Harry Potter and The Serpent King (BP5)
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
52
Views:
20,399
Reviews:
85
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
52
Views:
20,399
Reviews:
85
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.
Death's Cry
Chapter Number/Total: 5/52
Chapter Title: Death's Cry
Words: 2830 Words
Vultures a-wing have sullied the glory of the sky;
The winds bear on their pinions the horror of Death's cry;
Assassining one another, men rage and fall and die.
-Ruben Dario
***
Harry felt a bit more uneasy and he got to his feet. "I'll go and get her," he said slowly.
Draco set the journal aside and glanced at Ron.
Ron was staring at Tonks, serious and silent.
A few minutes passed before Harry returned with Mrs Weasley.
"Well, Tonks," she said cheerfully, "I didn't know you were coming. Perhaps you can stay for ...." She trailed off and her expression fell slightly when she took in Tonks's face and the thick silence that seemed to fill the room.
Draco stood and held out his hands for Valen, taking the infant from Mrs Weasley and gesturing for her to sit down.
She did, staring nervously around at everyone. "What is it?" she asked, making a weak attempt at being cheerful again.
Harry moved close to his husband and son, his heart beating quickly as he found himself sorting through the Weasleys he had already seen that day.
Tonks closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I don't know how to tell you this," she began, "but there has been another attack."
Harry closed his eyes as well, reaching a hand over to grasp Draco's shirt.
Mrs Weasley faltered, but looked determined not to assume the worst.
Ron slumped back into the couch, looking disbelieving, Hermione covering her mouth with her hand next to him.
Tonks was shaking a bit. "I ... there was a Dark Mark reported over the Burrow and we were sent to investigate."
Ron and Mrs Weasley both went deathly pale at the same time.
"He's okay," Mrs Weasley said insistently, her eyes wide. "He's okay, right? False alarm?"
Tonks shook her head. "Charlie was there," she said in a voice barely above a whisper.
Ron sunk even lower into the couch, his wide blue eyes filling rapidly with disbelieving tears.
"No," Mrs Weasley breathed, beginning to tremble.
Harry couldn't look. He couldn't even hardly believe what Tonks had just said.
"I'm sorry," Tonks said. "It was over before we even got there."
"No," Mrs Weasley said firmly now, looking very angry. Her voice shook violently.
Ron looked over at his mother as the first few tears fell from his eyes.
"No," she repeated, seeming like she was unravelling completely. "No." Her eyes landed on Ron and she dissolved into tears.
Ron leapt up from the couch and went to his knees in front of Mrs Weasley, pulling her violently trembling form into his long arms and holding her tight as he sobbed as well.
Tears fell from Tonks's eyes and she sat down on a chair. Draco didn't know what he should do, so he rocked Valen and stood beside his cousin.
Hermione had started to cry too as she stared at Ron and Mrs Weasley, her hand still covering her mouth as her tears streamed down her face.
Harry could feel intense anger building up and he knew he would make Valen cry if he allowed it to break loose. He turned and headed out the door, his fists clenched. He leaned against the wall outside in the hall and covered his face with his hands.
Draco was torn. He didn't know if he should go to Harry or stay with their friends. Valen was squirming and seemed on the verge of crying too. Draco rocked him and hummed, hoping to soothe the infant.
Tonks looked up. "Can I hold him?" she asked, holding her hands up.
Draco nodded and handed Valen to her. "Thank you," he said. "I will check on Harry." She nodded and he headed after his husband. He found Harry in the hall and wrapped his arms around him.
Harry hadn't been crying, but when he felt Draco he started to, feeling selfish for being out in the hall, although he wasn't sure what he could do to help Ron or Mrs Weasley.
Draco cradled Harry's head against his shoulder and held him.
"This is my fault," Harry whispered as his tears fell. "All of this is my fault."
"No, it isn't," Draco said. "It is the monster and his followers' fault."
Harry shook his head. "They would have never - if it weren't for me they would have never went for -" He couldn't even finish.
"You didn't create that monster," Draco said. "You didn't make this situation and you are fighting him with everything you can. This isn't just about you and him."
Harry sniffed and wiped his face, but he couldn't help how he felt. Not even Draco's words made him feel any different.
"I love you," Draco said. "I know you want to save everyone. It hurts you every time you hear of another attack. And this hurts even more because they have attacked your family."
Harry never knew what to say when Draco explained all of his feelings even better than he could himself. He could put them out there even when Harry didn't quite know what he was feeling.
