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Description
Title: Never Easy Part X
Author: Ruby13b
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: R
Warnings: Adult Language, Sexual Content, Mpreg
Summary: Sequel to The Recovery Boys. Loose ends are tied up. New drama occurs. It's never easy for Harry and Draco.
Disclaimer: I own nothing and am owned by no one. Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling. I am not being paid for this.

This is a Harry/Draco fanfic. Meaning boy/boy. If you don't like don't read. You have been warned.

Harry yawned, tears streaming from his eyes and down his cheeks. Damn! He really needed to sleep. It had been about a week since Hermione had given Harry and Draco the information she had found. In that week Harry hadn’t slept more than a couple of hours at a time. He couldn’t bear to lose sight of Draco any longer than that.

Draco’s condition had gotten worse and worse. He barely left his bed and refused most food. The Healer had been in and out the entire week, but nothing he did seemed to help Draco’s situation. Harry was beginning to fear the worst. If something wasn’t done soon, he really was going to lose Draco and the baby.

Harry hadn’t had anymore run-ins with the little boy he had seen in the basement- though he hadn’t been down in the basement since then, either. He still hadn’t told Draco about the encounter. But what was he supposed to say? ‘I saw you as a child in the dungeon’? Somehow that didn’t sound right.

Hermione was pacing back and forth in the hallway in front of Draco’s bedroom. She had her nose stuck in a book and was muttering to herself under her breath. Harry was sitting on the bed, leaning against the headboard. Draco lay next to him, curled in the blankets. Draco shivered and Harry put a hand on Draco’s forehead. Draco felt warm and sweaty under Harry’s cool hand. Harry frowned and combed Draco’s bangs back with his fingers. Draco gave a contented sigh which caused Harry to smile.

Hermione entered the room a moment later. She set the book she had been reading down on the dresser top, turning to face Harry and Draco.

“I think I’ve got it,” she said quietly. “I’d like to give something a try.”

“You are sure about this, then?” Harry asked anxiously. He cast a fleeting glance at Draco, who hadn’t made any sign that he had heard them.

“I’m not sure about anything, but it’s the best chance we have,” Hermione answered.

“But…” Harry started. Hermione interrupted him.

“If it doesn’t work, I don’t think it will hurt him,” Hermione said.

“Alright,” Harry finally agreed. “Tell me what you need us to do.”

“First I need both you and Draco to cleanse yourselves in the bath.” She waved her hand in the direction of the bathroom. “When you’re finished doing that,” Hermione continued, “don’t bother putting clothes on; come out wrapped in only towels and lay side by side on the bed.”

“Right,” Harry said. He then turned to Draco, brushing his cheek with his fingers. “Draco,” he called softly. “Draco, come take a bath with me.”

“Mmmmm,” came Draco’s sleepy response. “Carry me.”

Harry laughed, throwing back the blankets and bending over to lift Draco into his arms. Draco pushed his head into Harry’s chest, sighing. Harry paused for a moment, steadying Draco in his arms before heading to the bathroom. Switching on the light, he set Draco down on the closed toilet seat before turning around, giving Hermione the thumbs up and closing the door.

Harry turned back to Draco, who was rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. It concerned Harry that he had been able to carry Draco so easily. Draco had gained some weight, but not nearly enough. Harry vaguely wondered if he, himself, would gain a lot of weight once the baby was inside of him instead of Draco. It didn’t seem real that in a few short hours (or maybe even less) their baby would be inside of him. Harry had tried to mentally prepare himself but he found that he was having a hard time with it. He was still trying to grasp the concept that they were having a baby. It still didn’t feel completely real. He kept half expecting to wake up one morning, only to find it had all been a dream. The only thing was, this was too weird to be a dream.

Harry smiled at Draco, who gave him a look full of contempt in reply. Harry walked past Draco to turn on the taps in the bathtub. The sheer size of the bathroom never ceased to amaze Harry. Not only was there a bathtub which was more like the size of a small swimming pool, but on the other side of the bathroom was a shower (also huge), with the toilet and sink in the middle of the room. The bathroom could probably make a nice home for a small family.

