Balance of Extremes

It was morning. Harry knew that by the insanely bright light in the room. He groaned softly at the pain it caused, deciding he must have drunk too much at the Gryffindor party that Seamus and Dean had decided to throw last night. The “8th years” as they liked to refer to themselves as, had celebrated the beginning of the winter holidays with a blowout.

Harry had killed Voldemort eighteen months ago, just before his 24th birthday. He and most of the other people in his year had fought side-by-side during the war and returned to Hogwarts for a final year of schooling. Even the Slytherins had come back, with the noted exceptions of Draco Malfoy, whom no one had seen since Dumbledore died nine years ago, and Daphne Greengrass and Theodore Nott who had fought with their parents on Voldemort’s side. Both were in Azkaban, living out their life sentences. Of course there were those lost in the war: Snape, Zacharias Smith, Cho Chang, the Patil twins, Blaise Zabini, Fleur Weasley, and Justin Finch-Fletchley among countless others.

Suddenly he felt an arm curl around his body and someone snuggle into his back. Smirking, he realized that the night must have gone better than he thought! The arm was definitely male, which was a pleasant revelation. Ginny had been, surprisingly, the most supportive of all of Harry’s friends when he had come out. This may or may not have been due to the fact that Neville had been treating her like a princess the whole time and had made his romantic intentions known. Ginny certainly liked being the center of someone’s attention, and Harry was grateful for her support during his whole coming out.

Harry snuggled back into the body and felt a semi-erect cock rub against the small of his back. The arm tightened and a voice near his right ear mumbled, “Morning.”

Not recognizing the voice, Harry gave pause. It was a pretty deep timber and didn’t sound like anyone he could remember being at the party last night. Come to think of it, he couldn’t really remember much of last night.

“Morning,” he responded. The man behind him started to kiss his neck and suck on his ear. Harry couldn’t help but moan in appreciation and pushed his rear into the hardening cock. He was sleepy and was enjoying the attention, even if he didn’t remember inviting anyone into his dorm room for the night.

The voice asked, “Mmm, do you think we have time for this this morning?”

“I don’t have anywhere else to be,” Harry chuckled. His own cock was quickly hardening and he was quite sure that this was the warmest and safest he had felt in a long while.

Sucking on Harry’s ear again, the man said, “Are the kids still asleep?”

This caused Harry to pause in his enjoyment of the attention. He didn’t really know anyone who called 25 year olds “kids” but he could go with it. “I don’t really care what the kids are doing.”

“You will if they jump on us or come in at an inopportune moment.”

Who was this man? He was about to turn to face his mystery man when a hand wrapped around his cock and he pretty much forgot everything but the stroking and warmth.

“Did you get up with the baby much last night? I didn’t hear her cry,” the voice asked, almost interrupting Harry’s hand job. However the man was very good at hitting all of Harry’s hot spots and Harry couldn’t process the words, even though he heard them.

The man began rocking against Harry’s ass and mumbled, “Fuck, this feels good.”

“Mmm,” Harry agreed and moaned loudly as his skin began to tingle. It felt like he hadn’t come in a while, judging on how quickly he was progressing, which was strange since the two of them had obviously hooked up at the party the night before.

“Not so loud!” the voice whispered. He stopped stroking Harry and asked, “Do you want to roll over and prepare me or do you want to continue just the way we are?”

“Continue!” Harry panted, not sure he’d be able to prepare anyone for anything at that moment.

The man’s chuckle rumbled through Harry’s chest. “Well, be quieter then. I don’t want to wake the kids!”

That was the second time he said that. The comment processed due to the lack of stimulation and Harry turned to ask what that comment meant. He froze in alarm when he saw the shockingly white hair and gray eyes hazed with lust.

“Mal…Malfoy?” Harry asked.

“Potter!” Malfoy moaned and shut his eyes as he rolled onto his back. “Change your mind? Prepare me quick, I don’t think I’ll last long.”

Harry gaped at the man in the bed with him. What the fuck was Malfoy doing here? Where in the fuck were they? Quick looks around helped Harry realize they weren’t in the dorms, Gryffindor or Slytherin, not that Draco would have had a room there anyway.

Draco grabbed himself and tugged a few times. “Hurry up, Harry. Use my wand; it’s on the bedside table.”

Harry jumped out of bed and the scrabbled for a pillow to cover his bits. “Malfoy!” he yelled, “What the fuck are you doing?”

Draco sat up and hissed, “Shut-up, Harry! You’re going to wake the…” A loud screeching cry pierced the air and Draco finished, “…baby”.

“Baby?” Harry shouted.

But Draco wasn’t listening. He had pulled on a robe and had walked across the room to pick up what Harry could only describe as a bundle of pink blankets.

“Shh, Shh Cissy” Harry heard Draco say.

Harry started at that. “Cissy?” he asked before he could think.

“Oh, don’t start, Potter,” Draco snapped. “Let’s not have this fight again. You knew I was going to pick the name Narcissa if we ever had a little girl. You named the boys, for God’s sake.”

Harry’s mouth dropped open. What in the hell was going on? “Malfoy, what are you on about?”

“You named the boys, Harry,” Draco sighed. “I really thought we had solved this. You said when we started our family that if I gave birth to one of our children, I could name her.”

Harry started shaking his head. “Whoa, our children? What the fuck are you on about, Malfoy? I don’t have any children. What in the hell is going on?”

“What do you mean ‘what is going on’? You woke Cissy with your yelling and if you don’t calm down, Sirius and Quentin will wake and our quiet morning will be over before we can begin it,” Draco said, angrily.

But Harry’s brain stopped at the names, “Sirius is here?”

“In his room, hopefully,” Draco said. He shot Harry a look and tried to hand over the bundle of screaming blankets before he said, “Settle down, Harry. You take Cissy and I’ll go get us some tea.”

The screaming bundle was in his hands before he had a chance to protest, causing him to drop his pillow, and Malfoy swept out of the room, his robe whipping around the corner of the door.

Harry looked at the little pink package and was surprised to see a beautiful, blonde baby girl with her face all scrunched up in a fit. She was awful cute and with a little jostling and a few minutes of cooing, she settled down. “Are you really mine?”

“Of course she is, you freak.” Draco stated as he walked back into the room with two cups of tea and a bottle of what looked liked milk. “What kind of question is that?”

Harry jumped at the voice and rushed across the room to put the baby back in the bassinet. “What in the bloody hell is going on, Malfoy?”

Draco had sat back down on the bed and opened his robe just enough to distract Harry’s attention.

“Come back to bed, Harry. Cissy will be asleep soon and I checked on our boys and they’re still out.” He patted the bed next to him. “Come back to bed and finish what you started.”

“Malfoy, what are you doing here and why do you keep talking about ‘our’ children when I know, for a fact, that I don’t have any,” Harry said. He had backed himself against a wall across from Draco and close to the door.

“What’s the matter with you, Potter? I am here because this is my bedroom, too. You didn’t say you wanted to be alone!” Draco’s eyes narrowed as he added, “And I beg to differ, you have three children; two of whom you gave birth to and the third who is sleeping right there.”

“No, no, no,” Harry’s eyes widened. “I don’t know what is going on, Malfoy, but this isn’t funny.”

“What isn’t funny?” Draco asked in exasperation.

Harry practically screamed in frustration. “This! This isn’t funny? I don’t know whose baby that is, but it’s not mine.” His eyes darted all around the room looking for his clothes. “Just let me get dressed and I’ll leave. Funny joke. Ha, ha. You got me.”

Draco rose off of the bed and walked over. Harry was still frantically searching for clothes and jumped when Malfoy put his arm on Harry’s shoulder.

“What’s the matter, Harry? You’re scaring me.”

“And why are you calling me ‘Harry’? Who put you up to this?” Harry asked. He continued his search for clothes, looking under the bed and in the loo.

Draco walked across the room and opened a closet door. “Here, Harry. Put on some trousers and I’ll answer any question you want to ask.”

Harry quickly found pants and trousers, surprisingly in his size, and pulled on a shirt before sitting on the duvet at the bottom of the bed.

“Where are we?” Harry began.

Draco shot him a look. “At home.”

“Whose home?”

“Our home.”

“I don’t have a home, other than Hogwarts.”

Draco started to laugh but cut it short at Harry’s look. He crawled down the bed to sit next to him, but Harry jumped up and started to pace. “This is our home, Harry.”

“Is this some elaborate joke?”

”Why do you keep asking that?” Draco said, a tone evident in his voice.

“Because, I haven’t seen you in over nine years! We had a party last night in the Gryffindor common room and, while I know I drank a lot, I think I’d remember if I had become a father to three children!”

