Chapter 01.
Harry, Draco and their little family were now settled into their new home. Everything was going well, even though they hadn’t been out much so far, except perhaps in Muggle London to do their shopping and grocery. The Weasleys hadn’t appeared, even though the Wizarding World was aware of their big return.
Their relationship had caused a great scandal. Although they knew that the brunette with emerald eyes was now married, thanks to the ring he wore on his finger on the day of his speech, they did not know who the lucky one was. When they learned that his husband was in fact Draco, known to be the son of a Death Eather and to be one himself, the news didn't go over well and many had tried to find out where they lived. To no avail. Draco was a powerful wizard. Harry even more so. They had managed to stay well hidden. More so with the help of the Twins.
The twins had been the only Weasley that the couple had seen. Neither Ron, Hermione, Ginny or Molly had appeared (being the four most stubborn people Harry had ever known.) Charlie had returned to Romania. Arthur and Bill had been helping out with the ministry, which was just as annoying as the rest. So the couple decided to give things time to cool down a bit.
Everything was going well. But for how much longer?
It was a Saturday afternoon, a few weeks after the couple's return to England. They had decided to meet the twins at The Leaky Claudron as it had been a while since they had last seen each other. And as the twins were more or less the only ones Harry had kept in touch with and were happily accepting of his relationship with Draco, it was a pleasure to spend time with them.
What they did not foresee, however, was that Hermione, Ron and Ginny had the same idea as they had and were therefore in the same place as they were. But they decided to ignore them by sitting at a table further away and waiting for their friends to arrive.
« Do you think they're gonna be a problem? » Asked nonchalantly Draco.
« Who knows... you can never be sure of anything with them, » sighed Harry in reply, « we'll see if anything happens. But for all we can blame them, I don't think they're ready to cause a scene in such a crowded place. At least I hope not. »
« It would be a bit annoying, actually... »
« Especially since it's the first time we've been able to leave Gab' with your mother without him causing a scene, I just want to enjoy an afternoon between us and the twins without any problem. »
They continued to speak softly for a few minutes, a silencing spell around them so that no one would listen. - Being known in the Wizarding World could be quite tiring...- They were so engrossed in their own world that they couldn’t see the two figures approaching them.
« Yo, lovers, » saluted a redhead.
« You're not so careful when you're in a relatively hostile place, are you? » Continued the second red-head.
« Oh, don't worry, we're big enough to defend ourselves if anyone is stupid enough to even try something against us, » Harry replied leaning back in his chair and smiling, « Isn't that right, Love? »
« Quite so, » replied the blonde, with a smile similar to his companion's.
The twins were in no doubt that between the two of them, the couple must’ve been more powerful than all the Wizards in Great Britain combined. It didn’t seem like much of a challenge to them, actually...
« Are you going to sit or are you going to stand all the time? » Asked the Brunette suddenly.
« I think we’re going to sit down, » Fred started.
« Especially since with our arrival, the silencing spell you cast is gone, so I think the walls have now ears, » George continued.
Once seated and the spell was well re-established, the four young adults finally relaxed.
« I’m sorry we didn’t get to see each other before now, but between settling score with the rest of your family, returning to the US and moving back here with Gab’, it’s been weeks of Hell. » Harry says sarcastically.
« We can understand that, indeed. Then it’s not like we haven’t kept in touch, I mean, Owls exist for a reason, » George replied.
« And it’s a good thing that Harry taught you the joys of the Muggle cell phone, so much more discreet in the Wizarding World, » laughed Draco, « even thought it was quite eventful at first, wasn’t it? »
« Oh don’t be a such smartass Draco, » Harry replied, « I’m not sure you did better than them, huh. »
« Aren’t you supposed to be very much in love with me and always be on y side? »
« Not when it’s more fun and interesting to be on the other side, » Harry said while sticking his tongue at Draco.
« I wish I could’ve seen Draco when he learned to use a Muggle phone, » Fred laughed.
