Harry stared at her, his heart suddenly jarring in his chest. She presented a calm exterior but he had known her long enough to realize that she was on the brink of...something. Anger, hurt. Perhaps all of it.

He took in the sight of her. So small. So defenseless, really. His wife. The mother of his children. And somewhere upstairs, Lily was playing, waiting for the time they would all pile into the Floo and head to King's Cross. It all crashed in on Harry and he suddenly felt his eyes burning. A great lump choked his throat and the only thing that could escape it was a sob.

Tears gushed from his eyes and he sunk to a chair. "I'm sorry. God, I'm so sorry."

Ginny stood rigidly above him. Her hand fidgeted as she clutched her elbow. She waited for Harry to continue, chin trembling.

"I'm so sorry, Ginny. I never meant for it to go so far. But...." He wiped his nose with his sleeve. The tears wouldn't stop and he tried to speak between the sobs. "I never knew. I just never knew...."

"Never knew what?" she said impatiently. Her own voice fretted at the edges. "Who is she, Harry? I mean...can we salvage this? We need to talk about it-"

"It isn't a 'she'," he managed.

Ginny stared at him, perplexed, tears glistening on her lashes. "What do you mean? It's not a woman? Is it a mermaid? A centaur? What?"

"No. It isn't anyone...female at all. It's...a man."

"What?"

He wiped a hand over his eyes. "It's a man. I'm having an affair with a man."

Ginny breathed hard for a few moments before she threw her hand over her mouth and ran to the toilet. Harry heard her retching and almost went to her, but thought it best to stay where he was.

After a few minutes she returned. Her face and hair were wet. She was shaking now and slowly sat opposite him. She wasn't looking at him anymore. "Tell me," she croaked. "You're gay?"

He nodded.

"Why did you marry me if you were gay?"

"I didn't know then. Oh, Ginny. I never would have married you if I had known." But that didn't come out the way he planned. "Ginny, I love you. I have always loved you. But...when I realized that I was...gay...and I started seeing...this person...it all made so much more sense to me. I still love you, but not the way I did before. I can't help how I feel. Please believe me. I never wanted to hurt you."

"And yet you did. Why can't we just-" She pushed a soggy strand of ginger hair off her face. Her shoulders slumped. Ginny was not a stupid person. She was always remarkably brave and straightforward. He waited for her to speak, to give him the right answers.

"There's no going back, is there?"

Harry made himself look at her, at the great tears rolling slowly from her eyes. He shook his head.

"We have to split up, don't we?"

Harry shrugged. He had never wanted that.

"The children-" She put a trembling hand to her mouth and stared at the tree, winking its lights at them. "We don't say anything till after Christmas. You'll...move out, I guess. We'll...make arrangements and such. You still want to see the children?"

"Of course!" he sobbed. "I love them! That will never change."

She nodded. "I won't deny them to you. You've always been a good father." She stared at her lap, shaking her head. "I don't understand. You just discovered this one day? Out of the blue?"

"Um...yes. It was as much of a surprise to me as it was to-him."

She gazed at Harry a long time. "Do you love him?"

Harry clutched the seat cushion. "Yes," he said quietly.

"Does he make you happy?"

"You've made me happy for years-"

"But I clearly don't now. Does he make you happy?"

Harry swallowed another sob. "Yes. He does."

"Who is it?"

The question he had been dreading. "I don't think-"

"Who is it?" Her voice was becoming shrill.

"It won't help you to know."

"It's someone I know, isn't it?"

"Ginny-"

"Who, Harry? I have a right to know who is destroying my marriage!"

"It's not his fault. It's mine. What difference does it make to know?"

"WHO!"

"Draco Malfoy!"

She froze. "You're lying."

He took a deep breath. "I told you it wouldn't help you to know."

"But you've always hated him." Her voice had an hysterical lilt to it.

Harry stood. "We have to go to the station. Can you pull yourself together?"

She looked at him as if he were a stranger. He supposed he was. But she composed herself, wiping the leftover tears off her face. "Yes. Yes I can. We will have a lovely Christmas, we will visit my family, we will send the boys back to Hogwarts, and then you will move out. There's no need to tell anyone why."

Harry swallowed. His emotions warred. On the one hand, he felt immense relief that the lying would come to an end. But on the other was fear: of loneliness, of worrying over how his children would react, coming from a broken home. He'd never wanted that for them. But what could he do?

He merely nodded, finding it best to simply agree with her for the time being.