"I hate this prophecy and I hate that monster," Draco said. "It isn't right that the entire wizarding world expects you to stop him. They should have done it. They shouldn't have put it all on you. And I will do whatever it takes to help you destroy him."
Harry simply clung to Draco, wrapping arms around him. "I hate it," he whispered. That word summed up a lot of things he was feeling at the moment. "I hate it."
"Yes," Draco said, and held him tighter. He wished he could take Harry and Valen and run away. Get away from the nightmare. Even if it was possible, Harry would never do it. He knew that. And it scared him.
A few moments went by as Harry held his husband and tried to pull himself together. "Do the others know?" he said quietly, gently pulling away from Draco and rubbing at his slightly red eyes.
"I don't know," Draco said. "We should ask Tonks."
Harry took a quiet, deep breath and nodded, turning to head back inside the room.
Everything was almost exactly as he had left it. Mrs Weasley and Ron were still crying and clinging to one another and Hermione still watching them. The only difference was Tonks sitting with Valen. He made his way over to her, trying his best not to disturb mother and son as they wept.
Draco stayed close to Harry and moved with him.
Tonks looked up at them, eyes still watery, but she was smiling a bit at the baby who was clutching one of her fingers in his hand.
"Do the others know?" Harry asked, voice so quiet he was nearly whispering. He didn't think they did, or else Mr Weasley would surely be with his wife.
"Remus was going to get Mr Weasley and will be meeting us here," she whispered. "We still need to contact the rest of the family."
"Harry," Draco said, "you stay here and I will go to the shop."
Harry's head snapped and he looked at Draco with fear in his eyes. He didn't much want to let Draco go anywhere, not even with him, especially not on a day when there had been a Death Eater attack.
"You need to stay here with them." Draco gestured toward the room. "And Valen will need to be fed soon."
"I can go," Tonks said quietly.
"You can go with me," Draco smiled softly at her, "but I want to be there. They are my family too now."
Harry bit his lip and stared at Draco intently for a few moments. He sighed quietly and moved close to him. "Be careful," he whispered, looking up into his face. "I mean it."
Draco looked into those emerald eyes, lost for a moment in the love he saw there. "With you to come home to," he whispered, "of course."
Harry sighed quietly again and nodded, pressing his lips to Draco's gently before turning to take Valen from Tonks.
Draco kissed him back, savouring his touch. "We will bring them back here," he said.
Tonks got to her feet and nodded to Draco. "Where are Bill and Fleur? Are they here?"
"I think so," Harry said, taking the seat that Tonks had just been in and cradling Valen to his chest.
"Hermione?" Draco asked. "Will you go find them and bring them back here? The family needs to be together."
Hermione sniffed, wiping at her face, and nodded to Draco. "Yes, I'll get them," she said in a squeaky voice as she got shakily to her feet.
Draco nodded, then gestured to Tonks and they made their way to the entrance hall. Once out of the room, Draco turned to her. "And Percy?" he asked.
"One of the other Aurors was sent to tell him," she said, her voice almost flat.
Draco narrowed his eyes, looking at her. "It's not your fault either, you know," he said quietly.
She looked like she was about to argue with him but then shut her mouth and nodded.
They Apparated to Diagon Alley and made their way to the Weasley brothers' shop.
As the tinkling bell rang when Tonks and Draco entered, they were immediately greeted with a loud, cheerful voice from among the shelves of colourful items. "Hey! What are you two doing here?" It was Fred and he walked over to them. He gave Draco a slightly confused look. "Where's Harry?" he asked, looking around like he might see him materialise.
Draco schooled his features into a calm expression. "We need the two of you back at the house," he said. "How quickly can you close up shop?"
Fred raised his eyebrows and he looked at Tonks. He frowned, seeming to just now question why she of all people would be there with Draco. "A few minutes," he said, and more quietly, "Is something the matter?"
"Yes," Draco said quietly, "but we can't talk here. We need you and your brother to come with us."
Fear passed over Fred's face and he nodded, turning and heading up the staircase in the back. He returned a minute later with a confused-looking George and the two of them began locking up and setting their wards. Another few minutes passed and the one customer in the shop went on his way, taking the hint it seemed.
"We're ready," said Fred, joining Draco and Tonks again as George secured one last window. He was pale now, a definite sign of Weasley fear.
The tension was high as the four made their way out and Apparated back to the Manor. Draco turned to them when they arrived.
Both twins were standing a bit closer to one another than they might normally, hunkering together as if that might cushion the obvious blow Draco was about to land on them.
