Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Erotes	By : Bickymonster Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 70634 -:- Recommendations : 4 -:- Currently Reading : 19
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any concepts or characters associated with it. I am not making any money from this this story

Chapter List
- 16
- 17
- 18
AN: Chapter 17; the story is progressing nicely once more, I got a bit delayed when my muse regained interest in my other story (FtSoaN) but thanks to some very speedy editing by my wonderful beta this chapter was done much sooner than expected and I have been able to write almost half of chapter 18 as well.
Enjoy. Also I am having a very depressed day today, struggling to do anything, it would make me very happy if you could leave me a review.
Warnings: Swearing, slash and Adult themes, sexual content. For full warnings see story description.
Thank you to my beta, AchillesTheGeek.

(Note: This is the updated edited version of the chapter. Updated 09/07/2015)

It didn't take long for Harry to find Draco after his meeting with Dumbledore. His mate was sat at the Slytherin table in the almost entirely empty Great Hall, reading through a book on potions, and, when the submissive looked up and gave him a smile, Harry's foul mood all but evaporated.
“It went well then?” Harry asked as he took a seat next to the blond, leaning in to steal a kiss from his mate as he wrapped his arm around Draco's waist.
“It did," Draco confirmed, leaning into Harry's side, relishing the closeness, despite the fact that they had only been apart for a couple of hours. "I am not suggesting we let my father roam free or anything, but I believe he has no intentions of turning his back on me or our baby. Or Severus,” the blond added with a knowing smirk.
“Oh really?” Harry asked with genuine curiosity, looking rather amused as he raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Severus?” he questioned, brushing his fingers over the feathers of Draco's folded wings.
Draco laughed, closing his book to give Harry his full attention. “Thought I would give calling him that a try," the submissive explained. "I can’t keep calling him ‘Professor Snape’ if he is going to be my new step-father. It might just be a bit too weird calling him that though,” he admitted with a thoughtful expression.
"Ahh," Harry said, nodding his understanding; he definitely agreed that it was a bit weird to be calling Snape by his first name. “So they managed to work things out between them at last?” he asked, a little surprised; he had assumed that both Lucius and Snape would be too stubborn for such a thing to happen, but apparently he had been mistaken.
Draco nodded in confirmation. "It certainly seems that way. I think my father is still somewhat in denial about the origin of his feelings," the blond explained. "Though he did at least say that his feelings might not be entirely because of my wings; I wasn’t sure he would ever manage to admit that much to himself, let alone to anyone else."
"You seem pleased," Harry observed, though he wasn't sure what reaction he had expected from his mate to such a development.
"Hmm," Draco hummed in agreement. "Their attraction to each other was sort of an open secret in our family for as long as I can remember, but I don't think any of us ever believed that they would have a chance to act on it.”
“Eww!" Harry exclaimed, the combination of his mate's words with having seen the potions master in his dressing gown earlier that day was leading him to some disturbing conclusions. "Nope, nope, bad mental images...” he mumbled, rubbing his eyes as thought it would help rid him of the thoughts.
“Yeah,” Draco said, chuckling slightly. He was rather amused by his mate's reaction though the moment that those images registered in his own mind, he started to look a little ill himself.
“I am happy for them," Harry told him, not wanting Draco to think he was against Snape and Lucius' relationship, "but...eww,” he repeated, cringing at the thought of the two men together.
“Well just be glad that one of them isn’t your father," Draco pointed out, flexing his wings and snuggling more tightly into Harry's side. "It isn’t exactly something I want to picture either,” he pointed out. "So how was your meeting?" the blond asked, keen to change the subject.
More than willing to go along with the new topic, Harry glanced around to make sure there was no-one else nearby and cast the muffliato charm as an extra precaution. "He showed me a memory," Harry told him, "the memory of a man called Ogden..."
-#-
Draco had listened closely as Harry told him all about what Dumbledore had shown him, the dominant having described it all as best he could. Unexpectedly, Draco found the whole story rather fascinating, though he had also been disturbed by how Merope's father had treated her; it had been enough to make him swear that their own child would grow up safe and loved.
"Absolutely," Harry had agreed without hesitation and the dominant had quickly stolen a kiss, his fingers brushing over Draco's still flat belly for a few moments, before going on with the story.
“Well that all makes sense and was interesting," the blond said, once Harry had stopped talking, and he looked to the dominant with a slightly puzzled expression, "but I don’t really understand how knowing this helps us defeat him.” To him it seemed to just be a rather long winded way of explaining and understanding a few small details of Voldemort's past.
“I said the same thing, but Dumbledore is insisting it is important," Harry told him with a shrug, still feeling inclined to agree with his mate despite the Headmaster's assurances. "I can only hope he starts explaining things in more depth whenever it is that he decides he is ready to talk again.”
