Harry Potter and The Serpent King (BP5)
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Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
52
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20,721
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85
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Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
52
Views:
20,721
Reviews:
85
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Prophecies and Promises
Chapter Number/Total: 48/52
Chapter Title: Prophecies and Promises
Words: 3777 Words
Hogwarts was even fuller than when school was in session. The corridors were crowded; there were people littered all over the place and inside the Great Hall. At least half the British wizarding world had shown up at the castle, probably more. They all wanted to know if it was true. Was the Dark Lord Voldemort truly gone? Was the war over? Had Harry Potter, Boy Who Lived, truly defeated him once and for all? Harry was prepared to tell them.
There were so many people, women, men, children, everyone, that Harry was to make his speech outside instead of in the Great Hall where he'd originally intended. And so it was out on the grounds of Hogwarts, facing the split trees, the fallen parts of stone from the castle, the marks on the ground of a battle field, that Harry was going to proclaim official victory.
There were reporters from every newspaper or magazine available. There was everyone from the Minister of Magic to the lowliest vendor in Knockturn Alley.
Harry straightened his robes and ran a hand through his hair as he waited with Draco for the crowd gathering outside to get situated.
Draco held Valen, the child restless. He kept looking around and burbling at various people. The blond chuckled at his son, understanding the way the baby saw the world.
"A lot of people," Harry said absently, watching as Fred was helped into his seat by Bill and George. Many people had to be helped into their seats, their injuries not even enough to keep them away.
"Several reporters have been looking at us curiously," Draco said. "Will you tell them?"
Harry looked at their son in Draco's arms. "About Valen?" he asked with a gentle smile at the boy.
Draco nodded. "It does look curious, doesn't it?" he pointed out.
"I suppose it does," Harry answered. "I'll tell them if it's something they ask - if you think I should."
"You don't really think we can keep him a secret any longer?" Draco asked.
"I hardly think we're trying to keep him a secret," Harry said with a slightly raised eyebrow and an amused smile. "We're standing together with a child that looks like you with bright green eyes. In front of just about everyone I might add."
"Yes, but will you acknowledge him publicly?" Draco asked, smirking.
"I just said I would if you thought I should," Harry said, still smiling a bit. "I don't want to if you don't."
Draco raised an eyebrow. "Why not?" he asked.
Harry gave Draco a confused look. "He's your son as well. Why would I do something you didn't want to do?"
"I meant, why don't you want to tell them about Valen?" he asked.
Harry shrugged. "It's not a matter of not wanting to," he said. "It's just none of their business. Everyone who I care about knows, but I suppose I'll tell if they ask."
"Harry," Draco said, "I am proud to be your husband. And I am proud of our child. I see no reason not to let others know now that it is safe to do so."
Harry chuckled a bit and kissed Draco lightly. "I am proud of you," he said. "And I'm proud of Valen."
"Good." Draco smiled. "So, have you a speech in mind?" he asked.
"I think I'll just go with it," Harry said. "Perhaps it will mean more that way."
The last of the chairs were being filled and there was still a large crowd left standing around. Some conjured chairs, but a lot stood to get a better view.
Draco shook his head and smiled. "Well, my hero," he said, "time to take a bow."
Harry took in a large breath and kissed Draco and Valen both before he began to make his way to the front of the crowd.
It went very quiet very quickly and he stood at a sort of podium that had been set up. He simply stared around for a moment at all the people, his friends in the front, before he cleared his throat.
"Well, here we are," he said, unable to help being slightly nervous as he looked around again. "The only thing I can think of is: what am I supposed to say? Am I supposed to speak great words of wisdom? Tell a terrific tale of heroics? I somehow don't think so. I don't think I need to say what brave men and women fought. I think it would be an insult to them to try and describe what they did as great, or amazing. Because it's much more than that. And perhaps I'm not even the best person to make a speech about all that. I think what you really want to hear, what we all really want to hear is: it's over. And I am the one who can tell you that. Yes, it's over. This war that has been raging, even in those years of quiet, since before I was born, is finally over. Lord Voldemort is gone. You can sleep tonight knowing that. He has wreaked havoc on our world. One look around here, on the grounds of the school, is enough to say that, but he's gone.
