It was the most uncomfortable moment in Harry's life. If one didn't count battling Voldemort, he supposed.

Lucius pushed his way in, taking his wife's hand in a delicate gesture and leading her in. They glared at Harry and he quickly grabbed the neck of his robe, holding it tightly closed. Crap! This was embarrassing.

"So I must learn not only of my son's new proclivities from the pages of the Daily Prophet, but also that he is divorcing his wife and moving in to these-" he looked about with a sneer-"disreputable lodgings." He stared down his nose at Draco. Same old Lucius Malfoy. Except his hair was no longer blond. Instead, it was an ivory colour. On anyone else it would be grey. Perhaps Malfoy spelled it that way, but Harry rather thought it was from his stint in Azkaban and the subsequent stress.

With his grey eyes turned toward Harry, Harry felt like he was twelve-years-old again freeing Dobby. And then thoughts of Dobby made him feel sad, even as long ago as it was.

Draco mustered his dignity. In fact, Harry had never seen anyone look as dignified in a dressing gown with nothing on underneath it. His white legs protruded from the bottom hem. "All right. Father, Mother. Let's at least get out of the foyer and discuss this in a civilized setting." He led them to the sitting room and Harry scrambled after them.

"Discuss?" said his father, entering the room and looking around, a sneer of distaste still on his face. Narcissa wore the same expression. "It seems there is very little to 'discuss'. Matters seem to have already been decided." He turned his glare on Harry, who was trying to wrap his too-short dressing gown tightly around his legs as he sat.

Lucius and Narcissa sat together on the sofa, while Draco and Harry sat on the two chairs. Harry recognized the pecking order of the seating arrangement. He and Draco were in the power positions while their visitors were in the subordinate. Draco had maneuvered that well. "I wanted everything in place first before I broke the news to you," said Draco. "I had no idea the Prophet would get a hold of it so soon. I apologize for any embarrassment this may have caused you."

"Yes, well. I see your wife has already left the premises of Malfoy Manor."

That was quick, thought Harry.

"I made a very generous offer and she was only too happy to leave."

"No doubt. And you and my grandson. You have already moved from the manor as well?"

"In the summer, Scorpius will be living here...with...us." He blinked. Red spots were blooming on his cheeks.

"I see." He turned his icy gaze on Harry again. "I never realized your homosexual tendencies, Draco. You never let on about this orientation before."

"To be fair, I didn't know about it myself until recently. Neither did Harry."

"Yes," said Malfoy, still eyeing Harry. "All is not lost, of course. In any other circumstances this would have resulted in an irreparable scandal. I need not remind you that the house of Malfoy has endured quite a bit of that over the years."

"I am well aware, Father."

"Indeed. But because of the person whom you have chosen, we shall prevail. Choosing Mr. Potter was a stroke of genius."

Draco cleared his throat. "As much as I would like to take credit for cleverness, it really had nothing to do with it. We simply...fell in love."

Narcissa shifted uncomfortably. "I never knew you were unhappy with your wife, Draco."

"Never knew?" Harry could tell he was on the verge of an explosion but he was fighting it as he had never seen the blond do before. Life must be quite different with the parents. "You've got to be joking? How often did you see her? How often were we ever together? How often did I smile!"

She seemed taken aback and touched his arm. "Draco. Why didn't you say? You agreed to marry her."

"To please you two." He seemed ashamed of a sudden and ducked his face. "It seemed all right at first. We had Scorpius right away. But then...it got terribly lonely. We've only slept together three times, you know."

Narcissa's eyes widened. Her fairy hair framed her face and though she was still beautiful in a haughty way that Harry had never liked or appreciated given who she was, he could see the lines now at her eyes, forehead, and mouth. She suddenly looked like a mother again, the one who had kept Harry's secret and saved them all.

"If I had known-"

"What, Mother? If you had known, what would you have done? Found me someone else? Well, I've found someone. And I love him. And I'm not alone anymore."

She looked at Harry with new eyes and for the first time, he felt it was without bitterness or reluctant gratitude.

Lucius waved his hand. "It doesn't matter, of course. That's done with. Mr. Potter," he said, fixing his gaze on Harry again. "Do you intend to marry my son?"

"Uh...." Harry didn't know he was going to be spoken to. He felt like an idiot suddenly flapping his jaw. He closed his mouth and tried to get his brain in gear. "I...I never thought about it. I've got to file my own divorce papers, you know. I can't think about all that right now-"

"Well do think about it. I would, of course, have no objections. To join with such a dignified house as the Potters could only mean more prestige for the Malfoys. You have my blessing."

"Thanks, but I wasn't looking for it."

Lucius focused on him again and smiled. "Of course not." He looked at his wife. "Clearly we are not going to be invited to breakfast."

Draco said nothing. Clearly they weren't.

Lucius rose and reached his hand out for Narcissa, who took it. Harry thought they moved together like royalty in some fairy tale. It was lovely to look at and he could see the love of long-time companionship between them. It saddened him to think of Ginny and how they would never have that, but then he glanced at Draco and his heart warmed. There was still a chance of that kind of happiness, just with someone else. He hadn't actually considered marriage again, but it was an option, both in England's Muggle world as well as in the Wizarding one.

They walked their guests to the door. "I hope we shall be invited back," said Lucius, as if fully expecting to be.

"Of course, Father; Mother. We'd love to have you to tea sometime."

"Excellent. We look forward to it. Mr. Potter." Lucius held out his hand.

Shocked beyond measure to have it offered, Harry took it and gave it a shake. He looked at Narcissa and she was staring at him intently. Suddenly, she bent down and kissed his cheek. Harry jolted and stared back at her, body rigid with surprise. "You make my son happy," she said. "I shall not forget it." And then she offered him a cool smile and a soft, "Mr. Potter," before they swept out the front door.

Draco closed the door and then fell against it. "Fuck! That was different."

