Chapter 09
Ron, Hermione, Molly and Arthur watched in silence as Draco continued to whisper in Harry's ear. Logically, they were aware that what Blaise and Pansy had said was true, they had no reason to lie to them about it. But it still felt like something to know it. Especially since it had been a while and Harry still seemed as tense as when Ginny left. Ron wanted to scream and yell and rip Harry out of Draco's arms, but he was an adult... And he had promised not to do anything. So he swallowed his anger - totally illegitimate, and even he knew that now - he had said he would wait, so he was going to wait.
Hermione wanted to be right. Always right. And today, at this point, she wanted to be right about the fact that it wasn't Draco's job to do something about the brunette, but hers. Them. But like Ron, she was now an adult. And if her husband could repress his anger, so could she. As Pansy had said so well - though Hermione would never admit it - they were the ones Harry needed BEFORE. Now Harry had his family, friends closer to him than they had ever been - and even more so now that she had given it some thought.Certainly, before the war, and it had brought them closer much faster than normal. But it was just as far apart. Harry had always assumed that he wouldn't survive, so he had done his best not to be TOO close to people... - Except he'd been close to Ron and her, really. But five years was a long time, and Pansy was right. Now, those who knew him best weren't them, no matter how much she wanted him. But Blaise and Pansy, who were now his best friends... Draco, his husband. Gabriel his son. And probably even Narcissa Malfoy. She had no right to stop it. To interfere because she was selfish and wanted to get back the Harry he was five years ago. So she sat there with her mouth shut and waited.
However, even with their newfound resolve to not intervene, they still felt that it was taking Draco a little too long to calm Harry down. And as they were about to start talking to take over - hoping to do better - they could see the brown's shoulders very visibly relaxing. The blond man's hands were making big circles on Harry's back, and Harry was clearly half calmed. After a few more minutes of waiting, Draco stepped back, Harry was now completely calm, as if he hadn't been about to destroy the world just ten minutes before - and Ron and Hermione could have sworn it had lasted much longer than just ten minutes... -
Draco returned to his seat as Harry turned to the Weasley family, a small contrite smile on his face.
« I'm sorry you had to see that, » he apologized, « I'm not normally so easily upset. But let's just say it's been a long week. »
« It's perfectly understandable Harry, » Arthur replied calmly, « it's normal to react that way after the way Ginny treated you. »
« And don't worry, » Molly continued, « it was the right thing to do. You don't have to apologize for kicking Ginny out of your house. »
« Oh, I wasn't apologizing for that, » Harry said honestly, « I would have done it whether you understood or not. No, I was just apologizing for losing my temper like that and having to take a few minutes to calm down when there are guests in my house. It wasn't extremely polite of me, and for that, I apologize. »
« ... There's so much I'd like to say, » sighed Hermione, « but I'm aware that we're in a 'trial period' at the moment. You're at home, and you did what you thought best. We understand that. Ginny crossed the line. It's okay that you reacted that way. »
« And don't worry about how you reacted, » Ron continued strangely serious, « many would have reacted more violently than you did. I would have wanted to get angry, because it's still my little sister we're talking about. But even I know it was the right thing to do. And anyone looking a little deeper into what you did and said, could see that you kicked her out partly to stop you from doing something you might regret later, hurting someone or sending you to Azkaban. »
« Hero of the world Wizard or not, » Hermione nodded.
Harry looked at Draco for a few seconds before sighing and shrugging his shoulders. He then turned his gaze to Blaise and Pansy, who looked at him innocently.
« I don't know what you've done, but I know you HAVE done something, » he grumbled.
« Nothing important, » Pansy replied nonchalantly, « we just told them not to interfere and try to calm you down. »
« Exactly, » said Blaise, « we don't have to be psychic to know that if someone who wasn't Draco or Gab' had tried to calm you down, you would have got even more upset. And I speak from experience. »
« Experience? » Asked Hermione.
« Oh yes, little Blaise here tried to calm little Harry down, but let's just say it ended... with a few broken bones. And a somewhat traumatized Blaise. »
« And a hurricane in the middle of the desert, » Draco added.
« And a hurricane in the middle of the desert, » Pansy ended with a smirk on his face.
« Yes. And I've already said I'm sorry, » Harry mumbled as he went back to sit with Draco.