« Ah, that was so epic, » sighed Harry, « totally epic, indeed. »
« Good thing Gabriel wasn’t brun yet, » said Draco, « or I wouldn’t have had any credibility... »
On the other side of the room, three other people were watching - more or less - subtly HArry, Draco and the twins, who seemed to be having a very good time, laughing. Both the blond and the dark-haired looked like lovers. In love and so happy. And even though they didn’t want to admit it... They made a beautiful couple... As long as we didn’t know who the blond guy was.
« I don’t get it, » moans Ginny, « what’s that blond weasel got that I don’t? »
« Nothing, Gin’, » replied Hermione, « you’re a great person. I don’t understand it any more than you do. »
« He should be married to me, have a child with me. Be happy. »
« The thing is, » Ron began, « how did it fo from « Harry wins the War. » then, « Harry goes away for five years without telling anyone, » to « Harry comes back married to an Death Eather bastard and with a kid? » There’s something wrong with that story. »
« And he won’t talk to us... » Hermione sighed, « It’s so complicated! »
The three turned once again towards the table further away.
Trying as hard as they could to listen but not being able to hear anything, it was frustrating. Frustrating because normally it should have been them, instead of the twins and the blond guy. Ron and Hermione were supposed to be his best friends. They were supposed to do everything together. Ginny, even if they had finally decided not to get together, should still have been partners and friends with Harry. But they weren't, and they were wondering where it all went wrong. And if it could be fixed, because they knew the twins were right, even though they didn't want to admit it, Harry had given them a choice. All the cards were in their hands now. All they had to do was make the right decisions.
« You're kidding me, right? » Laughs Fred.
« I'm totally serious. He thought that was an object of evil coming for revenge. Revenge for what? I don't know. » Replied Harry laughing, « It took me over two hours to convince him that, « No, love, it's not going to cast a spell on you. Yes, I'm sure it's totally safe. Yes, Draco, it's used for communication. If the Muggles can do it, I'm sure you can too. No, it won't explode in your hands, I promise. » That was hilarious. Long, but hilarious. »
« I'll take your word for it. »
« No one ever takes me seriously anyway. I'm alone in the world, » Sulked Draco.
« Don't worry, my friend, I understand you. I thought the same thing when I first held that devil's object, » said George, raising his glass to the blonde.
Harry let them talk to each other for a while, his gaze passing across the room. Everyone in the room was looking in their direction, nothing surprising or new for the dark-haired man. His gaze stopped on Ron, Hermione and Ginny's table, the neutral expression, leaving nothing to show. His emerald green eyes had no emotion. He looked into Hermione's eyes, and Hermione's eyes widened somewhat, giving the impression that she resisted the urge to turn her head.
Strange, Harry thought. He knew that Hermione normally worked on Saturdays. She shouldn't have been here at the moment. His gaze hardened a little, still fixed on the three of them. He raised an eyebrow, startled them, then sighed and turned again to the people at his own table.
« Tell me, twins, » he began in a neutral tone, « is there any reason why these members of your family should be here at the same time as us, when I know (thanks to you) that they shouldn't be here, Hermione having to work? »
Draco's eyebrows raised, a characteristic mark in the Malfoy family, turning his gaze to the twins in the same way Harry had just done. Harry was still waiting for an answer from the two identical redheads.
« How can I say this to you... » Giggled nervously George, « it could be, maybe, it's not sure... That they heard us talking? »
« That they heard you talking? » Asked Harry skeptical.
« That's what I mean... We were at the Burrow you know, almost a month ago now, because still, our father lives there and then Bill was there, for once, so we decided to agree to eat there, and you know the "mobile phone" that you force us to have with us always? Well... that was with us then. » Fred continued.
« And... ? » Questionna Draco.
« Well, you see, this will make you laugh... »
« I doubt it, but try anyway, » Harry said, shrugging his shoulders.
