Gideon Malfoy-Potter What I See {Lucarry}

Draco appeared with a pop on the doorstep of 12 Grimmauld Place. Sirius Black hadn't change the wards yet to let the Malfoy heir in, though he had for Lucius. Thankfully a bit of the media hysteria surrounding the upcoming Potter-Malfoy baby had died down a bit. Though reporters still followed anyone associated with Harry or Lucius in public, their homes had become a bit safer.

Draco smoothed down his cloak, checked that he hadn't been seen, and used the golden knocker. He was early; it was just before twelve, and he and Harry weren't having lunch until 12:30. But Draco had been out to brunch with his mother and her lover- or was he her partner now that she and Lucius were divorced?- and though Draco was glad his mother was happy, he didn't particularly like Dermont.

The wizard, who was about ten years younger than Lucius, had basically acted like an uptight bitch all of the meal. He was crafty enough to only do it when Narcissa wasn't paying attention, but Draco saw it. The man clearly felt threatened by Lucius, and therefore Draco. Draco really didn't understand; hadn't the man heard that Lucius was expecting? Not to mention the fact that he was gay.

Draco had managed to last twenty-four minutes before faking an emergency from Severus; he'd pretended to remember an urgent potion he and the older wizard were working on and rushed out. Thankfully his mother hadn't questioned it and Dermont had been happy to see him leave. Draco would have to ask his father to enquire around about the other wizard.

Draco was brought from his thoughts when the front door of number twelve was opened, revealing a slightly dishevelled Sirius Black. He was wearing dark purple trousers that bordered on black and a lighter-coloured dress shirt, un-tucked, the sleeves rolled up. His black hair fell around his shoulders in tangles and his face was covered in stubble as well as his usual beard.

Having never seen the man quite this under-dressed (Draco didn't count the Battle of Hogwarts, seeing as how everyone had been covered in blood, their clothing torn), the blonde felt heat colour his cheeks and averted his eyes.

'Good morning, Mr Black,' he managed to get out.

'Malfoy,' Sirius said and pulled the door wider open. 'Here for Harry?'

'Yes, sir,' Draco said and stepped into the house.

Kreacher, the Black house elf, cracked into view and held his hands out, while muttering under his breath, 'Malfoy spawn, pure-blood, mistress would approve.'

'Give it a rest, Kreacher,' Sirius sighed and rubbed his eyes.

Draco just handed over his cloak and watched as Kreacher scowled at his master before disappearing with another crack.

'Harry's upstairs in the library I think,' Sirius said.

'Ah, well, I'm actually quite a bit early,' Draco said. 'Do you mind if I go outside and have a cigarette?'

Sirius raised his eyebrows but said nothing, instead gesturing for Draco to follow him. The teenager was led down the hallway, turning right through a door that was usually closed when Draco visited. It led to a smaller sitting room than the main one, which in turn led to another room, and then to a set of sliding glass doors that looked rather modern.

Draco followed the Black Lord out onto a small deck that again was rather modern compared to the house itself. The boards beneath their feet were dark and varnished, matching the railing that spanned the edge. There was a wooden bench beneath the window set into the back of the house, a swinging chair directly before Draco, and a small, round wooden table with four chairs

Three wooden steps led from the deck down to the lush green lawn. A white-pebbled path wound across the yard, with potted flowers, chairs, and fountains dotting the grass. The fence surrounding the yard all had large trees planted before it, giving the space more privacy.

'This is lovely,' Draco said honestly as Sirius slid the doors shut behind him.

'Most of it was Harry's idea,' Sirius admitted. When Draco turned to look at him, blonde eyebrows up, Sirius elaborated. 'The house was rather dark and drab when I escaped Azkaban; Kreacher lost his marbles when my mother died, so he failed to keep the place clean.

'Before the war Harry and his friends helped clean it up, but it needed to be completely renovated,' Sirius explained. 'So Harry and I spoke and we agreed to re-do the yard while we re-decorated the house.'

Sirius walked across to the table and tugged a chair out, gesturing for Draco to take another. The Malfoy heir sat and Sirius pulled out his wand. Muttering under his breath, the dark-haired wizard transfigured the pot plant in the middle of the table into an ashtray.

Satisfied, Sirius put his wand away and produced a packet of cigarettes as he continued talking. 'Harry designed the entire place. His Muggle relatives had him do all the yard work as well as the house work, so he has a good eye when it comes to decorating.'

It was said mostly with pride, but Draco detected a hint of anger in the older man's tone. He understood completely. Since getting to know the real Harry Potter, Draco had learned that the Saviour's home life wasn't as amazing as Draco had assumed. Harry had been treated worse than a house elf.