« And I've very graciously forgiven you, » said Blaise, « however, I'm not sure the people in the little village on the edge of the desert are as kind as I am about this huge hurricane. »
« I rebuilt everything before I left, » Harry defended himself, « AND it gave them water for at least a month or two! I did them a favor. »
« In the form of destruction, indeed, » Pansy nodded.
The Weasley family looked at each other with big eyes. Harry was well and truly gone five years. And it would have been utterly idiotic to think that he'd done nothing for the last five years. - Even the twins didn't know about everything that had happened while Harry was gone. Harry had always been very discreet about his private life. He was even more so today... -
« So... » Hermione began hesitantly, « you've been gone five long years. I conclude that you must have had quite an adventure. »
« Especially if what we've just heard is the kind of thing you've often experienced, » Ron added with a small smile.
« Oh yes, » Fred continued, « tell us what you still haven't told us, little Harry. »
« After all, we've just found out that there are still things we don't know about your little... Trips? » Finished George.
Harry was glaring at Pansy and Blaise. There was a reason he didn't tell the twins everything. He liked his secrets, and he liked his privacy. He never had any right to them before, and now that he did, he wanted to keep them safe. But he could admit that telling some of the stories that had happened to him on his travels could be fun. Besides, it wasn't as if he had to say everything. He could still keep some things a secret. Just between him and Draco...
« Indeed, he decided to answer, there are many things that have happened to me during these five years. But I won't tell you everything! There are certain things that must remain secret. »
« Oh, » answered the twins, somewhat disappointed.
« But I didn't say that I wasn't going to tell you anything at all. All in good time, Fred and George, » Harry continued laughing, « but it won't be for now. It won't be long before Narcissa brings Gabriel home, I think. »
« That's right, » said Draco, « if I remember correctly, she told me she would bring him home before dinner. »
« All right, » Harry replied thoughtfully before turning to their guests, « if you can promise me to be courteous while Narcissa is here, and not start a war between you and the Slytherin present, you can stay and eat with us tonight. »
« That would be great, Harry. » Arthur replied smiling.
« We can promise you that, » Molly continued.
« Ron and I will behave, Harry, » promised Hermione, « we don't want to scare the boy again when he gets here. He is, after all, your son - and the son of... Draco's - and above all, innocent of all our past. We can make that effort, can't we, Ron? »
« Yes. » Just answer the redhead.
« Great, » smiled Harry, clapping his hands.
After the events of the afternoon and while waiting for Narcissa's arrival with Gabriel, everyone had settled down quietly in the living room. Much more relaxed - even if not totally ... - and had begun to talk about things that were not very important, and that normally could not create tension. This would have looked bad and would have frightened the little boy when he arrived. And let's be honest, Draco was somewhat afraid of Narcissa. Blaise and Pansy too. Harry a little less, but that didn't mean he wanted to piss her off.
Molly and Arthur had a history with Narcissa, and weren't too happy to see her today. But they didn't really have a choice. So they would do their best. As for Ron and Hermione... They told themselves that if they could bear the presence of a Malfoy - the one they hated the most - they would be able to bear it. Lucius didn't matter. The older one had actively tried to kill Harry. All Draco had done was wage war on him. - ... they could well bear the presence of two Malfoy. - And they didn't really know Narcissa. Having never spoken to her and only seen her.
-« When did you say Narcissa Malfoy was due to arrive again? » Asked Hermione softly.
« Um... Not long, I think, » Harry answered, looking at the clock in the living room, « Is she staying to eat with us or not, Love? »
« Normally she should have stayed, but she told me she had to go and find some... Friends for the evening. Shopping and all that stuff that friends - women - do with each other. I wasn't really listening. »
« You know you should always listen to your mother, Draco, » Harry reprimanded happily, « Remember what happened the last time you didn't listen to her? »
« Oh my God, I remember, » laughed Blaise.
« You weren't even there! » Draco cried out.
« Exactly, Mother told me about it. And I'm sure I felt the jolts of your mother's anger in our Villa in Italy! »
« No way, » mumbled Draco.
« What's not possible? » Asked for a voice that was NOT supposed to be there.
Draco choked on his own saliva. Harry restrained himself as best he could to burst out laughing - he was struggling. And wasn't subtle. Not that he normally was, but then again - Pansy's face remained neutral, but anyone who knew her well enough could see the amusement in her eyes, and Blaise just didn't hold back. He laughed softly. The Weasley family watched and said nothing. The twins were amused and settled down as if they were watching a movie at the theater.