Harry stood up, wiping his wet hand on one of the towels that hung from the rack on the wall. He then went over to Draco and began undressing him, peeling off the layers and layers that Draco was wearing. It was amazing how easily Draco could hide his growing stomach. With the clothes Draco was wearing, it was hard to tell he was pregnant. In fact, with the right robes it would be impossible to tell at all. But once all the clothes had been torn off and were lying in a heap by the door, there was nothing hiding the fact that Draco was so obviously expecting.

Harry tried to hide his grin but Draco had caught it.

“Something funny to you, Potter?” Draco asked sharply.

“You’re cute,” Harry said, still grinning. “That’s all.”

“Humph,” Draco responded. “And you’re a peasant.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” Harry asked as he started removing his own clothing.

Draco was momentarily distracted by Harry’s chest as he lifted his shirt over his head. Draco snapped his attention back to Harry, who was now smirking.

“Meaning I can’t expect proper etiquette from someone who was brought up in a closet,” Draco concluded.

“Close,” Harry said. He walked over to Draco, picking him up and carrying him over to the tub. “It was actually a cupboard.” With that, he plopped Draco down into the warm water before climbing in himself.

“Ahh,” Draco gasped as the warm water flowed over him.

Harry laughed and grabbed the bar of soap. He rubbed it between his hands, lathering up, and began washing Draco. Harry ran his hands up and down Draco’s body. Draco shivered and placed his own hand on top of Harry’s, which was resting on his full stomach. Harry stopped and looked up at Draco. Draco gave him a little smile and leaned up, pressing his mouth against Harry’s. Harry gave a little grunt of surprise, throwing down the bar of soap and wrapping his arms around Draco. Hermione would just have to wait.

                                                     ~~~

In the bedroom Hermione checked her watch for the seventh time. It had been nearly forty-five minutes since Harry and Draco had entered the bathroom. How much longer was it going to be? She had other things to do. Though really, helping her friends always came first in her book. Hermione checked her watch again.

At that very moment Harry and Draco emerged from the bathroom. Both were wrapped in a single towel. Hermione blushed, catching sight of the markings on Draco’s pale skin.

“Honestly,” she said. Harry gave her his best apologetic smile, whereas Draco didn’t look ashamed in the least. Shaking her head, Hermione motioned to the bed.

Harry and Draco climbed into the bed, lying down next to each other. Hermione rolled up her sleeves and focused herself. This spell would take all of her energy. She only hoped she had enough.

On the bed, Draco fidgeted. “Please tell me I won’t feel anything,” he said quietly.

Hermione paused. She honestly had no idea what it would feel like. She began to feel a little uneasy. Was this really the right thing to do? She was beginning to have her doubts. She had been so certain before. As much as she hated to admit it, she did make mistakes.

Harry took Draco’s hand and rubbed it with his fingers. “It’ll be alright, love,” Harry soothed. “We’re just going to see if this works.”

Hermione relaxed and nodded. Leave it to Harry to make everything alright. He was the hero, after all.

“Are you ready?” Hermione asked, focusing herself again.

“Yes,” Harry and Draco said together.

“Right, then,” Hermione said, taking a deep breath. “Here I go.”

She flicked her wand, focusing all of her energy. All at once, colors began to spring up from Harry and Draco. There, those were their auras. And yes, around Draco’s stomach was a different color. That had to be the baby. Now, all she had to do was transfer the baby’s aura out of Draco and into Harry and the baby would follow. This would take some time. She could only transfer a little bit at a time and if she lost focus she would have to start all over again. Hermione flicked her wand again and trickled some of the baby’s aura out of Draco and into Harry. Harry gasped at the sudden new sensation. Yes, it looked like this was going to work after all.

Suddenly, the baby’s aura pulsed and began forcing its way back into Draco. Hermione tried flicking her wand to catch the rogue aura, but it kept evading her and diving back into Draco. Draco moaned, clutching Harry’s hand unbearably tight.

“Stop!” Harry yelled. “Make it stop! It’s hurting him!”

The magic died down and Hermione let her arms slump to her sides. She staggered backwards and sank down against the wall, breathing heavily.

“It’s no use,” Hermione gasped. “It’s not going to work. It’s too strong.”

“Draco!” Harry cried “Draco!” He put his hand on Draco’s forehead.

“Harry,” Draco murmured, “it’s alright. I’m fine.”

“Thank goodness,” Harry said, sighing with relief.