Draco wanted to do or say something to take away the pain he saw. He realised then how much these two meant to him. "I can't make this easier," he said, stepping close to them. "It's Charlie."
Identical looks of extreme disbelief took over Fred and George's faces, despite them both having suspected something terrible.
After a moment of very heavy, terrible stunned silence, George reached out and gripped the material of Draco's shirt at his shoulder. "Are you ... serious?" he asked, though if he and his brother's faces were any indication, they didn't truly need that question answered.
Draco lay a comforting hand over George's and nodded.
Tonks inhaled sharply, pausing before speaking. "They left the Mark over The Burrow," she said. "I was there."
George closed his eyes and released Draco, burying his face in his hands. Fred looked like he was either going to pass out or be sick. "Where's Mum?" he asked shakily, taking a hold of the back of George's robes.
"In the small sitting room," Draco said, gesturing.
Fred and George practically ran from the entrance hall, both of them moving in a slightly twitchy way, like they were going to collapse.
Harry was still sitting in the same chair, face stricken as he watched the Weasley family huddle together, Ron and Mrs Weasley in the core of it all. Mr Weasley had arrived a few minutes ago and sat cradling his wife and children, face so pained Harry thought he might die of grief.
Hermione stood slightly to Harry's left and Fleur very close to him on his other side, tears streaming down her face as she watched her husband with his family.
Fred and George burst into the room and rushed over to their parents and siblings, all of them babbling and crying, the same word repeated over and over again. "No, no, no, no." It was the most intensely sad thing Harry had ever witnessed.
Draco stood in the doorway, almost afraid to enter the room. Tonks seemed equally at a loss, hovering next to him.
Harry looked over and could barely even feel the relief that came from knowing Draco had made it back okay. He rocked Valen, who seemed restless among the distraught Weasleys.
Draco's eyes met his husband's. He felt a twinge of guilt at his relief that they were still alive and together. He made his way quietly across the room and dropped to one knee in front of him.
Tears leaked from Harry's eyes as all the incredible pain caught up with him again. Holding Valen to his chest with one arm, he reached a hand out for Draco, needing the contact.
The blond took his husband's hand and laid his head in his lap.
Harry closed his eyes, the sounds of the sobbing bad enough without the sight of the pain.
Suddenly there was a cry of, "Oh, Percy!" from Mrs Weasley, and Harry had to open his eyes again.
There stood the third Weasley brother, slightly away from the rest of them, twisting his hands and looking just as grief stricken as any of them. "Mother," he choked out. His voice shook terribly. "I just heard and -" He didn't seem able to go on and Mrs Weasley got to her feet and came to him, squeezing her son in a tight embrace.
The others followed, all of them forming a many-armed hug around their wayward brother in the middle of the sitting room.
Draco opened his eyes too, looking at the sad and beautiful scene in front of him. He knew little of the history behind it, but it didn't matter.
Harry felt like he had back when Mr Weasley had been attacked by the snake - like he was intruding. He felt like perhaps he should leave the Weasleys to themselves, let them grieve and cry in private. It only worsened when Ginny showed up a few minutes later, covered in soot - the tell-tale signs of Floo. When he looked over, it was to see Tonks still hovering in the doorway, now accompanied by Remus, who had to have brought Percy and Professor McGonagall, who was also covered in a light dusting of soot.
Draco got to his feet and went to talk with the others in the doorway. He led them to another room and sent a house-elf for tea service.
Harry began rocking Valen again, not knowing what else he could do except sit there and let it calm down on its own. He knew Valen was going to need feeding soon as he was squirming more and making his little sucking noises, but he didn't want to leave the room without Draco knowing where he was going.
Draco took a big breath and returned to where the Weasley family still sat together. He sent a second house-elf to get food and drink for them as well. Then he went to his husband. "Come on, love," he said, holding a hand out to him.
Harry sighed and nodded, taking Draco's hand and using it to get to his feet with the baby. He gave a small, sad smile to Hermione and Fleur. The others didn't even notice him leaving in their state.
Draco led his husband upstairs to their room and closed the door behind them.
Harry didn't even really know what to say to Draco. What was there to say? Nothing. He made his way to the sofa and routinely placed Valen in his lap, removed his shirt, and set the baby at his nipple. He was silent and staring down at Valen without any real expression on his face.
Draco stood watching for a minute and then made his way over to the piano. He sat down, opened the lid and began to play the lullaby he had been singing recently.
