Time After
A year later, Draco and Harry were getting ready to go to Hogwarts once again, this time to teach.
"I hate first-day jitters.." Muttered Draco, Harry chuckled lightly and wrapped his arms around Draco from behind, "why are you nervous?" Harry asked softly as Draco turned in his arms so he was now facing his husband, and wrapped his arms around Harry's neck.
"Because I'm branded with the dark mark.. what if the kids don't like me and call me names, there are still several students from when we were in Hogwarts there."
"You'll be perfect Draco, and if you're that nervous, I'll come to visit you in the dungeons now and then, and you're more than welcome in my class," Harry reassured him with a soft smile.
Draco smiled softly back, "thank you." He said quietly before kissing Harry. "Of course, Potter." Harry grinned, "I might as well start calling you Malfoy if you keep going this way." Draco remarked.
"Heavens no, no offence to the Malfoy name but I think I'm good with my last name." Harry laughed and Draco laughed with him.
"Alright, you got everything?" Draco asked, stepping out of Harry's embrace. "Yep, you?" Draco just nodded in response.
They apparated to Hogwarts and Minerva greeted them. "Boys, so lovely to see you." She smiled warmly as she began guiding them through Hogwarts to the teachers living space and to their room.
The boys got settled in before heading down to the great hall for the welcoming feast. Harry sat down beside Neville, Draco sitting on the other side of Harry. "Draco, Harry, how are you?" Neville asked with a small smile, "brilliant, although Draco's still nervous." Harry chuckled.
"I'm sure you'll be great, Draco." Neville smiled at him. Draco smiled back, "thanks, how are you and Blaize doing?"
"We're doing well, thanks for asking."
They continued their quiet chatting until the students started pulling into the great hall.
Harry was starting to become nervous as the students noticed him and began whispering to each other. Draco grabbed Harry's hand under the table and gave it a small squeeze and Harry intertwined their fingers together, squeezing back slightly.
The sorting hat was pulled out and began sorting the new first years into their houses.
Once all the first years were sorted Minerva stood at the podium. "Students, I would like to welcome your new potions professor; Mr. Potter-"
"-It's still weird hearing her call me Potter when she's been calling me Malfoy since we were 11," Draco whispered to Harry, laughing quietly.
"-And your new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor; Mr. Potter." She smiled warmly.
"Cats out of the bag!" Draco whispered in Harry's ear making Harry break into a fit of laughter. Whispers erupted in the great hall, Harry and Draco only being able to make out the topic, which unsurprisingly, revolved around them and to why they had the same last name, only the older years actually knowing the reason.
The feast was quickly wrapped up and Harry and Draco made their way to their room for the night.
Draco was the first up, he sat up in the bed and rubbed his eyes a bit. He felt Harry shift beside him and smiled softly, leaning over and kissing him softly on the lips. Harry smiled tiredly, "morning." Harry said softly. "Morning, we gotta get up now." Harry groaned.
Harry sat up and stretched before getting out of the bed with Draco, getting dressed and then heading downstairs to the great hall for breakfast.
Harry had his arm linked with Draco's as they walked into the great hall, a few students already there along with all the teachers.
They sat down at the table, Harry picking at his food, "what's wrong with Harry?" Neville asked Draco. "He's grumpy because now we actually have to get out of bed in the morning," Draco replied, causing Neville to laugh.
Draco and Neville continued to talk until shortly before classes, "I'm gonna head down to the potions classroom now." Draco told the two, Neville nodded and Draco got up but before he left he leaned down to Harry's ear, "you'll scare the children off if you keep it up, Harry." Draco said softly before kissing Harry on the cheek, "love you." They both said and smiled softly before heading to their separate classes.
Around the end of the day, Draco was just wrapping up his last class when there was a knock on the door. Harry opened the door and stood in the doorway looking distressed. Worry etched itself across Draco's face and he quickly walked over to him.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Draco asked, cupping Harry's face gently. Harry slowly reached his hands up to Draco's and moved them down to his neck, "your hands are cold.." He commented quietly. Draco smiled slightly, "I am in the dungeons, and it's not exactly warm down here." He said softly. "Now what happened?"