Hermione gave an exhausted chuckle. “It looks like she’s not ready to leave you yet,” Hermione said.

Draco smiled. “I don’t think I’m ready to let her leave, either,” Draco replied, so quietly that Harry almost didn’t hear him.

“I’m sorry,” Hermione offered. She pulled herself up, leaning heavily on the wall.

“Don’t be,” Draco said, shaking his head. “We did our best.”

Hermione nodded, tears forming at her eyes. She rushed over, giving them each a hug and kiss on the head. As he embraced her, Harry couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed. If truth be known, he had been eager to see what it felt like to be carrying a life inside of him. That was something that really only belonged to women and it was the reason that mothers had an unexplainable bond with their children. Yes, Harry was somewhat disheartened by the aura transference failure, but as he looked over at Draco, he noticed that Draco didn’t seemed to be upset at all.

                                                       ~~~

Hermione left soon after, once again, offering her apologies. Harry smiled as he saw her off, telling her that there had been no harm done. Harry slowly walked up the stairs, heading back to the room he shared with Draco. He was overcome with many conflicting emotions. On the one hand he was disappointed that the aura transference hadn’t worked, but on the other hand Draco wasn’t upset, so he ought to be all right, too. But then, Draco’s life was still at risk, which made him more anxious than anything else. He couldn’t live in a world without Draco. It was as simple as that for him.

Harry rounded the corner and pushed the door to the bedroom open. Draco was sleeping quietly in the bed. As always, there was a single candle burning on the nightstand. Draco insisted on keeping at least one candle burning the whole night. Harry had no idea why he did that. Maybe Draco was afraid of the dark. Grinning to himself, Harry shut the door and headed over to the bed, climbing in and curling around Draco’s sleeping form. Draco was so beautiful when he was sleeping. He was just like an angel. With that last thought, Harry closed his eyes, falling asleep more easily than he had in a long time.

                                                     ~~~

Harry opened his eyes. Daylight was shining into the room. Harry rolled over, only to discover that the bed didn’t contain Draco. Harry sat up, looking around. Draco was nowhere in sight. The bathroom door was open and the light was off. Draco couldn’t be in there.

“Draco?” Harry called. “Draco, where are you?”

Draco’s voice floated in through the open window. Harry squinted and raised his hand to his face, shielding his eyes from the spring sun. Spring? Hadn’t it still been winter when he had fallen asleep?

“I’m in the gaaaar---den!” Draco’s voice sang. “I’m in the gaaaar---den!”

Harry was suddenly outside on the Malfoy grounds. It was definitely spring. Before him was a huge hedge. He could hear laughter coming from inside.

“Draco!” Harry cried. There were so many branches and plants in the way. Harry couldn’t see around them. “I can’t see you!”

“We’re over here!” Draco responded. “Follow my voice.”

We?

Harry finally pushed back the last of the branches, coming to the very heart of the garden. Draco was sitting on a wooden swing which was hanging from an ancient oak tree. In his lap was a young girl who was no older than five years old. She was very pretty. She had shiny black hair and fierce gray eyes. She laughed as they swung gently back and forth. Draco kissed the child on the top of the head. Harry was shocked with the sudden realization that this must be their daughter.

“Papa!” the little girl cried when she spotted Harry. “Papa!” She jumped down from the swing, running to him. Harry involuntarily opened his arms to her and scooped her up, holding her high above his head.

“I’m flying! I’m flying!” the girl cried joyously. “Look, Daddy, I’m flying!”

“Harry.” That was Draco. Harry looked up at him, setting the little girl down. She immediately grabbed the loose material of Harry’s trousers, holding it tightly in her small hand. Draco slid gracefully off of the swing, moving to Harry with his arms open. Draco seemed to glide across the grass, past the sunflowers and tulips, until he reached Harry. Harry enveloped him in his arms, rocking them back and forth. Beside them, the child watched with big eyes.

“Hero,” Draco said, sighing softly. “Hero.”

It took Harry a moment to realize that Draco wasn’t talking to him, but to the little girl. The girl looked up at Draco, who stooped down to pick her up.

“Hero, don’t you have something for your papa?” Draco asked the child. Hero nodded, holding a flower out to Harry.

“For you, Papa,” Hero said shyly. “It’s a daisy.”

