Dumbledore called the trio into his office and sealed them in so they could have a bit of privacy. "Some things have gotten back to me that are rather worrisome," he admitted, looking at Draco. "I know you care for them and think you know what you're doing, but you cannot do certain things within this school."

Ron slumped down, rolling his eyes. "If this is about the sex thing...."

"Sex thing?" Dumbledore asked in a deceptively quiet voice. "Mr. Malfoy, you of all people should know how dangerous that is for your new wife and husband," he noted. "It makes them the biggest target and not even this school will be enough protection."

"Fine, we'll leave," Ron told him, standing up. "My mother's given me her blessings. Harry's married so Draco can give him permission." He looked at Draco, who nodded. "Do you really want to stay?"

"No. I happen to miss my house," Draco assured him, standing up as well. "If that's all," he said as he started for the door.

"Wait," Harry said quietly, stopping them. He looked at his tutor. "Why do you think I'm going to fight and then give up, Uncle Albus?" Dumbledore winced. "Do you really think I would ever let anyone have that sort of power over anyone else?" He stood up. "You don't know me the way you thought, Dumbledore. All these years I've already fought and won, and now you've decided I'm a danger." He tipped his head off to the side. "We'll be gone in a few minutes." He walked out, leading his family. He walked into McGonagall's classroom, where Hermione and Vincent were, waving that he was pulling them out. He walked them out into the hall. "We'll be back if anything changes. I'm sure you can find us, Hermione, it's never that hard." He looked at Vincent. "You're staying here," he ordered. "She's to be guarded because she's my secret keeper." Vincent swallowed as McGonagall joined them. "I'm not dying for anybody. I can fight and win without that being pushed onto me." He walked away, going to finish his packing. It was quickly done because he summoned Dobby and asked him to help. Dobby made quick work of everything and they flooed away from the school, changing stops at the Burrow.

Molly was surprised to see them but Ron shrugged. "They did it again," he told her. "We never filled out the paperwork, but I won't have him harmed, mum." They left again, whispering their destination into the fireplace before anyone could stop them. They could hear Charlie upstairs and Bill was somewhere in the house because he was whistling. They landed in an unfamiliar house and Harry took a deep breath.

"What is this place?" Draco asked, looking around.

"Mine," Harry said simply. He grinned. "My mother's family's home." He walked over and closed off the floo. "There. The bedroom's upstairs. I've moved back some of my parent's furniture." Ron was standing there, staring at him. "Hermione found my mother's family history," he said quietly, sitting on a covered couch. "It mentioned this house." He patted the table beside him. "It was up for sale," he said with a smile. "Tax debt so it was cheap. It only took about a day and the banker was most sympathetic when he found out why I wanted it." He looked at Draco. "I'm staying here, even if you two end up going back."

"Harry," Ron said, sitting down beside him to hold him. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I only did it three days ago. I barely got in under a company that wanted to buy it to put up a horrible factory and a parking lot, but since it had been my mother's they decided not to fight me on it. I had to pick up the keys this morning," Harry soothed, stroking his back. "Draco, there's an empty study next door. The main bedroom's upstairs. There's one other bedroom up there. "My mother and Aunt Petunia shared a bedroom. I sent her an owl." He gave them a happy look. "We can go grocery shopping later."

"Are you sure you want to do this, Potter?"

"Draco, look outside. If we have to make a stand, it's a wonderful place. This place was owned by muggles, there's no records in the wizarding world because all my parents records are still sealed. The only person who knows where this house might be is Lupin and if he betrays me, I'm done with the whole order."

Ron gave him a look, then a gentle kiss. "Show me around?"

"Sure, Ron. I think you'll like it. It's on some sort of mystical compass point. The woods are so calming to me." He stood up and pulled Ron out through the kitchen to the backyard. Ron fell in love with the shabby garden, he could tell by the look on his face. "Nice, huh?" he asked quietly, giving him a playful nudge.

"It's perfect," Ron agreed, smiling at him. He took off into the woods to run about, Harry following him, both of them laughing. It was wonderful to be free!

Draco watched them, shaking his head. "This could cause more problems," he noted, going to unpack some of their things. He'd have to return to the manor eventually. They'd figure that out later. He did like the bedroom, it was cozy but large enough for the three of them. Even the bathroom, which was so old it squealed in protest when he turned on a tap, was magnificent. Someone had done a lot of work to make this house feel special to the owners. He could learn to respect it. Even if it wasn't like his or as good as his family home.

***

Molly looked up as four teachers appeared in her living room. "I didn't hear where they went," she told them, sipping her glass of juice. "Is what they said true, Albus, do you want the boy to die?" The Headmaster flinched like he had been hit at her reasonable and unwavering tone. It was the tone any angry mother could pull up to chastize without yelling and without seeming to be upset at all. She finished her juice and set her glass aside. "You might want to tell me now, Albus. Harry's owl is here and I'll send on any messages you have for him."

Snape looked down at her. "They're being childish," he noted coldly.

"Maybe that's because they're children," Molly said in that same tone of voice. He shuddered and stepped back as she stood up. "I will say this once more so it can sink in. They are children," she said slowly so they'd get it. "Harry has no need to die in or after the battle. Nor do his mates. Nor do any of us. If you try to force such an event, I would hate to see what remains of you after my Arthur is done with you. Feel lucky I haven't told him yet." She looked at the lone female, making McGonagall swallow hard. "Get out."

"Molly, we only want to prepare the boy for what might happen."

"It will no more happen than Ron will end up having a baby this year," she said firmly. "Just ask Narcissa. We both saw the baby born in January and the fight next year." They flinched back farther as they heard the front door slam.

"All right there, mum?" Charlie asked happily, kissing her on the cheek. "I've got a few of the eggs like you asked.

"Thank you, Charlie. Put them away?" He nodded, looking at their guest. "They were just going."

"Not a meeting then?" he asked with a smile.

"No, the boys left school today before these *good* people could harm them," she told him. Charlie dropped the eggs and stared at her. She patted him on the side of the face. "It's all right. They went somewhere very safe. Ron's not going to be hurt."

"You're sure of that?" Snape asked. "They have been breaking her in."

"I know," Molly said with a smile. "Ron is rather loud." They goggled and she shrugged. "We were there the night they were marked and the wedding night. My son is very loud and very unashamed of the way he enjoys himself in any phase. I must say, he's taken it very well so far. Not so much as a breakdown." She smiled at her son. "We'll need a few more eggs, Charlie." He nodded but didn't move. "Now." He nodded again and left the house, going to do that for her. "Now then," she told them. "I know the boys are safe. Harry confided in myself and Ginny. Ginny doesn't know where anything is so you might as well give up on your plans to question her. Harry's found a part of his past and he's embracing it. If you so much as breathe on that boy before he's ready to talk to you again, I know he'll leave us all high and dry. So go back to the rest of the students and tell them that they're recovering from a short illness. Make it up if you have to. One of those contagious diseases that children get perhaps." McGonagall nodded at that wisdom. "That should give them at least two weeks," Molly told him. "Hopefully by then I can make the boys see that they were reading you wrong because you would *never* want to have Harry die. If we're all lucky, he'll continue to fight."

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Molly, it may be necessary for him to die during the final battle to kill Voldemort."

She shrugged. "I'm not so sure of that, Albus. There are many ways for people to die, even people like him and Lucius. Did they ever find his body?" Snape shook his head. "Does his son know?"

"Not yet, I was going to tell them tonight," Snape admitted.

"Then I'll send that on with the message I was going to send Harry tonight," she said calmly. Charlie slammed the front door. She smiled. "You might want to go. Charlie's still a bit protective of Ron." They nodded and left her there, going back to their planning. She smiled at her son. "They're safe," she promised.

"Are you sure?"

"I am," Molly agreed. "They're very safe. Harry's managed to do something quite well and none of us knew he had that sort of notion. It will be fine. He's fighting for Ron you know." Charlie relaxed and let her hug him. "You're a good boy, Charlie, and we all adore you, but you need to quit worrying and find a wife, son. I want grandchildren," she whispered in his ear. He started to laugh, hugging her hard. "That's my boy." She smiled at him. "No eggs?"

"Not yet," he said, then he shrugged. "I'm sorry I dropped the last batch."

"I would have done the same thing," she promised as she used her wand to clean up the mess.

***

Draco started when he heard the knock on the door. Who had found them? He could hear Harry and Ron in the kitchen making lunch so he went to answer it, plastering his usual 'bored' expression over his surprise. "Come in," he told the skinny woman. "They're in the kitchen." He led her back that way. "Harry, visitor."

Harry smiled at her. "Which one of them came to tell on me?" he asked.

Petunia Dursley sat down and watched Ron cook. "Your Headmaster, Harry. Did you walk out of school?" Harry nodded. "Why?"

"Because he wants me to win, then conveniently die," Harry said bitterly, going back to his bacon for his sandwich. "Draco, yours is warming in the oven so the cheese melts," he said with a smile for his husband. "Aunt Petunia, I'm making myself a BLT, would you like one? Or Ron's making fried ham."

"Please," she agreed, watching as Ron fixed her a sandwich. "Thank you," she said with a nod as she accepted it. She looked around the kitchen. "This house hasn't seen this much activity in years."

"I should have thought to warn you," Harry said as he sat across from her with his own lunch, "but I couldn't think of explaining it in a way that wouldn't make your husband thrilled or make you angry. Sorry."

She looked him over. "The Headmaster said that it was necessary to win the war." Harry shook his head. "He has been fighting longer."

"And I know my enemy, I'm bound to him," Harry said with a flick of a finger at his scar. "I'm the one who sees his nightmares. Every thing he does will eventually hit my head. Draco's been working with me since last year to help me block him out most of the time since no one else would." He sipped his soda. "He's not immortal."

"I'm sure he's not," she said calmly. "Are you putting other lives in danger?" Harry shook his head. "Are you certain?"

"Very," Harry said calmly. "I never said I wouldn't fight, just that I won't fight and die for them. Ron will need me," he said, giving Ron a smile and a pat on the hand. Then he looked at Draco. "He'll need me to unstiffen him a bit more too." He looked back at his aunt, surprised that there hadn't been any screaming yet in this conversation. Maybe it was a funny dream? "Did you tell them where I am?"

"No." She shrugged. "It's no business of theirs where this house is and people who would force a child to die in battle aren't ones I want to help, no matter what the cause is." She smiled at him. "You have grown into a man my sister would be proud of, Harry. Do remember that you have responsibilities now." He nodded. She stood up. "Thank you for lunch."

Harry put a hand out. "I have the family books." She looked clueless. "The gold and the silver ones?" She still didn't look like she understood. "Your mother never mentioned them?"

Petunia gave him a sad smile. "I'm adopted, Harry. I know nothing of their gifts." Harry nodded, suddenly understanding. "We're leaving the country next month for Japan and taking Dudley with us. You won't have to worry about us or protecting us."

"Yes, ma'am," Harry said, smiling at her. "Do you like the furniture? It's from my parent's home. They had it stored in a vault while they moved around to hide." She looked around and nodded. "Thank you, Aunt Petunia."

"You're welcome, Harry. I free you of any obligation to my family." He nodded and she walked out, heading down to where her car was parked. She did hope that the boy won, the world would be so much worse if he didn't. And if she had to be supportive of his... things then she would be. Her husband would never know.

Harry ate his sandwich, staring at the empty chair. "That explains a lot," he said finally. Ron nodded supportively and gave him a hug. "Thanks, Ron." He smiled at Draco. "That was the nicest she's ever been to me."

"She understands, Potter, don't worry about it," Draco assured him. "We'll deal with all that family nonsense later." Harry nodded. "Though today you're going to have to help me with some Divination."

"We made up nearly everything," Ron admitted. "All the teacher wanted for us was to die in a horrible manner."

"Maybe Dumbledore picked it up off her," Harry said brightly. They laughed and shared a short hug, finishing their lunches. Afterward, Draco led the way back to the study and the papers laying about on the old desk. "What's this?"

"This is to predict the most perfect day for Ron to conceive," he admitted, touching it fondly. "I need the time and date of your birth, Ron."

Ron walked out and went up to his things. His mother had sent him a copy of his birth certificate and hinted he would be needing it. He looked at it, smiling at the sloppy writing on it and the few tear stains. He knew he had been a hard birth. He had come late and his mother had not been happy with him for it. He walked it back down to Draco, letting him record the time and date, then they watched as he made complicated calculations with a triangle and a pencil. Finally Draco stood up and smiled. "When?" he asked, steeling himself.

"The only time you're going to be female at the proper moment is this May," Draco told him, looking at him. "May first to be specific. That's the only time the full moon and your womanly cycle coincide for the next three years." Ron nodded, looking a bit numb.

Harry gave him a hug. "It'll be okay," he promised, giving him a harder squeeze when Ron didn't respond. "We'll pamper you and love you no matter what, Ron." Ron smiled at him, looking a little dizzy. He looked at Draco. "What happens if she hasn't started a cycle by then?"

"She will have started one by the holidays," Draco assured him with a confident smile. Ron looked at him like he was insane. "Trust me, the calculations aren't ever wrong. Though this does mean it will be a girl. Girl heirs are conceived in the spring and male ones in the fall." Ron nodded again and Harry helped him to a chair, getting him a small sniff of brandy to help him hit reality again. "Are you all right?"

"It's a bit soon," Ron pointed out quietly, staring at the liquid in the glass. "I'm not sure I've wrapped my mind around all that yet." He gulped the amber fluid, wincing as it burned into his stomach. He looked at Draco. "Will I be fine?"

"You'll be perfectly fine," Draco agreed, giving her a kiss. Ron relaxed against him so he pulled back. "Just for fun, Harry, do you have your birth certificate?"

"I found it in my mother's vault among those family heirlooms," Harry told him, going to get the family diary. It had all the births listed. He brought it back and handed it over. "I'm the next to last in there. Dudley's listed as well."

"Thank you." Draco looked at the scant notation. "No time," he said thoughtfully, looking at the chart. He cleared it of Ron's data, working from what he had. "Were you an night baby or a morning one? Would you happen to know?"

"I think it said morning," Harry offered, looking at the diary. He found his notations and smiled. "Here, seven in the morning." Draco looked impressed and added that in. A new line was drawn and he gasped. "My." He looked at Harry. "If my plan works, that would be the perfect time. Next fall, the night of Halloween." Harry swallowed. Draco pulled him closer to show him a date further up the calendar. "There?"

"That's not past the one month mark," Harry whispered. Draco nodded, looking thoughtful. "I'll call him out here," he whispered, pointing at a date later than that, in early December. "That way there aren't any problems."

"I'll let you call him tonight," Draco soothed, stroking his back. "We'll inform Molly at the same time?" Harry nodded, smiling at him. "Should we tell her the full plan?"

"No. Hermione knows, I think that's enough," Harry told him.

"What?" Ron asked.

Harry pulled him closer. "Remember what we were talking about that night we came back?" Ron nodded, vaguely remembering it. "Well, we've decided that's the best plan yet," he said with a smile.

Ron looked astounded. "Have we found a temporary solution?"

"Hermione and the twins are looking into it," Draco promised him. He stole Ron to hold. "Do you think you can hold up long enough to do this?"

Ron smiled at him. "I want to walk in the woods for a bit before I answer that question."

"Go for it," Harry encouraged. "The woods here are very calming. I knew you'd appreciate them." Ron smiled and kissed him before leaving. "Draco, are you sure?" he whispered. "That's a little over a year away."

"It's the perfect time," Draco promised, giving him a long hug. "It's a fortuitous day for him to die. We'll send word back to Vincent's father, asking for that day for the final battle, citing the auguries for the perfect battle date. We can point out that you'll be officially a man by that date, meaning he won't be criticized for facing off with a boy anymore - something my father said used to piss him off." He cleaned up the office, making notes of the three important dates. "Should I send out notices today?" Harry nodded, looking a little ill. "That gives you just over a year to learn everything you can," Draco reminded him. "Learn everything in your mother's books, learn every hex you can that Granger can find. All of it." Harry nodded, firming up some. Then he groaned. "What?"

"Dumbledore," Harry sighed, shaking his head.

"Did he die?"

"No, he won't ever accept this."

"He doesn't have much of a choice," Draco pointed out dryly. "He depends on Divinations in other areas. I'm sure we can get him convinced. And who knows, we might even be able to convince old moldy parts to give up and not attack anyone until then." He shrugged. "It's worth a try." He smiled and pulled Harry closer. "This will go fine. You will win and we'll retire and protect you from those nasty reporters." Harry nodded, relaxing against his chest. "Good boy, Harry. Come, let's work on some of those new spells." Harry nodded, leading him upstairs to get the books he had unpacked. They needed to find the offensive spells more than ever.

***

Molly looked up as the owl landed beside her on the wall, smiling as she took the message. She lost it when she saw what it contained, but she hurried inside to do some calculations of her own. She frowned at the parchment she had done the math on. "That will only work if he's got the strength of three wizards," she said warmly. "How dare he!"

Harry coughed from behind her and smiled when she jumped. "Sorry. Draco said I had to tell you now, because Ron mentioned that you have a firm grasp of this art." He sat her down and looked at her, telling her the whole plan. Her eyes went wider and wider. He grinned. "Of course, I'm going to have to block you from telling anyone," he said with a smile.

"Of course," she agreed, letting him put the charm on her. "Thank you, Harry. It will be a wonderful day." He beamed. "I'll give this to Dumbledore personally."

"Thank you. Ron was wondering if you'd make him some cookies. He's processing what's going on now and he said he needs them badly. We figured out his optimum date this morning too."

She laughed and hugged him. "Of course. You go back to wherever you're hiding. Did you hear about Draco's father?" He nodded, but didn't look concerned. "It doesn't bother you?"

"He's not really immortal. He can die too," Harry said with a shrug. "Or he can run and never come back." He hugged her again. "I'm going back home so I can send Hedwig tonight. Have fun with the stuffy people." He disappeared and the floo activated, letting Percy in.

"Mother," he said stiffly. "I just received this and thought you should pass it on to Ron." They weren't talking to each other really, but he was doing some research for her about the twins and Ron's conditions.

She looked it over, then smiled at him. She copied Harry's note. "He's called a date for the final battle, and a place," she told him. "I'll pass this on to Draco personally when I send cookies tonight."

Percy looked at the date. "That's next year," he pointed out.

She nodded. "They have their reasons. One of which is Harry won't be eighteen until next summer."

"Good point." Percy gave her a hopeful smile. "He is training, correct?" Molly nodded at her miserable son. "Thank you, mother." He left, going back to his boss, who took the news with a stunned expression and then a faint. Percy snorted and went to show it to his father, who was barely acknowledging him in the halls now. "Father?" he asked as he tapped on the door. "I've a missive from mother." Arthur looked up, giving him a bland look. "Potter sent this to her just now." He handed over the date, watching his father stare at it for a few minutes. "Minister Fudge passed out."

Arthur handed it back. "I'm not surprised, Percy. Did they do some Divination to figure that out?" Percy shrugged. "I'll talk to Molly during lunch then. Thank you for telling me."

"You're welcome. I also delivered some information to her about changeling pregnancies in historical context since Draco found out the most recent causes of the problems with them were other people interfering." Arthur smiled. "Did you need me to tell Minister Fudge anything?"

"No, I'm sure Albus will be doing so," he said calmly.

"Father, why did Potter leave school?" Percy asked bluntly, walking in and shutting the door.

"He did what? Molly said they were ill." He started to frown. "I'll find that out. Who wanted to know?"

"Just me," Percy admitted. "I'm a bit worried about Ron."

Arthur nodded. "I am as well, but you know Harry wouldn't ever hurt Ron. Thank you, Percy." He nodded and left. Arthur marked his time sheet and decided to go to lunch early. He apparated home and found his wife making him something. "Why did they leave school?" he asked gently, giving her a hug.

"Don't ask," she told him, giving him a look. Arthur sat down. "It's not Ron, though I'm not sure that she doesn't figure into their equation somehow." He stared at her until she sighed and sat next to him, taking his hand. "They want Harry to die after the fight, Arthur. He's twigged to it and it's upset him. He and his mates have went for a ...short vacation. I'm trying to get everything set up so they can go back to school soon, but Harry's adamant that he doesn't want to be around them anymore."

"I don't blame him," Arthur admitted. He took his hand back. "Does he think we want that?" She shook her head quickly. "Then we'll be the go-betweens for them and the Order."

"That's what I've been doing," she pointed out gently. He gave her a smile. "They really were upset."

"Which side?" he asked.

"Both," she admitted. Hedwig and Pig both flew in to join them, Pig chittering at them as he swooped around their heads. She reached up and he settled onto her hand, letting her take the message and pet him. "I don't know why Ron has such problems with him," she said as she put down the owl and took Hedwig's package. She opened Ron's letter first, he was hers so she should do it that way. She smiled and handed it over to Arthur. "They've figured out the perfect date," she told him.

"For both things," Arthur said, smiling at the point of Ron's letter. "He's a bit panicky now."

"Before it was easier, he could enjoy himself. Being a parent is enough to strike fear into normal people with normal lives," she reminded him, giving him a smile. "When I told you, you about passed out."

He laughed. "I remember. That's about all I remember of that weekend, but I do remember you telling me." He kissed her cheek. "What did Harry send?"

She opened that one and smiled, showing it to him. "The accumulated effects of his parents' estates," she said quietly, letting him read through it. "We should ask to see that house sometime."

"Hmm. Maybe we'll invite them to lunch or something and hint broadly," Arthur agreed. He kissed his wife again and ate a bite of his sandwich as he looked it over. "Ron will be very well protected."

"Fortunately," Molly agreed. "I'd hate to have to kill Draco to make sure she's a well protected widow." He laughed and she smiled. "Who's kidding?"

"I know, my love, but we'll get through him marrying a Malfoy while he gets through being pregnant. It will be a beautiful child, even if it is blond." She nodded.

***

Harry and Ron looked up as the fireplace discharged Hermione and Vincent, waving at them. "Were you followed?"

"No, and it's a Hogsmeade weekend so we took off from there," she assured them, giving each of them a hug. "How is the planning coming?"

"I was about to ask you that," Draco said as he walked in. She held up a vial. "Is it tested?"

She smiled and shook her head. "Not yet. A few mice. A stray cat we caught and took care of for a bit. Not on a human." She handed over the vial. "I found the potion last week. So far we've worked out the strength for everyone else but I'm not sure how we're to do it for humans."

"Give it a three month run," Harry suggested, putting his book aside. Draco put a bookmark in it and closed it so the spine wouldn't be broken. "Thank you, Draco," he said patiently.

"I'm surprised I hadn't noticed how disrespectful you are of your reading materials," Draco said, giving him a frown. "You should treat the accumulated knowledge of our kind more gently, Harry."

"Lecture again, sleep alone," Ron put in, stopping the mini-argument. "Again." Vincent snorted. "You think I'm kidding? I did it last night too because they wouldn't quit fighting." He stretched then curled up in the big chair again. "Can we do it correctly?" Hermione nodded. "When?"

"The beginning of December is the official date," Harry told them. "December 4th to be exact." They all nodded. "Draco?" He moved closer, touching him on the head. "Hermione, I want you to be defending Ron and any Weasleys who need it. Can you do that for me?" She nodded quickly. "Good. Vincent, I want you guarding her."

"My duty is to be at Draco's side, no matter what," Vincent said stiffly.

"Vinnie, I don't want to make you fight your father," Harry said gently, giving him a small smile. "I don't want to have anyone have to fight their parents." He nodded. "But that's okay because I'm calling for a private duel." Draco squeezed him a bit harder. "I know, he'll cheat. We'll ring the battlefield. Draco, you'll be leading in the reinforcements since Ron won't be able to at that time."

"Why not?" Hermione asked.

"Because she'll be eight months pregnant or so at that time," Harry said dryly. "We figured in those dates as well." Her mouth opened. "Yeah, so Ron's out of commission at that date and you're protecting her." She nodded, still looking upset. "What?"

"You used Divination?"

"It's a time honored tradition," Draco said stiffly. "Our primary heirs are all conceived the same way by the same birth chart formulas. I did the work myself, as my mother taught me."

"Fine," she agreed, stepping back from Ron. "Ron, are you okay with that?"

"The thought of me being pregnant is scaring the shit out of me," Ron assured her with a grin. "But I'll be fine. They're helping me a lot."

"Good," Vinnie agreed. "That kid's going to be hell, Draco."

Draco laughed. "Probably, but it'll be fun."

Harry looked at him. "I still want a dog."

"Fine, we'll pick you out a new friend later this afternoon, when we go shopping," Draco sighed, sitting himself down. "How goes everything else?"

"Crappy," Hermione said succinctly. The boys looked at her. "Half the school thinks you've abandoned them, Harry. Pansy's put that around." Draco raised an eyebrow and she shrugged. "I can't stop the wench. She's the main source of rumors about you three. She also has Ron pregnant with a horrible creature at the moment, something that only Hagrid could enjoy and love."

"I tried to talk to her," Vincent admitted. "She cackled like your mother after a pissing-off-your-father shopping trip, Draco."

"I'll have a talk with Ms. Parkinson myself then," Draco noted. He stood up and grabbed his cloak. "We'll be right back. Did you want to stay, Hermione?"

"No, I'll come back next weekend. Harry, Molly wanted to have lunch with you so she could snoop around up here a bit."

Harry smiled. "Sure. Tell her to tell Lupin to give them a map to Lilly's house. He'll get the point and I trust her." She nodded and followed everyone through the floo. "We were going shopping today?"

"Yup. Draco wanted something stunning to wear to the Yule Ball, just in case we end up going back. What do you think about his father's stunt?"

"I think he's trying to do what Voldie did and he's succeeded partially, but not enough to be worrisome," Harry said with a smile. "His head comes off and he can die. I won't make Draco fight him." Ron smiled and reached over, taking his hand. "Are you sure you're fine with this?"

"No," Ron admitted, "but it beats worrying about the line carrying on. And I enjoy the rest of it, even though skirts bother the hell out of me." He gave him a small smile. "Since I'm in that nice in-between spot, wanna have some fun until they come back?"

"Sure," Harry agreed, standing up so he could help Ron up to their bedroom. He had missed Ron last night. The room had been much too quiet. When Draco came back, he had to smile at the noise those two were making upstairs.

***

After the couple had woken up from their naps, Draco took them clothes shopping. They needed something stunning for the Yule Ball. He could tell people were getting impatient with them being gone and it was only a matter of time before someone got pushy or tried to kidnap them. So therefore they needed to shop now for the next month or so, plus anything special that would be needed. He found Ron a baby blue robe but she didn't like it. He found her a green one and she gave him one of those looks, the kind that meant he might be sleeping alone again that night. So he relented and pushed Ron into a cream colored one that was off the shoulder with a dipping neckline. Tasteful, yet still very appropriate for their ages. He had them add a small trim around the top and bottom hems, a simple string of silver embroidery that wasn't very noticeable but it was there if you were looking for it. Harry was easier; he and Harry looked decent enough in the same colors, all except for black. They decided together on a dark royal blue, a deep color that brought out their best highlights.

Harry smiled at Ron, then at Draco. "You're going to force her to wear more of our newly won jewelry?"

Draco shook his head. "Just the earrings. I have the perfect necklace to nestle in the scoop of her cleavage." He smirked at Ron. "Do not complain about wearing the family jewelry."

"I won't," Ron said quietly, looking at himself. Madam Malkin had them in a special back room. She had fitted all his other clothes so far so she knew what his body changed into. She wasn't upset at all that he was doing girl clothing. "What if I go off schedule?"

"You'll be female for the ball," Draco assured her with a smirk. Ron looked at him and he shrugged. "You will be. Your schedule's been dead on so far. If not, then we'll get you one in male clothing and you can go in a lighter blue." He stole a kiss and finished getting his robe fitted. "There, how's that?"

"It's too short," Harry said as he looked at himself. "I can see your ankles, Draco."

Draco looked down then at the fitter. "He's right." She fixed it for him and let him look again. "Very nice. Harry, we'll have to make plans for you later." Harry nodded, holding out an arm so the sleeve could be adjusted. "Good boy."

"Where are we going to get him his new friend?" Ron asked, reminded by the way Draco talked down to Harry every now and then.

"I saw a shelter just up the street," Harry told him. "We'll go in there." They both nodded. "Thank you." He saw a robe he liked and pointed at it. "Can I try on that one too? Just for general purposes?" The fitter went to get the deep red robe, letting him try it on. It didn't quite make him shine like he had thought it would.

"Get one that matches your eye color," Draco prompted patiently. "The dark red against your eyes is wrong."

"Sure." He handed it off and the fitter went to get one for him, coming back with a silk robe that seemed to shift to different shades of green in the light. "I like that one," he decided, trying it on. It did highlight his eyes and make his skin look less pale. Too many hours with Snape or in the House killed his tan. He nodded that they should fit that one as well.

"Where are you going to wear that?" Ron asked.

"I don't have any that fit and I'll probably need one," Harry sighed. "Better to be safe than sorry."

"Get the full outfit then," Draco decided. Harry looked at him. "You can afford it."

"I know," Harry admitted, "but we did do some other shopping for me. My green suit would work under this."

"No it won't," Ron argued. "It's too dark. Get him the outfit that would go best under that." He grinned at Harry. "We'll take mum and the twins out some night." Harry nodded, liking that idea. The fitter came back and he went to change, coming out in the full kit. His mates nodded that they liked it and he decided it was worth the price. When they were done, Harry led the way down to the little shelter he had seen before, walking in cautiously. The owner smiled at him and he grinned back. "I want a dog," he told her. "Someone to play with and pet and all that good stuff."

"Big or little?"

"Somewhere between a miniature or a toy and a great dane?" he suggested lightly. She laughed and led him back to the cages where the dogs were napping, letting him look them over. He pointed at a large black lab. "I like him."

"He's very nice, but a bit hyper," she warned. Harry shrugged. "Okay. It's your knees that'll get worn out."

"I jog," he assured her. The puppy woke up when the cage door opened, and immediately sniffed his held-out hand. It got an approving lick and the dog lunged forward to get his face as well, making his new master very happy. "Yes, we'll be good together," he assured him as he lifted the dog out of the cage. "What's your name?"

"We don't have one with him. What does he look like to you?"

"Ron's brother Fred," Harry said with a grin at Ron.

"He does drool that way," Ron agreed, snickering when the dog walked over and tried to hump Draco's leg. "Don't do that. That's mine." The dog barked and sat, his tail thumping. "You're a good boy, Fred," he said, taking a treat off the counter to give to him. The dog barked and went back to Harry's side. "What's his name?"

"He reminds me of Sirius," Harry told him, shrugging because he didn't have a clue.

"You can't call him 'dog'," Draco pointed out, leaning on the counter. The dog came back to sniff him. "Do not attach yourself to my leg again. That's your master's spot." The dog jumped, trying to lick his face. Draco relented and got down to pet him, making him sit. "That's much better," he told him. He got licked for it, right across the mouth. "Eeww." He wiped the slobber off and scratched the ears, making the dog groan and go limp in his hands. "Hmm. He even responds like Harry does," he told Ron. Harry glared at him, crossing his arms. He grinned at him to show he was doing it on purpose, just a little teasing.

"I can name him Snuggles," Harry offered.

"Too close," Ron said with a head shake. "I'm all for Fred, it'd knock the cocky sucker down a bit."

"We could name him Nimbus," Draco suggested. Harry frowned at him so he gave up trying to tease. "Then how about Dogstar or something?"

"No, I don't like it." The dog let out a wheezing noise. "Damn, he is like the twins," he noted, cracking Ron up. The dog looked at him and seemed to laugh. "Okay, you're cute. You're adorable. We're calling you... Snitch?" Ron and Draco both shook their heads. "No?" he asked, smiling at them.

"No," Ron decided. "How about after something that you like, like some candybar or something?"

"Hmm." Harry called the dog back to him. "Mars?"

"Sounds good," Ron agreed. Draco shrugged and nodded. "Do you like that name?" he asked the owner of the shelter.

She laughed. "Well, he is a tad bit protective. Remember, naming an object means that it takes on some of that personality. I don't think you want him aggressive. How about...Hershey? Or Cadbury?"

"How about Godiva?" Draco suggested.

"It's a male," the owner told him.

"See, and you thought it was only girls who fell on you like that," Ron taunted, smirking at him.

Draco gave him a bland look. "They do." He looked at Harry again. "He's your dog."

"Good point." Harry looked down into the deep eyes and smiled. "Okay, you're a black dog and you've got the biggest brown eyes. How about Sable?" The dog barked. "Do you like that?" The dog barked again.

"His former owner called him that."

"Any bad associations?" Ron asked.

The owner shook her head. "Not a one. She recently died and left him to me. Sable would do. If not, how about something like wand?" She smiled at Draco. "Like yours perhaps?" He resisted the urge to touch the one in his pocket. "Don't worry, I know and understand. I'm Wiccan." Harry relaxed from his alert pose and Ron seemed to relax as well, but Draco stayed stiff.

"He doesn't know what that means," Harry told her, giving her a smile. "I think we'll take him. Draco, she's a wandless witch." Draco's eyes noted his understanding and he nodded slightly. "She won't hurt us."

"Good." He looked down at the dog. "You still can't have relations with my leg. Or any other part of me." The dog barked and thumped his tail on the ground.

"I'll teach him to sleep on the couch," Harry promised, paying the nice lady for the dog and the gear kit she made up for them. "Thank you." He clipped on the collar and leash, leading the dog back with him. It followed along readily, even through the Leaky Cauldron, not trying to get away to investigate at all.

"Harry!" Hagrid called, walking after them. He heard the small groan and frowned at him. "Not happy to see me?"

"Not happy to get caught," Harry pointed out. "Did the Headmaster send you?"

"Nah," Hagrid said with a grin. "Came out for a pint. It's been a hard week all around." He looked at the dog, smiling at it, making it bark in alarm. "Who's your friend?"

"We decided to call him Sable," Harry told him, getting down to pet his dog. "We just got him from the shelter up the street. Sable, this is Hagrid, he's a very nice man."

Hagrid let the dog sniff him then patted him on the head gently. "You're a cute one," he said with a grin. The dog licked his nose tentatively and then with more gusto when it was well received. Hagrid laughed and petted him some more before pulling back. "So, where are you staying? We heard your relatives were moving to Japan."

"With family," Harry said, smiling at him.

"Your mum's house then?" Hagrid asked. Harry's mouth fell open and Hagrid laughed. "She used to invite me up to look in the woods for creatures for her," he admitted. "You took over the old place?" Harry nodded. "Good on you. I won't tell on ya. I figure you've got a good reason for leaving."

"Yeah, because I want to have a life before and after the fight," Harry told him. Hagrid nodded, understanding that. "You can pass it along that we're all fine and it's going well. I'm still studying hard. I've even found a few older defense books in my mother's things." He grinned and hugged the half-giant. "Thank you for not telling, Hagrid." He walked off, turning to wave. "We'll have you over for lunch sometime soon."

"You do that," Hagrid agreed, waving at them. He smiled at the picture those four made, the dog bouncing along like Ron used to. He sighed in relief. The boy was fine, it'd be okay again. No matter what the rumors were. He went to have that pint of ale, just for a happier reason now.

***

A week later, Harry, Ron, and Draco woke up and found themselves in their school bed, staring up at the school's ceiling, and the dog sniffing around the end of the bed with his leash on. Harry groaned and held his aching head. "I think we were kidnaped," he complained.

Draco rolled over to look at him, removing the hand so he could check his eyes. "You might not have a concussion," he said dryly. He turned to help Ron, finding her going back to sleep. "Wake up," he said, shaking her until she looked at him. "Don't do that. How is your head?"

"Fine," Ron said patiently. "You didn't let me sleep last night though."

"Harry's head hurts," Harry complained. "Talk quieter."

"What happened?" Ron asked quietly.

"Don't know. I feel like I took a bludger to the head."

Their bedroom door opened and Vincent walked in with a potion. "They dropped you when they were carrying you," he said as he handed it over. "How do you get the leash off? The house elves couldn't figure it out."

"You push in on the hinged part," Harry said, drinking the headache potion. "Am I fine?"

"Madam Pomfrey came down an hour ago and said that you should just have a headache of grand proportions," he agreed, smiling at them. "At least they brought everything back. By the way, Hermione doesn't like Ron's cream outfit, she said it looked like you were going to sacrifice her to some mean God."

Draco snorted, lying back down. "She would think that of me."

"You hexed her how many times in the halls?" Ron asked, yawning. "What day is it?"

"The day after they ambushed you," Vincent said simply. Ron looked at him. "Friday. Tomorrow's a Hogsmeade weekend for the seventh years but we're not allowed to go without an escort." He shrugged. "Snape's orders."

"Fuck Snape," Harry said grimly. "Draco, would you sign my papers so I could quit school?"

"If you want," Draco agreed. "After the ball?"

"Sure," Harry sighed, curling up on his chest. "After the ball if we have to." He took Ron's hand to hold. "I'm going to nap some more."

"That's fine, I'm going to be joining you," Ron agreed, giving him a little kiss. They fell asleep on top of their husband, he was quite comfortable for being so skinny.

"What else has happened, Vincent?" Draco asked once the snoring started.

"Hermione's side research project wasn't found out. Nor she and I and our little things," he said with a naughty grin. "Your cabinet was restocked by me personally. I've already asked the house elves to bring lunch since we're locked in here until dinner tonight. Snape said you were going to be waking up about now. They had you magically suppressed to bring you back instead of sedated. They said something about Harry and anesthesia not getting along." He sat on the edge of the bed, picking up the dog so it could curl up behind Harry's back. "He's very adoring. The house elves took him out for a walk just a few minutes ago." Draco undid the leash and tossed it to him. "Thanks, can I use this on her?"

"I doubt she'd like it," Hermione said from the doorway. "I got sent down here and locked in by McGonagall personally," she told him. "How's Harry's head?"

"Hurting. He took some sort of potion. Ron needed more sleep," Draco told her. She nodded. "Are the plans still going?"

She beamed. "Definitely. It was announced at breakfast that you three were back from your illness and would be returning to classes on Monday. I guess you've heard we're grounded to the school this weekend, until they can put a tracking spell on you three. Though Dumbledore did say that was a very nice house and had McGonagall seal it up for you. Only your things were packed up. Cream, Draco?"

"She looks good in it and we're wearing blue," he pointed out, frowning at her. "Wait until you see her in the outfit."

"I'm sure you three will look visually stunning," she agreed. "Can you help me with my outfit? Vincent's demanded that I escort him since he's being stalked by Pansy again."

"Of course." He smiled. "Ron has a wonderful red number if you wanted that one or something similar if you wanted your own."

"I probably should. My parents sent me money. I was going to go this weekend, but then this happened." He nodded. "Thank you. He said you do all his outfits."

"I tend to dress most of the people I care about, I can include you so you don't make him look bad," he assured her lightly. She and he shared a look, coming to an understanding quickly. She might be his intellectual equal, but he could and would destroy her if she hurt Vincent. Mutual attraction and kinks or not. She nodded and walked out to go to the room she was borrowing this weekend. The dog followed her, deciding to check out this room as well. "Move them," Draco whispered. Vincent helped him shift his two spouses so he could go to the bathroom. "Thank you," he said as he walked past his oldest friend.

Vincent went out to the hidden cabinet to get Draco a drink. They had many things hidden in there, including his guilty pleasure of root beer. Draco came out and accepted the small bottle, sitting down to make more plans. It was what he did when faced with a wall of opposition. Vincent sat down to read and wait; Draco would tell him when he was needed.

***

They were greeted warmly that night when they were allowed to dinner, with Snape following behind them to make sure they couldn't escape. Most of their house mates smiled and welcomed them back, all but Pansy. Most of Ron's house hugged and pounded on his back until he was sat down with them.