Harry actually smiled softly, the music as calming as it had been when Draco had been singing it. He sighed quietly and stared into his son's eyes, the look of them even more calming. He relaxed back into the sofa, listening to Draco and staring at Valen.
Chapter Title: Death's Cry
Words: 2830 Words
Vultures a-wing have sullied the glory of the sky;
The winds bear on their pinions the horror of Death's cry;
Assassining one another, men rage and fall and die.
-Ruben Dario
***
Harry felt a bit more uneasy and he got to his feet. "I'll go and get her," he said slowly.
Draco set the journal aside and glanced at Ron.
Ron was staring at Tonks, serious and silent.
A few minutes passed before Harry returned with Mrs Weasley.
"Well, Tonks," she said cheerfully, "I didn't know you were coming. Perhaps you can stay for ...." She trailed off and her expression fell slightly when she took in Tonks's face and the thick silence that seemed to fill the room.
Draco stood and held out his hands for Valen, taking the infant from Mrs Weasley and gesturing for her to sit down.
She did, staring nervously around at everyone. "What is it?" she asked, making a weak attempt at being cheerful again.
Harry moved close to his husband and son, his heart beating quickly as he found himself sorting through the Weasleys he had already seen that day.
Tonks closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I don't know how to tell you this," she began, "but there has been another attack."
Harry closed his eyes as well, reaching a hand over to grasp Draco's shirt.
Mrs Weasley faltered, but looked determined not to assume the worst.
Ron slumped back into the couch, looking disbelieving, Hermione covering her mouth with her hand next to him.
Tonks was shaking a bit. "I ... there was a Dark Mark reported over the Burrow and we were sent to investigate."
Ron and Mrs Weasley both went deathly pale at the same time.
"He's okay," Mrs Weasley said insistently, her eyes wide. "He's okay, right? False alarm?"
Tonks shook her head. "Charlie was there," she said in a voice barely above a whisper.
Ron sunk even lower into the couch, his wide blue eyes filling rapidly with disbelieving tears.
"No," Mrs Weasley breathed, beginning to tremble.
Harry couldn't look. He couldn't even hardly believe what Tonks had just said.
"I'm sorry," Tonks said. "It was over before we even got there."
"No," Mrs Weasley said firmly now, looking very angry. Her voice shook violently.
Ron looked over at his mother as the first few tears fell from his eyes.
"No," she repeated, seeming like she was unravelling completely. "No." Her eyes landed on Ron and she dissolved into tears.
Ron leapt up from the couch and went to his knees in front of Mrs Weasley, pulling her violently trembling form into his long arms and holding her tight as he sobbed as well.
Tears fell from Tonks's eyes and she sat down on a chair. Draco didn't know what he should do, so he rocked Valen and stood beside his cousin.
Hermione had started to cry too as she stared at Ron and Mrs Weasley, her hand still covering her mouth as her tears streamed down her face.
Harry could feel intense anger building up and he knew he would make Valen cry if he allowed it to break loose. He turned and headed out the door, his fists clenched. He leaned against the wall outside in the hall and covered his face with his hands.
Draco was torn. He didn't know if he should go to Harry or stay with their friends. Valen was squirming and seemed on the verge of crying too. Draco rocked him and hummed, hoping to soothe the infant.
Tonks looked up. "Can I hold him?" she asked, holding her hands up.
Draco nodded and handed Valen to her. "Thank you," he said. "I will check on Harry." She nodded and he headed after his husband. He found Harry in the hall and wrapped his arms around him.
Harry hadn't been crying, but when he felt Draco he started to, feeling selfish for being out in the hall, although he wasn't sure what he could do to help Ron or Mrs Weasley.
Draco cradled Harry's head against his shoulder and held him.
"This is my fault," Harry whispered as his tears fell. "All of this is my fault."
"No, it isn't," Draco said. "It is the monster and his followers' fault."
Harry shook his head. "They would have never - if it weren't for me they would have never went for -" He couldn't even finish.
"You didn't create that monster," Draco said. "You didn't make this situation and you are fighting him with everything you can. This isn't just about you and him."
Harry sniffed and wiped his face, but he couldn't help how he felt. Not even Draco's words made him feel any different.
"I love you," Draco said. "I know you want to save everyone. It hurts you every time you hear of another attack. And this hurts even more because they have attacked your family."
Harry never knew what to say when Draco explained all of his feelings even better than he could himself. He could put them out there even when Harry didn't quite know what he was feeling.
"I hate this prophecy and I hate that monster," Draco said. "It isn't right that the entire wizarding world expects you to stop him. They should have done it. They shouldn't have put it all on you. And I will do whatever it takes to help you destroy him."
