You Know You Are Loved When A Gryffindor Loves You

6

Sometime in the early dawn, Severus awoke with a crick in his neck, his arms full of a sleeping Harry and took a moment to look at the peaceful face of his beloved. He gently squirmed out of his arms and was tempted to leave Harry where he was but decided against it, and, lifting his beloved into his arms, carried him to their bed and tucked him in. Wide awake now, he decided on a morning ride to chase the cobwebs away hoping his feckless godson would decide on the same thing.

He was in luck. He was still saddling Frisbee (bloody silly name for such a fine animal!) when Draco sauntered in immaculately dressed as usual in tight snow-white jodhpurs and tall boots, his riding hat swinging nonchalantly in one hand. “Ah, Mr Black-Weasley. Fine morning. Ride out with me?” Draco grinned. Between the work involved in setting up a new school and the ministering unto four tiny babies, there hadn’t been much time for godfather and son to have some quiet time together and Draco jumped at the chance.

They walked across the icy grass, the mist stubbornly staying at ground level, side by side in companionable silence until they were in the next field away from the three dwellings then broke into a canter. Once the mist had lifted completely, they spurred their mounts into a full gallop making for the small stream that bordered the property to the southern side. They slipped down from their steeds to allow them to drink and a little breathless from the ride, sat on a couple of large rocks by the water’s edge to talk.

Instead of the usual camaraderie, there was a tension to the older man that Draco couldn’t quite read until Severus rounded on him in anger, “What the fuck did you think you were playing at flirting with and trying to seduce my husband?”, he came straight to the point and Draco gulped visibly. He continued, “In case it had escaped your notice, we are bonded telepaths. Did you think you could keep behaviour like this from me? I felt both kisses, you fucking little tart. I know this was your mischief before you lay the blame at Harry’s door because bondees cannot lie to each other. You caused us a great deal of distress yesterday, I’ll have you know”.

Draco just gazed at the ground, caught and chagrined. “I just don’t know, Severus, I really don’t. It’s not like I’m not happy with Ron, or even that I really wanted Harry particularly. I know Harry didn’t, erm, react to the kisses either, you know, get hard or anything. I dunno...”, his voice tailed to silence as he fiddled with the blades of grass around his rock. Severus stayed silent. “I think I just fancied the idea of us perhaps, one day, all, you know, sharing. All four of us, being a real unit, and let’s face it, your husband is as sexy as hell in his riding kit, as are you for that matter”, he let his eyes flick over the taut form of the older man.

Severus leaned in and ignominiously grabbed the front of Draco’s hacking jacket and pulled him close, “I don’t do ‘sharing’, Mr Black-Weasley. What’s mine stays that way. Have you discussed this with your lover?” Draco ruefully shook his head. “So”, Severus drawled, “You just thought you would start the ball rolling by trying to seduce my husband? Did you give any thought to the fact that you could have brought untold hurt on all four of us? Just when we are becoming a civilised and cohesive unit?” Draco’s head dipped even further and he couldn’t look the man in the eye, “Harry backed away. He said it never should have happened and he’s right and I caught him again when Hermione gave birth. He kissed me like a brother and, prat that I am, I misinterpreted it. Hermione has already chewed my ear for that. She noticed”.

Severus shook his head, “Why do you do this, Draco? You have to muddy the water when life is just fine and dandy? Can you imagine how Ron would feel? He’s had a hard enough time adjusting to the wealth in his life which he still treats as if it’s all yours. He’s still very fragile for all he has been nothing but a loving tower of strength to you after what your father did, and this is the way you repay him? Not to mention that this nearly caused a very serious rift between myself and Harry? I’m not a nice man when I am jealous. I thought that Harry wanted to leave me and the poor boy nearly froze to death with remorse because I frightened him with my own anger and even then he didn’t blame you. Grow up, Draco. You have a spouse and four children now, responsibilities. If this was some attempt to regain the recklessness of mis-spent youth then it very nearly back-fired very badly and you could have hurt the three people closest to you and for what? So you could pander to some illusions of freedom? Damn piss-poor, I call it”.

He stood and stalked away clicking for Frisbee to come, mounted the beast and rode away, leaving Draco to fend for himself by the stream hanging his head between his shoulders and feeling like an utter shit. In truth, he had entertained a longing for the four to sexually share, he fancied Harry and Severus like mad and knew Harry had some history with his own red bear, and he often thought how cool it would be for them all to be lovers together but that wasn’t how the world worked and he had to get used to the idea. A life commitment was just that. When he thought on it, if Harry and Ron had wanted each other then they would still be together now or something. He grimly recalled his massive crush on his godfather and the terse missive that had engendered back when Severus and Harry were in exile. There was nothing for it, he had been a total idiot. Again!!!.

With a sigh and a feeling that the world pressed down on him, he called for Auror and walked them both back home, a dejected slope to his shoulders. Time to make good on the commitment. If he couldn’t think of a way to make it up to Severus and Harry, the very least he could do was make it up to his beloved and their children.