Harry leaned his forehead against Draco's, closing his eyes, "the first years I have now, began asking about the war, it wasn't so bad a first but then one of them brought up how they heard I had to die to kill him and I started freaking out from remembering.." He explained shakily.
"And you just needed to ground yourself so you came to me?" Draco smiled softly and Harry nodded. Draco moved his hands from Harry's neck and reached up taking his glasses off, putting them on top of his own head before pulling Harry into a hug, "your ok, love." Draco said softly.
After a couple of minutes, they pulled apart, "thank you." Harry smiled softly, Draco took Harry's glasses off his head and put them back on Harry, smiling softly. "Your welcome. Now go send your students off if you haven't already." He chuckled softly, "will do, Professor." Harry chuckled then leaving the classroom.
Draco turned around and the kids all let out soft 'awe's, one of them shooting a hand into the air, "yes, Sadie?" Draco smiled fondly.
"So the rumour of you two being married is true? And what happened to DA Potter?" She asked.
"Yes, your 'DA Potter' and I are married, and Harry still gets uncomfortable talking about the war, and some kids in his class brought it up and he started panicking and being near me helps ground him." Draco explained, "I think he would very much appreciate not talking about the war while teaching you as well. Now pack your things up, class is dismissed." With that, the students began packing up before heading out.
As Draco was making his way to the greenhouse to chat with Neville he saw Harry walking in the corridor, Draco caught up with him and linked their arms together, "doing anything?" He asked.
Harry shook his head, "was gonna go lie down for a bit if you wanted to join." He said softly, "I have to go talk to Neville actually but I'll meet up with you for dinner alright?" Harry nodded back, "love you." Draco smiled, "I love you too."
With that, they parted ways, Harry going to their room and Draco going to talk to Neville about some things he would need for his classes.
Soon dinner rolled around, Draco and Neville walking into the great hall together, Harry already being sat at the teacher's table. Draco and Neville sat down beside Harry. "Did you know that the students are referring to us as DA Potter and Potions Potter?" Harry chuckled, "actually yes, one of my students called you DA Potter after you left." Draco laughed slightly.
"You alright there Harry?" Neville asked. "You seem a little off." Harry just nodded, reaching under the table to grab Draco's hand, linking their fingers together as Draco began eating. "Are you sure?" Neville asked, a little worried now.
"I'm fine Neville, Draco and I normally sleep together but I went and tried having a nap before dinner, didn't go so well," Harry explained, chuckling a bit, "ah," Neville nodded and they all began eating.
After dinner, they said good night and Harry and Draco went to their room for the night, Draco pulled Harry into a kiss once in their room. "Love you." Draco smiled, pulling away from the kiss and sitting on the couch in front of the fireplace with some papers.
"What are those?" Harry asked as he sat down beside Draco, leaning his head on Draco's shoulder. "I'm going over what I'll be teaching the kids tomorrow while you take a nap on me." Draco chuckled a bit, "sounds like a plan, but let's get in a comfier position, please." Harry yawned, Draco smiled and shifted to a laying down position with Harry's head now resting on his chest.
Soon Draco finished going through his work and put it down on the coffee table beside the couch, falling asleep with Harry.
Sure enough, Halloween had rolled around and everyone was just starting to pile into the great hall for the Halloween dance. Harry and Draco walked into the great hall arm in arm, Neville, joined by Blaize, walked in as well. The four of them found a table and sat down at it, Blaize and Neville sitting side by side, Draco sitting on Harry's lap. Draco began talking with Blaize, catching up with one another while Harry zoned out, Neville watching the dance going on.
"You alright, Harry?" Draco suddenly asked and Harry nodded in reply, pushing Draco off his lap dragging him to the dance floor as Somebody To Love by Queen started playing. "Ohhh, you smooth git." Draco laughed, "Minerva picked the music, not me." Harry said defensively with a small laugh as he and Draco began dancing together.
"Why did you suggest this for our wedding anyway?" Draco asked. "Cause Sirius made me promise to play this at my wedding in his honour." Harry smiled sadly as he rested his head on Draco's chest. "Can anybody find me somebody to love~" Draco sang softly to Harry, "I love you, Draco." Harry said softly, "I love you too, Harry, but you should know, most of the students are watching us now." Draco chuckled.