'It looks great,' he settled on saying and pulled out his own cigarettes.

'Does your dad know you smoke?' Sirius asked as he blew smoke above his head.

'I don't know,' Draco shrugged one shoulder as he lit up. 'Most likely. It's hard to hide anything from my father.'

'Mm,' Sirius hummed.

'I know he smoked when he was younger,' Draco said, 'but Mother convinced him to quit when she fell pregnant with me, and he didn't start again after I was born.'

'Well, kudos to him,' Sirius said. 'I went twelve years without one and when I broke out the first thing I stole was a packet.'

'It's good to know your priorities,' Draco snickered.

Sirius glanced at him, a smirk playing on his lips. 'Cheeky,' he commented.

'I try,' Draco said, a fake modest look on his face. Sirius chuckled and drew back on his cigarette, Draco mimicking him.

The two fell into silence as they smoked, each enjoying not having to fill the air with small chit chat. They watched as various birds flew overhead, or dropped to the lawn to pick for bugs. Draco's eyes kept darting to the older man, taking in the sloppy appearance, the way Sirius seemed so relaxed.

Narcissa had told him a few stories about Sirius Black when the man was younger; he'd been carefree, a prankster, smart, gorgeous. Draco could see a bit of the youthful man Sirius had once been, but really every time he'd seen Sirius Black had been during battle.

So it was nice to see the man relaxing, not having to worry about anything. Of course Draco knew, both from Harry and his own observations, that Sirius was still having a hard time accepting his godson's state. He wondered if he could help...

Don't do it, Draco, the blonde told himself. It's none of your business and you're horrible at anything other than business deals; don't try to help, you'll only make things worse.

Draco cleared his throat and Sirius looked at him.

Don't do it! his concious warned again.

'Yes?' Sirius queried.

'Um, well...' Draco hesitated. 'I wanted to talk to you about Harry.'

Damn it! Bad, Draco Lucius Malfoy, BAD!

'What about him?' Sirius asked.

'We've... been talking,' Draco said slowly. 'We usually spend about two hours at lunch, mostly talking about the baby, sharing stories about school and my father, our friends and family...'

'... and?' Sirius prompted when Draco paused.

'He... has some concerns,' Draco admitted.

'About what?' the Animagus demanded. 'Your father? The relationship? The baby?'

'No, no,' Draco said quickly. 'Well, he's worried he'll be a bad father, but it's worries that all first-time parents have. And he's happy with Father, he tells me every time we meet.'

'So what is it?'

'It's... well... I know it's not my place to say anything,' the younger man said, 'but... if I can help Harry I should, right?'

'Yes!' Sirius snapped. 'What is it?'

Draco took a long drag of his cigarette to calm himself and finished it. Stubbing the butt out in the ashtray and quickly lighting another, Draco said, 'It's about... you.'

Sirius blinked. 'Me?' Draco nodded. 'What about me?'

'You've been rather... unbearable,' Draco admitted.

'Excuse me?' the older man scowled.

'Just hear me out, please?' Draco pleaded. Sirius continued to glare at him but nodded his acquiescence. 'Harry is going through a hard time at the moment,' Draco said. 'He's young and he's about to be a father. He's also in a new relationship, one that many, many people are against for a number of reasons. He faces a lot of pressure from outside sources because of who he is. If he was any other eighteen-year-old, nobody would care.

'Well,' Draco corrected himself, 'they might, because of who my father is. But he's Harry Potter, meaning the entire wizarding population is following his life at all times, more so now that he's expecting a baby with Lucius Malfoy. He needs the people around him to be supportive.

'And I'm not saying that you're not, because clearly you love your godson,' Draco said, 'but you've been very hard on him. Questioning his choices constantly, acting like a five-year-old when my father is around or mentioned, and making him worry isn't helping. Personally I think Harry's doing very well- I'd still be a crying wreck if I found myself pregnant- but Harry got his life together fairly quickly. He's still studying to sit his N.E.W.T.s, he's preparing himself for when the baby arrives, and he's trying to forge a relationship with my father's family.

'Now, I know that you and my father have a history,' Draco said, Sirius watching him carefully, 'and I know you don't particularly like him as a person. I can understand that; my father will be the first to admit that he wasn't the nicest person when he attended Hogwarts. Add in his dealings with the Dark Arts, as well as his association with the Dark Lord, you have a lot of reasons not to trust him.'

Draco paused to catch his breath and take a drag of his cigarette. He hadn't wanted to say anything in all honesty, and when he'd begun he hadn't meant to say so much. But he had to finish.