"It's been many long years of fear, secrets, dishonesty, and terror. Perhaps now we can live without looking over our shoulders, without having to fear sending our children out of the house, perhaps even hiding our children completely." Here he threw Draco and Valen a very small smile. "Perhaps we can live without wondering if the person next to us is out to get us, our best friends, even our own family members. It's almost hard to imagine, am I right? We have some rebuilding to do. No, not just of some of our homes, the town of Hogsmeade, Hogwarts," he gestured to it, "but our world completely. We can live without this fear. We can live in peace. And I think many of you will know what I mean when I say that we can live." He allowed a pause. "Like I said, perhaps I'm not the best person to be giving this speech, but I hope I can Honor those who fought, those who died, those who sacrificed, not only on these battle grounds, but throughout these years. I hope to Honor them with words of victory. We've won. We've won." He gave a very small smile again and a little nod of finality.
As Harry finished, the huge crowd all stood as one. They whooped, cheered, clapped, stomped, laughed, cried, and anything else imaginable. The sound of it was enough to send a thrilling shiver down one's spine, as Harry quite found out. Nearly everyone able, and even some who weren't, got to their feet to celebrate their victory. With a smile and a nod from Harry, George pulled his wand and set off the dozens of fireworks he and Fred had set out to add to the tremendous magic already in the air.
Draco stood not far behind his husband, holding their child who was squirming and shrieking. Sometimes Valen was difficult to keep hold of and Draco actually worried that he would drop him. He knew the large display of magic was exciting to the baby. It affected Draco too.
Harry walked over to Draco and laughed at how excited Valen was. He kissed the baby on his head and was not surprised when several cameras went off. They went off again when he kissed his husband.
Draco returned the kiss, a thrilled baby bouncing up and down in his arms as he did. There were reporters surrounding them, cameras flashing and questions thrown out, questions about the final fight. But also questions about them. What did they plan to do now? And most especially - whose baby was that?
Harry ignored the questions about the fight. He'd had to tell it more times than he could count already, and didn't much want to mar the celebration with tales of death and terribleness. Noting what Draco had said, and what he himself had said in his own speech, Harry called over all the noise, "He's mine and Draco's."
Draco smirked at the uproar the simple statement made, the gist of which was, "How is that possible?"
Smiling, Harry used Draco's explanation. "Magic!" he called.
Draco held up his silver hand, since his other was holding the baby, and gestured for the reporters to quiet down. "It really is a long story. Today, all you get is that his name is Valentine Leander Malfoy and that he was born March 20th, and, yes, we really are both his parents."
Harry smiled again and shook his head as people wrote furiously and shouted even more questions, still not satisfied.
He looked around to see the Weasleys and most of the Order down in front, smiling and laughing with the rest of the crowd. "Shall we?" he asked Draco loudly over the happy noise, gesturing to their friends.
Draco nodded, putting his free arm around his husband's waist as they made their way to where their friends stood. Valen was still squealing happily and seemed to be trying to reach for Daddy Harry's glasses again.
Harry laughed and moved his head out of Valen's range.
"That was brilliant, Harry!" Hermione said, hugging him tightly and kissing him on the cheek.
Harry smiled widely, watching as George picked Ginny up and spun around with her, laughing like mad.
Deprived of Harry's glasses, Valen went for Draco's hair. He winced as his son pulled at the ribbon that held it back.
Friends were laughing and crying and hugging. Draco had no idea how many times he was hugged or the baby was kissed. Kissing babies seemed to be some unwritten rule of celebrations.
Harry happily allowed himself to be hugged and ruffled, as almost everyone there seemed to want to do it.
Music from somewhere started soon and confetti was let off with more fireworks. People danced and laughed, hollered and shouted until they couldn't anymore. It was like something out of a story and Harry would certainly never forget it.
Draco smiled happily, most of his attention on Harry. He didn't even know the last time he had seen him smile like that. Then again, had he ever? Seven years of fighting for his life and the lives of his friends. What would Harry be like now? Because, it was clear to Draco, that he was different.
As Harry finished a sort of strange, but very funny, group-like dance with a large number of friends, he joined Draco again and kissed him deeply before taking Valen and twirling in a circle with him. He was interrupted by a tap on the shoulder from Ron, who was smiling ... nervously?
"Hey," he said to Harry mostly, though he gave a short nod to Draco as well.
Draco nodded to Ron and watched curiously.
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Hey," he said happily. "What's up?"
"Erm ... I wanted to tell you something before I ... I actually wanted to get your, erm ... well ... erm ...." Ron's hands were in his pockets and he seemed to be clutching and letting go of the material inside them over and over again.
Draco smirked, guessing what Ron was going to ask, but still enjoying the awkward moment.
Harry cocked his head slightly. "What?" he said.