“He might be the Headmaster, and arguably a genius, but that man has some serious control issues,” Draco grumbled, a disapproving frown on his face. He was pleased that Dumbledore was apparently trying to let Harry in on what he knew, but it wasn't enough in his opinion.
“Agreed.” Harry said with a laugh, thinking that 'control issues' might be an understatement. “Oh, and I almost forgot," he added, breaking into a grin, "Dumbledore has asked Tonks to come here and act as our security, under the pretence of teaching Defence, of course. He has requested Professor Lupin comes back here to help too.”
“Tonks? As in my cousin, the Auror?” Draco asked with a pensive expression; he knew of her, but he had never actually met her. “And why Professor Lupin?” he asked with curiosity; he remembered the professor well from a few years before, but he wasn't sure why Lupin would return now; he personally wouldn't have thought that bringing a werewolf into the castle was the best way to protect their family.
“Oh right, yeah, I forgot that she is your cousin," Harry said with a nod of his head, "and he asked them because they’re both with the Order,” he explained, realising just how little Draco actually knew about their side of the war. "Plus Professor Lupin was one of my dad’s best friends; I trust them both.”
“Well, if nothing else, it will mean that Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons should improve,” Draco said, not entirely convinced that having two members of the Order of the Phoenix was actually going to do very much to improve his and Harry's safety. “Not sure who thought using a different Auror each week would be a good idea, but...”
“I know, hasn’t been working at all,” Harry agreed, when Draco trailed off. “Pretty sure I haven’t learned anything new at all this year.”
-#-
With things somewhat more settled between Draco and Lucius, and with Dumbledore apparently not ready to share anymore of his secrets, Harry and Draco spent most of the next few days working on the various pieces of homework they had so far managed to ignore for the duration of the holidays. The time went quickly though, and it seemed like no time before the other students were returning to the school.
“Harry,” Ron called out happily as he, Hermione, Blaise, Pansy, Vince and Greg came into the Great Hall with the other returning students, heading for where Harry and Draco were sat at the Slytherin table. “Why you sitting over here?” the red-head asked with a frown as he reached them, looking up and down the table in confusion.
“There were fewer Slytherins here than Gryffindors over the holidays," Harry explained with a shrug of his shoulders, as Pansy, Blaise, Vince and Greg took their seats around them. "We sort of got used to sitting here.” Truthfully he hadn't even thought twice about it before following his boyfriend to what had become their usual seats.
Ron and Hermione, however, were looking decidedly awkward as the two of them remained standing; Ron was casting occasional almost longing glances towards their classmates across the room, and Hermione seemed thoughtful.
“Well are you planning on sitting down?" Draco asked, leaning into his mate's side, as he smirked in amusement at Harry's two best friends. "Or is the idea of sitting at our table scary enough that you think you might need to make a run for it? I thought you Gryffindors were supposed to be brave.”
Hermione sighed and gave an exaggerated roll of her eyes, taking a seat next to Pansy without another word but Ron looked less than sure of himself. Shuffling his feet slightly and biting his bottom lip as he thought about it, he glanced over at their usual table once more.
“Oh for heaven's sake, Ron," Hermione said with exasperation, tugging on his sleeve. "Sit down,” she commanded. The group all chuckled and sniggered at him when he quickly obeyed, taking a seat at the Slytherin table next to Hermione, opposite Harry and Draco.
Harry reached across the table and patted Ron's hand in mock sympathy. "There, there, it'll be okay," he said with an amused grin, causing the red-head to scowl at him a little bit, but that only made Slytherins chuckle again.
“Weasley,” Blaise said, getting Ron’s attention, “is there a reason your sister is staring daggers at all of us, even worse than usual?” he asked, nodding his head towards the Ginny, who was sat at the Gryffindor table with several others from her year.
Ron, Hermione, Greg and Pansy, who had their backs towards the Gryffindor table, turned, as the whole group looked to see what Blaise was talking about. It was quickly apparently to all of them, as soon as they spotted Ginny, that the Slytherin was right; Ginny had her eyes glued on the group of them but they widened and she quickly turned away when she realised she had been caught.
Ron just shrugged; Ginny's behaviour was a little odd, but he didn't think that it was anything to be worried about. “It's probably just because she is itching to talk to Harry," he said dismissively, turning back around to give Harry a sympathetic smile. "She found out about them over Christmas,” he added with a nod of his head towards Harry and Draco, when some of the others looked confused.
"I'll try to talk to her later," Harry said with a sigh, not looking forward to that conversation at all; he just hoped that Ginny was actually going to be as reasonable and understanding as Ron's letter had implied. Ron nodded, and Hermione gave Harry a smile of approval.
“What were you doing watching girl Weasley anyway, Blaise?” Pansy asked with an amused smirk after a few seconds, and the eyes of the group moved to the Slytherin in question.