Harry rubbed the place Narcissa kissed him, not quite knowing what to make of it. "You seemed to hold yourself well, though."

"You think? Father is all about appearances and duty and such. Did I do all right?"

"You looked like the head of the house to me."

Draco smiled to himself. "Well, all right, then." He took Harry's arm and walked to the stairs with him. "Mother seems quite taken with you."

"Yeah, well. I guess I'm the Chosen One all over again."

Draco chuckled. "I guess you are. It's not everyone who gets to bed the Malfoy heir." Harry's face warmed. Jeez. Putting it that way he felt like some royal concubine. "We've got to get cleaned up," Draco went on. "We have a lot of paperwork to file today. And reporters to face."

Damned reporters. His good mood faded. "I won't face them. I'll hex them!"

"What would Minister Shacklebolt say to that?"

"He'd back me up," said Harry, climbing the steps. Harry thought for a moment before he ventured, "By the way, the marriage thing."

Draco wore a guarded expression. "Yes?"

"Have you...have you thought about remarrying? I mean, you know. Me?"

"Don't know. I haven't been asked yet."

Harry's puzzled expression turned to a smile. "I see. Well, when the right time comes, I'll ask you properly." Draco tried to hide his blush by turning his face away but Harry grabbed him and turned his chin toward him. "And it will be lovely and romantic." He kissed Draco tenderly, stroking his arms. "You know," he said, pulling away only inches from the other's lips. "We didn't make love properly yet this morning. I'd like to. Do we have time?"

"All the time in the world, Harry," he answered breathlessly.

When they got to their room, Harry peeled Draco's dressing gown off his shoulders and let it slip to the floor in a silken puddle. He stripped off his own with less finesse.

Naked, Draco was an ivory statue of male perfection. Harry reached up and pinched each pink nipple with his fingers. Draco gave a little gasp. "You're so responsive," murmured Harry. He leaned in and took the flesh of Draco's neck between his lips. He sucked on it and then nipped it. "Everything about you," he said to his skin, "is so beautiful. I'm going to take you slowly, Draco. I'm going to make you mine."

"I'm already yours," he replied in a voice husky with emotion.

Harry's hands skimmed over Draco's chest, up and over his shoulders. He pulled, dragging Draco up against him, naked skin to naked skin. "Mine," whispered Harry. He kissed Draco's ear and pulled his earlobe into his mouth, sucking it gently. Draco keened.

Harry's hands stroked slowly up and down the man's pale back, sliding down to cup his arse and squeezing. "Do you want me to fuck you, Draco?" he whispered to his ear. Draco shivered. "Do you want me to push your legs wide apart and fuck you deep and hard?"

Draco clutched at the back of Harry's neck, writhing his body against Harry's. "Yeeesss," he breathed.

Harry pushed him back and he fell to the bed. Draco quickly scooted up the mattress, stroking his stiff penis enticingly. He watched Harry with drowsy lids and slowly opened his legs, bending his knees to angle his arse upward.

Harry knelt between his legs and grabbed his thigh, stretching one leg outward into the air. He hooked his hand under the knee and pushed it up, effectively exposing Draco's tight little hole. Harry looked down at it. "Mine," he said, and Draco moaned.

Harry cast a nonverbal lubricating charm and watched as a gob of oil dripped from Draco's pink arse. "Perfect," said Harry. He didn't even hold his dick to aim it. He simply plunged and Draco cried out. The squeezed little entrance expanded, taking him in, opening over Harry's cock like an intimate kiss. The tight, hot flesh swallowed him, devouring Harry's dick, sheathing it in compressing warmth. Harry sighed as he pushed in all the way, never stopping until his pubes touched Draco's bollocks. He opened his eyes then, not realizing he had even closed them.

But now he looked into Draco's eyes, and absorbed all the love and lust he saw there. No, there hadn't been anything like this before. He had loved Ginny, but there was nothing to compare to this complete and utter "belonging" he felt with Draco. They did belong together, like a hand in a glove, and Harry thought he had actually known it in the back of his mind for a very long time. He had the feeling Draco was coming to that realization, too.

"Are you ready for me, love?" he asked Draco.

Draco's face was flushed with excitement. "Oh yes, my Harry. Give me all of you." He clenched his teeth. "Do it hard. Pound me."

The words made Harry's cock twitch. He tightened his grip on Draco's leg and drew himself out halfway before sliding back in. The next pull out was sharper and the thrust in more forceful. He shoved in harder with each pull out and thrust. His hips were soon snapping forward and he gritted his teeth. Draco's arse clutched him tightly and the friction was sending rolls of pleasure radiating from his balls. With his other hand, he began to jerk off the man below him. Draco thrust his hips up into it, into Harry's thrusts, and the two were soon in a frantic rhythm, drawing closer and closer to coming.

Harry pushed into him deeply and his body exploded in pleasure, cock shooting cum high up into his lover. Harry strained against him, eyes tightly shut. His hand on Draco's penis squeezed and he felt the organ shudder and spurt over his hand.

Arched stiffly over Draco, Harry came down slowly from his high and stickily opened his eyes. Draco was staring up at him, mouth agape from his own shouted orgasm. Harry looked down at his hand covered in Draco's cum. Without tearing his eyes from his lover, Harry lifted the hand to his face and slowly licked the white release from his fingers, laving in long strokes of his tongue. Draco watched, his eyes glazing. His cock actually twitched again. Harry smiled as he finished his treat and lowered Draco's leg. He scooted up beside him, laid down on his side, and propped his head on his hand. "You're mine, you know."

"I know," said Draco coyly. "You prove it each time we're in this bed."

"I don't care what anyone says. I like being gay. I love it, in fact. If it means being with you, it's a grand thing."

Draco laughed, so different from his smirking days at school. "I've never heard it put quite that way. You can head the next Gay Wizards' Pride Day."