"Yes, they're back," Dumbledore agreed, smiling at his students. "Where they belong." He looked at Harry, who raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything to counter his announcement.

The Quidditch captain looked down at Harry. "We have practice Sunday."

"That's fine, send me a note on when and I'll be there," Harry reminded him. The guy hated him, they never talked. The only way he knew about practices was from quick notes or when Draco heard about them first.

Draco looked at him. "You might as well put a schedule in our rooms. It's not like we associate most of the time."

"I guess that's because you're *married*," the boy said bitterly, sneering at him. "Going soft in your old age?"

"No, why would you think that?" Draco sneered back. Harry put a hand on his thigh but he ignored it. If he had to prove his manhood and power status again, he would - no matter what his husbands thought of it.

"You skipped out because your little toy was scared," the captain told him.

Harry glared at him. "Scared? Of the person fucking your mother? The one who's been putting her into the hospital?" The man recoiled, but now turned on a full glare. "Being able to see his dreams when he's being pushy means that I get to see all sorts of stuff about your mother. And Pansy's mother. And Vincent's father. All sorts of things. I'm not scared of the suicidal bastard. I'm revolted by some of the things he tries to send into my mind. As for being soft, Draco isn't soft, nor has he ever been. As Ron and I can attest to most mornings." Even Pansy gasped at that one. "If you want to sneer at someone, I suggest you sneer at someone of your own class."

"Enough," Draco said quietly and Harry stopped. "That wasn't necessary."

"I don't like him," Harry said coldly, glaring at him. "Personally, I want to kick his ass. If you don't do it, may I?"

"No," Draco said patiently, giving him a bit of a smile for his acting job. "You can't use him as a practice dummy. I promise we'll find you one soon." Harry beamed and relaxed against his side. "Some of us don't need to use force to solve our problems," he told his house mates. "Do remember that the next time you want to pick on my spouses." He stroked Harry's hair for him, reinforcing the idea that Harry was not only his but that he was the only one who could control him when he was having a bad day. "Professor, did you happen to bring any of the headache medicine with you?" he called. "Harry's head is still hurting him and he's about ready to pound someone for making it worse."

Snape looked down at him. "I did not." He frowned as Hermione stood up and walked a small something over to them. "Did you make some?"

"No, sir, I took some out of my first aid kit," she said smoothly. "I would never brew outside of class. That would be against the rules," she said smartly. She went back to her seat, smiling with Ron about all the things she made that he didn't know about.

Draco made Harry drink the serum, watching as he fell asleep against him. He looked at Vincent. "I may need you to help carry him down to our room," he said quietly, continuing to stroke Harry while he ate with the other hand.

"Was he the sick one?" Blaize asked.

Draco looked at him. "No, Ron was. When they brought us back, Harry's head was hit on something. I'm still not convinced he isn't concussed. I'll be taking him to the infirmary later."

"Can I come talk with you later?" Blaize asked. Draco nodded. "Thank you, Draco." He dug into the food piled on his plate.

Vincent gave Harry a look. "He's fully out, you could let him go."

"He'd end up on the floor with his head in my lap. I seem to comfort him," Draco said a little smugly.

"Oy, Draco, send him over here, I'm done," Ron called.

"He's fine," Draco said calmly. Ron looked at him and he shifted so Harry complained, making Ron nod. Moving a sleeping Harry was a sure way to get hit, they both had been hit a few times because of that. Draco looked up at the head table, seeing the worry in McGonagall's face, then back at his plate so he could finish eating. They hadn't gotten any snack food before they had been snatched. They'd have to sneak out tonight and get it. There was now a door leading outside through their bathroom. They had found it when Filch had walked through it a few hours ago, startling them all. He had thought it went to a shed. Fortunately they hadn't been having noisy sex at the time, Ron had been being quiet.

***

Draco came back from the store, the bags safely stored in his pocket. He found Blaize waiting on him. "Harry?"

"Still sleeping," Blaize said promptly. "Madam Pomfrey agreed with you this time, he's got a mild concussion and she's adjusted his medicine accordingly." Draco nodded, walking over to open the cabinet. Blaize coughed and shook his head so Draco simply unshrunk the bags and put them out onto a dresser. "You got him snack food?"

"Ron likes to nibble when he studies. We'll have to watch that to make sure he doesn't bulk up." He took off his cloak and sat down in his reading chair. "What did you need?"

"I need to be sent somewhere away from my mother," Blaize admitted. "She has once again decided she didn't ever give birth and I'm not her son."

"I'll see what I can do," Draco assured him. They were old friends and he would help the boy. "I'd offer to take you in, but it might hurt Harry terribly to have to look at you each day."

"When will you need a nanny?" Blaize asked.

Draco smirked. "We did figure that out during our time off. We'll be needing one next winter." Blaize looked hopeful. "If Harry will agree," he reminded him.

"Yeah, I don't want to see a fit," Blaize agreed dryly. Harry could throw a good fit when he was really upset. Blaize had been the cause of most of them. "What about the war?"

"Harry's picked a date for the final battle. We've passed the message on to both sides." Blaize looked interested. "December 4th of next year. That way no one can say the dork was fighting a child and no one can say that Harry didn't give him an equal battlefield. For some reason, that's important to him."

Blaize snorted. "It's all that hero stuff, it warps a person badly." He stood up. "If you could help me with that, I'd really appreciate it and owe you badly," he said gently.

"Let me ask my mother and Harry," Draco told him. They hugged and Blaize left.

Vincent stuck his head out of the door. "Your mother's owl left a letter right before you got back. I left it in the cabinet." He saw the snacks and pointed. "What's wrong, they won't fit?" Draco shook his head, and Vincent frowning, knowing it wasn't an answer to the question. "Oh." He walked out and shut his door, showing that his shirt was fully unbuttoned. "Did you get me anything?"

"The second bag has your favorite ginger snaps," Draco said tolerantly, giving him a smile. "Blaize just offered to be our nanny."

"He's always been good with kids. He did most of the helping with his sister when she came," Vincent reminded him, hunting for his cookies. "Ah-ha!" he said happily as he lifted them out of the bag. "Thank you, Draco." He went back to his room and firmly locked the door.

Draco smirked. "I do not want to be kept up by her squealing," he called. He laughed at the groaning going on behind that blue door. Then he saw the edge of a cloak and knew what Blaize had seen. "Professor," he said with mock-fondness, grabbing the invisibility cloak. "Did my husband say you could borrow this?" He bundled it up and kept it. "Did you have fun following me?"

"Yes," Snape agreed, looking down at him. "You knew better than to leave. Voldemort has called for your extermination."

"Yay," Draco said dryly. "Did you give him the final battle's date?"

"Not that he was impressed. The reasoning and the date was something that made him laugh. He agreed he'd meet him there that day, if they didn't meet sooner."

"If he comes near my husband, I'm going to let Harry take care of his troops."

Snape sneered at him. "That boy can not fight well enough to do that."

"You'd be surprised," Draco said calmly. "Do you remember last year?" Snape went paler. "It's a gift from his mother's side of the family." Snape hurried out and Draco sealed the door with a charm that wouldn't let anyone that they didn't invite through. Then he put up the snacks in the hidden cabinets. The locking spell cloaked the room in silence and unscryability. Not even the spying spell he had felt when they woke up would work now. He walked into the bedroom and let Ron strip him, enjoying her version of stress relief a lot.

***

Draco curled up around his mates, enjoying their bout of morning laziness. "Blaize asked if he could be the nanny," he announced. Ron looked at him and blinked.

"Blaize loves little kids," Harry noted quietly. "He adored his sister before she drowned." He snuggled harder into Draco's stomach. "What's going on?"

"His mother." Harry looked up and frowned. "He wants to escape."

"I'm for it," Harry said with a shrug. "He'll get his own room and we won't see much of him while we're doing most of the work ourselves."

"Plus the training means that he could find another job after our children are grown," Draco noted, stroking Harry's back. He gave his consort a smile for being so nice to his ex.

"What's his mother doing?" Ron asked.

"Blaize's mother is a cunt," Harry said bluntly. "She kicks him out of the house all the time and then tries to blackmail him back with the family money." He shrugged to make Draco's hand quit, earning a slap to the back of the head. "Ow!"

"Easy on him, Draco. He is still concussed," Ron reminded, sliding over so he could lay against Harry's back.

"Get off," Harry sighed. "I'm not in a cuddly mood." He got away from them and laid on his husband's other side so he could look at them. "I'm having one of those 'feeling odd in my own skin' days. It's like my skin doesn't fit right. Cuddling only makes it worse."

"Sorry," Ron said, but he was grinning. "You know there's only one good way to deal with that, right?"

"Yes, but you're sore," Draco pointed out. Harry rolled his eyes and flipped onto his other side so he could go back to sleep. "Harry, are your shields up?"

"Not yet," Harry admitted, struggling to put them up. "I hate that stuff." He looked back at Draco. "Can I have a vivid dream about what I want to do to him? Maybe make him a bit paranoid?"

"Sure," Ron agreed quickly. Harry settled in to nap some more. They waited until he was snoring to pull him back against Draco's side. Ron beamed at Draco. "Think we should have fun without him?"

"You're still sore," Draco reminded him.

"Yeah, but not all of me," Ron teased, stroking a hand down his husband's stomach. Draco flinched when someone knocked on the door. "I'm going to kill Snape," he hissed, getting up to answer it. He opened the main door, not caring that he was halfway back to being female and naked. "What?" he asked Snape.

"You three are wanted in the office for a conference," Snape said, not staring at him. He was actually looking at the ceiling. "Preferably after you dress." He closed the door.

Ron sighed and went back to the bedroom. "We're wanted in the office."

"Fuck them," Harry said in his worst 'bored' tone of voice. "I was just getting to the good part, where I walked in with a big sword and cut everyone into little chunks."

Ron giggled and hugged him. "I'm sure it was a stunning one, Harry. Toss back up your shields and we'll walk you up." He went to his dresser, pulling out all the necessary equipment.

Draco walked up behind him, kissing him on the neck. "You're small enough, wear one of your new dresses," he requested. He gave him another kiss and a quick nibble on the throat.

"My chest won't fit in most of them," Ron pointed out, enjoying the attention until someone knocked. "Bugger off!" he shouted. Harry laughed as he went to his closet to pull out a uniform. "Harry, wear real clothes," Ron ordered, pulling down one of his favorite dresses. It made him look wonderful and his men appreciated it. Draco put that one back and looked at what was in Harry's hand, then pulled down another one to make him wear. "I don't like that one, it rides up."

Draco looked at him. "Since when?"

"Since that first time I wore it," Ron told him. "Or don't you remember having to push it back down all day?"

"Good point." Draco looked at Harry's outfit. "We'll do green today." Ron sighed. "You look excellent in it."

"Yeah, but the other Gryffs won't understand," Ron reminded him. "I still have to be with them."

"Good point." Draco looked at the wardrobe then shook his head and went out to the special one, coming back with a slinky blood red dress. "For some reason, this shade does go well on you. Put that one on," he ordered, working on hurrying Ron's state to the fully female side. "I don't like that in-between state."

"You said yourself that it'll go faster once he starts a cycle," Harry pointed out as he found a black outfit to wear. Draco nodded his approval so he went for a quick shower. "Ron, join me?"

"Shit, I forgot about that," Ron agreed, taking off his stockings to join him.

Vincent walked out and opened the door. "They're taking showers to spare you from the lust sticking to their skin," he told McGonagall. "Give them five more minutes?"

She smiled. "Of course. May I wait inside?" He let her inside, closing the door behind her. "Was that Mrs. Malfoy who yelled?"

"You interrupted a kiss, ma'am. You know how well Draco can stun him, he wasn't in his right mind."

"I suppose I'll let it go this time," she said as she settled herself in to wait. She noticed Harry and Ron coming out of the shower, dripping water as they walked by, and Draco heading in. "They went together?"

"It was faster that way," Vincent said with a shrug. "Hermione, it's your Head," he called, heading for the blue door. He tapped before walking in, closing it behind him. "McGonagall's on the couch."

"Shit!" She quickly got dressed and hurried out with a blush. "Let me clean up, ma'am," she promised, heading into Vincent's bedroom and his bathroom for a quick washcloth bath. She rebraided her hair with a charm and then straightened herself out before walking back out. "Sorry, Professor."

"That's all right," she said tolerantly. "I'm not sure if I should include you in this meeting or not."

"Harry tells me anyway," she pointed out.

"Good reasoning. What about your...friend?"

"Vincent? He's Draco's bodyguard and we've already figured him into all the battle plans. We've set it up so Harry gives the orders to Ron and Draco, and then they deputize to us." McGonagall looked impressed. "That way it gets around when necessary."

"That's a wonderful idea. What about the Headmaster and the rest of us?"

"I'm pretty sure Draco or Ron are sending you his plans," she admitted with a faint blush. The teacher looked stunned. "You've heard about his fight with the Headmaster?" she asked quietly. McGonagall nodded slowly. "He's still a bit pissed at him."

"Oh, dear." She stood up as Harry walked in, his outfit a dull black that fit his body well. Draco led Ron behind him, her arm through his. She smiled at Ron. "You look stunning in that."

"Thank you, ma'am," Ron agreed. "Draco got pushy, he doesn't like my in-between times."

"I do, but I could do with less time in them," Draco corrected. He let the other couple of Hermione and Vincent, and the teacher, lead the way up to the Headmaster's office. He settled Ron in Harry's lap, he was already giving off 'I'm pissed' body language and Ron would calm him down. He settled himself on Harry's other side. "You needed to see us?"

"Yes, we have to talk about your idea for a called final battle," Dumbledore told him. "I don't think it's going to stop anything."

"No, but it won't go on past that," Harry pointed out dryly. "It'll give the average person something to look forward to, a bit of hope." He stroked Ron's stomach, a subtle reminder to himself that he had to stay calm. Plus it irritated the Headmaster fully. "Besides, Voldie's been criticized how many times for fighting and losing to me as an infant? This way he gets to gloat and brag that he's going to be destroyed by a man this time."

"Harry, this isn't a game," Dumbledore reminded him.

"I know. We already have our plans in place. We'll be giving out the orders for that fight the day before, that way nothing can slip away." Draco stroked his arm. "Voldie's not getting anything done until then either and even he will realize the pointlessness of going out to fight since everyone's waiting on that final battle. I woke up this morning to a wave of frustration when he saw the paper."

"Yes, as did I. You never sent us a copy of that notice," Dumbledore pointed out.

Harry shook his head. "I sent it to Ron's mum and asked that she send it on. She probably gave it to everyone else and you missed it over dinner or something." He shrugged. "She can chat during meals."

Ron frowned at him. "I like that in my mother."

"So do I, it's a friendly thing, but even you have to admit she goes through a lot of topics," Harry said, giving him a kiss in apology. "I love your mum, Ron, she's a great woman who already thought I was one of hers before we married."

"Good." Ron looked back at the Headmaster. "Was there any question about that day?"

"It does give him an advantage," Snape pointed out.

"Not really. You'll find out soon enough," Harry assured him. "That way you can't be used by either side." Dumbledore looked startled and Harry gave him his blandest look. "You forgot my mother's books. I'll have to go back to retrieve them and the others I was working from. I'll let Draco and Ron tool around town until then."

"You're all grounded to the school," McGonagall reminded him.

"I still have my father's cloak. I can sneak off if you want," Harry offered. "But the longer they're there, the less practice I get in and the more you risk."

Snape nodded. "We'll be placing tracking charms on you in a few moments. After that, you can go finish getting ready for the day and get those. I will give you one hour to find them."

"Fine," Harry said with a wave of his free hand. "We're ready for the day."

"I didn't get a chance to do my makeup," Ron said quietly.

"I'll help you with that," Hermione told him.

Vincent coughed. "Sir, the plans are already set. Even if he tried a surprise attack, he's got to realize he'll be the weaker one. I know he's got a seer of his own."

"Plus, my mother's letter reminded me that my upcoming free time was to be spent wisely," Draco put in. Everyone but Snape looked at him, he had gotten too many cryptic letters from Draco's mother in the past to not understand. "My mother is a seer herself," he said gently, reminding them that she was one of the best ever. Dumbledore nodded. "So therefore, we're going to go to town. I think I'll call my mother to see if she'd like some tea." He stood up and helped Ron off Harry's lap, then helped him up to take his other arm. "Is there any news on where my father is?"

"He's back at Voldemort's side," Dumbledore told him calmly.

Draco shrugged. "Then his death sentence will be fulfilled." He walked his mates out, their friends following behind. "Ron, I don't like you in that dress after all," he said firmly. "There's one I liked more, I'm putting you into it. It should hang better and be less clingy."

"Is it warmer?" Ron asked.

"Definitely," Draco agreed with a smile. "It's velvet. We'll work on your Halloween costume today as well." He let them into their rooms, leading Ron back to redress him. The old dress went into Hermione's room.

"What do you want me to do with this?" she asked Harry, the messenger.

He shrugged. "Fit it to yourself or pass it on," he told her. "Draco didn't like how it fit Ron and you're the only girl around to get the wardrobe that he doesn't like." He went back to his own closet, deciding on a different shirt. It was a bit too chilly for silk today. He pulled on a velvet shirt and did it up, earning a frown from Draco. "I like it, it's warm."

"I don't." He took it off his husband and hung it back up, grabbing a long-sleeved dress shirt for him. "Wear that."

"Yes, Draco," he sighed, but he did put it on and make sure that Draco approved of how he buttoned it. Draco was very persnickety about their wardrobes. Ron walked out in the same color dress, but this one was in a light velvet and fit her wonderfully because it stretched a bit. "Wow." He saw the flawless makeup and hairdo, then grinned at him. "I'm going to enjoy messing you up later."

Ron giggled. "Sure, Harry." He looked at his shirt. "Don't we clash?"

Draco looked at Harry's green shirt, then nodded and found him a linen one that would look better, this time in a light gray. "Put that one on."

"I'm cold," Harry complained. Draco looked at him and sighed. "I need something warm, Draco."

"We need to finish shopping for you," Draco commented. "Put on the silver and the black velvet as an overshirt, we'll do some shopping for you today."

"I don't have any money with me. They left my money bag back at the house as well," Harry sighed as he did as he was told. Draco rolled his eyes. "I can buy my own wardrobe, Draco Malfoy."

"I know you can, but I enjoy it, so quit whining," Draco ordered. Harry blushed and ducked his head, doing as he was told. "Thank you!" He walked over to brush some fur off Ron's shoulder then looked at her shoes. "We'll have to fix those as well. Black's a bit too dark for day wear on you." He shrugged and took them both once they were done, leading them down and out of the school. Harry disappeared, heading back to his house to get his books and money, while Draco led the way to the clothiers. If his mother had anticipated him, she'd be there waiting on him. He found her browsing the winter brown collection. "Mother, not with your hair," he chided, smiling when she looked at him. "Really, it would make you look bad." He kissed her cheek and turned Ron loose so he could do the same.

"You are adorable," Narcissa Malfoy told Ron, who blushed. "My son has excellent taste."

"And she's not fully changed through yet either," Draco told her. He touched her mark and concentrated, finishing her change. "That's her in full female."

"Draco!" Ron complained, swatting at him. Draco kissed him until he went limp in his arms, then he simply smiled. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Draco looked at his mother. "Harry should be right back. He managed to leave some things at the other house."

"I take it you haven't shown him where he can access his money from here?" she chided. He shook his head, smirking at her. "Such games you play," she said, giving his nose a light pinch. "I need something for daily wear, Draco, would you mind helping me?"

"Not at all, Mother." He snapped his fingers and the shop's owner came over. "My wife needs to find something wonderful for her Halloween costume and for more daily wear. I'll be looking over her selections in a moment. Also, find her some shoes." The owner nodded, leading Ron off. He smiled at his mother and gave her a hug. "I'm happy, Mother."

"I noticed, Son. I'm very proud of the way you've handled most everything so far." She kissed him on the cheek. "Tan?"

"No, mother, you look bad in tan. Remember that summer tea two years ago?" She shuddered and he helped her pick out some stunning things, robes that would compliment her perfectly. When they were done, they went to help Ron and the newly appeared Harry. "Harry, bag," Draco ordered, making him move it. Harry rolled his eyes but did so. "Thank you. Harry needs shirts for warmer weather. He was chilled this morning," he told the owner. She nodded and led Harry off so he could look at what she had. "Mother, Blaize Zabini came to me the other day," he said as he helped her to her seat so they could watch Ron being fitted. "That green's too light," he pointed out. It was darkened for them. Ron looked at him. "You look good in the forest green instead of the Slytherin shade of green," he said with a shrug. He looked at his mother. "He wanted to know if we would be needing a nanny."

"I had heard his mother was pulling her stunts again," Narcissa said dryly. She patted Draco's hand. "You certainly will be needing one, Draco. He always did adore his little sister."

"What happened to her?" Ron asked.

"She drowned one summer while swimming in the lake by the school," Narcissa told her. Ron nodded, turning back to the fitting process. "Not so high on her hips, she looks like things ride up on her." Draco nodded at that, they certainly did. The fitter fixed it and she turned her attention back to her son. "I think he would be an excellent person to do that, if your husband could stand the sight of him every day."

"Harry?" Draco asked. Harry's head popped up. "Blues, greens, and reds, not tans." Harry frowned at him. "How do you feel about Blaize?"

Harry walked over, giving him a hug. "It hurts sometimes when I think about what he did, but I want to help him. Blaize was my first love, and the first person to give a damn about me." Draco gave him a gentle pat on the arm. "I think I can handle him being the nanny. If not, can't we help him find a spot like that?"

"Certainly," Narcissa agreed, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "That's a wonderful thought. I leave that up to you."

"Then we'll try him," Harry told her. He smiled at Draco. "You're not filling in my wardrobe. I can do that on my own."

Draco kissed him until he went limp. "I'm buying you clothes because I want to and because it will piss my father off," he pointed out. "No tan."

"Yes, Draco." Harry went back to his searching.

Draco looked at Ron's tan outfit, it was in a soft crepe fabric. It was the right shade to look good on her. "That fabric is more for hot summers," he said delicately. "The color looks good though."

"I liked that one," Ron told him. "I'll be pregnant during next summer and I'll need it."

"That's fine," Draco agreed, smiling at her. His mother got up and hugged her hard. "We picked out a date this May, mother."

"A girl?" she asked, smiling at them. Draco nodded. "How wonderful!" She hugged him then went to hug Harry as well. "And yours?" she asked him quietly.

"Thirty two days before the fight," Harry whispered. She gave him another squeeze. "You aren't going to argue?"

"It is an inspired plan, my new son, and I would adore having more than one grandchild," she assured him, letting him go. She pulled down a dark purple shirt but then put it back. "If you eyes were brown instead of that bright green, I would put you into so many colors," she promised, kissing him over top of the scar. "Give him many nightmares for me, son." She went back to Draco's side, noticing Pansy had walked in while they were talking. "Pansy," she said, giving the girl a handshake. "How are you, dear?"

"Just fine, Narcissa, thank you," she said politely. "How are you?"

"I'm wonderful. Draco just told me the best news." She smiled at her and went back to her son's side. "Where is Vincent?"

"Probably walking around with Hermione in the bookstore," he said dryly.

"Hermione? Is she one of the new girls in the house?"

Pansy coughed. "No, she's that Gryff genius and a mudblood," she said, glaring at Draco. "You're setting a bad example by taking up with one. I knew you would."

Harry walked up behind her and grabbed the back of her neck, making her squeal in pain. "Leave my husband and Granger alone," he hissed in her ear. She nodded, still crying. "Thank you. I do protect Granger." He let her go. "You're bothering Ron, leave for the other side of the store." She hurried off. He went back to his shopping, still frowning at her. She found a rack that she wanted to browse through.

"Really?" Narcissa asked her son.

"Yes," he agreed lightly. "She's one of the few I consider worthy of being able to speak to me. One of those miraculous individuals who is a true genius. She has to study where I don't, but still barely good enough. Her brains outweigh her bloodline."

"I'm going to hit you," Ron said warmly. "Do not say such things about my best friend."

"Yes, Ron," Draco agreed, giving him a tolerant look. He looked at his mother again and smiled. "That's also why, that and she has fought beside Harry the whole time."

"Hmm. Since he is bound to the family, I would like to meet this young lady," Narcissa told him.

Draco stood up. "I'll get her for you."

"I'll go," Pansy said quickly, wanting to get away from Harry. She had always known he was psychotic, he had simply proved it to her satisfaction. She ran out the door, heading down to where the other Gryffs were huddled around talking. "Narcissa Malfoy wants your Granger bitch and our Crabbe to appear in the clothing store," she ordered the mostly fourth years. They looked at her like she was beneath the dirt on their shoes. "Now."

Seamus Finnigan, one of the seventh year boys in Gryffindor, walked up to her. "Why would she want to talk to Granger?"

"Because Vincent is bound to Draco's family and Narcissa has the right to tell him who to date," she said coldly. "Now."

"Fine. She's in Honeydukes. I'll send her up." He walked away, clearly dismissing her.

She nearly screamed in disgust but held it in. Her mother would be getting a long rant about the disrespect she was getting. She went back to the clothing store. "She'll be right in. One of her own kind went to retrieve her."

"Thank you, Pansy," Narcissa said, giving her a warm smile. The girl cooled off. She did know how to read people, her son got it from her. The next people through the door were Hermione, Vincent, and Neville Longbottom. He went over to talk to Harry about something, making the boy smile and hug him. She quit paying attention to them, she didn't want to know about his side affairs. "Vincent," she said, holding out her arms. He hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. "Is this your new friend?"

"Yes, Aunt Narcissa. Hermione Granger, this is Narcissa Malfoy, Draco's mother," he said, shifting her closer. "Aunt Narcissa, this is Hermione." They shook hands. "She's an amazing witch, Aunt. We share many interests and can hold entire conversations."

Hermione blushed. "Vincent!" she complained, hitting him on the arm. It only made him chuckle and hug her. "He's in too good a mood today. One of my favorite books was in and he just bought me a new copy because mine was falling apart," she explained smoothly.

Narcissa stared into her eyes, then nodded. "You'll do. It's not a perfect match, but I doubt Vincent could find someone who made him that happy in our group." Pansy let out a squeak. "Yes, dear?"

"You're allowing them?" she said, looking stunned.

Narcissa looked at her. "Sometimes the old lines need a new infusion to keep them strong and only the best will do. She is clearly the best of her kind." Pansy clamped her lips together and stormed out. Narcissa rolled her eyes. "Now that the panicking people are gone, I appreciate that you make him happy, dear. Vincent is a very...difficult person to get to like sometimes."

"Just because he doesn't share your scholarly interests doesn't make him a bad person, mother," Draco reminded her. She smiled at him and he quieted down.

"I know. He does have some other faults as well, as do most men, and she appears able to deal with them." Hermione blushed a bright red. She chuckled. "It's good you share those interests as well, dear." She patted her on the hand. "I approve and I'll tell your father if you want, Vincent?" He shook his head quickly. "Are you sure?"

"I was going to introduce them during the Holiday," he told her. "Take them both to dinner or something."

"An excellent idea. Of course, Draco or I will have to help you find the most suitable place, somewhere quiet and in public so no one can make a scene."

"I like the new little family restaurant that opened up in Diagon," Hermione put in. "It has a few back rooms and the food isn't pretentious, but it is good."

Narcissa nodded. "That would set the right atmosphere for such an announcement. For an engagement I would think somewhere more fancy, but for meeting his family for the first time it is more than acceptable."

"Mother, Hermione's asked me to help them with their Yule Ball outfits. Would you do the honors so you can get to know her a bit better?" Draco suggested slyly.

"Of course," she agreed, leading the poor children away. She stopped to take two shirts from Harry's pile and put them back. "Not with your eyes, dear, they're too light."

"I was getting them for Ron to wear. I like her in my shirts," Harry told her.

Narcissa looked back at Ron, then at him. "That would be nearly obscene, Harry. Her chest is a bit bigger than yours." He blushed, clearly that's what he had in mind. She leaned closer to his ear. "I have a favorite shop for things of that nature, should I show her?" Harry nodded quickly and moved on. She laughed and hugged Hermione. "I'll show you as well, dear. It's quite a wonderful place." She led the girl directly to the robe she should wear, and with it in her size, they found one for Vincent quickly. She oversaw their fittings, nodding in appreciation.

***

Ron looked around the shop in awe. "Mother," she squeaked. Narcissa hugged him hard, not expecting that. He blushed as he looked at her. "I wasn't sure you'd like it," he lied. He had really been wanting his mother. There were things in there that he wasn't sure what they were for, but they were scary. She laughed and led him to a rack of lingerie. "I had one like this, Draco let Harry rip it off me," he complained as he picked up a flimsy nightgown.

"That's why they're created," Narcissa assured him. She noticed Hermione was in another corner, looking at a leather bustier. "You find them something wonderful and I'll buy it for you," she promised, heading over to talk the girl out of it. Vincent wouldn't like leather. She talked the girl into a Chinese dress, one that made her body look tiny and dainty. Then they compromised and found her something leather that she liked.

***

Ron put on the midnight blue silk corset bustier and walked into their bedroom. "Can one of you fit this for me please?" she asked, grinning at them. She wasn't wearing anything else.

Harry swallowed and leered. "Ron, I like that," he noted, coming over to touch where the fabric ended. Just above her nipples and just above her pubic line. "I like that a lot."

Draco climbed out of bed and came over to tighten it for her, liking the view as well. "You should have on panties and garters," he whispered in her ear. She blushed as he fixed the last knot. "How's that?"

"Not too tight," she said in appreciation. She undid one of the front catches, making Harry go off without any more prompting. "Do you like?" They nodded, both of them swallowing their drool. "I've got a bit more decorous one for Halloween." Harry fell to his knees, burying his face in her crotch, and Draco kissed her until her head was spinning. "If you help me fit into that one, I'll wear this one however you want."

"The panties would be good, I'm so distracted," Harry admitted between licks.

Draco pulled him off and Harry stood up, heading for her nipples. He rolled his eyes and pulled Harry off again, pushing him onto the bed so he could help Ron fit into this new outfit. It was a dark green, which he liked her in, and it had a skirt to go on over the bottom. The matching panties and slightly darker stockings made him drool but he did help her fit it. The skirt was a slim one, and he liked it and the slit in it quite a lot. "Harry would love it if he could climb under the table and lick you at dinner," he promised, leading her back so Harry could see. He whimpered and stroked himself harder. "No, wait for us," Draco ordered. Harry's hand stopped but didn't move. "Both palms on the bed. I'll put her into the other outfit." Harry nodded and both his hands hit the bed. "Good boy, Harry," Draco encouraged. He put Ron back into the dark blue one and helped her into the panties and stockings. His own personal kink, but he did like this. "Is it comfortable?"

"Very. It's only slightly stiff, like some of the dress robes you bought me," Ron promised, stepping into the heels Harry liked. They walked back into the bedroom and Harry groaned, coming without anything touching him. "I think I'll be wearing this a lot," she teased, bending down to lick up the cum. He groaned and his hands clenched the bedspread as tightly as he could.

"Calm down," Draco instructed, stroking up Ron's back. "We have all night. Tomorrow is Sunday." Harry nodded and let Ron do whatever she wanted.

"Hmm, our Harry playtoy," Ron teased, licking up his cock. He started to get hard again. "Draco, I think we hit on a kink of his."

"Only with you two," Harry ground out, trying hard not to grab her for a kiss and a long time with her nipples. He loved nipples.

"If you keep sucking on them, she might lactate," Draco warned, knowing what was on Harry's mind because he was staring. Ron's neck blushed so the front of her must be. "You are?"

She looked up and nodded. "A little bit of discharge. I asked Madam Pomfrey and she said it was because Harry liked to suck on them too much," she admitted sheepishly. "She also looked at my fertility levels. I won't be fertile until around Valentine's Day she thinks."

"That's fine," Draco agreed, smiling at her. "The less time we have to use contraceptive spells the happier we are." He stroked over the edge of her panties. "What would you like tonight, Ron? Since you went to all the trouble to get us a treat, you should be able to direct some of it."

Ron shifted off Harry and laid down, spreading herself out. "I want to be licked so much I keep the school up, and I want to be sore in the morning."

"Anal?" Draco asked.

She shook her head. "You know I don't like it in this form, Draco. It makes me feel odd."

"That's fine, Ron," Harry agreed. "Can I lick?"

"Please," she agreed, spreading her thighs for him. He flipped over her legs, starting to tease her over top of her panties. "You're good," she promised, smiling at Draco. "May I have a kiss?" He got down there to help her as well, teasing the rest of her. Harry was energetic but he knew what a clit was. As proven by her first orgasm. The first of many that night.

Across the sitting room, Hermione was giving the door a startled look. "What are they doing?" she asked.

"We could go into the other room and see," Vincent suggested, running a finger up her bare back. They were cuddling together naked on his bed while she read to him. She shifted and he could feel her interest. "Please?" he whispered hoarsely. He wanted that so badly. "I'll even let you do whatever you want to me."

She smiled at him. "Come on, let's go." She led the way to the other room, ignoring the house elf who was petting the dog. Sable barked at Vincent and he paused to give him an ear scratch, then they closed themselves in.

The house elf looked at the dog, eyes wide. "That room closed," he whispered. "Not been back for many years." The dog licked him, happy with his current friend. "They have fun," the house elf decided, going back to his playing. Ron's first scream of pleasure made him laugh. "Many peoples make that noise," he told the dog. "Hear it all the time."

***

Monday morning found the trio wandering into the Great Hall for breakfast looking very tired, but happy. Harry fell asleep against Vincent's side this time and snored along with the sounds of the rest of the table gossiping about them and what they must have done.

Draco pulled out a book on kinks and was openly reading it. McGonagall came down to take it from him but he snatched it back. "I'm trying to figure out why someone would have a certain one," he explained. "In case you hadn't heard, the Dark Lord has a few of his own and if they're exploitable it's a good thing," he hissed. She blanched and left him to his reading. He went back to reading about people who had kinks for breast milk and breastfeeding wondering which one Harry was. When he was done with the section, he marked his place and finished eating, then went to follow Ron out into the halls. Vincent would help Harry finish waking up. He found Ron on the walkway overlooking the pitch and gave her a hug, handing her the book. "Here, I marked the section."

Ron opened the book and looked at it, then at him. A quick glance at the title made him frown, but he did read the introduction. "Harry?" he asked, handing it back. Draco nodded. "Do you think we need to do something about it?"

"I'm not sure," Draco admitted. "For right now, it's more a comfort thing. I think we should watch for it to get worse. If it does get worse, then I will suggest we do something." He noticed Vincent walking a mostly-sleeping Harry their way. "What happened?"

"He tried to feel me up," he said grimly. "Made a few of the other kids laugh until Blaize got on them." He pulled the wet spot away from his shirt. "I think maybe you should ask him why he's so insecure, Draco."

"It's obvious why," Ron corrected. "It's the problem with the fight and all that."

"He's been this way since he and Blaize started to nap together," Vincent told him.

"Oh." Ron looked at Draco, who nodded. "Then maybe we should work on it. How would we do that?"

"Easy," Draco said with a smile. "We find a deaging charm and request a weekend off somewhere." Vincent looked stunned. "I promise we'll be safe. You can have the whole room to yourself for anything you want. As long as you don't have her in my chair." Vincent nodded quickly; Draco's reading chair was sacred and he didn't even sit in it. "The weekend after Halloween?" Ron shrugged. "Good. I'll make all the arrangements. Did he eat, Vincent?" Vincent nodded quickly and left them alone, he didn't want to know. "Ron, are you up for that?"

"It'll be odd, but if you're thinking about doing what the book was talking about it'd be helpful. It can only make him more secure in us." Draco nodded and he shifted closer to Harry, kissing him gently. "Wake up, Harry." Harry yawned and tried to latch onto his chest. "No," he said, backing off. "Wake up first. I want a real kiss before you grope me." Harry blinked at him, still mostly asleep, but he did smile and pull him back for a hug before trying to suck on him.

"No," Draco ordered. Harry pulled off to look at him. "Not in the halls, Potter." Harry shrugged and rested his head on Ron's shoulder, starting to drift back off again. "Potter, we have Snape in fifteen minutes. You've got to wake up."

"Fuck 'im," Harry said, then he yawned again. "Nasty bugger needs to be fucked up the ass a few times to become human again." Draco's eyes went wide. "Is he behind me?" he asked lightly.

"No, but that is a revolting thought! Get up now or I'm going to tell him you want to help his temperament." Harry forced himself to finishing waking up, giving Ron a hard kiss and a bit of a butt squeeze. "Thank you," Draco sighed, taking his own wake up kiss. "Now be good and you can drift off during our study hall before Defense." Harry nodded, resting against him this time. Ron giggled and rushed off to join her classmates before class. He didn't have Potions anymore. "Come on," Draco sighed, walking Harry down to the dungeon.

"How revoltingly cute," Snape sneered. "You're *cuddling*."

"He's half asleep," Draco told him.

"Then finish waking him up or we'll use him as part of this potion."

Harry looked at Snape and yawned. "Get fucked, sir, it'd help you a lot," he said in a near-whisper before going back to his seat. Snape spluttered, glaring at Harry's head where he had put it down on the table.

"You know he's not a morning person," Draco commented neutrally, going to take his own seat. He patted Harry on the back. "You can't sleep in here, husband."

"Draco, shut up and let me wake up on my own or no sex for a week," Harry mumbled. Within a minute he was snoring.

"What did you do to him?" Blaize asked, looking amazed. "I never made him that tired."

"There's two of us," Draco smugly reminded him. "Besides, Vincent kept us up." He looked at Snape and shrugged. "Remember, he hits when you try to wake him up by moving him," he said as Snape walked up to their table. He got out of the way, Harry hit hard.

Snape smacked Harry across the back of the head, making him grumble. "I should do an unforgivable on you. You'd wake up then," he sneered.

"I've been under it before," Harry mumbled. He suddenly laughed. "He liked the sword up his ass," he sighed, turning his head the other way.

Snape looked at Draco, who shrugged. "He's been doing a campaign of demoralization, sir. His fondest and most creepy wishes are being seen as certain people's nightmares." Snape's eyes widened. "I can't manage to wake him up and neither did Ron."

"Take him back to your rooms and put him to bed."

"You want me to let him sleep alone?"

"I'm sure he's accomplished that feat in six years."

"Not in four of them," Blaize told him. Snape rounded on him and he flinched. "Harry has nightmares and he hates to sleep alone, sir. That's what brought us together, I make an adorable teddy bear." The girls in the mixed class snickered but he let it go.

"We don't ever let him sleep alone," Draco agreed, tapping Harry slightly. "If you'll come with me, I'll put you on the couch."

"Couch bad for napping," Harry mumbled, reaching for him. Draco squeaked in alarm as he was pulled closer.

"For Merlin's sake. Float the boy up and to your rooms, Mr. Malfoy."

"Go right ahead," Blaize told him. Snape glared at him and opened his mouth. "Draco's arms are pinned, sir. He can't."

Snape floated the boy up and he flailed, which was why he had gotten the concussion a few weeks ago. Draco grabbed him, shooting a glare at him. "Fine. Now you can move. Take him to your rooms. I'll excuse you so your husband doesn't attack anyone else in the class to *cuddle*." He shuddered as the boys left, glaring at the rest of them. "You shall not do such disgusting things in front of me. It is not appropriate. I have no doubt that Mr. Potter-Malfoy was up studying late last night." The class held in their laughter at his assertion and he got them started on that day's work.

***

Ron walked in during his first study hall, smirking at the trapped Draco. "It's all over the school that you told everyone Vincent kept us up. He saw me and blushed."