Draco sat on the bed with his mouth agape. “What do you mean you haven’t seen me? We’ve been together for 14 years.”

“We’re not together!” Harry’s voice cracked.

“Let me understand this. The last thing you remember is going to a party last night at Hogwarts?”

“Yes. Its holiday break and Ron decided to have a bit of a celebration. I…I don’t remember what else.”

“Wait, if you don’t remember anything, do you remember what I did to you last year on your birthday?”

“What?” Harry asked, looking even more confused.

“Nothing, nothing,” Draco answered.

Harry couldn’t help but notice that Draco looked like he had gotten away with something. Typical, it was.

“So, you remember Weasley, but you don’t remember me?” Draco huffed.

“Malfoy, I remember you. Believe me, I remember you.”

“All right, Harry, settle down and we’ll figure this out. So, you went to a party and did what?”

Harry ran his fingers through his hair. “I don’t know, Malfoy! I drank, I ate and I woke up here.”

“I’m going to need more tea if we’re going to continue this. Why don’t I fire-call Weasley since he’s the last thing you remember.” Draco stood up and went to the closet but opened different doors. The clothes behind the doors were decidedly nicer. He began to undress and Harry turned his head in embarrassment.

“For fuck’s sake, Harry, you’ve seen me naked. You’ve had your cock up my…” Draco began, but was interrupted by a small blond haired boy who had come into the room calling Harry ‘Dad’.

Harry’s eye’s widened as the boy walked over to him and pulled on his shirt. “Dad, I’m hungry.”

Draco stopped dressing and just watched.

“Um…I’m…um…I’m not…”

“Feeling well. He’s not feeling well, Quentin,” Draco interrupted. “I’ll make you some breakfast. Go watch the telly for a few minutes and we’ll be right down.”

Quentin looked from father to father and walked out of the room.

Draco crossed the room quickly and put a finger in Harry’s face. “You may not remember him, Potter, but you will not upset him by telling him that.”

“I don’t know who he is, Malfoy. I don’t know where I am. I don’t know what’s going on.” Harry had thought he was done with craziness when he had defeated Voldemort.

“I get that…am getting that,” Draco said as he turned to finish dressing. “Let’s fire-call Weasley.”

Once dressed, Draco grabbed the baby monitor. Harry couldn’t help but ask, “You have a baby monitor? Don’t you have a house-elf for that?”

Snarling, Draco answered, “You wouldn’t let me have one.”

The two men walked down the stairs and Harry stopped as they reached the bottom, mesmerized by the idea that his son, his little boy, was sitting a mere five feet away. Quentin turned and smiled at his dad, and Harry couldn’t help it, he smiled back.

Draco grabbed his arm and pulled him into the kitchen. “Make some more tea while I fire-call Weasley. You do remember how to make tea?”

“I’ve got it, Malfoy,” Harry said as he grabbed the kettle. “I can still make tea.”

“It’s ‘Draco’, Harry. You need to call me ‘Draco’ in front of the children. You’ll confuse them if you don’t.”

Harry stilled. “Yeah, okay, Draco.” He got busy making tea and was not surprised to hear his best mate’s sleepy voice grumble about the time. He couldn’t believe how anxious he was to see Ron.

Draco fire-called another person too, but Harry was distracted by the entrance of another boy, older than Quentin, but still young. “Sirius,” Harry said in wonder. This boy had dark, unruly hair, and Harry couldn’t help but make the comparison of himself at the same age.

“Hey, Dad,” Sirius answered and crossed to give his father a hug, “can I have some cereal?”

“Sure,” Harry responded, as if this is a perfectly normal morning. “You…um…know where it is.”

He was awestruck by his oldest son, and hardly heard when Draco said something about Ron coming through to whomever he was talking to.

Sirius looked up from pouring his cereal and said, “Uncle Ron’s coming over? Is he going to bring Edward over, too?”

Harry looked to Draco for help as he stood up and brushed his knees from the fire soot. “Not this time. Uncle Ron needs to help your Dad and me. Bring Quentin a bowl of that, please.”

“Okay,” Sirius answered and left the room, looking strangely at Harry.

Having had no experience with gay couples with children and having no idea how the family dynamics would work, Harry asked, “What…um…what do they call you?”

“What do you mean?” Draco asked.

Harry swallowed, “They call me…Dad…what do they call you?”

“Dad, too.”

“Dad two?” Harry asked, confused.

Draco laughed at that. “No, Dad also.”

“Oh,” Harry said, embarrassed. He looked up as the fire flared and a woman who looked like Hermione walked through. She was heavier and older than Hermione, but she looked remarkably like her.

Draco smiled and greeted their guest, “Hello, Hermione. I hope Adam didn’t mind us stealing you away so early.”

“Never mind him,” Hermione said. “Hello, Harry. I trust you remember me?”

“I remember all of you,” Harry answered with frustration. “I just don’t remember how I got here.”

“Or your relationship with Draco, according to him,” Hermione added, pointing back at Draco as she walked to give Harry a hug.

Harry frowned, “Yeah, that too.”

The fire flared again and a much older Ron came in. “Hey mate! What’s this about you not knowing who anyone is but me?”

“Ronald,” Hermione interrupted, “he remembers all of us, just not how he got here.”

“Or me, or his children,” Draco added.

Ron smirked, “How could anyone forget you.”

“Oy! Shut up, you oaf,” Draco laughed.

Harry started at both men in wonder. “Since when did you two get along?”

Hermione had been watching Harry and asked, “What do you remember, Harry?”

“We had a party last night in the common room. Dean and Seamus threw the party at Ron’s insistence. I had a few shots and I woke up here. I thought I had just brought someone to bed with me last night, but…”

“How old are you, Harry?” Ron interrupted.

“What do you mean, how old am I? We’re all 25.”

Draco emitted a low whistle. “Well, that answers why he doesn’t remember the children.”

“Or his relationship with you,” Ron added.

“Why? How old are you?” Harry asked Draco.

“A gentleman never tells his age,” Draco responded as he grabbed the kettle and poured tea for all four adults.

Ron laughed and said, “You great ponce. He’s turning 40 this year.”

“You’re all 40?” Harry asked incredulously.

Hermione smiled, “Well, I am 41. But you’re almost 40 too, Harry.”

They all took a seat around the kitchen table and took a break while preparing their tea until Ron popped up with, “I think I remember that party. It was during our eighth year, right? That was the night we all got so drunk that we...”

”Ron,” Hermione interrupted, “don’t share anymore! We don’t know how or why Harry is here. For all we know that has something to do with it.”

”Wait! What do you remember?” Harry asked. “Maybe it’ll help me get back.”

”No,” Hermione answered. “Not until we know more. It could be dangerous for you to hear more.”

That seemed to make Harry pause. He then remembered Draco’s comment when Hermione arrived and asked, “Who’s Adam? Is that your son?”

Everyone laughed at that. “No, he’s my husband.”

“You aren’t married to Ron? Adam who? What happened?”

“No, Harry, we’re not married. And, well, if you’re 25, we haven’t met Adam yet.” Hermione answered diplomatically.

“Oh.”

Ron turned to Draco. “Has he met the boys yet?”

“Yes, and Cissy, too.”

Ron laughed, “How’d that go? Did he argue with you about her name?”

“How’d you know that?” Harry asked, once again feeling as if he was the butt of some joke.

“Not much changes, Harry. I know you and I know how you responded the first time you heard the name Draco picked.”

“This sucks,” Harry grumbled.

Hermione frowned and asked, “What does?”

“The fact that all of you know more about my life than I do…again.” Harry stood up, turned his back on his friends and walked to the sink. From there he could see into the living room and he watched the two boys giggling at something on the telly.

Draco was the only one who stood with him and followed him. “Hey,” he started and put his arm around Harry’s waist.

Harry jumped and backed away.

“What?” Draco asked, concerned.

“Don’t touch me,” Harry quietly said.

Draco looked hurt. “Why?”

“You don’t know me, Malfoy.”

Hermione stood and said, “Harry, I know you don’t remember how you got here, but Draco is just trying to help.”

”You’re defending him?” Harry asked, incredulously.

“Harry,” Ron sighed, “we’re all just trying to understand what you need. Draco knows you better than any of us now and…”

“He doesn’t know me!” Harry said forcefully. “You know me, Ron. For God’s sake we have shared a room for the better part of 15 years.”

“Mate, I haven’t shared a room with you for nearly that long. That’s my point.”

Harry’s forehead furrowed. “So I’m on my own with this, then. None of you know me, or at least remember what I used to be like, and I don’t know you now.”

“Please understand that you’re not on your own,” Draco pleaded. “The kids and I are here, Hermione and Ron are here and we want to help you.”

Harry shook his head and looked down at the floor.