Harry took the flower, smiling. Hero pushed her face into the crook of Draco’s neck. Draco laughed and held the child close.

The faces of Draco and his daughter began to dissolve and Draco’s laughter began to fade away.

“Wait!” Harry cried. “Where are you going?” Neither Draco nor Hero seemed to hear him as their images slowly melted into the darkness. Harry tried to chase after them, but they only got farther and farther away, until Harry was left alone in the dark place.

Around him, another place slowly came into focus. It was a room where he had never been before, but for some reason, he was certain it was a room in Malfoy Manor.

A sudden presence beside him made him jump. A little creature stood beside him that Harry recognized as Mumble the house-elf. Mumble pulled at his ears and looked up at Harry.

“Are you alright?” Harry asked. The house-elf didn’t look well at all.

“Things have happened in this room,” the house-elf said. “Things.”

“What sort of things?” Harry asked, though he didn’t really want to know the answer.

“Bad things,” Mumble said. He was swaying back and forth. His ears were drooped and his eyes were unfocused.

“What bad things?”

“Dark things, evil things. Family against family, father against son.” Father against son? Did he…? Was he talking about Draco? “Death!” Mumble continued. “So much death!”

“Death?” Harry questioned. He grabbed the house-elf by the shoulders. “Who died?”

“All of them!” Mumble shrieked, “They all died…except…except…” Mumble’s head fell forward, his jaw going slack. “He didn’t die.”

Harry finally understood what Mumble meant. The house-elf was talking about the Malfoys. This was the room where it had all happened. Lucius had killed Draco’s mother and then Draco had killed him. Draco didn’t die. Draco was still alive. Mumble was shaking uncontrollably.

“Hey,” Harry said softly. “It’s alright. No one is going to hurt you.”

“My poor Mistress,” Mumble sobbed. “Poor, poor, Mistress!”

Somehow, Harry didn’t think that Narcissa Malfoy would have approved being referred to as ‘poor’.  Then, Harry remembered something that he needed to know. This house-elf was just the one to tell him.

“Mumble?” Harry asked quickly. “Mumble, what exactly happened to Lucius Malfoy?”

At this question the house-elf’s ears drooped even more. His mouth was moving but Harry couldn’t hear the words that were coming out. Harry leaned forward, but it made no difference.

“Harry?”

That was a voice he knew.

“Harry!”

Harry slowly opened his eyes, the bedroom swimming into focus. Harry sat up, rubbing his eyes. It was still nighttime. So it had all been a dream. It had felt so real. The garden, their daughter, the strange room and the house-elf.

Draco’s relieved face came into view, his eyes reflecting the candle’s flame, flickering dully.

“Is something wrong?” Harry asked.

Draco shook his head before resting it against Harry’s chest.

“No, you were muttering to yourself and twitching,” Draco said, sighing. “I thought you were having a bad dream.”

“I’m fine,” Harry assured him.

Draco sighed again. He moved away from Harry and curled on his side. Harry stroked Draco’s cheek softly. He tried to imagine Draco in five years with their daughter. He liked what he had seen in his dream. The three of them had really looked like a real family. At that moment, Harry knew exactly what he wanted. He leaned over to whisper in Draco’s ear.

“I love you, Draco; marry me. Marry me today. Marry me right now.”

Draco smirked and replied, “Too tired to get married today. Maybe I’ll marry you tomorrow.”

Harry laughed and pulled Draco against him. Draco snuggled into Harry, nuzzling the crook of Harry’s neck.

“I’m serious,” Harry murmured. “Marry me.”

Draco looked up at Harry, narrowing his eyes as if trying to determine whether Harry truly was serious or not. Harry smiled and nodded. Draco’s entire face lit up and he buried his face in Harry’s chest.

“I will,” Draco breathed. “Of course I’ll marry you. I love you, too.”

Harry could feel his heart growing warm. They were going to be a real family. That was something Harry had only dreamed about. Having a real family had never seemed possible, but now it was. Harry suddenly wondered how he ever survived without Draco in his life. He had only been half alive before Draco. Only a shadow of what he was now. It scared the life out of Harry to think what he would do without him.

“Draco?”

“Yes?” Draco murmured.

“I have the perfect name for our daughter.”

Draco looked up at him with questioning eyes. Harry grinned before replying with a single word.

“Hero.”