« Mother, I didn't know you had to arrive so early, » Draco quickly recovered.
« Gab' wanted to come home early, » she replied.
Harry's gaze fell on his son, who was now hiding behind his grandmother. He looked totally frightened, and Harry couldn't really blame him. The last time he'd seen the Weasleys, it hadn't gone so well, after all. And if there was one thing Gabriel had, it was a good memory, even for a kid his age.
« Gab', buddy, he called softly, come here. Don't worry. Daddy promises you they're not bad! »
« P'omise? » Asked the child in a very small voice.
« I promise! »
« Not s'eam? »
« Nobody's going to scream, I promise you baby, » smile Harry, « and if anything happens Daddy will protect you! »
« What about fa'er? »
« I'll protect your father too. He can scream really loud when he wants to... »
« I think, Harry, when he asked you that, it was to see if I'd protect him too. Not to protect ME, » spoke Draco.
« No, Love, I don't think so, » Harry laughed, « but if it pleases you to think so... »
« Oh, I swear to you-»
« Narcissa, come sit down! Don't just stand, » Blaise cut elegantly, « you know as well as I do that when those two start... »
« Nothing can stop them now, » Narcissa nodded.
Narcissa went to sit on the last available chair, while little Gabriel hastened to join his parents, and climbed as he could on Draco's lap. The couple, meanwhile, had stopped arguing about whether Draco could - or could not - protect himself. - The answer was "yes," but Harry liked to tease him too much to go his way directly. -
« So, mother, » Draco began, after getting Gabriel safely in his lap, « I understand you won't be staying for dinner? »
« I'm afraid not, » answered Narcissa, « I have to meet an old acquaintance, I'll have dinner with her. But I see that you are... In good company. »
« Indeed, » smiled the blonde in his son's hair, « I don't think this evening is going to be boring. »
« I can admit that, » said Draco's mother raising an eyebrow.
« Everyone has come up with a solution for the moment, » Pansy quickly explained, « a sort of trial period to see if the Weasleys can be part of Harry's life again. »
« ... I see, » Narcissa answered slowly, « however, it seems to me that there is one person missing from this room? »
« Ginny has been... hm... Kicked out by Harry, » Hermione spoke hesitantly, and for good reason.
« Harry? »
« I know, » sighed the brunette, running a hand across his face, « but she insulted Draco. And consequently Gabriel. I can't stay calm and polite if my family is insulted, Narcissa. So I'd rather kick her out than do something I might regret in the future. »
« I see. I see. That was indeed the right solution, in this case, » Narcissa admitted before turning to the other guests, « forgive my manners. Molly, Arthur, this is a... It's a pleasure to see you again. »
« ... Likewise, » mumbled the couple across the room.
« Young Weasley, Miss Granger, » she said, nodding to Ron and Hermione, the twins, « it's a pleasure to see you again. »
« Same to us, Mrs. Malfoy, » smiled the twins in reply.
« It would have been a pleasure to stay a little longer with all of you, » said Narcissa as she stood up, « but I have to leave now if I want to get to my friend's house on time. »
« Of course, » answered Draco.
« I'll see the three of you on Saturday? »
« Of course, » said Harry with a loving smile, « have a good evening, Narcissa. »
« You too, Harry. »
After saying goodbye to everyone, Narcissa left the house. Leaving a silence in the room. Silence broken by Gabriel's little voice.
« Uncle Blaise? »
« Yes, buddy? » Smiles the Italian.
« Candy? »
« I'm not sure your parents would agree with that... »
« Candy ! »
« No candy before dinner, Gabriel, » gently reprimanded Draco.
« Your father is right, » said Harry.
« But... »
« No buts, young man. The candy will wait until tomorrow, Gabriel Potter-Malfoy! »
« All right. »
Gabriel folded his little arms, puffed up his cheeks, and began to sulk as only a three-year-old could. Harry laughed.
« He looks so much like you when he does that, » the brunette laughed.
« I don't pout like that! » Draco was Offended.
-« You totally do that when you're not happy, it's adorable. And hilarious. But mostly adorable.