"Is there such a thing?"

"No, you pillock! Only fool Muggles do that."

"Oh. Well we should."

Draco threw his arms around Harry and kissed him soundly. "Mmm. I love tasting myself on your mouth."

"Come on, love. We need to take a bath and get going."

"Buzzkill." But they both dragged themselves up and over to the bathroom.

When they got out, an owl was waiting for them.

"What now?" sighed Draco as Harry walked over to it.

When he pulled off the scroll and read, his heart sank. He showed it to Draco:


My dear Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy,
     I take it you are residing together. I wish I had been corresponding with you on a happier topic, but I regret to inform you both that your children have been involved in several altercations today and have sent some students to the hospital wing. I did not feel that ordinary detention would suffice. Indeed, some of the hexes they used might ordinarily get them expelled. I thought it best to contact you in the hopes that you will remedy this situation post haste. No doubt, this was precipitated by this morning's Daily Prophet.
     I hope to see the two of you within the hour.
Regards,
Minerva McGonagall
Headmistress Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

* * *

McGonagall allowed her Floo to be opened so that Harry and Draco could arrive swiftly. They walked into her office solemnly, allowing her to take the lead.

"Sit down, gentlemen. It is good to see you again Harry. And you Draco. I haven't seen you in some years."

"Ma'am," said Draco, clearly embarrassed by the last time he saw her. No doubt it was on That Day.

She folded her hands on the desk that had belonged to Dumbledore. Harry supposed it had belonged to all the headmasters prior to him, perhaps including Godric Gryffindor himself. He cast a swift glance at Dumbledore who was eyeing the both of them with a twinkle in his eye.

Everard was looking at Harry as well with a slight smile and nodded toward Malfoy. Harry gave him a brief nod in return.

"Now then," said McGonagall. "It was James who first got into a fight. It started when a third year Ravenclaw boy said something rather derogatory about...well, about your person, Mr. Potter. It soon degenerated into fisticuffs. That was enough as it was, but then it escalated into spell-casting. I should not dignify it by calling it a duel. James Potter was quite accomplished with his hexes. Quite unheard of for a second year."

Draco looked at Harry with admiration, but it only made Harry squirm.

"In fact," she continued, "he never actually cast an Unforgivable, but he might as well have done. The other boy ended up in the hospital wing. But that was only the beginning. Then Scorpius Malfoy was attacked by his fellow Slytherins."

"WHAT!" Draco was on his feet but Harry grabbed his arm and pulled him back down.

"Yes, I'm sorry to say. Although young Scorpius was also quite adept not only in defensive magic but in Transfigurations." Her mouth twitched at that. Harry knew deep down that she was proud of the boy but could never let it show as headmistress. "Though not as adept at changing them back."

Draco covered his mouth with his hand. Harry saw that he was smirking beneath it.

"Albus Potter soon joined the fray and the hexes were coming so fast that I'm afraid Mr. Filch was caught in the crossfire. He is an old man but he has enough Wizarding blood-even as a Squib-to be able to withstand it. Though Madam Pomfrey did say she was having trouble removing all the scales."

Harry choked back a snort, hiding it as a cough.

"But that is not the worst of it. Come with me."

Harry caught Draco's eye. Not the worst of it? Harry was beginning to think that the boys would get expelled. And he and Draco would have to do detention on top of it.

They followed her out of the office and down the staircase. She moved quickly through the corridors and Harry felt the sense of familiarity at a place he first called home. They were headed toward the Great Hall.

But when they turned the corner, he didn't recognize it at all. Every stone had been moved and rearranged. Vines hung from the ceiling and one of the tables was sinking into a pit of quicksand. It reminded Harry of the prank Fred and George had perpetrated as they left Hogwarts in Harry's fifth year.

"Holy shit!" said Draco.

"Indeed," McGonagall agreed. "I believe the quicksand was Mr. Malfoy's addition."

Draco winced. This was far more than either of them expected.

"Our boys did all this?" asked Harry, now more worried.

"Yes. Those vines are Devil's Snare. They were Summoned from Greenhouse Three and broke all the glass in one wall of it. Professor Longbottom will have no difficulty repairing it, but this...." She gestured futilely. "What will we do for dinner?"

Harry looked at Draco dubiously. "W-we could try to fix it-"

"No need. Filius Flitwick has agreed to work on it and should be at Hogwarts within the hour. I should think the two of you have enough to contend with at the moment." She didn't look as if she particularly approved of their situation.

"What about our boys?" asked Harry. "Where are they now?"

"Mucking out the hippogriff enclosures with Hagrid. You may speak to them, if you wish. I trust you know the way." With that, she swept away. Her footsteps rang hard on the stone floor.

Harry and Draco stared at the Transfigured Great Hall. "Bloody hell," Harry murmured.

"That is some impressive Transfiguring," said Draco.

"Draco, it's nothing to be proud of. They probably lost all the house points for their houses and they may be in detention till their seventh year. If they were anyone else's children, they would have been expelled."

Draco shrugged. "With fame comes privileges. If one can't be rich, be famous, I say."

"Well you're both. Aren't you lucky."

"I am infamous. There's a difference."

"Oh, yes. And my fame has done me such good over the years."

"Don't bitch, Harry," said Draco, heading outside toward Hagrid's. "Being famous got you your job as head of Magical Law Enforcement."

"Excuse me? I bloody well offed Voldemort. That won me my bloody privileges. And well-earned I'd say."

"Yes, yes. Whatever. It comes to the same thing."

They said no more until they reached Hagrid's. The half-giant was hoeing his garden and looked up on their arrival. "Harry!" he boomed.

Fame, Draco mouthed at him.

Hagrid then turned to Draco. "And Malfoy." Disdain dripped from his tone.

Harry mouthed infamy back at him.

"I 'spect yer here for yer boys."

"Well, we're just going to talk to them. Hagrid, how much trouble are they really in?"