“I wasn’t watching her,” Blaise said defensively, though from the knowing looks the others were giving him, he thought he might have answered with a little too insistently and perhaps a bit too quickly. Harry and Draco seemed to be fighting not to laugh and both Hermione and Ron were watching him with narrowed, calculating eyes, the latter's seeming far less friendly.
“Why were you watching my sister, Zabini?” Ron demanded to know, his voice cold and full of suspicion. It wasn't the first time that he had got the impression that Blaise might have more than a passing interest in Ginny.
“I said that I WASN’T watching her, Weasley,” Blaise pointed out with exasperation, resisting the urge to roll his eyes at Ron's over-protective reaction. The others around him weren't looking convinced either and Draco, particularly, was wearing a very knowing expression.
“He was so watching her,” Vince whispered loudly to Greg across the table, causing Ron to scowl, but the others to chuckle quietly.
“Oh, shut it, Vince,” Blaise snapped a little bitterly as he crossed his arms over his chest. He was trying very hard not to pout; he kind of liked their new Gryffindor friends, but he wasn't so fond of them at the moment, not now that everyone seemed to be ganging up on him.
“Yeah... well just don’t get any ideas, Zabini,” Ron warned him a little feebly.
“Harry,” someone said, interrupting the banter, and the group turned to look up to see softly smiling face of Remus Lupin, who was stood just behind Harry and Draco.
“Professor,” Harry greeted with obvious delight, a grin breaking out on his face as he practically jumped up from his seat to hug the werewolf. Remus didn’t hesitate to wrap his arms around the teenager and hug him back. “You actually came,” Harry said as he released the man from his grip, unable to stop smiling.
“Of course," Remus said, glancing around at the group that Harry was sat with; it was apparent that things had changed a great deal since he had been at Hogwarts last. "Dumbledore seemed to think you needed my help, but he wouldn’t really explain much.”
“Yeah, that man is good at not explaining,” Draco grumbled quietly.
Harry rested a hand on his mate's shoulder, but kept his attention on Remus. “Don’t worry, for once I actually didn’t want him to tell you everything," he explained to his father's friend. "This is something that it is probably best you heard from me.”
“Well looks like there is lots to explain,” Remus commented, not having missed the contact between Harry and Draco, his eyes lingering for a moment on the blond’s wings. “I certainly didn’t expect you to be sitting here," he said gesturing to the Slytherin table, "nor with present company.”
“It is all related," Harry told him, "it is kind of a long story. Maybe we could all explain it to you together,” he suggested, gesturing to those around him. “We have already had to go over it quite a few times now, so it would probably be easier with some assistance,” he suggested, looking at the group of their friends, who were already nodding their agreement.
“Okay, well how about we find somewhere quiet to talk after dinner?” Lupin suggested, hoping that Harry wasn't going to try and put of their conversation any longer, because he had a lot of burning questions. “I am sure Dumbledore would happily lend us his office.”
Harry gave Draco a pointed look before the blond could say anything, and the submissive snapped his jaw shut and returned the look with full force.
“Perhaps not Dumbledore’s office,” Harry said, his voice deepening and a pensive frown on his face; he felt a moment of regretful sadness when he realised that his trust in the old man had fallen so far, but shook it off as he turned back to Remus.
“Okay, you are going to have to explain what that look was about too,” Remus insisted with a pensive expression, looking between Harry and Draco. "But after dinner," he added, as more students continued to take their seats in the Great Hall, including a group of second year Slytherins close by.
“I will, I promise,” Harry assured him. He hugged the man quickly again before returning to his seat next to Draco when he saw the Headmaster getting up from the large chair in the middle of the head table.
He watched as the werewolf headed up the length of the hall; Remus glanced back over his shoulder, towards Harry, still looking thoughtful even as he gave the teenager a warm smile. He took a seat at the head table next to Tonks, who had a head of bright pink hair and was giving Harry a joyful wave across the room.
“Welcome back to you all," the Headmaster said in a carrying voice, from his podium at the front of the room, the chatter of conversations around the room trailing off into a respectful silence. "I sincerely hope that you have all made the most of your time off, and over-indulged to your heart’s desire, and are now ready to fill your heads with knowledge once more. And so, I will keep you no longer. Enjoy,” Dumbledore declared happily, waving his arms as the tables became covered with plates of various foods and jugs of juice and water.
“What are Professor Lupin and Tonks doing here?” Hermione asked Harry quietly, leaning across the table once everyone started helping themselves to dinner, the students all around them launching back into their own conversations.
“They're here to keep me safe and make sure Harry doesn’t recklessly throw himself into the most dangerous situation he can find,” Draco told her casually before Harry had a chance to answer, helping himself to the food in front of him.
“They are going to be teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts as well,” Harry amended, glaring at Draco.