"I'll tell him why later," Draco said flippantly. "Move him so I can go to the bathroom." Ron slipped in behind Harry's back, letting him flip over and snuggle up to his chest. "Thank you." He went into the bathroom to get cleaned up. He had spilled some punch on himself earlier. He came out and saw Ron's worried look. "What?"

"Goyle stopped me in the halls," Ron admitted. Draco started to frown. "He only said some things about my breasts and how I should be begging him since he was the only one who could do anything for me."

"I'll deal with him later," Draco decided. "Stay away from him. He's showing more signs of becoming unbalanced recently." He slipped back in and Harry didn't turn to cuddle him. "What is it about your breasts," he complained. Ron pinched him hard enough to leave a bruise. "Sorry." He looked down at Harry's back. "He gave up my chest for yours."

"It's the softness," Ron said, grinning at him. Harry shifted back, grabbing Draco to wrap around him. "See, I'm his pillow and you're his favorite blanket."

Draco rolled his eyes but relaxed and let Harry tug him closer. When someone knocked on the door, he had to struggle to get free, Harry wasn't letting him go. He did finally get free and went to answer the door, letting the Headmaster in. "Harry's still napping." Harry padded over to him and pushed him against a wall, rubbing his cheek against his chest. "See?" He led Harry back to the bed and let him arrange them however he wanted. He was once again the blanket. "It's keeping him calm."

"So I can see," the Headmaster said, watching Harry. "He'll have to wake up sometime. You do have to go to classes."

"Go right ahead," Ron told him. "I have a study hall."

"We have Defense with the Ravenclaws today," Draco said bitterly. Harry's 'shh' was clearly heard. "Sorry, love," he said, kissing him on the top of the head. Harry grinned and pressed back against him until he went limp again. "As you can see, it's pretty much a hopeless situation."

"Let me, I can wake him up," Dumbledore said, stepping closer. Ron tried to get out of the way. "I won't touch you."

"He hits!" Ron complained. "I don't need walloped today." He finally got free and Harry was mumbling angrily now. When the Headmaster tried a gentle shake, he had to duck away from the fist. "See!" He got back in and Harry settled down, firmly planting his head on Ron's breasts again. "He'll wake up in time for lunch."

Draco looked at the clock. "He'll be up in time for Magical Creatures," he told the Headmaster. "He's always up by ten."

Dumbledore gave them a thoughtful look. "In the future, do not create the condition that would force him to sleep in," he ordered gently.

"We didn't," Draco complained. "We went to bed at ten last night and were done by midnight. He's just sleepy."

"It's probably the nightmare campaign," Ron put in. Draco nodded, that sounded reasonable.

"Nightmare campaign?" Dumbledore asked.

"He's felt the idiot in his head again so he's been sending him nightmares."

"Today he mentioned something about a sword up the rear passage," Draco agreed.

Dumbledore's eyes went wide. "He's sending things to him? Is the rest of his mind shielded?"

Draco frowned at him. "Yes!" he said sharply. "I helped him using my mother's books. She's been watching over his training since this summer. She said she couldn't get into his shields this weekend when we had lunch. She said his were much stronger now, nearly as strong as hers."

"That's wonderful," Dumbledore agreed. "Do make sure he's being careful. Sometimes things can sneak through that you didn't mean to let out."

Draco shrugged. "There hasn't been an attack in weeks because he realized how futile it was. No one's as scared of him as they were. It's taking his fun away."

Dumbledore stepped away from the bed. "Thank you for telling me. I'll see you at lunch and do make sure he goes to the next possible class." He hurried out, going to talk to Snape. "The boy is sending him nightmares," he said as soon as the Potion's professor was in the hall with him.

"I know. I heard his earlier one. I have to admit, I couldn't get through his shields. Perhaps we should have let Narcissa train him in that skill from the start. She seems to have gotten the point across to the boy in a way I couldn't."

"Bitterness can be like that," Dumbledore agreed, looking toward their room. He missed the angry look. "Make sure they get to their next class. I want to look into his mind myself." He hurried away.

Snape snorted before going back to his class. Being forced to work with the boy was bad enough, this was just too much. Did the Headmaster think he had failed on purpose?

***

Ron accepted the tea tray with a smile. "Thank you," he whispered. The house elf nodded and disappeared again. "Harry, I have tea for you," Ron said gently, trying to sound happy. Harry blinked at him. "I promise, if you quit squeezing my tits, I'll let you have it. Lemon and all." Harry blinked a few more times. "We're already going to be late. Please sit up and drink the tea?"

Harry made grumbling, complaining noises but he let Ron fix him a cup of tea. He sipped it, slowly coming back to the waking state. He let Ron and Draco fix him a second cup and a third cup just in case to take with them, then let them walk him out to Magical Creatures. "Potions?" he said between sips.

"We missed that one already. You told Snape he needed buggered," Draco assured him. Harry looked at him and he nodded. "You did. Told him he needed fucked."

Harry gave him a sleepy grin. "He does," he agreed. He finished that cup and Ron handed him the one he had been carrying, making him wake up a bit more. "Thank you, Ron."

"You're welcome, Harry. Drink up. You can bounce around outside." Harry nodded, too much caffeine would make him bouncy. Ron and Draco shared a look, and Draco managed to take the cup when the caffeine took hold of Harry's body, making him jiggle in place.

"Let's go to Magical Creatures. You can bounce around with the animals today," Draco suggested.

Harry was in full bounce by the time they made it outside, and Hagrid gave him an alarmed look. "Harry?" he asked.

"Just fine. Too much tea," he said as he quickly moved past him. "Hey, a unicorn," he said, pointing at it. Everyone in the class looked at him so he shrugged. "Too much tea." The Slytherins backed away from him, remembering his first year when he did that twice in one week. He had lost them four hundred points within twenty minutes. From Snape.

"Today we're doing dragons," Hagrid told them, pointing toward the woods. "We've got a dragon handler there and he's got a specimen for you to look at."

"Charlie!" Ron said happily, running that way. His mates followed, Harry nearly as quickly. Ron launched himself at his big brother, hugging him hard. "Hi, Charlie."

"Hi, Ron," he said, grinning at him. "Why are you wearing that?"

"Because I look good in it," Ron said, smoothing a hand down the black dress Draco had put him in this morning. "Besides, all my uniforms are dirty." He shrugged and grinned. "Draco forces me to let him dress me."

Charlie blinked a few times. "You look better now than you did the last time I saw you." He unstuck his eyes from the cleavage and put an arm around his...Ron's shoulders to pull him against his side. "Got time to talk?"

"Sure, I can take time off. We'll hog our rooms."

"Your rooms?" Charlie asked.

"I'm married to both Head Boys, Charlie. The castle turned our rooms into a suite. It's bloody incredible. You'll love it." He beamed at Draco. "He's got stunning taste, even if he can be a bit grumpy now and then."

"A bit grumpy?" Charlie asked, looking at Draco.

Draco shrugged. "He tries to do things while I'm studying."

"I don't need to know about that stuff," Charlie said quickly. He looked at the other students, seeing the interested looks. "Gather 'round closer. He won't bite. He's an unmated Arkansas Steamer, from the States. Pretty rare and fairly happy today because he got to have a few goats once we got here."

Ron got free and stepped closer, smiling and making happy greeting noises like Charlie had taught him when he was younger. "Hi, you," he said with a fond look. "Do you like maidens?"

"You're not that pure," Draco warned. He flinched when the dragon steamed at him.

Ron stepped closer. "I know I'm a married one, but I'm still young and still not giving off fertility signs. That's what they pick up on, right, Charlie?"

"That's very true," Charlie agreed. The dragon grabbed Ron possessively and pulled him closer, licking up her neck. "My sister," he warned.

Harry moved closer and looked in the white eyes. "Mine," he warned. The dragon licked her neck again, making Ron giggle, it had hit a ticklish spot. "I killed a basilisk and she's still my wife." The dragon sniffed him then pulled him closer as well. "Charlie!" he complained, wiggling a bit.

Ron leaned over and kissed him. "If you struggle, he might bite."

"Fine."

Draco glared at the dragon. "Mine!" he said coldly. The dragon flinched back but kept his prizes. "I have a sword somewhere." The dragon eased his grip, he wasn't wrinkling their clothes. "Fine, but you may not keep them." He stepped closer, looking it in the eye. "I am of the line Malfoy, the line of Sir Kinisus," he hissed. The dragon steamed him and he coughed, backing up. "They're still mine."

"Hey now," Charlie soothed, stepping between them. The tail came up and pushed him away. "Okay, fine." He glared at it. "You're an odd shit today, George." Ron giggled. Charlie beamed at him. "He reminded me of him."

"That's okay, my dog reminds him of Fred," Harry told him. He got comfortable and the dragon gave him a squeeze. "Thanks, big guy. You guys can probably come closer. He can't grab with his back feet, he's laying on them."

Pansy approached but the dragon steamed in alarm and backed away.

Charlie hit himself on the head. "This type can also tell how many lover's you've had." Draco and Pansy both stepped back to the back of the group, though Draco stayed close enough to help his mates. He looked at Draco, then at Ron and frowned. "Really?"

"I'm not fertile yet," Ron reminded him. "That's why he likes me."

"Oh. Fine." He went on with his lecture, showing them how to take care of a dragon, including how not to get cut on the scales and how to skip rope with the tail. George liked to try and swish him off his feet. At the end, he had to sweet talk his dragon into letting go of Harry and Ron by bribing him with Ginny, who had the next class. It liked her enough to grab her with both paws and cuddle her. He grinned at her - it made his year that his sister was pure enough to attract dragons like this one. "It'll be fine," he assured her as Ron walked off. "Next class?" he called.

Ron turned to look at him. "Sure. Have fun, Ginny. He's got an itchy spot under his chin." He waved and jogged after Harry, who was still bouncy.

Ginny slowly reached up and scratched the deep chin, finding the itchy spot. "You've got a dry spot, George, Charlie should take better care of you." Charlie looked at her. "You should!"

"I don't get that close to him! He only likes girls and Harry!" The students waiting around laughed. He shrugged. "It did. Had him as tightly as it did Ron." He grinned at them. "This is an Arkansas Steamer...."

***

Charlie walked into the school and found the Headmaster waiting on him. "Ron said he'd spend his free time with me today," he said respectfully.

Dumbledore nodded. "He'll probably also skip some classes to have you around," he said dryly. "He did this morning because Harry wouldn't wake up." He led the way down to the trio's suite.

"Why do they have rooms? Ron said the castle shifted. It never did that for me."

Dumbledore shrugged. "All I know is that the castle saw fit to give them a multi-room suite, including one I can't see into. You might want to watch out for Harry's dog, he didn't bring it around with him today." He pointed at a hallway. "If you want, you can eat lunch with us, or dinner."

"I was gonna pop in on mum and surprise her," Charlie admitted. "Thank you, though." He was thinking hard. "Has Ron been picking up Malfoy manners?"

Dumbledore laughed. "Not really. They've been letting him have free reign over his impetuous nature mostly." He led the way down a darker hallway, frowning up at the missing candles. "The House Elves must be replacing them." He stopped in front of a portrait, or where it should be. He pounded on what seemed to be the wall and Ron opened it, grinning at him. "How do you do that?"

"Draco's got a privacy spell set up," he told him. "Why? What's it doing?"

"It made the portrait invisible," Charlie said as he walked inside. "Thank you, Headmaster. I'll see you in a few?" The Headmaster smiled and nodded, leaving them alone. "Shut the door." Ron shut the door and hugged him. "I missed you too, dingbat." He pulled back and looked down Ron's body. "The twins did a damn great job on you, Ron. You look hot."

Ron giggled. "Thanks. Come sit." He walked them up the hallway that had appeared that morning and into the sitting area, letting him have anything but the chair he took, Draco's reading chair. He loved the comfy thing and Draco would only pout at him or force him to sit in his lap if he caught them. "The hallway showed up while we were in class."

"That is odd," Charlie admitted, looking around. He whistled. The suite had almost as many rooms as their mother's house did. "Wow."

"Tell me about it," Ron said happily, curling up. "We even have our own dressing room, Charlie, a room just for clothes." Charlie laughed and tossed a pillow at him. "Do you like? I changed. The other was a bit sweaty after the dragon huffed on me."

"It's cute. Even though it is green," Charlie pointed out.

"Draco keeps buying me green, even when I protest, because he says I look good in it," Ron said dryly. Charlie shook his head, smiling again. "He likes to dress me up. It's a weak request and I don't usually care as long as I'm mostly covered." He blushed a bit and forced himself to get it.

"Bought you naughty stuff already?"

"No, but his mother took me to the place where she bought hers and I bought myself some," Ron told him. They cracked up together. Weasleys were a force of nature, usually one called Lust. "How was the preserve?"

"Good. Quiet. No giggling kids around to taunt me. It's a good thing that you and Harry thought up the idea of formalizing the last battle. Mum said almost nothing's happened. It's like they're waiting for Harry to finish growing up."

"Yeah, Draco's mother told us that his father used to complain about his master not being able to beat a little boy. I guess he's waiting until we're adults to do anything."

"Good." Charlie got comfortable. "Why don't you have to wear a uniform?"

"I do most of the time, but they're all in the wash. Draco only made me buy four of them for each form and McGonagall has fits if I wear boy clothes when I'm in girl form. The note I got from her earlier this morning said for me to wear real girl clothes instead, with a large word, tasteful, circled in red in the center of the order." Charlie nodded. "Did that dragon like Ginny more than me?"

"Definitely. It thought she was really pure and you can't argue with unicorns or dragons. They know pure girls."

"Yeah," Ron said happily. "I think she's taken with Neville personally."

"Yes, but she hasn't acted on it," Charlie said happily. "I'm going to tell mum."

"Tell her I won't be fertile until around Valentine's Day. The nurse checked for me a few weeks back."

"That's wonderful I guess. Will that hamper any plans? I know Draco told you you'd be bearing the Malfoy heir if he took you in."

Ron nodded. "May first."

"Oh." Charlie blinked a few times. "So soon?" Ron nodded. "Okay then. What do you think you'll need for the baby?"

"Sanity," Ron quipped. Charlie shook his head and groaned, throwing another decorative pillow at him. "Sorry, but we should be okay. Send stuff with dragons so the baby starts to put you and dragons together."

"Sure, Ron. I can do that. Should I tell Bill?" Ron shook his head quickly. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure," Ron agreed. "Bill's going to go ballistic when he sees my fat tummy. I'm kinda looking forward to the look on his face."

"I think you'll make a great parent. You used to instinctively take care of Ginny and Mum when you were little. It can only be easier with the Malfoys and a nanny."

"It's going to be Blaize Zabini."

"Wasn't he the one you told me was dating Harry?"

"Yup," Ron said, nodding. "He's really nurturing and his mum said he couldn't go home. Draco asked Harry if it'd bother him and he said no. The only problem I have is that Blaize can be a bit of a slut, but I'm sure he won't in front of the kids."

"Kids now?" Charlie teased. "Gonna have more than one?"

"No," Ron snorted. "But Harry might want one after the final battle."

Charlie nodded, that made sense. "I only hope he wins, Ron. Tell him we're all pushing for him at home." Ron nodded. "So, give, what's the nastiest part of being a Malfoy now?"

Ron beamed. "Draco has these ideas that are just naughty enough to be indecent. Mum would definitely shit bricks if she knew about some of them. He's going to have me in a naughty outfit for Halloween and all that."

Charlie gaped. "He's what!"

"I agreed," Ron said with a grin, running a hand over her stomach. "I'll be like this."

"I don't care! You don't need to be flaunting yourself, you're a married woman now, Ron!"

Ron laughed. "Charlie, I can be naughty and be married. I'll be fully covered, just naughty. My husbands will be with me the whole dance."

"They'd better be." Charlie frowned at him. "You should be more like mum, Ron."

"I am, Charlie. Even she had naughty clothes. Or didn't you ever play in her closet?" Charlie blushed. "Ah-ha! She said you had found those before me when I was helping her clean over the summer!"

Charlie laughed. "I found them as a kid and played dress up in them," he whined. "Besides, you're married."

"Keep it up, I'll find someone for you too," Ron taunted. Charlie scooted closer and pulled him over to tickle him until he gave in.

***

Draco looked over as Harry joined him for dinner. "Why is your hand bleeding?" he whispered.

"I hurt it in Herbology," Harry told him, moving it away from him. Draco pulled it closer to look at, making him frown. "It's fine, I've bandaged it."

"It's not fine, you're still bleeding," Draco countered. He put some pressure on the wound before looking at it, more to blot it than anything. "You are to go to the infirmary directly after dinner," he ordered.

"Yes, Draco," Harry sighed. He rebandaged himself and dug into a light dinner. "I have practice tonight."

"I saw. Did you see that we now have a hallway?" Harry shook his head. "We do. It appeared while Ron and you were snuggling the dragon."

Harry looked at him. "Don't worry, we like you more." A few of the nearby Slytherins laughed. He shrugged. "I do. His breath's not as hot when he breathes on my neck." Draco pinched him, making him flinch. "Sorry, Draco."

Vincent looked at him. "Harry, Millicent's sorry she said that." Harry shrugged and ate a small bite of mashed potatoes. "She really didn't understand."

"It's all right, Vincent. I doubt she could," Harry said with a touch of bitterness in his voice.

"What did Millicent do?" Draco asked calmly.

"She yelled...." Vincent let off when Harry kicked him. "Sorry, Harry."

"It's nothing, Draco. It's happened before and I'm fine."

"Is that why your hand's bleeding?" Harry nodded. "Did you stick yourself?"

"By accident," Harry admitted. "I'm fine." He went back to his meal, ignoring the stabbing pain in his hand. He'd have it checked out later if it didn't quit hurting. He was used to pain. Draco lifted his hand to look at but he couldn't pull it back. "Draco!"

"Stop," he warned. "You've probably got dirt in it or something nastier." He unbandaged it and looked at it again, noticing the dirt. The stab mark was in that space between the thumb and the first finger on Harry's left hand and it didn't look good. "We're going to the infirmary together," he decided, putting it back on the table. "It's got dirt in it," he said when Harry looked at him.

"I'll be late for practice."

"Cummings," Draco snapped. The team captain looked up at him. "I'm taking my husband to the infirmary, it looks like he broke his hand. He'll be late." The captain nodded and glared but went back to his meal. "There," he said, staring Harry down and daring him to argue. Harry glared back. "While we're in there, you will tell me what happened." Harry started to get up but Draco stuck him to his seat. "There will be no fits at this time; you can throw one later, when we're alone." He handed Harry his fork. "Eat."

"Bastard," Harry muttered.

"Yes, a pushy one," Draco agreed dryly. "One who cares enough to not let you lose your hand from an infection because I know you won't have it looked at." Harry looked down. "Thank you." He patted him on the back. "This is part of caring for someone," he said in a gentler tone of voice. "I know you won't get it looked at so therefore I am taking care of you by making sure it isn't hurt worse. I think you may have broken your thumb bone," he explained. Harry shook his head so Draco touched it, making him flinch. "Yes, I think you did. Hurry up and eat, we'll go up there early." Harry put down his fork. "Surely you need more than that."

"I'm not really hungry," Harry told him, waiting for Draco to unstick him from the bench.

"Eat the meat anyway. I'm sure you'll need it. I won't have you losing weight again this year." Harry slumped and he hugged him, kissing him on the ear. "Is it happening again?" he whispered. Harry nodded, stabbing his meat repeatedly with his fork. "Then shelter behind me. We handled it before and we can again." Harry gave him a look, his eyes looking hopeful. "I promise, you can shelter behind me, I won't have you harmed." Harry nodded, starting to eat slowly. "Thank you." He kissed him on the cheek. "We're taking off the weekend after Halloween," he whispered.

"Mr. Malfoy, remove your lips from your husband's face," Snape said coldly. "He can feed himself."

"I was encouraging him to eat, sir. He's got a painful hand and came here instead of the infirmary. But we're leaving now." He unstuck Harry and led him out by his good hand, cuddling him against his side on the way up the long marble staircase. "Madam Pomfrey," he called when they walked in. She was crying next to one of the beds. "What happened?" He let Harry go, watching as he walked over to look at the person. "That's Pansy," Draco said, looking stunned.

Harry touched her, frowning as he looked at her arm. "It wasn't by her will," he said finally. Madam Pomfrey looked at him. "I've seen a few marks, the more insipid the green on the snake, the more they wanted it. She didn't want it." He touched Pansy's head, finding the lump. "She needs an ice pack." The nurse went to get it for him.

Draco came over to take his place. "Your hand needs looked at," he ordered. The nurse gave him the ice pack and led Harry away, chiding him about being more careful with the tools. "Pansy," he whispered, waking her. She groaned and looked at him. "Wake up," he ordered.

"Hurts," she murmured.

"That's because your mother had you Marked, Pansy," he said quietly.

"I don't want it."

"I know, Pansy." He stroked her hair back from her squashed-looking face. "We'll figure it out." She nodded. He knew she had to have wanted it a bit, otherwise the Marking would have killed her, but she obviously didn't want to join her mother in Service. Vincent came running in with Snape. "She's fine. A bit banged up. She didn't want it."

Vincent stopped a bit away, afraid to touch her. "How are you feeling, Pansy?"

"Not great. My head's ringing," she admitted. She looked at Snape. "The last thing I remember was Transfiguration this morning. I'm sorry, sir."

"It's all right, Ms. Parkinson. We will be talking later," he assured her, then he tried to smile, scaring her.

"Can we test her for the Imperious?" Harry asked from the bed he was forced to sit on. Everyone looked at him. "If she was gone that long, it could be why it didn't kill her."

"That is a good point," Draco agreed, looking at Madam Pomfrey and his Head. Snape pulled his wand and did the check, closing his eyes before he was finished. The glow was noticeable to everyone within a few inches of her. She was not only under it, she was under more than one compulsion. Draco looked down at her. "Pansy, do you feel anything toward Ron?" She started to cry and he held her hands so she couldn't move. "I'm sorry," he whispered, giving her a hug.

"I won't go near her, Draco, I swear," Pansy promised.

"I know you won't. We'll make sure of it," Vincent assured her as he stepped closer. Pansy relaxed again.

Harry walked over. "Pansy, I hate this curse more than most of them, I'll do my best to find a way to break it for you." She nodded, blinking her big, wet eyes at him. "Just hold on, it'll be okay."

"I know. You save people," she told him. She sat up and started to hug him but Vincent caught the hand moving toward her hairpin. She started to cry again. "I don't want this!" she shouted.

"Shh," Draco soothed, using the pressure points on the back of her neck to put her out. He had found them when he was five and they had been fighting. She passed out under his gentle pressure and looked at his friends and Snape. "What do we do now?"

"Removing her is a sure way to protect Ron but it means she'll be in more danger and probably be made to do all sorts of icky things," Harry noted. "I say we leave her here and warn people. The house will watch out for her," he told Draco, looking at him. Draco nodded. "Thank you." He walked out, going to hit the walls outside the room. Madam Pomfrey rushed after him, stopping him from breaking more bones.

Draco nodded at a chair. "Get that for me, Vincent. I'll sit with her for a bit. She'll be panicked when she wakes again." The chair was gotten for him and he sat down. "You can tell the Headmaster that we'll deal with her, Professor Snape. She'll be protected from use."

Snape looked at him. "Do you think you're that strong?"

Draco nodded. "Yes, I do. It may be the fallibility of youth, but I think we can at least give her boundaries and keep her from hurting people." Goyle sauntered in and he frowned. "Out!" he ordered sharply. Goyle flinched but he didn't move. "Now!" He walked out again. He looked at Vincent. "He approached Ron in the halls about taking up with him."

Vincent's eyes narrowed. "Can I kick his ass again, Draco?"

"Let him be," Snape warned. "I will have a discussion with him." Vincent snorted in derision. "You don't think he'll listen?"

"No!" Vincent walked out, going to 'talk' to his old friend. Goyle hadn't changed since they were young, he needed to see the beauty of growing up. He found him staring at Ron and punched him. "You leave her along, Gregory. I won't have you anywhere near Draco's family, especially not Ron. He told me not to hurt you, but I will if you go near her." He walked off, going to watch Harry practice. He was pissed and the beaters weren't that nice to him, they were going to try for him again this practice. He saw Harry pull a Keeper's trick and use the tail of his broom to hit the bludger back at the beater and grinned. Harry would be fine. He flopped down beside Ron, putting an arm around her. "Goyle's been watching you again."

She picked up his fist to look at. "I take it you two talked?" He nodded. "Good. What happened to Pansy?"

"She's under the Imperious. Don't go near her without protection. We're pretty sure she's programmed to harm you and Harry both." Ron looked at him and he nodded. She let his hand go. "Just be careful."

"I usually am," Ron admitted, watching his husband fly around. He had already caught the snitch once but the Captain had told him to let it go, the rest of the team still needed practice. Harry caught it again and flew it down, then came to sit beside him. Ron looked at his injured hand, stroking it gently. "How many bones?"

"Four now," he said lightly. "I'm fine. I took the medicine."

"I'm glad."

"No you didn't," Vincent countered, frowning at him. "I'm going to tell Draco on you, Harry. You need to be in working order to soothe the savage Ron monster." Ron giggled, punching him on the arm. "He does! Otherwise you'll run right over top of the both of them and then have to do yourself when you wear them out."

"It wouldn't be the first time," Ron quipped. "Draco happens to like that."

Harry took his hand back. "I did so take the medicine and I'm sure I can please her greatly later, even if my hand isn't better." He shot a glare at Vincent, making him flinch. "I'm fine!"

"I'm sure you are," the captain said as he flew toward them. "We're still practicing."

"Unless you want me to train for another position, I've already caught it twice," Harry countered.

"He's got a broken hand," Ron told him.

"So?"

Harry growled as a bludger came their way again, grabbing the Captain's bat to hit it back at the idiot who had sent it their way. "I've had enough of that." He climbed onto his broom and went out to 'talk' with the beater. The captain flew after him but he had gotten a few good blows in before he was pulled away from him. "You will not try to hit me again!" he warned. "I do retaliate. Remember that!" he shouted as he was drug off by the Keeper, Blaize.

Madam Hooch blew her whistle from the ground. "What is going on here?"

"Potter's snapped," the beater called down. "He hit me with a club!"

"He's been hitting bludgers at me again," Harry countered. "He's damn lucky I haven't shoved one up him yet!" He struggled but Blaize had a firm hold on him and was nearly pulling him off his broom.

She pointed at the ground. "All of you, down here." They landed and she looked at the two fighting parties. "Maybe you should try each other's positions?"

"I'd be happy to be a beater, at least I know how to unseat a chaser," Harry agreed.

The captain glared at him. "Enough, Potter! You may be famous, but that doesn't cut it with us. One more word and you're off the team."

"Fine," Harry said, picking up his broom. "I'll send Draco out since he's our backup." He walked away, gathering Ron and Vincent with him on the way out. He found Draco in the infirmary. "You're wanted at practice as the official team Seeker," he told him, handing off his broom. Madam Pomfrey grabbed him and forced him to drink the medicine for his hand.

"He got hit in the shoulder too," Vincent offered. He looked at the confused Draco. "Patterson," he said in explanation. Draco nodded and relinquished his spot to Harry while he went out to go play. He was their backup and very good in his own right. Vincent held Harry still while the nurse checked him over.

"How did you hit him with a broken hand?" she shrieked, making everyone flinch.

"With a bat," Harry told her. "I didn't hit him with my fist!"

She swatted him and went to make sure she had enough potion for another bout of male stupidity. Then she called Molly Weasley to complain to her. She could usually control Harry.

***

Draco looked at Madam Hooch as he walked out. The team was still grounded. "Am I late?" he asked.

"Where is your husband?" Madam Hooch asked.

"Getting tended to. He was using a broken hand to beat the stupid idiot." He looked at the beaters. "Do try it with me," he encouraged. The captain started to sneer so Draco punched him, knocking him onto the ground. Then he ran a hand through his hair to make sure it was still perfect. "There, that should stop all arguments." He looked at the flying instructor. "Shouldn't we be practicing? Harry may not need it, but I could probably use a few minutes." The rest of the team flew up and he joined them.

The captain flew up. "Fine, Potter's given up this year. You're it, Malfoy." He flew off and didn't notice Draco's look at his back. "Everyone, let's do a toss up!" he ordered. Draco flew up to his position and the toss up went badly. Two of the chasers nearly banged into each other. "What are you doing!" he shrieked.

Draco whistled. "You," he said, pointing at the main chaser. "You catch any and all toss ups at the highest level. You," he said, pointing to the one on the left. "You have lower altitude skills and tricks, you catch the lower ones. Got it?" They nodded and the captain glared while Madam Hooch tried it again. This time there was no collision and they went off again. Draco noticed the left-handed thrower trying with her right hand and flew down. "Don't do that! Weasley can't block a left handed shot," he yelled.

"The England coach said I should be ambidextrous," she complained.

"Yay! We're playing Weasley, prepare for Weasley! Do that on your own time!" She nodded and tossed it, making the shot. They flew back off, aiming to come around again and try another goal. "Switch off! There's three of you!" he yelled. They passed and the first two did something to draw his attention until they were passed back to. Their most accurate shooter was that because she got all the shots. This time the unexpected shooter took it and made the goal. "Excellent," he said smugly.

"Malfoy, I'm captain!" the captain shouted.

"Then do your job!" Draco snapped. "You're a fucking beater, where're the bludgers?" The captain recoiled. "If I have to take the position from you, I will. At least I'll make sure we win!" He flew off, catching the snitch easily since it was being lazy today. He handed it to the captain, then flew off to talk to Blaize. He was watching the bouncing asses too much.

The captain glared at him then called an end to the practice. "Inside or shower," he demanded. They all looked at him, then at Draco.

Draco shook his head. "Not with as miserably as we lost last year to Gryff. We'll do ground activities for a bit." They looked stunned. "Yes, real teams do them too," he said in his best patronizing tone of voice. "Land!" They landed and he set up light targets for the chasers to throw at, while Blaize tried to block them. The two beaters were told to work with the bludgers in the air. They grumbled but did so, staying on the other end of the field so that it wouldn't get away from them, Madam Hooch orders. He looked at her. "Harry will be back tomorrow now that no one is trying to kill him." She laughed and went to help a chaser who was having a grip problem. He crossed his arms and watched both groups, back and forth. Harry didn't need the practice but these kids did.

***

Halloween came and Ron was back in her green corset and skirt outfit with a mask, walking in on Harry's arm with Draco walking behind them telling Hermione that she looked fine. She saw the appreciative looks as she was led to the Slytherin table. Hermione and Vincent stopped at the door and she pulled him to her side, which stunned a few of the Gryffs, but they had mostly heard they were going together this time to spare Vincent from some of the Slytherin females. Ron sat delicately on the bench, hoping that her top didn't come down any.

Blaize whistled. "Ron, you look hot," he assured her. "You've got a rack that I'd give up blokes for." She blushed behind her mask. He grinned when Harry looked at him. "What? I can see why you took up with her over me! It's really obvious."

She tugged futilely on the top but it was stuck in place. It didn't quite show everything, but nearly. Draco was dressed as an ancient Vampire and Harry was in his invisibility cloak up to his neck, being partially invisible. Most of the other girls had opted for similar formal outfits and masks. A few of the women had went for something more daring, one was dressed in leather with purple, spiked hair. Hermione's harem outfit won out for most daring though. No one came near her outfit. It was barely not transparent. Vincent was going to have a handful keeping her to himself tonight.

Snape walked down and stood beside him. "Stand, Mrs. Malfoy." Ron stood and let him look at her outfit. He looked at Draco.

"I put her into it," he said smugly. "That way I have something wonderful to look at tonight. I put Harry into the outfit he has on as well."

Harry stood up and flashed their teacher, showing off the simple tank top and boxer outfit. He quickly closed the cloak around himself. "I'm a bit chilly, sir. Isn't it dinner yet?"

He glared at Draco. "I should make you redress them."

"Then I'm coming back in something tinier," Ron pointed out. "He'll do it just to make you mad, sir."

"Good point," he said bitterly. "Make sure that does not dip any."

"It's stuck in place," Ron promised. He nodded and stomped back to his seat at the head table, nodding at the Headmaster. McGonagall was doing a similar check of Hermione and one other girl, who was sent back to change. Hermione was still being frowned at but apparently it barely fit within the rules. Ron sat down and curled up between her men. "You were right."

"Of course I was," Draco soothed, grinning at her. The Headmaster stood up and they pretended to pay attention. When the food appeared, Ron fed them both. "Thank you," Draco praised. She had picked their favorite foods. Harry had figured out a way to eat without exposing himself, his cloak was covering him and the table. He would be having fun with that outfit later. He could molest Harry in plain sight without anyone being any wiser.

When dinner ended and the younger students were dismissed, he led his mates out of the way, finding them a table. Harry and Ron went out to dance together, Harry's cloak was hitched together on the inside just in case it was going to slip. They made a cute couple, the well-dressed lady and the floating head. He laughed when someone tried to steal Harry's cloak, but Ron swatted her. When they came back, he led Ron out to do a small waltz. "Don't expect Harry to do many of these with you. He hates to dance," he whispered as they moved together. She smiled at him. "You are stunning in my favorite color," he noted, enjoying his view.

"I'm stunning in many colors, this is just one of them," Ron quipped, making her husband laugh. "You look handsome. Where did you find the old suit?"

"My mother sent it to me from London," he said with a shrug as they circled each other again. "Where did you want to go for the holidays?"

"Bed," Ron said simply, grinning at him. She licked her lips and he moaned. "If you're very good, I'll play victim for you, Dracie," he whispered.

"Don't call me pet names, Ron, and yes, you will be," he said, leering at her. "For the both of us I imagine. Did you remember to turn in our paperwork for next weekend?" Ron nodded, stepping back to clap as the song ended. They went again, then Draco went to steal Harry and force him to dance. When they were done with that, they went back to the table and Draco was covered with Harry's cloak, letting him molest his husband, who was trying hard to look normal. He got kicked for one thing and had to pull back, letting Harry come in his mouth instead. He checked before coming out from under the cover, appearing behind Harry to lean down and kiss him on the neck. "You taste good," he whispered.

"I'm going to suck you so hard you scream," Harry whispered back. "You're mean."

Draco kissed him again. "Of course I am, pet." He went to steal Ron from Vincent and kiss her, making her moan. "Let's go back to the table. I know Harry wants to retaliate," he whispered as he led her away. Harry had disappeared but Ron soon felt him playing with her thighs. She shifted and grabbed Draco's hand, trying hard not to make a scene. She knew she was loud. Draco kissed her hard, smothering all those noises she was making, including the final one. She pulled back and smiled beautifully. "Do you like my idea now?"

"I'll get you for it later," she promised. She felt Harry sneak off and made sure she wasn't on his cloak by lifting her feet to cross them. His head appeared at the doorway and he walked inside like he had been outside, picking them up some punch on his way over. "Thank you," she said sweetly. He kissed her, letting her taste herself. "Hmm. Drink the punch, Harry, before anyone figures it out." He sipped his and she watched as Draco drank his. She delicately sipped hers, she'd get her chance to tease her men later.

***

The next weekend found them traveling to a small inn. Narcissa had sent Ron a special bag of stuff for the experiment, and they were now stopped just out of range of sight. They turned to look at Harry, making him squirm. "We're worried about your deep-seated desire for breasts," Draco told him. "That's why we're up here."

"I overheard you," Harry admitted, looking miserable. "Do we have to?"

"We have to," Ron agreed, giving him a kiss. "I love you, Harry, but you're making me lactate. Besides, it'll make you less uncomfortable around people. Wouldn't you like to be more confident and self-assured?" Harry nodded, not looking any happier.

"It'll only last for one day," Draco promised. "Then we'll be going somewhere else." He pulled his wand. "Get one last kiss from each of us." Harry kissed them both deeply, just in case Draco messed up and he had to reage the hard way. Then he was shrunken back to an infant of about a year old. Ron picked him up to cuddle him close. "How is he?"

"A bit chilly," Ron offered, pulling her cloak around the both of them. "Come on, let's check in." She led the way, all the bags shrunken into Draco's pocket now. He got them checked in and she kept Harry occupied. He was a little fussy, struggling to get down. "Shh," she whispered. "Once we're in the room you can get down. I'll even give you a bath if you want." Harry looked at her, his green eyes studying this person he didn't really understand.

"We're going upstairs now," Draco said, taking Ron's arm to lead her up to their room. He unlocked the door and then locked them in. "Let him down, he should be walking." Harry was put onto the floor next to the bed and he pulled himself up, bouncing in place. Draco smiled at him. "This is good practice," he said, pulling Ron into his arms to kiss her senseless. Harry had walked over and was clutching his leg now. "Hello, Harry." He picked the boy up, looking at him. "How do you feel?" Harry patted his lips, then Draco's. "Do you want a kiss too?" He kissed him on the forehead. "There, how's that?" Harry seemed to glare at him. "Tomorrow, Harry. For today, you're our son." He put Harry on the bed and watched as Ron unshrunk the bags, pulling out an outfit for their new 'son'. Harry let Ron dress him, quietly sucking on his thumb. The little blue footed roamer was very cute on him and he took full advantage by going to look in the bathroom. Draco hurried after him, pulling him out of the toilet. "Don't do that, you don't know what's been in there," he chided gently as he led Harry back into the main room and closed the bathroom door.

"This is harder than it seems," Ron said as she laid down. Harry walked over and stood at the side of the bed, watching her. "Would you like a nap? I know it's been a long day for a guy your size." Draco picked up Harry and put him onto the bed, both of them watching as Harry snuggled up to Ron's chest, just like he did when he was an adult. Draco climbed in behind Ron, putting an arm around her waist.

***

Ron changed her fifth diaper of the day and looked at Draco. "I feel weird," she admitted. She did up the diaper and put Harry back down to play. "Yesterday I was touching him there and today I'm cleaning his butt."

Draco kissed her. "I feel the same way, but it's necessary." Harry was laughing as he hid under the bedspread. "Look at him, Ron. He's *happy*. I have never seen him that happy before. Have you?" Ron shook his head, biting his lip. "We should have called him by another name," Draco told her. "If we have to do it again we'll remember that."

"The spell said that doing it again would cause problems and he'd be stuck," Ron whispered. Draco nodded, putting his chin on her shoulder. "Do you really think this will cure him?"

"At the very least, this will teach him that he can trust us with everything." He kissed her cheek. "Come on, we should get dinner and bring it back up."

"We can't leave him," Ron sighed. "You can't leave a kid his age in a hotel room, not even for a few minutes." Draco looked stunned. "Yeah, that's what not having a nanny is like. You're constantly the parent, even when you're busy." She picked Harry up, holding him close to her chest. "Come on, let's get dinner sent up. Would you like some veggies?" Harry spit at her and stuck his fingers in her mouth, smiling as he pulled on her teeth.

Draco took their 'son' to hold. "We can order out or Harry can try to behave and we'll eat in the dining room. Your choice, Ron."

"Let's order up." Harry fussed and kicked Draco in the chest, making Ron take him back. "Shh. Fine, if you can behave, we'll eat downstairs with the people." She did a concealment charm on Harry's scar and made sure she had on her shoes, then they walked down, Draco opening doors for her. "Thank you." The hostess seated them in a corner booth, getting Harry a high chair, then left their menus. Ron smiled at Harry. "What would you like to eat? They have hamburgers, spaghetti, veggies, beans, pot pie, and some sort of chicken stir fry." Harry pounded his hands on the table, spitting at her. "If you don't give me an idea, I'm getting you veggies."

Draco suddenly smiled. "I can still hear him, he wants messy stuff. Get him the stir fry." Harry spit at him. "Fine, the spaghetti. We'll have to give you a bath anyway." Harry settled down until the nice waitress brought him a glass of milk in a magically tip-proof cup. He drank some of it, spilling a lot down his chest.