Description
Title: Never Easy Part X
Author: Ruby13b
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: R
Warnings: Adult Language, Sexual Content, Mpreg
Summary: Sequel to The Recovery Boys. Loose ends are tied up. New drama occurs. It's never easy for Harry and Draco.
Disclaimer: I own nothing and am owned by no one. Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling. I am not being paid for this.

This is a Harry/Draco fanfic. Meaning boy/boy. If you don't like don't read. You have been warned.

Harry yawned, tears streaming from his eyes and down his cheeks. Damn! He really needed to sleep. It had been about a week since Hermione had given Harry and Draco the information she had found. In that week Harry hadn’t slept more than a couple of hours at a time. He couldn’t bear to lose sight of Draco any longer than that.

Draco’s condition had gotten worse and worse. He barely left his bed and refused most food. The Healer had been in and out the entire week, but nothing he did seemed to help Draco’s situation. Harry was beginning to fear the worst. If something wasn’t done soon, he really was going to lose Draco and the baby.

Harry hadn’t had anymore run-ins with the little boy he had seen in the basement- though he hadn’t been down in the basement since then, either. He still hadn’t told Draco about the encounter. But what was he supposed to say? ‘I saw you as a child in the dungeon’? Somehow that didn’t sound right.

Hermione was pacing back and forth in the hallway in front of Draco’s bedroom. She had her nose stuck in a book and was muttering to herself under her breath. Harry was sitting on the bed, leaning against the headboard. Draco lay next to him, curled in the blankets. Draco shivered and Harry put a hand on Draco’s forehead. Draco felt warm and sweaty under Harry’s cool hand. Harry frowned and combed Draco’s bangs back with his fingers. Draco gave a contented sigh which caused Harry to smile.

Hermione entered the room a moment later. She set the book she had been reading down on the dresser top, turning to face Harry and Draco.

“I think I’ve got it,” she said quietly. “I’d like to give something a try.”

“You are sure about this, then?” Harry asked anxiously. He cast a fleeting glance at Draco, who hadn’t made any sign that he had heard them.

“I’m not sure about anything, but it’s the best chance we have,” Hermione answered.

“But…” Harry started. Hermione interrupted him.

“If it doesn’t work, I don’t think it will hurt him,” Hermione said.

“Alright,” Harry finally agreed. “Tell me what you need us to do.”

“First I need both you and Draco to cleanse yourselves in the bath.” She waved her hand in the direction of the bathroom. “When you’re finished doing that,” Hermione continued, “don’t bother putting clothes on; come out wrapped in only towels and lay side by side on the bed.”

“Right,” Harry said. He then turned to Draco, brushing his cheek with his fingers. “Draco,” he called softly. “Draco, come take a bath with me.”

“Mmmmm,” came Draco’s sleepy response. “Carry me.”

Harry laughed, throwing back the blankets and bending over to lift Draco into his arms. Draco pushed his head into Harry’s chest, sighing. Harry paused for a moment, steadying Draco in his arms before heading to the bathroom. Switching on the light, he set Draco down on the closed toilet seat before turning around, giving Hermione the thumbs up and closing the door.

Harry turned back to Draco, who was rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. It concerned Harry that he had been able to carry Draco so easily. Draco had gained some weight, but not nearly enough. Harry vaguely wondered if he, himself, would gain a lot of weight once the baby was inside of him instead of Draco. It didn’t seem real that in a few short hours (or maybe even less) their baby would be inside of him. Harry had tried to mentally prepare himself but he found that he was having a hard time with it. He was still trying to grasp the concept that they were having a baby. It still didn’t feel completely real. He kept half expecting to wake up one morning, only to find it had all been a dream. The only thing was, this was too weird to be a dream.

Harry smiled at Draco, who gave him a look full of contempt in reply. Harry walked past Draco to turn on the taps in the bathtub. The sheer size of the bathroom never ceased to amaze Harry. Not only was there a bathtub which was more like the size of a small swimming pool, but on the other side of the bathroom was a shower (also huge), with the toilet and sink in the middle of the room. The bathroom could probably make a nice home for a small family.