"Well now." He tucked his dirt-crusted hands into his belt. "What they done was pretty bad, by my reckonin'. And Headmistress McGonagall was none too pleased. But in my way of thinkin' they was only defendin' themselves from...er...unkind words."

Draco sighed and looked heavenward. But what came out his mouth next surprised Harry. "What do you suggest we say to them, Professor Hagrid?"

Hagrid looked at Malfoy with equal surprise. He never expected to be addressed with respect, Harry supposed. He shuffled his feet in the mud. "Well now. It's a sticky situation, that. All the cruel things them other boys said to them. And Slytherin and all. I don't rightly know what to say."

"Can we see them?" asked Harry.

"'Course. You know the way. Reckon you can protect Malfoy from them hippogriffs."

Draco sneered.

Hagrid motioned to Harry for a private moment. Harry stepped away from Draco, who rolled his eyes. Hagrid bent down and spoke in low tones. "Harry, I don' pretend to know about such things. I didn't know you was...tha' way...and it don't matter," he quickly added. "All that matters to me is tha' yer happy. I thought you was happy with Miss Weasley-" He saw Harry's pained expression and took another tack. "Awright. None 'a that, then. But does Malfoy make you happy, Harry? Cause if he does, I'll be the first defendin' you. But if he don't, I'll be there to pound him into mincemeat."

He put his hand on Hagrid's arm. "Hagrid, you were my very first friend. Please believe me when I tell you, that Draco makes me extremely happy. He loves me. And I love him. I know that may be hard for you to understand-"

Hagrid shook his shaggy head. "I understan' love right enough." He smiled. It crinkled the lines at his eyes even deeper. "So then. Let's talk to yer boys."

They followed the huge form of Hagrid and turned the corner of his little cottage. There, in a muddy pen, worked James, Albus, and Scorpius, shoveling out the muck while two hippogriffs in stalls looked on.

Albus looked up at Hagrid's approach and noticed Harry. "Uh oh." He nudged his brother who stopped in mid heave with his spade to watch his father approach. Scorpius looked up to see what the others were looking at and his pale face grew even whiter.

Hagrid cleared his throat. "I'll leave you to it." He lumbered off and Harry and Draco stood just outside the enclosure.

Harry didn't know what to say. The boys had only been defending themselves and, he supposed, Harry's honour.

It was Scorpius who spoke up first. "I'm sorry for disappointing you, Father, but I'm not sorry for what I did. And I'd do it again!"

"Me, too," said Albus.

James aimed the spade downward and leaned on its handle. He said nothing but stared at Draco defiantly.

"People were saying the worst things about you and Scorp's father, Dad," said Albus, coming to the fence and peering over the top. "They were waving the Prophet around and...and...well, I wasn't going to let them say that stuff."

Harry's heart hurt. That his sons would have to defend him was awful. "Look, boys," he said quietly. "I'm not saying they didn't deserve it, but you can't go doing these things again. They might expel you and then what would you do? I can take care of myself."

"But Dad! The things they were saying--!"

Harry winced. He could only imagine. Of course, the Prophet had said quite a lot, too. "I know. But you're more important than my supposed honour. They've been saying bad stuff about me long before any of you were born, believe me."

"Yes, and I was responsible for some of it," said Draco.

James turned to him with a look of utter loathing.

"But Father," said Scorpius. He had a smear of mud on one cheek, a bruise on the other, and straw in his hair. It was probably the most disheveled he had ever been. "I couldn't let them disrespect the Malfoy name. You've always said-"

"And quite right, too. You did a fine job of it, Scorpius."

"Draco!" hissed Harry.

He gave Harry a mild look before he turned back to his son. "As I said, you did a fine job of it." Scorpius glowed with the praise. "But you mustn't do it anymore. I think Slytherin got the point, don't you? You're a powerful wizard, even for a first year, and I don't think they will mess with you further."

"No, Father, they won't. Some have said so. And there is a girl and a boy, the Zabini twins, and they said they want to be my friends."

"Good. Trust the Zabinis. Steer clear of the Goyles. You'll do fine."

"I lost us all our house points, though."

Draco nodded. "Gryffindor, too?"

"We're in negative numbers 'cause there is two of us," said Albus gloomily.

Draco smirked. "Then Slytherin is ahead of Gryffindor. Well done, Scorpius."

"Draco!"

Albus looked a little more cheered, but James was still silent. "James?" said Harry. "You're older. You should have known better."

"How was I to know you would ponce off with Malfoy all over the papers."

That hurt. He cleared his throat and picked at the fence to buy some time to think. "James, I know this is difficult-"

"Difficult? Difficult? My best mates in Gryffindor are calling you the Boy Who Buggered. They're saying that I'm probably queer, too. The girls won't look at me. No one will sit with me at the Gryffindor table and I'm a leper in the common room. So thanks a lot, Dad. 'Difficult' is an understatement."

Harry's heart gave a painful pang. "I'm sorry, James. If there's something I can do-anything-"

He jerked a thumb at Malfoy. "You can drop him, for one. And move back home with Mum, for another. Other than that I've got nothing to say."

"You spoiled, little beggar," sneered Draco. "Can't you allow your own father a speck of happiness?"

"Draco, I can handle this."

"Yeah, Draco. He can handle it. So why don't you shove off!"

"James! I will not have you talking to an adult like that!"

"Why? You used to do it. To his father, no less. I've heard the stories. I've read about them in Hogwarts: A History."

"Draco Malfoy is important to me and you will address him more civilly. And you will not smart back to me."

James lowered his face. "Yes, sir," he muttered.

"Now then. You will all finish your detentions here for however long Headmistress McGonagall decides. And no matter what anyone else says to you, you will not attack them."

"But Dad!" whined Albus.

"No arguments! If someone says something, you are to report it to your head of house at once! Do you understand me?"