Hermione sighed and said, “Well, I’m going to go home and look up a few things. I need to make Adam his lunch before he goes to work.”

“Seriously? You’re making him lunch?” Harry asked. “That seems so…”

“Suburban housewife?” Draco finished, trying to hide a smile. “I know. It came as a shock to all of us.”

Hermione laughed and said, “Stop it!”

“Are you off today?” Draco asked. “I didn’t think the Ministry was ever closed.”

“No,” Hermione said, shooting a sideways glance at Harry. “I’m going in late.”

Harry’s mouth dropped open. “You work at the Ministry? What do you do there?”

“She’s the…”

“Don’t say more, until I know what we’re dealing with.” Hermione chided. “In fact, don’t say anything to anyone about any of this. Especially the boys.”

Turning to Ron he asked, “Next you’re going to tell me you own the Cannon’s.”

Ron’s face turned red.

“You own the Cannons?” Harry asked, in amazement.

“No!” Draco interrupted, taking Hermione’s cue. “Not really.”

Harry felt even further removed. He didn’t know where he was, or why, and his friends were off doing fabulous things he couldn’t know about.

“Hermione, Harry’s not set to return to work until next Monday. Can you arrange something for a little longer? Maybe he could take his vacation days or something,” Draco asked cryptically.

Hermione nodded. “Hopefully we’ll figure something out before then, but otherwise, I’ll take care of it.”

Harry spun and glared at the two. “What do you mean ‘take care of it’? Where do I work?”

“Don’t worry about it,” came out of all three mouths at once.

Harry scowled, but quieted.

Draco walked into the living room and told Sirius and Quentin to come and say hello to their guests, which both did with gusto.

As Ron was leaving, he said, “Relax, mate. I’m sure we’ll figure this all out. In the meantime, enjoy your kids. They’re great.”

“I’ll take care of work, Harry,” Hermione said as she leaned in to give him a hug goodbye. “Don’t worry about it.”

Harry frowned. “I don’t even know what I’d be worried about.”

The two friends left with promises to return the next day, and the boys returned to watch their show on the telly. Harry and Draco looked at each other, neither sure what to say.

“Well I…” Draco began.

“Could I please have something to eat?” Harry asked at the same time.

Draco stopped and just looked at him. “You don’t need to ask for anything, Harry. You live here too.”

Harry nodded and said, “Yeah, well, that’s going to take some getting used to.”

“There’s food in the cabinets. Help yourself. I need a shower,” Draco said and stormed upstairs, obviously disappointed at Harry’s responses to his friends and his lover.

Harry peered through the cabinets and the refrigerator and ended up grabbing some eggs and fruit. As he prepared his food, he noticed that the boys, his boys, giggled as they played a game of Exploding Snap. It warmed Harry’s heart, although he wasn’t sure why since the boys were really strangers to him. Just the simple fact that they had each other to play with made Harry feel happy.

Finishing his food, Harry piled the dishes in the sink and decided to go up to Malfoy’s room and take a shower.

He expected to find Draco sitting on the bed with the baby, or finishing getting ready. He entered the room and found it empty. After checking to see that Cissy was still sleeping, he made his way to the loo, but stopped when he heard a groan coming from inside.

Harry had lived with other men for most of his life and knew what that groan meant. The noise caused his belly to twist and he remembered how close he had been this morning before his world had flipped upside down. He quickly walked away, but after hearing the noise again, snuck back and nudged the door open for a peak.

‘It’s Malfoy, for God’s sake,’ Harry thought. ‘What the hell am I doing?’ The need to look overwhelmed any propriety Harry had.

Thoughts of his obsession from sixth year swam in his head. Harry couldn’t help but remember how often Ginny had teased him, once his preference was known, about how attracted he must have been to Draco during their school years. Harry knew it was true, even then, but wouldn’t admit it. The fights between the two and his fixation on Draco’s every move were legendary among all of their classmates. Now, here he was on display, and wanking to thoughts of who-knew-what.

From just outside the doorway, Harry could see Draco in the shower through the mirror, smiling in appreciation for clear shower curtains. Draco was wet, covered in soap and moaning. The evidence of the Sectumsempra spell was apparent, as well as some other scars, but Harry’s eyes were riveted to the hand gliding over the erect cock with some amount of speed.

Draco’s hips were rocking slightly as the head of his cock appeared and disappeared in his hand. As his fist slid up and down, the most delicious noises escaped from his mouth. Draco’s other hand was wandering over his chest, fingers pinching his nipples intermittently. A mix between a moan and a whine filled the room and Harry felt his own cock fill with interest. It had to be the most erotic sight he had ever seen.

‘Fuck it,’ he thought.

Tearing off his shirt to use for friction and taking himself in hand, Harry tried to catch up to where Draco was. With conflicting thoughts of how fucking hot the sight was and how wrong it was to be wanking to the noises of someone he wasn’t sure he even liked, Harry found himself spiraling closer to the edge. He looked down and watched his own hand squeeze the head of his cock . The simple visual brought him such pleasure. He glanced up and noticed that Draco’s head had fallen back and that he was moments away from completion.

“Harry,” Draco whispered, “Fuck, yes! Faster, Harry…please!”

His senses flooded with the cry of his own name, the warmth of the humid shower and the sight of a very attractive man. Harry’s breath hitched and he came, pulsing into his own shirt. Panting, he watched as Draco’s pleasure overtook his body and his orgasm was wrenched from his body.

Backing away, Harry threw the dirty shirt into the closet and bolted out of the room and down into the kitchen, tucking himself back in as he went. Embarrassed, he wasn’t sure how he was going to explain where his shirt had gone. Just as the panic was about to boil over, Quentin walked into the kitchen and said, “Dad, where’s my wanky?”

Harry almost swallowed his tongue as he defended himself, “I wasn’t wanking!”

But Quentin had continued and hadn’t heard his father. “I want my wanky back.”

“What?” Harry asked, not understanding.

“I want my wanky!” Quentin whined.

Sirius walked in the kitchen to put the dirty dishes into the sink and said, “He washed it, Quentin. It’s in the laundry room.”

Quentin took off like a flash through the living room and into a small room in the corner. Harry followed, still not understanding, and watched as Quentin pulled a blanket out of a basket full of clothes and towels. As the little one ran past, Harry spied a shirt and pulled it on, thankful he was dressed again.

It was none too soon as Draco made his way down the stairs. Harry came out of the laundry room and couldn’t look him in the eye. To Draco’s question of “Why do you have a different shirt on?” he scrambled up the stairs to take his own shower.

~*~

Harry tried all day to stay away from Draco. This was quite difficult because he also wanted to be around Quentin and Sirius as much as possible. They were the only bright spots in the miserable experience, as far as Harry was concerned. While the boys were unaware that anything was different, Harry wasn’t sure how to act with them and needed Draco’s commentary to keep him aware of the intricacies of the family. The ‘wanky’ incident, unfortunately, was not a one-time episode. Harry learned all sorts of new words, ‘binky’ for pacifier, ‘gutvik’ for bed, ‘nook’ for biscuit, among others.

That evening Harry watched as Draco got the children ready for bed. He gave them baths and helped them into nightclothes. He gave Harry a book to read to them and assured him that he could, in fact, read a bedtime story. Harry sat on Sirius’ bed and snuggled into both boys as they fought for their rightful place next to their father.

After the boys fell asleep, Harry stood in the doorway watching in wonder at the boys that were his children. Draco came up behind him and put his arm around Harry’s waist, a move that was quickly eradicated as Harry slipped out of the room.

“Sorry,” Draco said as he followed him into the bedroom, “I forgot.”

“S’okay” Harry answered. He looked at the one bed in the room and wondered what the chances were of Draco offering to sleep on the divan downstairs.

“Harry, how’d you enjoy the day with the boys?” Draco asked. He walked over to the closet and began to undress.

Harry looked anywhere but at him. Just seeing his body reminded Harry of the morning, and his cock gave an involuntary jump. “It was good.”

“Are they what you expected your children to be?” Draco asked, but it came out mumbled as he pulled his shirt over his head.

“I guess. I haven’t given it much thought.” Harry turned and studied a family picture, in an attempt to distract himself. It was a picture of the two men with the boys, obviously before Cissy was born.

They all looked so happy and Harry was so wrapped up in the image he didn’t hear Draco walk up behind him. “God, look how skinny I was before the baby!”

Turning in confusion to look at him, Harry said, “Huh?”

“Me. I was skinner before Cissy. The pregnancy really redistributed my weight.”

“You look the same to me,” Harry mumbled.

Draco’s face bloomed with a smile. “Really? That’s a really sweet thing to say. I know it’s not the truth, but it’s still nice to hear.”

“How old were they?”