They both cleaned their faces and called for Lily. They said nothing to her, smiling brightly when she confessed how much she had missed her brothers. They held hands, with Lily between them, and when they arrived in the Floo near King's Cross, they walked the same way down to the station and through to Platform 9 ¾ and waited with the other parents for the train to arrive. Harry spotted Draco standing alone, but Draco didn't acknowledge them.

But Harry heard Ginny all but growl under her breath, "Malfoy."

It seemed to Harry to take forever for the train to arrive, but when it did with all the smoke and steam, Lily was jumping up and down. By then Ron, Hermione and Hugo had arrived and families were all cheering the arrival of the scarlet engine.

Harry saw Scorpius leave the train walking right next to Albus. They both looked somewhat taller and they waved their goodbyes with smiles. Draco snatched a look at Harry then, arching a brow and it was then that Ginny couldn't seem to stand it anymore.

"Will you excuse me for a moment," she said to Ron and Hermione.

Harry clutched Lily's hand and stared helplessly as his wife marched up to his lover.

Draco turned at her call. His eyes widened and he bent to tell Scorpius to go get his trunk, or so Harry assumed since the boy ran to the luggage carriage. Draco stood stock still as Ginny berated him. Harry couldn't hear her words, but Draco's eyes darted towards Harry once or twice. Yet he said nothing as she stiffly confronted him. When it was over, she pivoted and returned, plastering a smile on her face and picking up the conversation where she left off.

Draco stood shaking, alone. Harry desperately wanted to go to him, but all he could offer was his comforting gaze. Then Scorpius appeared again, and Draco quickly ushered him away.

When the bustle of family and friends made it across the street to the Floo, Harry sidled up to Ginny. "What did you say to him?"

"Just what I thought of him. Don't worry. No one heard us."

"I told you it's not his fault!" he hissed.

Ron eyed them worriedly and Harry lowered his gaze. He didn't know how he was to endure the next two weeks.

* * *

The kids were settling in and Lily was helping Ginny in the kitchen when the owl arrived. Harry tore away from his children long enough to take the note and sheltered himself in a quiet corner to read it. All it said was:


You TOLD her?

Harry surreptitiously scribbled back a note:


She found out I was seeing someone and it all came out. She's told me to leave. Can I stay at the London house after Christmas?
Harry

He sent for 'Cue and told him to quietly fly off. He was certain that Ginny noticed, especially when she said later out of the corner of her mouth, "Couldn't wait to contact him, eh?"

Harry did not reply to her. She was angry, hurt, and betrayed. She was certainly entitled to her feelings. He would surely feel the same way. They were both worried how their children would react.

The next day they all packed up for the Weasleys in Ottery St. Catchpole. Ron and Hermione would be there, along with their children Hugo and Rose and Harry's godson, Teddy Lupin. So many people. They would all know eventually. Would they hate Harry for it? Would he be able to call any of them his family anymore?

Dazed, Harry went through the motions. He accepted gifts and gave his. He greeted all the Weasleys and their families and at dinner, he ate as much as he dared with a stomach roiling about, and later found a corner in which to sit, exhausted. Ron finally caught up to him.

"How about some Firewhiskey outside," he said quietly, out of earshot of Hermione.

"Good idea," said Harry, and followed him out to the outhouse where the brooms were stored.

He poured Harry a snort and took a glass for himself. "Slunge," he said, and they both knocked it back. Ron didn't wait and poured Harry another. "Harry, old mate, I have something to ask you."

"Yeah?" Harry drank again, feeling better. At least his stomach was settling down.

"Hermione just told me something interesting that she said she got from Ginny...who was crying on her shoulder."

Harry froze. Oh well. It had to happen. "I suppose you want to hit me," said Harry, resigned.

Ron drank down his second glass and poured another. "I thought about it at first. And then I reckoned I'd better get it from the horse's mouth, so to speak. Being that you're my best mate and all. As well as my brother-in-law."

Harry rolled the empty glass in his hand, declining a third drink. "I...don't know exactly what to say to you, Ron. Only that-" He couldn't help it. The tears came again. "Only that I'm sorry I won't be your brother-in-law much longer."

"Hey, Harry." He put the bottle and glass on a shelf and took his shoulders. Harry felt limp in his grasp. "What the bloody hell is going on? She said something about an affair?"

"Ron. I should have said something sooner but I couldn't. I didn't know what to say to you or Hermione. I didn't understand what was happening to me. But it all makes some sort of sense now."

"But who is she? I mean, what is it? Why'd you do it? Is it married life? Is it Ginny?"

"Oh." Harry was taken aback. "She didn't tell you...everything."