****

Harry looked up from feeding Mali as his husband walked in, all tight clothes and windblown, ‘Fuck, for two pins I’d have you over the kitchen counter, right now’, came the purr into his mind while Harry kept a totally straight face with a kitchen full of children and house-elf and egg slopped all down his front. He realised he didn’t present the sexiest picture himself but that was the reality of feeding a child who seemed more intent on throwing her food around than actually eating it. Severus greeted them all and replied to his beloved, ‘Actually, I’ve just been having a little chat with that idiot shit of a godson of mine and setting him straight on a few issues. It would seem that he wanted us all to ‘share’ in the sexual sense starting with you and working his way around the rest of us’. Dobby looked from one to the other of the adults and could tell they were ‘talking’ but kept his head down and started brewing coffee for Mr Severus and Mr Harry. Harry left his place on the floor beside his daughter’s low-chair took off his soiled, eggy t-shirt and moved into his husband’s arms, ‘Oh dear, you didn’t hex him too badly, I trust?’ Severus closed his arms around Harry’s torso and pulled the boy to him and kissed him, nuzzling his nose in Harry’s hair.

Amanda started to chirrup, “Mummy and Daddy are kissing”, in a sing-song voice. Amalia just stared and Alex continued to ignore them ‘vrrroooming’ a toy car along the table top with his elbow sliding through a small sticky patch of marmalade beside his plate. Harry spotted it and swore softly, “Oh, Alex”, and dived over to the table and lifted his son’s sticky sleeve out of the mess, grabbing a washcloth and attending to it. Severus smiled at the picture of domestic harmony around him. He leaned to kiss Harry again on the back of the neck, “I need a shower, love, then we’ll have our breakfast”, tapping Harry lightly on the arse before leaving the room.

The children were playing on the rug before the fire in the living room. Alex with his cars, Amanda with her Lego and Amalia with crayons. Harry and Severus were curled up on the sofa with Harry still trying to work out a Magical curriculum for the new school with Severus’ help while Dobby cleaned the bomb-site that was the kitchen after breakfast. Harry drifted a while until Severus brought him back with a kiss to his earlobe, “Penny for them, lover?” he murmured. Harry started and turned, blushing, “How could you ever think that I’d want to give all this up for a casual fuck or two? No chance, matey. It’d take more than that, even though he is a sexy twat in those jodhpurs but you are positively yum-scious in yours. I wanted to throw you over the kitchen table when you came in just now and fuck you ‘til you screamed”, he whispered. Severus went a very fetching shade and they kissed with restrained passion until both were aware of their eldest daughter’s eyes upon them, dark and solemn but wearing a classic Snapely smirk. Harry stuck his tongue out at her and she giggled and went back to her Lego.

They had an energetic morning with the children and the pony and the two Labradors, wearing them all out in the fresh cold air and they all went for a nap including the grown-ups, after lunch.

Severus swiped his tongue over Harry’s throat and nipped his jaw as their bedroom door closed, “Hmmm, what was that about fucking me until I scream? Care to make good on that?”, and Harry laughed and pushed him backwards across their bed and they enjoyed a very sexy siesta for the remainder of the afternoon.

It was full dark before they returned to the land of the living again to hear a diffident knock on their bedroom door, “Excuse me sirs, but Mr Draco is here and wishes to speak with you both”. Harry rubbed his eyes and stretched lazily, “Okay, Dobby. Offer him a drink and we’ll be there in a moment”. He bent and kissed his husband awake. Severus flicked open his eyes and pulled Harry down to him with a growl but Harry backed off, “Draco is here to see us, so get that gorgeous arse out of bed and get dressed”. Harry flung him his clothes.

They came downstairs to see Draco looking sheepish ensconced on their sofa with a cup of tea in his hands. He looked up as he heard them approach and stood. Severus motioned for him to be seated again. Harry quirked a brow, “To what do we owe this pleasure?”, his tone cool. Draco reddened and looked down. Severus sat on the other couch and pulled Harry down into his lap. “I just called to apologise, for being a fuck-up and a fool. We have a brilliant life here and I wanted to, er, well, not mess it all up. In reality, I thought it may bring us all even closer, but I was an idiot, thinking with my bollocks and not my brain and I’m really fucking sorry. I told Ron this afternoon and I am well and truly in the doghouse and I can’t blame him. I promise nothing like this will ever happen again. Please don’t fall out with us just because I’m a stupid git”.

Harry smiled, “It’s all right but if you try it on again, I’ll turn your dick into a fanny for you” Behind him, Severus sniggered and held Harry tighter against him, “Never try to part us again, young man. I take great exception to being parted from that which is mine”. Harry lay back on his husband’s shoulder and, tilting his head slightly, kissed his lover under the jaw, “Mmm, my Severus, I love it when you get all possessive”, he murmured, and Draco coloured to his roots as he watched the closeness between the two and felt an even bigger arsehole for even thinking that these two would ever ‘share’. Severus rejoined, “So, what did Ron think of this barmy idea then?” Draco looked down, “He went ballistic. I’m not used to this possessiveness thing”. Harry’s brows raised, “What on earth gave you the idea that he would go with this anyway? He was always so protective of you”. Draco turned a deeper pink and shrugged, “Like I say, thinking with the gonads not the grey cells. I’m really sorry, you guys. I’m still a little wary of being into a relationship this deep, part of me still wants to head for the hills occasionally. I wish I could just relax into it, I want to with 99 % of me, but the other 1% is still holding out”.