“That’s great!” Hermione declared enthusiastically, now helping herself to some dinner as well. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
“I only found out a few days ago, Hermione,” Harry told her with fond exasperation. “Besides, are you happy because my family has increased protection or because you get decent teachers for Defence?” he asked with a knowing smile.
Hermione flushed guiltily. “I am glad that they are going to keep you guys safe," she insisted, causing Ron to snort in amusement. "Of course I am,” she reiterated, hitting the red-head lightly with the back of her hand.
“Hermione...” Harry said, reaching across to squeeze her hand lightly, “... I was joking.”
She let out a huffy breath, glaring at Pansy, Draco and Blaise, who were chuckling quietly.
"Just focus on the excellent Defence lessons we will have this term," Harry suggested with an unrepentant grin, and Ron tutted affectionately at his best friends before returning his full attention to the meal at hand.
-#-
Tonks leaned forward towards Draco, eyeing him critically. “So you’re really pregnant?” she asked a little sceptically for the third time in about ten minutes.
Harry and Draco were sat in the securely warded Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom surrounded by their closest friends, and they had just finished explaining the situation to Tonks and Remus. The young Auror had been invited along to avoid the need to repeat the information to her later; Draco had also wanted to be sure that the information that Dumbledore had given to her was accurate.
“Yes,” Draco repeated, a bit impatiently; he was still not really used to people talking about the child he was carrying, and his cousin's continued incredulity was putting him somewhat on edge. "Trust me, I am not keeping these out all the time by choice," he added, gesturing to his own wings, spreading them out to their full size.
Tonks let out a low, impressed whistle at the sight of them, and Pansy shuffled her seat just a little bit further away from Draco, so as to not risk getting brushed by the wings; she was not keen to repeat her previous experience with them. Remus' attention, however, was on Harry.
“Why didn’t you send me a letter telling me all of this?” Remus asked the teenager; there was a definite hint of sadness in his voice, and seemed disappointed that Harry hadn’t trusted him enough to come to him when it had all happened.
“Yes, because Harry sending you a letter explaining their inheritance, the pregnancy and how now Draco is his greatest weakness would be a great idea," Pansy pointed out derisively. "There would be no way that You-Know-Who getting his hands on that could end badly,” she added sarcastically.
"Pansy...!" Hermione exclaimed, looking horrified; she was clearly shocked by the way that the Slytherin was talking to the professor.
“No, it's okay, Hermione," Remus interrupted, before the two girls could start anything. "Miss Parkinson actually makes an excellent point," he conceded, giving Pansy a small nod. "This is not about me or Tonks, it is about keeping Harry and Draco safe."
“So you will stay and help Tonks?” Harry asked the older man hopefully.
“Of course," Remus responded without hesitation, looking a little surprised that the teenager had even needed that much confirmation. "Harry, I would do a great deal to keep you safe; you might not know me particularly well, but I have known you since you were a baby. I loved your parents very much, and, by extension, you,” he told him with conviction, before turning to Draco. “And now that you are mated to Draco, here, I will do everything in my power to keep him and your child safe too.”
Harry was grinning, and reached out to take Draco's hand in his own, just needing that contact with his mate in that moment. He had been worried that Remus wouldn't approve of their relationship, or would want to protect him rather than Draco and their child, but his concerns felt rather foolish now in the light of the professor's complete acceptance.
“Thank you, I really do appreciate that,” Draco said earnestly. “I don’t know what threat there is to us here, in the castle, but it is somewhat reassuring to have someone on our side none the less; or rather a couple of someones,” he corrected with a nod at Tonks.
“Hey, you’re family, Draco," Tonks told him happily with a shrug of her shoulders, grinning as she turned her hair platinum blonde. "Maybe we can actually get to know each other, now that our mothers aren’t keeping us apart,” she suggested.
"I think I would quite like that," Draco agreed, though seemingly a little thrown by Tonks' sudden change of hair colour. He had heard about metamorphmagi, and knew that his cousin was one but it was still pretty incredible to witness her transform herself with such ease.
“And if nothing else we can keep you away from the ministry’s clutches," the young Auror added with a determined look, turning her hair to a fiery red. "They have insisted I pass them any information I can get about you two. They know something is going on. Not that I would, of course," she added hastily at the looks of concern that several of the teenagers gave her. "Your secrets are safe with me.”
“Thanks, Tonks.” Harry said gratefully, relaxing back into his chair a little with relief; however, a second later he said bolt upright once more. “Wait, does that mean that they were getting the other Aurors who were teaching before to spy on us?” he asked, looking rather alarmed at the prospect.
Tonks nodded, giving them a wry smile. “I believe they may have been," she told them. "I can’t be certain, as I was never involved in the teaching rotation going on here, but given they asked me when they agreed to assign me here, I would say it is a pretty safe bet that they asked the others too."