Three sullen voices chorused, "Yes, sir."

"All right, then. Let's all behave like gentlemen, shall we?" He directed his last to James who had yet to look up at him again. "I'm going now. When your mother hears about this you can be sure she will be sending a Howler."

The boys winced at that. Scorpius touched Albus' shoulder in sympathy. No doubt Scorpius would never receive a Howler from Draco.

Harry turned on his heel. He didn't look back to see if Draco was following; he only knew he was there from the hand on his arm. "He'll come around, Harry," he said.

Harry stopped, puffing from the climb...or maybe from his emotions. "Dammit, Draco. I love him so much."

"And he loves you. This is going to take a while for everyone to get used to. But he will. In time. It had to be quite a blow. His family breaking up, his image of you. Did you think it would be simple?"

"No! But I...." He slumped, clutching Draco's hand. "It hurts, that's all."

Draco enfolded him in his arms. Harry's eyes burned but he refused to cry. He had done enough of that. "Do you want to file those papers today, or scrap it?"

Harry took a deep breath. "No. Let's get it over with."

Harry turned to go up the hill when someone, robe flapping behind him, was tearing down the hill toward them. Before he had a chance to call a greeting, the man engulfed him in a hug, nearly toppling all of them.

"Watch it, Longbottom!" sneered Draco, wiping down his robes.

"Harry! Oh, God, Harry! What in Merlin's name?" He stared at Draco as if he didn't believe it. Probably he didn't.

"It's true, Neville. At least the basic story is. I didn't bother reading what was actually written in the paper."

"You're with Malfoy? Him? Surely you can do better." But Harry saw it for the good-natured ribbing it was meant to be.

He smiled at his professor friend. "Oh, I don't know. Hanging out with rich people has its advantages. All the best restaurants wait on you hand and foot; the best theatre tickets; the best tailors."

"Of course that's all I am to you," said Draco, his nose in the air.

Neville smiled, but it soon faded. "Did you talk to your boys?"

"Yeah." Harry looked back toward Hagrid's hut. "I'm worried about James, though. He's not taking it very well. Could you…I don't know. Look out for him?"

"Give him time, Harry. That was quite a shock. I spit my coffee all over my robes when I saw that in the papers this morning. Half the staff went ballistic." He looked back toward the castle. "How's...Ginny?"

Harry shrugged. "As well as can be expected. I've moved out."

"Blimey." Neville glanced at Draco. "Well, Malfoy. I hope you're taking good care of him. The Wizarding World has its eye on you."

"Thanks, Longbottom. No pressure, eh?"

"Come to see me sometime, Harry. When things cool down. Or...just to talk. If you need to. You know."

He patted Neville's shoulder. "Okay, Neville. Thanks."

The three walked silently up the hill back toward the castle. "I'm sorry, Harry, but I had to take points. You understand."

"Course, Neville. No hard feelings."

He smiled weakly. "I've got to get back to class. But Firecall me or owl or something. Take care. You, too, Malfoy."

"See you, Professor," said Harry, waving. He sagged again, looking over the school. "Want to get a drink in Hogsmeade? We can Apparate from there."

They stopped in the Hogshead, made their greetings to Aberforth, and Disapparated after a few drinks.

They Apparated again outside Draco's solicitor's London office. Wizards and witches nearby recognized them and whipped their heads around to stare.

"Let's get inside," said Draco.

They walked up the steps into dusty old offices with a creaky clerk bent over his desk. "Yes?" he inquired without looking up.

"Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter to see Mr. Wynn."

The secretary raised his head and stared at them through a veil of dirty spectacles. "Is it, now?" he said. "Do you have an appointment?"

"Since when do Malfoys need an appointment in this office?"

The clerk raised his lip in either a sneer or a smile, Harry wasn't certain. But he wagged his wand and shook out a Patronus that looked like a gopher which scurried into the other room.

They waited a few minutes. Draco was becoming agitated and leaned on the clerk's desk. "You did mention that Draco Malfoy is waiting, did you not? And Harry Potter. The Harry Potter?"

The clerk raised a brow but not his eyes. "Yes, sir," he drawled.

Another moment passed when the door finally flew open. "Mr. Malfoy! And Mr. Potter! I must say! You two have certainly made the newspaper today, haven't you? Come in, come in."

His manner reminded Harry of Horace Slughorn but he couldn't have looked more different. He was rail thin and very tall, and sported a skewed white-powdered wig on top of his grey hair.

As soon as they entered the office the door closed on its own. It was a cozy room with a roaring fire and overstuffed leather chairs. Wynn sat behind a monstrous desk and folded his spindly fingers together. "Well now. Mr. Malfoy. Shall I be presumptuous and guess that you have come for a divorce settlement from Mrs. Malfoy?"

"Presume away, Wynn. Although I have already handled matters. Here." He took a folded parchment from his shirt pocket and handed it over.

Wynn perused it and nodded, smiling. "Well, well, well. Mr. Malfoy. Should you ever retire from Ministry work you can certainly hang a shingle as a fine solicitor. I believe you have covered every angle."

He smirked. Slytherin, thought Harry.

"I need only file these with the Ministry. I see the lady has signed them."

"And she has already left the country."

"Splendid. Splendid. All is in order, then." He turned to Harry expectantly. "And so. Mr. Potter. A very great pleasure to meet you, sir. I only hoped it would have been over much more pleasant circumstances." He allowed a frown for the requisite three seconds and then smiled again. "What can I do for you?"

"Um...the s-same thing, I guess. I need to file d-divorce papers."

Wynn tisked elaborately and shuffled some papers on his desk. "A pity. Three children? A house in Godric's Hollow, is it? Well, we will make certain you get the best financial arrangement in this."

"Oh no," said Harry, scooting forward in his chair. "I've given her the house and half of all my assets-"

"Mr. Potter!" He sat back aghast. "You made these arrangements without first speaking to your solicitor? Did you make a magical contract?"