Ron 'tsk'ed and cleaned him up a little, then smiled as the waitress brought them a chilled pitcher of milk. "He's been such a good boy," Ron told her, smiling at her. He noticed Harry was trying to charm her himself.

"He seems like a happy baby," the waitress agreed, going to check on another table.

Ron pinched Harry on the nose, but smiled brightly at him. "No picking up women, Harry." Harry babbled at him and tried to grab Ron's chest.

"Maybe we should have went back farther," Draco muttered. Ron kicked him under the table so he shrugged. "It would have gotten the same point across."

"I don't think that would have been a good idea," Ron said dryly. "His favorite activity would have driven me nuts next week." Draco nodded, understanding what she didn't say. Their food was brought and they took turns feeding Harry, making him a very happy toddler.

***

Harry woke up the next morning and found himself in a different room. He yawned and stretched, running into someone laying behind him. "Morning," he whispered.

"Afternoon," Draco corrected, stealing a kiss. "How do you feel?"

"You were right, I do feel more connected to you," he admitted, letting himself be snuggled. "I feel better about a lot of things."

"That's because you know we won't abandon you," Ron said as she slipped back into bed in front of him. "Not even the cranky asshole can take you from us."

"Will we have to do it again?" Harry asked, snuggling down on Ron's breasts. The *need* to suck them was gone, but the liking of that act was shouting at him to have fun. He could ignore it now though, and that was what they had been trying to accomplish.

"If we do it again, there's every chance you won't reage," Draco told him. "There are other ways if we have to, but I doubt we will." He leaned across Harry to give Ron a kiss. "Do you want to suck on her?"

"Yeah, but it's more sexual now than it was," Harry admitted, nearly salivating at the hard peaks poking him. He turned his head and latched onto one, playing more than sucking this time. "I like this," he noted as he switched between them.

"We'll keep that in mind," Ron said dryly, pushing Harry's head down. "It was odd changing your nappies. Cleaning the stuff that the day before I had been sucking on." Harry shuddered. "Sorry, Harry."

"That's okay, Ron. In my head, you were different. You were Ginny. You can make me a nephew or something if it helps."

"It does," Ron agreed, forcing herself to think about yesterday like that. Draco smirked at her so she pinched him on the Adam's Apple. "You behave, Mr. Malfoy, or we're doing it to you next." Draco kissed her, then kissed Harry. "Thank you, Draco."

"You're welcome." He checked the clock. "We only have four hours before we have to go back to school. Let's make the most of it." Harry crawled between them and let himself be cuddled by them, making it worth it.

***

Harry looked up as someone knocked on the door. "Come!" he called, not lifting his head from the middle of Draco's chest. Snape walked in and he waved. "What? We still have two hours before we have to appear."

"You were not where you said you would be," Snape hissed. "Where were you?"

"Doing some psychological healing," Draco told him. "Get over it." He patted Harry on the back. "We were perfectly safe, simply in another inn for the night." Harry kissed his chest and closed his eyes. "If you wanted you could stay and watch, we don't particularly care." Snape's face turned splotchy and he started to make unintelligible noises. "Harry, do you want to show him what your favorite thing is?"

Harry beamed at him. "Sure, Draco." He lifted Draco's shirt, working his head under it. Snape disappeared with a pop. Not that Harry cared at the moment, he was having fun.

Draco pushed on his head. "I meant the other one."

"Fine," Harry sighed. "Make me do nasty things to you." He shifted lower and blew a raspberry on Draco's stomach, making him swat him. "Ha! Got you." He laughed and ran off, heading for the bathroom and Ron.

"I will stop that bad habit of yours," Draco warned, heading after him.

***

Ron led the way into their room, noticing that a few of the doors were missing. "Either the castle decided we had too much or the privacy spell burped again," he said as he headed for the bathroom. He locked the door so Harry could come 'help' him.

Draco walked in with their bags floating in front of him, looking around. "I see they've taken Vincent and Hermione's rooms," he said dryly. "Plus the dressing room." He shrugged. "Ron, we don't have any clothes, you'll have to go naked tomorrow," he said, after noticing the new picture on the walls. Obviously an attempt to spy on them. The bags were dropped onto the bed and a house elf appeared. "Where did the dressing room go?"

"Professor Snape stoled it, sir," she said, averting her gaze from him. "Him say he see you now or else." Draco patted her on the head, making her squeak. "Shiny put up?"

"No, leave them alone for now. Who knows where they'd end up." She nodded and disappeared, bringing them a small tray of drinks. He nodded his acceptance and she disappeared, leaving them alone. He walked out to the living area, finding Harry asleep in his chair. He tugged him up and forced him to finish waking up. "Ron, we're going to conference with Snape. All our clothes are in his rooms," he called.

"Give me a moment and I'll join you," Ron called.

"Follow us," Harry called. He let Draco take his hand and walk him out of the room, heading to Snape's private quarters. He even let him knock. It's not like their little experiment had made Harry like people more. Snape opened the door and let them inside. "You stole our clothes," Harry told him.

Snape looked him over. "I suppose the castle did move them down here," he admitted dryly. "Such accusations are not worthy of you." Someone knocked on the door so he opened it. His mouth fell open and he started to mumble again.

"Draco, I didn't have anything clean in the bags," Ron said as she walked in. "Where are the dressers?" Draco pointed at Snape. He hit him on the arm. "You took my clothes. That means I either have to wear this towel, something that I've worn in the last two days, or a leather outfit I found under our bed that makes my Halloween outfit look like one of McGonagall's nightgowns." Snape opened the door for her, letting her go find clothes.

Snape finally got himself under control. "I'll have that room moved back," he said quietly. "You did not need the rest, especially not that viewing room."

"Is that what it does?" Harry asked, looking at Draco. "What was Hermione viewing?"

Snape fell over in a dead faint. That had been one too many shocks to his system.

Draco shrugged and kicked him on the leg as he walked past him. He found the book to change the castle back and found the pertinent part in the index. He cast the complicated charm and felt the castle answer him. "May we please have back our things? We really would like it." It showed him a picture and he shook his head. "We have bad memories of those rooms," he whispered. "Anywhere but there." The castle shifted and they found themselves in a large hallway. He took Harry's hand and led him out of it, into their sitting room. The hallway shifted back to Snape's quarters, leaving them in their tower. "Thank you," he whispered as he unlinked. He heard one last comment and laughed, shaking his head. "If you want it, we won't object." The castle shifted one more set of rooms into their new home and then it disengaged, very pleased with its machinations. Draco opened the new wooden door behind them. "Granger!" he yelled down the stairs. A door on the next level opened and she poked her head up. "It's fixed. Figure out what part of the castle we're in." He closed the door. "Where is Ron?"

"In the dressing room," Ron called, coming out in the leather outfit. The outfit was mostly a leather bra connected by straps to a skirt so short she couldn't sit down in it without flashing people. Underneath, she wore a set of black stockings and a pair of four inch heels. "Do you like? Hermione helped me pick it out." She curtseyed to them and Harry nearly passed out. He wobbled but Draco forced him to sit before he blacked out. Ron smirked at Draco. "I sent my mother a description of the outfit and she said it sounded darling. Do you think we should send her a picture?"

Draco wiped the drool off his chin and stepped closer, kissing Ron as hard as he could. "You're not leaving the rooms with that on," he ground out.

"Rip it off her," Harry encouraged, struggling to get up. His knees were still shaking too much to allow much movement. "Then we won't have to worry about it."

Ron grinned at him. "I got one in dark forest green silk too," she teased. "It's got less material." She ran a hand over the bare spot on her stomach. "Are you sure I can't wear it around, Harry?"

Harry swallowed and whimpered, holding out his arms. She strolled over, sitting in his lap. He could feel that she wasn't wearing underwear. "If you wear that out of here, I'm going to have a heart attack," he told her. "If I don't, McGonagall will."

"Then what will the school do?" Draco quipped. He opened the door when he heard the footsteps. "Headmaster," he said happily, glancing back at Ron. She stood up and adjusted the skirt, then walked over to join him at the door. "We only asked to have our dressing room back," he said with a smile. "Otherwise Ron would have to wear that to dinner."

Dumbledore looked at her outfit, then blinked a few times. He turned and walked away. "I'll see you after dinner," he said firmly. He slammed the bottom door.

Vincent came out of their room and strolled up, stopping when he saw Ron's outfit. He turned around and went back to Hermione's side, kissing her gently. "You've got to see this." He led her up to where Ron was teasing Harry, letting her see it. "Stand up and show her," he encouraged.

Ron stood up and hugged Hermione. "Remember this one?"

"You helped her buy it?" Vincent said, sounding a bit hurt. "You didn't get yourself one?"

"Who said I didn't?" she teased, pinching him on the stomach. "We've got the Marauder's Map and it says we're in the old section of the school. If we walk out the door and down two flights, we're in front of the chamber where Fluffy was put." Harry nodded, remembering that. "Did you get a spying portrait too?"

"Dogs," Harry said, pointing. "Where's Sable?"

"Napping in our bathtub," Vincent told him. "He's been spoiled all weekend and hasn't missed you too much." He shrugged and pulled Hermione closer. "Can you put on yours for me?" he pleaded. "Just to let me see?"

"I'm still mad at you," she pointed out.

"Please? I'll apologize any way you want," he promised. She gave him a look and he knew he had just offered her a free pass to not only tease him, but also to get him to do anything for a very long time. Not that he would regret it. He had seen some incredible things in the house that she would think were too much even to watch. She smiled and beckoned him back to their rooms. He made sure the door was locked behind him and the silencing charm was applied. Draco would tease him forever about it, but he was going to enjoy this most likely.

Upstairs, Ron was sitting in Draco's reading chair accepting Harry's worship. Draco was preparing the bedroom for them to have some fun.

***

Dumbledore looked up as the young woman's portrait came back from the new suites, looking stunned at her blush. "What are they doing?"

"I dared not look with the noise that Head Girl was making. Shameful, simply shameful. Women shouldn't do things like that!" she said in consternation and embarrassment. "I peeked about but they were under something like a thick cloak, only in leather." Dumbledore stared at her. "They were making a lot of naughty sounding noises," she continued. "The boy with her was laughing, and he sounded happy to be doing it for her, but she wasn't doing more than squealing and tugging on his hair and making those noises." She started to cry. "That poor girl, what did he do to her?"

Albus gave her a warm smile. "I'm sure they're fine," he soothed. "Thank you for looking at them for me. What about the three upstairs?"

She looked at him, eyes wide. "She was in a little, tiny, indecent green outfit and shoes. One of the boys was doing nasty things to her stomach."

"Her stomach?" Dumbledore asked.

The woman in the painting sniffed. "I don't think about lower parts. The stomach is as far down as I care to consider."

Dumbledore nodded slowly. "Would you please pass along the message that I want to speak to Minerva? So you can report this to her as well?" She nodded, going off to gossip about those students. He groaned and shook his head. "This could turn out very bad," he muttered. A female in a painting, the first Headmistress ever, coughed and he looked at her portrait. "Yes, Headmistress Arabelle?"

"Leave them alone, Albus. They're grown enough to know what they want out of each interaction and are smart enough to take all precautions." He opened his mouth and she glared, showing just how much of a Grande Malfoy Dame she was. "Leave them be," she ordered. "I've watched over my own heir a few times, he knows all the associated risks and responsibilities of his position. Do you understand me?" He nodded. "Good!" She turned her back on him. "I shall instruct Minerva McGonagall the same way. It was brilliant of the castle to send them to that unused tower. That Potter boy will need unfettered practice space where he can't hurt anyone. They have an attic for that now."

"Yes, but we can't make sure they're protected over there," he pointed out.

She snorted. "You may want to use him as a tool, but his mates know him as a person and they will protect him. Leave the boys alone, they're behaving like their age for once." She looked over as McGonagall walked in. "You will leave those three alone or the backlash will be terrible," she told her.

"Backlash? What are they doing now?" McGonagall asked, standing in front of her. The painting that had come to visit in her office had made numerous references to dirty sex but she wasn't understanding. "I thought they were making out."

"They're making love," Arabelle agreed, smiling at her. "You need to remind that man over there that the boy is a human being, one with many needs that haven't been fulfilled outside of his relationships. Then that poor Blaize boy decided he wanted to be a bit kinky and Harry wouldn't stand for it." She sighed. "It's good that Ron has taken care of him for so long. Harry needs someone like Ron."

"Yes, but we need him to train, not to shag his husband," McGonagall pointed out.

"He is," Arabelle told her, giving her a faint smile. "They're also giving him a reason to fight and win." McGonagall nodded. "Really, you'll have to start treating the boy like a person, dearie. The boy has already had enough of people trying to 'convince' him to do things for them. In my heir he found a great guardian and someone who knows people. In his wife, he found someone who cares for him beyond most anything. Together the three are a formidable force, but some still can't see past the immediate needs and their desire to not have their mistakes known about. Try to teach him better, Minerva. Albus never did know people very well."

Minerva nodded. "I'll do my best. I've always like Harry for is strength of devotion. Even though the hat missorted him."

"Are you sure?" Arabelle asked gently. "It could have put him exactly where it needed him, in the path of two strong guardians. Besides, to fight you sometimes have to be a bit slippery. Being in Slytherin helped with that. If he had been yours, he would have been just as upstanding, but stiffer and it would have been harder for him to do what needs to be done. The killing you know," she said with a mournful sigh. "Try to keep him healthy. The boys have an excellent plan, one that will give them the control and power they'll need. Support them, no matter what." Minerva nodded so she got up and went to her other portrait, going to watch the students in the halls.

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "I think we still need to monitor Harry's training."

She shrugged. "I'm inclined to agree with our illustrious first Headmistress, Albus. The boys have Harry well in hand and Draco will push him if he starts to slack off. The Malfoy sense of duty and honor, though weak in the last few generations, has shown up in his demeanor recently." She smiled at him. "What did the outfit look like?"

"Two hands-width strips of leather with straps connecting them," Albus said coolly. "We still need the boy to fight."

"And fight he will, if only so his beloved Ron isn't taken," she pointed out gently. Dumbledore looked stunned. "Really, Albus, the boy loves her. He allowed them to deage him to help him with his breast addiction." She chuckled at the confused look on his face. "I've caught him at it in the halls when he and Blaize were together. I'm sure Ron's are a constant distraction."

"Why would he have an *addiction* to that particular organ?"

"Think, man," another portrait snapped. Dumbledore looked at him. "The boy was orphaned when he was one, he was probably still breastfeeding. I doubt those creatures you put him with would have been that decent to him."

"No, I suppose not," Dumbledore admitted. He frowned at McGonagall. "I still think he needs to train harder and he won't do that when he's shut up in there."

"Maybe you should try asking him how his training is going and what books he's gone through," she suggested lightly. "I asked him why he was looking through ancient Defense books and he said he had already gone through most of the Auror-created ones." She sniffed. "The boy is going to win, Albus, we have to have faith in that."

"He picked a day when he would be weaker."

"I believe he and Draco have a plan already worked out. Draco and Harry are both planners. Ron is a nurturer and Harry needed that in his life. Frankly, I would have sent the boy to the Weasleys from the start. At least they would have treated him right." She nodded then left him alone, going to wander around and check on some of her students. She found Neville and Ginny staring at each other. "Do talk," she encouraged. Ginny looked startled. "In the absence of your mother, I will give you some advice, dear. Men are fragile creatures who are easily bent and broken. They don't understand women, that's why your brothers tried to do that potion." Ginny smiled at her. "Neville is very shy. I will expect you to treat him correctly and honorably. If you so much as hurt the boy, expect to be seeing me for a very long discussion, young lady." She walked away, going to help more of her students.

Ginny looked at Neville. "You like me?" He nodded, blushing. "Wow." She grinned. "Come on, let's talk about that, Neville. I'll still help you with your new Defense paper." She took his arm and led him away to talk in private. Now that the intolerably cute trio had moved, their former room was empty and she still knew the password.

***

By the end of the year, Harry had settled himself down. He had passed everything, he and Draco had taken top honors among their house. Ron had done as well as he had wanted to and was satisfied with the results. Hermione had gotten top honors in the school. Vincent got high enough to earn a present from his father. It was two days before they took the train home and everything was set. They had already packed everything, Hermione organizing it all, and sent it back to the house. Ron was starting to glow and smile gently at them. Motherhood was agreeing with her greatly. She was still shifting but not as much. She never switched into fully male form anymore. She was either female or both all the time now.

In all, it was a nice life. The Yule Ball had gone off perfectly. Ron had looked stunning in her gown and jewels. He and Draco had looked splendid because Draco had decided to tame his hair. The only glitch they had gone through was the month before the night of conception they couldn't enter Ron at all. It was a family tradition and a demand that the only bodily fluids that touched her vaginally were the ones she would take in that night. Harry had raised himself to the occasion, finding all new ways of making Ron squeal in delight. Draco had been tolerant of him jumping him more often. It had been a bit more tense, but Harry had studied a lot more that month as well. He looked over at his sleeping spouses and sighed. Then why wasn't he happy?

He had this itchy, crawling feeling and it was bothering him to no end. He couldn't sleep. He wanted...something. Or maybe to do something. He wasn't sure. He didn't have a clue. All he knew was that he didn't want to be there for a few days. He had to work this out for himself. He looked over at Draco, nudging him gently. "Draco?" Draco made a humming noise and opened his eyes, looking at him. "I don't know what's wrong."

Draco pushed himself up onto one arm, reaching over to stroke Harry's stomach to keep him calm. "An attack?"

Harry shook his head quickly. "That makes me feel jumpy, this is more a twitchy, something's-not-complete-yet sort of feeling, like we got when we were revising and we missed that whole month worth of papers in Potions." Draco nodded, understanding that. "I don't know what it is!"

"It's where you haven't finished figuring out what sort of adult you are," Ron muttered as she flipped over to hug him. "Mum asked me in her last letter if you had 'found yourself'. I had to have Ginny explain it to me." She looked up at him. "You need to take some time off and do things that you've always wanted to do, to find the bedrock of who you are inside." Harry looked relieved, it must have been the right thing to say.

"We can announce that you're taking a short vacation," Draco suggested. "Say that you're finding out some facts about your family that you've been putting off until you were old enough to understand." Harry gave him a grateful look. "That only leaves one problem. The tracking spells. There's two: a wellness telltale, something to tell Dumbledore that you're fine, and the tracking component, which tells us where you are."

"Can you remove the tracking one and give me something so I can find you if necessary?" Harry asked. Draco nodded. "Now?"

"Right now?" Draco asked, smiling at him. "You can't wait three more days?"

"No," Harry said, shaking his head. "I can't. I have to go now." He gave him a kiss. "There's only six more months until the final battle and four and a half before I change my life so dramatically, Draco. I have to go now so I have time to settle in and figure out what it all meant."

"Fine," Draco agreed, getting up to grab one of the dressing robes. "Granger hasn't packed her books yet, I'll see if she has my Family Charms book. Then we can create a charm on you like Ron's mother's clock." Harry's mood lightened a bit more. "I'll also make you a portkey to bring you back to us." He walked out, heading down the stairs. He knocked gently and Hermione opened the door, looking at him, still dressed. "You're still packing?"

"No, I was reading. What's wrong?"

"Harry wants to go find himself for a month."

She walked over to a bookshelf and pulled down a book that looked like a journal, handing it over. "A personal tracking charm, a remove spell charm, and the one to make portkeys."

He looked at it, nodding. "I'll bring it back tomorrow."

"He's going now?" she asked. Draco looked up and nodded. "Then I wish him luck. Suggest he go to Canada or somewhere safe for a bit. Plus, you can make an announcement and head off any thought of an attack on our leaving day." Draco looked slightly impressed. She blushed. "It's common sense." She shooed him out and locked the door, leaning against it. Vincent was leaning in their bedroom's doorway. "I impressed him I think," she said gently.

"You do it to me every day," he assured her, holding out a hand. "Come to bed, Herm. I want to cuddle your belly." She blushed and walked over, dousing the lights on her way in.

***

Dumbledore looked around the breakfast, frowning slightly. "Mr. Malfoy," he called. "Come here." Draco languidly stood up and walked up to him. "Where might your husband be?" he asked quietly.

Draco handed over the notice he had been writing. "He'll be back in a month." He looked at Snape, who nodded. He seemed to expect that. He looked back at the Headmaster. "He asked that I accept anything of his and that you not be pissed. There were many things that he's always wanted to do and now might be the only time he would have been able to get them done."

"Fine." He handed it back. "Do you have him monitored?"

"I removed the tracking part of the charm you had Professor Snape put on him and put one of my own on him." He showed him the simple color-changing braid of thread, it was blue meaning Harry was calm and fine. "I also gave him a portkey so he could reappear if we needed him and a reciprocal charm to let him know if we were in danger."

"Very well thought out," Snape agreed. "Where is he?"

"All I know is that he's not in the UK, sir. He said he couldn't do this and stay here, he'd garner attention and he didn't need that." He walked back to his seat, smiling over at Ron, who was sitting and talking with her sister and Hermione. Ron suddenly squealed and hugged Hermione hard, making her complain. He stood up and walked over, Vincent right behind him. "What's happened? Did the baby kick?"

"It's much too early for either of their children to kick," Ginny said smugly, kicking Hermione under the table. "You have to tell mum."

Hermione blanched. "I still have to tell my own," she admitted. Ginny and Ron laughed.

Draco looked at Vincent. "When and where?"

"A month from now, in the Music Room," Vincent told him, he had been hoping Draco would get pushy about this and make his life much easier. He couldn't convince her to go for a quick marriage but she couldn't stand up to Draco and Narcissa. Hermione looked stunned. "Yes, I'm making an honest child out of it." He crossed his arms and looked down at her. "Do you object?"

"No," she said weakly, starting to wobble in her seat. Ron caught her before she passed out.

"We can do a preliminary here," Ginny suggested. "That should mollify both the mothers."

"All three of the mothers, my own will throw a fit," Draco assured her. He looked at Vincent, who was grinning. "Well, help her. I'll tell McGonagall? Have the formal announcement made?" Vincent nodded quickly, moving so he could pick up Hermione and sit himself under her. Draco shook his head as he walked up to the head table, smirking when he saw the curiosity. "I believe Ms. Granger and Mr. Crabbe will need you to mediate an agreement between them so they can sign a marriage contract," he told her, loud enough for the rest of the table and any nearby students to hear.

McGonagall squealed like a little girl high on sugar and rushed down to hug them both, assuring them she had a form all ready because some students in the past had needed one. Hermione's admission that they *needed* one as well made her blush but she was still happy for them. She led them to her office, getting to work on it after quick call to Draco's mother. She spoke for Vincent.

Draco went back to his seat, smiling at his housemates, who were blatantly staring at him. "They're signing the marriage contract today," he said smugly.

"YES!" Blaize shouted, grinning madly at him. "How far along is she?"

Draco shrugged. "Not very. She probably only just found out, Zabini. That means you'll have mine and Vincent's children to look after." Blaize nodded quickly. "Good. Excellent in fact." He continued to smirk all the way through breakfast. "I wonder if Mother foresaw this," he mused.

Blaize giggled. "Probably not. She never paid that much attention to Vinnie before, Draco." He tossed a muffin at him. "Where's Harry?"

"Taking a short vacation to do some family research. He had to wait until he was out of school. He'll be back in a month." He looked at the notice and finished writing it, sending it to the family attorney with the waiting owl. "There, the announcement's sent." He dug into his food, watching as Ron ran out holding her mouth. "I do loathe morning sickness. How much longer does it last?"

"Three months," Blaize said dryly. "If you're lucky it won't be five."

"Wonderful," Draco said dryly, taking another bite of waffle. "I'll have her checked over as soon as we get home."

"Did you announce that as well?" Pansy suggested slyly.

Draco looked at her. "No, we were going to do that at the official graduation party we're hosting in two weeks. That way she's out of danger."

"Danger?" someone else asked.

Draco looked down at the fifth year who had a crush on Harry. "Malfoys are hard to bear," he noted with a touch of humor. "We're waiting until she can't be hurt by it or used for it." He saluted her with his juice glass. "Don't worry, she's very well protected."

"Good. Ron's a nice girl," she said firmly. "It's clear she adores Harry." She nodded and went back to her meal. A few of the other girls laughed but she ignored them.

Draco smirked at his plate. That was one more crush broken by Ron's condition.

***

Harry withdrew three large bags of money and headed out of the bank, walking down to a travel agency for wizards. He walked in and looked around. "Hello?" A middle aged witch popped out of the back doorway. "I want to go somewhere."

"Be right there, sweetie. Let me put up my brekkie." She disappeared and came out a moment later. "Where do you want to ...." She stopped when she realized who it was and cleared her throat. "A short vacation?" she asked hopefully.

He sighed and nodded. "I'm taking a short turn to go somewhere and have fun before the final battle. Can you suggest somewhere? I'm looking to stay for a month." He sat down in the seat she waved a hand at. "Money's not an object."

She cleared her throat again. "Define fun?"

"There's a few things I've always wanted to do. I want to do something fun. I want to get really drunk just once. I want to see a naked cabaret. I want to ride a roller coaster. I want to go somewhere I can be anonymous and be myself."

She looked thoughtful. "I can do that. Not all in one city possibly. Not unless you want to go to America?" Harry shrugged. "You don't care?"

"I don't care where I go as long as I go for a month," he promised. "Though I wouldn't really mind some warm weather. The wind at the school has been cutting for the last week."

She gave him a gentle smile. "All young men want to find themselves, Mr. Potter-Malfoy. I know you're no different." She opened her book, using her wand to cross-reference as many of his requests as possible. "I have three options if you want to go to America. I can almost guarantee you won't be recognized. They've got their heads up their bums most days," she said with a smile. "You can go to New York, there's plenty of things to do and a lot of museums and libraries. It's a bit dangerous but nothing you shouldn't be able to handle." He nodded. "It has a good underground of bars and strip joints. I'm sure you'd like the second one a lot."

"Stripping?" Harry asked.

"Naked women dancing on a stage," she said bluntly. His eyes widened and he nodded. She smiled. "One of the other options is Florida. It's a state, but it has a number of amusement parks, all around the same area. It's also very warm and humid down there." He looked interested. "Or I can send you to the middle of the country. There's a few cities, namely Chicago and Las Vegas."

"Even I've heard of that one," Harry admitted. "Which do you think?"

"To just run wild?" He nodded. "Vegas or Florida. Florida has more roller coasters and amusement parks, but Vegas has the seedy underground you're thinking about as well, and it's all more compactly put together. Or you could do a few weeks in each." He perked up at that suggestion. "Would that suit you?" He nodded. "Good. When were you wanting to leave?"

"Now," Harry told her. She looked a bit stunned. "It hit me last night while I was watching Ron sleep."

"Ah, your woman," she sighed, nodding. "It's hard being young and in love. You can get burnt out so easily."

"Plus, she's knocked up," Harry admitted. She laughed and patted his hand. "Thanks. I love her dearly, but I want to think."

"Then we'll start you in Florida." She pulled out a few forms. "Just to make it legal to what little administration they have over there, fill these out and we'll create your temporary passport. You won't need a visa, they've got different rules for Wizards."

"Can I take my dog?" She shook her head. "Okay then, it's a good thing I left him with Ginny and Neville." He filled out the forms while she made the floo call to book him a room. When he had signed his name, he handed it back and pulled out a bag of money. "How much?"

"It'll be about seven hundred American dollars for the accommodations, Mr. Potter-Malfoy, and you'll have to budget about a thousand more for the food and treats you'll want to bring back," she said, not looking at him. "I charge a flat one hundred galleon transport rate." She smiled at him and noticed the bag, shaking her head. "You're ready to go?" He nodded. "All packed?"

"I'll buy clothes wherever," he told her. "I'm sure they've got clothing stores, or if I have enough time I'll do a little bit of shopping here."

"You'll have some. I can send you in an hour?" He nodded. "Good, then go change your spare money into American dollars at the bank and get a bag of clothes." He hurried out, leaving that one bag there. She smiled at her contact at Disney World. "He's looking for a way to find himself. I'm going to put you in charge of making his secondary reservations if he wants to change towns. I don't want to tie him down yet." The wizard on the other end nodded, smiling greatly. "Also, he wants to be anonymous. Can you set him up as an anonymous client?" He nodded again, making notes. "Thanks. One hour." She signed off and counted out the money, leaving the rest in the bag for him. Just in case he needed it. He came back forty-five minutes later, beaming like a loon and bouncing. "All right, I'm going to pop you into my contact's office, he'll get you signed in and all that, plus he'll make any other reservations you'll need if you want to go to another city or another resort. I'm putting you at the main Disney resort in Florida, that will give you access to all the parks in the area." He nodded again. She smiled. "Did you want to cover up your scar?"

"Will I have problems doing magic?"

"No," she said, waving her hand. "There's a mother load of fairy dust under the resort. You might even feel a bit overloaded. There had been a large colony there up until the turn of the century, then the person who built the resort bought it from the remaining fairy family. There's tons of magic, you'll be fine." She looked at his form, then at him. "You're sure you don't want to wait until after your birthday?"

"I'm married, I'm exempt from the underaged rules."

"Good point." She made the portkey and handed it to him. "Use this to get back to this office if you need anything."

"I have one for the house," he said with a grin before it activated. He felt the hook catch behind his navel and he was off, zipping through the ether to Florida. He landed in a spacious and sunny office, still smiling. "Hi."

"Good afternoon, Mr. Malfoy. How are you today?" he asked with a smile.

Harry chuckled. "It's Potter-Malfoy," he admitted.

"I know, but I thought you'd like to go by your married name here. Just in case and all that. There's not too many wizarding families here this time of year, but you can't be too careful." He shook Harry's hand and handed him a small rectangle of plastic and a small brochure. "That's your room key, I'll lead you to it directly. The brochure is the local tourism industry's synopsis of the area. I've stuffed the adult one in the center just in case you wanted to go that route." He waved at the door. "Shall we? I've got you set up to stay in tonight so you can get used to the time change and look around the resort's facilities, then you've got five days of passes to any and all of the resorts, however you want to handle it. If you want, I can get you more time," he said as he walked Harry down the halls. "I put you in a small suite, that way you could eat in your rooms if you wanted." Harry nodded, following the quick conversation as they walked. "I've also included a charge sheet of what you've paid for so far. If you need anything else, just let me know. You dial *592 and you'll get my office." Harry nodded again. "Give us a week, we'll manage to make you feel like a happy young lad again." He stopped in front of a cream-colored door. "This one is yours. You slide the key," he said, pointing at the rectangle of plastic, "into the holder," he said, pointing at it.

Harry did so and walked in, smiling at the simple furnishings. "I like this," he decided. He looked back at his tour director. "Do you have roller coasters?"

"There's a few in the resorts, plus a few other thrill rides, sir. Oh, you're in under the name Tinsel. It's the best I could do under short notice." Harry beamed and tipped the man, but he handed it back. "It's not necessary. I get paid a generous salary to do such things for people. Relax and get settled in tonight. The pass will be at the desk for you tomorrow."

"Thank you," Harry said, smiling as he was left alone for the first time in nearly eight years. He took a running leap and jumped onto the bed, bouncing around. "I'm free!" he said happily.

***

Draco checked his pocket watch again, Harry was due back sometime today. When he wasn't sure but he was due back today. Ron walked over and took the watch from his hand, putting it in a nearby drawer and walking away from him. "He should have been back by now," he complained, following her from the drawing room.

Ron turned to look at him. "What makes you think he stayed somewhere local, Draco? You said yourself he's far away, possibly even in Asia."

"I know," Draco admitted. "He still should be back by now."

They both felt the tingle that meant Harry was somewhere closer by. They ran outside, then to the other house, finding Harry riding up the road on a strange two wheeled vehicle. "What is that?" Ron asked.

Draco shrugged. "I don't know. Let's find out." Harry braked to a stop in front of them and gave them a sheepish grin. "Did you have fun?"

"Definitely," Harry agreed, giving them a bright, real smile. He looked at ease with himself. "Come for a ride, Draco? Ron, the guy I bought it off from said I can't take you for a ride until you've delivered. It could shake the baby loose or something." Ron shrugged. "Come on, Draco."

"Harry, that looks dangerous."

"It is," Harry admitted with a wicked grin, something they hadn't seen on his face before, "but it's fun. It's like flying on the ground. Come on, I'll let you ride behind me."

"I like to be in control."

"Then I'll teach you how to ride," Harry agreed. He patted the back sitting pad. "Come on." Draco walked over and slowly climbed on. Harry wrapped the tight arms around his stomach and took off again, making Draco's squeal echo behind them. He laughed. "See?"

"This even feels dangerous!" Draco shouted. "Slow down!"

"I'm an excellent rider and we're heading onto the bigger road." He made the turn with a small spray of gravel, nudging the Harley to go faster. He felt Draco relax. "See, just like flying!" he shouted, going as fast as he dared. Draco finally whooped so he stopped the bike, looking back at him. "See?" he said with that same wicked grin. "It's fun and dangerous."

Draco gave him a squeeze. "I'm glad you're back and you're still sane."

"I wouldn't say that," Harry admitted, then he laughed at Draco's astonished look. "I feel free, Draco. Really and truly free. I found out all sorts of stuff I liked. I did all the things I've ever wanted to do and I found myself a toy that I like. How is Ron?"

"She's fine. A bit pissed at you for being a little late," he said, fudging the truth a little. He gave Harry's stomach a squeeze, noticing the muscles. "Didn't you eat?"

"All the time," Harry agreed. He turned the bike around and started back to his mother's house. "I want to tell you guys all about it, but I think Ron might mind the naked women dancing for me."

"Why were you watching strippers?"

"Because I wanted to. They're great conversationalists. They listened to me." He pulled up in front of the house and parked, letting Draco get off first. His dog came running and he got down to hug him. "Hi, Sable. Daddy's home and he's staying home." Sable licked and jumped on him, excited for him to be back. "Get a stick, we'll play," he told him. Sable leapt off, finding a stick for a game of fetch. Harry sat on the front step and tossed it, watching as the dog ran off and brought it back. "Sit, Draco, I like talking with you."

"Let me get Ron," he chided, but he was smiling. This confident, smiling young man was not the Harry he was used to. He found Ron making them some lemonade in the kitchen and a few sandwiches. "That bike goes fast," he said in her ear.

"If you crash and make me a widow, I'm going to get Hermione to resurrect you so I can kill you again," Ron warned. She smiled and kissed his cheek. "Where is he?"

"Playing with the dog out front. Come join us." He carried out the sandwiches, nibbling on his. Neither Harry or the dog were outside, making him frown as he sat down. "Harry?"

"Coming," Harry called, walking back from the woods. "Sorry, Sable took off after a squirrel." He called his dog, bringing him back. He flopped down between his mates, smiling at both of them. "I had a lot of fun, thank you for letting me go."

"You're welcome," Ron said, kissing him gently. "What did you do?"

"I went to Disney World and rode most of the rides three times. I went to their zoo and the other parks they had and played there. I spent a lot of time on the beach thinking." He showed off his bronze tan. "I went drinking a few times and figured out hangovers not only hurt but they tend to color the whole world. Plus, I found out that a hangover in a park full of screaming and laughing children is so bad a torture I should inflict it on someone." Draco laughed, patting him on the thigh. "I went to a few clubs. I learned how to Salsa dance in Miami. I bought my bike and rode it around a lot. You wouldn't believe how easy it is to get a license when you have the right faked documents." He beamed at them. "I did some quiet thinking and some painful thinking, and then I did some things that I'll show you later." He kissed them each again. "I'm horny and I think it's about time I tasted Ron again," he said with a leer. Sable barked so he scratched his dog's ears, making him flop over with delight. "After I play with my puppy. I've been ignoring him and he deserves better."

Ron managed to stamp down her blush. "Harry, you're so different."

"I know." He looked at her. "I found that spot of inner happiness, Ron. The one that makes a better Patronius than all the other memories combined." Ron beamed. "Plus, I was a bit naughty." Ron lost his grin. "I didn't do anything *terrible*," he assured her. "I smoked a joint once. It made me dizzy and light headed. I tried a line of cocaine and now I know why so many people like it. I watched a few naked people dance around."

"Did you cheat?"

"I didn't even consider it," Harry said honestly. "I only looked because it was interesting how they were dancing. I swear, Ron, I didn't touch a single one. I tossed tips at them, I didn't even put the tips in their thongs."

"You're supposed to tip them?" Draco asked, looking confused.

"How did you think they made their money?" Harry asked patiently.

"I thought they did it for fun!" Draco said, hitting himself on the head. "So many people dance around naked and drink a lot for fun."

"No, they live off their tips and part of their drink sales," Harry told him, smiling at him.

"How were they dancing?" Ron asked.

"I'll take you to one and show you," Harry offered, smiling cutely. Ron's eyes narrowed. "Together, all of us if you want. We'll sit and watch the show and then we'll toss tips at one of them."

"Girls or boys, Harry?" Ron asked.

"I saw both," Harry admitted. "But we'll go to whichever you want, Ron. I want to share some of this with you."

"Fine," Ron sighed. "Remember, I can't drink."

"That's fine, we'll get you a soda," Harry agreed, kissing her. His dog barked, wanting his attention first. Harry looked down and smiled at him. "Greedy," he said playfully. The dog barked and stood up, giving him a pitiful look. Harry threw the stick, and Sable was off to chase it again.

"When did you buy the machine?"

"I did one week at Disney, then a week in Miami. I bought it there, then I drove it back to Disney. I got lost in the Everglades twice," he said happily. "I found a few really neat little restaurants too. Little family owned places. I even found some little old toothless ladies to chat with. They told me all sorts of stuff, including about their families and the areas I was stuck in. I did a few days in Vegas too. Did you know there was a Gringott's goblin working in one casino in case you needed more money?" His spouses shook their heads. "Only one and only in one casino. I lost four thousand dollars on roulette and poker, but I won about three hundred back on blackjack and about ten thousand on a few horse races. You really can bet on anything there. Someone was betting on how soon we have a kid." Draco spluttered, but threw the stick for the dog to calm himself. "I had to enter it and then I went to the local wizarding shop and found the copy of the paper with the announcement in it. The Daily Prophet gets over there a week and a half late."

"I'm sure they were thrilled with you," Draco noted dryly.

Harry blushed. "I did tell them who I was. They put up a big pool on whether or not I would win and how long the final battle would last. I put money down on me winning and it going over five hours but without specifying a final time."

Ron groaned and shook his head. "How big is the pot now?"

"Over seventy million," Harry said honestly. He beamed at Draco. "When I announced that Ron was indeed pregnant and when she had conceived, after telling them who I was, they shut that one down. I didn't tell them it'd be a girl though. I don't know if they're betting on that. I know they're betting on me having one or not with Ron."

"How did you want to do that?" Draco asked, stroking up Harry's arm. He felt a pad of some sort. "You're hurt?"

"No, that's covering a surprise," Harry admitted, swatting his hand. "I don't know. Did you want to be the father or would Ron?"

"You and I will have one the next time," Ron assured him. "Draco will need a spare heir."

Harry kissed her gently, making her moan. "I love you, Ron. I figured out you two and the dog were the only really great things in my life that I would miss if I lost." He stood up and went to play with his buddy.

Ron licked her lips. "I'm not sure if I should be insulted that the dog was in there," she said dryly. Harry laughed and grinned at her, that same wicked grin. She shivered. "Harry, hurry up, I want to see what you brought me." Harry gave her a panicked look. "You were gone for a month and didn't bring me a present?"

"I did, but I think I forgot it," he admitted, blushing slightly. "Let me pop to the travel agency."

"License!" Draco said quickly. "Arthur sent us a letter saying they had caught your last apparation, Harry."

"Then I'll floo over and take my license then get my bag," Harry agreed, smiling at them. "I'll be right back." He took his dog with him so they could spend more time together.