"What more is there to tell? Okay. I didn't expect it from solid old Harry Potter. But I guess everyone's allowed an indiscretion. Just tell the bint to move on and make up with Ginny and everything will be all right again."

"Ron. It's far more complicated than that. She didn't tell you who the other person was?"

"No. Does it matter?"

"It matters the most." Harry wiped his face and tried to get his breath even. "Ron," he said quietly. "It's a man."

"What's a man?"

"The person I've been seeing."

"Well, why the hell didn't you tell her that? She's going around thinking it was some passionate affair-"

"Ron! It is."

Ron stared at him, blue eyes roving over Harry's features. Harry thought of throwing a Protego on himself, but reckoned he'd get what he deserved.

But Ron didn't wince or throw a punch or a tantrum. He looked at Harry very thoughtfully and finally said, "You know, I sort of always thought so, but I never thought it was a good idea asking you."

"WHAT?"

"Yeah. I mean. You know, other blokes were always talking about this bird or that one. And you never got into it. At all. Ever. Cho Chang, yeah, but she was basically unattainable. And Ginny-"

"I loved Ginny! I still do!"

"Yeah, but Ginny was like a mate, you know. She was always rather a tomboy. She was like a smarter me. And then there was your obsession over Draco Malfoy."

"I did not obsess over Draco Malfoy!"

"'Course not. So. Who's the bloke? Anyone we know?"

Harry reddened. Er.... "Well...first of all. You have to know that...that I never expected this. I didn't know I was gay. Maybe you should have said something back then, though I did have a bit on my plate already. So I didn't marry Ginny knowing any of this. It just happened recently. And if you must know, I'm in love with him and he loves me."

Ron nodded gravely. "I hope so. I hope it will be worth it."

"Ron, how would you feel if you had to live a lie? That you couldn't openly love the one person in all this world that made you happy?"

"I guess I'd feel pretty rotten. I guess all of it would make me crazy, wondering about my kids and my friends and my family."

Harry choked back another sob and wiped his face. Ron put his arm around him. "Just so you know, I'm here for you. And so is Hermione...when I tell her the whole thing. She didn't believe Ginny, but she didn't know what to think."

"Did she send you?"

"Yeah. But it's us, mate. If Moldy Voldy couldn't break us apart, what makes you think this could?"

Harry sobbed again, this time in relief and hugged Ron.

"Whoa now. Don't get all excited about me. I'm still chasing for the same team as before."

Harry drew back and smiled a little. "Thanks, Ron. You don't know what this means to me. I've felt so alone. And I'm so worried about my kids."

"They'll be okay. They come from good stock. I hope this bloke really is all you say he is."

"He is, Ron."

"Well all right, then. It's a mess all right, but it will all work out. Eventually. As long as he isn't Draco Malfoy." And he slapped Harry on the back, laughing at his joke-until he looked at Harry's face. "Harry?" He shook his head. "Harry. No. Say it isn't so. Please?"

"Ron." Harry swallowed.

"Oh bloody hell! Draco Malfoy! Harry!"

"Shhh! Keep it down!"

"You're kidding, right? Not Malfoy."

"Yes. It is Draco, okay. It's not a joke. He makes me happy, Ron. He does. He's sweet. He loves me and I love him. Please, Ron. You've been understanding so far."

"Yeah, yeah." But Ron looked like he was wavering. Until he shook his head, and snatched the bottle and glass from the shelf, pouring himself another and downing it in one. "Okay," he choked. "You and the Ferret. No wonder Ginny was so upset. That's a big dungbomb to drop."

"I know. I never meant to say anything. Actually, I never knew what I was going to do. Just go on as I had done, I suppose. But I wasn't very clever. Ginny sussed me out. Maybe I secretly wanted to be caught."

"Wow. That's a hell of a Christmas present."

"I never meant for this to happen, Ron. You must believe me."

"I do, mate. It's just a lot to take all at once. Mum will be torn apart."

"I'm not doing too well either," said Harry, wiping his eyes yet again.

"I'm sorry, mate. I really am. Have you pulled yourself together? We're going to have to go back to the party."

"Yeah. I'm all right."

"Will you need a place to live? 'Mione said she expected you to move out after the hols."

"I'm moving in to his place."

"Malfoy Manor?"

"Don't be mental. I'd never live there. He has a house in London. We've been...going there regularly."

"Crikey. I didn't need to know that. Hell, I didn't need to know any of it. Oh well. I guess life has been too simple up to this point. Time for the Golden Trio to step in a do what they do best."

"Cause trouble?"

"I guess so." He put his arm around Harry, and led him back to the house.