"Well, no, I-"

"Oh good, good. Then it isn't binding. Give me a list of your Gringotts assets and I'll-"

"I'm not changing anything. I said she can have the house and I meant it. My children need to live somewhere and that is their home. And she'll need those assets to raise them properly. I don't need anything. I get a salary."

Wynn sighed heavily. "I see. That is very generous of you, Mr. Potter," he said, but it came out in such a way as to infer, "that was very stupid of you, Mr. Potter." "Well, there's nothing to be done, then. Has the lady made any stipulations?"

"Stipulations? I don't know...I mean...we agreed on stuff already...."

"Well, that's a mercy." He picked up a very long quill and began to scribble. And then he left his desk and the quill continued to write like a QuickQuill. He paced before the fire. "Your name is Harry James Potter-It isn't Henry or Harold, is it?"

"No."

"...Harry James Potter. Born 31 July 1980. Married to Ginerva Molly Weasley, born 11 August 1981. Married 16 August 2000... Is that correct so far?"

The sound of the man's voice was depressing him. "Yes," he answered blandly.

Wynn ticked off more of Harry's statistics: when the each child was born, when the house was purchased, when James started Hogwarts. Sometime during this litany, Draco took Harry's hand and held it.

There were tears in his eyes when the man finished. The solicitor looked up and sighed. "I am sorry, Mr. Potter. I realize this must be difficult for you. And it is a fine thing that you wish to provide for your family. We need only obtain your wife's signature and your own and it shall be done."

Just the stroke of a pen, eh? Sixteen years gone. Just like that. Had they meant nothing? Harry stood and paced about the room. It had to be done. He knew that. There was no more life there with Ginny. When he turned he saw Draco. The man was in profile. That pointed nose and chin and that white-blond hair were glazed with light from the fire. This man he had come to love against all odds. And Draco loved him as much if not more than Ginny had done. If there was that much love, couldn't he build a life again?

"Shall I sign it now?" he asked, voice steady.

"If you like," said Wynn, offering him his quill.

Harry took several strides to the desk and took up the quill. Before he could think about it, he wrote his name where the man indicated and set the pen aside.

"We have only to owl a copy of this to Mrs. Potter and all will be finished," said the solicitor in a grave tone.

"Thank you," said Harry. He clutched Draco's hand. "Can we go now?"

"Yes. We're done."

"Thanks, Wynn," said Draco. He took Harry out of the office, but when they opened the door, there were flashbulbs and a hoard of reporters.

"Mr. Potter! Mr. Potter! How does it feel to be divorced after so many years of marriage?"

"Mr. Potter! Do you plan on living a gay lifestyle?"

Harry's eyes were blurred with tears and with the flashes going off and the questions hurled at him, he simply snapped. He whipped out his wand, and with a mighty roar, a wave of magic engulfed the crowd and suddenly they had vanished with a great thunderclap.

Draco slipped down to his bum on the top step. "What the hell happened?" he whispered, terrified. "Where did they go?"

"Do you care?" Harry gasped.

"Well...yes. I'd hate to have you up on multiple murder charges."

He sighed. "I think some are in the Thames, some are on the roof of Parliament, and some are in the Tube station."

Draco's mouth hung open. "H-how did you do that?"

Harry shrugged. "I can, sometimes. Maybe they'll leave us alone now."

"Not bloody likely," Draco muttered. "Let's get you home."

They Apparated outside the London house and saw a figure standing just outside it. He was slim and tall and his hair changed from dark blue to flaming pink.

"Teddy?" asked Harry.

The man turned and spied Harry. His face was an open question mark. "Harry. What the fuck?"

* * *

Draco grumbled as they let Teddy Lupin in. He had wanted to fix Harry some food and get him into bed. But now he had to endure the visit of this half-werewolf-though Harry had assured him many times that he wasn't a werewolf at all.

Teddy sat back in one of the chairs-Draco's chair-with one long leg draped over the other. He was watching his godfather steadily as Harry tried to explain. He kept shaking his head and his hair kept changing annoyingly. He glanced at Draco from time to time, narrowing his eyes at him.

At the end of Harry's story, he shook his head silently for a long time. "Well! Fuck me. Never saw that coming. Mind you, I had my bisexual stage back in Hogwarts."

Harry nearly fell out of his chair. "WHAT? What do you mean?"

"I mean, my dear godfather, that I experimented with blokes as well as birds. I weighed my options-" He made a gesture with his hands like a balance-"and came to the conclusion that I was overwhelmingly in favour of birds. And in particular, Victoire." He had the decency to blush a bit.

Harry wiped his brow. "I see. Well, this isn't anything like that. I wish circumstances had been different. I wish I could have just loved Ginny for the rest of my life. I mean, I do love her, but just...not that way. I love Draco now and that's not going to change."

Draco sat up at that and looked at Harry. Harry was gazing at him and blinking those large, innocent eyes. Draco's throat felt suddenly dry.

"Teddy," said Harry, clutching the arms of his chair. "It's going to be important for you to visit them often."

Teddy laughed. "That's not too much of a stretch. I'm there all the time anyway."

"But you know what I mean. Ginny will be lonely. The boys need a male influence-"

"Whoa, whoa, Harry. It's not as if you won't see them, will you?" and he eyed Draco again-implying that Draco wouldn't let Harry see his family? The turd!

"I know. But...I didn't plan on hanging about with Ginny. It's not fair to her. You know. So she can m-move on. And James is really having a hard time of it."

"Ah, Harry. This is so fucked."

Harry nodded and fell into a melancholy silence.

"As enjoyable as this is," said Draco, rising, "we can either add to the morass of self-pity by drinking ourselves into a stupor, or I can do something about dinner. Are you staying, Lupin?"

"Am I?" He looked at Harry.

Harry smiled. "You know you're always welcomed here."