Ron looked very quickly over his shoulder. "I - I was going to ask .... Well, I was going to ...." He sighed shakily and pulled his right hand out of his pocket. He hesitated a moment before showing Harry that he was holding a very simple ring. He closed his hand quickly after a few seconds and hid it in his pocket again.
Harry was stunned into silence. "You - you're going to?" he stammered.
Ron nodded, looking like he might faint in a moment.
Draco rolled his eyes but was polite enough not to laugh. Well, not aloud, at least.
Harry did laugh, but not at Ron. "That's brilliant!" he said. "And it's about time."
"You really think so?" Ron asked, seeming to draw confidence from Harry's enthusiasm.
"Of course," Harry said, grinning very widely.
"I already talked to Dad and now I'm just ... well, waiting," Ron added. "I wanted to tell you though because - well, I dunno. You're my best mate, you know?"
Harry laughed again.
"Hey, Gryffindors are supposed to be brave." Draco laughed. "Ask her already!" Well, he had tried to keep his mouth shut. He just couldn't do it.
Ron bit his lip at Draco's comment. "So you don't think I'm mad? Either of you?"
Harry shook his head at his nervous friend. "We've already been married for almost a year and we're both younger than you. Draco's right. Go!" He smiled widely again.
Ron swallowed, drew himself up to his full height, turned, and sort of ... marched ... over to Hermione. It might have been funny if the situation hadn't been ... well, actually, it was very funny.
Harry stood close to Draco and watched discreetly, hardly able to believe he was watching.
Hermione raised her eyebrow at Ron and Ron seemed to be talking to her, but Harry could only see the back of him. He watched as Hermione's eyes grew wider and wider, her hand coming up to cover her mouth as Ron dropped to one knee.
Mrs Weasley then practically squealed with delight and clutched her husband tightly a few feet away.
Draco put his arm around Harry, watching with his classic smirk. "Another wedding," he whispered in his husband’s ear, "which means more dancing."
Harry smirked as well and turned his head to Draco, just as Hermione dropped to the ground to squeeze Ron around the neck, kissing his face all over, the ring on her finger.
"And you know what that means," Harry said slyly, waggling his eyebrows playfully.
"That Fred and George will be delighted?" Draco asked in mock innocence.
Harry laughed and kissed Draco. "I love you," he whispered happily.
"You had better," Draco whispered, licking his ear. "And you know what I predict?"
"What?" Harry asked, feeling happier than he had in forever.
"That there will be a lot of babies born in the next year," he said, "and that half of them will be named Harry."
Harry snorted and then kissed Draco, and Valen managed to smack them both where their lips joined.
Valen squealed, making smacking noises with his lips. Draco laughed and shook his head, thinking that the starting class at Hogwarts in 2007 was in for a lot of trouble.
***
After a little under a week at Hogwarts, helping the people there and cleaning up, Harry and Draco still hadn't been into Hogsmeade. The town was supposedly destroyed, and with the two giants having been there, Harry believed it. He walked with Draco down the very long drive of Hogwarts, holding his hand as the blond held Valen.
Ron and Hermione walked not far ahead, holding hands as well. Harry was amused to note that every few steps, Hermione would pretend to scratch her nose and then stare fondly at her ring for a bit.
Draco was glad to be outside in the summer air. The castle was crowded and he had been very busy making Healing Potions when he wasn't with Harry and Valen. Even having seen it from the windows and hearing the details, it was still a shock to see the remains of Hogsmeade.
As they reached the gates, Harry could already see some of the destruction, and when they walked out onto the street, he could very much see it. The buildings had been knocked to the ground, trees around pulled up, smoke and dust rising in the air as a dozen or so people milled about and toed the debris. He stared around, not surprised of course, but it was not a pretty sight.
Even after a week, Draco could still feel some residual magic from the battle. Valen squeaked and pointed at things. "Yes, I see it," he agreed with his infant.
Hermione took in a large breath and let it out in an almost-huff. "What a mess," she said quietly.
"It could have been worse," Ron murmured, bending to pick up the Zonko's shop sign.
"If he had attacked while school was in session," Draco said, "it would have been a lot worse."
Harry nodded, kicking aside some wood that looked like it had once been panelling. "I wonder why he picked now to attack ...." he mused.
"I think he thought he would catch us off balance if he took Valen," Draco replied. "From what I can tell, we made that difficult."
"What? Taking him? Of course we made it difficult," Harry said. "However, not difficult enough, I suppose." He stared at Valen for a few long seconds.
"But you got him back and he's perfectly fine," said Hermione quickly, studying Harry's face.
He smiled a bit after a moment. "Yes, he's perfectly fine," he said.