"By now I think they all know we're married, so let them watch us, it was to be expected." Harry chuckled, smiling softly. The night passed on with some more dancing to the music, talking and some more fun.
Later on in the year, Christmas had begun rolling around and mistletoes were hanging all over Hogwarts. One morning during breakfast, just before everyone was leaving to go home for the holidays, Harry and Draco got caught under one of the mistletoes upon entering the great hall.
"This is an uncomfortable situation." Remarked Draco. Harry sighed, "kissing each other in front of everyone in Hogwarts, not exactly my cup of tea, just try not to let it get heated."
"Mhm." Draco hummed pulling Harry in for a quick kiss, Harry giggled when they pulled away, ignoring all the awed faces and began walking to the teacher's table to eat.
Shortly before the end of the year, Draco was teaching his class and noticed that one of his best students, a Ravenclaw second year, had fallen asleep in class and had seemed distressed more than usual lately. Draco smiled sadly but finished explaining the instructions to his class before walking over to her.
Draco woke her up and she jumped seeming quite frightened, "it's alright Lily, just me." Draco said gently, "sorry Professor.." She said quietly, "no, no, don't be sorry, but are you alright?" Draco asked her. She nodded hesitantly. "You seem tired, do you wanna go lay down for a bit?" She nodded again and Draco guided her to the door, "feel better Lily, and if you need to talk to someone I'm always available." Draco told her as she began walking off toward the Ravenclaw tower.
"Class I will be right back, just continue what you're doing while I'm gone," Draco told his class, who nodded and continued working.
Draco made his way from the dungeons towards Harry's classroom. He opened the door to Harry's classroom and smiled seeing Harry teaching his class. He knocked on the door and Harry turned his head to see who it was and smiled seeing Draco. "Alright, continue practicing just as I showed you." He said walking over to Draco, "you alright Draco?" He asked.
"Yeah, I'm alright but I was wondering if you knew anything about the Arrow Family, their daughter Lily, Ravenclaw, first year, fell asleep in my class, and she's uneasy about going home, I can tell," Draco informed Harry, "well, I can look into it but there's something else isn't there, I can see a question dying to be asked in your eyes." Harry chuckled, making Draco chuckle as well.
"Well it doesn't look like she's in a good environment at home, both of us having some experience with that, I was wondering if it is true we could maybe..." Draco trailed off, "if she's ok with it, then sure Draco." Harry smiled softly, "really?" Draco asked and Harry nodded and pulled Draco into a hug, "now get back to your class, we'll talk during dinner, alright." Draco smiled and nodded before heading back to the dungeons to teach his class.
As dinner began rolling around, Harry and Draco were walking in the halls, chatting with one another when suddenly Lily bumped into them, "s-sorry Professors." She stuttered, "oh, Lily, we actually wanted to talk to you after dinner, is that alright?" Asked Draco, Lily hesitantly nodded. They entered the great hall and went to sit down and eat.
After dinner, Lily stayed behind in the great hall while everyone went to bed, Harry and Draco walked over to her, "we were wondering if you would tell us a little about your home life." Draco asked, Lily visibly tensed at the mention of it, "it's not the best is it?" She shook her head, "not exactly, no.." She whispered, "mum and dad split and mums been taking her anger out on anything she can, a lot of the time being me." She started crying, Harry wrapped his arms around her, "I don't want to go home."
"That's what we wanted to ask Lily, if you would like, we could adopt you and you can come live with us, you'll be safe, we promise," Draco told her. "Really?" She asked, they nodded, "we'd love to have you, but the choice is yours to make."
"Yes, yes, yes please, I'd love that." She smiled, Draco and Harry smiled at each other.
Soon enough the last day of school rolled around and everyone was getting ready to go home. Harry and Draco were in their room packing their things when a knock sounded at the door. Draco walked over and opened it to see Lily.
"Ah, Lily, are you ready to go home?" Draco asked, she nodded and Draco stepped to the side, letting her walk in. "I-I wasn't sure what you wanted me to do, or even if I'm still going home with you-" Harry cut her off with a small smile, "if you still want to come home with us you can, we'll pick you up at the station, alright?" She smiled and nodded, "ok! I'll see you when we pull into the station then." She walked out of the room.
"I don't know how you do it Draco, but you seem to always know how to make someone smile," Harry commented walking over to Draco and wrapping his arms around his waist, kissing him softly.