Teddy looked at Draco. His hair started to change rapidly. "Only if my other goddaddy says so."

"I'm not your godfather, Lupin! I don't care if you stay." He stomped out of the room and exited to the kitchen. He summoned his house-elves and instructed them to prepare a dinner for three. It wasn't the romantic little dinner he had planned on with Harry but he supposed there was time enough for that.

He stayed in the kitchen drinking an opened bottle of wine he found on the counter. Sneaking through the foyer, he listened at the door as they continued to converse.

"But seriously, Harry," said Teddy. "Malfoy? I thought there was this long-standing feud with them."

"Not exactly. I mean in school he was a right prat. A real knob. We spent our time hexing each other. And I hated his dad. He tried to kill me a few times, you know. Not exactly on friendly terms. But on That Day, things sort of...changed. Lots of things changed. I saw Draco and his family all huddled together after Voldemort died. And they looked...just like everyone else. Shell-shocked, scared. I saw them at the manor, too, through Voldemort's eyes-"

Draco choked on his wine. What? How had Harry seen that?

"And I could tell they realized what a colossal mistake they had made. Not too many people get a do-over. But I thought, if anyone could use one, it was the Malfoys."

"But how did you and Malfoy...you know? Did you meet in a gay pub or something?"

Harry laughed. "No. I've never even been to a gay pub. No, we just...met one day. And...it's hard to explain, Teddy. But have you ever felt that you suddenly knew someone? Knew them so well as if they were the other half of your soul?"

Draco gasped. His heart warmed.

"I think perhaps I feel a bit of that with Victoire," he said softly.

"Well, it felt like that with Draco. I couldn't admit it to myself at first. You can imagine how shocked I was, feeling these feelings for a bloke, and Draco Malfoy at that. But...there it was. Undeniable. And Teddy, he's so good to me. He's got a grouchy exterior-"

Draco frowned and clenched his fist around his wine glass. Do not!

"-but he's a pussycat inside. He dotes on me. He's perfect, really. Aren't you, Draco?"

Draco's eyes rounded. He pushed the foyer door opened gingerly. "D-did you call me, Harry?"

"Prat. I knew you were listening at the door." He held out his hand for him and Draco-a slave to his feelings-came to him and took it. Harry squeezed it. "He's just perfect," said Harry, gazing into Draco's eyes.

"O-kay!" Teddy snapped to his feet. "That looks like my exit line."

"But wait," said Harry, rising. "Aren't you staying for dinner?"

"Some other time." He walked up to Draco and slapped him on the back. Some of Draco's wine sloshed out and onto the carpet. "Look, you old Slytherin, you'd better take good care of our Harry here. Because if I hear you haven't-"

"I know, I know. The whole bloody Wizarding world has threatened me. And just because we're cousins doesn't mean you get to treat me so familiarly."

"Oh," said Harry. "That's right. I forgot."

"He wouldn't bring it up if he weren't trying to impress you," said Teddy, a crooked smile on his face. "Come to think of it, you two are related, too. Distantly, of course, so it isn't incest. Hate to add that to the bag." He winked and chuckled as he made his way to the front door.

Draco shook his head. Was he that transparent these days? He must have lost his touch.

"Ta, Harry. And I'll go make myself at home at Godric's Hollow. Like always." He pulled opened the door. "Bye, Cousin Draco!"

"Don't let the door hit you on the way out, Lupin."

When the door closed at last Harry was looking at Draco. "Don't you like anyone?"

"He's all right. But no, I don't make friends too easily. Difficult to know where one's loyalties lie."

"Loyalties?" Harry made his way through the foyer and peered into the dining room. The elves had laid the table and lit the candles. "It isn't a contest, you know. It's a matter of trust."

"And I don't trust easily."

"I've noticed. It wouldn't hurt you to try, though."

Draco sat, scooting his chair closer to Harry. He took his serviette and gently laid it on his lap, setting the wine glass at the head of his plate. "Whatever you say, Harry."

Harry chuckled. At least he was in a better mood.

They ate and chatted, trying to keep the conversation light. Draco did his best to be himself, which seemed to make Harry smile and laugh. He didn't mind being laughed at, as long as Harry was happy. He got so tired of all these people threatening him to make Harry happy. What did they think? That he had wanted to disrupt his own perfectly ordered life for this? But on the other hand, had he known years ago that such happiness existed, that his loneliness could be alleviated by the simple touch of a hand, by the beard-stubbled cheek of this man, he would have moved heaven and earth to have it. Never mind that it was Harry Potter, the absolute last man he'd ever suspect he'd be interested in.

Harry finished his meal. He dabbed his lips with his serviette and dropped it on his plate. "Thanks, Draco. That was excellent."

"You do know it's the house-elves, don't you?"

Harry smiled. "But you're the one who tells them what to do. Someone needs the credit."

Draco mentally shook his head. And that was why house-elves and centaurs and giants liked him. There was no better manipulation than honest genuineness.

No wonder Draco couldn't master it.

Harry was gazing at Draco with a secret smile on his face. "Whatever shall we do now?"

Draco's heartbeat thrummed suddenly in his chest and his cock stood to attention. "I've an idea," he said. He kept his lids seductively low and gazed at Harry from under his lashes. He knew Harry liked that. He called it Draco's "smoldering look".

Harry took his hand and rose from the table. He said nothing as he led Draco upstairs.

Harry undressed Draco without a word, kissing each portion of skin that was slowly exposed. Draco sighed under his gentle ministrations. Harry's strong hands skimmed over Draco's skin, exploring the feel of the crook of his arm, kissing his armpit, touching his stomach. Harry seemed transfixed by his pale skin and Draco had to urge him to disrobe, so absorbed was he.

Both starkers, Harry continued his silent exploration of Draco's body. Each pass of his fingers sent chills of delight over Draco's sensitive skin and he moaned and writhed.