"More than fine." Draco smiled, squeezing his husband’s hand and then wincing when the baby accidentally smacked him in the jaw.
Harry chuckled, continuing slowly down the street - or what had once been the street anyway, taking in the mess. They'd made it past several shops. Half of The Three Broomsticks had been demolished, Honeydukes looked like one of the giants had stepped completely on it and chocolate and other sweets melted out in the hot sun. The post office was crushed and the homes were no better off.
"Ron?" Draco asked. "I heard that Zonko's isn't rebuilding. The twins should consider opening a shop here."
"They've been wanting to," said Ron. "Most of their customers are from Hogwarts anyway."
"I wonder who else isn't rebuilding," said Harry. "Kind of strange, isn't it? That Hogsmeade won't be the same for new students coming in."
"Perhaps it'll be better," said Hermione with a small shrug.
"Perhaps," Harry agreed, looking up from the ground.
A tall old man was standing in the street, examining damage as well. It took a short moment for Harry to realise it was Aberforth.
The man looked up then as well and clasped his hands behind his back, standing still for a moment before taking a few strides towards them. He inclined his head slightly and then held out a hand to give Harry's a quick, firm shake. "I suppose I should say congratulations, Mr Potter," he said.
"I don't need it," Harry replied. "I've gotten more than enough of my fair share of congratulations over the past few days."
"Yes, I suppose you would have," said Aberforth, nodding to Draco and then Ron and Hermione.
"You helped win this war," Draco acknowledged. He looked at the ruins of the Hog's Head. "Will you be rebuilding?"
"I haven't decided," Aberforth said, seeming to think about it. "There never was much in this business."
Harry nodded, thinking that the dingy pub was probably more of a burden to the man than anything else.
"I'm sorry for your losses," Aberforth said next, glancing at Harry first, but then perhaps a bit longer at Draco, and of course, Harry had a feeling he was referring to Snape.
Draco frowned but nodded. Valen squirmed and started squealing, pointing at the rubble of the old bar.
They all looked over and Harry raised an eyebrow, wondering what had Valen's attention.
It was the first time Aberforth had ever seen Valen, but he didn't enquire as to who he was, simply looked from the baby to where he was pointing.
Draco stepped closer, narrowing his eyes to get a look at what his son was excited about. "There's something moving in there," he said.
Harry walked over and moved some wood, dust, and dirt aside, revealing a small grey kitten, who tried to escape when he went to pick it up. He managed to grab it and stood back up, smiling a bit. "It's a kitten," he said, raising an eyebrow at Draco.
"Oh, how adorable!" said Hermione, coming closer to get a better look.
Valen reached both hands toward Harry, squealing so loud it made Draco wince. "Settle down," he told his son, "or you'll scare it and it will claw up your Daddy Harry." He smirked at the little grey ball in his husband's hands.
Harry laughed at Valen and stepped a bit closer to him, but not so close that he would be able to reach it. "See?" he said to his son, stroking the trembling kitten's head with a finger. "It's a baby like you."
Valen's eyes were wide. Draco shifted his son to hold him with his silver hand and arm, while reaching out to the kitten with his right. He held fingertips in front of the small face, letting the animal sniff him. It did, and then began to lick his fingers.
Harry smiled as Valen stared at the kitten like it was the most amazing thing he had ever seen in his little life. "Aren't cats supposed to be magical?"
Hermione nodded, smiling at Valen as well. "Yes, but not so much that they can't be kept by Muggles. It's probably why Valen likes it so much."
Draco nodded, scratching the beast under the chin. "You are a little hunter, aren't you?" he asked it. It purred in response.
Harry smiled again. "Well," he said, "what do you propose we do with it?" he asked.
Draco raised an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth twitching up a bit. "You did promise me a cat," he said.
Harry chuckled. "Yes, I suppose I did, didn't I?" he said.
Draco's mouth stretched into a smirk then. "And Harry Potter keeps his promises," he said softly, fingers stroking the soft downy fur of the cat still in his husband's hands.
"Yes, of course I do," said Harry. "Even if they're slightly out of order." He grinned.
"Even if," Draco agreed, practically purring himself as he stepped closer, petting the kitten and leaning in to kiss his husband.
Harry met Draco's lips with his own and smiled gently against them. He pulled back when Valen's little hands began to wander sneakily. He shook his head at the small boy. "And what shall we name this new addition to our family?" he asked.
Draco grinned and chuckled. "This is a lithe fanged beast," he quoted. "So we shall call him Sredni Vashtar."