* * *

Draco stared at the note. He knew Harry must be extremely upset, but Draco couldn't help but feel he'd been handed an early Christmas present. Harry moving into the London house? It was too good to be true. They had never spent all night together and now they would be together all the time. As soon as Scorpius headed back to school, he'd sit down with his lawyer and hammer out a settlement for his wife and get a quiet little divorce. No need to alert the parents until the deed was done. He'd tell Scorpius about it when he came home for the summer. They'd naturally all live in the London house-

And that was when his musings pulled up short. How the hell was he to tell his eleven-year-old son that he was divorcing his mother to live with a man, the father of his new best friend? Oh yes. That would go over well.

He glanced at the boy dressed in his finest dress robes chatting with his grandfather. Draco's wife was sitting in a far wing chair. Draco didn't even know if Scorpius had noticed her yet. She certainly hadn't greeted him. No. He couldn't send his son back to school and then bring him home with all this. He had to tell him before he returned. Which meant telling his wife. How would she take it?

He glanced at her again. She looked bored, as usual. She hated that no one spoke French, but Lucius wouldn't allow it in the house. He was proud of his English heritage. Along with his bloodline.

How would Lucius take all this? Now that was an interesting question.

* * *

It was almost time for James and Albus to go back to Hogwarts and Harry was coming to the inescapable conclusion that he could not let them return without telling them. It would be cruel to come home and not find Dad there. And someone was sure to find out and take the mickey out of them. He had to find a moment to tell them. But Ginny was always about. He decided to call in the Golden Trio for help. He contacted Hermione to take Ginny shopping, for a "girl's day out" with all the trimmings. He even offered to pay for the whole thing.

"Don't be absurd, Harry," Hermione had told him. Good old Hermione. She had taken the news well and sat Harry down to discuss it all very clinically. Did he use protection? Was he aware of the potential medical hazards of anal penetration? Harry had been shocked at her candor, but he reassured her on every point through a furious blush.

But she took Ginny out of the house so he would have the kids all day. He decided to take them to the zoo, since that was one of their favorite haunts. James tried to intone that he was too old for the zoo, but the others-including Harry-shouted him down.

They were wrapped in Muggle coats as they strolled down the wind-swept paths. Many of the animals were in hiding from the brutal English weather, but some poked their snouts out. James and Albus regaled Lily about their Magical Creatures class and Lily looked at them wide-eyed. She hated that she couldn't go to Hogwarts yet, even though Dad allowed them to do magic at home. Minister Shacklebolt had tried year after year to get that law changed about underaged wizards, but he could never get the votes, even with Harry Potter speaking to the Wizengamot. Ah well. Some things never changed.

Later in the afternoon, they ducked into a teashop for fortification. Harry noticed that they were relatively alone and though he hated to do it, saw his chance at last.

"Kids, I have something to tell you all that...well. It will make all of us a bit sad, I'm afraid."

They looked up at him anxiously. Lily licked the sugar from a biscuit off her lips.

Harry bolstered his courage. He did not want to cry in front of them. "Sometimes, Mums and Dads stay together for the rest of their lives. And sometimes they...they don't. And it never has anything to do with their children, because they always love their children just the same. It's just Mums and Dads are just two people. And they sometimes grow apart. And things happen...."

"Dad," said James, a catch in his voice. "What are you trying to say?"

It wasn't working. He couldn't keep the tears from his eyes. He wiped at an eye with his finger. "Mum and I have to go our separate ways."

Silence. His children stared at him with wide, frightened eyes.

"It just happens that way sometimes. But I'll still see you. It's just that I can't live at home anymore. It wouldn't be right."

"What's happened?" asked James, trying to be the man about it. Harry saw him touch his brother and sister in a comforting manner.

"I...don't know how much to tell you-"

"Maybe the truth would be good." The boy licked his lips, trying to keep them from trembling. Lily had tears in her eyes. "You always told us that truth is best."

Why did I ever tell you a fool thing like that? Harry nodded. "Yes. Well. It's complicated. You see, men like women. And women like men. But sometimes, there are men who...like...men. And women who like women. Do you see? It's just that I didn't know I was the kind of man that...likes...men-"

"I don't understand, Daddy," said Lily tearfully. "Why do you have to go?"

"I'd never go very far. I'm at work most of the day anyway. And soon you lot will all be at Hogwarts all year and you wouldn't see me much then either. But I'd write just as much as I do now. And we could see each other on weekends. And do the kind of stuff we're doing today. You see? It won't be much different."