Draco looked at the picture. “Well, this was two summers ago so Quentin was almost two and Sirius was just six.”

“So they’re four and eight?”

Smiling at the picture Draco said, “Yes, almost. Quentin’s birthday is in two weeks. We’re having the party at Ron’s Mum’s house.”

“The Weasleys.” Harry said in wonder. He saw Draco smile and nod.

Sobering at a thought, he questioned, “I can’t believe I have to ask this but are they all still alive?”

“Most, yes,” Draco said turning to look at Harry. “Arthur died three years ago. Quentin was named after him, Quentin Arthur.

Snorting, Harry said, “It had to kill you naming a child after a Weasley!”

“Not really. Arthur was very good to me. He was one of the first who listened to me when…”

When Draco didn’t finish, Harry asked curiously, “What?”

Frowning, Draco said, “Never mind. Hermione would be angry I said that much.”

Turning back to the picture, Harry shook his head. “Why would your weight change with Cissy being born? Did you eat a lot in sympathy or something? I’ve heard of people doing that.”

“Harry, you know…” Draco began, but stopped. “You don’t know, do you?”

“Know what?” Harry gave Draco an exasperated look and said, “What are you talking about?”

“I gave birth to Cissy, Harry, just as you gave birth to the boys.”

Harry looked shocked. “Now I know you’re crazy. I didn’t give birth to anything. I’m not a woman.”

Draco rolled his eyes. “No, you’re not. But there are potions men can take that…”

“Stop!” Harry said closing his eyes in a feeble attempt to erase the image that had just popped into his head. “Let’s leave that as something else I am not supposed to know.”

“I can’t believe no one told you about that potion! Could have been quite a mess if someone had slipped one to you during the war. Would have been one hell of a shock for you.”

“Mmm,” Harry responded, truly not wanting to think about it anymore. “How old is Cissy?”

Draco smiled and walked over to her bassinet. After checking to make sure she was settled, he answered, “Three months yesterday. It was a long pregnancy and labor. Not like…yours.”

“I can’t believe I gave birth,” Harry repeated. He looked down at his own belly to see if there was any evidence left.

“Twice!” Draco chimed in.

“Are they…I mean…are all three of them…ours?”

Draco immediately got offended. “Of course they are, you great git! You think I’d have just anyone’s baby? I’m not going to give up all that hard work for nothing! I slaved for years to get into condition for…well…what I did…and that’s why you had the first two. Your job was better suited for maternity leave and doctor’s appointments. For God’s sake, Harry, that potion is vile and the contractions were…”

“Okay! Okay!” Harry interrupted and stuck his hand out to stop the barrage of words. “Sorry! I just don’t know how this whole thing works!”

Walking over to the bed he sat down. “This is so frustrating! I don’t get to know anything; my kids are strangers to me. You and I are suddenly together and I don’t even know how long we’ve been together or where in the hell you were for the nine years after Dumbledore and…”

“Fourteen years,” Draco interrupted.

“…I’m not even sure why the fuck I am here…” Harry continued.

Draco walked over and sat on the bed next to Harry and, a bit louder, said, “Fourteen years.”

“What?” Harry asked.

Smiling indulgently, Draco said, “Fourteen years. We’ve been together for fourteen years.”

“I remember fourteen years ago, Draco! That’s one of the only things I remember right now, but I didn’t know you fourteen years ago!”

Taking a deep breath, Draco continued. “Hermione’s going to kill me for this, but yes, we did. You remember up until the holidays of your 8th year, yes?”

Harry nodded.

“Well, we met again at a summer party after your N.E.W.T.s that year.”

Harry looked shocked. “Out of nowhere you reappeared and everything was just fine from that point forward? Ron and Hermione and the Weasleys and I just forgave you and we started dating?”

Smirking, Draco responded, “Well, sort of. It took a while, but that’s when we got together.”

“And where in the hell were you for the nine years before that?” Harry asked, his anger starting to reappear.

“Don’t get all pissy! That’s all I am sharing, but now you know something. You’ll know the rest when it happens.” Draco said mysteriously. Rising, he added, “Come on. I’m tired and morning will come too soon. You’ll learn that too, with kids. Let’s go to sleep.”

Harry looked alarmed. “We’re not sleeping together.”

“Why not? The boys expect it. Believe me, if you sleep on the floor you won’t want to have to answer the questions about it in the morning,” Draco warned. “Lie down, Potter. I promise not to touch you.”

Harry saw no reason not to believe him, but decided to escape to the loo until Malfoy was fast asleep. ‘It’s safer that way,’ he thought.

As he closed the door, he swore he heard Draco mumble, “Besides tomorrow you’re going to relearn a lot of things, including changing diapers!”

~*~

A week had flown by with morning meetings with Hermione and Ron, learning how to change diapers, and realizing how in love he was with his children. Harry had heard Draco complain to Hermione that he missed Harry’s touch and that it was killing him not to be able to kiss him. After the first few days, Harry was actually growing to like Draco. He was funny, sincere, and wonderful with the children. They had woken up snuggled into each other twice this week, so Harry had been making an effort to touch Draco’s arm or hand whenever he could.

There were no more chances for Harry to watch Draco in the shower, but that was okay because Harry had nearly convinced himself that he didn’t want to see him. Nearly.

Harry and Draco had decided to take Cissy, Quentin and Sirius to the London Zoo. It was a wonderfully warm, late spring day and they decided to celebrate it with a family outing. That morning, Harry had tried not to laugh when Draco had dressed the boys in nearly identical blue trousers and white collared shirts. He had similarly dressed Cissy in a blue and white sundress. With the teasing words of “Aye, matey” when Draco demanded that he get ready, Harry bounded up the stairs more excited than he could ever remember being.

‘I’m taking my family on an outing!’ he thought as he showered and dressed.

They packed a lunch and headed out, choosing to take public transportation since Cissy was too little for magical transportation. Harry thought they made an adorable picture, but he knew he was biased.

“I want to see the cheetah!” Quentin requested loudly as they exited the Underground. Harry laughed at his son’s exuberance. He grabbed his father’s hand and tried to run ahead.

Sirius, not to be outdone, exclaimed, “I want to see the new Oryx!” He, too, grabbed a hand, but was conscious to take a hold of the stroller Cissy was in, so Draco would not be left behind.

After seeing African Hunting Dogs, penguins, jellyfish, and Quentin’s cheetah, the group stopped for a leisurely lunch under a tree. Harry watched in growing admiration as Draco fed Cissy a bottle. He seemed so at ease with the children. Harry, while desperately in love with them, was still unsure how to handle many of the things that came up. A near disaster the day before with a missing ‘Moo-moo’, which turned out to be a stuffed cow, taught him that Draco was much better prepared for the role of father.

The boys were getting restless, so Draco suggested Harry get some ice cream. Both boys wanted to come with, so Harry took them to the stand. Just as they were paying for their treats, a man approached the threesome. He was short and had a large head with round eyes hidden behind even rounder glasses. His head was nearly bald but for a large wart above his right ear, which Harry tried not to focus on.

“Hiya, Harry,” the man said congenially. “How are you feeling?”

Harry did not recognize the man, but tried to be friendly. “Fine, um, good actually.”

The boys seemed to shy away from the man, and Harry heard Sirius say to Quentin that he looked like a frog. Harry knew he must not be a family friend. ‘Must be a co-worker then,’ he decided.

Smiling, the man continued, “Really? I heard you were a bit under the weather?”

Harry shook his head to the negative.

“Haven’t been cursed by some dark wizard, then?” The man laughed, but looked intently at Harry.

Confused and more than a little concerned that there were dark wizards still after him and no one warned him, he turned to Sirius and said, “Go tell your father we’re ready here.” The boys ran off and Harry watched to make sure they made it back to Draco with no problem.

The stranger smiled again and said, “I hear you’ve been in training again, Harry. Do you know something we don’t?”

“Who are ‘we’?” Harry asked, angry again at being left in the dark. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Draco look up at him and the man, and quickly get up to come over.

The man laughed again and said, “Well, you know, all of us.”

“No, I am sure I don’t.”

Draco was almost to them when the man spied him walking toward them. “Well, good to see you again, Harry. Take care.”

However, Draco was quick. “Hold it right there, Mr. Dipdha. What are you up to?”

Shrinking a bit at the harsh tone Draco used, the man practically whimpered when he answered, “Nothing, Mr. Malfoy. Just wishing your family well.”

“He asked me if I was cursed by dark wizards and if I was in training,” Harry said, disturbed by the outright lie of his coworker.

Draco’s eyes narrowed in anger. “Writing another story, Dipdha? What’s The Daily Prophet paying you this time for a lie?”

