Chapter 23 Padfoot's Apology
'Draco!'
Harry, Fred, George and Draco all turned when the blonde's name was shouted. Harry couldn't see anyone, but the twins were taller, and George said, 'Oh, some more snakes.'
'Who?' Harry questioned, while a smile spread across Draco's face.
'Blaise! Theo!'
'Well, that answers that,' Harry commented.
Draco took a few steps away from them before Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott appeared, the former throwing his arms around Draco's neck and squeezing tightly.
'What are you doing here?' Blaise asked.
'We thought you'd still be hiding at Malfoy Manor,' Theo added.
'Yeah, you completely blew us off last week,' Blaise frowned.
Draco rolled his eyes. 'I didn't blow you off; I was spending time with Harry, my father, and Uncle Severus, too. I told you that.'
'Oh, right,' Blaise said.
Theo rolled his eyes. 'You know Zabini never listens.'
Blaise turned to the other boy, lower lip poking out and dark eyes wide. Harry heard Fred and George snicker as Blaise said, 'Theodore, you know I always listen to you!'
'Don't call me Theodore,' Theo rolled his eyes.
'Don't call me Zabini,' Blaise retorted. 'I thought you loved me?'
Theo sighed and rubbed his eyes, while Draco snorted. 'See what I have to deal with?' Theo demanded.
'Just withhold sex,' Draco told the curly-haired boy. 'I'm sure that'll work.'
'Are you two dating, then?' Fred asked. The three Slytherins turned to the Gryffindors, Blaise and Theo apparently having not noticed them.
'Weasley,' Theo nodded, eyes moving from Fred to George. 'Or should I say Weasleys?'
'Nah, we're like the same person,' George said, 'only I'm better looking.'
'That's a lie!' Fred shouted and pointed a finger at his twin. 'Take that back, little brother!'
'I'm only thirteen minutes younger,' George rolled his eyes.
'Still makes me older,' Fred grinned.
'And more of an idiot,' George smirked.
'Take it back!'
'Never!'
'Okay...' Blaise hummed, 'anyway, yeah, Theo and I are dating. Have been since...'
'Fourth year,' Theo said.
'Interesting,' George hummed.
'All the sexy ones are taken,' Fred pouted. 'First Harry, now you two.' He turned his chocolate brown eyes on Draco and grinned widely. 'Well, there's still Little Lucius.'
'I'm not gay,' Draco groaned.
'Sexuality is fluid, my dear,' Blaise said and threw his arm back around Draco's neck. 'I thought I was straight too, but...' he shrugged. 'Don't knock it 'til you try it.'
'I'm fine, thanks,' Draco muttered. He shifted to the side and peeled Blaise's arm off his shoulders, making the dark-skinned boy pout again.
'Anyway,' Theo said before his boyfriend could bitch and whine, 'what are you doing here, Draco? You never answered us.'
'Harry and I were having lunch,' Draco said, gesturing to the younger boy.
Harry waved weakly while Blaise and Theo's eyes both zeroed in on his stomach.
'Wow, you really are pregnant,' Blaise commented.
'Uh... yeah,' Harry nodded.
Blaise whistled. 'So... what's Mr Malfoy like in bed?'
'Blaise!' Draco and Theo both hissed while the Weasley twins cracked up laughing.
'I don't want to hear about my father's sex life!' Draco snapped.
'It's none of your business!' Theo added and punched his boyfriend in the shoulder.
Harry felt a blush colour his cheeks, and scowled when Fred and George started snickering. Blaise was back to pouting but didn't ask anymore questions about Harry's sex life, so...
'Um...' Harry tried.
'We were heading back to Grimmauld Place, where Harry lives with his godfather,' Draco cut in, saving Harry from having to say anything. 'Fred, George and I are joining them for dinner.'
'Awesome, we'd love to come,' Blaise clapped his hands.
Draco raised an eyebrow. 'Not once in my explanation did I say anything about you joining us.'
'Aww, come on!' Blaise whined. 'We haven't seen you in weeks. And you've always got an excuse as to why we can't hang out; either Professor Snape has you doing something, you're with Harry Potter, you're visiting your mum, you have homework-'
'It's our last year of school, Blaise,' Draco interrupted. 'Forgive me for wanting to pass all my subjects.'
'Hey, I'm getting my work sent home too,' Blaise said. 'I know how hard it is, thank you very much. But you can give up one afternoon all night to hang out with us. It's not like you talk to Goyle anymore.'
'What's this?' Fred asked, turning to the blonde.
'You don't talk to your henchman anymore?' George added.
Draco sighed. 'No, I don't. We weren't exactly friends, they were both bodyguards and jailers.'
'Jailers?' Harry questioned, frowning.