"Except you'll be with some man," said James in a voice Harry had never heard before.

He squared with James. He was the oldest. He would be the hardest, he being on the cusp of manhood himself. "Yes. I will be. There is a special man that finds me special. I feel complete, do you see? Before, I felt...wrong."

"You don't think this is wrong? Going off to live some poncy life and leave your children?"

James was getting louder and the other patrons were looking their way. Harry touched his wand in his pocket and nonverbally encanted Muffliato.

"I know you're hurt, James. I know you all are. So am I and so is Mum. This isn't going to be easy to accept-"

James stood, nearly knocking over his chair. "I'm not going to accept it! The Great Harry Potter: the Nancy Boy Who Lived? No freaking way!"

"James!" James was heading out the door fast, and Harry jumped up after him. "Albus, watch your sister!"

He ran after him and when he grabbed him, James wrestled with him. "NO! I don't care what you say. You can't leave Mum. It's wrong!"

"I know. It's all wrong. I never wanted this to happen."

"Then don't do it, Dad! Stay. Forget all this."

James was crying and so was Harry. He hugged his son to him, his face in his wild auburn hair. "I wish it could go back to the way it was. I really do, James. But I am what I am. Nothing-not even a TimeTurner-could change that. I know it's cruel, but I didn't do it on purpose. I never would have hurt you. God, I'd rather die than do that."

"No, Dad!" He hugged Harry hard, crying great sobs into his chest.

"I'm sorry, son. I'm so sorry." He rocked him as he hadn't done since he was a baby. James. Always his little man. Growing up so fast and now required to grow up even faster.

They stood like that for a while. Until James pulled away, wiping at his face. "I love you, Dad."

"I love you, too. How can we make this better for the others?"

James shook his head. "You're supposed to be the father. Or do we call you 'mother' now?" He smiled feebly. A joke. That was something.

Harry smiled back. "No. I'm still Dad."

"So...who is the bloke?"

"Damn. It's Scorpius' father."

"DAD! Albus will kill you!"

"I know. I never meant-"

"I know." James bit his fingernail. "Bloody hell. I mean-"

"No. I think this occasion calls for all manner of swearing." He looked back at the tea shop. "Should I tell Albus?"

"You don't want him to find out from someone else at school, do you?"

"No. I guess it should come from me." They trudged back in and Lily looked relieve to see them.

They sat and Harry turned to Albus. "You've been quiet."

"I guess I don't get how you can like men. You mean like like men, right? Like a boyfriend?"

"Yes, just like that."

"Will I be gay?"

"Well, as I understand it, you really realize it quite early. Much younger than even you three."

"But you didn't."

"Well, I think I really did, I just didn't focus on it." He settled on his seat and leaned in to Albus. "I think I should tell you who the man is that I'll be seeing a lot of. It's going to get into the papers, you know. Something like this always will. So I wanted you all to know before you went back to Hogwarts. You see, Albus, it's Scorpius' dad. Draco Malfoy. I'm actually going to be living with him."

Albus glared at Harry. "You're lying."

So like his mother. "No, son. I just wanted you to know the truth from me."

"Then I won't be friends with him anymore."

"Albus, don't do that. If you really are good friends, you might really be able to help each other in this. And you'll all need your friends and your cousins."

"But what about Mum?" asked Lily. "She'll be alone."

"Teddy is always over. She won't be alone. And she sees Aunt Hermione almost all the time. She won't be alone."

"Is this really going to happen, Dad?" asked Lily.

"Yes, sweetheart. It is. I'm so very sorry."

She patted his arm. "That's all right, Daddy. I want you to be happy."

A sob escaped. He tried to master it but it wouldn't go away. And in that instant, all three of his children rose up and hugged him. He never felt so miserable or so proud of them in his life.

* * *

"Yes, Father?" said Scorpius, entering Draco's study. "You wanted to see me?"

"Yes, Scorpius. Please have a seat."

His son slid onto his favorite leather chair and looked up pensively.

"First of all, let me say that I have been very pleased with your marks so far." Scorpius breathed a sigh. "You like Hogwarts?"

"Oh, yes, Father. It's been great. And I have a best mate, too."

"Albus Potter. Yes, you wrote me."

"I...I know you haven't liked the Potters," he began tentatively.

"Historically, no. But they are a very honorable family. Being friends with Albus Potter is perfectly all right. I'm proud of you for choosing substance over looks."

"Thank you, Father. I really do like him. He's got a wicked sense of humour and he knows quite a few spells already. He showed me some. Want to see?" He reached for his wand, but Draco waved it away.