Harry grinned again, remembering Draco having read him the story. "Sredni Vashtar it is then," he said with a chuckle of his own.
Chapter Title: Prophecies and Promises
Words: 3777 Words
Hogwarts was even fuller than when school was in session. The corridors were crowded; there were people littered all over the place and inside the Great Hall. At least half the British wizarding world had shown up at the castle, probably more. They all wanted to know if it was true. Was the Dark Lord Voldemort truly gone? Was the war over? Had Harry Potter, Boy Who Lived, truly defeated him once and for all? Harry was prepared to tell them.
There were so many people, women, men, children, everyone, that Harry was to make his speech outside instead of in the Great Hall where he'd originally intended. And so it was out on the grounds of Hogwarts, facing the split trees, the fallen parts of stone from the castle, the marks on the ground of a battle field, that Harry was going to proclaim official victory.
There were reporters from every newspaper or magazine available. There was everyone from the Minister of Magic to the lowliest vendor in Knockturn Alley.
Harry straightened his robes and ran a hand through his hair as he waited with Draco for the crowd gathering outside to get situated.
Draco held Valen, the child restless. He kept looking around and burbling at various people. The blond chuckled at his son, understanding the way the baby saw the world.
"A lot of people," Harry said absently, watching as Fred was helped into his seat by Bill and George. Many people had to be helped into their seats, their injuries not even enough to keep them away.
"Several reporters have been looking at us curiously," Draco said. "Will you tell them?"
Harry looked at their son in Draco's arms. "About Valen?" he asked with a gentle smile at the boy.
Draco nodded. "It does look curious, doesn't it?" he pointed out.
"I suppose it does," Harry answered. "I'll tell them if it's something they ask - if you think I should."
"You don't really think we can keep him a secret any longer?" Draco asked.
"I hardly think we're trying to keep him a secret," Harry said with a slightly raised eyebrow and an amused smile. "We're standing together with a child that looks like you with bright green eyes. In front of just about everyone I might add."
"Yes, but will you acknowledge him publicly?" Draco asked, smirking.
"I just said I would if you thought I should," Harry said, still smiling a bit. "I don't want to if you don't."
Draco raised an eyebrow. "Why not?" he asked.
Harry gave Draco a confused look. "He's your son as well. Why would I do something you didn't want to do?"
"I meant, why don't you want to tell them about Valen?" he asked.
Harry shrugged. "It's not a matter of not wanting to," he said. "It's just none of their business. Everyone who I care about knows, but I suppose I'll tell if they ask."
"Harry," Draco said, "I am proud to be your husband. And I am proud of our child. I see no reason not to let others know now that it is safe to do so."
Harry chuckled a bit and kissed Draco lightly. "I am proud of you," he said. "And I'm proud of Valen."
"Good." Draco smiled. "So, have you a speech in mind?" he asked.
"I think I'll just go with it," Harry said. "Perhaps it will mean more that way."
The last of the chairs were being filled and there was still a large crowd left standing around. Some conjured chairs, but a lot stood to get a better view.
Draco shook his head and smiled. "Well, my hero," he said, "time to take a bow."
Harry took in a large breath and kissed Draco and Valen both before he began to make his way to the front of the crowd.
It went very quiet very quickly and he stood at a sort of podium that had been set up. He simply stared around for a moment at all the people, his friends in the front, before he cleared his throat.
"Well, here we are," he said, unable to help being slightly nervous as he looked around again. "The only thing I can think of is: what am I supposed to say? Am I supposed to speak great words of wisdom? Tell a terrific tale of heroics? I somehow don't think so. I don't think I need to say what brave men and women fought. I think it would be an insult to them to try and describe what they did as great, or amazing. Because it's much more than that. And perhaps I'm not even the best person to make a speech about all that. I think what you really want to hear, what we all really want to hear is: it's over. And I am the one who can tell you that. Yes, it's over. This war that has been raging, even in those years of quiet, since before I was born, is finally over. Lord Voldemort is gone. You can sleep tonight knowing that. He has wreaked havoc on our world. One look around here, on the grounds of the school, is enough to say that, but he's gone.
"It's been many long years of fear, secrets, dishonesty, and terror. Perhaps now we can live without looking over our shoulders, without having to fear sending our children out of the house, perhaps even hiding our children completely." Here he threw Draco and Valen a very small smile. "Perhaps we can live without wondering if the person next to us is out to get us, our best friends, even our own family members. It's almost hard to imagine, am I right? We have some rebuilding to do. No, not just of some of our homes, the town of Hogsmeade, Hogwarts," he gestured to it, "but our world completely. We can live without this fear. We can live in peace. And I think many of you will know what I mean when I say that we can live." He allowed a pause. "Like I said, perhaps I'm not the best person to be giving this speech, but I hope I can Honor those who fought, those who died, those who sacrificed, not only on these battle grounds, but throughout these years. I hope to Honor them with words of victory. We've won. We've won." He gave a very small smile again and a little nod of finality.
