Action is eloquence
Chapter Twenty
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Things were better after that morning. Harry and Draco headed back to the Burrow, solely to pick up Teddy...
Which, of course, meant that Molly lured them to stay until lunch. (Which was delicious as always).
Whilst Harry was shrugging on his jacket, Little Rosy popped up with a muggle-board game that Arthur had found intriguing and couldn't help bringing home from work.
Her "please" was enough to drag Harry back to the table, whilst Draco hissed, "I thought we were leaving".
Teddy quickly shucked off his shoes and gamely said, "You're on, Weasley."
"Granger-Weasley" Rosy inserted with all the superiority she could muster, making Harry grin.
"Whatever" the ten-year-old shrugged.
Harry struggled with the game as he couldn't remember the rules and was hindered as he didn't play any muggle games in his youth. He briefly wished Hermione had brought some to Hogwarts. But knew that just like him, she was indoctrinating herself into the magical world and their games too. So it was understandable why she hadn't.
Harry chuckled to himself remembering the first time Hermione had seen Wizard Chess.
He wondered if Dean, another muggle-born, had ever tried to bring muggle games into the Gryffindor tower, but dismissed it. The past was the past.
Harry would have to make up for lost time now.
Whilst Harry persevered with the seemingly challenging game, Teddy appeared to be a master, evidently they play this a lot, if Draco's smirk was anything to go by.
Rosy was insistent on informing every one of the rules before they began, and eventually sat next to her uncle Harry because he wasn't playing the 'right' way. Draco encouraged this behaviour and said that only "favourite uncles play by the rules".
Jaw dropped at this obvious ploy, Harry made a snide comment about Slytherin's and rules.
Astonishingly, Teddy piped up with his own snipe about "Gryffindors hardly regarding the rules", Which sounded so much like Draco's drawl that Harry found himself glaring at the Slytherin.
"What have you been telling him?" He demanded.
"Nothing that isn't true." Draco replied, not a heartbeat later.
Harry felt decidedly petulant again and promptly stuck his tongue out.
Draco kicked his shin under the table.
"Uncle Dray!" Rosy reprimanded, "We do not kick."
"No kick," Hugo echoed from Arthur's lap.
"You tell him!" Ron's voice chuckled as he entered through the front door.
"Daddy!" Rose chirped happily, jumping down and running towards him.
Hugo squealed from his position, making grabby hands across the room.
The next minute there was a loud pop and Ron's arms were suddenly full of his excited toddler.
"Woah buddy, missed you too." Ron exclaimed, bouncing his boy deftly whilst not dropping him.
Harry glanced around the room checking everyone's reaction to this blatant display of underage magic, but as no one else seemed to be reacting, he settled back down. Clearly this was not an abnormal thing to happen in an active wizard households despite Hugo's young age.
Hugo giggled as Ron jostled him in his arms, moving over to scoop up Rosy.
"Hey no fair, I would have been first!" She argued into her father's side.
"Yes pumpkin, but you know not to apparate 'cos you're a big girl."
Seemingly placated by this, Rosy gave him a toothy grin.
"Rosy big girl!" the toddler echoed merrily.
Harry watched on feeling an ache in his chest.
A sudden thought appeared out of nowhere, I want a baby.
He looked over at Teddy. Feeling cheated out of the memories they must've shared and desperately wanting them back. But also realising he would like to do all again. Maybe give Teddy a sibling.
Harry glanced over at Draco automatically only to see that his eyes were misty, watching Ron interact with his children. Harry was about to ask what was the matter when:
"Are we playing or not?" Teddy's hair flamed bright orangey-red with impatience. "I was winning!"
"Was not." Argued the bushy redhead.
"I was!"
Molly perched in the corner, perked up, telling them off for shouting in her house. "Stop squabbling." she scolded, before turning back to her romance book.
Draco turned to his son with a gentle hand. "Settle down, Ted. If you can't play nicely with your cousins, we'll put it away."
"But I was winning" Teddy whined, slouching in his seat.
Harry felt he should say something. Something parent-y, but was at a loss.
"What do you think Harry, should we pack it in now?" Draco turned to him.