“The Daily Prophet?” Harry asked, stunned. “You write for the Prophet?

Mr. Dipdha’s smile returned and he said, “Why of course I do, Harry. Certainly you know that. Perhaps the rumors of your illness aren’t such a stretch of the truth!”

Harry froze in horror at making such a careless remark in front of the press. But Draco rose to his defense and stated, “Get out of here, Dipdha. Nothing’s wrong with Harry, and we’re here with our family. I thought I made it clear last time that you need to stay away from us. Do you need another reminder?”

Dipdha’s smile deflated and he mumbled an apology as he backed away.

Harry turned on Draco. “Are there dark wizards out to harm me again?”

"No,” Draco sighed. “It’s just something the Prophet tries to make up every few years.”

Sirius watched as his two fathers talked, something that did not go unnoticed by Harry. He decided to drop it for now, and find out the details that night.

“Let’s go see the reptiles!” Harry announced, turned to find the exhibit.

~*~

“Komodo dragons have saliva laced with deadly bacteria. Having ambushed their prey, they often wait for the animal to die from the infections caused by the wounds. Young dragons hatch from eggs and live in trees for up to five years to escape adult dragons that might eat them,” Draco read from the sign to the boys in a very dramatic voice. Harry thought he almost sounded as if he was on one of those nature shows on the telly. However, Harry’s mind was still on the reporter and missed all of Sirius’ questions regarding the dragon.

The family moved to the next reptile and Draco continued his presentation. “Snouted cobras are predominantly nocturnal, venomous snakes. They are aggressive when disturbed and classified as highly dangerous.”

Quentin tapped on the glass and Harry grabbed his hand to correct him. “Don’t tap on the glass. Say you’re sorry to the snake for bothering him.”

Quentin looked at his father strangely.

Turning to the snake, Harry modeled, “Sorry, Mr. Snake. We didn’t mean to disturb you.” He looked at his son and said, “Your turn.” But Quentin just looked at him.

“All right, I’ll say sorry for you, too. Mr. Snake, Quentin is sorry for pounding on your glass. He promises he won’t do it again,” Harry said. As he did, he heard a strangled grunt and turned to look at Draco.

Draco grabbed his arm. His voice was gravelly when he said, “Harry, please stop it.”

“Stop what?” He looked from Malfoy to Quentin.

Quentin was still looking at him. “Daddy, you sound funny.” He turned to the snake and made a SSSsssssnnnnssss noise.

Eye’s wide Harry asked, “Did I sound like that?”

Sirius had gotten into the action and was hissing at the snake, too.

They watched the boys for a few moments before Draco responded in a strangled voice. “Yes.”

“What’s the matter with you?” Harry asked.

“Nn…nothing.”

“Draco?”

“It’s just not something you usually do in front of other people.”

Harry was really confused. “I know I don’t speak Parseltongue…”

Taking a deep breath, Draco gave him a pointed look and interrupted him, “It’s a bit of a thing for us…for me.

“A bit of a…” Harry began and then suddenly it dawned on him. “Oh, sorry.”

Nodding and sighing, Draco said, “Yeah. It’s a family place, Potter. Keep that in mind.”

Embarrassed, Harry exclaimed, “I didn’t do it on purpose!”

But Draco was teasing and he smiled and said, “I know.”

He noticed that Draco had still not removed his hand from his arm. The touch was actually quite nice.

~*~

Later that night after the kids were asleep, Harry approached Draco. He was sitting up in bed reading a Muggle novel, and Harry sat down near his feet.

“What was that all about at the zoo today?”

Draco looked up at him and smiled with amusement. “It’s a turn-on, Potter. You speak Parseltongue to get my cock up when you want to start something.”

Harry’s face colored in embarrassment. “That’s…um…not what I meant. I was talking about the reporter.”

“Pity,” Draco sighed and closed his book. “He’s an arse, Harry. He must have heard you haven’t returned to work and wanted to see of he could make something up to get a scoop.

Harry’s head fell into his hands and he grumbled, “Fourteen years later and they still don’t leave me alone.”

Scooting up, Draco placed his arm around Harry shoulders. The gentle touch was a comfort to Harry. In a quiet voice he said, “Yes, Harry, they’re still around. But they don’t bother you near as much as they used to. I probably shouldn’t tell you this either, but Dipdha and I had a bit of a run-in just after Quentin was born.”

Harry dropped his hands and looked at Draco. “Run-in?”

“Yeah, he made a comment about my ‘wife’ and I…sort of…cursed him.”

Somehow this didn’t surprise Harry. “With?”

“Morag MacDougal’s curse to keep him…permanently deflated.”

This surprised Harry. “The same MacDougal who was a Ravenclaw in our year?”

Nodding, Draco continued. “I got into a bit of trouble with the Ministry and I promised to take the curse off as long as he agreed to leave us alone.”

“Hence your threat.”

Draco smiled and was about to continue when a small voice called ‘Dad’ from the doorway. Harry turned but Draco was off the bed in a flash. Cooing at Quentin he brought him to their bed.

Harry stood and began getting ready for bed. After using the loo he came into the bedroom and was summoned to bed by his youngest son who was lying practically on top of Draco.

As he lay down, his boy asked for a snuggle. Looking at Draco, who shrugged, he curled into the father of his children and put an arm over his son. His leg fell between Draco’s and with a contented sigh, all three slowly drifted to sleep.

~*~

The family woke up all excited on the morning of Quentin’s party. Harry had seen no one but his children, Draco, Hermione and Ron since his induction into this world. Today he would get to see the Weasleys, Dean and Seamus and countless other Order members. The group was holding one guest as a surprise, and no amount of guessing could get anyone to share the identity.

Sirius and Quentin were running throughout the house hollering and being silly. As Harry laughed at their antics, Draco tried to get each of them to settle down and watch the telly. He wanted a nap out of them before they headed out.

Harry collapsed on the divan with Cissy and convinced the boys to cuddle into him. This made Draco smile and retreat to the kitchen to prepare some food.

Late that afternoon, Draco and Harry were getting dressed in their room. Harry no longer hid from Draco when either was undressed. In fact, he kept trying to sneak a peak, which amused Draco to no end. Neither said a word about it, though. Cissy, too young for the trip, was going to be left with a house-elf, Bilbee, who volunteered to come from the Weasley house and was currently getting the boys washed and dressed. At Harry’s confused look, Draco explained, “You wouldn’t let the Malfoy elves come here and I couldn’t just release them, much to Hermione’s disappointment. Some went to Hogwarts and two went to the Weasleys’ to help out. Ron lives there with his six kids and his wife and Molly can’t do it all anymore.”

“Whom is Ron married to?” Harry asked, surprised the question had not come sooner.

Draco smirked. “Well, I might as well get that shock out of the way now. There will be plenty to come if I know you even half as well as I think I do. You’ll be meeting a Mrs. Pansy Weasley today.”

“Pansy?” Harry shock was evident. “Pansy, as in Pansy Parkinson?”

“How many Pansys do you know, Potter?”

Harry simply stared at him. “Ron and Pansy, huh? I guess I can kind of see that. They certainly eyed each other enough during our last year.”

Draco smirked and added, “Another couple to come out of the summer after your eighth year.”

He disappeared into the loo and Harry pulled on his shirt and trousers. Draco entered back into their room and before he could stop himself, Harry whistled. “Wow! You look good!”

“Of course I do, Potter.” Looking over Harry’s outfit he returned the compliment.

With a bit of a whine, Harry asked, “Do we really have to get so dressed up? I thought this was a picnic?”

“It is,” Draco responded. He was sitting on the bed and lounging back when he added, “But we always dress a bit nicer. I’ll bring a change of clothing for you in case you play a pick-up game of Quidditch later.

Harry smiled at the idea. “Won’t you play?”

“I…can’t,” Draco said evasively.

“Because you just had the baby?” Harry asked.

Nodding, Draco replied, “Something like that.”

Harry was just about to ask what that meant when Draco asked, “What other little bombs can I diffuse now before we’re in public? You’re bound to have a million questions. Ask me one now.”

“Did you ever finish school?” Harry asked and immediately felt bad for making the assumption that he hadn’t.

But Draco didn’t seem to mind the question and said, “No. I didn’t need it for my profession and I’ve never seen any reason to go back.”

Harry was fussing over tying a tie and couldn’t seem to get it right. Draco came up behind him and took over the duty, both of them looking into each other’s eyes through the mirror. As he finished, his hands slipped slowly down the front of Harry’s chest, as if he was smoothing out a wrinkle or two. But the tension in the room had become palpable and Harry swallowed hard. Draco’s fingers skimmed the top of his trousers and his finger caught in a belt loop. With a yank, Harry spun and was suddenly chest-to-chest with him.

