Miscalculations

Miscalculations


By JanusEris


Translated by Lex


A/N: I’m very sorry for the long wait, and I want to state
that it is all my fault and not at all Lex’. She send this
chapter a while ago, but I didn’t find the time to edit it into
the correct format for aff.net. I’m still very busy with my exams
so this will be the last chapter for now. Thank you all for reading and
reviewing! Janus


7. Interlude: A Faithful Wife


Draco apparated into the entrance hall of the Potter Mansion. The first
thing he noticed was that the portraits were missing. Paintings of
different artists, where nothing was moving, hung in their stat. They
had to be muggle. Maybe Harry’s wife had changed the
interior design.

The instant he thought this a woman stepped down the stairs. She was
around forty, short but slim and her light brown hair was tied in a
bun. Harry hadn’t mentioned a housekeeper. She gave him a
friendly smile and Draco returned it a bit unsure.

“Welcome, Mister Malfoy.” she said. She had a slightly
Russian accent. “I’m sorry, but my husband has been called
to an emergency. He’ll be back soon. Would you like to join me
and Severus in the living room until he returns?”


Draco looked at her, flabbergasted. That was Tatjana Potter? This woman was at least ten years older than Harry!


“Yes, of course.”, he said while trying hard not to stare at her.

She motioned him and Draco followed her upstairs into the second drawing room.
He only ever stepped foot into this room once before when he’d
lived in this house. Then they’d usually used the drawing room
downstairs. When they came closer to the room he heard different voices
and laughter. Mrs Potter opened the door and revealed a very remarkable
sight. Severus sat at the table together with two children, who
appeared to be between five and seven years old. Apparently they were
playing cards, whereas the girl was just gripping the hands of the boy
who’d tried to grab a pile of cards.


“Mamoutshka, Nicola’s cheating!”, she cried loudly when she spotted Mrs Potter.


“I’m not!”, the boy protested.


“Are!” the girl flung back. “He tried to peek at your cards!”


“Snitch.”

Mrs Potter put her hands on her hips. “Children. What kind of
behaviour is that in front of a guest? Did Nicola really try to cheat,
Severus?”

The boy cast Severus a beseeching glance. But he just slightly shook
his head. “I’m afraid, he did, Ma'am.”


“Nicola Haroldowich Potter!” Mrs Potter said with a glare that Draco reminded amazingly of McGonagall.


The boy shrunk in his place. “I’m sorry, Mum.”


Mrs Potter clucked her tongue in disapproval. “If you are
cheating you wont be allowed to play next time. Cheating’s just
not done.”


Ashamed the boy lowered his eyes. “I’m sorry. I will not do it again.”


“You better. Now welcome our guest. Children, this is Draco Malfoy. What do you say?”


“Hello, Mister Malfoy.” they said in unison.


“Mister Malfoy, these are my children, Nicola and Katharina. You know Severus.”


“Pleased to meet you.” Draco said a little stiffly. Didn’t Harry say he had no children?


Nicola watched Draco curiously. “Are you father’s new boyfriend?”


“Nicola!” Mrs Potter said, reprovingly.


“I guess.” Draco said, slightly taken aback.


“Oh. Can we call you Draco then?”

“Nicola!” Mrs Potter chided. “You can’t talk to
a guest in this manner. I’m sorry, Mister Malfoy …”

“Don’t worry.” Draco staved off. He regarded the boy
with interest. “You can call me Draco if you want.”


Nicola grinned triumphantly.


“You as well, Mrs Potter.” Draco said turning towards the woman.

She sighed and smiled. “Well, only if you call me Tatjana.”
She motioned at the table. “You want to join into the
game?”


“Don’t interrupt on my account. I’d rather watch a little at first.”


“As you like. Shall I get the house elves to bring you something to eat?”


Draco shook his head. “Thank you, but I’m fine.”

Draco sat down and watched the four of them playing. He was surprised
by how easily Severus dealt with the Children. Draco regarded his
former godfather thoughtfully. Severus appeared relaxed. His hair was
tied in a ponytail. He didn’t wear those ridiculous bracelets
like at the ministry.

Draco’s gaze wandered over to the children. Both had dark hair,
only Nicola’s was curly while Katharina’s was straight.
Katharina had grey eyes like her mother. Whereas Nicola’s roused
his curiosity. They were black. Black like Severus’. After this
discovery Draco noticed more similarities between them. The shape of
their faces, the nose … Was Nicola Severus’ son? But that
couldn’t be, wouldn’t his children be slaves?