Draco and Ron shared a long kiss. "He's happy," Draco offered.

"Very happy. He's almost manic in his happiness. I think he's a bit worried."

"Or he's had too much sugar and caffeine again," Draco noted. Ron grinned and giggled, hugging him. "We'll fix him when he gets back, after he gives you your presents." He walked her into the house, leaving the sandwiches out there for the local creatures to nibble on. They ate roast beef, right?

***

Harry popped back, directly beside the bed. "They weren't impressed at all that I made my mark by centimeters," he pouted. He put three bags onto the bed and opened one, handing it to Draco. "Yours." The next one got tossed toward the closet, and the last one got given to Ron. "Yours." He sat down on the foot of the bed to watch them open their gifts. He hadn't put wrapping paper on them, he had wrapped them in t-shirts and things like that. He laughed at Draco's grimace when he saw the Mouse Ears but Draco put them on for a moment, then put them aside.

"New Orleans?" Ron asked, holding up the jar of hot sauce.

"I went for an overnight stay one Friday," Harry told her. "There was a blues band that I wanted to hear and they were playing there." He touched the bottle. "That is hotter than anything I have ever tasted, even those fire peppermint imps." Ron's eyes widened. "I thought you might like to put it in Fred or George's food."

Ron gave her best evil chuckle. "I like the way you think, Potter," she admitted. "We'll invite them up tomorrow. You missed Hermione's wedding. She decided to not wait since she was starting to show."

"She's stuffed up too?" Harry asked. Draco nodded, looking smug. "Well. I'll have to give her some of that hot sauce too."

"Her stomach's upset. She's only eaten toast and jam recently," Draco told him. He opened his next one, shaking his head at the Goofy tie. "What is this dog's name? I've seen him somewhere before."

"Goofy. He's a talking dog. You saw him on my boxers in our fifth year."

"I see." Draco put it aside. "Was there a special meaning to that one?"

"Snape's birthday present," Harry said with a leer. "It's charmed so he'll want to wear it at least once a year." Draco burst out in giggles. "There's a whole set of them in there somewhere. That's the last of the other people gifts though." Ron pulled out a beautiful velvet box, gasping when she opened it. She started to sniffle. "Don't do that," he soothed, getting up to hug her. "I thought they would look wonderful around you," he promised her. "If you don't like them, I'll get you something else."

"They have the Weasley family crest on them," Ron sniffled, hugging him as hard as she could. "I love you, Harry!"

Draco looked at the garnets, smiling at Harry for his taste. They would look stunning on her and would go with many of her outfits. He found his own piece of jewelry. "A watch?"

"A forty thousand dollar watch," Harry corrected, liking his Ron hug too much to give it up.

"Wow." Ron pulled back, making Harry pout. "I'll cuddle you after I finish opening my things." She looked at the watch. "Are those emeralds?" Harry nodded. "Wow."

"It is very pretty," Draco agreed. "How was the exchange rate?"

"Acceptable. Down about fifty dollars from the last time we had to exchange money." Harry watched as Ron pulled out a large stack of gold foil boxes tied together with a ribbon. "There's more coming in four days," he admitted. "I bought all their stock before I came back. Godiva's main store in London is shipping it to us."

Ron ripped open the first box and popped the candy into her mouth with a moan of delight. "That's it, I'm giving you twins, Harry." Harry giggled and hugged him. "Don't squish the chocolate." She upended the bag, coming out with another velvet box and one last small box. She looked at him. "More jewelry?"

"I didn't think you had any pearls and your mother told me how you had teethed on her good set. So either you keep those or you can give them to her from the both of us." He got to his knees and grabbed the last box, holding it out. "Since you're wearing his ring, I thought it fitting to get you one from me as well, to show you that I'm always there with you, Ron." He opened it and she whimpered. "It's a five carat marquise cut diamond ring with a platinum band. It's an antique and I found it at the jewelry store. It immediately made me think of your hand." He picked up her hand, smiling at her tears. "The first finger since you can't wear them both together? It is the traditional engagement finger among our kind." Ron nodded and let him slip it onto her finger, then she hugged him so hard he had to pant to get any breath. "I love you, Ron, and I always will," he promised her. He noticed Draco wiping off a subtle tear and smiled at him to show he had been caught. "You have one too," he promised. Draco dug around until he found the ring box, opening it to show off the emerald cut ring in platinum. Harry placed it on his finger and he was hugged by Draco as well. They were smooshing him between them. "Finish opening your presents," he told Draco. "I want to see your face."

"I only have one present I want to unwrap," Draco told him, pulling back to rip Harry's overshirt and t-shirt off him. He and Ron both gasped at the markings on him. "What did you do?" he asked, looking alarmed. "Will it come off?"

"The vines were done by wizardry," Harry admitted. He turned to show the heart on his left shoulderblade. It was red and had their initials on it. "That was done the normal way. As was the new one," he said, taking off the bandage to show the tribal ring around his arm. "It's Maori for fierce warrior," he said with a grin.

Ron traced the vines that started at Harry's wrists and worked their way up his arms, around his collarbone, and down his back to wrap around his waist. "It's odd, but I like this on you," he admitted.

"It was like meditation, Ron. The pain was kinda bad, but I learned so much while I was floating on it. It wiped out a lot of the petty concerns I had." He touched the vine on his left wrist. "This has another purpose. It was laid down with a protection charm and with a wellness charm. Draco, your new watch has a blinking telltale on it to show you if I'm ever in trouble." Draco nodded, looking stunned. "Ron, I couldn't do that to your ring or the new jewelry. I hope you don't mind?"

"No, not at all," Ron said, smiling slightly at him. "We can find me something."

Harry nodded, looking relieved. "I'll have to get another leaf done to add you in, but I can do that." Ron beamed. "We'll find you the linking object tomorrow." Ron kissed him. "There are a few other things," he admitted, finishing his stripping by standing up on the bed so they both had a clear view of his new piercings. "I liked the nipple ring but it fell out earlier. I'll have to get another one tomorrow." Draco touched his navel ring, it had been hidden by the leaves and the way Harry had been sitting. "That's kinda neat. It goes really well with the portkey." Ron chuckled. Harry lowered his boxers and they gasped. "I didn't like this one as much and I'm trying to decide if I should have it taken out," he admitted, touching the Prince Albert he now wore.

"Remove it," Ron ordered. Harry nodded and removed it for her, letting her heal the open spot. "Thank you."

"That was just bad," Draco said, shaking his head.

"Rather sickening," Ron agreed. "To do that to yourself! How much did that hurt, Harry!"

"I was drunk when I got it," Harry said with a shrug. They stared at him, looking upset. "I was in Vegas, alone, and missing you guys touching me. I could tell you guys were having sex. It was the closest I could get without breaking my vows."

"So you had a hole put in your dick because you wanted us to touch you?" Draco asked. "Is that an indication that we should start hurting you?"

Harry blushed. "It was the only legitimate way I could have someone hold the stupid thing for me." He sat down, looking at them. "I'm sorry you didn't like it. It was kind of interesting, but I didn't think you'd like it."

Ron grabbed Harry's chin, making him look at her. "Never again, Potter, or I'm never going to let you suck on my breast again. Got it?" Harry nodded, smiling at her. "Good. Now suck me." She ate another chocolate while he played and teased her. "You can have my breast."

"I want your lower parts," Harry assured her. "I'll play with the rest of you in a minute, once I get you to the point of getting off and watch you eat chocolates in that state." He reached behind himself and pulled out the plug he had been wearing, grinning wickedly at Draco. "I'm more than happy to help wear you out too."

"Suck her first so I can open everything else," Draco ordered, sitting down to go over the rest of his presents. He had to erase the image of that hole before he could touch his husband. That was just wrong! He'd have to tell Hermione and have her chastize him.

***

Harry walked Ron into the Burrow, holding her by the hand. "Hi, mum," he called. Arthur popped out of the living room. "And Dad," he said with a grin. "Mum in there?"

"Of course, Harry, come in," Arthur invited, going back in to sit with his wife. "Harry, we've got a bit of news. Minister Fudge was assassinated yesterday by Draco's father."

"Wow." Harry nodded. "I guess he got tired of the boot licking then." Ron pinched him. "Sorry, calling it like I remember him. The man tried to have me put in a loony bin, Ron, I'm not all that sorry he's gone. If they hurt him badly, I'm sorry about that much, but not that he's dead."

Molly smiled at him. "No, it was a straight killing curse." She noticed the box in Ron's hands. "What's that? A present from your trip?"

"I remembered how you once told me that Ron teethed on your good pearls," Harry told her with a grin. "And I found this beautiful set. I gave Ron first choice, I love to dress her up you know, but she said she wanted to give them to you."

Ron handed over the present, smiling at her mother. "For all the hell you're going to go through as a new grandmother to mine, Harry's, and Hermione's kids."

Molly let the present fall from her fingers. "Harry's?" she asked.

Harry coughed. "It's time for us to tell you two about the rest of the plans, Molly. You know that I have special gifts?"

"What happened in your sixth year," Arthur said slowly.

Harry nodded. "That's my mother's side of the family. According to her diaries, it's passed on to the first born in each generation. My mother had both types of magic and so do I thanks to my father." He smiled at her. "So I have to pass it on. It's imperative that I do so, it's tied somehow with the balance of nature and the like."

Molly gasped. "I never realized. She was always sitting under the trees!" she told him.

Harry nodded. "She had the gift of helping things grow. I have the gift of changing the nature of something. I can put a curse onto something and have it sitting there and harmless until I want to use it on someone, and I can use it as many times as I want." He looked at Arthur. "I need Gryffindor's sword."

Arthur nodded. "I'll have it sent to you, son." He smiled at Harry. "Who's having your child?"

"Me," Harry told him. The parents looked at him and he grinned. "You said yourself, Molly, I'll need to be stronger than the average *wizard*."

"I'm about six times stronger than I used to be," Ron admitted quietly. Molly gasped, getting it suddenly.

"When?" Arthur asked.

"The problem with that is the fact that a changeling's blood can be used up until the time when they're a month pregnant," Harry told him, shifting so he could cross his feet. "After that, they're immune from their blood ever being used again. Their mother's milk is another matter," he pointed out. Ron put a hand on his thigh and he took a deep breath. "Before the fight. I'll be past that critical date but not far enough to kill me if something happens during it."

Molly started to cry, getting up to hug him. "I'm so sorry this is the only way, Harry." He patted her gently as she pulled back. "Is that why you took off?"

He shook his head. "Not at all, mum. I took off because there were things I always wanted to do and to do some thinking. I went to Disney." The adults laughed and Molly sat down to open her pearls. She looked stunned when she got the box open. "Do you like them? They're about twenty years old, so I guessed they were the right age to replace the ones Ron gummed up." He grinned. "They're natural and not-cultured. They were gathered the old fashioned way and strung for me." Ron looked at him, looking confused. "The pearls were in a chest in the jewelry store. I picked out the ones I wanted and they strung them for me," he explained.

Molly beamed at them. "You didn't have to, Harry. These should go to Ron."

"I bought Ron a garnet set with the Weasley family crest on them, though I didn't know it at the time, they simply felt right to buy." Ron showed off the pendant he was wearing of the set. "See?" he said happily.

Arthur smiled at him. "I've very happy with the way you treat Ron, Harry. I couldn't ask for a better son-in-law."

"Does that mean Neville hasn't asked you yet?" Harry asked. Arthur's eyes opened wide. "He asked my opinion on how to approach you. I said do it over a dinner or directly afterwards. To let you two get to know him first."

"I thought we had seen a lot of the boy," Molly said, looking at her husband. "I think it's time you had a talk with the boy, Arthur."

"He's a charming guy," Ron assured her. "Very good at defense and very upstanding. He wants a family more than anything, mum." They looked at him. "He really is a nice guy."

"I know, dear, he's training to be an auror at the moment." Harry looked confused. "He wanted it and they admitted him in spite of his potion's grade. We'll be very delicate with the boy. Invite him over for tea or something," she assured them.

"How was America, Harry?"

"Crowded, hot, and sweaty," he admitted. He pulled off his shirt. "The real reason we came today is because Ron wants to be linked into the wellness check spell I've got woven into these," he said, touching the ivy going up his arm. "We can't find anything though. I've linked it into Draco's new watch."

Molly looked at them, her eyes going wide again. "How long is that?"

"Up both arms, around my collarbone and down my back to wrap around my waist," Harry said proudly. He turned to let her see the one on his arm and his back. "Those were done the muggle way."

"Didn't that hurt?" Arthur asked.

Harry turned back around and nodded. "All of them, but it let me clear my head of some crap while I was lying there being quiet." He put back on his shirt.

"Harry, why was your nipple pierced?" Molly asked in a faint voice.

He shrugged. "I liked it. It feels pretty nice. So does the navel one. It makes the portkey feel...different I guess is the best way to describe it." Ron squeeze his thigh and he didn't go on. "Yes, Ron."

"I don't think they want to know about your drunken piercing," Ron said quietly. Harry gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you."

"Drunken?" Molly asked archly, recovering her composure. Ron shook her head so she stood up. "I'll put these up and make some tea," she told them, bustling out of the room.

Arthur shifted some, putting his arm across the back of the couch. "What sort of talisman were you looking for, Harry?"

"I don't know. Ron can't seem to find it and I was going to let her choose."

"I've never been picky before, Dad, but I can't seem to find anything that sparks it for me."

"We've gone through four jewelry stores and the talisman shop itself," Harry continued. "She still can't find anything."

"What about using some of Harry's hair and having one made," he suggested.

"The shapes were somehow wrong," Ron told him.

"Ah." Arthur nodded. "I know it has to remind you of Harry. Do you have to have more added on, Harry, or is it already laid?"

"The wizard who did it couldn't lay a quiescent one without a talisman at hand. I'll have to have at least a leaf added. The more I have added, the stronger it gets. I'm thinking about letting it run down my legs. It'll go very well with my motorcycle."

"You brought back a motorcycle?" Molly asked as she walked in, followed by Charlie and Bill. Bill had been away for a bit and had gotten back last night. She had called him back from the twin's shop to see Ron.

Bill pulled Ron up and looked her over, then touched her barely showing stomach. "Already?" he demanded, glaring at Harry.

Harry held up a hand. "It's not mine, it's Draco's. He promised me twins because I bought him sixty pounds of Godiva chocolate," he said with a smirk. He waved at Charlie. "Hi."

"Hi, Harry," Charlie said, looking at his wrist. "What's that?"

"A wizarding tattoo with a wellness charm imbedded," Ron said, staring at Bill. "I'm really mostly happy," she said quietly. Bill hugged her hard, making her go 'oomph'. "I love you too, Bill."

"Where's mine?" Charlie asked. Ron hugged him as well, making him grin at Bill. "Mine's gentle."

"That's because I'm letting you be the midwife," Ron teased. She sat down again, smiling at Bill. "If my husbands can't take it, you're going to be the stand-in father, Bill. I figure Charlie's seen more things giving birth than you have. Narcissa is getting overly demanding with the midwife she chose so I figure she's going to quit soon." Charlie and Bill both stared at him until Harry coughed.

"She quit during that shouting match over breakfast," he said, patting Ron's hand. "I'll be there, even if I can't watch it, Ron."

"Harry, you'll be flinching and worrying about what you'll be going through," Ron pointed out, smiling at him. "You and your dog can go play outside and wait on us. Take Draco with you."

"Yes, Ron," Harry said patiently, kissing her gently.

"I didn't need to see that," Bill announced, flopping down onto the couch. "You're sure, Ron? I might be in Egypt again."

"I thought you got the job in Germany," Ron said, starting to frown.

"I do, but it's only for six months."

"Yay! You're going to be there helping Mum and Charlie. Otherwise I'll pull you back to help with Hermione and her baby too."

Harry shook his head. "Talk about a twittering mother-to-be. She's so fussy Vincent needs to escape."

Molly came back with the last of the stuff she had left to get. "Sit," she ordered, sitting on her husband's other side so Charlie could have the rest of the couch. "Ron, you could deliver in a hospital."

Ron shook his head, screwing up his face. "No Malfoy heir has ever been born anywhere outside of the manor house, except for Lucius. Draco won't let it happen."

"He said the nurse dropped his father on his head and that's the reason he went bad," Harry added. He accepted cups of tea for both of them, handing Ron hers.

"Harry, do you know how to use a sword?" Arthur asked, taking a sip.

"After I killed the basilisk, I took a few lessons from some of the school's ghosts. I'm not proficient enough to face off against someone who knows what they're doing, but I'm more than good enough to work with it in battle for as long as I need it." He gave Arthur a confident smile, stunning the family. "I'm going to call for a private combat. If he won't accept, I'm going to be in the front row and I'll work my way back to the coward."

"What happens if you hit someone on our side?" Charlie asked. "Wildly swinging a sword could get any of us."

Harry beamed at him. "My mother's books have the spell to let me control who dies. I'll make sure it only works on my enemies." He took a large sip.

"So please keep the Headmaster and Snape back," Ron quipped. Molly glared at him. "He decided to send a howler this morning to Harry, all about doing his duty and how dare he take time off to think and do what he had always wanted to do, things like that. It went on for over an hour and it reminded him that he might have to give up his life seventeen times, mother. Keep him away from Harry."

Charlie put down his cup. "He's been in battles before."

"So have I," Harry told him. "More than I care to remember. Ron was in a few of them beside me even, and so were Draco, Vincent, and Hermione. We're just as experienced as any of the new aurors they're putting out. If not more so. I've talked with Mad Eye about my plans and swore him to secrecy. He said it was a brilliant and unexpected plan, that it would put the bastard off his stride and it would make sure I had the upper hand. All things he admired in a battle plan." He looked at Ron. "You and Hermione are running the fall back spots, Ron. If you have to be there, you're going to be tending the wounded. Do you understand?" he asked calmly. Ron frowned but she nodded. "Thank you." He kissed her gently on the cheek. "I refuse to see you or baby Malfoy hurt. Draco wants to chain you two to the bed but he thought Hermione might like it too much and not let Vincent follow him." Ron blushed and everyone else laughed nervously. "You're the official person giving out information to anyone coming in. New fighters joining and the like. Draco's going to be my Lieutenant on the field. Molly's going to be the one we're giving the instructions and orders to for the Order." Ron nodded, looking a little less happy. "I expect her to be there with you." He looked at Molly. "I won't have you on that field, Molly. I don't care if you think you can beat the sucker yourself because he's already dead. If I see you on that field of battle I'm going to zap you back here into a locked closet." She blushed and nodded, but Arthur nodded, looking much happier. "Arthur, I'm going to use you and Tonks to give orders to the aurors. Can you do that?" He nodded. "Good, you're going to be with Molly and Ron." Bill opened his mouth. "You two I don't want to risk, but I'll take it if necessary. I refuse to lose any more family members to this ancient battle. Got it?" Charlie and Bill both nodded. "Good. No arguments?" They shook their heads. "Excellent. Now who gets to tie Ginny up?"

Charlie snorted. "I'll let her beau give that order. If we have to, she can guard the hospital area and float in people for treatment." Harry nodded, liking that idea. "When and where?"

Ron pulled some coins out of her pocket, tossing them over. "Hermione made these back during our fifth year for DA. We can set any message on them and they'll warm up when the message is set. Her first act is to set up the apparation point and manage it. She'll get you all there in more than enough time."

"The battle was called for December 4th at two. Be ready that day. We'll give you the spot by ten that morning so you can say anything to anyone and get there on time. I'm hoping he takes the single combat and then the rest of the Death Eaters only put up a small fight."

"Are you counting on that?" Molly asked.

Harry shook his head. "Not in the least, Molly. I'm counting more on them trying to struggle and realizing they're idiots to our larger force. But if we have to make do with only the Order, I'll do whatever I can to take more of them out." Everyone nodded. "Good." He finished his tea and stood up. "I've got a meeting with Tonks and Mad Eye. Ron, chat and I'll come get you in an hour?" She smiled and nodded, lifting her face up for a kiss. "Love you," he said with a grin before he disappeared from that spot.

"I take it he passed his test?" Charlie asked dryly.

"They weren't even impressed when he only missed the mark by centimeters," Ron agreed happily. "He's got the full license, passed all the parts within an hour. Did you know that you had to walk out of the building and back in to get your different sorts of apparation licenses?"

Molly laughed. "I'm sure it's a bureaucratic test of patience, Ron. He really did all of them? All the way up to emergency levels?"

Ron nodded, taking another sip of her tea. "He even got the emergency evacuation level apparation license. He thought it might be necessary when they told him what it was. It only took him a few minutes to learn the trick to that. That one he botched the target by a bit, nearly sending someone into the river, but he recovered them. The person giving the tests wasn't impressed at all."

"I guess they expected it of him," Arthur noted. "How are you feeling, Ron?"

"Touchy. My stomach's finally settling down but I have this massive craving for fish."

"It's a girl," Molly sighed in happiness.

Ron nodded. "All Malfoy girl heirs are conceived in the spring and all boys in the fall."

"Then Harry will have a boy?" Arthur asked. Ron nodded. "Wonderful news, Ron," he said happily, smiling at her. "You are going to be an excellent parent."

"Just remember, you can't do any of those wild things any more," Charlie teased with a grin.

"Said who? Draco's already arranged for a nanny when we want nights off." She held up a finger and dug a picture out of her pocket. "Remember that green outfit I told you about, mum?" She nodded. "This is the black version. I know you said you wanted a picture of it. Harry did like it quite a lot." He passed it to Bill, who blushed and handed it directly to her.

"I don't think she needs that sort of encouragement," Bill said, blushing a brighter red.

Molly beamed. "I had one like that but mine was in silk," she told him. "Poor Charlie tore it while he was playing dressup." Arthur and Charlie both blushed and Bill started to cough. "Sorry, Bill, I'll change the subject." She touched his hair. "It's even longer, dear, just a trim?" she asked with her usual motherly smile.

"Mum!" he said in disgust, glaring at her. "I like my hair, it's fashionable. Girls like my hair."

"Then we should be meeting many more of them," Arthur said happily. "It's a shame the younger four got married before you two."

"Four?" Charlie asked. "Percy's married?"

"Ginny's got a strong fiancé," Molly told him. "We'll be inviting him over to talk with him this week. Percy's former girlfriend decided he was strange, as you very well know."

"Percy, strange?" Ron asked. "She'd have loved this situation then, wouldn't she?"

Molly nodded. "Definitely. He said he saw her in Diagon and she pretended not to see him, even after he called her name." She finished off a little sandwich. "Ron, eat, dear."

"I just had brekkie, mum. It's not like I had to get up and do stuff early this morning. I was enjoying having Harry back." Both older brothers blushed and she grinned. "Perverts," she teased. "I was getting cuddled."

"That's all I want to think about you getting," Bill admitted, glaring at her. "What's the rest of your day like?"

"We're still trying to find me a talisman to link into Harry's wellness charm." She grabbed one of the sandwiches and nibbled on it. "We can't find anything."

"When we were first married, during the first war, I made your father get one. We linked it to the river stone pendant he had me made while we were dating," Molly told him. "Find something that says 'Harry' to you, dear, and it'll be perfect."

"I can't find anything like that. We never got a chance to date." She held out her hand, showing them the new ring. "He got it for me while he was gone, to show that I was married to him too. Draco got a square one and they're about the same size." Charlie whistled. "He said it was older, he found it where he found the rest of it." She pulled out her pendant to show it off. "This came with earrings, another, fancier, necklace, and a bracelet. He got lonely." They 'aww'ed and smiled at her. She shifted, holding her stomach. "Mum, how long did you have these expansion pains?"

"Every few weeks," she said calmly. "You'll get used to them. It's the nightmares you have to worry about."

Ron nodded. "I've had a few of those. Mostly about my daughter being raised by Harry's Aunt and Uncle. Oh, did you hear?" They shook their heads. "Their first week in Japan and Dudley got hit by one of those little cabs pulled by those boys. Ran him right over and kept going. Broke one of his legs," he said happily. The family laughed. "He swore up and down that Harry put a curse on him. One of their people sent us a letter about it and Draco had to tell them who Harry was to them." He beamed. "Apparently Japan will agree very well with the great, hulking bully."

"Speaking of," Molly said delicately. "Have you heard anything about that one boy? Goyle?"

Ron shook her head. "Not recently. Draco banished him again the other day when he tried to show up to the party. It pissed Pansy off to no end because he was her date. He's taken the Mark as well."

"I want you to be careful around him," Arthur said seriously. "I won't have you hurt, Ron."

"I won't have me hurt either, dad, it's all right," Ron promised. She stole another sandwich and nibbled on it. "The baby's hungry," she told Bill when he looked at her.

"Oh." He nodded slowly. "Best to feed it then." He handed over another sandwich. "So she can grow big and strong so she can defend herself against Harry's dog."

"I'm sure Sable will love the babies. Just another person to pet him." Ron beamed but ate that sandwich as well.

***

Ron walked out into the garden with her mother-in-law, chatting about the nursery. There was always one set up, just in case an indiscretion came back to haunt a member of the family, and Ron wanted to decorate in something other than white and silver - the family colors. "What about some murals on the walls," Ron suggested. "That could be very pretty. Even if we only put a few pictures here and there."

"We have some of those in the playroom but they're still mostly silver," she told her, smiling down at the younger woman. "I'm sure we can accommodate any reasonable request, Ron. A few figures wouldn't be so bad. Especially not with Harry's child coming shortly afterwards." She heard a noise and stopped Ron by putting a hand on her arm. "Did you hear that?"

"No," Ron said slowly, listening. "Let's go back inside, Narcissa. If you have to say something like that, you're usually about to get into trouble." They turned and found three figures in black and silver standing behind them. Ron glanced back and saw one behind them, a bigger one, and she knew who it was. She turned to face him. "You might as well take off the mask, Goyle. There's only a few people your size and the other is presently giving his..." Narcissa put a hand on her arm so she stopped. "Leave, now. Draco's right inside the door." She pointed at the study windows.

"If you scream, I'll kill all of you," Goyle said, the sneer coming through the mask. "I can't wait to see the new Malfoy heir." He stepped closer. "Hi, Auntie. Why don't you join us?"

"Because such things are beneath me," she said, pulling herself up to her most regal and imposing stance. "I want you to leave, Gregory. You are not welcome in this house or on our lands. You know this."

Gregory laughed. "They'll be mine some day." He held up a little vial. "I've got something for my future heir, Ron. Why don't you drink it?"

"Why don't you eat shit and die," Ron countered, hand already on wand. She gripped the right end, prepared to cast. Someone kicked her in the knee, making her fall with a scream of pain. "I'll kill you all," she hissed, glaring at that one.

"Take them," Gregory ordered.

"Try it," Harry said from behind him. Goyle spun to look at him. "You're touching my wife, Pansy, I'd quit now. Before I leave you like that," he called. "DRACO!" Draco came running, just in time to see them disappear. "I'm going after Ron."

"I've got him," Draco agreed, waiting until Harry was out of the way to start the fight with his old friend. "You dirty bastard," he swore. "How dare you try to touch my wife! Or my heir!"

Goyle laughed, throwing a punch. Draco's head spun but he stayed on his feet. "I have a potion to make sure it's *my* heir, Draco. Your father made it for us. He doesn't like your family either. Ron's not good enough for you." He took off his mask. "Or maybe she's too good. Playing at being a good boy? Don't worry, I'll handle her and teach her the right way to act."

Draco calmly lifted his wand then tossed it aside, leaping at the other guy to rip him with his bare hands. It was an instinctive urge and he wasn't about to fight it. By the time he got done pummeling the corpse, you could barely tell it had been human.

***

Harry landed right behind the trio and Ron, hexing them before they knew he was there. Their screams as the pain of their skin popping up and blistering like popcorn was popping under it was beauty to his ears. He grabbed Ron away from them and glared at the other person in the clearing. "Look, it's our father-in-law," he said coldly. "Hi, dad." He stroked Ron's stomach. "It's too late. She's protected, the both of them." Lucius crossed his arms and glared at him. "You and I will meet some day soon, Lucius. December 4th. Be there." He took Ron back to the house, landing beside the bloody puddle. "Eww," he told Draco, handing Ron off. "Narcissa?" he called. He found her collapsed in a bush and felt her neck for a pulse. "Draco! We need help, your mother's poorly off," he called. Draco rushed over, helping by lifting her. "I'll call the hospital or I'll take her," he told his husband, holding out his arms.

"We'll be right behind you," Draco promised, handing over the precious burden. He had to trust Harry to take care of her. He disappeared and he went to get Ron, who was throwing up, and take her to the hospital as well.

Harry landed in the Emergency Department. "Help! She was attacked!" he called, bringing mediwitches running to take her from him. "That's Narcissa Malfoy." A few of them looked at him. "Her son's coming with our wife," he said as he followed them, looking grim. She was so still. She barely looked like she was breathing.

One of the healers looked at him, doing a double take. "What happened? We haven't seen an attack recently."

"One of her son's former best friends decided to try and get her pregnant daughter-in-law to make Draco mad. It worked, he's a puddle in the garden." He crossed his arms. "They're coming as soon as Ron quits throwing up." The healer nodded and he was gently pushed out of the cubicle to wait in the hallway. Draco came running and he hugged him, but he got pushed away. "They're working on her. Where's Ron?"

"Coming with her big brothers. Molly's called someone to get Goyle's body." Draco looked at him. "Why didn't I hear?"

"Because they didn't shout. I wasn't that far away and even I didn't realize it," Harry said calmly, sitting Draco down on a chair he stole from behind a desk. "We'll give them twenty minutes then bother them again. That should give them enough time to figure everything out." Draco nodded, clutching his hand now. "Shh, I'm here and Ron's coming," he soothed, stroking Draco's hair. Ron and Charlie came running. "They're working on her now." They settled in to wait as well, Ron clutching Draco as hard as she could.

***

Draco knocked on Snape's personal door, giving him a bland look as soon as it was opened. "You're my mother's caregiver if something happens?" he demanded. Snape visibly swallowed but he did nod. "She's in a coma at St. Mungo's. Goyle and his goon squad were going after Ron while they were walking together." He took a deep breath. "The only reason I'm not in jail at the moment is because Goyle was wearing Death Eater clothing and had the mark. That and I had to fight them to make sure they didn't get Harry. Come along."

"Let me get my cloak," Snape ordered, walking back to grab it. He followed the boy out and to the hospital, nodding at the people gathered. "How is she?"

"She got hit with a beater's club or something," Harry said tiredly. "She's got a big spot on her skull that's been fractured. About a fist wide." Snape looked at him and he shrugged. "I listened while Draco went to get sick. That's where the Law Enforcement people found him." He glanced around but he knew Ron was safely with the twins. He looked at Snape again. "Draco was nearly destroyed when he found out you had control over her decisions and not him."

Snape gave him a grim look. "She and her former husband both did that because I could make unemotional decisions." He looked down at her. "I will speak to the healer." He walked off, going to find someone who could give him technical facts and odds. What he heard didn't please him. She was all but dead, her brain wasn't working. It was only a matter of time. He nodded his thanks and went back to the room, finding only Draco there. "Did you send them off?"

"Harry escorted the Weasleys home," he said quietly, looking at his mentor and Godfather. "What?"

"Her brain's already stopped working, Draco. She won't recover from this. It's only a matter of time so say your goodbyes now."

"How can you be so cold!" Draco spat. "You were her best friend, her confidante, even her lover at one point in time!"

"I was, that's why I know she wouldn't want to stay this way," Snape said quietly. Draco shook his head and tried to push past him but he stopped the boy, making him look at him. "It is time, there is nothing anyone can do. Even if we pulled some of the darkest magic up and resurrected her, she wouldn't be herself and she wouldn't want it." Draco started to cry and he held the boy stiffly, trying to soothe him. When Harry came back he gladly handed him over to his husband's care, weathering the glare. "Her brain is no longer working," he explained. Harry nodded, understanding. "We can only wait for the inevitable."

"Thank you, Professor. May Draco have a moment?" He got a nod and looked at his husband. "If I could do something to spare you this pain, I would," he whispered. Draco nodded and wiped his face off. "Talk to her now. It's said that the dead can hear you if you're sincere enough." He left Draco alone, knowing he didn't want to be overheard or watched. When his husband came out, he reached out to him but Draco shook him off and stomped off, heading back to the house. Harry sighed and settled in to wait for the end. Narcissa had welcomed him to the family and had taken good care of him, it was the least he could do. He looked at Snape. "Hermione and Vincent are in Paris," he said quietly.

"I'm sure they'll be found and told," Snape told him, patting him on the shoulder. This boy stood up to so much pain without flinching. This was the man everyone was pinning their hopes on and for the first time he could see a glimmer of hope. They walked into the room, taking seats on each side of the bed to hold her hand so she wouldn't be alone.

***

Hermione giggled as she led the way inside, but stopped when she saw Molly. "Ron?" she asked, fear making her drop her bags.

Molly smiled and shook her head. "It's a bit worse than that. Where is your mate?"

"He's coming. He's trying to get Sable inside." She opened the door, noticing Vincent on the stairs with Draco. She shut the door and looked at Molly. "What happened?"

"Goyle came to hurt Ron. He only had her for a few seconds, Harry went after her, but Narcissa was in his way. She died about thirty minutes ago." Hermione shook her head. "Yes, dear."

"No. I had breakfast with her this morning," she said, still shaking her head. She shook it more fiercely. "She can't be dead!" She grabbed Molly. "She isn't!"

"Shh," Molly soothed, pulling her into her arms. "I know you liked her because she accepted you but she is gone. There wasn't anything anyone could do." The girl sobbed on her, only letting go once her husband was inside. She stopped Draco before he could walk off. "If you need any help or to talk, I'm here, Draco," she pointed out, staring into his eyes. She saw no emotion in there. He gave a curt nod and got free, going into his study and locking the door behind him.

Vincent looked at her. "He idolized her, Mrs. Weasley. He'll be okay eventually."

She hugged him. "If any of you need me, you only have to call, dear." She went home, going to spread the bad news throughout the Order.

***

It was seven days after the funeral and Harry was giving the closed study door a worried look. The house elves were delivering food and Draco was eating it, but he hadn't come out since his mother's casket was covered. He looked at Ron, who shook her head and pulled him into a sitting area next to the study. "He'll be fine," she said calmly. "It's a bad thing to lose one's mother."

"I know," Harry said, holding her hand. "I should have seen it happening, I was only on the other side of the garden."

"You got there as fast as you could and you got me back," Ron soothed. "You did all that you reasonably could, even getting her to the hospital almost as soon as you found her. He'll be fine in a few days or so."

"Now isn't the right time," Harry sighed.

"There isn't a good time to lose a mother," Ron pointed out.

"No, but he didn't need the additional strain. He was already stressed by everything else and he didn't need this on top of it." He looked toward the study. "I do wish it hadn't happened, but if it did, I wish it had happened some other time."

"I know," Ron agreed, understanding what he meant. Draco threw something against the wall separating the two rooms. "He only meant that you didn't need the additional strain and wished that you had more time," he called. Something else hit the wall. "Shit." She started to move but Harry kept her in place. "He could use some comfort."

"The door's locked, Ron. We've all tried to get in there, not even Hermione can open it." He stroked her stomach while he thought. He could barely feel Draco through their link today. "I should go kill Lucius now, save some problems for him."

"I doubt he'd want you to do that. Not right now, Harry." Ron smiled at him. He was earnest, but he had such bad timing. He always had. It was all part of who Harry was and he had learned to live with it even if Draco hadn't. "Some day we'll have to do this for me too," he pointed out gently, stroking Harry's back. "Harry, let the baby sleep," he ordered. He had just been kicked, the third one ever. Harry removed his hand and shifted until he was laying with his head in Ron's lap. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. The baby doesn't need this stress and anger." He closed his eyes, letting his mind drift as he ran over all his spells. He was going to have to do a few soon to practice them. He'd also have to practice with the sword. "I need to see Hagrid this weekend."

"That's fine," Ron soothed, stroking his hair. She touched the ancient pendant Bill had found them. It had a warrior hefting a spear on it and it did remind her of Harry. It was how she was linked to his wellness spell. "We can both go if you want." Harry shook his head. "No?"

"No. I don't want you near me in case I got the spell wrong on the sword. That part will have to wait until the battle to test. I'm not putting anyone in danger yet." He patted her on the knee. "I'm going for a ride." He got up and headed back to his mother's house and his motorcycle. He was spending a lot of time on it while he thought. That and in the woods surrounding the house.

***

Draco came out of the study the day they were to start the spells on Harry, looking around. He saw Hermione and nodded at her. "Harry?" he asked calmly.

"At his house riding," she said, looking him over. "Are you feeling calmer?" He shook his head. "Then maybe you should go for a fly."

"I might, but we have to start this," he noted, carrying the small pill with him. He went to Harry's mother's house and found him riding around the driveway. He saw Harry look at him and then saw him take off down the road, then come back and park. As soon as Harry walked up to him he held out the pill. "Here."

"Draco, we don't have to. I can find another way if you're not up to it," Harry said gently. Draco glared at him. "I don't want to hurt you more, Draco. I'm trying to be sensitive and we both know it's not in me most of the time." The pill continued to be held out so he took it, swallowing it with a sip from his water bottle. "How long?"

"Maybe ten minutes," Draco told him, sitting down on the step to look at him. "You thought killing my father would make me feel better?"

"I think he's behind that and taking care of him leaves you with one less problem to worry about," Harry corrected. He could feel it taking hold and he sat down, clutching his stomach. "Ron didn't say anything about pain," he said lightly, not trying to look like he was complaining.

"I had to redo the formula. The old one was too old. I may have added too much bile," Draco admitted, looking at his hands. He didn't want to see this happening. "I'll understand if you want Ron." Harry hit him on the thigh, then grabbed it and squeezed, making him wince. He could feel the pain radiating through their bond so he watched it happen. Harry was shifting already, his facial bones getting slimmer. He was nearly unconscious with the pain from the look in his eyes. He could only imagine how bad it had to be to feel it personally. "Shh," he comforted, moving closer. "It was in Ron's family, that's why it was so easy for him." He held Harry until he passed out, wincing at the sickening noises his body was making as it rearranged itself into a more pleasing shape. Finally it was done and Harry threw up on the walkway, emitting something that ate through the concrete. He had expected that and pulled a small bag of powder out of his pocket, neutralizing it quickly before it got down to the dirt. He picked Harry up, forcing him into the house and up to bed. Then he went to get some cloths to give him a sponge bath. Harry was very sweaty and getting warmer by the minute. He came back and found Harry awake. "This isn't normal."

"I guess it was the snake," Harry whispered hoarsely, her voice a tired alto. "Surprise package."

"What?" Draco asked, stopping his wiping. "Who sent you a snake?" Harry looked at him, then reached up to touch the family crest he wore on a chain. "My father sent you a snake?"

"A deaf and blind one stuffed inside a box," Harry whispered. "Came by muggle mail. Vincent killed it before it could hurt anyone else. I thought I was okay."

"You stupid idiot!" Draco shouted. "How can you do this to me!"

"I didn't know," Harry whined. "The message was under the snake." He coughed and grabbed a cloth to wipe his own forehead. "I'm sorry, I thought it was from my family."

Draco took the cloth to rewet and went back over the sweaty areas. "Did you take an anti-venom?" Harry nodded. "When?"

"Breakfast."

"Then this is probably an interaction." Harry shook his head. "You aren't that good in potions and Granger was gone. I heard her return an hour ago."

"Snape came to visit and he mixed it for me," Harry whispered. He clutched Draco's arm again. "I asked."

"Wonderful. Remind me to hurt him later for not telling me."

"Ron wanted to but I didn't want to intrude."

"Stupid," Draco said, glaring at him. "I would have come out for either of you." Harry gave him a look and he knew he had been caught in the lie. "Fine, I might not have listened but you could have tried. I would have held off forcing it down your throat today."