"So sensitive," Harry murmured.

"You have an amazing touch," whispered Draco.

"Mmmm," came the reply and then he fell silent again.

His hands grasped Draco's hips and his thumbs traced down the hollows at Draco's groin, just missing his pubic hair. Draco's cock was throbbing with need, bobbing against his belly with an angry red colour.

Harry touched his lips to Draco's ear, sending more chills down his goose-fleshed skin. "Let's go to the bed," he whispered.

Draco squeaked his reply and let Harry pull him toward the four-poster. Harry laid him down with his arm under Draco's back, cradling him. He gathered Draco in his arms and slowly drew him in for a kiss. His warm lips touched Draco's and Draco thought he would expire on the spot. The kiss was soft and gentle, just lips teasing his mouth. A tongue poked at Draco and he parted his lips, allowing the intrusion. Harry's tongue gently explored, sliding over Draco's mouth, his teeth, his own tongue. That tongue moved languidly, like a painter gently stroking colour to the canvas. Draco's whole body was throbbing now. Harry's kiss threw him into a state of intense need. The gentler he was, the sexier it felt. And Harry was taking no prisoners.

Draco writhed beneath him, chest pressed to chest. His arms snaked up and clasped Harry's neck. Draco opened his mouth wide and sucked Harry's tongue around his lips, moaning into his mouth.

And then Harry deepened the kiss clasping their mouths together, drinking in the soft mewls Draco was making, lovingly entangling their tongues, breathing in with his nostrils Draco's excited puffs of air blasting Harry's cheek.

They held each other and kissed this way for a long time, until, gasping, Draco had to pull away first. There were tears in Draco's eyes as he looked at Harry. Harry gazed down on him with the tenderest expression. "Do you have any idea how very much I love you?" he asked.

Draco could only squeak again.

Harry smiled. "I'm going to turn you over now. I want to see your beautiful bum."

Draco didn't protest. Harry turned him and Draco's cock pressed painfully into the mattress. Harry's hands never stopped and he smoothed them over Draco's backside, cupping the underside of one cheek and lifting it. This was worse! Far worse. Draco wanted Harry inside him right now! But he didn't want Harry to stop touching him like this either. Those hands, those fingers, slowly explored, tracing imaginary lines down his arse cheeks, squeezing, tormenting.

At last, Draco felt thumbs dipping into his crack and spreading his arse cheeks, holding them opened, exposing his pulsating hole. He felt the warm sensation of Harry's breath there and gasped loudly when the gentle flick of a wet tongue tested his furled entrance.

All his nerve endings concentrated in that sensitive spot and he waited, his hole twitching for Harry's tongue to continue. Please! he pleaded in his head.

The tongue returned with the flat pad of it sketching a long, firm lick upward. It repeated the gesture and then lanced at it, forcing it to open with whirling licks. Draco tried to keep himself still, but it was a chore. He panted into his hands, his face hidden in the mattress.

Harry's tongue continued to slowly drill its way in, making little circles, pushing, forcing. Draco felt himself open, felt the tongue, hot and wet, stab into him in its sinful quest. "Oh Harry!" He couldn't help himself. The cry climbed out of his throat without his permission.

But Harry was not deterred and kept stabbing his tongue into Draco, fucking him with that wet muscle, changing occasionally to swirling his tongue all around the gasping entrance.

"H-Harry! Oh god, Harry!"

A kiss to his arse was his signal. Harry sat up, cast the lubricating charm, and pushed Draco's legs even further apart. Draco waited in anticipation, waited for the feel of Harry's cock kissing his entrance. Waited impatiently to feel it-Ah! There! The tip of Harry's cock pressed firmly to his loosened hole. Draco spread himself as much as he could, but it was never quite enough.

Harry pushed and his thick cock forced open the tight hole, spread it and then the muscle enclosed the shaft as it slid inside. Oh the fullness! The completeness Draco felt! Harry's cock was still moving, still shoving in until Draco felt the soft pat of Harry's sac rest against his wide-open arse.

Harry didn't move for a moment. He was allowing Draco to get used to his girth and Draco needed that moment. His sphincter clenched a few times involuntarily, as if it were chewing on the intruder, until the muscle relaxed enough to expand and embrace the shaft.

It was then that Harry started to move. His cock slid outward, and Draco's channel molded around the new sensations. And when Harry slammed back inside, Draco clenched again. Harry fucked him slowly and changed angles. His cock glided over that sweet spot inside of Draco. It made Draco suddenly tremble with unimaginable sensation and he shouted with pure pleasure.

Harry hit that spot again and again as his thrusts sped up. Draco pushed his hips into the bed and humped the duvet until he came seconds later, clenching his arse tightly.

Harry was pumping into him madly, grunting with each thrust until he, too, released inside, gasping and choking from the intense pleasure. His hips continued to fuck, but they were slowing, until they gradually came to a stop. He clutched at Draco's hips for a long time and then slipped out of him. He crumpled beside him, arm thrown over the prone man.

Draco gasped into the mattress. The few times he'd had sex with his now ex-wife had never compared to this. Even his best wanking sessions didn't come close. He never imagined that taking a cock up the arse would be so wonderful.

Harry breathed into Draco's sweaty neck. "Oh, Malfoy. You are an amazing lover."

"I was about to say the same thing, Potter," gasped Draco. "If I ever get my breath back."

Harry nuzzled him sleepily. Draco felt a deep lethargy overtake him and he was about to doze off when an owl pushed open the casement and landed with a thump on their bed.

Draco jumped with a start, staring at the tiny chirruping owl. "Merlin's tits!"

Harry reached over him and took the note from the owl, which nibbled Harry's finger affectionately before flying off. Harry read the note and then let it fall.

"Well?"

"We've been invited to Ron and Hermione's for dinner next week."


On to Chapter Seven
"Mending"

Back to Chapter Five
"Empty Garden"

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