As soon as they were packed to leave, they apparated home to Number 12 Grimmauld Place. They unpacked their things and went to one of the spare rooms, getting it cleaned up for when Lily got there.
Before they knew it they had to leave to get Lily and apparated to the station. When Lily saw them she smiled brightly and walked over to them with her stuff, "Professors."
"Lily, you don't have to call us Professor anymore, you can call us by our names." Harry smiled softly. A little boy came running over to Lily, "Lily you're going home with our Professors?" He asked bewildered, Draco laughed a bit, "come on, let's get going, Lily." Draco smiled, taking her cart of stuff and they began following Harry out of the station.
When they got home they guided Lily to her new room, "we'll leave you to get settled in, call us if you need anything, we'll come and get you when dinners ready." Harry said, She smiled at them and nodded as she sat on her bed, the two males going downstairs to start dinner.
When dinner was ready Draco went upstairs and got Lily from her room, coming back downstairs, they sat down at the table, Draco sitting on Harry's lap, Lily sitting across from them. Lily giggled watching them, it seems so normal for them to be eating like that. "Hey Lily," Harry suddenly said and she turned her gaze toward him. "Your parents signed the adoption papers, and we were wondering if you would like to change your last name. Up to you, of course, you don't have to if you don't want to."
"Like, change my last name to Potter?" She asked, Harry nodded and she smiled, nodding as well. "I'd love that." They all smiled and finished eating dinner together.
Later on, in the night there was a knock at Harry and Draco's bedroom door, "come in," Draco muttered and the door creaked open, "I-I couldn't sleep.." Lily whispered shakily, "Harry move over, make some space for Lily." Draco chuckled, shoving Harry over to make some space for Lily, "come on in Lily." He said softly. Lily slowly climbed into the bed, lying between Harry and Draco, she cuddled closer to Harry, who wrapped his arms around her, the three of them all falling asleep together.
The next morning Harry woke up first and got out of bed, getting dressed, going downstairs and starting breakfast. Soon after Draco and Lily woke up, getting dressed and joining Harry downstairs to eat breakfast. Harry leaned down and kissed Draco on the cheek, "morning, how did you two sleep?"
"A lot better than I normally do." Lily smiled a bit as she began eating her breakfast, "how do you normally sleep?" Asked Harry. "Not good. I normally have bad dreams or wake up through the night." Lily said quietly. "Well now you live under the same roof as the chosen one, so you have nothing to worry about." Draco grinned, eyeing Harry, who frowned at hearing what Draco had just called him, "prick." He muttered, "language Harry." Draco remarked making Lily giggle.
Before they knew it, Harry's birthday had rolled around. There was a knocking on their bedroom door and Lily, who had slept in their bed again that night, pulled the blanket over her head, cuddling closer to Draco. "It's Hermione, you two better not be doing anything, I'm coming in," Hermione said from the other side of the door before entering the room.
The two males groaned but she just ignored them, walking over to Harry and kissing his forehead, "happy birthday, Harry." She said softly, "thanks 'moine, but you couldn't have waited till we were downstairs?" Harry yawned. Hermione was about to reply but she noticed another sleeping figure, cuddling up to Draco. "Who's that?" She asked skeptically.
"Our kid.." Mumbled Draco, "you have a kid!" Hermione said clearly shocked, "shhh, Lily's still sleeping, Hermione." Draco groaned. "I thought I told you about this Hermione, why do you seem so surprised?" Harry asked. "I thought you were joking." She protested, she took a breath, "just hurry up and come downstairs, we're waiting for you." Hermione said before walking out of the room.
Draco was about to ask 'who's we' but then ignored it, already having an idea. The three of them woke up, getting dressed and went downstairs, Draco carrying Lily down on his hip.
They were ambushed by half a dozen Happy birthdays to Harry when they got down the stairs. Draco put Lily down and walked her around to meet everyone while Harry got breakfast for everyone. Soon they all sat down to eat, Lily sitting on Harry's lap, "happy birthday, dad." Lily said quietly, making Harry smile and hug her.
This was by far the best birthday Harry had ever had, he felt like his life was coming together and he and Draco were starting a family together now and he couldn't be happier.