Harry simply clung to Draco, wrapping arms around him. "I hate it," he whispered. That word summed up a lot of things he was feeling at the moment. "I hate it."
"Yes," Draco said, and held him tighter. He wished he could take Harry and Valen and run away. Get away from the nightmare. Even if it was possible, Harry would never do it. He knew that. And it scared him.
A few moments went by as Harry held his husband and tried to pull himself together. "Do the others know?" he said quietly, gently pulling away from Draco and rubbing at his slightly red eyes.
"I don't know," Draco said. "We should ask Tonks."
Harry took a quiet, deep breath and nodded, turning to head back inside the room.
Everything was almost exactly as he had left it. Mrs Weasley and Ron were still crying and clinging to one another and Hermione still watching them. The only difference was Tonks sitting with Valen. He made his way over to her, trying his best not to disturb mother and son as they wept.
Draco stayed close to Harry and moved with him.
Tonks looked up at them, eyes still watery, but she was smiling a bit at the baby who was clutching one of her fingers in his hand.
"Do the others know?" Harry asked, voice so quiet he was nearly whispering. He didn't think they did, or else Mr Weasley would surely be with his wife.
"Remus was going to get Mr Weasley and will be meeting us here," she whispered. "We still need to contact the rest of the family."
"Harry," Draco said, "you stay here and I will go to the shop."
Harry's head snapped and he looked at Draco with fear in his eyes. He didn't much want to let Draco go anywhere, not even with him, especially not on a day when there had been a Death Eater attack.
"You need to stay here with them." Draco gestured toward the room. "And Valen will need to be fed soon."
"I can go," Tonks said quietly.
"You can go with me," Draco smiled softly at her, "but I want to be there. They are my family too now."
Harry bit his lip and stared at Draco intently for a few moments. He sighed quietly and moved close to him. "Be careful," he whispered, looking up into his face. "I mean it."
Draco looked into those emerald eyes, lost for a moment in the love he saw there. "With you to come home to," he whispered, "of course."
Harry sighed quietly again and nodded, pressing his lips to Draco's gently before turning to take Valen from Tonks.
Draco kissed him back, savouring his touch. "We will bring them back here," he said.
Tonks got to her feet and nodded to Draco. "Where are Bill and Fleur? Are they here?"
"I think so," Harry said, taking the seat that Tonks had just been in and cradling Valen to his chest.
"Hermione?" Draco asked. "Will you go find them and bring them back here? The family needs to be together."
Hermione sniffed, wiping at her face, and nodded to Draco. "Yes, I'll get them," she said in a squeaky voice as she got shakily to her feet.
Draco nodded, then gestured to Tonks and they made their way to the entrance hall. Once out of the room, Draco turned to her. "And Percy?" he asked.
"One of the other Aurors was sent to tell him," she said, her voice almost flat.
Draco narrowed his eyes, looking at her. "It's not your fault either, you know," he said quietly.
She looked like she was about to argue with him but then shut her mouth and nodded.
They Apparated to Diagon Alley and made their way to the Weasley brothers' shop.
As the tinkling bell rang when Tonks and Draco entered, they were immediately greeted with a loud, cheerful voice from among the shelves of colourful items. "Hey! What are you two doing here?" It was Fred and he walked over to them. He gave Draco a slightly confused look. "Where's Harry?" he asked, looking around like he might see him materialise.
Draco schooled his features into a calm expression. "We need the two of you back at the house," he said. "How quickly can you close up shop?"
Fred raised his eyebrows and he looked at Tonks. He frowned, seeming to just now question why she of all people would be there with Draco. "A few minutes," he said, and more quietly, "Is something the matter?"
"Yes," Draco said quietly, "but we can't talk here. We need you and your brother to come with us."
Fear passed over Fred's face and he nodded, turning and heading up the staircase in the back. He returned a minute later with a confused-looking George and the two of them began locking up and setting their wards. Another few minutes passed and the one customer in the shop went on his way, taking the hint it seemed.
"We're ready," said Fred, joining Draco and Tonks again as George secured one last window. He was pale now, a definite sign of Weasley fear.
The tension was high as the four made their way out and Apparated back to the Manor. Draco turned to them when they arrived.
Both twins were standing a bit closer to one another than they might normally, hunkering together as if that might cushion the obvious blow Draco was about to land on them.
Draco wanted to do or say something to take away the pain he saw. He realised then how much these two meant to him. "I can't make this easier," he said, stepping close to them. "It's Charlie."