'Their fathers were Death Eaters,' Draco said. 'We weren't exactly friends in our first few years at Hogwarts, we only hung out because our fathers were Death Eaters together. Later, they were told to watch me so that Crabbe and Goyle senior could report to the Dark Lord about what I was doing. A lot of Slytherins did it.'
'Yeah, I had two or three mini-Death Eaters watching me,' Blaise said.
'Me too,' Theo added.
'Huh,' Harry hummed. He'd never thought of that. What better way to control Lucius than to watch his son constantly? If Lucius had screwed up, Voldemort could have gotten to Draco easily. 'Well,' he said, shaking his head to clear the thoughts, 'Blaise, Theo, you're more than welcome to come to Grimmauld Place for dinner.'
Blaise and Theo both looked at him, their eyebrows going up.
'Really?' Blaise asked.
'Sure,' Harry nodded.
'But...' Theo frowned.
'I don't care if you're Slytherins,' Harry shrugged, 'I'm kind of dating once, as you know.'
Blaise leered, while Theo just smiled.
'All that school rivalry's in the past,' Harry continued. 'If you're Draco's friends, you're welcome to come along. My godfather shouldn't mind... too much.'
'Ah... isn't your godfather Sirius Black?' Theo asked. When Harry nodded, the taller boy gulped. 'Um... maybe it's not a good idea.'
'He's not gonna hex you,' Fred said.
'Unless you hex him first,' George added.
'Or look at him the wrong way,' the elder twin grinned.
'Or annoy him,' the younger snickered.
'Knock it off,' Harry said and slapped them both over the back of the head- which was hard, considering they were both a good head taller than him.
'Ow- abuse, I call abuse!' George shouted.
'Foul tempered little thing,' Fred muttered, but his lips were curling into a smile.
Harry just smiled and looked at Blaise and Theo. 'You don't have to come, but if you want you can.'
Blaise and Theo looked at each other, apparently having a silent conversation- Blaise raised an eyebrow, Theo frowned, Blaise pouted, Theo sighed, Blaise bit his lip, Theo rolled his eyes.
'Fine,' Theo finally said, turning back to the group.
'Yes!' Blaise shouted and pumped his fist in the air. 'Lead the way, Draco-baby.'
Draco groaned and rubbed his eyes. 'You're gonna regret this,' he told Harry. 'Blaise is insane... a bit like the Weasleys there,' he nodded at Fred and George.
'It'll be fine,' Harry waved a hand aside. 'Sirius'll keep them in line.'
'If you say so,' Draco shrugged and led the way to the Apparition Point.
Harry vaguely heard Fred and George telling Blaise and Theo about their new boxes, fireworks, and pranks. Blaise seemed interested and offered a few tips, while Theo sighed.
Maybe introducing the twins to Blaise Zabini wasn't a good idea, Harry mused.
{oOo}
Harry only remained on his feet after apparting because Draco, and Fred when he caught sight of the smaller man, grabbed him by the arm and kept him standing. His stomach roiled and he felt light-headed, but that was usual, even before he'd fallen pregnant.
After a few seconds he shook his head and murmured, ''M okay.'
'You're as pale as a ghost,' Draco said.
'You're clearly not okay,' Fred added. 'Come on, sit down.' He and Draco led Harry to the closest seat- the sofa- and made him sit. Harry groaned and leaned back, his hands going to his stomach, his eyes falling shut. He breathed in and out deeply as he tried to settle his stomach.
'Can we get you anything?' came George's worried voice from somewhere to Harry's left... or it could have been Fred, Harry couldn't exactly tell them apart with his eyes closed.
'Cucumbers with peanut butter,' Harry murmured.
'Okay... that's not weird or anything,' Blaise commented.
His words were followed by a sharp smack, and Theo saying, 'Obviously a pregnancy craving, Blaise!'
'Oh,' Blaise grunted.
'Jack-arse,' Theo sighed. 'Honestly...'
'Hey, I'm sorry,' Blaise said. 'I'm sorry, Harry!'
Harry chuckled. 'It's fine, Blaise,' he said without opening his eyes.
'Want to eat in the kitchen?' Draco asked. 'I can get Kreacher to make you that peppermint tea you've become fond of.'
'How'd you know that?' Harry demanded, finally opening his eyes.
Draco was smirking at him. 'You're shagging my father, Potter. I've learned some things.'
'I thought you didn't like talking about it?' Fred asked.
'I don't,' Draco said and stood. 'Tea, Harry?'
Before Harry could answer, Sirius stepped into the sitting room. He froze when he noticed the extra Slytherins, as well as the Weasley twins, but pushed his surprise aside to go to Harry.
'Are you alright, Harry?' he demanded when he saw his godson's pale complexion.
'Fine, I'm fine,' Harry waved a hand. 'You know how apparating doesn't agree with me; it's just made worse by the pregnancy.'