"Well that's not ideal," Blaise commented, with a look of mild concern; the others in the room made various noises and gestures in agreement with the Slytherin's understatement.
"Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if they have already figured out that you are Erotes, and what that means in terms of the relationship between the two of you," Tonks told them bluntly. "But given they aren’t acting on the information...” she said, letting her voice trail of as she shrugged her shoulders.
“I know," Harry said with a sigh. "Nothing we can really do about it either way. And quite honestly, if they aren’t giving the information to the papers or spreading it around then I don’t think we really care what they know,” he added with a shrug, turning to Draco for confirmation.
"They know what they know," the blond said bluntly. "It isn't as though we can go in and obliviate a whole load of Aurors," he pointed out. "Well... we could, but let's save that as a last resort," he added with a cheeky smirk.
Harry glared at his mate for a moment before turning back to Tonks. “It is only if they start giving Draco crap or putting us in danger that we are going to have issues," Harry told her firmly, knowing that that would set of his protective instincts. "But I would be grateful if you didn’t go telling them anything, just in case they haven’t worked out what is going on."
"Of course," Tonks promised.
-#-
“I can’t believe I am going to miss out on the apparition lessons,” Draco said sulkily as he headed towards the Great Hall with Harry, Pansy and Blaise for breakfast a couple of days later.
“Well at least you are a quick study, Draco," Pansy pointed out consolingly. "You can start practicing as soon as they baby is born and I am sure you will be ready to take the test at some point during the summer."
“Maybe we can even take it at the same time," Harry suggested, linking his fingers with his mate's and giving him a warm smile. "I won’t be able to take the test till then anyway, because I won’t be old enough," he pointed out when Draco turned to look up at him.
“True..." Draco said slowly, giving that serious consideration. "I suppose I wouldn’t have been able to take the test until June anyway; though it would have been nice to learn with the rest of you."
“I know, Love,” Harry told him, placing a small kiss to his temple. “I’m sorry.” He knew that strictly speaking it wasn't his fault that they had ended up in their current situation, but given it was his child that was excluding Draco from the lessons, he couldn't deny that he did feel a little guilty.
“Harry!” a female voice called out.
Instinctively he turned at the sound of his name and saw Ginny hurrying along the corridor towards him. Draco stopped and turned with his boyfriend when he felt Harry’s hand pull on his; his wings flexed and he let a deep rumbling noise of complaint build in his throat at the sight of the red-head heading their way.
“We will see you in a bit,” Pansy called out, from a little further ahead, where she and Blaise had paused to wait for the other two, before linking her arm through Blaise’s and starting to drag him off in the direction of the Great Hall once more. “I am definitely too hungry to wait around and hear what She-Weasel wants,” she added more quietly to Blaise.
“Pansy…” Blaise grumbled, scowling at girl next to him, glancing back at Harry and Draco, who were now stood with Ginny Weasley.
“What?” Pansy asked, in mock innocence, but when Blaise turned to glare at her again, she folded with a sigh. “Fine, I will be nice,” she agreed, “but I honestly don’t get what you see in her. Either way, breakfast now,” she added enthusiastically.
-#-
“Harry, can we talk?” Ginny asked once she caught up with him. She noted that, while Parkinson and Zabini were leaving, Draco was stubbornly staying firmly by Harry’s side, his purple wings an impressive sight when spread out behind him.
“Sure.” Harry agreed, sounding apprehensive, but not making any move to leave, waiting patiently to hear what she had to say. He was hopeful that Ginny might be here to fix things between them, to accept how things were, but he wasn’t going to hold his breath.
“Erm...,” Ginny hummed, her eyes flitting nervously to Draco, who was standing far closer to Harry’s side than she liked, and she was vaguely aware that their hands were intertwined. “In private?” she requested hesitantly.
Harry’s brow furrowed and he opened his mouth, ready to tell her exactly what he thought of that suggestion, but Draco lightly tugged on his hand getting his attention. He turned to look at his boyfriend curiously, ignoring the unimpressed expression on Ginny’s face when his attention was so easily diverted from her.
“It’s fine, go talk,” Draco said softly, glancing passed Harry to throw Ginny a smug look, before returning his full attention to his boyfriend. “I will see you in class,” the blond told Harry, pulling him down by his tie to give him a not entirely chaste kiss. “Maybe go talk in the kitchens or at least get Dobby to bring breakfast to wherever it is you go,” he suggested, as he straightened Harry’s robes. “I don’t want to have to listen to your rumbling stomach all morning,” Draco told him, gently poking a finger into Harry’s belly.
Harry chuckled affectionately. “Yes, boss,” he teased quietly, leaning in for another quick kiss before letting his boyfriend leave. He couldn’t help but watch the blond walking away, admiring his boyfriend’s attractive body, including the large wings which were once again folded back behind his back.