Severus shook his head slowly, “Don’t be stupid, Draco. You are loved to within an inch of your life by a man who would die for you. You have four beautiful children who will grow to adore you and, believe me, you have never been needed or wanted so much by anyone, nor will you ever be. You gave up the name of Malfoy, now it’s time to give up the notions and the attitude. You do not stand alone any more. I’m not suggesting total surrender. Each of us has his own private space in his head and we retreat into it from time to time. I found it a little difficult at first. I, too, could be aloof and sometimes resented the loss of privacy, and, you know privacy is sometimes another name for loneliness, but it’s something that can be worked around. The relationship comes first. Ron will never make you give up everything, he gives you lots of leeway to be yourself, after all, doesn’t he?”.

Draco nodded guiltily, “He’s never tried to own me or anything”. Harry laughed, “It’s not so bad, you know. It gives you another kind of power to be a unit of two and your relationship is very strong. I know no-one expected you to have all of these kiddies all at once but you’ll cope. If anyone knows how to deal with a big family, it’s a Weasley. Severus and I didn’t have that luxury, but we manage. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if everything gets a bit overwhelming. We dump the kids with granny and grandpa now and again and bugger off and do our own thing, in fact, we’re taking May off to go to Italy without the kids and we’re really looking forward to it”.

The blond grinned, “You’re right, it is a bit much at times, especially when one seems to start the others off wailing and Ron is bloody brilliant with them”. Draco paused, “I love that guy so much”, he whispered, a far-away look stealing over his face, “He didn’t deserve this. I don’t deserve him”. Severus grinned, “Don’t be silly. Ron didn’t fall in love with you for your money or good dress sense, just you and you’d do well to remember it”. Draco sighed, “That’s another thing, he’s so reluctant to spend money unless it’s absolutely necessary. I don’t know what to do to convince him. He still asks permission before he’ll spend a penny on himself. He never stints the children anything”.

“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that too much, he’ll get used to it. He comes from a family that all they ever had was love but it was enough. I know money still scares him a bit. Come on, this is the guy that thought you would dump him once you got your funds back”. Draco shook his head, “As if. Even I’m not that shallow. I want to lavish him with stuff but he’s so careful with money and we have plenty to throw about”. Harry chuckled and kissed his husband again, “You had no such qualms did you, babe? Money’s for spending after all. They don’t put pockets in shrouds”. This made Draco laugh, “Quite right, too”. Severus said, “Well, actually, I did, but it didn’t last long. I’d never been a big spender exactly, the salary at Hogwarts didn’t encourage lavish thoughts but I love to treat Harry to things and there are lots of places we want to go around the world, stuff like that. Money is there to enhance your life, not define it, and, think on, you always did take the piss out of him for being poor when you were younger, such things can take a long while to forget. Treat him, spoil him, not just the children. Do stuff for just the two of you. Grown-up stuff. Nice clothes, restaurant dinners, holidays without the kids. Don’t let him get too bogged down in the ‘mummy’ stuff”.

Harry and Severus exchanged a significant look between them that was not lost on Draco and he squinted shrewdly, maybe this was a problem that these two had had. They looked to be in recovery from too much of the ‘mummy’ stuff and they glowed. Draco smirked, “No fear of that at any rate. Eggy jumpers and puky shoulders is so not sexy. That washing machine of ours works on double time. That’s one of my jobs”, he said with pride. Harry rolled his eyes, “Typical”, he giggled.

Just then the door burst open and further serious conversation ceased for now as three mini-tornados surged into the room and launched themselves at the three men. Dobby brought up the rear, “Sorry, Mr Harry, they got away from me, they know how to distract me now, particularly Miss Amanda”. Draco plucked his favourite niece from the floor and hugged her, “How’s my Manda Panda?”, and the child wriggled and giggled in the arms of her best uncle, her black-as-night eyes alight, “I can trick Dobby now, Uncle Jaco”. Draco gave her a mock stern look, “Now, Manda, you’re a big girl, it’s D-r-aco, not Jaco”. In response the girl just pouted out her lower lip and Draco sighed, it would probably always be ‘Jaco’.

Severus unwound himself from around Harry and plucked his child from the lap of her uncle, “Now, then, Mandy. It’s very naughty to trick Dobby like that, go and say sorry or it’s off to bed with you with no tea tonight”, he did his best daddy death glare but she subsided and went off to find the elf and apologise knowing that ‘mummy’ would enquire later.

Harry smiled, “It doesn’t do to spoil them too much and they have to learn respect. Dobby works so hard”, as Severus sank back next to him. They shared a sweet kiss then drew apart, “Time to be parents again”, Harry murmured against his lover’s lips as they parted and gathered up the other two who were now playing chase at dizzying speed around the sofa that held Draco who rose after their latest pass and stretched, “That goes for me too. Ron will need some help with the evening feed so I should be going”. He took his leave after thanking the two of them and made his way across the large yard that separated the three domiciles to his own family.