Harry stood up, wiping his wet hand on one of the towels that hung from the rack on the wall. He then went over to Draco and began undressing him, peeling off the layers and layers that Draco was wearing. It was amazing how easily Draco could hide his growing stomach. With the clothes Draco was wearing, it was hard to tell he was pregnant. In fact, with the right robes it would be impossible to tell at all. But once all the clothes had been torn off and were lying in a heap by the door, there was nothing hiding the fact that Draco was so obviously expecting.

Harry tried to hide his grin but Draco had caught it.

“Something funny to you, Potter?” Draco asked sharply.

“You’re cute,” Harry said, still grinning. “That’s all.”

“Humph,” Draco responded. “And you’re a peasant.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” Harry asked as he started removing his own clothing.

Draco was momentarily distracted by Harry’s chest as he lifted his shirt over his head. Draco snapped his attention back to Harry, who was now smirking.

“Meaning I can’t expect proper etiquette from someone who was brought up in a closet,” Draco concluded.

“Close,” Harry said. He walked over to Draco, picking him up and carrying him over to the tub. “It was actually a cupboard.” With that, he plopped Draco down into the warm water before climbing in himself.

“Ahh,” Draco gasped as the warm water flowed over him.

Harry laughed and grabbed the bar of soap. He rubbed it between his hands, lathering up, and began washing Draco. Harry ran his hands up and down Draco’s body. Draco shivered and placed his own hand on top of Harry’s, which was resting on his full stomach. Harry stopped and looked up at Draco. Draco gave him a little smile and leaned up, pressing his mouth against Harry’s. Harry gave a little grunt of surprise, throwing down the bar of soap and wrapping his arms around Draco. Hermione would just have to wait.

                                                     ~~~

In the bedroom Hermione checked her watch for the seventh time. It had been nearly forty-five minutes since Harry and Draco had entered the bathroom. How much longer was it going to be? She had other things to do. Though really, helping her friends always came first in her book. Hermione checked her watch again.

At that very moment Harry and Draco emerged from the bathroom. Both were wrapped in a single towel. Hermione blushed, catching sight of the markings on Draco’s pale skin.

“Honestly,” she said. Harry gave her his best apologetic smile, whereas Draco didn’t look ashamed in the least. Shaking her head, Hermione motioned to the bed.

Harry and Draco climbed into the bed, lying down next to each other. Hermione rolled up her sleeves and focused herself. This spell would take all of her energy. She only hoped she had enough.

On the bed, Draco fidgeted. “Please tell me I won’t feel anything,” he said quietly.

Hermione paused. She honestly had no idea what it would feel like. She began to feel a little uneasy. Was this really the right thing to do? She was beginning to have her doubts. She had been so certain before. As much as she hated to admit it, she did make mistakes.

Harry took Draco’s hand and rubbed it with his fingers. “It’ll be alright, love,” Harry soothed. “We’re just going to see if this works.”

Hermione relaxed and nodded. Leave it to Harry to make everything alright. He was the hero, after all.

“Are you ready?” Hermione asked, focusing herself again.

“Yes,” Harry and Draco said together.

“Right, then,” Hermione said, taking a deep breath. “Here I go.”

She flicked her wand, focusing all of her energy. All at once, colors began to spring up from Harry and Draco. There, those were their auras. And yes, around Draco’s stomach was a different color. That had to be the baby. Now, all she had to do was transfer the baby’s aura out of Draco and into Harry and the baby would follow. This would take some time. She could only transfer a little bit at a time and if she lost focus she would have to start all over again. Hermione flicked her wand again and trickled some of the baby’s aura out of Draco and into Harry. Harry gasped at the sudden new sensation. Yes, it looked like this was going to work after all.

Suddenly, the baby’s aura pulsed and began forcing its way back into Draco. Hermione tried flicking her wand to catch the rogue aura, but it kept evading her and diving back into Draco. Draco moaned, clutching Harry’s hand unbearably tight.

“Stop!” Harry yelled. “Make it stop! It’s hurting him!”

The magic died down and Hermione let her arms slump to her sides. She staggered backwards and sank down against the wall, breathing heavily.

“It’s no use,” Hermione gasped. “It’s not going to work. It’s too strong.”

“Draco!” Harry cried “Draco!” He put his hand on Draco’s forehead.

“Harry,” Draco murmured, “it’s alright. I’m fine.”

“Thank goodness,” Harry said, sighing with relief.