“Don’t be late for lessons,” Draco called back over his shoulder. As he did so, he caught Harry checking him out, and so the blond was wearing a rather pleased smirk when he rounded the corner and disappeared from sight.
Harry turned back to Ginny, trying to pretend that his cheeks weren’t a little flushed. “Kitchens?” he suggested with an awkward smile, not knowing quite how to deal with the expression on Ginny’s face; it seemed to be made up of equal parts confusion about and distaste for the interaction she had just witnessed.
“I suppose,” she agreed begrudgingly, as though it hadn’t been her that had wanted to talk to him in the first place, and gestured for Harry to lead the way.
Harry sighed quietly, and started walking. He had known this conversation was coming ever since the day Ron had sent him the letter telling him that Ginny knew about him and Draco being Erotes, and he had been dreading it; not that he was about to let Ginny see that. He was at least a little bit grateful that Draco wasn’t there, because his boyfriend had a remarkable talent for rubbing Weasleys up the wrong way; this conversation was going to be difficult enough as it was, without Draco exacerbating the situation.
“You know Draco only agreed to let us talk so easily so that he would seem like the good guy in all this, right?” Ginny said a little snappily, as she followed him down the corridor in the direction of the kitchens. “And did you have to kiss him like that?” she added quickly, as Harry stopped walking to turn and glare at her.
“Excuse me?” Harry exclaimed in surprise, hardly able to believe what he was hearing. “Firstly, I wasn’t aware that when it came to my family and friends that there were good and bad guys,” he told her derisively; he could feel his temper rising and felt a small surge of glee as Ginny took half a step back from him.
“And secondly," Harry went on with determination, "whether or not I kiss Draco is absolutely none of your business," he all but shouted at her, his finger pointed at her in accusation. He was vaguely aware of several other students watching them, but he didn't care. "He is my boyfriend, I love him, and I will kiss him when I want to. If you don’t like it, then that is your problem.”
The corridor was full of a tense silence, the other students waiting to see what would happen next and neither Harry or Ginny knowing what else to say. Harry felt ready to storm away, hopefully leaving Ginny to feel guilty about what she had said, though he didn’t actually hold out much hope for that, given her attitude. He had wanted to give her a chance but if she couldn't even be respectful of his relationship, then he was done trying to be reasonable with her.
“Harry, wait,” she gasped out, hurriedly reaching out and gripping his wrist as he started to turn from her, causing him to stop. Harry's eyes were filled with what she suspected was disappointment when they met hers and it nearly broke her heart; she only wanted... But Ginny cut herself off mid-thought, trying to work out what it was that she actually wanted.
Only a few minutes ago she had been completely certain that all she wanted was just for Harry to be happy; however, she couldn't help but think that he actually had seemed happy with Draco, at least from what she could tell. But there was just something about the idea of Harry actually wanting to spend his life with Draco made her insides squirm uncomfortably. Yes, she did honestly want Harry to have everything in his life, but she wanted him to have it with her, and she felt awful for even thinking that.
“Can... can we still go talk?" she requested quietly, her hand still on Harry's wrist as she gave him the most pleading look she could manage. "I promise to... to try not to be a bitch about everything,” she finished a little pathetically, giving him a wry smile.
Harry frowned at her, and pulled his wrist free of her hold, crossing his arms over his chest as he thought it over. He really didn’t want to and at this point felt sure that the two of them talking more would only serve to destroy what little there was left of the connection between them, and likely complicate things with the Weasley family.
He had hoped that with the knowledge of his inheritance Ginny would be able to accept his situation, but that hope seemed to have been in vain and now he just wanted to walk away from it all. However, there was something stopping him, a need to hear her out and a determination to try everything he could to make things right between them.
“Fine,” he said coldly, though he didn't even wait for her as he turned and headed towards to kitchens again. “What?” he snapped at the students who were standing staring at them both. He hated that they felt entitled to his life story, but did feel somewhat guilty at the panicked expressions that many of them were suddenly wearing; his snappishness was effective though because the corridor cleared quickly as they hurried on their way.
He had been in a fairly good mood before Ginny had asked to speak to him, but was now feeling quite miserable and a stone’s throw from actually sulking. He knew what the Hogwarts rumour mill was like and he was sure that the news of Harry Potter yelling at Ginny Weasley would be all over the castle in no time; that he had yelled at her that he loved Draco was only likely to make the news travel faster still.
He cursed himself and his big mouth silently, resolutely ignoring Ginny, who was following just a few paces behind him. He had meant what he said, of course, he did love Draco, and he supposed that it wasn't really any great secret and obvious to anyone who had seem them together in the last month or so, but it still bothered him that he and his boyfriend would be being talked about again; and it had started as such a nice morning.