―――――
It was a beautiful Sunday in the late afternoon at the Burrow, the weather was good, laughter could be heard coming from the living room where everyone was gathered, waiting to eat. An ordinary Sunday evening at the Weasley's, then. Especially since for the first time in a long time, the twins were present, which was quite rare lately, claiming too much work to do each week, everyone was happy to have them here, with them.
No one had really talked about Harry since the big confrontation after five long years of absence, all of them still being totally lost and not knowing how to react. They all had their own opinions on the matter, but it was an unspoken agreement between them not to talk about it for the time being. No one had any news, and although Hermione, Ginny and Molly had tried to go back two days later to try to convince Harry again that what he was doing was a mistake, he was no longer in the house. He wasn't in England at all. And ever since then, it's been radio silence. And most of them had gotten it into their heads that they'd never see Harry again. That he was gone for good.
However, as much as they had not heard from Harry, the twins had kept in touch with him since his departure almost six years ago. They had always understood why Harry had left and why he had decided to cut off contact with their family. They had always supported him in a non-judgmental way, taking the time to try to understand. The dark-haired man had always been grateful, and had given them news fairly regularly (without saying exactly where he was...) under the sole rule of not telling anyone.
So it was Sunday, and there was some tension in the house, probably due to the presence of the twins, who had been the only ones openly supporting Harry, but nobody commented on this, and everything seemed normal from an outside point of view. Molly was in the kitchen, probably finishing dinner, the twins, Bill, Hermione, Ginny and Arthur were in the living room, talking about things and so on, when all of a sudden a "beep" sounded in the room, ending the conversation in progress. All eyes turned to Fred and George, where the sound seemed to come from.
« What was that noise? » Asked Ron.
« Oh... um. My phone, » Fred answered.
« Your what? »
« Phone Ron, I thought you knew what it was. Or have you forgotten that you have a father who's a big fan of all this stuff from the Muggle world? » Retorted George.
« It's not like I know everything about our father's interests," grumbled the younger one.
Fred took out his phone and smiled when he saw who had just sent him a message, Arthur looked at the object with barely masked curiosity, Ron and Ginny didn't really know what he was seeing but looked anyway, and Bill seemed to have disappeared into thin air, (probably into the kitchen with Molly).
« I didn't know that you knew about telephones, » Hermione said softly, « or even that you used one. The world of wizards knows nothing about them, so I don't see the need for you to have one. »
« That's true, and even if you're curious about everything that happens and like to experiment with new things for your shop, I'm not sure you can sell this... thing! » Ginny continued.
« Oh, it's not about selling, » Fred said in an absent-minded way as he tapped his phone.
« Then what's it for? » Questioned Ron, who had apparently finished sulking.
The twins looked at each other, seeming to communicate by eye contact. Did they have to tell the truth? Or lie? It wasn't as if they could really lie to others, it was obvious, especially with Hermione in the room. The only solution was to tell the truth, yes, but it couldn't go well. So George opened his mouth to answer when Molly and Bill came out of the kitchen to join them with drinks.
« Thank you, Molly, » said Hermione, « so the answer to our question? »
« Harry gave it to us some time ago, » said George hesitantly.
« He said it would be more practical than the owls, knowing that he was quite often among the Muggles » continued Fred.
Silence followed this statement. No one expected that answer, although on reflection it was indeed the only logical answer there could be.
« And so... You kept in touch with him? » Arthur asked carefully.
« Hm... yeah, » Fred replied, « we never really cut off contact with him, he more or less always gave news... »
-« Never said where he was, or what he was doing. But he told us he was fine, » continued George.
« Why you and not us? » Ginny complained.
« Because he wouldn't listen to you lecture him all day long? Because he didn't want to just hear your opinions? Because he wanted freedom and apparently we were giving it to him? Without judging him, without asking him any questions and without telling him what to do? » Fred exclaimed.