Hermione gave an exhausted chuckle. “It looks like she’s not ready to leave you yet,” Hermione said.

Draco smiled. “I don’t think I’m ready to let her leave, either,” Draco replied, so quietly that Harry almost didn’t hear him.

“I’m sorry,” Hermione offered. She pulled herself up, leaning heavily on the wall.

“Don’t be,” Draco said, shaking his head. “We did our best.”

Hermione nodded, tears forming at her eyes. She rushed over, giving them each a hug and kiss on the head. As he embraced her, Harry couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed. If truth be known, he had been eager to see what it felt like to be carrying a life inside of him. That was something that really only belonged to women and it was the reason that mothers had an unexplainable bond with their children. Yes, Harry was somewhat disheartened by the aura transference failure, but as he looked over at Draco, he noticed that Draco didn’t seemed to be upset at all.

                                                       ~~~

Hermione left soon after, once again, offering her apologies. Harry smiled as he saw her off, telling her that there had been no harm done. Harry slowly walked up the stairs, heading back to the room he shared with Draco. He was overcome with many conflicting emotions. On the one hand he was disappointed that the aura transference hadn’t worked, but on the other hand Draco wasn’t upset, so he ought to be all right, too. But then, Draco’s life was still at risk, which made him more anxious than anything else. He couldn’t live in a world without Draco. It was as simple as that for him.

Harry rounded the corner and pushed the door to the bedroom open. Draco was sleeping quietly in the bed. As always, there was a single candle burning on the nightstand. Draco insisted on keeping at least one candle burning the whole night. Harry had no idea why he did that. Maybe Draco was afraid of the dark. Grinning to himself, Harry shut the door and headed over to the bed, climbing in and curling around Draco’s sleeping form. Draco was so beautiful when he was sleeping. He was just like an angel. With that last thought, Harry closed his eyes, falling asleep more easily than he had in a long time.

                                                     ~~~

Harry opened his eyes. Daylight was shining into the room. Harry rolled over, only to discover that the bed didn’t contain Draco. Harry sat up, looking around. Draco was nowhere in sight. The bathroom door was open and the light was off. Draco couldn’t be in there.

“Draco?” Harry called. “Draco, where are you?”

Draco’s voice floated in through the open window. Harry squinted and raised his hand to his face, shielding his eyes from the spring sun. Spring? Hadn’t it still been winter when he had fallen asleep?

“I’m in the gaaaar---den!” Draco’s voice sang. “I’m in the gaaaar---den!”

Harry was suddenly outside on the Malfoy grounds. It was definitely spring. Before him was a huge hedge. He could hear laughter coming from inside.

“Draco!” Harry cried. There were so many branches and plants in the way. Harry couldn’t see around them. “I can’t see you!”

“We’re over here!” Draco responded. “Follow my voice.”

We?

Harry finally pushed back the last of the branches, coming to the very heart of the garden. Draco was sitting on a wooden swing which was hanging from an ancient oak tree. In his lap was a young girl who was no older than five years old. She was very pretty. She had shiny black hair and fierce gray eyes. She laughed as they swung gently back and forth. Draco kissed the child on the top of the head. Harry was shocked with the sudden realization that this must be their daughter.

“Papa!” the little girl cried when she spotted Harry. “Papa!” She jumped down from the swing, running to him. Harry involuntarily opened his arms to her and scooped her up, holding her high above his head.

“I’m flying! I’m flying!” the girl cried joyously. “Look, Daddy, I’m flying!”

“Harry.” That was Draco. Harry looked up at him, setting the little girl down. She immediately grabbed the loose material of Harry’s trousers, holding it tightly in her small hand. Draco slid gracefully off of the swing, moving to Harry with his arms open. Draco seemed to glide across the grass, past the sunflowers and tulips, until he reached Harry. Harry enveloped him in his arms, rocking them back and forth. Beside them, the child watched with big eyes.

“Hero,” Draco said, sighing softly. “Hero.”

It took Harry a moment to realize that Draco wasn’t talking to him, but to the little girl. The girl looked up at Draco, who stooped down to pick her up.

“Hero, don’t you have something for your papa?” Draco asked the child. Hero nodded, holding a flower out to Harry.

“For you, Papa,” Hero said shyly. “It’s a daisy.”