“Mister Harry Potter!" a squeaky voice exclaimed as soon as Harry stepped through the doorway into the kitchen, and Harry managed a half smile at the sight of Dobby rushing over towards him. "What can I be getting you and Miss Weasley, sir?” the house elf asked excitedly.
“Just some breakfast, whatever you have around is fine,” Harry told him a little dismissively. He didn't mean to be quite so rude to the house elf, but he wasn't in the mood to deal with Dobby's enthusiasm, and truthfully wasn't all that hungry. Dobby didn't seem to have even notice, and hurried off towards the other end of the kitchen.
Harry dropped himself heavily onto a wooden bench that was alongside one of the long tables, barely glancing at Ginny as she took a seat across from him. She looked a little nervous, and seemed to be lost in her own thoughts, and the two of them sat in a rather awkward silence for the few moments it took Dobby to return.
The house elf quickly filled the table in front of them with dishes of eggs, sausages, toast, grilled tomatoes, fruit and bacon, and then added a large jug of juice, before summoning plates, goblets and cutlery for both of them with a click of his fingers. It was quite an impressive breakfast and Harry managed a small smile at the elf in thanks, even knowing that they weren't going to be able to get through much of it.
“You wanted to talk, so talk,” Harry demanded impatiently, as he started to serve himself some breakfast from the various dishes; with the trouble that the little elf had gone to, he was at least going to try and eat properly. He looked her expectantly, as he took a bite from a piece of toast, watching as she seemed to struggle to find the words; however, he wasn’t going to make this easy for her.
“I know what you are,” she managed to say after a few moments, picking up the jug and filling her own goblet. She spoke softly, choosing to focus on her drink and empty plate rather than even try to meet Harry's eye.
“I know, Ron told me,” Harry replied bluntly. He had planned on being open and honest with her about everything, and he still kind of planned to be really, but she was going to have to work for it now.
“Oh, right... of course,” Ginny said, realising that it made sense that Ron would have written to Harry after the conversation that the two of them had had. However, she wasn't really sure what else to say.
Harry was starting to feel a bit bad for her; he was still hurt by her remarks about Draco but he didn't really know what else to say either. He was already here, talking to her willingly, despite how she had treated him lately, and so he really did think this was going to have to be up to her to make things right.
“So it is true then? You’re really both Erotes?" Ginny asked, finally looking up from the goblet that she was cradling in her hands, and meeting Harry's eyes. "That's why you and Malfoy are together?”
Harry sighed, pouring himself some juice too. “Yes, we are both Erotes and I suppose that is why we got together," he confirmed, but when Ginny started to smile at him, he raised a hand, knowing he needed to explain. "But you have to understand," he told her firmly, "that we do honestly love each other.”
Ginny's face fell, staring at him incredulously. “But why...?” she whined, crossing her arms over her chest.
Harry almost laughed; it was such a childish moment, such a childish question and she sounded like she was actually sulking, looked like it too. "Because when Draco’s submissive Erote called for a dominant, I was the most compatible in the area,” he explained. Harry couldn’t help his small smile at the memory of that night.
"No, I mean, why do you love him?" Ginny asked, still looking sceptical.
“I just do, Ginny," Harry said with a sigh. "Whatever magic is behind pairing up a dominant and submissive Erote, it knew what it was doing; because apparently it was right about us being compatible. We work well together, we understand each other," he told her, really hoping she could understand that. "I am not asking you to be happy about this, Ginny, but I am telling you that you will have to accept it because I am never letting him go; we're a family now.”
“So is that bit true too?" Ginny asked, leaning forward on the table. "You know, about... erm...” she went on, her voice quiet as though worried that someone might overhear, even though they were alone apart from the house elves, but she was apparently struggling to get the words out. “Is Malfoy actually pregnant?” she managed to ask after a few seconds.
Harry actually laughed at the look on her face, having not really anticipated such a reaction; Draco's pregnancy was such a normal thing to him now but she looked both fascinated and slightly sickened by the concept. Ginny scowled at him though, clearly not happy about being laughed at, and so Harry shook off his amusement and calmed himself.
“Yes, Draco is pregnant,” he confirmed and he was honestly having to put serious effort into not looking too smug about that, but the knowledge that their child was growing inside Draco’s belly made his Erote puff up with pride.
The way that Ginny was looking at him though, made him think that he hadn't managed to keep some of that from his face. “You are really happy with him?” she asked softly, sounding somewhat sceptical , but also looking resigned to the reality of it.
“I am,” Harry told her firmly, “very happy." He gave her a sympathetic smile, glad that it finally seemed to be sinking in, but knowing that it was hard for her to hear. "I have a family, Ginny,” he told her, unable to keep the expression of joy from his face when he said that.
“You already did, Harry,” she told him with a small frown.