“I won, young master.” Severus announced. Nicola grumbled, annoyed. Tatjana and Katharina had dropped out earlier.


Severus grinned and started to shuffle the cards anew. “Do you want to join this round, Mister Malfoy?”


It gave Draco an unexpected twinge. “Please, Severus, call me Draco. We’re in private, aren’t we?”


Severus contemplated him for a moment, then he cocked his head. “As you wish, Draco. Will you join in?”

Draco clenched his teeth and nodded. It was his own fault. He’d
rejected Severus, hadn’t answered his letters. Severus had every
reason to be mad at him.


Severus dealt the cards and they played another round.

The others were completely occupied with the game but Draco sensed it
when Harry entered the room. For a while he pretended as if he
hadn’t noticed him then he looked up and met Harry’s gaze.
At this moment Tatjana noticed him too.


“Harold!” she said happily. “You are back.”


“Yes.” Harry didn’t take his eyes off Draco. “As I can see you introduced yourself already.”


“We did.” Draco replied.

Harry smiled. “You have to excuse me for snatching away our guest
so quickly, but we have some private matters to discuss.”


“Of course.” Tatjana replied. “Don’t let us keep you.”

Draco laid his cards down and rose. Severus put them back into the
pile. The four of them were amazingly uninterested when they left.


Harry led him to the west wing where back then had been the guest rooms.

When he opened the door to his bedroom Draco stopped him with a hand on
his arm. “Wait, Harry. I’ve got a few questions.”


Harry gave him an unreadable look. “You can ask them inside as well.”

Draco hesitated a moment then followed Harry into the room. The floor
of the room was made of raw stone covered by a number of red rugs.
Apart from the bed and a lounge chair there wasn’t any other
furniture. The room didn’t have windows. The only light came from
the fireplace and the torches at the walls.


“Are you sleeping in here?”, he let slip, involuntarily.

Harry laughed softly. “No. There are more rooms leading from
this.” He pointed at a door on one side. “Watch your
tongue, my Dragon.”


Draco fell on his knees. “I’m sorry, Sir.”


Harry spoke a silencing charm. “You’ll be punished later. At first, you have questions?”


“Yes, Sir.”


Harry motioned at Draco to continue.


Draco took a deep breath. “You said you had no children.”

“Wrong, I said there are no green-eyed children. Katharina and
Nicola don’t have green eyes, as you certainly noticed.”


Draco gnawed on his lips. “Are they yours?”


“I assure you, regarding magic and law they are mine.”


“That’s not what I meant, Sir.” Draco squirmed uneasily. “Did you father them?”


Harry smiled and sat into the chair. “No, I didn’t.”


“Severus did.” Draco determined. “Why? I mean, you let him sleep with your wife?”

“It’s a little more complicated than that.” Harry
said. He waved his hand. “Strip while I explain.”


Draco rose and obeyed.


“As you know, Severus has bound his whole lineage to me.” Harry started.


Draco nodded while taking off his robe.

“When he did he never expected to ever have children. Tatjana
came to us and asked him to take her as an apprentice. She’s
currently working for her finals to become a master. She never cared
that Severus is a slave. She knew about him and admired him for his
abilities. They have a lot in common. I’m convinced that Severus
is the last to have thought it possible, but they started a
relationship.”


Harry paused for a moment.


Draco meanwhile had finished getting undressed and knelt back down.

“I’m not interested in women and I will never be. If it
were just me the Potter line could have died with me. I married Tatjana
for just one reason … The both of them had resigned themselves
that they would never be able to seal their relationship. But they
weren’t happy with it. Tatjana even toyed with the idea to marry
Severus despite the consequences. But none of them wanted to do that to
their children. As my wife and Severus’ mistress she can use him
with my permission to sire my heirs. Her children are in all aspects
mine. It’s an old rule in case I was infertile.”


“Then you are infertile?” Draco asked, confused.

“Taking into account that I would never voluntarily touch a woman
sexually, I’m as good as.” Harry said amused. “The
magic doesn’t care as long as I take the children on as my own
after their birth.”


Draco took a moment to think about that.

“Are you finished with your questions?” Harry wanted to
know. “If so, then come here. I had a trying day. Your mouth is
exactly what I need to relax.”


If Draco had other questions he instantly forgot them. “Yes, sir.” he said huskily and crawled over to him.