"Not today, son. Today, I have something important to talk to you about. It's about your mother and I. You know that you are the most important person in the world to me, don't you Scorp?

"Yes, Father." He smiled a sheepish grin.

"There is nothing I wouldn't do for you. You and I, son, are Malfoys. There is little we cannot accomplish."

"Yes, Father."

"So when I tell you that your mother and I will no longer be married, you must certainly realize it has no bearing on my love for you-"

"M-mother won't be married to you anymore?"

"Yes. We're getting a divorce."

Scorpius pondered this with hooded eyes. "Will I be living with her...or with you?"

"With me, of course."

Scorpius sighed. Draco smirked. "Good," the boy said under his breath. "When will this happen?"

"Immediately. I have already informed your mother and she has agreed to move back to France. She will want for nothing."

"I'm sure she won't," he said quietly.

"There's one thing more. We won't be living at the manor anymore."

"We won't? Why not? Where will we live?"

"We have a house in London. It will be big enough...for the three of us."

"Three? I thought mother-"

"Actually, I will be living with someone who has grown to mean quite a lot to me. This may come as a shock to you. I wanted you to know before you returned to school. I don't want anyone from Slytherin taking advantage of you. You must hear it from me. The fact of the matter is...I'm gay. Do you understand what that means?"

Scorpius was wide-eyed. "It means you bugger boys."

Draco choked a bit and cleared his throat. "Er...it means I prefer men. Grown men. And I have a sort of...gentleman friend. And he's going to live at the house. With us. How do you feel about that?"

Scorpius ran his hand in his white-blond hair. "Blimey."

Indeed.

"I mean...it's...." He chewed his lip.

"It's all right, son. I know this was sudden. It was sudden to me, too. I just discovered this for myself a few months ago. I know this will hurt you and you must know I never intended to do so. I love you."

"I love you, too, Father. And we're Malfoys. We can do whatever we want." Draco straightened and puffed out his chest at that. "And if a Malfoy wants to live with a man, I guess he can." Scorpius stared into the fire silently for a time. He shifted in his chair and looked up at Draco. "Do you...love him?"

"Yes. And it's Harry Potter. So it's a good alliance."

"You mean...Albus' dad? That Harry Potter?"

"There is no other Harry Potter. Of course it's the same one."

Scorpius bit his fingernail and stared into the fire again. "Albus won't like that. I hope he still wants to be friends."

"He'd be a fool not to want to be your friend. But just so you know, not many people understand the Malfoys. They're jealous of us. We have so much; family, name, Pureblood. Oh, I know talking about being a Pureblood isn't all that popular anymore. But that's only because most people wished they were. He should be proud to be your friend, and if he isn't-" He caught the saddened face of his son and changed what he was going to say. "H-he'd...well...I...I guess I'd talk to his father about it."

Scorpius smiled weakly. "You would?"

"Of course! I'd do anything for you. You know that."

He looked cheered again. "Thank you, Father. Would we move in right away?"

"Well, you'll still be in school, young man. In the summer, we'll live there."

"Will I have my own room?"

"Of course. It won't be a suite, you understand, but it will be yours. And you can still have your house-elves."

He brightened at that. "And I'll be living with you and Harry Potter. That's not too bad, is it?"

Draco beamed. No. It wasn't bad at all.

* * *

Ginny had been extremely angry with Harry for telling the children, but after listening to his explanation, she grudgingly agreed with his reasons. They tried to steer clear of one another and Harry slept in the guestroom.

Though one night, right before the boys were to return to Hogwarts, Ginny came into his room after all had retired. She stood in the doorway, the light from the hallway revealing her form through her nightgown. "May I come in?" she asked.

He sat up in bed. "Yes. Of course."

She came in almost shyly, and sat at the foot of the bed. "Harry. I don't want us to part on bad terms."

"Neither do I."

She toyed with the strings on her gown. "Did you ever really love me?" she asked softly.

He moved to sit beside her and touched her shoulder. "Oh, Gin. You know I did. You're my best girl. You'll always be."

She began to cry softly. Harry gathered her in his arms. "Can I sleep with you, Harry? Only sleep."

"'Course." He pulled her to the top of the bed and let her under the covers with him. She snuggled against him and sighed.

"I've known something was wrong for the last few years," she confessed. This was something Harry hadn't even known. "I knew something was missing in our lives. I just didn't know what." He squeezed her tighter, relishing the scent of flowers wafting off of her. After all, that scent had come to mean "home" to him.

"I don't want you to hate me, Harry."

"I don't. I wouldn't. You've a right to be angry with me."