"It had to be today," Harry reminded him. The pain started to ease and he relaxed, still holding onto Draco's arm but no longer squeezing it. "I'll be fine."

"You won't be fine because I'm going to hurt you for not telling me," Draco countered, working on cleaning him some more. He had missed taking care of someone.

"If you're going to be pissed about the only thoughtful thing I've done in eighteen months, then I don't want you near me until you calm down," Harry told him. Draco looked shocked, his mouth hanging open. "I'm sorry, but I know your temper and I don't need that right now."

"No, you need spanked," Draco said coldly. "Fine, I'll get Ron."

"No, you'll go hug Ron. The baby's being demanding and she's in bed. She's supposed to be staying there. Go curl up next to her and come back here when you're calmer." He forced himself to roll onto his other side and close his eyes. "Good night, Draco."

Draco stomped off, going back to his house. He found Vincent at the bottom of the stairs. "Why didn't you tell me!" he demanded.

"How? You wouldn't let us in," he said with a shrug. Draco slumped and he caught his friend. "They had it until about five days ago, Draco. Then the baby nearly killed Ron and the snake thing happened this morning. Hermione's in a snit with her mood swings and I'm really lost because I can't talk to anyone." Draco looked at him. "You can't go bother Ron unless you're calm. The baby kicks harder when she's upset. The midwife said the baby bruised her with a really strong kick and she's to stay in bed and calm for the next month or until she allows her to get up."

"They needed me and they didn't come for me."

"Draco, you're not in any shape to do anything to help them now and it's been over a month," Vincent said softly. Draco glared at him. "You're not. You look like you haven't bathed in days. You smell. Your clothes are dirty. You need a shave. What part of this do you think your mates need? They wanted to be here for you and you wouldn't let them so they were there for each other and me." He let him go. "Go use my room and clean up first. Where's Harry? I know today was the day."

"He sent me back here," Draco said bitterly. "I'm not some child to be cosseted."

"Then quit acting like it," Ron said from the top of the stairs. She slowly walked down, clutching the railing. "Where's Harry? I felt him in pain."

"Apparently he had a mild reaction to the pill," Draco said, stopping her to look at her. "You're huge."

"That happens when you don't see your daughter for a while," Ron told him, stroking through his hair. "We gave you the time you needed to grieve. Don't yell at us for being nice and good spouses."

"I wanted to be here," Draco said, touching her stomach. Something pushed on his hand and Ron grunted. Vincent picked her up and carried her back up the stairs. "Where are you going?"

"I'm putting her back to bed like the midwife ordered," Vincent told him. He gently tucked Ron in. "Want some soup?" Ron shook her head, grimacing. "Pasta?"

"Do we have any of that Thai food left?" Vincent shrugged. "If we do and we have some of that sweet and spicy noodle dish, I want some of that and the fortune cookies."

"You got it. If we don't have it, I'll run out," Vincent promised, heading to get that. Hermione was on a Thai food kick and it looked like it was contagious.

Draco sat on the edge of the bed, stroking his wife's stomach. "Are you all right?"

"A bit bruised internally. Mum said I did the same thing to her." She gave him a smile. "Go get Harry and bring him back here, Draco. Now is not the time to be separated. Remember, she's vulnerable, I'm in the shielded bedroom." Draco hurried off and Ron got comfortable, accepting the carton when Vincent came back a few minutes later. "Hey, fresh," she said with a smile. "Thank you, Vincent."

"We adore you, Ron. You're the one I'm watching to see how bad my own wife's going to get." He grinned and walked away, going to check on his wife. She was napping and it was so cute because she was stroking her own stomach. He curled up behind her, sure Draco could handle this by himself.

***

Draco got back to Harry's house and found no one in it. Not a single sign that Harry was supposed to be in bed. Nothing. He frowned and tried their marking but it seemed to be blocked. He tried the wellness charm and found Harry in a snit and panicking, but doing okay and fighting. He concentrated, using that as an anchor for where to head to. He landed in the clearing and saw what was going on. Harry was fighting his father. He cast the hex, making his father scream in agony. "Mine," he said coldly, walking closer. He wiped some of Harry's blood off his arm, licking his fingers. The zipping of the extra power made his lips tingle. "You've failed yet again, Father." He led Harry away but something wasn't right. He checked the bond again, still feeling the panic coming through. He cast a summoning charm. "Accio Harry," he said, flicking his wand. Harry appeared, then disappeared again. Now he knew where was though, it gave him a goal. It would even help him work out his anger and rage at his father. He tore apart that clearing, ripping down each spell and making anyone he found hurt. He finally found Harry behind a dressing screen, like one you would have in a bedroom, that had been laced with a concealment charm. Harry was tied between two stone pillars so he destroyed them as well, glaring bitterly at his father. "Next time, don't think about touching what's mine. Mother's death may have affected me but I am back." He led Harry off, taking the fake Harry with him to see what could be done with that one. Harry started to retch as soon as they landed in the garden. "Not on Mother's roses," he complained, steering him to a paving stone.

Hermione and Vincent came running, her a bit slower and holding her stomach. "What happened?" Vincent asked.

"We're putting shields around the house and staying in until the battle," Draco announced. He handed over the fake Harry. "I don't know what this is, I reacted to her."

Hermione looked her over. "It looks like an infusement. They put some of Harry's blood into her so you would." She led the poor girl away, taking her to the hospital. When she came back, Harry was unconscious in their bed and Ron was trying hard not to fuss. "They've got her under a watch." She sat down to stroke Harry's face. "She doesn't look that different."

"It's a temporary spell, it wouldn't have forced everything to change," Draco said grimly. "I don't like this."

"I knew I should have let Harry kill him," Vincent said bitterly. Draco looked at him. "I caught him planning how to do it and stopped him. I thought you wouldn't want him to do that without telling you first, Draco." Draco shook his head as he slipped into the bed next to Harry's limp form. "Is he all right?"

"No," Hermione said gently. "The potion was too strong. He's still reacting to the change." She stood up. "Let him sleep. I can call Molly if you want." Draco nodded and Ron looked relieved. "Good. I'll have some drinks sent up." She left them alone, going to call in the family who knew what was going on. Molly came immediately with Percy for some reason, and they ran up to help Harry. Hermione sent word to one of the house elves to send up a light snack and a tray of drinks. She grabbed the bottle of scotch and the tray of glasses Draco liked herself, not trusting that to the elves.

***

Draco woke up when Harry shifted against him, startling himself by kissing him before saying anything.

"I'm fine, I think." The voice was that same tired sounding alto. "How do I look?"

"Bloody amazing, you're not half as fat as I am," Ron complained. But she did grin when Harry looked at her. "Just you wait, you'll get this way too."

"Not yet he won't," Draco reminded her. "We'll have to do some things before we get there." He stroked Harry's face. "I'm sorry I vented on you. I was wrong to do that. Everyone's said so."

"You could have let us help," Harry admitted, "but I understand being angry. Hell, I still get angry and it's been seventeen years." He stole a kiss. "I'm hungry." The door crashed into the wall, making him flinch.

Draco slid open the curtain, looking at the man standing in the doorway. "It's my Godfather," he said dryly. "What?"

"What have you done?" Snape demanded, walking over and pushing open the curtains hard enough to rip one.

"You're going to fix that," Ron noted. Snape looked at her and she glared back. "Do not start with me. I haven't had chocolate in ages." She flattened the sheets around her stomach, making him flinch. "Out!"

"Shh," Harry said, curling up around her side. "It's all right. I'll make sure he doesn't bother you, Ron," he whispered. He pulled his wand from under his pillow and looked at it, then at Snape. "I can hurt you."

"No," Draco said patiently. He slid out of the bed and pulled his Godfather away from his mates. "What is worrying you?"

"He knows," Snape hissed, glaring at him.

"Knows what? That Ron's pregnant? Or about Harry?"

"Your wife," he spat. "Your father told him."

"Knew I should have killed him," Harry said as he padded over to them. "Get out. I'm well aware of what he knows and exactly how odd he feels at the moment. He's not sure why he's uneasy but he is." Snape glared at him so Harry kicked him on the shin, making both of them wince. "Out of our bedroom! You can wait in the drawing room like the rest of everybody who comes to visit."

"He is my family," Draco pointed out gently, pulling Harry closer.

"Mood swing," Ron said in a sing-song voice, smirking at Draco. "Don't worry, they'll level out tomorrow, or after a good shag or six." Snape looked alarmed. "Though I agree, I'm not exactly dressed to impress and you're upsetting the baby. She's still kicking gently."

Draco looked at her. He had been told earlier by Hermione exactly what had been going on with his offspring while he had been locked in his study. "No pain?"

"Not yet."

"Fine, I'll take him down to my study." He kissed Harry gently. "Try meditation," he suggested. "We'll do some shopping for you later."

"We can't leave," Harry pointed out quietly. "It'll ruin the surprise." He swished his wand. "I will need a new one, it doesn't feel right."

"We'll get you one as soon as we've done the ritual," Draco promised, smiling at him. "Climb back in with Ron, Harry." He led his Godfather down to his study, noticing the sounds that meant his house was full of people. "Who did you bring with you?" he demanded as soon as the door was shut.

"That would be the Weasleys," Snape told him, crossing his arms. Draco glared at him and went out to check. "Paranoid now?" he called after him. Someone down the hall screamed in pain and he headed that way, stopping him from hitting Pansy again. "She's under our protection."

"She had a knife held over Vincent's body, I doubt I'm going to allow it," he said coldly. He flipped his hair back, glaring at the other people who came running. "Put her in a room and take care of her up there. Blaize, go check out the nursery. You can baby her until she's free." He looked at the others, then at Snape. "The battle's not for another thirty-six days."

"Our other house was found out," Molly said, wringing her hands. "Draco, how's Ron?"

"Calm." Ron screamed, belying his words. "Of course, Harry is on a rip at the moment," he noted calmly, heading out to the bottom of the stairs. "Ron?"

"Nothing!" Ron yelled. A pause. "Draco, there are disgusting things in here!"

He jogged up the stairs, finding the large spider. He frowned at it. "Out!" he ordered, pointing at the windows. It had to be one of Hagrid's. It crawled out the open window and he shut and locked it. "There, how's that?" he asked. Ron nodded, pointing at the little ones. "You as well," he ordered. "She doesn't like spiders." They scurried off, heading for an unused closet so they could watch over Ron for their human friend. Draco rolled his eyes. "Most of the Order's here, along with Blaize. Harry, he's checking over the nursery." Harry nodded, curling tighter around Ron's stomach. "I'll understand if you wanted to talk to him," he suggested.

Harry shrugged. "Why? I wrote to him last week."

"Oh." Draco sighed. "Fine. I'll quit trying to be so nice."

Harry slid out of the bed and was kissing him as a reward when Molly and everyone walked in. One of the twins pulled Harry off him and put him back into the bed. He pouted at her. "Meanie."

"I know, but give it a few hours," whichever twin hadn't moved him encouraged. "Curl up around Ron. She's got to be feeling nasty." Ron nodded. "You okay?"

"Big spiders," Ron said grimly. "I don't like spiders."

"I remember," the twin who had moved Harry soothed, patting her on the hand. "Oliver said we're to take care of you for a bit. He's tired of being fussed over."

"Fuss over Harry," Ron encouraged. "He'll need it." Everyone stared at Harry and he ducked under the sheets. "Fine, be that way." He patted the Harry-lump, smiling at her older sisters. "I don't like being fat."

"It'll get worse before it gets better," Molly assured her. "Then you can get back into any shape you want, Ron." She patted the Harry-lump. "I was making lunch, Harry. Would you like some?"

"I want my husband for right now," Harry called. "Thank you though, mum."

She laughed. "Fine, dear, I'll send up lunch in a few minutes." She turned to find Draco and Snape staring at each other. "Everyone out! Ron doesn't need the stress or the strain." She shooed everyone out, smiling at her daughter before she closed the door.

Ginny popped out from behind a curtain. "Are they gone?" she asked. Ron nodded so she ran over and jumped in on her other side, patting the lump of stomach. "How does it feel?"

"Odd. Why? Considering it?" Ron teased.

"Well...." Ginny said, blushing slightly. "Too late." Ron's mouth fell open and Harry's head appeared from under the blankets. She smiled. "Maybe," she conceded. "I'm late."

"I'm going to stay up here if you have to tell mum," Harry told her, hiding again because footsteps were coming closer.

Arthur looked in and smiled at Ginny. "There you are, your mother was wondering why you weren't helping. Come on, let Ron rest."

"Ron's rested out," Ron said helpfully. "Dad, maybe Ginny should have a pre-wedding exam by someone," he suggested. She pinched his arm. "Ow! Grumpy." She kissed her younger sister, making her smile. "It's the only way to know."

"Your mother said she's not, it's just the stress," Arthur promised, taking Ginny to lead downstairs. "You can come out now, Harry." Harry's head appeared and he smiled at her. "You look very pretty." He shut the door, locking it behind himself.

Ron pulled Harry closer to cuddle, smiling down at her. "Now you'll know how I feel."

"I'll probably be a horrible mother," Harry told her, stroking her stomach. The baby kicked so he quit. "She'll still be the first baby."

"It'll be fine, Harry. Quit worrying. Everything will go as close to plan as possible. Now all we'll have to do is find you something stunning to wear during the battle."

"I found a dress I liked," Harry admitted. "It was in my suitcase." He looked up. "I figured that and a heavy cloak to hide everything."

Ron grinned. "I like that idea. The unveiling should be a lot of fun." The door was unlocked and Draco walked in, slamming it behind him. "Your Godfather being a prick?"

"Oh, yes," Draco agreed, sneering at them. "He's ever so much a prick of the greatest magnitude."

"DRACO!" Harry screamed, pulling her wand again. The door imploded and Snape was standing there. "That's not our husband," he said, pointing with his wand, just in case.

Draco strolled in. "No, it's not," he agreed dryly, smirking. "Hello, father. I see we are more alike than not. Though I've done things you've never been able to, including conceive an heir without doing dark magic to make me fertile." He glanced at Harry and Ron. "Calm down."

"I've had enough of him," Harry said as he slid from the bed to stand in front of the young Lucius. "I should get rid of you now," he said calmly, staring into the silver eyes. "I don't like you and you're upsetting my husband. I don't like it when he's upset." Everyone stepped away but Draco.

"Harry," Draco soothed. "Leave the idiot alone. He's not upsetting me that much. His continued existence will be solved soon enough." He patted Harry on the back, kissing him on the neck. Harry moaned and arched up under his careful stroking. "Do you see, Father, I am so much more than you could ever be. I'm better at everything, more powerful, and even much more knowledgeable. Now leave so I can break in my new wife. We're doing a lot tonight and she'll need a nap between." Lucius looked shocked. Draco laughed and stroked Harry's stomach. "I've removed you from the family line. You are nothing to anyone, most of all to me." Harry shifted against his hand. "Shh, precious, soon. You'll be mine in every way soon." Harry nodded, tipping his head back for a kiss. Which he received. "Out. I want to spend time alone with my spouses. They need to stay calm." Lucius was dragged out and only Snape remained.

"Did you want to watch?" Harry asked as he turned around to get a real kiss. "Draco, you know that need thing you said about Ron? I'm feeling it badly," he whispered, making his way down to Draco's stomach, and then lower. He didn't even realize when Snape left. He was having fun. "Hmm. I want this even more than usual."

"Save me some," Ron called.

Draco smiled at her. "I always have some for you, Ron. Don't worry about it. This new one won't take me away from you." He pulled Harry off and led him to the bed, settling him on top of the sheets. "For now, can you watch while I teach her the perfect things she'll need to know how to do?" Ron nodded eagerly, shifting so she could hold Harry's hand and kiss him. "Thank you, Ron." He beamed at Harry. "It's good that you want this so much."

"I do, Draco, and not because of later either. Just for me." Draco beamed, leaning down to take a lick of the sweaty skin before undoing his pants.

***

Five days later, Draco rested his head on Harry's shoulder as he did the test to confirm that the ritual the night before had taken. He smiled at the small telltale. "Congratulations."

Harry turned to hold him, letting himself shake. "I'm scared."

"Of course you are. Ron's had a bad time of it, but you're stronger, Harry."

"Not because of that. I want that part."

"Ah." Draco pulled back and put down the test kit, pulling Harry's face closer. "You are brilliant. I won't have you going back into your insecure spot again. You are a fierce warrior." He touched the tattoo around his arm. "You are the same Harry who came back from that vacation ready to rip someone a new one and I love that about you. Got it?" Harry nodded, starting to smile. "Good boy. Now let's go have some more fun and let Ron help this time." Harry giggled and they walked out, having fun together until Ron woke up to help them.

"Bloody earthquake," Ron complained as she woke up. She looked over to see Harry riding Draco, holding onto his arms so tightly his knuckles were white. "Where's mine?" she asked.

Harry pulled off and gently spread her legs, licking her to make her happy. "I live to serve you, Ron. You know that," Harry teased, smiling at her.

"Good, suck," Ron encouraged, pushing his head back down. She pulled Draco closer. "I want what he was getting."

"You can have anything you want," Draco agreed. He had never realized how demanding being with two women could be. How did those men who did this every day for life deal with it?

Harry giggled, noticing the look on his face. "Doesn't live up to the fantasy?"

"Not exactly," Draco agreed, reaching down to pinch her breast. "You behave. I want to watch you two play with each other."

"I'm huge, Draco."

"You're beautiful," Harry corrected, licking over the extended stomach. The baby fluttered and he beamed. "Even she wants me to be licked by you and for me to do the same." Ron shrugged, she couldn't refute that one. They shifted around so they were on their sides and went back to the mutual happiness.

Draco shifted around, getting in behind Ron so he could slide into her. She moaned into Harry's body, making them all hard. "Shh, let me," he whispered. Harry switched to playing with both of them and he enjoyed it immensely. He had nine more months of this, then Harry would get to switch back. Unless he breastfed, then they'd have a few more months. He could stand a year of this. Hopefully.

***

Harry followed Draco under his invisibility cloak as they made the few errands Harry had to run in Diagon. The last one was into Ollivanders. Draco thoughtfully pulled the blinds, startling the old shopkeeper. Harry came out from under his cloak, looking at him. "I need a new wand for the battle," he said quietly.

"Of course." Ollivander led the way to a workshop. "Let's test it back here, young lady." He looked Harry over. "This was unexpected." Harry grinned. "I know you'll do marvelously, Mr. Potter. Or should I say Mrs?"

"Technically, he's a Potter-Malfoy now," Draco said smugly. "And he's pregnant." He put a proprietary hand on Harry's stomach. "Three days now."

"Excellent," Ollivander said, his eyes sparkling. "I can't wait until this child is born. I have the perfect wand for him." He walked away, pulling out four boxes. "One of these should be most wonderful for young Harry." He laid them out on the table. "I'd say it was the navy box," he said, touching the top of it, "but I can't tell exactly yet. Try the first one, young woman."

Harry opened the navy box and the wand seemed to leap into his hand, making his arm tingle. "I'm going numb," he said, trying to put it back down. Draco took it from him and he gave him a grateful look. The next box quivered and felt the same. The next one seemed to dance in place, but it made his arm numb too. The last one laid there and when he picked it up, he felt a hum. He closed his eyes and swished it. The sparks were something spectacular that he saw even with his eyes closed. He opened them. "This one?" Ollivander nodded, smiling at him. "Does it have a twin?"

"Yes, but I believe it's been buried with its owner. You'll be able to use both of them together."

"My original one feels odd," Harry told him, pulling it out. Ollivander looked at it, then tapped it three times. He took it back and swished it. "Thank you. How much?"

"Four galleons," Ollivander said, smiling at him. Draco paid for it. "When you're done, if it doesn't fit, bring it back. It might go to your son or your mate's daughter." Harry nodded, smiling as he covered himself back up. "Brilliant," he said happily. "Good hunting, Harry. Be safe and win." Draco nodded, smiling at him as he walked Harry out. Ollivander leaned on the table, looking at the three dejected wands. "When the baby's old enough, it'll come back to you," he soothed, stroking each one. "Until then, we'll just have to be patient, loves." He went back to his newest creation, working to smooth the outer wood down. "Yes, you'll go to a fine witch, dear one," he told it.

***

The day of the battle came and it seemed as if the world was holding its breath. No one was in any of the shopping areas and almost nothing was open. Draco found that out when he went to find fresh berries for Ron's breakfast. She had woken him up for some. He finally found a shopkeeper and they got him some, waving off the price.

"Don't worry, you and your mates will win, that's payment enough," he said, smiling at Draco.

Draco nodded. "We plan on it." He walked away, heading back to the house to report what he had seen. He saw an owl ready to go and patted it gently. "The place?" Hermione nodded. "Where?"

She stole a raspberry. "The hill beyond Hogsmeade." Draco nodded. "We're staging at the school and the foreign ones are staging at Stonehenge." She stole another berry. "Ron's in the shower. Harry's brushing his hair."

"Good." Draco went up to present his prize to his wives, making them both happy enough to indulge him in some stress relieving activities. When they came back down, Hermione handed Harry the key coin, the one that set the messages. She had set the message and was waiting for him to lock it in.

He touched his wand to it and it sent the message to the other coins. The owl was sent to the Death Eater camp to tell them where the fight would take place. Harry took a deep breath and then screamed. "I feel better now," he said when everyone came running. "Stress is bad for me." He kissed Draco soundly. "Come on, we'll head up to the school to help lock it down."

"You need to save your strength," Hermione told him. "Ron and I will go. That's where we're doing the hospital and all that." Everyone nodded and she took off to get Ron.

Molly patted Harry on the back. "I'll inform everyone else, Harry." She hurried off, giving them some last minutes of privacy.

Harry looked at Draco. "If I fall, I want you to take Ron and run the hell away," he said quietly. Draco shook his head but Harry kissed him stupid. "I won't have Ron hurt, Draco, and I won't have you hurt. You can regroup if you have to. You know all the things that I do. If I fall and Voldie's not dead or dying, then you run like hell and regroup for a later attack. That's an order."

"One I won't be taking," Draco said grimly.

"That leaves Ron to raise her daughter alone. That's not fair to her," Harry said quietly. "You can wait that long." Draco started to protest but Harry shook his head. "Promise me, Draco. I can't be worrying about either of you."

"Fine, if something happens to you and the battle looks to be a total loss, I'll regroup the troops at the school and we'll make a new stand there," he allowed. Harry nodded, that was good enough for him. "Are you feeling a bit of a foreshadowing?"

"No. I've written final orders just in case. It's in your study in your desk drawer. Read it after I leave." Harry gave him one last kiss and then went to finish getting ready. Presentation was everything today. He finished and headed for the field, looking around it. It was a great spot. There was a hill in the center so they could do the single combat if it came to that. The field was open and the woods could be blocked off. It was far enough away to give Draco time to get back to the school and the people there would have enough time to get ready if the worst happened. He felt someone popping in and turned to look at Dumbledore, the only person who hadn't popped into the manor to check on him recently. He nodded at him, then went back to his calming routines. He heard footsteps and looked back at his company.

"You look well, Harry," Dumbledore said, handing him the sword that had been prepared.

"I am. I don't have a bit of morning sickness," Harry admitted, sitting down to charm the sword. He had been practicing this on other blades for months now. He felt it take and the guardian that wouldn't kill anyone on his side, then stood up. He put it under his cloak and closed it again, looking at his former teacher. "Are you ready?"

"I am. Are you?"

"I have been. Draco has my final orders." He turned away, feeling the magic building. "They're coming." He activated the coin's second message, sending his troops word to get ready. Voldemort and most of his army appeared on the other side of the field. "Morning," he said, nodding cordially. "Are you ready to die?"

"Are you?" Voldemort sneered. "You can't fight in that."

Harry undid the clasp and let his cloak fall to the ground. "So I won't," he said in the stunned silence. He didn't have a great figure but what little he had was clearly visible. He nodded at Lucius, who simply looked stunned. "It's a boy, Dad," he said dryly. He heard someone behind him laugh but didn't look, figuring it was Draco or Charlie. He felt a familiar hand against his back and smiled at Lupin. "Hi, Uncle Remus. Step back." He looked at Voldemort. "You have two choices. It's just us and then the general battle, or just a general battle. Your choice. I'm honorable enough for that."

"You're giving me an advantage?" Voldemort asked with a laugh.

"Said who?" Harry asked smugly. He shook his head and clicked his tongue. "Tom, you really should have paid attention to my mother and what she did. You have no idea who you're taking on," he said smugly. "My mother was an elemental witch. It's passed onto the first born in each generation." A few of the Death Eaters mumbled. "If we fight, this area is going to be blocked for centuries, but it'll be worth it to get rid of you. Even if I have to destroy the whole fucking island, it's worth it to get rid of you." He pulled his new wand and held it up. "Ready?"

"Fine, we'll duel," Voldemort agreed, pulling his own wand. They went back to back and stepped off, watched by everyone. He turned before the final count but he found Harry missing. He looked around wildly until he caught sight of him, firing at him. "Crucio!"

Harry waved a hand then his wand. "Scalpere!" Voldemort screamed as the mirror spell sent his own pain back at him and his wand hand was cut off. Harry apparated back. "I'm not that dumb, Tom. Just think, if you hadn't somehow bribed the hat to put me in Slytherin, I might have been an honorable fighter and wouldn't be playing dirty." He stroked his stomach. "Until then, the son and I are going to kick your ass." He cast another one, catching him and the Death Eaters behind him in a sucking spot of void. He felt more people pop in behind him and realized it was the rest of Riddle's army. He put up a shield around him and Remus, fighting as well as he could. He activated the third sign and his army, what there was of it, appeared. He jumped when they roared, looking around to see a lot more people than he had expected. Aurors, the whole group, most of the Ministry heads, nearly everyone was there. He turned his attention back to his main task, killing Voldemort. He had picked up his wand with his other hand and was still cursing people, just not as effectively. Harry got off a few lucky shots around Dumbledore when he got in their way, then ran around him and went after the coward running through his ranks. He stuck his wand back in his pocket and pulled the sword off his back with a primal scream of rage, hacking at anything around him. He was surrounded by the Death Eaters but he didn't care. They were all going to die! He saw a flash of platinum blonde hair and swung that way suddenly, cutting into Lucius' chest. Then he decapitated him most of the way. He continued on his path of destruction, leading him to face Voldemort again. "You're mine," he sneered.

"Mercy," Voldemort sneered.

"Why? Did you show my parents any?" He swung, taking off the arm that came up to try and protect him. He moved in closer, the clean cut spell working hard as he took swing after swing. By the time he was done, Voldemort's head was in bits and his body was twitching on the ground. He stuck his sword in the heart and started to chant an ancient spell he had found in his great-great-grandmother's diary. She had his gift. He changed the nature of the man's magic, making him like a house elf. A few people screamed and grabbed their heads, they were now free of his control. Harry struggled but got the sword unstuck then used the clean cut spell one last time, to sever the ribcage. He bent down and picked up the heart, holding it up. "HE IS DEAD!" he yelled. The people fighting on his side yelled. A few of the Death Eaters fell to their knees and people stunned them until they were unconscious. He walked back to Dumbledore's side and tossed the heart at him. Then he pulled his wand and went after the rest of them. He could feel Ron getting upset and sent a soothing thought. But the answer made him even more angry. "Malfoy!" he screamed. Draco dispatched someone and looked at him. "The school, now! Take anyone you want with you. Ron said they're trying to break in." The teachers and Draco disappeared, along with most of his friends and a few of the Aurors. Harry looked around at the mess, counting heads. He closed his eyes and pulled up that touch of magic, then opened his eyes and looked at them. "Pain," he hissed. The remaining Death Eaters screamed and grabbed themselves to try and stop the pain from ripping them apart. "We are done!" The group roared.

Dumbledore came back, walking Arthur up to him. "What are you going to do now?"

Draco appeared beside Harry, and Harry smiled at him, kissing him. Then he knelt in front of him. "You are mine," Harry told him as he acknowledged him as his leader.

"I am yours," Draco agreed, pulling him up. "There will be no more Death Eaters tolerated!" The few of them still conscious nodded, giving them bitter looks. "If the man who beat your pitiful leader consents to let me lead him, so do you all!" A few less people roared their approval. "There will be no more attacks, or else!" Arthur had found Harry's cloak but it was covered in someone's blood. He shook his head. "We're going home," he told Dumbledore. "Do not come near us again." He looked at Arthur. "I want you to be the next Minister of Magic and your wife to help you. Do you have a problem with that?" Arthur whimpered. "Good."

Harry smiled at his troops from his protected position. "Thank you. It is done!" He apparated off, going to find Ron. He jogged up to the school, grabbing Ron to hold. "You're okay," he breathed.

Ron smiled at Draco as he appeared. "How was it?"

"Short and bloody. Harry, the sword?"

"Dumbledore," Harry whispered. He had his eyes closed and their stomachs pressed together. "I want to get sick."

"I know, Harry." Draco held him, steering him to a bush. Any of the returning fighters saw Harry getting sick. Someone took a picture but Ron stopped him from hurting them.

"Harry's son did not like the fight," he told that person. The reporter's eyes bugged out and she ran off. He smirked at Draco. "It fits." He patted Harry's back, helping him calm down. The rest of the troops came back in large clumps of people, most of them not looking at Harry. "The fighting bothers him," Ron explained a few times.

"Let him give an interview," Draco said dismissively.

"If he wants, I can do that," a familiar voice said from behind them. Draco looked back and found one of the Creevy brothers, the boys who had pursued Harry to take his picture. "I can do a freelance piece. You created a big stink. There are people who want to know what you plan on doing with your newfound power, Draco."

Draco smirked. "I plan on going home and fucking both of my mates into orbit." Ron giggled. "Really." He looked at her and smiled. "I think we should put Harry into a bed."

"The infirmary is full, Draco. There isn't one for him."

"Then we'll find a couch so he can rest," Dennis Creevy told him, coming out to join his brother. "The Gryff common room is pretty quiet." They nodded, helping Harry up to his feet and up to the common room. As soon as Harry was asleep, he looked at Ron. "You look stunning like that, Ron. Harry does too." He smiled at Draco. "Congratulations. Do you want Dumbledore?"

"No. We're going to retire. The only power I have is over the other pure-bloods. I already had most of it thanks to my father and now I'll keep them in line."

"Like the Godfather movie?" Arthur asked as he came in. He handed over a blanket and a mug. "Poppy had me bring it," he told them. "It's a restorative."

Draco sniffed it and handed it to Harry. "It's licorice flavored," he encouraged. Ron took the mug, helping Harry sip it. Draco looked at his father-in-law. "I think that would be the perfect analogy," he pointed out. Arthur smiled. "Send anyone who wants us up here in small groups please. Harry's worn himself out."

"The baby?" Harry pleaded.

"I'll bring Poppy and Molly both," Arthur told him, hurrying out.

Draco pushed Harry's head up and sat under it. "You can get your interview later, Creevy. Give us a few." Dennis nodded, taking his brother with him. "Would that suit you, Harry?"

"I've seen the movie. I think you could do that," he agreed, then he yawned. "I'm so drained, Draco."

"I know, Harry. You pulled a lot of magic. You never notice in battle until you fall over, but afterwards is always a good time for a nap." He stroked through the black hair, dislodging some dried blood. "I saw my father fall."

"I couldn't let him hurt you."

"Thank you." He smiled at him, then at the opening door. "Madam Pomfrey, he needs you to check his unborn son."

"Of course. How far along is he?"

"Thirty-two days," Ron told her, getting out of the way. "Can you check mine as well? She's not kicking and she should have put me in bed by now."

"Of course, Ron." She checked Harry over and smiled at him. "You're both fine, you need some rest in a real bed, young man. It may have to wait until after the dinner, but you'll be fine with some rest. I was one of the ones watching from afar and I must say you did better than I expected. I expected the battle to go most of the day and into tomorrow, not only for two hours."

Harry smiled. "Me too," he admitted.

"You rest," she said briskly, checking Ron over. "She's perfectly fine, Ron. She knew you needed to do that and worry without her input. She's very intuitive." She glanced at Draco, seeing his stunned look. "Not that we can tell about such gifts before the child is born," she said with a smile. She left them alone, telling Molly to watch over them. She walked into the Great Hall and everyone stopped talking to look at her. "Harry's fine, just tired. Ron Malfoy's is doing extremely well also," she announced. The family cheered. She smiled at the Headmaster. "He's resting quietly in Gryffindor, Headmaster."

Albus nodded. "It's a safe place for him to be. I say he's earned the right to go in there." He looked around then stood up. "Harry has said that he gave Draco the power over the remaining children of the Death Eaters. Not over everyone." He gave them a sad smile. "I must also make an announcement. As of this moment, I am retiring. I am an old man and I need to rest as much as the future parents do." There were a few head shakes. "Today reminded me of my age and what little time I had left was precious. So I now turn over the school to Minerva McGonagall."

"I don't want it," she said, clearly audible in the silent room. "I have no desire to take on your position, Albus."

He smiled at her. "Tough. Sometimes we must all make sacrifices for the cause." Her lips tightened. "Yours is to start this school year up again and find yourself a successor if you don't want it." He sat down. "We shall celebrate," he announced, clapping his hands. Food appeared and slowly people filled their plates. The talking starting and soon the hall was filled with noise.

Minerva looked around the hall, seeing all the former teachers. She glared at him for a moment. "I do not want it, no matter what penance you are doing," she told him simply. "Name someone else."

"You'll help whomever make a smooth transition," Albus instructed. "Then you can go back to your former job. It's important that the students see you in control, you provide security for them." She nodded, accepting that. "Just until you can find someone else." She nodded, going limper. "Thank you, Minerva. I will be on call for whatever you need. You should know how everything works." She nodded again. "Good. I'll leave tonight, after the dinner for Harry and Draco."

She smiled at the Slytherin table. The people at it were mostly Slytherins but not everyone had decided to segregate themselves by houses at this meal. "I'm sure they'll be fine."

"They will be. That son of his will be quite something. Do protect him from everyone. The man is dead but the spirit isn't."

She nodded and blinked, but he was gone. She frowned at his empty seat. "How did he do that?"

"Albus has always had strange skills," Madam Spout said delicately. "How are they really, Minnie?"

"They're fine. Two of the three are napping and Ron's making sure they're fine while he tells his daughter a story." The Herbology teacher smiled at that. "Find me a replacement, Dorothy. I don't want this job. Get with Severus tonight and find them." She nodded. "Good." She looked down the table at Professor Snape. "Severus?" she called quietly. He looked at her. "Come here." He stood up and walked over, ignoring the looks they were being given. "You will be staying," she promised, touching him on the hand. She could see the pain in his eyes. "Are you free now?" He nodded quickly. "Of both spells?" He nodded and smiled. "Excellent. Then you will help Dorothy find me a replacement quickly so I can get them trained and go back to my own job."

He inclined his head. "Of course, Headmistress. Who did you have in mind?"

"Someone who can handle the little tragedies that happen around here. I don't need the stress."

"Fine." He went back to his seat, accepting the plate passed from Remus Lupin. "How are they?"

"Harry's probably worn out if he hasn't shagged them all into a coma yet," he admitted. "It was the way his father was as well." He smiled at him. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine now, thank you," Severus said civilly. "All the Imperious were removed."

"You were under some by Albus' hand?" he asked gently. Snape nodded. "Then I'm sorry you had to make that sacrifice to the war, Severus." The man looked at him like he was odd so he smiled. "No one should have to be used. Not you, not Harry, and not Draco."

"Thank you." He looked down at his new boss, then at the man. "She wants us to find a new Head for the school. Want it?"

Remus burst out laughing. "No!" He punched him on the arm, giving him a mischievous look. "Me? Doing something like that?"

"I accept," Minerva called. The rest of the table laughed, understanding what she had said. She looked down at him. "In fifty years, you too can be like Albus. All you need is some practice." She smirked at him. "Meet me later."

"Yes, Minnie," he sighed. "You know there's going to be protest."

"So? We seem to thrive on it around here," she said firmly. "Buck up, you'll have my help." She dug into her meat loaf, eating heartily now that she had found a person to take over the school from her. She would make the announcement later.

Arthur Weasley stood up and cleared his throat. Molly dinged her glass to get him his attention. He smiled at everyone. "Harry and Ron gave me some wonderful news earlier and said I could share it if I wanted to. Ron's having a girl." The crowd cheered. "For those of you who didn't notice, Harry took a temporary changeling potion last month." He grinned. "He said he wanted to see what Ron felt like." That got some laughter. "I found earlier today that he's pregnant himself, with a boy!" That got a lot of applause and cheers. "They're heading home tomorrow to hide Harry until he feels like coming out to let people rub his stomach." A few more people laughed so he sat down and kissed Molly on the cheek. "I love you, Molly."

"I love you too, Arthur, but you will not spoil the grandchildren too much." She patted him on the hand. "Behave, dear."

"Yes, Molly." He smiled at Minerva, who saluted him with her glass. "Draco gave me an order earlier," he said conversationally. She put her fork down, knowing that tone of voice. "He wants me to take Fudge's job." She squealed and hugged him, drawing some attention. "Draco said he wanted us to try for the Minister position," he told the people watching.

"You've got our vote," someone on the other side of the room yelled, Vincent, though Arthur couldn't identify him. The crowd cheered and clapped, liking that idea.

Arthur beamed at his wife. "Would you like that, Molly?"

She nodded. "I would, Arthur. You're always going on about the things you want to change, now you'll be able to." She counted the Ministers she knew. "There seems to be a few openings."

"I noticed," he agreed, taking her hand to hold. "I'll put myself in the ring tomorrow then." She smiled and gave him a peck on the cheek.

***

Harry firmly shut the curtains around his bed to block out Draco telling someone off for waking them up at dawn. He snuggled against Ron. "This is why I didn't want to be well known. Can we go back to Disney for a bit? I want to show it to you."

"Not yet, Harry. Next summer. When the babies can go," Ron said calmly, stroking his back.

Draco opened the curtains. "We've got to go to the shop. Oliver was badly hurt in a game."

Harry immediately climbed out of bed and put on an over-robe. They helped Ron get dressed and headed out, going to support the family. They found Fred crying and George leaning against a corner doing her impersonation of a statue. Ron gathered them to her and the guys went back to check on Oliver. Harry looked at the healer looking him over. "He's a strong man," he told him. "He once told me he got knocked out ten minutes into his first quidditch game by a bludger to the head."

"This one was a bit more intentional," the healer admitted, smiling at him. "You played?"

"We both played seeker," Harry assured him. He leaned down to look at Oliver, smiling when he opened his eyes. "Fred's crying her eyes out, you'd better not hurt her."

"I don't take orders from you," Oliver pointed out politely. "Why are you here?"

"Draco said you were hurt." He pinched him, making him wince. "How do you feel?"

"My arm hurts now," Oliver said dryly, looking at the healer. "Would you let the fussy ones know I'm fine?"

"You're not," he said firmly. "You've got a great concussion. I haven't seen one that big in nearly fifty years and that one was from the first war. You're staying there or I'm taking you directly to the hospital."

"Which would be better?" Draco asked.

"Quiet and rest should do it. We can't do more for than we can here," the healer assured him. He smiled at Oliver. "Behave. For once." He went to tell the twins.

Harry looked at Oliver. "If you have to retire, I'll let you help me," he offered. "I'm thinking about training to play again."

Oliver's face lit up. "I'd like that. You always were good. But don't you have to wait?" he asked with a point at Harry's stomach. Harry and Draco both nodded. "Then we should about be healed at the same time. I'll gladly help you train. The league needs more decent players."

"You will not talk the game when you've nearly had your head taken off," Fred said as she walked in. "Our future child will not be fatherless."

"Future child?" Oliver asked weakly.

"Fred!" Harry sighed. "Not now!"