The spotlight seemed to shift, Harry was still in a haze. This was all so new to him. Back when Teddy was a toddler he'd play with him until Andy kicked him out for the night, taking over as his carer. But now... Harry was his guardian, and was in charge of his tempers.
"Maybe," Harry temporised.
"This is so bogus." Teddy muttered, throwing the board game across the room. "So unfair."
Everyone seemed to freeze for a moment, Rosy screamed as pieces were thrown around. Molly looked up crossly. Harry shifted in his seat as if he were the one in trouble.
"Edward Remus Lupin!" Draco stood up, his voice loud and crisp, "Pick that game up now."
"Why should I?" Teddy sulked, his pallor fading and spikes popping out.
"Edward, we do not throw things just because we're angry. That could've hurt someone. Pick it up" Draco said sternly.
"Papa-" Teddy whined.
"Edward, I don't want to have to repeat myself." Draco warned.
"But-"
Harry seemed to feel himself react to Teddy and Draco's tones and something clicked within him, and he was standing too.
"Teddy." His voice rang sharp with authority.
His son looked up at him, seeing the challenge in Harry's eyes, the spikes vanished. Under Harry's glare, he instantly dropped to the ground and started plopping pieces back into the box, muttering a hasty apology.
"Thanks." Draco lowered his voice so only Harry could hear him. Before taking a shuddering breath and leaving the room in long, even strides.
"I'll help Teddy. Even though I didn't throw it." Rosy chimed, exactly like a little Hermione would. Helping exactly as a little Ron would too, come to think of it.
"Wow man, seems like you were you for a second." His best mate commented, crossing towards him.
"What?" Harry murmured glancing at him away from Teddy and Rose.
"Well, I just mean. You really brought the old parent stare out. I thought a second later you'd be interrogating him like one of our suspects or some'ing." Harry grinned easily at Ron.
"Not over an open'shutter like this mate" Harry joked instantly without thought.
Ron's jaw dropped.
"You done yet?" Harry asked the kids. "If so, Teddy outside." He ordered. "I'm so sorry Molly, thanks for having him overnight. We better head out. He'll owl you an apology before dinner."
"Don't worry, dear. We all know where he gets his temper from. If I had a knut every time a child threw something in this house." She waved him off.
"See ya later mate, go to the pub or something, yeah?" Harry threw over his shoulder "Once we've pinned down this latest ring of blighters right?"
A ghost of a smile flashed on Ron's shocked face.
"Defo mate!" Ron added hastily.
With that, Harry strode purposefully out into the garden after his son. Entirely unaware of the mild furore he had left behind him.
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That night, as promised Teddy sent off his apologies for his 'appalling' behaviour, Draco's words. Harry had had a more colourful way of describing the tantrum, not suitable for owling.
Draco was back to research, deep in thought after the glimpse he saw during the afternoon. He was now deeply intrigued with not just what the spell was but how the spell had worked.
Draco had watched as Teddy had emerged apologetic and shame-faced from the Burrow with Harry following in his wake, earlier. They had unanimously decided that Harry should apparate them, Draco agreed not wanting to risk side-along-ing with Teddy in his highly emotional state.
Draco's head had been reeling, he understood Teddy's outburst, it was bound to happen after the chaotic week he'd had. Teddy was passionate and competitive, but he was usually better behaved around his younger cousins. But after having a parent in hospital and being denied visitation, then having to live with Andromeda and go to school whilst Harry was comatose, it was a lot for him to have to process and cope with. Not to mention learning that his father lost most of his memories of him and then the excitement of a sleepover at Molly's, it was bound to lead to an emotional outburst at some point.
Draco understood that, but fuck, seeing his son act so bratty over a board game had stirred something uncomfortable within him.
Draco had been a spoiled only child, he knew that, he had been used to having everything and everyone's attention at the drop of a witch's hat. Draco knew that at ten, he would have reacted similarly if everyone decided to end midgame whilst he was playing happily... and winning.
But that didn't make it any better, watching his son recreate a 'Malfoy Meltdown' in vivid technicolour in front of everyone.
Then, to make matters worse, there was the evitable standoff between them.
