to hear him. "Valen knows things and he's okay."

Harry started to answer and tell his son that he was probably right when he suddenly spotted Draco across the street. He waved an arm and shouted, "Draco!"

Valen stood holding a mummified hand and staring open-mouthed at the Patronus which was speaking in Draco's voice. Draco glared at his eldest son who then, seeing his father looking through the window, squeaked and dropped the hand. The hand promptly crawled up and grabbed Valen's ankle. The boy shrieked. Draco moved to the door.

Harry faintly heard Valen's cry and tightened his grip on April and Sev as he ran across the street. Draco had already moved inside the door. Harry moved to the spot Draco had just vacated, fearing the worst but breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Valen inside the shop.

"Don't bring them in here," Draco snapped at Harry over Valen's cries. The boy was shaking his leg trying to dislodge the hand. Draco raised his wand, dispelled the Patronus and demanded the shop keeper remove the mummy hand from his child. Burke, one of the shop owners, rushed forward trying to retrieve the hand before Valen destroyed it.

Harry's eyes widened at Draco's tone, which snapped him out of his earlier panic as Harry realised where he was. Nodding once, Harry stepped backward, keeping April and Sev close to his body as they waited outside. A small crowd was gathering now, muttering to each other and eyeing Harry with distaste. Harry wanted nothing more than for Draco to come out so they could go home where it was safe. April tried to peer through the window, into the shop, in an attempt to see what was happening to Valen. Sev watched the strangers, patting his father's arm with a small but steady hand. Harry wondered just where Sev learnt to be so calm while everything around him was chaotic as he also tried to peer in the window.

Draco grabbed Valen by the arm and dragged him from the shop. "We should get out of here," he said in a low voice.

Harry stood there, looking down at Valen, with April and Sev pressing in against him on both sides. The fear that had nearly swallowed him only moments earlier now shifted into a simmering anger that caused Harry to clench his teeth and narrow his eyes. Without looking away from Valen, Harry said in a steely voice, "We're going home now."

"I'm sorry," Valen began but fell silent at a look from Draco, who glared at his eldest son, fingers still digging into the boy's arm. "Apparate with them, and I'll take him?" he suggested to his husband.

Harry nodded at Draco, no longer trusting his own voice. Grasping April and Sev by the arms, he took a step back with them and, with a crack, Apparated into the foyer at Malfoy Manor. Sev had a frown on his face; he hated Apparating although he never complained.

"Is Valen in trouble, Daddy?" April asked with a worried look. She loved to torment her older brother but was still protective of him.

Harry gave her a look that stopped her questions but sighed at the hurt look that came over her face. "Daddy Draco and I need to talk to Valen because what he did wasn't safe, that's all. I need for you and Sev to let Aunt Hermione and Uncle Ron know we're home and you can play with your cousins until we come to get you."

April looked like she wanted to ask more questions but Sev tugged at her sleeve and together the two of them headed off to find their cousins. A crack filled the air and then Draco and Valen were standing there.

Draco released Valen and the boy winced, his hand coming up to rub his arm where it had been held. Draco crossed his arms over his chest, glaring at his eldest. "What the bloody hell were you thinking?" he demanded.

"He wasn't thinking," Harry cut in as Valen opened his mouth to reply. "Because if he had been thinking then he never would have wandered off alone and we wouldn't be standing here right now!" Harry ran a hand through his hair, leaving it pointing in all directions before rubbing his forehead. He took a deep breath trying to calm down and looked at Valen. "Do you have any idea what could have happened to you? Any idea? I don't understand you, Valen; why did you do it?"

Draco saw his son cringe but then try to cover it. "I ... I just ... I wanted to see," Valen stammered.

Draco shook his head. "You have heard the stories about the war. You are our son. There are people who would hurt you Valen, just for that."

"There isn't anything in Knockturn Alley that you need to see," Harry said in a tight voice, the earlier fear still sending his emotions all over the place. When he had seen Valen in the shop, all he had wanted to do was grab his son and hold him close. Now he wanted to shake him, hoping that it might make him think twice next time about wandering away. "You don't so much as cross the street or head to the loo without telling one of us. Ever."

Valen shook, hands balled into fists. "You treat me like a baby!" he yelled.

Draco scowled again, fists clenched. He had some inkling now of why his father used to get so mad at him. The child was bloody infuriating sometimes.

Harry's eyes widened and his face flushed with anger as he stepped closer to Valen, his own hands clenched tightly. "Don't ever raise your voice to me," he hissed, barely moving his clenched jaw to speak. "And I suggest you wipe that look off your face right now! You're still only nine years old and you'll do as I say."

Valen flinched, stepping back. Even Draco was tempted to step back when he felt Harry's magic flare with his temper. The man's angry green eyes had been potent even before the war.

"Valen," Draco said sternly, "go to your room and remain there. Your Daddy Harry and I need to talk before we decide your punishment for today's recklessness."

Harry covered his face with a trembling hand and turned away from Valen, taking two steps in the other direction and breathing deeply. Valen looked between the two of them, seemingly shocked that even Daddy Harry, who was usually the pushover when it came to the children's misbehaviour, was still so angry. Valen nodded to Draco, turned, and fled to his room.