"I'm not, though. I'm angry at a world that had you so worked up for so many years that you never had time to know who you were. Things would have been so much better for you all around if you and Malfoy had hooked up then."

He chuckled. "You know, Draco said the same thing."

"Hmmm. I don't know if I like that. Agreeing with him." They were silent for a time, Harry staring at the guestroom in the dark. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Whose the bottom? You or him?"

"Er...Ginny...."

"It's just that I cannot imagine you as a bottom."

"Promise you'll never tell him I told you?"

"I promise."

Harry bit his lip. "He's the bottom."

"I knew it! Poncy Malfoy." She giggled. "So Harry. Maybe we can be...girlfriends."

He laughed. "I still don't like shopping."

"Oh yeah. And you're pants at decorating. Are you sure you're gay?"

"Positive."

"Oh well. And the children are all right?"

"I'm so proud of them, Gin. They won't be all right with it for quite a while, I guess, but I think they've got a good start. And lots of people who love them, both here and Hogwarts."

"Yeah." She sighed. "Dammit, Harry. You were a really good husband. What's going to happen now?"

"Well, I'll take care of all the paperwork, if you'd like. The house is yours, of course. Half of everything I have is yours. And anything the kids need or want, you just Firecall me."

"I think you should take 'Cue. He likes you best anyway."

"Okay. Thanks."

"I know you loved the garden."

"There's room at the London house for one. I'll start again."

She turned to him and touched his cheek like she used to do. "I really hope you find happiness this time, Harry. Merlin knows you deserve it."

"Thanks, Ginny. That's so generous of you to say that."

"It's like sixth year again. Only this time you aren't coming back."

He squeezed her. "I'll always come back. The moment you need me."

"I'll always need you," she whispered.

* * *

Scorpius hugged Draco on the platform. He'd never done that before, not in public, and Draco took it as a good sign.

Draco was excited. Harry would be moving in today. He glanced around the platform, looking for him.

"I don't see him yet," said Scorpius.

Draco drew back, surprised. "Whom do you mean?"

He elbowed his father, something else he never did. "Whom do you think?"

Draco felt his face blush. And just as he prepared a sneer and a stinging comeback, he spotted Harry.

"There he is, Father."

"Yes, I see him," he said impatiently.

"May I meet him?"

Draco stared at his son in shock. He certainly was a Malfoy after all, though he seemed to take after his grandfather more than Draco. "Certainly," he squeaked.

He walked along side Scorpius and headed for Harry and his family. Harry had said he was going to tell them, and Draco wondered if he had gone through with it. But as soon as they spied Draco, Draco knew immediately he had.

James, the oldest, was the most defensive. He stood insolently in front of his father. Albus looked at Scorpius, a bewildered look on his face, as if he didn't know whether to be loyal to his mother or fall into his friend's embrace.

Draco broke the ice. "Harry Potter." Harry stared at Draco as if he'd seen a ghost. "My son, Scorpius, expressed an interest in meeting you. I hope you don't mind."

Harry looked down at Scorpius, who wore a rather serious expression. He was the miniature of Draco in his buttoned-up black coat and offered his hand out to Harry. "Mr. Potter," he said.

A sudden memory stabbed at Draco, of a boy that looked very much like his son when he was that age, putting his hand out to this same man. But this time, it turned out quite differently.

Harry reached down and solemnly took Scorpius' hand, shaking it a few times before letting it go. "I am very pleased to meet you, Mr. Malfoy."

Scorpius could barely control his smile. "And I you, Mr. Potter. I must say, I've never seen this side of Father before. It makes him very human." Draco felt his cheeks warm. "Your son and I have been friends," Scorpius went on. He looked pointedly at Albus Potter. "I hope we still are."

Albus looked at his mother and then his father. He drew on his Gryffindor courage, no doubt, and faced Draco's son. "You bet, Scorp. Shall we find an empty compartment? I think we've got a lot to talk about."

"You aren't kidding!" He turned to Draco. "Bye, Father. See you soon. Write to me."

"Always," answered Draco, relieved that Potter's boy had the balls.

He turned back to the Potter brood and thought that he'd better make a hasty exit.

"Wait, Draco," said Ginny.

Shit. He still remembered her bat bogie hex. She was a powerful witch, and a woman scorned...

He took a deep breath and pivoted to face her. "Mrs. Potter."

"That will shortly be Ms. Potter. But I just wanted to tell you...Well. This isn't easy and I don't know that this is going to make me like you any more than I ever have, but after all this mess, you had better make Harry happy. Because if you don't, I will curse you. And you know I can."