Teddy and he were hot-headed and this was not the first time their battle of wills had come to a head. But before the recent accident, Harry had always been there to defuse the situation. No matter how tense, they both understood that Harry's word would always trump all. Regardless of how stubborn Draco or Teddy could be, Harry trumped everything.
But today, there had seemed no hope of that.
As Draco stood at the Weasley table, staring down at his son, he felt himself losing control. As for the first time in years as the two black's infamous tempers faced off, against each other, without the promise of Harry swooping in and taking charge. It felt hopeless.
The relief that Draco had felt when Harry miraculously stood up, and was back, was overwhelming. Neither Teddy nor he, had ever actually won against Harry, after all.
Unless Draco cheated, of course.
Which wasn't really winning.
And as a proud husband and father he was trying to do less of that now. The cheating thing, that was; not the winning.
There was a thrill of having his co-parent backing him in the issue like he always had, was exhilarating.
Because as soon as Harry spoke, the word was law. They were a united front against their child and without that, Draco and Teddy might've stared off for hours. It had once, when Harry was working late.
Thinking on it, he wasn't entirely sure Teddy would have risked that again. Harry's wrath had been particularly spectacular that night. Even blindsiding him.
"Your papa asked you to do something, you do it. Whether I'm here or not. End of."
Draco smiled at the memory.
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Not long after they returned home, Ron had sent him an enthusiastic letter detailing all that had happened once Draco slipped out and his certainty that Harry was back to his old self.
"It was like he hadn't lost any time at all. He was back, Dray. I swear. He even used one of our silly phrases. Do you think-"
The letter continued with hopeful optimism that Harry would be back any day now.
Hermione took a more methodical approach, grilling Draco for more information and any evidence of Harry's resurfacing personality. Any potential memories.
Draco's head was spinning. As a healer, he knew that the mind was more complex than that. The situation triggering Harry's automatic reaction might not mean any progress in regards to his overall recovery.
But at the same time, Draco yearned for his husband back. All of him, (not that he didn't love Harry at any age). Intellectually he felt that it would take more than a few pensieve memories and a parenting near disaster to bring his husband back to where he was before the attack.
But a tiny bit of hope remained that maybe Harry, as ever, was an exception to the rule.
Draco had to be clear minded, and began making a list to send to Hermione. He noted on Harry's continued managing of Teddy since they left the Burrow. How he seemed to have instinctively regained his parental role and normal responsibilities in their relationship ever since.
Harry now knew where things were around the house without guidance, he settled in to his everyday chores, he even made Draco a cup of earl grey (which was Draco's soothing drink of choice) immediately on entering their home.
Once settled, Harry spontaneously gave him a shoulder rub, telling him that it wasn't his fault, and not to worry about Teddy's outburst. Just as he had, after their last standoff.
It was like his husband was back.
He bit his tongue, not wanting to talk to Harry either to give Harry false hope or accidentally trigger a relapse.
Draco had to keep reminding himself to remain logical in his analysis.
From an outside view, Harry certainly seemed back to his old-old self: Dispatching Teddy to his room, banning gaming privilege's for the rest of the day, and instructing him to write apologies to Ron and Molly by dinner time.
Draco watched how later Harry had instructed Teddy to set the table, a skill they've reinforced without the use of magic.
Kreacher made dinner as Harry was too busy managing his regular household activities and Draco had to sit back a minute for it was too much.
Could it really be that simple?
Was Harry's paternal instincts enough to snap him back into their timeline?
Was there a mental block that just needed the right key to unlock the memories of the last eight years?
Harry's hesitancy around Draco and Teddy had disappeared entirely. He affectionately touched his husband's hand as they sat side-by-side at dinner.
Draco had to get back to his research, the last few days had been lovely spending time with Harry but he had been distracted. The goal was to get his husband back fully.
Teddy sat on the floor doing some homework for the next school day, grumbling about subjects as he worked.
Harry crouched down and helped him on a hard question or two, whilst Draco excused himself to his study.
Harry had accepted his withdrawal as totally normal for his healer husband, saying he would see Teddy to bed and sort out a few things before joining him. The last comment, made Draco hastily magic his study back to normal appearances, in case Harry noted the absence of photographs and mementos from the mantle, which Draco had removed as to not overwhelm the memory-deprived Harry, but might notice the absence of now.