Harry took the flower, smiling. Hero pushed her face into the crook of Draco’s neck. Draco laughed and held the child close.

The faces of Draco and his daughter began to dissolve and Draco’s laughter began to fade away.

“Wait!” Harry cried. “Where are you going?” Neither Draco nor Hero seemed to hear him as their images slowly melted into the darkness. Harry tried to chase after them, but they only got farther and farther away, until Harry was left alone in the dark place.

Around him, another place slowly came into focus. It was a room where he had never been before, but for some reason, he was certain it was a room in Malfoy Manor.

A sudden presence beside him made him jump. A little creature stood beside him that Harry recognized as Mumble the house-elf. Mumble pulled at his ears and looked up at Harry.

“Are you alright?” Harry asked. The house-elf didn’t look well at all.

“Things have happened in this room,” the house-elf said. “Things.”

“What sort of things?” Harry asked, though he didn’t really want to know the answer.

“Bad things,” Mumble said. He was swaying back and forth. His ears were drooped and his eyes were unfocused.

“What bad things?”

“Dark things, evil things. Family against family, father against son.” Father against son? Did he…? Was he talking about Draco? “Death!” Mumble continued. “So much death!”

“Death?” Harry questioned. He grabbed the house-elf by the shoulders. “Who died?”

“All of them!” Mumble shrieked, “They all died…except…except…” Mumble’s head fell forward, his jaw going slack. “He didn’t die.”

Harry finally understood what Mumble meant. The house-elf was talking about the Malfoys. This was the room where it had all happened. Lucius had killed Draco’s mother and then Draco had killed him. Draco didn’t die. Draco was still alive. Mumble was shaking uncontrollably.

“Hey,” Harry said softly. “It’s alright. No one is going to hurt you.”

“My poor Mistress,” Mumble sobbed. “Poor, poor, Mistress!”

Somehow, Harry didn’t think that Narcissa Malfoy would have approved being referred to as ‘poor’.  Then, Harry remembered something that he needed to know. This house-elf was just the one to tell him.

“Mumble?” Harry asked quickly. “Mumble, what exactly happened to Lucius Malfoy?”

At this question the house-elf’s ears drooped even more. His mouth was moving but Harry couldn’t hear the words that were coming out. Harry leaned forward, but it made no difference.

“Harry?”

That was a voice he knew.

“Harry!”

Harry slowly opened his eyes, the bedroom swimming into focus. Harry sat up, rubbing his eyes. It was still nighttime. So it had all been a dream. It had felt so real. The garden, their daughter, the strange room and the house-elf.

Draco’s relieved face came into view, his eyes reflecting the candle’s flame, flickering dully.

“Is something wrong?” Harry asked.

Draco shook his head before resting it against Harry’s chest.

“No, you were muttering to yourself and twitching,” Draco said, sighing. “I thought you were having a bad dream.”

“I’m fine,” Harry assured him.

Draco sighed again. He moved away from Harry and curled on his side. Harry stroked Draco’s cheek softly. He tried to imagine Draco in five years with their daughter. He liked what he had seen in his dream. The three of them had really looked like a real family. At that moment, Harry knew exactly what he wanted. He leaned over to whisper in Draco’s ear.

“I love you, Draco; marry me. Marry me today. Marry me right now.”

Draco smirked and replied, “Too tired to get married today. Maybe I’ll marry you tomorrow.”

Harry laughed and pulled Draco against him. Draco snuggled into Harry, nuzzling the crook of Harry’s neck.

“I’m serious,” Harry murmured. “Marry me.”

Draco looked up at Harry, narrowing his eyes as if trying to determine whether Harry truly was serious or not. Harry smiled and nodded. Draco’s entire face lit up and he buried his face in Harry’s chest.

“I will,” Draco breathed. “Of course I’ll marry you. I love you, too.”

Harry could feel his heart growing warm. They were going to be a real family. That was something Harry had only dreamed about. Having a real family had never seemed possible, but now it was. Harry suddenly wondered how he ever survived without Draco in his life. He had only been half alive before Draco. Only a shadow of what he was now. It scared the life out of Harry to think what he would do without him.

“Draco?”

“Yes?” Draco murmured.

“I have the perfect name for our daughter.”

Draco looked up at him with questioning eyes. Harry grinned before replying with a single word.

“Hero.”