Harry sighed. “I know what you mean, but...” He paused, trying to think how to explain the difference to a girl who had grown up with more family than she knew what to do with. “I love your family, I honestly do, but you guys aren’t really my family.”
“We could have been,” Ginny said sadly, the longing clear in her voice. “Sorry..." she added as soon as she realised what she had said, "I shouldn’t have...”
“No, no, it’s okay,” Harry interrupted hastily before she could even start to try to explain herself. He wasn’t sure how he would feel about her vocalising the affections they both knew she had for him, so he thought it was just better to avoid going down that road at all. “I am not asking you to change how you feel," Harry tried to explain. "I am just asking you to not ask me to change how I feel. Does that make sense?”
Ginny gave a small laugh. “Yeah, surprisingly it does,” she told him.
"I can never give you what you want," Harry told her firmly. “But can we manage to be friends?” he asked nervously, hopefully.
She paused, and Harry was glad to see she was genuinely thinking it over, rather than simply saying that they could to, just to keep him in her life. “I would like to try to be, she told him after a few minutes. “I mean, we managed to get along well enough all these years," she pointed out. "I don’t like seeing you with Malfoy, but apparently I'm going to have to get used to that sooner or later.”
Harry smiled, and, for the first time since Ginny had upset him in the corridor, it reached his eyes. The Weasleys might not have been his actual family but he had meant it when he said that he loved them; he definitely wasn’t ready to face a world without them and if Ginny had been unable to work past this then that would have potentially caused a terrible rift.
“I don’t want to hurt you, Ginny,” he told her earnestly, reaching across the table and gripping her hand lightly, “that was never my intention. I know you don’t approve of Draco, but just give him a chance. I think you might even be able to like some of his friends,” he added with a hint of amusement, as he thought of Blaise.
Ginny scoffed her disbelief of that idea. “They are Slytherins, Harry,” she pointed out as if that changed everything.
“And...” Harry challenged defiantly.
“Well... I dunno," Ginny admitted with a puzzled expression, thinking hard for a minute. "They are all on his side, they are all up to something,” she insisted, waving her arms around as though she could summon this great truth for Harry to see.
“They AREN’T all on his side, Ginny!" Harry told her with frustration, knowing that he probably would have agreed with her only six months earlier. "Things are complicated, but please just give them a chance,” he begged her, knowing that she could either make things easier or much harder for him and Draco.
She crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at him with narrowed eyes. “Fine," she agreed hesitantly, "but I am doing this for your sake. I don’t trust them.”
“Noted,” he told her, not really surprised that it was going to take more than just his word to convince her. “Now we really have to go or we will both be late for class," he said, realising that their conversation had taken longer than he had planned, and neither of them had really eaten much at all.
Ginny nodded in agreement, as they both got to their feet, downing their goblets of juice and grabbing the toast from their plates, Harry quickly taking a bite from one end of a sausage. "I really do what to be your friend," Ginny told him, as they hurried out of the kitchen.
"Then I am sure we will be fine," Harry told her, squeezing her hand quickly, and giving her a wave as she headed towards the greenhouses for Herbology. His heart was definitely feeling lighter now, as he headed towards his own class, glad to have Ginny’s evident acceptance of the situation.

By popular demand I am going to try and create an email group, where I will send an email notifying when I update any of my stories. If you wish to receive these trial email notifications then please let me know in a review, leaving me your email address. (literally put your email in the review and I will sort the rest)
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Review Responses:
AchillesTheGeek - Oh right, yes, that was exactly why I had the slight overlap in the two chapters, they did need to kind of be dealt with in that order, glad you felt it didn't mess the story up.
DeliaCerrano - indeed, Dumbledore is always up to something, even when he means well for the "greater good" things don't always bode well for Harry, I mean he did always intend for him to die, in the canon (even if he hoped that he would survive it). He is basically a terrible control freak and Draco is helping Harry to see that now. Adrien is slightly younger than Narcissa, but around the same age, maybe a couple of years.
SP777 - Thank you for giving my story another chance, glad you are finding it interesting so far. No Adrien isn't a death eater, Narcissa is actually pretty well informed about who is and isn't one of Voldemort's death eaters, and she went to Adrien to keep her safe and hidden; he is a very sweet guy, funny and charming, though he has his faults like the rest of us.
Fuck-usernames - Thank you for signing up for email updates, glad you are liking the story and hopefully we will get to see a little more of the side pairings start to appear in the next few chapters, though I haven't worked out exactly where yet. :)
Nari-Chan - Draco kind of agrees with Harry, the memory seems more or less pointless in terms of beating Voldemort and while he also hates seeing how Merope was treated, he doesn't really think very much on the memory at all. The meetings will go fairly well, because Harry is happy to sort of at least pretend to be going along with things, problems won't really arise until they reach a point that Harry and Dumbledore can't agree on.
- 16
- 17
- 18
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Erotes