Draco nuzzled his neck and said, “I miss you.”

Harry pulled away a bit and said, “Nothing to miss. I'm right here.”

“Not the same.” Draco was pulled him in again and kissed a spot on his neck, leaving his lips on the spot moment longer than necessary.

Harry jumped away and crossed the room to get his shoes. He heard Draco sigh and mutter an apology.

“Nothing to apologize for,” Harry mumbled and left the room.

~*~

The arrival at the Weasley house was nothing if not incredible. Harry was shocked by how good Molly looked for her age and how comfortable Pansy looked in her role as Mrs. Weasley. He learned that not only did the two have six children, but also that they had two sets of twins! Their oldest, Edward, was the same age as Sirius and the two were best friends. They ran off as soon as the family came through the fireplace. The first set of twins, Victoria and Elizabeth, came next and were six years old, William was five, and the last set of twins, Anne and Henry were two. When Harry asked about a seventh child, the look Pansy gave him scared him.

Ron ushered him out to the yard and he saw George and Fred and their families playing near the lake. Harry didn’t recognize the women to whom they must be married, but noted that they were twins, also. Ginny and Neville and their four children were splashing around in the lake close to the twins. Harry saw Greg Goyle and a woman that could only be Luna Lovegood sitting at a picnic table and wondered if they were together. The absence of children with them only confused him further.

“All right, mate, what do you want to do first?” Ron asked. “Hermione and her family will be here soon, and we have our surprise guest arriving any minute.”

Harry was nearly overwhelmed. Everyone looked so different and yet the same. A hand came down hard upon his shoulder and Harry turned at a shout of his name. Standing in front of him was Seamus and a very pregnant woman who was introduced as his girlfriend, Kate.

“Is Seamus my surprise?” Harry asked, laughing. “Not much of a shocker.”

Seamus pushed him playfully just as Draco was walking out the door.

“Watch it, Finnegan. I won’t have you pounding on Harry,” Draco joked.

All of them laughed and Ron said, “Nope, he’s not the surprise.”

Draco pulled Harry into his arms and Harry groaned, a curl of desire blooming in his stomach. “We’re among friends and they’ll expect this,” Draco whispered in his ear, mistaking the groan as one meaning Harry was uncomfortable. “It’ll look strange if we’re not somewhat familiar.” He began rubbing small circles on Harry’s chest.

Seamus and Kate had turned to greet Molly who had just come into the yard. Harry really was enjoying the physical attention, but was quite sure his cock would be joining the party if he didn’t think about something different. “Tell me about the couples,” Harry prompted. “Who’s together? Who has kids?”

As Draco shared the tales, Harry relaxed into the touch and almost forgot that he was a stranger among friends. A comment about Harry needing to remember all of the kid’s names got him to focus suddenly.

“Who else knows about me?” Harry whispered, pulling away, suddenly nervous and feeling out of place.

Draco startled, surprised at the sudden question. He whispered back, “Almost no one. We haven’t told a soul but your mystery guest and Dean Thomas.”

Harry looked astonished. “Why Dean?”

“He’s working as the Potion’s master at Hogwarts,” Draco answered and then grimaced. “Shite, don’t tell Hermione I said that.”

“Dean is a Potion’s master?”

Draco nodded. “He got into it after Hogwarts and apparently is really good. He went to finishing school and apprenticed under some guy in Germany. Hermione only told him after Dean remembered that you all had taken some mind-altering potions that night.”

At Harry’s shocked look, he looked contrite. “I should have told you earlier that she has been asking around about that. Dean has been researching what you took and if there are any side effects to those potions. They’re hoping that they be able to figure out how you got here and…”

When Draco’s voice trailed off Harry finished, “If I can go home.”

Draco nodded, but somehow the thought of ‘home’ didn’t make him feel better. Harry felt himself be pulled close again, a bit tighter this time, and he wondered why Draco would care if he returned back to his time. ‘Harry’ would be there either way.

Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Ginny spy them and make a beeline for the couple.

“Harry! Draco! How are you?” Ginny asked, wringing the lake water from her hair. She was in a simple tank suit, but Harry thought she looked wonderful. They all looked wonderful.

Draco turned and smiled. “Good, Ginny, and you? What’s new?”

“Oh, Neville and I are great. Our Hannah is off to Hogwarts this year and already we’re worried.”

Harry asked, “Why?”

“You know, Harry. You’ve said it enough times yourself. She has a deviant streak just like Fred and George,” Ginny said.

No sooner than she said their names did they appear. “What are you worried about, Gin. We survived just fine.” Harry was pretty sure it was Fred who had spoken.

“It’s not Hannah I worry about. It’s her poor professors!” Ginny defended herself.

George smiled, “Ahh…they’ll all be fine. We’ll stock her with new products and no one will know she’s behind any of the pranks.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of! Harry, tell them,” Ginny said, almost pouting. “They think that just because they got away with everything, Hannah will too!”

Watching in wonder at how his friends had aged but still were the same, Harry remarked, “I’m sure she’ll learn a lot, Gin, both in and out of the classroom.”

Neville walked up and Harry couldn’t believe how youthful he looked carrying a toddler.

“Uncle Harry!” the young boy squealed. “Hold me!” He reached forward and Harry swung him into his arms.

Draco made a disgusted face and said, “Nice, Potter. Hold the wet, stinky lake boy against your nicely pressed shirt. Glad I spent so much time getting it ready.”

The comments made everyone laugh.

“Seth, come with me and we’ll get you changed,” Ginny said to the young boy. He let himself be pulled out of Harry’s arms and followed his mother into the Burrow.

“Neville,” Harry said as he shook the man’s hand.

“Harry! Draco! Nice to see you both,” Neville replied. “Where’s the birthday boy?”

Harry looked around but didn’t see Quentin anywhere. He was just about to get nervous when Draco answered, “He just followed Molly into the kitchen. No doubt she’s letting him lick the spoons from making the cake.”

Pulling away from Draco, Harry was shocked to realize that he had been keeping tabs on the boy while still speaking to their friends. He grabbed Draco’s hand and squeezed it, once again amazed at his parenting skills.

“Well, time for me to get dressed, too. You’ll excuse me?” Neville asked and Harry nodded.

They stood for a time, just holding hands, watching the couples interact, the kids play some sort of chase game near the garden and friends tease each other. Here and there Draco made a comment or two about who was talking to whom, or reminded Harry which child belonged to whom. Harry found that he was quite pleased to realize that everyone was doing fine in their lives. Things weren’t perfect, that he was pretty sure of, but overall everyone looked happy. He remembered a time when he wasn’t sure that any of them had futures, much less happy ones.

Draco commented that they should say hello to Luna and Greg and they were just crossing the yard when Hermione came out the back door. A tall man who had black-as-night hair accompanied her, and Harry could only guess that this was Adam. He was weed thin and held the hand of a boy who looked like a miniature version of him.

Hermione grabbed Harry’s arm and pulled him to a quieter section of the yard. She introduced her husband and their son, Gabe, who was also leaving for Hogwarts in the fall. Draco reminded Harry that he was Gabe’s Godfather. Harry felt oddly proud to hear that.

“Dean Thomas should be here in just a little bit, Harry,” Hermione said. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve told him about your predicament. I asked around a bit to see if anyone remembered that party and Dean seemed to be certain that you each tried a potion that Seamus had mail ordered. He holds a position now that may help us figure this whole thing out.”

Harry smiled, knowing all of this but not wanting to break Draco’s confidence. The foursome was just getting into a conversation about how things had been going when Harry’s eyes deceived him.

A man, carrying a boy of no more than five, had just exited the house and was walking towards him. A woman, whose hair was rainbow colored, was walking with him, too. Harry’s entire body began to shake and he felt all the air ‘whoosh’ out of his lungs. He was so wrapped up in the sight that he barely heard Draco’s warning to remember that no one else was aware of his dilemma and to not make a scene.

“Tonks and Remus?” Harry cried. He had to blink back tears as the man embraced him. “I can’t believe you’re here!”

“Where else would I be?” Remus said with a huge smile. Bending to put the child’s feet on the ground, he said, “Be a good boy and go play with your cousins, James.”

The name caused a moment of surprise for Harry. “James? His name is James?”

“Who else would I name my child after but the man who was my best friend and the father of the man who made it possible for me to be legally able to have children?” Remus said, practically beaming.

Hermione nearly turned purple at his admission. “Remus! I told you not to share any details of Harry’s life with him! We don’t know if he’ll wake up one morning back in Hogwarts and we can’t have him trying to design his future from what he learns here about his past!”