'But can't you see, Mr Black, that my father isn't the man you thought he was?' the young blonde said. 'He changed long before the Dark Lord was defeated, and he changed yet again for Harry and the baby. He wants a family with Harry, he wants to be a good father. He made mistakes, but he is trying. And you constantly badgering him isn't helping.

'It's also upsetting Harry, and he doesn't need that right now. So I'm asking- begging, really- for you to try and put the past behind you and give my father a second chance. Don't do it for him if you can't, but do it for Harry and his son. You're basically going to be a grandfather and it would be good if you could get along with your grandson's other father.'

Draco took another breath and nodded. 'Erm, that's it, really,' he said. 'I'm sorry if I stepped out of line, but I really needed to say something. My father respects Harry far too much to cause any trouble with you, and Harry loves you too much to say anything. I just want my father and Harry to be happy. And I want the baby to grow up surrounded by people who love him. So please consider it?'

Silence followed Draco's words. Sirius leaned back in his seat, head turned away from the younger wizard. He drew back on his cigarette slowly and smoke streamed from his nostrils. Draco smoked his own cigarette, his free hand fidgeting in his lap. He really hoped he hadn't offended the Black patriarch too horribly. He wanted to be allowed into Grimmauld Place, not forced to wait outside for Harry or his father.

Eventually, after three cigarettes each and about half-an-hour, Sirius turned to Draco and asked, 'Am I really that bad?'

'Yes,' Draco answered immediately.

Sirius sighed and rubbed his eyes. 'I don't mean to,' he admitted softly, 'but Harry's so young...'

'And he's been though more than most people have in their entire lives,' Draco interrupted. 'Harry never really was a child; he was forced to grow up as soon as the Dark Lord killed his parents.' A pained expression crossed Sirius' face but he didn't say anything. 'Harry's mature enough, and smart enough, to make decisions like this on his own. He'll always need you, Mr Black, but you have to start treating him like an adult and not like the baby you once knew.'

Sirius snorted and sucked back on his cigarette. 'You're right,' he said with a head shake. 'Damn it, you're right.' He laughed again. 'Who'd have thought; Draco Malfoy giving me advice. And actually making sense.'

Draco smiled. 'Yes, well... stranger things have happened.'

'Like Harry and Lucius?'

'Like Harry and my father,' Draco agreed with a nod.

'They're good together,' Sirius said, turning to face the Slytherin. 'I didn't see it at first, and Merlin knows I still don't want to admit it, but... Lucius does treat Harry with respect; he's good to him.' He sighed again and looked away. 'If I don't want to lose Harry I have to grow up, don't I?'

'Yes,' Draco nodded.

'Mm,' Sirius hummed. 'I can't believe I'm going to say this but... thank you, Mr Malfoy.'

'You can call me Draco,' Draco smiled.

'Call me Sirius; Mr Black makes me sound old,' Sirius complained.

Draco laughed and shook his head. 'You're not old.'

'No?'

'No,' Draco repeated. 'Far from it.'

Sirius threw him a crooked smile and the two drew back on their cigarettes again.

The glass doors to their left slid open and Tonks poked her head out. 'Thought I heard somethin' out here,' she said, grinning when she saw Draco. 'Harry's just getting changed, Draco.'

'Thank you, Mrs Lupin- er, Tonks,' Draco said, correcting himself when Tonks scowled at him.

'That's better,' the Hufflepuff nodded before going back inside.

'I thought I was supposed to address my elders properly,' Draco mumbled.

Sirius let out a bark of laughter that made Draco look at him. 'Draco, there's nothing normal or even proper about any of us; especially Tonks. You'll get used to it.'

'That's what I'm afraid of,' Draco joked.

'We'll turn you into one of us yet,' Sirius smirked.

'I've joined a cult,' Draco groaned, slouching in his seat and letting his head tip back. Sirius laughed again and Draco smiled. He wasn't allowed to lounge at home when they had company; Lucius and Narcissa had both been very strict on that. Even when Harry came over Draco had to make sure to behave. He supposed it had been drilled into his father's head by Abraxas Malfoy, and every other Malfoy before him.

'Better get inside,' Sirius said, finishing his cigarette and stubbing it out. Draco followed him and watched as Sirius transfigured the ashtray back into a flower pot. Sirius led the way back inside, but stopped Draco when they entered the small sitting room. 'Thanks again,' he said. 'I'll definitely think over what you said.'

Draco smiled at him. 'Not a problem, Mr Black.'

Sirius shook his head. 'We gotta beat those good manners out of you, kid.'

'Well, if you think you can beat me at anything, you're sorely mistaken,' Draco sniffed. 'You are a fair bit older than me.'

'Cheeky little prat,' Sirius said but he was grinning.

Draco just smirked and pushed past the older man. He heard Sirius chuckling behind him.