"It's incentive to get better," Fred sniffed. George rushed in and climbed on top of Oliver to hug him. "Tell him yours."

"The both of you?" Oliver asked, looking even more stunned.

"Twins," George agreed. "I had her confirm it." She kissed her husband. "I'm due in the summer, in June."

"I'm due around the start of the next school year," Fred offered with a smile.

Harry walked over and put a hand on Fred's stomach, then he winced and shook his head. "Oliver, if you need to escape two sets of twins at once, just come on over and play with our kids." He led Draco out of the room, letting them pass out together. He smiled at Molly. "I'm pretty sure both twins are having twins." She squealed and hurried in to check on them herself. Ron laughed from her seat and Harry grinned. "I can't wait to see their kids," Harry told her, giving her his wicked grin.

Arthur cleared his throat. "Harry, don't encourage it. We'll be driven mad by them." He patted Harry's stomach. "How is he?"

"Hungry," Harry decided. He looked down at himself, then shrugged. "Screw it, I'm rich enough to be eccentric. Draco, feed us?" he pleaded, giving him a pitiful look.

Draco shook his head and rolled his eyes. "If you ask like you usually do, I'll gladly gather food for you, Harry. Don't try to charm me into it, I don't like it."

"Sorry, Draco," Harry said with a grin. "Maybe that's why the hat made us roomies?" Draco laughed, shaking his head, but he went to get breakfast. "Hey, Ron, how do you feel?" Harry asked, walking over to check on her. She had been having some false labor pains and they were very careful with Ron.

"Just fine. Not a single kick," Ron said happily. "New Years you think?"

"I think you're going to go early so expect a baby around the holidays," Molly said as she came back out. She checked on Harry, then on Ron, smiling at them. "Of course, I could be wrong." She smiled at her husband. "The vote's today," she reminded him.

"I know, Molly. We'll be back in a few hours to tell you how it went." He led her off, going to the Ministry while the people in it voted. They found Percy and he gave them a hug and a blush. "Son," Arthur said gently. Percy looked hopeful. "There's a bit of family news if you want it."

"I do," Percy agreed, stepping close again. He was trying so hard to get back in their good graces. He missed his family. "What's the news?"

"Oliver got clipped with an intentional foul," Molly told him. Percy went pale. "He's fine. He's got a bad concussion but he's resting at the shop."

"The twins are both pregnant too," Arthur said happily. "We're sure they're both having twins. A few months apart."

Percy gasped. "That poor man, and recovering too! How will he deal with them when they get fussy?"

"They're fussing over him and Harry offered him a place to hide," Molly said, patting him on the cheek. "Go be a good boy and vote."

"I already have," Percy assured her. "I voted for father because he's the best choice of all of us." He walked away, going to talk to his new boss. He would make sure the man voted correctly.

***

Draco looked up as he read the letter someone had sent about the final results of the election. It had gone on two months due to people being out of the country and revotes. "Two people had the bad taste to put my father's name on the ballot," he told his spouses.

"That sounds too tasteless even for the twins," Harry pointed out. Ron was napping against his side.

"I think so too. Dumbledore won by about six votes." He put the letter aside. "I may have to convince them to do a revote."

"He won't take it," Harry pointed out. "Does that leave Ron's dad?" Draco nodded. "How did he take so many votes?"

"Someone reminded a lot of people that he was responsible for helping raise you correctly," Draco said, smiling at him. "Not me, Percy." Ron snored louder at that name. "Apparently it swayed a lot of people. You're being looked on like Dumbledore did in his youth."

"I don't want to be looked at by anyone," Harry whined.

"You're not fat."

"It's not that! And yes I am," Harry retorted, frowning at him. "I don't want to be famous. I want to be normal."

"Harry, you're a pregnant male, you're not normal," Draco pointed out gently. Harry had developed a disturbing reaction to being reminded he was pregnant, he burst into tears. This time he held it in. "I want someone to look you over."

"Molly said I'm fine," Harry defended.

"Which is wonderful but she's not a trained healer or a midwife," Draco reminded him gently. "Just for my own piece of mind?" Harry pouted and he sighed. "Please?" he tried again. Harry was disturbing. No wonder women had the children.

"Fine," Harry said, pouting worse.

"Thank you, Harry," Draco said, smiling at him. "If you're good about it, I'll take you both out to lunch and buy Ron a pretty dress for the holiday party. I'll let you pick out the jewelry tomorrow." Harry perked up at that, he liked playing with jewelry. "That's my boy," he said with a fond smile. "Let me see more of a smile?" Harry grinned at him. "Good boy. Come cuddle me too or should I move over?"

"I don't want to move Ron," Harry told him.

"That's fine." Draco stood up and walked over, sitting next to Harry. He laid a hand on the lump of baby, barely able to feel him move around. "I envy you this sometimes," he said quietly. "You're doing something that I could never match and I will never have this experience." He kissed him. "You are stunning and brave, Harry. Our son is going to be wonderful."

"As wonderful as your daughter?"

"Just as stunning," Draco agreed. He hadn't heard this one before. He felt the baby kick and smiled, patting him. "Calm down in there. When you come out, you'll have three loving parents and a new older sister. I'm sure you'll idolize her and create much hell in our lives." He smiled at Ron as she woke up. "How is the daughter?"

"She's fine. I've got a crick in my neck," Ron told him.

"Let me," Harry said, shifting so he could work on her neck. "Draco wants me to get checked out tomorrow."

"So do I. If only so you quit worrying about the babies being equally loved. No one's going to put him on a pedestal and worship him like some hero, Harry."

"Ron, someone's already suggested we celebrate mine and the son's birthdays as a national holiday because he was there."

"True," Draco agreed. "I had to do some fast talking to make them stop." He moved over to the other end of the couch, working on Ron's feet. "Harry, I will love both children equally, the same as I love their mothers that way. Do not worry about such things. They will be shielded from nearly everybody because they are Malfoys."

"What about when I get to have one with Ron?" Harry asked quietly.

"They'll still carry the name and I'll love them just as much," Draco agreed gently. Harry nodded, giving him a hesitant smile. "Relax, it'll be fine. I can keep people from wanting the children. No one is coming near them except us and they'll only know love. You've learned a lot about that subject from your dog. Trust yourself."

"Yes, Draco." He looked down at Ron, kissing her on the head. "We need to work on names. Hermione's trying to give her daughter the name Hymenphia."

"After Vincent's grandmother?" Draco asked. Harry frowned at him and he smiled. "It is a family name."

"The kid's going to be picked on," Ron pointed out gently. "How would you shorten that? Hymen isn't exactly something you want to call a child."

"I'll suggest she use it as a middle name," Draco told them. "We don't have any strong family names. Harry, did you want to name him after yours?"

"Between my dad and my two uncles I'm not sure how I want to do it," Harry admitted. "If I name the kid after Sirius, it'll be looked at funny. If I name the kid after Remus, he'll protest that I should name it after my father. My mom's diary said she tried to name me James Junior and dad threw a fit, he thought it was pretentious."

"Ask Remus his suggestion," Ron said, then she yawned. "Dawn Marigold needs another nap."

"No flowers," Draco said firmly. His face softened at Ron's hurt look. "I like Dawn. She will be a turning point in the family. I will not raise her like my father did me." Ron smiled sleepily. "You rest, Ron. We'll make sure you make it to bed tonight."

"Thanks." She struggled onto her side and closed her eyes, happy with Harry's thigh as a pillow and Draco's legs as a footrest. "Did you know your mother's name means 'Daffodil' in French?" she asked, nearly asleep now.

"How about Dawn Lilian and Andrew Arthur?" Harry suggested.

Draco considered it. "I might like the girl's name, but I'd rather not have a child named with two consecutive same letters," he said delicately. "It gets confusing."

"Syrian James and Remus Tyrone for the twins we'll have, Harry?" Ron suggested.

"You had me up until the Tyrone part," Draco said with a smile for her. She shrugged. "Remus Arthur?"

"I like that," Harry agreed. "It's going to be a few years before we can use those though. How about we suggest Miranda for Hermione's daughter's first name? It's like hers, from Shakespeare." Draco nodded. "Miranda Hymemphia Crabbe?"

"I do like that," Draco admitted. "I'll suggest it to him tomorrow." He smiled at Harry. "Why don't you use one of those suggestions for our son? That way you won't be disappointed if it's not twins."

"Your mother said we'd have twins together," Ron said quietly. He looked at Draco. "She also said I'd be giving you another son and you'd better learn patience before he gets here because he will be the Weasley that will be all of us rolled into one. Trouble, stubborn, and smart."

Draco laughed. "I'll take that into account. When is he due?"

"In about ten years. She said it'd take you that long to learn that level of patience. And she liked Ariel better than Miranda in the Tempest." She closed her eyes again. "She said she liked Ciara, but it means 'black and mysterious'."

"Dawn Ciara Malfoy," Draco mused. "It could work. What did she say about naming one after her?"

"She'd haunt you and make sure you never got any again," Ron said dryly, opening her eyes halfway to look at him. "She said you could add it as a second middle name, but not as a use name unless you called her Cissa. The closest I found to that was the name Cissy, with a 'c' and it means 'blind' in Latin."

"Baby name books must be fascinating to read," Draco said thoughtfully. "Dawn Ciara Narcissa Malfoy?"

"That's a mouthful, but it means the baby will be mysterious, a daffodil, and a new beginning," Harry said, grinning at him. He called over the baby name book, searching a section. "How about Cassandra, which means 'prophet', or Cassara, which means 'prophet and/or princess'?" He looked at him. "The first is Greek, the second is American." Draco held out a hand so he handed over the book. "Dawn Cassara? She will be the first Malfoy Princess in a long time."

"I like that," Ron agreed. "Dawn Cassara. What if she doesn't have the sight?"

"I have it," Draco told him. Ron looked at him. "Not much, but I have enough to know about big events. I knew about the train ride up, I just never thought I'd nearly fuck up everything." He handed the book back. "I like that. Dawn Cassara. It's close enough to Cissa to be a tribute to her. Of course, if we have another daughter, she's going to have to be Molly Narcissa."

Ron nodded. "Cool. Ask Harry." She smiled and fell into a gentle sleep, letting Draco take care of that nasty leg cramp that was starting.

Harry shrugged. "That's fine with me," he agreed. "Some anonymous suggestions were sent to us for the son. Chad, Mordecai, Donovan, Ewan, or Kael. They all mean 'warrior' in one form or another. Those came with the most suggestions of all of the warrior names."

"One of the twins suggested you name the boy Loki," Draco said, looking amused. "They're hoping to be a good influence on him."

"They're having four, they can name their own kids after Trickster Gods." Harry looked at him. "I got another one suggestion Dionysus or Gwydion."

"What does that one mean?"

"It means 'God of Magic' in Welsh," Harry said dryly. "Apparently they think I'm evolved that high now." Draco swatted him on the arm, making him smile. "Another suggested Herne, 'God of the Hunt' in Gaelic."

"You're not a God," Draco pointed out.

"They seem to think I might be." Harry grinned. "I was thinking Fallon, it means 'of a ruling family', but it's a female name." He shifted a bit, making Ron pinch him. "I found one similar sounding, but it has a different meaning. Faolan?"

"Which means?"

"'Wolf' in Gaelic. It's a male name, but hard to pronounce."

"How would you shorten it?" Draco asked.

"I was thinking for a middle name," Harry admitted. "I can't imagine yelling it out the back door."

"If we use that, we could name the first name something like Lynx or Jaguar," Draco pointed out, making Harry laugh. "It'd almost fit."

"We could name him Hart or Herschel, though I'm not fond of that second one," Harry suggested.

"Why would you name your son that?" Draco asked.

"Because my father's animagus form was a stag."

"Ah." Draco nodded. "No, neither of those." Harry shrugged, he had tried. "If we use Faolan, we'll have to have something that matches it."

"There's Chase," Hermione said from the doorway. "It means 'hunter'. He'd be 'one who hunts the wolf'." She smiled at Harry. "Which means he'd be the one to jump on Remus every chance he got."

"What's that nationality?" Draco asked.

"English." She came in and sat down. "Draco, I need a new name suggestion since we're on that topic."

"We were thinking Miranda or Ariel," Harry told her. "From the Tempest, a Shakespearian name like yours."

"Hmm." She relaxed.

"Plus, you could use his grandmother's name as a middle name," Draco pointed out. "Keeps it in the family but out of the public ear."

"Miranda Hymenphia. Ariel Hymenphia." She shrugged. "I like both equally. Thank you."

"I like her suggestion," Draco offered. "Chase Faolan. It's in line with both our heritages and it's not too much for the baby to live up to."

"Has Ron picked a name yet?" Hermione asked. She smiled as Vincent joined them with a mug of tea for her. "Thank you, Vinnie. What do you think of the names Miranda Hymenphia and Ariel Hymemphia?"

"Where did the first names come from?"

"Shakespeare," Draco told him. "One's a wind spirit and the other's the daughter of a magician."

"I like them both," he admitted, then he shrugged. "Either's fine with me."

"Good," Hermione said firmly, giving him a smile and a pat. "We're talking about Chase Faolan for Harry's son."

"Which means?"

"Chase means 'hunter' and Faolan means 'wolf'," Hermione said with a grin.

Vincent laughed. "Sure, Harry, then we can tell the new Headmaster and watch him choke."

"Remus adores me," Harry said with a grin and a wave of his hand. "He'll think it's cute." He grinned at Draco. "What was wrong with him the other day?"

"He was tired and stressed. I doubt he considered stopping to chat with you." He reached over to stroke Harry's hand. "It'll be fine. Give him a while to get adjusted. We'll send him a nasty note if we have to." Harry frowned but he relented, letting Draco handle it. "Did you want to ask him to be a Godfather?"

"Yeah, I think so," Harry agreed. "Him and McGonagall?"

"That's who I'm choosing," Hermione told him.

"She can have more than one Godchild. I'm sure she's already got a few," Draco pointed out." He looked at Harry again. "I won't fight you on Remus, but we'll have to ask someone else to be the Godmother. She and I don't get along."

"You could ask one of the girls from the house," Vincent suggested.

"We could ask Madam Hooch," Harry offered. Draco looked at him, frowning. "What? She was always very nice to me."

"Fine," Draco agreed. "She can be this one's Godmother. The next one I get to choose them both."

"Okay," Harry said, smiling at him. "I'll go up and ask them tomorrow." Draco nodded, giving him a patient and tolerant look. "Thank you, Draco." He blew a kiss.

"You're welcome, Harry. Behave and let Ron sleep." Harry settled in to be quiet for a bit. Ron stroked his thigh in her sleep, she often petted him when she slept on him and he was relaxed. It was like a reward.

Hermione looked at Vincent. "Do you still insist on Snape?" He nodded, giving her that same tolerant and patient look. "Fine. I'm sure the child will be witness to many fights."

"They should be able to control themselves at their ages," Harry pointed out quietly. Ron quit stroking his leg for a moment, then started again.

"We'll figure it out," Draco soothed. He and Vincent shared a look as the only two sane people presently in the house. Hermione was even driving the house elves insane. They had to stick together.

***

Harry waddled into the school, smiling at the teacher who met him. "Can I talk to Remus for a few minutes?"

"Of course," Madam Sprout told him, walking him to the office. "Why did you want Madam Hooch?"

He leaned closer. "I'm going to ask them to be my son's godparents," he whispered. She laughed and hugged him. "Do you think they'll mind?"

"Not in the least," she said happily. She kissed him on the cheek. "If it couldn't be me, I'm glad it's them." She left him there after opening the door.

He waddled up the stairs, pulling out the letter. "First, the official stuff," he said, handing it to Remus. "From Draco." He sat down with a sigh of relief as his uncle opened the missive. "That's better. My ankles are swollen." He looked at the silent flying teacher. "The reason I asked you both to be up here is because I want you to be my son's Godparents. Madam Hooch, you've always been wonderful to me. You've figured in a big part of my happiness in school." She smiled and he looked at Remus. "You're my uncle and might as well be my Godfather. I don't know why my father didn't pick you but I am now. Chase Faolan will need someone strong willed to placate his stubborness."

"Chase Faolan?" Madam Hooch asked.

"It means 'he who hunts the wolf'," Harry said with a grin. "If I had wanted to go outside of Brit and Celt names, I would have named Elsu, which means flying falcon, but we decided to keep it in the heritage. You're not upset?" She shook her head and hugged him, making him grin. "Thank you."

"No, thank you, Harry. First Oliver Wood and now you. I've never been so honored before."

"You kept us both sane by letting us fly, otherwise we'd both be weirder," he said with a grin. "I also have news. I'm trying out for a spot with England once I pop. Oliver's going to help me get back into shape." She clapped and patted him on the hand. "I thought you might like that."

She kissed him on the cheek. "I adore it and I accept," she told him. She stood up. "I'll see you at graduation, or at an upcoming game. Do behave and take care of my Godson." She left the semi-family alone.

"I'm sorry I didn't stop the other day, Harry," Remus said, putting down the letter. Draco had verbally told him off for ignoring the boy. He was the only family Harry had left and Draco had been right to rip him a new one, he realized it now. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm starting into the eternal napping phase," Harry told him, still smiling. "Do you like the name?"

Remus smiled. "I like it quite a lot. I expect the child will torture me by making me play chase and tag all the time." Harry giggled. "Are you happy? I wasn't going to say anything but I only want you to be happy and safe."

"I'm both, Uncle Remus. Draco adores me. It may not have been a love match, but we respect each other and he likes me enough to humor my oddness. Besides, we've both come to love Ron and she holds us together. We don't fight nearly as much as we did in school."

"Then I'm happy for you," he said with a gentle smile. He finally saw the real boy behind the man and it saddened him, but he knew Harry was slowly figuring out what real happiness was. "Is he treating you well?"

"He gave me the most incredible backrub this morning. I went positively limp under his talented fingers, and then he fed me pancakes." He gave his uncle a goofy grin. "I'm really happy with him, Uncle Remus. Don't worry about it."

"I won't then. Chase Faolan?"

Harry shrugged. "I was trying to find some subtle way of tying him to Dad, but I didn't like Stag, Hart, or Herschel. I figured that was part of the family though since you are and I happen to like and respect you a lot. Besides, mom's diary said dad threw a fit when she tried to name me after him."

"I remember that fight. She threw the tea kettle at his head and bruised him," Remus admitted, starting to laugh. "Those two were fiery together, Harry. Your mother would take a mood where she hated the very sight of him so he would ultimately try to seduce her during those times, saying the fire in her would warm him forever." Harry sniffled and he handed over a tissue. "Your mom had some of the worst mood swings," he said with some humor.

"Draco's worried about mine. He's making me see someone this afternoon." He blew his nose and tossed the tissue away. "Sorry about that."

"It's all right. You're a lot like your mother for all you look like your dad." He grinned. "I heard a rumor that you were sent names."

"I was," Harry said, rolling his eyes. "I got a number that said I should name him the Son of God, or a God in his own right. Apparently a few people thought I should be elevated." Remus chuckled. "A few more suggested names meaning warrior or guardian, but I didn't want to do that to him. I want Chase to have a happy and carefree childhood, not to burden him by being the next Champion of the school."

"You have your father's luck. He'll end up being the spoiled creature Draco was when he started and make fun of anyone who wants his help."

"I'll kick his ass," Harry said dryly. Remus laughed a bit more. "Oh, Narcissa gave us a head's up. Ron and mine's, when we get around to having ours together, are going to be twins. We've decided they're going to be Syrian James and Remus Arthur."

Remus sniffled and came around the desk to hug him. "I love you, Harry. You didn't have to do that."

"I thought I was the one who had mood swings," Harry joked, patting him awkwardly. "You're my Uncle, I'm supposed to do things like name my kids after you." He beamed. "Besides, Draco and Ron both liked it. Ron's daughter is going to be Dawn Lilian." Remus nodded, still choked up. "Are you okay?"

"You really are happy," Remus sighed, smiling at him. "I will be the best Godfather and Uncle I can, Harry. You have my word on it."

"Thank you, Uncle Remus. You've done very well so far. You didn't even flinch when you found out I was a Slytherin."

"Sirius did?"

Harry nodded. "Visibly. He refused to touch me, kept going to and then pulling back like I was toxic. It took about six meetings before he felt comfortable enough to pat me on the back."

"That man," he sighed in disgust. The door opened and McGonagall walked in. "Harry has wonderful news. He's named me his son's Godfather."

She smiled. "Am I in there?"

"I was thinking about it but Hermione protested because she wants to monopolize you for her daughter. But you have to act surprised when she tells you."

She hugged him. "I will do my best. Who is the godmother if not me?"

"Madam Hooch. She was the biggest part of my happiness here in school."

"That's wonderful, Harry. Do you have a name picked out yet?"

"Chase Faolan," Remus told her, smirking as she tried to work it out. "Chase means 'hunter'."

"Faolan means 'wolf'," Harry said with a grin. She burst out laughing and hugged him again but he grabbed her arm and held on. "Ow, pain," he hissed, squinting. "Why is it that I can take a Cruciatus and I can't take expansion pains."

"You're doing things your body isn't happy with," she said calmly as she checked his pulse. "Remus, call Poppy," she said gently, not wanting to alarm the boy.

"It's nothing."

"It is not and it's better to be safe than sorry. I will not have that future Gryffindor harmed, Harry Potter."

"Yes, Professor McGonagall," he said, falling back on old habits as he tried to suppress the pain. "It's not Ron's," he noted. "It's my own pain."

"Shh," Remus said once he had found the bell to summon Poppy to the office. He came around to hold Harry as well, gently stroking his hair. "I'll call Draco once you're on your way," he soothed. Harry nodded, giving him a look. "I promise, it'll be fine, Harry. Like you said, you took the Cruciatus once or twice, you can take this now." Harry nodded, clutching his hand as another wave of pain washed over him.

Poppy walked in with a bottle but put it aside and knelt in front of Harry to check him over. "I thought it was another migraine," she said calmly, frowning. "Harry, I need you to calm yourself. You have to stay calm for a few more minutes, all right?" He nodded. "Good boy." She stood up and summoned a stretcher, putting him onto it. "I'm putting him into a bed. His blood pressure is very high and he has some sort of infection somewhere."

"My leg," Harry groaned. "I nicked it the other day while I was gardening."

"You and those dangerous gardening implements," she teased. He laughed weakly and made another grab for Remus. "He'll be right up, just as soon as he calls your mates."

"I'll do that," McGonagall promised. "The boy needs Remus more now." Remus nodded, walking out with Harry. She got down by the fire. "Malfoy Manor," she called out. Vincent's head swelled in the fire. "Where is Malfoy? Harry's having some sort of blood pressure problem. They're taking him to the infirmary."

"I'll get him right there," Vincent promised. "He's putting Ron to bed." He cut the connection and went running up the stairs. "Draco!" He opened the bedroom door before Vincent could slam into it. "Harry's having blood pressure problems. He's in the school's infirmary. McGonagall just called."

"Shit," he swore, heading for the outgoing floo in their room. He flooed directly to the infirmary, walking over to where Harry was trying to curl up. "Shh," he said calmly, stroking Harry's back. "Let them work on you." Harry shook his head. "No what?" he asked calmly.

"If we don't get it under control, he could lose the baby," Remus said quietly. "He can't calm himself."

"The solution to that is to knock him out," Draco pointed out. He used a pressure point on Harry's neck, knocking him out within a minute. "There." He was shoved out of the way so Madam Pomfrey could work on him. "What caused the surge?"

"He's showing signs of having had high blood pressure for a while now. Merlin knows he had bouts of it while he was in school." She looked at Remus. "Take two steps back."

"He's my nephew, I'm not going anywhere."

"I'm going to get the healer we were supposed to see today," Draco announced. He and Remus shared a look and Remus nodded for him to go. "I'll be right back." He used the floo, sending himself to the Healer's office. The receptionist squeaked when she saw him. "I need to see the healer now. Harry's having more problems. He's in Hogwart's infirmary." She ran to get the healer and he was shown back to the office to wait while he finished with his last patient.

***

Harry woke up and realized it was morning. "I thought I had broken this pattern," he groaned.

"It wasn't a fight you were part of this time," Draco said gently. "This time it was an infection on your leg getting out of control and your high blood pressure helping to gang up on you." He stroked down Harry's arm, over the wellness charms. "Madam Pomfrey and the healer were both impressed with how comprehensive those were when activated. I thought I was getting the pain from Ron." He stood up and stepped closer. "We're going to have to do some lifestyle modification, Harry. No more getting overly excited."

"I can't play with the dog?"

Draco gave him a look, then he smiled. "No, that's acceptable. It relieves your stress levels." He gave him a gentle kiss. "I'm under orders to not do more than that to you until after you deliver." Harry looked struck. "Even if we're gentle, we can't until the healer clears you. You're also on bedrest until the healer says otherwise. I'm going to let you help me with some of my research."

"Ron?" he asked.

"She's fine. She's so very worried because the healer said the family can't descend on you at once. Oliver and the twins are trying to keep her calm and sane." He stroked across Harry's forehead. "It's been six days now, Harry. It took five days to get your blood pressure back down to normal." He gave him another gentle kiss. "If you're good, we might be able to spring you for the holiday ball we hold at the manor each year. If not, I'm going to call it off."

"It's tradition," Harry reminded him, squeezing his hand.

"Yes, but with Ron being due around then and you being so ill, it's acceptable to cancel it. I have about two days to decide but I will not have you stressed out by a party in the house that you can't attend and all those people wandering around looking at the decorations. I won't let you or Ron be harmed by this sudden change." He smiled at him. "Molly's twittering around in Remus' office. Would you like to see her?"

Harry forced himself to sit up a bit, letting Draco help him. "Sure," he said, giving him a brave smile. "I didn't mean for the infection to get so bad. I didn't even realize it was infected."

"I'm going to check you over each night from now on," Draco promised. "I should have caught that. I was rubbing it not even a week ago." He gave him one last kiss then went to get Molly.

Harry watched in alarm as Molly walked in. He must really be sick, Molly wasn't twittering or being the least bit anxious. "I'm going to be okay," he promised.

"I know you are, dear, we're just going to have to be careful," she said calmly, giving him a smile. "Ginny's even offered to hold off her wedding for a bit."

"Absolutely not!" Harry said firmly. Draco looked at him, giving him a smile. "Ginny will not delay her wedding because I'm in bed. Which I won't be for that. I'm sure I can get sprung for special family events." Molly shook her head. "Tough, I'm going to be Neville's groomsman. The healer can leap."

Molly gave him a patented 'mother knows best' look. "You will not stress yourself out, Harry. I won't have you or my first grandson hurt by your stubbornness. If the healer says you can't do it, then you can't. That's the end of it. Draco can go in your place and you can attend."

"But Neville hates him," Harry whined. Molly frowned at him. "Fine, I'll work on getting better so I can get out of bed faster."

"Thank you," she agreed, giving him a short hug. "You behave and I'll try to sneak you in some bread or something like that."

"I can't eat bread?" Harry asked.

"Low carbohydrates," Draco said patiently. "I was going to lie to you about that until you got frustrated."

"Too late," Harry told him. "Madam Pomfrey!" She came running. "I can eat bread if I want to and I will be going to Ginny's wedding. I'm not feeble and I can take care of myself," he said firmly.

"I've had enough of that, young man," she warned. Harry frowned at her so she knocked him back out. "There, that should keep him calm for a bit longer. We'll try again tomorrow, Molly." She gave her a hug. "Pass that along to Arthur and make sure he knows Harry's going to be fine." She handed over a copy of the paper to Draco. "Try to do something about that. I don't want him to be alarmed when I let him wake back up." She went back to the girl with the bloody nose.

Molly looked at the headline. "I'll take care of that," she said, taking it from his hand. "Being the Minister of Magic's wife has some clout." She gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Check on Ron soon," she reminded him. "Ron can wait up here with you if necessary." She went to her husband's office, showing him the paper. "I'm doing something about this." He smiled at her. "Poppy had to knock him back out again, he got a bit fussy with the restrictions."

"Which one?" Arthur asked.

"Harry. Draco's going to wear out his frustration on a wall again." She waved and smile. "I'll be back soon." She walked out, heading out to the Daily Prophet's office to correct their thinking. Harry was not near death's door. He wasn't even in the same zip code as that address.

***

Harry woke up and found Remus looking down at him. "Don't let her do that again," he pleaded.

"If you need it, you'll rest one way or another," Remus promised. He smiled and patted Harry on the head. "How do you feel?"

"Hungry, tired, like I need to piss." Remus laughed and helped him up and into the bathroom, then back. Madam Pomfrey tried to stop them but he gave her a look. "I don't use urinals," Harry reminded her. "I always manage to make them overflow after a long nap." She quit and left them alone for a few minutes. Once he was resettled in the bed, he looked over at her. "Can I get up on my own and get more than kisses?"

She shook her head. "Your blood pressure went back up this morning. Your husband had to be sedated by your healer because he mentioned the possibility of a stroke if this kept up."

"Surely there are medicines," Remus told her.

"We're considering it, but with his fragile state...." she said, then she shrugged. "We're not sure which will harm the baby."

"The muggles have fifty different types of blood pressure medicine. I'm sure we can find something," Harry said firmly. "Draco's the one who keeps me calm."

"When he calms himself, he'll be bringing your wife and himself back. Do not make them wait while you take another nap," she warned. He gave her a horrified look. "Your healer said I could sedate you as necessary, young man."

"Yes, Madam Pomfrey," he said, shuddering once she was gone. "Uncle Remus, let me go to Mom's house," he hissed. "I'll be fine there."

Remus kissed him on the forehead. "That probably would calm you down," he agreed. "I'll suggest it to Draco. First snowfall there is very beautiful." Harry relaxed and his grip slowly eased off as he drifted off again. "Poppy, he's drifting again," he called. She hurried back to check on him. "Is it the feared for stroke?"

"No," she said with a sigh of relief. "His body's making him nap. He woke up too soon the last time." He nodded, smiling at her. "What plan does he have cooked up this time?"

"His mother's house. It's very calm there. It's over a power spot. The first snowfall is a beautiful thing to behold, Poppy, and it would keep him calm and away from everyone."

She considered it. "If you have it set up with a portkey back to here, or to the hospital, and an unlisted floo address, plus someone to handle all his mail for him, then I'll allow it," she decided. "The healer did say I could release him when he had finally calmed himself."

"I'll tell Draco when he comes. Hopefully it won't be more than a day or so." She smiled and handed him the headache medicine. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. When do you go in for surgery for that lump?"

"Next week." He drank the potion without protest for the taste. "They said I should be fine. My accelerated healing should help a lot." He looked down at Harry. "I wasn't even going to tell him."

"Tell him after the surgery," she suggested. "After you know for sure how everything's going to turn out. The boy can't be worried too much now and if it's benign he won't have to." Remus nodded. "It's tragic that the wolfsbane potion has this effect on you. I wish they had found another way."

"I'm not taking it anymore," he said quietly. "I'm staying locked in a little room without windows each month." She gave him a smile. "Does Arthur know?"

"Molly does. She'll handle Arthur." He nodded so she went back to her desk, giving him some privacy.

"You poor boy. If this turns out wrong, you'll lose me too and you'll only have Molly and her family to support you," he whispered, smoothing some of the unruly hair down. Harry shifted and grunted in anger in his sleep. "Shh, no nightmares," he whispered. "He's dead and gone this time. We made sure his soul was destroyed." Harry settled down, letting himself be soothed. Remus gave him a sad smile. "It will work out for the best," he promised. "I will play with your son."

***

Draco strolled into the infirmary, giving Harry a brilliant smile. "Come on, I'm taking you home."

"Really?" Harry asked, sliding out of the bed with some help. "Like the house, home?"

"Like your mother's house," Draco corrected. Harry pouted at him. "It'll be more stress free for you."

"But I don't want to stay there by myself," Harry complained.

"Who said you were? We're coming with you."

"But the Manor," Harry said, looking confused.

"That's what commuting is for," Draco said, giving him a gentle kiss. "Ron and I have worked for the last two days to lay in supplies. Remus said it's about to snow there and he praised the sight quite a lot. Fortunately, the floo can and does go out there. Owls won't, but the floo will. I'll floo back to the manor each day and come home each night like all those people who go to work every day," he teased, giving him a small smile. Harry laughed and hugged him. "Come on. Ron wanted to cuddle you in your own bed."

"Our," Harry corrected, letting Draco help him dress and lead him out of the infirmary. He waved at the nurse, getting a wave and a smile in return. "I think she hates to see me."

"Oh, yes," Draco agreed. "You were out seven days this last time." Harry stopped to look at him and Draco nodded. "Seriously. The healer agreed."

"I need a new healer," Harry said as he started walking again. Snape met them near the entryway. "More problems?" he asked.

"Lupin never told you," he said grimly. "He should have been here to send you off. He asked me to stand in."

"Why?" Harry asked patiently. "Is there a problem in the school?"

Draco coughed. "No, the wolfsbane potion creates small benign tumors, Harry. Remus had one removed a week ago and suffered a small complication." He caught Harry when he started to sit down. "Shh, he's fine. Benign means it's not cancerous. It's simply a lump of abnormal tissues. He's really fine, they're being silly and making him stay there."

"But he's fine?" Harry asked, looking at Snape. The man never lied to him. Snape nodded quickly. "You're sure? You've seen him yourself?"

"Yesterday. He had a small fever so they won't let him out," Snape told him. "As soon as he can he will be seeing you at your mother's house." Harry nodded. "So you are to stay there until he comes." Draco shot him a look over Harry's shoulder, making him mentally groan. He realized Harry might never leave that house if something happened to Lupin. "It should be within a week. If not, you may call me and I'll take you to the hospital."

Harry nodded, giving him a brief hug. "Thank you, Professor." He looked at Draco. "You weren't going to tell me?"

"I was going to hook you two up by floo tonight," Draco said smoothly, taking Harry's arm again. "I knew you'd worry if you didn't see for yourself. How about we do that after dinner? He's on an enforced nap schedule too."

"Okay," Harry agreed. He waved at Snape. "Thank you, sir. Tell Madam Hooch I'll write her soon to let her know when we're taking ultrasounds if she wants to come." He let Draco lead him out of the school and down to the barrier around it. "What aren't you telling me?"

"The fever was a bit higher than was normal, but he's been up and joking with the nurses. He even managed to hit on one."

"Remus?"

"Well, sometimes he thinks he's Sirius," Draco admitted. "Someone thinks he might be possessed but they can't fix it with his condition."

"Sirius was a nice guy most of the time," Harry admitted, thinking about it. "I really can see him?"

"Definitely," Draco said firmly. "I agree, you don't need coddled as much as everyone thinks, it will only make you fret more. We'll floo over tonight, in person. How about that?" Harry nodded, giving him a squeeze. "Good, now let's get back to your mother's house." He activated the portkey, sending them there. "Technically, you're not supposed to be flooing," he said as they walked through the living room. He pointed at seven smooth, semi-precious gemstones laying on a side table. "Each one of those goes somewhere. The blue one goes to wherever the stone Remus has is. The green one goes home. The purple to Ron's parent's. The white one to the hospital. The sickly yellow goes directly to the infirmary at Hogwarts."

"I thought it looked like mucus," Harry noted.

Draco kissed him on the temple. "Behave or we'll have to have a nap now." Harry nodded, looking attentive. "The black one goes to the twin's shop. The plain yellow one goes to the Leaky. Got it?" Harry nodded. "Good. Each one should get you somewhere safe, and the one for Diagon is so you can run if you need to."

"Or if I need to go shopping?" Harry asked, sounding hopeful.

Draco shook his head. "Not a chance. You're not to be on your feet more than a half-hour at a time." He led Harry up to their bedroom, showing him how to operate the floating platform. "Ron's ankles are so swollen she's having trouble walking," he explained at the hurt look. "It's not you this time. We'll all be staying here because she doesn't need the stress either. We've gotten seven hundred letters recently asking what she wanted for baby presents and more with presents attached." He opened the bedroom door, noticing Ron was napping again. "There you go, curl up with Ron and I'll get us some lunch." He smiled as Harry waddled over and laid down, curling up behind Ron. Ron quit snoring and patted him on the hand. Draco went down to tell the house elf he had brought over what to fix and then take it upstairs. It was the only one allowed here. No one would know where this house was if he had his way.

***

Harry looked at Remus, giving him a smile. "So you're really okay?"

"We're fine, Harry," Remus assured him. He saw the worried look. "It's a confirmed possession now and we do get along most of the time. He understands I'm in control of the body," Remus said firmly, making Harry laugh. "Good boy. How are you feeling?"

"Better now that I'm not in the infirmary." He stroked his stomach. "Chase has been beating the stuffing out of me most of the afternoon because each time he kicks Dawn she kicks back so he has to retaliate." Remus laughed, shaking his head. "At least they like each other so far."

"True. You be safe and I'll see you as soon as I get out of here. We'll have a long chat and..." his voice seemed to change, "I'll get to pat my Godson."

"Sure thing, Remus," Harry said with a grin. "You and Uncle Sirius play nicely and I'll see you soon." He waved as the floo was cut. "Thank you, Draco."

"You're welcome," Draco offered, pulling him close for a hug. "See, nothing to worry about."

"Yeah, I know now," Harry sighed, closing his eyes. "He's going to die someday."

Draco had a sudden vision. A dreadfully sick Harry using the blue stone to portkey to Remus for comfort and ending up in the coffin. Him having to dig him up after a day's search and the worry that he was dead too. He shook his head and called over the blue stone, hiding it in the couch for now. "When he does, I'll be there for you," he promised. "The same as we will be for Ron when his parents go."

"Have a sudden thought?" Harry asked with a weak grin.

"No, but now I know how my mother felt when she had those disturbing visions." Harry opened his eyes to look up at him. "It's fine. It's easily solved. We don't have to worry about that one." He kissed him on the head. "What do you say to liberating Ron?"

"I think she's still napping," Harry told him. "She's sleeping a lot, Draco."

"The healer said her body wasn't fully ready for it. It would be like a third year getting pregnant. She's fine, but her body needs the extra time off right now. It should be fixed within a month." He looked out the window and smiled, pointing. "Look. Snow."

Harry heaved himself up and wandered over to stare out the window. It was a beautiful sight. He heard a 'pop' behind him and smiled at his Uncle. "Did you escape?"

"Definitely. I can't stand nurses," Remus told him. He came over to look out the window, putting an arm around Harry's shoulders to watch the sight with him.

Draco went to get Ron up so she could see it for herself. She liked to play in the snow.

***

Ron and Harry looked around the Yule Ball they were throwing, smiling at the happy people. They had a record turnout this year and everyone seemed really happy to be there. There weren't too many people hanging in the corners and they were the people you'd most expect to do that - Moody, McGonagall. Snape surprisingly came with a date, and they were chatting at a table. He had said someone had called in a favor with him but she seemed very nice and it looked like they knew each other. Who knew Snape spoke Romanian.

Harry looked at Ron, who was blinding in the outfit Draco had picked out for her and the jewels he had decided upon. He figured out he really did like jewelry and Draco had unsubtly suggested that it was a nice career if he wanted one, one that wouldn't make his blood pressure go up like playing Seeker would. Or one he could do part time while he played if he wouldn't give that up. Harry was thinking about it after talking to a few jewelry store owners. He did have the money to invest right now but he wanted it to go on to his own kids. He saw Ron wince and raised an eyebrow. "Another pain?"

"Still a false pain," Ron assured him. "The midwife said the real ones were more intense." She gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Relax, it'll be fine. You'll get to avoid all this by having him cut out." She wiped off her lipstick and then smiled as Draco came back from dancing with Ginny. "We want some," she mock-whined, making him smile at them. Draco pulled her out onto the floor, letting her pick which side she wanted in the next waltz. "Harry looks tired," she said gently.