Identical looks of extreme disbelief took over Fred and George's faces, despite them both having suspected something terrible.
After a moment of very heavy, terrible stunned silence, George reached out and gripped the material of Draco's shirt at his shoulder. "Are you ... serious?" he asked, though if he and his brother's faces were any indication, they didn't truly need that question answered.
Draco lay a comforting hand over George's and nodded.
Tonks inhaled sharply, pausing before speaking. "They left the Mark over The Burrow," she said. "I was there."
George closed his eyes and released Draco, burying his face in his hands. Fred looked like he was either going to pass out or be sick. "Where's Mum?" he asked shakily, taking a hold of the back of George's robes.
"In the small sitting room," Draco said, gesturing.
Fred and George practically ran from the entrance hall, both of them moving in a slightly twitchy way, like they were going to collapse.
Harry was still sitting in the same chair, face stricken as he watched the Weasley family huddle together, Ron and Mrs Weasley in the core of it all. Mr Weasley had arrived a few minutes ago and sat cradling his wife and children, face so pained Harry thought he might die of grief.
Hermione stood slightly to Harry's left and Fleur very close to him on his other side, tears streaming down her face as she watched her husband with his family.
Fred and George burst into the room and rushed over to their parents and siblings, all of them babbling and crying, the same word repeated over and over again. "No, no, no, no." It was the most intensely sad thing Harry had ever witnessed.
Draco stood in the doorway, almost afraid to enter the room. Tonks seemed equally at a loss, hovering next to him.
Harry looked over and could barely even feel the relief that came from knowing Draco had made it back okay. He rocked Valen, who seemed restless among the distraught Weasleys.
Draco's eyes met his husband's. He felt a twinge of guilt at his relief that they were still alive and together. He made his way quietly across the room and dropped to one knee in front of him.
Tears leaked from Harry's eyes as all the incredible pain caught up with him again. Holding Valen to his chest with one arm, he reached a hand out for Draco, needing the contact.
The blond took his husband's hand and laid his head in his lap.
Harry closed his eyes, the sounds of the sobbing bad enough without the sight of the pain.
Suddenly there was a cry of, "Oh, Percy!" from Mrs Weasley, and Harry had to open his eyes again.
There stood the third Weasley brother, slightly away from the rest of them, twisting his hands and looking just as grief stricken as any of them. "Mother," he choked out. His voice shook terribly. "I just heard and -" He didn't seem able to go on and Mrs Weasley got to her feet and came to him, squeezing her son in a tight embrace.
The others followed, all of them forming a many-armed hug around their wayward brother in the middle of the sitting room.
Draco opened his eyes too, looking at the sad and beautiful scene in front of him. He knew little of the history behind it, but it didn't matter.
Harry felt like he had back when Mr Weasley had been attacked by the snake - like he was intruding. He felt like perhaps he should leave the Weasleys to themselves, let them grieve and cry in private. It only worsened when Ginny showed up a few minutes later, covered in soot - the tell-tale signs of Floo. When he looked over, it was to see Tonks still hovering in the doorway, now accompanied by Remus, who had to have brought Percy and Professor McGonagall, who was also covered in a light dusting of soot.
Draco got to his feet and went to talk with the others in the doorway. He led them to another room and sent a house-elf for tea service.
Harry began rocking Valen again, not knowing what else he could do except sit there and let it calm down on its own. He knew Valen was going to need feeding soon as he was squirming more and making his little sucking noises, but he didn't want to leave the room without Draco knowing where he was going.
Draco took a big breath and returned to where the Weasley family still sat together. He sent a second house-elf to get food and drink for them as well. Then he went to his husband. "Come on, love," he said, holding a hand out to him.
Harry sighed and nodded, taking Draco's hand and using it to get to his feet with the baby. He gave a small, sad smile to Hermione and Fleur. The others didn't even notice him leaving in their state.
Draco led his husband upstairs to their room and closed the door behind them.
Harry didn't even really know what to say to Draco. What was there to say? Nothing. He made his way to the sofa and routinely placed Valen in his lap, removed his shirt, and set the baby at his nipple. He was silent and staring down at Valen without any real expression on his face.
Draco stood watching for a minute and then made his way over to the piano. He sat down, opened the lid and began to play the lullaby he had been singing recently.
Harry actually smiled softly, the music as calming as it had been when Draco had been singing it. He sighed quietly and stared into his son's eyes, the look of them even more calming. He relaxed back into the sofa, listening to Draco and staring at Valen.