He couldn't have been more surprised. Harry was grinning like a fool.

Draco cleared his throat. His eyes were blurry from moisture. "Erm...thank you, Ms. Potter. I fully intend to do that."

"Is this the man, Dad?" asked Lily Potter.

Harry was holding her hand. "Yes, Lil, it is. This is Draco Malfoy."

"He's pretty," she said. Harry stifled a guffaw. Draco sneered at him.

Draco stooped to look at her and bowed. "Thank you very much, madam. I think you're very pretty, too."

She giggled.

Draco turned to James and by the look on his face, didn't think he'd better offer his hand. He thought more likely it would be hexed off.

James answered his inquiring look. "I'm not your mate," he said. "I think this is disgusting. I love my dad. And I have to go along with it because I do love him. But I'll never be your mate. And I don't like you."

"Fair enough," said Draco. He slowly put his hands behind his back. "I'd expect nothing less of a Potter. Of all his children, you remind me the most of him. Stubborn. Reckless. Strong."

James straightened. "See you around, Malfoy." He kissed his Mum, smiled briefly at Harry, and walked toward the train. Even sounded like Potter, he mused.

They stood looking at one another on the platform for a while until Ginny took Lily's hand from Harry. "I expect the two of you have a lot to do," she said.

"Can I come to dad's London house?"

Harry crouched in front of her and smiled. "Of course, sweetie. Anytime you'd like."

"Today?"

"Not today," said Ginny. "Dad's got to move his things out and he's going to be busy."

"Come any time," said Draco. He knew he looked a bit intimidating standing stiffly in his black coat but Lily Potter was as fearless as her mother.

"Yes, I will. For tea, I expect."

Draco smiled. "Tea it is."

Draco watched Harry watching Ginny and Lily walk away along the platform. He knew it must be terrible for him, and he took a chance and reached out to touch his hand. Harry clasped it, right there on the platform. That will be in the Prophet tomorrow, Draco thought with dread, but he supposed it had to happen sometime.

Harry faced him, eyes wet. "You were fantastic," he said, and leaned over to kiss his cheek.

Several observers gasped. But Draco didn't care. This was an amazing moment and he planned on cherishing it.

Of course, the next day when it was splashed across the Prophet in five-inch-high letters, it didn't seem like that wonderful a thing anymore.

"Holy shit," muttered Harry.

Last night was the first time they were able to spend all night together. But it wasn't exactly the romantic evening Draco anticipated. For one, they hadn't made love. Harry was too depressed for that. He had cried a little, and Draco comforted him, holding him all night. At least that part had been nice. Poor Harry.

But waking up to him had been especially nice. Harry was feeling better, and he rolled over and gave Draco a sweet kiss that lingered. They had touched each other, stroking the other off. Mmmm. That had been very nice. Draco had kissed Harry after, whispering to him that he belonged to Draco now, that Draco would take care of him. And Harry had appreciated it. He appreciated coming down to breakfast and finding hot coffee and cinnamon buns. He thought Draco had made it and Draco hadn't had the heart to tell him the house-elves had.

He'd tell him later.

But now the damned Prophet splashed their business all over the front page and continued stories on page four, ten, and eighteen.

"I'll hex them," said Harry in a deadly voice. "They put pictures of my children in here. I'll make them sorry they were ever born."

"Believe me, I appreciate the sentiment," said Draco, sneering at a particularly bad photo of him that made him look as if he was losing his hair. "But that sounds a bit too dark-wizardish for my current tastes."

"I don't care what it sounds like. What good is having all this power if you can't use it?"

"I do remember someone else saying that, or words to that effect. And a strapping young lad with messy, dark hair and ridiculous glasses took him out one day. With my wand, I might add." He raised a brow and looked at Harry, who finally got the message and glared back at him.

"It isn't fair."

"That's the sucky part about being a Light Wizard, Potter. All that ickle goodness."

Harry stared at him a moment more before he burst out laughing. "Oh, Draco. Thank you! I love you." He kissed him and sat back, drinking his coffee and taking a generous bite of his cinnamon bun.

The doorbell chimed. Harry looked up at Draco, and Draco frowned. Who in hell would have the nerve to ring their doorbell? If it was reporters, Draco would hex them himself.

He tied his dressing gown tighter, and marched to the front door. Harry was right behind him, his wand in his hand.

Draco threw open the door, ready to give them what for when he stopped in his tracks. "Mother! Father!"


On to Chapter Six
"Breaking Down and Building Up"

Back to Chapter Four
"Cascade Effect"

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