« And he was right not to contact you, considering what happened a few weeks ago... » gets George angry, « you'll never change, will you? Instead of complaining, be happy that at least one of us could hear from him and know that he wasn't just dead somewhere, instead of complaining all the time because he didn't choose you! »
Instead of waiting for an answer, the two men got up and went to their old room to calm down. What they didn't see, however, was that the others had waited to hear a door slam and then walked in the same direction and stuck their ears to the door, a spell cast by Hermione to hide the sound of their footsteps, so that the two older men couldn't hear them if they spoke.
« They get on my nerves, » Fred grunted as he threw himself on the bed in the room.
« Hm', I totally understand, but if we have to react like this every time, we're going to end up with a lot of ulcers before we're thirty, » George answered.
« You're not totally wrong, but still! »
« Don't worry about it! It's not like we're not used to it, » George laughed bitterly.
On the other side of the door, Hermione grimaced, because in a way the twins weren't wrong, at least they could have stayed calm and not gotten carried away like that. The curly-haired brunette sighed and went back to listen.
« I assume the message was from Harry? » George finally asked.
« Nope, from Draco, » laughed Fred, « I honestly don't know how Harry managed to convince him to use this thing when he was totally against it at first, but hey... »
« Ha... I understand it, » sighed George, « So, what did he want? »
« He said that normally they was arriving in England in two weeks, and by the time the move is over and he's settled in, he should be well settled within a month, he wanted to know if we wanted to go for a drink to celebrate their return to hell? »
« Totally. Although I don't understand why they want to come back if they hate the place so much. »
Ginny squealed a little, Ron... ...did the Ron thing and Hermione widened her eyes. Harry was coming back. He was coming back to live here! It was huge news!
« Apparently they want Gabriel to get used to all this mess, so that the shock is not too great later on, » Fred explained, « especially since they want the kid to go to Hogwarts. »
« I thought they wanted to put him in another school? »
« Same, but after thinking about it, Hogwarts seemed to be the best option from what I understood. It was Harry's home for seven years after all, and Draco's refuge in its darkest moments. »
« I can understand that. And I think even though it might be hard for Gab', he has a right to know. »
« At worst, if it goes too badly, they can always change schools... » sighed Fred, « and besides, Draco's parents are still here. Narcissa's still at the manor. And Lucius should be able to return in a little while, since end-of-war circumstances helped him avoid Azkaban... »
« Yeah, Harry gets along really well with them, and Gabriel loves his grandparents. That makes more sense. »
« No, no, no, no, no. There's nothing logical about this, » thought all the spies behind the door, « it's totally crazy. Unimaginable. What the hell is Harry thinking? »
« So in a month's time at the Leaky Cauldron said Draco, » conclude Fred.
« No problem. It'll be good to have them home at last! » Smile, George.
The conversation ended. The three eavesdroppers at the doors went downstairs. No one saw the twins until they came home...
―――――
« I think we forgot to put the silencing spell before we spoke, » finished George after telling the story, « we were so pissed off... »
« You guys are honestly champions, » said Draco bursting out laughing, « congratulation! »
« At least that made his day, » smile softly Harry by sliding his arm around the blond's waist, « even if I wish it hadn't been like that. »
- Sorry Harry," said the twins in unison.
« What's done is done, it had to happen one day, didn't it? »
The brunette was not wrong, the couple had prepared to run into them at some point when they decided to come back here. It's a good thing Gabriel wasn't with them.
« Well that's not all but we have to go, » Harry said an hour later, « we have to pick up Gab' at the manor and I think we'll probably stay there to eat with Narcissa. »
« Indeed, » continued Draco as he got up, « it's a lucky day when we get to leave without staying more than an hour. »
« No problem, » said George, « we have to stop by the store anyway. »
« I'll stop by within the week, » promise Harry, « Gabriel is dying to see you again and I think he'll like your store. »
« wait for you there, » Fred answered.
The four men began to move towards the exit, talking and smiling, when a voice stopped them.
- Harry?
He turned and sighed...
Who called him? Couldn't he be left alone even for one night? Maybe a storm was coming...