Draco wasn't sure how much time had passed before Harry shuffled in bearing his distinctive favoured mugs brimming with hot chocolate.
Harry crashed in his usual place on the sofa, prepared to either distract Draco or drag him away from the piles of scrolls and off to their bed. Harry was wearing his favourite pyjama bottoms slung low on his hips, hair still slightly damp and horribly dishevelled.
Draco took his mug reverently, whilst glancing appreciatively at his clearly recently showered, half-dressed husband.
"Your welcome," Harry offered in reply blowing steam off his 'Mr Right' mug. "You almost done?"
Draco hummed around the rim of his own mug.
"What's it this time?" Harry asked lazily stretching out, nearly spilling his beverage in doing so.
"Er, nothing special." Draco fumbled unprepared for the question.
Harry's eyes snapped up instantly alert.
"What?" Draco asked jumpily.
"You're hiding something." Harry pointed out with his mug airily before taking a calculated sip.
"W-why would you say that?" Draco stuttered as he schooled his features.
"Oh, I dunno." Harry drawled, imitating his husband. "You were awfully slow on your answer just now, you're fidgeting, not meeting my eyes, and you've been in here for hours clearly studying something." Harry's eyes studied him.
Draco gulped.
"You owled Hermione earlier..." Harry added helpfully.
Draco winced. What should he say? He could hardly tell his husband about his sudden interest in memory loss, where would that Bowtruckle lead?
"I-I needed..." Draco paused uncertain how to continue.
"-Help on your case?" Harry asked sweetly, "Something only an unspeakable can help with...?"
"I, er...-" Draco spluttered under Harry's unwavering stare.
Merlin help me.
"-Can't say anything about it?" Harry supplied helpfully.
"Yes. Exactly!" Draco replied triumphantly. Thankful for solid ground at last.
Harry hummed thoughtfully, bringing his mug to his lips again. Draco breathed again.
"I see. So what plague are we all about to die of?"
Draco spat his mouthful of chocolate across the desk in an undignified fountain.
Harry smirked gleefully. "Not a plague this time then?"
"Harry." Draco sighed hopelessly. Spelling the desk clean with a wave.
"Dark arts, gone awry again, I see..." Harry continued.
"You know I cannot discuss-"
"-One of your patients." Harry finished for him, sitting up now. "I do. But that usually doesn't leave you skittish around me." He concluded, quirking an eyebrow.
"A party!" Draco blurted out. He never blurts anything. "It's a surprise party."
"Dray." It was Harry's turn to sigh.
"It's, erm, for Luna's new book release!" Something possessed him to keep going even as Harry's disbelieving stare goaded him on further. "A surprise, book party. Book-launch thing. Party."
"Uh-huh" Harry replied noncommittally.
Something took root inside, it wasn't his brain, for he continued:
"Yes, and-and Hermione's helping me!" Remembering the owl he sent to hers a few hours ago, that Harry noticed.
"Riiight. So, you're telling me, that you. And Hermione. Are planning a 'surprise book launching party', for Luna's new book. Secretly? Without my help?"
"That's..." Draco paused, his mouth dry, "what I said." He finished lamely.
"Because...?"
Draco was overheating. His brain fried. Why on Morgana's earth was he digging this hole?
Too late now- He was six feet down.
"umm" Draco wasn't sure where this was going either.
Why on earth would he plan a party... for Luna.... without Harry's knowledge...or Neville for that matter?
He'd always been a superior liar.
Just not with Harry.
Harry's emerald eyes had never left his, Draco realised, whilst his darted around the room.
"So, bed?" Draco asked hopefully, wishing for this conversation to end. Or the ground to open wide. Either really. He'd take either.
"I don't know, I prefer watching you sweating down here rather than on the sheets I just changed." His eyes sparkled.
Draco wiped his brow surreptitiously under Harry's amused gaze.
It wasn't sweaty.
"Would you like to change your story now, Draco?" Harry was offering him an out. A different story. The truth? No. But maybe he could come up with something vaguely convincing...