As Harry finished, the huge crowd all stood as one. They whooped, cheered, clapped, stomped, laughed, cried, and anything else imaginable. The sound of it was enough to send a thrilling shiver down one's spine, as Harry quite found out. Nearly everyone able, and even some who weren't, got to their feet to celebrate their victory. With a smile and a nod from Harry, George pulled his wand and set off the dozens of fireworks he and Fred had set out to add to the tremendous magic already in the air.
Draco stood not far behind his husband, holding their child who was squirming and shrieking. Sometimes Valen was difficult to keep hold of and Draco actually worried that he would drop him. He knew the large display of magic was exciting to the baby. It affected Draco too.
Harry walked over to Draco and laughed at how excited Valen was. He kissed the baby on his head and was not surprised when several cameras went off. They went off again when he kissed his husband.
Draco returned the kiss, a thrilled baby bouncing up and down in his arms as he did. There were reporters surrounding them, cameras flashing and questions thrown out, questions about the final fight. But also questions about them. What did they plan to do now? And most especially - whose baby was that?
Harry ignored the questions about the fight. He'd had to tell it more times than he could count already, and didn't much want to mar the celebration with tales of death and terribleness. Noting what Draco had said, and what he himself had said in his own speech, Harry called over all the noise, "He's mine and Draco's."
Draco smirked at the uproar the simple statement made, the gist of which was, "How is that possible?"
Smiling, Harry used Draco's explanation. "Magic!" he called.
Draco held up his silver hand, since his other was holding the baby, and gestured for the reporters to quiet down. "It really is a long story. Today, all you get is that his name is Valentine Leander Malfoy and that he was born March 20th, and, yes, we really are both his parents."
Harry smiled again and shook his head as people wrote furiously and shouted even more questions, still not satisfied.
He looked around to see the Weasleys and most of the Order down in front, smiling and laughing with the rest of the crowd. "Shall we?" he asked Draco loudly over the happy noise, gesturing to their friends.
Draco nodded, putting his free arm around his husband's waist as they made their way to where their friends stood. Valen was still squealing happily and seemed to be trying to reach for Daddy Harry's glasses again.
Harry laughed and moved his head out of Valen's range.
"That was brilliant, Harry!" Hermione said, hugging him tightly and kissing him on the cheek.
Harry smiled widely, watching as George picked Ginny up and spun around with her, laughing like mad.
Deprived of Harry's glasses, Valen went for Draco's hair. He winced as his son pulled at the ribbon that held it back.
Friends were laughing and crying and hugging. Draco had no idea how many times he was hugged or the baby was kissed. Kissing babies seemed to be some unwritten rule of celebrations.
Harry happily allowed himself to be hugged and ruffled, as almost everyone there seemed to want to do it.
Music from somewhere started soon and confetti was let off with more fireworks. People danced and laughed, hollered and shouted until they couldn't anymore. It was like something out of a story and Harry would certainly never forget it.
Draco smiled happily, most of his attention on Harry. He didn't even know the last time he had seen him smile like that. Then again, had he ever? Seven years of fighting for his life and the lives of his friends. What would Harry be like now? Because, it was clear to Draco, that he was different.
As Harry finished a sort of strange, but very funny, group-like dance with a large number of friends, he joined Draco again and kissed him deeply before taking Valen and twirling in a circle with him. He was interrupted by a tap on the shoulder from Ron, who was smiling ... nervously?
"Hey," he said to Harry mostly, though he gave a short nod to Draco as well.
Draco nodded to Ron and watched curiously.
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Hey," he said happily. "What's up?"
"Erm ... I wanted to tell you something before I ... I actually wanted to get your, erm ... well ... erm ...." Ron's hands were in his pockets and he seemed to be clutching and letting go of the material inside them over and over again.
Draco smirked, guessing what Ron was going to ask, but still enjoying the awkward moment.
Harry cocked his head slightly. "What?" he said.
Ron looked very quickly over his shoulder. "I - I was going to ask .... Well, I was going to ...." He sighed shakily and pulled his right hand out of his pocket. He hesitated a moment before showing Harry that he was holding a very simple ring. He closed his hand quickly after a few seconds and hid it in his pocket again.