Sirius nodded. 'Do you want some tea?'
'Seriously, I have no secrets,' Harry grumbled.
'Draco, could you get Kreacher to make some tea for Harry?' Sirius asked the blonde. 'And get some cucumbers and peanut butter ready- you can find it in the fridge. Take your friends with you, they're welcome to stay.'
Draco had expected a fight, but wasn't about to look a gift centaur in the mouth. So he just nodded and ushered Blaise, Theo, and the Weasley twins from the room, leaving Harry and Sirius alone.
'Honestly, I'm fine,' Harry insisted, 'you don't have to worry so much.'
'I'll worry all I want,' Sirius scowled, but the feeling quickly passed. 'Actually, I just wanted to talk to you in private.'
Harry raised both eyebrows in surprise as the older man sat on the armchair opposite him. 'Oh?' he questioned. 'About what?'
'About the way I've been treating you- and Lucius,' Sirius sighed. He clasped his hands together and took a deep breath before continuing. 'Harry, I've been an absolute prat to you these past few... well, months.'
'A bastard,' Harry corrected.
'Right, a bastard,' Sirius nodded. 'I was just worried, and I know that doesn't make up for how I've been acting. Sometimes it's hard for me to forget the baby I knew before I went to Azkaban, or the young man I met in your Third Year. You were so mature, even then, but a large part of me still wants to baby you and give you the childhood you never had. That part of me still sees you as the innocent boy James held in his arms.'
He paused to take another breath, eyes focused on Harry's stomach. Harry just stared at him.
'But you're not a little boy,' Sirius continued, 'and I don't think you ever were. I'm so, so sorry for the way I've been treating both you and Malfoy- erm, Lucius. It's not good for the baby, or for you. You're old enough to make your own decisions, and I think you're so very brave for deciding to keep the baby and give a relationship with Mal- Lucius, a go.
'I must admit, I'm still not happy with your choice in partner, or the exact circumstances surrounding my grandson's creation,' Sirius continued. 'But what's done is done. You've made your choices, and I have to respect them. I promise that I won't interfere with your relationship any longer, and I'll try my hardest to be nicer to Lucius. I just hope that you can forgive what an idiotic, stubborn Gryffindor I've been. And a bastard, I mustn't forget that.'
Harry chuckled at the last bit, but quickly sobered. 'You've been a right prat,' he said, and Sirius nodded, head still down. 'But,' Harry continued, 'you've apologised, and you're trying to make up for it. So, I forgive you.'
Sirius head snapped up, and he asked, 'Really?' Harry nodded. 'I mean... seriously?' Sirius asked. 'Just... just like that?'
'Well, I'll be watching to see if you are nicer to Lucius,' Harry said, 'and if you're really going to stay out of our relationship. But I accept your apology, Padfoot.'
Sirius breathed out heavily. 'You're too kind for your own good, Harry.' Harry rolled his eyes. 'Thank you,' Sirius said. 'I don't deserve to be forgiven so easily. I promise I won't screw up again. I'll even apologise to Lucius; he didn't do anything wrong, and I was terrible to him.'
'Yeah, you were,' Harry nodded.
'I'm still just trying to push old prejudices aside,' Sirius admitted. 'I'm in no way perfect; just ask Remus.' Harry laughed. 'Thank you, Harry,' Sirius said seriously. 'I won't screw up again.'
'I'll hold you to that,' Harry nodded. 'Now help me up; I need a hug, followed by cucumbers.'
Sirius smiled and stood, helping Harry up too. They hugged briefly before Sirius clapped Harry on the shoulder and led him into the kitchen.
Harry's cucumbers and peanut butter were waiting, as well as a tray of sandwiches Kreacher had made a few minutes earlier. Sirius watched as Harry walked across the kitchen, his rounded stomach poking through his shirt. Harry sat at the end of the table and immediately grabbed a sandwich, humming to himself as he bit into it.
Fred and George were having what appeared to be a deep and serious discussion with the dark-skinned boy... Sirius had no idea what his name was, while the other boy- the Slytherin with curly hair- was talking to Kreacher. Draco was the only one not doing anything, and he raised an eyebrow as Sirius met his eyes.
'Care to join us?' Draco asked.
Sirius shook his head and said, 'I'll leave you young folk to discuss what you want.'
'Young folk?' Fred laughed.
'Way to make yourself sound like you're fifty, Sirius,' George giggled.
'You're hardly old,' Draco commented, looking Sirius up and down before going for a sandwich.
Sirius felt his cheeks heat up slightly and cleared his throat. 'Yes, well... ah, just call if you need anything.'
He made a hasty retreat, but still heard Fred say, 'Eyeing up the Black Lord, eh, Little Lucius?' as well as Draco's hissed, 'I was not, shut up!'