"Absolutely not." His mouth answered, his brain tripping over itself, "Why would I deerheart?" Smiling as innocently as only a Slytherin could.
Harry stared a moment longer.
"I thought we made an agreement about lying and terms of endearment a while back. Oh, when was it? hmm, yes I believe it was our wedding day." Draco looked down at his desk, "But fine, Malfoy-Potter, if you wish to keep your little secrets, I look forward to the party."
Draco's eyes popped out. "So, how long is it until the book party launch thing?"
Draco gulped.
"Erm."
He was trying to do a quick calculation in his head, forgetting the accident and the week before it would have been...
Draco looked down at the aforementioned book with Luna's smiling face on the back cover (which was little help in this circumstance).
"Erm, two weeks?" Draco squeaked out.
"Hmm." Harry finished his hot chocolate. "I look forward to it." Then swept out of the room virtuously.
Fuck, now he has to plan a goddamn surprise book launch party with Hermione.
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Draco gave himself a few minutes trying to absorb everything that had just happened. What had just transpired. Everything he said, Harry's intense gaze watching him squirm with evident enjoyment.
He couldn't keep up.
Draco forgot briefly who he was dealing with. Harry was an auror, an senior auror at that and his husband to boot, Of course, he'd pick up on the subtle cues, then interrogate for some answers.
And fuck, what had possessed him to give those answers.
He stood infront of the fucking dark lord and made himself less of an imbocile. He'd been lying and decieving half his life, but apparently Harry languishing half-naked on his couch was enough to made him a blithering five year old caught with his hand stuck in the cookie jar.
Something must've detached inside Draco's brain to deflect so strongly. He knew he couldn't tell a 28 year old Harry that he was researching memory loss. But why in Merlin's name had Draco said that!
Draco flailed under his questions and blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
As he packed away his files, he summoned their owl to send word to Hermione of both his observations and regrettably, that if Harry were to ask about a party then Hermione should answer, it was a "surprise" and leave it the hell alone.
With any hope, Harry would wake without any recollection of the previous night.
Wait, what was he thinking? Draco most certainly didn't want that.
In the grand scheme of things planning a party was much easier than having to deal with an amnesiac Harry.
Draco mused to himself whilst brushing his teeth and heading up to the top floor of their townhouse, what would he even have to plan to throw such a soiree.
He stood outside their bedroom thinking.
Was it awful to hope that Harry was already asleep as to not have to deal with this headache anymore?
But when he finally mustered the courage to push the door open, Harry had already downturned the bedspread and was lying casually cross legged on their bed, several pillows ejected to the floor.
Draco looked down at the pile.
"Is this where I'm sleeping tonight?" He queried tentatively.
"For lying about a party?"
"Yes."
Harry pretended to contemplate this for a while.
Draco was not amused at the prospect of sleeping on the floor. They had plenty of guestrooms after all, if Harry was really considering kicking him out for the night.
"Get in, Slytherin." Harry shuffled over, invitingly patting the bed.
Draco smiled, climbing in next to him.
"I'm forgiven then?" he asked leaning into Harry's space.
"Not one bit." Harry replied meaningfully meeting his husbands eyes, breath ghosting over his lips tantalisingly.
"I have a far darker punishment planned for you." Harry smirked, eyes twinkling with mirth.
"Gryffindors are incorrigible."
"And yet you married one." Harry countered, shifting positions rapidly so he was now above him.
"I did." Draco's breathing hitched. Harry was beautiful like this, powerful, commanding. Draco settled back into the mattress.
Harry leaned down to press bruising kisses over Draco's neck. He keened under the pressure. Wondering how he could have ever, even for only a moment, wished Harry asleep or forgetful again.
"What shift are you on tomorrow?" Harry questioned softly as he worked his way slowly down Draco's torso.
"What? ... oh! Godric, yes Harry ... Day off" Draco muttered distractedly.
"Oh, good answer Dray," Harry grinned up at him allowing his hand to slide suggestively lower whilst holding his body weight admirably on his elbow.
"Liar takes morning school duty, avoids a five mile run and takes remedial potion?"
Draco's only reply was to raise his hips compliantly towards his waiting husband.
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