Harry was stunned into silence. "You - you're going to?" he stammered.
Ron nodded, looking like he might faint in a moment.
Draco rolled his eyes but was polite enough not to laugh. Well, not aloud, at least.
Harry did laugh, but not at Ron. "That's brilliant!" he said. "And it's about time."
"You really think so?" Ron asked, seeming to draw confidence from Harry's enthusiasm.
"Of course," Harry said, grinning very widely.
"I already talked to Dad and now I'm just ... well, waiting," Ron added. "I wanted to tell you though because - well, I dunno. You're my best mate, you know?"
Harry laughed again.
"Hey, Gryffindors are supposed to be brave." Draco laughed. "Ask her already!" Well, he had tried to keep his mouth shut. He just couldn't do it.
Ron bit his lip at Draco's comment. "So you don't think I'm mad? Either of you?"
Harry shook his head at his nervous friend. "We've already been married for almost a year and we're both younger than you. Draco's right. Go!" He smiled widely again.
Ron swallowed, drew himself up to his full height, turned, and sort of ... marched ... over to Hermione. It might have been funny if the situation hadn't been ... well, actually, it was very funny.
Harry stood close to Draco and watched discreetly, hardly able to believe he was watching.
Hermione raised her eyebrow at Ron and Ron seemed to be talking to her, but Harry could only see the back of him. He watched as Hermione's eyes grew wider and wider, her hand coming up to cover her mouth as Ron dropped to one knee.
Mrs Weasley then practically squealed with delight and clutched her husband tightly a few feet away.
Draco put his arm around Harry, watching with his classic smirk. "Another wedding," he whispered in his husband’s ear, "which means more dancing."
Harry smirked as well and turned his head to Draco, just as Hermione dropped to the ground to squeeze Ron around the neck, kissing his face all over, the ring on her finger.
"And you know what that means," Harry said slyly, waggling his eyebrows playfully.
"That Fred and George will be delighted?" Draco asked in mock innocence.
Harry laughed and kissed Draco. "I love you," he whispered happily.
"You had better," Draco whispered, licking his ear. "And you know what I predict?"
"What?" Harry asked, feeling happier than he had in forever.
"That there will be a lot of babies born in the next year," he said, "and that half of them will be named Harry."
Harry snorted and then kissed Draco, and Valen managed to smack them both where their lips joined.
Valen squealed, making smacking noises with his lips. Draco laughed and shook his head, thinking that the starting class at Hogwarts in 2007 was in for a lot of trouble.
***
After a little under a week at Hogwarts, helping the people there and cleaning up, Harry and Draco still hadn't been into Hogsmeade. The town was supposedly destroyed, and with the two giants having been there, Harry believed it. He walked with Draco down the very long drive of Hogwarts, holding his hand as the blond held Valen.
Ron and Hermione walked not far ahead, holding hands as well. Harry was amused to note that every few steps, Hermione would pretend to scratch her nose and then stare fondly at her ring for a bit.
Draco was glad to be outside in the summer air. The castle was crowded and he had been very busy making Healing Potions when he wasn't with Harry and Valen. Even having seen it from the windows and hearing the details, it was still a shock to see the remains of Hogsmeade.
As they reached the gates, Harry could already see some of the destruction, and when they walked out onto the street, he could very much see it. The buildings had been knocked to the ground, trees around pulled up, smoke and dust rising in the air as a dozen or so people milled about and toed the debris. He stared around, not surprised of course, but it was not a pretty sight.
Even after a week, Draco could still feel some residual magic from the battle. Valen squeaked and pointed at things. "Yes, I see it," he agreed with his infant.
Hermione took in a large breath and let it out in an almost-huff. "What a mess," she said quietly.
"It could have been worse," Ron murmured, bending to pick up the Zonko's shop sign.
"If he had attacked while school was in session," Draco said, "it would have been a lot worse."
Harry nodded, kicking aside some wood that looked like it had once been panelling. "I wonder why he picked now to attack ...." he mused.
"I think he thought he would catch us off balance if he took Valen," Draco replied. "From what I can tell, we made that difficult."
"What? Taking him? Of course we made it difficult," Harry said. "However, not difficult enough, I suppose." He stared at Valen for a few long seconds.
"But you got him back and he's perfectly fine," said Hermione quickly, studying Harry's face.
He smiled a bit after a moment. "Yes, he's perfectly fine," he said.
"More than fine." Draco smiled, squeezing his husband’s hand and then wincing when the baby accidentally smacked him in the jaw.