Draco, Tonks and Adam laughed at Hermione’s admonishing. Harry, however, was reeling with shock. Remus was standing in front of him. He had assumed that the man had died, as Werewolves had short life spans. He hadn’t wanted to ask, and was pretty sure Draco wouldn’t have told him anyway, but he never imagined that he’d see his father’s friend here. And Remus had a child, something that was only possible because Harry had made it so! Harry wanted to know how, but knew no one would tell him.

Feeling all at once excited and frustrated, he embraced the older man again and said, “I am so happy to see you!”

After all made pleasantries, and Harry still hadn’t completely let go of Remus’ arm, the two men walked to a set of chairs and sat down. A few moments were spent looking out into the yard and watching James play before Remus turned his attention to Harry. “How are you, really?”

A smile escaped Harry before he could even think. “I’m good. I’m in shock at most things, but I am good.”

“What has shocked you the most?” Remus asked.

“Honestly? You,” Harry answered.

Remus looked at him intently. “Not being together with Draco Malfoy and having three children?”

The smile appeared again and Harry said, “No. I always hoped I find someone to be happy with and I’ve always wanted children.”

”So you’re happy with him, then?” Remus questioned.

Harry looked at him strangely. “I’m not really with him…well…I am…but...it’s not really me.” Smiling at his own words, Harry said, “That didn’t make much sense did it?”

“No, I can’t say it did,” Remus laughed.

“What I mean is that my future self is with him, not the me I know.”

Remus’ look turned thoughtful. “So, if you stay here and have no way to get home, you won’t remain with Draco?”

The thought had never crossed Harry’s mind, and he said so. “Hermione keeps talking like I’ll be able to go home.”

“But the possibility remains that you may not, Harry. What will you do then?”

“I don’t know,” Harry said, shaking his head. “I feel like I am balancing one extreme or the other. If I stay here I’m in a relationship with kids, something I’ve always dreamed of, but I’ve missed fourteen years of my life. I miss beginning my relationship with Draco, the kids' births…but if I leave I go back to being single and lonely until all those things start. I think of my 8th year at Hogwarts and all I can see is how lonely I was…am…was.”

“Do you not like Draco?”

“No! I do…I…He’s wonderful with the children and he’s taught me so much.”

Remus smiled, “But how do you feel when you’re alone with him?”

Harry blushed.

“You do like him, then?”

Embarrassed, Harry agreed. “It’s strange, Remus.”

“Why is it strange?”

“He makes me feel…wanted…special. He’s been helpful when I get stuck with something with the kids. He’s so different from his father, too. I don’t know where he learned to be such a good father, but he is,” Harry sighed. “He hasn’t made fun of me once since I have been here. He doesn’t pick fights or do things to make me look stupid, anymore.”

“That Draco is gone, Harry. The child he was has grown into the adult you see.”

Nodding, Harry continued. “He’s changed so much. I feel safe with him, which is so weird when I think of him how he was at Hogwarts. It’s just different now. And he obviously has feelings for me, but he hasn’t pressured me to do anything. Sometimes I wish he would.”

Remus paused at the admission. “You want him to pressure you into a physical relationship?”

“No,” Harry corrected, “I just would like to try it, I guess.

“To see if you like having sex with him.”

Harry blushed again. “Yes. I want to know what is so wonderful about it that I forgave him for everything he did. He was downright nasty as a kid. He’s responsible for Dumbledore’s death and let Fenrir into Hogwarts! How could I possibly have forgiven him for those things? Can you tell me? I must have shared it with you.”

“You have, and no I won’t tell you. Have you asked him? That’s what adults do, Harry. They go to the source of the problem.”

“No,” Harry shook his head. “I can’t ask him that. He’s been so nice to me. I can’t question his motives for it.”

“Then go with the thought that you must have buried those demons at some point during your relationship. If you feel comfortable with there being a physical side of your relationship now, pursue it. I’m relatively certain Draco won't mind,” Remus said with a smile.

“Did I hear my name?” Draco asked as he walked up behind the two.

Harry jumped out of his seat, looked at Draco and knew he needed a few minute to think before he dealt with his feelings. Making excuses involving the loo, he took off back towards the house. Walking past his friends, he escaped into the house and headed up the stairs. Looking around, he found the bedroom he once shared with Ron. It looked smaller, somehow, and was obviously inhabited by one of the children. He looked at the pictures and posters on the wall and moved closer when something on the Cannon’s poster caught his eye.

It was a picture of the entire team and when he looked at the Seeker, he almost fell onto the bed. The blonde hair and gray eyes left no doubt as to who was their star player. It certainly answered why Draco was so concerned about the shape of his body before having Cissy and why he wouldn’t play a ‘pick-up’ game of Quidditch.

Harry got a shock when he spotted the man in the far right hand corner, too. It listed Ron Weasley as the partial Owner and General Manager. No wonder Ron had reddened when Harry questioned him!

This was all too much! Too many surprises, too many changes…even if they were all good ones…made Harry certain he needed to confront Draco and Hermione and hear everything, his future be damned. He couldn’t handle much more of this.

As he tore down the stairs, Molly stopped him. “Harry, dear, how old is Draco this year?”

Thinking, Harry said, “40. Why?”

“That’s right, just like Ronald. I forget who went to school with whom. I’m just getting the candles ready for his cake.”

“What do you mean, Molly? I thought we were here for Quentin?”

Smiling and patting him on the check like a child, Molly answered, “We are, but you didn’t think I’d forget Draco, too? I know he didn’t want a big fuss…something about no one knowing he’s 40…but he has to have a cake. That’s they way we do it in this family. You get a cake on your birthday, like it or not.”

“It’s his birthday?” Harry asked before he could censor himself.

Molly looked at him strangely and answered, “Next Friday, yes. Certainly you didn’t forget about his birthday, Harry?”

“No, no,” Harry said smiling. “I just wasn’t expecting you to do anything for him.” More intent than ever to speak to Draco, Harry walked out the door.

Ron grabbed him as he walked by and no amount of excuses could get him away from the debate Seamus, Fred, George, Greg and Ron were having on the chances the Cannons had to go to the Quidditch World Cup.

“Well you’re the General Manager of the Cannons Ron, shouldn’t you know?” Harry angrily asked.

The other men hooted at the teasing, but Ron was not laughing with them. He looked at Harry and then said, “Let’s go see Hermione.”

Hermione was talking to Draco and Remus, as fate would have it, and Harry was glad to see he could confront them all at once. He completely missed the fact that someone else was with them.

“Think it’s funny, do you?” Harry asked as they walked up. “’Harry’s’ the big joke, eh? Don’t tell me anything and then bring me here to be embarrassed.”

Draco stood and tried to take Harry’s hand, but he pulled it back as if he’d been burned.

“And you’re the worst! Did it slip your mind to tell me you play professional Quidditch?”

Hermione spoke quietly, “Harry, you knew we couldn’t share any details with you.”

“I’m probably stuck here, Hermione. I think I should know some details now!”

A voice from his right supplied, “Maybe not.” Harry spun to look and saw a much thinner, gray haired Dean Thomas looking at him.

“I think I may have found it, Potter. I think I know which potion you took that night.”

Harry’s anger deflated and he suddenly didn’t know whether to be happy or disappointed. When he thought he was stuck he had been angry with the lot of them for keeping secrets, but if he could go home, none of it would matter. He could be going home, which would mean the end of all of this but also mean leaving his children…and Draco.

“What is it, Dean?” Hermione asked. “Which potion did he take?”

“I said ‘I think I may have found it’. I am not completely certain, yet. I have a bunch arriving by owl post tonight or tomorrow and should know before the end of the week at the latest what we’re dealing with.”

All five of them stood in silence until they heard Molly’s voice calling them for dinner. Suddenly not hungry, Harry tried to stay back, but Draco whispered his request to come with him and Harry couldn’t say no.

~*~

After dinner and cake, the adults retired back to the garden and Fred and George produced some Ogden’s Old Firewhisky for all to enjoy. Harry was remarkably quiet during dinner, but answered politely when someone engaged him. Draco had been quite unhappy about his cake and would have thrown a spectacular fit, if he hadn’t have been so busy shooting worried glances at Harry.

Hermione and Ron were busy with their own families and the rest of the friends didn’t realize anything was wrong. Remus and Tonks had taken James home and Remus had promised to visit with Harry before the end of the week.

A game was suggested by one of the twins involving some dice and a lot of Firewhisky. Draco and Harry had taken Quentin home to stay with Bilbee and were allowing Sirius to stay with the Weasleys' for the night, so both decided to participate. Each of the other men played, as well as Ginny, and were feeling warm and happy after just a few hours. Harry had lightened up considerably, given the amount of alcohol he had imbibed.

“All right champ,” Draco said as the game came to an end. “It’s time to go home.”