« A Malfoy doesn't pout... And is not adorable. »
« Yes, yes. A Malfoy is worthy and proud, » Harry recited as he stood up, « I suggest we go eat now. Gabriel will soon have to go to sleep! »
« No sleep, » cried the child, forgetting that he was supposed to be pouting.
« You're going to have a big sleep because tomorrow you're spending the whole day with Uncle Blaise and Auntie Pansy, » reasoned the young woman, « don't you want to have a big sleep and spend the day with us? »
« ... Sleep, » mumbled Gabriel.
« That's my little man, » smiled Pansy!
The Weasley family watched the exchange without daring to say a word. It seemed so... ...intimate. So personal, it seemed a little... rude to interrupt them. They had kind of hoped to speak with Harry's son. But he looked totally exhausted, which was normal for a child of that age. - so they had decided to wait until it was quiet for a while before joining the conversation again.
They had decided to feed Gabriel before anyone else, and put him to bed. He was getting grumpier and grumpier, which meant he was getting more and more tired. Once it was done - putting him to sleep had been quite an adventure... But they'd gotten there. Harry had defeated Voldemort, and he wouldn't let a small child who wouldn't sleep get him down. Nonsense. - Once the child was well asleep, Harry and Draco led everyone to the dining room, where everyone started eating once they were settled.
« Sorry it took so long, » Harry apologized mainly for the form, « It's usually much easier to put Gabriel to bed. But he's not used to having so many people in the house. »
« There's no need to apologize, » Molly replied, « it's perfectly normal for a child his age to become disoriented so quickly. »
« Yes, » said the brunette, « it's been an eventful week, as much for Draco and I as for Gabriel. And he hasn't even fully gotten used to the new house yet. »
« Which is normal, especially for a child that age, » Hermione explained, « he needs a stable environment and a place to feel safe. »
« It's true, » nodded Blaise, « which may not be entirely the case in Britain, between the move, the big fights between you and Harry's life choices - and I KNOW you've had some sort of truce, but Gabriel saw you shouting at Harry and insulting Draco, that's no small thing. Even if you couldn't control yourself. -»
« ... I wish I could contradict you so much. But what you're saying is the exact truth, » sighed Ron.
« I know, » Blaise smiled proudly, « besides, Harry is famous all over the world among the Wizards, but here it's even bigger. So I think it must have totally unsettled Gabriel. Even if you tried to talk to him about it, he's still a very young child, and doesn't understand everything, even though he's extremely intelligent for his age. I honestly wonder if you did the right thing coming back. »
« I ask myself that question regularly too, » Harry replied, « but I'd rather he got used to it now, when we can afford to protect him as much as we have to, than come back when he's had his letter from Hogwarts and find out all about the fact that one of his fathers is considered a stupid hero for doing what he was wanted to do and was famous against his will, and that his other father was hated for something that few people understand, want to understand or accept to believe. Over there, he wouldn't have had us to protect him. Now, it's going to be complicated and extremely hard, but we'll be with him all the way. And he'll be totally ready by the time he goes to Hogwarts. »
« But can you decide to not put him at Hogwarts, then? » Asked Hermione, « not that I'm complaining, but... But from an objective point of view, he could have gone into any school? »
« Quite simply, » Draco began, « because Hogwarts was our school, Harry's and mine. No matter what horrors we went through, no matter how different it was... It was his grandparents' school - whether my mother or Harry's parents - Hogwarts was our home for years. And whatever the faults of the British Wizard's world, we want Gabriel to know about Hogwarts. »
« I... Can understand that, » Hermione admitted.
« However, if it goes wrong, » Harry says, « we'll move him out of the school immediately. But Neville's a teacher there. Luna goes there often and Professor McGonagal is always there, we trust them to protect Gabriel if need be. Professor Snape's painting is also there. And he was close to Draco. »
« And he saved your life quite a few times, even though he hated you completely. »
« True, » Harry laughed, « it could still help Gab'. »
« You thought of everything, » murmured Hermione.
« We didn't have much choice, » sighed Harry.
And Hermione knew Harry was right. And now that the tensions had more or less subsided, everyone was really starting to wonder what had happened in the last five years of Harry's life to make him like this. More confident and happy and fulfilled. Now that the truce had begun, perhaps they would have some answers?
What happened in the five years that Harry was missing? How, exactly, did Harry get to where he is today? Was this all going to come out?