"He is, but he's fine. I set the telltale to go off if he so much as gets upset," he pointed out, shaking the watch down his wrist a bit. Ron smiled and nodded, wetting her lips. "Keep that up, I'll make sure you go into labor tonight," he teased. "You know what the midwife said about sex starting off real labor."

Ron giggled, leaning over to kiss him out of step with the music. "Yay. The baby can be born now." She continued to move, catching up quickly. The couples dancing with them smiled and they danced on, enjoying themselves.

Harry looked over as Ginny and Neville plopped down at his table. "I don't need watched, go dance."

"My feet hurt," Ginny assured him. "Besides, this way mum and dad can come nag us all at once."

Neville laughed. "They're nagging the twins right now. Oliver's having a time keeping them in check." He stroked her hand, giving her a smile. "How are you feeling?"

"Neville, I'm only six days pregnant, don't fuss," she complained. Harry blinked a few times at her. "Sometimes witches know. Mum said she always did." She shrugged. "We're waiting for the official announcement from the mediwitches next month."

"There's a home test," Harry told her. "I used it and it came out the next morning. I've got an extra upstairs."

"Nah, we want to have it for Neville's birthday," she told him, patting him on the hand. "When do you think Ron's going to pop?"

"New Years."

"Ah," Neville said, nodding. "That would fit with her name and it would only be two weeks early."

"Plus I don't think Draco can hold off touching her for much longer," Harry agreed, smirking at him. "We can't touch her at all because it could send her into labor."

"How long did that restriction last?" Ginny asked, looking a bit upset and alarmed.

"For the last month. The midwife said so," Harry told him with a shrug. "Ask your mother."

"Mother!" Ginny called, forcing herself to get up. She could tease the twins with this, Oliver loved to touch them right now. Molly smiled at her and motioned her closer. "Harry said Ron's midwife said they can't have sex for the last month."

"That is usually advised," she agreed, patting her on the back. "It can set you off into labor. Not that most of us felt like it while we were that far along. Do you still think you are?" Ginny nodded, nearly snickering at the struck looks both twins were giving Oliver and the panicked look he was giving them. "It's fine, dears," Molly soothed. "It's only the last month." They hugged Oliver tightly, comforting him. Molly winked at Ginny. "You'll get many more backrubs during that time than anything else, though most upcoming fathers seem to be fascinated when you start lactating."

"Mum!" Ron said from behind her, laughing at her guilty look. "We'll discuss that tomorrow. You're staying tonight, right?" Everyone nodded. "Good!" She hugged her mother. "I think I just had a real pain," she whispered.

Molly put a hand on her stomach and concentrated, then shook her head. "Not yet. If they're getting stronger it means it'll happen soon."

"Neville and Harry both thought it'd be New Years," Ginny offered.

Molly nodded. "I think so as well." She gave Ron a hug. "Go back to your dancing, dear, I know how much you enjoy it." Ron headed back to her husband, blatantly stealing him from Millicent. Molly rolled her eyes. "I wish I knew why all pregnant women get jealous and paranoid about their husbands straying," she sighed. Oliver looked at her. "It's a natural reaction. You'll figure out how to best soothe them." She hugged the three of them. "Come, Ginny, let's tell Neville all about pregnant women while we check on Harry." She walked her daughter to the table but Harry wasn't there. "Did he have to suddenly leave?"

"There was a message," Neville said dryly. "I don't know why." He sat Ginny in his lap so he could get a cuddle. "Is she, mum? I'll accept my birthday present early."

Molly checked her daughter, then shrugged. "I can't tell. We'll see if Draco can make you up a tester."

"Harry said he has one under his sink," Ginny told her.

"That's fine, we'll be stealing it tonight," Neville promised. He noticed Harry walking back in but he went right to Draco and whispered in his ear. Draco and he walked out together, leaving Ron looking upset and confused. "I think I'll go calm Ron down," he said, getting up and going out there to dance with her. "It's fine," he promised.

"No, it was bad news," Ron said, still frowning, but she did let him lead her around. "All I got was something about a wannabe attacking Diagon." Neville looked at him and he shrugged. "They went to talk to my Dad, who's in the study on a floo call." He shrugged again. "There's nothing I can do at the moment and they're not leaving." He suddenly lightened. "I think it was just a head's up from the Ministry."

"Let's hope so. Harry shouldn't be fighting in his condition," Neville teased. Ron grinned at him. "How are you feeling?"

"Just fine. We're a little tired but it's all right." She stroked her stomach. "I think I like being pregnant, except for the swollen ankles and all that."

"Then you can do it again," Neville suggested lightly. "After all, you're better built for it than Harry is." Ron laughed at that, nodding. "Does it feel odd being kicked?"

"Very," Ron agreed, leaning closer. "I can't wait until I pop. Then I get my male side fully back and I can use it again." Neville burst out in giggles, hugging her tightly. "Thanks, Neville."

"You know I adore you, Ron. You and Ginny both." He led her over to their table, sitting her down. "Do we know what the message is yet?" he asked his wife.

She nodded. "Draco has a little sister. The Ministry in Barbados just contacted ours about her. Lucius made her one of the true heirs. She's about a year and a half." She looked at her sister. "It seems he killed the mother before he came back for the final battle, leaving three other children without her."

Ron sniffled. "We'll do whatever we can," she said firmly. Neville handed over a tissue and she gave him a grateful smile. "Thank you." She went to talk to her husbands, smiling when Draco instantly pulled her into his arms. "Can we bring them here?"

"The older three are in school right now," Harry told her, giving her a smile. "We just talked with the oldest and she said they want to stay down there."

"Then can we at least go visit?" Ron asked.

"We're bringing my sister up here," Draco soothed. "We'll see them during the summer holiday. They'll be coming up then." She smiled at him and calmed down. "How are you feeling?"

"Just fine. Mum said it was a false pain. They think I'm going to go over New Years." Draco gave her a squeeze. "What about Harry? You know there are those intolerant gits around here who are making fun of him; what will those kids say about his son?"

"Not a bloody thing," Draco calmly promised. "We'll be working it out so if they want to they can come up, and if not we'll provide them with a house and all that down there until they're all out of school plus one year to get themselves set up however they want." Ron nodded, smiling at him for the extra generosity.

"They don't like their little sister," Harry continued. "They think she's the reason her mother died." He shrugged at her upset look. "They know it's not really, but still, it's an emotional reaction. Your dad caught it. He's gone to get her and bring her back here. We'll clean her up and bring her into the dance to meet Blaize and tell everyone who she is immediately. The faster she gets on with your mum, the better," Harry said firmly.

Ron lunged over and hugged him. "You are so wonderful," she whispered in his ear. "I love you, Harry."

"I love you too, Ron." He gave her a squeeze. "Come on, I want to dance with you. The babies miss kicking each other." He led her off, smiling at Draco. "Join us whenever you can."

"Fine," Draco agreed, smiling at their backs. He sat down to think about it. His father had created an heir so he could get rid of him. How very trite and impolite of him. If he was still living, he'd have to kill him again. Arthur came back a few minutes later with a little cloaked being and he stood up, smiling down at her. "Good evening, Melantha. How are you this evening?" he greeted, trying to start off right.

Arthur removed her hood. "She doesn't seem to talk much," he explained.

He looked her over. Her skin had that bronze glow that most people got with a great tan, but hers was natural from both parents. Her mother must have been stunning with the bone structure her face had. She was going to be stunning when she grew up. He'd have to make sure she was protected from all the men. Her platinum hair was only to her shoulders, but it was a bit curly. Her pert little nose was almost exactly like his and her mouth was shiny like she had been licking her lips. "With what happened I wouldn't either," Draco assured her. She gave him a hesitant smile and held up her arms. He picked her up to hold, making her feel safe. He would not let this child live in the sterile, cold house he had. Harry and Ron would kill him if he did that to her. "Are you dressed or should we fix something for you?"

"I think we should probably put her to bed, Draco. It's mid-afternoon where she was."

Draco frowned at him. "She'll have to be acknowledged and Blaize is in there dancing with someone." He set her down and looked at her dress, changing it to a white silk robe. She giggled and clapped so he quickly charmed her hair into a braid and took her hand, leading her off. "Come with us, Arthur. I'm going to do this subtly." He walked her into the room, smiling at his spouses. They smiled and waved so he brought her over. "Melantha, this is Ron," he said, pointing at her, "and Harry," he said, pointing at him. "I'm married to them." She hugged each of their bellies, smiling at them. Then she looked up at him and gave him a shy smile. "Come, let's dance. There are many people around here who would love to meet you." He took her out onto the floor, smiling as he danced with her. Pretty soon everyone was looking their way and smiling. "You must always be aware of what impression you make," he instructed gently, picking her up. He looked around and noticed the music was stopping. He smiled at them. "We just found out my father had another child in Barbados." He tickled her lightly. "Melantha, welcome to your new home as one of the many Malfoy heirs." The guests clapped politely and he led her over to where Molly and Arthur were sitting with the rest of the family and now Ron and Harry. "This is your family. The redheads are all Ron's relatives. You may call Molly and Arthur grandmother and grandfather if you wish," he instructed. She wiggled so he let her down, watching as she walked over to Ginny and hugged her stomach, then the twin's tummies. "I think she has a gift," he said dryly.

Molly smiled and picked the girl up to look at her. "You are very pretty, Melantha. How old are you?" She held up two fingers.

"She's twenty-months," Arthur said gently, smiling at her. He tickled her a bit, making her laugh. "You are adorable. I'm sure you're going to charm many boys all around the world."

"So am I," Harry agreed, smiling at her. "Would you like to come pat the baby, Mellie? He's been a bit upset since you hugged him. He seems to like you." She scooted over into his lap, patting his tummy for him. "Thank you, dear." He smiled at Draco. "Where did Blaize go? He hasn't come over yet."

"He's fairly soused," Oliver told him, pointing at him where he rested against the drink table. "I doubt we need him right now."

"Stupid idiot just got dumped," Draco said bitterly, glaring at Blaize. He got a wave and a smile in return. He looked back and saw Harry's look at him. "Sorry, but he picks some of the most outrageous idiots to date," he reminded him. "You were about the only good one I think." He kissed Harry's cheek. "We can take care of her ourselves for tonight."

"Okay," Harry agreed, smiling at him. She seemed to jump so he looked down at her. "What's wrong?"

"You boy," she said, blinking a few times.

He nodded, smiling at her. "Yes I am, that's very good," he praised. "We'll help you figure all that stuff out later, Mellie, I promise."

She beamed and settled against his chest. His lap was bigger for now. She could play with the other babies she could feel soon. She slowly fell asleep, still patting her new brother.

Harry beamed at Draco. "I think I'm going to stay here."

"I'll take her up with me," Ron whispered. "I'm about for a nap myself." They looked at her and she winked. "You know how much Dawn likes to nap." She took the new one gently and carried her upstairs to their room. She could sleep with them tonight so she wouldn't wake up alone in a strange place. She got into an actual set of pajamas and climbed in with the little girl, cuddling her close. "Good night, Mel." She giggled in her sleep.

***

New Years came and went, and then Ron's due date, and then the start of February. Even the midwife was starting to get concerned. They talked about inducing but that would mean a trip to the hospital and Draco refused because it wasn't allowed for a Malfoy heir to be born outside the family home. The healer taking care of Harry was consulted and he decided the baby was fine, but they could use a home inducement potion if necessary. It was an ancient potion but it had worked for centuries. Draco worked to make one, more to wear out his frustration than out of duty. He could have hired someone to make sure it was perfect but he needed something to do or he was going to fuss his spouses into oblivion; Ron had said so. Harry just got embarrassed and went to play with Mel instead of complaining.

It was now nearly Valentine's Day and Ron was tired of this pregnancy. They would be starting the potion at midnight if she didn't start on her own. He heard a shriek and dropped everything onto the table, heading up to check on them. Ron was panting and grabbing the bed posts. "Really?" he asked happily. Ron glared at him so he took a few steps out of range of her fingernails. Molly had warned him what labor was like for a woman. "Let me get the midwife and Molly," he said calmly. "You get into the bed and I'll be right back." He rushed off, going to make some calls. Arthur was notified at work since he wasn't sure where Molly was. She had taken Hermione and the twins shopping for baby stuff. "It's started," he said excitedly, then he hung up and called the midwife. "She's screaming and panting, that's the sign, right?" The midwife gave him a patient nod. "Then get here!" He cut off that and called Remus for good measure. "It's started." He ran back up the stairs, going to help his wife through this.

By the time everyone else got there, Ron was swearing and cursing at him while trying to hit him with a pillow. Molly got her calmed down and undressed enough. Draco was sent to get some boiled water. Harry came in and he was sent to make sure the baby's first bath was ready. The midwife came and Molly let her handle everything else. The pregnant women in the family all came back in, including Harry, to do what they could and to figure out what it was going to be like for them. Oliver tried to help too but he was shooed out by Fred, who told him he didn't want to drive the poor man insane with worry. Draco pushed his way back in to help Ron once he was calm again, stroking her hair and feeding her ice chips whenever she said she wanted some more.

This went on into the night and the next day. All the way to Valentine's Day. When Ron finally screamed that she was going to push, the whole house woke up and tried to get a peek of the new baby. Mel managed to sneak in, being small enough to walk between legs, and popped up to pat the baby through Ron's tummy, telling her it would be okay. Of course, she was talking to the baby because she kept saying it would like the outside world, but Ron didn't care. At precisely two minutes after noon, Dawn Cassara was born screaming and kicking. Ron went limp and nothing was going to wake her for a bit. Draco got to cut the cord and Harry got to hold her, cuddling her close.

"Shh, it's all right," he soothed. He let Mel help him calm her down, and Mel seemed to do the trick. Dawn yawned at Mel, making her giggle. "You're very good with babies," he told her. "Which is good because Hermione's about to pop and I'll have Chase soon." She smiled at him and kissed him on the cheek, then went to check on Hermione. "Molly, go with her," Harry called. Molly looked at him, frowning slightly. "Mel's given up helping the baby to go wander and check on someone else, probably Hermione."

Molly hurried, finding Hermione in the middle of a labor pain. "Oh, dear." She ran back to get the midwife, and Draco to handle Vincent, then they started the process over again with her.

Harry looked at his daughter. "I am so glad your baby brother is getting cut out," he confided. Oliver, who was in the doorway, laughed and shook his head. "What? That's got to hurt!"

"It probably does," he agreed, smiling at him. "How's Ron?"

Harry looked over at her, then shrugged. "Napping. It's been a long three days."

Oliver nodded. "Too true," he agreed. He closed the door so they could have some privacy.

Harry locked it and then snuggled in beside Ron. "Your daughter is adorable," he whispered. Ron patted him on the head. "We're both going to cuddle her."

"Shh," Ron complained. The baby tried to latch on, that got her attention. She looked down at the round, red face. "Hungry?" Her mother had told her how to do this so she bared one breast and let her daughter latch on, helping her find a comfortable spot. She grinned at Harry. "You're just going to have to share."

"That's fine," he agreed, kissing her. "All I want to do is hold you. You're wonderful," he sniffled.

"No crying," Ron warned. Harry nodded, but he continued. "Bloody mood swings," she said, but she was grinning. "Just think, you get yours cut out."

"And I'm so glad!" he said, wailing now as he hugged her. "I love you, Ron."

"I know you do, Harry. Shh, it's all right," she promised, petting him until he calmed down and fell into a short nap. She looked at her daughter. "Don't worry, you'll get used to your other father's mood swings. He's a lot like his mother from what we've heard." They curled up around Harry until Draco kicked the door in. "Forget your wand?" Ron teased.

Draco nodded. "It's in the study." He closed the door as best he could then curled up behind Ron's back, holding her gently. "What happened to Harry?"

"Mood swing. He'll wake up soon." She got comfortable once her daughter was done, and they all snuggled in together for a bit.

***

Draco watched Harry as he paced. He was a month early. It was only late June. Harry had been hoping the baby would hold out so they had the same birthday. Unfortunately he was showing definite signs of going soon. He caught Harry on his next pass and forced him into his lap for a cuddle as long as he could. Harry struggled free and started to pace again. "Calm down, it's fine," he soothed. "Everything is set up."

"Draco, something's not right," Harry told him. He stopped to look at him. "I haven't felt the baby today and something's wrong."

"Then I'll call the healer and we'll get you checked over again," Draco agreed quickly. Harry had another bout of this earlier in the month and the healer had said the baby's heartbeat was a little low. He called the healer, getting told he was in with a patient. The nurse took the message to be passed on. He got Harry settled in the room they were going to use for the birth, it was sterile and the best they could do for the birth.

The healer strolled in a half-hour later. "Sorry, I was up to my elbows in another delivery," he said with a smile. "Another bout of not feeling the baby?" he asked as he pulled his wand.

Harry nodded. "Plus I can't get comfortable and I'm pacing. I feel really odd."

"That could be the false labor. I looked at your mother's records and she didn't have very much but she did report being agitated." He checked Harry over, nodding as the results came back to him. He looked at Draco. "I think we're going to do this now," he said quietly. "Go call for a set of paramedics." Draco stood there, still. "Draco!" he snapped. He hurried off and the healer looked at Harry. "The baby's heartrate is a little lower than I like so I'm going to take Chase now, Harry. Then we'll be putting him in the hospital for a few days of observation." Harry bit his lip and nodded. "Good. Now out you go," he said, knocking him out before his patient could protest. He didn't want to have to deal with a panicking parent if something was really wrong with the baby. He was cutting open the skin with a separation charm when Draco and Ron both rushed in. "Stand back," he ordered. "The baby's coming." Ron went to get a blanket to hold the baby in. Draco stood there, staring as Harry's stomach opened. He was used to it. He severed the uterus Harry wasn't going to be needing, it was going to have to come out anyway, and pulled it out. He laid it on top of Harry's chest to open it, finding the baby easily. There hadn't been a lot of fluid in there with him. He handed him off to Ron. "Rub," he instructed. "Get him breathing." Ron nodded, working with Draco for now. "Did you get the paramedics?"

"They're on their way," Ron assured him. She glanced at Harry. "Did you knock him out?"

"Yes, it's fine. Let me remove the rest of this like we had planned." He quickly severed everything else and put it into a holding bag, then closed him back up. "There." He turned to help with the baby, finding a paramedic already helping. "Where's the other?"

"Getting the portkey ready."

"I have one to the hospital," Draco told him, popping off to get the stone from the other house. He came back and handed it over. "It should go directly to the emergency department. I made it when he had those blood pressure spikes."

"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy," the paramedic said, tucking it into his pocket. He floated Harry up, followed by the healer. "We'll take them now, you call anyone you need to and meet us there." He hurried Harry and the baby off.

Ron looked at Draco. "I'll get my mother and father, you get Remus." They rushed off to separate floos, Ron taking Mel and Dawn with him to his father's office. "Dad," he said as he appeared. He smiled at the person in his father's office. "We just took Harry's baby out and it's having problems. They're both at the hospital."

"That's fine, Ron, I'll be right there," he promised. "Go tell Percy and get him to help you over there." Ron nodded, heading down to Percy's office. Arthur smiled at his employee. "As you can see, nothing stops family emergencies, that's why I'm not upset about yours. Go have lunch and I'll see you after I check on Harry."

"Harry Potter?" the man asked weakly.

Arthur smiled. "Yes. That was Ron just now. You know Harry's married to her and Draco?" His employee nodded. "Go ahead and have lunch. I've still got to find my wife." His employee hurried off, letting him make the important calls. He tried the shop first, Molly was hovering over Fred recently. "Oh, good, George."

"I'm Fred, Dad. George is in bed thanks to Mum. What's going on? Did you want to have lunch?"

"No, I want you to meet me at the hospital with your mother. They took Chase out early and he and his father are in the hospital."

"Harry?" he asked, going pale.

"Ron didn't say anything." Fred nodded, going to get her mother and sister, and close up the shop. Arthur hurried to the hospital, smiling at the medi-witches he passed. "Potter-Malfoy?" he asked one behind a desk. She pointed and he hurried that way, realizing Ron was screaming at someone the closer he got. "Ron!" he said sharply, making her stop. "What's going on?"

"They won't let us see Harry because we can't prove we're married," she said bitterly, glaring at the nurse in her way.

Arthur pulled out his official Identification. "Harry is my son-in-law, as you very well know. This is his wife Ron and their children. The husband is Draco Malfoy. Now get out of our way." She refused to move.

Oliver walked in and moved her, making her scream. "Shut up!" he ordered. "Harry's got enough blood pressure problems without being deprived of the things that keep him calm!" He walked in, helping by taking the strange little Mel to hold. She got away from him and went to cuddle the twins. He looked at his wives, both of whom were wincing. "Beds, now!" he ordered. The nurse looked at him. "George is due in about a week and Fred's due in two months, they're twins," he told her.

"Twins often go on the same day," she admitted, leading them, and Mel who wouldn't let go, away to check on them. Oliver stomped after them, sending word that George was indeed in labor and Fred was having sympathetic labor pains and cussing Fred and their mother for making them twins.

Harry woke up to find Ron and Draco with him in the room. "No family?" he asked.

"George decided to steal Chase's thunder by going today," she soothed, smiling at him. She stole a kiss. "How do you feel?"

"Woozy."

"I'll get another medi-witch," Draco promised, going to do that and check on his son. The nurse came quickly and no one knew anything about his son yet. He went back and watched as Harry was fussed over until he saw the pleading look. "Suck it up," he said with a fond smile. "You're only getting fussed over today, Harry."

"I know," Harry sighed, holding up his arms. "Can I at least have a cuddle?"

"Not with your medicine," the nurse said firmly, glaring at Draco. "He's just had major surgery."

"I know that, I'm his husband." He laid down beside Harry, being careful of the tube that had been put into his arm earlier. "How's that?" he asked gently.

"Perfect," Harry admitted. He looked at Ron. "I want cuddles from you too, but the bed's too small."

"When they move you upstairs, Dawn and I will cuddle you," Ron promised. The nurse looked at him. "Ron Malfoy," he said, shaking her hand. "His wife."

"You're male," she said, stating the obvious.

"I'm a changeling," he corrected. Her face lit up. "Yeah, so I'm the wife."

"Oh. All right, I'll make a note on his chart." She hurried out, going to make sure the other people on the floor knew to leave them alone. *Everyone* in Britain knew how overprotective Harry Potter was of his wife. He had nearly hurt someone a few months back while she had been pregnant because they had said something mean to her. The nurse from earlier glared at her but she ignored it, she was a cranky bitch anyway.

***

Draco finally got to see his son, walking into the nursery like he owned it when they wouldn't tell him anything. "I'm here to see my son, Chase Malfoy," he said bluntly. "Brought in earlier with his other father?" The nurses looked at him. "Now," he prompted. They hurried to check the records and his son was brought to him. They even let him hold the tiny thing. He smiled at his son. "Good evening, Chase," he said gently, touching the tiny hand. "You're a bit chilly." Someone handed him a blanket. "Thank you." He wrapped him up. "Why isn't he fussing?"

"He was sleeping and was just fed," the nurse hovering near him told him. "We were trying to figure out who to notify."

Draco looked at her. "His other father is Harry Potter, my consort, and our wife Ron is in his room right now." Her eyes lit up, apparently she recognized at least one of the names. "Is he all right? His heartrate was a bit low earlier."

"He's just fine, Mr. Malfoy. He's a good, but quiet baby. Not a bit of a problem." She looked over as another infant started to cry.

He waved a hand. "I've got a five month old, we'll be fine." She rushed off, leaving him with his son. "Shh," he said at the opening eyes. "It's all right. You can see your mother soon," he promised, stroking the squished face. He removed the baby bonnet, smiling at the silver hair and the black streak down the center. "Well, you're definitely the best of both of us." He put the bonnet back on and stroked down the bare arm. "Why are you naked?" he whispered.

"Because we weren't sure what to mark him," the nurse said as she came back. "There's a small problem that wasn't mentioned." Draco looked at her, frowning. "How was he conceived?"

"Harry took a temporary changeling potion before the battle, he conceived during it."

Her face lit up. "That would explain why it looks like he's got both." Draco's mouth opened. "Do you know anything about that potion?"

"Not a lot, but I have all the research at home." He stood up and walked his son over to a changing table to look for himself. He burst out in giggles. "Your mother is going to love you even more," he promised, putting the diaper back on. He looked at the nurse. "We knew from the beginning that he was supposed to be male. Consider him that." She nodded, smiling at him. "We'll see if it a temporary thing. If not, then legally we'll have it changed or we'll deal with it however."

"Technically he's only a changeling if he changes," Ron said from the doorway. "What's up? It sounds like he's one."

"No, he's got both," Draco told him.

Ron's eyes went wide. "The potion did what?"

"It could have been all the energy Harry had to put out," Draco pointed out gently. "Come see." Ron walked over to look down at their son. "You're right though, he's not officially a changeling unless he changes. If he doesn't I suppose we could decide it's a boy."

"There is a test among the muggles to tell that," a nurse put in. "They usually use it to change them one way or another."

"You're not doing that to her," Ron said firmly. She smiled and he shrugged. "Sorry, I'm a new mother myself." She kissed Draco on the cheek. "The twin's came out one from each at a time. Coyote is female and so is Loki. Coyote is George's." She grinned. "The boys are still to be named. Oliver's getting demanding about them. They'll be up soon." She stroked down Chase's arm. "Your daddy is going to love you even more than the dog will," she promised, cutting the nurses up. They were still fussing over him when the two sets of twins were brought in with Oliver behind them. "Come see," Ron called. He walked over, clapping them both on the back. "Chase Faolan, this is your Uncle Oliver," she introduced.

Oliver picked him up, looking at him. "You're a tiny bit," he greeted, smiling at him. Chase blinked at him. "Quiet, huh?" He handed him off to Draco, smiling at them. "One of each from each of them," he said happily. "Bill and Charlie are having fits about which one gets named after them. They both want George's since hers has red hair." He walked them over to look at his darlings. "Sweetlings, these are your Aunt Ron and Uncle Draco. Their tot is Chase, you'll be seeing a lot of him." The babies started to cry and he bent down to tickle them. "None'a that now. Or else I'll not let Grandma come fuss." He smiled at them. "How's Harry?"

"Enforced nap," they said in unison, grinning at him.

"Ah, getting the little one all to yourselves then, huh?" Chase wet himself. "Want me to get that? I have no idea how to do it."

"If you want," Draco agreed, he didn't like changing diapers and what better way to show off their surprise. The nurse came over to help Oliver while they watched the twins, looking down at them. "George and Fred junior?" he suggested. Oliver groaned. "No?"

"I refused that set of names," Oliver told them. "Fred's'll be named after my father and grandfather, George's after my mother and her mother if I have my way. What is that?" he asked. "Draco?"

"We think it was the energy from the fight and the potion together," Draco said with a shrug. "As long as he's not changing, he's probably going to stay a boy."

"Well," he said, then he shrugged, too happy to care at the moment. "That's kinda cool over all." He finished and carefully pinned on the diaper, handing the baby boy back. "There are you, one new heir. I noticed he had Harry's hair."

"It's probably a cowlick as well," Ron agreed with a grin. He looked at the nurse. "We're going to check on our husband. Can we take him?"

"We'll bring him down tonight in case your husband wants to breastfeed," the nurse helping them said as she took Chase back. She smiled as they walked out, and turned to look at Oliver. "Which one are you married to?"

"Ron's just older siblings, the twins who run the joke shop," he said happily. "Oops, we'll have to change the sign on the door since they won't be coming in anytime soon." He grinned and shrugged. "I'll talk Percy into it." He bent down to touch his kids again, very happy even if they were going to drive him to distraction.

***

Percy was ganged up on as soon as he appeared. He looked at all the eager faces. "Fred and George won't be in today," he told them. The crowd groaned. "They've had their children and they're recovering." The whole crowd slumped and whined in near unison. He smiled and shook his head. "I'll pass on your well wishes." He changed the sign to show what was going on and that it was a boy and girl from each. Some of the older kids clapped and hooted, happy with the news. "They're physically fine and so are the children. The experience has even given them a lot of new ideas. They said they'd have the new line out in a month." He watched as the children wandered off chatting to each other, shaking his head. "Those two and their fans," he said fondly. He saw a few adults, including one stunning woman walking toward him. They stopped to look at the sign. "They had their children late yesterday," he explained. "One of each for both of them." The women smiled at him. "They said they'd be back in about a week and they had a whole new line planned out because of what they went through."

"Are you a relative?" the stunning woman asked.

Percy straightened himself up. "I'm Percy, their next oldest sibling. Did you want me to pass on a personal message?"

She smiled. "No, I was wondering if you knew how little Chase was. It was in the paper that he was born as well."

"His birth started both twins off into labor," Percy admitted. "Chase is wonderful, a very quiet baby. He and Dawn like to sleep together already and their older aunt Melantha is very gentle with them." She smiled, making his insides go gooey. "Draco's making an announcement and accepting visitors tomorrow afternoon at the mansion if you wanted to pop around. I dare say half the world will be. Harry might be hiding but he'll have the baby there."

"That's fine." She held out a small business card. "I'm the one assigned to cover your whole family now," she told him. His face fell and she giggled. "I still think you're adorable, Percy. You don't remember me?" He shook his head. "I was the Prefect three years ahead of you."

"The last time I saw you, you were wearing glasses and had a ...." He trailed off, not wanting to say anything more.

She laughed. "I had buck teeth, acne so bad it covered my face, and I was fatter," she agreed. "I grew up, just like you did. Off the record, would you like to get a cup of coffee? The Prophet agreed to assign just one of us to your whole family, that way we wouldn't react to so many rumors. There's hope that we'll get close enough to be told things first," she said as she took his arm and walked him away.

"That does seem reasonable," he agreed, smiling at her. She really was stunning.

***

Draco looked up as the door opened and Percy led a woman in. "You're bringing in the reporters here?" he asked patiently. "Ms. Rebecca Horowitz I do believe?"

She smiled. "Actually, Mr. Malfoy, I'm the only reporter you'll be seeing. The Daily Prophet decided that just one of us should cover your whole family." Harry looked at her. "That way you don't have to hide from me and you don't have to worry about the idiot who got caught in your shrubbery."

"My mother's roses?" Draco breathed.

She gave him a gentle touch to the arm. "The ones out in front. He was in the spiny-leafed cactus."

Harry snickered. "Served him right."

She nodded. "It did. That's why my editor agreed that only one of us should cover your whole family, thinking that we'd get juicier details that way. Of course, I'll accept any official announcements you want to make and I can take any official photos you want as well." Ron looked impressed. "And with your permission, I'd like to date Percy but not use it to bother you too often. I figure I liked him when he was a snot-nosed kid and he's better now." Ron giggled, holding Harry tightly. "I can be as close or as far from the family as you want, Mr. Malfoy. I know how protective you can be."

He nodded. "Thank you for being honest. It is a good idea," he admitted. He looked at Harry, who nodded. He smiled at her again. "You can keep all the leaches off our back?"

"I can keep all the Daily Prophet's leeches off you, but the freelance ones I can't promise about. If you accept me, I can put it around that all things newsworthy come through my office."

Harry looked at her. "What about the Creevys? They were our friends in school."

"Dennis just got assigned to the Arabic desk, which is a rather large promotion. His brother is doing the party circuit right now to take pictures of all the beautiful people having fun and whoring about." Draco snorted, shaking his head. "If you don't want me, I can and will step down," she said firmly.

"No, I seem to have a tolerance for you," Harry admitted. "Dennis and his brother were the only reporters that I haven't gotten a case of hives from dealing with. You may be joining that rank." He looked at Draco, who nodded, then at Ron, who also nodded. "Okay, you've got it. Just don't make us keep stuff from Percy."

"That's fine," she said with a wave of her hand. "I might report on the little achievements, but in an off-hand manner if at all. Things like noting your son sat up on his own or walked for the first time."

"I can accept that," Harry agreed. "It won't really be an invasion of privacy. I'd like to see him fade into obscurity."

"Not for a very long time," she pointed out. "It's too close to that final battle for that to happen, but I can make this as unobtrusive as possible."

"Then I'd appreciate that," Harry agreed. He looked at Draco. "Can we do an official picture?"

"If you want," he agreed lightly. "I was going to wait until tomorrow, when you could be seen as being on the couch resting instead of in a hospital bed."

Ron cleared her throat. "Should we warn her now, Draco, just in case?"

"She could help it from slipping out," Draco agreed. Harry frowned at him. "If she knows then she can not tell and not let it get out of hand."

"Fine," Harry sighed. "I just want him to be a normal little guy though."

"That's fine," she said quickly. "What's wrong with him? Is he ill? An effect of the battle?"

"We think so," Ron admitted. "He's not a changeling, but he has both sets of organs." Her eyes went wide.

"I want him to be known as a boy," Harry said firmly. "The tests said he was. The changeling test came up negative."

"That's fine," she agreed, nodding. "I can see how that's something you want to keep out of the press for as long as possible. I won't be printing that. I don't personally care one way or the other what sort of sex he'll have." She smiled at Harry. "Thank you for this test of trust." He nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow. Today there will be an announcement that we'll be running the first official pictures tomorrow. Can we get Dawn and Mel in the same shot?"

"If they cooperate," Ron told her. "Dawn hates cameras so far. She's even pissed on one."

The reporter laughed. "I understand. You guys must see all too many of them." She nodded at them. "I'm going to kidnap Percy and take him to dinner so I can legitimately kiss him later. I'll see you tomorrow around four?" They all nodded. "Thank you." She tugged on Percy's arm, bringing him with her. She smiled at him. "See, I'm very nice and likeable. You didn't have to worry," she said as the door shut behind them.

Ron grinned at Draco. "Why didn't you suggest that earlier?"

"I hadn't thought they would have let it happen that way," Draco admitted. Chase woke up and complained about being covered so he took him from under Harry's blankets, kissing him on the nose. "Good morning, Chase."

***

Rebecca came the next morning with a single camera and a notepad, smiling at Mel when she met her. "Hello, dear. I'm Rebecca." Mel looked up at her, her wide silver eyes taking her in. "You are adorable." She tweaked her ear, causing the girl to blush and run away.

"This way," Vincent said as he walked down the stairs. "They're changing clothes for the visitation." He led her into the room Draco had decided on using, letting her get set up however she wanted, but watching her in case she did anything odd.

"You're still his bodyguard?"

Vincent nodded. "Yup. Draco set me free of my father's obligation but I still work for him. We're best friends."

"That's wonderful." She smiled at him. "How is your daughter?"

"Ariel is fine. The next one will be Miranda since we couldn't decide," he admitted with a grin. "You're very nice for a reporter."

"I try to be, that's why I was allowed to take this job. Because people like me and I'm not pushy." She smiled as Ron came in with Mel and Dawn. "Sit," she encouraged. "I met that one at the door," she said, smiling at Mel. She shyly hid her face against Ron's arm. "She is adorable."

"Thanks. Draco thinks her eyes are going to turn a bit more blue eventually." He grinned at Vincent. "Hermione's throwing a fit, big guy. Is she up again?"

Vincent nodded. "I think so." He grinned. "At least the kids'll be close, Ron."

"Good point. We're waiting on having any more. I want to be able to sleep for a few months before Draco even thinks about it."

Vincent laughed. "Considering Narcissa said you'd have twins next time, I'm not surprised." He remembered Rebecca and blushed. "Sorry."

"It's all right," she promised. "I never report on what might be. Only on what is. Speculation gets you fired." She shared a conspiratory grin with Ron. "How are the twin's twins?"

"Hell," Ron said simply. "They take turns getting up, one an hour."

She laughed. "I'm sure they named them correctly then." She smiled as Harry and Draco walked in with Chase. "Good afternoon," she greeted. "How's the setup look to you?"

"If it works for you," Harry said with a shrug and a yawn. "Sorry."

"That's okay. All new mothers do that from what my sister tells me. She's got four now." She smiled as they arranged themselves, taking a few pictures, managing to get one without Harry yawning. "There, that's out of the way. Do you have any special things you wanted in the birth announcement?"

"Just that he's a healthy, if small and quiet, baby," Ron told her, stroking down Dawn's hair. She wailed, which made Chase jump, but he didn't cry. "See?" She soothed her daughter and eventually she calmed herself. "There we are. If you're good, I'll put you on a cushion with your brother and aunt." Mel perked up at that, reaching for the baby to hold her. "In a moment, Mel." Mel pouted so Ron let her have the baby to hold. "You're very good at that," she praised.

Rebecca took another picture. "I bet she charms your mother all the time, Ron."

"All the time," Ron agreed. "Mel's like her shadow most days. She wants to help her cook and change diapers." She stroked Mel's hair flatter. "She's a very good girl and we adore her just as much as we do the babies."

Hermione walked in and handed over her daughter. "Here, I can't make her stop," she said, looking at this new person. "I thought the visitation was in an hour."

"This is Rebecca Horowitz," Harry told her, waving a hand. "The whole family has one reporter to deal with us."

Hermione shook her hand. "As long as you're decent to them, you don't have to worry about me," she told her. Rebecca smiled and nodded. "Good. Draco?" she asked, turning to look at him. "I need help deciding which program I want to go into. Do I want medicine or law?"

"In law you get to threaten people," Vincent pointed out dryly. "If you go into medicine to be a healer, you'll just end up taking care of kids."

She nodded. "Good point." She kissed him gently. "It'll mean a lot of long hours."

"We have half the books here in the third library," Draco assured her. "Apply, I'll see that it hits the right desk." She looked at him. "I won't force them to take you, just make sure it hits the right desk." She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you."

Harry looked at her. "Are you stuffed up again? You've got that same happy and goofy thing going."

She glared at him. "That was tactless," she pointed out.

"Yay," Ron told her. "It's true. You do have that bouncy happiness you had the last time."

Hermione sighed. "Fine, I am. We messed up the contraception charm. Are you happy now?"

"Definitely," Draco agreed. "We'll be renovating a few rooms next to the nursery to give it more room." She gasped and he gave her his most patient look. "We'll need it."

"Good point," she agreed, smiling again. "I'm going to look through the law books." Vincent resisted her taking their daughter so she went off with the dog, who followed all the kids as much as possible.

Ron looked around Harry at Draco. "I want earplugs if she is. She threw some awesome fits last time at you."

Vincent chuckled. "You and me both, Ron." He snuggled his daughter. "We're going to show her your mother's garden." He walked out, leaving them alone.

Draco shook his head. "We're going to be buried under children," he pointed out.

"Harry and I are waiting at least two years," Ron promised.

"Good," Harry said, smiling at her. "I didn't like how tired you were last time."

"Yes, dear," she said, kissing him gently. Chase let out a low wail so she pulled back. "I can kiss him, get used to it."

"I think he's hungry," Harry offered, smiling at her.

"Here, let me," Ron said, switching kids to breastfeed. "Sorry," he said when he saw the reporter looking. "Harry never started to lactate. He seems to like me enough though."

"I never get tired of watching that sight," Draco sighed with pleasure. "We need a good photo of that for my desk."

"Later," Ron agreed. "When you can put me into your favorite outfit."

Draco nodded. "Of course. We'll have to stage it just right for it to be the best." He snuggled Harry closer since he couldn't have Ron at that moment. "I am satisfied."

Harry reached up to touch the side of Draco's head. "You're getting a bare spot," he told him.

"I do not have a bare spot," Draco said firmly, moving the fingers out of his hair. "It's a thin spot." Ron looked at him. "My father got a few hairs once but my mother kicked his ass for it."

"Good," Ron said happily. "You don't have a thin spot that I can see," she said, content to let him have his illusions. "I'm taking your gel away."

"Ron!" he complained.

Harry straddled his lap, kissing him hard. "I want to run my fingers through your hair like I do Ron's when I grab her," he whispered against the soft lips. "No more gel." Draco relented for that reason alone.

THE END.