“Home? I don’t want to go home,” Harry said, bewildered. “I want to stay here with you and the kids.”

Hermione, still sober, decided to end that line of thinking before Harry shared with the group what his definition of ‘home’ was. She helped get Harry to the fireplace, and sent him after Draco, so that he could catch him on the other end.

“Whoa, big boy,” Draco said as he grabbed Harry around the waist as he tumbled out.

Harry looked at Draco and inquired, “Do you like me?”

“What?” Draco asked, confused. “What are you talking about?”

Harry pulled back to stand on his own. “Do you like me? It’s a straight enough question.”

“Of course I like you. We have three children, for God's sake.”

Harry shook his head. “No, I know you like the other me. Do you like me?

“The other you?” Draco teased.

“Come on, this isn't easy for me.”

Smirking, Draco replied, “Yes, Harry, I like you.”

“Why do you like me?”

Draco sighed and said, “I like you for a lot of reasons, Harry, but lets go upstairs to our room. These shoes need to come off.”

After entering their room and getting comfortable, the two men lounged on the bed, facing each other. Both were grateful that Cissy was sleeping in the nursery at the end of the hall, since Bilbee was told to spend the night.

At Harry’s re-prompting of his question, Draco answered. “To be honest with you, I was a bit worried when I realized that you were the you of 14 years ago. You’re different now…”

“Better?” Harry interrupted.

“Yes…no…not necessarily, just different. But after living with you for the last couple of weeks I remember why I fell in…like…you. You’re more curious and playful, much freer without the pressures of your current responsibilities. And even though you’re new to all of this, you’re not afraid to be vulnerable. It’s been a lot of fun to watch you learn our children’s needs and personalities. I’ve liked seeing you enjoy them and not worry so much about work and…everything else.”

Harry sighed. “So I worry a lot then?”

“Have you ever not been a worrier, Harry?” Draco chuckled. He put his hand on Harry’s cheek. “That’s just part of you.”

Harry, with his defenses and inhibitions down due to the Firewhisky, turned and kissed the inside of Draco’s wrist. His lips lingered and it took a moment for his brain to catch up to his own actions. Suddenly nervous, he turned to gage the reaction.

Draco’s face was turning a wonderful shade of red and he looked surprised. It boosted his confidence and Harry decided to capitalize on the surprise. He leaned in to press their lips together. Although he initiated it, the tenderness in the kiss took Harry’s breath away.

Pulling back he almost giggled as Draco followed. Draco sealed their lips once more and made a contented noise, as Harry parted his own to let his tongue dart out. He cautiously tested out the new sensations and the kiss progressed quickly. Harry found that he was being divested of his shirt and he gave as well as he got. Draco’s hands felt like fire as they ran across his chest and over his shoulders.

Harry’s cock was hardening and his head was spinning. He decided he had to take control of the situation before it took control of him. Pushing Draco back onto his bed, he drew his hands down his chest and whispered, “Let me give you an early birthday present.”

“Harry!” Draco interrupted, “Are you sure? I don’t want to pressure you.”

Harry stopped. “Do you not want me to?”

“NO!” Draco practically shouted. “No, I just want to make sure you’re okay with this.”

Showing a smirk of his own, Harry replied, “Oh, I’m sure.” He began kissing his way down Draco’s chest and lined kisses along the top of Draco’s trousers as he unzipped them. Pulling off both the trousers and pants, Harry stopped to admire the gift Draco was giving him.

He bent to tongue the c-section line left from Cissy’s birth when he heard a chuckle, “Like what you see, Potter?”

“Yes,” Harry answered and was pleased to know from Draco’s reaction that it was in Parseltongue as he had attempted. “I love to see you this way. I’ve wanted to see you like this for a long time”

“Fuck, Potter!” Draco cried as he writhed on the bed. He grabbed himself, but Harry batted the hand away, wanting Draco’s cock for himself.

Harry licked his lips and as slowly as he could, lowered them down the length of Draco’s cock. He began an assault of movement, swirling his tongue around the head as he pulled up. He dragged his mouth off and kissed each sac, speaking in Parseltongue once again. “You’re so hot like this. Who knew that I could have you reduced to this with only a few words.”

Draco was panting and his hands were grasping the sheets. “Please, Harry, please!”

The words were too much for Harry, the power going to his head, and he returned to Draco’s cock with vigor. As he sucked and licked and rolled his tongue, he dropped a hand to himself and began to slowly tug. Needing friction, he began frotting against the bed. It didn’t take long and soon he was moaning at the deliciousness of the feelings and his orgasm was ripped out of him. He had to stop for a moment to catch his breath, so Harry whispered in Parseltongue, “Look what you did to me! I am a mess.” Smiling, he licked a path back up Draco’s cock.

Thrashing his head back and forth, Draco came with a shout. Harry swallowed every drop and when he pulled off, smiled in contentment. He kissed his way back up Draco’s body and planted a chaste kiss on his nose.

“Mmm…sleep now,” Draco mumbled. Harry laughed, but pulled the blankets over both of them and fell asleep with Draco’s arms around him.

~*~

“Morning,” Draco said the following day when Harry came down the stairs into the kitchen. He had jumped when Harry walked in, but covered it with an uneasy grin.

Harry smiled and returned the greeting.

Draco shuffled over and carded through Harry’s hair. “Are you still okay with what happened last night?”

“Very,” Harry said as he looked into his lover’s eyes. “You?”

“More than okay. You forget I was used to regular sex,” Draco teased. Suddenly he became serious. “Do you trust me, Harry?

Harry’s smile slowly slipped from his face and he answered, “Yes, Draco. Why?”

“Would you trust me to make a decision that was best for you, for our family?”

Nodding, Harry said, “Of course. Why?”

Draco pulled away, but didn’t answer. He went to get some tea from the stove for Harry.

Watching him and feeling conflicted between the words and the gesture, Harry asked, “Are you happy, Draco?”

Turning, Draco looked at him in bewilderment. “What do you mean?”

“Are you happy…with us, our family?”

Draco smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Yes, Harry. I have always loved our life. We’ve worked hard and our children are healthy. You and I are good together.”

Sipping on his tea, Harry nodded. “I just wanted to make sure.”

“I really have enjoyed your time here, Harry. It’s been nice to see you so relaxed and care-free.”

Harry nodded and yawned. “It’s not over yet. What do you want to do for your birthday?”

Draco frowned and admitted, “You wont be here.”

“What do you mean?” Harry asked around another yawn.

“Dean Thomas and Hermione were here this morning and gave me a potion that will counteract the one you took at the party. I made the decision to put it in your tea.”

Harry yawned again and looked at the offending liquid. “Why?”

“Harry, you wouldn’t have wanted to take it. You would have wanted to stay here and as much as I want you to, you need to go back. Hermione helped me see that. You need to go back and experience everything yourself. You need to know how we fell in love and what it is like to create life,” Draco answered, but the pain was evident in his voice.

“What’s happening?” Harry mumbled sleepily.

Draco rubbed his chin and said, “You’re going to fall asleep and, hopefully, wake up back in your own time.”

Trying with everything he had to stay awake, Harry murmured, “But I can’t say good-bye to the kids…or Remus…or Ron. And what about your birthday?”

The last thing Harry was aware of was Draco kissing his forehead and saying, “I love you, Harry.”

~*~

Harry awoke and rolled over in his bed, noticing the annoyingly bright morning sunlight in the room. He groaned softly at the pain it caused, realizing that he must have drank too much at the Gryffindor party.

When he opened his eyes, he noticed the cranberry canopy over his dorm bed. No matter how many times he awoke to it, he never got tired of the sight.

He sat up and felt an odd pang of sadness.

“Wonder what that’s all about,” he mumbled to himself.

Neville, who was sitting on his bed reading, said, “What was that, Harry?”

“Nothing, Neville,” Harry said and smiled at his friend. “You’re not studying for your N.E.W.T.s all ready, are you?”

Neville nodded. “Ginny says Hermione’s got her timetable drawn up all ready. She’s going to work on mine this week during break. Did you have fun at the party last night?”

“Yeah. I don’t remember much. I feel weird this morning, though, kind of like I am missing something.”

“Did you lose something?” Neville asked, starting to look concerned.

Sighing, Harry shook his head. “No. I just think I had a weird dream. Something about my future, I’m guessing, because I remember having kids.”

”Sounds like a nightmare, mate! Can you imagine…us with kids?”

Harry laughed, as any good friend would, and flopped back on his bed. He considered Neville’s comments and his dream and thought, ‘Kids would be nice someday, but I hope to be in love first.’ With no idea how or with whom that could ever happen, Harry grabbed a Quidditch magazine to read, and decided to let fate do her thing if that was ever to be his future.