Harry chuckled, continuing slowly down the street - or what had once been the street anyway, taking in the mess. They'd made it past several shops. Half of The Three Broomsticks had been demolished, Honeydukes looked like one of the giants had stepped completely on it and chocolate and other sweets melted out in the hot sun. The post office was crushed and the homes were no better off.
"Ron?" Draco asked. "I heard that Zonko's isn't rebuilding. The twins should consider opening a shop here."
"They've been wanting to," said Ron. "Most of their customers are from Hogwarts anyway."
"I wonder who else isn't rebuilding," said Harry. "Kind of strange, isn't it? That Hogsmeade won't be the same for new students coming in."
"Perhaps it'll be better," said Hermione with a small shrug.
"Perhaps," Harry agreed, looking up from the ground.
A tall old man was standing in the street, examining damage as well. It took a short moment for Harry to realise it was Aberforth.
The man looked up then as well and clasped his hands behind his back, standing still for a moment before taking a few strides towards them. He inclined his head slightly and then held out a hand to give Harry's a quick, firm shake. "I suppose I should say congratulations, Mr Potter," he said.
"I don't need it," Harry replied. "I've gotten more than enough of my fair share of congratulations over the past few days."
"Yes, I suppose you would have," said Aberforth, nodding to Draco and then Ron and Hermione.
"You helped win this war," Draco acknowledged. He looked at the ruins of the Hog's Head. "Will you be rebuilding?"
"I haven't decided," Aberforth said, seeming to think about it. "There never was much in this business."
Harry nodded, thinking that the dingy pub was probably more of a burden to the man than anything else.
"I'm sorry for your losses," Aberforth said next, glancing at Harry first, but then perhaps a bit longer at Draco, and of course, Harry had a feeling he was referring to Snape.
Draco frowned but nodded. Valen squirmed and started squealing, pointing at the rubble of the old bar.
They all looked over and Harry raised an eyebrow, wondering what had Valen's attention.
It was the first time Aberforth had ever seen Valen, but he didn't enquire as to who he was, simply looked from the baby to where he was pointing.
Draco stepped closer, narrowing his eyes to get a look at what his son was excited about. "There's something moving in there," he said.
Harry walked over and moved some wood, dust, and dirt aside, revealing a small grey kitten, who tried to escape when he went to pick it up. He managed to grab it and stood back up, smiling a bit. "It's a kitten," he said, raising an eyebrow at Draco.
"Oh, how adorable!" said Hermione, coming closer to get a better look.
Valen reached both hands toward Harry, squealing so loud it made Draco wince. "Settle down," he told his son, "or you'll scare it and it will claw up your Daddy Harry." He smirked at the little grey ball in his husband's hands.
Harry laughed at Valen and stepped a bit closer to him, but not so close that he would be able to reach it. "See?" he said to his son, stroking the trembling kitten's head with a finger. "It's a baby like you."
Valen's eyes were wide. Draco shifted his son to hold him with his silver hand and arm, while reaching out to the kitten with his right. He held fingertips in front of the small face, letting the animal sniff him. It did, and then began to lick his fingers.
Harry smiled as Valen stared at the kitten like it was the most amazing thing he had ever seen in his little life. "Aren't cats supposed to be magical?"
Hermione nodded, smiling at Valen as well. "Yes, but not so much that they can't be kept by Muggles. It's probably why Valen likes it so much."
Draco nodded, scratching the beast under the chin. "You are a little hunter, aren't you?" he asked it. It purred in response.
Harry smiled again. "Well," he said, "what do you propose we do with it?" he asked.
Draco raised an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth twitching up a bit. "You did promise me a cat," he said.
Harry chuckled. "Yes, I suppose I did, didn't I?" he said.
Draco's mouth stretched into a smirk then. "And Harry Potter keeps his promises," he said softly, fingers stroking the soft downy fur of the cat still in his husband's hands.
"Yes, of course I do," said Harry. "Even if they're slightly out of order." He grinned.
"Even if," Draco agreed, practically purring himself as he stepped closer, petting the kitten and leaning in to kiss his husband.
Harry met Draco's lips with his own and smiled gently against them. He pulled back when Valen's little hands began to wander sneakily. He shook his head at the small boy. "And what shall we name this new addition to our family?" he asked.
Draco grinned and chuckled. "This is a lithe fanged beast," he quoted. "So we shall call him Sredni Vashtar."
Harry grinned again, remembering Draco having read him the story. "Sredni Vashtar it is then," he said with a chuckle of his own.